Char: Zevvin & Iron Bull

All That Glitters

I Give You, Inquisitor, The Herald of Andraste

He didn't understand it. He didn't think he would ever understand it, but damned if he wouldn't try to. Zevvin brought his hand up and stared into the bright glow of the anchor.

The anchor wasn't the thing he didn't understand, though he didn't quite get the magic behind it, it was more the attitude of the humans and their perception of the inquisition. Of him, the inquisitor. Not just the humans though, everyone. The city elves, the Dalish elves, the Quanri, the dwarves…every person in Thedas.

~You've never had such thoughts before. Are you well?~

It was hard pressed to get them to believe that the Herald of Andraste was an elf but now they were a bit more wary that said elf was now the leader of an army. An army the Chantry had dubbed a heretic movement.

~This is not the Chantry you are used to.~

Zevvin clenched his fist closed and sighed. He looked down over the balcony. Skyhold. This was their new base. Their new hope. But was this fight even worth it? The redheaded elf closed his eyes and stepped away from the railing. He brought up the papers he had been clutching at his side and with a forlorn sigh, he returned to his chambers.

~Your thinking is oddly depressing. Please discontinue them.~

Thedas had never been all to welcoming to the elves but it was much better now than it was before…wasn't it? He couldn't really tell.

"Who am I, but a sheep in wolf's clothing?" Zevvin mumbled lowly, closing the balcony doors behind him. His voice caught the attention of the small animal laying on his desk. The fennec's ear twitched briefly before its head rose and its eyes opened. "I apologize if I woke you, Wisper." Zevvin sat at his desk and patted the fennec gently on the head. The fennec let loose a large yawn before it stood and shook its body.

Wisper was special. He was a wisdom spirit that inhabited the body of a fennec. Wisper had been with him for longer than he could remember. For decades it had been only him and Wisper. It took some difficulty adjusting to speaking with others besides the spirit but he'd finally managed, though he still regularly spoke with Wisper for help in that avenue.

~I cannot sleep if you are awake. Besides, how could anyone get sleep with such loud and confusing thoughts you have? A demon would die if they even glanced at you with the intention of possession.~

Zevvin snorted as he regarded the fennec. "Charming."

~Indeed. You had thoughts of returning to the Imperium when this lunatic Corypheus is dealt with, yes? I suggest you consult with that half-wit altus before doing so.~

Gradually, Wisper took on a personality all his own. Sometimes Zevvin wondered if it was a mirror of his own. "I will never understand your distaste for Dorian."

~He has enough ego to fill the entirety of the Imperium himself. And half of Orlais.~

"Come now, he isn't that bad," Zevvin chided, rearranging the documents on his desk. The fennec tilted his head and made a low snarl.

~You are biased.~

It was the only thing the fennec said before turning away from Zevvin. Zevvin snorted again before the fennec began to speak again.

~You have a visitor. It is that bright woman from before. Josephine, I recall.~

True to the claim, Josephine came walking up the stairs of his room, clipboard in hand. "Good afternoon, Inquisitor."

"Lady Montilyet," Zevvin said, tipping his head in greeting. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Ah, well, there we a couple of invitations sent to the inquisition, addressed to you specifically. The one that caught my eye, especially, is the one from Bertrand Geoffroy-Égide of house Lièvremont," Josephine said, shuffling papers on her clipboard before handing one over to Zevvin. Zevvin took the proffered scroll and read over it.

"House Lièvremont? Are they not a minor family in Orlais? Merchant family, if I recall correctly." Zevvin raised an eyebrow and looked at Josephine over the scroll. Josephine smiled.

"I do forget how well versed you are with the noble families in Neverra and Orlais. Yes, this is a minor merchant family, however, I would say that they do offer something that would be valuable to the Inquisition. Their family have dealings with smiths from the Imperium. This connection would work for us in getting our hands on magic resistant armor and may win us favors with some in the Imperium. Any support we can get with supplies-" Josephine spared a glance at Wisper when he yipped loudly, cutting her off.

~I suggest you speak with the altus before making any rash decisions when it comes to the nobles of the Imperium. Any family that has noble attached to it screams Magister. Who is this smith?~

"May I ask just who the Lièvremonts have dealings with?" Zevvin asked, bringing Josephine's gaze to him.

"Paelus Damian, is what they've claimed," Josephine said.

~Damian sounds rather familiar but Paelus does not ring a bell. Consult with the altus.~

"I will think it over. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Lady Montilyet," Zevvin said with a nod. Josephine returned the nod and took her leave. Zevvin looked down at Wisper who was staring at him. "What?"

~I will destroy him if he gets too far off track.~

Zevvin rolled his eyes and stood. He knew it was just talk on Wisper's part. The fennec would only growl at him. Zevvin opened his arms and Wisper jumped into them. With fennec in hand, Zevvin made his way out of his quarters. "Really, now? You're as harmless as a nug…. maybe I should have- ow!" Zevvin was cut off by Wisper nipping at his hand.

~If you continue that train of thought, I will never speak to you again!~

"Okay, okay…" Zevvin chuckled. "You know, for you hating Dorian as much as you do, you frequently tell me to consult with him."

~As much as it pains me to admit it, he is useful.~

That was all the response he was given from the fennec. Zevvin chuckled. He opened the door to the main hall and stopped. A sight, probably more rare than seeing Vivienne in the tavern, grabbed Zevvin's attention almost immediately. Iron Bull was walking out of the Rotunda. He stopped by Varric, where he stayed for a time speaking with him.

~Zevvin! Do you not hear me talking to you?!~

"Huh?" Zevvin looked down at Wisper who was growling at him.

~You are drooling.~

Zevvin quickly brought his hand up to dab at his mouth. He glared at Wisper who scoffed.

~Stop acting like a hormonal teenager and go see the altus.~

"Oh, alright," Zevvin huffed, closing the door behind him. He approached the two speaking and they both looked at him.

"Heya, Sharky." "Hey, boss." Varric and Iron Bull greeted at the same time.

"Varric…The Iron Bull," Zevvin said, pausing only slightly at Iron Bull's name. "Don't mind me." Varric and Iron Bull exchanged looks briefly before they nodded at the passing, long haired elf.

~Hormonal. Teenage. Girl.~

"Bullying never got anyone anywhere but an early grave," Zevvin growled, causing Solas to look at him.

"Inquisitor," Solas said, tipping his head slightly. "Wisper."

~Why is it not people like Solas that catches your fancy? Ignorance is not an attractive quality.~

Solas raised an eyebrow and Zevvin's face flushed red. He quickly retreated to the stairs. "Silence yourself! Do you forget he can hear you?"

~I forget nothing. Do you forget it is I who allows him to hear me?~

"Venhedis… You are an insufferable ass." Zevvin grumbled as he reached the top of the stairs. Dorian turned his head to look at him and grinned.

"I sure do hope you mean that in a flattering way," Dorian said. "Hello, Inquisitor, to what do I owe this pleasurable meeting?"

"Avanna, Pavus. I come here with a question." Zevvin said, walking closer to Dorian. He looked up at the taller mage with a slight furrow in his brow. Dorian walked over to the window and leaned against the wall. He grinned.

"Is it about my dashing good looks? Or maybe how it is I keep my hair shining in this dreadfully cold weather? Or maybe it's something more primal, yes? Maybe you're here to ask me how to-"

~Do not continue that sentence.~

The menacing undertone caught Zevvin off guard. He glanced down at Wisper in confusion before looking up at Dorian. The mage had only raised an eyebrow.

"I was actually here to ask you about someone from the Imperium," Zevvin started slowly, glancing down at the growling fennec briefly. "Does a name Paelus Damian speak to you?"

"Paelus Damian? The name Damian does strike me as familiar but Paelus, I draw a blank. There are many Damians among the magisters. Hmmm… The one I hear most about is a Vibius Damian. He exiled his own son to save face. But his name was not Paelus, it was Caelus. Could there be an error in names?"

~Caelus de Devereaux, formerly Caelus Damian, the second son of the magister Vibius Damian. Caelus is no mage, therefore he was useless to his father.~

"Hence the exile," Dorian added. Zevvin furrowed his brows.

~With that relation severed, you would be getting the work, but you will not get the connections. For what it's worth, I would say decline. But the armor may be needed since Corypheus has taken the mages.~

"This must be about that invitation to House Lièvremont's party," Dorian said with a scoff. "I, too, received an invitation. It may be dreadfully boring to go to but I am sure their wine would be much more tasteful than what you stock here in Skyhold." Zevvin narrowed his eyes.

"Do you care for nothing but wine?"

"In this instance, yes."

"You've not changed a bit since the last time I saw you." Zevvin shook his head.

~Earlier you asked for my reason. This is so.~

"You mean yesterday? Of course." Dorian smirked.

"I mean years ago." Zevvin shook his head. "I've taken up enough for your time. Thank you for the information, Pavus." Zevvin bowed his head slightly.

"Anytime."

Zevvin took his leave and made his way to Josephine's office.

"Inquisitor, how shall I respond to the invitation?" Josephine asked as soon as he entered the room.

"I accept." Zevvin nodded. Josephine smiled and nodded.

"I will begin writing a letter in acceptance."

"Until later," Zevvin said, leaving the room. "I suddenly have a headache." Zevvin grumbled.

~Have you finished working on that tonic you started a few weeks ago? Busying yourself with that will make the headache go away.~

"I think I need less thinking," Zevvin mumbled as he made his way outside.

~Nonsense. You need to focus on something more important and less tiresome. The tonic is one of them.~

"Ugh." Zevvin huffed and plot down on the stone ground. He stared out over the field towards the tavern and grinned to himself. Iron Bull and his chargers were next to the tavern sparring.

~I do not understand your interest in this Qunari. What do you have to gain while pursuing him?~

Zevvin chose to ignore the spirit in favor of staring at said Qunari.

~I refuse to allow this to continue any longer. Can you not see that you are not the type he pursues?~

Zevvin frowned and looked down at Wisper. "I do not understand."

~Let me not remind you of this incident with the altus half-wit. Qunari are much more different than humans and elves. You best remember that.~

"Could you be more specific?" Zevvin asked. Wisper sighed and jumped out of Zevvin's arms.

~The Qunari are aggressive and less passionate. They do not even have naming conventions. I would sooner compare them to demons than actual living beings outside of the Fade. They wish to conquer. They wish for order and strength. You are not what he wants nor finds interest in.~

Zevvin frowned and looked over at the Chargers, who had begun to walk towards the tavern. He felt something akin to being stabbed in the chest. "But…"

~I have seen it, lethalin. It is best you forget about this Qunari and focus your mind on something more worth while.~

Zevvin's frown deepened. He stood up and glanced down at Wisper. The fennec was sitting on his hind legs, still looking after the Chargers with narrowed eyes. Zevvin turned his attention back to the tavern in time to see Iron Bull grin his way and wave. Zevvin felt his heart flutter. He waved, it screamed. Wisper growled.

~He has no shame! I refuse to allow him to play such games. Zevvin, let us return to your quarters and finish the tonic.~

Zevvin sighed and allowed the fennec back into his arms. With a final glance towards the tavern, Zevvin made his way back inside and made for his room.