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A whiff of cooking flesh and burning brush had the Inquisitor's personal scouting party changing course to investigate. In the Fallow Mire they were rare if not foreign smells among the usual fair of decay, wet earth, mildew and mold.

Smoke, curling up towards the sky, marked the way to a circle of large stones. In the enclosed ancient arena of the Den the few trees which had grown there had been blackened. Their leaves reduced to ash. The grass crumbled under bare and booted feet. Flames still licked weakly at the scorched stone walls as others fed off the crumbling wood and bodies scattered about a fade rift.

“Odd, I don’t see any rage demons,” Inquisitor Elleana of Clan Lavellan observed as she cautiously led her party in. Her long and softly pointed ears pricked in alert, yet she heard nothing but the tear in the veil twisting about through the soft patter of rain.

“Dragon you think?” The Tal-Vashoth that went by the self-chosen title, the Iron Bull asked. With an eager grin he drew his war axe and started looking around with his remaining eye.

Solas paused, leaned upon his staff to ponder the suggestion while he angled a sharply pointed ear to the sky. But upon hearing no roar or beat of wings and after a deep breath through his stubby nose, he shook his head.

“No, the smell of the fire is wrong.” To Bull’s sniff then nod of agreement the bare faced apostate added, “Regardless of origin, dragon or other, our priority remains to seal this rift before more come through.”

“Look,” Cole softly informed, stepped ahead of them and pointed to a lump lying a dozen or so yards from the small breach. Steam rose off the trembling form swaddled in soaked and ragged black robes. “She burned them all. What came from the water and the wraiths from the rift.”

“So those bodies were from more undead and not our missing scouts. Good to know.” Elleana’s shoulders sagged in relief as she came to a stop beside him.

At her drawing her staff next, Cole jumped to get between them and pleaded, “Don’t hurt her! She was only protecting herself.”

“It’s just a precaution, I promise. We don't know who she is but we'll still try to help her, all right?”

The spirit of compassion, who had somehow taken the form of a lanky young man, nodded. Reassured, he walked beside the Inquisitor without further protest. His eyes darting about in apprehension from the rift, then into the shadows for any hidden threat and finally to the woman writhing on the ground in pain.

The others trailed behind them as they skirted around the rift for as long and far as possible. From past experiences, they knew the closer they got to it the greater the chance their presence would draw more spirits from the Fade and through the tear in the Veil.

“She?” Bull prodded but then drawled, “Sooo not a demon? Good.”

Solas with a frown observed, “I would have to disagree with that positive assessment. After all, the magic required to create this amount of destruction is considerable, especially for only one mage.”

Elleana drew up beside him and speculated, “There might be others nearby. Apostates who have fled to the Hinterlands from a Circle. What do you think Solas?”

“No. She’s alone. Head hurts, heart hollow as she huddles hopeless, drained, destitute and yet deep down dreading to die.” With a gasp Cole jerked to a stop his eyes growing huge in alarm.

“What’s wrong,” Elleana demanded anxiously and turned. The rift pulsed louder as it started to grow.

“What watches and wants her back is-is… They-they lurk. They seek-they-oh no! No! We need to close it now or they will come and take her!”

“Who? Where? Wait, come back!” Elleana ordered but he only ran faster.

“Cole the rift!” Solas implored and started after him but it was of no use. The rift fluctuated and three tendrils of light connected to the muddy ground. The soil started to bubble and hiss. Bright shards of emerald stabbed up through the spreading blackness.

“Dammit you two,” Elleana muttered but with little ire. Upon turning to the Iron Bull, she cracked a resigned grin. “I guess this just leaves you and I to worry about the rift and all the demons that may pour out of it at any given moment.”

“Sounds like fun. Right behind you, Boss.”

“Fun?” Elleana laughed and playfully argued back, “For you perhaps. I’d rather be dry, warm and curled up on a sofa while sipping tea and reading.”

“No, that sounds boring. Especially if alone.”

Elleana with a coy smile admitted, “Well I’m not always alone. Although Solas would forgo the tea.”

“So what? All you two do is read together?”

“Sometimes and then there is research, debate over various matters of what-”

“And you two seriously call that a good time?”

At realizing what he meant, Elleana shyly admitted, “While we cuddle and kiss, ah yes.”

“That’s it?” When she blushed, Bull frowned in confusion and prodded, “It's been months and you two haven't-”

“I doubt Solas would appreciate us having this discussion, especially now Bull.”

“Well screw him and by all means take that advice in both ways.”

This had Elleana snorting in laughter and shaking her head. “It’s fine. We’re fine. We’re just taking things slow and um...” Elleana trailed off. To his chuckles she sobered, cleared her throat and admonished, “Enough prying you. Let's just get this done quick before too many show up.”

“Right. Only see three near to popping so far, Boss. Shame, this probably won't take any time at all.”

“Maybe it will be Pride demons. Would that make you happy?”

What first emerged however had their bravado fading fast. It slowly lumbered up upon it's long thick legs and webbed feet from the mud. It towered over them, twice the height of Bull and almost the size of a giant. Inside its gaping mouth dozens of sharp long teeth reflected the sickly green light from the rift. With a shriek the quills upon it's head and hunched back quivered as it spread its long arms and claws out in challenge.

“Well shit,” Elleana declared matter of factly as they paused to take in the sight of it. “That-that is not a demon. I mean, we’ve never seen anything like that.”

“Nope,” The Iron Bull cheerfully agreed. “Looks like a fish. A really-really big, ugly fish with arms and legs.”

They did not hesitate for long as the creature ignored them. It’s head pivoted towards the fallen woman, Cole and Solas instead, before attempting to take a step towards them.

“If it thinks I’ll let it anywhere near her it's in for a shock,” Elleana declared and ignored Bull’s groan over the bad pun. With a battle cry she dropped a lightning cage over it and two other creatures still struggling to emerge.

“Whatever it is...” Bull trailed off as it staggered back as the others clawed their way from the ground with frail arms. Once their heads emerged they arose with little effort out of the black bile. Their levitating bodies were covered with small tentacles that writhed as the lightning struck them.

“Ah-um are those mouths on their… stomachs?” Elleana asked as the three creatures screeched in pain from the bolts of energy.

“Maybe? Aw but who cares? This is gonna be awesome!”

As Bull charged forward, unfazed even by the lightning, Elleana shouted, “Solas-Cole a little help here!”

“Cole, we need you!” Solas tried one more time and tugged at his arm.

The young man hesitated to glance between his friends and the woman. Upon realizing, what needed to be done first, with a sneer Cole drew his daggers from his back. As he coated them with poison he declared, “No. I won't let you take her. She will serve your prince no more!”

~.~.~.~

Everything hurt. It was consuming and constant and it only made her want to disappear. To wink out of existence. Through the waves of what felt like hot needles poking over her flesh, her mind was a jumble and there was little to keep her tethered to consciousness as nothing made sense.

Where-why am I on the ground? Am I dying?

No answers came to mind at least not at first. Her eyes fluttered opened yet the Void yawned within. It whispered that if she just let go and surrendered there would be no more pain, sadness and worry. It beckoned to her like a mother's embrace and she yearned to reach for it, much like a child starved for affection. Yet a poison, the likes she had never felt before, tore at her spirit. It made it hard to hold to one coherent thought for long except for one.

Fight it!

For a few moments she resigned herself to the fact whatever it was, it was going to kill her. But roars of protest filled her mind at the assault. The dragon souls within her, also subjected to the vile bolts the wisps had repeatedly slammed into her, had them lashing out against the threat and set off the well of magicka within her all to try and hold on.

A warm light pulsed weakly around her and when it faded with a sputter it left her shaking and gasping. It mixed with laughter and it took her a few moments to realize it was bubbling past her own lips in pure hysteria. For the moment she would live or so she thought before a distant howl ripped through the air following the sizzling hiss of lightning.

Oh no! Are more coming?

The exactly who or what did not matter. She sobered and managed to roll over to get to all fours. On hands and knees she weaved and nearly fell back down. The clawed tipped fingers of her gauntlets sunk into the peaty and soaked soil. She used the purchase to inch herself forward. The urge to crawl farther away, at the very least from the tearing and shrieking sounds nearby, overruled any other instinct. The movement however set off fresh waves of pain. It coiled around her skull as she gave a hiss and her vision blurred. Even on hands and knees her whole body shook in fatigue.

Without thinking she tried to heal again. But the golden glow was out in less than a second. The remaining flicker of magic she had left within her snuffed out. In frustration she gritted her teeth. She needed time or a potion, both of which she did not have, to replenish it to an amount she could use.

Dammit! Where is my… do I even have a pack and potions?

After a glance around, she only barely made out fighting in the distance through the rain and darkness. Flashes mostly of spells she did not recognize nor want to be on the receiving end.

Well do at least keep moving!

She silently urged and tried but it did not take long for her knees to tangle in her soaked through robes and catch on her sharp tipped boots.

Gracelessly, she belly flopped into the ashy mud with a groan. The rain hardened. So much, the cold drops pierced through the unenforced parts of her robes and stung her skin. With a pitiful sob, she curled up into a tight ball against the pin pricks when she heard the splashes of slowing steps in the mud.

They found me. Soon it will be over. Do let them be quick!

She closed her eyes tight and waited. The last wave of undead and what looked like ghosts, she had dealt with had taken its toll. Deep down she knew she was in no shape to fight whatever was coming next.

However instead a painful blow, a gentle voice caressed her flared ears. Her eyes bugged open in surprise as she rolled over slowly with a moan of pain to find, of all people, a young man. In fact he was leaning down over her and smiling widely in relief. His large nose only a few inches from her covered one. Normally, a surprise like this would earn anyone a punch or worse but she froze. Through the slits of her mask, their eyes locked and in the big blue depths of his, she found calm, concern and kindness.

Not feeling the rain, she slowly worked out he was sheltering them under the absurdly large brim of his odd hat. She did not think to protest as he carefully lifted up her mask. Dimly, she realized it had covered the entirety of her face as he pushed it to rest upon the top of her aching head.

“Là. J'aime ce visage mieux!”

She did not catch what he said on a nervous laugh as she was too busy analyzing the details of his face. He appeared human but something about him seemed off. For starters, he looked ill with shadows under his wide and large eyes. They were framed in shocking blonde lashes which peeking out from under bangs that were the same color. His long and softly chinned pasty face sported a few blotches of acne and spidery veins laced his sunken cheeks.

Cautiously, with a shaky hand she reached out to touched one and wondered, “A-are you… real? Am-am I awake?”

Cold as a corpse to the touch, he did not feel it as his sweet voice murmured, “Comment vous appelez-vous?”

After getting no response, he tried a second time as he pulled her to sit up and held to her so she would not fall over. To his third attempt to communicate she shook her head.

“S-sorry, I-I d-don’t understand you. Say again? W-where am I?”

He paused and his piercing stare made her feel bare. It should have unnerved her but instead, it stirred an albeit cold comfort which squeezed about her pounding heart. She didn’t think to resist as he looped an arm behind her back and another behind her knees to lift her up rather than provide her an answer. The sound of fighting faded as he carefully carried her away from the chaos and into the shadows.

“C-can you even understand me?” She prodded in Imperial instead of Nord after he sat her back down. With no response, she tried again in Breton and her panic grew. “Oh Gods. You-you can't, can you? Where in Oblivion am I if you don't at least speak one of these languages?”

From what little she could see around his hat it was wet and dreary but it felt too warm to be the marshes of Hjaalmarch and what remained of the trees seemed the wrong shape to be the kind from the forests about Falkreath or any place in Skyrim or Cyrodiil.

In panic she shoved and scooted away from him. Without hesitation he let her go. When he continued to not stop her in anyway, it made her pause at attempting to get to her feet. That and she was already out of breath and trembling to just stay sitting up.

Over her frantic gasps for air, she watched him nervously as he regarded her curiously from under his hat. His every move from how he rocked on the balls of his feet, squatted down before her to how he picked nervously at his gloves seemed innocent enough. But she did not miss the hilts of blades strapped behind his shoulders or the kind of gear he wore was well made and allowed for the agility an assassin would require. Thankfully, he made no move for his weapons but she still watched his fussing hands warily as he softly spoke with a slight stammer.

The stutter in his tone more than anything calmed her back down. In fact she fought hard to not smile as he stumbled on in what sounded to her like complete gibberish.

“I ah-I’m sorry I pushed you,” she tried even though she doubted he would understand.

“Cole,” he finally offered as he pressed a hand against his chest. Slowly he inched closer, pointed to hers and asked, “Comment vous appelez-vous?”

“C-comment vous… S-sorry, I-ah s-still d-don't understand. Are-are you telling me your name is C-cole? Cole?” She pointed at shaky finger at him and he nodded vigorously. He repeated his name and patted his chest. The sweetness of his smile had her breath catching and for the first time in what felt like ages she started to feel safe.

When she began to wobble in fatigue, he drew closer and offered his hands. She clutched his forearms instead to remain upright and in relief she grinned back. A part of her protested to let her guard down so soon but she decided to try and figured she had little to lose. “Cole c-can you help me? P-please? Wha-what’s going on?”

Again Cole pointed to his chest, said his name again then pointed to hers.

“I…” her mouth started to water in dread. Her empty stomach churned in terror as nothing came to mind. Not her name or anything else about herself. She held up a hand then tried to laugh and wave the fear away. “M-most odd-just give me a moment to-to calm myself and...” She took a deep breath and tried again. When that did not work, she tried to think of anyone from her past calling out for her. When not even one face came to mind she shook her head and laughed weakly again. Vainly she attempted to push down the panic and failed. “Odd… how? I-I just-please don’t look at me like that!”

“Vous n'êtes pas obligé de se rappeler,” he gently whispered.

The sadness that filled his eyes had hers sharpen. With a shake of her head she warned, “Stop it! So what if I c-can’t remember it or my birth or-or name day or my parents! Gods-what’s happened to me? I remember falling and these bodies rising out of the water and green ghosts-the fire. I made-I cast fire spells to burn them-push them all away but w-where am I!” She wanted to cry but instead concentrated on her breathing until nauseating slow words boomed out causing her and Cole to jump.

“Ah, you’ve lost knowledge of yourself! How unfortunate for you but I am willing to provide it, for a price of course.”

The rush of relief she felt at understanding the words died the moment she found their source. Through the rain and inside the green tear in the sky, she barely made out what appeared to be a handful of large disembodied frog-like eyes peering out among blackness directly at her.

Unable to look away she reluctantly asked, “Who-what are you? What's happened to me? Why can’t I remember even-”

“My lurker and seekers might fail at bringing you back to me but it will be of no matter,” the deep voice echoed and oozed about them all. Lazy amusement laced in with the condescension as it went on. “At least you have found something new in your stumblings. I am delighted and for that, you have regained my good favor. What new wealth of information does this world hold that you will collect for me? I do wonder.”

“W-what? Collect?” She tried not to show any fear as the largest eye in the shapeless blackness rolled in Cole and hers direction.

“So many questions and yet... why should I provide you with anymore of my enlightenment?”

She watched, confused as something square and black fell from the rift and landed among three figures bringing a large creature to its knees. A staff followed and lastly a sword.

“Here, take these gifts. They will aid you in your task. Do you not hunger for answers of your past? Knowledge for knowledge is a fair trade, is it not?”

“What kind?”

“Bring me as much of it as you can gather from this world. Insights, theories, discoveries and… secrets. Yesss secrets will please me the most. Especially those that hold power. Do we have a deal, my Champion?”

She opened her mouth to ask more questions but Cole shouted what sounded like a challenge at the peering eyes as his arms wrapped protectively around her. The gaze vanished as the vile creature fled with an annoyed growl when a cord of blinding light hit and connected with the tear it peered from.

“Do not return empty handed, my Champion.” It warned over the rush of power that filled the air as the portal started to fluctuate.

“Champion? I’m a Champion of you? Who-what are you?”

She struggled to catch her breath as her head started to pound again. The roaring sound growing louder by the second from the rift was not helping. Cole with a worried look gingerly touched her temple where the pain was at its worst. It made her wince. The light pressure from his touch still made her scalp burn. She felt a sticky warmth spread through her hair. When Cole pulled his hand away they found his palm covered in blood. At least she thought it was blood, a hard call with just moonlight. When she looked up and found only one, far too large or too close to be Secunda, she frantically looked among the clouds for the other.

“Oh d-dear. W-where’s Masser? And-and what in Oblivion has-has h-happened to Secunda?”

Before Cole could answer and she could think to try and heal herself again a new voice from behind his hat caught both of their attention. Cole moved to reveal an elf approaching with a staff strapped to his back but the likes of which she had never seen before. Upon first glance she thought him a Bosmer but his overall shape from his bald head to his bare toes was wrong. His eyes and skin tone were too pale to be any species of elf she encountered before save one.

“Why the lack of footwear aside, I still seriously doubt you’re even a falmer,” she joked dryly.

They squinted warily at one another through the rainy gloom as he spoke with Cole. At least until an explosion behind them boomed through the air in the direction where the rift was located.

With a startled squeak she launched herself into Cole’s arms. Her cheeks burned at her cowardice as the green light from the shattered portal faded. Her face stuffed between his cuff and neck, she sucked in one ragged breath after another. All in vain attempt to calm down as a growing dread filled her. Cole murmured soothingly and hugged her back. It helped but only a little.

The flow of magic in her veins and nerves slowed down to an unacceptable crawl. The air about them felt like it was filled with magicka poison. She felt hobbled and in turn, utterly vulnerable.

She looked for the light but the portal with the creature was gone. Upon a confused sob she cried, “No-no-no! This isn't right. Isn’t right! Where did it go? Can-can you bring it back?” She jerked free of Cole’s arms and pointed at where the rift had been seconds ago. “T-this isn't right! I came from there r-right? That-that whatever it was-had answers! This place feels… it feels wrong-where am I?” To get a better look she waved a hand about in the air to summon some light. A speck the size of a torch-bug formed instead. As it floated up she stared at it in pure disbelief.

To their equally dumbfounded expressions over the weak candlelight spell she gasped, “Wha-what in Oblivion is wrong with this place!”

To the elf shaking his head in awe and Cole’s pitying expression she could only scoot away from them, clutch at her head and try not to scream.

She did not understand all of what she had lost but had enough sense to know the portal, all that fell from it and the voice were keys to answers. When Cole simply pulled her back into an embrace and held her tight, she did not try to fight the tears off anymore. Secured for now in his arms, she reluctantly succumbed to the despair and started to wail out in confusion upon his shoulder.

My connection to Aetherius, it’s never been this weak! What is this place-this dreadful-dreadful place? She thought through hiccuping inhales.

Too much had been ripped away. In flashes she saw a dancing and singing fool in red. Children with his mischievous smile, bourbon colored eyes or flaming auburn hair. Yet other pieces of them were missing. She recalled the smell of blood, purple flowers, oils and salts as a large iron coffin slowly creaked opened. Reverence and excitement filled her as she tried to see inside but the fool, old and in faded red crumbled away with an apology. In desperation and despair she sifted through his ashes. At finding a gold ring in them she gave another pained scream. It echoed in the air around her but at least brighter moments followed. Rougher laughter and jokes but always gentle touches coaxed her back to caring. At least until the ancient altmer with a scarred face and peaceful smile slipped into death as if he were falling asleep into pleasant dreams. Her shaky hands struggling to remove the same gold ring again.

Never again...

She awoke on her back with a whimper. A light around her faded and after her eyes adjusted she noticed Cole and the elf hovering over her worriedly but they moved aside as another elf pushed her way gently through them. The off proportions of her body appeared more pronounced than with the male. She was smaller in some places but longer in others. The peachy complexion of her face was covered in freckles and a delicate swirling tattoo. It resembled a combination of black lace and antlers which adorned her brow and chin. Despite her near comical long ears, authority radiated from her every move, yet she seemed kind enough. In worry, her full lips thinned to a grimace as her bright aqua colored eyes narrowed to analyze her curiously.

“H-hello. Any chance you understand me?” she tried and gave a small nervous wave.

The elven woman gave a small smile back. This would have been a comfort if not for whom came up behind her next. A large bare-chested male, thick with muscles and horns as wide as his broad shoulders were crowned above his scarred face. With a snarl her instincts had her rolling away from Cole and the elves before shakily rising to her feet. Something in his blood and scent had her hackles rising as she staggered towards him.

“Dovah? Kreh zeymah,” she growled out and squinted at him. When he did not budge but hunkered down and looked ready to charge without hesitation she shouted, “Aus dii bah. Fus Ro Dah!”

She grinned when the large man with a stunned curse flew back from the force which blasted past her lips. His companions froze in alarm but their inaction was short lived. The moment the large one landed, the remaining three started to argue. She never saw or felt the blow from the elven woman’s silver staff. When the amber gem at the end of it connected with the back if her head light exploded through her vision. Her eyes rolled back as her hands dropped. In her palms swirling, inky purple summoning spells, she had started to form without thinking, evaporated away. Things slowed down and their voices sounded muffled. Air left her lungs as Cole with a shocked look caught her and lowered her to the ground.

The dragon souls within her howled in outrage to move and keep fighting but her limbs would not respond. As everything faded to black, she realized Cole remained over her, shouting angrily at the others. The realization he was trying to protect her made her eyes sting. Her last coherent thought was she hoped he was not putting himself at any risk.

What happened next was a loss. The Void reached out and tried to claim her again and she did not fight it. If it would hold her for a few hours or until the end of time, she no longer cared since it always felt like home.

~.~.~.~

“Stop! You hurt her. You hurt her and you didn’t have to. Don’t hurt her anymore, please!” Cole’s voice cracked as he remained over the unconscious woman.

“She hurt Bull,” Elleana argued back. Flinching at Cole’s sullen glare, she turned away to check on the wounded party in question. Over her shoulder she tried, “I’m sorry Cole but I had to do it. She could have hurt all of us or worse.”

“You didn’t even let me try! I could have helped her understand or-or used my powders.”

Crouching down next to him, Solas acknowledged, “Perhaps. But take into consideration you could have been hurt or worse in the very attempt. None of us want that. The Inquisitor’s method of helping albit… unexpected has resolved the problem.”

Cole’s head dipped as he felt their concern radiate from the both of them. With a blush he relented and he moved so his friend could heal the woman again.

“I-I know, thank you for caring.”

It was a few uncomfortable minutes before Elleana could restore Bull enough so he could get up on his own.

Solas in the meanwhile attended to the woman. Between the fight from before and healing her now, his face went white from the strain. The moment she started to stir he stopped. With his back turned to the others he casted a silent spell the moment her eyes opened and met his. The light faded from his eyes and as her mind slipped back to the Fade to dream he reported, “There. I’ve stabilized her but I think it would be unwise to heal her to a point where she would wake up just yet. I suspect she’s now sustained at least two head injuries. Let’s refrain from giving her a third, Inquisitor.”

“Your concern is noted,” Elleana relented and moved closer to examine the woman. “Let’s hope for all of our sakes she doesn’t wake up on our way back to the nearest camp. But the bigger question is, why did she attack only Bull? Theories, anyone?”

“She thought he was a dragon,” Cole explained with amused surprise. He tried to sift through more of what he glimpsed briefly from the woman’s mind before Solas made her fall back to sleep.

Bull snorted in mild amusement, “Do I really look that much like a dragon?”

“You smell and acted like one-ah to-to her!” Cole added quickly to Bull’s frown. “She likes killing dragons but only when they try to kill her first. But a few of them... where-are her friends? She must have thought you were going to try and hurt her,” Cole concluded with a sad note. “You should try to be her friend instead. I think she wants-needs more.”

“Unlikely,” Bull grunted and turned away to keep watch for anymore restless undead.

“What else can you tell us about her?” Elleana inquired as she knelt down next to Cole. “Wow, Solas look at this!”

“That mask hardly looks Orlesian,” Solas mumbled as she carefully removed it off the top of the woman’s head.

“It has no nose for starters,” Elleana agreed with a soft laugh. “And these flowing waves looked like a beard of tentacles that covers the wearer's face. Oh my, look at all of the jewelry she's wearing! Why there is at least a ring on every one of her fingers and even her thumbs.”

Cole ran his fingertips over the eye slits and up one of the four small curling horns crowning the strange mask. He concentrated, tried to ignore the hum of strange power in the object but then shook his head. “It’s all too fragmented, fleeting and flickers away. She's frightened and frozen. It’s probably for the best if she forgets. It seems like a lot to remember. This mask and her are very-very old.”

“Frozen? Are you saying she’s… ” Solas trailed off and paled. “How? Are you certain? This woman appears to be no older than her early thirties at most.”

“I-I don't know. Do you think that will change now?” Cole wondered and watched as Elleana examined the stylized golden dragon heads covering the woman’s shoulders and matching snakelike belly scale plating over her chest and stomach.

“It all depends upon what is causing it. If it’s a part of her very nature, why would it?” Solas speculated and glancing around them spied a pack in the distance that was not theirs. Nodding towards it, he asked, “Bull will you be so kind as to fetch that for us?”

“As long as it’s not holding another creepy looking book or staff. Bad enough that sword had eyes and they moved when I touched it.” Bull shuddered and grimaced.

“We’ll go through her pack at camp. If those items bother you Iron Bull I will load them upon my hart,” Solas offered.

“It's different here than there. The dragons are too. And the stars are farther away but at least the source of Aetherius for Mundus is closer yet still covered,” Cole murmured absently, chewed his lower lip and tried to recall more. He failed to notice Solas’s glare or Elleana’s puzzled look.

“Wait... what are you two talking about now? What's Mundus and Aetherius?”

“It's complicated and only an old theory. Places you could say that are located in the Fade and beyond,” Solas provided reluctantly.

“You mean something that never changes like the Black City?”

Solas fumbled but was saved when Cole blurted out, “Elly we should find a dragon to see! She will need to come too. At least be with us when we kill it.”

“Solas, I’m going to need you to elaborate.”

He shrugged, took a moment before carefully choosing his next words, “In all my years and wanderings I can safely say it's unlikely this woman is of our world.”

“Not of our world? Then where? And what of that voice coming from the rift?”

“Patience Vhenan. Only she can tell us and it will take for us time to learn each other's languages.”

“She did seem to speak more than one.”

“Yes, one for normal conversation and the other-”

“For dragons,” Cole chimed in.

Upon returning and setting the woman’s pack down next to Solas, Bull added, “Yeah but last time I checked, dragons don’t talk.”

“Not here but they do where she comes from,” Cole explained and after some thought added. “They look different too. A set of wings. A set of feet.”

“Fascinating,” Elleana grumbled and rubbed at her tattooed brow.

“Joke if you will-”

“I’m not trying to, Solas. Those... things that came out of the rift and her have just complicated everything. We’re out here to find our soldiers and now we have to head back to camp instead. And just to get started, the researchers are going to want samples from those creatures. To top it off we’ll need to keep a power, none of us have ever seen before, in check. So excuse me if-”

“I will stay with her,” Cole offered but there was an edge to it that made it more of a demand.

Elleana laughed, not at him but in amusement over how quickly he had become so protective over the stranger. She took it as a good sign the woman in time could be reasoned with. “You think you can keep her under control?”

“Yes. I mean, I think so. She trusts me-well, wants to.”

“Well that's a start. I’ll think about it. If you stay at camp we’ll need Sera to take your place.” To Solas's soft throat clearing of protest she reminded, “Sorry but Varric needs to stay off his right ankle for two more days at least. Seeker’s orders. You want to try and change her mind be my guest. Bull, would you be so kind to carry her back to our mounts?”

“No. I will,” Cole interjected and to prove it, he lifted the woman up and started for the animals. He wobbled a little but was quick to straightened. “Her things are heavier and if she wakes up it will be easier for me to calm her down-at least I hope I can.”

“All right, she rides with you too then but just in case we better bind her hands and feet,” Elleana decided and dug in her pack for some rope.

“And her mouth too,” Bull added and cracked his neck with a wince. “ Don’t get me wrong, I'm flattered that she thinks I'm a dragon. But I don't want to go flying again any time soon.”

“B-but-”

“Do it,” Elleana ordered, ignored Cole’s protests and with a grin she handed the rope over to Bull. “I’ll even let you do the honors since knots are your thing, right?”

Bull chuckled but sobered at Cole’s worried frown. When he started to step back from them with the woman, Bull gently assured, “Don’t worry kid, I won't tie her up too tight, okay? This is for her safety as well as ours.”

It did not take long for Cole to sift through his mind to confirm the truth. Reluctantly, Cole nodded and to save his strength eased the unconscious woman back down on the ground.

Description
A whiff of cooking flesh and burning brush had the Inquisitor's personal scouting party changing course to investigate. In the Fallow Mire they were rare if not foreign smells among the usual fair of decay, wet earth, mildew and mold.

Smoke, curling up towards the sky, marked the way to a circle of large stones. In the enclosed ancient arena of the Den the few trees which had grown there had been blackened. Their leaves reduced to ash. The grass crumbled under bare and booted feet. Flames still licked weakly at the scorched stone walls as others fed off the crumbling wood and bodies scattered about a fade rift.

“Odd, I don’t see any rage demons,” Inquisitor Elleana of Clan Lavellan observed as she cautiously led her party in. Her long and softly pointed ears pricked in alert, yet she heard nothing but the tear in the veil twisting about through the soft patter of rain.

“Dragon you think?” The Tal-Vashoth that went by the self-chosen title, the Iron Bull asked. With an eager grin he drew his war axe and started looking around with his remaining eye.

Solas paused, leaned upon his staff to ponder the suggestion while he angled a sharply pointed ear to the sky. But upon hearing no roar or beat of wings and after a deep breath through his stubby nose, he shook his head.

“No, the smell of the fire is wrong.” To Bull’s sniff then nod of agreement the bare faced apostate added, “Regardless of origin, dragon or other, our priority remains to seal this rift before more come through.”

“Look,” Cole softly informed, stepped ahead of them and pointed to a lump lying a dozen or so yards from the small breach. Steam rose off the trembling form swaddled in soaked and ragged black robes. “She burned them all. What came from the water and the wraiths from the rift.”

“So those bodies were from more undead and not our missing scouts. Good to know.” Elleana’s shoulders sagged in relief as she came to a stop beside him.

At her drawing her staff next, Cole jumped to get between them and pleaded, “Don’t hurt her! She was only protecting herself.”

“It’s just a precaution, I promise. We don't know who she is but we'll still try to help her, all right?”

The spirit of compassion, who had somehow taken the form of a lanky young man, nodded. Reassured, he walked beside the Inquisitor without further protest. His eyes darting about in apprehension from the rift, then into the shadows for any hidden threat and finally to the woman writhing on the ground in pain.

The others trailed behind them as they skirted around the rift for as long and far as possible. From past experiences, they knew the closer they got to it the greater the chance their presence would draw more spirits from the Fade and through the tear in the Veil.

“She?” Bull prodded but then drawled, “Sooo not a demon? Good.”

Solas with a frown observed, “I would have to disagree with that positive assessment. After all, the magic required to create this amount of destruction is considerable, especially for only one mage.”

Elleana drew up beside him and speculated, “There might be others nearby. Apostates who have fled to the Hinterlands from a Circle. What do you think Solas?”

“No. She’s alone. Head hurts, heart hollow as she huddles hopeless, drained, destitute and yet deep down dreading to die.” With a gasp Cole jerked to a stop his eyes growing huge in alarm.

“What’s wrong,” Elleana demanded anxiously and turned. The rift pulsed louder as it started to grow.

“What watches and wants her back is-is… They-they lurk. They seek-they-oh no! No! We need to close it now or they will come and take her!”

“Who? Where? Wait, come back!” Elleana ordered but he only ran faster.

“Cole the rift!” Solas implored and started after him but it was of no use. The rift fluctuated and three tendrils of light connected to the muddy ground. The soil started to bubble and hiss. Bright shards of emerald stabbed up through the spreading blackness.

“Dammit you two,” Elleana muttered but with little ire. Upon turning to the Iron Bull, she cracked a resigned grin. “I guess this just leaves you and I to worry about the rift and all the demons that may pour out of it at any given moment.”

“Sounds like fun. Right behind you, Boss.”

“Fun?” Elleana laughed and playfully argued back, “For you perhaps. I’d rather be dry, warm and curled up on a sofa while sipping tea and reading.”

“No, that sounds boring. Especially if alone.”

Elleana with a coy smile admitted, “Well I’m not always alone. Although Solas would forgo the tea.”

“So what? All you two do is read together?”

“Sometimes and then there is research, debate over various matters of what-”

“And you two seriously call that a good time?”

At realizing what he meant, Elleana shyly admitted, “While we cuddle and kiss, ah yes.”

“That’s it?” When she blushed, Bull frowned in confusion and prodded, “It's been months and you two haven't-”

“I doubt Solas would appreciate us having this discussion, especially now Bull.”

“Well screw him and by all means take that advice in both ways.”

This had Elleana snorting in laughter and shaking her head. “It’s fine. We’re fine. We’re just taking things slow and um...” Elleana trailed off. To his chuckles she sobered, cleared her throat and admonished, “Enough prying you. Let's just get this done quick before too many show up.”

“Right. Only see three near to popping so far, Boss. Shame, this probably won't take any time at all.”

“Maybe it will be Pride demons. Would that make you happy?”

What first emerged however had their bravado fading fast. It slowly lumbered up upon it's long thick legs and webbed feet from the mud. It towered over them, twice the height of Bull and almost the size of a giant. Inside its gaping mouth dozens of sharp long teeth reflected the sickly green light from the rift. With a shriek the quills upon it's head and hunched back quivered as it spread its long arms and claws out in challenge.

“Well shit,” Elleana declared matter of factly as they paused to take in the sight of it. “That-that is not a demon. I mean, we’ve never seen anything like that.”

“Nope,” The Iron Bull cheerfully agreed. “Looks like a fish. A really-really big, ugly fish with arms and legs.”

They did not hesitate for long as the creature ignored them. It’s head pivoted towards the fallen woman, Cole and Solas instead, before attempting to take a step towards them.

“If it thinks I’ll let it anywhere near her it's in for a shock,” Elleana declared and ignored Bull’s groan over the bad pun. With a battle cry she dropped a lightning cage over it and two other creatures still struggling to emerge.

“Whatever it is...” Bull trailed off as it staggered back as the others clawed their way from the ground with frail arms. Once their heads emerged they arose with little effort out of the black bile. Their levitating bodies were covered with small tentacles that writhed as the lightning struck them.

“Ah-um are those mouths on their… stomachs?” Elleana asked as the three creatures screeched in pain from the bolts of energy.

“Maybe? Aw but who cares? This is gonna be awesome!”

As Bull charged forward, unfazed even by the lightning, Elleana shouted, “Solas-Cole a little help here!”

“Cole, we need you!” Solas tried one more time and tugged at his arm.

The young man hesitated to glance between his friends and the woman. Upon realizing, what needed to be done first, with a sneer Cole drew his daggers from his back. As he coated them with poison he declared, “No. I won't let you take her. She will serve your prince no more!”

~.~.~.~

Everything hurt. It was consuming and constant and it only made her want to disappear. To wink out of existence. Through the waves of what felt like hot needles poking over her flesh, her mind was a jumble and there was little to keep her tethered to consciousness as nothing made sense.

Where-why am I on the ground? Am I dying?

No answers came to mind at least not at first. Her eyes fluttered opened yet the Void yawned within. It whispered that if she just let go and surrendered there would be no more pain, sadness and worry. It beckoned to her like a mother's embrace and she yearned to reach for it, much like a child starved for affection. Yet a poison, the likes she had never felt before, tore at her spirit. It made it hard to hold to one coherent thought for long except for one.

Fight it!

For a few moments she resigned herself to the fact whatever it was, it was going to kill her. But roars of protest filled her mind at the assault. The dragon souls within her, also subjected to the vile bolts the wisps had repeatedly slammed into her, had them lashing out against the threat and set off the well of magicka within her all to try and hold on.

A warm light pulsed weakly around her and when it faded with a sputter it left her shaking and gasping. It mixed with laughter and it took her a few moments to realize it was bubbling past her own lips in pure hysteria. For the moment she would live or so she thought before a distant howl ripped through the air following the sizzling hiss of lightning.

Oh no! Are more coming?

The exactly who or what did not matter. She sobered and managed to roll over to get to all fours. On hands and knees she weaved and nearly fell back down. The clawed tipped fingers of her gauntlets sunk into the peaty and soaked soil. She used the purchase to inch herself forward. The urge to crawl farther away, at the very least from the tearing and shrieking sounds nearby, overruled any other instinct. The movement however set off fresh waves of pain. It coiled around her skull as she gave a hiss and her vision blurred. Even on hands and knees her whole body shook in fatigue.

Without thinking she tried to heal again. But the golden glow was out in less than a second. The remaining flicker of magic she had left within her snuffed out. In frustration she gritted her teeth. She needed time or a potion, both of which she did not have, to replenish it to an amount she could use.

Dammit! Where is my… do I even have a pack and potions?

After a glance around, she only barely made out fighting in the distance through the rain and darkness. Flashes mostly of spells she did not recognize nor want to be on the receiving end.

Well do at least keep moving!

She silently urged and tried but it did not take long for her knees to tangle in her soaked through robes and catch on her sharp tipped boots.

Gracelessly, she belly flopped into the ashy mud with a groan. The rain hardened. So much, the cold drops pierced through the unenforced parts of her robes and stung her skin. With a pitiful sob, she curled up into a tight ball against the pin pricks when she heard the splashes of slowing steps in the mud.

They found me. Soon it will be over. Do let them be quick!

She closed her eyes tight and waited. The last wave of undead and what looked like ghosts, she had dealt with had taken its toll. Deep down she knew she was in no shape to fight whatever was coming next.

However instead a painful blow, a gentle voice caressed her flared ears. Her eyes bugged open in surprise as she rolled over slowly with a moan of pain to find, of all people, a young man. In fact he was leaning down over her and smiling widely in relief. His large nose only a few inches from her covered one. Normally, a surprise like this would earn anyone a punch or worse but she froze. Through the slits of her mask, their eyes locked and in the big blue depths of his, she found calm, concern and kindness.

Not feeling the rain, she slowly worked out he was sheltering them under the absurdly large brim of his odd hat. She did not think to protest as he carefully lifted up her mask. Dimly, she realized it had covered the entirety of her face as he pushed it to rest upon the top of her aching head.

“Là. J'aime ce visage mieux!”

She did not catch what he said on a nervous laugh as she was too busy analyzing the details of his face. He appeared human but something about him seemed off. For starters, he looked ill with shadows under his wide and large eyes. They were framed in shocking blonde lashes which peeking out from under bangs that were the same color. His long and softly chinned pasty face sported a few blotches of acne and spidery veins laced his sunken cheeks.

Cautiously, with a shaky hand she reached out to touched one and wondered, “A-are you… real? Am-am I awake?”

Cold as a corpse to the touch, he did not feel it as his sweet voice murmured, “Comment vous appelez-vous?”

After getting no response, he tried a second time as he pulled her to sit up and held to her so she would not fall over. To his third attempt to communicate she shook her head.

“S-sorry, I-I d-don’t understand you. Say again? W-where am I?”

He paused and his piercing stare made her feel bare. It should have unnerved her but instead, it stirred an albeit cold comfort which squeezed about her pounding heart. She didn’t think to resist as he looped an arm behind her back and another behind her knees to lift her up rather than provide her an answer. The sound of fighting faded as he carefully carried her away from the chaos and into the shadows.

“C-can you even understand me?” She prodded in Imperial instead of Nord after he sat her back down. With no response, she tried again in Breton and her panic grew. “Oh Gods. You-you can't, can you? Where in Oblivion am I if you don't at least speak one of these languages?”

From what little she could see around his hat it was wet and dreary but it felt too warm to be the marshes of Hjaalmarch and what remained of the trees seemed the wrong shape to be the kind from the forests about Falkreath or any place in Skyrim or Cyrodiil.

In panic she shoved and scooted away from him. Without hesitation he let her go. When he continued to not stop her in anyway, it made her pause at attempting to get to her feet. That and she was already out of breath and trembling to just stay sitting up.

Over her frantic gasps for air, she watched him nervously as he regarded her curiously from under his hat. His every move from how he rocked on the balls of his feet, squatted down before her to how he picked nervously at his gloves seemed innocent enough. But she did not miss the hilts of blades strapped behind his shoulders or the kind of gear he wore was well made and allowed for the agility an assassin would require. Thankfully, he made no move for his weapons but she still watched his fussing hands warily as he softly spoke with a slight stammer.

The stutter in his tone more than anything calmed her back down. In fact she fought hard to not smile as he stumbled on in what sounded to her like complete gibberish.

“I ah-I’m sorry I pushed you,” she tried even though she doubted he would understand.

“Cole,” he finally offered as he pressed a hand against his chest. Slowly he inched closer, pointed to hers and asked, “Comment vous appelez-vous?”

“C-comment vous… S-sorry, I-ah s-still d-don't understand. Are-are you telling me your name is C-cole? Cole?” She pointed at shaky finger at him and he nodded vigorously. He repeated his name and patted his chest. The sweetness of his smile had her breath catching and for the first time in what felt like ages she started to feel safe.

When she began to wobble in fatigue, he drew closer and offered his hands. She clutched his forearms instead to remain upright and in relief she grinned back. A part of her protested to let her guard down so soon but she decided to try and figured she had little to lose. “Cole c-can you help me? P-please? Wha-what’s going on?”

Again Cole pointed to his chest, said his name again then pointed to hers.

“I…” her mouth started to water in dread. Her empty stomach churned in terror as nothing came to mind. Not her name or anything else about herself. She held up a hand then tried to laugh and wave the fear away. “M-most odd-just give me a moment to-to calm myself and...” She took a deep breath and tried again. When that did not work, she tried to think of anyone from her past calling out for her. When not even one face came to mind she shook her head and laughed weakly again. Vainly she attempted to push down the panic and failed. “Odd… how? I-I just-please don’t look at me like that!”

“Vous n'êtes pas obligé de se rappeler,” he gently whispered.

The sadness that filled his eyes had hers sharpen. With a shake of her head she warned, “Stop it! So what if I c-can’t remember it or my birth or-or name day or my parents! Gods-what’s happened to me? I remember falling and these bodies rising out of the water and green ghosts-the fire. I made-I cast fire spells to burn them-push them all away but w-where am I!” She wanted to cry but instead concentrated on her breathing until nauseating slow words boomed out causing her and Cole to jump.

“Ah, you’ve lost knowledge of yourself! How unfortunate for you but I am willing to provide it, for a price of course.”

The rush of relief she felt at understanding the words died the moment she found their source. Through the rain and inside the green tear in the sky, she barely made out what appeared to be a handful of large disembodied frog-like eyes peering out among blackness directly at her.

Unable to look away she reluctantly asked, “Who-what are you? What's happened to me? Why can’t I remember even-”

“My lurker and seekers might fail at bringing you back to me but it will be of no matter,” the deep voice echoed and oozed about them all. Lazy amusement laced in with the condescension as it went on. “At least you have found something new in your stumblings. I am delighted and for that, you have regained my good favor. What new wealth of information does this world hold that you will collect for me? I do wonder.”

“W-what? Collect?” She tried not to show any fear as the largest eye in the shapeless blackness rolled in Cole and hers direction.

“So many questions and yet... why should I provide you with anymore of my enlightenment?”

She watched, confused as something square and black fell from the rift and landed among three figures bringing a large creature to its knees. A staff followed and lastly a sword.

“Here, take these gifts. They will aid you in your task. Do you not hunger for answers of your past? Knowledge for knowledge is a fair trade, is it not?”

“What kind?”

“Bring me as much of it as you can gather from this world. Insights, theories, discoveries and… secrets. Yesss secrets will please me the most. Especially those that hold power. Do we have a deal, my Champion?”

She opened her mouth to ask more questions but Cole shouted what sounded like a challenge at the peering eyes as his arms wrapped protectively around her. The gaze vanished as the vile creature fled with an annoyed growl when a cord of blinding light hit and connected with the tear it peered from.

“Do not return empty handed, my Champion.” It warned over the rush of power that filled the air as the portal started to fluctuate.

“Champion? I’m a Champion of you? Who-what are you?”

She struggled to catch her breath as her head started to pound again. The roaring sound growing louder by the second from the rift was not helping. Cole with a worried look gingerly touched her temple where the pain was at its worst. It made her wince. The light pressure from his touch still made her scalp burn. She felt a sticky warmth spread through her hair. When Cole pulled his hand away they found his palm covered in blood. At least she thought it was blood, a hard call with just moonlight. When she looked up and found only one, far too large or too close to be Secunda, she frantically looked among the clouds for the other.

“Oh d-dear. W-where’s Masser? And-and what in Oblivion has-has h-happened to Secunda?”

Before Cole could answer and she could think to try and heal herself again a new voice from behind his hat caught both of their attention. Cole moved to reveal an elf approaching with a staff strapped to his back but the likes of which she had never seen before. Upon first glance she thought him a Bosmer but his overall shape from his bald head to his bare toes was wrong. His eyes and skin tone were too pale to be any species of elf she encountered before save one.

“Why the lack of footwear aside, I still seriously doubt you’re even a falmer,” she joked dryly.

They squinted warily at one another through the rainy gloom as he spoke with Cole. At least until an explosion behind them boomed through the air in the direction where the rift was located.

With a startled squeak she launched herself into Cole’s arms. Her cheeks burned at her cowardice as the green light from the shattered portal faded. Her face stuffed between his cuff and neck, she sucked in one ragged breath after another. All in vain attempt to calm down as a growing dread filled her. Cole murmured soothingly and hugged her back. It helped but only a little.

The flow of magic in her veins and nerves slowed down to an unacceptable crawl. The air about them felt like it was filled with magicka poison. She felt hobbled and in turn, utterly vulnerable.

She looked for the light but the portal with the creature was gone. Upon a confused sob she cried, “No-no-no! This isn't right. Isn’t right! Where did it go? Can-can you bring it back?” She jerked free of Cole’s arms and pointed at where the rift had been seconds ago. “T-this isn't right! I came from there r-right? That-that whatever it was-had answers! This place feels… it feels wrong-where am I?” To get a better look she waved a hand about in the air to summon some light. A speck the size of a torch-bug formed instead. As it floated up she stared at it in pure disbelief.

To their equally dumbfounded expressions over the weak candlelight spell she gasped, “Wha-what in Oblivion is wrong with this place!”

To the elf shaking his head in awe and Cole’s pitying expression she could only scoot away from them, clutch at her head and try not to scream.

She did not understand all of what she had lost but had enough sense to know the portal, all that fell from it and the voice were keys to answers. When Cole simply pulled her back into an embrace and held her tight, she did not try to fight the tears off anymore. Secured for now in his arms, she reluctantly succumbed to the despair and started to wail out in confusion upon his shoulder.

My connection to Aetherius, it’s never been this weak! What is this place-this dreadful-dreadful place? She thought through hiccuping inhales.

Too much had been ripped away. In flashes she saw a dancing and singing fool in red. Children with his mischievous smile, bourbon colored eyes or flaming auburn hair. Yet other pieces of them were missing. She recalled the smell of blood, purple flowers, oils and salts as a large iron coffin slowly creaked opened. Reverence and excitement filled her as she tried to see inside but the fool, old and in faded red crumbled away with an apology. In desperation and despair she sifted through his ashes. At finding a gold ring in them she gave another pained scream. It echoed in the air around her but at least brighter moments followed. Rougher laughter and jokes but always gentle touches coaxed her back to caring. At least until the ancient altmer with a scarred face and peaceful smile slipped into death as if he were falling asleep into pleasant dreams. Her shaky hands struggling to remove the same gold ring again.

Never again...

She awoke on her back with a whimper. A light around her faded and after her eyes adjusted she noticed Cole and the elf hovering over her worriedly but they moved aside as another elf pushed her way gently through them. The off proportions of her body appeared more pronounced than with the male. She was smaller in some places but longer in others. The peachy complexion of her face was covered in freckles and a delicate swirling tattoo. It resembled a combination of black lace and antlers which adorned her brow and chin. Despite her near comical long ears, authority radiated from her every move, yet she seemed kind enough. In worry, her full lips thinned to a grimace as her bright aqua colored eyes narrowed to analyze her curiously.

“H-hello. Any chance you understand me?” she tried and gave a small nervous wave.

The elven woman gave a small smile back. This would have been a comfort if not for whom came up behind her next. A large bare-chested male, thick with muscles and horns as wide as his broad shoulders were crowned above his scarred face. With a snarl her instincts had her rolling away from Cole and the elves before shakily rising to her feet. Something in his blood and scent had her hackles rising as she staggered towards him.

“Dovah? Kreh zeymah,” she growled out and squinted at him. When he did not budge but hunkered down and looked ready to charge without hesitation she shouted, “Aus dii bah. Fus Ro Dah!”

She grinned when the large man with a stunned curse flew back from the force which blasted past her lips. His companions froze in alarm but their inaction was short lived. The moment the large one landed, the remaining three started to argue. She never saw or felt the blow from the elven woman’s silver staff. When the amber gem at the end of it connected with the back if her head light exploded through her vision. Her eyes rolled back as her hands dropped. In her palms swirling, inky purple summoning spells, she had started to form without thinking, evaporated away. Things slowed down and their voices sounded muffled. Air left her lungs as Cole with a shocked look caught her and lowered her to the ground.

The dragon souls within her howled in outrage to move and keep fighting but her limbs would not respond. As everything faded to black, she realized Cole remained over her, shouting angrily at the others. The realization he was trying to protect her made her eyes sting. Her last coherent thought was she hoped he was not putting himself at any risk.

What happened next was a loss. The Void reached out and tried to claim her again and she did not fight it. If it would hold her for a few hours or until the end of time, she no longer cared since it always felt like home.

~.~.~.~

“Stop! You hurt her. You hurt her and you didn’t have to. Don’t hurt her anymore, please!” Cole’s voice cracked as he remained over the unconscious woman.

“She hurt Bull,” Elleana argued back. Flinching at Cole’s sullen glare, she turned away to check on the wounded party in question. Over her shoulder she tried, “I’m sorry Cole but I had to do it. She could have hurt all of us or worse.”

“You didn’t even let me try! I could have helped her understand or-or used my powders.”

Crouching down next to him, Solas acknowledged, “Perhaps. But take into consideration you could have been hurt or worse in the very attempt. None of us want that. The Inquisitor’s method of helping albit… unexpected has resolved the problem.”

Cole’s head dipped as he felt their concern radiate from the both of them. With a blush he relented and he moved so his friend could heal the woman again.

“I-I know, thank you for caring.”

It was a few uncomfortable minutes before Elleana could restore Bull enough so he could get up on his own.

Solas in the meanwhile attended to the woman. Between the fight from before and healing her now, his face went white from the strain. The moment she started to stir he stopped. With his back turned to the others he casted a silent spell the moment her eyes opened and met his. The light faded from his eyes and as her mind slipped back to the Fade to dream he reported, “There. I’ve stabilized her but I think it would be unwise to heal her to a point where she would wake up just yet. I suspect she’s now sustained at least two head injuries. Let’s refrain from giving her a third, Inquisitor.”

“Your concern is noted,” Elleana relented and moved closer to examine the woman. “Let’s hope for all of our sakes she doesn’t wake up on our way back to the nearest camp. But the bigger question is, why did she attack only Bull? Theories, anyone?”

“She thought he was a dragon,” Cole explained with amused surprise. He tried to sift through more of what he glimpsed briefly from the woman’s mind before Solas made her fall back to sleep.

Bull snorted in mild amusement, “Do I really look that much like a dragon?”

“You smell and acted like one-ah to-to her!” Cole added quickly to Bull’s frown. “She likes killing dragons but only when they try to kill her first. But a few of them... where-are her friends? She must have thought you were going to try and hurt her,” Cole concluded with a sad note. “You should try to be her friend instead. I think she wants-needs more.”

“Unlikely,” Bull grunted and turned away to keep watch for anymore restless undead.

“What else can you tell us about her?” Elleana inquired as she knelt down next to Cole. “Wow, Solas look at this!”

“That mask hardly looks Orlesian,” Solas mumbled as she carefully removed it off the top of the woman’s head.

“It has no nose for starters,” Elleana agreed with a soft laugh. “And these flowing waves looked like a beard of tentacles that covers the wearer's face. Oh my, look at all of the jewelry she's wearing! Why there is at least a ring on every one of her fingers and even her thumbs.”

Cole ran his fingertips over the eye slits and up one of the four small curling horns crowning the strange mask. He concentrated, tried to ignore the hum of strange power in the object but then shook his head. “It’s all too fragmented, fleeting and flickers away. She's frightened and frozen. It’s probably for the best if she forgets. It seems like a lot to remember. This mask and her are very-very old.”

“Frozen? Are you saying she’s… ” Solas trailed off and paled. “How? Are you certain? This woman appears to be no older than her early thirties at most.”

“I-I don't know. Do you think that will change now?” Cole wondered and watched as Elleana examined the stylized golden dragon heads covering the woman’s shoulders and matching snakelike belly scale plating over her chest and stomach.

“It all depends upon what is causing it. If it’s a part of her very nature, why would it?” Solas speculated and glancing around them spied a pack in the distance that was not theirs. Nodding towards it, he asked, “Bull will you be so kind as to fetch that for us?”

“As long as it’s not holding another creepy looking book or staff. Bad enough that sword had eyes and they moved when I touched it.” Bull shuddered and grimaced.

“We’ll go through her pack at camp. If those items bother you Iron Bull I will load them upon my hart,” Solas offered.

“It's different here than there. The dragons are too. And the stars are farther away but at least the source of Aetherius for Mundus is closer yet still covered,” Cole murmured absently, chewed his lower lip and tried to recall more. He failed to notice Solas’s glare or Elleana’s puzzled look.

“Wait... what are you two talking about now? What's Mundus and Aetherius?”

“It's complicated and only an old theory. Places you could say that are located in the Fade and beyond,” Solas provided reluctantly.

“You mean something that never changes like the Black City?”

Solas fumbled but was saved when Cole blurted out, “Elly we should find a dragon to see! She will need to come too. At least be with us when we kill it.”

“Solas, I’m going to need you to elaborate.”

He shrugged, took a moment before carefully choosing his next words, “In all my years and wanderings I can safely say it's unlikely this woman is of our world.”

“Not of our world? Then where? And what of that voice coming from the rift?”

“Patience Vhenan. Only she can tell us and it will take for us time to learn each other's languages.”

“She did seem to speak more than one.”

“Yes, one for normal conversation and the other-”

“For dragons,” Cole chimed in.

Upon returning and setting the woman’s pack down next to Solas, Bull added, “Yeah but last time I checked, dragons don’t talk.”

“Not here but they do where she comes from,” Cole explained and after some thought added. “They look different too. A set of wings. A set of feet.”

“Fascinating,” Elleana grumbled and rubbed at her tattooed brow.

“Joke if you will-”

“I’m not trying to, Solas. Those... things that came out of the rift and her have just complicated everything. We’re out here to find our soldiers and now we have to head back to camp instead. And just to get started, the researchers are going to want samples from those creatures. To top it off we’ll need to keep a power, none of us have ever seen before, in check. So excuse me if-”

“I will stay with her,” Cole offered but there was an edge to it that made it more of a demand.

Elleana laughed, not at him but in amusement over how quickly he had become so protective over the stranger. She took it as a good sign the woman in time could be reasoned with. “You think you can keep her under control?”

“Yes. I mean, I think so. She trusts me-well, wants to.”

“Well that's a start. I’ll think about it. If you stay at camp we’ll need Sera to take your place.” To Solas's soft throat clearing of protest she reminded, “Sorry but Varric needs to stay off his right ankle for two more days at least. Seeker’s orders. You want to try and change her mind be my guest. Bull, would you be so kind to carry her back to our mounts?”

“No. I will,” Cole interjected and to prove it, he lifted the woman up and started for the animals. He wobbled a little but was quick to straightened. “Her things are heavier and if she wakes up it will be easier for me to calm her down-at least I hope I can.”

“All right, she rides with you too then but just in case we better bind her hands and feet,” Elleana decided and dug in her pack for some rope.

“And her mouth too,” Bull added and cracked his neck with a wince. “ Don’t get me wrong, I'm flattered that she thinks I'm a dragon. But I don't want to go flying again any time soon.”

“B-but-”

“Do it,” Elleana ordered, ignored Cole’s protests and with a grin she handed the rope over to Bull. “I’ll even let you do the honors since knots are your thing, right?”

Bull chuckled but sobered at Cole’s worried frown. When he started to step back from them with the woman, Bull gently assured, “Don’t worry kid, I won't tie her up too tight, okay? This is for her safety as well as ours.”

It did not take long for Cole to sift through his mind to confirm the truth. Reluctantly, Cole nodded and to save his strength eased the unconscious woman back down on the ground.