She sat with Cole, watching the people in the tavern below. He told her some of his past. Of his friends Rhys and Evangeline.

"If you like, I could use the resources of the Inquisition to locate your friend."

Cole shook his head in his jerky, awkward way. "No. If they are alive and safe, they should stay away. The last time he saw me, he didn't want to look at me. He saw a monster. Let him forget."

Ellana found herself placing an arm around Cole's shoulders. She spoke to him softly, letting him tell her more about the way he thought, and the things he'd done around Skyhold to help. She patted his arm after a while, and turned to go.

"Roderick was sorry before he died."

Ellana blinked. It had been a while since she'd thought of the man. He'd been a hero when it mattered. "Did he tell you why he was sorry?"

"Blood everywhere, monsters, madness, dying, we're all dying. The Herald and his guard stands against it, and heads turn. Desperate and simple. Pure. Voices in the Chantry. Years since I'd sung the song and felt it flowing through me, but this is real. This is real. So long since I'd felt it, falling, flying. Faith. And I fought them. Maker forgive me. I hope I did enough."

She felt tears prick her eyes, and a lump rise in her throat. Roderick had saved them all as much as Max won the guard. "He did. Thank you Cole."


Maxwell was with both Theron and Leliana discussing about the Architect.

"Is anything more about this Architect you can tell us?" Maxwell asked.

"If I remember correctly Faren mentioned that a Grey Warden was with him at the time," said Leliana.

"A dwarf. Silent Sister. They didn't know who she was, but I did some backtracking. I think she may have been Utha, one of the Grey Wardens who first met with King Maric."

"Can you tell us any more about Utha?"

"No, but I can tell you who can. Fiona was a member of the same group."

"Fiona…" Maxwell folded his arms. "Knew this architect?"

"And if my suspicions are correct, he is the reason she is now immune to the taint." Theron sighed. "Duncan was there as well."

"Duncan?" Leliana's head came up sharply.

Maxwell frowned. "Wasn't he the Commander of the Grey at the beginning of the Blight. The one that recruited you and the others and then died at Ostagar."

"The same," said Theron.

"He never told you any of this?" Maxwell raised an eyebrow.

"I only knew him for a few days and we will all recruits he wouldn't tell us such secrets," said Theron. "It might surprise you to realise that the Grey Wardens are very secretive. It took great effort to find that piece of information in the archives."

"Is anything more in Faren's report?" Maxwell asked.

"I've gone over it again and again and I have followed every lead," said Theron. "I even talked to Fiona, as she was the only person alive that remembers that incident."

"Thank you." Maxwell started to rise.

Theron sighed. "There is more." He took a deep breath. "Dirthamen lasa ghilan. From what Fiona told me that…" He looked down at his feet. "That courtesy of former Warden-Commander Bregan, the Architect knows the location of the remaining Old Gods and…" Theron rubbed the back of his head. "And that the Architect is the one that woke Urthemiel and began the last Blight."

Maxwell collapsed back into the chair. Leliana sank slowly into another chair. "Maker's breath, Theron." She shook her head. "I take it this is one of those things you were oath-bound not to tell us."

"I didn't want to start a panic," said Theron. "Can you imagine what would happen if people found out that darkspawn can talk, their dangerous enough as mindless beasts. Imagine if the darkspawn were able to think and plan during the next Blight, it would be a slaughter. Which is why I began my task force in order to eliminate these awakened darkspawn before the next Blight and finding them has not been easy."

"So the Wardens know where the remaining Old Gods are." Maxwell ran a hand through his hair. "No wonder Clarel thought she had a chance of success with that…" She looked up at Theron.

"All the new Warden Commanders know the location of the Old Gods, but in between them are millions of darkspawn. Slaying them will require a massive army and in these days that is very hard to come by."


Adaar was making her way to her chambers going over the notes of the recent armaments.

Thanks to Horsemaster Dennet, the Inquisition now had a small cavalry in addition to the skirmishers. A brief attempt at having mages that fought from horseback had been made and promptly aborted, with significant causalities to the dignity of the participants. Several small contests of arms had sprung up, and Cullen was pleased to note that the mages were as quick to cheer on their templars as the templars were to cheer on their mages. There had been no instances of possession since the closing of the Breech.

She had just entered her chambers and dropped her papers to find Iron Bull sitting on her bed. She noticed that he was looking at her quite awkwardly.

"So, listen," he began. "I've caught the hints. I get what you're saying. You want to ride the Bull." He then pulled himself up and made his way over to her and slowly made his way over to her. "Can't I blame you. But I'm not sure you know what you're asking. Not sure you're ready for it."

Adaar smirked. "Oh, I'm ready for it."

"See, you say that, but… you really don't know what that means."

Adaar gave a seductive smile. "So why don't you show me?"

Iron Bull took several paces close to her, until her back was touching the wall. He then pinned her hand against the wall above her and looked into her eyes making her grasp. She could feel her heart pumping in her chest and she loved it.

"Last chance."

"A little slower and a lot harder," she said.

Iron Bull looked at and then grabbed her before carrying her to her bed.

He had practically ripped her clothes off of her and undid the belt around his pants, causing them to fall on his ankles. Removing his avid garden boots, he placed a right hand on top of the bed. It was fortunate that she foresaw this confrontation, because she made sure that her bed was able to withstand two Qunari fucking.

He pinned her arms behind with one hand, placed a hand firmly on her ass and inserted his length into her hard. The sudden pain that lurched through her body was gruelling, but she didn't falter.

He then began to pump in and out of her hard almost as hard as he did when he was fighting. The sudden jolt of pain was suddenly replaced with pleasure as she felt herself being ripped in half. However, it wasn't enough for her, she then wrapped her legs around his back making him pump even harder into her.

He then removed his hand from her ass and then placed it over one of her breasts, giving it a good squeeze. He then lowered his head and began to nibble at her neck causing her to moan deeply.

She then felt his grip around her arm is weakening and she took that as her opportunity to flip them over. Now she was the one on top she began to bounce up and down on top of him, while she massaged her womb with one and then traced her other one across his muscular chest. He then placed his hand on her hips and moved in time with the rhythm.

They were making so much noise that if anyone came to her door they would think it sounded as if two bulls were fucking each other and in some ways they would be right. Adaar moans fill the entire room as she jumped up and down on Iron Bull's length.

It was like nothing she had ever experienced in her entire life, she felt she was going to explode. Both pleasure and pain were rushing through her body and she loved it. Eventually she could not withhold her liquids anymore and unleashed them on top of Iron Bull's length.

However, he wasn't quite finished with her, in her moment of weakness Iron Bull turned them over again so that she was lying on top of the bed. He placed one hand on her back to lift her towards him and had the other firmly on her ass.

He then began to push in and out of her at the next on an astonishing rate and while her mouth was wide open he placed his mouth on top of hers. She tried desperately to fight her way into his mouth, but he overpowered her and his tongue began to dance inside her mouth.

Then when she felt she could not withstand any more, Iron Bull unleashed his liquids into her. It felt as if she was hit by a waterfall as she felt everything rushing into her. She then went completely limp and looked at Iron Bull, before she passed out.


Iron Bull got himself dressed and left Adaar on her bed, he wasn't entirely surprised that she had passed out. He closed the door behind him and saw Red walking over to him.

"Is Adaar inside? I have some information that may be—"

"No," he said. He then walked past. "Let her rest."

Red blinked at him and then to the door wondering what had just happened.


The amulet was larger than she expected, almost the size of her hand. She turned it this way and that as she walked towards the tavern. Cole was in his usual location. He looked up when she approached. ""t started out helping, taking the fear away. I won't take too much. I am not that."

Ellana nodded to him. "I found the amulet that Solas told us about. Would you like to try it on?"

He smiled eagerly, like a puppy being offered a new toy. "Yes. But not here. I don't like it here. We need someplace that can go away if it becomes sharp."

She considered a moment, and then decided to take him to Solas.

Cole was fiddling with the amulet as they walked into the round room. "What do I do with it?"

Solas rose and walked towards them. "You found one of the amulets. Excellent. May I?" Cole handed it to him. "It is simple enough. You put it on, I charge it with magic, and you should be protected."

Ellana put her hand on Cole's shoulder. "Are you ready, Cole?"

"They can't make me a monster."

She stepped away, and nodded to Solas. He closed his eyes and held out his hand, sending energy into the amulet. A moment later, there was a spark, and Cole cried out. Varric rushed in at the sound. "What was that?" He blinked. "Oh for…"He walked over to Cole and stood protectively. "What are you doing to the kid?"

Cole turned to face Varric. "Stopping blood mages from binding me like the demons at Adamant. But it didn't work."

"Something is interfering with the enchantment." Solas gave Cole a considering look.

Varric shook his head. "Something like Cole not being a demon?"

"I'm not certain exactly what Cole is," Ellana said.

"Regardless of Cole's special circumstances, he remains a spirit." Solas gestured.

"Yes, a spirit who is strangely looks like a person!" Varric folded his arms.

"I don't matter." Cole turned this way and that, and Ellana stepped forward to put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Just lock away the parts of me that someone else could knot together to make me follow."

"Focus on the amulet." Solas stepped to Cole's other side. "Tell me what you feel."

He lowered his head and closed his eyes. "Warm, soft blanket covering, but it catches, tears, I'm the wrong shape, there's something…" He turned, and pointed vaguely southeast. "There. That way."

"We'll find whatever is preventing the amulet from working, and we'll make it right." Ellana nodded to her friend.

"All right, kid." Varric gestured at Cole. "Get Cullen and work with him on the map to figure out where you're sensing something wrong."

"Will you come with me?" He lifted his head again, peering out at them from under his hat. "All of you?"

They all quickly assured him they would.

Varric turned to Solas. "All right. I get it. You like spirits. But he came into this world to be a person. Let him be one."

"Cole is a demon…" Ellana She glanced at the door Cole had just exited. "Or a spirit. He has magical abilities and magical vulnerabilities. We cannot ignore that."

She was right. And he could tell she was just as worried about the kid as he was. "Fair enough." He looked at the two mages. "But that ritual of theirs only works on demons, right?"

Solas clasped his hands behind his back. "This is not some fanciful story, child of the Stone. We cannot change our nature by wishing."

"You don't think?" Varric looked up at the other man. For a moment, he thought he saw doubt in Solas's eyes.

"However we deal with the problem, our next step is to track down whatever is interfering with the enchantment."

Ellana nodded. "We'll keep Cole safe."


Cullen looked up when the war room door opened. It took him a second to realizse who was standing there. "Cole."

Theron looked at the spirit and folded his arms.

"I need to find the pull on the map," Cole said.

"Um…" Cullen glanced down at the map. "Of course."

"If you'll excuse me, I should see how the Wardens are doing," said Theron giving Cullen a brief nod, then left the room.

Cole watched him go. "Hidden pain, 'I failed to save him. I should've pulled him away from the mirror'. Reflection bouncing off on a broken mirror."

"You were, um…" Cullen gestured at the map.

Cole pointed south east again. "That way." After a moment, Cullen nodded. He set a stylus on the map, orienting the point to be in the same direction Cole was pointing. Then he started to trace his finger in the direction the stylus was pointing. Cole brightened. "There."

"Redcliffe," Cullen said, tapping the map.

"Redcliffe," Cole repeated.


The four of them joined one of the units being sent to the crossroads. Most of them couldn't even see Cole, and even when they did, they forgot about him again almost immediately. Ellana smiled as she watched Varric try to teach Cole how to tell a knock-knock joke. Despite the dwarf's best efforts, Cole just couldn't seem to get the hang of it. It struck her as odd. Though the soldiers didn't seem to see Cole, none of them behaved as though Varric were talking to himself.

She and Solas discussed the phenomenon, and he claimed that the soldiers were seeing Cole, but the conversation he and Varric were having simply never caught their attention enough for them to actually notice anything. Her thoughts had gone along similar lines. "Is our remembering him his choice, or our choice?"

"Both, I imagine," Solas replied.


There was some kind of business deal going down near the memorial of the Fifth Blight. It was a human man discussing with a dwarf.

"Yes, this should get me through the month," he said. It was that point that he noticed them walking towards them. "Give me a moment."

He then made his way over towards them and the dwarf left. "Greetings. Can I help you?"

Before Ellana could reply, when Cole's head came up sharply. "You." She blinked, and turned towards him. She'd never heard such fury in his voice. He moved towards the man, so quickly he seemed to disappear and reappear from view. A heartbeat later he was standing over the man, the man's hair in one hand and a dagger in the other. "You killed me!"

She ran, Solas and Varric on her heels. The man was staring up at Cole from where he'd fallen to his knees. "What, I don't…" He held up his hands. "I don't even know you!"

Rage dripped from Cole's voice. "You forgot. You locked me in the dungeon in the Spire, and you forgot, and I died in the dark!"

"The Spire?"

Her eyes widened when she saw recognition on the man's face. She knew what Cole was talking about. "Cole, stop." Solas's voice rang out just as Ellana reached Cole. She caught his arm, and the man started to scramble away.

"Just take it easy, kid." Varric came up beside her.

The man managed to get back to his feet and fled. Cole turned back to them. "He killed me. He killed me. That's why it doesn't work. He killed me, and I have to kill him back!"

"If he killed you, wouldn't you be dead?" said Ellana stepped in front of Cole, blocking his attempt at forward motion.

"Cole, this man cannot have killed you." Solas's voice was gentle. "You are a spirit. You have not even possessed a body."

"A broken body, bloody, banged on the stone cell, guts gripping in the dark dank, a captured apostate. They threw him into the dungeon in The Spire at Val Royeaux. They forgot about him. He starved to death." Her blood went cold. There were stories… enough that she knew some had to have been true. That poor boy. "I came through to help… and I couldn't. So I became him. Cole."

Behind her, Varric spoke. "If Cole was an apostate, that'd make the guy we just saw a templar. Must've been buying lyrium."

"Let me kill him. I need to…" Cole began to walk in the direction the templar had gone. "I need to."

Ellana let him pass. "Solas?"

He spoke quickly and sharply. "We cannot let Cole kill the man."

Varric shook his head. "I don't think anyone was going to suggest that, Chuckles."

Solas narrowed his eyes, then looked from Varric to Ellana. "Cole is a spirit. The death of the real Cole wounded him, perverted him from his purpose. To regain that part of himself, he must forgive."

"Come on." Varric gestured. "You don't just forgive someone killing you."

"You don't. A spirit can."

Ellana turned to look at Varric. "Varric?"

"The kid's angry. He needs to work through it."

"A spirit does not work through emotions. It embodies them."

Varric looked up at Solas. "But he isn't a spirit, is he? He made himself human, and humans change. They get hurt, and they heal. He needs to work it out like a person."

"You would alter the essence of what he is."

"He did that to himself when he left the Fade. I'm just helping him survive it."

She sighed. Solas was one of the wisest men she'd ever met. And yet… She couldn't help but wonder what Cole wanted. And what he could become, if given the chance. Varric called him kid. A child, seeking to understand the world. "Cole will never grow into a real person until he comes to terms with what happened."

"Leave it to me." Varric started walking after Cole.

She stood with Solas, watching. She could tell he disapproved, but he did not interfere.

Varric made his way over to Cole. "All right, kid. You want revenge? Come with me."


The man kept on running as far as he could, but eventually he reached the cliff. He turned and found both Cole and Varric standing there.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" he said to Cole in a pleading voice.

"Sorry isn't going to help him now, is it kid?" said Varric.

"No," Cole glared.

Varric then fiddled with Bianca before he gave her to Cole. "Then pull the trigger and put him down like a mad dog." Cole aimed Bianca at the man. "Do it!"

"No!" the man begged.

Cole yelled and pulled the trigger, but Bianca didn't fire. Varric had fiddled with the firing mechanism to prevent it from firing.

"How're you doing, kid?" Varric asked as he took Bianca away. "Fear any better?"

"No."

"You can't make it all go away," said Varric rubbing Cole's back. "I learned that the hard way."

Cole looked to the man and raised his hand. "Foget—"

Varric stopped him. "No. He needs to remember. You, too." Gentle, Varric led Cole back to them. "We're done here."

Solas fell into step with Cole, but she found herself standing there a moment longer. The templar, watching Cole leave, caught her gaze. He met her eyes, then swallowed as his face paled. He turned away, shame written on his features. She turned, and followed her companions.


They made it back to Skyhold before Solas gave vent to his frustration. "For all we know, the amulet will now never function. Cole remains vulnerable to binding."

"No, he isn't." Varric gestured. "The amulet didn't work because he's too human, right?" He folded his arms. "Maybe now the kid's also too human for that binding magic to work on him."

Solas sighed. "I hope you're right."

Cole followed them into the room. "It still hurts. When do I stop hurting?"

She wished she had an answer for him. She reached out and took one of his hands. "Being with your friends can make you feel better." She squeezed his hand once before letting go.

Varric gestured. "Come on, kid. Let's go for a walk. It'll clear your head."

"The left hand misses a friend with two different names. She's hurting, sad, halves not whole, but…" He looked up at the rookery. "Everyone can see me now. They remember. How do I put honey in Leliana's wine without her noticing?"

"I can help with that." Varric led him out of the room.

Ellana was so lost in her thoughts, watching them, that she nearly jumped when Solas spoke. "It is good that he is not entirely changed, however human he becomes."