I woke up to someone shaking me.
"Ana, wake up. You need to see this."
I rubbed my eyes, forcing myself to a sitting position, "What?"
"Neria, look!"
I shot to my feet, both of us turning as one to stare in awe.
Solana stood just off to the side, her eyes full of delight. She was holding a fireball.
Solana Amell was no longer Tranquil.
"What…happened?" the words took forever to leave me.
"It's the fade. The fade did this." The girl started crying, her happiness overwhelming, "It's reversed."
Neria wrapped her arms around Solana, holding her together.
"It will not last." A whisper and a sudden gust of air sent us on alert.
"Who's there?" Neria.
"What do you mean?" fearful Solana.
"I mean what I say." Purpose showed itself. Another spirit melted from the shadows to join the first.
"Spirits." I couldn't tell if Amell was cursing or simply calling out what they were.
"This one helped us." The gestured to me, "We would help in return."
"How? Can you…. Do you know how to reverse it permanently?"
The spirits exchanged glances.
"We do." The second drifted closer, coming to a stop a few inches from Solana's face, though they still spoke together, "Two become one. We give of ourselves. You become yourself."
"Why would you…?" the two mages focused on me, "How did you help them?"
"I helped them." I said dumbly, unable to articulate anything for no reason, "They were desire demons, and I helped them."
"Will you accept our aid?"
"I…. I would be killed for being an abomination!" Amell backed away, tears streaming down her face.
The strength it must have taken her, to turn down what she wanted most….
"We have been unclear. We would give of our essence. There would be no possession."
The closest one spoke alone, "Possession is for demons. We are not they."
"Wait. Wait a second. You helped me in Redcliffe. How could you do that, if you don't exist anymore?" my eyes were narrowed in thought. It didn't make any sense. If Solana went through with this, what would happen in Redcliffe?
"We came with you." A third whisper joined.
"You. Oh, wow." I breathed in surprise, "I'm all for this, then. You have my seal of approval."
Neria nodded, "Mine, too. Sol, please."
The two stared at each other in silence for several minutes.
"Alright. Okay. Let's do this." She took several deep breaths, "How do we do this?"
The purpose spirit standing in front of her took a step and…was absorbed.
The mage dropped to her knees, hugging herself and whimpering.
"She will be safe. They will be unable to turn her again. She will never be possessed." They whispered as they glided backward, disappearing from view.
"Sol? Are you okay?" the elf murmured, rubbing the human's back.
"I'm more than okay. I'm me." She threw herself at her friend, crying in to her shoulder, "Ner, I'm me again!"
"We have to go. I could wake up at any time." I suddenly remembered we were on a time crunch.
"How do we wake up, though?"
"Maybe…we just wake up?"
"Last time sloth got me, I had to defeat him." I sighed.
"Sloth?" the girls exchanged another look.
"You know him?" I frowned, wondering why Neria hadn't said anything before now.
"Uh, yeah. Maybe. He was there during our Harrowings. He…taught us things. Well, he taught "Mouse" how to turn in to a bear."
"For both of you?"
"Yeah. Irving and Gregoire were concerned because since the founding of the Circles, no two people have had the same experience. Irving managed to brush it off and calm the Knight Commander by saying it probably had to do with how close we are and that we came to the Circle on the same day." Solana explained.
"Huh." I muttered, "So, sloth knows who you are. We can use this. How did you get him to teach you things?"
"We answered riddles. I can't remember what they were, though."
"Me, either." The elf sighed.
"Okay. Let's go find sloth and get out of here."
...
Sloth smiled and beckoned for us to move closer.
"I heard you wanted to see me again, child." His voice was different this time, deeper.
"Yes." I waited for him to try something.
"You are a curious creature. You are there, yet you are here. Curious, indeed. And I remember these two. Tell me, how did it end? Did your mouse friend get free?"
"You know he didn't. We didn't let him trick us." The elf snickered.
"Now, what would you have of me?"
"We want to leave." Solana demanded suddenly, "Give us riddles. You gave us aid the last time we saw you, by asking us to answer riddles. So, please, allow her the same. If she answers them all right, we three get to leave."
"I get to leave, not past me. Past me needs to stay and help everyone else." I clarified, knowing we could be walking straight in to a trap.
The demon hummed while he thought, "Very well. Give me some time to think of some."
"That's fair." I conceded.
We waited. And waited. And waited some more.
Finally, "I have seas but no water. Coasts with no sand. Tongues without people. Mountains without land. What am I?"
"A map." I said, my mind easily solving it. Childish, really.
"I…remember that one, now. That was one of them. But it took me a really long time to answer all of the riddles. That was fast." Solana.
"Yeah. For me, too." Neria.
"Mmm. Eh. Mhm. Correct." Sloth muttered grudgingly, "Eh, let's move on to the second riddle. I am rarely touched, but often held. If you have use, you'll use me well. What am I?"
I bit my tongue, mulling it over. My eyes closed, and I touched my forehead.
"Tongue." I all but growled. These were such obvious riddles. The next one had better give me pause.
"Yes, your witty tongue." He yawned, "Fair enough. One more try, shall we?"
I gave a curt nod.
"Often will I spin a tale. Never will I charge a fee. I'll amuse you an entire eve, but alas, you won't remember me. What am I?"
Something you can't remember? An entire evening? Perhaps while you were sleeping?
"A dream." I murmured, then louder, "Dreams."
The demon grumbled, "You are…correct. Rather apropos in the fade, mm?"
I didn't crack a smile.
"You have won my challenge and proven yourself an amusing distraction, so I shall let you leave. The three of you. The you standing before me." He rattled off, making sure we knew the terms of agreement, "Now, listen carefully…."
We glanced at each other, nodding, "We're listening."
"Wake up."
...
"That was the dumbest- Ana… Why are you there on the ground, if you're standing here, next to us?" Solana cut herself off, sounding like she was losing her mind.
I opened my mouth to explain, but she burst in to tears with no warning whatsoever.
"What-" Neria began.
"I-I feel so scared and and and SO ANGRY! HOW COULD THEY JUST LEAVE YOU IN THE DUNGEONS LIKE THAT?! THERE WAS NO REASON FOR IT! THE TEMPLARS WILL ANSWER FOR IT!"
"Sol? What's wrong?" eyes wide, the elf grasped my arm and pulled me with her as she backed away.
"I'M SO MAD AND SO SCARED! I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON! EVERYTHING HURTS SO MUCH, I-" she broke off, screaming horrifically.
I hit my forehead, "It's because she was Tranquil. Tranquil don't feel things the same way we do, if at all, right?"
"Andraste's ass, you're right. Come here, Sol. Let's try to fix this. There must be something we can do."
We led her out of the hall littered with sleeping bodies. Me and my friends. I wondered what kind of psychological effect it would have on me, if past me woke up right now.
"Anastasia?" a small voice called out.
My head whipped around, "Calilian."
Oh, yeah. She'd been here when I'd been here. Earlier. Not now. I needed to stop thinking.
"I came to-"
"Warn me about the guy upstairs, right? Yeah, you told me already."
"I'm pretty sure I haven't said anything about that yet." Her eyebrows shot up.
Shoot. I'd jumped the gun. She hadn't met past me yet.
"Time travelers." I gave her a look, "The other me is going to walk through here soon, and I have to not be here when that happens."
Her eyes grew wider, "Oh, that's not good. That's not good at all! You should never ever ever ever ever meet yourself! What are you STILL DOING HERE? GET OUT?!"
"WHY WAS THAT A QUESTION?!"
"I'M FREAKING OUT ON YOUR BEHALF! I DON'T KNOW!"
"ONE OF THESE DAYS, WE NEED TO MEET UNDER LESS STRENUOUS CONDITIONS! BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE RIGHT- I NEED TO LEAVE! CAN YOU STALL THE OTHER ME?"
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK ME TWICE! CONSIDER IT DONE!"
"YOU REALLY ARE A GREAT FRIEND, CALI!" I shouted over my shoulder as I fled the scene with the mages trailing after me.
"What was that?"
"I'm stressed, okay? I need to get back to where I was, like, yesterday." I bit out, feeling as overwhelmed as Solana was.
I helped Solana and Neria hide in a wardrobe and started to hide as well, but was distracted by the sound of…someone praying?
I peeked through the doorway. Oh no.
I tried to pull back before he saw me, but I wasn't quick enough.
"You, there! Begone!" the Templar called out, "I am tired of your games! Leave me be!... Just…leave me…be…." He trailed off, his voice breaking slightly.
I edged in to the room he was being held in, "Who are you? Why are you behind that magic barrier? Is it for your protection?"
I played the part of innocent child.
"You know it is not!" he snarled, glaring at me, "I am aware you are a demon, 'child.'" He sneered, lip curling with distaste, "There is no reason for a child to be here. Now, LEAVE ME BE!"
One moment, I was getting berated by Cullen, the next, I-
was waking up in a room, Zevran sharpening one of his daggers off in a corner.
"What…. Where am I?" I blinked in confusion. Was I back? Please tell me I hadn't gone farther back. Back before he and I had met or something crazy like that.
"Ah, you are awake. We are in Denerim. In a room at The Pearl."
I stared at him blankly.
"It is the more popular brothel in town." He grinned, though his eyes were still tight, "You see, after you fell asleep again, we could not wake you. Add to that, a few of Loghain's men had shown up in Redcliffe. We could not stay, clearly."
"Of course not." I winced at my voice. It sounded like I hadn't had anything to drink in days.
"Ah. Here." He reached out and picked up a glass, filling it with water from a pitcher on the table next to him. He handed it to me, keeping his watchful eyes on me as I drank.
"Thank you."
"Think nothing of it. Now, where was I?" he tapped his chin, "Ah, right. We had to flee quickly, and your fellow Grey Warden decided Denerim was the best choice. The seat of power for Ferelden."
"Which means…Loghain lives here?"
"Yes, my dear."
I closed my eyes, thumping my head repeatedly against the pillow.
"I had a similar reaction." He chuckled, "It seems, without your guidance, he chooses the worst of the options available."
The door cracked open, "Is she awake yet?"
"Speak of the devil." I muttered almost inaudibly under my breath, my eyes still closed.
Another chuckle before answering, "Yes, she is."
"Thank the Maker." Alistair breathed as he entered the room, "Everyone was worried about you."
"Everyone?" my eyes popped open in disbelief, "You're not counting Sten and Morrigan, are you?"
He grinned, "I am, actually. Morrigan's been making plans on what she'll do after you wake up, and I found Sten in here the other morning, just sitting watch."
"Huh." Huh. Imagine that. I squirmed a little, feeling more than a bit uncomfortable.
"So, can we talk alone? Are you up for talking? If you're not, that's okay. I can wait. Actually, this can wait. I'll just go. I'm glad you're awake, though. That's good. Everyone was worried. Did I already say that? Man, it's hot in here. I should go ask if there's anything we can do to get the air circulating in here. Maybe we can just open a window? And by we, I mean him or me. Not you, clearly. I mean, not that you can't open windows, but that you shouldn't because you've been sick. I-"
"Geeze. Take a breath. You really were raised by dogs. Dogs with nervous disorders." I tried calming him.
He barked a laugh, "That's funny. That was a funny joke. So funny. You're very funny."
"Zev?"
Bemused expressions passed between the assassin and me.
"Do not make her more ill, alright?" Zevran sheathed his blade threateningly before taking his leave, "And you. Get well."
I tilted my head, "I'll think about it."
He closed the door behind him.
"Alright. What has your panties in a twist?" I sighed.
"My…what? I don't wear-"
"Joke. I'm funny, remember?" raised an eyebrow at him.
"Right." The warrior ran a hand through his hair, "My sister is here. I mean, I have a sister. And she lives here."
"In The Pearl?" I blinked, confused again.
"No?" his brows drew together, his chin touching his chest.
Silence reigned for several minutes.
His head snapped up, "Oh! I meant, in Denerim. Zevran told you we were in Denerim, right?"
"The seat of Ferelden's power, yes. The place where Loghain lives. Goldanna lives here?"
"I'll admit, it wasn't the best of plans, but who would think of us being right under his nose? And how did you know her name? Are you a mind reader, too?"
"No." my voice whipped out, cutting.
He held up his hands, "Sorry. I didn't mean anything by it."
"I'm sorry." I sighed, exasperated with myself, "It's been an odd time, lately. The fade. I met demon Goldanna in the fade with you."
"Oh, right. Right. That makes sense. I'd forgotten. Well, she's here. In Denerim, not the brothel."
"Remind me later to ask why we're staying in a brothel. Actually, don't. I'm not sure I want to know. Do you want to meet your sister? Is that why you're a nervous ball of nervousness?"
"I-Yes. Yes, I do. But I don't want to go alone. You know?"
"Do you want me to go with you?" I offered patiently.
"Would you?" he begged.
"Sure." Another sigh.
Throwing the covers off of me, I moved to sit on the edge of the bed. A lightbulb went off.
"I should probably return that." I mumbled, going to my pack and rummaging through it.
"Return what?"
"I was in Redcliffe castle, and I took something." I admitted, biting my lip.
"You took something? You…stole…from the Arl of Redcliffe?"
I looked up sharply. He was laughing at me.
"Yes." I snapped, holding up the necklace, "This. It was pretty."
All color drained from his face. I had royally screwed up, hadn't I?
"I-it's okay. I can just put it back. He's in a coma, right? He'll never know it was missing, right?"
"That's…. Where did you find that?" a whisper of reverence.
My eyes bugging out, I glanced back and forth at the amulet and him, "Uhm. A study on the first floor. I think it was his? What did I do? How badly did I mess up?"
He shook his head, "You…. That's my mother's amulet."
What.