She had accepted her fate there in his arms. Although death had not been the ideal outcome, she had defied the odds long enough. For the first time in a long time, she had felt at peace and she wanted to tell him that.

He sounded worlds away, but she could hear him shouting her name and she could feel the jolts of pain as he shook her broken and bleeding body. Stop, she wanted to tell him to let her go but her mouth would not move and her mind was thick with fog. Elena felt the splashes of tears that fell upon her cheeks and she wanted to reach out to ease his pain but her body would not oblige. So she remained paralyzed on the muddy ground. At least he wouldn't leave her there to rot, she told herself as the cold dark consumed her and she let her last bit of consciousness slip away.

There was no sound in death, no feeling, there was nothing. She pushed through the nothingness and moved blindly. What was she even searching for? She wasn't sure. She could barely think and nothing made sense. How had she ended up there? The abomination had struck her from behind and she touched her side. The skin was healed and smooth and she marveled at how light and nimble her body felt. She was no longer tired and her bones no longer ached from the cold or time spent traveling. She watched the pure untainted electricity fizzle at her fingertips and she examined her hands. She had unlimited use of the Arcane here and she looked up. This was incredible! There was no need to wake up and she was quite content to linger there in the dark expanse for an eternity. But something pulled her back to ground her and she felt her heart constrict and release.

Cullen.

He was still back there somewhere, cleaning up the wreckage at Adamant and no doubt mourning over a woman that he hardly knew. Elena turned in a slow circle. She wanted to go back to him, but how? She could run in endless circles and not be any closer to him but she would not give up. She closed her eyes and screwed up her face, channeling her focus and energy into returning to him.

Her body began to ache and she was certain there was a druffalo on her chest, crushing her lungs and shattering her ribs. She gasped, clawing at her chest as her lungs expanded to fill with air. Her throat burned and she sputtered, coughing as sturdy hands held her writhing body in place. Dawn was breaking over the horizon and bathing Adamant in a sorrowful orange glow. Even the soft light was enough to blind her and she shrank away, trying to shield her face and crying out when her broken arm cracked in protest. "Fuck!"

"Well at least we know she's still alive," there was grim humor in Dorian's voice and Elena let him gently wrestle her arm back down to her side.

"What did I miss?" She rasped, blinking slowly as her muscles began to relax and the spasms began to slow. There were no more demons, no more abominations and she could see the remaining Grey Wardens gathering in the courtyard. The Inquisitor stood among them, the rising sun glinting against her armor and granting her the ethereal air many believed she already possessed. Sent from Andraste, indeed. Elena believed that now and she pushed a heavy exhale out through her nose.

"Oh, not much. Took a stroll through the Fade to face a Nightmare working with Corypheus. Warden Stroud...stayed behind," Dorian spoke in a low voice as he helped her into a sitting position, careful to mind the crude bandage that had been wrapped around her midsection.

"Did you...?"

"Vivienne," he clarified and she nodded.

"Right. Remind me to thank her later," she grunted as she pressed her palm against her side. "My arm is ruined," she mused aloud. That was something she would deal with later, but for now, her priorities were elsewhere and she gripped Dorian by the arm as she got to her feet. She used the man as a crutch as they hobbled across the courtyard to where the Inquisitor stood.

"Ah, you're awake," the woman commented, standing aside to allow Elena to stand near her.

"Good to see you alive too," the mage mumbled, wincing as she straightened up and surveyed the group before them. "Dorian briefly told me what happened. Did you truly walk through the Fade?"

"For the second time. Though this time I was actually aware of what was happening. I assume he told you about Stroud?" She cast a sideways glance to Varric and the strapping man beside him and Elena arched an eyebrow.

"He did. I am very sorry for the loss, Inquisitor," she bowed her head in sincerity and the woman nodded.

Varric rubbed at his face and shook his head as the other man turned away from him and joined the Inquisitor. "While you deliberate on what to do with the Wardens, I'll take the news to Weisshaupt. They'll want to know what happened. Stroud's sacrifice should be recognized."

The Inquisitor nodded and extended her hand towards him as Elena interjected, "I intended to go to Weisshaupt on behalf of the Wardens. It might mean more coming from one," she reasoned.

The man blinked, caught off guard by the battered woman and his eyes narrowed. "Stroud's death was my doing. I will be the one to go on his behalf."

"Hawke, maybe she has a point..." Varric appeared beside him, looking up at the Champion with a small shrug and Elena nearly hit the ground once more. She leaned on Dorian and he supported her weight without objection as she broke through the haze to piece together the puzzle. Hawke? She knew that name.

"You aren't going anywhere," the booming voice caused her head to snap up and she felt her heart flutter. Cullen! Dorian stepped aside as if on command as the Commander took his place, his blood splattered armor shining like a beacon in the early morning light. His arm was sturdy around her waist and she leaned into him, inhaling his scent as her head fell easily against his chest. She didn't care who was watching. The Maker himself could have been standing there in all of his holy glory and Elena wouldn't have given a damn.

"But I should at least go to−"

"No! Let Hawke go. You're in no condition to travel on your own and you would just slow him down," he left no room for argument and she swallowed hard, frowning as she opened her eyes. This argument would not be won that day, at least not in her current state and she rolled her eyes before begrudgingly extending her hand towards Hawke.

"Tell them I will not be far behind once I have recovered fully. For the time being, the Wardens will be in the hands of the Inquisition."

Hawke accepted and nodded, giving her hand a brief shake before pulling away and placing a hand on Varric's shoulder. "Take care of Varric for me, Inquisitor," his attention shifted and Elena cleared her throat to interrupt once more.

"Perhaps I'll meet you at Weisshaupt. Cousin," Elena watched the surprise, uncertainty and smirk of realization cross his face as he nodded once in acknowledgement.

"Thank you, Ser Hawke," the Inquisitor bowed her head, easily demanding control of the conversation as Hawke took his leave. Varric excused himself with the easy lie of having something to tend to and the Inquisitor rounded on Elena.

"You know one another?"

"Not really. But I know enough about him to know that we're related. I've never met Leandra or her children but I knew of them. I never realized he was the Champion of Kirkwall too," she felt Cullen adjust his hold on her and she put her weight against his solid chest.

"Inquisitor, if you don't mind, I would like to take Elena back to Skyhold as soon as possible with the other wounded," Cullen inclined his head and the Inquisitor eyed them for a moment before nodding.

"Of course," she agreed. "We will see you back at Skyhold, Commander."