Authors Notes: First I would like to thank anyone who takes the time to read this Fanfic. This story takes place after Dragon Age 2, but tells of actions during the course of previous years that lead to events in Kirkwall unfolding the way they did. Thedus still stands on the brink of war, but now multiple factions seek to use that to their advantage. Unless two heroes can join forces and bring Thedus together again.

Thanks to Bioware for creating a lore that I could fit my fanfic into. So without further adieu, Dark Conspiracy I hope you enjoy.

Dark Conspiracy

Prologue

9:40 Dragon Age

Leliana pulled her hood tightly around her face as she ran swiftly over the rough and uneven terrain of the Frostback Mountains. She quickly glanced over her shoulder but she could not see anything behind as the slope fell away. Her heart raced because she knew that even though she could not see any pursuers, they were there nonetheless. She could see a mountain forest ahead of her, and she knew that her destination lied just beyond it, if she could only reach it.

"Sister Leliana STOP!" A voice yelled from behind her, just before an arrow flew over her shoulder and struck the bole of a tree at the forest entrance.

She knew it was a warning shot because her pursuers did not miss their targets unless they meant to. "You have tracked my every step since Orlais, it seems that you have truly earned you name," Leliana said as she turned and drew back her hood. She looked upon the armor of her pursuers, which bore the symbol of the ever watching eye of the Maker.

"You have stolen something that belongs to Most Holy," a woman scolded her as she stood flanked by two knights. She was Cassandra Pentaghast, a fellow seeker and sister of the Chantry. "Because we were once friends I will not kill you," Cassandra assured her as she stepped ahead of the knights. "But tell me why have you turned against the Chantry and those who took you in many years ago?" She questioned Leliana, as she shook her head. "Why have you forsaken the Maker?" She demanded angrily.

"I have not turned on the Maker, her Most Holy has," Leliana retorted.

"You DARE!" Cassandra blurted, her face twisted in disgust.

Leliana shook her head and glared back at Cassandra. "You know that something is out of place," she said before she pounded her fist into her hand. "The Most Holy seeks to start a war with no purpose, you must see this."

"She only does the Maker's will, it is not our place to question it," Cassandra refused.

"What is said in these documents is not the will of the Maker, but of those who seek to plunge Thedus into darkness," Leliana explained but she could see in Cassandra's eyes that she would never accept such things. "If you would just read one," Leliana implored her as she reached into her pack.

"No, those are the personal thoughts of the Most Holy, and you defiled them by removing them from the Grand Cathedral," Cassandra refused. "Was this your plan all along?" Cassandra asked bitterly. "Were you ever anything but a bard and a spy?"

"I serve the Maker, and I know that the intentions of the Most Holy are not the will of the Maker," Leliana retorted. "An exalted march by Orlesian forces alone while every part of the Thedus stands on the brink of war with each other is not the will of the Maker."

"I admit that I did not expect such action to be taken, but it is not our place to question the Most Holy," Cassandra said, before she dropped her head.

"It is your duty to follow her command," one of the knights blurted from beneath his black helmet.

"Because the Most Holy still cares for you, and I once considered you a friend, I will not kill you," said Cassandra. "Just hand over the documents and tell me who it is you are working for and we will leave," Cassandra offered.

"She works for no one, but that does not mean she is without friends," they heard from the shadows of the boles at the forest entrance, where a form emerged with sword drawn.

Cassandra stood silent for and moment, her face twisted as she struggled to place the face of man. "So it seems that you are alive after all," Cassandra said with a smirk. "You have done well to stay hidden all these years Warden Commander."

"I have not hidden, I have kept close eye on the lands I sacrificed much to save," the Warden Commander said nobly. "A plan years in the making now threatens all of Thedus, and your actions here only seek to aid it."

"You two will come with us, we will sort this all out back at the Grand Cathedral in Orlais," Cassandra ordered.

"Sorry, but we cannot do that," said the Warden Commander.

"You do not have a choice in the matter," Cassandra countered as the two knights stepped beside her.

"You position is not a favorable as you may think," the Warden Commander said as he grinned slightly. "For while you thought you were tracking Leliana, you were unaware that you were being tracked by those who know these mountains better than any," he continued as forms appeared all around the Seekers.

"The Avvar," one of the seekers said disgustedly as he looked about the people native to the Frostback Mountains.

"Now Cassandra, since I consider you a friend I will not kill you," Leliana said as she walked over to Cassandra. "But when you return to the Grand Cathedral tell her Most Holy that we know of her plan, and it will not come to pass."

"This is not over," Cassandra scowled and barked at Leliana.

"No, it is only beginning," Leliana retorted, as she cut her eyes at Cassandra. "Now leave, and know that if you return with reinforcements, that I, the Warden, or the Avvar will no longer be here upon your return."

Cassandra glared at Leliana before she turned and walked away along with the other seekers.

"Do not worry, the Avvar will make sure they leave the mountains," the Warden Commander assured Leliana before he turned to looked in her eyes. "But it is good to see you return safely."

Her lips curled into a smile as she drew closer to him. "It is good to see you as well my love," she said before she kissed him softly. "I have missed you."

"I hope our time apart was worth it," the Warden Commander said.

"Yes, unfortunately it was," she said solemnly. "It is all as we expected, the Tevinter have infiltrated the Chantry," she was barely able to force out because the revelation of such things she did not want to accept. "Even as far as the Grand Cathedral itself, and they wish to use the current state of the world to destroy the Chantry completely," she explained.

"Then we must act," the Warden Commander said urgently. "We will need those we can trust, we must find her."

"But how, she has not been seen since the events in Kirkwall?"

"We know where her sister is, we will start there," he answered. "But with or without her we must act swiftly, or the world will fall to darkness."