Perhaps the cathedral wasn't the most defensible choice for a final stand. But truly, it was the only possible choice. It was a well-kept secret that the guns and ammo were stored in the hidden vault beneath the statue of Andraste. Little did most of the daily worshipers know that their holy lady was guarding a massive stockpile of the weapons confiscated from Ferelden citizens years ago, when the Blights were declared to be a neutralized threat.
The King's decree had stated that with the darkspawn gone, the citizens had no more immediate need to defend themselves from monstrous threats, and thus no need for such weapons. Barris wasn't exactly sure he wholly supported the sentiment at the time, but Maker was he glad for it now.
The damned Reds had nearly overrun the whole compound by the time he realized what was happening. More than a few of his friends had either fallen or turned Red by now. There wasn't anything they could do to fight that army on their own now, but at least they could stop them from getting to the truly deadly weapons. They seemed efficient enough killers as it was, but if they were armed with guns? The carnage would be inconceivable…
They'd managed to secure the stockpile and arm themselves, but the Reds gave them little reprieve before they started barreling down on the doors.
He was down to a few dozen recruits. Most were wounded, no one left held any significant rank. He certainly hadn't asked for it to happen, but somehow he found himself in charge, again, in a seemingly hopeless situation. He silently wondered if this was going to become some re-occurring pattern in his life.
The Reds were beating down the doors at the north, east, and west entrances. It was all that they could do to keep them barricaded for the time being. As long as the damned Reds didn't find the hidden entrance to the escape tunnel before Cullen did, they could hold their position reasonably well for the time being. Maker, but they needed reinforcements…
He knew his message would get through. All he had to do was hold back the Reds for long enough. Cullen wouldn't let him down…assuming the inquisition wasn't already dealing with a similar situation…
"They're breaking through!"
His head snapped towards the western door. There was a considerable hole just above one of the handles. The Reds seemed to be whipped up into a frenzy over their small victory. Their chanting sounded even more energized now. Barris still didn't know what all that meant but he was certain it wasn't an Andrastian devotional.
"Hold on!" Barris grabbed the nearest two recruits and shoved them towards the staircase to the upper balconies. "Get up in the windows and take out as many as you can." He hurried around the space, arming the shaken recruits and directing them. "I want two in the windows above each entrance. You three! Keep them supplied. Take out as many of the blighters as you can."
The western door demanded his attention now as it groaned ominously. The wood was very obviously staring to buckle under the tremendous pressure.
No more monstrous threats, my ass. This whole plan was about to go to shit real quick if he couldn't hold the entrances. "Free hands to the west! Now!"
Only a couple of others answered his order. The rest were too damn injured to stand…he wasn't even sure a few of them were still breathing…
Even with the combined weight of 10 men stacked against it, the Reds were still steadily pressing their way through the door. That hole was getting bigger by the second, the splinters kept showering over them.
He looked around to the recruits around him. They were all bloodied, each of them had varying degrees of hopelessness in their eyes. A couple of them seemed young, probably still in their teenage years. He wished he had something inspirational to say, but he wasn't sure he even had any spare breath left. All he could do was lead by example now. Maybe, just maybe, if he didn't relent, the others wouldn't either.
If Cullen didn't get here in time…at least he'll know they made the Reds work for it.
He only just barely heard the recruit next to him praying above the noise of their eminent demise. "Andraste have mercy on your Templars…guide us to your side…"
The hole was now big enough for it to become a true problem. The Reds reached through it, their tainted claws grasping desperately to scratch at them. Barris tried hard to block out the pain he was distinctly feeling in his shoulder. It wouldn't much matter if he was about to die anyway…
Maker, I hope I've done enough to earn a place at your side…
He genuinely thought he was hallucinating when Cullen seemingly appeared in front of him. The relief he felt quickly died as he registered the look on his face. It had been years since he last saw him like that…right after the fall of Kinloch.
They were going to fall too, he thought, just like that damn Circle tower.
Cullen had saved his life back then, by ordering him to get the apprentices out. Barris was too new to the order and far too young to charge into the real battle, he had said. It was only because he and the other recruits were on the lowest level that they were able to retreat to the entrance. Cullen might not save either of them today, given the desperate circumstance, but Barris would remember to be grateful that he had tried.
Cullen seemingly launched himself towards Barris. He expected him to take a place next to him, but instead he ripped him from his position. Barris hadn't realized how weak he was until then. He collided with a nearby pillar like a bloody rag doll.
It took considerable effort to get back to his feet, blinking a sudden bit of blurriness out of his vision. He only barely registered Cullen barking orders at someone, at everyone maybe.
He leaned against the pillar heavily, wondering absently just how messed up he was…because it clearly was more than he had thought originally. He closed his eyes, focusing on breathing as he slowly brought his hand up to his shoulder to assess the damage.
"No! No! NO!"
He'd heard that voice before…where? It sounded…lovely…
He suddenly felt someone slap his hand away. Slender hands gripped his shoulders cautiously and lowered him to the floor. He forced his eyes to pry back open.
Seeing the Herald hovering over him was definitely not doing anything to convince him that he wasn't hallucinating. Maker, but she was still drop dead gorgeous, even in her current state. The rips, tears and blood spattered over her clothing made it seem as though she'd only just come from another battle. Odd, that's not how he would have thought he'd remember her in his last moments. She was such a visual comfort, he was certain her current purpose was serving as a benevolent guide to Andraste's side. She seemed utterly distressed. Her breathing was so uneven she was damn near hyperventilating. Her eyes were wildly darting all over, seemingly assessing the damage for herself.
He reached up towards her. He wasn't even sure why, to be perfectly honest. Perhaps he just needed to prove to himself that she was, in fact, really there.
"Don't move!" She shoved him back to the floor harshly. She regarded his shoulder gravely. Her gaze snapped around room, probably looking for help. But help wasn't possible judging from the solemn look on her face.
Seeing her so stressed over his condition was far more bothersome than whatever had happened to his shoulder, than whatever was making him so damned weak suddenly. He could seemingly think nothing but depressing thoughts of self-doubt and hopelessness. It would be better if she didn't have to worry about him. "Just let me go, Herald…"
Her eyes flashed back to him. There was an abrupt, fiery sense of determination in them. So much resolve, he felt himself inspired by just the sight of it. Her hand shot out towards his shoulder in what appeared to be a hasty decision on her part.
There was an immediate, immense pain as she forcefully dislodged whatever object was stuck within his shoulder. The moment the object left him, it was like life rushed back into him. His lungs quickly filled with air, strength returned to his muscles, the fogginess fled from his mind. He only caught a brief glimpse of the jagged red crystal as she chucked it as far away from them as she could manage.
She cradled her hand, clenching it closed. It was burned, he realized. It was only then that his mind caught up to what she had just done. Had she not helped him…had she not been there…it was a grim outcome far too disturbing to even consider. He'd rather die a horrible, painful death than become Red.
He shot upright, reaching out to help her. How, he didn't know, but he just knew he had to bloody well try. He attempted to open her injured hand but she stopped him gently.
"I'll be fine." She muttered, offering an unconvincing smile to reassure him.
He searched her expression carefully, trying to assess just how much she was downplaying it for his benefit. "Are you sure?"
"Nothing is sure with this red shit." She snarled at the direction she'd thrown the crystal. "How long was it in there?"
"I…not long, I think. I wasn't exactly counting the minutes."
She nodded knowingly. There was a tortured look in her eyes as she brought her attention back to him. When her eyes landed on his shoulder again, she seemed to come back to the situation. "I don't suppose there's bandages laying around here?"
Barris shook his head somberly. "The hospital was one of the first buildings to fall."
"Figures." She reluctantly dug her nails into the seam of her sleeve and ripped it from her shirt. She moved mechanically as she tied it roughly around his shoulder. "I doubt it will be enough to stop the bleeding but maybe it will hold it together for a little longer."
She winced when she pulled the knot tight. She clenched her injured hand again, apparently trying to shake off the discomfort.
"Oh, that is so going in the book."
They both looked up to see a dwarf sauntering over towards them from the staircase. He held a rifle that seemed almost too large for him over his shoulder. The Herald shot the dwarf a disgusted look as she got to her feet and stomped away from him. "You and your fucking book."
She seemed to take a deep breath when she turned away from them. She stopped in front of the towering statue of Andraste. Barris assumed she was taking a moment to herself. Maybe she's communing with Andraste…if that's how that Herald thing even worked…
Barris had a mind to chew out that damned dwarf for upsetting her but he wasn't sure he grasped the entirety of the situation yet. Maker, but this whole was definitely not helping this growing obsession. He briefly questioned if he wasn't actually crazy already. He didn't even get a chance to address the dwarf before more drama erupted in front of him.
"Tabris!" Cullen marched right over to the Herald, snatching up her injured hand. "Are you out of your fucking mind?!"
The Herald jerked away from him violently. Her marked hand had an unmistakable icy aura around it. Her expression was harder to decipher from the angle he was at, but there was nothing about her demeanor that was anything close to friendly.
"Probably not the best move, Curly." The dwarf warned.
Barris suddenly realized that everyone was a little too calm for the door breaking into the splinters. It was only then that he noticed the mage hurriedly constructing massive, fiery barriers over the entrances. The west and north doors had been taken care of already, and the east was nearly finished as well.
It didn't escape his notice that the mage's attire was definitely from Tevinter. Whether he was actually from there or a damned foreign idealist was going to have to be a question for another time. For now he was helping them. Magister or no, he certainly wasn't one of the Reds, so that made him an ally for the moment. Barris wasn't confident those barriers would be a permanent solution, but they would certainly hold strong enough so long as the mage didn't lose focus. With the doors finally warded properly, the winded mage began to make his way up the staircase. He kept most of his weight on the wall as he trudged slowly, step by step. That was probably a good idea, on the mage's part, Barris thought, the balcony would be the best place for him to concentrate and stay out of the way.
"He was turning fucking Red! What did you want me to do?!"
Makers fucking breath, I did not need to hear that. Barris had to walk away from that conflict for a moment. He had always been able to compartmentalize his emotions in stressful situations but this threat of becoming Red was still so new. He hadn't quite worked out how to quickly pack that particular fear away yet.
He passively checked over the recruits as he walked. There didn't seem to be any new casualties to manage, which was a small relief. No significant new injuries, either. It wasn't much considering the Inquisition's army clearly hadn't arrived yet. But at this point, Barris was ready to call that a victory.
Cullen seemed positively enraged. "You shouldn't have done anything! Do you have any idea how stupid that was?!"
"Well, you know, just be glad I decided against the marked hand." The Herald snarked back.
Barris nearly snickered there despite himself. He hadn't ever enjoyed dark humor, but if there was a place and time for it, here and now seemed as good as any.
He shuffled towards the east door, intent on inspecting the barrier. But something truly unsettling caught his attention before he reached his destination.
The barriers over the doors seemed to block out most of the Reds cacophony outside. With the outside noise dulled, the sounds coming from the entrance to the tunnel was suddenly, painfully noticeable.
Cullen towered over her, pointing his finger heatedly at her like a disciplining father. "You're supposed to be fixing the fucking Breach, not pulling red lyrium out of an open wound!"
"Oh!" The Herald huffed a bitter laugh. "So I should have just ignored him, huh? I'm so sorry I wasn't raised to be a heartless bitch."
With the discovery of their new security issue, Barris quickly lost patience with their bickering. They'd simply have to sort it out later…assuming they did, in fact, survive this day…
"That's enough!"Barris shoved himself between the two of them. "Listen!"
Precise, controlled gunshots echoed throughout the old stone walls, overlapped by the unmistakable grunts and groans of the damned Reds. There was a distinctly human outcry before the renewed frenzy of the Reds overwhelmed the tunnel again.
"Cass!" The Herald screamed.
The sheer horror in her eyes nearly broke his heart right then and there, but this was no time to be falling apart. He learned early on that stopping to mourn the dead would likely lead you to join them shortly.
Barris marched mechanically over to the gate, attempting to slam it closed. "Make ready!"
"No!" The Herald suddenly shoved the gate back up, with a surprising amount of strength coming from such a petite person. "She'll make it!"
"You can't know that, Herald." He said as gently as he could. He tried to close it but she stopped him again, more forcefully this time.
"Wait for her!"
"We can't."
"Please…"
Maker damn him straight to the void if he could ever ignore her looking at him all teary-eyed like that. He knew he wasn't the cause of it but falling on his sword was preferable to adding to her suffering. It was woefully apparent that he was utterly insane now. This woman would be the death of him, he was certain of it. But Maker, it sounded like a good way to go.
The Reds surged through the tunnel like a blighted tidal wave. They moved so damn quick, he barely managed to pull the Herald out of the way in time.
The seeker's body was thrown violently towards them. The Herald shrieked at the sight, whether out of fear or anger or both, Barris wasn't entirely sure.
That dwarf was already laying down cover fire from the staircase before Barris could bark an order. The others instantly followed without question. Barris pushed the Herald behind him, trying to put distance between her and the Reds. But they all focused in on her like a homing missile.
She threw a thick wall of ice over the tunnel's entrance. The Reds still in the tunnel banged against it relentlessly. The ice began to crack with seconds but at least it served to control the battlefield by a small measure.
It didn't seem to matter how hard or how fast the rest of them attacked the Reds, they were still intent on swarming the Herald like a plague of locusts.
The Herald made a wide gesture, imbuing their weapons with a temporary frosty enchantment before taking off, leading the Reds on an erratic chase through the many inconvenient obstacles within the cathedral.
Just when they thought they had this fight controlled properly, the icy wall shattered. And soon they were overwhelmed again. The Reds made damn sure to trap the Herald, preventing her from getting near the tunnel again.
For every one that they took down, another two emerged from the tunnel. Even despite the slowing effects their weapons and bullets had against their enemies now, their numbers just too greatly overshadowed their own. And that maker-forsaken chanting was deafeningly loud now…
It seemed they were down to only a handful of front line fighters besides Cullen and himself. And that number seemed to be fading all too quickly. Barris tried to push harder, to see this through. But with every passing second, it was becoming harder and harder to see a way out of this.
A tremendous force suddenly charged through their ineffective front line. It was the Lord Seeker, or what was left of him. He moved at an unnatural speed as he snatched up the Herald, emitting a truly unholy laugh.
She didn't even scream, and somehow that was far more frightening than anything. It seemed she didn't even have time to. She seemed entirely frozen in place. She stopped blinking, even the loose strands of her hair were stuck in the exact position they had been in the moment he touched her. The Lord Seeker's hand around her throat threatened to either kill or corrupt her.
Help her! Save her!
That voice sounded like an absolute divine commandment and Barris was not about to argue with it. Hearing voices in ones head typically depicted insanity. But right now, he was fully ready to believe it was a holy order from Andraste herself.
The world couldn't lose her. He'd never forgive himself if she died trying to save the templars. It would be his failure. He couldn't afford to fail. He couldn't lose her to this.
He moved as quick as his body could manage. And when that wasn't enough he pushed himself harder. One more second in that monsters grasp was a tragedy he would not let her endure.
With a careful but powerful swing of his bastard sword, he sliced right through the Lord Seeker's neck. His head fell to the floor with an unceremonious thud. His grip on the Herald released instantly. She collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath. He reached for her and she clung to his arms like a life-raft. She scrambled to her feet quickly but she suddenly became rigid, her head rolled limply in front of her.
The Reds let out a collective screech. With the fall of their master, their frenzy became utterly disorganized. Most of them tried to flee back down the tunnel, making them easy targets. The rest were so confused that they offered little further resistance.
When Barris turned his attention back to the Herald he was met with a truly unsettling sight. She was nearly unrecognizable. She was surrounded by this golden aura. Her eyes were enveloped by an even brighter gold. Maker damn him straight to the void if she wasn't the literal and absolute embodiment of Andraste.
Her next actions did nothing to disprove that assumption either. She regarded her marked hand inquisitively for a short moment before thrusting it outwards away from them.
There was a horrendous tearing sound that filled the room before an equally hideous creature appeared along with a sliver of green light seemingly suspended in the air behind it. The creature was clearly just as confused and frightened just as the Reds now were.
"Envy." The Herald accused, her voice now a distorted mix of two separate tones combined in one. "I will have justice."
Barris was positively shocked. He was absolutely certain that she spoke with the same voice he had heard in his own head only moments earlier. It definitely wasn't the Herald's normal voice. And this definitely wasn't her normal demeanor. He had to be hallucinating now…
The creature hissed in response, skittering around like a caged animal. The Herald picked up the Lord Seeker's sword. Her touch seemingly cleansed the blighted thing in holy fire. She wielded the flaming sword like it was second nature. The creature acted as if it was utterly powerless against her. It it just sat there snarling at her as it waited for her swift judgement. She brought the sword above it's hideous head and slammed it down, sticking the point into the floor. The creature dissipated back into the green light and with a simple gesture of her marked hand, even that faded from existence.
It seemed that Barris wasn't the only one enraptured by the spectacle in front of him. Even the mage and the dwarf were staring in utter shock from the balcony now.
The Herald looked around solemnly at the severe casualties they had suffered. Her eyes closed for a moment, her arms opened wide and lifted slowly as she spoke. "Fallen Defenders. Warriors of the Light. Blessed Champions of the Just…Rise."
There was a sudden mass of gasps and yelps as the once dead templars rose from the dead, each of them slowly climbing to their feet once again. They seemed disoriented but otherwise in perfect health. Their eyes were fixed on the Herald the moment they re-opened.
Barris was nearly beside himself. He watched the wound in his shoulder seal. The thin scar left behind was the only evidence he had that any of this truly had happened. The shock of witnessing her perform a miracle right before his eyes and the relief of knowing that the order wasn't totally decimated was more than enough to send him reeling. No amount of compartmentalizing was going to get him through this unscathed.
But they had yet to see the extent of her work it seemed. The doors creaked open simultaneously as more and more revived templars shuffled into the cathedral. She hadn't just saved those within the room, every Templar that had fallen to the Reds here on the compound were now making their way to rejoin their fellows. Even the Seeker silently made her way to the Herald. Cullen found a place beside him and then Rylen and soon the cathedral was packed full.
"Hear me." She commanded. "I speak with the authority and blessing of our Lady. I am the Herald of Andraste."
In that moment, that title finally felt as though it had real weight to it. It was real, not just something the Inquisition coined for publicity. Barris was seeing it for himself. He couldn't imagine anyone seeing this and questioning it. His faith was affirmed. Andraste did answer prayers…
He felt compelled to kneel before his goddess, to wait for her holy mandate. The others followed suit quickly after. He had hoped they would, she deserved nothing less. She'd saved them, she'd heard their cries for help, she'd rewarded their devotion. The Herald was Andraste's will made manifest. He could do nothing short of following her straight into the void itself.
Her expression softened considerably when she looked over her flock. There was a warm smile on her face. Much like the look that communicates the feeling of absolute, unconditional love.
"My lady," Barris asked with reverence. "What would you ask of your templars?"
She focused her heavenly gaze upon him. He felt as though she saw completely through him yet still accepted every piece of him. Her presence was an undeniable source of comfort and confidence. When she spoke, he felt goosebumps wash over him.
"I have been sent to remind you of your sacred duty. Andraste willed her templars to be the shield against dark magic. Righteous warriors defending Thedas from magical threats. But there are many of your former brethren who have betrayed the order. Tainted it. Defiled it. Corrupted it from its holy purpose. You have been led astray. You have been asked to endure much. But know that your prayers are not ignored. Andraste is with you. I am with you. And I ask that you uphold your duty. I ask that you join my Inquisition and rebuild under my banner. Together we can close this wicked Breach for good. Together we can be stronger."
There was no going back from this, he thought. The rest of his life would be spent in total dedication to the order. A life spent in her service sounded like the right thing to do, the only thing to do.
The Herald slowly turned to Cullen. She extended her hand, resting it on his head. She spoke softly to him, instead of projecting her voice to the crowd. "Wounded soul, the Maker does not punish hasty words spoken in rage. You have suffered greatly, yet your actions serve as a testament to your character. There is nothing to forgive. Do not doubt yourself, my warrior. Have courage. Have faith. Remember why you fight."
Cullen seemed completely overcome with emotion. His breath came in ragged pants. His eyes watered. Barris reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder to comfort him. Cullen's story was no secret amongst the order. It was passed around often as a cautionary tale of the dangers they faced everyday. It was truly heartwarming to know that Andraste hadn't overlooked it. Perhaps it all happened for a reason. Perhaps this was all apart of the Maker's divine plan.
The moment seemed to break when the northern doors suddenly burst open behind her. Heavily armed soldiers flooded the room, lowering their weapons quickly when they grasped the situation.
Barris recognized the woman leading them, the Left Hand of the Divine. The Inquisition's army must have finally caught up to them. The Herald turned calmly toward her, giving her an encouraging smile as she acknowledged her.
Leliana appeared to be just as shocked as the rest of them. She opened her mouth to speak but she seemed only capable of ordering the soldiers through gestures. The soldiers backed off considerably. Barris could pick out the Andrastians among them just from their reactions; they knelt along with the templars, despite their orders.
"Will you join me, my warriors?" The Herald looked back down at Barris directly. "Will you fight with us?"
The templars collectively cheered in agreement. The energy that filled the room was palpable. The Herald seemed positively pleased with them. She smiled down at Barris once more before that glow faded abruptly.
The Herald's body went limp, as if her weight had suddenly become too much for her body to handle. She stumbled towards him and Barris rose up quickly to catch her. Her head rolled against his chest. She was breathing, much to his relief, but totally unconscious.
Leliana moved swiftly to his side, speaking just slightly louder than normal. "Ah, yes, Lady Herald, you've had such a trying day. I'm certain Ser Barris would be happy to help you to your transport."
She gave him a pointed look. It had been a long time since he was forced to learn about to intricacies of the Grand Game but he remembered just enough to understand her plan. If the Herald was truly adversely affected from…well, whatever it was she just did, it definitely wouldn't serve the templars well to know that.
"Of course. Lead the way, please." He responded simply. Better to get her away from this public venue as quickly as possible.
He lifted her properly into his arms, keeping her face well hidden from the others. Leliana discreetly folded the Herald's arms in a way that seemed as if she were casually relaxing.
Leliana acknowledged her colleagues so warmly, Barris was positive it was a engineered reaction. "Seeker, Commander. I trust you can direct the templars back to Haven?"
Cassandra seemed to have trouble forming her words. Upon noticing it, Cullen spoke up to take the attention off of her. "We'll take it from here. Just make sure the Herald gets some rest."
Leliana shot a very short, suspicious look at Cassandra. As she spun around towards the door she whispered to Cullen. "Manage this."
She flashed Barris a warm smile not a moment later, as if nothing ever happened. He suddenly remembered why he hated the nobility. "Follow me, Ser Barris. We have a long ride ahead of us."
The soldiers parted for them without being told to. Most of them bowed their heads respectfully. Barris wished the Herald would have been able to see that. She deserved recognition for her heroic deeds. He absently wondered if they were going to put her in the chant now.
Leliana set a brisk pace, forcing Barris to keep up. He shifted the Herald in his arms to keep her head from bouncing too harshly. There was a car waiting with tinted windows at the end of this path Leliana carved through the army. The ground still hadn't been cleared from the recent battle. Stepping around the bodies and the debris was no small task itself.
"Hey."
He was so focused on navigating his footing that he hadn't noticed that the Herald had woken up. He stopped in his tracks, suddenly feeling incredibly awkward. "Hey."
This is the damn Herald you idiot, you don't have a right to be so informal!
She smiled weakly at him, her voice was groggy. "Did you get him?"
Leliana whipped around, glaring daggers at him. She snapped her head towards the car.
Barris ignored her for the moment. The Herald asked a question, the Left Hand would simply have to wait. It suddenly dawned on him that she must not have even remembered what happened. "Of course, My Lady. I killed him myself."
Leliana stomped her way over to them, tugging Barris along by the sleeve. The Herald didn't seem to react to her, or anything else around them actually. Her eyes appeared heavy again. "Good. She wanted you to."
He couldn't help but stare at her as she faded back into unconsciousness. Trying to interpret her meaning had his mind racing. She? Andraste? It felt naive to believe that he had been chosen somehow. But there seemed to be no other explanation.
Barris had never been very devout. It was hard to buy into the rhetoric after being forced into the Templar ranks for being 'inconvenient, as his father had put it, while still firmly in the middle of his own angsty teenager phase. He memorized the chant like he was told to, but really it always just felt like empty stories meant to control the masses. But after today…after meeting the Herald, seeing her perform a miracle…it was enough to make a believer out of anyone.