"We won't stay for long Varric, there are still unfinished businesses at The Hinterlands." John says, mounted on his new Fereldan Forder when Haven started showing on the horizon, it was already past noon and the sound of the now busy village could be heard from the distance.
"Alright mom, don't worry, I won't goof around." The dwarf replies, on top of his own horse, pretending some annoyance. "Besides, the Seeker won't like that we kept her babysitting Chuckles more than the necessary amount of time." The thought made the Herald shiver slighty and the rogue give a loud laugh. 'She can get mad with this and he enjoys it! I think he really likes to irritate her.' Thought the warrior.
Varric and John were returning to Haven after two weeks at The Hinterlands. An encounter with a despair demon destroyed the young man's armor and severely injured Solas. The apostate stayed behind healing with Cassandra at one of the many Inquisition Camps that the party helped settle. They had recently recruited a horsemaster to supply their forces, and John saw this as an opportunity to repair his armor and help with escorting the mounts to the Inquisition base of operations. In addition, some words from the advisors could help him on his next move.
"So, this is Haven?" Both friends turned their heads to face the source of the voice. Dennet marched ahead from the pack of at least one hundred horses behind them in their direction mounted on a Taslis Strider.
"Doesn't look like much." The experienced man stated, unimpressed.
"I'm sure we will be able to provide everything you need Master Dennet." The young man says politely, bowing slightly. "If, of course, you provide everything we need." Complemented the warrior, making the new Inquisition's horsemaster snort, clearly offended.
"Don't worry about my part of this, Herald." John nodded after his last words, giving a small smile as the mounts expert turned to his pack of horses.
He just realized how the man in front of him worked, just bring a little of his pride to the surface and you can persuade him. Nevertheless, the warrior was extremely glad that the Inquisition could count with a good man like him.
Horns sounded from Haven, "Looks like our reception is ready." Varric stated.
"Let's move." John says rearing his horse and sprinting to the entrance of the village guiding the pack behind him.
As the group went through the front door, many excited villagers went to him to congratulate his recent accomplishments, clearly impressed by the big pack of horses behind their Herald.
He greeted the crowd for a short moment then made his way to the Chantry with Varric to address more pressing matters. The Ambassador, the Commander and the Spymaster awaited in front of it, two of them clearly pleased with the sight behind him. One on the other hand he could not tell exactly. Leliana remained serious.
"That is what we needed, remarkable job John." Cullen says while crossing his arms over his chest, admiring the horses.
"And we already received word from those agents you were able to bring to our cause, they have been of great help for the Inquisition." Josephine stated writing something on her clipboard.
The warrior only smiled, he was just glad that he was helping.
"Our Horse Lord is doing a great job isn't he Curly?" Varric enters the conversation.
"Horse Lord?" The spymaster spoke her first words.
"Yeah, you guys should have seen the way he rides, almost like out of a fiction" The dwarf explained the new nickname for the Herald, while John scratched the back of his head.
"Let's just say that I needed to perform some stunts to convince our new horsemaster to come here." The young man stated, finishing the topic.
"Anyway, go have some rest Varric, it was a long trip. And if you could, ask Harritt to seek me, I need him to fix my armor." The Herald says looking at the rogue that nodded smiling and turned away waving his right hand in the process.
When John turned to face his advisors once more, he noticed the curious looks that they were giving him, obviously waiting for some answers. He sighed. "When we were looking for rifts to close we came across a despair demon, a really strong one to say the least, it hurted Solas pretty bad and one of its ice beams hit me straight at my chest, freezing my armor instantly and shattering it in the process."
Before he could continue, the Nightingale interrupted him "You must be more careful, there are many people relying on you to help them!" She says a little too loud.
However, the warrior did not think he had done anything wrong so he replied, "Solas needed my help and I can take a few punches, so no need to make a big deal out of this." He says sharply but with a low and steady voice.
Leliana glared at him, an action that made him flinch but only inside his mind, outside he remained stoic. 'She can be scary, but what is the problem with her, I didn't do anything wrong.' He tought. "Very well then, I need to go over some reports from scout Harding. Excuse me." The master of secrets said already with her back turned and walking over to her tent.
The remaining members of the counsel looked slightly confused at her back, until John broke the silence "Something happened with her?" he asked, worry evident on his tone.
Cullen only shrugged and turned to go to the war room, probably wanting to plan the next move on The Hinterlands.
Josephine still looked at Leliana's back, also worried. "I believe that the Divine Justinia's death have finally reached her. She was too busy during the start of the Inquisition to mourn her. Now that we are beginning to lay the foundations and steady ourselves, it finally hit her." She explained, and the warrior nodded in agreement.
"Perhaps I could talk to her" he said, making Josephine show a sad smile. "You could, but I doubt that she will listen to you." She said, now turning to follow the Commander's way.
The Herald kept looking at the Spymaster's tent for a few moments before joining them at the war room.
After formulating the strategy for the next weeks at the Hinterlands with Cullen and Josephine and talking with Harritt about his armor John found himself In front of Leliana's tent. The sun was already starting to set and the villagers were making their way home after a day of hard work.
When he was about to enter he started listening to the Nightingale's low and sweet voice. He instantly recognized parts of the Chant of Light 'She must be praying.' He thought making his way inside the tent as quiet as possible.
There she was down on her knees with praying hands in front of an improvised shrine. He decided to remain quiet and let her finish, although she was probably aware of his presence already.
He took in the view in front of him. First, he examined her delicate features, the way they seemed perfectly sculpted like a masterwork. Afterwards his gaze rested on her lips that moved slightly while murmuring her prayers, and then moved up to her closed eyes that now hid the beautiful blue that he already noticed at their first meeting. Finally, he eyed the small parts of her short red hair that escaped her hood and could not help but think how beautiful it was. 'Maker, this woman is gorgeous.' The young man thought while a brief blush covered his cheeks.
She was fully dressed with her hooded cloak, a light steel mail covering some parts of it and the Inquisition crest proudly in the middle of her chest. Still he could notice the female features and proportions of her body. 'Not the time to have this kind of thoughts.' He says inside his mind, shaking the things that were populating his head.
As soon as he finished his analysis, she started getting up, making him regain his composure. "I hope I didn't interrupted you. Just wanted to see how are-"
The master of secrets continued looking at the shrine. "People say that you are the Herald of Andraste, a prophet of the Maker. So tell me, Herald." She seemed to mock the title that he unwillingly received. "Does the painful death of hundreds of the faithful to your cause a part of a game?"
"How is this a game?" It was all that he could say.
She snorted, now looking at him, "Do you see the sky? Do you know how many innocents were murdered? Do you know that the Holiest of Holies is dead, a woman that sought only piece to the land? If this is the will of the Maker, what is it if not a game?"
He looked her straight in the eyes, he could tell that she was relieving her disappointment with her faith at him, maybe a little too aggressively. He released a sigh and his face developed a sad expression, 'I can take it, perhaps this will make her feel better.' He thought and spoke "I speak for no one but myself, I can't answer your questions."
She returned her gaze to the shrine, apparently calming a little. "Do you even worship the Maker?"
"I really don't know, and usually don't like to discuss this matter." The warrior said leaning on the nearest table and started looking at the last lights from the setting sun over the mountains.
"That sounds like a no." she says following his gaze for a moment and then looking back at him as he resumed looking at her. "You are lucky, he demands a lot."
She stopped for a second, and he could sworn that he saw tears forming in her eyes. That made his heart ache. Although as soon as he noticed it, it was gone.
"Justinia gave everything on his behalf, and he let her die." She resumed speaking.
"I did not know her, but I admired her goals, by all means I still do. And it is obvious that her death hit you hard." John said.
"Not just me, everyone, she was the Divine, she was our leader." He waited intentionally for her to resume her speech.
"I thought I was fulfilling the role he gave me, the Left Hand of the Divine, but now she is gone and it was all for nothing." She finishes, with a little anger showing on her tone.
"Perhaps you have another role to fill and I could help you with that, if you want me to." He said with a smile.
"I don't need your pity Herald, if this has something to do with your nice speech about helping the innocent don't even try." She dismisses his help coldly. "I am already regretting to let you see me like this. It was a moment of weakness, it won't happen again." She went to the table that contained some reports and started reading them.
John took the hint and started to leave the tent, but before he left, with his back turned to her he opens his mouth. "I would be a fool to pity a strong woman like you Spymaster. I was just trying to help." He dared to look at her once more and saw that she stopped reading and was now looking at the mountains in front of her. He left to his tent with that, finishing his preparations for his return to the Hinterlands.
