Charlotte crumpled the paper in her fist, squeezing so tightly that her rings cut painfully into her fingers. Her first response was anger, but that fell away quickly to pain, fear, and worry.
With a gasp she opened her hand and smoothed the wrinkled paper as best she could on the desktop. She ran her fingers over the familiar handwriting as tears began to stream down her face.
Alistair's writing was as well-known to her as her own. He laughed at her when he found out that she saved all of their correspondence over the years, but she couldn't explain why she collected every letter and note he had given her.
She dropped her head down into her hands and read the letter again.
My dear wife- Things have gone awry at Ostagar. I do not know whether the Chasind were a mere diversion, but they have vanished overnight and are nowhere to be found. Eleanor is missing. I think she disappeared with them. Cullen was…disabled in the attack but I believe that Eleanor is unharmed. I have set out into the Wilds with a competent Grey Warden tracker to follow her. The Wardens will send search parties out as well but they need time to coordinate and we have none to spare. Please don't worry too much, my darling. I'll get our daughter back. Stay in Denerim and keep yourself and Duncan safe. All of my love is with you- Alistair.
So much for keeping Duncan safe, Charlotte thought bitterly to herself. A soft rap at the study door distracted her from reading the letter for the tenth time.
She wiped her face quickly as the door opened and the mage Petra strode in. Petra looked exhausted and slumped into the chair before Charlotte's desk without waiting for an invitation. This behavior didn't bother the queen, however; the red-haired mage had lived at the palace as the Circle Tower's official emissary to the crown for years and neither Charlotte nor Alistair stood on ceremony where their close friends were concerned.
"Any news?" Charlotte tried very hard not to snap.
Petra pinched the bridge of her nose between her fingertips. "I have tried everything I can think of, short of summoning mages here from the Circle and going into the Fade myself." She held up her hand as Charlotte started to protest. "I know, this is a last resort. I know you don't want the First Enchanter any more involved than necessary. He doesn't understand the connection your children have with the Fade and neither do the Templars. We don't want anyone jumping to conclusions."
"He still won't wake up?" Charlotte asked, her heart sinking further. It had been three days since she was unable to wake Duncan from his night's sleep. She had immediately summoned Petra, who had lived at the palace and known both the Theirin children since their birth. Petra was a talented mage and scholar but had so far been unable to find the cause of this unusual sleep.
Petra shook her head, looking even more tired than before. "It's not unheard of for mages to Fadewalk for extended periods past their normal span of sleep. He may return on his own at any time and wake as normal." She smoothed back her graying hair and leaned forward. "He's clearly not been possessed by a Fade spirit. He's awake and aware somewhere in the Fade."
Charlotte leaned back in her chair. She suddenly missed her old friend Wynne very much with her bottomless store of book knowledge. Surely there was some musty old tome in the Tower library somewhere that could help them.
"How long can his spirit be in the Fade before…" She trailed off, not wanting to put words to her fear.
"Before his body begins to waste away?" Petra had no such compunctions, finishing Charlotte's sentence with her usual brusqueness. "I put some wards and spells on him that will protect him. Don't worry."
"If he doesn't wake in five more days," Charlotte said, "I will send a messenger to the Circle and inform the First Enchanter."
Petra reached across the desk and took her friend's hand. "From what I've studied about Duncan's previous travels in the Fade, I don't think he's in any danger. There may be something that temporarily prevents him from waking. Please try not to worry too much. You could go spent some time with him, speak to him. Maybe it will help him find his way back to his body. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a bit more research I want to do." The mage rose and left the room.
Don't worry, don't worry. Charlotte was getting tired of being told not to worry when that seemed to be all that she could do. Two weeks ago her biggest concern was spending as much time with her husband as possible and trying to screen potential suitors for her children. Now Alistair and Eleanor were in danger south in the uncharted regions of Ferelden and Duncan was lost somewhere in the Fade.
She sighed, thinking of the explanations the First Enchanter and the Knight Commander would require should she need to request their help. She didn't trust the Templars entirely, especially not with deciding the fate of her children and did not want them involved unless it was absolutely necessary.
Though she did not regularly attend services at the Chantry or consider herself a religious person, Charlotte found herself sending a prayer to the Maker for the safety of her family. She folded her hands on the desktop like she her mother taught her and asked the Maker and Andraste to bring them all home safely.