AN: I'm changing stuff now...if you don't like it, sorry. Feel free to let me know what I could/should fix :)

Rialla had made her way back to her room while the rest of Skyhold slept. The main hall was empty, aside from Varric. She nodded in greeting as she passed. When she reached her room she drew a bath, grateful for the castle and it's many innovations. As the handcrafted wooden tub filled with sulfur scented water she undressed. Josephine had acquired a beautiful full length mirror for her, now standing in the nude before it she felt…different. She had new scars, her muscles firmer now than they had been all those months ago when this started. She noted a small mark just above her heart. Dorian had incinerated the archer who had landed what could have been a fatal shot, his rage manifesting in a nearly uncontrolled blast of magic. 'I am fiercely protective of those who I care for.' His friendship irritated Mother Giselle to no end.

She smiled to herself as she remembered the last trip she'd taken with Dorian. They had gone to Redcliff to meet with his father's 'retainer', who had turned out to be his father. She had told Dorian to give him a chance. "We have so little choice in this life. Not family, no control over our heart, and even our own fate-" She held her hand up then, watching the light flicker for a moment. "Make sure you can live with the choices you can make. Your father is here, standing before you in a foreign land, asking his son to forgive him." Dorian had smiled sadly at her then, and after a moment to collect himself, went and spoke with his father. It had ended with him returning to Skyhold with her, his heart lighter than it had been in years.

She sunk into the warm water, thinking of Hawke and Varric. Cassandra had reacted so violently at seeing the woman speaking to Rialla it had actually frightened the dwarf. Cassandra had threatened to leave the Inquisition, to kill Varric, and had all but blamed him for the loss of Haven. Rialla had been furious, at both of them. "She trusted you, Varric. For Cassandra, that's so much more than even you can conceive. She put her faith in you…in your story." Varric had responded with anger, driven by his near fanatical adoration for the Champion. "If I had told the Seeker- If Hawke had been there, she'd be dead!" Cassandra had stopped short, her anger had been snuffed out, and without her anger to protect her from the grief of her loss she began to crumble. Varric took a step closer to the woman, frowning, "I didn't lie to you, but I was protecting her. I…I'm sorry. I brought her now, though." Cassandra had held back the tears for as long as she could, held her breath and prayed as hard as she could, and when the dam broke Varric sat beside her and offered quiet comfort as she wept. Rialla had left them alone, Varric rubbing the Seeker's back and whispering soft words of compassion. It had surprised her, on some level, but after her trip through time she had more or less expected Varric and Cassandra to grow closer.

The warm water soothed away her aches, some of which she felt were well deserved. She washed her hair and body and let herself soak until her fingers began to prune. Rialla sighed heavily as weariness set in, soon she'd have to leave the comfort of her room and attend yet another council meeting. What she wouldn't give for everything to be over, to have the chance to rest. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. While no stranger to the pleasures of the flesh, Rialla had never experienced anything like Cullen. For all his fumbling around a conversation with her, he had remained the 'Commander' through and through. She honestly hadn't expected him to know the first thing about pleasing a woman, and she was oh so grateful for her error in judgement. He needed only her permission, and once given he was again in control. She smirked as she thought of the many times she had made him blush, and the many nights he'd chased away her nightmares.

"Inquisitor?" Leliana's lilting voice carried through her reverie. "Care to join us today?" There was a touch of humor to her words.

Rialla chuckled softly. "I had considered staying here."

Leliana sat down on a cushioned chair beside the tub. "I don't blame you." She spoke softly. "Cassandra has asked for you to consider looking into the missing Seekers. She has not heard anything since Orlais…I'm worried it may be a similar fate to that of the Templar Order. Corypheus would not likely sit idly by while you make off with his mages."

Rialla began to rise from the water, suddenly in no mood to relax. "That would devastate her." She accepted the towel Leliana offered. "Have your agents found anything we can use? Any trace of them?"

"Yes. It is disturbing to say the least." Leliana rubbed her hands together. "I believe we should move on this, we have the location of the Seeker fortress and, with a small force, could infiltrate without drawing attention to ourselves too soon."

Rialla nodded. "I'll be down shortly, what do Cullen and Josephine think of this?"

"Cullen is decidedly against you and Cassandra charging into the Seeker haven, he believes that if our luck has anything to say about the possible future…well, I'd best let him speak for himself. Needless to say he'd rather you take a large detachment of Templar and Soldiers." Again, there was a glint of something in Leliana's smile, her tone, that lead Rialla to believe she was amused, if not outright enjoying herself.

Rialla gave her a wary smile and went to dress herself. She followed the woman silently to the war room. Cullen was pacing behind the massive table, glaring ominously at the map and tiny markers before him. Rialla caught his eye and for a moment he paused, his eyes seemed to soften at the sight of her. "This plan of yours is dangerous, Leliana."

"I am aware, Commander, however too large a force will be picked off before it has a chance to achieve its goal." She pointed at a few markers indicating Venatori encampments. "The Inquisitor cannot afford to draw their attention, it would compromise the Seeker's goals…as well as putting them in unnecessary danger."

Cullen stopped his pacing and glared hard at the map. Rialla knew he would concede, knew that Leliana was right. "Then I should accompany them. If my men cannot go then I will." Rialla didn't miss the smile that flashed across Leliana's face then.

"Compassion will be the death of you, Cullen." Leliana shook her head ruefully. "No, you cannot leave your men. I trust the Inquisitor and Cassandra can get the right people to assist…even if you are unable to oversee this personally."

"I will be alright, Cu-Commander." Rialla blushed at her lack of formality. "Leliana, have Harding prepare a small group of archers. I'll have Blackwall and Dorian tag along…" She poked at one of the Venatori camps. Leliana nodded and left the room. Josephine had remained quiet, taking notes as the others negotiated. She bowed her head and smiled to Rialla before following Leliana to the door.

Rialla was suddenly very aware of the fact that she was alone with Cullen. He had been glaring at the map, holding the table in a white-knuckle grip.

"Have I upset you?" Rialla half whispered. Cullen's eyes snapped to hers in surprise.

"What? No, I…apologies. I was thinking of something else." He shook his head and rubbed his neck nervously as he straightened up.

Rialla could sense something was amiss in the way he stood, every muscle tense. He looked ready to bolt from the room. She considered simply walking away, figuring she'd give him space to work through whatever it was that had him on edge. She considered that she might be that problem, and by the end of the full minute of silence she was sure the night before had been a mistake for which he was preparing an appropriate apology.

She turned and made for the door, accepting that she'd possibly over analyzed what they had shared. As her hand reached for the handle she heard him whisper 'stop'. Hesitantly she turned to see him moving slowly toward her.

"It's all right Cullen." She started, staring at her feet as he closed the distance between them. "I think I understand…"

He let out a ragged sigh. "You can't possibly understand." He half groaned, forcing himself not to touch her.

Rialla lifted her eyes to his. Every muscle pulled tight as a bow string. She wanted to say something, anything, tell him she had feelings for him, that she wanted to be near him…but she couldn't find the words.

"Andraste preserve me, but I have wanted to be near you for longer than I should be comfortable admitting." His lips quirked into a lopsided grin. "I think the sparring did it, actually." He inched closer. "Watching you sleep, keeping you safe…dancing…with you." His fingers were so close to her cheek she could feel the heat from his hand. She had but to lean, just a bit, and he'd be touching her. "I have no idea what it is you want…or how I'd even begin to give it to you-"

Rialla cut him off with a kiss, her hands gingerly cupping his cheeks. He let out a soft murmur of approval and quickly returned the gesture. Her arms wrapped around his neck as his arms encircled her. She was petite in comparison to him, almost completely engulfed within his grasp. She nipped at his lower lip, her tongue darting out as he gasped. She moaned into the kiss as his tongue danced with hers.

They broke away as suddenly as they'd come together, both gasping and staring at the other wide-eyed and hungry. Cullen leaned his forehead to hers, holding her close.

"You." Rialla whispered as she brought her hands to his chest. The metal breastplate prevented her from touching the skin beneath, feeling his heart hammering in his chest. "I just want you."

He let out a small, relieved, sigh. Chuckling as her lips danced along his neck and under his chin. He ran his hands soothingly up and down her back, giving her a gentle squeeze.

"You know…there are going to be those who talk." Rialla cautiously reminded.

"Let them." Cullen grinned, kissing the top of her head. "Orleasian's love forbidden romance."

She chuckled. "I thought they liked playing games and eating incredibly sad ham." Cullen laughed at that, remembering how one of the elves carrying trays of food had described the ham from the Anderfels.

"Did you eat those tiny cakes? Leliana told me they make one with gold on it out of anise and deep mushroom, it smells worse than it tastes. He scrunched his nose up. "I managed to avoid eating them but poor Josephine must have had four or five of those alone." He made a 'harrumph' sound. "Yet another reason I dislike noble's, even their food is pretentious."

Rialla grinned, mumbling 'pretentious food' and snickering. Cullen smiled down at her as he released her from his grip. As she glanced up, realizing he had moved away, she saw him frown. "I'm going to be fine, Cullen."

"I believe you, but I worry." He took her small hands in his. "I didn't see this coming, I didn't know I would…or could, rather…feel anything like this." Rialla held her breath as he spoke. His voice broke a little as he continued. "Kinloch was horrifying, the single darkest time in my life. I saw my friends tortured, mages losing control and becoming abominations…so much death…" Rialla moved to touch his face only to have him pull away, smiling sadly as he continued. "I cared for her, deeply. She was a mage. I stood as she suffered her Harrowing, I was to strike her down if she failed. She didn't, but she left shortly after."

Rialla gasped at the revelation. "You knew her…" Her voice was hardly a whisper as she listened intently to his story.

"I did, yes. We were friends, and she saved my life in that horrid tower." Cullen shook his head and rubbed his face. "Alistair, that smug little…he became a Grey Warden, as did she obviously, and they had come seeking the First Enchanter, and his mages. She didn't have to save them, and I remember very clearly begging her to kill them all." He glared hard at the ground. "I was a fool-"

"It's called fear, Cullen, and it isn't so different. You are anything but a fool. We all do and say things we regret when faced with our own mortality." She tipped his chin up enough to get him to look her in the eye. "You are a different man now, you've been through a lot…and I happen to rather like you, just as you are."

"You have no idea what I've done, what I've allowed to be done…" Rialla only smirked at him. "If you knew…"

"Does it matter? It is in the past, behind you. You can't live back there, Cullen. It will only leave you broken and alone." She stepped into his arms. "Mamae, mother, always used to warn us not to get lost in the shadows of yesterday." He bowed his head, pressing his forehead to hers, not trusting himself to speak.

He held her for what felt like hours before he released her again. "Thank you, Rialla." He whispered as he placed a light kiss to the top of her head. She nodded, silent and smiling up at him. "Promise to be careful. Please."

"I promise." She whispered back, rising to her tip-toes to place a gentle kiss at the corner of his mouth. She turned and left the War Room, turning her thoughts to Cassandra and the Seekers.

She made her way through the hall, ignoring the whispers of those congregating in the main hall. She never knew why so many were there, they never did anything…just milled around waiting to talk with Josephine or ate.

She made her way through the main hall, casting a glance up to Vivienne as she made her way through. That woman gave her a bad feeling, and the conversation from two nights back had done nothing to ease her mind. Vivienne's view toward her brethren left Rialla wondering if she truly wished to help them, or had intended to turn them Tranquil. 'Magic is dangerous, just as fire is dangerous. Those who forget are likely to get burned.' She said, arrogantly excluding herself from such a category. "I know my limits and would like nothing more than to reinstate the Circle of Magi." She noted. "I would not see our progress marred by an abomination running loose within our own camp."

"And what of Dorian, Solas, or any one of the Dalish mages? Would you capture them and force your will upon them?" Rialla bit back.

"No, of course not my dear." Vivienne laughed back. "No, darling. I would eliminate any threat to our peace." Her tone turned dangerous. "Just as you must, I will take the necessary precautions to see that all magic is contained…safely, of course."

"You'd kill them!" She hissed. Not for the first time, she wished she'd ignored the woman's demand to join the Inquisition.

"Not me, no. The Templar would. That is their sacred duty." Vivienne was, if nothing else, impossible to rile. She remained dangerously calm, always thinking four steps ahead. Every conversation with her was like a chess match. Rialla glared at her, hating her more by the second.

"I will see to it, personally, that you are never succeed." She turned to leave.

"When the time comes, dear girl, you'll be begging for the Circle." She had said with a laugh. "It is the only way to save these people, after all."

Now, walking out toward Dorian and Cassandra, Vivienne watched her with a hint of a smile. It made her skin crawl. Dorian stepped up to her as she passed beneath Vivienne's perch. "I absolutely hate that wretched bitch."

Dorian guffawed at her as they followed Cassandra out to the main gate. Blackwall waited with their mounts below. "She's a force of nature, and quite used to getting her way. I'd be careful not to upset her." Dorian gave Rialla a look that made her nervous. "Vivienne is a truly gifted mage, but her true power is her iron will, resolve, and the fact that she's the resources to see her goals reached…by any means."

"She'd never think to challenge me, I'm the Inquisitor." Rialla huffed indignantly.

"You're just a woman, and that is just a title…both of which can be destroyed with naught but the flick of a wrist. I only suggest you use caution." Dorian's face turned somber. "You're needed now, but after Corypheus is dealt with…then you'll become the wildling who lived with the Dalish once more, and your title will count for very little in her eyes."

Rialla sighed heavily and nodded. "I know, and that frightens me."

Dorian's grin spread. "Oh good, I was starting to think your night with Cullen had robbed you of all your sense." He dodged her playful slap.

"If you two are quite done, we should get going." Cassandra grumbled, rolling her eyes with a disgusted huff when Dorian winked at her. "This is going to be unbearable." She grumbled as she rode away from them, Blackwall following with a small chuckle.

It took eleven days to reach Caer Ostwin. Travel through Crestwood had been hampered by heavy rains and the occasional rift, but was otherwise uneventful. They made camp a half days ride from the fortress in order to plan their next move.

"Cassandra?" Rialla cautiously approached the Seeker. She turned toward Rialla slowly. "I know this is stupid to ask, but are you alright?"

Cassandra smiled sadly at her. "No, I suppose I'm not, but I appreciate your concern." She turned back to stare out at the rolling hills leading toward the Castle. "My brothers and sisters are just over that hill. Did I fail them when I left the Order?"

Rialla let out a small sigh. "No." The older woman turned to her, curious. "No more than Cullen did, or I for leaving our past behind. You were right to leave, though others will disagree. You had to do what was necessary. Perhaps Seeker Lucius will see this, perhaps not."

Cassandra nodded. "He is not the same man he once was. I fear, with all that has happened, they have been more affected that even Leliana could know." She clenched her fists at her side. "I should not have left them!"

"What could you have done? Take control of the Seekers? Challenge Lucius and his men in Orlais? You are the Right Hand of the Divine, Cassandra. You are called to higher purpose and that can often mean we suffer for it." Rialla eyed her hand before turning to Cassandra. "Doubt pulls at all of us, fear that we've failed or damned those we love. You've made so many sacrifices. Whatever is happening in that fortress right now, it isn't right. I know you can feel it."

Cassandra let out a shuddering sigh. "I am very much afraid of what we are going to find there. I only hope we are not too late." Cassandra turned away from her. "Get some rest, I will take first watch. I must make peace with what I may face tomorrow." Rialla nodded despite the fact that Cassandra couldn't see her and returned to her tent.

"It is a hard thing to face your friends, harder than facing ones fears." Blackwall spoke softly from his seat by a small campfire. Dorian not far from him. "She knows what must be done and will see it through, no matter the cost to her."

"I worry about that. If things are as bad there as they are everywhere else, if the corruption has reached even them...I worry there will be very little of Cassandra left." Rialla took a seat beside the Warden.

"Cassandra is a survivor, Rialla." Dorian reassured. He turned to look at the warrior standing watch. "I've never admired her more." He smiled faintly, Rialla and Blackwall nodded their agreement. "We should rest, tomorrow is going to be a very long day."

Rialla managed to get a few hours rest before it was her turn to take watch. She was grateful to have the last watch and be there when the sun began to rise. The sky was like a painting, streaked bright blue and deep purple. The suns rays sent a shock of orange and pink chasing away the dark of the night, birds began to sing to the morning as deer made their way out toward meadows of wild flowers and green grass. It was beautiful and serene. The last moments of calm before the onslaught to come.

Rialla woke the others before dismantling her tent and preparing what she'd need for the fight. Leliana's archers had already made a quick sweep of the grounds surrounding the keep and returned with disturbing news.

"Vacant?" Cassandra worried her hands together.

"Not empty, not entirely, but it seems very few remain in the Keep." The archer replied.

"Very few alive, you mean." The Seeker frowned, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Very well, thank you for the report." She turned to Rialla. "We're running out of time."

"Agreed." Rialla turned to the mage and Warden. "We must hurry." They nodded and mounted their horses. "Keep a few of your men back, if we are unsuccessful Leliana must know immediately." The archer nodded and retreated back to the woods.

They rode hard, covering the distance to the fortress itself in a few hours, going the remaining distance on foot.

The Keep itself was in a sad state of disrepair. Walls were crumbling, two towers had completely collapsed and left only rubble and a skeleton of what they once were. It appeared, for all intents and purposes, to be abandoned. If not for Dorian and Cassandra's ability to sense magic, Rialla would have assumed they had arrived too late.

"Something is here, with the Seekers." Dorian grimaced.

Cassandra nodded with a glare. They approached a door at the base of the Keep. "This will lead into the larder, or it was when I was last here." The door opened easily, hinges creaking softly. Immediately Cassandra saw two of the red Templar, both appearing equally surprised to see her. She launched at them with a roar, her shield slamming into the face of one while her sword caught the second in the gut. He fell with a gurgle. Dorian sent a stream of fire at the one still standing, blood pouring from his shattered nose. He opened his mouth to scream as the flames licked at his skin and was silenced by an arrow to his throat.

Blackwall mirrored Cassandra, moving up the left flank. Shouts could be heard just down the dark hallway. "Not so vacant after all." Blackwall swung wide, taking the head off the next soldier through the door.

Cassandra glanced down the hall, torches illuminating enough for her to make out the eerie glow of the tainted Templar. "Bees!" She turned to Rialla, who handed over a jar Sera had crafted before they left. 'Always take bee's, always.' The jar sailed down the hallway, shattering at the feet of several soldiers.

They screamed as an impossibly large swarm of bee's filled the hallway, covering their faces and hands like a heavy blanket of needles and venom. The distraction was enough for the four of them to pass through, dispatching the guards with little difficulty. They made their way up to the main hall where a dozen more Templar waited. Rialla nocked an arrow back and aimed for the center of the group. With a few whispered words she let it go, diving to the side as the arrow hit its mark and exploded. Cassandra charged in like a raging bull, knocking the soldiers aside with unsettling ease. Dorian focused his spells on keeping Cassandra and Blackwall protected, his magic having little effect on the well prepared Templar. Blackwall cut down one after the other, he and Cassandra carving a bloody path toward the Lord Seeker.

As the last in the room fell, Rialla shouldered her bow. "Were any of them...?" Rialla began, stopped as Cassandra shook her head in the negative.

"None were Seekers...all Templar." She kicked the helmet of one of the felled creatures away. "Through those doors is an antechamber that leads to the practice yard and beyond that the Lord Seekers chambers and the barracks." She started toward the door, the others following through. As they moved down another dimly lit hallway they neared daylight and a stairway leading up to the yard. Rialla could just make out a man slumped at the base of the stairs, barely breathing. Three Templar barred their path to him, laughing at the Seeker and her companions.

"So, Seeker. Come to offer your head, have you?" Rialla recognized him as the soldier at Lucius' side in Orlais. "A little late, bitch." He cast a glance to the dying man at his feet. "Looks like this one is another failure." He spoke to the soldiers on either side of him. "When I'm done with this filth, we'll extract it from him and use her-" He thrust his blade toward Cassandra. "As the next host. Beat the bitch down enough and she'll do anything." His sickly sallow skin and crimson eyes made Rialla's stomach churn.

Cassandra said nothing, standing stoic and silent before them. She held her shield up in one hand and sword in the other, bowing her head in silent prayer.

"Ah, do you think your God's will answer?!" His laugh made Rialla shake her head, as if the voice were trying to invade her very mind. Blackwall placed a steady hand on her shoulder. Dorian placed a hand on Cassandra's shoulder just as she lifted her head. Slowly, she started toward the man. Eyes fixed on her target. He moved toward her with a maniacal grin. She let him take the first swing, and as his blade neared her a white light erupted from the ground beneath her. He screamed in rage and pain as it burned his corrupted skin and sent him sailing back toward the other two, equally startled men. "KILL HER, KILL HER NOW!" He shrieked in pain as he scrambled to his feet. He made to run up the stairs but Rialla was faster, loosing an arrow that hit him in the neck and sent him over the side of the stairs. Blackwall charged the guard to Cassandra's left, his heavy shield knocking him off his feet. Blackwall raised the shield and slammed it down on the fallen mans neck, crushing it and killing him. Cassandra continued toward the remaining soldier, her unwavering gaze causing him to panic and drop his sword. He fell to his knees before her, begging incoherently for her to spare him. She reached forward, leaning enough to look him in the eye, and drove her blade through his chest. As she withdrew the sword he slumped to the ground before her. She stepped over the body and rushed toward the man they'd been standing over.

"DANIEL!" Her voice held an edge of fear as she dropped to his side. "Damn you, Daniel! You should have come with me..."Her voice broke. She pulled him into her arms.

"C-Cassandra? You're...alive?" His voice was weak and rasping. Rialla, Blackwall, and Dorian stood back as she held the ailing man. His skin was marred by dark red and black lines that reminded Rialla of river snakes she'd seen in the Kocari Wilds. Vile things, venom strong enough to kill a dozen grown men. These snakes were beneath his skin, crawling over his body and spreading their venom.

"What have they done to you?" Cassandra sobbed, holding him closer. Daniel brought his hand up to touch her arm.

"They're trying to...infect us...with demons." He gasped in pain. "The Lord Seeker...he called us...back. One by one..." He coughed, blood trickling down his chin. "We fell...I was afraid...for you." He wheezed and coughed again.

"I'm so sorry, my dear friend." Her eyes were closed tightly, as if there were some way to will him well. "I never should have left you."

"If you hadn't...you'd be dead." He smiled up at her, bringing a hand to her cheek. Her eyes opened slowly, tears falling freely. "You can save what few...oh Gods...what few remain."

"Lucius is here?" She gaped down at him.

"He isn't Lucius any longer..." Daniel whispered, body growing weaker by the second. "Please, avenge us...save us." Cassandra nodded silently. "Cassandra." His eyes were seeking hers, trying to convey his next request without saying it aloud. "As my friend...mentor...please..."

Cassandra sobbed, shaking her head back and forth. "Don't ask me to do that, Daniel. Please...we can help you! I have healing potions, the Inquisitor is here!" Rialla bowed before him.

"No...no time." He continued to smile through his pain. "I know the...demon...it's still inside...me. Please, don't let me die like this." Daniels smile faltered. "Give me...peace."

Rialla turned away, hiding her face in Dorian's shoulder. Blackwall moved to stand beside Cassandra, offering her a reassuring nod. "Give your friend peace, Seeker." He spoke softly before turning away toward Rialla.

Cassandra eased herself free of Daniel and stood before him, wiping tears away with the back of a bloody hand. "You were a good man, Daniel." She began, her voice failing as another sob broke free. "Maker...Maker take you to his side, Andraste preserve your soul." She drove her blade through his heart, screaming as she felt it pierce flesh and bone. Collapsing to her knees, she wept. Blackwall gave her a moment as she placed Daniel's sword over his body, crossing his hands over the hilt. "I will see you again, my friend." She whispered.

She stood and turned to her friends. "We finish this now." She glowered at them, turning her sorrow to rage and taking off toward the practice yard.

The sudden change from dim, candle lit, hallways to full sunlight was jarring. Rialla blinked several times against the light, her eyes quickly adjusting to the change. In the middle of the practice arena stood a man in full armor, grinning maliciously at them.

"Well, if it isn't the long lost Seeker! Cassandra, how good of you to join us!" He gave her a mocking bow. "You're a bit late, though." He laughed, a sound that sent shivers down Rialla's spine. "I'm utterly amazed at the gullibility of your brethren. I tell them I've found a way to stop the Elder One and they coming running. Like sheep to slaughter, they all fell." He made a wide gesture at the grounds. "I'm surprised, though. They were much tougher than he'd said they would be, and even in this form, with his incredible knowledge, the Lord Seeker did not know exactly how difficult it would be to force the demons into you."

Cassandra gasped for air, falling to her knees and shaking her head. "Oh yes, Seeker." He continued, taking a few steps toward her. "They suffered, begged for death. If only they'd been as desperate as Lucius...no matter." He turned to Rialla. "I will have a much easier time getting into her head. Imagine the power I will wield then!" He clapped his hands together excitedly.

"This is...it's not possible!" She managed to choke the words out, clutching the hilt of her sword with all her might. "Demons cannot be forced into a body, only mages could be...how did this happen?!" She mostly spoke to herself, not expecting an answer from the creature before her. "Lucius...how could you?"

"He's dead." It answered, still smiling. "I stole his memories, thoughts, I erased him and created this." He gestured at his body. "All in his likeness. Fooled you, stupid girl."

Dorian stepped forward, hand held up in what seemed like a pacifying gesture. "You mean to say, you are a demon...in his body?" He knelt beside Cassandra, hooking a hand under one arm and hauling her to her feet. "That is truly remarkable." Cassandra shot him a horrified look. Dorian gave a slight shake of his head and continued. "You must be rather powerful, then, to take over the Lord Seeker. He was an elite among his ilk."

Rialla saw her opening. As Dorian played into the creatures vanity, its disguise began to fail. The two Red Templar knights on either side of it were focused on the Tevinter mage moving toward them and paid no attention to Rialla and Blackwall.

"Go to Cassandra, get her back. I'm going to try something." She darted to cover, moving quietly behind them.

Blackwall edged toward the Seeker's Templar guards.

"Kind of you to notice, mage. Perhaps you'd like to play host to one of my kind. Imagine the power you could wield!" The demons eyes narrowed, his grin turning to something completely feral. "Or rather, what power we could wield through you. Can't have that damned conscience getting in the way now." It chuckled.

"Oh heavens no, though I appreciate the offer. I'm far too pretty to become an abomination." Rialla was now directly behind him. "You, however, seem to pull of the garish masquerade nicely."

The barb hit home. "How dare you!? I've made a masterpiece of this pathetic mortal vessel!" It all but screamed at him.

"Oh quite. Honestly, your vanity does you little credit. You miss all the little things in your foolish pursuit for perfection. His eyes were brown, not black and oozing." Dorian stopped and smiled proudly. "And you completely mucked up the face...what happened to his nose?"

Suddenly it screamed, all pretense of Lucius falling away as it tore free of its mask.

"DORIAN, RUN!" Rialla shouted behind it, raising her hand above her. The mark erupted, shooting a bolt of green energy into the sky just above the creature. A rift tore open and began pulling everything near it in. The Templar were caught completely off guard and flew in, dissolving on contact with the rift. "You pathetic knock off, the Lord Seeker was a warrior! You demons talk too much..." Rialla bore down on it. "Dread wolf take you." She hissed.

"I fooled you. You never would have known if I hadn't left you a clue." Its impossibly long arms clawed for purchase, trying desperately to pull itself free of the rift.

Cassandra came rushing across the yard toward it, blade held high. With a scream of pure rage she brought the blade down, nearly severing the demons head completely. It fell with a sickening plop before being sucked back into the fade. Rialla closed her eyes and focused on closing her hand, collapsing once the rift sealed.

"Andraste's flaming arse, Dorian, that was bloody idiotic!" Blackwall grabbed the man by his shoulders. "But damned brave. Good thinking." He smiled, clapping him on the back and leading him toward Rialla. "You alright, Inquisitor?"

Rialla gasped for air, sweating profusely from the strain and cradling her hand. "As okay as I can be." She winced as Cassandra helped her to her feet. As Dorian made his way over he noticed a key lying in the grass, still wet with blood. He picked it up and handed it to Cassandra. "Is that the key to the Lord Seekers office?" Cassandra nodded slowly. "We should check it out."

Cassandra led them to his door, bloody hand prints marked the door and wall. She carefully unlocked the door and nudged it open. Inside looked like a massacre had taken place. Blood and bits of flesh and bone covered most of the room. On the desk lay a large tome, open to some random section as if he'd been reading when this happened. Cassandra walked through the gore to the table and collected the book. "This book..." She whispered, gently running her fingers along the page. "It holds all the knowledge and history of the Seekers of Truth. Rituals, the first Inquisition...everything that I believe in is written here." She smiled sadly, turning the page. "I am holding the only surviving proof our...my Order ever existed." She clutched the book to her chest and sighed heavily.

Dorian frowned at the mess. "Perhaps it can be used to find where the others are? Maybe even rebuild the Order at some point."

Cassandra nodded and said nothing. She glanced around the room quickly, then turned on her heel and left. "We should get back to Skyhold. There's nothing for us here, now." Her voice had gone cold, flat even. Her face an emotionless mask. "We'll need to refocus our attention on more important matters for now." She started back toward the stairway and stopped, looking over her shoulder toward Rialla. "Thank you for allowing me this. It needed to be done." She then turned and left.

The trip back to Skyhold was quiet. Cassandra kept to herself, said nothing to anyone, and upon reaching the castle she immediately sequestered herself in her room. Rialla let her have the space she seemed to need. She was familiar with loss and grief. Solitude could often be the best, and only, companion for one in such deep despair. Varric refused to heed any warning and forced his presence on the Seeker, and to everyone's collective surprise she allowed him.

"They're kindred spirits." Leliana spoke softly as she approached Rialla in the Tavern. "He knows better than most the desperate pain of loss." Rialla nodded, sipping her wine. "How are you doing? The reports were..." Leliana drifted off, taking a seat beside her near the hearth. Bull and his company had been drinking and laughing on the far side of the Tavern, Maryden sat not far off strumming her lute. The tavern was virtually empty, a rare sight these days.

"I am fine, Leliana. I'm overwhelmed, horrified, and some how still surprised at the lengths people will go for their own greed." She turned toward the assassin. "I must remember what I'm doing, and why. If I waver..." She finished her drink. "Well, we all know what may happen then." Rialla stood and made for the door. "Thank you for asking, Leliana."

As Rialla stepped out into the cool night air she pulled her cloak closer to her body. It felt as if she'd never be warm again, body chilled straight to her soul. With a quick shake of her head she turned toward the Keep. She'd stashed a few bottles of wine in her room, now desperate to be alone she almost broke into a run.

"Wait." A voice called from behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know it was the Commander. "You've been gone for weeks, return with hardly enough time to hand in the report of your success, and hide in the tavern." Cullen walked around to face her. "Do I mean so little you couldn't spare a moment of your time to let me know you're alright?"

"I'm far from alright, Commander." Rialla bit out, wincing at the harshness of her tone. "I need some time."

Cullen let out a small sigh. He made to move toward her and seemed to think better of it. "I understand." He spoke softly, seemingly unaffected by her coldness. "I'll be here when...if you need me." He nodded to her and stepped out of her way.