Casually, I lie on Solas' bed chair thing, reading that is until, my ears perk up at the sound of footsteps making me glance at the opening as Eve enters.
"Fen? Where's Solas?" Eve questions making me furrow my brow as I note her heaving chest, her frantic breathe and worried expressions.
"Gone out mediating, he'll be back by evening or earlier, depends on what he sees." I mutter returning my focus to the book.
"No, no, no…" Sighing, I close my eyes at her loud voice freaking out. I glance at the girl collapsing to her knees.
"What's up another victim of your healing again?" I sigh recalling the screaming victims on fire, some having odd side effects form Eve's healing.
"No it's Sera." She exclaims making my eyes narrow and my muscles tense as I lean in, gently placing my book to the side concerned.
"What has she done now? Wait if this is about the whole burning down the farm, it was an accident, we were both drunk." I affirm.
"That…that isn't it." Blinking, Eve frowns as I release a nervous laugh. Of course it isn't…
"Yeah I thought Leliana would cover it she owes me…" Lowly, I mutter to myself.
"Look, turns out Dagna and Sera are dating." Eve reveals as I sink into my chair.
"I know." I affirm.
"You know?" Eve gawks shocked.
"Yep, she told me." Casually, I shrug.
"Look, I've been asking around cause Dagna doesn't know what to get Sera, apparently, Sera got her some ugly hat with Coryphaeus ass on it and people have been beating it up," Eve tells me.
"Oh that yeah, it was fun setting that on fire, shame it caught on. Is that it? Yeah… you asked Cole he'd use his ideas to help." I offer smiling reminiscing on that funny day.
"He couldn't help." Defeated, Eve sighs.
"What of Bull? Or Black- I mean Thom, he' s close to her or isn't now, I don't know." I wave it off.
"I tried they gave me nothing." Eve slumps as my ears hear the sound of the door opening making us turn to Solas.
"Ah you're back earlier than I had thought." Surprised, I note.
"I saw nothing new." He reports raising a brow to see Eve freaking out but notices me gesturing for him to wave it off. Delicately, he places his supplies and staff on his desk, joining my side as he sits on the sofa, his arm casually around the top of the sofa, wrapping around my shoulder as I place my legs over his lap.
"What's going on?" Solas questions.
"Dagna needs help to show Sera her feelings and thought you could help, any good gift ideas? I mean what do you think of when getting a gift for Fen?" Eve asks him.
"You and…I see. Well honestly, I sometimes look at Fen's wine rack to see if we are running low on wine then ask Josephine to order specific ones." Solas shrugs.
"What sorts of wine?" Fascinated, Eve hums.
"Well if something big and stressful has occurred around Fen. I typically order Legacy White Shear," Solas answers.
"You're welcome!" Dorian calls out making me raise a brow as he grumbles.
"I have had to ask for help with choosing and getting it here faster," Solas mutters grumpily making me snicker, pecking his cheek, appreciating the gesture.
"What else do you get her?" Eve wonders.
"Sometimes herbal remedies to help with her lessen the pain from the marks. Make sure she eats, sometimes buy some new equipment to help sharpen her blades, maybe some chocolate, depends." Solas shrugs casually.
"See this is why I appreciate about ours." Fondly, I smirk.
"And what's that?" Solas raises a brow.
"We don't need to give each other much." I shrug.
"Um last I checked Solas got you a whole crate of wine." Sassily, Dorian calls out.
"Piss off Dorian why not focus on your own relationship with Bull!" I bark earning a few Tevine curses making me return in Tevine and a few colourful gestures. Sighing, Solas pulls me back on the sofa, annoyed with my arms crossed.
"He isn't wrong Vhenan though the herbs and the paints you got me were quite appreciative." Fondly, he reminds me making me blush ruby red and scowl at the chuckling fool.
"Shove off!" I bark at him ruby red scowling at the ass, grabbing my book and tossing it in his face, huffing.
"I much prefer red on you Vhenan," Cheekily, he points out making me release another screech infuriated.
"Die. Tch, besides I give you stuff you just don't like talking about that," Casually, I lean back on the sofa smirking smugly, planting my legs over his as he sighs.
"That doesn't count." He argues.
"Does it? The amount of times I've had to make up excuses on certain bits for you, most people wouldn't agree to the stuff I agreed to. Besides what about that massage I gave you? I didn't hear you complaining nor did I hear you complaining last night…" Snickering, I remind him as he sighs, face palming, ruby red.
"Vhenan!" Blushing Solas huffs as I snicker.
"Eeww!" Eve grimaces making me chuckle.
"Apologises Inquisitor." Solas bows his head embarrassed.
"No it's fine. It's Fen I should have expected this from her I'm surprised you do." Eve confesses.
"You learn to grow with it." He mutters.
"So you won't help." Eve frowns.
"I can't. The way she's been raised, she's no more an elf than I am a horse, I have no insight into what she could want. Something human and fleeting no doubt." Solas sighs.
"Maybe a donkey." I add.
"And why would that be?" Solas raises a brow, his amethyst meeting mine in a challenge.
"You're an ass," Smirking, I snicker as he rolls his eyes.
"Creative…but still. Why ask us? You know I am not the closest with Sera." Solas leans in curious as I raise a brow partially intrigued.
"I know it's just you two are sorta the go too couple." Sheepishly, Eve confesses and that's my breaking point.
"Hahaahahah!"
"Vhenan please." Solas sighs as I feel tears beginning to prick my eyes.
"Oh come on us the go to couple, we bicker like children, we hahaha! Oh my god, Dorian and Bull are a better couple, heck you and Cullen are!" Hysterically, I can't control as I hold my stomach feeling the painful tugs of my stomach as I continue cackling.
"But you have the most experience…" Eve argues.
"Wow, you must be desperate to ask us for advice." I continue laughing; only managing to regain my breath as I release a huge exhale of breathe.
"I don't think she is." Coolly, Solas disputes making me scoff.
"You just don't admit it due to your pride." Playfully, I pinch his cheek making him roll his eyes as Eve leaves us, continuing her wild goose chase…
Loudly, my ears hear the sound of arguing, screaming, and shouting. Curious I decide to investigate, my brow raised to find Dorian screaming having a go or rather a heated debate at some merchant who scared, turns away only to see me and quickly flee, leaving me to lean against the entrance walls of Skyhold. Daringly, Dorian turns glaring sharply at me.
"You know you already got the Tevinter magisters blood mage image on you. I don't think adding you screaming at some random merchant to be any better," Smirking, I greet the fuming mess, pushing myself off the wall to greet him, arms behind back.
"It's nothing to do with you!" Seething, he spit at me making me scoff.
"If it concerns the inquisition then it does, now what's going on Dorian?" Sternly, I tell him as he attempts to pass me, only for my gauntlets to grasp hold of his arm, stilling his movements.
"Nothing you and Eve have enough problems to deal with I can do this on my own!" He snaps, roughly pulling his arm out of my hold. I follow after him towards the stone staircase towards the main hub of Skyhold.
"You know the more you say that the less likely you can do it alone." I call out to him making him falter in his steps as I move up the stone staircase turning to look down at him.
"Oh I'm sorry hello pot meet the black kettle." Snidely, he remarks.
"That doesn't mean anything!" I frown.
"Kaffas!" He curses at me.
"I'm going to in find out either way." I state the fact to him.
"I'd like to see you try!" He challenges.
"Challenge accepted." Smugly, I smirk as Dorian brushes past me storming off furious. I note the faint sparks of ruby red from his fingertips, better give Bull a heads up for tonight I remind myself. I then turn to finding Eve wandering about, bingo.
"Oh Fen what's up, Sera's thing with Dagna went well." Eve grins.
"That's great got a little quest for you." I smirk.
"You do?" Eve raises a brow.
"Yes, seems Dorian thinks he can be a strong independent Tevinter man…" Teasingly, I smirk as I fill her in on this amulet, from what I heard from the scrapes of info during the dispute.
"Oh boy…" Eve sighs bowing her head.
"So…wanna interrogate him?" Eagerly, I smirk.
"I don't have much choice do I?" She sighs, hands on hips.
"Nope." I affirm smirking.
"Could you at least not call it interrogation?" She sighs as we make our way to Dorian's location.
"Fine…you lot are no fun…" Disappointed, I wave her off.
"Someone's in trouble." Smugly, I call out in a sing song tone as Dorian turns to frown at us both.
"You told on me!?" Dorian scowls arms crossed.
"You challenges me," I retort.
"Urgh, kaffas!" He curses turning away as I smirk.
"So what's this about an amulet Dorian?" Gently, Eve begins.
"Look don't make an issue of it. I don't want someone solving my own personal problems for me. I'll get the amulet back…somehow on my own!" Defiantly, Dorian declares.
"Sure and that sounds plan proof." Sarcastically, I remark.
"You did it why can't I!?" Dorian argues.
"Cause I know what I'm doing, Dorian no offence but despite you wishing to be independent. You are still a rich kid in Tevinter; you don't know Orlais like most of us do. It's okay to ask for help when you come into a foreign place." I explain to him calmly.
"What is it exactly?" Eve enquires.
"The Pavus birth right. The flashy thing you show peons to make them tremble at your impressive lineage. I didn't leave Tevinter in much way of coin, so I sold it. Entirely forbidden, of course and foolish but I was desperate, I'll figure something out." Dorian tells us.
"You know for someone going off about being independent and hating their family you're awfully keen to get back something like that." Eve brings up arms crossed.
"Because its mine…and it shouldn't be passed around like candy." Dorian pouts making me raise a brow snickering. Of course once a rich kid always a rich kid.
"That's the only reason?" Eve raises a brow warily, both of us knowing Dorian's wells utilised lifestyle and how he can't hide it forever.
"Its reason enough leave it be," Harshly, he orders.
"There's other ways to go about this Dorian let's think of this together." Eve offers.
"And I will. I'll get it back." Seriously, Dorian vows as we depart, heading to Val Royeaux with Blackwall, Dorian, Iron Bull and Solas…yeah this isn't going to go wrong.
Casually, we approach the golden gates of Val Royeaux, my ears perking up at the conversation behind us.
"You haven't said much to me since... well, you know," Awkwardly, Thom begins.
"There is little to say. I assumed we were alike. We'd seen war, knew its terrible costs, but understood that it was necessary. But there was nothing necessary in what you did. You did not survive death and destruction. You sowed them. To feed your own desires." Coldly, Solas sneers.
"I know that. I see it every time I look in a mirror. I try to make up for it." Thom exclaims pleadingly.
"By wearing another skin. You ran away rather than face what you had done. You wasted your time." Bitterly, Solas scowls joining my side as I sigh, giving him a brief squeeze to the hand as he wraps his hand around mine as we enter Val Royeaux.
"So, Bull, how does it feel to be Tal-Vashoth?" Thom tries to talk to the unimpressed Bull.
"Feels a bit like I've been living a lie, and now it's coming back to bite me in the ass. What's that like, Blackwall?" Bull taunts.
"Calm down, I meant no offense. As you say, I know something of being cut off from a past life, having to find a new way." Thom sighs.
"Well, you could've just led with that." Bull frowns.
"In any event, you have the Chargers. You haven't lost everything." Thom exclaims.
"Yeah, I think I'm good." Bull scowls as I note Dorian's look of pity, bowing his head.
"I've been thinking," Dorian begins, trying to break the tension.
"Oh, this should be good." Thom mutters already annoyed from his rejections.
"I was about to say you're too hard yourself, Blackwall." Dorian tells him.
"Too hard on myself? Is this setting up a punchline?" Thom furrows his brow weirdly.
"You're not the thug I thought you were. You're not the thug anyone thought you were." Dorian compliments.
"Here it comes." Thom mutters waiting for another insult.
"Point is: you should let yourself off the hook. I know bad men, and you're not one." Dorian assures.
"I'm not sure how to respond." Surprised, Thom blinks surprised.
"Of course not. Let's not go crazy with defying expectations…." Dorian finishes glancing to the side. Well looks like Blackwall is going to have to try harder than that.
Loudly, my ears hear the sound of bustling market people calling out to us and such, my nose twitching at the numerous scents and hearing the scuttling sounds of the city of sorts. We watch many lives go by their daily lives and routine.
"So, I hit a nerve with the whole "murderer Grey Warden" business, once again." Dorian begins as the others wait by the fountain, having done nothing useless asses. While I had to look for some contacts who are on the search as they speak while Eve has gone off in search of this merchant.
"How did it go?" Solas asks me as I join him by his side as the other three to my surprise Bull, Dorian and Thom from their own search party to look for the merchant.
"Contacts are finding this guy, you not joining them?" I raise a brow.
"I rather not." Harshly, he grumbles.
"Solas…I know you're hurt but you're just making things harder by acting bitter." Softly, I begin.
"So what I should forgive a man that lied to us?" He scowls as I sigh.
"Urgh…I'm not in the mood we can talk about this later." I grumble, feeling the headache about to begin only then for Solas to place me on his lap as I feel his soft gentle fingertips in my temple, easing magic into it to calm my aching temple as my ears over hear the banter from afar due to their father's loud voices.
"Are you speaking to me?" Thom blinks surprised.
"Yes, you. "Blackwall," or whatever your name is." Dorian dismisses.
"Blackwall" will do." Thom mutters.
"I'm saying I understand wanting to atone for ones actions." Dorian informs him.
"Is that so?" Thom frowns.
"Enough to know when I've stepped in it. So I apologize." Dorian apologises.
"You... did not have to apologize to me, Dorian." Thom sighs guilty.
"People who say that to me are usually wrong." Dorian exclaims.
"I am indeed a murderer. And I escaped my past to become a warden, like many others before me," Thom confesses sadly.
"Obviously the original Blackwall saw something in you. I respect that." Dorian says.
"And you you abandoned your life of privilege for the sake of principle alone." Thom points out.
"I didn't like that life." Dorian states.
"It was wrong of me to lump you in with peers you hardly resemble." Blackwall shakes his head.
"Truce?" Dorian offers.
"Gladly." Thom agrees as I feel a partial relief to see Thom reclaim one of his many friends again, perhaps even getting closer to the Tevinter magister. Hopeful, I peer over to watch as Thom turns to Blackwall, annoyed, only having come along due to Dorian and now seeing Thom eager to converse once more after having been rejuvenated thanks to Dorian.
"You could've been one of the Chargers, Blackwall. You've got the stature, the attitude..." Bull lists.
"And you'd be my boss." Thom exclaims.
"Hey, I'm a great boss. I'm a firm believer in No-Pants Fridays." Bull taunts bringing a sly smirk to my features at the remark.
"And a mercenary. I'm done with that part of my life." Thom dismisses.
"Why? Because you're better now? Because there's something wrong with working for gold? The thing about my guys? They're honest with themselves. You could've learned that lesson." Bull points out.
"I'd rather fight for a cause." Thom responds.
"Hey, No-Pants Fridays is a cause. Now, isn't this better? Getting the burden of that lie off your chest?" Bull defends.
"And exchanging it for the burden of everyone hating me? Yes. So much better." Thom praises.
"Hey, I don't hate you. You and me? We're good. Now that you know who you are, you can stop doubting yourself and start hitting crap again." Bull tells me.
"Why don't we hit a few bottles first, huh?" Thom offers as Bull smirks and nods, bringing another relieved smile to my list, glad to see Thom rekindle with another one of the members.
"I GIVE UP! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!" Loudly, Eve proclaims collapsing to her knees, dangling over the fountain we sit upon, head down and shoulders slumped in defeat. Bored, I lean back as my ears hear the sound of footsteps making me turn to Meredith bowing to me.
"We found her mam." Meredith reports surprising Eve.
"How!?" Eve gawks.
"Good work Meredith, you're dismissed." Smugly, I wave her off turning to the scowling Eve.
"Obviously, my scouts are better than yours." Simply, I respond.
"I'm the inquisitor! The boss! The leader, I got them the job!" She seethes.
"They like me more than you." Simply, I respond smirking. Gradually, Solas and I get off the fountain as Dorian follows after us. Together, Eve and the reluctant Dorian approaches the merchant to take back Dorian's amulet…
Calmly, I watch Dorian and a frowning Eve return, my brow furrows at the furious yet smug smirk on Dorian's features. I watch Dorian tell the group, they are heading out and the group comply however I sit on the fountain, eyebrow raised at the defeated and conflicted Eve.
"What happened?" Tiredly, I sigh.
"The merchant he wanted to be a part of the Orlais merchant guild but had no social standing. So he wanted us to tighten the hold and Dorian refused flat out, I didn't know what to do. Dorian really wants that amulet but…" Exhausted, Eve sighs.
"His pride…" I gather.
"Yeah…" Timidly, she nods.
"Want me to handle it?" I offer.
"You?" She blinks surprised.
"Yet I've dealt with my fair share of merchants." I shrug.
"You don't mind?" Eve questions hopeful.
"Nah," I shrug once more.
"Alright be careful." She tells me making me chuckle as I jump off.
"When am I not…?" I scoff arms out in confidence.
"…I don't want to answer that." Gravely, she sighs.
"Fine, fine be that way." Bored, I dismiss her turning my back to her as she leads the guys back to Skyhold while I turn my back to them, drawing my blades, smirking excitedly as I deal with other matters…
Silently, my eyes narrow at the same merchant from the decision proudly using his supposed connection to the Pavus family for some discounts on some new merch of his. Smirking, I feel my wry smirk widen as I loom over the floor, my fingertips teasingly touching the cool chill of my steel blades. He's alone, I note to myself as he sits himself down drinking the drink presented to him prior as I draw my blade and dive down startling him. Smirking, I watch as he opens his mouth to speak but the sheer shock of the matter startles him to pause, quickly using the distraction; I raise my blade, tickling his neck. Heavily, ruby red liquid spews out from his throat, chocking and gurgling his petrified cries as he collapses to the ground, dead.
Gently, I kneel down prying the Pavus amulet off from his cold dead fingertips scoffing at the fool, thinking he can use the inquisition like that. Still though, my eyes narrow at the amulet to think I would go through this much for a mage, a magister at that…perhaps…I have changed, I would never have done any of this back then unless to fuel my needs.
"Fennic you're back!" Brightly, Eve smiles at me welcoming me back to Skyhold.
"Here the amulet," I pass her the amulet making her smile.
Thank you Fen," Grateful she bows her head.
What can I say assassinations are my speciality?!" I smirk.
Oh by the way I think Sera was looking for you…" Eve hums out loud.
The last time I heard that it didn't end well." Grimly, I mutter and watch Eve leave to go to Dorian to return the amulet as I head to the tavern, going to visit Sera.
We have a problem, Sera jumps down surprising me as I enter her hangout. How did she? I don't even know I blink, my eyes narrowed when noting the familiar glint of mischief in her eyes.
"What is it?" Curious, I ask as we lean over the tavern balcony looking down at the people beneath us.
"That, over there is a full tavern but everyone's drinking alone. They're all up their own arses about the inquisition. We can't have fun with everybody whinging. And they'll fall on their swords before Corypheus can push them. I'm thinking pranks," Sera begins already I'm caught, hook, line and sinker.
"Yes." Sternly, I answer.
"You didn't even let me finish." Sera frowns.
"Yes. Sera. Just yes." I remind her.
"I knew you'd get it!" Giddily, she beams.
"Right general uptight is gone. Fortunately thanks to that date with the inquisitor, so what should we mess with?" Sera asks me.
"The desk." I point out.
"Oooh perfect love that trick, he loves being in control, being wobbly will drive him ballistic!" She grins as I nod ling the book underneath one of the wooden legs of the desk, making it wobbly as we then turn to our next target…
"Right little lady PrissyPants. Have a look for something she likes too much." Next we arrive in Josephine's office making me smirk as I lean against the door, watching her explore the office however as Sera searches, my eyes examine the room until spotting, yes! Yes! Smirking, I look up at the door.
"Sera," I gesture her over as she stands her eyes flaring.
"What? Just the door?" Sera frowns puzzled.
"Where she greets all the noble nobs." I add making her eyes extend excited as eagerly she nods, getting a bucket the pair of us nodding having the perfect prank.
"Nothing wrong with the classics." I smirk with Sera.
Five minutes of sloppy boss gets you weeks of happy kitchen staff. Except for the one who cleans it up I suppose. But whatever. Next stop!" Giddily, Sera grins as we split up, I'm in Dorian's little home away from home, smirking as I rearrange his specifically alphabetised books, this is vengeance for his shitty attitude.
"What are you staring at?" Frowning, I note Sera looking down as I make my way up the stone steps to see her looking down to see Solas focusing on some mural, the one cloaked.
"Baldy has been doing that mural for weeks; no one knows what it is. Do you?" Sera questions eager to know.
"No why would I?" I frown.
"Cause you're his bird." She argues as I feel my brow twitch at the title.
"I barely pay attention to his creations, we just take the piss out of each other…now if you excuse me I got some pranks to do." I huff turning my back only to hear her small giggle intriguing me.
"Who is up there?" Solas voice cuts us off as I watch Sera having rejected the die of opening her chest and then as she discusses about birds, his voice startles us. Quickly, I grab Sera, the pair of us ducking down as we hear Solas click his tongue, shaking his head and returning to his work.
"That was close." Sera whispers as I nod numbly that is until, noting Sera bring out something, perking my interest.
"Why are you giggling?" I question Sera after purposefully rearranging Dorian's book into the most insulting organisation possible or lack of.
"I stole this from your little boy toy down there." She snickers as I look down puzzled by the sketchbook. Curious I open it my eyes wide and my features exploding at the detailed pictures of…
"Wow, that's a nice bum…" Sera peers over as I slam the sketchbook shut feeling my blood boil, my muscles tense and my form fuming at the sight of this...who the hell is this beautiful woman? An ex-partner of Solas' or could it be one he's seeing someone behind my back!? That scumbag.
"Huh? Wh…what is this!?" I gawk still reeling in shock at the numerous drawings and sketches of the nude woman, often having a blanket covering her most privates but still showing off her finer aspects…
"I'mma kill him…" Seething, I growl, my tone low laced with poison.