Chapter Text
With the Breach sealed Haven was in celebration, when Leliana looked around, she saw dancing and drinking, she saw people kissing loved ones, they were happy, she was not.
It was too easy. Alarm bells sounded out and Leliana sighed, just once, couldn’t she be wrong.
She ran to the gates and Cullen was already there, there were sounds of fighting on the other side, Varric and Dorian came running with Nixlanni and Cassandra close behind.
“What’s going on” Nixlanni asked, she was nervous and for once Leliana didn’t want to tell her not be as she was also, not that she would let it show.
“Enemy forces advancing on our positon” Cullen said as Josephine arrived.
“What banners are they flying?” the ambassador asked.
“None” Cullen replied, Josephine repeated the word in shock.
The sounds of fighting on the other side of the door stopped “If you could open the door that would be much appreciated” came a female voice.
“Open It” Leliana said “I know that voice”
Cullen and his soldiers released the gates and they opened Leliana was the first out, the elf looked up at her and smiled.
“Bard” the elf said.
“Thief” Leliana said and smiled “Where’s the Commander?”
“I was about to ask you the same, she went ahead” the elf replied.
“All I got was a Raven” Leliana replied.
“She was the Raven” the elf replied, Leliana cursed herself, how could she forget that her love had learned shapeshifting from Morrigan.
“She could be anywhere” Leliana sighed “But no time” she turned to the others “This is Kallian, she’s a Grey Warden”
“Pleasure” Kallian said “However you may wish there were more of me” she turned and pointed to the ridge where a lone figure was standing “That is no man”
“Darkspawn?” Cullen said as two figures appeared at its sides.
“That must be Calpurnia” Dorian said “She’s the leader of the Venatori, Alexius was quite forthcoming in that regard, but as for the man”
“Samson” Cullen said with disdain. There were forces advancing on all sides heading straight for Haven.
“Cullen I need a plan, anything” Nixlanni said.
“Templars on me” Elliot said as he ran up to them. Evelyn ran into view followed by the man, Gavner.
“Gavner take Ostwicks Battle Mages and some of our Templars, I want the Eastern Trebuchet secure” Gavner nodded to Evelyn and was off “Commander” Cullen nodded and turned to their forces.
“Mages, Templars follow the Trevelyans lead, they know how best to utilise you, the rest of you, With the Herald, for your lives for all of us!”
Nixlanni drew her bow “Cullen take some of the forces and keep Haven secure, move people inside, maybe Bull can help?”
“I’ll start getting them in the Chantry” Cullen said and rallied a group heading back through the gates. Iron Bull looked over and signalled his charges on Cullens command.
Leliana drew her bow and looked at Kallian “Just like old times” the elf laughed pulling her daggers.
*****
Evelyn pulled her sword free and blasted a Red Templar with Fire as he neared causing him to stagger, several arrows flew into his chest and he fell. She spun nodded to Nixlanni who was already changing targets, they couldn’t keep this up much longer.
“Varric” she called and the dwarf rolled under a Templars blade, she froze him in place and one of Nixlannis arrows found him causing the Templar to shatter into pieces. Varric ran to her his crossbow firing the entire time at anyone near him.
“Find Cullen” she said using her sword to channel her magic as best she could she really wishing she had had time to get her staff “We need the Trebuchets firing at the Mountain”
“Avalanche?” Varric said to which Evelyn nodded.
“Gavner and the Ostwick forces should have the Eastern Trebuchet locked down, We’ll head there” Varric nodded and pulled a vial from his belt smashing it against himself vanishing from sight, she saw him reappear near Havens gates. She barely dodged a torrent of fire as she spun back to the fight, she saw the Venatori Mage and set her sights on acquiring his staff.
*****
Elliot was back to back with Cullen as they were surrounded by Venatori.
“Any ideas” Cullen asked.
“Yeah” Elliot said “Don’t die” despite the situation Cullen chuckled.
As a Venatori went to strike, Cullen and Elliot separated causing the Venatori to hit nothing but air. Cullen spun bringing his sword high while Elliot did the same in the opposite direction bringing his sword low, the Venatori lost a leg and his head. Elliot straightened and flourished his sword and pointed at the nearest Venatori and flexed his fingers giving a silent “Come on then”.
Elliot was engaged by the Venatori their blades clashed and they pushed against each other, the Venatori cursed in Tevene, Elliot took a step back and the Venatori fell forward slightly allowing Eliot a little room so he spun aside. He saw Varric at that moment lining up a shot and the man was dead before he could strike for Elliot again.
The Three of them together finished off the remaining Venatori with ease, Elliot ripped the torn and bloodied sleeve off his tunic and looked at the cuts on his arm “Evies never gonna let me here the end of this”
“Well Embers forgot her staff so you could always bring that up” Elliot laughed, but he suddenly stopped and pushed Varric to the side as an archer they had missed fired at them, he spun to the side in an attempt to avoid the arrow he saw coming their way, it struck his chest piece and shattered on impact. Elliot pulled the knife from his belt and threw it at the archer who fell down dead with the blade in his throat. Elliot looked down at himself, the arrow head stuck in his chest peice at an angle, he grabbed what was left of the shaft and pulled it free, looking at the hole left in its wake, that arrow was too close for comfort.
“Too close that” he mumbled.
“Aye” Cullen said looking at the dwarf “Thanks for the timely rescue”
“No problem Curly” Varric said “Embers is thinking we should fire the Trebuchets at the mountain”
“Bury our enemy that could work” Elliot said
“Lower Eastern and Southern could fire, it would bury some and stop their advance, but the Upper Eastern one would bury Haven”
“South then” Elliot said “Bull and Dorian are down near the tavern, use them to secure it”
*****
“Chargers!” Bull bellowed “Close the line!”
“Aye” some of the chargers called back.
Dorian sent a wave of electricity at their foes, the mages just kept coming, and with the Red Templars among them this fight was shaping up to be a loss.
“Sparkler” Varric called as he approached, Dorian spun and covered him.
“Varric” Dorian replied setting a Templar aflame distracting him long enough for Bull to chop him in two with the massive axe of his “To what do I owe the pleasure”
“Embers thinks we should launch the Trebuchets at the mountain, they are going after East, Cullen wants us to go for the South while he and Elliot continue getting everyone they can to safety”
“Good plan” Dorian replied with a nod “Bull! Get charging to the Eastern Trebuchet, Evelyn wants to bury my kinsmen”
Bull laughed “Vints on ice, I like it”
*****
“Gavner, get your men on that Trebuchet!” Evelyn called as they arrived, she rallied the remaining mages around her, Leliana and Nixlanni sticking to range with their bows, Kallian was nowhere in sight which Evelyn assumed was deliberate.
“Enchanter” Gavner called back and pointed at the opening in the pathway where a large Red Creature was approaching.
“Merde” Evelyn said “Put that thing down!” she called to everyone as Gavner and another mage worked the Trebuchet.
*****
Varric and Bull were the first back through the gates and they saw the carnage, the Inquisition soldiers were vastly out numbered by Red Templars and Venatori.
“Well time for some fun” Bull said “Chargers! Do what you do best, Horns Up!” Bull and the Chargers ran forward into the fray.
“You two” Dorian called as he approached gesturing at two Inquisition Soldiers “Get that Trebuchet ready to fire” they stared dumfounded at been commanded by the Tevinter Mage “Get to it! Or I’ll make you” he let his hands glow and then soldiers couldn’t move fast enough.
“Well done Sparkler” Varric laughed.
“Well they weren’t moving” Dorian said directing his staff towards a group of Templars, he let out a string of Tevene “May as well use their own bigotry as motivation”
“Aye, but they might spread stories Sparkler”
“The evil Vint with impeccable fashion sense, who twirls his moustache in a most sinister fashion while frying the brains of the Inquisitions enemies?” Dorian said as he resurrected some of the dead to fight, Varric couldn’t help but laugh “Somehow I think I could pull that off”
*****
“Is that all of them?” Cullen called.
“I think so, we should help the others” Elliot called turning to a group of his Templars “This door does not open, unless you see the Heralds Mark, is that understood” they nodded, Elliot turned and ran with Cullen towards the gates.
“Why her mark?” Cullen asked as they moved.
“Some Demons can take a persons shape” Elliot responded “I doubt they could copy the mark however”
“I see” Cullen said “What about Envy”
“Well I was hoping we wouldn’t run into another Envy demon anytime soon”
“On that we agree” Cullen said as they reached the gates, Dorian and Varric were fighting with all their worth defending two Inquisition Soldiers on the Trebuchet “I’ll assist here, you get to Evelyn”
Elliot nodded and ran East hearing Cullens war cry as he joined the fray, as he past the Blacksmith he grabbed a shield while still moving, pulling it free caused the weapon rack to fall, but given the chaos around him it hardly mattered.
Leliana was the first person he saw, she looked okay save for the cut along her forearm, but that didn’t effect her aim in the slightest, the last two arrows in her quiver met their marks, and she dropped the bow and pulled two daggers from her belt before diving into close combat with a war cry that would be more effectively described as a Siren song.
Elliot followed, he saw Nixlanni who was still firing her bow, but she too was running low on arrows and he could see why, a giant creature that seemed to be made of Red Lyrium lay dead, if it wasn’t for the wreckage of Templar armour stuck to its frame he would have doubted it had ever been a man.
Evelyn and Gavner were making the final adjustments to the Trebuchet and Elliot saw several of the dead, faces he knew from Ostwick, people he saw as Friends. Elliot moved to support the remaining Battle Mages who adjusted their tactics without a word, they had trained for this.
The Southern Trebuchet fired and the sounds of snow falling from the mountain side thundered around them as it echoed in the valleys.
“Clear” Elliot called as the last Templar fell.
“Firing” Evelyn called.
*****
Leliana looked up when she saw a shadow, a lone Raven stood on the fence high above, watching her, Leliana tilted her head to the side and the Raven looked up and flew back towards the Chantry.
Leliana knew it was her love, but why was she not helping, Then she saw it “Move” She bellowed “Now!” pushing Nixlanni aside as a fireball took out the Trebuchet.
“What was that?” Elliot called helping on of the wounded to his feet.
“It looked too much like the Archdemon” Leliana said.
“That thing is no Demon” Kallian said “But its just as dangerous”
“We have to get to the Chantry” Evelyn called.
“Yes” Leliana said and they ran, meeting Cullen at the gates.
The Gates were sealed and they went to the Chantry.
*****
“Make that thing hear you” Cullen said as they left, Evelyn and Sera went ahead, the latter insisting on coming ‘cause I ain’t leaving Nixie’, Cassandra and Dorian stuck behind with the Herald.
Cassandra moved forward and got Evelyns attention and they stopped for a moment.
“I need to tell you something” Cassandra said.
“Now really isn’t the time Cassandra” Evelyn already moving to catch up to the others, Cassandra grabbed her and pinned her to the wall.
“There may not be another time”
“What are you talking about?” Cassandra looked at her, those blue eyes. She leaned forward and met her lips, silencing Evelyns next words as the mage went to speak, a shocked noise and a content sigh followed and Cassandra pulled away.
“Let us end this” Cassandra said, Evelyn looked at her, her fingers moving to her lips and she nodded practically running back to Sera, Cassandra made her way back to Dorians side, the smug smile on the mages face showed Cassandra he knew exactly what had occurred.
As they were nearing the Trebuchet, Nixlanni stopped and grabbed Cassandras arm and Dorian stopped also.
“I need you to promise me something” Cassandra looked at the elf, who was willing to sacrifice her life so that others could follow Roderick through the Chanty and escape.
“Name it” she looked at them both.
“No matter what happens, you make my mother leave with you, both of you”
*****
Their opponents lay dead, Leliana looked up, Sera was wrapping a bandage around Nixlannis shoulder, she could see the arrowhead still embedded in her shoulder.
Evelyn was leaning against her staff, no doubt exhausted from magic overuse, Dorian was in a similar state, he downed only half of his last Lyrium potion and pass the remaining half to Evelyn.
Cassandra was at the Trebuchet moving the wheel so that it could be aimed directly into the side of the mountain.
When Leliana laid eyes on Kallian she was first confused then cautious, her eyes were fixed on the sky, Leliana looked up, and sure enough a Raven was circling them, her Raven, her Love.
“Cassandra” Leliana called “Come away from the Trebuchet” Cassandra turned to her and she pointed to the Raven as it swooped. Cassandra moved back towards her as the Raven landed upon it. Leliana looked at the Raven and the Raven looked right back, she took a step forward.
“Leli” Kallian said fearfully, Leliana waved her silent as she stopped a few paces from them and double distance from the ‘Raven’, Leliana shared her feelings of dread, something was wrong.
The Raven hopped off the Trebuchet and vanished in a cloud, when the cloud dispersed a women stood, a women who Leliana thought was the most beautiful in Thedas. She stood her blonde hair loose blowing in the wind, her pale freckled skin shining in the fires of Haven, her deep blue coat following the motions of her hair, below the coat was a polished chest plate embossed with a Griffin, a sword made of a dark metal that belonged to her predecessor hung from her belt, her staff was clipped to her back the blade at its base covered in dry blood.
Warden-Commander Amell looked at them all her head tilting to the side, all Leliana could do was look at her eyes, they were dim and bloodshot, and when she spoke her voice was not her own.
“This is the Inquisition the Mortals so fear” Amell said in a disembodied tone, that vaguely resembled a Tevinter accent “I am disappointed, your hero of legend was lost upon our first meeting” she laughed “Now she is but a tool and a voice”
“Tanith” Leliana said “Please fight this”
“She cannot hear you Mortal” she replied “All she was is mine... Leliana”
“No” Leliana said “I refuse to believe” Amell smiled, Leliana would never have thought she could describe her love as sinister but now that was the only word.
“Did you ever hear the tale of Alindra and her Soldier, it was always one of my favourites”
“No!” Leliana bellowed.
“Sat in your camp, her head on your shoulder looking at the stars as you told her, she loved your voice” she smiled “Mortals form attachments” she tilted her head “You wish to attack me but you will not”
“I do not believe she is lost” Leliana said.
Amell drew her staff “Then you die a fool” she lunged.
Nixlanni fired the arrow but it didn’t reach Amell she set it aflame.
“No” Leliana said “She’s a powerful mage, the demon will be even stronger”
“I am no Demon” Amell said as she swung the staff blade towards Leliana “I am The Elder One and you will bow”
“Tanith Please” Leliana said as she blocked with her daggers, knocking the staff blade aside and pushing Amell back.
“Yet you persist” Amell said “She bares the essence of the Gods, she is mine to control”
Leliana continued trying to talk to her love as she kept Amells attention, she would not give up in her.
*****
“Its the Taint, its using the Taint to control her” Kallian said.
“Then how do we stop this there is no cure” Cassandra said drawing her sword as she looked at Leliana and Amell fighting, she knew Leliana was holding back, which made her outmatched.
“Think!” Kallian said “If that were true, would I be helping you”
“You’re cured?” Evelyn asked.
“I volunteered I can tell you later” Kallian reached into her pack “She wanted Leliana to be with her when she attempted it”
“Why”
“Its equally as dangerous if not more so than the joining” Kallian pulled a vail from her pack that was full of a deep red liquid, she reached over and pulled a arrow from Nixlannis quiver before plunging it into the vial “This small amount should be enough to stun her at least, then we need to get her to drink the rest” she pulled the arrow out and some of the contents soaked the tip stuck to the tip.
“What is that stuff?” Cassandra asked.
“Its probably best you don’t know” Kallian handed the arrow to Nixlanni “ We only get one shot”
*****
Leliana saw Nixlanni aiming at Amell, she kept her composure, she hoped they weren’t aiming to kill her.
Leliana changed her footing and moved so that Amell had her back to the group, seemingly forgotten Nixlanni fired, Amell spun and caught the arrow by the head in her hand.
“Heathens!” Amell snarled “You dare attack a God!” Leliana saw the blood drip to the ground, Amell staggered and Kallian ran forward, Amell was sluggish and she failed to stop the elf as she grabbed her head and poured something into her mouth, once the elf had made her swallow it Amell staggered back a few steps her hands on her throat as if choking, Leliana saw Amell look her way, and for the first time that night she saw her Love through those pained eyes, and then came the scream, so raw it sounded as if she bore the pain of every soul in Thedas.
Amell fell and Leliana ran to catch her, the screaming thankfully had stopped and soon Kallian was at her side, Leliana watched as the elf moved Amells sleeves, her veins were dark some tinted black others a horrible red hue.
“What did you do” Leliana asked as Amell coughed up black speckled blood.
“The Cure” Kallian said, but Leliana only knew so because she could red lips, an almighty roar had already echoed through the cliffs.
“Move Now!” Nixlanni said pushing Evelyn and Cassandra back towards Dorian who was already moving clear, the Herald looked her way, she and Kallian lifted Amell and began moving her. The dragon swooped and a torrent a red erupted from it blocking the path behind her, Leliana spun back the Herald was on the floor slowly getting to her feet, the Dragon circling above.
A wall of fire on either side prevented Nixlanni from escaping, Evelyn ran past her Dorian and Cassandra following, Nixlanni looked back as they reached the Fire. She appeared to meet the Seekers eyes and then turned back to the Trebuchet.
“She means to fire it still!” Evelyn called “We have to....” she trailed off and Leliana could see why a tall inhuman figure walked through the fire on the far side.
“Enough!” its deep voice said “Pretender. You toy with forces beyond your ken. No more”
The dragon landed and spooked Nixlanni it roared shaking the ground around them, Nixlanni nodded to them and Cassandra and Dorian each took hold of Evelyn.
“Whatever you are. I am not afraid!” Nixlanni called back, Leliana knew she was buying them time, Evelyn was trying to break free, too gripped by fear to use her magic.
“Words Mortals often hurl at the darkness. Once they were mine. They are always lies.” The creature said.
“Know me, know what you have pretended to be...” the Creature said, his deep voice echoing around them. Dorians hand reached up to Evelyns head as she struggled against them, she heard Dorian mumble something that sounded like ‘I am sorry cousin’ and Evelyn fought against him.
“...Exalt the Elder One! The will that is Corypheus!” Evelyn fell unconscious.
“We have to get to the Chantry” Cassandra said as the Elder One told Nixlanni to kneel, Leliana heard her call back.
“Tell me why you’ve done this! Make me understand!”
“Your understanding in not required. If you gain it, consider yourself blessed” Leliana saw him raising something in his hand as Cassandra and Dorian carried Evelyn past her and Kallian. “I am here for the Anchor. The process of removing it begins now.”
Leliana watched as the mark flashed at the Elder Ones gesture, the girl looked pained.
“It is you fault. Herald. You interrupted a ritual years in the planning, and instead of dying, you stole its purpose.” The Elder one flexed and Nixlanni grabbed the wrist of her marked arm, she couldn’t see her face but she knew that the elf was in remarkable pain “I do not know how you survived, but what marks you as touched, what you flail at rifts, I crafted to assault the very heavens.” He flexed again and Nixlanni fell to her knees the Dragon roared once more “And you used the Anchor to undo my work! The Gall!”
“We have to go” Leliana nodded to Kallian and she looked back at Nixlanni, the elf girl who was sacrificing everything so they could escape.
“What is this thing meant to do!?” Nixlanni called.
“It is meant to bring certainty where there is none. For you. The certainty that I will always come for it.” Were the last words Leliana heard as they got further away and closer to the Chantry.
*****
They had made it through the Chantry Tunnel before Evelyn had awoken, Cullen and Elliot had been waiting for them upon their return the former having fallen silent upon learning of Nixlannis potential sacrifice.
When his sibling awoke he was the first she saw, Cassandra watched on from distance, her heart breaking as she saw the look on her face when Elliot told her, she tried to run back to the tunnel but Elliot grabbed her wrist.
“We said there would be a signal” Elliot said as his sister cursed at him in multiple languages and demanded to be released. “If anyone should send it, it should be you” he let her go and she met his eye.
Cassandra watched as Evelyn looked around at all the people her daughter had saved, Cassandra took a step forward, as Evelyn raised a glowing hand to the sky, a fireball left her palm and shot into the sky before exploding like a firework at the end of a ball in Orlais.
Evelyn met her gaze, there was a silent moment where Cassandra saw blame and hate in those eyes, no doubt for the part Cassandra had played in taking her away from Nixlanni but then there was sadness, fear and something Cassandra couldn’t place, Evelyn fell into her placing her head on the Seekers shoulder and began to cry.
*****
They had established a camp further up into the mountains, in the middle of a crevasse they could easily defend from both sides the only fear was from above, but the weather kept that from being a problem and given the storm was raging badly they would be underway again before it dissipated.
Cassandra looked at Evelyn, the Mage had at one point been adamant they go back to Haven, but Lelianas scouts had already ventured to the ruins not long after the avalanche had settled, they had found no signs of life.
The Mage now sat cross legged in front of a small fire as if in a meditative state, in her left hand was a small ball of fire that hovered just above her palm and ventured in between her fingers at her gestures, across from her sat Elliot who was polishing his sword, both siblings had expressed their emotions in different ways, Evelyn in outright grief and anger, Elliot was calm and collected and understood Nixlannis choice.
“They look about as happy as I feel” The Iron Bull said as he stopped next to her.
“Yes” Cassandra said.
“I came to say Horns Up” Bull replied and she looked at him “Something has been sighted approaching from the south “Cullen wants you there and Red”
“I doubt she will leave The Warden” Cassandra replied “But we can try”
Cassandra ran with Iron Bull and Leliana towards the opening the canyon, when they got there she saw that Cullen had set up several archers and some of Evelyns mages.
“What do you see” Bull asked.
“Get ready to fire” Cullen said as the figure approached.
“Wait!” Cassandra said running forward “Get a healer, its her!” she had seen the green flicker of the mark.
Leliana had turned called for a healer in multiple languages her voice echoing.
Cassandra reached Nixlanni, she was pale ice covered her clothes, her breathing slow and she was visibly shaking with teeth chattering, Nixlanni looked at her and then she fell, Cassandra caught her.