Ellana's legs gave out. Still restraining her, Cullen managed to keep her from falling. She was no longer aware of the world around her. She didn't notice Dorian taking over and guiding her gently to the ground. She didn't notice Cullen opening the door or him standing over her with angry tears threatening to fall. She had no tears, only shock and confusion. She sat in a crumpled heap; stalled in her grief. Dorian had not left her side but it hadn't stopped him from rounding on Cullen.

"How could you let this happen?!" Dorian shouted.

"I had nothing to do with it! I told them this would happen! Cullen cried as he paced back and forth.

"This can't be…" Ellana finally managed.

Cullen knelt beside her with eyes full of remorse, "I am so sorry, Ellana. I am so sorry."

"She can't be dead!" Ellana cried.

Cullen looked down in shame and Ellana knew then that it was true.

"No!" she whimpered, finally dissolving in to uncontrollable tears.

Dorian held her on the ground as she wept. Cullen got to his feet again; swearing and resuming his infuriated pacing.

"This can't be happening! They had orders to give up! She was just a child!" Ellana cried.

"How in the world did this happen?!" Dorian asked, his voice shaking with protective fury.

"The other one gave up but the girl…she had a raven and… They said they wanted to stop her," Cullen uttered.

"They killed her because of a fucking message?!" Dorian bellowed in disbelief. "Why not the raven?! Why not anything else?!"

"I don't know, I wasn't there! I wasn't there…" Cullen shouted.

Dorian was poised to shout again when Ellana's weak voice stopped him.

"This is all my fault…"

"Don't say that. You are blameless," Dorian replied softly. "You weren't the one who killed her!" He glared at Cullen.

"I let this happen…I could have stopped this," Ellana uttered as fresh tears traced her cheek. "I… I need to see her. I need to know..."

Dorian looked up expectantly at Cullen, not dropping his glare.

"No, I can't," Cullen said, shaking his head. "She's in the keep. I can't take you there."

"You damn well will," Dorian scoffed. "If you don't then stand aside and watch me!"

"No, we…" Cullen said weakly.

"Yes we will. Now are you coming with us or will I have to knock you out first?" Dorian asked angrily. "At this point, I would be perfectly happy with either option."

Cullen ran his hands across his head and sighed in frustrated defeat.

"Can you stand?" Dorian asked Ellana softly.

"I…I think so," she replied, holding on to him for support as she stood.

Cullen got out in front of them as Ellana started to walk.

"I'll go first," he said, repentant eyes on Ellana. "We'll need to explain this as we go and," he stopped to look at Dorian, "she needs you."

The sun's rays were dimming on the ivory tower but a meeting was still underway on its uppermost level.

"I have never heard such a foolish suggestion! Our kind cannot walk through the Imperium without significant danger and I see no reason to take such drastic action!" remarked an aged elf from across the table.

"I never claimed it was without danger but time is of the essence. Our numbers grow with each passing day; we cannot go unnoticed for much longer," retorted a female elf.

"Liahra makes a valid point. Our only advantage is their ignorance and the invisibility that that brings; waiting too long could compromise that. The last thing we want is the Magisterium becoming aware of our actions," Varden added.

Even with their continual expectant glances, Solas said nothing. He tired of this argument. Increasing their presence in Tevinter as they proposed would only hasten their inevitable exposure and the associated dangers that would bring. Either way the Magisterium was going to eventually turn their attention towards them. Taking the time to plan accordingly would make little difference to that outcome. He had made his views clear during past repetitions of this discussion but yet the issue kept coming up. He wasn't about to waste his breath yet another time.

A knock at the door interrupted Varden mid-stride and he went to answer it. The others went on without him.

"Do we bore you so?" Liahra whispered to her leader, dark hair hiding her moving lips from the others.

"Your fixation on the doomed Imperium is what bores me," Solas replied.

She let out a laugh that interrupted the others and Solas took the opportunity to end this pointless discussion.

"Tevinter is not a concern until we have what we need. We must be in a state of complete readiness before we make our move. Until that time, operations in the region will continue as they are," he said firmly.

Mumbles of agreement swept the room, some more reluctant than others.

"Now who's the bore?" Liahra said with a yawn. "Do you ever just seize the day?"

"I try to avoid acting with such rashness. In the past it has not ended well for me," he said with a wry smile.

Varden re-entered the room and immediately came to stand at his leader's side. To an outside observer his expression gave little away but Solas knew him well enough to know when he was alarmed. He sent the others away as quickly as they would go.

"It's Ellana, isn't it?" Solas asked once they were alone.

He had considered what it might be as he awaited the departure of the others and Ellana seemed like the logical conclusion. There was little else Varden would hesitate to discuss in front of their comrades.

"We have reason to believe the Inquisition have taken her prisoner," Varden replied.

"Raven or word?" Solas asked. He could feel his fear rising but he needed facts before action.

"Raven. One of our own. We're still confirming if the handwriting is one of her agents but it seems genuine," Varden replied. "The note and the Raven bore scorch marks so it seems likely that it was sent with some resistance."

"When will you know for certain?" Solas questioned with rising concern.

"Shortly."

Solas nodded and Varden left immediately to confirm his suspicions. Solas paced the room like a caged animal as he waited, mind racing. He thought he had conquered fear but Ellana's return had brought it sneaking back in to his psyche. Now it was at fever pitch and he felt utterly lost in its depths. It wasn't long until Varden re-entered.

"It's the Dalish girl. Members of her clan confirmed it," Varden said.

Solas closed his eyes as his face contorted in rage. When he opened them they glowed dangerously and with an angry cry, the windows around them shattered. Varden didn't flinch. He spoke once his leader had recovered sense.

"I've already made preparations to send a team to retrieve them…"

"No. I will go alone," Solas interrupted, already moving.

"You are too valuable to risk. Allow the others…" Varden stopped, realising the futility of his argument. "At least allow them to accompany you."

Solas stopped in his tracks. "She is my responsibility and mine alone. If they seek to take what is mine then they will have to answer to me, not my men. I go alone," he irrevocably stated.

"As you wish," Varden replied reluctantly.

He watched regretfully as his leader left. He sighed. Staying hidden in the shadows was going to be quite the task if their leader kept setting things on fire.

Ellana had reached the heart of the keep through the grace of her protectors. Dorian had supported her the whole way and Cullen had acted true to his word; waving away those that aimed to question. As they reached the final corridor, Leliana's angry voice could be heard gaining on them. Cullen turned to Dorian with urgency in his eyes.

"Third door on the right; stay with her," He said before turning to hold off the tirade.

Ellana stumbled several times as her legs grew heavier; her dread building to a crescendo with each step along the fateful corridor. When they finally reached the open door her breath left her. Her face crumpled and tears streamed as she set eyes on the pale body of the Dalish girl.

"No…" she whispered.

But she did not fall, her legs willing her towards her lost friend. Dorian closed the door firmly behind them as Ellana moved, despairing hand outstretched, to her friend.

"Not like this," she lamented as she finally fell to her knees at the bedside.

She caught its edge just in time; back hunched, eyes streaming. She touched Areina's gentle face only to find it stone cold. She screamed in pain. Everything around her was lost to grief. Rage built in her chest. Dorian could only stand and watch as she hunched over in despair.

With no more left to give, her sense returned and with it regret. Areina looked so much smaller now, so much less than she was. Memories of her laugh echoed through Ellana's mind as she ran a hand through her mousey hair.

"You didn't deserve this; not for me. Twice now, I owe you everything and now... Now I can never repay you. You didn't even get a chance to truly live…all because of me," Ellana whispered before descending in to sobs.

"It wasn't your fault, Ellana," Dorian uttered quietly.

Ellana turned to him, shaken by the sudden awareness of his presence.

"It is," she replied sadly. "I could have prevented this. I knew they would find us eventually and I did nothing to stop it. I was more concerned about what I wanted...what I felt I needed..."

She looked at Areina which made fresh tears descend.

"I've failed them and I can never take that back," she lamented.

She crumpled beneath the weight of it all. Dorian knelt beside her not knowing what he could possibly say to make this right. He placed a hesitant hand on her back in what he hoped would be a comforting gesture. Ellana looked up at him thankfully but her eyes quickly darkened.

"But you… You need to go," she said weakly.

"What? I can't leave you here alone, Ellana…" he replied carefully. He didn't want to upset her but they were already acting on borrowed grace and he was sure that Cullen would not allow her to be left unattended, even now.

"No, not here; not this room. You need to leave Skyhold entirely," she clarified. "I can't lose you too."

"What are you talking about? You can't think I would just leave you like this? I won't! I won't make that mistake again!" he replied.

She didn't look at him; focusing entirely on the body lain in front of them. She knew what she had to do. It would hurt him but she had to try.

"You will," she eventually replied.

She used a hand to help her to her feet. Movement took her to gaze thoughtfully through a nearby window. She took a long breath and as the air left her lungs, what little feeling she had left went with it. Dorian got himself up to challenge her again but she gave him no chance.

"I hope you are here for me, Dorian, I truly do. But yet, you still stand undeniably on the other side. You are accepted as one of them," Ellana said before he could start. "She was innocent," she gestured to Areina's lifeless body, "little more than a child and they struck her down like a dog. As of this moment I do not see you as party to any of this but that can change; that depends on your actions. You're a Magister now, born and bred. You are one of them and staying by their side only proves that."

Dorian looked perplexed and uttered questioningly but Ellana continued over him.

"Solas is going to come for me; maybe not this day but he will. When he does, he will take the life of any man who stands against him." She paused for a moment and turned to face him. Her face was disturbingly expressionless. "If you stay that makes you part of this. If you stay, I will never forgive you. If you stay, I will not stop him from taking your life too."

Her cold words ripped through him like an arrow. Seemingly unconcerned, Ellana shifted back to kneel beside the bed. He stuttered disbelievingly but she cut him off.

"There is nothing more to say," she remarked coldly. "Go now!"

She got what she wanted and he stumbled out through the door with shock written all over his face. As he left, a single tear fell from her cheek on to Areina's lifeless hand.

"What did you do to him?" Cullen asked once he had closed the door behind him.

Ellana refused to look at him.

"I said what he needed to hear. Nothing more," she replied coldly.

"We needed him," Cullen mused quietly.

"Not him; not for you," Ellana added with a hint of anger.

From behind she heard the sound of the door clicking open followed by a desolate gasp.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," said Cassandra's lost voice. "I am so sorry, Ellana…"

"What is this?! A zoo?! Come, one and all to view the dead elf! Bask in the glory of what the Inquisition has become!" Ellana shouted angrily.

"I didn't come here to gloat, Ellana. I came for you," Cassandra replied unamusedly.

"Oh no you didn't," Ellana replied, getting ever closer to Cassandra. "You came here for you! Feeling guilty are we? Well you should be! Is murdering innocents what you do now?"

"Innocent?!" Cassandra let out with immediate regret.

"Do not say another word," Ellana ordered threateningly.

"Ellana, I couldn't…" Cassandra tried.

"What did I just say?!" Ellana bellowed as she rose angrily to her feet. She regained her composure as she grew closer to Cassandra. "Don't even try to justify what you have done."

"Ellana, please…please try to understand," Cassandra continued appeasingly.

"No I will not!" Ellana cried, coming so close to Cassandra that she took a step back. "It should have been me!"

She grabbed at her, shaking her desperately. Cassandra took the abuse willingly.

"But you can't, can you? Even after all I've done. It's over, Cassandra! It's over," she shouted in despair. "You should kill me while you still have the chance."

Cassandra couldn't take anymore and with a tear tracing her cheek she pushed her away. Ellana fell to the floor in a heap.

"Is it bright up on your pedestal?" Ellana said coldly from the floor. "Because down here there is only darkness. I had hope, hope we could all come out of this. But that hope died out there in the snow with my friend. With her death, the gates are open. More will die and now I hope for that; I hope for death. We could have got out of this without hurt, without pain but now there will be no mercy. Blood for blood, Cassandra…blood for blood."

"I didn't ask for this. It wasn't me who killed your friend," Cassandra replied desperately.

"Then if you won't take the responsibility then whose is it?!" Ellana yelled. "Give me a name, Cassandra! Give me a name and my freedom and this can all be over."

Cassandra looked at her despairingly. "I cannot do that Ellana," she replied.

"Then go. Just go," Ellana hissed.

Night was falling on the snow covered mountains as Ellana sat in the relative silence. Cullen had unexpectedly left the room which allowed Ellana to be alone with her loss. He returned a short while later and something in the sound of his gait caught her attention. She got up and came to face him. Her face was still wet from tears but any semblance of emotion was absent from her expression. The look she saw in his eyes gave her pause. Sadness and anger were no longer dominant; fear clouded his eyes. She could think of only one thing worthy of such fear.

"Your scouts have seen him haven't they? The Dread Wolf is coming for us," she said blankly.

Cullen didn't respond but his obvious discomfort told her everything she needed to know.

"There can be no coming back from this now; you know that as well as I do. The others know it too and hide away like cowards," she continued. "But you can still save them. Each of you has the chance to stop this before more blood is shed. Take that chance or your men are as good as dead."

Without another word she left him dumbstruck to resume her position at the side of the bed.

The journey had been cumbersome with the snowfall and the waning light. Solas was well aware that he had been seen but he was uncaring; he wanted them to know he was coming. Fear could be a powerful tool; one he hoped would keep him from having to use the rest of his talents.

In the darkness Skyhold stood as a beacon of light. The surrounding snow glowed orange in its shadow which gave it a kind of surreal beauty. The unnatural ring of bells echoed against the mountains but beyond the alarm, he was not challenged as he crossed the great bridge. As he neared, numerous eyes flashed threateningly across the battlements.

"Stop where you are!" came a shout from the centre. Cassandra stood proudly above the gate flanked by her men. "Solas, you should not have come."

"Divine Victoria…how I wish we could have avoided meeting again," he replied, stopping as she had asked.

"Then I suggest you leave," she retorted, voice rising a telling amount.

"Not without my people. You have them do you not? Or am I to presume you greet all guests with such fanfare? Solas replied derisively. "Release them and this need not escalate in to unpleasantness."

"That will not happen. Make any attempts to enter and we will not hesitate to attack you," she exclaimed, her tone rising still.

"You may try," he replied assuredly.

Ellana had not moved from her fallen friend's side. The sun was long gone and darkness enveloped the room. Cullen had remained thankfully silent. He departed periodically and during these times Ellana allowed herself to collapse beneath her despair. She went over and over what had transpired and still felt lost in her failures. She heard the bells chiming through the night air and knew what it meant but she didn't react. To her it was already over.

Cullen came back in to the room and to her surprise came to her side.

"You're wanted in the courtyard," he said.

With a hand under her arm he pulled her to her feet. She did nothing to resist him. He shackled her hands once more and led her out through the keep. As Cullen escorted her down the stone staircase the cold air buzzed with the whispers of the gathered soldiers. Ellana was relieved to see the backs of her friends restrained between them. Beyond the soldier's mutters she could hear Cassandra shouting in the distance and the welcome sound of Solas's measured replies. Cullen led her towards her friends; beside the short wall at the edge of the courtyard. From its height she could see the lower courtyard and the throng of soldiers that filled it. She didn't speak when she reached her friends and neither did they. She could see that they had not been physically harmed and that was enough for now. With their commander now present, the nearby soldiers had fallen silent which allowed Ellana to hear what was being said beyond the battlements.

"Your word is no longer one I can trust. I need to be certain they are all safe," she heard Solas say.

"When has the safety of anyone ever been your concern? She will be safer here than she ever was with you!" Cassandra replied angrily.

Ellana's face darkened.

"He doesn't know," she thought.

"Perhaps you are right but I doubt she is willing to sacrifice her freedom for your kind of safety," Solas retorted. "Enough games, Cassandra. Unless I see them our discussion is over."

Cassandra sounded livid, "You can't make demands here! We will not allow you to…"

"We?" Solas scoffed. "You mean your soldiers. They are the ones who will fight and die for your folly. I have no desire to harm them without cause. They took nothing from me."

Ellana was overcome by building fury. She pulled herself free from Cullen before he could react.

"Areina is dead! They killed her!" she shouted as loudly and clearly as she could before Cullen seized her.

The grief in her tone reverberated off the stone long after the sound had gone. The buzz had evaporated from the courtyard and in the silence one could hear the wind flowing through the mountains. A hawk cried overhead. A lone wolf howled mournfully in the distance.

"This is the last chance I will give you. Return her to me now or I will take her by any means necessary," Solas finally said, with protective wrath punctuating each word.

"I cannot do that, Solas…" Cassandra replied with what surprisingly sounded like remorse.

"Then so be it," Solas said finally; his mournful tone not lost on those in the distance.

Ellana felt Cullen tense against her back. His grip tightened as the world around them descended in to chaos.

"Fire at will!" Cassandra shouted from the battlements.

Ellana wished she could see what was happening. Arrows flew but seemed to have no effect. Cassandra appeared on the other side of the battlements looking shaken and addressed the apprehensive troops below.

"Stand ready!"

"You can still stop this," Ellana said quietly to Cullen. "The others have made their choice but you do not have to follow them blindly. Do nothing and your men will die…"

Her words were drowned out by a monumental boom as a great force struck the gate. The walls that surrounded it shook and cracked and those above struggled to keep their footing.

"You killed one of ours and for that your men will have to suffer," Ellana continued. "A good commander knows when to relent…"

A second blow sent deep fissures tearing through the stone as the metal portcullis was forced inward. Ellana could almost feel the trembling of the troops below.

"Now is that time," she went on. "Take your chance."

With a glance Ellana could see the indecision and doubt tearing at the Commander but it was already too late. With a third bang the walls around the gate fractured and the gate fell free. The men nearest scattered as the gate crashed and rattled to the ground. Solas entered shortly after, eyes glowing in the darkness. Ellana advanced forward at the sight of him and held her breath.

At first none of the soldiers that surrounded him seemed willing to close the distance but once the lone elf was fully encircled their courage returned. They advanced on him from all sides, oblivious to the building energy that crackled through the air and the fate it secured for them.

"Forgive me," Solas said as the soldiers reached the point of no return.

A shockwave rippled through the air so strong that its effects were felt even at Ellana's distance. Soldiers were thrown in all directions but those nearest to their foe stood unaffected. A second, far worse fate awaited them. Thin beads of light passed from the mage and in to them. Every visible orifice lit up as flames erupted from within. Their screams of pain as they burned enveloped those that remained. Solas stood still amongst the screams, glowing eyes closed in lamentation. Scores of the remaining soldiers cowered at the sight but the braver ones readied themselves for another senseless advance.

"Stop this madness!" Cullen shouted from Ellana's side.

Solas looked up at them before advancing beyond the dying. The soldiers that had recovered from the shockwave backed away fearfully as he ascended the ramp to the upper level.

"That is enough!" Cullen cried as Solas rounded the corner. Cullen grabbed Ellana again. "Take her! Take her and go!"

Using his grip on her for leverage, Ellana slipped a hand free of her shackles and pulled away from Cullen. A yell sounded in the distance but Ellana was too overcome to hear it. She wrapped her arms around Solas's neck in relief as she reached him but he pushed her away almost immediately. His eyes glowed again and as she turned to follow his gaze she saw why. Arrows descended from the battlements. Solas raised a hand and they burst in to flame; hitting their targets as harmless ash. He turned to Cullen with a dangerous glare.

"Stand down!" Cullen yelled across the keep. "I am your Commander and I order you all to stand down!"

Satisfied that the threat had ended, Solas spoke, "Release the others and return their weapons."

"Do as he says," Cullen ordered the surrounding guards.

"Areina… We can't leave her here." Ellana said quietly as she fought to hold back tears.

Solas looked down at her and sadness clouded his eyes. He turned to Cullen.

"The girl… Return her to us so she can be amongst her people," he demanded.

"Of course," Cullen replied remorsefully, looking at Ellana.

He gestured to another nervous soldier who happily ran for the keep. Ellana's now freed friends came to stand with her. They shared glances but were distracted as the guard descended the staircase carrying their lost friend. Cullen met him before he reached the crowd of elves and took Ari from him. As her lifeless body came in to view they all lost their composure. Shivra let out an angry cry; hot tears falling from her eyes. Miris went to comfort her, holding her away from the others and Lis joined them to sob. Ellana covered her mouth with a hand and tears rolled gracefully down her cheeks. Only Solas remained calm. He held Ellana until Cullen reached them; taking Areina gently from him.

"See to it that no one is foolish enough to follow us," Solas said threateningly.

Cullen nodded in defeat and they left without another word. The remaining soldiers kept a respectful distance as they descended through the keep. Ellana looked back as they crossed the bridge into the night. Cassandra still stood atop the battlements. Ellana expected her to shout or at least hurl some abuse but her silence spoke volumes. Whatever they once had was now over.

A/N - So yeah...sorry... Poor Ari. Did anyone see it coming? When I first imagined all this I knew Ellana had her own team but at first they were little more than faceless placeholders. It didn't interest me at the time and the story was just for me so the details weren't really important. Ari was the first. She was the first one to form in to a real person. Poor thing. Never had a chance.

Anyway, on to this chapter. I required a lot of music to imagine it all. The beginning segment of "Arcanine" by Ursine Vulpine (again) strongly inspired Ellana's walk down the corridor and first sight of Ari. Made me cry a lot which was useful. Solas fucking shit up was pretty much entirely choreographed to the song "Heart of Courage" by Two Steps From Hell. Love me some Two Steps From Hell. Epic as fuck. Not sure if this actually interests anyone but I guess it gives an insight in to where this comes from. If anything, it might help you see the scenes as I imagined them rather than relying solely on my inept writing. Plus give credit where credit is due and all that. There were others but then this note would be longer than the actual chapter so...yeah...