Chapter Twelve

"Inquisitor, this is a surprise. I was expecting you to be in bed resting after the trip from the Emerald Graves."

"My apologies. I know it's getting late. I was just making rounds before retiring."

"I see," Leliana murmured. "All is well here. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Actually, I was wondering if I could ask you something." Evelyn wandered around, feigning interest in one of the bird cages. "Cassandra told me that you once traveled with the Hero of Ferelden. Did you know her well?"

Interesting. Leliana hid her surprise by folding her hands on the table. "Indeed, she was someone I considered a very dear friend. Might I inquire about the sudden interest?"

"She made decisions that altered the course of Ferelden's history. I've heard stories of her victories, but never from someone who knew her personally. I'm curious."

She's good, Leliana thought to herself as she watched Evelyn in contemplation. Their Inquisitor was quite cunning. It was near impossible to garner whether or not she was telling the truth, as she gave nothing away to reveal her true intentions. Not many people managed to elude Leliana's enhanced perception. Evelyn's ability to reveal not too much and not too little about herself was impressive, to say the least.

"I see. What would you like to know?"

Evelyn made a show of thinking it over. "What was she like?"

The question made her give a snort of humor. "A walking fortress, to sum it up." She leaned back in her chair, recalling with fondness over traveling with the renowned Hero of Ferelden. "Yelena Amell was a remarkable woman. Headstrong and fierce, unafraid to speak her mind even with a blade pointed inches from her nose. One of her finer traits was her silver tongue. With her words alone, she could charm the scales off a drake or convince dozens that the sky was actually purple." She let out a little giggle at that, temporarily reflecting on the past. "She was quite clever that way. More often than not, she would play the part of a simpleton if only to have others believe they could outwit her. Never worked out in their favor in case you're wondering."

Her smile stretched, turning wistful. "She was also kind and generous, always going out of her way to help those in need, even with trivial tasks. Those were some dark, dark times for us all, but Yelena somehow managed to be the beacon of light we all needed to persevere. Despite how much the world had first seemed to be against her, she never once stopped fighting to make it better. She was a hero and so much more. In truth, when I first met her, I never expected to find a friend, yet I am grateful to this day. She was the best of us."

Evelyn's eyes softened as she listened to Leliana's description. It was almost melancholic in a way. "What happened to her? The way you talk, has she…"

Leliana didn't need the other woman to finish her question to understand where she was heading. "Oh! Oh, no she is alive and well." At that, her smile began to dwindle. "At least, she was prior to the rebellion. In truth, I've tried reaching out to her hoping to gain her assistance with the Inquisition, but it's been…difficult. It's like she's disappeared in the last two years. She's quite hard to keep track of if she doesn't want to be found."

Evelyn's expression turned alarmed. Worried even. Her hands were lightning as she signed, "Why wouldn't she want to be found? Do you think something happened—"

Leliana shook her head. "If you would have been there and saw her survive the things I saw, you too would believe her nothing short of infallible. Still, with everything going on with the Wardens, I do hope she is safe. Ugh, I kick myself for not having the mind to ask Alistair while he was here."

"Hawke's friend?" she asked, looking confused. "How would he know if you of all people can't find her?"

An amused snort escaped her. "I see the Hero's story still tends to leave out that particular piece of history. She and Alistair were…exclusive, I suppose would be the proper term. Unmarried by law, yet as close as a husband and wife can be. I'll have to see if he's heard from her lately when he and Hawke returns."

Evelyn's shoulders fell, though she still appeared worried for whatever reason. Recalling the revelation that she hadn't truly spent her life in Ostwick, it dawned on Leliana that if Evelyn had attended Kinloch, perhaps she'd been around when Yelena was still there. Perhaps they'd even been close in some way. It would certainly explain Evelyn's sudden interest, as well as her odd concern over a woman she feigned to not have met.

Evelyn turned to the side, gnawing her lip as she thought about whatever she wanted to ask next. Leliana frowned as she took notice that the other woman didn't look very well. She seemed exhausted. The lines under her eyes were prominent, and even her body movements appeared sluggish. She'd only returned from the Emerald Graves a few hours prior, so she hadn't yet taken the time to rest. She opened her mouth to offer they continue the conversation later, but Evelyn turned to her rather abruptly.

"Cassandra told me that you were with the Hero when Kinloch Hold was in lockdown. What happened there?"

Her question shocked Leliana, but it did nothing to ease the suspicion that had been growing for months. She frowned down at the paper before her. "The circle was…a mess. Yelena needed allies to fight back against the darkspawn, and one of the first places we went to try and gain assistance from was Kinloch. She'd believed that having known him all her life, First Enchanter Irving would offer his aid, yet by the time we got there, it was already too late. The templars had sealed the doors and told us of the madness on the other side. With some persuading, they allowed us to pass under the promise of stopping Uldred. It was our goal to save as many as we could but…"

When Leliana fell silent, Evelyn took a seat across from her, her eyes full of sorrow.

Leliana sighed. "There were a few. Three young ones protected by only four others, as well as a Tranquil. We searched every room, killed every demon and abomination that stood in our way. Yelena tried to reason with the surviving blood mages, but it was a lost cause. And when we finally made it to the harrowing chamber, Uldred had already transformed the others, including Irving, before we could stop him. When we returned to the templars, the Right of Annulment had been granted. Even the survivors were put down. Only the children were spared, but that was thanks to Yelena's pleading. However, she was… Well, it was hard for her after that. I think a piece of her died that same night. Those people were family to her. Even the ones who'd been turned, it pained her to have to kill them in order to free them."

With another sigh, Leliana glanced up. "Inquisitor, you're crying. Are you alright?"

Evelyn blinked in surprise. She touched a finger to the teardrop sliding down her cheek. Swiftly wiping it away, she drew in a shaky breath. "I just…I've heard stories about the Circle falling, but never in great detail. I feel sorry for the Hero for having to go through that."

Once again, the mage woman was good at hiding behind her silent words. Perhaps that was why it was hard to read her at times. Most people's own voices gave their feelings away when their expressions didn't. Evelyn was a master at maintaining a serene face, and the lack of a voice made it more difficult to decipher her feelings.

Still, Leliana knew deep in her heart that her suspicions about Evelyn were true, as much as she hoped and prayed they were not. If Evelyn truly had been a member of Kinloch's Circle, there was a whirlwind of trouble just waiting to be unleashed if they were not careful.

"That's the thing about legends. You'll hear of their accomplishments, but not the sacrifices that had to be made along the way. No matter her trials, Yelena always pushed through. She has always been strong. In such a short span of time, she was cast from her only home, became a Grey Warden, survived Ostagar, found the Urn of Sacred Ashes, overthrew a tyrant, settled wars for different races, and brought us all together to end the last blight. And those are only a few of her greatest deeds. As I said, she was the best of us."

After a beat, Leliana added, "You remind me of her, you know." When Evelyn raised her eyebrows in surprise, she nodded. "Like her, you make decisions that shake the world. I may not always agree with them, but I will not deny that they have always proved successful one way or another. Also like her, no matter what sorts of troubles you have faced from those who oppose you, you do not let their judgement cloud your own. Your determination is admirable, Inquisitor. It's the primary reason why I—and everyone else here—will always be on your side. I hope you never forget that."

While it hadn't been Leliana's intention to speak such sentimental words, she meant them. And judging by the humble twitch of a smile Evelyn failed to hide, they touched her. Sighing, she gave a deep dip of her head before standing. "Thank you for speaking with me, Leliana. Enjoy the rest of your night."

…

…

In the war room, Leliana stood with her arms folded behind her back, making sure to hide her suspicion as she cast glances at the Inquisitor when no one was looking. Something was wrong, a feeling that had been churning deep in her gut for several days. She was hardly ever wrong.

Evelyn leaned forward with her hands braced against the table, her eyebrows pulled together in a deep frown as she studied the tower pieces laid out on the map before them. One would think the other woman was focused intently on the papers spread before her, but only those with a gift of studying body language would note the way her arms shook as they supported her weight. Perhaps it was the only thing keeping her standing.

They'd been going over tactics for the upcoming ball. Though it was quite a few months away and there was a good bit of information still needing to be gathered, the discussion hadn't been at all difficult.

Despite that, Evelyn was troubled by something. Leliana often watched their Inquisitor, always searching for signs trying to figure her out. She knew from years of being the Divine's Left Hand that being a leader of anything was not for the faint hearted. Evelyn's background was murky and mysterious, but anyone could tell hers was not a kind life. Regardless of what she'd been through, she'd still stepped up and accepted the imposing titles given to her.

And yet…she wondered if the weight of her responsibilities were beginning to weigh on her. After her latest expedition to the Emerald Graves, the Inquisitor had returned looking somewhat forlorn. No reports had suggested there had been many losses. In fact, the campaign had been successful with very little casualties to their troops.

Even so, something had happened to cause Evelyn to return more ill than normal. Leliana had noticed it just the other night when they'd had a conversation about the Hero of Ferelden, but it had been a few days since then and Evelyn's health didn't look any better. Every now and again when she'd walk, her steps would falter slightly, and she'd reach for a nearby structure to steady herself before continuing. When she tried to communicate, her hands would move in a rather languid way, as though it took too much energy just to sign something. Even her eyes bore dark circles beneath them that spoke of restless nights. There had been many rifts in the region, and they all knew that closing them stripped away Evelyn's health. However, there was more to it than that.

It was upsetting, and judging by the concerned glances shared by both Cullen and Josephine, they, too, had noticed something was amiss. When Evelyn raised one gloved hand to rub at her eyes, they all caught the tell-tell green flare of her mark beneath the leather. Yes, something was indeed causing their Inquisitor distress.

Cullen cleared his throat, unable to fully conceal the worry in his tone as he suggested sneaking soldiers into the Winter Palace and placing them strategically to be on the lookout for suspicious activity.

When Evelyn didn't respond right away, the three of them shared another look of unease. Leliana aimed a sly nod at Josephine, who took the hint. The Antivan woman faked a yawn. "Oh, goodness!" she exclaimed, a bit dramatically. "Forgive me. It must be well into the evening by now."

Cullen's shoulders relaxed, as though relieved. Leliana forced a small smile. "I suggest we continue this meeting in the morning. I'm sure we can all use the rest."

A brief look of panic touched Evelyn's eyes before she schooled it. If one hadn't been scrutinizing her as closely as Leliana was, they would have missed it. She nodded.

Slowly, everyone headed for the door. Cullen and Josephine left first, though Leliana hung back when Evelyn's steps grew slow halfway down the hall. When she almost tripped over a clump of stone that had yet to be reconstructed, Leliana caught her by the elbow, keeping her from falling forward.

"A word, Inquisitor?" she asked when the woman found her balance. "It's clear that you are not feeling well. Is it the mark?"

Evelyn pulled her elbow free and tried to force a smile, one that didn't reach her eyes one bit. "I'm fine," she signed.

"You are not. I have held my tongue for several days now, Inquisitor, hoping to see an improvement in your health, but I am growing concerned." She nodded in the direction where Josephine and Cullen exited the door on the end. "As are they."

Evelyn's lips pulled down at the corners. Sighing, she scrubbed her hands over her face, accepting that there was no sense lying to her spymaster. "I've been having trouble sleeping," she admitted, though with great reluctance.

Understandable, Leliana thought. Trust was not something that came easily to a woman like Evelyn, rightfully so. Even still, she was grateful that she was able to confide in her. It couldn't be easy. She nodded. "The apothecary has a potion that works wonders. It will help you sleep through the night. If you'd like, I can have a bottle delivered to your quarters when you retire."

There it was again. Another touch of panic, only this time, she was much quicker at disguising it. She gave a polite dip of her head. "I would appreciate that. Thank you."

As she turned to walk away, Leliana pursed her lips in thought. She knew fully well that the Inquisitor had no intentions of taking such a potion. That tiny flicker of doubt had said it all. She'd merely agreed in order to escape the conversation.

No matter. It appeared Leliana would have to take matters into her own hands. It wasn't like she was poisoning the other woman. She'd only add a tiny bit of the potion into her wine at dinner, not enough for the taste to alarm her, but enough to allow her to have a peaceful night of rest. She supposed she should feel a bit of guilt with deceiving her leader in such a way, but she was truly only trying to help. The Inquisitor's health was already a concern when it came to closing the fade rifts in different regions. That, mixed with the mountain of weight she carried on her shoulders was so great that not sleeping wasn't helping matters at all.

Mind made up, she nodded to herself, determined to carry out her plans in secret. Just a few drops of sleeping potion. That was all.

…

…

After the sun had set and dinner had been served in the main hall, Leliana watched as Evelyn released her fourth yawn in a span of ten minutes. The potion was working fast, as expected. Though it was evident she was exhausted, she refused to go to her chambers. That is, until her eyes blinked closed and her head became slumped. A few nudges later she was unresponsive as she let out a series of light snores. It was then that The Iron Bull non-too-gently tossed her over her shoulder and followed Josephine's leading him to her bedroom, only for the two of them to return minutes later, presumably having laid their Inquisitor to rest.

Upon returning, Josephine sidled up next to Leliana as she stood. Cullen approached at the same time. Speaking softly so as to not be overheard, she murmured, "I'm really concerned for her. She's barely even touched her food."

Leliana gave a soft sigh. "She just needs proper rest. She told me she hasn't been sleeping well."

Cullen shook his head. "I had heard from Lady Cassandra that she has been having nightmares, though she refuses to talk about it. If that is what ails her, I can understand her reluctance to sleep."

Leliana turned to him with a look of confusion. "Nightmares? I thought it was just stress."

"Perhaps it is, but according to the others, she awakens several times through the night drenched in sweat, sometimes whimpering."

"Oh," Leliana murmured, a slither of guilt running through her veins.

Proving to be more skilled at reading others than she let on, Josephine's eyes narrowed slightly. "I know that look. What did you do?"

Just then, a blood-curdling scream rang through the halls, followed swiftly by an explosion loud enough to have everyone in the hall take cover as a shower of pebbles and dust rained on them.

"What the hell was that?" Cullen barked out, his grip on his pommel tight. "Are we under attack?"

Josephine rubbed her ears, glancing around frantically. "I smell smoke."

A chorus of footsteps sounded as soldiers dashed around, looking for the source of the attack. Leliana looked up, dismay settling in her belly when she saw smoke high above them. "The Inquisitor." Before she even finished her words, she was darting toward Evelyn's chambers and up the stairs, Cullen and several others close behind her. Just as she crested the top, she went low to the ground to avoid a fireball that would have taken her head off had she been a second slower.

"Maker's breath," Cullen breathed, helping her stand. He drew his sword halfway, but a quick scan showed that they were not, in fact, under attack. Evelyn was cowering in the far corner, her eyes open but unfocused and full of terror. When he took a step forward, she screamed again. Fissures of electricity sparked at her fingertips aimed at him. He dodged, though the blast of magic caused the window behind them to explode.

"Evelyn, what are you doing?" he shouted, a short wall of flames separating them.

"She is asleep," Solas commented, worry causing his face to pinch. "She can't see or hear us."

"Then why is she attacking?" the commander bit out, sliding his sword back into its sheath.

"Another nightmare," Cole stated, appearing from thin air. "Eyes of the fallen staring, unseeing. Too many. Echoes linger in the air, cries of pain. Abominations everywhere. Hide. Run. Hide."

Abominations? Leliana's heart gave a wild leap as she was taken back ten years to Kinloch, killing the twisted monsters that had overrun the tower. Her suspicions were immediately brought back to life.

The elf stepped around them, but he paused when the woman across the room tensed. Though he'd said she couldn't see, somewhere in her subconscious mind, she must have sensed others nearby.

"The flames are getting out of control," Cassandra huffed. "We need to wake her up—"

"No. If you approach her now, she will only grow more defensive."

"So what are we supposed to do? Sit here and allow her to burn down the entire room?"

Solas' concerned eyes landed on Evelyn as he tried to formulate some kind of plan. "I will try to establish a link with her mind to bring her back. Do not attempt to approach her until she has calmed down."

"Whatever you plan to do, hurry before the flames spread."

Without further delay, Solas moved to the front of the group and laid down, speaking softly as he cast whatever spell needed to put himself to sleep. Within moments, he was unconscious.

Leliana glanced around at the others, who watched Evelyn with worry. "Someone, inform the soldiers that we need as many buckets of water as possible. Let us hope Solas can reach her before we lose this entire wing."

"We should have the mages specializing in water or ice abilities to—"

"No," Cullen said, cutting off Cassandra's suggestion before she finished. "We can't let anyone else see her in this state. If they find out she's lost control in her sleep, we could be in trouble."

"Excellent point," Vivienne said, stepping to the front of the group. "I know a few spells to get the fire from growing, but the sooner we put it out, the better."

…

…

The spell Solas had used brought him to a seemingly endless stretch of darkness. As he wandered around, he searched for the link that would connect him to Evelyn's mind. It didn't take long, for seconds later, he was standing in a rounded hallway. Glancing all around, his lips twisted in disgust at the sight of mangled corpses and entrails scattered across the floor. The walls were lined with veiny sacks of flesh, reeking of decay.

He'd seen and caused death in his endless years, but nothing as grossly haunting as what lay before him. It wasn't like walking through the Fade, which depicted reflections of the outside world. Hers was only a dream, yet everything looked and smelled so realistic that he had to remind himself over and over of that fact. Treading carefully, he stepped over the remains of the deceased, walking forward until he came across a door on one side of the hall. After a quick glance inside to see that it was empty—save for the corpses and broken furniture—he continued onward.

"Evelyn?" he called out, even knowing she wouldn't be able to respond.

As he neared the end of the hall, he heard a series of footsteps rushing upstairs. Quickening his pace, he followed until he reached the next landing, where proof of even more death lingered. Swallowing a lump of disgust, he strolled forward only to pause when a door down the hall was flown open by the force of a fireball. An abomination's screech made Solas wince as it was charred to a crisp.

More growls ensued, as well as a cry of terror. Hurrying toward the room, he froze at the sight of Evelyn curled into herself, her eyes wild and fearful and full of tears. Standing around her were the distorted, gruesome bodies of four more vile creatures. Her apprentice gown hung in tatters over her body, a body that was covered in fresh lacerations and dripping blood. The sight caused rage to burn in his gut, but he once again had to remind himself that it was merely a dream. With a wave of his hand, he used his magic to freeze the creatures in place.

"Evelyn," he breathed.

He made to go forward, but her eyes only widened further as she erected a wall of flames between them. "No!" she screamed, scrambling backward as if the stone wall could absorb her. Her hands began to glow a faint red, preparing to launch an attack at him. "Get away from me, demon!"

It was the very first time he heard her voice, but it wasn't at all how he'd imagined it. It was ragged and scratchy from all the screaming she must have done. Somewhere in the far distance, he heard other voices, though they were faded. "The flames are getting higher! Bring another bucket!"

That sounded like Cassandra. As he peered at Evelyn, he realized that when she attacked in her dream, her physical body was using magic as well. To her, the nightmare taking place was her reality, making her unable to see reason. And the abominations around her must be her friends scattered around her room in Skyhold.

"Evelyn," he stated, worry lacing every word, "you must wake up." Her hands grew brighter as he stepped closer. Hesitating only a moment, he stepped through the fire. It scorched the bottom of his feet, but he endured, knowing the pain was not real, nor would it cause any damage to his worldly body.

Evelyn threw a fireball, but he blocked it with a barrier, still walking toward her. "This is all a dream."

"Liar!" She half-cried, half-screeched. She slapped her hands over her ears. "I won't listen to these lies. I will not give in."

Moving quickly lest she launched another attack, he closed the distance and went on his knees before her, taking her wrists in a firm hold. She screamed and fought, but he held fast. "You must remember me, ma fenor," he pleaded. "Remember this." Without thinking, he pressed his lips to hers.

…

…

Back in Skyhold, Cullen and the others were scrambling to keep the fire from spreading. It had already consumed every piece of furniture in Evelyn's room. When it had gotten close enough to her to burn her own feet, he'd tossed Solas' warning about getting close out the window and tried to save her, but she'd launched a fireball that had knocked him across the room. If not for him pulling his shield out in time, who knows if he'd even still be conscious?

Gripping the wooden post of the stairs in a tight grip, he watched her and gave a silent prayer, hoping the elven mage would reach her soon. Whatever nightmare was haunting her, he'd never in all his years of templar duty seen a mage lose control in such a way, not while asleep anyway. It was terrifying, frankly, but more so because he worried what type of repercussions Evelyn would face from her followers if they knew as a mage—a being who was both feared and hated by many Thedosians right now—had lost control of her magic.

She held her hands out before her, staring straight ahead at nothing. Her fingertips glowed red as she geared up to conjure more fire.

"Everyone, take cover!" Cassandra shouted, dropping her bucket of water to duck behind the banister next to Cullen. They all peered in apprehension waiting for another attack.

However, one never came. As though the world began to move at a turtle's pace, they watched as the glow from her fingers died down as she dropped her hands to her lap. Moments later, so did the fire that had consumed most of the room.

…

…

Solas had no idea how long he kneeled there, his lips on Evelyn's. However, he was relieved when oh-so-slowly, she stopped resisting. She closed her eyes and her lips softened. Taking advantage of her distraction, he willed away the scene of the tower, focusing his control into taking them somewhere where the horrors around them would not be able to reach.

The bloodied stone walls melted away, swiftly replaced by endless stretches of green forestry. The smell of sulfur and decaying bodies gave way to fresh grass and dirt. Even the sounds of distant growls and shrieks were replaced by animals skittering through the forest and a nearby river gently flowing, the sun reflecting its light off its crystal-clear waters.

Slowly pulling back just a fraction, Solas peered over Evelyn's face, taking note that the new dream had placed her in emerald robes with not a speck of blood in sight. Slowly, she blinked her eyes open. "Solas," she whispered, her voice soft. For the first time, he heard his name on her lips. It made his heart lurch. "Is it…really you?"

He gently stroked her jaw, gliding his fingers across her skin to tuck her hair behind her ears. "I am here, Evelyn."

Her lips wobbled as she let out a shuddering sigh and leaned her head on his chest to hide her tears.

Holding her, he smoothed his hands over her hair. "You are dreaming, Evelyn. The nightmare—"

"It's real," she cut in, her fingers digging into his tunic as she cried. "Ten years later and it still follows me. Why? Why can't I move on? Every time I close my eyes, it always comes back."

Her words confused him. He was a self-proclaimed professional when it came to dreaming, and despite how real everything had looked and smelled back in the tower, he couldn't recall a single instant in his life where he'd witnessed anything close to being as horrendous as what Evelyn had dreamt up. It couldn't have been real. And yet…

"The nightmares," he murmured, recalling how often he'd seen her jump awake or stir in her sleep. "That's why you've been having trouble sleeping."

Though it wasn't a question, she still nodded. "They used to come at random. Ever since the Conclave, it's every night. Please don't leave me, Solas. When I'm alone…"

When her words broke off, he squeezed her in reassurance. "You are safe with me, Evelyn."

He angled his body so that he could lean his back against the tree. Instead of sitting next to him, she shifted to sit on the ground, one of his legs on each side of her. She then leaned into him, her ear resting just above his heart. The new position was intimate, and though Solas' cheeks flooded with heat, he didn't move a muscle as he watched all the tension in Evelyn melt away as she fell into a slumber. Sleeping within a dream. Right there, caged between his legs and leaning into him as though he were the most comfortable pillow in the world.

He'd warned himself over and over and over again the past months to not get any closer to her, for both their sakes. He may as well had been telling the sun to not rise the next day. It was futile. Evelyn was so much more than he could have ever imagined. She was…incomparable. To anyone or anything. She was perfect. So fragile and broken and vulnerable, yet so perfect.

He loved her. He'd fallen in love with a human, a mortal being on borrowed time, a creature so far removed from his people that she didn't have one drop of elven blood in her veins. Yet he loved her.

And though the voice of reason in his mind urged him to cease all contact and rule that this was just a passing fancy, he was powerless to stop his arms from wrapping around her, pulling her even closer as he, too, closed his eyes to doze off.

…

…

Nearly a full day had passed since Evelyn's attack on her own room, though she'd been sleeping soundly ever since. There hadn't been even a twitch of muscle to indicate another nightmare was forming, for which everyone was grateful. They knew she needed to catch up on the rest she'd been unable to receive for weeks, if not longer. More than that, they wanted to ensure she would not later burn down another piece of Skyhold.

Since her room would have to undergo weeks of repairs, she'd been carried to one of the spares, somewhere between Dorian and Vivienne's private rooms. Every couple of hours, her companions would alternate watching over the sleeping Inquisitor. Partly out of concern, partly to make sure she wouldn't attack, and partly to ensure somewhere in her subconscious she knew she was not alone while she slept.

After Solas' turn had ended and he'd somewhat reluctantly passed the guard duty on to Cassandra—who made a poor attempt to hide a suspicious book behind her back—he strolled through the throne room, past Josephine's empty office, and toward the war room. After a single knock, he entered, closing the door behind himself.

Only Leliana was present, as expected. "You wished to see me in private?" he asked, folding his arms behind his back.

"Evelyn's dream," she stated, not bothering with a preamble. She glanced up from her paper. "I would like to know what you saw."

"Is that important?" Of course it was, but he wanted to know what her angle was before revealing anything. While he didn't believe the spymaster had any ill will toward their Inquisitor, his loyalty to her as both his leader and his friend ran too deep to simply reveal anything for the sake of it.

Leliana was silent for a moment, contemplating her next words as she studied him. Such was her way. "I've recently received news that cannot yet be confirmed or denied, but I wish with everything in me that it is the latter. I must know."

Solas sighed. "We were in a Circle. I am not sure which one exactly, but I have a guess. The sight was…beyond troubling."

Leliana's face fell at the revelation. "I feared as much. Solas, I do not believe I need to stress the importance that whatever we discuss in this room must stay between the two of us." When she shot him a pointed look, he slowly nodded in understanding. "I don't feel comfortable revealing such information to anyone, but I have little choice. Above that, Evelyn seems to place a degree of trust in you that even I as her advisor have not yet been given."

She walked around the table separating them and perched on the edge. "When Evelyn managed to seal the breach the first time, the people began calling her the Herald of Andraste. I knew that title alone would make her an important member of our organization, one that would aid us in building our strength. For that reason, I sent one of my agents to Ostwick to collect all documentation he could find on our Inquisitor, so that it does not fall into the wrong hands. What he brought back to me was limited."

Solas frowned. "Limited in what way?"

"As in her paperwork only dated back five years. Not even enough to fill one paper. She did not spend her entire life in Ostwick's Circle as we'd all been informed. Despite that, her skills and extensive knowledge of magic suggests she'd been studying her craft for years beyond a handful."

Solas' frown only deepened. He did not like where this conversation was going. Not one bit. While it was entirely possible for mages to learn their skills outside of Circles, doing so labeled them as apostates—as well as enemies of the chantry. It took decades for even the most dedicated learners to hone their craft, and while no one was sure on Evelyn's exact age, he had a suspicion that she was far too young to have mastered her control over her elemental magic all on her own.

Leliana continued. "Another mage there revealed that Evelyn had been a transfer a few years after the Blight ended, though unproven rumors had suggested she'd first attended Ferelden's Circle prior to its fall."

And there it was. The answer to a year's worth of questions and speculation of what had happened to Evelyn, what she'd endured to make her the way she was today. The scars, the lack of a voice, the nightmares… He'd heard many stories about what had happened in Ferelden's Circle tower before it had been reconstructed, none of them in the least bit anything to smile at.

He thought back over Evelyn's dream. "She'd said it was real," he murmured. "I saw templars and abominations everywhere." He gave a slight shake of his head, more and more questions filling his mind. "It is to my understanding that the tower had undergone the Right of Annulment."

"That's correct. I was there with the Hero of Ferelden when the templars were given the approval. We tried to search for any survivors but… Only the children were spared. Evelyn was not among the survivors we found, however."

"So, you are suggesting that she somehow managed to escape."

"Yes. Either before or after the purge, I cannot be certain. Even so, you can imagine the consequences that would arise should anyone discover that she was an unauthorized survivor of an Annulment. Even ten years later she could be arrested, or worse. More than that, I fear for her state of mind. I witnessed firsthand the aftermath of the events at the tower before we put an end to Uldred—the one who started it all. That, along with Evelyn's scars, it does not take further speculation to know what she has been through. You've probably seen a sample in her dream. Add to that the stress that comes with her title, I fear that it is only a matter of time before she breaks if we do not find some sort of way to help her cope with it all. The destruction of her room is only a pinch of what may come."

"You are right to be concerned," Solas muttered, absorbing every word she was saying. "The war we face is only going to get worse. The Inquisitor needs to be at her strongest if we are to succeed. How do you propose we ensure she does not break?"

Leliana rubbed a hand across her jaw as she thought it over. "I believe I know someone who may be able to help. I've sent a letter, so hopefully I will receive news soon. Until then, we must offer Evelyn our full support. Trust is not something that comes easily to her, but she has to know we are all on her side." At that, her eyes narrowed a fraction as she straightened to her full height. "While we are on the topic of her mental health, it has not escaped my notice that the two of you seem to share a rather…close…friendship."

Solas didn't flinch, didn't so much as twitch a muscle to give anything away at the subtle accusation in her tone. "I was under the impression you invited me here to discuss the dream, not to scrutinize the camaraderie between Evelyn and me."

"I have seen the way she looks at you, and you her. Yet I've also heard the way you speak of your people versus humans, leading anyone to believe you would never take a true interest in one of us."

"You are bold in your assumption that you know what I do and do not desire. In any aspect of the word. Nevertheless, whatever bond you believe exists between Evelyn and me is purely baseless speculation. And quite frankly, it's none of your concern."

His calm tone only made her eyes narrow further. "If you truly have no intention of pursuing our Inquisitor in such a way, then I would heavily advise you make that clear to her, sooner rather than later. Emotions of the heart can so easily cloud one's judgement."

Annoyance rose, but Solas was careful in hiding it as he gave a gentle dip of the head before turning on his heel. "If that is all, there is work to be done."

She gave a soft grunt, but just as he placed his hand on the door, he paused at her next words. "Keep this thought in mind while you're so busy with your research, Solas. Evelyn has already been through so much. I should hate to see what kind of repercussions she'll face should unrequited feelings make it to the list of problems she already has to deal with."

Solas' fingers briefly tightened on the knob, the only visible sign of his growing irritation with the spymaster's far too perceptive words. Instead of carrying on a conversation he had no wish to have, he gave another nod and left.