The party was underway; people were drinking, dancing, singing, and just enjoying the merriment in general. The Breach was sealed, and everyone felt that the world was safe from certain destruction.

Cassandra approached a cloaked figure away from the party. Mithra always did prefer to stay out of a crowd.

"Solas confirms the heavens are scarred yet calm. The Breach is sealed. You did it," she praised.

Cassandra became uncomfortable with the silence after a long moment. "Are you alright?" The seeker put a hand on her shoulder to turn her around. She found her hand grasping something harder than flesh and bone. She pulled the cloak away to find two bits of wood, bound in a cross shape. A decoy.

As Mithra had instructed it to, a Snowy Owl landed upon the imposter. It grasped a bit of leather in its beak with Cassandra's name scrawled upon it.

The seeker looked worried instantly and took the message from the bird.

Cassandra,

You have been a fantastic friend and companion,
but it is time for me to depart. I've stayed far too
long, and home has been calling louder lately.

I'm sorry to leave like this, but I can't have anyone
following me. I'm being hunted by "The Elder One,"
and I won't endanger any of you by staying.

If he finds me, he will pay for what I saw in Redcliffe,
the Conclave, and the Breach. If he doesn't, it'll be fun
knowing he can't have what he seeks. I will kill him
when I get bored with the game in either case. I'll send
word when he's done.

Don't worry about me, I've been doing this all my life.
The only difference is, I'll be closing rifts as I travel.

Go to the cabin I woke in, you know the one, you kicked
in the door. Haha! I left gifts for everyone. Please ensure
they reach the proper hands for me.

Keep your shield up, ma'falon (my friend),

Mithra aka Fenjosi
Wild Elf"

Cassandra ran to the council members as soon as she finished reading it.

As they crept through Haven's gate, Mithra looked back, smiling at the sounds of the party behind them. They were happy and safe. Now she could enjoy her freedom once again. Her memories and secrets would be hers to keep, and she could finish that bit of business that had loomed over her for far too long.

She was sad to leave these people behind; they had all been caring, kind, and even fun, but she had to. She couldn't watch them die for her again. She couldn't be the reason for any of their hardships, and she brought it often upon those she grew too close with.

If she was alone, she could hide. If she could hide, she could kill and survive. This was how she had lived her life for many years now. It was all she really knew.

She pressed Danyla to quicken her pace once they were clear and veered off the road, headed east through the woods. She was beyond their reach now; the wilds were always on her side, and they would never find her.

"What do you mean she's gone?" Leliana rumbled.

Cassandra handed over the note the owl had delivered. "As I said, Leliana, the Herald has left. She plans to go back to her old life while closing rifts across Thedas. She seems to think that this "Elder One" will kill us if she stays. She hopes he will follow her for a hunt and leave us in peace."

"I can't believe she just left like this! It's madness!" Cullen growled when he reached the two women, upset that Mithra hadn't even said goodbye before leaving. He had planned to try to convince her to stay one more time, but now he had no chance to even attempt it.

"She's evaded the Inquisition twice now. Maybe she has a shot," Varric chimed in with a shrug.

Cassandra sighed. "In any case, she left gifts for everyone as a farewell. She instructed me to see them to the proper hands."

The ranger and her three animal companions reached the crest of a mountain crag. Her eyes went wide when she saw thousands of torch lights in the distance, heading straight for Haven.

Animals rushed toward her, fleeing the foreign army as they drew closer.

"Aneth ara! What's happening?" she asked a crow as it approached.

It perched on Danyla's dark antler and cawed a few times, giving Mithra a report of what it saw.

Her brows furrowed. "Templars? And red crystals?"

Then the realization hit her. Infected Templars.. A whole army of them.

They opened the cabin to find things scattered all around. Bits of leather with their names on them; a private message in each. All said pretty much the same thing as Cassandra's, explaining why she had to go and apologizing for the sudden disappearance. Each also held more personal messages of thanks and well-wishing.

Cullen's eyes went misty when he opened the box with his name carved upon it. A complete chess set, hand-carved in a Ferelden theme. The lighter pieces were of the things you'd expect to see in such a set, the darker were shaped like various animals. She had marked each at the top to indicate which they represented to avoid confusion and the ability to cheat.

He laughed when he read the note she had left within.

"Sorry we didn't get to play a match with it,
but I just finished it today. I may visit sometime.

You owe me a rematch, besides. It's not fair to
let me win, Commander. You have been a balm
to my soul. Please try to have more fun and take
care of yourself, Da'iovro."

Everyone else had their things in hand, admiring them for their craftsmanship and the thought she had put into making or selecting them. Others laughed at the little notes she had arranged with their gifts.

Solas was admiring a staff she had left for him. A beautiful piece of Whitewood, carved and polished with great care. It's shape held the gentle waves of its natural growth. The head of the staff was shaped to form a single antler, reminiscent of the ancient elvhen statues she had come across in her travels.

He smiled sadly when he read the note.

"A handsome staff for a handsome man.
I hope you like it, and may it serve you well.

Thank you for all you have been to me, Fenlin.
I will always remember the kiss."

All departed the cabin, holding their treasures with tears and smiles.

Sera drew the Dragonthorn bow that had been left for her. "Well, it's not too elfy," she moaned. She liked it, it was a good bow. Sera wished she could say thanks. Maybe share some pie with her, at least.

Leliana smiled when she found the Sylvanwood bow she had admired when Mithra first moved into the cabin. The note indicated that it was the same one, but the ranger had taken the time to engrave an Andrastian flame design all over it.

"To represent your faith and the fire in your heart," the message read.

Cullen entered his quarters to store the chess set in a safe place. He looked sad as he set it down. He wished she would have stayed. Would he ever see her again? She said she might visit sometime, but she was being hunted by that...whoever he is and that cult. He hoped she could handle it as well as she thought she could. Who knows how large their group was or how widespread they were? The inquisition could help her by taking out any Venatori they discovered. It was something.

His thoughts were interrupted by the harsh alarm of bells and soldiers shouting.

Cullen rushed out of his cabin. "Forces approaching! To arms!"

A runner raced toward him with a report.

Everyone gathered around the Commander as soon as he finished reading.

Cassandra inquired, "Cullen?!"

He pointed into the mountains. "One watch guard reporting! There's a massive force, the bulk over the mountain!"

"Under what banner?" Josephine asked.

"None."

She gaped. "None!?"

Everyone quickly ran to their quarters and strapped up for battle. They grabbed their weapons, buckled on greaves and plates, and gathered back at the gates as soon as they were ready.

The gate slammed with a hard knock. "I can't come in unless you open!" a worried voice shouted from beyond.

Cullen's brow furrowed. Who in the world? He moved to push the gate open to let their apparent ally inside.

The commander's stomach turned sour at the sight of a Templar with red crystals protruding from his flesh and growing between the plates of his armor. He was swollen and twisted, built like an old, gnarled oak. He radiated red; his veins pulsing with the poisoned lyrium in his blood while his eyes shone from beyond his visor. What had his brother's in the Order become?

Red lyrium... Oh, Maker. Have mercy on his soul..

The red templar marched toward the gates then lurched and stopped suddenly.

The vile creature fell to reveal a sickly boy of about twenty years. A large and rather ridiculous looking hat covering the top half of his face. His clothes were patchy and dirty. Cullen guessed him homeless as soon as he took in the sight of him.

The boy looked around frantically. "She isn't here! They've come for her! They'll kill everyone looking for her!"

"Who are you? What are you saying?" Cullen demanded hotly.

"I'm Cole. I've come to warn her, but she isn't here! The Red Templars have come to kill her. For that.." He turned and pointed to a distant peak. "The Elder One."

The commander squinted to see a red templar on the ridge. "I know that man...but this "Elder One?"

A tall, grotesque remnant of a man walked forward to stand beside the Templar on the mountain top. Red lyrium shot backward out of his head and plated his cheek, twisting his mouth into a distorted scowl. His body was skeletal and shrunken but stretched vertically. This was a true monster.

Cole tried to explain, "He's very mad that she took his Mages. He's come to hurt her. To kill her."

Cullen had enough of talking to this weird kid and turned to his soldiers while donning his lion-head helm, tilted back to reveal his face. "Mages! You have sanction to engage them! Inquisition, that is Samson! He will not make this easy! Fight!" He turned and pointed his sword at the approaching army. "For your lives! For all of us!"

He slid his helm down over his face, ready for battle.