One day before Conclave

Rush walked into the local tavern at Haven alongside Cassandra and Varric, thirsty after the long journey. She immediately aimed for the bar and ordered ale. 'Heh, the Chargers sure changed me,' she grinned to herself, took a sip.

Varric gladly took a place next to her, while Cassandra towered above them, disapproving of their drinking habits.

"So, when are we to join the 'esteemed leaders' of this rebellion?" Varric asked Cassandra, his own mug half-empty already. Looked like he was more hassled then he wanted to let on.

"Tomorrow. We shall take this day to rest, and join their proceedings with clear heads and rested bodies."

"You expect trouble?" Rush asked the woman, surprised. "I thought you wished this will go peacefully. Isn't that the point of all this?"

Cassandra only sighed, "I do wish for it to go peacefully, but I am not naive enough to think my wish will come true that easily. We will rest and prepare, in case there is any trouble. Besides, it's not like they will miss us there today. The ones who came early have been arguing and bargaining for several days already. One more day of rest for us won't do any harm."

Rush stared into her drink thoughtfully. "But the Divine is already up there, isn't she?" When Cassandra nodded and looked at her curiously, Rush continued, "I will go up there today. In fact, it's best if I go now. There's something I need to give her."

"Oh? What is it?" Cassandra asked, half-suspicious, half-surprised.

Rush only smiled and explained, "The contract for legal employment of mages was… not as popular among the Chantry and nobility as the Divine must have hoped. There is… unrest, in certain quarters. And since this decision of hers was partially my fault, I thought…" she reached into her coat and pulled out a single scroll. "I thought a little bit of help won't hurt. This is the list of noble families that the mages managed to help thanks to their contracts. Families that are very grateful that their arcane issues have been resolved. Grateful families that can offer support for the Divine, in case there are any movements against the Most Holy herself."

At Cassandra's widened eyes, Rush's smile grew, yet she tried to keep quiet so as not to let too many people overhear them. "I want to give it to her, ideally today, and in secret, so the templars or her detractors won't see us do it. Let's keep this as last resort, in case it was needed. Also," she added sheepishly, "I might do some discreet scouting while I'm up there. It would be good to know what we're about to face tomorrow."

Cassandra gave her one of her rare smiles, "Better than going in blindly. I agree."

Varric chuckled, "Now, now, Seeker. If we're not careful, we might corrupt you. So much practical thinking is dangerous, After all, we wouldn't the Divine to have two Left Hands."

Cassandra grunted in disgust, while Rush tried her best to stifle her giggles. To distract herself, she looked around the tavern. One of her eyebrows rose when she spotted a familiar face. She turned back to her companions to excuse herself, but seeing that they were locked in another of their 'little spats', she simply shook her head, exasperated, and walked away. She wondered how long it will take them to notice she was gone.

"Good day, Cadash. I didn't expect to see you here." She greeted one of their more memorable (and returning) customers politely as she pulled a chair and sat at his table, right next to an unknown Qunari woman. "What business do you have at the Conclave?"

The man grinned at her, "Ah, hello there… Rush, was it? One of Bull's men?" At her nod, he added mischievously, "I would have thought you figured it out already. I have full right to be here."

"Do you now…" She took a sip of the drink in her hand and waited for the punchline.

Cadash leaned in conspiratorially, "Indeed. You see, I'm secretly a mage in disguise."

Rush snorted and accidentally sprayed a bit of her ale on the table. She could always count on the dwarf to be weird.

The Chargers have completed a couple jobs for the man and she came to appreciate his humor the few times she was on a team dealing with whatever weirdness he got himself involved in. And my, were his problems weird. From lyrium addicted, glowing brontos almost twice the size of normal ones, to chewed on darkspawn battling hordes of demon possessed surface deepstalkers, he always found himself in the middle of some craziness that needed solving. Kind of reminded her of herself, really.

"And who is this, if you don't mind me asking?" Rush turned towards the silent Qunari.

"This? This is Adaar, my bodyguard," Cadash looked over at his partner and Rush was surprised to see a gentle light enter his eyes. Reminded her a bit of the way Bull sometimes looked at her. Were those two…? No way. How would that even work? But then, to each his own, she didn't have any right to judge. Cadash turned back to Rush and continued, "I was really disappointed when Bull refused to offer some of his men as permanent bodyguards, let me tell you…"

The Qunari woman interrupted him with a smirk. "Thankfully the Valo-Kas have no such restrictions. Cadash here is my new long-term assignment. Not that I'm complaining - who else could possibly pull this guy's ass out of the messes he gets himself involved in?"

"Now, now, I'm sure I could easily deal with my problems myself. I simply prefer to surround myself with your beauty, my dear," he gave the Vashoth a charming smile.

"Careful with that flattery, dwarf, or your beard might catch on fire," Adaar growled at him playfully, but Rush could see the amusement behind her fierce expression. "Still. This is definitely better than guarding some puffed-up 'Enchanter'."

Before they could get too delayed, Rush interrupted their banter. "But, why are you really here, of all places, Cadash?" Her eyes narrowed, "I hope it's not lyrium trade you're involved in this time."

The dwarf nodded to her, some of his joviality dimming, not even trying to hide it. "It is, of course. The Carta wants to establish a trade supply to one or both sides of this conflict. And if not, then renew their deal with the Chantry. You might not have noticed, but these last few months, we've had a sudden drop in customers."

"Well, people are at war, technically…"

"Exactly! People should need more lyrium than ever to fight, right? Yet the demand got really low, and we can't figure out why. Even the employed mages and templars should need more. And now they can even afford it… There's rumors of a secret supplier and a new kind of lyrium that shines red instead of blue, but the Carta just can't trace them to the source. Everyone we sent to investigate either found nothing… or simply vanished. We need to get to the bottom of this, and fast." He ordered another drink and continued, "Our first hint will be found here. Most of the people who need lyrium will be up there. Someone must know something. So I have to get there, too. I just… haven't figured out how I'll get there… yet."

"Templars and Mages making fuss over letting a non-Templar dwarf in?" She asked him sympathetically. Then she got an idea. "You know, I could investigate for you. I'm a mage, and definitely invited to the proceedings. I'll be right in the thick of things, and talk to the leaders themselves. I can keep an eye out for you, if you'd like."

Cadash idly stroked his beard. "Hmm. Yes, that could work." He shrugged his shoulders, "I'll work out the payment details with the Iron Bull or Krem later. In the mean time, find out what you can."

"I will," she promised, finished her drink and stood up. "Sorry to cut this short, friends, but I need to get going. I'll return as soon as the conclave is over." At their nods, she turned and walked out of the tavern…

…only to run straight into another familiar face. "Lavellan, what are you doing here?" She caught the small elf by the shoulder when he looked ready to bolt at the sight of her.

"Hey, Rush! Didn't expect to see you here," the boy offered her a charming smile.

'You're a hundred years too young to try that on me, sweetheart. The only one who can distract me with his manly charms is Bull,' she thought with an exasperated smile. But at least this time, Mahanon wore a mercenary coat and not his mage robes. Looked like he could learn to be sneakier after all. "Well, here I am. And you?"

"I, ehm, err…" he tried to find an excuse, but when Rush just lifted an eyebrow, his shoulders slumped. Then he looked around carefully to see if anyone listened in on their conversation. When he saw no one paid them any attention, he leaned in to whisper, "I got a letter from our Keeper. She wants to know what will be decided here, in case it involves us somehow." He crossed arms over his chest. "And, you know, since I'm a mage, I technically have a right to be there, too…"

Rush only sighed. "And if the templars and mages decide that all mages have to return to Circles? What are you going to do then?"

Lavellan only shrugged his shoulders, "Then I'll just leave quietly. Nobody needs to know I was even there."

Rush only shook her head and poked holes in his shoddy theory. "Templars are sensitive to magic. You can't hide from them that easily; they'll feel you from several rooms away. And when they catch you, the first thing they'll do is take your blood to create a phylactery. Then, even if you did manage to run, you'll be hunted for the rest of your life. They'll come right to your clan and drag you away to lock you inside one of the Circles. Maybe murder your clan-mates in the process. That is, if they don't just decide to kill you on spot at the Conclave for being an apostate in the first place."

"But I can't go back to the Keeper like this! Without any news at all!" Lavellan looked at her through eyelashes, huge elven eyes pleading.

Rush sighed again, "All right, all right." Before the boy could start celebrating, she added, "You'll stay here. I'm going up there either way, and I plan to pay attention. When I get back, I'll tell you what you and your Keeper need to know."

"But…"

"No." She stemmed any protest, took him by the elbow and dragged him back into the tavern. Lavellan gave up on struggling quickly enough, no doubt secretly glad he won't have to risk life and limb for information that Rush will give him for free.

"Hey, guys, do you mind if this one joins you for a bit?" She asked Cadash who lifted his head in surprise when he saw her back so quickly.

"I don't need a babysitter," Lavellan pouted. "I'm an adult, you know."

Cadash scanned them with his keen eyes, then simply grinned, "Ah, come now, lad. Play a couple hands of Wicked Grace with us." He invited him with wide arms stretched out on welcome.

Lavellan looked at the strange man properly, then at the huge, imposing and no doubt exotic looking Adaar at his side, then back at the armed dwarf with a kind face and hands full of cards and grinned back.

Rush led him closer to the table with a fond smile. "These people are Cadash and Adaar. And, Cadash," she turned to the dwarf, "Don't corrupt him… too much," she winked at them and left with a smile at the sound of their laughter.

Now, just a quick run up to the Temple to give Divine Justinia that document…

-rushing-ahead-rushing-ahead-rushing-ahead-

The explosion rocked his world in more ways than one. A flash of green lightning that surely couldn't come from this world and a wave of dust and debris that almost knocked him off his feet.

As soon as the dust settled over the battlefield, Bull ripped his axe out of the dead Giant. He didn't say a word.

That… thing in the sky was completely unnatural. And it came from the direction of the Conclave. The largest congregation of mages outside of Tevinter.

The place Rush went off to.

If he could feel the blast from here, what did it do to the people at the center of it?

His men gathered all around him, their faces drawn and tense. The battle against the Venatori was over, but Bull didn't feel as if they won. This force was too weak for one. What was this? A distraction while they plotted the main 'entertainment' elsewhere?

All the way back to their usual haunt, Bull was lost in a haze.

How many hours did he travel? Or was it days? He didn't know. He only woke up once he entered his tavern to sit down heavily in his usual chair at the bar.

"Chief?" came the worried voice of his Lieutenant. His Krem. "That was… that came…"

"From the Conclave. Yes." His shoulders slumped.

"What are we going to do?" Dalish asked in a small voice.

Bull stared at the bar in front of him, eye clouded.

Then he lifted his head with new determination. "There must be people dealing with this. We're going to join them, and find the bastards that caused this. Then we will crush them." 'For Rush,' he added silently. He doubted the Ben-Hassrath would protest. After all, if some weird shit was happening, they must want to know about it, right?

He went to pack. They will probably not return here for a long, long time. Either the people who were dealing with that green bullshit accepted their help, in which case the Chargers will stay with them, or they won't and the Chargers will investigate on their own. And if there was no one dealing with the explosion, then the Chargers would become the people others will come to. Either way, they were leaving here.

Early on the next morning, he came down the stairs, carrying all that he needed. The rest could be either sold, or will be brought to him once he found a semi-permanent place to stay again. He could trust the tavern owner to do that for him.

What waited for him in the tavern's common room was a surprise, as shocking as it was unwelcome.

"Gatt! What are you doing here? I thought you were still on Seheron!" He greeted the Ben-Hassrath agent, but didn't smile as he would usually do. He doubted he could make a believable attempt in his current mood anyway.

His men stood around anxiously. They might not know the man, but anyone with halfway decent instincts could feel the waves of coldness and ruthlessness the slim elf emanated.

"Hissrad. Long time no see." No smiles on his side either, but then, Bull didn't exactly expect any. What the hell was the agent even doing here?

"Is something the matter? I'm on my way to…"

"Yes. That's why I'm here." Gatt interrupted him and Bull had to stop himself from narrowing his eyes.

"New orders, Hissrad. You are to be re-assigned to Tevinter." 'The other side of the world, as far away from the Conclave as possible' went unsaid.

Bull narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

Gatt's eyebrow twitched. No doubt surprised to hear Bull question his orders, when he never had before. Not when it counted. Not directly. "It is not our place to ask. But, if you have to know, the Ben-Hassrath believe you are too involved. Another agent will be sent to spy on the Inquisition. You are to find out the source of the attacks in Minrathous."

So the people who dealt with all this crap were called the 'Inquisition'. Good to know.

Gatt continued, "You are to infiltrate the various Magister's households and find as much information about them and their operations as you can. Under no circumstances are you to contact the Inquisition forces or any of your former mercenaries…" Gatt stopped himself when he saw Bull's reaction.

Bull started. Former mercenaries? Did Rush survive the blast? But… His eye narrowed.

So that's what this was about.

It wasn't about finding out more about the Magisters or solving the 'end of the world' issues that threatened everyone. The Ben-Hassrath simply felt he was 'too involved'. That he was compromised. They needed to exert their control over him once more. To prove his loyalties to them and to himself. Maraas Shokra. But most of all…

This was about Rush.

"She is one of my men," Bull growled as he decided to cut through the bullshit and get right to the point.

"I know. But such are the orders. You know you can't disobey orders, Hissrad. You'd become Tal Vashoth." When he saw Bull's lack of reaction at that threat, Gatt's eyes widened. He obviously expected Bull to fall in line as soon as he spoke those dreaded words. "You can't be serious! Half the Ben-Hassrath think you've betrayed us already, with how much you shared with her! But I told them I believed in you. I told them you'd never become Tal Vashoth!"

Meaning he all but challenged the Ben-Hassrath to set up this 'test' to prove his loyalty. Probably was even the one who started the suspicions in the first place. Bull glared.

Was this what his people were truly like? Did they think he wouldn't see the manipulation? Or worse, did they expect him to betray one of his men for nothing more than some higher-up's dick measuring contest? For their idiotic need to have absolute control over his every thought?

He served them loyally for years. And now that he wanted to have one thing for himself, they wanted to take that away. Take her away.

Not a chance.

Well, he thought about leaving anyway…

"I'm going to join the Inquisition." Bull stated, his voice firm. He let no hint of fear of becoming a Tal Vashoth show in his body language or his voice. Not a hint of his fear of madness. Neither did he betray the hope that Rush yet lived.

Gatt stared at him as if he'd never seen him before. Then his face scrunched up in anger, but he didn't try to make any further arguments. He must have known they wouldn't have helped. "All these years, Hissrad. And you throw that all away for this? For her?" He paced up and down the tavern in a trained, theatrical manner that was no doubt his final attempt to persuade him.

It didn't work. Gatt's shoulders slumped.

Bull refused to show how much the thought of leaving the Qun still hurt. He made his mind up a long time ago. "You under orders to kill me, Gatt?" The rest of his Chargers fidgeted around them, no doubt making Gatt aware that every single one of them would pull weapons against him, should he try anything.

But the elf only shook his head. "No. The Ben-Hassrath already lost one… agent. They'd rather not lose two."

Not even acknowledging that he was damn good at his job. Had been. But no matter. At least that will make them underestimate him, if they ever met again. He hoped.

Gatt turned away and slinked out of the tavern, no doubt to report to his superiors. Bull watched him go, and wondered if the next time they met, it will be to see Gatt's dead eyes stare up into the sky after he killed the elf. For some reason, Bull found himself hoping never to see the man again.

Krem swallowed next to him. He and the rest of the Chargers watched the exchange in silence, but Bull felt that Krem might have been the one to fully understand what was going on. Rush might have, too, but she wasn't here. "Where to now, Chief?"

Bull shook himself one last time and straightened. "We're going to join the Inquisition."

He and his Chargers walked out of the tavern, and never looked back.


A/N: One more chapter left, and then epilogue :)

Btw, did you like my alternate 'Bull's decision' path? First he had time to think things through. Three months, in fact. And then, it was a decision he made, without any input from any 'Boss', and without sacrificing a hundred innocent lives to freaking 'Vints.