Isa was in a daze when they returned to Skyhold, brushing off Morrigan and Vhera's insistent questions, wandering to the stables to Feynthorn, burying her face in his coarse fur. She could hear Blackwall talking, then Iovoren holding conversation with them, though she couldn't make out what they were saying. A memory washed over her, of something similar, of Iovoren's voice, of the smell of halla and the forest. He worked under her. She looked up, the memory fading. Flemeth had said she was a war leader for Mythal, Iovoren must have worked under her until she vanished, then joined the sentinels. That was how they knew each other. The sentinels had spent so much time asleep, letting the world pass around them, that it was no surprise he couldn't remember either.

She was about to join the two when she head Solas behind her, "Isenatha." Just hearing him sound so formal made her blood boil. "Solas." She didn't turn to look at him. "The Inquisitor has asked me to learn what I can about what happened at the shrine." "Then ask Morrigan," she snarled, not in the mood to talk to him.

"Morrigan was not pulled into the Fade by Flemeth."

Isa turned to face him, crossing her arms. "She showed me how to command the dragon. That's it." Solas seemed to be struggling to keep a neutral face. The corner of his mouth twitched. "You're not a good liar, da'avise."

Isa walked out of the stables. Solas tried to stop her, and she turned on him. "You think you have any right to try and sweet talk your way into my secrets?" She switched to elvish, getting in his face. "You can go shove an antler up your ass, how dare you? Was it all a game to you? Just another stepping stone in your quest for knowledge? Was it easiest to get to my secrets through my heart? I guess it didn't matter that you shattered it in the process!" Solas's composure broke, and Isa saw him for what he was: a horribly guilty, heartbroken man struggling with the weight of what he'd done. "I never meant to hurt you." Isa shook her head, struggling not to cry in the courtyard. "No one ever does, do they, vhenan?" Of course she still loved him, but she was hurting, and pushing her would get nothing from her. "Do not ask again."

Solas lowered his head in defeat. "I am sorry."

Isa watched him leave, retreating back to his rotunda. She went back into the stables, hopping onto Feynthorn and riding out of Skyhold. She couldn't stand to be in that place for another minute. She heard her name being called, and hooves thundering after her, but Feynthorn was faster than a horse, and she was soon out of reach of whomever was pursuing her.

Having only ridden for a few minutes, she stopped in a grove of pine trees by a deep pool of a bubbling creek, ice creeping around the edges. She hopped off Feynthorn, going to stand at the edge of the pool. She had a sudden desire to go for a swim. She stripped down to her tunic and trousers and jumped in, letting out a gasp at the freezing water. She dove under, swimming deep, then coming up for air. She did it again and again, determined to reach the bottom of the pool. She felt her limbs succumbing to the cold, but she didn't care. It kept the tears from burning her face, and it distracted her from the pain in her chest.

Suddenly, something grabbed the back of her tunic and hauled of her out of the water, tossing her on the bank. "What in the name of the maker do you think you're doing? You'll freeze to death!" It was Blackwall, with Iovoren standing behind him. Isa shoved him away, "none of your damn business!" He caught her arms, making her look at him. "Hey," he shook her a bit. "Hey! Look at me. You're going to be alright. I know you're hurting, for good reason. A lot of people have hurt you recently. It's okay to hurt, but drowning in freezing water isn't the answer."

"I wasn't going to drown." Isa's teeth chattered. Blackwall took off his coat, wrapping it around her. It smelled like leather and horses, like him. It was very warm. Iovoren sat down beside her, taking one of her hands. "Even leaders need someone to lean on." Another memory hit her. They sat back to back in the snow, battered and bloodied as war raged on. They held swords in one hand, and held each other's hand with the other.

Isa began to cry. She felt like such a baby, Flemeth had told her to be strong, and she had done a lot of crying recently, but neither one of the men beside her seemed to share her thoughts. Iovoren was talking, his voice oddly soothing. "I knew a woman once. I don't remember much about the time before the sentinels, but I remember that she was the best leader I had ever known, because she was always open. She wanted to know how the people around her felt. She listened to them when she cried, she lifted them up when they were happy, and she dragged them through the wars we fought, determined that they would all survive. I don't even remember her face, but I remember the loyalty she inspired. She was loved."

Blackwall cleared his throat, "I know I haven't been the best friend lately, maker knows I've been a source of turmoil for many, but…" He let out a deep sigh. "You are very much loved, Isa, by many, including myself. Everyone who has watched you hurt has wanted nothing more than to help, but no one knows how." Isa shook her head, "I don't know either. It seems like every time I start to feel better, I get kicked down again. And Solas, damn him, who does he think he is, talking to me like nothing happened just because he thinks I know something he doesn't? That was just uncalled for." She choked back sobs.

Blackwall patted her leg, "that was really unfair." Iovoren squeezed her hand.

Blackwall stood. "I'm going to make sure they don't send out a search party. No more ice diving, alright?" Isa nodded, smiling despite herself. "Thank you, Blackwall." He gave her a sweet smile and got on his horse, riding off.

Iovoren traced the back of her hand with his thumb, conversing with her in elvish. "Did… Did you learn anything about how we might know each other? It is… strange. I feel like I have known you a long time." Isa clasped both of her hands around his. "Yes. But you must keep it to yourself." "You have my word." She told him everything she knew.

Once she was finished, they sat in silence for a long moment. Then he let her hand go and moved to where he was kneeling in front of her, his expression a very serious one. "Then my memories of the leader must be of you. My lady, my weapon is yours once again, this I swear to you." Isa reached out and put her hand on his shoulder. "I am honoured. I will do my best to earn that loyalty."