A/N: Many thanks to lil kyuubi for your review! Enjoy!
Voices of Experience
The Nightingale stood over a map laid out across the desk in her Pavus House quarters. It was the same map she had used in Skyhold, with all her markings, notes, and drawn borders. Several puncture holes were torn into the parchment near a spot identified as 'Solas' in the Tevinter Imperium. They had been sure there was some connection with that place and the Dread Wolf's plans, yet there was no proof when their scouts finally arrived nearly a year ago. Now, however…
"Leliana? You asked me come."
The Spymaster turned away from the window with a smile. Despite sleeping on the ground in their men's camp last night, Inara looked well-rested and had even taken the time to wash her hair upon their return. Likely courtesy of Gianna, it was pulled back with intricate braids that let the remainder of her bright auburn mane flow down her back. The Inquisitor had become surprisingly efficient at loosely braiding her hair with a single hand, but the new tradition had become yet another unforeseen sign of her infirmity. Her refreshed appearance was noted. The mug she held notably did not contain coffee, but rather an herbal tea. Interesting.
"Yes, Inquisitor. I have news, but I wanted to wait until I was sure there were no listening ears."
"Ooh. Sounds mysterious," declared the other woman as she drew near. "Do tell."
"You recall our previous discussions of Solas – the town, not the man."
Inara sighed tolerantly, quite possibly wishing for coffee after all.
"Again? We know there's nothing odd about it. And I'm sure the Magisterium would be talking if there was."
"Not so fast," the human smirked triumphantly. "My latest scout sent a raven early this morning. I'm waiting for the full report in person, but…the town is empty."
"You jest."
"I do not!" Leliana exclaimed with a laugh, relieved at this sliver of a breakthrough. "I knew something was going on."
"But do we know anything else? The town is empty, but that doesn't mean it has anything to do with its namesake."
Leliana shot a half-hearted glare at the leader.
"It's something at least. We've had little in the way of breakthroughs since we left Skyhold. Our allies are stumbling about to build up their magical protections; locations of the missing elves are still no more than rumor; and the magisters have yet to recall our proposition of an alliance." She huffed in dissatisfaction. "You looked rested."
"I visited an old dream last night. I'm in a forest that is overcome by a storm, then I must walk through a pack of wolves to reach a cave filled with mist. Normally, it's all darkness and tormented memories. But this time, the cave led me back to the forest…without the storm. It was…peaceful."
The human couldn't resist a follow-up question:
"Were you alone?"
"I was, but… I did feel like I was being watched." Inara shook her head dismissively, then frowned. "I also looked for Hawke. I called to her. I could almost sense that she heard me, but it was almost as if she was ignoring me. As if she had better things to do. Doesn't she want to escape?"
"Not a question I can answer. Morrigan would probably know. She always had a taste for the unusual."
The elf bowed her head apologetically at the dryness of her friend's tone.
"I'm sorry for doubting you, Leliana, about your theories. We were always coming here. I know we're close, but…"
"Inara…" The Inquisitor started at the unusual use of her given name. "Dorian and I…we understand more than you think. You can trust us. I know your thoughts have been far away, but we are still here."
"What happens to a cause when its founder begins to lose faith in it?" The Herald's soft voice died to a whisper. "What if I have begun to believe that a world without the Veil may be the better course. Does it make me a bad person to wish for it? Does it make me a fraud to still fight for what I cannot hope for myself? While I pester the magisters for their squabbling, I cannot even seem to find peace with my own decisions."
"Isn't that what often makes a leader, though? Being Inquisitor isn't about you; it's about seeing a picture greater than yourself."
Inara accepted her companion's words with a shallow nod, stepping closer to study the worn map.
"I suppose you would know, between the Inquisition and serving with the Hero of Ferelden, not to mention your many other escapades. I'm afraid I do not take your counsel as often as I should."
"And what would be the fun it that?"
Leliana leaned against the table thoughtfully, a troubled smile playing on her lips. Despite her faith-filled, encouraging words, she was worried. For now, the figurehead stood strong outside these private conversations, but the woman under the figurehead was what concerned her. She worried of where Inara's Dreams would take her. She worried that these doubts would mean her friend slipping away. She worried that the Inquisitor's uncertainties would lead her down a very dark path that Leliana had no way of predicting – she didn't like unknowns. Inara was at least more at peace with her hunt for the Dread Wolf, but it was unlikely that he would ignore her search forever. What was the old Dalish curse?
"That is…unusual."
Flemeth let out a boisterous guffaw, to which Morrigan only rolled her eyes.
"Of course it's unusual, girl. My stories never touch the ordinary."
"But why did you allow him to take your power? You could have easily escaped, or perhaps even vanquished him at that point. When I encountered him this time, however… I see there is little that can stand in his way."
The white-haired witch paced in front of the fire they had started beside the Well of Sorrows, her tired countenance showing a new layer of wisdom.
"The friendship between Fen'Harel and Mythal cannot be summarized so easily in mortal terms. What they might see as a betrayal was but a gift. The original Mythal was murdered, sparking the Dread Wolf's drastic actions that created the world as we know it. But just a small piece was saved. And that was all I needed to nurture that power, to watch the world tremble and groan and evolve. Solas was not awake to see it, and he will do all in his power to restore the elven people as they were before."
Morrigan folded her arms with a huff.
"That makes it even less clear why you would allow him to take that power from you. If he succeeds, you too will be in danger."
"And, despite the voices whispering in that pretty skull of yours, you still aren't seeing the big picture. Solas was going to gain the power to rip the sky in half, regardless of my involvement. I saved the world a great amount of strife." The younger woman raised a questioning eyebrow while Flemeth bent to pick up a stone rat from the ground, examining it with half interest. "Come now. I'm sure you've heard rumors of a race between Solas and the Tevinters to find the remaining Foci. I wonder, have they found mine yet?"
"How you know these things is beyond me. If he needs all these Orbs, I fear a full war may break out. Again."
"Someday, it may not be so out of your reach," Asha'bellanar scoffed. She took her time to wave a hand over her rock pet, which abruptly melted into life and wriggled away with a terrified squeak. "But where was I? Ah yes, my gift! With my power, he need only acquire…perhaps five? Depending on his plans to restrain the other Evanuris, of course."
"What?"
"What do those voices tell you, Morrigan? Do they not say that, when the Veil falls, the gods will be freed? And not only the Evanuris. Every creature that ever wanted to cross over will have its chance. I only fear that he will underestimate the corruption that could be unleashed. His locks are dissolving even as we speak – locks on a cage that leads to death."
"Dissolving?" Morrigan attempted not to show her displeasure. Magic back in the world was well and good, but it would be like opening a dam that held back an ocean. Things would get much worse before any form of stability would appear. "So…there's a chance the Veil could fall even without Solas' meddling. That's why he won't necessarily need the full power of all Foci."
"Not quite so simple. Nothing like this has ever been done; even I don't fully know what will happen. But I do know that you and I have work to do, girl. I may have aided the Dread Wolf, but I have become fond of this world. I'd like to save a piece of it. My first task is simple." The ancient woman's eyes sparkled mischievously. "I need you to deliver a message."
Displeasure blooming, Morrigan caught the trinket her mother had just dropped into her lap: A familiar jawbone strung on a simple cord.
"I don't think I want to know how you acquired this, Mother."
"The Herald of Andraste and the Great Trickster. A wolf hunting a wolf. But first, she needs to catch the scent, and I intend to give Fate a nudge."
Thank you for reading, and don't forget to follow and review! Take care!