"Fear"

"You're not me. You'll never be me." Erin sneered at Liz, who only could bow her head. She had been staring into a mirror, green fog floated around her ankles. It was like she was being forced to stare at the mirror. Mirrors, which were now her enemy. The fade always made it harder for her to breathe, almost as if being there pulled at something inside of her.

She'd put that off as another mage problem.

"I'm sorry." She stared at the young woman's, now, scarred up body. What was once clear and unblemished, now littered with scars and dirt. The only thing she got was a glare from the girl.

"….I'm sorry..."

The upper layer of fresh snow sparkled in the sun as they packed their camping equipment onto their horses. The giant pines and spruce trees were piled with the white substance, the branches weighed down and reaching for the ground. The trees and bushes looked absolutely beautiful as they highlighted Winter's greatest masterpiece.

Liz grumbled and tried to put her rolled up tent atop Rin, only for the beast to sidestep out of the way. She was pointedly trying to forget her dream from the night before. She'd awoken, again, covered in sweat and breathing heavily. Sleep never came readily for her, anyway. But that day, she was at her wit's end.

"Rin." She stated sternly, her nose wrinkling. "I'm not really in the mood for your shit today, beast."

The beast screeched and nipped at the woman's long lock of hair, pulling on it. As if saying, 'How dare you call me a beast!'

"Ugh!" She swatted at her nose, pushing the hart's face away.

"Having trouble?" Solas' voice filtered from behind her. She turned and, she hates to admit it, pouted. "Am I right in my assumption that this is not your hart?"

"No, she isn't."

"It is surprising that she even lets you ride her, judging by your … less than satisfactory relationship with her." He held his hand out to Rin, who put her nose against his hand and nuzzled. The bald elf traced his fingers along her fur, running them in circles. Rin's eyes closed and Liz snorted.

"She seems to like you." He shrugged, but he glanced back at her. He was studying her. Thinking he must have been waiting for her to elaborate, she continued. "Rin is … my mentor's hart. He told her to keep an eye on me while I was away."

'Speaking of Athras, I wonder if he's doing alright?' She muses, successfully strapping her gear to Rin.

They stood in silence for a few moments. The way he was looking at her made her want to fidget, but she didn't give in to the urge. Liz simply focused on the task at hand. The blue beast stomped her hind leg, almost getting Liz in her bare foot.

She was about to turn and stick her tongue out at the hart, but saw Solas opening his mouth to talk. She paused, slowly retracting her tongue in embarrassment.

"You appear as though you haven't been getting any sleep. Is there a particular reason why?" He asked and Liz shrugged, averting her gaze. "Serana was discussing it with me the other day and expressed her concern. She speaks highly of you, you know."

'Oh, here we go...' She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. 'So that's why he approached me. Shame on me for assuming someone would actually want to just simply talk.'

The fidgety elf had suggested going to Solas, before. Because her dreams kept her up and none of the medicine she'd given her helped at all. She'd told her that he would be able to help. Liz had always had issues with sleeping. She'd rather not, to be honest.

"She spoke of your sleeping habits, or lackthereof. She's concerned that your dreams may be what's causing it." The bald elf elaborated, "If you would like, I could—"

"No." The answer was instantaneous. She knew that mages could dream lucidly. She didn't know if it were possible to enter another dream at will, but from the way the conversation was going… "I am fine."

"I understand. I was simply stating that the option is there. If you change your mind, feel free to let me know."

"Right."

She didn't know who he was, and thus did not trust him. She didn't want to trust Serana's judgment, as it was obviously due to her crush on the man. It seemed like the elven woman would speak of him every other minute or so. Gushing over how intelligent he was and how easy it was to talk to him. Once she was alone, Serana's fidgeting and stuttering seemed to almost disappear.

Liz sighed.

Not to mention that her dreams usually consisted of her time back on Earth, mixed and mashed with snippets of Erin's memories (although rare as they were). Having him find out that she was not, in fact, Erin. That would prove to be catastrophic. She'd rather not think about the consequences of that ever happening.

That and… everytime she was in the fade, Liz looked like herself. The way she did on Earth. That, in it of itself, would cause some questions to arise.

The rest of the day was spent riding to the Hinterlands. She'd been asked to come along by Maxwell, that time. Evidently they were to meet a man named Dennet, who was to be the one to provide the Inquisition with horses.

They had some, sure. But only enough for a small party. They were simply making sure he would make good on his part of their bargain.

The young man had gone about putting up outposts and getting rid of the rifts in the area to make sure the man was safe. This didn't really surprise Liz. He had a sort of hero complex, of sorts. Quite frankly, the young mage was surprised he was not dead.

Wanting to help people wasn't a bad thing. Liz wanted to all of the time. It was a part of who she was. But her self-preservation usually kept her from doing so. She'd rather not get betrayed or killed for showing such softness in a world such as this one.

It still tore her up inside everytime she couldn't do anything. Because she was afraid.

He fit the stereotypical 'hero' that most people would think of when they hear the term. Liz had taken it upon herself to remind him of his stupidity when it got out of hand. She was more like a nagging mother than a younger sister, in that regard. He'd almost gotten himself killed numerous times because of his blind shenanigans.

Maxwell had a lot of growing up to do, despite being – well – an adult.

Though she did not fault him on that, because of his strict upbringing and the fact that he knew nothing else. He was sheltered and raised in the care of devout Andrastians. He believed in that kind of crap wholeheartedly. Believing in the good of all people and all that. That wasn't a bad thing either, but it kind of gave him tunnel vision when it came to making decisions on the battlefield.

That wasn't to say that being religious made someone stupid, no. Because Cassandra was religious but she was far from stupid. Maxwell just happened to be stupid and religious.

Point in question—

Liz dismounted and crossed her arms, watching as Maxwell smirked at a woman they'd 'saved' from bandits just seconds before. They'd happened upon a woman getting harassed, only to chase the bad men off. It all seemed … off to her.

So they stood at a bend in the road, a heavily wooded area at the right of the party seemed to make the hairs on her neck rise. No one else seemed to take note of this. Perhaps it was just her paranoia?

Cole, however, was nowhere to be found.

Liz blinked and stared back at the two chatting in front of her.

"Why yes, I am the Herald of Andraste." Her brother shot the woman a charming smile, turning his head to the side slightly. Her blue eyes sparkled in return as she pushed her blonde hair to the side, smiling up at the man. Liz could tell that it wasn't genuine.

"Oh wow, you're as impressive as I imagined!" She practically swooned, leaning into his personal space. "You saved my life and I am forever indebted to you, Herald. Is there any way I can … repay you?"

Cassandra made a disgusted noise from atop her horse.

Maxwell was too focused on the attractive female to realize that she was reaching behind her back for something. She started to pull something out that looked oddly like a short staff as she inched forward. Liz's grip tightened on her own staff as she frowned, muscles tensing.

She swung her staff in an arc and hit the woman in the side, lightning cracking through the silence like a whip. The woman stumbled back and fell to her knees, barely being able to right herself.

"Erin!" Maxwell scolded, looking down at the blonde worriedly.

"You're thinking with the wrong head, Max." She stated blandly, allowing her magic to crackle around her in defense.

The bandit growled angrily, conjuring fire as it wrapped up her arms – hands slowly raising in their direction. Her cover was blown, there was no reason to hide anymore.

Both siblings froze at the sight. Liz's face turned white as a sheet when she saw the fire, wanting nothing to do but to run. But her legs wouldn't move. Her arms wouldn't move. She was stuck in place. When it seemed like the fire was about to explode from the bandit's fingertips, a dagger pierced its way through her throat.

With a gurgle, the woman fell to the ground. Lifeless.

Liz, at that point, was hyperventilating. She stared at the place where the woman had been, seeing Cole instead. His head was tilted, expression hidden behind his massive hat.

"Cole!" Cassandra sounded relieved. Liz shook in place, mindless to the blue sheen that slowly dissipated. A barrier. Likely from Solas.

"S-She looked so sincere! How was I supposed to know?" Maxwell tries to reason with a frown on his face.

"You are hopeless." The Seeker comments, sheathing her sword once she realized there was no more danger. Cole simply watched with detached interest. Liz looked up at him and nodded, finally calming down.

"Thank you, Cole. You rogues really are tricky."

"The fire hurt, tugging at something inside. It scares you." He stated, causing the mage to back up. She'd heard about his abilities but that was the first time he'd used it on her, "I helped."

It was just what he did.

The others were busy either picking fun at Max or commenting on how daft he was. But Liz. Liz was still looking at Cole. He shifted, but didn't avert his eyes.

"You did."

Liz had been on edge for quite some time after that, waiting for whatever was in the woods to pop out. But nothing ever happened. Either whatever, whoever, was there thought differently about doing anything.

After that, they decided to make camp for the night. Seeing as how the sun was beginning to make its descent from the sky. Liz, having finished putting up her small tent, began cleaning her dagger. Her small calloused fingers rubbed circles on the polished brass. The campfire had yet to be lit, as they hadn't gathered the wood. The brass dagger had been the one that she scavenged off of Cole all that time back.

She peered up, seeing him watching her intently. His piercing blue eyes were on the dagger that she held, an unknown emotion flickering through them as he turned and disappeared into the foliage.

She sighed and sheathed it, going off to look for wood before it got too dark.

She wandered around within yelling distance, searching. The tall trees provided ample cover, dead branches and twigs littered the forest floor. While she was out, she even had time to pick some elfroot. Just in case. Elfroot for speeding up healing and numbing pain, basically a major ingredient to the antibiotic on steroids poultice shes learned to use. Embrium for aromatherapy, helped with breathing. Especially those she knew had asthma. The poor bastards didn't even know what asthma was here. Spindleweed. Liz gave spindleweed to Jade to season the stews for the bedridden folk. That trick she'd gotten from Adan himself.

Her mind drifted as she picked up some supplies, absently humming to herself.

Maxwell had a knack for befriending the weird ones. Jade, being the first that popped into her mind. The Iron Bull was downright terrifying. His kind were intimidating, even though he was a jovial man. She avoided him. Sera, she also avoided. For obvious reasons. She'd only spoken to Vivienne a couple of odd times, only to get spoken down to due to her attire. A noble wearing animal skins was apparently not all that common.

But the most intimidating of them all?

He's been there since the alliance with the templars, sure. She's never really had a chance to talk to him. She didn't intend to, though. Liz couldn't really see much underneath all of that hat. Why he'd chosen to wear it was beyond her. She wasn't about to ask.

But they were to keep an eye on him, due to the fact that he wasn't really human. Not at all. The thought itself put many on edge, save Solas. Varric seemed wary, but would still talk to the awkward young man.

But Cole was every bit the deadly assassin. It was like he could step right out of the shadows itself. She'd seen the man in battle. The little dude was swift and deadly, stabbing and killing the enemies with a swift ease that made it all the more unsettling.

Or perhaps Liz was still not used to the killing…

But when they were at Haven, he was usually popping up here and there talking to people. Only to be forgotten seconds later. There was only one word to describe how Liz felt about him. Intimidated.

It didn't help that he'd also almost killed her a year ago.

The young mage sighed from her rock, the wood she'd collected sitting next to it. She picked some dirt out of her chipped nails.

The Hinterlands was a pretty nice place, chilly because it was spring but nice nonetheless. The lush greenery swayed with the gentle breeze, quiet chattering filled the air as the group ambled around the camp. She took a long swig from her canteen, some of the water spilling off and dribbling down her face.

"Erin!" Liz heard Maxwell call and couldn't help but internally cringe as she coughed and wiped at her face.

That wasn't her name, but she'd gotten used to it by now and it didn't bother her as much as it used to. The young mage had gotten better at pushing aside the guilt she felt when she thought about how the eldest Trevelyan wasn't even aware his real sister was no longer around.

Sighing, she stood up and brushed off her pants and made her way over to her eldest brother. The leaves rustled in the trees as a gust of wind blew by, causing her hair to whip around in her face. Liz stopped and brushed it away irritatedly, wishing that she had a rubber band.

The mage was about to continue forth but saw movement in her peripheral. What she saw caused her eye to twitch, any conceptions she'd had only moments ago getting shredded and thrown into the wind.

Baffling, was one word that came to mind. Unexpected? Sure. There sat Cole, sitting cross-legged in the soft grass with field flowers spread across his lap as he held one out to a nug. Numerous nugs, to be exact. They flocked around him and nibbled at the soft petals of the colorful flora.

This dangerous assassin, decked out in full leather with knives and daggers strapped in every place you could imagine, was sitting in the grass with flowers – feeding nugs? What the actual-

"Hello, Liz." Said assassin greeted and turned to look at her, his voice deceptively serene. Hearing her name spoken aloud made her feel odd.

"Cole." She addressed flatly, a shiver wracked it's way through her body and it wasn't from the chilly weather. That's when a butterfly decided to land gently on the brim of his massive hat, almost as if to emphasize the point that he wasn't as dangerous and intimidating as she'd previously thought. Well, maybe he was but—Liz stumbled back a little and shook her head. The fact that he knew her actual name didn't even surprise her anymore.

'This world makes no sense.'

"You don't have to be afraid of me, Liz. I would never hurt you."

"Oh, I'd beg to differ." She stated blandly, remembering how he'd almost killed her. She was never going to let that go. "'Afraid' would not be the correct term to describe the feelings I have toward you."

"Why?"

'Because I'm not weak anymore.' Was what she wanted to say. But instead, "I know what you are. Who you are. Just remember. I'm watching you."

They were both similar, afterall. Liz had done some very questionable things since her arrival. She thought perhaps out of fear and lack of control. But after Auri had died … she'd gotten worse. There had been absolutely no mercy for those bandits.

She stared down at the rogue, eyes never leaving his. He killed innocent people. Innocent mages. But he admitted to it being wrong. He wanted to change, she knew that much. Part of her wanted to call bullshit, because she didn't believe people could truly change. And part of her felt hope, that perhaps if a monster like him could change. So could she.

But that had yet to be proven. Liz was completely convinced that he was simply just putting on a show. She fully expected to suss him out and kill him when the time was right. She refused, afterall, to simply kill someone because she felt like it. That would make her no different than a bandit.

"You have given me no reason to attack you yet and have proven yourself thus far." Liz explained, tapping her elbow as she looked down at the man. "However, if you hurt any innocents know this – I will not hesitate to cut you down."

At least she was straightforward with it.

That's when he turned and looked up at her – or, at least she thinks he did – an almost relieved smile spreading across his pale features. The rest of his expression hidden, he spoke softly. "Good. Thank you."

What-

'I just threatened to kill him and he was thanking me? What was this guy on?'

"Okay..." Some uncertainty actually made it's way into her usually flat and bland tone, just then.

"Erin?" Maxwell was not far behind her. Heavy footfalls and clanking of armor sounded as the warrior made his way to her side. "I needed some help—what're you two doing?"

Liz turned and stared at him, tapping her foot as she crossed her arms. "What did you need this time? I was collecting wood."

"Have you made a friend?" He ignored her statement, an odd sort of smile making it's way to his face. "You're finally making friends!"

Even to him, it must have been painfully obvious how hard it was for the young mage to get along with anyone but him.

"Don't be ridiculous." Liz shifted and pushed her staff into the soft bed of grass beneath her feet. Friends were something that she couldn't indulge herself in. Not in this world, anyway. Lest she wished to get herself injured or killed. It was enough that she had to look out for Maxwell's wellbeing and to start caring about another person? Not an optimal way of living in a world such as this.

Most would think that since her brother was so freaked out by anything magic related, though not as badly as Sera was, that he'd dislike Cole. Or in the very least avoid him like the plague. But it was quite the opposite. It was likely because of the fact that the young man had saved Maxwell from an Envy demon, which Liz was grateful for.

Her brown gaze slipped from her brother's overjoyed face back to Cole, who was now observing the both of them quietly. A flower dangled from the tips of his fingers, half eaten, as the nugs sniffed his pockets and made themselves comfortable in his lap.

Yet again, the mage made an 'I'm watching you' gesture as she strutted away toward the camp. But not before collecting the wood by the rock.

Their whole time out in the Hinterlands took approximately a week. They'd also helped with escorting the remaining shipment of lyrium for the templars. Meeting up with them on their way to Haven. Liz had kept her distance, preferring to fly above and remain in her bird form. There was a lull in the woman's work back at Haven as Maxwell took off to do some other errands. The deadline for closing the Breach was closing in, so the young man had to close as many rifts as possible until then.

To gain strength.

Liz, just the night before, had actually tried to lay down to sleep. As per suggestion of Serana, who had rejected her offers for help. Simply stating that the younger Trevelyan needed to actually get a full 8 hours before she could go back.

That didn't go over too well. She did try to sleep. However, it had gone less than satisfactory.

She heard the crackling of fire from the fireplace, which seemed to filter into her dreams that night. Causing her to remember her first few weeks on this planet. Her eyes snapped open, breath sharp and quick. Her chest hurt and she tried to push away the screams and the sounds of bubbling flesh.

Shaken, she shapeshifted into a grey tabby cat. That day she simply lingered around Haven, watching everyone as they went about their everyday activities. She saw how Serana and Solas seemed to walk around, talking amicably. Liz felt happy, seeing how comfortable Serana was for a change.

The young woman knew that the white haired elf had some sort of anxiety disorder. She'd seen it manifest itself in a couple of people she knew back on Earth. Although, not quite as crippling as she seemed to have it.

Then there was Cassandra. Who had, oddly enough, remained behind as Maxwell went off to do some things. The Seeker was either out training with the soldiers or near the Chantry talking to the beautiful redheaded woman, who she now knew was named Leliana.

'Oh? And what do we have here?' Liz caught a glimpse of a huge leather hat. Cole sat along one of the stone railings near a staircase, a huge statue positioned right behind him. Every now and again he'd tilt his head and look at someone.

So Liz sat nearby, watching him intently. Her original intent was to gather information. See what the awkward young man was up to.

A group of giggling children ran by, chasing what appeared to be their caretaker. Liz's ears flicked back, tail swishing curiously. Cole watched them, a gentle smile on his face. She noticed how he seemed to twirl a flower between his fingertips. He seemed to be looking for someone.

The tabby cat creeped forward, stopping maybe ten feet away before sitting back down again. She pretended to clean herself.

That's when he spotted his target. She squinted suspiciously as he hopped off the wall and seemed to walk effortlessly through the crowd of midday traffic of people. They almost seemed to move around him, though none looked his way. Like he wasn't even there.

Her whiskers twitched, the wind blowing gently across her fur as she watched the young man hand a teenage boy the flower. He leaned forward and said something to him. The teenager rose a brow, but then his eyes went blank for the smallest of seconds.

Cole made his way back to his perch.

Again, he'd worked his magic. She noted how the teenager walked off like nothing had happened, approaching a cute elven servant.

'Oh...' She had no idea. 'What purpose was that for?'

She watched him for perhaps two hours. Slowly shadowing him through the town. He didn't seem to take note of her presence. And if he did know, he didn't look her way. He did numerous small things, seemingly assisting with the people of Haven. Things as small as helping a teenager gather the courage to flirt with an elven servant, to collecting materials to help even out the workload for the healers.

It seemed … odd. What purpose did one have by just sitting around and making sure other people were happy? Did he not have things he wanted for himself?

Liz was baffled. Confused.

Maybe he really has changed for the better, whether he seemed to realize that or not. She's changed, too. Only for the worse... she's become more callous and uncaring of other people.

Pain changes people. It made some people more compassionate, and caring. Made them want to help others and never wish that same pain on anyone else. That was Cole. But people like Liz... it hardened them and made them push people away. Her compassionate self from Earth had dwindled to almost nothing. She was more calculated in her actions but had cut off any empathy she may have felt for strangers, in attempt to survive.

It is then, that she viewed Cole in a new light and seemed to observe him closely. 'Is he just faking? Does he know that I am the cat?' But no matter how much she tried to catch him slipping up, he didn't.

For almost a week, she did this. After her daily chores and activities, she would return to her cat form and shadow him. She wanted to make sure he wasn't doing anything fishy, she told herself. But she didn't realize that after a short time, she began to watch him in awe.

'If he can do it, could I? Why is it that we've turned out so differently?' She questioned herself. The world changed people depending on how that person let it change them.

He'd put honey in Leliana's wine. She stayed behind and saw how she seemed to enjoy it. A soft look on her usually hardened features. When her blue gaze trailed down to the grey tabby near the entrance to her tent, Liz let out a chirring noise as she turned and ran. Her tail fluffed out.

That woman was intimidating. She didn't wish to risk getting caught by her.

Then Cole had brought pastries to Cassandra's tent, setting them on her nightstand before she even got back. The Seeker had peeked in, still covered in dirt from training with the soldiers. She sighed, walking into the tent once she saw it was empty. Aside from the cat.

The warrior paid the cat no mind as she walked up and began eating the treat happily. Cassandra looked down at the cat, "Hello there, little one."

She held out her hand to Liz, who stepped forward curiously.

As creepy as it may sound, she certainly did like getting petted. Although getting petted in human form would seem just … weird. These people simply thought her an animal.

She pulled out a book and began reading. Liz almost couldn't believe it when she saw the title. She was reading one of Varric's books! She recognized the picture, for sure. Remembering the man waving it around and bragging about it. Interested, she crawled atop the Seeker's shoulder and stared.

What was all the hype? She knew the titles of the dwarf's books, but hadn't read them for herself. She stared down at the unusual symbols, wanting to sigh at her stupidity. Of course. She couldn't read.

A startled gasp left the woman's mouth, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. Liz turned, ear turning curiously. Cassandra's face was completely red, her eyes entranced with the words on the page.

If the young mage wasn't in her cat form, she would probably have been blushing a very nice shade of fiery red. She promptly exited the tent.

Nope.

She was probably reading smut.

She didn't know how he did it. All of that loneliness, all of the pain? The same kind of loneliness and pain that made her so bitter and closed off from people? It just made him kinder, more compassionate. And that's when Liz found that she almost … admired him a little bit for it. Seeing such a different person before her eyes was odd. Unexpected, even.

She'd been proven wrong.

Most thought him naive. Innocent, even. But she had a feeling that was far from the case.

Liz found herself hoping. That perhaps, someday she could be a little bit like Cole. To have the courage to show herself and help others so openly. Without fear of being taken advantage of. Without fear of being manipulated or killed. Hurt.

But she doubted it.

The Breach had been sealed. The battle was hard fought, but went well otherwise. There was wounded, which was to be expected. Liz will never forget the pulling feeling she'd gotten when it snapped shut, sealing the ominous green back into the sky. The air felt different there. It'd made her hair stand on end just thinking about it.

The young mage sat near the healer's tents, going in and checking in on some of the patients. Serana and Adan were making runs back and forth, applying their skills to the more severely wounded. Liz was mainly there for shock management and taking care of the less wounded ones.

There was celebration that night. Everyone was off doing their own thing, so she made herself useful by bringing water and food to the patients. They seemed grateful, especially when she'd went to the tavern to get them each a bowl of special stew that Jade had made in celebration.

People danced and sang around bonfires that night, the twinkling stars above smiled upon them. The woman felt at ease when she sat down nearby to listen. To watch. But that was quickly dashed away when she saw Sera. They both looked at one another.

The elf's smiling face turned sour, before she turned and stomped off. Refusing to look at the mage at all.

"She doesn't know." She heard, causing her to jump and whip around. Cole stood there, awkwardly. He, like her, looked out of place at the festivities. "You didn't tell her because you didn't think it would matter. 'Just excuses. I hate me, too.'"

Liz felt her stomach drop. Those were things she'd rather not be spoken aloud.

"I don't hate you."

'How do you do that?' She wanted to ask, but indignation won out and she snapped. "Don't you dare dig around in my head again."

"It's harder to hear you. You won't let me." His blue eyes squinted down at her, almost … it almost looked like he was pouting. "I just want to help."

"Don't. I don't need your help."

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Say words with no meaning behind them. You do it to Maxwell, too." He tilted his head. If not for her frozen state, she would have moved away when he seemed to inch closer. As if trying to listen to her unspoken words. Things she'd kept buried since her arrival, "It's a lie, not right. Say the right things and avoid the truth. You're afraid of what they'll think when they see you and not her."

In a fit of rage, Liz grabbed his hat and yanked it down over his face. Her expression was scrunched up into a scowl as she bit out, "What. Did. I. Say?"

She punctuated each word with jabs from her fingers, hitting him in the ribs. Though not enough to cause much harm.

"Ow! Ow! I'm sorry! I just wanted to help!" His hands came up and blocked most of her jabs, his hat falling off and fluttering to the ground beside them.

"You aren't—" She was cut off when a bell began to toll. A warning, an alarm. Both of them stiffened. Cole looked up, peering over Liz's head and watching the mountains. Horror written on his features.

Liz turned, her face going pale at the sight. Torches flickered, dotting the darkened mountains as they swayed back and forth. Slowly moving in their direction. Hundreds of them.

An army was descending upon Haven.

It was an absolute frenzy. The troops had moved into position, most of them hadn't gotten out of their armor. Thankfully. Most of the men and women were at the front, defending the town under the command of Cullen. Maxwell and a couple of his friends had disappeared amidst the battle.

Liz remained behind with Serana, who had asked for help with moving the wounded to the Chantry. They scrambled around, trying focus on the task at hand. They were fortunate to have made some stretchers beforehand, which helped with the transfers.

But Liz couldn't help but look up at the carnage outside of the walls. She couldn't see much, due to the darkened skies. But she could hear the screams and the sounds of magic whizzing around and connecting with their allies.

The sounds of metal singing on metal, multiple soldiers fighting for their friends. Their family. Their neighbors. Jade was nearby, inside of the walls. Decked out in heavy armor, taking on the enemies like a pro. Her halberd swung low, knocking some of them off of their feet. She strafed and ducked, barely dodging a fireball. The dwarf was an absolute monster in battle and she was glad that she was on their side.

Liz, on instinct, flung up a barrier upon the dwarf. Offering meager assistance as she fended off the enemies while Serana and Adan took care of the civilians.

"Go!" Liz called to Serana, who had been trying to pull her to the Chantry. "I have to help Jade."

"Erin, please! We need you to help with the wounded!"

"JUST GO." She yelled, channeling her lightning into the staff and sending it lancing out toward an enemy. She watched the mage in hooded robes begin to convulse, dropping his book in the process as he fell to the ground in a smoking heap.

Thankfully, the fidgety elf had taken her advice and ran.

Just then, she heard something she never wished she would ever hear.

The roar of a dragon.

It screeched, causing everyone to cringe and cover their ears. Even the enemies seemed to pause at the sound, only to start up again and begin attacking.

"What's this? A fecking dragon!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Jade yelled, lopping someone's head off in a fit of rage.

Everything seemed to move so fast. She was standing near the gates to Haven with Jade one moment, then everything was set ablaze.

Everything was on fire. Everything. Liz felt dread, like a rock that settled in her stomach.

Then came the screams. Oh God, the screams.

The houses were on fire, moaning from the strain, weakened by the flames that licked greedily at the wood supports. The frantic screams that pierced through the air over the roar of the inferno around them and all Liz could do was stare out into the distance, eyes wide and body frozen.

Maxwell was in the background shouting orders at his companions, making sure everyone was alright. Commander Cullen was getting everyone into the chantry building. People ran passed her, but she paid them no heed. She couldn't move. The enemy was, no doubt, infiltrating Haven's walls at that point.

But Liz couldn't move. Couldn't see anything but the red and orange death as the heat licked at her face.

Everything was ringing and seemed far away, flashes of her time just before death seemed to mock her. Dangling in front of her very eyes and she could have sworn that she could hear her sister screaming, just as she pushed her out of the window.

"Liz!" Screaming. Screaming. Her sister. Her sister was falling, falling. Down down. Then warmth, warmth in the palm of her hand and a soothing low voice. She couldn't decipher what it was that they were saying, but she could feel herself. See everything as it slowly came back. Metal against metal, clanging through the air. Battle. "It's not real."

Not real? The voice. The voice was Cole's.

Warmth gone.

Right, she was not dying. She was in Ferelden. Then, the screaming? It was—

The screaming wasn't her sister, rather it was Jade. Jade was staring at the fiery remains of Haven with a look akin to shocked horror as her hands cradled her head. Her halberd was laying on the ground, in the slush, forgotten as if dropped in a panic.

"Erin, Jade. What's gotten into you two?" Maxwell's shouted voice echoed across the battlefield, even in the heat of battle the man cared about his comrades.

"I-" The young woman couldn't seem to get anything out, her hand twitched and she realized that someone was standing unusually close to her. Right, Cole. Though he wasn't popping her personal bubble, he lingered nearby with his daggers out as he acted as a silent sentry. He was trying to keep both girls safe.

"Move!" Another, more frantic, voice. Cassandra. Liz whirled and looked in the direction of the sound and was greeted with the sight of an ice spike as it whizzed by. She barely had time to dodge, still in a hazy mindset from her breakdown. Hot, searing pain followed. She'd been cut.

"Ugh!" She grunted, covering the wound with her hand and wincing.

Jade was now on the ground with her head in-between her knees, sobbing. Liz was barely coming out of her trauma-filled haze. Cole was standing next to her, looking as if he wanted to help both the girls but couldn't seem to figure out how.

That's when she saw a huge ball of electricity barreling in their direction. Everyone was busy with their own respective enemies. Cole was stuck between the two incapacitated women. Liz's eyes dilated into pinpricks. She was about to get killed by the very element she favored in battle.

Then a black haired man stepped in front of her, his intricate robes billowed as he twirled his staff with flair. She could feel the power radiate off of him as he filled the area around the four with defensive magic. The ball of electricity was discharged as it came into close proximity, completely fizzling out into a shower of sparks that flickered harmlessly at their sides.

He turned and smirked, his curled mustache being the thing that stood out the most to the young woman. "Might want to make a hasty retreat, hmmm?"

Cole grabbed the immobile Jade and carried her off toward the Chantry. Everyone was retreating. Liz followed, flinging haphazard spells and barriers when she could. Which didn't seem like much. The young woman was battling not only with the enemy, but in her mind.

She kept fighting off the images of the fire on Earth, how it ate away everything she knew and loved. What it felt like. How it smelled.

She couldn't get it out of her head. Even as she sat, panting for air inside of the Chantry. The young woman was haunted by the images. The visions. They were unrelenting.

But when she was able to calm herself, breathing stable and mind quieting down. She noticed that Maxwell and his companions were arguing at the entrance to the building. She stood up on wobbly legs, silently walking up to the group.

From what she heard as she approached, her brother was planning on creating a distraction as everyone got away.

Everything inside of her fought against that very thought.

"NO. You can't!" Liz gritted through her teeth, vision finally focusing. Everything coming crisp, clear. "There has got to be another way."

"If there is, we have no time to think of it." He answered her in a stern tone, "I have to do it."

"Are… are you sure, Maxwell?" Cassandra's face was set, hiding her true thoughts on the matter.

"Yes. Please… take care of my sister for me." He smiled at the Seeker, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. As he turned to walk out of the door, Liz stepped forward to stop him. Only to be held back.

"No. Nono! You can't do this! Stop—" A sharp pain, then black.

The last thing she saw before she was knocked out, was Maxwell's back as he exited the building. Haven, smoldering in the background. As if mocking. Laughing in her face. That everything she ever cared about would be eaten and taken away by the burning force of nature.