Finally I am getting out of Skyhold. I just wish it were under better circumstances.

I had to be on this mission though. Especially knowing Danika might face Sampson. I meant it when I told her I would sleep better if I were at her side. She did this for me, while it was important to stopping Corypheus, it was not something we had to do. I knew Danika also put so much effort into this because it was personal to me. If anything were to happen to her because she decided to help me, I would never forgive myself. The reports about Sampson turned my stomach. I cannot imagine what Danika saw in that mine Sampson had set up. Each letter more damning than the last. I was sure there was nothing good left in him. What kind of monster used people to grow red lyrium? He had fallen so far. I couldn't help but wonder, if I had never left. Would I have been a part of this? Would I have been driven to become a monster just like Sampson?

While I'd like to think I would never stoop that low, there is always that shred of doubt that scares me. I nearly let myself slip down that slope after Ferelden. I don't know what Cassandra saw in me, but I'm glad she got me away from there. Away from that life.

And now I had to face it again. And this time I had to face it with Danika.

Things between us, have escalated. The tension that was there before seems to intensify every time we are near each other. I find myself anxiously awaiting dusk fall, to when I know she will come in for a report and casually suggests a "break" on the battlements. Why she choose me, I'll never know. But I thank the maker every day for it.

The trip to Sampson's stronghold has been a long one. I look around at our companions, who Danika had specifically chose for this mission. Of course Dorian had come along as they were now inseparable on any mission. He was wearing armor that Danika had crafted for him with his modifications he requested. Vain as he was, his armor revealed half of his tan torso and was skin tight to reveal all of his muscles that he loved to show off. It was a brilliant royal blue with silver trim that matched Danika's armor. There was a slight shimmering of his armor that indicated it had been enchanted.

It was hard not to keep looking at Danika beside Dorian. The Royal blue of her dragon armor seemed to make her ocean eyes look brighter. Her silky white hair was in her signature singular braid that hung over her shoulder. Her face was serious the entire time we traveled and she was constantly looking over at me as if to make sure I was still here. As if she was worried I might disappear. The wrinkle between her brows deepened as we got closer and closer to the stronghold.

The Iron Bull also came along on this trip. He let Danika craft his armor for him as well and was wearing the matching royal blue. I shook my head internally that he never wore a shirt. At least Dorian had made an attempt at covering his torso. But I guess he felt no need for it.

Cole was the last companion coming with us on this mission. He wore all black and his large hat that covered most of his face. Cole put me on edge around him, but everyone else seemed to have grown use to his presence. I attempted to hide my discomfort but I could guess that Cole could tell what I was feeling. He seemed to try and stay as far away from me as possible, likely because of that reason.

…

I know I was looking at Cullen far too often during this trip. Even knowing that, I couldn't stop myself from stealing glances at him. At first having him along sounded like a wonderful idea but the longer we were on this trip the more worried I grew. I know Cullen had been looking forward to being on a mission but I didn't like the idea that he might get hurt. I almost wished he had stayed at Skyhold instead of coming with us. If I was honest with myself the thing that scared me most was him witnessing my power as a mage. He had told me of his past. It still worried me that he might not be able to have feelings for a mage, despite what had occurred recently between us.

I kept telling myself that he could take care of himself, he was the Commander for a reason. I had also seen him spar many times in training and he was by far one of the best warriors I have ever seen. That didn't always matter on the battlefield though. Maker knows how many brilliant warriors I had seen fall in battle. I also tried to persuade myself that Cullen had shown no sign of being scared of myself. That he never flinched away from me when electricity crackled when my emotions got the best of me. As much as I tried to push the thought of that away it continued to creep in the back of my mind plaguing the journey there.

Dorian must have sensed my growing concern because as I kept looking at Cullen, he kept glancing at me. He would catch my eye and he raised his eyebrow quizzically but I just shook my head at him. However, one of the times I looked over at Dorian I caught him looking at Iron Bull in a similar way that I kept looking at Cullen. Interesting.

…..

Finally the walls had been breached and it was time for Danika to fight her way the castle. I met her at the gate and the look of determination on her face made me understand why everyone she met seemed to want to follow her to the ends of the earth. I ran up to her sword in hand and when her eyes found me the look of determination faltered a bit. She immediately regained herself. It happened so fast I wondered if I had imagined it.

"Inquisitor!"

"Commander, I don't see Sampson. Is he here?"

…..

The adrenalin of battle took over. I wasn't on Lyrium anymore but I still knew I could be a force to recon with. Dodge, cut, slash, move. It was like a dance with each opponent. Each who knew different steps that you had to evaluate and move according to their own style. Roll, turn, slash, impale. Blood splattered everywhere from the red templar that fell in front of me. I kept moving, never stopping to think, just keep parrying and blocking. I could see a templar coming at me from the corner of my vision. I was about to turn on him when I felt a freezing cold snap. The templar had frozen arm out stretched over his head. Without hesitation I immediately ran and bashed the now frozen templar with my shield and finishing him off with my sword. Looking over my shoulder I saw Danika watching where I just finished him off. Her eyes were blazing at this point but she gave me a small smirk. Something behind her caught my eye and I focused to see an archer lining up a shot and looking directly at Danika. My heart stopped for a moment but instinct took over and I immediately lunged for her pushing her out of the way and holding up my shield to take the impact of the arrow. Danika looked shocked for a moment. Then her head whipped around to the archer who had shot at her. Fury crossed her face and I saw her lift her hand up to the sky and then yank down on some unforeseen invisible force. A ball of lightning appeared above the archer sending bolts of energy down on him. He tried to move away but the lightning seemed to grasp him every time he did and pulled him back underneath it.

"COLE! Get the archers!" I shouted across the battlefield. Pointing to the other side of the battlements where more were taking aim. Cole turned then nodded at me and immediately disappeared from sight and one by one the archers started to fall from the invisible assassin.

….

I tried to keep an eye on everything that was happening around me, but my eyes kept drifting to the blond warrior who looked like a lion on the battlefield. I had let myself get distracted by him and nearly paid for it with an arrow in the back. Luckily the Commander was more in control of his wits enough to block the arrow. I could feel electricity crackle all around me.

I unleashed myself on the rest of the templars. I let lighting hit wherever it could find a suitable target. I could maintain myself enough to spare my companions but anyone else was at my mercy. I didn't feel the exhaustion from battle any longer, all I felt was power. Two templars attempted to rush me and I released a pulse of spirit energy that caused them to fly backwards. Looking down at them a slammed my staff into the ground releasing a chain of lightning that kept them down on the ground. The Iron Bull was there in an instant, finishing them off before they could regain any senses. I could sense fire magic warming behind me and knew Dorian had moved closer to me taking out enemies that tried to flank me. With him watching my back I continued my assault on the forces in front of us. Electrical pulses flew non-stop out of my staff. I placed ice mines throughout the battlefield and lightning continued to rain down on enemies. I could see blond hair moving to my right taking down enemies as he went. Cole was making quick work of the archers, none of them seemingly realizing there was someone on the battlements with them.

Soon the courtyard had been cleared. I could still feel electricity running throughout my body and when Dorian reached out to touch me little shocks made him snatch his hand back.

"Easy there, Don't bring in a thunderstorm now, I finally got my hair just right." Dorian smiled at me and dramatically smoothed his hair. I knew he was trying to calm me down and to help me regain control of my magic.

"You have so much product in your hair you could take a shower and it would look exactly the same Dorian." I chuckled at him. I took in a deep breath and could feel my magic calming down with me. I didn't suppress it too much since I might need it again once we made our way up the steps. Iron bull removed his axe from the body of the last templar and grunted.

"Hey blondie, I don't see your friend here. Think he cut and ran already?"

"I don't see him either, Maker I hope he hasn't gotten away. We should check inside. Is everyone okay?" The last question he seemed to be directed in my direction. Looking into his golden eyes I quickly assessed him to make sure he wasn't hurt.

"I think we are okay now to continue. Everyone take a tonic if you need it and we will press on into the tower." Satisfied that he was okay, I reigned in my lightning just a little more.

…..

After I had blocked the arrow it seemed to trigger Danika to unleash a new rein of terror on the templars. She might have been able to take down the whole tower by herself at that moment. He couldn't believe his first instinct wasn't repulsion or fear seeing Danika like this. Maybe Cassandra was right, maybe he had come farther than he thought.

Their group rushed up the stairs and were about to assault the keep when the doors flew off their hinges with a sickening crack. The left door just barely missed flattening Danika by inches but The Iron Bull wasn't as lucky. He was thrown backwards away from the entrance. Cullen spared him a glance to make sure he got up before turning his attention back to the huge monstrosity that was squeezing through the doorway. The monster was at least 12 feet tall and looked to have huge crystals of red lyrium growing out of every part of it. While Danika had been spared from the doors, the monster then swung its heavy hammer of an arm in a wide arc catching her and Cole by the torso and flinging them back down the stairs.

"DANIKA!"I lunged to go to her but she held up her hand to stop me and spit blood out of the side of her mouth.

"Look out there's more!" I stopped in my tracks and turned with my blade just in time to stop a blow to the head from another red templar who had tried to flank me. The Iron Bull had recovered himself and immediately launched himself on the monster who broke through the doors. Dorian had already started igniting the monster with a wall of flame that stopped more templars from crossing it giving Danika and Cole time to get back on their feet. I cut down the templar and risked a glance at Danika while Dorian's wall of flame held the rest back. She was back on her feet but I could tell that blow had knocked the wind out of her. I couldn't think about that now, she was up and ready to fight and that's what mattered.

…

Cole had disappeared but I knew he was probably taking up a flanking position on the templars. I allowed myself a brief moment to gather my strength after that hit. I shouldn't have been so reckless moving on the keep. I was lucky that the door had missed me and that luck ran out with that red lyrium demonic monster. I could taste the blood still in my mouth but I needed to summon my magic again. I started blasting that thing with lightning while I could feel my well of power filling inside me. Iron Bull was making that monster pay for the hit Cole and I took. The templars were now starting to move on him with Dorian's wall of flame dying down. Quickly I cast a protection spell around him right before an assassin had materialized behind him. His daggers bounced off of the spell and he rebounded backwards. Feeling the force on his back Iron Bull whirled around swinging his maul and catching the assassin in the chest. He flew backwards but didn't seem to be down for the count just yet.

I continued my assault on the 12 foot monster that was currently keeping Iron Bull and Dorian's attention. Cullen was making quick work of the straggling Templars that continued to try and fight around the lunking lyrium monstrosity. A slight ripple of the air caught my attention. It took a minute for me to register what I was seeing. When the realization hit me my heart stopped. The shimmering air was moving closer and closer to Cullen who was obliviously slashing through the last templar's armor.

"CULLEN!" My scream was desperate and I knew he wouldn't be fast enough. He had half turned to the direction of my voice and my lightning crackled above the shimmer in the air, but it had come just a half a second too late. I saw a dagger materialized in his shoulder right as the lightning struck the invisible assailant. My vision went red. I heard Cullen's exclamation of surprise and pain and a thunderclap followed the sound of it.

….

I had forgotten about the assassin. I staggered backward and could feel his dagger in my shoulder. A huge thunderclap echoed my scream. My movement had made him miss anything vital but the pain cut through the adrenaline of battle. Leaving the dagger in it's place I brought up my shield ready for the next attack only to find the assasin's body laying in an unnatural angle on the ground. His flesh was smoking and fingertips were black. My head snapped up to see Danika standing in front of him staring at the fallen assassin with electrical sparks that were emanating from every part of her. Never had I seen her look at something with so much hatred. Danika was radiating so much energy I could feel the pulses of pressure coming off of her as she seemed to be holding back energy, letting it build.

I looked at Dorian who then stared at Danika with eyes wide, and shocked. Sudden realization seemed to hit Dorian at that moment and he frantically yelled at all of us.

"SCATTER!" and with that he immediately moved as far away from Danika as he could get. After a moment's hesitation I realized what was about to happen and followed his lead. Cole was nowhere to be seen but Iron Bull dove out of the way just as Danika release a scream and a massive bolt of lightning struck the monster. It didn't stop there. Lighting continued an unrelenting barrage on the lyrium demon.

I couldn't take my eyes off of her as she released every bit of magic on the creature. Maker's breath she is brilliant. I have seen powerful mages before, but Danika was something else entirely. Her magic was wild and raw.

I was so entranced with Danika I didn't notice Dorian had moved over to where I crouched. He put a hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye.

"This is going to hurt you more then it's going to hurt me commander"

"Wha-? Arrgh!" Dorian had quickly grasped the handle of the dagger and pulled it straight out from where it rested in my shoulder. His other hand then covered the open wound and I felt a pulse of energy flow from his hand to my shoulder.

Hearing my exclamation I saw Danika whirl her head to where we stood, her eyes blazing furiously. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up with the pulse of electricity that was emanating from her. I held up a hand to her to show her I was okay. She relaxed a bit seeing Dorian at my side and the electrical power relented a bit as she focused again on the now lifeless body of the monster.

"Alright Boss, I think you got 'em" I had never seen the Iron Bull look at Danika with such caution. She was visibly struggling to calm down and rein in the lightning that was still jumping out from her fingertips. Cole made a sudden reappearance directly in front of her just a foot away. Closer than any of the others dared at the moment. I was too far away to hear but Cole seemed to be speaking to Danika. He seemed to be helping, as she began to relax further and they both then looked over at me.

…

"The lion is no longer hurting. You can let go of the anger." I repeated Cole's words in my head over and over. I focused on my breathing as I looked over at the Commander. Concern shown in his eyes as he watched me. I had let my magic go too far. Dorian had warned me about it before. It had never been an issue, but watching that dagger materialize in Cullen's shoulder snapped the control I kept. I am lucky Dorian knew what was happening and warned the others before they got hurt.

Shame washed over me as I looked at Iron Bull and how he slowly approached me not sure if I would still hurt him or not.

"You good boss?"

"Yeah…. I'm good, I'm sorry" At that he let out a throaty laugh.

"Sorry for what? That was the most amazing thing I've seen." He slapped me on my back then and ushered me through the doorway. I was thankful for Iron Bull at that moment because I couldn't look back at the Commander. Scared I might see fear there, fear of me. We met no other opposition in the keep. The place was ransacked. Most of the keep was destroyed and red lyrium was littering everywhere.

…

Dorian, Cole and I followed Danika and Iron Bull further into the keep. She seemed to be avoiding my gaze now that she had calmed herself down. Dorian strode next to me as we continued inside.

"Well at least now we know if Danika ever faces Corypheous we just need to stab you to get her to unleash herself." Dorian gave me a sidelong look and flashed a smile at me.

"I'm sure she would've done that if that had happened to any one of us." Dorian raised an eyebrow at me.

"Do you really think that?" I looked towards Danika and avoided his question.

"Over here!" Danika beckoned us over to a robed figure who was sitting against a broken desk.

….

We crossed the threshold of Skyhold and Danika immediately retired to her chambers. She had been distant the entire ride back. I watched after her and Dorian rode up next to me.

"You should go talk to her."

"What if she just wants to be alone?'

"Trust me on this Commander. Danika never loses control like that. The fact that she did is going to bother her, and the fact that you witnessed that… Lets just say you should probably reassure her you're not going to go screaming for the hills." Dorian's words were like a bucket of cold water on him. Maker's breath how could I not realize. Of course she would worry about that. After everything I told her about my past… Of course she would assume how her outburst would affect me. I had to tell her, had to let her know that she didn't scare me. That she would never scare me.

The scene replayed over and over in my head. The assassin materializing with the dagger in Cullen's shoulder. Static electricity continued to leave my fingers as I tried to suppress it. It was so close… so close to being in his heart. If he had died…. NO. I can't think about that. I'll lose control completely. I was so focused on calming my lightning I didn't hear Cullen enter my bedchamber.

"Inquisitor?" Cullen cleared his throat. I immediately jumped up, startled I didn't hear him. His golden eyes searched mine. He looked nervous, unsure of himself. Immediately I tucked my hands behind myself worried he was nervous about being alone with me. He seemed to note the movement and took another step towards me.

"Danika you don- you don't have to worry about me. I know you probably think I was scared of your magic, or you but, the truth is, well – I mean." I sighed. This never gets any easier trying to explain to her. She watched me with worry in her eyes. "Danika the only thing that scares me is that I might lose you. I know I told you about my past but, I haven't ever felt that fear around you." I took another step toward her and reached out instinctively.

She hesitated before putting her hand in mine. I could still feel her nervous energy in her palm and it made the hairs on my arm stand up. Before she could second guess herself I pulled her into me and wrapped my arms around her. Initially she tensed against me but then seemed to relax when she realized she wouldn't shock me. I could feel her let out a rattling breath against my chest. I closed my eyes and tightened my grip on her.

"I keep seeing that dagger go into your shoulder… and then I see myself losing control. I could've… I could've hurt you." She looked up at me, her face just a breath's width away from me.

"I'm here, I'm fine and I can take a hit." I gave her a small smile. "Just like you took that hit from a 12 foot giant lyrium monster and brushed it off like nothing happened." I could see the corner's of her lips tugging upwards a bit. "Don't worry about me, Danika." Her hand came up to my face and her thumb gently stroked the side of my cheek.

"You can let me worry about you a little." She gave me a small smile. The way she looked at me was my undoing. I reached up with both of my hands and pulled her face to mine. My lips crashing into hers. She responded instantly and her hands grabbed my waist to pull me closer to her.