Loudly, the cheer of laughter echo in the tavern as I enter the room, my ears picking up the merry songs for morale from the spies of Bards, most likely Leliana's. I decide to go for a drink, to heat up my chilly body from the ice cold winter weather of Haven.
"Oi Fennic!" My ears perk up at the perky voice of Sera. Curious I turn to the source to smirk at the giggling blonde sat in a booth with Blackwall opposite, quietly drinking his drink; I raise a brow at the pack of cards by his side.
"Join us, I was just welcoming Blackall into the ranks is all," Sera smirks excited. Bored, I decide to join her as she passes me a spare wooden cup. Intrigued, I raise a brow at Sera's smug face.
"Last time we hung out you said how the drinks here were poor, let's put that to the test!" Sera declares as I raise a brow at Blackwall.
"Is Bear man playing?" I ask.
"Bear man?" He frowns.
"Your beard reminds me of a Bear coat," I deadpan causing a deep hearty chuckle from him.
"Says the elf with the emo fringe," he smirks.
"I gave up on my hair years ago," I huff tiredly.
"So what gonna shave it off like baldly?" Sera frowns at the mention of Solas, Blackwall frowns not sure who.
"The elf with me, who healed your recruits," I fill him in.
"Oh the mage," he huffs and I nod.
"Yep, Fennic here and badly are quite close," Sera teases causing me to scoff.
"Oh really? That would explain your fighting. He seemed to keep quite the eye trained on you," Blackwall notes making me roll my eyes at the idiotic pair.
"Tell me have you ever heard of the saying keeping your friends close but your enemies closer?" I smirk as the two nods.
"I'm doing that, better than wasting your energy on hitting his smug face," I shrug causing the two to chuckle. "Here, here," Sera grins raising her wooden mug of ale grinning as I hear the faint swoosh of liquor. Smirking, Blackwall joins in and I do as well, tapping our wooden cups together happily.
"So tell me this inquisitor girl, she likes to use her words doesn't she?" Blackwall frowns.
"Yeah, bit shy as well, nothing wrong with that but with her position it's a bit…" Sera trails off unsure on the word. "Troubling?" Blackwall suggests. "Yeah!" Sera smirks as I sigh at the pair.
"To be fair, think about it living in a tower you're whole life then suddenly the mage and Templar rebellion happens, thrown out of the world she knew then thrown into the real world and next thing she knows, all those she grew up with are dead and she has the power to save the world. Of course she's terrified and a bit shy," I explain calmly as the two are in a quiet agreement to my words.
"So how about this game?" Blackwall suggests and we all nod as he deals the cards.
"What are we playing?" I ask curious.
"Wicked grace," Sera smirks as a bigger smirk crosses my features at the familiar game.
"Very well," I smirk as Blackwall shuffles the deck. My eyes narrow at both Sera and Blackwall's body language, recalling the cryptic words of a good friend of mine, sailing the seas no doubt with a fancy hat and a horde of men on board.
"Have you ever played Wicked Grace Fox?"
No and Isabel I told you to stop calling me that its weird…
Aw you love it really Fox. It is easy to learn, but difficult to master. You must watch your opponent's moves as carefully as your own…
Cautiously, my turquoise eyes catch the giddy smile of Sera, good cards have to play delicately with her my eyes turn to a certain grey warden, only to narrow at his neutral expression, I see no weakness drat he has a good poker face…wait, maybe, I raise a brow at his twitching finger on the cards. He's anxious, a bad set perhaps?
If I play my cards right…then perhaps I can get Blackwall to ease up and be nicer to Evelyn.
"WHAT!?"
Shocked, the two scowl at my smug face and smirk. I cross my arms smirking at the pocket of gold in the sack, which I earned.
"How?" The pair question.
"Let's just say I have played my fair share of wicked grace," I smirk at their scowls.
"Now then time for you two to drink," I smirk as the pair share a grimace but nod. Quickly, Blackwall goes first and gulps down the strong stuff. Loudly, the cup bangs on the wooden desk as he releases the cup to punch his hand into his chest, to help endure the strong stuff.
Next is Sera. Nervously, Sera stares at the cup.
"Fuck it!" She swears making me smirk as she downs a quarter of the cup only to result in a coughing fit, she eventually calms her throat and winces, pointing her tongue out as though she could spit the stuff out.
"Nice," I reply sarcastically.
"You're mental, just you wait. This stuff will destroy you, got it from a merchant mate of mine in Val Royeaux, best man I know," Sera grins as I simply shrug. "We'll see," I smirk only to falter wait…
Don't I want this drink? If it's as strong as they say I mean... Eh, either way it's a win, win situation. I hear muffled footsteps approach.
"Oh dwarfy!" Smirking, I turn to Varric.
"Fancy meeting you here, spreading tales of Evelyn's adventures?" I ask smirking teasingly at him.
"My dear you wound me," he smirks cockily causing me to snicker as he joins our table.
"So what are you guys doing?" Varric questions and I merely show him the bag of coins.
"Oh I see you made the mistake of challenging Foxy to a game of cards. The girl has the poker face of a stone," Varric chuckles causing Sera to grumble curses only making me snicker.
"Okay then how about this? I used to play this back at Kirkwall, we each tell a story and share it. The weakest worst topic of the story has to gulp down their drink, the loser will drink the rest of the strong stuff," I offer making the trio raise a brow.
"Who will be the judge?" Blackwall questions.
"Who else better than the man of exaggeration himself? Plus he can confirm my stories well some of them," I smirk. "I would be honoured," Varric bows jokingly as we all smile and nod.
"Let's start with funniest quests," Varric smirks as I lean back, in deep thought between two particular ones, but which one shall I go with Aveline trying to ask Donnic out or should I go with the sad mage trying to get laid?
Torn, I close my eyes in deep thought snickering at the story of Sera, sleeping with some noble prick then leaving him a message making him believe to this day he has herpes, dark but funny while Blackwall mentions this one recruit training had managed to hit a tree, causing a hornets nest to fall on his head, a comical tale.
"Alright beat those!" Sera challenges smirking however I merely smirk with Varric.
"There's this guard I know, stick right up her ass about duty, nice person works as the captain of the guard just strict as hell. So she has a crush on this guy," I begin.
"Oh god," Varric chuckles face palming.
"What? You know this tale?" Blackwall and Sera frown.
"All too well, I was there with Fox," Varric snickers.
"So she decides to court him by making a dowry, this elf girl of ours, just moved into Kirkwall responds with…"
"Oh Maker that is hilarious! See what happens being all elfy and shit!" Sera cackles cradling her stomach tears in her eyes from my tale, making me smirk.
"Goat? She was going to give the poor bloke a goat!" Blackwall scoffs snickering at my nod.
"It's true the reactions were hilarious," Varric confirms as we all smile only for the pair to groan out in defeat.
"We lost," the two grunt making Varric and I smirk.
"Tell you what," smiling, I reach out for the cup and gulp down the strong drink.
"What? Bloody hell!" The two curse in shock as I smirk planting the cup on the table.
"That was strong?" I blink, frowning at it I pass it over to Varric who sniffs it only to snort.
"This, pff, this is babies breathe compared to the hangman's beer that was the good stuff," Varric smiles nostalgically.
"Here, here," I smile agreeing as we all bang the mugs then I leave the trio to head to bed, where I woke up from the little wooden hut sort of area…
Eve POV:
Stretching, I hear the faint crack of bones popping into place as the warm sun glows down upon us, providing a warm welcome to the new day. Perhaps I'll do some studying today? Or practice some magic with Solas again? Hmm…so many opportunities so little time. Calmly, I descend down from my room, changed and ready for the day as I absentmindedly move my staff around between my fingertips as I walk down the snowy stone steps. Perhaps I should check on how the armour is going? See if there's any iron I can craft for better armour. Thankfully Cullen had gotten me this blacksmith to help me understand how to craft, it was interesting learning how to craft but I'll admit hard work. I guess I should be thankful for my magic allowing me to use the fire to meld the metal, when the fire is in use for other weapons and armour sets.
My ears perk up at the sharp sound of metal on metal and my nose winces at the smell of coal, flames and smoke. I hear the faint hiss, crackle and hiss of the flames causing my body to shiver at the mixture of temperatures, one side is icy cold the other boiling hot. I stop in my tracks when I spot a familiar bearded male. Oh no, no, no. Awkwardly, I take a step back hoping to flee. I smile nervously only for said male to turn, strong eyes meet my forest green.
"Hey!" Nervously, I laugh waving at the staff who simply nods back as I porch him, head bowed slightly. I raise a brow when I spot him looking up at the scar in the sky, the rift, the huge rift I attempted to seal away and have done for the brief time we are using currently…
"He isn't a monster he's like a bear…"
Bear huh I can see it with the beard, he seems fierce as well. Bears are furry as well soft as a pillow…yeah I can do this! Slowly, I approach the male who looks up at the rift in the sky.
"Maker look at it. So much easier to ignore when it's so far away," Blackwall whispers.
"And to actually walk out of it, to be that close," Blackwall turns to me as I frown wondering how I should approach him. He seems like the type to like blunt remarks not cryptic ones. So I need to talk about this differently than usual.
"It's right there you can take a trip if you're that curious," I joke lightly only to frown at the idea, then again since it's safe. Perhaps we should do research on it, for any ores or materials nearby, we have reports on its condition. I'm gonna have to decline at least until I learn more about it.
"The breach the divine's death, the wardens it doesn't make sense there's so much we don't know," Blackwall sighs.
"True but we can learn together, find the truth, find the reason for the divine's murder, find the reason for the wardens disappearance and find the solution to that rift and your aid in the fight will be great," I explain to him calmly.
"Most likely the treaties but what about you? Fennic spoke highly of your tactical mind and how you care for the people. So tell me how do you fit in all this?" Blackwall asks me making me raise a brow at the mention of Fen. She spoke highly of me, I can't help but smile at the slight praise considering it's hard for her to praise or even compliment people, without being rude or sarcastic.
"I just want to help stop the war, stop the bloodshed and stop the chaos that causes people to lose their homes and loved ones," I answer simply thinking about my own losses, no one should lose the number of people I have lost thanks to this war and other events…
Agreeing, Blackwall smiles making me smile relieved to see we have an agreement.
"A worthy goal one I am happy to support. For me I'll be satisfied to find the bastard that killed the divine. They owe us some answers," Blackwall reasons. "Agreed, I'm glad we could come to an understanding," I smile with Blackwall who basically nods as I turn to leave, leaving him to his swordsman work.
Maybe I should go to the chantry, check on the war table…
Calmly, I leave the blacksmith, the sound of clanging from the hard hammer hitting the metal to help mould it and the clang of metal on metal slowly fades in my ears. The once warmth from the glow of the hissing fires, the warm barrier I once felt in the blacksmith slowly diminish as the slow icy touch of winters breathe returns to my body, making me shiver as I walk upwards, nodding to a few civilians, bowing their head in respect, calling me the usual Herald of Andraste, no matter how many times I have told them to stop. However I stop in my tracks when I spot a peculiar sight, a new resident of Haven near the chantry, he seems to be waiting for someone and oh is that Fen?
Smiling I approach the pair.
"Fen!" I wave happily at the white haired elf that turns to me. Bored, blue eyes meet my happy forest green. "Here you go 'the Herald of Andraste,' Fen deadpans in a boring tone as I smile at the newcomer.
"Hello," I greet the boy.
"Excuse me, I've got a message for the inquisition but I'm having a hard time getting anyone to talk to me. Fennic seemed to be the only one to approach me," he smiles at Fen who remains unfazed.
"I was bored," Fen shrugs.
"Ignore Fen she means well so who are you?" I ask curious that accent isn't Ferelden.
Cremisius Aclasse, with the Bull's chargers mercenary company. We mostly work out of Orlais and Nevarra. We got word of some Tevinter mercenaries gathering out on the Storm Coast. My company commander Iron Bull offers information free of charge. If you'd like to see what the Bull's chargers can do for the inquisition. Meet us there and watch us work," Cremisius explains to me as I nod in understanding; however a few question pop into my mind.
"Tell me about this Iron Bull?" I ask interested in the leader of the group.
"Iron Ball? He's one of the Qunari. The big guy with the horns?" Cremisius exclaims as I notice Fen's eyes widen then narrow weary.
"I don't know about this," she whispers in my ear as I frown, considerate her weariness of the Qunari but still…
"He leads from the front, he pays well and he's a lot smarter than the last bastard I worked for. Best of all he' professional. We accept contracts with whoever makes the first real offer. You're the first time he's gone out of his way to pick a side," He informs me as I think it over, they could provide more morale perhaps and more fire power for the army, a mercenary group often has a variety of people with different jobs like thieves, mages and such, it would be a good idea but still…
"Why give us this information for free?" I ask.
"Iron Bull wants to work for the inquisition. He think you're doing good work," He answers. I simply nod deciding my answer.
"We'll consider your offer," I smile trying to act hard that way they could be more desperate to help. I appreciate it. We're the best you'll find come to the Storm Coast and see us in action," He dismisses himself from us as I cross my arms looking to my side at the frowning Fennic.
"This isn't a good idea, when there's a Qunari there's a spy or traitor," Fen says.
"They could help us," I argue.
"They could convert people to the Qun and then destroy the inquisition from the inside," Fen argues as I release a heavy sigh…
3rd person:
"Well either way that boy was a nice guy, his voice was a little high pitched though for a boy," Evelyn points out oblivious to the raised eyebrow of Fen, eyeing her, debating something…
Should I or shouldn't I tell her…? Fen stares at the oblivious Evelyn smiling happily unaware of a certain aspect of their new find. She will probably discover over time, when the time is right….