Cullen wondered where she could be while watching the town gates, hoping to spot the dark antlers of the golden hart. She'd been missing for days.
Cullen had been disappointed to find everyone return without Mithra. He had panicked, expecting to hear the worst had happened. He found out not long after that she was fine, but had been sent into the future and experienced some horrific things. She was beside herself over the deaths she had witnessed; his own included.
The ranger had told Cassandra that she needed some alone time and would meet them back at Haven. None had any idea that "alone time" meant four or more days with no word.
Dorian had teased the commander during his report of the happenings in the future, saying that she would have a surprise for the commander when she arrived.
Cullen was less than pleased to hear of the alliance she had created with the Rebels, but his irritation was replaced with worry by her second day of absence.
Things were going well thus far, and the Mages had been eagerly preparing to address the Breach since they arrived. He supposed they were excited to be doing something so important, but it seemed most were just happy to help those that had declared themselves friends of the Mages.
"Has she returned?" Solas asked coolly upon approach.
Cullen sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Not yet. Leliana's agents and our soldiers have found no trace of her. I really hate it when she does this."
"As do I. But as I said, she is a creature of the wilds. She is alive and well, I'm confident of that. And her wolf is with her. He will die before he lets anything happen to her." It sounded like he was reassuring Cullen, but he figured he was saying it just as much for himself.
The apostate looked calm and collected as usual, but his eyes betrayed his worry.
He was quite embarrassed to hear how loving his future self had been toward her. He hoped she didn't expect him to be so open when she got back. She would probably just push him away even more, considering she had shut down the idea of a relationship more firmly than he had.
"Care for a game, Commander? I do believe I owe you a rematch," Solas asked with a faint grin.
"I would, thank you," Cullen replied pleasantly.
Mithra lay against Josmael as they rested in the shadow of a giant tree on a steep hill. She loved this place, the Frostback Basin. She was absorbing the view of the canopy from her high vantage point and carving while humming a song to herself, enjoying the quiet. She didn't want to venture into the basin, however. The rifts here held some of the strongest demons she had come across thus far, and she wasn't eager to engage without a lot of back-up.
The only creatures she could wrangle here were bogfishers, tuskets, giant spiders, and her usual array of birds. The birds were great for distractions and frightening foes, but they weren't much help in actual combat. Two were pretty much worthless to her, though she could probably squeeze a few pranks out of them. Bog fisher poo was very fragrant, after all. And the spiders.. Well, they wouldn't stand a chance against a Pride Demon.
The ranger had wandered to the edge of the territory to try to figure out gurguts. She watched them intently, but they didn't do much more than stand there quietly until dinner came by. So she didn't have them puzzled out all the way yet. Her sister hadn't let her when they came through on their way to the Free Marches.
Danyla had said, "They are too dangerous! Forget it!" So Mithra had let it go, there was no arguing with her sister. Mithra regretted it as soon as she had to save a hunter from two of the beasts as the clan moved through the area. The experience had been thrilling, but it had pissed her sister off to no end.
Josmael yawned with a whine then nudged her with his nose. "We'd better get back so we can be done and free, Asa'ma'sal."
"Yeah...I know. I hope I'm ready to face them. The things I saw..it was like-" She sighed, unable to voice it.
He whined sadly as Mithra looked depressed and deep in thought.
She got up abruptly, looking determined. "Let's just..do this. I made promises. I should keep them. Let's go."
Day five of her absence arrived, and Cullen tried not to watch for her. She will be here when she gets here.. he kept telling himself.
He watched his recruits practice and corrected mistakes with shouts and growls. If that didn't do it, he'd pick someone to demonstrate the proper method, which always embarrassed his soldiers enough to make them pay attention and try harder.
The commander suddenly found himself face down in the snow with high pitched squeals and grumbles all around him. His eyes went wide when he realized what happened and who was responsible.
He sat up quickly and scratched the wolf. Josmael was wagging with as much vigor as he had his first day in Haven. "I'm pleased to see you too, Boy, but you've really gotta stop embarrassing me in front of my men," He scolded playfully.
He looked up to spot Mithra on the hart, but he didn't see them at all. His brow furrowed, and he called his lieutenant to supervise the exercise while he went to check on something.
Mithra was in her cabin, empty bags flung in the corner, stew on the fire, and baubles gathered on the tables. She was sorting through things, preparing to pack up for her departure in a day or two.
There was a polite knock at the door.
The ranger started at the sound and turned. She could only stare at it, too terrified to answer. She didn't want to break down again, and the sight of Cullen with his troops from a distance had almost done her in already.
Josmael howled lightly just outside, "Come on! You knew you'd have to do this!"
Her face hardened, and she approached the door upon the second knock and opened it.
Just as she suspected, Cullen stood a few feet from her door, and she immediately began to tear up when she saw him.
"There you are! We were won-" His voice quit when she threw her arms around him.
Sobs wracked her as she buried her face in the fur of his coat.
Cullen was beyond shocked. He couldn't even imagine what to do. He turned the brightest shade of red he had ever accomplished and looked to the sky. What should he do? Oh, Maker, please help...
After what felt like an eternity of uncertainty, he placed his hands on her back and rubbed gently.
She squeezed tighter and turned her head. "I promised...I promised you a hug when I got back."
He sighed a laugh, finally coming out of his shock, and wrapped his arms around her snuggly now that he understood. "So this is what Dorian meant when he said you had a surprise for me."
Mithra laughed and sniffed. "Such a big mouth. Is that a Mage thing or a Tevinter thing, I wonder?"
The commander laughed, and she finally released him from the hug.
That adorably crooked grin of his graced his face. "It must be a Tevinter thing. Mages did little more than glare at me in the Circle."
She wiped her eyes and sniffed some more.
Cullen's face fell. "Was it really that bad?"
"Don't! Please." Mithra shook her head and looked down while rubbing her forehead. "Haven't you learned your lesson about asking questions you don't want the answer to?"
The fire hissed, demanding the ranger's attention. "Awe shit!" She rushed over to stir the stew and calm the boil. "Come in, if you like. Are you hungry? You look like you haven't eaten much lately. I know I haven't." She sighed and closed her eyes.
"I imagine you haven't. Have you even been able to sleep?" he asked gently.
She murmured, "Not really, no... It could be worse. Knowing that you and the others aren't actually dead or infected helps tremendously. I couldn't even look in Solas' direction when I got back to this time. I kept seeing him...as he was there."
"Dorian gave us the basic information, but left out descriptions of our...conditions," he admitted while shutting the door.
"Be very thankful for that. You all looked...extremely ill. It was difficult to see. I tried so hard not to cry when I saw Cassandra, Varric, and Solas and nearly screamed when I saw you. You looked..." She stopped herself while shaking her head. She couldn't voice the description; it would send her over the edge.
Cullen took a seat at the table and just watched her quietly.
Mithra shook out her hands and stood with her back to him. She fidgeted with the old leather jacket she was wearing and looked around, but her eyes avoided him at all cost.
"Smells good," he tried.
"Thank you. It's a..family recipe."
Cullen mentally kicked himself. He knew her family was a touchy subject too. "Where did you go?"
She brightened slightly. "The Frostback Basin. Have you ever been there?" she asked as she ladled stew into two bowls and sat opposite the commander. She slid his bowl before him and stared into her lunch as she waited for it to cool.
"Can't say that I have. That's Avaar territory, isn't it?" He asked, curiously.
"They are interesting people. I've traded with a few, but never entered one of their holds. I stayed high in the hills while I was there, just enjoying the sights. The scenery of that place is so...beautiful." She smiled at the thought.
Cullen seemed a little awed. "You really have seen and done a lot in your life, haven't you?"
She laughed. "Well, I've been homeless for most of my life. I wasn't tied to any place or people. I could go where I wished when I wished. And do what I wanted when I wanted. I was free, and I will be again soon." Her voice darkened, "But I have a hunter now... and I look forward to the look on his face when he realizes his prey is actually his end."
Her eyes grew stormy at the thought of the bastard that Alexius worked for. Everything was his fault: the Breach, the cult, the future she had witnessed. She would enjoy killing him when they crossed paths.
The commander pressed his hands upon the table and scowled. "This "Elder One" and his cult want you, and you're still going to leave?"
She lifted her face slightly, and flippantly said, "Of course. My hunter can come for me all he likes. He will be sorry he ever tried. But I won't let him hunt you as well. I can't watch you all die again. I'll...break. But if I leave, Haven and the Inquisition are safe. I have to go."
"You're mad! We can protect you. We will protect you."
She shook her head and snorted a laugh. "I've always protected myself. It's easy to find a large group of people, no matter where they try to hide. But finding just one person in the wilderness of the world? I've killed thousands of people on my own, Commander. All of my would-be hunters have failed. I'll kill him too."
The commander entered the war room with Mithra close behind, where everyone else was waiting. She kept her eyes to the floor, but it did little good. Her eyes dripped tears as soon as the door was opened for her.
Solas sounded relieved as he approached the ranger. "There you are! We've all been concerned, Lethal'lan."
She sniffed loudly upon hearing his voice. It was clear and full as it should be, but her heart was still broken over the grizzly scene in the false future.
She couldn't contain herself. She wrapped her arms around him and just held him in her arms as the tears came.
"The sight of everyone there really tore her up. Give her some time," Dorian suggested softly.
"I failed you... I failed you all.." She started to sob then and pressed her face into his chest. "I'm so sorry."
The apostate embraced her gently. "You've failed no one, Lethal'lan. You returned and prevented it from happening. You saved everyone from what you experienced."
She nodded silently, released Solas, and reached for Leliana as she moved toward her, silently begging for a hug with teary eyes.
The spymaster embraced her with some uncertainty, but she wasn't going to deny her in the state she was in. "Are you ready to face the Breach? The Mages have been waiting. They're eager to assist you." Leliana smiled while rubbing her back softly.
The ranger released her and looked at the light marring her hand. "Not just yet. I have a few things to do first."
The crowd gathered and laughed as Seggrit struggled to keep a swarm of nugs from making off with his goods again. They were everywhere, running around with helmets on their heads, boots sticking to their little nuggy butts, and silks wrapped around one that poked its head out of a crate.
Seggrit was very likely the least liked person in Haven. He was a greedy penny pincher that cared for coin more than anything. He frequently refused to donate anything to the healers, asking what they would offer in trade.
Mithra hated him simply because he was a racist. He always managed to use the term "knife ear" when she passed, not realizing that she was nearby. She had no reservations of having harmless beasties torment him, especially for a noble distraction.
The ranger entered the cabin she had woken in after she had attempted to close the Breach the first time while everyone was enjoying the show.
Everyone gathered in the ruins of the temple. Healers were on standby in case she found herself hurt again. The Mages stood upon the wall, ready to power up the ranger so she could seal the large rift and hopefully the Breach itself.
Cullen stood with a bunch of soldiers, ready in case another Pride Demon came through. Cassandra waited with Mithra and Solas, mentally preparing themselves to step into the crater once more.
The ranger heaved a sigh and dropped in, hopping easily off the wall, and approached the rift that had kicked her ass that first day.
To Mithra's horror, the rift popped and showed what had happened to her the last time she was there.
She stood next to a projection of herself attempting to seal it. Light flashed, signaling the moment the first layer of the rift closed and shot up to the Breach.
She watched in a daze as the reflection of herself went flying when it popped, skidding violently across the stone. Rolling, jostling and turning into a bloody mess before her eyes.
Everyone that had gathered gasped and shouted in alarm. Cullen went pale at the sight and began praying silently with every bit of will he had. He remembered quite well what she had looked like when he carried her to Haven on horseback. He didn't want to see her like that again, ever.
Once Mithra's shock wore off, she glared at the rift. "Are you FUCKING serious?! Dhava ma masa, you son of a bitch! I will see you closed!"
She paced while mumbling to herself, shaking out her hands, chewing her lips, panting, and growling. Her fury was growing, and it wasn't going to be pretty if it put her on her ass without knocking her out cold.
Her face was at full snarl, eyes boring into the rift that seemed to be taunting her. "Nuva uralas telsyl na i'ga syl nyel laimem!" she howled at it, panting as she finished.
She made an obscene hand gesture at the rift as she screamed, "Nuva Fen'harel pala masa sule'din!"
Solas couldn't keep his face straight with the last one. He leaned on his staff and laughed out loud, much to everyone's surprise.
"No, no... don't ask...I will not ...translate that one." His laughter carried on once he finished speaking.
Mithra was too pissed to enjoy his unexpected fit and seized the rift with the mark, imagining herself choking it to death in her magical grasp.
She roared as it pulled back, and she pushed harder. "Na pala!"
Solas regained himself at last and cued the Mages. They charged up and pushed their mana through Mithra, aiding her in the final big push to close it.
She screamed in pain and fury until it popped at last. The rift closed, slamming into the Breach above and dulling it. While another shockwave blasted dust from stone and knocked everyone onto their backs.
Mithra fell to one knee in exhaustion. She had shoved all of her rage into the effort of getting it done, leaving her feeling like she had just taken on an entire circle tower of Templars.
Cassandra regained her feet and started toward the elf on one knee. Cullen joined her in a moment, rushing to make sure Mithra was alright.
The ranger looked up when they neared and smiled weakly.