Chapter 36

The group spread out and started searching the large hall. Emma trailed behind Aedan, watching as he tested discoloured stones, checking for any breezes until finally, he reached the area where the false wall was located. His face lit up, and she smiled at his excitement. "I think I've got something," he declared enthusiastically. His long fingers ran over stone, there was a click and the wall groaned as it slid back, revealing an archway. They entered the room and saw a balding man lying on the floor, clutching at his leg. "Brother Genitivi?" Aedan queried as he walked toward him.
The man scooted back, wincing at the movement. "Are you here to finish me off?"
Emma stepped up next to Aedan. "No, we're here to help." She smiled at the man and added, "It's an honour to meet you, Brother Genitivi. I've read so many of your works."
A slight blush stained his cheeks. "That's very kind of you, Miss…."
She knelt next to him. "I'm Emma, this is Aedan." She pointed to the man in question, who stood next to her in a protective manner, then introduced the rest of the group.

As Aedan picked up the conversation, Wynne moved in to see if she could help with the badly swollen leg. After handing the amulet to Genitivi, Alistair helped him stand up and they set off for the Temple of Sacred Ashes.

Emma contemplated what lay ahead; drakes, Kolgrim, a high dragon, and of course, the Gauntlet. Wonderful, she thought sarcastically as she questioned her sanity in wanting to stay in Thedas. But as she walked up the mountainside, the wind blowing against her face, the sound of laughter and chatter surrounding her, she realised she felt more alive now than she ever had in the previous world. Back then, she'd been a shy mouse, always struggling to find a connection to those around her. She'd tried hard to fit in, going out for drinks at the end of the month hoping to build a friendship, but she'd found it difficult to join in the conversation when she had little in common with the topics being discussed. There had been a few relationships, but none had lasted longer than a few months. The break-ups had always felt inevitable because there had been no connection, and after the third relationship had crumbled to dust, she decided to stop trying. Life had plodded on as she'd settled into a routine of going to work, getting through each day, going out for the painfully awkward drinks each month, and then she'd bought Dragon Age: Origins. Emma had quickly become obsessed with the game and found herself going out less often with her work colleagues until finally, she stopped altogether. She hadn't known whether to be sad or relieved that no one asked why, or tried to coerce her into joining them every now and then. She hadn't stopped going out for that purpose, but it would have been nice if someone had at least noticed.

A gentle touch on her face drew her away from the unpleasant memories and she looked up into troubled blue eyes. Aedan dipped his head and brushed a tender kiss across her lips, bringing a smile to her face. "I'm not complaining, but what was that for?"
He rubbed a thumb over her lower lip. "You just looked so sad for a moment. Plus, I really like kissing you," he added with a naughty grin. She chuckled, glanced around and was shocked to realise that everyone was standing at a massive wooden door, at least two meters high and adorned with intricate metal scrollwork. They had reached the Temple of Sacred Ashes.

Brother Genitivi manipulated the medallion, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement, although the trembling may also have been partly due to the bitterly cold wind that battered them. "Ah! I have it. Now, where does this go?" He examined the door thoroughly, his intelligent eyes lighting up when he found the indentation where the medallion fitted. He glanced over his shoulder to everyone, a euphoric smile brightening his face as he shared this special occasion with those gathered. He took a moment to enjoy the anticipation, then turned the key. A loud click echoed, made even more so in the silence that encompassed them. The doors were pushed open and they walked into the ruin.

Emma looked around, awestruck at the magnificence surrounding her. Gigantic icicles reached down from the ceiling of the cavernous hall. Snow drifts leaned against walls and columns, and the floor glittered with ice. She watched the warm cloud of her breath linger on the air before it dissipated, and she had a flash of a memory; standing in the snow as a young child, enchanted by the quiet stillness, then giggling at the sight of her visible breath. However, she felt no urge to giggle when she remembered the tragedy that would occur in the future. Flames would replace the ice; explosions would destroy the peace; and the burnt shells of bodies would be scattered around the ruined temple, their mouths open in an endless silent scream.

Emma gratefully left behind the depressing memories and allowed herself to be distracted by attacking cultists. With the main hall clear, they left Brother Genitivi to his own devices and explored the rest of the temple. There seemed to be a never-ending supply of cultists, but they managed to find everything needed to open the next door. They almost had to carry Wynne from the extensive library, but after a longing look at the books she followed them out. They used the relevant items to light the brazier and quickly stepped back as a blue flame burst into existence. "That thing should come with a warning, yes? I nearly lost my eyebrows," Zevran grumbled. This comment tickled Emma so much that she fell into a fit of giggles as she remembered Zevran's appearance in DA2, when it appeared he'd lost his eyebrows.

Unable to explain any of this to her companions, they looked at her as if she'd gone mad. "Did you have a sip from the Chasind Mead we found earlier?" Leliana queried. Emma just shook her head and eventually managed to regain control of herself, wiping at her eyes as she walked through the door, still chuckling occasionally. The companions looked at each other and then shrugged. "She's definitely an odd one," Wynne said and everyone nodded, their eyes following Emma with a great deal of fondness. They caught up with her and found themselves battling an Ash Wraith as well as more cultists.

Once the combat was over, they were left with a choice of whether to enter the door to the east or west. Emma pointed out that both paths would eventually lead to the same destination. "Is it safe enough to split into two groups?" Aedan questioned. Emma ran over her memories of the game, and the only fight she remembered being difficult was when she'd opened a collection of chests and had to fight off numerous wraiths. She said as much and added, "It might be better if I go in the group taking the west door, as I know what to look for and we can avoid that particular fight." Aedan took Emma and Leliana through the door to the west while Alistair took the other path with Zevran and Wynne in tow.

When they found the room with all the chests, Aedan raised an eyebrow. "I think the others would have been able to figure out that this was the room to avoid."
Emma chuckled. "Yes, but I couldn't be sure Zev would keep his hands to himself when faced with the possibility of so much loot."
Aedan glanced around the room and felt his own fingers twitch with a desire to open the chests.
"What are you doing?" Leliana asked in confusion.
Emma had been about to exit the room, turned and saw Aedan approaching the closest chest. She ran to him and grabbed his hand as he reached for the lock, noting the dazed look in his eyes. After pulling him into the next room, he blinked as though waking from a dream. He scrubbed a hand over his face. "That was weird. I felt an overwhelming compulsion to open the chests."
Leliana nodded her understanding. "I found myself very curious too, but you beat me to it."

Emma looked back into the room and inhaled sharply; dark, ghostly forms flitted from chest to chest, greedy fingers grasping at the air. One turned, looking directly at her with empty eye sockets, and she stumbled back from the evil aura that shrouded the room. "Let's go." She dragged Aedan and Leliana along, only letting go once they'd put some distance between themselves and the horrible room.

When the two groups eventually rejoined, they decided to rest for lunch. Emma sighed happily as she sat on the chilly ground, leaning against the rough wall and stretching out her legs to take the pressure off her feet. As tales bounced back and forth about what they'd encountered, Emma turned to her fellow mage and asked, "Would you mind helping me with my magic?"
Wynne looked surprised. "You seem to be doing fine. What is it you want to learn?"
"Well, I can't seem to perform healing spells. I mean, everything else seems to happen naturally, but that particular school of magic eludes me."
Wynne switched easily into teacher mode. "In order to heal, you need to converse with the spirits of the Fade. Some people have a natural connection to it; others have to work at it. You need a strong focus and a careful approach to Spirit magic. Even dealing with the kinder residents of the Fade can be fraught with danger."
Emma knew this, or at least understood the basics of it, hence the reason she wanted training in this particular field of magic. "So, you'll help me?"
Wynne smiled. "Such persistence. All right, we'll start once we're back at camp."

She thanked the older mage and pulled her into a hug. "Don't thank me yet, child. I'm quite a strict taskmaster."
Emma chuckled as she shook her head. "No, I think you'll be a firm but wise teacher."
Wynne smiled sadly. "Perhaps I am now; age has certainly mellowed me."
Emma wanted to kick herself as she remembered Wynne's one regret; her student Aneirin. With some gentle questioning, she managed to get her friend to talk about the one thing that haunted her. Emma made a note to let Aedan know. With their lunch finished, they packed up and continued their journey.