This chapter takes place in Inquisition. It starts out in third person, following Josephine, and ends up going to Leliana. This takes place just after Haven during Josie's part, jumping ahead to when the Inquisition has been at Skyhold for a while during Leliana's (by a while, I mean Morrigan is at Skyhold). Sounds fun even to me lol.

She can see her doing it again. Fiddling with her hands. The Spymaster has been fidgeting and glancing back for the Hero of Ferelden since they broke camp to make for Solas' supposed fortress. The Herald seems content to follow his friend's lead, dragging the few survivors of Haven through the Fereldan Frostbacks. Josephine has noticed that Leliana is spending far more time near the back of the procession than she probably should. While her and Cullen do their best to keep up with Lavellan, the Spymaster purposely lags behind, looking for someone the rest of the Inquisition believes to be dead. If Josephine even suggests that the Hero is dead (she learned her lesson earlier) Leliana will whip around and glare, snapping something about how her friends can't possibly be dead. Lavellan has kept his distance since the Spymaster first lost her temper, and now no one, not even Cullen, will approach her. She shoots glares at anyone who tries to speak with her, including her own agents. Varric claims to be brave enough to walk up to Leliana, but when Sera suggests him trying it, he laughs it off and says maybe later.

Josephine falls back to Leliana's side, expecting to be yelled at, but Leliana says nothing. She stares forward with an uncharacteristically blank face, hands now at her sides.

"What is bothering you?" Leliana gives her a dark look, as if asking how Josephine could be stupid enough to ask that question. "Exactly? What exactly is bothering you?"

"That I couldn't see Corypheus coming," Leliana says bitterly. "Here, or at the Conclave."

"How could you?"

"I should have felt him from a mile away." She ignores the question. "I should've known. Elissa should have, too, but we couldn't. It's almost as if he has found a way to conceal the Taint..."

Josephine opens her mouth, but closes it just as quickly. It seems that the disappearance of Elissa and Alistair is not bothering her. Or at the very least, not as much as what she's talking about now. "What do you mean?"

"Have I ever told you why I hide Warden armor with my things?" Leliana asks suddenly, looking up at the sky. She squints, stopping for a brief moment. "I don't believe I have." The Orlesian continues walking, catching up to Josephine rather easily. "The last time I was in these mountains...Aedan and I...we were traveling to Orlais to speak with the Divine." Josephine notes how her voice catches at the name of Ferelden's Warden-Constable. "It was also the point in time where Corypheus was terrorizing Ferelden. We'd been making our way through the pass to Orlais when we were attacked by darkspawn. I was wounded, and at Aedan's urging, we returned to Ferelden. I had caught that disease the darkspawn carry, and the only way to keep from dying was to join the Wardens."

"You...are a Grey Warden, then?"

"It's not well-known," Leliana says flatly. "In any case, Wardens can sense darkspawn. Literally. At the Conclave, Elissa and I should've known Corypheus was coming. I should've been able to sense him instead of Elissa and Alistair at Haven. But no. It's almost like he blocks us from sensing him. To do that, he'd have to have a way to conceal the Taint, but I'm not even sure how he would manage to go about doing that."

Josephine hesitates. While Leliana makes a good point, Josephine didn't walk back here to talk about Corypheus. She came to see if Leliana was still stressing over the missing Wardens. Just as she goes to ask, Leliana stiffens. Checking to see why, Josephine spots Blackwall as he marches up to them.

"Excuse me," Leliana says.

"I-" Blackwall starts. The Spymaster brushes past without another word, glowering at the ground, and the Warden looks to the Diplomat with a confused look on his face. "What's wrong with her?"

Josephine shakes her head. "Besides the obvious?" Blackwall just shrugs. "We need to cheer her up. As soon as we get to wherever Solas is taking us, you need to help me with something."

"What would that be?"

"We're tracking down Aedan Cousland."

I managed to refrain from stabbing Morrigan the entire way back from the Winter Palace. I have managed to do the same for the past three weeks, but seeing her come to the war table every time the Inquisitor calls a meeting makes things difficult. I keep my hands clasped behind my back and refuse to respond to anything she says. If I do, she will make a smart comment and I'll end up throttling her. And she knows. She knows how irritating I find her presence. The witch will shoot me little smirks at least once during a meeting. I tried ignoring those too, but she stands right next to the Inquisitor. If I so much as look at him when he asks me to send my people somewhere, I'll catch her grinning at me out of the corner of my eye.

It happens to be one of those times now. I stiffen and glare in her direction, making my attitude clear, but she only laughs.

"Are you all right, Spymaster?" she asks. I recognize that tone. She used it on Alistair all the time.

"Yes," I growl through gritted teeth.

The Inquisitor frowns, crossing his arms. "Are you sure? You look ill."

"Yes, I'm fine," I snap. Arin Lavellan throws his hands up innocently. "I'd be better if you kept her out of these meetings."

"But...she's Empress Celene's representative. Aren't you and Josephine always telling me to be more diplomatic?" He looks genuinely confused now, glancing between Morrigan and I as we exchange glares. "Am I missing something?"

"No," Morrigan says.

"Yes," I retort.

"She is still simmering over the past."

"That has nothing to do with it!"

Morrigan scoffs. "You may be thick, but you are by no means a fool. We both know the problem."

"My problem is I can't stab you with my dagger."

"How is that diplomatic?"

"Maker, I'd kill you if I could," I snarl.

"You can certainly try, Orlesian." The Witch of the Wilds shrugs. "Without your pack guarding you, you wouldn't be able to do much. That's correct, yes? That is why we had to confront Marjolaine with you? Because you were too weak to do it on your own?"

"Do not bring her into this."

"Are you afraid of painful memories?"

I clench my fists and squeeze my eyes shut. No...no...can't kill her...behave. Can't avenge the people she left to die...think about other things, dammit! Like...like the way it felt to-

"See? A coward. That is what your Spymaster is, Inquisitor. She leaves her friends to die at Haven and cannot think about one of the few times she had actual support."

"Stop. Talking. Right now."

"You claim the Wardens are your friends? Elissa and Alistair still have yet to be heard from. What have you done to find them?"

"What have you done, Morrigan? Aren't you friends with Elissa? Or did that change when I wasn't looking?"

"That's never changed."

"Then why in the Maker's name have you done nothing?!"

"Because I am not one of your cultists. I am not forced into helping any of the Agents with anything. I help when I choose."

"Oh, like when you slept with Aedan?"

"I thought that was not the problem?"

I bite my tongue to keep from growling. I'm almost shaking with how furious I am. It takes all of my self-control to keep from walking up to her and doing something stupid. "It's not. My problem is how you left before we marched to Denerim. My problem is that you took Talith and ran before we confronted Flemeth. I can't stand to look at you. Every time I come near you, I find that we get betrayed more than anything else! I can't believe I suggested bringing you here in the first place! And to make it worse, you knew what would happen at Kirkwall, but you said nothing until it was too late! Cullen almost died, I almost died, several Wardens almost died. You cost an entire city so many lives that it'll never recover!" I slam a fist on the war table to keep from punching what I really want to. "What you did with Aedan...I find it hard to care anymore. That doesn't bother me. I've gotten over it. But everything else...no. I'll never see you as anything other than a lying backstabber."

Morrigan blinks once, stares at me, and then laughs. "Feel better now?"

I throw my hands up. "Ugh. I can't...ugh. I need to leave."

Without another word, I take my leave, marching across the keep and back to the rookery. Solas and I share a quick glare. I know what he is. I'll make sure Elissa knows, too. I'll help her kill him if I have to. But for now, since he's helping the Inquisition, I leave him be. The elf has adopted the same attitude. We had an argument at Haven about...that issue, and have left the other alone ever since. As long as we're trying to achieve the same goals, we tolerate the other. When Elissa and Alistair showed up at Haven though, his effort to not attack her was obvious. I kept my bow in hand until we parted ways.

As I march into the library, Dorian can be seen with Kieran, showing him various books and drawings in them. My skin prickles at the sight of the child. It's not even because of Morrigan. It has everything to do with the fact that the soul of an Archdemon is living inside of him. The boy looks at me after a moment of staring and frowns. This is the first time I've been within ten yards of him, and now he looks curious, walking over to me and forgetting the book Dorian was showing him.

"You were there," he says.

It doesn't take a genius to know what he means. "I was."

"He's not happy that you still live."

"I hope he knows I'm happy he's not trying to eat me and my friends anymore."

"He wants to know if the Architect is dead."

"He is."

The boy smiles. "Good. We are both glad to hear it. The monster deserved to die." Before he can run back to Dorian, I crouch and reach out, stopping him with a hand on his shoulder.

"Is he your friend?" I ask carefully, searching Kieran's face for any changes.

"Why wouldn't he be?"

I lean forward and whisper, "Some friends only seek to hurt you and those around you. You are a mage, and you must be careful. Understand?"

"Mother has taught me this lesson already. So has Talith."

"What...what has she told you about your father?" I can't believe I'm asking him this.

He shrugs. "Not much. I have heard stories though. He's a Warden, too. He was at the burning city with you and the woman that killed Urthemiel."

I cringe at the way he says the name of the Archdemon. "Yes," I mutter.

"She says you might hurt me if we talk," Kieran says. "That you are angry."

I shake my head. "I'm not mad at you. None of what happened is your fault. It was the Archdemon." He frowns, starts to reply, but I reach down to my boot and pull out the blessed dagger every Agent carries. His eyes widen and he starts to back away. "I won't hurt you. Here." Taking his hand, I press the leather-bound hilt into it and close his fist around the weapon. "You keep that. If word gets out about you, you'll need it. And whatever you do, don't tell Morrigan. Can you do that?"

"Why would you help me?"

"Because I might not be friends with your mother, but Aedan...his sister went after Morrigan to question her about you so he'd know. He cares more than your mother will tell you. And I care about him. That's reason enough."

He frowns at the weapon in his hand, flexing his fingers around it, before nodding. "He still wants to eat you."

I force a smile. "We won't have any problems as long as you don't do that."

The boy grins. Those blue eyes...they are the exact same as Aedan's. My heart clenches, but I keep a straight face. "I can't make any promises."

I laugh before ushering him back to Dorian. The mage casts me a wary glance as I pass. "You look sick, Spymaster."

"So I've been told," I reply, climbing the stairs to my makeshift hideout. I order everyone out before kicking the door shut behind them and locking it. Living in a tower offers little privacy considering that hole in the center of the floor. I can hear Dorian talking to Kieran, people moving around, and when Solas curses, I can hear that too.

Sighing, I walk over to the door opening up to the balcony and shove it open. Warm air wafts inside, tickling my face with my hair. I swat back my hood and throw my gloves on the table, stepping outside. The clang of steel on steel reaches my ears from the sparring ring. The bard in the tavern is singing some song about Wardens, but I don't pay attention to it. Leaning on the railing, I strain to see over the walls of Skyhold. All I see are mountains. Mountains, mountains, and more mountains.

These mountains bring back horrible memories. We crossed the pass Aedan and I had been in when we were going to Orlais. Orzammar isn't far away. The very thought of being underground again...it makes me shudder.

"Is Leliana up there?" I frown at the sound of Arin's voice. Dorian replies his affirmative and soon enough, he's coming outside to stand with me. "So..."

"I told you I don't care for Morrigan, Inquisitor," I say flatly. "She was nothing but a bitch during the Blight, and has been that way everyday since."

"I was more confused about this man she slept with," he says, leaning his elbows on the ballistrade. "This man I've never heard of. Aedan. Who is he?"

I shake my head. "It doesn't matter anymore. I haven't heard from him in nearly two years, and now with Elissa and Alistair missing, I probably won't." Running a hand down my face, I add, "I'm finding it hard to stay at Skyhold. I want to leave and find my friends, but at the same time I feel like I should stay."

He raises at brow. "I think you should go look for them."

"I'm needed here."

"Cassandra has been kind enough to inform me that being needed somewhere hasn't stopped you from leaving before. Especially when the Hero of Ferelden pops up somewhere." I just sigh, looking down at the courtyard below. "So why do you stay? You're free to leave and come back, Leliana. No one said you had to stay away."

"Because if I leave, I'll be roped into staying with them. You know as well as anyone that I was there when the Archdemon died. You also know about the heretical army trying to destroy the Chantry. Yet you fail to make the connection between the two."

He frowns. "Are you...one of them?"

"More or less. It's not the first thing I'm known for in this part of Thedas."

"And that would be what exactly?"

I shrug, running a hand down the leather sleeve on my arm. "Helping defeat the Blight? I was always with the Wardens when they went somewhere. There's also the fact that I'm a Warden, I'm technically an heir to the Fereldan throne, and that I've blown up half the Korcari Wilds in a vain attempt to kill Corypheus before this could happen."

His eyes had widened during my small speech. "You...blew up a forest?"

"That's not exactly what I thought you'd ask, but yes. Before Elissa had raised an army to fight the Chantry, there were only four 'Agents of the Maker'. Her, Alistair, Aedan, and myself. We were tracking the magister because he'd been opening up entrances into the Deep Roads to terrorize the Hinterlands so he could keep the Wardens from figuring out what he was doing. Turns out, he was pretty damn close to finding another Archdemon before I threw that grenade. It fell into a chasm and, hopefully, is lost to the Deep Roads forever. In the process, I managed to cave the ceiling and drop the forest down after the dragon. Aedan almost..." My voice catches and I look away, frowning.

"There's that name again. Tell me. Who is he?"

"A...friend I made during the Blight."

He grins. "A friend, or a 'friend'?"

"Maker's blood, you're as bad as Dorian sometimes."

The Inquisitor laughs, holding the stone to keep from falling off it. "In all seriousness though, why don't you just tell me who this guy is?"

"Because if you haven't heard of Elissa's brother, then there's something wrong with Varric's stories."

"Brother? I take it you two used to uh...erm..."

"He's my husband."

Arin's eyes bulge so much they almost pop out of his head. "You're married?"

"Didn't I just say that?"

"And he slept with that bitch holed up in our garden?"

"So his sister wouldn't die when she killed the Archdemon, yes."

"Is that why you haven't spoken in so long?"

I shake my head. "Aedan has no intention of being claimed by the Taint. He's been gone, searching for a way to cure that issue since Kirkwall. I would've accompanied him to Weisshaupt, but Elissa talked me into staying in Ferelden. I left a year later to return to Justinia, but...you know how that worked out. He had been sending letters that first year. Then they stopped coming and we figured him dead. The First Warden sent us a missive saying Aedan and his patrol had vanished from the Anderfels, and since that only confirmed my fears, I returned to Orlais. As I've already said, I went to Justinia. Then I followed her to the Conclave, ran into Elissa and Alistair, and when they said they were looking for Corypheus, the three of us ransacked the Temple of Sacred Ashes."

"Little did you know that it was pointless."

"I did, actually. The Maker truly does talk to Elissa. She knew this would happen. We wanted to find him so we could keep everyone away."

"And instead, he blew up the Temple and plopped me in charge of a renegade army."

"It's not all bad. You could still be a heretic. I am," I say, shrugging.

Arin laughs, turning to lean his torso on the railing. He looks out over the mountains when he speaks up again. "Wait, you said you thought Aedan was dead."

"Yes."

"But didn't he come to Redcliffe during that...thing when Dorian and I were thrown ahead a year in time?"

"He did."

"So why don't you send men to find him?"

"Because it's a waste of our resources. Aedan will come back when he can."

I hope.

This is not the first night I've had nightmares. I've been having nightmares that resemble what Elissa has described as the Calling for months now. Problem is, I haven't even been a Warden for a decade yet. I'm pushing seven years now, but not a decade. Aren't we supposed to get thirty years before that happens?

Stiff and angry, I fight off sleep until I'm fully awake, and at that point, I get dressed in my armor. I'm just pulling on my gloves when I feel my skin crawl, a feeling I've come to get used to meaning there's a Warden nearby. Or darkspawn. I honestly prefer the former. Wardens don't make women Broodmothers. We kill the things. Thank the Maker. Aedan claimed to be near one that was in the middle of birthing little ogre babies. Elissa even backs him up on it, saying it was when she first met Corypheus in his elven ruins.

I still think she should have found a way to destroy that place.

"Alert the Inquisitor and open the gates!"

I grab my bow and quiver, slipping them over my shoulder as I make my way down the tower. The ravens rustle their feathers in annoyance; I'm disturbing their sleep, but I couldn't care less about that now. I managed to rouse myself just before Cullen's night patrols started shouting about something, so I'm going to go check it out, angry birds be damned.

Solas is awake when I'm walking through his office and the glare he shoots me is wicked. I return fire like usual, keeping my mouth shut as I enter the main hall. Cullen is already here, half-dressed and armed, and Josephine is fully clothed, looking like she hasn't slept at all yet. She smiles as I join them.

"Do you know what's going on?" Cullen demands, stifling a yawn.

"I know you should have put on a shirt before coming here," I say flatly. "The servants are gawking."

"I don't care this late at night, Leliana. Do you know or not?"

"Obviously not. I'm just as confused as you two." I glance at Josephine, but she seems utterly calm and collected. "Or at least as confused as you, Commander."

He ruffles his hair before smoothing it out. "Whatever idiot woke us up this late better have a good reason for it," he grumbles.

I rub my eyes and bite back a yawn as a soldier rushes past and back outside. He came from Arin's chambers, so I can only hope that he's right behind. It takes another few minutes of us shifting and fighting off sleep (Cullen and I, really) for the Inquisitor to appear, hair messier than usual and eyes bloodshot from rubbing them. He does his half-assed combing job with his fingers that I see him do every morning as he beckons us after him. Whereas Cullen and I refrain from yawning, Arin does it every few feet, stopping at the landing to do so again. He leads us in a loop and down another staircase to the courtyard where several Inquisition soldiers are waiting.

"What is it?" he asks, still sleep-rattled. His tone makes his exhaustion obvious.

"Four riders are approaching, ser," the one in front says. "One flies a banner none of us recognized and wears a set of black and silver plate with the same crest painted on it. The other three wear Warden armor."

"What was the crest?" I demand suddenly, pushing my way to Arin's side. Dare I get my hopes up? "Was it this?" I pull my bow off my shoulder and show the man the swirling eye burned onto the grip.

He nods. "Aye-"

My eyes widen. Maker's breath...it could be them. I can't hear what Arin is saying to the soldier, or what the soldier says to me. I'm far too focused on the annoying itch running along my spine. I step around past the small congregation we have going here, pulling my bow back over my shoulder, to watch the riders cross the bridge. It's too dark for me to see much, but I see the banner the soldier mentioned. Yes. Definitely the Agents' crest.

The four of them funnel into the courtyard, slowing their mounts to trots, as the portcullis closes behind them. The one in Agent armor starts putting away his banner while the Wardens dismount.

"Anybody else think I could use a bath? I smell like Red Templars. Blech." Alistair laughs at the woman beside him, exchanging grins.

Someone laughs. I know that laugh. It makes my heart beat faster. "Where's Leliana to tell you saying stuff like that isn't very professional?"

"Fuck professional in the ass, brother," Elissa says. "The only thing 'professional' about me is the fact that I didn't kill the Divine when I had the chance. That was professional."

"You're just such a ray of sunshine, sis. Why did I ever leave?"

"Hmm...let's see...because you'd rather not spend your final days in some dank, smelly hole filled with darkspawn and spiders?"

"Oh. Right." I hear him shudder. I can almost see him past the horses and the Agent still astride his horse. I want to move, but I can't. How do you walk up to the person you love after not seeing them in years? What are you supposed to say? I haven't felt this conflicted and tongue-tied since he first kissed me. If I could, I'd be pulling my hair out. "It'd be great if I could get out of this stupid ass armor. Maker, it's heavy!"

"You always wear that!" Alistair retorts.

"I haven't taken it off in two years!"

"Will you two stop shouting? It's the middle of the night."

"Oh like that's stopped you and Alistair from-"

"Shut up!" Elissa snarls. "People are trying to sleep."

"Nah, you already got us all up," Arin says, walking up to the small party. "That happens when you come riding up to Skyhold at three in the morning." He offers a hand. "Arin Lavellan. Herald of Andraste and Inquisitor."

She laughs once, shaking the mage's hand. "Time for the formal introduction, Herald? Wasn't saving your life good enough?"

He grins. "I like to show off. What better way than introducing myself as formally as possible? Your friend has taught me well."

"Leliana's teaching you formalities?" He nods, chuckling. "Anyway, if you're up for formalities, allow me to introduce myself as sarcastically as humanly possible." She takes a step back and bows like an idiot. Typical for her. I stifle a laugh. "Elissa Cousland. Hero of Ferelden, Commander of the Grey, heir to the Fereldan throne, and Commander of the Agents of the Maker, at your service, Inquisitor."

"Ah, yes. You're the lady that one-ups me with her list of titles. Impressive."

Cullen walks up to my side, whispering, "Are you sure it's a good idea to let them speak to each other? What if the Hero meets Sera?"

I can't contain my laugh this time. "Then, to put it simply, we abandon Skyhold and run for the hills." Cullen chuckles.

"I one-up everybody, Herald. I'm just spectacular like that. Being insufferably annoying and making spectacular, unwanted entrances are my specialities."

"Really? Does that entail a sharp tongue?"

"I'm not whittling my tongue to a point, pal. Not for you, for Alistair, not even the Maker."

Arin laughs. "I see! The full package indeed!"

"You're missing out on my amazing ability to find trouble and get myself stabbed. It's like a talent, I swear."

"And her amazing ability to annoy the twin who should expect this," Aedan says.

"Hey, I wasn't as bad as you until I shoved my sword into that dragon's head," Elissa retorts. "You have no place to talk, brother. You're just as bad as I am."

Alistair, who I can see the best, groans, running a hand down his face. I can't help laughing quietly to myself. "So you're the mature one, Alistair?" His head snaps up, but he grins, shrugging.

"Well, with you here, someone had to step up to the job," Alistair says. "It certainly wasn't going to be one of these two. You should've heard them on the way here. Aedan was worried about coming up here and Elissa kept telling him to grow a pair. I was so close to pushing them off their horses and into the snow."

I nod, crossing my arms with an over-exaggerated raise of my eyebrow. "I...stand corrected. You're all children."

"And we're totally lost without you!" Elissa exclaims, throwing up her arms. "We need someone to keep us serious! Hope is horrible at it! She can only yell at me! Do you know what it's like having a spirit yelling at you inside your head all day? It's terrible! I feel like I'm going insane."

"And you already aren't?" I ask.

She blinks, taken aback, before bursting into laughter. "Look, I'm no blood mage, and I've yet to attack a dragon on my own, so it's safe to say I'm not completely crazy."

"Ah, but you are, sis," Aedan says, grabbing his sister from behind. My eyes widen and despite his wrestling with Elissa, I can't help staring at him. He doesn't look very different. His hair is slightly longer than he likes it and his stubbly beard is still in place. Otherwise, he looks exactly the same as the last time I saw him. Same blue eyes, same slightly unkempt brown hair, same Warden armor. Same attitude. Definitely the attitude. That hasn't changed in years.

Elissa wrestles his grip off her, panting, wild-eyed, but grinning. "And you're telling me I'm unprofessional?"

Aedan scoffs. "Yeah. Tell her, Leliana."

I blink, confused, and jump slightly. "What?"

He grins. "Like what you see?" My jaw practically drops. The Inquisitor, my fellow advisors, the Agent, my friends, they all laugh at my expression. Thank the Maker the soldiers went back to...patrolling a very boring and otherwise silent shift. "Honestly, I thought we were past staring at each other in public. Was I wrong?"

I huff indignantly. "I was not staring at you. I was merely...appalled at the utter lack of etiquette you are showing in the presence of the Inquisitor. Don't flatter yourself."

Aedan walks right up to me, one brow raised, and clearly biting back a grin. "Oh, so you wouldn't mind if if left then? It's obvious you don't want me here. I can go back to the Agents if you'd like."

My eyes narrow. "I dare you."

"I like challenges though. I can't resist them. Isn't that what you said?" I shoot Elissa a look, but she just smirks triumphantly. "I don't want to leave; I just got here. But you're making it really hard now, Leliana."

I shrug nonchalantly. "Fine. I'll just head back to bed then." But I don't move. I keep my eyes locked on his, arms crossed, eyebrow raised, waiting for his response.

Arin yawns somewhere behind me. "If you've got this handled, Leliana..."

I nod, but I don't turn away from Aedan. "I'll deal with these four. You can go back to bed."

"Thank the Creators." He and Cullen shuffle off, Josie following them back up to the hall. I wait for them to be gone, listening for the sounds of the doors closing, before sighing and looking away. I see him grin out of the corner of my eye as I walk over to the others.

"Are you staying?" I ask.

"For a while, yes," Elissa says. "Alistair and I have to help Hawke with something, and then return to the Agents."

"Help Hawke?" I frown. "The Inquisitor told us about a meeting he had with her. We've been looking into the disappearance of the Orlesian Wardens."

"That's...what Hawke wanted us to help her with." She glances at Alistair before shrugging. "Oh well. Glad to see we're dancing to the Inquisition's tune instead of Anora's." She shudders as she walks back to her horse, pulling something from the saddle. "You know I'm not allowed to leave Ferelden anymore? I'm 'too important to the country and the people'."

"That's what happens when you agree to let someone make you their successor," Aedan says.

"I don't care. How does she expect me to keep Orlais from attacking us if I can't take any troops over there and attack them?"

"Simple. You ignore this stupid war until Corypheus is dead."

"Ha!"

Aedan just raises an eyebrow and looks to me for help. "Celene brought it up when I was at the Winter Palace with the Inquisition," I say. "She refuses to drop the subject until either Anora or Elissa surrenders to Orlais."

"Because I'm going to do that," Elissa grumbles. "Hey, Blake, you can head back if you want. Tell Theorn to keep the men ready at the pass between here and Orlais. You see any Orlesians crossing that, you turn them back, or you kill them. Got it?"

He nods. "Aye, Commander." He turns his horse, walking it over to the gates, and shouts up for the guards to open it. He leaves when it's open just enough for him to squeeze beneath it.

"Has Orlais sent men into Ferelden?" I ask, taking brief note of how the Agent is a former Warden. It's hard for me to make out exactly how many Wardens or darkspawn there are. It always has been.

"I caught a patrol of Chevaliers approaching Haven a few weeks after Corypheus' attack there. I didn't want to risk them being allies with him, so...Alistair and I just killed them." She pauses, gaze frozen on the saddle in front of her. "We had been in the Hinterlands before the Conclave. The scouts reported Orlesian troops advancing on Redcliffe, so we intervened. With Teagan's forces and ours, we managed to keep them back long enough for their leader to decide Redcliffe wasn't worth the trouble. They vanished into the hills, and my men haven't seen hide nor hair of them since. I worry that they're still here."

"I wish I could return," I say flatly. "I do. But I'm with the Inquisition, and I believe Corypheus is more important than a war between Ferelden and Orlais."

"You don't think we do?" Elissa asks. "I'm here to offer the Agents to the Inquisition instead of defending my home. Ferelden has no standing army capable of fighting Orlais, though, so I keep them out in the field while driving myself ragged getting our allies to pledge their armies to Ferelden all over again. Not only do we have to worry about Chevaliers, we have Red Templars running around, burning villages all over the countryside, and only my men are trained well enough to do any damage against them."

"I'm sorry I assumed."

"It's fine," Elissa says.

"So...you got somewhere we can leave our horses?" Aedan asks. "And a place to sleep?"

I nod. "Follow me."

As I lead them to the stables, I feel slightly ridiculous. I can't resist the urge to smile at Aedan. With him here, maybe I can stop stressing over the constant nightmares.