"Oi Blackwall. Solas told me about you playing cards with him, come on, tell…huh?" Blinking, I frown as I stumble into his farm house, the soles of my feet gently brushing against the thin, dry, fresh straw beneath me, my ears hearing the faint sound of the animals Eve sometimes rides by the farmhouse. I enter, my brow furrowed at the lack of a familiar male, I didn't see him in the pub either nor out chopping wood. Curious, I decide to investigate, my fingertips brush against the firm, sturdy, strong wooden bench, my eyes widening when finding a familiar griffon rocking chair on the desk, must be for the orphans when we came back. After telling Blackwall he offered to send a few of his 'hobbies' to the orphaned slaves, which I thanked him for and he simply said helped put his past time to good use, which it did according to the chantry mothers and the little picture Finn sent me of an attempt at drawing at me, heh. I chuckle at the silly image and memory, bringing wrath to my form only for it to falter as my eyes narrow and rot. I frown and catch the paper on the rocking chair; my fingertips lightly brush against the dry parchment. I peel it from the rocking chair and open it, my eyes broadening at the message.
Fennic,
You've been a good friend when others had feared me for my looks you saw through them and have been there for me when needed. You have been a good friend and good drinking buddy as well as quite the card player. I would have loved to see you and Solas play against each other. But still you've given me the strength and courage to learn the right and wrongs with the aid of the inquisitor. For what its worth, you've been a great friend and it has been an honour to battle by your side, your friend Blackwall.
Hell no. he isn't. No, no, he hasn't shown any signs of no I shouldn't presume I need to get this to Eve and urgently. Determined, I steel my nerves as I dart to the war room, slamming open the door, once again startling the occupants in the room.
You got to stop doing that! Cullen frowns at me but I ignore him, slamming the paper down on the table, making a few raise their brow and elan forward to read it, their eyes widening at the writing before them.
"We got a problem. We need to find him and fast." I state the fact clearly as Eve nods in understanding, turning to her advisors who nod and quickly get to the task at hand and thanks to the scouts, we learn of Blackwall heading to Val Royeaux…
"Hey, Solas! Droopy-ears-says-what?" Sera calls out as we approach the dreary place, finding the striking crowds of gold having dimmed down from the noisy rain crying above us.
"... Excuse me?" Solas responds puzzled.
"Ugh, you're no fun!" Sera complains annoyed.
"Sera, if you eschew all things elven, why not use a crossbow? They require less training." Solas suggests.
"Ugh, too winchy," Sera refuses.
"Ah, yes. Winchiness. A point I had not consider." Solas remarks dryly making me shake my head at the pair.
"I spy..." Teasingly, Varric begins.
"No." Cassandra shuts Varric down.
"But..." Varric pouts.
"No." Cassandra sternly states.
"Well you should be good at finding things. Of course, you ...couldn't find Hawke, " Grumbling Varric huffs making me sigh at the group we chose as we enter Val Royeaux.
Harshly, the rain dives down at us from the heaven, pouring, making me scowl at the foul weather and dark grey clouds looing over us, my body shaking from the icy chill of the wind as we make our way there. Our eyes spreading to find a hanging taking place with some poor sod tied up as the official guard reads out from the parchment the blokes crimes are as a crowd is formed and we submerge ourselves within the crowd.
"Cyril Mornay. For your crimes against the empire of Orlais. For the murders of General Vincent callier, Lady Lorette Callier, their four children and their retainers. You are sentenced to be hanged from the neck until dead. Do you have anything to say in your defence?" The guard reads out.
"…" Defeated, the pale hollow man looking both bruised, lost and pained on his knees, lowers his head, in shamed silence.
"Very well." The guard confirms.
"Who's this man to Blackwall? A brother? A friend?" Dorian wonders.
"Poor bastard. So where's the food? Orlesian always stock these things." Sera exclaims.
"Yeah but hangings always have bland food." I complain.
"They're going to kill him!" Cole gasps worried.
"Good grasp of the obvious that one." Dorian remarks.
"Oi you lot! Not the time." I frown at the two bowing their head as I turn to Solas, seeing him silently frowning.
"Fine…" The group from behind give in as the execution continues.
"Proceed." the guard commands stepping back as they put the noose around the man's throat.
"Stop!" Shocked, the crowd gasps as Blackwall appears, storming up to the scene as I frown.
"A Grey Warden!" The guard recognises as Blackwall strides onto the platform.
"This man is innocent of the crimes laid before him. Orders were given and he followed them like any good solider. He should not die for that mistake." Blackwall begins as my eyes narrow, where is this leading to?
"Then find me the man who gave the order." The guard demands.
"Blackwall!" Eve calls out in concern.
"Oh you mother- don't you dare even thin-"Angered, I begin cursing as he turns to look guiltily at mine and Eve's direction, making my eyes widen.
"No. I am not Blackwall. I never was Blackwall. Warden Blackwall is dead and has been for years. I assumed his name to hide, like a coward, from who I really am." Blackwall begins making my eyes widen and dilate in horror. Don't tell me…
"You, after all this time…" The man about to be hung recognises Blackwall. Oh no…
No, no no….
"It's over. I'm done hiding. I gave the order. The crime is mine. I am Thom Rainier!" Blackwall reveals shocking us to our core.
Blackwall…you son of a-
"Oh maker…" Horrified, Eve staggers back.
"All this time he lied to us he…Fen what are you?" Dorian cuts himself off puzzled as I approach the platform.
"Going to have a little chat is all…" I shrug holding in the malice in my tone.
"Your all is over different from our all." Dorian points out warily making me roll my eyes.
"Not now Dorian." I grumble. Casually, I approach the guard leaving the group.
"Can you believe it Thom-"
"Oi masky, where are they taking him?" I bark at him noting him gossiping to his other recruits.
"To be put in his cell for his trial to begin soon." The male reports.
"Yeah, where?" I demand.
"Huh?" He quirks his masked head to the side.
"Where?" I repeat arms crossed.
"And why would I tell you!?" He frowns.
"If you don't want to be fisted by a lyrium blue hand I think you'll speak differently." Sinisterly, I reveal my glowing hand terrifying him.
"I-I'll tell you!" Shaking he confesses.
"Good boy." Nonchalantly, I follow after the moron. Conflicted, Eve turns to the guard for info as he leads us to the prison cell, most likely afterward going back to Skyhold to hold a meeting for getting an audience with Thom and what to do about him while I head into the cold cellar of the prison, finding Blackwall hunched over in the dim lit of the cool, damp cell ahead.
So…that's it." Casually, I begin as the guard leaves and my voice echoes, hearing the faint drip and drop of rain from above, making its way down and hitting the stone cold cellar floor.
"That's it." He confirms glumly.
"You're just giving up?" I huff disappointment laced in my tone.
"I'm not giving up I am paying my dues. I didn't take Blackwall's life. I traded his death. He wanted me for the wardens. But there was an ambush. Darkspawn. He was killed. I took his name to stop the world from losing a good man. But a good man. The man he was wouldn't have let another die in his place. What I did all true, it's time we all got a good look at who I am." Defeated, Black…I mean beardy confesses to me.
"A ugly ass beard guy…you still look the same to me, an pathetic waste. Now tell me what the fuck does this have to do with the inquisition?" I demand frowning.
"Huh?" Surprised, he turns to me.
"Your past. Listen here beard I don't give a shit about your past life, I really don't give a crap if what you did was for the greater good or some stupid shit." I deadpan.
"Then why are you here?" He questions.
"To stop you from being the pathetic waste that you are currently." I gesture to his dingy cell.
"I am paying my dues." He repeats.
"How? By lying here feeling sorry for yourself, wallowing in your self-pity, you are shaming his name." I argue.
"I'm not him. That's what I've been trying to tell you!" He exclaims.
"And I don't care. I don't care if you name was Tom Rainer." I begin only to cut off.
"It's Thom-"
"I don't give a shit beardy. All I care about is your actions." Swiftly, I then silence him.
Don't you understand? I gave the order to kill lord Callier, his entourage. And I lied to my men about what they would be doing! When it came to light, I ran. Those men, my men, paid for my treason while I was pretending to be a better man! This is what I am! A murder, a trickster, a…monster," Loudly, he yells bashing his arms on the iron cell bars, only then to crumble, falling to his knees bowing his head in shame and sorrow making me roll my eyes at his melodramatics.
"Bit dramatic there…" I exclaim looking down at the fool.
"What did you say!? What could you understand!?" He barks at me seething as I glower at the floor, kneeling down for my blues to meet his sad brown.
"Your hands are stinting right? Maybe that will wake you up from your over melodramatics…." I scoff.
"I'm not being overdramatic!" He barks.
"So you think this is any better? Awaiting and accepting death like some coward? This is doing nothing all it shows is how cowardly you are for showing up now after years, ready to die without a fight, without nothing. I understand your need of punishment I do but don't you think, going down with the title of aiding the inquisition with the breach would sound more pleasing to the tombstone given to you or at least to Blackwall up there, knowing you died with something under your belt…" I sigh at the fool.
"I…" Pained, Thom lowers his head stunned by my words as I cross my arms unimpressed.
"I have done a lot of things in my life I'm not proud of. I've used people, manipulated them, cheated, lied I have done shit tons of mistakes and some even now I regret and some I don't. I'm still running…I've never stopped." Honestly, I confess truthful to him.
"How do you do it then live with these burdens…?" Weakly, he questions me, his tone wobbling with raw emotion.
"I endure. I try to make up for what I did in the past, for the stuff I feel ashamed off, maybe try that sometimes. So what? You just gonna stay locked up in here feeling sorry for yourself." Annoyed, I click my tongue at the pathetic man beneath me.
"I'm paying for my crimes." He reasons as I scoff.
"By what standing there and doing nothing?" I scowl.
"Waiting for death like I deserve." He sighs guilty as I frown.
"Oh shove off, stop being so dramatic, Dorian even would find you being over dramatic Dorian!" I point out.
"What else am I meant to do?" He demands frustrated.
"Work, fight, survive, live, you honestly think brooding alone will you get you anywhere?" I argue.
"What would you know?" Annoyed, he grumbles as I feel my brow twitch.
"What would I know? Look here Thom, I've made far more mistakes than you have and trust me when I say this brooding gets you nowhere. I've done it and all it does is waste time and makes things harder." I confess to him bitterly.
"Do you…do you think you'll ever stop running?" He questions me making me go silent frowning.
"No. I don't think I will but perhaps…I can start…jogging." Tiredly, I confess turning my back to him as I head back to Skyhold, leaving his life in Eve's hands, Eve don't let me down.
Casually, I lean against the headboard of my bed, watching Solas pace back and forth in our room, seething, cursing, shouting enraged in his Elvhen tongue I assume, some of the phrases alien to me, making me arch a brow. Is this how I was? Geez…I knew I was bad but this coming from Solas, it's sorta hot…no bad me! Bad!
Bored, I flip the page, rereading the same chapter thanks to Solas' ranting until tired, he plops himself on the end of the bed, back turned to me as I sigh.
"Shouldn't you be angry about this!?" He questions me bitterly turning to me.
"Solas sweetheart, I don't care." Tired, I deadpan.
"He caused innocent lives to be killed!" Solas accuses.
"Haven't we all?" I sigh.
"I…" Pained, Solas turns his head, bowing it as his body relaxes, hunching over.
"Look sweetie you're letting this get to you, take a deep breath and calm down. Eve is going to sort it so there's no use in fussing over this…" Calmly, I reason to him, scooting over to his side. Gently, I place my hand on his shoulder, feeling his tight muscles turn lax from my touch.
"I…I thought he knew the same pain of war I felt but he lied. He knows nothing of the same pain we endured through war." Saddened, Solas sighs placing his hand on top of mine, giving it an appreciative squeeze.
"Isn't that good?" Softly, I argue.
"How is that good he lied to us!?" Solas frowns.
"We don't know his full story besides I don't know about you but I find it best if people avoid the pains of war." I shrug.
"I just. I trusted him…" Solas sighs.
"I know you did. I know it hurts but having a temper tantrum will solve nothing." I state the fact.
"I know vhenan you are right." Sadly, he confesses earning a smug sly smirk from me.
"Heh, I'm right." Confidently, I cheer slightly.
"Really you're celebrating that?" Solas arches a brow smirking.
"What it's hard for you to admit your wrong? Oh come on don't pout." I sigh wrapping my arms around him, bringing him into a hug as I lovingly rock him back and forth.
"I just…" Solas begins.
"Tell you what, you be good and we can try that thing you want to try." Softly, I offer gently pressing my lips against his cheek moving upwards to playfully nibble at his ear.
"What thing?" Solas frowns.
"The paint thing." I remind him remembering his hesitance despite him putting it on the table, finding the idea of performing art while having 'fun' an interesting experiment.
"Wait…you mean it?" Solas blinks taken aback.
"If it calms you down then sure…" Casually, I shrug.
"Deal…" Urgently, he dives down sealing the deal with a kiss as he rushes out, getting his paints and supplies as I release a tired sigh, what have I gotten myself into this time?
"So this is it." Blankly, Solas and I stare at the piece of canvas beneath us as we both pant, paints all over our bare forms, I feel Solas oversized shirt on me while he wears his trouser leggings thing.
"Yep." I confirm, blinking at the…'master' piece.
"What do you think?" I ask curious, he's the art expert.
"I…" Solas begins not sure.
"I know what I think." I blurt out.
"And that would be?" Solas encourage intrigued.
"Someone likes a certain position…" Cheerily, I bring up pointing at said position chuckling as he turns ruby red, head down in shame as I cackle, finding it hilarious.
"Vhenan…" Pleadingly, he begs making me snicker.
"Hey I'm not judging I think it adorable besides it's not the only thing I learned." Slyly, I tease.
"And that would be?" Solas enquires.
"Red suits you." Cheekily, I smirk playfully booping his nose with my forefinger.
"Vhenan." Pouting, Solas lowers his ruby red face making me giggle.
"Also I think we should burn this monstrosity." I state the fact seriously.
"Agreed." Gravelly, Solas nods.
"Um excuse me- Oh M-Maker I apologise mistress Fen, maser Solas." Blushing, Meredith cries out in shock turning to see our forms and a certain artistic monstrosity below us.
"Hm? Oh Meredith it's fine." I wave her off, feeling Solas' arm protectively around my frame, covering me.
"U-Um the inquisitor thought it best to invite you to this judgement session." Stuttering, Meredith reports to me.
"How come?" I question.
"It shall be the trial of black- I mean Thom Rainier," Meredith reveals as I notice the dark expression on Solas features and sigh.
"No. I do not care for that liar's fate." Solas turns his back as I sigh.
"Why you agreed to your thing, I scratched your back you scratch mine." Sharply, I remind him.
"You certainly did." Solas remarks drily making me blush briefly.
"Oh don't deny it. You didn't like it." I scoff.
"I never said I did." Solas shrugs.
"Good then let's go…" Brightly, I smirk.
"Very well…" Reluctantly, Solas agrees as we change and head down to the judgement room, ready for the judgement of black…I mean Thom.
"For judgement this day inquisitor. I must present captain Thom Rainier, formerly known to us as warden Blackwall. His crimes…well you are aware of his crimes. The decision of what to do with him is yours." Pained, Josephine sighs.
"I knew this wouldn't be easy but I didn't this it would be this hard." Eve confesses conflicted.
"Another thing to regret, using your ties to the underworld to free me? You're a criminal same as me. The world will learn how you used your influence they'll know the inquisition is corrupt." Thom remarks making me roll my eyes at the brooding fool.
"Once the world is back to normal I think they'll be too busy celebrating to make this such a big deal as you are." Eve remarks drily.
"I'll remember. I accepted my punishment. I was ready for all this to end. Why would you stop it what becomes of me now?" Blackwall frowns as I scowl at his rude behaviour despite having his ass saved.
"You atone, what you did was unforgivable and death is too sweet of an end for you. You will atone by working with the inquisition once the breach is cleared then you will be given to the wardens to decide your fate, to endure, to think of your punishment and learn to forgive yourself and apologise to those around you, learn to atone with the rest of the wardens, like the real Blackwall had wanted you to do, you shall be left with the grey wardens once this is all over." Eve decides as I nod my head in agreement, finding it fair, they can all learn to apologise together then and atone.
"I am grateful for this inquisitor and I will serve you for as long as I can." Blackwall bows his head, his chain clacking as he turns and leaves.
"You okay?" I question as Eve releases a tired sigh leaving her throne to approach us.
"Exhausted how are you?" She asks worried.
"I'm fine he's bitter." I shrug gesturing to the silently seething Solas, arms crossed.
"For a right reason." He remarks bitterly.
"Yes, yes I know." I roll my eyes.
"Um…why do you have paint on you?" Eve questions making us both blink owlishly.
"Um…we were painting…" Awkwardly, I squeak out.
"All over your body?" Eve frowns.
"Huh." I blurt out seeing Solas bows his head in shame ruby red.
"What?" Solas mutters craning his head to see me.
"I was right." I smirk.
"Right about what now?" Solas frowns.
"Red does suit you…" Cheekily, I smirk booping his ruby red nose as I leave the flustered elf to answer the puzzled Eve and gawking audience…