Author's Note: WOW! I've been writing so much these past few days. I totally neglected to make author's notes like I normally do so I could get back to writing this saga of mine. Enjoy this chapter! I tried my best with it. Let me know what you think in a review down below. :)

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Chapter 9

Elena and Cullen were sitting on his bed now chatting. Elena sat at the head, holding a pillow in her lap, while Cullen had positioned himself at the foot facing her. It was comfortable and served to distract her from waiting for Erik to come down the mountain. The night was wearing on nicely.

"You never did tell me how you got your scar." Elena started, smoothing the pillow out in her lap.

"I never did." Cullen agreed, snatching the pillow from her, "It's a long story. Are you sure you want to hear it?" Elena nodded and scooted closer to him, taking the pillow back. "All right, remember that you asked me to bore you. As you probably know, I was a Templar in Kirkwall's Circle. I was there when everything happened." His eyes took on a misty appearance as he stared off into space, remembering, "I had helped Hawke and Anders take down Meredith, though I still don't fully understand why I did that. I'd helped to ruin Kirkwall, but there I was looking at these two men who I should have apprehended. Instead, I let them go. Then, I went about doing what I could to patch up Kirkwall. There were still fights going on and I rarely rested, feeling responsible for it all. Abominations, rogue mages, rogue Templars, all manners of nasty people running around everywhere, and just a handful of us to help restore order." He reached up and touched the scar, "It happened a day or so after Meredith. I was locked in combat with a mage. I ran in to deliver a blow and she whacked me in the face with her staff. It hurt like hell and stunned me. Luckily, I wasn't alone or I surely would have been killed. My companion killed the mage and when they turned to look at me, they pointed out the cut her staff blade had left. It bled heavily, my clothes were already ruined or I would've been upset about all the blood getting onto my shirt. My companion helped me get to a healer quickly, but the healer was a mage. After having gone through… everything so recently, I must say my pride and ignorance took hold of me. I refused magical healing which would have left me as I was. Instead, I insisted on stiches and elf root salve. It healed and now I have the scar." He swallowed nervously, "I don't really care for mages, you know."

Elena shrugged, "I know few Templars who do."

"So, that's the story. Not as glamorous as some of the other scars I've got, but those are… private."

Elena got real close to him, "You have other private scars?" She asked a wicked gleam in her eye as she scanned his armored body. Cullen eased away from her just as the sound of many horses trotting reached their ears. Elena's face split into a smile. "Erik!" She exclaimed and leapt from the bed. She dashed through the tent flap and stood in the middle of the road, looking at each rider as they passed her. Many were mages she didn't know. She was Cassandra and Solas and Blackwall and Iron Bull… then, at the very back she spotted Dorian and Erik laughing together. "Erik!" She called out, noticing Cullen emerging from the tent, cloak around his shoulders, "Erik!"

Erik looked away from Dorian and smiled, he kicked his horse into a faster gait and swept her up onto the saddle in front of him, "I told you I'd be back!" He said, "It was really much easier than I thought it would be."

Elena hugged her brother, "I'm so glad! Was anyone hurt?"

Dorian let out a hearty laugh as he pulled up alongside them, "Not at all! And what did I see? Were you coming from the Commander's tent?"

Elena blushed, "Yes… we—we made up." She looked at Erik from underneath her lashes. Her brother had gone stiff the second Dorian had said 'Commander.'

"That's good, then. You can stop moping and worrying about him. He's quite a man." Dorian told her, "Let's celebrate! Listen! You can already hear them starting inside!" They pulled their horses to a half and slid off of them. Hostlers came and took their mounts.

Erik reached out and grabbed her by the arm, pulling Elena around to face him, "You 'made up?'"

Elena looked at his stern face and the firm grip he had on her upper arm apprehensively, "Yes. We're back to normal, the Commander and I. I returned his cloak to him. So you won't have to worry about that."

"Elena… what did you do?"

She removed herself from his grasp and danced backwards away from him, "A lady never discusses such things with others in public." She teased and walked off. She heard Erik let out a frustrated grunt and start to follow after her.

"Oh let her be, Erik!" Dorian said, "She's only going to be young once. Let her love who she wants to."

"That's fine with anyone but him. You know—" Erik explained angrily, not troubling to keep his voice down, but Elena had left hearing range and was glad of it. She made her way into Haven and found her friends. Marston was happily absent for the time being, so she settled in with themaround their fire.

Porteur was spinning around with wild abandon, shouting at the top of his lungs. "I LOVE THE HERALD! PRAISE THE HERALD!"

Elena looked at Reeves quizzically, "What did you put in his drink?"

Reeves laughed and handed her a mug, "Nothing, have a drink of your own." There was warm cider inside, and they both took a hearty swallow, watching their friend be ridiculous. "How's your brother?"

Elena nodded, wiping her mouth off, "He's fine if a bit peeved at me."

Reeves leaned in closer, "Oh? Why would be peeved? What'd you do?"

Elena blushed, "It's not what I did. It's what's happened to me."

Reeves' eyes brightened as she sipped her cider patiently, "Are you going to tell me or am I going to have to guess?" Elena remained silent, "All right, I'll guess then." Reeves scanned the horizon, thinking as they both continued to drink their cider. "It's something to do with the Commander?"

Elena nearly spit out her drink, "No!"

Reeves' thoughtful look turned to glee, "Oh by Andraste it surely is! And if it's happened to—NO! You didn't!" Reeves pushed Elena playfully, "Went and bagged yourself a leader didn't you! Way to go, he's a tough nut to crack I'll wager." She gave Elena a playful wink, "But he wasn't that tough a nut for you; now was he Elena?"

Elena pushed her back, "Carrina! The Commander and I haven't done anything like that." She protested, catching Reeves' drift.

"But you have done something then? Don't tell me!" She slapped a hand over Elena's mouth, "I want to guess!" Elena began to think that maybe Reeves had added something to their drinks since she herself was starting to feel a little extra playful and Reeves wasn't acting so normal either. "Oh! I know! He was carrying you real familiar like the other night. Did he kiss you good night?"

Elena spat out her cider all together and tackled her friend, clapping her hands over the Elf's mouth, "Shut it! You want the whole camp to know?"

Reeves screamed from behind Elena's hands and pushed the other woman away from her, rolling on top of her and holding her hands hostage by the wrist in a movement that Elena promised herself she'd get Reeves to teach her one day. "You slut! You kissed Cullen and you liiiiked it! You liked it when he held you close and looked at you with those somber eyes of his. You thought to yourself, 'Oh my! I'm just a wee little girl! I can't believe this strong handsome man wants me!' and then I bet you swooned!" Reeves cackled manipulating Elena's hands and around dramatically while she mimicked Elena's voice.

"Get off of me!" Elena laughed, sitting up and shoving her friend down to the ground, "You're horrible when you're drunk!"

"Only I'm not drunk, you are!" Reeves quipped back, rolling on the ground consumed by her mirth. "'Oh Commander Rutherford, take me now!'" She couldn't control herself. Elena jumped on her, wrestling to get a good hold on the agile Elf and stop her from shouting all of this private business to the world.

By this point, Porteur and Marston had wandered over and were watching the women play fighting on the ground. "What's gotten into the two of you?" Marston asked bending down and separating them.

"Elena and Commander Rutherford kissed!" Reeves told him, falling backwards again in a fit of laughter, "And she's so embarrassed about it that she can't even tell me straight. So I've had to guess what happened." Reeves rolled onto her belly and got to her hands and knees before crawling to the fire and collapsing on a log there, "Oh, Maker, I need another drink."

Porteur shoved a mug into Marston's astonished hands. "Drink up, friend. That's a cause for celebration! Someone has finally managed to bring a little joy into that bloody bastard's life!" He clapped Marston on the back and went to sit with Reeves by the fire.

Elena stood up, dusting off her breeches and looked at Marston. "Well?"

His blue eyes were full of a kind of astonished betrayal she didn't take a liking to. His whole, lean body was tight with some kind of emotion as he stood there holding the mug Porteur had given him staring at her, "Is that true?" He whispered.

"That Cullen and I kissed? Yes. We've kissed a number of times now."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Oh maybe because every time I so much as mention him someone around me loses their mind… and not always in a fun way, I might add!" She spat a glob of dirt from her mouth, "Gross. Do you have a problem with that?"

"He's your commanding officer, Elena." Marston told her, "That's not right. What if he's taking advantage of you?"

"William. Let me put this to you as monosyllabically as I possibly can… I… don't much care for… your opinion… nor did I… ask… for it." She took the couple steps to the fire and poured herself a drink, before turning around and motioning for him to be seated, "So if you want to join in the fun, please do, but leave my relationships out of it."

Reeves slung her arm around Elena, "Hear, hear!" She cried as she crashed their mugs together, "To the Breach! May we never see its like again!" The four of them downed their drinks and Marston served the next round. They drank several more mugs of hot cider before the dancing commenced. Elena twirled around with whoever was nearby. She didn't really take notice of who was coming and going from their fire so lost was she in the joviality of it all. Not a soul in Haven was worried. For the first time since she had arrived, the place felt free and light. By and by the night turned into a pale gray, heralding the dawn to come.

Elena stopped to observe the sky. Clouds scudded past the mountains, birds chirped as they flew around on their morning errands. She looked behind her to see Erik speaking with Cassandra in the middle of the square. Suddenly, the alarm bells started chiming. She heard the marching of thousands of feet rhythmically beating in the distance behind the clanging bells. Elena's friends dropped their mugs and looked at her.

"Forces approaching! To arms!" Cullen's clear voice cut through everyone's stunned silence.

"Get to the gates!" She shouted at them, darting off in the direction of Cullen's tent. She felt her arm be grabbed and was yanked around to face the person. "Commande," She breathed out, her racing heart settling as his hand tightened on her upper arm, his breath escaping his mouth in a puff of clouded air. "Let me go."

He relinquished her, "Take care."

Elena nodded, jogging away and out of the front gate. It slammed closed behind her. She ducked into his tent, thanking Andraste that his tent was so nearby. She gathered her sword and shield and paused, listening. She heard a few soldiers approach and then the sounds of battle. It didn't last long.

"I can't come in unless you open!" A strange voice called out. Elena looked outside to see the gates opening to a man as he killed an enemy mage. Erik and Cullen rushed out to stop beside the newcomer. "I'm Cole. I came to warn you. To help. People are coming to hurt you. You probably already know."

"What is this? What's going on?" Erik demanded, bow in hand, an edge of steel in his voice.

"The Templars come to kill you." Cole said in a low, threatening tone.

"Templars!?" Cullen interjected outraged, "Is this the Order's response to our talks with the mages? Attacking blindly?" He looked at Erik, who looked at Cole, both waiting for an explanation.

"The Red Templars went to the Elder One." Cole told Cullen simply and then turned to Erik, "You know him. He knows you. You took his mages. There." Cole pointed across the lake to where a form could be seen manifesting beside another man.

It was hideous to behold. Bits of red stone stuck from his malformed face. He was impossibly tall and thin like a skeleton with skin stretched over its bones. A great fur circled his shoulders and armor adorned his black robe as his sole garment. He had long fingers that looked to be tipped with knives. Elena felt sheer horror grip her chest. This, this couldn't be happening.

"He's very angry that you took his mages." Cole said ominously.

Erik turned, "Cullen! Give me a plan! Anything!"

"Haven is no fortress. If we are to withstand this monster, we must control the battle. Get out there and hit that force. Use everything you can." Cullen explained; Elena could see him thinking as he spoke, but he sounded so calm. He turned and pulled his sword from its sheath, addressing the gathered soldiers and mages, "Mages! You! You have sanction to engage them! That is Samson! He will not make it easy! Inquisition! With the Herald! For your lives! For all of us!" The gathered people gave a war cry and charged into battle. Elena was found by her friends quickly, they fell in around her as they charged up to the closest Trebuchet with Erik.

The battle was fierce. Elena focused on one enemy at a time. It seemed to be going well until the Templars storming up the lakeside started to shift, contort, and transform into hideous beasts. They had crystals protruding from corrupted skin and horrible, beastly faces. They ceased looking like men before her very eyes. This fresh horror caused Elena to lose ground as she back-pedaled away from the monstrous creature before her. Was this a Red Templar? What made them Red? The crystals the thing threw at her with magnificent force and accuracy shattering against her shield were red. The pieces, when they grazed the skin on her face burned like acid. To have that boiling beneath the skin must be agony, no wonder they were so enraged.

Deciding that retreating from the terrible thing was the worst idea; she leaped to the side, resettled herself into a better fighting stance and charged, bashing the thing with her shield. Her shoulder ached terribly where the new muscles worked hard to keep up with her more seasoned ones. Her thigh twinged uncomfortably as she bore the creature to the ground. Its arms flailed at her, grasping for any purchase on her. Elena felt its sharp fingers brush past her face and twist themselves into her hair. They landed the creature on its back with Elena on its stomach. She raised herself up; still keeping the shield pressed against the creature and jabbed downwards with her sword. The metal punched through its neck with ease. Its grasping hand fell from her hair and thumped against the ground limply. Thank goodness they don't have armor when they get like this. She thought, yanking the sword out and clambering off her fallen foe to rejoin the battle.

Elena locked swords next with an uncorrupted Templar. He was much wilier than the monster she had just faced down. He came at her with precision and speed. He was much fresher than she was and he didn't have an old injury weakening with every blocked blow. She gritted her teeth and dug deep inside herself for strength. Keeping her shield up for this long was wearing her out. She blocked blow after blow, each one roaring through her like a battering ram. She managed to disengage and circle her enemy, thinking fast. He started to charge at her with unnatural speed, she dodged to the side and spun, slicing across the backs of his legs where she knew Templar armor was weak. He grunted, stumbled, and fell. He rolled to face her, his shield he had flung away when he fell. She stood over him, panting and thanking the Maker for her fortunate luck. He held his hands up to her, shouting for mercy. She bashed them aside with her shield and plunged her sword deep into his heart. He spluttered out a bubble of blood and was dead. Horrific.

Elena straightened and looked around herself. They had cleared this trebuchet of enemies and it was firing now. The soldiers manning it shouted that the other one wasn't firing. Erik didn't say a word. He and his team turned and ran towards it. She tried to lift her shield up. Her arm lacked the strength so she cast it down into the bloody mud and tried to follow Erik. She took a step forward and fell; her bad leg had given out on her suddenly.

"No! Dammit all to hell!" She groaned grabbing hold of the leg and rocking herself over onto her back.

"Trevelyan?" Reeves asked breathing hard herself as she knocked one of her few remaining arrows onto her string, "What's wrong?"

Elena shook her head, "I'm fine!" She insisted pushing herself up onto her hands and knee. "Go on! Get to that trebuchet! Don't come back until it has fired." She picked her sword up and stood, pushing the blade into the ground. She yanked it free and started after their retreating backs.

"Elena!" She halted and turned to see Cullen running up to her, "Where's your shield?" His eyes darted around their immediate vicinity looking for it.

"I dropped it. Can't hold the damn thing anyway…" She told him, "Excuse me, but I've got a trebuchet to defend." She went to leave but he grabbed onto her shield arm stopping her.

"You've done enough. Get inside and help the villagers." He told her sternly. When she faltered he added, "That's an order, Corporal. We're overrun." He picked up a Templar's shield from the ground and thrust it into her hands, "Use it." Elena slid it onto her arm and was startled by how light it was compared to her Inquisition one. It would be much easier to use. She looked up at him but he was gone. She ran into the village and started pulling people out of the houses, shouting at them to get a move on. As she gathered her charges she also defended them. Templars fell under her sword as they moved quickly to the Chantry.

"Don't stop moving!" She told the frightened villagers, "Get into the Chantry. I'll hold them off." She ducked an incoming crystal that had been thrown by a monster several yards away from her. The villagers surged past her into the clear road leading up to the Chantry. She cursed and readied herself to fight another horror. It came up quickly, screeching wildly as it threw hit after hit, trying to stab through her with its disfigured hands. She dodged and blocked, waiting for her opening. There! She slid her sword past her shield and up underneath the creatures arm. She felt it pass through bones and muscle. It gurgled as it fell backwards away from her, trying to clutch at its wound even as it hit the ground and became still.

Elena turned and looked around for more Red Templars before entering the Chantry herself. Inside it was cool and comparatively calm. Mother Giselle and her healers were fast at work bandaging wounded villagers and soldiers alike. Cullen was nowhere to be found. He can take care of himself. She went to Mother Giselle's side.

"How can I help?" Elena asked breathing heavily and sliding her bloodied sword back into its sheath.

Mother Giselle looked her up and down, "You can rest, my lady." Then she thrust a cup into Elena's hands, "And drink this. It will bring back some of your strength."

Elena took the drink and sat herself near the wounded. She took a gulp and almost spit right back out. The stuff was vile. She placed her hand over her mouth and nose, forcing herself to swallow it. She downed the whole cup in that same manner. It did make her feel a bit pluckier. She stood and went back to the Mother when the entire Chantry shook. Elena wobbled on her feet and crashed into a villager. She pushed off of him and ran to the front door and peered out. An avalanche!? Her eyes widened with shock and amazement. What a move. The entire valley was buried under the shifting snow in a matter of seconds. Cheers went up among those fighting outside. Their victory was short lived it seemed. A few seconds later, they were screaming and pouring into the Chantry again, pushing her aside as they went.

Elena bounced around, finally managing to get outside of the throng of people and into an alcove. Chancellor Roderick navigated the influx of people, encouraging them to come into the chantry for safety before collapsing against the doors. Erik came in, the last person to do so, and turned to face the old chancellor as Cole caught and supported him.

"He tried to stop a Templar. The blade went deep. He is going to die." Cole informed Erik, helping the man to a seat.

Cullen jogged up from the back of the chantry. Elena hadn't even seen him come in, but her senses went on high alert as he started to speak. "Herald, our position is not good. That dragon stole back any time you might've earned us."

Cole settled the chancellor and turned around, "I saw an Archdemon. I was in the Fade, but it looked like that."

"I don't care what it looks like! It's cut a path for that army. They'll kill everyone in Haven." Cullen argued with Cole.

"The Elder One doesn't care about the village. He only wants the Herald." Cole replied calmly. "Nothing and no one else matters. He wants to kill you, but he'll crush them and kill them anyway. I don't like him."

"You don't like—" Cullen started and then stopped himself with an exasperated sigh, "Herald, there are no tactics to make this survivable. The only thing that slowed them was the avalanche. We could turn the remaining trebuchets and trigger one last slide."

"We're overrun. To get them all we'd have to bury Haven." Erik responded with a shake of his head, "There's got to be another way."

Cullen stepped closer to Erik, "We're dying. But we can choose how. Many don't get that choice." Silence hung in the air as everyone looked at everyone else, waiting for Erik to make his decision for them.

Chancellor Roderick spoke up then, "There is another way. A path. You wouldn't know it unless you made the Summit Pilgrimage as I have. Andraste must've shown it to me. We can get people out that way. It must be how I am to be useful in this life."

"Cullen?" Erik turned to look at his commander, "Can it be done? Will it work?"

Cullen mulled it over for a few seconds, "Possibly, if he shows us the path. What of your escape?" Erik looked Cullen soberly in the eyes, "Perhaps you will surprise it."

Erik left the Chantry quickly, his companions following along behind him. Cullen was already giving out orders. Elena cast her brother one last look, feeling her stomach tighten into a hard knot. She went to help Cole carry Chancellor Roderick out of the Chantry. With their help he was able to quickly locate the over-grown path and get the Inquisition mobilized upwards. The early morning air was cold in her chest as she labored up the mountainside with the old man draped across her shoulders. Everyone behind her was eerily silent as they moved. The only sounds that could be heard were the clinking of harnesses from the pack animals and the armor some of them wore. It seemed to take forever to reach a safe distance from Haven.

Once they, did, however, Cullen called a stop. An archer fired a flaming arrow high into the sky. Elena braced herself as the arrow reached its zenith. The avalanche happened soon after. Everyone felt it in their feet as it thundered down the mountain side. The chancellor advised they move further up the mountain once the snow settled. Everyone turned to go. Elena brushed at her eyes, which were stinging from the cold wind blowing in her face, and hoisted the chancellor's arm more securely around her shoulders and headed up the mountain with Cole.

Author's Note: So, I've been writing up a storm for the past couple of days. I've been well-rested and inspired. I hope you've enjoyed these frequent updates as much as I have enjoyed writing them! Let me know what you think so far with a review down below. Peace and blessings -Danbamina