Hi everyone. Thank you very much for taking the time to give this story a look. I haven't written anything outside of term papers and research papers for a while so I would appreciate any and all feedback. This story has been bouncing around in my head for a while now. It was originally going to be a one shot but as I work out the details I'm thinking it may be a chapter or two. Nothing too long though. If you have some time to leave a review (good or bad) I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Thank you!

Ashes

Note: This chapter has been edited on 2-16-15 to fix some spelling mistakes that were brought to may attention.

Evelyn walked slowly through the main hall of Skyhold. Her head was pounding and all the noise was just making it worse. She smiled politely to the people gathered in the hall as she made her way to the war room. She was intentionally early for the meeting with her advisors, hoping to have a few quiet moments to herself. She needed to try and put herself together before they arrived. She needed to stop the demon voices from clouding her mind. The voices had always been loud, it was something that every mage across Thedas was familiar with. It was something that they learned to ignore, to push aside and deny the beasts, the consequences other wise were often fatal.

At the circle in Ostwick she had seen her fair share of mages turn to demons... and she'd seen the Templars act accordingly. She once had a friend in the circle who had been killed during his harrowing. The first enchanter had told them that he had allowed himself to become possessed by a demon and there had been no other option. She'd always been cautious in the Fade, even more so after that day. But it had gotten harder since the anchor. She could hear their voices all the time, she no longer had to be in the Fade to be tormented by their calls. Their voices became a constant presence in her mind. Always calling, promising to make everything better if she'd only let them in. Several times since the events at the conclave she'd actually considered their offer. She was afraid to admit she was losing control.

She slipped through Josephine's office quickly, relieved to find the ambassador was not in. She and Josephine had become fast friends and Evelyn often visited the Antivan woman to gossip. It made her feel like she was back at home, instead of the in the middle of a war against an ancient Magister-darkspawn.

The pain in her head was growing. She pulled her long, black hair out of the bun she kept it in. Keeping her hair back was something she had learned at the circle, quite by accident, and had been reinforced by being out with the Inquisition.

The war room was not as empty as she had hoped it to be. Leliana and Josephine were huddled over the map of Orlais. No doubt working to smooth over the Inquisition's alliance with Empress Celene. Even though they had saved Celene and cemented her rule over Orlais, it was still a new alliance that needed guidance.

"Inquisitor. We did not expect to see you for another hour. I can send for Commander Cullen if you like." Josephine smiled as she headed for the door to call one of the servants in. Of course Evelyn would want the commander. The two, while quite about their relationship, were not a secret. It was obvious to anyone who had eyes. Leliana and Josephine had never openly voiced their opinions on the matter. Thought Leliana never hesitated to tease the commander whenever opportunity arose. At any other moment, Evelyn would have eagerly agreed but she was not ready to face him just yet. Cullen had his own struggles and worried about her enough as it was. He didn't need any thing else to fall on his plate.

"That's alright, Josephine. Pretend I'm not here." Evelyn said as she found a seat by one of the windows. She pulled her knees up to her chest and watched the late afternoon light play through the windows. She stared at a spot on the floor, trying to force the voices back into Fade.

"Inquisitor," The distorted voice purred. "I can help you. I can take all the pain away. Just let me in. Let me fix everything for you." Evelyn shook her head. It was a lie. Demons lied, there was no exception to be found. They wanted freedom from the Fade and would promise anything to get it. She closed her eyes tight against the headache they were causing. Slowly, the voices quieted down. They were still present, but at least they weren't as loud.

She leaned back against the cold, stone wall. Letting the cold sooth her throbbing head.

"Inquisitor." A voice called out. It was so familiar, not like the voices of the demons. "Inquisitor!" The room darkened around her and the gentle whistle of the wind disappeared. The hair on the back on her neck stood up as the crackle of fire and the smell of the Fade assaulted her senses.

She opened her eyes as the room suddenly got hotter. The bright orange white fire made her flinch back as shield her eyes. It took them a moment to adjust to the new light and translate the sight before her. Where Leliana had stood, now stood a rage demon. It's unnatural fire lighting the room in a eerie glow.

"Leliana!" Evelyn screamed as he drew her magic in, preparing a spell. The rage demon turn it's head to face her. The demon roared and reached out with its claws.

"How is this possible?" Evelyn wondered aloud as she stared at Leliana. She wasn't a mage. She couldn't be possessed by a demon. It didn't make sense. Her thoughts were disrupted as she watched Josephine's body twist and grow. Spikes grow out of her forearms as she contorted into a pride demon. Evelyn stared in horror. The pride demon stepped toward her, the heavy step shaking the room around her. She reached for the spell she had preparing. The warmth being sucked from the room as she gathered a ball of frost on her palm.

The rage demon growled something inaudible and the pride demon tried to take cover behind the war table. Evelyn laughed at the feeble attempt to hide from her power. They would not have her. She released the frost at the rage demon, but it was faster than she had anticipated. It danced away from her spell and ran toward her. It was so fast, faster than the others she had dealt with before. She pulled another spell to her but the rage demon was already behind her. The firey claws grabbed her wrists and pulled them behind her back. Evelyn screamed as the fire seared her skin.

Leliana held tightly to Evelyn's wrists. The Inquisitor was stronger than she looked and Evelyn struggled mightly against her. Trying to free her hands for another spell.

"Josie!" She had to yell to be heard over Evelyn's screaming. "Get Cullen! Quickly!" Josephine nodded and ran from the war room.