Cassandra studied the young elf, Eleri of the Lavellan clan, as she made her way up the dirt path towards the Chantry building. The sporadic glow of her hand was gone, controlled now that the original rift was taken care of. The girl looked tired and confused, her head swiveling every few steps to take in the surrounding village of Haven. She seemed wary of the villagers as any Dalish elf would be. Their first encounter, with Eleri waking in chains, probably did not help her instinctual distrust. The former right hand motioned inside the Chantry building once the young elf reached her. They walked inside in silence. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence but held the awkward air between two people who barely knew each other. The herald of Andraste, as many called her, started to twist her wrist, flex her hand and eventually moved to crack her knuckles. She was clearly uncomfortable, or in pain.
"Does it trouble you?"
The herald stopped and looked down at her hand as if she was the hand itself what its condition was. She flexed the fingers and turned it over from palm to backhand. Finally, her eyes lifted to meet Cassandra's; jaw set and stubborn written clearly across her face.
"I'll be fine." The lilting voice left no room for discussion. Cassandra gave a curt nod in understanding, noting that Eleri didn't actually answer the question, then started walking again. There would be time for concern later. Now, Eleri needed prepped for the meeting, and the bickering, they were walking into. The advisors were scrambling to obtain allies, soothe any conflict they could, and gain numbers. Not to mention, save the world from the unknown threat that destroyed the conclave. Nerves were burned to the quick and tempers were shot for all who stood daily around the war table.
"What's important is that your mark is now stable, as is the breach. You've given us time, and Solas believes a second attempt might succeed – provided the mark has more power." Cassandra paused again to look at Eleri, to make sure she understood the importance. This was no easy task they were placing on the young elf's shoulders. She needed to grasp the weight in order to carry them all to peaceful, rift-less world. "The same level of power used to open the breach in the first place. That is not easy to come by."
"Yes, because that makes sense. Super-charge this thing to the same level that tore a hole in the sky. Nothing bad could possibly happen." The elf's lips curved upward as the words, dripping in sarcasm, left them. Cassandra shook her head with a chuckle.
"Hold on to that sense of humor. How to gain that level of power is what the advisors have been discussing since Solas came up with the theory." Cassandra huffed, "A decision has not been reached."
"Why not?"
"There are vastly different opinions within the advisors. I believe they intend for you to be the tiebreaker."
Eleri nodded and walked into the Chantry's back office in front of Cassandra. The seeker followed instead of leading the way, wishing to observe the elf's reaction to the waiting advisors. Eleri was harder than most to read and her opinion of the advisors could greatly affect the inquisition's progress throughout their journey.
Eleri's shoulders tensed and her right hand, which rested comfortably on the hilt of a short sword during their walk, tightened its grip. The small elf seemed to straighten, trying to make herself seem taller. From the advisor's expressions, Leliana's reserved, Cullen's polite, and Josephine's eager, there was no change to her own expression. If there was it was erased by the time Cassandra was facing Eleri again. No time was wasted with the introductions.
"May I present Commander Cullen, leader of the Inquisition's forces."
The commander gave a small smile and nodded his head. "Such as they are. We lost many soldiers in the valley, and I fear many more before this is through. We can discuss that issue further at a later time though. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Eleri looked back as Cullen finished speaking for Cassandra to continue.
"This is lady Josephine Montilyet, our ambassador and chief diplomat."
The ambassador's smile was shy but her response sure.
"Andaran Atish'an"
That caught the Dalish elf's attention. Cassandra swore she saw Eleri try to tame the corners of her mouth as they attempted to glide into a smile. As it was, the surprise was still evident. Her eyebrows rose and her shoulder's relaxed slightly. The seeker would bet money, if she were a gambling woman, that the elf herself didn't even realize the effect those words had on her.
"You speak Elven?"
"You've just heard the entirety of it, I'm afraid." Lady Montilyet looked down at her clipboard as a small flush darkened her cheeks. A small laugh, no more than a short huff of air through her nose, escaped Eleri. She was still looking at the ambassador, eyes crinkled with an invisible smile, as Cassandra began her final introduction, green eyes slow to follow the direction the words were leading them.
"And of course, you know Sister Leliana."
"It is nice to see you again, Eleri, and to see that your hand is not glowing as much." She smiled, "as for my position with the Inquisition, it involves a degree of – "
"She is our spymaster." Cassandra interjected. There was no time for this; decisions needed to be made. They had wasted enough time arguing.
"Yes, tactfully put, Cassandra." Leliana shook her head. Her tone was exasperated but her expression was fond. A combination Cassandra was used to after all these years.
"A pleasure to meet you all." Cassandra turned to the elf, surprised. She hadn't expected Eleri to be polite. Not that the young woman was rude per say but she was young and in a difficult position surrounded by those she was unaccustomed to. Add that to the storied distrust and distaste Dalish had for any outside their culture, including elves who were merely born differently than them. Cassandra watched as Eleri turned to each advisor and nodded to them, a smile sent to the ambassador.
"Before, as we were walking in, I mentioned that the mark needed more power to close the breach for good."
"Which means we must approach the rebel mages for help." Leliana interrupted. Whatever discussion that was had before the seeker and herald walked in was still heated. Cullen solidified that assumption for Cassandra as he answered on the heels of Leliana.
"And I still disagree. The Templars could serve just as well."
Cassandra sighed and glanced at Eleri. The elf was quietly watching the discussion, eyes flitting back and forth between speakers.
"We need power, Commander. Enough magic poured into that mark – "
"Might destroy us all." Cullen countered quickly. "Templars could suppress the breach, weaken it so – "
"Pure speculation." Leliana's words were condescending. Cassandra sent a look to her former partner. A look that was just as familiar as the one shared earlier and warned of the cutting tone the spymaster slipped into when arguing. An unwanted souvenir from time spent debating in the Orlesian courts. Leliana ignored it. Stubborn as always.
"I was a Templar. I know what they're capable of."
Lady Montilyet, who from the stories Cassandra has heard is just as familiar with Leliana, interjected before the spymaster could counter.
"Unfortunately, neither group will even speak to us yet." She began. Cassandra had to admit that the smooth Antivan accent was soothing, an obvious advantage for the ambassador. "The Chantry has denounced the Inquisition – and you," she pointed at Eleri with an ink dripping quill, "specifically."
"Well that didn't take long." Eleri's face was a mask. There was no humor like her comment suggested other than a smirk that sat under green eyes. Those eyes gave nothing away, her body language had relaxed since first entering but even that was still guarded: left hand resting on a sword hilt, the other hanging at her side, holding onto the end of her jerkin.
"Shouldn't they be busy arguing over who should become Divine?" Cullen asked.
Cassandra stiffened but coaxed herself out of it. The memories of her lost Divine were still fresh and sensitive to any mention. Cullen was lost to her reaction in his disdain toward the Chantry and question directed at the ambassador. She shared a sidelong glance with Leliana.
Lady Montilyet ignored Cullen, a wise decision in Cassandra's opinion, and spoke to Eleri.
"Some are calling you –a Dalish elf – the 'Herald of Andraste.' That frightens the Chantry. The remaining clerics have declared it blasphemous, and we," she motioned around the table with the quill, "heretics for harboring you."
Cassandra's lip curled in disgust. "Chancellor Roderick's doing no doubt." That bureaucrat was lucky he was nowhere near Haven.
"It limits our options." Lady Montilyet pushed on, again ignoring the more aggressive comments from the warriors. "Approaching the mages or Templars," she gave Cullen a pointed look as he began to protest, "for help is currently out of the question."
"Wait." Eleri shook her head, "Wait. Just how am I the 'Herald of Andraste?'"
Cassandra had been waiting for this question, it was a few beats off when she expected it but it still came nonetheless. She had done her best to keep the young elf from finding out prior to this meeting so she could be the one to explain. The Dalish held very different beliefs to those of the Chantry. Cassandra wasn't sure how she would react and thought it better if it happened within the confines of the meeting. Eleri's image was something they could not stand to tarnish before even creating. Her reputation would proceed her and needed to be positive.
"People saw what you did at the Temple, how you stopped the breach from growing. They have also heard about the woman seen in the rift when we first found you." She stopped to let the information sink in. Green eyes stared passively at Cassandra, waiting. "They believe that was Andraste."
"Even if we tried to stop that view from spreading – "
"Which we have not." Cassandra nodded at Leliana in apology for interrupting.
"The point is; everyone is talking about you."
"It's quite the title, isn't it? How do you feel about that?" Cullen asked, genuinely curious. Cassandra listened closely. Cullen saved her from asking the very same question, but in a less tactful manner. The room seemed to lose all sound as the three advisors waited for her answer. If Eleri chose to walk out on this inquisition so early than they were doomed. The mysterious green mark on her hand demanded that Eleri be the face of their cause.
Eleri looked down at her hand, her thumb ran the length of her index finger and back down, repeating the gesture over and over. She glanced at Cassandra then. Her eyes dropped the mask and were asking a question; one Cassandra didn't have the answer to.
"I don't know." Eleri answered, looking back at Cullen to address his question. It was short, simply, and painfully honest. A combination Cassandra had the feeling summed up how the elf dealt with most things. She looked from Cullen to the other advisors. Leliana began some semblance of an answer to the elf's silent question that Cassandra could not answer. Her tone was comforting tone but what she said was far from it.
"People are desperate for a sign of hope. For some, you are that sign."
"And to others, a symbol of everything that's gone wrong." Lady Montilyet warned, guilt plain in her eyes. They flicked to Cassandra as well, in the same boat of not knowing how much their new Herald could take in that moment, and worried that they may be giving too much up at once.
It all came back to the facts. Eleri had been unconscious for days. After being convicted, and almost executed, for destroying the Conclave and the world. She was being thrust into a world vastly different than her own. There were no green forests or the nomad lifestyle. There was snow and mountains and humans. Many humans. And she was young. Early twenties at most. A child in Cassandra's eyes. There was only so much she could take and that was nothing against the elf, just a fact of life.
Eleri looked down again. Cassandra was starting to notice the trend: anytime Eleri needed time to think she avoided eye contact as if she was ashamed of the length of time it took her. A habit the former right hand did not understand. Never had it taken Eleri too long to come up with an answer nor has an answer been inadequate in the time the seeker had known her. But all the same, the advisors waited patiently for the girl to speak.
"Could we be attacked?" She asked, voice low. Cullen began to answer but was cut off as Eleri expanded her question. "Because I'm here, could these people be attacked?"
Eleri lifted her eyes for a heartbeat but dropped them again and so missed the pleased smile Cullen sent her, his attempt at humor diffusing Josephine's apparent worry that had grew with the elf's question. "With what? They have only words at their disposal."
"And yet, they may bury us with them." She quipped.
"If you are worried for Haven's safety, there is something you can do." Leliana jumped in, not one to let a chance for advancement pass her by. "A Chantry cleric by the name of Mother Giselle has asked to speak to you. She is not far, and knows those involved far better than I. Her assistance could be invaluable."
Leliana did not have to wait long for an answer. Eleri gave it immediately with a quick nod.
"I'll see what she has to say."
"You'll find her tending the wounded in the Hinterlands, near Redcliff. Do you know the area?"
"No."
"I do and I will be accompanying you, as will Solas and Varric. You will always travel in a party, a pack of sorts, to ensure your safety and the success of various missions." Cassandra half ordered, half informed.
Cullen nodded along and then gave his own advice.
"Look for other opportunities to expand our influence when you are out in the world. If you can help the native people, anyone at all, word will spread and our power will grow. It is imperative that the people view you positively if we wish to be successful. From what I can tell from this meeting, just act normally and you'll be fine."
The commander gave a warm, encouraging smile with his words. He was much better with the inquisition's new members than Cassandra was. While he had mastered the balance between a firm command and soft words, Cassandra was all passion and fiery actions. A large reason she opted not to command.
"We will need agents to extend our reach beyond this valley, and you are much better suited than anyone to recruit them." Lady Montilyet added. Eleri's eyes followed from advisor to advisor taking in the information. Cassandra thought she looked shell shocked but also seemed to be taking everything in. Had their matters been not as pressing, she might slow things down for the young elf. Unfortunately, Eleri would have to learn on the fly.
"In the meantime, let's think of other options. I won't leave this all to the Herald." Cassandra wrapped up the meeting and the advisors watched Eleri quickly leave the room. She had asked few questions, as needed, and was polite in her farewells but it was clear the small elf was uncomfortable surrounded by the advisors at the war table.
"She is interesting, no?" Leliana questioned once the door shut behind the retreating herald. Icy blue eyes lingered on the door before meeting Josephine's and Cullen's as they answered.
Cassandra huffed and looked to the other advisors. Cullen had an amused smile while Josephine seemed to fully consider the question. The ambassador never answered quickly if she was allotted the time. A clear sign of a diplomat.
"I like her." Cullen decided. "She is odd but I haven't spent much time around the Dalish, that could explain it. Her heart seems in the right place."
"More like you've heard stories of her in battle." Leliana teased the commander.
"Well, they are impressive! I've heard she charges, as in not a one-time mishap but an informed decision to charge, at fully armed Templar shield-knights when they rush. The ones with the big shields." He added for Josephine as he animatedly talked about the elf's fighting style. "I trained with those men. That is no easy task. Their sheer size and equipment give most pause."
Cassandra chuckled. They had encountered a few rouge Templars who refused to yield to Cassandra's order, that Solas was on official Chantry business. Eleri had made short work of the men. Cassandra was barely needed and Varric was completely useless as Solas merely stood back, observing. Varric stood dumbfounded at the time but began spinning a story to tell at his first opportunity. Eleri answered his questions cautiously, unsure of what was happening. She remained wary of the stout dwarf but with each brash compliment he gave her in battle she began to warm up to him.
"She is impressive fighter, Commander," Leliana relented, "and watching her fight is pleasing too."
The wink and resulting red exploding across Cullen's face was too much for Cassandra. The blonde haired man sputtered for a response. The seeker let out a harsh bark of laughter as Josephine chuckled behind a raised hand. The polite demeanor never lifting from her actions.
"What? No – that is not what, I didn't mean it like that!"
"I am only teasing!"
"Lady Montilyet, what do you think?" Cassandra asked, an attempt to keep the advisors on task. There was no time for jokes. Not yet. At least that was what Cassandra thought but Josephine's own tinted cheeks and the hesitation proved otherwise. "Not like that!" Cassandra barked.
"Well, I believe, if she works at it, she could be the leader we need. She seems an interesting mix of bold and shy. Polite yet stubborn. I am also under the impression that she does not know much about Thedas outside of her clan and maybe the Free Marches. She will need help in the politics side but she seems intelligent so I see no pressing issues."
"A very diplomatic answer, Josie." Leliana seemed to be in a teasing mood. Cassandra sent her a quick glare, one the spymaster simply shrugged off with a smile.