Before them stood one of the tallest mirrors Jacquelyn had ever seen. A cloth lay before it, evidently having been used to cover it during its transportation to the room Morrigan now had it squirrelled away in. But neither of these things were what caught Jacquelyn's attention most. The surface of the mirror looked almost like water, shimmering and rippling, and it held no reflection. Jacquelyn glanced at Morrigan before allowing her eyes to once more fall upon the strange surface, almost mesmerised by it.
"This is an eluvian," Morrigan explained, watching Jacquleyn for a moment. "An elven artefact from a time long before their empire was lost to human greed. I restored this one at great cost, but another lies within the Arbor Wilds. That is what Corypheus seeks."
Jacquelyn turned to face Morrigan, frowning at the so-called Witch of the Wilds, her mind slowly working through the information she had been provided. Mild irritation lurked in the depths of her being, knowing that she should have been informed of the eluvian long before now, but recognising that she shouldn't worry about that now.
"It is elven?"
"I found legends of an elven temple within the Arbor Wilds, untouched. It proved too dangerous to approach, and thus I turned elsewhere to find my prize. If Corypheus has turned southward, he could succeed where I failed. The eluvian would be his."
"What does it do?"
Without a word of explanation, light erupted from Morrigan's hands. A sound not too dissimilar to shattering glass rung out through the air, and Jacquelyn took a step back as light burst from the eluvian, blue light radiating from its shimmering surface.
"A more appropriate question would be where does it lead?" the witch corrected. Jacquelyn eyed her suspiciously, watching as she stepped through the surface. For a moment she considered leaving the room, but there were more answers that she needed. Clearly, Morrigan could provide them. After a moment of hesitation, Jacquelyn released a heavy sigh, and followed Morrigan through the eluvian.
Jacquelyn wasn't even sure where to start describing the area that she found herself in. A heavy mist hung in the air, tall pillars with orbs that seemed made from bare tree branches, or perhaps giant deer antlers, stood scattered around the place, towering over her. She looked around at the eluvian she and Morrigan had just stepped from, studying the tall, shrine-like object that held not only the mirror they had stepped from, but supporting others on its other faces. More of the mirrors were scattered around, as well, and Jacquelyn felt her unease growing as she studied her surroundings. In the not-so-far distance she could make out the shape of what appeared to be a collapsing castle, though through the fog, she couldn't make out any details about it.
"If this place once had a name," Morrigan started, her voice quiet, almost reverent, "it has long been lost."
Jacquelyn stepped forward, making her way over cracked and broken stone slabs as she continued to take in the sights around her.
"I call it the Crossroads, a place where all eluvians join, wherever they might be."
"Is it a danger?" Jacquelyn asked, turning to face her companion. "Are we safe here?"
"I have certainly never encountered someone else here. But if Corypheus gains access to the eluvian in the Arbor Wilds, I expect our safety will be short-lived," Morrigan paced back and forth for a moment, motioning to the area that they found themselves in. "The ancient elves left no roads, only ruins hidden in far-flung corners. This is how they travelled between them. As you can see, most of the mirrors are dark. Broke, corrupted, or unusable. As for the rest, a few can be opened from this side. But only a few."
"What do you mean, 'a few can be opened from this side'?"
"Some of the eluvians have been left unlocked, like doors accidentally left ajar. All others are closed. They can be opened only from beyond."
"Opened… how, exactly?" Jacquelyn asked, her frown deepening as she regarded Morrigan.
"With a key."
Jacquelyn wanted to snap at Morrigan, wanted to shout at her. How silly of her, really. How else would one open a door but with a key? But she didn't allow herself to release the anger boiling up inside her, the rage that threatened to burst out.
"I suppose that you have such a key?"
"The key can be many things. Each eluvian is different."
Fucking elves. Nothing could be simple, could it? Though having different keys did ensure one thing. Even if Corypheus succeeded in gaining access to the eluvian in the Arbor Wilds, which Jacquelyn was determined to do all she could to prevent, there was nothing guaranteeing that he would be able to use it. And even less guarantee that he would be able to use these so-called Crossroads to attack Skyhold.
"I have knowledge as well as power," Morrigan continued. "Often that is enough."
"And you believe that Corypheus wants to come here?"
"This is not the Fade, but it is very close."
Jacquelyn bit back another snarky reply, forcing herself to keep her arms by her side and an attentive look on her face as she watched Morrigan once more begin to walk around the area.
"Someone with enough power could tear down the ancient barrier."
"And enter the Fade in the flesh. Like Corypheus wanted to with the anchor."
"He learned of the eluvian in the Arbor Wilds as I did. He martials the last of his forces to reach it," Morrigan turned and started walking away, leading Jacquelyn back to the eluvian they had entered the crossroads through. She paused before taking the last steps into it, though, turning once more to face Jacuqleyn.
"You have made Corypheus desperate, Inquisitor," she said, a grimly determined look on her face. "We must work together to stop him, and soon."
With those final words, she stepped once more into the eluvian, leaving Jacquelyn to follow her a moment later.