CHAPTER 18: Ella
Leliana and Josephine were in the War Room he way things were going, Leliana was actually beginning to feel the beginnings of optimism. The way the that Commander Cullen's Lyrium withdrawal was progressing on the other hand was really beginning to show; and the other Templars were becoming aware of it too. Not many of the Mages that had joined had seen Lyrium withdrawal. Thankfully, both Ser Cauthrien was settling into the room allocated to her. Unfortunately, they had received a raven from Kirkwall: Aveline Vallen had to turn back, they were facing an offensive effort from Prince Vael of Starkhaven and Acting Guard-Captain Donnic had requested her return. Since Ser Cauthrien had arrived, Leliana wasn't too upset at their plans being unknowingly thwarted. She was not looking forward to telling the Herald of Andraste that her hometown of sorts was entering into a war that many among the Inquisition had a vested interest in. At least the Herald was expected back anytime now.
Josephine was beginning to smudge ink over the heel of her hand again. Leliana reached out and lightly kicked Josie. "What?" the Antivan looked up from her work and the Orlesian just gestured to Josie's ink-afflicted hand. "Ugh, thank you Leliana." She got up and exited the room, no doubt to wash her hand off. Leliana chuckled at her long-time friend.
Leliana was disappointed that Aveline would not be able to help them, and less so that Kirkwall was about to enter a war with Starkhaven. She would have to bring up the option of assassinating Prince Vael up at the next war table meeting.
"You look good, for your age," a voice said from the entrance. Leliana smirked to herself before raising her head to meet eyes with Ser Cauthrien. She was tall, taller than Cullen, Cassandra, and Yasmin. Her signature great sword was upon her back and she looked down at the comparatively diminutive woman with a smirk. "It's been a while, Sister Leliana. I confess myself glad that you felt the urge to reach out for me," while there was a level of teasing in her voice, there was genuine sentiment there as well.
"Think nothing of it Ser Cauthrien, you were the obvious top candidate for the position that we want you for," Leliana returned smoothly as she walked around the table to properly greet her former adversary.
"There was a woman out by the tents, you quartermaster I think? She nearly fainted when she saw me. Is she going to be alright?" Ser Cauthrien was looking concerned, and Leliana couldn't help but laugh as the clasped each other's wrists in greeting.
"Oh, that was Quartermaster Threnn. She was one of your soldiers at Ostagar, I don't blame you for not knowing her face. Queen Anora always favored her when she could get away with it because of Threnn's loyalty to the former Teryn." Ser Cauthrien winced at the casual mention of Loghain Mac Tir.
"I can't even get halfway through a conversation with you without his name still dogging my every step," Ser Cauthrien sighed.
"She's even now a Loghain loyalist. I'm not surprised she was affected so by your dramatic entrance," despite the potentially combustible topic, Leliana maintained a somewhat mirthful tone.
"You appointed a Quartermaster loyal to that man?" Ser Cauthrien asked with genuine confusion. Leliana could also detect a trace amount of anger that the man responsible for her dark turn had a staunch loyalist here.
"I can't exactly be picky," Leliana defends herself.
"I don't have much interest in being lied to Sister," Ser Cauthrien rebuked the redheaded woman.
"I wasn't lying. Threnn is highly skilled at what she does. I understand her experience at Ostagar soured her lust for battle, but did nothing to blunt her keen intellect. She really was one of the best Fereldan candidates available to me on short notice." Leliana's calm explanation did little to soften Ser Cauthrien's glare. Leliana relented, "But if you must know, Queen Anora personally asked a favour of me to take Threnn on with us. The Queen was facing political opposition at the time who would've had no qualms killing a Loghain loyalist to advance their plots, and Threnn was one of the loudest and most ah, visible, in Queen Anora's court. So she asked me to take Threnn with me when I left Denerim last year. To be honest, she really doesn't talk much about the Blight, unless she's provoked that is." Leliana shot the taller woman a grin.
"The Queen cares for this woman? It was because of Loghain that her rule was so contested, especially in the beginning," Ser Cauthrien reasoned.
"Ah, but I think you underestimate the power of a daughter's love. Logic rarely plays the role it should when the stage is populated by family or lovers. Besides, the Herald herself had a rather illuminating conversation with Threnn about her own perspective on Loghain. My own eyes have noticed Threnn in deep thought about it since the Herald's departure to the Hinterlands last month. I think you might have an interesting conversation yourself upon her return if you choose to engage her on this topic. I think she might pleasantly surprise you."
Ser Cauthrien looked curious at this revelation. "And her opinions on Loghain?"
"For you to find out, if you decide to take up the mantle of our Commander, Ser Ella Cauthrien," Leliana's smile disappeared as she reached the point of why Ser Cauthrien was here in the first place.
Ella Cauthrien laid her helm on the War Table. "I am willing to take that mantle, Sister Leliana. But are you sure you can execute this coup without bloodshed? Trust me, I know that replacing a superior officer in this manner usually ends with digging mass graves."
"We have brought in Cullen Rutherford's second in Command, a Knight-Captain Rylen out of Starkhaven, on our plans. He's a good man who will support this rather abrupt change. And besides," Leliana paused as she grimaced, "Cassandra would've never been on board with this plan if we were going to kill Cullen. We are simply removing him from the chain of command. If the Herald permits it, and there is consensus among the advisors, Cullen might even stay with the Inquisition in another capacity," Leliana's smirk let Ella Cauthrien know that the Sister didn't think the Herald would permit anything of the sort.
"When is the Herald due back? I'd like to meet her before this change is cemented if possible," Ella asked.
"Likely in the next day or two; I don't think you ask for too much," Leliana replied.
There was a knock at the door as Leliana finished her sentence. "Who knocks?" Leliana asked cordially.
"It's me!" a frightfully cheerful voice with a distinct Starkhaven lilt replied.
Leliana raised her eyebrows in a surprised expression foreign to Cauthrien's experience of the Bard. "Well, Ella," Leliana smiled genuinely for the first time that conversation. "It seems like you get to meet our Herald today after all."
Ser Cauthrien immediately gathered her helm in her hands and turned to face the door, some habits of courtly decorum just didn't wear off with time. The door opened to reveal a tall woman with caramel skin and ebony hair. She wasn't as tall as Ser Cauthrien, but certainly taller than most. There was a spear and sword both resting at different angles on her back, a dark red headband covering her upper forehead, and a burnt-crimson long coat that flapped against her knees with the wind coming in from the open door at the opposite end of the chantry. Ser Cauthrien had to admit that the smiling woman cut quite the figure.