Cautiously following the winding tunnel Branka led the way into the chamber beyond. Few had slept, too anxious and excited. Lava flowed down the walls at the far end of the cavern, but it was the sight immediately in front of her that held her attention as the warriors of her House, the Wardens and companions filed in behind her. They all stared at the golems forming an aisle towards a much larger one who was standing facing them. She sucked in a sharp breath seeing the Anvil on a pedestal. "Caridin's forge, at last." She moved forward cautiously, but confident the rod would control the golems, hesitating before she reached the larger; realising in growing alarm the control rod had no effect on this one.

"I am Caridin."

Branka stared at the golem initially too stunned to speak. "Impossible." She finally spluttered.

"Hardly. More years ago, than I care to remember I was a Paragon."

"But … but how?" Branka demanded.

"That is a long story, but first why are you here?"

"We seek the Anvil of the Void to create golems to aid us in our fight against the Darkspawn; we need them to save our people."

"Ah, then it seems my story must be told or you will be doomed to relive it."

Branka and those with her listened as Caridin explained the true cost of making golems, that for life to be granted in steel and stone, a life must be given; that dwarven warriors had volunteered their lives for their people.

"I had only intended to use volunteers, but my King was not satisfied and soon a river of blood flowed out of this place. Finally, it was too much, I refused and so my fate lay upon the Anvil I had created. My apprentices knew enough to create me, but not enough to fashion a control rod so I retained my freedom. We have remained entombed here as I sought a way to destroy the Anvil. Alas I cannot do it myself, no golem can touch it."

"Destroy!" Branka gasped. "You cannot destroy it!"

"Have you listened to nothing I have said? You must destroy it; it cannot be allowed to enslave more souls than it already has!"

"Our empire is all but destroyed!" Branka snapped. "Would you have the last of it fall to the Darkspawn?"

"Branka." Oghren gripped her arm. "I've invested years of my life in this stinking place, seen my family and friends given to the cause, but that Anvil is an abomination."

"All of this cannot have been for nothing!" Branka cried out. "It cannot end like this!"

"And how would you have it end?" Caridin boomed. "The Anvil cannot be used again; I will not allow it!"

"There would be volunteers even knowing the cost, just as there was in your time." Branka stated with conviction.

"The cost is too high. If you pursue this, we will stop you!"

Branka glanced to the men and women left of her House, each one would fight if she asked it of them. She turned as Sereda's hand rested on her arm seeing desperation in her face. She nodded; they would fight together to whatever end.

Faren realised what they intended his blood running cold. "Wait!" He yelled moving towards Caridin. "If we destroy …"

"Faren stop!" Sereda demanded, swallowing painfully as he turned, fury in his eyes, running her fingers through her hair in agitation. "This is the only way our people can survive; we need golems for the war on the surface and to protect Orzammar!"

"And who will your army be made of? Who will you sacrifice to the Anvil?"

"Volunteers only."

"And when that is not enough? How long before you turn the Castless into your slaves of stone and metal?"

"Faren listen to me, it will be volunteers only and any of the Castless who do volunteer will do so knowing their families will be raised …" She hesitated at Faren's bitter laugh. "Please understand …"

"Oh, I understand and I can't let you do this Sereda." Slowly Faren turned back to Caridin. "If we destroy the Anvil will you and any golems with you fight with us? Will you stand with the Warden's against this Blight?"

Caridin glanced from Faren to Sereda and Branka, to the waiting dwarves and the Wardens and their companions. "If you destroy the Anvil, we will come with you and fight one last time."

Turning to Rathnal, Faren swallowed painfully. "Commander I'm sorry but I can't, I won't allow the Anvil to survive because I know what will happen, my people the Castless will be forced into those suits, boiled alive by raw lyrium. Even our families being raised out of the Castless is not worth souls being enslaved! This monstrosity cannot be allowed, never again. Please understand."

Rathnal glanced at the golems, at the Anvil and then to Sereda and Faren who were now so opposed. He took a shuddering breath making the decision he was sure would have made Duncan furious. "I agree Faren, the cost is not worth the gain."

"Commander, Faren please see sense." Sereda pleaded. "I swear it will only be volunteers ..."

Faren snorted in disgust. "And even if there were volunteers even knowing what would happen to them, do you think either of your brothers would honour the pledge you are making? You are an exile Sereda, a Warden. Your word means nothing in Orzammar."

"But as a Paragon my word means something!" Branka stated fiercely. "We need golems. Our people are dying. We are losing the fight for our lives."

Faren shook his head. "Lay yourself on the Anvil if you want a golem, but you are not taking anyone else."

Branka stared at him in fury, turning startled as Oghren's hand gently gripped her shoulder.

"Enough Branka, the kids right."

"No! Oghren everything we have done, everything we have been through, the people we have lost … their deaths cannot be for nothing!"

"They won't be, we have golems to fight with us."

"To fight in this Blight, but what about the Darkspawn that prey on our people every day? With the Anvil …"

"With the Anvil our people die, especially under that idiot Trian. You know it's true Branka. Be the woman I know; you can find another way."

"This was our only way!" Branka snapped, her fingers curling into fists.

"You never give up." Oghren stated firmly. "Don't start now."

"I can control the majority of the golems; we can take the Anvil by force."

Oghren sighed softly. "You're better than this Branka; I guess I need to remind you of that."

Branka gave a startled cry as Oghren grabbed the control rod from her hand, ran and tossed it into the lava pit below.

"No!" She screamed staring at him in horror.

Sereda saw Branka's shoulders drop and the fight die knowing it was over and the Anvil would be destroyed. "It appears it will be as you wish Paragon Caridin." She glanced up as the Paragon towered over her.

"Do not give up on yourself or your people, but saving them cannot be accomplished by the Anvil. It is death and the more it is fed the hungrier it becomes. You must find another way."

xXx

Moving to the platform where the Anvil of the Void stood Faren picked up the huge hammer engraved with runes down the shaft, startled that he was able to lift it. This was the only thing that could destroy the Anvil according to Caridin. He glanced back to Sereda who was pale despite the heat from the lava, turning and raising the hammer bringing it down hard on the Anvil, feeling his arms vibrate at the contact. He trembled as he stared at the broken Anvil as it was cleaved in half by the power of the runes within the hammer, overcome with relief that no-one would have to face the horror of such a thing again. He turned as Oghren approached him; together they pushed the pieces off the edge and into the flow of lava below watching as the runes on Caridin's creation blazed into life before sinking beneath the surface.

"You did the right thing kid." Oghren stated gruffly. "No matter what it might have cost you."

Swallowing painfully Faren nodded seeing Sereda walking away realising that what the Archdemon hadn't managed to do they had done themselves. A Castless and a Princess, such a relationship had always been doomed to failure, but within the Wardens he had found himself believing they could have the life together their own people had denied them. However, it seemed that despite all, they were too different and in the end, they had proved their people right; there was no world where a Castless and a Princess could love each other and that love survive. "I imagine things are going to be difficult with you and Paragon Branka after what you did with the control rod."

Sighing Oghren nodded. "We have had our tough times no denying that, but this … well I suppose I will just have to wait and see." Noticing Branka approaching he gestured to Faren who nodded and walked towards the Warden Commander. Squaring himself Oghren continued to stare out over the lava waiting for the storm of Branka's fury to hit him. He wondered idly if he should move a little further from the edge of the chasm.

Joining her husband Branka glanced at him warily; the initial anger she had experienced when he had destroyed the control rod gone as quickly as it had manifested. In truth she knew it was because while she would have laid herself upon the Anvil the thought of doing that to the people she loved, the people who had fought by her side and who she knew would volunteer would destroy her. The truth had taken a little time to sink in, to get beyond the focus and desperation to save her people, but once it had the reality had left her feeling hollow inside. She focused on Oghren, realising how much she truly loved him and his distance was painful. "Oghren we need to talk."

"About what?" He muttered gruffly.

"About everything."

"Did you know?"

Branka sighed. "No."

"If you had would you have still come on this stone cursed mission?"

"I wanted to save our people, the Anvil could have done that, but I never imagined it would have such a price. All the research I carried out, the hours spent in the Shaperate of Golems and there was never a hint of the truth, or perhaps there was and I simply did not want to see it." She sighed deeply. "What does it matter now it is destroyed."

Oghren worried at his lip and turned to her. "Would you have laid yourself on the Anvil?"

Closing her eyes Branka sighed. "This was our people's last hope, so yes I would have, but I realise now I could not have done that to another."

Bowing his head Oghren nodded knowing she was speaking the truth. "We will find another way to save our people." He glanced to Sereda rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You always said we needed her as Queen."

"She's a Warden and there is no leaving the Order."

"The Wardens are facing a Blight; I'm betting they would trade Sereda for the army; do you really think the Warden Commander would refuse that? As for our people the fact she is a Warden will earn her respect, enough to overturn her exile I would wager."

"And how exactly do we get her on the throne?"

"Who is going to argue with the will of two Paragons?"

Glancing to Caridin who was talking to one of the humans, Branka nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps."

xXx

Having activated the golems guarding the corridor and those in the gas room, Caridin had returned to his forge taking a last look knowing he would never return, his curiosity sparked as one of the humans had approached him speaking of two golems whose names he remembered fondly. The human seemed horrified to discover the golems had once been dwarves and eager to learn if he remembered them. Caridin led the way to a huge stone tablet engraved with runes. "Havak Rumold and Rilla Tolband were warriors. They were in love, but their Houses had other marriages planned for them. However, they were both wounded in battle. Wanting to continue their duty and be together they offered themselves for the Anvil. I made the joint control rod so they could never be parted from each other. They were brave and true, I thought them lost, it is good to hear they survived."

"Is there a way to free them from the control rod?" Jayden asked eagerly having been sickened to discover the truth of how they had come to be.

"You would do that?"

"I thought golems were stone and metal animated by runecraft; I have no desire to have them remain slaves."

"There is a way, but they were placed on the Anvil over a thousand years ago during the first Blight, once free madness may take over them."

"I will take precautions. I have to at least offer them the choice."

"Specific runes must be placed within the stone and metal; you will need someone skilled in runecraft to do this."

Jayden smiled slightly. "I think I know someone who can help." He carefully copied the runes Caridin drew in a layer of dirt, taking note of their meaning and purpose. "Thank you Paragon Caridin. When we return to Orzammar you should meet with Shaper Anok; he is the current Shaper of Golems."

"Indeed, I did not imagine there would still be such a thing."

"He believes he will be the last and all that he protects will be lost. I would imagine with your return there will be a resurgence of interest."

"Some things are best forgotten."

"And some things should never be forgotten so we do not repeat the same mistakes."

Caridin nodded slightly. "You speak truly." He felt a spark of irritation as Branka and her husband approached, but she too was a Paragon and despite their conflict he was bound to be civil, at least for the moment. "I believe Paragon Branka requires my attention; take a tracing of these names for the Shaper if you wish."

"Of course, thank you for your help Paragon Caridin." Jayden headed back to Delilah once he had a record of the names stored carefully in his pack, settling next to her his hand resting on Airyl's back always grateful for her presence.

"I cannot believe they did that to their own people." Delilah whispered. "It is … horrific."

"They have fought long and lost much Delilah. Orzammar is all they have left of an Empire that spanned Thedas and perhaps beyond. If the Blight went on for generation after generation what might we be driven to do to end it."

Shivering Delilah pressed against him. "I pray we never have to find out."

xXx

Caridin looked at Branka and Oghren thoughtfully, their argument had some merit, but he was not sure it had enough. "Why should I get behind a woman who would have used the Anvil?"

"She was trying to save our people!" Branka snapped, taking a calming breath as Oghren gripped her arm.

Gazing at the lava Caridin acknowledged to himself he had expected to end his days here and yet another fight loomed ahead. He glanced to the empty platform that had once held the Anvil. "I will talk to her and then you will have my decision."

xXx

Staring out at the lava Sereda felt as though her head was going to burst; the Anvil was destroyed and any hope of truly defeating the Darkspawn had gone with it. They might end this Blight, but the spawn would continue to destroy her people until there was no-one left. The Anvil was a dire option to be sure, but the alternative was merely a slower death of her people. Shuddering she knew that what she had been prepared to do had lost her Faren; yet in her heart she was still a princess, prepared to do what was necessary to save her people even at the detriment of her own heart. Yet life was tricky at times and now she realised the truth, she was no princess, there was no longer an Anvil and the love of her life was lost to her. Now there was only the fight, endless ranks of Darkspawn and the destruction of all she had held dear. She almost wanted to dive into the lava to save herself the pain, but she was stronger than that and if her people were to die, she would die along with them. She turned hearing the heavy footfalls as Paragon Caridin approached.

"Considering the future?"

"Faren was right." She whispered. "I would have turned to the Castless, but elevating their families does not make me any less of a monster because of that." She shuddered painfully. "I almost became the very thing I was fighting against." She turned to the Paragon sickened with herself. "Perhaps it is a good thing I am a Warden and cannot return to my people. Today I proved myself unworthy of them."

Staring thoughtfully at the lava Caridin turned back to her. "We all make mistakes, but it is how we recover that matters. You have a genuine wish to save our people and all I have heard about the current King would suggest he is not fit to rule."

Sereda sighed softly. "Bhelen would be little better."

"I am not suggesting another King."

"Then what are you suggesting?"

"I have been informed that you were destined to be Queen before your brother revealed your affair with a Castless."

"That means little now."

"I will endorse you as Queen along with Paragon Branka, but if you prove yourself a poor Queen, I will do all in my considerable power as Paragon to end your rule."

Sereda stared at him. "I cannot be Queen. I … I am a Warden now."

"Having you as Queen would get the Wardens the support of the dwarven army that they need would it not. I doubt therefore the Commander would raise too many objections. This is your chance Sereda, to prove yourself worthy of your people. To prove you truly are the Queen the dwarven people need to lead them into a new future."

"You seem to forget Orzammar already has a King."

Caridin turned back to the lava. "That can be remedied."

xXx

Glancing up as Sereda approached, Rathnal stood, ill at ease by the worried expression and agitation in her step. "I saw you talking to Paragon Caridin are you alright?"

Taking a deep breath Sereda worried at her lower lip. "They want me to be Queen."

"Can you? After being exiled and a Warden I mean."

"With the endorsement of two Paragons it is possible, but Trian will never step down."

"Starting to appreciate not having siblings."

"I admit myself a little envious."

"So, what do you want?"

"I want to save my people."

"As Queen you could probably do that."

"Maybe, but I am a Warden."

Rathnal slowly ran his fingers through his hair. "Well we need help from the dwarven army or we don't stand a chance and we are not going to get that from King Trian. I suppose as Warden Commander I could release you with the understanding that once you are Queen you provide a portion of the army; we need to defeat the Blight."

"I hoped you might and I would have it no other way."

Rathnal sighed softly. "Sereda can you do this? Even with the support of two Paragon's won't the army stand with Trian?"

"I am not expecting you to fight at my side to take the throne." Sereda stated softly. "But I suppose to answer your question, I do not know if I would have enough support to bring the army to my side. I loved a Castless after all and my ideas are progressive rather than traditionalist, something many of my people oppose. Even with two Paragon's supporting me I may not be able to take the throne, but if we are to get the support, we need to end this Blight we have to try."

"The Wardens will support you Sereda." He followed her gaze to Faren. "You should talk to him."

"I have no idea what to say. I was just so focused on saving my people." She sighed softly, feeling his hand rest on her shoulder.

"Talk to him Sereda, before we leave for Orzammar. That's an order."

Seeing Sereda approaching Faren steeled himself having no idea how he was going to react to her.

"Can we talk?"

Hesitating Faren nodded and shifted slightly on the rock he was sitting on, swallowing as Sereda sat next to him.

"I understand why you will never be able to forgive me, but can you at least understand I just wanted to help our people?"

"You wanted to help your people by sacrificing mine." Faren snapped unable to stop himself.

Lowering her gaze Sereda sighed softly. "Do you truly think I would have just rounded people up and forced them onto the Anvil."

"You wouldn't have been the first." Faren stated bitterly. "You heard Caridin and what his King did. Power can make monsters out of the best of us."

"I suppose that is true. I need you to know that the Paragons are proposing me as Queen."

Faren stared at her stunned. "But you're a Warden!"

"I know, but I have spoken to Rathnal. Being Queen would put me in a position to ensure the dwarven army is active in helping to defeat the Blight." She hesitated as Faren turned away. "Today I proved myself unworthy Faren I know that, but I swear I will spend the rest of my life working to protect and unify our people."

Meeting her pleading gaze Faren shook his head.

Sereda caught his arm as he stood. "Faren please, I do not want things to be like this between us."

"What would you prefer?" Faren asked coldly. "You were prepared to sacrifice my people … and now you are going for the throne?"

"It is not like that Faren I …"

"You will do what you will Sereda, but you showed me who you truly are today and you are just like your father and brothers."

Sereda stared after him as he walked away feeling as though he had torn her heart from her chest.

"He will never understand." Branka stated gently.

"I failed him."

"We have work to do if you are to be Queen. You need to focus on that."

Closing her eyes Sereda swallowed painfully, duty always had a price.

xXx

Author Note: Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed.