Doom Upon All The World

Chapter 16: Remnants

All was quiet throughout the halls of Skyhold. There was hardly anything that registered the place as familiar. If she closed her eyes and just listened, she would not be able to guess that this place had been her home. The home she knew was loud and full of people spreading rumors, trading goods, hoping and praying that they wouldn't die in the fight against Corypheus. This was not that. This was an old ruin that had long since housed only a handful of people. Now it had many of its old residents and yet it seemed more somber than before. When they arrived, most of the children had already fallen asleep. Mythalus was the exception of course. Even Josie had almost nodded off but refrained from doing so as Octavia was her responsibility.

Maeve picked up Mythalus. This time the weight that he added to her small frame was more even. She'd been carrying the ax for hours now and a little extra weight didn't bother her. She held his little frame close to her. His head rested on her shoulder, his forehead meeting the cool skin of her neck as he looked at Solas but hugged his mother. Solas smiled at him, squeezing his hand in his. His eyes burned with that look she'd seen in him earlier. It was subtler now but there nonetheless. He turned back to the carriage and picked up Nicolynn, hoisting her up in his capable arms. Cassandra woke Anthony only a little and he was conscious long enough to wrap her in a hug. His arms went around her neck, his legs around her hips and she carried him like that to her old quarters.

Cullen was speaking with Leliana. They seemed deep in conversation. She couldn't tell about what. Maeve did not care to know. There was too much circling her mind. He had his left hand on the hilt if his sword, resting over it as it always had. He gestured with the other. Maeve thought he looked more frustrated than he had earlier. He had every right to be angry. But more than that though, he looked tired. They all did. They rode all through the night, not stopping for anything. Dawn was just breaking and with it came exhaustion. Josephine climbed out of the carriage with Tom's help and passed Octavia off to Bull. She was a tiny thing in his giant arms but the bundle brought a smile to his face. He and Dorian left, going back to the tower they used to stay in.

Josie and Tom had a difficult time getting their sleeping children to a bed. There were more children than adults in their case so Josie held Julien, Tom carried Philippe, and Hawke and Fenris assisted in transporting Claude and Pierre. They all went to an extra chamber beside Cassandra's and decided it'd be big enough for all of them. Leliana, after speaking with Cullen, situated Hawke and Fenris elsewhere. She tried speaking to Maeve but she had to go put Mythalus to bed. "I'm so sorry, Maeve." She said with sorrow in her eyes. There was a weight in Maeve's chest. She felt it more harshly than she had felt anything in a long time. Her life, that beautiful and perfect life was gone. Her life now, her children's lives, her husband's life, they were all turned upside down once again and she had no way of knowing if things would ever go back to the way they were. "Just find them, Leliana." She demanded coldly as she walked away with Solas.

As she walked through the halls, Mythalus in her arms, rubbing tiredness from his eyes as he looked to his father, Solas held Nicolynn gently. Carrying her delicate frame with all the strength he had. She was one of the only precious things he had left. They stood in the main hall as Solas opened the door to their old quarters. She stared around her. Skyhold was exactly as she remembered it and yet so very different at the same time. The vaulted ceiling were high and echoed with distance. The long velvet carpet was straight and only slighted dusted with leaves that had blown inside. The walls were all adorned with beautifully mounted pieces of art and carefully crafted artifacts.

It was a sight that brought back her glory days in a rush. It also made her incredibly sad and even more angry. They were returning under the worst circumstances imaginable. This is not how she envisioned coming back one day would be. "Maeve." Solas spoke softly as to not wake Nicolynn. She had tried so hard to stay awake to comfort her little brother but the hours wore her down and the pleading of Claude's grip pulled her into slumber. Maeve did not blame her. If she could sleep this away, she would. Unfortunately, it was not that simple. Mythalus was not entirely awake. Staying bright eyed during the trip made him tiresome now. Maeve could sense him drifting off.