Chapter 27

The rift closed with a roar and Faelwen would have collapsed if Bull had not been holding her. The large Qunari had nearly dragged the woman through the rift and closing seemed to have drained her. He helped her come to a sitting position on the flagstones mutely.

They waited. Time passed. The sun set and Faelwen once more felt she had left her sister to die in the fade. The inquisitor, nor Solas, could be moved from the spot. For the first time both the mage and the warrior were of one mind, and one fear. Bull approached the small vigil hesitantly. "Boss, you should eat something." He ventured, trying to hand her a bowl of soup, the Inquisitor didn't respond.

The big man knelt down and whispered gently, "Kadan, please, eat," and pressed the bowl her hands. She grasped it mechanically, but made no motion to eat. Bull made a frustrated sound and looked ready to shake her when, with a roar a rift opened. The inquisitor jumped to her feet, sword and shield coming to hand as she dropped the forgotten food to the ground. Solas and Bull also jumped ready to propel anything hostile coming through. Instead, bloody, and battered almost beyond recognition, Fainariel stumbled out of the green glow and collapsed at their feet.

"Fainariel!" Faelwen rushed forward to collect her sister, relief making her light headed.

"Vhen'an," The word escaped Solas' lips as he too moved towards the prone woman, but she was in no condition to hear the tender declaration.

"Hey! Are you sure she's not, you know, possessed?" Bull asked the practical question hesitantly and it seemed to go ignored for several minutes as Solas inspected the woman and began tending to her wounds and Faelwen made quick work of ordering a litter and help transporting her sister. Eventually the woman was being carried to away from the battlefield and Bull stopped Solas before he could follow.

"Hey, can you tell, if she's, you know?" The angry challenge in Solas' eyes made Bull be less forceful with the question, but he wasn't going to back down before getting an answer either.

"She is not possessed, and yes, I would know." Solas asserted venomously as he shrugged off the man's meaty hand and continued on his path. Faelwen followed the stretcher to where the wounded had been gathered calling for assistance. Cullen detached himself from the knot of soldiers supervising the evacuation of the remaining Wardens and with a barked command joined the Inquisitor on her march.

By the time they entered the chirurgeon's tent runners had preceded them. A comfortable mattress, pillows and a mountain of warm blankets had been found for the Inquisitors sister and three healers were on hand to render aide. Faelwen was allowed to oversee her sister's delivery, Solas swore to stay by Fainariel's side. Then the inquisitor was ushered out by Cullen to give the mages room. "Thank the Maker she's alive." Cullen sighed as he offered Faelwen the campstool a thoughtful Lieutenant had provided.

"Yes. Fenhadis! Cullen, what am I going to do? I almost lost her again, and that demon. How did she survive so long in there? It was in my head it knew things, terrible things. Showed me what a horrible person I am, and they were all true!" She trailed off as tears ran down her cheeks. "I'm worried she's asleep, it lives in the fade it can get her while she sleeps. How am I supposed to protect her from that."

The Commander laid a comforting hand on her shoulder and began telling her a story, his story, of a mage tower on lake Calenhad, of Kirkwall, and how he doubts everyday he wakes up that it's real. "Is that why you used the lyrium?" She asked gently .

"Yes, some days, the pain is so bad, the visions are so real, I fear I cannot trust my own mind." He replied softly.

"That's why you are so good with Thion." She nodded.

"He is strong, he is recovering and surviving on his will alone. Your Thion give me faith I can overcome my own demons and if he can." The commander sighed, "If I can, then your sister can too, she's the strongest of us all." Cullen reassured.

"Thank you, Cullen, you're a good friend." She smiled at him through her tears.

"I have a good example in my leader, Inquisitor." He smiled back.