Edited 3/2

"No. Absolutely not. You'll not put yourself in danger like this."

Cullen crossed his arms over his armored chest and shook his head emphatically. He paced in the small space of the tent, two strides bringing him from one wall to the other.

"I am here to protect you, not to take you into danger. I don't like this. You didn't see that fellow. Never seen a Chasind like him before. No, I don't like this at all." He fell silent but continued to pound one fist into the other.

"I know this isn't going as you'd like," Eleanor said, "but this is why I'm here. And somehow they expect me." She leaned forward over the low table and placed her palms flat on it. "I am not a child anymore, Cullen. I'm ready for this." She met his eyes steadily.

Finally he sighed. "Do you know how much you look like your mother? The first time I met her she was almost the same age you are now. Saved us all in the end." He turned away to examine the large map that hung on the wall of the tent.

"You know I can fight. I have been training in diplomacy, negotiation, and statecraft for as long as I can remember. I know what must be done in Ferelden's best interest. If we can come to terms with the Chasind here, I will do it." Her voice was level and commanding, the voice of a ruler coming from a pretty girl.

Cullen looked at her without speaking. "Maker's breath," he said finally. Raising his voice to his trusted lieutenant, "Thorin. Fetch Gillen and that borderlands fellow. And get Lauthrin in here too. Send word to the gate guards that the Chasind party will be admitted in a quarter of an hour."

At the end of the time he had allotted, Cullen stood squarely in front of the gate that opened into the valley to the south. He looked like a slab of immovable iron in his heavy armor, and Eleanor tried to stand as confidently next to him. She felt like she was shrinking in his shadow behind the whipping edge of his red cloak. He had donned a helm which hid much of his face beneath a stylized eagle's beak and wings. What she could see of his expression was grim—jaw clenched, eyes narrowed. Was he really the same age as her father, whose only wrinkles were the laugh-lines around his eyes?

On either side of Cullen and Eleanor stood the other two Grey Wardens Cullen had summoned. Gillen was a former knight from Gwaren who was also clad in full armor. He carried a huge mace on his belt. The other man was called Arnt. He was a tall man but slim with a fierce face. He wore the Wardens tunic over rough hide armor. Neither of them had spoken to her, but both had bowed politely and stood ready to defend her at Cullen's order.

Lauthrin had been sent high onto the ramparts with a few other archers to watch from the arrow slits. He had given Eleanor a nervous smile before he began climbing the steps with bow in hand. Thorin stood slightly behind Cullen's group with an additional number of Grey Wardens. Tension crackled between the Wardens. Cullen's anxiety had spread either through word or gesture and all stood on alert. There was no sound as Cullen signaled to the men near the gate and it began to swing slowly open. Eleanor held her breath as the Chasind men waiting outside entered and stood before them.

"Warden-Commander." This must be the one she had heard speaking before. He was a small man, pale of complexion, and dressed in dark robes. He bowed to Cullen, who jerked his head tersely in response. The man's head was completely bald and covered with intricate blue tattoos. He straightened and smiled to reveal sharp teeth.

Behind him stood three men so alike they could have been carved from one stone. They were all tall, heavily muscled, and dark skinned with dark hair and beards. They stood impassively, looking neither to the right nor left.

"I am Marlas, Warden. These three are chieftains of their villages among our people. Perhaps they will tell you their names themselves, if they please. Or perhaps not." The pale man clasped his hands together in the sleeves of his robes. "They will stay here while you accompany me to my mistress. You can see her tent from here—it is not far." He pointed back over his shoulder to indicate a taller tent than the others surrounding it. "We shall go now, if it pleases you?" As his eyes flicked over her, Eleanor shuddered. The irises were dark pools indistinguishable from the pupil.

Cullen nodded again as Thorin stepped forward to escort the Chasind aside. They went without comment or expression, following her to a tent nearby. Marlas bent nearly double at the waist in another deep bow. Eleanor walked behind Cullen with Gillen and Arnt to either side of her. She glanced up as they passed out of the gate. Lauthrin had his bow drawn fully with an arrow resting on the string, marking the movement of the robed Chasind.

The dark forms of the tents outside the keep crouched like animals on the plain. They were hunched shapes compared to the ones Eleanor was familiar with, with rounded tops and plainly colored sides. Marlas lead them through one ring of tents before halting outside one large structure. There was no sound except the low flapping of the cloth in the breeze. The encampment seemed completely deserted.

As they hesitated outside, even the Chasind man pausing, a voice came from within.

"Bring our guests inside." It was a woman's voice, low and musical.

Marlas winced slightly, but lifted the flap of the tent with a pained smiled and gestured for them to enter.

Eleanor felt a faint tingle on her skin as she ducked inside, but dismissed it as soon as her eyes adjusted to the low light. Gauzy colored scarves hung from the support poles and large pillows were piled on the carpeted floor. There were no chairs or tables. Small braziers burned sweet-smelling incense and made the air close and warm. Eleanor edged closer to Cullen who was utterly still with his hand on his sword. Arnt and Gillen stopped on either side of the tent's entrance and did not follow further in. Gillen shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"There is no need for such tension, Warden. Please sit," said the same melodic voice. A woman came forward from a dim corner and moved toward them through the filmy hanging fabrics. She touched a brazier negligently and it flared brighter.

"I will stand, thank you." Cullen didn't remove his hand from his sword. His eyes darted from side to side and Eleanor saw him balancing on the balls of his feet. He was prepared for a fight, nevermind the talk of peaceful parlay.

The woman shrugged and sat leaning back on a large pillow. The glow of the lamp fell directly on her now. She was young and beautiful, clad in revealing robes. Her dark hair was knotted loosely on the top of her head. She tilted her head to one side and looked at them.

"You I would speak to," she said to Eleanor, ignoring the men in the tent completely. Her eyes were golden in the lamplight and glinted like a cat's. She raised one slender arm and pointed. Gold bangles on her wrists jingled together.

"We have come to parlay, as you requested," replied Eleanor. "We would like to know why you have attacked this fortress, after living for so long in peace with Ferelden. What grievance have we caused you?"

"You speak for the crown?"

"I do."

The woman smiled slowly. "Where is your brother, Eleanor? Did he not accompany you?"

Three things happened very quickly at the same time. Eleanor gasped in surprise and stepped back. Cullen drew his sword halfway from its sheathe. The woman jumped up from her seat and made a strange gesture with her hand.

"It seems you have me at a disadvantage," Eleanor said quickly. She placed her hand on Cullen's arm. "You know who I am but I do not know your name." She glanced back at the two Wardens behind her and was surprised to see them standing motionless. They had not so much as laid a hand on their weapons.

"Sleep," the woman said. Gillen and Arnt collapsed slowly to the floor.

"What is the meaning of this?" roared Cullen. He took two large strides forward then stopped suddenly. On the floor was a glowing glyph that froze him in his tracks.

"Do be quiet. I want to speak to the princess." The woman sat again on the pillows. Eleanor sank down across from her, hoping her shaking knees didn't show. Who was this woman?

"You have asked my name and you shall have it. I am Kellan. I was not born among the Chasind though they now accept me as one of their own."

"What have you done to the Wardens?"

"Nothing really. They are sleeping. Is it too much to ask to have a few words with you without all the interruptions? Really, men can be so tiresome."

"How do you know who I am?"

"I know many things." Kellan shifted forward and stared at Eleanor intently. "I think you will do without your brother. Yes, I rather do." She pursed her lips thoughtfully.

"Do? Do for what? I came to negotiate peace," Eleanor said. She shook her head. Something was making it very difficult for her to think but she knew this was going all wrong.

With a pained grunt, Cullen broke free from the paralysis glyph and drew his sword. "What sort of trickery is this?" he panted.

"I was considering letting you return when I departed with your princess. If you're going to make trouble…" Kellan leapt lightly to her feet again and held one hand out toward Cullen, palm out. With the other hand, she jabbed two fingers toward the sleeping Wardens.

"A blood sacrifice—for power!"

Thick red tendrils rose from the two Grey Wardens on the floor and flowed into the Chasind woman. Their shapes seemed to wither as hers strengthened. She laughed wildly. The energy shot from her outstretched hand into Cullen, fixing him in place. Eleanor tried to stand but found that she couldn't make it to her feet. She tried again and again as the magic surrounded Cullen, but each time fell back.

"I don't want to hurt you, sister." Kellan's face was fierce and terrible in the light cast from her spell. "Why don't you sleep?" Cullen's screams followed her down into unconsciousness.