The mounted trio reined in the steaming horses after they pushed hard through mountain paths and valleys which surrounded the mysterious place, where The Inquisition established their present headquarters. Hawke pulled the hair out of her face and secured the irritating strand behind her ear as she peered before them and noticed a faint trail which winded up the nearest hilltop.
"Alright, if the map Varric gave us is any good then Skyhold should be just behind this hill and a small valley. Hopefully we will make it before the nightfall I don't fancy freezing our backsides out here for another night."
Fenris nudged his horse forward and stopped next to her side, the white snow which covered his normally dark, fur cloak made him look like he had suddenly grown his hair into a white, cascading mane. "I still don't like this. From what you've told me it is apparent that these people were hunting for you relentlessly back in Kirkwall and were the reason why you had to hide. What makes you think they will look at you kindly now?" The elf crossed his arms over his chest and let out a small growl of disdain.
"I trust Varric on this, he would have never asked me to come over here if he had any doubts that there was some danger or that there was some other option." Hawke gave her friend a reassuring look and reached out to gently pat his shoulder with her gloved hand.
"It will be alright Fenris, you know me, I get the things done." She grinned and winked at the elf in her usual playful manner.
"We could just continue and find out." Merrill caught up with them and Hawke had to stifle a laugh when she looked at her love who was clad from ears to toes in warm, fur coat and it made her look like a cross breed between mountain bear and an elf.
"Right, lets ride or Merrill here will never forgive me for catching cold." Marrian laughed and clicked her tongue at her horse to get it moving.
After what seemed like eternity but couldn't have been more than few hours the group finally stopped at the peak which lazily dipped into a comfortable descend into a valley and their eyes for the first time saw the tall walls and towers of Skyhold. Evening sun reflected from the windows and the light breeze flipped the Inquisition banners and flags, lightly tugging at them as the riders continued their treck.
"I can't believe there is a place like this hidden alone in these mountains." Merrill breathed out, her eyes wide with astonishment as she took in the full scale of the fortress.
"Yeah, I guess the Maker was with the Inquisition when they needed a place to rebuild." Hawke nodded and nudged her horse into a trot.
The hooves' muffled sound changed to a clinging as they arrived at the stone bridge and the trio slowed down into the walk when they noticed four guards posted at the gate who eyed them with rather weary and suspicious eyes.
"I do hope Varric mentioned our arrival." Hawke shifted slightly in the saddle but did not break her usual smile as they neared the waiting guards.
"Daisy! Hawke! Broody!" Varric's voice greeted them in a loud cry as they rode through the gate and into the spacious courtyard which was at the present packed to brim with wounded soldiers, tents and small campfires.
"Varric!" Hawke jumped off her horse and without giving it much thought rushed forward to say hello to her friend with one of her genuine and back splitting bear hugs.
"Can't even say how glad I am to see you kid. Hope the journey was not too bad." The dwarf smiled and waved at a boy who just passed by to stop him. "Hey there kiddo, run to the stables to tell Master Dennet we have some more horses coming would you?"
The boy only nodded, his brown eyes glued to Fenris' armour and the large sword, he eventually shuffled away and pushed into full sprint, probably to prove that he could be trusted. Hawke had to smile. He reminded her too much of herself whenever some new adventurers visited Lothering.
After the three of them dismounted and took hold of their travel packs Varric lead them inside the main hall to warm up at the fires all the while their dwarven friend kept asking about Aveline and others and in turn told them a short version of what has happened here. And Hawke grew worried more and more. In the end when Varric recounted their hasty retreat to Skyhold Merill was hanging on each of his words and Fenris looked like he was ready to charge the Elder One by himself right now.
"So that's pretty much what has happened since the lovely Lady Seeker dragged me from Kirkwall." The dwarf ended his tale with a small bow and took a seat next to his friends.
"Well Varric I am not even sure that there is something witty I can say about that." Hawke sighed a bit and stretched her legs a bit more towards the fire her whole face one big frown.
"Actually..." Merrill joined their conversation from her spot nearest the fireplace where she had been thawing for the last half an hour. "I would like to get a look at Ellena, you mentioned she is ill and I have a whole pack of herbs and potions with me." The dark haired elf patted the leather bag which hung over her shoulder fondly.
"I'm sure that Curly will appreciate that. He has been a walking menace these past few days and I am pretty sure that Ellena's condition is the main reason for that." Varric replied and poured new beer into the three mugs and gestured to his friends to help themselves.
"Curly? You mean Cullen is really here? The whole time when he left Kirkwall I thought he was joking about joining the Inquisition." Hawke shrugged her shoulders lightly and grabbed one of the mugs with a pleased smile. "I mean, he never stroke me as a man who would I don't know...abandon his career of jailing the mages."
"He's changed a great deal you know. Still has that pole up his arse but I'm working on it." Varric grinned and pushed the second mug into Fenris' hands without waiting for the approval of the silver haired elf man.
"But enough about that, our lovely Ambassador wanted to meet you to show you to your rooms. I've spread the word around that you are all coming, had to dodge a few flying fists from the Seeker but she's calmed down now." The dwarf finished his drink and with a little stretch stood up from the seat and waved at the others to follow him through the hall and towards the door at the left side from the throne.
Around half an hour later and when the cheerful Ambassador who Varric for some reason referred to as "Ruffles", showed them their new quarters, Merrill strode purposefully across the courtyard and into the low rooms which were reserved for the healers and their patients.
The little elf could see even from the distance a golden curly head of Commander Cullen and she sped up her walk to catch up with him. "Cullen!" Merrill cried finally and breathed out quickly as she came to a stop and waved at the ex-templar who turned to face her after he had heard his name.
"Merrill?" Cullen replied rather surprised and ran his hand through his hair in his usual gesture of bewilderment or confusion.
"Yes...I arrived today together with Hawke and Fenris. Varric send for us." Merrill smiled at the Commander and then gestured to her bag. "I came to have a look at your friend. I have healing herbs and potions. I heard she got caught in a blizzard and is no sick with lung fever."
"Do you think you can help her?" Cullen's eyes almost shone with hidden hope and Merrill had to smile slightly.
"I think so. You see in my clan lots of us got sick over the winter. I've learned all the recipes from our Keeper...you know...when I still was her First." Merrill finished the last words with a bit of a strain in her voice but her green eyes still sparkled with enthusiasm as she joined the Commander for the short remaining walk towards the makeshift infirmary.
"I am glad you are here. Also Hawke and Fenris. With what we might face it is good to have old friends around." Cullen nodded and patted the elf next to him on the back in his usual friendly gesture.
"I know. And from what we've heard from Varric this looks rather grim. But I am glad were are here. Hawke would never say it aloud but I know she'd missed the old days when she could get to some adventures. And I am also sure that now she's here she might want to get in touch with Bethany."
"Her sister is in Ferelden?" Cullen replied surprised and stopped just before the door to look down at the elf at his side.
"Well she at least was last time we heard from her. She managed to stay clear of all the infighting between the mages and templars and I suspect that since Skyhold appears to be more or less a neutral haven for anyone who could help that Hawke will try to get her here. If only to keep her safe."
"I see, well I suppose that at these times no one will have anything against a trained mage joining us in our cause. Much less if so many people vouch for her." The Commander nodded once more and pushed the door open to let Merrill in first.
"That and also from I've heard you are lacking good healers and Bethany is one of the best I know." The elf gave Cullen a small smile before he pointed her towards the other side of the room where a set of doors lead towards the inner corridor which held entrances to several separate small quarters, each a private room for one patient and they both entered the one at the right side with a small window and view of the mountains.
Merrill's eyes soon adjusted to the dim light of few candles at the nightstand and the light from the fireplace which illuminated the room with golden and orange glow. She saw that apart from two chairs and the bed the space was practically empty but before she could give her surroundings anymore thoughts a muffled and weak cough which came from the bed in front of her interrupted her and the dark haired elf moved slowly forward to get a look at her patient.
Ellena layed in the bed and under the thin covers which were visibly drenched in sweat. The former tevinter slave breathed in small, labored breaths and slightly tossed around as high fever burned through her whole body. Merrill did not waste anymore time and started unpacking her healing kit and various pouches with herbs and seeds along with several glass vials, most of them filled with liquid in various shades of red.
"She's been like this for two days now." Cullen half whispered from the other side of the bed where he pulled a chair closer and sat down, taking Ellena's slim hand between his and lowered his gaze to wards the struggling woman.
"I can imagine. How are her wounds? Varric mentioned frostbites?" Merrill finished with her things and moved closer to the bed with one of the vials firmly in hand.
"I think those are getting better, at least from what I can tell. But if you have any experience with such please feel free to help her. All our healing and medical care has been makeshift at best. We've lost our apothecarian in Haven and the Chantry Mother who used to be with use is now in Redcliff." Cullen's eyes never left Ellena's face as he spoke to his friend and Merrill gave him a small, sad smile of sympathy.
After spending years with Hawke she knew exactly how the man must feel. She herself was often left wondering if Mariann would make it through her injuries or if one of her daring adventures would not end in tragedy. And all that time Merrill often found herself unable to help at all.
The dark haired elf shook her head to banish the thoughts away and instead focused on her patient. Judging from her present condition simple healing potions would not work and she opted for a bit more drastic measure and with Cullen's help managed to get Ellena to drink and swallow some of her self improved dawn lotus potion. Now they only had to wait.
It was in the middle of the night when a rough shake of the shoulders brought Cullen from his sleep, the first good sleep he'd had since they arrived to Skyhold. And he had Merrill to thank for that. Her care for Ellena brought results almost immediately and the Commander could finally relax slightly after he had made sure that Ellena would eat at least some of the vegetable broth he'd brought her.
"Cullen wake up." Cassandra's voice brought him to reality and the Commander shook his head slightly to clear the remaining sleep from his head and was half way across the room to fetch his armour.
"What is going on Cassandra?"
"We have a visitor. And you are needed in the dungeons, Josephine and Leliana are already there." The Seeker replied in a low voice filled with worry mixed with excitement.
"Alright I'll be right there." Cullen replied quickly and searched for a moment for his cloak just as he heard the door click shut when Cassandra left the room.
Their meeting in Skyhold's dungeon was a rather peculiar sort. True to Cassandra's words the Ambassador and Spymaster were both there. Josephine looked tired and her otherwise meticulous hairstyle was rather marred from sleep. Yet her eyes shone with excitement and she clutched her usual writing board in one hand and a quill in the other.
Leliana on the other hand looked even more ill than Ellena did yesterday and Cullen had to wonder just what was wrong with the Spymaster. He still was not fond of seeing her, not after Haven and her rather vague recount of the events. But he knew the Inquisition needed her and so he swallowed his personal feelings for the woman, at least for now.
Oddly enough Varric arrived a moment later together with Hawke. Both of them looked like they did not even go to bed yet and after initial greeting of Champion of Kirkwall Cullen returned to his own thoughts.
"So who is this visitor?" Hawke asked finally and Cullen suspected it was probably more for the benefit of breaking the oppressing silence than for actual interest.
"No idea. Cassandra called us here so I suspect she will bring whoever we are meeting with her. Although I would have preferred a little bit better place for it. It's freezing out here." Josephine replied and breathed a bit of air over the hand which still held the quill to warm her skin up a bit. And Cullen had to agree. The dungeons must have half crumbled to ruin some time ago and a freezing wind whipped at their hair and clothes while they stood and waited.
Finally after what had felt like eternity but was probably no more than several minutes the entrance door creaked open and Cassandra stepped in followed by two guards who held a fair haired woman between them, with chains bound around her wrists.
"Thank you all for coming." The Seeker said in the most flat tone Cullen had ever heard from her. "This mage here." Cassandra gestured towards the prisoner and the guards nudged her slightly forwards. "Claims that she has a vital information about our enemy as she was until recently in his ranks but decided to switch sides." All eyes turned to look at the mage who let out a soft sigh and lowered her head slightly.
"May I speak?" The fair haired woman asked in somewhat humble tone of voice and Cullen crossed his hands over his chest and allowed himself to give her some benefit of doubt.
"You may." The Seeker replied and took hold of the chain which connected to the irons around the prisoner's wrists and then waved at the guards to send them off and close the door.
"Thank you. Well then. My name is Calpernia. Until recently I have been tasked with overseeing activity of a group of mages under the name Venatori."
Cullen looked around to see if anyone had anything to say but when he was met only with silence he turned his eyes back to the woman who continued in her speech.
"You must understand that we have joined with the Elder One under a promise that he would help Tevinter. Yet now I can see that such promise was nothing more than a false pretense." Calpernia continued and Cullen was slightly surprised at the fierceness of her voice. She sounded as a patriot if he ever saw one.
"The Elder One now works alongside the remains of the Red Templars and they are led by a man called Samson. I was led to believe that they wish to use the Grey Wardens as part of their plan and I came here to offer my help."
The rather unexpected revelation about the Grey Wardens brought hushed whispers from his companions but Cullen was more worried about the mention of Samson. That man was trouble and if he was in charge of the Red Templars then they needed to do something about it.
"Since the Inquisition has the right to judge its prisoners I brought her here so we can pass the collective judgment." Cassandra interrupted the starting debate and everyone turned to look at her with thoughtful eyes.
"We should vote on it." Josephine replied and Cullen noticed the tip of her quill still pressed against the parchment on her writing board. No doubt their Ambassador already wrote down every single word they uttered in here.
In the end the majority of them supported the idea of letting Calpernia stay, under surveillance and to work together with other mages and Hawke in finding out what was going on with the Grey Wardens.
Meanwhile Cullen slowly retired back to his quarters and sat down into his chair with a long sigh. Things were getting more and more complicated and he did not like it. Yet if they had any chance in stopping Corypheus they had to just push on. He was reminded of the report on his table he read earlier and which contained detailed preparation of their next move which would entail attending the Grand Ball in Winter Palace. Another of the things the Commander was not happy about.