Runa took her chance to get away from the camp and found a secluded area where she could be alone. There had been so much going on that she was getting overwhelmed.

'Your mind and body are still weak, Runa. It would be so easy for me to steal it away from you.'

'Just leave me alone, Zakkon.'

'Oh but you are alone, dear child. You are always alone.'

Runa wrapped her arms around herself and tried to shut the demon's voice out. For years, Zakkon had haunted her dreams and called to her in her mind. He was a demon, one of fiery rage, that had his heart set on taking her power for his own. He, no differently than Alexius, was intrigued by her icy cold flame. It was something no one had ever seen before, a magik of cold and fire. For years, she had trained under the close watch of both mages and Templars alike, no matter where she went. She didn't blame them, she'd do the same thing if they were at risk of being possessed by a demon. She just wish it wasn't a constant reminder every day, even after passing her Harrowing. It was like she was even more cursed than the other mages.

"Why can't this end...?"

Cullen stood with the Inquisition and listened as Molly gave a small speech of encouragement and suggested they travel north. He was amazed at how quickly she had gained the Inquisition's trust and respect, how willing they were to stand by her. When everyone was in agreement, they dispersed and went back to whatever they were doing before. Cullen looked around and noticed that Runa was nowhere in sight.

'Where could she be?'

Runa made her way back into the camp, hoping she could get some sleep. As she passed through the camp, she passed by the Herald and her advisors. It seemed like they had come up with a plan finally and were making sure they were completely prepared to move at dawn. When they went to their tents, Runa headed towards hers- having found spare materials to make one for herself, even as crude as it was.

"Runa, wait."

Runa stopped and turned to find Cullen approaching her.

"May I have a word?"

Runa immediately tensed, and instinctively she stepped back and tried to make herself smaller. "I suppose."

"You don't need to be afraid, Runa. I won't hurt you, surely you know that?" Cullen asked, noticing her change in demeanour.

"I'm sorry... force of habit..." Runa sighed. "What was it that you wished to speak about?"

"I wanted to thank you for everything you've done to help the Inquisition in all this chaos."

"Oh... um... it was no trouble at all." She was surprised, but then a stinging pain struck her back and she winced.

"Runa?"

Runa stepped back and turned away. "Excuse me..."

Cullen watched as she hurried away, but sensed something was wrong beyond her usual mistrusting and cautious nature.

"Hey, Curly."

Cullen looked down to see Varric had joined him.

"You noticed it, too?"

Cullen nodded and sighed. "She's always been distrustful of others, especially Templars, but there's something else."

"What do you think it is?"

"I don't know."

Runa reached her tent, a makeshift shelter just on the outskirts of the main camp, and stepped inside. She pulled off the tunic she was wearing and noticed blood. Reaching back, she touched her back at the edge of the stinging and brought her hand forward.

"So it begins..."

Another stinging struck her back and she felt it go deeper than the last.

'If you will not let me in, then I will break you down until you cannot resist me.'

Runa winced and bit back a cry, feeling the blood drip down her back. 'You think you can break me with physical attacks, Zakkon? After all these years, you still have learned nothing have you?'

'You will break, little Runa. What that magister didn't have was the proper touch.'

'I did not break with the Templars, I did not break with Alexius. I will not break with you.'

'You may be able to withstand mental attacks, restless nights as I invade your dreams. But we shall see about the physical.'

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she tried to heal her own wounds, but it was no good. Each time they healed shut, new ones appeared. She couldn't trust anyone with this, so she decided to endure it on her own like she had so much already.

16th of Firstfall, 9:41 Dragon

Dawn approached as Runa and the rest of the Inquisition broke camp and made their way north. Molly had done well, giving a heartfelt speech and raising everyone's spirits; it gave them the extra strength they needed to press forward. Runa was amazed that the Inquisition remained as strong as it did after what happened at Haven, but she was glad that it did because that was what would get them through this war. As the hours droned on, though, Runa felt her own strength waning. She ached from the thrashing Zakkon had given her, but she pressed onwards.

Cullen watched her as she walked near some of the other mages, staying by the wounded, and noticed that she seemed distressed. She hid it very well, but he had seen that look before in the mages and the Templar recruits of Kirkwall's circle. Something was going on and she was trying to bear it alone. Each time she stumbled, he wanted to jump to her aide but something kept him back. He just hoped that she didn't push herself too hard. The Inquisition needed her as much as they did anyone else in their ranks.

The Inquisition made camp just before nightfall after pressing onwards for hours without stopping, trying to distance themselves as quickly and as much as possible from Corypheus and the Red Templars. There was no knowing if they knew the Inquisition still yet lived or even if they themselves had perished in the avalanche that swallowed Haven.

Runa again set up her little tent on the outskirts of the main camp, but remained with the others for most of the night helping tend to the wounded. She found it difficult to ignore the incessant prodding and scratching Zakkon provided her with, but she tried to fight through it for the ones who needed help. If she couldn't heal her own wounds, she would make sure that she could theirs.

At some point in the night while he was making rounds, Cullen spotted Runa leaving one of the infirmary tents. She looked spent, much as the other mages did, but he notice her turn away from prying eyes as she grimaced in pain. He knew something was wrong as she stumbled away. Hurrying after her, he followed her towards the outskirts of the camp and found her leaning against a tree- panting.

"Runa?"

Runa barely acknowledged him as he came to her side as the pain was just nearing the point of being unbearable.

"Runa, are you alright?" Cullen asked, reaching up to touch her shoulder.

"Don't touch me..!" She snapped, smacking away his hand. She refused to meet his gaze and forced herself forward, ignoring the pain until she felt herself slipping away. "No... not like this..."

"Runa!"

Runa slumped forward into the snow and Cullen rushed forward, kneeling beside her. He tried to call out to her, only noticing the blood when he shook her shoulder.

"Maker's breath..!" Cullen looked around, calling out to a soldier walking nearby. "Fetch Mother Giselle!"

The soldier nodded and scurried off, sensing the urgency of the situation.

Cullen looked down at Runa, holding her in his arms as he tried to carefully carry her back into the camp. "Hold on, Runa."

Runa was fading into darkness, the only light she could still see nothing more than a blur. "I will not... break..."

Cullen, confused, asked her what she meant to try and keep her conscious. She could only repeat, "I will not break." before she slipped into unconsciousness.

"Commander?"

"It's Runa." Cullen said as Mother Giselle and a few others met him in the camp. "She's bleeding."