A/N: Sorry that it's a day late! I had to throw out the chapter I had planned Tuesday night and write something new. Thank you to 0wallie0 for beta reading, and to everyone who reads!
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The wind had picked up in the last half hour, and while Vivienne didn't mind the chill it sent through her—being a frost mage, she hardly noticed it, honestly—it was getting a mite bit tedious to have to keep her letters from blowing away. As the sun had dipped lower in the sky, she'd moved from her inner balcony to the outer one in order to make the most of the day's light, and had then gotten so wrapped up in her work that she'd conjured a small orb of frost to illuminate her papers as she continued.
Had it not been for the wind, she likely would have worked until the small hours of the morning before realizing just how late it was.
Despite the questionable accommodations that Skyhold currently provided, she had to admit that she was rather fond of this balcony.
Truth be told, she had simply been looking for a place with good lighting—there were others who needed their scarce candles far more than she, and while she could conjure light with her magic, she hadn't wanted to need to depend solely upon that to do her work. No need to waste her energy, should it be needed for more immediate problems in the near future. That was why she'd settled up here; the large windows provided plenty of natural light—or they did now that she'd had them cleaned.
However, more than that, this balcony, up on the second floor of the main hall, gave her a lovely view both inside and out, and she was already considering how she might decorate it.
Of course, she would need to speak with Josephine to make it official, but she had a feeling no one else would wish to claim this place. Not when she'd already settled in so well.
Vivienne had been writing a few letters to associates back home who might be able to provide decent assistance in making the keep look more put together. It was impressive in its own right, until one took the time to really look at all the crumbling walls and rotting old furniture.
They were fixing things up at a good pace, but for now most of the Inquisition was focusing strictly on practicality, leaving presentation to be tended to at a later time, not realizing that with Orlesian nobles en route, the latter was just as much a part of the former as having stocked kitchens or functioning sleeping quarters.
If they looked the ragtag organization, they would be the ragtag organization.
While Josephine might want to work her magic, her hands were tied with securing necessities first. Vivienne's were not, and she fully intended to use her sway to assist.
After all, that was why she was here, was it not?
And so she had spent the last few days writing, when she wasn't using magic to help clear out rooms, of course. Messy business that, but it wouldn't do to leave all the heavy lifting to the templars. Wouldn't want them to feel used.
Especially considering what some of them were choosing to do in their leisure.
While she hadn't a problem with the majority of the templars here—honestly, she found the five who followed Herald Finley about like lost puppies to be somewhat endearing, and useful—she did take issue with the discontented ones who were starting to seek out others with like minds.
Potential problem that they could be, she was already taking steps to handle them. As with most inscrutable individuals, it simply took a bit of time and patience.
Vivienne had just gotten up to gather her things and head off to the small room she was currently sleeping in when she noticed movement in the courtyard. Her mind first went to the unwanted templars making their move—they weren't the brightest, and she had a feeling that when they did make their move, it would be an obvious one. However, rather than tedious fools gathering to make their demands, she was pleasantly surprised.
There were workers in the courtyard, no doubt there to make it walkable.
Even as she'd quietly commended whoever had thought to deal with those bothersome cobblestones, Herald Finley wandered onto the scene, interrupting the work below.
Words were exchanged—she was too high up to hear what they said to one another—and after a moment, the workers reluctantly retreated. As Vivienne leaned against the railing on her balcony, Herald Finley spoke quietly to…
She couldn't make them out in this light. Their dear Herald stood out somewhat with that bright hair and the way she walked—like she was always about to start into a sprint—and how she held herself as though she wasn't sure if she wanted to look bigger or smaller.
The last few days she'd seemed to be going for bigger, which was a pleasant change. One never wanted to follow a leader who shrunk away from everything.
The trio below spoke quietly and then, much to Vivienne's surprise, Herald Finley had knelt down and started channeling her magic into the ground. The first few attempts were short bursts, and Vivienne could follow the feel of the magic to look at the results.
Herald Finley was trying to manipulate the roots so that they would go deeper into the ground. Why she would feel the need to do so when there had already been people tasked with the project—oh, but damaging the roots would cause harm to the trees, wouldn't it? Jokes aside, the Herald truly did have a fondness for nature, something that would no doubt be used to inspire a Witch narrative, should the wrong people be given the opportunity.
Vivienne and Josephine were already handling that potential fallout, however.
More interestingly—to Vivienne, at least—was that Herald Finley was succeeding in her endeavors.
Though the way she stopped and rushed over to see her work indicated that she wasn't happy with the results.
Yet the roots had gone down in the spaces she'd focused on…
Ah, there was the problem. They were popping up in other areas.
Or just breaking.
It would take considerably more than those short bursts of magic the Herald was so fond of to tend to the courtyard. Vivienne idly wondered if she might be able to assist with the root manipulation. She didn't have much of an affinity for nature spells, though, so it wasn't likely she could help make much headway without causing Herald Finley to have to backtrack and explain things to her.
One of the two with Herald Finley knelt beside her, and Vivienne felt a familiar tug of magic. Dalish, the 'non-mage'.
Even as she took a guess as to who the last of the trio might be, a soft creak of leather caught Vivienne's attention. She turned her head to see Leliana leaning against the railing beside her, face mostly shadowed in the dim light. When she knew she had the first enchanter's attention, Leliana flashed her a quick smile, turning toward her.
Vivienne returned the cordiality, perfectly plucked eyebrows quirking up in time with her lips. "Good evening, my dear. I assume you received my message."
"I did indeed," Leliana began, watching Herald Finley speak with Dalish and Krem for a moment longer before turning her back to the scene and leaning against her elbows on the rail. "I appreciate that you would bring their movements to my attention, but I do have people watching them."
Vivienne had suspected thus. After all, it would be unbecoming for a spymaster not to know of the templars planning to make a claim for power within her own organization.
While Vivienne had a great deal of respect for the men and women who would stand against abominations and blood mages, who would protect the masses from rampant magic and mages from fearful masses, she'd learned a long time ago that bad apples did make their way into the batch.
Fortunately, she was good at finding them.
Taking care of them, though? The sort she worked so tirelessly to remove from within her Circles—she'd been pulling strings since she was an apprentice back in Cumberland—would jump on a chance to accuse a mage of blood magic if it would save their skin.
No, it was better for her to find the wretched creatures and point them out for others to remove. Others who could not be accused of trying to cover up their own dastardly dealings, imaginary or not.
"I did not intend to imply you could not do your job, Sister Nightingale," Vivienne offered, still resting so that she could watch Herald Finley, though the mage had been arguing with Dalish—no doubt about spell tense—for the last few minutes. She drummed her well-manicured nails against the rail—despite it all, she'd managed to keep up her appearance through their travels, something that very few others had even attempted. "It is simply that I heard they plan to make their move soon. To demand a phylactery from the Herald."
"I had heard their aim was a bit higher," Sister Nightingale murmured, though her face didn't betray any concern. Rather, she looked bitterly amused. "They want to put a proper leash on her. Lock her away in one of these towers unless she's needed and then escort her out to fulfill her Heraldic duties."
Not bothering to hide her displeasure with the idea and the knowledge that Sister Nightingale was clearly trying to draw negative parallels to the Circles themselves, Vivienne sighed. "That would be most unwise of them, though I should imagine a phylactery is their first step toward just that."
Toward making Skyhold a prison and reinforcing the parts of the Circles that had caused so many to rebel.
"If we are willing to give them this, they can ask for more," Leliana filled in. "And if the Herald refuses so simple a request, then there is reason to suspect her of something foul."
Vivienne nodded and then tilted her head. Commander Rutherford was coming to the courtyard with one of the workers from earlier in tow. The man looked like he'd been woken up, and Vivienne pitied him. He never got enough sleep as it was.
When he reached the bottom of the stairs, there was a pause in his step, his gaze focusing on Herald Finley. She'd already stood back up from where she'd been sitting rather unceremoniously in the middle of the mostly empty courtyard with the others.
As he walked to her, tripping once on one of the skewed stones, Vivienne looked back at Leliana, half surprised the woman was still there. She'd turned to watch the going ons in the courtyard as well with an expression that would have been impossible to read in good lighting. However, the shadows mimicked a mask and made the little features that were visible all the more telling.
Sister Nightingale was not fond of whatever it was that was brewing between Herald and Commander. Perhaps she felt the commander would be able to sway Herald Finley toward his own preferences in regards to important decisions within the Inquisition should something happen between them. There were rumors that some of their decisions had been three-to-two votes, with Herald Finley as the tie breaker, so any influence over her would be critical to the direction their Inquisition went in.
Vivienne had a feeling that—should something actually happen between them—the resulting power imbalance would go the other way, with the Commander bending to the Herald, instead.
Not that she would voice such a thing. Not yet, anyway.
"Apostates do not generally react well to requests for phylacteries," Vivienne pointed out, knowing full well that Sister Nightingale would be aware of this. Rather, she had a point to drive home. "I think we would lose much of her trust if they're able to corner her and demand one. Even if they are asking without support from anyone in power."
"I am watching them," Leliana repeated.
"Might I offer a suggestion?" Vivienne asked, finally turning away from the scene in the courtyard. There wasn't much to see with the commander there. Herald Finley was quite self-conscious when it came to who she cast in front of.
When Vivienne was sure she had Leliana's attention, she motioned down toward the courtyard. "It is no secret that there is some mystery as to where exactly our dear Herald comes from. Why not send those suspicious of her to gather information? I'm sure they would be willing."
Leliana tilted her head, appraising Vivienne carefully. "And then I suppose it will just be an unfortunate turn of events that something horrid befalls them."
"On the contrary, my dear," Vivienne settled back against the railing again, a comfortable smile on her lips. "Not all minds can be swayed, but we can make sure they sway no others. By the time they get back, we'll have made certain there's no one who would listen to their demands. Without support, they'll either fall in line or leave."
"Or attempt to take out what they consider a problem directly," Leliana added.
"Forgive me, Sister Nightingale, but I hardly think they would be able to get past you, and even if they did…" She let her gaze wander down to the courtyard. Herald Finley was talking rather animatedly with her hands as she motioned to the courtyard and around as Commander Rutherford listened intently, arms crossed and head bent down. "I doubt you're the only thing standing between her and a poor end."
As she spoke, Herald Finley clasped Commander Rutherford's hand and dragged him back to the stairs. The worker followed them as Dalish and Krem went to different entry points in the courtyard, taking what looked like guard stances there. Herald Finley patted the commander's arm, speaking quickly. Just when she started back into the courtyard, she flitted back toward him, like a nervous little bird.
Then, she went back into the courtyard and sat at the base of the nearest tree. Her fingers were splayed against the ground before Vivienne realized what she was going to do.
Dark eyes widening slightly, Vivienne watched as magic seeped out of her fingertips and into the tree roots, soaking through them and extending to the lengths. The roots shuddered and began to descend into the earth.
The commander seemed entranced by the magic, much as Vivienne was when it first started, but a startled cry caught both of their attention. Vivienne turned to watch the commander cut off two templars coming to see what was going on. Though the men seemed wary of backing down—their swords were already drawn—Commander Rutherford directed them back the way they'd come.
The magic flickered out of existence and started up again—Herald Finley had moved to a different tree—and Commander Rutherford stood his ground. Finally, the templars stood down and retreated.
By the time he and Vivienne returned their attention to Herald Finley, she was already hopping back to her feet from the last of the old trees there, though her balance seemed a little off. She'd likely been tired before this casting, and reworking a root system was bound to take one's energy.
Commander Rutherford went to help her, though it was Dalish who reached her first, dragging one of Herald Finley's arms over her shoulders and starting to lead her off toward the tavern. Commander Rutherford looked like he very much wanted to follow, but instead, after a brief conversation, he headed off the way he'd originally come, stopping once to glance over his shoulder. Then, he was talking to that worker again, and they were gone.
"I was wondering when we might see her other magic," Leliana offered offhandedly, as though she were commenting on the weather.
With a faint smile, Vivienne sauntered in from the balcony and gathered her things quickly. "I'm sure our dear Herald has far more than a few root tricks up her sleeves."
"As am I," Sister Nightingale agreed. "But you must admit it is fun to see."
While Vivienne simply smiled in response, she couldn't help but consider that it would be more fun to learn.
"Now then," Sister Nightingale began, pausing a breath before giving Vivienne her full attention again, "Let us speak of these templars."