The paths of this world

"It seems that the Magister…"

"…has outplayed us." Cullen finished Josephine's sentence.

"Then let's go get the Templars," Tanith Trevelyan suggested. The short, brown haired woman shifted from one leg to the other and adjusted her glasses. She could swear everyone but Cassandra was gazing at her large breasts. She blushed but continued, "With the help of the Templars we can then deal with the Breach. And later we can help the mages."

"I'm afraid coming with the Templars will incline the mages against us from the start, Lady Trevelyan," said Josephine and smiled warmly over her board, like she always seemed to do.

"But we won't need them afterwards anyway," said Cullen an shook his head, "Lady Trevelyan is right. Let's get the Templars, let's close the Breach and afterwards we can deal with the mages."

"And in the mean time?" asked Cassandra. She pointed at the map on the large table. "We can't just let Alexius and his mages stay between the Breach and the Templars. That will cause a conflict when… if you get the help of the Templars."

"Wait," Sister Leliana said, her gaze wandering over the faces of her comrades, "We don't need the Templars to deal with Alexius. There is another way into the castle. A secret passage, for the noble family. It's too small for our troops but my agents can slip through."

"Too risky. They will be discovered before they reach Alexius," said Cullen.

"Then we need a distraction, something to keep him occupied," said Leliana and looked to Tanith.

"Focusing his attention on Trevelyan. Yes, that might work." Cullen nodded and he too looked at Tanith. The other two followed his example. All were starring at her. "What, me?" Taniths eyes widened. "That doesn't sound particularly smart. What if the agents aren't successful? Or…"

Suddenly the door opened. "Thankfully you won't be alone." Dorian Pavus dashed in, followed by a guard. "This man says he's here to help," the guard said looking at his feet.

"Dorian!" Tanith exclaimed and smiled at him. He responded in kind and walked to the table.

"It's okay, let us be!" Cassandra waved the guard away, who promptly left.

"I assume you heard our plan?" the Seekers asked and scrutinized the Tevinter mage with furrowed eyebrows.

"Send in a fabulous distraction. Wait for reinforcements. Win the day. I think I got it Seeker." he winked at Tanith and she blushed. He looked as good as she remembered.

"But are you sure about this, Lady Trevelyan?" Josephine asked, probably sensing her discomfort. Tanith rubbed her neck below her bob cut. "I still don't like playing the bait," she said and hastily added, "Or losing the Templars."

"We don't know what awaits us in Therinfal. For all we know it might be more dangerous," said Leliana, "My reports have been… worrying."

"So I'll be in danger anyway." A heavy sigh left Taniths mouth. Why had she to be the stupid "Herald of Andraste"? She didn't even believe in the Maker.

"What do you know about Alexius? Something we can use against him?" she finally asked her fellow mage.

"Yes, something about his son maybe," added Leliana and leaned forward with an eager expression.

"Felix? You won't use him as leverage, surely?" Dorian stepped back instinctively.

"No, but maybe we can help him in exchange for the mages," Tanith said.

Cassandra grunted and shook her head. "I doubt that we can help if neither a Magister nor all the mages in Redcliff are able to do so."

Dorian nodded. "Indeed. He has the Taint. Only a Grey Warden could probably help him. And I strongly doubt it's what Alexius had in mind for his son anyway."

"No matter," Tanith said. A plan was forming in her head and she would at least give it a try. She needed to try all possibilities to close the Breach. "Dorian, you and Blackwall will go to Alexius and act as a distraction. Tell him you found a way to safe Felix."

Cullen furrowed his brows and looked at her. "But what about you, Lady Trevelyan?"

Tanith smirked. "I will go to Therinfal. Let's see what Lucius has in stall for us. If we act quickly we can secure the aid of both without them knowing."

Cassandra raised her eyebrows. "That's risky. They might turn on us as soon as they find out."

Tanith shook her head. "Clearly they will realize that helping close the breach is of more importance. We just present them a fait accompli."

"I'm not sharing your confidence," said Cullen.

"I like the idea," Josephine said smiling, "Bringing the mages and the Templars together will strengthen our position immeasurably."

The meeting was over and Tanith was heading to her room. She had to gather her things for the journey to Therinfal. What a mess. Hopefully everything would work. If she could gain the Templars and the mages, freedom for the mages might be gained without further violence.

"Lady Trevelyan, if I could have a word with you?" Josephine interrupted her thoughts. The ambassador gestured her to come into her office. Tanith obliged and sat down on the bench near the entrance. Why didn't they have chairs in the meeting room? She should do something about that.

"What is it Lady Montilyet?", she asked.

"I wanted to talk about your family," Josephine said and sat down behind her desk.

Tanith giggled. "That's a bit sudden, but I guess it's time someone makes an honorable woman of me."

"What? Ah, very funny. I was thinking we could ask your family to lend us their support," Josephine said and continued, "especially for convincing Lord Seeker Lucius to meet with us. I heard your family is quite devout. The Lord Seeker might regard that as favorable."

Tanith shifted on the bench and rubbed her neck. "It's a bit complicated. Yes my family is very devout. And they're ecstatic that I'm the Herald of Andraste. However having born a mage child has made them the black sheep of the family."

"I'm sorry, that must have been very hard," Josephine said. She looked Tanith in the eyes and smiled regretfully.

"My grandparents blamed my father for marrying an Amell. Their bloodline is known for its magic. My mother blamed herself, my siblings blamed me and so did I for a long time," Tanith said.

Josephine looked at her with wide eyes. "You're an Amell? Does that mean you're…"

"Related to the Hero of Ferelden, yes," Tanith finished, "if only distantly. Also with the Champion of Kirkwall."

"And both were mages."

"And contributed a lot to the mage rebellion." Tanith shrugged and smirked dryly. "As you can see, the Lord Seeker might not particularly like my familial connections."

Josephine nodded and Tanith stood up and took her leave.

After reaching her room, Tanith immediately began packing things. She wasn't looking forward to meeting the Lord Seeker. He acted like a total asshole back in Val Royeaux. Was it a good idea to take Cassandra with her? He seemed to particularly dislike her. On the other hand, having a former Seeker with her was useful to convince other of the order to join. She had to take Cassandra with her. Maybe Vivienne too. The smooth talking bitch was surely good at convincing people. And showing up with the leader of the "loyalist mages" might earn her some additional points with the order as well.

She took her glasses from her nose and put them into their case. They were a nifty Qunari invention that let her see better at a distance. Father had given them to her before the rebellion. She sighed. He was the only one who never cared that she was a mage. Thanks to his machinations she was even allowed to visit her family from time to time. Others weren't so lucky. Something Vivienne seemed to have forgotten. All her talks about representing the mages but really, she was just a lucky outlier who had fucked the right person.

Hopefully Dorian would succeed in securing the mages. She was finally in a position to help her brethren and wouldn't let it slide.