AN: Hiya folks! Wow! It's been a while, a lot of personal things have been happening in my life. I'm finally shaking off the dust of my writing boots and diving back in. Now where were we…

Disclaimer: I don't own it.

I gasped as I awoke from my dream.

I looked to my side where Cullen slept beside me. My chest was heaving and sweat fell down my back. Redcliffe had been daunting. Dorian and I found ourselves thrown forward in time and the future before us had been anything but a pretty picture.

I had looked into the eyes of Blackwall, my newly recruited Warden friend, and Sera. Their eyes were full of suffering and red, something not natural.

I had watched as they died for me, and as Leliana had bravely used her very last arrow to insure we returned to the time we came from. The weight of that future had been heavy on my mind ever since we returned.

We had been victorious, gaining the support of the mages and having the ability to grant them freedom in the process. We could close the Breach for good now and yet all I could think about was that future. That future that was up to me to prevent. I had asked the future Leliana what had become of Cullen.

"He hardened after your death. He became harsh in his leadership, and he took risks with himself in battle. He was… Slain, by a red Templar that he once called brother."

Just thinking of that happening made me feel sick. I looked at his sleeping form and the fear subsided briefly. He had hugged me close when I returned. Then we walked and I told him of everything I had learned in this dark future, leaving out his own outcome.

I felt myself distancing from him. Just the thought of losing him was enough to make me uneasy. This thing between us was still new but I could already feel my heart becoming attached to him. I had lost Sylvia, Angelica, and Simon. I couldn't bear to lose Cullen too, that would surely ruin me.

A hardness was growing inside me as the weight of what I must do became more and more apparent. I would more than likely not survive this ordeal. This "Elder One" hadn't shown himself yet but if he was capable of creating such a dark future I was sure he wasn't just your average Mage.

I propped myself on my elbow as I watched Cullen sleep. He was so handsome, and he cared deeply for me. I could tell. I traced my hand through his hair and over his face, to the scar on his lip, an accident in one of his first training sessions as a young Templar, I had learned. Maker, but I could see myself loving him. I could picture it perfectly, if we lived in a different world. Me painting my pictures in a nice house, my belly round with child as a little blonde haired boy followed behind Cullen in the yard outside my window. Him smiling lovingly at me when he caught me watching them. I could see it.

We didn't live in that world though.

We lived in a world tormented by demons and war, I was a Mage and despite the outcome of this war I would never live a normal life, and letting Cullen become more attached was cruel. I had to end it. For both of our sakes.

But for tonight I would let myself sleep in his arms one last time. I would let myself believe we were those people in that perfect world, if only for a night.

I awoke to the sound of someone banging on my cabin door. Cullen too was awoken, he sat up and rubbed at his eyes tiredly. I pulled my robe over my nightgown and rushed to the door.

"Sorry to disturb you dearie, but we've a bit of a situation"

It was Dorian and he looked nervous. I stepped out of my cabin and looked behind him to see an army marching down the mountain.

"Cullen!" I shouted frantically.

He appeared beside me. "Maker's breath…" He murmured.

His face hardened and suddenly he was in commander mode. He rushed back into my cabin and pulled on his armor hurriedly. I followed suit and pulled my leathers on. Not worried about modesty in the moment and neither was Cullen. We followed Dorian to the gates where Josephine was instructing everyone that wasn't a soldier to get to the chantry.

"Under what banner?" Cullen demanded as Leliana explained the unknown force approaching.

"None" Josephine said solemnly.

The gates pushed forward and we all looked to each other before opening them. A strangely dressed rogue stood before us, he looked up at us from under his hat.

"The Elder One comes, Corypheus, do you know him? He knows you! And he's angry you took his mages."

We all looked to the top of the mountain where a dark figure stood commanding the army. So this was the Elder One.

An hour of fighting. My shoulders ached from loading the ballista and causing a small Avalanche. Taking out a large portion of Corypheus' troops. Templars with red lyrium growing from them attacked us. They twisted into vile creatures and I thought briefly how glad I was that Cullen had left the order. Now we made our way to the Chantry, just when we thought we might have a chance a bloody archdemon shows up.

As Varric had said, I am the most unlucky person alive.

We were all in the Chantry now, contemplating certain death when Roderick spoke of a way out of the valley.

"If we could get the attention of that thing then we could lead the people of Haven to safety" he said weakly and coughed.

"I'll go." I said quietly.

All eyes shot to me but the only ones I looked at were a pair of hazel ones that looked angry and scared.

"Bretta…" He began in a warning tone but I held up my hand.

"Cullen, it's me this thing wants. I will cause a distraction and it's up to you to lead the people out of here."

He came toward me and spoke in a lower tone, "We will find another way."

I smiled and touched his cheek. "I'm afraid we are short on time, Cullen. Get everyone out of here, okay?" I turned to leave him before I lost the strength to do so.

He grabbed my arm and pulled me back to him. "Bretta I…" His eyes searched mine and I saw that future again. I held that thought in my heart as I kissed his cheek quickly and left, my heart squeezing tightly in my chest.

AN: Sorry again that I've been out of commission lately. Hopefully things can get back into motion.