They strode down the way to their improvasional war council room. Lady Seeker Penthagast was explaining bits and pieces about the geographical obstacles awaiting Evelyn in the Hinterlands on her first official mission for the Inquisition.

"It would probably be best if you didn't wander off too much from where our scouts have seen Mother Giselle. I have not heard of any area where the mage-templar war is stronger than there."

Evelyn just nodded and tried to store everything she heard in her head while trying very hard not to look at the person on her other side too much. This is no good, she thought. We haven't even began and I am getting distracted by a man. Absent-mindedly she rolled her head to get some of the building tension on her neck to ease. Oh, how she wanted to open that bun taming her hair. But if she led her tresses down now, she might struggle to later put them up again and that was something she didn't have time for.

"Are you even listening, Herald?" the Seeker sighed, making Evelyn shoot her an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry, Lady Penthagast. It's a bit difficult to concentrate for hours. But you will accompany me to the Hinterlands, along with Varric and Solas, right? How should I be able to wander off on my own if I'm being closely watched by all of you?" The mage winked at her companion and fluttered her eyelashes at her showing off the most puppylike expression she could muster. She couldn't help the laugh when Cassandra just waved her off with one Hand and grinned proudly at the commander only realizing she was doing it when she saw the hint of a smile creep onto those enticing lips of his. Suddenly embarrassed she looked back at the Seeker and her gaze brushed past the door behind which their little guest was sleeping.

Worry took over her features when she asked if the girl had woken. Cassandra shook her head.

"She has been sleeping for two days now, but Adan says she will wake soon. Her body temperature was back to normal in the evening."

Not being able to just leave this be, she excused herself from her companions, telling them that she would join them in the war council room soon. She knocked lightly at the door and went in without waiting for an answer.

...

Aileen wrapped herself up in the covers which kept her comfortably warm. Keeping her eyes closed, she wanted nothing more than to be greeted by the sight of her own room once she opened them. But she knew this wish would go unfullfilled. She could feel it. This was not her bed. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she bit them back. At least she was alive. Rescued by that strange woman with the red hair. When the woman had come up and simply killed those creatures using something that looked suspiously like Magic, she didn't know if this was for the better. She could have roasted her on the spot, had she deemed her dangerous. She probably got lucky that man clad in armour distracted the mage. Though that had been the next surprise. From all she had seen this world resemled a medieval fantasy setting from a series or video game.

She admitted defeat to herself, opened her eyes and sat up in the pretty big bed resting her back on the headboard. No matter what the meaning behind all of this was, she knew it wouldn't resolve itself. She couldn't just wait for this world to disappear or to wake up or whatever was wrong with her head. Getting back on the track of her thoughts when she was out of the snow she sighed inwardly. It still seemed stupid and absolutely ridiculous, but maybe she was here for a reason. She just had to find out what that could be and pray she would be able to accomplish it. Shuffling her feet out from under the covers and letting them fall out of bed, she was about to stand up when she heard voices from outside the room.

Aileen tried to listen to their words but they spoke in the same language the armoured man had used. How was she supposed to communicate with these people? In any book she had read, the language had never been a problem. The protagonists simply were able to speak their languages. But of course that would be too easy for her, right? Instead of letting her solve the big problem - whatever that might be - without having to worry over the Little things, no, she had to take the difficult route. The girl was about to grab the next thing she could get her Hands on and throw it on the wall, when there was a knock on the door and it was immediately opened. These people weren't ones for manners, where they? It was the red haired woman that entered the room. The mage. Aileen looked at her warily.

She said something in that foreign language and Aileen could just stare at her blankly. The mages brows furrowed. Was she... suspicous? It occured to her that it might be strange not to say anything. Thinking of what she could say, she settled on the most basic thing. She grimaced a bit because of the close resemblance to a scene in Tarzan, laying her hand on her chest and saying "Aileen". What she said confused the woman for a moment, before realization hit her. It seemed she finally understood why Aileen didn't answer her questions. The mage smiled warmly at her and said "Evelyn" mimicing her gesture. Aileen couldn't help but smile in return. The first hurdle was taken. Things could only go upwards from here on, couldn't they?

...

Evelyn was glad the girl had finally woken. Though Things seemed to have gotten complicated with her as she seemingly did not understand what she was saying. Which was more than odd. Everybody in all of Thedas spoke the common tongue. Which meant this girl was either trying to mislead her, was from one of the lands beyond the borders of Thedas or had grown up without anyone ever speaking to her. She dismissed the last option immediately. If nobody had ever spoken to her, she would have known neither her own name nor how to get the message across.

Sighing, she decided to take the girl with her to the war council room. Maybe Lady Montilyet could tell her where the girl's name originated from. It was their best and only lead. Hoping Aileen would catch onto the meaning of her gesture, she extended her hand for her to take. The girl looked at her with big eyes going back and forth between Evelyn's face and her hand. A few seconds passed until the girl put her own hand in hers and stood up from the bed. Relieved the mage breathed out. It would take some time but they could probably find a way to communicate.

She led the girl out of the room who looked at her hesitantly and tighened the grip on her hand. This was probably very frightening to the girl. Just two weeks ago, she had found herself in a similar situation where she did not understand what everyone else was talking about. True, it wasn't because of the language but because she didn't know what had happened at the conclave. Still, it was somewhat similar. She gave the girl what she hoped would be perceived as a reassuring smile and squeezed the small hand she Held before pushing the door to the war council room open.

The two ladies walked in on the four leaders of the Inquisition fighting as always. Evelyn caught the distraught look of her young companion and tried to soothe her nerves by comically rolling her eyes. This made the girl giggle and almost instantly four pairs of eyes landed on them. While Lady Montilyet and Sister Nightingale only shared a questioning look and Commander Rutherford raised an eyebrow, Lady Penthagast made an obviously disgruntled sound staring Aileen down.

Letting go of the girl's hand and pushing it gently in front of her, Evelyn introduced them all the while keeping her voice soft and letting her left hand rest on Aileen's left shoulder. She used her right hand to point out who she was talking about to the girl.

"Everyone, this is Aileen. Aileen, these are Sister Nightingale, Commander Rutherford, Lady Montilyet and Lady Penthagast."

The girl looked up at her and tried to pronounce their names but failed miserably. Sister Nightingale made a few steps towards them and crouched down to Aileen's height, giving her a warm smile. "Leliana" she said to the girl. Trying to say this other name proved to be easier for Aileen. Following this, everybody introduced themselves again using their firstnames. Cullen and Cassandra were also easy. She only stumpled over trying to say Josephine. After the third try, Aileen huffed annoyed and simply said "Josie".

"Well, that's better than nothing." the ambassador said. Cassandra still didn't look any more friendlier, when she asked what they were going to do with the girl.

"She doesn't seem to understand what we are saying. It's strange, I thought everybody could speak Thedosian²." Evelyn looked at Lady Montilyet for help. "Do you have any idea where her name could come from?"

The ambassador shook her head in denial. "I'm sorry, Herald, but I have no idea. However, I will ask some of my acquaintances. I'm sure we can figure this out." She scribbled a note on her parchment, probably to make sure she didn't forget.

...

Aileen watched as the people around her seemed to discuss something. Seemingly about her, since they sometimes shot her glances. Looking around she noticed the giant map lying on a massive table. She stepped up to the table and tried to figure out what she saw on this map. At least cartography seemed to go by similar standards as back home. She turned and pulled gently on Evelyn's sleeve. The mage looked at her and Aileen made a motion to the map and then to the floor, trying to ask her where this place was. The mage walked up behind her and put her finger down on a place near a large mountain chain and said "Haven". She repeated the word and her motion looking at the woman for reassurance. She nodded and gave her a smile.

Looking back at the map Aileen noticed the letters written above the place Evelyn had shown her. She repeated the name of this place and looked at the five letters. Skimming over the rest of the map, she noticed a different word that Held the same letters. Putting her finger down on the writing she tried to pronounce it. "N.. Ne.. Nev.. Neva..." It made her angry that she couldn't puzzle the last letters. She hoped to come upon something she knew but whatever that place was called, she didn't know it.

"Nevarra" the woman called Josie said and smiled at her. Noticing that they were willing to help her, she put her finger down over other places, letting them tell her how it was pronounced and slowly, but probably faster than should be possible, the letters all got a noisy meaning. Only an hour later, Aileen was able to read the words aloud. She still didn't know their meaning, but at least she could pronounce them. She hoped this could help her learn their language faster.

Sensing that Evelyn and the others had to discuss other things than her, Aileen took a book and looked questioning at the mage. The older woman nodded and Aileen retreated to the room she woke up in. Maybe reading this book aloud would magically allow her to understand it's meaning.

² I don't think the name of the common tongue of Thedas was ever called by it's name in the games so I am just assuming here.

Author's note:

I hope you liked this chapter. And I hope I will manage to make all chapters a bit longer than the first one and the prologue, but I will always break them off where I see fit. So please don't be disappointed if they end up around 500 words sometimes.