The Herald of Andraste was not at all what she'd expected.
She'd heard the stories, glorious tales of the intrepid Dalish elf who had cheated fate, survived the Conclave, walked through the Fade unscathed and been dumped on the Inquisition's doorstep by Andraste herself. Other stories were not so favorable, and painted her as a murderer and a blasphemer. Some exaggeration was to be expected of course, but as First Enchanter Vivienne watched Blue Lavellan from the Chantry doors, she had to wonder if there was some sort of mix-up regarding the Herald's identity.
The girl didn't look like a hero or a villain. Her presence was about as commanding as a nug's, and the way she carried herself gave off the distinct air of not wanting to be seen—of wanting to sink through the ground, never to resurface. Her voice was soft, low, shaky on the rare occasions when she raised it. And, most disappointing, she never seemed to have an opinion on the very important issues they were faced with.
Templars, mages, clerics, nobles? No one could seem to get a definitive answer from her about anything; she would shuffle her feet, shrug her shoulders, and settle her big blue eyes on anything but the person awaiting a response. It was beginning to worry Vivienne. How could an Inquisition function with a leader—and there was no doubt everyone was eyeing Blue as the leader—who refused comment on every issue presented to her?
That evening she sent a messenger to fetch Blue, but after an hour he returned, ears drooping guiltily.
"No sign of her, ma'am," he said. She raised an eyebrow, waiting for more. "Ah… I checked the blacksmith first 'cause I hear she likes making stuff… and I checked the tavern, I checked all the houses, the apothecary, I asked everyone. No one's seen her. Seeker Pentaghast says she runs off in the woods outside town sometimes though. Should I… check there, or..?"
"Thank you, darling, but I'll handle it," she said, rising from her chair and strapping her staff to her back. "You may go." He nodded and hurried out into the cold.
Vivienne was only a minute behind him, ignoring the cold bite of the wind and formulating a plan of attack almost mindlessly; if the girl ran off into the woods so often it was probably because no one ever found her there. She wouldn't be expecting company, a clear advantage for Vivienne. Make your move first, catch them off guard, don't give them a chance to catch their breath—a strategy that had always served her well. It was instinct by now, a reflex.
It didn't take long to find the single trail of footprints that continued towards the treeline after the others turned away. She followed them for a while, off the trail and into the snow, over hills and through trees, until they ended in a clearing in a grove of bare trees. At first glance it appeared the clearing was empty, but with a second scan she saw the almost imperceptible, elf-shaped shimmer in the air.
"Stealth powder?" she observed, stepping closer, staring at the spot where the girl should be. As she drew closer, the faint spectral outline of a face and body came into focus. "An amusing trick. I know you're there, dear. Please, it's very rude to be invisible during conversation."
At once the illusion fell away, leaving a wide-eyed elf staring back at her with nervous blue eyes.
"Sorry," she said softly. "I just heard—I thought you were… never mind."
Vivienne tilted her head, frowned. "Thought I was what, darling?"
"Cassandra," Blue whispered, and Vivienne couldn't help a laugh.
"She is rather frightening, isn't she?" she chuckled, never taking her eyes off Blue as she stalked her way across the clearing. Blue fidgeted under the unwavering gaze, her already wind-bitten cheeks flushing deeper. "A very decisive woman, with strong opinions. I can't help noticing you've been silent on every issue that's come up thus far. Why is that, I wonder?"
"I… I don't know?" Blue stammered. Vivienne was a few feet away now and had, for the moment, stopped advancing. "I suppose I don't see why it matters?" That gave her pause; she'd assumed the girl had been purposely withholding her thoughts for some sinister reason… was she really just insecure? She wasn't sure if that was better or worse.
"You think your opinions don't matter?" she asked, and Blue shrugged. "That's a yes or no question, my dear." Blue nodded. "And why not? Darling, if you're to lead these people—"
"I'm not leading anything!" Blue protested with surprising conviction; it faltered, and her eyes fell back towards the snow between them. "I'm just an elf, ma'am."
"You're an icon, like it or not," Vivienne said. "And that means people will expect you to lead. That means you'll have to make decisions. You very well could be holding the future of Thedas in your hands—" at that, Blue lifted her left hand and grimaced at the mark. "And no, I don't mean the mark." She hesitated only a second before reaching out, taking Blue's hand and lowering it. "The mark isn't what will shape the world, darling, it's this—" she tapped lightly on Blue's head with her free hand—"and this" –and she pressed her fingertips to Blue's chest. "Your mind and your heart. The mark is a tool, but your thoughts, your feelings and most of all your actions are what will make the difference. So yes, your opinions do matter." She stepped back, leaving Blue flustered and blushing deeply.
"It's just so much," she choked out after a minute. "Before all this 'chosen one' business I used to go weeks without talking to more than 2 or 3 people in a day. Now there's dozens in an hour. Sometimes it's... it's just..." Her eyes filled with tears, and she turned away as Vivienne stepped forward in concern. "No, I'm fine. Give me a minute."
"Herald..."
"Could you just call me Blue, please? It would be nice if someone did."
"Blue..." she said deliberately; the elf looked at her through watery eyes, wiping away tears and smudged makeup, and something in her stirred- pity, sympathy, exasperation, fondness, she wasn't entirely sure. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, my dear, but life seldom takes the turns we expect it to. It's up to every one of us to do the best we can with what we're given. You could lie down and let it bowl you over, of course. Or you could look around, get acquainted with the circumstance, and make it yours. It's entirely up to you."
"Is that what you did?" Blue asked, and Vivienne blinked sharply, the only indication of the jolt of surprise that had run through her at the lens suddenly being turned on her. "I mean, being taken to the Circle is a dead end for most people, but you... you used it to your advantage. You made your own fate."
"I... suppose I did," she agreed after a moment. "I know it feels like the end of the world, but I promise it's not." They both glanced up at the Breach. "Well, not yet anyway." Blue laughed a small laugh, eyes cast downward.
"Thank you, ma'am," she said as Vivienne turned to start the walk back to Haven.
"You may call me Vivienne, darling."
