A/N: This is a bit of a transition chapter again. There are lots of time jumps and these are pretty much just snapshots from the journey to Skyhold.

Disclaimer: Age of the Dragons is a product of Bioware.


Chapter 11: Lady Rhynn reads your palm now, yes?

"Rhynn, you need to wake up," something jostles my shoulder. I grumble and ignore it, trying to fall back asleep.

"Rhynn, seriously, you've already missed breakfast and we're starting to pack up camp," the jostling gets more intense. It's really not appreciated. I open my eyes to glare at the person doing it.

Rorin. Damn. I can't glare at that face. I slowly sit up, groaning at how sore I am. Rorin is watching with his big green eyes and holds a plate full of food out to me. It smells delicious and my stomach rumbles. I take the plate and shove a potato wedge in my mouth. Oh, sweet sustenance! You are forgiven for waking me, child. I devour the rest while Rorin yammers on.

"Everyone was really worried about where to go, but apparently one of the Herald's companions knows of some place further north." Oh, that's right! Skyhold. "It's a long ways away, though, and I'm kind of worried about traveling that far… with my leg and all."

"You'll be fine," I try to say through a mouth full of food. "You could probably ride one of… those things if you get tired." I wave my hand at the weird, furry, horned beasts of burden.

"Yeah, I guess so…" he trails off and averts his eyes. "Hey Rhynn… can I ask you something?"

"'Course."

"A lot of people have been saying that you must be from really far away. You dress and talk strangely and then there were those weird weapons you had yesterday and whatever a… a volin is," his forehead is wrinkled in confusion and he's still not looking at me.

"It's 'violin.' And that wasn't a question," my eyes crinkle in amusement.

Rorin sighs and finally looks up, "Where are you from?"

"Somewhere very far away," I respond cryptically.

"But… fine," he scowls, slowly stands, and limps off. I frown at my knees. My reasons for not telling him are entirely selfish. As fond as I am of Rorin, I have no prior knowledge of him and I'm really quite awful at the whole trust thing. There's also a part of me that doesn't want him to know about all of the things I've done, wants him to keep smiling when he sees me. I may have just ruined that anyways, though.

Just as I finish strapping my weapons back in place, Leliana strides toward me. "Come with me."

I roll my eyes, but grab my things and follow. She leads us inside a larger tent where Cullen, Josephine, and Cassandra are waiting.

"We have been discussing the situation and, though you fought valiantly at Haven, we still do not know much about you," Josephine begins. "We do not have time to decide anything now, but, once we reach this… Skyhold, we will need to ask you a few questions."

"For now," Leliana picks up where the ambassador left off, "you are to remain within sight of one of us at all times."

I give a cold smirk, "So that's how it's going to be. Interesting."

"Do you agree to these terms?" Cassandra asks sternly.

"I do. May I leave this tent now?" She nods.

"Thank you ever so much," I give an exaggerated, mocking bow. "Good day." I exit quickly. Leliana follows behind, presumably to keep an eye on me.

How dare they?! I nearly died while buying them time to escape and they still think I'm the enemy! I silently begin helping pack up, fuming.

.

We've been traveling for nearly four hours when Varric begins walking beside me.

"Apparently, a giant hole in the sky wasn't enough. Now we also have a person from another world who knows the future. What exactly have I gotten myself into?" He rubs his temples with gloved hands.

I laugh a bit. "You don't seem particularly worried about me knowing your deepest, darkest secrets," I tease.

"I'm kind of an open book," he shrugs with a grin. "There's not much to hide. But now I'm curious. What do you know?"

"I don't remember a lot of the details. It's been a long time," I admit.

"When did you get here?" Varric looks a bit confused now.

"Only a few months ago," I reply and then give him the same explanation I offered Solas last night.

"That sounds rough," he remarks after I finish.

I snort. "Understatement of the year."

Varric has an amused look on his rugged face. "You still haven't answered my original question."

"Oh," I sift through my memories of the game. "Like I said, there's a lot I've forgotten, but I know the basics. You're an author, a business man, and good friends with Hawke. You and Hawke were the first ones to discover this red lyrium stuff. I'm also pretty sure you named your crossbow after a woman you're in a really complicated relationship with."

He laughs loudly. "Yeah… that about sums it up."

Varric isn't the only one to make conversation with me during the long journey. Cassandra also talks to me, asking what I know of her. I tell her how I recall that she has a lot of names and that something bad happened to her brother, Anthony, but I can't remember what. It seems to satisfy her, though, as much as anything could ever satisfy the Seeker. Blackwall and Sera avoid me like the plague. I think they might be scared of me, but perhaps for different reasons. When Vivienne deigns to look in my direction, her face says quite clearly that I am not worthy of her regard. The Iron Bull, like Varric, doesn't seem bothered with my knowledge. Of course, this is the man that admitted to being Ben-Hassrath just after meeting the Herald, so… really no surprise there.

One evening, about three days into the trip, I'm sitting by the fire and discretely cleaning my guns when Dorian approaches. He sits down carefully on a log nearby and crosses one leg over the other. So sophisticated, even in the middle of nowhere, I snark mentally.

"So, may I assume you know every sordid detail of my past?" he asks, eyeing me mischievously with a hand under his chin.

My lips twitch. "You may. Though yours really isn't that scandalous, compared to some here."

"Really?" he asks with surprise and interest. "Who?"

"I can't tell you that!" I laugh.

"You can't dangle juicy gossip like that in front of a man like me and not expect questions!" he complains, grinning. "It's cruel!"

"I never claimed to be nice," I quip.

"I'll say!" Neither of us says anything for a minute before he breaks the silence. "You know, these are really quite interesting…" he leans over, reaching for one of my guns. I grab his wrist, keeping him from touching them. I don't say anything, just hold his hand at bay until he retracts it.

"And dangerous," I insist, going back to cleaning. We don't talk much after that.

.

The trip to Skyhold takes about a week of nothing but walking. Normally, I'd be used to such activity, but apparently I've gotten soft since I arrived. I also have a habit of getting lost in thought and talking to myself. I didn't even realize I was doing it until Varric pointed it out. That was more than a little embarrassing, to say the least. Solas and I don't speak again for the rest of the journey. Perhaps it's for the best, considering how tense our last encounter was.

.

I'm in the middle of the crowd when our destination comes into sight. The Herald and Solas are the first to spot it and an excited murmuring passes through the group. I move with the people around me, heading to where Solas still stands, watching those who pass by.

"It has an elven name, too, doesn't it?" I ask him.

He turns to me, looking pleasantly surprised. "It does. Tarasyl'an Te'las."

"Tarasyl'an Te'las," I repeat, looking out at the impressive fortress. "The place where the sky is kept," I suddenly recall.

Solas' eyebrows climb a bit higher. "Indeed. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by your knowledge, all things considered. It is rare, however, to find a human who is interested in the elven language, let alone one who understands it."

"I didn't remember until you said the name," I correct.

"Nonetheless." The two of us begin walking again, following the flow of people. "I admit to some curiosity. Are there other phrases you understand?"

"A few," I answer. "I used to know more but I've forgotten most of them." Maybe not as many as I'd like him to believe, but I can't very well tell him I know what vhenan and ar lath ma mean. That would raise some very unwanted questions. "I know your name, solas, means pride," I say, hoping to distract him. "How very poetic," I tease.

He smirks a little. "I thought so, as well. Anything else?"

"Ir abelas means 'I'm sorry,'" he nods, head tilted expectantly. "Ah… ma nuvenin means… 'As you wish…?'" I shrug at my bad elven, looking at the ground.

"Yes. You did well," he offers me a small smile.

"That was two phrases, Solas," I chuckle. "Hardly anything to get excited about." I rub my forearm, feeling a bit self-consciously.

"Like I said," he pauses to climb over a boulder in our way, "there are not many humans interested in elven. That is enough to get excited about on its own."

I climb over the same rock. "I wish I could remember more."

He doesn't respond for a moment. "I could teach you… if you're interested?" He seems somewhat nervous, which is odd.

"Of course I'm interested! Languages have always fascinated me," I respond excitedly. "You're really willing to teach me?" I ask disbelievingly.

"I enjoy teaching others, especially when it involves knowledge that has been partially lost and should be remembered," he says with conviction.

I snort, grinning. "I know." Solas looks at me curiously but says nothing more.

He's… surprisingly easy to talk to.

Careful.

Hush.

.

It is obvious that Skyhold has sat abandoned for a long time. The stonework is either completely collapsed or on its way to being so and all of the wood show signs of rotting. For the first week or so, everyone has to continue living out of tents. Adan and I pick out an area for the clinic and set up our things. A few people haven't fared the trip well and we have them sleeping on cots. One of them, a young woman, has a high fever and keeps talking in her sleep. I am on my way over with a bowl of cool water when I suddenly notice a person sitting next to her, whispering something that calms her murmuring.

Cole! I completely forgot about Cole! How did I just forget about him?!

"Cole?" I ask, voice soft with surprise. He stands and looks at me, analyzing.

"You're broken, battered, bruised. Two parts to the whole that don't quite fit together anymore." He pauses. "Don't worry, you're not 'getting crazier.' I made you forget," he states.

"Oh…" I frown, ignoring the first part, "I'd forgotten you could do that." I don't think I like having my mind manipulated. "Please don't do that again, Cole."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. It won't happen again," he promises.

"It's alright," I continue forward and sit next to the girl, wringing out a rag from the bowl and holding it to her forehead. "Were you comforting her?" I nod towards the sleeping figure.

"Yes," he sits cross-legged beside the cot. "She misses her mother. I reminded her of the good memories."

"Thank you," I say sincerely and Cole's mouth curves upwards almost imperceptibly.

"You want me to keep helping." He sounds surprised.

"Yes, of course. You are a good person with a kind heart. It's amazing, really, what you can do."

He frowns at his lap. "Most people are afraid of me… but not you." He smiles again. "I shouldn't have made you forget. You understand. You heal their hurts, too."

"I try," I place the cloth back in the water and repeat the process. "Maybe the two of us can work together," I joke. "I'll heal the physical stuff and you take care of the mental."

Cole looks upset. "I can't stay long. You hurt to be around."

I look up at him, concerned. Is he referring to the people I've killed…? Oh God…

"No, not that," he answers my mental question. "You buzz inside my head, unfocused, like you're not really there."

"Ah… the whole dimension travel thing?" I guess and he nods.

"You're disappointed. You like talking to me." Again, he sounds slightly surprised.

"You're like the bit of calm in a storm. Is it really that surprising?"

He just smiles and moves to help someone else.

.

I had hoped that the advisors simply forgot about questioning me in the chaos of moving into Skyhold, but, seeing as I'm stuck in a room with them, that is obviously not the case.

"Unfortunately," Josephine interrupts Cullen, "she has become important to the people over the past few months. She has cured their ailments, healed their wounds, and delivered their children. They would not take kindly to her imprisonment, especially when we can offer no clear explanation for it."

"You're suggesting we simply let her roam free?" Cullen queries. I roll my eyes to the ceiling, searching for my patience. They've been arguing for an hour already and I just want to get dinner and go to bed.

Leliana is looking thoughtful. "She does possess valuable knowledge. It would be prudent to find out what she knows and I doubt she'd be willing to share if we lock her up."

"No, she wouldn't!" I pipe up from where I'm leaning against the wall and they all turn to look at me in mild surprise.

"Holy shit, yeah!" I mock. "I'm still here!"

"Apologies, Lady Rhynn," Josephine gives a half-bow.

Oh, it's 'Lady' again, is it? Quit trying to butter me up, Josephine. It's not going to work, even if you are as cute as a button…

"Please, tell us what you know," Leliana requests.

"I assume someone has informed you of my circumstances by now?" They nod. "I don't remember much. Usually, something here has to act as a trigger before I can recall anything. I can tell you that we're safe at Skyhold. Nothing like what happened at Haven will happen here." They look relieved at my words.

"So you can't tell us how to win this war?" Cullen asks.

"I'm afraid not, but if you consult with me before any major decisions, it may trigger a memory that could help," I suggest.

The three of them look at one another. "Excuse us a moment, Lady Rhynn," Josephine says politely before they begin talking quietly amongst themselves. A few moments later, they turn back to me.

"We will send for you when we need advice," Josephine informs me and I nod. "I apologize for all of this, but you must understand how, well… insane your story sounds."

I chuckle. "Yeah, trust me, I know."

Josephine smiles. "Please feel free to continue your work as a healer. You do an excellent job."

"Thank you," I actually smile in return at her words.

Thank God that's finally settled.

After being dismissed, I head for the food, deciding to eat with Rorin. At least he's not mad at me anymore.


A/N: Somehow, I don't see Rhynn being an obedient pupil and saying, "Yes, hahren." Solas might come to regret his decision lol.

Edit: Quick question. Are any of you interested in how I visualize Rhynn? I'm asking because some people like to have a picture and others want to do their own visualizing based on the descriptions.