Ruya emerged, blinking in the bright daylight. She saw Cassandra, Cullen, Josephine, and Leliana talking quietly together. It was good to see the four of them not arguing. Cassandra looked up and caught sight of her. The other three departed, and Cassandra walked over. She gestured at the people walking around the courtyard. "They arrive daily from every settlement in the region. Skyhold is becoming a pilgrimage." Cassandra gestured for Ruya to walk with her. "If word has reached these people, it will have reached the elder one. We have the walls and numbers to put up a fight here, but this threat is far beyond the war we anticipated. But we now know what allowed you to stand against Corypheus, what drew him to you."

"He came after me because my efforts put the Inquisition in his way." And hopefully, she'd be able to keep the Inquisition in his way.

"Perhaps in more ways than you've considered." Cassandra continued walking. "Your decisions let us heal the sky. Your determination brought us out of Haven." She led Ruya towards the stairs. "You are that creature's rival because of what you did. And we know it. All of us. The Inquisition requires a leader: the one who has already been leading it." Leliana stood on the landing, a longsword lying across her hands. Below, the survivors of Haven were starting to gather, led by Cullen and Josephine. Cassandra turned back to face Ruya. "You."

She stared at the faces below her before turning towards Cassandra. "Perhaps I didn't hear you correctly. A mage at the head of the Inquisition?"

"Not a mage. You."

"I happen to be a mage."

Cassandra's lips twitched just slightly. "I will not pretend no one will object, but times are changing. Perhaps this is what the Maker intended. There would be no Inquisition without you. How it will serve, how you lead: that must be yours to decide."

The hilt of the blade was fashioned to look like a dragon's head. She wrapped her fingers around the hilt, and took it gently from Leliana. Light reflected off the blade as she held it in front of her. "With fear running rampant, they need to see a mage standing for what is right." She turned to look at the gathered people. "I'll defeat Corypheus standing with them, not over them."

"Wherever you lead us." Cassandra stepped towards the edge of the landing and raised her voice. "Have our people been told?"

"They have," Josephine called back. "And soon the world."

"Commander, will they follow?"

"Inquisition. Will you follow?" Cullen's question was answered by a loud cheer. "Will you fight?" Another cheer answered him. "Will we triumph?" Their voices raised again. Cullen drew his sword as he turned back towards her. "Your leader. Your Herald." He raised the blade, pointing it towards her. "Your Inquisitor."

She raised the blade she held in response. They continued to cheer. Josephine joined in before catching herself, and Cullen gave the ambassador a bemused look.

#

Cullen opened the door into the great hall, holding it for the rest of them to enter. "So this is where it begins."

"It began in the courtyard." Leliana touched one of the walls. "This is where we turn that promise into action."

"But what do we do?" Josephine took her pen off her board, and then replaced it. "We know nothing about this Corypheus except that he wanted your mark?"

Ruya turned to look at them. "Corypheus wants to restore Tevinter. Is this a prelude to war with the Imperium?"

"I get the feeling we're dealing with extremists, not the vanguard of a true invasion," Cullen said.

Josephine nodded agreement. "Tevinter is not the Imperium of a thousand years ago. What Corypheus yearns to 'restore' no longer exists." She took up her pen again. "Though they would shed no tears if the south fell to chaos, I'm certain."

She considered a moment. "Corypheus said he wanted to enter the Black City, that this would make him a god."

"He is willing to tear this world apart to reach the next." Leliana slashed a hand through the air. "It won't matter if he's wrong."

"What if he's not wrong?" Cullen gestured. "If he finds some other way into the Fade..."

Leliana sighed. "Then he gains the power he seeks or unleashes catastrophe on us all."

For now, she'd leave that particular problem to Solas. He knew far more about the Fade and its possibilities than the rest of them. "Could his dragon really be an Archdemon? What would that mean?"

"It would mean the beginning of another Blight." Leliana actually paled slightly at the thought.

Josephine shook her head. "We've seen no darkspawn other than Corypheus himself. Perhaps it's not an archdemon at all, but something different?"

"Whatever it is, it's dangerous." Cullen touched his sword hilt. "Commanding such a creature gives Corypheus an advantage we can't ignore."

Ruya turned towards him. "Could he strike at us here? We can't have a repeat of what happened at Haven."

Cullen gestured at the walls. "Skyhold has the bones to withstand Corypheus. After what you did with one trebuchet, I'd bet against a direct attack."

"We do have one advantage: we know what Corypheus intends to do next." Leliana gestured. "In that strange future you experienced, Empress Celene had been assassinated."

"Imagine the chaos her death would cause. With his army..." Josephine's pen dotted the air.

"An army he'll bolster with a massive force of demons, or so the future tells us," Cullen added.

"Corypheus could conquer the entire south of Thedas, god or no god." Josephine put her pen down again.

Leliana sighed. "I'd feel better if we knew more about what we were dealing with."

"I know someone who can help with that." They all turned towards Varric. He walked towards them. "Everyone acting all inspirational jogged my memory, so I sent a message to an old friend. He crossed paths with Corypheus before, and may know more about what he's doing. He can help."

"I'm always looking for new allies." Ruya nodded to him. "Introduce me."

Varric rubbed the back of his neck with one hand. "Parading around might cause a fuss. It's better for you to meet privately. On the battlements." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Leliana and Josephine exchange a look. "Trust me. It's complicated." He turned and walked away.

"Well, then." Josephine adjusted her board. "We stand ready to move on both of these concerns."

"On your order, Inquisitor." Cullen nodded to her.

Leliana was still watching the dwarf leave the room. "I know one thing: If Varric has brought who I think he has, Cassandra is going to kill him."

#

"So, Inquistor." Sera was pacing under a makeshift tent in the courtyard. "It's Inquisitor now, right?" She threw up her hands. "Remember that war we talked about stopping? Full of little baddies I can stick with little arrows? That's not a frigging Archdemon, is it!" She paced back and forth. "Andraste, what'd I step in?"

"I've apparently been through a lot." Ruya sighed. "But yes, Corypheus was a surprise."

"No, a surprise would be, 'oh, I stepped in dog shite.' No one says, 'oh, a magister god monster. I'm surprised.' Impossible things aren't surprises." Sera continued pacing the same four feet of tent.

"The ancient thing trying to kill us seems pretty real."

"Don't get me started." Sera stopped, and blinked. "Oh, wait, too late, right? A magister who cracked the 'Black City.' It's dream, right? I mean, if it's real real, then the seat of the Maker? Real thing." She went back to pacing, gesticulating wildly. "A seat needs a butt, so the Maker? Real thing. Fairy stories about the start and end of the world? Real things. It's too far, innit? I just want to plug the skyhole rubbish so I can go play."

Ruya was getting dizzy just watching the woman. "Keep calling it nonsense. That perspective will keep the Inquisition grounded."

Sera's face broke into a wide smile. "Oh, I can do that. Sure could use a few more people shouting 'no.' We fight, the bad things go away, everyone calms down, and everything goes back to normal." She turned to face Ruya, and spread her hands. "A nice, well-paid normal."

"You're starting to not sound completely crazy."

"I know. Scary, innit?" She punched her palm. "So bring 'em on." Her head tilted to one side. "But first, food. I'm starving." She dashed off.

#

"Maker. You're a mess. Let me have a look at you." Vivienne's eyes traced the still visible bruises on Ruya's face. She looked genuinely concerned. "Are you alright, my dear? Are you still hurt? You look dreadful."

"I'll be fine, don't worry." She could mostly ignore the stiffness, as long as she kept moving.

It was clear Vivienne wasn't fooled. "You bear it well. Good. The troops will take their cue from your composure. Now..." Vivienne stepped back and looked her over before giving a small nod of approval. "Let's keep up appearances. You've handled this crisis competently, saving as many lives as you did. But the enemy struck a serious blow against you and the Inquisition. We must recognize that. You must."

Her eyes went to where the soldiers had set up tents. There were faces missing. Some of them she could even name. "For every person I saved, two more were cut down. I failed them."

"You haven't failed them, my dear." Vivienne's eyes softened. "The men and women who fight for you gave their lives for a great cause, and they fought to the end." She squared her shoulders, and her face became stern once more. "The rest still fight, and you will fail them if you give up now. Our enemy advances, Inquisitor. We must not sit idly by. Act first, and teach them to fear us." Her head tilted to one side, and she smiled, just slightly. "I think you know what needs to be done, my dear."

#

"So this is Skyhold." Blackwall was giving the fort an appraising look. "Come. Let's walk the ramparts. I want to examine our fortifications."

Ruya gave him an appraising look as she walked up the stairs. His arm had been in a sling yesterday, but it appeared he'd gotten rid of it at some point since. She just hoped he'd had the healer's approval to do so. He looked out over the view. "We'll be able to see Corypheus coming from miles away."

"Corypheus thinks we're beaten." She could make out more camps below in the valley. A watchtower was being constructed near the river. "By the time he finds us, we'll be legion."

"I know soldiers. I know our soldiers. Corypheus made a hundred enemies when he kicked down our door." He punched a hand into his palm. "Let him come. I swear I'll take the twisted bastard down, even if I have to die to do it."

"I'm grateful for your support." She'd always thought the stories of how just seven Wardens had ended a Blight were exaggerations. Now that she actually knew a Warden, she was starting to believe.

"It's my job, isn't it?" He gestured. "Killing darkspawn?" His face became serious again. "Look, in spite of it all, there is hope. The people flock to your banner. They believe in you." He started to walk away, and then turned back. "Tell me honestly: are you what they say you are? Andraste's chosen?"

A week ago, she'd have said no. Now... "There is so little I remember. What if they're right?" The thought frightened her more than a little.

"Don't you see what you are to them? Without you, they'd be consumed by despair. We all would." He pointed to the soldiers. "They need you to be Andraste's messenger. It gives them hope. The truth doesn't matter." He gestured. "Ah, listen to me talk. Your time is valuable, and I've wasted enough of it."

#

"This thing is not a stray puppy you can make into a pet. It has no business being here."

"Wouldn't you say the same of an apostate?"

Ruya walked towards where she could hear Vivienne and Solas arguing. Cassandra was standing between the two mages. She nodded when she saw Ruya approach. "Inquisitor, I wondered if Cole was perhaps a mage, given his unusual abilities."

Solas nodded. "He can cause people to forget him, or even fail entirely to notice him." He clasped his hands behind his back. "These are not the abilities of a mage. It seems that Cole is a spirit."

"It is a demon." Vivienne folded her arms and glared.

He shrugged. "If you prefer, although the truth is somewhat more complex."

Ruya's eyes widened, and she glanced back over her shoulder at where Cole was sitting at the base of the stairs. A spirit, in the form of a person? Now that was something to consider. "Cole warned us about Corypheus at Haven. He saved a lot of lives."

Vivienne's face was set with disapproving lines. "And what will its help cost? How many lives will this demon later claim?"

"In fact, his nature is not so easily defined."

Cassandra shook her head. "Speak plainly, Solas. What are we dealing with?"

"Demons normally enter this world by possessing something." He gestured as he spoke. "In their true form, they look bizarre, monstrous."

"But you claim Cole looks like a young man." Cassandra folded her arms. "Is it possession?"

"No." Solas gestured sharply. "He has possessed nothing and no one, and yet he appears human in all respects." He turned to look at Ruya. "Cole is unique, Inquisitor. More than that, he wishes to help. I suggest you allow him to do so."

"In my studies, demons either possessed something from this world or were summoned and bound." The idea that a spirit could enter the world doing neither was fascinating. Was it a difference between a spirit and a demon, or something unique to Cole himself? She drummed her fingers against her arm thoughtfully. "They almost never look like something you'd mistake for a person."

"Normally, you would be correct. But Cole has willfully manifested in human form without possessing anyone." She'd wager Solas was as fascinated as she was. And wasn't it better for Cole to remain where they could keep an eye on him?

"The demons who came through the Breach, or through the rifts, weren't possessing anything." She tilted her head curiously.

He nodded. "Those demons were drawn through against their will, driven mad by this world. But Cole predates the Breach. From what we can tell, he has lived here for months, perhaps years. He looks like a young man. For all intents and purposes, he is a young man. It is remarkable."

Ruya started to ask Solas another question, but caught the slightly frustrated look on Cassandra's face. They could discuss theories later, right now she needed to deal with Cole himself. "I should hear what Cole has to say for himself." She turned towards where he had been sitting earlier, and saw nothing. "Where is he now?"

Cassandra began looking around. "If none of us remember him, he could be anywhere..."

Solas's grey eyes scanned the courtyard, and picked Cole out quickly. He nodded towards the makeshift infirmary, and Ruya caught sight of Cole's hat. She walked in that direction. Cole looked at her as she approached. "Haven. So many soldiers fought to protect the pilgrims so they could escape." He turned his gaze to one of the soldiers. "Choking fear, can't think from the medicine but the cuts wrack me with every heartbeat. Hot white pain, everything burns. I can't, I can't, I'm going to... I'm dying, I'm..." The man he was looking at went still. "...dead."

She bent, and closed the man's eyes. He wasn't the first. She feared he wouldn't be the last. "You're feeling their pain?"

"It's louder this close, with so many of them."

It was hard enough seeing. She couldn't imagine feeling. The dead man had laughed when the children had pelted him with snowballs. "Would you like to go somewhere more comfortable?"

"Yes. But here is where I can help." He walked towards another soldier. "Every breath slower. Like lying in a warm bath. Sliding away. Smell of my daughter's hair when I kiss her goodnight. Gone." He turned away from the dead man, and his head came up. "Cracked brown pain, dry, scraping. Thirsty." He filled a cup with water, and brought it to another of the wounded. "Here." He looked up at Ruya. "It's all right. She won't remember me."

"You're using your powers as a spirit to help people?" To help her people.

"Yes." He rose. "I used to think I was a ghost. I didn't know. I made mistakes..." He turned towards her. "But I made friends, too. Then a templar proved I wasn't real. I lost my friends. I lost everything. I learned to be more like what I am. It made me different, but stronger. I can feel more. I can help."

He looked so earnest. A lost boy. Maybe it was a trap, an insidious trick of a spirit, and yet... "If you're willing, the Inquisition could use your help."

His eyes became lighter. "Yes, helping. I help the hurt, the helpless, there's someone..." He went to another soldier. "Hurts. It hurts, it hurts, someone make it stop hurting, Maker please..." A knife appeared in his hand. "The healers have done all they can. It will take him hours to die. Every moment will be agony. He wants mercy. Help."

She went to the man's side. His delirious eyes looked back at her without a trace of recognition. Her hands glowed white as she did what little she could, regretting once more her lack of skill in healing magic. Surely among the mages there would be some. She'd seen Fiona earlier, surely the former Grand Enchanter would know. "You say he won't die for hours yet, but you can't know that for certain."

"His body is failing."

"He could recover. Or the healers could find another way to help him." Where there was life, there had to be hope.

"How do you know?" Cole's pale blue eyes met her darker blue.

"I don't. And neither do you. That's part of life."

Cole brushed the man's hair from his face. "Try." He stood, and looked back at her. "I want to stay."

#

"Send men to scout the area. We need to know what's out there." Cullen tapped the map that was spread out in front of him.

"Yes, ser." The young man tapped his fist to his heart before rushing off to obey.

Another approached. "Commander. Soldiers have been assigned temporary quarters."

"Very good. I'll need an update on the armory as well." Cullen frowned as the young man continued to stand there. "Now." The young man blinked and rushed off immediately, nearly tripping over himself in his haste. Cullen gave a fond shake of his head before noticing Ruya standing there. He sighed. "We set up as best we could at Haven, but could never prepare for an Archdemon-" He looked back at the map. "Or whatever it was. With some warning, we might have..." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"We were all shaken by what happened." Shaken was perhaps understating the matter. As much as it pained her to see the wounded men, she imagined he was feeling far worse. They'd been his men, after all.

"If Corypheus strikes again, we may not be able to withdraw..." For a moment, anger showed in his eyes. "And I wouldn't want to. We must be ready." He gestured at the maps and reports on the two crates he was using as a desk. "Work on Skyhold is underway, guard rotations established. We should have everything on course within the week." His hand touched the hilt of his sword. "We will not run from here, Inquisitor."

No. No, they wouldn't. She could see that on the face of every soldier she passed. Her eyes went back to the makeshift infirmary. "How many were lost?"

"Most of our people made it to Skyhold." He followed her gaze. "It could have been worse." He straightened. "Morale was low, but has improved greatly since you accepted the role of Inquisitor."

All those eyes. The faces of the soldiers when they saw her. Maker. "Everyone has so much faith in my leadership. I hope I'm ready."

"You won't have to carry the Inquisition alone." Cullen turned to face her. "Although it must feel like it." His voice was gentle. "We needed a leader; you have proven yourself."

Her general believed in her. "Thank you, Cullen." She shifted her weight slightly. "Our escape from Haven..." He'd been the one to carry her off the mountain. "It was close. I'm relieved that you -" She caught herself. "That so many made it out."

"As am I." He started to go back to the desk, and then turned towards her again. The words came out of him in a rush. "You stayed behind. You could have -" He swallowed. "I will not allow the events at Haven to happen again. You have my word."

It was silly how much better that made her feel.

#

"Have you met this 'friend' of Varric's, Inquisitor?" Cassandra folded her arms.

"Not yet, no." She was just waiting for Varric.

"It had better not be who I think it is." Cassandra's eyes narrowed. "I will wring that little bastard's neck."

"Why? Who do you think it is?" And then the penny dropped. Well. Shit.

"Someone Varric claimed he could not contact." Cassandra gestured furiously. "Someone the Inquisition - indeed, all of Thedas - desperately needed." She gazed up at the battlements suspiciously. "I'll reserve judgment until I know for certain. No need to have that rogue screaming 'persecution' yet again."

Maybe she should put Varric into one of those cells, just for his own safety.

#

She literally bumped into Minaeve as she entered the main hold. Within a few minutes, they'd found a few other mages. Between the two of them, they got a list of five names. The first two were already out among the tents tending to who they could, and the third had gone with some of the soldiers to tend to wounded among the refugees. The fourth was barely out of his apprenticeship and nearly bit his tongue off upon finding himself talking to the Herald of Andraste. Ruya snagged Lysette and assigned the former templar to the young healer as assistant and protector.

The fifth was a much older woman, newly arrived with a templar already in tow. Vivienne herself had vouched for the woman's skills, and had actually spoken words of praise. Ruya immediately assigned the templar to the healer and put both under Cullen's command to tend to the soldiers. She stood a moment, watching them walk towards the infirmary. It was good to see some of the templars and mages had already formed strong partnerships. A few more such examples, and they'd be doing well.

"Did you need anything else?" Minaeve asked.

"Just make sure the healers have access to whatever they need for poultices and potions." She tilted her head at the other woman. "Did all the tranquil..."

Minaeve's face brightened. "Oh, yes. Benton made it in with the last group of stragglers just this morning."

"Wonderful. Maybe now you'll get some sleep."

"You first, Inquisitor."

#

Iron Bull dressed her as one of his mercenaries, and then took her to meet with some of the soldiers. She was a bit surprised that none of them seemed to recognize her. Then again, the way they talked about her, she scarcely recognized herself. They acted like she'd stared the archdemon down, cowing it with the force of her will instead of just standing there willing her knees not to shake. "I don't sing the Chant of Light as much as I should," Mira said. "But you can't see something like that and not believe."

"Well, Grim and I should find our tents." Iron Bull put one of his massive hands on her shoulder, reminding her that she was supposed to be Grim at the moment. "Thanks for the drink." When they were away from the others, he nodded to her. "I know every soldier under my command. You don't have that option..." He shrugged. "But a few faces might help."

"It was good to get their perspective." And a bit terrifying. How does one live up to their own legend? No wonder Cassandra hated to talk about how she'd become the Champion of Orlais.

"Yeah. Sounds like we could use an easy win for boys like Tanner. And vets like Mira have seen enough to be wary. You've got a good army coming along. Remember that, no matter what happens next."

#

She found Solas in the round room. He looked surprised to see her. "Good afternoon," he said, tilting his head in greeting.

"I'm interested in what you told me of yourself and your studies. If you have time, I'd like to hear more." She missed their walks around Haven.

"You continue to surprise me." His expression was odd. "All right, let us talk... preferably somewhere more interesting than this."

#

They walked around Haven, under the mabari decorated gates and back towards the Chantry. "Why here?" she asked. The place looked odd with only the two of them present.

"Haven is familiar." He indicated the small building that had served her and Minaeve as living quarters. "It will always be important to you."

"We talked about that already." Hadn't they?

#

They stood in the room where she'd been held prisoner what seemed a lifetime ago. "I sat beside you while you slept, studying the Anchor." His voice was contemplative.

"I'm glad someone was watching over me." Odd how quickly she'd come to view this strange apostate elf as a friend and mentor.

"You were a mystery." He turned to face her. "You still are." His gray eyes measured her. "I ran every test I could imagine, searched the Fade, yet found nothing. Cassandra suspected duplicity. She threatened to have me executed as an apostate if I didn't produce results."

Perhaps it was even odder that she'd grown to like the Seeker, considering how they'd met. "Cassandra's like that with everyone."

Solas laughed. "Yes."

#

"You were never going to wake up." They walked across the village square. "How could you, a mortal sent physically through the Fade?" He gestured. "I was frustrated, frightened. The spirits I might have consulted had been driven away by the Breach. Although I wished to help, I had no faith in Cassandra..." He stopped at where he'd often stood to look over the camp. "Or she in me. I was ready to flee."

"The Breach threatened the whole world. Where did you plan to go?"

"Someplace far away where I might research a way to repair the Breach before its effects reached me." He shrugged and gave her a slightly embarrassed look. "I never said it was a good plan." He turned his eyes to where the Breach swirled up in the sky. "I told myself: one more attempt to seal the rifts." He held out his hand. "I tried and failed. No ordinary magic would affect them. I watched the rifts expand and grow, resigned myself to flee, and then..." He held her wrist as she closed the rift. "It seems you hold the key to our salvation. You had sealed it with a gesture..." He turned again to face her. "And right then, I felt the whole world change."

She looked down at her hand, where the mark glowed faintly. "It was that impressive to see me awake?"

"You had walked in the Fade." He stared at her. "I have explored the Fade more than anyone alive, but even I can only visit in dreams. But you..." A trace of a smile appeared on his face. "You might have been able to visit me here while awake."

"What do you mean?" Pieces began to slide together in her mind. Haven had been buried. The Breach closed.

He looked amused. "Where did you think we were?"

"This isn't real." She'd been to the Fade, but never... had he shaped Skyhold, and Haven? Reshaping it to take them from place to place so smoothly she'd never even...

"That's a matter of debate..." He spread his hands. "Probably best discussed after you wake up."

#

She bolted upright in the bed. Minaeve lay on the couch where she'd fallen asleep the previous evening, snoring softly. The sky behind the mountains was starting to brighten. Her feet touched the floor, and she rose. That had been... she'd managed to shape some small pieces before, and seen spirits manipulate the fade into reflections of reality, but the illusion he'd created had been flawless. She was going to have to make a list of the questions, or she'd never remember them all.

#

Dorian was moving books around on the shelf. "Brilliant, isn't it?" He frowned at one of the books, and then casually tossed it onto a table before continuing to reorder the others. "One moment you're trying to restore order in a world gone mad. That should be enough for anyone to handle, yes?" He glared at another book and for a moment she thought he was going to toss it over the balcony. Instead, he shoved it contemptuously onto the very top shelf. "Then, out of nowhere, an Archdemon appears and kicks you in the head. 'What? You thought this would be easy?' 'No, I was just hoping you wouldn't crush our village like an anthill.' 'Sorry about that! Archdemons like to crush, you know. Can't be helped.'" He turned, and apparently caught her expression. "Am I speaking too quickly for you?"

"You don't need to worry about me. I can keep up." She leaned on the railing and watched him continue to wage his war against the library.

"Yes, I noticed that." At least one of the tomes got a nod of approval from him. He moved it to a different bookshelf.

"Did you, now?" On the other side of the library, she could see one of Cullen's young runners apparently unloading a crate and simply sticking books onto a shelf without even glancing at their titles.

"Certainly. If you were a slack-jawed yokel..." Dorian paused to glare at the runner. "You'd already be dead." He shook his head and turned away from the sight. "I always assumed the 'Elder One' behind the Venatori was a magister, but this... is something else entirely. In Tevinter, they say the Chantry's tales of magisters starting the Blight are just that: tales. But here we are. One of those very magisters. A darkspawn."

"Who does the Imperium say started the Blight?"

"You know how it is. 'Not us.' They say darkspawn were always there; magisters and the Blight aren't even related." He tossed a book onto a growing stack on a chair. "Is that a surprise? No one wants to admit they shit the bed. But if Corypheus is one of the magisters who entered the Black City and he's darkspawn..." Dorian stopped what he was doing and turned to look at her. "What other explanation is there?"

"Why does that make you angry?" Though she was certain the bookshelves were more than just convenient targets.

"Because the Imperium is my home. I knew what I was taught couldn't be the whole truth, but I assumed there had to be a kernel of it. Somewhere." He leaned his back against the bookshelf and folded his arms. "But no. It was us all along. We destroyed the world."

She shook her head at him. "You didn't do anything. Those men did. A thousand years ago."

"True, except that one of them is up and walking around right now." He turned back to the shelf and began moving books around again. "Not to mention I have idiot countrymen who would happily follow him down that path again. No one will thank me, whatever happens." He tossed another book aside, and then turned back to her again. "No one will thank you, either. You know that, yes?"

"That's not why I'm doing this."

"I knew there was something clever about you." His shoulders slumped slightly. "All I know is this: Corypheus needs to be stopped. Men like him ruined my homeland. I won't stand by and let him ruin the world." He picked up the stack of books and began carrying them towards a different group of bookshelves. "Oh, and congratulations on that whole leading-the-Inquisition thing, by the way."

She smiled, and continued up the stairs.

#

"I'm sorry." Leliana took a scroll case from Cullen.

"So am I." Cullen nodded to Ruya as he passed her on the stairs. She watched him for a moment, and then continued up to speak to Leliana.

Leliana was staring at the scroll case. She glanced up at Ruya. "The names of those we lost." She set it on the table, and stared at it some more, her shoulders slumped. "You must blame me for this."

"We all saw who attacked us. We know exactly who to blame." Ruya came to stand next to the older woman.

"I keep wondering if I could've done something different." Leliana leaned on the table, her head bowed. She shook her head, then walked to the window. "When the first of my lookouts went missing, I pulled the rest back, awaiting more information. If they'd stayed in the field, they could've bought us more time." She folded her arms. "I was afraid to lose my agents, and instead we lost Haven."

"You look out for your people." Ruya touched the scroll case, and then turned to look at Leliana. "That's a good thing."

"Is it?" Leliana let her hands fall to her sides. "My people know their duty. They know the risks. They understand that the Inquisition may call upon them to give their lives."

Ruya slapped her hand down on the table, causing the other woman to jump. "Our people aren't tools to be used and discarded. Your instincts were right. Their lives matter."

"Can we afford such sentimentality? What if Corypheus -"

"We are better than Corypheus." She met Leliana's gaze steadily. It took the spymaster a few moments to nod.

"The arcanist has arrived, Inquisitor. You should meet with her."

#

"The Arcanist has arrived?"

Harritt turned to look at Ruya. His expression was befuddled. "You should see for yourself."

She walked down the stairs. At first she didn't see anyone. Then a young, cheerful voice greeted her. "Hello there." A dwarf. Why had no one told her the arcanist was a dwarf? The young woman grinned up at her. "Well, don't just stand there slack-jawed, let's figure out what you need."

"You're the magical advisor?"

The girl's eyes suddenly widened. "Oooh, you're her. The Inquisitor." She bounced up from where she'd been examining a piece of equipment, then practically skipped in a circle around Ruya. "I'm Dagna. Arcanist Dagna. It's an honor, Your Worship." She caught Ruya's hand and stared at it. "Is that it? The hand-Anchor-mark? It's pretty. The Breach was pretty, too. In a... 'destroy everything' sort of way." She laughed as she let go of Ruya's hand and began pointing at and describing the new equipment that had been moved in.

Ruya caught that one of the new devices was for runes, but the girl was talking far too fast for her to be able to follow even if she had been a metallurgy expert. Eventually, Dagna took a breath and Ruya was able to get a word in edgewise. "I welcome you to the Inquisition, and look forward to your contribution."

"Me, too! I've heard some impossible things. I love impossible things. Those are the best to make, well, possible. I've looked at Harritt's devices. The precision is fantastic, but typical. Mundane. Old thinking."

"It's what now?" Harritt seemed to be trying to work out how insulted he should be.

"No disrespect meant to the classical trades," Dagna called over her shoulder. She turned back to Ruya. "But you need a new perspective. I've made adjustments. As long as I keep making them, you can craft just about anything. Almost safely."

"Where does a dwarf go to study magical theory?" Ruya folded her arms and watched Dagna tinker with something on one of the benches.

"Get out! I asked myself that question for years." Dagna waved a hand. "Turns out, not in Orzammar. I had to start at a Circle. I had help, though. A Grey Warden, and I am forever grateful. With that sanction, I visited a half-dozen Circles." She sighed happily. "The wonders I have seen. And with an objective eye, I can spot where they overlap. That's a surprise for every teacher." She continued on, discussing several different fields, and Ruya decided that one of the first things she needed to do was ensure Dagna and Minaeve got acquainted.

"Your years of study have paid off." Leliana had been thrilled when Dagna had agreed to join them.

"Oh, yes. The mages said I brought a valuable perspective. I've even presented my work to the College of Enchanters. I wanted an exchange. The surface could learn about lyrium-smithing, and Orzammar would gain knowledge of magic. But now there's no college, and so far as the the Shaperate is concerned, I'm casteless." Dagna's shoulders slumped just for a moment. "So you're getting my best work, Inquisitor." She brightened again. "Let's make some great stuff.

"You gave up so much. Left your home. Was it really that amazing?"

"Yes." Dagna nodded emphatically. "I left my home and my family, but I knew - I just knew I could be more than a smith. I wish my people weren't stuck in the past, and I regret that my father couldn't imagine another life for me. But I don't regret what I did." Pride showed on her face, and Ruya couldn't help but smile.

"You mentioned a Grey Warden who helped you start your studies?"

"Not just any Grey Warden. The Grey Warden. He's a hero in Orzammar too. It's incredible that someone like him would stop to help the little people. Literally." She giggled.

Ruya wasn't entirely sure which Warden Dagna meant. "The Warden affected you in a special way."

"Talk to anyone, they'll say the same. It was a dark time. He was my light. He saved us." Her voice grew quieter. "He saved me. When I heard he was gone, I cried for days." She took a small dragonbone dagger out of her belt. "He used to send me odd things he'd found so I could study them. This came from the Blackmarsh. The dragonbone was exposed to so much energy from a tear in the fade that when they made the mistake of putting some of the bones back together the dragon actually came back to life as some sort spirit creature and they had to kill it all over again. I've been studying the residual harmonics and..." She was off again, talking about receptivity and mirrored energies.

"All right, rein it in. You have work to do."

"Right, sorry. I get carried away when I think of it. Ready when you need me.

#

"Sleep well?" Solas's eyes danced mischievously.

"I've never done anything like that before." She tilted her head at him. "Do you regularly talk to people in dreams?"

"No. Consider that one more rule you have effortlessly broken in your rise to power." He gave her a curious look. "I had no idea the Anchor would allow you to dream with such focus. It is truly remarkable." He twitched a shoulder. "But I am reasonably certain we are awake now, and if you wish to discuss anything, I would enjoy talking."

They walked along the battlements, occasionally stepping to the side to make way for others. "I need to know more about Corypheus."

"We spoke of this on our travels to Skyhold. What more can I tell you?" He nodded at where Cassandra was smacking around practice dummy. "Cassandra and Varric seem more familiar with our adversary."

"You've given me good counsel before. I could use some now."

He slowed his pace, and then nodded. "My apologies, Inquisitor. My poor manners shame me. I claim no secret wisdom, but I will guess as best I can."

"What can you tell me about the source of Corypheus's power?" She paused at one of the towers, stopping to admire the view.

"According to the lore, the ancient magisters of Tevinter received guidance from the Old Gods." He stood next to her, leaning on the stone as he looked out over the valley below. "Corypheus commands a false Archdemon - a corrupted Old God. This suggests he no longer sees himself as their minion. Some of his unique power comes from the corruption of the Blight. The rest may come from the orb he carries."

She nodded. Blackwall may know how to kill darkspawn, but he knew little about their origins or the underlying aspects of their power. Leliana had sent a letter with a list of questions to a warden mage in Antiva, but any response was likely still some days away. "What do you think Corypheus will do next?"

"You shamed him when you destroyed Haven. It spoiled his glorious victory. It would be worse to acknowledge that you had done so. He must continue on his course or show weakness. He will return to his plans to throw Orlais into chaos and then conquer it for Tevinter."

It made sense, given what little they knew about Corypheus. "You're sure that's what he'll do?"

"As certain as is possible, assuming I can plausibly predict a man who seeks to rise to godhood." He turned towards her, leaning on the ramparts. "The key is understanding this: no real god need prove himself. Anyone who tries is mad or lying. His deception will undo him, as it has done countless fools before."

Like Gavren had said once. Someone confident in their abilities and skill didn't feel the need to prove anything to anyone. They didn't need to be praised. Arrogance was a blindfold. "I would like to know more about the orb he carries."

"As I said, that must be the means by which he created the Breach. I suspect the blast that destroyed the Conclave was more accident than anything..." He looked back towards Haven. "The result of unlocking power that had sought release for ages. What I cannot understand is how he managed to survive such an explosion."

That was a very good question. Some ancient magic from the time in which elves were immortal? "You said that you believed the orb is elven?"

"I never would have believed a Tevinter mage could unlock such a powerful relic. It clearly enhances his abilities, giving him access to power he should never have known." The notion seemed to disturb Solas.

"Like the power to control the Archdemon?" Or whatever the thing was.

"Indirectly, one assumes. Nothing in any lore connects my people to the Old God dragons who became Archdemons."

"Every question begets two more." She ran a hand through her hair. "There is Varric. Hopefully his friend will have an answer or ten."

#

Varric held a bottle, and took a swig as she joined him on the roof. He nodded to her, then gestured as someone approached. "Inquisitor, meet Hawke. The Champion of Kirkwall."

She blinked, and stared at the man. He was taller than she'd expected, and built far more like a soldier than a mage. For that matter, he actually wore a sword and armor. He gave her a small bow. "Though I don't use that title much anymore."

"Hawke, the Inquisitor. I figured you might have some friendly advice about Corypheus." Varric glanced from one to the other. "You and I did fight him, after all." Varric walked a few feet away, swinging the bottle by the neck.

Well now, that was news. Hawke tilted his head at her, returning her considering look. "You've already dropped half a mountain on the bastard. I'm sure anything I can tell you pales in comparison." He walked to the edge of the roof and looked down.

She... had absolutely no idea what to say. Of all the people she'd expected Varric to smuggle right into the... She swallowed. "Oh, I don't know. You did save a city from a horde of rampaging Qunari."

"I don't see how that really applies..." He turned towards her and raised an eyebrow. "Or is there a horde of rampaging Qunari I don't know about?"

"There's a Qunari." Hopefully Varric had already filled him in about Iron Bull. Though might be best to also make sure Iron Bull knew about Hawke's presence. She wasn't entirely certain how an encounter between the two men would play out. "He almost qualifies as a horde all by himself. Fortunately, he's on our side." She sighed. "Corypheus has already killed the Divine, along with countless others... and he'll kill a lot more unless we stop him."

"You've already sealed the Breach. That's damned impressive." For a moment, the man in front of her looked a lot older than a mere thirty. "I could barely get my friends to stop fighting. Still, if you think I can help..."

"Varric said that you fought Corypheus before." Actually, if Varric's book bore any relationship to reality, the man in front of her had effectively been the entirety of Kirkwall's standing army.

"Fought and killed. The Grey Wardens were holding him, and he somehow used his connection to the darkspawn to influence them."

Varric nodded. "Corypheus got into their heads. Messed with their minds. Turned them against each other."

"If the Wardens have disappeared, they could have fallen under his control again."

Ruya stared at Hawke. "If that's what happened to the Wardens, do you think we can free them?"

He shrugged. "It's possible. But we need to know more first." He hesitated a moment, then continued. "I've got a friend in the Wardens. He was investigating something unrelated for me. His name is Loghain. The last time we spoke, he was worried about corruption in the Warden ranks. Since then, nothing."

"Corypheus would certainly qualify as corruption in the ranks. Did your friend disappear with them?"

"No." Hawke glanced at Varric before turning back to Ruya. "He told me he'd be hiding in an old smuggler's cave near Crestwood."

"If you didn't know about Corypheus, what were you doing with the Wardens?" And why this Loghain rather than his brother?

"The templars in Kirkwall were using a strange form of lyrium. It was red." Hawke must have seen recognition in her eyes. He nodded, and continued. "I'd hoped the Wardens could tell me more about it."

"Corypheus had templars with him at Haven. They looked like they'd been exposed to the lyrium you describe."

"Hopefully my friend in the Wardens will know more."

"I appreciate the help."

"I'm doing this as much for myself as for you." Hawke caressed the hilt of the Qunari style longsword. "Corypheus is my responsibility. I thought I'd killed him before. This time, I'll make sure of it."