A.N.: There are spoilers here for 'Trespasser' DLC. Just letting you all know! :D
...
The wedding was private and carried out in a corner of the gardens. Cassandra married them, her eyes misting over several times with happiness. All her old companions were there and overjoyed for the couple. And even though they wished they could sing and dance and celebrate, it seemed that the Exalted Council could not wait, sending them a runner in order to remind everyone that the first meeting was to start soon.
In her quarters, Beatrix found herself getting out of her wedding gown and stepping into formal wear as fast as she could.
"Let me help," Cullen crooned behind her, already helping her into their 'formal' uniform. He turned her around to see if everything was in order and she suddenly stretched on her tippy toes to give her husband a passionate kiss.
"I love you," she whispered and Cullen shook his head, the smirk she loved so much already on his face.
"We need to go, my love. The Council meeting has probably already begun," Cullen said in between kisses.
"You're right, but just another kiss, ok?" Beatrix said softly, looking into his amber eyes. "For luck."
Kissing had never felt so wonderful before Cullen – he was too good at it. In fact, she very nearly forgot about the meeting. He eventually stopped kissing her and she leaned back to smile up at him.
"Let's go! I think we're already late."
"Fashionably late," Cullen chuckled. "But you're right. Let us be off and get this over with."
They walked towards the huge doors in the main hall and as soon as they got there, Cullen pushed them open. It was then and there that Beatrix sped up a little.
The Exalted Council had indeed begun and she was late, fashionably or no.
Hurrying into the vast room, some of the nobles there turned to look at her and she slowed down, walking calmly to the front of the room. There was a table with two chairs in the front, Josephine was already sitting there waiting, her fingers thrumming the wooden surface. The table itself was right across from a raised dais. A long table had been placed on the dais, and the members of the Exalted Council were sitting in front of the table, regarding her as patiently as possible with the exception of Teagan, who was practically scowling at her. She resisted the temptation to scowl back at him when her eyes met Cassandra's. The Divine was smiling at her from the center of the table and Beatrix smiled back.
"You are late, Inquisitor," Teagan said with a frown. "I trust we can hear your explanations without you jumping up and leaving us sitting here?"
"I thought that in Orlais, it was fashionable to be late," Beatrix responded with a smile that did not reach her eyes. The nobles behind her tittered slightly, chuckles and laughs smothered behind gloved hands.
"Indeed," the man sitting on Cassandra's right agreed with her statement. He was the representative of Orlais and quite amenable, although his motives were not altogether sincere. He was just another Orlesian noble who wanted something from her.
"The matter at hand is simple enough, Inquisitor," Teagan spoke again, his eyes holding hers. "You are currently still occupying parts of Ferelden with soldiers. We are beginning to think you will never leave our lands and naturally feel it like an affront. I certainly would like you to leave the fortress in Crestwood alone, as a matter of fact. You have no business there. You should have given it back a long time ago."
"Yes, I took it from bandits!" Beatrix nearly snarled, controlling herself with difficulty. "We impose no levy and we train the villagers to defend themselves. Why don't you ask them if they feel invaded by us? I'm sure they'll respond they like having us around."
"The Inquisition hardly seems to be a force looking to attack," the Orlesian representative interrupted. "It has done a lot of good in the Western Approach and in Emprise Du Lion ever since Corypheus was defeated. It does nothing but help."
"Lord Cyril de Montfort, is it not?" Teagan sneered. "Of course you would defend the Inquisition. Thanks to them the Empress remains on the throne after all. Your father would have been a great representative in this Exalted Council. I wonder if he would approve of the way you are handling this."
"Lord Representatives of the Council, please," Cassandra intervened, looking flustered. "We are not here to insult or belittle each other. I will call the whole thing off and you will be severely reprimanded by the Chantry. I do not think this is what you wish. This bickering must stop!"
"Of course, your Holiness," Duke Cyril said, inclining his head. Teagan, however, merely gave a curt nod, turning to Beatrix once again.
"I suggest you withdraw from our lands immediately, Inquisitor," Teagan remarked unpleasantly. "The Grey Wardens also abused our hospitality once and they were exiled for this. A good way to deal with them, in my opinion. They were a nuisance, as the Inquisition now proves itself to be."
"You mean Grey Wardens like your own nephew, Alistair Theirin, who helped defeat the Blight?" Beatrix flashed him a smile. "I wonder what Alistair would say if he heard what you really think of the Grey Wardens, hmm? I'm sure he wouldn't approve."
"The Grey Wardens are heroes who defend us from the Blights," Cyril de Montfort spoke up. "I regard them highly as you should, Messere."
Beatrix never got the chance to address the Council again. One of Leliana's scouts approached her and whispered in her ear.
"Inquisitor, Lady Nightingale requires your presence immediately. I'm afraid it's very urgent."
She smiled as she stood, pleased to see the disgusted look on Teagan's face turn into shock. "I'm sorry gentlemen, Your Most Holy, but a situation has come to my attention and it requires my presence. I'll be back as soon as the matter is resolved."
"Understood, Inquisitor," said Cassandra as she stood. "This meeting is now postponed. Gentlemen and ladies of the court, you may now leave."
With a slight incline of her head, Beatrix turned and caught Cullen's eyes at the end of the room. He barely nodded at her, but she saw it and he joined her at the doors, closing them behind them as they walked towards the area that had been designated for the Inquisition – the entire left wing of the palace.
"Leliana wouldn't dare interrupt the Council. This is likely going to be very bad," Beatrix murmured to Cullen. "A matter of life and death probably."
"Probably, but escaping the clutches of Teagan is always good in my book," Cullen deadpanned, "what an arse he is!" This comment earned him a laugh from Beatrix. She seemed more at ease afterwards and this put a smile on his face until they reached the place where Leliana waited for them.
A crowd of nobles and commoners were obstructing the view, and they had to make their way through a sea of people to reach their destination. Leliana was standing at the door to one of the smaller buildings, and she immediately nodded at them, so they joined her as quickly as possible.
When they looked inside, the sight that greeted them was not a pleasant one.
"Shit," Beatrix said sadly with a sigh as her gaze traveled over fresh blood stains and the body of a dead Qunari. "I hate it when I'm right."
…
They waited for the group in the dungeons, where they were sure they could all meet without the scrutinizing gaze of Teagan or any others that would disapprove wholeheartedly of what was going on, just for the sake of disapproving. Beatrix knew in her heart that only way to solve the impending problem was to probably follow the blood trail. The Qunari had not been killed where he was found or they would have been alerted to an altercation or fight going on.
There was also the matter of where the Qunari had come from. The palace was well guarded and they could not readily find a place where he could have climbed like Beatrix did the first time she was here without giving himself away because he was hurt. A lone, hurt Qunari was kind of difficult to hide.
This brought about a question that nobody felt comfortable enough to ask. What in blazes was a dead Qunari doing in the Winter Palace? There was no attack from any Qunari, and the Winter Palace wasn't important enough to target. Beatrix frowned at this. It made no sense to her.
Bull could offer no answer, not even to the parchment found on the corpse. It had to do with Qunari sayings and he translated that as best as he could to a group of humans that didn't even understand what it meant to live under the Qun, let alone think as one.
Since they were just speculating, Beatrix asked them to give their opinion on how they had to deal with this as fast as possible.
"Well, I have an idea about that," Varric broke through the silence that followed Beatrix's question. "All you have to do is follow the blood trail. Once you find the source, you'll find answers, or more questions to your answers. Finding all the answers would just be too easy."
"Ever the eternal optimist," Beatrix chuckled. "Thanks Varric."
"I live to serve," the dwarf responded with a low bow, while Divine Victoria (Cassandra) reacted as eloquently as always with an unmistakable, "Ugh!"
Once they'd decided that the best course was to follow the obvious blood trail, Beatrix sprang into action, with Cullen right beside her. They followed the patches of blood that were now dry throughout the gardens in the left wing. They found a hidden alcove of sorts here, with a trellis leading to an open window on the second floor.
From where they were standing, both Cullen and she could clearly see traces of blood on the trellis. Beatrix flashed her husband a smile and waggled her eyebrows.
"Time for a climb!" she said with a chuckle as she grabbed ahold of the trellis and climbed nimbly all the way to the second floor.
Cullen was right behind her.
They entered an area of the left wing that was still unused, the spatters of dry blood leading them to a set of doors that Cullen threw open.
An Eluvian stood at the end of the room, shimmering with a light of its own. The blood trail led right up to it. It looked like the Qunari had gone through the mirror and fallen to the floor, then picked himself up to walk towards the window.
"I didn't expect to find an active Eluvian here of all places," Beatrix murmured, her hand suddenly sparking to life. The pain wasn't at all unbearable, something she was immensely relieved about, but Cullen eyed the mark with a frown.
"There is no way I'm letting you through that Eluvian until we can gather a team to help us," he said, his brow furrowed.
"Then we'd better go get our team, hmm?" Beatrix smiled. "This is where the Qunari came from, and this is where I'm going."
"It could be dangerous," Cullen hesitated eyeing her mark.
Beatrix's laughter carried across the room and reverberated on the walls.
"Of course it'll be dangerous. When has anything in our lives not been dangerous?" Her eyes twinkled up at him as she commented and he embraced her, kissing her passionately.
"Alright," he said, breaking the kiss first. "We'll get into our armor and come back with your companions."
"Sounds like a plan."
…
The other side of the Eluvian showed a different kind of Crossroads from the one she'd seen when Morrigan had taken her through her Eluvian. The blood stains disappeared through an Eluvian that was dark, which told Beatrix it was inactive.
Having spotted a group of Qunari running off over broken bridges and floating islands, she immediately urged her team to try the Eluvian where the Qunari had appeared from and so they did. They went through the Eluvian into some lovely elven ruins, and an area they didn't know existed. They found out that Beatrix's mark could open places that were sealed off and discovered some information about Fen'Harel that they never knew about. Beatrix frowned. It was obvious that all this was Fen'Harel's domain, that much was certain. But why? Why was he important? Moreover, was he even alive after all these years?
The Qunari bodies that were strewn about looked like they had died from fear, more than anything else. They were also sure that it was a mage that had caused the Qunari deaths, but really didn't have enough evidence to support this. Just as well also, since it was certain to the group that the Qunari were after something, they just didn't know what.
"We should try to get to the other side of the broken bridge," Beatrix said as she fixed her eyes on a missing piece. It seemed to her that it was the key. Further inspection told her that they would just have to go through active Eluvians to see what they could discover.
They encountered spirits that did not attack them, rather let them pass. This was a relief. Beatrix wasn't really sure how much she could last without her mark bothering her. But at the last mural they found, Beatrix felt the mark change. Now it built up with a rhythm and when she held it up, it would perform a 'discharge' of sorts, which alleviated the pain immediately and immensely, casting a bright light upon everything. Some of the places they were visiting were so dark they couldn't see a single thing, so at least her mark was useful.
When they finally arrived to the dark place where the missing part of the bridge was kept, Cullen noticed how tired Beatrix was. He tried to argue for them to return, but she ended up snapping at him and he knew he had to keep his mouth shut from there on. His wife was stubborn, and right now it felt that nothing he did would keep her from all this.
Varric stepped alongside him with a smile.
"Just relax, Curly," he murmured. "You know as well as I do that she won't stop until she gets to the bottom of all this."
Cullen nodded but his brow was furrowed. He was worried. Varric didn't know what he knew after all.
They went back to the place with the missing piece at the front of the bridge. Beatrix finally smiled when she put it in its place and the broken bridge was suddenly whole again, enabling them to cross.
They met the Qunari in battle at the end of the bridge. The spirits fighting the Qunari defended them also, so they put everything into the fight. Cassandra was actually smiling when she decapitated one of the Qunari warriors.
"I have missed this!" the Divine called out with a grin on her face.
Varric rolled his eyes but laughed. Bull grunted and Dorian giggled where he stood. Cullen said nothing, focusing on a Qunari with a huge hammer that was doing a lot of damage at the moment.
It took Cassandra, Bull and Cullen to bring that Qunari down, as well as some of Beatrix's attacks from stealth. When he was finally gone, they searched the place for clues. There was a room full of treasure they couldn't get to, and Varric complained about this.
Beatrix laughed. "I don't really think we'll be able to get through here, unless you want to stay here forever, Varric. Be my guest."
"You know, Buttercup," Varric shot back, "you're such a joy when you're focused on something else. Warms my heart."
"Oh for the love of the Maker," Dorian sighed right next to Varric. "I'm covered in blood and desperately in need of a bath."
"I can help you with that, Kadan," the Iron Bull purred.
"Maker's Breath," Cullen sighed. "It's like dealing with our children sometimes."
"Papa!" Dorian yelled out, bursting out laughing at the same time everyone else did.
Beatrix laughed along with them, then embraced her husband, who was as red as a beet. "Don't worry, darling. I'm doing fine," she whispered in his ear.
He nodded with a sigh, then hurried to walk behind her as she quickly moved into rooms looking for anything that would help them in their quest.
She found a note that clearly confirmed what she knew so far: The Qunari were looking for something, only now it seemed to be more of a 'someone' than a 'something'. This 'someone' was clearly a mage.
Two hours ago, an unknown intruder penetrated our defenses. Masked and cloaked. A mage. Used magic to awaken spirits and turned them against us. Intruder moved as if they knew this place, fled after spirits awoke. Dozens dead. Spirits keep attacking. Engagement not reco—
"Well, if we're looking for clues, I'd say we found one. We'll have to return. There's nothing else here," Beatrix sighed.
"Finally!" Dorian gave a sigh of relief.
When they used the shimmering Eluvian before them, it took them to the Crossroads again, where they had first emerged from the Winter Palace. A group of Qunari were running ahead, this time using bridges that dipped into the unknown below.
Cullen saw with alarm the glint in his wife's eyes, and protested immediately before she had a chance to speak.
"Oh, no! We simply can't follow them again without getting proper rest!"
"It isn't far," Beatrix pleaded, turning at once to Dorian, who was regarding her with shock. "and you're already dirty as it is. Why not take advantage of this opportunity? We might find a better clue this time around."
"Or die trying to find one," Varric added with a shake of his head.
Beatrix's eyes narrowed as she looked at her team, then at Cullen again.
"Fine! I'll go alone if none go with me!"
"No! You are not going alone at all," Cullen hurried to say, following her as she turned and walked quickly down some crudely made steps leading to more bridges and connecting floating islands. "Beatrix! Don't you walk away from me!"
"Stubborn as an ass," Varric muttered. Shaking his head he turned to follow Cullen and Beatrix. The rest did the same, nobody felt like talking and everyone had a serious look on their faces. All except for Cassandra, who was undoubtedly enjoying herself immensely.
"This is fun," she said to no one in particular as she, too, followed closely behind.
…
Soon the group arrived at a dark area, and Beatrix immediately knew where they were, the voices whispering urgently in her brain.
"Shit!" she exclaimed, shaking her head. "We're in the Deep Roads now everyone. Keep your eyes open!"
"Marvelous! My favorite place in all of Thedas!" Dorian called out sarcastically. The noise he made alerted a horde of deepstalkers nearby and they attacked the group at once.
They regrouped, fighting the creatures of the Deep Roads with alacrity. Once the battle was done, Beatrix managed to walk further in, reaching a place where she could see the whole area laid out before her.
"Shit!" she exclaimed, turning to face Cullen, who was right behind her. "This is not good, Cullen. You should return!"
"What? Why?" Cullen asked trying to go around her to see what she was seeing. But at that moment, both Bull and Cassandra stood by Beatrix as well, and he couldn't catch a glimpse of the area at all.
"This place is full of lyrium. You can't be here!" Beatrix exclaimed in a worried tone.
"She's right," Cassandra said from where she stood. "It looks like the Qunari are mining it. Whatever for is anyone's guess."
"That shit could kill, it's dangerous to handle," Bull commented. "It's only good for our mages. Saarebas we call them. Dangerous things."
"Well, of course we can be dangerous, but not more than a man is with a sword," Dorian retorted immediately.
Beatrix shook her head, trying to control her anger which was simmering under the surface. Her mark sprang to life, crackling and sputtering brightly in the darkness.
"My love," Cullen said quietly. "I'm fine. If I can't deal with it, I'll tell you and leave immediately, I promise."
There was silence now. No one dared move a muscle or speak up. Cullen waited patiently, his heart beating loudly. So loudly, in fact, he thought everyone could hear it. Beatrix looked into his eyes in the half-light and saw the determination and love shining in his. She couldn't let him risk this. Not now when they were so happy. Not now, when they had two children who waited for them back at the Winter Palace.
"I'm sorry, my love, but that's my final answer. You must turn back and return to Halamshiral immediately. You cannot be exposed to the amount of lyrium here."
"Don't do this, Beatrix," Cullen said, his eyes now flashing with anger.
"You are still my Commander and I am your Inquisitor," Beatrix replied quietly. "I am telling you to go, before things escalate any further."
Cullen's eyes once again flashed with anger briefly, but he did not say a word. He turned on his heels and without a second look marched back the way they had come.
"It will be fine, Buttercup," Varric attempted to console her. "He'll be fine when we get back."
"If we get back," Beatrix sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "If we get back at all…"
…