Artemis had convinced everyone to leave her alone, claiming she wanted to rest, but in reality she wanted to discuss things she knew her advisors would not approve of, and they would be right not to. So instead she'd asked Solas to stay with her. Artemis didn't necessarily trust Solas more than the other people she worked with, but he seemed to still be more of an outsider to the group; Artemis hoped his apparent distance from the Inquisition and its members would make him more likely to not protest her plan. Artemis looked across the room at Solas, he was looking back at her. Solas seemed curious but didn't press Artemis, instead he was sitting on the sofa, patiently waiting for her to speak. Artemis didn't say anything until she was sure that no one was still in earshot.

"Solas, after we had that conversation in Haven… well, not Haven, but – "

"In the Fade, yes, I remember," Solas said, slightly cocking his head.

"Yes. Well when we spoke after meeting in the Fade, you said I came and found you. I never really considered what you said then or what it means, but…" Artemis pulled a hand through her hair and sighed. "If that's true, does that –" Artemis bit her lip, the question seemed ridiculous to her now. "Do you think I could find Cullen in the Fade?"

Solas frowned. "I am not certain. Your abilities are unique, I could not predict whether you could find him." Solas got up and walked over to the balcony. When he didn't immediately continued speaking, Artemis got out of the bed, and wrapping the blankets around her, followed him. "Solas?" she pressed.

"I had not expected you to find me in the Fade, even as a mage that is a feat I don't suspect many could repeat," Solas said. "I assume you mean to find the commander, to discover his location."

"Yes. Presumably if I find him in the Fade I should be able to tell where he is being held."

"A strange presumption," Solas said.

"Strange?" Artemis scanned Solas' face, he looked at her like she'd just suggested something infinitely silly. "I found you in the rotunda."

"Yes, because you expected to find me there. You must remember you did not realise you were dreaming at the time, your mind will have constructed the scene as you expected it to be," Solas explained patiently. "You also saw me in Haven, do you think I, or we, were really in Haven?"

"No," Artemis answered, feeling irritated. "But I still found you where you were, in the physical world first."

Solas chuckled. "You believe I have my bed placed in the rotunda then?"

A small gasp escaped Artemis' lips when she realised her mistake. Solas would've been asleep as well, it could have been a nap but as it was the middle of the night when she woke up it was much more likely he had been in bed. "No, probably not, not regularly at least."

Solas smiled. "No not regularly." He looked at Artemis and his expression became serious again. "If you do manage to find the commander in the Fade, you would not see his true location. I'm not sure what you would see. You might be able to ask him if he knows his location, but even if he does, it will be difficult to get the right answer. For most people recalling information, especially correctly, while dreaming is difficult."

Artemis sighed. "Wonderful."

"But perhaps there is another way I can help."

Artemis cocked her head.

"I have told you I often seek out old memories," Solas said. Artemis nodded. "I can't promise you we will find the information you are looking for, there will be conflicting accounts, versions of the truth, but perhaps we will discover something that can point us to where they took the commander."

Artemis finally felt some of her fear subside, at least there was something she could do. "Thank you."

Solas looked at her with raised eyebrows.

"For being willing to help with this, even if it isn't part of the Inuisition's mission."

"Hmm, it might be," Solas replied. "Even if the others might not be willing to entertain the possibility. But of course I will help you with this quest, I respect you and even the commander." Solas smiled. "Besides, you have helped me with personal matters as well."

Artemis felt surprised by Solas' loyalty, or what felt like loyalty; Solas had always seemed, well, strangely distant from the Inquisition and its members, but maybe that had changed.

"Is there anything you need me to do?" Artemis asked.

"No, but I would suggest we wait until nightfall, if only to avoid prying eyes."

"Of course, tonight then."

"Yes Inquisitor," Solas said and he moved across the room, towards the stairs. "I suggest we use the commander's office as it will be vacant."

Artemis agreed and waited for the door to open and close behind Solas before sitting down at her desk, blankets still wrapped around her. She hoped they would be able to find Cullen, but she knew that even if they didn't, she would discover where he was sooner or later, because Cullen was taken for a reason. The Venatori would find her and leverage Cullen's freedom against… well, something bad. That was why Artemis was so desperate to find Cullen quickly, to free him before the venatori could use him against her and by extent against the Inquisition. Because Artemis knew that if given the chance to free Cullen, she would take it, even if it was offered by the Venatori.

Cullen realised what was happening, but even so, when the fade started to close in around him, he felt the panic rise again. It had taken him years to push it to the background, to get through most days without thinking of that time in the circle. After stopping Lyrium things had gotten worse than they'd been in years, but he found purpose in serving the Inquisition and this had helped him push through the worst days. But now… now it felt like he was 19 again. He kept telling himself that whatever he was about to see it wouldn't be real, but how would you know when things were real again? Cullen told himself he had gotten through this before, but he remembered what had become of him afterwards and he didn't want to go back to that.

The office was empty, the armour had been picked up and brought to Cullen's bedroom, except for the cloak, which Artemis still had in her room, she hadn't asked for it to be left there, but it hadn't been removed and part of her was thankful for that. The office now looked suspiciously tidy and clean, it was almost disturbing to Artemis because it almost looked like someone had tried to scrub the place clean of the commander's presence.

"Inquisitor," Solas entered the office.

Artemis glanced over her shoulder. "Solas," she replied. With a flick of her wrist she lit the candles in the room. Normally they would be lit until the early morning hours, when the commander would finally retire, now they hadn't been lit in days. Solas crossed the room and placed a couple of bottles on the desk.

Artemis stared at the bottles. She thought back to the conversation she'd had with Solas in the Fade. "Will I know it isn't real?" she asked. "Because I didn't realise before."

"I suspect so, this time it won't take you by surprise, you are now conscious of your decision to enter the Fade."

Artemis nodded, feeling slightly relieved. "All right then, let's begin."

Solas gestured at the bottles, urging Artemis to take one. "It will help you sleep more quickly and more deeply."

Artemis nodded. "There are two bottles, are you taking the other?"

"Yes, naturally."

"Does that mean I will see you in there?"

"Most likely."

Artemis nodded and reached for one of the bottles.

"But I can't say with any certainty whether we will stay there for the same amount of time."

"So the thing is to just both remember as much as we can?" Artemis picked up the small brown bottle.

Solas nodded.

"Well," Artemis said and she downed the potion.

"You should probably sit down," Solas said.

Artemis obliged, lowering herself to the floor and sitting down, back leaning against the wall. She looked around the floor, it was empty and suspiciously clean but she remembered lying on this floor and seeing Cullen there, tortured. If only she'd practiced her magic more, studied more, stayed with the circle longer… Or had more guards placed around the office. Artemis had known Cullen was in danger but she'd been so scared of how he'd react to her precautions.

Solas drank from the other bottle and sat down next to Artemis on the floor. "It should not take long for the potion to work."

"How long will we be asleep?"

"Impossible to predict."

"Well good thing I have cleared my schedule then," Artemis said, briefly smiling, "though I'm sure people will come looking for me soon enough."

"By then we will be too deeply emerged in sleep for them to wake us."

"That does not sound as reassuring as I imagine you think it does."

Solas chuckled. "I merely meant they can't stop you from pursuing this."

Artemis frowned, a small pang of guilt was bothering her, but she was glad to hear that even if someone found them now they couldn't stop her from looking for Cullen. Artemis wanted to reply to Solas' words, but she suddenly felt a heavy cloud sinking down on her, making her feel like her entire body was being pressed against the wall and the floor. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, more overwhelming because it came on so suddenly. Artemis wanted to state that the potion was working, but of course she couldn't. Closing her eyes Artemis could feel herself drift off.

Artemis looked beautiful in the bright light of the afternoon. The fields were green again after a long winter and Cullen felt relieved to see the flowers blooming when he had believed them frozen and gone forever. Cullen had just finished fixing the hole in the roof and the rest of the afternoon could be spent in the sun. Why then does this feel familiar and –

"Cullen!" Artemis' voice rang out across the field, she waved her arms, gesturing for him to come join her and Cullen pushed the worrying thoughts from his mind as he rushed over to Artemis. She ran to meet him, and when they met he lifted her into his arms and kissed her. When Cullen put Artemis down again she was smiling at him and he realised he hadn't seen her smile much back when they were still in the Inquisition. How long ago was that? Had it been years already? It felt like he was in his office in Skyhold just last week.

A sudden image of his armour spread on the floor of his old office popped into his mind, but it was quickly forgotten when he heard Artemis softly singing close to him, he looked over at her: she was plucking some flowers. Cullen walked over and crouched down beside her, he cupped her face with his hands and pulled her closer to kiss her. He could spend the rest of his life like this and be perfectly happy.