The faint sounds of singing penetrated through the thick haze of 'Rhen's mind. It sounded distant as if part of some forgotten memory or a dream. Its lulls and swells beckoned him with a painful familiarity. As he regained consciousness, the song grew closer, louder.

Evelline…

'Rhen smiled inwardly with relief. It was all just a bad dream. A nightmare. He always had those and Evelline was always there to comfort him. As she was again this time. How could he do without her. He opened his eyes and reached out for her. But it was not his sister who greeted him. Part of him knew it, somewhere in the back of his mind. Still, it did not diminish the pain. 'Rhen's hand fell back to his side as reality returned. It was just a dream. Just not the one he was hoping. He turned his face away and closed his eyes, squeezing them to prevent the flow of tears. There has been enough of that.

"You're awake!" the elven girl exclaimed, half relieved and half excited. Before 'Rhen could utter protests, she was by his bedside, feeling his forehead, checking over his bandages, and generally being overly fussy.

"I'm fine." he managed to croak. His voice was hoarse and his throat felt dryer than the sands of Western Approach.

"Water!" she seemed to pick up on his cues and checking him over one more time, disappeared behind the wooden door. She was gone but a second before the door flew open and her frantic face was beside him once more. "I shouldn't leave you alone! Ms. Kahlee…" 'Rhen watched her fret back and forth, sending him nervous glances while chewing on her lower lip. She paused, looked at him, then at the cot next to his. He followed her gaze. What was an empty spot before was now occupied by Dorian. He looked a mess. His hair was in a disarray and his face was shadowed by stubble and what looked like a blood smear. He looked older, worn out. "I'll wake him!" the girl's voice rang out as her footsteps approached the cot. He wasn't sure why, but panic set in 'Rhen's chest and he reached out to stop her.

"No! No. Don't." he begged, choking back dry spit.

She looked at him in confusion. "He said-" she began.

"I- I promise I won't go anywhere. Just… don't wake him." 'Rhen wasn't sure what terrified him so much. Their confrontation was inevitable, he knew that. But it didn't have to be now, did it? "Please."

"I have to notify the advisors, at least." she voiced, pointing to the door. "If I don't, they'll be angry."

'Rhen sighed and closed his eyes. That was another confrontation he wasn't looking forward to. The only favorable consequence of his actions was the numbness in his body. The panic subsided slightly as he glanced in Dorian's direction again. He did not stir, to 'Rhen's relief. "Help me up." he commanded, motioning for the assistant to come closer. If he was to get through this, he needed to numb his mind, he needed to be his old self. The old self before he was Lavellan. Pain and grief were something he couldn't afford either of. There was too much to do and too little time to do it.

"You mustn't-!"

"That's an order."

He could feel the stares on the back of his head and hear their whispers as he limped through the courtyard on his way to Skyhold's main hall. How long had it been? Not that it mattered much. Nothing looked like it changed. He gave his surroundings a cursory glance before returning attention back to his feet. The only thing that changed was him. One foot in front of the other. Barely holding together. If it wasn't for the bandages, 'Rhen was certain he would fall apart. Ignoring the whispers, he leaned closer into the assistant as she helped him walk. He was glad for her companionship. She didn't ask him questions, didn't engage him in meaningless conversation. She just carried him.

Stairs were more difficult. By the time they reached the top his whole body felt like it was on fire. But instead of letting it drag him down, 'Rhen embraced it. It fueled him and his motivation for what was to come.

"Thank you, for this." 'Rhen managed weakly as they hobbled into the main hall, greeted by gasps of shock and surprise. There were more people there than he was expecting. Judging by the masks, most were dignitaries from Orlais. Which, of course, meant rumors will abound. Let them.

"Take me to the war room." he whispered to the assistant, who nodded in agreement, an expression of discomfort on her face equaling his own. Seeing Orlesians at Skyhold was not that unusual since the Inquisition brokered a peace treaty between Celene and Gaspard. It was more a nuisance as their manners irritated him. They believed themselves superior to all others and it reminded him of the humans from his past.

His past. 'Rhen shook his head slightly to dismiss his thoughts, letting his hair fall over his eyes. He owed them nothing and they meant nothing to him. He had a singular purpose and it lay behind the door he was steadily approaching. When they were finally able to push past it, he shut it firmly and leaned against it, breathing heavily. A small respite before facing the real challenge. Half of him had considered just running for it. Though in his current state he'd probably get as far the front gates before he expired. And that wouldn't be good for anyone. 'Rhen glanced at the stairs leading down to the kitchen and the cellar and then at the door leading to Josephine's office. Their ambassador was the last person he wanted to see right now. But with his luck…

"I don't suppose you could go check for me?" he half smiled to his assistant, nodding towards the door.

"It will be alright." she smiled back reassuringly and putting his arm around her shoulder guided him forward. She was probably going to get fired for this. Or worse. She couldn't say no, though. Not to the Inquisitor. He was a good person and had done much for everyone here. This was the least she could do.

"Celene will never agree to these terms! Not without a better offer from us!" Leliana argued, pointing to the parchment on the table.

"I don't know how else to say this, but we can't offer better terms if we're nothing but smoldering ash and dust! You know this!" Cullen threw his arms up in frustration. He had enough of the Orlesian politics at the Winter Palace. To have to deal with this again was something he preferred to have avoided. Unfortunately, this was an unavoidable necessity brought on by the course of events. He was about to try and explain to Leliana again why his terms were the only terms when the double doors slowly opened. All three of them looked in the direction of the intruder with surprise and expectation. None of them expected to see what was before them. They all fell into shocked silence as the Inquisitor stumbled into the war room, looking like death itself. Leliana was the first to come to her senses.

"Good. You're awake." she said as if nothing had happened. "This will make decisions considerably less difficult."

"I hope you're here to stay." Cullen voiced in turn, crossing his arms over his chest. "People seem to take us less seriously without someone in charge."

Josephine was the last to break the silence. She stared at him as though he had just risen from the dead. And in truth, he may as well have, if the reports were to be believed. More than anything though, Josephine felt relieved. She hadn't slept well since the Inquisitor's disappearance or his arrival. Him being here now, awake, was a good sign. At least she hoped it was. There was still a chance that he just wanted to tell them that he was leaving for good.

"I'm glad to see you well, Inquisitor." she ventured, bowing slightly and extending her hands forward in a gesture of goodwill.

"As are we." Leliana interjected without breaking eye contact with 'Rhen. "But as it stands, we do have important business to attend to. Business that has been sorely needing your attention." There were a million questions she herself wanted to ask the Inquisitor, but she knew that was better saved for a more private time. This was a delicate situation and needed to be handled with caution as well as with authority. And asking questions was not the way. "Shall we?" she motioned to the war table. 'Rhen shook his head in reply.

"This won't take long. I am leaving Cassandra in charge of all outgoing missions until I return to full health. All reports are to be forwarded to me in my quarters. I will also need an update on all that has been going on while I was… away." He took a step forward and winced as pain shot through his body. All things considered, this wasn't going too terribly, though. "Nothing is to be done without my consent." he finished after catching his breath. 'Rhen tried to look as confident as he sounded. A task easier said than done when all he wanted to do was collapse in bed and never wake up again. But he started this and so he needed to see it through. And it would be delusional to think that anyone else could do what he could. The anchor was his burden and his alone. 'Rhen turned slowly in a feeble attempt to curb the pain and walked out the door, refusing to look back. This was the best case scenario. No questions, no interrogations. No looks of pity. "Take me to my room." he addressed the assistant. He was exhausted and in pain, but had no interest in spending another day at the infirmary. In any case, this was nothing that couldn't be solved with a bit of blood lotus.

His room was blessedly empty and with a little help, he finally managed to situate himself in bed. He hadn't noticed it until now, but there was a faint ringing in his ears. 'Rhen closed his eyes and tried to relax his muscles, but his heart was pounding in his chest, threatening to burst through and his head felt like it was going to split.

"I'll be right outside your door, if you need me." the assistant's voice penetrated through the high pitched buzz.

"No. Stay." 'Rhen said after a moment of hesitation, reaching his free hand towards her. "I don't- I don't want to be alone."

"Of course." she replied, sounding relieved and moving the chair over, sat by the bedside, her hands folded neatly in her lap. "Do you need anything?"

"What is your name? I'm sorry. I forgot to ask."

"Keya." she responded, giving him a small smile. No one had ever asked her before. Not earnestly.

"Keya…" 'Rhen repeated softly. "Keya… Will you sing to me, Keya?"

"Of course. What shall I sing?" she replied, taken slightly aback by the request.

"The song you sang earlier. Where did you learn it?"

A pause followed his question and 'Rhen thought she hadn't heard him. He was about to repeat it when she spoke.

"My mother taught me." There was a hint of sadness in her voice, but before 'Rhen could inquire further, she started to sing. It was soft and warm and reminded him of home. He didn't tell Keya and he wasn't sure how she knew, but this was his favorite song. Evelline would always sing it to him after he woke up in sweat from a nightmare. He took a shuddered breath as the memories surfaced.

I will always be there for you. Those were his last words to her. As Keya's voice washed over him, 'Rhen drifted off into dreamless sleep. Outside, Dorian sat on the floor, leaning against the door. He had awoken in a panic, finding the cot next to him empty. Though he knew now it was unfounded. The Inquisitor was well taken care of and Dorian was no longer needed. He still wasn't sure what had happened to cause all this. All he knew was at a time like this, the Inquisitor would need a friend, not a lover. It wouldn't be hard to give it up, anyway. Not like this was his first time.