Late at night
Things I thought I put behind me
Haunt my mind

I just know there's no escape
Now once it sets its eyes on you
But I won't run,
Have to stare it in the eye

~ Within Temptation from "Stand my Ground"

.

"I'm not certain, Ser, but the two of them are the most out of place green horns I've seen yet. It's a waste of my time, honestly," the clerk said as he and the Commander approached the two waiting women. Caro was eyeing Melori as though she'd lost her mind, and Melori was trying to remember the Chant of Light, just in case having it in her head would make it less likely that he'd remember her or that she was a mage. What was the verse Genitivi had always chanted ... "Here lies the abyss, the well of all souls ..." Melori grimaced. That wouldn't work.

The Commander gave them both a quick look and then turned back to his clerk, "Who sent them?"

"Requisitions, Ser."

"I suppose you're both experienced clerks?" He asked, glancing at a memo another soldier handed over to him. He nodded and handed it back to the man before looking to Caro and Melori for their answer.

"Ahh, no ... well, we're librarians, Ser," Caro said. "I supposed you could say we're experienced clerks, but that wouldn't be giving us much credit, really. We're archivists and we know how to restore books and maintain catalogs."

"Ahh, I see." He nodded sharply. "From the Temple Archive, I take it?"

"Yes, Ser," Caro answered, digging an elbow into Melori's side when the other elf didn't answer, though, to be accurate, the elf didn't think she could answer. Her jaw felt as though it had locked itself shut.

"Names?"

"Caro Gifford, Ser."

This time, Caro reached under Melori's elbow and pinched it, hard, making the elf jump and look up to find Knight Commander Cullen Rutherford looking directly at her with a polite, if impatient expression. She unlocked her jaw with an effort and hoped to the gods that she didn't sound a fool when she spoke, "Melori Enara ... ah, Ser."

"Enara?" He repeated, turning to focus on her face for a long moment, his eyes narrowing. Melori feared another breach had just opened beneath her feet and clasped her gloved hands tightly behind her, afraid to breathe ... which made her head spin. She was certain she was about to die, which would make it a mercy if he called the Templars over to see to her quick execution; however, all he said was, "You were at the Ferelden Circle?"

"Yes ... Ser," she said and forced her voice to stop shaking. "I ... I was a librarian there with ... with Senior Enchanter Tyrol. Not as a mage ... I was learning about archiving, book repair, and ... and ... creating histories. Both Caro and I have studied broadly ..." she trailed off, the words drying out with her wits.

"Melori's a bit shy, I'm afraid, Ser," Caro stepped in, shooting Melori a look that spoke of payback later - most likely involving Wicked Grace and alcohol. "She has a hard time speaking of her time at the Circle."

"Ah, I am sorry. I, too, struggle with my memories of those days," he said courteously, even kindly, which made her blink up at him in surprise. He cleared his throat and asked, "I don't suppose either of you have experience in the field?"

"We ... we've both gone on expeditions," Melori said, surprising herself. The fact that he hadn't even questioned whether she was a mage or not was ... elating, confusing, ... too much. She had to work not to babble in relief. "Caro and I met in the Kocari Wilds studying ancient ruins, actually."

That got his attention. He looked to his clerk and nodded sharply, "Talk to Simon about setting up a training for the light weights - staves and short blades to begin. And pull these two out of Requisitions. We need people who understand what we're looking at out in the field. I'll talk to Scout Harding about where we should place them and when."

"So you're putting them with the Scouts, Ser?" The clerk looked as pole-axed as the two librarians felt.

"Yes, I think they'll do splendidly. If you'll excuse me, Ladies," the Commander turned to accept another report from yet another messenger and walked away.

"Did ... he just make us ... scouts?" Caro asked slowly.

"I ... believe so, yes," Melori answered, watching him walk away with a sense of shock.

"Well, he knows what he's about, I hope," the clerk said, shrugging and turning to face them. "Come on, you two. Simon's going to want to know what he's up against."

"What is wrong with you?" Caro was giggling drunk and pointing a slim finger under Melori's nose. "You took one look at Commander Cullen, went white as a ghost and just ... quit speaking. No words! The elf who knows everything just ... went utterly mute."

"Can I just ... die now?" Melori asked, sinking down till she was half-hidden behind her mug of ale. "At least you managed to say something coherent, Caro."

"I know! And totally worth it, too, right? Did you see that scar? OOh, I coulda ..."

Melori reached over and slapped her hand over the human's mouth. "No."

"But ..."

"Stop it. Talk about Simon instead. I thought you'd decided you were in love with him?"

"Ohh, but I am," Caro crowed, lifting her mug and slamming it down so it sloshed onto Melori's sleeve. "Such a bea-u-ti-ful man."

"Uh huh," Melori laid her head down on the table while Caro went on and on and on. By the time she was onto her fifth mug of ale, Caro and Simon had six kids and he hated Lady Gifford as only happily married men can hate their mother-in-laws. That meant, happily, that Caro was soon to topple into oblivion and Melori would be free to go hide somewhere. She desperately wanted privacy ... and a book. Preferably not one of the sordid romances Caro favored ... maybe a book of poetry. Something elven ...

"Your friend is a darkspawn short of a Blight, my friend."

"Ser Varric," She turned her head to the side without lifting it off the tabletop. He was a bit taller than she was when she had her had down, so she had to angle a bit to see his face. "Creator save me from love-crazed humans."

"And here I thought elves were the last true romantics," he smiled, sliding in next to her and setting a tankard of spiced rum next to her half-empty mug. Her nose twitched and she sat up a little, trying not to sneeze.

"What is that?"

"Family recipe," he grinned, pushing the tankard toward her. "Wanna try it?"

"Only if it won't leave me incoherent in the morning," she said, blinking and wiping at her eyes. "I'm not sure it won't kill me ..."

"You'll only be a little cross-eyed, I promise."

"Hmm," she thought about it for a moment, then looked over to where Caro was leaning against the wall, half-asleep and drooling a little. "Fine. You're definitely better company, anyway."

"Thank you," he bowed slightly, acknowledging the complement.

"So, what is it you do, Ser Varric?" She asked, picking up the tankard in both hands (it was a big tankard) and tipping it back to her mouth.

"Oh, I do a lot of things," he answered, "But most people know me for my writing."

"You're a writer?" She blinked at him owlishly just as the liquid reached her mouth.

"Oh! I thought you already knew, since you're the librarian," he laughed. "Allow me to introduce myself. Varric Tethras, writer, adventurer, merchant ..."

Her eyes crossed and the fiery liquid went the wrong way down. Spluttering, she sat the tankard down and began coughing into her hands, blindly reaching for a napkin. Varric handed her a handkerchief instead and she began blotting at her face with it, coughing uncontrollably while he pounded her sympathetically on the back. When the fit had finally subsided, she turned all the way around to look at him - the knowing smile, the blonde chest hair, the ... "Oh gods. I'm such an idiot."

"No no no," he was still patting her back and laughing. "You had no way to know! It was my fault. I should have let you try the drink properly before I introduced myself."

"I ... I have read every single Hard in Hightown I could find," she admitted a little sheepishly. "And one of the Chantry sisters from Kirkwall gave me a signed copy of The Champion of Kirkwall for my birthday last year."

"Always nice to meet a fan," he chuckled.

"This is so embarrassing," she groaned, putting her head down again. "I should have stayed in bed this morning."

"Awww, if you had done that, I wouldn't be sitting here feeling all warm and tingly about myself."

"So I did something right today?" she laughed a little helplessly.

"You wanna hear about a truly bad day? How about I tell you what really happened when Hawke and I were attacked by bandits on the way back to Kirkwall? That'll make you feel better ... "

THWACK. THWACK. SMACK. THWACK ...

"OW! Dammit ..."

"Keep your guard up, Enara," Captain Simon Warren said, walking around the training area while she hopped up and down on one leg and swore. "You keep dropping your elbow. That lets me get in through here," he poked at her with the end of the training staff.

"Sorry, Ser," She answered, grabbing her own staff from the ground again. Despite appearances, she was doing rather well with her combat lessons. Carrying a 'walking staff' for several years had given her a feel for them, and she'd had some basic training at the Circle in Ferelden when she was younger. After a few weeks of training, she was starting to feel fairly confident.

"It's your arse, Enara," Simon said, chuckling. "You've pretty much got the basics down. We're just refining things so you don't get yourself killed."

"I like that goal," she agreed, stretching for a moment before taking her place again and readying for another bout. Secretly, she rather enjoyed the exercise. All the pudginess that came from toiling over a book for weeks on end disappeared fairly quickly once she'd started training, and her mood had lightened along with it. Melori hadn't realized just how dour she'd become until she wasn't anymore ... that and she was getting a lot more sleep now that she and Caro had their own tent. Caro missed the fireplace, but Melori was a little bit in love with having her own nest of furs and quilts without a bunch of humans calling her 'knife ear' when she was trying to sleep.

After the practice session, she ran up to Haven gates to see if any orders had come for herself and Caro. They were expecting to be sent out into the wilds of Thedas any time now, though they hadn't yet received anything - which made sense, considering they were still training. Still, Scout Harding had indicated in one of her recent dispatches that the Herald had discovered an ancient elven ruin in the Hinterlands and someone should probably get a better look at it. With that in mind, Simon encouraged both of them to be ready to leave at a moment's notice.

"Scout Enara, wasn't it?"

"Commander Cullen, Ser," she said, saluting briskly and hiding her surprise as he walked up alongside her.

"I hear you're about to leave for the Hinterlands," he said.

"Yes, Ser. I expect to find the orders on the table any day now," she nodded, feeling a lot easier talking to him now that the mortal terror had abated. It helped that she was dressed in light leathers and not her robes - the change in clothing made hiding what she was just that little bit easier.

"You should know that the fighting is still desperate in that area. Be careful to avoid anything outright," his steps slowed for a moment, and she turned to find him looking pensively down at her.

"Of course, Ser. Captain Warren says Caro and I would be better off running for the hills if anything with a sword comes at us." It still felt odd to speak like a soldier, though Simon had been drilling it into all the 'light weights' as the rest of the camp liked to call them. Most of them were scholars or researchers of one stripe or another, not much given to fighting of any kind. Those most likely to be found quickly dead, she thought a little grimly.

"When you return, I'd like you to report directly to me regarding any findings you may have had. The situation in the Hinterlands is delicate, and we have heard ... rumors about the mage activity there. Also, the remaining Templars near the Crossroads have not entirely been brought to heel. If they mistake you for one of the apostates ..."

"I'll bash them in the head with my stick?" Melori offered, and then felt a little flutter of delight when his lip curved into a half-smile. Caro had been right about the scar, damn her hide.

"That'll do it," He agreed, and gave her a small wave as he headed back to his usual place among his men.

"How did I not notice that before?" she wondered to herself before turning to find the clerk on duty smirking at her.

"Just think about it," she said pointedly. "What if he smiled at you like that, hmm?"

His smile disappeared and he shifted a little in his seat.

"I thought so. Have you got any orders for me?"

She and Caro were ordered to report to the Hinterlands the next day, so that night Caro made sure their bags were in order while Melori collected anything they required for the trip. That meant walking up the path to Adan's cabin before he put out the candle - a symbol to all and sundry that he was not to be disturbed for the rest of the night. Fortunately, the candle was still lit, so she ducked inside and asked what he thought they might need for a the trip. That led to an interesting discussion regarding the wildlife of the Hinterlands area, which eventually got around to Adan asking her to bring back some very particular herbs he might be able to use, if it was convenient.

By the time she left the cabin, the stars were wheeling overhead and the world had again taken on a greenish tinge from the Breach. She paused, her boots sinking into the snow, and looked at it for a long moment, considering how inconceivable it was that the entire Conclave, the entire Temple of Sacred Ashes, was gone. She'd heard about the destruction of the Kirkwall Chantry, of course, but that seemed easier to comprehend than this. To have something so old and so valuable destroyed in mere seconds made her heart ache, but to destroy so many lives along with it? She sighed and shook her head.

"Aneth'ara, Lethallan."

At this point, she ought to be used to Solas sneaking up on her; instead, she made a small sound and nearly dropped the bandolier of potions she was carrying, which caused her to fumble the lyrium draught she held in her other hand. She only barely managed to catch it with the very tips of her fingers, watching in dismay as it began to slip slowly out of her grasp, "Oh ... ahh ..."

He bent next to her and removed the blue, gleaming vial from her hand with a smile. "I was not aware that Librarians require lyrium potions."

"Ma Serranas," she thanked him as he handed it back to her. "We're taking that in case we run across some of the creatures Adan warned me lurk in the dark spots of the Hinterlands. Apparently, lyrium potions can work as a counter-agent to certain poisons."

"It puzzles me that you cling so desperately to this falsehood," he said, walking down the path with her a little ways. When they came to the end of it, they stopped, and he continued. "Would it distress you to tell me why you deny your abilities?"

Melori thought about it for a moment, then said,"A librarian, as opposed to a mage, doesn't have to live in a Circle, she doesn't have to fear the Templars or the Chantry, and she can go anywhere she wishes."

.

NOTE: I tend to edit a little after a post, because, invariably, I find some glaring mistake that I completely goofed over in the initial editing sessions. I promise I'll get them fixed in the morning!