The next day they bid their farewells to Duchess Anaxas and Prince Kallias Leontius Chariton Alexander Phentaghast at the gates of the Nevarren estate. Adalyn said her goodbyes and clasped hands with Cassandra's cousin as he promised to send her some rare cross-bred plant species. The journey would be incredibly short. They only needed to pretend to ride away into the dawn towards Skyhold. In reality, they would take the eluvian back.

Last night, Adalyn had a dream of an alter of Mythal. The elvan souls that whispered in her mind caused her such agony that she had woken and jammed the crown down onto her head and slammed back a glass of water. She was better in the morning, but the feeling of being on some sort of path persisted.

After dismounting their borrowed horses in front of the mirror, Adalyn glanced back at Krem and his father as he helped him down from the saddle.

As much as she liked a game, the time for being coy was over.

Her ears heated as she remembered the night before. About her teases of marriage. If only Josephine could help me clean up my mess!

"Are we all ready?" She asked, looking around her at her small group of Inquisition soldiers, Cassandra, Krem, and his father, Manius.

They all nodded, and she put her hand to the mirror. It lit up and gave way to her hand. They followed her through as she scanned the ground for the rock formation she had placed in front of the Inquisition's eluvian. She found it and held the door open for everyone to step through.

"You did it, congratulations." A dry voice said once she came to the other side. Morrigan stood there, a slight smile on her tinted lips.

Adalyn grinned, "I told you I am feeling better now! In a little while, meet me in the war room to discuss what comes next? I need a break."

Morrigan nodded and left the chapel, followed by the soldiers and Cassandra.

Adalyn stopped Krem and his father quickly, "I need to find him a doctor, quickly, and a room."

They left the chapel together and made for the med-bay, which was seldom used at Skyhold after the initial move-in.

"Can I see a doctor?" Adalyn asked, after opening the door.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and the head doctor, a lovely woman came over and placed a hand to Adalyn's forehead.

"Are you feeling ill again? I told you, you should have never gone to Nevarra!"

"No, not for me! For Messare Manius." Adalyn indicated to the frail man to her left and the doctor stepped over to have a look at him.

"He coughs up blood." Krem piped up from over Adalyn's shoulder.

"Consumption, then. I will make some powder for him to take daily. You may notice his urine to darken, but that is normal." She spun around and went to a small desk with papers lined up neatly on it. She made some notes, "I will have it ready by tomorrow."

"Good, thank you, doctor." Adalyn said.

"Yes, thank you. So much," Krem echoed, his hands squeezing his father's narrow shoulders a little.

Adalyn noticed and smiled. Now it was time to find him a permanent bed.

"To Josephine!" She crowed, taking Manius' hand and leading the man gently from the clinic to the stairs. She and Krem helped him up the two flights as Krem asked, "Why Josephine?"

"She's going to give him one of the guest rooms to him permanently, of course." She said, matter of factly.

Krem blinked, "My father and I can share a bed…"

"No," She said with a glare as they took another few steps upward, "He is sick and needs to be quarantined. In addition," Her voice took on a teasing tone, "I can't have my father-in-law sleeping in a room mashed-full of the Bull's Chargers! What kind of cruel daughter would I be?"

Krem sighed, "Not this again."

Krem's father chuckled between them but offered no words as they knocked on Josephine's office door.

"Come in!" She called, and they entered.

"I would like to clear out a guest room permanently, Josephine!" Adalyn announced.

"That is a rather… bold move, Inquisitor. We rarely have enough beds for visiting dignitaries as it is…"

"His father is sick and needs a room to himself." She said, stepping back and allowing her to see Manius.

Her eyes widened, "For your lover's father, of course! I will make every arrangement!"

"Is there one available now?"

Josephine hesitated, "The Marquis de Boroquard just moved out two days ago, but his room was to be given to-"

"I'm sorry, cancel it." Adalyn said, "Actually, I have an idea about visitors. Wouldn't it be nice to have a villa built outside of Skyhold, but near us! We could make it nice, still have it in the valley, put walls around it…"

"We will… certainly look into it." Josephine said hesitantly, jotting down something onto a fresh piece of paper. Probably something like: She's crazy!

"Which one did he vacate?"

"The one right above the war room, overlooking the garden." She handed Adalyn the key in a daze.

"Perfect! The air will be good for him."

Adalyn led them back out into the hallway, out into the courtyard, up the stairs and unlocked the door. The inside was decked in soft fabrics, bookcases, a nice rug, a fireplace, and a window. It also had enough room to walk around and do a few workouts in. Good for recuperating.

"This is yours now." Adalyn turned to Manius and gestured to the room. He wandered into the place as she pressed the key into Krem's palm.

"It is up to the doctor whether he leaves this room or not, but I trust you with this key."

He nodded in response to her, but his eyes were on his father, who was running his hands over the fabric of the curtains.

They watched him silently for a few minutes before Adalyn broke the silence, "I am sorry for being the way that I am, the tease."

"Well, if you weren't, you wouldn't be you." Krem said, looking down at her.

"I really just wanted to make you jealous. After hearing you say… you know. I really was hurt. But I was childish. I'm sorry." She said, looking down. For the first time in her life, feeling a little more grown up.

"No, I'm sorry for leaving after saying that. I should have stayed. I should have looked after you when you were hurting. But I was also upset about the secrets."

"I know. Sera of all people told me." Adalyn snorted sadly, a tear falling down one cheek.

"Are we better?" Krem took her hand quietly and laced his fingers through hers.

"I hope we're better than better." She whispered, leaning her head on his arm.

"Inquisitor?" The moment broke, and she turned around to face the woman in the doorway.

"Yes?" She sighed, exasperated.

"The war council is ready."

"Of course it is."

Krem pulled her into a loose embrace, and she breathed in the scent of his chest, different with his weeks on the road.

"I will see you later." He said, letting her go.

She stood on her tip toes, "Kiss me properly?" She whispered.

He smiled and did.

It was sweet and soft until they broke apart.

She smiled and slid out of his arms and out to the war room.

The war room was cool against the remaining heat of early fall and Adalyn shivered. She looked over at her councilors, Cassandra, and Morrigan.

"I have heard and seen from the voices on where to go."

"Where?" Cullen asked, leaning over the map and scouring over the pieces.

"There is an alter of Mythal, out of sight of the world. There is where I need to invoke her."

"Invoke… Mythal." Lilliana tested the words, "The ancient elvan goddess?"

"That is, if she is real!" Morrigan scoffed.

"She is. And she will be there." Adalyn said with a sudden certainty. "I will travel with you, Morrigan."

She raised an eyebrow, but did not protest.

"I say we leave now. I have spent enough time getting back on my feet and I would like to meet the goddess partially responsible for my problems!"

After leaving the war room and gathering her things and telling Solas, Varric, and Cole she wanted them along with her on her journey, she found Krem.

"Stay here and look after your father, I won't be long." She said soothingly, holding his hands and running her thumbs over his knuckles.

"Alright by me." He kissed her, "Just come back to me in one piece."