The fire was the first thing Viviana had felt. It burned against her skin regardless that it was on the other side of the door. Ashes, dirt, and small splinters of wood created an unwanted crown against her golden brown hair. The stone around her was strong, but the weight of the falling wood had started to push down. There was very little thought on where she was to go, all she could think of was her family. Crawling through the window, Viviana ignored the tearing of her dress as glass shards still holding onto the building tried to pull her back in.

As soon as her feet touched the ground again, the young woman pushed her legs to run towards her family's cottage on the estate. Now more than ever she was grateful they didn't live in the manor like herself. Her thoughts halted immediately, however, as she took in the flames that stood where her family's home once did. The fire was too thick to see through, almost as if her home had never existed. Her heart pounding, she moved closer, hoping maybe this was all a dream.

The heat from the fire that burned all around, caused strands of her hair to stick against her skin. Usually the feeling of it would comfort her, but this heat wasn't from her sparring or after a run through the lavender fields. This heat was from the fear and grief of an older man who had taken too much from her.

The place where her home had once stood was empty and Viviana tried her hardest to remember what it looked like. How the northern window had a small scratch from the time she threw her shoe at her older brother Finian. How the dirt floor was covered up by various rugs her mother had made that weren't good enough to sell. The wind chime she'd made when she was ten from twigs and shards of glass left outside the local inn.

Gone. Gone .

Viviana's body lurched upwards from her cot. It took her eyes a few minutes to adjust to the small beginning of morning light sneaking into her tent. Sweat soaked her clothes so she shoved off the blankets and pushed back stray pieces of hair sticking to her skin. She could feel the cool air sneaking in through the edges of her tent but it wasn't enough. Gathering her composure, she avoided thinking about the memory that her mind decided to showcase that night. Stepping out of the tent, she glanced around, noting that barely anyone else was awake just yet. Only the cooks and stable workers were just beginning their work days.

There was nothing left for the Anderfels' failing Grey Wardens-not when there was a giant hole in the sky and fellow Wardens gallivanting off with the enemy. As Warden-Commander for the Anderfels, Viviana Beauvois had been in charge of many; but as the distrust for Wardens reached even into the Anders, she was forced to retreat. The Anderfels' Grey Wardens scattered, either joining a side or moving on. While she should have sought out bringing them back; there was only so much she could do. It all would seem far too much like servitude if she even tried. Her time as a slave taught her that much at least.

"Vivi, you're brooding again." Lanna's voice broke through her thoughts. The tanned elven mage placed a small hand on her shoulder as she dropped down to sit beside her. Pieces of her hair fell into her eyes to lead Vivi to believe that she had just returned from a training session.

"I'm not brooding." Vivi tossed back some of her waist length ash brown hair.

"Certainly looks like it." Vivi only responded with a sigh and roll of her blue eyes. "What's bothering you?"

She debated on responding, "I just don't see how it's fair that the Wardens are often ridiculed against, when we're the only ones in a constant battle." Lanna nodded in agreement. Their time in Anderfels was nothing glamorous. The tavern songs knew nothing of what they saw or encountered.

"They don't trust us here at Skyhold."

"That's an understatement." Both their gazes turned to a handful of Chantry sisters who were standing close to one another whispering; their eyes occasionally turning to the new newest Skyhold residents

"Where's Breana?"

At the mention of her sister, Vivi's gaze relaxed. "Probably helping out the Inquisition's Ambassador. The two get on well, you'd think I've been replaced."

"Impossible," a male voice interrupted. The man stood over six feet tall, bare-chested for all to see, dark hair knotted at the nape of his neck.

"Jarri, your loyalty warms my heart," Vivi joked.

"I didn't think you had one." Both grinned as Lanna scoffed at the pair. The half-qunari man had become a surprising constant in the group. While he could have gone anywhere, which usually was the case, instead he joined Vivi's group of renegades on their way out of Anderfels.

Jarri was terrifying to be near when he was in battle, but Vivi and Lanna were used to him by that point. The trio had known each other for years. Though while the two women were Wardens, Jarri never had an affiliation to any organization or place. All they knew of him was that he had forsaken his Qun vows to become a Tal-Vassoth, and never looked back.

The strongest of the three, Vivi often called upon him when they needed a little backup. The Wardens they once knew may have thought him excessive, but even they couldn't deny his usefulness.

"Where have you been?" Lanna inquired.

"Took a tour of the keep."

"And?"

"What's that tone for?" He glanced at the elf.

"What'd you find? You allways find out things."

"Thank you."

"That wasn't a compliment," her voice deadpanned.

"I know. Doesn't mean I can't take it as one."

Before the pair could go off on their daily banter, Vivi interrupted, "What did you find out?"

"Well for one, there's a Grey Warden here. Sort of. Ferelden. Though I didn't have time to get all the details. Secondly the cooks here are nasty but make a great stew."

"It's not even lunch time, how did you-nevermind. I should go see this Grey Warden later."

"Tread lightly." The warning seemed vague but the tone he held wasn't. They created their own communication skills through tones and eye contact. There was no doubt it came in handy at times of great tension.

A soldier approached the trio, barely making eye contact, and passed on a letter to Vivi. She gave him a nod and quiet thanks as he scampered off again. Pulling open the note, she quickly read over the script on the paper. Crumpling it up, she passed it to Lanna who then burned it with her magic.

"What was that about," she asked.

"The Nightingale wants to see me."

"The Nightingale? Really?" Vivi nodded before standing up and giving a stretch.

"Check on Breana if you see her?" They both nodded, entranced by the thought that they were in the same location as the notorious Leliana spymaster.

The castle of Skyhold was certainly something to behold. Vivi and her Wardens had seen plenty of structures but the fact that this place seemed so well intact for being left behind amazed her. There had to be some sort of ancient magic at work for that. Her eyes wandered to those around her as she paced up into the tower where Leliana was. She'd mapped the keep out in her head, keeping note of the many nooks.

The woman seemed deep into the paperwork in front of her but as a fellow rogue, Vivi knew better. She leaned sideways against the railing nearest to the woman, glancing down the spiral tower down to where Solas was pacing. She wondered about the elf quite a bit; Lanna didn't seem to take to him well either. Finally, Vivi decided to speak.

"You wanted to see me?"

Leliana nodded and offered her a kind smile. "Yes, the Inquisitor wished to be here but there was an urgent matter to attend to."

"Did it have anything to do with the party of nobles that arrived this morning?"

"You're observant." It wasn't a question nor was it an accusation.

"I see and hear things. It's fairly easy around here anyway."

Leliana nodded slowly in thought before rising and standing beside her. "The Inquisition could use your skills, and your companions."

"For what?" She'd nearly gotten tricked into deals she didn't want before and she wasn't about to put the lives of her people in danger.

"The Inquisitor is out trying to find a way to beat Corypheus, but there is plenty more we would like to uncover."

"Meaning?"

"There are rumors of old magic, the kind we cannot let the enemy uncover. My people have already located some clues, but they don't have the experience as you and yours do with facing magic head on."

"I would have thought the Inquisition's forces had plenty of resources already."

The woman laughed, "We do, but they're not the Wardens."

Vivi pondered that and the woman before her for a moment. She had heard of the Hero of Ferelden, and how Leliana was one of the handful who helped stop the blight. She supposed that if there was anyone there who would value the Wardens it would be her. "We're not all Wardens."

"I'm aware." She offered up a kind grin, "What do you say, Viviana? Care to join the Inquisition?"

It had already been discussed with those that arrived with her and they had nowhere else to go. "We'll do it. So long as our methods aren't questioned."

"Very well. I believe Commander Rutherford would like to introduce you to the men you'll be working with."

"Is he going to introduce us to every soldier?"

"No, Warden. You, Jarri, and Lanna will be working with The Saviors."

"The what?"

"They're a separate group such as your own. They pledged their alliance with the Inquisition when Corypheus destroyed Haven. They're in a similar position as yourself and the Wardens."

Deciding there really was nothing else she could do, Vivi nodded, and followed Leliana to the battlements and Commander Cullen's office.

As they walked, Leliana inquired about how Vivi ended up at the Wardens. It wasn't a particularly happy one, but she wasn't willing to hide the past from her new alliance.

"I lived in Tevinter with my family until a Magister decided to burn us all to death. Luckily for us, my sister Breana and I, we made it out alive. I joined the Wardens after a few years on the run."

"And she followed you?"

"I couldn't stop her if I tried. She was settled into an assistant position for a noble until she knew that I would be leaving again. I believe she's made quite a companion in your Ambassador."

"She has. Josie certainly has taken to her. I think she wishes her own sister was as well behaved as yours."

"She's a suck up. Don't let Bre have you think otherwise." Both women laughed lightly as they walked through the battlements, quieting down once they made it to where Cullen was. His office was as expected, though she wondered how long he'd been avoiding fixing up the place. She couldn't blame him, though, seeing as she was sometimes uncomfortable by the comforts of a secure home after so many years traveling. Her gaze traveled throughout the room before landing on the tall blonde commander. He stared her down but she didn't waver under his gaze; the gaze of those in power had long lost its luster to her.

He placed a hand across his chest and bowed towards her, "Warden-Commander Beauvois."

"Viviana is just fine." She waved him off with a slight nod. He straightened and glanced to Leliana who offered a nod, not bothering to be subtle around her. The mercenary turned Warden glanced back to Cullen and raised an eyebrow, "I hear you have soldiers you want me to meet?"

He gave a nod as Leliana slunk from the room, "Yes. This way." He led her towards one of the doors from his office.

"Are three doors necessary? How do you get any work done?" she inquired.

"Not easily." She smirked at his response and the rest of their walk was quiet. They ended up on the third floor of the tavern, her eyes landing on a strange boy in the corner. He glanced at her from the rim of his hat, unsettling her a bit, but they continued down the stairs where the more people gathered. Soldiers. Though not all were in standard Inquisition armor which made her keep on her guard as Cullen led her right for them.

"Branson," Cullen spoke to the taller of the men. He turned, pint in hand, and let out a cheer at seeing the commander.

"Cullen! We're celebrating, come to join us?" Viviana immediately could tell that they were brothers, their relationship a bit strained based on the way Cullen shrugged off the hand on his shoulder.

"I'm here to introduce you to new allies of the Inquisition." He motioned to Viviana who stood over a foot shorter than Branson. The man placed down his pint on the table, wiping his hands on his pants and looked down at her. He seemed only a bit more serious than before as he sized up the woman before him. Cullen continued on regardless, "Viviana Beauvois and her fellow Wardens will be going with you and The Saviors from now on."

Branson's eyebrows rose at the information. "I didn't think they'd find anyone reckless enough to go along with us."

Viviana's voice rose to the challenge, "It's only reckless if the leadership allows it to be." Neither men knew how to react to that, nor did those who had been listening in. A handful of the men seemed to be grinning in hopes some sort of argument would arise.

However, before Viviana could say anything, Lanna's hand wrapped around her arm. "Friends of yours, Vivi?"

"Vivi?" Branson's tone looked playful but Viviana responded too quickly for him to remark.

"Don't." She turned to Lanna, "We are to be travelling with him and his men from now on."

"Oh, what for?"

"Ancient magic. Demon infested caves, surely."

Lanna shrugged, "Nothing new."

Branson glanced to his brother, "How many?"

"Five of them with five of yours. I want no more trouble than there has to be. I trust you'll work out a strategy together." Instead of the veiled threat being directed at the both leaders, however, Cullen stuck his gaze onto Branson's. With that, Cullen Rutherford strode off and up the stairs once more, leaving an awkward silence in the otherwise loud tavern.

"I don't know about you, Vivi, but I could use a pint...or three." Viviana followed Lanna's pull and stepped towards the stairs down.

"We need a plan," Branson called after her.

"Tomorrow morning at nine, we meet at the gardens."

"Nine? Why not after lunch?"

"I'll be there. If you're not, don't be unhappy with the plan I come up with." With the distance between them, there was no room for Branson Rutherford to remark further.

Down at the bar, both Lanna and Vivi settled to discuss their plan. "Who are you considering joining us? Hopefully not Frankie. He's not battle ready."

Viviana glanced sideways at her friend, "You sound so sure you're coming along.

"You wouldn't be able to stop me, my dear Commander." Lanna smirked at her friend and pulled herself closer to the bar.

"That's true," Vivi conceded. "You're coming along. They have a group already and we don't want to add too many more. It would defeat the purpose of secrecy."

"So we need a warrior then? You need someone to go upfront with you since you don't know the meaning of hanging back."

Vivi ignored the motherly tone of her friend and looked around them. Her eyes caught onto a pair of qunari men talking at the back of the tavern. She glanced from the corner of her eyes to Lanna who wasn't really paying much attention. "I have someone."

Lanna brought her pint up to her lips, pausing to ask, "Who?" When Vivi failed to respond, she managed to put some sense together and sighed, "Why him?"

"Because he knows what he's doing."

"So do nearly every other Grey Warden we have!" She nearly slammed down her pint.

Vivi calmly placed her own down onto the sticky bar counter, "Yes, but we need someone we can trust when we're surrounded by unfamiliar allies."

Lanna wanted to argue more but she couldn't find it in herself to disagree. So she merely grumbled and chugged the last of her pint, wanting another but knowing she had to be up and ready in the morning. She gave a long sigh, "All right...go give him the good news so I don't have to." Her chin tilted towards Jarri who was striding out of the tavern.

"You all right here?" While they all had been unharmed, Vivi was still concerned about being out alone; especially in a tavern where people's propriety were extremely down.

"I'll head back soon." With that, Vivi finished off her pint, left a kind tip for the bartender, and weaved her way out towards the Qunari male. She had to increase her pace to catch up to his long strides and when she did, she silently walked beside him for a few moments.

He gave a small smirk, "Heard you're going out with that group soon."

"We're going out," she corrected.

"How's Lanna handling that?" His smirk reminded her that he was not perturbed by their friend's dislike of him. Though , Vivi thought, Lanna can't hide her attraction to him very well either .

The tug of war between the mage and Qunari wasn't hidden from anyone except themselves and Vivi felt like she was in no position to try and force them into something they weren't ready for. Especially with a large darkspawn and demon army on the loose; distractions were meant to be avoided.

"She'll survive."

"Good."

"Learn many things from your talk with The Iron Bull?"

He gave a long sigh, though it was a content one, "The one thing I miss about the Qunari is our complete lack of tolerance for bullshit. He's the only one giving real answers around here."

She nodded, giving a pause before continuing, "You could join his Chargers if you wanted."

Jarri didn't falter in his steps but he seemed to give it a lot of thought. "No, who else is going to stop you from getting yourself killed?"

"Why does everyone say that?"

"Because it's true." There was no more room to argue as they arrived back at their camp. The Ambassador had informed them that there would be rooms set up for those who wanted them tomorrow, though Vivi was hesitant to part from the set up they had. There was safety in numbers and the ease in which it was to simply run from a large stone building if attacked; rather than be in it. She had long gotten accustomed to being outdoors and sleeping on the ground; and it had become a comfort to her.

Jarri wandered off, mentioning something about finding a missing cat, as Vivi greeted some Wardens before settling into her tent. Instead of falling right asleep, however, she tossed and turned in deep thought about the days to come. She wondered if the Inquisition was a safe place for her sister to be. She'd heard what happened at Haven and wouldn't doubt this Corypheus to try something like that again.

There were many unanswered questions; too many.