Traveling had changed after Soldier's Peak. What hours were once spent full of light and laughter turned into silence and uneasiness. Usually I was bombarded with questions about what to expect and so forth. But now? Now I was met with quiet conversations between only those closest to me. The conversations did little to distract me. I was too focused on trying to figure out what was going to happen now.

Revas and I weren't blamed when we set up camp that night. Most of the party understood after minutes of going back and forth. I was not the subject to their ire until I had fully calmed down and piped up.

I sat on the log, watching as everyone bombarded Revas with various questions. Almost too quick to understand what exactly was being said.

This was the most uncomposed I had ever seen him in the four months that I have known him. His eyes were wide and he stuttered out half-answered responses. His hands were held out in front of him as if he was trying to shield himself from the onslaught.

The others, however, continued to surround him. I could scarcely see him as humans, dwarves, elves, and even a qunari stood over or around him.

The yelling grew louder and louder until I couldn't stand it anymore.

"Stop it!"

Piped up is what I said, yes? More like shouted until the heavens themselves shook. My voice was still hoarse from the amount of times I yelled at everyone to quit yelling. The cold air of the snow did not help with the croaking of my words. Not that I was in much of a mood to actually talk.
I had finally convinced both Brali and Alistair to go and talk to other people. They hesitated, probably fearing that I was going to spiral back into a panic. But after alleviating those fears and telling them that I simply just wanted to be by myself for a moment, they finally agreed to let me sit in silence. I watched silently as Duncan and Alistair laughed quietly together. After seeing that Duncan was still alive, Alistair had stuck to both his and my sides mostly.

Looking away from the found father-son duo, I focus on the changing surroundings. What went from lush vibrant forests became cold harsh woods.

Growing up in Florida, I never experienced snow as much as my northern counterparts did. The only time I did see snow is when my family decided to go to Washington for Christmas one year. Why Washington? I have no idea myself, but I remember touching the snow for the first time. I was a little shocked to find out how cold it really was.

The blinding snow bit the skin of my fingers as I let it run through the cracks. I was mesmerized by how what I thought was going to be soft and powdery was actually frozen and harsh. It stuck together and was difficult to mash together to form any shape.

Snow in Ferelden proved to be much different than that. It proved to be the kind of snow I imagined snow to be. The soft, powdery snow that was easy to create various forms and shapes. When we had stopped for camp one night, the snow was high and crunched softly under our feet. I didn't know how to, but I tried creating a snowman.

"What are you doing?" Alistair's voice startles me as I try rolling the snow together in a spherical shape.

I jump as I turn, my hand over my chest. I can see half of a grin on his face as he looks at me, eyebrows furrowed. I look down at the mashed, lumped together snow and sigh, the breath visible in the cold, "Trying to make a snowman…"

"You don't know how to?"

My head shakes as I continue to push more snow on the… whatever shape this is, "No, there wasn't a lot of snow where I grew up."

He squats and assists in helping me make the asymmetric pile of the snow more curved and like a circle, "Really?"

"I grew up in a subtropical climate, it snows like once every fifty years or so. And that's in one region of the state," I stop pushing snow to watch him do so. I could see the muscles in his arms move each time he pushed more snow into the growing pile I started.

"What?" He stops pushing snow in favor of giving me a confused look.

I laugh lightly at his confused look and start on the second layer of the snow, "It has long hot summers and wet winters."

"So like Tevinter?"

"I guess? I don't really know the various climates of Thedas," I shrug, stopping once again to look at him. I notice how close he actually sits next to me. I can see the gold flecks in his eyes. My eyes glance down to his lips before looking back up at his eyes. His eyes are now focused on my lips.

Not knowing what to do, I clear my throat and turn back to the snowman, "We should… we should finish this right?"

He laughs under his breath, clearing his throat too, "We should."

I smile slightly at the memory. I was embarrassed afterwards about how easily I ruined the moment. Stewing in my own thoughts as Alistair and I walked back to our respective tents. But as we separated for the night, his hand grazed my arm and he gave me a small smirk. He leaned down and brushed his lips against my forehead before whispering his farewells. I must have looked the part of a fool because as Morrigan passed me, she scoffed and rolled her eyes.

I had little time to relish in the small satisfaction of getting the faintest of a kiss on my forehead before I could see the village of Haven towering over us on top of the winding hills. Multiple houses and sentry posts could be seen as we made the trail up the wooden steps into the village.

There were no formal gates to welcome us into this village. Just a lone guard that stood on the outskirts. He was like the lone vanguard that stood on the edge of the world's destruction. As we made our way closer, his eyes looked over at us with dark eyes and a serious expression"

He points at us, "What are you doing in Haven? There is nothing for you here."

Brali is the one to speak, "We have business here."

"You may trade for supplies at the shop if you wish. Then I suggest you and your companions leave."

"Did it just get a lot colder? Or is it just me?" Alistair whispered to me. I can barely crack half of a smile, part of me too scared to be amused.

That was the same at least, I noted mentally. Maybe Soldier's Peak was a fallacy and things have gone back to normal after correcting itself after Duncan was found alive. Maybe it was a tradeoff; a life for a life. Maybe Revas and I can still predict what is going to happen next. Maybe we can still know… I can still know what is going to happen.

There were few villagers out and about, seeing as most were in, should be in the Chantry. The faces of the villagers were clenched as a tightly wound fist. Parts of their faces white as the knuckles would be. It was an odd look compared with the suspicion in their eyes. The odd look, however, caused a pit of uneasiness as I silently walked up the winding paths. I could tell the others felt the same way. Those who were not as skilled at hiding their emotions showed the uneasiness, but tried to mask it with a face of cool indifference. I probably looked no different. My face held a pass of nothing, but small twitches of my eye would pass every once in a while. Showing the true hidden feelings. It seemed there were few in our group that could truly hide their emotions.

I do my best to shake off the judging stares and continue the trek up to the Chantry.

The chantry on the top of the hill showed a misguided warmth. It had a sense of luring you in with a sense of security. The candles on the outside flickering softly in the afternoon, ice filled wind. The statues of Andraste sitting outside holding fires, guiding you to the haven of the Chantry. However, if you were to stare longer, the warmth soon drowns to make way for a coldness that seeps into the deepest parts of your bones. For no amount of warmth coming from the fire could mask the darkness seeping from the walls and foundation of the building.

Adalwin and Revas are the ones to open the doors for our party to make way into the coolly lit chapel.

"... we are blessed beyond measure; we are chosen by the Holy and Beloved to be Her guardians."

There stands a group of people in the middle of the room. Some hold their hands out in the air in prayer, others have their heads bowed in silence as they listen to the Father in the middle speak. There are guards in every corner of the open and scarcely decorated room. They turn to look at us as we walk in. The room is just as cold and dark as the town. Even with the various torches and candles scattering the room.

"This sacred duty is given to us alone; rejoice, my brethren, and prepare your hearts to receive Her."

Unlike Sophia, this man's voice did not send a sense of pride down my side. It sent chills and lit my nerves alight. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand as I listened to the Father continue to speak.

"Lift up your voices, and despair not, for She will raise Her faithful servants to glory when Her-"

The man's eyes finally open and he looks at all of us. Confusion sweeps his eyes before they turn dark. His lip curls upwards as he speaks, "Ah… welcome. I heard we had a visitor wandering about the village. I trust you've enjoyed your time in Haven so far?'

"Not an overly friendly lot, are you?" Alistair jests, not realizing that now was not the best place to do so.

His sneer becomes scornful now, "You gawk about us as if we were some caged animals for your personal enjoyment." The Father's arms cross, "You see? This is why we do not like… "visitors." They are not like us. They will do us harm if we let them."

"What have you done with Brother Genitivi?" Brali asks, her patience for meaningless conversations waning

"We don't owe you any explanations for our actions. We have a sacred duty; failure to protect Her would be a greater sin. All will be forgiven."

The Father attacked us after telling us everything will be forgiven. He immediately hit me with an ice spell.

I gasped for air as the frost trailed over my body. The skin on my chest through the leather plate becomes cold and stings. My hands come out as I shoot lightning in response towards the Father. The pins and needles that are seeping through my skin to my bones do not go away as spells continue flying out of my hands. My teeth grit as I ignore the bite of the chill expands over my skin.

Soon the Father and his followers fall. Burnt cloth and hair fills the air. My nose crinkles and I watch as the last of the guards falls to the ground with a shout. I can hear rustling as someone begins looking for the key that would open the secret passage to the door holding Brother Genitivi hostage. I shrug my head to the side as I let the healing magic flow through my body. I focus on the area that was hit by the spell, hoping that I didn't get frostbite.

Once the achy numbness fades away, I can see the others making way around the room, trying to find the hidden slot for the key. I assist in the search, running my hands over every nook and cranny of the corner I've chosen. I'm sure if any of the other villagers were to walk into the Chantry, they'd be understandably confused about what is happening.

"Over here!" Leliana shouts, her hand sticking over the small medallion shaped hole.

Sten sticks the medallion key into the wall and the brick wall hiding Brother Genitivi slides open.

I walk in with bated breath. If he's dead, how will we get to the Temple? Will we wander aimlessly for days looking for the Temple?

I see him lying there on the ground in the center of the room. Wynne and I rush over, my hands hover over him as I look for any sign of breathing.

Wynne looks up at me, "He's alive, barely."

Alive.

I lower my head into my hands and let out a relieved sigh. The racing beat of my heart slows considerably. I take a few deep breaths as I hear Genitivi groan as he stirs from the dreams of unconsciousness.

"Who are you?" Gritted words escape him as the pain he must be feeling slowly subsides from his body. "They… they've sent you to finish it?"

I shake my head as Adalwin responds, "We're Grey Wardens. We are here to help you."

Genitivi has a relieved smile on his face as hears that. He goes to sit up, Wynne and I assist as he speaks, "You don't know how glad I am to see someone who isn't from this village. I-" He groans as he wiggles his leg, "The leg is not doing well, and… and I can't feel my foot."

I look to Wynne, "We'll need to set the leg."

"That and easing his pain, but he's going to need a lot of rest in order to heal."
I nod in agreement. According to Wynne, there is only so much magic can do with healing. It can heal cuts and abrasions, but anything to do with the bones, it is apparently useless. It made me wish I had known that before attempting to heal the broken bones of Alistair and Adalwin. It had nearly caused me to pass out due to the stubbornness of myself and the offending bone.

Genitivi's eyebrows furrow, "I don't have time to rest now. I'm so close. The Urn is just up that mountain."

"How do you know?" I ask.

"My research is what lead my to Haven… and I have overheard the villagers talking." He shrugs, "I know the Urn is here. Haven lies in the shadow of the mountain that holds the Urn. There is an old temple there, built to protect it."

A pleased smile appears on Genitivi's face, "The door is always locked, but I know what the key is."

Grabbing the medallion from Sten, I held it up to him, "This one?"

Genitivi looks shocked for a moment, blankly nodding, "Yes… that is your key. Take me to the mountainside, and I will show you."

Standing back up, I nod and gesture to the door, "Alright, let's head out then."

"Ah, good. Help me up here. I'll try not to slow us down."

Six days of traveling is how long it took us to reach the Temple. Six days of sleeping in the snow. It wasn't too difficult after getting used to it, but the first couple of nights in the biting cold stung. I had taken to cuddling with Bean to gather more warmth in the middle of the night.

The temple itself was just as cold as the air outside. The ice covered walls and the icicles hanging from the ceiling added to the chill. The debris of both the stone walls and roofing, leftover furniture strewn about added a flavor of eeriness. The only saving grace was the sun peeking through the holes. I could feel the cool light warm my skin lightly when I would hit certain points. I would have to squint my eyes, the sun feeling unusually bright in the wintery weather.

I could see my breath as our group made our way through the temple. Fighting both cultists and demons and dragonlings. The demons fought wild and unpredictable. The shades disappearing and reappearing behind you. The shock barely having time to process before they swiped at you. The cultists and dragonlings mostly fought with each other against us, how they tamed the wild dragonlings was beyond me.

The light dimmed as we went from a glorious temple to a dank cavern. The sun that was once bearing down on us became barely lit stone hallways. The cold air became freezing. I was given two cloaks to keep myself warm as we battled our way through.

The last of the cultist assassins fell as we made our way into the large room. I could hear Shale mutter something along the lines of "Squish." as the dimly lit cavern opened up into a similarly lit room. I could see various cultists standing around, hands twitching for their weapons.

And in the middle stood a commanding presence, almost similar to Sophia. But instead of the empowering and safe presence Sophia commanded, this presence was dark and threatening.

Kolgrim.