Another chapter longer than usual and not much romance in it.

- some dialog comes from the game-

Thanks for reading and reviewing. It makes my day to know what people think of my little fantasy :)



Brother Genitivi had shown them the way to the old temple, his faith leading him despite the pain and exhaustion. Elissa wasn't sure if she believed the legend; sometimes she wasn't even sure she believed in the Maker anymore after all that happened. But seeing the hope in Alistair's eyes was enough for her to go on, to search for the ashes and try to save the arl.

The temple's architecture was breathtaking even though it was covered with ice and snow. Elissa could feel something in the air, something she couldn't describe. She felt stronger somehow, and at peace. She knew the others felt the same way when they seemed to relax a little.

But the feeling of peace was not to last; more villagers attacked them, defending their beliefs at the cost of their lives. The attacks were more and more vicious as they had to fight not only villagers but blood mages, dragonlings and drakes as well.

"The caverns... it seems to go up. Maybe it's leading outside." Alistair remarked as he noticed lights straight ahead.

"Stop! You will go no further." A tall and menacing man shouted as he saw them, his arms crossed on his chest. "You have defiled our temple. You have spilled the blood of the faithful, and slaughtered our young. No more. You will tell me now, intruders, why have you done all this? Why have you come here?"

"We meant you no harm. We have come here for the Urn of Sacred Ashes." Elissa replied.

"You have done this all for an ancient relic?"

"We need it to save a man's life."

"Know this, stranger... the prophet Andraste has overcome death itself and has returned to her faithful in a form more radiant than you can imagine! Not even the Tevinter Imperium can hope to slay Her now. What hope do you have?" He leaned closer to Elissa, his gaze menacing, his tone hard and defiant.

"What are you talking about? Andraste is dead." Elissa told the man, feeling uneasy at the closeness. She took a step back and swallowed as the man's eyes locked on hers.

"You know nothing!" he spat in anger. "Andraste revealed Herself to us! We are Her Chosen!" Elissa heard a metallic sound and understood he and his followers were preparing for battle.

"To arms, my brethren! Andraste will grant us victory!" he shouted, his sword in the air.

Elissa quickly unsheathed her own weapons, the clash of metal echoing in her ears as the weapons made contact. The man pushed his attack, soon taking the advantage. She saw a flash of movement beside her as Roland attacked the man with his shield, leaving her enough time to prepare for the next assault.

The man's followers proved no match for Zevran and Alistair who quickly defeated them and joined the battle against their leader. The man was a formidable foe, the fight going on and on as he refused to be defeated as quickly as the others. But as strong as he was, he was still alone and soon he was lying on his back, all life gone from his body.

"What do you think he meant when he said Andraste overcame death and revealed Herself to them?" Elissa asked, trying to catch her breath.

"He was mad, they all were." Roland replied. "We should move on. The Urn must be close now."

They left the caverns and headed outside, the light hurting their eyes for a second. They heard a deafening sound and then a clap of wings. Their eyes searched the horizon, wondering what made the noises. A high dragon appeared in the sky, flying so near Elissa almost fell.

"A dragon." Roland breathed, his eyes shining in excitement at the sight of a real dragon.

"I think we should be careful not to draw that thing near." Alistair said, his voice trembling a bit, his eyes fixed on the now resting dragon in the mountain.

"Alistair is right, we must be careful. I have not come all the way here to be eaten by a dragon." Elissa declared, making her way on the bridge.

Midway she saw another temple in the distance, smaller than the one they just left but as imposing. She made her way to it, her friends following closely.

OooooooooooooooO

"I... feel like we have just entered the Grand Cleric's bedchambers. Where no one has gone before..." Zevran chuckled, bringing a groan of exasperation from Roland.

"Zevran, please, this is a Holy place. Show some respect." Elissa muttered.

"I bid you welcome, pilgrims." a voice said, startling the little group. "I am the Guardian, the protector of the Urn of Sacred Ashes. It has been my duty, my life, to protect the Urn and prepare the faithful who come to revere Andraste."

"We need the Urn to save a noble man from death. How do we get to it?"

"You have come to honor Andraste, and you shall, if you prove yourself worthy."

"How must we prove ourselves?"

"You will undergo four tests of faith, and we shall see how your soul fares. If you are found worthy, you will see the Urn and be allowed to take a small pinch of the Ashes for yourself. If you are not..." his voice trailed off, the unspoken threat sinking in Elissa's brain as she wondered what would truly happen if they were not found worthy.

"We should start the tests then."

"Before you go, there is something I must ask. I see that the path that led you here was not easy. There is suffering in your past, your suffering and the suffering of others. You abandoned your father and mother to the hands of Rendon Howe, knowing he would show no mercy. Do you think you failed your parents?"

Elissa's eyes fixed the ground at her feet, tears of guilt forming. "They wanted me to survive so I could tell about Howe's treachery; though...though I could have prevented the attack. I could have saved them. If only I had listened to them, everyone would still be alive."

"Thank you, it is all I wished to know." the Guardian replied, showing no emotion.

"Elissa, you told me yourself; no one could have saved them, no one knew." Roland said, taking her hand in his to comfort her.

"And you, knight of Highever, do you think you failed the people you were sworn to protect?" the Guardian asked, his eyes fixing on Roland.

"I trained all my life... I should have been able to save them." he replied, his voice low.

"And you still doubt yourself, or is that not the reason for your countless sleepless nights?"

Roland remained silent, his eyes flashing in anger at the Guardian, his fingers involuntarily tightening their grip on Elissa's hand. The Guardian turned his attention to Alistair, resuming with his questions.

"Roland." Elissa looked at him, her other hand turning his head to face her. "You failed no one; you were my father's best knight and I know you did everything you could."

"I don't know..." he muttered softly, his grip on her hand softening as the anger vanished.

"The path is open." the Guardian said before vanishing.

"Let's go with those tests. I don't like this place." Alistair said, heading to the open door.

Their first test was to answer riddles asked by people from Andraste's past. Elissa was grateful her friends were there to help her, some of the riddles being trickier than others.

The second door opened after the last spirit vanished, revealing a man standing in the middle of a small room.

"Father?" Elissa asked, closing the distance between her and her father's spirit.

"Look at you, a fine warrior and a Grey Warden." the spirit said, pride in his voice. He took a moment to look at Elissa, his expression suddenly saddening. "You don't need to feel guilty for what happened."

"I should have fought harder to save you."

"You would have shared our faith, pup. We didn't want that. We wanted you to survive."

Elissa closed her eyes, tears forming behind her lids. "I regret saying those mean things to you; I am sorry for not being the daughter you wanted me to be."

"You love him and it was hard for you, both of you, to let go. It was not easy for us to see you so sad afterwards, knowing that your heart was broken because of us. We never knew what he truly meant to you.

We always loved you, pup, no matter what. And we will always be proud of our daughter." the spirit smiled warmly and embraced Elissa. "I love you, pup."

"I love you too, father." Elissa muttered to the empty spot the spirit occupied seconds before. "Let's go." she said sadly, already heading to the third room.

The third test was trickier than they expected. Standing still in the middle of the room, weapons ready for a fight, were four spirits, one of each of them. Elissa didn't truly know what the purpose to fight themselves was. She wondered if maybe it had something to do with the previous tests, if it was some way to let go of their past and move on. All Elissa knew for sure was that she'd have to find that answer herself as the spirit representing her vanished without answering the questions in her mind.

Only one test remained. They made their way to the last chamber. She saw a tall statue in the back, lighted by the sunlight penetrating from a hole in the ceiling. She knew if the ashes existed they were where the statue was but between them and their prize was fire. A small altar stood at the entry and Elissa went to it, her fingers caressing the cold stone as she read the inscription carved on it.

Cast off the trappings of worldly life and cloak yourself in the goodness of spirit. King and slave, lord and beggar; be born anew in the Maker's sight.

"Maker's breath, they must be kidding." Elissa exclaimed as she stepped back from the altar.

"What is it?" Roland asked behind her.

She leaned closer to him. "We are supposed to remove our equipment. All of it." she whispered as he read the inscription, a smile spreading on his lips.

"It's not that bad, Elissa. There's nothing I haven't already seen at least a hundred times." He looked at her, grinning.

Elissa raised an eyebrow, her arms crossing on her chest. He looked at her for a moment, his expression thoughtful.

"I promise not to look if you don't look either."

"I thought there was nothing I haven't already seen at least a hundred times." Elissa said, smiling mischievously, examining Roland from head to toe.

"Now that I think of it, the situation is different. I think it will be better if we don't look." Roland explained, his cheeks coloring a deep shade of red.

Elissa's eyes caught a movement behind Roland and she remembered the rest of their party. She sighed, her eyes remaining on Zevran. "Maker, if I had known I wouldn't have asked Zevran to come with us."

Roland snorted at the thought of Zevran examining her. "I won't let him look at you."

"Something's wrong?" Alistair asked.

"It says to cast off the trappings of worldly life." Elissa informed him.

"What! We have to get naked!" Alistair exclaimed, surprised, his cheeks and the tip of his ears red.

"I love the idea!" Zevran exclaimed joyfully, already removing his armor.

"I bet you do..." Roland whispered angrily.

"Don't be shy, my friends." Zevran laughed, his eyes riveted on Elissa, a curious smile spreading on his face.

"I suggest no one looks at the others." Alistair stammered, his cheeks and ears redder by the second.

"I agree." Roland hissed, his eyes fixed on Zevran.

"Fine, fine... I won't look. I promise." Zevran pouted.

They undressed and crossed the fire; Roland staying close to Elissa to make sure the elf wouldn't see a thing.

"You have been through the trials of the Gauntlet; you have walked the path of Andraste, and like Her, you have been cleansed. You have proven yourself worthy, pilgrims." The voice of the Guardian echoed in the empty room, the man remaining in the doorway, smiling gently at them.

Elissa put back her armor quickly and crossed the room to the statue. A small silver urn stood in front of it. Elissa extended trembling fingers, afraid to touch the holy relic.

"Nice vase. I should get one for my house." Zevran said, leaning over shoulder to take a better look.

"Zevran!" Elissa said, her eyes locking on the elf who stepped back. "Please, show some respect to the dead."

Elissa extended her hands again and lifted the urn's lid. She took a pinch of the ashes and put it in small leather pouch before leaving the old temple.

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"Did you find it?" Genitivi asked excitedly as he saw them. Elissa nodded and showed the man the ashes.

"Oh Maker... I"m not worthy to look upon... What was it like? Coming to the Urn I mean."

"There were tests to prove our worthiness."

"Tests? That is interesting." the man said thoughtfully. "We must organize an expedition. There is so much history here. It must be studied. And pilgrims... pilgrims should be allowed to come to the Urn."

"I don't think it's a good idea. People could try to exploit this discovery." Elissa warned the man but he argued.

"It belongs to all the faithful! We must share it! I will return to home now; I have much work to do. If you ever come to Denerim, feel free to visit me. I'll be happy to see you again, my friend."