Commander,
Allow me to preface this report with the news that myself, Cassandra, Varric, Henley and Iron Bull, are all unharmed and safely outside the walls of Theirinfall Redoubt. No doubt, you're wondering why I'd begin the report with such a statement, but you will understand why shortly.
As planned, we rendezvoused with Lord Abernasche and the other Orlesian nobles upon arrival. Abernasche was as charismatic as the Ambassador promised - we made quite the pair of haughty nobles, I don't think the poor Knights knew what to do with us. (I can hear you groaning from here.) Your contact, Ser Barris, was our guide through the fortress, giving us the latest information on the odd behavior of the senior officers.
This is when things started to go bad… very, very bad. Please refer to my preface at the beginning of this report before reading on.
We waited for some time at the meeting location when Knight-Captain Denam appeared with a contingent of Red Templars. It seems the Lord Seeker was giving the higher-ranking Templars red lyrium for weeks, successfully corrupting them. It was then that he ordered the extermination of the remaining uncorrupted Templars and ourselves. In the aftermath of the attack, Ser Barris took the Knight-Captain into custody and is at this moment being transported into your care. I trust you'll have my old cell in the Chantry ready for him.
As we fought through the fortress, we saved as many Templars as we could, but they were unprepared for an attack from within, and ones who had been taking red lyrium. Some of the Red Templars had mutated into heinous abominations. It was hard fought, but we made it to the Main Keep, where we setup defenses and the surviving Templars held it while we searched for any officers still alive - of which we found but a few.
Things only get worse from here. Again, please refer to the preface one more time.
It would appear that the individual who posed as the Lord Seeker at Theirinfall was in fact an Envy demon who had taken on his appearance. Apparently, I struck its fancy and it entered my mind to attempt to control me. Honestly, I'm surprised what it saw in my head didn't send it running. All the while I fought it, literally in my head, it talked about a 'master' as Sampson had, except the demon called it 'The Elder One.' It gave me no more information than that on their identity. I did gain a glimpse into the plans of this Elder One, however. Its target is Orlais and the Empress. For whatever reason it wants her dead and Orlais to fall. After purging the demon from my body with the help of a young man named Cole - I will tell you of him in person, it's hard to explain on paper - Envy retreated and with the help from the Templars, we are able to defeat it. While the fake Lord Seeker is now dead, the whereabouts of the real one is still unknown.
Ser Barris will be arriving before the end of the week with the remaining Templars. They need to tend to their wounded before marching to Haven. They are eager for redemption and see allying with the Inquisition in closing the Breach as the first step.
Your Herald,
Evelyn
One last thing… I'm currently headed to Redcliffe Castle to negotiate with Magister Alexius. By the time you receive this, you'll have about two days to get Leliana's agents in place before I'm set to meet with him. Please also send Madame Vivienne, I'd like her to be with me for negotiations, the trap and whatever else he has instore for me. I know you'll be angry, but I will not leave the mages in the hands of a Magister if I'm able to do something about it. I do hope you'll send aid and not feed me to the Venatori.
To say Cullen was shocked at the Herald's decision to speak with Magister Alexius even after the council discussed the risks in length, was an understatement. It was ultimately decided before she had left for Theirinfall that it was too risky, yet she went forcing his hand anyway. He was not about to let her walk into their trap without aid, despite his inclination to do just that as his anger reached a new high. She bloody knew I would, why wouldn't I help her! For once, Leliana was pleased with the Herald's rash action and gladly spurred on her agents to get there with all haste. The Tevinter mage, Dorian Pavus, who told them of Alexius' plans, had got her people safely past the castle's magical wards. Yet, even after successfully thwarting the Magister's trap, something went terribly wrong.
L,
The Herald and Pavus are unaccounted for, possibly dead. During a confrontation with the Magister, Pavus tried to counter a spell, but it resulted in both him and the Herald disappearing. As a result, our agents inside have been taken prisoner and the mages are now considered hostile.
Charter
After meeting in the War Room with the advisors, they quickly formulated a plan to retrieve their Herald. Josephine was to contact Arl Teagan to gain his help in taking back his home, Leliana was to find out whatever she could on the situation inside the castle and Cullen was to ready the army to move on Redcliffe as soon as they were able. He was preparing to lay siege to Redcliffe Castle, the most well-fortified stronghold in all of Ferelden. Anyone who studied military strategy had at one point in time heard of the many failed assaults and sieges against Redcliffe Castle. No one in their right mind would attempt it, but here he was preparing to be added to the long list of fools. He had let slip an uncharacteristic 'fuck' at the absurdity of it, to which Rylen patted his back as if he choked on the word after a strategizing session with his senior officers.
"What was the lass thinking?"
"I'm not entirely sure she was." He wiped a hand down his face. A headache was coming on after pushing himself all day with preparations that were nowhere where they needed to be. He had no choice but to continue through the night. He and the army would depart ready or not in the morning to either save or avenge the Herald. No more reports were coming from inside the castle after Leliana began losing agents. "She has never been impulsive, so that means she's been planning it." A deep frown took over his features, "she planned on doing this all along and never uttered a blighted word in the past week. She sat there and lied to me - again!"
"Well, if she didn't say anything, is it technically a…"
"Don't," He sat behind his desk leaning on an elbow while massaging his forehead. "She can't be dead, right? I'm about to throw hundreds of men and women at the walls of Redcliffe Castle. We both know they'll be slaughtered. How in my right conscious can I commit them to this when all we may recover is her ashes?" He sat back looking to Rylen to give him hope.
"Aye, they'll die. Fuck, even you and I may meet the Maker by the end, but we'll do it. No other person here has done as much as she has for the cause, or suffered as much. You of all people know that. Look at how far we've come since she stabilized the Breach, the least we can do is go after her." He paused thinking for a moment, "If I be a bettin' man, and I am, I'd wager she's not out of the fight yet. The Nightingale's agent said dead or missin', and I'll wager anything she's missin'." He sincerely hoped that his friend was right. Trevelyan was always trouble and he prayed right now wherever she was she was causing someone a whole heap of it until they could get to her.
***
Evelyn was in trouble. Alexius' spell sent herself and Dorian a year into the future. A future where the Inquisition had no Herald or way to repair the Veil. The Breach had swallowed the sky and there was no distinction between their world and the Fade, so they were told. After being hit by the Magister's spell, they appeared in what used to be the castle dungeon, but they weren't alone. A voice from deep in a crystal of red lyrium called out to them. It was the former Grand Enchanter Fiona. Horrifyingly, red lyrium consumed her body after the Venatori implanted a crystal of it in her skin. She was just getting them up to speed on the events of the past year when a loud rumble came from the distance, shaking the walls of the cells.
"What was that?" Evelyn was almost afraid to ask. Fiona's summary of the past events had profoundly disturbed her.
"That would be King Alistair and what's left of the Inquisition trying to draw out the Elder One by killing his servant, Magister Alexius."
"We have to help them!" she pleaded with Dorian.
"May I remind you, we need to focus on returning to our time to stop this from happening."
"Yes," Fiona's voice was hoarse, "you must get to the throne room, and the only way to do that will be to find your friends. Alexius has completely fortified himself within the Main Keep of the castle. With any luck, they will break through soon."
"How is it you know all this if you've been stuck here?"
"The red lyrium." She didn't have to say more. Evelyn knew all too well of its power.
"Wish us luck that we're able to return to our time, and I don't turn us to paste."
"May Andraste guide you on your way." With no time to waste it'd seem, they left to climb out of the dark dank cells to join the attack.
She and Dorian emerged from the ruin to find that the Breach encompassed the whole of the sky. Green lightning flashed about as if they were caught in a storm. The land around Redcliffe was barren; The bark of the trees was gray and brittle. What little leaves they had were dead and decaying. The grass was more like straw as the soil in which it grew was dull and dusty. The two mages crept through what was surely once a dense forest, following the sounds of what she was sure were siege equipment nearby. As they crested over the hill, nothing would've prepared her for the scene before her.
In the stiff breeze waved the banners of Ferelden and the Inquisition. The joint camp was buzzing with soldiers running back and forth through the ankle-deep mud. Clearly, they had been entrenched here a while as the roads through the base looked well worn. Tents and makeshift buildings have been erected as far as the eye can see, providing the only color in the dull landscape. The source of the sounds they've been following were indeed catapults pummeling the inner walls of the castle. The castle stood like a proud battle-scarred warrior, even though the outer walls had been breached. Between volleys, she heard officers addressing their men and cries of the wounded. She took a deep breath as they descended into camp unsure if she was ready to face the people she abandoned.
"We need to find Commander Cullen, he'll get us inside." She began asking soldiers passing by, but they could only guess at his whereabouts. At least he was still alive, she thought. They made their way over to the Inquisition's command tent, but it was empty. Upon exiting, a bright flash of green blinded them as a rift opened amidst the camp. Instantly, demons were upon them.
Screams erupted as the monsters caught their first few victims unaware, but it ended there as she and Dorian made short work of them. Dorian was a highly skilled mage and specialized in the storm and necromancy schools of magic. His style was flashy for someone wielding lightning, and she could only imagine what her instructors back in Ostwick would've said if they saw him. As the next wave of demons appeared, the familiar crackle of chain lightning from Sorin's mana was felt as she sliced through two of the creatures with her spirit blade. Her hand raised and wings of flame and veilfire spread forth. Those around stopped to stare at who the stranger was that was closing the rift. With a final snap of her hand, it was sealed and she heard the name 'Herald' being called from all around in disbelief.
"E?" Came a voice from just behind her. She turned to see a battle-weary Sorin. His face was muddied with streaks and splotches, but his eyes were brightened upon seeing her. "Is it really you?" She nodded closing the distance to embrace him. "How--"
"It's a long story I'll be happy to tell when we see the others. Where is the Commander?"
"They are preparing to assault the castle. Let's hurry!" The three dodged and weaved through the foot traffic as they neared the front lines. Another volley from the catapults smashed into the burning portcullis. They were almost through. The unmistakable commanding voice of Cullen was heard somewhere nearby and they pushed through following it as it carried over the noises of the war machines.
"Cullen!" She yelled his name several times and he looked about as if he was hearing a ghost. She held her marked hand up high above the soldiers in front of her so he could see it. When at last he spotted her, he ordered the men to clear a path. It wasn't until then as she was pressing up against some of the soldiers that she noticed a few had red eyes. She instinctively jumped back, spinning and fumbling the rest of the way until she was grabbed by the shoulders and turned around. "Cullen!" he stared at her hard as if trying to determine if she was real. As he came to terms with her existence, her gut churned as she took in the change in his appearance.
His scruff had been allowed to grow out longer, forming a short but noticeable beard that gave him a rugged, almost dangerous look. Despite this, his jaw was set firmly, conveying a sense of determination and unwavering strength. His hair, she realized, was slightly longer in the back than usual, though she sensed that this was less a matter of choice than a result of a lack of time to maintain it properly. His armor that once gleamed with pristine perfection, was now marred and mottled by various forms of damage. She could see the telltale signs of magical attacks, as well as dents and scratches that hinted at fierce physical combat. It was clear that he had been through a lot since they had last met, and she felt a pang of sympathy and concern for him. However, it was the wound on the side of his head that truly horrified her. Even from a distance, she could see the deep gouges that marred his skin, the work of a Terror demon's claws. The middle laceration looked as though it had all but taken off his ear, while the top one had torn away some of his golden locks. As she took in the sight, her heart felt as if it stopped beating for a moment, and her mind conjured up images of the brutal attack that had caused such damage. Despite the shock of seeing him in such a state, she felt a surge of admiration for his resilience and strength. It was clear that he had survived an ordeal that would have destroyed most other men, and yet he stood before her, as determined and unyielding as ever.
"Andraste's mercy, you are actually alive?!" A loud crack from the burning portcullis broke his attention away from her, "report back in an hour, once the gate has fallen. Dismissed!" With his officers dismissed, another crowd of friendly faces converged on her: Cassandra, Iron Bull, Varric, Sera, Henley, Blackwall and Leliana. Henley walked over as if in a daze pulling her away from the Commander to gave her a big bear hug, whispering that they'd all thought they lost her.
"Is my brother here? I don't see him." Henley hung his head briefly.
"He, um, was one of the first sent in to infiltrate the castle after you disappeared. He never came out." Her heart sank. She looked off to the side at some insignificant rock sticking out of the deep mud. Tears followed her trembling limbs. "Evie," she shook her head still not glancing away from the stupid rock until he grabbed her face with both hands pulling her into his shoulder. She let go of a big sob.
"Is Lar…"
"She's alive and busy tending to the wounded."
"As are Vivienne and Solas," Cassandra added. "How are you here?" She still clung to Henley as Dorian placed a hand on her shoulder.
"We can save your brother, remember." He was right. She gave herself a mental slap, her brother's life now depended on their success. If saving the world wasn't enough for her to do what needed to be done, now her brother's life hung in the balance. Her voice was a bit froggy as she cleared her throat a few times before the words came through.
"Alexius cast a spell that sent us forward into the future. We aren't sure if that was truly his intention because Dorian countered it."
"But let's skip to the important bits, shall we?" Dorian cut in. "Now that we're here we need to get back to the throne room so I can reverse the spell and send us back to our time."
"You mean--" Cassandra and the others shared a knowing look.
"We can prevent all this from happening, yes. Well, in theory. We are talking about untested time magic tearing at the fabric of the world. I could quite possibly kill us for certain this time."
"Yes," Evelyn scowled, "but we have to try anyway. Cullen, can you get us inside?" He gave a big huff, his hot breath making a cloud of steam in the cold.
"It's taken us three months just to get to this point. And our plan certainly isn't to go in there where we can't control the battle! I can get you inside, but I'd need to pull all the men from the camp defenses and elsewhere to achieve the kind of assault necessary to get you in that far."
"So do it." Dorian's easy answer triggered something in all of them.
"This all may be like a bad dream to you," Leliana cut in, "but we've all lived this. We've suffered through it. Do you even know what it is you're asking?" Her anger faded for a brief moment, "you're asking us to die. To get you there, all that's left of the Inquisition and Ferelden's army will be sacrificed." Evelyn's blood ran cold, but she was right.
Cullen wasn't the only one changed by time and circumstances: Varric had broad scars across his bared chest, Henley's appearance all but mirrored Cullen's untrimmed look, Bull was missing part of a horn and the rest all looked as if she just came from a bar fight with cuts and bruises all about their faces. None smiled, or even came close to it as they wore weary looks with dark circles under their eyes. They were so beaten down and defeated it made her want to wring Alexius' neck.
"But," Leliana continued, "if it means preventing all of this from happening, I say we do it." A long contemplative silence followed as they all considered her words.
"I'm always up for a good fight and the Boss always finds the best." Bull gave her a wink with his one eye.
"Well, shit. I'm in." The others nodded along with Varric. Evelyn had never felt an ache in her chest like she had at that moment. It spoke volumes of them that they would sacrifice their lives if it meant having a chance, a chance, at preventing this from happening. If she made it back to her time, she'd never question their dedication.
"Don't I get a say in all this? I feel I should being king and all." Josephine joined the gathering with King Alistair and his queen, the Hero of Ferelden, in tow. Evelyn almost expected the Maker to cast a heavenly light down on her, but she looked like a normal woman. Granted she was striking and powerful, but if they had crossed paths on a normal day - not in the future - she wouldn't have looked twice at her. Her dark brown hair was pulled back in a regal bun, though strands had fallen loose from fighting. The couple's faces were smudged with dirt and grime. She wore the armor of a Grey Warden, but Alistair had golden armor befitting a king.
"Your majesties, may I introduce the Herald of Andraste, Knight-Enchanter Trevelyan." Even in the midst of a crisis, Josephine was as professional as ever. "When I saw you close the rift, I thought I'd bring their majesties to meet with you."
"It's an honor to meet you both, though the circumstances could be better," she said giving a bow.
"Honored, Herald. We all thought you had forsaken us." There was a slight edge to her words. She wondered how many times they had cursed her for being so reckless and taking away their only mean to seal rifts. "I assume your return signals a change in our plans?" The queen looked to Leliana, who she knew was at one time a close companion of hers.
"It does, but you're not going to like it." After explaining the situation, the queen took her husband's hand giving it knowing squeeze.
"I see. Well, the Calling isn't getting and quieter, is it my love?" King Alistair shook his head looking lovingly into her eyes. He reached out to cup her cheek sharing a quiet moment with the woman he loved knowing that this day could be their last together in this life.
For the next half-hour, the collective went back and forth discussing alternatives, but none would be as time efficient or as successful as a direct assault. Evelyn listened mostly, not wanting to be the one who tells her friends they would have to die to ensure she had a chance to get back and right all of this. It was her fault after all for being so damn stubborn and insisting on going after the mages. If she survived this, she would not make this mistake again after seeing the consequences. She looked over at the Commander and what she had done to him. He would be the first person who got an apology since she dragged him into this. When they resolved to go through with the full assault, the king and queen left to ready their men and give their final orders. The rest of her friends prepared as well, leaving to grab potions and every weapon they could carry into battle. Henley brought Ilara to see her, but they didn't linger knowing it was just too painful to have her return from the dead to be taken from each other again. Besides, she and Henley too had their goodbyes to say. As she watched them, that cold sickening feeling of impending doom washed through her.
Cullen briefed his officers at the sudden changes of plans and gave command over to Rylen. Before Josephine and Ilara left, he ordered them to move all the wounded and healers as far away from the battle as was possible. Every able-bodied man and woman was to charge with them leaving no one to defend the camp. He pulled a letter from his fur mantle and handed it to Josephine. She took it with a pained look on her face and nodded solemnly. With his final orders given, he now turned to her.
"Herald, a word."
"What was that you gave Josephine?" She was fixated on the mysterious letter as Cullen rarely ever sent personal correspondence.
"A letter to my family. I wrote it after the Conclave in case..." his words trailed off, clearing his throat not wanting to explain further. "You understand that to do this, whatever happens, you must press on. You cannot stop, you cannot look back." She nodded meekly. "Evelyn," he grabbed her shoulders giving them a shake, "do you understand me? You must do whatever you can to get back to before all this. That's my last order for you." If her heart wasn't already broken after all she had seen it was now.
"Yes, ser," she finally verbalized after the first attempt failed. He released her and stood back. Picking up his battered lion helm, the Commander readied himself for his last fight. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial of lyrium. Twisting off the cork he brought it closer to his lips but stopped. She knew something was happening, some inner struggle perhaps, but after much thought he just let out another large breath. Calling Henley over, he handed the vial to him instead. She would have to remember that later.
When at last the portcullis fell, everyone was in place. Her inner circle of companions with the addition of Cullen, Leliana and the Ferelden monarchs surrounded she and Dorian in a protective ring. It was all or nothing, and they couldn't afford to fail. Orlais had already fallen to the Elder One, and Ferelden was following close behind. She thought about the many deaths to come, but just before the disparity of it all threaten to consume her, a small spark of anger began to light a fire inside her. Anger at the chaos this Elder One had released; Anger at the mark; Her brother's death; Rage at the people, her friends, she was sacrificing to win.
As the roar to charge erupted from those around her and they took their first steps towards death, the wings of The Phoenix flew out of her with a vengeance. At the sight of them, she heard in the distance men and women yelling 'for the Herald' in battle cries. She could not-- would not fail them for everything was riding on this one chance.
There were about two-hundred soldiers in front of them leading the assault through the gates. The rest of the army was waiting behind to reinforce the front lines. They pushed themselves in through the opening and fanned out. She thought it was odd that they hadn't yet slowed their run, thinking the men in front would start to slow as they engaged the enemy. Demons as far as she could see poured out of every castle crack and pore. The chilling revelation that their run wasn't slowed because the men in front were already dead dawned on her. The ring moved through their men who were just demon fodder, a bumper between them and death. When they reached the staircase into the Main Keep, they were held up and forced to slow. Ear-piercing screams bellowed through the courtyard as their men fell. Needing to do something while the warriors in front of her cleared a path, she grabbed Sorin.
"Cast with me!" she yelled over the tremendous sounds of battle. He nodded, catching her meaning. She didn't bother to ask Dorian because he couldn't risk using any mana, saving it for his one job in all of this. The two Knight-Enchanters slammed their staff blades into the ground before them, for their hands were all they needed in the close quarters fighting. They bumped and pushed about as her companions fought to keep the demons away. Drawing off each other's energy, they felt their way mentally around the battlefield. They were surrounded on three sides by the monsters. When the right side began to falter, she cast a long wall of fire and Sorin followed with chain lightning striking outwards from the wall. This allowed the men to form back up. They did this for a time before noticing they still weren't making any progress forward. "Come with me!" They grabbed their staffs and placed them on their backs as they moved up to behind their shield wall of Henley, Cullen, Cassandra, Alistair and Blackwall. Putting her hands up to Sorin, he did the same knowing what they were about to do. "You ready?" He nodded with grim determination as the space between their hand began to glow.
She yelled over to the four in front of them, "When I say 'move,' we need you all to move!" Shouts of 'what' and other protests answered her, but the growing magical energy behind them seemed to convince them otherwise. When the force of the magic was growing to be too much, as evident by Sorin's pained expression, she gave the signal and the warriors parted just in time for a beam of their combined power to shoot out of their hands obliterating all before them in a clean sweep. With a path up the steps now clear, only she and her companions continued on leaving the soldiers in the hands of the demons.
When the doors shut and they sealed themselves in the throne room, she heard ringing in her ears as the eerie quiet replaced the horrid sounds of men dying outside. The ring fanned out as they carefully approached the dais. The room was dark, the only light coming from above. Parts of the vaulted ceiling had fallen creating large stone obstacles and choke points that would be of use later. The light let in from the ceiling was a pale sickly shade of green that glinted off of floating dust and debris. At the end of the room stood Alexius with another man, waiting for them.
"Ah, so you finally appeared. I knew you would, I just didn't know when."
"It's over Alexius, surrender and hand over the medallion or else!"
"Or else what? Can't you see we're all dead already. The Elder One is coming. You have nothing to threaten me with." Suddenly, Leliana appeared grabbing the man crouched beside Alexius putting a blade to his throat. The man looked like a walking corpse. "Felix!"
"That's Felix?! Maker, Alexius what have you done to him?" Dorian interjected a bit shaken.
"I tied to heal him. Please don't I'll do anything!" Felix had caught the Blight after a darkspawn attack years ago and was living on borrowed time as it was. The Alexius of her time believe the Elder One would heal him, but clearly it was just an empty promise as Felix was but a shell of his former self.
"The medallion." Leliana flicked the blade to point at Dorian and he threw it to him willingly. The Commander ordered Henley then to silence Alexius so he wouldn't cause trouble as Dorian worked. Conjuring the spell immediately, the medallion floated out from Dorian's hand as he worked his magical machinations within the ward that held the bauble.
"Dorian, how long is this going to take?" She knew everyone was thinking it.
"This is a highly complicated spell, it needs constant tuning to achieve the correct resonance. You, Herald, need to stay right here and not move or cast. Any magic you use could alter the spell detrimentally."
"That didn't answer the question." Cassandra watched his fingers move all about working at spectral mechanics.
"Truthfully, I don't know. It could be minutes, it could be hours--"
"Hours!?" There was a collective outcry and cursing from just about everyone within the room. She knew from what they saw outside, they had as much time as they had men to feed to the demons. The thought further nauseated her. Suddenly, the walls and ground shook with a tremendous force. An otherworldly screech echoed through the castle.
"What was that?" She hated herself for asking what she didn't want to know.
"That is the Elder One." If Dorian had not ordered her not to move she would've been paralyzed by fear anyway. Cullen hung his head for a moment before addressing the others, "The men outside won't last long now. We need to prepare for the enemy to breach the door." She could see his jaw flexing, he was calculating their demise as he looked about. "The doorway is wide, but it will still funnel the demons to the center. Cassandra, Henley, Blackwall, King Alistair and myself will keep them contained. Queen Elissa, Iron Bull and Sorin will stay behind us to take care of the ones that get through. We fall back a few times utilizing the stone to make choke points. When the shield wall falls, keep them in front of you while the archers target the flanks. Leliana, Varric and Sera are the last line of defense. Pick your targets wisely and conserve as many arrows as you can."
In stark contrast to the nervous energy in the hall, Leliana looked ready, her determination unbreakable, as she prepared to face death with the courage of a warrior and the faith of a true believer. She took a deep breath and began to chant, her voice hoarse but full of resolve. As she uttered the words, others joined in, their voices blending together in a powerful chorus.
"You walk beside me, down the paths where a thousand arrows stick my flesh. You stand with me when all others have forsaken me. I will face armies with You as my shield, and though I bear scars beyond counting, nothing can break me except Your absence…" Meanwhile, Bull seemed to hype himself up by beating on his chest in a show of bravado and Sera muttered aimlessly to herself, asking Andraste a plethora of questions. Each crack and splinter of the door made Evelyn's heart beat faster and her breaths shallower.
"Herald," her heart stopped as she gasped when he said her name, panic rising within her, "remember you have the most important task in making sure none of this happens. That our sacrifice isn't in vain." They all looked back to her. Taking a deep breath, she put on a mask of fierce determination.
"You have my word. And my thanks." It by no means was enough; nothing she could say would ever be enough in that moment. The door groaned then splinters shattered against the warrior's shields. A command to form up was issued and the five warriors fell into line. The queen and Bull gripped their greatswords tightly as lightning flashed about Sorin. Arrows were drawn and aimed waiting for targets to fell. Evelyn felt utterly useless and helpless having to stand there on the dais and watch. Of everything she had done in her life, this would be the hardest.
Leliana continued to pray, her voice growing stronger with each passing moment, until finally the door burst open and their enemies rushed in. The swarm of wraiths, shades and lesser demons poured forward. The warriors pushed back and stabbed with expert efficiency against the onslaught. A quarter-hour passed as the warriors fought on without rest. Sweat and thick demon blood coated their fronts. Their blades flung the excess ichor about the room, painting pillars and the walls black. As portals began to appear about the floor and Terror demons joined the battle, the situation rapidly spiraled out of their control. Bull and Elissa quickly cracked their heads open when they appeared, but some still managed to break through the shield wall.
Reacting quickly, Sorin contained those coming through the door with a static cage as the warriors broke formation to take down two Terrors. The arches began to pick at stray demons skirting the walls trying to flank them.
"Dorian, how close are you?!" It would only take a few more solid hits to the already broken door before an uncontrollable current of demons flooded the room.
"Impossible to say!" he yelled over the pitched battle before them. There was a sudden roar from behind and a cold shiver rolled up her spine telling her not to turn around. She did it anyway.
The roar had come from Blackwall. He and Alistair were engaging a Fear demon. The long spider-like arms stabbed at them, but one had penetrated the Warden's chest. He took a knee, finding his remaining strength as Alistair covered him. The demon used a mind blast spell on him, with its sight set on Blackwall. Picking him up, he used the opening to plant his blade in its skull. As Fear jerked in agony, it pulled the bearded warrior's body in all directions snapping his neck and spine. He crumpled to the ground as Evelyn wailed, her wings shot forth.
"Do not move!" Dorian yelled at her. She watched shaking and seething in rage and grief as more of her friends were felled before her.
The Pride demon who was responsible for finally knocking the door off its hinges also took the king by all but breaking him in half. In a fit of fury, the queen took it down, but was overrun when she broke from the line. She fought as well as her namesake, even drawing as many to her as possible to give the others time to regroup.
The shrinking shield wall pulled back further into the room, having no choice but to do so. Relying heavily on Sorin for crowd control, Evelyn felt his magic waning. Oh Maker, did she wish she could do something, anything! When Henley was violently grabbed and dragged into the mass of demons, she screamed with rage; it was all she could do. Tears rolled down her face and her knees gave out. The archers tried to make a path to him firing explosive shots, but he was gone. Cullen and Cassandra were left to take blow after blow. She watched as they were bit and clawed, but held their ground too stubborn to give them an inch. Bull came to their rescue taking up the left flank, roaring his savage war cries as he swung.
"Dorian!" She yelled in desperation not sure how much more she could endure. Sorin was out of mana and had begun to fight alongside Cassandra using his staff blade - she blocked while he stabbed. He was dead on his feet though after so long. He looked back once at her touching his mana. His eyes closed and he let the demons take him. Cassandra yelled, but when Sorin ignited his very lifeforce with the last of his mana, a lightning explosion shook the room clearing out most of the demons. When the force of the blast reached Evelyn, she felt the last essence of her friend before a gaping void developed in her heart. She felt as if her beating heart were ripped from her, putting her in a state of shock. The short reprieve allowed for the archers are have a real crack at the demons but as quick as the three were, there were just too many.
"I think I've got it!" Dorian's voice rang out as their only sign of hope as the archers lost control of the horde barreling at them. "Evelyn, don't move!" She was so numb from grief she couldn't if she tried. Bull, Cullen and Cassandra were now holding at the foot of the dais, while Sera, Varric and Leliana put their bodies in front of she and Dorian. Felix and Alexius just cowered waiting for death nearby. It was then a Terror emerged from behind the line.
Before anyone could react, its claws seared through Cullen's chest lifting him a few feet off the ground. With his chest arched up, his head fell back as the Terror raised him higher. He dropped his shield, but pulled a dagger from his belt to replace it, slashing wildly at anything he could hit. The archers fired into Terror killing it, but by then it was too late. He cut the creature from him, but its claws still stuck out from his body. Though he stood and continued to fight, Cullen's movements were not ones of a disciplined soldier, but of a dead man bent on fighting until the end. Evelyn couldn't breathe; she felt as if she wasn't capable of it anymore. When he could take no more, he just used his battered body as an obstacle. Seeing Cullen finally cut down beside her, Cassandra followed Sorin's sacrifice and put everything into her own magical explosion. Her bright white light cast away all the darkness before them as she fell next to him.
Leliana looked back at them frantically knowing they would only last a few more minutes. Suddenly, a huge swirling vortex opened, and just in time too as a Pride demon strutted in leading the others. Bull charged it and the other tried to cover him. As the magic drew her in, her last sight was of a wall of shades crashing up against the three rogues, their screams following her backwards through time.
In the next instant, they were back in a drastically different looking throne room and met with the surprised face of Alexius. Grabbing the hilt of her spirit blade, she summoned her magic, finally able to unleash it. She swung the blade at the Magister's head stopping it just beside his throat. Feral rage spurred her on, but she remembered he had yet to follow through on his acts.
"Tell me why I shouldn't end you now?" Tears still rolled down her cheeks, "I've come from a future that you created through your actions here today. If Dorian," who had collapsed on the ground exhausted and looking pale, "hadn't brought us back, I'm not sure I would get to fully tell you how much you fucked up." She brought her face closer to his while still holding the blade steady, "You doomed us all, including your son." She knew that would provoke some form of reaction from him, "The Elder One never cared about you or Felix, he would use you then discard the worthless piece of shit you are. I watched every single one of my friends die thanks to you." Her voice hissed, "if you think you mean anything to your master, you are fooling yourself. You'll die with the rest of us. Surrender now." Looking up at her pitifully, he finally surrendered. She ordered him silenced for good measure by Henley, not wanting to chance him getting away. With few Venatori left after Leliana's agents initial attack before she was whisked away to the horrid future, Fiona's mages outnumbered them and she took up beside Evelyn.
"I will have my people detain the remaining Venatori with the help of Seeker Pentaghast, but Herald," she pointed out of the doors that not long ago was all that stood between them and a demon army, "Arl Teagan is here with the Ferelden Army. You should go out to meet him." She nodded, not appreciating Fiona's scrutiny of her emotions. She looked to her three companions staring worriedly at her.
"You all are unharmed?" They nodded, "good." She was emotionally exhausted having physically witnessed their deaths. Vivienne glided over to her wiping her eyes and fixing her hair. When it came to appearances, Madame Vivienne was the mage to have by your side.
"Darling, let me take a look at you," her eyes bore into her as if trying to lend her strength. She lowered her voice giving a condescending glare to Fiona, "now my dear, you can't meet with the Arl in tears, there will be time enough for that later." She patted under her chin causing her to lift it high. "You are the Herald of Andraste, Knight-Enchanter and Trevelyan. Let's show them what that means." She was right and her words helped suppress her raw emotions for the time being to focus on duty. With her rational mind summoned forth, she knew what needed to be done.
"Cassandra and Bull, go with Fiona and help her round up the Venatori. Henley, a raven will need to be sent to Haven right away, then stay with the Magister. Let them know we'll be back tomorrow and that the Free Mages have been conscripted into the Inquisition." Though Fiona was not happy at the terms of the mages surrender, she was in no position to ask for more. At least with this arrangement, the mages would have food and shelter, perhaps finding purpose among the Inquisition as she had. "Vivienne and Varric will come with me to meet with the Arl. Let's get this over with so we can go home."
***
When they arrived at the camp around noon the following day, she rode Nelson past the stables, and a confused Horsemaster Dennet, dismounting in front of the Commander's field tent. She had a promise to keep. Bursting through the flaps, she stood before him, her chest heaved and her breathing was labored as she forced the words out. He was seated at his desk, but upon surprising him, he stood bewildered looking her up and down. Seeing him alive brought forth a rush of swirling emotions.
"Cullen, I'm so sorry. Maker, I'm sorry for everything." Tears rolled forth again, but she was unable to stop them. He hated that she was crying in front of him. He looked as if he wanted to be angry at her, but it subsided upon seeing her tears, and hopefully her sincerity. "I will never do something like that again, I swear it." He just blinked at her, completely thrown off by her hasty apology. His silence began to unsettle her as his lifeless form flashed through her memory. Watching him die had brought up feelings she didn't know dwelled within her. While the deaths of all her friends had affected her deeply at the time, she couldn't seem to come to terms with his. "Well, say something! Curse, yell, anything!"
"What were you thinking?" His scowl was back but his voice was soft.
"I thought of saving the mages from slavery, but instead I almost cost us everything. And for that I'm sorry." Without a second thought, she swiftly made her way around his desk and pulled at his mantle feeling inside for where he kept it. Taken by surprise at why she was rummaging through his pockets, he just stuttered a few words in confusion holding his arms up as if she was robbing him. "Damn it Cullen, where is it?!" She switched to the other side of his coat, but not before he began to defend himself, and finally found it, "This," she held up a small folded paper square and backed away from his reach, "I swear to the Maker you'll never need to send this." Holding it between two fingers she incinerated it.
"Wait! How--?"
"No Cullen," She began to walk out of the tent, "never!" With that she was off to accost her next victim, her brother, with a tackle and never-ending hug.
***
"Andraste's ass, that's… bad, and I've seen some crazy shit."
"Yeah, let's stop talking about it." Evelyn was one whole bottle of wine into a long night of drinking. At the suggestion of Owayne and seconding of Varric, Dorian and Bull, the five lounged around the dwarf's fire as she told them of what she saw in that strange future. She snuggled into her thick wool shawl as a cold mountain breeze swept through the valley.
She was debriefed by the advisors earlier in the war room, to which she offered her sincere apologies for going rogue on them. Skipping the gruesome details, she kept to the most relevant information for them to look into, like the Venatori and the Elder's One's obsession with Orlais. Surprisingly, Leliana was the only one who defended her actions, having agreed with them. If one good thing came of her blunder, it was that she and the Spymaster finally found some common ground; She also gained the support of both the Templars and mages in closing the Breach; And she gained insight into their new enemy, this "Elder One's," plans. In fact, her friends seemed to be more pleased with the outcome than the could-have-been consequences. As They tried to convince her she did more good than harm, she slowly was coming around to agreeing with them. There was, however, one person who still seemed irritated by the whole affair.
"Curly, care to join us?" Varric knew full well Cullen wouldn't join them, so she concluded he just enjoyed busting his balls whenever possible. Cullen looked over his shoulder as he strode by, not saying a word. Evelyn couldn't be sure through her hazy vision, but she thought he was staring at her.
"Uh, I better go talk to him. I'm pretty sure he's still mad at me."
"What'd you do this time, Evie?" Owayne all but burped out.
"Aside from the mess at Redcliffe, I may have held him up in his tent and stole something from him." Of course, anything that suggested she and the Commander were more than friends in any sense got Owayne's immediate attention. Since the day he arrived at Haven, he had been convinced there was more going on.
He tried to sit up straight giving her a pair of raised eyebrows. "Was it his heart?" She let out the biggest drawn-out groan, making sure to emphasize the roll of her eyes.
"Good on you Boss," Bull chimed in.
"No, we're not-- you've got it all wrong!"
"Why do you spend so much time with him then… in private?" Of course, Owayne was keeping a close eye on her.
"He's helping me with… things."
"Are you referring, perhaps, to those things being your clothes, and he obligingly helping you out of them?" She shot a glare at Dorian. Owayne made a face as if he just bit into a lemon.
"If you must know, he is providing me with invaluable support in overcoming my traumatic experiences. Go ahead, try to make fun of that." She stood giving each one a look lifting her chin high before attempting to go after Cullen, but not before she tripped over Owayne's purposely placed foot. Though she recovered, the moral high ground she had occupied a second ago was compromised by her stumbling. They roared in laughter. "Be lucky Andraste didn't smite you - smote, smitten – whatever, since I'm her Herald and all!" Even her mark seemed to find it laughable, sparking and crackling a bit. She didn't stop though and walked to catch up to the Commander before he turned in for the night. Thankfully she caught him just as he was unlocking the door.
"Are you here to rob me again, Trevelyan? I plan on putting up a better fight this time if you are."
"No," she said beginning to laugh, "if it makes you feel better, after seeing you I tackled my brother and all but smothered him in front of his current fling. I believe she thought me to be another woman of his. Words were had, a slap or two was thrown - at him - and then I told her I was his sister." They shared a good laugh at her brother's expense. "What are siblings for?" After the laughter faded, she found herself looking up at a starry sky and giving thanks that she wasn't looking into a green swirling sky.
"If you've come to talk, can we do it tomorrow? I fear I'm not fit for it having been running around preparing for a siege for the past day or so with little sleep."
"No, I'm not here for that. I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about what exactly I saw yet. You may not be ready either." She said the last part almost under her breath. Before getting too lost in recollections of the future, she remembered why she had stopped him, "I just wanted to make sure you weren't still angry with me?"
"Why would that matter?"
"Because I-- you're my friend and I care what you think." he looked at her with an unreadable face. She thought perhaps she saw worry, confusion and maybe some surprise. She looked at her feet wondering if she said the right thing as she had been drinking.
"I wasn't--," he gave a sigh, "alright, I was angry, but I was angry because you didn't trust me enough to tell me what you were planning to do. I thought we were past lying to each other after…" he trailed off, yet she didn't need him to finish. His golden eyes looked about her face for understanding as he struggled to put to words what it was that was actually between them. It was more than just talking, it was an unburdening of their shame, guilt, torture and fear to someone who truly understood.
"And I'll never do it again. Please believe me when I say I learned my lesson. I saw the personal cost of it for every single one of the people here I hold dear. If you knew…" she didn't want to say more. "There is one thing I wanted to ask," she paused unsure if she even wanted to broach the subject now, but the question had been gnawing at her having thought about it the whole trip back to Haven. "Cullen, you've stopped taking lyrium haven't you?" He froze in quiet shock.
"How did you--"
"The same way I knew about that letter you were carrying around." He quickly closed the distance between them. There was an intensity to his gaze as his jaw muscles flexed. It wasn't anger though. He gripped her bicep and looking around to make sure they were not watched, pulled her inside his cabin. Once inside he quietly closed the door and released her, though still standing close enough to whisper.
"You're not supposed to know that. Is that what I told you in the future?"
"No, I figured it out on my own and you just confirmed it." He seemed to mentally chastise himself for it. "What I saw in the future only helped me piece it together. When we first met, you tried to silence me in the woods, remember? It was a reflex from your Templar days but since you weren't taking lyrium, it was a weak attack, so much so, it caught my attention as odd. Listening to you talk about how intense your nightmares are, not to mention the headaches and shakes you think you're hiding from me I know to be symptoms of withdrawal. I've spent enough time with Templars to know, but it wasn't until your actions in the future--"
"Which was?" He looked at her insistently, "please, I must know."
"I watched you as you prepared for the assault, and you took a vial of lyrium out to take it, but before you could, you stopped and gave it away." He stood back from her and wiped a hand over his face then through his hair.
"So, I did it. Even in the end, I didn't take it." He smiled a toothy grin that she rarely had ever seen. "I did it. And lived!" She couldn't help but smile back and nod at the implications. "Ha!" He scooped her up, spinning her once in the air before setting her down unsteadily on her feet. "I can do it, you don't know what this means to me."
"I only wish I told you sooner!" Even as the world was ending, he still didn't give in to the urge to take lyrium. Though it would've made him stronger against the demons, he chose to fight and die conquering his addiction. She found herself regretting not being able to tell future Cullen how proud she was of him had she known. "I am proud of you Cullen. Not many have been brave enough to do what you're doing knowing the risks. You'll be an inspiration to others." He began to blush and rub the back of his neck.
"Thank you. It'll still be a long road, and nothing is certain, but it still gives me hope." She hummed happily and remembered something after watching him push back an unruly lock of hair. As it refused to do as he bid, she helped him gently tucking it back.
"In the future, your hair was long enough you couldn't hide the curl of it. And," she reached out with her finger and knuckle to trace his jawline, "you had let your bread grow." As her finger went to make another pass up and down his jaw, she suddenly realized what she was doing.
As if pricked by his stubble, she pulled back but not before he grabbed her wrist halting her pulling her in closer. "And was it an improvement?"
She bit her lip trying not to smile as widely as she wanted to. "It had a rugged appeal, but I like you the way you are." Immediately her face flushed at her bold words – as did his. She took her wrist back slowly and pushed back a stray wisp of her own hair. When she dared to look back up into his honeyed eyes, she cleared her throat, "I better let you rest, goodnight Cullen." He beat her to the door handle opening it for her.
"Goodnight, Evelyn," she had never heard such softness in his voice before. Without breaking eye contact, she flashed a playful smile before slipping out into the night and walking the short distance to her cabin.
Once inside she shut the door and leaned up against it. She felt as if she was a bit out of breath and though the fireplace held only embers, she fanned the heat from her cheeks. Something had happened just then - something new and frightening. She shook it from her thoughts as she got dressed for bed singing to herself. Singing, she thought as her breath caught interrupting the song's chorus, he'll be listening. All flustered, she splashed some water on her face from the wash basin and slid into bed. The slight tilt of the room reminded her that she had drunk quite a bit and she was happy to blame her current state on the wine.
She turned over on her side getting comfortable and at last was beckoned by the Fade. Yet even as she drifted, one last flash of his smile crossed her mind, and she smiled to herself. As if struck by lightning she jolted up, eyes wide as she cringed at the realization that her brother just may be right – something may be going on. She flopped back down staring up at the ceiling knowing how annoyingly pleased he'd be after all this time. The unsettling thought of him eventually finding out would keep her awake for another hour.