"You had no right to have me followed!" Ellana burst through the door of the small inn. Her face was bright red as she strutted through the busy inn, ignoring the looks she was shot by the patrons. Behind Ellana Cullen was looking uncomfortable, Andar looked exhausted, and Cait still had that strange calm about her.

Cassandra rose from her chair, her demeanour controlled. "I did. And I was right to," Cassandra replied calmly, "you were with him again. You were with Solas."

"How do you –" Ellana started and then – realising the answer to the question she was about to ask – looked over her shoulder at Cullen, his face flushed red and she knew he had sent someone to tell Cassandra in what situation he'd found Ellana. Ellana glared at him and then turned back to Cassandra. "I hadn't planned that!"

"You never do, but you always seem to find him. And you did not send him away either," Cassandra said.

"You act as if me seeing Solas is somehow treason."

Cassandra scoffed, "you think it is not?"

"I'm not divulging our plans to him."

Behind her, Ellana could hear the others retreat, most likely because they expected a fight between the two women.

"You truly do not see how I might disagree with you meeting with our enemy. It is bad enough to know you are in love with him."

Ellana felt her cheeks burning. "What does that –"

"It has everything to do with this," Cassandra interjected, "and I think you know that." She sighed and walked over to Ellana. "There is something else I must tell you," Cassandra said, her expression softened a little. "Something I kept from you as I wanted to be certain before informing you."

"Certain?"

"When we found you and Andar, with the slavers, I had scouts check the surrounding area; I wanted to make sure there weren't any slavers who'd gone off with other captured elves, there were so many cages there I thought it possible. The scouts did not find any slavers but they did find the bodies of three mages. Three elven mages, by their clothes they seemed to be Dalish, but none of them carried the vallaslin."

"Solas' agents we can presume," Ellana said.

"Yes." Cassandra looked unsure of herself – something that did not happen often – it only lasted for a moment, but it was enough to unnerve Ellana. "They were all killed by some kind of mgic," Cassandra continued, "it was brutal; I do not think any mage could have done it."

Except for Solas, Cassandra did not say it but Ellana could hear it in her words, the way she looked at Ellana as Cassandra slowly tried to have Ellana see what she believed to be a truth that would cut Ellana deeply. "You despise Solas, of course you would think that," Ellana replied defensively to the unspoken words.

"I do not despise him, I'm simply not under any illusions as to his true intentions," Cassandra said defensively. She let out an aggravated breath, "I doubted myself as well, so I contacted Sera."

"Sera?"

"I knew she could contact Dagna."

Ellana nodded. "You had Dagna investigate the bodies?"

"Yes, and the surrounding area. She said this was magic much stronger than any she had seen used up close; the only time she had seen anything similar in power was when we brought her one of the Qunari Solas had turned to stone."

"That still doesn't prove anything," Ellana said.

"Perhaps not to you," Cassandra said. "Think on it at least," she said, her voice was still gentle, this unnerved Ellana more than anything else, because it showed her Cassandra truly believed that what she was saying was the truth, and she was trying to break the news to Ellana gently. If Solas had killed those mages, he had most likely killed his own agents, and had killed them even though he was far more powerful and could have easily stopped them – and whatever they were doing that angered him – in much kinder ways. "I would not bring you this news, if I did not believe it to be true," Cassandra said. Looking at Cassandra's expression now, Ellana felt a little guilty about her hostility towards her friend.

"It isn't true," Ellana said, "but I am thankful that you told me of your suspicions – that you feel you can trust me with this information, even if it is about Solas – and I am thankful that you thought to look for other captured elves." Ellana felt another pang of guilt as she realised she herself had been too consumed with thoughts of Solas to look for other elves herself.

Cassandra gave Ellana a nod and let the matter rest. Ellana turned to look for the three people who had gone off on their own. She found them sitting at the bar, as far away from Ellana and Cassandra as the small inn would allow. Cullen was talking to the woman behind the bar and Cait was staring into a large drink, Andar on the other hand was looking right at Ellana, his expression was intense and curious.

As Ellana walked over to her friends, Cassandra following her, she became aware of the music in the inn, and was surprised to hear a rendition of "Sera was Never," she looked around the inn and spotted a young bard in the corner, an elven woman. Apparently Maryden's songs were now an integral part of Feraldan life.

"Lavellan, Cassandra," Cullen greeted them as he got up to make room for them at the bar. Ellana and Cassandra sat down as Cullen ordered two drinks for them. Cait nodded at Ellana as greeting. Andar was suddenly concentrating on his own drink. Maybe he was still angry about being frozen by Solas; he hadn't seemed too pleased when he'd been released and on the way here he hadn't said a word. Cullen had tried to ease the tension a few times with stories about his Templar refuge, but gave up when no one gave a reply longer than one syllable. Cait had been quiet as well, but that just seemed to be her nature.

"Cassandra you already know Gael, but Lavellan let me introduce you," Cullen gestured at the short woman bringing them their drinks. "This is Gael, she owns this inn. And Gael, this is Ellana Lavellan, the former Inquisitor."

"Or maybe just Ellana," Ellana said as she shook Gael's hand.

"Nice to meet you," Gael said.

"And this is Andar," Cullen gestured at Andar, when he didn't respond Cullen cleared his throat and moved on, "and of course you know Cait."

Ellana got up from her seat and walked over to Andar, whatever his problem was, she was tired of his behaviour. "What's wrong?" she asked, leaning on the bar.

Andar shook his head, "nothing," he took a deep breath, "well something. I did not expect that you and Fen'harel – Solas – were truly..." he sighed. "I had heard the rumours of course, but I suppose I presumed those rumours were just romantic misinterpretations of your relationship. After all I had not seen anything to indicate that – " he stopped himself.

"Seen anything?" Ellana asked confused.

"In the time I've known you," Andar said. "I never believed it but thought that if there was any truth to it, it had to be back when you were still Inquisitor, not now."

Ellana felt a herself get a little defensive. "You're sounding like Cassandra."

"I am far less serious than she is," Andar grinned for the first time in days. "But if you mean to say I sound like I don't understand why you would meet with an enemy – "

"I did not 'meet' with him, he followed me!"

"He followed you?" Andar asked surprised.

Ellana bit her lip, she hadn't meant to reveal that. She hadn't meant to keep it a secret either. She was so used to lying about the extent of her involvement with Solas it had become a reflex of sorts to lie about it. Ellana wasn't even sure why she did it.

"Are you sure you're not just angry because the modern romantic tales about Fen'harel as 'the saviour of the elven people' turn out to be more lies?" she asked.

"The two are not mutually exclusive," Andar said, his voice grim again.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation," Cait said as she approached the two of them while carrying a drink. "But I have something to ask you, Lavellan."

"You can call me Ellana, I think I told you that on the way here."

"Yes," Cait took a big gulp of her drink. "Thing is, I would like to join your cause," the words came spilling out in a rush. "I don't know how you would feel working with a former Templar, being a mage yourself, but I want to help and being here in Crestwood, there's just not a lot to do and some days I feel like I'm –"

"I'd be happy to have you join me," Ellana interrupted Cait, not because she was impatient, but because Cait looked like she would continue her rambling until someone stopped her.

"That's good then," Cait briefly smiled and then turned to leave, but stopped. "Should I… travel with you? Or…"

"That'll be fine," Ellana said, smiling to put Cait more at ease.

Cullen realised what was going on and came over. "Cait is joining you then?"

"You knew?" Ellana asked.

"Naturally, I was the one to suggest she join you."

"Really?"

"Being in the Inquisition helped me when I was in Lyrium withdrawal; having something to focus on, a true goal, is important."

"I would've joined anyway," Cait said.

Cait and Cullen went back to sit next to Cassandra and Ellana stayed next to Andar. The bard started another song. Ellana recognised the tune, "Enchanter," she had heard it often in Skyhold, but when the lyrics started she did not recognise them.

…. The black wolf followed…

…Till she came to a crossroad…

Ellana strained to hear more, but the words were mostly lost to the noise in the inn. Andar noticed Ellana's expression and said, "You've never heard this before?"

"You have?"

"Yes, it is quite popular among elves, I've heard it sung among Dalish elves and city elves alike."

… He stood poised to attack…

…The maiden dropped to her knees…

"How long have they been singing this?" Ellana asked.

"I have no idea," Andar said, "for all I know it is a very old song that just got popular again. I actually thought it had gained popularity again because of the rumours about Fen'harel."

"Maybe," Ellana said as she got up from her stool and walked over to the bard to hear the song more clearly.

But in the land of dreams

The wolf can be tamed it seems

Together they will run

Can you see them pass the moon

The wolf and the maiden

Ran away together

Because in the land of dreams

The wolf can change its nature

The bard stopped and looked at Ellana, Ellana took the opportunity to ask, "What is this song called?"

"The Wolf and the Maiden," the bard answered. Of course it is, Ellana thought to herself, feeling strangely exposed all of the sudden.

"Where did you learn to sing it?"

The bard looked uncomfortable, Ellana first took it to be a sign that she knew something, but then realised that with the way the world was treating elves these days, you could hardly blame the woman for being suspicious about being questioned. "I'm just curious to know where it came from," Ellana added with a smile.

"I'm not sure, I've just been hearing it a lot lately and eventually I found the lyrics and decided to add it to my performance."

Ellana nodded. "Thanks anyway," she said and turned to leave.

"Are you the Inquisitor?" the bard asked as Ellana turned her back to her.

"No, I was, but that's not my title anymore," Ellana said as she turned back to face the bard.

The woman nodded. "I know, I just didn't know what else to call you… And I've heard you're still recruiting."

"Not for an Inquisition."

"I know," the woman said. "We've all heard the stories. My clan, and the elves in the city."

"You're a Dalish elf who visits city elves?" Ellana asked surprised.

The woman shook her head. "No, I… I don't have a clan anymore. And I couldn't find any other that would take me in."

"I'm so sorry," Ellana said. She thought back to how close she had come to losing her own clan back in the days of the Inquisition. Now they were relatively safe, but she still felt guilty for not being there with them.

"You want to help elves, don't you? Stop what's happening to us?"

Ellana bit her lip, she wanted to help elves, but truly her goal was much bigger and saying she had started this to help elves would be lying. "I do want that, but my cause… it's much bigger, I can't explain it without sounding…" Ellana's voice died away as she realised just how strange her goals really were.

"But you want to make the world better?" the bard asked.

"In the most simple of terms, yes," Ellana answered, the parallels between her answer and what Solas would answer to the same question were not lost on her.

"Then I'd like to help, if you'll let me join you."

Ellana looked at the young woman, she was looking at Ellana with such hope and it made Ellana more aware of the burden she'd taken upon herself. Make the world a better place, it wasn't just similar to what Solas would say, it was exactly what he would answer if you asked him for his goals. How could Ellana be so certain she wasn't leading all of them into the same kind of trap he'd fallen into? How different were they really?

"I don't just sing, I'm very good with a bow," the woman said, "I was one of the hunters for my clan."

"I am willing to have you join us, of course, but I want you to realise that it is dangerous and I can't promise you that we'll succeed. If I'm being honest with you, our plans are very vague right now."

"I understand and I still want to come."

"And there's something else, we're heading to Tevinter."

The woman was clearly shocked; even before all this Tevinter was the last place elves would want to find themselves. Ellana didn't know much about Tevinter culture – only what she had learned from Dorian – but she knew enough to feel it only right to warn any elf travelling with her of the possible danger.

"I still want to come."

Ellana was impressed. "Well, if you're sure," she offered the woman her hand.

The woman took it, "Thank you! My name is Lithal, by the way."

"Welcome to our little band of travellers Lithal, my name is Ellana."

Andar came over as well. "Are you recruiting?" his tone was less than friendly.

"No, I volunteered," Lithal said defensively.

"This is Lithal, Lithal this is Andar," Ellana said before Andar could reply.

They shook hands but neither seemed too happy about it.

"So, are you a city elf?" Lithal asked, her tone was a little apprehensive.

"No. Did you assume that just because I have no vallaslin? Ellana doesn't have any either and –"

"I was asking," Lithal cut him off, "I wasn't assuming anything."

"Fine," Andar crossed his arms.

Ellana didn't understand what was happening, Andar had always been upbeat and kind and now… was it still the revelation that Fen'harel was in fact not working for the betterment of the elven people? She led Andar away and told Lithal to collect her things and meet them at the inn. Cullen had convinced Gael to give them free rooms, (Ellana felt grateful to not sleep in the small tent they had brought), and they would be staying the night.

As Ellana was leading Andar back to the bar she overheard two elves discussing the song the bard had been singing. "What do you think it is about?" a young elven woman said.

"A wolf hunting a girl, clearly," the elven man next to her said. Ellana paused.

"No, it's a love story."

"No it's not, she goes into the forest because she wants to and the wolf wants to attack her! That's what the whole line about the path is about."

"You mean "can anyone tell me, how can you save the one, who willingly walks this path.""

"Exactly it is about how you can stop someone from making bad decisions like walking into a forest with a giant wolf lurking about."

"I don't think the line is about that," the woman said.

"What else could it be about?"

"I don't know, but I still like the song, and I still say it's about love."

"Of course you do," the man said, "you want it to be a love story."

"It is a love story," the woman said, "it's the story of Fen'harel and his lover."

Ellana was more surprised than she should be.

"Even if that were true, how is the story of a trickster god and the woman he's about to attack romantic?"

"He's not –" the woman stopped herself and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She seemed to relax only after looking around her and seeing Ellana – another elf – was the only one near them. "We know he isn't that," the woman said, her voice low.

"We don't know anything about the real Fen'harel, just that elf who is calling himself that," the man countered.

"Then how do you explain how he is able to free all those slaves?"

"We could do that as well if we had an army of gullible elves following us."

"Hmm," the woman said as she turned her attention to her drink, Ellana was under the impression the woman was insulted by the man's refusal to accept Solas' identity.

From the corner of her eye, Ellana saw something move. "Are you coming?" Cullen was waving Ellana over. "We're starting a game of Wicked Grace."

Ellana laughed. "You sure about that commander?"

Cullen blushed, "I am, however I have declined to invite Josephine."

Ellana laughed again. "Well if you're willing to brave it, who am I to refuse."


Andar was lying on the bed. They'd all gotten private rooms and it felt strange to sleep in a house, and to sleep alone. It would only be for one night, as tomorrow they would ride out to meet the rest of group travelling to Tevinter. When he was still with Fen'harel he had shared a large tent with three other people, and theirs had been one of the less crowded tents. At the time he had been so happy to be there and… proud.

Andar had always been taught to take pride in his heritage and that the Dalish were preserving what it truly meant to be elves, so when Fen'harel, an actual god, started to appear in rumours he couldn't help but be curious. Discovering the truth about Fen'harel, how he wasn't a trickster, but had rebelled against the oppression of elves, had made Andar determined to help Fen'harel in his goals of restoring Elvehnan. But now, now he could not look back at that time with anything else than shame and anger. Fen'harel had never wanted to help the elves. Andar felt as betrayed as when he found out what the vallaslin really meant. He now regretted having let Fen'harel take the vallaslin from him, the reasons he had were still valid, but they were now clouded by how angry Andar felt that he had let Fen'harel do something so personal to him.

And now there was Lithal, another elf volunteering to join. Andar couldn't tell Ellana why she should distrust Lithal; Ellana wouldn't believe him unless he told her honestly what his own quest had been. Surely Ellana was aware that Fen'harel had agents all around, surely she knew she couldn't trust just anyone she came upon? But she had treated him with such kindness and trust, so soon after meeting him, Andar feared Ellana was too trusting.

Andar wasn't sure how he could discover whether Lithal was part of Fen'harel's group. She did still have the vallaslin, but perhaps Fen'harel had done that on purpose. Maybe if she did turn out to be on Fen'harel's side, she would come to see the truth and join them and maybe she knew things about Fen'harel's plans. Well, that seemed unlikely, because Andar had been the closest to Fen'harel, and even he only knew vague things. Proven by how blindsided Andar was when he discovered Fen'harel's relationship with Ellana. What he had seen between them, well, at least it explained why Fen'harel had shown up when Andar and Ellana had been in danger.

Andar thought back to things Fen'harel had said to him when he was still working for him, things he had said not to explain his plans, but in conversations that Andar had remembered. Something big was coming, something Fen'harel saw as inevitable and threatening to the whole world. He wished he could discuss these things with Ellana, she might know more or have some vague memories of her own that they could puzzle together. But he had no way to ask her about it without revealing his relation to Fen'harel.

But in the land of dreams

The wolf can be tamed it seems

That ridiculous song was stuck in his head. "The Wolf and the Maiden," Andar scoffed. He had heard the song before, and had always assumed it was based off some tale to warn children not to run into the woods, no matter how tempting, but he'd never paid attention to the lyrics it seemed.

The wolf and the maiden

Ran away together

Because in the land of dreams

The wolf can change its nature

Was it about Fen'harel and Ellana? After what he had seen… clearly she cared for him and he had to feel for her too, why else risk exposing himself like that? In the time Andar had worked for Fen'harel, nothing had given him the impression that he had any family or friends, beyond the people who worked for him. There had of course been standing orders not to engage in combat with Ellana directly, but Andar had assumed that was for their own protection – after all the former Inquisitor was rumoured to be a very powerful mage – but now...

Andar did still believe Ellana truly wanted to help the elven people, but he felt less sure about her ability to do that, now he had seen her interact with Fen'harel himself. If Andar had to fight someone he loved, he wouldn't be able to do it, and he couldn't imagine Ellana being more capable of it.


He did not meet her every night. Sometimes he just dreamt, like he presumed the people of this age dreamt. Solas remembered the first time Ellana had come to him when they were both dreaming. He had been impressed; he had not thought to see any of the people he had met since waking capable of that. Perhaps if he found a talented mage he could teach them, but Ellana had figured it out on her own. True, she might have been helped by the weakened veil, or his mark, but even then it was a feat worthy of admiration.

Of course the fact that she had been able to find him had meant she intended to, she had wanted to find him. They had spoken often before but Solas had presumed her interest was just in the knowledge he offered the Inquisition, even as his interest in her had grown. He had told himself it was simply because she was a mystery; she had survived where no other would have and she was able to control the anchor when she should not be able to. It wasn't his guidance that had given Ellana that power, it was her own will and gifts.

When Solas had given his interest in her away, the first time they met in the Fade, Ellana had responded with admitting her own. She had kissed him, and he – despite himself – had kissed her back. In truth he had thought of kissing her often, but had focused on his goals. But Ellana had the maddening ability to break his focus. Spending time close to her made him want to forgo all other plans, each and every time.

Leaving Ellana had been easier when Solas convinced himself she could never accept the truth of who he was. She was Dalish after all, and he had heard the stories the Dalish told of him. However Ellana had accepted him; even as he told her he was her people's great adversary, she still offered him her love. Perhaps Solas could tell Ellana the truth of what was to come. Perhaps she could surprise him again, see a way through this coming war.

Solas looked up at the night sky, it looked so different than it had in his time. Everything looked so different. Worse. And he had done this to the world. He had no right to wish to be free of the burden he carried, but he did.