-Haven-

The soft snow blankets the hillside as a chill wind breezes on from the peaks of the Frostbacks. The elven hermit footsteps crush through the frost stopping at a cliffside seeing the small hamlet below. The stonewalled temple etched into a mountain's side.

He could see motley group of crowds, legions of templars, contingents of mages, Chantry clergymen all the like along with the local peasantry. The hood of his cloak blow over his face from the wind as he ponders...The humans shouldn't notice me as I step in.

Entering the village he could see this gathering to be festive than it is a council trying to defuse the growing hostility, though that was a bit of an understatement, this conflict between mage and templar was full scale war. But the hermit was not here for them.

He decides to visit the village's local tavern. Knowing if you want to hear news, there's gossip at a bar. The patrons or the barkeep did not notice him as he enters so he takes a seat in a corner near the fireplace. His hood still covering the top of his face. The barmaid approaches, "What can I get you?"

"Water please." the elf says cordially, the barmaid strides away. He eases in his chair, his ear flinching as he tries to overhear the many loudness of conversation. A bright blue hue of magic hones quietly in the palm of his right hand without anyone noticing "Hartha...uren...soun." He whispers waving his hand over the side of his head, the spell highlighting his ears briefly. The spell took effect instantly and as lighting in his eyesight dims all his cognitive senses going into his hearing, strengthening it.

The many voices grew louder but the spell allowed the hermit to scan through them.

"Finish your drink Kip you look nervous!"

"I am all these mages and templars being here are making me." Not interesting to him, the elf hones in on to the next one.

"Don't you remember when our town used to be quiet?"

"I know, but then again it wasn't sunshine and rainbows with that crazy revered father around either, glad he's gone." not interesting.

"Now we've got nobles strutting in, I swear what this zoo the Divine is putting on!?" Not interesting.

"Caught Dayna sneaking out of Roger's house again, I tell ya she's sleeping with-" Not interesting.

"Benji says he saw wardens in the woodlands." Hang on… "Saw em out of there when he was getting the rabbits out of the snares." The elf keeps on the talk, this was exactly what he was wanting to hear.

"Don't be a fool Tommy, there's no wardens here."

"It is, Benji said they had on that silver armor with the griffin on them, he wasn't lying. You think the Hero of Ferelden is arriving."

"Maker I sure hope so, Ferelden desperately needs him more now than ever."

The elf clears out of the spell as the barmaid arrives with a clay cup of water, setting it on the table. "Thank you" he speaks. The girl puts on a pleasant smile and leaves. He takes a quick sip and gathers himself to leave. So they are here...I need to find him before it's too late.

He steps out making sure his cloak is pulled over tight as he fought the incoming breeze. The elf looks to the mountainside to where temple was rooted atop a cliff. The humans here called it, The Temple of Sacred Ashes, a built shrine which said to be the burial of their fallen prophet. The elf was quizled in thought, Why here?! Why would he be here of all places?


-Inside the temple-

Cassandra struts her way down the corridor, hand on the hilt of her sword as always. Gaylan says nothing only eyeing her with amusement. Cassandra could feel his praying eyes on him. She stops and sighs, turning to him, "If you're going to speak. SPEAK."

"You're working too hard." Gaylan says, in his usual sly tone.

Cassandra turns away and continues her walk, "You say that everyday."

Gaylan laughs as he follows, "If you won't hear it from me, you'll surely hear it from her Holiness."

"This is a very different matter, mages and templars warring on in utter chaos and Most Holy invites them under the same roof!? This is a disaster just waiting to happen."

They stop at a door, "You always assume the worse." said Gaylan placing consoling hands on the Seeker's shoulders, turning her to face him. "Justina herself even seems poised and calm, her faith in the people around grants that."

"She is poised and calm because Leliana and I are here to protect her." Cassandra replied.

"You have a point, you two do the worrying while she keeps her old bones relaxed. But wear this burden like you're the only one meant to, and I can see you're suffering." Gaylan touches Cassandra's cheek, his thumb feeling the small scar near her jaw.

She turns her head out his hand, "I know but it is my duty to stay alert." she sounded almost within regret, Gaylan was a little unnerved that she passed off his small embrace so swiftly. His heart almost feeling ruin. Things haven't been the same since they broke it off a while back, he does however has had a sense of hope but yet he feels by the signals Cassandra has been given that it is futile.

"I should get back to it." Gaylan spoke not wanting this situation to feel anymore awkward. "I'll see you tomorrow perhaps?"

"I'm not sure." said Cassandra, "With all that's going on….we'll see."

Gaylan does a cordial nod and leave while Cassandra push opens the door to the office finding Justina's personal seneschal sister Marithana flipping through books, her usual activity.

"Oh!" she rises from her seat, "Seeker Cassandra I did not see you."

"No need to alarm yourself sister." said Cassandra. "Where is Most Holy?"

"Speaking with Chancellor Roderick." says a cool voice. Cassandra almost startled to see Leliana rise out of a dense shadow, she had the habit of showing herself when not visibly seen in the room. Cassandra found that annoying. "He and the other contingents from the Chantry have been in constant council with Most Holy. It seems the chancellor has been in a sense of doubt about these incoming proceedings with the mage and templars."

"For once I agree with the man. But understand why Justina feels the need to step in. The rebel mages and templars are tearing southern Thedas apart, and with Ferelden just becoming on its feet since the Blight and the civil war in Orlais. I don't see how things are going to hold up for long." said Cassandra.

"Thus why the nobility is arriving." Marithan interjected.

"What? What do nobles have anything to do with this?" said Cassandra.

Leliana chuckled, "Come now Seeker, you are of Nevarran royalty and you're time in Orlais should already give you the idea the nobility spreads influence."

"And generous donations." the sister once again interjects.

Cassandra only looked at her with a quizzed look, "You can make coin out of this?"

"Please Seeker, I'm a Trevelyan. Business and the Chantry run interchangeably within my own acumen. Orlais and Ferelden will be sending contingents of their most esteemed houses as do some come from the Free Marches and even Nevarra. Houses Demonfret, Kendells for example Empress Celene has given word that she dispatched her own representatives, as did King Alistair." Marithana hands Cassandra a list, the Seeker raising her brow at the long line of nobles houses arriving.

" Oh, also! The first emissaries from Highever has just arrived Sister Leliana, Teyrn Cousland sends you his regards." spoke Marithana.

"Yes sister Mari. Thank you." Leliana nods.

"Justina approves of us using the nobility of southern Thedas to mend their coin for the Chantry's disposal?" Cassandra asked.

"It was her idea, this war has been pulling in wear and tear throughout the land, having coin can be a handy recovery tool." said Marithana. "We let the nobles say their grievances and have their say in the matter and in return they give the Chantry some well donated tithes."

"Given the incoming nobility presence hear at the Temple, will your family be sending in missives Marithana?" asked Leliana

"My father does like to travel outside Ostwick as much and I loathe sending in letters to my uncles, but I've already sent word to someone of my family. Someone who isn't associated with the Chantry as many of my relatives are. A sense of neutrality is needed."

Cassandra prepares to leave, "Then I'll shall go see Ser Cullen in talks with the security parameters. No doubt we'd need to double the detail with all these nobles arriving."

Marithana teased."I apologize for making your job more difficult Seeker."

"Nobles, Templars, and Mages under one roof. It's like a storm starting to churn." said Leliana giggling.

Cassandra groaned a sigh, "Maker...I feel as if the storm is rising." she says as she leaves.