I am sorry again for the long wait. Working hard in many projects. Also I had lost my job and got really really depressed for a while, then covid happened and we all know about that crazy crap. But I have been writing...when I am not working or caring for my family. Most of them work at the hospital so I watched the kids. Don't ask how many you wouldn't believe me, but I wasn't alone in taking care of them, I was just also taking care of the person taking care of the children. So here's the next chapter getting to know everyone.

The next morning I walked to the Chantry for our first official meeting. This was where I was to meet the leaders, well the key leaders, Cullen the commander of our army, Leliana our spymaster and Josephine who would handle the political side of everything. Cassandra explained it to me as we walked toward the chantry, catching me up on what I missed. We went through the doors and I felt a tingling in my left hand. I examined the mark trying to get an idea of how to feel.

"Does it trouble you," Cassandra asked.

"It didn't do a damn thing," I said frustrated. "If it wasn't enough to close the Breach, What use is it?"

"You did everything we asked you," Cassandra said, trying to reassure me.

"And it still didn't work," I didn't want my adolescents to show but well the disappointment that I failed is killing me. One job, just one job and I failed at it.

"What's important is that your mark is now stable," Cassandra said, making me see the bright side. "As is the Breach. You've given us time, and Solas believes a second attempt might succeed-provided the mark has more power. The same level of power used to open the Breach in the first place. That is not easy to come by."

"Sounds like fun," I said sarcastically. "What harm could there be in powering up something we barely understand?"

That got a chuckle out of Cassandra she had a nice laugh. "Hold onto that sense of humor."

We entered what she would call our war room where we would meet and plan out where we needed to go. Everyone else was already there.

"You already know Commander Cullen," Cassandra said, going through the formalities. "Leader of the Inquisition's forces."

"Such as they are," Cullen said, shaking his head. I knew that expression, he wished that he could ask our clan for help but knows he can't. "We lost many soldiers in the valley, and I fear many more before this is through."

He looked at me silently asking that I try to do what I can as a protector and see if I can apply the abilities that allow me to protect the clan to work here.

"This is Lady Josephine Montilyet," Cassandra continued directing my attention to the new woman that appeared after I left with Cullen to Kirkwall to find Xenon. "Our ambassador and chief diplomat."

Josephine looked at me and smiled before speaking a greeting to me that I did not expect. "Andaran atish'an."

"You speak elven," I felt delighted, I couldn't explain why.

"You've just heard the entirety of it, I'm afraid."

I smiled at her. I could teach her more if she wished, I could even teach her the code that Cullen and I used. I would have to ask Cullen what he thought later.

"And of course you know Sister Leliana," Cassandra finished.

"My position here involves a degree of…" Leliana started but Cassandra cut her off.

"She is our spymaster."

"Yes. Tactfully put, Cassandra."

"That's an impressive bunch of titles," I said smiling, the smile was small though, I honestly wondered what they would be calling me.

"I mentioned that your mark needs more power to close the Breach for good."

"Which means we must approach the rebel mages for help," Leliana said. I silently agreed with her. Magic would be the better solution. But given recent events, is it a good idea, Cullen didn't think so.

"And I still disagree," he said, turning to Leliana. "The templars could serve just as well."

"We need power, Commander," Cassandra argued which surprised me. "Enough magic poured into the mark-"

"Could destroy us all," Cullen cut her off. He used that as an excuse but the way he looked at me. Pouring more magic into the mark could kill me before I had a chance to close the breach. "Templars could suppress the Breach weaken it so-"

"Pure speculation," Leliana said, cutting him off.

Cullen sighed before continuing. "I was a templar. I know what they're capable of."

"Unfortunately," Josephine stated, stopping more arguments. "Neither group will even speak to us yet. The Chantry has denounced the Inquisition," she turned to me. "And you, specifically."

"That didn't take long," I sighed, I was honestly wondering when they were going to target me.

"Shouldn't they be busy arguing over who's going to become Divine," Cullen asked. He was tired of the Chantry too, especially seeing and hearing what other templars have done to the Dalish trying to get to their mages in the woods. He even helped me protect Dashana, Nesihra and Damion.

"Some are calling you," Josephine continued. "A Dalish elf- the "Herald of Andraste. That frightens the Chantry. The remaining clerics have declared it blasphemy, and we heretics for harboring you."

"Chancellor Roderick's doing," Cassandra said coldly. "Without a doubt."

"It limits our options," Josephine sighed looking at her notes. "Approaching the mages or the templars for help is currently out of the question."

"The Herald of Andraste," I asked, trying to keep calm. This was madness, I didn't want any sense of divinity or even that kind of attention. I was meant to remain in the shadows but that is not the case anymore. Cullen could see the distress in my eyes but he couldn't help me, no one could anymore. "Just how am I the "Herald of Andraste"? I may believe she helped my people, I may believe she was divine but I am not one of her chosen. I'm no prophet."

"People saw what you did at the temple," Cassandra said trying to calm me down. "How you stopped the Breach from growing. They have also heard about the woman seen in the rift when we first found you. They believe that was Andraste."

"Even if we tried to stop that view from spreading," Leliana started before she was cut off.

"Which we have not," Cassandra said with a smirk.

"The point is," Leliana said, glaring at Cassandra. "Everyone is talking about you."

"It's quite the Title, isn't it," Cullen teased, then grew serious knowing how I feel about the attention. "How do you feel about that, V?"

"Honestly," I said thinking. "It's… a little unsettling. It's like I have no say or control anymore because I'm always watched."

"I'm sure the Chantry would agree," Cullen didn't mean to make me feel worse, he knew my views on the chantry and how they treated people who were different. He knew my uneasiness around them was justified especially with Nesihra in my life.

"People are desperate for a sign of hope," Leliana said, catching my mood. "For some, you're that sign."

I don't think she knew this, but what she said, it made me feel better. Powerful, could hope really have that much power?

"And to others," Josephine said, bringing back reality. "A symbol of everything that's gone wrong."

"So to them I'm the problem," I asked simply, could people really be that stupid and blind? "So if I wasn't with the Inquisition…"

Cullen cut me off this time. "Let's be honest V: they would have censured us no matter what."

"And you not being here isn't an option," Cassandra said. "They would have hunted you down for the Divine's death and maybe even kill your clan if you went back home."

"There is something you can do though," Leliana said, she somehow knew what to say every time to ease me or to calm my temper. "A Chantry cleric by the name of Mother Giselle has asked to speak with you. She is not far, and knows those involved far better than I. Her assistance could be invaluable."

"With me," I asked surprised. "I'll see what she has to say."

"You will find Mother Giselle tending to the wounded in the Hinterlands near Redcliffe."

"Look for other opportunities to expand the Inquisitions influence while you are there," Cullen suggested. Meaning do what you can to help even if it means using your special talents.

"We need agents to extend our reach beyond this valley," Josephine said, getting me thinking. "And you're better suited than anyone to recruit them."

"In the meantime," Cassandra said. "Let's think of other options. I won't leave this all to the Herald, it wouldn't be fair to her."

I gave Cassandra a smile and headed out, Cullen stopped me as he spoke again.

"I just think," he said, catching my sleeve. "You shouldn't go anywhere alone. I'm not saying take an army with you. But maybe, taking two or three companions, a mage and a templar would be good. Give you a magical defense."

"Cullen, I never saw you as the protective big brother," I said, teasing. "I'll think of your words before I leave. I want to explore a bit and get to know other key people, like the smith and the alchemist."

"Good," Cullen said, blushing from embarrassment. "Good idea."

I chuckled and headed out to explore the general area. Many things were pushing through my head too many in my personal opinion but what could I say. I went from a protector in the shadows to the symbol of hope in a matter of days. I can't wrap my head around it, maybe I shouldn't. I found a little cabin just down the path from the village, it didn't look abandoned, at least not long abandoned. At least a few days, I looked around feeling a pull towards the back of the cabin, there were a bunch of papers on the desk, it looked like some sort of formula or recipe. I packed them away in my pouch just in case I needed it later, though considering it mentioned Lyrium quite a few times I knew it wouldn't be something I could use myself seeing that I'm not a mage, all my powers come from those that I protect. Walking further down the path I could see an abandoned logging site, I looked around the area, memorizing the landmarks so that I could come here again if needed. Finally walking out of the forest around the lake I could see a rock formation in the middle of a large clearing it was large enough that one could see anything coming and prepare, yes I would be in the open as well but it would be worth the risk for a little alone time or private conversations with Cullen without being overheard by unwanted ears.

After walking around for a couple of hours, and after nearly breaking my ankle by the bridge, if Cullen saw me I would be getting a lecture, I walked back to the village looking over at the training field I could Cassandra and Cullen training with the troops. Cassandra was beating hard at the training dummies, they were shattering after only a few hits.

She groaned in disgust at the results of her bashing before looking at me as I came forward. I looked at her work then back at her.

"I think you need practice dummies made of sturdier stuff," I said trying not to laugh.

"That would be nice," she replied, rolling her shoulders and adjusting her grip on her blade.

"Like maybe iron."

"Did I do the right thing," she asked. I looked at her, seeing her self doubt and questioning her actions only after she made the choice. Not so different from me, I still question not sending my apprentice back to the clan the moment I saw her. "What I have set in motion here could destroy everything I have revered my whole life. One day, they may write about me as a traitor, a madwoman, a fool. And they may be right."

"What do you believe," I asked her, she gave me a quizzical look so I clarified. "What does your faith tell you?"

"I believe you are innocent," she admitted. "I believe more is going on here than we can see. And I believe no one else cares to do anything about it. They will stand in the fire and complain that it is hot. But is it the makers will? I can only guess."

"You don't think I'm the Herald of Andreste," I asked hopefully, I needed someone besides Cullen and the other Dalish elves not to see me as divine, even if I'm seen as an annoyance or even a means to an end.

"I think you were sent to help us," Cassandra said, not giving me a direct answer but it worked. "I hope you were. But the Maker's help takes many forms. Sometimes it is difficult to discern who it truly benefits, or how."

"So what happens now?"

"Now we deal with the Chantry's panic over you before they do even more harm. Then we close the Breach. We are the only one who can. After that, we find out who is responsible for this chaos, and we end them. And if there are consequences to be paid for what I have done, I pay them. I only pray the price is not too high."

"You didn't have a choice Cassandra."

"Didn't I," Cassandra said breaking another practice dummy. "My trainers always said, "Cassandra, you are too brash. You must think before you act." I see what must be done, and I do it! I see no point in running around in circles like a dog chasing its tail. But I misjudged you in the beginning, did I not? I thought the answer was before me, clear as day. I cannot afford to be so careless again."

"It wasn't like you had no reason to suspect me."

"I was determined to have someone answer for what happened. Anyone," Cassandra turned to walk away before she turned to me. "You said you believed you were chosen. Does that mean…you believe in the Maker?"

Her question was a fair one, though I have never stated that I believed I was chosen for this. I knew that the Divine had asked my Keeper to send help, and my Keeper sent me. That memory we saw at the temple of Sacred Ashes showed that I tried to use my abilities as a protector to save the Divine, could this be a result, a new level of protector, created by the humans' god? That is possible, Keeper Deshana always said that we don't have enough of our culture to determine if the Maker was a separate god, ruler or friend, of our own gods or maybe one of our own gods, no one knows for sure. Seeing Cassandra's earnest expression I felt compelled to give her an honest answer and express a bit of myself as well.

"Honestly," I said. "I can't really say. I'm not even sure of my own gods."

"I suppose it doesn't matter now," Cassandra said. She sounded a little said but there was still hope in her eyes. "I have to believe we were put on this path for a reason, even if you do not, now it simply remains to see where it leads us."

I watched Cassandra leave her words heavy on my mind. Hearing Cullen in the field I turned and walked to him. He had that look he always gave me when I wasn't being serious with my training.

"You there," he shouted at a recruit. "There's a shield in your hand, block with it. If this man were your enemy, you'd probably be dead," Cullen then turned to his lieutenant. "Don't hold back, the recruits must be prepared for a real fight, not a practice one."

I walked over to him smiling, seeing him back in his element, he's a great leader and trainer, seeing him not only lead the recruits but be a part of their training brought back memories of training with him on the Wasted Coast, the running and the pushing. The dueling was the best bit because there were a few recruits in on our secrets, those recruits wanted to help the mages that's why I had no problem with them joining my training. Cullen looked up and saw me then and also smiled, though his was more business-like.

"We received a number of recruits," he told me, reaching his hand out for my daggers to examine, I handed them over without protest, I knew he was just making sure they would work for me. "Locals from Haven and some pilgrims. None made quite the entrance you did."

"You know me," I said, sarcasm dripping with every word. "I like to stand out. At least I got everyone's attention."

"That you did," Cullen checkled handing me back my daggers as we walked through the recruits watching them practice. "As you might have guessed I was recruited to the Inquisition in Kirkwall after what happened during the mage uprising. The devastation V, I'm not going to be able to block that from my mind ever, I kept thanking the maker every night that you and Nes were both safe and away from Kirkwall at that time." A soldier followed us to hand Cullen a report, Cullen looked over it as he continued to talk, handing the report back once he was done reading it. "Cassandra sought a solution. When she offered me a position, I left the templars to join her cause. I was planning on writing Dashana to recruit you thinking it would be something simple. Now it seems we face something far worse and you are caught in the middle. Trapped, worse than what He did to you."

"Everything is a mess," I said looking at the hole in the sky. "Conclave destroyed, a giant hole in the sky, an immortal mage elf with a dark will...things aren't looking good Cullen."

"Which is why we're needed," Cullen said ruffling my hair. All teasing aside he grew serious. I was in more danger now than when Nesihra and I walked through the Gallows alone. "The Chantry lost control of both templars and mages. Now they argue over a new Divine while the breach remains. The Inquisition could act when the Chantry cannot, our followers would be a part of that. We may not be what the world wants but we are what it needs, there's so much we can," Cullen suddenly stopped and gave a rough chuckle. "Forgive me. I doubt you came here to get a lecture from me."

"No," I said but smiled. "But if you have one prepared I would love to hear it."

Cullen gave a loud laughter, knowing I hated his lectures as a child, the fact that I wanted to hear one showed how much I've grown and how responsible I have become. "Another time perhaps. There's still a lot of work to do."

"Commander," a soldier called walking up to us. "Ser Rylen has a report on our supply lines."

"As I was saying," Cullen said, about to take the report before he shouted at the recruits again. "If you all fight like that a ten year old would be able to beat you without trying."

"Commander," the lieutenant called back. "I know we're supposed to be motivating them, but be a little realistic."

"I am," Cullen said, sharing a secret smile with me. "I know an elf, she was ten when I met her. Would take to fighting anyone she could with a blade or her fists. She beat every single templar recruit single handed, without proper training. My guess is with proper training she could be everyone of us here."

"A ten year old She-elf," one of the recruits said.

"Well," I said, pulling out my daggers Cullen gave me, they were smaller now but still good. "I'm no longer ten years old obviously. But it's a true story."

"That was you My Lady," another recruit asked and I merely nodded my head. "Could you show us."

"Please," said the first man. He was definitely a Nobleman from the way he walked and the attitude. I simply took a deep breath before turning to him. "Everyone knows that elves cheat in combat. That is what most likely happened, no real reason for that story except to make us all work harder."

"If you feel that way then how about we have a simple match," I said looking at him. "In front of everyone here, someone would be able to catch me cheating, does that seem fair. You can choose how we duel. Blades, fists, archery, you'll find I'm not picky. I reckon with your arrogance, I could handle. And you will owe Cullen an apology and you will also undergo whatever training...Cassandra chooses for you and I promise it will be brutal."

"If you win, but if I win, you confess to killing the Divine," the man said. "We all know you did, you're just a sacrificial lamb for the Seeker and Sister Leliana."

"If that's what you think," I said tilting my head slightly. "Then you're even dumber than you look."

The man said once to his comrades he would never hurt a lady, apparently that didn't apply to elves. It was a duel of hand to hand combat, I learned a lot in the nine years since meeting Cullen. And the training he gave me was not normal, it pushed me to my limits and further. I darted around the bully, he relied on brute strength to overpower his opponents, it was, in my personal opinion, the most pathetic process.

He favored his left, and he had a minute limp in his right leg. I have not landed a hit on him once, and he got a few good ones on my because I was too slow. My ribs hurt and I could taste blood in my mouth. I took a moment, after he hit me in the face splitting my lip, to wipe the blood off. I smirked at him causing him to hesitate.

"Stop playing around V," Cullen said, causing people to look at him including my opponent. "Finish him already then head to the apothecary."

"Right Commander," I said and rushed in sweeping my leg bringing this noble welp down hard, hearing his breath knocked out of him. I then swung around straddling his chest, pinning his arms under my legs and punched him between the eyes. I thought I was going to need to hit him a couple of times before he would be unconscious. Either I was stronger than I thought or this guy was weaker than he looked, one hit and he was out.

"Get him to the healers," Cullen said, walking over to me. He examined my face and sighed. "You're getting sloppy. Have you not kept up with your training?"

"I just woke up from a three day coma," I said glaring at him. "Then you took me to see a five thousand year old perverted creeper. When have I had time to train? Honestly since I got I have been fighting for my life."

"Alright I'll leave you alone but every time you're here…"

"I know, 24 kilometers, rough terrain every morning with 23 kilos tied to my back," I sighed and smiled at him. "Can I wait until my ribs are healed though?"

Cullen looked at me surprised before we both started laughing. He pushed me towards the pain part of the village, I smiled at him and got myself cleaned up in my little cabin before heading to the smithy. I spoke with Harret, I could tell we would get along, like everyone else here he was a survivor, but unlike most everyone here, he survived more than just the explosion. Rather than give up he got back up and pushed through.