Inquisition

Deidre Lavellan POV

"Are you all right, Solas?" He blinked slowly at Cassandra, not quite processing she's there. No one really felt real, especially the strange Seeker who seemed to strive for what was right over anything else. "You appeared to be glaring," she continued, explaining herself. "I know this must be difficult."

More than she knew. "I could simply be surprised you have enough time to chat with the High Chancellor breathing down your neck." She scoffed, rolling her eyes, making quite clear what she thought of the High Chancellor. To be fair, as he'd heard the Commander here say, the High Chancellor was toothless. "Or perhaps I'm glaring at a specific person, subtly." Though he had been doing no such thing, he nodded towards Deidre in the distance.

"I'm grateful for her continued help." He wasn't surprised. Deidre had gone above and beyond what anyone could expect of her not a few hours ago, hunting and bringing in enough game to feed the entire village for a good few days. He thought she could've done it with less complaining. No one had even asked her to hunt. "Just as I am for yours." She smiled at him, and he felt guilt eat at his stomach. She had no idea he wasn't a simple apostate, or of the part he'd played in the explosion. An explosion, he'd recently learned, that had not only stolen from her the Divine, a figure she respected, but her long-time lover and many other friends. "Neither of you have to help us, but you are anyway. I cannot thank either of you enough."

"I'm here because I wish to be." He looked over at Deidre again, glowering as his memories replaced her with another huntress in his memory, one who had been far too honest as well. He didn't know if he hated Deidre more for reminding him of her or for not being her. He did hate her rudeness, though. That was an easy thing to focus on. "I have no idea why she is."

"And she may leave whenever she wishes, just as anyone else can. Until then, though, I welcome her."

"You just like that she's as blunt as you."

"It's nice knowing exactly where I stand with someone, yes." Particularly since, by his eye, it was probably very easy to lie to her. It was hard for her to see the world as anything but straightforward, and she had a strange trust of the world being exactly as it seemed. He hoped it didn't kill her. He already knew it would cause her pain. "But, I suppose it's time for me to yell at the High Chancellor again." She made a face and he burst into laughter. He had no idea who was more surprised by the sound: her or him. "Until later, Solas."

"And you, Cassandra."

Creators trapped, what am I doing here? Seriously, what was I still doing here? This village was full of Chantry people. Chantry! The same organization that had caused indefinable misery for the Dalish! There was no reason for me to be here! Sure, the girls were incredibly pretty around here. I enjoyed the eye-candy. Like Cassandra handing the soldiers their asses in sparring matches. Very hot and badass. I wasn't a teenager anymore, though. That wasn't enough to make me stay against my better judgment.

"Oh, Deidre!" I made myself focus as the door opened and smiled unconsciously as Lucy appeared. "Welcome back!" she greeted cheerfully, dirt smudges on her face, hair falling out of her ponytail, and remnants of herbs sticking to her hands. She reminded me of Maia. They were the only two girls I've ever met who could make the 'frazzled herbalist' look work. "Did you happen to find some canavaris while you were hunting?"

"And a few others!" I laughed, stepping in as she moved away from the door. "Elfroot and deathroot." I found it adorable she called 'elfroot' by its proper name. "Sylaise must've blessed the harvest. There was no 'royal' elfroot, of course, but practically everything I found was bitter or gossamer."

"Why did you bring back deathroot?" I made a face as Adan stepped out from the back room, scowling as usual. "That's a poisonous plant, as you must be aware of," he grumbled. Did he ever smile? Creators, he was always a pain in the ass. "We're not making poisons yet." Did he just say 'yet'? "We're up to our ears in wounded. Unless you're wanting to just kill the lot."

"Maybe," I deadpanned. It was worth his incredulous look. "Okay, no, not at all, but they were there, and Lucy was talking about Arcanist Deathroot, which this is, so I grabbed it."

"I did?" Lucy murmured, sounding confused. She bit her lip in thought as she absently brushed her hair behind her ear, smearing herbs and balm into the strands. I had to fight to not giggle. "Ah, that's right. I was thinking about what to use to increase the potency of the Lyrium Potions we had."

"Ah, it's still a bit too soon for that," Adan chided. Lucy simply smiled, while I rolled my eyes. Seriously, did she just bring out the good sides in everyone? "But I do admire the want to improve. Sadly, we must focus first on health potions."

"They might get better if you improved your mood," I noted dryly. It got me a scowl. "That's what Keeper Isti says, anyway. Good for healers."

"I am an alchemist, not a healer. Lucina and I are simply the closest things to healers around here because my master got blown up with the others." Well, sorry? "Right, back to work."

"The regeneration potion should be almost steeping by now," Lucy told him, even as she showed me to the door. Aw, how proper! Or something. This was a shemlen thing, yeah? "Thank you kindly for the herbs, Deidre." She smiled gently. "Adan is also very grateful for the deathroot. He's just focused on the healing potions. Neither of us really have the skills needed to treat everyone properly, though, and it bothers him to do a poor job."

"Meh, I've heard worse," I reassured her, waving off the unsaid apology. Her smile softened. "Elgar'nan, I've probably said worse!" She giggled, muffling it with her hand. "You good here? Need me to find anything else?"

"No, I am well." Still, she looked thoughtful. "I do believe, however, Harritt was wondering about iron deposits." Harrit was… ah, right, the blacksmith that used too much fire and smoke for my liking. Ah, how I longed for Alanarel and the sound of him working ironbark into works of art. He was the best smith of the Dalish, and no one would ever convince me otherwise. "If you saw any, might you inform him?"

"Yeah, I found a few. I'll go tell him." There was also the hide from the rams and bison I hunted. Would a shemlen know how to properly use them? "Dareth shiral!" Waving, I ran off and Lucy closed the door behind me. Not two steps later, I thought I heard an explosion and turned back to the house. Was it bad that was becoming normal?

Laughing to myself, I hopped up on the railings, arms out for balance as I walked it, earning little yelps of surprise from people as I past by. Really, it was my only form of entertainment around her. Creators, what was I doing here still? Helping, yeah, but I should be heading back to the Clan!

"Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions on the just." I paused in my balancing and glanced down to the tent nearby. "Blessed are the righteous, the lights in the shadow." Was someone praying? "In their blood, the Maker's will is written." This was what Chantry people whispered? Wow, no wonder so many were self-righteous hypocrites. It was just creepy. "…Is that what you want from us? Blood?" Confused now, I hopped down from the railing and found the entrance to the tent. To my surprise, the person kneeling and praying was Leliana. Huh. "To die so that your will is done?" She suddenly stood up, trembling from tension. "Is death your only blessing?"

"Sounds like someone has issues with their god." Leliana turned to face me, face unsurprised. She must've heard me. "Careful," I warned, with a shrug. "Lots of idiots around willing to kill to protect that god of yours. Been getting glares myself."

"Right, you don't worship the Maker." Did she seriously forget that? Should I make it more obvious I was Dalish and hated the Chantry? I could draw funny pictures on the walls! "Lucky." She scowled. "He asks a lot." Like the Creators didn't? That was part of gods. They were greedy. "Repentance for our sins." Sounds like nonsense. Who'd want repentance from absent gods? It was as foolish as the elves who believed regaining the lost glory would bring the Creators back. "Our lives, our dreams… he demands it all." She clenched her fists. "Justinia gave him everything she had, and he let her die."

"Well, yeah, because he's not around." I kept my tone blunt. "Big mistake to depend on someone who isn't even there, yeah?"

"You pray."

"The words bring me comfort, and I like having convenient names and phrases to express myself." I shrugged as her scowl slowly faded for stunned staring. "I believe, but I don't necessarily believe the Creators are the miracle workers of the world. Our legends tell us of how Elgar'nan nearly killed the world, for example. Everything would've died if Mythal had not calmed him." I smiled wryly. This was an argument I had with Maia often. "Honestly, the only Creator worth worshipping seems to be Mythal. She's nice in all her stories, except where someone was being all evil and stuff."

"But you mention Anduril blessed you or… or Sylaise?"

"Again, convenient names for expressing myself. It's fun. Like how Varric will shout 'tits of Andraste' when particularly frustrated with a line in his stories." I thought she smiled, just briefly. "I doubt he actually worships Andraste's boobs, but it's a pretty convenient phrase."

"I… think I get your meaning." She shook her head and sighed. "Ah, what am I doing, letting someone see me like this?"

"Uh… being alive?" Shemlen were weird. "You ramble, rage, cry and it keeps the wound on the soul from getting all infected, or so Keeper Isti says." I shrugged again as she gave me an odd look. "Don't look at me. I'm not wise. I'm just good repeating the wisdom of others."

"I suppose you are," she gently teased. I scowled anyway. "Still, I apologize. Justinia was… she was like a mother to me." Ah… "Her death was…"

"I lost my mamae to a sudden flood just a few years ago," I told her softly. I hugged myself at the reminder. I still hated rivers. "So, I can sympathize, at least, with the loss of a mother figure so suddenly, and with questioning the gods on why."

"Did you forgive them?" I liked that she said 'them'. Creepy spymaster or not, she was at least respectful that I believed differently. "I know you mentioned you don't really worship them now, but…" But that didn't mean I didn't throw myself into the prayers. And, honestly, one of the reasons I felt such distaste for them was Mamae's death. So...

"I'll get back to you on that one." The answer made her smile. "You feeling better? I could do some sort of prank."

"Well…" She had a wicked grin on her face. I didn't even know she could be mischievous, or anything but distantly sad. "If you're willing to sneak into Josie's room and put some of her 'ruffles' in the courtyard?" I'd been joking, but… "I can distract her."

"Anywhere in the courtyard, or someplace special?" I was already hunting around for the area. "I'm assuming a place where she can snatch them quickly?"

"Yes, that'll work." She actually laughed a bit. "Ah, I really shouldn't, but I do love pranks, even at my age. And I think I need a bit of humor."

"Well, certainly don't mind providing." I grinned. "Especially if there's a convenient hiding place?"

"Just find me." She laughed softly again, face almost gentle. "Ah, I needed this conversation." Well, nice to be helpful. "Ah, but if I'm not mistaken, it's almost time for-"

"Deidre, Miss Leliana." Both of us turned as Kost walked up. I noticed he was carrying a book, a page marked with a feather. He must've been reading. Again. I swore he'd already read the whole library Haven had. "I apologize for interrupting your conversation," he murmured, bowing his head slightly. "Miss Samantha is finally awake." Really? About time. The lazybones had been out for three days, with Adan and Lucy doing everything they could to tend to her. "So, we are being called for a meeting." That was nice… did he just say 'we'?

"Me too?" I asked, pointing at myself. Kost nodded and I gaped. "Fen'harel's teeth, why would they want me there?"

"To be precise, it's you, me, and Lucina, along with Miss Samantha, Miss Pentaghast, Miss Leliana, Miss Montilyet, and Master Rutherford." Why? If it was everyone that helped that day, Prideful and Varric should be there too. Why would I be included when they weren't? "Haven't received information yet, but technically, I'm still on contract."

"Ah, are you?" Leliana murmured. I saw her bite her lip in thought as she crossed her arms. "I should check that. This isn't something you shouldn't stay in without being committed."

"I'll make that decision myself after the meeting, Miss Leliana." Kost bowed his head slightly, smiling. I really wanted to know how he remained so calm. "Regardless, Lucina is already there." Ah! Lucy!

"Well, there's no way we're leaving Lucy alone with whoever is at the meeting," I sighed. Kost's smile widened to a grin and I sent him a playful glower. "Let's go."

"Remind me, again, why I can't knife him?" I grumbled. Roder… wait, no. I wasn't calling him by bame. Idiot? Annoying? Bureaucrat? Going with that. Bureaucrat that supposedly served the Chantry was arguing with Cassandra. Again. Not making me think any better of them.

"Because if you do, he'll just turn into a martyr and become more annoying," Cullen told me, not even looking up from his reports. I liked his answer a lot more than Josephine's. She was a sweetheart, but telling me 'rampant murder is bad' did not help. I was a hunter. Killing was my job.

"Things might work out if someone didn't antagonize him," Josephine huffed, giving Cullen a pointed look over my head. I just tried to figure out how that candle of hers stayed on her board. "It seems like every hour he's at my door with a complaint!"

"If he's so easily offended, I don't know why he keeps seeking me out. I certainly don't go after him." He glanced up at Josephine. "We don't have room to train all the soldiers we're getting safely. Is there another place to set up a practice area?"

"I'll look at the maps and do a bit of pulling on my strings." The arguing got a touch louder and Josephine sighed. "What is it over this time? I didn't catch it."

"The High Chancellor wants Samantha taken to Val Royeaux, Miss Montilyet." Kost spoke up. I glanced down to where he was curled up in the corner next to Cullen, contentedly reading his book from his seat on the floor. "The other thing he has been yelling about since earlier this morning." Josephine sighed a little.

She smiled, however, when Lucy passed her a mug. "The tea is finally done steeping," Lucy murmured with a smile, handing each of us one. She left four on her little tray. I guessed one was for her sister, and obviously two were for Cassandra and Leliana, but did she seriously make one for Bureaucrat? Really? "Hopefully, it shall help calm your spirits."

"How can we not, with a smile like that?" I teased. She simply giggled and I made to sip the tea. I stopped when I noticed the door creak open. "Someone's here."

That someone turned out to be Samantha, looking significantly better than she had three days ago. And already dressed in armor. Why had there even been armor near her? She lingered in the doorway, a bit hesitant strangely. What? It wasn't like any of us bite. Hard. Without permission.

"Chain her!" I liked how no one in the room even twitched at Bureaucrat's demand, even as I rolled my eyes at his attempt at being threatening. "I want her prepared for travel to the capital for trial." What? Was she a piece of meat now?

"Disregard that order," Cassandra ordered, facing Samantha. "And leave us, guards." They saluted and did so without one word.

I grinned at how purple Bureaucrat's face went. "You walk a dangerous line, Seeker."

"The Breach is stable, but still a threat." Confused, Samantha slunk towards us, smiling as she accepted a mug from Lucy. She tentatively nodded to the rest of us. "I will not ignore it." Cassandra, meanwhile, was glaring directly into Bureaucrat's face.

"Yet the one who was supposed to close it conveniently lives!"

"And the one stepping up to snatch all the power conveniently lives too!" I snarked, unable to help it. He turned his glare towards me, but I rolled my eyes. "You're as threatening as a baby halla, and not nearly as adorable. I've been more afraid of moss."

"Besides, it's not as if the Breach is the only threat," Leliana added. She frowned, stance stronger than it had been earlier. "Someone had to have caused the explosion, someone Most Holy did not expect." She leveled her look at Bureaucrat. "Perhaps they died as well, and have allies who yet live."

"I am a suspect?" Bureaucrat asked, incredulous. "You must be-"

"Serious, yes." Her gaze didn't falter. "In fact, you are the only one in this room I have not completely cleared." Did she investigate our backgrounds? Seriously? Creepy! I'd glare if I hadn't seen her moment of weakness earlier. "Fret not, High Chancellor. You're not the only suspect."

"Only I?" He leveled a glare at Samantha, who completely ignored it. "Not the prisoner?"

"I hear the voices at the Temple," Cassandra growled. She advanced on Bureaucrat, still glaring. "The Divine called to her for help." I noticed Samantha sigh and frown, slumping. Was she seriously feeling guilty? She didn't even remember what happened!

"So, that thing on her hand, and her survival are simply coincidences?"

"No, providence." I had to fight the urge to groan, and glanced at Kost, catching his grimace. Yeah, neither of us were big on the rumors surrounding Samantha. "The maker sent her to us in our darkest hour." I glanced around the room, checking expression. Cullen didn't look like he was paying attention, showing Lucy his reports. I wondered why, but I caught a whisper of 'injured', so maybe they were discussing how many could safely train? Regardless, Leliana was carefully neutral in expression, while Josephine's relieved smile made me think she bought the story too. Samantha just sipped her tea, looking at her hand. Did she buy it too? While I thought it idiotic, I couldn't bring myself to snark at them. People took comfort from where they could, after all, and Keeper Isti would scold me for not accepting that.

"Though all before me is shadow, yet shall the Maker be my guide," Samantha murmured, confirming my suspicion. She looked up at everyone in the room. "I apologize for not closing the Breach." Seriously? Girl, you almost freaking died! "I shall make sure the second attempt doesn't fail." WHAT SECOND ATTEMPT?! GIRL, DID YOU HIT YOUR HEAD?!

"This is not for you to decide!" Bureaucrat snapped. I rolled my eyes. Yes, it was. Did he forget the argument from this morning?

Just in case he had, Cassandra dropped a thick book on the table, letting everything rattle. "You know what this is, Chancellor," Cassandra began, voice strong and sure. "A writ from the Divine, giving us the authority to act." Were all of them that huge? I felt sorry for the scribes. "The Inquisition is reborn, and has been since the dawn." Samantha had a confused look. Did no one tell her? "We will close the Breach." She started advancing on him, chasing him out. "We will find who is responsible. And we will restore order." With each step, her glare deepened. "With or without your approval." I found my gaze going back to the book, though. Keeper Isti was going to have a heart attack. What was I doing here in a Chantry organization? And it was definitely Chantry. If it was approved by their Divine, it had to be. Maybe Fen'harel existed too. Maybe this was his idea of a grand joke.

"Sir!" I blinked slowly, jolted out of my thoughts. Bureaucrat was at the door, and Lucy was passing him one of the mugs of tea. "I made you one as well," she told him, sweetly with a gentle smile. I had to resist the urge to facepalm. There was such a thing as too nice! "I'm sure it shall calm your nerves." He gave her a dirty look, but did start sipping from it as he left. "Have a good day!" Lucy pulled the door shut and sighed, reaching back to adjust her ponytail. "It should take about thirty minutes for the sleeping potion to take effect." …What. "That should give everyone about…" Lucy glanced towards the ceiling, fingers moving as if writing in the air. Completely ignoring the startled, incredulous looks everyone gave her. "It shall last approximately four or five hours, and he shall be groggy for longer." She drugged him. She freaking drugged him. Should I be scared or impressed? "I only put that blend in his drink, so please, don't fret."

"I'm not fretting about that," Leliana murmured. She picked up one of the mugs on the tray. "Oh, clever. You made little drawings to keep track of the cups. Mine has a little bird." I glanced at my mug and saw a small sketch of my vallaslin near the handle. Huh. "You sweetened mine with honey?"

"A small bird told me you preferred it to sugar cubes." Lucy smiled sweetly. Wow, that was… Lucy was a weird shemlen. It was almost enough to make me forget she literally just drugged someone to give the rest of us peace of mine. "Deidre's is sweetened with hibiscus flower." Oh. Right, I told her yesterday about how I liked my tea with it. Aw, how sweet! "Samantha's has copious amounts of milk." I tiptoed to see and realized she was right. Wow, it looked more milk than tea! "I had to take guesses on the others, though. Please, let me know what you prefer for next time." Wait, she was going to make tea for every meeting? I wasn't going to protest.

"I'm curious where you find agave nectar," Kost laughed, standing at last. He rolled his shoulders, giving time for all of us to adapt to looking up at the tallest person in the room. My neck hurt. "It's from the desert."

"I shall never tell." Kost laughed again, and Lucy grinned before turning to Leliana. "Might I ask what has you worried, Lady Nightingale?"

"It's simply how unprepared we are," Leliana sighed. She glanced at the book on the table. "No leader, no numbers, and now, no Chantry support."

"But we have to act now, yes?" Samantha asked. She looked surprisingly at peace. Maybe she really did hit her head. "But if I may…?" She pointed to Cullen and Josephine. "I met Cullen briefly, but all I know about the other is that she's pretty and her garb is Antivan." I couldn't help my laugh and she gave me a dirty look. I just grinned back. "I think introductions are in order?"

"Firstly, we should check how you are," Cassandra insisted firmly. Though she tried to appear stoic, she smiled a little as she drank the tea. "Citrus…" She coughed, looking a bit sheepish suddenly. Was she seriously embarrassed? "You were asleep for three days, and the Mark…"

"I'm fine." Lucy suddenly frowned and prodded her cheek, making Samantha grimace. "Okay, okay. You're almost too much like Father sometimes." Lucy simply smiled, not saying a word. "I hurt. But its devouring seems to have slowed, and I've adapted to the pain." So, like having chronic pain? Some of the others in the Clan had that. "But things shall get tiring if every other words is about how much I hurt, so I am fine. This is now my normal."

"And it will be until it kills her," Kost murmured, too soft for most of the room to hear. I only did because I was so close, and I glanced up at him, curious. "Even with it stable, it's still going to wear on her body. It's not my field of expertise, but I'd give her anywhere between three and five years, at most." Well, that was annoying. Having a doom timer literally pulsing on your hand.

"You mentioned making a second attempt." I turned my focus back on the conversation at hand. "I talked with Solas earlier," Cassandra was saying. I scowled at the mention of Prideful. Annoying old man. "He believes one should be successful, but only if the Mark has more power." Samantha simply nodded, perfectly accepting of everything. Was she an idiot or something? "Now, introductions." Cassandra gestured to the others in the room. "You've met Cullen. I don't think anyone had a chance of telling you he is the Commander of the Inquisitions' forces."

"No, the demons got in the way of politeness," Cullen confirmed, nodding towards Samantha. "I'm pleased you survived that chaos, though." Honestly, it was surprising how many did.

"And the woman you pointed out is Lady Josephine Montilyet, our ambassador and chief diplomat."

"I've heard much," Josephine murmured, bowing slightly, with a smile. "I'm pleased to meet you at last. I believe I've heard some stories from your older brother?"

"Well, now I'm terrified of what Derrick has told you," Samantha immediately deadpanned. Surprisingly, it did wonders to relieving what tension remained in the room. "I'm assuming Leliana is the spymaster, then? Organizations rarely don't have spies."

"I can see someone will get along well with Cassandra," Leliana murmured. I couldn't tell if she was more amused or exasperated. "You know the others, though, yes?" Except for what we were all actually doing here in this meeting of important people. "So, we should talk about where to go for more power. The rebel mages are our best bet."

"I still disagree on that," Cullen interjected. There was a trace of anger in his words, and I wondered if he had problems with mages. "The templars could serve just as well." How could…? Well, suppressing the Breach's power would mean less being thrown at Samantha. Could that be done?

"We need power, and-"

"Please, forgive me, but if I may speak?" Lucy suddenly interrupted. There was no smile on her face now, and there was actually something disconcerting in her demeanor, though I couldn't place what it was. After all, she appeared the picture of politeness. "Pouring more magic into the Mark runs the risk of causing a second explosion, or killing Samantha outright."

"But weakening the Breach is based on pure speculation," Leliana began.

Only for Cullen to cut her off with a glare. "I was a templar," he stated, bluntly. "I know what they're capable of." And the growl in the voice implied he didn't just mean their powers.

"Our first meeting has already devolved into arguing," Kost sighed, stepping up. "Clearly, Miss Leliana thinks the mages are the best option, while Master Rutherford points out there is the alternative of the templars." Both nodded. "Lucina? You vote for the templars as well?"

"Yes," she confirmed without hesitation. Strange. I thought Lucy was a Circle mage. Why is she agreeing with Cullen? Captivated by his pretty face? Mmm, nah, her gaze was too firm for that. Well, I couldn't say I disagreed. Throwing more magic at a thing we barely understood just seemed like all kinds of stupid. "Templar abilities follow a similar theory as Bounded Fields. It might be pure speculation, but there is copious evidence to support it. There is nothing that guarantees the rebels would do more than trigger a second explosion." She crossed her arms, still appearing quite polite. Even with some odd looks from the others.

"That's assuming templars can be trusted, though," Samantha murmured. She nodded to Cullen. "My pardon, but I've seen the worst of your former order." Cullen simply nodded, and I thought he was biting back words.

"Sister, have you forgotten we have many cousins among the Templars?" Somehow, Lucy still appeared polite. "Would you say the same to Michalis or Jakob?"

"I told them to go home like sane people." Did… did we just stumble onto a sibling argument? No, that couldn't be it. Lucy was too calm and polite for it to be one, no matter how aggravated Samantha sounded. "The things you hear-"

"Interrupting again," Kost sighed. He actually picked up Samantha and moved her to his other side. "Forgive me, but now doesn't seem to be the time to be debating the Mage-Templar war." Yeah, definitely agreed with that one.

"Especially since neither side with meet with us," Josephine smoothly added, stepping in as she looked at the papers on her board. "I've tried multiple times. Both have refused, likely worried about the organization that suddenly rose up at the Divine's grave." She sighed, turning to Samantha. "Already, the Chantry has denounced us, and you in particular, Samantha." Here we go.

"Why me, in particular?" Samantha asked, sounding curious. "Is it because of the Mark?"

"In a… manner of speaking." Josephine sighed, shaking her head. "Some are calling you the Herald of Andraste." Yep, Andraste, founder of the religion that has slaughtered hundreds, even thousands, in her name. And here I was. Standing next to her supposed herald. Someone tell me where I left my sanity. "That frightens the Chantry. Thus, the remaining Clerics have called it blasphemy, and we, heretics. Which is not helping our case in approaching either side."

"That said, there is a cleric willing to speak with us," Leliana explained. She motioned everyone to the map on the table, pointing to a spot marked with a bird carving. Nice detail. "Mother Giselle is here, in the Hinterlands." Based on the map, that wasn't far at all. "She knows those involved far better than I, and known for being reasonable. Her help could be invaluable."

"Then I'll go talk to her," Samantha declared firmly. She had a determined glare on her face. "I've lost three days of work, sleeping." Not dying, she meant. "The sooner we close the Breach, the better."

There were other words, but I tuned them out, just watching everyone. Working. Making plans. Maybe that was why I stayed. Chantry organization or not, the people here were the only ones actually trying to fix the problem. And I wanted to help. Which meant I was stuck here. Working for the Chantry. The Chantry that had lied to and slaughtered my people for centuries.

Oh, Mythal, save me.

Author's note: And with this, the Inquisition is official. And Deidre wondering what she's doing with the Chantry. Because she's Dalish and Dalish don't have a lot of good memories of the Chantry, if you look at their histories. Since it's come up in Pms, Deidre is homoromantic asexual. (I'd originally thought her lesbian, due to an error in my notes, so I apologize to anyone I pmed with that false information)
While only elfroot is found in Haven during Inquisition, deathroot is one of the resources you could forage during Origins. Maia and Alanarel are two made up characters, as Clan Lavellan only has two confirmed members: the elven inquisitor and the Keeper, Deshanna Istimaethoriel (who Deidre affectionately calls 'Isti'). For tales, Maia is the First of the Clan, and Alanarel is the head craftsman.
Leliana's prank is based off a conversation ("It's not a party until someone's underthings are nailed to a board") and her war table dialogue with Josephine.

Next Chapter – Hinterlands with Kost.