A/N: set during inquisition, after "here lies the abyss" and "wicked hearts"

apologies for the "ending," but i wrote this over two years ago and even though i had plans, they never got written


"Inquisitor, please."

"I'm afraid I must apologize, Josie. It's my fault."

Aubrie looked up at her advisers, clearing her throat. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Our dear inquisitor was… otherwise occupied this morning," Leliana continued. "It seems I shouldn't have interrupted."

From the other side of the war table, Josephine shot Aubrie a We'll talk later look, one that guaranteed plenty of gossip about the Inquisitor's love life over tea later. "The mages," she said, in a tone that suggested she'd already repeated herself a half dozen times. "Most have either disappeared entirely or joined with the Inquisition after what happened at Redcliffe, but a small group in the Hinterlands is asking for you personally."

Pointing to a small area on the map, Cullen added, "They've been attacking our soldiers around this road for the past few weeks. Mostly, we've been trying to get Leliana's people to find out more about them, but…"

"They killed them, too," Aubrie guessed. "Why not just send in some soldiers to take care of it?"

"We could," Josephine admitted. "Or we could… investigate. They could be potential allies."

Leliana cleared her throat. "We've been investigating for weeks. We've gained nothing but dead agents, until they approached our spies and asked for the Inquisitor herself. They know we're watching them," she emphasized. "I believe that they only way to find out more is for Lady Trevelyan to meet them."

Staring down at the markers on the map, Aubrie asked, "Alone, I assume?"

"They didn't specify," Cullen informed her. "I would suggest taking a small group with you, and we can have backup waiting nearby."

"Good. Get your men ready, and I'll head over to the Hinterlands."


"Ah, if it isn't the Herald herself."

Aubrie grimaced, but said nothing. Motioning for Blackwall, Cassandra, and Sera to stay put, she took a few steps forward so she could see the apostate clearly. "You've been attacking my soldiers and demanding to speak to me. Here I am," she called, gesturing to herself, "so speak."

The apostate leaned on his staff, grinning. "No, I haven't been asking for you. But I can take you to the man who is." He cocked his head to the side, motioning for them to follow deeper into the cave. "He's been watching you for a long time, Inquisitor," the apostate drawled. "There was no reason for us to get your attention until you went off to Orlais and made all those alliances – you offered assistance to dukes and comtesses that claim to be related to you, so why not make allies who are a bit… closer to home?"

"I don't like this," Sera whispered loudly, inching closer to Aubrie as they descended further into the cave. "It's creepy down here."

"It is strange," Cassandra agreed. "These mages should be under the protection of either the Chantry or the Inquisition. There's no reason–"

"Not that," Sera interrupted. "I mean the creepy mages, staring at us from all over."

Grip tightening on her staff, Aubrie glanced over her shoulder just long enough to tell them to quiet down. They'd reached the back of the cave, where at least a dozen mages sat around a campfire. One stood, a tall man with ragged, dark brown hair that matched Aubrie's. "You're the one who's asked for me?" she guessed.

The man said nothing, crossing his arms and scrutinizing the Inquisitor. After a moment, he nodded. "You're taller than I remember," he shrugged, before chuckling quietly to himself. "Name's Riley. I spent a few years over at the Starkhaven Circle, 'til you came along. Then, they transferred me. Know where?"

Aubrie said nothing, eyes searching the man. He seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place why.

"Fucking Kirkwall," he spat. "We–" Riley gestured to the gathered mages in the cave, "–are all from Kirkwall. When that self-righteous champion tore that city apart, we had no where to go but the wilderness."

"The Inquisition has already offered you shelter and protection," Aubrie reminded him.

"We don't want your protection," he sneered. "We want to be left alone. It doesn't matter if we're back in that shit hole in Kirkwall, or if I ever go back to Starkhaven, or if we go to that big dame castle you're living in. We're prisoners, wherever we go. There'll be templars. We'll be watched."

Again, Aubrie said nothing. So far, the entire trip had been a waste; these mages weren't worth dealing with. She turned, motioning for her companions to lead the way out. "Attack my people again and it'll be the last thing you do."

"Typical," he called out. "Walking out, never looking back, and pretending I don't exist – just like Mother and Father. Must run in the Trevelyan blood." Riley paused to chuckle. "What a nice way to treat your fucking brother."

He paused again, and the concern etched into Blackwall's brow was enough for Aubrie to know that her anger and disbelief shone clearly on her face. "I don't have a brother," she enunciated, breathing slowly.

"Of course they never talked about me. Magic's such a shame, isn't it?"

"Aubrie–"

She shook her head, cutting off whatever comfort Blackwall was prepared to offer. "Cassandra, signal Cullen's men. I want these mages taken to the nearest operational Circle. But make sure that bastard goes straight to Skyhold's prisons." Aubrie marched outside of the cave, old anger and even older memories making her heart race.

"He's full of it, yeah? I mean, you'd know if you'd had a brother. And even if you didn't know, you'd just know. Right?"

Aubrie gritted her teeth, waiting until Cassandra was talking to one of Cullen's soldiers before she answered Sera. "That's the thing. I don't know. If anyone wanted to keep something like that a secret, my mother–" Her words cut of sharply. "She would. She tried, when I was sent off to the Circle, but I'd been to too many parties. Knew too many people. I already had a husband picked out for me, for Andraste's sake. There wasn't any hiding me."

Sera plopped down on a nearby rock. "Wish I'd known you – then. I could get her back for you, make her and everyone else remember you. Also for the husband."

Eyes still trained on Cassandra and the now-approaching soldiers, Aubrie sighed. "Thanks, Sera. I don't think it would've helped, but thank you." After a moment she added, unthinking, "I never minded the husband thing."

Sera glanced up at Aubrie, eyes wide and grin wider. She slowly turned from Aubrie to Blackwall and back, then erupted into laughter.

"Cut it out." Despite the flush of heat on her cheeks, Aubrie was glad for the momentary distraction; almost as soon as Sera finished laughing, the captain of the soldiers approached the Inquisitor.

"Your worship," he greeted her, moving aside to make way for a second soldier, who held Riley in a too-tight grip. The mage was unsteady on his feet, and a thick smear of blood ran across his nose and left cheek. "We don't have the manpower to escort all the mages, but we'll keep an eye on them until some of the Inquisition's templars arrive. Lady Cassandra said you wanted this one taken to Skyhold?"

"Yes. And I want him there before I return." As the soldiers marched off, Aubrie grabbed her staff and motioned for her companions to follow, headed straight for Skyhold.