Eve pov:
Stoically, I stand before the war table, the warmth of the flames bring me back to the situation as I release a tired breathe through my nose, hearing the argument rise, I turn to glance at empty wall where Fennic would usually stand but….
"Come we should go to the war table, to tell the others," Cassandra tells me making me nod, taking in a shaky breathe, recalling Casandra's advice, I glance at Fen to see her turning elsewhere, far from me, far from Solas, far from any form of magic. On our way, I glance at Varric who raises a brow when he needs my desperate expression.
"What's up Bookworm?" Varric approaches much to Cassandras irritation.
"No time," She huffs.
"Cassandra please, Varric Fen seems a bit angry think you would go check on her, make sure she doesn't punch anyone?" I request from him, hopeful.
"I'll see what I can do," Varric smiles and leaves but I notice the hint of worry in his eyes as he heads down. I hope she's alright…sighing I push my thoughts aside as the once cold crisp of Haven's winter air nipping at me ceases, instead it melts away from the warm hug of the candle glow of the chantry welcoming me, we draw near the war table.
"You will be fine, take deep breathes," Casandra advises me making me smile, appreciating her advice.
"You too, I tell her making her smile as we both enter the war room, ready for my choice, our choice and the inquisition choice.
"We don't have the manpower to take the castle either we find a way in or stop this nonsense and get the Templars," Cullen reasons.
"We can't, we have gone through too much to just quit now," I argue frowning at Cullen.
"The Templars could deal with Alexius," Cullen reasons.
"No, I can't stand by and allow Templars to save my people, I have to do this, and they are my people and my responsibility!" I argue, my courage blossoming as I take in a deep breathe, for Lydia's sake, I know she wouldn't want the Templars to save her and I don't want that either…
I notice Cullen release a tired sigh, looking at me concerned but for once, I refuse to back down. Not with my people on the line.
"Redcliffe is in the hands of a magister this cannot be allowed to stand," Cassandra argues, agreeing with my point in some way, heh.
"The letter from Alexius asked for the Herald of Andraste by name, it's an obvious trap," Josephine reasons as I nod in agreement with her, no doubt a trap especially with his recent chirpy behaviour recently, to happy, too many games I have played to see the murderer being happy then feigning sorrow at the news of his victims' demise. Sighing, I release a tired breathe, forcing a smile to cross my lips, returning to my times of the game…
"Isn't that kind of him, tell me what does he say of me?" I smile acting like a giddy child.
"He's so complimentary we are certain he wants to kill you," Leliana plays along smiling cheerfully.
"Not this again," Josephine grumbles.
"Redcliffe castle is one of the most defensible fortresses in Ferelden; it has repelled thousands of assaults. If you go in there you'll die and we lose the only power we have to close these rifts. I won't allow it," Cullen refuses as I notice the glint of worry in his eyes, causing a brief blush to cross my features and hearing my heart beat to go faster from the corner. No I need to do this, I can't back down, I have to make a decision with them and I can't be like a child right now.
"Everything has a weakness Cullen," I smile weakly at him trying to reassure the worrywart.
"And if we don't even try to beat Alexius we lose the mages and leave the hostile ruling power on our doorstep," Leliana reasons making me nod in agreement.
"Even if we could assault the keep it would be for not. An Orlesian inquisition army marching into Ferelden would provoke a war, our hands are tied," Josephine reasons showing the political side as I nod, she's correct, Ferelden and Orlais don't have the greatest of friendships but still…
"The magister…"Cassandra argues only to trail off.
"Has outplayed us," Cullen finishes, his brow furrowed in annoyance at the defeat.
"We can't just give up, no doubt he is trying to kill me but still even if my life in on the line my people need me," I argue.
"So do we! We need you to close the breach!" Cullen intervenes, arguing as I sigh shaking my head at the dummy, a cute one but still…
"We cannot accept defeat now, there must be a solution," Cassandra agrees.
"Where's the Arl of Redcliffe, he could solve this, he has the influence, power and authority to kick Alexius out," I reason, recalling Alexius having no real power here in Ferelden, meaning he stands no chance against the Arl.
"After he was displaced. Arl Tegan ran straight to Denerim to petition the crown for help. I doubt he'll want our assistance once the Ferelden army lays siege to his castle," Josephine answers.
"Wait…there is a secret passage into the castle, an escape route for family. It's too narrow for our troops but we could send agents through," Leliana proposes.
"Too risky, those agents will be discovered well before they get to the magister," Cullen argues.
"That's why we need a distraction," Leliana reasons as my eyes widen catching onto her plan as she glances at me.
"Me? I would the perfect distraction, after all that praise and complements; it's only fair I would give the fair magister a visit no?" I smirk playfully at the idea, playing the game correctly just like mother…
"Focus on Trevelyan while we take out the troops, its risky but could work," Cullen reasons, looking worried when he glances at me.
"Fortunately you'll have help!" Loudly, the door clangs open as all eyes turn to a familiar male, bringing a small smile to my lips at his entrance.
"Now that's quite an entrance," I joke recalling his lack of applause as I give him a small handclap.
"My dear, I am the master of entrances," Dorian plays along smiling as I glance at the others seeing a frowning Cullen, eyeing the pair of us, bringing a small smile to my lips at his annoyed expression. He's adorable when he's pouting.
"This man says he has information about the magister and his men," The scout report, trying to hold back Dorian.
"Your spies will never get past Alexius magic without my help. So if you're going after him, I'm coming along," Dorian reasons.
"The plan puts you in the most danger. We can't in good conscious order you to do this. We can still go after the Templars if you rather not play the bait. It's up to you," Cullen reasons concerned.
"I'm fine. This is the best shot, we need the mages; they have knowledge more on the fade than the Templars and can do experiments to see if it's just me that can close the breach. Besides I can't stand by as my people make such a foolish mistake as work with the Tevinter imperium…no offence," I glance at Dorian giving him an apologetic look which he waves off.
"My dear, it's fine," Dorian smiles, not offended as I nod, okay with the idea and plan of putting me as bait.
"Let's do this…" I whisper, determined and ready for the fight ahead…
Fen pov:
Angrily, I feel my blood boil. All I see is crimson as I feel my blood pumping and seeing a familiar neon blue low about to glow brighter. No, no, no I don't need those people staring at me like I'm a freak not now…Seething, I make my way to the woods, the forest of Haven, I hear the loud crunch of snow from my stomps as well as feeling no stinging pain on my feet, my feet are numb to the fresh nips of the cold air and slush below as I force my way way from everyone, everything and every magic source.
Heaving, I watch as steams of my hot breathe enter the crisp atmosphere as I make it to a frozen lake. That's when I've had it…
"FUCK EVERYTHING! FUCK MAGIC! FUCK SOCIETY! FUCK BOTH TEMPLARS AND GODDAMN TEVINTER!" Screeching, I scream only to wince at the chords of my vocals used making me wince from the overuse as I release a tired, hoarse sigh deciding to turn back to the wooden trees to vent and by vent I mean…punch or pacing, cursing under my breathe.
Why!? Why are we trusting a mage, a mage from Tevinter and from its title, no doubt it could be a magister after all house Pavus, yes I recall the invites back at his parties. Scowling, I shiver at the horrid memoires of back then, my eyes widening at the numerous feelings beginning to surface after I supressed them away so many years ago, the disgust, the anger, the sorrow, the numbness and despair that flooded my veins as I recoiled in disgust, my gauntlet hands trailing my shoulder and body, recalling his dirty hands, his hands practically owning me, his stench of alcohol and iron mixed into my original stench…
"Fennic?" The soft voice calls out to me stopping me from memory lane as my eyes widen when I notice a familiar small, warm, rough hand pulling me away from my shoulder, my eyes blinking to find a faint layer of crimson staining the once stainless steel gauntlets.
"Not again, jeez I leave you alone and this si what happen," Varric smiles forcefully, I notice the glint of worry his eyes as I huff.
"I'm fine," I mutter as I look out at the horizon blankly trying to get my thoughts together and not harm someone.
"Hey…remember that time you tried to pickpocket using the glowy hand thing of yours?" Varric smiles making my eyes widen at the change of topic but a soft chuckle escapes my lips at the memory.
"Hawke was laughing and Aveline was fuming," I snicker.
"What did you expect? Aveline had to hide the body," Varric smiles sitting down by my side as I join him, both of us cross-legged looking out at the scenery.
"Who would have thought this would we be here we ended up?" Varric sighs tiredly.
"Here I thought I'd be on the run for the rest of my days," I smile bitterly at the memoires.
"Hey, not anymore now. You got people to help hide you now," Varric reminds me softly as I nod truly grateful to have met these people if hadn't, I would have been on the run with my brother even now, fleeing, not caring about any of this chaos.
"We've been through a lot you know, think we'll ever get a break you know settle down," Varric smiles causing me to chuckle.
"Nah, not my style, where did this whole thing come out from?" I frown at him.
"Just thought to change the subject besides you've calmed down now, bookworm was worried," Varric smirks.
"Urgh don't remind me she's a fool trusting one of them, vint, a vint! A snobbish vint that only causes trouble," I grumble scowling at the memory of that snobbish abomination.
"We don't know him yet," Varric warns me.
"I know what it is, it's just like the other abominations, it's a vint Varric, a snobby vint that…that…ah!" Angrily, I throw my blade, taking Varric aback as my blade is impaled into the soft snow, as I release a storm of curses making Varric sigh seeing my fuming state as I roar, hiss and curse.
"Why!? Why trust one of them, they're all the same! Thinking they can buy people, own people, manipulate, that abomination will be the downfall of it all, I just know it…."
"Fen…"
"It will!"
"Fennic…"
"Tell me Varric what vint have we met that hasn't been a jackass, a asshole, a monster…a true abomination. What has magic touched that it hasn't spoiled!" I curse making Varric's eyes widen seeing my trembling gauntlet hands as he releases a tired sigh and watches my fuming state until eventually my boiling blood and rush of energy from my adrenaline slowly subside. Exhausted, I plop myself down on the snow, almost melting into it from my hot body temperature.
"You need to relax. We will keep an eye on him and besides you don't have to talk to him. He doesn't have to talk to you, it will be fine," Varric explains calmly as I release a tired groan, too tired, too exhaustion, to fed up with everything to argue back.
"Fine," I grumble cradling my temple as Varric chuckles.
"How long do we think we can keep hiding her?" I whisper in a low vulnerable tone as the air becomes serious.
"Long enough, they've done enough to her as it is," Varric huffs.
"I know. I'm worried Varric, you and I both know we can hide it but with Leliana around," I reason showing my worry and concern towards my old friend.
"We will be fine. We won't crack, we owe Hake so much, she's family to us and we don't betray family," Varric shrugs.
"Well apart from yours…"I smirk coyly at his quick glare.
"Not funny," He huffs.
"Fine, fine I'm sorry you're allowed one broody joke," I grumble smirking when I see a playful smirk rising in Varric's features.
"Really?" He asks as I nod, ready to receive and groan only to hear nothing much to my surprise Varric is being…silent?
Shocked, I blink puzzled, baffled and lost when I see Varric not diving for the joke I allowed him, only to see the smug smirk across his features and the mischievous look in his eyes…oh no.
"Well?" I frown encouraging him to do it now.
"Uh, uh, uh, not now, dear Fox, not now, not here, not in this place," Varric smirks coyly as I release a groan and huff out.
"You're a jerk you know that?" I tiredly grumble earing a hearty chuckle from the dwarf by my side.
"But I'm a friendly jerk!" Varric cackles as I huff at the smirking male and then stand up.
"Come on lets head back see their decision," I grumble as Varric nods.
No matter what we will keep Hawke safe. I owe her everything so does Varric and no one will harm her again; she's been through enough as it is. All I want is for them both to be happy and maybe have a little niece or nephew for me to spoil heh…