[NOTE: Sorry for the long wait you guys. Life has stopped being unpredictable so I hope you enjoy. Took weeks to groom this so I hope it's to your liking]
SKYHOLD
"With Orlais's support, our numbers match Corypheus's." Cullen explained to Zanrye as they all stood around the war table in Skyhold. "His followers must be panicking."
"My agents agree." Leliana said. "They are shaking even now." Zanrye couldn't help but smile.
"We've beaten their 'god' twice now." He said. "If anything sends the message that we're the real force to be reckoned with, it's that."
"After what happened at Adamant, it seems Corypheus uprooted his major strongholds." Cullen said. "They went marching into the arbor wilds."
"They were clearly not prepared to flee." Josephine added. "We have them on the defensive."
"Then if he's hiding in the wilds, that's where we'll finish him off." Zanrye said conclusively.
"But we also must know what Corypheus is even doing in such a remote area." Josephine added.
"As it turns out," Leliana answered, "his people have been ransacking elven ruins since Haven. We believe he seeks more. What he hopes to find however continues to elude us." Zanrye's mind went back to Solas and his comment about the orb. He said nothing as they continued.
"What Corypheus seeks," Morrigan's sultry drawl came from behind them as she strode into the war council chambers, "is as ancient as it is dangerous, kept safe in those forgotten woods."
"And what is it?" Zanrye asked her.
"Tis best…if I show you." Morrigan said slowly. Zanrye hesitated for one moment then followed the dark lady down the steps and into one of the rooms still needing to be fixed up. She stopped before a draped, tall figure and removed its wrapping, revealing a shining mirror.
"Is this…" Zanrye's eyes went wide as he stared.
"Tis an eluvian, yes." Morrigan said, confirming Zanrye's suspicions. He felt fear and excitement all at once as he gazed at the depths of the mirror's shimmer. "You've no doubt heard of them…."
"Only in stories." Zanrye said, voice hushed as he surveyed the eluvian. "From the time of the ancients…."
"Before your empires were lost to human greed." Morrigan said. Zanrye finally looked back at her and she continued, "I restored this one at great cost. But another lies in the arbor wilds. That is what Corypheus seeks." Zanrye's eyes fell back on the mirror and he tried to recall all he'd been told about them—about their function and the dangers of them. But he could not recall, desperately as he may try.
"I found legends of an elven temple in the Arbor Wilds. Untouched." Morrigan said and Zanrye's face jerked to her, his excitement palpable. "It proved too dangerous to approach and so I turned back." Her voice was grim. "If Corypheus has turned southwards, he may succeed where I did not. The eluvian would be his."
"What power does it give?" Zanrye asked, hand stroking the frame of the mirror. Morrigan smiled at him.
"A more appropriate question, Inquisitor, is where does it lead?" She said.
The door opened behind the, breaking at whatever revelation Morrigan was about to impart. The two turned towards the intruder—the fucking scout that always bothered him—and Zanrye narrowed his eyes at the man.
"Your Worship." The man bowed his head low. "I didn't want to disturb you but a message just came in—urgent. Ambassador told me to get it to you quickly."
Zanrye looked to Morrigan whose expression mirrored his own. He walked to the man, took the parchment, and dismissed him. He turned back to Morrigan.
"Let me read this quickly." He said, unraveling it.
"As you will." She nodded and waited near the eluvian, walking past it and around it. Zanrye saw the urgent notice on the front and then unrolled the parchment. It was addressed to him by name—full name. His eyes read down the page, stomach falling. He knew his face dropped when Morrigan eyed him, cocking a brow. He looked back up at her and shook his head and turned from the room and walked straight back up to the war room. Only Leliana was left. She greeted him but he put the parchment on the table and bent over it.
"Get the council in here stat, Leliana." He said to her, voice hoarse.
"What's happened?" She asked.
"My Clan's under attack." He replied tightly and didn't have to say any more.
9 YEARS EARLIER
TRAVELING (GREEN DALES)
It was an empty tent, though only a few months back there'd been a house filled with sounds of food being made, cursing, and slight hummings from Narvez. From Zanrye's father. But now it was devoid of any of what constituted a home.
But even though the catastrophe had struck, Mima and Zanrye were certainly not alone. He came to their home of two and did his best to cook dinner for them and at least once a week, there would be a coalition of people coming to their doors asking if they were alright and what it is they may need. They would bring foods, gifts, and flowers.
It was in this year that Zanrye felt like an adult for truly the first time. Not like a man, a full elf, a hunter. But like an adult.
He had to personally take up the state of affairs for Mima and himself, maintaining the house and making sure that they had what they needed. As an already established hunter, the house work (corralling of animals and cleaning) went to Mima. Their father's herbalist taks went to them both, leaning heavily on Zanrye who had more skill, training, and passion for it.
"Make another double tonight Zan." Mima told her brother, walking around him with cloths in hand. Zanrye was over three different pans with a pot in the fire.
"That means Milan is coming tonight?" Zanrye asked her.
"Yes." She said, walking around him again, this time with tablewear.
"Can't understand why he thinks bread is the way to my blessing." Zanrye shook his head.
"Bread and wine." Mima reminded him. "And he's not after your blessing—"
"Yes he is." Zanrye wiped his hands on a worn apron, moving over to the boiling soup in the pot wafting the smells of spices, chicken, and cabbage.
"Well he knows what you're capable of." Mima said, walking over to her brother's back and looking into the fire as well. She placed a small hand on his spine, rubbing slowly. "It looks good…. Now let's hope everyone can finish it all."
The night came quickly while he was cooking and soon the guests came, the gifts dispersed, and the potluck dinner was at hand, both the indoor and outdoor table propped in the eating area.
"As long as we keep moving, we should be able to avoid any stupidity." Nishia said to Zanrye over the countless other conversations, as she spooned sticky rice into her mouth. She sat across from him at a table filled to the edges with nearly twenty people. To her left, Cal was talking animatedly with Kaynala about something or the other. He kept his hand near Nishia's on the table. He was a part of the Crafters in the clan. A man of the hearth for sure. He was Nishia's beau, a real one this time, not one of the men who fell in love with her when all she wanted from them was flesh—and told them so.
On her other side were Evet and his sister Orine. They were friends of Mima's. Evet had been Mima's friend since childhood. They supplied some of the vegetables, their parents owning one of the largest gardens in the whole clan.
Across was of course Lana and Po, who came with Po's beau Denosa who brought her wonderful voice and motherly demeanor. She has a kind, angular face with long brunette hair with waves in it that fell down to the middle of her back. She was a calm woman who spoke to all with the gentle intuitiveness of a caregiver, her skin as white as pearls. Yet her icey blue eyes were also deep and told of her quick wit and intellect, which balanced her soft disposition. Everyone agreed that Po did not deserve her but yet she stayed with him, and when together, they seemed the perfect balance of hot and cold, wild and civilized. They opposed each other but did not combat each other; they were the counterweight that made their relationship balanced.
Zanrye sat beside Dosan, a man in the clan who'd become more of a friend to him after his father died. In truth, Dosan had been the physical support that neither his friends nor Mima's could be when it came to maintenance: he'd seen to their home's upkeep and checked in every so often, reminding them of duties that were now theirs (Zanrye's) as acting household leader.
On his other side was Mima and her boyfriend Milan, who was kind enough, with peaceful eyes. He was in all honesty, he was a good boy and had been nothing but good to Mima and Zanrye and was trying to impress the older brother.
"A delicious hog, as expected Zanrye." Denosa said to him. He smiled at the woman and nodded his head, pleased by the compliment and the guests.
"We should have some music," Po said. "Kay, you have your lute right? Would you mind?"
"We…have a flute here." Mima said softly. "Mom's…." Silence.
"I…can play flute." Milan quickly saved the moment. "My sisters will tell you different but I promise I can." The laughter circled the long tables.
"And I have drums." Orine said. "I mean, you have them. I can just play them."
"Den," Po wrapped a long arm around her shoulders. "Will you sing for us? Hm?"
"I don't know what to sing." Denosa smiled at them.
"You always know what to sing." Po smiled warmly at her. Denosa thought for a time and then smiled as faces kept turning toward her.
"Well alright." She gave in. "Kaynala, if you will. And Orine."
She sat in the rocking chair to one side, Kaynala producing her flute that she had brought just in case. Zanrye sat up straighter, waiting to hear tunes to fill the now-emtpy room. Denosa swept her hair from her face and thought. The room silently awaited her and she inhaled, her demeanor ever calm.
The lute's rhythm was moderate, the drums a slow 1-2-3-4 beat. The flute was silent until after the initial verse. She sung with voice too rich and practiced to be an amateur. She could have been a singer if she wanted, a bard even.
"Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all," Denosa sang, eyes closed, reciting the words to the song 'Love of The Soul'. "But open your heart and forever stand tall. Lend me your eyes I can change what you see. And your soul you must let totally free…. My love…vhenan… elvhen…vhenan…."
Zanrye nodded along with the rest of them, his hand tapping along the drums, the flute sweeping through the room and lifting the hearts with the more sweet than bitter anthem, the poem a monologue from a Dalish elf addressing a city elf. He mouthed the words, along with the others in the room, heart beckoned by the lyrics that spoke of family and unity and the favor of the Gods.
"Awake our souls." He whispered. Mima's head came to his shoulder and he wrapped his arm tightly around her shoulders, as she hummed with him. Brother and sister, the last of a dead legacy. Allowed precious moments of happiness in the tragedy that threatened to define their narratives. Denosa's sweet voice swept through the room even still, periforating into each person and sending the infectious happiness into them all.
"We were made to love each other. We were made for something greater." The chanting was taken up by all in the room and finally closed her song. A chorus of thumps and applause bowed Denosa from the spotlight and she gracefully returned to her seat beside Po.
"Another?" Kaynala asked, lute still at the ready.
"Another one or two maybe." Zanrye said. "That was beautiful Denosa, just beautiful. That was all we needed." She nodded. "And we can have another but it's late and I want Mima to be up early." His sister rolled her eyes and he rose, turning to Nishia. "Stay?"
"Of course." She gave him a smile.
"When will I expect you home?" Cal whispered into her ear.
"I'll be back after the hunt tomorrow." She said, not making eye contact. Zanrye turned away to no longer evesdrop but did catch Cal's persuasion tactics for her to see him before she left off for the hunt itself, since she wouldn't be staying at home.
He also noticed to his right that Milan, though now with his arm respectfully around Mima, kept trying to catch his eye. Zanrye felt calm and mellow from the song, and giddy from the wine. He took another piece of bread, unsure if he wanted to have another conversation with Milan, ever trying to gain his friendship.
But he was an adult now. He was the head of the home. And he knew it was something that should be continually addressed, for the family. He turned to Po.
"Make sure Mima gets to bed before Denosa asks to take off." He whispered.
"Where will you be?" Po asked.
"Outside, going to make love with her suitor." Zanrye replied, finally letting his eyes glance over Milan's as Milan tried to catch his attention. He turned away and stood, addressing Nishia's inquisitive eyes. "I'm going out for some air. Just need to soak up the stars after that song."
"Have fun." She said. "I'll set up in the back room when I'm ready."
"Thank you again for dinner Zanrye." Denosa smiled warmly at him.
"Always nice to have you here." Zanrye took her hand and smiled warmly. "And it's just Rye to you Denosa. We're family."
"I like the ring of Zanrye better." She grinned.
"Alright, enough making love with my beau." Po swatted Zanrye's butt where the man stood. "Any more would be flirting and I don't want to have to please the both of you tonight."
Zanrye chuckled and made his way outside, watching as Milan kissed Mima and made to follow him.
PRESENT
SKYHOLD
Images of the worst filled his mind as he paced before the war council who all collectively tried to calm him down, exchanging looks of shock, bemusement, and incredulous-ness between themselves to which Zanrye bristled and glared in response. And their bickering didn't help matters either.
"I only care about stopping the immediate danger." Zanrye said through his teeth as they yelled back and forth. "Someone give me a plan."
"We could have troops there, a sizable force, to deal with this." Cullen suggested.
"My agents would be faster. And are not to be trifled with, no matter the size of the enemy." Leliana urged, exasperated.
"But they cannot give adequate defense and potential offense as can the troops—"
"The purpose is to get the Dalish to safety first before retaliation—they're exposed. Plus, my agents can make it there in a day while a full battalion would take much longer."
"But the Duke is an ally to us as well." Josephine struggled to get her voice into Leliana and Cullen's bickering as Zanrye rubbed his forehead, striding to and fro, restless. "Surely, we could ask for his assistance. The alienage at the city's edge could prove a safe haven."
"What if he was involved?" Leliana shot back.
"We will not know if—"
"No." Zanrye said hardly, from the side. Josephine turned her disapproving glare on him. He glared back. "I don't know this Duke and I don't trust him."
"And why not?" Josephine asked, her voice edged with a double meaning that made Zanrye even angrier here, his panic rising.
"Because he's done nothing about it already." Zanrye shot back at her. "I want a force to make sure nothing happens to my clan and I want it now." His patience is wearing thin. His cold anger is replaced by something more beastly. Something that's cold and hot at the same time and dancing with a steam of endless possibilities that fights it for dominance.
"I can have troops ready to move today." Cullen said.
"Move today, arrive days later." Leliana replied. "My agents can make it there in a matter of a day."
"A raven would be even faster, a matter of hours." Josephine urged. "We can get on-site help from the Duke himself—" Zanrye snapped and yelled out a growl as they once again yelled over each other. He turned from them and stomped towards the door, their chatter dying away as he reached it. His face was anger and he glared at them all.
"You talk and talk and talk while my clan is in danger!" He yelled at them, voice shaking he was so mad. "How are you not getting that into your heads!? Danger—now! I don't need talk and ideas, I need results; and if you can't give them to me, why the FUCK are you my war council!?" They each gazed at him silently as he hurled at them, a rage he'd never shown them letting loose. "I'm not going to wait for them to be slaughtered while we debate on how to save them! Because I swear to the Maker, Mythal,and any fucking Gods you want that I will send every single troop, every single agent, every single ally to Wycome if I have to!" He made a noise of disgust, too hoarse to yell but voice still audible. He felt ready to kill, his tongue getting away from him. "Trust shems to sit on their hands when it's elven lives at stake…"
He didn't wait for them, only yanked open the door and slammed it shut behind him.
He was fuming and made it to his study before he finally let his tears of fear and fury moisten his eyes, not quite enough to stream. He rubbed hands through his hair and thought hard, debating. Should he send his secret community, throw away what he already built? He couldn't ask allies, that was negotiation—no time for that. Should he send in troops? He couldn't think….
He jerked his head up as the door to his study opened and Josephine walked in, her face plain and hands cupped at her front. And instantly Zanrye felt shame come to him, remembering his words moments before. He did not look at her, instead at his feet and sighed, turning away from her. He did not have the capacity for shame right now. Not with everything else he felt.
"Cullen has gone to assemble troops to bridge the gap in case we need to indeed send in a regiment." She said calmly. Zanrye didn't look at her, processing her words. "I decided that it would take too long to negotiate with the Duke and learn the situation so I also instructed Leliana to send in her agents, who can make it there by nightfall if they move full speed."
Zanrye still didn't answer. Troops amassing closer to the area, just in case. Agents to arrive at the location to save his clan by nightfall. It was still a gamble—agents weren't soldiers—but it was something. And if they could just defend…until the troops came….
"We will await word," Josephine continued, "But with this course of action, I still sent a raven informing the Duke that there are bandits. I did not mention your clan, as you did not want it."
Zanrye's shame broke him and he looked up at her with the saddest nug eyes and his cheeks were tinged with red.
"Thank you, Josephine." He said quietly.
"Your family is very important to you." She said calmly. "And you have so few members left." She came towards him with business eyes. "But you also mustn't let that get in the way of actually helping them."
"I know." Zanrye mumbled.
"No Zanrye, you don't." Josephine responded and Zanrye looked up to see her hand on her hip. She shook her head. "You cannot let your feelings make you rash or risky." She said to him. "You do that too much. You become afraid so you want to rush in to kill the threat but that is not always the right or best solution and can lead to more trouble later on." Zanrye didn't answer her, hands together and to his knees. She came beside him. "You are the Inquisitor…and you were a hunter. You must remember to keep your head."
"I know." He said lowly and felt her place a hand on his head. He closed his eyes to the touch and felt at least a bit better. But Josephine withdrew and had her hand on her hip again.
"You've embarrassed yourself and me as well back there." Josephine said, voice irate with a touch of hurt. He looked up at her cold eyes. "What you said to us was not only uncalled for but disgusting—"
"I'm sorry Josie." He looked at her with sad eyes. "I got angry I—"
"Things have happened to you. Your wariness is valid." Josephine overtalked him. "But if you seek to make monsters and enemies out of all who are human then you are just as ignorant as those who would demonize all elves."
He didn't answer. He knew he had nothing to give to her that would equate to a proper apology. Because how could he apologize for saying something unforgivable? When he meant it.
"Don't…ever…utter that word again." Her eyes were hard. "Do you understand me?"
"Yes." He nodded, truthful that he would never speak it again…to her or in her presence, as he had tried to censor it around her up to now already. "I'm sorry, Josephine…."
"Come." She said, turning from his pleading. "There is yet work to be done. While we await a response, we must not let our other obligations and duties fall to the wayside."
She did not wait for him. But Zanrye stood slowly and followed her out.
PRESENT
SKYHOLD
Circular trees and mist were all that Zanrye could make out for the first five minutes. The transportation into the Crossroads—as Morrigan deemed it—felt like nothing, like floating on air, walking without gravity, until finally he set feet in what he knew was sacred ground.
This was how the ancient elves traveled, before even the coming of the old empires of elves. The stories…of when he walked with Gods. Zanrye was in awe. All other matters faded from his mind as he treaded through the dark mirrors. Morrigan had an answer fro that as well. Most were corrupted and unusable now. But others…like the one at Skyhold…was active.
But not all were open. Some needed keys. Others led to more crossroads. It was extraordinary. A network of tunnels funneling into a wealth of history. Zanrye felt like a baby, watching it all with his own eyes for the first time.
It was almost time now. Though reluctant to leave, Zanrye had more pressing things in mind. He walked out of the eluvian back into the dim of reality and slept as best he could, the mixture of anxiety and enthusiasm, worry and interest jostling around his head. He wanted to be in the crossroads. And yet he also wanted to remain in the world, to know what would happen to his clan. That very night, he dreamedof entering a respite with his clan, each of them healthy and safe, just like Morrigan had spoken of herself doing with her beloved companion, one of the greatest men she ever knew.
In the morning, he walked briskly to the war room. He needed updates. And very soon, he would go to see morrigan again. And then they would bask in the oldness of the eluvian once more.
Before he left for the war room, Solas greeted him. They exchanged their worries and Solas looked at him seriously.
"If there's anything I can do, lethalin." Solas said, eyes without humor. "Anything at all. You let me know."
"Inquisitor." A Scout came up to him, the one that always did. Zanrye rolled his eyes at Solas.
"This man has the worst timing in all the world." He sighed. "Can you meet with Lana for me? She should be in my office. Tell her to stay there until I come back after this meeting. We'll see if any progress has been made."
"I know. But we don't have anything to do until we get news—which it seems we have now from scout…what's your name again?" Solas asked.
"Dalon, sir." The man said.
"Now a name for the face." Zanrye scoffed and moved past him to the war room, waving to Solas as he did so. He didn't even wait for the report from the scout.
"What's going on?" He asked his small council.
"Your suspicions were correct about the Duke." Leliana said instantly. "My agents report that he has involvement with bandits; that was in fact the one who hired them."
"And my clan? What of my clan?" Zanrye asked testily.
"Safe." Cullen said.
"They are in a more defensible position outside of Wycome, near the nearby alienage." Leliana said. Zanrye visibly deflated, relieved beyond measure. He took a moment to recollect himself.
"That's great. That's great." He said, inhaling. "And? The Duke's…corrupt?"
"Yes." Josephine said. "You were correct in that. It seems that he made this move against the Dalish and other elves in the alienage as well. Along with the report came another note." She handed it to him and he read. "Not only were the bandits heavily armed and attacking but it seems from Leliana's findings that he may have been trying to take action somewhere in order to assure his nobles that he is in fact 'handling things.'"
"Things?" Zanrye kept reading.
"Handling the plague that has broken out in the city." Leliana spoke. "It seems that a disease has spread that affects only the humans—"
"Knife-ear plague?" Zanrye read aloud, eyebrows narrowing as rage overtook his senses. There was an awkard and obvious silence that overtook the room and it took all of Zanrye's will not to speak up again. He had to behave. His clan was depending on him.
"As the public believes this is some facilitated magic by the elves," Josephine said, "it seems the Duke may have taken it upon himself to show some strength. This is still shaky but—"
"But my agents have yet to be wrong." Leliana put in.
Zanrye said nothing for a time. He tried to get his mind together. His clan was near Wycome, attacked randomly by bandits too well armored and trained to be commoners. Turns out they have a connection to the Duke of Wycome, may have even been paid by him. This would tie in nicely with the fucking knife-ear curse that people were thinking the elves set upon the humans next to them.
"So how far are our troops?" Zanrye asked.
"The last raven said they were making camp a few clicks away." Cullen said.
"But," Josephine intervened, "these are all still suspicions and this would be the time for diplomacy, to test the waters with Duke Antoine, not to close all channels."
"I think it's more or less clear what his position is." Zanrye shot back.
"That is yet to be fully determined. We only know his approval or seal of approval is associated now." Josephien continued. "And we have no knowledge of the state of things inside."
"Yet he also does nothing and offers no refuge to the clan? Only maybe some coin to those who defeat the bandits that apparently he ordered?" Zanrye rolled his eyes. "He's guilty."
"In politics, nothing is ever that simple," Josephine argued. "Even in this situation—was it a targeted attack on the clan? What outside forces are at work?"
"It's called the knife-ear plague Josephine!" His yell came out suddenly and he became painfully aware of yet another silent bout from Leliana nd Cullen as he and Josephine had a row, quarreling each other. It was business related but…the passion was palpable.
Though no one besides those in his confidence and Vivienne had spoken of his and Josephine's new relationship, he was sure word had circulated about them by now. They had gone from complete formalness to risking timed disapperances for dates made as inconspicuous as they could alongside things like warm looks and Zanrye's absence from his chambers on nights he crept into Jospehine's bed to sleep beside her or (even more noticeable) when Josephine ventured into his to do the same. On top of that, their courting was more or less unhidden beforehand.
Now, they were yelling, about his clan. Zanrye nearly hated her for that—for being on a side that was not his when it came to his clan. But he couldn't, and he knew the situation had already made things rocky, what with his outburst just a day and a half before. He hadn't even had time to see where exactly her head was, after his slur. He only knew it'd hurt.
"We have no idea of the sickness and why it only effects humans rather than elves, nor of the forces he may have in the city." Josephine said bluntly, with cold eyes after their staring match. "He alleges to be an ally of the Inquisition so there may be a framing at work as well." She spoke as if to a child. "There are factors that must be taken into consideration. Inquisitor."
"She's right, Inquisitor." Cullen said softly and Zanrye's eyes found him, awkwardly shifting. "I could march my troops in but now that the danger has passed and there is no target, it would look like a direct assault on the city—which could be fine if we had more intelligence about, indeed, what forces he may have—or…yknow…concrete wrong he may have done."
Zanrye scowled for a few moments before he finally spoke to the table itself, not looking in anyone's eyes, "Then we'll send someone legitimate. Ambassador, get your people on it. But keep our troops at the ready in case things turn, Commander."
"Yes, Your Worship." Josephine said promptly, the other two following suit. Zanrye barely made it out of the room when he felt Josephine come up beside him.
"We must all be together in this." She said, looking forward as they walked though Zanrye could feel the eyes of Leliana and Cullen on their backs. "Working as a unit to get to the bottom of this, in case it has something more to do with your clan itself or even Corypheus."
"That's exactly what I'm doing." Zanrye said, turning into her office.
"No you are not." Josephine said harshly. She set her board down on her desk. "You are letting your personal feelings cloud your judgment, as you did the last time we all met."
"How am I to feel nothing at all about my clan facing the possibility of extermination?" Zanrye sighed, exasperated.
"Feeling is alright." Josephine glared. "The issue I take is with your looseness about going to full war without all of the necessary information first—information that Leliana and I provide."
"And you've provided it, haven't you?" Zanrye rolled his eyes.
"Yes, piece by piece; having to fight you the entire way." Josephine said. "Which we should not have to do. Again, we must be a unit—together—"
"This is my clan, my family at stake!" Zanrye glared. "So pardon me if don't take too kindly to outsiders delaying their rescue." The look on her face told him that he'd done it again, offended her. Hurt her. He sighed and turned away, hands fisting his forehead and his hair, upset. He sighed. "I don't mean to—"
"Outsider?" She spoke in a hushed voice that made Zanrye's stomach flip. A painful compulsion took hold of him as her face, crestfallen, matched her voice. He sighed heavily and turned to face her, feet carrying him close to her.
"Josephine," he began and when she turned her body from him, he felt as though he might just cry, or throw something. Or both. But he did neither. "It isn't my intention to…isolate you."
"You're trying to isolate yourself." She said softly, voice thicke. "As you did before." She glanced his way only to look away again, making more distance physically as well. "When you first joined the Inquisition—surrounded by strangers; aloof, cold, and withdrawn. Isolated. And here you are again, doing the same. But instead of cold, you're just angry. But you aren't surrounded by strangers. You're surrounded by people who care about you and this Inquisition, that you are the leader of." She sighs. "But if we aren't of your clan…we remain detached?"
"Josie—"
"If we aren't elves, we're forever outsiders?" She shot at him now and Zanrye felt himself rooted to the spot. He swallowed and calmed himself at her accusatory eyes.
"Ma'fanor." He said slowly as she looked away from him. "I've…been brash and careless these past few days. I know that. I've said things you didn't deserve. But you have to understand that it's been hard for me…losing my family like I have. I have worked to protect those left so far…and failed…with Po." He paused, swallowing some more. "So when I say to you…that my Keeper…my little sister…my best friends…are all there…and that yes I'm scared for them, you have to understand that translates into…panicking a bit. Because I can only do so much, especially with the distance. I know planning and stopping to think can help but hesitation can also harm; and when someone I care about is threatened, I won't risk waiting and letting them be hurt." He stepped closer to her, hand brushing hers. "You know that yourself."
Josephine did not move for a long while. But then she did and her eyes looked back up into Zanrye's how he wanted them to look: she was malleable again, caring again, hopeful again.
"I know you are afraid darling." She said quietly. "But you have to trust us…and if not us, trust me." She looked straight into his eyes. "Trust that your issues…your clan, these things you hold in high regard, also stand as such for me. As mine have stood for you before." She straightened. "We need to be together in this…that is the only way we'll succeed."
PRESENT
SKYHOLD
The next four days of waiting were torturous. Lady Volant's update still hadn't come though news of his clan's safety was very welcome. He was happy enough with at least that information. But for how long would they stay that way? That was the worrisome part.
"Inquisitor." Lana bowed her head, smiling at Zanrye as he stopped off at his Dalish encampment. As they left the ears of others, she spoke an anxious whisper. "I got your raven. Is it true?"
"Yes." He said. "An eluvian. It's intact and I even went through it myself, to a place in between the fade and our world." Lana exhaled.
"Amazing…" She said. "And I will be able to…see it?"
"I'll have Solas come to you this evening. I don't want any attention drawn towards you." Zanrye explained. "And you can work on it whenever you wish. Just find me or Solas to escort you. It's the only way I can guarantee you an alibi. Things are edgy since Corypheus moved into the wilds."
"If there is a temple…I want to come with you." Lana said.
"Perhaps." Zanrye said. "Remember, I need someone here to hold down the fort in case Corypheus has something up his sleeve. I'm already sending most of the army. You'd be my last line of defense."
"But—"
"Nothing's been decided yet." Zanrye said. "We're not leaving until Lavellan is safe."
"And you do not want me to go myself?" Lana asked.
"Your team of mages is alright enough for now." Zanrye said. "If they and the Inquisition troops can't properly defend our clan…I'd be surprised. But we're trying diplomacy now."
"You believe that is the wise choice?" Lana asked.
"…I don't know." Zanrye admitted. "But it's all I can do right now. And my Ambassador and Spymaster haven't been wrong before. They're better at strategizing than I am."
"Oh Rye." Lana chuckled. "That's very true. You never were one for back alley subterfuge—or unclear intentions. It just seems…as Inquisitor, you walk a bit taller, talk with more authority now…and you're doing quite of a bit of strategizing even here." She gestures to the encampment that was growing by the day. Zanrye smiled small. She returned it. "But for Zanrye…our little RyeRye…there was only two options: fight or flight."
"We do both naturally." Zanrye defended himself, chuckling. "Either commit or pull out."
"Or find a third way." Lana said. "Or fourth, or fifth." She looked out onto the mountain passes and forests surrounding them. "I believe in our clan. We're stronger than they think."
"Yes we are." Zanrye said. "Yes we are."
When he returned to Skyhold, they finally got word from Volant. She sent a frivolous message full of chatter and talk but Josephine told of the code hidden within the praises of the Duke: Red lyrium infection in the water in the city (not alienage); do not send in troops.
"He said he's going to kill the elves soon." Zanrye said. "If not the Dalish, then the alienage elves."
"And we can prevent that." Josephine said. "But Volant advised against a direct force, which means that there may be no way to get to the Duke, minimize casualties, or even take the city fully. Plus, there are more bandits assembling further off."
"And I also have already dispatched more of my agents." Leliana added. "I can have scouts escort the Dalish into the city, where there is a verified resistance group formed by the elves that can provide sancturary, allowing our troops to have free access on the perimeter."
"And what about in the city?" Zanrye asked. "The note from my Keeper clearly stated that the nobles themselves and townsfolk are threatening to mob the elves already present."
"Which is why my skirmishers will be ready." Leliana said.
"The humans are weakened by the lyrium—and have no knowledge of it." Josephine said. "If we can expose it, they may even turn against the Duke. And the force Leliana sent is small enough to not be a brazen threat but also large and skilled enough to protect the elves if it comes to that."
Zanrye turned to Cullen who had been silent this entire meeting.
"What do you think?" He asked him.
"I…it's hard to say." Cullen said. "I would feel happier if we had more support from the troops but Leliana's skirmishers have yet to be wrong. And Volant has always provided good information. May I just suggest that we do indeed take the perimeter and then get ready to infiltrate the city? Send in the battering ram also."
"That would be a very threatening—"
"Do it." Zanrye interrupted. "Hide the ram until you've taken the perimeter. See if they let us inside." He looked to Leliana who'd spoken—and to Josephine. "It's better to be safe."
"Of course." Josephine nodded. "Keep our options open."
9 YEARS EARLIER
TRAVELING (GREEN DALES)
The smalltalk that Milan attempted to make was pathetic at best. Zanrye put him out of his mistery after the first clumsy, not at all subtle introduction of Mima as a topic of conversation failed to go over as smoothly as Milan would have wanted.
"Mima seems to like you." Zanrye said bluntly.
"I like her as well, very much, hahren." Milan said eagerly, giving Zanrye the most desperate eyes in the world. Zanrye did not budge.
"She is also still a child." Zanrye said to him, but speaking to the stars. "She is young…and has a bad habit of choosing…less than reputable…men."
"And I promise I am not one of them." Milan said.
"That remains to be seen, Milan." Zanrye exhaled into the night. The stars above were bright in comparison to all else. Almost too bright.
"Hahren…" Milan licked his lips. "I know…what you must fear—"
"I don't think this is the best time to be going on such a long trip," Zanrye said, his eyes finally finding Milan's. "Especially not with the state of affairs still not done and Dosan can only do so much. And I can't ask Nishia to take up the slack while we're all gone." Milan said nothing. "I know…that she wants to go and visit Clan Halish…everyone does. I've only been once myself. To get away a while would be good for us all. But the clan is traveling and I can't risk anything else happening."
"We'd be perfectly safe…and Keeper has already determined the next destination." Milan said.
"And if the course changes?" Zanrye's voice was hard.
"Then we would change with it." Milan said lightly. "And I think not having the clan around, that…solid foundation…to instead go away for a while, away from duties, would be good for the both of you to…to not be trapped…here."
"We aren't trapped anywhere." Zanrye said, keeping his temper. "We just have less time…now."
"I understand that…and it's been hard for you two." Milan said. "For us all. But in my humble opinion, I think that the move itself won't change anything. What you both need now—"
"How do you figure you know what we need?" Zanrye eyed him. Milan did not reply for a good while and then his face closed. He nodded slowly.
"Thank you for dinner, Zanrye." He said quietly. "If you change your mind about the trip…we aren't leaving until next week…but Omorasapi wants the count soon."
He did not say more, just left Zanrye in the chair, under the stars. Music was wafting from inside. He sighed and closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead. Go on this trip, away from the clan without a solid, established destination to return to? Stupid. And the instability of that was not at all what he needed right now. Milan had good intentions—wanted the three of them to bond—but….
Zanrye could not really tell the counter-point. Maybe it was because the music or the wine or the fact that Milan baked good bread, but he felt for the boy and his courage and attempt. He meant well, and this trip did look promising. A change for him and Mima and the hopeful to have some "one-on-one time." The thought made Zanrye chuckle. Even so removed, the intimate times he shared with Mima were plagued by the deaths behind them and the rawness of the yet unsealed wound over their transportation into the realm of adulthood—Mima before her time. He sighed more, looking up into nothing. He was tired himself. The lute still played inside. He was off-beat and singing the wrong song but the words came to him once more, those beautiful words from Denosa that each of them had sung as a family.
"Awake….my soul." He whispered. "Awake our souls."
PRESENT
SKYHOLD
Six agonizing days later, the reports were in. Zanrye had been right that there was an effort in the city to take care of the elves but Leliana had also been right about the resistance. And Josephine had been right about the people turning on the nobles once the red lyrium use had been exposed. The Duke was now dead and those who remained in the city were not the ruling elite.
"There were Venatori agents that no-doubt influenced the Duke to act in such a way," Leliana said. "They have been taken care of as well."
"But that still leaves the marchers." Cullen said. "They do believe that the Duke was killed by the elves and will retaliate."
"How soon?" Zanrye asked.
"They were spotted only three night's march away." Cullen said grimly.
"How well fortified is the city?" Zanrye asked.
"Not fortified enough." Josephine said.
"Do you think the marchers can be reasoned with?" Leliana asked.
"It's hard to say." Josephine sighed. "Lady Volant is very good at her job but I do not know if even she can calm a mob, be able to keep them out of the city. Because the position isn't well protected, it will be tricky though she has been able to do the impossible before."
"Inquisitor, if I may," Cullen spoke up, loudly for the first time since their first day working on this. All eyes turned to him and he sighed. "I don't know much about political strategy and the dealings of assassins and spies. But I do know war—and battle strategies are second nature to me." He stood straighter. "And my instincts are telling me that if we negotiate, the marchers will kill the elves, and then send apologies." He was grave. "Josephine is right about the city—and the only way we can open negotiations now with our people inside is to fortify it. We must advance."
Zanrye felt a smile come to his face before he could stop it. Despite the dismal situation, it was there.
"Alright then Commander." He said. "Do what you do best. Clan Lavellan is counting on you."
PRESENT
SKYHOLD
Josephine came to his office where he was napping on a sofa. Her knocking over his stack of papers in her efforts to be quiet awoke him. He was groggy but awake and she smiled at him and handed him his tea she'd brought.
"I would have thought to find you celebrating." Josephine grinned. "Cup of ale in one hand, parchment to write notes to your clan in the other."
"Notes are already written." Zanrye sat up, smiling at her and taking the drink. "But I'd like to revel in relief with a clear mind…." She sat beside him and smiled warmly, leaning onto him. He wrapped his arm around her and hugged her tight.
"You've done it." She said into his shoulder, kissing it. "You've saved them…and set them up with a home…a voice on the new council at Wycome…" She sighed. "You've done the impossible."
"With help from you." He told her. "Had we gone in any sooner like I wanted—"
"But we did not." Josephine said. "And now the outcome is greater than we could have hoped." He knew it was true and smiled but quickly frowned again.
"I really am sorry." He looked at her. "For these past two weeks. Are you angry with me?"
"I do not blame you." She said. "But I will not excuse the actions…."
"I know." He nodded. "But it won't happen again…." He gave her a weak smile. "You're ma'asha. Ma'fanor." He cupped her face. "Not my battle dummy."
"I told you to go against your own reasoning." Josephine said. "Of course you would react negatively. What hurt was…the thought that those things were how you actually felt; how you spoke when your emotions were out in the open." Zanrye cupped her face with both hands now, his eyes fierce.
"You. Are not. An outsider." He stressed. "Not to me. And I'm sorry for grouping you in as though you were…." He put their foreheads together. "And for my other comment…. I was angry at the bandits—at the people of Wycome. And I took it out on my own council."
"I don't want you to view me as a…'shem'…" Josephine said, her eyes not meeting his.
"I don't." Zanrye stressed. "And I never will. I was transferring what I felt about those attacking my clan…. Attacking us because of who we are…."
"They are monsters…not 'shems.'" Josephine said conclusively, eradicating the word (as best she could). Zanrye said nothing but pulled her close to him again. She hugged him back. "Would you like me to bring the instrument? You are still stressed."
"That's alright." He shook his head. "Maybe I'll visit the garden, get some air."
"You could return to your nap." Josephine said. "It has been a tiring time." She smiled small. "I apologize for awaking you. You were so far in the fade, you were singing." Zanrye raised an eyebrow. "In your sleep…you were talking but it had the touches of a melody to it."
Zanrye said nothing, his face heating. But not from embarrassment. His eyes looked forward.
"What did I say?" He asked her, voice lowering unintentionally.
"You said…something along the lines of… 'my love'… um…ven-aan? Something like that." She looked abashed. "I assumed it was a love ballad."
"Sort of…." Zanrye said, looking at his hands, nearly scoffing at the history that'd been unearthed by the relief he felt, by his clan avoiding sure annihilation. It made him want to smile though his face was un-moving. He debated, swallowing and glancing at Josephine who was perplexed by his shyness. "It's…it's a poem…song…elven."
"It is actually a song?" Josephine's eyes were wide.
"Yes." Zanrye gave her a small smile. He looked at his hands, ears warm, mind jumping to the victory today, and six days before, and four before that…. His promise kept. He gave a slight laugh that made Josephine giggle slightly. He sighed. "Would you…like to learn it?"
"Oh." Josephine was confused by his withheld speech and the tension he put on words that seemed far less grand. And his request was out of the blue. She did not yet know what calm, what warmth he felt in this moment. "I would be happy to…um…now?"
"If you feel like it." Zanrye said, eyes now on hers. The sudden intensity she saw in them made her give a near-visible shiver, but Zanrye felt the movements she hid.
"Alright." She giggled. "What is it called?"
"Love of The Soul," Zanrye said softly. He saw Josephine's eyes blink too many times, her posture becoming more gentle, her body drawing nearer to his by half centimeters.
"That sounds very nice." She said with a voice that didn't match her affectionate body language. "How does it start?" He hesitated, finding the words from somewhere in the back of his mind.
He recited, the 1-2-3-4 in his mind. He did not sing, not exactly. The words still came. And he found himself and Josephine both swaying to a beat that was nowhere but in their minds. He feels Josephine take his hand. And he could feel the weight of the song.
"Our trials are many, we've bridges to cross,"
"Our gains seem always exceeded by loss."
"In unison do our hearts bleed."
"But the love of the soul can see us freed."
"Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all."
"But open your heart and forever stand tall."
"Lend me your eyes, I can change what you see."
"And your soul you must let totally free…"
"My love…vhenan… elven…vhenan…."
"Awake our souls. Awake our souls."
"The love of the soul, we must obtain"
"Filled with the blood of others the same"
"Matching hearts willed by the Makers"
"For they made us for something greater"
"My love…vhenan…elvhen…vhenan…."
"In these vessels, we live. In these vessels, we die"
"Where you invest your love, you invest your life"
"Each…a piece. Each…a whole."
"Where you leave your heart, you leave your soul"
"Awake our soul."
"For we were made to love each other. We were made for something greater…."
9 YEARS EARLIER
TRAVELING (GREEN DALES)
Zanrye was up before Mima the next morning. She was surprised to see him, as she had to get to schooling and apprenticeship much earlier than hunting began.
"Hey Rye." She squeezed his shoulder as she passed. He was straightening the house.
"Morning da'len." He said.
"I didn't think you'd be up."
"Neither did I." Zanrye said, placing dishes in the sink. "Why didn't Nishia do this?"
"Nishia does not wash dishes," Mima laughed.
"Not wash, put them away." Zanrye sighed. "When she came to bed…she said she cleaned up."
"Well there wasn't any food or garbage." Mima shrugged. "She saved us from any stench."
"I guess." Zanrye grumbled, fetching water from their soap-water basin and dousing the dishes.
"Well, I'm off." She said. "Tell me how the talk went with Milan yesterday…when I come home tonight maybe." Her tone was casual.
"I will." Zanrye said, knowing full well Milan told her every detail already. As she made her way to the door, he spoke at her without stopping his cleaning. "But you might want to stop by the trading tent before you come home." Mima raised her eyebrows, confused. He turned to look at her. "Well Milan said that Omorasapi wanted to close the list soon. And I would rather we go to Halish with a group than on our own."
He turned away from her but spied her large, beaming smile form and then she charged his back and wrapped her arms around him. He pretended to be disgruntled and shooed her out. She thanked him about fourteen times and ran off to her lessons happier. Zanrye waited until she was gone before he too let a smile come to his face. A trip did sound very nice. With Milan especially. It was time to see about building bridges, moving forward. And if he managed to get over his paternal dislike of Milan, well…he might just be able to get our of this rut too.
He knew his father would want that.
Helpful Information
-STORY
The "Protect Clan Lavellan" Series. One of my favorite table-top missions
-ELVEN
Hahren: basically means elder or leader. Though Zanrye is only a few years older than them, he is assuming a parental role in Milan's eyes so he gives him the title out of respect
Make love with: what I mean to say here is to be nice, be friendly towards, become friends with
-SEMENTIC/NON SEMANTIC
The song/poem "Love of the Soul" is a remix of the Mumford and Sons song "Awake My Soul." The music is the same and only the verses are changed (though I've left a few lines the same as MaS fans will notice). In my canon, the song is taken from a poetic dialogue between a Dalish elf talking to a city elf (or an elf of another clan even). Talking about being united as one.
-NON-INQUISITION CAST:
Mima- (woman) sister
Milan- (man) sister's boyfriend
Dolan- (man) the Scout who interrupts everything and is everywhere. Official reporter scout