- Chapter Three -
Easier Said Than Done
The snow-covered trees sparkled in the morning sunlight. Brianna knocked on Solas's door, gnawing her lip when only silence answered. She pulled Solas's vest more closely around her and let herself in. The door clicked shut and she glanced around, memories from the night before replaying in her mind. She moved into the room, eyeing the rumpled bed covers. Late riser. The door opened and she jumped, kicking the table leg. She scowled at the bemused expression on Solas's face.
"I see you're still here."
"Yeah… Are you surprised?"
When the silence lengthened, something shifted in his eyes. "Your presence here is an unprecedented occurrence. I was prepared for the possibility that you might not remain, intentionally or otherwise." He hung his coat on the wall peg. "And I was not confident you would survive Minaeve's morning broth."
Brianna blanched. "Neither did I. I think she makes a better researcher than a cook." Solas chuckled, and her cheeks warmed.
He set some bread and dried fruit on the table. "In case Mineave's broth wasn't filling enough."
Brianna eased into a chair and reached for a slice of bread. She raised an eyebrow at Solas propped against the wall, observing her. "Do you always stare at people with such intensity?"
"You certainly seem human."
"You're doubting my humanity now?"
"People do not tend to simply fall between realities, unless I am mistaken."
"No, you're right. I guess I did just sort of waltz in here and ask you to accept my existence. Wouldn't have made it past the gate if I didn't think you would, though." She hesitated. "I guess I figured you would be the most understanding of… things."
"I am still not certain why you did not go to the Herald and inform her of my true identity. You have seen the difficulties that arise in the future between myself and the Inquisition, and could have prevented them from taking place. So why come to me?"
Because I have a crush on you…? She wiped her hands on her jeans, not able to meet his curious gaze. "When I watched this timeline, I was able to see it over and over. I saw the Inquisition grow, and I loved the people who made it what it was. I know what makes them happy, what their goals are, their fears…" An image of a cold tombstone flashed through her mind, inscribed with Solas's greatest fear. Dying alone. "Our situations are kinda similar. You're hiding what you are and where you're from. You have a goal few would understand."
"Is that why you are here?" he asked. "You have a goal few would understand?"
She wasn't sure how to answer that. "To help you, at least. You actually have a reputation for being a complete ass in my world, but I figured I could try anyway."
He studied her doubtfully, but remained silent.
Brianna grinned at him, unfazed. "You don't need to be all dark and mysterious all the time, you know. Communicate more. Just tell the Inqui- Herald… how you feel and what you are. She cares about you. I'm sure she'll understand."
He frowned, the tiny scar above his brow tightening. "How I feel?"
"You know… How you feel about her."
His lips formed a thin line. "She is a woman with her own ideas who will doubtless make her mark on the world, regardless of the opinions of others."
"Oh, right," Brianna muttered. Then there's this side of you. "Just because other people think differently than you doesn't mean you have to write them off as a lost cause."
"She is irrational and headstrong and puts herself at risk needlessly."
"Sounds like quite the person."
"She is the only one capable of sealing the Breach! The Inquisition is unstable, and if she dies, the orb would be lost. Corypheus would only use it for his own ends, plunging Thedas into chaos and ruin. All my efforts would be in vain."
"Ugh, relax! Listen, introduce me to the Herald and I'll do what I can to smooth things out." By the way he looked at her, she figured he doubted her abilities. "Hey, I'm doing my best here. It's not like I travel between worlds on a regular basis, solving everyone's problems."
Solas stood with a shake of his head. "I believe you are unaware of just how dangerous it is for you to involve yourself."
"Trust me, I know it's dangerous, but I can help if you give me a chance."
"The sooner you meet the Herald, the sooner I can find a way to recover my orb," was his only reply as he lifted his coat from the peg.
"Wait. If she likes me, do you think I could really be part of the Inquisition?" she asked.
"That would be for the Herald to decide," he replied, practically pushing her out the door. "And if you wish to remain with any hope of normalcy, I would suggest finding an alternative to your current-" He gestured vaguely at her person.
She turned, walking backwards to shoot him a confused look, then glanced at herself. "Oh. I guess I don't look very Ferelden or Orlesian, do I? Good point." She turned, hobbling down the path and hugging Solas's vest. "And you're not getting this back."
"I relinquish it into your possession until suitable replacements are found."
Okay, chill. You're being obvious. Brianna crossed her arms, her gaze everywhere except on him.
They passed the tavern and walked into the yard just inside the main gate. Brianna caught sight of a tawny dwarf seated on a bench, gently polishing a spectacular crossbow.
"Morning, Chuckles!" he called out, eyes landing on Brianna. "Who do we have here?"
She extended her hand eagerly. "Brianna. You're a great author, Varric."
"Ah… Always glad to meet a fan," he replied, returning the handshake. "This elf a friend of yours?"
"Yeah, I guess you could say that."
He smiled easily. "I didn't realize Chuckles had any friends."
"I was hoping to introduce her to the Herald, Varric," Solas interjected.
Brianna beamed.
Varric's pale brown eyes twinkled as he laid his crossbow, Bianca, in his lap, running a cloth across the arms. "Good luck with that. She's disappeared again."
Solas ran a hand over his head, his mouth a firm line.
Brianna glanced between them. "I take it this isn't unusual?"
With a shrug, Varric clapped the crossbow closed and slung it over his shoulder, pocketing the cloth. "So she likes to wander the local woods. I don't really have a problem with that."
Brianna imagined a slip of a girl in a bright forest, meandering through beams of dappled sunlight. "Sounds idyllic."
"She neglects her duties to the Inquisition, wandering without a word to anyone. She should at least notify Cassandra of her activities. What if she were needed?"
"Take it easy, Chuckles. I can understand needing to get away from the noise for a few hours."
Solas's gaze was fixed on the woods beyond the open gates.
In love already? Brianna released a dreamy, exuberant sigh, eliciting a strange look from him. "Know when she'll be back?"
"That's anyone's guess. You plan on sticking around to meet her?" Varric asked. "She's a force to be reckoned with."
"Brianna has talents that would interest the Herald a great deal," Solas added without missing a beat. "I plan on recommending her to the Inquisition for as long as she wishes to stay."
Warmth spread through her chest and she blushed.
"Interesting…" Varric glanced between them and shot Brianna a roguish wink.
She guessed he saw more than she intended.
"Utter nonsense!" Cassandra fixed her eye on Brianna. "Do you realize how this sounds? Travelling between worlds… The only experience we have with something like this is demons crossing over from the Fade!"
Brianna shrank under the seeker's scrutiny. "I'm not a demon! I didn't even know this world existed in real life. Believe me, I'm just a regular person."
Cassandra laughed incredulously. "Regular people don't appear out of the Fade."
Josephine cleared her throat quietly from the other side of the room, her dark hair glistening in the light from a nearby candle. "Perhaps we can discuss this reasonably."
"How can you believe such a story? Cullen, surely you see the folly in this."
The commander shifted on his feet. "I've never heard of such a thing before, but she doesn't strike me as dangerous."
Brianna pretended to be interested in the wall. Dangerous… That's funny.
Leliana, the Inquisition's spymaster, leaned against the wooden table, the map of Ferelden and Orlais spread beneath her hands. "Tell us about what you can do."
Brianna took a deep breath. "I know things… in the future."
"My point stands."
"You have not heard all she has to say, Cassandra," Leliana said.
Brianna focused on Josephine's encouraging smile. "I know about the explosion at the Conclave and Justinia's death, and I watched the Herald seal her first rift and discover Haven. I also know the names of the companions she recruits to help seal the rifts, even the ones she hasn't met yet."
Cullen regarded her with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. "Do you know what the Inquisition's next move should be?"
"You're encouraging this, Commander?" Cassandra asked, concern furrowing her brow.
"I need to know where in the timeline I am. You're still in Haven, so that narrows it down some..."
Cullen looked confused and Josephine was exchanging not-so-subtle looks with Cassandra.
Brianna rubbed her palms on her jeans, staring at the floor. "I'm sorry. I really am. I know this is weird. It's just… I had a life back where I came from. A family. I was terrified when I ended up here and saw the Breach. I've never been through anything like this before." She glanced around the room and her shoulders sagged. "I know how hard it gets and how hard you fight to keep the world from falling apart. You guys are amazing, but maybe I can help make the whole thing a little easier. If you don't want my help, that's fine. I just wanted to try."
Cassandra straightened, pursing her lips. "You have seen the Herald seal the Breach?"
"Yes, but the Breach isn't the main problem."
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know what caused the explosion at the Conclave?"
Leliana said, "The Herald was found in the rubble, with the mark on her hand, but we do not believe she is responsible."
"She isn't. She tried to save Justinia." All eyes locked on her. "Justinia was being held by a darkspawn magister named Corypheus as part of a ritual he was starting to unlock a powerful orb. When the Herald interrupted, Justinia kicked the orb out of Corypheus's hand. The Herald picked it up and that's how she got the anchor. The orb is what caused the explosion, not the Herald."
After several moments of heavy silence, Cassandra said, "So Divine Justinia really is gone?"
Shadows flickered in Leliana's eyes.
The weight of Justinia's death hung over the room. It meant so much more to them then she could ever understand.
Cullen sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "You say this Corypheus still has the orb? And who is he exactly?"
"Whoever he is," Cassandra said darkly, "he will pay for the Divine's death."
"I don't know a lot about the orb," Brianna hedged, "but Corypheus is a Tevinter magister that has… blight magic in him somehow? He was there when the explosion killed all those people at the Conclave. And he survived. He's able to take the body of another tainted person. But that's about as much as I know."
"Considering what you went through to come here," Josephine said gently, "we appreciate that you're willing to give us this information."
"I don't know if I've made things worse or better," Brianna admitted.
She was silent for a moment before she said, "Even if events transpire in a similar fashion to what you have witnessed, the fact that we are more aware, and have an idea of what to expect, makes it easier to plan for the future. With the responsibility we carry for so many lives, having this information could mean the difference between a restless night, or knowing we did what we could to achieve the best outcome."
Altering the Inquisition's future was a very real possibility now. Brianna had insisted to Solas that she could make a difference. She clenched her sweaty palms. Easier said than done. "By the way, where is she? I've never seen her miss a meeting." She caught the glances exchanged between the council members. "Her solitary expeditions a regular thing?"
"She spends much of her time in the woods," Leliana supplied. "My scouts report no unusual behavior. I believe the Herald is sometimes overwhelmed by the responsibilities that have recently been laid on her shoulders, and that she walks to clear her mind."
"Well, if I had a weird mark on my hand that hurt like hell every time the Breach sneezed, then yeah, I'd wanna think about it, too. She never asked for this."
"I'm concerned about how unreachable she is when she just disappears without telling anyone," Cassandra insisted. "She puts everyone in danger by being absent."
"Not everyone is a toughie like you, Cassandra," Brianna said. "Some people have more sensitive natures."
"Sensitive natures!" Cassandra barked out a laugh.
Brianna scratched her nose. "Well, that's all I got. Give her a memo or something."
"About the mages and templars," Cullen said. "Do you know which she will choose?"
"That's gonna be up to her. Once she makes her decision, I can tell you more about what will happen."
"I believe we have a plan, then," Leliana said. "We appreciate what you have done so far." She smiled. "Welcome to the Inquisition, Brianna."
After the meeting, Brianna escaped to the bunkhouse. "Oh gosh… I lived! Maybe this'll actually work! Wouldn't that be amazing?" Catching a whiff, she made a face and sniffed. "Ugh, is that me?" Her last hot shower was days ago and the basin of frigid lakewater that sat by the front door was all but inviting. She eyed it critically. "Is that what passes for a bath in Thedas? That's disturbing."
Gritting her teeth, she stripped hastily and scrubbed. Once she was presentable, she tied her hair back and crossed the path to Solas's cabin, teeth rattling. She hurried inside, soaking up the warmth radiating from the fireplace. "I'm back and in one piece!"
"I take it the meeting was a success."
"Yeah… It was a lot, though. I think they're not sure what to make of me." Solas sat hunched over his desk, and she peered over his shoulder, eyes twinkling. "So I guess I'm part of the Inquisition now. Still not really sure how that happened."
"I'm pleased to hear it." He sat back, running a hand over his face.
"Everything okay?"
"Do you know if there will be an opportunity to recover my orb in the future?"
"Still thinking about that?" Of course you are.
"Its loss would be a tragedy beyond comprehension. This is something I cannot allow to transpire."
"If you had it back, what would you do? I know you want to tear down the Veil for the ancient elves, but what would that mean for everyone else?"
He stood, surprise flickering across his features. "That is something you could not possibly understand. Sometimes, extreme measures must be taken for the greater good."
"The greater good? You mean for the Evanuris, or whoever your people are. What about everybody else?"
Solas stepped around her and strode from the cabin. His attempts to out-distance her failed as she followed him through Haven and into the forest.
"I bet you don't even know if it would help or do any good at all. Do you really know exactly what would happen if you brought magic back?"
"Do you?"
"No…"
"Again. You're speaking of something you cannot comprehend," he snapped. "The mistake is mine. I must be the one to make it right."
"You're unbelievable! You don't even know yourself what the result would be! Removing the Veil would create chaos all over Thedas. You know that. Are you even ready to deal with the consequences?" She jogged ahead and put out a hand to stop him. Dark anger flashed in his stormy eyes, his hands fisted at his sides.
Brianna bit her lip. "Hey, wait. I don't mean to make you upset or anything. Just… I'm sorry, okay? I just don't want you to do anything rash."
"It was my recklessness that led to the formation of the Breach," he said bitterly, "so yes, I am acutely aware of the nature of my past decisions. Thank you for the reminder."
She winced against the cutting words, but fidgeted to mask her embarrassment.
Solas stared at the snowy mountains across the lake. "Why are you following me, Brianna? What do you want?"
He probably didn't want her there. The rejection stung, but she pushed it aside and said the first thing that came to her. "I didn't want you to be alone. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I don't have answers. I just… wanted you to know that."
The silence stretched so long, Brianna thought he wasn't going to reply. But then he turned to her, his expression grim. "Have you seen my future? After the Inquisition?"
"Kind of? They do eventually find out who you are." She had seen the teaser for the fourth game. Now she wished she hadn't. "And… there's fire."
"As there always has been in the path I must take."
Brianna trailed him silently back to Haven. As she stared at the back of his head, she wanted nothing more than to help. But he was an elven god, and she, nothing more than a moment in the ages of his lifetime. What could she possibly do for him? Maybe she cared too much. She had always cared too much.
When they reached his cabin, she expected him to close the door in her face, but he left it open. For the rest of the day, she curled up on his bed and watched as he sat at his desk, head bent over a mess of papers. Dusk was falling when he turned in his chair and noticed her.
"You're still here."
She traced patterns on his bed cover. "My sister and I were home together one day. She was trying to convince me to 'follow my dreams' and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. My family was everything to me. I had always taken care of them. But that one time, I considered it. Finding my place in the world. But I couldn't leave." Solas sat very still across the room as Brianna pulled herself to a sitting position. "I had to stay. Staying is what I do."
"Forgive me for earlier. I know you meant well."
"Someone has to look out for you."
"And that person is you?"
Brianna stood with a rueful smile. "Always has been."
She didn't sleep that night.
