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the jaws that bite, the claws that catch | meraad adaar
Meraad knows what she is.
She sees it reflected in the faces of the people she pass - some elven, some human, some dwarf, all various colours and sizes and levels of beauty, but all looking rather alike when the same expression passes over their faces, the one in reaction to her existence. Fear, disgust, horror. Disbelief that something such as her could exist, intruding on the comfortable reality that they have built for themselves. She is the monster from their childrenâs books. She is the creature in their closet, or under their bed, whose eyes cut yellow through the darkness when the light fades out. In their eyes she is comparable to the darkspawn, large and beastly. Foreign.
Drunken men of all races and sizes have said as much, their breath heavy with ale and hot on her flesh. Exotic, they've called her, as if it's supposed to be a compliment. Fascinating; but what they mean is that she is a shiny new toy, a funny story to tell their friends at parties for years to come. "Remember that time I fucked a Kossith?" they imagine themselves saying, imagine the laughs and gasps of awe and astonishment at their accomplishments.
(Not that they ever get to tell the tale the wish, of course, but she still gives them a story. Personally, however, Meraad doesn't think "Remember the time a Kossith cut my finger off?" has quite the same entertainment value.)
It doesn't matter the situation, of course, because their reactions are all the same. To them she is, in the most base, simplistic way, dangerous.
A child hides between his motherâs legs as her party passes, and she smiles to herself as she bares her teeth at him. It is a visceral feeling, seeing the terror on her faces, a raw sort of pleasure that allows her to take Vivienne's scolding words at her behavior with nothing more than a throaty chuckle.
Really, Meraad sees no reason why she should feel badly. They are the ones who make her out to be a monster - she simply goes along with what they already believe to be true themselves.
Because oh yes, she hears the whispers as she passes. For the Bull it is easier, because while he is also Kossith, he is male, and he is a warrior. But she is Kossith, and she is female, and she is a mage, and for these reasons she is less an intimidating creature to be wary of and more a fairy tale beast to be feared. "Female, mage, and Qunari?" they mutter as she passes, "I didn't know such a thing even existed. Best to keep your distance - who knows what she is capable of."Â
She doesn't bother to correct them, to yell in their faces that she is not Qunari, but they are blissful in their ignorance, and Meraad does nothing.
(Well, not nothing, but less than what she'd like to, thanks to Vivienne and Cassandra. Less than what they deserve. Because she knows what she is capable of, and what she is capable of would send them to their precious Maker in seconds flat.)
"You must make an effort to be more...appealing, Inquisitor,"Â the mage tells her one day, her words said with more genuine concern than distaste. She is, by human standards, a classical beauty, skin smooth and dark, eyes wide, lips full, but she intimidates in her own way. Meraad likes her. "You are to be a people's hero, to lead a revolution. You cannot lead through fear alone."
Fear. Meraad's hand flexes, a small twitch, and several passersby flinch away at the movement. It is such a silly scene - they are all so tiny, so many stories and universes beneath her, and they stare upon her with the fear of the Maker in their hearts. Fear that she put there.
And it feels good.
Perhaps The Iron Lady is correct. Perhaps she cannot lead through fear alone. But they will, Meraad thinks, know what I am capable of.
The trouble with elves, Seeker Pentaghast had learned, was that they had the uncanny ability to disappear precisely when they were most needed. For a servant the situation was often easily remedied with a call bell or a bellow, but there was no calling for the Inquisitor. If anything the Inquisitor was most like a cat, contrary and of very selective hearing, so when he did not want to be found then he most certainly would not be until he was good and ready.
Armed with that knowledge Cassandra was unsure as to why she was heading towards his study, as that was the most obvious place for a leader to be which meant he would likely be somewhere entirely different. Having already reached the halfway mark, though, she kept on her current course despite her mind telling her that she would not find the man she was looking for there. At worst she would prove herself right, but there was still a chance that there would be a clue to his whereabouts somewhere within so that was something. Why she had to be the one to go find him was another matter entirely, though..Â
If anyone had thought to ask her she would have suggested to send Iron Bull as he seemed quite attached to their leader, however the Qunari was apparently missing as well; which was no mean feat for someone of his size. Both Varric and Sera had declined, their ale and bullshit contests being much more important to them, and no one dared disturb Solas while he traversed the Fade which had left Blackwall, Vivienne, and Dorian who all had their own reasons, or excuses, for not gong to look for the Inquisitor. With everyone else finding every reason under the sun to not go looking for Inquisitor Lavellan she had taken on the task herself and once she had found him, and Cullen and Josephine had their talk with him, she would be talking with him and the others about responsibility. Of course that was assuming she ever did find him. Fortunately luck seemed to be on her side as she found the door to his study closed which meant that he was within as he generally left it open when he was not inside.
"Thank the Maker," she breathed happily though her victory was short lived as she heard a quiet voice pipe up from beside her as she lifted her hand to knock on the door.
"I wouldn't do that."
Letting out a soft curse as she nearly jumped out of her skin Cassandra turned to find their resident spirit, Cole, standing next to the door. How she had not seen him as she walked up, or forgotten about him when asking others to go look for the Inquisitor, was beyond her, but she was looking at him now and he still looked as pale and sullen as ever. He also seemed very intent on keeping her out of the study which made her even more sure that her quarry was inside.Â
"And why not?" she asked, deciding to humor the shadowy young man. "Cullen and Josephine require the Inquisitor's presence and if he is inside then I need to bring him to them."
"I was asked to send people away," Cole replied with a shrug. "He asked nicely so I guess he just doesn't want to be bothered so you shouldn't bother him."
He stated it so matter-of-factly that Cassandra could barely contain her laugh, though she managed to wrangle it down to a snort. The Inquisitor was a notorious grump when woken from slumber but some things were more important, so she would have to risk his ire by ignoring Cole and knocking gently on the door to announce her presence before entering.
"Inquisitor, Lady Josephine and Ser Cullen have request...ed...?"
The words died on her lips as she took in the scene before her. Instead of finding the Inquisitor at his desk, awake or otherwise, she found Iron Bull sitting in a chair, much larger than the Inquisitor's own, that was tipped back on two legs while his booted feet were propped up on the desk. He was missing his usual leather harness and in one hand was a dagger-one of Sera's it looked like-and in the other was a well worn sharpening stone. While that in and of itself was unusual, the most unusual thing about the scene was that the Inquisitor was also there sitting in Bull's lap, his legs dangling on either side and head on the Qunari's massive chest, sound asleep.
Turning his head to get a look at who had walked in the Bull just sighed before craning his neck back so that he could look past the Seeker.
"You're a terrible bouncer, kid."
"I told her, but she didn't listen," came the soft reply from the doorway and Bull grinned to show he was not angry at the spirit.Â
"As you can see, Seeker, the Inquisitor is currently out of commission so you might wanna tell Ser Goldilocks and Miss Josie that it'll be a while before he comes by to see them."
His words and tone were jovial, but the way he set the sharpening stone on his thigh to put a protective hand, gently, on the Inquisitor's back said something else entirely and Cassandra was not in the mood to start anything with the Qunari.
"...At least give him the message when he wakes up," she said before making a smart about-face and marching out of the study, making sure to close the door quietly as she left.Â
Well, that was one mystery solved and she wondered how long everyone else had known or if they even did.Â
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   The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.
   "How many do you have, Hawke?"
   By the time he had caught himself three more enemies had fallen to Bianca's onslaught, but then both he and she stopped. He knew what had happened, he had gotten to humming an old tune then fell into the easy rhythm of fights that had seemed so long ago. This was not some Orlesian city, no, this was Lowtown with its bevy of bandits and thugs that always seemed to think that quantity and not quality was what was going to take Hawke and his crew down. Of course, that was all a lie because here he was in Orlais with a woman shaped battering ram that was not Aveline-though to be fair she had threatened him with violence, too,-a surprisingly fashionable mage that did not like cats or glow blue when angered, and a leader full of sass and snark, but she was not Hawke. She was also looking right at him, worry creasing her brow, which brought him out of his reverie.
   A battlefield was no time to be reminiscing about good times long gone-and it said a lot that he considered those nightly excursions through Lowtown good times-but he was not sure he wanted the battle to end now. After everything was said and done there would be questions, comments, concerns, and that was supposed to be his job. It had been a tough potion to swallow when he had finally realized that he had no real place in this ragtag rabble, that he was nothing more than a dwarf with a crossbow. Sure he still had his connections, still gave out his nicknames, but there was no Rivaini, no Blondie, Broody, Daisy, Junior-and Aveline was one of a kind, even if her name was not-and there was also no Hawke. He had never felt so lost in his entire life and the thought weighed heavy on his mind.
   "Watch it!"Â
   Having gotten lost in his thoughts again he had not noticed the man coming at him from the right. Bianca came up, bayonet lifting in hopes of catching him in the chest, but before he could even touch her trigger a dagger appeared, embedding itself in the man's chest and into his heart. A neat side-step kept him from being buried under the human's considerable bulk and a weak 'Thanks' passed his lips as the Inquisitor ran up to him.
   "I'd say don't mention it, but I'm going to later," she said with a little smile as she patted his shoulder. It was a sheepish sort of grin, a 'sorry but that's how it is' sort of expression, and he could not help but chuckle.
   "It's alright, Scamp. We'll work something out."
   "Of course we will," she said as she leaned down to yank her dagger out of the dead man's chest. "But first you'll be buying me some drinks."
   Laughing loudly now Varric returned the previous favor by loosing a bolt into another soldier intent on coming up behind Vivienne then flashing a charming smile in the Inquisitor's direction. Alright, so maybe this was not the home and family he was used to and maybe it was not Hawke building it, but what was life without changes? Not to mention Inquisitor Cadash was a lot easier on the eyes than Hawke had been; even if he had been pretty handsome, for a human.Â
   "You got it, Scamp. So, ready to wrap this up then?"
 A little 'what if' scenario that might happen (if not in this exact way) during Uda's playthrough. It's been stated that Iron Bull still identifies as Qunari so I can't imagine he'd be too thrilled at taking orders from a Vashoth and Uda's not thrilled about being sassed and disobeyed. Talk shit, get hit, son.
************************************************************************* Â Â
   It had been no secret that Iron Bull did not like her. From the beginning his disdain for her heritage had been clear though there was no actual hatred in his words or actions. Were she concerned with having everyone like her Uda would probably be rather distraught over the other warrior's behavior but she was not. No, the only emotion she felt at his sneers and small shows of insubordination-running into battle without waiting for orders, back-talking, and various other things-was extreme annoyance that might turn into homicidal rage if he kept it up.
   "I will get straight to the point," she said as she placed her elbows on the table then set her chin on top of her interlocked fingers. "I've tolerated your sass and your penchant for running off on your own for this long because you are a good fighter. You are strong, capable, and know what you are doing when it comes to engaging in combat."
   On the other side of her desk Iron Bull stood straight and still, his shoulders drawn back so that he was at his full height while his arms were crossed over his chest. She knew intimidation tactics when she saw them, had used them herself more than once, but all it did was further fuel the flames of anger that had been merely smoldering in her belly before the latest fiasco that was a battle. Bull had run off then, too, which meant the villagers he was supposed to protect had been left defenseless as they fled. Cullen had been outraged when they had come back with only a pitiful handful of survivors and Uda had accepted his anger, listening to the tirade because it was her fault. She had let Bull go on long enough without putting him in his place and now, now she was going to remedy that.Â
   "You don't need to tell me what I'm good at," he said with a smirk. She had heard the beginning of another word start to form at the end of that sentence but he had wisely kept it to himself; she knew enough qunlat to be dangerous which he had learned shortly after their meeting.
   "You're right," she agreed with a short nod of her head. Uda then drew herself up, her posture no longer that of a bored diplomat and now that of a soldier as she stood and looked the Bull straight in his single, black eye. "I suppose I should tell you what you are horrible at, then. Such as being a soldier."
   The statement hit him like one of Bianca's bolts to the chest and he responded as he would were it the same situation, with a snarl as his hands curled into fists.
   "You wanna run that by me again?"
   "No, because I am through with telling you something more than once. If you cannot comprehend my words when I speak them to you then I have no use for you," she said. "You disobey my orders, which puts everyone at risk, you take every opportunity to try and undermine my authority, which you agreed to serve under in an effort to also further serve your own people, and because of your stupidly prized bullishness many civilians are now dead at the hands of demons that you could have stayed had you the brains to comprehend the words spoken to you!"
   The flames were burning bright within her now, but it seemed a spark had drifted on the wind to ignite the Qunari's own ire.Â
   "You call yourself a leader?" he yelled. "You are a farce, as is this whole Inquisition! I heard what that fancy haired human had to say to you, we all did, and that was no one's failure but your own!"
   He was right in that it was her failure-her failure to reign in the most unruly element of her army-but for Bull to hide behind another man's words to escape the consequences of his own actions? Udhara Adaar had had quite enough of that.Â
   A fierce war cry tore from her throat which gave her the advantage of surprise as Bull stood stunned. His shock lasted for only a moment but that was all that she had needed to place her hands under her desk that she immediately launched at the Qunari. Bull had just enough time to throw up his arms, blocking the flipped desk, but Uda was already in motion once more.Â
   Josephine had told her once that it was unusual for a diplomat to keep their weapon in plain sight in their offices, but she had agreed that it was what had suited the Inquisitor best. She likely had not thought that it would be necessary within the confines of the Keep, but Uda had known better. Stepping back the Inquisitor reached behind herself until she felt the haft of her war hammer that had been resting, head down, against the wall. At that point Bull had shoved the desk-enormous by human standards-away and was drawing his two-handed axe but now his size was proving to be a detriment.
   One thing about Bull was that he did not do well in close quarters and while Uda's office was not all that small the space was very well occupied by the aforementioned desk and some large bookshelves; not to mention the Qunari's massive bulk. With the desk still in front of him and shelves behind him he had little room to build momentum for a swing, an advantage that Uda had. Another yell tore out of her throat as she took a step forward then spun once, then a second time where the hammer connected with the thinnest part of the desk-the part she had grabbed to flip it-before it completely splintered the thick wood and slammed into Bull, sending him flying backward into a bookcase while his axe clattered to the stone floor.Â
   Wasting no time in pressing her advantage the Inquisitor spun again, a furious whirlwind of metal and rage, and as she neared Bull she brought her hammer down but pulled to a stop little more than a hairsbreadth from his chest. Had she continued the assault his rib cage would have shattered, his lungs been punctured, and no healer would have been able to make it in time to save him; he knew that just as well as she did. He also knew that the previous blow would have done more than knock the wind out of him had she not hit the desk first, something she could have easily avoided had she brought the hammer up at chest level rather than doing an upward swing. All in all he could be doing worse than being on the floor, covered in books with the top of a cracked bookcase hovering precariously over his head, and trying to catch his breath while being pointedly aware of the feeling of cold steel as his chest touched the head of the hammer with every breath he took.
   "Yes it was my fault that you did not listen to me and ran off on your own," the Inquisitor said, standing tall once more to give the man room to breathe and herself room to counter should he decide he wanted to continue to fight. "But their blood stains your hands, too, and if you continue on your current course of action there will be even more. I know not what the Qun dictates in these circumstances for I am Vashoth. I have never known the Qun and I might never know it. What I do know is that you are not an evil man, Iron Bull, but you are becoming a stupid one and if your stupidity kills anyone else then I will be the one to end you to spare anyone else death at your hands. Is that clear?"
   "Crystal," he breathed heavily after a long moment of silence as he came to terms with the new-found respect he felt forming for the woman before him.Â
Magdalene is in Custody of Cassandra Pentaghast and the seekers when they come across a rift that has opened up over a small village. She is asked for her help, and after a bit of arguing, she agrees and manages to close the first rift. In the meantime, she is accompanied by the dwarven archer Varric Tethras. And along the way, they gain help from another ally. Granted, this is non-canon as the events in game may play out very differently.
Warnings: Contains Violence (Canon-Typical but Not Very Graphic), Profanity
Fiction Rating: Mature? (Please let me know whether or not this is an appropriate rating. I usually don't give ratings on Tumblr but I thought with all the violence in this one I wanted to be safe.)
âŚ
The First Green to Fade
âŚ
The sensation of cold iron against her wrists induced an urge to squirm.  And, to add to her discomfort, her current clothes were dusty and ragged. But there was no point in trying to escape. There were ten of them and only one of her, at least in the immediate vicinity. Not that she wanted to cause any trouble. The last thing she wanted was more death as a result of thisâŚthisâŚnightmare. And as much as she had protested, perhaps the humans who now held her captive had a point. Thousands dead, and only one lone survivor. An elf, a mage no less. With the tensions between the Dalish and the humans, it made perfect sense they would not look kindly on her. And yetâŚ
âInside, elf,â one of the soldiers pushed Magdalene into the dark wooden carriage in front of her, slamming the door afterwards. She nearly tripped over her boots onto her face before she felt a hand catch her.
âEasy there,â a husky voice spoke in the poorly illuminated place, âYouâll have to forgive the Seeker and her men. TheyâreâŚnot very gentle with people they donât trust.â
The elf got a hold of her foot again and in the darkness found a place to sit.
How in the world did this all happen? HowâŚ
âAlthough they didnât bother to put me in shackles. They just dragged me along where they wanted to take me.â
At first she didnât respond to the person talking to her, but she heard him nonetheless. She was too preoccupied with her thoughts, however.
Her clan was just passing through. She remembered being by the Keeperâs side, helping to guide the clan through the area on their way. But then the sky tore open. Everyone, humans, elves, dwarves, children of all races were running for their lives. The screams echoed in her head. The bright flashes of light were still cascading past her vision even though the event had past some time ago. Or was it that long ago?
But the last thing she remembered was her consciousness failing her, remembering the Keeper embracing her and saying goodbye, with her refusing a farewell as she tried to pull the two of them to safety. And thenâŚ.she was walking. There were floating stonesâŚ.green light everywhere. She remembered a sharp pain in one of her hands. They were shadowed figures, speaking words she couldnât understand. And then everything faded to black as she heard very faint shouting just beyond her. The next thing she knew she was in the custody of the seekers, being interrogated practically the moment she awoke.
âYou walked out of the fade. And our soldiers found you,â the words of the soldierâs leader ringed in her head, âThe only one who escaped a blast that killed thousands. And you have NO idea how you survived?â
Magdalene gritted her teeth. The leader had introduced herself as Cassandra Pentaghast, a Seeker for the human Chantry. Her job was to get to the bottom of whatever this was, and with the elf being the only one who apparently lived to tell the tale, she had set her sights on her. She remembered the soldiers holding her in place as the Seeker drew her sword and rested it at the top of Magdaleneâs throat.
âAs far as I am concerned, you are the only threat I see.â
And now they had shoved her into a carriage, taking her who knows where. As a source of information, they doubted they would kill her. At least not for a while.
âNot much for talking I see,â the other person in the carriage with her chuckled.
The Dalish mage furrowed her brow, her attention finally receding from her thoughts to focus on who was addressing her. Her gaze on the other hand, remained tightly transfixed downward, where she felt her feet touching the floor.
âAre you not with the Seeker?â
She was confused by the way he had been speaking to her when she listened to him. He seemed much less firm. His voice was husky, very flippant when he spoke of the Seeker. And yet he addressed her with much less coldness and apprehension than the others had.
âMe? Andrasteâs ass, no,â he laughed, âNot in the way you might think. Iâm not one of her soldiers. Then again, if you could see a bit better you might be able to guess that.â
Magdalene raised an eyebrow.
âIs that so?â
âWeâre working together. Itâs not an easy partnership, but we both have the same goal and generally things work out for the better. We donât always see eye to eye though.â
âThis Seeker,â the elf said aloud, âShe seeks to find the cause of what happened. I understand that. And I believe her cause is just, if nothing else. I want to know the reason too. I want to know why my clan had to die.â
âI can tell you that she is trying to do the right thing. Still, one might question her methods even soâŚâ
A moment of silence passed between the two of them.
âSo, you really donât know that much more than she does.â
âEven less, I suspect,â she replied, âBut she thinks I might lead her to the answer. In fact, she had stated she believes I had something to do with thisâŚ.this tear in the sky. She thinks Iâm responsibleâŚfor killing all of those people.â
âSheâs desperate to find the answer. Especially since that tear is still thereâŚand itâs getting bigger as time goes by.â
Thatâs right. She saw the thing still pulsing with energy as she was marched out of wherever they were holding hereâŚbut did he just say it was getting BIGGER!?
There was a loud thump and a cry emitted from the horses as the carriage began to move.
âSo nobody knows how to close it then?â
âItâs in the sky, for one thing, and demons just keep pouring out of it.â
DemonsâŚdemons were falling out of it.
âSo itâs just a giant tear in the veil?â
âThatâs what everyone says. Some kind of rip between the physical world and that place humans call âthe Fadeâ. And itâs being learned very quickly that it canât be closed like a normal tear. As if that sort of thing were normal to begin withâŚâ
Whoever it was muttered something she couldnât quite make out. But there was something in what he said that made her curious.
âHumans? You speak as if you arenât one of them.â
âThatâs because Iâm a dwarf,â he explained. Since the two couldnât see each other due to the lack of lighting, she had to take his word for it. But the way his voice sounded, that sort of gruffness to it. She could easily believe that it belonged to a dwarf. But what interest did this Seeker have in him? What was he doing here?
She paused for a second.
ââŚWho are you, exactly?â
There was a bit of a jiggle that agitated the carriage before there was a reply. The other person in the carriage cleared his throat.
âWhere are my manners? The name is Varric Tethras.â
The elf nodded, finally looking up and out into the darkened area around her.
âAnd what about yourself? The Seeker hasnât said much about you, but she did mention you were Dalish.â
So the Seeker mentioned her to him. He mentioned that the two were working together in some capacity, perhaps more closely than she may have thought based on what he told her. But there was the matter of introductions, which he was still waiting on.
âLavellan. My name is Magdalene Lavellan. And yesâŚI was once first to a clan of Dalish. They were travelling through when the sky opened up.â
She frowned.
âDo you believe I am responsible for this?â
There was a pause.
âHonestly, I could believe a lot of things with all the shit Iâve seen,â Varric huffed, âOne person can be responsible for a lot of damage.â
Magdalene gritted her teeth once more, anxiously crossing her feet and looking back down.
âBut not anyone just goes and tears a hole in the sky,â he continued, âIt takes a certain kind of crazy to do that. And trust me, it does take a special level of that.â
âIf there is someone to blameâŚI would imagine theyâd be out of their mind to do something like this. To kill all these peopleâŚto send demons raining down from the sky who will surely cause nothing but more death and destructionâŚthatâs beyond crazy.â
The elf was doing her best not to whimper. But Creators she felt so helpless!
âItâs easy for someone to point the finger at the only survivor in a catastrophe. But you know what? It might very well be a case of just being in the wrong place at the wrong timeâŚor the right one, depending on how you look at it. On the one hand, because you are the only one, there is the finger pointing. But on the otherâŚyouâre alive. You survived something that nobody else made it through. Either wayâŚall eyes are on you.â
Magdalene sighed.
âVery true.â
Varric kept her talking for a good ways. It eased her somewhat, but she wondered if at any point he was just doing so to keep her calm and distracted. Or perhaps he was fishing for information to give to the Seeker. But there was something, she couldnât put her finger on it. Something else was there. She wasnât entirely sure she could trust him, but at the same time she very much wanted to. And if nothing else, he was much more pleasant to her than Cassandra Pentaghast and her soldiers had been.
They had been traveling for some ways, when Varric spoke out of context of where the conversation eventually led them.
âIâve been thinking somethingâŚand you know what?â
âYes, Varric?â
âI donât thinkâŚâ
Before he could find the thought, there was an abrupt jolt and the cart came to a screeching halt. There was a sudden wave of shouting and the faint emergence of screams not too far off.
âSeeker! Down in the village! Thereâs been aâŚâ
A soldierâs shouting was cut short by a gurgle and several hissing sounds coming from outside of the carriage. Â Magdalene could hear the Seeker shouting orders to her men but was distracted by the din of other sounds and each seemed to dim the clarity of the other.
Magdalene felt a hand take hers, assuming it to be Varricâs.
âLooks like we wonât be staying here for long.â
He tugged on her, indicating that she should stand up. As if on cue, the moment she stood up was the moment the door of the carriage was ripped open. There was a loud screech before a grizzly creature appeared before them trying to lunge at the elf and dwarf. Magdalene saw out of the corner of her eye her companion grabbed something from behind his shoulder.
âLooks like itâs show time, Bianca!â
The Dalish finally got a good look at the dwarf, wielding the object she had caught a glimpse of, which turned out to be an ornate crossbow. He quickly shot their attacker with a bolt pushing the creature back a ways.
He was short and stout like most of his kind, with hair a lighter orange hue, though he seemed to lack the signature beard that many men of his race possessed. Though not the appearance she would have expected of a dwarf, it seemed to fit the fact that he was not typical to begin with.
The creature tried to grab at his dusty brown jacket, but not before he turned to reload and aim again. Before he could shoot, however, the sound of metal cutting through flesh could be heard. The creature screamed as a sword pierced the side of its chest and it writhed a moment before been tackled to the ground by a well-armored opponent.
Magdalene recognized the darkly colored armor, emblazoned with a white eye surrounded by solar rays. Clad in the armor was a tanned woman, with short, dark hair. This one was the Seeker whose men held her captive. This was Cassandra Pentaghast.
Though it did not stop her from being grateful for the aid, the elfâs apprehension started to pool in the pit of her stomach. The creature lay dead at the Seekerâs feet, and she drew her blade from its body. From its twisted and alien form, it was easy to guess as to what it might be.
âDemons,â Cassandra spoke firmly, âThe nearby village has been overrun with them and they are spreading out. One of the men says they spotted a small fade rift near the watchtower on the other side. We need to get this and do what we can to close it, if possible.â
Twisted, alien beings were engaging with soldiers as they tried to push their way against them. And there were people, fleeing for their lives. Some were getting away, but others were not so lucky and were cut down. Such a sight stirred in the Dalish horror, and anger. And of course, this was a grim reminder of her predicament.
âYou,â Cassandra roughly addressed her, raising her sword. Magdalene cringed and instinctively put out her arms to defend herself. Metal clanged against metal, and in a few moments, she felt the weight of the shackled holding her vanish. She opened her eyes, the metal that had been discarded to the ground reflecting back into them.
âYou said you were first to the Keeper of your clan when I spoke with you.â
The interrogation. Yes, Magdalene still had that fresh in her mind.
âI did.â
âDo you know any offensive magic? If so, you are to help us fight our way to the watchtower and help us seal the rift. Or at the very least, keep the demons occupied for as long as possible.â
Wait, she just freed her. And what was it that she was asking?
Wait a second!,â Magdalene objected, âYou hold me prisoner, accuse me of murder, and NOW you want my help?â
âI am DEMANDING it of you,â Cassandra glared at her.
âYou realize you just freed me? If I were a threat to you as you have claimed, I could attack you and take off,â the elf retorted.
There was a pause. Before the Seeker could respond however, she had something else to add.
âAs mad as I think you are, innocent people are getting driven from their homes, hurt, and killed. My people are gone, but I can still do something for those here. Iâm not going to turn my back on them.â
She saw one demon heading straight for a fleeing villager as she concentrated the energy within herself. The earth just ahead of it rumbled as a rocky chunk was ripped up and hurled at the monster, crushing it under enormous weight. A decent start, she thought, especially when she saw the villager still in one piece a good distance ahead.
âMost Dalish would not feel such compassion for humans,â Cassandra remarked.
As much as Magdalene wanted to correct the Seeker, now was not the time for an argument. And in truth, it wasnât incorrect. Not entirely. The Dalish were often quite resentful of humanity and so they tended to be colder towards them.
âSo, where to?â
She focused herself back on the matter at hand.
âThe watchtower is on the other side of the village, just down the hill. Weâll need to fight our way past the demons.â
âSounds like a good time,â Varric replied sarcastically, then looking down at his crossbow, âWell, Bianca, weâve got a mess to clean up.â
âAnd what about the villagers? I assume we are to protect any if we find them.â
Magdalene barely caught a glimpse of Varric smiling, perhaps as a sign of approval or agreement . Cassandra frowned, and her eyebrows turned down.
âClosing the rift should be our first priority. But, if we are able to save who we can, than it is all the better.â
Cassandra then turned towards Varric, who had his weapon prepared and ready.
âIâll be counting on you as well, dwarf.â
Donât need to tell me twice, Seeker. I heard you the first time.â
Cassandra nodded, readying her shield. Varric followed behind the Seeker. Magdalene trailed behind the two, cautiously keeping to the back.
The three began by battling their way down the hill into the village below. Cassandra swung with her sword, Varric shot with his crossbow, and Magdalene hurled rocks at enemies with her magic. They crossed paths with Cassandraâs soldiers, who were doing their best against the swarm that was coming from the other side of the settlement.
The ground underneath was dusty, but was quickly becoming red and sticky with the blood of soldiers, villagers, and demons. The group managed to allow a few fleeing people to escape, but there were others that were cut down before they could be reached. As heart-wrenching as it was, they had to keep moving, something the Seeker was quick to remind the other two of.
âSo, Seeker Cassandra, I must ask. Why did you free me?â
âI needed your help. Your magic will prove useful during this fight.â
Magdaleneâs curiosity had gotten the better of her as the three entered into a quieter section of the village, with the watchtower not fair away. Many buildings were damaged and there were bodies, but so far they had not encountered anything living, dead, or otherwise.
âYou consider me a threat, yet you trust me enough to free me for this task?â
Cassandra huffed. She kept to the front of the three, advancing and checking around corners for any possible surprises. For a moment, a shadowy figure caught her eye, causing her to move in closer. However, whatever it was quickly passed. Magdalene could have sworn she saw something on one of the roofs. But, when she tried to scrutinize anything, there was nothing to be found.
Along the way, Varric spotted something among the debris. He threw it to Magdalene, telling her she could make use of it. The Dalish recognized a burnt piece of wood that resembled a staff. Perhaps it had been someoneâs walking stick at one point, as it didnât feel all that powerful with magic. But, it would prove useful.
As they moved through the desolated stone and wood and straw, they began to see an eerie green light visible from the bridge to the watchtower. There was a large amount of cloud cover, with a little bit of sunlight still visible, almost streaming a path to a stairway leading up to the bridge.
âThreat or no, your survival is not a coincidence. While I am still suspicious, I need to use whatâs at my disposal,â Cassandra replied, continuing her earlier conversation with Magdalene.
Magdaleneâs eyebrows furrowed.
âI see, so thatâs how you work.â
Take it as you will. I am acting in my role as a Seeker for the Chantry, and what I believe is in the best interest for the well-being of Thedas.â
The elf sighed. Not that she couldnât understand that. But still, was accusing her of being responsible the first thing she had to jump to?
âIâd hate to break up the conversation, ladies, but weâve got company!â
Varric fired a bolt at the first of a group of demons that started descending to the village from the stairs. Â Magdalene whipped around, standing firm as she hurled a pair of bolts of arcane energy at the ground of demons. They began swarming around the three of them in an attempt to surround them.
Cassandra bashed the closest one with her shield, knocking the demon down. The tumble caused several to lose their balance and fall, making them easy targets for the three of them to pick off rather quickly. However, not all of them were taken down in this first attack. Some managed to sneak off into the shadows, trying to come at the group from behind.
A smaller creature leapt from the shadows, attempting to latch onto Magdaleneâs messy black braided ponytail.
âHey, Lavellan! Headâs up!â
Varric rapidly aimed and fired and the elf ducked her head to get out of the way. The bolt sent the demon flying sideways into a nearby wall. The sound of its body cracking against grey stone was very audible to Magdalene, followed by a loud cry from the creature. She promptly finished her attacker off with a rock to the face. Â The Dalish mage was tempted to breathe a sigh of relief, but there was more to come.
The three started to advance up the stairs, taking down demons as they went. Things started to thin out somewhat, but with the rift still open, it wouldnât stay that way.  But things were getting into the home stretch now. With the rift just meters away, Magdalene could start to feel her heart rattling inside of her chest. But there was another feeling too. Something, she couldnât quite tell. It was something kind of searing pain coming fromâŚher hand?
âHey, did your hand always do that?â
She heard Varricâs gruff question directed at her. She looked down to see that there was a clear gapingâŚwas it a scratch or a tear? She couldnât tell. But whatever it was, it was glowing green. Very brightly, in fact.
âNo, never. Creators, what is it!?â
Cassandra kicked a demon to the ground and stomped the life out of it.
âIt might have some connection to the breach, if itâs something you only acquired recently. Assuming you are being truthful.â
The elfâs eyes widened, her movement hesitant.
âI would not lie about something like this! I have no idea what this is.â
They pushed their way up until the top of the stairs, where the door leading out to the bridge was broken down.
âHonestly, Iâd be scarred shitless too if I had a mysterious glowing green scratch in my hand one day. But all things considered, Iâve seen things just as strange.â
Magdalene laughed, though she wasnât sure if she found it funny or strange he was still making comments like that, even when things were getting tough.
âIs that so? I am almost tempted to ask for you to tell me about them sometime, Varric.â
Varric laughed.
âIf we make it through this, Iâll be happy to. Storytelling is a special talent of mine.â
The three gathered out onto the bridge. Things seemed to strangely be calming down, despite the fact that the rift was now only a few feet away from them, above a stretch of vines that had grown over one side of the bridge. It emitted a green glow, much like the breach, and the mark that was now showing itself of Magdaleneâs hand. The mage felt a shot of searing pain, forcing her to emit a muffled cry.
âAre you alright there?â
Varric expressed his concern while reloading, realizing that more demons could come out of the breach at any moment.
âI think itâs the mark,â the elf said aloud, âItâs causing me great pain, and itâs getting worse the closer we get to the tear.â
Cassandra raised an eyebrow.
âSo they may indeed be linkedâŚâ
âWell, theyâre both green and glowing.â
The Seeker shot a glare at the dwarf.
âItâs as good a guess as any, Seeker. If they are connected, it may be the clue youâve been looking for since this whole mess started with the breach.â
He turned back to Magdalene.
âThat is my line of thinking,â Cassandra admitted, âAnd if that is the caseâŚâ
The Seeker started to shake her head. The elf stepped forward, though she felt her pain increasing since she grew closer to the rift.
âIf you want me to help find whatever caused the breach and close it, I can do that.â
Cassandra turned her head.
âThis breach got thousands of people killed, including my entire clan. I want to know what happened as much as you do. But you need to point your accusations elsewhere. I know you have your reasons to think so. But I am NOT a threat to you, or your Chantry. Release me from being your prisoner and let me work with you on a more equal level.â
Cassandra shook her head.
âI was working with what I had. It was not personal. And I have stillâŚâ
âI have helped you protect the people hear whose homes have been overrun. I have killed demons, and I have covered you and Varric through this. I donât find it compelling that someone responsible for the breach would do that.â
âPerhaps as a tactic of deceitâŚâ
âSeeker, please. What more must I do to convince you? And it was your idea I help you in the first place!â
Before they could finish their conversation, they was a loud rumble from behind them.
âFoolish mortals! You dare oppose us?â
For some reason, the air started to grow much warmer around them. They turned around to see a pair of deep red pools approaching them. They started to changed shape, elongating themselves into twisted, barely humanoid creatures with a long burning line of fire down their backs.
âRage demons⌠Iâve fought a few of these things before. They look tough, but nothing we canât handle with a cold spellâŚâ
Magdalene started to sweat.
âYouâve got a cold spell in your arsenalâŚdonât you, Lavellan?â
The Dalish mage shook her head.
âI was an apprentice. I only know a few spells, and my focus is mostly on earth and arcane force since that was the kind the Keeper though I had the most affinity withâŚâ
Varric shook his head, his expression seeming as though he had a strong urge to spit in frustration.
âWell shit.â
âFace your endâŚâ
The pair of demons hissed at the three, starting to circle around them. Magdalene started to gather energy for an arcane bolt, while Cassandra held up her shield and Varric had his crossbow ready. They began throwing attacks at the two Rage demons, but they proved to be quite the adversaries. They were shrugging off Varricâs arrows, and they didnât seem to take hardly any injury from Cassandraâs sword or Magdaleneâs spells.
âNo,â Magdalene pushed back her bangs, her blue eyes glowing with determination and the green light of the fade tear, âWe canât be stopped here.â
Both Varric and Cassandraâs darker colored eyes also reflected to light of the tear. They were close to her side, determined to get through this ordeal alive. Â But then the Rage Demons countered them, pushing them back. Magdalene was knocked over, while Varric and Cassandra were able to dodge or take the brunt of the attack without too bad of an effect.
But Magdalene was knocked prone, her shaggy brown clothes now cut in parts and crispy in others from the Rage Demonâs claws. Both started to gang up on her when she released a bolt of energy and pushed them back. She managed to get back to her feet, but she was in incredible pain. The Rage demons were about to come at the three of them again. And the three were ready to defend themselves.
But their skirmish was interrupted when Cassandra spotted a shadowy figure from atop the watchtower.
âWho goes there?â
The Rage demons turned around, only for them to see a ball of blue energy coming at the two of them. One swiveled out of the way, but the other was not so lucky. The energy hit, producing a blast of ice that radiated from the spot where it hit. The demon howled in agony, starting to shrivel a bit from the cold.
The figure jumped down to the bridge before hurling another spell at the demon. In its weakened state, the three were able to converge on it and dispatch of it. Â
Everyone saw that their timely assistance this time came from a stranger. This one in particular, was clad in furs and other materials that made a patchwork robe, and he hadnât a single hair on his head. He carried a wooden staff at his side, his eyes searching for where the remaining demon might lie. There was something familiar about the way he dressed, it almost seemedâŚDalish? Or at least it was the way someone would dress who belonged to the wilderness.
But his ears were very distinct, he was indeed an elf, she thought.
âIâve been watching the three of you for some time. I was hoping I could find out from you three as to how to close this tear in the veil.  It isâŚnot like the others from what Iâve gathered. But it seems none of you know. It is a shameâŚ.but I will need to sate my curiosity another way.â
The second demon made itself known once more, then bursting into to interrupt the unknown mage.
âDo not intervene with my prey, or you will become as they are!â
The elven mage frowned.
âYou feed on the Rage of others, but you shall find none in me at this moment. And I will not allow you to feed on them. Iâm afraid you will have to go hungry.â
He turned to Magdalene first, and then to Cassandra, since the Seeker was the one who spoke to him.
âWe need to dispatch of this one before we can speak further.â
He hurled another spell, Magdalene following suit by hurling a rock at the demon. The four of them engaged in intense skirmish with the demon. Cassandra swung at her opponent and Varric hailed down crossbow bolts. With the help of their new ally, things were manageable. Nobody came out of the fight uninjured, but eventually they were able to slay the remaining demon.
It faded away as Magdalene combined her spells with the spell of her new ally, the two converged and the demon howled its last. The mysterious elven mage sighed, satisfied that the battle was done. But, Cassandra quickly picked the conversation from before back up.
âSo, are you going to tell us who you are? What are you doing here?â
The male elf looked around at the three of them. As he was about to speak, he noticed Magdaleneâs glowing hand, and how she struggled to keep a straight face instead of gritting her teeth in pain. He started approaching her. He kept looking to the rift and back to her hand.
âIâm sorry to cut you off, butâŚâ
He first addressed the Seeker, stopping midsentence as he took Magdaleneâs hand.
âMight I see your hand?â
The Dalish mage gulped as the stranger lead her until they were directly in front of the rift.
âThis marking you haveâŚit glows with a similar energy to the riftâŚI wonderâŚâ
Without much warning, he pulled Magdaleneâs hand upwards, facing her palm to the rift.
âIâŚwaitâŚwhat are you trying to do, exactly?â
Suddenly, she felt as if she was being shocked. She felt a pulse of energy run its course through her body. The bridge started shaking, and the fade tear started to fluctuate, starting to become unstable. The strange mageâs eyes narrowed; he seemed utterly engrossed by what was happening.
Then, a burst of green light streamed from her hand to the rift and a loud rumble followed soon after. A giant burst of force caused everyone to fly backwards, debris cascading in the same direction. But none fell off the bridge. All were prone, but the stranger had lost his grip on Magdaleneâs hand.
âIncredible.â
Magdalene felt a wash of relief, feeling her pain beginning to quickly fade away. She look down at her hand, amazed to see the light had dimmed considerably. Was it going to fade completely?
âSo did my eyes deceive me or did you just use that mark on her hand to close the rift?â
Everyone started to get up, taking a moment to get their footing back.
âI wasnât even sure it would workâŚbutâŚthere was no doubt in my mind the two were connected. Surely even you could see it?â
The mage turned around facing the three of them once more.
âYou may call me Solas, by the way.â
Magdalene staggered a bit, still trying to take in what had just happened. Because of the mark on their hand, they were able to close a rift! Cassandra began to approach the mage she had held captive, helping her to stabilize herself.
âHow are you feeling?â
The Dalish mage shook her head.
âWell, Iâm not in pain anymore. ButâŚIâm still trying to process all of thisâŚâ
The Seeker nodded.
âAs am I. But one thing I know for sureâŚyou may still be a link I am looking forâŚbut never in a way I would have thought.â
Magdalene looked back to where the rift had been before. Part of the bridge had collapsed, and the vines were hanging over the edge. She exhaled heavily, feeling herself find firm footing at last.
âThis certainly feels like the start of something. Maybe a better path for all of us.â
