Chapter 24

How much longer will you endure?

"…That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863

The sun hung low on the horizon, casting an orange glow as I approached Thranduil and Barris. They were discussing the resources they'd need to make the journey to Haven. Barris noticed me first, "Herald! How may I be of service?"

I nodded at him, "If I could have a word with Thranduil?"

"Yes, Herald." He stepped several paces away, giving us space.

Thranduil tilted his head in curiosity as I remained silent. "Is everything alright Erelani?"

Hearing my name snapped me out of my reticence. "Ellana needs my help. She's been calling me for almost a week now."

Thranduil frowned, his voice low and urgent, "Why are you still here?"

I couldn't share my knowledge of Haven's imminent attack; it was too suspicious. "With the Templars and mages assembled, the first priority is closing the Breach, isn't it?"

The gentle orange light of the evening sun contrasted sharply with Thranduil's disbelief. "What?"

I clenched my teeth, "Ellana is in Wycome. It'll take three days to reach, even with magic. My priority should be closing the Breach, right?"

"Yes," Thranduil replied, studying me as if he'd never seen me before, "But it's Ellana. She wouldn't call if it wasn't significant."

"But-"

"Is it the oath?" Thranduil drummed his fingers restlessly, his mind racing, "Is that why you haven't left yet? It's preventing you from acting?"

I had never considered that. Was the oath influencing my decisions? Was it holding me back because of Haven's imminent attack?

I met Thranduil's gaze, determination flooding my veins. 'I will go to-" Wycome, I twitched, seeing red in the corner of my eyes, unable to finish the sentence. The memory of the Breach sprung up suddenly, followed by memories of the way we had gathered the templars and mages. After threatening the Elder One as we had, an attack on Haven was imminent.

Ellana's plight, on the other hand, was shrouded in uncertainty. It had possibilities. Could I really abandon her? But she wouldn't reach out unless the threat was truly dire.

The attack on Haven, was it truly imminent?

Possibilities. Imminent…Imminent? What did I know about anything? I wasn't omniscient. I wasn't a god. Haven's attack was only a possibility, wasn't it? One of the biggest lessons I'd learned was that I knew nothing. Everything was possible. Everything was possible.

I repeated this over and over in my head.

Thranduil watched my struggle in despair, "What is this oath doing to you?"

I ignored him. Ellana was important, and not just to Thranduil and me. She was resourceful and had a unique ability to inspire hope and compassion in others. She was essential.

But it wasn't working. I couldn't convince myself that Haven's attack was a mere possibility. To resist the oath and go to Ellana, I had to address my concerns about the attack on Haven. Protection and intent barriers were not enough.

I opened my eyes and regarded Thranduil seriously, "Will you go to Haven ahead of this contingent?"

He pursed his lips, "Why? If you can't go to Ellana, then I'll go."

The thought lingered, a possibility that tested my resolve to go to Ellana. But Thranduil had survived a Blight and commanded Valo-kas for years. His experience would be more useful in handling Haven, than my sense of responsibility.

With that, the oath finally loosened its grip on me.

"I'm free." A weight lifted, yet dread remained at the far-reaching consequences of the oath. I closed my eyes to centre myself.

"So you need me to go-?" My eyes snapped open.

"No," I stretched my shoulders, shaking off the stiffness. "I'm going to Ellana, I'll be the fastest. I need something from you though." At his cautious nod, I outlined my fears that Haven was not defensible and that the culprit behind the Breach would soon attack, knowing this.

"Erelani, while I'm happy to employ evacuation strategies, what makes you think the culprit is still alive? We both saw the temple; you were the only one who walked out of that disaster."

I stared at him, before remembering that he didn't know, "At Redcliffe, we discovered The Elder One is responsible for the Breach. He has plans to assassinate Empress Celene and unleash a demon army. Even the corpse of the Envy demon had missives that corroborated these findings."

"And he's still alive? After surviving the explosion at the Conclave?"

I nodded, shielding my eyes from the glare of the setting sun.

"I think we might have a problem." He turned thoughtful, "I see why you believe he might attack Haven."

I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Erelani, will you go to Ellana now?"

I stepped away from him and gave a mock salute. "I'll close the Breach when I return."

I fade-stepped to Denerim, arriving at the outskirts of the city. I scaled one of the larger trees near the North Road, finding peace in my solitude as I recovered from the mana fatigue. While the Breach helped my mana recovery, the fatigue from such a long journey lingered.

The next morning, away from the stress of the Inquisition, the world seemed brighter. A light excitement grew at the thought of seeing the Lavellan clan.

Home. Familiarity. And with those feelings, came an idea.

I had initially planned to take a ship to Wycome. It was stupid to fade-step across an ocean in the Waking; fade-step required you to be in the Fade partially, and therefore exposed you to untold dangers from both the Fade and the ocean.

However, a fade-step in the Fade was a transition. I glanced at the Mark on my hand thoughtfully.

What if I travelled to Wycome through the Fade? If I could endure the pain, I'd reach it quickly. Having lived in the city, my chances of getting lost in the Fade were low.

Before I could think further, I found a small glade away from the North Road, out of sight. I opened a rift and took a deep breath before jumping in. I snapped the rift shut and the pain in the Mark ignited with a vengeance.

My vision began to split, but the raw Fade remained, the Black City hovering in the distance. Before my focus slipped further, I fade-stepped, envisioning Wycome; the salty breeze that blew through big fertile plains. Minanter river that split into estuaries as it flowed into the city.

I blinked hard, noticing that while the Black City still floated on the horizon, my surroundings had changed. The agony of the Mark grew, and a splitting headache formed as I opened another rift and exited through it. The headache eased as I closed the rift.

A smile spread across my face. I had appeared in a forest near the estuaries of the Minanter River, close to the slums of Wycome. A fading memory of Zathrian's proud smile engulfed me, and my grin faded.

The Halani rune burned again. Ellana wasn't too far.

I weighed my options; as much as I wanted to rush to meet Lavellan clan, the Mark had crippled me from the journey through the Fade. I needed rest.

To ease my conscience, I collected resources and made potions to share with clan Lavellan.

As the sun began to set, I materialized next to the sentry guard at the Lavellan camp entrance. "Hahren! Welcome! Ellana said you'd be coming."

I turned to my kinsman and put my arm around him in camaraderie, "Lethallin, it's good to be home."

"Hahren! You're finally here!" Ellana rushed at me and jumped, encircling me in a tight hug.

As I wrapped my arms around her, the guilt and fear that had coiled around my heart began to unravel, replaced with a warmth that felt like home. My heart had been guilt stricken and avoidant ever since I'd realised, I had almost abandoned her and the Lavellan clan. "What have you uncovered?"

"The Duke of Wycome was responsible for the bandit attack and is working with the Venatori. An agent of Leliana's has been keeping us informed of the developments in the city. It seems that an illness has spread, and they're blaming us for it."

"Hmmm, what have you done so far?"

Ellana shifted uncomfortably, "You may not like this, but we're working closely with Lady Guinevere. Keeper Deshanna thinks we should cooperate as much as possible to shift the blame away from us. There are sporadic attacks on the alienage, and it's only a matter of time before their attentions turn to us."

I looked at her quizzically, "It sounds like you have a plan in action. Why did you summon me here?"

"We haven't been able to identify the cause of the illness. The longer the cause remains unknown, the more resentment builds against us. Then it's only a matter of time before the nobles march on us."

"I see. Give me some time, I'll figure something out."

I shared greetings with other clan members before making my way to a secluded spot. I closed my eyes, drifting into the Fade.

I blinked, suddenly aware of the stark difference between the ethereal glow of the Fade in dreams and the harshness of it in the waking.

Nightmare was lounging next to the river, watching the Fear spirits play in the river.

I spread my aura far, trying to find a spirit that wasn't serving Nightmare, but failed.

Nightmare laughed derisively, "Did you think you could solve the mystery by just asking a wandering spirit?"

I pulled my aura to myself before responding, "There's no harm in trying, is there?" I relaxed my posture and kept a shield spell primed as I approached Nightmare, "I thought you weren't helping the Elder One? Didn't you lay his plans out for me in Redcliffe?"

Nightmare smiled, and the sharpness of it sent chills down my spine, "I caught the flavour of your spirit then, desperate and struggling. I find myself missing the taste of your desperation."

I stepped back, impassive, silently thanking Desire for my exposure to Fear demons, "Just mine? One would think with the Breach, you'd have enough of a feast, both in the dreaming and waking. Are you growing into Gluttony now?"

"Yours feels glorious. Knowing that many place their hopes on you, while you just stumble about blindly, trusting those you shouldn't trust. The irony is delicious."

I gritted my teeth, its words cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. "You should be careful, Nightmare, of pushing too far. Fear loses its potency without hope. Did you need the reminder?"

"Ah, the hero speaks." Nightmare mocked, "I allow a babe to speak so disrespectfully to me, shouldn't I be lauded for my compassion and tolerance?"

"I thought it was because you pitied me."

"I do." Nightmare spread its aura to me, overriding my attempt at protecting my aura, thoughts and self from it, "You are right. When your opponent is so far out of reach, in a league of their own, fear no longer exists, there is only surrender."

I attempted to break free, struggling desperately to hide my self from it.

"You cannot escape. Every nightmare you've ever had, is mine to command." Nightmare grinned, unhinged, "You're very welcome to try, though. That's what makes it appetising."

"Why are you doing this?!"

"Why does anybody? Because I can."

I should never have approached Nightmare. I should have turned around and run, like a sane person. What had possessed me to stay?

Nightmare would never release its victim. The only reason it hadn't attacked me before, was because it considered me too insignificant. What was one more Dalish, struggling against human society?

But if I was so insignificant, why pity me at all?

Nightmare laughed hard, before releasing me from its aura, "You should know how outclassed you are. And you have yet to remember the one responsible for the Breach."

I gave Nightmare a wide berth, "I know who's responsible."

Nightmare chuckled, its eyes gleaming with cruel delight. "But do you, really? How about we make a deal? Since you already know who's responsible, why not sacrifice your memories of the event to the Void? In return, I'll tell you the source of the illness in Wycome."

I recoiled at the offer, horror creeping in.

"Why, if you know who's responsible, one would almost say I'm at the losing end of this deal." Nightmare continued to laugh, seeing a hilarity in the situation that I couldn't comprehend.

I considered its offer, but only for a moment. Nightmare had been successful in driving its point home again, that I knew nothing. I could only make decisions based on the evidence before me, and nothing else.

"Thank you for the offer, Nightmare, but no."

"No?" Nightmare lay back on to the riverbank again, stretching leisurely, "Good luck solving the mystery before the humans kill the clan. Oh, let's not forget convincing them of their innocence too." He winked at me, "I've seen how talented you are in talking to nobility."

As I watched it dismiss me, a stray thought caught me. What guarantee did I have of Nightmare returning my lost memories? As evidenced only moments ago, I wouldn't be able to force it to do anything.

"I have a counteroffer, Nightmare. Are you willing to listen?" I met its gaze unflinchingly.

Nightmare yawned, its waning interest apparent. "Speak, though I may not listen."

"If I manage to solve the mystery and ensure the clan's safety, will you return the memories you've stolen?"

Nightmare relaxed, a small, unexpected smile spreading across its face, "If you succeed, I'll return them to you at a time of my choosing."

I waited patiently, but Nightmare didn't say anything further. "What if I fail? Do you not have terms of your own?"

"Aah, it seems I've made an error." Nightmare was barely interested, "What can you possibly offer me? Let's say as compensation for overpowering your self earlier, I'll forfeit my terms."

I nodded, unnerved by its uncharacteristic generosity. I needed to wake up.

I opened my eyes with a jolt, the stakes higher than ever before. I could not fail.

I needed a hypothesis to investigate the illness. The Venatori were involved; they had tested the Templars with red lyrium at Thereinfal Redoubt. It was possible that red lyrium was connected, or perhaps it was a disease.

Glancing at the Mark, I begrudged its existence once again. I sighed deeply, trying to remember what I could. Red lyrium seemed to ring closer to my expectations, but I needed to investigate those infected first.

I made my way to Keeper Deshanna, hoping to get the resources needed to solve this mystery quickly. I clenched my fists as my anxiety built, forgotten fears of failing the Keeper resurfacing, echoing the weight of my past failures.

I could do this. I had to.

Keeper Deshanna had already collected reports of those infected. I perused them, before pulling out a map of Wycome. The victims were concentrated and localised to a few central spots around the city, but none of the victims were close to the Minanter river.

Ellana made copies of the map, handing them to Lady Guinevere and the agents of the Inquisition. It was Lady Guinevere who made the connection. "These spots are all located near wells. Has something happened at the wells?"

Keeper Deshanna stood straight. "We need to involve others in this investigation. Guarding this information does us no good."

Lady Guinevere nodded, "I'll have a chat with the merchants and nobles in the city. We'll gather those we can."

The humans gathered around the well, skepticism evident on their faces. They had come expecting to find evidence against the Dalish, but unease hung in the air. A young fisherman stepped forward.

"I can dive into the well to see if something's down there," he declared, drawing murmurs of concern from the crowd. Without waiting for a response, he hoisted himself over the edge and leaped into the cool water below.

A tense silence fell as we watched him disappear beneath the surface. Moments later, he surfaced with a splash, his face pale and eyes wide with shock. "There's something down here!" he shouted, scrambling back to the surface.

"What do you mean?" a merchant called out, stepping closer.

I knelt close to the well and hoisted the fisherman out before jumping in myself.

There was a faint shimmer in the water's surface, a red glint reflected off the evening sun. "Ellana, come look at this," I called, pulling out a piece of red lyrium before throwing it out of the well.

Ellana leaned over, her brow furrowing. "This is red lyrium. Someone's contaminated the well."

Lady Guinevere approached, her expression grave. "We need to alert the others. Let's split up and check all the wells to confirm. If the wells are poisoned, every drop of water they drink is tainted."

An hour later, our fears were confirmed; all the wells in the city were contaminated with red lyrium. One of the fishermen had brought back a sample to show everyone gathered at the town centre.

"More red lyrium!" he gasped, holding up a handful of the red, glimmering rocks that cast a forbidding glow in the night.

A servant in the crowd squinted at red lyrium, his face paling in horror as recognition dawned. "That's from my master's chamber! I work for the Duke's advisor, the one from Tevinter!" he shouted over the murmurs.

Panic rippled through the crowd, and within a couple of hours, the servant returned, breathless. He clutched rolls of parchment; evidence of the advisor's secret deals with the Venatori detailing plans to poison the wells. One was an order to frame the Dalish for the ensuing chaos.

I grabbed the guards from the crowd, "Our priority must be to stop the contamination! We must destroy the red lyrium nodules as soon as possible."

A mad scramble began that night to empty the wells and destroy the red lyrium nodules. The Duke was notified of the poisoning of the city's water supply, but only once the contamination had been removed.

By the following morning, the Venatori agent was found dead.

Despite the quick resolution, a tension hung in the air, thick and suffocating, as if the storm was only beginning and the worst had yet to come.

Tensions were running high in the city. While the residents had seen Ellana and me in the city trying to help, the clan remained outside, their caution perceived as callous indifference. The supposed immunity of the elves of the alienage only fuelled the resentment.

I suspected that those poisoned were suffering from heightened lyrium withdrawal due to their exposure to red lyrium. The nobles, with access to numerous wells on their estates, displayed the most severe symptoms, exhibiting agitation, anger, and violence. Within a few days, elves from the alienage were being hunted for sport, supposedly "punished" for withholding their source of immunity.

I could not remain silent. Any remnants of respect I had for the nobility, gained through Lady Guinevere's actions, were quickly shattered. I intervened in one of their so-called "youthful sporting" sessions of the nobles and a brawl broke out. While my oath prevented me from taking lives, I beat them within an inch of theirs.

In the aftermath, Keeper Deshanna forbade me from re-entering the city. To deter any creative attempts to defy her order, she taught me a healing spell designed to counteract lyrium withdrawal.

The spell itself was simple, but the underlying theory required extensive knowledge. It was a spell shared exclusively among Keepers, and it was clear that Keeper Deshanna had only imparted this knowledge out of fear for the clan's fate.

Then Ellana, being the angelic foolish saint that she was, suggested using the spell to help the city's residents. What followed was perhaps one of the most reckless acts of altruism in the face of mounting violence.

I sighed deeply in fatigue as I dismissed my latest patient, "You're good to go. Eat a full meal and get a good night's sleep. If you feel a persistent thirst despite drinking water, come back."

As I looked up, I met the equally weary gazes of Ellana and Keeper Deshanna. We were the only three mages capable of casting the spell; the others were still young and training under the Keeper.

"Thank you, Herald! I can't thank you enough, I can barely believe it! You're an elf, and you're here, actually healing people one by one. You even got the Dalish clan to help!" I focused on the girl, her eyes shining in appreciation. She was the daughter of the merchant who was helping organize our efforts.

"Believe it or not, that clan is made of people much better than me."

"And you're modest too, Herald!"

My gaze sharpened, "I'm really not." I nodded at Ellana and the Keeper, "This whole thing was their idea. They found the cure and they made the decision to come here and help. I'm only here to assist them…" I glanced at her fading smile and added slowly, "and to help the city. I refuse to take credit for something that I didn't do. This is the clan's work- their generosity and kindness." I reiterated for emphasis.

She nodded slowly, still disbelieving.

"You don't believe me? Watch-" I turned towards Ellana and called out, "Ellana, you look exhausted! Take a rest for today! We can continue tomorrow!"

Ellana shook her head, "No, Hahren! The sooner we treat people, the better it is!"

I gave the girl a knowing look as she stared at Ellana, gobsmacked, "She doesn't expect anything in return either. It's infuriating, but that's who she is. Perhaps you could make sure people hear the story right. What do you think?"

"Yes, Herald." The girl nodded firmly, "There have only been bad rumours about the Dalish clan so far, there may as well be some good stories too."

I smiled at her as she left before waving the next patient in. My eyes scanned the protective formation the Dalish hunters had taken around the healing camp we'd set up next to the alienage. It was the best way to protect the alienage whilst having some additional manpower to help with resources.

Days passed in this manner, and soon only the most stubborn remained untreated, held back by their heightened paranoia and long-standing prejudices. Unfortunately, these were the nobles responsible for managing the city, residing in the Upper Quarters.

I let out a deep sigh as I followed Keeper and Lady Guinevere towards the Duke's mansion, seeking his aid in enforcing the cure for all inhabitants of Wycome. Although I was reluctant to approach the very source of these crimes, a brief meeting with leader of the merchant group, the Hahren of the alienage, captain of the guards, the Keeper Deshanna and Lady Guinevere had resulted in this plea to the Duke. Their aim was to resolve the matter as peacefully as possible, a sentiment they expressed in the letter sent to him.

Upon arriving at the mansion gates, I glimpsed the Duke's solemn face beyond them as he nodded to his guards to let us in.

"Lady Guinevere, Herald, and Keeper. Thank you for coming all this way," he said, pursing his lips. "I must warn you, news of your arrival has spread through the Upper Quarters. The nobles have petitioned to present their case against your plea." His lips tightened. "It is my duty to hear both sides."

I marvelled at his cunning, wondering if he delivered the same speech to the nobles waiting for us. He showed no signs of being the true mastermind behind the city's poisoning.

As we neared the nobles, their voices suddenly rose in a cacophony of accusations, "Look, there they are!" "Those knife-ears stabbed us, then have the audacity to offer us healing. What kind of fools do they take us for!" "Did you see how none of the rabbits got sick?!" "It's all lies, Duke! Don't fall for it!"

Unease twisted my gut as their voices clamoured for punishment. I stood further back so I could keep an eye on any attacks they had planned.

"Enough!" Deshanna's voice cut through the noise, steady yet firm. "We come here in peace! We are here only to help you recover from the poisoning."

A noble stepped forward, his face twisted in rage. "You think we'll believe you after you poisoned the well and saved your own people? You've enthralled the people of Wycome with your spells! We refuse to fall for your manipulations! We demand justice, Duke!"

Before I could intervene, others surged forward, attacking Keeper Deshanna and pushing her back against the rough stone wall of the courtyard. Panic surged; she was vulnerable, surrounded by maddened nobles desperate to eliminate their perceived threat.

"Get away from her!" I shouted, trying to fade-step, but failing against the press of bodies in the crowd. The nobles were emboldened, their fear of reprisal drowned out by anger and desperation. I could see the glint of the Keeper's barrier waning quickly against their onslaught.

As I passed the Duke, I caught a glimpse of the grin he hid behind his hands. A frission of realisation passed through me. He had planned this. He was going to massacre my people and hide behind the noble riot to push the incident under the rug.

Not on my watch.

I grabbed him by his collar, and he followed, taken off his guard. I dragged him to the nobles, before throwing him in front of Keeper Deshanna.

The Duke glared at me, before making pacifying gestures at the mob. ""Your grievances will be heard. But we cannot allow this to devolve into chaos."

"No! And let them enchant us too?!" A noble charged at Keeper Deshanna, and I cast a mind blast at him. He collided into the crowd, and a dagger another noble was holding jumped out of his hands, arcing towards the Duke.

It pierced his throat, and the Duke's expression turned gobsmacked as blood gurgled from his wound.

The mob fell silent, shell-shocked as they watched the Duke die.

I didn't move to heal him, holding Keeper Deshanna back with a firm grip to prevent her from intervening. The Duke had planned to have us killed in his mansion today. He had deliberately poisoned the city's residents with the intention of framing the Dalish clan. I wouldn't save him from the consequences of his actions, not after all he had done.

His death was a small price to pay for his crimes. It wasn't enough.

What did Desire once say? Use the truth to your advantage. Mother Giselle excelled at that. Now, I would seek retribution for his actions—from all these nobles.

I stood tall as I slammed by staff down, causing a tremor on the ground, "The Duke has been killed by the nobles of this city! Guards! Arrest everyone in this square!"

There was no movement, and I turned to the petrified guards at the gates. "Guards! The Duke has been assassinated! Arrest them!"

The guards trembled, "How can we? One of them will be the next-"

"Summon the captain of the guards, at once!" One of the guards scampered out of the mansion.

"It wasn't us! It was you-" A noble raged, and to quiet the rising uproar, I raised my Mark, its glaring light reflecting ominously. Using my other hand, I activated a Glyph of Imprisonment so that none could escape the mansion.

In moments, the guards pushed through the crowd, the captain leading the way. His stern gaze swept over the nobles, whose disbelief was transforming into confusion and fear.

"Arrest these nobles!" I commanded, magic flaring at my fingertips. "In their selfishness and hatred, they attacked Keeper Deshanna unprovoked, and when the Duke tried to defend her, they killed him," I met the captain's gaze seriously. "They deserve no special treatment, not after throwing the city into chaos."

I finally noticed Lady Guinevere, and Keeper Deshanna in deep conversation with the leader of the merchants, and the Hahren from the alienage.

The captain joined us, and announced, his voice steady and commanding, "These nobles are to be arrested for their incitement of violence and their role in the poisoning of the city's wells. Stand down and allow us to maintain order."

A wave of murmurs passed through the crowd, uncertainty thick in the air. As the guards moved to detain the ringleaders, I moved towards the crowd, and noticed the captain, Lady Guinevere, Keeper Deshanna and the others gather behind me.

I stepped forward, anticipation tingling through my body. "This isn't enough," I said, raising my voice to carry over the noise. "We need more than just punishment. How long will we let selfish nobles with no understanding of the world, drag us through the mud for their ambitions? Those idiots caused such chaos when we only came to cure them from the poisoning of another noble. No one else here did this! Not one!"

I scanned the crowd, "You helped the city. You helped each other. We, together, found the poison and cured one another. What need do we have of these nobles?" I pointed at Lady Guinevere, Keeper Deshanna and the others, "They are the ones you see every day, saving this city from the mad ambitions of nobles. The people are enough. We are enough. It's time for change. It's time for the nobility's power to be challenged. Let the people decide their fate!"

The crowd stirred, agreement rippling through them. I pressed on, sensing momentum building. "A council," I said, feeling the weight of my words settle in the air. "An elected council formed by the people of Wycome. We should have a voice in the decisions that affect our lives."

A deafening cheer pulsed through the crowd, and the pulse resonated through me.
"Let the people decide their fate! THIS CITY WILL BE – OF THE PEOPLE! FOR THE PEOPLE! BY THE PEOPLE!"

Another deafening roar went through the crowd, and I began the chant.

"THIS CITY WILL BE – OF THE PEOPLE! FOR THE PEOPLE! BY THE PEOPLE!"

The crowd followed, their voices thundering through the square, reverberating off the stone walls of the Duke's mansion.

Lady Guinevere and Keeper Deshanna stood resolute at my side, their expressions a mix of disbelief and pride. The merchant leader and Hahren exchanged glances, their eyes wide with the realization of what this moment could mean.

"Let this be a new dawn for Wycome!" I shouted, raising my staff high. "No longer will we cower under corrupt nobles!" The crowd surged forward, emboldened by my words. "Remember this day! We reclaim our city! We will choose our leaders, hold them accountable, and ensure they serve the people, not their own greed! A council of representatives of your choice, the people of Wycome!"

"Council! Council! Council!" the crowd roared back, their voices soothing a deep part of my soul. Finally. Finally, the people would come first.

The captain of the guards approached me, uncertainty etched on his face. "Herald, what you have incited, it has not been done before. If we must do this, it must be managed carefully. We can't allow chaos in the absence of the Duke."

I withdrew from the crowd, understanding the gravity of his words. "You're right. Order is important. But we must also ensure that this desire for change, this opportunity and momentum is not lost. We must gather everyone, very soon—somewhere everyone can voice their concerns, choose their leaders. We can draft a charter for this new council."

The captain straightened, looking out at the crowd. "Yes, I'll set a date for convening this meeting. But I must say: the road ahead will be fraught with challenges. I don't think the nobility will react well to this."

I nodded, meeting his gaze with determination. "Then we'll do what we must when the time comes. But our priority must be welfare and the choice of people."

As the captain turned to address the gathered citizens, I felt a flicker of hope. This could be the beginning of something greater, a chance to reshape the future of Wycome.

The crowd began to disperse slowly, their energy still crackling in the air. Lady Guinevere approached me, her brow furrowed in thought. "You stirred something deep within them, Herald. But we must be vigilant. The Duke's death will leave a power vacuum, and those who thrive on chaos will be quick to seize it."

I nodded. "The captain echoed your sentiments. We need to act swiftly. The council must be established before any rival factions can rise up and take advantage of this moment."

Keeper Deshanna joined us, her eyes serious. "We have an opportunity to unite the city's disparate groups. The merchants, the common folk, even the elves of the alienage. They all deserve a voice."

"Then they will have one," my will was nearly tangible with the force of my determination. "We need to reach out to everyone, not just the nobles or the affluent. The very heart of Wycome is its people. I'll say it as many times as I need to."

As I spoke, I noticed the Hahren standing a short distance away, deep in conversation with the merchant leader. I gestured for them to join us. They approached, their expressions cautious yet curious.

"Herald," the Hahren began, "we have witnessed now how the tides of power can shift with a single event. We need to be careful of the remaining nobles and their allies. But I believe you're right; the people must have a say. We could help you organize meetings in the alienage and among the merchants."

"Absolutely," the merchant leader added, a determined gleam in his eye. "We must present a united front."

As we began to outline our strategies, a sense of purpose enveloped me. This was what I had always wanted. This was worth it. Even if nothing else I did bore fruit, this one thing was enough. This was enough.

Days turned into nights as we worked tirelessly, reaching out to various groups within Wycome, ensuring their voices were heard in the drafting of our council. When the day of the gathering arrived, the town square thrummed with anticipation. Citizens from all walks of life converged, their faces reflecting a mix of anxiety and hope. I took my place at the front, flanked by Lady Guinevere, Keeper Deshanna, the merchant leader, and the Hahren.

"Welcome, people of Wycome!" I began, my voice steady and clear. "Today marks a pivotal moment in our history. We gather not just to grieve the loss of a leader, but to forge a new path forward. Together, we will create a council that represents every voice in our city!"

The crowd erupted in applause, the sound swelling like a tide, lifting our spirits.

The rest of the afternoon, the crowd hummed with their approval as the vision was outlined for the council, emphasising the purpose, structure and duties of its members.

"Each of you has the power to shape our future," I continued. "You have endured too long under the weight of decisions that do not consider your lives. It's time to take back control, to ensure that every voice counts!"

As we moved to receive nominations for the council leaders, the energy in the square intensified. The crowd felt like a living organism, pulsating with enthusiasm, each nomination met with cheers or murmurs of support.

Yet, amid the excitement, I felt the undercurrent of tension. I could see the shadows of the remaining nobles lurking at the edges of the square, their faces twisted in disdain. They were watching, waiting for the opportune moment to disrupt our gathering.

Once nominations were complete, we started drafting the charter. I stepped forward again, preparing to guide the crowd through the details.

Just as I began, a familiar voice cut through the air. "You think this will change anything?" A noble, resplendent in his finery, stepped forward, flanked by a group of disgruntled supporters. "The Duke is dead, and you think you can replace him with a council of commoners? What do you know of nobility?! Of duty, sacrifice and responsibility. You'll only create chaos!"

The crowd stiffened, tension rising like a tempest. Before this could unravel our hard-fought momentum, I replied, defiant, "Chaos? The chaos came from a system that prioritized power over the people! You had your chance, and you squandered it! We will not return to a time of tyranny!"

With the nobles watching, I raised my staff high, the light from the Mark radiating like a beacon. "This is our city! A council will rise from its ashes, one that reflects the will of its people! We will not be silenced!"

The crowd erupted once more in cheers and a new spirit of Wycome ignited within us.

Things moved quickly after that. While change was easy to accept in theory, the reality of implementing it proved far more challenging.

A meeting convened at the Duke's mansion, now City Hall, and the attendance was overwhelming.

The election of representatives went smoothly, but the subsequent discussions were fraught with anxiety. The attendees were uncertain, their apprehension with change palpable. Some nobles exchanged anxious glances, their faces pale, while others clutched their valuables protectively, fearing the others in attendance.

"Do you really think they'll allow it?" one of the merchants in the crowd asked, scepticism in his voice. "The nobles won't simply give up their power."

I stepped forward, raising my hands to calm the crowd. "They won't have a choice," I said firmly. "If we want true change, we must act decisively. It's time to seize the properties of those under arrest and redistribute their wealth for the good of the people. The nobles have profited from this city's suffering for too long."

A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd, eyes widening in shock. "You can't be serious!" a noble shouted, indignation flaring.

"Think about it," I continued, my voice rising with conviction. "We'll convert their lavish estates into government buildings, places for the people to gather, to discuss and decide their future. We'll establish a chamber of commerce to support local businesses, and a security force that answers to the citizens, not the nobility. Schools that accept everyone, regardless of race, birth or religious faith. The nobles won't be able to gatekeep knowledge anymore."

The captain of the guard raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And how do you plan to implement this? It sounds like a recipe for madness."

"We can do this!" I insisted, unwilling to hesitate when faced with this rare opportunity. "We can build something for us! Our council is made up of representatives from all walks of life: merchants, craftsmen, the common folk, and yes, even the nobles!" I pointed at Lady Guinevere, "We're not here to discriminate! Every voice will be heard, and no one can wield unchecked power."

"But what if the nobles resist?" someone asked, fear lacing their words.

"Then we will show them what we, the people, can do," I repeated, feeling the fervor build.

The crowd began to murmur among themselves, uncertainty battling with a flicker of hope. I pressed on, my voice steady. "This is not just about punishing the corrupt; it's about building a future where every citizen has a stake in the community. Together, we can reshape Wycome into a place of for everyone."

Lady Guinevere nodded slowly, the gears of her mind clearly turning. "If we can rally enough support, I could see this working. But we need to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible, to prevent unrest."

"Yes," I agreed, feeling the resolve within me strengthen. "Let's lay the groundwork now. Your leaders have drafted a charter that outlines a new government that prioritizes the needs of the people. With that, let's welcome the new council of Wycome!"

Keeper Deshanna, Lady Guinevere, and the other elected leaders stood to rousing applause. They formed a semi-circle in front of the crowd, taking turns reading the charter. As each section received enthusiastic reception from the attendees, I took a step back.

Wycome was safe. The clan was safe. The council could take it from here. I nodded at Keeper Deshanna in silent farewell before exiting City Hall.

Ellana was waiting for me outside, her eyes shining as they fell on me. "Hahren, you really are, I can't even-", her tears sprang forth, and I shifted uncomfortably, did I upset her? "I love you, Hahren, there is no one like you. When you came, I was so relieved, and this, this is so much more than I ever expected."

I hugged Ellana tightly, "Ellana, you don't need to say all this. We are family."

"But I do, Hahren! It's the least I can do!"

"You're making me feel like a stranger, Ellana. I love you too, why wouldn't I come? Why wouldn't I help our people? Why wouldn't I help stop the poisoning? You helped too, and so did everyone else. I didn't do anything special."

Ellana shook her head, "You did. You did! You don't even realise what you did!"

As Ellana devolved into sobs, and I soothed her, rubbing her back. When her tears subsided, her face set in determination, "I'm not able to say what I mean, but I will try. I know that there are people who call you dangerous, eccentric and rebellious for the way you think and live your life. But Hahren," She took a deep breath, "Erelani, my wonderful Erelani, that spirit has taken you so far in life. You have helped so many people, you have helped me, beyond so much more than I could ever ask for. Than others ask for. Just, do not change. Never change. You are fine the way you are."

I hugged her again, tightly, so that I could hide the tears that her words brought forth, "Ellana, thank you."

"Hahren, there's one more thing." I pulled back to look at Ellana. She was unsure, "I wasn't going to say anything. But-but,"

"What is it, Ellana? You can tell me anything."

"Before I came to Wycome, I asked Solas what he thought of you."

I stared, stunned her unexpected statement. "What?"

She rubbed her neck, unable to meet my eyes, "You're good at many things, Hahren, but this is something that you're not-" She faltered, unable to continue.

"Why did you do this? I never-" A feeling of dread rose within me. Her reaction suggested Solas's response wouldn't be what I hoped. I gritted my teeth, "I was never going to do anything, Ellana."

From the expression of pity on Ellana's face, I could tell I had done as good a job convincing myself as I did her, which was to say, not at all.

"Why did you do this?"

Ellana grimaced with regret, "I've spent some time with Solas, and he's nothing like Thranduil. He's different. Solas is intelligent, curious, and even kind. But Solas, you see, he's not like Thranduil." She repeated, struggling to explain, "Thranduil, I know you loved Thranduil. He's not like Thranduil."

I clenched my fists. Ellana wasn't cruel; she wouldn't say this to humiliate me. She was struggling to communicate about a topic that was difficult and sensitive for both of us. Whatever she was trying to say, she found important enough bring up what we never discussed: that I once loved Thranduil.

She was not a cruel person.

"Is that your objection? That Solas isn't Thranduil?"

"No! I mean, yes." Ellana rubbed her face in frustration, "I'll say it straight. While Solas is a good person, there is a coldness buried within. Perhaps it is a remnant of a life lived alone. He said a lot of things about you, things you wouldn't say if you thought of them romantically. Thranduil is not like that, even if he was never in love with you, he loves you deeply. He loves you like I love you. I-I just, I didn't want you to get hurt."

My entire body turned hot in humiliation, my ears rushing even as my heart tightened painfully. I waited for the painful rush to subside; I needed to hear this.

"What did he say about me?"

Ellana's face twisted in sympathy, "He used all these fancy words to call you an angry emotional fool. He said he was angry too when he was young, so he knew how it would bear fruit. He said your most redeeming quality was your compassion, even if it's warped by ignorance." She quoted, her visage paling. "I thought it was too harsh."

I started laughing, unable to help the tinge of hysteria creeping in, "Well, he's not wrong, is he?" Ellana looked stricken, shaking her head in disagreement, "It's not-,"

"You should know Ellana, that his opinion is shared by most of the Inquisition. Thranduil isn't an exception."

"They don't understand you! They don't see your reasons, that's why they say those things!" Ellana's face set in resolve, "I'll come back with you. You need me. You need me!"

"No, Ellana. Lavellan clan needs you now more than ever. There are things you can set in motion while you're here, for the Inquisition, even for our people."

I hugged her again, and didn't let go, even as she shook her head repeatedly. "You keep avoiding me. You keep refusing my help. How am I supposed to feel if you do this?"

Help. What she'd done wasn't help; she had meddled in matters that weren't hers. Unasked-for help was always unappreciated. She wasn't cruel; she was just a well-intentioned fool.

I hugged her tighter, trying to ease my anger with her warmth. She didn't deserve my anger. She was trying to protect me the only way she knew how, trying to spare me from heartbreak.

"Perhaps you can join me once things settle down in Wycome. Just make sure to protect the people first. And don't expect decency from the rebelling nobles."

"Alright, Hahren." Ellana surrendered, leaning against me, "Only if you promise to protect yourself too."

Fine. Fine. Once again, for Ellana, I would let Solas go. That my heart was already broken mattered little; I knew I tended to fixate. I had fixated on Thranduil for far longer than I should have, and the barest kindness from Solas had resulted in another fixation.

Ellana wanted to spare me from heartbreak, so for her, I would stop my fixation on Solas.

Fixation. Even as my heart rebelled at the word, I tried to reason with myself. There was no hope to be had here, by continuing this fixation. I could barely even understand why he had evoked such strong emotions in me, when at first, he had only inspired fear.

This couldn't be just for Ellana. I had to do this for me. I couldn't continue this fixation while I didn't understand its root cause.

My tears slipped free in Ellana's embrace, content to stay in her warmth as I grieved.

I exited from the rift I opened next to the Temple of Sacred Ashes. To my surprise, a troop of Red Templars were patrolling the area, and I swiftly neutralised them, killing them once they refused to concede.

Dread gnawed at me as I turned towards Haven, drawing mana to myself with a snap for a powerful fade-step. I gazed up as I landed at the gates of Haven; the Breach was still wide open, a gaping wound in the sky.

Then my eyes fell forward.

A relentless blanket of white buried every building in Haven. What little of the Chantry building peeked above the surface was charred beyond recognition.

Not a single living soul could be seen in Haven, save for me.

I was too late.

AN: It's been what, almost 5 years? Believe it or not, I do have this story fleshed out, and its chapters being written. Whether it aligns with Veilguard, is something I'm not really going to consider.

I wish you the best.