Chapter 3: Skyhold

(Herald's Rest)

Shepard looked around the room intently. Everything seemed like it should but it was somehow wrong. She didn't know how but she just knew. Then it dawned on her… the tavern looked exactly like it did the last time she was there. Where was the damage from the attack Bull described? Even with Dalish's shields there should be more damage or at least messed up some from the Chargers setting up the defenses. Even Maryden was singing that same song about someone call Sera. As the truth dawned on her, glowing cracks appeared and grew across the tavern walls.

"My, aren't you just full of surprises, "said Cole with a deep, cruel voice and he looked directly at her with his cold eyes. As everyone in the room stopped whatever they were doing and began to circle around her, he continued, "Here I thought you were just some bed warmer for the Inquisitor. First you bring back a dead Grey Warden and now dreaming up those soldiers and their…what do you call them…guns. Should have known the master wanted you kept busy for a reason. Just who are you?"

"You first, "said Shepard pulling out her daggers and starting to glow.

"What is that glow? Magic…no, "muttered 'Cole' as he walked around Shepard, studying her, "The Mortal's Fade would have killed a mage. Just where did they find you? Are there more like you?"

Another voice rang out, Cole's voice, "JANE! IT'S NOT REA…"

Cole's voice distracted the fake Cole enough for Shepard to send out a surprise wave of biotic energy across the room. When the wave it, the people it hit turned into demons as they fell and the wall behind them shattered to reveal the Fade filled sky. Shepard ran over and around the fallen but still moving demons to get to the opening. The still unchanged people chased after her.

Once she got outside, Alliance soldiers were waiting with guns ready. "You have got to be kidding me, "Shepard growled under her breath.

An armored woman stepped forward and ordered, "GET DOWN!"

Automatically, Shepard dropped to the ground just before she heard the shots go over her and slam right into the group that had chased her out of the inn.

"Move it, soldier!" said a tall woman with short peppered hair as she shouldered her assault rifle and reach down to help Shepard up, "We ain't got all day."

Shepard took a moment to look at the image of her mother in full combat gear and then took the hand up. The older woman reached behind her and unstrapped the shotgun and offered it with a , "Here, this might prove useful."

Shepard took the shotgun, quickly checked the clips and joined in on the slow retreat firing at anything that got too close. The group slowly made it to the closest tower.

The crossbar dropped into place locking up door. What appeared to be generic Alliance soldiers split up; four went upstairs and one covered each arrow slit on the floor they were on. The few that were not guarding, worked on checking their weapons and gear. "Jane, "the older woman said, "I know that…"

Shepard raised her hand as if to block what was being said. "Before you say anything I want it on the record that there is no way I'm calling you Mom or Mother, "said Shepard as she glared at the creature that had taken on Hannah Shepard's appearance, "Now who or what are you and what the hell is going on?!"

A familiar smirk appeared on the older woman's face as she crossed her arms and said, "I've been known by many names, but you can call me Sk…"

BOOM!

The spirit pulled Shepard away from the wall and shielded her from the debris. The soldier closest to the wall was thrown and crashed into the floor. He remained there unmoving for a few moments and then faded away.

Seeing what happened to the 'soldier,' Shepard looked at Hannah and said, "Send them away! It's too dangerous for them here."

Hannah frowned as she considered Shepard's words and then nodded. The remaining soldiers looked briefly in their direction and then lit up brightly. Where the solders once stood there was now sprites. The sprites twirled and then flew off. Hannah then took hold of Shepards arm and said, "Let's go."

The room seemed to melt away.

(Fade version of the War Room)

"Don't ever do that again, "Shepard growled trying to recover from what could be the most disconcerting means of transportation she had ever experienced. Considering her history, that meant something. She looked around and noticed they were in what appeared to be the war room, but there was no map and instead of the table made from a tree trunk there was an actual tree.

"We are not supposed to be here. I was taking you so you could be close to your body but somehow we ended up here, "Hannah said as she scowled at the tree. "Never should have let it take root here. What was I thinking?"

Shepard pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. Why was she the one that always got stuck with the crazy spirits and in the Fade? She was so going to have a talk with Cole and maybe Justice about this.

"You are different, "said Hannah responding to Shepard's thoughts. The spirit stopped glaring at the tree and then turned with a tilted head to look at Shepard, "That's why we are attracted to you. You are not of the Fade or the world the Fade mirrors. You hum of time and stars no one can see. You see us as living beings not just abstract ideas. Bonded of Compassion and friend of Justice, why would we not be attracted?"

Shepard just stared at the spirit with her mother's face for a few moments and then said, "Do you know just how creepy that sounded? Especially considering who you look like?"

The spirit half-smiled and replied, "Any creepier than sleeping with a spirit that took on the form of a dead boy?"

Shepard still had a hand covering her face when the spirit said, "We should be safe for a few moments, that mage though powerful is unfamiliar with this part of the Fade. This is my territory that he trespasses on and I will not have it! The witch and the wolf were bad enough, but she was quiet about it and the wolf polite so I did not begrudge them but this!" Spirit Hannah punched the side of the tree.

"Your territory?"

The spirit laughed humorlessly before saying, "I am Skyhold."

To be continued…

Note: Feedback please. I really want to finish this story.