Note: So, for this chapter, I am making things up to suit my purposes :D Magically, I mean. So ... there's that. But anything for true love, right?

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"Some people don't understand the promises
they're making when they make them," I said.
"Right, of course. But you keep the promise anyway.
That's what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway."
~ John Green

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Spiders. The big ones with the unpleasant screams. Though he was grateful for the 'small' ones at this point. So long as he never saw the dragon sized arachnid again, it would be too soon. Hunger and pain had worn him down, but long weeks in the Deep Roads, hungry and near mad with lack of sleep, had prepared him for this sort of thing. He worked through the mob of creatures like a farmer reaping wheat, scything through their ranks with practiced strokes.

Duncan had told him once, long before he'd ever met Ysri, that a Warden's existence was often painful and dirty, and that glory had little do with it. Alistair leaned on his sword as the last creature fell and tried to rein in his breath, sucking air deep into his lungs. There were creatures now than there had been before he'd slept. The more ground he covered, the better of he'd be ... not that he had any idea where he was going. All that could be hoped is that the path would take him back to her.

They were arrayed in front of the eluvian, Hawke to the left, then Dorian to the right, followed by the Inquisitor, Morrigan, and Surana. The weird, watery light fell across the half-empty room, distorting their faces as though they stood underwater, the moon high overhead. Solas was to one side, ready to support them should anything go wrong, his excitement ill-concealed behind gleaming eyes. Behind them, Leliana leaned against the wall. She'd had to argue both Cullen and Cassandra in order to keep them outside, and, even now, she glanced toward the door, their voices muffled as the two argued just a few steps beyond.

"I would suggest you do not linger," she murmured, just loud enough that they could hear her. "I do not think the either of our friends would take kindly to the sight of blood magic performed inside Skyhold."

"Cullen Rutherford knows better than to cross me, at this point," the Warden retorted, not taking her eyes from the eluvian. "I've known him since he was a blushing teenager in Kinloch Hold."

"Aren't you younger than he is?" Ashe asked, glancing toward the elf on her right.

"Not where it matters," the warden answered, her jaw tightened. "Though I can give us a little more time now. We just need to find Alistair or none of it matters."

"Right. Well, then we had better begin. Are you ready?" The Inquisitor asked as Hawke and Surana raised silver blades above their palms and Dorian approached the eluvian with Alexius's amulet in his hand. Morrigan lifted her hands, her eyes gleaming with strange lights while she held Surana's locket. Ashe raised the mark as they began to cast the spell they'd cobbled together, each of them praying it would work.

Power swelled as the two mages sliced their palms and blood welled forth, power surging forward only to be trapped in the amulet Dorian held. Sweat broke out on the Tevinter mage's forehead as he focused, channeling the surge of energy forward while Morrigan and the Inquisitor combined their power, using the locket to locate the missing Warden, and guiding the power they'd all summoned into the eluvian. Early on in the casting, there came a surge from the watery, mirrored surface and the witch staggered, her knees going weak, and then something lifted behind them, pulsing forward as Solas stepped up behind them to contain and bolster their work.

The eluvian swirled and gleamed for several seconds before suddenly erupting in blinding light and settling, glowing with a strange, green quality it had not previously possessed. The mages all sighed and released the power one by one, glancing at each other nervously - except, that is, for Surana. Without a glance toward any of the others, she stepped forward - pausing only to look back at Ashe.

"I can go alone, if you'd prefer," she said.

"Shouldn't we at least check to make sure it's safe?" The Inquisitor frowned. "You don't know what's on the other side."

"It won't be the first eluvian I've stepped through," the Warden smiled.

"I'll go," Hawke volunteered at the same time Leliana did, the two looking at one another in surprise. The spymaster shrugged.

"I want the chance to say goodbye if it all goes wrong," Leliana said quietly, her eyes meeting Ysri's across the half-lit room. The elf nodded.

"Leliana, then, and Hawke. Anyone else?"

"I think a better question is 'Who will not be going?'," the Inquisitor answered, looking around. When Leliana looked as though she would protest, Ashe held up a hand. "I'm their only way out if things go poorly."

"The veil is not so thin here as it was at Adamant in the Western Approach," Solas reminded them. "However, it could still be done."

"Morrigan?"

The witch shook her head, handing Melori the locket, "I think I will wait here. You will require someone to run interference when they find you've all gone exploring the Fade ... yet again."

Terror demons lashed their long, bony tails as they stalked forward, clicking and jerking each step of the way. He stumbled over a black and broken Tevinter statue, catching his footing only just in time to be knocked flat on his back, rolling out of the way as the creature's dagger life fingers stabbed the ground where he had fallen. He brought his shield up and slammed the thing into the rocks, slicing through it with his blade only to find a wisp at his back, casting bolts of green fire.

He heard another demon to his right as he faced the wisp, and his heart sank. Too tired, too hungry, and nearly overwhelmed ... "You promised," he hissed to himself. "Even if keeping it does mean going without a proper meal."

Alistair thought about having a hot breakfast: cheese on toast, a beef steak, an apple, and maybe a little ale to wash it all down. Though it made him hungrier, the thoughts also calmed him, giving him the patience not to panic - as did the idea that he would have something amusing to tell Ysri later.

"Now to survive the next one," he muttered.

Booted feet slipped and slid over wet rock and they all took a moment to catch their breath, gagging a little on the fetid humors swirling and misting around them. Surana took the lead as they crossed through a broad pace beneath the floating, broken pieces of rock and masonry that turned slowly overhead. The sickening green light of the Breach roiled in the sky and there was the sound, distant but present, of ... things moving. There was a heavy, ominous feeling in the air that grew heavier every moment that passed.

"I hadn't thought I'd be back here so soon," the Inquisitor said, hand on the hilt of her blade. "So, where to first?"

"I don't know." The Warden turned in a slow circle, studying their surroundings. "It's not like the Fade from a dream, but I'm not sure how similar it might be ..." she paused, shrugged, and began walking. "Of course, if we come close enough, I'll know he's there."

"I'm surprised you decided to help us, Solas," Leliana said as they walked deeper along the meandering pathways. "I thought you disliked the wardens."

"I disapprove of their methods," he answered, leaning against his staff as he took in their surroundings. "But it is in all of our interests to keep both Skyhold and the Inquisitor safe."

"Well, that's something," Ashe answered, glancing back at him. "Alistair is one of the reasons I survived our last visit here."

"Then I shall be happy to aid in his release."

"Do you hear that?" Dorian asked, pausing and staring into the distance. "It sounded like something roaring."

"There was a fear demon here ... or part of one," Hawke said, turning to look in the direction he was facing. "It's likely still here."

"Then we should hurry." Surana answered, her lips tightening. "I doubt we have much time."

He dragged himself into a crevice between the rocks, shuddering in pain from what had to be a broken arm. He'd lost his shield somewhere behind him and had not had the strength to lift it again. The demon had slammed him into one of the walls before he had killed it, hard enough that he'd felt the bone snap. There were too many now, and he was just the one man. Closing his eyes, he remembered her face from his dream, the way her eyes had gleamed in the light of the garden, how her voice had sounded.

"I'm still here," he whispered, wondering if she could hear him in a dream somewhere. He hoped some echo of it would reach her, wherever she was . "Should have gone with you when you left. I'm sorry, my love. I don't know if I can do this."

Somewhere nearby something large moved, and Alistair pulled himself further into his hiding place. He thought about Ysri, his favorite foods ... anything and everything to keep himself distracted. Soon he'd know, one way or another, how it would all end.