Cullen's lips curled up just barely in a soft smirk as he watched her cheeks and ears tinged the softest pink on her tanned skin. He was sure Leliana must have at least mentioned who all was a part of the Inquisition. Though if she had omitted things on purpose he wouldn't be surprised. Forever the matchmaker. He put his hand over his chest and bowed slightly.
"Commander Surana." He answered formally, positive a faint blush was gracing his cheeks as well. He began to start to say something else but stopped at the look she was giving him of shock. He looked away and scratched the back of his neck hoping to the Maker that someone would break the awkward silence. As if answering his prayers Josephine cleared her throat and tapped her tablet as of her normal habit before beginning their meetings.
"It is an honor to finally meet you Commander Surana," She began.
"Isalora." Isa said abruptly as if she finally broke out of her spell. "Just call me Isalora no need for the formalities please."
"Right, Isalora... well as I am sure Leliana has informed you on everything we are facing. Corypheus is making a demon army out of the Grey Wardens and said wardens are hunting for Stroud. We are almost ready to confront the wardens but we wanted to wait until you were with us to finalize everything and hear your input." Josephine explained.
"This is very bothersome that they have been pushed to this. Though I can't blame them for the extremities." Isa sighed.
"There is no excuse for blood magic!" Marian and Emery both yelled at the same time. Cullen held his breath as Isa's eyes pinned them both with a glare and she straightened her posture. Being a woman of only five foot and a slight build she was intimidating in her silver chainmail that held the heraldry of the wardens and abyss black leathers, longsword and dagger clasped to her back and hip.
"Do not explain to me what is right or wrong within the ways of the Grey Wardens. We do what we must in order to protect everyone in the so called name of the Maker against these damned Blights. Work with comrades who aspire to join your ranks only to die and then to be face to face with the Archdemon thinking you might just not make it on this battle despite everything you have done. I don't hear you complaining about how you rarely see darkspawn on the surface. My men are laying their lives at the stakes for yours to prosper. Your sacrifices barely compare to those of theirs." She growled out steel eyes burning.
"Yes well, whatever their reasoning we must stop them from playing into Corypheus' trap." Cullen answered trying to diffuse the situation. He understood where all three came from. He of course was probably the poster child for hate against blood magic however he understood what little he did know of the sacrifice Isa had mentioned. She hadn't been the same since joining the ranks of the wardens even when she came back to the circle he had noticed the shift.
"Ah pardon my manners Isalora, I am Josephine, this is Marian Hawke," She motioned towards where Hawke was leaned up against the wall, arms crossed over her chest as she glared away. Normally she was sarcastic and easy going but with the sore subject it seemed to have sour her mood. "This is Cassandra Pentagahst," She pointed to the opposite side of Cullen, who was surprised the seeker was being relatively quiet at the moment, "And finally, this is our Inquisitor Emery Trevelyan." She finished pointing to the well known man with black hair and green eyes. After introductions were made Isa began to tell them all she knew. Her fight with the Mother and Architect. Cullen watched her movements, the way her shoulders stayed tense as she took in the crowd and how her gaze softened on Morrigan and Leliana. This wasn't the same woman who wanted her freedom and took whatever fancied her. This was a worn down woman who refused to crumble, one who refused to step down to let others share her burden. She was cautious and strategic, yet a fire still burned under those steely eyes. He couldn't help but give a slight smile as he watched her plan with the other advisors and the slow awe look that came across the Inquisitor and Hawke's face as they came to understand just why the Hero was the Hero of Ferelden. Isalora was definitely a force to be reckoned with. As they finished up for the day, plans to meet again once more intel came in, he began to make his way to his office only to hear her whining something to Leliana.
"Why didn't you warn me he was here, that was a mean move Leli!" He could hear her whining and chuckled before shaking his head and finishing his walk. He couldn't blame her for not wanting to be seeing him again, not after the way he had spoken to her at the Circle. As he could recall he wouldn't want to see him either for the things he told her. He grabbed the report he had from his soldiers and sighed rubbing a hand over his eyes. It looked like it was going to be a long day.
"Why didn't you warn me he was here, that was a mean move Leli!" Isa whined as the throne room cleared out.
"I don't know what you're talking about Isa, I know I mentioned it in my letters." She said coyly before pushing her out and catching Emery. "Make sure she meets everyone and please for Maker's sake make sure she doesn't do anything too bad." Leliana mentioned before leaving the two staring dumbly at each other.
"Uhm...I well I'm sorry about earlier. It is an honor to finally meet you." Emery said looking her over with a slight blush from his embarrassment.
"It's alright. Eh don't make such a fuss, you're the great Inquisitor the great leader of Thedas' army at the moment it seems." Isa laughed as she elbowed the man in his ribs. "Well lets see does this place have a tavern and if so please tell me it's not where Mr. Egghead frequents." She asked while Emery gave her an incredulous look. "What? You know the bald headed elf?" She answered before Emery bellowed out a laugh and wiped his eyes.
"You mean Solas? Oh the others are going to love you, that's for sure." He chuckled before leading her to the tavern. "No Solas doesn't frequent the tavern though we do have a large Qunari that does."
"Really? I wonder if he knows my Sten!" She answered excitedly before bounding through the halls.
"I'm sorry to ask but I thought the tales said you were a mage not a warrior." Emery mentioned as they left the safety of the walls and out into the elements of the cold breeze.
"I'm both." She winked and didn' t speak further on the subject. The place was quite busy compared to what she was used to. I'm pretty sure I would have gone crazy had it been like this with the blight, she thought to herself. The area was breathtaking though and the morale of soldiers and even the pilgrims was high and palpable through the air. It put her at ease for the first time in a long while. The smell of old ale and smoke made her smile and sigh softly. Taverns were always the same no matter where she went. The one normalcy in her life. Immediately she spotted the large Qunari who shouted out to Emery and motioned them over.
"Boss! How'd the meeting go? And pick yourself up somebody along the way? I mean I prefer redheads but there is something about elves." He waggled his eyebrow and Isa just raised her eyebrow at the large man and set her hands on her hips.
"Oh really? Here I thought all Qunari are the same but obviously Sten didn't mention the ones who were like this." She said glancing over his eyepatch and the mountain of the man.
"Iron Bull this is Isalora, the Hero of Ferelden." Emery said rubbing his shoulder nervously, "Any way you know ah she's not quite my type…" He muttered looking away.
"Not your type?" Isa hummed as she got closer to the man tilting her head as she looked closer to the man before nodding her head deciding on the matter. Small details were details, Zevran had taught her what to look for. "Ah you prefer a males presence, fair enough." She shrugged before moving to the bar and grabbing drinks for them all. As she walked back she caught the buttend of whatever the Iron Bull was discussing with Emery.
"-better than Ben'Hassrath." Bull admonished with a wide eye watching her. "Sten? You mean the new Arishok? He constantly talked about the odd elf that could have joined the Qun but would never quite fit it."
"Yeah, said I was too wild for it, that I wouldn't thrive under it or something of the like." Isa laughed before taking a swig of her ale. "Oh I know let's play wicked grace! A pirate taught me the game well enough. Though I did lose my clothes to her plenty of times." She smiled into her mug before a dwarf with a crossbow walked up to the table.
"A pirate huh? Did her name happen to be Isabella?" He asked with raised eyebrows.
"Hmm sounds about right." She nodded her head before pulling a deck of cards out.
"She probably cheated you out of them more like. She traveled with us for quite awhile. Names Varric and you are our wonderful Hero right?" He asked smiling ordering them more drinks. She hummed in affirmation as she passed out the cards and began playing. Before she knew it she had beaten the boys out of their pants and was drunk. She held their pants as flags as she stumbled her way up the stairs and through the door to the walk.
"Which one was it he told me to go up to to pass out?" She mumbled to herself before turning in a circle and shrugging before going through the door to her left. As she fell through the open door she heard the voice she dreamt about before everything turned black on her.