The sun conquered the grey clouds that surrounded Skyhold and shed it's light on the merrymakers that filled the walls of the fortress. The tavern overflowed with people, and men who were probably too drunk to be working were starting to pile logs and kindling on top of each other for what was going to be the largest bonfire Skyhold had ever seen.

Cassandra, and those who followed her had not been heard from since their victory. Talyn knew that there were going to be problems with her at some point. One could not claim themselves as a Goddess and not expect the world to fight against it.

But her people had accepted her, and that was all that mattered to her. News had trickled into Skyhold before her and the soldiers had arrived from their victorious battle. There were rumors and gossip that surrounded her declaration, but she already planned on telling them the whole story when they were done celebrating Corypheus' death.

It had seemed too easy to Talyn at first. After all of the damage she had caused this earth, in both of the worlds it had been a part of, she thought that there had to be more. Her soul was not done being cleansed of the filth Andruil had stained it with.

But days passed, and she had heard nothing but good news from the surrounding areas of Skyhold. Any creature touched by Corypheus' particular strain of the Blight had burned just as he had, and the Venatori that were left behind had either run into hiding or were skewered by the Inquisition soldiers.

The only thing that did not make it through the battle was the orb that controlled the Veil. It shattered when the rock had dropped Talyn back onto the ground, but the Veil had stayed put, and her mark still glowed with the Fade's light. Solas was disappointed, but she knew that he would be alright.

Ever since the battle, she felt Solas pulling away from her. Each night they shared together she could feel that his mind was elsewhere.

She couldn't blame him for that. She wasn't the only one with a burden.

But Talyn smiled, and placed a hand on her belly while she walked.

So much had been going on, that she had completely forgotten she had missed her moon cycle. She had been feeling ill, but she had just assumed it was from the fact she was at war. She couldn't believe that until this morning, when she threw up again, she didn't realize that there was a little life growing inside of her.

And she was so grateful Corypheus hadn't stolen it from her.

She was on her way to find Solas right now to tell him the joyous news. After everything they had been through, they were finally going to live their dream. Talyn was going to be a mother. It was nerve wracking, but she was happy, because she knew Solas would be a good father. Their child would have all of the best parts of both of them, with none of the pain and grief they had to experience. They had the chance to raise a family in a peaceful place, with no danger to pull them apart.

Morrigan told her that he was in the room with the eluvian.

But when she entered the room, her elation was replaced with a foreboding sense of dread.

Solas was prepared for travel. He had his new battle robes, and his staff strapped to his back. And standing beside him was the human Mythal. Her gold eyes glinted with a wicked delight.

Solas' face was white. He didn't expect to be caught.

"Well... you two need to talk." Mythal broke the awkward silence.

The old woman walked into the liquid silver of the eluvian.

"Solas..." Talyn was quiet. "What are you doing?"

His face was dark with shame. "My heart, I am so sorry... I couldn't bear to face you."

"Did you know Mythal was alive this whole time?"

Solas ignored her question. "I have to leave. I have to repair what I ruined. I have to make the world whole."

Oh, gods. That dread felt heavy on her heart, and it's weight only grew as pieces started to fit together for her.

Solas wanted to tear down the Veil. He wanted to restore what the elves lost, what he thought he took from them. That was why he was so against her telling the world who she was.

That was why he didn't bother to befriend anyone.

That was why...

"Solas. How did Corypheus find our orb?"

He was quiet.

"Answer me!"

"I thought you were dead. I never anticipated you would return to me, or that you would become so attached-"

"You can't, Solas. You can't! They will die!"

She went to move towards the eluvian. She wanted to destroy it before Solas could follow Mythal through it, so that she would have more time to convince him that what he was doing was wrong.

If Andruil was unleashed, their baby would never survive.

But she couldn't move. Solas had used his magic to keep her feet planted to the floor.

"I will come back for you, ma alas'en. When our people are whole, we can be together again."

"Solas, you're going to be-"

He gently cupped her face with his hands, and interrupted her with a kiss. His hands tangled themselves in her hair, keeping her from pulling away. She fought against it, because he was saying goodbye.

When he let her go, she tried to blurt it out again.

"I'm pre-"

Magic rushed through the room, and shoved her through the doorway. Solas' eyes never left her face, even as the door was slammed shut in front of her.

She could move her limbs again, and she didn't waste a moment. Her tattoos glowed, and she kicked in the door.

"I'M PREGNANT!" She shouted at his armored back.

But it was too late. He couldn't hear her, because he had already walked through the eluvian.

She rushed to the mirror that no longer shone with magic and shook it's frame. The glass wobbled, but it did not give way. Solas and Mythal had locked the portal.

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD, I'M PREGNANT!"

Devastated sobs shoved their way from her aching chest, and hot tears dripped down her cheeks. She shook the eluvian until her arms ached and she had to let it go. She curled into a ball on the floor, too weak to do anything but cry.

Her Solas was gone. She needed him now more than ever, and he had left her. He abandoned his family for a traitor, and a world that was dead.

How did she not see this coming? She had done too much to deserve a happy ending. She should have known that something was wrong.

"Inquisitor? I heard shouting."

She lifted her head and wiped the snot from her nose. Cullen was standing in the shattered doorway.

She didn't have the strength to tell him to go away. She dropped her head, and covered her face.

"What happened, Talyn?"

His touch was just as gentle as Solas' last kiss had been. It made her sob harder than before. He brushed her hair behind her ear and lifted her head so it was in his lap. He didn't say anything, he just let her cry and stroked her hair.

When she quieted down, he said softly, "you can tell me. You can trust me."

She knew she could. She knew Cullen would do anything for her.

"He's gone..." She whispered. "I'm alone, and I'm pregnant."

Four months later, Talyn stood before a council made of the leaders of Thedas. She was wearing a dress made of sapphire silk because pants were becoming uncomfortable. Her belly had a roundness to it, but her dress hid it from the world. She had cut her blond hair to her chin to keep some of the heat off her body. Losing the weight of her hair had done nothing to alleviate the weight she carried in her body and soul.

The Inquisition council had wasted no time. While the rest of their people celebrated, they started to get to work to find any information on Solas and Mythal. No one knew that this peace was short-term, and Talyn planned to keep it that way. She wanted to find Solas before he made the biggest mistake of his life, and she wanted to give him the chance to redeem himself in the eyes of her council.

Solas was not evil. He did not want Thedas to burn, it was just a consequence of what he was trying to do. He wanted to give the elves of Thedas the power that should have been theirs all along. But there was another way to save the descendants of Elvhenan without dooming the rest of Thedas. She just had to convince him that it was true.

No one else was to know his true nature until he was found. But none of her friends had been surprised when she told them Solas was Fen'Harel, and that the two of them had created a divide between magic and mortals. They accepted it just as easily as they had accepted her.

She was so grateful for their existence. When they learned of the life growing inside of her, they rejoiced. Josephine had already started making plans for a nursery. Varric bragged about how he would teach the baby how to curse, while Bull wanted to teach it how to swing a sword.

Cullen was happy for her, and had stayed by her side like the solemn protector she knew he wanted to be. And for now, she would let him. Because Talyn needed people she could trust to take care of her child when it was time for her to leave their side to find the missing piece that would make their family whole.

The Empress of Orlais, King Alistair of Fereldan and his Queen, the leaders of the Free Marches, and the new Divine were present for this meeting.

Cassandra fit the costume of Divine well. Even the chair that was taller and more ornate than the others seemed to be made for her. Her name was Victoria now, and the first thing she did was reinstate the Order of Templars and the Circle of Magi. Even now she had Templars guarding every nook and cranny on the castle grounds, for fear of Talyn attacking.

She was no better than the Chantry that had tried to execute the elf who was called Andraste's Herald.

That was why Talyn had told Josephine to spread the word that anyone, no matter their race or religious beliefs, could find safety in Skyhold. Anyone with magic in their blood was welcome within her lands.

Divine Victoria had called this meeting. She was the instigator in the demand that Talyn disband her Inquisition. In such a short amount of time, Cassandra had shown her true colors to her. She was never the woman who saved her from the hangman's noose. She was just a woman who was scared of what she didn't understand. She would rather cling to a lie than try to understand the truth Talyn offered her.

And her poison was affecting the other kings and queens that now looked to her for guidance.

"We don't answer to kings or empresses!"

She met the eyes of every man and woman that were circled around her. Her glare landed on Cassandra.

"Or any Makers, and their Divines. Our masters are the people of Thedas! Your farmers, seamstresses, and soldiers. The people who cook your meals and change your bed sheets. The parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters of those who suffered at the hands of Corypheus. Their voices alone command us! And one day the people of Thedas will call for our aid."

Her words were laced with venom, "one day the world will fall apart again. And when their leaders, the people who are supposed to protect them are more interested in protecting themselves, we will defend them!"

"How are you going to keep the Inquisition together with no army, Inquisitor?" King Alistair interrupted her.

The King of Fereldan was tall and regal, just like his wife. And he seemed to be a fair leader , but his fear of her clouded his judgement, just like Cassandra.

Talyn turned to him, and said with a cold truth in her voice, "is that a threat, Your Majesty? If so, that is a very foolish choice."

She addressed the rest of the council.

"Do not mistake my desire for peace as complacency. I dare you to take Skyhold from me. Send your soldiers and assassins, I welcome them with open arms! You may believe me to be a liar, but never forget what I have told the world. The Inquisition will destroy you, just like we destroyed Corypheus."

She paused.

"I will not disband the Inquisition. As long as there are those willing to keep it whole, I will be its Inquisitor."

"Who will follow another imposter claiming themselves as God?" Cassandra spat the words at her from her throne.

Talyn let out an amused snort. "I am a god. Like I have said multiple times, I am not the only one. Your fear is the only thing that keeps you from accepting the truth. And it will be your downfall, Cassandra."

Once again she addressed the rest of the room.

"This meeting has wasted precious time. There is a world that still needs to be rebuilt, and instead of doing your jobs, you've sat in your fancy chairs and fought to hang on to what little power you have left. Be careful, leaders of Thedas, or the people you claim to care for might run to me."

She turned her back on the second most powerful people in the world, and walked into a future she was determined to protect.

A/N

Wow guys, it's finally done! It took me so long to update Fen'Tarasyl because I lost access to a computer. I wanted to cry! But it didn't stop me from writing!

Thank you guys so much for your support! I love the fact that you guys have commented and kept up with this story no matter how long it took me to update. It makes me happy to know that you guys liked this story as much as I did! And Talyn's story is far from over!

Part Two, "Guardian", will be coming soon!