Chapter 38: Knights and Pawns
The Inquisition left behind crumbling fortresses and arid deserts. Spirits lifted. Crossing emerald fields and drinking from icy clear streams, hearts healed. A steady march up the mountain pass to Skyhold, their home, and the battle-hardened army was united, rejuvenated and strong.
Hawke and Fenris now counted themselves among the faithful. Well, though perhaps not truly of faith, they were still faithfully following The Herald. Hawke grew with child and Fenris grew with understanding; that his world could, and would, be so much more than it had been. More than one love and one path. More than fighting to keep that which he somehow thought he was destined to lose. His world became life instead of death.
At least that's what Evelyn thought she saw in the man, and what Hawke confessed to the Inquisitor she herself felt. It was a reluctant confession, followed by bluster and bile, but that was just Hawke's way.
Cullen, on the other hand, seemed to think that the lyrium-marked warrior, who struck terror in the hearts of many, looked terrified. Perhaps that was what the elf confessed to the Commander himself with similar reluctance but lacking the bravado of Hawke. Cullen never asked what Evelyn discussed with Marian and Evelyn avoided making similar inquiries about the men's conversations.
Evelyn also didn't inquire about Ser Rylen. On a promising dawn, in a lush and wooded corner of the Emerald Graves, Cullen gave Mia away to his best friend. Since the wedding, Rylen wore a perpetual smile. It was broad and open in the first few days of married bliss with his wife. In later days, though still present, it didn't look as easy for him to maintain. Evelyn knew it was likely withdrawal from the lyrium but she didn't ask. There was no need to ask questions about it. He would endure and he would persevere with Mia's help as Cullen had with Evelyn's.
Quiet time passed, blessedly quiet, where life almost seemed like it was normal and not war- ravaged.
Josephine set aside the mourning black she'd worn in memory of her sister in favor of brighter garb and a brighter outlook. Every day she would find flowers on her desk, slyly placed by a sly admirer, and they helped the Ambassador find her smile again.
Cassandra's smile was often buried in a book. Both smile and book were quickly hidden when anyone came by to see her, and the gruff Seeker would deny there was ever a smile there in the first place. Her friends knew otherwise though, and when she found an update to Varric's latest story, surreptitiously left on her reading spot, ahead of publication no less, no one could have forced the smile from her lips.
If Leliana smiled, Evelyn didn't see it. The spymaster was almost exclusively sequestered in her rookery. She came to war council, but was otherwise rarely seen. Strangely, or perhaps not so strangely, the Nightingale seemed to enjoy her life in the shadows playing shadow games, smiling or not. Sometimes Evelyn would see Josephine or Cassandra ascend to the top of Skyhold, presumably to have private meetings, and she knew Cullen did as well. The Inquisitor, however, was never invited to an individual audience with Sister Leliana and, for the most part, she was kept separate from the gambits being waged on the secret battlefields of war. Evelyn was content with that, having had enough of secrets for a lifetime.
Even beyond their walls, in the world outside, there were small rays of light shining through the dark shadows of conflict. Ferelden was celebrating the birth of their new prince, a trueborn son of their much loved warden king and queen, an heir to assure the ruling House Theirin would rule the nation for many years to come. With the uncertainty of the civil war in Orlais, the strength and unity of their own monarchs was enough to make any Fereldan smile.
Evelyn was happy to see all of her friends and allies rest and find themselves again, but it was Cullen's smile, reserved for only her to see in their moments together, that brought her the most joy.
On a rainy evening, when Evelyn was hoping to indulge in Cullen's smile from the warm comfort of their bed, he was unexpectedly summoned by the spymaster.
It was not unusual for him to have urgent business to deal with, interrupting their nights. There was also no reason to think something was amiss just because it was Leliana who required him. Despite those very reasonable points, Evelyn was decidedly restless after Cullen left. Something odd wafted on the night breeze that blew in from the balcony and something uneasy was settling into the pit of her stomach.
So, rather than wait in their quarters for Cullen to return, Evelyn decided to visit the small Chantry. The Chant always helped soothe whatever vexed her senses.
"From every corner of the earth, The Chant of Light echoed, And the Maker walked the land with Andraste at His right hand..."
She was halfway through the Canticle of Exaltations when Dorian interrupted her prayers.
"Time for a little coven with your fellow mages, my dear."
Evelyn turned to see her 'fellow mage' standing in the doorway smoothing out his moustache.
"I drew the small lot and was therefore sent to fetch you."
Evelyn rose from her knees and bid the statue of Andraste a final bow of her head. "Fetch me?"
"That's right! Step lively now 'Your Worship', musty old tomes and heated banter over magical theory await us in the library." Dorian made a dramatic flourish with his hands, beckoning her forward. "I know you can hardly contain your excitement, but do try, yes?"
Bewildered, but agreeable to going wherever she was needed, she left the chantry and followed Dorian to the library. As they ascended the stairs, she glanced up towards the rookery hoping to catch a glimpse of Cullen. Unfortunately, the place looked empty aside from the birds. The library also seemed deserted until Dorian led her to a far corner where a few oil lamps hung over a table laden with books. Evelyn was a bit surprised by the members of this 'coven' in which she was about to participate.
Hawke and Fenris sat together and opposite them sat Fiona, of all people. The former warden had been practically reclusive since Vivienne took over as the primary representative of the mages. Though Evelyn's interactions with Fiona started out less than friendly, the two of them could at least now exchange pleasantries. Fiona spent nearly as much time in the library as Dorian, so it was no surprise to find her with a stack of books in front of her, but finding Hawke here was certainly curious. If there was anyone more prone to action rather than reading and contemplation, it was Hawke.
Dorian gestured for Evelyn to sit while he attempted to take a seat in an empty chair on the other side of Fenris. An ominously low rumbling sound emerged from the elf, accompanied by a flare of his lyrium and a disapproving look. Taken together, the behavior was enough to deter Dorian, who moved immediately to a different chair, far away from Fenris. Evelyn took the one beside Fenris instead and, garnering no such disapproval as Dorian, she relaxed into her seat and waited to hear why she'd been summoned. She seriously doubted anyone would need her advice on anything pertaining to magic.
"So," Hawke started, "since Fenris won't let me do a damn thing around here besides read, I decided to make use of my time by trying to find out exactly why Corypheus didn't die when I killed him. But, before you get all starry-eyed thinking I'm going to make some kind of great revelation, don't bother. The short answer is I have no fucking idea why he didn't die…"
Dorian interrupted with a weary moan. "I have explained the whole bloody thing to you ad nauseum, 'Champion', as we all well know."
Fiona rolled her eyes, but said nothing. Evelyn thought even Fenris looked annoyed but, of course, he too said nothing.
Hawke waved off Dorian. "No one cares, 'Vint. The bottom line is that he's here, he's not dead, so I need to kill him again. Or some close approximation of death. Either way."
Fenris couldn't help but speak up at that. "You need do nothing. These mages can do something, after you tell them what they need to know so that you stay out of trouble."
Hawke willfully ignored Fenris. "My father helped bind Corypheus. Considering I unbound him, I know a few things about the magic he used."
Rather than listen to the argument perched on Fenris' lips, Fiona took the opening to interject. "Hawke thinks she can bind him again and I believe it is possible as well. I can provide her with information regarding the original Warden spells."
"Ah ah ah," the Champion corrected with a wagging finger, "'Hawke' thinks 'we' can bind him again. I can't go solo on this one, Inquisitor. I'm going need…" Hawked paused and sighed deeply, fear and resignation obvious in the sound. "A whole lot."
"What does that mean?" Evelyn was ready to support these skilled mages in any way she could. So far, this was the only attempt anyone had yet made to assemble a viable plan to curb Corypheus himself. Cullen and Leliana had made many gains in curtailing his army but a snake only ceases to be a threat when its head is severed.
"Well, I need Fenris for one, as someone I trust to have my back given my clear physical limitations." She gestured to her rounded-off tummy. It was by no means unwieldy yet but she was proudly growing every day. "Although I can tell you 'daddy' over there isn't so thrilled by the prospect of any of this, to say the least."
Fenris' obvious disapproval was palpable and it seemed to be bordering on an outright order forbidding the entire endeavor. Yet, Hawke continued.
"I'll need Fiona, as she said, for her Warden-y things. And a few other mages would be helpful, I have one in mind I can write to, she'll be willing to help I'm sure, and I could use the best you have here…"
"In short, me." Dorian offered with a confident smile.
It was Hawke's turn to roll her eyes. Fenris scoffed out loud, then grumbled something in Tevene that he made no effort whatsoever to hide from Dorian's hearing. Responding in kind, Dorian smirked and the two proceeded to have an exchange in their native tongue that Evelyn was sure she was better off not understanding. It ended with Fenris glowing and Dorian pushing his chair warily back.
Hawke smoothed out Fenris' raised hackles with a light pat on his arm. "If the 'Vint can manage to keep that ridiculous facial hair of his out of the way, then Dorian would indeed be helpful. I'm sure he can tell us all about whatever shady, corrupt magister magic we might need to deal with."
When face to face with Fenris and his lyrium, knowing full well what the elf could do with it, even Dorian knew better than to object to Hawke's slur against his countrymen.
"I'll also need that mark of yours Inquisitor. And before your giant oaf of a Commander shows up to protest, let's just remember that mark is how this all started and we're all kidding ourselves if we don't think that mark is how it's all going to end."
Blunt as ever, Hawke said what needed to be said. No one spoke after that, as everyone seated at the table awkwardly tried not to look at the faint green glow beneath Evelyn's glove, Evelyn included. She stretched out her hand then tucked it in her lap.
The mark would need to 'end' as sure as they needed to end Corypheus, but Evelyn had long ago decided that thinking on the personal consequences was best avoided until she had to actually cross that bridge. She'd only just started to feel as if she was living her life. If it was foolish to turn a blind eye to the fact that her life and death might be irrevocably tied to the force of something she neither understood, nor asked for, then for now, she would rather be a fool.
But, 'magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him"...
The small voice of hope inside her seemed to grow louder and more confident every day. It surprised her, but it was also the source of more than a few of her own smiles. Not thinking it would ever happen, she had been blessed to discover that she could co-exist with her own magic, so maybe there would be a way to avoid the mark ruling over her future.
"Solas is knowledgeable about the magic of the mark." Evelyn did her best to sound positive. "We could consult him if you feel it would help."
Their contact was sparing and superficial since her training with the elf ended, but in the interest of doing everything possible to end the war, Evelyn would gladly seek Solas' aid once again. She could find a way to work through Cullen's inevitable criticisms on the matter.
Hawke looked back at Evelyn with narrowed eyes and her sarcasm waned. "No thanks. 'Chuckles' rubs me the wrong way, as does his magic." She paused and looked as if she wanted to elaborate, but then she just added, "I have my own bookworm friend who knows a bit about elvish magic…'
"Being that she's an elf, and caused not an insignificant amount of trouble with that elvish magic." More grumbling from Fenris, and more of Hawke ignoring it.
"Plus, I haven't told her we're expecting yet, so I owe her a letter." Her smug sideways glance had Fenris scowling and rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Any further discussion, sarcasm, complaining or plotting was put on hold when the clamor of armored steps ascending towards their group echoed in the library. The birds far above flapped and cawed, agitated by the noise. When Ser Barris, accompanied by two of his captains, found their little coven in the corner, Evelyn stiffened. The Knight-Commander's usually calm aura seemed strained.
"Fucking Templars never sleep." Hawke mumbled as she rose from her chair. "Well, it's past this mage's bedtime anyway." She pushed through the knights, without offering any further farewells or goodnights, and Fenris followed her, effectively ending the meeting.
Ser Barris nodded politely at them both as they left, despite Hawke's epithet towards him, then he turned back to Evelyn. "Sorry to disturb, but I'm glad we finally found you, Your Worship. The Commander is requesting your presence immediately. He's with Sister Leliana. We'll escort you to them."
"I...uh...of course, Knight-Commander." Evelyn bid the other mages a hasty goodnight and left the library with Barris and his men. The uneasy feeling from earlier in the evening found the pit of her stomach again. Things were too quiet inside the fortress, even for as late as it was, and yet there was a buzz of energy in the air. They took a meandering route, inside, then out, then inside again. It didn't take Evelyn long to notice that there were Templar's patrolling everywhere, much more so than normal on a typical night watch. She waited until they were far from anyone's hearing to voice her concerns.
"Is something wrong, Ser Barris?" She had to practically run to keep up with the Templars' long and hurried strides. The lengthy amount of time that passed before he answered, all the while frowning, did nothing to reassure her.
"I'll leave it to the Commander to explain, Your Worship."
There was an uncharacteristic sharpness to his words, so Evelyn didn't push for any further clarification and she followed silently the rest of the way.
The Templars led her not to the rookery nor to Cullen's tower, but down into the dungeons. It was the only part of Skyhold still suffering from disrepair. She'd asked once during a council meeting if there were plans to bring the lower levels into better shape as they had done with the rest of the fortress, but both Cullen and Leliana looked at her like she was a dullard and Cullen just said 'It's a dungeon, Evelyn', after which the topic of conversation was abruptly changed and she never asked again.
At the end of a dank and torch lit corridor, lined with puddles of muck-filled water, they finally reached Leliana and Cullen who were standing outside a barred cell door. Leliana thanked Ser Barris and his captains who left immediately, hurrying away as swiftly as they'd brought Evelyn down. Evelyn thought Cullen would be quick to explain the situation, but it was again Leliana who spoke up. As she talked, Cullen just stared at the stones in the wall, his arms crossed over his chest and his jaw clenched. Evelyn could almost feel him vibrating with anger, but he also looked drawn and pale in the torch light. It was a sharp contrast to his warm and heated smile, lit by firelight in their room, only hours earlier.
"We have a defector, Inquisitor." There was a vaguely frightening and devious excitement in Leliana's voice. "A wayward Templar showed up on our doorstep this evening." She nodded her head at the cell behind her.
Cullen's gaze lifted and his eyes blazed. "The man in there is no Templar." Clipped words, with a hard and unyielding edge. He took a slow deep breath before he finally spoke directly to Evelyn, clearly trying to keep his agitation in check. "An enemy officer presented himself to the guards at the gate begging asylum in exchange for information."
"He claims to have been in operational command of the Red Templars under Bann Trevelyan." Leliana paused after mentioning Evelyn's father, almost as if she wanted to gauge her reaction to it. When Evelyn bit her lip and made an effort to remain impassive, the spymaster continued. "It seems the Bann is plotting a bold maneuver that we need to prepare for. If our new prisoner is to be believed."
Cold laughter now from Cullen to follow after his cold words. "Nothing this man says is to be believed. He was unstable even before the red lyrium. Now…" His sentence drifted off and he shook his head, disgusted, but his disgust seemed to encompass more than just one enemy prisoner.
"Did you know this man before tonight?" Evelyn asked.
Cullen spit out his reply, bitter as venom. "Yes, I knew him. We served in the Order together in Kirkwall. His name is Raleigh Samson."