Fennic pov:
"WHY!? Urgh why is it whenever humans are involved something has to blow up!?" I groan head in my hands as we scout ahead, Varric and I frown at the demons terrorizing the land all coming from a single scar in the sky, a big one at that. No doubt mages are involved, I mean no warrior could have the knowledge of this kind of magic from the looks of things.
"Humans, foxy humans," Varric answers. Calmly, we scavenger the snowy lands, my skin shivering at the icy cold touch of winters breathe as the sound of a demonic screech reaches our ears.
"Great who's hungry for some demon flesh?" I ask rhetorically as we jog over. "Oh I can't wait," Varric smirks as I draw my twin blades and charge with Varric providing backup as I use my sneak skill to turn invisible. Swiftly, I get behind the rage demon, the heat emitted from the beast, causes a singular tear of sweat to cascade down my temple as I strike, impaling the demon causing the demon to release a pained and angry cry. Enraged, it turns to strike me but I backflip away using my reflexes. Angrily, the demon limps over to me, lava like red arms sharp as knives trying to strike me but the beast is slow and I easily dodge the slashes as Varric goes over to the injured soldiers and refugees, ordering them to flee while they can.
Damn it…!
Scowling, I glance at the corner I have thrown myself into as the demon draws near, smirking a wicked grin making me frown as I draw my blades and ready for another vanishing act or stagger bomb to confuse the beast. The beasts hot breathe grazes my face making me wince at the foul stench of fire, ash and charred flesh, maybe I don't know…
"Tried a mint before?" I ask cheekily and raise my blade-
BAM!
Suddenly, the crackling sound of ice echoes in my ear as the once cold temperature of the chilly outdoors turns into frost. Surprised, I blink staring at the once fiery beast now encased in ice. Scowling, I recognise the work of a mage. Hmm… I walk around the frozen creature watching as the ice slowly cracks like glass and the monster crumbles to the ground, broken and never to be put back together.
"Fox you okay?" I hear Varric's concerned voice as he reaches me Bianca in hand but my turquoise orbs narrow at the figure approaching, the gentle tap of the staff in his right arm against the ice as he approaches.
"Varric stay behind me," I whisper lowly at the apostate, a wave of anxiety and rage hits me as the mage appears. He looks like a mage and a hobo. Magehobo. Wai is he… an elf? But he has no Vallaslin, a city elf perhaps?
"So you saved Fox thanks name's Varric Tethras at your service," Varric greets the stranger while I remain uncertain. My eyes narrow in suspicion of the mage. He does not look as part of any clan nor does he look like a city elf… strange. I don't know if we can trust him, he may use his blood magic on us or use his ice to freeze us and steal our money.
"My name is Solas, a pleasure to meet you," Solas smiles at us while I frown staring at the bald stranger.
"Now, now, Fox be nice, he saved you after all," Varric reminds me.
"I had it handled," I argue.
"Really? That demon cornering you was part of your plan?" The elf smirks at me stepping forward as I frown and take a step back, at the strange male.
"Varric lets go no doubt Cass and Leliana will want reports," I reason to the dwarf and walk ahead of the two.
"Strange to see an elf so far from her clan," the mage calls out to me as I glance at the mage annoyed.
"Who said I was part of any clan?" I retort and my eyes narrow when I spot a Nug. Good food for tonight. Swiftly, I draw my blades and place the ends of the blades together connecting them into a bow and I get out my arrow from my quiver, drawing and firing the arrow, impaling and ending the nug's life.
"A city elf then?" Solas enquires but I shake my head and approach the dead nug, drawing my spare dagger and skinning the nug for materials.
"You should be lucky Chuckles, usually you would be dead by now," Varric chuckles as I sigh grumbling under my breathe as we get closer to finding the others…
"Chuckles?" Solas questions frowning.
"He gives everyone a nickname," I sigh as I pull out some elfroot hidden in the no using my spare knife, you never know when you'll need some elfroot.
Shocked, my eyes widen when I notice the rushed and panic soldiers holding something no wait someone unconscious.
"Cassandra what's going on!?" I turn to the raven haired warrior.
"This woman, she may hold the answers we need for the breach and most holy," Cassandra explains only for her eyes to narrow into a sharp glare when she finds Solas.
"Who is this apostate Fennec?" Cassandra demands from me her jaw clenched, sword aimed at the hobo.
"Cassandra stop!" Leliana appears stopping Cassandra's blade.
"An ally, he saved Fox's hide," Varric steps forward.
"I knew what I was doing," I repeat scowling.
"Sure you did, so when did you plan to strike after the rage demon set you ablaze and devoured you," Solas argues making me scowl at the smart ass.
"You think you're so smart, watch your tongue apostate," I warn him drawing my blade to his neck as I stride forward, my silver blade glistening in the moonlight as it merely tickles his neck, but he remains unfazed causing my brow to furrow even more.
"Technically we are all apostates," he smirks at my twitching eye.
"Enough! Leliana's firm voice stops as she and Varric separate us making me scowl even more with Cassandra at the smug apostate, thinking he knows everyone; he's such a smug kaffas.
"I can help you, the mark on the girl I can research it see if it can truly help seal the rift and keep the prisoner alive," Solas offers making me frown. I don't know what if he tampers with the mark, causing a huge explosion, killing all of us but he or he makes the mark even worse, losing our key to sealing the rift and killing the prisoner in question, she may have answers on sealing the rift…
"I don't know about this," I argue.
"We barely know this apostate how can he be trusted?" Cassandra agrees with me.
"Seems to me he knows a lot about magic, from his moves back there," Varric offers.
"Cassandra we need him, he may help us find the solution to this mess," Leliana argues as we both sigh. "Fine do whatever you want," I growl annoyed at the apostate.
"Fennic you will take the apostate to the prisoner," Cassandra orders me.
"WHAT!? No!" I argue enraged.
"I am not dealing with this little-"
"-Language!" Varric interrupts as I seethe, my ice cool gauntlets rub against my smooth skin as I glare at the quiet apostate.
"The more time we waste talking the less time I can help find answers to this rift," the apostate reasons as Leliana and Cassandra stare at me. Groaning, I stomp over to the silent apostate staring at me analysing me as I grab the chains from Cassandra and roughly imprison the apostate.
"These chains are not necessary," Solas scowls at my rough tugs.
"Don't care," I growl and tug him forward, smirking at his frown.
"Not so high and mighty now are you apostate? I smirk, leaving the trio to discuss our next move.
"At least I'm not acting like a child," he retorts making me growl.
"I am not a child!" I argue.
"Then perhaps you should start acting like your age," He smirks as I growl.
Silently, I walk over to the crowd of people swarming the prison as my foot small steps make marks against the soft smooth snow.
"So you are not part of a clan?" He enquires.
"No I am not," I grumble.
"Nor are you a city elf?" He raises a brow and I nod.
"What of you? I see no vallasin and you don't look like a city elf," I point out trying to get him to stop prying, it's my business he'll be gone soon enough.
"Clever observation," Solas smiles at me sarcastically of course, making me frown.
"We're here," I whisper as we approach the prison, the guards' step away flinching back from my glare.
"Such a jovial person aren't you?" Solas smirks.
"And you are such a unpretentious person," I counter. Smirking, I glance at the now silent mage, good, his silence bring a small smug smile to my lips. We enter the cell room to find the woman unconscious.
"A human?" I whisper.
"Ahem?" I frown at the fake cough and turn to Solas. Reluctantly, I release his cuffs and lean against the ice cold stone wall as the elf tends to the girl. Frowning, I stare at the girl's features.
"Free marches right?" I whisper peering over at the girl's features reminding me of those residing in the fee marches only a paler skin tone. The girl has dark brown hair and a tanned complexion, a lighter shade than my own.
"Impressive, have you seen many humans from the free marches?" Solas asks intrigued.
"In my life, I have seen many humans either shouting or go crazy over mages and blood magic, or being mages themselves and falling into blood magic, such weak minded fools," I reason not seeing Solas frown.
"Blood magic is not for weak minded people," Solas agues.
"Excuse me? Were you in Kirkwall where the deluded mage leader decided to turn to blood magic? Did you see those, innocent fall to blood magic? Did you see the consequences and deaths caused by blood magic?" I argue bitterly as I feel a vile acidic vomit try to crawl upwards in my throat, as the horrid memories of back then.
The finger, the creature that were once free people with a choice and most of all... the bride. Grimly, I look away trying to push away that horrid day, recalling the magic used by those desperate and insane.
Desperate times create fear causing blood magic to be used in the wrong way. You can use blood magic for good," Solas argues as I scoff. "You remind me someone, so stubborn in her beliefs it caused the death of her keeper," I scowl. Solas goes silent as he continues to focus on the girl.
"I take it you have seen other Dalish clans?" Solas tries to change the topic sensing my bitterness.
"You could say that," I mutter bitterly as Solas raises a brow and writes down some medical notes of the patient.
"It's a long story," I argue.
"I would be intrigued to listen," Solas argues.
"Perhaps another day mage," I warn him as I spot the bright green mark practically hissing and crackling like fire. The patient releases a groan of pain. Panicked, I step forward only to see Solas take control and place his pale hands on the marked hand, his brow furrowed as he focuses and the bright green mark gnawing at the girl's hand stops its invasion of more skin.
Tired, Solas slouches from his use of magic; exhaustion fills his veins. He doesn't seem to use blood magic, I see no knife of use nor do I sense any negative content, and yet he believes blood magic can be used for good, madness, utter craziness.
Now come on me, remember what Hawke taught you! Mages are people!
Sure some mages may use blood magic to harm people, sure some mages go to lengths of scarifies sure...
I'm not helping myself here.
Urgh… what would Hawke do? She would want me to give mages a chance, hmm. I don't know. He doesn't seem to be a threat. I mean sure he has a knowledge of magic and is very powerful magic wise but strength wise he's a stick, I could easily overpower him, if worse comes to worse. It was easier to be fighting than thinking… for now I'll give this mage leeway for now. One wrong move and he's demon food.
My ears perk up at the sound of rushed footsteps and I turn to a annoyed Cassandra.
"Apostate, what can you tell me!?" Cassandra demands sword raised.
"She is stable however the mark is slowly killing her," Solas frowns as he passes the medical note to the Seeker.
"Not good enough!" Cassandra seethes as I step forward. "Cassandra apostates are dangerous I agree but the apostate just got here. Give him time," I argue.
"We do not have time!" Cassandra argues.
"We won't if we keep arguing!" I reason silencing Cassandra. "Very well just know this apostate, one wrong move and no results by the end of the day and you're dead," Cassandra whispers grimly and storms out as I turn to find a frowning Solas.
"She's a good person when you get to know her," I sigh.
"Ah yes I could tell she loves apostates now doesn't she?" Solas scoffs.
"She's stressed, the divine has died," I reason.
Silently, Solas continues his work as I notice one of Cullen's guards appear. Nodding, I leave the terrified guard and silent Solas to his work scowling as I feel a piercing gaze on my back, how irritating.