Old Elven Secrets
Early the next day, Ennaly and Solas dressed for travel, as Briala requested. Just as they wanted to exit their room, they heard a knock on the door. Ennaly shot Solas a surprised look, who took his staff in hand as Ennaly opened the door.
Walking in came an Elven woman dressed in a cloak and mask. She seemed entirely unperturbed by the staff pointed at her as she closed the door. "I am Judy, Milady, Milord," she said as she put down a woven basket, her words dripping with cynicism at the honorifics.
"How do we know we can trust you?" Ennaly asked, a bit startled at the forwardness of this woman.
She sighed. They couldn't quite see her full features, hidden by her mask, but she appeared a few years younger than Ennaly. She threw back her cloak to reveal a simple dress. "I am unarmed, and I believe you both should be able to sense that I don't have any magic. And, if you'll allow me, I have this to give you." She took something from her pocket and handed it to Ennaly. She turned it around to see a small wooden icon depicting a wolf standing in front of a tree.
Satisfied with that symbol, Ennaly handed it to Solas. Judging by his smirk, he seemed to find the trinket amusing. Reassured of the woman's alliance, Ennaly turned back to her and nodded.
"What a relief," Judy said dryly. "I have cloaks and masks for you both to wear. It is quite common for servants to be out and around this early in the day. Nobody will bat an eye to the three of us."
Ennaly doubted that. "And our staffs?"
The woman gave a knowing smile as she took two wrapped parcels from her basket. She uncovered them to reveal small twigs, neatly ordered and knotted together at one side. "We can bind these around the tops."
Ennaly and Solas eyed each other with scepticism. Certainly, this idea was questionable at best, but Judy chuckled at their apprehension.
"Both of you might be Elves, but you are no servants," she said. "You forget the very best and worst ability Elven servants have: we are invisible. We are merely part of the scenery, décor for those that play their silly Game. With these disguises, people will just see servants sweeping the gardens in the early morning, cleaning away the fallen leaves and petals and retrieving fresh bread. They will not care enough to look twice, if you do not give them a reason."
If they wanted to follow along and see what Briala's old Elven secrets were, they had to believe the woman. At least she seemed sure of herself. Ennaly and Solas tied the simple masks in front of their faces, fastened the cloaks at their necks, and disguised their staffs to resemble brooms. Dressed as servants, they followed Judy out of the servant's entrance of the inn and through the streets of Val Royeaux.
The woman was right. Even at this early hour, the streets were alive with the sound of footsteps on cobblestones and birds singing in the trees. Rather than the more leisurely stroll of afternoon traffic, the footsteps were purposeful, servants running errands for their employers. The delicious scent of freshly baked bread wafted towards Ennaly, making her stomach rumble as she realised she hadn't yet had breakfast.
The streets were being swept and the public greenery was watered and pruned, all to ensure the city appeared perfect for when the city's elite would start their day. Judy knew all the shortcuts to take and they moved through alleyways, blending in seamlessly with the bustling crowds.
As they neared the grounds of the Imperial Palace, Judy slowed down her steady walk and adjusted her mask before she approached a small gate. Ennaly and Solas followed as Judy chatted with the guardsman at the gate and raised her basket of fresh bread.
"The mistress desired loaves from her favourite bakery," she said in a drawling voice. "She insists the Palace's bakery always overbakes – "
"Just go on," the guard interrupted, clearly uninterested in lengthy explanations. Solas and Ennaly nodded in greeting, casually carrying their disguised staffs as if they walked here every morning, trailing behind Judy.
"Child's play, really," the woman grinned at them as they were out of earshot. Busy streets were replaced with rows of trees and colourful flowers, the sweet scents of lavender and jasmine infusing the air. The Palace itself was still a distance away behind another gilded fence, but that didn't seem to be their destination.
They turned towards an abandoned guest building that was almost hidden behind a tall hedge dotted with cypress trees. The building was overgrown and appeared somewhat derelict, but it was their destination. Judy went to the door and whispered some words, and after a few seconds, it was opened by another Elf dressed like a servant.
"Welcome to our humble abode," Judy spoke as they followed her through rooms with muslin-covered furniture and somewhat forlorn, sad-looking paintings on the walls. Once, this must have been a beautiful guest house, but the glory had faded away.
They removed the masks and continued towards a beautiful door with peeling paint. The room behind it was a lot more practical, set in the middle of the house, with a large table in the centre and shelves surrounding them. To Ennaly, it gave off the same sense of purpose that Skyhold's war room did.
Two Elves waited for them at the table, both dressed in travel leathers. One of them was Briala, and the other, Ennaly was surprised to see, was a Dalish Elf, carrying Ghilan'nain's Vallaslin in an olive colour that complemented his hair nicely.
Briala rose from her chair in a graceful manner that displayed her skill in stealth and combat. A small smile hinted at her lips. "Good morning, Inquisitor, and..." She stared at Solas, but her voice trailed off.
Solas did not waver and replied calmly. "Am I to believe you are not familiar with my name? I assumed you would have delved into every available detail about us."
The smile on Briala's face grew into amusement. "Which is surprisingly little, Solas and Ennaly. Both of you seem to have existed outside the confines of societal scrutiny before joining the Inquisition."
Ennaly had a faint feeling that even if they were among Elves, Briala was still very much playing a Game of her own, and they would do well to keep on their toes until they had figured out where they stood. A quick side-glance at Solas and a subtle tightening in his jaw told her that he was thinking the same thing, but he had the benefit of being able to appear calm.
Briala exhaled contently. "Excellent. Now let us dispense the formalities. I would like you to meet Loranil. You have already met Judy, of course."
Judy grinned broadly at each of them and unwrapped the basket she'd carried. "Breakfast," she declared before she left through another door and closed it behind her.
"Aneth ara," the Dalish Elf greeted with a hint of reverence. "An honour to meet the Inquisitor at last. It is a joy to see a Dalish reach such a position as yours. As a brother, please accept my sorrow for the loss of clan Lavellan. May Falon'Din guide your kin to their eternal peace." It was a common Elven prayer for those who had died.
"Thank you," Ennaly replied softly. "It seems the news travelled farther than I realized."
"Inquisition scouts brought us the news," he explained.
"You have my condolences, too," Briala added quietly. "It isn't easy, losing family."
Ennaly looked up, surprised by the tone in the woman's voice. Had she lost family as well? But as she wanted to inquire, Briala shifted her posture to stand straight. "You are probably wondering why I called you here today. I have kept a close eye on the Inquisition's activities and must offer my congratulations to you on the victory in the Western Approach."
Ennaly gave a nod of thanks and the woman continued. "We have acquired valuable information, not only regarding the regrettable loss of your clan, but also concerning the movements of the foe you pursue. We know he is hunting for some kind of Elven artefact. And it is safe to say that no one in this room desires his success."
"How do you know all of this?" Ennaly asked in wonder.
Something glimmered in Briala's eyes. "Inquisitor, I act as a spy. If I were to answer inquiries about the source of my information, I would be a very poor one indeed. However, rest assured that there are certain... resources at my disposal that can greatly benefit us all."
She leaned back and crossed her arms to observe both Solas and Ennaly with curiosity, measuring their responses. "Perhaps you came across rumours about me, too. Seen in Val Firmin one day, and delivering food to the Elves in the Ghislain alienage the next. How would that even be possible?"
The question was rhetorical, and it was clear that Briala only paused for dramatic effect. But, as she wanted to continue, Solas' lips formed into a faint smile. "Eluvians," he said. "Those must be the old Elven secrets you spoke of."
Briala leaned back against the wall and raised her eyebrows, almost as if she was impressed against her will. Ennaly had heard of Eluvians before as well, magic mirrors that allowed the ancient Elves to move around the world at an increased pace. Had Briala really managed to obtain the old artefacts Ennaly thought were long lost to history?
She felt her heart rate increase in the excitement of where Briala's story was going. Smiling, she glanced aside to find Solas radiating a similar kind of excitement. She had no doubt that he knew a lot more about Eluvians than he hinted at right now, and if she was correct, they might be in for an adventurous day indeed.
Briala leaned back against the wall, her posture relaxed again. "I can see you both are familiar with the idea. I should have known, since you are likely more attuned to Elven history than a city Elf like me." She gave a wistful smile that quickly turned a little devious. "Yes, the rumours are true and the Eluvians are what facilitated fast travel along large distances."
Ennaly's heart sank as a wave of cold realization washed over her. If the Eluvians allowed for long-distance travel almost instantly, had there been a chance to save her clan? "Could you have gone to the Free Marches?" she blurted out, her voice sharper than intended in her desperation. She had almost forgotten they were still playing a Game.
Solas made a move and his hand brushed against hers, tender, reassuring, but she did not take it. He likely understood where her question was coming from.
Briala's gaze softened into something like regret. "No," she confessed sadly. "You may have hoped that an Eluvian had been an answer, but I'm afraid my explorations haven't reached that far yet. The paths I have unlocked are confined to Orlais, but we are uncovering more paths as time progresses."
She set her brow back into resolve. "We are here today because I wish to share this resource with the Inquisition, in certain conditions. And as a token of gratitude for the title bestowed upon me, I would like to offer a demonstration. I know you are Dalish, and I understand the significance the summer solstice holds to your people. Loranil's clan has invited you to join their celebrations."
Ennaly did not move, unsure what she made of the proposition, unsure what her position even was among the Dalish. Celebrating the event wouldn't be the same if it wasn't with her clan, and that might make it hurt all the more. But... Was she just going to avoid clans forever, because the confrontation would be too painful? She'd loved the summer solstice, the dancing, the music, the fire, the food... Perhaps she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she declined.
She turned her gaze towards Solas, who was already looking at her with burning enthusiasm. Ennaly doubted that was due to the prospect of a festival, and much more the prospect of experiencing an Eluvian.
And wasn't he the answer here? A new chance to give new meaning to the festival? Wouldn't it be lovely if she could let Solas experience some of the happy aspects of Dalish life? She could imagine themselves dancing together just after dusk. It was a clear day today, at least here in Val Royeaux. How special would it be to share this?
She smiled, and he returned it. Encouraged, Ennaly shifted back to Loranil and Briala. "I would love to."
"Perfect," Briala replied, just as the door that Judy had left through, opened loudly to reveal her lithe form, dressed in leather and carrying a set of daggers at her hip. The absence of the mask and hood revealed dark hair pulled back in a low bun.
"You didn't really think I was just a servant, did you?" she asked with a grin. "I used to work as a Palace servant, when Briala spotted me… doing things I shouldn't be doing. She saw the potential."
They could have known.
All those who would travel were armed now. Briala with a bow, Judy carrying her daggers, Loranil wielding a sword, and Solas and Ennaly holding their staffs, undone from their disguise. After finishing their simple breakfast, Briala guided them to the basement of the guesthouse, through a few sets of locked doors.
"Why all the secrecy of this place?" Ennaly asked. "You are nobility now, aren't you?"
Briala scoffed derisively as she put her keys away. "Yes, I may have acquired a title, but acceptance will take a long time. Keeping this place hidden makes things easier, believe me. Besides, I witnessed how you both were mistreated by a Human just yesterday. Denied a service and subjected you to knife-ear, but later, he grovelled at your feet." She looked at Solas. "I see it makes you angry. Excellent."
"We all deserve to be treated with respect," Solas replied stoically.
"And with these ancient Elven secrets, we have the means to claim it back," Briala said.
"You have certainly gained my respect by everything you have accomplished so far, Marquise. Organizing a rebellion while those in power are powerless against it. Impressive."
Briala regarded him. "Let us hope this rebellion ends better than the previous one."
"A sentiment I share." Solas almost seemed a little mournful again, before it faded away.
The five of them found their way through a labyrinth of corridors, locked doors, and stairs, before they reached their destination. The Eluvian was truly a thing of beauty. Its towering frame barely fitted within the room, shaped like a pointed arch, the rim golden. At first glance, it appeared similar to any old mirror, strange only in its size, with the glass slightly tarnished. It reflected back their own image, but there was something otherworldly about it.
The true beauty, however, lay in how it felt. Ennaly, as a mage, was always able to sense magic. She could feel the aura of other mages, like they gave off a light she could observe with unseen eyes. It was how she always recognised Solas in the Fade. The mirror gave off shimmers in the air around it, betraying its nature.
"I can feel it," Ennaly whispered out of reverence for what she was observing.
"So can I," Solas agreed, staring in awe at the Eluvian before them.
"I ask you all to stand back," Briala called over her shoulder as she alone stepped forward. She must have done something, for there was a pulse of energy in the air as the surface of the mirror changed colour and started to ripple, almost like water covered in a thin layer of oil. Something underneath the surface of iridescence reflected colours from elsewhere – whatever elsewhere was. It seemed like a thunderstorm roared inside, or behind, the glass.
The magic in the air buzzed at a higher frequency now. It felt a little like Fade rifts did, but those felt like a violation against the laws of nature, an anomaly, while this Eluvian felt in tune with it.
Judy and Loranil entered the mirror first. It rippled at their touch like a stone thrown in a pond, but there was no resistance as their bodies slipped past. Briala gestured for Ennaly and Solas to follow. They stepped closer together, and as they did, the storm that raged behind the rippling surface came to rest. The Eluvian was wide enough so they could pass shoulder to shoulder. They shared a look, Ennaly grasping Solas's hand, and stepped forward.
It was a bit like passing through a waterfall, but instead of water raining down on them, it was magic. It reminded Ennaly of the time Solas Fade-stepped with her through the waterfall to find the little herb garden of Skyhold's Elven ruin, where he first told her he loved her. This had the same effect of wonder at entering an unfamiliar world, and like the herb garden, it was unmistakably Elven.
It was beautiful. They found themselves on a large stone platform surrounded by colourful plants and trees. The Eluvian that they emerged from was situated on a dais flanked by statues, two Elves in an elegant pose, carved so beautifully with a transparency to the way the cloth draped their figures, but there was something sad about them, something forlorn.
Arches surrounded the dais, some of which were overgrown by climbing flowers, fighting to reclaim old stone. One of the arches allowed access to a stone path. When walking nearer, Ennaly realised the pathway led into the distance, but it fogged over without a destination in sight. Moreover, the pathway had no support. They were on a large floating rock, and below that, and surrounding them… Nothing.
"I think we all felt like that, the first time we entered this place," Loranil noted as he saw Ennaly's awe. "I certainly couldn't believe my eyes. What would happen, do you think, if we jumped over the edge? Would we fall forever?"
"I can push you to find out, but I'm afraid you'll never be able to return the answer to us," Judy said with a grin.
Ennaly remembered the feeling of falling in Adamant fortress, tumbling through the air, before she opened the rift and entered the Fade in the flesh. "I wouldn't want to find out," she said, a shiver running down her spine.
All of a sudden, the Anchor on her hand flared brightly. It caught her by surprise, and she sucked in breath through her teeth.
"Are you alright?" Solas asked. He wandered around the platform with an oddly impassive face. She'd expected him to be as impressed as she was, but Solas was able to mask his feelings better than she. Perhaps he was too overcome by awe to show it.
"It doesn't hurt necessarily," she replied. "Or I'm just so used to the pain that I don't notice it anymore. It's uncomfortable, that's for sure."
He looked at her with worry. "It might act differently in this place, since we are closer to Fade. Do not try and use it here, for we cannot predict the consequences." For a moment, fear passed over his face.
"Should - should I be worried?" Ennaly asked upon seeing his expression.
"No," Solas said, the fear now hidden with a look of resolution. "I am here. I will not let anything harm you. Warn me if you feel a change." His fingers grazed hers reassuringly. They were around unfamiliar people, and he would never openly show his affection, but Ennaly knew what the little touch meant. She looked up to him with a tender smile, her pain a little lessened.
"Very sweet," Briala noted dryly. She was the last to pass through the Eluvian, and behind her, the rippling effect faded away, leaving blue-grey glass behind. "Let's go."
They started to follow the pathway. Illuminated run lit the edge of the pathway, warning them not to cross. After they only walked a short bit, the platform with the Eluvian was hidden from view, behind them. It appeared as if they walked through a void.
"So this is really how the Elves used to travel?" Ennaly mused. "No true roads, just mirrors connecting an... in-between world? This place isn't quite the waking words, but not quite the Fade either."
"It is constructed," Solas explained. "The powers of the ancient Elves were grand indeed. What a wonder it is to experience it after all that time." He paused, and a sense of sadness washed over him. "It is deteriorating. I can feel it. Eventually, this place will collapse upon itself. What a loss that would be."
"You know a lot," Briala remarked.
"I have studied the Fade. We were there, physically, not too long ago. But this is as close as one could get without the power of the Anchor."
"Have you been here before?" Judy asked.
"Not quite like this," Solas replied, making Ennaly wonder if he could visit this place in his dreams too.
"It is not without dangers, however," Briala continued. "Cleaning this place has not been our main priority. We may stumble upon bodies, and sometimes... Things find these bodies and inhabit them."
"Bodies?" Ennaly asked. Her Anchor acted out again, a low buzzing pain. She didn't want to grasp attention to herself, so she slipped on the leather glove with the metal disc that would hide the Anchor's spark from view.
"Ancient Elves, trapped when the mirrors turned dormant. Mostly servants, or slaves, tending their masters. They all died together."
Solas averted his gaze, away from them all. Ennaly could see that those words affected him greatly. "Slaves?" she repeated, a little uneasy.
Briala scoffed. "You are Dalish, aren't you? Shouldn't you know more about the ancient Elves than a city Elf like me? My former mentor certainly possessed more knowledge than you."
Ennaly and Loranil exchanged a glance. He shrugged, indicating he didn't know much of it either. But she was a First, and whatever knowledge was available, she should have learned. But her Keeper never mentioned anything about slaves before.
"It wasn't all fairytales like I thought when I was a girl," Briala continued, a little coldly. "If there are only Elves in the world, it means that all layers of society are filled with them. Those in power often find ways to misuse it and there will always be someone who needs to sweep the floors."
The words hit Ennaly, and she wondered how odd it was that she had never questioned it before. "You'd think a sense of morality would prevent one from keeping slaves," she replied, but then remembered that even Dorian didn't use to oppose to slaves. If that was all you'd ever known, perhaps you didn't see the injustice in it?
Now, that was injustice.
"Yet power often blinds," Briala stated.
Ennaly tried to look at Solas, see if he had anything to say about any of this, but he kept his head averted, his gaze low, locked on the strips of runes along the border of the pathway. And slowly a second floating island came into view, and on it stood another Eluvian, flanked by statues.
"Let's be careful when we cross this Eluvian," Briala warned. "Behind it is a central... Garden of sorts. It isn't always peaceful."
She requested them to step back again. Only Judy was clearly allowed to be near and know whatever it was Briala did to make the surface of the mirror wake. One by one they stepped through, the sensation similar to the first time.
This time, they found themselves in some sort of large plaza, more desolate than glorious. A low white mist covered the ground and emerging from it were dozens upon dozens of Eluvians, rising like forlorn headstones at an abandoned cemetery. Large golden structures stood scattered throughout, almost tree-like at the top, akin to what Ennaly had seen before in old Elven temples. They must have held power once. She could image them filled with orbs of light, the pavement of this plaza repaired and clean with richly dressed Elves congregating here, walking from mirror to mirror going about their business, pausing briefly to chat.
The image that came to mind was beautiful, for just a moment, before she imaged the slaves hiding in the corners, sweeping the pavements clean, not unlike she herself had posed, this very morning. The image twisted to how she envisioned Tevinter was today.
The next shot of pain in her hand came suddenly and she wasn't quite able to hide it away. Solas, who had been looking around with a mournful, somewhat strangely guilt-ridden expression, turned his attention to her.
"Nothing to worry about," she said quietly, not wanting to add to whatever melancholic mood had befallen him.
"Vhenan..." he whispered his reply, took her hand, and gently removed the glove to study the sparks. "I am... unsure what will happen if I try to soothe in this place." He turned his eyes onto hers. "Do not use it here."
"I won't," she replied and looked around to find Briala's eyes on them, but instead of the previous scrutiny, it carried a hint of tenderness.
She pulled her hand back and turned her attention to Loranil. He was Dalish… And how did he fit in? "What brought you here, Loranil?"
"I was hunting one day," he started. "I met Briala. I was always interested in seeing more of the world than just my clan. My Keeper was apprehensive at first to let me leave, but he allowed it in the end. I sympathise with Briala's cause, and with the Inquisition's too. I have been wanting to meet you for a while now. It's time for us Dalish to be a little bit more involved in this world."
Ennaly smiled. "I agree, but It's not always been easy."
A sudden cry from Solas' lips interrupted their conversation, his voice filled with urgency and terror. "Look out!" His words echoed over the plaza, reverberated by the metal structures. Time seemed to freeze, as several things happened all at once.
The ripple of a barrier spell, cast by Solas, displaced the mist around their feet, revealing what had been hidden from view. Scattered around were bodies of Elves – dead for Gods knew how long – but they were stirring.
An arrow sped past Ennaly's face, courtesy of Briala's bow, and Ennaly's gaze followed its path to see… It was floating in the air, grotesque, yet resembling an Elf, dressed in tattered robes with long gangly limbs, moving around in an unholy dance, chanting a silent spell.
With the sound of snapping bone, she realised that the thing was waking up the bodies scattered around them.
"An era'harel!" Briala called, notching another arrow. An arcane horror.
"Shit," Judy called, drawing her daggers. The sound of singing metal indicated Loranil had drawn his sword. Ennaly raised her staff, and her lightning joined the fire that Solas was shooting at it.
"Do we engage?" Loranil called, slashing down on a body at his feet.
"The Eluvian we need is nearby," Briala called, letting loose another arrow. "Let's hurry!"
Resolved to disengage rather than face uncertain death, they hurried onwards, shooting spells and arrows behind them. Loranil led their flight, cleaving in on the corpses rising at his feet.
The icy cold presence of the demon breathed down their neck, closing in with every passing second. And in a moment as confusing as its first appearance, it disappeared, leaving them to deal with the bodies clawing up around them, when all of a sudden, it reappeared in front of them. Grotesque, gaunt skin stretched taut over twisted ancient bones and rotting flesh, teeth snarling at them.
A beam of volatile, green energy rushed towards them, and Ennaly's well-timed barrier might have saved them all from joining the sea of Elven corpses around them. The energy tugged at their soul, their essence, but instead of a shout, the barrier reduced the impact to a mere whisper.
Judy's scream pierced the chaos, as she sank her daggers into the shambling corpse intent on pulling her down. Ennaly brushed her hair away from her cold, sweaty forehead as she shot lightning at the horror. "Can I really not use my mark?" she called, her voice panicked as they changed their direction to move around their enemy. Usually, when she called forth its slumbering power, she could easily disintegrate foes like this.
"It might kill you!" Solas shouted back, panic evident in his voice, as he called forth energy from the Fade, more easily accessible here, smashing it into the demon.
Ennaly spun around to dodge a new surge of energy, frustrated. "Your rift magic works here!"
Solas twirled around to re-cast a barrier around Loranil, who was clearing a pathway for them through the corpses. "Do not risk it!"
The arcane horror moved away again, and a temporary path lay clear in front of them, and as they rushed forward, it wasn't long before they saw another Eluvian doom before them, shimmering with dormant energy.
"I need time to activate it, cover me!" Briala called urgently over her shoulder. Ennaly positioned herself nearby while the other three fought off the bodies stumbling towards them, at a faster pace than one might expect for corpses dead since the beginning of the Ages.
Ennaly noticed vines creeping nearby and willed her magic towards them, the magic she was so familiar with, Keeper's magic, and they grew, entangling nearby corpses. They were shrieking voicelessly and clawing at the vines, but for the moment, they were prevented from drawing nearer. Ennaly kept her concentration on the vines, tightening the bonds, as she held her place near the Marquise. Something glimmered red in her hand as Briala raised it in front of the mirror. Quietly, she muttered a few words under her breath.
"Fen'Harel enansal."
Ennaly was vaguely aware of the spoken words, and a sense of surprise threatened to break her focus. But the mirror flashed and shimmered vibrantly blue-purple, active, meaning their escape was imminent. Almost overcome with relief, a sudden cry made her twirl around.
Judy had fallen down. They hadn't seen a body crawling nearby through the remnants of mist, slashing at her shin. Solas cast a barrier on her and Loranil jumped near to kill the corpse – could you kill something that isn't alive?
And only from her position could Ennaly see the arcane horror re-emerging behind the three of them. It made the same haunting gestures with its hands like before, when it called forth the green energy that nearly sundered their spirits. Ennaly only had a split-second to decide. She released her focus on the vines, instead raising her left hand with the sparking Anchor. She had done it many times before. Almost without effort, she released the focus she held within it. She wouldn't let the horror kill them – not Solas, her love, nor the other two whom she only just met. She couldn't, not if she had a chance of saving them.
Green volatile energy of her own sped towards the foe before it finished its spell and Ennaly cried as the power tore through her. The green orb that appeared above the demon pulled at it, and it couldn't resist.
"Ennaly, no!" Solas cried in desperation, the last word ringing through the now-silence as the horror disintegrated. Without the puppeteer to pull the strings, the Elven corpses slowly crumbled down into the mist, lifeless once more, allowed to resume their final slumber.
Ennaly sank to her knees, overcome by pain of the Anchor. Sparks erupted from her entire hand, near her wrist. Loranil supported Judy as Solas ran to Ennaly's side, but she managed to crawl to her feet by herself. "Let's... let's get through," she muttered, resolute.
Briala watched the display with horror, and waited for the others to step through the Eluvian before she followed last. They found themselves on a platform again similar to the first one, with a pathway leading away to a void. Briala whispered to the mirror as she had done before, the others all too distracted, but Ennaly thought she heard those same words again.
The Dread Wolf's blessing.
For a moment, they all stared at the mirror as the ripples faded away, wondering if more danger would pursue them. Nothing did. The era'harel lay slain, the mirror dormant, and for the moment, they were safe. But even without immediate threat, the Anchor licked at Ennaly's arm, arcing off in sparks around her, and once again, she fell to her knees, clutching at her hand.
As Solas rushed to her, angry at her recklessness, she couldn't stop wondering why Fen'Harel's name was spoken out loud, like it was some kind of password, a blessing to open ancient portals. A feeling of unease encroached upon her, even as Solas gently took her hand in his.