Reversed Hierophant

On Razor Edge

The night before had been… immensely pleasant. Again, they had not made love that night. Instead, when it seemed they were about to, Cassandra put it to a stop. Not that the seeker had been uncomfortable, anything but really, but she had made a good point; Their first time in a miserable snowy wasteland probably wasn't the best route.

Still, the night had been wondrous. Ayre listened to Cassandra talk all night, the two of them recited stories and poems… It was magnificent.

This, however, wasn't.

Dorian was currently frozen solid, and that wasn't just exaggeration. The mage had fire in his hands to break out, but the Ice dragon Hivernal had just frozen him.

Ayre hid behind a boulder, utterly freezing. Her daggers were stuck to her gloves, but that only made it harder to grip them. Sera was somewhere around the dragon's head, shooting arrows into its face and somehow avoiding its breath.

Cassandra was…

Ayre glanced over the boulder, eyeing the warrior. She was slashing at a bleeding leg of the dragon, keeping its attention from Sera.

"Come on, cousin!" Ayre stressed to Dorian, watching the mage melt the ice off of him.

"Well, I never." He scoffed, stepping from the water and shaking himself off. "Let's kill this beast and be on our way, shall we?" He stressed, rounding the boulder to face the dragon.

Rolling her shoulders, the rogue climbed atop the frozen rock. She threw one of her throwing knives into the wounded skin of one of the dragon's arms, watching spiritual versions of herself tear into its belly.

"Everyone! Focus on its head and neck!" She shouted, smashing a vial before the dragon could target her. Cloaked, she slipped near the ice beast and thrust twin daggers into its belly as it was distracted. As it roared with pain, she scissored her arms and handily disemboweled the creature.

Cassandra sliced into its neck at the same moment, cutting again and again until it was headless. Blood and other bodily fluids of the dragon coated them all save Sera, who snickered and tried not to retch.

"Well, that's that." Dorian brushed what gore he could off of himself, though crinkled his nose. "Anyone else for a bath?"

"Please." Ayre was drenched in blood, crimson turned darker from being sopped in it. It was plastered along her face, being brushed away only by Cassandra.

"Can't have you being blind." The seeker chuckled softly, brushing more muck off of herself. The bridge had been fully repaired just earlier than morning, the Inquisition exploring what lay beyond it.

"How about we dig a trench-bath? I could heat it." Dorian offered, utterly uncomfortable. "Granted, I would have to go first…"

"I think that's a great plan." Ayre chuckled, feeling areas of her skin tighten from the muck. "Let's get to work, Cassandra…"

After a much needed bath and their clothes washed and quick dried, they returned to their last camp. "Ugh… That was rough." Ayre stoked the fire, giving a face to it as she relaxed. It wasn't as cold now with Hivernal dead, at least.

"The other two are about somewhere." Cassandra cleaned her axe, the grooves of her shield already meticulously spotless. "This will prove to be a breeding ground if we do not deal with them."

"Then it's fantastic we've got a renowned dragon slayer with us." Ayre winked to her, righting herself when her shoulder was shoved. "Wish I had a great title like Hero of Orlais..."

Cassandra shoved her again, this time off the log they sat upon. "Is Herald of Andraste not enough for you, Inquisitor?" The elder woman smirked, watching the redhead brush snow off of herself as she stood again.

"Point made… though I think Ayre Pentaghast has a much better ring to it." The Inquisitor had a smirk to match as Cassandra's face reddened.

"Just like a noble tit, innit? Had a toss and wants to marry, so cute." Sera teased them, snickering when she dodged the fist of the seeker.

"No tosses had here." Ayre put up her hands in mock-defense, stoking the fire again.

Dorian emerged from his tent, stretching to keep himself warm. "We'll be out of this snow soon, yes?" He pleaded more than asked.

Before Ayre could deny, one of the agents approached her. "Letter for you, ser." She handed over the paper, standing idly by.

Reading over the brisk letter, the redhead smirked faintly. "Leliana says she misses us. That seems rather odd, doesn't it? I dread to think of what she may have up her sleeve when we get back…"

Cassandra took the letter, brows furrowed tightly. "This does not sound like her at all."

"You don't think someone took to Skyhold while we're here, do you?" Ayre sensed the alarm, brows rising. Sera cursed quietly, starting to fill her pack. Dorian gave a sigh, though of relief or worry it was hard to discern.

"We'll leave the two dragons alone, for now. Saddle up and prepare to return." The Inquisitor ordered, eyeing the letter again. "I'll pen one back without suspicion. If someone has taken hold… then they won't have for long."

"Well, aren't you the dramatic one." Leliana propped a hand onto her hip, gazing down from the tall set of steps. Below, the party was looking sheepish.

"Why is it so out of my element for me to miss any of you?" The spymaster seemed thoroughly amused, descending the steps to meet them at the landing.

Ayre scratched the back of her head, struggling to find a non-offensive answer.

"You've been gone for a month. We've all missed you." Leliana needled again, finally meeting them. She crossed her arms, holding the letter she had received back in one hand. "Your… urgent missive reads like a love note." She teased, watching Ayre's face redden.

"I-I didn't write it alone!" The Inquisitor claimed, but Cassandra gently shoved her side. "Okay, I did." Ayre immediately negated, causing suspicion in her spymaster.

"I see… Well, if you are satisfied that I am not some demon of worry, we have much to discuss." Leliana turned to enter the hold, Ayre turning on Cassandra.

"Well, I think we may have offended her." The Inquisitor grinned, rubbing the nape of her neck. "Still, why would she say she… missed us? Missed you, that's fine. But all of us? Me? That's just… strange. I mean, I would say we're friends, but I'm not someone I would miss if I was gone-"

"Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much?" Cassandra subtly brushed against Ayre as she passed so her words weren't so harsh. "Perhaps she was simply relaying a message from… Lady Montilyet?"

That hadn't crossed her mind at all. Ayre paled a little, rubbing her bare arm. "I rather doubt that. Josephine could have written if she wanted, and why would she be so vague?"

"Perhaps she is regretting her decision?" It was hard to tell when Cassandra was nervous, but Ayre had a pretty good handle on it.

The redhead settled a hand atop the seeker's pauldron, gently shaking her. "We've settled that. There is no going back… definitely not for me." Ayre promised, securing a small smile from the elder.

"I'll see you later today… Might have to smooth something out with Leliana." The redhead passed the elder, brushing her in return.

Cassandra hummed, turning towards Dorian and Sera. "Not a word. Yet."

"Got it." Sera winked lewdly, making a beeline for the tavern. Dorian grinned wryly, allowing Cassandra to cross his path before he followed her into the keep.

"Inquisitor!" Deterred from the war room, Ayre paused to turn.

"Josephine, is something wrong?" The redhead rubbed over one of her arms, adjusting her coat gently. The ambassador caught up with her, arms full of papers.

"Nothing wrong… Unless there is with you?" Josephine quirked a brow, tilting her head. Why did it seem everyone was acting… strangely?

"We're fine… Killed the ice dragon before getting Leliana's missive. Had you read it before she sent it?" The younger's brows rose when Josephine chuckled softly.

"I did. I admit it down sound a bit… strange. But, I did not want to offend her. She's taken a rather good liking to you, Ayre. She's found a friend in you, and that isn't something she finds every day."

"Ah…" So she had offended Leliana, by springing her suspicion. "Then I need to apologize to her."

"She's in the rookery, Inquisitor." Josephine smiled, the two parting ways happily.

"Don't stay up too late tonight, Josie." Ayre called back, having missed the warm Antivan woman. Varric was writing away at the table, lifting his head when Ayre made to pass him.

"Inquisitor, heard Sparkler got frozen?" He grinned, amused by the imagery no doubt. The dwarf gestured to the paper he was working on, nodding to her. "Your book… Much darker than I anticipated. Not quite done yet, of course."

"Why are you writing it so darkly?" Ayre took a moment to sit, peeking to read a bit. Something about her decapitating a templar with her back against his, dagger held with two hands and looped around his neck.

That happened once.

"You're formidable, Inquisitor. You may try to be merciful with your words, but even then they are laced with ulterior motives and anger. You can't hide from your true self." Varric nudged her, chuckling. His words caused her more distress than answers. Maybe he knew that…

"Well, I've got to speak to Leliana… I'll see you around, Varric." Ayre left him to it, climbing the stairs. Deep down, she knew what he meant about her true self. The only problem was… how did he know about it?

"Inquisitor, have you come to proposition me?"

Ayre groaned as she reached the peak of the rookery, sinking a hand into her hair. "Leliana… You know I didn't mean you any ill will."

"It's just amusing-"

"It isn't amusing, and you know it." The younger snapped, watching Leliana still and face her. "That hurt you. My suspicion hurt you, and I am very sorry for it." Ayre continued, nearing her fellow redhead.

"You've taken Cassandra's friendship well, why would you be suspicious of mine?" Leliana denied nothing, easing her hood back.

These next moments and words would be crucial, Ayre though. If Cassandra didn't want her privacy aired just yet…

"We are on the battlefield together. Spilled blood to save one another. I would give my life to save you, as well. Perhaps at that moment, I just… forgot myself." Ayre took Leliana's greaves, lifting her arm. With a wink, she pressed her lips to the knuckles of the elder's glove.

"Oh, how charming you are." Leliana winked, winding her arm around the younger to pull her into an embrace.

"Well, I know I can't compete with Parthena Cousland." Ayre smirked, patting Leliana's back.

"No one ever could… But you'd be a close second." The elder teased, melodically giggling to the redness of Ayre's cheeks.

"Yes, well then…" Pulling away to preserve what was left of her dignity, Ayre cleared her throat. "Has Madame Poulin reported in, yet?" Discussing business was more of a distraction than for the sake of it.

"Yes, she has… Will you be judging her soon?" Leliana eased her hood back up, tending to a crow as it landed, a letter attached.

"Perhaps later tonight…" Ayre eased to the railings, looking down towards the lower chamber. Josephine conversed briefly with Solas, leaving him with a book. She must have frowned, because Leliana was tugging her from the railing the next moment.

"She doesn't fancy him, if you're thinking that."

"It… wouldn't matter if she did. She isn't mine." Ayre cleared her throat, but knew Leliana wasn't convinced. "I will see you for dinner?"

"You will now."

AN: I apologize for this taking so long! With my job, it's a little harder to focus. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, however short. Please, review!