A being breathing thoughtful breath,

A traveler between life and death;

The reason firm, the temperate will,

Endurance, foresight, strength and skill;

A perfect woman, nobly planned,

To warn, to comfort, and command.

-William Wordsworth,"She was a Phantom of delight"

"Warden, can you settle this? Who shall be our new King?

Azzura Amell looked around the great hall where the Landsmeet was taking place. She thought for the first time about her fate and what was bestowed upon her. The great windows filtering the sun bathed the crowd in their colors, and a warm breeze entered from the doors left open. It was difficult to understand, even now, how a mage who had just passed her Harrowing could be changed into a politician and army commander because she succeeded in forging an alliance between different nations and races.

She was no hero! Yet, the people started to look upon her like she was one. A silver bowl caught her reflection, showing her a face that wasn't hers. The blue eyes once so full of wonder at all the marvelous things she was learning as a mage were now veiled with uncertainty. The black hair she loved to keep combed behind her ears now flowed in a wild cascade over her shoulders. At twenty-one years old, she grew older than she could think possible. It wasn't her body getting older; it was her soul.

She saw so much death and massacre than most of the apprentices of her age. Azzura had to strengthen her will because she couldn't let people see her as a weak leader. Showing weakness could have condemned her to perish even before getting foot into the world.

And yet, Azzura thought that it was a welcoming change until today, when people were asking her to name a king for the throne! It was useless to repeat that she could not be a kingmaker and she never was in the middle of court conspiracies.

She knew that once she let fate takes its course, there was no turning back. She looked over at Alistair, hoping that he would give her the strength necessary to say those words, but the man looked sad and didn't wanted to meet her eyes.

It was difficult for him to understand that she wanted only what was the best for him and for the tormented nation that was now facing one of the greatest threats that had plagued the land for centuries. Not even the Tevinter Imperium inspired so much dread like the new Blight looming at their front doors ,and she would have to drop all the responsibility on his shoulders . He wanted to hate her for that but he couldn't, he never could have hated her not in this life or another...

"Alistair will be the new King …. And maybe I will help him rule this country," said Azzura with a joking laugh. Of course, she knew that won't be possible, but she wanted to test how much the Lords in that room could take in. After all the headaches they gave her, a little naughty revenge was a worthy compensation.

The words came out before he could think of what he was saying," You? They barely would accept me as their King! You aren't even a noble!"

A deep silence fell in the enormous hall and all eyes were on the Grey Warden mage who dared to think of taking the throne. Even those who knew about her relationship with Alistair Theirin, being something more than a deep friendship, looked appalled at what they had just witnessed. They knew how much Azzura loved him and they still couldn't believe their ears, hearing him say that she wasn't fit to rule.

Azzura felt a deep void opening in her heart, and she tried to cover the deep, red flushing of her cheeks with a light speech empty of any emotion." Of course not. I was just joking. You'll be a good king on your own. And you have Arl Eamon to help you."

Saying that she nodded to Leliana and Morrigan to follow her and left without looking back. There was nothing left for her to do. Alistair - or the new King as he was now – gave her the command of his army and she had to set things in order before the march to Redcliffe.

She wanted to cry but everyone be damned if she broke down in front of them. She already could imagine the whispers between the nobles at her insolence.

" I will beat…" Morrigan clasped Leliana's hand, stopping the burst of voiced anger from the young girl's lips.

"'Tis is not the time. Let's help her keep her calm. You can do that later "

Leliana, the faithful bard with red hair and fierce eyes, didn't attempt resisting Morrigan's advice. The Witch of the Wilds with her dark hair and cold eyes, which she had met in Lothering, had changed in her time spent with them. Leliana was once a spy and she could tell that she could not trust Morrigan at all, but now? Something must have happened between her and Azzura for the witch to protect her leader like she was doing now.

Alistair wanted to scream and destroy everything he could find in his way. What in the Maker's name just happened to him? Why he had to say those words? She would never forgive him and he knew that he didn't deserve it.

Yes, she was a Grey Warden and an important one, but she also was a woman, the woman who loved him. She was the one who supported him since Ostagar. She was the one who leaned over him in the middle of the night, soothing his nightmares and giving him hope in the future. She was the one who shared with him his first night of love. And what he did to her? He just shamed her in everybody's eyes, stating that she was less than him because of the bloodline .

He wanted only a dark corner where he could hide, think and cry.

Trying to make himself unseen to the gathering of nobles, Alistair walked through the deserted halls and finding a small door he opened it and climbed the stairs slowly one by one. The air was cool coming from above, which meant it was the exit on the rooftop.

Taking a deep breath, he let the tears flow. The wind dried them but more will come. Leaning over the balcony, he watched the town's roofs. A breeze brought a scent of perfume and he turned to look in that direction. He heard footsteps and he saw a shadow obscuring the little door's entrance. The shadow moved closer and he could see that it was the last person he wanted to have in front of him in that moment.

" I thought I gave the orders to put you in the tower, didn't I?" He said dryly, his humor was failing him due to his sullen mood.

" Given the case, this is the tower where they took me." Anora replied with a small smile.

She was trying to look friendly but her cold glaze and the twist of her lips gave away the real feelings.

" I should go back to the hall " Alistair said, retreating by the door to continue. " And then maybe go and ask for forgiveness if I deserve it." The last words were said almost in a whisper .

" Oh, she would forgive you, don't doubt that. But… do you think she will be your queen? That she will fit the rank? "

He covered the two steps to reach her, grabbing Anora's hand in a hold of steel. "What do you know about her? She is better than you a thousand times! She doesn't have your wickedness and hunger for power. She is better than you!" He growled out, anger coursing through his veins.

Anora raised an eyebrow smiling again.

"Really? It seems that even you had your doubts in the Landsmeet. Being put in your place by the man you love, that's something she didn't expect , am I mistaken ? And what about you? You will need an heir to the throne and you are both Grey Wardens. Could she give you a child? You might want to do how you like it but now you have a duty to your country also. You were made king with her approval. Now, it's time for you to grow up and do your duty as a King."

Alistair let go of Anora's hand, pushing her into the wall.

"The truth hurts doesn't it? And you owe that to her. Remember, you are not free anymore. You will have to listen to your Lords and they know how to make you listen. Trust me." She answered with a smirk.

The king ran down the stairs trying to think of nothing. Anora's words were like fire shards in his mind.

Looking after the defeated man, Anora let her breath steady itself." I will make you suffer, Warden, like you did with me and my father. Maker, help me to do so . The revenge won't come from my hand but you will see how it feel to have all your hopes crumbling to your feet in a second."

The night was warm but he couldn't stop shivering and the tears wouldn't let him see the way he was going. Anora with her lousy conversation made him sick. But she was right when she said those words. He was a king and he had to act like one if he wanted his men's respect. The future was uncertain and even if they survived the Blight and the fight with the Archdemon, he wasn't sure how he will keep his love from slipping away.

The chasm that opened between them was too large and it will haunt them forever. The decision he had to make was painful ;it was horrible and if he could cut his heart and give it away just to spare her the next offense, he would do that in a heart beat. He will have to say it and run away because he couldn't endure the strain of looking in her blue eyes without losing his mind. She would crush any resistance he could oppose and then he would be lost.

The barrack's door opened suddenly and Azzura knew it was him even before she could see the man standing in the opening.

"We need to talk."

" Sure. Let us find a place alone then." She said without any emotion in her voice.

Only now he realized that all the party was there, throwing icy glares towards him. Amell looked pale but something was different. He looked for the blue aura that surrounded her. She often joked that it was a perk of being mage, but it was gone. He once could tell her mood by the aura's glowing intensity, and he always knew if something was wrong just by looking at the little changes in that blue mist surrounding her. Now it was gone, like every hope she had. He was the cause of it and knowing that drove him crazy.

"No need. What I have to say won't take long. I am sorry for all the pain I have inflicted upon you and for what I will have to say. You knew that I never wanted to be a king..."

"I know that, Alistair! But you always cared for those next to you. You always thought about other people's sufferings. You are a brave man, a man that can do even more from the position you have now. You can change the world if you want."

Alistair lowered his eyes. He was the one to hurt her, yet she still supported him and talked about his qualities. She should, no she could be a queen. There was no doubt of that. But the country was on the brink of a civil war and Loghain still had many followers between the nobles. He needed unity in front of the Blight not fighting the last vestiges of Loghain's crazy campaign against Orlesians.

"I will have to accept it, don't I ? But this will tear us apart. I am a King now and as the new king I will need heirs. It will be my duty towards Ferelden. That's if I survive the war, of course."

Azzura braced herself for what was about to happen. The sacrifices she had made before now were nothing compared with the one she was about to make.

"Say it Alistair. I am prepared."

"I loved you since the day we have met. I thought that we will grow old together and that we will love each other until we will die. But everything is changed now. My life doesn't belong to me anymore. I represent a country that it will require everything I can give. I will need to find a queen, a woman able to give me the heir I need, that Ferelden needs and to do that, we will have to stop here."

Zevran grabbed a dagger ready to jump at the King's throat. The blond elf was easy to pick up fights and he never backed up from them. The time spent under Azzura's command was not what he expected. He always thought that once he would be released of his promise of loyalty, he had two choices: return to the Crows or offer his services to Isabella. Yet here he stood with his newfound leader, and he cared for her like a sister he never had. It pained him to see her suffer from the hand of the man she loved. It pained him even more to see that the man he learned how to respect and admire was doing this to his beloved.

Wynne placed a calming hand on his. It was not his fight, he had to stay away. The wise older woman was the one who always tried to find a compromise between them, calming the spirits when heated up, joking with them and making them feel like a large family. Zevran loved the old crone. So he stood there watching, unable to do anything else.

Alistair noted the stir going between the two of them and got out from the room.

Looking to Azzura he said,"You should rest. Tomorrow, we have to go to Redcliffe"

"If that's what you want then so be it. Good bye, Your Majesty."

The coldness in her voice made him die inside. He doomed himself to a life without her and he knew that everything was over. A friendship was not possible between them . He won't ask that from her .

Redcliffe

" Alistair,Azzura! Before retreating for the night, we have Warden business to talk. " Riordan was always blunt, but something in his voice made them believe that what he had to say was important.

The Archdemon dies at the hand of a Grey Warden and the warden will follow it in the process . Azzura smiled at the thought. That was a release if she could be that Warden. Saving the world and saving herself from a miserable life was the best solution she could think of .

" I will take the final blow." The resolve in her voice was obvious to Riordan and he understood why she said that.

" I am the senior here and I might not have that much time to live. It's up to me to be the one to kill the Archdemon. We will see what tomorrow will bring us."

Careful not to touch Alistair in going out the door, Azzura headed to her room but she knew that the sleep won't come.

"Wait! Please don't go!" His touch always made her feel unable to control her powers and the fire surge building in her hands was menacing. He always had that effect on her.

"What do you want, Alistair? I very much wish to be alone right now. We don't have anything to say to each other, not anymore." She stated while tiredly rubbing her eyes.

" I won't let you sacrifice yourself! I am the King and I should be the one. I warn you that I will stop you." He warned, looking at her with a fierce gaze.

" Who said that I want you with me? You have to stay and lead your army. I have my duty. Now, if you excuse me I wish you a good night." She dismissed him and started to walk away.

His cold voice melted into a low whisper. "Please, don't do that. I can't live without you."

The rage she felt in that moment made her tremble and she slapped him with all the force she could master.

" Liar!" she yelled, then ran away sobbing and leaving behind a trail of icy steps; because she started to lose control of her powers again.

She almost ran in the bedroom and stumbled into Morrigan in process.

"Ah! Morrigan, what are you doing here? Don't you have a room of your own?" She held a hand on her chest to try and quell her rapidly beating heartbeat.

Her friend was looking at the fire with a sad look.

"So, you decided to kill yourself. And don't tell me because it's for the good of all!"

Azzura tried to not confirm her friend's supposition, but Morrigan was shouting now.

'Yes! I know what killing an Archdemon implies! My Mother told me. You are a fool. He never deserved you !"

Azzura felt the guilt washing over her. She still had friends who cared for her, even the slippery Morrigan was different now.

The woman took her hand and sat down on a stool by the fire.

"I know a way out. So you don't have to die."

All her blood went cold at Morrigan's proposal.

" Alistair won't ever agree to that. Not now. She looked down at her clenched hands on her lap as she whispered. "I can't ask him nothing now. "

"But you still love him and Gods! How much I wish to let him perish but I can't do that. Please, convince him, it's the only way. If we have the baby you will be safe, and he will have the blasted throne and all Ferelden!"

With heavy steps Azzura went back to Alistair's room and knocked on the door. She was aware that if she wanted to stand a chance in the incoming battle, she had to regain control over her powers and mind. Easy to say than doing it. She took a deep breath and went to face him once again.

He was surprised to see her and his eyes lightened up only just for a moment.

She told him about Morrigan's plan, talking fast and not giving him a way to reply. Alistair was horrified but she could see that he started to understand why she would ask that of him.

"Are you sure that it's what you want? We don't even know if it will work."

" Well, if it doesn't work, you will live anyway . Be a good king to your people and in time you may find the peace."

"You… you don't have to…" closing in the distance between them, Alistair touched her face, losing himself in those blue eyes one more time. Tears flowed down on her cheeks and she retreated from his touch.

"I forgive you. Andraste may give you the tranquility you need." And she was gone.

Later in Morrigan's room

Alistair was dressing up quietly and keeping his eyes away from Morrigan. The beautiful woman rose from the bed, and her whisper in his ear made his skin get goosebumps and not in the good way.

" If I didn't killed you, it was because she loves you more than her own life and let's say …I need you to do this. Now go away and never follow me because I swear that if we meet again, I will kill you slowly and painful. "

What thought, the field be lost?

All is not lost; th'unconquerable will

And study of revenge, immortal hate,

And courage never submit or yield.

-John Milton,"Paradise Lost"

Denerim

They marched for two days towards the capital, praying to find something to defend. The landscape showed the marred forests and scarred hills, signs of the Horde's passing. The singing birds were replaced with crows feeding from the corpses on the ground. Wild wolves were feasting upon endless remains of dead livestock. Desolation and despair were sneaking their unseen fingers in people's hearts.

Everywhere they could look, the death was reigning unleashed .In distance, the towers of Denerim's Royal Castle were covered with clouds of heavy smoke and the wind kept bringing the cries of despair from the people trapped inside.

Azzura had to admit that Alistair's speech infused their army with new courage and even she was moved by it. A sweet, sad thought to King Cailan's beautiful face and his innocent enthusiasm at the idea of beating the darkspawn at Ostagar brought tears in her eyes.

"I will avenge you, Cailan. I promise."

The battle was brutal. Hundreds upon hundreds of darkspawn minions were pouring from the city, and she had to take care of people being ready. It was hard to keep everything under control and she left her officers to take on the job. The most important task was to keep apart the Templars from the Mages. Even if not in direct combat with each other, the Templars still could influence the mages' powers unintentionally.

The valiant mabari was fighting with claws and teeth beside Zevran and Wynne. Leliana was alternating daggers and her shortbow in combat and she really was fighting like it was the end of the world. Morrigan in that moment seemed like a rage demon from the Fade bringing the fire upon the heavy armored ogre who was in close combat with Sten.

"Alistair!" Where was he? She couldn't see him anywhere nor Riordan for that matter. Then she saw him. He was surrounded by three ogres and he had difficulty to parry their blows. One of the tall horned beasts drew back his head and opened its mouth beating its chest with fists big like a mill's stone. Letting out a loud roar it charged towards Alistair. Azzura knew what was coming. If the beast got its hands on the King, he will be crush like an eggshell.

"No!" She dropped onto her knees and pressed her hands together, splitting the air in a desperate cry as she released a wave of cold ice in the attacker's direction.

"Alistair, move left!" As in a dream she saw him bash the ogre on his left side with his shield, moving away in time for the freezing wave to reach the other growling abomination.

"Need help, my friend?" Morrigan was at her side in seconds , looking worried ahead.

"The ogre on his left. Trap it! He can't take all three at once!"

Morrigan raised her hands and dropped a curse on the ogre, trapping it in a purple glowing field.

"Crushing prison first? That's new to me." Azzura said with a light smile.

" I still have some curses for the dumb man fighting them, too."

Alistair finished the first ogre and several minutes later all three of them were dead. For a moment he thought that his death was close. He couldn't see the last one because of a wall blocking his way.

" Thank you! That was close. Maker, what are they eating anyway?"

Azzura smiled again . It was like in old times, but everything was changed now.

Wynne let out a cry and pointed to the sky. The Archdemon was flying, spitting hot flames of magic on the ground . It was an impressive and terrifying view. It was huge with a long neck and tail and its wings were cutting the air like fans made of skin and flesh. Its enormous mouth could swallow several people at the same time. The blue fireballs it was spitting were scarring the walls and killing the soldiers found in their way. Everyone ran for the best cover they could find.

"Maker 's Breath! He won't make it!" Alistair became pale as he saw something attached on the dragon's wing.

"Riordan" Wynne whispered.

The older Warden sliced his sword into the flying dragon, cutting into a wing. He tried to hold still but he lost his grip and fell .

Alistair looked to his lost love and said, "Now it's up to us ."

"No, It's up to me, you will defend the gates. The army needs its king. I didn't make you king and lose you, only to let the Archdemon kill you. This is the best choice we can have."

And she was gone. Morrigan , Wynne ,and Sten ran after her .

Fort Drakon's Rooftop

The Archdemon was wounded from Riordan's attacks but still it was an impressive sight.

"Archers, get behind the catapults !" Azzura –shouted at the dalish elves.

Sten assaulted the beast with a Qunari war cry. The former Chantry prisoner had redeemed himself hundreds of times since he joined her by taking up fights that a normal person could just hold only for minutes. His Qunari strength was worth any prize in gold.

"Wynne, keep an eye on him, please. Morrigan and I can take care of each other. "

Sten was keeping the dragon focused on himself but Azzura told him to retreat.

"Why? There's no honor retreating in front of danger." Then he understood and bowed his head.

She closed her eyes and raised her hands to the sky with the staff glowing in her right hand.

Focusing all her feelings and senses, she called upon the lightning, ice and fire all at once. With all her strength, she kept her thoughts on the elements and on what was at stake . Morrigan held up her staff and joined her friend in that destruction. She was glad that Azzura taught her how to call that immense power from the skies. If Azzura could do that when she was focusing her sadness , Morrigan let her rage towards Alistair engulf her .

At the bottom of the Fort, the courtyard was slowly paving with dead darkspawn bodies. The soldiers fought with every bit of their will, and the more they seen their King cutting into the fray, the more they gave to protect him and make a clear path to the Fort's entrance.

Then they saw the sky tearing apart like the storm of all storms was going down upon them.

Bann Teagan's jaw dropped open and he lost his focus just for a second. The sound of wet slashing came from behind him and he saw Alistair putting down an abomination .

"Andraste's blood! Are you all right?" Alistair felt a sick horror at the idea of witnessing Teagan's possible end.

"Uhm, yes I am. Thank you, Alistair! What is going on? They killed the Archdemon already?"

Smiling, Alistair let out a heavy sigh. "Not yet. But I wouldn't be near those two women right now . That is their doing. And believe me, it is scary to see them when they are doing that."

The Archdemon was slowly succumbing under the fire of his enemies . The Dalish elves were brave and it seemed that their arrows were endless . The dwarves were keeping at bay the groups of minions trying to reach their master and protecting the healing mages from being overrun by the creatures.

"Be ready, my sister! We are almost done! "

Encouraged by her friend's words, Azzura found the last vestiges of her powers and channeled it through her fingers releasing a chain of powerful lightning. The Beast felt to the ground howling in pain.

Without thinking twice, she grabbed a sword she found on the ground and she rushed towards it.

"If Morrigan's idea doesn't work , then I will be released . In peace vigilance, in war victory, in death sacrifice! Cailan, Duncan, this is for you both."

With this thought she impaled the dragon's throat. The remaining death magic was flowing wave after wave from it, hitting Azzura with the force of a deadly blizzard. She steadied herself on her feet and let the striking force wash over her. When she almost believed that she lost the battle, the air ripped apart with the noise of a gigantic explosion.

Azzura was thrown back and lost her consciousness . Like as an invisible hand caressing her, her black hair became snowy white. In matter of seconds, her raven dark curls disappeared.

The soldiers looked up and froze all at once , their gaze stuck on the spectacle above.

Alistair felt a crushing weight in his chest and the fear grabbing his heart in a fiery grip. He started to run towards the fort without looking around him. He ran like he never did before with gasping breath, and the more he ran, the more he felt like he would never reach the top of the tower.

Finally, he could see people moving around the great battlements, and he could also see her body on the ground.

Moving! He let out a sigh of relief as he watched Wynne helping Amell rise to her feet.

He closed the distance between them and embraced her without knowing nothing else .

"You are alive! Thank the Maker! You are alive!" he tried to kiss her but she shrank in his arms and with a veil of sorrow she let him go .

"No, Alistair. Let's not make it even more difficult. It's over."

Lowering his head, he nodded and then departed. The victory cries were heard all over the hills and in the city but he didn't acknowledged them. His life, the way he knew it, was over in the Hall. He was the King of Ferelden now.

"Are you coming ? " Wynne rested a warm hand on Azzura's shoulder. "Poor girl, look at your hair!"

Azzura noticed for the first time the silver curls.

"Andraste's Sword! Don't you know something to bring the color back?"

" If I knew, I would have done that long time ago with my hair, my dear." Wynne answered, lips upturned with an amused smile

" I would like to remain here for a bit, Wynne .Go ahead, without me. "

The older woman decided that it was time to help Azzura come to an agreement with her destiny. And she owed her an apology too.

" I'm sorry. For everything I have said before about you and Alistair. I warned you about this and I never wanted to see you suffering, or him. You both took a path that separated you. I am very sorry. I was afraid that one of you would die and that will destroy the other one, but you survived somehow and now he is the King. I know it's hard to believe it, but the day will come when you both will look behind you and remember what you had . You will remember not with sorrow or sadness but with warmth and content that you lived together for a while and it was beautiful . "

Wynne left and Azzura finally could let out all her despair and cried endlessly, without no one to embrace her, to care for her.

The festivities were going on all over Ferelden, because the Blight was stopped. Everyone wanted to see the Hero who slain the Archdemon and praise her . She had to endure all the attention they gave to her and nod, talk, and try to laugh and look strong.

The king asked her what she wanted. She told the King that she wanted to be free for a while and if it was possible, the Circle of Magi to be given independence.

Lately, she was finding the battlements' quietness calming and welcoming. And she could avoid him too because she could hide, but not today it seemed.

" Azzura? Please, don't go! "

She looked at him. How many times did he say "don't go" these days? And how many times did she had to steel herself to refuse him?

"I have hurt you badly. I am sorry! "

Alistair fell on his knees holding her hands, hiding his face in her robes . She touched his hair gently and let her fingers drown into it. The tears in their eyes were glistening like wet diamonds. She wanted to beg him to let her stay with him , even as his mistress. She could accept in time the presence of another woman, but she knew that he had to begin his rule as a honest king, not one who would walk two paths at the same time.

And she told him that.

"It's time for me to go. We'll never meet again, Alistair . Good bye, my love."

He was stunned for a moment before he ran after her, but she disappeared like she never was there. And for months, no one knew where the Hero of Ferelden was hiding. No one had news about her or had seen her .

Alistair buried his head into studying and learning how to guide the nation that took from him the woman he loved.

Only at night, he would pace around his room never being able to sleep more than a few hours. He would learn to live without her one day, but for now, her leaving was still an open wound that wouldn't heal anytime soon.

TEN YEARS LATER

The world shook once again under a deadly threat. In the past years, different events challenged anew the little respite the South of Thedas had. After the Blight and the news that the darkspawn didn't retreat back underground, the unavoidable war between mages and Templars, and the unsettling unrests in Kirkwall, the world, as they knew it, was shattered. The worst fears came to rise again when the mages revolted and asked for their freedom and the sky ripped apart, letting the unseen world known as the Fade to break into the mortal realm.

New heroes were raised and old friends followed their own path. And then, there were those who wanted to find peace and be forgotten, but no one ever forgot entirely and sometimes, the shadows of the past came back to haunt them or find completion. Old debts must be paid and deep scars needed to be closed.

The sunset threw its last remnants of light, making the shadows grow deeper and the sound of daylight birds grew quiet. The road between the green fields was flanked by bushes of elfroot and wild berries, each one of them trying to compete in spreading their perfume. Lone trees dotted the landscape ,inviting the travelers to stop and rest under their branches.

The raider with his horse crossing the fields had no intention to stop unfortunately. Getting a closer look, one could see that it wasn't a man but a woman silhouette with long dark robes and a hood covering most of her hair and face. The lady also wasn't in a pleasure ride, but she was forcing her horse to give every last bit of his stamina in a desperate run. Behind the struggling couple, an observer could also see three other men on horses intensively giving chase.

Ahead of the unlucky prey, a dark shape rose from the ground and threw a cloud of dark energy towards them as they approached. The hooded lady fell from her horse and stood dazzled on the ground. The three men were suddenly on top of her. The dark shape became a human form and advanced.

"End of the road, Grey Warden! Submit or my companions will help to see that accomplished."

The woman spoke, but her voice never betrayed fear or faltered." I don't want to fight my brothers." Then turning towards the men keeping her in place, she asked," You are Grey Wardens, why you are doing this? Allying with a blood mage to chase one of your sisters?"

"We know who you are Warden –Commander or former Arlessa of Amaranthine? "

" I don't know what are you talking about! I am a woman travelling to the nearest town for the night." Bluffing away, why not?

The mage pushed down the hood and white hair flowed from under it.

"You look too young to have grey hair. The only woman we know of is the Hero of Ferelden. And we are searching for her. I don't have time to lose. We lost so much time, years trying to find you. It's not important where you have been, but it's important to know that we want information from you. We found you by pure luck and now that we have you, we will have those answers willingly or not. Depends on you how we will take them out.

Azzura Amell, because indeed it was her, felt a heavy hand dragging her by the hair and dropping her at the blood mage's feet. Her eyes started to feel heavy and she couldn't fight the need for sleep. Every bone hurt, and the more she fought to stay awake, more she felt the searing pain crushing her down.

"I don't know what is happening, please let me go. I just got here several days ago."

"We want to know how you survived the Archdemon killing. That's easy."

Horror spread on Azzura's face. That can't be possible, only the master Grey Wardens knew what it took to kill a blighted dragon. Maker help her, but she had to fight. She couldn't let them know the truth. She was powerless, she was helpless, and she was all alone in this world. Why did she come back? She was safe there, she wanted to forget everything, to be away from everyone.

Wary, she asked the closest Grey warden looking at her , "How do you know that? This is a secret, preserved only for the older Grey Wardens in the council! You betray everything the Wardens stand for!"

The blood mage warden replied laughing, "You really were out of this world, weren't you? Things have changed since you disappeared. Don't tell me you don't hear the Calling either!"

Azzura's jaw dropped open.

"The Calling? Are you insane? I don't hear anything! And I also don't know why I survived the Blight! I am not Andraste or the Maker."

" Our master is calling us to end the Blights once and for all. You must have dreams about it."

She was so stunned by the revelation that she started to laugh.

" You mean nightmares with big flying dragons and such? Oh Maker! Those dreams would be far less frightening than the dreams I had in the past years."

The blood mage was uncertain. Something was wrong. Why didn't the Hero fight back? They knew that she was one of the most powerful mages around and still she seemed like she really couldn't. Or this girl wasn't the real Hero, or something else was going on.

Slicing his palm, the mage pressed his hand on Azzura's forehead and cast a spell.

The green mist surrounding her bore no mistake. She was dragged in the Fade against her will. With blood magic. She knew that almost for sure. This time, she won't be able to get out. Not when she was what she was these days. Fear started to climb in her thoughts.

It wasn't a good idea to stay in the same place; she had to find a way to wake up, to get out, and to find help, something.

She never was afraid of entering the Fade, but this time it was different. So much time has passed since she was here, to save her companions, her Alistair.

"Don't think! Thinking only attracts demons!" She could hear First enchanter Irving telling her always the same thing about the fade, many times before her Harrowing.

Snapping in a full awareness before some demon could read her emotions … it was too late.

"Hello, Hero! You came back to me after all this time. Maybe now you would be willing to listen to me?"

The hypnotizing voice, the slender body, and the purple aura surrounding it was well known to those who fought them, a desire demon, one of the most dangerous ones too.

"Don't sing victory yet, demon. I will get out of here soon."

"How? You are alone; you have no friends left and... " Azzura knew what was coming, a chill embraced her "… Oh, you know, right? Alistair. It's still an open wound, isn't it? "

The scenery changed into her old camp, at night and… A memory. She and Alistair making love near the camp fire. His strong body covering hers, his hands moving slowly on her legs, his lips placing kisses made of fire on her neck. She could see herself playing with his hair and gasping for air when he was loving her.

Azzura froze in place. She tried to bury deep all those memories, seeing them in front of her, assisting to them, made her sick. She never forgot, she never could. For years she had nightmares about it, for years she had to repel the need to go to Denerim and see him, only if from hiding.

The demon spoke again, soft in her ear.

"You remember that? Remember how he promised you to be yours forever? '

Now Azzura sat in the Landsmeeting room, once again. The election scene played vividly. And then came the worst part of it. Azzura felt tears filling again her eyes. It was like she had to live it all over again.

" See? Promises that he made, now are broken. How sad, isn't it? But also it's your own fault, you put him on that throne, remember?"

The scene changed once again, this time showed a sleep chamber adorned with expensive furniture and tapestries. A huge bed was filling the center of the room and on it….

"No! Please don't do this to me! I don't want to see it!" Azzura was losing the last strands of her self-control. She was about to give in, she knew it.

"Why shouldn't I? You don't want to see the truth? Look at them. They seem happy. The man you loved is bedding your worst enemy. But why do you care? You never reclaimed him for you."

Azzura closed her eyes to not see the image of Alistair and Anora in the same bed- laughing and making love- was stuck in her mind.

"You could be her. I can help you to have him back. If that's what you want."

A new demon rose from the ground walking towards Azzura.

"Why would she need him? I can help you to take revenge on him. I can help you to make him suffer like he did to you. Your anger can be repaid"

Azzura started to scream:

"No! I won't ever hurt him! We had to do the right thing, for both of us!"

She thought; it was so easy to accept their offers, so easy to have what she wanted, to let everything she knew fade away and embrace them. It was easy to lose herself, to not feel the pain she felt all these years, to be loved again…

The desire and rage demons were cuddling her in their fake embraces and she had no power left to fight them back.

And then, a blue sphere of light hurled the demons away and the bedroom dissolved, leaving only the green mist. More lightning balls repelled the demons hugging her and an invisible shield took their place.

She felt dizzy and she still could hear a voice calling for her, then she felt a warm hand shooting away all the pain.

"You will be all right, Hero. I am here. You are not alone, and you never were."

Opening her eyes, Azzura saw the face of a man, an elf smiling. For some reason, she knew that he was to be trusted. No one with those eyes could not be trusted. She felt safe in his arms.

"Who are you?"

"You can call me, Solas. Come find me at Skyhold. We can help you, Lethalan. You have to be strong. Now wake up, they are here."

Her senses were coming back one by one. First the smell of blood filled her nostrils, then she could hear voices and she could feel hands checking her, touching her.

She opened her eyes slowly and another man's face came into view. A face that she recognized and yet she knew it wasn't exactly the same.

Mumbling she succeeded to say," Howe. I thought I killed you. Stop haunting me." Then she lost her consciousness.

The woman accompanying the man gave him a strange look and asked:

"Do you know her? "

"Yes, but she thinks that I am someone else. We need to hurry, she doesn't look that good. Go to the village and bring a patrol. We need to take her back to the castle".