My favorite Warden,

Greetings from Antiva. I am sure you are understandably mad at me for leaving without much of a goodbye. Though if I might say, that night was the most wonderful goodbye I could have received. I have taken over the Crows finally after all the wars inside between the masters. So do let the Inquisition know that they have an extra ally in the shadows. Ah mi bella, it warms and saddens my heart knowing you are with your lion. I shall miss the fun, yes? However as the saying goes, a lioness is only bound by her rightful king. I sent along the Antivan oil you loved so much when we had played. I hope it's helpful in the times to come and I look forward to hearing all the details. You can at least give me the wonderful details as severance pay, yes?

Por siempre tuya mi bella amante,

-Z

Isa laughed as she read his letter and blushed all the same. The stupid Antivan thought she didn't know he was getting ready to leave? She had to laugh at that. She could remember that night, the cozy room they bought for the night, the petals and candles and, creators, the sex they had. They were at each other as if the other was expecting to be gone from the world the next day. Which ironically Zev had basically achieved that. She could remember the times he was sweet and gentle and the times he went at an unforgiving pace. When she had left the room alone the next morning with only an hours worth of sleep to pay the keeper, she had gotten a knowing look and a slight remark of, 'You're lucky the both of you are so damned pretty for elves or else I would have had to gone up and kick you out myselfs with all the complaints from the other patrons.' She had blushed from the tips of her ears down to her very toes. Just as she did now, as the small vial of golden oil fell into her hands. Isa couldn't help the smile that tugged on the corner of her mouth. Despite what most of her companions had thought of the assassin, he was very thoughtful and a good man. Had she not met Cullen before him, perhaps he would have been the one to have kept her heart. She shook her head with a light blush at his sign off, 'Forever yours my beautiful mistress', before burning the letter. I'll need to let Leliana know about Zev, if she doesn't already know that is. I'm sure the two are already in cahoots from the sound of his letter. She grumbled to herself before leaning back against the wall of the battlement, as she sat on the stone edge, and enjoying the sun soaking into her skin.

Isa played with the vial of oil in her hands as she tried to reign her thoughts in. As things were, she wouldn't be using the oil for a very long time. She leaned her head back against the stone pillar and bit her lip at the thought of having the chance using it with him. Rough hands smoothing the oil over her body and heat made her tighten her thighs just at the thought. She was so engrossed to her thoughts that she didn't hear the footsteps coming towards her.

"A birdie tells me you got a letter from our favorite assassin." Leliana's voice carried to her ears, she felt herself jerk at the surprise sound of her voice and almost dropped the vial, before quickly pocketing it for safekeeping later. She caught the raised eyebrow and the knowing look Leliana gave her and blushed lightly.

"More like a crow." Isa huffed swinging her legs over the ledge to dangle and lean forward. "I'm sure he sent his well wishes and love to you as well." She smirked as she swung her legs and tilted her head.

"Mmm that he did and of course with a gift of the cutest shoes. For a man of death he sure knows how to take care of his women." She laughed and shook her head. Zevran had the biggest heart of any man she had known, and once considered family he'd move the heavens for them. Business? It was like speaking to death himself.

"You know he went out of his way and bought this absolutely ridiculous necklace and hat that Wynne had eye-ed but once received 'Oh I mustn't it's too much for a lady of my age,' fishing for compliments. I still swear she wanted him in her bed as much as I did!" Isa giggled.

"'Oh Zevran! You make me feel like a teenager again! You did great but let me teach you this,'" Leliana mocked out her impression of Wynne and Isa fell off the ledge of the battlements crying from the laughter. Her impression was spot on. Isa tried to stand up straight before catching Leliana's eye and fell into hysterics all over again.

"Oh how I have missed you, sister." She chuckled, wiping the tears of joy from her eyes. "So what brings you to come hunting me down?" Isa asked as Leliana waved her to follow.

"Sky Hold is absolutely just a buzz with the arrival of the possible Hero of Ferelden. They are also still chattering about how this elf woman who took down our great Inquisitor, how dare she, was one of the remarks from quite the devoted soldier. I also hear you've already fallen back into the Commander's bed…" She trailed a raised eyebrow raised pointedly at her.

"I-I...well...I mean that is all true. However, not quite what you think. I got drunk and he was kind enough to let me take his bed. The silly man slept at his desk." Isalora sighed, shaking her head before looking up at the crystal blue and scarred sky. The edges of the scar wisped away with sluggish strikes as it pulsed varingly with soft lights. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that." She hummed softly, rubbing her arms.

"It's a better sight than when everything went crashing down around us." Leliana whispered before giving her a bright smile. "I'm grateful that you came here,Isalora, I really am. Knowing you're here safe puts me at ease even though I know you can handle yourself."

"It's good to be with family, Leli. How could I turn it down when you gave me the best opportunity? Though, we both know I would have been eventually plowing my way through this way as soon as I caught wind of everything going on with the other greys. I need to sit down with Stroud soon and get all the recent reports he has on what's going on with Clarel." As Isa took in their surroundings she realized they were getting closer to the stable and a smirk played on her lips. "Oh you sneaky thing you, bringing me to one of my other check ins."

"I figured I'd save you from the cloak and dagger movements." Leliana laughed before nodding her head towards a man with a black beard and stocky build. "That's Blackwell, the grey warden, who I'm sure has your interest as much as Stroud does." Isa ran a hand through her hair and shook her head before walking over to the stables first to check on her horses condition after the long travel. She chanced a look to the side and watched the burly man work on toy carving. She couldn't feel the taint running his veins at all. Her eyes narrowed for a second before patting her horse goodbye. She moved to the back wall and leaned against the back wall of the barn.

"Warden-Constable Blackwell, I am surprised this has brought you here." Isa spoke lightly face neutral while taking the tense body posture of the man.

"Ah it's just Blackwell here, and it's brought many of a kind here from everything that has happened. I felt called to this place." He replied, taking her in warily before returning to the carve.

"Called huh? Funny that. I hear you don't hear the calling at all, unlike your comrades of the order. Why do you think that is?" She asked, tilting her head arms across her chest.

"I'm sorry you are? I can't discuss things about Grey Wardens to just anyone." He answered with narrowed eyes. Isa would give him credit to at least knowing some protocol, though how much of it was just him deflecting she wasn't sure.

"Oh I'm Isa, I serve under Stroud." She smiled brightly, "Again though I don't understand why you don't hear the call too."

"Well it could be like the Commander in Ferelden thinks, they say Surana believes it to be a fake calling." He said before going back to his wood work. "It's nice to see another sister from the order."

"You want to know what I think?" She asked with a sickly sweet smile, eyes turning to molten steel with her fury. The impostering man stopped and watched her warily. "I think it's because you don't have the taint in your blood." Isalora's lips pulled into a sinister smirk before she disappeared from her spot and was behind the man, pinning him between her body and the table. She had a hold of his head and slammed him down to the table with her strength and felt the man fight against her hold. It was of no use, her strength was well above any normal man now, Alistar she might have had trouble with but this man was like holding a child down. Her dagger bit into his throat as it nicked the skin and a trail of blood trickled down slowly.

"I don't know what you mean? I am Blackwell!" He cried out still fighting against her before she dug the dagger in a little deeper.

"I suggest you stop unless you want to gather a crowd and out yourself now or be killed without the chance of explaining yourself." She hissed into the man's ear. "I've met Blackwell actually. Lovely man to boot. He also was in support of wanting to come to Ferelden during the Blight. So Mr. Imposter, tell me what happened to my true Brother of the Order and who you really are and maybe just maybe, I'll allow you to live. You don't deserve the honor of carrying that name as your own." She growled, she could begin to taste the electricity in the air, she was losing her emotions quickly. She began to take deep breaths as the imposter still as if in realisation of who he was dealing with.

"You're Commander Surana." He stilled as if all the breath had been kicked out from his lung.

"Ah so you're smart too, not just a filthy liar." She chuckled darkly.

"I'll tell you everything, please just let me sit up." He begged before, Isa glowered at the man before shoving him to kneel on the ground and waited as he began to tell him her story.

Cullen rubbed at his face for the hundredth time that day as he looked at his notes of the meeting so far. The advisors were in a grid-lock at the decision of where to and what was next on their path forward with the mess they were given on a platter. Josephine was explaining why they should wait before going to the Western Approach before they could hear a loud commotion and the door being blasted in. Cassandra was pulling her sword immediately while Leliana hid a smirk behind a cough as Jospehine all but screamed about the cost of replacing the door. As smoke cleared there in all her fury stood Isa, silver hair whipping around her body as she threw Blackwell against the table with a snarl on her plump lips. Cullen raised an eyebrow at the demon-like woman before he saw Emery and all his companions came running.

"What in the world has happened?" Emery shouted looking between the chaos.

"You should really look more closely at your company Inquisitor." Isa snarled out. "He's lucky this is all he's receiving from me. I do believe you and this 'Thom Rainier' need to have a lovely conversation. If this was back at the keep I would have him already strung and displayed to warn others against acting as a warden and think they can spread our secrets like their own." She bit before kicking the man in the stomach before marching away like she had just avenged every wrong done.

"Did you have an inkling of what was going on?" Cullen asked softly glancing over to the redheaded woman, who glanced at him slyly before winking.

"Grey warden business is best suited for grey warden's Commander. I had my suspicions, Isalora just confirmed it, is all." She waved off like it was the most simplest thing ever. Cullen sighed softly before turning to look at the distraught face of Emery.

"Inquisitor?" He called to the man, snapping him out of his reverie.

"Ah, right, take him to a holding cell. I need to speak to Isalora and understand everything that is going on. I'll be in touch with you too, Leliana about what you know of this Thom Rainier." He grumbled before storming after the elf that had disappeared not five minutes ago.

"Well, and here I thought I brought enough drama for the whole place." Dorian scoffed with a smirk before following his lover with a chuckle. All Cullen could do was shake his head. He understood to never be on the end of Isalora's wrath. She was severely loyal and passionate. Dangerous but good traits to have together. Cullen sighed before taking in Black-no Thom Rainier in and noticed he looked like he had been pummelled by a dozen men.

"Alright Thom let's get you down to the cells before she decides to come back for seconds." He chuckled at the scared look at the man.

"...Archdemon…" Was all Cullen understood from the garbled words that spilled out of the man's mouth as he tried to describe the petite elf. Cullen bit his lip to avoid the laugh that wanted to spill out and was sure the man could feel his chest rumble but couldn't find it in him to care. He had been face to face with that same wrath before. Luckily for him Alistar and Leliana had held her back, though he was sure Morrigan had wanted her to be free to get a few good licks in before taking off.

Once he had dropped the bruised man off and locked up he took off to see if he'd be able to find the elf of the hour. He wandered around the hold for a while aimlessly before entering the library and finding her curled in a window, a soft smile pulled at the corners of his lips.

"You know, I had a strange feeling I would find you in the library of all places." He chuckled before leaning against the wall and looking away as her soft grey eyes flashed at him before looking back out at the mountains.

"Thought I might take off to the forest instead?" She quipped before a sad smile came to her lips. "Normally, you'd be right if you thought I would. However, call me nostalgic but it reminds me of the good times in the tower, though I do like this view a little better." She chuckled softly before closing her eyes. He chanced to watch her, her dark blue vallaslin highlighting her cheeks and sharp and yet soft lines, her silvery hair rolled in soft waves around her face, her lips a soft tan-ish pink that turned up shyly. He felt heat pool in his cheeks as he caught grey eyes dancing at him. He coughed into his hand and rubbed the back of his neck before glancing away.

"This does feel familiar to the...uhm...old days. Though I do have to agree, I do prefer this view better." Cullen whispered softly as his blush curled to his ears and down his neck as he glanced away from her penetrating gaze. "So...I'm pretty sure Thom is going to have nightmares about you for a good while now." He chuckled lightly while shifting his weight and watching some of the soldiers and scholars walk by glancing at them curiously.

"Oh darn and here I was hoping they'd be the most passionate, pleasure filled, best ever dreams a man could ever have of the great heroine god-like elf!" She exclaimed as if she was offended. Cullen choked on his own air before wide eyes landed on her shaking in mirth before she couldn't hold it in anymore.

"I-" He began before another presence stepped up to them.

"Commander Surana...I believe you wished to talk to me?" Stroud said, keeping his tense posture as he took Cullen and her in. Cullen sighed softly looking between the two and nodded.

"It was a pleasure getting to talk to you, Commander." Cullen stood up straight before nodding to her, noticing her wince at his use of her title.

"You too, Commander," She replied cheekily before moving to stand up, and he took that as his cue to begin descending down the stairs.

"I still look forward to that game of chess!" Cullen called to her before taking the first step down and catching the light dusting of pink on her cheeks. He turned his head away and smiled to himself before he rounded the corner and saw Dorian flash a wink at him. The Commander flushed brightly and sputtered about reports and ran down the rest of the stairs.

Author's Note:

I am so so so so so so so so so sorry for such the long wait for this chapter and that it still doesn't feel long enough to make up for the wait! With the covid outbreak and well life (I doubt ya'll really want to hear about this and that) I have been super busy and trying to spend as much time as I can with a few loved ones I worry about! But I now have a desktop instead of my laptop so hopefully I can get more pushed out for you all! I do way better on desktop than laptop lol. Anywhooo please favorite, follow, and review! I want to know what your thoughts are and how your liking it or even if your not!

Bunches of Love!

KiraShadows