The Wrath of The Old Gods and What Came After – Part 2
Summary: Leliana mediates, Rodrick bitches, Cassandra gets a headache and Dune questions the newly founded Inquisition's intentions.
Leliana had arrived at the Forward Camp quicker than initially intended, though the journey was far from easy. Soldiers were being overrun by demons, the snow died pink as limbs and bits of flesh were scattered to and fro. The Sister could have saved a few, but with her focus set on beating the Seeker to the outpost, she ignored any potential survivors. The carnage did not matter, nothing did. The world was ending and if they could not plug the hole in the sky far more than a hand full of righteous men would end up in shallow unmarked graves ripe for possession.
As Leliana rapidly charted down what she knew of the Fade tampered battlefield one of her little birds darted from the shadows passing on a missive. According to the letter not only had Cassandra and the prisoner been delayed, but it appeared the elf possessed the ability to close Rifts. Hope was a fleeting thing and most definitely something that the Sister was not about to squander. She immediately started gathering her men, only for her actions to be rebuffed by a Chantry puppet squawking for attention.
"What in Andraste's name are you doing?" The small man demanded face red and fragile shoulders bunched up to his ears.
"I am preparing the soldiers for one last push," her tone was final and left no room for argument, though the Chancellor appeared to disagree.
"We will do no such thing."
"We?"
"Yes we," he jabbed her in the chest with a soft hand that had never known hard labour. "Last I checked you still worked for the Chantry."
"I serve Most Holy," Leliana narrowed her eyes. "She would have agreed with my actions. The prisoner must get to the Temple of Sacred Ashes. It is our only chance!"
"You have already caused enough trouble without resorting to this exercise in futility." The Sister crossed her arms and glared at the man stationed at her makeshift war table. His unblemished hands smoothed out hastily charted maps, smudging the still fresh ink. She opened her mouth to respond, but never got the chance as those she was waiting for approached. They were lead by the Seeker who, other than for the dried blood smeared on her face as well as the dark yellowish splatters across her armour, looked no worse for ware. The apostate Healer flanked Cassandra and bringing up the rear was the infamous Storyteller as well as the prisoner. The woman had shed her overcoat and was covered in nicks and scrapes though nothing appeared to be fatal, well, minus the constant flickering scar that sat nestled in the palm of the elf's hand. Leliana's gaze drifted to the oversized blade within the woman's clutches. Her lips drew into a thin line as she caught the Seeker's eye before raising an elegant brow. Cassandra merely flicked out the pointer finger on her left hand silently signalling for the Sister to drop it and before Leliana could press farther the Chancellor acknowledged the parties presence.
"Ah, here they come."
"You made it," Leliana said, stepping around the table. "Chancellor Roderick, this is..."
"I know who she is, " Roderick glanced past the Seeker to the blood-soaked elf. "As grand Chancellor of the Chantry, I hereby order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux to face execution." The elf narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth as if to argue only for the Seeker to place herself between the prisoner and Chancellor.
"'Order me'? You are a glorified clerk. A bureaucrat!"
"And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serves the Chantry!" Before the sister could attempt to placate her friend the prisoner stormed past the Seeker and slammed her left fist into the table. There was a crack of splintering wood and a sizzling pop as the mark on elf's hand flared. The Chancellor leapt back at the display.
"Excuse me...! That woman..." She gestured to Cassandra, ears drawn back and teeth bared. "Is one of... the best damn... fighters I have ever... Seen! And yeah have the... fucking gall to call her... a thug? I have a mind... no... a right to run yeah... threw you little shi-" The elf was cut off as the now calm though very clearly shocked Seeker yanked her back from the table. Rodrick looked pale despite the small woman's clear wheezing.
"We serve the Most Holy, Chancellor," Leliana reminded him as her friend pulled the furious prisoner behind her. "As you well know." It took the man a moment to regain his bravado, but he came back arms held up and eyes narrowed.
"Justinia is dead! We must elect a replacement, and obey her orders on the matter!"
"What about the hole in the sky, yeah fuck wit!?" It appeared that the elf was not quite done, the Mage looked like he was trying not to smile and Varric shot the small woman a full-faced grin.
"I'm the fuck wit? You're the one who brought this upon us!"
"Bite me Shemlen!"
"Enough!" Cassandra turned to the elf and glared at her, "behave!"
"Always..." The prisoner grinned and the Seeker rolled her eyes.
"Call a retreat, Seeker," Rodrick said his voice softer than before. "Our position here is hopeless."
"We can stop this before it's too late," Cassandra replied.
"How? You won't survive long enough to reach the Temple, even with all your soldiers."
"Not with that attitude..." the elf grumbled, Leliana shot her a look.
"We must get to the temple. It's the quickest route." The Seeker stated.
"But not the safest," Leliana said while gesturing towards the countryside. "Our forces can charge as a distraction while we go through the mountains." Cassandra crossed her arms and shook her head.
"We lost contact with an entire squad on that path, it is too risky."
"Listen to me," Rodrick appeared to take their disagreement as his chance to interject once more.
"Abandon this now before more lives are lost!" The sky boomed as the Breach expanded, the entire camp shook and the elf's greatsword hit the ground with a metallic clang, the small woman hissed and grasped her left wrist. The whole limb shook and twitched with ancient magic, the dwarf reached up to support the cursed woman as she stumbled. When the growth finished and her mark stopped flaring the Seeker continued.
"How do you think we should proceed?"
"Why in Thedas... would yeah want... my opinion?"
"You have the mark." Solas offered.
"I also have feet... but that... don't make me... a cobbler..."
"True," the Seeker stated. "But you are the one we must keep alive. Since we cannot agree on our own..." there was a pause as the elf grabbed her chin, seemingly mulling the options over.
"I say we charge..." she met the Chancellor's eye. "I won't survive till your trial... I'm living on borrowed time..." She looked towards the breach, "Whatever happens, happens now." The Sister shook her head, Cassandra, on the other hand, nodded in agreement before addressing the former Bard.
"Leliana, bring everyone left in the valley. Everyone." She nodded before heading off to find their Commander if they were going to push she would make sure that they did so properly. As she made it to the gates she heard Rodrick's parting words.
"On your head be the consequences, Seeker."
Leliana tried not to think about the still flaming statuesque corpses that littered the ground where the Temple once stood as she and her scouts clung to the shadows. She could hear the fighting in the valley, the Commander was keeping the demons back and no matter her dislike of Cassandra's choice the Sister could recognize the ex-Templar's ability to lead.
She approached what was left of the ruined tomb with her flock, only to catch sight of Varric ducking in behind a partially collapsed wall. She and her little birds picked up their pace and darted forward in a sea of knives and arrows. She let out a sigh of relief as she spotted the Seeker and prisoner gazing up at the Breach, faces grim and grips tight on their weapons.
"You're here," she called alerting the others to her presence, it would not do to give the elf a heart attack prior to closing the gaping sky maw spewing out corrupted spirits. "Thank the Maker." The elf's gaze landed on her briefly before turning back to the abomination hanging above their heads.
"Leliana," Cassandra called. "Have your men take up positions around the temple." The Sister nodded it was no use trying to push conversation with her friend, especially in a situation this dire. She turned and left to find a perch high enough for her to snipe potential threats, but shadowed in a way that would keep her position hidden from even the most perceptive of foes; she had experience fighting demons after all and was well aware of how to put said knowledge to use. Her flock copied her movements and ended up roosting in similar alcoves. Leliana shook out her right arm, the limb was stiff and uncooperative but she knew how to bend it to her will. She would no doubt be sore the coming morrow, but she could at least provide support as needed. The Sister watched as the Seeker led the small party down towards the crater, she nocked an arrow and followed the prisoner with her gaze. If she was a lesser rogue she would have let the arrow fly true the second deep rumbling echos began to ebb and flow from the Breach.
"Now is the hour of our victory," a disembodied voice drawled. "Bring forth the sacrifice." Icy claws crawled their way down Leliana's spine, she kept her face neutral as the party continued their decent, but could not keep her eyes from widening at the sight of glowing crimson crystalline pillars. Red lyrium, if a small idol could destroy an entire city that much had the potential to end all of Thedas.
"Keep the sacrifice still."
"Someone help me!" Her brows shot into her hairline.
"Justinia..." She whispered, a private call of recognition, the sound unheard to even herself over the wind. Cassandra and the prisoner finally leapt down into the depths of the crater, the air shifted and she saw the elf's mark spark.
"Someone help me!" Justinia's echo repeated and it took everything in Leliana's power not to cry out at the sheer horror in her former guardian's voice.
"What... Put her down!" A furious yell came crashing through the green portal, a voice that the Sister identified as the prisoner's, though she has never heard it coated with such venom. She watched as the woman bent forward and the Seeker reached out to catch her, the Storyteller was at her side as well and waved over the apostate. Though the elf shrugged them off and marched towards the other side of the pit before he could approach. Odd. The prisoner crouched down, her back facing the Breach, in some rumble and began digging out what looked like a bramble patch. Leliana was tempted to fire an arrow just to get the woman to focus. This was not the time to be playing in guts and soot. Though before the Sister let one fly a blinding flash of light filled the area and ghostly imprints faded into existence. A figure of darkness and shadow towered over one of light and bound by green, only for a being of fire to burst onto the scene. The prisoner's previous angry shout echoed from the living flames.
"Run while you still can," cried the golden form in Most Holy's voice. "Warn them!"
"We have an intruder," the darkness shifted and grew. "Kill the mutt." The light flashed once more and Leliana was forced to close her eyes at its sheer brilliance. She managed to regain herself as the elf returned to those in the crater, with a new weapon in hand. An incredibly large great-sword, easily longer than Cassandra was tall, sat balanced across the elf's shoulder. Although quite long the blade itself was thin and ornate a space clearly visible running down the length though ending before one could become two. Vines and what looked like stalks of bramble weaved in and out of the weapon's gap, it appeared as if the branches were moving slowly and she was almost certain that the plants were wrapped around the prisoner's hands securing them to the sword's hilt. She watched as Cassandra approached the elf, she could not see the Seeker's lips nor make out her voice. Whatever argument between the two was cut short as the prisoner gently pulled her left hand from the tangle that had engulfed it and made her way towards the Breach.
Leliana expected something big to come through and to have to pull a quiver from one of her deceased flock when she herself had run out of arrows. She was prepared for the pain to flare in her half-dead arm as she pushed passed the limb's limits. What she was unprepared for was the elf to vanish, only to reappear mid-free fall as she plunged the oversized blade into the massive pride demon's back. Though to give herself credit when the elf left the blade behind and hit the ground she chose to suspend her disbelief, even when the prisoner pointed at the great-sword still embedded in the goliath's form and yelled what sounded like, 'Lightning!' The Sister learned something that day, something that she had not ever considered, it turned out that Pride demons were not immune to electricity on the inside.
When the creature faded from existence the elf ran to collect her blade before turning to face the Breach once more and, despite what she had mentally promised, Leliana found herself once again astounded, though this time not by the elf. Cassandra slid across the stone covered ground, most definitely tearing apart the knees of her breeches, and just managed to catch the fainting prisoner.
The old man with a gruff demeanour had finally shooed Cassandra out of Dune's supplied hut to finish his assessment. The Seeker huffed as she was shoved forward and stumbled out the door only to have the blasted thing slammed shut behind her, she turned and debated the ramifications of kicking the thin wood in.
"Why Seeker," Leliana called, her voice pitched with amusement. "If I did not know better I would have said that you are fussing, not unlike a mother hen."
"I am not 'fussing'," she threw up her hands and narrowed her eyes. "I am simply worried, the Herald-"
"Herald? So you believe what other's say about the prisoner?" The Nightingale's eyebrows shot up as she covered her mouth to feign shock.
"The mark was placed on her that much we know. The Maker works in mysterious ways, and she was the one who found Most Holy." Cassandra rolled her eyes and bumped the other woman's shoulder as she passed. Leliana merely giggled not budging an inch.
"So you claim that her being in the right place at the right time means her to be blessed?" The Spymaster asked as she quickly matched the Seeker's pace. "With that logic, who is to say that ma belle or even Hawke were not touched?"
"And who is to say that they weren't?"
"Really?" Leliana ducked her head into Cassandra's view, "you would argue that what my paramour has gone through was of the Maker's will?"
"I do not want to have this conversation Leliana," the Seeker sighed. "I feel like the more I speak the more twisted my words come falling out."
"Then perhaps," Leliana straightened. "We shall continue this at another time, non? When your head is not full of worry?"
"I have every right to worry," she shot back. "The Herald was not in the best of conditions during our hike to the Breach and now she lays unconscious being cared for by that... that lófaszt!" She was red-faced and angry, though the Sister seemed to find her predicament entirely too amusing.
"What in Thedas, could one man do to warrant such hatred?"
"He will not let anyone guard the Herald as he pokes and prods her with his tools!" The Seeker raved.
"How are we to ensure her safety?"
"It is probably quite difficult for him to work with an angry dragon breathing down his neck-"
"I'm not, I wasn't, I-"
"Cass!" The Nightingale called as she grabbed the Seeker's arm, effectively cutting her off before she could ramble. "Chacun voit midi à sa porte, pouvez-vous pas voir ça?"
"Do you trust Adan? Truly?"
"To patch up the Herald? Without intentionally harming her?" Leliana nodded, "of course."
"Then I will place my faith in yours," she sighed.
"This is not like with Justinia, we are here, we are present and we will ensure that the Herald of Andraste survives." Cassandra let out a humourless chuckle.
"Are you sure about that? You do not understand how reckless that woman can be."
"Oh, I am quite certain I do. After all, I did witness her leap from Maker knows where onto a pride demons back."
"That does... You what?" Her loud cry of outrage led to multiple onlookers turning to regard the pair of former Hands.
"Maybe we should discuss our new charge's tendencies over some tea," Leliana did not wait for her reply as she had already started guiding her towards the Chantry. Cassandra pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut while attempting to regain her composure.
"Ah, Seeker, Sister Nightingale," called a familiar nasally voice. "Just who I've been looking for," Rodrick said as he stood flanked by two fully armed and armoured Templars.
"Chancellor Rodrick, what can we do for you?"
"I'm afraid the mater that I wish to discuss is not for prying ears. If you would please fallow me." The man turned on his heal and strutted off in the direction of the Chantry, Cassandra grunted, this was turning into a long day.
When Dune awoke she was once again in an unfamiliar environment, though admittedly a much more pleasant one. She laid on a thin yet well-made straw mattress, soft linen sheets were draped over her and a small fire smelling of pine burned lazily in a nearby stone hearth. She blinked before pulling herself into a sitting position only to shiver as her once covered skin came into contact with chilly air. She frowned at the small window to her left and rose to close the cursed thing.
Dune leapt into the air, her ears shooting up straight, as a loud thud sounded behind her and when she turned to investigate a small elven woman with tousled hair and a panicked expression was staring at her as if she was some sort of beast.
"Oh," the mysterious woman exclaimed. "I didn't know you were awake, I swear!"
"S'alright," Dune moved to help the woman gather her things. "I'm sorry for startling yeah."
"No I... you didn't," the woman mumbled before falling to her knees, ears drooped back. "I beg your forgiveness and your blessing. I am but a humble servant." Dune paused. "You are back in Haven, my lady," that didn't mean much to her as she didn't know what Haven was. "They say you saved us. The Breach stopped growing, just like the mark on your hand," well the pain was gone that much she knew.
"You're pretty informed..."
"It's all anyone has talked about for the last three days."
"I've been out for three days?"
"Oh! I didn't mean to alarm you," the servant looked worried and pressed her forehead deeper into the floor.
"No no no! It's ok, I'm fine see not worried." Dune smiled as she approached the woman, trying to calm her down, though her smile was more like a startled dog baring its teeth.
"I'm certain the Lady Seeker would want to know you've wakened," The elf said, standing quickly and backing up towards the door. "She said, 'at once'." Dune sighed if she wasn't going to get anywhere talking to this woman. She might as well try to track down Cassandra.
"Where is she?"
"In the Chantry," the elf said while backing towards the door and not meeting her eyes. "With the Lord Chancellor. 'at once,' she said." The woman then turned and ran, Dune stared after her for a moment before reaching up and rubbing her temples.
"Bleeding fucking thorns, what did I step in?" She asked the now empty room, Dune ran her hands over her face before moving to check and see what the servant had left behind. A fleece tunic, dark work boots and pair of thick hose. The tights she could use as her old fur pair had been all but destroyed during the exhausting climb to the Breach, the tunic on the other hand. Dune glanced down and was able to spot a few tears in the leather of her own that were easy enough to patch, plus the other shirt's neckline wasn't high enough for her liking. She froze and reached towards her throat. Her tunic was done up tight, but her scarf was missing. A quick search found the old faded blue rag hanging on the back of the cabin's lone chair. She tied it into place and slipped on her old fur boots. She wasn't a fan of sticking her bare toes in the snow, but the work boots were far too heavy for her tastes. One last search around the cabin told her that her long lost sword was not present, she huffed guessing that was simply one more thing she'd have to ask the Seeker about. She made her way to the door but pressed her ear to the wood prior to departing. She could hear the shuffling and chatting of a large group of people, no, that wouldn't do.
Dune made her way back over to the window, slid it open, climbed out and gently dropped it closed before rounding the corner to a nearby alley and letting out a muffled shriek as she bumped into someone and their hand flew to her mouth.
"Adraste's ass," whisper yelled a familiar rogue. "What the shit are you doing sneaking around, Jay-bird?" Dune batted his hand away before grabbing him by the collar and marching off to another cabin's back yard a few buildings off.
"I'm not a fan of large crowds," she offered after checking the alleyway for prying eyes and ears before shoving Varric inside. "Especially ones that think I'm some sort of..." she waved her arms above her head, "I don't even know."
"Herald of Andraste."
"Excuse me?"
"They think you plugging the hole in the sky means that you were sent by the Maker himself."
"I don't know if they've heard, but I'm a little thing known as Dalish and my people and their Chantry don't exactly have the best of track records."
"Oh no, they're aware."
"Then-"
"Some are calling you Falon'Din's chosen."
"He's the god of death."
"Yup." Dune stared at him, eyes narrowed, lips slightly parted before her ears went flat against her head and she raised her hands in a strangling motion. "Yeah, some started calling you Mythal's chosen and then one of the elven mercenaries said that your markings were actually of mister grave walker and here we are."
"I... but... that doesn't," Dune covered her face and took a deep breath before letting out a muffled scream, Varric patted her on the back.
"I know Jay, I wish I could say I've been trying to stop the roomers, but I've been spending most of my time hiding."
"Why?"
"Now that the smokes cleared people are asking me about Kirkwall and apparently telling them to go read the Tale of the Champion is not a satisfying response."
"Isn't Kirkwall the city that kicked off the war...?" the elf lowered her hands. "Fenharel's infected taint Varric! What in the lost Dales happened to yeah?" It was her first time actually inspecting the rogue and he was far worse for wear then she remembered him being. The man's previously bare chest was covered in bandages and a few were even wrapped around his face, she could just make out some of the angry red blotchy skin beneath.
"Oh yeah," he laughed. "Apparently most people are allergic to demon blood, imagine that."
"Y'alright?"
"Yeah just itches like a blighted dust bugger."
"Fuck, yeah look awful."
"Thanks, Jay, you really know how to kick a guy when he's down."
"Well to be fair, it's kind of hard to tell when you're not."
"That's rich coming from the shortest elf I've ever seen."
"I prefer vertically challenged."
"And I prefer not being knee deep in snow, yet here we are," the two tricksters shared a grin. "Why are you out skulking around anyway?"
"Oh shit! I forgot, Cassandra wanted to see me!"
"Have fun with that," Dune cocked her head to the side. "From what I've heard she and the Sister have been arguing with the Chancellor since noon." Dune glanced over the mountain tops at the setting sun and cringed.
"Well, wish me luck."
"You're gonna need a lot more than luck Jay, after all, you're walking into the dragon's den."
Leliana was trying to rub some feeling back into her arm as she watched the Seeker gnash her teeth at Rodrick.
"Have you gone completely mad?" The man demanded while jabbing a finger into Cassandra's face, well close to her face, as with most the woman towered over him. "She should be taken to Val Royeaux immediately, to be tried by whomever becomes Divine!"
"I do not believe she is guilty," Cassandra crossed her arms and kept her chin high as she glared down at the Chancellor. Leliana spotted a shadow as it moved beneath the war room's door, it appeared that they had a light-footed evesdropper.
"The prisoner failed, Seeker," Rodrick stated, his tone condescending. "The Breach is still in the sky. For all you know, she intended it this way."
"I do not believe that."
"That is not for you to decide. Your duty is to serve the Chantry."
"My duty," Cassandra started, lip curled up in disgust. "Is to serve the principles on which the Chantry was founded, Chancellor. As is yours." The two continued to glare at one another, a weasel trying to stare down a dragon, Leliana almost laughed. The door quietly slid open as a marked elf slipped into the room and, unfortunately, Rodrick was facing the newcomer.
"Chain her," he stated, gesturing to the two Templars present. "I want her prepared for travel to the capital for trial." The elf's eyes narrowed and she stepped away from the Templars if either moved the Sister knew there would be a fight whether or not the woman before her was armed.
"Disregard that," Cassandra said with a look on her face that told Leliana the Seeker had all but forgotten about their Templar chaperones. "And leave us." The men at the door saluted before departing. The Herald relaxed somewhat, but slunk into a corner, keeping all of them, door included, well within her line of sight.
"You walk a dangerous line, Seeker," Rodrick sneered.
"The Breach is stable," Cassandra leaned down her face only inches away from that of the weasel's. "But it is still a threat. I. Will. Not. Ignore. It." The chancellor stumbled back.
"So I'm still a suspect," the elf asked as she crossed her arms and glared over at the feuding parties.
"Even after all that?"
"You absolutely are."
"No," Cassandra said as she narrowed her eyes and positioned herself between the Chancellor and the elf. "She is not."
"Someone was behind the explosion at the Conclave," Feeling as if there was a chance for her to join in the conversation, Leliana ducked out of the shadows, the elf's ears twitched apparently having not noticed her presence. "Someone Most Holy did not expect. Perhaps," she sauntered over to Rodrick, causing him to back away. "They died with the others – or have allies who yet live."
"I... I," the man stumbled as his back hit stone. "Am a suspect?"
"You, and many others."
"But not the prisoner."
"I heard the voices in the Temple," Cassandra said. "The Divine called to her for help."
"So her survival, that thing on her hand – all a coincidence?"
"Providence. The Maker sent her to us in our darkest hour."
"The Maker sent me," The elf barked, everyone turned to face her. "Good one."
"You cannot deny that you were exactly who we needed," the Seeker frowned.
"And when the Divine's shoe horn was needed, did yeah call it sacred?"
"That is not-"
"The Breach remains," Leliana interrupted, they did not need another day-long argument. "And your mark is still our only hope of closing it."
"That is not for you to decide." said the Chancellor.
"You're still here," said the Herald, voice laced with fake surprise. "I figured that you'd have left while the adults were talking. Are the other children being mean to yeah?"
"What are you insinuating?" he demanded.
"Sorry was I not clear? Are the big words too much for your little mind?"
"Heretic, I-" he was cut off by a book being slammed into the table.
"You know what this is, Chancellor," Cassandra stated, tone matter of fact. "A writ from the Divine, granting us the authority to act." The Seeker stood tall, back straight and chin held high as she sized up her much smaller opponent. "At this moment, I declare the Inquisition reborn."
"What-!" "You've got to be fucking kidding me - " The chancellor and Herald said in union.
"We will close the Breach," began the Seeker as she started to chase Rodrick towards the door. "We will find those responsible, and we will restore order. With or without your approval." Cassandra finished while jabbing the Chancellor in the chest and forcing him to once again stumble. The man straightened out his robes before shooting the Seeker a glare and storming out of the room. Cassandra scratched the back of her head as the elf stood with her jaw hanging open and ears pinned flat against her skull.
"This is the Divine's directive:" Leliana said, trying to draw the Herald's attention away from her flustered friend. "Rebuild the Inquisition of old. Find those who will stand against the chaos," she rounded the table and approached the small elf who stepped back. "We aren't ready. We have no leader, no numbers, and now no Chantry support."
"But we have no choice," the Seeker stated as she too advanced on the elf who was looking increasingly nervous the more they preached. "We must act now," Cassandra met the Herald's gaze. "With you at our side."
"No," the woman shook her head and began backing up towards the door. "I know what that means, Exalted Marches more slaughter-"
"We are not after your people-"
"If not my people than whose? Groups like that, like this, only exist to cause pain!"
"The world is in chaos-"
"The world's natural state is chaos! Magic is chaos! Dragons are chaos! Fuck storms that sink ships are made of chaos."
"This is-"
"Then not of old, but of new," offered Leliana stepping between the warriors. "Something to be proud of, something that stands for hope instead of fear?"
"How can I trust you," the elf demanded. "All I know is that you're Chantry!"
"Then join our war council-"
"What?" "Leliana you can't be serious-"
"Am I ever anything but Seeker?" She turned to face the elf, "You're right you have no reason to trust us, but if you have access to the Inquisition's inner workings than you won't have too."
"Leiliana-"
"Cassandra," the Sister shot back in a mocking tone.
"Everything," the elf was fully focused on her now. "I'll have access to all of your most delicate correspondence."
"Of course," she responded while shooting the Seeker a look.
"What if I refuse?"
"You can go. If you wish."
"You should know," the Seeker interjected. "That while some believe you chosen, many still think you guilty. The Inquisition can only protect you if you are with us."
"What about my Clan? How do I keep them safe if y'all can only protect what's within your grasp?"
"I can send people-"
"They're Dalish, even you're marked scouts won't be able to find them."
"Ma melava halani," the Sister spoke and the elf's head whipped around so fast she was surprised when her neck did not snap. "Melana en athim las enaste."
"Ma nuva' dirtha Elvish," the elf hissed back. "Mah tel'din elvarnas ma vena ma'lethal."
"Vin," Leliana removed one of her thick gloves revealing an intricately crafted bracelet made of halla leather with purple quarts woven in-between the strands. "Ma'vhenan ghi'lan em ash viren."
"Oh," the Herald's eyes widened and her ears flicked forwards. "I'm sorry I didn't know-"
"There is no reason for you to apologize," said the Sister as she re-donned her glove.
"Still-"
"I can have my people find your Clan," she ignored the elf's hesitance. "Anyways, they should be protected due to no one knowing where you are from, non?"
"I guess-"
"It will not be easy if you stay," said the Seeker. "But you cannot pretend that this has not changed you."
"No I can't." the Herald sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "If y'all are trying to fix this cluster fuck-"
"That is the plan."
"Help us fix this before it's too late," finished Cassandra, hand outstretched.
"Whatever gods are watching," replied the Herald as she took hold of the Seeker's hand. "Have a pretty twisted sense of humour."
Cassandra had been attending meetings all her life, whether they were for meeting potential suitors or being officially interviewed for the position of Left Hand. So she knew by now that it was a good idea to bring something to pass the time while others argued or someone ran late. Usually, her old worn copy of Song's From The Hills would have been enough to pass her time, except for the fact that the Cullen's whining was increasingly grating on her nerves. She never agreed with Leliana more about her pore choice in military leader than now.
"Where is she," demanded the Commander as they continued to wait.
"I told her that we would be starting in a candle mark-," tried the Spymaster.
"And yet we've been standing here for three-"
"Two Commander," offered the Ambassador. "It has only been two."
"It shouldn't be any! She's the one who wanted to be present for our planning so she's the one who should be here on time."
"This is all new and she's probably still recovering."
"We all are Ambassador, we're at war-"
"Enough!" The two quit their bickering at the Seeker's call, "we will not begin the meeting until the Herald of Andraste has arrived and if you are truly growing bored Commander then I suggest that next time you bring a book." Cullen huffed but halted his insistent grumbling. Well, for a few moments at least.
"There should be something that we can do without her here to oversee."
"There is," Leliana stepped up to the table. "We need to discuss providing the Herald with a bodyguard."
"From what I saw she seemed perfectly capable of handling herself on the battlefield if all be it a little clumsy."
"You have yet to see her fight with that enchanted blade of hers, Commander. What gaucheness filled her movement before is all but gone."
"Even more reason to not need one."
"I believe that the Spymaster is-" Cassandra tuned them out, she had her book, was seated in a relatively comfortable chair and could pass many a candle mark reading poetry before she grew restless. She felt herself relax as she continued to drift among stanzas filled with vines and flowers as the subject of one man's desire danced for a crowd that he could not see. She was drawn out of her literary world by the hairs standing up on the back of her neck, people were staring at her. She lowered the tome and was met with three pairs of eyes.
"What?"
"Nothing," Leliana smirked. "Garde du corps." It took a moment for her to process the former Bard's words.
"You cannot be serious."
"Why can't we be serious?" Offered Dune, causing everyone in the room but the Nightingale to jump. The door creaked like the world was ending whenever anyone else touched it, but the elf always somehow manage to silently slip through.
"Where were you?" Demanded Cullen.
"Where was I?" Dune repeated as she lent her blade against the wall, the thing's branches unwinding from her hands as they began to lazily slither up the stone. "Oh, yeah know just fighting a bigot for my sword."
"What-"
"No, who? As in who let that bald little shit get his hands on my blade while I was unconscious?"
"I don-"
"Because if I figure out who, I'm filling their bed with maggots and replacing their tea with dried dung," the Herald explained as she turned to address the room. "Do you know how fucking long it took me to get the damned thing back? Well?" She asked while glaring at Cullen who stood with shock clearly etched into his features, Josephine's eyes were wide and Leiliana was hiding a smile behind her hand. "Since I left! Since I officially joined the Inquisition, I have been hunting ol' Baxter down only to find out that some pea-brained thorn fucker let the most pretentious of elves get his greedy little hands on it. Do you know how long it's gonna take me to get the smell of Fade monkey out of the wood?"
"I... I-" Cullen stammered.
"That's what I thought," Dune turned to face the Sister with an exasperated sigh. "Sorry that I'm late."
"Non, if you being late leads to a show. By all means, take your time." The Herald coughed and blushed before turning away from the former Bard.
"So why are we not being serious?" Cassandra made a disgusted noise, Leliana laughed, Josephine chuckled and even the previously terrified Commander smirked, "what?"