Before long, Evelyn settled into a new daily routine. In an effort to show solidarity and dedication, she woke up early and accompanied Cullen to the training grounds. Occasionally, she met Dhara to teach her pyromancy, but she mainly practiced her staff and sword work. After freshening up, she worked with the mages to make potions and collect herbs. They began keeping a better record of supplies with war declared and stockpiled what they could in anticipation of future injuries. At midday, she broke bread with whoever offered or headed home. If the council was called to meet a second time, she attended that session, though as a spectator only, and was brought up to speed on current events. The rest of the afternoon was spent where she was needed most until retiring to the Rutherford's longhouse at sunset. It was a demanding schedule, but she felt useful and it added stability to her changing circumstances.

Although her official responsibilities had not started yet, she took it upon herself to learn what she could from her friends of her new role. The Avvar women grew up simply observing their reigning Lady, but that was a significant experience Evelyn was lacking. She did however know how nobility and royals were expected to behave, and adopted a version of her own style combining the best of both worlds. She would embody the strength, spirit, and loyalty of the Avvar and the poise, diplomacy, and cunning of the Lowlanders. She wasn't one to shirk her duty, something ingrained in her by her father, so if this was to be her new purpose, she'd strive to do it as well as her last post as Senior Knight-Enchanter.

From what she gathered, the Lady of the Hold was equal to the Thane. Her word would be as much law as his, and it slowly began to dawn on her why Cullen had spoken of her traits so critically on Wintersend. If she were in his shoes, she too would be nervous about what someone like her would do with such power. Not only that, but anytime he stepped out of the Hold, she was in charge. With the war against Axlan heating up, it was already happening rather frequently, though until they were wed, it was the Augur who was placed in charge. Still not allowed outside of the walls to aid their warriors, she shadowed him, though she gleaned very little from him.

It was the women who began interacting with her more where she learned the most. She was to be the Mother of the Clan, and despite there being others more senior than her, any womanly problem was brought to her. They were things like having enough salves to treat Rashvine once spring is in full bloom when the children play in the woods or asking for her assistance in praying to the Lady for something or other. In a way it was much like being a First Enchanter; knowing her charges and knowing their daily and long-term needs. She would be who they turned to and who they would rely upon to resolve problems. With this new understanding, came patience. She tempered her reactions when in public and specifically with the Thane, which in turn allowed him the opportunity to try and articulate better reasons behind their ways of life.

This new change seemed to confound the Thane. There were times when he didn't quite know what to say or do with her when she agreed with him. In time, after he realized it wasn't an act, he opened up to her more about the state of things or just to have a chat about anything on his mind. She had come to respect the Thane half of him a while ago, but having now given Cullen a chance, found that he wasn't as bad as she had made him out to be in her mind.

Where there was once a barrier of faith between them, there was now wistful listening to the tales and legends of the gods. She had always been a student of history, reveling in its retelling and comparing it to her own Free Marches history. And what was religion if not wildly embellished versions of history and myth? The Avvar were the closest people to that of the ancient Alamarri, from whom all humans had descended.

Andraste was Alamarri, living in Southern Ferelden before she was taken to Tevinter as a slave. Hearing how their history varied after the emergence of Andrastianism and how the newly dubbed "Avvar" fought back against this new religion was fascinating. The gaps in their world history she was then able to fill in, even more interestingly enough was Dorian's Tevinter perspective. What were three linear timelines evolved into rich parallels of the history of Thedas. Cullen was most interested in military maneuvers and battles involving siege engines. It was incredibly endearing to watch his eyes light up as she tried to describe a trebuchet, and then asking if they could build one. Though they could probably acquire a schematic from some of the dwarven contacts, none of them had the engineering acumen to execute such a feat.

Evelyn didn't pity them for their traditional lifestyle versus the technological advancements made by the Lowlanders. When she had first arrived, the only sign of Lowlander science was found in the equipment of the alchemy lab in the mage's hut. She asked Dorian if that was his doing, which it was, but when asked why he didn't share other knowledge with them, he simply answered 'For what?' Until now, she hadn't understood why a people would want to live centuries behind the others. The Avvar way of life, working and living for the clan - an extended family - was precious in keeping such close ties between them. In some cases, advancements meant individual gain; a disruption in the balance of nature. Their lives were more wholesome, not focused on the petty games of the nobility or the never-ending drive for wealth and power. The competition in their lives was natural, not toxic. Of course, they weren't perfect, as no human civilization ever was, but she felt the value of their customs in daily interactions.

As far as the prophecy went, she had worked through the thawing winter to burn and cleanse what land she could in the hold, especially the grounds used for crops and meadows for animals. She used the mark to draw up the blood of the earth to remake the land. Using it left her exhausted, and it took several days for her to fully recover. When the first signs of spring came upon them, her labor bore fruition as fresh baby greens of various kinds sprouted. Taking this as a sign, the Augur and the Spirits decided upon a date for her upcoming wedding on the first of Cloudreach, marking the start of spring and a new beginning for them all.

The other holds, being wary of being dragged into war while weak, asked that the Phoenix meet with them in their respective holds, rather than travel to Redhold. While it was quite a setback, news had reached them of two Grey Wardens, visiting Orzammar who had heard their plight and were headed to Redhold as soon as duties allowed.

With long dangerous months of travel looming ahead, she began to brood about what that meant. She prayed to the gods taking the name of Rutherford would protect her from the violence the other Avvar tried to visit upon her at the start of winter. Cullen wouldn't be able to go with her, nor any of the others because of their duties and the war, so it would be up to her once again to watch her own back - well, her and the Grey Wardens. She hoped they were as good as legend because they were going to need to be that and more to survive here.

----------------------------------------

"You're rather confounding."

Evelyn popped her head up from scrubbing the shirt at the sound of his voice. She tried to blow a strand of loose hair off her nose several times, but it didn't budge. Stepping over to her, he carefully placed it behind her ear. Eyeing him conspiratorially, she held up her current garment, "Are you sure you want to test me while I wash your shirt?"

He chuckled, "I didn't mean it as a slight, simply you're rather hard to figure out sometimes."

"If it was easy, where would the fun be in that," she flashed him a deadpan smile. As she went back to work, she felt obligated to ask, "And why, dare I ask, are you trying to understand me? Didn't your father ever teach you that trying to figure out a woman is damn near impossible?"

"I'm just trying to get to know you better." She paused again looking up at his sincerity.

"You have me at a disadvantage, for you know more about me than I do you." It was true, only because the nature of how events evolved since arriving had made such information relevant. Cullen even knew that she had been raped and had briefly met the man who did it. He gave her a look of puzzlement, "You haven't told me about how you became Thane, or what happened to your parents or your other wives." She wondered how he'd react to those questions, knowing that all were painful to speak of. He sighed heavily placing his back against a tree, then slid down to sit. One leg was bent up and the other was extended still debating in his head if he wanted to tell her.

"I will speak about your first two questions, but not about Kattin or Ninne."

"Fair enough," she went back to scrubbing the clothes giving him time to find the words to begin. She at least now knew the names of his wives, that was a start. She hadn't even heard anyone speak their names until now.

He ran his fingers through his hair, "About eight years ago, the Chantry attempted to spread their religion here in the Basin. They sent, um…"

"Clerics? Sisters?"

"Both, I think, but they were accompanied by Templars. At first, they were peaceful envoys, only wishing to speak the word of the Maker, but the more they visited, the bolder they became. The Templars began asking questions of our mages, sowing seeds of fear to the people as to the evil nature of them."

"That sounds familiar," she rolled her eyes. "But you knew better, your mother was a mage."

"That's right. In response, my father began turning them away at the gates and our hunters were on watch for them, telling them to leave. Redhold wasn't the first to begin the fighting, however."

"Let me guess, it was Wolf-Fang Hold?"

He shook his head, "No, it was Stone-Bear when the Templars captured Thane Svarah's only daughter - who was a mage - and taken back to the Lowlands. She never saw her again."

"Is that why she was so desperate to have me find a mate within her hold? She even offered her own husband to me. Maybe she wants another child, even one that was not her own."

"That would explain it. She has her own way of running a hold, but she had never been so unreasonable for all the time I've known her. Either that or she was going to raise you to be her successor - her daughter." A chill slithered down her spine as she froze thinking about the trauma the woman must've suffered losing her child, grown or not, to such men. It still didn't excuse her past behavior in Evelyn's eyes, but it at least was starting to make more sense. "Anyway, we Avvar were all the same to the Lowlanders and when they sent more men to exterminate the infidels, we of course fought back."

His eyes were now lost in memory, occasionally showing the emotions of the scene playing out in his mind before him as he narrated, "One day my father and I were out with one of the patrols, leaving my mother in command when a large force of Templars with what must've been several young recruits, eager to prove themselves." A sharp inhale, followed by a large sigh warned her of the pain to come with this story. "From Mia's telling of it, my mother had done everything to coordinate the defense, knowing it was going to be a hard fight, but they held out for the hope that our patrol would be returning soon. They were demanding the mages be brought out to be taken to Circles. In hopes of avoiding bloodshed, she went out to speak with them, to explain how they regulated magic, but they didn't listen. They killed the warriors escorting her and took her. A battle ensued, but our warriors were ill-prepared against such a highly-trained foe. When my father and I returned and we were told what happened, we went out in search of her." His face drew down to a nondescript spot on the ground, "When we finally found her, she was reciting hymns to the Lady leaning up against a tree. A sword was planted in her belly, pinning her to the tall spruce. She was barely holding on, but it was just long enough for us to say goodbye."

She stopped washing and sat beside him on the river bank, placing her hand on his forearm, "I'm almost afraid to ask what your father did in the wake of her death."

He slugged heavily, "About what you'd expect, he sought revenge." The distant look was back in his eyes, "We were at war with the Lowlanders, and for a brief amount of time, the holds united, all having lost loved ones to the Templars. We had almost driven them completely out of the Basin, but it wasn't good enough for my father. He and a number of our best warriors went to the Lowlands for one final battle, but they never returned."

"And that's how you became Thane?"

"No, Mia was next in line but she refused it. Despite being next of kin, I technically had no right to simply claim the Thaneship. So, I was challenged by a few others, and after a series of tests ending with an election, I won out. It wasn't an easy time for the Hold however, it never is when people start taking sides. Neighbor turns on neighbor, kin turns on kin," he sighed heavily at the memory, "it's better to have an established line for prosperity."

"Redhold is the most close-knit community I've ever encountered, I have a hard time believing that."

He shrugged, "I think like all cultures, some traditions work and others don't. Our society falls apart with no leadership. There have been entire holds that have disbanded due to lack of stewardship. Some people just simply do not want the burden of it."

"Endure or perish." He grunted his agreement. There had been a question weighing on her mind, "Speaking of leadership, when will I officially become an Avvar? Will marriage make it so, or is there a ritual of sorts?"

He suddenly looked like it was an uncomfortable question, "Well, it's a ritual done in the Augur's Hut. It involves going into the Dream World to speak with the spirits and gods, or whoever shows up really." She sat back on her heels tossing the garment in her hand into the basket in a huff. "You won't be there alone, Dhara has already voiced that she'd like to go with you."

"I suppose that makes me feel slightly better. When will this take place?"

"The sooner the better."

She narrowed her eyes at him, "So, then when were you planning on telling me if I didn’t ask?" He looked up at her with a guilty smile, "The day before we were wed or what?" Now she was laughing, "I think you and I are past the whole secrets stage of courting considering the circumstances. Next time, just tell me, then you won't have to go around with that constipated look on your face at all times."

"I- what? I do not."

She gave him a pointed look, "Yes, you do, Rutherford." She splashed some water at him.

"Hey-- wait, that water was warm?"

"The benefits of being a pyromancer," she laughed. He waited as she wrung out the rest of the laundry before placing it back in the basket to take home to dry. As she went to carry it, he instead insisted he carry it back for her. "I am sorry though that the Templars and Chantry did such things here, especially to your parents. I can't imagine..."

He looked over at her as they walked back through the market, "I allowed my bitterness to cloud my judgment of you when we first met, and for that, I apologize."

"Well now that I understand, I don't blame you." Making their way through a dense crowd browsing the wares, many turned to greet the couple with deep nods or a fist to the heart. When they passed through it, almost reaching their longhouse she couldn't help but laugh at the memory of some of their first conversations.

"What are you laughing at woman?"

"Just thinking of how mad you looked that night I came into the Meade Hall demanding you contact my superiors."

"I'm glad you find my anger endearing."

She stopped him from going inside, standing in front of the doors with her arms out to the side, "Oh no, I didn't say that! It is still incredibly vexing at times."

He huffed, "Would you open the door, the laundry is dripping on me and it's cold?"

"See, this is what I mean--"

"Evelyn, it's soaking through my pant leg," it came out as an annoyed growl paired with a pointed look.

Ignoring him, she continued purposely trying to get a rise out of him, "-- lighten up. You have no patience--"

"Evelyn!"

"--relax and take in the --"

"By the gods woman, open the door!" He pushed by her, and all the while she giggled at being able to fluster him so easily. Cullen dropped the basket unceremoniously in the middle of the floor and stomped back to his room, slamming the door. She set to hanging the clothes around the central fire pit, laughing to herself, and just as she was finishing, he came stomping back out still wearing a scowl, but with new pants.

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She faced him, pursing her lips trying to laugh again as he came to a stop inches away from her. His whiskey eyes flickered back and forth between her highly amused ones, "You..." he growled, but it didn't seem he thought his words through, "you are..."

"I can help you out, how about witty? Intelligent? Beautiful?" Slowly the grip of his anger began to lax. The mage stepped closer to all but brush against him, "No? None of those? What about irksome? Deranged? Unbearable?"

He tilted his head as if mulling it over in his head, his voice low, "Those do sound a bit like more you, Trevelyan." He wore a slight smirk now, and she hummed watching how it moved his scar.

"What a pity. What does a girl have to do to get a compliment from you?"

He shrugged, "Fulfill the prophecy, that would certainly earn you one."

She scoffed, "My, my, you have rather high standards. No wonder you've been single for so long." As soon as it left her lips, she cringed, "I'm sorry, I didn’t mean it-- I was only joking."

The Thane sighed with a weary smile, "It's not your fault I still find it difficult to speak of after so long. I do want to tell you I just… it's a sadder tale than the previous one told."

Evelyn placed her hand on his chest, "Cullen, you don't have to feel like you need to tell me anytime soon. My curiosity sometimes gets the better of me - same with my mouth." That elicited a smile and gentle hands on her hips in return. "I know what it's like for things to haunt you while awake and asleep. I know I may not always understand your ways, but I'm not afraid of change any longer. This may not be what I envisioned marriage ever being like, but I hope you know I'm here for you," quickly adding despite feeling his touch, "as your friend."

A bit of gloom overtook him, and without thinking too much of it, she slid her hands up around his neck in a hug. Feeling him tighten his arms around her, she turned her head away resting it on his shoulder. She couldn't help fingering the curling hair at the nape of his neck, before massaging it gently. Each time he showed vulnerability, she couldn't help but hear Rosalie’s words come back about how she couldn't leave him. Now, Evelyn was here to shoulder the burden - for lack of a more compassionate term - with firsthand experience of what kind of trauma her brother was experiencing. Perhaps, the gods did know what they were doing…

His head fell against hers and she smiled, knowing how hard it must be for the big bad Thane of Redhold to surrender his emotions, especially to the likes of her. The moment was cut short, however, as Mia banged in through the door with baskets of bread and other foodstuffs. "Oh, sorry, am I interrupting something?" Despite her saying so, she kept on pushing in anyway, dragging the deliverables behind her. Evelyn took a deep breath slightly annoyed at her appearance, whereas Cullen rushed around her to help his sister.

The Rutherfords had one large family meal a week where Mia and her family joined them, which was likely why she was there dropping food off. Evelyn and the eldest member of their family had not exactly seen eye to eye in the past and she was nervous about what the woman had come to expect of her at these family gatherings. Assumingly, once she became his wife, she would no doubt be hosting the dinner on her own, so she paid attention to the menu and preparations. The meal was centered around the family coming together as one to catch up and discuss any business that would affect them as a whole, such as Ros' courtship and the Thane's upcoming wedding.

Later that evening, Ros was busily ordering the three about in preparation; Cullen was out cutting firewood, Branson was setting the table and Evelyn was helping cook. The more she learned about cooking in the hearth the more she enjoyed it. One had to know the hearth and its fire; how quickly it heated and how hot it could get. The beehive shape of the hearth kept the heat from escaping, as did the bricks it was made of, acting like heat sponges. Even after they were done cooking, the hearth stayed hot for a few hours. Then there was the delicate balance of placing the many types of pots and pans about. Cooking was quite a physical task, hulling around the heavy wrought iron equipment. There were some that hung above the flame and others with legs that allowed them to sit on a hot bed of coals. Their lids had a tall outer edge, where if you shoveled the hot embers on top, made the pot function as an oven, heating it from the top and bottom. There was a spit for roasting and pans with long handles for frying. Various-sized leathers littered the area to help the women grab the equipment that was too hot to the touch.

Evelyn's particular talents also came in handy, quickly heating the hearth to the correct temperature, which she learned Ros measured just by feeling the heat. It was a skill that took time to develop, but if anyone could master the fire, it was the Phoenix. For now, she was happy to raise and lower the flame to Ros' liking.

Evelyn's task at the moment was preparing a crust for a meat pie. It was simple, combining the yeast, flour, and water to achieve the right consistency. Her nerves were glad for the distraction, keeping her hands busy. The men had just finished their tasks and sat down talking at the table awaiting their guests. It wasn't long though until the looming presence of her fiancée was felt beside her. Standing to her left, his warm bicep and shoulder brushed against hers. "Evelyn," he spoke quietly so only she could hear, "you had asked me before if I was attached to anyone but, I had never asked you if you were."

She stopped kneading, knowing that he was asking it of her now. "No, Circle mages are not permitted to marry, nor fraternize with anyone." He raised an eyebrow at her, and she knew instantly why, "Not that anyone listened to the rules."

"You not following the rules? I'm shocked."

She laughed while giving him a pointed look, "No one followed the rules, the trick was not getting caught." A thoughtful look caused her eyes to glaze over lost in memories of another life.

"Are you alright?"

"Hmm? Oh, it's just..." she wasn't sure she wanted to tell him. "It's just before I came here, since the time I was ten, I was told I would never marry or have a family of my own. I truly thought such things were impossible, so I guarded my heart against being broken by such thoughts."

"How?"

She laughed, pointing to the sack of flour. He passed it to her all the while watching a mischievous grin spread on her face. "By not letting anyone kiss me." They shared a hushed chuckle, listening to Ros ask if the dough was ready yet. Cullen answered over his shoulder that it needed to be thicker. Evelyn reached into the sack and sprinkled the flour about.

"Did you slap them too?"

"Only you, but to be fair, we skipped the whole ground rules part," she blushed with a coy smile. "I know it sounds sappy, but having had the choice taken from me in the past, I want to want to kiss someone."

"I understand."

"Will I have to kiss you during the knotting ceremony?" The question had been on her mind for some time now.

"No, that is a choice given to the couple. I've seen very polite weddings and others where the couple set upon each other the minute the vows were said." She hummed amusingly in response before Ros came over and broke up their conversation needed the dough to get the dish baking. The petite woman eyed them suspiciously with a smirk pushing between them to retrieve the well-kneaded blob. Thankful for the end to a rather personal conversation, she shooed Cullen away just as Rylen had arrived. It was nice having the Master of the Hunt join them often. He always had a way of keeping the conversation lively, as well as drawing attention away from Cullen and Evelyn for a time.

Dinner went on as it had the first few times as the group meshed with its two newest additions. They sat around a long table drinking and eating for several hours, while Mia's children played or listened to stories that interested them. Evelyn was still trying to assimilate and get a feel for such gatherings for they didn’t follow any pattern as she was used to. Really, there was no order to things; when you were hungry you ate, when you wanted to nap - as Mia's husband demonstrated - you napped. The women served, while their men sat and conversed. Cullen kept a close eye on his claimed bride, for every time she turned around she caught him staring before looking quickly away. She did begin to wonder if it was to make sure she felt comfortable in her new role or if it was because she was bending over at the hearth - maybe both.

As the evening wound down, a light touch on her arm drew her attention away, "Come, I'd like to speak with you." Mia's expression remained polite, but her subterfuge didn't fool her.

Mia and Evelyn stepped out front on the porch. The night was bright and the air was crisp. She wrapped herself tightly in her shawl to starve off the last chill of winter. "There were a few things I wanted to ask you, as well as make clear to you if you're to marry into our family," the mage took a fortifying breath crossing her arms. "The first is that you will be one of us, a Rutherford, and as such your loyalty is to the family, even before that of the clan. Our interests are yours, and yours will be ours. There is no room for selfishness."

"I have grown up as part of an influential family before, one infinitely larger than yours, I think I grasp the concept."

"Trust is essential, and I do not trust you. I have little faith in your commitment to us let alone to Cullen. Do you even care for him in the slightest? How do I know you won't just backstab him for your own selfish gain like Aysel? While she was Avvar, we've heard tales of nobles and their petty games. Their inappropriate conduct outside of the marriage bed may make for good gossip, but we have no tolerance of such in Redhold."

The faintest glow of her mana began casting an aura about her in the dark, "You dare compare me to what I can only assume are Orlesians. For the record, I'm a Marcher whose home lies across the Waking Sea where we do not flaunt nor encourage such affairs. And I care enough to not have killed him when I challenged him." Mia balked as it was improbable, "I could've easily ended him with one spell," with no one around, she cast an immolation spell on the ground nearby to make her point. "No armor can withstand that. Killing him would've been that simple, and the fact of the matter is I could go in there and do it now with very little to stop me aside from the Hold Spirits," she let the words soak in as the graying woman glared at her.

"How comforting, why don't you?"

"Because he is the only one in this world who has ever bothered to protect me. Regardless of the reason, in the North, no one would've cared what happened to me. The Templars would have left me to bleed out, and they certainly wouldn't have taken a dagger for me." A noise from behind made them both turn to see the Thane standing by the doors, closing the one he snuck through quietly. He studied her trying to determine if what she said was true. "I'm an abomination to Lowlanders. A monster they tell their children to fear and their families to be ashamed of. My mother refused to acknowledge my existence for years! I can count on one hand the amount of people who actually care whether I live or die." Mia's face hadn't changed, but his did, though she didn't seek his pity. "I've found it… nice to care for someone and be part of an actual family again. Especially one that has members as tough as you," indicating Mia, "guarding it from harm. I don't blame you for being protective, I'm sure I'd do the same in your place. However, I mean to become part of this family and I hope you find that my dedication is as strong as any one of you." The elder sighed, dispelling some of the tension in her face, looking then to her brother. Her eyes softened reflecting love and concern simultaneously.

Cullen flicked his head toward the door and his sister slowly went back inside. Despite being the Rutherford matron, when the Thane gave an order, it was followed. Evelyn's eyes were downcast as she pushed a rock about. When he didn't say anything and their eyes met, she gravitated into his embrace. The moment her head hit the top of his chest, she whispered a 'thank you,' and he simply nodded. That feeling of safety overwhelmed her as his arms held her. The night air was peaceful, made even more so by the light sound of rain hitting and dripping off the house.

When they parted, his voice matched the serene setting, "With me, you are safe."

"As are you. Regardless of what your sister believes, I've got your back." Sharing a small private smile, they headed back in. Evelyn felt the weight of the world lessen having found someone to watch out for her. A person who had already proven themselves capable of it and whom she trusted. In a way, it was more than friendship, it was companionship.

----------------------------------------

One day, after her lessons with the Augur's apprentice, Evelyn finally remembered to ask the young mage about her spiritual dilemma. "Dhara, where does one go to pray to the Lady of the Skies? I know Hakkon has shrines about, but I haven't seen any to her, at least I don't think I have."

"Ah," she held her hands out with her palms up, closing her eyes while looking up, "If ye wish to speak with The Lady, there are a few places to seek her out."

"Very well, let's start with the closest one to Redhold. I'm sure the Thane would not be pleased if I chose otherwise." Evelyn placed her staff on her back as she took off her practice armor. With a wave to her betrothed, she and Dhara exited the training grounds.

"The closest location is the Lady's Eye, a small lake to the north. Its waters are so still it reflects the sky perfectly and because of that, She can't tell the difference and visits its water." She looked thoughtfully back to her less spiritual mentor, "Why is it ye wish to speak with Her?"

"I wanted to thank her for delivering my letters. It meant the world to me to have news from home."

"Then ye need an offering to give Her."

A thoughtful look graced her face as she fingered the scar just above her jawline, "Like meat again or will it require something different."

"It was Her messengers who delivered your letters, perhaps a gift for them would please her?" Dhara gave her a cheeky look, waiting for her to think about it.

"Something like seed?" The apprentice nodded, "It's that simple?"

"Like ourselves, the gods only ask for respect. This does not require us to build them grand temples with statues of gold as you Lowlanders do. We simply reciprocate our thanks."

"That makes a lot of sense. I've been so used to just praying and hoping, to actually have gods who take an interest in the matter of mortals is refreshing."

"Aye, as is having someone to use my magic for the defense of the Hold." The young mage smiled up at her sweetly.

Evelyn gave a bright smile back and hooked arms with her. She supposed this was what it felt like to have a younger sister. Having been the youngest, she was used to being drug around by her older brothers, but her sisters wanted very little to do with her, even more so after coming into her magic. "Do you have any family Dhara?"

"No," her dewy face sagged slightly, "they left for the sky when the Templars attacked years ago."

"Cullen told me about when his parents died, I assume it was during that time?"

"Aye, they came to take mages and my ma and da wouldn't stand for it. Gave their lives to protect me." Evelyn held her a little tighter as she continued, "I could hardly muster a spark of me mana, but they died to save me from a life like…" She paused, rethinking her words.

"Like mine." Dhara nodded. "Well, then they did not die in vain."

"No, but I prayed that someday my magic would be used to protect other mages in case they ever came back. With you here, Phoenix, it's more than I ever dreamed the gods would grant us. You are a gift," the hope and joy in her eyes almost made Evelyn tear up, "you and our Thane will be wed and I get to witness the legend that people will speak of for ages! Not to mention to be taught fire magic from you! My children's children and beyond will speak of how you taught me and I taught them."

"You are a treasure, a quirky, cheeky treasure, but I'm honored to have you as a student. It's fulfilling to have one again. What good is knowledge and experience if you cannot pass it down?" The two stopped at their dwellings to grab their soap and linen towels to bathe, when Cassandra caught up with them. "You done training already?"

"The Thane had a wedding matter to attend to, so I thought I'd join you."

Evelyn laughed, "You and every other woman it seems," all about the village the women were also rushing to follow them to the falls for bathing. "It seems we are being used for our magic," she gave a sly look to Dhara. Since the clan had discovered that the mages' aura could heat the cold mountain runoff, anytime they went to bathe they collected a following. The future Lady of the Hold didn't mind, as each time she became more comfortable shedding her clothing, though her companions still made fun of her for coving herself with her arms occasionally.

The falls were located within the walls of the expansive Hold. The Avvar who founded Redhold certainly scouted the area well making sure there were ample resources within and without its walls. There was an unwritten rule about when people bathed, which was often determined by the time of day. Typically, the women had the run of the place in the mornings after their morning chores, and the men the afternoon after hunting or working since their jobs often were a bit dirtier than the women's.

Per usual, Evelyn was the last to sheepishly disrobe, to which Dhara took the first shot at her, "It's a wonder how ye and the Thane even shared the same bed on Wintersend or did ye just lift yer skirts?"

The two laughed while Evelyn gave a sarcastic laugh, "Unfortunately, I did more than that. Thank you for reminding me of that night." She couldn't help but blush at the irksome memory.

Cassandra had just poked her head out of the magically warmed falls, spitting out some water, "The feat should be sung of in ballads."

The Phoenix made a sound of disgust, "Yes, because that is of interest to people."

"It is to us!" Dhara laughed as she lathered herself with an earthy soap.

"What is?" The gentle lilt of Rosalie distracted the women away for a moment.

Evelyn sighed in relief, "Good, Ros is here, so let's stop talking about it. I'm sure she has no desire to hear about it."

"Hear about what, future sister?" Out of everyone in the Hold, it was probably Ros who was the most excited about their wedding.

"Nothing!"

"Oh come, Ros has lived with the Thane through two wives, I'm sure it's nothing new to her," Dhara brazenly said with a roll of her eyes.

"Oh, are we still trying to figure out how the two of them actually bedded each other?" The blonde said with a shrug, stepping into the water. Evelyn began to rush through her washing in preparation to run away as she typically had done each time the topic came up, and for the past few weeks, it had worked.

"You do know we'll keep asking until you tell us," Cassandra, though a stoic warrior most of the time, seemed to have a penchant for romantic tales and gossip. "I never like to do this but, if you don't give us something, I will seek out Dorian…"

"Gods no, anything but that!" Dorian had a way of wearing you down until he got whatever embarrassing stories you had stowed away under lock and key. They looked at her expectantly waiting, as she flipped her wet hair back over her shoulder growling, "Korth's boulder balls, fine!" She sat upon a nearby rock, wrapping herself up in her towel. "After I left, I went to… work out some frustrations, if you get my meaning, especially after what Axlan had so colorfully described to me."

"Which was?" Dhara wrung her hair out.

Evelyn scoffed, "Absolutely not! That's all I need is to repeat it and head back home where… ugh, ask me next time I'm drunk." That seemed to placate the mage, "Anyway, I was lying in bed, you know, and next thing I know Cullen bangs through the door, mad as ever, ripping the covers off me."

"Why would he do that?" Cassandra sat on the smooth stone under the falls, enjoying the benefits of the pyromancers.

"Funny you ask, because the leather armor you lent me for the challenge happened to have been under the pelts looking like a body." there was a collective 'oh.' "Despite his idiocy, there was a heated exchange where insults were flung about, leading to me throwing a punch at him, an ensuing fight and then, well…"

"That still doesn't explain how you actually ended up naked, you prude Lowlander," Ros said teasingly.

"Pff, if you knew all the details you wouldn't call me that. It's... You’re his sister… seriously, you're really going to make me tell you that?"

"Everyone has sex Evie, we Avvar don't shy away from such talk even when it comes to kin."

"You know," the raven-haired toned form of Cassandra joined her and Dhara out of the falls, "I happen to know where Dorian is…"

"Alright!" She huffed, "He had one of my arms in a hold against the door, so I reached for his sword--"

"Evie, you sly fennec!" Dhara giggled, while Ros cringed.

"Gods, no, not that sword, the actual weapon! Fuck!" She planted her face in her hands for a moment. Opening her eyes, and giving them all a dirty look, she tried to hurry the story along to get it over with. "When I gripped his metal sword, I ended up cutting off his belt-- but he was still in his pants, he just lost everything else. That's when I noticed something…" Another collective 'ah' in understanding made her blush again at the memory. "I may have asked about it, and what he wanted to do about it," she balked at the remembrance of his cold stare, "to which he shrugged and said 'We'll see, take that off,' so… I did."

"And?" Cassandra's tone was almost harsh.

"And what?" She fired back, receiving a knowing look, "Again, you'll have to get me thoroughly sauced for that whole bit."

"Well, at least that explains some of what I saw that night," Rosalie's eyes were wide as she finished washing. "Especially, how mad he was when he returned home that night."

"That wasn't because of me, despite the fight - no he liked--," she caught herself before she could add more. "That was because Axlan showed up to start trouble right after we… finished. I had to knock him and his men back with a spell, and your brother left shortly after to make sure he indeed left."

"How is it none of us knew this was going on?!" Cassandra looked a bit beside herself, especially after she admitted that she and the Thane were almost attacked.

"Truly, I'm surprised none of you heard us considering how loud we were-- shouting that is, nothing else. Gods, can we speak of something else now, not having to do with me?" She ran a hand down her face, while the others laughed at her expense.

"Aye, who's up for getting her piss drunk tonight so we can hear the rest?" Evelyn let out a drawn-out groan as the other agreed to her student's plan. It was going to be a long embarrassing night.

----------------------------------------

It had been a peculiar hunting trip, looking for fowl with bright feathers rather than their usual quarry - particularly birds with red, orange, and yellow tones. Ros had tasked him with finding her enough so she could create a wedding dress worthy of the Phoenix. She swore him to secrecy, hiding the supposed masterpiece in Dhara's hut. To him, it was all a bit tiresome having to go through this for the third time. His sister offered to make him a new outfit for the historic ceremony, but he refused just asking her to let out his old set. He considered himself to be in fine shape, but the tight muscles of youth had become thicker. If that alone didn't make him feel old, the fact that this would be his third wife did, having thought one had been enough years ago.

The flourishing land within their borders had not seen such renewed life for years since Evelyn had cleansed it with the power of her mark. Korth himself must've been relieved to have been healed of his wounds, having sped the growth of his fields and forests. They had felled a buck and were stalking another when raised voices echoed off the trees. The party of five, including Bran and Dorian, quietly approached the noise. Cullen was weary of any disturbance with Axlan still bent on war with them.

Upon reaching the riverbed, they found a party of poachers from Wolf-Fang Hold and a Lowlander, who was on his knees with his hands up. There were only four wolves to their five, not to mention the advantage of having a mage on their side. Liking the odds, he nodded and his group emerged out of cover to confront the trespassers.

"You there!" Bran led, "What is the meaning of this? You trespass on Redhold soil."

"We were chasing this Lowlander. Surely, your Thane would want his land free of such miscreants?"

Ever mischievous, Bran couldn't help teasing, "Hmm, well why don't we ask him? What do you say, brother?"

The outsiders paled slightly. Cullen had a fierce reputation, one Axlan rivaled, but it was one most didn't care to test. He looked at the few small game kills they had made, hanging from their shoulders. He knew the Lowlander was just an excuse as to their presence, "Considering my bride is in fact a Lowlander, I have no qualms with this man passing through." His countenance shifted darkly, as he crossed his arms, "What I do have a problem with is poaching. We'll be taking those and the Lowlander."

Even though the man wavered thinking over his options, he lowered a defiant glare, "Who is to say we poached these from your land?"

"Don't be stupid," Bran wiped a hand down his face, "My brother is being more than generous, especially when we could just gut you and take it anyway. You're outnumbered." With a flick of his head, Dorian backed his words by sparking up some magic in his palm.

As Bran tried to reason with them, Cullen took the time to study the man still on his knees. There was something about him, but he couldn't be sure without getting closer. He decided he would, unafraid of the hunters before him, and as he did, one man lunged at him as if trying to take him off guard. With a crack, the man crumpled to the ground having been struck dead by Dorian. The others abandoned all reason and jumped him too.

Having no time to pull a weapon, the next man on him, he simply dodged and threw behind him for one of the others to take care of. With only two now between him and the hostage, the mysterious man with uncommon speed, drew one of the short blades off his back slicing through the led wolf as if he were butter. The man was dead before even he knew it, not making a sound before falling into the eternal slumber.

The last man, Cullen put in a headlock, wrestling him to the forest floor. With the brunt of his weight on top of the man's back, he punched at him until he submitted. "Listen! Go back to Axlan and tell him the next time I find him poaching from my land, I will be at his doorstep!" He growled loudly at the man, who nodded against the dirt, "He should be asking me for assistance with restoring his own land, rather than making war," he stood hulling the man up to his feet, then pushed him towards the tree line, "Go, deliver my message to your Thane!" Skittering into the brush, the man didn't look back and ran as fast as his feet could take him.

With that taken care of, the rogue Lowlander pointed his blades at Cullen who simply raised an eyebrow at him, "Um, thank you, I think…"

"You've nothing to fear from…" with a better look at the man, his words stuck in his throat at the shock. Brown hair, brown eyes, a soft square jaw, though scars in different places, and stubble…

"I'm looking for my sister. A mage by the name of Evelyn Trevelyan. Have you heard of her?"