Sereda had found the airshaft relatively easily. Her father had always trained her to be a strategist and part of that was learning the positions of place in Orzammar in relation to the surface.
She peered through the hole, unsure whether to jump in or make sure there were no darkspawn in the palace. She decided on the latter.
It was ten minutes until anything happened.
Bhelen, in full battle armour, entered her range of vision.
"Send for the golem and the captain of the remaining forces." he ordered to someone beyond the shaft's field of vision. "We need to discuss strategy."
"Yes, my husband!" came a familiar voice - Rica.
There was a brief silence beneath the shaft and Sereda considered revealing herself, but for some reason she decided to wait.
The arrival of Bhelens guests was preceded by a heavy banging. Sereda was baffled. What could be making so much noise? Then she realised. It was so blindingly obvious - Shale!
Following behind the huge hulk of rock was an injured looking Oghren.
"You two! Where have you been? I asked you to be here at three! IT'S SEVEN FIFTEEN!" roared a suddenly angry Bhelen.
Oghren turned a shade of light green while Shale just stared impassively at the outraged dwarf.
"We apologise, Dwarf lord, but there was another skirmish in the Diamond Quarter and we were needed to aid the Warrior Caste." Shale said.
"Oh…" Bhelen sighed. "Why is this happening now? Just after the Blight…"
"Milord," Oghren said. " Our forces will last no longer than a couple of sodding days if you don't get aid. Why don't you call the sodding Wardens? We could use the damn help!"
"Don't you dare speak to your king like that!" Bhelen snapped.
"Well do something about this!" Oghren exclaimed. "If you can't come to a suitable solution then we have to evacuate! If we get killed here nobody will know what has happened!"
"We need only take back the Commons and we will have secured the city! Send the Warriors in there to reclaim it!" Bhelen argued. "They have been boasting about there prowess in battle for millennia! Why don't they show it!"
"We barely have the men to hold the Diamond Quarter, dwarf. We haven't sufficient numbers to reclaim the Commons." Shale pointed out.
"Just get it done!" Bhelen ordered, with a sense of finality.
"Yes sir." Oghren said coldly. He spun on his heel and left, Shale booming behind him.
Bhelen stayed where he was.
Sereda chose this moment to jump down through the shaft.
Bhelen was so surprised to see his older sister that he nearly fell off of his throne.
Regaining his composure, he kneeled in front of Sereda. It was an odd feeling. Her little brother, who had stabbed her in the back and exiled her from Orzammar was kneeling before her.
"My Paragon," Bhelen simpered.
"Oh, just stand up," Sereda moaned. "I've told you before: no formalities! We are brother and sister!"
"Alright," Bhelen stood and pulled his sister into a rough hug. "Good to have you back. I assume you know my situation?"
"Only in part," Sereda admitted. "What's all this about skirmishes in the Diamond Quarter? And why in the name of the Paragons is there darkspawn in the Hall of Heroes?"
"The darkspawn…" Bhelen explained. "They attacked about a week ago. They were organised and they had vast numbers. No less than one hundred thousand attacked through the mines. We managed to barricade the Warrior Caste, some smiths and the nobles inside the Diamond Quarter, but the rest of the city was lost."
Bhelen paused for Sereda to speak.
"What do you mean organised?" Sereda enquired.
Horrible thoughts of a new Archdemon materialised in her mind.
"There has been no reports of an Archdemon and the darkspawn were being pushed back. So much so we had nearly managed to reclaim some thaigs. But then they just appeared from the shadows. Half of our troops were slaughtered before we even realised what was happening." Bhelen paused, a pleading look appeared in his eyes. "What should I do, big sister?"
"We have to evacuate." she stated.
Bhelen scowled.
"We cannot give in!" He exclaimed. "I will not be the king who runs away! We must save Orzammar!"
"That is foolish idea! We can't kill a hundred thousand darkspawn!" Sereda argued.
"We can and we will!"
"I disagree."
"Tomorrow there is an emergency Assembly meeting to determine our course of action. If you can persuade the heads of the noble houses that you are right then I will step down. If they agree with myself you will go along with my plan. Agreed?"
Now it was Sereda's turn to scowl.
Bhelen had half the nobles wrapped round his finger, but surely they would do as their Paragon asked, not what the king demanded. Would they?
Bhelen had stalemated her. If she declined she would be seen as weak and Bhelen's plan would go ahead anyway. If she accepted she would stand in front of the Assembly which was corrupt and would side with Bhelen anyway.
"I agree." Sereda said through gritted teeth.
"Good!" Bhelen chimed. "There is a spare room - Trians old room infact - which you can stay in for tonight. Sweet dreams!"
Sereda did nothing to hide her contempt. Swearing violently under her breath she strode out of the throne room.
The Chamber of the Assembly was empty apart from Bhelen and Sereda.
"Go on, big sister, persuade the crowds to your cause." Bhelen said smugly.
Sereda went to stand but before her but could leave the seat a ghostly apparition of Trian appeared in the centre of the Chamber.
"NO! Don't let him do it to you again!"
Bhelens face contorted with rage, as if his greatest secret had been revealed.
Then both Trian and Bhelen turned into Genlocks who drew their weapons…
Sereda woke with a start.
She was covered in a cold sweat and she was panting heavily.
Feeling a sudden compulsion to go back to the throne room, she put on her light armour and equipped herself with her daggers, Voice of Velvet and the Roses Thorn.
She stole quietly down the cool corridors to the beautifully carved doors that led to the Throne Room.
"-and that is the deal." a vaguely familiar voice finished.
"And what will it cost?" asked Bhelen, speaking with a slight whimper.
"It will cost you your sister." The familiar voice said.
Silence followed.
"If you decline I will have to kill you." The familiar voice threatened.
"Yes, okay! Just make sure you keep your part of the deal!" Bhelen blurted
"Oh, I will…" the familiar voice said. "And make sure that you arrange somewhere more private for our meetings next time. I terribly hate eavesdroppers!"
Sereda ran all the way back to her bedroom, her heart beating a hundred beats a second. As she got into bed she was thinking where she had heard the voice before. It was so familiar, yet she couldn't put her finger on it.
She fell into a rather unpleasant sleep.