Incoming Storm

The power surged through her. She felt her body be aflame. She must endure, she must focus. More. She needed more. With her mind, she pulled on all the unfamiliar sources of power surrounding her. It was a cacophony of melodies, each source felt different, had its own personality, its own story…

They surged through her body. They had to work together, harmonize, not go against each other, out of tune. They needed a way out of her body, swirling around like this, she'd surely burst. She had to channel them through the mark on her hand, outstretched to the rift above, but she had to orchestrate them, lay her will upon them. The chaos was too loud, each of the threads of energy screaming out in pain.

Or was it she that was screaming? The voices of the powers were so loud it deafened her, she couldn't be sure. She was veiled in green light, the energy at a breaking point, but just a little more, she needed more, just in case it wasn't enough…

But if she held on, she'd collapse, and that she couldn't do, not when so much relied on her, when so many people put their faith in her.

Enough.

With all the focus she could muster, she willed them to work together, and finally, they submitted to a beautiful symphony, blinding light surging through the mark. Ennaly clenched her hand, cutting off the energy building through her. She pulled away, and –

She was kneeling on the destroyed temple floor, no longer surrounded with green light. There had been an explosion and everyone around her had fallen oven. There was grunting, people got to their feet.

"You did it," a familiar voice sounded. Cassandra?

She had done it, indeed.

There were cheers, people laughed, people cried. Ennaly felt like a shell. With the power of all the other people no longer flower through her body, she felt like her own had left her too. People wanted to shake her hand, cheer her, and Ennaly replied, but felt like a ghost. She heard herself laugh, but it was without spirit, without sense of self.

They were gathering their supplies and started the two-hour track back to Haven. With every step she took, the mark on her hand twitched, and a growing feeling of dread replaced whatever feeling of self she had lost, with one remaining feeling overtaking her whole.

The terror of an incoming storm.

She passed the little clearing with the snowmen, all still standing, greeting them all back with their hollow eyes. Ennaly felt as if she was one of them, pale, lifeless, cold. Even Dorian's beautiful halla couldn't bring a real smile on her face. The civilians in Haven cheered her on, revered her, and she smiled back, grasping the hands that were reached out to her.

The cooks were already busy preparing food for tonight's grand celebration. Ennaly could only care for one thing: sleep. She went to her hut, shaking off anyone who followed her, walked to her bed, dropped on it and fell asleep instantly.

Hours later, just after sunset, she awoke again. She was feeling better, at least somewhat. She was famished, and that caused her to finally emerge from her hut again. Navigating through the cheers, she found Dorian, Varric and Bull.

"There she is!" Varric called, as all eyes feel upon her. "The lady of the hour! Or well, day I should say, or month, really. A round of cheers for our lady Herald!"

Ennaly accepted the bows, grinned in response, and took a bow.

"Here to serve," she said with a fake smile. "Now, before you all want a round of dancing, I'm famished!"

She ate the food, but it had no taste to her. She danced a little with each of her friends, and when asked if she was feeling alright, she simply replied that she was simply tired. They understood.

The feeling of despair that had taken seed in her was still present. She longed for quietness again, solitude.

Varric was just off to the side telling stories to a group of interested listeners. Bull and Dorian were dancing and spinning around the fire. There was a small moment where none seemed to take notice of her, and she slipped away.

Her hut was still in the busier area, and the path towards that would certainly be filled with more people, so she moved to the other side. The path towards the apothecary was empty, so she took that way. Halfway there, she came to a halt.

It was dark here, no fire was lit around here. There was no escaping the noise of the nearby merriment, but it seemed to lessen here. The atmosphere was pressing and mimicked the feeling Ennaly had inside. It was likely going to snow soon. She had left her warm coat in her hut. She hadn't needed it near all the fires, and her Elven blood made her less susceptible to environmental cold. But here, the cold was more than her Elven blood could resist, and it encroached.

She let it. Cold was numbing.

A shot of ache seared through the mark on her hand and she clenched it, countering the pain by digging her nails in her palm. It had acted up ever since she closed the Breach. Was this something she needed to get used to, now?

A snowflake began to fall. One, at first, then more followed, but it was a soft downfall. The flakes were large but falling slowly. The uncomfortable feeling in Ennaly dulled away to serenity.

She had been such a joyous child, once upon a time, always laughing and dancing and getting excited by the little things. Snow like this used to be bliss. She used to play around in it, used it to learn to control her magic. She'd spin around, guiding the snowflakes to not fall down on her. As her magical prowess grew, she'd spin around faster, still making sure no snowflake fell on her. And then, as she grew older and her responsibilities grew, the joy seemed to be pushed away and she never did it again. Why should it, though?

There was nobody around. She didn't have her staff, but for simple magic like this, she didn't need anything. Carefully, she moved her fingers, her wrists, and with each twist, she pulled energy from beyond the Veil, pulling the snowflakes in her desired direction, away from her. Enjoying the effect, she moved her feet next, carefully, left-forwards-right-spin, while guiding the snow around her. She laughed softly.

She could still enjoy herself like this, being swept away by simple things like snow. She just had to allow herself these moments.

Suddenly, she stopped. She had the feeling of someone watching, and it broke her moment of indulgence.

"Solas," she said, breathing shallowly because of her movement. Her exhaled breath turned to mist in the cold sky. Solas stood to the right of the little area. She felt her ears turn red. He hadn't been at the celebrations, she believed he had stayed behind a little longer to study the Breach. And this was the path to his hut, after all.

"Herald," he said as a greeting. "I was just enjoying the night-time air and snow. I see you were doing the same."

"Yes," Ennaly said softly, embarrassed. "It was just something I used to do when I was young."

Solas smiled. "You do not have to stop on my behalf," he said. "It is good to see you are enjoying yourself." The looked in the direction of the sound of the merriment. "Though... should you not be out there, celebrating with them? It is your victory they are enjoying."

"Don't be silly, it's not just my victory," Ennaly said. "Might have been my hand, but without the alliance, I wouldn't have accomplished this."

"An alliance you forged," Solas commented.

"Not by myself," Ennaly continued. "Anyway, I had enough of all those people wanting my attention. I just wanted to be alone for a bit."

"I can take my leave," Solas said, already turning.

"Don't go," Ennaly called out, taking a step forwards. Solas stopped. She didn't know why she didn't want him gone. Something in him seemed to ease her tension. He had helped her with everything, after all. Without him, she would have failed.

Suddenly, with another sharp jab of pain in her hand, the feeling of uneasiness once again grew in her stomach.

Solas stepped closer. He seemed to have noted the changed expression on Ennaly's face from the pain. "Are you alright, Ennaly?"

He didn't use her name often, nobody did. It comforted her.

"It's the mark," she said, holding up her hand. In the darkness, it was the brightest source of illumination. It turned Solas' eyes bright green. "It seems to feel... Uneasy somehow. I guess because of all the power that surged through it?"

Solas stepped closer and took a concerned look at her hand.

"That is a possibility," he contemplated. He took her hand to better inspect it. His hands were warm. "You are cold," he noted. Ennaly ignored it.

Then, with a cry of pain, she doubled over, pulling her hand free. It was crackling with energy, flickering brightly, before it dimmed down. Solas grabbed her arm to keep her from falling down.

"Why is it doing this?" Ennaly gasped, looking up at Solas' concerned face. "The Breach should be closed, I hoped this would all be over. I mean, there are still lingering rifts, but not the big thing..."

Solas looked serious, almost alarmed. Suddenly, he looked up, as something in the distance grasped his attention. As in a reflex, with the hand that was supporting her, he pulled her in closer, while still staring in the distance.

Ennaly, being quite a bit shorter than Solas, couldn't see quite past his chest and had no idea what was going on.

Then, the loud sound of bells rung in the air. Not happy, but alarmed, like a warning. The music from the nearby party stalled and panic seemed to erupt. Solas seemed only partially aware of her presence, yet tightened his grip on her. Protective, or... possessive? It made a shiver run down her spine, but she wasn't sure if it was a good one.

"Solas, what...?" she asked, having no idea what was going on.

Solas, aware of her presence again, released his grip on her, almost as if he had burned his hands by touching her. He pointed in the direction he was looking. Ennaly followed his finger. A hundred little pinpricks of light. In the mountainous forest surrounding Haven, they could see a procession of torches approaching, marching to Haven.

An incoming storm.

They heard hurried footsteps approaching. Running towards them were Cullen and Cassandra, both a serious, concerned look on their faces.

"Forces approaching! To arms!" Cullen called around, agitated. He seemed to be going around the Haven, calling the alarm. He halted.

"Solas, let's gather at the gates," he said, clearly not having spotted Ennaly, who was mostly hidden behind Solas. She shifted, and light fell on her. "And – Herald."

He seemed to only now spot her and for a moment, his eyes lingering on them. They were standing close together, closer than for normal conversation, only because Solas was showing her the marching army he'd spotted. Cullen's eyes seemed to linger on the pair, for just a second, but she noticed it. Ever since the catastrophe at the conclave, it seems everything in her life was doomed to be misinterpreted by the observer. And in this case, it must have looked like they were embracing in a dark corner, sharing an intimate moment.

"Our – our gear," she stammered, realizing she didn't have her staff nor her protective outfit. Neither did the other mage. Solas stepped aside, and suddenly Ennaly felt bare, exposed, without the taller Elf at her side. His hut was in one direction while her own was in the other.

"We'll meet at the gates," Solas said solemnly. They parted, but while they both went their opposite ways, their hands reached out, almost involuntary, as if they didn't want to leave, their fingertips touched, they shared a last glance, and then they were away.

Ennaly followed Cassandra. Cullen continued on, informing others that might still be unaware of the recent event.

Chaos had abrupted all around. Civilians fleeing to the chantry, abandoning their bonfires. A child, alone, crying, before it got swept up by its parent. An armoured figure kissed goodbye another figure in simple clothing.

"So, Solas, huh?" Cassandra mentioned, while they made their way towards Ennaly's hut. Her tone of voice indicated that she assumed that Ennaly was afraid of, another misinterpretation of what she had just witnessed.

"No," she replied. "We were talking and then we were startled, and..." She realized that nothing she could say would change Cassandra's interpretation of what she thought she had seen. For all effects and purposes, they had been embracing in a dark corner, for a moment. It just hadn't been romantical.

The warrior made a disbelieving sound. "One word of advice: don't toy with our Commander's mind," Cassandra added. "Don't give him hope if there is none."

Ennaly's mind couldn't fully grasp the situation they were in. Of course, Cassandra had heard the comments from Bull and Dorian earlier this week, when they arrived in Haven. It was too absurd that here, while they were – what, under attack? – she was given love advice by Cassandra. "I didn't - I would never," she managed to say.

"Good," Cassandra answered. "That's all I wanted to say. He has enough on his mind right now."

"We all have, if we can't counter whatever's coming," Ennaly shot back, while the Seeker helped her with the battle gear.

"To the gates," Cassandra said, resolutely, when they were done.

Ennaly nodded. They had to stop whatever was coming for them.