It felt as though the entirety of Haven had held its breath until they learned that the efforts to close the Breach had been successful, this was a major victory for them. Everyone had returned to Haven in one massive unit and shortly after their arrival the festivities began. Word of their success had reached Haven before they even had of course, as anyone could simply look toward the heavens and see that the hole in the sky had been destroyed.

Cullen still could not believe all that had happened or any of the reports that he'd read after the Herald returned from Redcliffe with the mages in tow, it felt more like stories than facts. Talk of time travel and the absolute end of the world, it was unnerving but at least they'd avoided that fate for now. That had been the first time he'd read one of the Herald's reports first hand. Her words were slender like her fingers, each letter had a subtle curve that made her calligraphy stand out amongst the others. Her writing was dark as if she'd pressed hard against the parchment, deliberately placing each word. Her hand must've been sore if that was how she always wrote. Cullen strained at the words in front of him but he couldn't concentrate due to the commotion and merriment outside. His desk was covered by unread reports but he decided that it would be okay for him to relax for the remainder of the evening considering the occasion. He stepped out of the Chantry and braced the frigid air, it had gotten cold almost overnight, colder than usual that is. He figured it had to have been a symptom of the massive Breach being so suddenly sealed. He abruptly thought of the Herald, he hoped that she would think to protect her feet with a good pair of boots. He leaned back against the stone wall behind him and watched as the others enjoyed themselves, realizing shortly that the Herald had been watching the others as well. She was leaning forward over a ledge ahead of him, as if to watch over them. He had been making an attempt to be more friendly toward her, engaging her in conversation when she'd visit him on her rounds. He had allowed his prejudice toward mages to taint his impression of her. Cullen certainly still felt she was naïve but she was not entirely incompetent. It had been a slow process, but he had no wish to let his bias control him.

They had only spoken a few times before the breach was closed but each time had been unexpectedly pleasant. Her voice was surprisingly sultry and she was startlingly direct for an elf. He had been thrown during one of their conversations when she had blatantly asked him about vows of chastity while they were discussing templar traditions. He swore he hadn't muddled his words the way he had since he was a young lad with an unshakable infatuation. But he would not go down that road again, especially with another mage of all things. On another day she had told him that she admired his enthusiasm and dedication for their cause, a complement that he held onto as it had made him genuinely smile. It seemed like a small, silly thing, but it had been a nice moment that they shared.

He was abruptly pulled out of his thoughtful state by the call of a frantic scout. The young woman ran to him and panted as she attempted to warn him of the incoming threat - a massive force was approaching - but she was interrupted by the sharp pang of the alarm bells. There was no time, they were already too close, Cullen wouldn't waste another moment as he hastily organized his men, calling them to arms. The events that followed hit hard, barely leaving time to process anything. Abominations that were former templars, waves of them, and Samson's involvement had caused a new rage to build inside him. He fought the monsters that had the gall to approach the gates to Haven. The sound of an avalanche pulled his attention, they had gotten the trebuchets to work. He used this reprieve to assess the situation but he'd only taken half a breath before an atrocious dragon flew overhead. He examined it further realizing what it truly was - an archdemon. His hope for a victory was fleeting, but he could not let his men see him falter. He raised his sword to garner their attention and called for a retreat to the Chantry. He helped as many as he could along the way and joined the others to close the doors once the Herald entered, she was the last survivor inside. Then came the futile attempt at hatching a plan that would save everyone but he felt that there was no way out, they were cornered like scared mice. He had suggested that they go out on their own terms and bury Haven with another avalanche. However, the chancellor had revealed the fact that there was a secret tunnel that would be their salvation. Faith began to grow inside him, the tunnel and avalanche combined would have a greater chance of success than anything else, but there was a difficult question - who would stay behind?

"I will go to the trebuchet," The Herald spoke consciously, standing firmly in her place. Cullen was rattled by this decree, she had decided almost instantly. "He wants me, yes?" She spoke again looking to the boy, Cole, for affirmation - which he had given her with a solitary nod. "Then I will go to him." She snapped around to face Cullen, who had been standing behind her. "Commander, please lead these people to safety."

"And what of your escape?" Cullen blurted, surprised by his own words. He normally filtered everything carefully before speaking, this was an order he was given and he should have said 'yes' rather than rebuttal. She turned her gaze from him to the barred doors of the chantry. She did not speak but the brief silence was all he needed to know that she had decided her fate and she did not intend to return to them. A rush of guilt flooded his chest, making him feel heavy. He had thought so little of her, assumed that she was merely careless when she threw herself at danger, but this was honorable. His remorse had grown heavier when he recognized that he never even bothered to learn her real name. "Perhaps… you will surprise it," A lump started to grow in his throat but he forced himself to speak, to offer some sort of encouragement, "You'll find a way."

He watched as she took her leave, never looking back. He kept his eyes on her until he could no longer see her, knowing that this would be the last time they would speak.

Her eyes fluttered open, unsure of how long she had laid there. By sheer luck Orianni had survived her encounter with the Elder One and the fall she took during the avalanche. This was to be Din'Anshiral, her journey to death, but it seemed that the Creators did not intend this fate for her, at least not yet anyway. She moved and by some miracle she was able to stand but she could feel that she'd broken something, perhaps a rib. Orianni examined her surroundings, there was ice everywhere and the air was frozen. She looked down at her feet, wincing in pain. They were cold, dangerously so; she would not be able to move forward at this rate. Two corpses that sat against the wall nearest to her caught her eye, she sighed and approached them. "O' Falon'din lethanavir," She spoke softly, her hands pressed together as she asked that these souls be helped across the Veil. She was uncomfortable taking the boots from one body and the cloak from the other, but she knew that she would soon join them if she hadn't. Once she was ready she pressed onward, a sharp pain in her side accompanied each step. "I will endure," she whispered, sighting the exit to the cave and the relentless blizzard that raged on beyond it. Orianni did not know where she was going, only that forward was the answer.

Eventually, she passed by a burnt out fire pit, the sight had strengthened her resolve and she pressed on. She was relieved as that meant she was going in the correct direction after all.

The storm finally began to slow but she still couldn't see much in front of her. She felt as though she had been walking for ages, trudging at this point really. The snow was up to her knees, her trousers were soaked and beginning to freeze to her skin. "Just a little longer," She pleaded with her legs that desperately wanted to give. Her breathing had become sporadic. Each time she inhaled it was sharp, stinging her throat. It felt as if the air she'd taken in was ice that was beginning to infect her lungs more and more with each breath. She could give no more, her body was spent. She unwillingly collapsed to her knees, finally giving in to her legs that were trembling with agonizing pain. Her hand still clinging to her side as it did for the entire journey. She looked upward toward the sky and slowly closed her eyes, a tear frozen to her cheek.

"There!"

The word cut through the ringing in her ears and she exhaled in relief that she was no longer alone. She could not believe that she'd actually found them. Orianni would have laughed if she had the stamina for it.

"I see her!" The voice shouted again, the sound of several sets of footsteps became louder against the snow with each crunch. She had recognized the richness in the voice and mustered a smile. Knowing now that she would finally be safe she allowed herself to let go. The looming presence of sleep had followed her for more than half the trek and she refused to surrender to it. But the instant she felt him kneel beside her and place a hand on her shoulder she alleviated the strain she'd put on herself to stay upright and fell into him, letting sleep finally take her.