The shriek of collapsing stone was still ringing in my ears as I found the courage to open my eyes again. I was suspended in the air, an endless sky of jade stretching beneath my feet. The mountains dangled from above, waiting to swallow the clouds, and my stomach churned. It wasn't right. Looking above, the ground awaited, mere inches from my head. Perhaps that would break the spell. I reached out, my finger brushing the cool stone, and then I fell.

I groaned, the world turned right again, and rubbed my sore hip. Everything was tinged with green, and I blinked, stumbling to my feet. This was unlike any place I'd seen on Thedas. My left hand buzzed, and I clenched it to a fist.

"Ugh, where…where are we?" Hawke's voice came from behind. I turned around, and my eyes nearly crossed over. She was standing atop a ridge, tilted at an impossible angle.

"I believe our Inquisitor may have an idea," Alastair muttered. He stood opposite, his body facing skywards. I had to look away from them both. It was too disorienting.

"What do you mean?" I flexed my fingers, trying to shake off the pins and needles. "We were falling, and a rift was right beneath us, so I…"

"…decided to break our fall by throwing us straight through it!" Iron Bull growled. He was on the same plane as me, his nostrils flaring. "Do you realize what you've done?!"

"You can't mean…" Cassandra scanned the surroundings, her eyes wide. I'd never seen such fear in her before. "This place, it can only be…"

"The Fade," Varric finished. "Congratulations, Inquisitor. You've achieved a feat no human, or dwarf, or anyone else for that matter, has for the last thousand years."

My mouth went dry. It couldn't be! My mind screamed a thousand impossibilities, but my eyes told me otherwise. The hazy light, the jagged ruins, the sickly coloured water…there was no other explanation. We'd crossed the Veil and were standing in the realm of spirits. The very goal Corypheus had strived for since the beginning.

"This is insane!" Hawke was shaking her head. "Although quite preferable to turning into paste at the bottom of Adamant Fortress."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that," Alastair answered. He began to walk, and the ridge twisted, returning him to the same plane as the rest of us. I tried not to focus on the movement. It was making me nauseous.

"So now what?" Iron Bull kicked a stone, watching it bounce into a pool of stale water. "We can't just sit here and wait for demons to start sniffing around!"

"Of course not," I said, finding my resolve. "We'll find a way out. That rift in Adamant fortress should still be open." I cast my gaze across the horizon, picking out the pillar of light in the near-distance. The sight appeared identical to the Breach, although much, much smaller. Hopefully it would take us back to the real world.

"Yes, I can see it over there," Cassandra affirmed. I couldn't mistake the slight tremor in her voice. "Let us move swiftly."

Hawke nodded, jumping down to join us, and together we walked towards the pillar of light. The path was uneven, undulating into valleys and ridges, and that horrible green water was everywhere. Yet oddly enough, there was barely any smell. No scent of moisture or rot, but nor anything fresh, either. The air, too, was still and lifeless, lacking any staleness or humidity. Everything felt so empty, and were it not for the solid ground beneath my feet, I would've doubted our presence entirely.

It was no wonder no living creature was welcome here.

Iron Bull kept a tight grip on his axe, scouring the rocks for signs of trouble. Normally he thrived in such environments, but now his every step was filled with caution. Hawke and Varric stuck close, exchanging bewildered descriptions of the landscape, while Cassandra and Alastair gawked, their eyes a mix of terror and awe. I myself couldn't pick between such feelings, but I was far more distracted by the quiet echoes above us.

The spirits were watching.

Abruptly my left hand pulsed. I hesitated, looking to the branching path ahead. The left one led straight to the pillar of light, but something drew me towards the right.

"I think we should go this way," I said, pointing to the sloping ridge.

"Really?" Hawke raised a brow. "But the pillar is that way."

"And what makes you such an accomplished navigator of the Fade, anyway?" Alastair piped up.

"I never said I was," I answered, frowning. "But something tells me that way will be safer. I can't explain more than that."

"I'd go with what the Inquisitor says, my friend," Varric said. "That mark on her hand probably has a better sense of direction than any of us."

"Well, it's not like we have anything else to go on," Hawke added. "Lead the way, Inquisitor."

Nodding, I took point, drawing my staff. While I'd visited the Fade in dreams before, actually standing in it for real was entirely different. For one thing, the spirits were a lot noisier, and I could catch their curious whispers above. They didn't pose a threat at the moment, but it would only be a matter of time before we'd attract more unwanted attention.

Please, come this way.

I froze. That voice; it was a woman's. One I'd almost certainly heard before.

Yes, follow the path as your mark guides…

Frowning, I picked up my pace. The source was nearby. I crested the next ridge, coming to a shallow pool. But it was the figure standing before it that really caught my eye. She appeared a slim, elderly lady dressed in white and red Chantry robes. Her outline was blurry, but the familiarity was almost overwhelming. I'd met her before. Yet no matter how I tried, I couldn't quite place from where. It was as if the memory had escaped me.

As we drew closer, she looked to me and smiled. The warmth in her eyes made my heart skip a beat. Now there was no mistaking those soft wrinkles and grand mitre.

"By the Maker…" Alastair stopped dead, his face pale. "Is that…are you…"

"Most Holy?" Cassandra's voice was barely above a whisper.

The woman—if it was indeed a woman—gave a knowing nod. I stared, the tingling in my left hand growing stronger. The late Divine was still here, even after all this time. But how, and why?

"I greet you, Inquisitor, Champion," the Divine said. "And I am glad to see you too, Cassandra."

Cassandra stared.

"This cannot be real." She shook her head, her eyes never leaving the Divine. "We are taught that some souls can linger in the Fade after death, but…" She clasped her sword hilt. "Spirits can also lie."

"How do you know Lady Trevelyan's title, anyway?" Hawke questioned.

"Knowledge of the present can be obtained in many ways," the Divine said, undaunted. She turned to me. "I have watched and waited since the creation of the Breach, and I am glad you have managed to return. Now you can claim what was lost."

She raised her hand, and Iron Bull flinched.

"Damn it, I'm not falling for no stupid spirit tricks!" He brandished his axe, but Cassandra blocked his path.

"Stop!" They exchanged an intense glare, but eventually Iron Bull relented. Sighing, Cassandra looked to me. "What do you think, Inquisitor?"

"She definitely seems familiar," I admitted. "But I don't remember why."

"It is because that memory was taken from you," the Divine said, oblivious to Iron Bull's aggression. "I am here to help you get it back. You will not be able to escape otherwise, nor will you be able to combat the source of Corypheus's power in the Fade."

"You mean his demon army?" I asked.

"Yes," the Divine answered. "It is all down to one demon in particular; the Nightmare you forget upon waking. A demon that has grown fat on the terror in the world, and Corypheus has promised it an endless supply of fear and chaos. So long as he continues to feed the Nightmare, it will do his bidding. As it did the day you first came here, Inquisitor."

I swallowed. That key moment before the explosion at the Conclave had always eluded me, and now I understood why. It had been taken from me since the very beginning.

"So what do you propose?" I asked.

"Let me help you," the Divine said. "I know where your memories have been taken, and I know where the Nightmare resides. Once you have restored yourself, you will be able to return home." She gestured to the horizon. "You will find the first piece in that area. I will meet you there."

She bowed, and her body took on a golden glow. She rose slightly, then drifted towards the rocks. I watched her, reflecting on her words. That had been a lot to take in, even without our current situation. Still, there was little point stamping my feet and crying denial. I needed to recover those stolen moments, as it would reveal our escape, and maybe inform our next steps.

"So, what's the plan, your Inquisitorialness?" Varric asked.

I sighed.

"Simple. We take a chance and trust her," I said.

"Is that wise?" Alastair asked. "She could be working for the Nightmare and leading us into a trap."

"Alternatively we could wander the Fade indefinitely and be driven to eternal insanity," Hawke countered, folding her arms. "I don't know what the heck she was either, but at least she's given us a trail. Even if we do get ambushed, I'd rather fight what I can see than wait to be possessed."

"Yeah, she's got a point," Iron Bull grunted. He seemed to have calmed a little from earlier, though he still kept hold of his axe. "If it means getting out quicker, I'm all for it."

"Agreed," Cassandra said. "I think it is time we all discovered what happened that day."

She gazed at where the Divine had stood, chewing her lip. She was probably bursting with questions, as was I, but we needed to move swiftly. Every second we remained meant more time for the enthralled Wardens to summon more demons. And if we didn't return soon, there would be nothing left to salvage.

Squaring my shoulders, I took the path the Divine had suggested, entering a maze of stony crags and shallow water. By now the chittering of the spirits above had ceased, and the newfound silence made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.

"What exactly are we supposed to be looking for, anyway?" Hawke asked, picking her way through the loose stones. Something sticky clung to her boot, and she scowled.

"No idea," I admitted. "But it must be…"

I was cut off by a mournful shriek. It echoed through the chasm, and moments later a wraith demon appeared. It charged straight for us, and I raised my staff. The fireballs sped out, much more concentrated than usual, and struck the wraith. It howled, its limbs thrashing. A solid blow from Iron Bull's axe finished it off, and it collapsed to the ground. It lay there for a moment, motionless, before it began to evaporate.

"Hey, what's that?" Alastair stepped closer, peering at the residue. A pale ring of light floated above the mess, as fragile as smoke. He reached out for it, but his hand passed straight through. My left hand started to tingle, and I clenched my fingers. It had to be the memory.

Cautiously I approached, and my left hand sparked. That burning ache was becoming much too familiar. Gritting my teeth, I ran my fingers through the light. It swirled and danced, attracted to the mark, and that was when the blinding pain struck. I cried out, but no sound escaped my throat. Instead the world shifted, the sickly sky and grizzled rocks replaced by torchlight and man-made bricks.

The Conclave.

"What is the meaning of this?" the Divine cried out. "Why are you of all people doing this?"

Slowly, the vision became clear, and I stared. The Divine was in a private antechamber, suspended in the air as tendrils of magic tethered her arms. A Grey Warden mage was behind her, the source of her binding, and his Warden comrades gathered around, almost gleeful.

What in the Maker's name…

"Keep the sacrifice still." Corypheus's deep tones echoed as he stepped into the chamber. He held the orb in his right hand, and it began to crackle with energy. The same green bolts that now tainted my left hand.

The Divine's eyes widened. "Please, someone help me!"

Her cry was not unheard, as moments later a figure burst through the doors.

"What's going on here?!" It felt so strange to hear myself speak, but it was all coming back to me. I'd been asked to find the Divine who was late to the meeting. And this was what I had found.

The distraction was barely more than a few seconds, but it was enough. The Divine broke free of the magic, and she slapped the orb from Corypheus's hand. It rolled straight towards me, and I ran, meaning to pick it up. My left palm touched the artefact, and the brilliant green light surged into my hand. I screamed, as if I'd thrust my hand into a burning forge. Corypheus yelled out, trying to tear the orb from me, but he was too slow. The energy became too much to contain, and the chamber exploded.

I didn't get to see the rest as the memory ended, and I was thrown back into the wastes of the Fade. I fell to my knees, my arms shaking. Maker, it was like reliving the event all over again.

"Inquisitor!" Cassandra came to my side, concerned. I shook my head, beads of sweat rolling down my forehead. Her expression said everything, and I turned away. They had seen it too. All this talk of Andraste helping me, of being the Maker's chosen…it was all a lie. The destiny that had been thrown upon my shoulders was the result of mere accident, not divine providence.

How had I been so naïve?

"So that's what happened," Alastair mused. "You interrupted the ritual, and the Divine…" He trailed off.

"Is that all you have to say?" Hawke's tone was brittle. "You're just going to ignore that entire contingent of Grey Wardens holding the Divine against her will?"

"You've seen Corypheus can manipulate Wardens," Alastair argued. "They had to be under his thrall!"

"Hmph, of course they were," Hawke scoffed.

"Look, you can raise this issue with the others when we get out of here," Alastair said, shuffling on his feet. He was growing uncomfortable.

"Oh, don't worry, I will," Hawke answered, her voice sharp.

"That wasn't all of it, though, was it?" Cassandra said. If witnessing the Divine's demise had had any effect on her, she hid it well. "How did you end up in the Fade?"

Before I could answer, the golden light of the Divine—or whoever she was—returned. She descended slowly, coming to rest before the rocks. The brightness receded, and she was back in her Chantry robed form.

"That piece can be found over there," she said, pointing to a rock bridge that overlooked a cove. "This way, when you are ready."

I didn't wait and rose to my feet, brushing off Cassandra's hand. She raised a brow, hesitant.

"Are you sure you are alright?" she asked.

"We shouldn't hang around," I said, forcing back the tremors. I would not let the realisation overcome me. So what if this had nothing to do with the Maker's intervention. It was my own fault for getting swept up in the hysteria. For wanting to believe I meant something…

"I understand it has come as a shock," the Divine said, almost sadly. "You had thought this the Maker's doing, but perhaps it still can be. Even if He did not grant you the mark itself, who is to say He did not choose you to attend in my time of need?"

"Perhaps," I muttered. "It doesn't matter. Let's keep moving."

I strode through the rock stacks, and the others followed. I tried not to pay too much attention to their stares, in particular Cassandra's. Her faith had been challenged, and it filled me with shame. But then why should it? It wasn't as if I'd claimed the title Herald of Andraste—the frightened people had thrust that upon me. And without my own recollection to refute their words, how else could I have responded? They had wanted a comfort against the growing darkness, and I had let them have it. Perhaps unwisely.

"Bothers you that much, does it?" Varric's voice interrupted my thoughts. He fell into step beside me, keeping Bianca primed.

I let out a breath. "Hardly."

"You sure? 'Cause your face tells me otherwise," Varric answered, not unkindly. "But you know, I wouldn't fret about it, Inquisitor. I'd rather believe you earned your title through your choices, not because some higher power picked you on a whim. Just my opinion, though."

I nodded, slightly comforted, although it didn't take away my guilt completely. Once we returned to Skyhold, I would need to make some very bracing announcements.

"Thanks, Varric."

The rest of the journey was spent in silence. Fortunately it didn't take long to reach the bridge, and we crossed into another segment of the Fade. The water had receded here, leaving us beneath the scarred and towering cliffs. Oddly the pillar of light appeared closer, despite the winding path we'd taken.

So, who comes to greet me in the darkness?

The voice echoed all around, and Iron Bull and Hawke started, brandishing their weapons. At the same moment the golden spirit of the Divine returned.

"The Nightmare has sensed your presence," she said simply. "Do not tarry; find the missing shard of yourself!"

She vanished, and in her place the ground began to boil. Moments later a burst of flame erupted, melting the stone, and a Rage demon appeared. I barely had time to acknowledge it as a peal of thunder echoed, followed by the roar of a Pride demon. A cackling wraith completed the set, and I braced my staff.

Hawke and Cassandra nodded at each other, before charging towards the Rage demon. Iron Bull and Alastair made for the Pride demon, while Varric and I set our sights on the wraith. The feeble thing was no match for some well-timed crossbow bolts and lightning spells, so it wasn't long before we turned to help the others.

"Inquisitor, watch out!"

Cassandra's warning came just in time. I ducked, avoiding the Rage demon's blazing claw. The searing heat made my cheeks flush, and I readied a frost spell. The blizzard struck its chest, freezing it solid. Cassandra and Hawke yelled, charging together, and their blades struck simultaneously. The demon shattered into dust, and they regrouped. I didn't linger on the victory, taking aim at the Pride demon. It was huge, towering at three times my height, its electric whip tearing through the insubstantial airs. I summoned a rune of flame, throwing it beneath the beast, and it roared. More strikes of steel and thunder followed, and then it was defeated. It crumbled into the ground, leaving a floating ring of brightness.

The memory.

Replacing my staff at my back, I stepped to the hovering light. Once again my mark awoke, sending sharp jabs up my arm. I bit back the urge to flinch, sweeping my hand into the glowing mist. The world trembled as the past came to life once more, and I gasped.

I was at the bottom of the chasm, dazed, hurt, confused. My left hand was agony, as if a thousand burning stakes had been ploughed through it, and my head throbbed. What happened, where was I…

A quiet chittering gnawed through my muddled thoughts. It was ever so soft, barely at the edge of my hearing, but it steadily grew louder and louder. Cold sweat started to pour down my neck, and I forced myself to move. I had to get away.

"Up here!"

I blinked, pushing myself to my feet. Everything was so dark and distant…where could I go?

"Quickly, the demons!"

The voice broke through the rest of my fatigue, and the haze lifted. A craggy cliff stood before me, crested with an unstable rift. It was the only way out. At the same moment the chittering reached crescendo, and I looked back and screamed.

A horde of giant spiders spilled from the shadows, and I scrambled for the cliff. Fear drove me to find impossible handholds, and I clawed my way upwards. The spiders shrieked, taking chase. Adrenaline fuelled every movement, sending my heart into overdrive as I ventured higher and higher. The rift pulsed above, and my left hand flared, teasing me with its alluring light.

"Hurry!"

I looked up, spying out an old woman in white and red robes. Divine Justinia; the one who'd guided me here. She reached out to me as far as she dared, and I pushed myself to climb faster. At last our hands met, and she pulled me up. The spiders snapped at my heels, almost upon us, and I broke into a run.

"Keep running!" I shouted. The rift was right before us now. I stretched out my left hand, and it came to life, sparking energy. But at that instant the Divine cried out. I looked back. The spiders had caught her. I hesitated, making to turn back, but the Divine shook her head. A wordless cry escaped her, and the spiders dragged her off the clifftop. Cursing, I bolted into the rift…

I clasped my face, the final piece slotting into place. Tears soiled my cheeks, and for a long moment I couldn't speak. When I finally found the courage to lower my hands, the spirit of the Divine was before me again.

"It was you." My voice was hoarse. "You let them take you, so I could…" I couldn't even finish, a lump welling in my throat. How had someone with such power and influence sacrificed themselves for me? A Mage, no less, as well…

"You needed to escape the Fade," the Divine said. "Only you could seal the Breach, and I had faith you would do so much more, too. It was too late for me."

It is too late for all of you!

The Nightmare's voice boomed through the air, and I flinched. The others poised their weapons, scanning the surroundings. The stone walls began to tremble, spilling dust, and then they shattered apart. They had been screening the rift, which lay just out of reach behind a stony platform. But it was what was upon the platform that sent chills down my spine.

Tendrils and spindly legs intertwined in all directions, supporting a huge sagging body with multiple blood-red eyes. It towered above us, blotting out half of the sky, and my nausea deepened.

So, you've stolen back what you freely offered me, the Nightmare sneered. One of its tendrils lowered, revealing a human-esque body with spider claws sprouting from its back. It will be of no consequence if you cannot escape!

The demon stomped its legs, obstructing our path and sending quakes across the ground. I stumbled, almost losing my footing, but Hawke grabbed my arm. She opened her mouth to speak, when the spirit of the Divine returned. She stepped between the Nightmare and us, spreading her arms.

"This is all I can do," she said, letting her body become golden light once more. "Please, escape while you can. And tell Leliana I am sorry, I failed her too."

She drifted right into the Nightmare, and he snarled, swiping at her. The claw passed straight through, and the Divine edged closer. Finally her form touched the bulbous body, and it ignited into light. The Nightmare roared, and I had to shield my eyes.

"Come on!" Hawke tugged my hand, forcing me to run. Half-blind, I staggered after her towards the rift.

No! The Nightmare rumbled, and a claw shot down from the sky. Hawke wrapped an arm around me and threw us to the ground, narrowly avoiding the blow. I coughed, the breath knocked from my lungs.

"Alastair!" Hawke shot back to her feet, looking back. Alastair had been boxed in by the tendrils and rocks. He was trapped. "Wait for me, I'll…"

"Hawke, don't come any closer!" Alastair yelled. "Get back to Adamant before you lose your chance!"

"I won't leave you here!" Hawke screeched back. "It's my fault Corypheus is still alive, I should be the one to…"

"And it was the Wardens who led to this mess," Alastair shouted. "It's too late for me, go!"

Hawke sprang, her dagger raised, but I snatched her arm.

"He's made his choice," I said solemnly. "There's nothing we can do."

"But—!"

"If we stall any longer the Nightmare will take us all!" Cassandra snapped. "To the rift, now!"

She sprinted off, diving into the portal without a second thought. Iron Bull and Varric followed, and my left hand burned. It was not going to hold. Hawke gave a last glance to Alastair, before she swore and jumped into the light.

The Nightmare let out a scream, and I looked back. Alastair was dealing savage blows, his armour showered in its blood. His advantage was short-lived, however, as a tendril knocked him aside. He grunted, wiping his scathed cheek, before he plunged his blade into its belly. The Nightmare howled, and for a moment I felt its eyes upon me.

You think you have bested me, Inquisitor? The Nightmare croaked, its voice reduced to hissing rasps. Then let me return what you begged me to take all those years ago! Let this be my final gift to you!

Suddenly a surging pain gripped my temple, and I cried out. The world began to slip, dragging me into another memory. No! I reached for the rift which was fast fading, and my left hand flared. The portal tore open, and I was engulfed by light.