With a crackling snap, Maxwell Trevelyan managed to seal away the pride demon into the breach. As he slowly fell into unconsciousness, he gazed up at the glowing monstrosity as it spat one final time before his vision settled into darkness.

Maxwell-Haven

The breach was closed but not gone. The newly anointed "Herald of Andraste" trudged wearily with his party through the main gate. What he would give to walk straight to the tavern for a hot meal and ale. Alas, he had to report back to the war room first. He stopped at the top of the stairs, nodded to Varric and turned to address his party.

"Alright Iron Bull, welcome to Haven. Tavern is to your right should your chargers wish to relax and speak to Threnn about sleeping arrangements. Oh and please, no rough housing inside the gates." The chargers looked amongst each other somewhat sheepishly. To say that the journey back from the storm coast was a rowdy one would be an understatement.

"No worries, Boss" The large qunari responded. With a twitch of his massive horns the chargers were dismissed and they eagerly headed towards The Singing Maiden. Max almost felt guilty for the influx of customers Flissa was about to receive. Solas quietly walked back to his usual post while Cassandra strode forth with purpose.

"Come, we should turn in our reports." She said as she brusquely scaled the last of the stairs. Max gave a sigh and shot a rueful glance at Varric.

"Sorry friend, perhaps we shall catch up later?" Varric snorted

"Of course! I'll be waiting with an ale for ya."

Max straightened himself before entering the great hall. He cut a fine figure as he strode towards the war room. His metal armor flashed in the firelight, his blade firmly fastened at his back. Cullen waited just outside and they clasped forearms in greeting. Max always felt slightly smug about being just a tad taller than Cullen, not that he would admit it. Even now, he smiled as his eyes looked just a little downwards as he said hello to his new friend. Cullen drew him close enough to speak in low tones.

"Hope you're ready for this, we may be sending you right back out again" Max groaned in disappointment.

"Can't I even spend the night? Just one night in an actual bed. It's all I'm asking." Cullen gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

"I'd appeal to Josephine for that one. You'll not find such mercy from Cassandra or Leliana. Come on."

The meeting proved to be more eventful than he anticipated. After he and Cassandra finished up their reports Lelianna stepped forward to speak.

"I don't know if you recall, Max, but just before the breach closed there was a bit of a flash." Cassandra and Max both nodded.

"It would seem one final thing managed to escape the fade. We don't know what, but we have reports that the flash traveled some distance before landing here" she pointed at the northern region of the hinterlands on the map "We must discover what escaped."

"Right, definitely worth investigating. I shall head out tomorrow morning and search it out." Max hoped he sounded authoritative enough to get away with staying the night. Cassandra shot him a look of mild disapproval.

"Whatever escaped must be tracked down as soon as possible. The day is still early enough for us to resupply and leave in the afternoon." She declared.

Leliana smile in agreement. "Excellent! There is another matter which I believe may aid you. We have acquired a new recruit that may be a good addition to your party."

"Oh? Who is it?" Max's interested perked. He hoped it was a woman, he did nothing but travel in large groups of men now a days and Cassandra was hardly friendly. He found himself chanting in his mind please be a girl, please be a girl.

"He's a Tal vashoth apostate, of all things" chirped Josephine. She had a faint flush to her cheeks for some reason. "I'll introduce you to him after the meeting, he has a proclivity for healing. You should consider taking him with you when you leave." Max sighed, damn.

Josephine practically babbled as she brought Max over to the potions hut. Max tried to catch a glimpse through the tavern window, fervently wishing again he was there having a pint instead of meeting yet another new person. He liked new people, he just also liked having a breather now and again. As he walked through the door he abruptly stopped and did his best to keep from laughing. Inside the hut was the largest Qunari he had ever seen. He was uncomfortably hunched to keep his horns free of the rafters while shuffling after Adan taking notes. He stopped and gingerly looked up at the new arrivals. The Qunari was very dark, with black hair and curled horns. Had he been at his full height he would have looked incredibly imposing. Hunched over as he was, however Max couldn't take him seriously at all. Josephine fluttered over to him and her infatuation became quickly apparent.

"Oh Max, this is Adaar. He's been helping create a more potent healing potion with Adan. Isn't he smart? Come say hello! Adaar, this is the Herald." She beamed up at him as he carefully turned to his visitors. His face was sharp, as if cut from stone and menacing in the dimness of the room. The menace disappeared entirely when he broke into a giant smile.

"Herald! An honor to meet you sir. I hear I might be able to assist you in future missions, yes? Looking forward to it" The qunari offered a massive hand for Max to shake. Straightening his face, Max shook the offered hand.

"The honor is mine, Master Adaar. I'm actually heading back out this afternoon to the hinterlands. If you can be ready in 3 hours you are welcome to join us." Adaar nodded

"Of course! I'll just grab my gear from the smithy" Adaar followed them back out of the hut and slowly straightened back to his full height. Now in the open Max gaped at how the qunari towered over everything. With a short nod, Adaar began to trot towards the front gate.

In the tavern Max finally drank and ate his fill while catching up with Varric. Varric nudged him in the shoulder

"Do me a favor would ya? Just don't recruit anymore of those qunari. I don't think we can feed much more of those!"

"No kidding, If I had known we had already picked up a behemoth I wouldn't have gone to the trouble hiring another" Max took a long drought of his ale. "I'm heading out soon, you with me?"

Varric smirked "Thought you might ask. Yeah, I'm all ready to go. Who's coming with us?"

"I'm taking Adaar, haven't decided on my third. Maybe Iron Bull?"

"No. No way am I traveling with 3 of the tallest damn men in this army. It would kill my chances with the ladies!"

Max laughed, "What ladies? We travel nothing but wilderness and I thought you were pledged to your crossbow!"

Varric grumbled, "Come on, man. Don't do this to me. Pick someone else, please?"

"Fine, meet me at the gate in one hour. I'm going to check in at requisitions."

Max waited at the gate with Adaar and Varric. When Varric saw Cassandra walking down the stairs he whirled on Max. "You bastard, this was NOT what I had in mind!"

Max chuckled "You said you wanted to meet ladies, Cassandra is a lovely lady." Cassandra snorted as she passed. Varric glared at the Herald as he shouldered his pack.

"You're evil. You know that?"

Max gave him his best shiteating grin "I'm wonderful and you know it. Think of the stories you could write from this!"