It was sunny morning when the Inquisition Council gathered in the war room. All present had somber faces and uncertainly gazed at the map of Ferelden and Orlais spread over the large wooden table in front of them.

"Well then, I will start." Leliana announced offhandedly and a small smile appeared on her delicate face. "We have reports of rifts spreading over the whole region of Hinterlands. More over we have received word from local horse master that he is willing to supply Inquisition with his horses if we manage to secure the area and clear the roads." The spymaster looked over to others with a small nod, waiting for their reactions.

"I will take care of that." Cullen replied, his eyes focused on the spot on the map marked Hinterlands and he pushed a wooden marker with sword on top of it. "I can take small group, evaluate the situation and secure the best spots for our workers to build the watchtowers to help secure the roads."

Leliana nodded happily and continued. "Very well. I have also received some disturbing news. It appears the Grey Wardens have simply vanished. I am not certain what cause might be behind this but I have received information that one of them, going under the name Blackwall has been seen in Hinterlands, near the mountain lake area. I would suggest that we take it as one of our goals to track him down and try to obtain some information. It might be nothing but I would rather be sure."

Cassandra frowned then looked up from the map and gazed at her colleagues. "I would then suggest we combine these efforts into one. Commander, Varric, Solas and I can head out and secure the watchtowers, deal with the unrest on the roads and if we are lucky, we will find this Blackwall."

"What about the rifts?" Leliana added and her face grew somewhat displeased. "We cannot leave them be, when we have means to close them."

"You want to drag Ellena to Hinterlands? The area is hardly secured." Cullen protested his honey coloured eyes burring into Leliana's lightly green orbs.

"Well she has the mark, no? What other use do we have for her than to have her close the rifts."

"I suppose we can take her along, among all of us, she will be safe."Cassandra hastily stepped in to prevent any argument.

"Fine...I'll talk with her then." Cullen sighed in resignation but threw Leliana one dark look. "Anything else?"

"Well while you are there, my scouts have reported that a chantry cleric, Mother Giselle wishes to speak with us. She seems to have contacts in Val Royeaux and might prove useful in acquiring help for the Inquisition." Leliana finished her speech and closed the folder with various papers she had been holding the whole time.

"Very well. Lets get this wrapped up then." Cassandra nodded and with firm stride exited the room.

Later that day Cullen found himself sitting in his makeshift office and his head throbbed with questions and worries. He had not spoken to Ellena at all since he wished her good night two days ago, though he made it his habit to keep an eye on her while he trained the new recruits and tended to his other duties.

He still felt completely at the loss at what to do about her. She kept to the chantry as advised and Cullen noticed she busied herself with reading. Maker he was glad for whoever taught her how to read.

Josephine made a fuss about Ellena's clothes the first time Cullen mentioned if she could find some better fitting attire for the small elf woman. It seemed that their ambassador enjoyed spending her free time in daydreaming about what nonsense to put on Ellena and Cullen had rather unwelcomed feeling that the Antivan saw this as an opportunity to "decorate" her new plaything.

But to his relief, Ellena emerged from ambassador's office yesterday, dressed in lovely lavender dress. The dress was simple and it suited her. Cullen let out a sigh of dread as he caught himself again thinking about this topic. Ellena in that dress haunted his dreams ever since.

Well time was merciless and so the Commander of the Inquisition stood up and with fast stride exited the chantry to look for the elf in question.

"Josephine, do you have a moment?" Leliana smiled at her friend as she opened the door to ambassador's office and without waiting for the answer proceeded to sit in the chair in front of the desk.

"Well I suppose I can spare few minutes. I should take a break from writing this letter anyway.. How can I help?" Josephine Montilyet smiled and pushed aside few papers.

"It is about the Tevinter elf. I noticed you have spent some time with her?" Leliana turned her gaze towards the ambassador while idly drumming with her slim fingers against the table.

"Indeed. Commander asked me to get her some proper dress and to request for new travel gear. Is there some problem?" The Antivan asked rather quickly. Over the years she had gotten quite accustomed to Leliana and it was easy to notice that something was bothering the Inquisition's spymaster.

"I do not trust her. I've sent out all my sources and contacted everyone I could think of but I just cannot find anything about her. I only found rather extensive report on her master but it still does not explain why was she even with him at the Conclave and how she got that mark. I mean, out of all the people in there it is some unimportant slave who survives with the mark which can close the Rifts? Coincidence? I think not."

"You think she could be a spy or work with whoever destroyed the Conclave and murdered the Divine?" Josephine took in sharp breath of surprise but her eyes stayed locked on her friend.

"Possibly. Or her master was up to something and it backfired. Either way I think we should be more careful with her. But it seems that our Commander rather favors her, no? In my opinion we should just keep her locked up and only use her for closing the rifts. But he leaves her free to roam around this place." Leliana sighed in frustration.

"Did you talk about this with Cassandra?" Josephine reached across the table and gently placed her hand over Leliana's in reassuring gesture. "Perhaps she can find something out. After all Seekers are known to be able to...well get to the truth of things, so to speak. And Commander doesn't have to know about it."

"Hmm I will consider it. Thank you for listening to me Josie. I will see what I can arrange while they are all away in Hinterlands." Leliana stood up from the chair her face again the pristine and unreadable mask.

"Oh I almost forgot. I have received a latter from Madame Vivienne de Fer, the First Enchanter of Queen Celene's court. She expressed her wish to join in our cause."

"Really? I will look into it, thank you Josie." Leliana smiled and briskly walked out of the small room.

"Better and better." The spymaster mumbled under her breath. Vivienne might be just the right person they needed here. The woman was known for two things. Her extensive connections throughout Orlesian court and her ruthlessness when it came down to get the job done. She was certainly someone Leliana imagined could tip the power balance here.

The group had set out of Haven shortly after midday, mounted on horses the journey was expected to be the short one. Ellena felt still rather uncomfortable in her new clothes, the soft leather of her travel attire was yet to adjust and her trousers and vest felt stiff and tight around her body.

Luckily the horse Cullen had picked for her turned out to be old and wise mare. The animal appeared to have seen her share of trecks and she obediently followed others, her thoughts far away from being skittish or hostile. At least Ellena kept her hopes up for that.

"Alright everyone. Cassandra you take point. I'll stay behind. I want Varric and Solas on the sides and Ellena in the center. If anyone spots something out of ordinary or dangerous, let us know. We don't want any accidents." Cullen shouted out from behind and Ellena proceeded to nudge her horse into a faster walk to obediently take her place in the center of the formation.

She noticed the dwarf on the right side and he flashed the elf a friendly smile. "So, maybe now we can get to the introductions." He said in cheerful voice. "Varric Tethras. Business man, writer and occasional tag along." Varric winked at her. "And this is Bianca." He patted rather oddly looking crossbow strapped over his back.

Ellena nodded in response "I am Ellena." she replied simply. There was not much else to say after all even though she was curious about the dwarf. Ellena remembered him from their treck to the Breach and from his banters with Cassandra but he seemed as a rather odd fellow to work with the Inquisition.

"You don't talk much kid, eh?" He smiled again before continuing "That's alright. I can talk enough for both of us."

"That is true." The elf who just appeared at Ellena's left suddenly joined in the little conversation. "My name is Solas. I am pleased to see you have recovered from your experience with the breach."

"He means he kept that thing on your hand from killing you." Varric remarked with a glance at Solas.

"Thank you." Ellena replied with a polite bow of her head. She had seen him only few times, walk outside the Chantry. Every time he only glanced at her before he scoffed off to some other things which needed his attention.

"I understand you come from Tevinter Imperium?" Solas continued after a moment. And looked at the other elf with penetrating gaze of his narrow, lightly blue eyes.

"Yes. I have served at master Atorian's household." Ellena paused and thought for a moment. "Are you also a slave?" she asked finally. It was a question she wanted to ask from the start as she had hoped that perhaps she could find someone in similar situation. Someone who could help her understand this odd place and its people.

But Solas only huffed in displeasure then and averted his gaze. "I am no one's slave, same as I presume you are currently without any master and free yourself." He remarked and Ellena lowered her head. He had just spoken the truth that has been haunting her since she woke up in Haven.

Ellena realized that Cullen refused to be her master and no one else made anything clear to her on that matter. But she was never free before, had no idea what it meant and it terrified her. She missed that simple life when someone would give orders to her and she could just obey. To know her place, duty and her purpose. What else could one possibly want from life?

"Hey, no need to stress it kid. I am sure that things will turn around in time." Varric nudged the elf woman lightly in friendly gesture to her arm and silence fell between three of them again.

Ellena's focus was on the countryside for a while. The jagged and snowy peaks soon gave way to dense forests of pines and spruces and the air became warmer and smelled of rain and mountain meadows. She sighed slightly. This country was so different to her homeland. The contrast made her even more aware of the situation and Ellena felt miserable. It had seemed that all hallmarks of her life disappeared and she hated this uncertainty.

It was at that moment of self pity when a sudden, stabbing pain shot through her left palm and the mark flashed in angry green jet. Ellena cried out in pain and almost fell from the saddle but none of her companions payed any attention to it. Cullen and Cassandra were already galloping ahead and as the elf woman turned her head she saw Varric getting hold of Bianca his expression somber and focused.

"Stay here kid. We will deal with the demons, then you can close the rift." and with those words he too galloped forward.

It seemed as if her mind was working in slow motion. Solas too joined the battle and Ellena saw Cullen and Cassandra engaged in furious fight with the shades. The demons were spilling from a brilliantly glowing, green tear in the reality. She could see the sickly looking landscape of Fade through it, as if looking through a warped window. Ellena felt her blood rush to her head as fear gripped around her heart. Then a terrible shriek cut through the forest. It was blood freezing cry of utter fear and despair. She pressed the palms of her hands against her ears in vain attempt to try and block it.

But the sound seemed to come from her own brain. The fear was overwhelming. Ellena saw Cassandra rip her sword from one of the shades, the form disintegrated and disappeared into the rift. Finally the elf noticed the source of the screams. A large creature, hunched and on sickly long legs with same long arms and tail was clawing at Cullen. Ellena saw the demon suddenly disappear under the ground then jump up right on top of their Commander in one fluid blur of speed.

That display triggered something in the former slave girl. Ellena jumped from her horse and dashed forward, her mark throbbed with the green light, sending waves of pain through her whole arm but she did not care. All she cared about was to get to Cullen and destroy that demon.

With palm aimed at the creature and without knowing what exactly to do, it seemed the mark followed her subconsciousness. A jet of light shot forward, right into the demon and it disappeared like the others, only its last shriek remained. On some hidden impulse Ellena then aimed her hand at the rift. The mark connected with it and she willed with all her mind for it to close. To disappear forever.

Her mind felt heavy and an awful song echoed through her whole being. Ellena felt her teeth cringe and a cold sweat on the forehead but she kept her hand steady and then when the melody reached its awful peak the elf jerked her hand sideways and the rift vanished in thin air. Silence fell on the forest and on the little group as her knees buckled under her and Ellena slowly fell on them into the moss. She felt utterly spent.

"Ellena!" Cullen's voice called to her through the fog in her head and Ellena slowly turned her head to see his face close to her own. He grasped her shoulders lightly, his face worried but he was smiling.

"How did you do that?" Cassandra joined with the rest of them, her voice lightly shaken.

"I do not know. I just, wanted that thing gone. The demon I mean." Ellena replied probably as confused as her.

"Well as long as you can do it again kid, I think we will be all fine." Varric grinned at the still stuned elf and she smiled back. Her heart soared. At last she did something right.

"Well done." Was all that Solas had said before he slowly returned for his horse, his face a mystery again.

Ellena felt Cullen's hands slide slowly down from her shoulders as he helped her on her feet. "Thank you." She saw his smile, it was not the half smile as before, this time it was a genuine happy grin and Ellena felt her heart skip a beat. "I am happy to serve." The elf bowed her head, still overwhelmed with what had happened.

The group collected their horses and set out again. Their treck to Crossroads had passed without further events and they arrived with the evening sun pleasantly warming their backs. Everyone immediately turned to business. They talked with the locals, listened to requests and offered help and Cassandra talked with the chantry mother who was apparently one of the main reasons why they were here.

Ellena was left to her own devices once more and so she sat down on stone steps in the center of the village and watched everyone rush and go, back and forth. She had time to think and she had a lot to think about. No one commented on what has happened earlier and from their reactions she concluded that they were not angry at her independent action. Cullen looked pleased. That thought warmed her heart and Ellena rested her chin on her knees with a small smile. Perhaps she could be useful after all. If it meant destroying demons then so be it. She desperately wanted some duty to perform. Anything which would set her again into her place and gave her something to work with. A hand softly squeezed her shoulder and Ellena turned and raised her head to look at Cullen who slowly sat down beside her with that same smile.

"I wanted to thank you again. I saw your face when you closed that rift. Did it hurt?" His voice sounded gentle and full of genuine concern. It surprised her for a moment but then she remembered the words they shared in Haven. It really did seem that this man cared for her well being. And without an ulterior motive.

It felt odd but she couldn't help herself. She liked it.

"It felt odd and left me slightly tired, but it was nothing unbearable." Ellena finally replied and focused her attention at the palm of her left hand. Right now when the mark was not flaring it looked like always. No one would have guessed that something unnatural was hidden under her skin.

"We will set out in few moments." Cullen continued before he reached into his pocket. "I...this might be foolish but there is something I wish for you to have." He gently took hold of her hand and placed a silver coin in it. "My brother gave this to me. For luck. And I think that right now, you can use all the luck you can get." The commander smiled at the slightly surprised elf next to him and gently forced her fingers to wrap around the coin.

"Thank you...I...I will make sure to keep it safe. I promise." Ellena replied and felt a smile spread over her own lips. And she certainly ment her words.Cullen patted her on the back in a friendly manner before he stood up. "Lets get our horses. I am sure that Cassandra is waiting for us by now."

Ellena nodded and followed Cullen and meanwhile securely stored his gift in the small pocket at the inside of her leather tunic. She promised herself that she would find some safer way how to keep it, once they returned to Haven. And surprisingly the former slave felt her heart soar higher than ever. This day turned out better than she could have ever expected.

Updated: 9.3.2016