Author's note: Sorry for any inconvience. I was so giddy about getting internet back that I posted chapter 25 as chapter 24. I have made the corrections and the chapters are in the correct order now. I have also updated my other fict as I like to stay post them both at the same chapter at the same to keep my confusion to a minimum:)
When we return to Haven there are beginnings of a riot starting with Cullen in the middle.
The templars we recruited and the mages have decided to play the blame game in deciding who killed the Divine. Where the hell are Cassandra and Leliana, I wonder as I walk over to Cullen and stand beside him giving him needed support and placing a hand on his shoulder. He glances at me gratefully.
As a templar shouts, "your kind killed our most holy!"
"Lies…Your kind let her die," the mage leader yells back.
Cullen looks over at me. I nod to let him know I will help him keep this from getting violent.
"Shut your mouth mage!" the templar goes to pull his sword.
They try to close the distance between them. "Enough!" Cullen shouts grabbing the templar while I grab the mage.
"Knight-Captain!" the templar yells.
"That is not my title anymore," Cullen says angrily, "We are not templars any longer. We are all part of the inquisition now."
"Blaming each other just perpetuates this stupid war," I add looking at mage.
They stop acting aggressively so both Cullen and I step back together in a show of solidarity. "Look Cullen is a Templar…Ex-templar…and quite pious in his beliefs. I am a Dalish mage, an apostate mage," I say using finger quotes looking at the fighting templar, "although with the circles gone I guess every mage is an apostate." I realize I'm rambling, "My point is that I'm not fighting him, or calling demons, or turning into an abomination. And He isn't smiting or rending at me or taking me to into the circle. We need to work together for something much bigger than mages, templars or the chantry," I say gesturing to the breach. "This is about the whole world. We all help in the Inquisition."
"And what does that mean exactly?" a voice calls out. I see the Chancellor Roderick come forward. I roll my eyes in response.
"Back already, Chancellor, haven't you done enough?" Cullen sneers.
"I'm curious commander, as to how your inquisition and it's "herald," he air quotes, "will restore order as you promised."
"Of course you are," Cullen sighs.
"Back to your duties! All of you!" Cullen commands the crowd.
With that everyone scatters. Just the Chancellor, Cullen and I remain.
"Mages and Templars were already at war now they found new fuel in blaming each other for the divine's death," I note sadly.
"Which is why we require proper authority to guide them back to order," the chancellor huffs looking at me accusingly.
"Who you?" Cullen scoffs, "Chancellors who were too unimportant to be at the conclave?"
"The rebel inquisition and it's so called "herald" I think not!" the chancellor sneers.
"If the "proper" authority hadn't completely failed the conclave would have never been needed," I point out.
"So you suggest I blame the chantry and exalt a murderer? What of justice?" he spits.
"I suggest you refrain from judging until you have all the facts, Chancellor, besides that will not help restore order in the here and now. Surely you cannot be that blind?" I say softly.
"Order will never be restored as long as this rebellion is allowed to fester," he claims.
"The mages and templars are fighting even though we don't know what really happened at the temple of sacred ashes," I say thoughtfully.
"Exactly why all of this should be left to a new divine, if you are innocent the chantry will declare it so," he claims firmly.
I'm so tired of trying to be diplomatic with this close-minded, shemlen.
"Fenedhis! Hamlam sahlin! I quite sure the chantry," I spit the word, "would be more than happy to use me a scapegoat to further their own goals. After all I am Dalish and an apostate mage."
He looks at me shocked at my venom.
"and what of the people killed by the fighting between the templars and mages, while we all await some sort of a decision, which we all know could take months," I continue heatedly looking at him with disgust.
"The chantry should be doing… its job and comforting the masses. I may be a heathen compared to you almighty chancellor," I sneer angrily, "But I am doing what I can to help these people while you just sit on your high horse and complain. For all the chantry's talk, I have seen little action for helping these people. They only care for their own political bullshit."
Cullen gently puts his hand on my shoulder to if it's to calm me down or show solidarity I don't know but I am grateful for it.
"I'm also doing everything in my power to find out what happened at the conclave. While all the high mighty in the chantry sit on their plump asses and assign blame instead of doing anything!" I finish hotly.
I turn to Cullen, who is regarding me with astonishment "remind me again why we let him stay," I half-joke.
"Because your templar clearly knows where to draw the line," the chancellor sneers.
Cullen ignores the chancellor, looking at me, he snickers lightly, "Because he is toothless, he has done all the damage he can do at this point; there is no point in turning him into a martyr, because he runs at the mouth."
The chancellor stalks off angrily at this.
"Can't I just slug him once," I half-joke.
"You can punch?" Cullen teases changing the subject.
I grin wickedly "shall we spar sometime commander? I could use some practice."
Cullen grins back at me, "I would love too."
"However the chancellor is a good indicator of what to expect in Val Royeaux," he says seriously looking a bit sad at the truth of the matter.
I look at him curiously.
"Come to the war room, we will explain," he says gesturing to the door.
We walk to the war room in silence. I feel a heaviness settle on my shoulders.
"Having the Her- Ellana address the Clerics in Val Royeaux is not a terrible idea," Josephine states.
"You can't be serious," Cullen says incredulously.
"Mother Giselle isn't wrong; at the moment, the chantry's only strength is that they are united in opinion," She explains.
Cullen rubs the back his head turning around. I can tell he hates the idea.
"And we should ignore the danger to Ellana?" Leliana asks pointedly.
Why not? It's not like I haven't been in danger everywhere else.
"Let's ask her," Josephine says diplomatically.
Everyone looks at me expectantly.
"I'm more concerned that is this won't actually solve and problems," I say honestly, "I mean do really need to talk to a bunch of Rodericks. He has made up his mind about me obviously."
"Perish, the thought," says Cullen snickering, "and I agree, It just lends credence that we should care what the chantry says."
Cassandra steps forward, "I will go with her."
Cassandra turns to Leliana, "Mother Giselle says she can provide us names…use them."
"But why? This is all just posturing, It's nothing but a… " Leliana starts.
"What choice do we have?" Cassandra interrupts harshly.
"Right now we can't approach anyone for help with the breach," she adds in a softer tone.
"Use what influence we have to call the clerics together. Once they are ready, we will see this through," Cassandra sighs.
Author's note: been busy editing and writing durning my break. I though an update might be a good idea.
Fenedhis- common elven curse
Hamlam sahlin – This ends now