I shot awake with such a velocity that I managed to catapult myself off the bed and land on the floor with a thud. My heart was still beating like an executioner's drum and the sweat was lashing off me. Why I felt so worked up I didn't know, only that dream had put the fear of Elganarn in me. The worst part of it was... It didn't feel so much like a dream, but a memory. I shook my head to shake it from my mind and rubbed away the many stars that still echoed in my eyes. I didn't have time to analyse my dreams now, the sun was up and peering through the tattered curtains of the window and I had a job to do. So I quickly got changed, thankful that my clothes no longer smelt of fish and ate the small provision of bread and cheese the landlady had left me the night before. As I ate I tried to think if a plan. The situation here was precarious at least, outright treasonous at worst! And Leliana expected me to make the mages the more viable option? A hand ran though my hair in frustration, it would be better if I knew the situation with the Templars. I only knew that neither faction wanted to talk with the Inquisition. Perhaps if I could persuade Fiona to invite them? Fat chance. A random elf demanding they invite the Inquisition to help? Hadn't they already got the bloody Tevinters to do that? I was so thoroughly annoyed that I couldn't even finish my cheese.

"Alright think, Nev." I said to myself. Firstly I needed more information, I needed to get a real feel of how the people felt, if they had any ideas, then perhaps I could hazard a meeting with Fiona. Right, yes. That was a good plan. Information.
With a renewed vigour, I trotted down stairs, thanked the land lord and made my way outside. Now, only to ask these strangers what they thought without looking too suspicious.
I walked up casually to people at first, trying to bring up the subject naturally in conversation but the looks they gave me made me want to melt with embarrassment so I just started asking people outright.
This was then only met with, "None of your business, elf." Or frightened looks and a quick departure. It was almost noon when I gave up and slumped against the statue in the centre of the village. I sighed and tried not to let myself get downhearted. I had to make this work, somehow. It was then that from the other end of the village a strange trumpet sounded and a rather extravagant sennet made its way through the town. Everyone stopped to stare at the whole affair. The man in the middle of it all waved out at them as though he were loyalty and I saw the utter contempt they shot back at him. He seemed immune. I could only presume this man was Alexius, his dead eyes and sneering smile was enough of a give away. I must have been glaring particularly hard at him for our eyes met and he smiled even more. It was more like a grimace. A twisted, arrogant, evil thing. I clenched my jaw and turned away, not giving him the satisfaction. The whole display was merely for appearance sake for he flaunted about only to turn back to the castle. It made my blood boil, for the Inquisition, for these people. Didn't the Magister know you never ought to provoke a growling dog? I kicked a stone in frustration then, my job seeming utterly futile. There was no way I could single handedly force out an entire Tevinter army.

"Psst!" I suddenly heard a hiss. "Over here!" It hissed again and I looked to my right. "Not that way, behind you!" It said, not hissing so much anymore. When my eyes finally settled on the extravagantly armoured and moustached man he signalled me over. Suspiciously I did as he asked and made my way over to the shelter of a copse of trees nearer to the chantry. He smiled at me then, a charming smile that I was somewhat unsure to return.

"A suspicious little thing aren't you? And curious. You're the one asking about Alexius, yes?" He said blatantly and I arched a brow my gut told me to be careful.

"What of it?" I said, crossing my arms.

He laughed then. "Very suspicious. Fear not, my dear, I'm here to help. Firstly you must tell me why you are so curious and if you are in any capacity to help the situation." This was very odd. I eyed the man, not even hiding my suspicion any more, he had already pointed it out after all. He seemed to be doing the same however, measuring me up.

"I don't even know who you are." I said darkly.

"Then we are on equal footing, are we not? I don't know you, you don't know me. So how about this, I am Dorian of House Pavus, and yes I hail from Tevinter. You are?" He offered me a hand shake but I recoiled.

"Tevinter? Do you work for the Magister?"

"That was not part of the agreement, your name, I would have it." He pushed his hand out further. Every bone in my body told me not to trust this man, but... Something about him seemed... Good. Uneasily nonetheless, I took his hand and shook it.

"Nevalla, of Clan Lavellan." He beamed then and returned my hand shake enthusiastically.

"Splendid! Now to answer your question, no I do not work for Alexius, I was under his employ, however I am no longer. That is why I am quite the useful asset to have in this predicament. Now, my dear, would you be so kind as to answer my question." Dorian, began to walk, and I could only follow him. He knew I would. However when he told me his affiliation, I could only trust him. He was unapologetic about it, there was a truth to what he said. I could only do the same. Perhaps we together could help Red Cliff.

"Well, I'm here unofficially on behalf of the Inquisition. I've been sent to neutralise the situation here so that the Herald chooses to ally with the mages and not the Templars. Unofficially. The last part is very unofficial."

That seemed to pique his interest, "So, an Inquisition spy and a dashing Tevinter mage. We should he suffice enough to solve this then shouldn't we?" He said ironically.

I felt myself smile, "Certainly. Why not?"

"Exactly what I want to hear, now, come tell me what you've got so far." He said, pushing the large doors to the chantry open. Surprisingly it was empty, I thought in a time of trouble people would be flocking to a chantry. "Now, the goal is to get Magister Alexius out of here and away from The Inquisition as soon as possible." He began.
"Wait, away from the Inquistion?" I stopped him.

"Well yes, that is the soul reason they're here. For the Herald." That was a spanner in my works. "Problem is, I don't see us solving this without some sort of help from the Inquisition. We can't ask Ferelden for support, it'd take weeks to even get an audience for starters and then who knows what they'd do to the rebels. The Inquisition is our only hope."
My head was spinning with this information. "Wait, slow down... Why does Alexius want the Herald."

"I thought that was obvious, the mark on her hand. My guess is he wants to find a way to claim it for himself. Quite the perilous plan in regards to the whole tear in the sky."
"He wants to stop closing the rifts? Why?" I said, flabbergasted by the idea. Did he have no sense of self preservation?

Dorian sighed in exasperation, as if I really ought to know why, "Alexius is part of a Tevinter organisation called the Venatori, bent on bringing back the glory days of Tevinter where we crushed everyone and were rulers of the world. I believe Alexius believes the mark on her hand is the key to doing that. Or something along those lines."
"And you used to work for this madman?" I scoffed.

"Yes, well before he was utterly insane." He said smartly and I couldn't help the small chuckle, perhaps it was the ludicrousness of the situation.

"I've a feeling this may be indeed too big for two people alone." I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

"Then we need to get the Inquistion here, and fast." Dorian said, beginning to pace.

"The only idea I've come up with so far is an invitation directly from Fiona." I shrugged.

"And that will be as easy to get as a good joke from an Orlesian, yes." Dorian agreed. There was an energy in the room, an excitement as we planned and plotted. It seemed that great minds did indeed think alike.

"So we're stuck." I said, slumping down on a pew.

Dorian stopped pacing then and smiled at me, "Not yet, dear Nevalla, not yet."

"How so?"

He slumped down in the pew in front and turned to face me. "What if we sent someone who isn't Grand Enchanter Fiona."

"Who would we send, they wouldn't trust a stranger." I countered.

"Let me finish," he said sassily, "What if we send someone who isn't Fiona, but looks like Fiona." He said, eyeing me carefully and nodding at me. I guffawed then at his suggestion.
"Sorry to break it to you but a wig and a few fake wrinkles aren't really going to cut it. They know me, they'd recognise me." I laughed, for the plan was laughable. Dorian simply rolled his eyes.

"Did I not mention that I was a mage? A highly talented mage? I know a rather simple disguise spell that should do the trick." He said, smug satisfaction crossing his charming features.
"A disguise spell? You want to disguise me as Fiona? What if we're caught?"

"If we do nothing your Inquisition will be in danger from an army of rogue mages with a Tevinter Magister at the helm. Which would you rather?" He cut me off sharply and I couldn't really argue after that. The danger to the whole out weighed the danger to us. We at least had to try.

I sighed nervously, "Alright, how do we go about this."

Dorian smiled again, "Well ideally we need a drop of her blood-"

"What?!"

"But a few strands of her hair should be fine." He finished and the outrage in my gut somewhat subsided. It still meant that I still needed to steal The Grand Enchanters hair.

"Alright, so her hair, what else?"

"Nothing but your charming presense and my magical know how." He grinned and I arched my brow.

"This could go disastrously wrong, you know that." I said skeptically.

"Only with that attitude, Dear Nevalla." And I laughed again, something I found was quite easily done in his company. I think I found then that yes, I liked Dorian.

It was at that moment the doors of the chantry opened. "Ah, just in time." Dorian greeted.
"Sorry, I couldn't get away, father was making a fuss." Said the figure that entered. Immediately again I was on guard.

"Nevalla, may I introduce my dear friend Felix, Alexius' son. And before your ears get any pointier, yes he is on our side."
I felt somewhat embarrassed then and subtly tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
"My father is getting out of hand, I want to stop him before he does something dangerous." Felix explained with a soft and reassuring smile. He was pale and rather thin looking and had dark circles under his sad eyes. There was an illness about him. However Dorian quickly explained the plan and all seemed to be going well until I realised,
"How do I get to Val Royeaux on time?" I blurted out, causing the two of them to look at me curiously and then look back at each other.

"We may have an idea..." Felix said cautiously.

"An idea that is quite the risky one but nevertheless the whole thing is fruitless with out it. You wonder how Alexius got here so fast under the very nose of the Ferelden Arm? As if by magic yes? Well you would be right." Dorian explained.
Felix took over then, he seemed to understand that this was all entirely new to me, "My father has developed... A sort of time magic. Yes, it sounds ridiculous but it can work. I believe that by using this magic to get you to Val Royeaux, you may get there in time enough to speak with your Herald."
I stood in awe for a moment. Time magic? Was that even possible? Surely there was blood magic or demons or something involved in it. Time magic was not just something one happened upon!

"Is... Is it safe?" I asked.

"In all honesty, not entirely."

"Dorian!" Felix chastised.

"She deserves to know what she's getting into, but you know what's at stake. There is the slightest risk we rip a hole in the fabric of time but without this, we stand no chance."
I felt almost knocked back by his warning. Mythal's tits what had I got myself into. But I had other choice did I?
"Alright." I agreed, though apprehensively.

"Splendid! Now, all you need to do is get a strand or two of Fiona's hair and Felix? You think you can get the amulet?"

"I hope so." He replied. So there was an amulet now. Brilliant. So long as nobody mentioned blood sacrifice in think I could go along with it.
Really, what had I gotten into?