A letter from Inquisitor Trevelyan to Commander Cullen:
Cullen:
We have arrived in Crestwood. The town feels as if it is festering from old wounds left over from the Blight. When I arrived, the gates were being attacked by undead, and the town's mayor tells me I will need to close the dam that flooded Old Crestwood in order to be able to access the fade rift and close it.
To accomplish this, I will need to approach a group of bandits calling themselves the Highwaymen, who have fortified themselves in Caer Bronach. I wager they will not give their keep over to the Inquisition peacefully. We will scout the location tomorrow.
My main goal, however, is to meet up with Hawke's Warden contact to attempt to get word on the Grey Wardens. On my way to Crestwood, I encountered two Wardens who appear to be searching for our contact as well. The situation is suspicious.
On a more personal note, thank you for telling me about your desire to break away from the lyrium. Please allow me to reiterate that I respect what you are doing, and I hope you will tell me if you need anything at all. Take care of yourself.
I also appreciate the return of my phylactery. I must think about what to do with it in the future.
It has been a long time since I have written you a letter, hasn't it? I would not have thought that I would miss Skyhold, but I do.
Evelyn
[At the bottom of the letter is a drawing of a wheel of cheese that appears to have been adapted into a shield.]
From Commander Cullen's personal journal:
I am at Skyhold, but the main keep has been replaced by the Gallows. A line of mages kneels in front of Knight-Commander Meredith to be judged. I know this dream, know how it ends. She kills them all, one by one, as I watch. I step in front of the last mage, my sword drawn.
"Knight-Commander, stand down!" Every time, I say the same thing.
"Blessed are those who stand against the corrupt and wicked and do not falter!" she shrieks, and plunges her red lyrium blade into my heart.
But it does not happen this time. "Out of the way, Knight-Captain…" says the mage at my feet, and I am shoved to the side by the Inquisitor.
She has taken the blade meant for me. We are alone, back in the Frostbacks outside Haven, and it is snowing. She is freezing. I don't know how she made it this far from Haven, but I thank the Maker that she still lives, that she gave me her phylactery. I know just where she is.
I kneel and pick her up. There is blood everywhere.
I want to say something to her, but what comes out is, "Mages cannot be treated like people. They are not like you and me. They are weapons. They have the power to light a city on fire in a fit of pique."
She speaks, calmly: "I am not a woman, I am a mage. I am a weapon. I am fire." She reaches up and touches the scar on my face. "I am the sharp edge of a blade."
I awake.
Varric tells me that Hawke is here. I remember saying those words to her, once, before I knew she was an apostate. I have thus far avoided her, but perhaps we should meet. I want very much to prove to her, to myself, to…others, that I am not the man I was in Kirkwall, but can such things truly be left behind?
Part of me wishes I could speak to the Inquisitor about this, but the idea of sharing these dreams with her is…I cannot. I have already revealed so much weakness to her. This is not what I want for her to think of me.
A letter from Inquisitor Trevelyan to Commander Cullen:
Cullen:
This letter is to accompany Jana, a new agent of the Inquisition. I have recruited her from Crestwood.
Caer Bronach is now under the protection of the Inquisition, and the dam is open. Cassandra agrees with me that the keep could potentially be a good long-term holding for the Inquisition. There was a rift nearby, but I closed it. This business of holding a castle is not my area of expertise, however. I trust I can leave the arrangements in your hands?
Tomorrow: the Warden. I believe he is hiding in a former smugglers' den nearby.
Evelyn
[After the letter is a drawing of Caer Bronach, with approximate dimensions provided.]
A letter from Commander Cullen to Inquisitor Trevelyan:
Inquisitor:
Based on your information, and reports from a contact of Leliana's in the area, I have made arrangements for us to set up a more long-term presence at Caer Bronach. Troops and supplies are on their way.
Be safe.
Cullen
A letter from Inquisitor Trevelyan to Commander Cullen:
Cullen:
We will set out tomorrow for Skyhold. The Warden, Alistair, will accompany us. He has provided us with extensive intelligence on the situation with Corypheus and the Grey Wardens, and I want everyone on the War Council to hear it.
Your support has arrived at Caer Bronach and I think they can take it from here.
It's going to be a long trip back.
Evelyn
[In the corner of the letter is a quick sketch of Cole's hat.]
A letter from Commander Cullen to Inquisitor Trevelyan:
Inquisitor:
I hope your journey is progressing well.
Word has reached Skyhold, courtesy of one of Leliana's contacts, that the leader of the Inquisition killed a High Dragon, specifically a Northern Hunter.
Apparently you are not reading the portion of my letters where I write things like, "Be safe."
Cullen
A letter from Inquisitor Trevelyan to Commander Cullen:
Cullen:
I always read all of the letters you send me.
If you are upset that I fought the dragon, please understand that it was an informed decision. I talked to area residents about the creature's feeding patterns, and observed the territory it frequented, and concluded that a confrontation with the residents of the Caer Bronach or Crestwood would occur within the next several weeks. A large loss of life would result, which would be especially unfortunate after we had already worked so hard to make the keep viable. I selected the most advantageous battlefield and prepared myself and my party quite thoroughly before engaging the creature. I even brought Cassandra!
I am sorry that I did not tell you initially. I felt that you already had too many things to worry about, without...fussing about something that was already over and done with.
For what it is worth, I have already paid a great price for my actions. I think Iron Bull was so…stimulated by the fight with the dragon that he apparently showed up in Cassandra's tent wearing very little. When she respectfully passed (I believe she threw a gauntlet at him), he stopped by to see me.
"Hey, uh, Boss? You interested in…?"
"No."
"Okay, well, just checkin'. I'll go take care of this myself, then."
And while we are chastising each other for not reading letters thoroughly, you might observe that my name is
Evelyn
And is not "Inquisitor."
[Attached to the letter is a map of Crestwood. It is covered in tiny notes: sightings accompanied by names and dates, locations of recorded attacks, spoor, and potential nesting sites.]
A letter from Commander Cullen to Inquisitor Trevelyan:
Evelyn:
I do not "fuss."
Cullen