The last three fingers of her right hand were nearly black with bruising, a fact she was only aware of when she turned her head just so. They should hurt, she thought fuzzily, again adjusting her neck slightly to make them disappear and reappear from her field of vision. She attempted to wiggle the fingers and they responded slightly. At least they still work.

There was a scratching sound to her right, and her neck swiveled toward it, head lolling as she did so.

"Don't try to move so much," Warren frowned, setting the tray on the table beside her bed. "You need time to heal. How's the hand?"

"It doesn't hurt."

"That isn't surprising. They gave you enough of that draught to knock you out. I'd be shocked if you could feel anything at all. For now, I'll just be shocked you're able to sit up." He passed a small bowl into her field of vision. It smelled of chicken and salt. "Hungry?"

"No."

"Also not surprising. That would be the head. Injuries like that tend to turn one's stomach."

"How... how bad is it?"

Warren pursed his lips together. "It's bad. But they were able to save the eye. You'll have a bit of a scar, I'm afraid. And it will be some time before you're back on a horse. First, we need to work on getting you up and moving again."

"Was I asleep?"

"You were."

"How long?"

"It's probably best not to get into that right now."

She nodded, holding the bowl gingerly in her left hand. Evelyn wasn't interested in drinking it, but the warmth was nice to feel.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"It was an attack in the night, near the Dwarven ruins you were so interested in."

"Darkspawn?" she sloshed the bowl onto her lap, warmth seeping through the blanket.

Warren bent to blot at the spot with a linen napkin. "Is that you remember? Darkspawn?"

She frowned, then winced when a headache responded to her wrinkled brow. "No. I... I don't remember much of anything."

"Do you remember why we were there?"

Evelyn grasped at the coverlet and then released it. "Elves. There were elves there."

"Yes, so we'd heard. Although we found nothing but ash when we finally picked through the remains of their camp. They'd been long gone, either moved on or deeper in."

"So we're no closer than we were before."

"We know that they were part of a unit. We know they were well armed and even better outfitted. These were not Dalish elves, none bore Vallaslin, nor were they from any known army. They wore this glittering scale that Leliana said reminded her of-"

"Of the Arbor Wilds. The elves we encountered in the Arbor Wilds."

"Yes. She said they moved with similar precision, like an army." Warren knotted the damp napkin in his hand. "Do you think that's where he's gone?"

"It hardly seems like him to up and join an army."

"He joined yours."

Evelyn stared out, toward the iced-over windows of her room. "He said he never felt particularly aligned with the elves. So no, I don't believe he's part of them."

"Yet you're interested in their movements."

She sighed. "Is our father here?"

Warren tossed the napkin toward the stair. "He was. He's gone now. Now there's only..." Warren made a vague dismissive gesture with his hand, ending with it at a fist against his mouth.

"Ah. Still?"

"He refused to go."

"Still."

"Yes. Still."

Evelyn nodded slowly. "I'm not quite fit for visitors."

"No, you're sure as shit not. But when you are?"

"I'll speak with him," she looked at him directly. "I promise."

"I believe that's wise. You know the elf isn't coming back. You do? Know that?"

Evelyn nodded again. "So we're back to 'the elf.'"

"I'm sorry, sis. He lost his right to respect from me with that whole scene he caused. And you've had enough time to mope. More than enough. Just saying."

Evelyn settled back against the pillows. "I think I should rest for awhile."

Warren took the bowl from her hand. "Try to eat this once you wake up."

Halden sat in the hall outside the entrance to her quarters. "Is she awake?"

"She is. Still a bit scrambled. She asked me if it were Darkspawn."

"Darkspawn? Does she not recall...?"

"She took a huge blow to her head when that wall came down. I'm impressed she still speaks at all. I'll worry about what she remembers later."

Halden sat forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I wish I knew what the hell she thought she was doing out there."

"There were rumors."

"Of elves, yes. I read the reports. Elves aren't a primary threat to the Inquisition now, are they?"

Warren leaned against the door. "Don't make me say it."

Halden stood. "Right. Of course. Him."

"I think she just wants answers."

"Answers I could give her. He knew what was at stake and he buggered right off. That was months ago, with not a word, not a sign. Corypheus fell and he left. From my understanding, there was no love lost since whatever happened between them. She never gave me a straight answer as to when it ended. It just did, and then they barely spoke. He made off in the middle of the night, from what I heard. Never said a proper goodbye. Not that any of this is surprising. Their kind has never exactly been loyal to any particular cause beyond their own."

"I wouldn't let her hear you talking this way."

"Maybe it's damned time someone speaks this way to her. It was a fool's errand that nearly ended her life. And for what? Because she'd heard some of the men had pointy ears and she went running? I know I've sided with her against your father's insistence but it's past time someone took her in hand."

Warren frowned again, "I certainly wouldn't let her hear you talking that way. And I'd learn to watch saying such things in my presence as well."

Halden's teeth ground together, then he shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, you're correct. Of course you are. I'm just so furious. To think of what might have happened."

"It didn't. She's fine. A bit bruised and I suspect she'll be angry when she sees she split one of those perfectly arched brows of hers, but she'll recover. She's pretty fucking tough."

Halden laughed a bit at that. "That she is. Can I see her?"

"She'd rather you not see her like this."

"Well, that brightens my spirits. At least she cares what I think."

"She's always cared, just not..."

"Just not like that. I know. I had hoped."

Warren made to pat him on the shoulder, then thought better of it. "I think now would not be the right time to broach that particular subject, but perhaps...?"

"Oh, I will take that perhaps. Thank you, Warren. Maybe this last dead end will be the final nail, so to speak."

"Maybe it will."