Claire opened her eyes, her head throbbing like she'd been hit, and found a few worried faces staring down at her. She blinked, trying to figure out where she was, when she realized the people were Jasper, Cedrik, and Stefen.
"About time you woke up!" Cedrik said. "What happened? You've been out for the past two nights, and all day yesterday." Claire groaned as she sat up, easing her headache with a quick breath of mana.
"Has it been that long?" She asked. "I... wow. I guess I lost myself harder than I thought..." She missed the worried glance the three shared, noticing that she wasn't in her bed. "Where am I?"
"You're in the medical area." Stefen said. "What do you mean you lost yourself?"
"I... was trying to find a friend." She said. "I thought he'd been made tranquil... and... I think I need to speak to Duncan."
"Are you a spy?" Jasper asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at her.
"What? No!" She exclaimed. "Why would I spy on you when I seem to know more about your order than most Wardens? I have to talk to Duncan as soon as possible."
"You're not a normal mage, are you?" Cedrik asked. "What were you doing in the Fade? What kind of friend is this?"
"You're acting like you have urgent news, but what could you have found out through the Fade?" Jasper asked. "I was unaware that mages could communicate like this."
Claire got up and started walking towards the door. "I just need to talk to Duncan." She said.
"I'll take you." Cedrik said. Jasper shrugged while Stefen just looked confused. They stayed silent on the walk to Duncan, but she could tell Cedrik was dying of curiosity, with how he kept glancing at her. They hadn't gotten to work together much yet, but he was a quick study and she didn't doubt he would be able to shapeshift. He had an affinity for the nature based magics and healing, though he wasn't a spirit healer like Anders, and he loved animals, especially the birds. He would take a few minutes every morning to feed them in the garden.
"Duncan." Claire said, walking into the open office. The commander looked up, surprised.
"You've awakened." He said. "Is everything all right?"
"I don't know, ser, she just insisted on seeing you as soon as she woke." Cedrik shrugged.
"You seem nervous, what's wrong?" Duncan got up and walked over to Claire.
"I need to talk to you, but more than that, I need to show you something." She said. "But... it would require you going into the Fade."
"And how do you suppose we do that?" He asked.
"I just need you to say yes." Claire said. "I'm... somniari... I don't need lyrium." Both Cedrik and Duncan's eyes widened, though Cedrik seemed a bit bewildered.
"What's a somniari?" He asked. "I feel like I know the term..."
"I've read about them. Dreamers." Duncan said. "We were under the impression they no longer existed."
"There are five of us, that I know of." Claire said. "Although one is just getting his powers and may or may not survive. It's not easy... And I would prefer to speak in the Fade."
"Can I come?" Cedrik asked. "Please?" Claire looked uncertainly to Duncan, who nodded.
"I trust him." He said.
"I suppose you don't keep too many secrets from each other." She said. "Very well, if you don't mind then." She had them sit down, then grabbed their hands and dragged them into the Fade. It took a lot more effort than she had thought and it took her a moment to get her bearings. Cedrik was looking around, open mouthed in wonder.
"This is crazy." He said.
"It's going to get crazier." She said. "Duncan, I... I needed to check with you. You've been around, you know things... You've met the Architect..." She changed the scene to be the Deep Roads and conjured up the Architect.
"Dare I ask how you know that?" He asked. "Or have you been gathering information from us?"
She shook her head. "No. I would never breach that trust unless it was a matter of life or death." She said. "There are... memories here. In the Fade. You just have to know how to find them."
"So what is this Architect?" Cedrik asked, looking at the ancient creature in front of him. "He looks like a darkspawn."
"He's a sentient darkspawn who believes he can stop the Blights." Claire said. "He's still running experiments, apparently."
"Maric and I were unable to capture him, or kill him." Duncan said. "We've been having worse nightmares. I'm guessing he has something to do with that."
"Urthemiel." Claire said, taking them to a massive cavern deep below the surface. The Old God flew overhead, roaring, and Cedrik ducked down.
"Andraste's tits, that's an archdemon!" Cedrik said, his voice shaky.
"And so the Blight has begun like we feared." Duncan said. "How do you know all this?"
Claire sighed. "I... may have seen a vision of the future. I wasn't sure, but you pretty much confirmed it."
"What else have you seen?" Cedrik asked. "Have you seen how it ends?" Claire shifted uncomfortably, glancing between the men.
"I can't tell you." She said. "I can't risk it. If things don't happen a certain way, things will go very very badly... Just know that there is hope."
"I don't know why that isn't very comforting." Cedrik said.
"What other abilities do you have?" Duncan asked. "Somniari, shapeshifter, and you can see the future?"
"I think that's plenty." She said. "Somniari is bad enough... I didn't need anything else with it. Can you see why the Templars wanted to kill me? Why I wanted to hide out? It makes it harder that I don't want to use the full extent of my powers... It makes me feel... dirty, to mess with people's minds. But because I don't use it, I'm not very good at it. In trying to help a friend a few nights ago, I almost got him made tranquil... For all I know, he may yet be made tranquil... Don't ask me to use these powers. I won't. I can't risk it."
"Why would you tell us at all then?" Cedrik asked.
"Because Duncan wanted full disclosure, and I respect him." She said. "I will follow you into the battle against the darkspawn."
"Yet you will not go through the Joining." Duncan said.
"I... can't." She said. "You never made Maric go through the Joining. There are plenty of people who fight alongside the Wardens. I'm sorry, but I'm of more use without being a Warden."
"Very well." He said. "Are we done here then?"
"Just... one more thing." She smiled sheepishly. "If you ever feel you need a break or anything..." She created a hilly countryside covered in grass and flowers gently blowing in the breeze, tricking their senses into smelling it and feeling the coolness in the air. "Feel free to ask, and I will provide. Just don't go telling everyone, ok? Please keep these powers a secret? There's no reason for everyone to know I can sneak into their dreams without them knowing. I don't need people to suspect me of abusing these abilities."
"You have my word." Duncan said.
"And mine." Cedrik said. "Thank you very much for allowing me to see them as well."
"Well, we are working together, you would need to know sooner or later." She said. "Shall we leave then?"
During the next few weeks, Claire would visit Anders as often as she could, not wanting to let go of him. She was still afraid he would be made tranquil, even though he had started thinking they'd given up on that idea. Maybe the first-enchanter had persuaded the knight-commander to give up the idea. Either way, Claire never took their time together for granted, enjoying every minute, even when he was cranky and irritated, going on his tangents against the Circle and Chantry and how he wished she could just kill everyone. She figured he was just going completely insane being locked up. She couldn't imagine being locked away from any kind of interaction for an entire year.
Working with the Wardens, Cedrik had learned a few different shapes to change into and was becoming adept at it. Claire had to warn him to be careful multiple times when she found him wandering the base as a cat, as not everyone liked cats and would often try to kick him. Another thing, the more she worked with him, the more convinced she was that he was developing a crush on her. What was she to do with the man? He wasn't bad and she had started to grow fond of him, but she loved Anders and didn't want to have a relationship with anyone else, especially with a man who was about to die. Even if she couldn't have a relationship with Anders... She still counted Cedrik as a good friend, though, and exercised great patience with his eagerness to learn everything she knew.
One day as they were taking a break from practicing, sitting on a bench, he looked at her with an ambitious fire in his eyes. "If we could just teach all mages how to shapeshift, they'd be able to allude the Templars so much better."
"The Templars would crack down even harder on the mages, then." She said. "You of all people know how they operate. They're afraid. Afraid of what we can do, afraid of what we can become... Afraid of losing control. They already don't allow Circle mages to operate their magic at their full potential, what do you think they would do if the mages could just vanish as a mouse or bird?"
The fire became angry and she swore she could feel heat coming from it. "One day, they will not be able to cage mages any longer. They will rise up against the Templars, and tear down the Chantry."
"You know, you never ask to go anywhere in the Fade." She said. "But can I show you something tonight?"
"Why are you changing the subject?" He asked, upset. "Don't you care about the other mages? Don't you care what the Templars do? You've experienced it yourself! How can you not care?"
Her eyes flashed angrily as she stood up. "How dare you accuse me of not caring." Her voice came out with a dangerous growl to it. "After everything we've talked about, how dare you even think that! I will show you tonight. Be ready."
Cedrik watched as Claire stormed off out of the training yard, his heart beating hard. It wasn't fair that she could be so... sexy, so full of passion, while terrifying him to death. To just kiss those soft lips, to taste her, while staring into her vibrantly blue eyes that captivated him so... He shook his head, trying to clear his mind. She was going to be finding him in the Fade, and she could probably read his mind there. He would have to be careful she didn't find out how he felt about her, or else he'd never be able to face her again. Bad enough that he would be so stupid as to accuse her of all people, of not caring about the mages. What was he thinking? Oh yeah, he was thinking about how much he wanted to kiss her. Stupid feelings! He stalked out of the yard and ran off to the library to occupy his mind until the evening.
"Have you heard?" Markus asked, sidling up to Cedrik. The mage had his nose in a book and pretended to ignore his fellow Warden, but the warrior wasn't put off. "There've been rumors we're heading to Ostagar soon. Hope you've been learning something in those... lessons... of yours!" Cedrik glanced sharply at Markus, seeing the young man with a sly grin on his face. Cedrik could feel his cheeks flush.
"It's not that obvious, is it?" He whispered.
"My dear mage, if it were any more obvious, you'd be sleeping with her already." Markus shook his head sadly. "Though I don't blame her for not accepting your advances. I don't think I would go for the moody mage type either." Cedrik hit the man, glaring.
"Don't tell me you want her, too." He growled.
"Like you have claim?" Markus laughed. "No, I need a woman with more spunk than that. She's a nice girl, I suppose, but my word, man, she has no confidence at all! You accidentally touch her and she loses it. Good luck getting a relationship with that, I don't think it's possible. Damaged goods, Cedrik. Maker only knows what she'd been through." Cedrik didn't answer right away, just shut the book and stared at it. Markus was right, he had no chance. Even during practice she would flinch away from his touch, even though she tried to hide it.
"Hey, don't take it personally." Markus said, patting the mage's shoulder. "Soon you won't have time to think about a relationship, anyway. Any day now we'll be called out."
"I suppose the best I can do is just leave her be." Cedrik sighed.
"Hey you two, there's a meeting!" Iestyn, a Warden archer, called to them. "I think we're moving out in two days! Come on." Cedrik shoved the book into the bookcase and followed the other Wardens to the meeting hall. There weren't many of them, only sixteen total, nowhere near enough to fight a Blight and win, so Cedrik looked to Duncan.
"As you have been hearing, we're on the verge of a Blight." He said. "We have reports of darkspawn coming up in the Korcari Wilds near Ostagar and having spoken with the king, we will move on ahead of the king's army to scout out the area. We have sent word to the Orlesian Wardens, but it will take time for them to arrive. We must make do with what we can until they arrive." Cedrik started zoning out, surprised everything was suddenly happening. He thought they would have more time... Claire had said she would go into battle with them, but he realized he didn't want her to. He would have to talk to her. A few other Wardens had questions, but Cedrik was anxious to get out. As soon as Duncan said the meeting was dismissed, Cedrik went looking for Claire.
"Hey, Cedrik, wait up!" He looked back, irritated, at the young rogue coming up to him.
"What do you need, Stefen?" He asked. Stefen looked a little confused with the angry tone, but it never phased him.
"Aren't you excited?" He asked. "We're going to go fight darkspawn! My blades have been getting lonely, lately, with nothing to kill."
"Actually, I'd be perfectly fine without any battles." Cedrik said. "Granted it will be nice to let loose my full potential, I've seen what battles can do and I'm not really interested in losing any of my fellow Wardens. We're so few as it is!"
"True... death is lurking around every corner on the battlefield." Stefen's shoulders slumped a little and Cedrik felt bad for bringing down his mood.
"We still have a couple days to get ready." Cedrik said. "So let's just make sure we're prepared for whatever the 'spawn can throw at us, yes?" He gave the rogue an encouraging smile.
"Hey, you wanna see if the cook has any treats she won't miss?" Stefen grinned wide. As anxious as he was to see Claire, Cedrik knew she would find him in the Fade.
"Sure, why not." He said, chuckling.
After everyone had fallen asleep, Claire sought out Cedrik, wishing she was going to see Anders instead. She grumbled when she found Cedrik, annoyed that he was dreaming when she had told him that she was going to show him something in the Fade. Had he forgotten? She knew they'd had a meeting and that they were heading out for Ostagar soon, something she was dreading. Had so much time passed already, that the final days of the Ferelden Grey Wardens was upon them? She had grown attached to them and even the ones she didn't really like she was dreading seeing die...
She hesitated, not knowing what to expect, then entered the dream. She groaned and face palmed when she saw herself in the dream, whispering to Cedrik. She began weaving her will into the dream, but something felt off, something she recognized but couldn't place. Her dream self pushed away from the mage, covering her face with her hands as she started crying.
"Claire, what's wrong?" He asked. "What did I do?" Claire could feel someone else exerting their will over the dream and she could feel their frustration and confusion. A demon, probably Desire, and Cedrik was completely unaware. This demon was good and Cedrik was too far obsessed, making it difficult for Claire to decide how to handle it. She knew she could take the demon out without Cedrik even being aware, but should she? Or should she let him know how far he'd gone? Irritated with her image being used, she isolated the demon, destroying its control over the dream while taking command herself, so that Cedrik wouldn't know. Silently, she banished the demon and set up a protection around the dream, preventing it from coming back in. Focusing on her dream self, she allowed Cedrik's mind to take over, letting her dream self become that which he saw her as.
She felt confusion from him, though, as if perhaps he had known it was a demon. "Claire... it's not you, is it?" He asked, grabbing her dream-self's arm. "I feel something... this isn't... this is a dream, isn't it? That was a demon... Oh Maker..." She could feel the dream crumbling around her as he 'woke up' in the Fade. She hid herself from him still and watched. He looked around, furious. "Come out, demon! I know you were there, why would you hide?"
"Something banished me." A silvery voice spoke up behind him, and there was the Desire demon, curling her fingers around his shoulders. "You're not as weak as I initially thought." She purred.
"Why are you toying with me?" He pulled away from her. "You cannot give me what I truly want. Begone."
"You underestimate me." She said. "I can, and will, give you that girl."
Cedrik laughed. "She's probably the one who banished you." He said. "You are no match for her." Claire smirked, proud of him.
"If she banished me, where is she now?" The demon was getting angry. "Where is this mighty mage you claim can defeat me?"
"I'm right here." Claire said. "I've fought more powerful demons than you. Why would you even risk it? You can feel it, can't you?" Cedrik's expression was a mix of relief, adoration, and shame when he looked at her, and it made her sad. The demon growled and lashed her tail.
"A Dreamer..." She hissed. Looking at Cedrik, she poured her power into a spell to attack him, but Claire could feel it and put up a shield. She slammed the demon to the ground and destroyed it.
"No one messes with my friend and gets away with it." Claire muttered as she walked over to Cedrik.
"You saw..." He said, averting his eyes.
"I already knew." She said. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to mess with your dream... I feel like I invaded your privacy and I should have let you be, but I couldn't just let that demon paw you like that."
He looked up, startled. "I tried not to show it. I know you've been through a lot and..."
"And I have a hard time with touch..." She said. "I'm sorry, Cedrik. I do care about you, though, you've been a great friend..." Could she even do a physical relationship with him? If she couldn't have Anders, how bad would it be to let herself at least try with someone else...?
He shrugged, a sad smile on his face. "I must say this isn't near as embarrassing as I pictured it. I halfway expected you to up and leave... I'll take what I can get. I probably won't live much longer anyway, since we're marching off to war. There aren't many of us, you know. They pick off the mages first..."
"I'll be there to help." She smiled. "Together, I'm sure we can make a dent before they take us."
"Don't go into battle!" He said. "You deserve to live, don't just throw your life away!"
"If you die before me, you'll never know." She winked.
"I will..." He reached a hand out to her, gently touching her arm. She was surprised at how uncomfortable it made her feel, so different from how Anders made her feel. "But you didn't want to talk about our deaths, I'm sure. What did you want to show me?"
"The future." She said. "To give you hope. But you have to promise to never tell anyone, ever."
Wide eyed, he nodded. "Of course, I will never tell anyone. I swear." She nodded, then focused on changing the scene. She put them on top of a hill, overlooking Kirkwall.
Pointing to a building, she said, "That's the chantry."
"I don't recognize it, what city is that?" She stayed silent as a red beam of light shot through the building, exploding it. He gripped her arm tight in surprise as they watched the Templars and mages fighting, demons everywhere. She showed him the Templars leaving the Chantry, the dissolution of the Circle, and then the explosion at the conclave, having Corypheus flying on his dragon overhead. She knew it wasn't accurate, but it made it more potent.
"Mages become free." She said. "The Inquisition is reinstated, and they bring about a new order. There is hope for Thedas. Even if you don't live to see it, I wanted you to at least know."
His face was full of excitement and fear. "I'm overwhelmed..." He said. "I wish I could be part of this change..."
"In a way, you will be. I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I know the Grey Wardens are involved." He realized he was still holding her, so he released her arm and nodded.
"Thank you, thank you so much for sharing this with me." He said. "I felt like such a fool but you've been so kind and understanding anyway... Please, stay out of the battle. The world needs you!"
"I can't abandon you, but I'll at least be careful. Before we go... was there anywhere you wanted to visit before you run off to battle? One last getaway before the storm?" His expression was so sad as he looked at her.
"Anywhere with you is fine with me." He said.
"Then let's just take a walk in the mountains." She smiled and took his hand, leading him away.