For four days, the tension in Haven was palpable. Sophia paced anxiously, cornering every courier in hopes that they carried a message from Alexius. She cursed at the hole in the sky and practiced magic relentlessly, and Eleanor only saw her sleep once. She ate little at mealtimes, claiming to be too busy or lacking in appetite.

Eleanor tried to keep an eye on her, but she was also exhausted. Her nightmares continued every night, waking her up several times a night. She had finally gained enough control to stifle herself upon waking, ensuring that she did not scream and wake anyone else up. She did not want to worry Sophia, and Cullen appeared to be sleeping poorly himself. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his smiles did not linger for long. For now, she decided, she would keep the nightmares to herself. She figured there was little harm, despite the fact that they were increasingly realistic and violent.

On the fourth day, just after sundown, Leliana found Eleanor and Sophia down at the training area. Sophia was growling as she channeled a steady stream of energy into one of the dummies.

"Herald. Eleanor. Please come with me." she beckoned. She glanced around. "Do you know where Dorian is?"

"He's probably reading in the tavern." Eleanor said, wiping her brow. Sophia finally lowered her arms and the dummy smoldered. She nodded.

"That's where he usually is, anyway. Let's go check." The three women entered the tavern and sure enough, Dorian was in a corner, deeply entrenched in a book. Sophia tapped him on the shoulder and beckoned. He sprung to his feet eagerly; he, too, had been on edge while they had waited, and snapped any time someone tried to distract him.

"Stringbean! Are you staying for a drink?" Varric called out. He raised a glass towards her, trying to entice her into staying.

"No. But don't go overboard, just in case tomorrow is the day." Sophia said curtly. She had been policing everyone in the tavern since they had returned, ensuring that nobody got sloppy or set themselves up for a rough morning. She wanted everyone to be ready to leave at a moment's notice, and checked multiple times throughout the day to ensure everyone was behaving. It added to the growing unease that lingered around Haven.

The four of them walked to the War Room, a grim aura trailing behind them. Eleanor's heart pounded as they briskly crossed the Chantry hall and the door to the War Room swung open. She had an unshakable sense of foreboding. Cullen ushered them in, where Josephine and Cassandra stood waiting. Once the door closed, Josephine cleared her throat.

"Alexius has sent a letter asking for the Herald to go to Redcliffe. Alone." she pursed her lips. Everyone in the room looked to Sophia for her reaction.

"So he's blatantly trying to trap me." Sophia spat, glaring at the pin that stuck inside the map to mark Redcliffe. "How very kind of him."

"Yes, that is what we believe." Josephine lowered her head.

"Redcliffe is too well protected to storm," Cassandra said. "We can still abandon this idea and approach the Templars-"

"No." Sophia said. "I have made my decision. We are going to find a way to make this work."

"There is no way we can penetrate Redcliffe Castle's defenses. It is one of the most guarded fortresses in Ferelden. I'm afraid the Magister has outplayed us. The Templars would be the much safer option all around," Cullen said. He seemed almost too relieved at the revelation and Eleanor shot him a venomous look.

"I said no!" Sophia raised her voice.

"Regardless, Commander, there is a Magister attempting to take over Redcliffe. We cannot simply turn a blind eye to that." Josephine said, turning to face Cullen. "I do not believe you should be so quick to write off the mages." Sophia smiled at her gratefully.

"There is another way in, we just aren't looking hard enough. A tunnel? A secret passage? Something? Now think!" Sophia glared harder at the map, as if she could force it to show her the way in. The advisors exchanged worried glances.

"There is a secret passage..." Leliana offered. "It serves as an escape route for the family. There's no way we could get soldiers through there but we could send agents."

"That's too risky. Those agents would be discovered before they could get anywhere near Alexius." Cullen argued. Eleanor's stomach churned. Somehow she knew what Sophia would say next, and she closed her eyes, trying to will it not to happen.

"What if...what if I distract him?" Sophia offered. "He at least pretended he wants to meet me, so what if I go? I can keep him talking long enough to give the agents time to arrive. I can be...bait, if you will."

"That is incredibly dangerous!" Josephine argued, shooting a worried glance to Sophia. "He demanded that you show up alone. Even if you did attempt to distract him, what's to say he doesn't just kill you right there?"

"My magic is becoming stronger by the day. I won't make it easy for him, at the very least."

"And you won't be alone," Dorian spoke up. "I'll be going with you, of course. You will need me in order to get past his magic, anyways."

"I'm going too," Eleanor said. She glanced up and Cullen was looking at her with hurt and concern. He opened his mouth to speak, but shook his head. She ignored him and continued. "If I stayed here I'd go mad with worry."

"I would also like to join you, Herald." Cassandra said.

"If we bring Sera too..." Sophia thought aloud. "This might just work. Either way, it's what we're doing." Seeing that there was no changing her mind, the advisors nodded. Josephine sighed heavily and Cullen clenched his fists, but neither of them said anything.

"Very well. You should leave first thing in the morning." Leliana said. "The longer we wait, the riskier it becomes." They began clearing out of the War Room. Eleanor made her way to bed, feeling nauseated. She was furious that Cullen had tried a last-ditch effort to approach the Templars. Her mind racing, she fell asleep, succumbing to another night of horrific dreams.

Their faces were sallow as they approached Redcliffe Castle. Even the town, normally bustling with merchants and travelers, seemed uninviting. Eleanor knew that she was not the only one of them entertaining the thought that they may very well be walking to their deaths. Though it was a warm day, she shivered while she walked. Her hands were numb, and her feet heavy. She had not been able to eat that morning, yet she still felt as though she might be sick. She thought of Cullen's face before they had left. He had stood at the stables, his forehead wrinkled with worry. They still had not spoken since the War Room meeting. Eleanor pushed him from her mind. She must concentrate, now, on helping keep Sophia safe.

The gates were opened for them and they crossed the courtyard, trying to ignore the dozens of guards who were staring at them. They were led into the foyer by a mage, and a masked man stood blocking the stairs leading up to the main hall. He did not speak to them and Sophia grew impatient.

"Why aren't you announcing us?" she asked.

"The invitation was for the Herald alone." A voice rang out from behind the man in the mask. Another mage trotted down the stairs and eyed them. "The rest of you are to wait here." Cassandra gripped the pommel of her sword and glared. He glanced at her nervously and looked back to Sophia.

"They go where I go." Sophia crossed her arms. "That is not up for negotiation." Eleanor raised an eyebrow at her and smiled with approval. The mage surveyed them again and his eyes rested on Sera, who gave him an obscene gesture. He narrowed his eyes, but nodded.

"Fine. Follow me." He led them up the stairs, into the main hall. Alexius sat on a throne overlooking the room, with Felix and Fiona standing next to him. He plastered on an obviously fake smile and pretended to be thrilled to see them.

"It's so good of you to have come!" He stood, opening his arms in what seemed to be an inviting gesture. "I am confident that we will work out an arrangement pleasing to all. You need mages, and I have them. What can you hope to give me in return?"

"Do we not have any say in our fate?" Fiona asked. Alexius chuckled and wagged his finger in her direction.

"You trusted your fate to me, remember? Let me do the talking." Fiona bit her tongue, her face reddening.

"How about we stop bullshitting each other? I'd like that. I know that you lured me here in an attempt to kill me." Sophia said, clutching her staff.

"What are you talking about?" Alexius asked, his face darkening. His fake smile faltered briefly.

"She knows everything, Father." Felix spoke, turning to his father. Alexius looked up at him in disbelief.

"Felix...what...what have you done?" Alexius hissed.

"He is concerned for you." Sophia said. "He was only trying to help." Eleanor shuffled her weight from one foot to another. The talking seemed to be delaying the inevitable fight, and she was itching to get it over with.

"You! You tried to turn my son against me!" Alexius snarled. "You don't even know what your stolen gift, that mark on your hand, does! You think you're in control here? Think again. You stole the Elder One's moment and you will pay!"

"Father, you sound like a lunatic." Felix reached out to put his hand on his father's shoulder. Alexius shrugged it away and glared at him.

"No, he sounds exactly like the sort of villainous cliché that people have come to expect of Tevinter." Dorian's voice rang out from behind her. Eleanor had not even noticed that he had obscured himself behind a pillar until he stepped from behind it, walking towards them. Of course he would take a moment to make a dramatic entrance, she thought, hiding a smile.

"Dorian." The name flew from Alexius's mouth like an accusation and he shook with rage. "The Elder One is all powerful and will return the Imperium to its former glory. I would think that you of all people would understand that."

"Alexius you are a madman. This is the kind of thing you used to talk about fighting to prevent and now listen to yourself!"

"Father, please. Give up this...cult, and let the mages fight the breach so we can return home together."

"I'm sorry, Felix. Only the Elder One can save you. I just need to undo this woman's mistakes..."

"Father, no. I'm going to die. You need to understand that." Eleanor had not realized how severe Felix's ailments had been to drive his father so mad, and for a brief moment she sympathized with him. Then she remembered that he intended to kill Sophia, and her face grew dark with anger again.

"No! Venatori! I demand this woman's life!" Alexius pointed to Sophia. The Venatori did not move, and then there was a low thud. The Venatori agents slumped forward and crumpled to the floor as Leliana's agents stepped out from behind them, slitting their throats in quick unison. Alexius growled, watching the blood pool on the stone floor.

"This never...should have happened..." he muttered. He raised his palm and an amulet hovered above it, glowing slightly with the same color as the mark on Sophia's palm. Dorian gasped.

"No!" he shouted, knocking the amulet out of Alexius's hands with a quick motion of his staff. It fell to the ground between Dorian and Sophia, and a vortex opened above it. In what felt like slow motion, Eleanor watched in horror as Sophia and Dorian were sucked through the portal. Eleanor lunged forward in an attempt to follow them but Cassandra held her back until the portal had closed. Alexius stared and his lip curled upward.

"Why?" Eleanor shouted. "Why did you stop me?" she turned to Cassandra. Her voice echoed in the hall, sounding hoarse and she choked back tears.

"Sophia would not have wanted you to follow her." Cassandra said. "You know I'm right." Eleanor shook her head. Her blood pounded in her ears, and felt like fire through her veins. Her fingertips began to hum with magical energy as she whirled to face Alexius.

"I will kill you!" She leapt towards him. Fuck the staff, she thought. I want to take his life with my own hands. The corners of her vision began to fade into a blind fury and she was mildly aware of someone shouting her name, but it didn't matter. She had failed in keeping Sophia safe. As far as she was concerned, they both had died. As she approached Alexius, a swirling green light appeared in front of him.

"Your barrier will not protect you from me! I will never relent!" she shouted. It was, however, not his barrier. A portal opened again, and Sophia and Dorian jumped out, landing in between Eleanor and Alexius. They were covered in blood and Sophia was trembling, a haunted look on her face. There was a puff of black smoke as the portal disappeared. Dorian crossed his arms and turned to Alexius, raising his chin proudly. Eleanor shook her head, trying to make sense of what she had just seen. She wrung her hands, her unchanneled wrath causing her to tremble.

"Oh Maker, Ellie!" Sophia grabbed her cousin into a tight hug. "And Cassandra! And Sera!" She pulled the two of them near her as well and tried to wrap her arms around all three of them.

"All right then, we're fine, yeah?" Sera said, shuffling away uncomfortably.

"What...I don't understand..." Eleanor shuddered. She tried to shake the rage from her mind. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.

"You lose, Alexius." Dorian said, grinning. Alexius fell to his knees in front of Sophia.

"Put aside your claim to Redcliffe, and perhaps we let you live." Sophia glared down at him.

"Yes, you won. There's no point in dragging it out any longer." He hung his head. "Felix, I failed you. You're going to die."

"Father, everyone dies." Felix looked down with pity at his father. Leliana's agents collected Alexius and tied his hands, dragging him with them outside.

"Maker, I'm glad that's finished." Dorian winked at Sophia. The doors to the castle flung open and soldiers poured through. "...or not." The soldiers lined the hall, and a solitary figure strolled in, his eyes locked on Fiona.

"Grand Enchanter! Imagine my reaction when I heard that you gave Redcliffe Castle to a Tevinter Magister. Especially because it was not yours to give, and belongs to Arl Teagan." Eleanor cocked her head to the side, trying to place him.

"King Alistair!" Fiona gasped as she approached him, taking short, hesitant steps. Eleanor and Sophia looked at each other nervously. His brows were furled as he stared at Fiona, waiting for an explanation. If he noticed anyone else, he didn't acknowledge them. Fiona stood, her mouth agape, as she fumbled for an explanation.

"I wanted to help you," he said finally. "But that is no longer possible. You and the mages are no longer welcome in Ferelden. I want you gone."

"Your Majesty...there are hundreds of us and we need protection! Where are we supposed to go?" Fiona pleaded.

"That's no longer my concern!" the King shouted at her. "You abused my hospitality!" His chin jutted forward. Eleanor had heard many humorous stories about the warden-turned-King, and his awkward charm, but all she saw before her was an angry monarch.

"The...point of my coming here was in fact to recruit mages to seal the breach..." Sophia interjected quietly. "The Inquisition might be willing to take you all in."

"And what would would the terms of this agreement be?" Fiona asked, an edge to her voice.

"It can't be worse than what the Imperium was offering you," Dorian snorted. "We are better than that, right?" he eyed Sophia cautiously.

"I think we should conscript them," Cassandra argued. "Now that we know what they are willing to do with too much freedom..." Eleanor clenched her jaw. It's not your fight, she reminded herself. She waited for Sophia to answer.

"No," Sophia shook her head at Cassandra. "They will join us as allies."

"We do not have a choice but to accept." Fiona said. "And a better offer, we could not find. I thank you for your mercy, Herald of Andraste." Fiona fell into a low bow.

"We will talk about this later." Cassandra glared.

"There is nothing to discuss, Cassandra. We can't afford to be divided when Thedas is threatened like this. The Inquisition will honor my decision." Sophia hit the ground with her staff for emphasis and Cassandra rolled her eyes.

"Good. Now remove yourselves from my Kingdom by tomorrow morning." King Alistair spun on his heel and left without another word. His guards marched out behind him, and the doors slammed, echoing in the large hall.

"I will gather my people and tell them to meet you in Haven. We will leave in the morning." Fiona bowed and departed quickly, before Sophia could change her mind. Sophia looked at Eleanor and sighed. Eleanor noticed that along with blood splatter, the sleeve of her robe was singed almost completely away.

"What happened in that portal?" Eleanor asked her. She touched the tips of her fingers to the burned cloth curiously. Thankfully, Sophia seemed to be unscathed save for a few cuts and bruises.

"It brought us to the future. A future where Alexius helped this...Elder One, and there was a demon army, and the Empress of Orlais was assassinated, and...you..." Sophia looked away.

"How far ahead did you go?"

"A year," Dorian said. "You did that to her sleeve, by the way." Dorian pointed. Eleanor shook her head in disbelief.

"I would never attack you."

"You didn't believe it was me. In that future, Dorian and I were believed to be dead. You had been poisoned with red lyrium and your magic turned into something far darker than it is now. Every spell you cast was fire. I have never seen such magic. You thought I was a trick and you were so mad that I chose "this form" to torture you. It wasn't until you saw my scar that you believed it was me." Sophia pointed to a long, curved scar along her shoulder. She had gotten it when they were children, the first time they had skated on the ice. Eleanor had carried her through their village back to her home. Her thoughts flashed back to when Sophia had disappeared through the portal and how things had been fading to red. She shuddered to think of succumbing to darkness, but realized it would have been easy to do so had she gone on believing Sophia was dead.

"When you were gone...I could feel the rage. It would have consumed me. I almost slaughtered Alexius. Nothing mattered to me." She had felt the effects of assuming Sophia was dead for a few minutes. She dreaded the idea of what it would have done to her after an entire year.

"I had to hold her back." Cassandra said. "It was not a pretty sight. We are thankful you have returned."

"Was I in this future?" Sera asked.

"Yes, and you, Cassandra, and Leliana as well. It was...bleak does not begin to describe it. That future was hopeless. Now that I've seen what's at stake, I am more determined to fix things. We need to get back and tell the advisors what happened and start preparing Haven for the influx of mages."

"You want to go back right now?" Eleanor asked. Her body ached with exhaustion.

"I would like to get there before the mages do. That way there's...no surprises." she frowned. "Besides, if we get back tonight, the mages get there tomorrow, we can probably close the breach the day after." Her eyes glittered. "We will finally be rid of that damned thing."

"Very well, let's go, then." Eleanor sighed. The group trudged out behind Sophia, who, besides the blood on her clothing, showed no signs of having just returned from a horrific future. She seemed like a new fire had been lit inside of her, and she was more resolute now than she already had been. Eleanor wondered if the Inquisition knew exactly how blessed they were to have her as their Herald. She began to wonder for the first time if it were, in fact, divine intervention that sent her to the conclave instead of Eleanor.

As they neared Haven, Sophia beckoned Eleanor to ride beside her at the head of the group.

"I have a favor I need from you," she whispered. She bit her lip, hesitant to ask.

"Anything, Soph, you know that."

"...I need you to be the one to tell Cullen tonight."