We Are The Inquisition

by InMyMindsEyes

Once he was strong and fearless.. Now, he feels more than his memory is gone after events that were beyond his control. Will he find what he needs to be the fearless leader he once was? Someone once told him, 'There is an immense power when a group of people with similar interests get together to work towards the same goals'. And by Maker, he would set things right. But not alone..

3. A Fresh Set of Eyes

"Some people speak a lot, but have very little to say. Some people speak very little, but have very much to say. Learn when to listen. And when to speak."

Theon POV

---

Taking in a slow breath, he moved nothing but his eyes, mind racing while every muscle stayed rock still. The cells weren't designed for the purpose they had put them in for, at least, that was what Clarisse had stated as they had been awoken from their unconscious state. Looking over to the cell beside his, he noticed that the female Qunari in question was sitting, back straight though her head turned now and again to look around at their surroundings, her left horn glittering in the low light, no doubt cataloging it all. It had been quiet for a decent amount of time and they hadn't spared a moment to talk to one another, whether it had been unanimous decision for fear or caution, other than the simple 'where am I' and refamiliarizing with one another again.

Moving his eyes once again, he looked to the cell where their female dwarven companion was laying on the stone. The guards had deposited her and she hadn't moved since. He would never tell her about the pit in his stomach that had been growing when he worried she may not have been alive due to her lack of moving, but a muffled snore caught his ears making him relax once again. He took a tense breath, his foot tapping impatiently as he looked and listened. Sounds could be heard down the long narrow hall, the sounds of doors opening and closing, muffled voices, and the occasional sound that had him inch to try to bust out of the cell to follow it.

He tapped the stone wall with the back of his head a few times.

His memory was foggy, but the last solid thing he remembered was seeing Declan's face before he passed out again and even that was hazy. And before that… His eyes squeezed together as he thought harder.

Falling.

Like when you were leaning back in a chair and it giving way under you. Then.. Feeling chilled. Like he had fallen into a small pocket of cold air. He rolled his eyes and picked up a small stone that lay beside him and threw it at the door leading to the hallway which hit the door with a sharp sound that filled the quiet room for an instant, then fell deafeningly quiet once again. He thumped his head against the wall, once, twice but jolted when a sudden gasp filled the air around the room.

"Cor Blimey!" So much for quiet, he mentally groaned as Minks called out from her cell. He watched her roll onto her side before she got to her feet. Clarisse turned her head to her left, towards the dwarfs shouting. "Where am I?!"

The sound of a long patient sigh filled the air around them. "Calm yourself, Minks. We are in-"

"Clarriselda, that you?" Minks' dark hands grasped the cell bars closest to the wall that separated her cells and Clarisse's. He caught a small glance she sent towards his cell and shrugged in return.

"Yes, it is me." She supplied factually.

"You a'right?" Minks' head looked like it was trying to press between the bars but to no luck on getting through.

"I seem to be well." Clarisse returned, though she held up her left hand and frowned.

"Oh, that's good." Minks swiped her hair from her face as she blinked and looked towards his cell, her eyes going wide once again. "Theon! Yer 'ere too!" She tilted her head side to side when he gave a small finger wave. "You 'olding up a'right?" Her thick accent made him relax a bit. It was comforting to hear something familiar. Even if she didn't always sound so.. bright.

He gave a small shrug and rolled his shoulders.

"Well… You don't look like yer 'urt, anyway. That's somefing." She scratched her head with her fingers before a sheepish look fell on her face. "I'd 'ate to fink I fell on ya and was worried I'd squashed ya or somefink!" She tried with a humored smirk, but he could only manage an amused huff from his nose before a loud banging on the door from the opposite side had them all looking at it.

"Keep it down in there!" A voice called from the opposite side. That had Mink's wringing her bars. Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes and thumped his head against the stone once again.

"Oi! Let us out a 'ere!" Minks called back and was only met with another sharp bang on the hard wood. The sound of boots moving away from the door had her rattling the bars and making him scowl, the sound wracking on nerves.. Silence filled the room for some time after that. With the lack of windows, none of them were able to tell how long it had been. It could have been minutes, could have been hours. The occasional sound of footfalls from his companions cells is all he listened too.

"Wot's wiv these people?!" Minks demanded, her voice moving around. "We been 'ere for who knows 'ow long and has any of their lot has come in to talk to us?" He heard her kick a foot into the stone, the sound dull as she asked.

"Not yet. But I do not think you should be eager to speak to them. It seems many things have happened." Clarisse's voice was too, familiar, but not in an overly pleasant way. It had become, for a lack of a better word, monotonic. Factual. It often bordered on cold all thanks from when her and her brother had come back… from… His eyes squeezed together as he tried to recall the facts but came up empty.

Where?!

He felt like it was on the tip of his mental tongue, but it remained out of reaching distance.

"You 'eard anyfin'?" Minks asked, getting him to open his eyes to look at her as her hands waved between the bars in weird twin circlular motions.. He nearly scowled again but figured taking his internal irritation out on his comrade would not work in this type of place. Instead all he could do was look at her hands. It was like she was coiling yarn, but quickly. Clarrise herself looked thoughtful. He himself shook his head with a tight shrug indicating he hadn't.

"I didn't hear much, but I was conscious for a short moment. But it looked to be that we were in.. a ruin?" She moved a braid slowly over her singular golden horn, "I smelt fire and can't recall how we got there. I last recall us to be at the Conclave."

"Ain't like you, bein' unable to 'recall' facts like that," Minks accent strained as she mocked the words that were just spoken. "That's a bit 'azy, innit? Can't ya be more spific?"

"Specific." Clarrise pronounced clearly for her. "And I don't have much to explain. Wherever we had been was completely… destroyed." Clarrise returned. Her tone, though it had never changed, he could feel the coldness drip from it. He watched as Minks staggered back from the bars and fall ass first onto the stones, her face blank with what looked like mild shock.

"Stone the crows." She whispered as she scratched at her cheek absently.

"Indeed." Clarrise agreed with a small nod of her head. Minks looked lost before her head tilted back to Clarisse's cell.

"Wot about your little bruv-"

"He's alive." Clarrise cut in, quicker than her previous responses. "I woke and his face was the first thing I saw." She added and he watched as Minks looked more relived when she looked at him and caught his nod in agreement. If he was honest, so was he. He lifted a hand to his neck to scratch at his wound and caught Minks look towards him, her beady eyes narrow and lean forward a little.

"Oi! Theon!" He said nothing in return, but gave his usual brow lift. "Wot the 'ell 'appened to your neck? Cut yerself shavin'?"

He rolled his eyes as his fingers roughly scratch the bandages that were thick and tight, no doubt still healing. He couldn't seem to let go of the nagging feeling like he was forgetting something, and no doubt that played a part in his injury. Yet no memory of it came to him. Dropping his hand while he shook his head no, he wondered if there were any others that they had managed to salvage from the wreck. They hadn't been spoken too, aside from a basic healer and two guards, and even then, they weren't much conversationalists.

"Aye. I don't know 'bout the both of ya, but I'm 'avin a hard time rememberin' anyfing from before." Minks spoke out and he gave a single grunt in agreement. It was muddled. He hadn't been one to know all the details of their assignment that had been someone else's job.. He groaned gently, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned his back against the wall.

"I too am having trouble recalling much. It's as though my memories that we wish to recall are being withheld from us."

"Wot you mean?" Minks turned her head towards Clarisse's cell, hands loosely holding the bars. "Wot you goin' on about?"

Before Clarrise could speak, the sound of raised voices, shouting and a heavy door opening down the long hallway made them all turn their heads to the sound. Several pairs of footfalls came closer, along with the sound of shuffling and grunts.

"Where are you taking me? Get your hands off me!" The feminine voice had Theon lifting his head from the wall and sitting up. It was familiar and one that made his chest ache. "Let go! Let go of me!"

"And have you slip away again? Not a chance." Another voice spit back as the steps grew closer. Three figures came into the large room, two were soldiers, one of them holding what looked like to be a burned cowl in one hand and the one between them was a woman with her hands bound with thick rope. "You might've slipped past us once, but you won't do it again."

"My my… Don't you sound bitter." The voice came from a woman with dark dishevelled hair that fell past shoulders and hid most of her face, a rogue coat with long singed tails that reached the backs of her knees, dark pants with knee high boots that looked in rough shape, covered in mud and soot. She pulled against them, her head turning toward the one to her right. "It isn't my fault if you have weak hands that can't hold on tight." She let out half a laugh before it was cut of by a wince when the guard tightened his grip on her bicep, he could faintly see the gloved fingers dig deeper.

"Tough talk for a woman with her hands bound." That had her jerking her arms a little more.

"Untie these ropes and I'll show you what a woman can do." She taunted back. He leaned, his hands moving over her body that had her shifting away from him. "Don't touch me!" She was spitting venom and leaned back when his face moved closer to speak in her face and wasn't prepared for when her head shifted backwards before rushing back into the guard's face. A resounding crunch of bone breaking filled the still air around them. Minks was calling out something he couldn't tell over the cry of pain as the guard dropped his hand from her arm to cover his broken nose.

Lifting himself from the wall, he rushed to the bars as she turned a little jarringly around, her bound hands lifting in front of her, her fingers searching..

When the guard looked to her with a shocked face, a long line of blood from his broken nose, he lifted his hand and the back of it connected sharply, her head turning abruptly away from him. That had him gripping the bars and rattling them to get their attention. They barely spared him a glance as the guard who slapped her raised his hand again.

"Brian!" The other guard snapped out as he caught his arm before it hit her a second time. "The prisoners are not to be harmed. Lady Cassandra's orders." Brian in turn glared at the other as he wiped his upper lip with his sleeve while he glared at his fellow guard before turning and stalking towards the cell across from his own.

"Didn't do anything wrong. She hit me first. And I don't see a point. The Commander is gonna want 'em drawn and quartered. If not all of them," he opened the cell door and turned back to the two of them, his eyes lingering over her. "Then just this one."

"Wait, what do you mean 'them'?" Her movements jerked along with her head as it frantically moved about. They opened the door in the cell across from him wider, the screeching of the metal hinges making her body tense. "Where are you putting me?!" Pulling her arms, she jerked back and forth hitting a soldier in the stomach with her elbow, earning another loud pained groan from the one on her left. Minks was up and also at the bars as the two soldiers grabbed her roughly, one by the hair and the other by her shoulder as she was thrown in, her feet unsteady and catching an upraised brick, making her fall to the ground with a pained grunt.

"Oi! Wot's wiv you two, eh?!" A rock came from Minks' cell, hitting Brian in the back.

"Ow!" He turned his angered glare on her for a moment while he lifted his free hand to his eyeline, looked at it before tilting it downwards before wiggling his fingers, like he dropped a few strands of hair that lingered on his glove.

"Two blokes gangin' up on one bird!" Minks pointed a finger at them, her face barely masking her raging displeasure. "Be'ave!" Her accent usually got thicker when she was angry or excited and by the sounds of it, she was getting in rare form. Looking from his position he watched the woman gasp slightly as she managed to get herself lifted from the stone floor if only slightly. She jerked when his hand slammed against the cell, rattling the metal, deftly locking it.

"Be quiet, dwarf! And sit down!" Brian shouted back at her.

"Now look 'ere! We ain't done nuffin' wrong!" Minks tried but received an irritated stare.

"Mi-Minks? Is that you?" The brunette finally managed to ask as she rose to her elbows and knees, though her head moved around landing everywhere but directly on Mishka. Alert and on edge but her movements were.. wrong.. Minks looked away from Brian and towards the cell to her own left.

"I thought it was you!" Minks called, her face shifting to once of slightly amused relief. "If it ain't the old artful dodger 'erself!"

"I'm not really living up to my namesake if I'm-" She started calling back, her voice lightening before she flinched when the guard kicked the door again.

"Be quiet!" That had Minks backing up a step, looking ready to try and pry the bars apart. Brian looked around the room and wiped over his upper lip again, ridding him of the last little bit of blood. "I'd save all my strength if I were you. You all are in for a fun time ahead once the Commander shows up with lady Cassandra for questioning." Minks said nothing, but when Brian's gaze met his own, he wished he had his hammers from the smug look he had. Broken jaw would go well with his nose. Giving a tight shake of his head in silent warning he huffed and simply turned back to the woman's cell. "And you. Don't even think of trying to slink out of here. We've got more than your tools, this time." He leaned back himself when she managed to kick at the cell, rattling the bars. He didn't see the mans face as he turned back towards the hallway that led into the room, the door slamming shut behind him as they left. It didn't press him much as he looked to Minks who moved to the side closest to their newest addition.

"Minks, are you still there?" Her voice was cautious, unsure and worried. Minks turned towards her, her hands sliding along the bars.

"Aye. It me. How ya doin' over there, dodger?" Minks' voice gentled.

"I honestly could be better. Is it just you and me?" She asked, her head moving from side to side as she worked on her bindings, her hands twisting side to side.

"Nah. Clarisse and Theon is 'ere too." She added, casting looked to them, a frown pulling on her mouth as her head came up sharply.

"Theon?" She called, her hands feeling over the ground until they came to the bars. He lifted one of his own hands and waved gently. "Theon?" She repeated, her voice a little more urgent. He frowned and looked to Minks who looked puzzled. Jerking her head sideways in a 'go on' motion he looked back to the rogue.

"I'm here." He returned, his voice gravely and low and felt a little more relived when her head turned so that her face was pointed right at him.

"Thank the Maker." She sighed, her hair covered forehead resting on the cool metal, as her body slumping slightly.

"Hello, Aria. I am pleased to see you." Clarrise added, getting the rogues head to turn towards the qunari.

"Right. Sorry, Clarrise. It's good to…hear your voice." Her voice wavered slightly and went back to work on her bindings.

"You aren't pleased to see me?" Clarisse asked and they all watched her slump a little.

"It's not that I'm not pleased to see you, its just that I.." She sighed a little raggedly as she tossed the rope out from her cell, landing feet away from her.. "I can't."

He felt his stomach drop. "What do you mean?" He asked aloud getting her to turn her head to him.

"I can't… see." She waved a hand up and down her face. Pushing her hair out of the way, she winces when some touched the right side of her face. And justly so. In the dim light, he could just barely make out the bloodied skin rough hand hard to make out in this light.

"Blimey!" The shocked word left Minks' cell and had Aria's head turning towards the sound.

"I take it that its bad?" She asked lifting a hand to her injury. Contrary to his usual characteristics, he found himself genuinely at a loss for words. Minks herself was silent for a moment before she tiled her head side to side.

"Nah. All's we've got to do is find a nice 'orse-faced bloke wiv goofy teeth an' a long nose! Then nobody will mind ya. It's the perfect solution!" That earned her a glare from Aria's cell.

"When I get out of here, Minks, I'm going to slap you." She pointed a finger in the wrong direction, but the threat was there.

That made Minks scoffed. "That's if you can manage wivout seein' me."

"I'll make due." She threw back. "I always do."

"How did this happen to you, Aria?" Clarrise cut in, no doubt bored with their bickering. Aria sighed, her head rolling in a circle, like she was working out a sore muscle in her neck.

"I was headed downhill, away from everything when a blast of.. something caught me from the right side. It stung like a.." She took a sharp breath, her eyes squeezing shut, no doubt reliving it again. "It was… blinding, no pun intended." Using her thumb she pushed a lock of hair out of her face before continuing. "My sight seemed to slowly… deteriorate as I tried to get back up and away from the chaotic place but.. I heard voices calling, er, shouting about being on the lookout for anyone or anything suspicious and.. Not long after, I couldn't see a damn thing and after that and a few feet of stumbling around, I was tackled." She scoffed.

"By the same guards who brought you here?" Clarrise asked, leaning forward. Aria touched along the bars, stepping slow.

"Sounds like it." Minks added as Aria got to the end of her cell, turned on her heel and started back again.

"From what I could tell, it sounded like that wasn't your first encounter with them." That had Aria letting out a long-tired sigh.

"No.. It hadn't. Felt like I had been catapulted, but into the treeline, hit a tree and blacked out. Must've been for.. an hour or two before I came round. When I did, I was nearby what looked like a fight with some kind of.. creature?. I didn't recognize anybody but.. A few soldiers got in my way. I didn't know what to do so I simply.. stunned them." She rolled a shoulder and pushed hair off her injured cheek with a tight wince.. "I managed to get out of there and make a run for it."

"Must've made 'em look like a right bit of fools." Minks snickered. Aria shrugged while Clarisse sent a bored look to Minks.

"I suppose so. But not long after I got out of there, I could have sworn I crossed paths with-" She gasped before turning her head vaguely towards Clarisse. "Clarrise, your brother! Is he-"

"He is alright." She stated and he watched as a new relief filled Aria's face as she ran a hand over her good cheek, smearing dirt or blood a little as she took a few steps back from the bars until her back met the stone. "Please continue what you were saying." She added. Aria took a steadying breath and sank back against the wall, her body slowly sliding down.

"I met him with several others I didn't recognize. Before I could make heads or tails of it all, a blade cut the encounter short and I slipped out of there. Figured I could have kept an eye on them from a safer distance than that."

"Has anyone spoken to you yet?" Clarrise asked, her voice moving around, like she was the one now pacing.

"No, you saw how I was brought here. Wherever 'here' actually is." She tapped her knuckled to the stone softly. She sat up straight and took a slow inhale. "Alright guys. Help me out here. What are we looking at?" That had each of then straightening.

"Guards on edge. Hostile." He stated first. Might as well get the obvious out of the way. His eyes travelled upward to the ceiling. "As you've just seen." That had her scoffing without humor.

"I gathered that, but if they've been rough with you all as well, then tensions are high, so it means that something serious has happened."

"We were brought her unconscious, so there has been no need to get, as you said, 'rough' with us. But no face of authority has shown up yet to speak or interrogate us though." Clarisse informed.

"Alright. What about here?" She gestures to the room around them.

"We seemin' to be in cells undergroun'." Minks tossed out as she kicked the metal door making it rattle once again.

"How deep?" Aria asked on a blown-out breath. Minks glanced around and walked to the walls, touching now and again.

"Not a lot of moisture. I'd fink about 15, maybe 20 feet, tops."

"Okay. Condition of the bars?"

His eyes scanned them scrutinously. "They look old though, like they haven't been used for some time."

Minks kicked the bars once again. "You bein' the slippery fox could get out 'o 'ere no problem if you 'ad your tools." That had Aria scoffing and lowering her head.

"Suppose being good with certain locks is pointless when you can't see where you can go. If there is anywhere to go." She tapped the ground with her hand again. "Anyone of you seen the rest of this place?"

"I woke first, then Theon. But we were already placed and left down here." Clarrise explained glancing to him and in return he gave a nod in agreement with a low hum.

"You don't 'ave anyfin on ya to get us out a here?" Minks inquired as she leaned her arms through the bars.

He could barely make out the shake of her head. "Nah. I got out of some shackles they put me in earlier with my tools, but when I tried to run after, I ended up getting grabbed and taken to the ground by those brutes out there. They did a more," she gave an uncomfortable shrug with a small grimace, "thorough search. Snagged my gear." She held up her hands. "I got nothing."

"I have to say that I am impressed with your skill of getting out of locks, even with your lack of sight." Clarrise praised and though it was hard to tell if it was genuine compliment since her voice didn't rise or fall. Either way, Aria shrugged, her chin meeting her chest, her hair hiding her face.

"It's all memory. Touch." Her fingers wiggled as her elbows rested on her knee's. "I could do it with my eyes closed before, but now.. It's like I looked into the sun too long. Now, I can't see anything. It's like a large black.. blur when they're open and it burns like nobodies business."

"I wouldn't never doubt that." Clarrise stated.

"Enough about me though, what is everyone else's condition?" She asked, lacing her fingers together.

"We too have a few injuries, but nothing as severe as a loss as your sight." Clarisse answered.

"Like what?" Aria asked, lifting her head but wincing a little at the movement.

He himself offered running his thumb over his own before dropping his hand when he recalled she couldn't see. "Cut. Jaw to collarbone. Little deep."

"For you who lack sight wise, I still fink he's cut 'imself worse shavin'." Minks laughed when he tossed a small rock at her. "As for me, I got a nice little slice on me leg." She rubbed her thigh but the way she touched the tie that was wrapped around it had her hand slowing to a pause. "If I only knew how, well then…" She sounded confused and shook her head, before looking back at them. "But I'm sure a bit 'o rest and I'll be good as new."

"Other than a few broken fingers and constant reoccurring headache, I too am fine." Clarrise added when Minks sat on a chair in her cell, stretching out her injured leg in question.

"Regardless, I want you guys to get looked at if possible. Sooner the better."

"What about you?" He threw back and grinded his teeth when she waved his question away.

"Don't worry about me."

"Theon and Minks have makeshift bandages on. They will be alright for now." Clarisse supplied. When Aria nodded a little, she settled down.

"So looks like now its just the waiting game." Aria huffed as she settled in.

"I hate waiting." He barked out, thumping his head against the wall once again, but joined in with a small smile when Minks and Aria gently laughed from their cells.

Time passed for a while before it looked like Clarrise wanted to speak when loud voices could be heard from the hallway again, this time both male and female.

Aria scooted deeper into her cell until her back met the wall and with the lack of light, hid her mostly in shadows, mostly keeping her boots and arms in view. He rested his back on the wall closest to the door. Minks looked like she was ready to jump up and at the bars the way she was bouncing on the balls of her feet. Clarrise, however, sat calmly in her cell, legs crosses from her meditation, her face passive.

The door swung open and in walked 3 human figures with two guards, neither of which looked familiar. Two women, one with dark hair and a stern face with a scar down her cheek, the other in a deep armoured purple robe with red hair and a man with blond hair wearing a mix of armour and leather, though it looked like a red and black lions' mane around the shoulders. That had his brow lifting.

Each of them had their own presence, but the tall dark-haired woman had the harshest gaze. The woman with red hair seemed to like moving in and out of shadows as she looked them over. And the blond-haired man looked like a soldier, through and through, with his back straight and a hand on the pommel of his sword. He nearly smirked. He knew a man with authority when he saw one.

"Well, you lot make quite an entrance. I dunno wot to do wiv' meself." Minks fanned herself as she looked between them all. That earned an amused huff from him and a low groan from Aria's cell. The three who walked in didn't look amused.

"I believe a greetings are in order." Clarrise stated with a small bow of her head, her horn catching the light. "Is there something we can do for you?"

"You can start by telling us who you are." The redhead answered stepping forward. He heard Clarrise clear her throat and noticed Minks cast a glance towards her cell in question, before slinking backwards away from the cell's bars.

"I believe it isn't right to demand our names when you haven't given us yours." Aria spoke up from the shadows. That had the dark-haired woman cast a glance to her cell. He watched her head tilt slightly, no doubt trying to get a glimpse of her.

"This isn't a meeting at a night market. Your. Names." The dark haired demanded. Aria remained silent.

"What happens if we don't tell you?" Clarrise inquired. "For all we know you could kill us, whether you know our names or not."

"We seek answers, and if you wish to remain uncooperative then you shall stay here in these cells until we rule out your reason for being here." The redhead stated as she walked in and out of the light.

"We cannot permit nameless travellers to wander around at will or otherwise in times like these." The man explained looking between each cell. His voice held a 'no nonsense' tone that had him tilting his head to look at him from a different angle.

"Wander 'round where? Where the 'ell are we?" Minks asked. The three of them looked at eachother tensely.

"Haven." The stern scarred woman countered tensely.

"Where's that?" Minks asked through the stone separating her cell and Clarisse's, who looked off to the side in thought before answering back.

"If my memory serves, I believe it was a few hours away from where the Conclave was being held." Clarisse moved a braid out from her face.

"Correct." The redhead nodded. "But to lessen your fears, your… friend asked us not to harm any of you. And we are agreeing to his terms." The unspoken 'for now' was hard not to be heard.

"Include your guards as well?" He himself asked, getting all eyes to turn to him. The man in armour straightened a little, his head tilting at his question. He pointed to Aria's cell. "Got rough with her." He added tightly and watched the soldier's body turn so his back was to him and look deeper into her cell.

"They did what?" Lions mane asked incredulously, his body language changing.

"I'm fine." She called out, trying to dismiss it.

"They 'ad her 'ands bound and shoved her to the dirt after they took to pawin' and slappin' her 'round a little before locking 'er up." Minks explained, her voice sounding disgusted and each second passed had the mans body language change.

"It was rather.. unnecessary." Clarrise chided as she looked from person to person. "Though, she had broken one of their noses." Clarisse added. The soldier looked sharply to her then back to Aria.

"Purely in self defence. Nothing more."

"Self defence?" He echoed, stepping up to her cell and seemed when she wouldn't move into the light.

"That's right."

"Was it also self defence when you attacked my men and when you were caught? I wasn't there but I have read their reports. It seems it took quite a few of my best men to get you apprehended." His voice was steady and if he wasn't mistaken, skirted the line between irritated and surprised.

"I'll take that as a compliment." Her head came into view a little as she spoke and could almost imagine the mischievous grin that lifted Aria's lips. Her head moved in the dim light and judging by the movement, it was like she was blindly seeking out where his voice had come from. When it settled, he leaned over a little to get a better look. She seemed to met his gaze as best she could. If she hadn't told them her sight was gone, he would have figured she was looking at him dead on. "I hope you don't mind." He watched as he started to open his mouth to say something but was cut short when the taller woman looked at her more closely and then narrowed her eyes.

"You! You are the one we encountered while getting up to the Breach." She strided to her cell. That had Aria's head turning to the woman and her grin slipping.

"I recognize your voice." Aria frowned. "You must've been the one to put a blade between me and Declan out by the rocks."

"Declan?" The redhead echoed, looking between them all.

"Declanerion." Clarrise informed sitting upright. "My brother." She clarified before she took a slow swallow before meeting the redheads gaze. "Is he well?"

"He is still recovering. For the time being, he is unconscious." The stern woman explained before looking from Clarrise to Aria again. "And yes. I am the one who stepped between the two of you."

There was a loud relief-filled sigh then Clarrise stood up, walking to her cell's bars. "It seems that some of us have gotten off on the wrong foot and I believe we should rectify that." She walked right up to the bars with a minimal bow, "My name is Clarriselda. My colleagues call me Clarrise."

Minks looked to the stone wall that separated them and kissed her teeth. "Only cause to some of us it's a bleedin' mouthful." She turned to face the three again and crossed her arms. "My mates call me Minks." He found himself raising a brow at her curt response. Usually it would have had more flair, but the tension was becoming palpable from all sides. "That there is Theon." She jerked a chin in his direction making all of them turn their heads. "He don't talk… well much." She finished on a shrug.

He inclined his head stiffly to the women and then his eyes snapped to the soldier who looked at him directly. The red headed woman stepped to Aria's cell, no doubt looking to find her in the shadows.

The silence was deafening and by the looks of the three of them, they looked to grow more and more uneasy. But the redhead looked at Aria and for a brief second, looked pensive until she moved her arms behind her back to wrap a hand over a wrist.

"You move well in shadows." Her tone was one of admiration if he wasn't mistaken.

He heard her shift a little, no doubt getting comfortable. "And here I was told I still needed to put more effort into my footwork." She chuckled before a small pained hum left her. "Thank you. I'm Aria."

Looking from Aria's cell, she looks around to all of them. "I am Leliana." The redheaded one answered gently, before gesturing to the taller dark-haired woman. "This is Cassandra and that," she gestured to the blond-haired male, "Is Commander Cullen." Who turned towards her cell and tilted his head in acknowledgment.

"Now that that is cleared up, what were you all doing at the Breach?" The Commander asked, looking between them all but lingered now and again.

"Wot's a breach?" Minks asked, looking confused. "Like 'ose fings you use to keep yer trousers up? Or are you talkin' bout the actual pants?" He felt his lips quirk upwards and had to cover it with a hand when his shoulder gently shook. Sometimes Minks was unintentionally funny in her naiveites.

"No, those are braces and breaches, Minks. But I don't think these people came all the way down here to talk about clothes.." Clarrise explained and finally met Cassandra's gaze head on. "I believe we won't have much to tell." When Cassandra casted doubtful looks to her entourage, Aria cut in.

"Look, I know it may seem hard to believe, but we can't seem to recall anything of how or why we came here the way we did."

"I think it is pretty convenient for all of you to have no memory much like your brother." Leliana returned, her doubt ringing clear.

"Or perhaps you are covering for someone who is accountable for what happened at the Conclave." Cullen added in and that had Minks grabbing her bars.

"Oy! You wanna watch it! Don't go throwin' accusions about! You wouldn't want to get on our wrong side!" Minks grabbed a bar in one hand and pointed a finger at the group of them while Aria slide forward a little.

"Declan can't remember either?" Aria cut in, her voice sounding apprehensive. "Is he alright?" She leaned forward a little more, her head still in the dark while her shoulders became illuminate in the dim light.

"Like I said, he is currently unconscious." Cassandra restated. "Now what were you all doing at the Breach?"

"We were hired to help keep order at the Conclave." Clarrise explained but grew short when Cassandra stormed over to her cell.

"If you were hired to keep the peace then what happened to Most Holy at the Conclave?" When they all looked to one another, they each had a similar look of confusion and distress. Cassandra hit the bars to Clarrise's cell. "Confess!"

"Don't matter 'ow many times we gotta tell you, eh? We ain't got nuffin' ta confess!" Minks sounded exasperated.

"Indeed. You seem to think that we had a personal agenda with the death of Most Holy though It would be illogical that we would be hired for a simple peacekeeping meeting only to then kill our person of interest." Clarisse stated plainly.

"Why do you say that?" Leliana asked her tone sharpening.

"We wouldn't get paid fo' one." Minks tossed in and crossed her arms. "And since we ain't have been able to keep our end of the contract, it makes our team look bad. Not only that, but to linger or come back to the place of where everything went arse up, would just be plain stupid."

"And before you ask, neither Declan or the rest of our team doesn't take jobs like that. That's not what we stand for." Aria stated clear and strong. "He prefers to have outcomes that show unity rather than deconstruction."

"How can you know that; say you were there in support of unity and then say you have no memory." Cassandra asked tensely glaring.

"Look at our team." He called out and received a glare from the woman when she spun to look at him. Standing up, he gestured to the cells and stared her down. He watched her eyes flick down minimally before flickered away, it seemed then to dawn on her what he had said, even if it was minimal. They all looked between them. Qunari, dwarf, human.. All in cells.

Unity.

"You weren't the only ones who lost those who are important at the Conclave." Aria spoke so softly, before she too stood up and walked along the walls, one hand touching the cool stone. "There were more of us, more who believed in what the Most Holy wanted to achieve. And now.. We are just coming to terms with what you are throwing at us, accusations as well.. We don't even know about our losses."

"Someone was behind the explosion at the Conclave. Someone Most Holy did not expect. Perhaps they died with the others- or have allies who yet live."

"How many were under your brother's command?" Cullen asked stepping forward. His voice softening a little in his inquiry. That had Aria stopping, her breath hitching.

"Clarisse?" Aria redirected the question. "How many of us where there?"

"In total?" Clarrise blew out a breath and thought long and hard. "There were 32 of us, that's included a few hired hands that my brother trusted that we added for, what he called 'some extra muscle'."

"Are there any more people in cells?" Aria asked as she reached the bars. "Other than these ones?"

"No. You are all we have found." Leliana stated as she finished her complete walk around the room.

"Stone the crows.." Minks said limply, her arms dropping from their crossed positions. "Includin' Declan, that brings us up to 5." Air was sharply drawn into several sets of lungs, the weight behind Minks' words hitting them each.

"So many. Our team.. Just.. gone. They were our friends…" Aria sounded like she had been dealt a hard blow to the stomach.

"Family." He included pushing down the ache that grew in his chest.

Minks paced a few steps, her short legs moving quickly before she exploded. "I can't believe it! One minute we was in 'ere, then fings get all fuzzy an' then all of a sudden we was back outside the Conclave. I fink I saw the sky, then I was in 'ere."

"That's all you remember?" Leliana asks, sounding unsure but seemed to be lost in thought at this.

Aria walked along the bars, her gloved fingers moving over each one. "For myself, the last thing I remember is.. a hallway, then it was blinding light before I was running into a battlefield or more specifically, a treeline." Aria admitted. The commander shifted a little, watching her as she moved along the bars slowly, hand on his pommel. "But before I could figure out anything, I was seen as an enemy and weapons were drawn on me. So I ran."

"I was in a small room when I heard a loud commotion overhead. After that, I just recall seeing my brother." Clarisse followed factually.

Cassandra turned to look at him and glared when his silence still filled the air. "And what about you? Do you recall anything?"

Very pushy woman, he thought as he looked her over. "I remember rocks." He told her plainly.

"Rocks?"

"Mhm. They were floating. Then this cell." And that's all he gave. Nothing more he could give.

Clarisse sighed. "I think our lack of memories are tied to the simultaneous loss of the Conclave. It's a logical explanation." She said simply and he worked his jaw from side to side, thinking on that. "I am quite sure that if my brother told you not to harm us, he would also want us to cooperate with you in answering any and all questions you might have about us in return."

"You all seem to hold the key to Justinia's last hours.." Cassandra stated looking between them all and lingered on Theon.

"Even if its just pieces. Eventually they should all fit into a larger picture, somehow." Leliana joined in.

"Then we will do our best to help you in any way we can to help gather pieces. It's what my brother would want." Clarisse stated blankly.

"Its what we all want. I for one can't stand this feeling of not knowing what happened." Aria stated, her words having more bite to them. He grunted a sound of agreement while Minks limply nodded.

"Very well." They all looked around to one another before Cassandra tightly bobs her head before the Commander stepped forward and opened Clarisse's cell door first.

Minks didn't look at all relieved when her cell door opened. She looked up at the scarred female warrior with a hard stare.

"Wot's your game, eh? First you grass our arse for somefin' we ain't done. And then ya let us lose askin us for our 'elp."

"They didn't ask, we are offering, Minks. There is a significant difference." Aria bit out, her voice scolding.

"Until we know what happened, we must look at everyone with suspicion." Leliana offered as Minks stepped out herself.

"That's all well an' good but ya still don't know us from Edith and yer just 'appy to let us go, are ya?"

"Would you prefer the cells?" The Commander asked as he started to unlock Aria's cell.

"No, we appreciate you letting us go and listening to reason." Clarrise returned laying a hand on Minks' shoulder as she looked from him and turned to the women. "May I see my brother now? I do wish to check on his wellbeing."

"Of course. I will have someone escort you to his room." Cassandra stated as the Commander opened his cell, eyeing him up as he walked out and past him towards Aria. Reaching her side, he gently took her elbow, his fingers squeezing, silently saying 'I'm here.' Without missing a beat, she all but grabbed his arm.

"Thank you." She said quietly and took the arm he offered. "Will we all need escorts while we are in Haven?" She asked aloud.

"Its true, we know nothing about you, but you all freely offered aid with no force necessary." Cassandra looked thoughtful for a moment. "As long as you are here and answer what questions we have for you, you will be permitted to moving freely."

With a tight nod they walked together, moving through the halls. Cassandra and Clarrise up front, Aria and himself, Minks and Leliana and bringing up the rear was Cullen. He and Aria took their time up the stairs, letting her walk with a hand along the winding walls. When they exited out of a door, his eyes widened. Warmer light here in this hall made of brick walls with banners that hung in deep reds. Statues made of stone in the corners, the dozens of candles..

"I smell.. Is that incense? Where..?" Aria drawled quietly.

"Looks like a Chantry." He whispered in Aria's ear as they walked out towards large double wooden doors.

When they reached the outdoors, they all momentarily had to stop and take it all in. The sounds of swords clanking together in practice, clamouring orders being given, the movement of people, and the giant green tear in the sky had them staring. Well, most of them.

When Aria's hand tightened on his forearm, he looked down and nearly swore. The light hadn't been good in the cells or in the temple they seemed to have walked though, but here in the bright light of the snow-covered town, did he really get a good look at her face. From her right temple's hairline, over her right eye, over her nose to her left cheek, her skin looked like she had been dragged through rubble, leaving it raw and bloodied. But the pale sections of the skin around the wound made it a clear sign of a sever burn. Her jaw sported a solid bruise and her bottom lip held a small split near the corner of her mouth but it was her eyes that had him wanting to take her to a healer as soon as possible. Her eyes were a milky white, all colour gone but he could still faintly make out the rings of her pupils and iris's as they still moved a little, as if she was still trying to search for something to see before they suddenly stilled.

Aria's grip on Theon's arm tightened.

"I can feel you staring, Theon." Her free hand lifted and patted his shoulder. "I'm alright. Just stings a bit in the cold air." Her eyes closed once again when a small wind picked up. A deeper gasp had him sending the Commander s scaling look.

"I can have one of our healers take a look at you as soon as possible." The Commander stated walking up to join them.

"Thank you, Commander." She gave a small smile, even as her eyes opened, lifted, searching out the sound of his voice. The way her head tilted up to look at him, he would have sworn she was looking right at him but still, the way her opaque eyes flitted about had him grind his teeth. "It's just a scrape. A washcloth and a brush and I'll feel right as rain. The others-"

"Are fine. You need to get looked at." His fingers tightened on her arm, a silent way of saying 'don't push this.'

She raised a hand to her cheek and blinked hard. He gave another squeeze before she let out a more irritated breath. "Fine. I suppose I may need a little more than that for more pressing matters.." She waved a hand to her eyes.

Standing this close to the Commander had him get a solid look. Handsome face, scar on the left side of his top lip, jaw line covered in over a days grown of a beard, solid build and.. amber eyes. Intriguing, though they were however were trained on Aria, or at least, the way he angled his head, her jaw and the bruise that was growing.

"Of course. I apologize for the heavy handedness of my men. I will personally see to it that they are dealt with." He took a step towards her, his hand clenching the handle of his sword. "You have my word." His voice had gentled when he looked over her face but he for one didn't miss the way it hardened looking at her before he looked of towards what seemed to be a gathering of guards.

"I'll hold you to that." He gritted out getting his attention. The Commander looked between the two of them for a second longer before giving a stiff nod. And stepping back and away from them to point to a collection of tents not far from where they stood.

"The healers will be in one of the tents. I trust your.. friend will be able to accompany you there." The Commander returned and started off towards the training soldiers when he gave a jerk of his chin. "Good day." And with that, he was off. Looking to Aria, he found himself surprised when she remained looking off in the direction he left in for a moment longer then necessary.

"What is it?" He asked gently nudging her with his shoulder before she cleared her throat.

"Its nothing. Clarisse?" Aria called out, turning her head over her shoulder when the tall woman placed a large hand on her shoulder.

"Yes?"

"Before I go and get poked and prodded, can you direct me to Minks?" She asked. A few more small steps brought the mentioned dwarf into their growing circle.

"Right here, dodger. What ya want?" Minks looked up to her and looked a little thrown off when Aria gingerly reached a hand out, her fingers grasping at the air gently until her hand connected softly to her shoulder. Her fingers trailed over her shoulder till it met her neck, up and cupped her face.

"I just wanted to take a moment to say that.. Its.. good to know that some of us made it out." She smiled tightly, her face no doubt making the effort hard but did her best to manage before it dropped. "But before I forget," her hand moved away from Mink's face before it swiftly moved back, cracking the dwarf's face with decent crack that had the dwarf stumble a step backwards before dropping to the ground, cupping her cheek.

"Oi!" Minks pained shout drew a few eyes, but he couldn't help the smile that lifted the corners of his mouth.

"Told you I'd make do." She said with a laugh, brushing hair out of her face. Minks stared in shock as she rubbed her face before scoffing and rose.

"A'right. You got me there, kept yer promise." Minks looked over to Leliana who stepped up to them.

"Do you mind if I walk with you? Ask you a few questions?" She inquired. When Minks dropped her hand from her face, she glowered.

"Right now?" Minks almost whined but drew short when he nudged her with his free arm.

"Whether it be now or later, we will have to be subjected to questions. To ease tension and doubts sooner, we might as well get it over with now." Aria spoke coolly looking down to where Minks roughly was who in turn regarded her with a pronounced frown. "Don't look at me like that."

"Ah, aw'ight." She grumbled and soon the dwarf and qunari were walking away, speaking quietly. He could have sworn Minks was asking about getting something to eat and smothered a laugh.

Starting towards the tents, he walked gingerly at Aria's side as she tentatively made her way. Her head turned towards sounds and winced when a cold wind blew once again.

"Are you alright?" He asked quietly leaning down towards her. She leaned into him, her forehead meeting his shoulder.

"Its so.. strange moving in darkness. Well, a different kind of darkness. But everything sounds so clear."

"Come on. You need that looked at."

"I haven't heard you speak in ten words or less since we joined up with Declan. Its.. off-putting." Her statement could have been taken as teasing, but from the look on her face, she too was concerned. He shrugged with a low grunt.

"I just don't.. trust these people. These surroundings." He said tightly leaning over to speak in her ear.

"I understand. And they don't trust us. But if we were in their position, wouldn't we be doing the same?" She countered and that had him let out an irritated rumble. "Don't take that tone with me. I don't like it either."

Continuing forward, he kept his face a passive as he clocked each face that stared at them until they reached what the Commander had pointed out as the healers tent. It was small, but the older man they had in there turned to face them after cleaning his hands and dropped the towel when he fully saw Aria's state.

"I was told someone would be coming. Maker." He gestured to the small cot. "Sit, let me have a look at you."

"Thank you." Aria with an outstretched arm found the edge of the cot and gingerly sat down.

"Do you know what caused this?" The healer stepped close and gently took her chin in his hand and turned it from side to side. Hiding a wince, Aria shrugged.

"I got caught in the middle of a blast of some sort when I was running after a close call with Cassandra and a few others including-"

"Ah, the oxman that others are whispering about stepping out of the Fade." He spoke as he gathered a bowl and some clean cloths while his words sank in. It had his breath stilling in his lungs, while Aria blinked a few times, her shoulder tensing.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"The qunari that they are saying stepped out the Fade. Had a glowing woman behind him. Though some are saying that it took a toll on him and that he died from his injuries since none have seen him."

"No. He's just unconscious." He bit out, crossing his arms to hide his clenched hands.

"I'm sorry, Oxman?" Aria's face tightened as he cleaned it with warm herbed water. She seemed to still be hanging on that a little longer.

"Yeah. Still alive, hm?" He looked thoughtful for a moment, before he shrugged. "Though I shouldn't be surprised. Those oxmen are as tough as old leather." He noticed her hands clench on her knees but kept her mouth pressed shut. "They say he sealed that tear in the sky but I can't believe it."

"Do you mean the glowing rift in the sky? The one that seemed to rain down flaming rocks that then morphed into creatures -aah!" Aria gasped when he wiped downward over the bridge of her nose. Her face was looking better now that the blood and dirt was gone, but the pale skin gave him worry.

"Very same." He dipped a cloth into the water and wrung it out.

"Why can't you believe it?" He asked, watching him. The healer scoffed and set aside the bloodied cloth for a dry one and started patting down her face.

"He ain't natural, like you or me." He took her chin once again, moving it from side to side, but her eyes moved until they roughly landed on the healer. She may not have been able to fully look at him, but he knew that face, though this one was marred. "Mixed blood and," he blew out an irked breath, "now some are even starting to call him the Harold of Andraste."

Harold of Andraste? That even had his brows lifting upwards. If Clarisse heard this from a different source well.. He inwardly groaned at the thought. "Though I say that horned thing killed the Divine and I-" He stopped when Aria's hand moved quickly, snatching his wrist and pushed it away. Turning her head in the rough direction of himself, she swallowed.

"Theon, I want to leave. Now." That had his arms dropping to his sides and stepping towards her.

The healer balked, cloth in hand and pointed to her face. "But your injuries-"

"Ill take some clean bandages to go but I wont stay in this.." He watched as she pulled back her anger and settled on "mans company much longer." She pushed the healer away and stormed out, nearly hitting the tent post in her storming but managed to get out without assistance. That left him to look to the healer who just had this startled look on his face. Without a word, he picked up a roll of bandages and took off after her.

"Aria- Aria wait!" Sight be damned, she was still stalking off in a random direction and passerby got out of her way.

"The gall of that man! Saying Declan fixed the tear in the sky, and then speaking of him in such abhorring ways!" She grunted and hissed in a breath. "So what he is a Qunari! That doesn't and shouldn't matter!"

"Aria!" He pulled her arm and placed his hands on both her shoulder. "Calm yourself. Your making a ruckus." He scolded but flinched when she glared at him, the white eyes alarming him.

"We need to go find him." She huffed and shrugged of his hands and started off in a random direction before stopping abruptly. "I don't know where anything is, but I hear it as though its right beside me. Can you help me? Give me a layout?" Her request drew him to a stop. Glancing around, he gauged distances and offered directions. Placements from where they stood, the battlegrounds, the buildings, the stairs, each winding curve and a small cart that looked to have weapons on it. When another cold wind blew her dark brown hair all around she winced a little when several strands caught on her face.

"Come. Let's join up with the others." He offered his arm and was relived when she took it.

"Yes, who knows what trouble they could get into without us to keep them in check." Pleased her mood and lowered to a simmer, he started them in the direction he recalled where Minks and Clarisse and gone in. The whispers and looks they received when they walked momentarily wished he has Aria's blindness. Even if she would fumble or tip now and again and mutter a small curse, she kept onwards.

"You're taking this well." He murmured softly as they walked down a few steps. "Your lack of sight, that is."

"Theon, I think that was exactly ten words." That made him scoff and shake his head.

"Or maybe you are hiding it with sarcasm and deflection."

"That's another solid ten." She tsked. Now he was grinding his teeth.

"Don't make me trip you. I'm not above tripping a blind woman." The threat didn't seem to effect her as she returned it with a blow off of her own.

"Oh, you've moved onto twelve. I'm so proud of y-oh!" His foot turned towards hers but held onto her arm even when she nearly faceplanted on a gasp. "You're such an ass." Pulling her back up, he waited as she cleared her throat. She huffed and tried to take another step but when he stood still and firm, not needing to say another word, she lowered her head till her chin just met her chest. "Whether I am scared or not doesn't matter. What's matters is that I deal with it. Now stop being a pain in my ass and lets go."

Shaking his head, he continued them onwards. "Have it your way."

The small cabin looked simple enough, basic furniture that included a bookcase, a birdcage, several barrels and there on the bed that was surprisingly was big enough to fit him, lay Declan. Minks was sitting atop a barrel, eating an apple while Clarisse sat in a chair beside Declan's bed. Cassandra and Leliana stood off to the side, giving them space but still curiously watching them. Minks was the one who glanced up first, her cheeks full with apple. After chewing a little, she waved them over.

"Good to see you's two. Still lookin' a little rough there, dodger. They fix you up good?"

"Cleaned me up well enough but I chose to leave before further 'fixing'."

"Why is that?" Clarisse asked, not looking to them, but keeping her eyes on Declan.

"The healer said a few choice things that I decided I didn't want to hear longer then necessary but one thing he did say was that Declan is being both accused of killing the Divine and being called the 'Harold of Andraste'."

Minks shock came out in a spray of her food and coughed through a "Wot?!"

"Herald?" Clarisse echoed. "Of Andraste?" Now she turned, her eyes looking a million miles away but a frown did pull at the corners of her mouth. "You must be joking."

"Its true." He added while a stunned silence fell over them but taking a glance to the other two women, who just watched and said nothing. No shock, no awkward shifting, not even a glance to one another in question. That means.. he narrowed his eyes accusingly. "You don't seem surprised."

"I can understand why." Cassandra admitted looking to Declan who slept in the bed. "I heard the voices in the temple. The Divine called to him for help."

"But if you heard, if you knew, then why did you still lock us up?" Aria asked, letting go of his arm when he lifted them to start bandaging her head.

"We didn't know what to make of any of you. Your brother pulled several of you out of the Fade, you had fallen out of it. We still have to make sure you aren't suspects."

"So his survival, the mark on his hand, you wouldn't call that.. coincidence?" Clarisse inquired, looking to them. She held his left hand in question, and faintly in his palm lay a faint line that glowed green, like a scar.

"Providence." Cassandra corrected confidently. "The Maker sent him to us in our darkest hour."

"I hope you realize that both he and I are Qunari." Clarisse mentions evenly over her shoulder before looking back to Declan once again.

Cassandra tilts her head towards the two of them. "I have not forgotten. No matter what you are, or what you believe, we cannot pretend that he wasn't exactly what we needed when we needed it."

"Alright wait." Aria held up her hands, in a 'stop' motion. "How long were we all out of it, for the rumors or speculations to start spreading?"

"You were kept under lock and key for just over a day and a half. Most of which you weren't awake for."

"Except for me. Ow!" That had several eyes turning to look at Aria and Theon as he tried to tie the bandages. "That's my hair!" She gritted out over her shoulder.

"You're gonna mess up her 'air, Theon." Minks gestured for Aria to move to her and frowned back at the dwarf. "Give 'er 'ere."

"I can do it. Just her hair's so long." He grumbled and when he went to try to tie it once again before he noticed strands of her hair wrapped in with the bandages. Grumbling more, he started undoing them before he gently pushed her towards Minks who dusted her hands off, a cocky smirk on her face.

"Don't get all huffy, Theon. You just don't have a 'feminine touch', is all." She moved Aria until she stood between her short legs. Sitting on the barrel put her and Aria at the same height, or at least roughly and soon, with smaller fingers got to work. "Aw'ight, so word spread like wildfire, but 'ow is he," Minks jerked her chin to Declan as she started to wrap the bandages around Aria's head. "the 'Erold of Andraste?"

"People are desperate for a sign of hope. For some, he is that sign." Leliana supplied.

"Great. Just what he needs, more credit to make his head bigger than it already is." Aria smirked from under her bandages that looked a more decently wrapped around her.

Minks made a loop to tie off the bandages. "But if he is bein' called the 'Erald of Andraste, then-"

"What does that make us?" He finished for her as she finished tying.

"It doesn't matter what they think we are." Clarisse cut in. Even having no rise or fall to her voice, she seemed vexed at the topic. "What matters is that we do what we can to fix this."

"That is true. Would any of you tell us how you met him or where you come from?" Leliana inquired looking from each of them to the other.

"Well, I'm glad you asked!" Minks lifted her arms excitedly before laying a hand over her chest. "The story of 'ow me an' Dec fell in together is an epic tale, full o' laughter, thrills and tears.."

"It is, is it?" Leliana asked, looking intrigued while the resounding groans from him, Clarisse and Aria had Minks glaring at each one of them.

"Why don't you just give us the highlights?" Cassandra returned slowly. Aria moved out of the way and settled down with her shoulder against the bookcase and back against the wall before sliding down to sit, one leg bent sideways and the other resting straight atop it putting her foot under her knee.

"Aw'ight. I was in Orzamaar for a little while bein' part of the Carta."

"A criminal organization." Leliana stated her eyes sharpening on the small dwarf.

"Yeah, you and Clarisse tells me time and time again, but to me, it was just a job." Minks shrugged.

"What did you trade in?"

"Was the buyer for some fancy surface goods that were sold to rich fancy houses is all.. Now, some deals went a bit more shady than usual and it wasn't long after I'd decided to make a clean break of it. Just leave the town I'd lived in me 'ole life and start fresh, like."

"She was exiled." Clarisse clarified and blankly stared at Minks who groaned.

"Exiled? For what?" Cassandra watched her closely, eyes narrowing.

"Too many fingers in too many pies." Minks had a dreamy look on her face and that had him rolling his eyes. To many pies indeed. "But I didn't 'ave no place to go and not a copper to me name, neither." She drew short, looking lost in thought before she looked to Declan, a small smile pulled at her mouth. One of adoration and familial love. "I was in an old tavern earning a few coppers playin' the 'arp when he walked in. Deal must've gone wrong, or a bad 'hand got dealt in cards 'cause not long after, a brawl broke out and after roughing a few blokes up, and getting a few licks meself, he offered me a job. To be part of his team."

"Just like that?"

"Nah, he knew that I would've gone back to the old game. And I would've too." Her legs gently kicked out, her heels tapping against the barrel she sat on. "But he saved me life an' ev'ryfing." She looked to Cassandra and Leliana. "Despite him having 'orns and all, I fink he's the bee's knees."

"I didn't think that dwarves could go back to that life." Cassandra sounded intrigued while Leliana was taking notes.

"Yeah, and some dwarves fink that rocks 'ave feelings and that their ancestors become ghosts. Pshh," she blew out a breath between her lips, and shrugged. "I fo' one don't buy it."

"Anymore than him being chosen by the Maker?" Cassandra asked, her voice softening.

Minks looked at her doubtfully as she lifted a hand to scratch at the corner of her tattoo. "Yer asking a dwarf?"

"You're a surface dwarf." Cassandra clarified as she looked her over. "I've known only some, like Varric who-"

Minks threw up both hands in a 'hold it' motion. "Varric? Varric Tethras? He's 'ere?"

"Yes, he's actually in one of the tents. Why do you know him?"

"I wouldn't say that. Its more like.. I might owe him some silver." She groaned looking towards the door then back to them. "Do yous ladies want to grill me any more, or can I go find Mr. Tethras and see if I can talk me way out of me debt and into an ale?" She wiggled her brows. Cassandra looked to Leliana who gave her a simple nod.

"If we need to talk to you about your potential contacts, we shall find you." Leliana supplied and with that, almost like a child being excused from the room, she casted a mischievous grin to them before giving a small wave over her shoulder and started out the door.

"We didn't tell her about the accommodations."

"She'll find somewhere to sleep." He announced getting their attention. "She's capable of sleeping anywhere and anywhere."

"Can you tell us how you met him?"

He looked between the two of them and crossed his arms. Suppose it was his turn, but still he didn't like speaking to those he didn't know. "Grew up in… around Denerim." He offered tightly; his voice still rough from lack of use. Maker, the thought of Denerim just reminded him of the fact that he done all sorts of jobs, blacksmith, mason, carpenter. Anything with a hammer he was good at it. That had him smiling to himself. "Declan came in to a shop where I worked. Needed something fixed." He supplied and watched them as they stared. He nearly scoffed when they continued to wait to hear more.

That had Clarisse nodding as well. "It was a piece of his chest armour. He had made it better than new; I believe was my brother exact words.. So he went back to say how much he appreciated his work when bandits came in, tried to rob the place."

His parents shop. He could still feel the boiling rage he had felt so many years ago when they had started breaking windows, tearing cloth. He could still feel the first resounding swing he got from his war hammer. "He helped me rid of them. Offered me a job, on hand blacksmith." And that was all he was going to say.

"He may not look it, but Theon is quite strong. He also was our secret muscle." Clarisse tonelessly added getting both Cassandra and Leliana to look him over. Rolling his eyes, he looked towards his right towards the slender window. It was getting dark out but with the lack of outside light, he could see his reflection in the windowpane. His black leather jerkin was a little torn in places but still all metallic button were accounted for from the top of his left shoulder down to just past his rib. To the untrained eye, one wouldn't know that between the sheets of leather was chainmail. Practically sewn in. His shirt he had worn under it however.. well it was a cream colour last he recalled, but now the sleeves themselves looked to be a dirt smudged brown The bandage on his neck made him glare. He looked like he was wearing a bloody ascot or whatever they were called but the puffy bit was misplaced.

"That's mostly it." He supplied and looked between the two of them before looking to Declan once again. If he didn't know any better, he wouldn't said that he looked downright dead to the world, but his chest rose and fell with long and deep inhales. "Look, I can't sit around and do nothing. Not while he's asleep. Can I help out in any way? Repair things? Help make weapons?"

The off chance he had of them even accepting was slim, but the need to get his hands busy was growing. Fast.

"Harritt is our blacksmith here in Haven. We can introduce you and see if he would accept any help." Leliana informed him and for the first time, he smiled in relief. "What about you?" Leliana casted the question to Aria. When she didn't respond it was to be expected, but no reply was unusual. He turned and moved closer and bent down to gently touch her shoulder but paused mid-way. Her breathing was slow and deep, her shoulders slumped and relaxed.

"She's out like a light." Clarisse lowered her voice to a whisper and yet, still sounded so dull. Bored even.

Cassandra shook her head but her voice was almost sympathetic. "Not surprising." She looked back to Clarisse. "When your brother came out of the fade, he collapsed. This woman was able to defend herself, run and escape our men."

"She's also been kept awake this whole time." He added tensely. "Is there somewhere I can take her for her to lay down comfortably to rest?"

"Of course. We will find room for her as soon as possible but before we do is there anything you can share about her?" Leliana asked, keeping her voice low. He had started walking over to pick her up from the floor but paused. Turning to Clarisse she returned his uncertain look with one of her own. Before she casted it towards Leliana and Cassandra.

"Her past life is.. private. Not even my brother knows about it." Clarisse explained gesturing to the sleeping qunari. "The only thing I know about her is that when he found her he promised not to speak of her past life or hold it against her. In return, she pledged herself to his service. Quite enthusiastically, I might add." She sighed. "It makes her uncomfortable when asked, and believe me when I say, not in the keeping secrets kind of way. More like.." She frowned in thought. "Like unsettled, almost afraid of it. Ashamed." That had both Cassandra and Leliana looking to the woman he now managed to gently lift into his arms, her head gently lulling with the movement. She didn't even stir.

"And you, Clarisse?" Cassandra inquired. Clarisse sat in silence for a long moment or two before she too rose from the chair and started out the door with the rest of them.

"I have no reason to hide what I am, or who I am but I would feel better if my brother was awake when I did so." She stared down the other two woman with her red eyes snapping between the two of them. "That is my only condition."

"That is fair." Leliana returned as they started out the door. "Come, we will show you to your lodgings." The night air was crisp. Each step they took he found himself breathing out a small cloud of vapour that drifted upwards. The soldiers were still going on with their sparring, or perhaps there was a new round of recruits. They walked past the Chantry where the Commander was speaking to one of his men when he spotted them walking. He found himself standing a little straighter as they walked by, and casted a glance to him. His eyes followed as they walked, lingering before walking in a different direction.

"You certainty have interesting friends." Cassandra spoke conversationally but all he did was tighten his fingers on aria when a chill swept over her. "You really don't talk much, do you?" Cassandra inquired as they walked. He gave her a bored stare and kept walking. "I say that because your friends spoke more for you then yourself. Is it because of your injury or is it by choice?"

"I find talking tedious." He looked sideways at her. "Especially around those who I don't know." The bite in his words did their job since she looked away from him.

"I see." Her dark eyes moved from his face to Aria who lay limp in his arms. "I take it her injury isn't as bad as it looks?" Her voice had softened again and it was a nice change from her earlier interrogation but her inquiry had him sending her a questioning stare. "You weren't long with our healer."

"He called our leader an 'oxman'." He snapped out. He watched her eyes widen slightly, whether it be from his delivering tone or his words he couldn't honestly tell. Though, he supposed, it didn't matter. "Aria dislikes bigotry and chose to leave." He looked down at her sleeping from and shook his head. "Stubborn woman. Leaving before she got a full treatment." They reached a small room inside a different cabin further into the village and he left Cassandra open the door.

He had to turn so that he could get in without clipping her head on the doorframe but managed. It was warmer in here and that was something. With a handful of candles lit the room was decently illuminated, it looked to be more of a storage, than anything, but there was a small collection of blankets and a few throw pillows. Bending down, he set her gently on the blankets, propping her up slightly so that her face was clear. She shifted a little, a hum escaping from the back of her throat. Brushing her hair out of her face he couldn't help the grimace of sympathetic pain before standing up, he turned towards the door, but paused when they were shoulder to shoulder.

"She'll probably will be out cold for several hours. Could you have a healer come by to treat her face, a woman if possible?"

"Would she be upset about being tended to after she left the last one."

"I'm asking. Ill deal with her wrath when she wakes if need be." He almost shuddered. If she was in rare from, it would certainly be a rough ride, but it would be worth it.

"I take it that this woman is important to you." The way Cassandra had said it, it wasn't a question but more of a statement. That had him narrow his eyes at her.

"She's our captains second." He informed turning back to look at her. "She is important to us all."

"His second?" She repeated looking from him to Aria when he nodding in conformation. "I would have thought his sister would have been."

"You aren't wrong. She was." He looked back to Cassandra. "She became… unfit for the position. So, he made Aria is second in command."

"Does her being unfit have something to do with the way she talks? Or is that an injury from the Conclave, like her face?" She gestures to Aria and that had him grind his teeth to the point of pain before a cold chill settled on his shoulders. "I don't know how you all can keep a conversation with someone who sounds like they are talking solely out of boredom."

"Cassandra." He bit out, turning to her. "It was Cassandra, right?"

"Yes." Now her bite was back in her voice and that had him raising a brow.

"Well Cassandra, for the last day and a half- wait, why don't we round up and say two days since it's evening now- we have been at your mercy. And its understandable that given the situation, you would demand answers from us and I like to think that we have been nothing but cooperative."

"You have. I only meant-"

"What is your connection to the Divine?" He cut her off and he watched Cassandra straighten.

"I was her Right Hand. Leliana was the Left."

That had him nodding. "Very important roles." He took a sharp inhale before leaning in a little. "Then that begs the question as to why you weren't there when it all blew up in our faces?" He demanded straightening when her dark eyes burned holes through him.

"We were asking questions about the Champion's whereabouts from Varric and Leliana was looking for the Hero of Fereldan. Our reasons are our own." Her voice was strained, angry and emotional but he had to give her credit, she held it together quite well.

"Well then, I hope you got what you really needed or at least, I hope what it is you were asking about was worth the absence of not being at her side when she died."

He started out of the room and waited for her to join him before shutting the door behind them leaving them out into the cold air. It helped a little, for his rising frustrations that had been banked for a time. But now.. He glared down Cassandra who was now looking at him cautiously. "We may be suspects, but from our side, so could you be, history with the Divine or not." He'd held up a hand when she looked to snap back at him but refrained. "What we have to show is that we have sacrificed enough that would put many into a stupor, and since you don't look to have anything to show for why you weren't there when she would need you most, besides a dwarf who tells stories for a living, you should apply more tact when pairing accusations with snide comments in your future questioning."

If Aria had been awake she would have checked him no doubt, but his irritation came out and Cassandra had been the target, his word hammering away at her each time he had paused for a for a breath.

Casandra didn't say anything, seemed a little stunned and looked like she was on the verge of throwing a punch at him. He wouldn't welcomed it, but instead she swallowed tightly. "I will keep that in mind."

"No doubt you will get better results that way." Fractionally, he lowered his head in a bow and took a step back. "Thank you for your understanding. And goodnight." He returned and started towards the center of Haven.

He was still feeling like he wanted to take a hammer to metal to get his frustrations out when cheering and the soft sound of music caught his ear. Following it, he found a small looking tavern with an interesting sign called the Singing Maiden. Pushing the door open, his mismatched eyes scanned the crowd until they fell on a dark-skinned dwarf who was leaning on the counter talking to a redheaded woman behind the bar. Rolling his eyes to the roof he muttered a quick 'figures', and headed her way.

"You're one of people that the Herald of Andraste pulled out from beyond the Fade."

"Is 'at wot they're sayin'? Anyfing else?" Minks asked, leaning forward with a sly grin on her face.

"Some say that the Herald himself and the others were sent to shame us for.. mistreating other kinds of folk. I think Dwarves are very respectable and I've always liked…" she gapped when he sat beside her and gave a tight nod before nudging Minks' elbow, "Stone." She finished looking flustered. "Um.. I'm Flissa. Can I get you a drink?"

He smiled. This was familiar. And so was the little lady behind the bar.

"Its aw'ight Flissa. I wont do anyfing frightening, like. But I will take that drink, and one more," she jerked her head towards him, "for me pal here."

Her soft doe eyes looked between the two of them. Recognition came a little late, but still, she recognized him when he gave a tired smile. "Yes of course." She made quick work of grabbing a few flagons and started filling them with ale. He could have started a brawl with the pent-up anger he was storing up, but with his blow-up with Cassandra, he decided it wouldn't be the best option. Settling in, he took a long deep breath before letting it out, repeating this until he was better.

"So, wot's got you all in a tivvy then, eh?" Minks asked nudging him and popping a peanut into her mouth. "Breathin' like a dragon over 'ere." He sent her a long stare before their drinks were placed in front of them. He leaned in close and repeated it all, inwardly he was amused by her reactions the shock and the way she gapped at him when he was done. Then again, she seemed to get more animated when she had a few drinks, and while he was still nursing his second, she was well into her fourth. And looking at Flissa with a hunger he recognized and shook his head.

"You know, Flissa, you an' me, we've got a lot in common." Minks drawled looking at her with a smile after she did her round around the tavern, picking up empty cups.

"Oh, we-we do?"

"Yeah. You-"

"Both know me." He cut in and thoroughly enjoyed the shocked face of Minks, and the flustered one from Flissa. "How have you been Flissa? Been a few years."

"Y-yes, Mr. Emmerton, it has."

"Mista Emmerton?" Minks drawls while her head turned towards him slowly. He grimaced at the formality.

"Theon is just fine."

"Last I saw you; you had gone off with a qunari. If the Herald of Andraste pulled you from the Fade so you can help him with her wills, then I shall take it as a sign to the world of her love, and I am ready for that love."

"You is?" Minks echoed flabbergasted. Flissa took a long moment to recall her words and when she collected them again, her face was becoming as red as her hair. He didn't stop his smile when she looked between the two of them.

"Well, I'm not ready for that kind of love, that is, unless that's what you want but.." She was talking fairly fast now and Maker help him, he didn't know if he wanted to continue to watch her fall down the slippery slope.

"Wot did you mean by 'that kind of love'?" Minks leaned forward, her cup sliding across the table.

"Nothing!" She threw back rather quickly, looking franticly between the two of them. "I didn't mean anything."

Leaning back on his stool, he let out a sigh and let the night carry on around him. Listening and watching as people drank, sang, cried and in Minks case; slurred until she landed herself both a bed partner and a place to crash. Flissa wasn't who she had landed but no doubt to Minks, she didn't mind.

Flissa and he spoke of their hometown Denerim, talking about what had happened in the years that had gone by. She was brought here by Leliana to help relive the stress or so she had said, though she did have moments where her eyes drifted from his eyes lower to his mouth as she spoke. By the time only a few patrons were left, did he speak on it.

"What's on your mind, Flissa? You are becoming distracted." His words were scolding but his tone remained teasing. Her eyes warmed and drifted back down to his mouth.

"I just.. I can't help thinking about that afternoon, outside my parents house." She supplied, looking a little shy.

He thought back a while and felt his nerves dance.

"After I fixed one of the windows in their dining room." He recalled with a slow smile. Window had been wedged something fierce and the had to sand away for a decent hour before it had come back down. The way she was looking at him had a pit forming in his stomach. It was the same way she had looked at him before she had stepped up to him like a nervous goat and pressed her lips to his in addition to his payment for the simple fix as thanks.

Admittedly, he hadn't moved. Just stood stock still. When she had backed away, she had stammered and blushed before running back inside.

"I was just thinking that, you didn't say anything about it. Our kiss. Except to thank me." She clarified in a low whisper. She had certainly changed over the years, had become a beautiful woman but..

"I'll be honest with you Flissa, I didn't know what I wanted back then and was confused about many things. And your kiss.. certainly put things into perspective for me." He scratched his hairline, nerves getting to him.

"I- it did?" Her eyes widened, bight and hopeful.

"It certainly did." He said softly finishing the last of his drink. Looking back up to her after putting his flagon down, he decided not to let this poor woman get her hopes up. "I'm sorry, Flissa, you're a great girl but I appreciate your friendship and can't offer you anything more than that."

"Oh." She visibly deflated but went about cleaning the top of the bar after a moment.

"I'm guessing there's another woman in your sights then?" She inquired.

With a small frown, he shook his head before sending her a kind smile. "Hmp. No, no woman." With that, he started to stand. She looked downright baffled and to that, he gave her another tired smile.

"Then do you know.. who exactly it is your looking for?" She asked as she picked up his cup. He tapped a fist gently on the bar and started off towards the door a grin growing on his face.

"Yeah," he opened the door and looked back. "I'm looking for something that makes me sweat outside of a smelter." And with that, he headed back out into the cold for a decent place to sleep. He didn't need a fresh set of eyes like Aria did to know that a hard set were drilling holes in his back as he ventured out into the dark winter night.

---

AN:

Hello and many apologies for the long wait for the newest chapter!

In this one we get a deeper look at our new companions before our main man awakes! But don't worry, there's more action to come when he does awake!

Question Time for those who want to play!

Who would you have thought out of new characters, caused the explosion at the Conclave?

So far, which character would you want to learn more about?

What is Mink's accent? (Hint: Its based off a real one.)

How would you describe Theon and his lack of speaking?

Love to hear from you guys!

Until Next Time,

Stay Tuned!

~IMME