The air was still as Ana sat on a small pile of rubble, playing with her magic. She moved her hands as a tiny lightning bolt flickered in her palm, followed by a miniscule blizzard. She looked over at Fenris, sharpening his sword, a small grin on his lips. Without warning, a snowball smashed against the side of his head, knocking him off balance as he cursed in Tevene. He threw an angry glare in her direction, but it melted instantly into a smirk as he saw her giggling.

"What is that language you always speak when you're angry?" she asked resting her chin in her hand.

He looked at her quizzically for a moment. "It's the language of the Tevinter Imperium. I'm surprised you've never heard it."

"I suppose you learned it during your time as a slave." she mused, more so to herself. "Do you not know the language of our people, then?"

"Dalish?" a sneer crossed face, the word sarcastic, rolling off his tongue. "No, I never learned. Never cared much for a people I never intended on meeting."

"Would you like to?"

Pausing, Fenris turned back to his blade. "Learn Dalish?"

"No, learn Elvhen. Why do you keep calling it 'Dalish'? We are all elven, we are the same, The People. I do not see why where we live makes us different to our own."

Fenris stared at her, waiting for her to laugh or rescind her statement, but she didn't. She was serious. "You honestly see us all as one kind?"

"Are we not? What makes an elf that lives in a city with humans so different from one who lives among the trees with their clan?"

Pausing, he smirked. "I suppose there's no harm in learning a new language if it means so much to you."

A smile spread across her face as her eyes danced. "Very well, let's start with the basics."

Fenris smiled for a moment before his brow furrowed and a snarl crossed his face. He walked to Ana's side as they heard footsteps followed by a mage with green robes and orange hair rounding the corner.

"Well, look at that. The beast escaped his master once more."

"Anders," Fenris growled, "I should have known."

The mage's eyes shifted to Ana, his fists clenching. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Relax, Blondie, they're both here to help, surprising as that is." Varric said as he walked past Anders.

"Varric? You're here too?" Fenris snorted, rolling his eyes.

"I know, I know, not quite the reunion we were all expecting." he glanced at Ana, then Fenris, before turning to Anders. "But we aren't here to kill each other."

"Then what are they here for? And how did they even find each other?"

"They're here to help us get Hawke back. As for how or why they're together, that's something you would have to ask them. Does it matter?"

Relaxing his stance slightly, Anders sighed. "It does if they're planning on killing her."

Virana piped up, rounding the corner with the rest of her group. "They won't. Ana has agreed to help us of her own volition. If she wished Hawke harm why would she endanger herself to save her?"

Anders shook his head. "I presume you are The Inquisitor?"

She nodded.

"You are far too trusting for someone in your position."

Virana frowned, her gaze directed at the apostate. Before Virana could reply, Ana pointed to the small green aura in the courtyard.

"As much as I would love to continue this debate on whether or not I can be trusted, I would much rather we get this crazy mission underway. What do I need to do, Virana?"

The Inquisitor walked to where the massive rift had once been, her hand glowing in response. "With this rift already opened and closed once, it's incredibly unstable. The Anchor is strong enough to open it, but not hold it open." She turned to Ana. "That's where you come in. You'll use your magic to boost the Anchor, allowing it to keep the rift open long enough for us to get in, get Hawke, and get out. But we will have limited time. Dorian will stay here and maintain the magic keeping it open. Once the rift closes again, however, it's closed for good."

Fenris pinched the bridge of his nose. "Wonderful. Not only are we risking death by physically entering the Fade, we are risking being trapped there as well."

"We?" Ana said, surprised. "You're coming with me?"

"Believe me, I have no desire to go. But I am not about to let you be alone with them."

Ana smiled as Dorian and Varric approached Virana. Dorian placed one hand on her shoulder, his staff ready in his other.

"Don't worry, I will keep the rift open as long as possible. You've survived the impossible before, don't stop now."

"And should any demons make it through, Bianca and I'll take care of them." the dwarf said as he patted his crossbow.

Ana walked to Virana, Fenris to her left, Anders on the other side of The Inquisitor. "Shall we begin?"

Virana raised her palm, the anchor glowing brightly as it connected with the rift. Ana held her hands out, a green aura surrounding them as she thrust them forward. The ground shook as the rift opened, a small tear becoming a large doorway. The other side was blank, like looking at a mirror with no reflection. Dorian slammed his staff down, purple wisps surrounding him, an equally purple aura surrounding the tear.

"Go! You have as much time as I have mana!"

With a nod, Virana jumped through, followed by Anders. Ana hesitated before stepping through, a groaning and reluctant Fenris behind her.

Ana put her hand above her face, shading her eyes as she looked around. They found themselves in an open field, the sun shining brilliantly, green grass dancing in the breeze. Trees stood a short distance to the right while the grass seemed to go on forever in every other direction.

"Where... are we?" Virana asked as she looked around.

"This is the Fade. There is no mistaking it." Anders's voice was different, deeper, a blue aura surrounding him.

"Anders?"

"He is here. I am Justice, the spirit residing within him."

Fenris scoffed in disgust. "I expected the Fade to be much... different."

In the distance, two elven children, a boy and a girl, both no older than eight or nine, ran from the trees, laughing and calling to each other in their native tongue.

"I win! I win! I beat you, Lethallin!" the girl called as she stopped, panting.

"That's not fair, you tripped me!" the boy replied as he sat next to her.

"Spirits?" Fenris whispered to Ana. "And why can I understand them?"

"We all can." Justice answered. "This is the Fade, but not as we know it."

Virana took a step toward the children. "What do you mean?"

As if she were the only one there, Ana walked past the group, staring at the children, her face riddled with confusion, her eyes almost longing for this to be real.

"Where is she going?" Virana turned to look at Fenris then Justice. "What is going on here?"

Standing just a few feet away from the laughing children, Ana watched silently as they continued to giggle and talk, laying in the grass, staring at clouds.

"Lethallin, will you promise me something?" the girl said, brushing her raven hair from her face.

"Anything." the boy answered, pulling his brown braid around his shoulder as he rested his head in his palms.

"Promise we will be friends forever. That we will always be together."

Smiling, he closed his eyes. "Forever. I promise."

Fenris wrapped his hand around the hilt of his blade as he turned to Justice. "What is going on here? If this is some sort of trick-"

A cold wind blew, interrupting Fenris, the grassy scene disappearing as they became surrounded by a snow-covered forest. Where the children had been laughing was now the edge of an icy lake, a large waterfall stood frozen, the light reflecting off the ice and creating beautiful rainbow shadows. Ana turned to face the trees behind her as two elves came into view, a teenage boy in a wolf's pelt and a teenage girl in a coat made of fox pelts. The girl had her eyes covered as the boy led her by the hand.

Justice watched the scene as he continued to speak. "The Fade is manipulated by emotions. The ones with the strongest connection to it can change how it appears. Not only are we in the Fade, we are in her memories."

Virana turned her head, a stunned expression on her face. "Wait, so these are Ana's memories? We're seeing her childhood?"

Fenris's gaze softened as Justice nodded. He took a step toward Ana but stopped when the young elves reached her. They passed through her as though she were a ghost, causing the pained expression on her face grow.

"Ok, open your eyes." The boy said through a smile.

The girl gasped as she looked around in awe. "This is... this is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

"Yet it pales compared to you."

The girl grinned, a lovestruck expression shining through her eyes. "Did you really bring me all the way out here to tell me I'm prettier than a frozen waterfall?"

Moving closer, the boy gently placed his hands on her cheeks. "No, I brought you out here to tell you I love you, Ma Vhenon. I always have and I always will."

The girl's eyes watered as he kissed her, her love and passion evident in the way she kissed him back. "I love you too, Lethallin."

Virana stared as the two leaned their brows against each other, while Ana fell to her knees, grabbing her head. "No, no, no, no."

Suddenly the sound of explosions rocked the area, the ground shaking. Screams carried through the air off in the distance as though a great battle was being fought.

The world around them melted like paint washed off a canvas; making way for the scenery to change once again. Thundering hooves and war cries echoed through the burning valley surrounding them. Virana rushed to the top of the hill, holding her brown braid against her partially shaven head. Her eyes widened as she saw two armies racing toward each other, magic surrounding both sides.

"We have to stop this!" a young man's voice, oddly familiar, echoed around them.

"Are you sure this will work?" A young Ana's voice echoed in response.

"It will only hurt for a moment, Ma Vhenon. I'm so sorry." Pain and confliction clearly resounding in his tone.

Ana threw her head down, screaming as she clenched her fists in her hair. The world around them crumbling.

"She's losing control!" Justice yelled as the ground shook, splitting open from the force. "She will get us all killed!"

Without hesitation, Fenris ran to Ana as she sat on her knees, holding her head. Her eyes were black, tears streaming down her face. Fenris paused as he grabbed her shoulders, for a moment he saw that young girl so full of love and innocence. He stared at her as he understood now why she was so closed off, so jaded.

"Ana!" gently shaking her shoulders, Fenris tried to reach her.

She continued to stare, her hands falling to her side, lost in a trance.

"Ana wake up!" he shook her a little harder.

Thunder split the sky overhead, hail falling around them.

"So scared." she whispered, her voice shaking. "Don't leave me, Lethallin, I'm so scared."

Utter compassion filled Fenris's face as he wrapped her in his arms, his lips next to her ear. "Ana, you're safe. I promise you, I will keep you safe."

She stiffened, his voice ringing in her ears. "Fenris? Is that you?"

"I'm here. I have you, don't be afraid."

Everything flashed white as the shaking and the sounds of battle disappeared. The surroundings came into view, and the group found themselves in a small canyon, cliffs and rocks jutting out in different directions. In the distance, an orange glow shone above the stones, a female silhouette clearly distinguished.

"Is everything all right?" Virana called, standing to her feet Fenris pulling Ana to hers.

Justice looked around, "She seems to have regained control of her magic and her emotions. We should hurry."

"Are you ok?" Fenris whispered.

Ana simply nodded, refusing to meet his eyes. He saw something there that he had never seen before... fear. She was afraid of the memory that followed the waterfall, the memory of her betrayal.

Sweat poured down Alistair's face, as he tossed and turned beneath the sheets. Flashes of his time with The Hero of Ferelden played before his eyes, images of the darkspawn and the archdemon haunting him. He could hear them speaking but could no longer understand them. He saw images of the Hero standing before the dragon, a brave young mage that he had grown to love before she disappeared.

Alistair sat up, awake and alert, panting. Walking to window, his bare chest covered in sweat and glistening in the moonlight, he gazed at the snow covered mountains as his mind raced. Alistair closed his eyes, expecting to see the normal flashes of genlocks and hurlocks, hear the normal growls and gurgles that accompanied them, but he saw nothing.

He reached for the locket of darkspawn blood he received at his Joining and stared at it, confused. The taint was gone, he couldn't feel the darkness. His Warden abilities-all of them-were gone.

Hawke's body hovered above a stone bed, an orange glow surrounding her. There were no marks, no signs of battle on her skin.

"What... is this?" Virana whispered as she reached to touch the barrier.

"She is being protected by a spirit." Ana answered, her eyes never leaving Hawke. "That's how she survived. A spirit took pity on her and became a protective force that would heal her as she waited."

Fenris raised an eyebrow. "So she's in limbo?"

Justice nodded. "Yes. She will not wake, she will not even age until released."

"What kind of spirit can do that?" Virana asked.

"Compassion. This was done by a spirit of compassion." Ana stated.

"How can you be sure?" asked Fenris, unease filling him..

Ana said nothing as she placed her hands above Hawke. She closed her eyes, intoning words in Elvhen, the same language they had heard in her memories. The orange glow around Hawke faded as it swirled up Ana's arms. As soon as the aura disappeared, Hawke's eyes opened, darting immediately to Justice.

"By the Maker, am I dead? Are we dead?"

"Not quite." Virana chuckled.

Embracing the Inquisitor, Hawke continued to sound awestruck. "How did you find me? And how did you get back here?"

"Those are all questions for another time." Ana called, walking back toward the rift. "I can feel the tear weakening. If we don't want to get trapped here, we should hurry!"

"Tell me that's not who I think it is." Hawke said wearily as Justice wrapped her arm around his shoulders.

"They came to help. We couldn't have done it without Ana." Virana said as reassuringly as possible.

Scowling Hawke nudged her head toward Fenris. "And what about him? He hid from his master again?"

Ana stopped dead in her tracks, whipping around to face Hawke. "Make no mistake, Champion, I intend to see you pay for what you did. Unless you want that day to be today, I suggest you mind your tongue. Danarius is dead, Fenris has no master."

"We can all fight about who did what and who deserves to die later, we need to get out of here!" Virana interjected.

Ana and Hawke glared at each other a moment longer before Ana turned to catch up to Fenris. She glanced at him before walking ahead, her eyes on the rift in the distance. The air grew colder the closer they got. The rift was now only a dozen yards away, but they could see it closing. Ana tilted her head, pulling her hair behind her ears.

"Damnit, where are they? I can't keep this open much longer!" Dorian yelled.

An arrow whizzed through the air as a demon cried out. "I don't know, but Bianca's running out of arrows! If any more demons come through before they get back, we're gonna be dinner!" Varric answered.

"We need to hurry!" Ana called. "The demons have found the rift!"

Virana nodded as Justice scooped Hawke into his arms. They ran for the rift, the sounds of fighting growing louder and louder.

"Dorian!" The Inquisitor called.

"Inquisitor! Thank the Maker! I can't hold it much longer!" Dorian yelled, his struggles coated his words.

As they got closer, the rift began shrinking faster. Ana and Fenris made it first with The Inquisitor and Justice close behind. Fenris jumped through, stumbling to keep his balance as he landed on the other side. Ana stood, waving her hand in a circular motion as Justice jumped through with Hawke, followed by Virana. Ana paused, the rift behind her now the size of a window. She stared at the emptiness of the Fade, looking for something. She looked down as she felt a hand grab her wrist and pull her through.

Landing on her back as the rift snapped shut, she turned her head to see what broke her fall, grinning slightly as she saw a groaning Fenris rubbing his head.

"What were you thinking? You could have been trapped in there!" he growled.

"I thought I….heard something. A voice that sounded so familiar."

"Hawke! Andraste's ass, I never thought I'd see you again!" Varric exclaimed as he hugged her.

"Thank you for coming back for me...all of you." she said as she glanced lovingly at Anders. "I know how much you and Justice hate entering the Fade. And Virana, to risk your life again for me. I can never repay you."

Virana hugged her as Ana approached them. "My end of the deal has been upheld." looking at Hawke, she continued. "What you did to Fenris is unforgivable. Go, gather your strength and know...I will come for you."

Anders moved in front of his lover, but she placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll be waiting. If she wants to fight over a runaway slave, then so be it."

Ana snarled, her fangs flashing as Varric stepped between them. "All right now, we just finished another impossible suicide mission. Let's end on a good note." Varric glanced at Fenris, who was leaning against the wall, a murderous glare in Hawke's direction. "I don't agree with what she did, but what's done is done. It looks like it ended up working for his benefit anyways."

Ana scowled as she turned to leave with Fenris. Varric reached to shake her hand, a note in his palm. "Thanks for the help."

Alistair paced the ground outside the sparring area of Skyhold. Ever since he had recovered from Ana's attack, he had felt different. He replayed the event over and over in his head, her blood brought him back to life...could it have cured him of the taint as well? Was it too much to hope that there was a way to cure Grey Wardens?

He turned as he heard the gates open, The Inquisitor and her party coming through. He thought a moment longer before calling to Varric, meeting him at the bottom of the stairs leading to the Main Hall.

"Where is Ana? I heard she went to Adamant with you."

Varric nodded. "She did. She helped get Hawke back, threatened her life, then left with Fenris. Why?"

Alistair met his eyes for a moment before looking beyond the wall. "She can cure Wardens. I need to find her."

Eyebrows raised, Varric snorted, "Well, damn, that's a twist. I don't think even she knew that would happen."

"Do you know where I can find her?"

"She travels with another elf I used to know. Just look for a trail of bodies and you'll find them. But she doesn't seem the type to help without it somehow benefiting her. I'd be careful."

"Tell The Inquisitor I'll send word when I can. For now, let's keep this between us. If there's a cure for the Blight, then no Warden should ever have to experience the calling again."

Ana sat on the bed of the dilapidated, abandoned home they settled in for the time being. She held Varric's note in her hand, her eyes deep in contemplation.

"Tell me again? Varric wants you to help the Inquisition? As an official ally?"

"He says he's worried Virana will get herself killed, she doesn't have the right mindset to lead the Inquisition."

Fenris sat beside her, the bed creaking. "What are you thinking?"

Chuckling, Ana crumpled the note and tossed it into the fireplace. "I couldn't agree more, but Virana and her Inquisition are not my problem. The only reason I'm showing interest at all is because Solas has used them for protection."

"In the Fade...in your memories, that was him? Your childhood friend turned lover?"

Ana laughed, a poor attempt to hide the hurt seeing those memories left. "You saw me being a lovestruck fool. No, that's not why I want him dead."

"Then why?"

Ana bit her lip. "It's...complicated and not something you're ready to know. Or at least not something I'm ready for you to know...I'll tell you everything when I'm ready."

Fenris nodded, disappointed, but he understood. "So what do we do now? Just follow behind the Inquisition?"

"Until I can figure out a way to draw him out, yes."

Yawning as he stretched across the bed, Fenris closed his eyes, his arm falling around Ana's waist. "Then I guess we need to do some scouting tomorrow."

She was quiet as she stared at the flames, their shadows dancing on the walls. She reached into her pocket and pulled an amulet out, rubbing the gem between her fingers. "You can't hide forever, Solas. I will find you. Even if I have to tear down the Inquisition to do so."