They had only been at Skyhold for three months when Grand Cleric Elthina, or Divine Themistoclea, as she called herself, sent them a missive.
The messenger himself had caused an uproar, a man in shining Templar armor. They almost refused to let him through the gate, until he called that he came from the Divine. Then the guards brought Arethin.
“My lady,” the Templar bowed before Arethin. “Divine Themistoclea has seen that you have closed the Breach, and that you are indeed worthy of her consideration.”
“How kind of her,” Arethin murmured. “So, what is it she wishes of me?”
“She wishes to meet you, of course,” he said.
“Why?”
“You are the savior. You healed the wound in the sky. Surely you are the chosen of Andraste.” the Templar looked up at her. “And if Her Holiness decrees it, so shall it be.”
Arethin looked at him for a long time. “The Council must speak on this,” she said. “Do not leave. We will return with a message.”
“This is a trap,” Cassandra declared.
Arethin had brought everyone together that she could think of, even rounding up Felassan and Solas. This problem needed the most minds on it that they had.
“It sure smells like a trap,” Bull agreed.
“Perhaps she simply wants to heal the animosity between us,” Josephine suggested. The Dalish ambassador, Yara, laughed aloud at that.
“Do you honestly think that's likely in the slightest?” she asked.
“It is...a possibility,” Josephine shrugged helplessly.
“If it is a trap, what is the purpose?” Solas asked. “Considering her behavior in the past, I find it unlikely that she would simply wish to kill you.”
“Why do you think that?” Arethin wanted to know.
“She has a penchant for playing games, does she not?”
Leliana nodded. “Indeed she does. And she changed her mind quickly enough,” she said. A thought struck her. “Perhaps she wishes to imprison you, and use you to her own ends,” she said.
“How would she go about doing that?” Arethin asked, blinking. “And why?”
“That makes sense,” Barris said, his tone dark. “If she had you, it's possible she could use the Herald of Andraste rumor to his advantage--”
“She could claim that you repented your ways, and we would no longer have any power.” Cassandra exclaimed.
Arethin shook her head. “That sounds far more complex than simply killing me.”
“Not necessarily,” Josephine said. “The Chantry already suffers from how many people are fighting within it—using your image could be extremely useful to her. Our own organization is young, filled with many people who do not agree with you or your methods.”
“If she had you, we couldn't risk fighting her, or else she might kill you,” Iron Bull brought up. “It's a tactic to try and avoid martyrs. If she killed you, your people might just decide you're Andraste after all.”
Sera nodded. “Yeah,” she agreed. “Lots of little people get pretty bent out of shape about dead heroes. Lots of them also believe whatever the Divine says—cos they don't know not to believe her. She'd be talkin' about all sorts of stuff they don't really care about—but if you were dead, then they'd have a reason to care.”
“But if we don't meet her, she could claim that we are heretics,” Cassandra said, biting her fingernail. “We would lose all hope of reuniting the Chantry.”
“But do you really wish to?” Ambassador Yara asked.
“The turmoil within the Chantry has been disastrous,” Bann Teagan pointed out. “Destructive from the beginning. We should try and repair some of that destruction.”
“You should at least see what she wants,” Ambassador Vhelan, the Orzammar representative, said.
“But we don't know what kind of trap she has laid,” Arethin argued.
“Then bring people who can fight,” Vhelan shook her head. “You'll have problems either way. At least if you go, you'll know what she wants.”
“You could send a proxy--” Leliana pointed out.
“No,” Arethin said. “The proxy might get hurt.” she shook her head. “I'll go,” Arethin decided. “This woman has been dogging me and the rest of us since this began. I would at least like to know what she wants.”
“This is foolish,” Josephine said with a frown.
Arethin nodded. “I”m sure it is. Where would we meet?”
“Somewhere neutral,” Leliana said. “Many Seeker and Templar strongholds are in Ferelden, but those are out of the question, of course.” she hummed to herself. “Therinfold Redoubt should work...”
“I'll bring some people along, too,” Arethin said. “Madame de Fer--”
“Darling, she would detest me,” Vivienne said with a chilly smile.
“Is that so?”
“Absolutely. I defied her Lambert many times.”
Fiona snorted, but did not disagree. “I suggest you bring no mages at all.”
“Cassandra?”
“I daresay she would dislike me as well,” Cassandra said. “But I will come.”
Arethin looked around the room, and her eyes landed on Barris. “Ser Barris?”
Barris nodded. "I should be there also.”
Arethin surveyed the room, and sighed. “And most of the rest of you will cause problems as well,” she said. “Sera—why don't you come, also, and see if your Friends can help. I imagine they have no great love of Elthina?”
Sera nodded. “Most of them don't like her,” she agreed. “The ones who know who she is, anyway.”
Arethin returned to the Templar.
“We will meet your mistress at Therinfold Redoubt,” Arethin told him, carefully avoiding using any of the woman's titles. “So she will not have to come here, and we will not have to go to her.”
“Of course,” the Templar bowed his head.
Arethin took Cassandra, Ser Barris, and Sera with her, and they were accompanied by several of Leliana's people as well as some of the soldiers the Inquisition had managed to recruit. Everyone else stayed behind, as most of them might be considered an aggressor. Arethin disliked being the only mage,
The eluvian opened to a ruin some days' ride from Therinfold Redoubt, and they made the trip in as quick a time as was possible.
Therinfold Redoubt was a large hold, once a fortress of the Seekers, now contested and abandoned. The Seekers had been scattered to the winds when the war had begun, and even Cassandra had no idea what happened to all of them.
When Arethin's company arrived, no one else was yet there, so they waited. Elthina would be there within several days, at least, and Arethin took the time to set many ward and alarm spells so that they would know when she got there.
The Dalish knew many ways of fighting Templars and Seekers both. Arethin had made a particular effort to learn them, so her staff was weighted and solid, and she knew how to fight without magic very well.
They were all nervous, anticipating the worst.
After three days, down the path came an entourage of Templars, with one woman in red robes at the front, riding a white horse.
“There she is,” Cassandra growled.
The three of them came to greet her, flanked by their own soldiers.
The woman—she must have been Elthina—looked down at them, her expression utterly serene.
She got off her horse. One of the Templars raised a hand, as if to stop her, but she glanced at him and he lowered it again.
She wore the red and white robes of the Divine, and was of medium height. Her gaze swept all of them, and landed on Arethin. She smiled.
“And here you are,” she said. “The chosen of Andraste herself.” she looked at Arethin's companions, and her entourage. “Seeker Pentaghast,” she inclined her head in Cassandra's direction. “And...Ser Barris, I believe?”
Ser Barris only gave a nod. Cassandra merely stared coldly back at her.
Elthina's eyes flicked across the faces of the other soldiers and paused on Sera, but she said nothing else.
“Why did you wish us to meet?” Arethin asked, wanting no preamble.
“I would not have this animosity between us,” Elthina said, sorrow passing over her face. “This was is a tragedy for all.”
“You are the one who instigated it,” Cassandra hissed, and Barris put a hand on her shoulder.
Elthina was not moved. “The Maker alone guides me,” she said, her voice placid. “And he has guided me to you.”
“And?” Arethin said. “What is it you want?”
“I wish to be allies, of course,” Elthina's serene smile did not waver.
“And what would we possibly have to gain from that?”
“It was your scheming that split the Chantry in half,” Cassandra snapped.
Elthina did not respond to the jibe. “You, of course, would have the friendship and allegiance of Orlais, and all of those who worship the Maker,” she said.
“Why would we need them?” Arethin asked, raising an eyebrow. “And how would a Dalish mage even gain that in the first place, word of the Divine or no?”
“You cannot turn down allies when a threat such as Corypheus stalks the land.” they must have looked surprised, because Elthina added “Many of my own Templars and Seekers left me to join his army. I know of him well enough.”
“And what of the second problem? That I am a mage—a Dalish mage—and you and yours have tried to kill the mages. It is of your own doing that the fighting began between the Circle and the Templars.”
“That was not of the Chantry's work,” Elthina said with a sad shake of her head. “A misguided apostate sparked the rebellion. You are surely of the Maker's children, and clearly Andraste's chosen, despite your magic and your more savage heritage.”
Cassandra bristled, and Sera curled her lip in revulsion, but Arethin stayed neutral, despite the coldness creeping up her spine.
“And if we were allies,” Arethin said, her voice soft. “What would you wish of me?”
“Your Alliance is a step in the correct direction,” Elthina said. “Working to promote peace is always a benefit. Yet there are too many who could corrupt your intent. We would ask that the Chantry—the true Chantry, not the Inquisition—have a seat on your council, and Orlais as well--”
“Orlais does not have so much as a ruler,” Cassandra snapped. “They are in the midst of a civil war. What good would that do?”
“--and that you reinstate the Circle,” Elthina finished. “The Grand Enchanter and her rebellious followers cannot be allowed to continue on their path.”
“And what of my people?” Arethin asked, her eyes narrowed.
“Of course, the Dalish would be allowed to go as they pleased,” Elthina said. “But this is not their business. Your people graciously give your mages to the Templars, as any wise people do. Apart from that, they and the dwarves have little stake in this.”
Arethin stared at her.
“No,” she said. “We could not ally with one such as you—and certainly not on those terms.”
For the first time, a flicker of anger crossed Elthina's face. “You are Andraste's chosen,” she said. “You cannot turn the true Chantry aside.”
“You are no true Divine,” Cassandra snapped. “You are no more chosen by the Maker than I am.”
“If you turn us aside, you will regret it,” Elthina promised, her dark eyes stormy. “You will be guided to the Maker, one way or another.”
“You cannot guide by force,” Barris spoke up. “You of all people must understand this.”
“I do not force,” Elthina said, her mouth pulling downwards. “I merely instruct, and explain consequences. And I tell you, Herald, the consequences will be grave if you turn this aside.”
“And what will those consequences be?” Arethin stepped forward. “Will you set your army upon us? A bare hundred Templars? Perhaps will you call upon the might of Orlais, and their broken army? Will you call an Exalted March?”
“If it comes to that,” Elthina said.
“Then you will face what we have—the Dalish, the dwarves, Ferelden, the Inquisition—and other things you could not dream of. We do not deal in things we cannot see, Grand Cleric, and we do not deal in empty threats. You are the one who chased away her allies, and the Alliance has merely taken them all in.”
“The Dalish thought they could stand against the Chantry once before, and so did Ferelden,” Elthina hissed. “Can you do so again?”
“Perhaps,” Arethin stepped back. “Perhaps not. But in the past, we stood alone. Now, we stand together.” hesitating for only a moment, she said “We have the Elvhen of old at our right hand, those who walked this land like giants. What do you have? A liar's promise, and petty human stories.” she shook her head. “We seek to save this world, Grand Cleric. If you wish to help us, do as you will. If you do not...”
She let the threat hang in the air.
“This is not the land of your myths any longer, Herald,” the Grand Cleric said, her eyes as hard as steel. “This is the land of the Maker.”
“Is that so?” Arethin raised her eyebrows. “I have seen with my own eyes Corypheus. Is he a being of the Maker?” she tilted her head to one side.
“A test, of course,” Elthina's expression was pure poison. “A way to divide loyal from disloyal.”
“Then you have already failed, have you not? For we seek to fight him, and you wish to undermine our efforts.”
“Of course not,” Elthina's expression smoothed over. “You misunderstand me. All that we do, we do in the name of peace.”
“Is that so?” Arethin raised her eyebrows.
“I suppose that is what you call what happened in Kirkwall,” Cassandra growled.
Elthina gave Cassandra a measuring look. “It seems that you are not intent on cooperation,” she said with a sad sigh.
“Perhaps if you were more flexible in your terms,” Barris suggested, his tone measured and smooth. “After all, the Alliance is composed of many disparate groups. It takes a delicate approach to balance all of them.”
Elthina raised one eyebrow. “I do not think it appropriate for the Chantry to be working with mages who are not under control, and people who openly defy the Maker,” she said. “And I do not think your Inquisition is acting in correspondance with the Chant.” she looked them all over. “I gave my offer as a show of good faith,” she said. “But I see you are not willing to work with the Chantry just yet. This is disappointing, but such is the Maker's will.”
“I have yet to see evidence of the Maker,” Arethin said, a biting edge to her voice. “And I have yet to see any evidence of your goodwill, Grand Cleric.”
“Hm,” Elthina looked at her, her expression unreadable. “Indeed. I daresay we shall have to leave it at that.”
She left, and they left soon after.
“That could have gone better,” Barris murmured.
“It could also have gone worse,” Arethin said.
“Yes. It could have.” Barris pursed his lips. “We must watch her, my lady.”
“I was not suggesting we do anything else,” Arethin said, her tone clipped.
Barris shook his head. “Of course, I simply...”
“What?”
He was quiet for a long moment. At last he said “If anything was keeping me tied to the Templars any longer, that woman would drive me away.”
“How so?” Arethin said, looking at him with a wary expression.
“Have you heard the tales of the Gallows?”
“Yes.” of course she had.
“Elthina was the Cleric who presided over Kirkwall. She knew every detail of what occurred in that city—including all that the Templars did.”
“And did nothing. Of course.”
“No, not simply that,” Barris let out a hard breath. “She knew—and she...manipulated.”
“Manipulated?”
“She had been colluding with Lambert from the beginning,” Cassandra explained. “The state of the Kirkwall Circle was due to her.”
“She intentionally made things worse,” Barris said. “Meredith, as I understand it, became infected with red lyrium many years ago, before it was quarantined. Elthina did nothing. Apart from that, she continued to inflame relations between the First Enchanter and Meredith--”
“Ah,” Arethin nodded. “That I know.”
Orsino had been quite thorough when explaining to the Coalition what had happened.
"So the business in Kirkwall was her doing?”
Barris nodded. “It was.”
When they returned to Skyhold, repairs were well underway. Several architects from Orzammar had arrived and were assisting in rebuilding it. All had been quiet while they were away.
Arethin convened the council.
“What can Elthina do?” Arethin asked.
“At the moment? Little,” Josephine said. “However, if she was to gather some of the undecided Orlesian nobles, or turn more pious peasantry against us...”
Arethin pursed her lips. “And what about us?” she asked. “What options do we have?”
“Well...” Josephine sighed. “Our resources are mostly focused upon closing rifts.”
“I say we just get her out of the way,” Ambassador Yara waved a hand. “She just causes trouble and no one wants her.”
“I agree,” Ambassador Vhelan said.
Bann Teagan nodded, and Cassandra seemed to agree.
“She has committed acts of war against almost all of our nations and organizations,” Fiona said. “We must get rid of her.”
“And what will happen if we do this?" Barris said, his quiet voice carrying across the room. “Removing her with no plan will only create a vacuum of power.”
“Exactly,” Josephine nodded. “She leads the remnants of the Chantry, however much we want to deny that fact! She has the loyalty of both Empress Celene and General Dubois--”
“How did she manage that little trick?” Yara asked. “Didn't she pit them against one another?”
“She claims to take no side,” Josephine rubbed her temples. “But that she will legitimize whoever holds the throne. That is very compelling. The Orlesian army is very powerful, and if they are turned against us--”
Vhelan snorted.
Josephine glared at her. “If they are turned against us, we will have that much more to worry about.”
“I feel that Corypheus is the larger threat,” Arethin said. “He aims to destroy the world entirely.”
“But we must have a world to live in when this is over,” Cassandra pointed out. “We cannot go forward without a plan.”
“Corypheus is the largest influence, and the one that is the most dangerous.” Vivienne agreed.
“We will focus on Corypheus and the rifts,” Arethin said. “We can deal with Elthina and the other political problems, but as a secondary issue. We must remove Corypheus and take care of the most dangerous problems first.”
“We do not know where Corypheus is currently,” Leliana said. “We have been searching, but have found little evidence of him.”
“And what of Venatori activity?” Arethin asked. “Can that not help us find him?”
“The Venatori, as far as I've been able to tell, are largely focused on acquiring magical artifacts for Corypheus,” Vivienne explained. “While trapped in Alexius' spell, Dorian and I heard and discovered many of the Venatori plans. They were all focused on gaining power, not on gaining a military advantage.”
“Alright, then what about Red Templars?” Arethin asked. “Those were the bulk of the forces in the attack against Haven.”
“It does stand to reason they would be Corypheus' military force,” Bann Teagan said, his expression thoughtful.
There were some areas that could use help with the rifts, but since the Breach had been closed, many of the rifts had closed on their own. Some places in Redcliffe still needed help, as other areas in Ferelden.
After some days of closing the most serious rifts, Arethin noticed a pain in her hand that refused to go away. After some time of trying to ignore it, she began to worry that something was seriously wrong.
She had to see Solas. She had been trying to avoid him before now. She could not trust him, though she wanted to, and she wasn't sure how to think about that. However, he was the only one who knew anything about the mark. Even Felassan had pointed her to Solas.
“The mark is spreading, but very slowly,” Solas informed her, a line between his brows as he examined her hand.
“Is it going to be a problem?”
He tilted her hand down, and she felt a soothing rush of magic go through her. The ache lessened, then vanished, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Not for some time,” he said. “And I can help, somewhat. But this is not something a mortal is meant to carry.”
“And if I were immortal...?”
“An academic question, at this point,” he told her, raising his eyebrows. “If the Veil were to fall, and if it restored the correct lifespan to the elves living now, then yes, it is likely that this would no longer hurt you.”
“Why does it matter how old I can be?”
“Age in elves is connected to magic,” he said. “Generally, the more magic one has, the longer you will live. Have you noticed that elves with magic live longer than those without?”
“I hadn't made a study of it but...well, I'm not sure. I don't think so...” she frowned.
“Hm. Then the question remains academic. The mark will eventually kill you if left untreated or unamputated--”
“Amputated?” she snatched her arm away from him.
“There is no need to remove your hand,” he said calmly. “Not now, and perhaps there will not be. Part of it depends on the Veil.”
“Oh. Well, good,” she said. “You could always be lying,” she reminded him.
“I am well aware.”
“Alright then,” she said with a shrug. She sighed.
“Is anything else the matter?”
She looked at him. “What do you think?”
“Ah.” he straightened his back and pulled away from her. “I see.”
She frowned. “Everything. Everything is the matter.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Indeed. That is the state of things, I believe.”
“You are the closest person I have to a friend,” she said. “And you are Fen'harel.” she shook her head. “Every time I stop to think about it it becomes worse.”
“I sympathize,” he said.
“Do you?”
“Should I not?”
“I just wouldn't think that you would.”
To her surprise, he smiled. "You are not the only one who has been in such a precarious situation. I do understand how...trying it can be to balance so many different problems while you cannot trust those who follow you."
"I suppose that makes sense," she said. "Is there anything else wrong with the mark?"
He shook his head. "No, not at the moment."
Arethin sighed and rubbed her forehead. "That's something, I suppose."