Chapter 5: The future you forge will be bright.

Tabitha Trevelyan laid her body on the cold stone floor to relieve the muscle spasms. Dorian sat in the chair, watching her intently. He gave her time, but his impatience grew. He was nervous for his dearest friend. She was dying, living a self-sacrificing life, and in obvious pain. He rested his elbows on his knees, "Tell me what happened."

"I had a vision," she said simply. He silently stared at her. She sighed, turning her head away from him, "My connection to the fade is strong due to my spirit magic and blood magic. I would always have dreams of future events. Usually they came true or were slightly different. Since I got the mark, my connection to the fade only grew and I have been getting these agonizing waking visions."

"You are able to see visions of the future?" he asked.

She pressed her lips, "Not exactly. The fade has connections to many worlds. The eluvians can create doorways between these worlds in our current realm. Some of the worlds are exactly like ours with another Dorian and Inquisitor having a similar conversation or one far different. I am able to see glimpses into these worlds when I am in the fade. I have met other Inquisitors that were Elves, Qunari, dwarves, men, rogues, warriors, mages. The possibility is endless. In many of these worlds, it was not me that happened to overhear Corypheus, but another. In those worlds, I was the one that died. In our world, they are the ones that died. The connections in the fade are overwhelming, but I can see each one. Yet in these visions, I do not know whose future I am seeing."

He rubbed his temple, "I am sorry. This is a lot of information to process. It will take me some time." She nodded, but he continued, "What vision have you just seen?"

She sat up, "I have been seeing the future since before we defeated Corypheus. There is a more powerful villain afoot and I am trying my best to stop him. I cannot figure out how to prevent the destruction of our world without killing him."

"So kill him."

She shook her head, "I cannot. He has become a friend I care for and I understand what he is going through. I need to open his eyes and let him see the good in this world, but I am unable to do so. I have brought him along on so many missions and yet the future will not change. That moment will still come to pass, though he is kinder in that moment. But this vision was more. I was able to see past that point. I was able to see that I failed to stop it. This means that he is now gone. Time is progressing onto its normal path again. I have failed."

He stood, "Solas. You mean Solas, am I right? I have heard the Dalish speak to him in hushed whispers."

She rested her head in her hands, "Then I have failed worse than the other realms. I had tried so hard to stop this, but I may have just caused it further. Solas has left Skyhold."

"Tell me more of your visions so we can find him and stop him."

She shook her head, "I cannot say more about the future; there may be consequences. Please keep all I have told you a secret for now. I will continue to do my best, but please understand that my orders and suggestions have meaning. Please do as I say whenever possible." He nodded, but she stood before he could speak, "I must go to Cullen." She looked down at her hand that was already healing, "I cannot let what will happen cause him pain."

Dorian did not stop her when she left. She gave him much to think on for the night. She should have known. She should have told Cole to leave Solas alone for the moment. He must have felt the intrusion in his mind. The subtle suggestion failed. She felt close to tears. She was having a horrible day.

She entered her room and walked up the steps. Cullen was leaning on the balcony and she shivered from the cold draft, "Good evening, Cullen. You finished up early tonight." Instead of going to him, she went into her closet and began packing her armor, "I think I might go ahead of the troops tomorrow and get some supplies along the way. I heard rumor of a wandering merchant that has some rare goods."

"Tabitha," he called to her, "Tabitha!" She turned and he stood right before her. He lifted his hand and rubbed tears from her cheek. "What is wrong?"

She seemed shocked by her own tears. She just revealed so many secrets and the future she was building was crumbling before her. What could she possibly say? There was far too much. She needs to tell him the truth. He leaned down and kissed her, softly and intently.

She returned the kiss before pulling back. "I have something to tell you. I have been lying to you, the inquisition, and everyone I have met in over a decade. I am no Trevelyan. When I left the Ferelden circle, another mage and I was accompanied by three Templars and a few young Templars, one of which was you. We were on our way to the Ostwick tower. You and your superior parted ways with us to return to your training camp. We were a day away from the tower when we were set upon by bandits. The mage I was traveling with, Talia Trevelyan, was not very skilled with magic and was being sent to other circles to train, but she never made it back to Ostwick. Those bandits killed her, two Templars, and wounding the only young Templar remaining. Bann Trevelyan was a powerful noble in Ostwick and had the circle promise to meet our party and get her safely home. They arrived too late and found only the two of us alive. They asked the young Templar where the Trevelyan girl was and he was unsure which we were, especially in his state. I took her crest and ensured them that I was a Trevelyan and that the young Templar saved my life. They tended his wounds more diligently and he got expert care from healers hired by the family."

He moved her to the bed and urged her to continue, "I used magic to turn my brown hair blonde and pretended to be a Trevelyan ever since. I only met that Templar again when he was called to my harrowing. Upon seeing my hair, he realized immediately that I was not the Trevelyan daughter. He thanked me for what I did for him. He was given a higher command recently and was favored in Ostwick for saving the daughter of the most powerful man. He said he owed me his life and that he will do what he can to protect me. That night I met with my 'father' in a grand feast. He never realized who I was nor did he seem to care. I returned to the circle and lived on as a Trevelyan until I was sent with the mage delegation to the conclave. You know the rest from then. The first time I met you, I was Tabitha Alerion. My father was an apostate elf turned farmer and my mother was a human. I grew up in Ferelden."

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, "I know. Josephine looked into your history. Leliana as well. As advisors, we knew who you really were. We knew who we were choosing to be the Inquisitor. I knew who it was I was falling in love with and who I want to spend every moment."

She began to tear up again, "I love you, Cullen, so damn much, but I cannot-"

He shushed her with a single stroke of his hand down her cheek, "And I love you. I love you so much that just being able to be with you and share this love with you is more than enough pleasure than I could ever lust for in life. Besides, there are plenty of children made into orphans because of the blight and Corypheus. We will have no shortage in chance to start a family." He kissed her gently, "And maybe we can try to find your family's farm. See what has happened to it and if we can find your family."

She smiled, "I would like that. I would like that very much. Then, maybe, we can visit your family?"

He chuckled, "Of course, but you are allowed to be selfish sometimes. The future you forge will be bright."