Author's Notes: I am currently unhealthily obsessed with Dragon Age Inquisition. This idea developed when I was working my way through Jaws of Hakkon and imagined Cullen asking my Inquisitor why she was ignoring the problem in the Deep Roads. I decided my Inquisitor was claustrophobic and not a fan of underground spaces. Thus, when she is in the Deep Roads, writing letters to Cullen helps her get her mind off her fear, plus it allows me to work in a different genre and explore their relationship from a new angle. Enjoy!
Nalívæ closed her eyes, momentarily blinded by the soft blue glow of the wisp she had summoned. She kept them shut, trying—and failing—to convince herself that the wisp's radiance was actually moonlight beaming down from a cloudless sky. Or the starlight that filtered through the broken roof of Cullen's bedroom. She opened her eyes with a sigh; the wisp's feeble luminescence couldn't hold a candle to the light of the real moon or stars. Dipping her quill in her inkpot, she put pen to paper and began to write.
Cullen,
I'm sorry I haven't written sooner. The past few days have been busy. Our first minutes down here really set the tone for our visit so far. I'm sure Harding has recounted the look of terror that crossed my face when she showed off the lift that would take us down to the Deep Roads. I know we have a skilled and capable construction team, but my heart plummeted at the sight of that rickety contraption. In my defense, Blackwall and Cassandra also looked less than thrilled. Varric, as usual, looked amused. I reluctantly stepped onto the wooden platform; my palms began to sweat as we descended. I focused all my attention on the sky as it slowly faded from view. I never truly valued the sun until that moment. I felt only marginally better when my feet touched the ground. Shaper Valta, a highly inquisitive scholar and capable warrior, greeted us at the point of our descent. She was hiding in the shadows when we first met her. I asked why. She told me one glimpse of the sky could get her kicked out of Orzammar. I will never understand the dwarves of this kingdom. I dreaded entering that darkness, Cullen. I tried to stay in the sunlight and breathe in the fresh air for as long as possible, knowing I would be leaving them behind for many days.
Immediately after that, we experienced our first quake. Shaper Valta tackled me to push me out of the way of a falling rock larger than Bull. Rather an auspicious welcome, don't you think? We've had several quakes since, and I still can't get used to the solid ground shifting under my feet. After all we've been through, you would think this wouldn't phase me, but it does. I'll admit, after the first one, it took nearly all my restraint to stay underground. I was ready to turn around, take the lift up, and never return. The idea of going any further into those dark caverns made me nauseous. But then I looked at the dwarven corpses covered with sheets. I remembered how the people of Orzammar needed our help, and how the Inquisitor's duty, my duty, is to help those in need. I walked into the shadows, stepping away from the sun and the world above.
We've already fought many darkspawn. Such vile creatures. They are well suited for a place as dismal and vile as the Deep Roads. You would approve of Lieutenant Renn of the Legion. He's practical, grounded, logical, and strategic, just like you, my dear commander. He's a skilled fighter as well, though not quite as strapping. Despite my morose melancholy, I am in capable hands, but eager to finish up this business and return to you.
Yours,
Nalívæ