Author's Note: With how little activity my account and stories have had, I'm absolutely stunned that new people are adding my story. But I sure am excited you found me! :D Hope you enjoy...

~Where the Trouble Lies~

No one moved. Time itself froze. Seemingly unaware of Drea as she stood between them, Leliana and Anders continued to stare each other down. Silently, they dared the other to make a move.

"Anders, don't," Ashlyn quietly begged from the cell, reaching out to grab his shoulder. Easily he shrugged her off, not tearing his eyes from the woman with the arrow pointed at him.

Turning to Anders, Drea shouted, "Anders, stand down!" Not waiting to see his reaction, she faced Leliana and spoke softer, "Lil…stop."

Leliana stared through Drea with eyes that had turned to ice. Realizing she was making no impact, Drea roughly grabbed the tip of Leliana's arrow and pointed it at her chest. Finally, Leliana's focus was destroyed and she glared at Drea, "What are you doing?"

Taking her hand off the arrow, Drea gestured behind her, "That is one of my Grey Wardens, Leliana. I can't let you hurt him." Without speaking, Leliana's eyes darted to the cell. In a hard tone, Drea continued, "And that's a prisoner of my arling. I can't let you hurt her either."

Leliana's eyes narrowed into slits as she sputtered, "You really mean to defend her? She's a spy for Marjolaine."

"She saved my life," Drea replied evenly. Suddenly the door burst open as Nate flew into the room, closely followed by Seneschal Varel and the young guard. Seeing the arrow pointed at Drea, each man smoothly drew his sword. Holding up her hand, they paused as she whispered to Leliana, "You're going to want to put that away."

Finally glancing back at the door, Leliana lowered her bow and, after dropping the arrow back in her quiver, raised her open hand to the men. They lowered their blades but kept a firm grip on them. Slowly, Leliana turned back to Drea, keeping her hands spread apart. Satisfied, Drea nodded, "Good…" Sharply turning on her heel, Drea took determined steps past Anders. Drawing herself up to the cell, she pointed at Ashlyn before barking, "Your story. Now."

Blinking rapidly, Ashlyn quickly pulled herself together before replying in a shaky voice, "Marjolaine sent me here to…"

Her words were drowned out when Drea drew her sword and slammed it against the bars. The loud clang made everyone jump as Drea shouted, "Don't mess with me bard! You're trying to convince me not to let Leliana just kill you. I want your whole story, and I want it now."

The room echoed with her shouting and everyone remained silent as they stared at the cell. Running a trembling hand through her hair, Ashlyn slowly started, "I…I have never lied to you. Either of you," she paused to look at Anders. He looked away without replying. A hint of an Orlesian accent began to seep into each word as she continued, haltingly, "I grew up in Orlais. Although my family was nothing, we clung to the bottom end of the upper class with old money. But it was running out. We were close to losing the house, close to losing everything."

Letting out a long sigh, Ashlyn turned her back and walked towards the cot. Lowering herself down, she started subconsciously fidgeting with her fingers as she continued, "It was out of desperation that father accepted help from a Chevalier. He had offered to save our home and keep us from being disgraced in exchange for my hand in marriage." She stopped and forced her hands to lie flat on her lap. Frowning, she added, "Looking back now, I realize I should have agreed to this. He was obviously a generous man – Chevaliers are entitled to what they want, there was no reason for him to bargain. He was a good man. But I was young and in love with a boy named Jullien. I was horrified."

Drawn by the anxiety in her voice, Anders turned to face Ashlyn but she didn't notice. Not looking up at anyone, she continued, "When Jullien found out what my father had arranged, he decided we had to run away together. He planned everything out, where we'd go, who we could turn to, even had money aside for us to leave. It would have been perfect, but his father found out. He was furious – Jullien was betrothed to a girl from a very wealthy family and he was not about to lose the generous dowry he was promised. He was akin to your banns here but like all Orlesian nobles, it wasn't enough. As I've already told you, Jullien never arrived at the Chantry, but by then it was too late for me to go back home, my family was shamed. I had to run."

Finally looking up, Ashlyn realized everyone in the room was watching her intently - including Drea's great war hound. Hurrying to get to the point, she carried on, "That's when Marjolaine found me. Well, rescued me actually, but it benefited her too. I knew how to wield a sword thanks to my brother's endless practicing to join the guards. It didn't take her long to hone my skills and soon I was in with her on most of her jobs. I didn't approve of the types of things we had to do but she saved me from a life on the street so I kept my mouth shut. I owed her everything. All my shares went back to my family and from what I understand I kept them from losing the house. They had to renounce me to save face, but saving the house was the least I could do."

"Bullshit," Leliana muttered, interrupting the story. As Drea turned to face her, Leliana added, "She's just saying whatever will make you feel the most sympathy for her. You cannot trust anything that comes out of her mouth – it's all a game."

"Do you really believe that?" Drea asked in a surprised tone. Raising her chin defiantly, Leliana refused to take it back. "Why should I doubt her? Technically, she hasn't broken any laws – what good would it do her to lie?"

"What if her mission is to kill me? Kill me and anyone that might house me?" Leliana fervently argued.

Jolting off the cot, a look of horror crossed Ashlyn's face as she protested, "I swear by the Grace of Andraste that was not my mission!"

Before Leliana could spit out a retort, Drea stopped her, "Enough." Clamping her mouth closed, Leliana's eyes still smouldered with anger. Before turning back to Ashlyn, Drea took a moment to study Leliana's face. Silently, she searched for even a hint of the woman she once knew - the woman she saw minutes before - but was met with a stony expression. Moving to address Ashlyn again, she pressed, "Tell me exactly what your mission was."

Nervously, Ashlyn answered. "Marjolaine sent a few of us to key places in Ferelden where she thought Leliana might return. We were ordered not to do anything but watch and she was very clear that she did not want her hurt in any way. She just wanted to keep an eye on her. Personally, I was excited when the opportunity came up – it's the closest to freedom I've ever known. I wouldn't have to cheat, steal, lie or be something I wasn't; I was actually allowed to be me. Even better, I had the freedom to be the person I always wanted to be. All I had to do was watch for Leliana – that's it."

"How very wonderful for you," Leliana sneered, "And what if I were to tell you that your precious Marjolaine is dead?"

The silence that followed her announcement was almost deafening. In her heart, Drea already knew this, how else could Leliana consider herself free? But at the same time, it added to the growing knot in her gut. "Dead?" Ashlyn quietly repeated. Forcing herself to meet Leliana's intense glare, Ashlyn continued, "She never loved any of us the way she loved you, Leliana. She also never feared anything in this world as much as she feared you. But…while I can't say I'm happy to hear this, I suppose this means I am truly free."

Exasperated, Leliana threw up her hands as she exclaimed, "You cannot tell me you're honestly buying this Drea!"

"What do you want me to do?" Drea challenged. "She has broken no laws and she saved me from being murdered in my home. If she had just let me die, she wouldn't be in this cell today! I see no reason not to trust her."

With slow determined steps, Drea closed the gap between her and Leliana. "There was a time when you would have trusted her too." Leliana's face twisted in disgust, but Drea grabbed her shoulder and passionately tried to appeal to her, "Don't try to say that's not true Lil. Do you not remember Sten? Zevran? If it wasn't for you, I'm not sure I would have let the murderous giant out of the cage. And I'm positive I wouldn't have let the assassin live after he tried to kill me. That was you Lil – you were the one who spoke of faith and redemption. You were the one who begged me to see reason. Now, we have a girl here who has done nothing to us and you want her hanged? Where would that attitude have gotten us during the Blight?"

For a moment, Drea could see the Leliana she recognized as a flicker of doubt clouded her eyes. "This is different," Leliana finally replied, not giving in to her uncertainties.

Carefully, Drea pushed, "What about you? The Chantry lay sister who wouldn't come clean to me on how she knew so much about combat? Where would I be if I didn't give you a chance?"

Weakly, Leliana tried to defend her position, "How loyal can you expect her to be? She's only turning over this new leaf because her master is dead."

Moving her hand up from Leliana's shoulder, Drea gently rested it on her cheek. Looking deeply into her eyes, she softly replied, "And you turned over a new leaf after Marjolaine betrayed you." The muscles along Leliana's cheek flinched as she clenched her jaw. "I can't pretend to know what you went through in Orlais. I can't pretend to know what it did to you. What I do know is the entire time you were gone, I wanted nothing more than your safe return. And now you're back. But Lil…I need you to come back…"

She could see the silent tears start to well in Leliana's eyes and it was all she could do to stop her own tears from forming. Gently, but firmly, Drea finished, "I am going to be releasing Ashlyn. And she will be safe here. But Lil, I want you to stay."

Not speaking, Leliana squeezed her eyes closed and rested her hand over Drea's. Nodding, she silently agreed.

A shuffling at the door caught Drea's attention and she looked past Leliana to the noise. Nate. Drea tensed and pulled her hand away from Leliana's grasp. Nate's eyebrows creased deeply at Drea's sudden stiffness, realizing all it implied. Seeing Drea's reaction, Leliana quickly glanced behind them in time to catch the apprehension on Nate's face while he looked between two women. Turning back to Drea, hurt started to creep into her eyes as she searched Drea's face for answers. The walls seemed to close in on Drea as she tried to dispel the subtle look of dread she had. Without exchanging names, a few short glances revealed everything. Both Nate and Leliana watched as all emotion on Drea's face melted away until she stood as a proper, masked noble. In turn, their expressions also hardened as they fell back on their own noble and bard training. None of them addressed the sudden, thick tension in the room.

Taking another step back, Drea forced herself to remain standing tall, fighting the urge to shrink away. Focusing on keeping her voice steady, Drea addressed her seneschal, "Seneschal Varel, Leliana will be staying with us, hopefully for some time. Would you please set her up in our best room and make sure her needs are looked after."

Hastily, Varel shoved his sword back into his sheath and bowed, "Of course my Lady."

Politely, he turned to Leliana and extended his hand to her, "If you will please follow me, I can show you to your room. After you've had a chance to settle, I can also show you around the Keep if you so wish." After shooting Drea an unsure look, Leliana finally accepted his hand. Warmly, Varel smiled at her as he led her out of the dungeon. Both she and Nate averted their gaze as she passed by.

Once they left the room, Drea numbly motioned for the guard to unlock the cell door. She just wanted to finish her business and get as far away from the room as possible. As he opened it, Drea spoke in as official of a tone as she could muster, "Since you have committed no actual crime against me or the arling, I have no choice but to set you free."

Even with the door opened, Ashlyn remained standing in the cell. She looked from Anders to Drea before hesitantly asking, "Would you consider letting me stay as your court minstrel? Or do I have to leave the Keep?"

No longer having to force her confidence, Drea briskly answered, "First, you will send word to the other bards that Marjolaine had sent. Harmless as you say your directives are, I do not want any more spies needlessly hanging around people I hold dear. Then, I will decide if you can remain as my court's minstrel."

With a relieved sigh, Ashlyn replied, "Thank you. I…"

"Anders," Drea sharply cut the woman off, "Take her to her room and keep her out of my sight for at least a few days."

Confused, Ashlyn cocked her head slightly, "My Lady?"

"Don't," Drea growled, "You had your chance to turn to me. I would have understood. I could have helped you."

Seeing Drea's sudden shift in mood, Anders reached into the cell and grabbed Ashlyn by the arm. Forcefully, he pulled her along with him and tried to quickly usher her out of the room. Before he could get far, Ashlyn roughly pulled herself free and turned to Drea. Bowing her head, she replied, "I apologize my Lady, and I am sorry you see it that way." Looking up at her, Ashlyn finished, "But after I heard you talk that day in the mess hall about your mysterious red-haired love, I knew I couldn't tell you the truth. I saw the look in your eyes – I was safer if you thought I was here for you rather than knowing I was here for her."

Drea visibly stiffened but was silent. Not giving her a chance to dig herself any further, Anders grabbed Ashlyn's arms again and forced her away. "Shut up," he hissed.

"See that they get to her room," Drea quietly ordered the guard that stood near the cell. Nodding quickly, he hurried to follow the pair as they left the room. Dear felt a nudge on her leg and knew Arkon was running his head against her knee. Absently, she reached down to rest her hand in his head, but did no more to acknowledge him.

As the door finally closed, Drea realized she was alone with Nate. Over the rushing in her ears, she could faintly hear the sound of his sword being slid into his sheath followed by heavy foot steps. He had seen it all, heard it all. Slowly she forced herself to turn his direction, but her gaze had dropped down to the floor. She could feel the heat in her cheeks as they started to flush red. Slowly, she traced her eyes up his legs, up his waist and finally to his chest. Her stare stayed frozen on his chest – no matter how hard she tried, she could not force herself to look him in the eye. Nate remained silent, waiting for her to say something - anything. After a long, awkward silence, Drea swiftly side-stepped him and marched out of the room as Arkon raced to keep up.

Silently, Nate watched the heavy door swing closed with a hollow thud. As he looked around the empty room, he became aware that this was the second time she had walked out on him here. Again, she left him alone with his thoughts in the dark, bleak dungeon.