The cave was lit with several candles, and she saw a cot in one far wall with a satchel, as well as a table with several papers and a map. But as she moved, she heard the familiar sound of a sword unsheathing.

She turned around to see a man, wearing a blue silk and Silverite Grey Warden armor, with amber eyes, a square jaw, and light blond hair that was slightly slicked back, and he reminded her of Cullen. He had his sword in his hand, pointed at her chest, but when she looked at his face, the man's eyes widened in recognition and his mouth opened in shock.

"Maker's breath…" The man said, before he dropped his sword and rushed forward, hugging her so tightly that she gasped in a breath. Her arms stiffened at her sides as he continued to hug her, one hand around her waist and the other holding on to her head and woven into her hair.

"Solona! Maker's breath… Solona! What are you doing here? How did you find me? Are you alright, love? Why did you… shrink? You seem shorter than I remember. Are you even eating?! You're so thin!" The man said, and as Alex opened her mouth to answer, the man rushed forward again, this time grabbing her face. She gasped when she felt the man's mouth on her lips, and she stiffened even more, which caused Varric to start laughing so loudly that it echoed around the cave.

"Let go of the Inquisitor, Alistair."

The man, Alistair, stopped kissing her, pushing her backward but still holding on to her shoulders, before looking at Hawke. "Hawke? What do you mean 'Inquisitor'? Isn't this Solona? Are you saying Solona is a Warden AND the Inquisitor?"

At this, Hawke laughed out loud as she went forward, "No, Alistair. This is Inquisitor Alexandra Trevelyan… formerly Amell. She is Solona's youngest sister and my second-cousin."

Alistair looked down incredulously at Alex, whose face had turned red, but she smiled and waved up at him. He blinked several times, before he coughed, "So… Solona's sister? Oh! Oh… well… this is… awkward." He muttered out as he let go of her and walked backward, his face turning just as red as hers.

"Nice to meet you, brother-in-law." Alex said, and she could hear Varric and Blackwall chortling behind Hawke. "I'm Alex."

"Hello… Alex." Alistair said, smiling shyly at her, and he grimaced a little, "Sorry about that whole… thing… right. Sorry."

"It's quite alright." Alex said, and her smile grew into a wide grin, "I can see why my sister married you now. You're quite the kisser."

Alistair blushed furiously as Hawke and the others laughed, but soon he chuckled as he scratched the back of his neck. "Yes, well. What do you expect? You look just like your sister."

She shrugged, "I get that a lot."

"So… you're the Inquisitor?" Alistair asked as he looked at her, "They told me the Herald of Andraste was a woman, I just didn't think that it'd be… my sister-in-law, and another Amell."

"Believe me, it's complicated." Alex said, still smiling at Alistair, "But the short version of it is, I was at the wrong place at the wrong time."

He laughed, "Seems like your luck runs in the family, too." He pointed at Hawke, "From what I heard about her story, it's pretty much the same. But it's good to finally meet you, Alex. You know… your sister used to talk about you a lot. And about the twins."

Alex blinked in surprise, "Did she?"

"Yes. We talked about you a lot during our travels during the Fifth Blight. She's never seen you, but she loved receiving your letters. She expressed many times that when the Blight ends, she'll try to head to Ostwick to look for you. But of course, she had other duties after everything. She rebuilt the Wardens in Amaranthine while I hunted darkspawn in the south." He smiled down at her, "She wanted to write to you so many times, but she had a hard time sending out a raven. And when we learned of the corruption in the Wardens of Orlais, well, she did what she had to."

She nodded, "I see… thank you for telling me."

Alistair coughed and turned to the table, "Well… embarrassing moment aside, I'm sure came here for information about Corypheus." He looked behind Hawke and saw Alex's companions, but he blinked. "You have a Warden with you."

From behind Hawke, Blackwall walked forward, "Warden Blackwall."

"You're Blackwall? Duncan… our mentor spoke of you."

"Duncan… Yes, good man." Blackwall said simply, nodding at him.

"So… help me add this up, brother-in-law." Alex said, smirking, but she crossed her arms, "Most of the Wardens disappear, then I run into a darkspawn magister. Do you think that one might have something to do with the other?"

"When Hawke killed Corypheus, the Wardens thought the matter resolved." Alistair said, "But Archdemons don't die from simple injuries, as your sister probably knows. I feared that Corypheus might have the same powers, so I started to investigate. I found hints, but no proof. And then, not long after, every Warden in Orlais started to hear the Calling."

Hawke blinked, "Maker… why didn't you tell me?"

"It was a secret. A very dangerous one. I try to actually keep a few of my oaths to the Wardens."

"Is the Calling some sort of Grey Warden ritual?" Alex asked.

"Well…" Alistair said, looking at her and scowling, "Wardens are tied to the darkspawn. We're connected somehow… and eventually that connection poisons you. You get bad dreams, and then you start to hear the music. It calls to you. Quiet at first, and then so loud that you can't bear it. At that point, you say farewell and go to the Deep Roads to die fighting. 'In death, sacrifice.'"

Alex felt her throat constrict, thinking of the fate that awaited her sister, and she was unable to speak, but luckily Hawke spoke, "And every Grey Warden in Orlais is hearing that right now? They think they're dying?"

"Yes, I think Corypheus caused this somehow." Alistair said, crossing his arms, "If all the Wardens die, who will stop the next Blight? That's what has them so terrified."

"So Corypheus isn't controlling them. He's bluffing them with this Calling, and they're falling for it." Hawke concluded, and she put her hand under her chin.

"You said all the Wardens are hearing the Calling. Does that include you and my sister? And Carver and Blackwall?" Alex asked.

Alistair looked sadly at her, "Unfortunately, yes. When I'm talking or fighting, I can almost ignore it. But whenever things are quiet, I can hear it. It's like a song you can't get out of your head. Solona… even went as far as reading aloud and singing whenever she had the chance so she wouldn't hear it, the last time we were… together." He smirked a little, "Damned annoying, frankly."

"I do not fear the Calling, and worrying about it only gives it power." She heard Blackwall say, "Anything Corypheus does will only strengthen my resolve."

"So the Wardens are making some last, desperate attack on the darkspawn." Hawke said, and Alistair scowled again, before looking directly at Alex.

"I saw what a Blight did to Ferelden… your sister and I lived it. If we weren't there… if the Wardens hadn't stopped it, there'd be no more Thedas. Warden-Commander Clarel proposed some drastic things… blood magic and such… to prevent further Blights before we die. I protested, maybe too loudly, and Clarel sent guards, and well… here I am." He looked down at the map on the table and pointed, "The Wardens are gathered here, at the Western Approach."

Alex looked down at the map, "I haven't travelled there yet. Perhaps we could send out scouts to investigate the area." She looked up at Alistair and smiled at him, "You and Hawke are welcome to Skyhold in the meantime, brother-in-law. You could rest there while my people are charting it."

Alistair sighed before smiling, "That would be… glorious. Thank you, Alex." He laughed a little, "I can't tell you when was the last time I've slept in a real bed. Running from other Wardens can be really tiring." But he coughed, "But… would you happen to have any cheese in Skyhold? Because I haven't eaten cheese in months."

She laughed, "Of course, we have cheese. Come, let's head back to camp and then to Skyhold."