Sorry it's been so long since I updated the story. Life and such. You know how it is. But I did it, and here's the newest chapter. Hope you guys like it. Bioware owns everything... this is just my own ramblings of things that happen in my mind.

Fighting the Light: Chapter 4 - Dark Memories, Darker Days

Heralla had to bring herself back to reality a couple of times at the war table, but no one seemed to notice. No one except Leliana, of course. She notices everything. She never said a word, but gave Heralla a small smile to let her know that she noticed the lack of communication on her part.

After snapping herself out of the torrent of thoughts going through her mind, she had really tried her hardest to focus.

The Mages were now on the side of the Inquisition, much to Cullen's dismay. He had made his point many times to Heralla that the better bet was to go to the Templars for help, that they could suppress the breach long enough for her to close it, but after Heralla asked him how he thought they would respond to an elven mage coming to them, he seemed to drop the issue. And was she ever glad he did. She knew how to approach mages, she knew what needed to be said and she knew the Templars would never see her as an equal.

This is how she managed to pick up Dorian, go through time with Dorian, defeat Dorian's old mentor Alexius, 'Wow.' she thought to herself reflecting on the time with Dorian she had experienced so far, 'I don't really make friends the normal way, do I?'

As everyone sat bickering about what the next move should be, Heralla let herself slip into her thoughts, remembering the travel with Dorian to an alternate world. One where this "Elder One" ruled, and everything had gone to oblivion. She remembered the smell of the cells in the bowels of Redcliffe Castle. A mixture of sulfur and wetness. It was awful. The look on Enchanter Fiona's face, the glow of the red lyrium in her eyes, as an eerie red light swirled around her failing body.

Heralla and Dorian ran through the dungeon looking frantically for the people they had brought with them to the castle for "peace talks" with Alexius. Every moment they spent running around the gigantic maze of stone and death felt like a knife being slowly shoved into her stomach, inch by inch. After looking, they eventually found Blackwall, his spirit and will broken. A shell of what she knew him as. It was heartbreaking. He was the first one they found. After seeing the look on his face at seeing Heralla standing there in front of his cell, she knew that all of this had to be stopped. If she had to die to do it, she would gladly give up her life so people wouldn't have to suffer like this.

Then it came to her. Blackwall, then Bull. Oh, Maker, Bull. Half delirious, half pissed off, she didn't know what to make of him. Although when she did run up to the cell, her eyes began to sting with the formation of tears. "I saw you die." Was all he had said to her at first. She couldn't let him see her falling apart, he had to know that she was going to make this right. She set her jaw and took a breath. "I'm sorry, I should have been there." she said looking at him with eyes begging for forgiveness.

Once they were on their way again and looking for the last member of the party, The Bull grabbed her by the arm and pulled her off to the side. Red swirling around his massive hand as it clutched on to her arm. It made her jump, and Bull had pulled her over to a wall while Dorian and Blackwall kept searching for their last party member.

"What is it?" Heralla asked, half expecting something to come swinging at her head, or a rogue to pop out of the shadows and try to stab her.

"You said you're from the past, right?" He asked, bent over her with one hand on the wall above her.

"Yes. If I can stop all of this from happening, I will, Bull. I promise." Heralla gave him the most determined look she could muster. Honestly? She was scared shitless.

"Well, just in case I never get to do this again."

"Wh-"

The Bull laid his other hand on her face and pressed his lips against hers. He didn't smell right. He didn't feel right, but deep… deep in that kiss, she could feel him.

Heralla let herself melt into the kiss as The Bull ran his tongue along her, and nibbled on her full bottom lip. Sending little shivers over her skin. When he did finally pull away, his face still close to hers, he whispered, "Thank you, Kadan.", stood back upright and strolled down the hall up to Blackwall and Dorian.

'Kadan' She thought to herself. 'Have to find out what that means. Kadan.'

She met the others with swift steps, eager to find their last companion. Blackwall and Dorian had finally found him.

Back turned, gazing past the stone, stood Solas. His eyes red, skin crawling with the marks of red lyrium, just like the others. She couldn't tell if this was worse than the others, or about the same. However, her heart jumped into her throat when Solas had told her that he would do anything he could to help stop this from happening. "My life is yours." He had said.

Heralla wasn't sure now if she felt her heart skip a beat from the terror of everything around her or because he had the look in his eyes that he meant it in more than one way.

"Herald. Herald?" Cullen asked. His voice cut through the memories and she was back in the War Room. Cassandra looking more frustrated than ever, Josephine looking tired and Leliana looking calm as ever.

"Yes? I'm sorry. Could you repeat that?"

Cassandra made a disgusted noise, one she was so proficient at, as Cullen sighed a little under his breath.

"Are you ready to close the breach? Do you need more rest? Let us know before we begin the trek up to the Conclave."

"No. I'm fine. Let's end this now." Heralla said, scanning the faces of the counsel for approval. Cassandra seemed pleased, everyone did now that she noticed it. Maybe things would go more smoothly after the breach was finally closed. It had to. How could things get worse?