"Once more into the fray,
Into the last good fight I'll ever know.
Live and die on this day.
Live and die on this day."
-John Ottway

Leliana hummed in her tent, smiling as she scribbled letters and took a parcel from a delivery scout. It was addressed to her specifically and written in awful handwriting.

"I'm not very good at apologies, but I shouldn't have been such a harsh sod during our conversation. If I die, I wanted you to know that.

-Captain McNamara, Herald of Andraste, Still Very Lost"

The Spymaster cackled aloud, something that never happened after reading a report. Josephine ducked in, curiously.

"I was passing by and heard you laugh. What is so funny?"

"Nosey Josie!"

"I asked you to never call me that right before we both left Orlais." Josephine whined.

"Nosey Josie, Nosey Josie, Nos-"

Cullen walked out of the Chantry, still pale in the face.

"Nothing to report, Spymaster." Josephine shuffled out of the tent toward the opposite direction in a hurry.

Leliana pretended she was working on something. They both avoided him.

Cullen walked in, board in hand.

"What do you think about a sea-faring supply route? It would help us immensely in the matter of time." He asked her.

"Commander, when was the last time you slept?"

"I'm sleeping just fine, Leliana." He growled.

"It's just that, ever since they left, you've been a little…"

"You've been a right arse." Adibas entered the tent.

Leliana and Cullen turned to him, surprised to see him not on the ship.

"I've come to request more furs. The sailors are cold from keeping the ice off of The Dishonored's hull."

"Well, we don't have any more furs to give to you. We can't get supplies from the mainland because of the war. We barely even have any men to help secure the routes. If you want furs, you and your sailors are going to have to get them yourselves with that big ship of yours."

"Commander. Enough." Leliana stood angrily.

"If you needed our help, all you had to do was ask. " Adibas brought his voice down to a rumble.

"Spymaster, Commander!" Josephine ran into the tent, "Oh, and Quartermaster. My apologies."

They all looked at her, urging her to continue speaking.

"Come, you must come see this at once!" She ran out of the tent.

None of them could figure out if she was horrified or excited. The three of them marched down, near the gates of Haven. What they saw left them frozen in their place.

Hundreds of refugees came in from the mountainside. Some rode in on horses. Others walked on foot alongside their mounted comrades. Wagons filled to the rim with goods and necessities were pulled by various horses in the crowd.

The horse master Dennet approached Josephine first, leading the pilgrimage.

"Ambassador." He nodded to her.

"Master Dennet, a pleasure." She curtsied him, "We were not expecting your arrival. I will arrange your quarters at once."

"Thank you, Ambassador Montilyet. Most of these people bring their own tents and things. We've wrangled food, supplies, and various necessities the Inquisition may need along the way. Your Herald and her associates are doing a fine job securing the Hinterlands. There has been little activity reported since they tore through the lands; sealing rifts and helping establish those guard towers." He smiled, dismounting his horse.

Adibas looked to an awestruck Cullen.

"As you were saying, Commander?" The Quartermaster laughed, "Looks like the Captain took care of those trade routes."

"Lady Nightingale, this report just arrived from Redcliffe. I believe it to be urgent."

Cullen and Adibas turned around as Leliana retrieved the letter from her scout. She walked back to them, Josephine joining her. She opened it slowly, allowing them to read it together.

…

Having been up early, Naomi sat at the table downstairs, eating breakfast alone as the sun began to rise. Guards intruded upon the tavern, knocking door to door- searching for the Herald of Andraste. Naomi sat there, food hanging out of her mouth and wide-eyed, watching them walk right passed her up the stairs.

"Idiots!" She thought to herself.

She finished her meal in a hurry, leaving a few coins on the table as she ran upstairs, trailing the guards.

"We are here to retrieve the Herald on the behalf of Magister Alexius."

Her companions stood in a line before them.

"Aye, all yeh had to do was send a messenger!" Naomi yelled, mouth still filled with food.

She finished chewing and took a large swallow.

"We have been instructed to take you to the castle- now."

"How obscenely rude." Vivienne slammed her door in the guardsman's face, who prepared to knock down the door.

"She's getting dressed, you idiot. Besides, that's a bad idea. You don't want to see the Lady of Iron angry."

"It matters not what she is doing. You were the only one invited."

"Why bust down the bloody door, then? Listen, where I go, they go. There will be no argument, lest you want to challenge me directly." Naomi crossed her arms daringly.

Her words gave them pause.

When everyone was dressed, fed, and had their things together, the band of them walked to the docks, grabbing the next ferry to Redcliffe Castle.

…

The soldiers lined up on either side of the agents, escorting them through the main gates.

"Announce us. You've insulted the Inquisition enough for one day." Vivienne sneered at the man standing on the inside of the throne room.

"The Magister's invitation was for Mistress McNamara alone. The rest will wait here." He crossed his arms, two guards falling in behind him.

"Captain.Or Herald- it's growing on me, really. Definitely not mistress, well, not anymore…" She cleared her throat, "Anyhow, I'll say this 'gain. They come with me wherever. No contest will be had."

The men all exchanged nods, deciding it wasn't worth it to argue.

"My Lord Magister, the agents of the Inquisition have arrived."

"My friend! It's so good to see you again. And you're…associates, of course. I'm sure we can work out some arrangement that is equitable to all parties." Alexius sat in his throne.

"There he goes blasted well goes again, calling me 'friend!'"

"Are we mages to have no voice in deciding our fate?" Fiona spoke from the side.

"Fiona, you would not have turned your followers over to my care if you did not trust me with their lives."

Naomi challenged the Magister, breaking free of formation.

"If the Grand Enchanter wishes to be part of these talks, then I will brand her a guest of the Inquisition." Her tone was as professional and correct as she could muster.

"T-thank you." Fiona nodded humbly.

"The Inquisition needs mages to close the Breach, and I have them. So, what shall you offer in exchange?" Alexius ignored the proclamation.

Naomi folded her hands behind her back, a single strand of her hair dangling to the side of her face from her ponytail. She dipped her head down, pacing back and forth as she spoke.

"You see, I know, that you know, what I want to know. That being said, I'd much rather discuss your time magic."

"I'm afraid I have no idea what you mean." The Magister denied her.

"She knows everything, father." Felix walked into the chamber from the hall.

"Felix, what have you done?"

"He took initiative and is trying to stop whatever Devil's game it is you'd be playin." Naomi crossed her arms, standing in front of the Magister.

"So speaks the thief. Do you think you can turn my son against me? You walk into my stronghold with your stolen mark- a gift you don't even understand- and think you're in control?" He stood, angrily, "You're nothing but a mistake."

"Stolen mark, eh? What're you goin' on about, old man?"

"It was the Elder One's moment, and you were unworthy even to stand in his presence."

"Father, listen to yourself! Do you know what you sound like?" Felix pleaded.

"He sounds exactly like the sort of villainous cliché everyone expects us to be." Dorian all but pranced into the room, inserting himself next to Naomi.

Alexius swiped the air with his hand, "Dorian… I gave you a chance to be a part of this. You turned me down. The Elder One has power you would not believe. He will raise the Imperium from its own ashes." The Magister walked down the stairs to his throne, "He will make the world bow to mages. We will rule from the Boeric Ocean to the Frozen Seas."

"Well, this escalated with haste." Naomi rolled her eyes.

"My people will not be involved in this." Fiona whimpered.

"Alexius, this is exactly what you and I talked about never wanting to happen! Why would you support this?" Dorian shouted at him, drawing his staff.

"Stop it, father. Give up the Venatori. Let the Southern Mages fight the Breach, and let's go home." Felix went into a coughing fit.

"No! It's the only way, Felix. He can save you!"

"Save me?"

"There is a way. The Elder One promised. If I undo the mistake at the Temple…"

"I'm going to die. You need to accept that now."

Naomi backed up to her agents as the Magister became more unstable with every word.

"Seize them, Venatori! The Elder One demands this woman's life!" Alexius ordered.

Arrows whistled through the air as knives sliced in unison. The guards that once surrounded the room now bled in a heap of flesh on the floor.

"Can't imagine they'll do much seizing, save for the ground." Naomi scoffed, "Give up this gig, your men are dead. Really dead."

"You…are a mistake. You should have never existed!"

Alexius charged an amulet in his hand, hurling a green light towards them.

"NO!" Dorian yelled, sending his magic flying at the Magister.

A large rift opened in front of them, Dorian and Naomi disappearing into it.