Chapter Text
"Even those who live without chains are still bound: by fear, by tradition, by honour. Slaves dream of freedom, but I have found free men dream of it even more."
- Fenris codex
---
In the end, Hawke chose to spare Anders. That single decision broke something in Fenris. When confronted after the battle against Meradith as to why he’d allow Anders to live after everything he caused, Hawke just shook his head and said he wouldn’t understand. He had stayed with Hawke for a time afterwards. Reluctantly helping hide the Mage from Templars and other threats. Then, one day, Fenris woke up alone. Hawke was gone from their camp and so was Anders. They had left without him leaving only a small note behind for Fenris to read. The note simply stated that Fernis was better off without them and that Hawke was staying with Anders.
He had crumpled the note, wishing he had never learnt how to read to begin with so as to spare himself the pain. He swore in that moment that he would never forgive Hawke for this.
Eventually, Fenris found solace in the most unexpected place. Clan Lavellan. He stumbled upon them by sheer chance. Or rather, he was caught off guard by one of their Hunters. Another Elf by the name of Cylassan. The Elf assumed he was a lost Dalish from another clan and offered to take him to his Keeper. Fenris’s markings were often mistaken for Vallaslin so that wasn’t too surprising.
Fenris hadn’t intended to stay with the clan for long. Only long enough to reach the next city then quietly slink back into the shadows. Instead, the Clan’s keeper took a shine to him and asked if he could train the Clan’s warriors. Fenris did mostly out of obligation and the fact he found the Clan’s warriors woefully unprepared for a real attack should the time come about. Before he knew it, Fenris had been with the Clan for four years. They had embraced him with open arms, taught him their ways, and given him a peace he didn’t know he could achieve. He was a respected member of the Clan, with some of the older members even considering him as a match for their children. Cylassan had gone from stranger to his best friend. Another thing he didn’t think possible till then.
Those four years had been the most peaceful Fenris had ever experienced.
Then it all came crumbling down.
The Keeper called them both for a private meeting. She had heard that the Head of the Chantry, Devine Justinia, was ordering that a Conclave be brought about. A chance for peace between Mages and Templars. To put an end to the Mage rebellion and war before it swallowed the world whole.
She asked that Fenris and Cylassan go as ambassadors to the Conclave. The war affected everyone and the Keeper wanted their voice to be heard amongst the sea of others at the Conclave. Fenris was hesitant to agree. He had left that world behind. Had found peace amongst the Dalish. Why would he want to throw himself back into it?
But Cylassan had agreed to go and Fenris didn’t like the idea of Cylassan travelling to Haven on his own. Especially when tensions were so high. He tried to reason that nothing would happen to them. That the Conclave would even be successful and peace would win out. It was a pathetically hopeful idea, but at least now Fenris had the bandwidth to hope instead of just survive. Surely fate wouldn’t be so cruel. Surely this was the turning point where things got better.
In less than a week, Fenris would wake up with a glowing green mark on his hand, and his best friend would be killed.
---
The memories trickled in slowly as syrup.
As his eyes adjusted to his new surroundings, Fenris struggled to remember what had happened. He vaguely remembered Cylassan shouting, creatures chasing him through the darkness, and a woman glowing gold reaching out her hand for his.
A sudden jolt of pain made his eyes almost water. The palm of his left hand was glowing a bright acid green. His stomach lurched realising this was magic. The Elf barely had time to steady himself when the door swung open. In walked two women who held the kind of silent power that made Kings weep.
“Tell me why we shouldn’t kill you now” the dark-haired of the two sneered “The Conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead. Expect for you”
Fenris’s eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat out of pure fear “What do you mean everyone’s dead?” he whispered
“Explain this” she grabbed his hand just as the mark ignited once more. Fenris was too stunned to speak. This couldn’t be happening. How was he supposed to explain this to the Keeper? “Answer me” the woman snapped
“I... can’t” he admitted
She wasn’t impressed “What do you mean, you can’t?”
“I don’t know what that is, or how it got there-” he was so rocked by the news that she managed to get the upper hand. Shaking him by the shoulders accusing him of lying. The other woman had to intervene prying her away from him.
“We need him, Cassandra”
Fenris couldn’t breathe through the shock “I can’t believe it. Cylassan... dead?”
“Do you know what happened? How this began?” the redhead of the pair asked in a softer tone
He shook his head “I remember running. Things were chasing me, and... a woman”
“A woman?” she repeated crossing her arms”
Fenris could hardly describe it himself. His mind was a thousand miles away. Cylassan couldn’t be dead. There had to be a mistake. If he survived whatever happened, then maybe his friend did as well. They just hadn’t found him yet. He hung on to that thought as Cassandra freed his wrists from the wooden stocks they had been placed in.
“What really happened?”
Cassandra let out a sigh “It would be easier to show you”
He was led outside into the tiny village of Haven. A dot on the map that lay at the foot of the mountain which held the Temple of Sacred Ashes. Fenris had heard of this place. It once was home of a deranged cult that believed the Maker’s Bride had returned in the form of Dragon. But the village was not what made his jaw almost drop. It was the sky.
High in the clouds above was a massive gaping hole in the sky tinging the sky green and grey. The same colour as the mark on his hand. “We call it the Breach” Cassandra explained “It’s a massive rift into the Fade that grows bigger with each passing hour. This is not the only rift. Just the largest”
“And explosion can do that?” Fenris asked dumbstruck. Then again, he had witnessed Anders blow up Kirkwall’s Chantry taking who knows how many others with it. Given that and the fact Anders was still out there somewhere... His trail of thought was interrupted by another agonising jolt of pain. He fell to his knees holding his hand to his chest.
“Fuck!” he exclaimed as the pain rushed through him. His Lyrium markings flaring up because of it. Cassandra went on to explain that the mark on his hand was spreading the larger the Breach became. The only thing that might save him was closing the Breach. And to accomplish that impossible task, they needed Fenris’s help.
He wanted to refuse outright but it wasn’t like he had much other option. People stared as they passed. Those who weren’t inside the Temple when it exploded but had people inside glared at him like he was a monster. “They have accepted your guilt. They need it” Cassandra said pushing him forward “The people mourn our most Holy Divine Justinia. Head of the Chantry. The Conclave was hers”
They made it to the gates of Haven and pushed through “It was a chance for peace between Mages and Templars. She brought their leaders together. Now they are dead”
“I know why the Conclave was called. Why do you think I was here to begin with” he said breaking free of the binds around his wrists without breaking eye contact “My friend is dead and I want answers. Take me up there”
Cassandra met his unflinching gaze and must have seen he was being truthful “There will be a trial. I can promise no more. Come. We must test your mark on something smaller than the Breach”
He didn’t know what that meant till they made it further up the path. A smaller but no less dangerous rift lay before them where demons were pouring out and soldiers were putting up a desperate fight. Fenris grabbed a fallen Greatsword and charged into battle. Once the immediate danger passed, another Elf grabbed his wrist. “Quickly! Before more come through!” he cried shoving Fenris’s hand towards the rift. Acid green magic burst from his palm directed at the rift. Within seconds, the rift was sealed.
Fenris wrenched his hand away “Unhand me, Mage” he hissed taking a step back “What did you just do?”
“I did nothing. The credit is yours” the Elf said with a smile. He was bald with sharp features and grey eyes that had seen more than he would say.
Fenris glanced at his hand in disbelief “I closed that thing? How?”
“Whatever magic opened the Breach in the sky also placed that mark upon your hand. I theorised the mark itself may be able to close the rifts that have opened in the Breach’s wake. And it appears I was correct” he said as if that made any sense to Fenris
“Good to know” a voice spoke coming closer “And here I thought we’d be ass deep in demons forever” The dwarf looked up and almost dropped his beloved crossbow from shock “Sweet Maker. Fenris?”
“Varric?” Fenris questioned “What are you doing here?”
Varric snorted “I could ask you the same question. What the heck are you wearing?” Over time, Fenris had ditched the armour Denarius had forged for him. Instead opting to wear Dalish made armor instead that both protected him and hid his markings, “You look like you should be hanging out with Merrill”
The other Elf coughed “My name is Solas is there are to be introductions. I am pleased to see that you still live”
Varric chuckled “He means he kept that mark from killing you while you slept”
Fenris turned his attention back to Solas, his brows furrowing in suspicion “You seem to know a great deal about this”
“Solas is an Apostate” interrupted Cassandra “Well-versed in such matters”
Ah, a Mage. That explained a lot. Fenris didn’t exactly have the best experience with Mages and so was immediately on guard with Solas. Solas noticed the hesitation and gave a comforting smile “I can understand your worry. However, I came to offer my help in closing the Breach in whatever way I could. If it is not closed, the whole world is doomed regardless of origin”
Fenris had to agree with that, if reluctantly “Just know that I won’t hesitate if you betray us” he spoke in a voice as cold as the snow on the ground.
“Understood” Solas then looked to Cassandra “You should know that the magic here is unlike any I’ve ever seen. Your prisoner is no Mage. Indeed, I find it difficult to imagine any mage capable of such magic”
She nodded then gave the order that they should continue on.
“Well,” Varric smiled “Bianca’s excited”
---
The Temple of Sacred Ashes was nothing but ruin by the time they made it there. What was once Andraste’s final resting place was now a burned-out crater. Countless bodies lay scorched beyond recognition. Forever trapped in their last agonising moments of life.
One of them was likely Cylassan.
Fenris promptly threw up when the smell of burning flesh hit his nose “You good, Broody?” Varric asked in concern
The white-haired Elf forced a nod wiping his mouth “I’m fine. Let’s keep moving”
They had taken the mountain path to reach the Temple. On the way, they came across another rift and saved a squad of scouts in doing so. Deeper inside the Temple was the rift Fenris needed to close. It crackled brimming with dark magic. Even Fenris who wasn’t a Mage could feel the magic boiling under the surface. It made his teeth ache.
“You’re here. Thank the Maker” Leliana sighed with relief as she caught up with them. Behind her were more soldiers who would act as backup. Cassandra gave the order for the Soldiers to take position.
She turned to Fenris “Are you ready?”
“I’ll try, but I don’t know if I can even reach that thing. Much less close it”
Solas shook his head “No. This is the first and is the key. Seal it, and perhaps seal the Breach”
The group began their descent further into the temple’s ruins. As they walked, a dark booming voice echoed in the air. “Now is the hour of our victory. Bring forth the sacrifice”
“Ok, did not like that one bit” muttered Varric shuddering. As if things couldn’t get worse, they came across Red Lyrium growing through sections of the remaining floor “You seeing this, Fenris?”
The Elf let out a weary sigh “Unfortunately, yes”
“But what’s it doing here?” the Dwarf hissed
Finally, they made it to the rift. Once more, the voice boomed overhead. “Keep the sacrifice still”
“Someone... help me!” a woman’s voice pleaded
“What’s going on here?” A third voice, which Fenris recognised as Cylassan’s, questioned
“Cylassan?” he whispered wide-eyed
Cassandra looked at him “You recognise the voice? Most Holy called out to them -”
Suddenly, the mist surrounding the rift began to show an image of what had happened. Devine Justinia was trapped, held aloft by magic around her wrists. A massive, towering figure made of shadows loomed over her. “Keep the sacrifice still”
“Someone, help me!” she cried out in a panic
That’s when both Fenris and Cylassan came into view running towards the scene “What’s going on here?” Cylassan had demanded
“Run while you can! Warn them!” Devine Justinia pleaded
“We have intruders. Slay the elves” the figure of shadows ordered pointing at the pair
The image fading to nothing leaving more questions than answers “You were there!” Cassandra gasped accusingly “Who attacked? And the Divine, is she...? Was this vision true? What are we seeing?”
The stress, guilt, grief, and a dozen other emotions overwhelmed Fenris and he snapped “I don’t remember!” he yelled back at her
Solas spoke up, preventing the brewing fight “Echoes of what happened here. Memories of what has been. This rift is not sealed though it is closed. Albeit temporally” he announced “I believe with the mark, the rift can be opened and then sealed properly. However, opening the rift will likely gain attention from the other side”
“That means Demons. Stand ready” Cassandra ordered the soldiers
Varric patted him on the back “You’ve got this, Broody”
He wished he had Varric’s optimism. He lifted his hand up to the rift and the same magic as before burst towards it. The rift opened once more allowing a slew of Demons to find their way out of the Fade including a massive Pride Demon. The ensuing fight was a brutal one with several of the soldiers that came with Leiliana falling to the great Beast. Finally, when the Pride demon was slain, Fenris poured everything he had into sealing the rift once more. The others watched with a frantic kind of hope that only came when the fate of the world hung in the balance. The magic grew brighter and brighter till the rift snapped shut, sending Fenris flying to the ground.
Back at Haven, survivors watched as a beam of light shot upwards to the Breach.