Doom Upon All The World

Chapter 15: The Inquisition

     It didn't matter who in Thedas you asked, everyone knew the story of the Inquisition. They started as a rumored rebellion in the Frostback Mountains. They settled in a town called Haven directly after the catastrophe at the Conclave. The Chantry, the Templars, the Mages, everyone present and distant was thrown into chaos as the Veil tore open and the great Herald of Andraste fell from the sky being the only to survive. Many took this as a sign from the Maker, labeling the Dalish Elf as a prophet of a prophet. But even more saw her as a danger, including the person who suggested the Inquisition be rebuilt. 

     It was no secret that Cassandra Pentaghast, a devout Seeker of Truth, lead the initiative. She thought the order would be able restore the formality of the Templars and Mages, helping to resolve their long standing conflict. The woman that survived became an inspiration to many and began inciting hope as she bore a mark that could potentially seal the Breach. When the Breach was finally sealed, it was a joy short lived. The reason for all of their strife revealed himself and rained his terror down on the village of Haven. Tales were told and songs were sung about how the brave Dalish woman sacrificed herself to save the village. This was also short lived as she was not actually dead. Eventually, they found a new place that they could build a strong organization. No one knew exactly where it was. It was made to be secret so that they would not be sought out easily. 

     With this and strong alliances, settling debates of royalty, and choosing sides on multiple occasions, the Inquisition was a force to be reckoned with. The proclaimed Herald of Andraste became the Inquisitor and rose to tremendous power, leading her associates and allies into the havoc of battle with confidence. The fight against Corypheus was a constant tug of war. He'd be one step ahead and then they'd catch him, gaining the advantage before falling into his plans again. Finally push came to shove and they couldn't wait any longer. They had to act or be ruled by a self proclaimed God that wanted to destroy the world and recreate it as he envisioned. 

     There were rumors of course that along this lengthy adventure, Lavellan had taken a lover. An Elven Apostate that had somehow escaped the records of every establishment in Thedas. Theoretically, he didn't exist. Their love was rumored to be so strong that the Elf himself gave his life in the last moments of battle to give Lavellan the opportunity to end Corypheus. The Inquisition knew this to be false but the public believed it, as he was never seen and most of the world had never laid eyes on the Inquisitor herself. When someone talked to her, they rarely knew who she was or what she had done. They defeated Corypheus and returned to Skyhold in celebration and happiness, excited to finally put things to rest. 

     But that was only the beginning for Maeve. Her life had only just begun with the Inquisition. She hadn't realized how much she wasn't really living until she left the Dalish. After she confessed to Solas about being pregnant, he decided to stay. He tried to formulate some plan in his brain that night about what to do but he just couldn't. He was overjoyed and overwhelmed at her news. The smile on his face seemed to grow every time he looked at her. He fell asleep that night and many nights after that wrapped lovingly around her middle. A week after everyone got used to the fact that he had not actually abandoned Maeve again, he came up with a plan and it was good one. He wouldn't say how he got it but somehow, he got his power back. He was stronger, more energetic, faster, more focused. Maeve could see every calculation as it raced through his head. 

     Solas created the Veil. He did it in a way that he didn't think could be undone but looking at Maeve whilst she slept made him think deeper. Before he removed her Vallaslin, she was a slave to the God her markings represented. In a way, a ridiculous and far fetched way, Thedas represented freedom, the Fade enslavement, and the Veil their Vallaslin. So they stayed in the village, at the place he once called home and every day he would go and cast the spell to free the Fade of its cage. He did it for months, eventually the spell was strong enough but Solas grew weak. Even with his abilities restored it was not enough to keep him going. Maeve was present of course, both for moral support and because it was their effort, not his alone. The spell slowly absorbed the world, merging the faded with the living. But as it did, it absorbed Solas as well. He would lapse into sleep again if he didn't find another way.

    Maeve knew exactly what to do then. Solas' power was directly linked to the mark on her hand. If he could draw power from it, using what little he already had, he could finish it once and for all. And so he did. He called on the mana reserves with in him as he held her hand in his and cast the spell again and again. Maeve felt the life draining out of her. It was killing her. She knew before it killed her, it would kill their child so she stayed strong and stayed awake for that reason. She couldn't fail their child or Solas. At that moment as she felt consciousness slipping away, Dorian arrived, interrupting Solas as Maeve slumped against him. He was fuming with rage. He tried to stop Solas but nothing could. He was too far into it to stop then. The only thing Dorian could do was help. So as Solas drew strength from Maeve, she drew life from Dorian and together they brought it down. 

     The world had not changed all that much. Elves were living longer. They weren't immortal again but they were surviving. There was a greater number of Mages among them. This worried Cassandra and Cullen. Spirits walked freely in the world and demons had no where to hide. They were open and vulnerable. For the first time there was utter bliss for a while. And ten years later, the Evanuris still had not shown their faces. Solas was glad of this but he knew one day they would come for him. Maeve gave birth to Nicolynn six months later in the infirmary at Skyhold. That day was the most wonder filled of her life. A year later, a few months after Anthony was born, they moved to their new home in Halamshiral. That day, they left Skyhold thinking they would never see it again. Now, as the ramp parts came into view Maeve wanted nothing more than to retreat back to the life she had less than a day ago.