There and Back Again Ch. 145

And so we stood, uselessly, watching the apparent conversation. After a moment, I saw Zevran and Wulf separate and try to follow the bubble back into the depths of the Thaig -- but they returned almost immediately, shaking their heads. No way around it. Nothing for us to do but wait.

From appearances, the conversation wasn't going well; Utha's hand holding the dagger started to drift downwards, her animated gestures becoming less and less enthusiastic. And I could feel the Architect's aura shrinking as they talked -- obviously maintaining the barrier was draining him, and it seemed likely that he would eventually have to let it drop. He practically drooped as we watched, shoulders slumping, head sagging forward -- either tired or sad, or perhaps both, I thought.

I warned the others that his barrier could fail; we all waited with bated breath, weapons drawn, hoping to pounce the moment it dropped. We had no plans to talk to the creature; leaving him alive was just too dangerous. I kept trying to seize his mana, somewhat surprised that the barrier didn't block my templar abilities, but it didn't matter -- his mana may have been draining, but he still held it with ironclad control.

And then movement caught my eye, and I focused back on the two creatures standing in the middle of the barrier. Utha shook her head vehemently, and the Architect, after a quick glance in our direction, turned his back to her and appeared to be heading deeper into the Thaig. Where's he going? Is he trying to escape? No! I almost screamed in frustration; I knew I'd never be able to live in peace with him still out there; I had so many questions, but more than answers, I just wanted him dead. I wanted an end to the threat he posed -- to me, to Ferelden, to all of Thedas. And somehow I knew that if he escaped this time, he wasn't going to stick around -- he would disappear for another few decades, start another Blight or concoct some other hair-brained scheme, and our chance to end it would be lost.

I took a step toward the barrier, my anger and frustration overwhelming my sense of self-preservation. I vaguely wondered what harm the barrier could do to me -- I was already tainted, and my templar abilities might protect me from the magic, but in that moment, desperate, I didn't really care that much. I took another step.

Alistair and Aedan both gasped and reached for me, but it wasn't necessary.

In the moment that I hesitated after the first step, Utha, who'd been standing still, one arm wrapped around her own middle, shoulders down and looking incredibly dejected, straightened up, squared her shoulders, took one massive running leap towards the Architect's receding back, and drove her dagger into his flank, the blade sinking deep into his unprotected flesh.