Part 7
Tearstone Island was a nightmare. When they docked, Davrin took a team to distract the Gods. Neve stayed with Kaya, Lace, and Taash. The rest of the team would go with Davrin. The air had been saturated with the cheers of the Antaam. When they had parted ways with Davrin’s team, the Warden had hugged Kaya. The gesture was small, but Neve knew he was doing what he could to reassure Kaya that it would all be alright. Their journey had started off easy, running through the bay to the stronghold. When they drew close, Antaam greeted them. Kaya and Taash worked quickly, striking down whoever Neve and Lace couldn’t kill.
They continued moving to the camp and Neve had seen the fire raining down on them. Mortars that threatened to blow them up as they ran. Taash had ordered them to not run in a straight line, which was easier said than done. There were mercenaries here too. Their waves of foot soldiers made it difficult for them to make much progress. Issbaqoun, the Antaam general met them with explosives of his own, shooting them from afar. Kaya’s arrows struck true, and Lace crippled him enough for Taash to land a final blow. He fell to the dragon hunter’s axes. The closer they got to the stronghold, the more uneasy Neve felt. They were lucky so far, but that could change at any moment.
They ran through the entrance of the stronghold, killing mages and mercenaries alike. The ground shook as an Antaam Reaver leaped at them and Neve had barely gotten a barrier up in time to shield her friends. The Reaver’s attack shattered her shield, but it gave Taash and Kaya time to retaliate. Taash’s axes tore into its legs as Kaya leaped into the air, sinking her swords into its head. The Reaver fell and Kaya urged them to continue forward.
“Ah, Neve Gallus. What a pleasure to see you fighting your way to me,” Elgar’nan taunted. Neve gritted her teeth as she kept her eyes on Kaya. “You will lose her. She will die by my hands if you continue this fruitless endeavor.”
“Elgar’nan is in my head,” Kaya growled.
“Mine too.”
“I hate it when he does that! It’s like an itch behind my eyes!”
Deepstalkers met them next, and Neve cursed as they were outnumbered. Her magic surged to protect them. Protect her friends. She didn’t care about herself. Lace’s arrows and magic took out most of them, with Kaya cleaning up the stragglers. They could do this. They had to. As the stronghold grew larger, Neve felt her panic grow.
“Rook, about earlier…I just wanted to say—”
“I know, Neve. We can talk about it later.”
“Rook…”
“Vhenan, we’ll talk about it when this is over,” Kaya argued. Neve knew she was right. They had to focus on the fight ahead. The farther they went, the more challenging it became. The more Blight that appeared around them. She downed a lyrim potion as they went, seeing the others drink healing potions. They needed rest. At least a small breather. A gate blocked them continuing and Davrin stood on the other side with his team. “Davrin! Are you guys alright?”
“For now. We burned some Antaam ships, led them off. But there’s another wave coming!” Davrin quickly responded. Neve looked at Bellara, seeing the uncertainty on her face. She could see the way her hands shook. She reached through the gate and her sister took her hand.
“We’re going to make it through this, Bel,” Neve lied. She wasn’t sure if they would, but she couldn’t say that to Bellara. Davrin ran off with the team to find a way to open the gate, leaving them to deal with a wave of enemies. Two Reavers leaped into the fray with mercenaries. Their horns and claws poised to rip them to shreds. Neve focused on slowing the Reavers down while Lace aimed at the mercenaries. Kaya grunted in pain as a mercenary’s blade slashed across her arm and Neve sent an icicle at him. It impaled him and Kaya staggered back, holding her side as well. She must’ve been hit there. Neve gathered her magic and let a blizzard erupt around them. She froze the enemies that came at them, making sure none of them walked free. The Reavers barely moved and Taash shattered them before they could harm them. When Neve was certain they were dead, she stopped her magic and ran to Kaya’s side. “Let me see.”
Kaya clenched her jaw, and she inspected the gash on her side. Before she could even attempt to ask her, Kaya shook her head. “Save your mana. I’ll be fine.”
“I can spare some.”
“Not after that blizzard you can’t.”
Neve angrily took Kaya’s face in her hands, making her meet her gaze. “Must you be so stubborn?!”
Kaya smiled at her, pressing a soft kiss to her palm. “I have to be to keep up with you.”
The elf pulled away from her and drank a healing potion before leading them on. Neve could do nothing but follow. She shielded Kaya when she could, killed those who came at her when she was overwhelmed. Taash protected Lace which made things easier for her. The problem was, Lace and Kaya were running out of ammo. After what had to be an hour of fighting, they finally had a moment to rest. The room they had entered was deprived of enemies and only a Fade tear greeted them.
“Everyone good?” Davrin questioned. The team went about checking on one another and Bellara ran to her, giving her a hug. She hugged the elf back, not wanting to waste this moment.
“Another Fade tear. Oceans of magic are coursing around us, because of the Gods’ rituals,” Emmrich spoke.
“Then we better find Ghilan’nain—quickly,” Lucanis stated. Bellara pulled away from Neve and gestured to the wards.
“Wait, wait, wait! There are wards blocking the way out. Blood magic.”
“One touch could kill,” Neve added.
“How do we get through?” Kaya asked. Bellara hummed and inspected the wards.
“Patterns are familiar. If I can fracture the harmonics, we could get through. Maybe,” Bellara answered. Maybe wasn’t good enough.
“I deal with blood magic. I can stop the damage long enough to burn out the wards,” Neve argued.
“That’s risky Neve. Really risky. I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Your way’s just as dangerous. Don’t like it, but one of us has to do it,” Neve sighed. She looked at Kaya, seeing the conflicting thoughts behind those gold eyes. She didn’t want to send either of them. Neve held her gaze, hoping to convey what she was feeling to the elf. When her shoulders sagged, she knew she had won the argument.
“Get the wards down, carefully,” Kaya relented. Neve nodded and hurried to the ward before Bellara could try anything. She focused on weaving a spell around them, pinpointing the weak points. One wrong move would be a disaster. Her hands were steady as she worked, and her mind was sharp. This wouldn’t be what killed them. The ward flickered out and Neve released a shaky breath.
“Hah! Got it!” Neve exclaimed. She turned, looking at Kaya.
“Nice!”
“Sure. But let’s walk out careful. The Gods will have a trap or two.”
“That is a certainty,” Elgar’nan spoke. Kaya’s eyes widened and Neve felt a tentacle wrap around her torso. It yanked her back and Kaya leaped for her. The elf grabbed her hand, holding her and trying to pull her free.
“Neve!” Kaya exclaimed. She pulled and Neve could see her feet slipping. She’d get pulled in with her.
“Let go!” Neve shouted. The others moved to help, and Neve refused to let all of them get taken. She gathered her magic and shot just enough ice at Kaya’s face to make her release her. The elf fell backwards into Bellara’s arms and Neve felt herself be pulled into the mirror. At least Kaya was safe with Bellara.
Point of View Change, Kaya
“That dragon razed Minrathous. Where were you?” Neve’s voiced echoed around her. Kaya was falling. Tumbling through the fade as she tried to orient herself. The world around her was black and grey, devoid of any color. The voices of her friends echoed around her and she stopped her fall by stabbing the ground with the lyrium dagger. Solas stood before her with his hands behind his back.
“You and your friends stood against the Gods,” Solas spoke. Statues were erected behind him. One of Neve, Davrin, and Bellara. “Your courage is laudable…”
“Solas?”
“…but mortals cannot win this battle. I am sorry, but it is what it must be.”
Kaya gasped as Davrin’s statue fell, sending her tumbling through the Fade once more. His voice boomed in her ears as her body crashed through debris.
“I saved you Rook, what was the point? You were never up to it,” Davrin echoed. He voices of her friends’ regret and disdain for her made her head feel like it was ready to split in half. It was too loud!
“What failure cuts your conscience now, I wonder?” Solas questioned. Kaya rolled to her feet and found herself reaching forward, grabbing a stone statue of Neve by the hand. Strikingly similar to how she had grabbed her when Elgar’nan pulled her through the mirror.
“Neve!” Kaya gaped.
“Blood on your hands,” Neve spoke.
“Your friend is dead,” Bellara added. Kaya stared at the stone face before her, feeling tears come to her eyes. No. She wasn’t dead. She had to be alive. Neve couldn’t be dead!
“Regret, like all emotions, is a powerful thing. It can bruise us, break us…or blind us to the truth,” Solas sadly spoke. Kaya struggled to pull herself and Neve up with the dagger. This wasn’t right. “Regret is even strong enough to serve as the lock on a prison built to hold Gods.”
Davrin and Bellara appeared, adding to the weight she tried to hold. Their faces stricken with pain.
“No!”
“You were never ready to make the sacrifices that leadership requires. So, through our connection, I molded you into someone the prison would accept in my place.”
In the blink of an eye, the statues were replaced with a statue of Varric. Why Varric?
“Your work is done,” Solas spoke. The lyrium dagger slid from her hands and she fell. She fell until her body collided with the ground. She groaned and pushed herself to her hands and knees, feeling her body scream in protest. This was where she met Solas when she dreamt. But this time, she wasn’t dreaming. She was really here. Kaya got to her feet and immediately collapsed again. Pain seared through her leg, and she cursed looking down at her leg. Ghilan’nain had pierced it with a tentacle. It still bled steadily, and she undid her belt, using that to stop some of the bleeding. She couldn’t let this slow her down. Voices chattered around her, and she covered her ears. The voices blamed her. Accused her of letting everyone down. It was her fault. Davrin was dead. Neve was gone. This was all her fault! She dug her fingers into her head, trying to drown out the noise.
“Come on kid, Solas found a way out. Now you need to find yours,” Varric instructed. Kaya lifted her head, seeing a path appear before her. Varric? She got to her feet and shakily walked the path that was revealed to her. It was littered with stone bodies. Littered with the dead. Faces that she knew and faces that she didn’t. All of them dead because of her mistakes. She dragged her foot behind her and she paled at the sight of a giant statue of Neve. She slowly made her way up the stairs, taking in the statues of the mage. All posed in a way that she remembered. All posed in that elegance that was Neve. This place was…
“A prison. A place to hold Gods and locked by regret,” Neve finished. Kaya glanced to the side, seeing a statue of Neve holding a book. “Didn’t he say that too?”
Regret. Kaya regretted everything that had transpired. She never should’ve chosen Davrin to lead. Never should’ve chosen Neve to undo the wards.
“I told you the enchantments were dangerous. You chose me anyways,” Neve seethed. Kaya shook her head and continued walking, seeing a statue of Neve kneeling. The statues changed into Neve lying on the ground, changed to Neve relaxing like she had been in Rivain. “I trusted you. And it got me killed.”
Kaya collapsed at the feet of a life-sized Neve statue. She rested her forehead against the stone legs of the mage. “You’re right. I-I got you killed. You’re my everything and I…I just…we had to get those wards down. I made a stupid choice. I can’t take that choice back. I wish I could.”
Neve’s words rang through her head. “What if I can’t say it tomorrow?”
“Vhenan, it’s not going to be easy fighting without you. I won’t lie about that. But we will win. I will make Elgar’nan pay. Solas too if I have to. We will win. I will not let you down. Not again,” Kaya swore. A stone hand found her shoulder and she looked up, seeing that Neve’s statue was now looking down at her. “You knew the risks. You always did. You’re always two steps ahead of me.
“She is kid. She always is. And she knew you could do this,” Varric sighed. Another staircase appeared and Davrin’s statue stood there. Kaya limped up the stairs, following the path. Just like with Neve, statues appeared as she walked.
“Whatever it takes. That’s what you told us. And you lived that. Every day,” Davrin spoke. Kaya walked through an archway, seeing the library floating around. “I gave the griffons freedom in Arlathan because of you. Assan is alive at the Lighthouse because you convinced me not to bring him. You asked a lot of us. Of the team…and you were a pain in the ass while you did.”
Kaya smiled despite the tears streaming down her face. She was a pain…and in pain. Her leg was on fire, her ribs broken. She still had a gash to her arm and torso as well. She wouldn’t be able to keep going.
“But you asked even more of yourself,” Davrin spoke. Kaya stopped in front of the last statue of Davrin, seeing his proud, stoic face. “And after everything you’ve done? It was my turn to make the sacrifice. And I’d do it again and again, for my little sister.”
“I’ll miss you, Davrin. You and that smug smile of yours. Anytime I needed you, you were there. You were my family…but now, you’re gone. And the fight’s not over. So, I promise you this. I’m going to get out of here. I’m going to stop Elgar’nan. And I’m going to stop Solas. I’ll save the world, Davrin. And make sure your sacrifice was worth it. I’ll also take care of Assan for you.”
“Great job kid,” Varric complimented. Kaya turned and saw the infirmary doors appear. “Now, what about mine?”
Kaya walked through the doors, continuing on. The temple that they had gone through appeared. She didn’t want to go there again. Why did she have to? She knew what had happened…didn’t she? As she got closer, the memories came crashing back. Varric approaching Solas. Them grappling over the dagger. Solas stabbing Varric and the dwarf’s final breath. Kaya stood there, staring at Varric’s body. “I-I think I always knew you were gone.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” Varric apologized. He walked around her and patter her back. Kaya looked at him.
“I’m sorry, Varric.”
“For what?”
“For not saving you.”
Varric sighed. “Shit. Didn’t you learn anything from this place? I made the choice. To talk to him. To try and reach him. Even knowing the risks, because he was my friend. My decision. MY sacrifice. You don’t get to take that from me.”
“But—”
“Every story’s got an ending. This one just came a little earlier than I’d planned,” Varric explained, gesturing at his body. Kaya stepped closer to the dwarf.
“I-I can’t do this alone,” Kaya stammered. Varric turned to her, smiling as he did.
“You’re not alone, kid,” Varric smiled. Statues appeared around him. One for each of her still living friends. Even Neve was there. “You’ve got a good team…and good friends. Especially slick. She’s good for you.”
Varric turned once more and she followed his gaze, seeing a portal at the top of the stairs. The way out. She could feel it in her bones. That was her way out.
“You’ve got a story to finish. I just know the ending’s going to be killer,” Varric chuckled. Kaya chuckled despite the tears that fell from her eyes. She wiped them away and hugged the dwarf. He hugged her back, patting her as he did. “You’ve got this, kid. Trust them and you’ll win this.”
Varric walked her up the stairs as she struggled to get up the steps. Could she do this? Could she win? “Remind Solas who he really is. He’s not a villain. He’s just lost and hurting. You saw his memories. Help him remember who he is.”
“I’ll try. Goodbye, Varric.”
“Goodbye, kid. I’d tell you good luck, but you don’t need it,” Varric smiled. Kaya heard her friends and stepped closer to the veil. It pulsed and she stuck her hand through the tear. Hands grabbed her and she was yanked through it. The light was almost blinding as she was pulled through it.
She hit the ground with a gasp, feeling the cool stone beneath her hands. There was color here. She was back. Arms engulfed her and she grunted as she was lifted off the ground. Taash’s familiar warmth surrounded her, and she hugged the qunari back.
“You’re alright!” Taash exclaimed, holding her close. Bellara joined the hug and so did Lace. Kaya held onto her friends, wishing that a certain mage was there too. Emmrich fussed over her wounds while Lucanis cautioned them to move. They were still on Tearstone Island. Taash carried her bridal style, and she looked up at the qunari. “I’ve got you.”
“How long—”
“Don’t worry about that right now. We’ll talk when we get back to the Lighthouse.”
Back at the Lighthouse
Kaya listened to the others as they relayed what had happened. After she had grabbed the lyrium dagger, Solas had replaced her. He had disappeared before any of them could question what he had done. Minrathous was in shambles from Elgar’nan and the Dread Wolf was leading the rebellion. The Eluvians were dark, Assan wasn’t eating, and she had been gone for two weeks. That last bit was shocking to her. She felt like it had only been hours. Bellara finished the last stitch on her leg, wrapping it and then handing her a healing potion.
“We don’t know what to do,” Lace spoke. The others lowered their gazes and Kaya leaned forward as best as she could with her leg being propped up.
“I believe in this team. I believe in all of you. We lost Davrin and Neve. But we honor them by defeating Elgar’nan and stopping Solas. We live for them,” Kaya spoke. Her friends nodded and Emmrich held up a replica of the lyrium dagger.
“We made a replica. It’s not going to cut through the Fade, but Solas won’t notice the difference.”
“We trick him if we have to. He’s not going to release demons into the world,” Kaya spoke. She looked around at her group, taking in the pain in their eyes. The sorrow. “We need our allies this time. It wasn’t smart of me having us go without them.”
“Let us fetch them. You rest,” Lucanis spoke. Kaya couldn’t argue with that. Her body was hardly functioning.
“Alright,” Kaya sighed. The team stood and hurried from the room, getting ready for the final battle.
“Rook? Are you sure you’re alright?” Bellara asked.
“Not at all. I can barely keep my body up…but I’ll rest after we win.”
“Alright. At least let me help you around,” Bellara sighed. Kaya let her help her to her feet and she leaned heavily against the elf. “Do you want to see Assan before we go do anything else?”
“Yeah. That’d be good,” Kaya nodded. Bellara helped her out of the Lighthouse and to Davrin’s room. The trek was hard with her leg barely holding her up, but she wanted to see the griffon. Bellara pushed open the door and the two of them walked inside.
“Rook!” Manfred greeted from the floor. Kaya smiled and patted the skeleton’s shoulder before looking at Assan. The griffon was curled up on Davrin’s bed, staring at the wall. He looked frail. Underweight and weak.
“Hey, Assan. Look who’s back,” Bellara softly spoke. Assan ignored her and Kaya stepped away from Bellara. She made it a few steps before stumbling into the bed. She hissed at the feeling and slid to the ground. “Rook…”
“Give us a bit,” Kaya huffed. Bellara reluctantly nodded and Kaya leaned against the bed. She listened to Assan’s heavy breathing. The sad whines he was letting out. Davrin was his father. His entire world. With the Warden gone, Assan was lost. “I’m sorry, Assan. I should’ve done more for Davrin.”
Assan stayed quiet and Kaya felt her tears fall as she looked around the room. None of them would ever be able to come into this room again. It would be too hard. Their friend was gone. Manfred gave her a sad hiss, handing her a handkerchief. She took it with a grateful smile and wiped at her eyes.
“I’ll avenge him. I swear that to you, Assan. When this is over, I’ll take you back to Arlathan. To the other Griffons. You’ll be with your family there,” Kaya swore. Assan chirped sadly and the griffon shuffled closer to her, pressing up against her head. She leaned back against him, feeling his sorrow. “I’ll get Neve back for us. She’ll give you all the treats in the damn world.”
Kaya swore that to herself and to Assan. She’d rescue Neve. She’d stop Elgar’nan and Solas. Whatever it takes.
That mantra repeated in Kaya’s head as she ran through the war before her. Whatever it takes. Her decisions to have Emmrich disable the wards, Lucanis go with the Crows, and Lace handle the giant construct. Whatever it takes. Her feet carrying across the battlefield, ignoring the pained cries of their comrades. Whatever it takes. Taking Solas’s deal of help to defeat Elgar’nan and stop the Blight for good. Whatever it takes. Her body being a shield for her friends when attacks were directed at them. She’d make sure they made it out of here alive.
“There! That must be the source of the Blight. If you can destroy the mind guiding the blight, we may be able to reach the palace,” Solas spoke. Kaya saw movement from the Blight and her eyes widened.
“Neve!” Kaya exclaimed. She tried to run for the mage and Bellara stopped her before the Archdemon landed before them. Solas sent a tendril at its face, and it staggered back.
“We are out of time. I will handle the Archdemon. Once Elgar’nan is mortal, the final blow is yours.”
Kaya took the offered lyrium dagger and Solas ran for the Archdemon. She didn’t question the fact that he turned into a giant wolf with multiple eyes. Her own eyes were trained on the bundle of Blight that carried Neve away. Taash and Bellara were on her heels as she slid down the fallen bridge. “Neve!”
“Neve is gone,” Neve spoke. The construct beside her glowed and Kaya drew her swords as it assembled itself. “There is only the will of Elgar’nan. Bringer of life and death.”
The Blood Prime assembled itself and Taash stood their ground beside her.
“Attack its weak points. I’ll hit the openings you mark,” Taash spoke. Kaya nodded and she shot forward. As the construct swung, she used her magic to quicken her movements. Her swords weren’t exactly strong enough to cut through the steel, but they did enough damage to give Taash a chance. The qunari’s axes broke through the points she had marked, making the Prime creak and tremble. It changed course, heading for Bellara.
“Bellara!” Kaya yelled. She shot to the elf’s side and held her hands before her, using her electricity to stun it. Bellara used that chance to shoot her own electric arrows and the Prime stalled. Taash roared and slammed their weapons into the steel, destroying it. The Prime fell and Kaya sheathed her swords, pulling the lyrium dagger out in their place. She stabbed at the Blight that held Neve, being cautious about accidentally stabbing the woman. The tendrils retreated and Kaya replaced the dagger on her belt before catching Neve. She was warm in her arms. A strange warm that came from the Blight. Neve’s eyes shot open, and she stepped away, steadying herself as she did.
“Get out of my head and out of my city!” Neve shouted. Even with the darkened veins around her eyes, the red glow to them, and the sickly color to her skin; Neve was a beautiful sight. Angry and determined to wreak havoc in true Neve fashion.
“Neve?”
Neve twirled, looking at her with wide, Blighted eyes. “Trouble?”
Kaya ran to her and engulfed her in a tight hug. The woman smelled and was covered in goop, but when she hugged her back, Kaya felt how strong she was. Neve hugged her equally as tight, shaking ever so slightly.
“You came.”
“Course I did. Who else would I skip rocks with?” Kaya chuckled. Neve let out an exasperated sigh and pulled away. “We have to move. Solas is fighting the Archdemon. We need to be by Elgar’nan to kill him.”
“No! You can’t kill him!”
“What do you mea—"
The Archdemon roared, crashing into the already collapsing building. Tendrils shot out, threatening to engulf them before the debris could even begin to crush them. Kaya grabbed Neve’s wrist and pulled her behind her.
“Let’s move!” Kaya ordered. They ran for the doorway she saw and she struggled to keep them steady. The building was collapsing faster than they could run. The ceiling caved in and Kaya pulled Neve close, feeling Taash shield them with their larger body. Bellara held them too and Kaya gathered her magic. She’d use what she had to knock the debris aside. The sound of a crow filled the air and Morrigan gracefully returned to her human form, using her magic to stop the slabs of stone from crushing them.
“Lady Morrigan!”
“Quickly now! Destiny is a heavy burden to bear…and growing heavier by the moment!” Morrigan grunted. Taash yanked them to their feet, and they ran for the now clear path. They ran up the stairs and inside the building before the doorway caved in. Taash and Bellara pulled their weapons free once more when the door across from them shook. Kaya placed herself in front of Neve and readied herself for whatever came crashing through that door. It slammed open and Inquisitor Lavellan burst through it. Lace was right behind her and Taash ran to the dwarf, lifting her into a bear hug.
“You made it!” Taash exclaimed. Lavellan looked at Kaya, inclining her head.
“Sorry we’re late. We had to sneak in with the Veil Jumpers.”
“You did a great job distracting them for us. We were able to strike back at the Venatori,” Dorian complimented. Kaya felt Neve collapse against her back, and she turned, holding her up.
“Whatever you did, cleared a path to the Manor. The Blight is gone,” Maevris spoke.
“It’ll come back. I can still feel it. I don’t think I’m the only mage he used like this,” Neve groaned. Kaya placed her hand against her chest, feeling her thundering heartbeat beneath her robes.
“Let’s get you to a healer,” Kaya softly spoke. Neve shook her head and looked up at their team. At their friends.
“We need to talk. I learned some things from that Blight eruption.”
“We will. But first, we need to get you to a healer,” Kaya argued. Bellara ran to them, hugging Neve. Neve returned the hug and Kaya met Bellara’s gaze. “Take her to a healer. I’ll check in with the others.”
“I got it,” Bellara nodded. Neve glanced back at her while she followed the others and Kaya waved goodbye to her. When Neve looked away, she pressed her palm to her forehead. Her head was pounding.
“Rook, you should also see a healer,” Lace suggested. Kaya shook her head and squared her shoulders. She didn’t have time for that. Plus, this was a headache from using too much magic. She couldn’t regenerate it like other mages. Lyrium didn’t work for her like that.
“Let’s hurry,” Kaya grunted. She felt Taash and Lace file in behind her as the three of them followed the others. As they went, Kaya took in the damage that had been done. There were so many wounded. So many that could be dead. Whatever it takes. Whatever it takes didn’t make up for the lives lost. Didn’t make it easier when she paid her respects to their fallen comrades. Her heart ached for the losses, even for those she didn’t know. They had died for her cause. Died for her plan to work. She’d make sure their lives weren’t lost in vain.
When they entered the makeshift war room, Neve was leaning against the table. She had Crow armor on, which was a stark contrast to her normal teal attire. They must’ve given her a change of clothes.
“That bastard was in my head the whole time. All I could think about was making him happy,” Neve explained. She had her arms crossed as she recounted her ordeal. Kaya stood a breath away from the mage, but didn’t step closer. Neve had that guarded posture. The one that demanded space. “There’s Blight flowing through him—and now through me.”
“I’ll kill him for this,” Kaya seethed. Neve looked up at her, shaking her head as she did.
“You can’t. That’s what I needed to tell you. My connection with Elgar’nan went both ways. I could sense him. His mind, his magic, his life force. He’s tied to the Veil. His life is holding the Veil in place.”
“If we kill him, the Veil falls,” Emmrich pointed out. Kaya clenched her fists and ground her teeth.
“Shit,” Kaya cursed. She tossed the dagger on the table as the others gathered around it. “Can we tie the Veil to something else to keep it in place?”
“I doubt any simple substitution would suffice. The Veil was made to be tied to ancient elven Gods,” Morrigan answered.
“Can we tie it to Solas?”
“Binding him will require drawing his blood with the lyrium dagger,” Emmrich spoke.
Lucanis shook his head at that. “And I doubt he’s going to like the idea.”
“Let me talk to him,” Lady Lavellan spoke. They all looked to the Inquisitor, seeing how she picked up the dagger and ran her fingers over the blade. “I can convince him.”
“Inquisitor, that didn’t work last time,” Lace argued. Lavellan met Kaya’s gaze, and she saw the pleading in her green eyes. The need to speak with the God. If she were in her shoes, would she do the same?
“Alright…but if it doesn’t work, we do it the hard way,” Kaya relented. Lavellan inclined her head in thanks. “Lady Morrigan, you have Mythal’s memories. And we have the essence of the other fragment of Mythal, from the Crossroads.”
“Such power, even fragmented, is not to be taken lightly,” Morrigan cautioned.
“If Inquisitor Lavellan wants to try and reason with him, we’ll need your help.”
“Hold it for now, and when the time comes, and if you believe the Dread Wolf’s heart can be turned from this course…I shall try.”
Kaya instructed them on the next course of action, telling them to gear up and ready themselves for the final push. They had to do this. They had to win. The others went their separate ways and Neve moved to a more secluded spot. Kaya followed her. “Neve, how’re you holding up?”
“The others told me what happened after I was…taken. I’ve seen the reports form the city. The lost…Darvrin. We’ve lost so much, but every person who gets through this is a win,” Neve sighed. She turned to face her, and Kaya reached out, cupping the woman’s face.
“You’re here. Everything else seems…”
“As dangerous as ever? Don’t get distracted…the Gods will use that,” Neve chastised. Kaya found herself smiling at the jab. “What?”
“We’re always in danger. Comes with the job,” Kaya smiled. Neve scoffed and took her hand in her own. “Are you going to be alright with the Blight?”
“I’m not going to lie, I still feel it coursing through me. It feels…wrong. Very wrong,” Neve answered. She met her gaze, and Kaya could see the determination behind those red eyes. “But I won’t sit idly by. I’m going to fight with you. You’re stuck with me, Trouble. To whatever end I may find.”
“I-I thought we wouldn’t find you.”
“Aw, you really missed me?” Neve smirked. Kaya chuckled and rested her forehead against her shoulder. Neve leaned her head against her own, taking a shaky breath. “I keep thinking this is a dream. That I’m still trapped. You’re really here, right Trouble? I’m not making you up.”
“It’s me. I’m here. I can give you a kiss to prove that to you.”
“As much as I’d like that, I don’t know what would happen if we did. I do have Blight in my veins now.”
“You’re no fun,” Kaya whined. Neve giggled and titles her chin up, making their eyes meet once more. “Neve—"
The building shook, interrupting their conversation. Isabella ran in, shouting that Elgar’nan’s forces were right outside. It was time to move. Neve cupped her cheek and rested her forehead against her own before they had to move.
Kaya felt the fatigue threatening to overtake her as they approached the Throne room. They had left Taash, Emmrich, and Lace behind to help their comrades while the rest of them went after Elgar’nan. Morrigan had gifted her a rune with the souls of Solas’s old comrades and Myrna gave her rune gloves. It was a last resort. The gloves would use all the magic she’d have left. If she had to, then she’d use it.
Neve ran after Solas and Kaya had to stay focused. Whenever the wolf cried out, she prayed Neve was okay. As much as she wanted to help her, Kaya had to kill Elgar’nan. They couldn’t fail this.
As they approached the throne room, Kaya could see the mages that were being drained of their lives. The mages that fueled the God and Blight. That could’ve been Neve.
“Such arrogance, thinking you can hide from your creator,” Elgar’nan scoffed. Kaya drew the dagger and looked to the throne, seeing a Blighted Elgar’nan. “And I am the world’s creator.”
“You look like a monster, not a creator,” Kaya insulted. Elgar’nan tightened his grip on his lyrium dagger.
“Every pointed spire and warding enchantment in this city is a child’s unwitting imitation of the empire I built. I would have restored the glory of an empire your lives were too brief to remember.”
“I’ve seen what you’ve left in your wake. I see no glory! All I see is a tyrant who is destroying everything he touches!”
“You mistake discipline for cruelty, a failing amongst those without a master’s gentle touch.”
“Your right. I didn’t have a master’s gentle touch…that’s why I won’t let you win. You and my old master are the same. You see it as your way or no way. Tyrants,” Kaya argued. She unsheathed one of her swords and heard Bellara and Lucanis ready themselves. “I will not let you rule this world.”
Elgar’nan stood and pointed his dagger at her. “Then you shall fall.”
His body became surrounded by electricity and his body blurred. Kaya used her own magic and intercepted him, blocking his path of getting to Bellara and Lucanis. Bellara shot her arrows and Lucanis weaved around with her, attacking the God. Their hits did not damage. They merely bounced off his armor and body. The power that surrounded him made it hard to land a blow. Elgar’nan shot a blast at Lucanis, sending him flying back and Kaya lost her concentration.
“Lucanis!” Kaya shouted. The Crow rolled to his feet and Elgar’nan grabbed her by the throat. He slammed her into the ground, using his magic to stop her friends from moving. She slashed at him with her sword, and he stepped back before kicking her square in the stomach. Her ribs broke from the impact, and she rolled along the ground with a grunt. That had hurt. As she tried to stand once more, Elgar’nan’s magic surrounded her. Her body was being forced to kneel.
“You’re fight is futile,” Elgar’nan sighed. The Archdemon fell to the ground behind them and Kaya watched in dismay as Solas leaped for the dragon, only to be stopped by Blight tendrils. He was taken to the ground and the Archdemon rose with a loud rumble. He’d failed. “Not even the Dread Wolf can save you.”
His magic pressed against her, and she tried to stay standing. She would fall to him. Movement from behind him caught her attention and she saw Neve running for the throne. The mage sat and the Blight tendrils surrounded her.
“No,” Kaya gaped. Neve gave her a reassuring smile before her eyes glowed red. She extended her hand, and her magic gathered at her fingertips.
“Let them go!” Neve commanded. Elgar’nan growled but kept his focus on Kaya, pressing harder with his magic. Kaya felt her bones creak and she gritted her teeth.
“I gave you this power, girl.”
“This is our city!” Neve shouted. Her magic surged and the tendrils loosened around Solas. The Dread Wolf lunged the moment he was free and sank his teeth into the Archdemon’s throat. He ripped it out with a sickening squelch and Kaya felt the magic around her disappear. Neve’s head slumped and the Blight engulfed her.
“No!” Kaya yelled. Elgar’nan turned, body glowing blue and red. He glared at her as her friends freed themselves.
“You are mortal Elgar’nan! Enjoy it while it lasts!” Solas spoke. The God roared as he flew at her and Kaya dodged the slash of his sword. She knew this was their chance.
“Attack with everything you got!”
Bellara’s arrows and magic rained down on him while Lucanis’s strikes were deadly. Kaya moved with the Crow, seeing her attacks do damage. He truly was mortal! Elgar’nan retaliated with a blast of ice and instead of dodging it, she held up her own hand. The rune on her gloves glowed before she shot her own ice to block his. He growled in frustration and changed to fire magic, making Kaya use her electricity to dodge. This wasn’t it. She could kill him. She just had to keep pushing. Elgar’nan’s body disappeared and reappeared beside Lucanis, shooting him back with a blast of electricity once more. This time, the Crow didn’t rise. The God moved quickly, aiming his shards of ice at Bellara. The elf gasped as several hit their mark and Kaya yelled in anger. He wouldn’t kill them. She wouldn’t let that happen. She called upon the rune Morrigan has gifted her and she felt power surge through her. Her magic felt stronger than it ever had. She used her ice to create a protective dome around her friends before sending electricity at the God. He used his own to clash with hers and his eyes pulsed dangerously. Elgar’nan shot forward and Kaya felt his blade tear through her. He slashed through her side, tearing her open.
“You cannot win!” Elgar’nan roared. Kaya charged at him, deflecting his lyrium dagger with her own. He might be bigger and stronger, but she was faster. His magic engulfed him, and he paused just long enough for her blade to slice his chest. Paused just long enough for her to stab him in the throat. His wide eyes met hers and she yanked her weapon free, letting him fall to the ground. The dagger in his hand glowed then exploded, making her fly backwards. She hit her head, and her vision swam as she tried to reorient herself. She saw the Blight be sucked away. Saw Elgar’nan’s body turn to ash. Then she saw Solas, stumbling his was to the dagger she had dropped. He tried to grab it and she used her magic to zip to it, taking it in her own hands.
“Please Rook, I don’t want to fight you,” Solas panted. Kaya gripped the dagger and glared at the God. In reality, she didn’t want to fight him either. She shook her head and shakily stood.
“Then don’t. Bind yourself to the Veil and stop this.”
“I cannot. To stop now would dishonor those I have wronged to come this far.”
“Even if those you’ve wronged asked you to stop?” Lavellan questioned. Solas whirled around and the Inquisitor walked to them.
“Vhenan…”
“You think you’ve gone too far to come back, but you’re wrong.”
“I can’t—"
“I am here, walking the dinan’shiral with you! I forgive you! All you have to do is stop.”
Solas shook his head. “Ir abelas, vhenan…but I cannot. Long before we met, I failed my oldest friend. She died for that failure. If I leave the Veil in place, I am destroying the world she wanted. And I will have…she will have died for nothing.”
“And whose fault is that, Dread Wolf?” Morrigan questioned. When had she gotten here?
“Morrigan.”
“One appellation among many I wear. I have been advisor to Orlais, Witch of the Wilds, daughter of Flemeth, and once, long ago, an old friend,” Morrigan calmly spoke. She brought the statue of Mythal before her, using her magic on the glowing blue object. Mythal appeared from thin air, standing before Solas in that apparition that they had first seen.
“Mythal—"
“I tore you from the Fade that you loved. Forced you to fight for me and bleed for me. I’ve seen your pain,” Mythal spoke. She placed her hand on Solas’s shoulder. “I release you from my service.”
Solas broke down in tears and Lavellam rushed to his side. She murmured something to him and he nodded, standing upright. He sliced his palm with the dagger. “The Veil will be tied to me. It shall stand for as long as I breathe.”
“Thank you,” Kaya thanked. The God inclined his head, and he glanced behind her. She turned and saw Bellara helping Lucanis up.
“You have good friends. Cherish them.”
“I will,” Kaya sighed. She looked back at Solas and watched as he and Lavellan joined hands. They embraced before letting the Fade take them. The sky cleared and Kaya released a shaky breath. They’d won. It was over. The sound of breaking behind her made her turn and she saw a hand push through the dried Blight. “Neve!”
Kaya ran to the mage, ignoring the pain in her body. She dropped to her knees before her and Neve looked up at her, clear brown eyes staring at her in shock.
“Rook?”
“I-I’m here. I’m here,” Kaya stammered. Neve smiled and cupped her face. Kaya felt warmth. Not an uncomfortable warmth. A pleasant warmth. Neve crashed their lips together and Kaya sank into her embrace. She tasted like what she imagined sunshine would taste like. The embodiment of love itself. She pulled away, resting her head on her shoulder. Her body felt heavy. Weak. The wound on her side didn’t hurt. Didn’t throb. Everything felt right though. Neve was here. Neve was un-Blighted. She was safe. “You’re safe.”
“Rook?” Neve questioned. Kaya felt a fogginess in her mind. A darkness that threatened to take her. Her eyes were closing and she couldn’t stop them.
“Ar lath ma, vhenan (I love you, my heart),” Kaya murmured. She slid from Neve’s shoulder and before she could hit the ground, the woman caught her. It didn’t matter though. Her vision was going on her. She was dying. She could feel it. Neve lied her on her back, and she stared up at the mage. She was shouting at her. Yelling for her with tears streaming down her face. Even with her crying and screaming for her, Neve was beautiful. The Sun made it look like there was a halo behind her. It bathed her in light and Kaya let out a shaky breath. That wasn’t a bad last sight.