Chapter 72

"It's a shame that the templars have abandoned the capital," said Cullen, crossing his hands over his chest. "Along with their sense."

Alistair snorted. "Well, we never did have critical thinking classes. And real life experience can really warp your decision making skills."

"...I can't argue with that."

"At least we know how to approach the mages and the templars now," said Ellana. She didn't sound very optimistic.

"Do we?" Cassandra countered. "Lord Seeker Lucius is not the man I remember."

"True, he has taken the Order somewhere, but to do what?" Leliana asked. Nobody had a reply. "My reports have been... very odd."

"We must look into it. I'm certain not everyone in the Order will support the Lord Seeker."

Leliana nodded. Cullen's position on the matter came from a biased perspective. Having served as a templar, he had always pushed – gently but firmly – for an alliance with the Templar Order. Though he was open to recruiting the mages, it wouldn't be his first choice. That didn't mean that the situation wasn't worth looking into. That the templars would leave Val Royeaux was... surprising.

"Or the Herald could simply go to Redcliffe and meet the mages instead," suggested Josephine with an innocent shrug, but Cullen jumped on this immediately.

"You think the mage rebellion's more important? It could be ten times worse!"

"Won't know until we go and see," said Alistair quietly and Ellana nodded.

"The Warden-Commander is right," she said and Leliana immediately threw a sidelong glance at Alistair, who shuffled on his feet awkwardly. "We need to stop bickering and make a decision."

Cassandra nodded in agreement.

"We shouldn't discount Redcliffe," Josephine pressed. "The mages may be worth the risk."

"They are powerful, Ambassador, but more desperate than you realise," cautioned Cassandra.

"There will always be danger," said Ellana. "I've been at risk ever since I came to Haven."

Cullen sighed and shook his head but Cassandra was prepared for this.

"If some among the rebel mages were responsible for what happened at the Conclave-"

"The same could be said about the templars," countered Josephine.

"Or it could be neither and we're all overthinking," Alistair said with a chuckle. "Listen, I know I'm not really, uh, a part of this party, but I'm from Redcliffe and I know the arl personally. So if you go there, I'll tag along and smooth things over."

"That would put my mind at ease," Leliana confessed. Cullen nodded.

"I can see the sense in that. Besides, I don't think we have enough influence to approach the Order safely at this time."

"So, it's settled then?" asked Ellana, looking around. "We're going to Redcliffe?"

"I suppose we are," Cassandra replied.

"Excellent!" Alistair beamed. "It's been a while since I've been there. It'll be good to be back. Anyway, we'll want to start early tomorrow, so I'll see you all bright and early at five o'clock."

With various chants of approval and affirmation, the party broke away and went to their separate rooms. Leliana took Alistair's hand and led him out into the sunlight.

"You did well for someone not in the party," she told him. "I think you even won over Cassandra."

"With my professionalism, no doubt."

"She has a soft spot for awkward templar boys."

"Like you?"

"I don't know about that. I've only ever had a weakness for one awkward templar boy."

"It would be pretty rough if you didn't, actually."

Leliana smiled at that. For once, things were going somewhat smoothly. There was a clear direction in which they were headed. Leads were coming up, allies were being gathered and situations were being resolved. Haven had become a hub of activity and Leliana was cautiously optimistic about where things might go.

However, there were still a few things that puzzled her. Things of a... sensitive nature.

"Alistair, when was the last time you had contact with the Orlesian Wardens?"

He thought about it a while, which told her that the information wasn't readily available. He hadn't heard from them in a while.

"I'm not sure," Alistair replied eventually. "Aedan got a letter from them a while ago, but that was before all this madness. Nothing since. Why do you ask?"

"I have been unable to establish communications myself." She braced herself. "Ordinarily, I wouldn't even consider the idea that the Wardens are involved in all this but the timing is... curious."

Alistair shook his head. "Ours isn't a political order, Leli."

"I know. But if a darkspawn magister capable of controlling Wardens is indeed behind it all, then isn't it a possibility that the Wardens may be compromised?"

"I doubt it. The Fereldan Wardens are still here."

"And I'm glad, but the Orlesian force would make for a sizeable army in itself. In case my suspicions are true, then we can't have the Fereldan Wardens involved in all this."

Alistair stopped short. "I'm not going back and leaving you in the middle of this."

"And I'm not asking you to." Leliana held his gaze. "I'm asking you to consider the possibility that the Wardens may not be any help to us."

His jaws were working. He was mulling it over. Leliana decided to push on.

"Two days ago, my agents heard news of a Grey Warden by the name of Blackwall. You know him?"

"Gordon Blackwall, yeah. I've not met him, but he's the Warden-Constable of the Orlesian Wardens." Alistair smiled faintly. "Same rank as me. Anyway, what about him?"

"Just that he's been wandering the Fereldan countryside, recruiting people. I want to seek him out. Maybe he can shed some light onto this situation."

"Good idea. It'll be nice to have another clever head amongst us. But enough talk about business. It's a nice day, so if you have some time, I was wondering whether we could go for a stroll?" He smiled but quickly added: "It's fine if not, though. I know you're busy."

Leliana stopped him before he went on and convinced himself that he was being a nuisance or something equally ludicrous, and she pecked his lips quickly to do so.

"There will always be work," she said with a smile as she took his arm. "I'm seasoned enough to be able to prioritise."

It would mean more work later, but the grin that split his face made it worthwhile.

"Seasoning be praised!"

"Why are you like this?"