Fae was surprised to find Ellethir waiting in the War Council room alone. "Oh? I thought we'd be meeting to discuss the Winter Palace?"

Ellethir sighed, leaning over to rest her hands on the enormous table. "Leliana and Josephine are already bickering about it. But no, not yet. We have mail. This one is addressed to you," she held up one of the unopened letters, providing no explanation for another, already-opened scroll in front of her.

Fae accepted it with a quizzical look, but immediately recognised the griffon wing wax seal. This could either be from acting Warden-Commander Frederick (unlikely, given that he was recovering from a dislocated shoulder in the sick bay last she saw him), or…

"Neria," Fae gasped, breaking the seal and unfurling the scroll immediately. Something small and metallic clanged on the table, slipping out from the broken seal's grip, but Fae's attention was wholly on the parchment in front of her.

'Da'len,

Firstly, I am so sorry for the immense loss of life caused by the conflict between the Grey Wardens and the Inquisition. I had hoped that in my absence, acting Warden-Commander Frederick would keep our hopes up for a renewed Fereldan Grey Warden contingent. Unfortunately, I have had to make the difficult decision to dismiss him in light of what has happened, and entrust the surviving Fereldan Wardens with another Acting Warden-Commander, Warden Beatrix, and I wish her every success.

She has not been a Warden for long, but not so long ago, neither had I. I cannot say whether I would have fared better under the circumstances Ser Frederick found himself in, and I do not judge him, but he has lost their trust and we cannot afford any more division in our ranks. As for the First Warden, he is preoccupied with…other work, it seems.

I myself must remain absent for the time being, as I believe we (that is, Zevran, myself, and a select group of my most trusted brothers and sisters in the Wardens) are closer than ever to finding what we may call a cure for our condition as Grey Wardens, where there will be no more Callings, and becoming a Grey Warden need not be a death sentence.

Although you will always be my precious young cousin in my heart, you have survived long enough to know that where there is a chance of success, there is also a chance of failure. In saying this, I have enclosed a keepsake that has been in my possession for some time, for you to bring to First Enchanter Fiona, as she remains the only surviving ex-Warden- I expect she will understand its significance, and, if I know you, you may come to understand it as well. If that is the case, please allow her to decide for herself. And never, ever, tell anyone else, even Leliana (I know she loves her secrets).

Finally, despite my reputation, I know little of what information may be of use to you in your fight against Corypheus, but if I come across anything in the path of my own quest, I will send it to you immediately.

Give my regards to Leliana and your other allies, and I send you all my love, sweet cousin.

Neria Tabris, Warden-Commander of Ferelden

P.S. You are not allowed to die, stay safe until we meet again x'

Fae smiled, her eyes misty again in spite of herself.

Ellethir noticed. "She is very dear to you, isn't she?"

"It feels like a lifetime ago, but there was a time when she was all I had left in my life," Fae wiped her hand across her eyes.

"I know what you mean," Ellethir lifted up her own scroll, and Neria saw the tears welling in the Inquisitor's eyes.

"Ellethir? Is that from your clan? Did something happen?" Neria immediately wound her way around the table towards the Inquisitor.

"No, no, I mean, yes, but nothing bad, not really. I…" Ellethir sighed again, and this time the tears fell. "Keeper Deshanna has chosen a new First. I knew this would happen, the clan must have at least a First, and I've been away so long, and I don't even know if I'll ever see them again…It makes sense, it's just that…"

"Just that…? Tell me, lethallan," Fae said, reaching for Ellethir's hand to give it a quick squeeze.

Ellethir looked away, as if what she had to say shamed her. "I gave them my whole life…they were my whole world, my everything. My whole identity was theirs, and theirs was mine. And in less than one year, they have replaced me," she practically whispered the last few words.

"Oh, Ellethir…" Fae wrapped her arms around the taller elf. "They could never replace you. It's impossible. You're far too charming. I bet the new First is shaking in her—well, not boots, but in her bow, or something."

Ellethir laughed, stifling her sniffles. "Ha. Definitely need boots for where I'm headed next."

"Where?"

"Emprise Du Lion. It's covered in snow, but reports have come back that lately it's also covered in red lyrium. We suspect it's where the Red Templars are mining it, but we won't know for sure until we get there. The scouts have already gone ahead- there's a mining town in the area, hopefully we can get some information there."

"Am I coming with you?" Fae asked hopefully.

Ellethir shook her head. "Nope. You're still officially on bed-rest, at least until Leliana and Josephine finally make up their minds about the preparations for the Winter Palace ball. And then Creators help us all."

"Ugh."

"What is that, by the way?" Ellethir pointed to the object that fell out of Neria's letter- an amulet emblazoned with the emblem of Andraste's flame on a thin silver chain. There are cracks of gold running through it; clearly it had been broken and has since been meticulously repaired.

"I'm not sure. Neria tells me it's a keepsake for me to give to First Enchanter Fiona. She was a bit cryptic about it, too," Fae frowned.

"Do you think it's going to give you one of those visions? Can you sense it?"

"Neria implied it would, and I kind of do, but it might be that I'm just expecting it because she seemed to expect it."

"Are you going to…?"

"Yep." Fae reached for the amulet. Oh, shit. This was one of Fae's more dizzying visions; scene after scene, flashing past her mind's eye with barely enough time to make sense of them all before they began to repeat again in the same order, over and over.

A young elf's scream of pain in a darkened room, a group of Wardens in the Deep Roads led by a man who looked just like Alistair but with the beginnings of a blonde beard. A young Fiona and the blonde man embracing, covered in grime and their armour in tatters. Fiona speaking animatedly to another young man, a man Fae vaguely recognised as the one she'd seen in one of her very first visions; Alistair and Neria's mentor, Duncan, of the Grey Wardens. Finally, the blonde man in the throne room of Denerim's Royal Palace, whispering with both Fiona and Duncan. And, in Fiona's arms, a swaddled baby with a sheen of golden hair on its head.

"Fae… Fae!"

The amulet dropped back onto the table with a clatter.

"What was it? What happened?"

Fae looked dazed, as if woken suddenly from a deep sleep. "Sorry lethallan, Neria's sworn me to secrecy," she said after a few moments. "I need to take this to Fiona. Right, right now," Fae snatched the amulet back up, pushing the visions back in her mind. "It's nothing bad. I think. I don't know. Ohhh Maker, or Creators, or whatever. This is…wow. Good luck with Emprise Du Lion!"

"What-?" Fae never heard the rest of Ellethir's question as she practically flew out the door, making a beeline for the newly established mage's quarters.

It didn't take long for Fae to find the First Enchanter, albeit with enough stairs to remind her of Adamant Fortress. Fiona was sitting in her makeshift 'office'- three bookshelves to form most of a cube, with a low but sizeable desk to complete it. Sitting behind this desk and reading, Fiona was mildly surprised to see Fae approach, as she'd never done so before. "Seer? Can I help you?"

Fae's eyes were as wide as saucers, although she didn't say anything, wordlessly placing the amulet down on the desk (truth be told, she was a little out of breath).

Fiona's expression changed immediately, a wave of several different emotions washing over her as she picked it up. "…How…? Where did you get this?" she asked lowly.

"Neria. She said she'd had it for some time, but that you would know what it meant. Here," Fae also handed her the letter from Neria.

Fiona scanned it, brow furrowed. "…I see. And I take it, your, ah, special trick, means you also know something of its significance?"

"…I do," Fae admitted, a little hesitantly. "But I won't tell anyone, I swear it. Not even Leliana. But, I don't know why Neria's sent it now, and not earlier, when she could have."

Fiona looks over the letter once more. "It's a…warning, of sorts," she said flatly. "If she fails, then it will not be me who is running out of time. To tell of this to… someone who she believes ought to know."

"…Oh. Will you? Tell them?"

Fiona looked up sharply, and Fae instinctively stepped back a little. The older elf's gaze softened apologetically. "I will…consider it. Thank you, for bringing this to me. And for your discretion."

"Of course, First Enchanter."