It felt like days. It may well have been days. But Fay felt no thirst. He felt no hunger. He simply walked. Walked. Walked. He did not tire. His feet did not grow sore. But his mind dimmed. His surroundings were a constant hellscape. There was an unsettling rumbling coming constantly from a horizon that the elf would never reach. His mind wandered. His body did not feel tired, but his mind was falling asleep. He was alone in a vast emptiness. Nothing grew. Nothing moved. There was no water. There was no air, at least not the kind he was used to breathing. Existence was different here. He was dozing off, while still dragging his feet, when he felt a violent shiver rend his way down his spine. He suddenly wasn't alone. He jerked awake, and stared around him. A woman stood behind him. An angry woman.

"You killed me." she hissed. Fay, had he been in the real world, would have fainted from shock.

"Nimué, ma vhenan." Fay dropped to his knees. The elf woman who stood before him had long auburn hair, and large, piercing green eyes. Her large eyes had the quality of always possessing a look of innocence. Even now, there was an innocence to her look, which was surrounded by fury. Nimué was a short elf, built like a barrell. She was exceptionally beautiful. She was exceptionally dead.

"You. KILLED. Me." she said again. She looked as though she would strike him.

"I-I don't understand what you say." Fay stammered.

"Your child murdered me! She robbed me of my life!" Fay gasped in a breath. She may as well have struck him. He shook his head. This was everything he was afraid of. It was true. He had robbed her of her life. But it wasn't Naja's fault. Surely Nimué wouldn't be so spiteful. She wouldn't despise her own daughter.

"It wasn't her fault, my love." Fay slipped easily into the elven tongue. "You died, and I have regretted that day for all of my life since. I have mourned for you. I mourn for you still. With every waking moment." Tears splashed down his face. "I wish to the Creators that Naja could know her mother. Know the strong and beautiful woman you were."

"She never will." Nimué said. "Because she killed me." There was a steeliness to her voice. Fay slowly stood up.

"That is hardly fair!" Anger gripped Fay, but it could not outweigh his grief. Nimué tilted her head to the left.

"You dishonour me. You dishonour me with that Shemlen. With that man. You are an abomination!" she screamed. Fay's breath caught. He stared at her, wounded, and incredibly confused. He shook his head back and forth, back and forth. He turned slowly on his heel, and continued to walk towards the Black City.

"I thought you loved me Fay." Her voice was vulnerable, filled with tears now. But he continued to walk. He was in the Fade. He was probably the only real thing here, and he should remember that. He clenched his jaw tightly, and balled his hands into fists. He walked. Walked. Walked. And she would not stop talking. Attacking him with her words. Attacking him with his fears. He had blamed himself for years for Nimué's death. Their love had been epic, and exceptionally short-lived. Fay and Nimué had known of each other for years. She was a part of Shar's clan. They had met a few times as children. But then the Blight happened, and it had been some years since that had happened. And when they had met again, it was instantaneous. They may have only had a few short years together, but Fay knew Nimué better than this place was giving him credit for. He couldn't take it any longer.

He stopped in his tracks.

"Enough of this." He turned to face her; she was still screaming obscene fabrications at him. She stopped when he touched her face gently. "No. You have failed. My darling Nimué had nothing but love in her heart. She loved me. She would have adored her daughter. She was kind, and gentle towards me. So you can't win this way." He placed his hands firmly on her shoulders. "I love you, Nimue. I will always love you." He gently kissed her forehead. When he pulled back from her, there was a difference to her. She had tears in her eyes, and her skin had a gentle glow about it.

"You always were the smart one, Faolan."She laughed, and Fay gasped. Whatever evil he had held in his arms, was now gone. It truly was her this time. She threw her arms around his waist, just like she used to, and buried her head in his middle. He bent over, and nestled his face into her hair. Lavender. He inhaled her scent deeply. She craned her neck up, and her mouth found his.

"It really is you. Oh thank the Creators." Fay gasped. Nimué stepped away from him, and stared up at him with tearful eyes.

"You shouldn't be here, lovey. This is all a mistake. It's too soon."

"I haven't died. At least I think I haven't. I think I tore a hole in the veil. And fell through. " Nimué rolled her eyes.

"Of course you have." She shook her head, but smiled at him.

"Please tell me you're not here. That this isn't where you've gone." Fay gripped her hands tightly, relishing the warmth of them. Her soft skin. Lavender. Nimué looked confused for a moment, but her face quickly cleared up.

"You don't see it as I do. There is great beauty here. And harvests are always bountiful." She choked back a sob. "One day you will see the great cities our people once built. But for now… You have work to do, lovey." His small mate took his hand firmly and began to walk. "We need to find your friends."

"What am I going to do, ma vhenan?" Fay asked, as he held her small hand in his.

"You're going to go back, save Thedas, and live a long and happy life, lovey. Simple, right?" Nimué had a sarcastic smile on her small face. "We haven't mentioned him, Faolan. Tell me about him." Fay stopped in his tracks. He had been dreading this conversation. How could his mate possibly feel about this? About his relationship with Dorian.

"His name is Dorian Pavus. And… I love him." Fay's voice cracked, and he was afraid to look at her. "He's an Altus mage from the Tevinter Imperium. And he is kind, and sweet. He's exceptionally sarcastic, and he makes me laugh." Nimué reached up and placed her hand over his heart. She could never quite reach his face. Finally, he looked down into her eyes, and she was smiling.

"We all deserve happiness and companionship. I want you to live a life. To love and to laugh. I was gone too soon to grow old with you. Grow old with this man. Make some memories together. And one day the three of us will sit together in paradise, and you can tell me all about it."

Fay had to stop and look away for a moment to catch his breath. The weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders, as a spear was driven into his heart.

"Ma Vhenan…." he whispered. Nimué shook her head, and blinked back tears.

"Love this man. Raise our daughter. And make me proud Faolan. I love you as no other will love you. I love you as the mother of our child. And as I watch over you, I will find a way to love your Dorian." She placed her hand over his heart again.

"You were my whole world before Naja was born." Fay said, in a tearfilled voice.

"I know lovey, I know. You were always kind. And I always knew your care. If it is my blessing that you seek, you will always have it. I may have been your mate. But that shouldn't hold you back. Don't let your grief for me rule your life. You know my wishes now. You have no excuse to hold back. Love him, cherish him, and hold tight to him, because the world is falling apart." Fay cradled his dead mate in his arms and wept. Her spirit's tears left wet patches on his arms.