Reversed Hierophant

by Harmonium-Kruger

Notes: This story is set within the universe of Conquering the Ambassador, and is canon divergent from it. All events from before the 8th chapter of CtA have happened, except for Ayre presenting her thoughts of Cassandra as a sister. Other than that, the canon of CtA stands for this story! Think of it as with Leliana becoming hardened, or remaining softened? CtA features the softened Ayre, while this story features an Ayre that is hardened.

The Hierophant Education means - Upright: Alliance, captivity, inspiration, marriage, mercy, religion, servitude. Reversed: Concord, good understanding, over kindness, restriction, society, status quo.

And if you were curious, Ayre best fits the tarot card of The Fool. The Fool is unmolded potential, pure and innocent, neither positive nor negative yet containing the possibility of both. He is the unconditioned soul about to come into manifestation for the first time to start learning the lessons of the world. Though everyone calls him a Fool, he does not pay them any attention, and he simply goes on his way. Certainly what they say can be justified, since his ignorance of the world can lead him to do things that more experienced people would never imagine. But in these things he can find knowledge and enlightenment. He does not care what others think or say about him, because he knows that what he is doing is right for him.


"Why do this? Why risk everything we've built; Why risk your life?!"

Ayre swallowed harshly, grip tightening on the hilt of the rapier. She had been sure of herself days ago, but now this seemed like the worst idea she had ever made in her life. Not only had she publicly embarrassed herself, but she had embarrassed Josephine.

"...Apparently, I didn't think this through." Ayre bowed her head, feeling completely scolded.

"Apparently not." Josephine spat over her shoulder, worry cementing her decision. She turned to face Ayre, voice stern even if her eyes betrayed her feelings. "Since we can't see each other until the betrothal is annulled… We'd best end things on a more permanent basis."

Ayre looked absolutely crushed, the crowd gasping with surprise at the public break-up. She could only stare in shock as Otranto stepped forward.

"If you are no longer spoken for, Lady Montilyet, why abandon our engagement?" He asked, voice as smooth as velvet.

Ayre glared in disgust, scoffing. "You think she'll marry you?"

"Yes… Will you marry me?" Otranto knelt down, bowing deeply.

"I'm not marrying either of you!" Josephine shouted, turning her back and striding off feverishly. Ayre desperately wanted to chase her, but felt it best to leave the ambassador to cool off.

She had definitely seen this going another way…

"Well… that appears to be the end of that. A draw, then?" Otranto asked of Ayre's back, the noble woman having turned to hide her grief.

Anger sparked in the Inquisitor's eyes, and she whirled on the Antivan man violently. She swung her rapier in an arc, the wind whistling as it was cut. "I will have satisfaction, Otranto! One way or another." She hissed, an anger between them not born of this duel.

"Ha! Let no fight go unfinished then, Inquisitor? Well then, have at you!" Otranto eagerly returned to the duel, rapier's causing sparks between them. Ayre fought back with more precision, over powering the noble man easily.

Fade-touched viridian scanned the remaining crowd, deducing that Josephine had indeed left. Good; What she had planned, she would hate for the ambassador to see, even if she had broken her heart.

Another riposte tore through Otranto's tunic, and Ayre gave a wicked swing of her rapier. She slit Otranto's throat, blood spurting onto her coat as she kicked him down. "The Otrantos are a family of backstabbers who have cheated the Terrazas. They should only have dreamt of their noble son being struck down by the Inquisitor." She spat down to him, tossing the rapier away.

"Looks like I win this bout… I'll set aside some coin to pay for a dignitary to attend your funeral." Her last words to a dying man uttered, Ayre walked off. What a fool she had been…


Ayre hid away in her quarters, feeling a fevered guilt deep in her belly. She had been avoiding Josephine, and her other advisors all day. Cassandra too had been turned away; It was to the point where Leliana mused over entering through her balcony. But, perhaps their Inquisitor only needed privacy… Maker knows she barely got any.

Though, the reason Ayre was hiding away was far more shameful than just having been spurned. Her courtship of Josephine had ended so abruptly; She had thought the Antivan would find her dueling Otranto to be… brave, perhaps even romantic? She had murdered Otranto, and knew that all of Skyhold had been told. She was embarrassed, and nursing her wounds.

When Josephine finally confessed the events at Val Royeaux, everyone had been rather stunned. The ambassador had… rejected their Inquisitor? "You loved her." Leliana narrowed her eyes in accusation, and Josephine sighed.

"I did… but perhaps it is better this way. Now, we won't be distracted."

Cassandra winced from the callous statement, though Josephine had delivered it politely. "I will go see if she is alright." The seeker sighed, tossing Leliana a glance. The spymaster nodded; Together, they would deal with this.


Surprised at the knocking on her door, Ayre grimaced as she considered a visitor. "Inquisitor? It's Cassandra." The accented voice was soft, but still sharp.

The redheaded noble sighed and descended the steps to unlock the door, opening it barely. "I assume you've heard, then?" With the elder woman giving a nod, Ayre sighed and let her in.

"It was… childish of me to challenge Otranto to a duel." She was heartbroken; brows pulling down in sadness.

"I… do not think so." Cassandra argued softly, shutting the door behind herself. "I had followed you. I watched the bout, and thought it was… an act of utter romance and passion in itself. I was most surprised when Josephine rejected you."

Ayre covered her face, sitting heavily on the couch. "You… saw all of that?" How much did the seeker see? Did she see her kill him?

"I did." Cassandra neared her, urging to meet her gaze with silence. Eventually, the Inquisitor's hands fell; viridian eyes misty and sun-kissed skin flush with shame. "You should not be embarrassed; It was a declaration of love."

"A love not returned." Ayre pursed her lips, sighing again. "Perhaps it's for the best… There is someone else vying for the affections of my heart, though they are unknowing to this."

"Someone else?" Cassandra quirked a brow, expecting an explanation. Ayre instead seemed to pull away, shaking her head.

"Ah, I shouldn't say anymore. I don't plan to confess." The redhead stood, wringing her hands as she made way to her mantle.

"If I had just… listened to her." The younger woman sighed roughly, knocking over one of her trinkets. It smashed immediately upon contact, spurring Cassandra to stand.

"It was a mistake. I still think it one of the most romantic things I have seen in my life." The seeker softly admitted, resting a hand against the younger's back. She felt Ayre tense, but held her stance.

"...Cassandra, do you remember when I ordered Varric to finish the latest chapter of Swords and Shields?"

"...Begrudgingly." The seeker flushed, unsure what this had to do with their conversation.

Ayre glanced over her shoulder, holding the older woman's gaze. "I didn't just do it for your… enjoyment. I wanted to see you blush again." The noble had a glimmer of hope in her fade-touched gaze…

"...It's me?" Cassandra softly asked, gaining a cautious nod from the Inquisitor. Utterly baffled, the seeker kept quiet even as Ayre turned her back again.

"I've… always had an attraction to you, and perhaps took more joy in everyone thinking we were together than I admitted." The Inquisitor rubbed the nape of her neck, seeming fairly embarrassed.

"How could I ever compete with any suitors you've had?" Ayre asked, stepping away and ceasing their contact. "How would I ever impress you?"

"...You should know, I admire you greatly." Cassandra confessed, prompting the younger to turn around. The seeker seemed flustered, which wasn't new, but she also seemed determined.

"...You admire me?" Ayre seemed to think that impossible, thick brows furrowed.

"Is that so hard to believe?" Cassandra realized that this almost echoed a previous conversation, though now she was on Ayre's side of it.

"Yes." The Inquisitor seemed to realize as well, and chuckled softly. "You have done so much, by choice… I feel as though I am merely circumstantial." She gazed down at her palm, the mark sparking to life with attention.

Cassandra followed her gaze, frowning from the words and the visage of the anchor. Sickly green light drew up along Ayre's arm, the redhead pushing her sleeve up to show. The mark ended just below the crook of her elbow, and Cassandra noticed that the younger's arm shook ever so faintly.

"You lied to me." The seeker accused, gently grasping Ayre's wrist. The redhead furrowed her brows, until she remembered.

"When I said it didn't hurt? Well… maybe it was a half lie. It is a different kind of pain. The anchor sets my nerves… aflame." Ayre explained softly, finding this situation a less awkward than she had imagined. Cassandra's fingertips stroked up and down the underbelly of her arm; From the crook of her elbow to her very palm.

"It's warm." The seeker spoke, surprised at the feel of the mark against her skin. Ayre quirked a soft smile, nodding.

"It is… usually it's a cold pain." The redhead struggled to describe it. "Like holding ice for too long it starts to burn." Ayre chuckled softly, watching the mark respond to Cassandra's touch.

"That reminds me of Haven." The seeker murmured, gently closing her hand around the younger's. She led her back to the couch, settling them both down again. Ayre seemed completely at her mercy, and perhaps she was.

"Does it? You mean when I was wandering through the storm for hours? I'm honestly surprised I didn't die." Ayre mused, though watched Cassandra closely. She had expected the seeker to go running from her confession, and yet it seemed the opposite; Cassandra was still stroking her arm as she spoke.

"You did. It was but for a moment, but you took such a long, last breath… We found you just as you did so, and it chilled my heart to the core." The older woman murmured, hand clasping tight atop the mark.

"I died?" Ayre quirked a brow, leaning in. Cassandra caught her eyes, and nodded gravely.

"We were able to bring you back, but you were almost frozen. In a tent, we stripped you. I stripped you, and laid with you underneath ten furs."

"...Were you bare as well?" Ayre cocked a brow, her gaze straying from Cassandra's eyes to draw down. She felt the seeker's fingers underneath her chin, and flushed when she was forced to meet her gaze again. "I-I apologize, I just-"

"I was bare." Cassandra confirmed, lips quirking into a teasing smirk. "Do not apologize for finding me desirable and wishing to see what armor and cloth hide."

"You do have a way with words, Seeker." Ayre murmured, gazing strongly into dark eyes. The fire was dying down; Darkness overtaking the light of the room.

The Inquisitor wet her lips, clearing her throat softly. "Forgive me for needing an answer, but-" The seeker's mouth claimed hers, fade-touched viridian widening. The kiss was over far too soon, with Ayre still staring in surprise.

"I… was that to calm me down, again?" She asked, tasting Cassandra on her lips. The elder woman chuckled softly, shaking her head.

"No. It was an answer, and because I love you."

Ringing in her ears began, and Ayre had to catch herself from swooning. "I-I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"

Cassandra quirked a sharp brow, seeming amused. She leaned in, the hand that had cupped Ayre's chin slipping to cradle the nape of her neck. "I love you."

"When… When did you even notice me, like that?" Ayre was confusing, having thought her attention for the seeker to be entirely one-sided.

"It was… a multitude of things." Cassandra seemed bashful, but the encouraging smile from the younger let her continue. She stroked the back of Ayre's neck as she spoke, enjoying the soft feel of crimson and sunkissed skin.

"Your gentle care for my beliefs, and yours that coincided. Haven… You risked your life for us all, even when I begged you not to." Ayre's eyes were half-lidded, it was clear the Inquisitor enjoyed the closeness very much.

"Then… Val Royeaux. Even though the public display was not for me, I… imagined that it could be. I felt such a swell in my chest, and…"

"A heat, pooling in your lower stomach?" Ayre dared not think it true, and even expected a reprimand. Instead, she felt Cassandra's lips brush her own again.

"Far more than just a heat… A whirling forge of molten lava." The seeker admitted, feeling the blush spreading across Ayre's face. She chuckled, knowing that the Inquisitor must still be so confused.

"Would you… like for me to court you?" Ayre asked, feeling her entire body tremble.

"I would. But, not now. You need to heal yourself from Lady Montilyet's decision, and learn that I am unlike her."

"I could never compare you to her. You are so… remarkable." Ayre murmured, gingerly testing the water on another kiss. It was returned hungrily, with the seeker almost doing more.

"I should go… before this visit lingers on and becomes an overnight stay." Cassandra teased, happy to see the blush worsen.

"I love you, Ayre."

"...I love you, too."


AN: I admit, I may have fallen in love with the idea of Ayre/Cassandra halfway through CtA. As I said before, RH is canon divergent from CtA; They are two different stories with the same Inquisitor. Ayre is the same in both, except for thinking of Cassandra as her sister in RH. I hope you've enjoyed this, and please review! I will be updating both stories regularly!