Running Wild

Chapter One:

Eyes Open

She observed Tatiana quietly, her back leaning against the wooden wall belonging to the tavern. It stumped her; how could a mage from a Circle that was neutral in the Mage-Templar war end up at the Temple of Sacred Ashes?

She bored the mark to close the Rifts; her physical appearance was striking, with those emerald eyes filled with knowledge and a gentle nature, her personality made it obvious of her noble background.

"Observing the Herald?"

Artemis pulled her eyes away from Tatiana to look at Solas, watching as he ambled towards her with his arms clasped behind his back. When she had first met him as she went to retrieve Varric, the apostate seemed older and wiser than his appearance gave him credit. He seemed…eager to approach her despite Varric's warnings.

"Just reading her," she answered after a moment of silence, turning back to watch the human mage. "Wondering when would be the right moment to return to Kirkwall."

"With Varric?"

"Of course."

Solas shook his head and this did not go by unnoticed to the elven rouge. "You continue to puzzle me, falon. Your act like one born in the cities of humans, but your elgar says otherwise."

"I would appreciate it if you didn't look at my elgar too closely. You might get burned for your curiosity," she murmured, standing up straight and walking away.

Walking past the doors to the Chantry at Haven, the blonde elf sought out Varric to plan their next move. She was fine leaving but her desire to return to Kirkwall was not something high on her list. In fact, she'd be better to never return there.

I suppose I should contact the clan, let them know what happened, Artemis thought, finding the blonde dwarf by a bonfire, warming his hands due to the cold air blessing them up in the mountains.

"Artemis, I've…uh…been meaning to talk to you," Varric greeted the blonde elf as she sat down on a wooden box nearby, leaning on her elbows and gazing at the fire.

"About us leaving?" she asked and saw the small frown on his face. "Or your sudden desire to stay and see this through?"

He didn't seem surprised by her ability to see through him. The two of them had known each other for thirteen years during her time in Kirkwall. To Varric, Artemis was a trusted ally, a great friend and a mystery all wrapped up in one.

"Aren't you a little curious?" he asked her, rubbing his hands together before presenting them to the fire. "The young mage becoming a proclaimed Herald of Andraste?"

He shook his head, letting out a little sigh. "I've wrote enough tragedies to know when one's coming. She'll be a scapegoat when it all goes shit."

Artemis narrowed her sapphire blue eyes at the fire, watching it slowly flicker and embers fly into the sky. "Many years from now, people are going to ask, 'where were you when the Inquisition was reborn?'" she spoke remarked, sitting up straight and fixed her gaze on the dwarf. "What will you say da'len?"

He didn't answer as she stood up, spotting a raven in the distance heading towards Haven. Sensing it was for her, she held out an arm as it drew closer and surely enough, the black bird landed on her outstretched arm and cawed in greeting.

She retrieved the letter attached to its leg and it took off towards the aviary, having done its job for now.

"What news from Kirkwall?" Varric asked as her eyes scanned the letter carefully, seeing it was written from her second-in-command, Anthros. It contained the usual status report, anything important, new recruits and his well wishes to hear her safe with Varric.

...Lady Nightingale's agents have been hard pressed to find and make contact with us. Might I suggest you dare reveal yourself to the Spymaster? I find it annoying, having to clear out her agents and send them with false leads to their Left Handed leader.

Dareth.

Emma Mi.

Artemis pursed her lips into a thin line, folding the letter back and storing it away into her pouch on her belt. "Leliana wishes to make contact with me? I will give her what she wants," she muttered, turning away and heading off on her search for the red head.

She found her after a couple of minutes searching the small village and scowled at her upon seeing her. "Call off on that search of yours. You won't find my men even with your best agent."

Leliana stood up straight, watching the elf in interest. "So you are the infamous Lady Athena, leader of the Black Wolf," she smirked, seeming smug that she was correct on her assumption.

Artemis leaned against the wooden beam, crossing her arms over her chest. "You also forgot to mention, Lady Hera of the Lympica Industries. I also enjoy tiny cakes, roasted nuts and my favourite season in winter. Anything else or are you going to continue to hunt down my men?"

"I never would have guessed that an elf would be the leader of a well-known assassin's guild."

Artemis shook her head in amusement, turning to stare out at the grey sky above, filled with clouds that seemed ready to let out another snow storm.

"The Black Wolf is not an assassin's guild. Unlike the House of Repose, we help those who cannot help themselves, we aid those in need, defend the innocent and help rebuild what we can, where ever we can," The blonde elf explained to the red head human slowly, concreting her belief in the broken guild she rebuilt. It had been no more than a guild filled with betrayal, corruption and orphans. When she took over from the last leader, Artemis turned it from just as assassin's guild into a place where those who joined felt like they made a difference in the world.

Leliana smiled softly, holding out a hand towards her. "Well, the Inquisition would benefit greatly if we had your organisation behind us. Would you consider it?"

When people ask where were you when the Inquisition was reborn, what will be your answer?

Slowly, she grabbed Leliana's hand with her own and shook on it firmly, creating a mutual trust between the two spymasters. When Artemis pulled away, Leliana voiced a question that had been on her mind.

"How did you disguise yourself as human? All of my reports spoke of Lady Hera being human," the red head asked curiously, maintaining a steady eye contact as she raised a brow.

A smirk rose on her lips as she released her hair from its braid. She then ensured her small pointed ears were hidden underneath her hair as she tied it back into a low bun. Leliana furrowed her brows as she watched the demonstration as the young woman left her hair in its current state.

"I will send a message to my second and inform him of our agreement," Artemis informed Leliana, putting her hands on her hips. "Do I have your permission to have some of my men here at Haven?"

Leliana gestured for her to go with a nod of her head.

oOo

That Night…

She was alone by the fire when Tatiana sought her out. She wasn't doing any of the things that the mage had expected, like cleaning her arrows or fixing her bow.

No, Artemis was sitting against a wooden box and playing a song out of a wooden flute.

"May I join you?" Artemis paused and glanced over, finding the mage looking at her hesitantly. She shrugged and continued playing, allowing Tatiana to take that as a yes.

"I just wanted to extend my gratitude at your assistance back at the temple," the brunette spoke and the elf stopped playing, watching her.

She noticed the way she sat with her back straight and poised; a large indication of noble background. Her hands were resting in her lap as she spoke calmly. It stumped her; how could she be so calm about everything after being in the Fade physically?

"It's not something you should thank me for; I did what was necessary in the given situation," Artemis replied, gesturing to her. "As did you."

Tatiana smiled warmly, her eyes lighting up in an amused twinkle. "I think I got more than I bargained for when I agreed to represent the neutral party at the Conclave," her smile faltered a bit as she let out a tired sigh.

"Is that why you were there?"

"Yes, I was part of a delegation sent from Ostwick in hopes that this rebellion would cease."

Neither said anything for a moment and she resumed playing a soft harmony from her flute. Tatiana turned her head to stare up at the Breach in the sky, a peaceful moment she was allowed to have.

"May I ask, why were you there?" Artemis glanced back at her and found the Herald giving her full attention to her. Instead of answering her question, Artemis raised a brow at her as she paused.

"Are you always this overly polite or is it you're afraid you might offend me?"

Tatiana blinked before blushing in slight embarrassment and Artemis found herself chuckling at her innocent reaction. Placing the flute into her lap, Artemis sat up and smiled at Tatiana.

"I was there for two reasons. One was at the favour of a friend to spy on the meeting," Artemis explained, leaning her head back against the box. "The other was to bring Varric's sad ass back to Kirkwall."

Tatiana seemed surprised as she nodded. "Varric told me you two knew each other quite well."

She snorted, shaking her head. "That da'len has been in my life for the last thirteen years. Despite his attitude, he's a loyal friend and business associate."

The two women talked for a while, Tatiana slowly growing more casual with the elf, and Artemis becoming slightly less guarded. It was a start to a long, unusual friendship that would overcome many things; a feeling Artemis had as she got to know Tatiana, or Ana as she would prefer, more.

Ana finished recounting a tale about her Harrowing and Artemis laughed, throwing her head back and finding great amusement in the wild tale.

As her laughter sub-sided, Artemis glanced at Ana with concern. "How are you holding up? You went from a delegate, to a prisoner, to the Herald of Andraste. I can only imagine how overwhelming it is for you."

Ana shrugged her shoulders, leaning forward with her arms resting on her thighs. She moved a strand of her dark brown hair out of her way, placing it behind her ear.

"It's a little unnerving, hearing them holding me in such high regard. But with these dark times, a little hope is needed," Ana locked her eyes with hers. "And if I can be that hope…"

Artemis leaned back and looked up at the dark sky. "Mala suledin nadas; now you must endure," she translated when she saw the puzzled look given to her from the human.

Ana nodded slowly, turning to the fire. "Now I must endure," she repeated before falling silent for a few moments. "Will you accompany me to the Hinterlands?"

"When do we leave?"

"Cassandra said first light tomorrow."

Artemis nodded, standing up and brushing the snow off of her. "Ma nuvenin."

Ana pulled a face, pursing her lips together. "What does that even mean?"

"As you wish," Artemis answered with a smirk. "If you're going to keep me around, learn to speak my language as I have done with yours."

Song: Eyes Open by Taylor Swift.

So...I finally got into Dragon Age and bought and played Inquisition. I've been in love with Solas from the start and wondered what if there was someone else who was the Inquistor? How would that romance play out if she wasn't someone in charge.

Ta dah! Meet the elf who fits my musing: Artemis Lavellan.

So hopefully you guys like the first chapter and rate and review it~!