The Final Battle
From the end of the last chapter…
To my dearest love,
If you are reading this then I did not survive the final battle. I can only hope that I took the bastard down with me.
I don't know how long it has taken for you to find this, much less when you will read it.
First, last, and always, your love has been a precious gift I have felt exceedingly blessed to have been given.
I remember when I met you in Lothering. You were the most handsome man I had ever seen (and you still are). I was so tongue-tied I could barely utter complete sentence. Then after spending the afternoon in your company I knew you were someone special. During the Blight, I couldn't get you out of my mind, much less my heart. When I was in Varric's suite and he wanted to 'introduce me to someone,' I said I didn't want to meet someone new. When I heard you say, "Then how about someone you've already met?" I thought I was dreaming. You said, "You're not dreaming. Hello Marnie." The pure joy I felt then never left.
I know you're hurting right now. If the situation was reversed, I know I would feel like my heart had been ripped out of my chest and life held no more meaning. But your life does have meaning – Lily, Cricket, Siobhan, and Walter give it meaning, and you have meaning for them. Live for yourself, and live for them – Lily especially. She is too young to lose one parent; don't make it two.
Please, don't let your memories of me prevent you from loving again. No, it won't be the same, but you have too much love in your heart not to share it with another.
I give you all my love, now and forever.
Marnie.
~oOOo~
Alistair wrapped his arms around Marnie, pulling her close, and whispered, "I never knew you wrote that."
Marnie looked into his eyes, her lips close to his. "I meant every word, and I still do." She closed the short distance and kissed him.
The following evening, Alistair looked into the box. "We're nearing the end of these. Shall we continue?"
Marnie got comfortable on the sofa, "Of course."
~oOOo~
21 August,
9:41
Marnie told me about the Arbor Wilds expedition. Apparently, Morrigan drank from something called the Well of Sorrows, vir'abelasan and now possesses the knowledge and wisdom of all who have served Mythal and as a result is now bound to Mythal's will.
The thing is— Mythal is Flemeth or at least is inhabiting Flemeth's body. Thinking back to the Blight, we killed her so she wouldn't possess Morrigan. The irony that Morrigan is now bound to her mother's will is…well…creepy.
But, someone (who was not Corypheus) had to drink from this well and I'm glad it wasn't Marnie. I'm sure Morrigan will use the knowledge wisely. She is a smart, determined, and very clever mage.
Yes, I have said something nice about Morrigan. Note the date: 21 August 9:41 Dragon.
Anyway.
As a bonus, the Inquisition captured that red-eyed bastard Samson, leaving Corypheus without his general. Cullen is now Samson's…handler, for want of a better word.
23 August
9:41
Corypheus ripped open the fucking breach, again!
Marnie left this afternoon for the valley of Haven, or rather the crater that was Haven, to fight him.
Corypheus knows that the army hasn't returned from the Wilds, so that bloody ancient rotter threw down the gauntlet, forcing Marnie to confront him with only the help of her inner circle. This was not how Leliana, Cullen, I, or Marnie had ever envisioned the final confrontation!
What good is raising an army if they can't be there to help her fight the villain?
I know, I know, the army was critical in getting the Marnie to this point. I just feel so damned helpless!
Anyway.
Marnie left directly from our quarters. Siobhan, Cricket and I were a bit numb. Lily, however, said with all the confidence she could muster, "Uncle Doree and Uncle Varwick will help Mommy make that icky Coweeypee to go 'way!"
We had to smile at that. About two months ago Sera had convinced Lily to call him Cory-pee, but r's can sometimes trip up my little one – so it comes out as Coweeypee.
23 August
9:41
I know, I already wrote in you earlier, but I need to write again, and waiting for tomorrow just seems weird. Actually, writing like I am talking to you is beyond weird, but I think you and I are used to it by now.
Anyway.
Lily is with my mother. Cricket is working in his plant-laboratory. Siobhan is helping Cullen by doing my paperwork.
Where am I? Hiding in our quarters. All I can think about is Marnie, and all I can feel is fear.
Maker, I hope you appreciate how much Marnie—as the Herald of your Bride—has inspired people. Please do me a favor and keep my bride safe.
Please?
~oOOo~
Marnie looked up from the journal. "Fighting Corypheus was a surreal experience. I can't imagine what it must have looked like from Skyhold."
"We saw the breach close and then we saw the Black City crumble and fall from the sky. Neither Cullen nor I had any idea of what was going on. Cullen was a rock though, which was good because I was a wreck."
~oOOo~
25 August
9:41
Cullen and Siobhan found me staring at the fireplace while Lily was in her room taking her afternoon nap.
Siobhan grabbed my shoulder. "Dad! You need to go to the battlements with Cullen. Something's happening at Haven! I'll stay with Lily. Go!"
Jogging through Skyhold, Cullen and I went to the southern-facing battlements where we could see the ridge that formed the valley of Haven – and the Black City seemingly come to life: a colossal island of black rock floating in the sky.
Somewhere on it Marnie was fighting Corypheus.
We saw Corypheus' pet dragon land on one of the "city" walls. Then another dragon – it had to be Morrigan – tackled it and they began to grapple with each other.
I have never been happier to see Morrigan.
Bursts of spell light reflected on the stone helped us follow where Marnie was battling with Corypheus. I recognized the purple haze of Dorian's necromantic spells and Solas' green-tinged fade magic. The red flashes were Corypheus.
After what felt like forever, the spell light vanished. Then Morrigan's dragon flew up towards the breach, turned and made steep dive. She was aiming at the other dragon, and crashed into it.
They both fell below the ridgeline.
The spell lights flared again, but it was only Dorian and Solas. Corypheus' red light was absent.
Cullen had just asked, "Perhaps they were fighting the dragon?" When something red streaked over the walls and disappeared.
That couldn't be good.
That was when the Breach began to expand. Cullen put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it tight; we both started reciting Trials.
We were halfway through when a beam of green light—the same color as the Anchor—shot up into the breach and sealed it. All that was left was a small green scar.
Cullen's and my cheering abruptly ended as the Black City broke apart and fell from the sky. When it dipped below the ridgeline there was nothing but darkness.
Marnie didn't have time to take ravens, so I suggested that I take a small detachment of inquisition soldiers, and a healer, and ride out to Haven. We could assist if needed and escort them home safely.
Cullen shook his head. "We know the breach is sealed, but we don't know about the dragon, nor do we know if that ancient bastard is actually dead. You know we can't send our troops with so little information. I will have Leliana send scouts. They can get to the Inquisitor faster and send a raven."
I knew he was right, and I hated it.
He put his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eye. "Please, listen to me. I know you're worried, I know you're scared, but you to have faith, Alistair. If not in the Maker, then in Marnie. She's come this far. She will come through that gate. We just have to hang on."
I'm hanging on, but barely.
26 August, 9:41 Dragon
As I sit here in my tent, all I can hear is snoring. It makes it difficult to sleep. So, I will take the time to write this down before the memories fade.
When I closed the breach, the Orb fell to the ground and broke in two, but I still had the bloody anchor. Then Solas appeared. He dropped to his knees beside broken orb. He picked up the pieces and looked absolutely bereft. I know he gets emotional about ancient elven artifacts, but this was different. I said his name, but he could only gasp "The Orb!"
I not-so-gently reminded him that the important part was that Corypheus was dead and the Breach was sealed.
Standing up, he said, "So much has been lost." Then he looked at me. "It was not supposed to happen this way." Before I could even question him, he continued, "No matter what comes I want you to know you shall always have my respect."
At that moment, Cassandra called to see if I was alive. I turned to let everyone know I was ok. When I turned back, Solas was gone.
I need to speak with Morrigan about Solas, and it is time to bring in my advisors.
Morrigan has my eternal gratitude – her dragon really made the difference.
If we had to cope with both Corypheus and the Dragon…well…it's not something I want to think about.
28 August,
9:41
Marnie is back!
Yesterday, we got a Raven from the scouts saying that Corypheus was dead and the Inquisitor and her inner circle were returning to Skyhold.
Today, I heard the clarion call reserved for the Inquisitor's safe return, and I ran to the gate. There was already a crowd waiting to welcome her back.
I feared I would have to push people aside. Thankfully, when they saw me everyone made way so I could be in front. Standing there I saw Marnie calmly walking across bridge but when she saw me she started to run, and I ran out to meet her. She threw herself into my arms and I held on as tightly as I could.
She whispered into my shoulder, "Home, we can finally go home."
AN: Thanks to ElyssaCousland for her beta skills! The next chapter will be a bit of an extravaganza!