Gale went about her day just as she always did- get up really early, prep the baked goods for the day, check in with her staff before making her rounds, then taking her basket of pouches filled with breakfast items to deliver to Elias and the others along with her small cauldron of porridge for the infirmary.

Her days more or less went the same, but since returning to Skyhold she found it difficult to ignore how heightened her senses were now- hearing conversations from clear across the courtyard, hearts beating, the mounts shifting in their stalls. But today, something was different.

As Gale made her final rounds for the day, she could sense that someone was following her, watching her closely. She couldn't tell who it was though, just that they were there and they were good at what they were doing.

'Which can only mean it's one of Leliana's...' Gale thought, then she realized in that moment that if it was one of Leliana's people, it meant that Leliana knew about her and about Galeria.

'Calm down, Gale.' Galeria said to her, feeling her panic and unease.

'If she knows, then we are in danger. Sam is in danger.'

'If she knew, she would have done something about it already.'

'Or she's just waiting for us to screw up!'

'Panicking will not do anything to help the situation. It may only make things worse. You must calm down.'

Gale was nearing the end of her rounds, but now she was terrified. She was more worried about Sam getting caught up in it all than anything else and she couldn't risk that. She stepped into a deserted hallway to try and calm herself, enough at least to put up a convincing front. Once her nerves had settled, she found the nearest person and asked that they finish her rounds for her before making her way to the Roost.

Leliana was sitting at her desk, reading through some scouting reports, when Gale came into the Roost.

"Sister Leliana?"

She looked up from the papers in her hand and noticed that she seemed nervous. "Gale, was there something I could help you with?"

"I was hoping we could speak a moment? If you have the time, of course."

Leliana nodded and stood, setting the papers back onto the desk. "Of course. Come, let's find somewhere private."

Gale hesitantly followed her outside onto the walkway just outside of the Roost, closing the door behind her.

"What is on your mind?"

Gale took a deep breath and looked at her. "You know, don't you?"

Leliana had a feeling that this would be the topic of discussion. "If you are referring to Galeria, yes, I know. I have since the incident at the cottage ruins, when you were attacked."

Gale's chest tightened. "And you've had someone following me since then."

"I have."

Gale turned away, looking out over the keep grounds. "And you haven't spoken to the others, why?"

"Because in my opinion, you are not a threat. Even possessed by a demon, you maintain control and manage your hunger without hurting anyone." Leliana replied. "Even when Galeria took control once before, she did so only to protect you and when she had done so, she relinquished control and retreated back within you. You share a rare bond with her, Gale, one that reminds me of the mage Anders and the spirit of Justice that he played host to. Before Anders' own hatred for Templars took its hold and corrupt Justice into a spirit of Vengeance, they shared a very symbiotic relationship and relied upon each other for survival." Leliana looked at Gale, seeing her appear to be disheartened. "I do not feel that you are at risk of befalling the same fate as Anders, however."

Gale sighed. "Even so, I worry I will lose control, that Galeria will lose control, that we'll slip into a darkness in which we cannot return from." She looked at the sky as it started growing darker as the sun passed behind the mountains. "I worry that I'll hurt someone I care about, or worse."

"Someone like Samuel Trevelyan?"

Gale nodded, feeling her eyes tear up.

"You care a great deal for him, don't you?" Leliana asked, seeing in her eyes and reaction the same thing she had seen in her best friend Malina when she started to fall in love with Alistair Theirin.

Again, Gale nodded and let the tears slip free. "I can't risk losing him, Sister... not after everything he's done for me, everything we've been through together..."

"What are you going to do then?"

"I have to protect him..." Gale replied, sniffling as she wiped away her tears. "Even if it's from myself..."

"Will you need help?"

Gale shook her head. "No, I'll be fine." She offered Leliana a half hearted smile before bowing and excusing herself.

Leliana stood there watching the bustle of the courtyard market begin to die down, then her gaze shifted towards the main gate where she spotted Samuel heading towards the kitchens. Knowing what Gale was planning on doing, she called over one of her scouts and asked that they make sure that Samuel doesn't find Gale.

'I hope you know what you're doing, Gale.' Leliana thought as the scout hurried off- passing along the message. 'Whatever you choose to do, I will have someone watching over you just in case, I promise.'

When dark surrounded Skyhold and most everyone else was inside for dinner or at the tavern partying or already passed out in their quarters from a long day, Gale snuck into the kitchens and gathered up enough provisions to last her a couple weeks, then shouldered her packs and headed off to the main gate. Before she passed through the inner gate, she looked back at the keep with a heavy heart. Skyhold had become a second home to her and the Inquisition had become a second family to her.

'I have to leave it behind, though... I have to protect them...'

'Are you sure this is what you want, child?'

Gale sighed and nodded, turning away and forcing herself forward. 'It's for the best...'

'And what of Samuel? You will not be able to sustain the hunger as well as you could with his blood.'

Gale touched the bottle that was strapped to her hip. 'I have enough left to keep me going awhile. Once it runs out, then I'll find a way to manage without it.'

'You love him, don't you?'

Gale ignored the question, but she knew the answer and she was sure that Galeria did too, even without her answering. She kept walking until she got a good distance away from the keep before she looked back one last time.

"I'm sorry, Samuel..."