Eve Pov:
I ignore the urge to shiver from Haven's chilly atmosphere in favour of focusing on the lingering warmth from the tavern as I exit it, my body shivering missing the heat to instead focus at the task at hand. Smiling, I spot a familiar dwarf from a distance and decide to talk to him, see his view on the matter.
"The mage rebellion joins the Inquisition. I've got to admit this is a twist I didn't see coming. One thing in the future you told me did worry me, apart from Fen being…like that. But red lyrium in Fereldan infecting people and growing out of them, turning into what Fen became, that's bad. Finding them really put my red lyrium at the temple theory…" Varric trails off.
"How long does it take to affect you? How fast can it spread?" I question concerned for both us and the world thanks to the corrupted lyrium.
"It took years for it to infect people in Kirkwall but no one was actually ingesting the stuff. This elder one managed to take the worse thing I could think of and make it worse," Varric looks away. Poor guy he really does hate this. Don't worry with our numbers and connections we can track down and locate all the leads of the red lyrium sources and destroy them," I reassure him, relieved to see a small smile on his lips from my words.
"I hope so. I don't think I want to know if it starts a plague. I've got people trying to help track down the red stuff, I think maybe we should make this a priority but that's enough doom and gloom. You just won a big victory for the inquisition what are you going to do, to celebrate?" Varric question as a small smile crosses my lips at the idea.
"You may have a point we should celebrate it will increase people's morale, make mages and Templars fight together, lessen the tension that's not a bad idea," I reason smiling brightly at the thought, excited at the planning aspect…
"A ball! Oh I know this perfect gala to party at not to posh for the troops but not too roguish to make you look bad, oh the drinks could be…wait…hmm considering the time and money, perhaps something low base maybe a banquet everyone is on equal footing then," I mutter disappointed at the lack of fabric ad dresses and expensive dishes offered, no, no, could risk sickness and well may be too rich for the cuisine they are used to.
"You really like planning don't you?" Varric notes.
"Oh yes, when I was younger, I'd always watch my mother plan her galas they were magnificent ever since then I love planning parties and other events," I explains calmly, earning a chuckle from Varric and a smile as well.
"A word to Josephine and I'm sure you both could arrange it," Varric offers.
"Things should be calm around here for at least the next hour take a moments to enjoy it. If the world is about to end, I'm sure the Seeker will let us know," Varric smiles as I nod softly and leave the dwarf to his thoughts deciding to pay Cassandra a visit.
Loudly, the sound of clashing metal and grunts from the troops rings in the dainty air of snow. I approach the training grounds, blushing lightly when I see a certain blonde commander ordering his troops around. Anxiously, I push a strand of my hair behind my ear, fidgeting nervously as I feel a familiar heat enter my cheeks.
"And what are we supposed to do exactly?" The familiar snooty voice of Anthony demands as I turn to scowl at him.
"What you always do complain," Cassandra calmly answers, a hint of anger in her tone as she scowls at Anthony not that I can blame her.
"We've already spoken with Commander Cullen, no one listens. We want better quarters, we wat the Templars kept at a distance and some respect for-"
"This is not the circle, you mages are our allies not our wards, act like it," Cassandra cuts Anthony off making him scowl at her but she remains unfazed, knowing she could easily silence him.
"How are we supposed to-"
"Deal. With. It." Cassandra emphasise fed up with him. Frowning, Anthony leaves, giving me a bitter glare as he passes and roughly nudges me but I ignore it, brushing off his pettiness to turn to Cassandra.
"It never ends evidently," She complains once he's gone.
"You don't need to tell me that, sorry about them still new to the outside world and all," I sigh recalling my first time outside in awe while the others were grumbling and complaining not that I wasn't, I mean at times it was nearly as cold as the tower was back then and the creatures and constant danger approaching was new to us all, we all took it differently than those outside who adapted quicker than us.
"I just don't know who told them I was the one to yell at," Cassandra huffs.
"Is it that bad?" I ask worriedly feeling a pang of guilt towards her, enduring the abuse and such all from my decision.
"The mages are here as equals they need to get used to what that means. It is you're doing after all, you created this alliance," Cassandra points out as I feel another pang of guilt at the blame on me, not that she isn't wrong.
"Well I hope it works and I'm sorry for what you have to put up with," I apologise.
"Oh…I do sound like I'm blaming you don't I? I don't disapprove in fact you did well. You were made a decision when it was needed to be made and here we are, I wish I could say this was my doing," Cassandra confesses.
"We all did it Cassandra it wasn't just me," I assure her calmly.
"Yes, I suppose we did," Together, smiling, Cassandra leaves to return to training the recruits and I decide to leave the training grounds…
Well that is until…I glance to the side, my eyes widening when my wide eyed forest green hues meet a pair of brown, oh boy, I feel my heart race frantically as we stare at one another afar, feeling my face heat up as he gives me a sheepish smile which I return. There's no going back now, leaving now would just be rude, sighing, I force my manners into control as I approach the commander, ordering his troops around, ordering them the correct swings and such, techniques he learned from the Templars.
"The mages are ready to approach the breach. I pray this will be enough to close it," Cullen smiles at me, well more like down at me due to my height, I'm taller than Fen by a bit which is quite rare considering elves tend to be taller and leaner than humans and…I'm rambling stop it brain you are in a conversation with someone, being silent is just rude and disrespectful. I need to ask him, I sigh as I recall his anger at the idea of joining with the mages, does that mean he has a problem with me, a mage, an abomination, an apostate as this so called herald…? I feel a heavy pain in my chest at the thought and a wave of fear at the thought of rejection.
"You…you didn't like it when I allied with the mages…do…do you have a problem with it as well?" I ask shakily looking down at the snowy ground, feeling my muscles tense up fearful of his response as I close my eyes ready for rejection.
"Of course not," He sighs making my eyes widen as I look up at his soft look, looking more hurt that I would think that way.
"I have no intention of endangering your alliance, but I must ensure the safety of those here. That concern extends to the mages. They are putting themselves at risk for the inquisition as are you. Any precautions taken are meant to aid you, nothing more. I hope you will accept them as such," Cullen sighs softly at me as I release a breathe of relief, a small shy smile creeping across my lips as a small blush of heat enters my cheeks as I watch Cullen's feet fidget awkwardly in the sand, seeing him as nervous as I am bringing relief to my lips knowing I'm not the only nervous one here…smiling, I look up my green hues meet his brown pair as we stare happily into each other's eyes as though, we were stuck in a jovial peaceful, blissful trap, neither of wishing to escape back into reality….
"That is it! I cannot deal with that…that…that person!" Startled, we both jump back red faced and awkwardly coughing as we turn to a stomping Dorian scowling as he approaches.
"Dorian what happened?" I question.
"Your little elf threatened me that's what!?" Dorian exclaims in shock as I sweat drop as he continues to rant venomously, cursing in a tongue I cannot identify however I pick up the faint kaffas, recalling Fen speaking that word a few times as well, maybe it's vint but then how would Fen know it?
"Threatened you?" Cullen frowns.
"Yes! She put that dagger of hers to my neck and said I should keep in line, the nerve of that kaffas!" Dorian curses as I sigh.
I knew it wouldn't work, I knew it, urgh…I frown feeling a faint hint of annoyance at our ruined scene, we were having a great time but now…dang it Fen…
Fen pov:
Calmly, I return to Haven, my brisk pace pushing the soft snow aside causing my feet to shiver from the nibbling sensation but I ignore it, instead focused on distancing myself from that abomination. My ears listen to the abundant murmurs of both abomination and troops, my ears hearing the soft crunch of snow as well as the plentiful cheers of children playing in the soft snow, making snowmen, playing with snowballs and all sorts while the adults smile, enjoying the innocence of youth as others work hard to help Haven. My ears listen to the crackle of flames as I look down at the fire by Varric, my nose smelling the faint debris, ash and smell of burning wood as I approach, enjoying the brief touch of warmth, melting into my skin, earning a shudder from my form enjoying both the heat and icy breathe of winter from Haven's climate.
"So…you threatened to kill the Vint," Grumbling I turn to the eyebrow raised Varric.
"He pissed me off," I state.
"You got to stop making enemies Fennic seriously first that enchanter now him," Varric sighs trying to tease me.
"You know why," I huff scowling seeing Varric's face soften into a simple nod.
"You know you can't hide it forever," Varric sighs as he turns to look up at me.
"Hide what?" I play coy.
"Fen I know you don't like talking about it unlike that brother of yours but still, don't you think they deserve to know the truth," Varric reasons.
"They put their trust in me too much and far too easy," I sigh.
"You're doing it again," He smirks lightly as I frown.
"Doing what?" I huff.
"Brooding," He teases as I scowl.
"Were you the one to start that again? Sera won't shut up about me brooding," I scowl at his sheepish chuckle.
"You dumbass," He chuckles from my words.
"Oh come on, you and your brother love brooding. It's like your brooding creates a wall that no man can penetrate," He teases lightly.
"And you're comedy causes the crowd to go silent," I huff.
"In amazement of my skill," He smirks.
"You wish, more like pain from your terrible jokes," I return smirking.
"Fen we need to talk about that bad future," Varric sighs as I frown.
"Do we have to?" I question rather not wanting to bring up this corrupt version of me.
"I just want to know how you feel about it you tend to bottles up stuff you know," He points out.
"I'm fine, it's gone that future will not come to pass, I'd rather kill myself then allow that future to come true," I state confidently.
"But still you think…he did it?" Varric glances at me uneasy as I release a tired sigh and shake my head.
"Maybe, I don't know I feel like this elder one is someone far more powerful than that old man, besides he is dead," I reason frowning at the thoughts lingering in my mind.
"Fen, you…are you okay?" He asks concerned.
"I'm fine Varric, I won't let this faze me, you and I both know we can't," I huff as he nods numbly.
"This lyrium…" Varric looks away as I notice the painful reminder of his brothers own demonic demise thanks to the red lyrium.
"Hey we won't allow another to fall victim to that corrupted lyrium," I kneel down placing my hand on his shoulder seeing his troubled expression lighten slightly into a relieved expression and a smug smirk.
"Heh, yeah, we can't let that happen," Varric smiles determined as I release a simple nod, both of us in agreement.
"But still have you been sleeping?" He frowns.
"What do you think?" I shrug.
"Fennic we all need to sleep," He argues.
"Some don't," I shrug.
"Who?" He frowns.
"Owls," I shrug.
"Owls aren't like us Fen," Varric snickers.
"That's just racist Varric for shame, wolfs have the right to be like us they think they feel," I smirk as Varric chuckles.
"You're a dumbass sometimes," He snickers.
"Yes but a loveable dumbass," I smirk at his chuckle.
"Hey you think when Hawke and Fenris have kids I'll be the god father," Varric smirks.
"Probably knowing Hawke," I smirk as we look up at the sky.
"That will make you an aunt," Varric points out.
"A distant one," I add sharply.
"Oh come on you'd be a great aunt," Varric reasons.
"Ah yes, how to shut up a screaming baby I know kick the baby!" I smirk as Varric chuckles.
"Hey, what do you think Fenris will react if the kid has magic in them, I mean…Hawke's family has magic and so does…" He trials off his voice weakened when he notices my dark gaze at the mention of them, my brow furrowed and my teeth grinding against one another as I feel a flush of red race through my veins at the mention of her…
"Fennic!" Curious, I turn to the source of stomping raising a brow at the fuming Eve. Her once gentle, calm, intelligent and curious forest green hues now sharpened and narrowed. Her eyes filled with anger, irritation and annoyance as she stomps over, a few I notice who were once working, playing or relaxing bow briefly to the fuming mess while others take shaky steps back, fearful of their so called Herald looking angry.
"You threatened Dorian!? He is our ally! Our friend, our-"
"Your ally, your friend, not mine," I ague.
"He did nothing wrong," Eve argues.
"He is a magister, an apostate at that and abomination he is not to be trusted," I argue.
"So am I not to be trusted!?" Eve argues.
"No you're different you're not like him, he is from Tevinter! He's a blood mage!" I argue.
"I haven't seen him use blood magic once!" Eve argues as I release a sigh too tired to deal with her.
"Just you wait, the first hint of fear and he'll use his blood magic and break you, don't come crying to me when I am right," I hiss darkly as Eve frowns and I storm off back, not wanting to deal with anyone…