Note: Okay, this is one area that Bioware has never been consistent about: How a mage enters the Fade. In DAO, to save Conner it supposedly took a lot of lyrium and a group of mages to send one mage into the Fade. But in the Mage Origin you went into the Fade for your Harrowing with no help except for a handful of lyrium. Later games, you pretty much got into the Fade by accident or some means not commonly known among mages. Since this is a rescue trip to the Fade, I decided to follow the Conner example even if it isn't really the same situation.

Chapter 5: Tree

Maxwell knocked and waited for a few moments. There was no response so he knocked again but this time called out, "Cole! I'm coming in."

He then opened the door and stepped in to Jane's and Cole's quarters. After the biotic blast it was decided to move Shepard to someplace a little sturdier. Cole insisted on taking her back to their quarters, which Maxwell agreed since it would be more comfortable for both of them. The Inquisitor looked around the bare looking room with a sigh. It appeared that the servants have already cleared out all of the lighter furniture to prevent possible damage or injury. Only the bed and the desk remain. Two heavy chairs were added so that visitors and healers would have a place to sit.

Cole was quietly pacing, his head going left and right as if he was looking for something. Once again Maxwell debated on what to do. The representative from Treventer warned them of a blood mage that had a habit of using a modified version of Mortal's Fade to create servants in key places to watch and control political situations. The mage was no doubt hiding somewhere in Skyhold but so far no luck finding him. Cole's special abilities were their best bet at finding the guy, but he was also the one best suited to keep an eye on Shepard.

Maxwell started to say, "Cole…"

"I know, "the former spirit said as he twisted his hands, "You need my help but so does Jane. If I find him, you might be able to help her. "

"Ah, Inquisitor, "said Anders carrying a covered bowl through the still open door. Placing the bowl on the desk, Anders added, "I was hoping to speak with you."

"If it's another problem it can wait, "said the Inquisitor as Anders placed the bowl on the desk, "I don't care if it's another Breech or the end of the world."

"Cole, eat, "Anders ordered after taking hold of Cole's arm and forcing a spoon into his hand as he lead the man to the desk. After forcing Cole to take the chair closest to the bowl, the mage then turned towards the Inquisitor and said, "Actually it's something that might help but it will be expensive. With enough lyrium and some help, we can send either myself or Dorian into the Fade to contact and maybe help Shepard out. If she can avoid being possessed, she might be able to wake up on her own eventually. Dorian is with that Treventer guy now trying to get more info on Mortal's Fade and its affects."

Cole's head turned so fast, Maxwell was surprised he didn't break his own neck. With a spoon still in hand, Cole asked, "Can I enter the Fade?"

Anders sadly shook his head and said, "You're not a mage, plus we're not really sure what lyrium would do to you since you are…well you."

"Do it, "said Maxwell, "Use our full supply of lyrium if you have to. There is going to be no one going out into the field and the Templars should have enough in their personal supplies to last until the next shipment. Cole, since Anders and Dorian will be working here, would you feel comfortable letting them watch Jane so that you can find the bastard that did this?"

Cole's eyes narrowed and said, "Yes."

(A little later, Throne Room)

The Inquisitor was walking towards Josephine's office when Leliana walked up beside him. She said, "I thought you would want to know that the prisoner is dead. "

The Inquisitor stopped walking and turned to look at the spymaster to ask, "What happened?"

"When Iron Bull started questioning him, he turned into an abomination, "Leliana reported, "I believe you can guess the rest."

"No big lost actually, "said Maxwell, "Considering he was most likely a victim of that Mortal's Fade poison, the real servant was most likely already gone. Our goal is the blood mage that is making the stuff and now that Cole is on his trail…"

Leliana smirked and said, "I'll have a cell and our Templars waiting for our guest. "

Maxwell nodded and then opened the door for the woman. As she passed him, he added, "You might want to have one of the healers as well. Cole promised to bring him back alive…"

"Max!" Josephine cried out walking fast towards them, "I'm so relieved that you are here! In the war room…a, a tree!"

A few moments later the Inquisitor found himself staring at a ghost image of a tree overlapping the table.

"Well this is different, "said Leliana, "It seems that the Veil is rather thinner than expected here."

"Why is there a tree in my War Room?" Maxwell asked with some exasperation.

Leliana shrugged and said, "I'm more worried about what it might mean. If the Veil is this thin, it might rip and we all know what that means."

"Skyhold's civilian population needs to be evacuated, "ordered Maxwell, "Soldiers and scouts are to remain to secure the castle. Once the place is cleared nothing is to enter or leave until this is over. I'll go speak with Cullen about the soldiers and Templars."

(Hidden sub-levels of Skyhold)

In the shadows Cole walked unseen. He even made sure that on his way down here, that if he neared someone he would concentrate on being 'not-real' and the memory of him being there not stick. It was tiring but needed since he couldn't tell who was now working for the blood mage. As he stopped and 'listened' he thought back to when it was difficult to be 'real' enough to be seen and remembered. Even he found it difficult to remember some of that time. Even after joining the Inquisition, some of that time was…fuzzy. Yes that's the word Jane would use, fuzzy.

Cole froze and tilted his head. Was that…whispers.

Cole force himself to calm down and walk slowly so as to not lose the whispers. He also concentrated on hearing but not listening to them. He could still hear the Fade and it gave him some protection, but how much he did not know. True he did well at Weisshaupt but Jane said that…

"Merrrrrrow…hissssss!"

The sound of an angry cat caused Cole to freeze; he looked down and to the left. In the middle of the hall was Lady Chases-Shadows, back arched and tail puffed out like a pipe cleaner. She was glaring at a rubble filled doorway…rubble filled?

Cole carefully stepped around the cat and 'listened' closely at the door. Yes the whispering was loud here but there was something else, the dripping sound of blood magic. The blood mage must be on the other side of this door. Cole focused his 'hearing' on the doorway and rubble to see what it could tell him. The rubble was not real! He could hear the 'barriers' and 'wards' the mage had cast to hide and protect.

Unnoticed, Lady Chases-Shadows crouched and slowly moved forward as if stalking prey. Her tail and behind went up with a wiggle just before she pounced through the rubble. Startled Cole heard the illusion ward shatter as Lady Chases-Shadows knocked a component out of alignment. Startled Cole could only stare at his unexpected feline ally and then narrowed his eyes. He walked over and picked up the cat, looking into Lady Chases-Shadows eyes he whispered, "We're going to have a talk about this later."

Unconcerned the cat meowed and reached up to stick her claws into the rim of his hat. With a sharp wiggle and squirm of her body, both the cat and hat fell to the floor; one silently and the other with a clank. Cole's eyes widen as he looked and listened carefully to see if anyone else heard it. A sigh of relief followed by a huff as he picked up his hat and put it firmly on his head. Why was everyone picking on his hat? Even the cat!

Ignoring Cole's huff, Lady Chases-Shadows sniffed at the other wards. She then sat down and turned her head towards Cole. "I know, "Cole said quietly as he looked around the room. Then he looked up, "I can get around it. You want to come with?"

"Mew!" said Lady Chases-Shadows just before jumping onto his leather pants and climbing up to his shoulder.

To be continued…