Cullen walked through the camp, giving the occasional instruction. He was heading up to check on the siege engines when someone moved to walk beside him. "Commander."

He glanced down at the elven man. "Agent Rowland, what brings you to Skyhold?"

"A matter of vital importance." The elven man gave a small bow, and held out a piece of parchment. "A few hours ago I killed a Venatori mage. He had this map. I believe it contains the location of an eluvian."

He took the map and stared at it. The Arbor Wilds. "Maker." He looked back at Rowland. "Come with me, we need to tell the Inquisitor."

"I can't. I need to get to Alistair, fill him in. But I did not believe this could wait." He bowed. "Good luck, Commander."

"Maker watch over you, Rowland."

#

"With an eluvian, Corypheus could cross into the Fade in the flesh?"

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

"What happens when Corypheus enters the Fade?" Cullen leaned on the war table.

"Why, he will gain his heart's desire, and take the power of a god." Morrigan shrugged. "Or - and this is more likely - the lunatic will unleash forces that tear the world apart."

"I won't allow it." Ruya stared down at the war table. "I can't."

"Indeed. Should Corypheus succeed, do not doubt you would be first to feel his holy wrath."

"Pardon me, but..." Josephine's face was pale. "Does this mean everything's lost unless we get to the eluvian before him?"

"Corypheus has a head start, no matter how quickly our army moves." Cullen stared down at the map."

"We should gather our allies before we march." Josephine stabbed the air with her pen.

"Can we wait for them? We should send our spies ahead to the Arbor Wilds." Leliana gestured.

Cullen shook his head. "Without support from the soldiers? You'd lose half of them."

"Then what should we do?"

Ruya clasped her hands behind her back. "You overcome it. All three of you together." She pointed. "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's army until Cullen's soldiers arrive."

"Such confidence." Morrigan nodded. "But the Arbor Wilds are not so kind to visitors. Old elven magic lingers in those woods."

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

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

Cullen took a deep breath. "Any further instructions, Inquisitor?"

"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, no better guidance."

"I speak for all of us when I answer: we could ask for no finer cause." Cullen smiled at her.

"We'll hound Corypheus in the Wilds before he can find the temple or this 'eluvian'." Leliana's eyes narrowed.

#

"We can't bring Brehan anyway," Ruya said to Leliana. "Give him a couple scouts and have him continue tracking Carver, but we are going to need Iron Bull leading the Chargers."

"Yes, Inquisitor."

She watched the soldiers move out, and went to get her horse.

#

An Inquisition soldier met her at the camp. "The red templars fall beneath our blades, Your Worship. Commander Cullen says they're nearly finished." Ruya nodded as the soldier fell into step beside her. "Our scouts saw Corypheus traveling toward an elven ruin to the north. We can clear you a path through his armies."

She laid a hand on the soldier's shoulder. "Do only what you must. We need enough people for a celebration when we get back to Skyhold."

The woman closed a fist over her heart and bowed. "We will not fail you, my lady. No matter what comes. Andraste guide you, Inquisitor."

"I wonder." Morrigan walked up beside her. "Is it Andraste your soldiers invoke during battle, or does a more immediate name come to their lips?"

That was a rather terrifying thought. "They show me respect, Morrigan. No one mistakes me for the Maker."

"True. You are far more likely to come to their aid than a Chantry fable..." Morrigan shrugged. "But I digress. If your scouts report accurately, I believe these ruins to be the Temple of Mythal."

Mythal. The elven goddess of love and justice, if she recalled correctly. She only hoped that was a good sign. "Which is?"

"A place of worship out of elven legend. If Corypheus seeks it, then the eluvian he covets lies within." There was an explosion behind them. Morrigan shook her head in disapproval. "Let us hope we reach this temple before the entire forest is reduced to ash."

#

Ruya directed her companions. She sent Dorian with Iron Bull to help back up the Chargers. After a moment's consideration, she sent Sera and Varric with him as well. Vivienne was directing the mages. Neither she nor Blackwall were happy she'd assigned him as Vivienne's bodyguard, but he'd keep the First Enchanter safe.

Both Cassandra and Solas seemed completely unwilling to let her out of their sight. Cole stayed near as well, but she wasn't sure if he was being protective or reflecting Solas. Probably both.

She bowed to Empress Celene when she found the woman talking to Josephine. Briala stood nearby, clearly on guard. "We are gladdened to see you, Herald." She gestured. "This day will be recalled for ages. We are privileged to witness the fulfillment of the Inquisition's purpose."

Ruya wished she were convinced this battle would be the end of the matter. But there were still reports coming in of rifts. "The sight of our Orlesian allies risking their lives here humbles me."

"Your worthy cause would have friends, even if we did not will it." Celene gave her a respectful nod. "Men and women of faith serve you. Their favor is no less than our own, their service no less dear. With Orlais at your side, we will see you victorious against Corypheus. May you walk in the Light."

"Andraste keep you safe," Josephine echoed.

"Move everyone immediately if the fighting comes closer." She spared a glance for the man nearby. Michel and the Empress had not acknowledged each other, but she knew the man would follow orders and keep Josephine safe.

"You may count on it."

#

"Listen to how close the fighting's gotten. It will be worse ahead." Cassandra kept her hand on her sword.

"If the soldier's aren't careful with their fires, they'll do Corypheus's work for him." Solas shielded his eyes with one hand as he looked into the distance.

"Do you sense the magic crackling?" Morrigan's voice drifted into her ears. "Something more powerful than the red templars stirs."

Cassandra tried not to glare at the woman. But as long as the witch was on the field, she wasn't going to leave the Inquisitor's side. She saw the Inquisitor stop near where a soldier was praying. The woman joined her own voice to the last few lines of the prayer. "Maker let me be a worthy servant, that you might take me to your side."

"My thanks, Your Worship. Andraste must hear you. I was a pilgrim at Haven. I saw the wreckage, and how you emerged to lead us. If the Maker bids me serve you, it will be done."

The Inquisitor smiled at the man, and closed her fist over her heart in salute. The soldier answered, and then went to join the others. Cassandra smiled as they started moving again. Into the jungle or back into the Fade, she would follow this woman.

#

They fought their way through the first group of enemy soldiers. Ruya felt sorrow as she cut down a man in Grey Warden armor.

"If they are forced to obey him, death will be a blessing," Cassandra's voice assured her.

Maker, she hoped the other woman was right. She strengthened the barriers around them, and then stepped to Solas's side. They cast simultaneously, mingling their spells to reinforce each other. The resulting lightning cleared a swath through the attacking red templars, eliciting a cheer and renewed effort from the Inquisition soldiers.

Strange elves fought, attacking both the Inquisition soldiers and the red templars. Ruya attempted to call to them, but they merely continued to attack. Left with no choice, she sent a blast of ice into one that was leaping at Cassandra's back. The woman saw the spell and spun, slamming her shield into the slowed attacker and sending him flying.

"Perhaps these creatures are the reason few return from the Arbor Wilds." Morrigan's staff glowed as black tendrils grew out of the ground, yanking red templars down and rendering them easy prey for the soldiers.

One of the soldiers saluted. "Your scouts say more red templars are on their way. We'll guard against them."

Ruya answered the salute. "Maker be with you."

#

Cullen was at the river, leading a group of Inquisition forced. Ruya extended her barrier to all of them as her group joined them, pushing through. Cullen nodded, and then told her to get moving.

She sent an arc of lightning at some incoming red templars, and then did exactly that. Her general would hold.

"There. That must be the Temple of Mythal."

#

"In front of us. Rage burning red. So close to what he wants, what he was, what he will be."

That one she understood. "Corypheus."

"I hear fighting ahead," Morrigan said.

Ruya gestured for her companions to be stealthy. Well, as stealthy as possible for Cassandra.

#

"Na melana sur, banallen." The elves were trying to hold a bridge.

Samson's voice held arrogance. "They still think to fight us, Master."

Corypheus's deep voice filled the air as he strode forward, towering over the others. "These are but remnants. They will not keep us from the Well of Sorrows."

"Well of Sorrows?" Ruya glanced at Morrigan, and the woman gave her a bewildered look. That was less than comforting.

"Be honored. Witness death at the hands of a new god." Corypheus gestured as he continued moving towards the bridge. Some sort of barrier met him. Energy surged back and forth, and Corypheus seemed to disintegrate as the artifacts generating the barrier exploded. The surviving elves ran as the red templars began to cross the bridge.

Ruya gestured at her comrades to follow. Corypheus likely wasn't dead. Her life wasn't that easy. They were nearly to the bridge when the form of a badly wounded warden began to twitch and jerk. Black blood seemed to pour out of the man's mouth as he rose and began to change, growing and twisting into a sickeningly familiar form. Ruya saw terror on the face of Morrigan. "It cannot be," the other woman shouted.

"Across the bridge." Ruya shoved at her companions. "Now." She saw the dragon coming.

#

The doors slamed shut just before the dragon's breath reached them. Ruya and Solas both poured their magic into the ancient barrier to reinforce it. Cassandra stepped back, her face horrified. Cole hovered over Morrigan as the woman took several deep breaths. She waved him away, her face calmer. Slowly, she turned and looked around. "At last. Mythal's sanctum. Let us proceed before Corypheus interferes." Morrigan gestured to them.

"You said Corypheus wanted an eluvian, but he mentioned a 'Well of Sorrows.' Which is right?"

"I..." Morrigan rubbed her head and looked frustrated. "Am uncertain of what he referred to."

"Could they be the same? Could 'eluvian translate into 'Well of Sorrows?'" She was pretty sure Brehan or Solas would have said something if it had.

"No. It seems an eluvian is not the prize Corypheus seeks." She met Ruya's glare, and sighed. "Yes. I was wrong. Does that please you? Whatever the Well of Sorrows might be, Corypheus seeks it, and thus you must keep it from his grasp."

"Let's find this Well before Corypheus's people do."

#

"I want to know how Corypheus returned to life. We saw him die." Ruya glanced over her shoulder as she walked.

Morrigan sounded incredibly disturbed. "And his life force passes on to any blighted creature, darkspawn or Grey Warden."

"Then Corypheus cannot die. Destroy his body, and he will assume another." Solas's own voice was bleak.

There had to be a way. They'd find it. "We'll find a way to stop him once we're done here." He'd been locked away once. If nothing else, they could try that again.

"'Tis strange. Archdemons possess the same ability, and still the Grey Wardens are able to slay them." Morrigan's knuckles were white on her staff. "Yet Corypheus they locked away. Perhaps they knew he could do this..." She shook her head. "But not how."

Ruya asked Morrigan more questions as they walked. Solas's occasional interjections made it clear that Morrigan wasn't quite as much of an expert as she claimed. Or rather, that she was an expert in the legends, and legends should not be mistaken for fact. Unfortunately, they didn't really have time to let him dream and see what he could find out about the place.

They found an altar. The path beneath glowed as Ruya stepped forward. The mark on her hand felt... odd. Morrigan walked up behind her. "It appears the temple's magicks are still strong."

She gestured at the carved pillars. "Is this elven? Does it say anything about this 'Well of Sorrows'?"

Solas answered her. "'Atish'all Vir Abelasan'. It means 'enter the path of the Well of Sorrows.'"

Morrigan touched the carving. "There is something about knowledge. Respectful or pure. Shiven, shivennen..." She brushed aside some of the growth obscuring the text. "'Tis all I can translate. That it mentions the Well is a good omen."

"At least we know the Well of Sorrows was important." All the more reason to keep it from Corypheus.

"Supplicants to Mythal would first have paid obeisance here. Following their path may aid entry."

Ruya gestured for the others to step back. Cassandra was clearly unhappy. "Perform a ritual to appease elven gods? Long-dead or no, I don't like it."

Morrigan shrugged at the seeker. "If need be. Unless you wish to turn back?"

She stepped carefully, ensuring she did not repeat any of her steps. The tiles glowed beneath her feet, and she continued until all were glowing. There was a surge of energy.

#

It seemed the red templars had opted for a more direct approach, and had simply used explosives to open a path to the undercroft of the temple. Samson directed some of his minions to hold them off before heading down and in.

Ruya poured strength into barriers before summoning the spirit blade in her hand and moving in beside Cassandra and Cole. Behind her, Solas focused his magic on disrupting the lines of the archers, while Morrigan threw fire.

"Come on. We might catch them." Ruya started to follow Samson into the tunnel.

Morrigan blocked her path. "Hold. A moment." She gestured. "While they rush ahead, this leads to our true destination. We should walk the petitioner's path, as before."

Cole shook his head. "People are dying outside while we stand here." He pointed. "If we use the tunnel, more of our soldiers can flee."

"In this case, I must agree with the witch." Solas clasped his hands behind his back. "This is ancient ground, deserving of our respect."

Morrigan actually seemed surprised when Solas agreed with her, but was quick to take advantage. "You see the urgency. We cannot find the Well of Sorrows unprepared."

They were treading deep into the unknown here. "We don't know what's behind those doors. They might have a reason for going another way."

"Had they the option, they would have proceeded." Morrigan's gestures were insistent. "That must lead to their goal."

Brehan and Leliana had both been adamant that the woman before her had her own agenda. "Their goal? Or yours?"

"There is..." Morrigan walked towards the warded door. "A danger to the natural order. Legends walked Thedas once, things of might and wonder. Their passing has left us all the lesser. Corypheus would squander the ancient power of the Well. I would have it restored."

There was something about the woman's voice. "I wasn't expecting your answer to be so..." Ruya tilted her head. "Romantic."

"Trust me. Your surprise is matched only by my own." Morrigan gestured. "Mankind blunders through the world, crushing what it does not understand: elves, dragons, magic..." She shook her head. "The list is endless. We must stem the tide or be left with nothing more than the mundane. This I know to be true." Morrigan looked down for a moment, and then met Ruya's eyes. "I read more in the first chamber than I revealed. It said a great boon is given to those who use the Well of Sorrows..." She spread her hands. "But at a terrible price."

Of course the woman had lied. "What exactly did that altar say about the Well of Sorrows?"

There was some irritation on Morrigan's face. "Like most elven writing, it was insufferably vague. The term I deciphered was 'halam'shivanas' - 'the sweet sacrifice of duty.' It implies the loss of something personal for duty's sake. Yet for those who served at this temple, a worthwhile trade."

"Did you not trust me enough to tell me about this price when you read it?" Ruya folded her arms. She should have let Solas take a closer look at the altar.

"I hoped to find more information. If I intended to cheat you, I would have feigned ignorance entirely. My priority is your cause, but if the opportunity arises to save this Well, I am willing to pay the cost."

"And gain what?"

"That is what we must discover. The rituals may point the way."

Ruya glanced back at the tunnel. She took a deep breath. Her general would hold. She headed for the ritual chamber.

#

She walked the last of the paths, and felt the surge of energy again. Solas and Morrigan both answered her questions as they moved through the temple, though their answers often differed. It occurred to her if she had brought Brehan, she'd probably have received a third set of answers as well.

#

The door took them into a chamber. "'Tis not what I expected. What was this chamber used for..."

Ruya felt their presence before she saw them. She prepared the barrier spell, readying it should they attack. "We're being watched."

"Venavis." A man stood on the balcony above them. His face was hard to make out due to his cowl, but his build looked elven. And there was the fact that he appeared to be speaking elvish as well. "You..." He waved a hand. "Are unlike the other invaders. You stumble down our paths at the side of one of our own. You bear the mark of magic which is..." He tilted his head to one side. "Familiar. How has this come to pass? What is your connection to those who first disturbed our slumber?"

She stepped forward. "They are my enemies, as well as yours."

"I am called Abelas. We are Sentinels, tasked with standing against those who trespass on sacred ground." He gestured at the archers standing behind them, bows drawn. "We wake only to fight, to preserve this place. Our numbers diminish with each invasion. I know what you seek. Like all who have come before, you wish to drink from the vir'abelasan."

"'The Place to the Way of Sorrows.' He speaks of the well." Morrigan kept her voice low.

"It is not for you. It is not for any of you."

Ruya looked up at him. He'd said 'at the side of one of our own'. She glanced over her shoulder. "Solas, perhaps he'll listen to you."

"What shall I say, Inquisitor?" Solas shook his head. "Shall I sway him from a millennia of service by virtue of our shared blood? He clings to all that remains of his world, because he lacks the power to restore it."

She needed something. A compromise. An idea. Anything that meant not having to kill these men just to stop Corypheus. "What is this vir'abelasan, exactly?"

"It is a path, one walked only by those who toiled in Mythal's favor."

"He speaks of priest, perhaps?" Morrigan shrugged.

"More than that you need not know."

"So..." She tried another tact. "You're elves from ancient times? Before the Tevinter Imperium destroyed Arlathan?"

"The shemlen did not destroy Arlathan. We elvhen warred upon ourselves. By the time the doors to this sanctuary closed, our time was over. We awaken only when called, and each time find the world more foreign than before. It is meaningless. We endure. The vir'abelasan must be preserved."

She spread her hands. "We did not come here to fight you, nor to steal from your temple."

He stared back at her for what seemed a lifetime and could have been no more than a few seconds. "I believe you. Trespassers you are, but you have followed the rites of petition. You have shown respect to Mythal. If these others are enemies of yours, we will aid you in destroying them. When this is done, you shall be permitted to depart..." He folded his arms. "And never return."

"This is our goal, is it not?" Solas's voice was quiet and urgent. "There is no reason to fight these Sentinels."

And naturally, Morrigan seemed to disagree. "Consider carefully. You must stop Corypheus, yes, but you may also need to the Well for your own."

They needed to stop Corypheus first. They could find some way to defend the Well later. "I accept your offer."

"You will be guided to those you seek." He gestured to a robed figure holding a staff. "As for the vir'abelasan..." He drew himself up. "It shall not be despoiled, even if I must destroy it myself." He turned, and started to walk away.

"No." Morrigan stepped forward. Her form twisted and shrunk, and a moment later a raven was flying after Abelas.

Maker.

#

She followed the guide. In the distance, she could make out sounds of combat. The Sentinels were fighting. Ruya wanted to go, to aid them. They might stand a better chance together. But this was not her temple, and the choice was not hers.

"Mythal'enaste." Their guide opened a secret passage.

"That's helpful, since Morrigan chased off on her own." She glanced at Solas, hoping he'd translate.

"She seeks to protect the Well of Sorrows." Solas's voice was quiet.

"She turned into a bird." Cole sounded disbelieving. Ruya felt a little disbelieving herself. It would have been really helpful if Brehan or Leliana had mentioned the woman could do that.

Cassandra didn't approve of the temple. Solas, a lot more gently than she'd expected, pointed out she was being rather impolite.

"Penshra. Ghilas vellathan."

"I believe she would prefer that we remain close," Solas translated.

Ruya nodded. She could have spent days in here, examining the mosaics. They didn't have days. "The Sentinels are holding off the red templars."

Cole's eyes were filled with sorrow. "They're dying. Faster than they wanted to."

"Vir sumeil."

That last bit didn't need translation. They'd arrived. Red templars were in the chamber. Ruya focused a barrier and felt Solas's magic reinforce hers. She formed the spirit blade, and moved in to aid the Sentinels.

#

"The Well of Sorrows." They stepped out into what appeared to be balcony above a garden.

"So Mythal endures." Solas almost sounded awed. And pleased.

"It's loud. And so cold." Cole followed them down the steps.

"Andraste guide us." Cassandra brought up the rear.

#

"You tough bastards - a day's march, hours of fighting, and still fierce as dragons." Samson was congratulating his men for the slaughter of the Sentinels. "The Chantry never knew what it was throwing away."

"Samson." One of the red templars caught sight of them. "Ser - watch out."

Samson turned. "Inquisitor. You and those elf-things don't know when to stop." He laid a hand on his sword. "You've hunted us half across Thedas. I should've guessed you'd follow us into this hole."

Ruya walked forward, reinforcing her barrier as she closed the distance. "I spoke with your Tranquil, Maddox. He sacrificed himself for your cause."

"I told him not to..." Samson almost looked regretful. "He died as one of us, then. One of the faithful." He spread his hands. "Corypheus chose me twice. First as his general, now as the Vessel for the Well of Sorrows." He pointed up the waterfall behind them. "You know what's inside the Well? Wisdom. The kind of wisdom that can scour a world. I give it to Corypheus, and he can walk into the Fade without your precious Anchor."

She thought about trying to reason with him. Something told her it was far too late for that. He drew his blade. "So, Inquisitor. How will this go?"

From her pocket, she took the rune Dagna had given her. "Power's all well and good. Until it's taken away." She channeled her power into the rune.

He screamed as the lyrium on his armor began to shatter, reverberating with the lyrium in the rune. "What did you do? What did you do?" He fell to his knees. "My armor. It's gone. The lyrium - I need it." He got back to his feet and lifted his sword. "Kill them all."

#

It took the combined blades of herself, Cole, and Cassandra to finally bring Samson down. Even then, he tried to rise once more. "Not the Well, you wretch. You can't take it from Corypheus. You mustn't..." He collapsed, but continued breathing.

"He's still breathing." Cassandra panted.

"We can take him back to Skyhold for judgment." Ruya leaned on her staff. It was done, for now. She heard a raven call, and looked to see Abelas running up the waterfall. Maker, there was no need for him to... not anymore. "Abelas!"

#

They reached the top to see Morrigan blocking Abelas from reaching the well. "You heard his parting words, Inquisitor. The elf seeks to destroy the Well of Sorrows."

Abelas stepped back, positioning himself so he could watch her and Morrigan at the same time. "So the sanctum is despoiled at last."

"You would have destroyed the Well yourself, given the chance." Morrigan was all but spitting at the man.

"To keep it from your grasping fingers. Better it be lost than bestowed upon the undeserving." Abelas gestured at her.

"Fool. You'd let your people's legacy rot in the shadows."

Ruya held up her hands, trying to calm them both. "Corypheus needed Samson to use the Well. Without him, there's no 'Vessel' to claim it."

Morrigan shook her head. "The moment we leave, he will send more forces to secure this place." She took a deep breath. "The Well clearly offers power, Inquisitor. If that power can be turned against Corypheus, can you afford not to use it?"

"Do you even know what you ask?" Abelas glared at Morrigan. "As each servant of Mythal reached the end of their years, they would pass their knowledge on..." He waved his hand at the well. "Through this. All that we were. All that we knew. It would be lost forever."

"This can't be easy, holding on to what's lost." Corypheus was still out there, but surely they could find some way to defend the well. The barriers had held against the archdemon. If the Inquisition's mages reinforced them, and they left some soldiers...

"You cannot imagine. Each time we awaken, it slips further from our grasp." Abelas shook his head.

"There are other places, friend. Other duties. Your people yet linger." Solas stepped to Ruya's side.

"Elvhen such as you?" Abelas turned towards him.

"Yes." Solas gave a small nod. "Such as I."

Abelas turned to look at Ruya. "You have shown respect to Mythal, and there is a righteousness in you I cannot deny. Is that your desire? To partake of the vir'abelasan as best you can, to fight your enemy?"

If it could help, perhaps... "Not without your permission."

"One does not obtain permission. One obtains the right. The vir'abelasan may be too much for a mortal to comprehend." He was still for a moment, then he almost seemed to grow smaller. "Brave it if you must, but know you this: you shall be bound forever to the will of Mythal."

"Bound? To a goddess who no longer exists, if she ever did?" There was contempt in Morrigan's voice.

"Bound, as we are bound." Abelas looked at Morrigan before turning back to Ruya. "The choice is yours."

She need to know more. "Is it possible this Mythal might still exist?"

"Anything is possible."

Morrigan was shaking her head. "Elven legend states that Mythal was tricked by Fen'Harel and banished to the Beyond."

"'Elven' legend is wrong." Abelas' voice was blunt. "The Dread Wolf had nothing to do with her murder."

"Murder? I said nothing of -" Morrigan looked startled.

"She was slain, if a god truly can be. Betrayed by those who destroyed this temple. Yet the vir'abelasan remains. As do we. That is something." He started to walk away.

"Are you leaving the temple?" He didn't have to. They could find some way. Surely other Sentinels had survived.

"Our duty ends. Why remain?" He gestured at the garden below.

"There is a place for you, lethallin..." Solas's voice was soft. "If you seek it."

"Perhaps there are placed the shemlen have not touched. It may be that only uthenera awaits us. The blissful sleep of eternity, never to awaken. If fate is kind." Abelas inclined his head at the other elf.

"Thank you for this gift, Abelas." The Inquisitor bowed.

"Do not thank me yet, shemlen."

"Malas amelin ne halam, Abelas." She raised an eyebrow at Solas. "His name. Abelas means sorrow. I said..." He shrugged. "I hoped he finds a new name."

"You'll note the intact eluvian. I was correct on that count, at least." Morrigan gestured at the mirror on the other side of the pool.

That was still a potential problem as well. At least it was one they could move. "Is it still a threat? Can Corypheus use it to travel the Fade?"

"You recall when I took you through my eluvian, I said each required a key?" Morrigan waved a hand at the water. "The Well is the key. Take its power, and Mythal's last eluvian will be no more use to Corpyhus than glass." She sounded vaguely disturbed. "I did not expect the Well to feel so..." She wrapped her arms around herself. "Hungry."

"Let's not be reckless. I don't want anyone hurt."

Morrigan turned towards her. "I am willing to pay the price the Well demands. I am also the best suited to use its knowledge in your service."

Solas immediately stepped forward to protest. "Or more likely, to your own ends."

"What would you know of my 'ends,' elf?" Morrigan glared at him.

"You are a glutton drooling at the sight of a feast. You cannot be trusted." Solas gestured at Morrigan.

Morrigan sneered at him, and then turned back to Ruya. "Of those present, I alone have the training to make use of this. Let me drink, Inquisitor."

"'You alone?' You're not the only mage here." She wished she knew what, exactly, the Well truly was.

"I have studied the oldest lore. I have delved into mysteries of which you could only dream." Morrigan gestured. "Can you honestly tell me there is anyone better suited?"

She could perhaps think of one. "What about you, Solas?"

"No. Do not ask me again." His answer did not surprise her in the least.

Ruya glanced down at the mark on her hand. She was their only means of closing rifts. It wasn't a chance she could take. "Perhaps you're right."

"I am." Morrigan smiled. "You know I am."

"You're not concerned about the price? 'Bound forever to the will of Mythal'?"

"Bound to the will of dead god? It seems an empty warning. Perhaps a compulsion yet remains. Who can say otherwise? I do not fear it, even so."

"Are you sure you want this, Morrigan? We don't know what will happen."

"We do not, and yet it must be done. I am ready."

Maker, let this be the right choice. "It's yours."

She watched Morrigan step into the water.

#

"Morrigan?" She ran to the woman's side. Relief filled her when the witch began to move. "Are you all right?"

"Ellasin selah. Vissan..." Morrigan looked around her in confusion. "Vissanalla..." She sat up. "I..." Slowly, she rose. "I am intact. There is so much to sift through..." Morrigan turned to look at her. "But now we can -"

Below them, there was a scream of rage. Ruya looked to see Corypheus.

"The Eluvian..." Morrigan gestured as the mirror began to glow.

"Through the mirror." Ruya all but pushed Cassandra through. She looked back... and saw a figure rise from the pool. A woman. Corypheus stopped in his tracks. Ruya went through the mirror.

#

"It is done." Morrigan gestured, and the mirror eluvian ceased to glow.