I try not to look at the bruise on my hand, but it's kind of hard, considering how big it is. Rubbing it, I tug my sleeve back down and clench my fist. We had come across quite a few demons on our way, but now they're all piles of goo.
"We're getting closer to the Rift. You can hear the fighting," says Cassandra, her face impassive.
But she is right. Clangs of metal and arrows flying can be heard, as well as the grunts and shrieks of demons.
"Who's fighting?" I ask.
"You'll see soon. We must help them."
I pick up my pace, taking the stairs two at a time, Cassandra beside me.
Reaching the top of the stairs, we come to a small ruined fort. Fires burn, destroying carriages and barrels, the snow not cold enough the put the flames out. Demons slap at the scouts and people who look like refugees. Green ghost-like creatures skit around the outskirts of the battle, throwing green energy at the scouts. Grandma told us about those creatures in various stories as well—they're Shades if I remember correctly.
Everything the Breach throws at us seems to be green.
A burst of energy hits me from behind and I stumble, nearly face planting into the snow.
Cassandra hauls me back up and charges to the nearest Shade, drawing their attention to her. A bolt of ice shoots into a Shade and I turn to see an Elven mage spinning his staff in an intricate dance. I twist away from another burst of energy, driving my blade into a Shade. It dissipates into a black mist.
That's when I see it.
This crystal-like structure just floating in the air, shifting and changing. Long spires of crystal form then disappear, but it always gives out a green glow.
I peel my eyes away from crystal and focus on the fight. I run towards the nearest ground of fighters, fighting a demon. A steel bolt pierces right through the demon's glowing eye and I hear a "Bull's-eye" from somewhere behind me.
While the demon's distracted with the bolt stuck in its eye, I thrust my blade into its throat, making it explode into goo.
The Elven mage strides towards me and grabs hold of my wrist. He glances at the scar on my palm, "Quickly, before more demons come through." And before I can do anything, he shoves my hand towards the glowing crystal, which sparks and expands. My palm itches again and a bolt of pain stabs through my hand, green light shining from the scar. The crystal explodes into dust, disappearing.
I look at the mage, "What did you just do?"
The mage, who by now I've noticed has a really bald and shiny head, gestures to me, "I did nothing. The credit is all yours."
"Well… whatever I did…" I glance at my hand, "At least this is good for something."
"Whatever magic opened the Breach also placed that mark upon your hand. I theorized the mark may be able to close the Rifts that have opened in the Breach's wake—and well, it seems I was correct."
My palm glows faintly, the pain gone.
Cassandra stands next to me, "Meaning that it could also close the Breach."
The bald elf nods slightly, "Possibly." He looks to me, "It seems you could hold the key to our salvation."
"Well then, that's great to know. I thought we'd be ass-deep in demons forever," comes a gruff voice. I turn to see a dwarf fixing his gloves. His blonde hair is tied in a short ponytail. The dwarf's choice of clothing looks very intentional. His tunic is unbuttoned halfway down, showing off his slightly hairy, but muscular chest. A large crossbow is slung over his shoulder and I blink, astonished at how well the weapon has been forged.
He walks towards me, a smile tugging at his lips, "Varric Tethras: rogue, storyteller and occasionally unwelcome tagalong." His eyes flick to Cassandra and he winks at her. The warrior's response is a scowl, which seems to be her permanent expression. But there is something trusting about her.
"Lydia Trevelyan: rogue, reader and occasional Rift closer," I say with a smile.
Varric's smile widens to a grin and his nods in what I'm hoping is approval.
"It's nice to meet you Varric," I add. "Are you with the Chantry?"
The bald elf laughs, "Is that a serious question?"
Well, I thought it was.
Varric smiles, "Technically I'm a prisoner, just like you."
"You were brought here to tell your story to the Divine. I had made that clear. Now, that seems like it's no longer necessary."
"Yet, here I am. Lucky for you, considering current events," he gestures to the Breach.
"Absolutely not," orders Cassandra. "Your help is appreciated Varric, but…"
"Have you been in the Valley recently, Seeker? Last time I checked, there were a bunch of demons roaming around. You're soldiers aren't in control anymore, you need me."
I swallow, trying to not to interfere with the obvious tension going on between the two. Like ex-lovers or something.
Cassandra just turns away, "Ugh."
I glance at her, but the elf steps forward, "My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions. I am pleased to see you still live."
"Ah, me too," I say.
Varric chuckles, "He means 'I kept that mark from killing you while you slept'."
I'm shocked that this elf, who didn't know me in anyway was helping keep me alive. Especially considering I was known as a prisoner. I'm genuinely touched by his generosity, "Then I owe you my thanks," I say.
Solas smiles, "Thank me if we manage to close the Breach without killing you in the process." He turns to Cassandra, obviously not concerned about what he just said, "Cassandra, the magic involved here is unlike any I have seen. Your prisoner is no mage. Indeed, I find it difficult for any mage to have such power."
Cassandra nods, "Understood. We must reach the Forward Camp quickly."
She starts walking, Solas following closely behind. Varric strolls forward, "Well, at least Bianca's excited."
I frown, unsure of who this Bianca is.
Cassandra's voice floats back up to me, "This way, down the bank. The road is blocked."
I follow after them, glad to have a few more people to watch my back as we traverse through the valley infested with demons.
+++
Cassandra's sword slices through the last of the demons, ice cracking beneath her boots. The cracks shoot outwards, disappearing under my own boots.
"Have I mentioned I'm not very good when it comes to standing on ice," I say, scanning my surroundings.
Varric looks down, "I'm glad dwarves are a little lighter."
Cassandra grunts, "With that chest hair, I wouldn't be too sure."
Varric looks at me, his mouth slightly open in surprise.
"Good one," I mutter.
Solas and Cassandra walk towards the stone stairs on the other side of the frozen river, while Varric and I struggle with our fears of drowning in freezing water.
The dwarf seems like a nice enough guy, his jokes are certainly needed in times like these and he's really the only one that's accepted me so far. The others still believe I'm guilty for what has happened.
Yet, I could actually be the one who opened the Breach. I just don't remember.
No, surely I'm not the one who did this.
Finally leaping the last step, my boots hit soft snow and I scramble up to the others, Varric close behind. More wooden houses burn in the snow, the occupants hopefully far away from this valley.
The four of us continue up the stairs, sticking close to each other.
"So… are you innocent?" asks Varric.
Sighing, I turn my head to eye the dwarf, "I don't remember what happened."
"That'll get ya every time," he says, a slight teasing tone in his voice. "You should have spun a story."
"That's what you would have done," says Cassandra.
"It's more believable that way. And less prone to result in premature execution."
A smile forms on my lips.
"We're almost at the Forward Camp," says Solas.
We come around a corner just as a green comet lands in the snow near us. A closed gate looms before us, but a Rift hovers in front of it, dashing my hopes of safety. Scouts trying to hold their position from the demons, but I can see their swings are becoming slower and softer, tiring with each hit.
"Another Rift," yells Cassandra, pointing at the green crystal hovering just before the wooden gates.
"We must seal it! Quickly!" orders Solas, whipping his staff out and shooting a demon with an ice blast.
I unsheathe my blades and move with Cassandra. A Shade shoots a burst of green energy and I spin, madly trying to duck the attack. Cassandra holds out her shield and the energy hits the metal, making Cassandra stumble. She grunts, but seems unhurt.
"Hurry," yells Solas. "Use the mark."
I scramble towards the Rift and hold out my hand, the scar burning in pain. The Rift contracts and spews green light.
I throw my hand away from the Rift and it breaks into tiny fragments before turning to dust. Hopefully it will never open again.
"The Rift is gone," Cassandra says to the guards standing by the gates, "Open them."
"Right away Lady Cassandra." The guards do as they're told and push the heavy doors open, allowing us to enter.
Lady Cassandra nods in thanks.
"We are clear for the moment. Well done," says Solas as we walk through the gates.
The bridge ahead of us is full of scouts and guards. Supply wagons are placed across the bridge, while barricades protect the people from incoming green comets. Some scouts watch our surroundings, keeping an eye on the Breach, while others attend to the wounded. I can hear snatches of conversations, but two people catch my eyes. The man leans over a table, dressed in Chantry robes, a hood covering his neck and head.
"We will do no such thing."
"The prisoner must get to the temple of Sacred Ashes, it is our only chance," the woman's voice is familiar and when I look closer, I work out why. She was the other woman who stood in the cell with Cassandra. Leliana… I think her name is.
We continue towards the couple and the Chantry bureaucrat looks up, noticing our approach.
"Ah, here they come," he says. His voice is whiney and high.
Leliana steps forward, "You made it. Chancellor Roderick, this is—"
"I know who she is," he snaps. "As Grand Chancellor of the Chantry, I hereby order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux to face execution."
My blood runs cold and I take a small step back.
Cassandra's eyebrows shoot up and she steps forward, "Order me? You are a glorified clerk. A bureaucrat."
"And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serves the Chantry," retorts Roderick.
I may not know Cassandra a whole lot, but one thing I took from her very strong jaw line, cheek bones that could cut my throat and the fire burning in her eyes, is to never upset her. Well, it seems this bureaucrat just has.
Her eyes flash and a fist is clenched.
Leliana pushes in, "We serve the most Holy, Chancellor. You should know that."
Roderick throws his airs in the air, "Justinia is dead. We must elect a replacement and obey her orders on the matter."
"Hey, wait," I say. "Isn't closing the Breach the more pressing issue right now?'
Roderick's eyes flash, "You brought this on in the first place. This your fault."
Cassandra leans forward, the only thing protecting the Chancellor is the flimsy wooden table. Her face is inches from his.
But he stands his ground, "Call off a retreat, Seeker. Our position here is hopeless."
"We can stop this before it's too late."
Roderick laughs, desperation etched in his face, "How? You won't survive long enough to reach the temple, even with all your soldiers."
"We must get to the temple, it's the quickest route." Neither one is backing down.
"But not the safest," contests Leliana. "Our forces can charge as a distraction while we go through the mountains." She points to a distant mountain range, shrouded into the light fall of snow. The mist clouds the top of the mountain, but it looks high. And scary.
"We lost contact with an entire squad on that path. It's too risky," says Cassandra.
"Listen to me," says the Chancellor. "Abandon this now before more live are lost."
A boom rocks the valley as the Breach expands, shooting green lightning across the sky. More green comets spew from the Breach, crashing into the Earth below. One comet smashes through a tree, the trunk breaking in half. I see the canopy tip, leaves start on fire and branches snapping. The top half of the tree crashes into the snow below. I swallow, as one lone bird flutters desperately away from its broken nest.
Pain rips through my palm and once again my hand is pulled towards the Breach on its own accord—like a magnet.
I try pushing my hand down, but the pull is too powerful. Just as quickly as it lit up, the light vanishes, the Breach itself returning to its normal world-destroying self. And the pain fades.
Cassandra turns to me, "How do you think we should proceed."
I blink, my eyes watching her face for any signs of mocking. But no, the warrior really does seem to want my opinion. Her hard eyes watch me, waiting for my input.
"I… ah," I clear my throat. "I say we charge. I won't survive long enough for your trail… so whatever happens, happens now."
Cassandra's face softens and a small smile comes to her lips. She nods in approval and turns to Leliana, "Bring everyone left in the Valley. Everyone."
And with that, she's on her way across the bridge again, Solas and Varric walking close to her.
"On your head be the consequences, Seeker," comes Roderick's voice as I pass him.
I watch for Cassandra's reaction, but she just keeps moving.