-Chassidy Trevelyan-

"Skyrim is the northernmost province," said the girl as she sipped her tea. We were sitting at the desk in my quarters, and had told me about how she had arrived here: her desire to bring back her husband from the dead had drawn her to a powerful rift in time itself, but her magic had failed and thrown her across the universe. Supposedly.

I'd managed to calm her down after a few minutes of her screaming at me. Normally, I would have sent her to the cells for such an outburst, but I had seen that unusual flash of light. Something strange was at work here. She and I both sensed it; fortunately, we were also both diplomatic enough that we sensed talking it out would be the best means to an explanation. Now, her rage turned to civility, and she told me her story.

"It's where I was born, originally. My father was a bastard son of the High King Istlod. He was sent away at a young age with his mother. She later died, and he joined the Thieves Guild. That's where he met my mother. They ran away together, back to the outskirts of where my father was born. They built a shack in the marshes. Money wasn't a problem; thieving makes you surprisingly rich, if you're good at it. But then I came along. My birth was an accident, but my father didn't have the heart to leave me to die. So they planned to leave the life of outcasts and demand a place amongst the nobility with my father's birthright after the King died, but rumor spread, and someone at the castle hired a mercenary to have my father killed. The mercenary spared me and my mother. We fled to Cyrodiil, which is home to the capital of Tamriel. We lived as beggars, surviving only off of thieving until I was around twelve. Then a guard tracked us down. But my mother made a deal with the guardsman and sold me to him as a slave in exchange for a few coins. For four years, I was like a toy for the guards. They locked me in the barracks of the basement and did…unspeakable things to me. It was in the fourth year that one of them left behind his dagger. That night, when all the guards came in drunk, I murdered every last one of them. I escaped into the city and found my mother. I slit the bitch's throat, took all of her belongings, and ran to Skyrim. However, when I crossed the border, I walked right into a trap. My country was in the midst of a civil war. A usurper named Ulfric Stormcloak had killed the king, and I walked right into an ambush with the king-slayer himself. The Imperials bound my hands and took me to their military keep. I was supposed to be executed, but moments before the axe came down, a dragon swooped down from the sky and destroyed the town. Saviik nol fin lok, ironically. I was lucky to escape with my life. A few days later, one of the soldiers I escaped with sent me to one of the Jarls, a lesser king, and somehow I ended up being sent to retrieve this old relic that had to do with the rebirth of the dragons. When I came back, a dragon was attacking the city, so I went and fought it. When we defeated it, it cursed the 'Dragonborn' and I literally absorbed its life essence. One of the survivors had heard a legend that the Dragonborn could inherently speak the Dragon language. The legend was true; Dovah tinvaak lahney ko Zu'u. I was summoned to a monastery where a group called the Greybeards taught me about how to master this power. You see, the dragon language is so powerful that even the smallest of words can be put together to become vicious attacks. When I shouted at you, earlier, technically, you should have been thrown into the air like a ragdoll. But this place...Thedas, you said….it doesn't work by the same rules Skyrim does. Here, I'm just another commoner. But in these past few minutes, I've found peace in that fact. This world, this place…it's done something to my state of mind. My power made me arrogant and bitter, but now that it is gone, so is my rage. One feeling still remains, however, and that is my sense of loss. I could not find my husband in my own world, but perhaps I will find him in yours. Setting out to find him would be much easier to do once you've dealt with the trouble here. I wish I could be of aid to you, Inquisitor. This Corypheus seems like a very serious threat, but I'm afraid that I cannot do much without my powers. If there is any way that I could possibly recover them, I will stay and help you. Honestly though, I have little choice in the matter, seeing as how I have no idea how to return to Tamriel. Fate certainly seems out to doom everyone, me more than ever. "

Before I could reply to her heartbreaking story, a messenger burst into the room. "Your Worship," he said nodding politely. "Ambassador Montilyet has requested your presence immediately."

I sighed. "Tell her I will be there shortly." The messenger bowed, and marched out of the room.

I turned back to the Dragonborn. Her sparkling eyes had lost their fierce gaze. Now, they looked pleading. "Do you believe me?" she asked.

I nodded. How could I not? I had watched her trying to perform magic. Cullen had warned me that she could be a blood mage, but I refused to believe it. Blood mages weren't that good of actors. She sighed with relief upon my nod, but then asked, "Where shall I stay?"

I thought for a moment. "I believe there is an empty room above the gardens. I can have some soldiers fix it up for you. I have something to attend to at the moment, but I promise that you will be taken care of."

Kyra (she had asked me to call her that since she felt her Dragonborn status was of no relevance) smiled gratefully. I shook her hand and turned to leave. "There is a library filled with books on the other side of the castle," I told her. "You sound like a smart girl. Maybe you'll enjoy learning about Thedas. Talk to Dorian if you're interested. He's the one with the moustache. You'll know him when you see him. I have to attend to something right now, but we shall speak later."

She wordlessly nodded, and cast a forlorn look out into the sky before standing up. I wondered if the sky was a welcoming sign for her. After all, it sounded as if our worlds were strikingly similar.

After leaving my quarters, I pointed her in the direction of the library, and then made my way into the Josephine's room.

"I've made some inquiries into the Imperial court," said Josephine as soon as her eye landed on me. "The sooner we deal with the threats to the empress, the better. The political situation in the empire is dangerously unstable. It will complicate matters."

"Everything in the empire complicates matters," scoffed Cullen as he made his way out of the war room. I smiled at him as he made his way over to Josephine's desk. With one hand, he reached down to examine the papers in front of Josephine. The other hand intertwined with mine in front of the desk, out of the Ambassador's view. It lasted only a few seconds, but I was still impressed. Cullen was very embarrassed about rumors of his personal life, and he tried to hide our relationship. I did not object to it; in fact, I agree. But this public display was a big jump for him. I tried to hide my girlish giggles when he added, "It's the Orlesian national pastime."

"You can turn your nose up at the grand Game if you'd like, Commander," said Sister Leliana, making her way over to the desk as well. "But we play for the higher stakes…and to the death."

Josephine nodded in agreement. "The court disapproval can be as great a threat as the Venatori. We must be vigilant to avoid disaster."

"Don't worry, Josephine," I said. "We'll protect the empress no matter what."

She nodded gravely. "I pray you're right. If your vision of the future at Redcliffe comes to pass, the death of the empress heralds the destruction of everything. Orlais holds Tevinter at bay. All of Thedas could be lost if the empire falls to Corypheus. Celene is holding peace talks under the auspices of a grand masquerade. Every power in Orlais will be there, it's the perfect place for an assassin to hide!"

"Does Celene know about the threats against her? Can we send word?" I asked. If she did, things would be so much easier.

Apparently, she and I had been on the same track. "I've sent letters to the empress, but it is impossible to tell whether she's received them. We have enough power after Adamant to secure an invitation to the ball."

"Then why are we still here?" asked Leliana.

Josephine looked nervous. "Inquisitor, I too would be happy to go as soon as possible, but we've all heard word about the new…'member' of the Inquisition. Can you trust her?"

I began the long process of explaining Kyra to them; everything from her history to her titles to her utter confusion and helplessness. "If there is any way to have her powers returned to her, she would be an invaluable ally. For now, however, I trust her completely."

"I trust your word, Inquisitor," said Cullen.

"As do I," said Josephine. "Well then, are we ready to set off for the Winter Palace?"

"Give me until the morrow," I said. "I need to go tell Kyra what's happening…and pick out a pretty dress."

"About that…" started Josephine.