Chapter 28

Elena watched in frozen disbelief as Charter slunk up to the table next to Erik. To her eyes, it seemed no one else had noticed the Elf slip through the doors and down the main aisle. She had, however, because she was studiously avoiding looking at Fabien or Cullen who were both, unfortunately, stationed opposite her in the grandiose hall. Fabien was actively trying to catch her gaze to pull silly faces at her as part of a never ending attempt to get her to break decorum in important meetings. Cullen, on the other hand, seemed to be working just as hard as her to pay attention to everything except her. She had not once caught his eye, and his rigidly straight back and tightly clasped arms belied his inner struggle. Charter had caught her attention when she slipped silently through the humongous dark wood double doors by way of a small crack barely wide enough for her lithe frame. Elena could understand why Charter was a preferred agent of Lelianna's now. The Elvish woman had eased down to Erik's position and was muttering in his ear without garnering more attention than what Elena paid her. Erik nodded and Charter slipped back out the way she had come. More people noticed this because the Inquisitor had become involved.

"Inquisitor, is there a problem?" The Divine asked.

Erik shook his head as he stood, bowing slightly, "Not at all. It's just a minor disagreement between my troops and those of this Council. Lady Montiliyet will continue this discussion with you while I go and sort out my men."

Josephine tried to protest but Erik was already sweeping powerfully and purposefully away from her. Elena moved quickly almost by reflex and followed him. The hairs on the back of her arms and neck were standing straight up and she had goose pimples despite the heat of the day. She had heard and seen him lie enough in her lifetime to know that he had just told one of the biggest lies of his life. Being in a position as powerful as his, a lie of that scope surely meant trouble. She followed him in a haze of worry, keeping pace with him so as not to close the distance between them and be discovered but also so that she didn't lose sight of him.

His boots rung loudly in the marble foyer, covering the sound of her slippered feet hurrying along behind him. When he paused at the entrance, she ducked behind a pillar and waited. When she heard the door close behind him, she stepped out of her hiding place and started to jog after him. Instead, she was pulled to a gentle stop by a hand on her bare shoulder. She let out a startled, displeased sound and turned her face to see who had been so bold as to grab her in such a familiar way. Whatever displeasure she had been about to voice died in her throat as she locked eyes with Cullen. His amber gaze was soft and filled with concern. His hand was a little too-warm on her skin. She glanced down at it and then back up at his face.

He removed it, and a rueful, crooked smile crossed his features for a second, "My apologies, my lady, but are you all right?"

She shivered, disliking his formality, and eyes the door anxiously. Cullen stopping her had given her mind a second of pause, and she realized that chasing after Erik was not the best idea, though it stemmed from a deep place of love. She eyed the door and then him. Her heart felt torn two ways. She sighed, "Of course, Commander. Why wouldn't I be?"

HE straightened his posture into a more formal, militaristic one, "You left the Council Hearing so quickly, I was w– Cassandra told me to come check on you."

Elena raised an eyebrow, "Oh? I wasn't aware that Seeker Cassandra cared so much about my well being."

Cullen blushed slightly, looking askance, "She–she just noticed you leaving so quickly. I'm sure other people did, too."

Elena smiled, liking the pink of his cheeks. Other people?...You? "You can tell her that I'm fine. I just… needed some air." She affected fanning herself with one had, "It's so stuffy in there."

Cullen relaxed and tugged at his collar, "It is rather warm in there, isn't it?"

Elena stepped away from his towards the door, "Indeed. I'm going to get get that air now."

"Of course." He remained stationary, like a statue, watching her go.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Elena sat heavily down on the edge of the bar stool. She hadn't really known where to go once she had gotten outside, and Erik was nowhere in sight. Maryden's singing had drawn her to the bar like a lodestone. How she had been invited to this particular little oasis in the midst of the Exalted Council, she had no idea. Though, she was thankful for it. Hearing Maryden skip through her various tunes learned from across Thedas was something she rather enjoyed after so long without hearing them. The bar keeper passed her a glass of wine with a bowed head and a mumbled "Lady Trevelyan." Elena slid a silver piece onto the counter in thanks and sipped at the drink. It was good. Rather dry with a fruity, floral flavor. Her parents would probably say that she drank it too quickly. She smirked into the goblet as she looked around. The Iron Bull was not there, and she was certain she had seen him arm wrestling with his Chargers earlier. In fact, most of the Chargers were still there. That meant that Erik had taken him where he had disappeared to. If the Bull was gone, then Dorian was likely gone as well, for Erik rarely went anywhere without the Necromancer if he could help it. If Dorian was gone, then that would mean so was Blackwall… Rainier… whichever name he was going by these days. It mattered little what he was calling himself because if the four of them were gone in the middle of the Exalted Council, then something disastrous was surely afoot.

And here I am… Drinking wine… listening to music. She downed her glass in a single gulp of mixed emotions. She set it down and the barkeeper refilled it. She hadn't necessarily wanted another glass, but why not? It wasn't like she was a diplomat who would be called upon in the proceedings. And furthermore, the council was at a standstill. There was no way she could help Erik – even if he would have allowed her to– and everyone was on edge. Perhaps an extra drink was a better option than wallowing in the worry of what may be happening? What good did it do her to sit and wonder and wring her hands about where he was, what he was up to, why he had left so abruptly? None! She drained her glass and set it down for a refill. The barkeeper obliged.

She caught his arm and placed a gold piece into his palm. "The bottle, if you will." The barkeeper weighed the green bottle in his hand. He shrugged and passed it to her. "Thank you." She took it and went to a table nearer to Maryden and sat down, watching the people stroll by. This glass, she sipped. Three glasses at break-neck speed seemed to her like tempting Fate. Regardless, there was only really another cup or two in the bottle depending how full she filled her glass. If she slowed down, like she was, the bottle could last her hours and her head would remain clear. Clarity of mind was still important in a setting as fraught with social quirks as the Winter Palace. While she might not be called upon during the Council, she was still representing hers and Erik's House. House Trevelyan would not suffer on her count.

Maryden started on a round of Nightingale's Eyes in Orelesian. Elena didn't speak the language, but she recognized the tune. It was fairly somber. She likes its brooding over-tone and settled in. Time passed. She did not know how much. She, truthfully, did not care. She nibbled the breadsticks, fruits, and nuts in the middle of the table. She sipped her wine. She watched Maryden sing song after song after song until Maryden began to repeat herself. Still, she did not leave.

More time passed. Maryden took a break. The barkeeper came by and refilled the food. Elena asked for a pitcher of water. Sera wandered in and started chatting flirtatiously with Maryden. Elena ate a few grapes warmed by the sun. They burst across her tongue in a violet wave of sweetness. She wished for a book. She wondered what kind of books they had in the library at Halamshiral. Probably a bunch of dusty history tomes with ancestry records dating back hundreds of years. She affected a horrible mental Orlesian accent as she imagined reading the contents of a book like that. This is Jean Luc du Montmorency who married Yvette Delmar who beget Henri, first of his name…

"There you are." Cullen said in a relieved tone, sitting down across from her. Elena blinked at him, startled from her reverie. "We've been looking all over for you."

"I'm sorry. We?" She inquired, tilting her head to one side and smiling gently at him. "It seems to me that there is just one of you here, Commander."

Cullen shook his head a bemused grin stretching across his scarred lips. "Must you always be so difficult? Captain Shaw and I have been looking for you."

"Is there news?"

Cullen nodded quickly, reaching out and grasping her hand as it lay at the base of her water goblet. Elena felt as if a shock of lightning ran up from her hand straight to her heart. She breathed in sharply at the same time he released her as if he had been stung by her. She pulled her hand into her lap[ and couldn't help but notice him rub his own. His cheeks were red and she could feel that hers were, too, though that could be from the half-bottle of wine or the heat of the sun. They fell silent. Elena couldn't look at him and stared down at her hand in her lap. She traced her fingers over where he had touched her, trying to remember the brief sensation. Did he really feel it too?

"Elena! I see the Commander has found you!" Fabien's deep timbre thundered across the courtyard and crashed into her ears like waves on a rocky shore, bringing her back to her senses.

She jerked her head up to see Fabien striding towards them. He was all-business, the sunshine sparking off his armor, and his black flanged mace swinging from his hip as he took long confident steps. It really was a shame that she didn't appreciate him more like this. She dismissed the thought as she stood and went to meet him. "Yes. He has. There's news?"

Fabien nodded and grabbed her hand, ushering off with him. "Yes. He's back. You can see him when he finished meeting with the War Council."

"What's going on?" She asked as they mounted the steps to the terraces and turned right.

Fabien pressed a finger to his lips conspiratorially, "I've said too much already. Better let him tell you." He showed her back into the Winter Palace and pushed one of the large doors open and waved her inside. Elenea went quickly into the foyer only to be grabbed up. The tension she had been forcing down since he had stood up melted out of her and into the floor as her brother squeezed her firmly. His body was warm, almost hot against her even through the wool of his dress coat and the silk of her gown.

"Erik." She breathed out, returning his embrace.

"Elena." He said, releasing her. He stood back and smiled a little wearily at her. He rubbed at his left hand, an anxious tick. He shot a nervous glance at Fabien before placing his hand on Elena's upper back. It was even warmer than the rest of him. "I'm sorry, but I can't stay over-long." He explained, guiding her back the way she had come. He looked grimly at her, but managed a smile anyway, "Despite all this mess, I am glad you came, Elena. I didn't really get to see you before all of this started. How is Ostwick?"

She frowned heavily at the mention of the Free Marcher city. "It's Ostwick. It's full of Mother's rules, and I have to wear a dress all the time." She ruffled the skirts of the peasant sleeved, spring green gown she was wearing to emphasize her point. "How is Skyhold?"

Erik smiled gently at her, reaching out and settling a ribbon-tail back into its place where it hung down her sleeve from her upper arm. His hand brushed against her skin. She shifted slightly away from it, feeling wary at the heat coming from the Anchor. Why was he so warm? Was he sick? She felt a knot form in her stomach as he replied, "Skyhold is busy as always. I had just managed to seal the last of the known Rifts before I was summoned here. I had expected things to slow down." He looked wistfully into the middle-distance over her shoulder, somewhere near her ear. "I had hoped I could visit Tevinter." He took a deep breath and motioned at Fabien, dismissing the taller man. "I've got her from here. You may return to your duties."

Fabien clicked into a smooth salute like he was a piece of clockwork. "Inquisitor!" He looked down his nose at Elena and winked before marching purposefully away.

Elena snorted and turned her attention back to Erik. Feeling slightly mischievous and heavy in spirit, she reached up and tugged his face down to hers, planting a large, sloppy kiss noisily on his cheek.

Erik shoved her off, wiping at his cheek roughly. He chuckled good naturedly, "You're worse than Great-Aunt Bethelda!" He scolded, "What was that for?"

Elena shrugged, "I felt like you needed some lightening up. You're no good to anyone if you're not human anymore. Stress will do that to anyone." He nodded sagely and held out an arm, indicating they should proceed on their walk. She obliged. "What's this business about your troops running amuck during the meeting?"

"I thought you wanted to lighten me up."

"I do, but you can't just slink out of there like that and expect me to forget it just because I gave you the most ridiculous kiss I could manage. Let's just rip the bandage off. Tell me."

He shook his head as they exited the palace and walked onto the terraces, "I can't, really. There's too much at stake and not enough concrete information available. It's too risky here. Perhaps if this were Skyhold… no. Not even there."

"Erik."

"No. Lane. Please. Don't press this. Please. Just trust me."

"It's not very fair of you to do all this and then leave me with nothing. It's like getting breadcrumbs instead of a roll."

He stopped walking and grasped her hand in both of his. He peered earnestly into her face. "I know. I'm sorry. You've got to understand my position, though. One wrong word in the wrong ear and we really will be at war. I'm trying to prevent that."

"And there's no one else who can?" She asked quietly.

He shook his head, "Unfortunately, no."

She scoffed, "That's bullshit! There are literally dozens of accomplished diplomats here. The Divine herself is here! Leaders from all over the continent. Erik… You don't have to do this alone."

He gripped her hands a little tighter and stepped a little closer to her, his crystal blue eyes boring into her. "If that were possible, I would do it… It's not, though. It really does have to be me. I'm the only one who can."

She felt the heat of the Anchor press against her skin. It hadn't done that before. She tried not to react to it or pull her hand away. She searched his face instead, a pit of despairing acceptance yawning in her heart. She had known since he had left the hearing that this was coming. He was going off again on some world-saving adventure and he may not come back. It was like the Conclave, except this time they were aware. She took a breath in and let it out slowly. "You're really serious. Aren't you?" He nodded. "Well, then, you had better get to work. Sooner started, sooner finished, right?"

He smiled reassuringly at her. "Yes. Don't worry. I'll take care of this in no-time. You'll see. Go, enjoy the refreshments, visit with friends, relax in the spa, read in the library… be safe."

She embraced him, trying to memorize the feeling of hugging her brother in case he didn't come back. "Me be safe? No. You be safe, Erik." She instructed as she stepped back from him and clasped her hands in front of her.

"I hate to break a promise, but I'll try." He told her as he turned his back on her and walked off.

Elena watched him go. Dorian seemed to materialize out of a shadow and fall into step beside him. They stopped in front of the East Storeroom's door. Just before going in, Elena saw Erik take Dorian's face gently in his hands and kiss him. She turned away a second too late to avoid witnessing this private moment, but was glad to see her brother enjoying some time with his love, however brief. Maybe with Dorian around, he wouldn't do anything too reckless and he really could go to Tevinter when the Exalted Council concluded. He deserved a break after all. It'd been four years of relentless work sealing the Breach, closing Rifts, rousting bandits, apostates, rogue Templars, and straggling demons from all corners of Ferelden and Orlais…. Elena couldn't remember the last time she had heard him talk about anything beyond the Inquisition. Even though it had started as a temporary military force, there was something in him that kept him tied to it even after the completion of its major goals. It had been nice to hear him admit he dreamed of something beyond it. Was he going to disband it? Was that even wise? Elena didn't know and could only speculate on her brother's thoughts about the army he led, and speculation was not her strong-suit. She decided to distract herself from it.