The mage at the shrine looked familiar from a distance, but Elizabeth kept her expectations in check. The likelihood that her friend would be in the middle of the Crossroads, of all places, was slim. Practical people did not just wander into war zones, and Ellendra was, in most respects, a practical woman.

But as they neared the shrine, Jane grabbed her elbow. "Is that…?" she asked, her voice trailing off as they drew closer.

"Ellendra?" Elizabeth asked tentatively. The woman turned, surprised.

"Eliza!" she exclaimed. The two women embraced tightly. When they disentangled, they kept their arms clasped. "You're alive! I thought you were at the Conclave. When I heard Jane was the only survivor, I thought your whole family must have gone."

"No," Elizabeth replied, shaking her head. "Just Jane."

"Thank the Maker for that," Ellendra said, shaking her head. "I feel like I've heard only bad news lately."

That made Elizabeth hesitate before asking her next question. "How is Mattrin?"

Ellendra tensed and then slipped her arms away, folding them. "I'm not sure. I know he wasn't at the Conclave, but I haven't had a letter from him since before the whole White Spire fiasco." She lowered her voice to a murmur. "...when he stopped taking lyrium."

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "He stopped-?"

Jane coughed politely behind them, and Elizabeth became aware of their audience. She turned towards them, grateful for Jane's interruption. "My apologies. This is my good friend, Ellendra Lucas."

"Former enchanter of the Ostwick Circle and member of the College of Aequitarians," Ellendra said with a slight bow of the head. "Current… well." She smiled at Elizabeth. "Current apostate, I suppose."

"You already know Jane," Elizabeth said. Her sister had been a frequent visitor of Ostwick Circle over the years. "The others are Cassandra, Varric, and Solas. We're with the Inquisition."

Ellendra nodded to all of them, though her eyes lingered on Cassandra.

Jane stepped forward with a genuine smile. "It's been too long."

"Lady Trevelyan," Ellendra replied. "Though I hear you go by a new title now." Her eyes drifted towards Jane's left hand. Jane clenched it into a fist, uneasily. "So, tell me, is it true you can close Fade rifts with that?"

Elizabeth almost laughed. Ellendra had never been subtle.

"I- yes," Jane said.

"And you never exhibited any talent at magic before?" Ellendra asked. Jane shook her head, and the mage let out a thoughtful hum. "How intriguing." She turned to Elizabeth. "Do you know how she does it?"

"I haven't seen her close one yet," Elizabeth said. "Solas is an expert on the Fade, so the study has mainly fallen to him."

"An expert on the Fade?" she asked, turning to the other mage. "Well. Your Harrowing must have been interesting, to say the least."

"I did not train in a Circle," Solas replied.

Ellendra lifted her eyebrows. She glanced at Cassandra, as if gauging the woman's reaction, before looking back at Solas. "And yet you're with the Inquisition?"

"I am," he confirmed with a neutral expression.

Ellendra turned to Elizabeth with a chuckle. "I am all astonishment. Truly, we live in interesting times."

"The Inquisition has the distinction of being the only organization that is trying to close the hole in the sky," Elizabeth replied with a smile. "I believe that helps broaden the appeal."

"Speaking of which," Jane said, "Would you be interested in joining us? We're trying to find mages to help us close the Breach."

Ellendra shook her head. "Unfortunately, I have personal business here," she said. "I'm looking for someone."

"When you do find him, would you reconsider?" Elizabeth asked.

"If I find him," Ellendra corrected. She touched her chin, considering the question. "Perhaps. Since the Conclave, I've been weighing my options. I believe the war will be over soon." She gave Elizabeth a significant look that her friend could not quite read. "I'm … I have been considering joining the Loyalists."

Elizabeth was surprised. "The Loyalists?"

Ellendra eyed Elizabeth's companions for a moment. "Though the Inquisition may prove a valuable option as well," she admitted thoughtfully. She turned back to face the shrine. "It's becoming clear what will happen once a new Divine is elected." She lowered her voice. "And I, for one, intend to be well placed when it happens."

"I hope your friend finds her mage," Cassandra said with more sincerity than Elizabeth anticipated. They had moved on from the Crossroads. After some debate, Jane had convinced Cassandra to put off speaking with Dennet until the afternoon, wanting to handle the more pressing matter of the bandits to the north.

"Thank you, but Mattrin is not a mage." Cassandra gave her a quizzical look, so Elizabeth spelled it out more clearly. "He's a templar."

"A templar!" Cassandra exclaimed. "I see. Was that… was that common at Ostwick then?"

"No," Elizabeth replied with a smile. "Ellendra … well, she always had a thing for templars. She said she liked the ones with the sad eyes."

Varric laughed. "Oh, we've got to introduce her to Curly."

Elizabeth stole a glance at Jane, whose cheeks had become pink. "Well, she hardly needs two of them," she replied dryly. "And Cullen doesn't count, not really. He left the order."

"Not that you could tell that by looking at him," Varric said.

"The appeal would be gone," Elizabeth insisted. "I think she enjoyed wanting something she could not have." Varric snorted and she looked up with a smirk. "What, the storyteller doesn't approve of star-crossed lovers?"

"Sure, star-crossed makes for a great bestseller," he said. "But it's never as much fun in the real world. Trust me, I've seen en-"

At that moment, a loud crack filled the air, like a lightning strike. Elizabeth grabbed her staff, dropping into a fighting stance.

Up ahead, her sister and Cassandra were charging forward, and their action drew her attention to the bright light in the air- a Fade rift. Around it, several Shades appeared, rising up toward Jane. Elizabeth began to move her hand, but Solas laid the barrier first, so she switched tactics and whipped fire at them with her staff.

"Stay behind me, Blaze," Varric warned, and she fell back accordingly, striking several of the demons with fire as Cassandra grunted, striking one down.

She watched curiously as Solas made some sort of glyph from a distance, but didn't dare bring her mana to her eyes after his reaction the other day. The glyph exploded in frozen spikes, destroying the last Shade, and then the rift began to hum with energy. A throb of magic coursed through Elizabeth's veins and a few seconds later, five wraiths appeared.

"How many waves are there usually?" she shouted to Varric, pouring her energy through her staff at the wraiths. Jane stabbed one and then another, fighting with more vitality than Elizabeth had seen from her before.

"This'll be the last one," he yelled back.

Sure enough, once the demons were dead, the rift seemed to soften, as if tension had left it. Jane raised her hand and a pulse of Fade energy shot out, connecting her to the rift. Elizabeth once again fought the urge to raise her mana, but the magic was so bright, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to see anything anyway. With a clap, the rift closed, and Jane stumbled as the connection broke. Elizabeth moved forward to catch her by the arm, and Jane leaned against her.

"So. That's interesting," Elizabeth said. Jane laughed a little breathlessly. "Does it hurt to close them?"

Jane shook her head, still panting. Elizabeth unhooked the waterskin from her belt, handing it to her sister, and Jane gratefully took a gulp before speaking. "It did at first, but not anymore. Solas stabilized it back at Haven."

"Temporarily," Solas added as he approached them, a touch of warning in his tone. "If it begins to pain you again, please let me know." Jane thanked him as Elizabeth held and examined her sister's hand.

"You stabilized it with magic?" she asked. The mark had been trembling, but it seemed to be relaxing now.

"Yes," Solas replied.

She glanced up at him. "Could you teach me how?"

Solas met her gaze. "Probably not."

Varric winced and Elizabeth let out a short laugh. Solas looked startled, as if just realizing what he had said. "I ... suppose I could try to-" he began, but Elizabeth waved a hand, cutting him off.

"No point wasting everyone's time," she replied wryly. She patted Jane on the back. "Excellent job with those demons. You're getting good at this."

"Thank you," Jane said.

"Your sister is right," Cassandra said. "You fought well." She looked up at the sky. "But we should continue if we want to reach the bandits before noon."

An Inquisition scout named Bellette confirmed that they were on the right path, but warned them that the bandits were unusually well-armed. Evidently, the scouts were beginning to suspect that these were not simple bandits, but mercenaries with a benefactor.

Bellette's directions led them under a crumbling archway into a wooded area with scattered ancient ruins. Solas stopped quite suddenly, touching Jane's elbow.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I believe there is Elvhen magic nearby," he said, tilting his head. Elizabeth couldn't feel anything, but she knew sometimes elves were more sensitive to magic. "My people created artifacts that could help prevent tears in ancient times. I suspect that is what I am sensing. We may be able to activate it."

Jane and Cassandra exchanged a glance, as if silently debating.

"That means fewer Fade rifts, right?" Varric asked.

"That is the intent, yes," Solas said.

Varric held out his hands. "Then I say lead the way."

Jane shrugged her assent, and Solas focused a moment more before guiding them deeper into the overgrown ruins.

They had not gone far when they saw a figure with a staff on her back between two pillars. Cassandra drew her sword, and Elizabeth her staff. As they neared, the figure touched her staff and turned, revealing herself to be a small Dalish elf. She drew her hand away from her weapon.

"Peace, stranger," the woman said in a lilting Dalish accent. "I mean you no harm. My name is Mihris." She glanced at Cassandra's sword and smiled. "By your weapons, I see you come ready for battle. There are demons in these woods. We may face a common enemy."

Jane glanced around the clearing. "Are you fighting the demons on your own?"

"Fighting the demons is pointless. There will always be more as long as there are rifts," Mihris replied. "But I have heard of Elvhen artifacts that prevent tears in the first place. I believe one is nearby."

"We're looking for it too!" Jane exclaimed. "Our friend here was able to sense its location. Maybe we could find it together." Elizabeth saw Solas press his lips together at Jane's words.

"Thank you," Mihris said. She pointed behind them with her staff. "That way, I believe. It shouldn't be too much farther ahead." Cassandra and Elizabeth put away their weapons, and the group followed Mihris up the rocky path.

"What brings you to the Hinterlands?" Jane asked.

"I was-am-First of Clan Virnehn," Mihris replied easily. "I left in service of my clan and saw that great tear in the Veil on my journey. I know more of magic and the Veil than any shemlen, so I hoped to help."

"Ma harel, da'len."

They both looked up at Solas, startled, and Mihris stilled, her face growing pale beneath her vallaslin. "I...," the mage began. She swallowed and looked away from him shakily. "We should keep moving." The elves walked ahead, but Jane took a moment, watching them with a confused expression.

Elizabeth stepped closer to her. "Well, he just makes friends everywhere he goes, doesn't he," she remarked in a low voice. Jane shot her a warning look.

They reached the mountainside and Solas leaned forward, examining the parts where the formation was particularly rocky. Finally he paused and straightened, stepping back. Elizabeth followed his gaze and realized she could make out something that used to be an entrance, hidden behind an old cave-in. He tapped the middle part with his staff.

"We'll need to get by," Mihris agreed, looking at rocks. She spread her hands and Elizabeth felt warmth in the air. The rocks trembled without rising, so Elizabeth stepped forward to help, bringing up her own hands. Together, they were able to clear the entryway. As the dark cave became clear, Solas and Mihris armed themselves.

"Demons!" he warned. Cassandra ran forward with a cry. As Elizabeth's eyes adjusted, she saw three wraiths attacking the warrior. These were weak, nowhere near as aggressive as the ones from the Fade rift or near the Breach. With Mihris' help, they were able to make short work of them.

When the demons lay dead, Elizabeth looked around the chamber. Just inside was a torch that shone with a blue-green flame. She had heard of Veilfire, but never seen it. She wished she could catch a glimpse of it through the Veil, but when she looked up, Solas was watching her, so she refrained.

He looked away and took the torch before heading towards the stairs, indicating with a nod that the rest should follow. As she descended, Elizabeth could feel the rustling of old magic on her skin, like walking on dead leaves with bare feet. There was something familiar about it, but she could not quite place it. The hair on her arms stood up and she shivered.

"There," Mihris murmured, approaching the altar of the lower room. Elizabeth followed her gaze to see a globe on a pedestal in the center. Jane reached it first and, after glancing at Solas as if for permission, touched it. The object lit up and began humming with electric pulses. The paper thin magic on Elizabeth's skin was swept away instantly.

"That will help strengthen the Veil," Solas told her sister, his eyes drifting to the elf next to her. Mihris had been kneeling by the artifact. She stood, her hands clutching something, freezing when she saw Solas step towards her.

"It seems the Ancestors left something for me as well," she said.

He stopped in front of her. "Ma halani, ma glandival," he replied. "Vir enasalin."

"I…," Mihris began warily, but then she shrugged. "Perhaps you are right. Here. Take it. Go with Mythal's blessing." He took it, then turned back to the altar. She headed towards the stairs, but Jane stopped her.

"We're with the Inquisition," she said. "And we're looking for mages to join, to help close the Breach in the sky. Would you like to come back with us?"

Mihris raised her eyebrows. "Me?"

Jane smiled. "It's your sky, too."

Mihris did not return the smile. She hesitated and then looked at the floor. "I am sorry, but I have other things I must be doing," she said. "For my clan. But good luck to you, and safe travels." She nodded briefly to them and then climbed the stairs. As Jane watched her leave, Elizabeth joined Varric in searching the room for valuables.

"It is for the best," Cassandra told Jane. "I doubt a Dalish mage would feel very comfortable among Chantry soldiers."

"I know," Jane sighed. "But I thought maybe she could go to the other clans and gather their mages. Then we wouldn't even need the rebels' help to seal the Breach."

Varric burst out laughing. "Bringing a bunch of Dalish mages to the smoking ruins of the Temple of Sacred Ashes? While the Chantry still thinks you killed the last Divine?" He shook his head, wiping his hands on his pants as he finished with his side of the room. "The good news is that you'd get the Revered Mothers to agree on something. The bad news is that it'd be an Exalted March on Haven."

Solas turned away from the altar. "Not to mention that many clans may not even respond to one of their own," he added. "The Dalish are as unified as they are educated - which is to say, not much of either. I'm not sure which would be the bigger problem."

Elizabeth frowned, wiping her own hands, and then joined the others as they climbed the stairs. Jane and Cassandra debated whether they'd still be able to deal with the bandits before noon as they left the cave, and Elizabeth slowed her pace to fall in line with Solas and Varric.

"I'm not sure you're being entirely fair to the Dalish," Elizabeth told him as they walked.

Solas looked at her with mild amusement. "Is that so?" he asked. "I'm curious to hear what a noble human would say in defense of them."

"I knew a few Dalish-born mages at my Circle, and they weren't uneducated," she replied. "Or at least, they seemed very knowledgeable of Elven culture."

"Of the Dalish interpretation of it," Solas corrected her. "The clans have been separated for so long that children's tales have become legends, legends have become fact, and the facts have been forgotten. Their people are a fraction of what they once were. And of what they could be."

"Could be?" Elizabeth asked. "What, if they send their children to alienages instead? Or worse, Tevinter? Elves are oppressed everywhere. That's hardly the fault of the Dalish."

Solas frowned. "I did not say it was."

"Well, not directly," Elizabeth replied. "But it did sound like you meant to insult them," she said.

"I did not," Solas said. "They insult themselves."

Elizabeth scoffed.

"That's a little callous, Chuckles," Varric interjected.

"It's realistic," Solas maintained. "Remember, I have walked the memories of the Fade. I have seen the history the Dalish imitate."

"So what did you say to Mihris?" Elizabeth asked sharply. "Something realistic about the Dalish?"

Solas looked up, surprised at her question. "No," he said. "I called her a liar." His lips thinned as he looked ahead. "The clan she claimed is dead, destroyed by a demon their own Keeper had deliberately summoned. Not the first I have heard of such a thing, nor will it be the last. Based on that, I suspected that Mihris was not of Clan Virnehn." He paused. "Or, perhaps even worse, she was. In either event, her reaction spoke for itself." He turned to Elizabeth and raised his eyebrows. "Do you still think I am being unfair in my opinion of the Dalish?"

Elizabeth opened her mouth to reply, but she was interrupted by Varric, who apparently hadn't heard the sarcasm that she had in Solas's last question.

"You know," Varric began, "I was friends with a Dalish elf back in Kirkwall and, weirdly enough, her Keeper-." He caught Elizabeth's warning look and seemed to reconsider. "Actually, you know what? Never mind. Sweet kid, though."

"What were you going to say?" Solas asked Elizabeth.

"Nothing important," she replied calmly, having had a moment to recover. Solas began to say he'd like to hear her response anyway, but she spoke over him. "It seems we are at an impasse. I prefer to judge each person on their actions, not on the actions of their people." She smiled politely. " You can offer as many anecdotes as you have of terrible Dalish, and in response, I can offer as many anecdotes as I have of kind Dalish, and then we'll be no closer to agreeing than when we started. We may as well skip to the end, where we agree to disagree."

Excusing herself, she quickened her steps and joined the two warriors ahead.

Solas was initially disappointed at her departure, but then he realized it had been for the best. A human defending the Dalish - it was such a curious concept that he had found himself wanting to hear more, despite the fact that he'd resolved to show Elizabeth Trevelyan no more attention than any of the other companions.

Sometime during the previous two days, he had made the discovery that even without magic, her small, dark eyes were particularly charming. To his mortification, he realized soon after that "charming" might in fact mean "pretty". Solas had seen attractive features in others since his waking-these shadows that walked the land beyond his Veil could look unnervingly like the People sometimes. A human, though-that was different. At least it meant he was not in any particular danger. But he did not want to give the impression of interest where none could form. He was not so foolish, not anymore.

"You know, Cassandra was asking when you're going to start training her," Varric said, interrupting his thoughts.

Ah, yes. And then there was that small complication. The Seeker had insisted that if Elizabeth were to stay, she would need battle training, and as Solas was the only mage present, he would need to help. As long as Elizabeth continued to turn him down as she had that morning, it could still come to nothing.

"She is more talented than I anticipated," Solas admitted. "It may not be necessary."

"She's not as good as you, Chuckles, which means she's still going to need it," Varric replied. Solas didn't respond, and the dwarf sighed. "Or you can be the one who gets to talk to the Herald when her beloved sister gets crushed by templars."

Solas was quiet for a moment, and then he turned to Varric, changing the subject. "Tell me, Master Tethras," he asked. "How did you and the Seeker get from Kirkwall to Haven so quickly? It seems quite a distance, particularly during wartime."

Varric nodded with a laugh. "That it was," he began, and launched into a detailed explanation. Solas was sure the tale would be long and embellished, and that it would take his mind off his current predicament. After all, dwelling on the subject would not help.