Hey everyone! Big thanks again to all who have stuck with this story so far. A huge thanks to Princess Of Mirkwood2 who gave me my very first review! Made me one happy camper.

Also, I'm going to be away for a few days so this is my last update until next week sometime. Should hopefully get some writing done while I'm gone at least :)

Enjoy!

When Ellie arrived back to Haven after visiting Redcliffe, she was distraught. Never in a million years did she think the mages would succumb to being slaves to a Tevinter magister. The very notion made her feel sick to her stomach.

Literally the only perks Ellie has had since she went to Val Royeaux was the fact that she recruited three more companions to their cause. Two of which, she acquired while in Val Royeaux.

Vivienne was the first new person to join the Inquisition. Admittedly, Ellie was hesitant to accept her help. The First Enchanter was the poster child of everything Ellie hated about Orlais. She was pretentious, haughty and ostentatious. Ellie could not deny her talent in wielding magic, however and Vivienne's connections and influence could be of great value to the Inquisition. So, Ellie suppressed her personal preferences and recruited her. She did have a hard time picturing Vivienne sleeping in a tent and travelling for weeks though.

They also managed to recruit a member of the Friends of Red Jenny, a petite elf named Sera who ran her mouth more than Ellie did. Sera was a rogue who fought for those who were always caught in the middle of chaos. But she expressed, albeit in her own slightly confusing way, that she desperately wanted to order restored in Thedas. Her marksmanship was astounding though and, despite her impulsive and reactionary ways, Ellie welcomed her to the cause.

The last person they managed to secure was actually in the Hinterlands, on their way to Redcliffe. There had been a rumour that there was a Grey Warden near their established Upper Lake Camp. She convinced her party to take a minor detour to see for themselves and they were not disappointed. Blackwall was a lone Grey Warden who had been trying to recruit members of his own to join their ranks. Without there being a blight, however, he was having little success. His expertise with his sword and shield, as well as the perseverance that came with being a Warden was an asset.

Unfortunately, Ellie barely had time to exchange pleasantries with her three new companions before going to Redcliffe. Of course, she could have chosen to take some of them along but she had a gut feeling that this meeting may not go as well as she had planned, so she opted to take the three members she was already familiar with. Minus Cassandra. She was starting to warm up to the Seeker slowly, but even Cassandra had to admit that she lacked tact when dealing with people. She chose to bring Iron Bull instead, another warrior who looked like the very definition of intimidating.

Her gut feeling was always stupidly accurate. The mages turning themselves into slavery and the magister Gereon Alexius who made Ellie's skin crawl was not the surprise she was expecting. Ellie had had encounters with Tevinter slavers in the past. None of them ended well. For the magisters, anyways. When she had seen first hand the destitution of the slaves under their command, heard the horrific stories of those who had escaped, it had a profound effect on the Herald and she would always do what she could to fight for those who could not.

As long as you don't get too hung up on any of the slaves again, Ellie reminded herself before shaking her head in an attempt not to dwell too much on that subject. It was the one she fought the hardest to keep locked in the farthest corner of her mind.

Even though Ellie had all but just got back to Haven, she was already starting to mentally prepare herself for going back to Redcliffe. She had made up her mind on whose help to seek. Now it was a matter of getting the rest of the council members on board.

Easier said than done…

Her footsteps barely made a sound as she walked down the long hall of the Chantry. Stepping lightly was a habit, due to her training as a rogue, and it was handy as hell.

When she opened the door to the back room, the council members had already convened, waiting for her presence. They had already been informed of the events that transpired in Redcliffe and the Venatori threat that posed a grave danger to the rebel mages, as well as to the Inquisition. She paused, bracing herself for the inevitable argument that was about to happen.

Ellie inhaled deeply, "We're going to work with the mages."

As suspected, Cullen was the first to speak up, "We don't have the manpower to take the castle," his tone was more neutral to the subject than Ellie had predicted, "Either we find another way in or we give up this nonsense and go get the Templars."

Ah, there's the Cullen we all know!

"Redcliffe is in the hands of a magister," Cassandra replied, "This cannot be allowed to stand."

"The letter from Alexius asked for the Herald of Andraste by name. It's an obvious trap." Ellie suppressed an eye roll at the ambassador's words. It didn't take a genius to see that she was being set up.

"Well isn't that kind of him," Ellie's voice oozed sarcasm, "What did Alexius say about me?"

"He's so complimentary that we are certain he wants to kill you," Leliana offered lightheartedly.

Ellie did actually roll her eyes time, "You don't say?"

There was an irritated mumble from Josephine that Ellie didn't quite hear. Her focus was on the Commander when he piped up again.

Purely for his knowledge of Redcliffe and military tactics, Ellie convinced herself, Nothing more…

"Redcliffe Castle is one of the most defensible fortresses in Ferelden. It has repelled thousands of assaults." The Commander turned his gaze upon the Herald, "If you go in there, you'll die."

He sounded both concerned for Ellie and angry that she was even considering this, and for a fleeting moment, Ellie felt an inkling of an emotion she hadn't felt in years.

"And we'll lose the only means we have of closing these rifts. I won't allow it." With the conclusion of his sentence, Ellie instantly felt like an idiot.

Of course that's why he wants to keep me out of harms way, she thought bitterly, how could I have fooled myself into thinking anything else?

Crestfallen, she ripped her gaze from the Commander and turned her attention to the spymaster.

"And if we don't even try to meet Alexius, we lose the mages and leave the hostile foreign power on our doorstep."

Josephine interjected, "Even if we could assault the keep, it would be for nought. An Orlesian's Inquisition army marching into Ferelden would provoke a war. Our hands are tied!"

"The magister…" Cassandra started, only to have the Commander finish her sentence.

"Has outplayed us."

Ellie sighed. While her counsellors had valid points, Ellie would not be backing down from this one. Her mind was made up, and that was that. "We can't just give up! There has to be something we can do."

To her surprise, Cassandra had been the one backing her up in this debate. "We cannot accept defeat now. There must be a solution."

Ellie ran a hand through her blond locks, racking her brain for a course of action they hadn't thought of yet. "Where is the Arl of Redcliffe? I'm sure he would help us get his castle back."

Josephine was quick to shut down that suggestion.

"Wait!" Leliana declared, "There is a secret passage into the castle, an escape route for the family. It's too narrow for our troops but we could send agents through."

As far as Ellie was concerned, that was the only plausible strategy they'd had thus far.

Cullen clearly wasn't as convinced, "It's too risky. Those agents will be discovered well before they reach the magister."

"That's why we need a distraction," the spymaster countered, "Perhaps the envoy that Alexius wants so badly."

The Commander nodded, the wheels in his head finally turning, "Focus their attention on Ellie while we take out the Tevinters. It's risky, but it could work."

Ellie nearly smiled that the entire table was finally beginning to agree on something when the door unexpectedly opened. To the Herald's astonishment, the intruder was none other than the Tevinter mage she had ran into during her first visit to Redcliffe. Dorian was his name, if she was not mistaken, and he had actually been of great help to them while they were there. He provided a ruse to distract the Venatori cultist so he could meet them in the Redcliffe Chantry. Inside the Chantry was a rift, one that distorted time around itself. Once it was closed, Dorian proceeded to inform them of what was really going on and the reality of the danger they were in.

Dorian was also very good looking with a distinctive moustache he pulled off so well it probably made every man jealous. The only problem with his appearance was that he was obviously aware of his attractiveness as well. His grandstanding took some adjusting to, but he was clever and his wit was razor sharp.

He strode into the room, shoulders back and a cocky smile on his face. "Fortunately, you'll have help," he announced, shooting a wink to Ellie that made her grin openly. She was too distracted by the mages display that she didn't notice the scathing glare Dorian was receiving from the only other male in the room.

A guard approached behind Dorian, looking as worried as ever. He tried justifying how Dorian managed to make his way into the War Room. Ellie quietly reassured him that it was alright, and excused the guard. The door to the room shut once more and Dorian stood next to Ellie.

"Your spies will never get past Alexius' magic without my help. So if you're going after him, I'm coming along."

Cullen managed to stop sneering at the mage to turn his focus to the Herald, "The plan puts you in the most danger. We can't in good conscience order you to do this. We can still go after the Templars if you'd rather not play the bait. It's up to you," he uttered softly.

In Ellie's mind, there was no turning back now. They had a solid plan and now they had an addition source of help and insight in dealing with the magister. "We must stop Alexius. If we don't face him now, I fear the Venatori threat will only grow stronger." She turned to Dorian, "How soon can you be ready to go?"

The Tevinter laughed and flashed a dazzling smile, "My darling, I was born ready."