"Commander?"

"Just use my name," Duran sighed to Anders. "I'm not your commander anymore."

"Well, yes," Anders said, flushing. "But I betrayed you. I don't deserve to treat you like a friend."

Duran looked sharply at the mage, who was gazing unhappily at the ground. "You didn't betray me," he pointed out. "You left the Wardens. There is a big difference."

Anders looked up, confusion written on his face. "You're a strange man," he replied quietly. "Most people would have killed me for what I did."

"Maybe most people are stupid then," Duran said curtly. "Anders, how would killing you have solved anything?"

Anders frowned, actually thinking the question over. "I… don't know. Personal satisfaction, I suppose?"

"Uh-huh," Duran answered skeptically. "You know me fairly well. Do you think I would have gotten satisfaction from killing you?"

Anders grinned then. "Punching me maybe, but no, not from killing me."

Duran grunted, as Alistair grinned. "I'm sure you're deserving of a good knock to the head, but I'm not feeling it right now. Some other time perhaps."

"I guess I'll watch my back then," Anders replied with a smile, then became somber once more. "Duran… I …. I wanted to ask you…."

"Well, go on then," Duran grunted, even as he laid back with his head resting on his pack, trying to get comfortable while they waited.

"Did Cat ever tell you about… what's to come?"

"I'm assuming you aren't meaning this whole mess we're in now," Duran replied dryly. He waited to speak, as Alistair was taking off his outer layer of armor, and sat down to join them.

"No," Anders agreed. "It's just that, from what's she's said… she knows much more then she lets on."

"Agreed," Duran replied, frowning now.

"I've asked, but…" Anders continued. "But I'm not really sure I want to know." He met Duran's eye and smiled. "But I'm sure she's told you, because the kind of man that you are, and I suppose I just wanted to know… if everything is… going the way it should be?"

He chuckled then, looking up at the ceiling as he laid back. "Sounds pretty silly when I say it out loud."

Duran grunted, looking up at the ceiling as well. He supposed they were a sight, laying down near a decrepit staircase, the three of them with their heads near each other, each facing a different way so as not to be snuck up on.

"Actually, Anders," he finally spoke. "I think the type of man I am, is exactly why Cat hasn't told me everything."

Anders rolled his head, to look at one of the men he admired most. "What do you mean?" he asked, quizzically.

"He means the type of man that wants to save everyone, and prevent suffering," Alistair spoke when Duran didn't.

"Well yes, but that's why he's the type of man we can trust to make the hard decisions. We know he wants the best outcome," Anders replied.

"But that isn't the same as preventing suffering," Alistair answered. "We've learned that lesson the hard way."

Anders was quiet, trying to fit the puzzle pieces together, but they still didn't seem to make a clear picture for him. "I don't understand," he admitted.

"In the early days, after we found out about Cat's knowledge," Duran began, "I didn't want to depend too much on it. I found it strange, but she had told us that she didn't know everything, and that she would tell us what she could, when she could. And she did… several times she saved us months of travel between cities because she knew where to find certain people, or things."

"That was one of the good parts," Alistair added. "We stopped the blight much sooner than we thought possible because of her."

"You say that like there were bad parts," Anders said with a frown.

"There were," Duran replied softly. "In trying to prevent suffering for my companions that I traveled with, I pressed Cat for answers. She didn't want to tell me, but I wouldn't let up, making her feel guilty for not telling me. She gave me information about people that would cause them pain, and I dealt with them ahead of time."

He paused, and Anders waited. Hearing nothing he said, "that doesn't sound like a bad thing…"

"No, not on the surface," Alistair said softly.

"He's being kind," Duran said, the pain in his voice making Anders sit up in surprise.

"It was done with the best of intentions," Alistair replied firmly, sitting up as well. "None of us blame you any longer."

Duran merely shook his head, ashamed.

"He cannot seem to forgive himself," Alistair told Anders. "With the information he received from Cat, he went out and took care of the problems that we were all facing, and then returned and told us of them." He gave a kind smile. "We weren't exactly happy about it."

He sighed, turning to face Anders. "He came to us, telling us that our problems were taken care of, and we could rest easy," he smiled, hearing Duran groan. "Even our illustrious leader makes mistakes."

"But what he didn't think of, and what Cat has now realized with much more clarity, is that the pain of such things can help us grow, make us stronger. If that is taken care of for us, then we can't achieve the potential that we have." He smiled at Anders now, as he moved to lay back down. "We all came to that conclusion after Cat had left us. She had told us a few things, that helped us avoid unnecessary suffering, though we didn't realize it until afterwards."

"It took a very long time for Cat to trust me after that, though she is also very forgiving," Duran spoke up. "I still cringe when I think about what I did, however. And I am glad that she is not with the Wardens, though I miss her when she is gone. I know myself well enough to know that I would find justifications for trying to do so again."

The three men were silent for a bit, and Anders laid back down, thinking. After some time, he spoke. "I think I understand," he said thoughtfully. "Cat knew about the relic thing the entire time. She could have given it back to the Qunari, and saved Kirkwall from a huge mess. Originally, when I found that out, I was so angry."

"But?" Alistair asked, smiling.

"But," Anders replied, "Hawke would not be Champion of Kirkwall without that fight. Cat told us multiple times, that we needed to get stronger, and we would have to face things we didn't want to in order to do that." He hummed slightly as he thought. "I can't imagine Hawke facing this Corypheus as he had been before. I don't think he would be able to."

"Exactly," Duran answered.

"Hawke is so much like Duran…" Anders mumbled to himself, though the other two could hear him. "is that why she won't tell him? To avoid that happening again?"

Duran didn't speak, though he nodded to himself, feeling the pain of what he had done over again. He knew he was the reason she felt she couldn't tell Hawke the truth… and that burden felt like it was crushing him.

Cat wasn't thinking of any of them at the moment. She was focused on one thing, and one thing only. Keeping Marethari away from the demon's vessel.

"You can't do this!" she hissed into the elf leader's ear. "You promised me that you wouldn't!"

Marethari was still, Cat's arms wrapped around her so that she couldn't move forward any more. "I have to," she said quietly. "This demon is no longer quiet. It will call out and possess the first helpless traveler that comes to this place," she explained.

"There has to be another way," Charade spoke up from behind them. "What if we bury it deeply underground?"

"That will not do it," Merrill shook her head. "Once I helped it, it had a hold in this world through the Fade. Hiding the vessel will do nothing." She glared at her mentor. "But sacrificing yourself will not help the clan!"

"You are my first, you would lead the clan in my place," Marethari said calmly, while Merrill looked horrified.

"What?!" she cried. "I couldn't! I left the clan, Keeper! It would not be my place!"

Marethari looked at her skeptically. "Oh, so all my lessons are forgotten? Did I appoint another since you left?" she asked.

"Let's not talk about this, since we aren't letting either of you become possessed," Aveline spoke up. "Can we simply take the jar to the templars? Perhaps the mages can beat it in the Fade?"

"And what would we tell them?" Isabela asked her. "Hey, we found this jar in the mountain, and we think there's a demon inside?"

"Yeah, sorry Aveline," Cat said, trying to talk quietly, since she was so close to Marethari's ears. "But I don't see that going well for us."

"Keeper," Dahon was still at Cat's side, but had not spoken until this point. "I will take the demon."

"What?!" Cat screeched, forgetting to stay quiet, and the two elves winced. "No way! That is NOT an acceptable alternative!"

"Listen Cat," he said calmly, still looking forward at the jar. "This demon will hurt the clan if loosed, won't it?" he asked.

"Yes, but-"

"And we can get rid of it, here and now, if it possesses someone and that person is killed, can't we?" he interrupted her.

"Well, yes, but-"

"And the Keeper feels so strongly about this being the only way, that she was willing to give her own life?"

"Yes, but I won't let her!" Cat said wildly, tired of being interrupted.

"Neither will I," Dahon replied, looking to his Keeper. "She is the heart of clan Sabrae, and I will not let her die- not when I can save her."

"But it doesn't need to cost you your life!" Cat pleaded with him to see.

"Does it not?" he asked, turning to her. She was taken aback at the calm look on his face, as if he had already accepted his fate. "I am a warrior, a protector of the clan. You, as Vhenallin, must also see this as the right course, don't you?"

Her friends were silent, watching their conversation, though Merrill was shedding tears. "No, Dahon," she spoke up. "I did this, I should be the one to end it."

"No, lethallan," Dahon replied. "The clan needs magic, and you are the first until the Keeper finds another, whether you will it or not." He looked from Merrill back to the Keeper. "This is for me. Keeper, will you help me?"

"Da'len," Marethari replied fondly. "Are you certain?"

"I am," Dahon said, standing straight and proud.

"This isn't right-" Cat started, until she was grabbed by another, and forced to release the Keeper. She recognized her attacker as the elf that had spat at her.

"Do not interfere," he said in her ear, and she could hear the pain and pride in his voice. "What Dahon does now is for us all."

"But he doesn't have to!" she replied, seeing him speak to the Keeper and then turn and walk towards the jar. "Please don't do this!" she shouted, squirming in the elf's hold. "I won't help them kill you, Dahon!"

He turned then, holding the jar in his hands, looking straight at her, and gave a small smile. "You must," he replied.

And then his body began to change, and the sick sound of laughter that was no longer his, echoed through the cave. Cat could see the others pull out their weapons, their stances showing they were ready to attack.

All she wanted to do was rage at the heavens at how unfair it all was.

What was the point of saving the Keeper?! What was the point of convincing Merrill to stop trying to repair the Eluvian if someone still had to die?!

She stood up slowly, and strode forward, glaring at the demon that dared to cause all of this. Its name was Audacity, wasn't it? she asked herself. Fitting.

She gripped her daggers, and advanced, to kill it.

"Something is coming, I sense the taint," Nathaniel warned them all, and the group stood ready, even as a quake shook the ground.

"He is waking," Larius spoke as he turned the corner in front of them. Hawke relaxed slightly. "He feels the seals weaken."

"There are more," Nathaniel stressed, his bow out, and pointed ahead to their left.

Larius turned as well. "No, no! They're here!"

"Who's here?" Nathaniel barked.

"The Wardens! They listen to Corypheus! Stop them! You must stop them!"

Hawke watched him scuttle away, even as he heard people approaching from where Nathaniel had his arrow aimed.

He held his hand up, and Nathaniel relaxed slightly, though he didn't put his weapon away.

"I don't understand, it's held up to tunneling before. We must find-" the woman stopped, surprised to see the group in front of her. "Who are you?" she demanded, looking them up and down.

"Exactly what I was going to ask you," Hawke replied cheekily.

"What?" she replied, her eyes narrowing on him. And then she saw the gem glowing on the end of his staff. "You have the key?" she asked, her mind working furiously. "And you came through the seals?!"

She stepped forward. "Are you Hawke? The Champion of Kirkwall, and son of Malcolm?" she asked, excitedly. "The carta said they were close!"

She cleared her throat, and gave a noble nod. "I am Janeka, and I lead this unit of Grey Wardens."

"Senior Warden," Carver spoke up, moving to stand next to Garrett. "Why are you interested in our Father?" he demanded, though trying to sound respectful.

"Then you don't know?" Janeka asked, taken aback. "This prison would have fallen thirty years ago, if not for your father."

"How is that exactly?" Hawke asked.

"The Grey Wardens built this prison to contain one of the most powerful darkspawn we've ever encountered," Janeka replied. "But even the best magic fades. The wardens need to periodically reinforce the seals."

Hawke nodded, so she continued. "This requires the blood of a mage untainted by… warden training. Your father was the last to perform this ritual."

Hawke's face went stony. "If there is one thing I know, it is that my father was no blood mage."

"To avert the blights, forbidden magics are sometimes necessary," she said with a small smile. "But he did not bind the demons, if that was your concern. That was done in another era, before the Chantry's laws."

"Why is it that my family stories never involve embarrassing trips to Antiva?" Hawke moaned, and Carver rolled his eyes at him.

"We need your help," Janeka replied, ignoring his witty retort. "I have done extensive research on this darkspawn, and I believe the original Wardens were wrong. He is not a threat to humanity- he is our greatest opportunity! A darkspawn that can think, feel, reason… and can control the mindless hordes."

"Corypheus cares nothing for blights, nor for humans," Larius showed up to accuse Janeka, and Hawke's group simply watched the back and forth. "He used you!"

"The Warden Commander!" one of the wardens behind Janeka exclaimed.

"Do not listen to that…thing." Janeka replied with disgust. "He's half darkspawn himself. I can bind Corypheus and use him to end this."

"No! The wardens knew- he is too powerful!" Larius argued.

Janeka gave him another glare then turned to Hawke. "Well, what say you? Will you help me?" she asked.

"Don't do it Hawke," Nathaniel warned. "We met one of these darkspawn, and it offered to help us- until we discovered its plan was to taint all humans."

"I don't know, seems worth the risk," Varric said with a frown. "If he doesn't help, it's one more big darkspawn to stick a bolt in. No big deal."

"There are rules to the Order," Carver said, crossing his arms. "Father wouldn't want this."

"Corypheus calls her, and she listens," Larius spoke again. "She got him the Carta, and sent them for you!"

Hawke was surprised, and glanced over at Janeka, questioning the validity of that statement. She seemed flustered slightly, but then threw up her arms.

"Aeducan wouldn't let me have your brother, I need you!" she exclaimed.

Carver and Hawke glanced to each other and shrugged. "I didn't realize he had been asked," Carver stated.

"Why would Corypheus even help you?" Hawke asked.

"Blights are terrible for his people as well," she explained.

"This sounds familiar," Nathaniel warned.

"He tricks you!" Larius spewed. "These are not your thoughts, they are his calling!"

"How many of them died in Ferelden alone?" Janeka continued persistently. "And that was the least of the blights!"

"How could you trust him?" Hawke asked, confused.

"Do not take me for a fool, Hawke, I am making no deal with him. I have a spell that will bind him to my will. He will be a tool, no more, no less," she said with a smug smile.

Hawke took a moment, looking between Larius and Janeka. He thought back to what Duran and he had discovered about this monster, and he knew he couldn't risk it. He shook his head.

"We will do this, with or without you, Hawke," she said, as she backed up, pulling out her staff.

Immediately the others pulled their weapons out, ready for an attack.

"This prison will fall," she continued, twirling her staff, creating a distraction for the wardens behind her. "The Blights will end." With that, she laid a wall of fire down, preventing them from following her, and gaining the lead in what was now a race to Corypheus.

"With me!" Larius yelled. "We will beat them to the seal!"

Hawke looked back once more, seeing Janeka running, and he took off after Larius.

Cat was vibrating, she was strung so tightly. She didn't know quite how to hold back, her anger, grief and frustration were warring within her and she wanted to let loose. The problem was, she didn't have a source to aim them at.

Isabela was holding her hand, so she was at least anchored to the group at the moment, but she knew she needed to reign it all in, lest she say or do something that would cause harm.

She looked to her right, where Aveline was gently carrying the wounded Keeper behind Merrill. She didn't exactly blame the Keeper, but the resentment was there, burning. That she allowed, even helped Dahon to let himself be possessed, had her raging.

She looked left, to where the other male elf was carrying Dahon's lifeless body down the mountain. She could appreciate the care and ceremony, but she didn't feel it.

"Want to talk about it Kitty?" Isabela asked, even as she squeezed her hand.

"No, I'd better not," she replied softly. "I don't want to be insulting."

She heard a snort, and decided to say even less, since the elves could hear her. She needed to remember that.

"You may not understand, or like it, but it was his choice," Isabela continued. "He died as he chose. Not many can say that."

"That's true," Charade added. "And that demon is no longer a threat to the clan. They will all remember his sacrifice for them."

"Yes," Cat said with a nod. "I suppose I am simply feeling sorry that I didn't get to know him better." It sounded good, didn't it? She could tell them what they wanted to hear. She knew they wouldn't understand what she was really thinking, especially since she couldn't explain it. "But I already considered him a friend."

"He considered you as such."

Cat looked up, surprised that the elf was speaking to her. "I'm sorry, I don't even know your name," she replied.

"My name is Reyn," he replied. "You know my brother Feyn."

"That must have been confusing growing up," Charade muttered to Isabela, and Reyn glanced at her sharply.

"It is nice to meet you Reyn," Cat replied, ignoring the comment. "Are you and Feyn twins?"

"Yes," he replied, though he seemed hesitant to have a conversation with her.

"How is it that I never met you then, when I spent every day with the two of them?" she asked, still sad, but curious.

"I was covering their watches," he answered.

"Oh," she answered. "Then… I thank you."

He glanced back at her, distrustful. "Why?" he asked.

"It was because of you, that I was able to know Dahon as well as I did, so thank you," she answered. "I may not agree with what he did, but my friends are right, it was his choice."

He was quiet for some time, but eventually he responded. "I suppose he was right about you as well… thank you for trying to stop him, though I do not agree with you for doing so."

She didn't say anything, though she smiled sadly. The group continued down the mountain without another word.

They had followed after Larius, using the old wards in the prison to try to keep Janeka busy, and getting trapped inside a few of them as well. It seemed to take hours, but finally, they had made it to the lowest level of the prison that would take them out to the middle of the chasm.

"I'm sorry Hawke, but we have to turn back," Nathaniel spoke up, as they neared the stairs. He hadn't heard a voice, but they didn't need to know that. Looking at the chamber ahead of them, he knew that they were close to Corypheus. He and Carver needed to retreat.

"It's all right," Hawke said gratefully. "I understand completely, and I appreciate you coming this far."

"I still don't hear anything," Carver said stubbornly.

"Still, we don't want you around that thing," Hawke said cheerfully. "Better safe than sorry." He gave Nathaniel a shrug when Carver continued to mumble.

"We'll go back to the others, and let them know this is almost over," Nathaniel said.

"We can probably bring them back to this point, since we still aren't in reach of it," Carver added.

"Let's keep the Wardens at a safe distance, shall we?" Varric spoke up, as he reloaded his crossbow. "I don't want to worry about that thing turning you all on us in the middle of the fight."

Carver glared at him, but couldn't fault his logic. "Fine," he grumbled.

Hawke put a hand on his shoulder, and gave him a grin. "Don't worry so, brother," he said charmingly. "We'll be safe."

"Just go already," Carver said, as he turned on his heel and began to walk away.

Nathaniel was the one to give a shrug this time, and then turned to follow the younger warden. "Make sure you give him an arrow for me," he said as he walked out.

"Will do," Varric replied.

"Most certainly," Sebastian agreed.

Hawke turned back, looking at the seal in front of him. Maybe it was Nathaniel and Carver leaving, but this felt like the final piece to the giant puzzle this prison had been. And he was ready for a fight.

"Here we go," he said, as he walked towards the large chasm, Fenris, Varric and Sebastian following after him.

Hearing creatures howling did nothing to help to the scenery. "Oh, that's nice," Varric commented.

"What's so nice about it?" Fenris asked.

"I was just wondering what someplace sinister and foreboding would look like, and here it is," Varric answered.

"You are very strange," Fenris muttered.

Hawke shook his head, but continued forward. He could see what looked like a seal, but as they came closer, he realized that it was a seal, but not like the previous ones. This seal, held Corypheus inside.

"You're too late Larius," Janeka said slyly, as she popped out from behind a pillar as they approached. "Hand over Hawke, and I'll give you a painless death."

"Hawke has made his decision," Larius countered. "This right one."

"The right choice?" she asked, looking over at Hawke. "Or the only choice? Malcolm Hawke was not allowed to disagree after all."

"That is in the past!"

Hawke heard the panic in his voice and turned to the tainted man. "Larius?" he asked, almost sweetly. "What did she mean by "not allowed?""

"How does she know this?" Larius turned, and walked towards the fencing along the path they were on. "Malcolm Hawke was reluctant, and had to be… persuaded. I was Warden Commander, it was my duty."

He sighed. "I delivered an ultimatum. Help us, or you would never see her again."

"Excuse me?!" Hawke fumed. "You did what?!" He walked over, and grabbed the man's armor. "You were going to kill my mother?!"

"No! Never!" Larius denied. "He came with us, I never had to decide her fate! She was never told about what passed between us!"

"But if he hadn't come with you?!" Hawke raged. "That doesn't excuse what you were going to do!"

"You see Hawke?" Janeka was practically jumping for joy. "How can you trust anything Larius says?"

"While I find what he did reprehensible…" Hawke growled at the previous commander, "he is still correct about Corypheus. We must destroy him for good."

Her grin was gone now, and she pulled out her staff, the wardens behind her following her lead. "You can come willingly or not, Hawke. I just need your blood."

"Sounds like you wardens are all the same," Hawke replied, pulling out his own staff. Larius pulled out a sword, and stood in front of him, even as Fenris streaked forward, and leapt.

The battle was fierce but quick. These wardens had obviously not been keeping up with their training. Hawke took a moment to look down at Janeka, even as Larius prodded him forward.

"You must slay him now, before he fully wakes. The key is not strong enough, so use your blood. Free him and slay him," he continued as he pushed Hawke towards the platform.

"Okay, okay, calm down," Hawke said, digging his heels in. "I'm not rushing headfirst into this."

"The seals," Larius said, pointing to statues that were harboring spells over the platform where he was.

"Here goes," Hawke answered, walking over to the first one, and brandishing his staff, using the key to cancel the spell.

"That seems to have weakened it," Fenris commented.

"I suppose he will keep coming after you unless we do this," Sebastian said in concern.

"If you like, we could leave a strongly worded note on his sarcophagus and go," Hawke teased.

"Oh, Hakwe, you're so clever, heh heh," Varric spoke up, enjoying his friend's wit.

"And that's two," Hawke answered, as he took down another seal.

"You do realize you lost the bet," Varric pointed out.

"These obviously don't count," Hawke replied, even as he moved to the third statue.

"But then you were still wrong," Fenris pointed out.

"Blast it all," Hawke cursed. "That's three."

"One more, Hawke, we've got your back," Sebastian cheered him on.

"Of course, why else do you think I brought you?" Hawke grinned at him, heading for the final statue. "You all have to make sure I don't die."

"Well, I suppose, since Cat would kill us if we did," Fenris replied.

"That's true. I guess I'll help then, since she scares me," Varric said.

"Wait, what?" Hawke pouted. "I'm the scary one."

"What is happening?" Larius asked himself, even as he moved back out of the chamber.

"Last chance to change your mind," Varric called, and Hawke lifted the staff and canceled the spell completely.

The group turned, though nothing happened.

"I guess it does need my blood," Hawke said with a grimace. "Here goes then."

He stepped onto the platform, deciding that the amount of blood shouldn't matter, and pulled out a dagger. He used the tip to prick his smallest finger on his non-dominant hand, and let a tiny drop of blood fall to the platform below him.

Still, nothing happened.

"Come on now Hawke, don't be stingy," Varric said. Hawke glanced at him, and held out his staff. It seemed to float there before him, though he didn't hold it up. Then the air exploded, and sent Hawke flying off the platform, his staff after him.

His friends rushed over, to help him up, then they all turned, as a huge creature rose from the platform.

It was definitely a darkspawn, but was much bigger, and more… human than any darkspawn Hawke had ever seen before. They stared at it, as it looked around the room in confusion.

"Be this some dream I wake from? Be I in dwarven lands? Why seem their roads so empty?" it spoke in a gravelly voice, though it was still chilling to Hawke to understand what it was saying.

It spoke of old gods, and temples, and with Varric's help Hawke understood how long ago it must have been put to sleep. But then it commanded them all to bow before the magister of Tevinter, and Hawke saw Fenris bristle.

"You're a darkspawn," Hawke spoke to it. "Dark…spawn…" he said slowly. "Ravaging the Deep Roads, bringing the blight. Any of this ringing a bell?" he asked, feeling uncertain.

The creature looked at him, and narrowed its eyes. "You are what held me. I smell the blood in you."

Hawke expected an attack, but was surprised that the creature turned and looked up at the sky, calling out to Dumat. He spoke of seeking the golden city, and finding it corrupted, and Hawke heard Sebastian gasp.

"He speaks of the first violation," Sebastian told him when Hawke looked to him. "The original magisters that brought the blight to the world!"

"I thought that was just Chantry propaganda," Fenris muttered, confused. "That is what I was always told, that they made it up in order to have the world hate the Imperium."

"I'm not sure what really happened, but darkspawn came from somewhere," Varric said.

"He seems confused," Hawke said. "I doubt we'll ever truly know if he was one that tried to reach the Maker's City."

"The City!" the creature hissed, turning back to them. "It was supposed to be golden! It was supposed to be ours!"

"I'm sorry, but you failed," Hawke told it firmly, wondering what he was even doing. "I can't let you keep bringing wardens and dwarves to kill me. It's time to end this."

"If I can't leave with you, I will leave through you!" Corypheus stated, bringing up his hands that were giant claws.

Hawke stepped back and raised his staff. This is not going to be easy, he thought.

Cat was trying to meditate yet again. She had been there, when the clan had put Feyn's body to rest, and she felt so completely miserable at the loss. The Keeper had been unconscious still, so Merrill had performed the ceremony, which had meant that many dirty looks were given.

Cat wanted to tell them why they were wrong, but she knew it wouldn't do any good. That, and Merrill had asked her not to. She simply wanted to help them, until the Keeper recovered, and then they would leave.

Cat continued to do her chores, and she still sparred with Feyn when she had a chance. Every now and then, Reyn would join them, though he would only watch, not participate. He seemed less angry now, but she felt he was simply in mourning for his friend.

Variel was a comfort however, she treated Cat no differently than before. Cat felt bad that she was grateful to not be thinking of loss during those times, but she couldn't really help it. Life still went on, and she needed to move forward with her training- if only to prevent further loss.

She sat in silence, though Merrill sat nearby. She focused on the small rocks beneath her legs, the wind she felt through her hair, the sunshine giving warmth to her skin. She thought of the green of the leaves, the brown color of the dirt.

Until a gasp had her eyes snap open in alarm.

"What is it?" she asked, her body ready to defend.

"Your feet," Merrill said, pointing, her mouth open. Cat looked down, and saw nothing amiss. She looked back to Merrill in question.

"They… well they looked just like the ground for a moment," Merrill explained, feeling silly. "It must have just been a trick of the light, I'm sorry for interrupting you."

"No problem," Cat replied, feeling bad for keeping it a secret, but she had promised. Her heart soared, as she realized the progress she was making.

So she closed her eyes and started the process again. Now she just needed to get to this point faster the next time.

"Fenris?! What the hell are you doing?!" Hawke asked, the shock of his friend suddenly attacking Larius after everything they had just done, made him want to pull his hair out. "WHAT IS GOING ON?!" he shouted.

Fenris didn't like what he had done, but he knew, he knew! that Corypheus was able to go into the Warden. Once he heard the man speak as though he was made anew, he knew what his duty was, and he completed it.

However, now came the difficult part… explaining to Hawke. So he did what any one of them would, and shifted it to someone else.

"Duran told us that if Corypheus was as powerful as he thought, he would be like an Archdemon, remember? He would be able to move his consciousness to any other tainted body," Fenris said. "Darkspawn or Warden."

"So you killed him, on the off chance that it was Corypheus?" Varric asked skeptically.

"No, I waited until I had evidence," Fenris replied, pulling out a rag to clean his sword. "He was speaking strangely."

"I had noticed that as well," Sebastian agreed, musing over the implications.

"Yes, well, he had just finished saying that he no longer had Corypheus in his head, and his mind was clear now!" Hawke said, still baffled. "What kind of evidence is that, anyway?"

"I don't believe that," Fenris replied flippantly. "He was down here for years, becoming more like the darkspawn. He could not suddenly become himself again."

"Regardless, what's done is done," Varric said, looking between the two. Something was going on, and it looked like Hawke was just as much in the dark as he was. "We should go back to the others."

"Won't they come to us?" Sebastian asked. "Now that they can't hear his voice anymore?"

"Perhaps, but there's no guarantee. They won't want to get too close if they are uncertain."

"Varric's right," Hawke replied. "Let's go back and find them."

He strode off, planning to have a discussion with both Fenris and Duran later. He had never felt like a pawn before, and he discovered that he didn't like the feeling. He would make certain it never happened again.