"With an eluvian, Corypheus could cross into the Fade in the flesh?" Leliana said in shock, making Cullen and Josephine look at Alex and Morrigan in surprise as well, after they had returned from the witch's eluvian.

"Indeed." Morrigan confirmed, "The Inquisitor can attest that these artifacts still work if one knows how to use them."

"What happens when Corypheus enters the Fade?" Cullen asked her, and Morrigan grit her teeth, "Why, he will gain his heart's desire, and take the power of a god. Or—and this is more likely—the lunatic will unleash forces that tear the world apart."

Alex scowled, "We can't let that happen."

Morrigan shrugged, but she was smiling a little, " 'Twas always so, was it not? The madman would bury as all."

"Pardon me…" Josephine interrupted, raising her quilled pen and making everyone look at her, "But… does this mean everything's lost unless we get to the eluvian before him?"

They silenced for a bit, looking at each other, but soon a sense of urgency filled them with dread. Cullen was the first to speak, "Corypheus has a head start, no matter how quickly our army moves."

"We should gather our allies before we march." Josephine interjected, but Leliana shook her head, "Can we wait for them? We should send our spies ahead to the Arbor Wilds."

Cullen's eyes widened, "Without support from the soldiers? You'd lose half of them!"

"Then what should we do?" Josephine said, looking a little annoyed.

Alex huffed out loudly, making her three advisors look at her, before she smirked, "For starters, we don't let Corypheus worry us to death. Imagine how embarrassing that would be."

Josephine, Cullen and Leliana visibly relaxed as they chuckled at Alex's jest, but she moved forward towards the map, "Josephine, have our allies send scouts to meet us in the Wilds. Leliana, your fastest agents will join them. Together, we'll have enough spies to slow down Corypheus' army until Cullen's soldiers arrive."

Morrigan chuckled, "You really are the Hero of Ferelden's sister. Solona was just as assured during the battle of Denerim as you are. Such confidence… but the Arbor Wilds are not so kind to visitors. Old elven magic lingers in those woods."

Josephine bowed a little at Morrigan, "We'd be remiss not to take advantage of your knowledge, Lady Morrigan. Please, lend us your expertise."

The witch smiled smugly, " 'Tis why I came here, although it is good to see its value recognized."

"Any further instructions, Inquisitor?" Cullen asked Alex.

Alex looked at all of them, and she felt her chest expand with pride, "The Inquisition began as a handful of soldiers. Thanks to you, we're now a force that will topple a self-proclaimed god. I could ask for no finer council…" She looked over to Cullen, her green eyes softening as she looked at the man who braved to defeat his addiction and his fear, her love for him reflecting in her gaze, "No better guidance."

Cullen seemed to have understood her sentiment, and his own eyes marveled at his lover's strength, bravery and intelligence, "I speak for all of us when I answer: we could ask for no finer cause."

Leliana nodded, "We'll hound Corypheus in the Wilds before he can find the temple, or this 'eluvian'."

Josephine and Leliana bowed at Alex and headed for the door, with Morrigan following them to prepare and do her bidding, leaving the two lovers in the War Room. Alex sighed as she leaned over the table again, and looking up at him, "What do you think? Will it work?"

Cullen nodded as he went around the table to stand beside her, "Your plan is sound. We are ready to move on the Arbor Wilds when you give the word." He took her chin to make her look up at him, and he placed a kiss on her lips, "I will see you reach the temple before Corypheus."

Alex nodded, "Have my inner circle informed that all of them will be coming with us. But leave some of your best to guard Skyhold while we are gone."

He nodded, "I've asked Rylen to take over my duties here while we're in the Wilds. I cannot, and will not, risk you going there without me." He kissed her again, "I know you can protect yourself with magic, but I made a promise… to myself and to your sister, that I will protect you."

She smiled at him, before wrapping her arms around his middle, while his own arms snaked around her body as his head leaned over to her hair, smelling her familiar and comforting lavender scent. "Thank you, Alexandra…" He whispered at her ear, "Thank you for giving me a new purpose. I love you."

Alex's chest felt like it was expanding, almost bursting as she looked at Cullen's eyes, and she raised herself up to kiss him, "I love you, too, Cullen." She grinned at him, "Now let's prepare our army, shall we? I believe a long-delayed arse-whooping is order for Corypheus."

Cullen blinked, but he laughed out loud as he put an arm around her waist, heading to their doors, "You're spending too much time with Sera, Alexandra. But I agree. Let's go and kick Corypheus' ass."

Alex adjusted her gauntlets as she walked, her soldiers gathered at the courtyard of Skyhold, getting ready to march towards the Arbor Wilds. Josephine and Leliana had informed her that they have sent letters and ravens to the field, and that her allies, including Celene and Briala's armies, the Blades of Hessarian from the Storm Coast, and the Grey Wardens of Adamant, are on the move, and that they would probably arrive at the same time as Corypheus' army. Horsemaster Dennet acquired as much horses as he could so that they could move faster, and it shocked her to see that only a few soldiers were walking, and the her inner circle and her advisors have their own horses as well.

Krem and the Chargers were saddling up, with the Tevinter soldier helping his crew get ready under Bull's watchful eye, and the tall Qunari nodded at her. Josephine, Leliana, Sera, Solas, Vivienne, Cole, and Blackwall were already on their horses, awaiting her order, with the bald elf leaning over and pulling Varric's hand so that the dwarf sat behind him, making Alex smile a little at the storyteller's look of fear from the height in which he sat on. Morrigan was still saying goodbye to Kieran, with Mother Giselle waiting as she had requested that the Chantry mother would look after the boy. But Alex blinked when she saw two familiar mages, adjusting saddles of Cassandra and Dorian.

"Maxwell? Daylen?" Alex asked, and the twins turned around and gave her identical smiles. "What do you think you're doing?"

At her question, the twins looked at each other before looking back at her. "We're going with you to the Arbor Wilds." Maxwell said.

"The mages from Redcliffe are going, and so are we." Daylen seconded.

"And Solona told us to protect you."

"Demanded that we protect you, actually."

"Can't have her mad at us now, can we?"

"She'll kill us faster than an Archdemon if we left you alone."

"And I need to protect Dorian."

"And I need to protect Cassandra."

Alex shushed them, raising a finger, and the twins silenced as she closed her eyes and breathed, "Fine. I will allow you to come with us." She said, and the twins grinned cheerfully, "But… I will not allow you to get involved in the battle."

"But that's not fair!" Maxwell exclaimed.

"We want to fight with you!" Daylen added.

"We trained all our lives for a moment like this!"

"You need as much people to fight Corypheus' army!"

"You're younger than us!"

"Seniority rules!"

"We're going to fight with you whether you like or not!" The two exclaimed at the same time, scowling down at her and crossing their arms, making Dorian chuckle.

"They are quite right, Alex." Dorian told her from his horse, "If this is meant to be our final battle against Corypheus, we'll need as much help as possible. The twins are rather powerful mages, and could benefit us in the fight." And the Vint grinned, "They'll burn them all or talk them to death with their blithering. Either way, they'll lessen the enemies we're going to fight, I'm sure of it."

Maxwell looked offended as he smacked Dorian lightly on his calf, "That was mean, amatus."

Dorian laughed, "I know. But you love me for it."

Alex sighed again, before she pointed at the two of them sternly, "Alright, alright. You'll fight. But if anything happens to you, I will literally enter the Fade, drag your sorry spirits back into your bodies and kill you again. Is that understood?"

The twins grinned at her again as they saluted at her, "Yes, Inquisitor!" They said together, and Alex rolled her eyes before heading to her horse.

She hefted herself up to her horse and took the reigns, grasping it on her hands as Cullen and his horse trotted beside her. He nodded at her reassuringly, and Alex sighed as she turned her horse around, looking at her soldiers.

"Inquisition!" She shouted, making all of them look at her when they were finished saddling up, "A long time ago, we were few, and we were frightened. The sky is torn open, and the Fade spits out demons from the rifts. Our Divine died, and so did our friends, our families… and our Chantry. But this has become more. This… what we're fighting for… is larger than anything we've ever believed. Whether you pray to Andraste and the Maker…" She looked at Cullen and Cassandra, "Or the Gods of Old…" She looked at her brothers, "Or the Elven Pantheon…" She looked at Solas, "Or even if you are a follower of the Qun…" she looked at Iron Bull, "Corypheus threatens us all. He burns and tears our world apart. He has killed thousands of people in his selfish need to become a god himself…"

She swallowed a little, "I will admit… that I am not sure that I am the Herald of Andraste. I do not know if this is divine providence or a stroke of bad luck. But I do know this: no more. No more innocent blood will be spilt on his greed. No more demons will come out from the rifts. No more villages will be burn in utter ruin for his sake. No more! I ride to the Arbor Wilds, I will fight to the death if I have to, and I will not stop until Corypheus' army is defeated!"

She unsheathed her staff from behind her and raised it as she looked fiercely at the people around her, "Now, I ask you… my Inquisition… my friends… my family… are you willing to fight with me?!"

The people exploded into resounding cheers of support, and they raised their weapons as she did in agreement of her goals. She smiled brightly at them, before she spurred her horse around and shouted, "For the Inquisition!"

The men cheered again as her horse started running, galloping down the road out of Skyhold, with her friends, her family and her army behind her. Alex felt a small chill of fear run down her spine at what awaits them, but as she looked beside her, seeing the determined faces of her loved ones around her as their horses galloped, the sense of dread faded off into nothingness, and she smirked as the fear and doubt inside her disappeared, leaving only the feeling of excitement at the battle to come.