Ruya had made it exactly three steps out of her room when Josephine grabbed her arm and informed her she was holding court today. The woman kept swallowing nervously. Ruya sighed, and nodded before heading to sit in that blasted throne.

Four Inquisition soldiers, all of them looking vaguely disturbed, carried in a box. And set it down in front of her. Ruya raised an eyebrow, and gave Josephine a suspicious look.

Josephine started to take a deep breath, and then apparently reconsidered the notion. "First, this wasn't my idea. It is an issue born of titles and heir appearancy and..." She sighed, and turned towards the box. "Halamshiral is having difficulty freeing trade routes formerly controlled by Duchess Florianne." Duchess... Ruya gave the box a vaguely horrified look. This was a prank. One of Sera's ideas. It had to be. Right? Josephine was still talking. "Had she been tried, her assets would be forfeit and considerable bureaucracy avoided. So they ask that we judge her."

She tried to wrap her mind around that. And failed. "This is supposed to make sense? I'm judging a box?"

Several seconds of Josephine staring at the box passed in silence. "That was the time allotted for rebuttal. Her crimes negated any claim to..." Josephine coughed and rubbed her nose. "Forgive me, there is an odor."

The poor soldiers standing next to the box were all turning various shades of green. She found herself wondering who they'd annoyed to get this particular duty. Someone owed them an apology. This was… this was utterly and completely ridiculous. She straightened in the chair. "I call for rehabilitation. The skull shall do public theater about the evils of evil." She pointed dramatically. "I also judge the box. End table for orphans." One of the soldiers nearly choked trying not to laugh.

"That's quite enough, Inquisitor." Josephine gave her a stern look. "Point taken." She gestured, and the soldiers began carrying the box back out.

Orlais.

#

Chevalier Ducet met him near the pass. "Darkspawn, Commander. My forces are already engaging."

Cullen looked over his shoulder at Kels. "Head back to Skyhold. Get Brehan and Blackwall out here." As the young man rode away, he turned back to the Orlesian officer. "Show me."

#

Blackwall was staring into the fire. He glanced up when he saw her enter. "Want a drink? I've a hankering for company."

Ruya nodded, and followed him to the nearly empty tavern. He was quiet for a time, staring into his drink. She tilted her head at him, and he must have caught the worry in her eyes. "When I was a boy, there were these urchins who roamed the streets near my father's house. One day, they found a dog. A wretched little thing. It came to them for food. They caught it, tied a rope around its neck, and strung it up. Do you know what I did?" He took a drink.

"You stopped them? Cut the dog down?"

He stared into his mug. "I did nothing. Not a damn thing. It was crying. I saw the kicking legs, the neck straining and twisting..." He took another drink. "And I turned around, went inside, and closed the door. I could have told my father or alerted someone. I didn't. I just pretended it wasn't happening."

She put her hand on his arm. "You were a child."

"I was old enough to know the dog was suffering and that it was wrong." He slammed his mug onto the table. "I may as well have tied the noose myself. We could make the world better. It's just easier to shut our eyes."

Something larger was wrong. "Nothing worth doing is easy."

Blackwall stared at her for a moment, then gave a small, bitter laugh. "Look at you. You would've done the right thing. We're lucky there are people like you in the world. There's always some dog out there, some fucking mongrel that doesn't know how to stay away." He finished his drink, set the mug on the table, and walked away.

#

He set his shield between the oncoming shriek and the wounded chevalier and braced himself. An axe caught the creature in the leg, tripping it, and a moment later a sword pierced its head. Cullen blinked. "You."

Alistair's agent gave him a small salute before turning back into the fray. Cullen moved in beside him, pushing in until they'd reached the tunnel mouth. He battered a hurlock away with his shield, and the elf at his back skewered another. Cullen shouted an order over his shoulder as he and the agent held the choke point. A couple minutes later he heard the answering shout, and gestured at the elf. They both cleared the tunnel moments before the two Inquisition mages sealed it.

"Appreciate the help." He gave the agent a small bow. "Never got your name."

"Never gave it." The elf twitched a shoulder. "You can call me Rowland." He glanced at the soldiers. "I suggest you pull your people back, seal the tunnels."

Cullen shook his head. "I've got people below."

"The idiot miners broke through into a warren, Commander. These are the stragglers, not the main force."

"Maker's breath." Chevalier Ducet shook his head. "They nearly did it for us."

"Lieutenant Cloche-sec took her people in to scout the other tunnel. I can't just seal them in there with the darkspawn." He looked at the beaten and wounded men with him. "We may not be able to take the warren, but we can at least get a warning to her people and get them out before we seal it."

"Not sure you have enough men to even manage that, Commander." Rowland shook his head.

"I've got you." Cullen turned towards him. "Help me save my soldiers." The elf hesitated, and Cullen sighed. "Please."

Rowland gave a frustrated growl, but nodded. "Alright. Let's go get your soldiers."

#

Ruya's eyes widened as she heard Kels report, and nodded to Brehan. The Dalish man immediately went to get his gear, and she headed down to the barn to notify Blackwall.

The barn was empty. A note was tacked to the wooden griffin. She pulled it off, and read it before crumpling it in her hand. She ran up to the tavern. "Bull, get your chargers and go with Brehan."

Bull went from lazily relaxed to professional in the space of a heartbeat. "On it, boss." Ruya nodded, and went to find Leliana.

#

Cullen's jaw dropped when his companion solved the ogre problem by tumbling between the creature's legs and driving his sword into the back of the creature's knee. He moved forward, using his shield to block any blood spray, and drove his sword into the creature's throat. It thrashed once, and went still.

"Commander?"

"Lieutenant." He strode forward to find her people holding the chokepoint.

She stared at him for a moment. "Oh thank the Maker."

"We've charges laid." Cullen gestured back the way they'd come. "Clear the tunnels."

He and Rowland stood back to let the soldiers pass before bringing up the rear.

Daylight was a welcome sight. He gestured to Chevalier Ducet, and saw the man give the orders to blow the tunnel. Cullen turned back towards Rowland. "If you ever get tired of working for Ferelden, the Inquisition could use you."

The young man smiled. "Appreciate the offer, Commander, but King Alistair does an excellent job of keeping me in problems."

Cullen offered the man his hand. "That's two I owe you."

Rowland hesitated before accepting the handshake. "Suppose you do. I'm afraid I've dallied here a bit too long already. Good luck."

"And you."

#

"The spymaster has confirmed it. Blackwall is gone." Eben gave Ruya an apologetic look.

Ruya folded her arms. "He would not have left unless he had a good reason."

The boy glanced over his shoulder. "It is not for me to speculate on Blackwall's motivations. Sister Leliana had us search the Warden's quarters. Not much to find, except this." He offered her a piece of parchment. "It was missing from last week's reports. I don't know what Blackwall's interest in the particular matter is, but it could be a good place to start."

She read over the document. Cyril Mornay. She didn't recognize the name. With a sigh, she went to go gather some of the others. If Blackwall was in trouble, they'd deal with it.

#

The Iron Bull directed the Chargers to follow Brehan. The Dalish man's ability to give them darkspawn numbers and positions without even being able to see the creatures was uncanny. And almost made it feel a little unsporting. He narrowed his eyes at the other man. "You said you were the worst fighter among the warriors of the Vigil."

"I am." Brehan set the axe on his shoulder.

He looked at the dead hurlocks, then back at the elf. "Right."

Brehan shrugged, and then closed his eyes. He tilted his head to one side. "That's the last of the ones above ground. I suggest we report back to Cullen."

#

Sera, Solas, and Cassandra followed her into the market square of Val Royeaux. None of the three had recognized the name either. Ruya narrowed her eyes at the gallows. Could this Cyril be a relative of Blackwall's? Maker, she hated these spectacles.

"Cyril Mornay. For your crimes against the Empire of Orlais..." The announcer read off a scroll. "For the murders of General Vincent Callier, Lady Lorette Callier, their four children, and their retainers..." A child-killer. She folded her arms. Maybe it had nothing to do with Blackwall after all. "You are sentenced to be hanged from the neck until dead. Do you have anything to say in your defense?" The condemned man said nothing, just knelt there, his face bleak. "Very well." He gestured to the executioner, who lifted the man to his feet.

"Ah, human justice." Solas shook his head disapprovingly.

"Poor bastard." Sera shrugged. "So. Where's food? Orlesians always stock these things."

The rope was around the condemned man's neck. "Proceed."

Ruya was about to turn away when she heard Blackwall's voice ring out. "Stop."

"A Grey Warden." The crowd began to murmur.

"This man is innocent of the crimes laid before him. Orders were given, and he followed them like any good soldier. He should not die for that mistake."

The condemned man was staring at Blackwall. The announcer gestured. "Then find me the man who gave the order."

"Blackwall." Ruya started to walk forward.

"No. I am not Blackwall." Sorrow showed on his face. "I never was Blackwall. Warden Blackwall is dead, and has been for years. I assumed his name to hide, like a coward, from who I really am."

"You, after all this time..." She could barely make out the words the condemned man was saying.

"It's over. I'm done hiding. I gave the order. The crime is mine." Ruya stopped short, and stared up at him. "I am Thom Rainier."

#

"Find one of the Inquisition's messengers, and tell Leliana." Solas nodded at Ruya's words.

With Cassandra's help, Ruya got the crowd calmed and dispersed. The Orlesian guards took Blackwall off somewhere while she did so. Sera looked like someone had kicked her puppy, and Ruya felt about the same. From the look on Cassandra's face, she was about to chew on a sword and spit out nails.

She saw the man who had been presiding over the execution, and walked towards him, hoping to get more information. The mask hid the man's face, but his voice sounded shocked. "Can you believe it? Thom Rainier himself."

"You must know something about Rainier?"

"I know what everyone knows: he'll hang for the massacre of a noble and his family."

This wasn't right. There had to be more to the story. Blackwall would never... "Where did they take the prisoner?"

"In the jail off the marketplace. If you've goodbyes to say, say them now." He shrugged. "It's a damned mess, but believe you me, it'll be sorted out quick. Lots of people can't wait to see that man swing."

#

Cullen saw Solas heading down an alley and blinked. What was he doing here? "Solas."

The apostate almost stumbled, and turned in his direction. "Commander." He saw the man standing behind Cullen, and nodded. "Brehan." Solas took a breath, and told them what had happened in the market.

#

Ruya was still searching for words when he spoke. "I didn't take Blackwall's life. I traded his death." He didn't look up at her. "He wanted me for the Wardens, but there was an ambush. Darkspawn. He was killed. I took his name to stop the world from losing a good man. But a good man, the man he was, wouldn't have let another die in his place."

Maker help her. What was she supposed to do here? "You saved that man. That took courage."

"Courage? I killed innocent people..." He shook his head. "Destroyed Mornay's life and the lives of others like him. One moment of courage will not make up for that." He finally looked at her. "Why are you here?"

"I needed you to know you aren't alone in this." And she needed to know why.

"Don't you understand? I gave the order to kill Lord Callier, his entourage, and I lied to my men about what they were doing." He rose, and gripped the bars of the cell. "When it came to light, I ran. Those men, my men, paid for my treason while I was pretending to be a better man. This is what I am. A murderer. A traitor..." He slumped and fell to his knees. "A monster."

It hurt, seeing him broken. She wanted to be angry. Maker, she wanted to be furious. And yet all she felt was disappointment. "I know you're more than what you say. Have some faith in yourself."

He didn't reply. She drew a breath, shook her head, and walked away.

#

He saw her walking out of the cells. "I have a report on Thom Rainier."

Ruya turned towards him, and took a breath. "Give me the overview."

Cullen nodded. "Looks like our friend was once a respected captain in the Imperial Orlesian army." He glanced down at the parchment. "Before the civil war, he was turned, persuaded to assassinate one of Celene's biggest supporters. He led a group of fiercely loyal men on this mission, and told them nothing of it. His men took the fall for him. A few lucky ones, like Mornay, managed to escape."

"Let me guess. Our spymaster had this lying around somewhere, didn't she?"

"It would have been difficult for anyone to connect Blackwall to Rainier." Brehan had covered well, but he'd not been surprised when Solas told them Blackwall had lied about his identity. Solas had caught it to. "Even Leliana has something of a blind spot when it comes to Wardens." They could deal with that later. Cullen sighed. "What do we do now? Black..." He corrected himself. "Rainier has accepted his fate, but you don't have to. We have resources. If he's released to us, you may pass judgment on him yourself." He wanted to pull her to him, to hold her, but now wasn't the time.

Her shoulders slumped. She folded her arms, and considered for a time. "If it were up to you, what would happen?"

If he were honest, he'd have to admit he'd start with breaking the man's jaw at the very least. "What he did to the men under his command was unacceptable. He betrayed their trust, betrayed ours. I despise him for it." And if he were honest, he'd also have to admit some of the things he'd allowed were no better. "And yet he fought as a Warden. Joined the Inquisition. Gave his blood for our cause. And the moment he shakes off his past, he turns around and owns up to it. Why?"

"He wanted to change. To prove that he'd really left his past behind, he had to face up to it."

"Saving Mornay the way he did took courage. I'll give him that." He shook his head. "But I can't tell you what to do." He wasn't sure what he'd say if he could.

"Have Rainier released to us."

"We must move quickly. We can explore our options back at Skyhold.

#

The mood on the trip back was subdued. Iron Bull regaled them with stories of the recent excursion against darkspawn. His obvious exaggerations did help cheer them up a bit. Sera even let out a laugh at Cullen's expression when the Iron Bull attempted to claim their Commander had held off two ogres by himself. Cassandra shook her head fondly.

"And this guy's been holding out on us." Iron Bull shoved Brehan's shoulder playfully. "Turns out that axe of his isn't just for show. Might have to take him out more often, he's pretty damn good at sensing those spawn."

Cassandra saw the Inquisitor's head come up just as the same thought occurred to her. She whirled, and saw Brehan wince right before she punched him, sending him tumbling to the ground. "Cassandra..." Cullen started to move towards her.

The Inquisitor waved him back. "You knew." She glared. "Dammit, Brehan, you knew all along he wasn't a Warden."

He swiped at the blood streaming out of his nose. "Yes."

"And you didn't tell..." Cassandra narrowed her eyes. "You told Leliana." Of course he'd told Leliana, he'd probably told her within minutes of his arrival at Skyhold.

Brehan got back to his feet. "You'd already used the treaties. If it came out he wasn't a Warden..."

"Like it just did?" Cassandra gestured angrily.

"The plan was to find a cache and quietly put him through the Joining. That was before what happened in Ferelden and us learning..." Brehan sighed, and shook his head. "We should have told you."

"Did either of you know he was Rainier?" The Inquisitor's voice was quiet.

"No. Gordon Blackwall..." Brehan wiped at the blood again. "He was a Warden Constable, up for Warden Commander. It was assumed he didn't return to the fort because he wanted to step aside for Clarel. It's common enough no one thought to question it. Leliana and I assumed Bla... Rainier... he's not the first to impersonate a Warden. Standard protocol when we find such people is just to put them through the Joining and let fate take its course."

"Are you and Leliana keeping any other secrets from me?" The Inquisitor narrowed her eyes before he responded. "The answer you are looking for is yes, and believe me, we are going to have a few more words." Her fingers glowed lightly as she touched him. "I want to see you both as soon as we get back to Skyhold."

"Yes, Inquisitor."

"Call in the favor Briala owes you and get Rainier to Skyhold."

He blinked, and then nodded. "Yes, Inquisitor."

#

"Josephine?"

Her ambassador dabbed subtly at her eyes before turning towards her. "Yes, Inquisitor?"

Ruya sighed, and opened her arms. Josephine stepped in and hugged her back tightly. "Come on, let's go get a drink and tell embarrassing stories about our respective siblings."

#

She stared at her two spymasters. Neither met her eyes. "Empress Celene has agreed to let us deal with the Rainier matter?"

"The mastermind was a Robert Chapuis, loyal to Gaspard. Since both are dead, the empress is willing to wash her hands of the matter." Leliana replied quietly.

Ruya paced a moment, and then turned back towards them. "What is the Joining?"

"It is what makes us Wardens," Brehan replied.

She narrowed her eyes. "What is the Joining?"

He sighed. "To gain our abilities, we drink..." He glanced at Leliana, then back at Ruya. "We drink a concoction made from darkspawn blood."

"You what?" Leliana turned to stare at him.

"Maker." Ruya shook her head. "So when you told me you were a ghoul, you weren't speaking metaphorically."

"I was tainted before the Joining, Inquisitor. It was determined that becoming a Grey Warden was the best chance at saving my life." He sighed. "Inquisitor, since I know where you are going with this line of questioning, you should know that nearly a third of those who attempt the Joining die in the process. Those of us who survive will..." He glanced at Leliana, then back at Ruya. "A few make it thirty years before the Calling. Most are... closer to fifteen."

"No." Leliana shook her head. "No. You've been a Warden for ten years. No. You can't... No." She shoved him. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Our lives were in danger so often, Leliana. I always..." He sighed. "I never thought it would be the Calling that took me."

"You're dying."

"Yes, Inquisitor. I'm a Warden. We all are. That is what our oath means. In death, sacrifice."

"That will..." She swallowed. "That will be all."

#

Leliana caught him as soon as the Inquisitor's door closed behind them. "Were you ever planning to tell me?"

"Only if it became necessary." Brehan didn't look at her.

"You don't think I had the right to know you're dying?"

"That time has passed, Leliana." He made it three more steps before she caught his arm again.

"I can't ask to be forgiven. What happened was unforgivable. But I need you to know I'm sorry."

"You were never the one I blamed, Leliana."

"Then why did you leave me?"

"Because you stayed."

#

Her practice sword narrowly missed tagging his leg, and he sent a counterstrike at her shoulder. Ruya ducked it, and then brought her sword up before he could recover from the swing. Cullen spun instead of pulling back, and the edge of his sword laid against her throat just as her own blade touched his side. They bowed, and began a new match. "With everything that happened, I didn't really get a chance to hear your report."

"We dealt with the darkspawn and sealed the tunnels. The Orlesians are arranging some dwarven crafters to devise a more permanent solution. Chevalier Ducet was grateful for our aid, and has joined our forces in Val Foret to pursue those red templars." He narrowed his eyes. "Shoulder up."

She adjusted her position, and continued pressing an offense. "No one infected?"

"None among our forces. We'd have lost Lieutenant Cloche-sec, but Rowland helped me get to them in time."

"Rowland?"

"Alistair's agent. And no, I don't know why he happened to be in the area. I'm just glad he was, we'd have lost a lot of people if he hadn't given us his intelligence on the location. He did mention that we missed a red templar outpost out on the Storm Coast, however."

"Follow up." She stepped back, then shook out her arms. "Can't blame Alistair for spying in Orlais. And you're holding back."

"So are you?"

"How do you figure that?"

He grinned. "I'm not on fire."

#

Josephine's voice was calm. "For judgment this day, Inquisitor, I must present Captain Thom Rainier, formerly known to us as Warden Blackwall. His crimes..." Josephine twitched a shoulder. "Well, you are aware of his crimes. It was no small expense to bring him here, but the decision of what to do with him is now yours."

Ruya hated the throne. And hated even more that she was sitting in it looking down at a man that she'd once trusted with her life. "I didn't think this would be easy, but it's harder than I thought."

Blackwall's voice was bleak. "Another thing to regret." He looked up at her. "What did you have to do to release me?"

Pretend she didn't know who had killed the man in the garden. "There are enough people out there who owe the Inquisition."

"And what happens to the reputation the ambassador has so carefully cultivated?" Blackwall shook his head. "The world will learn how you've used your influence. They'll know the Inquisition is corrupt."

"I wish there'd been another way, but my options were limited." The blood was already spilled.

"You could've left me there." He glared up at her. "I accepted my punishment. I was ready for all this to end." His face became confused. "Why would you stop it? What becomes of me now?"

The conversation with Brehan had thoroughly dashed her plan to simply make him a Warden in truth. What was the use of saving him from one death only to condemn him to another? "You have your freedom."

"It cannot be as simple as that."

"It isn't. You're free to atone as the man you are, not the traitor you thought you were or the Warden you pretended to be."

"The man I am?" Blackwall glanced down at his bound wrists. "I barely know him. But he - I have a lot to make up for." He took a breath. "If my future is mine, then I pledge it to the Inquisition. My sword is yours." He glanced up as one of the soldiers cut his hands free. "If I'd said anything less, would an arrow from the rookery have snuffed me like a candle?"

Something told her it would have been an axe, not an arrow. It didn't matter. "Take your post, Thom Rainier."

#

"You did what?" Ruya stared at Josephine.

"Well, most of them had already accepted the invitation. It would have been gauche of them not to attend."

"Let me see if I get this straight..." Minaeve took a drink from her glass. "You went ahead with the Duchess's yearly reception. With the duchess as the guest of honor." She giggled. "Did you at least put a fancy ribbon on the box?"

"Red, with a yellow sash." Josephine smiled as she sipped from her own glass.

"Josephine Montilyet, remind me never to get on your bad side." Ruya raised a glass in toast.