Moonpriestess30: Not quite at the end, you don't think I would leave it at that do you?
Chapter 204 – The Inquisition
'So, uh, yeah, Varric knew where I was the entire time,' Hawke says a little embarrassed as he looks at the red headed elf. Her bright green vallaslin wound around her eyes prettily and down her lip, it was striking. Half her hair was shaved away and he had to admit it really suited her. 'Sorry, I don't think I would have been a good match for leading the Inquisition anyway,' he adds.
'You've fought Corypheus before?' She replies getting to the crux of the matter.
'Fought? No, destroyed more like,' Garrett laughs as he leans against the wall overlooking the grounds. 'It's an impressive castle, filled with good people,' he says tilting his head. 'Quite a mixed bunch, reminds of me and mine,' Garrett smiles.
She decided to put her questions around the creature threatening them to one side for the moment and get to know the man. 'So... Kirkwall. I heard you have family and friends there,' she says softly as she too stands overlooking the grounds. She had to admit he was right, it was filled with good people, working hard to save this land.
Garrett nodded, 'yeah, Isabela went on her ship when things started kicking off. I made sure that she was... at a distance. I knew I couldn't keep her grounded forever, it's okay, we still write and I'll see her again, one day. Aveline is still holding down the Keep with Donnic, they're good. Merrill went back to the Dalish, with a good word given in reassurance. Sebastian travelled back to Starkhaven, took his place as king. Varric, as you well know is just getting himself into trouble and …. you know what happened to Anders. Carver went to the Ferelden courts, I know King Alistair will keep an eye on him.'
Raising an eyebrow she gave him a look, 'what about the lyrium warrior? And there was someone else. I heard of another elf,' she points out, it was like he was being purposely quiet on that front. Garrett laughs and shakes his head as he runs his hand over his beard.
'Oh, those two. You really want to know about those two? Well, I should say four now,' he grins as he looks at his hands. 'I don't really want to disturb them. They're doing well and they're happy,' Garrett smiles. 'They deserve to be happy, they went through so much shit to be together.'
'I heard that she was the one that fought Corypheus,' the Inquisitor points out with a rather apologetic smile. 'I'm sorry but I need to know everything about him.'
'You already dropped half a mountain on him,' Garrett sniggers with a cheeky grin. She gives him a look and he sighs. 'Alright, alright. I wasn't joking when I said he was destroyed. He was torn apart. Piece by piece,' he reveals as he looks at the sky. 'Those weren't happy days. I thought we lost so much because of that fucking cult.'
'She tore him apart?' She repeats in confusion. 'Are you sure?'
Hawke mentally rolls his eyes. 'Okay, Inquisitor. Grab whomever you deem important. We're going on a little trip.'
'What? Where?'
'Ferelden. Not far. But that's where they'll be,' he smiles. 'Bring your elf that you're so fond of,' he teases watching her face go bright red. She stutters and tries to deny it but Garrett grins. 'Please, I've seen enough of it all to notice a hidden relationship. Believe me the first time a hidden relationship came to light I clucked like a hen. At least I now pick up on all the little things.'
-x-
Varric breathes in deeply, 'it's been years since I've seen them. Not since the birth,' he admits. 'I didn't see the second one.'
'Neither did I, they were in the forests when he came apparently,' Garrett replies. Iron bull huffs and looks at the Inquisitor who shrugs her shoulders. She had no idea what they were talking about either. 'I've written to her, they're staying down in the eastern Hinterlands or something. She wanted to go towards the ocean and there was a problem she had to take care of.'
The Inquisitor stops in her tracks, they were in a nicely shaded area and she wanted a drink. 'Is everything alright?' Solas asks softly as he pauses with her, watching those ahead continue on.
'Oh, yes, just this armour is rather heavy on a hot day like this. You're lucky, mage's robes keep you pretty cool in this weather,' she says smiling as she grabs her water skin. 'Do you have any idea whom they're talking about?'
Solas looks at the sky and feels the power under his feet, 'yes, I have an idea of whom they're leading us to meet,' he tries to explain. He was not looking forward to this and was incredibly concerned that certain things might be brought to light. The young elf raised her brows and he couldn't help but smile as he saw her in this dawn cast down by the trees. Greens, reds from the dying leaves washed over her. 'She is... safe. For those she deems friends.'
Lavellan shrugs her shoulders, that was probably the best she was going to get out of Solas and she knew not to push it further. 'Well we had better catch up,' she says finishing her drink and adjusting her sword on her back before they continue onwards. It doesn't take long before they reach the camp that the Inquisitor had managed to set up on the last time they were here. There was a moment where they restocked and spoke to Scout Harding.
Iron Bull looks at the entrance they were preparing to go down, 'uh, boss? Wasn't there a bloody great big dragon last time we came this way?' He asks in excitement. 'Are we hunting a dragon too? Oh, boss, you take me to all the best places,' he says happily as he checks his blade. 'I'm gonna be thinking about this all night.'
She laughs and rolls her eyes, 'I'm hoping we can avoid the dragon to be honest. I don't know why they've camped down here, this is dangerous.'
Garrett walks past her and shares a look with Varric, 'oh, believe me, she's fine. You never wanna catch her on a bad day. Her petals have thorns,' he grins.
'Speaking of Petal, is Fern still around?' Varric asks.
'Oh yeah, he's still about, loving life with the little ones,' Garrett laughs. Lavellan pouts, again it sounded like they were speaking another language.
'Come on, enough dawdling. I need information about Corypheus,' she snaps annoyed at the Champion. Garrett smiles and nods, motioning that he'll follow after her. Solas catches his eyes and he can see that the elf is apprehensive about this, he had heard that Solas had tried to politely decline this meeting but Lavellan had insisted. They walk through the tunnel and reach an area that was wide and large, carefully they begin to cross the expanse. It was when they were about halfway through that they heard growling, deep and dangerous. Lavellan draws her sword, Iron Bull mimicking as he moves closer to her to cover her flank. 'Where's it coming from?' She asks quietly as the group look around.
'Halt!' An arrow lands in front of Varric making him take a couple steps back. 'What business of yours be here?'
They couldn't locate the voice and Garrett holds up his hands. 'It's Hawke, I'm here to see the Bellarnis Elgar,' he says looking around for the archer or possible archers.
'….. There be no such creature here,' came the reply.
'Oh, can we cut the shit-' Garrett was interrupted by a massively loud, ear piercing roar. He ignores the growling and the archers and begins to run with the rest of the group on his tail. They run around a large to cliff to see a dragon screeching at something that wasn't yet in view. 'Is that... a Ferelden Frostback?' He says in shock. Iron Bull began to gibber in excitement.
A couple of elves emerged from the brush and grabbed the nearest companions. 'Ya must nay go near. They be fightin' an' if ya distract them, ya may get hurt!' Lavellan relaxed as she saw her people and asked a what was going on in Dalish. The archers smiled and nodded to the dragon, telling them to watch. Solas had paled as he saw what was going on. A large wolf, almost half the size of the dragon leapt from the cliff side, a rider on it's back. The dragon hissed and swiped with it's wing and tail trying to knock the wolf aside. It snarled in return, taking the blow and then lunging at the reptile closing it's jaws around it's throat as it pins it to the floor. The rider leapt off the wolf's back and seemed to draw a large sword, plunging it down into the beast's chest.
'How long have they been fighting?' Garrett asks, amused at the strange things his cousin was getting into.
'About an hour,' another voice said simply. Garrett turned around to see his Uncle holding a child and had another attached to his leg. The rest of the clan had appeared while they were distracted and surrounded them. Silvanus had reassured that the people here were safe and of no threat.
'Uncle!' Garrett says happily. 'Oh Maker, is that Mari! Mari! Hey, you don't remember me, I'm your Uncle Garrett!' He practically bounds in happiness. 'Oh, and is that? Is that-'
'Leto,' Silvanus smiles as he holds the young boy, no older than a year. 'Aye, my lethallan did well,' he says proudly. Mari, a young elven looking child, around three years. She had long dark hair, her father's eyes and a mixture of Makatza's and Fenris' skin complexion. 'Aye, da'lan,' he says reassuringly to her as she stepped forward to Garrett's open arms.
The Inquisitor shakes her head in panic, 'we can't have children around here! There's a fucking dragon on the other side, what are the clan doing here?' She says worried. Garrett ignored her happily lifting the child and making her squeal in glee. Solas had been distracted by the Dalish arrival but turns to see the wolf make the killing blow, it's large jaws crushing the dragon's skull, a paw pressed heavily on it's throat to hold it down. It lifted it's head and released a large howl, making everyone wince.
'Ach, lass, dinnae be worryin' it be safe now,' Silvanus says simply patting the Inquisitor on the shoulder as they clan begin to swarm past, their large Aravels passing last. Garrett ran down to the body of the dragon, the little girl in his arms giggling. The wolf shook blood from it's snout and lifted it's head as the rider, a man, the Inquisitor could see now that she was closer climbed onto it's back to get down from the dead creature. The wolf leapt from the cliff it had been up, the dragon had tried to get higher ground before it was killed. It took a couple of bounds but when it landed it shook the ground under their feet. 'Aye, lethallin! Ya nay be hurt?' Silvanus asks as the wolf uses it's tail to support the elf getting down.
'No, Hahren, I am well,' he assures as he steps forward sheathing his weapon.
'Broody!' Varric says happily. 'Ancestors be damned look at you!' He laughs as he walks up to greet him, his skin still bore his tattoos but his hair was very different, a deep undercut and then long on top, tied with braids into a slight bun. He wore a mixture of Dalish and his own armour and still held the sword that had been gifted to him all those years ago. Mari squealed and held out her arms for him, Garrett letting her go to her father.
'I am filthy, Mari,' Fenris says amused as his daughter insists on being carried. The wolf merely lay down next to him, her eyes focusing on an elf in the crowd.
'Look at the size of that thing!' Iron Bull says looking at the wolf, 'a pelt that size would cover my entire room!'
Fenris raises a brow and looks at the Qunari. 'Hass ebala-varaad nehraa,' he says simply making Iron Bull's expression change. 'I would not try it, she will not take kindly to the attempt.'
'That thing is a she?' He laughs completely astounded about the Qunlat that came from the elf's lips. The clan began to set up their camp and the wolf hadn't taken it's eyes off Solas. The Inquisitor looked at him and tilted her head to which Solas merely shrugged his shoulders in reply. The growling from earlier was solved as a large pack of wolves came down from off the tree lines, Garrett recognised Elgon and Ciere immediately and grinned at Fenris. They mingled with the rest of the clan, being given food and strokes, a relationship that was beneficial to both.
Fenris turned his attention to Iron Bull, 'that 'thing' is my wife,' he states simply as he passes Mari over to her Uncle and steps forward to get into Iron Bull's personal space. 'Do not forget that,' he says simply before walking past so he can wash.
'His wife?' The Qunari says in confusion looking at Lavellan and Varric. The dwarf grins and gives him a wink while the Inquisitor looks just as confused as he did. 'I don't want to walk in on those two during the whole-' He was interrupted by the wolf getting to it's feet. It gave Silvanus a small nuzzle and licked the entirety of Mari in one movement making her laugh and clap her hands. It walked slowly and purposely towards Solas who stood firm and looked into the creature's different coloured eyes.
The clan and group moved away from the elf and he was left there under the scrutiny of the wolf who was still bleeding in places from the fight. It dips it's large head and sniffs him making his clothes move with the large air pressure. To the total surprise of everyone around it speaks. 'I see you.'
'And I you, Bellarnaris Elgar,' he replies leaning on his staff. 'It has been many years,' he says softly.
The wolf laughs and nods, 'indeed it has, once upon a dream, no?'
Solas smiles weakly. 'Will you be safe?' He asks as he reaches out with a hand and strokes her snout.
'Yes. What is mine will be safe,' she assures. 'They have come to calling me Dread wolf,' the wolf huffs in laughter. 'But I see you, Solas. I will not bear this mantle for long.'
'You see me?' He asks wondering what she meant by that.
'Oh yes, since you woke. I saw you,' the wolf turns her head away from him. 'Forgive me, I must tend to my wounds,' she says simply as she steps over him and walks towards the trees where her husband went. 'I shall be back soon.'
