Author's Note! I forgot to mention this in the first chapter, but this is a write as I go story. I have no idea how it'll play out. I watched a video about writers who do this and wanted to try it out! ((That also means I don't know how this story ends so I'm as in the dark as you!)) I hope that because of the less time planning and working on it, it's not terrible. I'll do my best to keep it at at least the same level of devotion as my Skyrim story, but it may be difficult. Hopefully, that doesn't come back to bite me!

My-my hand...What- A pulsing pain shoots up her arm like lightning. Sable groans, trying to move her fingers. She doesn't feel anything happen. There's only the pain. What's wrong with my hand!?Her eyes snap open and she becomes aware of the cold ground she's lying on.

Sable gets up slowly, doing her best to ignore the pain. Where am I? What happened? Her heart races when she sees the green surrounding her, the same green that haunted her ever since her harrowing. Is this- Oh Maker, am I- A clicking sound interrupts her thoughts, and she turns to the noise. Oh shit. Giant spiders are heading her way. What is happening? Am I dreaming? She considers letting herself be overrun but decides it isn't worth the risk.

She runs. And runs, never seeming to go anywhere, but getting further away from whatever those things are. She risks a look back and sees them start to gain on her. When she turns back around, she sees a light in the distance, on top of a mountain. Not knowing why, she runs to it, climbing up the mountain as fast as she can. The spiders gain on her. The light turns into the form of a woman. The woman reaches out to her. What do I do? Could this be a demon? The clicking of the spiders gets closer.

"Here, take my hand!" The light calls out, in a warm and comforting voice that she's sure she's heard somewhere before. Without another thought, she reaches out, grasping for the hand. The woman pulls her up. Sable feels one of the spiders brush her leg before she's suddenly falling, her hand falling from the woman's. Then there's nothing.

XXX

"Sable." First Enchanter Lydia says, and Sable tries to calm her racing heartbeat. She's seen this happen before, an execution. They do it quietly, as peaceful as they're able. Sable takes a deep breath when she feels her standing right behind her, preparing for it to be her last. "It's time." What?

"Time?" Sable asks, turning to face her mentor.

"For your harrowing."

"You mean-" My-my harrowing? But- Sable shakes her head. I must be going crazy. This doesn't make any sense!

"Yes." Is all Lydia says, looking at Sable with sorrow in her eyes.

"But what about-" How can they forgive me for what I did? Why do I get a second chance when they- Undoubtedly seeing the disbelief on Sable's face, her mentor turns to the Templars standing guard.

"Give us a moment please." Sable can feel their hesitancy as they look to each other, before one of them decides to do as she asked. Nothing is making sense today. When the doors close behind them, Lydia turns back to Sable, an urgency in her eyes that wasn't there before. "I have convinced them that this is the only way. If you fail, you die. If you succeed, you live- but under harsh scrutiny."

"Wh-but why? I don't- After what happened, I don't deserve-" Tears fall down her face for the first time in years. Lydia cups her face, wiping the tears away. Sable leans into the contact, cherishing the fleeting moment of affection. She's been starved for it for so long.

"My dear, everyone deserves a second chance. Even you-no. Especially you. You did what you thought was right, some of them can see it too." Lydia says, head gesturing towards the door.

"Them? You mean the Templars?"

"Yes. Not all of them, but enough are willing to let this happen."

"How did you convince them?" Sable asks, stepping away. Lydia lets her hands fall to the sides. "What did you tell them?" No. Sabel's thoughts halt in horror as realization dawns on her. "No, Lydia you can't-"

She can't bring herself to finish the sentence. Lydia smiles then, reaching for her hands. She pulls her closer, and Sable only resists for a moment. Her arms wrap around Sable, and Sable hugs her back lightly, the feeling far too unfamiliar.

"The life we live in is unfair, Sable." Lydia says, hand brushing through Sable's hair, comforting her. "We all know it, but we choose to live it anyway. Show them they're wrong about us."

"What if I don't, Lydia? What if I-"

"You won't." She says, looking at her one last time. "Sable, You can't."

XXX

Sable wakes up slowly, her hand shocking her as it bursts with energy. What- She's surrounded by soldiers pointing their swords at her. Oh, Maker did I- The door is thrown open, and a woman with short dark hair marches in, a hooded figure following silently behind. The soldiers sheathe their blades. This can't be good.

The dark-haired woman walks around her slowly. Sable doesn't need to see her face to know what kind of look she must be wearing. It would be a look she knows all too well. The hooded woman keeps her distance.

"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now." The dark-haired woman says from behind her, bending down to Sable's ear, a promised death laced into every word. Sable has to stifle the panic that rises. What did I do? The worst comes to her mind, but it's not a question she has for long. The dark-haired woman continues to walk around her as she says "The conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead." Her voice wavers a moment. No. No, that can't be right! "Except for you."

Sable's head spins. Everyone- Trenton's smile and enthusiasm, Damien and his mischief, Yara and her scolding looks, Helena and her shyness, Brody and his intelligence- "What do you mean everyone's dead?" She asks, knowing exactly what it means. But, but it can't be true...Right? Everyone can't be-

The woman grabs her hand, yanking it up as another burst of energy escapes from it. Sable only lets herself wince in pain, though it was worse than anything she's ever felt before. "Explain this."

Sable tries, her thoughts going a mile a minute. Why can't I remember what happened!? "I-I can't." She says, knowing that those words would probably be her doom.

"What do you mean you can't!?" Both of them circle her now, an action she knows is meant to be intimidating. Two predators closing in on their prey. Usually, those kinds of tactics don't work on her. Usually.

"I don't know what that is or how it got there!" She states, feeling her panic rise. This could ruin everything. It'd be my fault.

The woman lunges at her, grabbing her by the throat. "You're lying!"

Before Sable can say anything, the hooded woman steps in, pulling the other away from her.

"We need her, Cassandra." She scolds, forcing Cassandra to step away from Sable. Sable closes her eyes and manages to take a deep breath. This can't be happening. She fights away the tears. All those people- Calm down. Calm down. You have to calm down. Another deep breath. Separate yourself from this. Think!

"So what happens now?" She asks, willing her voice to be stronger than before.

"Do you remember what happened?" The hooded woman asks, "How this began?"

"I-I remember running. Things were chasing me and-" The light. It reached out to her. "And then a woman?"

"A woman?"

"She reached out to me, but then-" She closes her eyes. I can't remember. Oh, why can't I remember!?

"Go to the forward camp, Leliana. I will take her to the rift."

Leliana leaves, and Cassandra steps towards Sable. She braces herself for another thrashing, but it doesn't come. Instead, the woman takes her shackles off but leaves the binds in place.

"What did happen?" Sable asks, not sure if she's ready to hear it.

"It will be easier to show you."

Sable follows her without a word, bracing herself for whatever she may see. Even her darkest thoughts have no idea what to plan for. They reach the door, and Sable can feel her heart miss a few beats. Cassandra opens the door.

Hear now, Andraste, daughter of Brona,

Spear-made of Alavarr, to valiant hearts sing,

Of victory waiting, yet to be claimed from

The steel-bond forgers of barren Tevene.

.