"New Companion: The Informant"
She is a Dalish elf standing in the heart of Val Royeaux… and she wants nothing more than to leave. It has taken less than an hour for her cheerful curiosity and enthusiasm to degrade into exasperation, which grows only worse when she is stopped by a woman claiming to have useful information for the Inquisition.
The departure of Lord Seeker Lucius and Val Royeaux's templars was a shock to everyone, and the collective gasp of surprise that settled over the crowd gathered in the courtyard was like a rush of heavy rain. Elleri Lavellan's exasperated comb of her fingers through her deep red hair was a clear sign of the fact that she was so far beyond done with this place. Not to mention the fact that she'd effectively dodged an arrow when the city had been calling for her arrest. Frankly, she was annoyed. She hadn't asked to be regarded as the envoy for some goddess she didn't believe in, after all. She hadn't asked for there to be a giant hole in the sky, and she hadn't asked for the only method of closing said hole to be branded onto her Creators-damned hand.
She never thought she'd find herself wondering if she would be happier back at her clan, now that she was finally exploring the faraway lands she'd always dreamed of visiting. She was a Dalish elf standing in the middle of Val Royeaux. She had seen amazing things, met incredible people, experienced things she never would have, had she not gone to the Conclave. But after everything that had happened since her departure, she suddenly felt a deep-set longing for the familiarity of her clan. Elleri was a hunter. Her life was simple. The conflicts she faced on a regular basis had been the simple, friendly competition between herself and the other hunters to secure the best game, or the occasional run-in with some lost human who had strayed too close to her clan's territory.
But for now, she mused as she watched Lucius and the Templars disappear beyond the city walls, she'd settle for the Orlesians not thinking of her as a murderer.
"Charming fellow, isn't he?" Varric said as he moved up beside her from the rear of the dispersing crowd.
Cassandra shook her head in confusion, "Has Lord Seeker Lucius gone mad?"
Elleri turned to her, "Do you know him very well?"
"He took over the Seekers of Truth two years ago, after Lord Seeker Lambert's death." She explained, "He was always a decent man, never given to ambition or grandstanding. This is very bizarre."
"Do you think he can be reasoned with?"
"I hope so." Cassandra replied, "If not him, there are surely others in the Order who don't feel as he does."
"I suppose that's something. I mean, maybe I'm not as familiar with human customs as I thought," Elleri said with a sigh, "but the last I checked, the Templars were an army. Granted, a mage-hunting army, but still. Isn't it an army's job to protect? If a major city like Val Royeaux is 'unworthy of their protection', what is?"
"A good question." Solas chimed in, "One that is unlikely to be answered by simply standing here."
"Right." Cassandra said, "We should return to Haven and inform the others of what happened here."
Elleri groaned, rubbing her hands over her face in frustration as they started on their way, "Has the whole world gone crazy but us?"
"The question I've asked myself endlessly since all this happened." The woman who spoke stepped forward from where she had been leaning against a nearby archway, eyeing them all curiously. Long, dark brown curls spilled over her left shoulder, and she wore no mask, but a pair of spectacles framed inquisitive grey-blue eyes beset by a smattering of freckles spread across her cheeks and nose. Dressed as modestly as she was in just a simple sky blue tunic with soft dark leggings and leather riding boots that climbed up over her knees, she looked out of place among the extravagance of Val Royeaux, but given her timely appearance, it was clear she had been waiting for their approach. Lifting her shoulders in a shrug, she continued: "But, with the Divine dead and that giant-ass hole in the sky, I can't say I'm surprised people aren't thinking clearly."
Elleri stepped forward, an eyebrow cocked upwards in curiosity, "Can we help you?"
"Yes, actually." The young woman responded, "I was hoping I'd get to speak with you before you left. I have some information that might prove interesting for your Inquisition."
The elf's eyes narrowed, "I'm listening."
The woman looked around suspiciously, as if watching for spies, "Not here. Follow me."
Lavellan looked at her companions for their opinions, and was met with either shrugs or blank stares, so she sighed and set to following the human woman. She led them out of the square to a residential area away from the extravagant mansions that marked the nobility district. Stopping in front of a door to a small home with a modest flower garden, she withdrew a key and opened the door, gesturing for them to enter before her.
Inside, the home was simple. A large room served as the kitchen and living area, with a small table set near the hearth and stairs presumably leading down to a larder. A decorative screen separated the kitchen from the living area, where two forest green arm chairs with darkwood accents sat angled towards each other before a large fireplace that was clearly meant to be the focal point of the home. Between the chairs was a small end table with a tea tray on it. Against one wall was a couch that matched the armchairs set beneath a large window with yellow curtains, and a wooden desk the same color as that of the other furniture sat opposite of it in the corner near a set of stairs that supposedly lead up to the owner's bedrooms. Various small statues and wooden carvings decorated the mantle, giving the home a welcoming, lived-in quality and there was a beautiful bow (sylvanwood, if Elleri had to guess) carved with intricate markings mounted on the wall above the mantle. The house was tidy, save for the books. Along every inch of exposed wall there was a shelf filled to the brim with books. On the desk, there was a smattering of papers, a collection of inkwells, and a stack of books balanced precariously on the corner, while other stacks of books and papers could be found on every flat surface not previously occupied by the decor.
"Please, have a seat." Their impromptu host instructed, and because she was endlessly curious about what this woman had to tell them that was so secretive, she sat in one of the armchairs, eyeing the woman warily.
"My name is Tillie Parrish." She said as the rest of Elleri's companions-save Cassandra, who looked uneasy in the unfamiliar surroundings-sat. "Officially, I'm a fletcher here in Val Royeaux, and an aspiring author on the side. Unofficially, I have... connections that grant me access to some very... sensitive information."
Elleri felt herself smirk for a moment and she made eye contact with Varric, who was sat on the couch opposite her and he returned her look with a grin of his own, "We already have one of those."
Tillie held up her hands before her, "Oh, I have no interest in joining you. But it's not hard to see the Inquisition are the only ones actually trying to do something about the giant hole in the sky, so I have been cleared to provide you some information that may prove useful to you in your attempts to do so... depending on what you choose to do with it, of course."
"What's the catch?" Cassandra asked, her head tilting to the side as her arms crossed over her chest.
"Well, my sources aren't exactly... legitimate. I mean, they're trustworthy, but they're not... legitimate." She shrugged, "But something tells me that won't matter much to you as long as the information's legitimate. Which it is."
"So you're a spy." Varric surmised.
"Not exactly." Tillie explained after a moment of hesitation, "It'd be more accurate to call me an informant. My clients send me... archers who are interested in my work, and they may or may not choose to leave me information they've... stumbled across, and I in turn give that information to any... interested parties that subsequently enter my shop."
Elleri shook her head. Despite her using shadows and stealth as her ally in battle and during a hunt, all of this espionage business was one thing about humans-and their Inquisition as a whole-that simply made her confused. She had infiltrated the Conclave passing as a servant, but that had simply required her to slip into the background and be inconspicuous, and to simply not tell anyone she was syping on the Conclave for the Dalish. Stealth and blending in was her specialty, made easier by the fact that she was an elf; most of the humans paid her no mind, despite the markings on her face. Beyond that, however, her understanding of the how bards like Leliana conducted their business -the court intrigue, the assassinations, the crumbling of an entire noble family with but a few simple words- was quite basic. "How exactly do you make money doing this? Couldn't it be traced back to you by anyone with the drive and the skill to do so?"
"Honest business. I don't make a living by passing on the information; I make my living as a fletcher, and I don't look at the information unless specifically instructed to do so. That's why they send me archers -so the legitimacy of my business is never questioned. I do still serve the public, but any people who come in who are on my clients' payroll have access to the information. I act as the intermediary so my benefactors never meet face-to-face in order to maintain their cover. I deal with enough customers throughout the day that I don't remember what anyone looks like, and I don't try. The clients' people come in, they mention something specific to me and I give them the information." She rolled her eyes, "It's all very secretive."
Varric spoke again: "You basically function as a dead drop."
"Yes. But it's more secure to have a living person guarding very sensitive information rather than leaving it in a hidden box any lucky soul could stumble across-as long as the person is trustworthy. They get the information and to keep their cover; I get the business, a good social standing within the community, and plausible deniability."
"An interesting arrangement." Varric said, leaning back in his seat, "I'm surprised it's held up so long."
She shrugged, "I can't promise it would work for everyone -the only reason the arrangement even happened is because of my strong connections. I basically wanted out, and they were reluctant to let me go, so we made a compromise. I already had their trust, and I left on good terms."
"Will you still have it after telling us all this?" Elleri asked.
Tillie shook her head, "I've told you nothing I haven't already been cleared to tell you."
"Your benefactors are oddly trusting of the Inquisition."
"Like I said, the Inquisition are the only ones actually doing anything about the Breach. My clients know this, and they want to help before they become overrun by demons. Plus, it doesn't hurt to have the Inquisition in their favour."
Elleri hesitated for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly before she continued, fully prepared to take any information she received from this woman with a grain of salt. "I suppose that's fair enough." She leaned back against the chair and crossed her arms, "What is this information you have for us?"
"My clients out of Ferelden say things are brewing in Redcliffe. There have been sightings of Tevinters in the area, which can mean nothing good for the mages there. The town and the Rebellion has been falling apart since the Conclave failed and the Divine was killed, so it's a good opportunity for Tevinter to make a grab at power."
"If Tevinter gains control of the Rebellion," Cassandra said, "Ferelden would be thrown into chaos."
Varric nodded, "Fereldans are fiesty. They don't take chaos laying down, if the last ten years have been any indication. The people might make an Exalted March of their own, with or without the Divine."
"Fenedhis, we cannot be worrying about a war in Ferelden and the Breach." Elleri ran her hand through her hair, "One bloody step at a time."
"If we help the mages in Redcliffe, they may very well assist us in closing the Breach." Solas, who had been listening intently from his position on the couch opposite her, chimed in.
"Would that even work?" Elleri asked, shifting her gaze to him over Tillie's shoulder.
"As we've seen by your proficiency in closing the rifts, your mark already has the ability to close the Breach; it is just lacking the power." He explained, "If we can get enough mages behind you to pour energy from the Fade into the mark, it should be enough to seal the Breach."
"Regardless of what you ultimately decide, I would suggest making the trip to Redcliffe to investigate, at least." Tillie said, "If nothing else, you'll get insight to what is happening there, but I personally believe the mages could help you if you give them the chance."
Elleri sighed, "Right. In any case, we need to return to Haven. The others need to know what happened here." She rose to her feet, and was swiftly joined by her companions.
Tillie stood as well and reached out a hand to her, "Safe travels, Inquisition. I wish you well."
"Ma serannas, Tillie. Thank you." She stopped for a moment, before adding, "Just so you know, our spymaster may be in contact."
"I'll provide whatever information I can."
Elleri released her hand, looking down at Varric as he approached from her right.
"Why don't you join us?" He asked.
"Varric!" Cassandra exclaimed.
Elleri, surprised as she was, elected to remain silent and watch this play out as Tillie looked at the dwarf.
"Me? Join the Inquisition?" The human woman raised her brow in surprise, "You're joking right? I'm a wannabe writer who makes her living through fletching and trading secrets. What do I have to offer other than arrows and information?"
"Please. I know a trained archer when I see one. You said you were one of these spies until you wanted out, and given your location and what you've told us, I'm assuming you were a bard, which means you must have at least some battle experience." The dwarf replied, nodding to the bow mounted above the mantle, "A small-time fletcher doesn't have a bow like that hanging over her mantle unless she knows how to use it, and considering the bards were reluctant to let you go, we can assume you knew how to use it well."
The woman just stared down at him for a moment, her eyes hard and unmoving until she finally shook her head. To her credit, she didn't attempt to deny any of his observations. "So what if I do? I already told you I have no interest in joining the Inquisition."
"But you do want to help."
"By providing information! I have responsibilities here!" Tillie protested, "I've told you what I do here, what my obligations are. I can't just leave! Not to mention the fact that I left the bards for a reason. I thought I wanted the adventure, but while I did enjoy traveling, what I really wanted was a quiet life and the freedom to travel without having to constantly look over my shoulder. I like being a fletcher. It's tedious, and quite often more of a pain in the ass than it's worth, but I enjoy the time I get to myself. And my arrangement with the bards has given me just enough of a thrill to keep me from getting bored."
"And precious little of anything else, I'd wager."
"Just what are getting at, dwarf?"
"Oh nothing," Varric shrugged, "I'm just saying; you're an aspiring author, right? Joining the Inquisition seems like it would open up lots of doors, and I can say from experience that there's no shortage of inspiration. And you and I both know it would be easy enough for your clients to use dead drops and carrier birds, or even to send another agent to stand in for you in your absence."
Tillie stepped closer, her eyes narrowing, "Are you saying I'm useless?"
The dwarf held up his hands in supplication, "Of course not! I wouldn't have suggested you join us otherwise. I'm just saying you're not being used to your full potential."
"I've been used to my full potential." Tillie growled, moving even closer, her fists clenching in anger, "I thought I made it clear that I hated it, and wanted something simpler."
"If you ask me, I don't think you wanted simpler; I think you wanted different."
"I didn't ask you."
He continued as if he hadn't heard her, "I think you joined the bards in search of inspiration, but didn't find it. So you became a fletcher who traded secrets thinking the time to yourself would help you find what was missing from your writing. But judging by the papers thrown all over the place here, you still haven't found it. I think the Inquisition could be what you've been looking for."
"Do not make assumptions about me, dwarf. You don't know me."
"I know what it's like to be a writer with no inspiration." He explained, "To have all the time in the world to devote to writing, but no material no matter how hard you try. I've been there. It's pretty damn frustrating. But it's been a long time since I've had that problem. You know why? Because I've gone out and done shit. There are stories out there if you can find them. For almost a decade, I fought at the Champion of Kirkwall's side. I've seen her make light of the most serious situations; heard her joke about boneless women flopping around the streets of Kirkwall. I watched her face down the Qunari Arishok, and I watched him nearly kill her. I watched her fall in love with a slave, then get her heart broken before he finally managed to pick up the pieces and helped her put it back together. I watched her take down a dragon by wrapping her legs around its neck and stabbing her daggers into its eyes." Varric shook his head, chuckling lightly, "I found inspiration when I was traveling with Hawke, because you just can't make that shit up."
She could only stare at him, her experience as a spy evident in the way an expressionless mask suddenly drew over her face, drowning out her emotions into something numb.
"Look, all I'm saying is this experience might give you the inspiration you need to write the story that finally gets published." Varric's shoulders lifted in a shrug, "But if you're adamant that you don't want to join us, we can't really force you. Right, Lavellan?"
All eyes suddenly turned to Elleri, and she met them all evenly, stopping briefly on Varric before finally coming to rest on Tillie as she mirrored Varric's earlier shrug, "He's right. We won't force you to join. But, if you take some time to think about it and decide to join us, I'd have no issue with it. What about everyone else?"
Solas' expression froze on Elleri momentarily as she met eyes with him, as if he was taking a moment to mull it over. He was staring through her, certainly, as he thought, but she couldn't stop the chill the intensity of his gaze sent rushing over her, and she pushed it from her mind. In the end, his inherent curiosity caused him to break the spell and give her a simple nod of his head, signifying his agreement.
Cassandra, seeing that she was outnumbered, uttered a single disgusted noise before her face twisted into a sneer. Her disagreement was evident, but that was no surprise.
Elleri nodded once, bringing the conversation to a close, "Right then. The choice is yours, Tillie, but if you change your mind, you know where to find us."
And with that, the Inquisition turned and made their way out of the woman's home, Varric taking his time as he brought up the rear, but he did not look back until her voice stopped them.
"Wait!" She stepped up to meet them as the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest as she forced an exasperated sigh out through her nose, "Maker's breath, I can't believe I'm saying this. Let me make contact with my benefactors so they can make other arrangements." The woman continued, rubbing the back of her hand across her forehead, "Then, I suppose I'll meet you all at Haven."
Although Elleri couldn't see it, she could practically feel Varric's self-satisfied grin.
a/n: This all started with a post started up by Tumblr user "vhenan" in which players imagined themselves as companion characters for the Inquisitor. I filled it out, and the idea just didn't leave me alone. Make no mistake, however; these are fragments from the Inquisitor's story. I'm just tagging along for the fun… and to be best friends with Varric.
If you're interested in a retelling of Inquisition from the perspective of this Inquisitor without the AU element presented by Tillie, you can check out my other new story, Unrelenting Expectations (Story ID: 11140823) which will basically follow Elleri through the events of Inquisition and possibly beyond.
These will mainly be vignettes, though the first few are pretty sequential. Most will have to do with my exploration of how I picture myself as an Inquisition companion character, and the various ways in which the Inquisitor would react to me, and vice versa. I have no idea how long it will end up being. I have 3 chapters done, and I'm hoping it won't be any more than 10-12. But my muses have a tendency to run away with me, so we shall see what happens.
Also, In case anyone is interested, you can follow my blog on Tumblr under the username "irabelaslethallin". There is also a link to it on my author profile, as well as my Twitter.