It took the inquisition a few days to reach the arbor wilds. Once they arrived the scene was almost…chaotic. The bodies of elves laid before them on the ground. Some torn to shreds, others pale and decomposing.

"Maker…" Cullen whispered softly removing his helmet as he rode next to the inquisitor's horse dismounting. Others followed his movement.

"Looks like we were too late...Shit..." Varric sighed shaking his head. Jericho walked around.

"Dalish. Some of them look quite young." He stated.

"So I have a question. Where are the Demons, and the fade rifts?" Dorian spoke up using his staff as a walking stick.

The inquisitor looked around the woods, his look was somber. Nothing but bodies of his people turning to carcasses.

"Look around." He ordered aloud. "Find out what happened here. Two men scout to the north, two men to the south. If you find any rifts or any fade touched beings get back immediately."

Cullen watched as the scouts looked around the bodies and searched the area. "Something's not right here."

"I agree." Dorian stated folding his arms together. "This area feels almost electric. Feels like some kind of old magic. I'm not sure if I should be alarmed by it."

Jericho noticed a scout pick up a note off of a body. "What is it?" He asked. The man turned still reading the note. "It's…Keeper Adorellan your worship. He was writing a message to madam Leliana."

"Read it aloud corporal." Cullen ordered resting his hands on the hilt of his blade. The soldier simply continued to read in his head, a sudden look of confusion spread across his face.

"Well?" Cullen growled sounding a little more impatient.

"S-Sorry sir. It's just…This can't be right. It states that…The knights were disguised as demons and one claimed to be Maferath…Like Andraste's Maferath."

The group grew quiet. Scouts looked at the other with concern and disbelief. Others speaking to each other in hushed whispers. Cullen sprang forward snatching the note from the corporal to look over it.

"Dear Inquisition." Cullen read aloud. "Please forgive me, for my eyes are not as keen as they should be. We have been betrayed by these so called 'knights'. My people spoke of how they seemed different. Fade touched even. When I confronted their leader, they became malevolent. This man started speaking a language I could not interpret. He then proceeded to speak his name as Maferath, telling us he was our.."

Cullen hesitated.

"Our new god in place of our own, the elven gods have abandoned us as well as the maker. When I've heard enough I grabbed my people and ran. We're hiding in the trees please help-….Maker's breath…Dorian…Is that even possible? "

The Tevinter man shook his head. "At this point…anything is possible." He sighed.

Jericho pinched the bridge of his nose. "None of this makes sense. I don't understand how-"

"DRAGON! RUN!" Scouts screamed rushing out of the woods. On the other side the other scouts ran to them barreling through the meadow screaming. Demons close behind. Jericho and his men drew their blades and staffs as the fade creatures circled them.

"Herald of Andraste and friends drop you're weapons." The dragon bellowed shape-shifting into a man with black robes, and Obsidian armor.

The soldiers complied without hesitation, Cullen and the rest of them stood firm with their weapons. "I said drop them!" The demon screeched pulling his hands back launching a force of magic at them. Jericho and his team nearly took flight as weapons flew from their grasp.

The man strode up to Jericho, hauling him up by his collar. "Tell me Herald! What does she say! What does she tell you?!" He shouted, his voice distorted by his true nature.

"You must be Maferath…" Jericho wheezed, his already injured rib now throbbing again.

"No. He's my master. Unfortunately he's a very busy man and couldn't make it. But what I do hear is that you're causing a problem for my master and his advisors with this…Anchor of yours." He hissed gripping at Jericho's wrist, nails digging into his skin. "Sorry to say I'll be leaving with your hand as a prize for my master."

The demon threw Jericho to the ground, drawing his sword. Jericho backed up to his group quickly, the others more than willingly moved to protect him.

A sudden golden rip in the veil snatched everyone's attention as nearly dozens of armor covered men and women flooded out of the veil, Old Templar crest's branded their armor. Once these men and women were out they were followed by a strongly built man in knight-commander's armor.

The demons hissed in detest. "My, my you're causing quite the mess Haalaari." The knight commander spoke folding his arms. "You violated the old treaty. Tsk tsk tsk."

"I didn't violate shit guardian." Haalaari growled.

"Well let's see…You're on neutral ground, and you're intervening in a war that isn't yours to fight dweller. This is a punishable act." The Templar spoke clearly irritated.

"But Maferath said-"

"Maferath..." The knight commander's head tilted as he stepped forward. "Maferath is here?"

Haalaari hesitated then stayed quiet as the man in the suit of armor turned. "Let Andraste know Maferath is back in Thedas."

With a nod, the Templar walked through the veil, the rift closing behind him.

Cullen slowly crawled to his blade, pushing Dorian's staff to Jericho. "You know I can't let you leave Haalaari." The demon hissed in detest as he turned to the other demons circling Jericho's group.

"Go! Tell Maferath we've had trouble! All of you!" Haalaari growled. The demons complied vanishing into a mist of smoke.

"Do what you will Guardian. Maferath will hear of this."

"Unfortunately I'm not the wounded party in this situation." The Templar said walking over to help Jericho up. Other Templar's helped the rest. "What do you, propose we do you're worship?"

Jericho's brows were raised and stared back to back from the knight commander to the demon. "Uh…I…We should take him in for questioning. Find out what else we should know…or you should know." Jericho hesitated watching the tall man fold his arms.

"I agree. Chain him." He stated with complying Templars.

"I apologize for this display." The Templar said removing his helmet. "I am Ser Beckham Rutherford. Knight-commander and forces advisor for Lady Andraste." He stated taking a bow as the demon was dragged in chains past him. He even had similar features to Cullen.

Everyone's jaw was ajar, eyes stared at the knight-commander, then to Cullen who was even more shocked. "Of the Honnleath branch I presume?" Cullen spoke only loud enough for ser Beckham to hear. "That's correct."

"I'm Ser Cullen Rutherford of Honnleath, commander of the inquisition and forces advisor for the Inquisition. Formerly knight-captain of the Templar order."

A wild grin grew on Beckham's face.

"Always honored to meet a family member. Glad to see the line is still strong." He chuckled patting Cullen's shoulder.

"Sorry to interrupt, but perhaps we should get back to your hold. We can explain more of what's going on in your war room. You lot look just as confused as a nug at supper." A Templar bowed after he spoke.

"Good Idea. Perhaps Andraste will want to meet her Herald. We've been hearing quite a bit about you these days." Beckham smiled.

"Yeah…I'm more for the questions and answers idea, other than knowing how people are talking about us where you come from." Jericho muttered rubbing his head.

"Lead the way. We'll follow."