The Conclave destroyed, the Divine dead; and amidst the ruins, a single survivor. It was a less than auspicious start to his new career. Cullen sighed; the Spymaster and Seeker had gone to check on the survivor, leaving him to deal with restoring order to the chaos.
"Commander!" a soldier slammed through the makeshift command post he had established. "Ser, demons are appearing everywhere Ser! What shall we do?"
With a curse Cullen rushed out, grabbing his shield and helm. Outside, the situation was deteriorating with each passing moment. Demons of all kinds poured through the rift, laying waste to his ill-prepared troops. The Spymaster arrived at last, bearing news of the prisoner's awakening and subsequent decision to take the mountain path to the breach. He didn't think letting the prisoner take an active leadership role was a very wise idea, but the deed was done. Now it was up to the remainder of his troops to hold back the horde until the breach was sealed. Assuming the prisoner actually intended to seal the breach.
The breach crackled above the ruins, the demons shrieked with furious triumph as more of their brethren were summoned from bubbling black pits that littered the ground. Cullen knew that even the Templars among his troops were wearing thin. A sudden burst of light from the breach seemed to stun the demons, giving the soldiers a few precious moments to catch their breath. All at once the breach exploded, a cheer rose from the troops as some demons were killed instantly, and the rest quickly dispatched with swords. The surviving men and women turned their eyes to the sky; it still swirled green and seethed with magic, but the air was silent, as though all of nature were waiting in fearful silence. Whatever the prisoner had done, it had temporarily patched the breach. Cullen sent up a small prayer of thanks, then cast his eye to the wounded and dead.
It was hours before all the wounded, dying, and dead were transported back to Haven. One of the Spymaster's birds had arrived earlier with a brief message stating that the prisoner was unconscious but alive and was resting in one of the cabins under guard. While it was a relief to know that a solution to their problems had been found, it rankled the Commander to know that many men and women had died based on a decision made by a possible mass murderer whose very identity was in question. He sighed, the pounding in his head exacerbated by the ache of his body. Unlikely as it was, one could only hope there would be a hot bath waiting for him back in Haven, but it was likely any hot water would be used to tend to the wounded. He would settle for a basin of clean water and a washcloth. Perhaps a cold sandwich and a bowl of hot soup could be found. These thoughts kept him on his feet as he trudged back with the remaining able-bodied troops.
The days passed, and the prisoner remained unconscious. The Elven hedge mage informed them that she was in no danger; with the breach patched, the mark on her palm was no longer a serious danger to her. All that remained was for her to wake, and she would do that in her own good time. Josephine had not been pleased to hear that; a solution to the rifts would give them considerable more legitimacy and political clout. The longer their solution remained unconscious, the sooner their already delicate political situation would deteriorate. At best she could seal the various rifts popping up across Thedas, at worst they could hand her over for judgement. But the Seeker was convinced the woman was innocent, a view the Spymaster cautiously agreed with, much to the others' surprise.
Three days after closing the breach, the Council gathered to discuss the possibilities should the prisoner not wake. The discussion was interrupted by the arrival of a breathless servant, informing them that the prisoner was awake and on the way with Seeker Cassandra.
Heavy footfalls approached, the Seeker's was easily recognizable, but the other pair…Cullen recognized those too, somehow. One of his officers perhaps? But, surely the Seeker was more than enough to handle the prisoner. No matter, they could be dismissed once the Seeker and prisoner were in the room.
"Good, you are all here," the Seeker said briskly, settling eyes on each of the three. "I would like to introduce you to…"
"Trysraine?" Cullen exclaimed. "Is this a joke? Because it is in extremely poor taste!" he snarled at the four women.
"It's not a joke Cullen, I am the survivor of the Conclave," said the woman quietly.
An awkward silence fell upon the room while the two stared at each other. The Commander scowled so blackly that Josephine wondered if lightning would start sparking somewhere.
"If we could get started with the," said the Ambassador, breaking awkward the silence.
"What were you doing there?" interrupted the Commander.
"Representing House Trevelyan," was the short reply.
The Ambassador opened her mouth to speak once again.
"What about," Cullen began, ignoring her.
"Maker's sake Rutherford, if you so much as suggest that I would bring a child…"
"You are here! After I expressly instructed you to stay with your family!"
"Don't you dare take that tone with me! You ran off from Kirkwall without so much as a note! I found out from the new Knight Captain, who by the way, informed me that Ser Rutherford had run of with a Seeker and might I cease sending personal messages to the Knight Captain! You didn't even have the gall to write me!"
"I didn't have time!"
"For a whole bloody year?"
The two were now face to face, furious lions at each other's throats.
"Perhaps," the Spymaster said with quiet amusement. "We should give them their privacy. They seem to have much to discuss."
The three women left, leaving the angry Commander to face off with the equally angry Prisoner, oblivious to their departure.
"Would one note have hurt?" she asked softly, breaking the silence between them.
He deflated at that, the anger and surprise leaving him, the weariness of the past few days flooding back. "No," he replied equally softly. Somehow her hands had found his face, and his her waist.
"I didn't forget," he whispered. "I've thought of you everyday, missed you more everyday."
His hands slid upwards, spreading across her back to pull her against him. Her arms slid around his neck, fingers reaching and burying themselves in his hair as their lips met. He pushed her back against the table, helping her settle atop it, as they continued their hungry kiss. She moaned against him as his wandering hands left burning trails across her clothed skin. He stood between her parted legs, grinding his hips against hers. Suddenly recalling their audience Cullen jerked back to look around the empty room in confusion. She laughed at that, pulling him back against her once again.
"When did they leave?" he mumbled against her lips.
"I don't recall. Does this mean we can continue?"
"I ah," he mixed a cough and a laugh. "I don't think that would be wise."
"Agreed," said a dry voice from the doorway.
They jumped apart like guilty children.
"If you are quite finished," the Seeker began.
"And if we're not?" the woman interrupted with a humorless smile and a firm grip on the Commander, still between her legs.
The Seeker frowned at the interruption. Fixing her steely gaze upon her former charge, and meeting an equally steely gaze. Cassandra humphed, slightly impressed. The other two women returned to take their original places.
Trysraine sighed and released her husband who quickly moved around the table, giving her the room to slide off the table and straighten her clothes.
"I am Trysraine Trevelyan, third child and eldest daughter of Bann Trevelyan of Ostwick. Knight Commander of the Twelfth Legion," she said without preamble.
Cullen opened his mouth in surprise, but before he could speak. "And your connection to Ser Cullen?" Leliana asked lightly.
"You're the spymaster, I'm certain you know everything there is to be known about our connection," Trysraine said shortly.
"As eloquent as you are," Leliana muttered to Cullen.
Josephine scribbled madly, pausing midway, "I'm sorry did you say Knight Commander? To which Grand Cleric do you answer to?"
"None. I answer to the Knights Vigilant, or the Divine herself," Trysraine let that hang in the air for a few moments. "I understand none of them survived the Conclave."
"What were your orders for this situation?" Cassandra asked.
"I'm afraid I cannot tell you that."
"Cannot or will not?" said Leliana crossing her arms.
"Both."
XXxxXXxxXX
Look at that insanely creative title! Isn't it the most amazing title you've ever seen? No? What do you mean no?!
Joking aside, I really haven't come up with a better title. So if you think you can do better, by all means, help me!
This is what I've been working on for months, and when I say months, I mean its been sitting more or less as it is (I changed a few things) since December, while I stew over it. I've taken a great many liberties (that you don't yet know about) with some parts of the history of Thedas, but I really like the way this story is shaping up. Chapter two is in the works, but I thought before I get cold feet (fingers, inspiration, computer crash? take your pick I got lots) I should post the first chapter here.
I've not abandoned "With Neighbors Like These" but am working to revamp the story as I have a better idea of where I want to go with it. I hope to have the first reworked chapter of that finished by next week. I'll probably change the title of the existing bunch, but they'll stay up. Unless of course I have to get rid of them to take back the title. In which case I'll take them down and then put them back up under a new title. Bwahahahaha!
I'm in the final semester of my university career, its a mess, I'm a mess, and I desperately want to start writing again. So I have.