Her eyes had already been half open for a while before she woke up, hobbling in what looked like a dungeon. It took her another half an hour to figure out they probably were the ruins of the ancient Temple of Sacred Ashes, that lied buried beneath the Chantry. She stubbornly kept going, her breath puffing for the cold, a sensation that worsened the more she ventured through the ruins. It was only after several long corridors that she figured the reason behind that abnormal temperature. Icicles heaved from her clothes and her body began freezing completely as two despair demons attacked her. She tried to light them on fire, but nothing came out. She was way too exhausted.

I managed to survive all that, only to die here?

She looked at her palm. The Anchor was shining and throbbing, reflected on her scorched skin. If I could just... She tried to concentrate on what the Elder One did to her, when the mark exploded in her hand with a loud bang and blinding lights. When she recovered from the pain, she was surprised to see the ectoplasm remains of the two demons. She flexed her hand impulsively. She was unsure wheter or not she could do it again, but at least she could decree that it didn't need mana to activate.

After a while, a draft grazed her cheeks, and she gained new momentum to go on. After a sudden turn left, she saw it. The dungeon walls had collapsed, and in front of her descended familiar, snow covered hills. It was dark, but she was barely able to distinguish a series of dark shapes further along the valley. What if they're here? I need help. As soon as possible. Her hand moved to her pained rib, silently hoping it didn't damage any internal organs in the crash.

White. All white. Her breath panting was the only rhythm she could follow. A step. Another step. Another one. Those dark silhouettes had only been trees, but under those, she'd seen remains from recent fires and a small encampment. She kept going. She knew that if she stopped, she'd freeze to death; she didn't even have the energy to build a fire. So she went on.

It had been hours. She knew she was about to reach them, the footsteps engraved in snow were increasing, but she felt like passing out more with each step. She didn't feel pain or muscle ache anymore. She strode with little focus, her head all pins and needles and her senses hurting - sight turning grey and ears ringing. When her knees gave out, she could do little but acknowledge it. She could see so little now, she decided to just close her eyes.

When one of Leliana's scouts posted around their encampment reported he had found the Herald, Cullen's first thought had been to her corpse. He had decided in that second, that her grave would be grand, a monument to remember her by, something he could grieve on. When the upset soldier added as a marginal note that she was still alive, he nearly had a stroke. Brows firmly knitted together (he'd get sore face muscles, later), he gathered a few men and pushed rudely to where she had been located. They immediately started setting up the stretcher, and he leaned in to look at her. Her nose was covered in blisters, but he was reassured by her even breathing. She was just uncounscious, but very much alive. Once they arrived to camp, Solas started giving out orders. Cullen just stood there amidst the industrious lot, until the elf gave him a surly look.

"And you! Fetch some honeyed tea." He felt strangely compelled, and hastened to the provisions cart. When he came back to the tent where Briana was in, Leliana was examining her hand and Solas was supervising soldiers carefully while they lowered her, only covered in her smalls and breastband, in a wooden tub held together with magic. She was blabbering some nonsense, her eyes starting to open. When she touched the water, she started to scream, and Cullen felt a chill.

"It burns! Leave me! It burns!" Cullen ran to the tub, but Solas stopped him, blocking the way with his arm while Briana spasmed, splashing water. The Commander reserved him his best glare, but the elf didn't concede.

"Put your hand in the water." he said calmly. Cullen obliged: it was lukewarm at best. Briana had caught his arm, squeezing desperately, then let him go, falling back into the water.

"She was lucky your men found her when they did. She risked her limbs, or worse."

"Will the frostbite leave scars on her face?" Cullen sounded sad even to his ears. What is wrong with me? It's already a miracle she survived. He was certain he'd win Solas' and Leliana's best scornful look, but instead he found something of a sardonic smile.

"It won't, but it'll take a while to heal." answered the elf.

Leliana spoke in a merry tone. "She's going to be so sad, now that her face's disfigured. And her body! She barely had any blemishes before we captured her, aside from that adorable beauty mark on her back." Cullen goggled and blushed.

"Lady Nightingale, if this was said on purpose-" but he was interrupted by her silvering laugh.

"Oh Commander, I would never."

"Commander, if you would leave us. We need to dress her." Solas cut through her giggling, and he went outside, the cold air feeling like a slap on his face.

When Briana woke up, she was tucked in a bedroll, Mother Giselle right at her side. She felt voices arguing, and weakly turned towards the entrance of the tent. Seeing that, Mother Giselle caressed her arm, then stood up and approached the rowing lot.

"If you would, the Herald has woken up." Briana squeezed away the blur from her eyes while they fretted around her bed. She felt something squeeze her shoulder, and turned supine. Cullen was examining her in long glances, and she struggled to focus anything else. She had longed to see him, she realized in that moment, but the haze she still felt prevented her from reaching concrete feelings, and her eyes closed before she could even process it.

When she woke up for the second time, only Solas remained near her.

"Solas." His head immediately snapped to hers.

"It's good that you've woken up, da'len. We were eagerly waiting for you." She sat up, straightening her back. A flow of memories hit her, and left her confused for a moment.

"How did you find me?"

"Leliana's scouts located you a little higher than here."

"Where are we going to go to, now? Haven is no more. How many of us are left?"

Solas smiled. "The main share of soldiers and templars survived. The civilians suffered more casualties, I'm afraid." Briana's brows knitted in ache. "But I have thought of the perfect place for a force such as the Inquisition. Tarasyl'an Te'las: it was an ancient elven sacred ground, until your kind conquered and fortified it."

Briana's eyes lightened up. "Skyhold." Solas nodded.

"There'll be some refurbishing to do."

Hi! author here. I'm very sorry about the late update! I had a hellish week. I expect the updates to resume their pace from now on. Thanks and enjoy!