Chapter Two: Skyhold

I'm staring down the long stone bridge that will take us into the keep proper at Skyhold. I'll admit, this ancient fortress is impressive. Even if an invading army decides to strike at it, the inhospitable terrain and the mostly functional defenses would make it difficult to take in a siege. How did the Inquisition acquire such a place? I look up at the towering spires and notice the courtyards are open to the skies above. A smile spreads on my face. Impressive or not, I doubt it could withstand an army of dragons.

"It's really something, huh?" Maeven says from next to me.

She joins me in observing the massive structure. The day is bright still, but a gentle snow falls around us. My breath creates a small cloud in front of my face. Time to see this operation for myself.

I turn, grin at her, and run down the bridge. Maeven laughs and rushes after me. I may be a goddess of destruction, but the flipside of my wild nature is an unbridled passion for life. It has been too long since I've felt the excitement of the unknown. I forgot what it feels like here in the mortal realm. Maybe we should have came back a long time ago.

I stop a short distance before the main portcullis. Maeven catches up, laughing and breathing heavy. "You're crazy," she comments, leaning over to catch her breath.

"I think we're both a little crazy. I mean, we're joining the Inquisition ," I retort.

A woman is waiting for us just inside the gates, and beckons us over. "New here, huh? You'll need the rundown on where to go. I'm Threnn, formerly Quartermaster, now demoted to...greeter, I guess."

"Hello Threnn," I reply pleasantly. "I'm Ferox."

"No need to ask why you want to sign up," she observes, pointing at my staff.

I shrug. "Can you blame me?"

"Not really," she answers bluntly. "I'm pretty sure that's what the Inquisitor was hoping for." She turns to my companion. "What about you?"

"I'm Maeven, and I just want to serve the cause of His Worship, the Herald. I saw what he did for the refugees in the Hinterlands, and I want to help in any way I can."

"You'll do just fine. We'll have you report to Mother Giselle; she'll help assign something for you to do. But for now, both of you need to be shown to where you'll be staying."

Threnn guides us away from the main courtyard, and surprisingly into the main keep. She follows twists and turns through stairs and corridors. We finally reach a long row of rooms on an upper walkway, overlooking the serene inner garden. I love it already.

Threnn looks at me. "This is where several of the mages will be staying. Right now you'll have a room to yourself, but we may need to have you share if we get too many more recruits."

"That sounds perfect," I respond, giving her a warm smile. Her expression softens a bit. "You'll want to report to Fiona once you settle in. She leads the mages here, and she'll help you figure out the rest." She gives me instructions on how to find her.

Maeven calls out, "I'm sure I'll see you at dinner!" I wave as she walks away with Threnn, no doubt to seek her own quarters. The room is chilly, with the walls on both sides made of stone and exposed to the freezing winds blowing off the mountains. I spot a fireplace and send a small jet of fire into it, reminding myself to get more fuel later. If it's this cold already, tonight will be unbearable. Again, this would be far easier with magic, but that's not an ability common to mages in the region. I decide keeping my cover is worth lugging a bit of firewood. The hearty fire warms the room a bit, and I unpack my meager belongings.

Once I finish, I put a hand out toward the fireplace. The crackling fire stops, shrinking to a small glowing ember that flies up to my hand before absorbing into my skin. No sense keeping a fire going when I'm going to be gone for hours.

I strap my staff to my back and head to meet with Fiona. I know a few things about her already from watching through the Well. She led the rebel mages in Redcliffe, but was pressured into taking an offer from Alexius and allying with the Tevinter Imperium. None of that matters to me. When Tevinter first rose, it covered most of Thedas. Most of the people in Skyhold would have originally been ours-the humans, anyway. Then, too, it had been our own people who had betrayed us. Loyalties are too easily shifted in this world for politics to hold much importance.

Magic is the only thing that endures, the only thing that matters, far more than boundaries or leaders. We must preserve it at all costs. Without magic, this world will crumble, and it won't matter who's sitting on top of a pile of ashes. Even the Dalish elves understand this to some extent, but the humans seem to have forgotten, buried in their countless wars against each other. I must not fail.

Trying to find my way back ends up being more of a challenge than I thought. I must have made a wrong turn somewhere, and I find myself on one of the upper levels outside. I decide a walk along the battlements suits me for the moment. I can get a better look at the interior of Skyhold from up here, and it's easier to keep my bearings while outdoors. I locate the main keep across the way, and see that a central walkway heads over to it. Perfect.

I pass several Inquisition agents along the way. Some are dressed as soldiers in full plate armor, with heavy footfalls echoing off the stone. Others are dressed in sleeker, less bulky armor, no doubt meant for stealth and conveying messages. I note this information for later.

I approach one of the guard towers that divide the battlements, but hear people talking in low voices. Glancing below me at the lower landing, I see two humans conversing. One of them is tall, with dark hair and a beard. A swipe of something red crosses his nose. I thought it might be blood at first, but I don't think so. He carries a staff at his back, the same as I, and wears armor in red and black. There's something familiar about him.

The other is clearly the Inquisitor. Shorter, and a little thinner than the first man. His long auburn hair curls in a wave around his face on one side, and is shorn close to his head on the other. Neither has noticed me.

"If Corypheus has corrupted the Wardens, it may be too late to save them," the Inquisitor informs the other man.

"I understand," he replies. "I'll do whatever is necessary to stop him. Corypheus is my responsibility. I thought I'd killed him before. This time, I'll make sure of it."

Ah, that explains why he's familiar. Garrett Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall. His hair has grown a little longer than last I saw him. I'd watched the events of Kirkwall with great fascination, to much teasing from two of my brothers. Lucis, of course, had no interest in what the humans were up to. Or, if he did, he kept his opinions to himself.

I'd like to talk with both the Inquisitor and the Champion, but my position isn't the greatest at the moment. I've only just arrived, I don't know them at all yet, and I'll be late to see Fiona if I don't get going. If I wait, I can make a better first impression . I turn back and start toward the door, but I find it hard not to peek back at the two men on the ramparts. My musings are cut short when I hit something that feels like a wall and fall backwards.

"If you're going to eavesdrop, at least watch where you're going," a voice says from above me.

"Oh sorry, I-" I start, and look up.

I don't have to look far. A dwarf is standing in front of me, frowning. He's handsome enough, for one of the Children of the Stone, but missing the standard long beard. He sports multiple earrings, an open coat that reveals rather masculine chest hair, and the biggest crossbow I've ever seen. Definitely different than the others of his race that I've had dealings with in the past.

"I wasn't eavesdropping...well, not on purpose anyway," I admit.

"Here," he says, offering a hand to help me up. I take it.

"I got a little turned around, and then I saw those two talking, and realized who they are," I explain, shaking my head.

"Yeah, it's weird for me to see them together too. We've never met before; you must be new," he observes.

I nod. "Yes, just today in fact. I'm supposed to report to Fiona to find out how she wants to assign me."

"I'm Varric Tethras." He inclines his head and makes a small motion as though bowing. "Fiona's probably in the upstairs library. I could show you the way, if you need."

I expel a breath of relief. "I can see it over there, but this place is confusing."

We haven't moved more than a couple of feet when the door opens again, revealing none other than the Inquisitor himself.