p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal;"strongspan style="text-decoration: underline;"Title: Grief/span/strong/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal;"strongspan style="text-decoration: underline;"Rating: T/span/strong/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal;"strongspan style="text-decoration: underline;"Author: KalenCaelli/span/strong/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal;"strongspan style="text-decoration: underline;"Disclaimer:/span Some swearing, a few mangled threats. It's Isabela. What do you expect?/strong/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"strongAuthor's Note:/strong/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"strongAnother Inquisition story. Because making the call damn near broke me when I first made the play through. The only way I was actually able to do so was to wonder in horror what would happen if there was another Blight introduced in the Dragon Age Universe without the Wardens. I still need to play through and actually save Hawke, but my heart will be broken again. /strong/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"strongAngsty, because that's the mood I was in when I wrote it. And it's pretty short. But it may turn into a multi-chaptered fic. I haven't decided. I'll eventually get around to cross posting on A03, just in case people don't actually read stories on here anymore./strong/p
hr /
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"WHERE IS SHE?"/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Varric turns slightly, his eyes flicking over the entrance of the keep, his current conversation forgotten as his eyes fall upon a pair of unlikely figures standing tall in the entrance./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Oh shit./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"In truth, he should have expected this. The ink on his letter had barely been legible through the shaking of his own hands, the dread in his own heart barely contained./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"At least no one had been around to see his own tears./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Isabela's eyes are dry, but red, her stiletto outstretched and leveled at the throat of one of the unfortunate guards who'd stepped forward to halt further progress into the hall. The young man's eyes darted back and forth nervously, uncertain as to whether to engage with the furious pirate in front of him, or the equally distressed mage behind him./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Double shit./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Bethany's eyes matched Isabela's own, white knuckles gripped around her staff, her cheeks reddened and ruddy from her own tears. She looks prepared to tear Skyhold down, and Varric can hardly blame her. He had been ready to do the same when he heard about Hawke's sacrifice at Adamant./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"I have this."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"He shouldn't be surprised by Leliana's timely intervention. The Spymaster's eyes and ears are everywhere, both at Skyhold and beyond, and it is only her presence that spares the young guard the experience of having his throat slit wide open./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Isabela's eyes shift over to Leliana's, the grip on her dagger shifting ever so slightly, unconcerned with the multitude of drawn bowstrings leveled in her direction. A duel between the Rivaini and the Spymaster would be interesting, to say the least, but it would be unlikely to progress much further. There is only so much damage one could do when the entirety of Inquisition's might was brought to bear./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Rivaini," Varric steps forward, prepared to intervene, unwillling to see any more of his friends die in front of him./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Don't," Isabela's tone is clipped, not even glancing in his direction, the entirety of her focus leveled on the redhead in front of her./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Isabela, Bethany, if you would," Leliana's head inclined to a small storage room off the side of the great hall. /span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Tension fills the air, neither side shifting for perhaps half a dozen heartbeats, then Bethany's hand curls lightly around Isabela's bicep./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Bela." That one word seems to break the anger's hold on the pirate, her dagger slowly lowering, brown eyes narrowed in anger at the world. /span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Varric watches as the three women head off in the direction Leliana had indicated. At first he thinks to join them — Hawke was his best friend, and if there is any talk of rescue he wants in./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"But the Rivani's accusatory glare stills his footsteps, the implication clear./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;"You should have stopped her/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"His heart twists painfully in his chest, the guilt tearing him apart./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"He should have stopped her./p
hr /
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Isabela scarcely noticed the roaming eyes as Leliana leads her and Bethany deeper into Skyhold's bowels. Her rage was balanced on a knife's edge, torn between the desire to rip everything and everyone apart and a deep, crippling grief that threatened the very core of her being./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"They enter what appears to be an empty bedroom, Leliana inclining her head towards an empty chair tucked neatly into a vanity along the wall of the room./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Isabela stood, glaring at the bard in defiance. "Tell me where the Inquisitor is." She does not care to repeat herself, uninterested in empty platitudes. Not when her grief threatens to consume her very soul./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Even if I did, we have no idea how she managed to open the path into the Fade," the redhead's tone is measured, even, the compassion in her gaze twisting the knife a little deeper. "We don't even know if it can be repeated."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"It has to," Bethany's voice is pleading, insistent, her eyes bright with the persistent tears that had been an unwelcome companion since learning of her sister's sacrifice. "I will find a way to make it work."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Not mentioning that it would likely require blood magic to even think of making such an attempt. Bethany's blood, most likely./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Leliana's gaze softened, "Not even the Divine survived being trapped in the Fade."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Hawke is alive." She has to believe that. To entertain any other notion is simply more than Isabela is prepared to bear. /span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Hawke survived being impaled on the Arishok's fucking sword." She continues, brown eyes flash in irritation at the bard, her fingers itching to find the measured grip of her stiletto. "She is alive, damn it. Don't you /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"fucking/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;" tell me differently." Her hand slides lightly to the grip of her dagger, the pressure in her chest making it difficult to /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"breathe/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;". Bethany has started weeping silently beside her, the young mage's shoulders shaking with unspent grief./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"We do not even know if such a thing can be repeated," Leliana repeats, the slightest tone of warning in her voice. She respects Isabela, and for that reason alone she has not made any motion towards her own dagger, stealthily secreted within the folds of her clothes./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Don't/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"." Tears are threatening her eyes, and she will not cry, damn it. Not in front of /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"her/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;". "If it was /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"her/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;", you would be ripping these halls apart right now." No need to clarify of whom she speaks. Leliana's relationship with the Warden Commander of Ferelden is well known./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"It was fucking Alistair or Hawke and she /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"chose/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;" Alistair," Isabela spat angrily, furious at the tears that are streaming unbidden. She did not want to cry, damn it. Not in anyone else's presence./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Hawke /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"chose/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;" to guard their escape," Leliana replied sharply, the tension in her voice rising perceptibly. "She knows the Wardens are needed to stop the Blight."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Fuck the Wardens." Isabela's voice rises angrily, her fists clenching. "I will rip the Wardens fucking apart for their part in this."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"They were already expelled from Orlais," Leliana replies firmly, "and those responsible have already been executed."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"It's not enough," Isabela spat, ignoring the steady stream of tears down her cheeks./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"It would never be enough./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;"Bethany's hand rests lightly on her shoulder, and Isabela's knees finally buckle, deep, heart-wrenching sobs tearing from her chest. This — /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"this/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;" was what she got for caring, damn it. For falling someone who had to be all fucking noble./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;"Bethany's arms wrap around her, tears intermingling with Isabela's own. "I will find a way, Bela. We /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"will/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;" find her."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"I will do everything in my power to bring Hawke back from the Fade," Leliana tries to reassure, though her expression is filled with doubt. "If such a thing is possible."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"It has to be," Isabela can barely manage to get the words out through her own gut-wrenching sobs. "It damn well has to be."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal;"strongspan style="text-decoration: underline;"Rating: T/span/strong/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal;"strongspan style="text-decoration: underline;"Author: KalenCaelli/span/strong/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal;"strongspan style="text-decoration: underline;"Disclaimer:/span Some swearing, a few mangled threats. It's Isabela. What do you expect?/strong/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"strongAuthor's Note:/strong/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"strongAnother Inquisition story. Because making the call damn near broke me when I first made the play through. The only way I was actually able to do so was to wonder in horror what would happen if there was another Blight introduced in the Dragon Age Universe without the Wardens. I still need to play through and actually save Hawke, but my heart will be broken again. /strong/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"strongAngsty, because that's the mood I was in when I wrote it. And it's pretty short. But it may turn into a multi-chaptered fic. I haven't decided. I'll eventually get around to cross posting on A03, just in case people don't actually read stories on here anymore./strong/p
hr /
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"WHERE IS SHE?"/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Varric turns slightly, his eyes flicking over the entrance of the keep, his current conversation forgotten as his eyes fall upon a pair of unlikely figures standing tall in the entrance./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Oh shit./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"In truth, he should have expected this. The ink on his letter had barely been legible through the shaking of his own hands, the dread in his own heart barely contained./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"At least no one had been around to see his own tears./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Isabela's eyes are dry, but red, her stiletto outstretched and leveled at the throat of one of the unfortunate guards who'd stepped forward to halt further progress into the hall. The young man's eyes darted back and forth nervously, uncertain as to whether to engage with the furious pirate in front of him, or the equally distressed mage behind him./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Double shit./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Bethany's eyes matched Isabela's own, white knuckles gripped around her staff, her cheeks reddened and ruddy from her own tears. She looks prepared to tear Skyhold down, and Varric can hardly blame her. He had been ready to do the same when he heard about Hawke's sacrifice at Adamant./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"I have this."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"He shouldn't be surprised by Leliana's timely intervention. The Spymaster's eyes and ears are everywhere, both at Skyhold and beyond, and it is only her presence that spares the young guard the experience of having his throat slit wide open./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Isabela's eyes shift over to Leliana's, the grip on her dagger shifting ever so slightly, unconcerned with the multitude of drawn bowstrings leveled in her direction. A duel between the Rivaini and the Spymaster would be interesting, to say the least, but it would be unlikely to progress much further. There is only so much damage one could do when the entirety of Inquisition's might was brought to bear./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Rivaini," Varric steps forward, prepared to intervene, unwillling to see any more of his friends die in front of him./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Don't," Isabela's tone is clipped, not even glancing in his direction, the entirety of her focus leveled on the redhead in front of her./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Isabela, Bethany, if you would," Leliana's head inclined to a small storage room off the side of the great hall. /span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Tension fills the air, neither side shifting for perhaps half a dozen heartbeats, then Bethany's hand curls lightly around Isabela's bicep./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Bela." That one word seems to break the anger's hold on the pirate, her dagger slowly lowering, brown eyes narrowed in anger at the world. /span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Varric watches as the three women head off in the direction Leliana had indicated. At first he thinks to join them — Hawke was his best friend, and if there is any talk of rescue he wants in./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"But the Rivani's accusatory glare stills his footsteps, the implication clear./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;"You should have stopped her/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"His heart twists painfully in his chest, the guilt tearing him apart./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"He should have stopped her./p
hr /
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Isabela scarcely noticed the roaming eyes as Leliana leads her and Bethany deeper into Skyhold's bowels. Her rage was balanced on a knife's edge, torn between the desire to rip everything and everyone apart and a deep, crippling grief that threatened the very core of her being./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"They enter what appears to be an empty bedroom, Leliana inclining her head towards an empty chair tucked neatly into a vanity along the wall of the room./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Isabela stood, glaring at the bard in defiance. "Tell me where the Inquisitor is." She does not care to repeat herself, uninterested in empty platitudes. Not when her grief threatens to consume her very soul./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Even if I did, we have no idea how she managed to open the path into the Fade," the redhead's tone is measured, even, the compassion in her gaze twisting the knife a little deeper. "We don't even know if it can be repeated."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"It has to," Bethany's voice is pleading, insistent, her eyes bright with the persistent tears that had been an unwelcome companion since learning of her sister's sacrifice. "I will find a way to make it work."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"Not mentioning that it would likely require blood magic to even think of making such an attempt. Bethany's blood, most likely./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"Leliana's gaze softened, "Not even the Divine survived being trapped in the Fade."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Hawke is alive." She has to believe that. To entertain any other notion is simply more than Isabela is prepared to bear. /span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Hawke survived being impaled on the Arishok's fucking sword." She continues, brown eyes flash in irritation at the bard, her fingers itching to find the measured grip of her stiletto. "She is alive, damn it. Don't you /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"fucking/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;" tell me differently." Her hand slides lightly to the grip of her dagger, the pressure in her chest making it difficult to /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"breathe/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;". Bethany has started weeping silently beside her, the young mage's shoulders shaking with unspent grief./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"We do not even know if such a thing can be repeated," Leliana repeats, the slightest tone of warning in her voice. She respects Isabela, and for that reason alone she has not made any motion towards her own dagger, stealthily secreted within the folds of her clothes./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Don't/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"." Tears are threatening her eyes, and she will not cry, damn it. Not in front of /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"her/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;". "If it was /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"her/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;", you would be ripping these halls apart right now." No need to clarify of whom she speaks. Leliana's relationship with the Warden Commander of Ferelden is well known./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"It was fucking Alistair or Hawke and she /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"chose/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;" Alistair," Isabela spat angrily, furious at the tears that are streaming unbidden. She did not want to cry, damn it. Not in anyone else's presence./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Hawke /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"chose/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;" to guard their escape," Leliana replied sharply, the tension in her voice rising perceptibly. "She knows the Wardens are needed to stop the Blight."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"Fuck the Wardens." Isabela's voice rises angrily, her fists clenching. "I will rip the Wardens fucking apart for their part in this."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"They were already expelled from Orlais," Leliana replies firmly, "and those responsible have already been executed."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"It's not enough," Isabela spat, ignoring the steady stream of tears down her cheeks./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"It would never be enough./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;"Bethany's hand rests lightly on her shoulder, and Isabela's knees finally buckle, deep, heart-wrenching sobs tearing from her chest. This — /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"this/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;" was what she got for caring, damn it. For falling someone who had to be all fucking noble./span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;"Bethany's arms wrap around her, tears intermingling with Isabela's own. "I will find a way, Bela. We /spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"will/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;" find her."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"I will do everything in my power to bring Hawke back from the Fade," Leliana tries to reassure, though her expression is filled with doubt. "If such a thing is possible."/span/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"span style="font-variant: normal;""/spanspan style="font-variant: normal;"It has to be," Isabela can barely manage to get the words out through her own gut-wrenching sobs. "It damn well has to be."/span/p