Maxwell walked through the main hall, nodding polite to everyone that spoke to him. He had not heard from his sister like she promised when they reached Amaranthine. Not that he expected her to message him, but he thought at least Dorian or Varric would have sent word to Josephine or Leliana. Cassandra was away so he was not able to ask her.

"Lord Trevelyan," Josephine said as she stepped out of her office into the hall. "What can I do for you? Are you needing anything?"

He smiled, scratching the side of his head. "Have you heard from my sister?"

Shaking her head, she said, "No, I have not. I wasn't expecting anything until they reached Starkhaven." Seeing the look on the mage's face, she shuffled her papers from one arm to another. "I'm sure that if the Inquisitor or Commander Cullen had any concerns or matters for us to be notified, they would have sent word."

Maxwell nodded, folding his arms across his chest. "I'm sure you're right, Josephine."

She looked at him, frowning. "Would you like for me to check with Leliana?"

Pursing his lips, he shook his head. "No, you don't have to do that. I'm just being paranoid, I'm sure that's all."

Nodding, she smiled. "I certain that you are probably getting a little anxious to be out and about on your own."

Looking over his shoulder, he looked at the two guards that were standing off to the side. "My sister wants bodyguards on me until word comes back." Turning back to her, he laughed. "It's like being back at the Circle."

"She does have a reason for this, Lord Trevelyan," Josephine reassured him. "I believe that your sister would not insist on protection unless if it was necessary."

He nodded, running a hand through his hair. "I know. That's what worries me." He smiled. "I'm going to go harass Dagna now. I may have done something to my staff."

Laughing, she nodded her head. "I'm sure that Mistress Dagna will be able to repair it." Seeing the look on his face, her smile grew. "Or replace it."

"Thank you, Josephine. I'll talk to you later," he said before turning to walk towards the undercraft.

The ambassador's smile slowly faded as the door to the undercraft closed behind the mage and his two companions. Finding her way through the rotunda, she walked up the two flights of stairs to reach the rookery where she found Leliana at her desk.

"Any word yet?" Josephine asked as she looked down at the spymaster.

Leliana looked up from the message she was transcribing. "Not as yet. I'm not expecting anything for a few more days." She looked at the other woman's concerned expression. "Is Maxwell inquiring about his sister?"

"He is," Josephine answered. "I believe he rightfully should consider the situation that she is facing."

"Situation? She is to wed Sebastian Vael," Leliana said. "It is her obligation to do so."

Josephine shook her head. "We all know what situation I speak of, Leliana. Elissa Cousland and Prince Vael are in love and were to wed until Bann Trevelyan stepped in." Seeing the lifted eyebrow that produced on the other woman, Josephine placed a hand on her hip and shifted her weight. "I'm aware of what is happening at all times with what is happening in and outside of the walls of Skyhold, Leliana. I would be a poor ambassador if I didn't."

Standing up, Leliana walked around her desk to stand in front of the Antivan. "I'm sorry for not trusting you with this." She took the ambassador's hand and kissed her knuckles lightly. "Please forgive me, Josie."

"Maybe this time," Josephine teased. "Although, I do feel that since we are discussing Bann Trevelyan – that awful man – I must agree with Maxwell. I am concerned that we have not heard at least from Cullen. He would have sent some communication at least that they arrived at Amaranthine."

"I'm sure all is well," Leliana said, patting the woman on the upper arm. "I'm sure as soon as the wedding is stopped all of Thedas will be aware of it."

"I do hope that it doesn't turn into a political nightmare," Josephine worried.

"I don't think it will," Leliana reassured her. "Our Inquisitor is rather diplomatic when she needs be."

"King Alistair?" Josephine said with a smirk on her face.

Chuckling, Leliana nodded her head. "I would have sworn that our Inquisitor and Alistair would have ended in bed the first time they met. The tension between them was arousing. I honestly thought he was going to take her at the war council table."

"King Alistair is very eligible at this time," Josephine thought out loud. "That would be a way to secure our holdings in Ferelden."

"Josie, let's wait until she returns from Starkhaven free of her betrothal before we try to marry her off to someone else."

Nodding slowly, Josephine was already lost in thoughts of future plans. "Yes, you're quite right." Turning back to Leliana, she smiled. "Please keep me updated if you hear anything. We must let Maxwell know if something is received."

"I will."

Leliana waited until Josephine was gone before returning to her notes. Picking up a quill, she stared at the parchment briefly and thought about the exchange she just had with Josephine. She was right, they should have heard from Cullen at least by now. Or one of her agents that she sent with them. Something did not seem right. Tapping the quill tip on her desk, she told herself she would allow another couple of days before she sent out inquiries to her agents in both Ferelden and the Free Marches.

"Maker, guide them," she whispered before returning to her work.

o-o-o-o-o-o

"Lovely place you have here," Cullen said as he looked through the bars at Evelyn. She was in the cell beside his. The first real chance he had to be with her since Amaranthine. "I can see why you were excited to come back."

Evelyn snorted as she rolled her head around. Having her hands bound behind her back was putting a stress on her shoulders and neck. "Oh yes. It's wonderful to be back," she said, sarcasm dripping from her lips. She walked over to the bars that separated them. Resting her forehead against the bars, she sucked in a long deep breath as she closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, Cullen. I should have made you stay in Skyhold."

Walking over to where she stood, he lowered his head to rest against hers through the bars. "I told you, I was not about to allow you to go alone into uncertainty."

"I don't like uncertainty, Cullen," she said, opening her eyes to look at him. "Not in my own life. As Inquisitor I deal with it every day. I never know what is going to happen but in my personal life, I like to make my own decisions."

"We don't all have that luxury, Evelyn," he said as he lifted his hand up to cup her cheek in his palm. "I was to be a templar and serve the Maker my entire life." He smiled as he tilted his head back to kiss her gently on the forehead. "Life is never written until it is done."

"Templar, commander, philosopher. You are an enigma, aren't you, Cullen Rutherford." Evelyn smile grew as she looked at him. "I knew I liked you for a reason."

"Oh, how touching and most unwelcomed," Bann Elliott Trevelyan said as he walked down the thin dungeon hallway. "Shame, Commander Rutherford. She is a betrothed woman. In Antiva or Rivan you would have been executed for your indiscretion."

"Good damn thing we're not in Antiva or Rivan, now isn't it," Evelyn said as she turned to look at her father.

The bann stood between the two cells, looking at each of them for a moment before turning back to his daughter. The guard moved around and opened the cell door allowing him to step inside the cell containing his daughter. "I'm extremely disappointed in you, Evelyn. I gave you specific orders and you did not obey me."

She nodded her head, pursing her lips. "I told you when you showed up at Skyhold. I'm a little busy with the Inquisition."

Cullen felt a chill run down his spine when he heard her father laugh. Everything about this man worried him. His eyes stayed on Evelyn as she stood defiant against her father who was moving closer to her. Lifting his hands, he wrapped his fingers around the cell bars.

Trevelyan nodded his head slowly. "Ah, yes. Your Inquisition. A band of misfits, thieves, traitors, apostates and…" He turned to look at Cullen, spying him up and down. "Templar's no longer able to perform their duties to the Maker."

"Commander Rutherford is using his knowledge to assist the Inquisition. His knowledge as a templar is what is helping us fight against the red templars," Evelyn said as she turned to look at Cullen. "We owe him a great deal for his knowledge."

The bann looked Cullen over again as the ex-templar gripped the cell bars that separated them. "Helpful knowledge?" he said. Turning back to her, he shook his head. "You're a fool, Evelyn. This man was a disgrace in Ferelden. They sent him to Kirkwall and was no better there either. After he killed his commander in Kirkwall, he had nowhere else to go."

Cullen's eyes widened as she stared at him. Another story that he had not told her about his past. Shaking his head, he blew out a heavy breath. "There's much more to the story than me striking the final blow on Meredith." Lifting his eyes back to her, he met her emerald eyes. "Meredith was under control of the red lyrium from the idol that Bertrand Tethras brought back. She attacked us, attacked Hawke, in the Gallows."

"Weak," Trevelyan said. He turned back to his daughter. "Much like you." He sighed. "I was going to use Maxwell for leverage. But now it appears that I will need to make other plans." He turned walk towards Cullen.

The two guards that were in Cullen's cell approached him from behind. Striking the back of his legs, Cullen dropped to the stone floor on his knees. The other guard draped a rope around his neck and squeezed tightly. Seeing this, Evelyn went to move closer to the cell bars that kept them apart by was stopped by the guard behind her who forced her to her knees. She faced him, feeling her heart racing as her eyes stayed fixed on him.

"Stop!" she screamed. "Let him go!"

The grip tightened around Cullen's neck as the bann motioned with his fingers.

"Please!" she begged.

The bann looked over his shoulder at her then nodded at the guards. They released Cullen, pushing him down to the ground. Malloy stood behind him now, pressing his boot against Cullen's back.

"I was going to use Maxwell as collateral to ensure that you did what you were ordered to do," he said before turning to face her again. "Any good leader knows when you must make a sudden change of plans to accomplish your goals." Walking over to her, he grasped her chin tightly in his palm to force her head up to face him. "Your commander in exchange for your marriage."

"Why is this so damn important?" she asked.

He lowered down to face her directly. His dark eyes met hers sending a chill over her. A smile curling his lips when he saw her shiver. "I need Starkhaven. Your marriage to him will secure the Trevelyan claim on Starkhaven. To have that power, that control over the Free Marches."

Evelyn's breath was sucked from her lungs as she saw a glint in her father's eyes that was unnatural. Her face cold as he held her chin in his palm. The chill spreading through her body causing her to shake. The spark from her left hand was lighting the cell.

"Do. Not. Even. Try," he whispered, moving his lips close to her ear. "I know things about your templar that would love to play with him." Pressing a kiss on her temple, his eyes met hers again. "I will have him broke like a wild horse. No one will want him when I'm done with him." He released her, sliding a finger across her cheek. "Now, Evelyn. Will you behave?"

Her head slowly nodded as her eyes closed. "Yes. Please, don't hurt him."

"Good," he said before standing up. Trevelyan started to leave but stopped in the cell door opening. Turning back to look at Malloy, he motioned with his head. "Make sure they are both cleaned up and ready to leave. I want a healer to make sure that there are no marks on them." Looking at his daughter, his smile grew. "We want her to look beautiful for her wedding day, now don't we."

"And the dog?" Malloy asked as he lifted his foot from Cullen's back.

Trevelyan looked at his captain of the guard. "I want him cleaned up as well. He's going to escort my daughter to her wedding. Release them from their chains."

"And her? What if she casts magic?" Malloy asked as he stepped out of the cell.

"Evelyn?" the ban called out. "Will you behave and keep the anchor under control?"

Her head nodded, tears streaking down her face as she looed across the short distance to Cullen who was pulling himself up to his knees.

"Evelyn?" He turned to look over his shoulder at her once again. "Will you behave?"

"Yes, father," she answered, squeezing her hands tight. Her fingernails digging into her palms until she could feel blood running down her hands. "I will behave."

"Good girl," he said. Turning back to Malloy, he patted the man on the shoulder. "Get them cleaned up. Make sure she's in something nice. She needs to look beautiful for her future husband."

Malloy looked at the guards that stood in both Cullen and Evelyn's cells. "Release them. Get them cleaned up and bring down a healer to make sure they look presentable. When they're done lock them back up."

Cullen tried to control his anger as he was lifted from the ground by two guards. A third guard removed the chains around his wrists before they left the cell. Running to the bars, he watched as two guards freed her hands that were bound behind her back. She remained on her knees, with her head low as the guards left the cell. Her body refusing to move even after the cell door closed behind them as they left.

"Evelyn," Cullen said softly as he looked at her. When she did not move, he grasped the cell bars, pressing his body against the cold metal. "Please, Evelyn. Speak to me."

She continued to keep her eyes down on the ground as she brought her hands around to rest on her knees. Even hearing him call out her name, she could not bring herself to look at him. Fear clouded her thoughts. Her body still shivered from the unnatural cold that coursed through her veins.

Despair.

She could not save her mother. Her brother's life was in danger. Cullen's life was in jeopardy. Sebastian was in trouble and he did not know it yet.

Yet something her father said stuck in the back of her mind. "I know things about your templar that would love to play with him." Why would he say that to her about Cullen?

Turning her head, she looked at Cullen. She could not tell him what she was thinking. Could not let him know what her father had said that made her fear for him as she was. She knew she needed to follow her father's orders completely if he was going to live. There was no certainty that her father would not harm Cullen once the wedding was over, but she still had to try. Too many lives were in danger for her to fail.

Cullen could see the fear in her eyes. He had seen that fear before in Kinloch Hold in his fellow templars when Uldred first returned to the Circle and the mages began to rebel. "You can't let him win," he said.

She shook her head before turning away from him. "It's too late, Cullen. He already has." Staring down at her palm, she bit down on her lower lip. "I have to do what he wants or he's going to hurt you. Maxwell. Sebastian. I can't let him do that." Her eyes closed slowly as she clenched her hands into fists. "I'll die first before that happens."

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

Cullen sat on the bed of his new prison cell. After being allowed to wash up and was given fresh clothing, they had moved him to room instead of the dang dungeon cell that he had been in. His wounds had been healed by the mage that the guards had kept close eyes on as he worked to heal the cuts and abrasions that he had.

He had not seen Evelyn since they led him away from the cell. When he was led away, she was sitting in the corner of the cell, knees pulled to her chest, arms around her legs and her forehead down against her knees. She had not spoken to him since her father's visit to the dungeon. Completely shutting herself off from him.

Standing up, he paced back and forth the length of the room. Full of nervous energy, he had to do something of he was going to go insane. He needed to see her, to make sure she was all right. When he spoke to the guards, they ignored him, suddenly deaf to anything he would say. But there was something about the way they moved when Captain Malloy ordered them. It was not just a soldier following their commanding officer it was fear that made them do what they were ordered. He had seen that fear before in Kirkwall.

"She is afraid of what they will do," Cullen heard from behind.

Spinning around, he found Cole sitting on the wooden chest at the foot of the bed. "Cole? What in Maker's name did you come from?"

Cole's head tilted to the side. "You asked me to come. Told me to look out."

Narrowing the distance between them, he stood in front of the spirit. "And you just now decided to show up? I could have used you long before now."

"Could not show myself. The thing with the mask is here. It is strong."

Running his hands through his hair, Cullen balled his fingers up in the curls and released a frustrated groan. "All right. The thing with the mask." Dropping his hands back down to his side, Cullen stared at Cole. "Where is this thing now?"

"Her father once was not, now he is. Brother is walking in a fog through his mind." Cole scratched the side of his head, just slightly beneath his hat. "She is afraid of what the thing will do to her. To the gardener. To you."

"Gardener?" Cullen said softly to himself. Nodding, he knew who it was. "You mean Maxwell."

"He plants flowers that bring bees. The bees make honey. Honey to sweeten the Nightingale's tea."

"Okay…" Blowing out a huff, Cullen rested his hands on his hips. "Am I to understand that the thing with the mask is here? The thing that wants to hurt Evelyn."

"He is mean, cold. Wants to take control over her. Over the bright light."

Cullen's eyes widened as he looked at the spirit boy. The spirit rocked back and forth on the wooden chest, his hands moving around as his fingers fidgeted. He tried to go through all the information that the boy had been providing him since they left to now. "Her father is the thing with the mask? Vael is the bright light?"

"She is frightened of the thing. Afraid of losing control. No more tears to fall down her cheeks. She is falling in an abyss that no one can see." He cocked his head to the other side to lift his ear up into the air as if he were trying to listen to something that only he could hear. "Sinking. Cold. Like ice coursing through veins. Can not stay warm no matter how many blankets."

Rubbing his scruffy chin, Cullen inhaled deeply. "Cole?"

The spirit boy turned to look at him through the tangle curls covering his face. "Despair's touch. Envy's grasp. Ith'tolan's seduction."

The spirit spoke the name again that touched Cullen's core causing him to wrap his arms around his chest. "That's…that's the name of the demon."

"It still calls out from the Fade. Sometimes she speaks to you in your dreams."

Cullen's head slowly nodded. "It does. Much more than I would like it to."

"It comes when the music is not singing to you."

Taking another deep breath, Cullen nodded. "Cole. I need you to do me a favor. I need you to go to Evelyn. To help her."

Cole's head shook, the brim of his hat flopping as his head moved back and forth. "It won't let me in. She sits in the dark. Trapped inside the nothingness that it has her caged in."

Lowering down to his knees, Cullen placed his hands on the wooden chest on each side of Cole. "Please find a way to get to her. Go help her."

Cole's head shook again. "I can't. I tried but it won't let me in." He looked at the commander, saying, "Before she fell, she wanted me to speak to you."

"What did she say?" Cullen asked, his heart racing. "What was it?"

"Her father's allure has taken her family."

"Is that it?"

"Yes. Aloud."

"What do you mean aloud?"

"Spoke in her head. Only in the quiet it can be heard."

"What was it?" Cullen asked, anxiously. "What did she not say aloud?"

"Need to hold. To feel. To love." Cole rocked back and forth. "But all is lost now."