"I still think that this is a bad idea." Cullen said as he helped Aoife dismount from her horse. Both he and Cassandra had invited themselves along, with Varric following for some further moral support. Aoife shot him a small smile, which made him relax a little more.

"I have you, Cassandra and and Varric." She said, hearing the Dwarf chuckle. "You're all good protectors for the Herald of Andraste. A Seeker, a Knight Commander, and a companion to the Champion of Kirkwall, I have the most esteemed company that I could ask for. Nobody is going to mess with me in a hurry." In the distance, she could hear bells chiming.

"The city still mourns." Cassandra explained as they walked through the streets, when suddenly a woman gave a loud gasp and gave them a wide berth.

"Just a guess, but I think that they may possibly know who we are." Varric said with a chuckle.

"Yes, Varric, though I'm surprised that they aren't after your autograph." Cullen said as he hovered near Aoife protectively. Most of the time between them arriving and leaving Haven, was him being in close proximity to her. Had it been any other time and perhaps it would have been more than just heated kisses stolen whenever they could catch a moment alone. Neither of them wanted the entire Inquisition to know what they did in the privacy of their lives.

"Lady Herald!" The party heard as a woman approached them.

"I recognise you." Aoife said, acknowledging her presence. "I believe you're one of Leliana's people. Ritts was it?"

"Indeed, my lady." She said. "I thought it best to meet you and tell you the update in person. The Chantry Mothers wait in the Marketplace for you, but with them they have a great number of Templars. The people believe that the Templars will protect them." The elven woman looked away. "That they will protect them from the Inquisition."

"You mean from me." Aoife said, feeling the crackle of magic in Andraste's mark, which brought her to look back to what had become home. It was Cassandra that gripped her shoulder, even though she knew that Cullen wanted to do a lot more than that. If he could, he would hide her away from all this, but that wouldn't help the situation. "Well, lets get the meeting with the nest of vipers over with." With those words, Aoife straightened, and her own 'mask' fell over her body language. She was no longer Aoife Trevelyan, apostate Mage, she was Aoife Trevelyan, Herald of Andraste.

When her small party arrived, they heard the preaching of one of the Mothers, leading to Aoife to just want to knock her out. The woman had absolutely no idea what she was talking about, that she was talking about one person that she was happy to falsely accuse, when she had been the only survivor. Yet a Templar was more than happy to shut her up. "Saved me the trouble." She said, noticing Cassandra raising an eyebrow. "Considering that she speaks falsely, she needed quietening." Aoife said before looking at the Lord Seeker, but before she could speak, Cassandra started, and was quickly silenced by Lord Seeker Lucius as he explained that only his destiny mattered, something that Aoife would learn was uncharacteristic of him.

She looked at Culled who stepped forward. "Templars." He said, getting a few of their attentions. "Do you really intend on sitting back and watching the world be destroyed like he wants you to do?" There was some mumbling among the ranks present. "I was once Knight Commander in the Order, and I know for a fact that you are good people, but how good will your protections be in a world that you do not recognise? You're running away like frightened dogs with your tails between your legs rather than standing up for what you believe to be right and true." Sadly Aoife knew that his words were for naught.

"Really, Cullen Rutherford, you've turned traitor on your brothers and sisters, and now you want to turn them away from their true purpose? You should be ashamed." The Lord Seeker said. "Being in that Mage's presence has sullied you, and your purpose. You should be begging us to let you come back into the fold, to let you become one of us yet again." Aoife could see his change in posture.

"Never. The Order took its fair share of flesh from me." Cullen said. "You of all people should know how much I despised Mages, Lord Seeker. It was you that advised my placement to Kirkwall after the Fifth Blight ended. Yet here I am standing as advocate for one. She can close the Breach, but she needs either more power or those with the ability to disrupt magic." He then gave a small crooked smile. "I thought that you would rather stop a Mage from getting her hands on more power than she could handle, but I guess that you want her to make a deal with the rebellious lot in Redcliffe." There was a few more voices in the ranks. "It's not like you want to protect the innocent from the wicked, after all."

The two men glared at each other before the Lord Seeker turned towards the Templars once more. "I will make the Templar Order a power that stands alone against the void. We deserve recognition, independence. You, Herald, have shown me nothing, and your Inquisition." A scathing sneer appeared on his face. "Your Inquisition has shown me less than nothing. Templars, the capital does not deserve our protection any more, we march he said, as he marched towards the gate, there was a moment's hesitation before the other Templars followed him. Cullen could only watch sadly.

"This... this isn't right." Cassandra said. "That doesn't sound like the Lord Seeker." She said as they walked around the city. "He... he must have gone mad!"

"How well do you know him, Cassandra?" Aoife asked .

"Well, he took over the Seekers two years ago after Lord Seeker Lambert's demise." She said before pausing for a moment. "He was always a decent man, and not one given to ambition or grandstanding. The man before us certainly was not like him." Aoife looked to Cullen, who shrugged.

"I barely know the man. He was one of the people that advised my replacement to becoming Knight Captain at Kirkwall, that was about all I knew of him." He said. "This was the first time I saw him in person."

"Well so much for Templar support. Thankfully they aren't our only hope, we still have the mages in Redcliffe..."

"Don't write them off so quickly." Cullen said as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Did you hear the voices in the ranks when I raised up some doubt in their mind. We may get our foothold in their ranks yet, we just need to be patient."

"We should first return to Haven." Cassandra said. "The others will want to know about this, and we can decide our next move. "

"Varric?" Aoife asked. "What is your thoughts on the matter?"

"Well... I'm happy whichever way you go. Just be careful, I have no doubt that there will be as many issues with the mages." He patted her back. "I'm glad that I don't need to decide." She nodded as she headed towards the gates, when suddenly an arrow thunked into the ground close to her.

Immediately Cassandra and Cullen sprang into action, Cullen pulling her into his arms, his chest protecting her front, and his shield, her back. Cassandra's eyes scanning the upper city to try and find the one who shot the arrow. Neither of the warriors took note of the arrow, leaving Varric to do that. The Dwarf chuckled as he read the message. "Well, Lady Trevelyan, you have the attentions of the Red Jennies." He said. "They want to let us know something but we need to work for it. Around Val Royeaux is some beautiful scarves, we need to find them and all will reveal itself." Even with the answer being given, Cullen was rather reluctant to let Aoife out of his arms. The actions spoke a thousand words to the dwarf. "You can let your lady love go now Curly." He said with a small chuckle. "There is no danger on her Ladyship's life." Only then did Cullen release Aoife. He ached to claim her lips, to show to the world that she was his. Yet because they were there, in the public spotlight he held back from his desire to do such.

"What should we do, milady?" He asked, only wanting to rush her back to Haven, to the safety of the Inquisition.

"Well, these 'Friends of Red Jenny' seem to have taken an interest in us, let's see what these scarves mean." She said, smiling at Cullen's frown. "If these friends are of use to us, you'll be happy." She said with confidence. She knew that all Cullen wanted to do was make sure that she was safe. "I said that I would be safe with you around." She said with a chuckle. She faced her Commander and brought his head to hers, pressing their foreheads together. The action was over in a moment, but it was enough. Already she could hear the whisperings of some of those present in Val Royeaux, let them talk for the moment. Let them discuss the scandalous Herald of Andraste with her traitorous liaison with a disgraced Knight Commander of the Templar Order. Andraste had a husband, and the love of armies, Aoife could see why her Herald deserved no less. Once they collected the three notes, it revealed a time, date and a location for them to go to.

Yet that wasn't the only offer that they received, there was a messenger bearing the regalia of a circle mage waiting for them, and he passed an invitation to Aoife before bowing and heading off. She looked at Cassandra. "Vivienne de Fer wants to meet me?" She said distractedly. "I am getting quite a reputation. To think that the First Enchanter of Montsimmard wants to meet me..."

"Not alone." Cullen said. "I will be going also." Cassandra just shook her head.

"What would one mage do to another Cullen?" Cassandra said partially as a reprimand.

"She could do a lot actually, especially if she doesn't like what Aoife has to say." He said in return. "If this Vivienne is against the reformation of the Inquisition, then she could think that taking the head of the 'rebel movement' out would be an easy way to quash its existence. For the most part she would be right." He let out a long sigh, looking to Aoife for some back up, and saw a small smile grace her lips. He knew that she approved of him accompanying her. "Now, I believe that we have a meeting with these so-called Friends of Red Jenny." He said as he offered his arm to her. "Shall we?"

Before they left the City, however Aoife heard a voice call from behind them. "If I may have a moment of your time." A woman said as she approached the departing figures. "I wish to speak with you, Herald."

"Grand Enchanter Fiona?" Cullen said, a blond eyebrow raising slightly. "What is the leader of the Mage Rebellion doing here in Val Royeaux? I would have thought that it would have been dangerous for you considering your position."

"I heard of this gathering, and I wanted to see the woman that is being hailed as the Herald of Andraste with ,y own eyes." The mage said as she scrutinised Aoife, her looks giving the Herald the creeps. "If it is help with the Breach in the sky that you seek, maybe you should look amongst your peers." She said.

"Well I would have, had you been willing to talk." Aoife said, sounding a bit more hostile than she had actually meant to.

"Well we are willing to open talks now." Fiona said. "Is that not the main thing? Please consider this an invitation to meet with us in Redcliffe. Come and meet with the mages, an alliance could benefit both of us after all." A small smile graced her lips. "I do hope to see you there, au revoir my dear Lady Herald." She left four stunned faces in her wake.

It was midnight when they entered the courtyard, she and her party were beset on by a number of people, who were dealt with quickly. Two powerful warriors, an exceptional bowman and the Herald, a mage of considerable talent proved too much. Then Aoife pushed open the door, to be faced with a fireball that fizzled out before it could connect with her face, and Aoife sent a thankful smile in Cullen's direction.

"Ahh if it isn't the Herald of Andraste." The masked Orlesian nobleman said as he straightened after his second fireball was extinguished by the glowering ex-Templar by Aoife's side. "How much time and resources did you expend to discover who I was? It must have weakened the Inquisition immeasurably."

"Who are you?" Aoife asked, confusion on her face, she looked to her companions and none seemed to know who the Orlesian actually was.

"Come on Herald, your pretty words don't fool me." He said, striking a stupid-looking pose. "I'm far to important for this to be a mere accident..." Suddenly an arrow took out his comrade, and a lithe Elven female.

"Just say 'What'." She said as she levelled an arrow at the Noble's face.

"What is the..." he was cut off by the woman shooting him with the arrow, seemingly in glee.

"That was rather quishy, but you heard me, right? 'Just say what' I said. Rich arseholes like him always try for more than they deserve." She said as she sent the corpse a disgusted look. "It's all 'Blah, blah, obey what I say!' Well they all deserve an arrow to the face!" She looked at Aoife. "Glad to see that you followed the notes, and I'm happy to see that you're..." She looked the Herald up and down. "Well you're kinda plain. All that talk about the great Herald and when I meet you, you're just... a person." She gave a small disappointed sigh. "Well... I guess the important thing is that you glow, that you're the Herald of Fancytits."

Aoife nodded to Cassandra and Cullen, who relaxed a little more. "They say that I'm the Herald of Andraste, however I'm more interested in who you are and what this is all about." She said.

"I've no idea." She said as she looked back at the corpse. "My people just said that your people should look into him." She said. "So I made sure to tell you to look at him, and I'm glad you did."

Aoife blinked in surprise. "Your people? Elves?"

The woman snorted. "No, people, people." She said. "The name's Sera, and this is my good friend, cover. I believe you want to get around it. The reinforcements must be on their way, but you're going to love this." She gave a dark chuckle. "Don't worry though. I was tipped the location of their equipment shed." She gave a wink. "They've got no breeches!" Aoife heard Cullen clear his throat in embarrassment. True to her word, the men that arrived indeed had no breeches. Unfortunately they still had weapons.

"Why didn't you take their weapons?" Aoife shouted over the noise of battle, getting only Sera's glee over the fact that they had no breeches.

"Well that was fun." Sera said when it was all over. "I like your Inquisition." She said. "I want to help you help people, I want to join your Inquisition." She said. "I can't offer you allies among anyone but the little people, but if you help them, they will always help you." She looked to the others. When she got no answers, it was down to her to decide.

"You can join us for the moment." Aoife said. "I hope that you'll enjoy yourself." She said hoping that she didn't regret her decision to let the odd Elf join them. What would Solas think? She dreaded to think. They were as both unelflike as she could imagine two elves being. One was too humanised, the other too... could she call Solas 'wild'? She heard 'Buttercup' coming from Varric and gave a small grin.

"Okay, it looks like he likes calling elven females after flowers." Cullen said. "He had a female elf companion when he ran with Hawke, he called her Daisy." He said as he caressed her hand as they walked, the small touches were barely noticeable, but comforting to both of them,even though they both knew that the other was never that far away. "So... first errand done, I believe that you have the meeting with Madame de Fer tomorrow." He said as they arrived back at the inn that they were staying at for the night. Once they had the meeting with Vivienne then they intended on heading back to Haven.

Aoife fussed over the dress that she had decided to wear. It was purple crushed velvet, an expensive item indeed, but so beautiful. The dress clung in all the right places, and the slippers that she had received was almost as gorgeous. "Do you think that I look good in this?" She asked as she looked over at Cullen, who was trying to straighten his jacket suitably. His copper eyes looked her over, and his jaw almost hit the floor.

He raised her hand and kissed it. "You look magnificent." He said as he picked up the necklace that still waited to be worn. He tied it around her neck, setting the amethyst tear in the cleft of her breasts. "Now you look perfect." He said with his trademark smirk. "Perfect for the salon, and I am honoured to be your date for this occasion." The word 'date' made the young woman blush, making Cullen's smirk widened as he took her right arm and wrapped it around his.

Leaving the room, the pair got loud wolf whistles from Varric, but neither paid it much mind. "You look stunning." Cassandra said, almost envious of the mage. "I hope you have a good time."

"This gives me a chance to remember the manners I had drilled into me when I was a child." Aoife said as she tried not to fidget. "It is a pity that I probably won't enjoy myself much, but we shall see." She said, turning her gaze back to Cullen, who was standing as straight as he could, like he was in his armour. "Cullen, you can relax a little." She said as her eyes glittered. "You're not going to your death."

"I choose to with hold judgement on that." He mumbled, making Aoife giggle. "We shall return as soon as we can." He said a little louder as he guided her out to the carriage that was waiting for them, which then whisked them away.

They arrived outside a large mansion, with both Aoife and Cullen staring in wonder before it drew to a stop. Ever the gentleman, Cullen left the carriage first before offering his arm. "You still look ravishing." He said quietly, watching as she shifted uncomfortably with his words. He knew that she wanted to be away from there, but it was best to see what the First Enchanter wanted. He was still more than certain that she wanted to do other things with Aoife than talk though. As they approached the doors, they opened to let the pair inside.

"Lady Trevelyan of Ostwick, and her companion Ser Rutherford of Honnleath, representing the Inquisition." The announcer said, and it felt like every face in the room turned towards them. Aoife wanted to hide, this was especially true when she was bombarded by questions from the closest two guests about the stories about her and whom she was here to visit.

It didn't take long for the mood to turn sour as a noble descended down some stairs to their floor. "The Inquisition? What a lot of pig shit!" He said disdainfully. "Full of washed-up Sisters, crazed Seekers, and traitor Templars? Nobody can take that seriously, surely." He walked to the opposing staircase, watching both Aoife and Cullen with his hawk-like gaze, knowing that he was getting under Cullen's skin. "Everyone with half the intelligence of a Ferelden knows that it is all just an excuse for a bunch of political outcasts to grab at any kind of power that they can."

"I do not see you searching for the murderer of Divine Justinia." Aoife said. "If you put as much effort into that than you do trying to goad us, maybe you find the killer."

"Oh I'm sure." He said sarcastically. "I'm certain that your army is out scouring the hills for her murderer as we speak." He got uncomfortably close to Aoife for Cullen's liking, and his sword hand twitched. "We both know what your 'Inquisition' truly is, Lady Trevelyan, if you were a woman of honour, you'd step outside and answer the charges." He moved to draw his sword, and Cullen matched his movement, that was until he saw the man beginning to freeze, and ice magic caress his skin, which was negated by the Lyrium that still ran in his body.

"My dear Marquis, how unkind of you to use such language in my house, and to my guests no less." A woman said as she descended down the stairs behind the man. "You know I find such rudeness... intolerable." She walked to face him. Aoife realised then that this dark skinned woman was the lady that they had arrived to see.

The Marquis realised his mistake the moment he was coated in ice. "M... ma... madame Vi... Vi... Vivienne, I h... hu...humbly beg your p... pa...pardon!" He said as his teeth chattered.

"You should." The woman identified as Vivienne said. "Whatever am I going to do with you, my dear?" She asked. Vivienne then looked towards Aoife and Cullen, knowing a Templar when she saw one. "My lady, you are the wounded party in this unfortunate affair." She said, slightly ignoring Cullen for the moment, especially considering his mood. "What would you have me do with this foolish, foolish man?"

"I didn't come here to see the Marquis." Aoife said. "His presence doesn't interest me at all. You can do with him what you will."

"Should have let me kill the pompous fool." Cullen growled into her ear.

Vivienne nodded before touching the Marquis' chin. "Poor Marquis, issuing challenges and hurling insults like some Ferelden dog lord." She said, making Cullen start to despise her too. There was no need for anyone to attack his country of birth! "With you all dressed up in your Aunt Solange's doublet. Didn't she give you that to wear to the Grand Tourney? To think, all the brave chevaliers who will be competing left for Markham this morning... yet you are still here. Were you really hoping to sate your damaged pride by defeating the Herald of Andraste in a public duel, or indeed her companion? Or did you think that his blade could put an end to the misery of your failure?" The silence answered that for her. "Run along, my dear. Do give my regards to your Aunt." With that she turned from him and back to Aoife and Cullen. "I am so delighted that you could attend this little gathering, I've so wanted to meet you." She said to Aoife, Cullen again on the sidelines.

"Please follow me." Vivienne said as she headed towards one of the corridors, both Aoife and Cullen in tow. "He is quite a loyal... companion." She said. "Where did you puck up the Templar pup?"

"The Knight Commander has been with the Inquisition before I." She said, watching in satisfaction as Vivienne took a deep breath. Served her right! "I had no need to pick him up, he is doing his duty. He is protecting the world from a magic more powerful than we can truly understand. A pity more of his Order wasn't as interested."

"Indeed." Vivienne said as she put a slightly increased distance between her person and Cullen. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. "I am Vivienne, First Enchanter of Montsimmard and Enchantress to the Imperial Court. Alas I didn't invite you to this Château for pleasantries." She said. "With Divine Justinia dead, the Chantry is in shambles. I believe that only the Inquisition has the capability to restore both sanity and order to our frightened people, and so as the leader of the last loyal mages of Thedas, I feel it only right that I lend my assistance to your cause."

"Is your interest in the Inquisition, Madame de Fer, or is it more personal?" Aoife asked, trying to gauge the woman's motives.

"Well aren't you a charming one? It's entirely professional, of course."

"Then the Inquisition will be happy to have you, Lady Vivienne." Aoife said after a moment, feeling Cullen's glare. He would understand after she talked to him, that she was certain.

"Great things are beginning, my dear Herald, I can promise you that." She said. "I shall join you in Haven once the party has wrapped up. I cannot abandon my guests immediately after all. You are free to leave whenever you wish. Your Knight Commander doesn't seen that comfortable in such backdrops."

"Indeed." Aoife said, as Cullen moved to be beside her. He wanted to be off, either to tell her off for her rash decision or something else, but either way he wanted to leave. "We shall await your arrival in Haven." She said, wrapping her arm around Cullen's as a sign that they could leave. She could feel the relief flooding through him. "Good day, Lady Vivienne." She said before they departed.

AN: Sorry this chapter took so long, I'm currently doing assessments at College, which took priority.