It was approaching dusk, the familiar sounds of nightlife waking around them. Jowan threw a few more logs into the fire, trying to squash the impatience in his heart. Why was he now feeling like they had no more time to find Lily? It had already been over two years since he last saw her, yet the prospect of actually being able to see her again had awakened a familiar impatience he thought he had long matured past.

It was a beautiful clearing Galel had led them to. The sunset projecting rays of orange and purple through the canopy that danced atop the waterfall like silk ribbons, "This forest is breathtaking."

Galel smiled, "I used to come here to think, get away."

The elf had taken the vials of Lyrium they'd stolen off Bran and poured them into a bowl on top of a mixture of herbs Jowan couldn't recognize, "Do shemlan not spend much time in nature?"

Jowan scratched at his temple, "Well if I'm being perfectly honest, I don't really know. I spent most of my life in the Circle and the rest of it huddled in any dank corner I could hide in." Jowan felt weirdly embarrassed, and pivoted the conversation, "are you sure this ritual's safe?"

Galel rolled out his bedroll, "I've done this before. But safe? No, I don't think a ritual like this is ever safe," the elf looked at Jowan and sighed, "my father told us where to look, now all I need is to find a spirit that can fill in the blanks."

Jowan bit his cheek, "I don't think consorting with demons-"

The elf gave him a stern look, "I don't consort with demons, I speak with spirits," he poured a cup of the lyrium herb mixture and pressed it to his lips.

Jowan shook his head, "It seems dangerous either way."

Galel ignored his last comment and took a long swig.

"What is-"

"Enough," Galel commanded, he moved his hand over the bowl, quickly slicing his palm open in one swift motion.

"What are you doing?!" Jowan screamed.

The elf was focused, "It's magic like any other, calm yourself," he shook his head in annoyance, a derisive chuckle escaping his lips.

Jowan took a step back, "This is blood magic, you never said-"

The elf drew a strange series of shapes along his face with the blood, it began to sizzle on his skin, lifting the lyrium-herb mixture to his lips once again, Galel quickly gulped it down.

His eyes burned blue, a soft wisp of smoke rising from his nose, Jowan couldn't help but gasp.

Galel dropped the bowl to the ground and lowered himself to the bedroll, "If I don't wake... on my... make sure..." his voice was growing faint.

"What?!" Jowan exclaimed, "What do you mean?"

Jowan was bordering on panic, he knelt by the elf and tried to understand him, he seemed to be mouthing something in a language Jowan couldn't understand. The blood runes were turning black and disappearing into his skin.

Jowan was beside himself, were all Dalish so reckless? He grasped his staff tightly and stood over the elf. He'd be damned if he was to be taken by surprise by an abomination.

Maker, what am I doing?

Galel woke, or at least, he felt he did.

The ground was mottled, and his vision was hazy.

It worked.

It had been years since he'd attempted to consciously enter the fade. He was almost afraid he'd forgotten how.

No going back now.

He surveyed his surroundings. It was a familiar place he'd visited before. A place he knew well from his dreams. Visiting this way wasn't something he was very comfortable with, but he wanted to make sure he was fully conscious. Dreaming in sleep and consciously entering the fade were two very different things, and one always had to be prepared for the dangers that lurked within.

A spirit of wisdom lived in this area; one he was quite familiar with from his youth. If anything could help lead him in the right direction, it would be this spirit.

"Welcome back."

He spun around, the deep voice of the spirit booming into his skull.

"Wisdom," Galel bowed his head, "I need your help."

The spirit coalesced into the form of a wizened old elf, ancient keeper robes dragging on the ground around it, "Then ask your question."

Galel braced himself, the spirit seemed different, hungry.

"I am looking for a place the shemlen call the Aeonar."

The spirit surveyed him, stopping inches from his face, "I've heard whispers of this name, the veil is thin there, surrounded by my ravenous kin, desperate to see the world through your mortal eyes."

Galel maintained eye contact, something was beginning to buzz behind his eyes, "Where will I find this place?"

The spirit began circling him again, "It's a dangerous place, you shouldn't go there."

"I must repay a debt."

"Ah," the spirit again stopped in front of Galel, this time further away, "a trade then, you answer my questions, and I shall give you the information you seek."

Careful now.

"What is your question?" Galel made sure to avoid promising an answer.

"Why must you repay this debt?" the spirit was stroking its beard, it seemed to be mimicking a behavior it had poorly observed.

Galel felt as if there were more eyes on them now, he had to be quick, "My life was saved by a shemlen, and I vowed to help him find his friends… a payment for my life."

"So, your life is worth two others?"

"No, the task is," Galel responded.

The spirit seemed eager, "And he has held you to task for this debt?"

Something in Galel was telling him to be careful, but he pushed ahead anyway, "No… he said I was free of my debt, but I always pay me debts."

The spirit smiled, a toothy, porcelain grin, "So this quest… is one of pride?"

"No," Galel protested, but his voice was weaker than he intended. There was no arguing with the creature's logic, "I have answered your questions, now answer mine."

The spirit shrugged, "The Aeonar is hidden between two mountains, an ancient chief will show you the way."

"What?" Galel was frustrated, "there are many mountains in my world."

"There aren't many with an ancient chief to show the way," the spirit of wisdom was suddenly behind him, gripping his shoulders, "I can help you find it."

Galel shoved the creature away, "I'll be going now."

The ancient keeper tried to come closer, "I can help."

The buzzing behind his eyes was becoming unbearable, the urge to succumb to the spirit's request was strong.

Wisdom and pride.

"I reject your help, but thank you for your help," Galel readied a spell to defend himself.

"Oh, come now…" the demon tsk'd, "I could take you right to them… don't you want to show this shemlen what you're capable of, what he couldn't dream of accomplishing alone."

"ENOUGH!"

Galel yelled, a burst of white-hot energy behind his eyes.

"WAKE UP!" Jowan screamed, shaking the mage.

The elf jumped to his feet, sending a fireball flying just above Jowan's head and crashing into the rocky hillside behind him.

"Maker's balls you almost killed me!" Jowan yelled, checking his hair for flames, "I assume your spirit was a demon by that reaction?!"

Galel bit his lip and plopped back down on his bedroll, a migraine threatening to knock him out again, "Well, Wisdom and pride are easily intertwined. I must've… never mind," the elf fell back to the bedroll, exhausted.

Jowan shook his head, "Are you alright?"

Galel nodded, forcing a weak smile, "I am, and I think we have something to go on," he stroked the cut on his hand and knitted his flesh together with magic. "The spirit said we would find the Aeonar between two mountains, with an ancient chief to show the way."

Jowan wrinkled his brow in confusion, "An ancient chief? Are you sure the demon wasn't lying?"

Galel sat up, the migraine already clearing, "It was a spirit of wisdom, not yet a pride demon. It wouldn't lie about its information."

Jowan sat back on his own bedroll, scratching his chin in thought, "Ancient chief…"

He suddenly had a memory of the night he attempted to escape the circle. They had bumped into a strange Avvar statue in the storage room, a statue that could speak.

"The Avvar chieftains!" Jowan exclaimed, hopping up to pace around the fire, "some of them were turned to stone by the Tevinters."

Galel raised an eyebrow, he'd never seen such a thing, "How do you know this?"

"They had one, back at the circle. It spoke to us, I ignored it of course, but perhaps there are others…" Jowan tried desperately to remember his studies, "between two mountains… on that topic I have no clue. I suppose we'd have to figure out where the Avvar used to roam."

"Are you willing to put time into that theory? It's no small task investigating a thing like this."

Jowan shook his head, he was chewing his fingernails, a habit he picked up in the circle while studying.

The Aeonar was located within Ferelden, that much he knew, he cursed himself for not paying more attention during their geography classes.

"Two mountains…" Jowan squeezed his eyes shut, trying to visualize the map of Ferelden, "the Vinmark mountain and the Frostback mountain ranges are the only ones I can think of, it would fit. The Avvar traversed those areas, I think."

Galel seemed to agree, "Then perhaps we should head there. The spirit said the Chief was between the two mountains, and it would narrow down the search, at least."

Jowan took a deep breath, a feeling of hope filling his chest. It was a feeling he'd long forgotten, "Then we'd better get started!" he turned to Galel, happy for the first time in a long time, "Thank you friend, thank you for this."

The elf bowed, he hadn't thought a shem would be capable of showing such gratitude, though he realized that was perhaps a foolish thought, "You're welcome, friend."

It was then Galel realized that he also considered Jowan a friend. After being on his own for so long, he hadn't realized just how badly he had needed a companion.

Jowan plopped down by the fire, a goofy grin on his face. Searching between two massive mountains was an impossible task, but he'd figure out how to narrow it down in the morning.

For now, he basked in the feeling of hope.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, faved and followed! I appreciate it! You guys rock, now on to the next chapter!