A/N: Alrighty! What a fluffy last chapter, hmm? :p We needed it though, especially after several heavier ones! Thank you to all who favourited, followed, and left a review – I really enjoy hearing from you all!
I am still accepting cover/fan art for this fic, so please feel free to flood my inbox with shiny things! If you'd like more details about what Olivia looks like, feel free to ask me! 3
The nights following the fall of Haven were rough on the Inquisition's forces, and it was all Olivia could do to remain positive about their predicament. They had lost several soldiers to frostbite the first night they'd camped in the Frostbacks; another had died of hypothermia. Almost half of their soldiers were suffering minor wounds, and almost all were dealing with post-traumatic stress as they tried to cope with the losses they had suffered.
Olivia had spoke with Solas the second night the Inquisition spent in the mountains, having decided that they needed to move on. They couldn't plan on closing the Breach while still in the mountains, and the advisors had gotten into several spats over what to do next. Their worst one had occurred not 4 hours after Olivia had woken, and had left a considerable rift between the 5 leaders.
Solas had approached her then, and asked to speak with her privately. Exasperated, Olivia agreed to a conversation, though admittedly all she had wanted to do was be alone for a time in order to wrap her head around everything.
The two mages had met by a veilfire torch some distance away, erected as a makeshift monument that drove home the events they had endured. Olivia had immediately regretted being so bitter when there were more pressing matters at hand, and Solas waited patiently for her to speak first. When she had, he offered a reasurring smile.
He had also told her that there was a place in the mountains, quite a distance from their current location, that would make a suitable home for the new Inquisition; an Inquisition more determined than ever to close the Breach and restore order to a chaotic and divided Thedas.
Olivia had been skeptical, but she had allowed Solas to map out the location for her, and had elected to move that same night, despite her injuries. Returning to her advisors, she had lay the new plan before them, and had began to pack up her things, giving them no time to argue about her decision.
Cullen had been decidedly annoyed by her eagerness to move on, but he understood why. Being so close to Haven was taking it's toll on the mages; the spirits of the dead still weighed heavily against the Veil, and a malcontent had settled over the entire camp. Cassandra had been less willing than he had, but she had too much respect for Olivia to defy her orders. Leliana and Josephine had remained silent throughout the night, even as they packed up camp, but it was evident that they were content with Olivia's decision to search out this new stronghold.
The journey to find this mysterious stronghold that Solas had mentioned would take a toll on her, Olivia had known, but had she found herself uncaring as she rounded up the rest of their companions, most of whom were already prepped to leave. The only person who wasn't, she had noted with noticeable disdain, was Vivienne. Frowning at the enchanter, Olivia hadn't bothered to hide her displeasure with the Montsimmard mage, and it was the sheer thunder etched into her expression that made Vivienne speed up her packing process.
Rolling her eyes as she turned on her heel, Olivia had headed to the front of the group, patiently waiting for Cullen to signal that their troops were ready to march onward. Anxiety had become the forefront of Olivia's emotions, and she had paced back and forth for a time, seemingly trying to calm her nerves.
She needn't have worried, however. Mere moments after Olivia had begun pacing, Cullen had signalled her. She had been grateful for the timely manner in which he had rallied their forces, and, with a smile directed toward him, had turned and began the long trek toward the location marked on her map.
Now, three days since they had set off from their makeshift headquarters in the mountain's clutches, Olivia found herself staring at an exquisite fortress in the distance. It looked menacing, even from as far as she was standing, and looked like it could withhold several times the amount of people they had with them currently.
Cullen, who had been walking with Cassandra, noted Olivia's sudden stillness and bolted toward her. "Olivia? What's wr-" He never finished his question, for his eyes came upon the same sight that had bewitched the raven haired mage. Cullen felt his throat tighten slightly as he gazed at the fortress, and he gently reached for one of Olivia's hands, squeezing gently.
Olivia pulled herself out of her momentary paralysis at Cullen's touch, and looked over at him with a smile. "Home." She stated simply, her voice thick with emotion. "We're going to make it, Cullen." she whispered shakily. "We will crush our enemies from this mountaintop."
Cullen felt a broad smile play onto his face at her words, and he looked down at her fondly. "Yes we will." He turned to walk back to the group and inform Cassandra and Leliana, as well as discuss a very important matter with them. They had been quietly discussing who would lead the Inquisition the entire journey, but Cullen had a pretty solid candidate: the woman who had been leading them from the beginning, though she hadn't been aware of it.
Leaning down momentarily, he pressed his lips to her forehead with a murmured, "I'll be back in a moment." Olivia rewarded him with a smile and another squeeze of his hand before she made her way carefully down the mountain toward the paths that wound toward the entrance of the massive stronghold.
Risking a glance over her shoulder, she saw Cassandra, Cullen, Leliana, and Josephine all walking together, apparently deep in discussion about something. A sharp stab of uncertainty ripped through her, and she found herself wondering why she hadn't been asked to join the discussion. Shaking her head slightly, she turned back toward the paths, returning her concentration to her task.
It took another several hours to reach the gates of the fortress, which surprised Olivia by being open, as if the previous occupants had known that someone, someday, would find it. Smiling faintly, she lay a hand against the cool stone walls, feeling the hold thrum with energy. It had held countless armies before them, and the memories that Olivia could feel were powerful. It would prove more than sufficient for their cause, no matter where it took them.
As the Inquisition's forces filtered through the gates, Olivia acquainted herself with several of the areas, mapping out a design for the hold in her head, and picturing people in certain places. There was a tavern, several barracks, a stable. There were several watchtowers, though a few were in vast need of repairs, and even an enchanter's study in one of them, which Olivia planned on fixing for the mages.
Making her way back down toward the main area by walking the expanse of the battlements, Olivia noted a considerably large courtyard that would have room for both a Chantry and a vast herb garden, and a childlike grin danced across her face. She could plant flowers again. Gardening had been one of her pastimes at the Ostwick Circle, for it was both relaxing and involved, and in ensured that she wouldn't get into any more trouble than she already had during her time there.
Shaking her head, she made her way down the steps toward the main entrance, where a crowd had gathered as Cullen quietly addressed them. When she came into view of them, Olivia was stunned as every single soldier dropped to one knee, immediately bringing an arm across their chest in a salute to her. Swallowing, she looked over at her advisors, who beckoned her up the entrance staircase with broad smiles on each of their faces.
Upon reaching them, Josephine and Cullen both excused themselves, each walking down to the crowd below in order to keep the nobles and the soldiers subdued. Olivia's face held a mixture of emotions, and Cassandra, after many moments, put her out of her misery.
Speaking loud enough to project her voice to the crowd gathered below, she began. "The Inquisition needs a leader if we are to defeat whatever evil has been wrought upon this world." Looking over at Olivia as Leliana stepped forward holding a beautifully crafted longsword, she smiled. "The leader who has already been leading it. You."
Shocked into silence, Olivia turned and glanced down at the crowd below, all of whom were looking up at her with smiles on their faces. She immediately recognised Flissa and Diora, as well as Threnn, Minaeve, and of course, her beloved advisors, all of whom were watching her with complete confidence.
Swallowing thickly, Olivia looked back at Cassandra before responding shakily, "Perhaps I heard you incorrectly- a mage at the head of the Inquisition?" Cassandra laughed softly. "Not a mage. You."
"I happen to be a mage, Cassandra." Olivia chided, her eyes glistening with tears of both shock and joy. She had no idea she really meant so much to the people who followed her. "I will not pretend people won't object, but times are changing. Perhaps this is what the Maker intended." Cassandra quipped dryly, motioning to the sword.
"There would be no Inquisition without you, Olivia. How it will serve, how you will lead; that must be yours to decide."
Stepping forward, Olivia grasped the hilt of the sword in her right hand, grateful she at least knew how to handle a blade. Bringing it toward her, she thought very carefully of what she would say. When she had decided, she spoke. "With fear running rampant, the people need to see a mage standing for what is right. I will defeat Corypheus standing with them, not over them."
Cassandra smiled, and stepped forward to gently grasp Olivia's shoulder. "Wherever you lead us," she paused, looking over at Josephine and Cullen, both who bore bright smiles on their faces. "Have our people been told?" She called, Olivia drawing in a breath as the crowd began to get antsy.
"They have. And soon, the world." Josephine called back, looking at Olivia with a warm, grateful smile. "Commander!" Cassandra cried again, as tears threatened to spill from Olivia's bright blue eyes, "will they follow?"
Olivia watched through glassy eyes as Cullen turned to the soldiers, his voice a lion's roar above the din of the crowd. "Inquisition, will you follow?" The answering roar tipped Olivia's emotions over, and she smiled through her tears. Cullen glanced up at her again, noting the tears but not responding openly, though concern flickered on his face. "Will you fight?" he roared again at the soldiers, eliciting another round of cheers from their forces. "Will we triumph?" The answering sound echoed off the mountains, and Olivia laughed softly as she watched her soldiers morale become boosted tenfold.
Cullen unsheathed his sword as he shouted, "Your leader. Your Herald. Your INQUISITOR!" He thrust his sword upward, the sunlight glinting off of the blade, the cheers from the soldiers only getting louder. Olivia's heart swelled with pride, and she thrust the blade up in answer, its newly sharpened tip gleaming against the sky. The roar that followed her simple action made new tears spill down her face, and she laughed with joy as she held the sword there for a moment.
There was no doubt in her mind now. She would end the nightmare plaguing Thedas. Not just for herself, or for Cullen. Nor her advisors. But for the hundreds of faces cheering for her at that moment. Olivia's jaw set in a determined line, a new light ablaze in her eyes.
She would not fail them.
A/N: The Inquisitor speech is my FAVOURITE moment of the entire game! It's so powerful! Just..UGH! Anyways :3
Well, we're now at Skyhold! Hooray! Now the real work begins in the repairs not just on the hold, but on Thedas as well. I can't wait to get into it! Thank you so much for continuing this journey with me; I appreciate every single one of you!
Please don't forget to favourite, follow, and review!
See you all next chapter!
