Wrath of Haven

Day 1...

Solas entered the cell where the prisoner lay unconscious chained on the ground. Her face was covered by a head of thick, medium long maroon red hair.

"Do we know anything about her?" he asked the spiky-black haired woman who stood glaring at him with her hands folded across her chest. He looked over to her, his face an emotionless expression.

"No," the woman answered, her voice low and tense. She stared at him with obvious distrust and disdain. "We know nothing of her other than the fact that she is a Dalish Elf, which makes her presence at the Conclave suspicious. Her people were not a part of the negotiations."

"Do you really think that she was here to be a nuisance?"

The woman shot him a deadly look that meant to strike fear in him, but he kept his face neutral, not giving anything away. "Maybe the Dalish sent her here to spy on the meeting so that they could stage an uprising while this chaos between the Mages and Templars took the Chantry's attention. Maybe they plan to take advantage of the Chantry's vulnerability and use it for their own ends."

Solas kept his thoughts to himself. There was no reason to argue since it would get him nowhere. He knew that the female elf wasn't responsible for the explosion at the Conclave. Her fate had already been decided by the humans of Haven. He didn't even know if she would receive a trial, not that that would help any; the people would automatically claim she was guilty since she was the only survivor. Maybe it was a blessing that she would most likely die before they had the chance to do so.

"Please give me some time to sit with her. I need to do a thorough examination of her and that will take a while." He requested as he walked over to the elven woman. "Also if you could send me the healer who has already been looking after her, I would like to confer with him about what he has already tried."

"Do you really think I should trust you to be alone with the prisoner? You could be helping her for all I know." Cassandra eyes him suspiciously.

Solas glared at her, the first sign of emotion breaking through his mask. Annoyance flickered as he met her gaze.

"I have never seen this woman in my life. I volunteered to help you hoping you could use my skills to help close that hole in the sky."

Cassandra huffed before finally walking to the cell door. "Go find Adan and have him come to the cell at once."

She didn't leave however, still not trusting him with the prisoner. So he ignored her and began his examination.

Solas rolled the woman onto her back taking in her attire. It was not the traditional Dalish garb that he was accustomed to seeing on the clans. It was clearly human made and big on her. She must have bought it at some point to help her get through the snow. As he studied her clothing his eyes zeroed in on her left hand, which was resting palm out. Upon it was the answer to his suspicions.

She had bonded with the anchor. His anchor.

The sound of footsteps alerted him and Cassandra to the healer's arrival. The guard escorting him unlocked the gate, allowing the man to enter. The man was a middle aged human mage with a brown haired shaved cut. His face was long with tiny eyes, big nose, and a bushy beard that only covered his chin. The beard was met with an equally bushy mustache. He wore robes of the mages seen in the circles. He eyed Cassandra warily before resting his eyes on Solas.

"You have need of me, Lady Cassandra?" The man asked politely.

"This mage is here to study the scar on the prisoner's hand," the Seeker said firmly to the healer.

"How is she?" Solas asked.

"Damned if I know," Adan answered curtly before continuing on with his explanation. "I patched her up as best I could, but I am not really a healer. I gave her potions to heal up the cuts and bruises that littered her body. There is one on her leg that I don't think she got from the Conclave, though it is fairly recent. The scar of it is ghastly."

Solas nodded his head in understanding before turning his gaze back to Cassandra. "Thank you, I can take over from here. I will need my pack brought into me as well as my bedroll. You can keep me locked in here with her but I will need peace and quiet to see what I can do to help her."

Cassandra regarded him for a moment debating whether or not to leave him alone with her. He did volunteer his help and just offered to imprison himself in there to ease her distrust of him. Finally she nodded and turned around to the door. The guard opened it up, letting her through with the apothecary.

"Adan, you will lend him whatever potions he needs and if you would be so kind as to retrieve the man's pack."

Adan nodded and walked off to find it. It wasn't hard to find since the elven apostate's quarters were right next to his. He was back at the cell within five minutes with the pack, the bedroll, and a list of potions he had currently made. They were exceedingly low on herbs, which made it hard to make high quality potions.

Solas nodded his head in thanks to the man letting him go back to his business. To the Seeker he spoke plainly, "I can tend to her, to the best of my ability. Stabilizing her condition would assist me in assessing the mark on her hand."

Cassandra paused to consider this, her eyes narrowing. "Fine," she said reluctantly. The Seeker's eyes darted to Solas once more before settling on the guards. "Lock the cell. Watch them both carefully," she muttered under her breath.

Solas couldn't help but feel some apprehension as he heard the cell door close behind him. He knew his situation there was tenuous at best. If he was not careful, he had no doubt the Seeker would see him in chains. This world was not kind to mages or elves. If one was both, it was even worse. Superstition was a powerful and ugly thing - now, as it had always been.

Alone now with the unconscious elf, he returned his attention back to her. He picked up her left hand and clasped it between his. An electrical current sparked between them at the first touch and Solas nearly dropped her hand in surprise. He didn't know what that was but he chose to ignore it, focusing on her hand. It was dainty and soft, but also damp with sweat. His attention was drawn to her breathing, aware that it was shallow and labored. He ran his fingers gently over the glowing green cut, it pulsed to life at his touch prompting her to let out a small whimper of pain.

What had Corypheus been thinking?

This didn't make any sense. Solas had thought his thirst for power would make the magister seek the anchor for himself, but this? This was not what he had predicted. Had it been an accident or had Corypheus thought to use this girl as his instrument? Perhaps he knew the mark's deadly effects and had sought to use her as a subject for experimentation? His intentions mattered little now. The man had destroyed himself in accordance with Solas's plan. The fact that he had not yet retrieved the orb was troublesome – it should've been down there where Corypheus died. Cassandra's men were still out there trying to locate it in the hopes that it would close the Breach in the sky.

He traced the anchor with his fingertips once again, calling upon the energy within her. Maybe if he could draw it out, like easing a splinter from flesh, maybe he could solve two problems at once. He could have the anchor for himself like he'd intended, and spare this mortal an unpleasant death. He took a slow breath and focused, trying to gently coax the energy from its vessel, but the resistance was too strong. He furrowed his brow, trying again, pulling harder as the anchor flared beneath his touch with a crackling burst. Her body jerked roughly in response, heels digging against stone as her back arched. A half-conscious scream tore through her chest as her head flew back, hitting the ground with a rough thud, her muscles seizing. Solas halted, letting out a frustrated huff, and he reached out with his energy to soothe her as he healed the cracked skull that had resulted from the incident.

It wasn't going to be as simple as he hoped. With more power he could've withdrawn it from her but without the orb, it would remain on her person. How she survived was a mystery to him. He would just have to wait it out and try to keep her alive.

He looked at her face and without thinking he brushed back the hair that covered it. His breath caught as her pale moon lit skin came into view. Her young face was beautiful, only marred by the branches under her eyes that marked her as Mythal's property. Her nose was long and straight, sloping smoothly from her brow, but small where her tip and nostrils scrunched making him think of a button. Her lips were thick and full, slightly parted from her labored breathing. She was breathtaking and her beauty would have been honored in another time. The only thing wrong with her at the moment was that her skin was clammy from the mark hurting her and the cracked and dryness of her lips. He moved his hand to her throat, resting his fingers on her pulse, feeling it race, her heart pounding in overdrive trying to fight the strain of the anchor.

It was never meant to be held within a mortal host. How was this possible?

Again he marveled at how she was still alive. Her body was fighting it, trying to stabilize to keep her alive. She was indeed a mystery to him.

"Ir abelas," he whispered with a guilt-ridden sigh. This woman, whoever she was, should never have had to suffer this because of his mistakes.

Day 3...

Solas spent the next two days trying everything he could think of but she still showed no signs of improvement. He had slept and entered the Fade trying to find a way, but it had not offered him anything. The spirits he would normally converse with were gone, driven away by fear of the Breach. The tear in the Veil created an unsettling turbulence with only the troublemaking spirits coming near seeking freedom. They were no help to him.

The woman began thrashing wildly, speaking incoherently fear emanating from her in waves one night. He awoke to an ear splitting scream that set his blood to pounding. She had tears pouring down her face as she thrashed against her restraints. Her back arched and the cuffs began cutting into her wrists.

"Stop, please." She cried hopelessly, her words slurred. "Leave us alone."

Solas reached for her, gripping her arms, trying to steady her. She flinched at his touch and fought harder to try and get away, her breathing quickening in panic.

"It's alright, da'ean," he whispered soothingly. "You're safe."

It was a lie, of course, but one he hoped would calm her.

"So…much blood. Lifeless eyes….they're all gone." The woman curled in on her side, mumbling incoherently the chains rattling as she moved. Solas pulled her gently into him, resting her head in his lap. Her body started shaking as another pulse of fear radiated through her body. He placed his finger along her temple, casting a soothing spell.

It calmed her and he breathed a sigh of relief. He then removed her from his lap and set up his bedroll. When it lay on the ground he picked her up and laid her down gently upon it, leaning in until his lips was just inches from her long, thin pointy ears.

"There is no one here but me," Solas whispered softly. "And you have nothing to fear from me."

He rose up and sat beside her, resting his back against the wall that was nearby.

Her vocalizations were not of her waking, as he had hoped. Instead she was rambling illogical nonsense he didn't understand. She spoke of a sea of blood, dead lifeless eyes, and of creepy crawling creatures chasing her. It was clear she was frightened, but was soothed somewhat by his right hand rubbing soothing circles into her temples with his healing energy. His other hand hovered over her bleeding wrists and with the same energy healed the cuts from the cuffs. He noticed light pink scars already there, recent and wondered if she had already been a prisoner elsewhere.

The woman's breath gasped with pain every time the anchor flared. Her flesh would break out into a new sheen of sweat as her body tried to fight the magic. Solas found that he could counteract the effects somewhat when he laid his palm against hers.

He knew this was only a stalling tactic but it helped her body regain some of the strength the anchor leached from her. He knew he couldn't remove it from her, and if she died she would take it with her. If that happened there was no way he knew of that could stop any of this.

Solas laid his head against the wall, his eyes closing. They snapped open a second later when the stranger curled against his body, seeking out the only comfort that soothed her as she writhed against the shackles that held her.

Remorse overwhelmed him as his thoughts turned to the orb. He should never have given it away.

"You're lying!"

Solas grunted as his back hit the wall, the Seeker's fist gripping the front of his tunic as she glared up at him. "I am only attempting to help, Lady Cassandra."

"An elf destroys the Conclave and emerges from the Fade. And then you, an elven apostate who had no business here conveniently appears, proclaiming knowledge of the Breach. The second you heard about the prisoner, you insisted on seeing her. Why?"

"Because the mark you described seemed immensely important. And it is. As I examined her I found that the green blemish on her hand is tied directly to the energy that is currently tearing the Veil apart. Each time that mark flares, the Breach expands and she draws closer to death."

"If you know this, then why haven't you made any progress?"

"I cannot simply will her into consciousness, Seeker," Solas snapped. "Perhaps if I had the artifact that was used to create it-"

"There is no artifact, Solas," she shouted. "We have scoured the rubble. There is nothing there."

His eyes widened as he studied her face. He frowned, shaking his head. "No. There has to be. This was a magic that was unlocked from it."

"There isn't," she insisted. "And I am beginning to suspect you only sent us on that errand as a distraction."

"For what purpose?" he asked incredulously.

"To have access to the mark?" she suggested. "Maybe you wish to accelerate the Breach's expansion-"

"That is absurd," he countered, but her grip only tightened and her eyes narrowed. The woman was beyond suspicious, she didn't trust him.

"You know that girl," she growled, pointing to the locked cell at the end of the room. "You know exactly what has happened here and you are going to tell me the truth - or I will have you executed here and now for your apostasy."

Solas froze, a deadly calm settling over his features as he stared back at the Seeker. "The first time I ever laid eyes on that woman was yesterday when you brought me here. I told you that already," he said firmly. "You threaten me with execution - but I will remind you that I knowingly took that risk when I volunteered. I am here to help. If by some miracle she wakes up, that mark may be the only chance we have of stopping this. But in order for that to happen, you have to give me some measure of trust."

For a tense moment, the Seeker was silent, studying his face through a disapproving glare. She released his tunic with a shove, taking a small step backward. "Continue your work," she ordered, "and pray to the Maker that you succeed."

He straightened his clothing with a sharp tug, his jaw set as he turned wordlessly back toward the cell and his charge.

Day 4...

The next day Adan brought some potions with the elfroot that the elven woman apparently had in her pack.

"How is she doing?" The man asked softly, curiosity brimming in his eyes as he stared at the glowing scar on her left hand.

"She is more stable today," Solas replied as he took the potions and set them beside his bedroll where his charge lay. She was calmer today then the day before. He hoped it meant she was almost out of the woods, but he couldn't be sure. He picked up one of the potions and uncorked it, and then brought the tincture up to her lips as he lifted her head into a position to slide the liquid down her throat easily. He administered it lightly onto her tongue in increments, not wanting to accidently fill her lungs with fluid.

The guards stared at him suspiciously, not trusting him ever since the argument with the Seeker. Whenever he asked to leave the cell, they seemed hesitant to let him.

Solas began to wonder if they would leave him in there, as their new prisoner. He secretly began making plans to escape since it seemed her death was imminent. Observing the humans taught had him one thing, they believed themselves to be superior and any other race was deemed untrustworthy if they were not ensnared in slavery. He knew threats of his execution were genuine, despite his offered help. The Breach was continuing to grow, he could sense it every time he closed his eyes. If she didn't live, he would have to flee. There was no way to close the Veil without the orb. He would need to find a way to gain power and perhaps stop it that way before it collapsed completely.

Screams sounded from outside raising the hair on the back of his neck. The guards dropped the keys and ran towards the screaming.

Solas picked up the keys and let himself out and followed cautiously. The moment he walked outside he bumped into a dwarven man with golden shoulder length hair tied halfway back. He had a crossbow in his hand as he gazed up at the Breach.

"What's going on?" Solas asked the man.

"Well, shit is getting weird," the man began. "Sure hope you can fight. Demons just fell from that hole in the sky close to the site of the Conclave."

"How long ago did they start to fall out?"

"Maybe five minutes." Varric said and looked up at him. "You're Solas, right?"

Solas nodded at him and then walked to his lodging where he found his staff and his light fur-lined green robes. He tugged them on over his tunic and strapped the staff to his back.

If he was going to flee, now would be the time. With the distraction of the demons he would hopefully be able to escape without notice. It didn't appear that the woman was going to wake and he was frustrated. Frightened. New rifts were beginning to open up and he felt hopeless to stop it. He could not wait on the slim chance that the anchor would be of any use to him, trapped within the mortal. Chances were, if she did wake, that she wouldn't even be able to control the energy inside her. How could she, half-formed as she was? It wasn't in her nature to be able to bear such power. The Veil was his construct. His responsibility. He had to be able to do this on his own. Solas left Haven, determined to try again. One last time. One last attempt. If he failed, he would have his answer and there would be no choice but to flee with the hope of finding a corner of the world where the Breach wouldn't reach.

The smell of mildew and wet stone filled her nose as Ayla came awake. Her nose scrunched up in disgust as she slowly opened her eyes, blinking several times to clear her vision. Her breathing became heavy with panic as she realized that she was chained in some dungeon with four shem guards surrounding her, their weapons drawn. Where was she? How did she get there? Last thing she remembered was being in the cave above the Conclave meeting. Her head throbbed in pain as she tried to remember.

A green glow pulsed bright in her left hand, making her eyes grow wide in surprise. The magic was familiar and felt at home with her. Understanding flowed through her before the mark flared, making her cry out in agony. The magic, though hers from a lifetime ago, was corrupted not by one but two foreign magics not of the Light.

Before she could contemplate this further the wooden door of the cell opened suddenly, two women standing in the entrance; one with short black hair and the other wearing a purple hooded robe with chin length light red hair. They entered the room as the guards surrounding her sheathed their weapons.

Ayla looked up at them both, her eyes narrowing warily as the black haired woman circled around her.

"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now." the woman snarled, stopping just to her side, leaning in. "The Conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead. Except for you."

"You think I'm responsible." Ayla retorted, her eyes narrowing in anger.

"Explain this!"

The woman grabbed her hand forcefully. Ayla flinched at the touch and tried pulling back against her in an attempt to free herself, she stared up at the woman. Her eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"I can't." She told them, a slight tremble in her voice.

"What do you mean, you can't?"

"I don't know what that is or how it got there." Though this was technically a lie, a good portion of it rang true. Ayla didn't know about the magic that caused it to make her ache or how the power was returned to her but she did know what it was meant for.

Ayla tried once more to remember what happened but again her head throbbed in agony, making her wince from the pain.

"You're lying!" The woman snarled, grabbing her violently, the intent to kill her right there, prominent upon the black haired woman's face.

"We need her, Cassandra." The second woman said as she stepped into view, taking hold of the first woman and pulling her away.

Ayla stared down as the horror of what happened settled on her face. "All those people…dead." She may not care for the shems but the people there to discuss peace didn't deserve that fate any more than what happened to her clan.

"Do you remember what happened? How this began?" the red headed woman asked, her voice firm, yet carrying a hint of gentleness in it.

Good question. Ayla closed her eyes, her skull aching in pain as she tried to remember. Fleeting images of running, green, and darkness.

"I remember... running..." she started slowly. Again she tried to force her mind to recall what little she was able. "Things were... chasing me, and then... a woman?"

"A woman?" the redhead asked.

"She reached out to me, but then..."

The sharp pain in her skull returned once again keeping Ayla from recalling anything more. Closing her eyes to stave off the ache, she listened as the one called Cassandra spoke to the other woman.

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

Watching the red-headed woman walk out, she felt Cassandra's hands on her once again, unlocking her chains and pulling her to her feet. The woman quickly tied a black rope around her wrists. She was a prisoner, and she would certainly die for whatever crime she'd supposedly committed, but she wouldn't do so without at least knowing what it was she was accused of.

"What did happen?" she asked.

"It... will be easier to show you." Cassandra replied.

Following the woman outside, Ayla shied away from the blaring light of the sun. As she got used to the light her stomach dropped, her eyes widening at the massive hole in the sky the same color of the glowing green mark on her hand. Fendhis! What idiot made a tear between this world and the Fade? She wondered.

"We call it the Breach. It is a massive rift into the world of demons that grows larger with each passing hour." Cassandra began, watching as Ayla stood transfixed by the horror above her. "It's not the only such rift, just the largest. All were caused by the explosion at the Conclave."

"An explosion can do that?" Ayla asked, finally turning her attention back to the woman. She feigned ignorance about what the woman just said, not giving away that she knew exactly what it was. What she didn't know was how it happened or why. It also didn't help that she couldn't remember what had transpired from the time in her tiny cave above the Conclave to when she had woken up mere moments ago.

"This one did. Unless we act, the Breach may grow until it swallows the world."

As if to prove Cassandra's theory, the Breach belched aggressively, causing the mark on Ayla's hand to flare in response shooting pain up her arm and through her body. It felt as though it was destroying her very being, and she cried out in agony. Dropping to her knees, she knew what was happening even before Cassandra said it. The magic that wasn't hers that had been fuzed with her stolen power was killing her. It was like a hostile parasite was put upon the power to make sure that it killed the person that wasn't an Evanuris. Fendhis!

"Each time the Breach expands, your mark spreads... and it is killing you. It may be the key to stopping this, but there isn't much time.

"You say it may be the key... To doing what?" Ayla said, panting as the pain lessened.

"Closing the Breach. Whether that's possible is something we shall discover shortly. It is our only chance, however. And yours"

"You still think I did this…to myself?" Ayla asked, a dumbfounded look on her face. How on earth did this woman think she would do this? It was ludicrous. What's more, how on Earth did she suspect that it would close the tear?

"Not intentionally, something clearly went wrong."

"And if I'm not responsible?"

"Someone is, and you are our only suspect." Cassandra told her coldly at first, her face softened as she added. "You wish to prove your innocence? This is the only way."

Ayla debated for a moment but she really didn't need to. She wanted to help. Not only to prove her innocence but to help get justice for the people whose live were so carelessly taken.

"I understand."

Cassandra looked at the elf in surprise. "Then...?"

"I'll do what I can." Ayla nodded at her, eyes showing her determination. "Whatever it takes." She would do whatever it took to find the bastard responsible for this.

Walking with Cassandra through the small village, the same one she'd purchased her winter gear from on her way to spy on the Conclave, she could feel the hatred radiating off the other shems as they glared darkly at her. It was a sentiment she shared, as she remembered the horror that had brought her here. If her clan hadn't been annihilated, none of this would be happening. Their actions only served to fuel that hatred. Typical of them to blame a knife - ear for something they likely caused with magic they didn't understand. Her magic had been hidden, kept from even her because her people had purposely forgot it over the years to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. Some things never changed, though now, she would pay the price for it, again. Looking to Cassandra as she spoke, she couldn't help but feel that anger growing and adding in her fear. However, she couldn't help but feel that handle on her clock to her destiny had been officially started the minute she'd chosen to find the bastard who did this.

"They have decided your guilt. They need it. The people of Haven mourn our Most Holy, Divine Justinia, head of the Chantry. The Conclave was hers. It was a chance for peace between mages and Templars. She brought their leaders together. Now... they are dead. We lash out like the sky, but we must think beyond ourselves, as she did. Until the Breach is sealed."

Watching as the woman stopped her on an old stone bridge, Ayla glared at the dagger she produced. If it was going to be here that she died, it wouldn't be without a fight. Bound or not, she was still a mage and every bit as capable of casting spells, regardless of her current situation. Fear spurred on as her fighting responses started to kick in. Her magic flared, ready to defend her but Cassandra palmed the dagger, and instead of killing her as she thought, she cut the ropes that held her. Ayla rubbed her wrists and met the woman's eyes, she felt confused by her actions.

"There will be a trial. I can promise no more." Cassandra said, stepping away from her. "Come. It is not far."

"Where are you taking me?" Ayla asked, following slowly.

Cassandra pointed to a ruined structure just up the hill a ways. "I am taking you to the temple where you fell out of the Fade."

Ayla's stomach dropped and felt her heart pound, blood rushing in her ears. That was Temple of Sacred Ashes…or what was left of it. Looking up at the Breach, she wondered just how it was she'd survived the explosion that had decimated the ancient structure let alone retrieve what had been stolen from her a thousand years ago. She shook her head and squared her shoulders as Cassandra started ahead of her. Taking a deep breath she followed, catching up to the woman quickly and began the fearful journey.

The going was slow at first, as she was still unsteady on her feet. The Breach belched again, catching them both off guard and dropping Ayla to her knees. The pain was excruciating, and she thought for a moment it had taken her life as her vision turned black. Cassandra peered down at her, worry and pity on her face as she helped her to her feet once again.

Ayla knew that her magic and that of the foreign magics were fighting for dominance within her and at that moment, the corrupt magics were winning. She could feel her life-force being drained from her.

They continued on crossing another man made bridge. They didn't get far however, before the Breach belched again, this time sending a glowing blast into it causing the bridge to explode. They fall in the hole, tumbling with the stones and rubble of the bridge onto the snow covered ice of the frozen river that had been below them. Black puddles soon formed on the surface, venting the same Fade green energy that radiated from her hand. Ayla blinked in surprise as Cassandra told her to stay back as demons began to form. The woman charged at the small horde and was doing alright until more formed behind her.

Ayla looked around and spotted a staff conveniently directly behind her. She hesitated for a moment before one of the demons blasted its spirit magic at her. She dove, dodging it just barely. She was back on her feet instantly and grabbed the staff, hesitation forgotten as the need to survive flourished. She saw Cassandra being overrun by all of the vile creatures now and called up the magic within and channeled it within the staff as she sent a dozen fireballs at them. They caught flame, panicking giving Cassandra her advantage to finish them off. Then it was over in an instant.

"It's over." She said, breathing heavily as some of her energy was drained from her.

Cassandra charged her, sword pointed at her in defense. Her face was angry but also showed slight fear. "Drop your weapon! Now!" She commanded.

"Alright, have it your way." Ayla said lowering herself and the staff to the ground in submission.

"No, wait." The woman sighed as she sheathed her sword. "You don't need a weapon, but you should have one. I cannot protect you." The woman began walking off before turning back to Ayla. "I should remember you came willingly."

Ayla smiled at her kindly as she attached the staff to her back. "Shall we keep going?" She asked and then wobbled, suddenly feeling dizzy. "I don't think I have much time left."

"We are almost there." Cassandra nodded her head, as she took several potions from her pouch on her hip. "Here, drink one of these. Maybe these healing potions will help you stay on your feet until we can get to the forward camp."

Ayla uncorked one of the bottles and downed the concoction. Immediately her energy was restored. Cassandra nodded her head and continued on with Ayla following close behind her.

Varric had decided to follow him despite his objections. He thought he was crazy to set out on his own and after awhile Solas stopped arguing, focusing on the journey ahead.

They were attacked repeatedly by waves of demons, making his efforts repeatedly futile. No matter what he tried the rift they found only grew, setting free more spirits hell-bent on destruction. Retreat back to Haven was inevitable. Stubborn, Solas attempted to press on with him casting left and right, fire engulfing the demons closest to him and the dwarf. The man in question fought with as much determination as himself.

The others advanced on him, perhaps sensing that he was the stronger advisory and he was ill prepared for a close-quarters fight. Suddenly, a stream of bright, flickering chain lightning flashed through three of his attackers. He could not slow, however, could not even pause to look for the source as he continued to fight, focusing his energy on the ones who escaped the stunning blow.

Cassandra ran in front of him and attacked the new wave of demons that just came out of the rift, her large sword hacking through three of them at once making them disintegrate instantly. A savage yell came from behind him, followed by bolts of lightning striking the demon to his left.

He saw a brief flash of maroon red hair appear beside him, a club like staff bashing a target that was about to attack him. It's body erupted into flames and turned to ash, nearly scorching him in the process. He looked at her a moment as the prisoner stood before him, chest heaving from the adrenaline of the battle and the strain of her body still fighting the anchor. Her eyes narrowed and in the next instant she was twirling her staff around her gracefully before slamming it into the ground. Another crackling chain of lightning burst from the staff, thrashing into a demon rushing towards them, stunning it and giving Cassandra a chance to cut through it, ending its brief existence. He didn't focus on that though as he felt the rift pulse as more spirits tried to enter the world.

He lunged forward, suddenly, grabbing her left wrist and pulled her towards the rift. He jerked her hand up shouting. "Quickly, before more come through!"

He glared at her in hate. Hate for disrupting his plans. Hate for rendering the anchor useless to him. Hate at himself for failing yet again because he was too weak to reclaim his power. Hate that she was making hope flare in him as the anchor blasted open, a blade of green light cutting through the tear. The elf woman cried out in surprise and then in pain as the rift buckled under the pressure, trying to resist the force of the mark. He tightened his fingers around her wrist and he felt her flinch at the forceful contact, trying to pull away. He continued to look at her and saw repulsion and fear on her face as she stared at where they touched. She shook her head and as if driven by some instinct, she lifted her head in determination, locking her arm in place as if accepting the energy moving through her. As if saying she was no longer merely a hollow vessel. Following that instinct she pulled back against it, her hand closing into a fist. The rift blasted, causing a concussive wave to roll over them in a flash of blinding light that made him close his eyes.

When he opened them once more, the small tear was gone, the rift finally closed.

He stared at her in fascination, his hate forgotten. She was a mage. Interesting. He would have to think more on this at a later date.

Ayla heard the sounds of battle up on the stairs ahead. She climbed up fast and she blinked in surprise at the floating, crystal-like green mass that spewed forth demons.

The rift, as she heard Cassandra call it, was a small tear in the veil that allowed demons to pass freely to their side and Ayla felt relief for a moment. If she could close it and suck up its power she could overpower the foreign magics currently killing her. But she would think of that later, she thought as she briefly surveyed the other combatants currently overrun with demons.

Ayla turned her attention fully on the fight before her. Two men were fighting the creatures, one a dwarf with a heavy wooden crossbow and the other an attractive bald elven mage.

The creatures advanced on the mage, sensing that he was the stronger advisory leaving him overwhelmed. Ayla twisted her staff and slammed it into the ground sending a chain of lightning at three of his attackers. He was graceful in his casting and she admired it for a moment as he took care of three other demons.

Cassandra ran in front of him and attacked the new wave of demons that just came out of the rift, her large sword hacking through three of them at once making them disintegrate instantly. Ayla let out a Dalish war cry and let out bolts of lightning striking the demon to his left before fade-stepping down to his side in a flash using her staff like a club, bashing a target that was about to attack him. She made its body erupt into flames causing it to instantly turn to ash. He looked at her a moment with surprise, watching her curiously. Her eyes narrowed and in the next instant she began twirling her staff around her, confident in her skills. Ayla once again slammed it into the ground sending another crackling chain of lightning from her staff, thrashing it into a demon rushing towards them, stunning it and giving Cassandra a chance to cut through it, ending its brief existence.

The mage lunged forward an utter look of hatred in his menacing eyes. He suddenly, grabbed her left wrist and pulled her towards the rift. He jerked her hand up shouting. "Quickly, before more come through!"

The mark on Ayla's left hand blasted open, a blade of green light cutting through the tear. She cried out in surprise and then in pain as the rift buckled under the pressure, trying to resist the force of the mark. She tried to pull away as the pain rippled up her arm but the elf tightened his fingers around her wrist, making her flinch in repulsion and fear as she stared at where they touched. She hadn't been ready yet and he had forced her to use the mark. How could he know it would close the rift? She shook her head anger and determination setting in as she locked her arm in place and begun sucking up the energy moving through her link with the rift. With the added power she followed a thousand year old instinct and pulled back against it, her hand closing into a fist making the rift blast out, causing a concussive wave to roll over them in a flash of blinding light, sealed.

Ayla gawked up at where the rift used to be, her brain still processing everything that just happened as well as reeling from the added power that controlled the pain from when her mark was activated.

She met his eyes, confused and beyond suspicious. "What did you do?"

He smiled with amusement, like he was enjoying a private joke at her expense. "I did nothing." He said with a nod. "The credit is yours."

Ayla looked down at her hand as if in awe. "I closed that thing? How?" She asked, listening intently to his answer.

"Whatever magic opened the Breach in the sky also placed that mark upon your hand. I theorized that the mark might be able to close the rifts that opened in the Breach's wake." He grinned. "And it seems I was correct."

"Meaning it could also close the Breach itself," Cassandra said, sheathing her sword as she approached. Ayla's eyes narrowed as she wondered if he was the culprit.

"Possibly," The elf nodded, returning his gaze to the hers as his brows lifted. "It seems you hold the key to our salvation."

She stared back at him, her eyes still narrowed at him before she graced him with a wary smile.

"Good to know," Varric said, drawing her gaze away from the mage. "Here I thought we'd be ass deep in demons forever." He approached her with a winning smile. "Varric Tethras," he began with a nod. "Rogue. Storyteller. And occasionally, unwelcome tagalong," he added with a wink to Cassandra.

The Seeker scowled with disgust.

"Are you with the Chantry, or-"

The strange elf laughed. The action had her look at him momentarily with delight. The sound of it sent a pleasing shiver down her spine. Strange. "Was that a serious question?"

"Technically, I'm a prisoner. Just like you," the dwarf answered.

"I brought you here to tell your story to the Divine," Cassandra explained. "Clearly that is no longer necessary."

"Yet, here I am," he said with a shrug. "Lucky for you, considering current events."

"It's good to meet you, Varric," Ayla said.

"You may reconsider that stance in time," The elf muttered with a smirk making Ayla's mouth quirk up with an amused half smile of her own.

"Aw, I'm sure we'll become great friends in the valley, Chuckles." The dwarf smirked in amusement at the instant sparks of attraction between the two.

"Absolutely not," Cassandra countered uselessly. "Your help is appreciated, Varric, but-"

"Have you been in the valley lately, Seeker?" Varric asked. "Your soldiers aren't in control anymore." He leaned in with a grin. "You need me."

Cassandra responded only with a frustrated "ugh" before walking away.

"My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions," the elf offered, nodding to the her with a soft smile. "I am pleased to see you still live."

"He means, I kept that mark from killing you while you slept," Varric added.

Ayla looked at him with renewed interest, a genuine smile warming her features though thousands of questions fired through her head wondering who he was and what his role with the mark was.

"It seems I owe you my thanks," Ayla replied with a grateful smile. "My name is Ayla."

"Thank me if we manage to close the Breach without killing you in the process." Solas told her before turning his gaze to the Seeker. "Cassandra, you should know; the magic involved here is unlike any I have seen." He smiled arrogantly as he continued. "Your prisoner is a mage, but I find it difficult to imagine any mage having such power."

I am not like most mages, Wolf. Ayla thought with a wicked smirk that had him blinking at her in confusion and curiosity.

"Understood." Cassandra nodded. "We must get to the forward camp quickly."

Solas and the Seeker started ahead of them leaving herself and the dwarf to follow. The dwarf looked at her. "Well, Bianca's excited."

Ayla smiled at him in amusement as they began to follow.

They continued on their way, battling another set of demons before resuming trying to find the way to the temple. She lead the way up a hill seeing elfroot. Ayla couldn't resist extracting it from the ground despite the need to hurry. The trail led up to a small cave with another set of demons. They dispensed with them quickly and looted the bodies around.

"You are Dalish, but clearly away from the rest of your clan," Solas began as they retraced their steps back down the hill. "Did they send you here?"

"What do you know of the Dalish?" Ayla asked, evading his question.

"I have wondered many roads in my time, and crossed paths with your people on more than one occasion."

"What do you mean 'crossed paths?'" She asked in a defensive wary tone.

"I mean, that I offered to share knowledge, only to be attacked for no greater reason than superstition." He replied with irritation.

"And now you disapprove of all Dalish because of those reactions?"

"Why shouldn't I come to that conclusion? I have approached several camps, only to be chased away."

"Can't you elves just play nice for once?" Varric interjected making them drop the matter, much to Ayla's relief. She didn't want to talk about her clan. A pang of grief had tears gathering in her eyes but she pushed them away, now not being the time to let the impact of her trauma hit her. At this point they reached another set of stairs and began the climb up them. "So are you innocent?"

"I don't remember what happened." She snapped still touchy about the Dalish conversation.

"That'll get you every time. Should have spun a story." Varric replied, not noticing her tone.

"That's what you would have done." Cassandra said.

"It's more believable, and less prone to result in premature execution." He advised them.

The discussion fell away as the exertions from the climb took their attentions. They were halfway up the stairs when her mark flared causing a sharp pain to take over her hand. The power from the other rift already coming to her aid, making it more bearable this time and she shook it off, ignoring it. When they reached the top, the reasoning was clear as to why it activated. Another rift was close at hand.

"Another rift!" Cassandra shouted.

"We must seal it! Quickly!" Solas commanded.

Ayla didn't hesitate and released a fire blast at one of the demons, incinerating it at once. A chain of lightning followed afterwards as she again banged her staff into the ground. Solas strengthened her attack by adding an ice blast to her lightning, annihilating them. The way was clear and without even being told she shot her arm up, using the anchor to again draw in the energy and sealing it two minutes later. Her magic flared inside her, accepting the added strength, and began to overpower the other two magics that weren't hers. Good, she thought, it was reconnecting with her magic already, as it should. Hopefully soon, she could figure out how to uncorrupt it from the other magic that was trying to kill her.

"The rift is gone, open the gates." The Seeker commanded the men.

"Right away, Lady Cassandra."

"We are clear for the moment, well done." Solas said coming up beside her.

"Whatever that thing on your hand is, it's useful." Varric's face looked at her with awe. She shifted uncomfortable at his look, not liking the attention.

The gate opened and they walked through to the makeshift desk on the bridge where the red headed woman she saw earlier waited with a robed old man.

"Ah, here they come." The man said angrily.

"You made it," the redhead said. "Chancellor Roderick, this is—"

"I know who she is." He interrupted. "As Grand Chancellor of the Chantry, I hereby order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux to face execution."

"Order me?! You are a glorified clerk. A bureaucrat!" Cassandra replied.

"And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serves the Chantry!"

"We serve the most 'holy,' Chancellor, as you well know." The redhead corrected.

"Justinia is dead! We must elect a replacement and obey her orders on the matter!" The Chancellor held up his hands in frustration, annoyed that he wasn't getting his way.

"Isn't closing the Breach the more pressing issue?" Ayla exclaimed with exasperation.

The Chancellor turned to her, his body rigid, his voice shouting with menace. "You brought this on us in the first place!"

Ayla took a step back, anxiety and fear overwhelming her as his voice spewed his hate at her, and bumped directly into Solas almost making her lose her footing. He steadied her, while looking at her in concern.

"Call a retreat, Seeker. Our position here is hopeless." The man said, the anger drained from his weary voice.

"We can stop this before it is too late." Cassandra said as she came up to the table.

"How? You won't survive long enough to reach the temple, even with all your soldiers."

"We must get to the temple. It's the quickest route."

"But not the safest. Our forces can charge as a distraction while we go through the mountains." The redhead proposed.

"We lost contact with an entire squad on that path. It is too risky."

"Listen to me," the holy man urged desperately. "Abandon this now, before more lives are lost!"

Suddenly, the Breach pulsed sending another rippling wave causing the earth around them to rumble like an earthquake. Ayla's hand began to shake as the mark flared and charged with energy. The pain was worse and she grasped her wrist as her face twisted in agony. It was over in an instant. She looked up seeing everyone's eyes on her.

"How do you think we should proceed?" Cassandra asked a minute later.

"Now you're asking me what I think?" She laughed sarcastically with a disbelieving look. One minute she was a prisoner and the next they were asking her how she wanted to proceed? What the hell?

"You have the mark." Solas replied with an amused smirk, having guessed her thoughts.

"And you are the one we must keep alive. Since we cannot agree on our own…"

Ayla didn't hesitate, the people on the mountain could need their help and abandoning them was not an option with so many innocent lives already lost.

"Use the mountain path. Work together, you all know what's at stake." She said with strong command.

"Leliana, bring everyone left in the valley. Everyone." Cassandra addressed to the redhead. She then started to walk in the direction of the path, passing the Chancellor.

"On your head be the consequences, Seeker."

Ayla glared at him with her head raised high as she and the others followed behind the woman.

It took three hours for them to climb and wade through an old mining shaft and down the mountain, before they came upon the missing soldiers. The squad were fighting hard, half of them slain by the demons coming from the rift that had detained them. This rift was different than the others, stronger, and it took more time to close it as new types of demons attacked them. She felt her magic nearly depleted and wasn't sure if she had any energy left to even pull the power from it and close the rift.

Ayla kept it to herself though and stuck out the hand with the mark. With a will of its own the anchor connected and pulsed as it began to absorb the rift, closing it a few minutes later. She leaned down, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. Her energy was nearly gone, the war inside her body taking it toll.

Solas kneeled in front of her, holding up a potion. She looked at it suspiciously, hoping it wasn't lyrium. Most mages used it except for her clan. They used the energy of the earth, not wanting the pain and addiction the lyrium caused in everyone, not to mention the other affects it caused her people. "It's only a stamina potion." He told her, guessing her thoughts.

She took it warily as he continued. "You sealed it, as before. You are becoming quite proficient at this."

Proficient at what? Fighting for her life? Ayla wanted to roll her eyes.

"Lets hope it works on the big one." Varric said as he walked by.

"Thank the Maker you finally arrived, Lady Cassandra. I don't think we could have held out for much longer." The leader of the squad said in relief.

"Thank our prisoner, Lieutenant. She insisted we come this way." Cassandra replied looking at Ayla, who was currently downing her potion.

"The prisoner? Then you…?"

Ayla waited for the potion to take effect before she answered the woman. "It was well worth the risk. Too many lives were already lost and no more would be wasted if I could help it."

A gasp of surprise came from the male elf that now stood beside her. She looked at him, raising one of her eyebrows at him in confusion. Did he expect her to just let people die? She wondered.

"Then you have my sincere gratitude." The lieutenant said hitting her palm over her heart in respect.

The squad retreated back the way Ayla and her companions had just come now that the path was clear. Solas caught her eyes and told her, "the path ahead appears to be clear of the demons as well."

"Let's hurry then before that changes." Cassandra said as she continued down the mountain.

It was another hour before they slowed as the remains of the temple came into view.

"This is where you walked out of the Fade and where our soldiers found you." Cassandra told her. "They say a woman was in the rift behind you. No one knows who she was."

Ayla cringed as they passed the melted bodies of some of the people who were caught in the explosion. Sorrow creased her forehead and tears glistened in her eyes. Their faces were frozen in the agony and fear that they had experienced before their deaths. She knew she would never get over the way these people died just as she would never forget how her clan had. Ayla shivered with fear as those memories came to her mind.

Picking her way slowly through the temple ruins with the others close behind her, she wondered how it was she'd survived the blast that had demolished the old stone structure. Cassandra had mentioned she'd stepped out of the Fade and fallen unconscious, though she couldn't even recall that much. The strange woman was the last thing she'd seen before everything went black, and she doubted that was how she'd managed to escape. Still, she didn't really have another explanation for how she'd survived. Nothing seemed to make any sense to her. She stopped in shock as the Breach came into view. It was much bigger up close and it seemed that it flowed through a huge rift. That huge rift was just what she needed. Close it and take the power and she would win the war inside her body.

"You're here!" A voice startled her, coming directly from behind her. "Thank the Maker."

Ayla turned her eyes wide as the woman named Leliana ran forward with several soldiers.

"Leliana, have your men take up positions around the temple." Cassandra ordered. The woman nodded and began issuing her own orders to her men. Cassandra turned her gaze to Ayla walking in front of her. "This is your chance to end this. Are you ready?"

"I'm not sure how to even start getting up to that thing." She said anxiously, afraid she would fail since the power wasn't fully hers at the moment.

"No." Solas' deep voice said from her left. "This rift is the first, and it is the key. Seal it, and perhaps we will seal the Breach." If only it were that simple, she thought.

"Then let's find a way down. Be careful." Cassandra said.

They followed a path that led down and came upon red crystals that made fear pool in her stomach as the energy coming off it began to make her feel sick. Ayla vaguely heard Varric speaking about what it was but couldn't focus on it since she was too busy trying to keep herself from throwing up or keeling over. She felt a hand on her elbow guiding her past it as she felt dizziness blur her mind. She hadn't even realized that they stopped.

"Are you alright?" Solas asked. She looked down and saw that it was his hand guiding her. She jerked out of his hold, panicking at his touch. He frowned in disapproval finding her reaction rude.

"I'm fine, thank you." She said her voice shaking with a hint of fear. She hoped he didn't pick up on it, but she could see he did as his gaze softened away from the frown.

She turned awkwardly and continued down the path, coming down to a ledge. She dropped down smoothly and looked up at the rift in fear.

She heard Solas say that it was only partly closed. That statement did not help her fear however. The fact that she would have to open it to do so meant that they would be inviting the demons to cross through. Ayla rose, her head high and took a deep breath before raising her marked hand. The tendril of energy flowed easily this time since she was only opening it. The explosion it gave in response sent her sprawling to the ground, her head pounding like a war drum. Gaining her feet, Ayla paled as she saw what had taken the opportunity to cross into their world...

A pride demon...

Leaping into action, Ayla began firing spell after spell at the beast. It was strong though, far stronger than anything she'd ever encountered before in this life. Realizing her lightning wasn't hurting it at all, she relied solely on the fire and ice she was able to call upon. Taking every opportunity to work on sealing the rift that she was able, she wondered just how much longer she'd be able to hold off the demons before she collapsed. They seemed endless in their encroachment of her world, each one driven mad by the effect being out of the Fade had on them. Still, she fought on. Just because she wouldn't survive this didn't mean she didn't want her clans to. Before, she'd believed this was a human problem that they themselves needed to deal with. Now, being as close as she was to the Breach, she knew that if she didn't do something, those that were counting on her would be destroyed.

Seeing the pride demon fall after a great battle, she turned her attention to the rift. She was spent, and closing this one would be the last thing she ever did. Her body ached with exhaustion, every bone feeling as though it had been shattered into a million pieces. Lifting her palm, she sent out the energy necessary to close the massive tear before her, pouring even her life into knowing she was dying anyways, her body losing its fight to maintain control. They couldn't afford to leave it even a fraction of the way open, for fear of something worse coming out of the Fade.

All eyes were on her at the moment, she could feel them and it was an uncomfortable sensation. This rift seemed tied to the Breach however, and she used it to help her battle the magics inside her making the massive rift shrink, the swirling mess in the sky slowing down. Her heart was pounding in her ears, resisting the will to keep going as all of the magic warred within her. She was losing though, could feel the last of her essence being pulled from her. Her vision was wavering and with one last surge she pushed the last of her mana out, sealing the rift, causing it to blast over them all, the impact sending her back. She hit the ground hard, letting out a tired breath Ayla gave herself over to the peaceful oblivion that welcomed her.