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Blood Song	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 1631 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Blood Song

Drake's Fall was dark, a thick cloud of either smoke or fog blanketed the sky, keeping the sun away. There was a stench of sulfur, and no vegetation grew from the ground. Giant bones of beasts long dead were scattered. Some still in the pattern of the once mighty dragon they used to support, now the great beast laying silently and harmlessly on the cold, ash covered ground in a forever sleep.
Lisha lead her Wardens down the beaten path the darkspawn had carved through the dragon graveyard. Along with Zelda and Arawin, Damien had also been left at the keep. Lisha hadn't realized how bad he was injured until after their meeting. He walked with a limp and his sword arm was impaired. She did not like having to leave him behind, but he would have been at a disadvantage and Lisha didn't want to risk his life. They would just have to deal with the Mother with seven strong.
“This is a cursed place,” Justice whispered. “But it also has... power.” As they walked through a hollowed out ribcage, he stopped and ran a hand up one of the ribs.
“You can feel it too?” said Anders as he watched the spirit be fascinated by the giant bone.
“Of course. Dragon's are magical. I know of them from what mortals dream. Their bones sing, almost like lyrium.”
“Hey, you know what would be an awesome idea,” Oghren said, staring up at the spine. “What if we took these bones and made them into weapons and stuff? Think of all the money we could make!”
“Are you mad, dwarf?” Velanna snapped. “Don't you think someone would've already thought of that? Obviously there's something wrong with them, otherwise I'm sure they wouldn't be here!”
“I told you, this place is cursed,” said Justice. “You will not find a buyer for anything taken from here.”
“Maybe not any local buyers,” Oghren grumbled.
“Doesn't matter,” said Lisha as she turned to her Wardens. “That's not why we're here. Come, we need to continue on.” She made her way out from underneath the ribcage and they continued through the Wastes. The rest of their trek was in silence expect for the scuffing of their feet and the howling of the wind.
“Is that what we're looking for?” Nathaniel pointed out a temple in the far distance. It was broken, falling to pieces, nearly taken back by the elements.
“I believe so,” said Lisha. She studied the darkspawn trail and found it was leading right to it. They made their way, the door creaking on its rusted hinges as they entered a large cathedral. Everything about it was cracked and lifeless, Tevinter in style and grandeur. And covered in darkspwn corruption.
“Wow,” Sigrun said as she stared about the area, taking everything in. “Even with it covered, you can still tell this place used to be something in its day.”
Lisha took a deep breath, taking in everything around her. The alien corruption was rampart here, strong and almost overwhelming. She could feel darkspawn all over the place along with two very strong presences. One she recognized, the other she didn't.
“Lisha, are you okay?” Nathaniel asked, seeing her concentrating.
“It's just thick here,” she spoke slowly. “We are in the right place.” She went to take a step forward, to move them through the temple as fast as possible before they were sensed by the Children. But before she could, another presence made itself known to her and stepped out of the shadows.
“I am glad to see you are well, Sister,” said Seranni as she smiled over at Velanna.
“What... Seranni!” Velanna shouted. “Oh, thank Mythal you're alive!” She bounded toward her sister, delighted to see her, but the smile she had quickly faded. Lisha could feel the corruption in Seranni had grown, and it showed on her face. “Sweet Creators, what has the Architect done to you? Why are you with him?”
“He's kind to me, and tender,” said Seranni. “He doesn't want to hurt me. Or any of you. He has a plan. The darkspawn are just like us. The Architect has freed them, and they search for a place in this world, just like the Dalish are searching. Everything he's done, he's done to help his people. You can respect that, can't you, Sister?”
Velanna looked on at her sister, her eyes huge as she struggled to figure out Seranni's words. “Seranni... but they killed our friends and so many others. Do you not remember?”
“I do,” Seranni said lowering her gaze. “And this is why I must help them. They are like children—come into this world with no understanding of what is good and fair. They have a bestial nature, but I've seen them overcome it. They just need to be shown how.”
“You think the darkspawn can be saved?” Lisha asked.
“I don't think, I know.” Seranni peered at her. “He wants to talk to you. Just to talk. He would have done it earlier, but things didn't work out like he thought they would.”
“Is the Architect here?”
She nodded. “He needs your help.”
“Then come with us,” said Velanna, bringing Seranni's attention back to her. “Come with us and we'll go see the Architect together.”
“No,” Seranni said looking downcast again. “I cannot come with you, Sister. I'm sorry. But you will meet the Architect nevertheless. He waits for you in front of the Mother's lair.” She began to back away, back into the shadows.
“Seranni, no! Don't go!” Velanna cried after her.
“But I must go, Sister. The Architect will explain everything. Then you will see as I have seen.” Seranni disappeared into the darkness, and Lisha could no longer feel her presence.
“No, Seranni!” Velanna went to go after her, but Lisha kept her from going any further.
“She's gone, Velanna. I'm sorry.”
“I must go after her!” Velanna demanded. “I have to convince her to come home!”
“I don't think she wants to, or that... she can.” Lisha sighed, seeing the hurt in Velanna's eyes. “Come on, let's get through this place. If the Architect wishes to talk, then I'll let him do that. Maybe he can explain everything to us. Give us answers.”
Slowly Velanna relented. “Yes, Caun. There are many questions I'd like answered. Lead on.”
***
Silverbrand gleamed in the torch light. Its icy shell stained a shiny onyx, brilliant as it sliced through one darkspawn to the other. Fang right behind it, red and orange flames tailing behind the curved blade. Lisha wielded both weapons with ease, carving her way through the darkspawn that attacked them as they made their way through the temple. The two blades cut into the hard outer armor of the Children like it wasn't a problem. She was glad she had talked Arawin and Zelda into letting her borrow their weapons. There were many Children in this place. So much so they probably wouldn't have made it as far as they had.
The temple was deep with spiraling staircases that keep them going down. Each level they went to had them fighting a swarm of darkspawn that had been waiting for them. With Lisha in the lead, Fang and Silverbrand in each hand, she carved a path through for the others. She sliced the armor open of the Children, allowing the others to finish them off. Anders and Velanna didn't have to use their ice spells as much, which gave them more mana when they had to face an emissary.
Running straight to the bottom of the staircase they were descending, Lisha plowed herself into a hurlock alpha. Fang glided right into the darkspawn's belly, the flames igniting its insides. The hurlock screamed and tried to get free, but found itself headless when Lisha lifted Silverbrand and cut the blade across the hurlock's throat. When the darkspawn fell, Lisha made her way to another one. The others were right behind her, jumping over the alpha's body.
Sigrun launched herself at a genlock, bringing it down to the ground and tumbling across the floor. The genlock roared and pushed her off. Sigrun quickly returned to her feet and lunged again, her daggers colliding with the genlock's crude axes. They exchanged blows, evenly matched before Sigrun went low to avoided a swing and stuck one of her daggers in the genlock's thigh. It stumbled backwards, giving Sigrun the opportunity to stick her other dagger in its throat.
As Sigrun took down the genlock, Oghren ran past and swung his waraxe, taking the legs out from under two hurlocks. Finishing both of them off, he then went straight for an evolved Child that Lisha had sliced into. The wound spread from its belly all the way to its back. Black blood oozed, along with a greenish pus that bubbled out from the wound. The Child shrieked and met Oghren halfway. His waraxe went right into the Child's wound, going deep and causing more blood to squirt out. Oghren then yanked his weapon out and the Child split in two.
Taking on a Child and a genlock at once, Justice kept his shield up most of the time, trying to defend himself from their blows. The Child snapped at his ankles, while the genlock attacked his side, trying to get past his shield. The spirit's sword scrapped against the Child's hard shell, but only made scratches. Deciding to ignore the smaller darkspawn, Justice fully faced the genlock and slammed into it with his shield. The genlock was taken by surprise from the sudden blow and fell to the ground. Justice then struck his sword straight into the genlock's chest before turning back on the Child. His shield was raised to keep the darkspawn from leaping on him. As he went to drive his sword forward, a blast of cold flashed in front of him, freezing the Child in place. With both sword and shield, Justice shattered the Child to pieces before looking up and nodding his thanks to Anders.
Anders stood on the stairs, Velanna and Nathaniel along with him, but further below. Each of them surveyed the area, helping where they could. Nathaniel sent out a shower of arrows, their heads imbedding in the weak points between darkspawn armor. Velanna's vines stretched out across the battle, entangling darkspawn limbs and allowing the others to finish them off.
As the battle raged on, Lisha found herself glaring down an emissary. The darkspawn, seeing the black blood dripping from her swords, sneered. It went to cast a spell, but an arrow jammed itself in the emissary's shoulder, keeping it from lifting its staff. Grunting from the misfire and pain, the spell went right past Lisha as she ran at the darkspawn. It put up its staff, only to have it break as both blades struck the side. A lightning bolt then crashed down on its head, followed by a boulder colliding with its abdomen. Fire and ice then struck the emissary's heart as it went down.
“Good work, everyone,” Lisha breathed hard. She replaced Silverbrand and Fang as her Wardens made their way to her. “That's all the ones on this level.”
“How many more levels are there?” said Anders as he wiped the sweat off his brow. “I don't know how much longer I can last.”
Lisha saw that all of them were starting to show fatigue. Her own body was beginning to protest. They had gone down at least six levels, maybe more. She hoped they would reach the bottom soon. “I know this is hard, but we need to keep moving. I'm sure we're almost there.”
You are.
The familiar presence brushed against Lisha's mind. She quickly turned to see standing at the bottom of the stairs, half in shadow, was the dwarf she remembered from the mines. “Who...?” The dwarf slipped into the shadows and made her way to a dark door that Lisha knew would eventually lead to the next level. Without saying another word, she began to follow the dwarf, ignoring the questions posed by the others.
The dwarf lead them through the temple, an area that was interestingly absent of darkspawn, and down another spiral staircase. At the bottom, the ground was mushy and the walls were covered in the black corruption with purplish pods that pulsed and oozed. When they reached the center of the circular room, the dwarf then darted back into shadow, disappearing from both Lisha's sight and sense. She stayed where she was, however, the others standing behind her. She could feel they wanted to ask her what was going on, but instead stayed silent.
It was almost instantaneous when she felt his presence within the taint. Lisha looked up at the top of the stairs to see the Architect staring down at them. He was impressive looking, a darkspawn yet not. His skin was black and wrinkled, stretched over long and delicate bones. His robes were dirty, and looked to be sown together with different types and colors of cloth and material. A golden mask was placed across his face, covering his eyes. The mask was dull, having lost what luster it may have had long ago.
“And so we meet again,” he spoke, his voice sounding intelligent and cultured. It caught the attention of everyone else as they stared up at the Architect with stunned curiosity. “I owe you an apology, Commander,” the Architect continued as he began to float down from the stairs. “When last we met, I intended to explain myself. Fate, however, intervened.” He landed in front of her, calm and nonthreatening.
“I escaped, you mean.” Lisha kept her stance, her eyes focused on the golden mask.
“I restrained you only to prevent the misunderstanding that occurred with the rest of your order.”
“You're calling that a misunderstanding?” Anders said not believing what he just heard.
“An unfortunate one,” the Architect nodded.
“Yeah, the sort of misunderstanding that ends with a field of dead bodies,” Oghren added. “Uh huh, I get those sometimes.”
“I hope you can understand, I did not intend for what happened at the Vigil to occur. I sent the Withered to ask for the Grey Wardens' help. I should have anticipated that you might view our approach as an attack. I am rarely able to judge how your kind will react.”
Lisha could feel the tension behind her. What the Architect had done was bad, but if it was a misunderstanding, then she wasn't so sure. It was hard to tell what the Architect was at the moment. Friend or foe. “Why did you want our help?”
The Architect appeared to sigh. “My kind has ever been driven to seek out the Old Gods. This is our nature. When we find one, a Blight is begun. Each time, we attack your surface lands, and you fight back until we are defeated. To break the cycle, my brethren must be freed of their compulsion. For that, I need Warden blood.”
“Warden blood?” Lisha eyed the Architect, trying to read him, but it was still hard. “What does Warden blood do for darkspawn?”
“In order to become what you are, you drink the blood of my kind. To transform. Similarly, we must transform. I have created a version of your Joining that uses the blood of Grey Wardens. You take the taint into yourselves. What we take is your resistance. That is how my brethren are freed. In your blood lies the key to their immunity against the song of the Old Gods.”
“I like my blood where it is, thanks,” said Anders. “In my veins.”
Lisha concentrated on the the darkspawn's words. What he was saying interested her. It explained many things, such as why some of the darkspawn could talk, and why they felt different. “So they change, are able to speak and think for themselves. They become resistant to the song? Do you mean the blood song?”
“If you are referring to the song within the Heroes' blood, then yes, but also no.”
Lisha became confused. “I don't think I understand. What is the blood song? I've heard it mentioned several times.”
“It is the song of the Old God, Urthemiel, which resides in the blood of the Heroes of Ferelden. I can't be sure, however, as I have not heard it myself. But if what Utha told me was correct, then that means my hypothesis was right.”
“So it was Utha who saved Arawin,” Lisha whispered. She stared back at the shadows the dwarf had disappeared into. Although she could no longer feel her, Lisha knew she was still there. She turned back to the Architect. “What did you assume about Arawin and Zelda?”
“It is not an easy task to defeat such a powerful creature,” said the Architect. “I know all there is to know about Grey Wardens, and I know the two of them should have died that day, but they did not. One cannot destroy such a force, and not have an effect. I wasn't exactly sure what the effect might be, but the blood song was one of them. It's the reason why the Mother wants them so badly, and why I sent Utha to save the Hero already in her clutches.”
“What is the Mother?”
“My most flawed creation.” The Architect looked downcast, appearing ashamed. “I freed her, but the freedom drove her mad, and she poisoned the minds of the others. She is able to influence many who are not yet freed, and she gathers them like an army along with the abominations she creates.”
“A broodmother,” Sigrun retched. “It's all starting to make sense now.”
“Indeed it is,” Lisha agreed. “Let me guess... She wants the song back?”
“Very much so,” the Architect nodded. “Which is why I'm glad you did not bring the Heroes with you. She would have fought you with everything she had to claim both of them for her own. If they were to become broodmothers themselves, her army would've been unstoppable.”
“I'm assuming, then, that you needed our help for more than just to obtain our blood?”
“The Mother needs to be destroyed. She will not stop until she gets what she wants.”
Lisha looked back at the others, seeing many were uneasy.
“I don't like this,” Sigurn said first. “The last thing we need is darkspawn thinking for themselves. You see what happens when they do?”
“I know,” Lisha spoke. “But it might actually help...”
“You really think that?” Justice posed. “I say we kill this creature, lest it make things worse than they already are.”
“No, we cannot kill him!” Velanna countered. “What about my sister? Besides, I believe this was what she was talking about. The Architect is an ally, not a foe. This is an opportunity we cannot pass up!”
“I agree,” said Nathaniel. “Darkspawn or no, the Architect has a good point. Do we really want to keep fighting and killing each other forever?”
“Personally, no,” Anders added. “But this... I'm not so sure about. Just do whatever, Commander. As long as my blood stays where it is.”
“I'll have to go with sparkle-fingers,” said Oghren. “I'm not so sure about this either. Wardens are suppose to stop the Blights and kill darkspawn, but maybe times are changin'.”
Lisha considered all they had said, but she still wasn't sure herself. “What about you?” she said turning back to the Architect. “How did you become freed?”
“I was born as I am,” he answered. “An outsider amongst my kind. Why? I do not know. Why do some of your kind become Grey Wardens? Why do some possess magic? I have no answers.”
“As best of an answer you can give me, I'm sure,” Lisha replied. “But what are you really wanting? What will happen when the Mother is defeated?”
“If you do not wish to join with me afterwards,” the Architect said staring at her even with his mask. “Then I will leave the Wardens here in Amaranthine alone. Utha, who provided the blood for the Disciples, is willing still to allow me to use it for more awakenings.”
“Wait, she was a Grey Warden?” Anders said stunned. “She looks like a ghoul.”
“A ghoul that still has her mind,” Lisha pointed out.
“It's what happens to Grey Wardens who let the taint take them,” the Architect explained. “She keeps her mind because of her resistance, but the music, just as with the Disciples is still there. Humming at the back of their minds. Even you, Commander, could hear it if you concentrated hard enough.”
She knew what he was talking about, that little buzz that was ever present at the edges of her mind. Lisha heard it best when she was sleeping. It was a beautiful hum that was tantalizing and mysterious. It was starting to go away, however, but she knew that one day it would return which would signal her Calling was close.
“But if you decide to allow us to join forces,” continued the Architect. “Then we can work together to help end the Blights for good. My kind will not be driven by their compulsion to dig and search. No longer will we gather on the surface to destroy and spread corruption.”
It sounded good. No more Blights. No more darkspawn ravaging the surface and polluting the environment. But with everything that sounded too good to be true, she knew there was a catch. It all depended on whether or not the pros outweighed the cons.
“At the moment, you have an ally,” she said looking the Architect straight in the face. “I will help you defeat the Mother. Afterwards... we'll see what Arawin has to say once she takes back up her position.”
“Fair enough,” the Architect acknowledged.
“No, no!” Sigrun shouted. “You can't do this, Commander! We can't ally ourselves with this monster!”
“Sigurn, we need to do this,” said Lisha. “We need his help against the Mother. Arawin will make the decision on whether we help him with the other thing or not.”
“I... I know.” Sigrun backed down. “I just hope you know what you're doing.”
“This is the right thing to do,” said Velanna. “Seranni believed in it, and so do I.”
“The dwarf may relent, but I sure won't.” Justice made his way to Lisha's front. His cold, dead eyes stared into hers. “This is wrong. The darkspawn needs to be destroyed and he needs to be destroyed now! He created the Mother and the one who killed Kristoff. With his death, Kristoff's own will be avenged and Aura can have her husband back.”
There was a silent battle as they both glared at each other. Lisha wasn't about ready to back down from him. “That is not my call, Justice.”
“You think the other elf can make the decision? She will follow whatever you tell her. And even if she makes the right choice, by that time it will be too late. I cannot allow this to happen. It is an injustice!”
“It is not an injustice,” Lisha said stern. “It is a hard decision made by weighing the good against the bad. This is my choice. The Architect will help us defeat the Mother, then if Arawin allows it, you may cut him down yourself. Trust my lead right now, Justice. You do not understand this world.”
“I cannot trust this,” the spirit said. “But... it appears I have no choice.” He relaxed his stance and looked away from her. “I have no desire to confront you. There are too many injustices in this world that I must right before I am to depart from it. As you wish, Commander. Ally yourself with the darkspawn.”
“Then it's settled.” Lisha looked back to see if any of her other Wardens would protest. Some looked uneasy, Anders, Oghren, and Sigrun, but neither spoke. Velanna and Nathaniel nodded when their eyes met hers. She knew they agreed with her decision. “The Mother will pay for what she has done,” she said to the Architect. “Are you able to lead us to her?”
“Thank you, Commander,” the Architect bowed. “I realize what a leap of faith this is for you. I hope I prove worthy of your trust. However, I am afraid I cannot lead you to the Mother. Her Children protect her from my powers. Utha can show you the way, and I will help you in anyway I can from afar.” Utha then appeared from the shadows again and gestured for them to follow.
The Mother is close.
Showing her acknowledgment to the dwarf, Lisha gestured for the others to step forward as they followed Utha through the shadows and into a small tunnel coated with corruption. This, they knew, would lead them straight to where they wanted to go.
***
The chamber the Mother was in was dark, damp, the floor a bed of slim and ooze that squished underneath their feet. The Mother sat at the end, her massive body sinking into the mush as two tentacles, sentry to her, swayed slowly back and forth. Her stalk of a torso was slumped forward, arms dangling loosely at her sides. Black bile oozed from her eyes as they stared at the Wardens as they approached her. A smile of pure contempt stretched across her pale face.
“Now the pieces fall into place,” she purred, head moving slowly to the other side. “The commander comes, an instrument of the Father!”
Lisha took them half way to her, Utha having only brought them so far before disappearing again. She stopped them in the mush and studied the broodmother before her. She was the same one Lisha had seen in her dreams, a broodmother of the likes she had never seen before. By her features, Lisha assumed she must have been human before becoming the insane creature that she was now.
“I am no instrument,” she told the Mother.
“Oh, but you are.” The Mother erected herself fully, her body wiggling with excitement. “Why else would you be here if it wasn't for the Father? He is nothing but a shadow. Oh, how my Children protect me! How they love me!”
Something shimmered beside Lisha and she looked over to see the Architect standing there, nothing but a smoky phantom. “I have told you, Mother, I am not 'the Father.' I am simply the Architect.”
The Mother growled, her massive form shifting back and forth. “It does not change what you are! You took away that beautiful music. Twice! Leaving us with nothing.”
“It was a mistake to free you,” the Architect said lowering his head. “It has left you with nothing but madness. I am truly sorry.”
“Yeah, a big, ugly mistake,” Anders whispered as he stared at the Mother with a slightly green face.
“Definitely ugly,” Oghren agreed. “Normally I'm a boob man, but not right now.”
Lisha ignored their comments. “Everyone makes mistakes,” she said to the Architect. “What's important is not the mistake itself, but how you deal with it. Which is what we're doing right now.”
The Mother cackled at Lisha's words. “Ah, but perhaps the commander would like to hear how it was that the Father began the Blight? You want the source of the archdemon, the one who brought all our kind to the surface? Here he is!” She pointed accusingly at the Architect, who sighed out deeply and shook his head in shame.
“What?” Lisha said as she stared at him with disbelief. “You were the one that awoke Urthemiel?”
“I knew something wasn't right,” Sigrun fumed. “We should never have trusted any darkspawn.”
“So the truth comes out,” Justice growled, glaring at Lisha. “All of these creatures are irredeemable fiends! They need to be destroyed!”
“Hold on,” Lisha said eying both of them. “At least let him explain himself. If the Architect really did start the Blight, maybe there was a reason for it.”
“You're seriously justifying the start of a Blight?” said Anders.
“The Blight was going to happen no matter what. Whether it started earlier or later is superficial. But if the Architect intended to start the Blight, however...” Lisha glanced a stern gaze in the Architect's direction. “Explain yourself.”
“It was not intentional,” the Architect sighed. “I did find the Old God, Urthemiel, but I did not wish another Blight. I attempted my Joining ritual. My hope was that this would free all darkspawn, unravel the curse from its source. Alas, I was unlucky.”
“So the Joining failed, and Urthemiel rose as the fifth archdemon.” Lisha shook her head. She wasn't liking anything she was hearing, but it wasn't her choice what would happen with the Architect.
“I am sorry for what I did,” the Architect continued. “But I did what I thought must be done. Just as the Grey Wardens do what must be done in order to stop the Blights. They are a menace to both our kind. To end them requires sacrifice and risk.”
“And how lonely the Father was,” the Mother said swaying. “How terrible to be the outcast, the outsider! He claims he wishes the darkspawn to be free. What he truly wants is to correct them!”
“However you feel about what I've done,” the Architect said to Lisha. “The Mother is mad. She cannot be allowed to--”
“Begone, shadow!” the Mother waved. With a flick of her thin arm, the Architect disappeared from beside Lisha. “You cannot harm the Mother any more than you already have. And now the commander is alone.” The Mother eyed Lisha, neither of them relenting as they stared each other down. “Oh, the Mother knows your ways. You will not let her be, no... not after what she's done. So it must end, it all must come crashing down! Perhaps we will hear the song again when we die. Oh, let it come. Let it come!” She screamed, mouth splitting into fours showing off rotten teeth.
“Move!” Lisha yelled as the ground underneath them began to shake. All the Wardens jumped into the air just as the Mother's tentacles burst from the ground. One nearly caught around Anders's leg, while another was able to strike Sigrun in the side. It brought her down and she skidded across the mucky floor.
Regaining his feet, Justice let out a primal roar before raising his shield and plowing toward the Mother. She sneered at him, showing her fangs while two of her tentacles shot forward and slammed against his shield. Justice stumbled from the impact, then brought his sword to the front and sliced at one of the tentacles. It cut across the flesh, drawing black blood. The tentacle whipped out and struck Justice in the head, nearly ripping his eye out. He moved to get past it, but the other tentacle wrapped itself around his ankle and pulled, forcing him to go face down into the mush. It then began to pull him toward the Mother, Justice clawing at the ground to keep from going any further.
“Ah!” The loud war cry came from above. Oghren jumped down on the tentacle and sliced it clean through with his axe, allowing Justice to get back on his feet.
“Thanks, dwarf,” the spirit muttered.
“No sweat, just watch your back. I've fought these things before and it's no fun.” Oghren swung in a wide arch, taking out a tentacle and knocking another one back. Justice acknowledged Oghren's warning and went right back into the fight.
Towards the back of the chamber, Velanna stood with vines all around her, acting like tentacles themselves. She sent them out, wrapping around the flesh ones and squeezing. The sharp thorns on the vines cut into the tentacles, allowing them to slice through and pop the tentacles off like daises.
With everyone fighting the tentacles, Lisha cut her way through to the Mother who growled and fidgeted in her place. “This is not over!” the Mother screamed at her. “The Mother will not go down so easy.”
“You're wrong, creature,” Lisha said. “Do you know what these blades are?” She brandished Fang and Silverbrand in front of the Mother. Seeing the two blades, the Mother growled and thrashed around.
“Those belong to the ones who killed the archdemon! The ones who possess the song! Oh, the beautiful song,” the Mother moaned. “I must hear it again. I must have them!”
“You're not getting your hands on either of them,” Lisha said through her teeth. “You've already taken enough from us. Life that should have never been lost! Life taken premature, and life that never got a chance to live! I will make you pay for your crimes.” Lisha crossed Silverbrand and Fang in front of her, the two blades sizzling as their enchantments touched.
The Mother cackled insanely. “One day I may pay, but not now and not by you.” She screamed again, louder this time, making Lisha and the others cover their ears.
Velanna, who was the farthest away, was able to resist the scream. She conjured a stone in midair and sent it soaring towards the Mother. The stone hit her right in the torso, interrupting the scream. Pleased with herself, as she saw everyone continue with their attack on the tentacles, she almost didn't notice the thing coming behind her.
The Child leaped over her protective vines. Velanna turned her head to see it but was unable to protect herself. It then stopped in midair, hitting a shimmering blue shield and falling to the ground before becoming frozen and cracking. Her vines finishing it off.
“You can thank me later,” Anders smiled at her.
Velanna sneered. “I didn't need rescuing, human, but... thank you anyway.”
“Oh, does that mean you're starting to like me now?” Anders teased.
“Just because I acknowledged you saving me doesn't mean I--!”
“You two, stop fighting each other and fight the darkspawn!” Sigrun yelled at them. Half her face and upper body was covered in slim. She went and dived at a Child who's armor was already broken off. Driving a dagger into its back, the Child screeched. It turned to try and grab her foot with its circling teeth, but Sigrun moved, flipping over the Child and sticking her other dagger in its side. She then ripped out the first one and the Child's guts went spilling everywhere, adding to the mushy ground. Another Child then presented itself, making Sigrun cross her daggers to defend herself.
Nathaniel ran about the battlefield, sending arrows out to stop any tentacles from sneaking up on the others and grabbing them from behind. He stopped to shoot a Child in an exposed area that was about ready to take down Lisha. The Dalish elf had been driven back from the Mother when the Children came. Many had ganged up on her, seeing she was the biggest threat to the Mother. Nathaniel went and knocked a Child away then stabbed a tentacle with his knife, cutting it open. Another tentacle snapped, hitting Lisha in the arm, nearly making her lose Silverbrand. It then coiled back to snap again, Lisha too occupied with Children to defend herself. Nathaniel quickly put himself between the tentacle and Lisha. It snapped and hit him across the chest and wrapped itself around his arm. Pulling, Nathaniel struggled to keep it from lifting him up and dragging him away.
“Nate!” Lisha cried seeing him struggling. “Damn it.” She went to go help him, but a Child blocked her way. Everyone else was occupied. More Children were coming to help the Mother while her tentacles thrashed wildly. The Mother's own laughs echoed through the chamber, a wide grin streaking her face.
We need help.
As if he heard her, the Architect suddenly appeared again by her side in his phantom form. He stared at the Mother, not saying a word as she growled at him, screaming for him to be gone. He raised his hands and suddenly the room grew hot, smoldering. Small balls of liquid fire fell from the sky, dropping down on both the Children and the tentacles. Each sizzled, screaming and thrashing as the liquid fire burned straight through the armor and flesh. The tentacle holding Nathaniel let go and he fell back, scooting away and toward where Lisha stood.
As the fire consumed the Children and tentacles, Lisha looked around to make sure her Wardens were not being hurt. Behind her, she saw Anders, Sigrun and Justice under a magic shield together, while Velanna and Oghren were under another. Nathaniel and herself were being protected by the Architect who still stood beside her, his hands raised and form beginning to vibrate.
This was her chance. This was when she needed to strike.
The Mother was defenseless now, her Children gone, tentacles destroyed. As the Mother cried and wiggled with anger, Lisha ran forth. She went straight for the Mother's front, jumping on her folds of fat and using them to propel herself up. The Mother tried to swipe at her with her thin arms, but Lisha smacked them away with Fang before driving the dagger right into the Mother's open, screaming mouth. The flames burst, igniting her head. Lisha then drove Silverbrand into the Mother's chest, the ice freezing around her heart. The Mother cried out and flailed. Lisha then regripped the two blades and ripped them out, away from each other. The Mother shattered and melted at the same time. Her head and torso fell and landed in the mushy ground.

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age: Origins: Awakening
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Blood Song