"I apologize for this final betrayal. But I do what I can to minimize the damage. When you see the old world restored…"

Rook lay on the cold stone, sucking in ragged breaths. Behind her on the steps, being backlight by the crackling light of the Veil, stood Solas. Rook shifted and pulled out the fake lyrium dagger from where it was sheathed with her left hand. She stood slowly, shielding the real dagger with her right arm and cape.

"The Veil's not coming down on my watch," Rook said, turning around and lunging at Solas. Solas stood calm, raising his hand, engulfing her arm in a sea foam green light. She couldn't move. Rook felt her hand being forced opened.

"It is over. You could never stand against me alone." Solas reached out is hand. Rook felt the dagger slide from her hand and float into Solas's. He turned his back towards her and started walking up the stairs to the Veil, "If you will excuse me, the final enchantments require a delicate touch."

"A delicate touch?" Rook yelled, her body still frozen and shimmering from his magic. "You kill Varric. Stab me in the back- you're about to drown the world in demons! How are you any different from Elgar'nan, trying to impose your will on all of us?"

Solas paused, turning to regard her, "Elgar'nan would have seized this world by force. You were not crushed by the power of the Dread Wolf. You were bested fairly by wits alone."

Rook watched as Solas walked towards the crackling wall of light that was the Veil. He studied the dagger in his hand briefly.

Rook held her breath, silently praying, please… if there is a Maker…

After a moment, Solas thrust the dagger towards the Veil. Tendrils of fade magic wrapped around it. An explosion of Solas's magic light. He was frozen by the power of the Viel, his power diminished, releasing Rook.

Rook took a deep breath as she slowly walked up the steps. Solas was pinned in place by the Veil's magic. Try as he might, he could not move.

"That dagger was a fake," Rook chuckled softly. She held up her right hand, "Here's the real one." She walked closer to him, Lucanis and Emmrich following her up the steps. She reached and grabbed Solas's hand, glaring right at him while doing so.

"And now the Veil is once again tied to the life force of an elven god," she said, slicing the lyrium blade across the palm of his hand, his blood flecking onto the blade.

"Bested fairly by wits alone," Solas bitterly chuckled. "I taught you well."

"You didn't teach me shit. That was all Varric and Viago." Rook shook her head, sighing, "I wish it didn't have to come to this. If you'd been willing to listen…"

Solas smeared, "you think yourself capable of judging me? I have faced things you could not possibly comprehend! You are a mortal, A MORTAL! And I am a-"

Rook rolled her eyes. She was really, really getting done with this bullshit. She put her hand against Solas's stomach and flicked her fingers, sending him back to crash against the Veil.

Solas laughed bitterly, "I am a fool. Who finally met his match."

They stood watching as Solas slowly began getting absorbed into the Veil. The Veil calming as he fully disappeared within it.

Rook fell to her knees, closing her eyes. She felt hands grip her shoulders from behind, Lucanis pressing his lips against the back of her head, his scent of spice and coffee filling her nose, calming her rapidly beating heart. She leaned back against him as he wrapped his arms around her.

It was over.

It was finally over…

An assassin and demon setting aside the past for the sake of family

There are stories of love.

But those stories aren't over.

And we will always be grateful to those whose stories brought us where we are today… and those whose stories will live on with us forever