All in all, Haven wasn't that bad. The people there were something else. She was glad that Feynriel had sent Kitty to her. The cat was the only one who was unfazed by Asha's new title. The soldiers around her would nod at her when she passed and call her Herald of Andraste, but none of them could tell her what that meant. Asha knew what it didn't mean. It didn't mean that she could leave Haven. It didn't mean that she could go into the smithy, the apothecary or the war room. It didn't mean that adults would listen to her, especially when she told them that she wasn't a herald of any kind. The fact that she was 'just a child,' as Leliana had put it, meant that it was only more obvious that Andraste herself had blessed her. A grown man surviving the Conclave was impossible. A child? Doubly so.

Asha scowled whenever someone noticed her. She wasn't used to being noticed. Nobody noticed a small child wandering around. She didn't see much of Kitty in that first week at Haven. During the day, the cat would prowl around the citadel. At night, she would tell Asha everything that she'd learned.

One night, Kitty sauntered into their room with her tail held unusually high. :Did you miss me?:

Asha sighed and pulled the tabby into her lap. "Yes. Now what's going on? They've been in the war room all day."

:They've been arguing the whole week about what to do, but they finally have a plan. First, we're going to go to the Hinterlands and meet a member of the Chantry. Then we're visiting to Orlais to address the Chantry. After that, we're going to convince the Templars to join the Inquisition.:

Asha scratched Kitty's ears. "And what are we going to do?"

:We are going to go with them. You and I have important business in the Hinterlands. There's a horsemaster named Dennet that we're going to need. That's all we have to do. After that, everything should fall into place nicely.:

"What does that mean?"

Kitty twitched her whiskers, a cat's version of a smile. :Do you like horses?:

"They're okay."

:Well I'm going to get you the most useful horse in all of Thedas,: Kitty purred. :He's a good friend of mine and you two are going to get along famously.:

"That's why we need a stablemaster?"

:Of course. And when you meet him, you must insist on keeping him no matter what anyone else says.:

She sighed. "Kitty, you know they won't listen to me."

:Solas will agree with you. He'll be very interested in my friend.:

Asha nodded slowly. It really came down to what Cassandra wanted to do, but she did respect the elf.

"When are we leaving?"

:Very, very soon. Cassandra will come get you in a few minutes. Now put this in your boot.:

Kitty ducked under the bed and sent a knife skittering towards her. Asha snatched it. Her eyes bugged out. "Where did you get this?"

The cat purred. :The smithy, of course. The weapons are for everyone after all, and my claws are only so sharp.:

"Cassandra's going to be so mad."

:She'll be much angrier if you're dead. I'm sure that her Andraste is very busy and can't protect you all the time.: Kitty's ears flicked back and her tail lashed irritably.

Asha tapped the cat's nose. "People believe in all kinds of things, Kitty. That's what makes them so interesting."

Kitty said nothing, but she could have sworn that the cat sniffed disdainfully. Asha carefully worked the knife into her boot. She jumped around the room a bit to make sure it wouldn't cut her. It felt a bit odd, but she was sure enough that she wouldn't cut her own foot off.

"You're coming too, right?"

:Of course. I doubt they'll turn back just because I'm there. I'm only a cat after all.:

Asha smiled. Kitty found some excuse to say that at least twice a day. It was obvious that she loved her body. She had no idea how anyone could be frightened of spirits.

True enough, the door opened and Cassandra stood in full armour. "We are going to the Hinterlands. Come with me."

Cassandra turned and marched away, obviously expecting Asha to follow mindlessly. She rolled her eyes and followed. A small crowd of soldiers stood by the gates to see them off. At the gates themselves were Cullen, Leliana and Josephine.

Josephine's hands fluttered nervously and she smoothed Asha's hair back. "Are you sure? I don't like her going out like this, she's so young."

"Am not," Asha said.

Cassandra huffed. "She is the only one who can close the rifts and we need that. I will not let demons destroy the Hinterlands."

"Cassandra will take care of her, Josie," Leliana said. "She'll be fine." Leliana then shot a look at the warrior that read, you better or I'll rip your lungs out. Asha decided that the redhead wasn't all that bad.

By an hour or so, Asha had revised some of her decisions on being thought of as a child. It meant that she didn't have to carry a pack. Everyone else was laden with a bundle of rations and camp supplies. She meanwhile, skipped alongside them. Out of pure habit, she stripped a branch clean of blueberries until Varric caught sight of her. The dwarf waved her off with his crossbow. "Don't just eat that. You don't know where it's been."

She popped one in her mouth. "On the bush."

Cassandra twisted around. "Get away from there." Asha couldn't quite decide who the grim woman was talking to.

"Hey, where are your parents anyways?" Varric said.

The group froze. Cassandra let out a wordless shriek. "It's okay," she said. "I think they're dead or something."

Cassandra slung her pack down. "Or something?"

"Alright," Varric sighed. "Why don't we camp here and you can tell us the whole story."

"I don't have a story," Asha said. "I'm just me. I mean, I stayed with my mom for a bit and then I ran away and found the Dalish, but they kicked me out for burning down an aravel."

Solas said, "You burnt down an aravel?"

She nodded. "It was an accident."

Varric laughed. "How do you accidently burn down an aravel."

"Well I was trying to start a fire with flint and stuff. And then I kind of started one with magic…. They were pretty mad about that…."

Cassandra groaned. "Why didn't you tell us you were a mage?"

Asha shrugged. "I don't know."

Varric waved his hands, either to get their attention or to stop Cassandra from tackling her. "Okay, okay. What then?"

"Stuff, I guess."

"What kind of stuff?" Cassandra spoke through gritted teeth.

"Well I met my brother. He's learning stuff in Tevinter. He teaches me stuff every night, though and he's the best mage in the whole world. I don't know any real magic, but he says that's not important right now because I have to learn how to dream properly first."

Solas asked, in an oddly quiet voice, "Asha, is your brother a dreamer?"

She nodded. "He says I am too, and that's why he has to stay in Tevinter. He learns stuff there and then teaches me at night." Her brow furrowed. "I don't know if he's still in Tevinter though, cause he said that there were holes in the Fade. He wanted to try to warn the spirits about them so they wouldn't wander in."

:Don't tell them about me,: Kitty said sharply.

Cassandra's fingers curled into fists. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because no one listens to me," Asha snapped.

Cassandra and Solas groaned and became very interested in setting up their tents. Varric nearly fell over with laughter and clapped her on the back. "It's late enough," he said. "Go to sleep before they strangle you."