Chapter 3:

The Forgotten Door

Skyhold stands in a wholly repaired splendor. Vibrant and filled with such variety of life. Muin looks on in astonishment as they ride up to the ancient Keep. Her silence has remained since they left the forest. Her strength had been drained from the battle placed on her life. Taking leave, the group found their way to each of their comforts at Skyhold. Giving Muin rest, Levallan cannot help but sense a familiar feeling stirring within her as if she has known this elf.

"Muin, it is an honor to have you here at Skyhold."
"Ma serannas Lethallan. Ma melava halani. It's as beautiful as I remember, you have done well to bring the beauty back. I am sorry it still holds sorrow for you, Lethallan."
"You've been here before?"
"Many of us know of Tarasyl'an Te'las, though it has been ages since elvhen lived here."
"Did you always live there?"
"The temple was my place of duty, protecting what it held while the Lady of the Well kept us. Most of my troops still roam the forest and keep the people hidden. Listening to the whispers of old, I have felt and watched through the fade what has happened to our lands. It has brought us all great sorrow."
"You must have so much knowledge, I honestly did not think I'd ever find… anyone."
"You have walked with us for longer than you know, Lethallan. Looked after carefully, guarded. Answers will come as they should, we cannot force these matters; it is halam'shivanas. I know your calling and I will help guide you through. Other than saying this, I am not the one who holds the answers you seek, da'vhenan. Mala suledin nadas."
"I understand, I think."
"There is much to do, Lethallan. You will have answers, Dareth Shrial."

Retreating to her quarters that tower over all of Skyhold, filled with many thoughts, much rests on her mind. From her balcony, she can lose herself. This place has become her home. It has kept her grounded. Nothing quite fills the elf's heart, as much as waking up the old ruins of her people. Her people, a stimulating thought. "I still don't even know them, yet I will fight if that's what it takes. It is nice to be back, Skyhold." She whispers into the mountain air. Longing for her dreams now, she sips her tea remembering the look on the elf's face, while he gulped down the drink that kept him from sleep. Images she found endearing. Memories, overflow around her when she is back at Skyhold. How can they not? The fire is blazing its warmth now as the elf is nodding off, still wrapped in her armor, she slumps to the floor resting her folded arms on her bedside; laying her head to rest, too tired to care. "Come to me, ma sa'lath."

Reaching out of her form, falling into the fade – the only place she can be her truest self; while wondering in dreams. She has met with spirits along her walks, glowing brightly to see her. Some walk with her asking questions of her and the world she shapes. She does not mind the company in dreams and the same kindness she shares with her people, she shares with the spirits she meets. But, her journey remains for one reason – her heart.
Now walking, in dream, she is facing the cave where they rescued Muin. The cave fades taking on its previous form – from the time before – without lyrium. Now standing in bright light showing the beauty it once held over the land. Walking up the same glowing golden steps she awoke before, met with a feeling deep and pure, filled with love, and cloaked sorrow. She knows this feeling.
"Emma lath" the familiar voice whispers.
"Ma vhenan?" She speaks softly, trying to contain her pounding hope.
"You are getting closer, you must keep going. You must wake up."
She starts to stir, trying to hold on to the dream, "ma'arlath." The voice fades, leaving her with a full chest and aching body, forced from the dream. She finds herself, shed of the armor and comfortably placed under her blankets. No longer confused by waking up in the presumably unexplained; she is learning to see the gesture it is. Finding peace and purity in these moments, she finds no fear in what many others may find haunting. Not to say she does not have physical needs; to her it's a pilgrimage, a show of her devotion to the one who has her heart. Nothing unusual for the elven kin, matters of love are not based on mere physical actions. Awaiting the day where he will undress her and take her for his own, a natural mind-set. A secret to keep, in her heart.

Reporting in, she discusses the next step in the plans with Morrigan and her three advisers.
"We need to find those who are hunting the secrets, Inquisitor. Whatever they are planning, it would not be wise to allow them time to continue." Morrigan firmly states.
"I agree, Morrigan. What leads do we have?"
"Right now? Very little. If word has spread that you have destroyed one of these factions? I am sure more will open. They will go into deeper hiding, which means they have to move."
"Which means, I will have my spies everywhere, including places we never thought to search." Leliana exposes her sly posture. "Following their movements will give us the advantage."
A quiet knock interrupts the moment, the advisers look at one another in question.
"Someone should answer that, yes?" Morrigan states in her undercutting way.
Lavellan welcomes in the small elf, who has obviously evaded the guards. Muin walks in uneasy in posture. Everything unfamiliar and new. She guards herself heavy.
"I am tasked with helping you. We know we cannot face this alone. Though, not unusual for people of this time to try assaulting the heavens. Destroying the memories of spirits who carry knowledge? This poses risk to everything my people have fought hard protecting. We have gained strength above, but we need more below, here." Focused on her task, not even a moment of introduction to the three advisers standing in the room. Cullen looks her over finding much respect in her focus to duty. Josephine admires the way she has tied her hair and the lovely silk that mark her as royalty. Leliana watches closely, searching the elf with her gaze.
"Do you know of something that can help us, Muin?" The Inquisitor asks in calm mind.
"Yes, Lethallan. Not here, however. Please meet me where our feet meet soil, Keeper of Sorrow please join us."
"We will keep working on any leads on our end, Inquisitor." Cullen voices the sentiments of the counsel as one commander would in the presence of another.

Meeting Morrigan and Muin in the gardens, Lavellan is lead to the eluvian that Muin holds.
"This door long forgotten as well as its magic. The magic that guards it keeps it safe. My magic, however, they will seek out, though I know my fight well."
"I understand everything you are Muin, we will see to your protection."
Casting her charge, the key to this door, opens the way for the three women to step through. Leading into a section of the crossroads, much the same as the area the other eluvian leads to, abandoned and ethereal.
"Fascinating, I know this place," Morrigan looks around in comfort, "This is good, we are closer…t …something."
"To something?" Lavellan looks with confusion.
"Yes, we are. Once these roads lit up with greetings, the emptiness brings much sorrow." Muin settles the mood. "We are closer to the place we need; my passage no longer leads there." Morrigan joins in answer allowing Lavellan in on the purpose of her visit.
"There is a door which will lead us to the one with answers; though hidden well, finding them will prove challenging, though we must try. For there we will find answers most intriguing." Morrigan's eyes deliver the cunning taunt at Lavellan's many remaining questions.
"There is something else, we must tell you Inquisitor. It is about you."
"About me?" Her curiosity expressed in an alarming way as the elf folds her arms.
"Yes, well specifically, your blood." Morrigan looks at Lavellan, trusting that this is the right time to tell her. "It was no accident your clan sent you to the Temple of Sacred Ashes when you were. Your Keeper was charged with protecting you. In the case the day came, that we would be facing a time of possible peace for your people. You are the last born with the song of Muin's kin, though not completely one of the old kin. Your mother, a dalish healer cast out by her clan. Your father, he comes from Muin's clan, he once was a guardian who felt the pressures to not let his people fade. He spent many years searching for another elf, until he came across your mother searching for shelter. Their love grew and you were brought into the magic. This, giving you blood of the old and new, allowed you to be the eyes the people needed.
"So, I'm a half-blood? Sent as a messenger?" Lavellan trying to understand.
"We cannot walk freely as you can, Lavellan. Our people have to stay hidden in the magic or our life fades as a mortal. We do not have the choice you have, even as you still carry a piece of our song. Do you understand?" Muin makes clear the importance.
"What will happen now that you are with us?" Lavellan questions her risk.
"I carry the gift of light, the blood of ages; I hold the song." Giving a slight explanation of her ability, with no other reply. "It is why you dream in the fade and feel the veil easily. The enemy awaiting has figured this out; their perfect sacrifice, is you."
"Even without the magic, I am the key once again?"
"By magically increasing your old blood they can access the fade, physically as you have." Muin tells her elven friend. "As they can with us, but you they know of and yearn to destroy."
"Corypheus never discovered this?" Lavellan expresses in disbelief.
"No, he did not. If truth be told, not all secrets were at his disposal."
Morrigan leads on as if she knows more. Something strange hides behind her mask, something that is pulling at Lavellan's will. It's nurturing and kind, but brash like a mother's scold. Pulling herself back to the conversation, Muin's words come back into focus. "We have not all gone and you can help us reach the ones who are hidden in the beyond. You are the remaining hope for our people's return here. Without you, all will remain hunted and eventually killed."
"So you see now why protecting you, keeping you from any human contact before was so important. As well, keeping you in the fold of the Inquisition, rather than preserving your heart?" Morrigan eyes the Inquisitor causing her spirit to stir. The witches magic working for answers.
"Does she know?" Muin asks.
"Do I know what?" Lavellan demands as one with concern.
"No, not yet, but she will soon enough." Morrigan says with confidence.
"I suppose neither of you are going to explain." Lavellan says shaking her head in frustration.
"It is not for us to reveal. But no matter, in time Inquisitor, you will have answers."
Lavellan falls to silence knowing that arguing will not bring further answers. At the least, with this new knowledge, she has gained more understanding. The three women leave the protected roads with much to plan.