Cullen felt restless. He exited the kitchens and breathed deeply of the twilight air, taking in the stars that were just starting to peek out, heralding the night to come. His eyes traced a constellation, and the urge to point it out had him raising his hand, turning his head. The words died on his lips, though, when he saw the place beside him empty. Ari wasn't there.

Cullen slowly lowered his arm, that restlessness surging in his chest again. Ari. She was leaving. His head pounded like crazy, but Cullen took deep calming breaths and slowly he was able to manage the pain.

He shook himself. Evangelina had not been pleased when he said he needed to spend some time alone tonight. She had requested that he stay with her, but Cullen had remained firm in his resolve. There was something… something he needed to puzzle out. Like a niggling memory that remained just beyond his reach. He hoped that a walk in the summer night would help his headache ease, help him figure out what was bothering him.

He descended the stone steps into the courtyard, keeping his eyes averted from the torches and the lights spilling from the stables. The lights were agitating the throbbing behind his eyes, but a commotion made him pause, and look curiously inside the structure.

He saw several people moving around in there, horses being made ready to leave. Cullen frowned, slugging through the haze of his memory to think of his reports. They were not sending out a patrol at this time of night; perhaps it was some of Leliana's people?

The giant shape of a qunari put that idea to rest quickly. The Iron Bull was definitely not one of Leliana's scouts.

Curious, and a bit irritated, Cullen sighed and headed to the stables. This was not how he intended to spend his evening, but this was highly unusual. He needed to know what was happening.

As he stepped inside the enclosure, Cullen couldn't help his surprise. "What are you all doing?"

Before him in varying levels of readiness, several of his friends were hurrying around. Varric was holding the reins to two horses while Dorian was tying saddlebags onto one's back. The Iron Bull had just placed his giant saddle on his charger, and Sera sat on a bale of hay, picking out pieces to tickle her small mare with.

"We're goin'" Sera crowed out, making no attempt to disguise her contempt of him.

A bubble of anger made him snap, "I can see that. But where are you going?"

Dorian didn't turn around as he finished tying the knots to his bags, "After Ari'elle. She left for Griffon Wing Keep sometime in the last day and a half."

Cullen felt the blow of Dorian's words as a physical punch to the chest. His breath left him, his heart stopped beating. His vision blurred; nothing in focus and blackness encroached, leaving him light headed. Everything else receded, leaving only Dorian's words.

Ari'elle left.

Ari'elle was gone. Without saying goodbye.

With a rush, everything snapped back into focus, and Cullen drew in a shaking breath, blinking at his friends. They were still preparing, acting as if they hadn't just dropped the largest bomb on him. But, his heart sank, with the way he had been acting, who could blame them for thinking that the news wouldn't affect him? He worshiped Evangelina, after all. Cullen was able to croak out, "You are going to bring her back?" He tried to push away the hope that was their intention, but it refused to leave.

Sera scoffed, "Bring her back? Nah. We'll join her."

Another heavy blow to his chest. Cullen felt a surge of anger rising, felt that irrational need to lash out. They were just going to leave him without telling him anything? How dare they! He was the Inquisitor; he was the one who told people what they would be doing!

"She needs us," Varric spoke quietly but firmly, his voice cutting through all the noise in the stables and sliced through the anger that was welling within him.

Cullen closed his eyes at the sting. She needed them. She really did. They had become her closest friends, her support. Ari'elle was traveling to a strange place, heartsick from all he had put her through.

Enough, he told himself. He was so tired of being torn in half. Sometimes it felt like all he wanted was Ari'elle to go away. Other times, like right now, all he wanted was to plead with her to stay. He couldn't keep doing that. He couldn't continue to hurt her with his indecisiveness.

He sighed wearily, scrubbing his hand over his face. "Then go." Without another look at the four, he turned on his heel and practically ran away before he could say something he would regret.

Numbly, Cullen let his feet lead him, not noticing the greetings or salutes, barely aware of what was going on in his own mind. His headache had turned vicious again, but he wouldn't allow it to win. For too many days he had allowed the pain and lethargy plaguing him to take priority. But now there was… that something pulling at him, yanking at him to remember. Remember what, though?

The clatter of hooves on stone drew his head around, and Cullen realized he was on the steps leading up to the Main Hall. He turned and looked down at the four figures now disappearing under the archway to the bridge. Soon there was nothing for him to see, nothing to hear. They were gone, just like Ari'elle.

A vicious throb of his headache sent Cullen back into that trance state, his feet leading him. He was vaguely aware of slipping along the wall, staying to the corner of the room to not draw attention from those still lounging in the great room. He reached the first door and eagerly escaped through it.

The moonlight lit up the gardens, the breeze causing the plants to gently bob and sway. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, Cullen relished the pungent, sweet, and rich fragrances now so common to the enclosure. He walked down the covered path, then stepped out onto the dirt and slowly ambled past the garden beds so alive with beauty. Flowers turned their face up to the sky, awaiting the sun of tomorrow. Herbs of varying shapes and sizes were carefully pruned and collected. A bud here, a root there, the leaves from that one, the nectar from the other.

Why was he here? This was one of the places he had been avoiding, he knew. Now that Ari'elle was gone… Cullen gritted his teeth and continued down the path, heading for the Chantry. Right, he was heading to pray to the Maker. At least… that is where he should have been going; some part of his mind commanded him. But he knew that it wasn't the real reason he was alone in the garden.

As Cullen passed the gazebo, though, he froze. Drifting in the air, a sweet and light floral scent cut through all the others. Cullen turned, sucking in another lungful of the beautiful fragrance. Where was this coming from? Why had he not noticed it before? Winding around one of the pillars, a vine offered up giant white blossoms to the moon. Cullen drew closer, transfixed at the silver tinted flowers. He did not recognize them; he had never seen them before. And yet… he carefully reached out and plucked one of the velvety blossoms and brought it to his nose. And yet he knew this scent.

A rush of memory came back to him as he stood with his eyes closed, face buried in the foreign and familiar flower. The heat of a fire, the feeling of someone gently running their fingers through his hair. Waking up, sore and stiff, his armor carefully set aside. This scent, the scent of the woman who had helped him, lingering in the fur of his mantle.

Oh Maker. Cullen felt an explosion go off in his head, not physically painful, but mentally burning through him. Maker, what was happening? His mind blanked and Cullen squeezed at his temples with one hand. Slowly, through the white light sparkling in his head, Cullen felt the truth. Felt it settle in his bones and solidify.

Ari had been the one to save him that night. She had smelt of these flowers, had most likely worn them in her hair, as she was wont to do. She had told him the truth all those days ago.

Which meant, that for some reason Evangelina had lied to him about that night, didn't it? Cullen frowned, casting back to standing on the ballroom's balcony. He had been so sure that her scent was the one he remembered. But now Cullen could recall that the floral scent he had smelled from that fateful morning had been light and sweet. Evangelina's perfume, while floral, was more heady and sultry. How had he ever believed that they were the same scent?

Cullen slowly blinked open his eyes and realized he was crouched on the ground. Although his body was shaking with tension, in his hand he gently cupped Ari'elle's flower. Despite his pain he had not hurt it.

"Are you awake now? Have you seen everything?"

Cullen jerked his head to the side, his eyes seeking in the darkness. Cole stepped into the moonlight, his floppy hat hiding his face in the shadows still. "Cole," Cullen gulped out. "What? What is this flower?"

Cole crouched beside him and looked up at the other blossoms on the vine. He had that strange far-away look Cullen saw him wear often. Slowly, Cole's voice slipped from his lips, "She calls them Moon Flowers. Wrapped around a tree, she would sing as she braided them in her hair, high off the ground. A noise pulls her away, one falls from her curls as she runs to the cliff edge. Their fragrance followed her down as she jumped after an unconscious man of great heroism. She forgot them as she carefully watched a chest rise and fall in the firelight. But they know she loves them, so they left a hint for the one she loves."

"For me?" Cullen whispered out, his throat tight.

Cole turned and looked through him and saw his soul. "Always."

Cullen dropped his head, his hair falling onto his forehead and he stared down at the beautiful bloom in his hand. "And I… I can't believe how I treated her. We were…" He coughed and tried again to speak around the painful catching of his throat. "We were in love, weren't we?"

"Yes." Cole said simply.

Cullen surged to his feet, Cole echoing in his shadow. "Then why did I do that to her? I was cruel to her, ignored her!" He paced, shoving one hand through his hair, tangling it. The other though, still gently held the Moon Flower. "I don't want her to hurt." Cullen felt more of that sparkling white energy sizzling through his brain, and he realized for the first time in weeks that he no longer felt exhausted. "Why did I act like that then? That wasn't like me anymore. Right?" He frowned, thinking back over the weeks. "I haven't been acting like myself for days, have I?"

"No," Cole confirmed. "I kept trying to tell you that."

Cullen spun and frowned down at the boy. "What do you mean? We haven't talked since before I left Skyhold weeks ago."

Cole shook his head, his gleaming eyes boring into Cullen. "No. We have talked every night since your return." A chill gripped Cullen, rooting him to the spot. "Tonight it is earlier than when you are usually here. Usually it is so dark outside, so late, no one else knows." A spark of memory started to come forth, but Cullen was so surprised he couldn't bring it to life.

"Why don't I remember it?" He whispered.

Cole shrugged. "She makes you forget." Cullen frowned at his words. Who made him forget? Not Ari'elle, he knew that for certain. Evangelina? How? And why would she want him to forget?

Cole turned towards the Chantry and started to walk away. "Wait," Cullen shouted after him. Desperation pulled at him now, urgency, his questions pulling at him. "Where are you going? I have questions!"

Cole tossed over his shoulder, "She left you another clue. In her room."

Ari. Cullen whirled and raced through the night, his hand reaching inside his jacket and pressing the Moon Flower to his chest pocket. He heard the surprised gasps as he threw doors open, but he didn't care. He ran through the solarium, over the bridge and wrenched open the door to her tower. With a swiftness born of apprehension, he scrambled up the ladder, and then stood panting in her room.

It was dark. Too dark. And so empty, as if without her in the room it became cold and lifeless. Perhaps, he slowly grasped, all rooms were like that without Ari'elle. Just another room.

His hands shaking, Cullen lit a brace of candles, sweeping his eyes over the furnishings. A clue? Her trunk was still in place, so he lifted the lid. Rapidly he sorted through her remaining clothing. She had left most of her new things here, took very little when she left. Wouldn't she need them? Or was someone going to bring them to her later?

He sat back on his heels, and then looked to her collection. A set of shelves were now filled with little bits of Ari'elle's treasure. Coins, scraps of metal in interesting shapes. Empty glass bottles, a few kitchen gadgets. A whole row devoted to books, including ones still perfectly packaged, as if she had never opened them. But nothing Cullen would consider a clue.

There! On her bedside table lay a letter. Cullen snatched it up and saw his name scrawled on the front. He broke the seal and moved back to the light, sitting on the edge of the bed as he hurriedly smoothed open the pages. For a moment he took in her large, childish lettering, bracing himself for what she had written. He took in a steading breath and began.

Dear Cullen,

I'm sorry I lied to you, but I couldn't tell you the truth. I can now, it makes no differince. I got my mark from Corypheus, not from a holy being. He came to me in a dream after I met you, and offered me an answer to all my dreams. The Anchor gave me the chance to be close to you, and I was finally able to learn more about the human world. There were rules I agread to before I got it, thogh. The first was that I would have to do a task for him. If I said no, then I would have to spend a year in his servise. The second was that I couldn't tell anyone or I would have to imediately return to him. Tonight he told me what the task was, and I just couldn't do it. So I am leaving now to return to the forest. I know what happens to those in his servise so I don't expect I will be coming back.

I love you Cullen. I have for forever now. All I want is for you to be happy. I hope you will be.

Always,

Ari'elle

For a long time Cullen stared down at Ari'elle's handwriting, smoothing his fingers over her name. He couldn't sort through his emotions; rage, joy, terror, horror, self-disgust, and a burning need for answers. He let them all roll through him.

Ari'elle loved him.

Several things crystallized for him in rapid succession, and he stood, filled with energy. He slid down the ladder and over to the side door, flinging it open. "Soldier," he barked. The sentry pacing the ramparts whirled in confusion, snapping a smart salute as he recognized the Inquisitor. "Sound the call. I want the veteran guard ready to depart for battle within the hour. We will be making double time, so tell everyone to prepare for a fast journey. And send for two guards to stand at my bedroom door. Go!" He didn't wait to see the man leave, but he heard him running, already shouting out orders.

Cullen marched back to the Main Hall, his eyes moving over the crowd. He didn't see Evangelina amongst her usual flock of dignitaries, so he found a servant. "Bring Lady Trevelyan to my rooms at once. Tell her immediately, do you understand?" The servant nodded rapidly, his eyes wide at Cullen's tone. Very rarely did he don the Commander persona outside of training or battle, but tonight called for it.

The letter hadn't sounded like her; too serious and to the point. But he knew that she had written it. Had he pushed her spirit so much that it had broken? Stabbing worry worked at his heart; he prayed to the Maker and Andraste that it wasn't the case. She had such a beautiful soul; she deserved to remain just as she had been. So he had to hurry.

Taking two steps at a time, Cullen raced to his room. He dashed up the last steps to his room and froze. He looked around, finally seeing everything clearly for the first time in weeks… just as Cole had asked him.

There were vases filled with bouquets of flowers all around his room. Cullen went from one to another, touching the faded glory of each one. He had been going to the gardens each night, he slowly remembered. He came to the table next to his bed, gazed down at the small vase displaying its prize. These little purple flowers were the freshest, and the same ones that Ari'elle had had woven in her hair last night when she had told him she was leaving.

Late last night he had woken up from another nightmare, and he had retreated down to the garden. Carefully he had searched for the same flowers she had worn, picking the most beautiful ones. He had brought them back to his room and placed them on this table. He had stared at them as he had fallen asleep. The reminder of her had soothed him and he had dreamed only of Ari'elle.

And he now remembered Evangelina coming to his room this morning, disgusted at another vase full of flowers. She had ordered that he forget about it… and he had.

Cullen felt anger rising in him, fury at her manipulation. Only this anger felt like his own, not one that someone had pressed on him. No, not someone. Evangelina.

He rushed to pack his travel bags, taking the bare minimum of what he would need. Lastly he grabbed his sword, shield, and helm and placed them with his things. Then he sank down on the edge of the bed and waited.

She took her time. She must have realized something momentous was occurring. Even up here in his tower, he could hear the raucous that such sudden and serious orders had caused throughout Skyhold. He looked over at the clock on his mantle. He would give her five more minutes; even though there were still thirty before his order to depart, he was not going to risk Ari'elle's life just for this encounter.

Delicate steps indicated Evangelina was finally making her way to him. Cullen watched her with hooded eyes as she stepped gracefully into the room, looking the perfect picture of a lady, just as she always did.

"Cullen? What is going on? Where are you going?" She came up to him hesitantly, concern and confusion the only look on her face.

Cullen remained in his pose, his elbows braced on his knees, his fingers steepled against his lips. He looked up at her from his lowered lids and asked her simply, "How did you do it Evangelina?"

She blinked prettily down at him, her long dark lashes fluttering. "How did I do what?"

"How were you controlling me? How did you make me forget?" If he hadn't been watching her face so intently, he would have missed the flash of fear that she quickly replaced with her confusion. But Cullen was watching. And he was not going to allow her to manipulate him again.

"I don't know what you mean. I have never controlled you!" Evangelina came to stand before him. He straightened his spine, keeping his eyes fixed to her face. Very gently she laid her glowing hand against his cheek. Cullen could feel the magic in the Anchor arching, the tingles as it touched his skin. "You love me." She said firmly. When Cullen didn't even blink, his mouth still remained pressed into an expressionless line, she sighed with resignation and impatience. Almost as if this were a regular occurrence that she found annoying. "Fine then, you worship me."

I worship Evangelina. How many times had he said that in the last two weeks? Because she had someone made him feel that way? But he had never said he loved her, had never even kissed her. He knew that implicitly. Despite her repeated attempts, she hadn't been able to get him to feel that. Because he had been in love with Ari'elle already.

"No, Evangelina." Cullen stood and encircled her wrist, pulled her hand from his face. "No, I don't worship you. I don't love you. I know you have been doing something to me and now I want the truth. Was it lyrium? Blood magic? What was it?"

Evangelina fought against his grip, yanking her arm away. "Nothing! I haven't done anything to you, Cullen. You must believe me!" Pretty tears filled her eyes and fell down her cheeks, but they were practiced. A response from a master manipulator.

"I don't." He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her expectantly. He felt disgust as her tears dried instantly, a calculated look appearing in the pinched look of her lips, her narrowed eyes.

Instantly she reached back out and put her hand on him again, this time his wrist. "Cullen, just forget about this argument and this silly idea," she ordered. For a moment, Cullen could feel that hazy lassitude creep at the fringes of his mind.

"No," Cullen growled and pushed back at it, not allowing whatever sort of spell it was to gain on him. He clung to his own emotions and memories, keeping his mind under his own control. "No, Evangelina."

She grabbed onto his wrist harder, her perfectly manicured fingernails digging into his skin. "Yes! You will obey me!" The haze pushed back harder, but Cullen now easily rebuffed it. He knew what to fight now. He held Ari'elle fast, and the fog couldn't tear a rift between them any longer.

"It's not working anymore!" She snarled down at her hand, anger twisting her features. It wasn't very fair, Cullen thought in passing, that such ugly anger could still be beautiful on her. Evangelina's porcelain skin was flushed a becoming pink, her crystalline blue eyes flashing, her lips pouting attractively. She was still hauntingly attractive, but Cullen didn't feel anything anymore. There was nothing lovely in her nature, and he felt his fury recede. She really was just a spoiled brat; she just had some sort of powerful magic on her side.

Evangelina gritted her teeth and strained at his wrist, concentration on the Mark. It flared brighter green, the electricity of it increasing, but it had no effect on him. "Argh!" She cried out in frustration.

He grabbed her wrist again and pulled it from his skin. "What isn't working?" He raised his brows down at her and then at the glowing green Mark on her palm. "Your Anchor isn't working anymore? What were your attempts supposed to do? Because I am beginning to think it is not what Ari'elle's does, close Rifts."

Evangelina stilled and tossed her hair, "It's always Ari'elle with you. You wouldn't hate her, would only ignore her. I actually had to make you hurt yourself to stop thinking about her!" She stamped her foot in frustration. "You wouldn't love me! All the others loved me when I told them to! I'm the Herald of Andraste, everyone does what I say!" She snapped her mouth shut and pressed her lips together. "I'm not telling you anything." She announced petulantly. Cullen raised his brows at her childish behavior, curious in an offhand way if she realized just how much she had actually revealed about her abilities.

Cullen glanced at the clock. Time to wrap this up. "Telling me nothing about your Mark and supposed Anchor, or nothing about Corypheus?"

Evangelina gasped, her eyes widening in shock. "How did…" She clamped mouth closed again, but she had given herself away.

"Fine, if you don't feel like sharing now, I will just have you locked away for a few days. Maybe some time in the dungeons will loosen your tongue." Cullen raised his voice and called for the soldiers standing at his door. They came into his room, surprise written on their face at their tableau.

"You will take Lady Trevelyan to the dungeons." When they looked hesitant at the idea, Cullen informed them. "She has revealed herself to be working in league with Corypheus. You will leave two guards with her at all times, and do not under any circumstances let her glowing hand touch your bare skin." Understanding and anger bloomed in their eyes, and they snapped into action.

"You will regret this Cullen!" Evangelina shrieked as they pulled her away, mindful of her thrashing and flailing hand. "We would have been perfect for each other! We could have ruled everything! We could have been more powerful than anyone else! Revered!" The door slammed behind them, and Cullen heavily sank on the bed.

Maker's breath, he scrubbed his face with his hands, what had just happened? He stood abruptly and gathered his things. He was feeling nauseous and confused by all that she had exposed, but he didn't have time to wallow right now. Ari'elle was in danger, and there would be plenty of time to think in the long hours of riding ahead of him.

He grabbed his gear and bolted down the stairs, following Evangelina's screams and the shocked expressions of those in her wake. Would everyone else be as blindsided as he had been? Had she coerced others into thinking what she wanted? One thing he knew for certain, though, is that he had failed himself with Evangelina. However she had been controlling him, he hadn't put up enough of a fight. And he didn't know how he was going to ever forgive himself for that. He didn't know how Ari'elle was going to forgive him.

Ari'elle said she loved him. His heart leapt again, a burst of joy filling him. And she was headed to Corypheus. A vision of Ari'elle twisted and tainted with red crystals fueled the fires of his urgency. No! He would do anything to prevent that from happening to her!

Down in the courtyard a huge group had gathered, torches lit to guide them on the rocky mountain trail. Every one of the eighteen veteran guards ready were leading a second horse, one to change to if something should happen on their rapid journey. Leliana and Josephine stood close by, confused by what had prompted this sudden departure.

Cullen nodded to the man holding Imperial, and swung up onto his war horse's back. He spun Imperial around and addressed his ambassador and spy master. "I haven't been myself the past two weeks, and I have just found out why. Evangelina Trevelyan is somehow tied up with Corypheus. She now is in the dungeons. Leliana," He turned and addressed her, "Find out what you can. Do what you feel you must, but I still have much I need to ask her myself."

Leliana's surprise at his announcement and then her cold expression made Cullen realize that she would gladly take things upon herself to find the truth. He didn't think they would need to resort to real torture, though. Evangelina was spoiled, used to being cosseted. A few days in a dungeon with a stone cot and a bucket for amenities would most likely be enough torture for her to make her talk.

"Where are you going?" Josephine pipped up, surprised at all that was happening.

"Ari'elle has left Skyhold and is headed for Corypheus. She also is tied up with him, but she left rather than do… something that would compromise the Inquisition." Cullen pressed his hand over his heart, feeling the crinkle of her letter he had tucked into his pocket against his palm. "She is in grave danger. We need to reach her before she reaches him."

"What do you intend to do with her?" Josephine asked fearfully. With the way he had been acting towards Ari'elle, and his abrupt shift in attitude towards Evangelina, Cullen knew that she was just afraid for her friend.

He smiled down at her gently, "Hold her close and never let her go." Cullen wheeled Imperial around. "I lost her once. I'm not going to lose her again!"

As he kicked Imperial into a gallop, he grinned at the cheers Josephine and Leliana let out. He bent low over Imperial's neck, letting the horse have his head.

"I'm coming, Ari."