The Lion of the Inquisition

Rumors, Secrets and Confrontation

Cullen had never heard so much gossip in such a short span of time. It had only been a day since Ariava had stabilized the Breach but the rumors were flying everywhere. While he was sitting in the tavern eating lunch, he overheard someone say that Ariava was actually a demon since her hair was so red. While he was in the Chantry talking to Josephine, he heard someone say that she was the Divine reborn. His soldiers couldn't stop talking about how beautiful she was, which of course he knocked some heads around for that.

It seemed like the only place that he didn't hear rumors and would have some peace was in Ariava's room. She was still unconscious and the healer's gave him some strange looks, but he just sat in the corner at the desk working on his reports. He swore the healers to secrecy, he didn't want the others to make jokes about him falling for her. He honestly didn't know why he felt at peace with her in the room. She's a mage, you daft idiot! he would think to himself, nothing good could come out of have feelings for this woman! But yet he couldn't stop thinking about her. He didn't even know her from the next person walking the streets of Haven but he knew that she was special and that she was brought back for reason, whether by Andraste herself or someone else.

The second day, he didn't have time to visit Ariava's room. Cassandra wanted to start making plans to speak with the templars for help to figure out a way to close the Breach for good. And before he could head back to his tent, Leliana was talking his ear off about wanting to speak to the mages to do the very same thing. He was more inclined to agree with Cassandra because the mages shouldn't be trusted with the power that would be needed to close it.

But the Divine's words always seemed to ring in his ear every time. 'If there is to be peace, it cannot be accomplished through threats and demands. The lives of many more than just the mages and templars are at stake.' Why did she have to be so wise?

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The next day, Cullen was trying to go into Ariava's room without being noticed when Josephine ran up to him in a panic.

"Commander, please come quick. Chancellor Roderick is with Cassandra and Lelilana. They are at each other's throats. Hurry please!" she said as she pulled on his arm, frantically.

"All right, all right. I'm coming! I'm not sure what help I'll be as the Chancellor can't stand the sight of me."

"It's not the chancellor that I'm worried about."

They walked quickly to the Chantry and they could hear the yelling as soon as they pushed through the main doors. They heard a sword start to leave it's sheave, which made them take off at a run. Cullen burst through the door just in time to make Cassandra falter in her step.

"Cassandra, stop this. Violence isn't going to help anything right now." he said as he ran between her and the Chancellor. Leliana stood in the shadows with a smirk across her face.

Cassandra returned her sword to her side and took a deep breath. Cullen let out his breath, not even noticing that he had been holding it. He ran a gloved hand through his hair and sighed.

"Now will someone tell me whats going on?"

The chancellor had his arms crossed and was glaring at the Seeker. "I want to see this heretic that the people are calling the Herald. She needs to be secured so that she does not harm anyone."

"She isn't even conscious. What are you going to do, slap her in irons and chain her to the bed? She is not someone we need to fear. She saved us from the Breach swallowing this valley whole, all the while her life was at risk." Cullen said, trying to keep his voice from rising.

"She could have been the one who opened the Breach in the first place and is making it seem like she is the hero by performing some parlor tricks so we will buy into her story." said the chancellor, his face turning red from his rising anger.

Cullen couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could he possibly think that? "I understand that she is a mage but wouldn't you think that if she had the power to open the Breach, that she could use that power to simply wipe us from existence instead of trying to win our favor? Think about what you are saying Chancellor."

"Now do you see why Cassandra was upset?" Josephine whispered.

"Well, regardless of what you all think about this woman, she needs to stand trial for what happened at the Conclave." Roderick said.

"No one can judge her until a new Divine is chosen." Leliana said, making everyone jump as they had forgotten she was even there. "Until then, she will be under our protection"

"You can't be serious!" Roderick shouted as he threw his hands up into the air. He stormed out of the room.

"Well, that went well." Cullen said, rolling his eyes.

"Shut it, commander." Cassandra huffed. "Now if you two will excuse us, there is something Leliana and I need to discuss."

Cullen bowed to both of the women as he and Josephine exited the room. Josephine touched his arm and nodded her head towards the atrium of the Chantry. There stood Roderick, seething as he spoke to other clerics. Cullen nodded back to the ambassador, an understanding passing between them without a word being spoken. Cullen walked towards the door to head back to his tent when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"This isn't over, commander!" was all he heard, not even turning to acknowledge the chancellor before he walked away.

Once outside, he felt like he could breath again. That man could really boil anyone's blood. And to think, he is supposed to be a holy leader. Cullen decided to head back to the training grounds to blow off some steam. He was headed that way when he saw a young elf race past him with panic in her eyes. She burst through the Chantry doors, yelling at the top of her lungs.

"SHE'S AWAKE"

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