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The Last of the Couslands	By : MistressofMagic Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4401 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Bioware and EA own everything associated with the Dragon Age universe. I am making no money off of this fan fiction.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Chapter 14
Enter the Fade
Bridget slowly opened her eyes and shook her head. She furrowed her brow, noticing and not recognizing the strange area she was in. Everything was cast in the orange glow that twilight brings. Bridget stood and began to explore her surroundings. At first she thought she was back at Ostagar…but this place was different. There were mountains here that stood tall and proud, their tips almost touching the clouds. Bridget continued to walk forward and turned her head. She gasped slightly at who was standing a few feet away from her. Duncan…it was Duncan. Bridget ran up to him.
"Duncan?" she asked.
Duncan smiled at her.
"Ah there you are, how are you enjoying Weisshaupt?"
Bridget shook her head.
"I-I don't understand…you're supposed to be dead." She replied softly.
Duncan chuckled.
"Me? Dead? Oh dear girl, not yet for me. I've still got some time left in these old bones. Why did you think I would be dead?"
Bridget gaped at him.
"You perished in the Battle of Ostagar, along with King Cailan and the majority of our troops!"
Duncan laughed again.
"Nonsense, absolute nonsense! The Blight is over, dear. That is why we are here in Weisshaupt. The other Grey Wardens and I have established here. Come and take a look around,"
Bridget took a step back.
"No, this is a lie…a dream. You're dead because Teyrn Loghain left King Cailan to die on the battle field!" she shouted.
Duncan narrowed his eyes.
"Teyrn Loghain is the reason we won at Ostagar, Bridget. Now stop shouting and come with me,"
"I'm not going anywhere!"
Duncan withdrew his sword.
"Fine!" he snapped in a voice that was not his own, "Have it your way!"
Bridget wasn't even aware she was armed. She quickly withdrew her shield and blocked Duncan's blow, stumbling backwards just a bit. She withdrew her sword and closed her eyes as she slashed at him. She felt warm liquid spray across her face and the rest of her. Bridget opened her eyes slightly to see Duncan at her feet. She sighed and shook her head.
"Where am I?" she asked herself softly.
Bridget turned and noticed a very intricate pedestal standing in the nearby corner. She slowly walked over to it, not dropping her guard for a second. For all she knew this could be another trap like Duncan. She looked into the pedestal and was transported to another place. This time she was not alone…a mage stood not too far from her with a worried look across his face. He hadn't noticed her. Bridget slowly walked towards him…not dropping her guard for a second.
"Hello?" she asked softly.
The mage turned to her and looked at her.
"So he's trapped you here too, hasn't he?" the mage asked slowly.
Bridget furrowed her brow.
"What is this place?" she asked slowly.
The mage sighed.
"This is the Fade…only accessible to mages…unless a demon traps you here as is the case with you and me. My name is Niall."
"I'm Bridget. What trapped us here…was it that abomination?"
Niall took a deep breath and began to explain.
"That was no abomination that trapped us here; he was a demon to his core. He calls himself Sloth. This is what he does…trap people within the Fade and makes them either go insane or have terrible nightmares. For some though the nightmares will be a nirvana. I have tried and tried to get out…but I cannot."
Niall turned and beckoned for Bridget to follow him. She did and he walked over to a small hole in the ground. A hole that was only large enough for a mouse.
"I've seen these around…and I know they lead to other places…but I do not know how to get there. As you can see this is only big enough for a mouse…"
Niall walked next over to the pedestal that Bridget used to teleport herself here.
"This is what we mages call a Fade Pedestal. I've studied the ancient runes on it. Apparently this is how you navigate within the Fade to other realms. The Sloth demon is in the center island, but there are five other islands surrounding him, each with their own respective demon protecting Sloth. These demons however are hidden behind invisible doors…to the human eye that is. If you could some how transform into a spirit, you may be able to see them. How you would do that though…I do not have the answer."
Bridget looked up and noticed a purple haze in the distance.
"Can you tell me what that is?" she asked.
Niall turned and nodded.
"That is a Fade Portal. It will transport you somewhere else within this realm…not to another island. I have not dared to traverse it though…as you can see I am unarmed and this is the only place where there are no abominations. You however are armed…you could go, if you wanted to. That may be the only way to get out."
Bridget's eyes widened.
"What about my friends? Are they here too?"
Niall nodded.
"If they were with you when you encountered Sloth, then they too were placed under his spell. They are most likely within another realm…you are the only other I have seen."
Bridget looked at him.
"So if I can get to the demons in the five different realms and kill them,"
Niall nodded.
"You may then reach Sloth. Killing him is the only way out of this…madness."
Bridget nodded.
"Thank you, Niall."
Niall sighed.
"You are very brave, far braver than I can ever hope to be. Good luck, my friend."
Bridget nodded and walked passed him. She stepped into the purple haze and felt a jolt behind her navel…like a hook grabbing her and flinging her somewhere else. She was thrown on the ground but noticed that she was indeed in a different place.
"Help! Someone help me!"
Bridget could not see what was calling for help, but immediately killed the rage demon that was a few feet ahead of her.
"Thank you so much."
Bridget looked around for the person that the voice belonged to…but still could see no one.
"Down here!"
Bridget looked down and noticed a mouse at her feet. His small eyes looked up at her.
"For helping me…I grant you my power. You must go and save everyone you can! Learn the other forms!"
"How do I access this power you have granted me? I am not a mage." Bridget replied.
The mouse blinked.
"Think of transforming into the form, and you will."
With that, he disappeared before her very eyes. Bridget noticed a mouse hole no too far from where she stood. She closed her eyes and thought about mice. Immediately her whole body felt weird. Bridget felt her bones become smaller and smaller, she looked around and noticed that everything was becoming large. Before she knew it…she stood as a mouse. Bridget hurriedly ran to the mouse hole and entered it. After digging her way through, she reappeared at the end of the tunnel and saw Niall standing a few feet away from her. Bridget concentrated her thoughts on being human again and with a small pop she stood before Niall as her old self. His eyes widened.
"You did it! You learned a form! I am sure there are others trapped within the other realms that will teach you there forms as well. You must go, my friend…you are our only hope in saving us all!"
Bridget ran to the Fade Pedestal and looked down. Immediately she was transported to another realm.
Bridget slightly stumbled as she arrived in the new realm and looked around. A deep voice whispered in her ear:
This is the Darkspawn invasion realm. Let us see if you are as tough against them in your dreams…
Bridget shook her head. She felt chills all over her body at the coldness of the voice. Bridget noticed a mouse hole and transformed. Bridget dug through the tunnel and exited the other end, only to see Darkspawn in the distance. She immediately transformed back into a human and engaged them full. There were two Hurlock Alphas and a Genlock Emissary. They were difficult to take care of since she was by herself…but Bridget managed to dispose of them quickly enough and ran down the hall. She entered another room and discovered another mouse hole. Bridget took a deep breath and transformed again. On the other side, there were more Darkspawn…and a spirit of some kind. Bridget transformed back to her usual self and aided the spirit in combat. He was a templar…perhaps one of Greagoir's men who had the unfortunate meeting with the Sloth demon. Soon, the Darkspawn and been vanquished. The templar turned to Bridget and said,
"Thank you for your help, friend…you have released me. In return for your help I grant you the Spirit form. With this form…you will be able to discover the demons that protect Sloth. Save the others!"
He too, disappeared before Bridget's eyes. Another Fade Pedestal had appeared in the corner. Bridget ran over to it and journeyed back to the Raw Fade where Niall was. Since she had the Spirit form now, at least she could deal with the demon that was behind the door there. Bridget reappeared in the Raw Fade and transformed into a Spirit. This felt much different than transforming into a mouse. All of Bridget's senses were heightened in this form. She slowly glided to the now visible door and passed through it easily...it was an odd feeling, passing through the stone. Bridget could hear soft whispers in her ear…as if the aged rock was speaking to her. The demon Yevena was present on the other side. Within Spirit form, Bridget had the ability to cast magic. Doing so left the tips of her fingers tingly…and Yevena lay before her, relinquished of all life. And so the first protector of Sloth died.
Bridget passed through the door again and heard the familiar whispers. Upon returning to the other side, Bridget transformed into her self again and smiled at Niall.
"That's one." She stated.
Niall nodded.
"Good luck with the others."
Bridget ran towards the Fade Pedestal and was teleported to another realm. She was once again unaware of her surroundings until that ghastly whisper was in her ear:
Hope you like fire…you won't encounter much else here.
Bridget shook the voice from her mind and began to traverse through the tower. The voice was right…most pathways were blocked by barriers of fire. It was difficult to breathe with all of the smoke held within the rooms. At last she came upon a room with numerous corpses that were ablaze battling a templar. She helped him in defeating the abominations.
"Thank you. In return I will provide you with the Burning Man form. You will be able to walk through the flames and not be harmed. The demon in this realm does not lie behind a spirit door."
He paused and pointed to a large door behind him. It looked impossible to pick and had very intricate carvings within it. The door was made of steel.
"The demon of this realm lies behind that door…but you will not be able to get to him unless you have some type of strong force. Perhaps you will find it in another realm?"
With that, the man disappeared. Bridget turned and noticed another Fade Pedestal. Walking over to it, she looked into it and this time a map was available to view. She could easily navigate to the other realms now. Bridget took a moment to study it. The place on the map marked as the Raw Fade had some sort of odd symbol next to it. Perhaps that rune marked that the demon from that realm had been dealt with. Bridget noticed that the middle island was grey…not available to access yet. She also noticed that three other marks on the map were also grey. Perhaps that's where the others were? Bridget went to the next dot on the map and was teleported there instantly. Her surroundings were unknown again…and the voice whispered softly:
I hope you enjoy dealing with the maleficar that are trapped here…along with those poor, crazed Chantry priests.
Bridget ignored the voice and pressed forward. A fire blocked her way out of the room so Bridget transformed into the Burning Man. This form had to be the most interesting. She could feel nothing…as if all her nerves and senses were gone…walking through the fire made her feel warm and safe. After passing through the fire blockade, Bridget came across some crazed mages and (with slight difficulty) managed to kill them. She continued to fight her way through this mysterious realm, tossing fire balls as the Burning Man and crushing others as the Spirit. At long last she came to the room were there was another, normal person. Bridget helped him dispatch the enemies. Some where large, rock creatures…golems in fact. With the last one dead, Bridget turned to the dreamer.
"Thank you. I grant you perhaps the most important form you will need. This form will allow you to transform into a Golem, meaning that you can withstand just about anything and break down those intricate steel doors. You must hurry and kill the other demons. Sloth must die!"
He disappeared and Bridget pressed forward, running up the nearby staircase and coming to a steel door. She smirked and transformed into a Golem which was quite…interesting. She could feel nothing, but was rather slow moving. She punched the steel door and it shattered like glass upon contact. Bridget was now face to face with Slavren, the demon of this realm. She transformed into the Burning Man and shot a couple of fire balls at him to keep him at a distance, then her final move was a crushing prison spell in Spirit form and he was finished. And so the second protector of Sloth was dead. A Fade Pedestal appeared in the corner and Bridget fled to it. Knowing now that she had acquired all of the forms, she could kill the protectors, find her friends, and get back to the real world. Bridget transported herself back to the realm with the Darkspawn and ran for the steel door. She tore it down as a Golem and was face to face with Uthkiel the Crusher, a giant ogre…perhaps the biggest one Bridget had ever seen! He was a formidable foe…it was difficult to deal with him, even in Golem form. Bridget killed him and thus another Fade Portal appeared. And so the third protector of Sloth was dead. Bridget went back to her human form and ran for the Pedestal. She went back to the burning tower and traversed as the burning man until she finally came to find the fourth demon, Rhagos. Bridget transformed into the Spirit as the Burning Man form would do no good sense Rhagos was a rage demon. She was able to freeze him and attack him while he stood frozen. He fell at her feet soon after…and so the fourth protector of Sloth was dead. Acquiring the new Fade Pedestal, Bridget next went to an area she had not been to yet, but it was not one of the three that were distant and off to the side. She easily found the spirit door in this realm and transformed to pass through it. The demon, Vereveel playfully said,
"Catch me if you can!"
She transformed into a mouse and disappeared beyond the hole. Bridget transformed and followed her. She emerged in a chamber of sorts and transformed into a Spirit to deal with her. Vereveel was not very strong, and easily died. And so the fifth protector of Sloth was dead. Bridget transformed back into a human and ran to the Pedestal. Looking into it and at the map…the three areas were now available to venture to, as was the middle island with Sloth. Bridget opted to travel through these other realms first, hoping that perhaps her friends were within the realms somewhere. Bridget went to the one on the far left first. Since she was now used to Fade Pedestal transport, she no longer stumbled when landing in a new realm. Bridget saw Alistair in the distance and ran towards him. She had never been so happy to see someone in her entire life! Her grin faded as she noticed the look on his face. His eyes were glazed over and he looked rather dazed…more so than usual. Bridget furrowed her brow at the woman that stood near him, as well as the children towards the back.
"Alistair?" Bridget asked him.
Alistair grinned when he saw her.
"Oh I'm so glad you're here! I was hoping you would come! Goldanna here is my sister, and she's making supper for all of us! Say you'll stay, please?"
Bridget furrowed her brow. Alistair never mentioned a sister before…but wait…this was the Fade after all. Perhaps he conjured up a make believe sister in his heart because of the fact that he has no real family…and the Sloth demon used that to his advantage and had tricked Alistair into thinking he had a real sister…a real family.
Bridget shook her head.
"Alistair, listen to me, this is a dream, none of this is real!" She exclaimed.
Alistair laughed.
"What are you talking about…of course this is real!"
Goldanna walked up to stand next to him.
"Shall I make an extra plate, brother?" she asked as she stared at Bridget with black, empty eyes.
Alistair turned back to Bridget.
"Say you'll stay, please? Goldanna makes the best pie!"
Bridget shook her head.
"I can't stay, and you shouldn't either, Alistair."
He raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Bridget looked at him.
"Think about how you got here…think really hard."
Alistair shook his head and put his hand on his forehead.
"I remember a tower…and…and some abomination or something,"
Bridget nodded.
"Yes! We're in the Fade, trapped by the Sloth demon!"
Alistair looked at her.
"So this isn't real?" he asked sadly.
Bridget shook her head.
"No…it isn't, you need to come with me, right now."
"He is ours! You will not have him!" Goldanna shouted in a demonic voice.
She and the children transformed into hideous abominations…screeching and clawing at them. Bridget and Alistair quickly took care of them. After they lay dead…Alistair shook his head.
"Wow…I can't believe this was all a dream…hey wait…what's going on?"
He too disappeared before Bridget. Bridget sighed.
"I hope he's alright. Perhaps now he's back in the real world. I guess I'll have to fight Sloth on my own then."
Bridget returned to the Fade Pedestal and made her way to the next area. Zeus lay a few feet ahead of her, sound asleep. His ears were twitching as was his leg. Bridget smirked.
"Well…at least some body's having a good time here."
She walked over to him and gently nudged him.
"Zeus? Come on boy, time to wake up!"
Zeus slowly lifted his head and yawned when he noticed Bridget was in front of her, he threw her down and licked her face happily, his tail wagging in pure joy.
"Haha, alright boy, that's enough!"
Zeus barked happily and pounced off of her, disappearing in the distance. Bridget returned back to the Fade Pedestal and went to the next area. Sure enough, Wynne was there…but all around her the bodies of those left back in the room at the tower surrounded her. This was a bad nightmare for her indeed. Bridget ran up to her.
"Wynne, are you alright?"
Wynne shook her head, her eyes filled with tears.
"They're gone…all of them. This is all my fault…"
Bridget shook her head.
"Wynne, we're in the Fade, this is all a trick…you have to trust me!" Bridget exclaimed.
Wynne narrowed her eyes and looked at her.
"I did trust you as a friend and ally and look at what has happened! You left me alone…and now all of this,"
Bridget nodded.
"Exactly, Wynne. Why would I leave you, think! I would never do such a thing after you have helped me countless times."
Wynne blinked and looked at the ground.
"I…something you say rings true…but,"
One of the dead mages stood.
"Do not leave us Wynne, please we need you!"
Wynne shook her head and grabbed her staff.
"I will not be fooled again by you, demon!"
The battle was a very quick one, luckily and Wynne was herself again.
"Thank you for…wait…where are you going?"
She disappeared. Bridget ran for the Pedestal and teleported herself to the center island. It was time for Sloth to die.
Bridget landed her feet on the ground and saw Sloth staring at her in the distance. She approached him with her chin held high. He would trap her and her friends no longer.
"I see you have found me." He said in that slow, deep voice.
Bridget nodded.
"This ends here." She stated.
Sloth chuckled.
"Why? You could stay here forever if you wish…it is quite a lovely and peaceful place after all."
Bridget shook her head.
"You die now!" she screamed.
Bridget heard footsteps and turned to see her companions, all with their weapons drawn.
"It is time you stopped tormenting those that have been trapped here!" Wynne cried.
Sloth narrowed what Bridget guessed were his eyes and said,
"Very well…if this is what you wish…you will learn to bow to those above you, human!"
Sloth then transformed into a large ogre which Bridget matched in strength by transforming into a Golem. His attacks were powerful, and he got in a few hits, knocking Bridget off of her feet and causing her to fall, shaking the earth and stunning her friends momentarily. She rebounded and drew back her fists and punched him square in the jaw. With the others slicing away at him, he transformed into another form…this of a rage demon. Bridget transformed into the Spirit and cast all of the cold spells at her disposal, careful to not hit one of her friends. Sloth transformed into another demon next which Bridget tossed fire balls at as the Burning Man. Finally he was in his final form, himself. Bridget transformed into her usual self and plummeted him with the others. Bridget drove her sword into his chest with all her strength and Sloth let out a horrible, terrible ear splitting screech. A dark dust engulfed him and exploded. Sloth slid off the end of the sword and fell back. And so Sloth himself was dead.
"You did it, you actually did it!"
Bridget turned to see Niall running towards them. Wynne's eyes widened.
"Niall! So it was your body we saw…"
Niall sighed sadly.
"Yes…I can still help you though. I have the one thing that can stop Uldred from making abominations…the Littany of Adralla. Take it from…my body and use it to save the Circle. It is your only hope!"
"Can you not come with us?" Bridget asked.
Niall shook his head.
"I have been trapped here for far too long…my body on the outside is most likely withered…if not already bones. It is up to you to finish my work. Please save the Circle…the mages are depending on you!"
Bridget nodded.
"I will, Niall. Thank you for all of your help."
Niall chuckled.
"I do not know what this help is that you speak of…but you are very welcome. Go now!"
The scene before Bridget's eyes faded and she felt sleepy again. She opened her eyes and realized she was back in the room where they had encountered Sloth, who now lay dead. Bridget stood along with the others, glad to be back in the real world. She found Niall's body and took the Littany of Adralla off of him. Bridget turned to Wynne.
"This will stop Uldred from making abominations out of the mages. We must hurry!"
Bridget nodded and led the others to another stair case. They climbed it, ready to face Uldred and save the Tower.
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The Last of the Couslands