Blake stalked around the room, glaring at the bars in the windows of her cell.

Ok, so it wasn't really a cell, outside of the bars (Which looked like they had been bolted to the wall in a rush), it was a rather fancy room, but Blake knew they were holding her here.

Of course she would get captured on her last mission. But by who? She didn't think the Schnees owned a castle.

She also didn't think they had a room that seemed tailor made for her. The bookshelf had series she liked, the wardrobe had clothing in her size, and a variety of ribbons.

She had woken up here two days ago, after being ambushed on the disconnected train cart by a boy wearing a ridiculous hat.

Blake turned as the door opened, allowing her a view of the guards on either side of it. If only she had Gambol Shroud.

A third guard looked at her, "Madame Belladonna," his voice was thick with an accent, "there is someone here to see you, if you are willing?"

Like she had a choice.

"Ok."

He nodded, stepping aside to allow her 'guest' in.

The woman walked in. A yellow dress swished around her feet.

"Hello, Blake."

Blake didn't answer her, merely watching her move.

"I am Josephine Montilyet, I'm sorry for the last couple of days. I had meant to meet you when you first arrived, but something came up, and, well-"

"What do you want?"

The warm smile on Josephine's face faltered slightly, before picking back up.

"I'm here to answer any questions you might have," Josephine sat on one of the chairs, looking at the trey on the table, "You haven't eaten?"

"I haven't been hungry," Blake lied.

Josephine stopped, before continuing, "very well. I'm sure you have questions, go ahead and ask them."

"Who are you, and what do you want from me?"

"We are the Inquisition, and we just wanted to speak with you. I am truly sorry about your rude arrival, but most of the Inner Circle had to leave to deal with something, and those who remained are not exactly the best at social interaction."

"Well, we're talking, now what?"

"Now I answer any other questions you have, and then I take you to meet the Inquisitor. She has wanted to talk to you for a while."

"How about we skip right to that," Blake said, already thinking of using this as an opportunity to sneak away.

"If that is what you want," Josephine stood up, adjusted her dress, and gestured for Blake to follow.

When they reached the bottom of the tower, any plan Blake had for escaping without a weapon died. Guards stood all around the hall, and Blake had no choice but to follow Josephine past the throne, carved from the skull of some great beast, and up the tower opposite from hers.

At the top, Josephine knocked the door, and a muffled call to come in responded.

Josephine pushed open the door, before turning to leave Blake with the 'Inquisitor'.

Blake immediately noticed Gambol Shroud sitting on a desk across the room from her, sitting next to an ornate sword. Would she be able to reach it before her captor-

"Blake, come over here a second before you grab Gambol Shroud, would you?"

That was a 'no'.

Blake walked to the open balcony, where the other inhabitant of the room was resting, right hand on the railing. A red cloak covered the rest of her body.

The Inquisitor was a young woman, around Blake's age. Brown hair brightened to red towards the tips.

"Hello?"

"Sorry, give me a couple of minutes, I only just got back less than an hour ago."

The Inquisitor breathed in, eyes locked onto the grounds of the keep.

"I hope the guards treated you well at the very least?"

"Yes," Blake grudgingly admitted, they hadn't really interacted with her beyond bringing her food.

"Good," she muttered, sounding unfocused, "good. I'm sorry about all this, it really wasn't what I had planned."

"Then what did you have planned?"

"We were going to ask you to come in willingly, and we would have had a nice talk. But something came up, and I had to rush out before I finished the orders."

The Inquisitor continued to look down, and Blake followed her eyes.

Men and women bustled around the courtyard, of all shapes and sizes. Blake saw a bull Faunus who had horns that put Adam to shame practicing with a armored man.

"What does the Inquisition do? When you're not giving out vague orders that get people kidnapped, that is."

"Whatever it takes to help, to keep the world going a bit long-"

The Inquisitor sighed as a knock came from the door, eyes closed. Blake saw her mouth something.

She looked tired.

"Come in."

A man walked in, holding a tray.

"Your Worship, we had heard you had returned and thought you might like some tea."

"Yes, thank you. Put it on the desk, and send my regards to the kitchens."

"Of course."

The man did as she said, before withdrawing. The Inquisitor walked over to the table, pouring a cup of tea.

"Do you want some?"

For the first time, the Inquisitor met Blake's eye. Blake instinctively took a step back, for a brief second there seemed to be a glimmer of red in the silver irises, and her pupils were slightly slitted. Then she blinked, it was gone, and the Inquisitor was adding a cube of sugar to her tea, then a second, then a third.

"Ok."

The Inquisitor hadn't shown any signs of hostility, and did seem to be sorry about her capture.

Blake sat across from The Inquisitor, before tensing as a giant dog made itself known from one of the corners, Blake having written it off as a pile of furs.

Blake watched it lick The Inquisitor's right hand.

"What kind of dog is that?"

"Drei? He's a Mabari, very smart, very loyal. They choose their partner and stay with them no matter what. We've been together for three years and a half years now, since he was born."

It was huge, and Blake leaned back when it looked at her, head tilted to the side.

"Why is he doing that?"

"He's curious, he hasn't met you before. Alright, Drei, leave her alone," The Inquisitor gave Drei a treat, and the Mabari walked back to his corner, chewing on it.

Blake spent a bit more time looking around the room. A scythe sat on one desk, apparently unused.

"What's that about?"

The Inquisitor looked over, "They're my old equipment from when I was more active. Those days are done now, so they're gathering dust."

"Couldn't you step down? You don't look all that much older than me."

"Even if I did," The Inquisitor lifted her left arm from the confines of her cloak for the first time, "I don't think I'm fit for fighting."

Blake stared.

The Inquisitor didn't have a left hand. It ended just below her elbow.

"It's not as bad as it looks."

"How did you lose it? If you don't mind me asking," Blake tacked on the last bit hurriedly.

The Inquisitor didn't show any sign of offense, smiling tiredly, "You know what I like about you, Blake? You ask questions. That's a very important thing in my line of work. The real question, is are you asking the right ones?"

"I think so, yes."

"Tell me why this is a good question, and I'll tell you."

"You clearly know who I am, and know me quite well. I don't know anything about you. I don't even know your name. Anything I can learn is good."

The Inquisitor smiled again, a more honest one this time, "A friend took it off to keep me from dying. And my name is Ruby. Almost nobody calls me that anymore though, I'm Inquisitor now, or Herald, or Your Worship if they're feeling fancy. Even I have trouble thinking of myself as anything else at times."

"That, sounds very lonely."

"I am these people's champion, they look to me. I have to be infallible, to transcend being just a person, to be their Inquisitor."

"That still sounds lonely."

Ruby smiled, "It is lonely at times, yes. But I do have some friends."

Another knock, and Ruby pulled her left arm back into the confines of her cloak.

"Come in."

The door swung open, and the Bull Faunus Blake had seen walked in. Ruby moved her arm.

"Boss, Wicked Grace?"

Ruby seemed to think for a second, before turning to her, "Do you want to come? You can meet the rest of the Inner Circle."

"Uh… Sure?"

"Cool, grab Mercy when you grab Gambol Shroud, would you? Bull, help me with the gauntlet."

Blake watched the conversation in confusion, and with more questions than answers. What was going on? Why was she here?

-X Line Break X-

"I saw that Varric."

Blake watched as the dwarf place the card he had attempted to swap back. Almost everyone had been caught cheating at some point, and Blake was starting to suspect it was part of the game.

The boy, Cole, stared at Blake from across the table.

"What?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you when I grabbed you."

"Ok…"

Blake looked around the table, before locking eyes with Ruby, who was drinking from a goblet of steaming red liquid.

"You still haven't told me why I'm here."

Ruby threw Lein onto the table, "You're smart. Guess."

Blake looked around the table, off-key music coming from above them. Why was she here?

"You want me to join the Inquisition?"

"Right in one."

"Why?"

"You wouldn't remember, but we've met before. You made a good impression on me."

"That's it?"

"Pretty much."

"What would you want me to do?"

"Currently? Go to Beacon."

"What?"

"We have reason," one of the woman, Leliana spoke, "to believe that there is something about to happen at Vale, centered around Beacon."

"Why?"

"We know the signs for these things."

"But why me?"

"We can't do it, we're busy trying to deal with something else."

"What?"

Ruby waved a hand, and a green rift followed it.

"What's that?"

"A weakness in the Veil, we're trying to get back to where we came from."

"The Inquisition isn't from here?"

"Have you ever heard of Thedas?"

"No."

"Well, they would have never heard of Vale. We're very far away, and need to find a way back through the Veil."

"Then why help Vale?"

Ruby smiled slightly, "I'm from Vale, just because I'm trying to save Thedas doesn't mean I will ignore my home."

"How did you get here?"

"We were thrown through the Veil by the same friend who took off my arm, Solas, to stop us from stopping him. We think we know where we are, but can't know for sure."

"Where does the Veil lead though?"

Ruby smiled, before opening the rift larger.

Blake saw the world within shift. Armies waged war, Grimm fought against Men and Faunus.

"The Fade, the realm of dreams and Spirits."

"You're mad."

"You would think so, yes."

"Why would I join you then?"

"Because I can prove it."

"How?"

Ruby gesturing to it, "We can go see it."

Ruby raised her right hand, "Shall we?"

Blake thought about it.

"Fine."

And she took the hand.

The next thing she felt was her plummeting, familiar buildings rising around her.

"Blake!"

Blake turned as her mother ran past her.

"Mom?"

"No," Ruby appeared next to her suddenly, "just a Spirit."

"What do you mean?"

"It's… hard to explain," Ruby raised her left arm, only to stop and stare at the empty sleeve like she was confused, before dropping it, "Solas could do it better then me, but he's well…"

"Not here?"

"Yeah. I can try, if you want."

"Please," Blake asked, eyes locking on the figure of Adam, before breaking her gaze to look around.

Menagerie. That's where they were. Home.

Blake blinked back tears as it dawned on her how much she missed her home.

"Imagine a bowl," Ruby said, "when you pour water into it, the water takes the shape of the bowl. It's like that."

"...You were right, it doesn't make sense."

Ruby gave a frustrated sigh, "Yeah. Ok, let me try again. Spirits are naturally malleable, so they change shape depending on who they're interacting with. A gay man would see a desire demon as a handsome man, while a straight one would see it as a beautiful woman. Cole says that they aren't really real until they find someone's thoughts to cling to make themselves real."

"Demon?"

"Spirits that have been corrupted by the dark side of human's emotions. Justice becomes Vengeance, Wisdom becomes Pride, Compassion becomes Fear. So on and so forth."

"Why..." Blake stared at the younger form of her, walking along and holding Adam's hand.

Blake took a step forward, then another, following the two. They had stopped, talking with Blake's parents. Ghira had one hand on Adam's shoulder, a paternal smile on his face as his other arm was wrapped around Kali.

She picked up her pace, reaching out and…

A hand clamped down on her shoulder, stopping her.

Turning, Blake glared at Ruby, who was eyeing the two.

"What?" Blake snarled out.

"The most important thing to remember, is that nothing in the Fade is anything more than a reflection made by spirits."

"So?"

"So," Ruby stepped forward, drawing the sword on her back, flames licking up it, "This is a reflection of something you Desire."

The minute Ruby said the word, the smiles on all four faces slid off. Their bodies seemed to melt, before taking the form of a naked, purple skinned woman (or was it a man?) with curved horns and claws.

"I should have known you-"

The creature didn't have time to finish her statement before Ruby stepped forward, running her through in one movement.

The demon froze, before fading from existence.

Ruby calmly sheathed the sword.

"Remember, Blake. Nothing in the Fade is real, and everything in it, from Spirit to Demon wants something from you."

-X Line Break X-

Blake rushed out of the room.

Stupid.

Pulling out her Scroll, she hit a button.

"Hello."

"I can't do this."

"Can't do what?"

"I can't be at Beacon anymore. I told you about my team right? Ruby, Weiss and Yang?"

"I know about them, yes."

Blake took note of the strange phrasing the Inquisitor used. Despite being extremely forthcoming about their origins, Blake still had the feeling she was hiding something from her. Blake had an idea what it was.

"They know I'm a Faunus, and used to be with the White Fang. I-"

"Blake, do you remember where the Inquisition house in Vale is?"

"Yes."

"Can you meet me there in an hour?"

"I don't know the phrase for the month, Leliana hasn't sent it yet."

"Give me a second," Blake heard the sound of parchment, "It's, uh, Benedictions 4:11."

"I don't know that line of the Chant, do you?"

Ruby wasn't, from what Blake had seen, particularly religious. She was intricately tied to the Andrastian faith, but Blake had never seen her near the Skyhold Chantry. The Chantry itself was one of the few formal nods Ruby gave to her status as Andraste's Herald, most of Skyhold's throne room being decorated with either heraldry exalting the Inquisition itself, or tokens from the Inquisition, and Ruby's, dragon hunts.

From what Blake could tell, dragons were similar to Grimm Wyverns, but actually left behind bones, which the Inquisition proceeded used for everything from decor to armor and weapon crafting. Even Ruby's ceremonial sword, Mercy, had a dragon wrapped around the crossguard.

...She was jealous of Ruby's bed though. It had been imported from the Free Marshes, wherever that was, and even made the beds at Beacon (and her bed in Skyhold) look small.

"'Blessed are the righteous, the lights in the shadow. In their blood the Maker's will is written.' I think."

"Ok, I'll see you then."

It took Blake an hour to reach the office building. Knocking on the door, Blake waited for the guard to crack it open.

"What?"

"Blessed are the righteous, the lights in the shadow-"

"-In their blood the Maker's will is written. Come in."

Blake stepped into the hall, looking around. Men and women in plain clothing were sitting in chairs, waiting for a door at the end of the hallway to open and let them in.

"Hey."

Blake and the guard span, finding the Inquisitor standing there.

"Herald!" The guard snapped to attention, "I didn't know you were in Vale!"

"I just arrived," Ruby waved her hand, and the guard let his posture slip.

"Blake, walk with me."

Blake rolled her eyes as Ruby pushed open the door she had just walked through, out into the night life.

Nobody payed them mind, the hidden Faunus and amputee.

"So, what's wrong?"

Blake looked around, following Ruby down the alley.

"Is it ok for you to be here? You're not combat ready. Dagna hasn't finished the-"

"Blake, I think I'm perfectly aware of my disability. Cullen'll probably ream me out when I get back, but you're more important than that."

No. She wasn't.

"Why?"

"Mh?"

"Why am I that important?"

Ruby stopped, looking back at her, "Because everyone is."

"Everyone?"

"Well, everyone in the Inquisition. I'll always go out of my way to help you, because I am the Inquisitor."

"Sometimes, I really don't understand you. You said we met before, but I don't remember that. I've only been working for you for a couple of months, and you drop everything to come talk to me."

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to help people, Blake. It's all I ever wanted to do. And, well," Ruby lifted her left arm, where the empty gauntlet sat, "talking is all I'm good for at the moment. I'm not exactly handy in combat any more."

Dust, that pun was Yang level.

Blake had noticed that most of the Inner Circle was strange. Ranging from the few times Ruby's mask cracked and it became clear how miserable she was being stuck in Skyhold (in fact, Blake would put good money on Ruby having been looking for an excuse to sneak out before she called), to Thom's surprising immaturity.

But at the same time, they had invited her in with open arms. Whether it was talking about her more… risque literature with Leliana, The Iron Bull dragging her along to go drinking with the Chargers (and steadfastly ignoring her protests), Cole trying to help her sort out her conflicting feelings on her parents and Adam, or just Ruby and Varric's almost parental fussing over the group.

It truly felt like she had started to become part of the family.

Ruby walked into a small coffee shop, finding a table for the two of them.

After they ordered, Ruby looked around, sighing.

"You know, I think I'd love to have something like this. One day, when the world isn't constantly in need of rescue."

"Really? That's weird."

"What? How's it weird?"

"You… just don't seem the type, I mean, you're always complaining about being bored."

"It's just… simple, you know? No need to live a lie, to hide from my family."

"You have a family?"

"Yeah. You know my sister."

"I do?"

"Yang."

And, there was the confirmation.

"Yang's your sister?"

"Yeah."

"Does she know about… you know."

"No," Ruby deflated, "she can't. We have to leave eventually, so it's best if she didn't."

"And you're fine with that?"

"No. Of course not," Ruby said, "but we need to stop Solas, and that might be a one way trip back to Thedas. I don't want to hurt them like that," Ruby stopped, her hand gripping the gauntlet, "There's nothing worse than false hope, Blake."

"But you're hurting yourself."

"That's my job. I'm supposed to take all the pain and keep going."

Blake got the feeling, not for the first time, that Ruby secretly resented some of the expectations pressed upon her.

"The more I hear you talk about your job, the more depressing it sounds."

"Then I guess it's a good thing it's my job," Ruby smiled.

She didn't refute it, Blake noticed.

-X Line Break X-

Ruby watched Blake go, sighing. Blake still wasn't going back for now. Some things didn't change, apparently.

Flicking out her scroll, she placed it to her ear. After a brief wait, the call went through.

"Inquisitor."

"Krem. Did you get him?"

"Yes. It took us a while to track him down, and he put up one hell of a fight, but Cole, Harding, and Varric knocked him out. Lady Leliana and Bull are questioning him now."

You mean they're torturing him, The Inquisitor thought, and you can't tell me because torture is frowned upon on Remnant, I would be angry, and it would look bad if it got out that I was aware of it happening.

Ruby hated politics, and she was even less fond torture. Both, unfortunately, were an integral part of her job, and the only part she could do until Dagna got something working.

Why couldn't helping people be easier?

"Did anyone get hurt?"

"Skinner and Dorian took some nasty hits, Stitches is patching them up now."

"How bad?"

"Dorian's already up and about, Skinner looks like she would be if it wouldn't aggravate her injuries."

Maker, how had things got so messed up? She signed on to help people, not become the leader of the Inquisition and a religious icon.

...Ok, so she might have already been on the way to becoming a religious symbol by that point, but that wasn't her fault!

Ruby hung up, leaning the back of her head against the wall to see the stars.

"The Shepherd's lost, and his home is far. Keep to the stars, the dawn will come," Ruby sang to herself quietly, the hymn flowing easily, "The night is long, and the path is dark. Look to the sky, for one day soon the dawn will come."

Ruby pushed off the wall, walking through the streets of Vale to where the team was.

As Ruby rounded the corner, Varric's voice came from the alley where their truck was parked.

"So, Petals, did you ask Blake out?"

Ruby stopped, staring at the dwarf, who was leaning against the trailer.

"Wuh?"

"Oh, come on," Varric grinned, "You get back home, and the first thing you do is have Ruffles make a room for her? Then you send the Kid to steal her away to your secret mountain fortress, show her your dark secret, and then ask her to work in a position that keeps her in constant contact with you? You're a walking cliché."

"I… uh… I…" Ruby blinked rapidly, trying to think of a response as a blush rose up her neck, "...Really?"

"No. You're just a talkative drunk. Started monologuing about how much you liked her as-"

"Ok, thank you, Varric," Ruby said loudly, her blush growing worse. Trust Varric to break right through her mask, "is everyone ready to go?"

"Go where?"

Ruby span, staring at the man across from her, and the blonde and Brunette behind him.

"Uh…"

"Miss Rose," Professor Ozpin said, "it really is you," his eyes flickered to the truck, "I must say, you've grown quite a bit."

"Uhhh-"

"And I certainly didn't expect to learn that you to be the mysterious Inquisitor running around Vacuo."

"-hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-"

"Rubes?" Yang asked from behind Ozpin, "Is that you?"

"-hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-"

Ruby stared at the younger version of herself behind Ozpin. The other reason she hadn't talked to her family.

"-hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-"

Little Ruby looked up at her, jaw hanging open.

"-hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…"

How was she going so long without stopping for breath?

"And, please, Miss Rose, where is Thedas?"

Crap. There must have been a bug on Blake. But where?

"I…" Ruby sighed, "I have a lot to explain, does anyone know a place that can fit," she quickly did the math, "sixteen people?"

"sixteen? I only count-"

Ruby pulled open the back, and the rest of the team (minus Skinner) spilled out onto the pavement.

To their credit, they got up with incredible speed. Dorian, who, Ruby noticed, was heavily bandaged, was only a second behind the rest. Drei padded over to her side, sitting and panting up at her.

"Who's that?"

Ruby's eyes rolled to look at the tied up form of Adam Taurus, noticing that no, Bull and Leliana hadn't tortured him.

Thank The Maker for small miracles.

…

What did it say about their side that they did this kind of stuff? Or did that say more about the state of Thedas?

Who was she kidding, it said a lot about both.

"It's," Ruby hung her head and sighed, "It's a really long story."

Maybe she would be able to get out of Skyhold more often?

...She doubted it.