- Chapter Five -

Road to Therinfal

"The Herald is… anxious." Josephine sorted through a sheaf of papers on her desk. "The nobles have agreed to back the Inquisition, but gaining their support was not her first choice. She expressed an interest in pursuing other avenues of support, so Seeker Pentaghast and I informed the Herald of your knowledge of the Inquisition's future."

Brianna stared at her. "What did she say?"

"She had her doubts initially, but I believe her curiosity won out in the end." She smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Good luck on your first journey, Brianna. The Herald will meet your party outside Therinfal."

Wow, they told her about me! Brianna exited Josephine's study, grinning. Now I finally have a real chance to help. Several chantry sisters shot her disapproving looks, and she coughed.

"A word, my dear?"

"Lady Vivienne." Brianna stopped in front of her.

Her cool, supercilious gaze swept her from head to toe. Apparently, she still hadn't forgiven her for their last conversation. "You are not prepared for what you will face when the Herald confronts the templars," Vivienne said bluntly. "Leave the politics to those who know how to handle such situations. This is the Herald's chance to assert her influence. You are her guest and would do well to remember your place."

Wow. I'm super offended right now…

"If I remember correctly, you were searching for a way to return home. Tell me, how is that coming?"

Brianna felt herself shrinking under her cold stare. "Fine… Solas is helping me."

"I see. You are attracted to the hedge mage." Cupping Brianna's chin in her hand, something akin to pity came into her eyes as she said, "Love is a fickle thing. It clouds our judgment, distracting us from our true purpose. And here I thought we were in agreement on the dangers of dreams." She offered Brianna a slow smile. "To feel affection for another is undeniably pleasant. What your attraction is to the elf, however, I cannot fathom."

Brianna squirmed, cheeks crimson.

Vivienne tightened her grip. "Try to stay out of trouble so that the Herald can perform her duty without distraction. She relies on Solas's abilities and his experience where the rifts are concerned. We don't need his attention divided, now do we?"

Brianna mumbled a hasty reply, escaping into the brisk air and sunshine. Hands cradling her warm cheeks, she trudged to the stables where Cassandra and Varric were waiting for her. "Sorry, got waylaid." Brianna found her mount, a gentle bay with a thick, black mane. She inched closer, soaking in the warmth from its flank.

"Not a problem," Varric said with a wave of his hand. "Just waiting on one more." When Brianna turned to check her horse's saddle, she heard him laugh. "Well, look what we have here! Decided to join us after all, Chuckles?"

"You are attracted to the hedge mage."

Brianna hoisted herself into the saddle, shoving the thought aside.

"Thank you for joining us, Solas," Cassandra said from the top of her mount. "The Herald will be returning from the Storm Coast and meet us outside of Therinfal Redoubt to discuss the next steps. Brianna is accompanying us at her request."

Brianna gaped at her. Wait, she asked for me? The party set out and her gaze collided with Solas's. With a nod, he turned his horse down the trail ahead of her, his wrapped feet planted firmly in the stirrups, his back straight. She stared at the back of his head as a pang of jealousy hit her in the gut. What the hell…? Jealous of a girl I haven't even met. Get it together, he's not yours. Blowing out a slow breath, Brianna gripped the reins, her eyes on the ground.

They passed Haven's gates and followed the well-worn path into the snowy forest. Varric regaled them with tales of his adventures in Kirkwall, mixed with juicy tidbits about several Inquisition members. She realized after a while that it was for Cassandra's benefit. After learning about the Lord Seeker's fate, there had been a tension in Cassandra's shoulders that nothing could dislodge. But Varric bore a triumphant grin as his jokes and impersonations smoothed Cassandra's worry lines away.

"You're smiling." Solas slowed his horse to ride beside her, his gaze following hers to the pair chatting amiably ahead of them.

She lifted a shoulder and ducked her head. "I think Varric's trying to get Cassandra to warm up to him. It's special." With a surreptitious glance in Solas's direction, she took in the gentle slant of his eyes, the cleft in his chin, his fingers curled around the reins.

Solas nodded, his attention returning to her. When he caught her staring, the corner of his mouth lifted.

Say something! Don't just sit there like a stupid person! "Um… Vivienne thinks we spend too much time together." She groaned inwardly.

"Lady Vivienne has singular ideas. But I'm disinclined to allow her opinions to dictate how or with whom I spend my time. Whether or not her concerns are warranted, I couldn't say. However, it is true that there are times when we are together more often than not." He tipped his head back with a wry smile that made her heart stutter. "Indeed, I cannot remember the last time a human made an effort to seek me out so exclusively. It is remarkable, to say the least."

Brianna's mouth went dry as heat crept up her neck. She fiddled with the reins, wondering why she always had to say the most idiotic things. When a whisper of cold brushed across her knuckles, she yanked her hands back with a yelp. Her horse snorted, chomping the bit.

"Bee sting you?" Varric tossed over his shoulder.

"I'm fine!" When she peeked at Solas out of the corner of her eye, he offered no acknowledgement, save for that same devilish smirk on his lips.

Brianna gulped, Vivienne's admonition ringing in her ears. This was not going to end well.


"Keep your arm up when preparing to deflect a blow. Bend your elbow and don't carry the tension in your wrist." Cassandra demonstrated with her sword arm, the long blade glinting in the firelight. "If you move with your wrist rather than your shoulder, your dagger will be knocked from your hand."

"Unlike you, I didn't teeth on knives," Brianna quipped, "so I'm sorry if it takes me a minute."

Cassandra gave her a deadpan stare. "I was trained to use a sword when I was of age and aware of how to handle one properly."

"It was a joke. How do you even know how to use knives if you fight with a sword all the time?"

"I am capable of using weapons other than a sword and shield. Now, keep your feet apart and move to the side before my blade hits, like I showed you."

The sword swung towards her. Her knees locked and she threw her hands over her head.

Varric grinned from his seat by the campfire. "I've seen you at this for a while now, but you're doing the same thing over and over, expecting something different to happen."

Brianna grumbled, flexing her arm. She turned pleading eyes to Cassandra. "I want to be useful, I really do."

Setting her jaw, Cassandra faced her. "Then we try again. Move to your left when the blade comes toward you."

Brianna tracked the blade as it hummed through the air. She hissed as her knees locked and she stumbled backwards, landing on her ass in the dirt. Varric laughed and she glared at him. "I'd like to see the nimble dwarf try."

"You wound me." Varric clutched his heart in mock pain. "I'll have you know I'm quite nimble when I want to be. But hand to hand combat isn't my specialty. Bianca and I like to keep our distance."

"I've been practicing all week. For hours! But I still can't get it right."

"All week? Listen, some people spend years trying to master a weapon." He took her in with a look. "Just… Just keep at it."

"Okay, so I haven't exercised much." She crossed her arms and fidgeted with her dagger. "Where I come from, people don't really need to move around much to… you know… survive?" She winced as she hobbled towards the campfire. "And my butt hurts so bad right now from being in a saddle all day."

"Tell me about where you come from," Varric said.

Cassandra sat perched on a log, cleaning her sword. Brianna rubbed the toe of her boot in the grass. "It's very different from here."

"A different universe, right?"

She eased onto the grass beside him. "You sound like you almost believe it."

"After all the shit that's happened, with the Herald, the hole in the sky, red lyrium... a girl traveling between worlds doesn't seem so crazy anymore. You have a family back home?"

"Yeah. They're probably really worried about me." Brianna stared into the fire. "I need to get back to them, but I don't think I can go back the way I came. So I'm not really sure what to do."

"We'll help you figure it out, don't worry. Let's start with how you got here."

She felt Cassandra's eyes on her and she swallowed. "I fell here, through a portal of some kind. And when I tried, I couldn't go back through it." She shook her head. "I thought this kind of thing was impossible. How am I supposed to do it again? Am I just supposed to wait and hope it fixes itself? My mom needs me."

Brianna tensed when a new voice spoke behind her. "In spite of the undesirable circumstances, your arrival here has the potential for great benefit."

Solas stepped into the circle of firelight. He leaned on his staff, regarding her curiously. "Despite the fact that your presence here is unexpected and not in the normal course of events, despite the risk… You have willingly shared a knowledge of events that goes beyond what any of us, even Sister Leliana, is capable of. Normally, one cannot know the future. But you do. That makes you invaluable, both to the Inquisition and to the Herald."

Brianna grimaced and scratched her nose. "No pressure."

"Solas is right," Cassandra said, sheathing her sword. "You successfully identified both Blackwall and the Iron Bull before the Herald met them, and were very familiar with the Inquisition's beginning. Having that knowledge gives us an edge in our fight against Corypheus."

Brianna nodded, but unease settled in her gut.

"If you speak with the Herald, I'm sure she would be willing to help find a way for you to return home, if that is your wish." An indiscernible look flickered in Solas's eyes. "However, if you choose to stay, there is a place in the Inquisition for you."

Some time later, before turning in for the night, Brianna approached Solas outside the tent he shared with Varric. "Here's your vest back," she said, pushing it into his hands. "Thanks for letting me temporarily steal it. It's really warm."

"Of course. I see you found some armor."

"Cassandra had it made for me. She's so sweet. I love it." Brianna hugged herself, smiling.

Solas's expression warmed.

Heart thrumming in her chest, Brianna tilted her head in his direction. "Thanks for what you said earlier. It meant a lot."

"I realize all of this can be a difficult adjustment, but I meant every word."

"You want me to stay?"

With a glance behind her, he lowered his voice. "I have not had the pleasure of sympathetic company in some time. My motives may be selfish, but I value our relationship and would be pleased to see it continue."

Silly egg. Brianna was having a hard time meeting his eyes. "Me, too. But you never know… I might secretly be a spy, here to rat you out."

"Somehow, I find that unlikely. You are an exceptionally transparent individual."

"Oh, great. None of my secrets are safe. Thanks, I guess?"

His eyes found hers and they danced with amusement. "Unsafe indeed."