AN: Sorry for the delay, I was on holiday. One of my best friends got married and I'm so happy for her!

Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Good Hosts

"True hospitality is marked by an open response to the dignity of each and every person."

― Kathleen Norris, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography

Bright green light lit the ground and a Pride demon emerged, swinging a chain of lightening in a wide arc. I dodged, finding purchase on a nearby tree branch.

Shades and wraiths joined the melee, gliding across the clearing below and clawing at the others while Eldric threw an Antivan grenade at the demons.

Frustration welled up as any attack I made was subverted by the red coils of the Oath. In the corner of my eyes, I caught sight of the paralysis spell Solas cast, accompanied by a blow from Cassandra that decimated a nearby wraith.

Paralysis. A glyph of paralysis combined with a binding circle would incapacitate everyone in its range long enough for me to propel the spirits back through the rift while also being non-lethal. The red coils of magic immobilizing me dissipated and I analysed the battlefield. Shades, despair demons and wraiths were assailing us while Pride cast lightening arcs that paralysed anything that came in contact with it.

To bind these many spirits for at least ten minutes, I needed to anchor ten spiritual pillars into a ten-point star. I quickly summoned a spirit blade, chanting a few seconds so that it would act as a temporary pillar until it faded, and drove it deep into the ground.

I fade-stepped across the battlefield and summoned another blade before chanting and driving another to the ground spaced thirty-six degrees away from the first.

"Erelani, pay attention!" Thranduil warned, "Barrier!""

A glance to the left revealed a despair demon attempting to freeze Pulai while Thranduil provided support. A debilitating cold spread deep into my bones as despair set in.

How am I going to do this? How will I save everyone?

Despair's eyes met mine, and the aching chasm of emptiness grew, turning my insides cold.

What was the point of it all? Why even fight? Nothing was going to change. Nothing ever does.

I balled up my despair and buried it deep before throwing a fireball at the demon.

I solemnly swear-

Red chains constricted my frame and squeezed until the fireball dissipated, revealing a burned but living despair demon.

The red dissipated and I knew, instinctually, that any more spells directed at the despair demon would fail.

Fuck. Fuck!

I put the last spirit blade down and left the range of the binding circle. I pulled magic to myself, letting it build up before drawing the Glyph of Paralysis with a minor modification for binding. I built the mana like a tidal wave before crashing it against the glyph. With a reverberating bang that echoed even beyond the Veil, green lightening arced across everyone within the circle, rendering them immobile.

When the gong like sound receded, there was only silence.

I had ten minutes.

I grabbed the despair demon closest to me and dragged it to the edge of the binding circle before throwing it through the rift.

A shade stood close by. I picked it up and hurled it at the rift. The next through the rift was a wraith frozen in the middle of casting. Another, another and on it went.

I tried to rush, tearing pieces of spirits as I handled them roughly, until only the Pride demon left.

I had less than ten seconds to come up with a way to throw a demon that weighs more than a tonne through a rift…which was impossible. I have to think of something else. Even as I cast weakness spells to incapacitate Pride, it was breaking free of the binding.

"Agghhh, you dare!" Pride swung its lightning whip with deadly precision.

"Erelani! Watch out!"

I ignored Thranduil's warning. As long as Pride was focused on me, the others were safe.

There was a sharp smell of ozone and I erected mage armour instinctively. The clanking of chains came first before they wrapped around me. The barrier deflected the lightening running through the chains until suddenly I was sailing through the air.

A dangerous cracking sounded near my back. Thundering feet snapped me out of my disorientation and I rolled, expecting more damage but a wall of ice appeared in front of me. My blood boiled in rage.

I'm going to kill-!

I solemnly swear-

Fuck.

I buried my anguished panic and stood, feeling something protruding from my side. I turned to inspect the damage and found pieces of bark imbedded into my rib cage.

Grumbling, I placed my right hand over the wounds, pulling the bark out before healing the wounds. As annoying as healing fatigue was, at least the mana replenishment made up for it. At least until I closed the rift.

I cast an assessing gaze over my companions fighting. While most of them were great fighters, the addition of strangers had thrown the team dynamic off. They were run ragged and hurt more from friendly fire than from their enemies. I stretched an arm out towards them.

Heal! Shield! Mage armour!

As my mana refilled instantaneously, I fade-stepped across the field and came to a stop near them.

I took another moment to analyse the battlefield. Ellana was holding the Pride demon immobile with Nature magic. Any lightening attacks were captured by large roots and nullified into the ground. A surge of pride rushed through me at seeing Ellana employ her Keeper magic in such a clever way.

Maxwell, Cassandra and Thranduil were hacking away at the trapped demon while the others stuck to range attacks.

I raised the anchor, hoping I could delay the inevitable as I disrupted the rift. I approached slowly, creating my own roots to trap the demon in place.

"Stop, that's enough. I'll handle the rest," Cassandra glared but I shook my head, "The oath. I must do this."

I extended my aura full force at Pride, "Pride, return through the rift. We will harm you no further if you return."

Pride scowled, and I could feel its visceral hatred flowing into my aura, "As if I would yield to an elf."

"You were brought into the Waking against your will. Nothing that happened today was on purpose; it was just the fight for survival. If you want to live, you must return."

"You dare to presume much, elf! How dare you tell me what I should do!" Pride thrashed against the roots, breaking a few in its struggle.

"What would it take for you to return?"

Pride glowered, its loathing apparent, "Prostate yourself before me! Beg for my forgiveness! And then I might consider."

Apprehension made me hesitate. Pride demons weren't like other spirits; they were among the most powerful demons around, because pride was universal. Self-respect, ego, humility, confidence, they were all aspects of pride. The extent of your pride determined your emotional reaction and hence your character, which made pride one of the most essential emotions of personhood. Yet pride was also one of the most corruptible emotions, both in its lack and in its excess. Therefore, pride demons held the knowledge of how to destroy you, and in that knowledge considered itself superior.

But my options were limited, "If I accept, you will return immediately through the rift and refrain from exiting any other rift. Do we have a deal?"

Pride sneered, "Yes, now bend your knee."

I got on my knees and bowed my head until it touched the ground, "I apologize for attacking you. Please forgive me."

"Such insincerity! Is that anyway to ask for forgiveness? Mean it, elf, or the deal is off."

I struggled to pull forth genuine remorse, but it was difficult. We had been defending ourselves against their onslaught and there had been no casualties. Why would I feel remorse?

I tried to draw up memories of the ways humans had abused me. How they had chased me out of affluent districts in disgust. How there had been little remorse for elves after they had been executed by Empress Celene.

But spirits didn't even have that, did they?

"I regret the damage this tragedy has caused you. I am sorry that you are not more welcome in the Waking. I am sorry that we can only attack each other. Please forgive me. Please let me save you, because it is the only thing I can do."

"You are not forgiven!"

My body jerked as Pride flung me up, blood rushing away from head. I crossed the rift into the Fade, the edges of the Veil tearing at me as I passed through. Pride followed behind closely.

I saw the horizon for a brief second, the Black City towering menacingly from the distance, before Pride caught me, and wrapped its claws around my neck. Something in me quivered, and I felt as if I were leaving my body and having an out of body experience.

"Now you are in my territory, abomination! You will be punished for your insubordination!" Pride squeezed hard, and I struggled to breathe.

This was the problem with spirits. Their word was their bond, but if the deal was flimsy, they exploited every little loophole. Because I hadn't stated anything regarding my wellbeing, Pride was determined to finish what it had started.

I cast a Mind Blast, grateful that I was all the more powerful for being in the Fade. Pride was expelled back, crashing against a rock formation.

I summoned cold magic, determined to freeze Pride to death.

The oath did not stop me.

"And now I know what your apology was worth." Pride snarled as ice crawled up its torso, freezing it in place.

The oath still didn't stop me, and I knew why. I'd given Pride every chance to concede but it had only proved to be a danger to others. Killing Pride now was not against the oath.

Yet, I stopped.

It was not because of a sudden rise in compassion. It wasn't pity. It wasn't any heroic impulse that made me stop. It was remorse because I had meant every word I said. I forgot that while elves had a hard time, spirits had it even worse.

"The spell will thaw soon. I did mean my apology. I regret that things between our people are like this. Despite your actions, the deal still stands."

As I approached the rift, that thing in me quivered again, and it felt as if I was being electrocuted. It travelled through my torso and stopped at my left hand, and suddenly I was having double vision.

Vertigo assaulted me as I crossed the rift and I fell, landing in a heap on the ground.

Close the rift, just close the rift!

I lifted a trembling hand towards the rift and pulled as hard as I could. The rift sealed shut with a loud snap and a rushing sensation overwhelmed me.

I turned to the side and vomited, and kept heaving, unable to stop even as my stomach emptied and saliva trailed down.

There was a burning in my throat, and suddenly there was blood, and still I couldn't stop heaving.

There was shouting and suddenly a pair of hands lifted me and started dragging me way. A cold sensation enveloped my throat before it travelled down to my stomach. It spread until it reached my left hand, and suddenly everything stopped spinning and blue-grey eyes came into focus, staring intently into my eyes as swathes of cold blue magic filled my vision. His mouth moved, seemingly forming words, but I heard nothing beyond the rushing in my ears.

My mind cleared, and the world came into view as a heavy fatigue set in. Solas was crouched before me, running intensive healing over my injuries. His eyes met mine again, and he sighed in relief before pulling back and collapsing to the ground.

I cast an eye around the clearing and found the others pacing restlessly, giving us a wide berth as Cassandra, Thranduil and Maxwell engaged in an argument. I turned to Solas, finding his sharp gaze evaluating me.

There was a terrible part to this entire situation I had forgotten, "The Mark is killing me, isn't it?"

There was a long pause, "I have put certain safeguards in place, but yes, even if you save the world, the Mark will eventually kill you."

It was like a slap across the face and it must have showed because his jaw tightened. I swallowed my turmoil, burying it deep before forcing a smile on my face.

"Thank you for your candidness, Solas," I cast a quick look over his stiff expression before looking away, "It's not like I expected anything different. The power to alter the veil lies in my hands; how can there be no side-effects?"

"Your pragmatism is commendable."

I gave him a measuring look, "Is there a way to transfer this Mark to someone else?"

Solas' face became expressionless, "When you were in the Chantry dungeon, attempts were made to acquire the Mark, even at the expense of your life," His face was inscrutable, "The attempts were unsuccessful. It was deemed more important to have a functioning Mark then a malformed one that worked for none. It's why your life was spared by the Hands of the Divine."

I marvelled at the blatant omission in his words. If I hadn't known better, I'd have thought it was the Chantry that attempted to steal the Mark rather than him. His skill in misdirection was frightening.

"I see."

"Your…passenger also complicates matters."

I stared at him, uncomprehending, "Passenger?"

His gaze was shrewd, "The being you carry with you at all times."

"Huh?" My heart quickened, a cold dread settling in. What was he talking about? "You mean the Mark?"

"No." Solas studied me intensely before taking a non-threatening stance, his hands held in front of him, "I am a somniari who has been studying the Fade for a very long time. I hold no judgements of those who hold such impeccable control over their companions. The melding is seamless, almost as if it was done at birth."

My stomach rolled in anxiety as I opened my mouth then closed it, because I wasn't stupid, I knew exactly what he was implying. But I'm not possessed. There wasn't anything piggybacking on me, nothing that was extra-

Oh.

A tremble went through my body as bone-deep terror set in.

But, but, there was no one else inside. Just me. I was born. There had never been another spirit that close to me, only Desire.

Unbidden, a memory sprang forth,

"There's too much inside already. What a pity. A somniari like you already filled up."

But that had been years ago. Years! I'd been a babe, then.

I looked down at my hand, at the veilfire I'd created all those years ago to suppress the tide of otherworld memories that had threatened to crush me.

I had gotten through it. I had saved myself, however unwittingly it had been done. And those memories had never actually harmed me. The reminder eased some of my terror.

Where did she end? Where did I begin? Why did it feel like there was no difference at all? I was always just me, the sum of the before and the after. I was the amalgamation of all those experiences. The otherworld memories that had overwhelmed me at a young age, had gradually melded with my mind with repetitive viewing; it had become a part of me, a part of who I was.

"Did you not know? Did it occur at the Conclave?" Solas' voice broke my thoughts and I stared back blankly at his curious face. His interest was sharp, but he maintained a sympathetic visage that I mistrusted.

However, the rawness of the realization had me replying with the truth, "No, it didn't. You were right, it occurred when I was fairly young. I suppose I didn't realize that it was possession."

"You didn't realize?" His bewilderment bordered on condescension, "The effects are unmistakeable, somebody must have noticed."

And he was right, because somebody had noticed. Mamae had noticed. She had actively avoided me for years, leaving me in the care of the Keeper, perhaps hoping that he could deal with the damage and kill me if I turned into an uncontrolled abomination.

Suddenly the pieces clicked together.

They'd thought that Desire was possessing me for kicks and drawn a veilfire rune to that effect. Except that's not what veilfire runes did, but they didn't know that. I'd never told them or shared any of the memories buried within it.

As terrible as these realizations were, a swell of gratitude welled up in me for my mother. She hadn't killed me and hadn't let the clan kill me either. I remember the terrible activities I'd gotten up to as a child and how everyone in the clan had maintained a healthy distance from me.

It was humbling to realize that the woman I'd hated-loved-had done so much for me, because there was no mercy for abominations in this world. They were considered unnatural and evil, doomed to create destruction. Despite her fear and disgust, she'd loved me enough to do the right thing.

She'd given me a chance to live.

A shake of my hand broke my thoughts yet again, and I found Solas staring pityingly at my continued silence, and I could sense a healthy dose of superiority hidden behind the emotion.

"Regardless, you can be assured that I will speak of this to no one," Solas placed a comforting hand over my own, his voice firm, "Your safety is paramount until the Breach is sealed and spreading this knowledge will only ensure your death. You promised me safety from humans, I extend the same promise in return."

I evaluated his expression, gauging the sincerity of his promise. He was genuine; he had no reason not to be.

I nodded slowly, trusting that for now, he had no reason to betray me. I closed my eyes, feeling like the ground beneath my feet had slipped away. Valo-kas didn't trust me, Thranduil had no faith in me, and now, I didn't even know what I was anymore.

Everything that I was, everything that defined me, the people in my life, my memories, they were all ruined.

My days were numbered.

And yet, a fire was running through my blood, invigorating my body, my mind and spirit. My heart was pumping hard, a tingling spreading from within, strengthening every emotion until it fed this unquenchable flame.

If my stand-offish mother could find it in herself to save an abomination like me and give me a chance at life, then I was more than capable of saving this world.

I won't just endure through this hatred, mistrust and instability, I would succeed in spite of them.

I will succeed.

I was too injured spiritually and physically to move, so we made camp in that clearing. Solas stayed close to me, keeping others away with warnings about the Mark. His magic was entwined with the Mark, and I could feel his sporadic tugging on my hand, feeling as if a part of my spirit was being pulled too. And it was, for I had accidentally sealed a portion of my spirit away in the veilfire, and with the Mark fused onto it, I knew of no way to separate the two. The Mark was spreading too, crawling up my hand bit by bit as the hours passed by. I could feel Solas putting blockades in, nearly deadening the nerves in my left hand so that the pain wouldn't register.

I ignored the argument between Cassandra and Thranduil happening mere feet from me, too overwhelmed with the day's revelations to engage in meaningless conflict. A growing feeling of disconnection had me opening my mouth, and suddenly words were spewing forth,

"I don't feel it, you know. The presence of another. There's only me."

Solas paused his ministrations, looking up at me for a second before continuing, "Yes, I gathered. Most don't feel any different; they only have a heightened awareness of the Fade."

"That's not true. The force of another within the body is overwhelming, like your mind is being crushed, because there is too much in too small, and it's not going to be contained," I stared at him as he paused, his head tilted in curiosity, "That's how abominations are created, because the body tries to expand to accommodate the additional spirit, but the mind is unstable and the body can't just grow instantaneously, so it transforms," I just watched him, "And tragedy occurs."

"And yet, here you are," Solas smiled, "If it is fully consensual then the soul melding is seamless. The line distinguishing one from another disappears, for they are one. Is that not the case for you?"

"It never felt like another."

"I suppose it can feel like that, eventually."

"It never felt like another. There was no additional voice, no helping hand, just a collection of memories…and me."

"You must have been very young."

I opened my mouth to contradict him, to explain that I'd lived another life, that I was a reincarnation, but I abruptly remembered who I was talking to.

"I suppose so."

"I am surprised your clan failed to educate you in this. Did they not know?" His condescension was back, and it grated against my raw nerves.

"They did, and it is because of their compassion and understanding that I stand before you," I replied, a warning clear in my voice.

"And somehow you were completely unaware that you were a host for a spirit," Solas derided.

"Only my mother knew," I defended, "And she's long gone."

I snapped my mouth shut, hating that I'd shared so much. I glanced at him and was irritated to find an analysing look on his face, as if I was nothing more than a puzzle to solve then a real person with feelings. The look wasn't even unique. It was the look nobles gave commoners, like they were nothing more than witless animals that they had to care for.

So many insults raced through my mind at his look, but the reminder of who he was, forced them down.

"I admit, I thought your compassion towards spirits was a product of your situation," he began, and I tensed warily, "The fact that this regard developed on its own says a lot about your inherent wisdom."

I blinked rapidly, gobsmacked at the unexpected compliment, "Oh."

"Your study of the Fade and grasp of magic is remarkable. You've trained your will so that magic is just an extension of it. Your indomitable focus and wisdom will be beneficial in the days to come."

"Indomitable focus?" I whispered, slightly overwhelmed. Was he flirting with me? Why?

"Presumably. Your display earlier was impressive."

"Umm," I blinked rapidly before looking away awkwardly, "Thanks, Solas, that's very kind of you."

As disarming as his compliments were, they'd done nothing for me. I was Dalish through and through; actions carried more merit than flowery words designed to flatter. But he'd helped me a lot today, intentionally or not.

As he got up to leave, I caught the seams of his sweater, "Thank you, for saving my life and healing me. And for promising to keep my secrets. I will endeavour to live up to your expectations."

I caught the disarmed look on his face and let go. I would rather be on his good side than his bad one and I couldn't deny the thrill of satisfaction that ran through me when I surprised him so.

Feeling invigorated at this small victory, I found the patience to deal with the argument in full swing a few metres away.

"-cannot save demons! Who will help us? Who will believe this is the work of divinity?"

"She is oath bound, Seeker, and the terms of the oath were given by you."

"That's no excuse! This just proves that she is a maleficar!"

"Her method produced no casualties, Seeker Cassandra, that cannot be ignored."

A trill of shock went through me at seeing Maxwell support me, but I brushed it away as I stumbled towards them.

"What's the problem now?"

Cassandra glared at all of us, "We cannot save every spirit that tries to attack us! It's not feasible, not when we are trying to close rifts and save people!"

I took a deep breath, before exhaling slowly, "What else can I do? I am oath-bound to protect every single person. It's the oath you took as well."

"But they are demons! They corrupt everything that they touch! They are intangible creatures of the Fade, how are they a people?!"

"Aren't they?" I stared hard at Cassandra, "What is a person to you?"

Cassandra's jaw tightened, "You know very well what people are. Those that are a part of this world, are people. Not spirits that mimic our behaviour and our world."

"What about nugs? Druffaloes? Are those people to you too?"

"No, because they are not capable of higher cognitive functions."

"Have you ever interacted with a spirit?"

"I am a Seeker, I hunt demons."

I eyed her uncompromising visage and knew that I wouldn't be successful in changing her mind, not today. Any attempt at changing her beliefs would only be met with stern disapproval.

I sighed, "I am a Dreamer, and for me, spirits are just another race, another people. The truth doesn't change, no matter how inconvenient it is."

Cassandra scowled, "The facts are still the same. We cannot afford to take this long to close each rift."

And she was right.

I dropped my gaze to the Mark. It was a boon for the people, yet the bane for my life, and all it could do was seal rifts….and open rifts?

A vague half memory from the Before had my mouth opening before I realized it, "Solas, is this Mark capable of reversing the polarity of the rift?"

"Excuse me?" Solas seemed uncomprehending as he stopped shuffling through his belongings. I refused to believe that he hadn't been eavesdropping on the argument like everyone else in the camp.

"Rifts cause the Fade to leak into the world. The Mark can dispel and seal rifts. Is the Mark capable of changing rifts so that they suction things back into the Fade?"

He blinked, "I cannot say anything for sure without further research, but the Mark should, theoretically, be able to create rifts that pull things into the Fade."

"And what about existing rifts? Can they be changed too?"

"Again, further research is necessary, but I do not believe that existing rifts can be altered so easily. It also takes substantially more power to create such suctioning rifts then to seal rifts."

I cast a glance at Cassandra, Maxwell and Thranduil before looking back to Solas, "Power is not a problem. If we can pull the spirits back into the Fade, then our problem is solved."

Solas hesitated for a second, "I must warn you, however, that if you open such a rift over any living organism, the expulsion of such powerful force will kill them."

I nodded to Solas, "Noted," I turned to Cassandra, "Shall we test this at the next rift?"

She closed her eyes for a moment and let out a long sigh, "If that is the Maker's will."

I relaxed marginally, relieved that she'd acquiesced despite the differences in our opinion. In spite of everything she had said, my respect for her grew. She was flexible enough to implement a solution that conflicted against her core beliefs. If I wanted to attain her trust and put an end to these difficulties, then I needed to befriend her.

I sighed internally before nodding to the others and retreating to my bed.

AN:

Hahaha! So, how many of you saw guessed the spirit possession?

The next chapter is already half written so it shouldn't take too long. It was a part of this chapter, but the flow was completely off so I decided to add it on to the next.

Hinterlands is next, and it's going to be fast paced and action packed. It's been slow so far because I needed to set up an idea of the situation she's entering so that the consequences of her actions can be predictable (or not) to the reader.

Thank you for your time!