A/N – I'm not sure about any of you but I always felt that everything up to the major event of Haven was one giant prologue. It's once you get to Skyhold that the game expands and it kicks into another gear. So I think ten chapters covering events up to the end of the Haven arc is a good start. No idea how many chapters for the rest of the story, and I also plan on covering the DLCs too, particularly Trespasser.

As the mages prepared themselves for the Breach, some of us kept ourselves occupied in the hinterlands, continuing to clear the area of enemies, Fade Rifts, and making it safer for people to travel and even return to their homes. Ringing in our ears constantly was Cullen about needing places for our troops to camp and provide safety for the civilians to travel in pace. He knew of a few forts dotted in the region, built during the time of Orlesian conquest, if not earlier, with some newer forts built during the Wars of Ferelden Independence and afterwards, when the fledgling country needed to protect its borders.

Usually our entire group would head out, though Vivienne and Solas would occasionally remain behind, assisting the mages in their preparation. Evelyn was never going to stay behind, enjoying the freedom of being out in the world, on horseback, with people who were fast becoming good friends. I was just reminded of my time fighting the darkspawn during the Blight.

We did come across an enormous fort, filled with mercenaries, keeping in mind to eventually clear it. We could have tried taking it on with our group, but storming a castle with so few of us probably wasn't a good idea. We simply marked it on the map and would feed the information to Cullen. He might send a regiment of soldiers to try and take it, though he'd probably need siege engines. The Dragonborn couldn't always do it by himself.

Securing as much of the hinterlands as possible, in a way making sure Ferelden was protected as a whole at the same time, as the chaos could have resulted in the civil war in Orlais spilling over the border. I guess it was a way of currying favour with Aedan, as he was still pissed off about the mages the last time I'd spoken to him, though he'd replied to my letter, stating I should still visit soon, not for clear the air talks, just so we could meet without everything that happened still clear in our thoughts. So we focused on our plans of finally closing the Breach. In the back of my mind was this 'Elder One' Alexius had mentioned. We still had no idea who he actually was. If we had a name, maybe we could have figured it out and prepared for it.

The morning we would head towards the Breach, I found Evelyn in her bedroom after our Council meeting, where we had agreed on our tactics. She was looking at her left hand, I thought perhaps waiting for it to glow. She looked up and returned a nervous grin. I sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist, immediately feeling her lean into me. "You okay?"

"Feel a little sick, to be honest."

"You'll be fine. Once we close that Breach, I won't say it's job done, but the major threat is finished. The mages are ready to help, and so are all of us. All you need to is what you've done with all those small rifts. Close it, and we'll be safe again."

"You make it sound so easy."

I shrugged. "It's best to keep it simple. Don't overthink it. All you need do is close the Breach. Don't think of how large it is, how dangerous it might be. Just think of all those people who will be by your side when doing it. It's simple otherwise. Raise your left hand, let whatever that energy is flow, and the Breach will close."

She took a deep breath and met my eyes. "I can do this. We can do this."

"Good. I'll head out, see if they're ready to go. It'll be just like before, though this time, we shouldn't run into too many enemies. The road to the temple should be clear."

There were hundreds of mages ready to step forward to assist us. Our entire group would also head north, just in case any demons did appear. Formed into columns, we led off as the mages followed, and we made it to the ruins of the temple after an hour or so of walking. As the mages got into position, ringing the area, I walked with Evelyn towards the focus of the Breach. Solas had already figured out what she needed to do. Get precisely underneath the epicentre and simply let the energy flow. Basically, it would just be like the Fade Rifts we'd found across Thedas so far.

It was… far too easy. Maybe I just wasn't used to things being simple to resolve, but I just had a bad feeling we'd missed a trick. Yes, Evelyn closed the Breach and lived to tell the tale. The mages were particularly helpful; I think making the energy from her hand even greater. I didn't know the details as I probably wouldn't have understood anyway. But there was still no sign of this Elder One. I didn't think closing the Breach would have killed him. If anything, closing it was going to attract his attention even more.

But with the Breach closed, we could at least celebrate that one of the main reasons why the Inquisition had been formed was now resolved. Heading back to Haven, the sky now looking far more normal, we received a hero's welcome. After everything the people had suffered since the outbreak of fighting between the mages and templars, the loss of the Divine, the loss of so many thousands, it was immediately agreed that the people would be given a chance to let their hair down and celebrate.

I noticed most of our group headed off to join in with the revelry. I didn't blame them as everyone had been busy since the day they had arrived. While I'd enjoyed the occasional night with Leliana, and we still hadn't actually made love, every day I'd been out in the field, or was hard at work training. But that feeling just wouldn't go away, so I turned down all offers of drink, wanting to keep my head clear, if not for that evening, then for the morning. I noticed Evelyn stay close to me, doing the same. Maybe she was just following my example, but she'd already mentioned her own concerns.

Cassandra approached us as we watched over the village. "Solas confirms the heavens are scarred but calm. The Breach is sealed. We have reports of lingering rifts, and many questions remain, but this was a victory." I just made a sound, Evelyn smiled but remained silent. "Word of your heroism has spread, Evelyn."

She scoffed. "Hardly. All I did was raise my hand and let the magic do its work. I don't know whether this mark is luck or a curse. Add to that, I certainly haven't done this alone. The man next to me has certainly done his share of leading this whole thing. And we can't forget the mages. They were in just as much danger."

"You're right, Herald."

"Evelyn."

Cassandra smirked and continued. "This was a victory of alliance. One of the few in recent memory. And with the Breach closed, that alliance will need new focus."

I met her eyes. "The Elder One." She made an agreeing noise, wished us good night, and headed back inside the hall.

Evelyn moved closer, looking rather cold. I wrapped an arm around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. "I know who the hero really is," she whispered.

"You've read too many of Varric's stories. I just do what I need to do."

Squeezing me back, she retorted gently, "Maybe. But while there is embellishment, there is certainly a lot of truth. And you are still the Hero of Ferelden to many people. The man who came from another world to lead the Wardens to victory over the Archdemon. Aedan may have killed him but I've heard enough from Leliana…"

"As always, I just try to do what is right and save as many as I can. Like you, I didn't ask for my gift. It was bestowed upon me by the gods. I've lived my life since trying to prove worthy of such a gift."

She leaned up and kissed my cheek. "Definitely worthy, Uhtred."

I watched her walk away towards a small group of revellers, which included Sera, as I gazed out across the village again. Looking up, the greenish tint the sky had was gone. The clouds were still swirled around like some sort of vortex but, instead of green, the clouds were grey and white, the sky blue and black. The sun had disappeared by the time our mission was complete but we hoped for clear skies the next morning.

I wasn't the first one to see the lights in the distance. I had taken a seat on the ground, simply relaxing as I heard Cullen shout, "Forces approaching! To arms!"

The revelry stopped immediately, replaced by more shouting, even a few screams. I was up on my feet straight away, leaving my weapon sheathed as I headed straight for the gates, Evelyn and Cassandra falling in alongside me. As we moved, we ordered anyone who wouldn't be fighting back to the chantry as we headed to the gates. By the time we got there, Cullen was already taking in reports as soldiers were preparing for any possible onslaught.

"Cullen?" I asked.

"One watch guard reporting. It's a massive force, the bulk over the mountain."

"Under what banner?" Cassandra asked.

"None," Cullen replied.

"None?" Cassandra wondered, clearly confused by the fact any army would march without one. Even in Skyrim, the Imperial and Stormcloak armies had always marched with a banner.

Before Cullen could add anything, or any of us ask further questions, there was a collision at the gates below us. That certainly grabbed our attention as the approaching army certainly wasn't close enough, and it would be unlikely any scouts would come knocking on our gates, requesting entrance.

"Commander, it's a lone voice, requesting entrance."

I headed down to the gate, Cullen and Cassandra with me. Evelyn followed. I was ready to tell her to stay back before remembering she was the face of this. Cullen and I took a door each before heading out, to be greeted by an enormous soldier, who fell to the ground with a wound in his back, surrounded by even more bodies that were certainly not ours. In the middle stood a slim man, wearing an enormous hat that covered most of his features.

"I'm Cole," he stated urgently, "I came to warn you. To help. People are coming to hurt you. You probably already know."

"What's going on?" I asked, hoping he might have an answer.

"The templars are coming to kill you."

"Me, the Dragonborn, or her, the Herald?" I wondered. The templars certainly had a bone to pick with me, but I guess they considered Evelyn a heretic.

"They consider Evelyn a heretic, but they hate you more, Dragonborn. They demand blood."

Cullen stepped forward. "Is this the Order's response to our talks with the mages? Attacking blindly?"

"The red templars went with the Elder One. You know him? He knows you. You took his mages," Cole replied, pointing out to somewhere in the distance. I couldn't see clearly but what I could see were all the torches. There must have been thousands approaching.

"Cullen, you're in command of our forces here. We need a plan," I suggested. I wasn't a general. He was trained in such matters so I would always defer to him in situations like this.

He nodded, understanding why I would defer to him right now. "Haven is no fortress. If we are to withstand this monster, we must control the battle. All you can do is get out there and hit that force. Everything you can!" He turned as our friends and allies had flooded forward. "Mages! You have sanction to engage them! That is Samson. He will not make it easy!"

He saw Samson. I remembered speaking up for that bastard back in Kirkwall. He was now assisting the Elder One? Oh, I was going to go looking for him and gut him personally.

"Inquisition! With the Dragonborn and Herald! For your lives! For all of us!" Cullen cried.

Everyone headed forward, where the first red templars were arriving. Cullen shouted out that the two trebuchets that had been built, ready to head out into the hinterlands and take backs the fort, could be used to defend our position. Sounded like a good plan for now. But I remembered what I'd told myself back in Redcliffe. My promise to the Greybeards was on hiatus for the time being.

Defending the trebuchet wasn't easy as templars flooded forward. I'll admit, I didn't mind killing them now. I'd resisted releasing all the frustration and anger while I was in Kirkwall, not wanting to make the templars mortal enemies. Now I didn't have to worry. They were well armoured, they had expertly crafted weaponry, and other advantages that I wasn't totally aware of, trying to remember what Alistair had told me long ago. Cullen had started to share information but hadn't gone into great detail yet.

Leaving a small contingent of men guarding the trebuchet, we headed to the other one, finding our forces wilting against the templars. Our arrival helped turn the tide, and once the templar menace was dead, we hatched a plan. Loading up the trebuchet, we had to adjust it slightly before we fired, watching the missile land in the distance. The explosion caused an avalanche which swept down the mountain. We saw plenty of torches disappear as the snow enveloped plenty of the enemy.

Before we could celebrate, of all things, a dragon approached, firing at our position. I couldn't reply in time, leaping out of the way as the trebuchet was smashed into splinters. I heard the screams of at least three mages who had been wounded, a couple more burned. We dragged those we could with us.

Looking around, our advantage had disappeared immediately, hearing cries from nearby. Cassandra suggested we retreat to the gates. I disagreed entirely. "I can bring down a fucking dragon!"

"Now is not the time, Uhtred!"

"Bullshit, it isn't. I've killed plenty of the bastards!"

"Later, Uhtred. We need a new plan," Evelyn insisted, "And look at it. Red lyrium!"

"Fuck!" I roared.

Muttering further curses, I followed the rest of them to the gates, passing by plenty of dead bodies, including many mages. Templars continued to flood forward. I saw no sign of Samson nor of this Elder One. Cullen was still at the gates, our group the last one to pass through before they were shut, the enormous piece of wood thrown in place. It would hold, but probably not for long.

"We need everyone back to the chantry. It's the only building that might hold against… that beast!" he stated.

"Leave me three people and I can deal with it."

Cullen turned to me. "It will be no ordinary dragon, Uhtred. It might be nothing like the Archdemon you dealt with long ago. If it's in the thrall of the Elder One, we simply don't know. And I know about red lyrium at that gift of yours. I was present at the Gallows."

"Fuck sakes," I muttered, turning and glancing out over the village, deep in thought. I turned to my colleagues and took charge. "Split up, spread across the village. Find anyone you can and get them back to the chantry."

"And what are you going to do?" Evelyn wondered.

"I'm going templar hunting."

No-one disagreed with the order, splitting up as I went looking for templars. I found plenty of them, having found gaps in our walls. I used my Thu'um once or twice, needing to be careful of any that seemed to have red lyrium armour, but I spent most of my time in battle with them, blooding my sword once again. They'd occasionally try and swarm me, so that's the only time I'd use my gift, otherwise I trusted in my sword arm. I'd been in thousands of duels and battles by now. Sure, templars are trained warriors, but if I wanted, I'd fight dirty. The only rule of battle was ensuring you survived instead of the enemy bastard in front of you.

As I fought, Haven burned around me. The dragon continued to fly above, but it didn't seem to show any interest in me. This wasn't Skyrim, and that was now ordinary dragon. It wasn't attracted to me by blood and soul. Distracted as I was by templars, I could never stop, perhaps to try and bring it down. As long as the chantry didn't burn down, then we had a chance. But feeling helpless was frustrating, and the number of templars was simply… staggering.

It felt like I fought for hours. I eventually took more than one wound, but the templar numbers thinned out, noticing quite a few started to pull back, no doubt in preparation for the next wave of attack. And I had a feeling they would throw absolutely everything at Haven. I wasn't a god. I was just a man. There was no way I could take on thousands of templars alone. We'd already suffered significant losses. I saw plenty of bodies around, many of them mages…

Returning to the chantry, I was one of the last inside. Looking around, I noticed Chancellor Roderick on a stretcher. He didn't look well, our new friend Cole tending to his wound. "He tried to a stop a templar," he explained, "The blade went deep. He's going to die."

The hall was full of the wounded, the scared, the dying. After all the hope and celebration of only a few hours before, it looked like we would now be fighting for our lives. Cullen found me and confirmed my suspicions. Our position was effectively hopeless, our losses already staggering. Then Cole added something I had already figured out.

"The Elder One is here for two reasons. One, the Herald for her mark. Two, the Dragonborn because… Well, the templars seek vengeance. And the Elder One is aware of your gift, the blood that flows through you veins. He knows you are a danger to his plans."

"And you know?" I asked.

"Of course. I know all about you, Uhtred Dragonborn."

Evelyn had approached, meeting her eyes. "What do you think?"

"I know what you're already thinking, Uhtred." She grabbed my hand. "The only question I have is; are you sure?"

I met Cullen's eyes. "Do you remember what I said in Kirkwall, after Meredith?"

"That the gods sent you for that moment, to take the blame."

I nodded. "Indeed. This is that same moment. But instead of taking the blame, maybe it's simply my time. I go meet this Elder One and…" I looked around at everyone. "But we need a plan to save everyone else. We're dying here. If I do this, I need to know you will all live. My death won't be for nothing."

"There is a path," Roderick croaked from nearby. We all gathered around him, taking a knee by his side. He coughed a few times before he continued. "You wouldn't know it unless you'd made the summer pilgrimage. As I have. The people can escape. She must have shown me. Andraste must have shown me so I could… tell you."

"What path, Roderick?" I wondered. Cullen also raised a question. Far as we all knew, there was only one road to and from Haven.

"It was on a whim that I walked the path. I did not mean to start as it was overgrown. Now, with so many in the Conclave dead, to be the only one who remembers… I don't know, Dragonborn. If this simple memory can save us, this could be more than mere accident. You could be more."

I grabbed his hand, thanking him as he lay back. He wasn't long for the world. Standing up, Cullen and I walked away, joined by Evelyn and Cassandra. Everyone else was dotted around, tending to the wounded, gathering the rest, wondering what would come next. "Your thoughts, Cullen?"

"It's possible if he shows us the path. But what of your escape?" I met his eyes and I'm sure they would be easy to read. He nodded in understanding. "Maybe now isn't your time, Uhtred…"

"Sovngarde awaits, Cullen. Take Chancellor Roderick, have him lead you out of Haven. I will do what I can to hold them off for as long as possible. I will then bury Haven and the Elder One with it." I turned to Evelyn. "You must survive, Evelyn. Lead this Inquisition." She nodded before hugging me tightly. "I believe in you," I whispered before looking around, meeting the eyes of the lone Seeker. "Cassandra, you're in charge of the refugees and civilians. Fire an arrow when everyone is in the clear. Once you are, I'll do what I need to do." I glanced around as others had joined. "None of you need remain. We end it here now, the Inquisition goes on, and order can be restored. We all knew that sacrifices would be required. And I've been doing this a long time now. So be it, I will go to a better place."

I shook their hands, each one of them, before Leliana approached me. She hugged me tight, without saying a word for at least a minute. She understood why. "I know you'll return to me," she whispered.

"But if I don't…"

"I know you will. But if the Maker decides, then I will carry your memory forever. I love you."

"I love you."

We shared a last, lingering kiss, before I leaned back and stroked her face, simply taking it all in. If I had one final thought before I departed this world, it would be of her face.

Unsheathing my sword, I walked to the doors of the chantry. Looking at the guard, I nodded. He unlocked the door and opened it. Glancing around one last time, I walked out into the cold mountain air of Haven. I could see the torches in the distance. The avalanche had bought us time, thinned out some of the enemy, but they were now flooding forward. Releasing a war cry, I charged forward and attacked.

It had been quite a long time since I'd fought by myself, but I just channelled all the memories of my time on Skyrim. I'd spent plenty of days and weeks travelling alone, taking on hordes of bandits and Stormcloaks. I'd killed more than one dragon by myself. I didn't bother counting all the templars I killed. Those I fought were probably scouting parties, investigating Haven, checking our number, ready to attack.

Haven had practically burned to the ground by now. The tavern was a smoking shell. The hut where Evelyn had been laid down in after closing the original rift was nothing but embers. There were no other survivors as I made my way to the lone remaining trebuchet. If we lost that, I was a dead man and those escaping Haven would probably be caught.

Templars fell at my feet. I used my Thu'um more than once. I didn't bother with Unrelenting Force. I burned the bastards each and every time. I'll admit to some enjoyment at hearing their screams as they burned. Revenge for every Tranquil I met. Revenge for every mage they put to death. Revenge for the fact they allied themselves with whoever this Elder One was.

Making it to the trebuchet, I had to adjust the aim. I was in the middle of doing it, so distracted, when the dragon swooped down from above. I barely had enough time to jump out of the way when it fired. It wasn't a Shout. It didn't seem to be a dragon, or didn't use the dragon language of Skyrim. But I still felt the heat of the flames, and was sent flying when it caused a barrel to explode.

Getting to my feet, I turned towards the flames and saw… something appeared through them. I wouldn't have called it a man. It wasn't Qunari. It was… Well, I figured out quite quickly that it was the Elder One. I thought he was covered in some sort of red lyrium armour. And he was damned ugly. But as the smoke cleared, I recognised it. Or him immediately.

Corypheus.

Before I could even contemplate the fact he was here, his dragon appeared behind me, and I was between a rock and a hard place. It was no ordinary dragon. Hard to explain, as I was certainly no expert in regards to dragons and their types, but I knew this dragon was not like those I'd fought on Skyrim. Red lyrium again. Both the dragon and Corypheus were layered in the stuff, almost as if they were mocking me.

Corypheus raised his hands, magic flowing from them. All he did was extinguish some of the flames, sending dirt and dust into my eyes at the same time. "Enough!" he cried.

"What the fuck are you?" I wondered aloud, as the last time I'd see him, he was dead. And I knew, straight away, this was about distraction. Whatever he actually was, and the fact he'd come back from the dead boggled my mind, he lay between myself and the trebuchet, and the longer I distracted, the further away the survivors would get. Once I had the signal from Cassandra, all I needed to do was ensure I made sure the trebuchet fired, and they would survive.

It would be a good death.

"Mortals beg for truth they cannot have. It is beyond what you are, what I was." Shit, was he an actual god? I thought he was just a magister, but… "Know me, know what you have pretended to be. Exalt the Elder One! The will that is Corypheus!"

"Aye, I remember you at least."

He pointed at me. "You will kneel."

I didn't move for a moment before I bent down, patting my knee. "Afraid that won't really be possible. I'm older now, and find getting down on my knees isn't as easy as it used to be. No, better to die on my feet than beg on my knees."

"Where is your Herald?" he asked. "Why is she not here fighting me?"

"Well, it's quite clear already that you're a bit of a cunt, so I'm, you know, providing a distraction. So, before we get down to it, humour me. What's all this about?"

He strode forward, not doubt to intimidate me. I'll admit, he did a good job as he was even bigger than I remembered. He must have been ten foot tall. His hands were enormous, his fingers disgustingly long, with nails that looked like they could slit my throat. Feeling the dragon at my back, I figured if I unsheathed a weapon, I'd find myself without a head. But I didn't let the bastard even touch me, so he made do with leering over me. "I once breached the Fade in the name of another, to serve the Old Gods of the empire in person. I found only chaos and corruption. Dead whispers. For a thousand years I was confused. No more. I have gathered the will to return under no name but my own. To champion withered Tevinter and correct this blighted world. Beg that I succeed, for I have seen the throne of the gods, and it was empty!"

He smacked me across the face, sending me rolling along the ground. "So be it. Your Herald has the Anchor and likely corrupted it. She will be found and she will kneel before she dies. Therefore, I will begin again, find another way to give this world the nation, and god, it requires." In the distance, I saw a lone arrow fired into the sky, a short burst of flame, before it disappeared. That was the signal.

Rising to my feet, I unsheathed my weapon. "You know what, Coryphe… Corphy… Whatever your fucking name is. You're one of those arseholes that simply talks way too much instead of just immediately eliminating the threat. You're like one of those villains of Varric's stories. And, as I said, I'm nothing but a distraction. Idiot."

His brow furrowed and he looked ready to do… something. "I will not suffer even an unknowing rival. I know who you are. The templars have begged for your blood. You must die."

"You first," I retorted, flipping him the bird before sprinting towards the trebuchet, slicing the rope that held the projectile. We watched it fly towards the nearby mountain, exploding upon impact, and the avalanche began immediately. Corypheus met my eyes and growled. I sheathed my sword and simply ran. Not towards Haven. That would have been suicide. No, I saw a nearby mine shaft, hearing the avalanche roaring in my direction. Just as I was about to be swamped by a mountain of snow, I leapt into the mine shaft, crying out as I seemed to fall forever.

Then the lights went out.

The first thing I felt was the bitter cold. Following immediately after that was agony across my entire body. I opened my eyes and it was dark. So dark I could barely see. I would have chuckled to myself regarding my predicament, but my chest hurt, and I figured that would cause further shooting pains.

"Well, least I'm not dead," I muttered.

Dragging myself to my feet, I realised I had no idea where I was. The first thing I needed was light. I had supplies where I could start a fire, so scrambled in the darkness. Somehow, I found a few things that would help me make a rudimentary torch. Once I had light, and it provided the slightest bit of warmth, I dragged myself forward.

Looking around, the tunnels I was in appeared long abandoned though the infrastructure suggested they were very old mining tunnels. Other parts of the tunnel were not mining but appeared to be ancient buildings. For what purpose, I had no idea. Perhaps they had something to do with the temple.

It took me at least a couple of hours to find the exit, walking out into a snowbound landscape, a howling wind, and what seemed to be an incoming storm. The temperature seemed to drop even further. My torch went out straight away and I was left blinded, using my hand to shield my eyes, but all I could do was put one foot in front of the other and walk until I found them.

Or I'd die along the way.

I'm not sure how long I walked for. It could have been a few hours. In all honesty, it could have been a few days. The snow seemed to get deeper and deeper, leaving me even more exhausted. I saw no sign of the Inquisition in its retreat, no footsteps of either human, horse or ox. I did stumble across one or two campfires, and the last one I found seemed to retain at least some warmth. But I couldn't rest myself. I knew if I sat down, I'd never get up.

Finding myself climbing, I had next to no idea where I was. There was no thought of turning around, as I would have just ended up completely lost. I had some hope that I was on the trail of the Inquisition. But I knew I wasn't going to last much longer. I was beyond freezing by now, my muscles were screaming at me to stop, I had a thumping headache, my throat was parched from lack of water. I was absolutely ravenous, it feeling I'd gone days without something to eat.

I crested one peak and the weather cleared for a moment. No sign of the Inquisition. Sighing to myself, I trudged on, finding heading down slightly easier, though I fell over more than once due to tripping in the deep snow. After going down a third time, face first, I was on the verge of giving up. But a voice in the back of my head told me to get up, not to give up. I may have been prepared to die for the cause, but I wasn't going to die alone on some empty mountain because I was feeling a bit tired.

"Get up and find them," I grunted to myself, barely recognising my own voice, "You live to tell another tale. You have information for them." Picking myself up, I focused on putting my next foot forward. "They're ahead. The Nine won't abandon me now. Their Maker won't let Corypheus win. We've already given too much to give up now." One more step forward. "Leliana is waiting for you. When you're fit and able, you will be making love. Then you're going to fuck Evelyn to your hearts content too."

The pep talk to myself helped for the next couple of hours, making sure I kept thinking positively. I found another campfire, and the embers were far warmer. That helped increase my confidence further, knowing I was on the right trail. Still no sign of any footprints, but considering the weather, I figured they would be covered up soon after they'd been left in the snow. I kept thinking that they'd be over the next peak, because if they weren't…

The climb was exhausting. I'm not sure how I kept going in all honesty. Each step was agony. All I wanted was a warm bed so I could sleep for the next decade or more. I was going to have someone cook me a pig and I was going to eat the entire thing alone. I wanted a barrel of ale to consume. I wanted Leliana in a bed, underneath me, as we made love for days and nights on end.

Making it to the peak, what I saw in the valley below near enough brought me to tears, collapsing against the rockface next to me. A sentry patrol found me, hearing the surprise in their voice. "He's alive!" one of them called, "Quickly, return to camp. Let everyone know the Dragonborn lives!"

Those were the last words I heard before I passed out again.

Voices woke me up. Raised voices, clearly arguing. I recognised them. Cullen. Leliana. Josephine. Cassandra. Evelyn. I didn't open my eyes, using my hand to caress the furs that covered my body. I felt warmth and simply enjoyed the feeling. I yawned to myself, still feeling exhaustion, but now wasn't the time to be lying down. But I was going to give myself at least a few more seconds. Rising to an elbow, I quickly felt a hand on my other shoulder, glancing to see Mother Giselle looking down at me with a smile.

"You need rest," she whispered.

"Not the first argument I've heard. I've heard them in my… dreams…"

"They have that luxury, thanks to you. The enemy could not follow, and with time to doubt, we turn to blame. Infighting may threaten as much as this Corypheus."

"How do…"

"You've been talking as you dream, Dragonborn. His name was clear."

"Where has he gone?"

That made her smile. "Dragonborn, we don't know where we are. Which may be why, despite the numbers he still commands, there is no sign of him. That, or you are believed dead, and it appears he no longer has interest in the Herald. Or, without Haven, we are thought helpless. Or he girds for another attack. I cannot claim to know the mind of that creature, only his effect on us."

"Well, if they're going to just argue, I may as well lend my voice."

"Another heated voice won't help. Even yours. Perhaps especially yours. Our leaders struggle because of what we survivors witnessed. We saw our defender stand… and fall. And now, we have seen him return. The more the enemy is beyond us, the more miraculous your actions appear. And the more our trials seem ordained. That is hard to accept, no? What 'we' have been called to endure? What 'we', perhaps, must come to believe?"

I sat up, shaking my head. "I escaped the avalanche. Barely, nothing but pure luck, but I didn't die."

"Of course, and the dead cannot return from across the Veil, like the Herald has done before. But the people know what they saw. Or, perhaps, what they needed to see. The Maker works both in the moment, and in how it is remembered. Can we truly know the heavens are not with us?"

"I know you believe. I know they all believe out there. But what Corypheus says, what I've endured during my travels both here and on Skyrim. I have always had faith in the Divines. I've even prayed to your Maker. But, at times like this, I do find myself questioning it all. Whatever the case, whether the Divine, the Makers, Andraste, I'm not sure. It's hard to keep faith with so many questions."

"Have you ever thought you were sent here by our Maker as our salvation?" she asked. I raised my head in surprise at the question. "Everything you have done, Dragonborn, from the moment you arrived has led to this moment. The people have faith. Their faith is now in you. Faith may have yet to find you, true faith, but it has already found them."

She rose to her feet, and with a slim smile, bowed her head and departed the tenth. I rose to my feet and stretched, still feeling the agony, before I hobbled my way out of the tent. My advisers saw me first before the rest of the group noticed as well. Leliana ran towards me, hugging me tightly. Glancing around, Evelyn had an enormous grin on her face, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. Cassandra, Josephine and Cullen looked on approvingly.

Then the survivors started to crowd around. I walked towards the fire, glancing around as I was soon surrounded by what seemed like hundreds. They all took a knee, crossing their arm across their chest, bowing their heads. Everyone did. Evelyn, our advisers, my colleagues… Giselle walked towards and stood beside me. "They believe, Dragonborn. Evelyn is the Herald of Andraste. The Maker Himself has sent you to us. In the Maker's name, we believe that you will fight for us."

After having had my hand shaken by numerous people, everyone thanking me for the mere fact they had survived, I was approached by Solas, who asked me to join him, Evelyn already at his side. Intrigued as to what he wanted, I followed him to the edge of the camp, where he lit a fire by a flick of his hand, before he said, "A wise woman, worth heeding. Her kind understand the moments that unify a cause. Or fracture it. The orb Corypheus carried…"

"Hang on, how…"

"You've been in and out of consciousness for the past two days, Uhtred. You've told us everything that happened." Recognising I simply didn't remember, he smiled. "It does not matter; the important thing is you survived. But the orb, the power he would have used. It is elven. Corypheus used the orb to open the Breach. Unlocking it must have caused the explosion that destroyed the Conclave. I do not yet know how Corypheus survived… Nor am I certain how people will react when they learn of the orb's origin."

I looked at Evelyn. I was still out of it a little, and he'd just bombarded me with information. "How do you know about it, Solas?" she asked.

"They were foci, used to channel ancient magics. I have seen such things in the Fade, old memories of older magic. Corypheus may think it Tevinter. His empire's magic was built on the bones of my people. Knowing or not, he risks our alliance. I cannot allow it."

I glanced at Evelyn again. "I'm confused. I don't know enough of the history of this world. The elves…"

"The elves will be an easy target, Uhtred. That's all you need to know," she said.

"History will agree, Evelyn," Solas stated, "But there are steps we can take to prevent such a distraction. By attacking the Inquisition, Corypheux has changed it. Changed… you. Scout to the north. Be their guide. There is a place that waits for a force to hold it. There is a place where the Inquisition can build… grow…"

For five days and nights we marched through the barren mountains. We buried those we lost along the way. Chancellor Roderick had died three nights after Haven. We buried him in the snow with full military and Chantry honours, a saviour at our time of crisis. Everything that happened before would be forgotten. We would remember his last act. We would have burned him and the others like normal, but considering the isolation and cold, we couldn't get a good enough fire going.

Those who could, walked. Those who couldn't were carried. The weather was bitter. Everyone covered themselves with what they could. Food and water ran low. But no-one lost hope. Most believed in what we were doing, and it seemed more than anything, they believed in me.

On that last morning, we saw the sun for the first time in over a week. Despite the mountains and cold air, to feel it's warmth on our faces, our hope grew. We walked forward with intent, climbing another in a long series of peaks. It was only there that Evelyn, Solas and I came to a stop. It was easy to see that what lay ahead was our destination. I had no idea what led us there. Some would have called it divine intervention. I figured we were probably just lucky. But Solas seemed to know, seemed to have been leading us… leading me there.

"Its name?" I asked as we came to a stop and simply took in the view.

"Skyhold."