Ellana woke up before Cullen the next morning and turned around to watch him sleeping across from her on the other side of the bed. Last night had been the first time in quite a while where she'd falling asleep without his arms wrapped around her, especially since they were sleeping together in the same bed. She grimaced a little as she recalled how unkind she'd been to him over the last several hours. It wasn't intentional, she just found herself angry when she looked at him and saw a reminder of the Templars. Alistair too – she saw him yesterday in the Inn and had instantly felt irritated. This morning however, she just saw Cullen sleeping soundly before her – no reminder of Templars – and felt guilty for treating him poorly.
Ellana slinked over to him in the bed and placed a palm on his chest, lightly pulling him from his sleep. His eyes looked relieved to feel her touch on him, yet his hands hesitated in pulling her any closer.
"Forgive me, Cullen…" she whispered, "I feel so unstable right now and my anger is set off by almost everything. Abelas, I must such a pain to be around right now…"
She felt his hands reach out and grab her into an embrace. "Never a pain, my love. A little difficult at times, but never a pain." His lips curled into a playful smile and she began to lightly laugh.
Ellana lowered her face and pressed her lips down to softly grace his own. "Thank you for always standing by my side. I am scared for what we'll encounter today, and yet I could not imagine facing it with anyone other than you beside me."
He pulled her into a kiss and relished in the feeling of his hands running through the soft strands of her hair. "Whatever comes of the day, I will be standing there with you."
Shortly after, they rose from the bed and joined Cassandra and Alistair in the main lobby. "This is it." Ellana nodded towards her companions, sending them an appreciative smile for their hard word and dedication. "Let's hope Gaspard's connections pull through and they agree to meet with us."
…..
Hours later, Ellana found herself standing just outside the Circle of Cumberland. Her legs were shaking and heart rate was skyrocketing. A growing part of her wished to simply release her magic and burn this entire tower to the ground. She glanced up at the stone walls before her and wondered how long it would take before she had them crumbled together in a pile of rubble on the ground.
Cullen pulled her from her gruesome thoughts by resting his hand on her shoulder and signaling for their advancement to the tower. Ellana watched as her legs began to inch forward, noticing a disconnected feeling to her body. She didn't feel herself right now – didn't feel as though she had any control over the legs which slowly led her towards the Circle door. "Keep an eye on me…" she whispered to Cullen. He curtly nodded and his hand tightened its grip on her shoulder, assuring her that he would make sure she remained safe and in control.
A Templar was stationed at the door and lifted a hand towards the four of them as they approached. "State your business with the Circle of Cumberland."
Ellana watched as Cassandra stepped forward and began to speak with the Templar. She clenched her jaw and she stood there, staring at the young man in Templar armor as he engaged in conversation with Cassandra. His eyes were a mixture of greens and she could see a few stands of reddish brown hair poking out from his helm. He looked young – around the age of Cullen when he was posted in Kinloch; probably a junior Templar stuck at the front door. Ellana's heart quickened as she began to fanaticize of wrapping her fingers around the man's throat while sliding her blade into his eye and plucking out one of those emerald spheres, allowing blood to pour down the side of his face. Maybe it would do him well to see his blood ran the same color as hers – the same color as the other mage… forcefully show him that the Templars were not superior to Mages… their blood all ran the same color and would coldly pool in similar clumps of red on the stone floor…
"They received Gaspard's request and will allow us entry." Cassandra's voice interrupted her thoughts, "they don't know why we're here yet, but the Knight-Commander and First Enchanter will meet with us at the Emperor's request."
The Templar quickly shuffled Ellana and her companions to the inside of the tower and mentioned that a senior Templar would accompany them to the top level where they could find the Knight-Commander. Ellana felt the hair on her neck rise at being inside of a Circle again. She could smell the lyrium wafting through the halls; could see the first-floor students whispering to each other of the mysterious visitors and Templars rushing them along to continue their studies. Her lungs began to close and she felt as though she couldn't breath. Cullen reached out for her and offered his hand for comfort; she grabbed onto him and closed her eyes in preparation for the next few moments.
"You're what they call the Inquisitor, are you?" a loud voice rang out. Ellana opened her eyes to see a large man in Templar armor walking towards them. This man had years of experience harshly carved into his face and eyes that spoke of pure evil. Ellana instantly hated him. She noticed Cullen picked up on the same feeling, as he shifted himself to stand before her and angled himself between her and the man.
The man glanced down at Ellana's hand, tightly wrapped around Cullen's and scoffed. "A mage, a Seeker and two Templars. What company the Emperor of Orlais has surrounded himself with, these days."
"Grey Warden." Alistair corrected the man, also picking up a vile feeling from him.
"Once a Templar, always a Templar." The man sneered.
"You are to bring us to your Knight-Commander." Cullen cut in, no longer interested in speaking with this man. The Templar nodded and sharply turned, leading the group up a set of stairs near the back. Ellana's eyes frantically searched the halls as they climbed up to the third level, furiously searching for a female elf that had a mark of tranquility. She couldn't see anyone who fit the description.
Eventually, they were brought into a room at the end of the hall where another Templar sat behind a desk, along with an older man in mage robes: The Knight-Commander and First Enchanter, Ellana presumed.
"Thank you, Knight-Captain Morin." The Knight-Commander spoke. Ellana grimaced; the man who led them up here was the second in command. She had hoped he would be leaving and found herself wincing as he sat down in a nearby chair, clearly welcome to remain in the room for these discussions.
"Knight-Commander Hovath," Cullen spoke, "we are here to engage in discussions with you around the Litany of Adralla…"
Ellana found herself falling in and out of the conversation over the next hour, as Cullen laid out their request for the Litany to be given to the Inquisition. He withheld any information about Ellana's need for the item, and instead mentioned they had a senior mage positioned in Skyhold who required its use.
The First Enchanter kept giving Ellana a mysterious stare. 'He knows…' she thought; somehow, the man could tell that it was Ellana who required the Litany… could he sense the darkness within her? She felt immensely bothered by his glare and her patience for this conversation was quickly diminishing. Cullen hadn't yet brought up Avexis…
"There is another reason that we've come." She cut in, "A woman. Her name is Avexis – are you familiar of whom I speak?"
The Knight-Commander's eyes quickly shifted to her and narrowed. "Why are you interested in her?"
"Is she here?" Ellana pressed and felt a wave of relief as the Templar slowly nodded, confirming her presence in the tower.
"The Inquisition requests her release to our forces," Cassandra quickly cut in. "We require the assistance of a tranquil mage – one with significant knowledge of the Fade, yet who cannot practice magic. We've heard that this elf fits that description – is that correct?"
"Yes…" the First Enchanter slowly leaned forward on the desk, keeping his gaze intently placed on Ellana.
"If you agree to part with both the Litany and the elf, the Inquisition will remember your cooperation and pledge assistance to the Circle of Cumberland in future times where aid may be required." Cassandra spoke.
Ellana's eyes furiously shifted to the Seeker; when had they agreed upon that? She would never provide assistance to the Circle! Cullen placed his hand on her arm, urging her to remain calm. Was this a ploy? Did Cassandra truly mean what she had said?
"I'm sure you could find another mage." The Knight-Captain who had greeted them in the main corridor spoke. "I am quite fond of that one," he chuckled, "will be sad to see her go."
Ellana's eyes flashed in anger and Alistair quickly cut in, "Knight-Commander Hovath, I certainly hope that you are not allowing… fraternization to occur with a tranquil mage and a Templar. You are aware how strongly that would violate the Chantry's – "
"No, it is not like that." The Knight-Commander gave a stern look to the Knight-Captain. "Morin is being facetious. He has known the elf named Avexis for a long time, since she was initially brought here as a young girl."
Morin cruelly laughed, "I was the one to carry it out – the Rite of Tranquility. Watched over her for the last twenty-so years here at the Circle. Suppose she feels like the daughter I've never had – or wanted." He smirked.
Cullen reached out to grab Ellana's hands, all too aware of how furious she had become upon hearing this news. Unaware of her actions, she dug her nails into his hand in a fury of rage and drew blood.
The Templar continued, "the Rite of Tranquility originated from the Cumberland Circle, you know. In response to an abomination escaping here and killing the majority of Templars and mages, the Chantry created the Rite of Tranquility and we were the first Circle to practice it – around eight years before the third Blight."
Ellana couldn't believe her ears! This man was… boasting about the Rite having been established due to this Circle.
"The practice of enchantment genocide was established due to your Circle's incompetence and you find that a reason to gloat?" Cassandra coldly threw at the man.
He angrily stood up and began walking towards her, "Watch your mouth, Seeker. Perhaps you forget where you stand and who runs this tower – it is the Templars and we will not have you speak ill of us on our own land."
"That is enough," The Knight-Commander rose from his seat. "Knight-Captain Morin, please take your departure. We are not here to engage in arguments with our guests."
Morin loudly grunted before turning around and exiting the room into the corridor. Ellana followed him with her eyes and listened as the group continued discussions on the Inquisition's two requests. She was enraged over that man… Morin… he was the reason for Avexis being made tranquil. Would he have been involved in the killing of Ellana's parents? Ellana placed him around fifty, which meant he would have been an intermediate Templar around the time. His involvement was very likely…
"Where is your privy chamber?" Ellana suddenly spoke, "I need to excuse myself."
"Down the hall, fourth door on the left." The Knight-Commander directed her. She gave Cullen a warm smile, assuring him that she was fine before slipping out of the room.
'Where is he?' Ellana wondered. Knight-Captain Morin… she had a score to settle with that man.
…..
Several moments had passed since Ellana disappeared from the meeting room and Cullen was growing increasingly nervous; he had a sickening feeling in his stomach. As he sat there, wondering if he should go and check on her, the First Enchanter suddenly flashed his eyes towards Cullen and quietly spoke, "You should go." Cullen gave him a startled look, unsure of how much the old man could detect of their current situation. He nodded and quietly excused himself to search for Ellana.
Walking down the hallway, something about the last door on the left was calling to him. He quietly placed his hand on the doorknob and turned the brass handle. Cullen's eyes darted back and forth between the various images placed before him in the small room.
A large pool of blood slowly expending from the center of the room. Ellana, standing with her back turned towards the door, eerily hunched over in beastly manor – as she had done in the field of bandits during the ride back the from Well of Sorrows. Knight-Captain Morin spread out on the floor before her, eyes ripped out from their sockets and gashes down his cheek as if a wild animal had clawed him.
Cullen held his breath and stepped back into the door, bumping it shut and causing a loud snap, which caught the attention of Ellana. She slowly turned around and Cullen's heart sank; he should have followed her when she left the room… should have know that something wasn't right.
As she turned towards him, Cullen could see the black light radiating from her vallaslin. Her white gloves drenched in the Templar's blood, her beige cloak smeared with streaks of red. Eyes glowing dark and empty.
"Ellana – " he lifted his hand in defense as she began walking towards him. Her mouth snarled into a low growl as she inched closer. Cullen began to panic – he didn't know what to do; he'd barely been able to pull her from the demon's clutch the last time this happened. She looked far more vicious and provoked this time… would she even let him get close enough to touch her? He held out his hand, pleading with her to stop and listen to him, when suddenly it happened –
A cold splash of mist broke out from somewhere deep within Cullen's chest. It grew, engulfing his entire being as warmness spread across his chest from arm to arm. Cullen watched as Ellana staggered backwards before falling to her knees, the black light slowly disappearing from her vallaslin and her eyes returning to their normal blue. At first, he was oblivious to what was happening. With a startled fright, he soon realized that it had come from him. His silencing ability… it had returned. Cullen's mind raced with questions: how could this be happening? He hadn't consumed lyrium in almost a year. How had he called upon his Templar abilities?
He quickly shook his mind of the thoughts and ran over towards Ellana. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he gently lifted her head to see if she was okay. She knelt there, staring at him with confusion and terror.
In that moment, he was equally afraid of her, as she was of him.