I opened my eyes again and I was back in this abominable world, the rest of them walking on as though nothing had happened. My nerves, however, were shattered as I couldn't fight the memory of that woman. I caught up to Solas then, these dreams... memories... whatever they were, they were getting out of hand if they came unbidden in the waking world as well as in my sleep.

"I must ask you something." I whispered quietly. He didn't stop walking but his eyes drifted down to look at me. I took that as a sign to go ahead. I took a deep breath and without trying to sound too insane I explained my dreams. We were gathering shards of lyrium to open a door when something I said finally peaked his interest.

"This dream, with your mother and the mountains. Can you recall anything else?" He asked almost impatiently.

"Nothing other than... being free. There's a strange blue light that drifts across my face and something falls away, and words telling me I was free... nothing of real detail." I said but his face looked awe struck. He stopped in his tracks and regarded me carefully.

"How strange... Who might have known, you..." his voice seemed to drift off, his words hanging in the air as though he was talking to himself and not to me.

I furrowed my brow and stepped closer to him. That meant something. What he said meant something. Before I could ask him, the great doors opened and we were faced with Alexius. A deep hatred burned within me when I saw him. I drew my knife and made to march towards him, but strong hands pulled me back and held me.

"Wait." He whispered in my ear, and I was suddenly aware of how close his lips were to my skin, so much that I felt his breath condense on my neck. His arms wrapped around me more like an embrace than anything else. Again, all I could do was watch the exchange until Leliana had what was left of dear Felix with a knife at his throat.

"Please, do not harm him, I'll give you anything." Alexius pleaded.
She seemed to hesitate then, looking around her, her once bright green eyes vacant and dead. Her next words were so utterly heartbreaking that tears welled in my eyes.

"I want the world back." She muttered before slitting his throat.

Alexius raged then, and Solas had no choice but to let me go. The fight was hard, we faced not only Alexius but his demons too. I was exhausted, I had not slept in what seemed like a lifetime ago. Alexius fought like a mad man, his eyes fierce and red with tears. If I did not hate him so much I might have pitied him. Dorian, as usual, fired out his spells with accuracy and precision. The Herald slashed her way through the crowds of demons around us. But Blackwall, Cassandra and Solas seemed slower. More tired. I only need look at their faces to see the pain and exhaustian that sat heavily on them. He finally fell however, and Dorian got a hold of his amulet. He began casting the same spell that had sent me to Orlais. I was now glad that he had had the practice. We were running out of time though and we could hear distant roars and a brutish rumble over head.

"Give me an hour." Dorian muttered but Leliana rebuked him.

"You do not have an hour." She said harshly, hesitating only a moment before looking to the others and nodding.

"We shall hold them off." Solas declared, readying his staff. I spun on my heal to face him.

"No. You'll die." I said, my voice as hard as stone but even that wouldn't hide it quivering.

"Look at us, we're already dead." Leliana said with a bitter laugh. The roars outside the hall were growing louder and getting closer.

"It is the only way dhalen." Solas said, taking a step back towards the door but my hand on his arm stopped him.
"Nevalla..." he tried to reproach me, as the others readied themselves for a fight. His once blue eyes raised to meet mine and I couldn't stop the tear from falling. Behind me I could feel the power of the fade swirling around the amulet.
"You will return with them and this world will be but a nightmare." He said softly.

"What did you mean." I asked him and his smile returned. "What you said... What did it mean?"

He sighed gently and cupped my face in his hands, "It means you are utterly unique. In another time..." he did not finish his sentence but smiled and gently kissed the top of my head. "Go. We do not have much time."

I could barely let him go, it tore at every instinct in my body to let his hand slip from mine. To watch three of those dearest to me walk away to their deaths.

"Quickly, you have as much time as I have arrows." Leliana called, as the door shut behind them. It seemed like a lifetime before the sounds of fighting to finally stop outside and my stomach sank. Tears burned down my face as I saw Leliana notch her arrow. She began to recite something from the chant, even as the demons poured through the door. She stuck an arrow in all of them until her quiver was empty. I couldn't let her die here. Not like this. I notched an arrow to my bow and let it fly, piercing the demon behind her. It fell and she continued, tumbling over one to stab another. My heart was in my mouth, tears burned like fire down my cheeks and then she was caught, her eyes met mine and she nodded as the claws of a demon came down upon her. I cried out against it but the wash of the fade dragged me back and I felt my magic go loose. I saw nothing after that. I felt nothing either until my wrists jarred on a hard wooden floor. I looked at my hands. They were caked it blood and muck and ash but they were glowing too. Blue, like the colour of a low flame. I looked up around me, the room was silent until I caught the sight of him. He looked horrified and enraged all at once and I was consumed by a hatred I'd never known.

"He dies here." I said darkly, my voice like a roll of thunder, as I marched towards him. There were gasps in the hall but all I was focussed on was the terror that sat delightfully in Alexius' eyes. Vengeance had all but consumed me. The hate I had for this man was unlike anything I'd ever felt, but the power it gave me... My magic had neither ever felt so strong.

"Nevalla!" I voice called, a familiar voice that was usually so pleasant and kind, that was now feirce and commanding. I turned and saw The Herald, her youthful eyes strong and fixed on me. I felt the power within me flow out in a rush, I felt the hate in me vanish and my knees gave way. Blackwall and Dorian were there to ease me back on my feet but I was exhausted, as though all my mana had just left me. Dorian passed me the one lyrium potion he was just about to drink. In my exhaustion, I forgot my manners and so necked it without question. He almost smiled, but his eyes watched me warily, like I was about to spontaneously combust.

"Maker's sake, Girl, you're as temperamental as a bloody dragon. Watch what you do with that magic." Blackwall warned me quietly.

"He's right, dear Nev, I've never seen someome light themselves on fire and live to tell about it." Dorian said aswell and I would have told them I was sorry, that they need not worry. But in all honesty, that was a lie. That and an army baring Ferelden banners marched their way into the main hall, and from behind them emerged a woman dressed more regally than anyone I'd ever seen before. She seemed terribly important and it wasn't until the Herald nearly fell to her knees to bow did I realise; This was Ferelden's queen and she was demanding that the rebel mages leave Ferelden.

"I bade you take shelter in Redcliff and you repay my kindness by opening the doors to a Tevinter magister. This cannot stand." She said, her raised but calm voice commanding an easy authority. She was a bit late though. The Tevinter army had been dealt with, they'd retreat home with their tails between their legs and Alexius would hopefully have his head lopped off. The mages here however were a different matter. Fiona pleaded with the Queen but she was adamant they leave.

"We still need mages in the Inquisition, it is why we came here." The Herald said, but she was again the submissive little girl in front of this Queen, not the flourishing leader she had been moments ago. That vexed me. She was worth eighteen Queen Anoras.

"Then take them with you, as allies or conscripts; that is up to you." She said with finality before marching off again, her soldiers following her swiftly. Suddenly my heart was in my mouth as I saw the Herald weigh up the decision in her mind, but I had the utmost faith in her.