Josephine pressed her palms to her temples, glancing away from the parchment. She hadn't written anything. She'd intended on writing a list to send to Ser Morris for supplies, furniture, perhaps even have a seamstress hired.

After weeks of debate in the War Room, the Inquisitor approached Josephine. Finally, Lavellan saw reason on beginning reparations. Josephine's instant reaction, set the girl free.

"She's deposed from an unknown country. Either beyond our borders or beyond the fade. What support would she have if we set her free? Who would she go to for healing?"

Josephine had to admit, Ellana was right. If they set her free she would have no one. If they placed her with anyone, even with the Montilyet family — as she'd originally thought — she would be under constant watch.

"And if Corypheus were to get a hold of her. What then? She will turn to his side for her treatment. Are we to be the instigators to the future I saw?"

All that future knowledge in Corypheus's hands would be catastrophic. Josephine shuddered should what the Inquisitor experienced be realized.

Nonetheless something must be done to help the woman heal. Thus the Inquisitor presented Josephine with a project to create a place of healing for her, that would keep her safe from the enemy, and firmly within the Inquisition's control.

The Inquisitor asked for a cage.

Josephine was not pleased. If she had to make such a thing, then let it be a gilded one. It will be lavish with plush furniture, and all the comforts she could ever desire.

Now, if only she knew what Cosette could desire from such a place. Josephine would ensure it would not be the dingy dungeon Cosette had known in Haven. She sniffed back her tears.

"Ambassador?" Gatsi called, stepping into her solar. Beside him was Elan Ve'mal, the Inquisition's apothecary.

"Yes, apologies, Gatsi. Elan." She rose, leaving the parchment aside and quickly dabbing the sides of her eye for any stray tears.

Gatsi and Elan glanced at each other but said nothing.

"The tower's foundation reinforcement is complete." Gatsi reported.

"Wonderful, thank you. I understand you had some difficulty?"

"It came from the roots of the tree we unearthed." Gatsi reported.

"Tree?" Josephine squinted. There hadn't been a tree in the Inquisitor's tower.

Gatsi scratched his head with smile. "Stone and bricks are my specialty, but when we came across roots, we cut a sample and gave it to Elan for study."

"The tree's long since been cut down." Elan stepped forward. "But the roots remained."

"Would they not have decayed once the tree was cut?"

"Not exactly." Elan added. Here she pulled a sample of the root, cut in half. It's reddish hue exterior is what caught her eye.

"Do you perchance know what kind of tree?" Josephine perked up.

"I've sent a sample to the College of Herbalists to be sure, but I believe it's the same one that was used for the war table." Elan explained. "It's a red heartwood tree." Elan offered.

Josephine's brows rose, and then furrowed. "I see. The Inquisitor wanted to plant a new one to replace the one that made the war table, and to honor those fallen in Haven. How difficult would that be?"

"From my understanding, not that difficult. It would simply take time and enough groundwater or fog. I have only seen it's smaller cousin amongst coastal alienages. They are referred to as the vallasdahlen. But this type...it grows larger and taller. I would hazard we would need to contact a Dalish clan to receive a seed for it."

That would explain why the Inquisitor had seemed forlorn upon seeing the war table the first time. Her hand traced the edges with an almost disapproving look, especially as it rested on part of tree stump. Another stump and it's roots hung from the ceiling.

"Could you explain how the roots survived?" Josephine grabbed the parchment, already penning a letter in her head to the Sabrae Clan. Perhaps their Dalish Ambassador, Merrill, could be of use in providing a seed? Though she hazard she wouldn't be able to help whilst on assignment in Orlais.

"It takes years for one to grow but once it sprouts, and there is sufficient ground water, the roots have had their chance to spread quite deep. They are resistant to decay if they are still connected to the tree stump that grew it, they can live on but just barely. Some may even begin to sprout again." Elan continued.

"Which explains what Jaine found." Gatsi grumped.

"Oh?" Josephine looked up.

"She found the roots wrapped deep around Skyhold's foundations. She dug deeper where she could and found they're what's keeping the prison connected to the rest of the castle." Gatsi continued.

"Is there any explanation for what caused the breach in the dungeons?" Josephine recalled being taken on the tour to the prison, the side of it completely blown open. It had reminded her of the Temple of Sacred Ashes.

"Nothing on that yet, but we unearthed more chambers and levels to Skyhold that was hidden beneath and behind some of the roots. Likely collapsed from what happened in the prison."

"How many levels?"

"Thus far, we've uncovered and began explorations up to three."

"Maker, three?!"

"The second isn't fully explored and we're still working on the third. But Jaine did find another staircase down. Not sure if she can get down there though, not until we stabilize the other two."

"That'd make it four in total. How have we not found any doors or passages toward them?" Josephine recalled the reference drawings when they initially arrived at Skyhold. Jaine and Gatsi had surveyed the inspection of foundation and structural integrity before they deemed it safe enough to begin living in it.

"My earlier notes on the structural fractures may have halted any further exploration. We didn't want to disturb in case we over stressed it and caused the whole foundations to collapse. But now that we know there is a secondary reinforcement, we're tentatively shifting it around, rebuilding, replacing, and reinforcing where needed." Gatsi gave a sheepish smile.

"I see."

"They are still exploring. The roots are everywhere. However, I don't think it is just one tree, but many that were once planted here." Elan offered.

"They're in the ceilings, but every room we find intact is because of the roots keeping support walls intact. I'm having my guys do a thorough examination to test and reinforce the walls and beams before we do anything else." Gatsi reassured.

"Wise. We wouldn't want a collapse." Josephine nodded and began planning.

"Something to note," Gatsi turned at the door. "Gannon and Amsel have been examining the brick work. It's old, older than the other modifications of the brickwork around Skyhold, almost dwarven. I'm having a print of the pattern examined by a contact in Orzammar." He further explained.

"Dwarven you say?"

"Almost...,I say this with a huge grain of salt, but it almost looks to be dated Pre-Blight." Gatsi crossed his arms.

"Pre-blight?"

"My studies in the college of herbalists was primarily in pedology. I study soil, sediment, and clay. I helped the areas hit by the Fifth Blight in Ferelden. Introducing proper nutrients to help the lands recover the fastest. Four hundred years worth of research greatly aided Ferelden's turn around." Elan explained. "But these bricks, the sediments and clay they are made of. I have never seen such examples completely devoid of any blight influence."

"What could that mean?"

"It means, perhaps Skyhold is much older than we initially thought."

"Interesting." Josephine nodded. She would have to dig deeper into records then. "Thank you, both of you. Please take measurements of any room and take inventory of anything you find."

"Of course, Ambassador." Gatsi and Elan chimed. They were dismissed.

Josephine sat at her desk again. Quickly, finishing penning the letter to Merrill. She had only spoken with her once, in Haven.

"Andaran atish'an." Josephine greeted the Dalish ambassador as she entered the Chantry. She hoped her pronunciation had gotten better since her attempt with Ellana. Merrill's responding giggle however, proved otherwise. "Oh, my apologies, that is the extent of my knowledge of elven." Josephine smiled as she stepped forward.

"No no, it's alright, your accent's a wee adorable is all." Merrill smiled. "And it's a bit overly formal. I feel as though I'm meeting your family to ask them for your hand."

"My-oh!" Josephine flushed. Maker, what must have Ellana thought all those weeks ago!

"It's alright. Normally we use Aneth ara." Merrill corrected. "But, I appreciate the effort."

Josephine's cheeks flushed in remembered embarrassment. She waved her cheeks briefly before focusing her efforts on the letter. Short of that brief introduction, Josephine had little physical contact with their Dalish Ambassador. All subsequent communication had been through missive while Merrill was reaching out to Briala. To what purpose, Josephine wasn't sure but Leliana and Lavellan assured her it was to aid the elves of Orlais. Josephine had doubts about the validity of that, given the circumstances of how they received such intel.

Merrill,

I received your last missive. Your insight to the life of elves in Halamshiral are most enlightening. It will aide our endeavors during the peace talks come this winter. Please do be careful however. I understand that Briala is not overly fond of the Dalish, and though she may have warmed to you, it may not extend to your people.

Josephine paused. It was overly formal and conveyed any worries she had for one of her agents.

The flowers were lovely, thank you. I understand Varric's moniker for you is Daisy. Though when I asked the significance of why you would send me pressed daisies, all he said was I should drink Daisy.

Josephine blushed, remembering the wink and grin Varric had accompanied the comment. Surely, he hadn't...no. Of course not.

I made it into tea. I must say it was a perfect remedy for my cough. I saved a few of them and have pressed them further for preservation. I wonder if perhaps you had any seeds of the plant so Skyhold's apothecary would have daisies ready. As many of Skyhold's incoming guests may be a touch asthmatic and could use such a simple solution.

Sincerely,

Lady Montilyet

There. Perfect. It opened the conversation to asking about other seeds they could have. From the past missives, any question she asked Merrill was followed up with Merrill offering other solutions. Almost oversharing at times. She valued that in her missive reports.

With that done, that still left her with the other matter.

Josephine sighed as she pulled a fresh parchment out. She knew little of Cosette. What little she remembered of her in Haven had been brief glances of her working with Minaeve and the tranquil. Even Minaeve knew little of her, just that she offered to help around Haven. Small odd jobs picking elfroot, looking after the recently orphaned, and when she wasn't doing those jobs she was working in the tavern.

If only there was someone she could ask for their expertise.

Josephine wanted to smack herself. She was approaching this like a bard. Gathering intelligence first and then acting. If she wanted information in this situation, the best course of action was to approach the target.

Levyn's legs carried him quickly. His pursuers were not far. Their booted feet and armor clanking loudly, alerting him to their presence. Levy was lighter and thus quieter.

He'd been running since Gherlen's Pass. It'd been an ill-advised attempt to head north or cross the border to Orlais or jump on a ship in Jader. There were Inquisition soldiers and Inquisition Templars at every port and major village in Ferelden. The Inquisitor had done a grand job of securing the border to Orlais and clearing rifts in the area. It was good for removing the chaos but on the downside, it meant more of an Inquisition presence. He couldn't hide, so he ran. He ran south.

"Why are we always running?" His grim smile stretched.

"Why are we always running?" Cosette asked as they ran, slipping through dense trees in the Brecilian Forest. She was much faster than him with her world's shoes but they left unusual and unique footprints. Too easy to track. He'd had her switch them out for traveling boots.

"Because I'm a mage." Jowan told her. He grabbed her before she tripped over a root and yanked her a different direction. Weaving them around until he spotted a cleft.

"Oh...right." She huffed.

"Lighter on your feet." He hissed at her. They had to leave their camp in a hurry, so they only had the essentials. Apparently the last village they helped had reported him.

He blamed himself. For using blood magic to heal that girl, but the look on her face and Cosette's pleading glance. He relented. It wasn't much, and only required a drop of his own blood. But it was enough to call ire on them, even when they were told to leave town.

At least the villagers had paid them first.

"Up ahead." Cosette pointed between huffs.

"What is it?" All he saw were trees.

"The trees!" She smiled and slowed. "They're sylvans!"

"What?"

"Come on! Just dodge when I tell you!" She ran ahead into the clearing of trees. They were no different than other trees around them. Perhaps they were a lighter shade, but they were everywhere in the forest. He'd seen many of them. How could they be sylvans?

Cosette came to a stand still in the clearing, looking up at the trees. "The spirits trapped within a tree, no mouths to scream or eyes to see. A cage of bark, a prison of wood. The things of rage where nature stood." She spoke as one of the trees came to life, slowly moving to turn toward the trespassers.

"Rage demons?" Jowan gulped.

"Or rage spirits."

"How is that any different?" He pressed her behind him.

"Hmm...perspective! Of course. I choose to see them as spirits."

The footsteps chasing them didn't bother to stop as they came barrelling into the clearing.

"Maleficar!" One single Templar stood surrounded by village men. They were armed with a sword and shield, a bow and arrows, and a bladed stave. Jowan and Cosette were outnumbered and outmatched.

"Oh great." Jowan groaned.

"Just wait…" Cosette held her hand out.

Jowan had gotten used to trusting her but sometimes, some of the trouble they've gotten in could have been avoided. Yet at the same time...the people they've helped.

"So you surrender. Maleficar." The Templar approached into the clearing.

"I wouldn't say that." Cosette taunted, shifting them back. The forest around them creaked to life.

"Rejoice, thrall. You will no longer be under his control."

"I'm not his thra-AH!" She stepped around him. An arrow had been loosened, puncturing her exposed shoulder.

Jowan glowered, watching from the corner of his eye as Cosette's hand came away covered in blood. He took a deep breath.

"Steady." The Templar admonished the nervous villager. "She is innocent."

"What is that pink stuff?" Cosette eyed the arrow protruding from her arm, the arrow dripped pink, as though coated in a potion.

Jowan took one look to be sure. Magebane. He yanked a dagger from his belt and cut into his arm. A powerful blast sent the templar and villagers right into one of the creaking trees.

"Dodge…" Cosette managed to grumble out as vines and roots shot from the ground.

He hissed, and yanked Cosette with him to the side, avoiding the root cage that caught the templar and villagers. Theys tumbled and she wobbled on her feet, falling over.

"Come on."

"I don't feel so…" She couldn't walk.

Levyn swore. She was taller than him, bulkier too. Calling on his blood, he cast a glyph of strength on himself and hauled her over his shoulders.

"Stay with me," he whispered as he ducked beneath a swinging branch and quick as he could moved away from the sylvans.

Levyn stumbled. An arrow pierced his shoulders. His teeth grit. Knees hit the ground and his pack fell away.

There was no pink potion on it, but he could smell the paralyzing was little time to work. breaking and yanking the arrow out, he focused on his blood. With a pinch of fade and blood magic, he boiled the blood in his veins surrounding the wound.

"Ahhh!" He growled and screamed into the open air. Their footsteps grew closer as his skin turned red, the heat unbearable but the poison burned off.

He stumbled to his feet as the Templars Mattrin and Lysette stared him down.

"Be still. We mean you no harm." Lysette tried to reason with him.

"This…" He gestured to his shoulder with a grimace. "...is no harm? You've a funny way of showing it."

"That was to slow you down."

"Mission accomplished." He was still bleeding. He had ample blood for a spell.

"Enough Lysette, he is a maleficar . An abomination. We should slay him where he stands." Mattrin pointed his bow at Levyn.

"Mattrin, we are under orders only to capture." Lysette barked.

Capture? They wanted him alive. That did not bode well, given what he recalled reading in Aeonar.

"We are Templars first. Inquisition second. He is a maleficar."

"And we have seen no evidence of blood magic."

Oh-ho, now they needed evidence? When did that change? Levyn snorted.

"Did you not hear him? His screams? We're likely in the maleficar's trap now." Mattrin spit.

"Oh those screams? I was just pulling out the arrow." Levyn explained and pointed to the fallen intact arrow. "Bit of a pain."

Lysette narrowed her gaze at him. "Yet you still stand."

"Going to take a lot more than a simple paralyzing agent to slow me down." Levyn smirked.

"So it seems." Mattrin growled.

"Will you surrender then?' Lysette took a tentative step forward.

"I can't." Levyn raised his hand, glowing white. He was ready with an arcane blast.

"And why is that?"

Levyn couldn't answer. He sent the blast forward.

"Come on, come on." Levyn shook Cosette. He hadn't thought the magebane wouldn't work on her, much less knock her out this fast. Exactly how potent was it? "You can't give up on me."

He placed a palm to her forehead, and fingers at her neck to feel her pulse.

Magebane affected mages and non-mages different. For mages it was potentially deadly depending on potency and frequency. For non-mages, it made them slightly drunk. But this was one dose. It shouldn't have affected her much unless it was extremely potent. What were the chances of a backwood Ferelden village having that?

Low.

So unless she was a mage. Jowan frowned. Couldn't be.

"Ugh." She groaned and turned over in the makeshift cot. Her abdomen rolling. Levyn was quick to pull her hair back as she heaved. "Groddy ugh." She coughed and spewed her last meal, broth, up. "Where…"

"We're in a cave," he explained as he rubbed soothing circles onto her back. If he cast a glyph of relaxation, she didn't notice.

"So we got away?"

"Yes, we got away," he smiled.

"Told ya."

"Next time, a little warning before you plunge us into a den of rage demons."

"Ah-ha…Rage Spirits."

"Whatever." Jowan sighed.

"Now you're sounding like me." Cosette giggled, foolishly as it turned into a cough. "Ugh."

"Hey, let me check something." Jowan prodded her side.

"I'm sure whatever that poison was will wear off…" Cosette grumbled.

"It will, I just want to be sure." Jowan pulled her up so she sat her back against the cave wall. He held his hand out and she put her palms over his without hesitating. It unnerved him initially, but this… this is what trust was. Full and total trust.

He cast Mana Drain. Not on her, no...that would be unethical but himself. He tethered the mana to her, watching and sensing where it went. It swirled into her and she gave a breathless sound before blinking. Her aura flitted over her skin before receding when he cut the spell off.

Aura colors changed with age. If she indeed was a mage, he would put her magical development at no older than eight. As most auras started off with no color, hers should be white. Over time, they changed with influences and studies into specific schools of magic.

Cosette's was white with just the barest hint of pink. A single string of red from his own bright red intermingled with hers.

Jowan pulled his hand back as if burned.

"All good?" She asked.

"Yes." He stared into her eyes. They were sleepy but held no apprehension, worry or mistrust. Even when he just cast a spell on her. Even with her knowing he is a blood mage.

With Lily, there was a touch of fear laced in her eyes when they first met. When they kissed. In time, as they caught stolen moments, the fear disappeared. When news of his delayed harrowing came and the fear of tranquility rose, they returned. But instead of fear of him, it was fear for him. Jowan assumed fear was a natural emotion to be surrounded by as a mage.

Cosette was a child mageling, an adult woman, but magically a child. One who knew no fear of magic and didn't truly know the horror of circles. He was her sole influencer, educator, tutor, and protector. It was his duty.

Redcliffe came into view. The morning sunrise over the horizon cast deep shadows. He'd last been here with the rebel mages, intent on finding Pavus, before the mages were allied with the Inquisition. Before that, it was during the Blight.

He sat on the docks. Gaze drawn to the water, head in his hands. His pack slumped behind him.

Inquisition soldiers and scouts littered the place. At any moment, one of the mages or surviving villagers could recognize him. If word had reached to Redcliffe — and it likely had — they could sound the alarm. His Templar pursuers would be here quick.

Let them come. Levyn gave up. He had no purpose. Lily was beyond the fade or dead. The resulting woman he brought through in his ill-attempt to reach Lily, was dead. The mage and non-mage students would know who — what he was, if they didn't already.

How fitting he should come here. To where it all began. A stone's throw down Lake Calenhad from the crumbling Kinloch Hold. In Redcliffe, where he worked as an agent of Loghain to poison Arl Eamon. Only for that to end in failure.

All his endeavors eventually failed. He only wished he hadn't failed Cosette.

"You didn't."

REALMCRAFTING: I spent a bit of time looking at the war table and comparing it to many different trees, looking at the art of inquisition book and comparing it to what we know. It was a life tree. Paired with that and the color of the wood, the grain, and sheer size of it. I came to the conclusion it's a redwood tree. A sequoia! And it makes more sense with how Dalish are Native coded. Redwood tress have an average lifespan of 500-700 years, coast redwoods can live to 2,000+ years. The oldest giant sequoia tree is 5,000 years. That sounds like a really long time for a tree to live. as Vallasdahlen are the life tree. It gives me a smile that City Elves would receive a seed from Dalish clans so they can grow a long lived tree as their Vallasdahlen (something that happens in Vaea's backstory in Knight's Errant). So I made that the case.

coduss: Barris is one of a few good Templars. But like there is no honor in being the "Good Templar."

LetsBeFrenemies: Omg... How to put this bluntly... Cullen is offering Surana as basically a fleshlight, without her consent. Not that he thinks he even needs her consent because she's a Tranquil. An "object." So Cullen is not the good guy. Nowhere near it.

Fifi: I seriously adore the dwarves. Varric is my top favorite dwarf with Bianca as a close second. Dagna and Oghren are tied for third. I loved starting as a dwarf warden however. Brosca for Leske, but that maaaay be because the VA for Leske is Brian Bloom who also voices Varric. and... ahem... that voice is...yum. Anyway! For Bianca I adore her because she's a brilliant mind and chose family and tradition over love. Gotta admire her for that.

Vivienne is my number one favorite character in all the game. So it came as a shock how negatively most of the fandom views her and I was incredibly sad. So I decided to write the sides of her everyone in the fandom just seemed to be blind to (when really I know why they see her like that). Cole is alright, I just felt more uncomfortable when people wrote him so infantilized and then also wanted to write romantic or sexual scenes. Like.. you're treating him like a CHILD and want to also -what? It really squicked me out so I wanted to write him as an adult. A bit naive and oblivious, but still an adult.

Oh man. Me writing Cullen's faults has gotten me so much hate. (But people don't know that spite can also fuel writers). But yes, Anders wasn't wrong. The treatment in the circles was bad, but he took it too far blowing up the chantry. Especially because the Chantry has more than just pios and bigoted clerics. They also have children, young initiates and babies. So Anders killed innocents too. The explosion was also big enough to cause changes in the tide. That would have affected the sea life by Kirkwall. So how many deaths are there really? How many future death due to starvation can be blamed on him? And the drastic shift in the ecosystem.

Kyoki no Megami: Hey hey! Welcome~ Nice to see you here too! :D I'm seriously loving that my portrayals are mostly well received.

Ah yeah, I might have missed it. The fanfictionDOTnet version doesn't get continuous edits like the version on ArchiveOfOurOwn does, because the fanfictionDOTnet website doesn't play nice with mobile. So this version you're reading never gets updated to cleanest version unless I have a spare moment to upload the version from ArchiveOfOurOwn. I suppose a way to circumvent that is to upload on ArchiveOfOurOwn first and then a week later update on here.

I tagged Cole as the pairing because that is the end pairing, but not the main feature. I don't really do super shippy stories. I write a lot of world building and character exploration because it's what I'm interested in. Pairing and romance is like last. But Cole will be about here and there. He's got a lot of character development to go through.

As for the reviewer... eh I really only think about them when I'm updating on here. It's more of an after thought like "Oh yeah they did the thing again."

Tsukikageshi: A) You don't have to follow my blog to access the page. B) I don't have to know YOUR tumblr in order for you to access the page. C) At no point do you have to surrender any of your information to me that leads back to your social life anywhere else to access the page. You just have to be old enough to access NSFW content. C) I'm not seeking attention for it because it is NOT a post that people can reblog and share but rather a PAGE you can make to display information. The only people that would see it are those ACTIVELY seeking it out. D) If you actually knew anything about tumblr, you'd know ALL OF THIS already. E) Another reason why I put it there is because of the sensitive nature of what is discussed is rather triggering. It far exceeds FanfictionDOTNet's M rating so I was being CONSIDERATE to my readers who are younger than 16 (the age cap for the M rating). F) This entire exchange started with what I thought was completely normal author-to-reviewer interactions and then you exploded and gave me a book report of a review the moment I said that Cullen could justify torture in a ONE LINE response. Everything before that, I chalked it up to normal author-to-reviewer interactions. G) You're throwing insults and relying on seemingly personal attacks as though it's going to change my mind and make me change how I write MY fanfic. If you don't like what I have to say about the characters, then why are you even reading and continuing to review? This is MY fanfic afterall. I'm going to keep posting the story I'm writing and that includes responding to reviews. Which brings us to I) You still haven't cited any of the sources for your claims about templars, but I have provided plenty, in excess, over my many responses to you.

Thanks for reviewing guys!