Chapter Text
“Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast, thank you for helping us. Without you, we might not close the breach.” Cassandra introduced herself to Maxwell and she added, “Solas, the man who healed you, theorized the mark on your hands can close the rifts and possibly the breach. The Divine will talk to you after we went to the forward camp and help the soldiers. Are you ready to go?” She asked Maxwell. He just nodded and got up on his bed. Cassandra handed him a weapon. And I’m surprised that it is a staff.
Oh, he is a mage. I like this development already. I never expected a Maxwell Trevelyan to be a mage.
When they exit the cabin, I followed their trail. I’m thankful because they haven’t noticed me yet. Walking to a bridge that I know that will collapse I put a shield in the whole bridge for everyone to be safe. A green ball of light from the breach fell to them. They ducked and waited for it to hit them, but nothing happens. Cassandra immediately looked around and was shocked that a shimmering shield appeared in front of them. “Thank you, Ayla!” she whispered.
Oh, she knows I’m here. No wonder she keeps on glancing her back.
“Come on, we need to fight thru these demons to reach the forward camp.” Maxwell just nodded and got up ready to walk. I followed them. From there, I flew with my invisible cloak on.
They can handle these demons. I think those are wraiths. Maxwell can handle those. And, Cassandra is with him. Okay, let’s go to the mountain path and help those scouts. So, I flew to the mountain path. I landed on the entrance of the mine. I know there are demons inside, so I equipped myself with medium armor and my bow. Transforming my clothes to armor didn’t take long. Summoning my bow and arrows is easy too. Fully equipped, I went inside the mine and readied my arrows with fire spells. I sighted two wraiths and a lesser shade demon. I fired two fire arrows to the two wraiths and they instantly vanished. The lesser shade demon was not a problem, it came almost near me and so I summoned my sword and sliced it in half. Well, well. My skills are still polished. I willed my sword gone and now I’m holding my bow. Near the exit of the mine, I found two demons and killed them easily. Looking in the exit, I found several dead bodies. This must be the scouts Leliana sent here. I summoned my magic and cleaned the dead scouts to be prepared for burial. Not long after, I noticed a rift up ahead. I immediately run to that direction and found the remaining scouts, fighting several demons that came from a rift.
The scouts noticed me and eyed me seriously.
“I’m here to help. Let’s destroy the demons first, yes?” they nodded. I fired my fire arrows one after another. This is endless. The scouts were exhausted already, and some are injured badly. No choice. I must put a spell to the rift to stop it from spewing demons.
“I’m going to put a barrier around the rift to stop it temporarily, after that return to Sister Nightingale and report what happened here, yes?” the scouts looked at each other, seeking approval from one another. The leader looked at me and nodded.
I immediately put a barrier around the rift. The demons stopped from coming out of the rift and the scouts rejoiced. I walked to them and smiled. “Thank you” the leader said to me. I smiled to them and proceeded healing the wounded.
“Please hurry and leave this path. Tell what happened to Sister Nightingale. Also, your fellow scouts’ bodies are ready to be buried. They are in the entrance of the mine.” After healing the last wounded and satisfied that they are all fine, I find myself quite exhausted. I needed to rest for a moment and regain my magic. You are getting old Ayla, if you get exhausted easily.
“Go, I’m okay. I’ll follow behind you.” They hesitated and looked worried for me. They are thoughtful for someone they don’t know. I just smiled at them and they run towards the mine. Okay. Let’s find the Commander.
I flew towards the place where the Commander is. Naturally, same in the game, he is fighting demons near the entrance of the temple. Everyone is busy that nobody noticed me hovering over them except one. Of course, he noticed me. I landed on the ground near his back and I can see in his face that he is happy and relieved that I was safe. Silly man. I do adore him but not like that.
“Nice seeing you again, Commander.”
“Lady Ayla---” he shouted.
“Will you not shout my name out loud, I don’t want them to know I’m here. I will just help you out a little. I’ll try to barrier the rift to stop it from spewing demons temporarily. Maxwell Trevelyan is on his way to help you together with Cassandra.” I explained to him in low voice. His soldiers don’t bother why their Commander stopped fighting. Maybe they are thinking he is talking to a scout. Besides I looked like a scout.
“Thanks, the Maker, he is awake already. My soldiers can’t handle another day fighting these endless demons.” I nodded to him and proceeded in putting up the barrier around the rift. He was astonished with what I did around the rift and thankful that they can relax a little.
“How did you---"
“I’ll explain later, Commander. First --” I looked around me and there are a lot of wounded. I sighed heavily and I tried to stop myself from crying. “Those who are wounded, please come to me to be healed.” I winked to Cullen and proceeded to a tent near the entrance of the gate. Cullen just shakes his head and rubs her neck. Before seating down to the healer’s cot, I walked to Cullen and touched his temple. He was surprised of the magic I pushed on him.
“Don’t worry, I just healed your headache. I know Cullen. I know!” I said to him in low voice and turns back to the healer’s cot. Cullen was stunned on the gesture I gave to him and he can’t place the feelings he has felt during that moment.
After healing the wounded soldiers, I told Cullen to go back to Haven for there is nothing left to do here. I only advised him to leave at least a group of soldiers to help the marked one later in closing the rifts and the possibly the breach, but I know it will not work for the first time. He agreed and shakes my hand. I walked towards him and placed my fingers in his forehead and put my symbol on his head. Though its invisible to the eye of normal persons, I can see it and the magical persons too. He relaxed then closed his eyes. He didn’t glow like Justinia and that is good since his soldiers are around. He smiled then bowed his head and after that he shouted instructions to his soldiers.
Looking at him I feel proud, they will endure this. I suddenly felt a little dizzy. And thanks to Cullen for catching me, I am still standing.
“Thank you, Cullen--- I mean Commander” I corrected myself.
“Cullen. Just Cullen.” He blushed and adds, “Are you alright, you look a little pale?”
“I think I exhausted myself. Before coming here, I’ve been spending my mana for useless things. I also came from the mountain path and helped Leliana’s scouts. There is a rift there too, so I have to put a barrier to it.” Cullen looked at me with worried eyes. I smiled to him and stand straightly.
“I’m okay, Commander---- I mean Cullen. This is nothing if all of you are safe. That is my promise to myself.” He doesn’t believe me saying I’m okay and he frowned on the idea of me sacrificing myself for them.
“Okay, to appease your worry. Give me a lyrium potion and I’ll be okay.” He smiled. God that smile will kill a lot of woman if he is in my world. He called for a lyrium potion and handed it to me. I drank it and it tasted weird, but I can feel my magic coming back. I think I have my exhaustion have something to do with granting my symbol to him.
“Satisfied, Cullen?” she looked to Cullen and smirked. He just nodded, smiled and turned his back on her and went to go back to Haven. Ayla watched them walked away and was smiling while thinking of going to where Cassandra and the others are. The one problem is, a certain elvhen apostate named Solas will be there. At least I have my mask. He won’t see my face, right? Ugh. Why am I thinking about him? He doesn’t even know. Why bother if he knows? Why in the first place am I accustomed to everything here in Thedas. Why is everything so familiar to me? Why is his magic calling to me? Why? There are so many questions I wanted to be answered right now. I even start questioning my existence as an angel. I’m starting doubt what is my true purpose here. But as the punishment I can’t turn away from this world. I swore to myself that I will help this world. I will see to it that this world will be restored to its full glory. In my previous world, I was a gamer, a writer, an adviser, a cook, a singer. You name it. I can do almost anything. My magical abilities are more advanced here. I can do most of the complex spells I know without a problem. Thoughts for later. I started flying to the 1st rift the marked one will encounter, and I’m sure Cassandra and the others were already there.
“How did I survive the blast?” Maxwell asked Cassandra.
“They said you… stepped out of a rift, then fell unconscious. They say a woman was in the rift behind you. No one knows who she was.” Cassandra stopped for a moment and looked at him.
“Do you not remember what happened?”
“If I did, I already told you right here. But unfortunately, my minds just forgot all that happened.” He joked which gained a frown from the seeker. Then Cassandra handed him bottles and looked at her curiously.
“Take these potions. Maker knows what we will face.” She then turned from him and walked hurriedly. He followed the seeker. He noticed there are no soldiers around that will secure the area and so he asked, “Where are all your soldiers?”
“At the forward camp or fighting. We are on our own, for now.”
Cassandra and Maxwell run along the frozen river. And they turn to the right and go up a small hill. At the crest they spot more shades forming on the frozen river below. Maxwell took the advantage of firing some lighting spells to the shades that stunned them while Cassandra finishes the job. After defeating the demons, he and Cassandra turn left and begin climbing a steep staircase. They both can here the fighting, when Cassandra spoke.
“We’re getting close to the rift. You can hear the fighting.”
“Who’s fighting?” Maxwell asked.
“You will know when we are there. Come on, we are almost there.” She nudged Maxwell forward.
When they turned on a corner, he can see a group of soldiers, an elven mage and a dwarf. Immediately he entered the fight. He summoned a lightning spell to the wraiths. There are a lot of demons coming from that green thing on the center. No one is talking. Even Cassandra is very focused in fighting demons on her side. The elven mage is doing a nice job and the dwarf too. Maxwell was in awe on how the two fights side by side.
When all the demons were defeated, the elven mage grabbed his wrist and gestured it towards the rift.
“Quickly, before more come through!” there and then the rift closes, and they can breathe easily now. Cassandra sheathes her sword and walked forward to Maxwell. She clasped his soldier and thanking him for closing the rift. He smiled and then turned to the elven mage and eyed him curiously.
“What did you do?”
“I did nothing. The credit is yours.” The elven mage told him while gazing to the mage and back to his hand. “You mean this?” he pointed to his marked hand.
“Well it seems the theory you told Lady Cassandra was true then.” He looked at Cassandra and she nodded.
The elven mage stood tall while his hands are on his back. “Whatever magic opened the Breach in the sky also placed that mark upon your hand. And yes, I theorized the mark might be able to close the rifts that have opened in the Breach’s wake – and it seems I was correct.” He proudly said.
“Meaning it could also close the Breach itself.” Cassandra interjected. “Possibly.” Solas answered and he added, “It seems you hold the key to our salvation.”
“I think you should not only thank me, there is a rumor going around Haven about a woman with wings that saved everyone in the temple, and I think I heard from some scouts we passed by Cassandra, that a woman also stopped temporarily a rift in the mountains.” When Solas heard it, he was shocked but wears his usual blank face. Also, Cassandra was not shocked by who it is. It seems, the seeker knew that woman and she doesn’t want to divulge any information about her. The two men looked at Cassandra when Varric interrupted their questioning looks. He introduced himself and the look on the seeker’s face was very amusing.
“Good to know! Here I thought we’d be ass-deep in demons forever. It’s a pleasure to at last meet the marked one. Varric Tethras: rogue, storyteller, and occasionally unwelcome tagalong.” He then winked to Cassandra and she just scowled at him.
While the are talking and planning on what they are going to do, Ayla just arrived on them talking. No one noticed that she is flying over them. She was amused of the banter they are having and since she still has her smartphone with her which is really a coincidence that she had it with her, she took the opportunity to take a picture of them. Of course, she must fly down a little lower. It’s a good thing she is invisible to them for now. She flew a little lower where she can capture all their faces. I’m sure Solas can sense an aura around them and so he might now that someone is around them right now. She said to herself. When she took the picture, she disabled her invisibility and flew down to where Cassandra is.
“CASSANDRA!!!” she shouted. Everyone looked at here with awe in their eyes. Even Solas that wears a blank face, got some expressions going on. Maxwell was surprised on who shouted to them and when he looked to where it was coming from, she can see a woman, an elven woman with wings running towards them.
Cassandra smiled to her and waved. I ran to her immediately and hugged her tightly not noticing the other people around. The boys rounded on a straight line while I was busy hugging the seeker. Cassandra don’t know what to do. “Just hug me back, Cassandra. It will be alright” I said to the seeker and she hugged me too. While hugging her, I immediately healed all her injuries and silently she thanked me. I eventually let go of her, realizing I’m not fully recovered after healing a lot of soldiers and magicking the rifts, I became dizzy.
“Are you okay, Ayla?” Cassandra worriedly handed me a potion that will rejuvenate my strength. I drank it and feel a little recovered, but it is not enough. I need to heal these three boys.
“Are you mother henning me, Cassandra?” I asked her and I smiled at her. “Seriously, I am fine. You are just like Cullen!” she frowned. Of course, she is worried. I know her attitude from the start. I can’t blame her since I already helped them a lot before the explosion.
“Sorry, Cassandra! I’m okay. A rest for a day will do after we close another rift in the mountain path and the gate of the temple. And it seems my barrier can’t hold the rifts any longer.” I told her and reassured her by patting her shoulder. I then turned to the soldiers and started healing them from my position. I can notice how Solas, Varric and Maxwell follow me with the eyes full of questions. The soldiers then looked at me and telling me with their eyes a “thank you”. After a moment of healing, I walked towards the three men who are standing in a line waiting for me to address them.
“Boys, you can talk to me, you know?” I giggled and when I stopped in front of them. I hugged first the dwarf.
“It’s good you are uninjured Master Tethras, do you want to write a novel about me? And, I can’t read your mind. It’s just I can see sparks in your eyes. So many questions. I hope I can answer them enough.” She said and then let go of Varric.
“Oh, I like you already, Angel. I’m sure we are going to come up with the most best-selling novel ever written! Bianca and I are so excited.” I smiled and turned to Maxwell.
“Sir Trevelyan, I’m glad to see you awake. I’m sorry I can’t attend to you during the times you were asleep, I was also asleep myself recovering from too much mana exhaustion. But I’m glad to see that you are alive and with the wit still in you!” she exclaimed and hugged him. He hugged her back and was tempted to ran away with her and ask everything. He just then smiled and let go of her.
“What can you say, I live to impress such a beauty, Lady Ayla” Cassandra scowled and surprisingly Solas did, too.
“Oh, Sir Trevelyan, such naughty thoughts. We will get along well. Flirting is good but be warned I’m already taken.” She laughed at the face of Maxwell and walked towards Solas.
Solas was taken aback when their eyes meet. Do I know her from before? Her spirit is calling to me? And how can an elvhen myth be true? He asked himself. She has gorgeous eyes and hair braided like the Elvhen times. Upon seeing her descending, he thought he saw a goddess. Her beauty will level those of the elvhen pantheon. No, she will be the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his lifetime and the entire fade. With the mask on, he can’t really know what kind of face she has. He was startled when, the woman called Ayla, touched his face. He was stunned. Her eyes are sad and knowing as if he knows who you really are. Her eyes say everything about her. It encompasses all the virtue he knows, from curiosity, knowledge, compassion, love and wisdom and maybe more. It’s like the time stopped flowing when she touched him.
“On dhea'him, Solas!” Good day, Solas. I said to him while holding his cheeks. I know he can see me thru the mask I am wearing and I’m not afraid. He was shocked that I can speak elvhen. I’m pretty much shocked myself.
“Thu?” How? He asked. I just smiled at him and let go of his face.
“I just arrived. There will be some other time for questions I will gladly answer, hm?” I walked away from him. Then suddenly, I felt dizzy again. I was caught by Solas and was holding my arms to keep me upright.
“Ma serannas, lethallan!” I leaned on him for a moment then I felt some cooling sensation coming from somewhere. Then I looked at Solas, he was sending me some healing spells to alleviate the dizziness. Everyone was worried. I don’t want them to worry about. They are more important than me and so I slowly straightened myself and walked to the soldiers. Solas, Varric, Cassandra and Maxwell looked at me worriedly, but I decided to not entertain them.
“Go back to Haven, Commander Cullen is going back to Haven. Report what happened here to him except me feeling dizzy, okay?” They looked at Cassandra. She just nodded and I smiled to them. The soldiers then turned away to me and will be going back to Haven.
“Okay, with all that finished I think we have to go to the forward camp to talk to Leliana and a preaching Chancellor Roderick, if my actions, doesn’t change anything this time.” I looked at them and started walking past them. They looked at each other and sighed heavily. I guess they decided to let me go this time.
“Oh, before I forgot, wait there Cassandra. I’ll be just a minute.” I said to Cassandra and walked back to the boys.
“Okay, you three need some healing. Stay put!” I instructed them but some objections happened.
“You should conserve your mana, we have more rifts to close as you said earlier.” Solas objected.
“We are not that injured, Angel” Varric said.
“Besides you are the one need healing not us” Maxwell stated.
“Point taken but I can’t let myself see you injured right now. I just -- can’t.” I sighed and positioned myself like I’m praying. Then I willed my wings to spread. I glowed for a moment and I let my magic heal them. They didn’t have the chance to object anymore. I scanned their bodies again and smiled inwardly. I looked to them and was stunned of how they look to me. Even the soldiers gasped when I noticed that my wings are still spread wide open.
“Sorry, it’s a habit. Hehe. The wings.” She smiled to them again and willed her wings to be gone.
“Amazing. How can you do that? Where are you from?” Solas stepped forward and questioned her intensely. Those eyes can really make me melt! Icy blue eyes keep on staring at me and I feel myself blush. I turned away and composed myself.
“Later, Lath---I mean lethallan. Let’s go. We have a breach to close” I walked past Cassandra and dropped to a ledge. They followed me quietly and I just smirked to myself. I have some long explanations to tell later.
They continue down a steep, narrow path. Ayla noticed corpses in the ravine to the right of the path. “So much lives lost.” She stopped for a while and prayed for the lost soul.
“O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory,
deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of hell and from the bottomless pit;
deliver them from the lion's mouth, that hell not swallow them up, that they fall not into darkness, but let the holy standard bearer Michael bring them into that holy light which You promised to Abraham and his seed.”
A tear slipped in my eyes. I wiped it hurriedly and looked at my companions. I just smiled to them and walked again. I heard Cassandra saying “Thank you” but I just brushed it off. She also can’t shake the feeling Solas was sending towards her. It’s more questions but of great concern and sadness. She was interrupted in her thinking when Solas shouted something.
“Demons ahead.” Oh goodie. Time to fight. I willed my bow and readied my arrows with explosion spells. I gazed at everyone and nodded.
“Maxwell? Let’s go.” He nodded and let loose a chain lightning, getting the attention of the demons.
There are more demons compared in the game. Of course, this is not the game, so it goes beyond boundaries of numbers. Solas casted an energy barrage which completely killed a lesser shade. Cassandra shield bashed another shade and Varric finished it with a leaping shot. To help, I imagined a skill from my demon hunter character in a game called Diablo, I think it is called Rain of Vengeance if I remember it correctly. I aimed my arrow towards the sky where the demons are.
“Nice aim, Angel!” Varric sarcastically said and laughed at me. I just smirked at him and said, “Bet 5 silvers, I will summon a volley of arrows from there?” I pointed my fingers to where I fired my arrow.
The others are too busy to bother us with betting, but I noticed Cassandra frowning and slashed a wraith hard enough that it’s torn in two. Solas and Maxwell are also busy dealing with two greater shades.
“Deal.” I nodded and looked at him smiling widely.
“It’s a mistake to bet against me, dwarf!”
“You wound me and my chest hair, Angel!” I laughed and focused my magic to where my arrow went, and a large volley of arrows appeared on top of demons. “Cassandra, get out of there!” I pointed to the top of her head and she immediately ran to safety. The volley off arrows came down like a heavy rain killing almost instantly all the demons in that area.
“What was that?” they asked me, while composing myself. I think that one skill took a lot of my mana. “It’s a skill from where I’m from.” I half-lied. Its from the game I also loved but I just can’t tell them I only came up with it for the first time.
“Told ya!” I smiled to Varric and he was going to say something but just keep his mouth shut and smiled back. Solas too has eyes that are focused on me asking me, what am I?
“Lady Ayla, that was amazing! How did you do that?” I jumped on my feet because I was startled on Maxwell hugging me tightly. I guess he is just so happy to see someone like me or to be one of his companions. I hugged him back. But a flare from the breach, gets him to kneeling while holding his wrist. Solas hurriedly came to Maxwell’s side and casted some soothing spell to the mark. I also checked everyone again for injuries and thankfully no one is injured.
“Thank you!” Maxwell told Solas.
“It’s the least I can do. We need to keep moving or this mark will kill you before we arrive to the breach.” Everyone nodded, me included. I helped Maxwell stand up and together we walked towards the forward camp.