"Go speak with the Empress's occult advisor, she says. Sure, I'll go chase after some apostate mage and have an icicle shoved up my arse," Evelyn thought to herself. "I've had dealings with her before. She's ruthless." Her inner monologue doing a horrible Orlesian accent. She tugged at the collar of her of her jacket, feeling like it was choking her. "That's Leliana's way of saying 'Good luck. Hope your death is a quick one'. And if I don't get out of this awful thing, I'm going to strip down to my smalls and run around like the incompetent fool they all think I am."

From the moment she walked into the ball and was introduced, Evelyn felt knives digging into her from all around. Maybe it was just the constant stares of the partygoers, but she had already had one person try to kill her that night, the thought of someone else coming at her was not too farfetched. Dealing with Celene against Gaspard, Gaspard against Briala and Briala against everyone she did not know who to believe would be the best choice to rule Orlais. Backstabbing was truly the national pastime of the country.

"What about family? Why can't people just work together for a common cause instead of having a pissing contest over who had the bigger stick," Evelyn thought as she walked through the crowd. "What am I thinking? My family is just as messed up. Well, except for the trying to kill each other part."

Stepping out onto the balcony, she rested her hands on the ledge and inhaled deeply to try to clear her mind. She needed to be levelheaded if she was going to accomplish anything that night. Her eyes glanced down at the hole in her uniform where the would-be assassin tried to stab her. She had just managed to twist in time to prevent the blade going straight into her side. If it were not for Cassandra alerting her, she would have been killed.

Entering the vestibule once again, Evelyn needed to get back inside the ballroom to try to obtain more information about the negotiations. Cassandra and Vivienne had had no success that they could report. Maxwell was doing his best to lie low. He had taken Josephine's advice to keep himself lowkey and had spent most of his evening speaking to Josephine's sister, Yvette. Leliana and Josephine were moving around talking to everyone but still had not found anything that would assist the Inquisition either.

And Cullen. She had not been able to find him. The commander had not been insight after his introduction. Evelyn decided she would need to check with him and inquire if he had any reports from his guards yet that might be of use.

"Well. Well. What have we here?"

Evelyn turned to the staircase to see a woman stepping down slowly. She took each step with a dramatic pause as she spoke.

"The leader of the new Inquisition. Fabled Herald of the Faith."

She continued to walk down the staircase in Evelyn's direction. Not impressed with the sarcasm, Evelyn kept a smile on her face as she listened to her continue to speak.

"Delivered from the grasp of the Fade by the Hand of Blessed Andraste herself." Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she placed her hands on her hips and gazed over Evelyn. "What could bring such an exalted creature here to the Imperial Court. I wonder? Do even you know?"

Evelyn folded her arms across her chest, tucking her left hand under her arm. After the stares at her gloved hand and requests to look at the mark she had begun to try to hide it as much as possible. "I'm here on important business concerning the entire empire."

"As am I, it seems." The woman bowed her head, holding out her hands slightly. "I am Morrigan. Some call me Advisor to Empress Celene on matters of the arcane."

Returning the boy, Evelyn said, "Evelyn Trevelyan. It's a pleasure to meet you, Morrigan."

Morrigan nodded slightly before she stepped around her to walk away. Evelyn turned to follow her down the vestibule hallway.

"You…have been very busy this evening, hunting in every corner of the palace. Perhaps you and I hunt the same prey?" she said as she stopped at the railing leading down to the lower levels of the palace.

"I hope so. I could use another ally here," Evelyn said. She had lied so much that evening she was not sure if any time she opened her mouth if she was going to speak the truth or not. Orlais was becoming another place that she hated just as much as Highever.

"A sentiment I share, considering recent events."

"Recent events?" Evelyn asked, frowning.

Morrigan turned away again from her and began to walk again. "Recently I found, and killed, an unwelcome guest within these very halls. An agent of Tevinter." Pausing in another room of the palace, she turned to look at Evelyn again. "So, I offer you this, Inquisitor: a key found on the Tevinter's body. Where it leads, I cannot say. Yet if Celene is in danger, I cannot leave her side long enough to search. You can."

"Is the empress safe now? You left Celene alone? Is that wise?" Evelyn asked.

Morrigan nodded her head. "I must return to her anon, but she is safe enough…for the moment. 'Twould be a great fool who strikes at her in public. In front of all her court and the Imperial guard."

"Why do you protect her then? What's your interest in protecting Empress Celene? Are you her bodyguard?"

Morrigan laughed. "Do I seem a bodyguard to you? If anything were to happen to Celene, eyes would turn first to her "occult advisor". Even if they knew otherwise."

The woman placed her hand over her chest, feigning fear. Evelyn knew this woman did not fear much. So far that night she had been the most genuine person she had met during the evening. The Inquisitor was starting to like this woman more and more.

"There are sharks in the water, and I will not fall prey to them. Not now. Not ever."

"Oh yes. I like her," Evelyn thought. Looking down at the key, she nodded. "I think I know where this key goes."

"Proceed with caution, Inquisitor. Enemies abound, and not all of them aligned with Tevinter."

They walked towards the large wooden doors that lead into the ballroom. Morrigan stopped to turn to look at her once again.

"What comes next will be most exciting," she said with a smile on her face.

Watching the mage turned and walked away, Evelyn smiled. The spymaster may warn her that the woman was ruthless and only focused on her own interests, but Evelyn appreciated the fact that Morrigan did not once stray when she looked at her when she talked. This woman did not hide what she thought. Having Morrigan work with the Inquisition might be promising.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"No, thank you," Cullen said as politely as he could without sounding angry. "If one more person tries to grab my ass again, I may lose all control that I have," he thought.

His strategic plan to stand to the side where he could have a view of the entire ballroom was a sound decision. Unfortunately, it backfired. He was trapped by women and men asking him anything from if he would like to dance with them or if he was interested in discovering the luxuries of Orlesian cultures.

"Smile, Commander!" the woman in front of him said. "You're so handsome when you smile!"

The fake smile he had been wearing that evening was starting to fade away and turn into a grimace. The man standing beside the woman nodded as he looked Cullen up and down, taking in his entire length especially anything below his belt.

"He is just as handsome when he doesn't," a man standing next to the woman said.

Squeezing his hands tightly at his side. He swore if he clenched his teeth any tighter, he would break a tooth. Feeling something along his backside, he jumped and spun to his left.

"Did you just…grab my bottom?" Cullen said as he looked at the giggling woman.

She covered her lips to stifle the giggle. "I couldn't help myself!"

"Are you married, Commander?" a man asked from his left.

Shaking his head, he sighed. "Not yet. But I am already taken." He knew it was a lie, saying he was taken but he hoped that by saying it the man would take the hint to leave him along.

"Still single, then…"

"And he didn't take the hint," Cullen thought as he screamed inside. After this was all over, he was going to lock himself away for an exceedingly long time. He felt like he was a prized druffalo at auction.

"You must dance with me, Commander! You cannot stand about all evening," the man asked.

"Want to wager on that? I've been on guard duty in the Circle, I can stand here for hours," Cullen was itching to grab the man and toss him out the nearby window. "I'm afraid not, thank you."

"Can I get you a drink, Commander Cullen?" a new woman asked as she stepped forward with a glass of wine.

Shaking his head, he said, "No, thank you." He was not taking any chances with these people. Not that he was a suspicious man, but he did not want to take a risk of someone poisoning him.

His eyes turned away from the gathering around him to see Evelyn walking across the floor in his direction. He pushed his way through the people that were surrounding him and walked forward to meet her. The Inquisitor tilted her head, feeling his distress as she gave him an apologetic smile.

"Inquisitor! Did you need something? The sooner we track down this infiltrator, the better."

"You've attracted a following. Who are all these people?" Evelyn asked in a low voice.

He kept his eyes focused on her as he tried to drown out everything around them. If he just imagined no one else was there would be nice if only for a minute. "I don't know, but they won't leave me alone."

She smiled. "So, you're not enjoying the attention then?"

Scoffing, he shook his head. "Hardly. Anyway. Yours –" He cleared his throat, suddenly closed off from speaking.

That morning they had spent time during breakfast as they ate discussing the book he had been reading that night, the legend of Calenhad. Always curious about history, Evelyn had several questions for him about Ferelden history. Having not learned much during her younger years, she was fascinated in learning what she could. The only subject he did not want to discuss was surrounding the Fifth Blight. If he was willing to start as friends again with the Inquisitor, that morning had been the right path.

" – yours is the only attention worth having," he finally was able to get out. "As my Inquisitor. I stand vigilant, waiting for your orders."

"I take it you're not enjoying yourself?" Evelyn asked as they moved away slightly from his admirers. If only for a moment or two, she wanted to free him of these people.

"At this point, the headache I'm developing is preferable to the company."

"That bad, huh?"

"You don't know the half of it. My ass cheeks hurt from these people pinching it every time I put my back to them. If I get groped one more time…"

Placing a hand on his upper arm, she squeezed gently. "It will be over soon. I promise."

"I pray to the Maker you are right. You need to be careful. I don't trust anyone here."

Looking over her shoulder, she looked down at her feet. "I don't suppose you've saved a dance for me?" she asked softly.

"No, thank you," he answered quickly. "No! I didn't mean to – Maker's breath! I've answered that question so many times I'm rejecting it automatically." He shook his head. "I'm not one for dancing. The templars never attended balls."

Lifting her head, she smiled at him as she looked up into his amber eyes. "Friends, Evelyn. Remember, friends. You're still confused over the what happened." She looked over her shoulder to see Florianne walking in her direction. "I should be going. I'll let you know if I find anything."

Cullen nodded as she turned to walk in the direction of Empress Celene's cousin, Florianne, who was approaching. He watched as the Inquisitor held out a bent elbow and escorted the duchess down the steps onto the dance floor. It struck him there that he had wished that were Evelyn on his arm and not some backstabbing royal with her own agenda.

"Have you forgotten she is betrothed," Leliana said as she stepped up behind him. "Besides, I was under the thought the brother had cured you both of your obsession with each other."

"I have not forgotten, Leliana," Cullen said as he turned to face her. "It does not mean that I do not wish the Inquisitor to find happiness."

"It is not our place to help find happiness for the Inquisitor. Our mission is only to defeat Corypheus. To ensure alliances that we need to insure that defeat."

Cullen frowned as he stared down at the spymaster. "Does this have anything to do with Cousland? Did Amell sic you on this for her?"

Brushing her hair back off her shoulder with a quick hand gesture, Leliana snorted. "The Inquisitor first asked me to reach out to Elissa to help Seneschal Granger with finding a way to nullify the contract binding the Inquisitor and Prince Vael. Solana has not been involved in this."

Shaking his head, he folded his arms across his chest. "I know you, Leliana. You have most likely taken this further than it was originally requested. What have you done?"

"What I have done is set in motion to allow the Inquisitor to be freed from the contract and allow my friend her happiness."

"At the expense of our Inquisitor I am to assume."

"This is none of your concern, Cullen," she said. "You have no attachment to Trevelyan. Do you not remember that you told me so just before arriving here?" She looked up at him with darkened eyes, smiling. "She knows nothing of love, Cullen. She has made a vow to the Chantry and the Order since her sixteenth naming day. She plays with emotions that she cannot control. I've seen her with her anger and how she tries to control the mark on her hand."

"You play with people's hearts as much as you do their minds, spymaster," Cullen said, narrowing his eyes as he glared at her. "If you harm her –"

She lifted a hand to pat his cheek. "Just smile and look pretty for the nobles, Cullen," she said as she took a step closer to him. "We don't want anyone to overhear the Inquisitor's advisors talking, now do we?"

Flashing him a smile, she stepped around him and walked away. Cullen turned on his heel and watched as Leliana walked around the top of the grand ballroom as Evelyn was bowing before Duchess Florianne. The dance had ended and now Evelyn was making her way towards the steps to speak with Josephine, the ambassador's sister, Yvette and her brother, Maxwell.

Leliana was good at her chosen profession. Sometimes too good. He had wondered if the spymaster ever really stopped for a moment to consider the implications of the lies that she spread just as easily as she could offer a cup of tea to a visitor. Working with lies and deception daily must skew a person after some time. You would need to cut yourself off from any emotional ties. Cullen knew that was no life to live. He had done that the moment he had watched Solana walk out of Kinloch Hold with Warden Duncan and Elissa Cousland.

And then after the touch of the desire demon…

Cullen's eyes closed as he shuddered, feeling the cold touch of the demon from deep in his memory touching his spine. Now was not the time to allow that memory to open a door into his thoughts. He tried to forget that and even after all these years it still invaded him when he least expected it. It was as if the demon had never been destroyed. That she still tried to twist his thoughts to her will. The only thing had changed was it was not Solona's face that he saw any longer, it was the woman that stood on the other side of the room, wrapping her arm around her brother's neck with a playful laugh as she teased him about something in front of the Montilyet sisters.

"I want this night to end soon," he thought when he felt another person trying to be subtle as they brushed against his backside.

He restrained himself from reaching behind, grabbing the person and breaking their arm. All he could manage to do was weave his way through the crowd to follow Leliana to get over to where the Inquisitor and ambassador stood. Keeping the small blade that he had hidden in his belt close at hand he did not trust these people. The blade close at hand but not close enough to use it unless necessary.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Were you dancing with Duchess Florianne?" Leliana questioned as she approached Evelyn and Josephine. "I see that you are doing as we advised."

Evelyn only nodded. She was trying to block the image out of her head of having to dance with the woman. Her dislike of Orlais growing by the minute.

"More importantly, what happened in the servants' quarters? I heard there was fighting," Cullen said as he stepped between Josephine and Leliana.

Josephine nodded as she turned back to Evelyn. "I hope you have good news. It appears the peace talks are crumbling."

"What I found is they are all lying about something. I found evidence against all of them. Even Florianne is saying her brother can't be trusted. Although, she seems sure that her brother is a traitor."

"She offered up her own brother? She's more cutthroat than I realized."

Cullen looked at Leliana. "Then…the attack on the Empress will happen tonight."

"Warning Celene is pointless. She needs these talks to succeed, and to flee would admit defeat," Josephine said as she looked at the other advisors.

"Then perhaps we should let her die," Leliana stated.

Evelyn's head spun quickly to look at the spymaster. She could not believe that she was hearing what she had. "We're not doing that. I won't stand by and let her die!"

"Listen to me carefully, Inquisitor," Leliana spat out. Treating her as a child. "What Corypheus wants is chaos. Even with Celene alive, that could still happen. To foil his plan, the Empire must remain strong. This evening, someone must emerge victorious."

Cullen shook his head. "And it doesn't need to be Celene. She's right."

Josephine looked surprised at Leliana. "Do you realize what you're suggesting, Leliana?"

"Sometimes the best path is not the easiest one," she answered, looking out the corner of her eye at Evelyn.

She could not believe that these three people were discussing peoples' lives like it was just moving one chess piece to another.

"What is the best path?" Evelyn asked, folding her arms across her chest. "You're asking me to decide what's best for Orlais."

Cullen nodded. "More than that. Whoever controls the Imperial Throne will affect all of Thedas."

"You cannot stop Corypheus without a decision. You must support someone, or all is lost," Leliana said.

Josephine turned back to Evelyn. "Then we should support Celene. She is the rightful ruler. Why would we say otherwise?"

Culled turned to Josephine. "Because she led Orlais to this point. I say Gaspard. Provided his sister is wrong about him."

"I would suggest Briala. She could bring true peace. Not only to the Empire but also to its elves," Leliana said.

Josephine looked at Evelyn. "This is, however, your decision, Inquisitor. Not ours."

"Why would you three make a decision like this? I'll be the one with the blood on their hands if I do the wrong thing," she thought as she looked at each of them. Whatever she decided she knew someone would not like the decision that she had made. Thinking back to the nightmare of Redcliffe Castle she tried to remember what Alexius had told her about the alternate timeline and the outcome.

"We came here to save Celene," she finally said to her advisors.

"Then you must not only save her life, but also her Empire."

Evelyn knew that Leliana was not happy with her decision. Not that she cared what the spymaster thought mattered to her.

"That means giving her a victory over both Gaspard and Briala," Josephine added.

Looking at Cullen, Evelyn thought she might have had his support as well as Josephine's in her decision. He was not visibly disappointed in his expression.

"If there truly is proof Gaspard's in league with Corypheus, that would be a start," Cullen said.

"What did Duchess Florianne tell you?" Leliana asked.

Evelyn looked between the three. "She said Gaspard's mercenary captain is in the royal wing. That he knows about the assassination."

"Which could be a trap," Cullen said, quickly.

Josephine turned to him briefly then turned back to Evelyn. "Or a lead. Either way, you should search the private quarters in that wing for clues."

"Sure, why not? Not like I haven't done anything tonight," Evelyn thought. She was getting tired of running around. She felt like a fennec chasing its own tail. Her anger was starting to show as she growled beneath her breath. "Then get me access, and in the meantime, get your soldiers into position.

Cullen nodded. "At once. Be careful, Inquisitor."

All three advisors turned and walked away, leaving her alone once again. Maxwell walked up behind her when he saw them leave. Folding his arms across his chest, he sighed.

"More running around?" he asked.

"I want to punch someone really…really bad right now," Evelyn said, clenching her left hand tightly.

He chuckled as they fell in step with each other as they walked. "Good. I think Cassandra wants to punch someone, too."

"Great," she said, smiling at her brother. "Let's go punch someone."