AN: The sister begs, and so this is the story being updated. Eventually I'll get back to picking just one per fandom and finishing but my brain just has so many ideas. Don't know what I'd do without her reminding me to get to work. Anyways, Poll up for Dragon age and while this isn't included it's because this story is going to span all THREE games and becoming a much more massive beast than I ever thought so it's going to be going a long time.

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Faith had been around far longer than most of it's kindred. While such emotions such as curiosity, patience, pride, desire were more common, pure faith in vast enough quantities to help create and then sustain a spirit was far more rare. In time with the passages into belief for various deities and myths it would work as a sort of growth spurt for any of the spirits beginnings to associate with such things. However the chasms of doubt would often undo such. So Faith rarely became others, mentored far too few of it's own kind as not many could grow it's core enough to branch out new ones from either a very ancient spirit or a particularly determined wisp that had access to enough belief to make the leap into a greater spirit form.

However, this expanse of time and experience meant Faith was hardly stranger to mentoring spirits that had communed too closely with the mortals and was awaiting the form of it's newest unexpected charge. Calmly, contently, it watched once more surrounded in the green hues, easily aware while Wynne was awake. Small thing it was to divide it's presence into the body it currently kept alive and to be present in the Fade. Faith felt it could, so naturally there was no reason it could not be in both locations at the same time. After all the physical location was overlapping and whatever spirit governed this aspect of the Fade had sensed the keening grief of the young one and understood that there was a harsh lesson to be passed along. The number of wisps in this location was slightly worrisome, for the size of Denerim nearby it seemed that there was little potential to help the infant spirits branch out into something more. The emotions and actions of those within the city too muddled to be of much use.

But in a spirit's grief there were so many emotions and felt very strongly. All the more so because it could be used to teach the little curious wisps the dangers of brushing against mortals.

It always occurred, eventually.

There was a keening whine, soft howling lament of loss before there it was. The figure of the massive hound with the undulations to it's form rippling out in the light that made up their bodies here. What the mortals had for tears, spirits had in rippling light that shimmered just so, tendrils of grief and agony branching out in fashion more like the disruption of breath on a cold day. Faith could tell easily from the pattern and undulations, the fluctuating light show just how utterly devastated the young soul was. If she had been screaming and hysterical in her tears in her mortal body by comparison the unhidden loss on display was one that would have broken a lesser soul. More, she was strong enough to not feel the need to hide how she felt, understanding that even in this agony she could help the others of the Fade.

"You touched." Faith explained softly, watching as the hound pulled it's legs up to it's chest. At the soft sensation of an echo around them, the awareness that betrayed the many watching from the governing spirit to a multitude of wisps drawn to the emotional and mental output of the youngling Faith let it's own light soften to show understanding and hopefully help soothe the ache that would be permeating her being.

"..once."

"With a mortal in such contact a bond is created. It is not like with us." Faith explained softly, having given this same talk many a time. Normally it did not need to be voiced but some of the young spirits hovering hidden in the ripples and folds of the Fade around them would be able to eavesdrop and learn if Faith did so, and not all of them were versed in light and fluctuating displays of form yet. The tilt of the head to the Twiceblooded encouraged Faith to explain.

"You touched spirit to mortal soul with this one you felt the loss of? They do not think, they do not experience as we do. The gestaltic merge is unknown to their beings and so it is a singular exchange. We put a little of ourselves to rest in their light and none is given back, not even just the temporary shift of displaced energy that occurs in elder to younger spirits. When it returns upon their perishing from the mortal realm it snaps back into place and the sudden surge of loss, the sensation of no longer being able to feel is entirely our burden. There has been no like gift of them to let us sense how they have grown and stretched what we left with them so it comes back in a shock. You must be careful, sometimes it has snuffed out the light of those not prepared for the influx."

A rapid surge in the light as Twiceblooded balked, vanished, reformed this time entirely massive. Electric patterns rippling along choice areas of it's fur that would be discernible only to those who did not rely on sight to see the forms in curves and scars. A demand for explanation in wordless form so stunned had Faith left Twiceblooded. Yes. Faith inclined it's currently humanoid head, resembling Wynne greatly for it was sharing her body and keeping her alive, so it was an easy garb to model itself after. The shifting of Faith's own light reminded Twiceblooded that while they knew it was truly the mortal it lived as, an anomaly in and of itself, it was also spirit trained and thus they considered it as they did.

"They do not think as we do." Faith coached softly. "In a place where belief is everything, where as Faith.." The spirit trailed off because it did not wish to brag. It was not in it's nature, but indeed the spirits of Faith were some of the most powerful here in the Fade. Belief was everything to them. What you believed became real and so rare were those mortals who could draw them tightly and succor their natures to grow and expand. Wynne was a rare treasure the likes of which Faith had only witnessed a scant handful of times since Thedas had begun to have sentient lifeforms that were bound to mortal bodies.

Twiceblooded's head lowered, understanding.

"They cannot understand our thoughts, we cannot understand theirs. Not truly, instinctively. When we merge it is to share, to grow, to be more. To give or exchange is the entire point for us, they keep and do not reciprocate."

Indeed proving Faith's words a number of little wisps had continued to draw closer, eager to tap into the loss and heartache that Twiceblooded was broadcasting without reserve. It was an experience, something new for them.

"Share." Faith advised softly.

"Does it get easier?" Twiceblooded asked in response, head lifting, eyes aglow and vibrant and Faith allowed it's own light form to undulate in mockery of a smile. So eager to learn this youngling was, so trusting. Faith was currently enjoying the sharing even though they stood a ways apart of their mingling lights as Twicebloooded's aura tentatively nudged against it's own. That of a younger spirit seeking guidance from one it saw as mentor. So, Faith was content. Twiceblooded saw no true separation from Wynne the mentor and Faith, only that each could offer different information. Indeed considering that Faith was keeping Wynne alive through an extreme melding of their two existences that would eventually be impossible for Wynne to keep up with without being destroyed in the process, it was the correct idea. Faith had no doubt that Twiceblooded had even guessed Faith was nurturing Wynne in the process to see if she could not become a lesser spirit herself when the time came for her moral body to cease breathing. Wynne was ever so bright a soul that she had the potential to become a spirit of Faith herself.

"To share with a mortal? No. But the pain, the wrenching devastation and that little part of yourself you shall lose?" Faith allowed it's light to dim, to flicker inward in a show that would have been a heavy sigh in Wynne's body. Perhaps even a look of both dejection and resigned adoration. "What one gains, young one, helps you grow."

Spirits knew that there was no lesson, or emotion, that was not needed. For those not prepared to cleave to a singular aspect it was all the more important they experience all they could for they were like the hunters bringing home sustenance for the little ones.

Understanding the suggestion Twiceblooded stretched out upon the ground and with the barest twitch of light off it's form acquiesced to the eager wisps about them. Excitedly they began to bounce off it's form, some colliding harder than others, some repeatedly, experiencing and sharing in the grief. Snatching at parts of the memories and emotions and both lessening and deepening the agony felt in the process. Not that Twiceblooded would scold them to be so excited about her suffering.

It was something new after all.

()()()()()()()()

Cloaked in the Fade as he was, Solas had chosen to observe the spirits communing together. While he often observed from a closer role there were times in order to learn the most about those whom would later become his friends that Solas had learned simply watching could help with his understanding. Certainly it was not the first time he'd witnessed an older spirit explaining to a younger one about the dangerous act of getting too attached to a mortal but he'd never seen one be warned away from the rare sharing he had come to treasure so greatly. It made far more sense now though, why it was something those older spirits he had known millenia were even now wary of initiating such contact. Even Wisdom had yet to brush 'hand' to his own often and he'd known that spirit since he was a boy. There had been a few more rash ones, including one of Pride and another of Mischief that had not been so recalcitrant. He had no idea the severing of such an event even long after the contact, could cause the spirit distress however.

Quietly, Solas watched as over and over again curious wisps approached and then bombarded the prone form of the Twiceblooded hound, reminding him immensely of puppies crawling over a resigned elder canine stuck with the duty of being chewtoy and amusement both.

Leaning on his staff the former 'god' to the Elves felt himself for the first time wondering just how many of the schemes he and his fellows had hatched over the years that had caused those truly loyal to them such acute distress. Even knowing Flemeth was to live, perhaps even able to sense it in some small way if the 'death' had caused seeming agony, Twiceblooded seemed as listless and stricken as if it was a death sentence upon itself.

His own recent actions with Felessan made him pause. He'd threatened the male to go out and find one of the mirrors. Fully intending to take him to task or simply end him if he failed. Yet.

Yet.

Perhaps it was not the best of plans, Solas would have to wait and see. For now he wondered if approaching Twiceblooded at this point would even be welcomed?

Faith however, was a far more ancient spirit than Solas was usually given the pleasure of interacting with, indeed considering that he had inspired such emotions in others it was one of the few he often felt peculiar approaching. That said, Faith had clearly been aware of his interloping presence and lifted an arm, gesturing for him to come near.

Hesitant was hardly a word one would use upon one bearing the name of 'Pride' and so he did not wait to do as bidden.

The wisdom in such an action revealed almost immediately as Twiceblooded's head rose from where it had been upon it's paws while the wisps all but bounced off it's hide, ears perked up and light crackling once more like lightning instead of wilting leaves. For all that the 'language' of spirits was one he still struggled to understand there was no mistaking the hounds body language nor the sound to the echoing call when she caught sight of him.

"Solas!"

The sheer pleasure overlaying his name made Solas smile widely, touched. "Hello, my friend. I hope I am not intruding?"

Curiously enough some of the wisps seemed to shake about agitated, but clearly just as interested in circling around him to sate their wonder at the presence of the Fade mage.

"The lesson is one that takes time to sink in." Faith answered calmly. There were no introductions, it was not often the way of such beings to need them.

"You are well?" Solas asked, feeling a trifle awkward considering he had heard everything. Standing with a great shake sending wisps flying, and in their brightness he could only surmise it was like children's excited squeals at the action, Twiceblooded bobbed her head.

"Growth is rarely pleasant." Her form dispersed then, with a particularly energetic bombardment from several wisps and they all reformed with the wisps a trifle larger, the ears and tail of the hound displaying good natured annoyance at the infantile spirits. "These ones are aiding in the pain however, hungry as they are for something new."

"Indeed, I've heard and witnessed such before but they do seem most determined." Solas teased slightly, amused at seeing the insistent nature of the generally placid and curious tiny forms bombarding constantly. "Certainly grief cannot be so unusual for them?"

"It's the fact it was born from contact rebounding upon a form perishing that had shared communion." Came the gentle explanation from Faith. "Due to the experience being so rare and not one we suggest for the littler spirits this is the only way many will ever know of it for a few millenia at the least. Twiceblooded may expect to have such an encounter regardless of where in the fade it is for a time."

"It does not then cause such complications to have contact with other spirits?" Solas queried thoughtfully as he watched the admittedly quick contact from small young spirit to hound shaped young spirit.

Unknown to Solas the flickering of light just below the main visible spectrum between Faith and Twiceblooded betrayed their amusement. It did not occur to them that he simply did not know the truth of Twiceblooded's nature. To them it was not of importance. And indeed because Twiceblooded was mortal having such contact as she was and so regularly with the wisps and other spirits to share her experiences may indeed have caused them likewise such harm if she had thought as a mortal inside the Fade. Quite simply, she did not. Had been taught as one would in a foreign tongue from such a young age her mindset in the Fade was utterly that of a spirit and it changed everything about the interactions. Giving only instead of taking, as was taught in how to handle those younger. Because she was given from Faith and Valor, Curiosity, Patience, and others older than Saeris was, she likewise only gave when handling 'younger' spirits for all they may have centuries on her, the slight energy they left behind when making room for what she passed on no more than a puff of air from breathing out against the skin of one beside you stirring the currents. It side stepped the problem that could have formed upon her eventual passing.

"Much of it has to do with thought." Twiceblooded finally twisted her own ideas into words that perhaps would make sense to the ancient elf. "Our thoughts form patterns which shape the Fade and our way of directing it, it would be like...like if one cast fire spells with a way meant to call on ice."

"Nothing would occur, the methods are so different that.." Solas began to lecture before trailing off, brows furrowed and he tapped at his lips. "I see. Not quite, but enough that I think I can begin to grasp at what you mean. So the very way you..perceive..your exchange changes the outcome?"

"Quite." Faith interjected in an amused tone, privately marveling that the elf before her was one of the 'lords' of the Fade amongst mortals and yet his understanding in many aspects of it was younger than that of a mere mortal child currently in the spirit body resembling a hound. Faith considered itself very fortunate to be able to help teach the strange mortal that wasn't, a unique chance to see if a Fade walker could bridge the gap because they had been taught the Fade from an early enough years by spirits themselves instead of relying on their own interpretations and misconceptions brought on by others. The simple fact that Twiceblooded clearly did not think of itself in either a gendered fashion or indeed the mortal shape it had been born in while here bore out much of that early teaching. Those were things of a body, of thoughts upon a body and interactions that had to do more with biology than nature. Gender was a concept for procreational purposes, to asexual beings what one liked and did for self expression was just that. Indeed Faith had even met a few spirits that chose peculiar colors and vibrations to their lights because it was what pleased them.

Gender itself was still a concept that baffled most spirits, the idea that so much of ones existence could be taken up in a matter of chance and trying to fight or quash ones nature to fit ideals made no sense to beings who most often in betraying their natures would become demons. You were as you were, simple as that.

Mortals did make things so complex.

Faith noticed the flare of Twiceblooded's light, rippling and undulating in laughter tinged a soft indigo like crackling lightning and flickered it's own back in cerulean amusement. Yes, of course the hound picked up on all of that. Thoughts were always on display if you knew how to read their nonverbal communication.

/It still confuses my mortal friends that I am hound and woman./ Saeris agreed in a method that seemed as if she'd submerged underwater. Faith just flickered briefly in agreement. Faith had observed that even in Wynne, as if the idea Saeris was Twiceblooded and vice versa was somehow not just a change of skins and growth of being, but as if the two forms should be different in some way. Such a peculiar thought.

"I'm clearly missing out on something." Solas drawled good naturedly and Twiceblooded barked in laughter, pawing at one ear for a moment before sitting down. Perhaps in deference to their guest she actually sat upon the ground instead of just drawing her paws up to her.

"Commentary on the bemusement spirits have for genders."

A startled sound emerged from Solas then as he covered his mouth, the dancing light of his eyes giving away his mirth. "I did always notice that seemed to stymie all those I was familiar with regardless of if they chose to take on an elvhen like form. Wisdom in particular could not seem to grasp the differences in pronouns."

"Wisdom?" Twiceblooded cocked her head curiously. "Was that your first?"

"My..first?" Solas asked and there was a faintly baffled expression to him, one that Saeris guessed meant he was not understanding the question in the slightest. Briefly it made her ears flatten backwards in annoyance. Of course, she finally has a friend to talk to who likes spirits as she does and she still can't seem to make any sense of their talks sometimes.

"Your first spirit mentor."

Solas's head dipped slightly. "Well yes, I've met many spirits since and they have been friends and guides but I have the sensation it meant more to you?"

"Curiosity was my first. Teaching me what I was observing and how to handle such. Patience helped." Saeris agreed. "Without them I likely would have been lost in the Fade, stumbling worse than I do now"

"How could you be lost in the Fade?" Solas's brow was deeply furrowed now. "I imagine it couldn't..well, to be truthful I've yet to meet a spirit that was walking in the mortal realm so young.."

"I started out there." Twiceblooded answered truthfully, and felt Faith all but inwardly convulsing in laughter that was on the ultra violet spectrum of light and completely unnoticed by the ancient elf in their midst. Spirit humor. Unbelievable truths stated blandly tended to be overlooked by those mortals trying to over complicate things. Twiceblooded rarely had the chance to use such sarcasm herself.

The absolute pallor that overtook Solas's face was rather interesting. Saeris flickered her own light in a question at Faith, still bombarded as she was by wisps it wasn't worth manifesting the energy to make it on a visible spectrum. /Did I break him?/

/No. Mortals just get wrapped up in their preconceived notions. Likely he's imagining you being formed from some heinous art or death of a greater spirit or demon./

/Like breaking a mirror.../ Saeris agreed in thought. It was very rare, but energy did not just vanish and so if a larger spirit or demon was destroyed instead of just returned to the Fade it often created smaller beings in light ripples. Most would hurriedly find their way to cross over but sometimes they were trapped or died out, sinking their magics deep within the area around them. It made her cant her head then at Faith, waiting for Solas to overcome whatever inner turmoil he was creating for himself.

/Is that why I struggled so after the death of the Lady of the Forest?/

"Yes. You believed, and you loved no less fiercely for it's brevity. When she shattered and most the energy from her and the keeper went to obliterating the curse and reverting it to those whom still lived a large portion went into you. Much of Witherfang." Faith knew that deep down Saeris had likely suspected as much. And Faith was admittedly enjoying tweaking the ancient elf -still such a child in comparison to it's own existence- and watching him go even paler, startled as it responded aloud. Wynne was most definitely having some influence on Faith it seemed, this teasing of the young ones was new. Certainly not unpleasant.

"That explains it." Twiceblooded accepted calmly, after all it was done, but Solas it seemed was not adjusting to the revelation well.

"You are not suffering any ill effects?" Indeed the way his hands gripped his staff it seemed otherwise he was worried enough to have the urge to pat down the large hound and check it over. Faith hadn't been so amused in a while.

"Mostly my temper had increased, I was a little unstable for a time." Twiceblooded admitted, not seeing a reason as to why it seemed to be troubling Solas so. The concept of her turning more into a demon from the influx of such an old spirit that had been greatly twisted in a concept of vengeance and ruthless behavior never factored into Saeris's mind. "Flemeth helped settle me and the rest will just take time as it was growth that I have yet to assimilate properly." She wasn't strong enough yet, for whatever the Lady had left her would doubtless emerge later even before factoring the death of the ancient spirit into matters.

"Should you start to feel unstable again.." Solas began and there was such a deep resonance to his voice that made all the spirits perk up and pay attention. This was the power of a great Fade Mage, a dreamer from Arlathan could not only traverse and control the Fade to great effects but command all but the greatest of spirits. All without forcing his will upon them. Part of the immense respect was because the spirits sought to avoid if it became a matter of an angered and ruthless lord of the Fade deciding to assert control rather than wandering. It had been a great problem in eons long over. Even just in ensuring Twiceblooded was listening and would remember it was effecting all the spirits around them. Much to Solas's annoyance it only had seemed to catch it's attention not have it so riveted as even the wisps about were holding utterly still and Faith had ceased flickering in it's light.

Cheeky young thing. Stubborn too.

"Seek me out. Immediately. Even if it seems a small thing, but a moment's lapse. I will not lose you." Solas insisted and there was none of the kind friend but more a stern mentor, one who had been general and king, and likened to a God amongst his people. He would not lose this strange bright spirit that made him forget the worst of things past and yet to come simply because it did not think to seek out one who could help ground it from twisting -forcibly if need be- certainly Solas had helped keep spirits from becoming demons in their moments of weakness many times in the past.

Twiceblooded let out a soft whine, tongue out in a canine smile as slowly the tail began to wag. "All right, Solas. I promise if I'm upset I'll come complain to you."

"That's not what I.." Solas groaned, running a hand over his face before looking at her with exasperated annoyance. "Little brat." He muttered in fondness however, relieved that if only briefly it seemed he had helped distract the bright soul from grief and gotten a promise of more time together in the process. Not to mention all he heard learned on spirit and mortal interaction this time around was far more complex than he had surmised. It was entirely fascinating.

"What have you been up to?" Solas asked, changing the conversation as he leaned upon his staff. "You're awake a great deal of the time."

"Well.." Saeris began and then in amusement, started to explain in canine fashion all the scents and sights of Denerim and trying to keep her assassin out of trouble. At some point Solas formed a chair to sit upon that was indeed far more like a throne, and did not bother hiding his laughter at her retelling of running around back and forth with fools errands, often peppered with the witty banter of the group she was with.

Faith settled back to observe, highly entertained at the way Saeris told about everyone save herself, and the relaxed set to the face and form of Solas as he listened. It was not so unlike thousands of years prior to see Fen'Harel in his throne with a wolf at his feet, if he had not been talking with it then. The spirit governing the area pressed close, staying on the light spectrum mortal eyes -or mortal thinking eyes- could not see. It was a very immense and old spirit in golden armor too large and ornate for a living being to have carried. No communication was needed for them to share in the amusement of watching two Dreamer mages, one ancient and the other but a youth with entirely opposite ways of approaching and handling the Fade sharing stories like children. Because of course Solas had to share his own commiseration of ancient comrades who had caused no end of mischief..if mostly ones he had set up admittedly.

Around them, the wisps continued to bombard Twiceblooded contently.