Erina woke to find herself in bed in a room she had never seen before.
"Ugh. This is getting old fast."
"Sweet Maker!" Erina heard a voice say.
Erina looked over to see a young woman carrying a box. She dropped the package and bowed low.
"I'm sorry, your worship! I didn't know you were awake. Please forgive my intrusion."
"Um, it's okay. Now, can you tell me where I am?"
"You're in Haven, my lady. You've been sleeping in this cabin for the last three days since the march on the breach."
"Three days? I could feel the mark taking alot out of me when i used it on the breach, but to knock me out for three whole days..."
"I, uh, I am dreadfully sorry, your worship. But, Lady Cassandra said she wanted to know when you awoke. At once, she said. There's fresh clothes in that box for you!" The woman said and ran out.
"Um, thank you."
Erina got up and checked the box. Most of the outfits didn't do much for her. She finally found a blue and white ensemble that looked like it was made of Dragon hide.
"This looks good. Better get changed and find out where lady Cassandra is."
Erina changed into the dragon skin outfit and headed out. When she opened the door, she people lined up around the path.
"It's her! It's her!"
"Maker, bless this child."
"She's kinda cute." "Hush, boy!"
Erina heard all of this and more as she walked along the path, walled in by people.
Eventually she reached the chantry and headed inside.
"Ah, there you are. Glad to see you up and about." Cassandra said as she approached.
"Nice to be up and about. Um, what is going on outside?"
"In due time. There are some people I wish you to meet. Come with me."
Erina followed Cassandra through a large door. In the room on the other side there were guards, Chancellor Rodrick, Lady Lelianna and two others. One clearly a seasoned warrior of some sort, the other an elegant lady dressed in blue and gold. Rodrick sneered at the sight of Erina.
"So, the little monster lives. Guards, seize her and put her in a cell this instant."
"Ignore him, and leave us." Cassandra said authoritatively.
The guards did as Cassandra said.
"You are walking a fine line, Seeker."
"Do not bear your teeth at me, Chancellor. We know well that your bark is worse than your bite. Mine, on the other hand, are both equally terrible."
As the two continued to squabble, Lelianna walked over and began to examine Erina.
"How do you feel, little one?"
"A bit drowsy still, but otherwise okay."
"Understandable. You did just wake up from a three day long nap."
"What happened with the breach?"
"You failed to close it!" Rodrick chided.
"That's true but she did stabilize it. Which is far and away better than we could have hoped. It won't be growing anymore." Lelianna said.
"But it still remains a threat. However, after seeing what Erina and her mark could do as is, we believe that if we could put more power into the mark or somehow weaken the breach itself, we could finally close it." Cassandra said.
"I'm all for that." Erina said.
"Glad to see you so eager, little one." Lelianna said.
"But we are going to need more help to do it." Erina smartly noted.
That was when Cassandra slammed a large book down on the table nearby. Erina jumped back a foot at the sudden sound. Every one but Rodrick chuckled at the child's reaction.
"Sorry to scare you, young one. But this here is how we shall obtain the help we need. You see this, Rodrick? This is a Writ, drawn up by the divine herself before her passing. It decrees the formation of a unified force meant to protect this land and all its people. A brand new Inquisition. So, we shall use all that Justinia afforded us to close the breach, with or without you."
"You will fail, I'm sure of it. This is a fool's errand if I have ever seen one." Rodrick said before leaving.
"Finally. I thought he'd never leave." Cassandra said.
"Yeah, I don't like him very much." Erina said.
The adults all laughed.
"You and many others, dear child." The warrior said.
"Ah, yes, we should finally introduce you. Erina, this is Commander Cullen. He will be in charge of our soldiers and Templars." Cassandra said.
"A pleasure, my little lady."
"Likewise, Sir Cullen."
"And this is Lady Josephine Montilyet. She will be our political ambassador to any and all that wish to join our cause."
"I look forward to a promising future for you, Lady Erina."
Erina smiled.
"And of course, you already know Lelianna."
"I'll be running our more secretive networks and..."
"She's our spymaster."
"...Well put, Cassandra."
"It's nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you. Um, do I get a fancy title too?" Erina asked.
"You already have one. The people heard about what you did to the breach. They have also heard about your miraculous survival thanks to that glowing woman. Many have come to believe that was Andraste. And they believe that your mark is a sign of divine providence. That you were chosen by her worship to be the shining beacon in these dark times. As such, many have come to call you the Herald of Andraste." Lelianna explained.
"The Herald of Andraste..." Erina muttered to herself while glancing at her mark.
"It is quite the lofty title to be sure." Cullen said.
"How do you feel about it, Lady Erina?" Josephine asked.
"I, I'm really not sure what to think. The only thing I can reason right now is that's why all those people were lined up outside."
"It is, and more come everyday. Many of them join our cause in an effort to serve the maker. Unlike the Chancellor." Cassandra said.
"That's all true but let's not completely disregard the Chantry. We are a young cause, with an equally young icon at our center. If they openly renounce us as heretics, then we will be crippled." Josephine said.
"What do you propose we do then, Josy?" Lelianna asked.
"I have already been in contact with a revered mother in the Hinterlands. Her name is mother Giselle. She requested a face to face meeting with the Herald. Perhaps, if lady Erina can make a good impression on her, she may throw her proverbial hat into our ring."
"One chantry member does not make for much. But, it is a start. And, perhaps she could fill us in on more goings on in the Hinterlands. Ways we could help the people and sway more to our banner." Cullen said.
"My thoughts exactly. We should head out to meet her at once." Josephine said.
"Well then lets get going!" Erina cheered.
Just then, the child's stomach growled loudly and all the adults laughed.
"Perhaps we should quiet that beast in your belly first. After all, it hasn't been fed in three days." Cassandra said with a smile.
"I'll take her to the tavern for a meal, or three. Everyone else prepare to move on the Hinterlands." Lelianna said.
The group disbanded and Erina followed Lelianna out of the Chantry.
"So, little herald, how are you feeling? Besides hungry, I mean." Lelianna asked.
"Honestly? Really confused. A few days ago, everything was as normal as could be. I woke up, bathed, dressed, ate and readied for my lessons. Then we hear about the conclave and we pack up and go. My entire circle. Then boom, everything goes completely sideways. I wake up in the fade, get chased by monsters, get saved by what might have been Andraste and then wake up again with you and Lady Cassandra. Now I have this mark and everyone expects me to save the world. And I just can't figure out why me. There must have been dozens more people at the conclave more worthy than me. I'm glad to be alive, but why me? Why just me? Why did I have to lose everything, again?"
Lelianna's heart ached for the child. She remembered how she had only known the orphanage, then was taken away from it due to her magic. Now she had lost her second constant in life. She seemed to be cursed to lose what was precious to her, while never truly having what many took for granted. A family.
"No more." Lelianna said.
"I'm sorry?" Erina asked.
"Sorry, just thinking out loud. I was thinking about your situation. How you've never had a family, but keep losing the closest things you have. Well, I say no more."
Lelianna knelt down and scooped the girl up in a tight embrace.
"I know what its like to feel lost and alone. And I refuse to let a precious soul like you go through that any longer. From now on, you and I are family. You don't have to think of me as your mother. An elder sister is fine. And nothing but the maker himself could take me away from you. What do you think, Erina?"
Erina's eyes watered and she buried her face in Lelianna's bosom.
"I think I love you, big sister."
"I love you too, little sister."
Nearby, a certain dwarf smiled at the scene he was watching.
"And you got a brother here, little lady. And I'll tell you that later. But first, I think I need to put in a word with a few more potential family members. Starting with the seeker."