The inquisitor and his party come back to Caer Bronach after an exhausting day.
"I can't believe you struck down this red Templar so quickly, seeker, congratulations. " Said Vivienne, her usual controlled stance somehow less formal than it used to be, the mage was obviously tired. Which explained why she complimented a very surprised Pentaghast on her fighting skills.
" Well, thank you Vivienne. I must admit that I am quite amazed by the way that you summoned this fire wall to protect us with such power. " Nodded Cassandra, politely returning the compliment to her comrade.
Nate Trevelyan smiled, the hatted boy next to him started his usual litany, whispering to the warrior.
" He smiles, I don't understand why. His friends are becoming friends, he is happy, maybe soon it will feel like family, but it already does in his heart... I want to help, but he is saying that I am helping by being here. I don't understand." Murmured Cole.
Nate joyfully patted the boy's shoulder.
"Come on Cole, we will understand a lot more after a warm bath and a good dinner !"
The older mage smiled gracefully.
" A bath ? That's a wonderful idea, darling, I hope that your pet isn't afraid of water ." Said Vivienne, in her usual mocking tone.
"Well, since my mage pet likes water, I think that he'll like it as well. " Retorted the Inquisitor.
The mage gasped slightly, making the seeker smirk.
" How dare you say that I'm your pet ?"
" How dare you say that he is my pet ?"
Cassandra stopped their argument by stating that they were just in front of the door of the fort, and that she would like to rest a bit.
Trevelyan immediately stopped speaking to the older mage, who did the exact same, and he opened the door, and held it out for his lady seeker.
" Gentleman" Thanked Cassandra.
" Thank you, darling " Nodded Vivienne.
" Why are you watching Cassandra's butt-" Cole didn't have the time to finish his sentence, that the hand of the two handed warrior were on his mouth.
" Shhhhhhhh."
" Inquisitor ? Cole ?" Asked the seeker, raising her eyebrow.
" Shhhh it's nothing. " He let go of Cole, close the door and entered the fort, under the muffled laugh of the vigils who heard what the boy said.
The rain was light, and the sun was shining. Since he closed the major rift in the lake, Crestwood seemed more like a nice place, and less like an apocalyptic land.
The Inquisition's soldiers made a good job, there was no trace of the fight for the fort, the floor was clean, the walls were devoid of any marks of blood. The fight has been hard, but as always, the inquisitor and his team were victorious.
Nate shook his head, before crossing the courtyard, climbing the stairs, smiling despite his heavy armor weighting heavily on his already tired shoulders and muscles.
He entered the main courtyard. Scouts were making dinner. He nodded to his companions, who left to get in more pleasant outfits.
He smiled to the scouts, and gestured over to himself and his party members, signaling that they will eat too. The scouts, honored by his presence, added more meat to the dinner.
The inquisitor left for his own tent, wanting to get in a more comfortable outfit.
He climbed the stairs, sighing and wondering how many stairs this damn fort had. He was about to enter his tent when he felt the gaze of Charter on him. With a reluctant sigh, he tore himself away from his cotton shirt, who waited for him on his bed, and headed over to Leliana's agent.
" I found Butcher's lifeless body. " He stated. The elf nodded and told him that they would have to find the man who betrayed them. The inquisitor nodded back and turned around to find a curious seeker.
" Told her 'bout Butcher . "
" Understood. Shall we wait for you with the scouts ?" Asked his second in command, not making any remark on his language, the poor man was tired.
" Yes please. "
"Inquisitor, you have a lot of blood on your armor, I suggest you to be careful while removing it. Or your tent might be completely soaked . "
" Oh, thanks, I didn't notice it. " There was really a lot of blood on his armor, he wondered why he didn't realize it earlier.
He got into his tent, watching the seeker's hypnotic swaying hips, as she got down the stairs, speaking briefly to Vivienne and Cole.
He sighed and undressed carefully. When he was fully naked, he looked in the mirror.
Blood. Everywhere on his body. He sighed again, took a sponge, and a huge water bowl, and started to wash his muscular body, trying to be quick to avoid making his companion wait for him too long.
The scars on his body never bothered him, but he wondered what Cassandra would think of them. They were not repulsive to him , and he found his lady's scars beautiful, like a mark of what she has been through, but he didn't know if she would like him, even with scars and bruises.
When he was finished, there was a lot of blood and mud in the bowl. He dressed to his simple cotton tunic, feeling lighter. He let the bowl out, so the soldiers could wash it, and excited his tent, in a better mood.
He joined his companion on the wooden banks, near the fire. The meal was simple, but good . Soup, some noodles and a bit of vegetables and meat. Cole carefully took out the meat out of his bowl, and gave it to the scout.
" You need more meat around your bones, he wants you to have more meats around your bones, you already have some, but have mine. " Said Cole. The scout's colleague got red, and his friend threw him a deadly glare.
" More meat 'round my bones, you daft t- sorry inquisitor. Thank you.. Mister... I swear there was someone here. "
Cassandra and Vivienne shook her head, and started to eat.
" Vivienne, do you have any funny story to share with us ?" Asked Nate, while drinking his soup, feeling like a child again .
" Well, I do have some, yes. "
" Yeah! Story time ! I hope it has bunnies in it. There is not enough stories with bunnies. " Said Cole, almost joyfully.
" Well, it was a long time ago, I was just a simple enchantress then. I had an acquaintance , who was weak and frail. He was always whining about how dreadful his life was. So one day, he climbed the tower , he was about to jump when I said ..."
" You stopped him ? Good, I feel bad for the man." Said Cassandra.
" You have got a warm heart, despite what everyone says ." Added Cole.
" See ? You can be kind when you want to. " Approved Nate while sipping his soup.
" I told him ' Jump high kiddo, make it count. ' "
Nate spat out his soup, Cole choked on his water and Cassandra shook her head.
" I should've seen it coming. " Said the seeker.
" I swear I need to find better friends. " Joked Nate, hoping that she didn't actually do that.
They finished their dinner, before heading toward their own tent. Vivienne and Cole had their tents downstairs, so Cassandra and Nate went upstair together.
" Ugh " Cassandra's disgusted noise echoed through the silent fort.
" Ugh too, milady. " Smirked the Inquisitor.
" I told you to quit the flirting, you cannot court me . "
" Of course I can, am I not the Inquisitor ?"
" Yes, yes you are, and that's precisely why you cannot court me. You know it. "
He knew it. But still, he loved her, he couldn't help but love her.
" But I don't care about what is possible or not, Cassandra. That's why I chose you, you and no one else. " He said lovingly.
Cassandra pushed him in the hay who was stored in case of flooding.
" Ouch !" He laughed as he fell in the soft and scratchy hay.
" I told you that you were going to pHay for that !"
" Wow, such pun miss Pentaghast, I'm going to have my revenge, you're about to be PUNished ! " She laughed at that and started running toward the tents, under the surprised gazes of the soldiers.
Cassandra was fast, but the inquisitor was even faster, they ran together, the seeker ran through a door, contoured the barrels, and ran through another door, not caring about the state of her comfortable armor.
Nate followed her, they were now outside, he could see the Old Crestwood from where they were. Cassandra kept running, until she spotted bandits, not far from her.
She crawled behind a rock, hiding. The other warrior saw her and did the same, catching his breath.
" How many are here ? "
" Three. Two warriors and a rogue. Do you think we can handle it, inquisitor ?"
" It's going to be perilous without our armors, but we can try. "
" Good luck, Trevelyan. "
" Good luck, Pentaghast. "
They both climbed their shelter, and jumped on the bandits, Nate rose his blade high, and penetrated the armor of the first warrior. The other one tried to strike him, but Cassandra punched him in the face with her shield. The inquisitor took his blade off the lifeless body of his assailant, whilst his dear lady chopped off the head of the second warrior.
" Looks like-" A shadow appeared behind Cassandra. Nate screamed, seeing the blade getting near the seeker. He jumped, pushing her to the ground. He felt something hard and cold hitting his shoulder, he let out a pained groan.
He looked up, before getting kicked in the face twice by the rogue. Cassandra lifted him off her, and threw her stiletto in the last bandit's face.
" Wow, he could have killed me, thank you, inquisitor. Even if you could have av-" She gasped when she saw his bleeding neck, and the blood slipping from his forehead.
" Nate ! " It was the first time he heard her pronounce his name. He saw her worried expression, before it all faded to black.
" Inquisitor, stay with us !" Begged a feminine voice. He opened his eyes, he saw blue eyes watching him with mocked indifference.
" Vivi-"
" Do not talk furthermore inquisitor, keep your forces. "
" It was not that bad, just a hit in the shoulder and a few in the face. "
" Inquisitor, the knife pierced a vein in your neck. "
Oh
/OH/
" But, nothing more, right ?"
" The bandit who kicked you had spiked shoes. It has hit your face. "
" Am I still pretty enough to charm ladies ? " He asked, half joking.
" It might leave a scar or two, but you'll have to rest for now. "
" Are we still in Crestwood ?"
" No, we are back in Skyhold. " Oh crap.
" You're in the infirmary, you'll have to cross the courtyard in order to get back to your private quarters. " Double crap.
" Oh, and Cassandra wishes to speak with you. "Oh sh-
" Rest, inquisitor. And you might keep your eye."
"/Might / !? "
" You'll see by yourself, once you find a mirror. "
He had to resist the growing temptation of falling to his knees, screaming ' maker noooooo' until the end of times,but he felt that it was somehow inappropriate. He nodded to the surgeon and the mage, before exciting the infirmary.
" Inquisitor, are you okay ?" Asked a worried voice, with a recognizable accent.
" Why, I am, thank you milady. " She gasped when she saw his face. Now, he was worried.
" You should rest, maybe we could speak later... "
" Is there is anything you want to say to me ?"
" Yes, yes... I'm sorry... By my fault you have been endangered, you could have died... Because of my foolish acts. I am deeply sorry and beg your pardon. It will not ever happen again. "
" Cassandra, that is not what I meant. I enjoyed our play, and still hope to be able to do so later. I love this playful side of you, I should have remembered about the remaining rogue, do not be sorry for it, don't ever be sorry for it. In fact, it greatly improved my mood. "
" But not your fighting skills. "
" Touché. Anyway, anything else ?"
" I want to speak with you about the seekers. "
" Oh, you already want me to meet your family ? I'm feeling honored Cassandra, but I did not buy our rings yet, but maybe a necklace will do ?" The seeker grunted.
" What kind of religion or people use necklaces as engagement ?"
" A surprising number. Shall we talk about the seeker in a more private place ? " The other warrior nodded, and they both went to the war room to discuss about the lost seekers.
After their discussion, the Inquisitor summoned the advisors, and after deciding a few things, he left, leaving the others to their tasks. Mother Giselle interrupted him, she talked about Dorian's father, and the letter he sent to the Revered Mother wasn't meant to be shown to Dorian, and so, hoping that the father and son would come to a reconciliation .
Sighing, the inquisitor just went upstair to check his injury, which wasn't that bad, it would probably leave him a nice scar across the eye, and left for Redcliff's tavern.
The confrontation was very awkward for the inquisitor. And from the coughs produced by Cassandra and Cole, who preferred to stay outside, the walls were thin.
After all the family drama, he didn't know why, he didn't how... But Dorian kissed him.
And then, everything changed.
