Night fell once again over the travelling Inquistion and further up the stream of people, little red tents began to appear. The moon rose fully into a cold ink sky, so clear that every white dot in it could be seen. The valley beneath it where we camped was silver with the snow and the moonlight and it was so beautifully quiet. Not silent, people still bustled about but they spoke quietly and calmly and settled softly in their tents, tired once again from the day's journeys. The battle at Haven seemed so far away now, like a bad dream. The people here deserved quiet, they deserved peace and as Varric said, I'd be damned if I stood by and let Corypheus take this from them.

I watched the few people that were still up as they pottered about the camp. Some chatted softly at their fires, others cleaned dishes in bowls of melted snow. Some were still eating, steam coming up from their little wooden plates: a warm meal against the cold. It smelt earthy and hardy, and I realised then just how at home I felt. It had been a while since I'd lived like this. It made think of my clan and Mahanon. A slight fear struck me when I wondered if they'd heard about Haven. Surely they would have, something like that would be hard to miss, what with the Templar army and the fire breathing dragon. Oh, and the mangled corpse of some over ambitious Tevinter Magister.

"Varric?" I called out quietly. I knew he was camped nearby and he was bound to have some pen and ink on him. It had definitely been too long since my last letter home but with so much happening it had quite slipped my mind. However, when no reply came I assumed that he had gone to sleep. I clucked my tongue and hauled myself to my feet with my crutches. Perhaps Dorian would have paper, or Josephine- she was always scribbling away on that strange portable desk of hers. I hobbled over the trampled snow with as much grace as I could manage and made for her tent. She was not too far away, close to the Herald anyway. I stopped just outside the ambassador's tent when I heard fervent whispers coming from within. I recognised Leliana's lilting accent and Josephine's too. Cullen's louder vibrato cut across them followed by Cassandra hushing him.

"I understand we owe a lot to her but we cannot have such a practice in the Inquisition, it is too dangerous! We may already have an abomination on our hands." Said the commander.

"I must agree, while we recognise Lavellan's efforts, such outlawed practises jeopardise the integrity of the Inquisition." Said Josephine. I leaned in closer when I heard mention of my name, my cheeks flushing red and tears welled in my one good eye. I knew what they were discussing. They knew I'd used blood magic. I silently cursed myself and listened on.

"No more so than your smuggler rings and questionable Lyrium sources." It was Cassandra who rebuked her and I almost smiled. I had not expected that from her.

"Cassandra is right. Lavellan has proven to be a fierce ally of the Inquisition. She has went above and beyond to aid us and while I do not agree with her use of blood magic, I will not see her cast aside." Leliana spoke then, her voice cold and unrelenting.

"With all due respect, Spymaster, the decision is not up to you." Cullen said quietly.

"With all due respect then, Commander, let us hear what the Herald has to say."

The silence seemed unending. I even dared to lean in closer, afraid I might miss the Herald's verdict. I felt my lip quivering the longer I waited. Just when I thought I had found a home, yet again something was pushing me out. I was always left behind, for some reason or another... But whatever it was it was always my magic. People feared me. Cullen, ex Templar who had seen the best and worst of magic. Diplomatic and caring Josephine. They both feared me. The Herald, who had been tossed out of the Breach, who had faced down Corypheus- she feared me. I wouldn't be surprised if they all did, Leliana, Cassandra, all of them. My heart broke at the thought of being cast out, or worse. It broke my heart to think of these people who I'd come to see as family turn on me and run. In that moment I cursed my magic, wished it was never a part of me. In everything I did it would always hound me, it would always overtake.

"Are we absolutely sure it was blood magic?" Came the Herald's voice at last. She was sounded as though she didn't believe it. Why would she believe that her friend had stooped so low? She only saw the best in people.

"I am afraid so. Mages have verified this, Cassandra too." Josephine replied.

Another silence came and I took a step back. I knew what would be said next. There was no way Trevelyan would let this slide. She was brought up with Chantry laws, fervently believed in Andraste and the Maker and all that shite that made everything about me so wrong. I hobbled back again, each time I did, my heart stepped back with me. Further and further into some dark part of me which I never dared to look. Heartbreak gave way to anger and I spun violently to run but I stumbled over the crutch and my broken leg pulsed with pain.

I let out a whimper and landed in a heap on the snow. My still tender arm took the brunt of the tumble but my leg had not been entirely saved. I'd twisted it in the landing and in throbbed violently now. I grit my teeth and tried not to cry out, tears burned in my eyes from the pain and hot breaths of steam shot from my mouth and into the cold night air. As I tried to stand, I heard a shuffle of movement ahead of me. As if out from the shadows, Solas emerged, his head lofty, his arms behind his back. It was a posture I recognised from our early days together. Standoffish and proud.

"You should be resting, Lavellen." He said quietly, concern knotting his brow.

I pulled myself upright, ignoring my throbbing leg and matched his stance. Or at least tried to. It's quite difficult to stand at ones full height on crutches.

"I was. But I just decided to go for a walk." I lied.

The arch in his brow told me he knew.

"It should take another week for that leg to heal now." He said, nodding to it.

I glared at it, willing it to stop pulsing, Mythal's sake I could almost hear it. He said nothing more, and neither did I. It felt awkward and strange to be near him. He had been avoiding me for so long, I had almost gotten used to it. That and Varric's words about "Something" being there made my throat close over with nerves.

"Then it is settled. You made the right decision, Herald." Came Cullen's loud voice from the tent. It drew both our attention and my heart sank. They had past my sentence. I turned back to look at Solas and his face seemed impassable, if not for his eyes. They burned with something strange, a determination and fear.

"Follow me, quickly." He said, stepping forward to take my arm. With his aid we made in to the shadows between two tents nearby.

I looked at him in confusion.

"The Herald will not cast you out while you are still injured." He said, his hand still wrapped firmly around the crux of my elbow. I understood then why he had not healed my leg immediately. He knew the Herald and the advisers would have no choice but to expel me after my dabble in blood magic. He knew also that the Herald was not so merciless as to leave me out in the snow with a broken leg.

I felt my lips part but I couldn't think of anything to say. I suppose a "thank you" would have been adequate but I couldn't form the letters on my tongue. I tried but I could only smile at him. His eyes flicked up from my mouth to look me in the eye.

"You need to be seen above suspicion." He said lowly, "You will need to win their trust again, Lavellan. You used the one thing they can all agree is wrong, it will not be forgiven easily. Scout to the North, be their guide."

"But my leg, I can hardly walk as it is never mind alone."

He spread out his palm and it glowed softly in a green light. As it vanished, so did the throbbing in my leg, almost completely. He knelt down and snapped the splint off, throwing it and the bandages to the side.

"It will be weak," He said, coming to his feet, "But you can use it well enough."

"I have no weapons!" I hissed, suddenly frightened.

He smiled slightly, "I believe Warden Blackwall will be of service there."

I guffawed and shook my head, crouching down when I saw the Advisers disperse and go to their separate tents. When the rustle of tarpaulin settled, only the wind could be heard whistling through the valley. The night seemed utterly still. If not for the thick mauve clouds moving across the sky, time could have come to a halt. It was interrupted only by the long lonely cry of a wolf.

I shivered and I imagined the cut across my eye was fresh for a moment. The pain flashed for a mere second but vanished. I touched the fresh bandages that covered my face and willed the panic rising in my chest to calm. I looked to Solas when I noticed him moving. He was fidgeting in his pocket. A moment later he held out what he was looking for. it was a small wooden amulet, circular with small swirling carvings around its edges. In the middle was the very simple depiction of a wolf's head.

"What's this?" I took the little amulet and examined it closer. There was not much more to it, it was very rudimentary.

"Token of the Pack Master. As long as you wear it," He paused and watched as I put it on, "No wolf should harm you."

"Truly?"

His mouth quirked up to the side, "Truly. Come, Blackwall has a pack and supplies made up for you."

I followed him in and out of the shadows of the tents. It was easy enough to remain hidden under the dark sky, and we being elves, we moved light on our feet. He lead me up a trodden path away from the main camp and behind a large wall of rock. There, waiting at a lonely torch stand was Blackwall, Varric, Dorian and Bull. Solas lit the torch with a flick of his wrist and joined the others. They all watched as I came towards them, a look of pride on all their faces. Blackwall stood pack in hand with a bow slung over his shoulder. Varric sat on what looked like a box draped in fabric, his arms crossed to keep out the cold. Dorian stood beside him. He leaned on Solas' staff and was shivering like a kitten. Bull however, was fully armoured, battle axe and all.

"So they're kicking me out." I tried to sound lighthearted but the humour in my tone fell flat.

"Not if we have a say in it." Varric spoke up and stepped forward.

"We came up with a sort of contingency plan when you were still asleep after the attack." Dorian added. "The idea being that you get yourself as far away from Cullen and the other Chantry preachers as possible."

"All the while doing the work of the Inquisition, that so far, The Herald has failed to do." Bull chimed.

"You gotta one up the Herald, make them realise that they can't do this without you." Varric finished.

I was somewhat stunned by their organisation and their shrewdness but more so that they cared enough to go to such lengths to keep me here.

Blackwall stepped forward then, set the pack of supplies at my feet and handed me a bow that hung on his shoulder. When I felt the weight and smoothness of the wood I knew immediately it was iron bark. I ran my hand down the intricately carved length of it and all but gasped when I saw the carved dragon's head at its top. I realised then that the whole thing had been carved like a dragon. It was beautiful, even if the tail at the bottom was slightly blackened and charred. The fine intricate carving that acted as scales gave it grip, the head and tale at each end gave it a balance.

"It got caught by the flames when we were escaping Haven, but it should work just as well." He said and I looked up, only noticing how foggy my eyes had become.

"Thank you, Blackwall." I whispered, running my hand up its length and pulling the string taut. I felt a smile grow on my face as I looked around the small sphere of light that held these people who cared so dearly about me. "Thank you, all of you."

"You've given much for this cause and to see it be so easily cast aside is a great injustice. You should not be made the villain after you've done so much for the good." Solas said, as he took his staff from Dorian.

"You're coming too?" I sounded more hopeful than I wanted. He nodded. "Splendid! Now, you said we're scouting to the North to find a fortress for the Inquisition. Quick question, before we set off," I said, slinging my pack over my shoulder. "How are we meant to find this fortress that all the Inquisition hasn't been able to find in three weeks?"

"I know where it is." Solas answered. He said nothing more and didn't look like he would.

I looked at Dorian, "The Fade?"

"Of course, The Fade. How else would he know the location of an impossibly secret fortress?"

I laughed loudly and had to smother it with my hand for fear of alerting the others.

"Well this should be interesting." I said, turning to Solas, "Shall we set off?"

"Yes we shall." Bull said, walking forward and down the slope towards the camp. He stopped half way however and smiled back at us. "What? The Frostbacks are crawling with bandits and cults and all sorts. You'll need a heavy fighter if you want to find this place at all."

"Both Nevalla and myself have travelled alone many times before. I believe we are capable enough without you." Solas sounded more disgruntled than I expected of him.

Bull simply laughed, "You'll thank me when we're balls deep in bandits, and besides," He said and a sly grin spread on his face, "Someone's gotta chaperone you two."

I saw Solas' jaw flex in indignation, but he only held his head higher and marched down the slope ahead of Bull who was laughing and taunting him as he went. I blamed my red cheeks on the cold wind.

"One more thing before you go." Varric said, turning back to the covered box he had previously sat on. In one quick movement he pulled away the dark green fabric to reveal a bird cage and inside sat a very familiar, beaked face.

"Captain!" I cried, running towards it and opening the little latch. He hopped out and cawed softly.

"You send him back with any findings and he'll report straight to The Spy Captain." Varric smiled.

"Oh I have missed you, you silly bird." I giggled as he flapped up to my shoulder and pecked at my hair. "Thank you. Sincerely. It's quite overwhelming to think you care about me this much."

"Of course we care about you, dear Nev, you're part of this family whether they like it or not and you'd do well to remember it." Dorian said fervently.

"We know you belong here. Give The Herald time and she'll see that too." Blackwall said, his large hand ruffling my hair.

"Good luck out there, Trixy."

I looked at the them a final time before taking a deep breath and following the others down the slope. This would be quite an adventure. I could only hope that it would be enough to secure my place in The Inquisition.