"Commander Cullen, the Grey Wardens have been sighted." The young recruit stood in the doorway uncertainly.
Cullen did not even look up from the maps he was making notations on. "Very well, recruit. Lead them to the lodging set up for them. Tell their commander I will meet with him tomorrow after they have a chance to settle in."
"errrm… the commander is a woman and…" the young man started uncomfortably.
What was it with these young men and women that everything had to be just so? "Fine tell her I will meet with her tomorrow. Orlesians like to have a day to settle in, recruit, it is fine."
"These are not the Orlesian Grey Wardens, Commander they are from Ferelden, by their banner and…" Cullen looked up suddenly into clear blue eyes that he had not seen since Kirkwall.
"And your young solider is trying to find a diplomatic way of telling you that I am already in the room Cullen." Amalya said quietly from the doorway.
"And that…" finished the recruit somewhat lamely.
"I can go to my camp and wait until tomorrow if that is what you prefer, Cullen." Amalya was uncertain what her reception would be like here. Leliana would be glad to see her, and so would Morrigan, although the witch would never admit it, but with Cullen…
"No… it's fine Commander… you may leave." Was he stumbling over his words? Why did this woman still have the ability to shake him up all of these years later?
The recruit looked uncomfortably between the two. Placing a gentle hand on his shoulder Amalya looked down at the young soldier "What is your name?"
"Ma..Marcus mi'lady." The boy stammered.
Amalya knew that she just did not have the courage to stay here any longer. Why she thought she had was beyond her. "Just Warden will do, Marcus, I am not nobility. When Cullen said 'you may leave' he did mean you. I am afraid I have disturbed his plans for the day. Would you please walk with me out…."
"NO!" Cullen said loudly, startling them both, "I meant no, you did not disturb my plans… Warden, please… stay." Nodding, Amalya took the chair Cullen pulled out for her. She noticed Marcus fled the room as soon as he was certain he had been dismissed. Traitor.
"So… what brings you to Skyhold, Warden?" Cullen asked carefully.
What did bring her to Skyhold? A man who refused to use her name and a letter that refused to write itself, that was what. When Leliana sent out people looking for her, it had rather surprised Amalya that Leliana suddenly had "people", well, people who were not also Chantry people. Amalya had not intended to emerge from Orzammarr again, let alone travel to Skyhold.
After all, it was not as if she had anything valuable to offer Skyhold's spymaster. Amalya had never so much as heard the name Corypheus before. And none of the Ferelden Wardens were suffering from red lyrium or bouts of madness. Not like she had been told was happening in Orlais. But she was rather curious about how that crap had spread from Kirkwall.
But still, she was not leaving Orzammarr. King Bhelan had been more than accommodating. She had her own quarters in the Royal Palace, Andraste's ass, Bhelan had even offered her Harrowmont's estate. That was a bit much for her purposes, but she had still accepted on the behalf of the Wardens. It would be nice for them to have a place in Orzammarr.
Amalya even took part in a few arena battles for old dimes sake. The young dwarf who had finally beat her was going to be drinking free for a long time based on that story. Having had her fill of dwarven ale, Amalya was not jealous of him.
Amalya sat down to write the letter that had ultimately led her here. She still had a copy of it in her bags. She sent one to Leliana
To Her Worship, Inquisitor Trevelyan:
I wish that I had helpful information regarding Corypheus, but due to my own limited training during the Blight, I know less of ancient darkspawn lore than do most Wardens. I am engaged in a search of my own. All Grey Wardens who do not fall in battle eventually fall to something known as the Calling, a magic that preys upon our own connection to the Blight and the darkspawn. Rather than such foul magic eventually leading to my death, I have determined to find a way to negate this Calling and save all Wardens from its effects.
I appreciate your warning regarding Corypheus. Fortunately, my own search has taken me out of the area where the supposed magister is operating, and while I have encountered challenges of my own, they have not involved any weakness related to my Grey Warden abilities.
As I have little useful information to offer, please accept the accompanying gifts instead. If, in my quest, I find anything that may be of use to you in your fight against Corypheus, I will send it to you immediately,
Warden Commander Amel
More than anything Amalya had wanted to send a personal letter to Cullen. To say good bye to tell him how she felt, and had always felt, about him. But after several tries and one mishap that ended up with an inkpot violently shattered against a far wall, she had given up. For some reason the letter Branka had left for Oghren came to her mind. "What I have to say is for his ears only."
The next day Amalya had packed her bags and left for Skyhold.
When she had arrived with a small contingent of Grey Wardens, Nathaniel Howe, Oghren and five recruits who needed to experience the world more, she had stopped a mage. "Please send word to Sister Leliana and let her know that Amalya Amel would very much like to see her."
Coward that Amalya was she could not quite dare ask for Cullen. Take down an Arch Demon? Can do. Kill a Mother, actually two Mother's and battle talking darkspawn? Bring them on.
Face the man she had let down and failed time and time again? "May I speak to Sister Leliana please?"
Amalya was surprised and amused when the young mage offered to get Commander Cullen, Ex Knight Captain of Kirkwall instead of Leliana. The look of gratitude and relief on the young mage's face when she had agreed almost caused Amalya to laugh out loud. The mage wasn't exactly the bravest either as it was the young soldier Marcus who had escorted her.
Finally looking up at Cullen, as much as Amalya desperately wanted to tell him that she had come for him, to see him to know if he was happy she finally said "I felt bad about sending a letter to Leliana instead of coming to offer my assistance."
Before Cullen could say anything from across the room she heard "Andraste's ass how she lies. Spinning to the door Amalya saw Leliana leaning against it with a smug look on her horribly self satisfied face.
"Leliana" Amalya said warningly and then laughed and threw herself in to the arms of her old friend.
"I knew if I told you that we needed your help you would show up." Leliana grinned at her.
"I came because you asked me to, let that be enough Leliana." Please Amalya prayed silently.
"Josephine may never forgive you for not sending word ahead so she can properly fete you, you know." It was clear Leliana had no intent to leave.
"Lady Montilyet will surely excuse me for not feeling up to a large party." Amalya said warily.
"Oh ho, so you think. Josephine is an Antivan who went to finishing school in Orlais., she plays the Game like a master born to it and the arrival of the Hero of Ferelden is a very large fluffy feather in her hat." It was clear there would be no escape from some sort of party. Amalya cringed.
"Do not tease Mistress Amel, Leliana." They heard from the doorway and looked up to see two women, one darker skinned with beautiful long black hair, the woman who had just spoken, and another woman with a serious expression and short brown hair.
"Josephine, Cassandra, allow me to present Amalya Amel, the Hero of Ferelden and Warden Commander of the Ferelden Grey Wardens." Leliana said with a flourish.
"Well met." Cassandra said, "Thank you for coming to assist us." Josephine echoed the sentiments.
"I don't know how much help I will be as I explained in the letter, but I am here. And I am no longer Commander of the Grey. I have not been since…" she almost confessed since Kirkwall, but did not want to bring that matter up so she simply finished "in a very long time." The look Cullen gave her was speculative and Amalya had a feeling he had guessed what she left out.
"The Inquisitor is not here at the moment, Warden." Josephine sensing the tension chimed in. "However when she returns we will throw a small feast in your honor."
Amalya sighed "As you please Lady Montilyet."
"In the meantime, we will be pleased to make you and your fellow wardens comfortable within the Keep." A young assistant was sent to start preparations. While the party in Cullen's office made their way to the main keep.
Amalya started to protest this "My wardens and I are perfectly suited to our campsite just outside the walls and…"
"NO!" Cullen said loudly "I mean… after what happened at Haven… you would be safer inside."
Amalya growled at this "I told you Leliana, I told you that we should tell no one of that place but you and that cursed scholar Genitivi… gah! And now look, you dropped a mountain on my find!"
"Our find. Let it go Amalya." Leliana rolled her eyes. "If it was not there they would have attacked us somewhere else."
"Somewhere else was the point, Leliana. Anywhere else that the Sacred Ashes of Andraste had not been kept." Amalya was heard to say when they entered the main hall.
"See, I knew you were someone I wanted to know." Amalya heard a familiar voice call out.
"Varric Tethras!" Amalya embraced the dwarf "No one told me that you would be here!"
Cassandra snorted "And even if he had known you were coming he would have kept that information to himself, Warden."
Amalya looked at Cassandra with a mix of compassion and amusement. "I know how frustrating it is when you cannot find help, Lady Seeker. I may not be much but I offer my assistance now.
"You are more than enough, Warden. I do not mean to seem ungrateful." Cassandra looked almost embarrassed by what she had said.
"You do not seem anything but very desperately trying to hold everything together, Lady Pentaghast. Something I am all too familiar with." Amalya commiserated.
"Please, call me Cassandra, Commander." The warrior smiled. She liked this mage.
"And you must call me Amalya. I have been neither Ferelden's hero nor a commander of anyone for quite some time." The two women clasped hands.