"This was the place."

Alex and her party stopped at a clearing, where she had remember the place where the gigantic Nightmare demon loomed before, a massive, deformed creature that looked like a gigantic spider with maggots coming out of the various holes in its body. At the memory of the ghastly creature, she shivered violently, and Cullen pressed her closer to his side, and Cole's hand tightened on hers.

Solona came forward, looking around, "This is… where you left him?"

She nodded, pointing in front of them. The place where the Rift led to Adamant Fortress… the rift they exited several months ago, was closed, revealing instead another pathway that continued onwards. Cole had let go of her for a moment, looking around, as if he was sensing something. And he did, stiffening a little when a bright green spirit seemed to drift in front of them, first as a ball of a greenish wisp before turning into the shape of a man, armored with a helm on its head.

"He… hello." The boy said nervously, and the spirit seemed to look at him, tilting its head.

"Mortals? In the Fade?" The spirit spoke, a deep manly voice echoing through the din, "A most dangerous thing… mortals in the Fade…"

"What are you, spirit?" Cassandra said, not unsheathing her sword, as the spirit didn't seem to be particularly interested in harming them.

The spirit tilted its head again as it turned to Cassandra, before looking at Cole again, "Faith and compassion… friends that fight together. It is a good partnership." It shifted a bit as if it were straightening its shoulders, "I am a Spirit of Valor."

Solona blinked a little, "I met a Spirit of Valor during my Harrowing… eleven years ago. Are you the same spirit?"

The Spirit of Valor shook its head, "There are many of us, traveling the Fade… various spirits that embody various traits… such as your friends." He pointed at Cassandra and Cole, "I was here as a mortal's bravery summoned me. It was a most glorious, if not bloody, battle."

"A mortal?!" Solona exclaimed, and she pushed forward so that she directly faced the Spirit, "Was it a man, with blond hair and a Warden's armor?"

"A man it is." The spirit said, and it looked down at Solona, "A most brave, fearless, sacrificing man. He fought off the Nightmare demon by himself and made it run away, and endured the pain of his wounds. I hope he has survived such a beating. Very few mortals possess the courage he had."

Solona raised her panicked eyes to Alex, and she came forward, "The man… his name is Alistair. He is our friend, and this woman's husband…" She said, pointing at Solona, "Please, honorable spirit, I ask that you lead us to him, if he really is alive."

The spirit seemed to think of her request for a moment, before nodding a little, "I still sense his courage here in the Fade. Very well, I will lead you to him, but first…" The spirit said, and they blinked when it suddenly produced a sword out of thin air, glowing green. "I will test your mettle. If your heart is true, and you truly wish to see the man you seek alive, then you will duel me. Show me the bravery that is in your heart… Commander."

Everyone in the party blinked, before they turned their eyes to Cullen, who was looking at the spirit in shock, "Me? Why me?"

"The others have already passed their test a long time ago, in a ritual you call your 'Harrowing'." The spirit said, pointing at Alex, Solona and Dorian, "While these two are touched by spirits they embody… faith and compassion. I can sense it in all of them. But your spirit, ser knight, has not been tested. I sense much fear and doubt in you. Duel me. Show me just how stalwart your will is to find your friend."

Cullen looked up at the spirit, and then down at Alex, who seemed just as confused as he was. He then turned to Solona, who nodded back at him. He sighed as he looked up at the spirit, "And what are the rules of this duel?"

"We battle until I am convinced that you really wish to see your friend." The Spirit of Valor said, "If you do not convince me, I will slay you. Are these rules understood?"

Cullen blinked again, "Slay me? You're saying that you're going to kill me if you think I am not brave enough?"

The Spirit of Valor readied his stance, the greenish sword glinting, "There is doubt in you, I can sense it. You believe the man you seek is dead, and your efforts are for naught. Your will is weakened by the fear of the demons that plagued you once before. Duel me… fight me… show your companions what you believe."

Solona raised her accusing eyes at him, and he felt guilty. He didn't want Solona to know, but he really did doubt that Alistair was still alive. He joined the venture mainly for protecting Alex, but at Solona's gaze, he grit his teeth and unsheathed his sword and shield, making Alex clutch at her chest in fear. "Fine then. Bring it on, spirit."

"Cullen!"

Alex exclaimed as the Spirit of Valor charged, its sword drawn, and Cullen raised his shield to deflect its attack. The Spirit of Valor was strong, much stronger than she had thought, and she could see Cullen gritting his teeth at the spirit's strength. He flung his sword to force the spirit's sword away, before thrusting with his right hand to deliver a blow with his sword.

Her hands clasped together in an action of prayer. Maker, please… keep him safe, she prayed ardently, I don't want to lose him. Please, I beg you…

Solona stood beside her and crossed her arms, watching the two fighters as they parried and thrust, trying to find an opening to hurt their opponent. The templar in Cullen was still present, his technique in fighting almost as similar as that of Alistair's, since her husband was trained as a templar before he was a Warden. He kept his shield low, enough to see his opponent in his sights, but high enough to deflect the spirit's attack.

"Sister…" Alex muttered to her, and she looked at her, "Is there any way we can stop this?"

Solona shook her red head, the shade similar to that of Alex's, although the curls were braided and rolled into two buns at her nape, "No. I am sorry, Alex. But he needs this. He needs to prove that he is determined to find Alistair."

"Why does he have to prove it to the Spirit of Valor?" Alex told her, worry tightening her throat, "He survived the massacre in Kinloch Hold, and he fought against Knight Commander Meredith. He fought beside me in Haven and at Adamant. What other proof of his bravery does this spirit need?!"

Solona exhaled, "He doesn't need to prove his bravery to the Spirit. He already knows he is valorous and courageous."

Alex blinked as she looked at her eldest sister, "To who then?"

"He needs to prove it to me."

Alex's eyes widened in surprise, and she seethed at her, "To you?! Hasn't he proven himself enough to you?! He kept me safe, he saved me many times, he loved me, married me and even had a daughter with me! You yourself told him he has become braver!"

Solona shook her head as she looked up at Alex, "We know he is courageous, sister. He is one of the bravest men I've ever met. But the spirit… it sensed that his will to find Alistair is weak. He is here for you, but he does not believe that Alistair can be saved. That's why the spirit is fighting him."

Alex raised her eyes to Cullen, who was knocked back by the Spirit's blow, stumbling backward a little. The spirit was inexhaustible, while he was already panting, tired from the fight.

"Your will is still weak." The spirit said, "You do not believe. You do not think that the man you wish to rescue is alive."

He looked up at Solona, who was still looking angrily at him, as if she was the Spirit herself, wanting to see proof that he would fight hard to find Alistair alive. He looked back at the spirit, "You already told us he is alive!"

"Yes. But you do not believe he will remain so… you believe him dead, by the time you reach him." The spirit said, not menacingly, but it swung its sword. "Your faith in the man's bravery is weak."

"No!" Cullen said as he swung his sword against the Spirit, who countered it again as he attacked, "Ser Alistair is a brave man! He will not fall so easily!"

Cullen growled as he charged again, using his shield as a first blow. The spirit countered it, but Cullen moved quickly, getting the spirit by the side with his sword. Alex saw the spirit take the hit, although it did not cry out in pain, as it does not feel it. With effort, her husband charged again, deflecting the spirit's downward strike with his shield, before he released a flurry of strong blows and pushing the point of his sword forward, driving the blade into the spirit's chest, where its heart would be if he had possessed a physical body.

"Enough." The spirit said, stepping back as it lowered its sword, and Cullen breathed out as he lowered his sword and shield. Alex rushed forward and grasped at him, to make sure he wasn't hurt, and she ran a hand at the sweat that covered his brow. Cullen looked down at her, relieved that the spirit has stopped the fight. He lowered his head so that their foreheads met, and he breathed again.

"I sense your strength with your last blows, Commander." The Spirit of Valor said, its blade vanishing, "You fight like a man who would fight to the death with courage, like a man who still believes in the importance of valiance in this world. You fight, even though there is doubt in you, but you swallow it down, and hope for the best. Sometimes, bravery does not mean that you would wield a sword, but rather that you would keep moving forward, even when you yourself have doubts."

"Thank you." Cullen whispered out, and he sheathed his sword and shield.

"I will accompany you." The spirit said, and they all looked at it, "I will show you the path he took. He was injured when he fought the Nightmare. But he is brave enough to carry on, just as you are. Come, it is this way."

The spirit returned to the form of a wisp, floating forward to lead the way, and Dorian let out a sigh of relief. "Thank the Maker for the Harrowing, then. If all spirits did the same test to me, I don't think I would have passed."

Cullen put his arm around Alex as they started walking again, regaining his strength, and Alex grinned at Dorian, "You? The fabulous pariah is uncertain of his mettle? Perish the thought. You're braver than most mages I've known, Dorian."

The Tevinter mage laughed, "Shows what you know about me, Alex. But I digress. Come, let us follow the spirit and find Ser Alistair."

Alex nodded and Cole grasped her hand again, giving her a gentle squeeze as Dorian and Cassandra walked on ahead behind the spirit, but as Alex passed by Solona, she scowled at her, "I hope to the Maker that you have enough proof of my husband's will to find Ser Alistair, Solona."

But Solona smiled, so brightly and with tears in her eyes, "I do now, sister." She said as she raised her grateful eyes at Cullen, "I do now."