The next room we enter is long with arches every few feet and alcoves in between the arches. Standing in every alcove in a spiritual version of a person. Four alcoves are on either side of the room with the door at the end, so there are eight people in total. I approach a man in chantry robes first. The dark-haired man bows to me before speaking.
"I am Cathaire, disciple of Andraste and commander of her armies. I saw all these things done, and knew that He smiled on us.". When I don't respond he keeps going.
"No man has seen it but all men know it. Lighter than air, sharper than any sword. Comes from nothing but would fell the strongest armies. Of what do I speak?". Well, shit. I'm terrible at riddles. I shrug.
"I don't know.". The man nods in satisfaction.
"Perhaps you know nothing of suffering or war. There is wisdom in innocence, too. Go forward.". He disappears as a wisp that flies insanely quick towards the door and collides with it in a flash of light. I ignore the ache in my stomach and continue to the next person. A woman in peasant's clothes with ragged, brown hair greets me. She nods instead of bowing before talking to me.
"A dream came upon me, as my daughter slumbered beneath my heart. It told of her life and her betrayal and death. I am sorrow and regret. I am a mother weeping bitter tears for a daughter she could not save". I nod to pretend I care about the supposed ghost of a woman long dead. She nods back at me and tells me her riddle.
"Echoes from a shadow realm, whispers of things yet to come. Thought's strange sister dwells in night, is swept away by dawning light. Of what do I speak?". I hesitate and try to thing of something. She said a dream came to her. Is that the answer? The other guy accepted 'I don't know' as an answer. Will she accept it? Probably not. The spirit clears her throat and I panic.
"Dreams!". The shade disappears and I smile a little at my luck. The next woman I approach has red hair and is wearing slightly fancier peasant's clothes. They're still poor people clothes, but not as ragged as the last woman's clothes. The shade doesn't bow or nod to me.
"The smallest lark could carry it, while a strong man might not. Of what do I speak?". I begin chuckling as I start to answer 'a coconut'. Leliana slapping me on the back makes me answer what's probably the right answer.
"A tune.". The shade nods in happiness at me.
"Yes. I was Andraste's dearest friend in childhood, and always we would sing. She celebrated the beauty of life, and all who heard her would be filled with joy. They say The Maker himself was moved by Andraste's song, and then she sang no more of simple things.". I know the next man I approach. The same once wiped from the sacred chantry by humans. The bald elven man is dressed for battle. I'm still not sure if these are the real spirits or shades or whatever, but I still deeply bow before Shartan. My mother and father made sure I knew of the elf that helped Andraste during her rebellion.
"Arise, fellow elven.". I rise and the shade of Shartan has a slight smile on his face as he asks me his riddle.
"I'd neither a guest nor a trespasser be. In this place I belong, that belongs also to me.". I don't need to guess or say I don't know. My eyes hurt as I realize Shartan and I have the exact same dream for our people. Only he had the backing of Andraste and I don't have anyone on my side. Shartan gives me a sympathetic look as I whisper the answer.
"Home.". Shartan nods at me and speaks directly to me instead of our group.
"It was my dream for the people to have a home of their own, where we would have no masters but ourselves. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and thus we followed Andraste, against the Imperium. But she was betrayed, and so were we.". Shartan disappears in a flash of light. For a moment I remain there. Leliana reaches out and pats me on the shoulder. Morrigan doesn't touch me, but asks me a question.
"You alright?". I shrug and, weakly, Morrigan tries to cheer me up.
"Come on. The sooner this is over the sooner you get your mountain for you and your elves.". The next red-haired woman I meet is in traditional Tevintar robes. She snarls and sneers when she sees me.
"I am justice. I am vengeance. Blood can only be repaid in blood.". I decide to have some fun with the spirit and take some of my frustration/anger out on her.
"Are you snarling at me because I'm an elf not chained to your feet, or because I'm not a prissy little mage?". Morrigan speaks up over my shoulder.
"Hey!". The spirit snorts at me and snarls her riddle.
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The debt of blood must be paid in full. Of what do I speak?". I decide to tell her the answer and get it over with.
"Vengeance". The woman nods and tells me what she means.
"Yes. My husband Hessarian would have chosen a quick death for Andraste. I made him swear that She would die publicly with Her warleaders, that all would know the Imperium's strength.". I manage to say something to the woman as she disappears.
"Well, you're kind of a bitch, aren't you?". I swear I hear her curse as she disappears. The next man I meet is covered in armor and has a white beard reaching his chest.
"A poison of the soul, passion's cruel counterpart; from love she grows, till love lies slain. Of what do I speak?". I hesitate and Leliana grabs my shoulder. Carefully, she leans forward and whispers the answer directly into my ear.
"Jealousy.". I stand tall and confidently tell the man my answer.
"Jealousy.". The bearded man nods at me without acknowledging Leliana, so I'm assuming he didn't hear my lover whispering to me.
"Yes, jealousy drove me to betrayal. I was the greatest general of the Alamarri, but beside Her I was nothing. Hundreds fell before Her on bended knee. They loved Her, as did the Maker. I loved her too, but what man can compare with a god?". He disappears and I move onto one of the last two people still here. Another bald man in chantry robes. He bows deeply before me, then asks me his riddle.
"The bones of the world stretch towards the sky's embrace. Veiled in white, like a bride greeting her groom. Of what do I speak?". Morrigan is the one to whisper the answer.
"The mountains.". I hiss back at her.
"You sure?". The shade glares at me and I offer a weak smile. He sighs and motions at me to give an answer.
"The mountains?". He nods, but sounds disappointed when he says his next line.
"Yes. I carried Andraste's Ashes out of Tevinter into the mountains to the east where She could gaze ever into Her Maker's sky... No more fitting a tomb than this could we find.". The man disappears into the door like all of the others. I look around the room and see that only one more sprite or shade or whatever remains to question me. This man is a mage with a large sword strapped to his back. He sneers at me as he tells me his riddle.
"She wields the broken sword, and separates true kings from tyrants. Of what do I speak?". I open my mouth, but Morrigan and Leliana both hiss the answer in my ears.
"Mercy.". I say the word automatically without thinking.
"Mercy.". Another nod before he says his parting words.
"Yes. I could not bear the sight of Andraste 's suffering, and mercy bade me end her life. I am the penitent sinner, who shows compassion as he hopes compassion will be shown to him.". The final shade disappears into a flash of light and the door flies open. I rush towards it, but find myself stopping only a few feet into the new room. Shianni is there. Well, kind of. I can tell it's not the real her. Her face is too clear and the familiar smell of her (smoking oak wood and fine wine) isn't radiating off of her like it should. And, if I squint I can see through her midsection and see the wall behind her.
This is another shade. Morrigan, Leliana, and Duncan finally catch up to me. I expect this Shianni to ask me another riddle to let me pass. Instead, one of my closest and dearest friends offers me a smile. My chest aches and I'm reminded of what I did in Denerim after becoming a warden. I went to help Leliana and promised that I'd go visit my family, but I never even tried or even went over to the entrance to see if it was open. The fake Shianni speaks in a voice that sends a shudder up my spine.
"Hello, cousin.". Her voice is too smooth and soft for the real Shianni. I try to make sense of it.
"What are you? Are you part of the gauntlet, the mountain, or Shianni herself? I know you're not the real her.". The shade nods in agreement, but her smile doesn't falter as she explains it to me.
"Maybe a little bit of all. I honestly don't know; though, I do know I speak for her.". She steps towards me. Instinctively, I feel one of my legs jerk backwards. The shade Shianni doesn't take offence. She just keeps on smiling while talking again.
"You shouldn't keep living in the past. It's been almost a year since you left. I've worked through what happened, and the deaths of Arl's son and his men helped me. Knowing they could no longer harm anyone else helped me. You did that. You made them pay for what they did. You can't keep gnawing over what happened like a dog worrying at a bone. Please. For my sake. I don't want you to suffer. Hell, if I even knew you were alive.". She reaches into her ghostly shirt and pulls out a necklace. As she passes it to me the shade Shianni gives me some helpful advice.
"Hurry up with your quest. Everyone misses you, and things are beginning to turn badly for the elves.". She begins to fade, but I beg for more.
"What do you mean things are turning badly for the elves?". The shade Shianni offers a sadder smile as she continues fading.
"I don't know.". When she's gone I look at what she gave me. In my palm rests a simple amulet with a mirrored back and an archaic symbol of the Chantry on the front. When I'm gazing into the silvered backing, there are fleeting glimpses of someone else: the face is familiar, and the smile encouraging. Shianni is encouraging me along my quest. Or at least, Shianni's shade is encouraging me along my quest.
I slip the necklace around my neck and take off the necklace that I got after I went through the Joining. I consider giving the necklace to Leliana or Morrigan, but decide against it. I'm a Grey Warden and this necklace is meant purely for Grey Wardens. It's not right to give it to them. I slide my old necklace into my pocket and motion for everyone to follow me. I need to get through this to get back to Denerim. Quickly.