"These nobles are really hard to deal with." The spymaster exhaled tiredly while reading a letter from an Orleasian baron.
"I believe we gathered enough support for the Herald. No need for stressing yourself any further, Leliana." Josephine said, putting her clipboard away and stretching herself.
"I believe you are right." The bard agreed, doing the same. Both advisors were at the chief diplomat's office, and had gathered a decent amount of representatives for John's visit to the Templars so far.
"Still, we can use all the help we can get." She complemented and resumed reading the letter.
"You are starting to sound like him." The ambassador stated, with a teasing tone.
However, the experienced player of the Game was not going to fall for that attempt of taunt. "Well, we have been dealing with John quite a lot, it cannot be helped, I guess." She spoke, maintaining her focus on the paperwork in front of them.
The Antivan diplomat pouted, clearly frustrated with the way Leliana easily thwarted her attempt of coaxing any reaction from the Orlesian.
She chuckled with the display. 'Oh Josie, you still have much to learn.' The bard thought warmly.
Silence settled in for a while, until her old friend talked once again, already recovered from her previous failure. "He must be reaching his destination soon. I just hope that he succeeds." Worry emanated from her words.
"We recently received word from his group triumph at the Fallow Mire, I believe that, whatever happens at Therinfal, will be no different." She said, trying to comfort her.
Yet, the spymaster could not help but feel her stomach twist in knots. It was a dangerous situation after all.
The Antivan must have perceived her concerned expression, because she soon stated, almost happily. "You are worried too!"
'You are not getting anything from me today, my friend.' The former lay sister spoke, inside her mind.
"Of course, all our hopes are waged on his left hand and capability of closing the big hole in the sky." She said, bearing an uninterested voice.
This time, however, the ambassador did not backed down. "Stop with it already Leliana, you seem to forget that I was once a bard too."
"Of course, the mark on his hand is, so far, our only chance of closing the Breach, and for that, it is of great significance for the Inquisition. Nevertheless, the man bearing it is not far behind, I mean, look how he helped us until now. His commitment is unquestionable." She finished.
The master of secrets looked up, smiling, she already was aware of the young man dedication and importance. Still, she also knew better than to give Lady Montilyet a taste of fresh gossip.
"Back to work Josie, I will not say a word about this." She said, making the ambassador sulk even more than before.
She covered her mouth, to contain a rather loud laugh that was threatening to come out.
"Never thought I would see this side of you again." Josephine said, with a small smile. "It is nice, and I believe I know the cause of this." She complemented playfully.
The statement made the bard smile too, shaking her head. She then resumed her work, reflecting about her unusual behavior.
She still did not know why, but the truth is that John made her feel very comfortable, enough to bring out this side of her whenever she talked about or with him.
'I will need to confront him later, perhaps it will help to understand this situation better.' She said into her mind, pondering about their next conversation, until a knock on the door interrupted her.
"Come in." The chief diplomat spoke, and a soldier entered the room.
"What brings you here?" The spymaster asked.
He bowed towards them and started. "Our rescued troopers have arrived from the bogs my lady, the commander asks you to join him in welcoming them." The advisors exchanged an understanding glance and both nodded towards the soldier, which quickly turned to leave.
The two stood up and started making their way out.
When they arrived at Haven's front gate Cullen was already there, giving instructions to the doctors and healers that were tending to the wounded. It was past midday by the way the sun was on the sky.
He noticed both women walking towards him and turned to face them.
"Most of our soldiers are not seriously injured, and we did not lost any lives on the way here." He reported, scanning, with satisfaction, the improvised infirmary.
"It is nice to have some good news for a change." He finished with a relieved expression on his face.
"I am glad that the Herald was able to reach our forces in time." The ambassador said, thankful for the success of the rescue operation.
"We are all glad." Leliana complemented.
"He was also able to recruit an unexpected agent on his last expedition." The former Templar stated, bearing an amused smile, while checking out a particular spot ahead of them.
She followed his gaze and for her surprise, a huge man was there helping with the injured.
"Is that an Avvar?" Josephine asked, mouth slightly agape.
They both turned towards Rutherford, who laughed and nodded in agreement.
As if on cue, the tribesman approached the trio. As soon as he was right in front of them, he putted his closed right hand over his chest and bowed.
That released the ladies from their momentary stupor, making them direct their full attention towards him, waiting for his next words.
"I am Sky Watcher, a shaman for my hold. I pledged my services to your Herald back at the Fallow Mire." He started explaining his presence. "He asked me to accompany your patrols back to Haven and to aid the Inquisition the best I can." The barbarian ended his speech.
Cullen was the first to speak. "Welcome aboard." While extending his right hand towards the new agent.
He eyed the commander's hand intently for a moment, before taking it.
"I will resume my work with the wounded, afterward I will be happy to perform any assignment you see fit for me." He said and turned back towards the infirmary.
The group watched as the Avvar returned to his previous task while silence established for a moment.
"You seem rather delighted to making acquaintances with him." The espionage expert stated, eyeing the blond man suspiciously.
"John had previously sent word for me, warning about Sky Watcher's arrival and giving an account of his deeds. He seems like a great addition to us." He explained his actions, and in the meantime crossed his arms over his chest.
"Why we did not received such notice?" The Antivan diplomat asked, her voice filled with indignation.
The officer merely shrugged. "Who knows, perhaps he only saw fit to inform me." He declared, nearly proudly, nodding to himself.
The Orlesian did not believed his argument.
"I dare say, the reason behind this, is because he was afraid you would have the big man killed as soon as he arrived here." She said, quirking her eyebrows.
That made the Fereldan choke with the realization. "W-Well, that is-" He started stuttering and the women soon were giggling over his antics.
He sighed, defeated.
'He is smart after all.' The bard thought about the young warrior.
"Speaking of him, any updates from Therinfal Redoubt?" She questioned.
"No word yet, however I believe that will change soon." The commander spoke, looking towards a messenger bird that was approaching the village.
"We should go now." The master of secrets spoke, looking at the bird as well.
They all left to receive the report.
Leliana waited impatiently John's arrival at the Chantry, the horns have already sounded, and he should be nearing the building by now.
The message that arrived four days ago brought news about what happened on the Seekers of Truth fortress, and she was not happy with the decisions made there.
The other advisors were already inside, waiting as well.
For their surprise, Trevelyan was not the first to enter. Cassandra burst into the room, clearly angry, taking long steps towards them.
He was right behind her, displaying a tired expression, no doubt from hearing many words from the right hand of the Divine during the journey back to Haven.
As soon as they all assembled in the center of the salon the Nevarran started, enraged. "Officers betraying their soldiers, Templars without leaders, a demon imitating the Lord Seeker!" She paused for a moment, grunting, and then resumed. "We should have taken them to task, the crimes they've committed…"
"Were committed by their officers! The soldiers of the Order will serve." Cullen interrupted her sharply, showing his support over the recent events.
It was time the spymaster joined the argument. "These crimes put them at our mercy, yet the terms of this alliance do not benefit the Inquisition as they should. You should have consulted us, Herald!" She spoke angrily, glaring daggers at him.
"I shall not force people into serving us!" He said, rather calmly, but still loud enough to conclude the discussion.
He exhaled deeply, eyes closed.
After a while, he resumed, looking straight at her. "The Order was in chaos, as much as I rather have your opinion on the matter, there was no time to waste. We were risking losing them entirely. I realized that willingly allies would be better suited for our situation." He finished
"Still, this was the Inquisition's decision, not yours!" The bard retorted.
"Perhaps you should accompany me in our next quest! Fighting an Envy demon that was trying to take your body and some corrupted Templars, while watching people murder each other is quite refreshing." He answered, struggling to contain his rage.
The atmosphere on the room was starting to get heavy. She moved towards him, with a determined pace. Soon she was face to face with John, and then said. "I have already seen my fair share of terror during the Blight, while you were probably playing with horses."
They kept glaring at each other, both not baiting an eye. Until something, draw her attention. His right hand, it was shaking. It was not much, but she was able to perceive it even with her eyes locked with his.
Josephine coughed, trying to break the contest that was taking place between them.
"An alliance with the Templars WAS our desired outcome. May we discuss their imminent arrival?" The ambassador almost seemed to beg.
The Orlesian turned to face her friend for a moment, her expression softening a little, and then returned her attention towards the young man. "A few dozen veterans are coming ahead of the rest, to help seal the Breach."
He did the same. "How soon until these veterans arrive?" The young warrior asked.
However, before anyone could answer his question, a strange boy with a hat appeared in a puff of smoke, crouched, on top of the table, alarming everyone in the room.
"They're almost here. Templars don't like to be late." The boy said, while playing with a piece that was placed on the map under him.
"Maker!" She heard the commander cry out.
He and Cassandra instinctively reached for their swords, pointing them towards the table.
"Wait!" The Herald screamed, putting his hands on top of the unsheathed swords, bringing their tips down.
"I came with you to help. I would have told you before, but you were busy." The figure explained himself.
"That's fine, Cole. You just startled us, appearing out of thin air." The Free Marcher spoke in an understanding tone.
'Cole, it has a name?' She wondered, noticing that he fixed his gaze on her, almost as if he could read her mind.
Time passed while Trevelyan tried to convince them to accept the creature's offer of help. The outcome of his pledges was favorable. Cole joined the Inquisition as his companion and as soon as the call was made, he disappeared.
"Where did he go?" Pentaghast asked no one in particular.
"It is a good trick. You get used to it." John answered, entertained with the confused looks that he received.
"We must see if he can teach it to anyone else." Leliana complemented humorously.
"I'll have people watch the boy, but let's not be distracted from the Breach." She finished, trying to return their attention to the main subject of the gathering.
"We will need your help when the Templar veterans arrive. Take time to prepare while you can." Cullen concluded, and at the same time, the Herald started looking at the map.
"Perhaps now would be the appropriate time to go to the Storm Coast." He said, placing a finger over its location on the map.
"I believe you should rest, at least for now, gather your strength." The chief diplomat voiced her opinion on the matter.
"Don't worry, I won't be long." He said, smiling, making the Antivan sigh.
"If this is all, we have preparations to make." The seeker finished with the session, and everyone left for their tasks.
The master of espionage was assigning some of her agents, to watch Cole while at Haven, when she heard someone approaching her tent.
She then turned, and her eyes met John's. He seemed troubled.
"Are you busy?" He asked her, eyeing the stack of papers on top of her table.
"I am just choosing some of my agents to keep an eye on our newest addition." She answered.
"Still, I am having a hard time remembering how he looks." The bard stated, slightly confused.
The warrior laughed, making her look towards him, questionably.
"I would give up on that task if I were you, he only appears to who he wants to." He explained.
She snorted.
"Anyway, I intend to take Cole to the Storm Coast. So, I believe that watching him won't be necessary for the time being." The warrior voiced his future plans.
"I see, so I will return my attention to this matter when you return." She stated, putting the related paperwork in the end of the pile.
"Do you really believe we can trust him?" She asked soon afterwards, crossing her arms over her chest. Her spymaster side doubting the new companion's intentions.
"He saved my life, I could not have defeated Envy without him. For me he is trustworthy enough." He answered, with a serious expression.
For a while, only the sounds of the village could be heard, they remained inside the tent, both not uttering a word. His eyes wondering their surroundings, and occasionally they found hers.
She took the chance to examine the man in front of her. He appeared distressed, however, every time their eyes locked he instantly relaxed and his gaze always softened.
"Now that I am not busy, can I help you?" She questioned, remembering the start of the conversation, and making him cough awkwardly.
"Well…" He started, running a hand through his dark blond hair.
"I just want to say I'm sorry, for earlier." The young man replied, rather sadly.
"I should not have spoken like that, like you never saw anything bad. I've heard the stories, I cannot even imagine what you have been through." He finished, looking down at the ground.
She smiled kindly towards him.
'He did not needed to apologize for this, I'm also to blame for the argument.' She thought.
"Please, don't worry. It was not even our first time, right." The spymaster said, playfully.
He raised his head, and directed his gaze in her direction once more, a small smile making its way to his face.
"Besides, you must have witnessed some terrible things yourself over there." She spoke, now worried, she just read Cassandra's report on the whole operation.
What attracted her attention was the way the Nevarran described he behaved after fending of Envy, inside his mind. Who knows what it must have showed and said to him.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
He did not uttered a word, preferring to fix his eyes on the table behind her.
"You can trust me." The Orlesian reassured the young man.
"I know, I just rather not talk about it." The Free Marcher paused for a moment. "I am fine, thank you." He immediately complemented, clearly grateful for her concern.
She nodded, and soon changed the subject. "When you are leaving?" The left hand of the Divine asked.
"In a couple of days, I could use some rest." He answered, back to his usual self, his reaction did not went unnoticed by the watchful bard.
'Whatever happened at Therinfal, must have really scarred him, only the change of topic was enough to alter his mood.' She wondered, but preferred not to voice it, perhaps in another day, when she deemed he ready.
"Anyway, I have wasted enough of your time, and although I should really rest I'm heading to the tavern to have a drink." With that said, he turned to leave, before she could say anything.
The master of secrets watched as he soon disappeared from her line of sight, his unusual behavior making her truly apprehensive.
A/N: Sorry for the unusual long waiting time, this chapter was really hard for me and it is not even that good. One side of me wants to take thing slow and try to develop everything properly. The other one just wants them to kiss already. Anyway, hope you enjoy and thanks for everything!
