"How bad?" Cullen's voice was quiet as he looked at where Hawke was tending to Lenore.
"All I can do is slow the effects of the poison down." Hawke looked up at him. "Without some sort of antidote or a better healer than myself, they are going to die."
Alistair flung an empty wine glass against the wall. "Adralicus, you little idiot."
"What did happen?" Fenris raised an eyebrow.
"Adralicus went out for food. He poured wine, drank..." Alistair shook his head. "Brehan must have felt the effects, realized what was happening. He stopped me from drinking, but Lenore and Adralicus had already had the wine."
"Hawke, what do you need?"
"I can't answer that without knowing the poison. Perhaps if..." Hawke frowned, and gently soothed the hair back from Lenore's face as she moved restlessly on the pallet. "Damn it, cousin, don't you die on me."
They looked up as Carver and Melavan entered. "What happened?" Carver immediately rushed to Lenore's side.
"Poison." Cullen turned to Melavan. "I don't suppose you can help."
Melavan moved to Brehan's side. His fingers glowed faintly white. "Healing was never one of my strong points." He shook his head. "Anything I could do for them Hawke has already done."
"Poison?" Carver raised an eyebrow. "You are sure?"
"It was in the wine." Alistair gestured at the remains of the bottle.
Carver stood and started for the door. "Where are you going?" Cullen asked.
"To get something that might help."
Cullen grabbed his shield and started after Carver. "Not alone."
#
Duncan kicked the metal grating. "Maferath's balls."
Agatha sat down. "The lock is magic. There is a barrier that is preventing me from picking it." She looked up at Trian. "Without the actual key, I don't think we are getting it open."
"Stone." Trian leaned against the stone. He frowned. "So where are they?"
"It may take Kieran some time to notice we are in trouble." Duncan shook his head.
"Not him." Trian folded his arms. "Our captors. They have to know we are in their trap, so where are they?"
"After the others." Jerath gestured at the grating. "They know we aren't going anywhere."
"They have no faith in us at all." Caleb's voice came from the other side of the grate.
"I'm hurt. Maybe we should leave them there." Loghain's voice added.
Duncan shook his head affectionately. "Don't suppose you have the key?"
Caleb came to the grate and started examining it. "You couldn't pick the lock?" He raised an eyebrow at Duncan.
"It's magic." Agatha said.
"Alai?" Caleb stepped out of the woman's way.
Her fingers glowed faintly as she touched the lock, and then she shook her head. "Noamin might have been able to do something." She looked back at Caleb. "We are going to need the key."
"Yes, because that is undoubtedly just left lying around for us to find." Loghain shook his head.
"Was there a key on any of the guys we killed back there?" Caleb raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know." Loghain frowned. "I didn't look."
"Go do that." Duncan said.
"Right." Loghain nodded. He pointed at Duncan. "Don't go anywhere."
"Asshole." Duncan frowned. He noticed a bit of blood on Alai's arm, and that Loghain was moving a bit stiffly. "You're hurt."
"Minor." Loghain shook his head. "Salla will be able to fix us up in a snap, as soon as we find her."
Quickly Duncan filled them in on spotting Baradies. "Be careful."
"Yes, your majesticalness." Caleb saluted.
#
"No key." Caleb shook his head as he looked up from the last of the corpses.
"Duncan said something about Baradies heading into a room at the end of the corridor." Loghain frowned. "We might have better luck there." He sighed. "Though if Baradies is present, it might be wise to find a different plan."
"We can't leave them in there." Caleb shook his head. "And the others aren't at the fallback points."
"Our choices appear limited." Alai narrowed her eyes. "We can..." She pointed. "Our earlier quarry is over that way."
"Well, let's go ask him about the key." Loghain rose and headed in that direction.
#
Leandra shook her head. "They aren't at this fallback point either."
"Perhaps they are back at the safehouse?" Kels looked around.
"We can't go there." Gavren frowned.
Kels raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"Because I don't want to lead our tail to that location." Gavren kept his face expressionless. "One of the sentinels."
"North stairs, then just like in Jader?" Leandra asked.
Gavren nodded. "Exactly."
"You two realize I have no idea what you are talking about, right?" Kels gave them a frustrated look.
"Just stick close to Gavren and keep your shield ready." Leandra started towards the stairs. Gavren followed a few paces behind her. Kels shrugged and followed a pace behind Gavren. As soon as Leandra reached the top of the stairs Gavren whirled and drew his staff, sending a bolt of energy into the shadows below. The resulting magic briefly illuminated a slender figure. Immediately a barrier shimmered into existence, blocking the figure from fleeing back the opposite direction.
The figure ran in the direction of the staircase. From above, Leandra leaped, landing atop him. By the time Kels and Gavren reached her, she had the elven man's arms locked behind his back and was using her weight to keep him on the ground. He was cursing in elvish. Gavren responded in the same language, his voice tinged with amusement. The elven man immediately went silent.
"What was that?" Kels raised an eyebrow as he moved in to help Leandra secure their captive.
"He made a rude remark about my mother." Leandra shrugged. "Gavren reminded him who my mother was." She patted the captive's shoulder. "Which really should make you feel better about getting captured by us."
The elven man sighed.
#
"We are being followed." Tisallan pitched his voice not to carry.
"Three of them." Kieran replied softly.
"We dare not risk leading them back to the safehouse." Salla forced herself to continue walking at the same pace.
"Sentinels." Kieran said the word quietly.
"Tisallan, you can outrun them, yes?" Salla glanced at him. "Lose them in the shadows?"
"Easily, but you cannot."
She squeezed Kieran's hand. "Kieran and I have a different option."
He smiled at her. "You think you can?"
"It is what I am, after all." She took a deep breath, and turned to look at Tisallan. "Lose them, and then meet us at that ugly statue a block from the safehouse."
"I will need you to narrow it down." Tisallan shook his head. "This is Tevinter."
"Ah." Salla chuckled. "The dragon that was carved by someone who'd only vaguely heard of dragons."
"Ready when you are." Tisallan nodded.
Salla let go of Kieran's hand and called her magic to her. Together, they leaped off the nearby balcony.
And spread their wings.
#
He followed Carver to a small house near the under city. Carver pulled a key out of his pocket, and let them inside. They'd only taken a few steps when Carver stopped and frowned.
"Where are we?" Cullen asked. He blinked when he saw the piles of gear lying in the corner. Rather familiar looking gear.
Carver slapped himself in the side of the head. "For the love of..."
"Carver?" Cullen felt a surge of frustration. If Carver had told them about this place, they clearly could have caught the kids earlier.
"I neglected to account for just how stupid the kids can be." He gestured. "They are using the safehouse. Or were, recently." Carver headed deeper in, and opened a closet. "And they found the cache." He started going through items.
"What are you looking for?"
"It's..." Carver growled with frustration. "Complicated. And I can't give you all the details anyway. No offense."
"Some taken." Cullen narrowed his eyes.
"You know the stories of the Blight. It's..." Carver made a triumphant sound. "Got it."
"Got what?" Cullen stared at him.
"No time to explain. We need to get back."
#
"If you don't stop pacing, I'm going to sit on you." Trian glared up at Duncan. "And I'm pretty sure Jerath isn't going to stop me."
Duncan sighed, and sat down. He immediately began fidgeting with his bow. "Sorry." He pulled at the collar of his tunic. "I've just never liked being stuck in a small room." He chuckled. "It occasionally made my visits to Kal'Hirol awkward."
Trian chuckled. "I never figured out how you humans could stand all that sky above you. Too much air."
"They'll be fine." Agatha smiled reassuringly. She leaned into Jerath, and he put his arm around her. "They may be bunch of assholes, but they are pretty good at what they do."
#
"I don't see any demons." Caleb glanced at Loghain. "Just some cultists. Seven or eight."
"Any that look like they might be in charge?" Loghain raised an eyebrow.
"One has facial tattoos. Pretty sure he is." Caleb nodded.
Loghain and Alai exchanged a look. "We may need that one alive then, in case he doesn't have the key on him."
Alai drew her blade. "Let's go."
With a solid kick, Loghain sent the door flying open. Alai went through it, her speed enhanced by her magic. She'd gutted the first of the men before anyone in the room could react. Loghain charged, using his sword to slice open one's throat while his shield sent another flying across the room. Caleb stepped just inside the door and used the crossbow to put a bolt in the leg of the man with the tattooed face. It was over before any of the cultists could mount a defense.
The man with the tattooed face groaned, and his hands started to glow. Loghain set his blade against the man's throat. "I twitch, you die."
"Where is the key?" Caleb asked.
"What key?" The man swallowed, and Loghain moved his blade just slightly. A thin line of blood appeared on the man's neck.
"Please." Caleb hardened his voice. "You know who we are. Do you really want to make us more annoyed than we already are?"
"I..." The man flicked his eyes between Caleb and Loghain.
Caleb gestured at Alai. "Take one of his hands." He just hoped she realized he was bluffing.
She smiled fiercely, showing a hint of fang as she moved towards the captive, blade in hand. The man immediately spoke up. "My pocket. It's in my pocket."
Alai reached into the pocket, and pulled out a strange looking key on a leather thong. She turned it over once before tossing it to Caleb. "It carries an enchantment."
Loghain started to pull the sword away from the man's neck, and then brought his other hand down against the side of the man's head. The man slid to the floor, unconscious. "Let's go let our friends out."
Caleb put the key around his neck and followed Loghain and Alai out of the room.
#
"Are we sure taking him back to the safehouse is a good idea?" Kels asked Gavren.
"Do you have another suggestion as to where to put him?" Gavren shook his head. "In a pinch, we can always shove him into the eluvian."
"Do you even know how to work that thing?" Kels blinked.
"Actually, yes." Gavren nodded. "Or at least, I know how to use the normal ones. Sort of."
"Well, that is just so comforting." Kels threw up his hands. "What could possibly go wrong?"
"I can't believe you just said that." Gavren glared. "You realize now when everything goes wrong it's going to be your fault."
Leandra sighed, and glanced at their captive. "If you tell us everything about Solas's plans, I promise I'll make them shut up."
"An offer more tempting than it should be," the man replied.
She rolled her eyes. Kels opened the door to the safehouse, and she dragged their captive inside. They stepped into the foyer, and she stopped in her tracks and stared. "Father."
Next to her, Gavren swallowed. "Father."
Kels went pale. "Commander."
Their captive winced. "Fenedhis."
Carver sighed. "I wish I could say this even comes as a surprise."
#
The city spread out below her. She pulled her wings in and dove before spreading them out once more and climbing back into the sky. How many days had she spent in darktown, watching the birds over the water, soaring free? Wishing she had wings of her own. She wasn't sure if it was her feathers keeping her airborne, or her heart. The sky was hers.
A hawk called from next to her, and she turned her head just slightly to see Kieran matching her speed. He called again, and then sped up dashing to the right. She echoed his call, and then beat her own wings faster. Within seconds she was in the lead again, and spun off towards the tallest building in the city. He followed.
On red wings they raced, dancing in the air. His form was just slightly faster, but her lighter shape quickly proved more agile. She pulled her wings in and threaded a section under a bridge, while he was forced to go over and above.
It broke her heart to put an end to the race as she called again, and began winging her way towards their destination.
#
Despite the gravity of the situation, Cullen couldn't quite stop himself from smiling at the utterly dumbfounded look on Gavren's face. "How did you find us?" Gavren asked.
"Did you two forget who, exactly, I work for?" Carver tapped his foot.
Leandra and Gavren exchanged an abashed look. Leandra rubbed her forehead. "A little bit, yes."
"Commander, I..." Kels shuffled his feet.
"You were kidnapped." Cullen nodded. "I'm glad to see you are alright." He turned his eyes to his son. Admonishments could wait. "Gavren, how are your skills at healing?"
Gavren blinked. "Not bad." His eyes widened. "Is someone hurt?"
"Lenore, Brehan, and Adralicus were poisoned."
"Then we need Salla." Gavren shook his head. "She's the best healer I've ever seen."
"We don't have time to wait." Carver shook his head. "Or to explain." He held up the small glass vial. "And we already have a solution."
"I fail to see what a jar of ashes is going to..." Kels started to say. He went pale again. "Oh. Oh Maker."
Cullen felt his own shock of realization. "Ashes." He turned to Carver. "Ashes?"
"Like I said." Carver shrugged. "Complicated."
"Let's..." Cullen sighed. "You can explain later." He turned back to his son. "As can you." He barked the order. "Move." He was somewhat gratified when all three of them immediately scrambled to obey.
Kels dragged the captive sentinel with them. Cullen frowned. "Is this Tisallan?"
"Um, no." Kels shook his head. "This is the guy the Dread Wolf assigned to follow us around after Gavren threatened him."
"Gavren did what?"
"Yeah, might have been better if you hadn't mentioned that." Gavren swallowed. He continued hurriedly. "Tisallan is with Kieran and Salla."
Their captive attempted to take advantage of Kels' distraction and tripped him. He started running as soon as Kels stumbled. And he made it about four steps before Carver grabbed him and lifted him into the air by his neck. With one hand. Cullen couldn't help but be just slightly impressed. Carver narrowed his eyes. "Do I really need to explain why pissing me off further would be a very bad idea?"
"Dragonsworn." The man managed to gasp out.
Carver dropped him back to the ground. "Do not forget that again." He gestured. "Move."
The captive nodded, and fell quietly into step with them. As a moment later did Gavren, Leandra, and Kels. Cullen glanced at Carver out of the corner of his eyes. "I might want an explanation for that later."
"Complicated."
#
Kels tried to resist the urge to look over his shoulder. The Commander had thus far reserved most of his glaring for Gavren, but a few angry looks had been sent in his direction. At least Skyhold's latrines weren't too difficult to clean. And maybe he'd get lucky and Kieran would be right about the entire timeline resetting.
There was a shout from behind them. "Teth'a, bas."
"No." Leandra shook her head. "They can't possibly have managed to survive that and track us here."
"Survive what?" Cullen glanced at her as he drew his sword.
"The darkspawn in the Deep Roads."
Cullen immediately whirled on Kels and Gavren. "You two went into the Deep Roads?"
"Um..." Gavren swallowed. "Loghain didn't tell you that part?"
"No." Cullen narrowed his eyes. "I'm guessing he knew it would infuriate me." He shook his head. "Kels, I know my son is an idiot, but I expected a wiser head from you."
He hung his head, and heard Gavren immediately speak up in his defense. "We didn't exactly give him a choice."
"We didn't have much of a choice ourselves." Leandra added.
"There are several very large men running in our direction." Their captive glanced at them.
Carver turned to Kels and handed him the vial. "The warehouse district -"
"We know the location." Gavren winced as his father glared at him again. "We spotted Dorian earlier."
"Get your asses there, now." Carver drew his sword. "Lives depend on that vial."
"We'll deal with this." Cullen set his shield.
"Commander?" Kels shook his head.
"Move, lieutenant."
"Yes, Ser." He caught Gavren's arm and tugged. Gavren reluctantly fell into step with them. Leandra grabbed the captive and followed.
#
She was almost to the statue when she saw the qunari. A half dozen of them were rushing towards two men. It was the ones approaching from stealth that had her concerned. She called out, a piercing sound, and dove, buzzing past the shadowy form by the fountain. Tisallan immediately started moving. She heard Kieran's echoing call.
#
Loghain looked over the bridge before heading out. Something about the entire thing seemed too easy. Surely the cult had to know their trap had been sprung. Maybe it wasn't his group they were waiting for. He glanced at Alai, and saw her nod. She felt it too. He kept his hand on his sword as he walked at a brisk pace. A run could still attract unwanted attention.
They were halfway across the bridge when the section beneath their feet exploded. He slid as the stone gave way, sending them towards the city below. His foot hit one of the statues decorating the underside of the bridge, and he hooked his leg over it before lunging out to catch Alai and Caleb as they slid past. He locked his ankles together just as their weight pulled at him. Fire surged through his previously injured ribs, and he bit back a cry of pain.
Pieces of the stone bridge struck the ground a hundred feet below them. Alai and Caleb's feet both hung out in open air. He was only grateful neither started pulling at him in panic as he searched desperately for a way out of the situation.
#
Carver caught movement out of the corner of his eye. More qunari were moving in. Holding them off without revealing things it was better the Commander of the Inquisition not know was going to be tricky. With the safety of his daughter at stake, perhaps even impossible.
"This is not good." Cullen gestured, and Carver saw another group of qunari moving in.
There was a flash of movement behind them, and suddenly there was an elf at his side, dressed in the armor of a sentinel. For a moment, he thought it was the captive, but this man appeared older. A hawk called, and there was a flurry of wings. Salla appeared next to the elf, and Kieran appeared on the other side of Cullen.
"Uncle Carver." Salla drew her staff.
Cullen blinked at them, and then looked at the elf. "Tisallan, I presume."
"The children seem to be of the belief you require assistance." Glowing blades appeared in Tisallan's hands. "It appears they may be correct."
Several spears were hurled in their direction, bouncing harmlessly off a barrier that appeared. "Get your wings back on, and get out of here." Cullen glared at them as he gave the order. He frowned when both of them ignored him.
"Uncle Carver?" Kieran glanced at him.
"Yes."
"The Commander may need to know."
"Right." Carver sheathed his blade.
"Carver, what are you doing?" Cullen asked.
Carver smiled in response before drawing on what lay inside him.
#
Caleb felt himself sliding, and scrambled for a handhold. He felt Loghain's hand close around his wrist, and reached up to grab the man's hand. He looked up to see Loghain had his legs wrapped around one of the decorative statues. Alai dangled from the man's other hand. Loghain grimaced. "Can you get purchase?"
Alai reached up with her free hand, and growled. "No."
Loghain started to pull, and then cried out. He coughed, and a bit of blood speckled his lips. "Dammit."
He tried to find a foothold, but the smooth stone had nothing. "Shit, shit, shit." He shook his head. "We've got to get up, warn the others." He looked around. "Maker."
"Alai." Loghain's voice was soft.
She nodded up at him. "It was fun."
"It was."
Caleb saw them smile at each other. And then he screamed a protest as they both opened their hands.