Isa woke in her room in Mythal's temple, feeling very week and absolutely awful. Iovoren was at her bedside, pacing back and forth. She grumbled and rubbed her eyes. "Isa!" Iovoren was sitting by her in an instant. "Thank goodness you're awake. How are you feeling?" "Tired," Isa sat up slowly. "What happened?" Iovoren blinked. "I was hoping you could tell me. We found you in a crater in the Frostbacks."
The memory came flooding back. Isa had been in some ruins in the Frostbacks looking for some artifact when she had been swarmed by a group of elves, likely belonging to Solas. She doubted they knew who she was. Her only option had been to release a burst of her magic, but it had felt like it was shredding her, and she had passed out as the temple had crumbled around her.
"The Commander's magic," Isa stated. Iovoren nodded, the gears turning in his head. "Yeah, ever since you went to that templeā¦" He hugged her suddenly. "Be more careful. You got lucky. Alas'dana rescued you." Isa hugged him close. He really did care for her. She got to her feet, shaking a little. "How's Fioril? Has she laid her eggs yet?" Iovoren helped her up. "Yeah, she has. She won't let anyone near them though, which seems fair. Oh, and you're going to visit the Empress."
"WHAT?!"
Of course, as a growing nation of sorts, Isa had been formally invited to the Winter Palace to meet with the Divine, the Empress, and the King and Queen of Ferelden, since it was their borders that she was on, to discuss the possibility of being officially recognized as a nation and as a sort of peace talks. People weren't happy about an exclusively elven nation, not that Isa gave a damn what they thought, but refusing to attend would be an act of aggression she couldn't afford at the moment.
Thus, Isa found herself on the way to the Winter Palace for a third time, thoroughly dreading it. Fortunately, the Inquisition and the Divine would also be in attendance, so she wouldn't be entirely alone. However, she would be standing on her own two feet, and not in support of someone else this time. She wondered how it would feel. She hoped that Briala might back her up as well, since she was an advisor to Celene since their reconciliation.
Isa dressed in a formal suit, with black pants and a gold blazer with the antlered dragon of Tuastlas emblazoned in black on it. She held her head high as she entered the winter palace, bowing to Empress Celene, King Alastair, and Queen Anora in turn. She then greeted the Divine and the Inquisitor. It would seem that she was the last to arrive.
That first day was just a formal greeting, then Isa had time to herself to settle in. She had brought General Joshon, Zathdis, and Iovoren with her. She had considered bringing some of the other council members as well, but she didn't want her presence to be overwhelming. She was nervous, and glad to have their support. Iovoren was there as a bodyguard, though she really needed a friend.
That evening, Isa was in her chambers, brushing out her long copper hair. It had grown, and she figured she needed to cut it soon. She heard a knock on the door. "Come in," she looked up. A young elven girl in a servant's garb came in, looking nervous. "Good evening, ma'am. I beg your pardon." Isa smiled warmly at her, "it's fine. What can I do for you?" "I bring a message for you." She crossed the room and handed Isa a slip of paper. "It's Lady Briala. She wishes to meet with you in secret. She has a proposition for you."
Isa unfolded the paper and read the note. It was true, Briala wished to meet in one of the palace gardens by the grand ballroom. There likely wouldn't be anyone else there at this time of night. "Thank you," Isa lit the scrap over a candle. She wouldn't want to leave any evidence. Things were tense as it was.
"Is it true?" The servant girl asked, shifting on her feet nervously. "They say you've built a paradise out in the wilds." Isa nodded, "of sorts. It's still a work in progress, but it is a safe place for all elves." Isa then tilted her head. "Your accent isn't Orlesian. Where are you from?" The girl answered, "Highever, in Ferelden, ma'am. I'm from the alienage there. I knew some people who left to go to Tuastlas. That's how you say it, right?" Isa nodded again. "Yes, that's right, Tuastlas. I could take them a message, if you'd like. Or perhaps you'd want to join them yourself?" The girl shook her head, "I couldn't. With most of the elven servants disappearing to either join you or this Fen'Harel, my wages have doubled, and Briala still needs eyes and ears here. Thank you for the offer though. If you could take a message for me, my cousin Sengan went to join you. He's got dark hair, and brown eyes. It isn't much to go off of, but the name's unique! Here, do you have any paper?"
The woman wrote out a message, and Isa promised to deliver it. The girl seemed thrilled. "Thank you so much, you're truly a gift, My Lady. Blessings upon you." She disappeared out the door, leaving Isa alone with her thoughts.
When the time came, Isa dressed in a dark cloak and headed out to the gardens beside the ballroom. She found herself drowning in memories. Solas, standing in the moonlight by the window. Solas asking her to dance. The music of the ballroom floating through the air. Her heart clenched, longing for simpler times. She could practically taste the raspberry puffed pastries. She could feel his heartbeat against her cheek if she closed her eyes. She could hear his voice softly rumbling. "You will always be mine."
"My Lady," Isa was pulled from her memories by Briala's voice. She turned, seeing the masked elf approaching through the garden. "Briala," Isa returned her greeting. "What can I do for you? Why the secrecy?" She got straight to the point. Briala smiled a bit. "I cannot very well ask for a secret alliance with an elven upstart out in the open, can I?" Isa tilted her head back, waiting to hear more.
"Though Celene and I have reconciled, my priority remains with my people. You are doing for them what I never could. You are giving them a home, and from what I hear, you have ample means of defending it. I want this council to turn out well for you, Isenatha. You have the Divine on your side, so there will be no Exalted March, but that will not stop Orlais or Ferelden from wiping out anything they view as a threat. They are already stacked against you. I wish to help you turn the tables. Besides, we all share a common enemy in Fen'Harel, do we not?"
Isa nodded slowly, taking a moment to think. "A few questions, if I may. I can easily see how you might change Celene's heart, but how would you convince Queen Anora?" A sly smile crossed Briala's face. "Blackmail. It would be best if you didn't know the details." Isa crossed her arms, "and if her highness doesn't take kindly to that?" Briala laughed, "trust me, she will."
Isa sighed. She didn't like that, but maybe Briala was right. She couldn't afford war with Ferelden. "Alright Briala, what's in it for you? Why help me? I'm helping the elves either way, so you must want something personal out of this." Briala crossed her arms, tapping her long fingers on her elbows. "I want your support. Not openly, not at the moment. But when Fen'Harel has been defeated, there will still be many displaced elves that will need a home, and you will soon outgrow your quaint little wilds. I believe that if we can combine forces, we can reclaim the Exalted Plains, turn it into the beauty it once was, and expand for the good of our people. I also want the eluvians back." Well, that answered the next question, how was Isa going to trust Briala. If she held the eluvians, she had leverage against Briala.
"Alright Briala, you have a deal."
