Morrigan opened the door for Shartan and the inner circle, the group filed into the room that was a simple long narrow barren room with a large mirror on a dais. Everyone besides Morrigan and the pair of ancient elves looked at the mirror as if they expected it to bite them, Morrigan approached the mirror and with a simple touch the surface began rippling.
"I expect that your old ranks will allow you to pass through again without my help." Morrigan sounded jealous, Shartan simply nodded and stepped through the portal followed by the group.
"Wow, Prongs you weren't kidding this place is pretty amazing!" Varric commented looking at the crossroads.
"Look through the eyes of the elves and it is even better; our blood is tied to magic so the power in this place makes its colors even more vibrant." Shartan remarked, already moving to another mirror.
"Boss, this place is safe right? Nothing is going to leap out and eat us, right?" Ironbull asked, one hand on his axe haft.
"Relax the Ironbull as long as we don't go through any of the portals leading to any of the treasure rooms or the breeding stables we will be fine." Solas reassured them, while Shartan worked on getting a very large ornate mirror to work.
The mirror rippled and began to glow. "All right, everyone follows after Solas and I. Say nothing, do nothing, these elves are not as gentle or forgiving as I am or as understanding as Solas." Everyone shared a look, trying to imagine what these elves would be like. When Shartan and Solas stepped through the mirror Cassandra waited a moment before crossing as well with the rest on her heels.
###
Cassandra was not sure what she had been expecting, but the sight of every elf besides her soulmate and Solas on one knee was not it. At a gesture from Shartan the group of elves rose, two stepped forward lowering their hoods as they did so, well the rest drifted back. The first was a man who looked about Shartan's age, though Cassandra knew that meant nothing, his dour expression contrasted his bright golden armor. The second elf made her heart skip a beat and begin aching with the urge to hug the woman, she stood the same height as Cassandra, looking like a female version of her soulmate.
"It is fortunate that you were able to arrive so quickly your Worship, so far only scouts have attempted to pierce our defences, but a large army is already on it's way." The male elf informed them, the respect he showed the pair was very telling.
"Thank you Abelas, let us continue this talk in the war room. I trust it is still intact?" Shartan asked, gesturing for Abelas to lead the way.
"It is, shall I have your Shemlen brought to resting chambers?" Abelas asked, with a look towards Cassandra and the rest that made her want to punch him.
"They will come with us, for all their youth, they are not unskilled in war. I taught Ma' Vhenan myself." Shartan replied, Cassandra heard the grumbling of the inner circle, but Cassandra had been prepared for this view point the elves would have.
"My apologies your divine glory for failing to recognize your reborn form!" Abelas said dropping to a knee before her and the female following suit, the other elves had somehow vanished when Cassandra was not looking.
"We do not have time for apologies, the elder one is on his way here and we have work to do if we are to save your people and your treasures." Brushed off his attempt to apologize, a small smile appeared on both kneeling elves faces.
"Of course, my divine lady." Abelas response and began leading them deeper into the temple.
Once they were in the room Abelas laid out a map, with a single magic gesture the war pieces moved into place. The picture the pieces painted was bleak, the force out numbered the elves over five to one, even with the advantage given by the forest it was still a doomed fight. The female elf said as much, outlining where the most likely paths for the attacker were.
"So, there is no choice then, a new vessel must be chosen, and the temple evacuated." Solas sounded so sad when he spoke, Cassandra could not help but feel for these elves no matter how arrogant or stubborn they might be, no one deserves to lose their home.
"We lack anyone who can take the place as vessel, none of our priest or warriors have the lineage to take the role." Abelas said, only for the female to slam her fist on the table and glare at him.
"I have the right blood purity Abelas! Stop being so stubborn and let me take the burden if it will save the well!" The female snapped loudly, from the glares now passing between the pair it was clearly an old fight.
"You know very well that the decree-" "Forgotten ones take the decree! Mythal is missing and her well threatened, if the goddess is not here to lead then we must act on our own!" "Nehra! You will be silent, the ones who made the decree stand in this room, so it still stands!" Abelas yelled slamming his own fist down.
"Um, the none elven empire people are confused, what is this decree?" Varric asked, getting the full force of both elven glares.
"It is a decree that myself and Ma' Vhenan made on our daughter's first birthday, that she would never be allowed to take the burden of the well or any of the high priest treasure." Shartan said, the jaws of the inner circle dropped as the looked at Nehra who glared right back at them.
"That decree stops us from leaving as our only other high blood died the last time we woke." Nehra argued, Shartan glared at his daughter.
"I will not allow my daughter to become a slave to Mythal, I would give it to a Forgotten one long before I would allow that!" Shartan and Nehra glared at each other and Cassandra sighed at how similar the two seemed.
"Enough, what is this High blood that is needed?" Cassandra snapped, Nehra looked at her with a flicker of respect and love before it was hidden behind a mask of business.
"Relationship to one of the great houses main families or relation by blood our soul to the gods." Nehra informed them, Sera was oddly the one who offered the suggestion that solved it.
"What about Witchy tits, you said she was the daughter of Mythal or her fragment right, just pour the well down her throat and let's get out of here." Sera suggested, and Shartan face palmed.
"Solas go back through the gates and get her, we need to get the vessel and fill it then stash it somewhere safe before the battles can get close." Shartan ordered, Solas was striding for the door before he had started speaking.
"Abelas take the others to some spare quarters, we will have much work to do in the morning. Nehra stay for a bit if you would." Shartan ordered and the inner circle minus Cassandra were led out of the room.
"I will leave you two to bond and such, Nehra we can speak and catch up after this is over. I hope your skill at chess has not waned." Shartan said before leaving the room.
"My father is something." Nehra commented, making Cassandra smirk.
"He is, sometimes it is hard to remember how old he is, or how many lives he has lived before I was even born." Cassandra agreed, Nehra laughed.
"Yeah, I guess it must be overwhelming to know that, I mean it took me years to come to terms with the famous Black Hart being my father when I was finally told." Nehra said, gesturing to a chair for Cassandra and taking the opposite one.
"So, what are you in this life, and how did you meet father?" Nehra asked, Cassandra sat and smiled at her 'Daughter'.
"In the fade or flesh for the meeting?" she asked, the talk going on long into the night.