AN: Hey everyone! So I have had this idea floating around in the abyss of my mind for a while and finally decided to put it into words. The rating is T as of now but that may change so stay tuned. This is just kind of the prologue so the story will start picking up after this.

There were many things that people said of the Kingdom of Thedas, but one thing that could not be disputed was that the country of Ferelden was resilient. In the last twenty years it had survived blights, rebellions, civil war, uprisings and near obliteration by the breach. Yet the Kingdom remained intact. Scarred and a little worse for wear, but alive and intact. Those who had lived through all of these events often said they had seen more in their lifetime than most see in four lifetimes. Indeed the inhabitants of Ferelden were even more resilient than the country itself. No matter what was thrown at them, the people found a way to come together and rebuild, starting over and adapting whenever the time called for it.

When people think back over the various events that had unfolded in the last couple of decades, nobody could tell the story of their survival without mentioning three iconic names: Aedan Cousland, Garret Hawke and Rasler Trevelyan. Between these three men they had saved more lives than anyone could count, and each surviving resident of Ferelden owed them their lives. They had faced impossible odds and despite everything, they had each individually secured Ferelden's future and now they had become household names.

But despite all of their accomplishments, all the wars they had fought and the victories they had seen, at the end of it all they were just men. They were men who had earned their rest and after years of fighting battles both on and off the battlefield, it appeared that they would be finally be granted the peace and comfort they had all sorely needed.

Aedan Cousland had married Leliana after many long happy years of being together. Many had thought that the day would never come when the two of them would be married, after the Hero of Ferelden had disappeared for several years after the blight, many wondered if he would ever be heard from again. The wedding had drawn every noble from Thedas and the celebration was one that could have rivaled King Alistair's and Queen Anora's. Their first child, a daughter named Ember, was born a year later and there were rumors that Aedan had cried the first time he held his infant daughter in his arms.

Garret Hawke and his Pirate Queen Isabela were still together, which surprised everyone. The two had never married, which surprised no one. The two of them seemed perfectly content to a life without marriage even after they had unexpectedly had a son. It was hard to tell who was more surprised at this development; Isabela, Hawke or the rest of Thedas. Nobody could have predicted that these two would ever reproduce, but they had proven to be adapt parents and little Raedar was a happy and spirited little boy who was the spitting image of his father.

Rasler Trevelyan had married Josephine Montilyet not long after the breach had been closed and Corypheus had been destroyed. Nobody could have predicted that these two houses would come together, but anyone who knew them could see that they were made for each other. Their first child Aria was approaching fourteen years of age and Josephine had recently announced that she was expecting another in the winter. Rasler was easily the proudest father that anyone had ever seen and the way he looked at Josephine was the envy of every wife in Skyhold.

The three heroes and their families had settled in Skyhold and it seemed that they had finally reached the happiness and peace that they so desperately deserved.

A cool breeze blew through the midnight air in the surrounding area of Skyhold. The mountainous air was chilled and a huddled figure clutched their black cloak closer to their body. They had been in this position since nightfall, hidden in the shadows of the various rocks and bushes that covered the mountains outside of Skyhold. The hood of the cloak was pulled low over their face, making it impossible to make out any features, but the form fitting cloak suggested that the figure was female.

She stared unmoving towards the massive fortress. Soldiers patrolled the battlements, unaware of her presence or the presence of the other figures strategically placed throughout the area. They were completely hidden by the shadows the night provided, and they would remain hidden until the signal came. This was a night that had been carefully planned out down to the last detail. In fact, several years of planning had gone into this night. Each painstaking detail, each move carefully thought out and each detail gone over with every scenario planned and re-planned. Now, it had finally come and she was not about to ruin all of their planning by becoming careless and making a mistake. One stupid move, one misplaced detail and the whole plan would fall apart.

A large black crow landed on the rock in front of her, a small piece of parchment attached to its leg. She carefully removed the letter and reached out and grab the bird, stroking it gently before quickly and painlessly snapping its neck. She placed the carcass on the rock and turned her attention to the parchment. She unfolded the paper and read the carefully scrawled note written inside.

Now.

She placed her hand to her mouth and gave two loud yells, sounding very similar to that of a crow. Several similar sounds answered her and without hesitating another second she began making her way silently down the mountain side towards the Keep.

She felt her adrenaline rising with each step she took, her heart beating loudly in her ears. But it was too late to turn back now. After so many years of planning, she was finally at the moment she had planned for. At last she would have her revenge.