The rain started around midday, at first only a fine drizzle, but as evening fell, it had become torrential, a storm raging as Seren and her companions rode well-worn, yet unfamiliar roads that quickly turned to mud. The surrounding fields became marsh, as the water fell on already saturated ground, thunder booming overhead, the occasional flash of lightning their only source of light. They were drenched, cold and exhausted, the rain relentless in its pursuit to reach the ground, too heavy for the clouds to bear.

"How much farther Lieutenant?" Taylor shouted in between the claps of thunder. Seren pulled out the map Leliana had given her from the depths of her cloak, trying to maintain control of Lexi and decipher the spymaster's handwriting in the gloom. The ink had already run in several places, raindrops dotting the page, dragging the illustration into a variety of misshapen forms; none of which matched the original, nor the actual path that lay ahead.

Seren swore under her breath, stuffing the page back under her cloak, hugging the sodden material closer to keep out the wind's chill.

"Not far." It was as much a lie as a hope, a prayer even.

They pushed on in what Seren hoped was the right direction, constantly scanning the hedgerow for a milestone or a signpost that could confirm her thoughts. But none appeared.

They had passed through a small village with an Inn a few miles back, and she decided that if the estate didn't come into view in the next 10 minutes, they were heading back the way they came regardless.

Reaching a crossroads, Seren brought Lexi to a stop, the horse sliding slightly through the mud, glancing down every option.

Which way? Seren chewed at her lip, squinting through the darkness, hoping to spot anything that might point them in the right direction.

Shit.

This is pointless.

She was about to give the order to turn back, for them to head for the Inn, when a party of four riders approached along the north road. They slowed as they reached the crossroads themselves.

Seren noticed the tell-tale signs; the swords hanging at their horses' sides, the way they rode, backs straight and self-assured, the bulge of the breastplate beneath their cloaks.

Soldiers… Her hand reached for the hilt of her sword subconsciously, hidden from view beneath her cloak.

The Lieutenant glanced at the recruits, who both nodded, understanding the signal. Be wary… Be ready…

The leader of the party rode a great black thoroughbred stallion, all muscle and shine, which bucked a little when its rider pulled on the reins. "Lady Serenity Pasquet?" The rider lowered his hood, revealing a round, bearded face as he shouted against the elements.

"Who wants to know?" Seren replied, hesitant as always.

"I'm Ser Ashleigh, captain of the Bellamy estate's guard. The Comtesse sent me to ensure your safe arrival. You've been expected for hours." Seren relaxed a little but remained vigilant.

"The weather delayed us." She shouted back, her tone cool, revealing nothing. It was unlikely to be a trap, but Leliana had not mentioned a welcome party would come to meet them. Caution, if unnecessary, could do no harm.

"Indeed my lady. We'll lead you the rest of the way now." He smiled, despite the rain pouring down his face.

"Thank you." Ser Ashleigh nodded, replacing his hood, before setting off back down the northern road, his men close behind. Seren nodded to Taylor and Brett, and the three followed after the guardsmen.

Within five minutes, the estate came into view, the chateau appearing in all its majesty, suitably stately and impressive, in the glow of what must have been thousands of lit candles. She didn't envy the poor sod whose job it was to light all that lot.

Seren suppressed a groan, her heart sinking.

I think I'd prefer that Inn.

The muddy road turned into a paved drive leading up to the chateau, hooves pounding the stones on the approach. Parallel lines of evenly spaced trees enclosed the avenue, which during the day, Seren was sure, would look rather charming; in the dark however, with the wind ripping at the branches, it created a far less than comforting atmosphere.

Ser Ashleigh led the group to the back of the house, dismounting as soon as they reached the shelter of the stables. In the candlelight, Seren saw that he was a big man, of reasonable height, probably in his mid-forties. His appearance was friendly enough, well defined laughter lines beneath his eyes, his ginger beard a prominent feature of his rounded face. From the way he held himself, she had no doubt that he was respected, seemingly a kind man, although one who knew how to lead, how to bring the best out of his men, a tough and wise soul. The type whose duty and honour comes above all else. She'd known quite a few of those in her time; still knew one in particular.

The Captain handed the reins to a young boy of no more than twelve, who Seren assumed to be one of the stable hands, and the horse was led away. He removed his riding gloves as he walked over to her. The other guards dismounted in a similar fashion, as Ser Ashleigh offered Seren his hand to help her down. "My lady?"

"Oh..." Seren couldn't hide her surprise, the gesture entirely unforeseen. Never, not once in the entirety of her life, had Seren been offered assistance in dismounting. Shyly, she placed her hand in his, swinging her leg over Lexi's back to step down out of the stirrups. She mumbled her thanks, her cheeks flaming.

Maker's balls, this is embarrassing…

With the intent of installing Lexi in one of the stalls, Seren started in the direction the boy had disappeared with the other mounts, but Ser Ashleigh stepped in her path.

"Don't worry with that my lady. Oliver here will look after your horse." The young boy appeared with an awkward lopsided smile, his strawberry-blonde hair swept back from his face and his shirt hurriedly tucked in. When Seren didn't instantly hand over the reins, the Captain added "The mare will be in good hands, my lady. These lads know what they're doing."

"I'll look after her miss…" Ser Ashleigh gave the boy a look. "Sorry…errr… my lady." He smiled apologetically.

Seren hesitated a few moments longer, Ser Ashleigh smiling reassuringly at her.

"Alright." Reluctantly Seren handed over the reins, so used to untacking and rubbing down Lexi herself. She'd also been hoping that sorting the horses would be an excuse to delay as long as possible. It was irrational, she knew, but handing over her horse meant meeting her Grandmother.

"What's her name?" Ollie inquired with a shy smile.

"Lexi." Seren replied, a forced but gentle smile on her lips. "Thank you Oliver."

"You're welcome, my lady." The boy said before jogging off towards the stalls, Lexi obediently trotting behind. They disappeared from sight.

"Good lad that one. Only recently joined us though, so I hope you can excuse the lack of manners my lady. He's still learning." Ser Ashleigh apologised, his grey eyes studying her face.

"Oh. In truth, I hadn't really noticed." Seren said with a self-conscious smile, feeling increasingly out of her depth. "I'm still learning myself."

"Yes of course my lady. I bet it's been an experience."

Seren laughed. "You can say that again."

"If you don't mind, my lady, before we head in, I thought I'd introduce you to this merry band of clowns." Ser Ashleigh gestured at the three guards stood patiently waiting. "The tall one's Parry. He thinks he's a charmer, but I doubt even his mother could love him with looks like that."

"That's not what your wife said last night Cap." Ashleigh laughed, as Parry stepped forward with a grin and bowed. "A pleasure, my lady."

"He thinks he's funny." Ser Ashleigh muttered in a bemused tone. "The short guy's Cardon. What he lacks in height though, he makes up for with skill. Best bowman in these parts."

"Cap, I'm average height." Cardon whined. Parry held out his hand, letting it hover above Cardon's head, pretending to measure his friend's height, a faux thoughtful expression on his face.

"Hmmm…In Orzammar maybe." Parry joked with a smirk. With a face like thunder, Cardon was about to fiercely protest when his Captain cleared his throat with a subtle nod towards Seren. Colour flooded the guard's cheeks.

"Sorry m'lady." Cardon stepped forward and bowed awkwardly, his embarrassment obvious. Seren couldn't help smiling. As the guard stepped back, Parry sniggered which received a disgruntled glare from Cardon.

"And that just leaves Lovet." The nondescript man on the end took a step, his movement making no sound. Seren felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. He bowed without removing his intense gaze from Seren's face, his dark eyes shallow and empty, his expression neutral, unreadable. He didn't speak, just straightened and stepped back.

"He's not much of a talker. Good man though." Ashleigh murmured, then said in at normal volume "Well that's everyone my lady. There's around a dozen other men but you'll meet them in time. I'm sure you are eager to get inside."

That's not how I'd put it. Seren couldn't bring herself to say anything, so she just nodded with a forced smile.

"If you care to follow me, my lady." Ashleigh headed in the direction of the house, Seren trailing after him. Taylor and Brett followed close behind and she realised how grateful she was for their presence. Having the two recruits at her side brought reality to the surreal situation, as well as inhibiting the urge to run from the nightmare she was willing walking into. A sudden thought crossed her mind.

Shit, that's why he sent them with me.

Safety was just an added bonus.

She thought back to the time she'd gotten in trouble during one of the lessons at the Chantry as a child. As punishment for her insolence, Mother Leticia had instructed that Seren stay behind to pray to the Maker for forgiveness, alone in the Chantry once everyone else had left. Seren had panicked, the Chantry terrifying her during the day, never mind at night with no one else there.

When the lesson had ended, she'd glanced at Cullen who was sat across the room, her eyes begging him not to leave her. But he didn't seem to notice. He left with the rest, tears stinging in her eyes as she watched him go.

Seren was instructed not to move until Mother Leticia returned. So she sat alone in the gloom, watching the candles cast eerie shadows up the walls.

Then there'd been a noise.

"Hello?" No reply came. Nervously she got to her feet, her body trembling with fear.

Another noise.

"Who's there?" The words were little more than a whisper.

And Cullen had stepped out of the shadows with a shy smile. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just didn't want Mother Leticia to see me." She ran and hugged him, never feeling so relieved in her life.

"Why did you stay?" She'd mumbled against his chest.

"I know how much you don't like this place." He'd smiled devilishly. "Plus you were giving me that look."

"What look?" She challenged, not wanting to own up to the fact she knew exactly what he meant.

"The 'I can't do this on my own, please save me strong and handsome Cullen' look." She'd elbowed him.

"You're making that up."

He'd chuckled. "Believe me, I'm not."

Walking through the rain to the chateau, Seren wondered if she was that easy to read, if he'd indeed seen through her attempts to appear nonchalant about this whole excursion. She admitted that Cullen probably had, thinking back to their few conversations on the topic. She wondered what he'd be doing at that moment, whether he was alright.

Jeez Seren, you've been gone half a day. He's fine.

He's managed without you before.

He probably doesn't even notice you're not there.

Seren knew that was not true, or at least she hoped it wasn't, hoped he didn't find her that expendable. Still, she missed him already, unable to help the feeling of disappointment that the recruits were with her and Cullen was not.

As they climbed the outside steps, two servants pulled open the grand wooden doors before them, revealing the gallery. The tiled floors shone in the glow of the ornate golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the decorative gems it was encrusted with reflecting beams of light across the room. Portraits hung on every wall, hundreds of faces that Seren assumed must be her ancestors forever captured on canvas. A pair of sweeping marble staircases occupied most of the room, leading to a balcony which overlooked the entranceway. A few items of furniture were dotted here and there, along with several handsome floral arrangements that filled the air with an array of delicate aromas. It was like something from a dream.

Or perhaps a nightmare.

Seren heard one of the recruits gasp behind her.

At least I'm not the only one overwhelmed by this…

Their footsteps echoed as they followed Ser Ashleigh through a set of double doors beneath the balcony, which were once again held open for them by servants. They entered what appeared to be a ballroom, with a masterpiece painted on the ceiling and beautiful carved wooden panels on the walls. Flowing red velvet curtains hung over to the right, covering great panes of glass and a set of doors which assumedly led out into either a garden or patio. It was too dark to tell.

Ser Ashleigh told them to wait, before hurrying off through another set of doors.

Seren's heart pounded. She was hyper-sensitive to everything around her, adrenaline coursing through her, every sound, every movement, every smell. She glanced behind, noticing the trail of water they were leaving behind, like the breadcrumbs in that fairy-tale her mother had read to her once upon a time.

When the servants closed the doors behind them, leaving the three women alone, Taylor spoke in an animated whisper.

"Holy shitballs Lieut! This place is incredible." Taylor was one of the more recent volunteers, who had spent time in the Ferelden forces before the breach tore a hole in the sky. But Seren had to admit that she liked the woman already. She got on with the job with little, if any, complaint, was competent and reliable without being self-inflated or proud.

"Hmmm." Seren nervously started to pace the polished floor, her face peering back at her when she looked down.

"It is rather breath-taking. I don't think I've ever been in a house as grand as this." Brett said, her expression one of sheer awe.

Of all the recruits, Cullen had chosen well. Taylor was tough and Brett was sweet, the pair contrastingly opposite in personality, but in a reassuring way.

Eventually Ser Ashleigh returned, followed by two servants. "My lady, the Comtesse has requested that before you are introduced, you are to be shown to your quarters where you can bathe and dress for supper at your leisure. Your companions will be shown to theirs by Ina and Dawn." The servants bowed, fixed smiles on their faces. Ser Ashleigh gestured to Taylor and Brett. "If you would like to follow them?"

Seren nodded to the recruits, who quite willing followed after the two servants to disappear through the doors at the end of the ballroom. She suddenly felt very exposed and despairingly alone.

"If you'd care to follow me my lady?" He led her through the house, up stairs and down corridors. The place was a maze, seemingly never-ending with an infinite number of doors and rooms beyond. Seren was exhausted, her eyes drifting shut as she walked, so when Ser Ashleigh finally stopped, she almost walked straight into him.

"This is you my lady." He opened the door for Seren.

Her mouth dropped open, her eyes almost popping out of her head.

"Andraste's tits! You're kidding right?" She exclaimed, completely forgetting herself as she took in her surroundings.

Maker's balls it's an entire fucking suite! You could house half of Skyhold in here…

There was an enormous four poster bed with blue silk drapes which Seren couldn't help running her fingers across as she moved around her quarters, the delicate fabric so soft against her skin. A fire crackled in the corner, sharing its warmth as it cast a cosy glow across the space. There were two large dark wood wardrobes, a dressing table, a pale blue chaise longue at the foot of the bed and a bookshelf crammed full of books with a tactfully placed armchair nearby. A set of glass doors led out onto a balcony, velvet curtains once again hanging in front, but blue ones this time to match the rest of the room.

Ashleigh laughed, a deep hearty laugh without a hint of malice. "A nice upgrade from a life in barracks huh?"

"You're telling me…" Seren rotated on the spot, completely bewildered.

"Well I shall leave you to settle in my lady. Supper will be served whenever you are ready."

"Thank you." Seren smiled gratefully, already decided that she liked the Captain.

"You are welcome my lady." Ser Ashleigh bowed and exited, closing the door gently behind.

Exhausted and thoroughly overwhelmed, Seren collapsed on the chaise lounge, unsure whether to laugh or cry.