Chapter 11

Valla and Solas were relieved to once again have the walls of Skyhold surrounding them. With the threat posed by the Hand of Anaris they had begun to feel exposed as they made their journey back to the fortress. As they entered the courtyard they were greeted by Iron Bull, holding a squirming Asha in his arms.

"Welcome back you two!" Iron Bull boomed.

"Hello, Bull." Valla smiled as she took Asha from him. "And hello to you, my darling." She said happily, cradling Asha in her arms. Valla felt her worry fade away as she held her daughter.

"I hope you're talking to the kid and not me, Boss." Iron Bull teased.

Asha stared up at her mother as she began to laugh. Valla looked into her wide blue eyes, so similar to her father's, and silently vowed that she would do everything in her power to protect her.

"I trust everything went well during our absence?" Solas asked.

"Of course!" Iron Bull beamed, "Little Asha is now an honorary member of Bull's Chargers, as promised. She fits in great too, she's the only one on the team who doesn't give me any back-talk."

Asha waved her arms and gurgled as he spoke.

"That's right, kid. No back-talk." Iron Bull laughed.

Solas begrudgingly muttered something under his breath which Iron Bull tactfully chose to ignore, "I take it the meeting with your clan was successful?"

"Yes," Valla replied, "The Inquisition now has the full support of a Dalish clan. We can begin making preparations to aid them in dealing with the Hand of Anaris."

"We can also begin researching ways to counter their blood magic as well." Solas added.

"Blood magic?" Iron Bull furrowed his brow. He watched Valla's expression carefully. His years with the Ben-Hassrath made it easy to discern that something happened while the two of them were away, "What else did you run into out there, Boss?"

Valla told him of their encounter with Marren and of the barrier he used fueled by blood magic. She explained how he planned to use the blood of a powerful person to bring Anaris into their world, and of how he thought using Asha would be ideal. Not only because of her powerful parents, but as revenge against Solas.

"Well...shit." Iron Bull grumbled as he cast a worried glance at Asha. "You really know how to piss people off, don't you, Solas?"

"Regrettably, when you've lived as long as I have and seen the things I've seen, making enemies is unavoidable." Solas sighed.

"If anyone deserves an award for having a messed up past, it's you." Iron Bull agreed, "In the meantime, I'll tell Cullen to double the guard around the castle. We don't want anything happening to the kid."

"Good," Valla said, "And I will start having our people research ways into countering blood magic. Perhaps Dorian could give us some insight."

"Asking the Tevinter about blood magic?" Iron Bull laughed, "Have fun with that, Boss."

Before Valla could respond a guard approached and saluted them, "Pardon me, Inquisitor." the he said, "You are being summoned to the great hall. I have been sent to fetch you."

Valla tilted her head, "I'm being summoned to my own hall? By whom?"

The guard began to look nervous, "It would be best to see for yourself, your Worship."

Curious to see who was waiting for her so soon after her return, Valla handed Asha to Solas and made her way to the castle. To her surprise the great hall had been emptied and was eerily quiet, and at the sight of the two individuals who remained Valla understood why. Standing near the Inquisitor's throne was Cassandra, dressed in the robes of the Divine.

"Thank you for arriving so promptly, Inquisitor." Cassandra said. There was an anxiousness in her voice that made Valla wary, "I know you have only just returned, but there are important matters we need to discuss."

Valla felt caution set in. If the Divine felt the need to leave Val Royeux to speak with her personally, the matter must be important. However she kept her eyes fixed on the surly looking man accompanying Cassandra. Dressed as a Ferelden noble and with a permanent scowl on his face, Valla recognized him immediately.

"Arl Teagan." she said grimly. The former ambassador of the Exalted Council and the man who had wanted nothing less than the Inquisition's utter dismemberment. As one of the Inquisition's most outspoken critics, it was no secret that the Arl and Valla were not fond of each other. His presence only heightened her concern.

"Inquisitor." Teagan nodded curtly.

There was a deathly silence in the deserted hall. A silence Cassandra seemed all too eager to break. "Perhaps we should sit." She gestured to an empty table.

"I think I'll stand." Valla replied, folding her arms.

"Then – er...we shall sit." Cassandra sat at the head of a long table with the Arl by her side. She took a deep breath, "First of all, I want you to know this wasn't my idea."

"Let's just get to the point, shall we?" Teagan cut in, "Inquisitor, it has come to our attention that you are in the process of aiding the Dalish with a cultist threat."

"Yes." Valla said, "The Inquisition has promised to help the Dalish eliminate them."

Teagan frowned at her, "Tell me, wasn't the purpose of the Exalted Council to limit the Inquisition's reach? Is this really the best use of your resources?"

Valla blinked, "Is saving lives to be considered a poor use of resources?"

Teagan's glare darkened, "Once again the Inquisition has shown that they think they can do as they please. It wasn't suspicious enough that you ordered your men halfway across Tevinter for reasons that are still a mystery. But now you travel to the Dales to meddle in the affairs of elves? This is a blatant misuse of the Inquisition's power. Again."

Valla tried to mask her contempt. She was sure any personal connection she had to the elves' plight mattered little to the Arl. "Last I checked, the Dales were within the borders of Orlais, not Ferelden. A Ferelden noble should have little concern for what the Inquisition does outside their borders."

"Orlais and Ferelden are still recovering from the affects of the Breach!" Teagan exclaimed, "And while we recover, the Inquisition instigates another fight! The last thing either nation wants is to be dragged into another war." he turned to Cassandra, "Your Holiness, you know I am not that only one who has raised concerns over the Inquisition's recent activities. As they now answer directly to you, you must be the one who reins them in."

Valla desperately watched Cassandra. Covered head to foot in the regal robes of the Divine, she didn't look like herself. Seemingly swallowed up by her clothes as well as the weight of her position, she looked torn. "I am afraid Arl Teagan has a point." Cassandra stared at her hands neatly folded on the table, struggling to meet Valla's gaze, "Since taking the Sunburst Throne, I have been confronted by many nobles from both Orlais and Ferelden, asking why I allow the Inquisition so much authority in these times of peace." Her eyes tentatively met Valla's, "Though these cultists pose a problem, the threat they've created is not large enough to warrant action from the Inquisition. I'm afraid I cannot allow you to use Inquisition forces to deal with them."

Valla felt her stomach drop as she stared at Cassandra in disbelief. "The threat isn't large enough?" she repeated, "The Hand of Anaris are attacking peaceful Dalish clans! They think they are bringing forth some sort of divine justice! Am I to sit idly by while my own people remain defenseless?"

Teagan remained on the offensive, "May I remind you that the Inquisition, despite the personal beliefs of its leader, remains a Chantry organization. The Dalish do not believe in the Maker. The Chantry cannot afford to aid in every conflict that arises in Thedas, especially when those involved do not share in the Chantry's beliefs!"

Valla struggled to keep her anger in check. She wanted to tell the Arl she had as little faith in the elven gods as she did in the Maker, though she doubted it mattered to him. Beliefs aside, Valla could feel everything she had promised to her clan slipping through her fingers, "I understand, my lord." she seethed, "This isn't about whether or not the Inquisition can afford to help the Dalish. This is about whether or not the Dalish deserve it."

Cassandra saw the outrage clearly displayed on Valla's face, noticing clenched fists underneath her tightly folded arms. Even she felt the Arl had gone too far. Sensing the situation was about to spiral out of control, the Divine quickly stepped in, "We are all equal in the eyes of the Maker, Arl Teagan." she said firmly, "And I believe you have said your piece. You are free to take your leave."

"Of course, your Holiness." the Arl bowed and swiftly exited the hall. Valla silently watched him leave, staring daggers at his back until he was no longer in sight. As the echoes of his footsteps faded, an intense silence returned to the great hall. With the silence Valla felt her anger subside only to be replaced by disbelief. She turned to face Cassandra who remained seated at the head of the table. With no one else present, she could finally speak to her not as Divine Victoria, but as a friend.

"How can you side with the Arl in this?" Valla asked desperately, "You of all people know the Inquisition is meant to act when others cannot!"

"This isn't what I wanted either." Cassandra sighed. The weariness in her voice inclined Valla to believe her, "Personally I took no issue with the Inquisition helping the Dalish, but the nobles began to protest."

"Since when do the nobility care about what happens to the Dalish?" Valla frowned, "Their well-being has never mattered to them before."

"As players of the Game, they see no benefit in helping someone without receiving something in return." Cassandra explained, "In the eyes of the nobles the Dalish have nothing to offer. As much as I detest it, they demanded I step in to control the situation."

Valla knew Cassandra shared in her lack of fondness for the Game. Cassandra was still new to the Sunburst Throne and still new to the demands being placed upon her. She suspected the new Divine was trying to appease all sides by listening to the nobles. However she kept those assumptions to herself. "And why was Arl Teagan's presence necessary?"

By her dissatisfied expression Valla could see Cassandra shared in her lack of fondness for the Arl as well, "When Teagan heard of what the Inquisition was doing, he rallied the concerned noblemen together. He insisted on being present for this meeting."

"Of course he would be the one to jump at the chance to reprimand me." Valla muttered.

"The man may be tactless and crude," Cassandra smirked, "But he is only looking out for the safety of his people. I wouldn't take his comments about the Dalish too seriously."

"And what of the safety of my people, Cassandra?" Valla demanded, "I promised my clan the Inquisition would protect them. How am I to do that when I cannot use my own soldiers?"

Cassandra rose from her chair, signaling their meeting had come to a close, "I know these restrictions are...problematic. But I know you will still find a way to help your people."

Valla rolled her eyes, "Of course you won't offer an actual solution."

"You have solved countless problems more daunting than this one." Cassandra replied, "I am confident you will be able to solve this one as well."

Solas decided to make his way to the rookery, curious as to what matter needed Valla's attention so urgently. Surrounded by empty cages for the spymaster's ravens, he leaned against the cold stone wall, listening to her conversation with the Divine and the Arl echo up from the rotunda below.

It was as he feared. The organization that once provided Valla the freedom to help those in need was now becoming a restriction. Her desire to aid the Dalish was being swept into the maelstrom of petty politics. Solas still wished Valla wasn't bound to the Inquisition, that she had more freedom to do as she pleased. He could hear the frustration in her voice as it resonated throughout the hall. It saddened him to see her will overruled by another.

"Doesn't sound like it's going too well down there." a voice interrupted his thoughts. Solas turned to see Varric enter the rookery. He watched as the dwarf took a raven from its cage and carefully tied a small scroll to its leg.

"Are you not listening to the conversation below us?" Solas asked, "It concerns us all."

"I'm only half-listening." Varric replied, "And I'm probably the only one in Skyhold who doesn't have their ear pressed against a door right now."

He was right, Solas thought. The discussion between the Inquisitor and the Divine would certainly cause a stir around the castle.

Varric carried the raven to an open window, "Besides," he shrugged, "I've already heard enough to know where this is going. I've had the same talk with nobles in Kirkwall nearly a dozen times already."

"Ah yes, you are a viscount now." Solas remembered, "And how do those conversations normally play out, in your experience."

"Here is an example," Varric said thoughtfully as he watched the raven take flight, "Let's say I want to rebuild one of the more run-down districts in Kirkwall. Usually two or three angry nobles will crawl out of the woodwork and tell me we can't afford it. I ignore them, raise the money myself, and the people of that district thank me for rebuilding their homes. I might get a few angry letters or a slap on the wrist, but in the end no one is any worse for the wear."

Solas eyed the dwarf curiously, "Are you suggesting Valla should ignore the Divine's orders?"

"Unfortunately that's where Valla and I differ." Varric said, "The worst thing that can happen to me is I get scolded by some lord in a frilly outfit. Valla has to answer to the Divine. And not just the Divine, but to Cassandra." he shuddered at the thought, "I can't say I envy her."

"It seems the Inquisition has become more of a hindrance than a solution." Solas glowered, "It has become another piece on the chessboard of the Game, to be moved about by whoever deems it useful. It sickens me to think this is what Valla must deal with." In his frustration he finally let out the thought he had kept to himself, "Perhaps she should be rid of it."

Varric raised his hands in protest, "Hey now, Chuckles. It's not that simple. You were gone for two years, remember? What do you think Valla did during that time? Without you around, she poured her heart and soul into the Inquisition. She fought to make sure they would have a place in the world that followed after the Breach. Do you really think Valla will just walk away from everything she's worked for?"

Solas knew it would be difficult to convince Valla to seek other ways to help the Dalish, especially if it involved leaving the Inquisition. "It is not the protesting nobles who will suffer for the Divine's decision, Master Tethras. If the Chantry has decided the elves aren't worthy of protection, what more can the Inquisition do?"

"I know no one wants to help the elves more than you." Varric said soothingly, "But have some faith in the Inquisitor. She's gotten us out of bigger jams than this."

Varric had a point. If Valla had proven anything, it was that she was capable of pulling off miraculous feats. Solas did not question her resourcefulness, but he had little faith in the way the shemlens conducted themselves.

"At times even I do not understand human politics." Solas said wearily.

"You and me both, Chuckles." Varric laughed, "You and me both."