Varric stood on the dock, looking out across the harbor. A small boat had rowed out to meet the ship that sat out in the harbor, just barely noticeable with the naked eye. Squinting, he tried to see if the vessel flew any familiar colors, but he did not notice any. Frowning, he turned back to watch Dorian as he nervously paced back and forth on land, far from the water's edge. Bull was trying his best to take charge of everything that was going on, but it was proving difficult. Many people were uneasy around the Qunari mercenary. Negotiations for a new ride was now up to Varric.

"Anything?" Dorian asked as Varric approached him.

"Just waiting for the dockhand to come back." Varric scratched the side of his head, blowing out a heavy breath. "Dockmaster said he'd send word once he heard something."

"I don't like this," Dorian said, looking out to the water. "Trevelyan is up to something and using Evelyn as a pawn."

"Ya think?" Varric said sarcastically. "It was pretty obvious when he sold her to Choir Boy for an army."

"That happens all the time," Dorian said, folding his arms across his chest. "Her father is right up there for father of the age with my own."

"That good, huh?"

Dorian tapped the side of his face as he looked down at the dwarf. "He's the one that left the mark on her cheek." Seeing the expression that was received by Varric the mage continued. "Oh, she wouldn't come out and tell me but I'm sure it was. I've seen her sneak around there's no way she fell in the dark. The only time she stumbles is around the commander."

Nodding, Varric turned back to look down by the waterfront. The dockmaster stood at the end of the dock, shaking his head as he talked to his assistant. His frown grew as he watched the exchange happening. "Oh, this can't be good," he thought when the dockmaster began to make his way toward them. "This is going to cost us a fortune."

"The captain wants a parlay," the dockmaster said.

"What for?" Varric asked. "We're willing to pay coin. We just need a ride."

The dockmaster held up his hands, nodding. "Aye. They'll take ya coin. But insistin' to speak with ya first."

Bull walked up beside Dorian, placing his hand on the mage's shoulder gently. "He better make it quick."

"She's comin' now," the dockmaster said before turning to walk away.

"She?" Dorian asked, curiously. Rubbing his chin, he hummed. "Interesting."

Varric lifted his hand to stretch across his forehead to shield his eyes from the afternoon sun. "Well, shit."

"When I heard you was looking for a vessel, I thought it was a lie," the ship's captain said as she gingerly made her way towards the three Inquisition agents. "Then I got thinking, who else would use a name such as Varric Tethras."

Bull nodded approvingly as he looked the ship captain from head to toe. The woman had skin the color of caramel, long dark lashes to match the raven hair pulled back in a brocade scarf. A rich burgundy corset covered the white, above the knee length dress that she wore beneath it. More than an ample amount of her breasts on display as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Well I'll be a nughumper. Rivani, is that you?" Varric said, clapping his hands together.

Isabela smiled as she lowered the top half of her body down to look at the dwarf. "You don't write me. You don't come and see me. You wound me, Varric."

"You know I'd do anything for you, Rivani," he said as he fell into her arms as she held them out to him. "I've missed you."

"And I miss that ten sovereigns you still owe me, too," she said, placing a kiss on the dwarf's forehead. "Are you going to introduce me to your friends?"

Varric turned around and held out a hand. "These two are part of the Inquisition elite. Altus Dorian Pavus and The Iron Bull."

Isabela walked up to Dorian and Bull, looking them over. "You're associating with some interesting people nowadays, Varric." Stepping in front of Dorian, she ran a long finger down across his chest. You are a pretty thing, aren't you?"

"She does have good taste, doesn't she?" Dorian said, looking past the woman to Varric.

Varric laughed as he watched Isabela walk around Bull.. He wasn't sure how she would accept the Quanri given her history with them. Her silence was a good sign, so was her lustful gaze as she made her way back to Varric. She folded her arms across her chest, lifting her breaststroke.

"Have you seen him?"

Varric cleared his throat. "Funny you mention him. We're hoping he's back at Skyhold after we go save Curly and the Inquisitor."

"The Knight Captain and the Inquisitor?" Isabela asked, surprised. "Mister uptight templar is shaking sheets with the Inquisitor?"

"Not quite. Long story," Varric said.

Her head slowly nodded. Lifting her eyes, she looked out over the water "Is he well?"

Varric did no need to know who she was asking about. "He's tired, but we'll talk once we get on open water. This is important, Rivani."

"Are you going to introduce us, Varric?" Dorian asked.

Isabela turned around and smiled as she shifted to stand with her hand on her hip. "Isabela. Admiral of the Raiders of the Waking Sea, captain of the Siren's Call."

Bull looked at her through a narrow eye. "The pirate? Hawke's lover."

"This is her?" Dorian said, stroking his mustache. "Maevaris mentioned you."

Isabela nodded. "So, where are we going?"

"Ostwick first," Varric answered. "Then Starkhaven."

"Starkhaven? Why in Thedas would you want to go there?"

"To stop a wedding."

"That pious arse is getting married?" Isabela said as they began to walk towards the docks. "What poor woman would be that stupid?"

"The Inquisitor, " Varric said, looking up at her. "It's a long story and we have a long ride, so we'll have plenty of time to talk."

o-o-o-o-o-o

Eyes closed, head tilted back against the wooden wall behind him, Cullen tried to keep his breathing slow and even to fight the urge to vomit more than he already had. Sailing was something he had preferred never to do again after his first journey to Kirkwall when he was recruited by Meredith. Staying on land even if it meant going out of the way was how he rather travel. Not like this. Especially not bound and tossed into a small cell.

He stayed in the same corner of his cell, staring at the metal door of the cell she was in. His last vision of her was Malloy carrying her into the cell and dropping her like a bag of potatoes. She was still unconscious, hands bound behind her back. They accused her of having magical abilities due to the mark she wore on her left hand. Tying her hands behind her back was their way of trying to prevent her from casting any spells.

There was no way to tell how long they had been in the water. It had been a day maybe two that he was certain of. In and out of consciousness, hungry and thirsty. His primary concern was Evelyn. Whatever poison powder they used on her to knock her out was effective. She had not made a sound and that worried Cullen more than anything. Not seeing her, not hearing her, horrible thoughts filled his mind as he tried to remove the chains around his wrists. They were loose but not enough for him to squeeze his hands through.

"Evelyn?" he called out when he thought he heard something. "Speak to me. Tell me you're all right."

He moved up onto his knees, crawling closer to the bars. Hearing her moan, he rested his forehead against the bars. The cold, damp steel was a relief against his sweaty skin.

"Talk to me, Eve. Please, say anything."

"Cul…Cullen?"

Her voice was weak, drowsy. A heavy breath escaped him, relieved that she was finally awake.

"Speak to me. Anything," he said. "Are you hurt?"

Evelyn pulled herself up to sit. Her arms bound behind her back and blindfolded. She rested the back of her head against the wall behind her. "I don't think so. They have me blindfolded and chained. Whatever that was I have the worst headache." She inhaled deeply and coughed. "Guess I don't need to ask if we're on a boat."

"The slopping noise and salt smell isn't a good clue," Cullen said as he dropped back down to his bottom to sit down. He smiled hearing her laugh. "I don't know how much further we have. I'm not even sure they're taking us to Ostwick."

"Where else would Malloy take us?" she asked. "He's my father's lackey."

She grew quiet, worrying Cullen.

"Don't stop talking, Eve. I need you with me."

More silence. Cullen rested his forehead against the metal bars as he reached his hands out to wrap around the cold steel.

"Eve, stay with me. Talk to me." Swallowing hard, he closed his eyes and slowly blew out a breath. "I know you're scared. I am, too. I know you don't like being in small spaces. I hate being in a ship more than anything." He inhaled deeply, trying to fight the building nausea again. "The last time I was on a ship, crossing the Waking Sea was when I went to Kirkwall. I had trouble being in the small spaces that I was trying to sleep in. It reminded me too much of what happened in Kinloch. I was horribly sick."

Rubbing his wrists where the chains abraded him, he opened his eyes to look at the door. "Nothing that the healer on board could give me helped. I must have lost a lot of weight because my armor no longer fit when we reached the Gallows. I had to stay on deck the entire journey so I didn't panic."

More silence.

His eyes lowered to the ground where he sat. "I was alone. Lost after what I went through in the tower. Just know that I am here for you now. I will remain at your side through this. I promise you."

Finally, he heard a noise coming from behind the door.

"Cullen?"

"Yes."

She took in a deep breath, lowering her head. Even without being able to see she knew she was in a small space. Just like her father would lock her in when she misbehaved. Locked in a closet, a cabinet, anywhere that he felt would punish her.

"Is this why you've never fixed that hole in your roof? In your quarters?"

He smiled. "When have you been in my quarters?"

"I haven't. Josie told me she tried to find you better quarters and you refused."

Nodding, his smile grew. "Maybe when the weather turns bad, I will seek a better shelter."

"I think you should," she said as she slowly lowered herself to lay down on her side. Closing her eyes behind the blindfold, she slowly inhaled through her nose and back out her mouth. "I don't want you freezing on me. We still have a dance to finish."

"It pains me that we did not get to finish that," he said. "We will try again soon."

"I'm holding you to that, Cullen."

"Soon, my lady. Soon."

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

"I find this all hard to believe," Isabela said as she leaned back on her chair in her quarters. Lifting a bottle of wine, she wrapped her lips around the top and took a long drink. "This is all a story, right?"

Varric sniffed the contents of the bottle before taking a drink. "It's all true. The makings of another Varric Tethras serial." He chucked as he lifted his hand into the air to wave it around. "I could see it now. All This Shit is Weird, the Story of the Inquisitor. It will be a bestseller." Lowering his hand, he picked up the bottle in front of him.

Isabela kicked her feet up to the table, looking at the three men. "Let me get this right. Cranky templar is now in love with this Ellen – "

"Evelyn," Varric corrected. Snapping his fingers. "Still need to find a new name for her. It's the romantic slow painful burn that we're hoping that once these two finally come together it will be a magical event."

Isabela frowned. "You mean you're taking wagers when they'll hit the rack." Seeing Varric's smile, she laughed. "And how does Andraste's crotch fit into this?"

"Her father sold her to the Chantry brother for an army he didn't need, and he won't let them out of the marriage. Real asshole."

"Arranged marriages never go well," she said, looking across the table from him.

"No, they don't," Varric agreed. "He's actually in love with someone else. I'm still trying to figure it all out myself. All I know is they're in trouble, Rivani."

They sat in silence for a moment, drinking. "I'll get you there," she finally said. "But you'll owe me."

Varric tapped his fingers on the table and leaned forward. "You want to go back with us to Skyhold?"

The pirate nodded. "I want to see him." She lowered her head, releasing a heavy sigh. "I miss him."

"He's missing you, too." Leaning back in his chair again, he took a long drink. "We talked when he got there in Skyhold. He told me that he was thinking about you. Knew that you probably didn't want him to, but he was."

Pulling the cork stopper from the top of a new wine bottle. "We just took different paths. After Kirkwall went to shit, we tried but…"

"The water was calling?" Varric said.

"You know it, honey," she said. Lowering her head, she ran a finger lazily across the tabletop. "I'm not ready to stop sailing but I do want to see him again."

"I'm sure he feels the same." Varric stretched his arms out, yawning. "We're dealing with red lyrium templars. Corypheus."

"Corypheus?" she questioned. "I thought Hawke killed him."

"We did," Varric said. "Elf hacked his head off and Blondie torched him. There wasn't anything left but ash."

"Then what's going on?"

"Don't know yet. Hawke and Stroud were investigating it. We were supposed to be heading to the Warden fortress to look into it." Yawning again, Varric continued. "We're a little sidetracked here with this."

Standing up, she walked over to the window to look out at the night sky. "If the wind stays in our favor and no one trying to get into a pissing match, we should be there by tomorrow nightfall." She turned back to him. "Get some sleep, Varric. We'll talk tomorrow."

Varric nodded as he pushed himself up to his feet. "Thanks, Rivani. I'll owe you one."

Isabela laughed. "Honey, after all the years you are pulling my ass out of the fire. I think it's my time to save you." She watched him walk to the door. "You still owe me ten sovereigns."

o-o-o-o-o-o

The desire demon walked back and forth in front of the magical barrier, her hands moving slowly across her plush breasts. "Why do you turn me away, templar? Your friends were willing to let me play with them."

Kneeling was becoming painful in his full armer. His head lowered, hands clasped together in prayer as he had been for what could have been hours or maybe even days. Cullen did not know any longer. Every minute just ran into another, bound in this cage that Uldred had forced him in. The bodies of his fellow templars laid on the ground all around him. As far as he knew, he was the only remaining templar alive.

"Be gone with you, demon," Cullen cried out. His body rocking as he recited the Chant of Light. "I will not let you have me."

She stopped in front of him, licking he lips. "Oh…but you are a tasty morsel are you not? The deep, dark thoughts you have. Your desires are deliciously wicked. What fun we would have if you would let me play."

Silence filled his ears as he spoke the chant out loud. His body shook from the icy chill that rocked his body.

"Cuuuulllllleeeeen…"

He opened his eyes to find Solana sitting on the floor in front of him. Tightening his hands together more, he shook his head. "No. You're not here. You're dead."

"Silly, boy. I am right here," she said. "Remember. We were in the library. You helped me get a book from the top shelf."

When she tried to reach out for him, he pulled away. Backing himself in the corner, he tried to fold up into a ball. "Stay away from me, demon! I will not be tricked by your deceptions."

"Please, open your eyes, Cullen," a new voice spoke, calling out to him.

The voice was unfamiliar. It was soft, gentle.

"Cullen," the woman's voice spoke again.

He opened his eyes to see a woman, dressed in brown soft leathers. Brown, wavy hair hanging down to frame her face. "Go away."

"Too soon, is it?" the woman spoke again but it was not the same voice as before. The desire demon's voice was coming from this new woman as she stood up. Her hands moved up from her hips to her abdomen to cup her breasts. "You desire is strong, but I will break you."

She began to unclasp the closures of her shirt. Cullen watched as she began to move lower until he could see the exposure of her breasts. This new woman looked back at him, keeping her dark eyes on him. He covered his palms over his eyes.

"Go away!"

"Wake up!"

A kick to his side was what woke Cullen up again. Rough hands grabbed him beneath his arms to pull him to his feet. Two Ostwick soldiers held him up on trembling legs as he heard Malloy's laughing as he approached him.

"Lost your bark, dog?" Malloy asked as he looked at the Inquisition commander.

Lifting his eyes, Cullen stared back at the man. "Its still there. But anyone that has been near a mabari knows the bite is much worse than the bark."

Malloy clasped his hands behind his back and nodded. "We'll see, Commander Rutherford. In the meantime, you'll be sitting in my cells until the bann decides what he'll do with you."

Cullen's eyes pulled away from the man to see another pair of guards pulling Evelyn out of her cell. She could barely stand up on her own. The blindfold that she said was on her was hanging loosely around her neck. Her brown hair hung lifeless down over her face and back. "Evelyn…" he said softly.

Her head lifted to look at him through the wet tendrils. "Cullen." Seeing him alive brought tears to her eyes. She wanted to say more but couldn't. The energy fading as she stood there held by the guards.

"You have a meeting with Bann Trevelyan," Malloy said, looking between the two. He turned to her, smiling. "Be a good girl and I'll keep your pet alive. Misbehave and I will not be held liable for what may happen. Understood?"

Evelyn bit down on her bottom lip to keep herself from saying something that may get her or Cullen hurt. Feeling the mark on her hand, she knew her anger was building up as soon as she saw Cullen. He was dirt, bruised and looked malnourished. She was sure she mirrored his image but this was not about her, it was about her trying to save him.

"Just take me to my father. I'll do what you want," she said, looking at Cullen. Prying her eyes away, she glared at Malloy. "But if you hurt him, I will send all of Ostwick into the Void."

He laughed, turning around to walk away. "Bring them. Keep them in the back corridors. I don't want anyone seeing them."