Sorry it took a little bit but here is Chapter 4.
We're of course freeing the mages but theres a few twists.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4:

"You're nothing but a mistake"

Those words rang so loud in Lara's head and it was the first time someone said something to her that she fully believed without question. This whole situation was a mistake. She shouldn't be here. She was not equipped to lead an Inquisition or save the world and yet here she was. People looking up to her and worshiping a mistake. She wanted to scream as if that would make everything go away.

Everything did go away. Last she remembered was Alexius pulling out an amulet and Dorian intervening while holding her hand. She felt herself being pulled, her surroundings warping around her and then darkness. She felt soaked. Was she in an ocean?

Lara coughed out water while regaining consciousness and taking in her surroundings. She let out a gasp and sat up immediately. Not another fucking dungeon…you've got to be fucking with me…

"Don't worry. We're not imprisoned," Dorian's voice rang from beside her.

"Last I remember we were in the Castle Hall. What happened? How did we get here?" Lara rose to her feet assessing for any injuries.

"Interesting. This is probably not what Alexius intended. We must have been moved…to what? Hmm, let's see. If we're still in the castle…Ah! It's not simply where, it's when! That amulet moved us through time," Dorian said matter-of-factly.

"Simple? Really…that is not the word I would use. How far? Did we go forward or backwards?" Lara couldn't help the panic that was rising in her throat.

"Those are excellent questions my dear. We're going to have to look around and find out. Then figure out how to get back…if we can," Dorian started scanning the area.

"And what was Alexius supposed to do exactly?"

"I believe his plan was to remove your existence from time completely. If that happened, you never would have been at the Temple of Sacred Ashes and never would have mangled the Elder One's plans. With me so far?" Dorian commented.

"Unfortunately," Lara said bitterly, almost wishing Dorian let Alexius remove her completely from this mess.

—-

The more they explored through the castle, the more Lara had this nauseating feeling in her stomach. Corpses lay among the dungeon floors. Red lyrium everywhere growing out of the walls, the floor, the ceilings. It was never ending. It was like an infection. It should not be growing like this nor in this amount but they couldn't escape it. They found an elf who looked familiar chanting a prayer but his voice sounded echoed and a red tint radiated off his body. Lara felt tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat.

What the fuck was going on? What is this madness?

This was the stuff of nightmares only this wasn't a nightmare. It was reality.

A voice stopped them in their tracks.

"You're alive?" An echoed voice called and the sight made Lara let out a strangled noise.

Fiona was trapped in a cell…with red lyrium growing out of her body.

"I saw you disappear…"

"Is that…red lyrium? Growing out of your body?" It was all Lara could focus on.

"The longer you're near it, eventually you become this. Then they mine your corpse for more."

Lara felt her heart pounding. For once, she was speechless.

"Can you tell us the date? It's very important!" Dorian spoke.

"Harvestmere. 9:42 Dragon," Fiona's voice was strangled.

"We've missed an entire year! We need to go back in time then," Dorian exclaimed in disbelief.

"Please! Stop this from happening…"

"If I can find that amulet he used, I can use it to re-open the rift in the exact location and send us back," Dorian started. "Maybe."

"Good."

"I said, maybe. It may also turn us into paste," Dorian deadpanned.

"Find Leliana. She is here. Find her and quickly. Before the Elder One knows you are here," Fiona continued, pain written all over her face.

—-

Lara lost her voice. She surrendered to Dorian to take the lead. She was out of her depth here with this time magic. Mostly she was in shock. Seeing red lyrium growing out of Fiona's body took the fight out of her. Mining the corpses for more. She could feel the bile rising in her throat. Was this really what the next year would be? It meant she failed. She would've failed. She buried that fast before she let it consume her. They could still go back in time and fix this.

Cassandra was too injured to join. She, too, was glowing red and freeing her may have risked them being caught if someone discovered a prisoner was missing. Solas, thankfully, was alive and understood what Dorian meant. However, he looked even more ill and affected by the lyrium than Cassandra was. Despite being ill, he still graced her with his advice and was her safe space in this nightmare.

They continued on upwards in the castle. Lara could feel the chokes and sobs in her body threatening to come out the further they ventured. How would she cope after this? Knowing this was the future if she failed. The burden she carried felt heavier.

"Ah! Some light. I was beginning to feel rather gloomy in those dungeons," Dorian retorted as they entered a courtyard.

The sky was a mix of green and grey. Not a sky that Lara would call inviting or welcoming. It was the same as the dungeon, only brighter. Lara soon realized it was the Breach. It surrounded them almost as if the whole world was swallowed by it. This was what Cassandra meant by it swallowing the whole world if it grew. This was the Elder One's future. She was living it.

They came across a rift in the middle of the courtyard with demons everywhere. Lara didn't have it in her to fight but she had to. She gathered up what energy she could to help Dorian and close the rift. More lyrium grew in the courtyards and as they made their way through, Lara heard a voice call out that made her heart drop in her stomach and her body freeze.

"You survived…my love…"

Lara turned around slowly, eyes wide, heart pounding in her ears. There was the Commander against the wall, lyrium growing out of his body, consuming him. The circles under his eyes were heavy and he appeared almost manic.

"Cullen…" Lara whispered to herself, unable to look away. She never made the connection before but now it was clear. Templars. Lyrium. Was he still taking it in Haven?

"Your lover I presume," Dorian looked at her. Lara couldn't answer. Her body was still frozen, tears threatening to spill. My love?

"I thought I had lost you. You died," His echoed voice sent shivers down her spine. "I must be mad. I'm dreaming," He lowered his head and started laughing, his body trembling. Then a strangled noise left him almost like a sob and now he looked up at her. His golden eyes full of pain, a stray tear streaming down his face.

"Take me with you. End me….end me! So I can be with you," He was desperate.

Lara swallowed, still frozen on the spot. The lyrium drove him mad. Tears were now streaming down her face and a sob escaped her.

"I won't ask again who he is to you my dear. Nor will I expect you to grant his wish. I can make it quick, he won't feel a thing. He will be alive when we go back in time," Dorian now stood in front of her, hand on her shoulder.

Lara couldn't find her voice. The lump in her throat grew painful. Not knowing what possessed her, she shakily walked over to Cullen, lowering herself down to his level. The expression on his face, the state he was in would haunt her forever. She hoped she would forget all this when they went back into the past but something told her she wouldn't. This would be a reminder of her failure and it would haunt her.

She pressed a kiss to his forehead and stood up immediately and walked away, past Dorian, not daring to make eye contact. Her back towards the scene. Her last sight of him would not be of his death. She heard Dorian's footsteps and noises behind her and then, silence. Her hand flew to her mouth as she let out a sob and she couldn't keep the tears back any longer.

Dorian was soon by her side, holding her while she cried. All of this, it was too much. She wanted out. She wanted it to stop. She let herself sink into him, somehow trusting him even if she barely knew him. He didn't let go and carried her through and out the courtyard. Away from the man that she regrettably realized she was falling for. The man she would be sure to avoid when back in Haven so she could save her heart.

—-

Dorian allowed her to regain her composure. She heaved a few times but was surprised she didn't vomit. If she could vomit her whole body weight so as to rid herself from this nightmare, she would. Her body had other plans though.

She focused on finding Leliana. Perhaps she'd have some answers as to what they could do to get out of here. Dorian seemed to have softened around her. She was hoping he would stay with the Inquisition after all this and join her in stopping this from happening. He knew what was at stake now and he was becoming a second comfort to her, after Solas.

"Never!" Lara gasped as she heard Leliana's voice down the corridor followed by a slapping noise and a cry from Leliana.

Dorian gave her a nod and they ran down the corridor, throwing the door open.

"I will die first…" Leliana started and then looked up at her.

"Or you will!" She finished while wrapping her legs around the guard who turned to face them. She gripped her legs around him, choking him, followed by a gut-wrenching cracking sound. The guard fell to the floor.

Lara rushed and grabbed the key off the guard and started unlocking Leliana's chains from where she hung. The sight of Leliana was too much to bear. She looked like she had aged 100 years. Her skin was dead and wrinkled and her face sunken in. All because of her.

"You are alive…" She whispered.

"I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen," Lara apologized.

"Forget about apologies. Anger is stronger than any pain. Do you have weapons?" She asked.

"Yes," Lara replied.

"Good. The magister is probably in his chambers," She answered, grabbing weapons for herself from the chest.

"You aren't curious as to how we got here?" Dorian asked after her.

"No," Leliana deadpanned.

"Well, I'll fill you in anyways. Alexius sent us through time to the future. This victory, this Elder One, it was never meant to be. If we get back to the present and stop Alexius, then this will never be," Dorian continued.

"And mages always wonder why people fear them. No one should have this power," She walked towards Dorian, arrows and bow equipped on her back.

"I know. It's dangerous and unpredictable. Before the Breach, nothing we did…"

"Enough! This is all pretend to you. Some future you wish will never exist. I suffered. The whole world suffered. It was real," Leliana finished, walking out of the room.

Lara wished the red lyrium would swallow her whole and destroy her.

—-

The Upper Royal Wing wasn't as hellish as the rest of the castle but it wasn't as nice as Dorian expected it to be. Throughout, they found journal entries from Alexius. Apparently, he was failing with time magic and it wasn't doing what he wanted it to do. Numerous failures were angering this Elder One so he locked himself and Felix away from his wrath.

Nice to know I'm not the only failure at least.

The door that led to his chambers was impossible to get through.

"Maker's Breath…where did Alexius find this?" Dorian commented, shaking his head.

Once they found the shards needed to open the door, Lara swallowed hard, her breathing shaking. This was it. Time to end this. She knew this wasn't going to be easy but if Alexius really was failing and his son's life was in danger, surely he would agree to undo this? To save his son?

There he stood before the fireplace, not caring that they entered the room. Felix was on his knees beside his father. He looked too weak to even stand up.

"How could you? Look at what you've done! All this suffering…and for what?" Lara suddenly found her voice.

"For my country. For my people. And for my son. It means nothing now. I knew you would appear again. Not that it would be now but I knew I hadn't destroyed you. My final failure," He answered coldly, still not facing her.

"Was it worth it? Everything you did to the world? To yourself?" Dorian asked angrily.

"It doesn't matter. All we can do is wait…for the end."

"What? The end? What's ending?" Lara honestly did not want to know.

Alexius let out a laugh. "The irony that you should appear now of all moments. All that I fought for, all that I betrayed. What have I wrought? Ruin and death…nothing else. The Elder One comes for me, for you, for us all…"

In a flash, Leliana was at Felix's side picking him up by the collar and pressing her blade against his throat. Felix's face looked aged and sunken. He looked more ill than he was a year ago.

"Is that Felix? Maker's Breath Alexius…what the hell have you done!" Dorian cried out.

"He would've died, Dorian! I saved him! Please don't hurt my son. I'll do whatever you ask," Alexius pleaded desperately.

"Give us the amulet and we'll let him go," Lara spoke up.

"Let him go and I swear I'll give you whatever you want," He responded.

"I want the world back," Leliana said as she slit Felix's throat.

"Shit!" Lara yelled, knowing the exchange was now out the window thanks to Leliana. She heard Dorian cry out beside her along with Alexius and a blast of magic. Their only chance of getting that amulet was to defeat Alexius.

The battle wasn't easy. His magic was strong and he was capable of opening up rifts, much to Lara's confusion. He must have accumulated some powers throughout the year, no doubt from the Elder One. Lara disrupted them as much as she could to give them time to attack Alexius and remove the demons that surrounded them. Lara still had a potion on her but she didn't want to use it just yet. Her mana was slowly decreasing, her body weak from the events of the last…however long it's been since they woke up in the future. She lost all sense of time.

Before she knew it, Alexius had fallen. Lara let out a sigh and fell to her knees. She fought her stubbornness and drank the potion. Last time she held out she lost consciousness. This was not a place where she could afford to do that. She wanted to go back in time. To leave this all behind. To forget this ever happened even though this would haunt her dreams.

"Oh Alexius…" She heard Dorian sigh beside his body. She forced herself to stand and walked over to him.

"He wanted to die, didn't he? All those lies he told himself. Justifications. I didn't even notice."

"I know you cared about him," She responded, putting her hand on his shoulder.

"Once he was a man whom I compared to all others. Sad, isn't it?" He let out a sigh, getting on his feet holding something in his hand. "This is the same amulet he used before. I think it's the same one we made. That's a relief," He finished, looking at her with a smile.

Dorian wasn't one to get too emotional which Lara appreciated. She hoped he wouldn't speak of that encounter with Cullen and he didn't. He acknowledged and moved on.

"Give me an hour to figure out the spell he used and I should be able to open the rift," He spoke to Leliana.

"An hour! That's impossible! It must be now. The Elder One is coming," Leliana spoke as suddenly the ground shook. Lara suddenly felt an hour was too long. They were running out of time.

"I'll hold them off as long as I can," She answered confidently once the shaking stopped.

"I won't let you kill yourself. Not like this!" Lara shouted.

"Look at me. I'm already dead. The only way I live is if this day never comes."

Lara felt her heart sink into her stomach. It was a harsh truth Lara didn't want to accept but Leliana was right.

—-

Dorian finally figured out the spell, static forming around the amulet, a green hue glowing brighter. Lara felt relief wash over her. This was it. This would be gone. She suddenly felt free, suddenly started picturing Haven and wishing she was back. It wasn't home and that saddened Lara. She didn't have a home. No where was home but Haven was a safe place. A protected place.

The door burst open with Leliana saying a prayer, shooting arrows. An arrow hit her and without realizing Lara started taking steps towards her. Dorian grabbed her immediately.

"You move and we all die!" He shouted. Lara looked between Dorian and Leliana.

Leliana fought relentlessly. Dorian guided her back and suddenly the portal was formed behind her. She walked towards it but turned back to see Leliana captured. She was going to die. For her. She didn't deserve that. Lara felt herself move, she screamed and suddenly she was pulled backwards and felt her body being twisted and then darkness.

—-

She felt herself walking but she wasn't controlling her movements. An amber hue surrounded them which calmed Lara. Cassandra and Solas were there. Alive. Healthy. Dorian was by her side with Alexius cowering away from them. Lara felt anger engulf her body.

Fuck this guy. He is going to suffer for what he's done. What he's put me through.

"You're going to have to do better than that," Dorian smirked beside her.

Alexius fell to his knees.

"Put aside your claim to Redcliffe. It is not yours. Perhaps you may live," Lara seethed. Anger seemed to fuel her into taking charge.

"You won. There is no point in continuing with this…charade," Alexius kept his head bowed.

"It's going to be alright, Father," Felix bowed beside him.

Inquisition soldiers then escorted Alexius and Felix away from the Hall. Lara couldn't explain what she felt. After he left, her anger subdued. She was just quiet now. She still remembered the events. This was going to haunt her. She felt Solas looking at her curiously almost like he knew something happened.

Soldiers Lara didn't recognise shuffled in followed by King Alistair and Queen Anora who were angry at the Grand Enchantress for taking advantage of their hospitality and banished them from Ferelden. Lara felt guilty. It wasn't Fiona's fault. It was all Alexius but she soon realized it was still down to magic. They would still hold mages accountable for this. All Alexius did was prove mages are not to be trusted. This didn't make Lara's decision any easier but what choice did she have? She had to help them. She couldn't abandon her own people when they needed her.

Fiona was upset and desperate. Her people had nowhere to go.

"Everyone's going to hate me for this…" Lara whispered, but Dorian turned to her.

"Perhaps. But if it's any consolation, you have my support," He responded.

She nodded. She couldn't even smile. She didn't have it in her. Almost as if it would destroy her. She stepped forward and walked over to Fiona.

"The Inquisition might be willing to take in the mages," She answered.

"And the terms of this arrangement?" Fiona asked.

"Hopefully better than what Alexius gave you. The Inquisition is better than that, yes?" Dorian approached the two mages.

"They have lost all possible supporters. The Inquisition is their only remaining chance for freedom," Solas looked directly at her. Lara knew Solas would always be by her side.

"It seems we have little choice but to accept what you offer," Fiona looked disheartened. Lara felt sorry for her. She was manipulated by Alexius and let the mages down. Lara knew that feeling. Letting everyone down. Being a disappointment. She knew this decision wouldn't make anyone happy but the mages deserved a chance.

"We would love to have you fight as allies at the Inquisition's side," Lara said sternly, not wanting any doubt to be detected.

She didn't miss the scowl that Cassandra gave her. This would be discussed later, she was sure of it.

"A generous offer. I hope the rest of the Inquisition honour your decision," Fiona smiled softly.

—-

The journey back to Haven was a torturous one. Lara kept her distance from everyone except Dorian. He was the only one who understood. She really hoped he would stay for good. She barely slept and her body was exhausted. Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could see was red lyrium and bodies everywhere. She could hear the echoes and the hum. She saw him. End me!

Lara awoke with a gasp, feeling clammy. No more sleep for her. Maybe Adan had a potion she could use to sleep. One that would take her nightmares away.

She was summoned to the War Council and immediately felt sick. Knots in her stomach, vomit threatening to spew out. She did not want to go over the events of Redcliffe, nor hear the disapproval. Lara was already disappointed in herself. "You're nothing but a mistake," Those words haunted her still. She barely slept and mostly kept quiet. She wished Dorian could be there but she wasn't able to find him. Approaching the War Room, she heard her advisors bickering amongst themselves. She entered hoping they would leave her alone.

"What were you thinking turning mages loose with no oversight?! The veil is torn open and they can do as much damage as the demons themselves!" Cullen turned to her angrily.

Lara kept her head low. She wouldn't dare look at him. Not after how she last saw him. She couldn't look at any of them. All the fight had drained out of her. She was scared to answer in case her voice breaks. She wasn't going to cry in front of them either.

"Enough! As much as I disapprove, we were not there with her. We cannot second guess our people," Cassandra answered. "The sole point of the Herald's mission was to gain the mage's aid and that was accomplished."

Lara was grateful even though she knew Cassandra wasn't happy with her.

"Ah! The voice of pragmatism speaks. Here I was enjoying the circular arguments," Dorian waltzed in and Lara turned around to face him, surprised. He was still here. He was the only one she could bear to look at. She was relieved he was here. It felt like everyone in this room was against her and she was cornered. She heard her advisors discussing something behind her but wasn't listening to what they were saying. She gave Dorian a nod as if to say thank you.

"We should look into the things you saw in this dark future. A demon army…" Leliana spoke and that caught Lara's attention.

She turned around and looked at her spymaster with fear. Remembering the future version of her. Her advisors were quiet but stunned by Lara's response.

"I don't think that's a wise idea. Not now anyways. It's too soon. I don't wish to revisit it and I don't believe our Herald does either," Dorian answered, now standing by her side.

Cullen reached forward and Lara instantly stepped back in reaction. Cullen stopped in his tracks, but Lara didn't dare look at his expression. She couldn't do it. She was tortured enough.

"Agreed. One battle at a time," He spoke softly.

"Well I think that's enough for our Herald and I would rather skip this Council meeting. I would like to see this Breach up close though," Dorian turned to exit and Lara looked up at him.

"Does this mean you'll stay?" She asked, hopeful.

"Oh didn't I mention? The South is so charming and rustic. I adore it to little pieces," He answered without saying yes directly. This was the first bit of happiness Lara felt in however long it's been since this mess started.

"There's no one else I'd rather be stranded in time with," She replied, still aware her advisors were watching them.

"Let's not do that anytime soon, please. Now if you'll excuse us."

Dorian extended his arm to her and Lara took it wanting to get away from her disappointed advisors as soon as possible. Mainly the Commander. She felt his eyes burning a hole through her like he wanted to say something but she was glad he didn't.

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