The crumpled paper sat atop her writing desk, the rogue perched in a chair across the room. She'd hardly torn her gaze away from it since she'd stumbled through the door to her cabin. It felt like the paper was burning a hole through her very soul. Amelia rested her elbows against her knees, debating on if she actually wanted to travel for the meeting with the Grand Enchantress.
Logically, she knew that the meeting could yield powerful allies. Emotionally, however, she feared that the other woman knew. Knew and ignored the pleas of unprotected, abused mages. Knew and had turned a blind eye to the plights they'd gone through.
That Anna had gone through.
She hadn't said anything to the other companions yet. Cassandra, especially, as she knew that the warrior would insist on a meeting. She was nothing if persistent once she set her mind to something. Worse than their old Mabari they'd had growing up when he got a bone. She definitely hadn't told Anna, in fear that even the mention of the circle, or someone who knew of her treatment there, would set the girl back.
She waited a few more moments before she heaved a heavy sigh and pushed herself from the chair. If she continued to sit here and debate, she knew she'd never go meet the Grant Enchantress. Might as well put her big girl breeches on and go see what exactly the woman wanted.
The air was stuffy, and she hated it. Noblemen and women stared at her as if she was some circus act. Being the center of attention had never been her forte. After all, there was a reason she succeeded in the shadows. The whispers as she strode through the room were like nails on chalkboards.
The man who was ranting before her was staring at her, as if waiting for her to respond. She sighed. Obviously the poor man thought she'd been paying attention.
"I'm sorry, whatever your name is," she began before he rudely interrupted her.
"My name is-"
"I really don't care. I'm here for one reason, and that's to-"
She was interrupted, once again, when the man froze in his place. A ghost of a frown played upon her lips. She was getting really tired of being interrupted. Didn't anyone let a girl finish a damn thought before throwing their two coppers into everything?!
"My dear Marquis. How unkind of you to use such language in my house, to my guests? You know such rudeness is intolerable."
"Ah! Madam Vivienne. I humbly beg your pardon," the sniveling excuse for a man began, his voice strained."
"You should. Whatever am I going to do with you my dear?" the woman turned to look at Amelia. "My lady. You're the wounded party in this unfortunate affair. What would you have me do with this foolish, foolish man?"
"The Marquis does not interest me. Do whatever you want with your intrusion."
The woman turned her attention back to the frozen man. "Poor Marquis. Issuing challenges and hurling insults like some Ferelden dog lord."
Amelia turned her attention away from the arguing nobles. She snuck off to find snacks. If she was going to be stuck around some suffering nobility, she was at least going to do it with a full belly. The table was loaded with roast meat and vegetables, had at least six different kinds of bread, and had the dainty little cakes that Ashlynn had asked Amelia to bring back to Haven for "a friend."
A friend. As if the rogue didn't know exactly which gray eyed diplomat they'd be going to.
She was disappointed with the choices before her. Sure, it all looked and smelled delicious, but how would she be able to accurately maneuver herself if she was completely stuffed to the brim? Not well - she'd done it before. The stomach cramps that happened afterward just weren't worth it.
"Terribly sorry, my dear. Usually my patrons are better behaved," Lady Vivienne purred as she came to stand next to the Trevelyan. "Where were we?"
Amelia straightened her spine. Something about that 'my dear,' stood on her every nerve. "I believe I was about to ask you why exactly it was you invited me to your humble abode."
"Ah! Yes. Please come with me," the mage replied as she sauntered into a sitting room. "We can talk privately here. Maker knows there's always some sort of straining ear looking for idle gossip."
Amelia waited until Vivienne had gracefully draped herself over an overstuffed armchair. The woman oozed lethality as she sat ramrod straight against the purple cushions. The rogue cocked her head to the side as she studied the mage - high cheekbones, shrewd gaze, her skin as dark as the best chocolate - and she sent up a quick prayer to a Maker she didn't believe in in hopes that this woman didn't know.
She didn't sit, however. Amelia leaned against a marble pillar, the cold of the stone seeping deep into her bones. Vivienne's mask faltered and fell for the briefest of seconds, her lips dipping into the slightest frown at the Herald's refusal to take a seat. Most people would find it disrespectful. Amelia, however, didn't give a shit.
"Let's cut the formalities, shall we?" Amelia asked as she withdrew a dagger from her belt, her fingers dancing over the blade with precision. "You have your questions, and I have mine. I really have no interest in whatever court hoops you've to jump through."
"Blunt, aren't you?" Vivienne muttered, her gaze roaming up the Herald's body.
"Among other things," Amelia replied, her voice cool. "Do you wish to proceed, Madam de Fer, or am I free to go?"
"I want to join your Inquisition, Lady Teveylan. I feel that I could add provide much needed insight to your cause. Help you control the mages, advice on-"
"Control the mages?"
"Well, yes, darling. You don't want them running around all willy nilly now, do you?"
Amelia forced herself to calmly sheath her dagger. Her blood was boiling as anger rose inside her. Control the mages? She meant to control people as if they were dogs? Locking them away in those damned towers, with the "protectors," they so gracefully bestowed upon them? She masked her anger, put on a blank face before she glanced back up at the mage.
"Did you know?" she asked, her voice low and lethal.
"Know what?"
"Don't play dumb, Madam de Fer. It's not a good look on you. Did. You. Know."
"Lady Trevelyan, surely you must understand I don't know-"
"My sister, Enchantress. Did you know what they did to my sister?"
Vivienne swallowed thickly as her eyes darted over the redhead's shoulder. "I had heard rumors, yes. But surely you of all people understand the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few? The circles have done more good than they ever have harm."
The rogue's answering laughter was hollow and bounced off of the walls. Her blank mask shifted to one of fury, her cheeks reddening and her gaze growing shrewd. Fingertips gently caressed the hilt of her daggers as the desire to lunge forward and slice her pretty little neck from ear to ear racked her entire being.
"The needs of the few? Do you have any idea what I saw the night I rescued my sister?"
"Stole. You stole your sister, Amelia."
"I saw Templar pigs pounding away into defenseless girls, whose gazes were so empty I worried they'd never come back to themselves. I heard your guards laughing and sharing stories of what they'd done. I saw defenseless men being forced against walls while their tormentors plowed away to their hearts content. I heard every whimper, every fucking scream. And you sit here and preach to me about the needs of the many? How dare you!"
"Is it any different than the lives you've taken?"
"I'd take all their lives again, day after day, night after fucking night, if it meant I was able to save every single one of them even one more night of torment. I'd reduce your palace to ash, and bathe in your blood if it meant those poor souls were free."
"You truly believe what you did was right?"
"My sister never came back to me. What I took out of the circle that night was but a hollow shell. She wakes up screaming night after night. I can barely leave her for more than a day or two without the fear eating her alive. That is but a fourth of the woman she should be, thanks to you and your fucking circles. So yes, Madam de Fer, I believe what I did was right. And I'd do it again."
Amelia's chest heaved as anger flowed throughout her body. How dare she compare her job to what those disgusting pigs did to those defenseless souls? She'd never taken a mark who didn't deserve it. She had trained every single apprentice to follow her code to a fault. And yet this woman sat before her and tried to act like it was wrong? The Red Death wasn't something to be worn lightly, but she wore it proudly upon her sleeve.
"You knew. You knew and you did nothing?"
The resounding silence from Vivienne spoke louder than her words ever could have. Amelia forced her hands away from her daggers, instead choosing to wrap them around her biceps tightly, almost afraid of what she would do. She knew Josephine wouldn't be happy if the rogue returned from her adventures with another body added to her count.
And that woman was damned terrifying when she was mad.
"You can join, Vivienne. For no other reason than it would displease my advisor, and the woman doesn't need more trouble added to her plate."
"Thank you, Herald. You won't-"
"But know if you so much as touch a hair on one of my mage's heads, I will gut you. I will watch your intestines fall to the floor and relish in your screams. I will bathe in your blood, like they bathed in the innocence they stole. And I will enjoy it. Do be careful, Enchantress. There's eyes everywhere."
Vivenne's stare was dull as she considered the redhead's words. She could tell the other woman told the truth. She didn't see any error in her ways, or her ways of thinking. Amelia Treveylan was a force not to be reckoned with, and an enemy you'd be stupid to have. The Enchantress nodded her head briefly in acknowledgment. She knew that she wouldn't achieve the position she had desired at the beginning of this conversation.
" I understand, Lady Herald," the mage replied with a slight bow of the head.
Amelia nodded before she left, completely dismissing the other woman. She knew deep down that the mage would have an issue with how she'd left. After all, nobody ever dismissed someone in such a position of power without consequences. But a part of her, the part she'd kept buried deep within herself after she'd retired, was salivating at the thought of those consequences coming to light.
"Vivienne?" the rogue called from the doorway, not bothering to turn to look at the other woman.
"Yes?"
"My sister? She's in Haven. If you'd like to keep your tongue in your pretty little mouth? I suggest you avoid her at any cost."
Josephine was waiting in the Great Hall when Amelia returned. The ambassador's eyebrow arched in question as the rogue strode towards her. Amelia's stomach soured, knowing just how much Josephine wanted her to just behave. To be the good face of the Inquisition, and do as she's told. If she truly knew what had transpired with Vivienne, the woman would be so… disappointed.
And a glance at her cousin, who stood next to the Antivan, sneaking glances at her when she thought no one was looking, made Amelia sigh. She didn't want to disappoint the woman, in the event that it would lessen any chances for Ash.
"How was your trip, Amelia?" Josephine asked, a smile stretched upon her lips. "Was it successful?"
"Ah, yes. The Enchantress should be arriving within two days time."
"And the meeting? It went well?"
Amelia felt the blank mask fall over her face. "It went as well as it could."
"Excellent! I'll begin the preparations this second! Someone of such stature and nobility surely must have expensive tastes. Do you think we…"
Amelia tuned the other woman out. She gave her a quick smile before she turned and fled, desperate to lay eyes on her sister. She found Anna sitting in the courtyard with Cullen once again, a soft smile pained upon her lips as she followed what Cullen said with rapt attention. The rogue couldn't find it in herself to interrupt them, instead choosing to let them be and take solace in just seeing Anna free.
It was going to be a long, long endeavor. She just hoped she could handle it.