Merrill hummed to herself as she walked down the sidewalk to Ellana's store. Dawn had hardly broken across Val Royeaux, and it felt nice to be out of the lab for once. Not that she didn't love her job but working with Morrigan could be draining at times. Correction, most of the time. Especially when they had late nights that lasted far into the early morning. Last night, Morrigan let Merrill go home at one, and now Merrill was walking over to the shop shy of six in the morning.

Despite the late night she had, Merrill was excited to go back to the antique store. Looking after Ellana's shop allowed Merrill a tiny break – she could be in a relaxed environment and still mess with trinkets and test them to her liking. Morrigan was meeting up with Solas, which meant Merrill also had full access to the lab to do whatever she wanted there, too. These next few days were shaping up to be good–but most importantly, fun–for her.

She rounded the corner and soon found herself close to the store.

"Merrill!" Ellana yelled as she bumbled out the door, luggage bag in one hand and a backpack slung over a shoulder.

"Ellana? Aren't supposed to already be on the plane?"

"I know, I know. I'm running behind, I had a late night."

"Late night? You should have known to be in bed earlier, this is important work!"

Ellana let out a deep breath and momentarily stopped what she was doing. "There were things I had to do. Forgive me?" She gave a sheepish look and resumed the walk to her car. She beeped it open with the key fob.

Merrill rushed over and helped Ellana put her luggage in the backseat. "Why so much?"

"We'll be going to a hotel when we land, so most of it will stay in my room."

"I see."

Ellana met Merrill's eyes and gave a small smile. "And then the following day we'll be hiking through a forest. We'll hopefully head back home soon after that," she double checked for her phone, keys, and wallet, "I think I have everything. I better get going, I just know everyone is already complaining. Oh, and feel free to drink or eat anything, Merrill. Just make sure to log it, so I know what's left of the inventory."

Merrill watched as Ellana slipped into the driver's seat and drove away. She brushed that slight tingle of jealously out of her mind; it was hardly enough to register fully as a feeling, anyhow. In any case, at least Solas and Morrigan knew how to appreciate what they discovered and why they were travelling to the Forbidden Oasis. It felt as if Ellana took it all for granted. The woman was the only one to manipulate the Veil in Creators knew how long.

Yet Ellana treated it as if it were a burden being able to harness such an ability. It was something altering the course of history! Merrill shook her head as she entered the store.

Merrill couldn't even imagine what she would do if she had been the one with the ability. She'd be much more enthusiastic about it, that's for sure. She'd also be taking more charge than Ellana had been. To Merrill, it seemed that the other woman felt insecure and brought down by the whole ordeal instead of seeing it for the blessing that it was. In fact, Merrill guessed that Ellana probably wouldn't even be working with the Divine and her team if not pushed by Leliana and Cassandra. A pity.

Merrill flicked on the lights and flipped the signage. She was opening earlier than Ellana did, but it wasn't too much of a hassle. People didn't really start filing in until half past seven.

Walking along the aisles, Merrill rearranged the goods and placed them in an attractive order.

"Perhaps…perhaps I am being too harsh," she mused to herself in the empty store, hands holding a carved wooden nug. Merrill looked down at the table she was standing in front of. It was littered with carved animals, representations of the Elven Pantheon, and a few Andrastian items. A medley and mash-up of different cultures, different worlds, all on the same table.

Merrill was unsure and lacked confidence in a lot of areas of her life, but she never wavered when it came to what she loved, what she wanted to learn and pursue. So much so, that she sacrificed being First. And it was worth it.

But no matter how she felt, she couldn't impose her own thoughts and feelings onto Ellana. They were entirely different people! Not to mention the burden, the attention that something like this would weigh on a person. And if what Morrigan told her was true…then that burden on Ellana was about to be much heavier.

In all honesty, Merrill wouldn't know what to do if she had all that undue attention on her. She was thinking of the parts she liked – the adventuring through ruins, explorations for artifacts, tests and manipulations with the Fade. Things she already liked to do and excelled at. And Merrill had to accept that others didn't think the same way she did.

Not to mention that horrible reason that was spread across the news to explain why Ellana and Solas were underneath Val Royeaux that night. Yes, that thought quelled her jealousy.

Merrill sighed and placed the carved halla back on the table. Focusing on the store would quit this cycle of rumination that she was apparently stuck in.

She messed with the items on that table and lined them up neatly in an orderly fashion, hopefully in a way to catch the attention of a patron.

Wait – did she put down a halla? "I could have sworn," she rummaged through the figurines, messing them up, "…but there are no nugs?" She was holding a wooden nug before, but then put down a wooden halla. There was no way she was misremembering, was she?

The door's bell jingled at the head of the store. Merrill convinced herself that she must have misremembered and moved on.

"Hello! What can I help you with?" Merrill asked the elven man clad entirely in black. She caught her eyes roving across his arms and stopped herself. It was difficult not to stare, so Merrill did her best to focus on his face.

"Hm. I'm here because of Varric."

"Oh? Was there something he needed?"

"No, I'm just here to inform that if you need me, here is my number." The man handed her a slip of paper.

"Oh, okay. May I ask why you are giving me this?"

The man's eyes widened for short moment, perhaps as a reaction from embarrassment. "Ah, well. If you need anything while you're looking after the store, please contact me."

"And I assume you're the one looking after Varric's affairs while he's gone?"

"Yes."

The two stared uncomfortably at one another for a second too long.

Merrill began, "So..."

"So?"

"Is there anything else?"

"Does this place sell anything lyrium related?"

She blanched. Who asked a question like that so boldly? "No–why would you ask such a thing?"

"Just keep your wits about you. And keep an eye on the people who enter this store." He turned to leave.

"W–wait!"

He faced her and waited for Merrill to continue, although his body language told he was eager to be gone.

"Do you need anything? To drink, that is."

The man nodded. "That…would be nice."

"Do you have a blood type you prefer?"

"No."

"Just give me a quick moment, then." Merrill went to the front desk and opened the fridge behind it. She knew Ellana would be okay with her giving him one of the nice brands, so she plucked a bottle and brought it to him.

"Here, you go!" Merrill held it out for him but then pulled away at the last second. "Do you want it warmed up? I forgot to ask."

"This is fine, thank you." He reached for the bottle with one hand and the wallet with his other.

"Oh, please, no need to pay."

"Thank you…ah," he grabbed the bottle, "I don't believe we ever introduced ourselves."

"Merrill."

"Fenris." He politely nodded his head and left.

"What an odd fellow," Merrill said to herself while walking to the place she was before he entered the store.

For the second or third time, she was now going to arrange the metal figurines, again. Hopefully nothing would interrupt her this time, be it herself or someone else.

She picked up a handful of figures and began to line them up again. Merrill placed down the nug and–

A nug? And it was made of metal! By the weight, feel, and look, she assumed it was everite. Now, she was sure that the figures were made of wood beforehand. Mistaking a halla for a nug, that was passable. But mistaking the texture of wood for metal? Highly, highly unlikely.

Merrill kept a lingering and wary eye on the table as she reached a free hand inside the purse, which was still on her. She was afraid that if she broke eye contact with the table, it would all change again.

And without taking her eyes away, she snapped a picture – proof if anything changed again. She'd already ran tests on everything in the store, and everything was mostly normal. There were a few readings that had interesting results, but nothing to warrant any other tests.

Except, there was one specific figure that did have a slightly abnormal reading. Merrill scanned the table and soon located the object. It was unaffected by the oddity that as occurring and looked as it did when she ran tests in the lab. What was different now, then? How much had changed in the past few months? Merrill wanted to run new tests on everything but was hesitant to take anything out of the store. If anything, the store could be what was producing these effects.

There was the possibility that sleep deprivation was playing cruel, cruel tricks on her, though. No, it couldn't be that! Merrill had a picture for proof and at this rate, they would change again soon.

Or so, Merrill hoped they would change. Even though she checked them all throughout the previous day, they never changed. Merrill swished her broom and tried to focus on the sweeping. It had been a few hours since she checked the figures today, though. She swept her way to the table. Still the same.

Maybe it was time to give up on her high hopes; it was now late afternoon, a full day had already passed, and nothing had changed since yesterday morning.

"Ohh…" Merrill lamented and leaned on the broom dramatically. "Please change again little animals. I know you can!" She stared at them expectantly.

Nothing.

She sighed and swished her way to the previous area she was sweeping. Sleep deprivation it must have been. Such a disappointment.

Distracted, Merrill glanced over at the windows and saw the last remnants of sun glitter over the tops of Orlesian architecture.

Was the group already hiking in the ruins, where no one knew what awaited? Were Solas and Morrigan traversing the Oasis for signs of archaic mana corruption?

On the next trip, Merrill was definitely going to ask Ellana if she could go. It was something she'd been meaning to do for a while now, but Morrigan always made sure there was plenty of work in the lab for them. But if Ellana supported bringing her along, then there wasn't much anyone else could do about it. Morrigan would no doubt sneer, but Merrill knew the woman would be proud of the foolproof plan of using Ellana. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission, right?

Both teams were embarking on different adventures right now! How amazing that must be, registering the unknown and experiencing a time long gone. Ellana and her team were exploring a newly discovered underground maze of Elvhen ruins – to be the first to experience such a thing, it was unfathomable for Merrill.

She took a deep breath; Merrill knew she was viewing everything too idealistically, too romantically. As it was, she was having an adventure of her own. Yes, she was – no ruins or glowing hands were needed.

Merrill hurriedly threw the broom in a corner and ran back to the animals.

Still the same! How infuriating. It was probably that strange fellow entering the store that disrupted whatever was going on. What was his name again? Fenrir? No, that wasn't it. Fen-something, though. Dragging her sullen self to the front desk, Merrill plopped in the seat.

The hours stretched on and on until it was finally time to close, the clock finally showing that it was seven. Right as she was bringing the strap of her purse over her shoulders, a strong clack sounded from her far right. Merrill jumped a little and almost fell off the seat.

She cupped her warming cheeks and giggled, "Get a grip on yourself, Merrill!"

Merrill smoothed her clothes and walked to where she heard the sound. Everything was normal? She pulled on a strand of her hair – how stupid was she being? Those figures had her so wound up, that she confused the metal of her purse bumping something as some sort of magical disturbance.

She really needed to get a grip on herself, all this flittering about was even annoying to herself. Merrill made sure to take one last glance at the animals and at the rest of the wares before turning off the lights and setting the alarm to the store. She locked the door from the inside and went to step out onto the cobblestone street.

After a tug on the handle of the door to ensure it was locked, Merrill turned around, and–

What in the name of the Creators? Where was she? This was still downtown Val Royeaux, but it wasn't an area she remembered or been often.

Ellana's store! Merrill whipped around and bumped a person on the sidewalk. "I'm sorry!" she apologized, but the person already stalked off.

She didn't need to take a long look to see that the store was not there, and in its place instead was a bakery. Oh, where was she?

Anxiety tried to tighten its grip on her, but she staved it off by reminding herself that this is what she educated herself for. Magic, the Fade, the abnormal, and the weird. But Merrill needed to return to the store immediately. Could something have happened to it?

Merrill weaved haphazardly though the people that were on the sidewalk, her hands griping the strap of the purse. She didn't take the time to apologize or be bashful when she bumped or hit someone's shoulder. If she did, a person might notice the worry and dread so painfully and obviously plastered on her features.

Her walk slowly transformed into a light jog. The faces of the Orlesian's around her blurred, and the light given by the streetlamps seemed to dim and dim until Merrill could no longer discern the objects around her from one another.

Where was she, where was she? She'd traveled across downtown plenty of times; this was a street she'd been on at least once before. It didn't matter where she went, right? Eventually she'd come across a street she knew.

And then straight to Ellana's shop it was.

"Merrill?" a deep voice questioned.

A pull on the purse's strap jerked her to a stop.

"Usually, a person stops when their name is being said."

She huffed and faced the man. "I didn't know we were already on such friendly terms, seeing as we just met yesterday."

Fenris crossed his arms. "I am not going to let a small thing like you stay so obviously lost."

"Small thing?"

"Yes. You are small."

"No more of this," she replied with annoyance, "I need to get back to the shop."

He grabbed her purse strap again as she made to move away. "You're lost and will only get more confused. I can show you the way back to the shop."

"Fine. Please lead the way, Fenris." She'd be a fool to turn down that offer of help, but she did somehow remember his name in all this. So, there was that.

Merrill fell in step behind him. He indeed did seem to know the way back, as his confidence from weaving without effort indicated. What was this man's connection to Varric?

"How did you end up in this part of town?"

She lifted her head up at the question and picked up the pace to be at his side. "Well…I am not entirely sure, exactly."

He frowned. "How are you not sure?"

"This may sound crazy to you, but I believe some sort of Fade interference threw me to this street when I left Ellana's store."

The frown deepened; his disgust was hardly hidden. "Magic, you mean?"

"Yes!"

His hands tightened into fists before releasing. "If you'd prefer not to tell me the real reason, that is fine. But please don't blame the Fade or magic."

"Is–Do you have an issue with it? Why? It is all around us! Mages may not exist any longer, but that does not mean it has left us."

Fenris came to an abrupt stop. "Enough. We are close, and the rest of the way can be done in silence."

Merrill rolled her eyes. What a broody man.

They went down one street, then turned to another, and another. And down another. Finally, they turned on the street where Ellana's store was located.

"I know where I am, now. I can go the rest of the way from here," she told him.

He shook his head, lightly ruffling his white hair. "No. I will see you all the way there."

"Why, Fenris, that is awfully nice of you," she replied in hopes of seeing him crack a smile.

No emotion from him.

Merrill sighed. A man–an elf, at that–so against magic? Maybe she could summon up the courage to ask Varric about it.

And then she would be engaging in gossip. That was probably not a good thing, but Merrill secretly did want to do it. Not like Morrigan ever said anything to her of that nature, but the woman could talk and bicker with Leliana for Elgar'nan knew how long.

The familiar outdoor light and sign of the shop came into view. Merrill ran to it in excitement, forgetting about her thoughts or the man behind her.

She froze herself in front of the store and stared. Everything appeared normal, nothing out of place. Merrill dug for her keys and roughly opened the door. After dealing with the alarm going off, she flipped on all the lights.

It was all fine.

Steps sounded behind her, and Fenris emerged to her right. "See? There is nothing to have a fuss for."

"And how would you know?" she snapped at him. "Your dislike of magic and Fade theory is pretty obvious."

He frowned again. "Well, if you're safe, I'm going to take my leave. I was supposed to be meeting someone, anyway."

Scaring the both of them in their places, the bell attached to the door rang and someone came in.

"Aw, I was hoping to catch someone in the act." The woman who walked in gave a lazy smile.

"Isabela…why are you here?" Fenris ran a hand through his hair, the tattoos blending and swirling in with the strands.

"You're awfully hard to miss in a crowd with those tattoos, Fenris. That and we were going to meet up, weren't we?" Isabela turned to a stunned Merrill, "Why hello there, Kitten."

As Fenris let out an exasperated breath, Merrill said, "Isabela? Why are you here and with Fenris?"

This caught his attention, and he swerved his head to her. "You know Isabela?"

"Why, yes, I do. She works at the Divine Cathedral, just as I."

"Of course. Why wouldn't the two of you know each other."

Isabela interjected, "Is that jealousy, Fenris? That is so sweet."

Merrill waved her arms in confusion. "Okay, what is going on? Fenris, you work with Varric, and Isabela, you work with Cassandra but also know Fenris? And Varric, too, I'm assuming?"

Isabela chuckled. "That's pretty much it, Kitten," her brows creasing after the reply, "stop it with those doe eyes, Merrill! Fine. Fenris and Varric have known each other for a while, and they are currently working together on this lyrium thing. If Fenris came by earlier today, that's why, there was some lyrium smuggling in the area close by. I met Fenris though Varric, whom I met through Cassandra. The lot of us do lots of illegal stuff together, if you're wondering. Obviously minus Cass."

Merrill took a moment to think. "Divine Justinia really does have people everywhere, doesn't she?"

"Now you're catching on, darling." Isabela winked.

The conversation was interrupted by the lights rapidly flickering.

Fenris said a bit louder than intended, "Let's go Isabela. I don't want to be in here much longer," he faced Merrill, "and if you need me, give that number a call."

"I don't think so. No one leaves, not yet at least." On its own, the lock on the door automatically clicked in place.

Fenris' face drained, Isabela readied her body to fight, and Merrill's face simply lit up.

"A spirit? A real spirit that crossed from the Fade?" Merrill asked to the air.

"Spirit? Yes, I suppose. Even demons were spirits, once. And I wouldn't say crossed, more like a window, young one. I deeply appreciate your eagerness to learn more and more. Though, you will never be satisfied. All those late nights researching, those long essays, your leaving the clan–"

Fenris cursed and yelled, "Let us out. Now."

"That obsession of yours is quite obvious, Fenris. You hate the Fade, but it is all you think about, is it not? Especially with those etchings embedded within you."

Isabela's voice was tight as she said, "Ignore him Fenris." She placed a hand on his right shoulder, the muscles tense underneath the shirt.

"And you, Isabela. What aren't you obsessed with? You are always searching, always hunting for something to help yourself and only yourself."

Merrill noticed how Isabela's breathed hitched and stared at the pair before her. No matter how excited she was for the situation, for the opportunity to actual communicate with something belonging to the Fade, it wasn't fair to keep the two of them here. It was also apparent that she was the only person capable of having a clear mind and not becoming easily overwhelmed.

"How long have you been here?" Merrill asked.

Had Ellana encountered it, and if so, how long had she lived with it? No, there was no way Ellana would have known, she would have immediately told someone.

"Ah, yes. Ellana Lavellan. A woman whose mind is always so full. All she does is think the same thoughts until they become all consuming. She's the reason we are all here, is she not? I've been here long enough to know she doesn't want to be involved in any of this, unlike you, Merrill."

Was that true? Did Ellana really not care about the work they were doing?

"Ellana is allowed to feel the way she does. Now, please tell me why you are here." Merrill felt one of Isabela's hands take hold of her left forearm, a silent and reassuring gesture.

"Is that not the question all living things spend their entire, short lives trying to find the answer to?"

"Answer me, please."

"I will answer you because I know my presence frightens you not, but it's that crave to know more but never getting an answer that does. The crave to see more, to experience more of the unknown history of your people."

How did such a thing know? This experience was both too much and not enough, she simultaneously felt the urge to run but also wanted to understand this being from the Fade. Oh, the Fade. Was it as in the old Dalish stories? A creature from the land of dreams intersecting with those of the living, how truly novel for Merrill – for Thedas.

A laugh carried through the air from the demon. "I was drawn here. I felt this pulling that I could not ignore, so I decided to follow. Something you all know a bit about."

"Stop this!" Fenris yelled.

"Fe–Fenris, your vallaslin," Merrill replied as she turned to face him at the sudden outburst.

"It is not vallaslin," Fenris said through gritted teeth, not realizing what the other woman was commenting on. "Merrill, you know about all this, don't you? Stop it. Now."

Merrill blinked, both at the glow of Fenris' tattoos and the implication behind that statement. Perhaps there was some way she could preserve this communication with the spirit. Placate the situation but still be able to bring back the object that the presence was attached to, that would be the best outcome.

"No, not Merrill. Only you can end this, Fenris." A beat passed and all that was heard was Fenris' heavy breaths. "And don't think I forgot about you, Isabela. Although no one ever does forget you, do they?"

"Fenris, what is he saying about ending this?" Isabela asked him.

"I–wait, what are my tattoos doing?" Fenris held his arms.

"You did not think those experimental lyrium tattoos wouldn't interact with magic, did you? Wrong, you are more affected by this than most, Leto."

Merrill began hesitantly, "Fenris, Isabela, I think–"

"You are correct, young one. And no, there is no way to repair the connection once it is broken. This moment will be taken away and all that will be left will be your disappointment. Tell them what the object is, Merrill."

"Merrill" Fenris said, already at her side.

Merrill focused her vision to the floor. She knew what the item was, unfortunately. Out of all the tests she ran for the items here and combined with the weirdness earlier that day, it was obvious. But if she were to tell Fenris, then this all would end. Would the chance to speak to a spirit from the Fade ever arise again?

No, it wouldn't.

There had to be a way, a way to regain control of the situation but also make it viable.

"Kitten, please." Isabela said.

Hesitantly, Merrill pointed in the direction of the figurines. "The golden halla." She couldn't bear to walk over and see it.

Fenris and Isabela rushed over to the table, and Isabela spotted the figure first. As Fenris seized it, his tattoos blindingly glowed. The instantly felt lighter, and the connection was severed.

"I'll stay here and watch the shop tonight," Merrill told Isabela and Fenris. "If we alert everyone at the Grand Cathedral now, we risk creating a scene. It should wait till morning. As it is, the spirit is gone now, and everything is normal."

"Demon," Fenris corrected while still tightly clutching the halla.

"You can leave now, I said."

Isabela softly sighed. "Fenris, I think you can hand me the figure now. I'm sure your tattoos nullified it or…something. I'll stay with Merrill tonight, and we'll head over to get you in the morning. We'll all need to be there to explain what happened."

He focused on Merrill and then Isabela before giving a slow shake of his head. "I'll stay here as well, then."

Merrill huffed and said, "Why? You don't want to be here."

"Because I want you two to remain safe. If I am able to help do so…then I will stay, even if the location is far less than ideal."

She felt the burning prickle of tears behind her eyes but didn't allow herself to cry. "Okay," Merrill took a deep breath, "thank you. Both of you."

"Come on, enough with the sad face, Merrill," Isabela said while giving her a strong pat on the back. "And Fenris, I know it's your default face, but try to liven it up a little, all right?"

"What?" Cassandra's voice boomed across Leliana's office.

"Cassandra, keep calm," Cullen fidgeted with a button on his shirt, "we're going to figure this all out."

"Keep calm? Ellana is missing and now these three are telling me that small store was apparently able to host a spirit. How am I supposed to be calm?"

Merrill gasped. "Ellana is missing?"

Leliana let out a long breath, swept a hand across her forehead, and crossed her legs in her chair. "Yes. Although no one else was supposed to know, Cassandra. But the situation is under control, Merrill."

Cassandra stuffed her hands in the pockets of her blazer. "Marginally under control. Apparently Ellana disappeared after falling in a lower section of the ruins."

Isabela's voice cut in. "Do the bald man and Morrigan know?"

Leliana replied, "I told Morrigan, Isabela. Although seeing as the both of them are still in the Forbidden Oasis, I have a feeling she hasn't said anything to Solas, yet."

Fenris had his eyes focused on a bookshelf in the room. "Do we know why all of this is happening?"

Leliana looked to him. "You're Varric's other Tevinter contact, Fenris, correct? As for an answer, we don't know why. Seeing as Isabela and Merrill vouch for you, I'll tell you that it began with illegal experimentation in Tevinter."

Cassandra continued, "But much of this was brought on by that explosion in the catacombs earlier this year."

Fenris scoffed. "Doesn't surprise me that you had the news say that a couple had met there for an affair. I'm assuming that Ellana does indeed have the green hand?"

"Yes," Cullen answered, earning a glare from Cassandra.

Leliana stood from her desk. "No matter, Cassandra. We both know what Divine Justinia is planning."

"Planning?" Merrill asked.

Leliana tugged on the lapel of her blouse. "Cullen, get Sera. Isabela, go and find out what the people are saying, we're going to need know the current public opinion. And Fenris…your new abilities will be useful if you decide to help us," she craned her head to Cassandra, "let us go to the Divine. She'll want us to start planning for the official reveal of our Inquisition."