Note: Some adult themes...

It was a dazed few who regrouped in the ruins of Skyhold that night. Fires were still being doused, make-shift shelters were being constructed from the mess, and the casualties continue to mount. Elissa was disheartened to hear so many of her close friends amongst them. Iron Bull, Sera, Cullen, Cole, Varric, and of course Lahara Trevelyan and Amber Hawke. The healing quarters had also been badly damaged, and Eliza was working over-time to treat the numerous wounded. Elissa had stepped in to help initially, but the stares and whispers about the flower in her eye proved too much, and so she had retreated to her room, which had remained untouched from the fighting.

She stared at her reflection in the window pane, unnerved by the black and white blossom in her left eye. It resembled an Andraste's Grace, apart from the peculiar colour combination, but unlike its counterpart this flower was scentless. But it wasn't just this new addition that left Elissa so unsettled. She had checked herself thoroughly for wounds, and had found them all to be perfectly healed. Even the scars she had borne for years—the cut on her cheek from her fall from Fort Drakon, the old welts from her fight with Ser Cauthrien, the tiny constellation of marks on her leg from play fights with Fergus as a child—they had all vanished. The symbols of her life, of every experience and memory as Elissa Cousland, had been wiped clean as if they had never been.

"And for what?" Elissa muttered. This was her reward for her birthright, the power that had been stolen from her so many thousand years ago...and it stung. Badly. Why should see have such a gift, to have her body cleansed of all mistakes, of all her failures and near-misses, of all physical hurts and pain? When it was because of her that Leliana still suffered with her leg, that Bethany had lost her hand, that Lahara's own magic had turned to poison against her, that Hawke had lost herself to madness…

"Why me?!"

Snarling, Elissa lashed out with her fist, shattering the window. The glass cut her knuckles, drawing blood, but it took but a moment for the broken flesh to mend. The edges knitted together, leaving only the red stains against her skin. Elissa stared, torn between awe and horror. It seemed her power stretched beyond that of her lost memories. Far, far beyond.

"Is this why you were afraid, Andraste?" Elissa whispered to herself. "Because accepting this, accepting Etro's legacy, meant losing your humanity…"

She rested her brow on her hand, unable to stifle her tremor. The truth was becoming too much to take in. It had been the ambition of a madman to ascend to godhood, and Elissa did not want any of it. She had suffered through so much, but surviving each and every hardship thrown at her had given it all meaning. Now even the proof of her previous triumphs had been removed, including the scar that had saved her from torture at the hands of her own love. And while she could still feel pain, it was short-lived and soon forgotten.

What…

What have I become?

Slow steps echoed from the stairwell behind. Elissa bowed her head, not bothering to turn around. The footsteps drew closer, and then a pair of arms laced around her.

"Are you alright?" Leliana murmured in Elissa's ear, holding tight.

"...no." Elissa slipped out of Leliana's grasp, the chill breeze from the broken window numbing her cheeks. "I'm not alright at all."

Leliana bit her lip.

"I cannot imagine what you must be feeling right now," the bard said, keeping close but not touching. "But I am here for you. Ask of me anything you wish."

Elissa clenched her fist.

"Tell me," she asked, turning to face her. "Look at me, and tell me what you see."

"Hmm?" Leliana blinked. "I...what do you mean?"

"What do you see when you look at me?" Elissa repeated, her gaze hardening. "Andraste reborn? A goddess with limitless power?" Her voice shook. "A monster, an abomination, something not…human any more…"

Leliana gasped. She reached out and took Elissa's face in her hands, pulling her close. Elissa couldn't fight her tears any longer, and they spilled freely, soaking the bard's fingers.

"Look," Elissa breathed, revealing her hand, still bloodied from the broken window, but with no trace of any cut. She pressed her palm over Leliana's, over where the scar on her cheek should have been. "My scars, they're gone. Taken away, wiped clean as if they never existed…as if my life before…meant nothing." She couldn't speak, her breaths too pained. "What…what...the hell...am I…"

"Elissa." Leliana leant forward, kissing away the tears. Elissa shivered, wrapping her arms around her love. "You ask me what I see when I look at you, and I see what I have always seen." She brought her lips to Elissa's, her breath warm. "I see the woman I love."

Elissa closed her eye, letting the tears burn. Leliana held her cheek, allowing their lips to meet, and Elissa felt thunder sing. She threw herself into Leliana, pinning her against the wall, wanting nothing more but her taste, her warmth. Leliana returned the kiss just as eagerly, her hands slipping beneath Elissa's shirt and gently raking up her back.

Breathless they parted, and Elissa buried herself into Leliana's neck.

"Show me," she whispered, pleading. "Show me…that I'm still…"

"Hush." Leliana brought Elissa's lips backs to hers. "Let me show you."

Elissa closed her eye, focusing on Leliana's soft touches. Her own hands began to roam, and Leliana shivered beneath her fingertips as they traced patterns across her back and hips. Leliana broke their kiss, pressing her lips to Elissa's throat. Elissa moaned quietly, pulses of pleasure rippling across her skin as Leliana started to unfasten her buttons. The bard's lips continued to whisper across Elissa's chest, her tongue stealing teasing licks across her breasts. Elissa whimpered, her fingers furrowing into Leliana's shirt and rapidly removing it, wanting to feel the warmth of her lover's skin against hers.

"You're still so very beautiful," Leliana whispered, lightly cupping Elissa's breasts. "I love you."

"I love you too," Elissa breathed, kissing up the bard's jaw and lightly nibbling her ear. Leliana gasped, though it soon turned to a giggle.

"I love when you do that," she admitted, stealing a kiss. "I still remember how bewildered you looked when I first asked you to."

Elissa smiled, sitting on her bed and pulling Leliana into her lap.

"You had to teach me many things," she murmured, anchoring Leliana's thighs around her hips. Leliana moaned in approval, launching a fresh assault of kisses and licks across Elissa's collarbones.

"You taught me some new things too," Leliana breathed, kissing down Elissa's belly, her fingers lightly stroking over her breasts. Elissa leant back so she was laying down, and moments later Leliana had removed her belt, exposing her lower half. The bard's hand slipped between her legs, and Elissa shivered, so glad to still be able to feel desire despite what had become of her. She slid her hand around Leliana's neck, bringing their lips together as Leliana spread her weight on top of her. The bard lightly bucked her hips into Elissa's, before her fingers went inside. Elissa groaned, relishing her lover's touch, before starting to pulse her hips. Leliana matched her pace, deepening their kisses as Elissa wrapped her arms around her.

Eventually Elissa cried out her release, Leliana's name on her lips. Leliana slowed the movement of her hand, rolling aside and pulling Elissa to her chest. Elissa closed her eye, catching her breath.

"Thank you," she whispered, kissing Leliana's chin.

"No, thank you," Leliana answered, cuddling close. "I...I truly did not think we would be able to share such moments any more."

Elissa sighed, recalling the Archdemon's attack. They remained in stillness for a while, Leliana stroking Elissa's hair.

"What happens now?" the bard asked. "Corypheus is gone, but the Corruption remains. And the Inquisition is barely still standing."

Elissa licked her lips. She had yet to reveal the full truth to anyone, and she was not sure how Leliana would take it.

"It's too late for Thedas," she said at last. "The Maker himself told me."

Leliana tensed. "The Maker? He spoke to you?"

Elissa nodded. "He was Zevran's master all along. Once I killed Corypheus, He appeared in Zevran's form to explain what will happen."

"That's..." Leliana shook her head. "How?"

"I don't know," Elissa admitted, "but regardless, the news isn't good." She took a breath. "There's no time left for this world, Leliana. Even the Maker can't stop Corruption consuming it in thirteen days."

"Truly?" Leliana held a hand to her chest. "Then if Thedas is to be no more, what hope is there?"

"The Maker's made a new world for us," Elissa explained. "But it needs souls in order to thrive. So He's asked me to summon the remaining souls of Thedas and guide them across, now my power is restored."

Leliana whistled in awe.

"That sounds like no small undertaking," she said. "Though I am surprised that the Maker cannot do such himself. After all, He has created an entire new realm."

Elissa scowled.

"The Maker isn't as all powerful as the Chantry have made Him to be," she said. "It's His fault Thedas is dying in the first place."

"I still...it is so hard to believe." Leliana shook her head. "The Maker loves us all, and that He has gone to such length to see us saved...surely that counts for something?"

"We'll see," Elissa answered. "There's something I still don't trust."

"So the Maker made a mistake," Leliana challenged. "The fact He is not beyond such, and that He has the humility to redeem Himself, just as we do...I can only revere Him more as a result."

Elissa huffed. "You'd redeem my murderer?"

Leliana looked away. "You redeemed me, didn't you, despite all I had done?"

Elissa paused, caught by the bard's words.

"...of course."

Leliana's gaze softened. She slid close, resting her chin on Elissa's shoulder.

"I don't wish to fight, mon coeur," she said. "There is still so much I do not understand, but I feel our path is clear. We must do all we can to help you bring the souls of this world together, so you can lead us into the next."

"Yes." Elissa lay down, and Leliana pulled the covers over them. She curled against her lover's shoulder, softly kissing it. "Sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Leliana answered, stroking her cheek. "And no matter what changes, I will always love you."

Elissa kissed the bard's forehead.

"As will I," she said. "For as long as time allows."

"Congratulations, Sixteen!"

Elissa blinked, jolted into wakefulness. She was no longer in the warmth of her lover's arms; instead she was lying on cold stone, surrounded by the green haze of the Fade. Startled, she sat up, only to be greeted by the white-haired visage of Flemeth. Elissa's eyes narrowed. She clenched her fist, tempted to summon her Corruption spear and give the witch what she deserved.

"My, it seems your old temper has returned, too," Flemeth chuckled, eyeing Elissa's hand. "Truly t'is an astounding occurrence that we have come so far. Even I did not foresee such turn of events."

"What do you want from me now?" Elissa asked, biting back a hiss. "If you think you can..."

"All I ask from you right now are your ears," Flemeth cut in. She perched on the rocks, gazing towards the black spire deep in the Fade. "You may have more cards than before, Sixteen, but that does not make you an expert in the matters lying ahead. And if we are to survive the end, you need to know all you can."

Elissa growled. "Why should I believe a word you say, after what you..."

"Then first hear my apology," Flemeth broke in. "Sixteen, I am sorry for what I did to you, and to Kieran." She licked her lips. "But one does not make a centuries-long plan and let it slip from grasp at the last moment." She stared at Elissa, hovering over the flower in her eye. "I told you that once the Maker chose Andraste as the new goddess—and once she rejected that proposition—a blood tie formed onto Etro's soul. But none of Andraste's descendants could handle its power. Thus, as I watched failure after failure, knowing the ever growing threat the Chaos posed, I had to find another way." She sighed. "The Fifth Blight provided that opportunity. Not only would the Grey Wardens be seeking to recruit, but with the ancient ritual, I would have the chance to create a vessel who could withstand the soul of a goddess."

"Kieran," Elissa murmured. "You planned to use the Shards of Andraste on him?"

"Yes and no," Flemeth went on. "The Shards still needed to be awoken by your blood, but I never anticipated their power to split to your comrades. That made things difficult, but in a way it has worked to your benefit. For the Shards absorbed their mortal mana, countering that of the divine. Thus this allowed them to reunite within you without ill effect."

"So it seems," Elissa said. "But what will become of Kieran?"

Flemeth sighed. "He will be reborn in the new world, should all go to plan, and get his second chance. But this is where the trouble begins."

"What do you mean?" Elissa asked. "My power's restored, isn't it?"

"You may be a goddess now, Sixteen, but as a result of your Warden past, you are missing the key piece you need to save the world."

Elissa's heart skipped a beat.

"What?"

"It was necessary for you to become a Warden to give me time, but it appears to have given an unusual side effect," Flemeth said. "The Taint works by fragmenting the soul, and I needed your soul to be incomplete to hide you from ones who would seek to restore Etro prematurely. They would merely repeat the mistakes of generations past, and you would die, your power lost once more. And although the Shards are once again rejoined, the single piece that is absent is what you need most to complete your task."

"The Soulsong." Elissa bit her lip. "So what you're saying is, I don't have it?"

"On the contrary, Sixteen, you very much do," Flemeth countered. "But while it is in your possession, it is not in your person. The one whom you gave that piece of your soul has it."

Elissa's eyes narrowed.

"Who would I give a piece of my soul to, when I wasn't even aware my soul had fragmented in the first place?"

Flemeth laughed.

"My, Man's words are so inconsistent over the years," she stated. "Perhaps if I put it this way." She leant closer. "The one to whom you gave your soul, your heart, she has inherited the Soulsong."

Elissa's eyes widened.

"Leliana?"

"Mmm, alas that does prove a slight problem," Flemeth said. "For while she can sing it and draw all the souls of the world to her, she does not have the power to contain Chaos, as you do. It will kill her."

Elissa shook her head. No, this wasn't...not another cruel twist.

I have to choose between Leliana and all of Thedas?!

"No..." Elissa gritted her teeth. "I can't...I won't..."

"I cannot see a solution myself," Flemeth said, "but perhaps you may. Alas, you will not have long to find out, Sixteen. Leave this too late, and every soul will perish forever. Even yours."

She stood tall, and a flash of light later, Elissa was met with the figure of a nightingale. It cheeped, before flying into the Fade. Elissa could only watch, a bleak pit in her stomach. Just when she had thought there was still hope, the sliver of light in the darkness had already been snuffed out. She would not care for a world without Leliana within it, Thedas be damned.

But there has to be a way to save her...

Even if it means I can't be.