The Daughter of Tethras

Disclaimer: Don't own Dragon Age

A/N:

Chapter 5 (The War Counsel)

"We have received a letter that should be brought to your attention," Cassandra stated carefully as Bianca entered the room. In Cassandra's hands was a folded, pale sheet of paper that crinkled from the pressure of the woman's fingertips. "I am uncertain if you wish to read it."

Beside her were the three advisors. Leliana, standing tall and with her sharp eyes piercing past her red hair. The woman didn't look confused as Cullen and Josephine did, but then, Leliana appeared to be a strong woman with a constant stoic demeanor.

"Why are you nervous about it?" She extended her hand and turned her gaze into Cassandra's. She felt a pang of anxiety spread across her chest and shook it off as Cassandra handed her the page.

"It is a letter from the one you spoke of before. Lantos. I have not shared with the others the significance of that man; granted I know only a small part of it…" She knew enough as far as Bianca was concerned.

She took a deep breath and looked down at the page, fearful of what could be written and bracing herself for potential lies or threats.

The first thing she saw was a mention of Dasher's anger with her and blaming her for running off with some smuggled lyrium. She was taken aback by this claim and knew Dasher wouldn't simply accuse her of betraying him-this would only have happened if Lantos tried to convince him of her treachery.

The next thing she saw was Lantos claiming to be in hiding and stating that she was now hidden behind the muscle of the Inquisition. If he was truly in hiding, then Dasher was likely aggravated with him and not her.

"It's a bunch of made up lies, he's just letting me know he's still out there." She crumpled the paper aggressively in her hands. Lantos wanted to frighten her; he wanted to still hold power over her, to control her as he used to. "He can't stand that I'm out of reach now."

"How do you wish for us to respond?" Asked Commander Cullen. He looked like a giant in his armor, to the degree that he was near menacing. Just as Leliana stood like a strong oak, Cullen appeared as a mountain. Surely, her advisors could offer some semblance of protection if Lantos truly was a threat.

Then there was Josephine, who wasn't nearly as menacing as the other two.

"Well I don't know." She tossed the letter into a nearby waste basket. "What are my options?"

"We can't negotiate with carta," Josephine said while writing down on the strange tablet with a burning candle rising tall. The candle made Bianca nervous, she was certain Josephine might drop it by mistake and burn the place. "Orzammar probably has some ambassadors that can negotiate on our behalf, however."

"I say we send a message," Cullen declared while swiping his arm outwards through the air. "Show this carta clan of yours that we are not to be trifled with." She squinted and brought her hand up to her chin.

It was tempting to send soldiers down to one of the safehouses, but she didn't have anything against Dasher and wasn't sure if he was truly against her or if this was Lantos trying to start something.

"Dasher's a good guy." She lowered her hand and looked towards Leliana. The redheaded woman was still silent, her wrists were locked together behind her back and her narrow eyes were gazing studiously at her. "Leliana? I don't know if Dasher really is angry with me. He's the one that took me in, he taught me to fight. He was a mentor to me. Lantos is…" She held her breath momentarily and closed her eyes. "Lantos is the bad one. He's right up there with Dasher, close in leadership…"

If anything were to happen to Dasher, Lantos would take over the clan. Before the conclave, it would likely have been her.

Leliana's lips curled upwards and she leaned forward while Josephine and Cullen turned to her. "I can send some of my people in to infiltrate your former clan, they will see if this Dasher truly has it out for you, and then we can decide where to go from there. If he does, I am certain we can arrange for a payoff of some sort."

"That sounds great, thank you."

Anything was better than nothing, especially in an instance that would involve Lantos. The fact that he managed to slip into Haven without notice was startling, but then it was always possible he used someone else to deliver his letter.

She needed to move on, the more she let her mind focus on him, the more she felt herself going insane with worry. "Is there any other news? Someone mentioned heading to Val Royeaux. Do I still need to deal with that?"

"Yes," Cassandra replied, "I will go with you. I assume Varric will be in attendance as well, he doesn't seem to want to stay at the campsite." She didn't mind if Varric and Solas came along. She liked Solas, he seemed to be very wise. As for Varric, she wanted him to come along, so she had no argument there.

"You don't like Varric, Cassandra?" Cassandra huffed and started to say something when Leliana cut her off.

"She'll warm up to him eventually." Leliana flashed a smile and shrugged. Cassandra's nose wrinkled up and her eyebrows dipped in the middle.

"It isn't that I do not like him, I can only tolerate so much of that man at one time." Bianca pursed her lips and turned her head when she heard Leliana clear her throat. Cassandra let out a sigh and waved her hand through the air. "Nevertheless, I must prepare."

Once she was gone, Leliana walked towards the door and turned to face the others. Bianca looked into her oddly calm gaze and felt a soothing sense rush through her. "Don't worry too much about Cassandra's thoughts on Varric, deep down she likes the man enough."

"He brings a little extra character to the place," Cullen remarked with a swift chuckle. She raised an eyebrow and continued to study the woman before her. She honestly didn't know what to think about her-or about any of the three.

"So…" She trailed off and scratched the back of her neck. "Would it be alright if I asked a little bit about you three?" She dropped her hand and smiled hopefully. "I guess we're going to be acquainted and all."

"Of course." Leliana sat in a wooden chair and crossed her legs. "What would you like to know?" The woman's hands folded in her lap, and her relaxed posture suggested openness. "You know I'm the spymaster here. Cullen is our General, and Josephine is our diplomat."

"Okay." She looked at Cullen, admiring his strong stance behind the table. His arms were crossed and his blonde eyebrows were pushing up his forehead. Beside him, Josephine was busy carefully setting her pad down on the table. "Um, I guess I'll start with you, Leliana…"

She didn't need to ask what a spymaster did, she knew well enough what a spy was. It meant she could find out almost anything she wanted about nearly anyone; even her.

This did strike a curious note, making her wonder how much the woman might know about her.

"I heard you were involved in the Blight ten years ago. I don't know much about the story." Leliana's lips slid into a smile and she responded with a careful nod.

"I was with the Warden that ended the blight." From what she did know, the Warden was a human noble, and allegedly he survived the blight. "We fought together, and we were very much in love."

"Where is he now?"

"Gone." Leliana's smile faded and she breathed in deep. "We're still 'together', yes, but it has been some time since I have seen him. He is on his own journey, and I await his return."

"How long are you going to just wait?"

"As long as it takes."

It wasn't her place to disagree, and she wouldn't, but she didn't think it was right for someone to make their lover wait without question when there was no telling when they would return.

The devotion was admirable, still. "I don't think I'd have the strength to do that. To wait for someone and never really know when they're going to be back."

"It isn't easy, but when you love someone enough, you're willing to do whatever it takes." Leliana's smile returned and her right hand lifted away from her lap. "Perhaps you will learn that one day, but now I sound like Wynne."

"Wynne?" Her nose wrinkled and she leaned forward. "Who is that?" The spymaster leaned her head back and laughed as though recalling some fond, but ancient memory.

"Oh she was like a grandmother to us back then, always giving us encouragement and words of wisdom." Leliana bowed her head, and a sadness came over her. "She has passed on, but she will never be forgotten."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Leliana cleared her throat and glanced back at her. "Tell me, you've been on the surface most of your life, I presume." The woman rubbed her chin and squinted her eyes contemplatively. "Have you ever happened to run across…no, I don't suppose you would have."

"The last ten years of my life have been chaotic at best-or the last twenty really." She furrowed her brow and folded her arms across her chest. "When I was with the Cadash family, they kept me in the house most times. When I got away from them and met up with Dasher's clan, I stayed with them at all times, being made to tag along with Lantos. Usually his request."

"So this is really your first time being on your own?" Josephine asked. She jerked her head back and blinked twice. She hadn't thought about it much, but this was her first real taste of freedom. Even when she ran away from the Cadash house, she could still feel them trying to control her in some way. Or at least, they still ruled her thoughts; she was tempted to go back to that place before she met Dasher's clan.

"I guess if you had to put it that way, sure." She usually had a leash wrapped around her throat, and whether it was Lady Cadash or Lantos, she'd never known what it was like to not be yanked back when she was getting too far for their comfort.

"Well then with us, you are free to do as you wish." She laughed nervously and shook her head. "We are glad to have you."

"Because the mark on my hand can seal rifts?"

"Yes," Cullen stated, "But not just that." He uncrossed his arms and walked around the table. "Know that on one hand we're your advisors during this Mage and Templar war, but on the other hand, we're here to support you as friends if you need us."

"I appreciate that." She leaned sideways against the nearby wall and looked to the door. It was open an inch, and there was movement outside, but she paid little mind to it. "What about you, Commander?"

"Aside from my duties as a Templar, I haven't done much else that would be deemed noteworthy." Cullen turned his eyes to the door and smiled. "I did know the Champion of Kirkwall. You mentioned having read some of Varric's books, and that was inspired by Thane Hawke. I knew him will."

Her eyes lit up with intrigue. She knew the story of the Champion almost by heart. It was Varric's most recent novel and had been given to her as a gift by Dasher. "You knew the Champion? You were the Knight-Captain, right?"

"That is correct." He put his hand to his chest and smirked with pride. "I helped save that town from Knight-Commander Meredith." Leliana leaned towards her and spoke with a whisper.

"It isn't like Cullen to boast, especially not about that. He must be having an off day." Cullen narrowed his eyes and Bianca laughed.

"Dasher used to tell me, there are times when people are willing to give snippets about themselves."

Cullen swept his hand through his hair and closed his eyes. "I only thought I might state for record having met and known the Champion of Kirkwall for a time."

"Oh hush," Josephine said while nudging his armor. "We like you anyway. It's just nice, and rare, to see a side of you that isn't terribly serious."

"Yes, well…" He returned to the table and started grumbling. "Don't get used to that."

There was a knock at the door, then it was pushed open. Bianca looked and saw Varric entering cautiously. "Cassandra told me to let everyone know, we're ready to start for Val Royeaux." The advisors nodded and Bianca straightened posture. She didn't want to go right at the moment, but she was ready to leave nonetheless.

Josephine picked up her tablet. "Oh Bianca, do come back with some good news." Bianca flashed a smile and waved as she left the room. She would certainly try, but she didn't feel this was going to end up as positive as she hoped.

Any thoughts here?