So this is intended to be the first part of a multi-part story, though I'm not sure exactly how many parts it will be just yet. I decided to do it in chapters so it's easier to manage. This is all from Cullen's POV with appearances from Cassandra and some random Inquisition soldiers. I don't want to spoil any potential surprises (which I'm hoping there will be), so I'll just say that I hope you like it and feel free to leave feedback!
Commander Cullen stood in the courtyard of Skyhold observing the maiden usage of their newly constructed sparring ring. Somehow in the midst of everything else that needed done, the Inquisitor had found the time to scrounge together the materials for its construction, giving their soldiers a much better training session than stuffed dummies. Cassandra stood nearby scrutinizing the forms these two particular soldiers employed, seeming almost satisfied with them. It was rare that Cullen got breaks like this, though many would not consider observing soldiers train a "break." It was better than endless reports, however, and troop movements that were all starting to blend together. When one of his scouts approached in a hurry, he silently groaned at the impending interruption, though he had known it was only a matter of time until something pressing once again required his attention.
"Ser!" The scout saluted as he approached Cullen. The Commander recognized this particular scout as one who had been with them since Haven, though he couldn't honestly recall the lad's name at the moment. He was used to the newer messengers and scouts being nervous around the Commander of the Inquisition, but it struck him as odd that this seasoned fellow would look nervous at the moment. This immediately alerted Cullen to trouble.
"What is it?" Cullen asked as he turned them away from the ring to hear the scout better, and so rumors wouldn't start through the crowd.
"Ser, we'veā¦found someone we think you should see to." The scout shuffled his feet for a moment before continuing. "Honestly, ser? We aren't really certain what to do with him." Cullen wasn't entirely certain what was happening, but he motioned Cassandra over. If the guards didn't know what to do, this may take an extra set of hands.
"Alright, go ahead," Cullen instructed when Cassandra joined them.
"We were starting to scout further into the hills to try to map the area better when I happened to look down on the camp to see one individual away from everyone else. Normally I wouldn't have thought much of it, but he seemed to be sneaking around and avoiding everyone. I asked my partner to make sure I wasn't just seeing things, but she thought he looked a little off too. That's when we descended towards the camp to grab a patrol to corner whoever this was."
"A spy?" Cullen inquired.
"I'm not sure. Possibly, but if he is, he's a bad one to get caught so easily. Anyway, we detained him and he swears he wasn't doing anything wrong. No spying or anything like that. He was just looking for his sister because rumor had it that she was here."
"Did he give a name? Who was he looking for?" Cullen wasn't sure he believed this intruders story, but clearly it was enough to catch the scout off guard.
"All he would say was that he was looking for his sister." The scout paused for a moment. "I know it isn't my place ser, but from the terrified and confused look on his face when we caught him, I think he was telling the truth."
Cullen sighed and looked at Cassandra, who just raised her shoulders and shook her head as if to say "don't ask me." They decided they should take a look themselves. If this was a spy, even a poor one, the Inquisitor and advisors needed to act quickly. The scout led them to the entryway to Skyhold, just off of the bridge, where they were greeted by two saluting guards holding a restrained prisoner between them. The man between them looked scared half to death, but not guilty or any of the other things Cullen would have expected to see in a spy. The light was dim, but there was something ever so slightly familiar about him, though Cullen was certain he had never met the man.
"Who are you and what are you doing lurking around the edges of the Inquisition's camps?" Cullen questioned the man with the same voice he used when his soldiers were doing something foolish. He was a quiet man with friends or family, but when the need arose, he could present a rather daunting image. The man before him cowered slightly before answering.
"My name is Darin and I was just looking for my sister. I swear to you, that's all I was doing. I only know of the Inquisition vaguely by name and reputation; that's how I found the camp. I don't even know what you do." His eyes were almost pleading. Now Cullen understood why the scout had come for him; this was an unusual case. He couldn't say he believed this Darin, but he certainly looked sufficiently terrified and confused to warrant a closer look.
"Assuming for the moment that I believe you, which I'm not entirely certain I do, why not send a letter? Or ask for her? Why sneak around like that?"
"If you've heard of our reputation, you should know we are not unreasonable, Darin," Cassandra interjected.
"I have heard that, my lady, but to be honest, I'm beginning to think this whole thing is a massive misunderstanding, in addition to being poorly handled on my part."
"Oh?" Cassandra cocked an eyebrow at him, just begging him to illuminate those present. Darin started blushing slightly and even smirked a bit in embarrassment. Once again Cullen noticed that something about this man was familiar.
"The short version is I thought my sister had joined a cult or something and needed some sense talked into her. Judging from the bits I've been hearing in various villages and from the camps, not to mention how well armed you all are, I'm guessing that's not entirely the case."
"What's the longer version?" Cullen was determined to know exactly what was going on before acting on anything.
"The longer version is that I'm from the Free Marches, but I've been in Orlais for quite some time on business. About the same time, my sister left for the Conclave. The next thing I heard was that the Conclave was destroyed and everyone attending was dead. I'm not ashamed to admit that the news was incredibly difficult, as I assumed my sister was one of the casualties. I was grieving and wanted to rush to Haven. What I thought I was going to do there I didn't know, but I wanted to go." Darin's eyes had grown dark talking about the presumed death of his sister. Clearly he cared for her a great deal, Cullen noted. "I'm usually the impulsive one, but for once my wife was able to talk some sense into me and I stayed in Orlais. Maybe a month ago, however, I received a letter from my parents. I honestly don't know what happened. It was several months old and was in terrible condition. I couldn't fully read the entire thing. But what I did understand was that my sister was alive and she had abandoned the Chantry for something called the Inquisition. I had heard little of your organization and thought it to be far less reputable than it seems to be. So I made some arrangements, left Orlais and came here to try to talk her out of devoting her life to a cult. It seems as though that was a mistake on my part. Between the civil war in Orlais and the fact that I was halfway to Haven before I heard of its destruction by an avalanche, it took me quite a while to get here."
Cullen wasn't entirely certain what to say about the man's story. It seemed impossible, but it almost made sense. Thankfully Cassandra was more prepared than he was.
"So you came here to search for your sister you believed to have been killed at the Conclave until a month ago?"
"Pretty much," Darin replied, still seeming slightly embarrassed. "I assume she missed the Conclave and lived. The Maker must have been watching out for her or something."
"Why were you sneaking around the edges of the camp? Why not ask someone, or even write your sister a letter?"
"I didn't write because I'd somehow gotten the impression she wouldn't respond. As for sneaking around, it wasn't exactly my intention. My sister is quiet and dislikes large crowds, but also doesn't like to wander. I thought if I looked in secluded places, I would find her quickly, but I didn't."
Cassandra caught Cullen's attention and motioned him away from the prisoner. She looked like she was running through every possible scenario in her head to decide the best course of action.
"I think I believe him," Cassandra said quietly, her heavily accented voice sounding sorry for the captive. "I know it's an insane story, but it's almost too insane to be made up."
"I suppose you have a point there," Cullen agreed. "I'm not sure even Varric could have concocted a story like that. But we can't let him continue running around camps searching for someone who may not even be here."
"No, but perhaps we could speed things along. We could try to find this supposed sister, or someone who knows of her. If we do, he's telling the truth. If we don't find a sign of her, we can address the problem then." Cullen nodded in agreement, but stopped Cassandra before she moved back to Darin.
"Does he look slightly familiar to you? I know we've never met, but there's just something that seems like I should recognize him."
"I hadn't noticed, but now that you mention it, there is something familiar. I have no idea what, but a small something." Cullen again nodded, feeling better that at least he wasn't imagining things. Darin was looking at them hopefully when they returned.
"We can't let you continue skulking about the camps looking for your sister," Cullen informed him. Darin seemed saddened, but unsurprised. "However, we are willing to help you look. If she is or has been part of the Inquisition, we will try to find her. Just know that if we can find no trace, we will assume you've been lying and take immediate action." Darin nodded solemnly, but was clearly ecstatic for the help.
"Thank you! Maker, this is more than I could have hoped for. Clearly the impression I got of you from that letter was severely mistaken."
"What's your sister's name?" If he lived to be a hundred, Cullen would never forget the absolute and complete shock the answer gave him.
"Cara," Darin told them happily. "Cara Trevelyan."
