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The journey to the Hinterlands was slow and uneventful. Sometimes I would feel Solas's eyes on my back as we walked but every time I would turn to look he would be already turning to look somewhere else. After we had shared bits of our story he had kindly excused himself and left. Varric had stayed drinking with us till we forgot all the pain and had woke up to Lana's frantic voice yelling for us to get up and in our armor that had just come in.
They had given us Inquisition battlemage armor and scout armor, both dyed red and white like the clothes they found us in. My hair was back in a tight french braid that swayed behind me down to my waist as we walked.
I unconsciously started rubbing at the mark on my wrist as the memories from yesterday wafted into my mind. Why where these memories more prominent than our ones of home and other life? The horrors I went through in this body for ten years where still fresh in my mind. I could still hear my clothing rip and Seb's screams to let me go, feel every part on my body that held a scar. Smell the copper tang of blood coating my hands. Still feel the magic screaming from me and hitting flesh. Could still hear the screams of the dying pricks that did this to us.
It's the strangest sensation to have two lives stuck in your head. I wanted to keep thinking this didn't actually happen to me, didn't happen to my brother but I can still feel the whip, still feel the unwanted touches and screams in my throat.
"Sybel, are you ok?" Cassandras voice pulled me back out of my mind and I gave her a small smile.
"I'm fine, just lost in thought is all." She nodded her head and walked a little faster to walk with Seb. After I had told Josephine we where slaves and told Varric and Solas the story had spread pretty quick to the rest of the circle. I know I should have been prepared for people to know but it was starting to get on my nerves
"She was talking to you for a good five minutes without you realizing it. You sure you are okay Frosty?" I looked down to see Varric looking at me with pity in his eyes. I didn't want his pity, I wanted people to see me as a strong mage. Not some damsel that needed rescuing.
"I said I'm fine Varric! I am not some broken doll that can't function. I get it. I really do but could you please stop looking at me like that." He stayed silent a moment then apologized before he also went to walk with Seb and Cassandra. I let out a sigh before looking at the forest we where walking in.
We had passed into a lush forest about an hour ago and still had another days worth of travel before we hit the Hinterlands. That's another thing we never experience in the game, just how long it takes to get to your destination when not fast traveling. After another blissful thirty minutes of peace Solas appeared at my side. I sighed again, not wanting to argue with another person or feel there pity.
"Come to ask if I'm doing alright?" I snapped. Noone was bugging Seb about all this so why did I have to get the shit end of the stick.
"No actually, I came to tell you, you have something in your hair." My hand shot back to my head and found a flower pinned to the back of it.
"Thank you." I blushed and put the flower back into it's spot. How the hell did he put that there without me knowing?
"You are correct to say you are not a broken doll. You are much stronger than that." I chanced a look at his face, there was no pity or sadness. Only the look of understanding.
"How would you know if I am strong or not, we don't really know each other." I flinched at the harshness in my voice.
"You are correct, but I have seen people who are broken from what you went through and you look nothing like them. You don't back down from people who would harm you. You instead choose to fight." He had no idea how much his words meant. If he had met me a couple years ago he wouldn't be saying that but it made me feel better knowing someone could see me past the trauma. I could only manage a nod.
The rest of the trip I remained silent and tried to piece together everything in my mind and come to terms with it. The only thing stopping me was the fact that we still had our other life back home. It made it harder to accept everything that we went through here.
Seb stayed by my side after he noticed me going quiet so everyone would leave me alone. Occasionally he would strike up a conversation about the different wild life or herbs that we passed that I should pick up. Other times he would grab my hand when he noticed my mind wandering to dark places. Me and Seb where very close in our world but being here I realized we had an even closer bond than I could have imagined.
We finally made camp for the night and I started to notice that he was starting to drift more to silence like I was and made sure to stay by his side as he had done for me. Everyone quietly ate to the sounds of crickets and a running stream that wasn't too far off from our little camp. Even though water calmed me I could feel dark thoughts ghosting the edges of my mind as a memory tried to play over in my head. My breath hitched as an owl hooted from a near by tree and I did my best to block out the sounds in my head.
"Are you ok Herald?" Cassandra's worried voice called out, breaking the deafening silence. I turned to my brother and noticed his vacant eyes staring off into his untouched food. He lifted his head to look at her but didn't seem to be seeing her.
"I'm fine, I'm just going to go get more fire wood." A blind panic enveloped me as he said those words, he stood to leave and I couldn't stop the shaking in my voice as I stood with him.
"I'll come... If you don't mind." Our eyes locked and silent words flowed between us that I prayed he would understand. 'Don't leave me behind, not this time.' He nodded and led me into the woods to be alone.
We walked till we knew no one would hear us before Seb collapsed into the grass and started to sob. I rushed over and knelt in front of him, taking his heaving body into my arms. He rested his head against my neck and clung his hands behind my back, almost ripping my shirt from the grip on his fingers.
"What is wrong with me? I can't get these thoughts out of my head!" He screamed as he clung onto me for dear life.
"I know twin, I know." My voice broke but I managed to keep the tears from spilling over as I listened to him talk.
"I just keep thinking of your screams and that way you looked at me like... like I was going to save you and I couldn't and I keep seeing how broken you were. I keep thinking about how it made me feel and it disgusts me to think I am thinking of myself instead of you. I know if I'm this bad you would be worse and yet I can't stop thinking of myself. It makes me sick!" I pulled back and cupped his face in my hands and forced him to look at me.
"You listen to me Seb and you listen good. Every day since we came here I've been looking at these damn scars and think about the things they did to me. I feel every blow and every unwanted touch and at night I see every face that ever wronged me, but do you want to know what the worst thing is about all these memory's. It's your voice I hear screaming every time I let my mind wonder. My scars are on the outside but I know you will hold all your scars on your mind. Don't feel bad because you think you had it easier than I did. Going through it is one thing but being forced to watch it would make it so much harder." His breath slowly calmed and he pulled back to look at me. His eyes where red from crying and his hair was a disaster from my hands running through them but the thing that warmed my heart was the small smile on his lips.
"And here I thought I was the older one and able to handle anything." He laughed as he wiped away the remaining tears.
"We all have our breaking points. Never feel bad for dealing with your own trauma. I will always be here to help you with it just like you are always there for me." He took a deep breath before standing and offering me his hand. I gladly took it and didn't let go as we walked back to camp.
Everyone was already in there tents for the night when we returned. Seb excused himself for the night but I stayed out by the fire. Even with the heartfelt conversation with Seb, I still felt off. The moment he left my side I could feel the memories and fear returning. I remained out by the dying fire for a bit longer before remembering I could go to the fade to ease my burdens of my mind. The last thought on my mind before my eyes shut for the night was a large field of wild flowers that would be waiting for me.
The Hinterlands where peaceful until we where just outside the crossroads. After meeting with Scout Harding we went strait to the thick of of it. The sounds of battle could be heard from a mile back and the air was thick with the smell of magic and blood. I could tell Seb was just as antsy as me to fight and relieve tension.
The first signs of the revolt showed its ugly head as we turned the corner. A fire ball shot past our head as a Templar chopped the mage who cast it in half. My staff twirled in my fingers and multiple shards of ice smashed into him. Barriers went up and Seb and the Seeker took off to cut down a couple mages. Me, Solas and Varric had the Templar's as they tried to flank them. When one of the Templar's would try to restrict our magic Varric would try his best to shoot them down.
A Templar got past our attacks and was blocking my magic but was too close to me for Varric to hit. My instincts kicked in and I swung my staff up and sliced the Templar in half, crotch to head. I looked shocked at the others and looked at the bottom of my new staff. I had forgotten I had a staff blade at the end. The fighting just got more fun!
We cleared the crossroads and the refugees came milling back. We sold the loot we gathered and I kept a cute nug statue. They where so cute and I couldn't wait to get a giant black nug mount. While Seb was off talking to mother Giselle I walked around finding people to help. After I came back from talking to a man about ram firs and meat I met back up with everyone with my list.
"You were busy." Seb said looking over my shoulder at the number of people I had told we would help.
"We will be coming through here a lot so I figured we mind as well help everyone since it was our fault the sky ripped open." I could see Solas flinch a little out of the corner of my eye and made a mental note not to mention the breach in front of him.
"Well let's get to it. We still need to find master Dennet and make sure he's still alive. I really hope he's alive, it would be so much easier if we could ride everywhere." We packed for a long trip and headed out
We traveled west and camped just outside master Dennet's farm since night had already fallen. I was on cooking duty while the others made the tents and unpacked for the night. Cassandra sent a raven back to the crossroads to set up a permanent camp where we where by the river. It will be better to come back to a more stable and secure camp next time we went through. I was just finishing up with the meal prep when I realized no one had gone to get fire wood yet.
"Hey! Who was suppose to get wood? I can't cook with torch light." Cassandra, Varric and Seb just shrugged and when I looked around I couldn't find Solas. He must have went off to get it. I mind as well go find him and bring back more wood while I'm at it for later. I got up and walked out of camp to find him. After a couple minutes I found him down stream with his face turned up to the sky. A magnificent set of full moons hung over us and lit the sky with bright light.
"thu ane ma ma' ni?" He slowly turned to me, surprise and humor written on his handsome face.
"Ar ame son." Shaking his head he walked the short distance between us, he was so close I had to look up to see his face.
"I should not be surprised that you are fluent in elven, but if I am to be honest there is a lot about you that surprises me." I felt my throat go dry. I had forgotten that elven was almost a dead language. I was such a nerd to learn a fake language, came in handy from time to time though.
"I do not expect people to think much of me. That is what helps me dazzle them when I open my mouth. What is the saying? A wolf in sheep's clothing?" I gave him a genuine smile and he chuckled, surprising me when I felt his thumb ghost over my chapped lips.
A shiver I could not contain went through me but I kept my eyes on his, waiting for him to back away first. I knew better than to dance with the Dreadwolf especially in real life but I found I couldn't back down. Couldn't turn away from his dancing silver eyes. His eyes changed and I watched as they shifted from longing and curiosity to shock, then to determination. He backed away and I took a breath I didn't know I was holding. I walked back to camp wondering how many times he would back down before he gave in. Did I even want him to give in?
My twin gave me a strange look as I came back to camp with a distant looking Solas behind me. I gave him the 'don't worry about it' look and grabbed the wood. When the wood was in place I stopped myself from asking Seb to light it. He gave me a grateful look and I turned to Solas.
"Um Solas, could you light this for me?" His laugh broke through the quiet of the night and everyone just stared at him.
"You can do amazing magic yet can't do a basic fire spell?" I grumbled and tried to hide my blush that I knew was creeping up my cheeks.
"Well maybe you should ask what I can't do instead of what I could do and the list would be smaller." He laughed again and lit the fire with a wave of his hand. I started to cook the stew and noticed Varric feverishly writing in his journal. I rolled my eyes and put my full attention to my work.
After everyone was fed we all rested and told stories by the fire. This is where Varric's skills for pissing Cassandra off came in. He had her so mad that she stormed off to her tent claiming Varric's stories where all false
"Well, my job's done. You kids have fun, I'm heading to bed." He got up and stretched.
"Good night old man." I yelled back and he mumbled about how kids didn't have respect and went to his tent. Seb also bid me goodnight and headed to bed. That left me alone with Solas again. I really didn't feel like being alone in the dark again or left alone in my mind, so when he got up to head to bed I grabbed his sleeve. Shocked, he looked down at me with a questioning look.
"I... Could you tell me more about your trips to the fade?" I tried not to sound so pathetic but it was kinda hard when I was holding onto his sleeve like a child who was scared.
"If you wish, what would you like to know?" He sat back down but a little closer, with thankfully none of the awkwardness from earlier.
"Have any funny stories with the spirits you've met?" He nodded and began to tell me about his friend wisdom.
I woke up in my tent and stretched. I didn't even remember falling asleep and wondered how I got here. Hearing someone awake I got up to find Solas already sitting by the fire.
"Once again you wake before I would expect you to." I rolled my eyes and looked at the pretty sunrise. The light was barely strong enough to warm my face but was a lovely sight to see with vibrant pinks and reds.
"I told you to get used to that." I finger combed my hair and threw it up into a ponytail before going over to the river to collect some water. It was a blissful surprise that this world had coffee and I planned to drink it every day. I put the kettle on and pulled out a coffee pouch from my bag.
"What is that your making?" I threw some of the grinds into what looked like a modern french press and pored the hot water in.
"Coffee. I would offer you some but... I have a feeling you wouldn't like it." I saved myself this time. The man hated tea, I couldn't see him liking coffee.
"Hmmm." Was his only answer and he watched me press the grinds down and poor myself a cup. Then grabbed another cup and filled it.
"Thought you said I wouldn't like it." I rolled my eyes and held the cup in front of me and used my magic to move the smell into my brothers tent. Solas opened his mouth to say something when I held up my hand. Within thirty seconds Seb poked his head out of the tent.
"There is coffee?" His black hair was sticking every which way and he walked over to me like a zombie. He plopped right next to me as I handed him the mug. Solas was smiling at us as Seb put his head on my shoulder.
"Gods I love you, you know that?" I laughed and took a drink from my mug.
"Unlike me he takes forever to wake up in the morning. He is also extremely lovey dovey when hes tired." I said pushing him off me.
"Aw Syb, you're so mean, Let your big brother love you, you grump." I gave up trying to get my own space when he clung to me like a koala.
"You are going to give people the wrong idea about us, you know that? People are going to think we are some type of incestuous couple." I could hear Varric laughing in his tent and the sound of paper shifting.
"Varric you better not be writing that down!" I shouted and heard him laugh even more.
Cassandra chose that moment to come out of her tent.
"Do I even want to know?" She said coming over to us and taking a cup. I gave her a pleading look to help me and she glared down at Seb.
"Herald could you let go of your sister and get changed, we need to head out soon." Seb grumbled about Cassandra being a fun sucker before letting me go and walking to his tent.
"Remind me to drink my coffee and relax next time before waking him." Solas chuckled as he grabbed some food from his pack.
"I'll try my best as long as you promise not to fall asleep on me while I tell you stories." I blushed and rushed into my tent to put my armor on.
The horse master was a dick but he made sense. We needed to fix his wolf problem and his bandit problem before he would give us horses for the Inquisitions army. Cassandra sent another raven to Haven with a map of where to build the watch towers while master Dennet brought us horses for our journey up the mountain. Me, Cassandra and Solas hopped up onto our mounts like it was second nature.
I had been forced to learn by my mother. She insisted I learn everything it was to be a proper lady, that included learning how to ride a horse and look elegant even when getting bucked off. What she didn't know was the instructor hated her and trained me in everything and anything for six years twice a week. I waited for Seb and Varric on the other hand looked at there mounts like they where demons.
"Oh just get on you delicate flowers." I joked, patting my white mare and turning her to the others.
"You sure it won't bite me?" Varric said reaching his hand up to try petting the massive horse. He yelped as it tried to bite him.
"You know they can sense fear right?" Cassandra added, her horse padded on the ground as it sensed her impatiens. I just rolled my eyes and led my horse to the training course you had to do before they would let us leave.
Solas had also gotten bored with them and had come over with me. His silver mount nipped at mine and mine bucked. I stayed on my seat with little to no effort and gave him a glare but remained silent as I watched him start the course before me. He rode just as well as I would expect him too. He easily overtook Dennet's daughter as him and his mount moved like they where one.
"Hey girl, see that pampas ass right there?" My mount snorted her answer. "We need to beat them ok? I'm a good rider and won't over do it on the reins." She dipped her head in a yes and moved us to the beginning of the course to get ready as Solas came trotting up to the side to watch. Dennet's daughter came to a rest next to me.
"You next?" I nodded. "Alright, don't fall off. No one told you but that horse you have there is a spitfire."
"Oh look, a horse with the same personality as you. This should be fun to watch." I laughed and turned to him.
"Looks like your about to add another thing to that list." The bell sounded and the horse bolted down the track. I could feel my body move smoothly with her muscles as she ran. Could feel how easy it was to lean left and right and move the rains the slightest and she would move. Before I could really enjoy it the track was over and she came to a quick stop in front of Solas's mount that would have dismounted me had I not seen it coming.
"Is there nothing you can't do?" He questioned, his face in awe as I moved to make room for the daughter. I gave him a smile that was as wild as my heart was racing and shrugged.
"Where did you two learn to ride? Never seen an elf ride a horse before let alone two." I shrugged again and pointed to my horse.
"What's her name?" The girl smiled a ruthless smile.
"Buttercup." I shared her smile and patted Buttercup on the neck.
"Well Buttercup, I think me and you are going to be good friends." She tried to reach around to nip Solas's foot but I pulled the rains back. "Very good friends."
Seb and Varric finally got on there horses and did a crash course on how to ride. They spent the entire evening learning before they would let us go with them.
I on the other hand was having all too much fun doing all the extended courses with Buttercup. It was about supper time by the time they finally called out that they got the hang of it but it was too late in the day to hunt wolfs safely so I went for a quick ride around the farm land and beyond.
I was just about to go around a corner a mile out from camp when Buttercup halted.
"What's wrong girl? If its bandits stomp once, if its monsters stomp twice." She stomped once and I dismounted before peeking around the corner. There where four I could see from this angle but could be more hiding in the trees. I contemplated heading back to grab everyone but I was a ways away from the farm and they could be gone by then. I steeled myself and took a deep breath and stumbled out from my hiding place without my staff. I didn't really need it to cast spells and I wanted them to think I was a weak little thing.
"Oh look there boys, we got a little lost lamb." They laughed at his stupid joke and walked up to me. Some of my hair was covering the look of disgust on my face as they got closer.
"So little lamb, are you lost?" All four of them where now surrounding me and almost in grabbing distance. I lifted my head and tilted it to show them my best blood lusting smile.
One staggered back as two shot forward to grab me but I sent out a mind blast before they could reach me. All four flew back and I shot my hand out to call for my staff. I shot one with a move that froze him solid and sliced my staff blade through the one who got up to grab me again. I whipped around my head to look behind me in time to block a sword's blow and smashed him on the head with the blunt side of my staff. I turned and shot ice spikes at the last one who was running away and watched as he fell to the ground.
A calm washed over the small area as the last one fell. I grabbed a cloth from my pack and wiped my staff blade clean and took a drink from my water skin, leaning up against one of the rock walls to rest a moment. I didn't realize how tiring it was to fight a four man group by myself. I kicked off the wall once I caught my breath and turned to call my horse over when I heard a twig snap. I was too slow to react and felt the cold bite of a blade rest on my throat.
"Hello little pet. What did you do to my friends?" A shiver when down my spin as he spoke into my ear and panic began to set in. I was so far from my group that none of them would hear me yelling for help. The panic was replaced with a calm as I watched a vision flash in my mind and I bit back a laugh.
"What I'm going to do to you." A voice said behind the bandit. A voice I was beginning to know very well. The man turned with me in his arms to face Solas. The look on his face was deathly calm.
"Oh look, you gave me your first surprise. I didn't hear you following me." My voice came out light and I smiled when he scowled at me.
"My dear, could you not joke while you are in such a position?" There was a glimmer of humor that sparked for just a moment before it disappeared but I saw it.
"dirash amahn." I commanded and pointed to the bandits knee with my right hand and put my left on the bandits arm that held the knife.
"Hey now, none of that elfy stuff." I flinched as he pushed the knife a little harder into my neck, making it bleed slightly. Solas's eyes narrowed when he saw the blood.
"Don't like me hurting your little friend? Then do exactly as I..." Solas shot a bolt of lightning directly at his knee. The man screamed out in agony as he let me go. I ripped the dagger from his hand and plunged it into his chest and watched as the light left his eyes. I was almost knocked over when Solas spun me around and hugged me, pushing my face into his stone like chest. I was so shocked that I didn't know what to do. After a moment he slowly let go and held my face in his long elegant hands.
"Never do that again. I don't know what I would have done if he where to kill you." My chest tightened at his words. Never before did I have someone look at me like the way he did. Never with so much worry and caring.
"I'm sorry, I thought I could handle it alone. I was wrong." His eyes flashed with anger and his hands tightened on my face.
"You where wrong and it almost cost you your life!" I flinched at the volume of his voice. I've never heard his voice like this. Never heard this much emotion, never seen this look in his eyes in any of my play playthrough's. It was all so much more real here, so much more painful to go through.
"Solas, why do you care about my life so much, we just met a week or so ago." Surprise was his first emotion, confusion was his second but the finally was a cool mask of indifference. It took him a moment to answer but his voice came out calm and a little cold.
"If you die who will keep the Herald in line? How long do you think he would be out of commission with grief at his beloved sister's death?" He let go of my face and went to grab his staff and his horse. I whistled for mine and got on top and tried not to let his words affect me but they had hit home.
"Longer than the two seconds you would spare me." I whispered as I turned and trotted away from him. I didn't see the flinch pass over his face as he followed behind me.
Back at camp Seb and Varric where celebrating there new riding skills with big mugs of ale the inquisition soldiers brought as they occupied the area. I brought Buttercup to the near by stream for a drink and took off all her equipment. Then grabbed a brush from one of my packs and brushed her down. I could hear Solas doing the same on the other side. A yelp could be heard from him as Buttercup nipped at his arm. Everyone in the camp laughed and I patted her on the neck.
"Good girl, eat the moody elf." I could hear the sounds of his displeasure as he moved his horse over a couple paces. As I finished with her brushing I wondered how long it would take until Solas talked to me again.
A long time was the answer. We had cleared the wolves and taken out the rift on one day. After we came back we went to find the missing drufflo and ran into another rift.
The next day we went back to the crossroads. We had killed a bunch of rams on the way back and I was picking elfroot any chance I seen some. The small town was cheering as we came back with the much-needed supplies. We partied and danced with the townsfolk all night and set off in the morning to clear rifts until the soldiers finished the watchtowers for master Dennet. It was five days after that we got word the towers where done. In that time we managed to find the strongholds of both the mages and Templar's, killed off a bunch of bandits, closed a couple more rifts, made camps across the map and even saved a kitty. I'm not joking about the kitty, someone in the town had lost a cat and we found it before it got eaten by a demon. It purred and slept on me the entire way back. After our long week in the Hinterlands we made it back to that farm where Dennet joined the inquisition and we made our way back to Haven.
We had just unpacked and changed into our town clothes when there was a knock on the door. Seb waved to me and said he was tired and wanted a nap and if it was for him to take a message. I rolled my eyes and went to open the door. When I opened it it took me longer than I would like to admit to put on a mask of indifference as Solas stood there with his hands behind his back
"What can I do for you Solas? My brother is busy at the moment." He gave me a half smile that made my toes curl and pulled out a map.
"The alchemist asked if I would find him his superiors notes to make us stronger potions for the road. I came to ask if you would like to accompany me?" I turned to look at Seb who was now behind the door making a shooing movement with his hands.
"Sure, why not." I grabbed a cloak and my staff before walking outside. We walked through Haven and the training camp without saying a word, he only spoke once we walked into the woods.
"I must admit, I am shocked you agreed to come along since the last time we spoke it was... unpleasant." I scoffed and plucked the map from his hands.
"I was thinking about it but we are going to be working together for a while so I thought I would play nice. Plus you are probably the only one I can stand to be around for longer than an hour. I might even go as far as to call you a friend." He laughed and followed me as I led us through the woods. I didn't need a map to find the cabin we where looking for but he didn't need to know that.
"Were did you learn to read a map?" I gave him a funny look.
"Isn't it kinda the easiest thing to do as long as you know where you are, and even then it's not hard to find out where you are once you walk around a bit." He could tell I was deflecting the question and doing the same thing he did when asked questions.
"Feels like I know a lot about you yet nothing at all." He said walking with his hands behind his back.
"I could say the same for you." It was true if I was going on the information he has given instead of what I knew.
"I guess you are right. What would you like to know?" I thought for a moment. What is it that I didn't know that he wouldn't lie about?
"What's your favorite color?" He let out a loud laugh that I didn't think him capable of.
"Of all things to ask and you ask for a color. I suppose it is green if I think about it, although I like to paint so all colors appeal to me." So green, like his magic.
"My turn, What is your favorite color and what do you do with your time when you're not freezing bandits." I smiled at his last comment.
"Red and reading is my favorite hobby, I also love playing... cards." Oh my gods I almost said video games! What is wrong with me? I don't almost blow my cover when I talk to anyone else but him.
"Red suites you. I however, did not picture you to be a reader." I smiled and looked at him while placing my hand over my heart.
"Awwww you thought of me, I'm touched." His face went a bit pink as he coughed and asked another question, it was out of turn but I didn't feel like fussing over it.
"What is your favorite dessert?" I thought on that one a little harder, if the food wasn't in the world then I would seem a little strange.
"Puff pastries with strawberry jam and frosting stuffed inside." We stepped into a clearing near the rock wall and spotted the cottage to the left and led us over.
"What is yours?" We stood in front of the cottage and I waited for him to answer before we went inside.
"I don't really have a favorite now that I think of it." He shrugged and went to open the door. To our surprise the door was locked, that never happened in the game. Maybe some things where different.
"Maybe there is a key." Solas said looking around the snow covered ground. I walked up to the door and flicked my wrist and the lock clicked.
"Why am I not surprised you can unlock doors with your magic." I winked at him and walked through the door.
"Now you're getting the hang of it." He laughed and walked in behind me. Solas lit the fire and a couple candles that where on the walls bathing the room in a soft light. I walked up to the table and couldn't find the paper we needed. Great, another thing not where it was suppose to be. We searched the room up and down for an hour before finally giving up.
"Wow, this guy really didn't want his work to be found. Too bad there wasn't a spell to find lost items." I had sat down in front of a bookshelf with a pile of books and was flipping through the pages .
"Indeed, it looks like we are at a loss." He crouched in front of the dying fire and poked it to bring it back to life. I couldn't help notice how his leg muscles bunched and his shoulders rolled as he moved. Every movement as elegant and smooth as when he was fighting. It made me wonder how much control he uses to hold back most of that grace.
"...like?" I blinked and noticed him staring at me with a knowing look.
"Umm could you say that again? I wasn't paying attention." My face heated from embarrassment, how long did he know I've been looking at him while I thought he wasn't looking?
"I asked what your parents are like." A small smile played at his lips as he walked over and sat in front of me, grabbing books to help look through them like nothing happened.
"Oh, they're dead." He went to apologize but I held up a hand. "You don't need to give me an apology about it either. They died the same night we where taken. Outside the camp while they tried to run away, without us." It would seem that no matter what world we were in, our parents were cowards.
"It's a shame your parents where not more noble. They could have saved you and your brother years of pain." His eyes grew sad at the thought. Like he was thinking if he didn't screw up everything would have been better.
"I can see why you say that." He lifted his head to look at me. "But the things I went through. The good, the bad, the horrific. If I had the chance to go back and fix it I probably wouldn't."
"But such horrible things happened to you. You could have had a different life, a better life if someone had just saved you two instead of run away." I could tell he wasn't talking about my parents anymore, he was talking about himself and what he had done. I stopped flipping through the books and knelt in front of him, holding his hands in mine tenderly
"And I would do it over and over again if it meant having the life I have now. What happened to me and my brother was horrific yes, but it built me into the person I am now. Yes there are bad days but there are more good and I would never go back to the scared and beat up little girl in the woods. I have scars on my mind and body but I am the stronger version of myself because I broke." I squeezed his hands and went to back away when his grip on my hands tightened.
"Do you truly believe people would get stronger after going through so much trauma?" I smiled at him and took a deep breath. If I couldn't change his mind while I was an Inquisitor with the anchor in game then maybe I could being free and here in person.
"You said it yourself, I didn't look like all the abused people you have met. A piece of metal can only become a sword after you put it through extreme conditions. Have a closer look at anyone who has gone through what I did or worse. They may be broken but with the right people around them they get molded and shaped into something better, stronger." He thought a moment about my words and let go of my hands. I scooted back to my spot, a comfortable silence washed over us as we looked through more book before he asked.
"I had always wondered why you and your brother never had a vallaslin." I shrugged again, trying to keep the conversation light.
"We where taken before our coming of age ceremony and when we came back we where already branded to one god against our own will. We didn't feel like we needed a second brand, plus I stopped believing in gods long ago. To each there own if they believe or not, but I'm not going to think there was or is cosmic beings out there watching over us." I got up and looked on the desk again. As I was moving things a book fell off the desk and hit a basket, knocking it over. Solas got up and plucked the paper from the bottom.
"Looks like he was better at hiding things than we thought." He said as he read the paper over.
"I know right? Who would think to look under the basket?" I laughed and turned out all the lights with my frost.
We walked out into the blinding sunny day and took a second for our eyes to adjust. I put my hand out to stop Solas from stepping forward and pointed to the ground. More footprints where in the snow than when we went in. Someone had followed us. I crouched down to the ground and looked at the prints a little closer. Three sets of prints that where not our own and none of them from our small group of friends. I took out my
staff and Solas followed suit.
"Come out! We know you are out there!" I shouted into the small clearing and into the woods. Slowly the people came out of the woods. One was the royal boy I had almost froze the dick off of but that wasn't what made me freeze. A moment later three Templar's in shinning armor came out of the tree's.