The Daughter of Tethras

Disclaimer: Don't own Dragon Age

A/N:

Chapter 11 (The Right Armor)

"Are they not back yet?" Bianca looked about Varric's campfire, having just checked Solas's cabin. They had been gone for a while, meaning the group was making little progress on getting to Redcliffe to talk to the mages. She heaved forth a heavy sigh and muttered under her breath. "We should get going, Dad."

There was the possibility of going to Redcliffe without them, but she didn't want to do that. As secure as she felt with Cassandra with her, she preferred traveling with her father even now. Making matters worse, Solas and even Commander Cullen weren't where they needed to be.

"Are you looking for Varric?" Cassandra walked up behind her and she spun around with a start. "He left with Cullen and Solas a while ago with a few of the soldiers. They did not say where they were headed." It sounded as though they were heading an expedition of some sort.

"If they went searching for something, I might have liked to join them. I'm starting to go stir crazy here." There was nothing to do and she was bored, although less going out and killing people registered with her.

"I don't know what to do though. We need help to close that breach in the sky, right? Mages, Templars, who do I go to for help?" She leaned against the stone wall and scratched behind her neck.

Cassandra stood beside the wall and folded her right arm on top of it. The woman turned her head towards the breach, staying silent as they studied it. "The Templars can do what they can to negate the magic, the Mages can try and draw power away. Whoever you go to for help, it's likely the other side won't want to associate."

Her shoulders dropped and her lips fell into a frown. Hearing that was like taking a punch to the gut; she would have liked help from both. "That isn't very comforting. I knew it wasn't likely with the war going in between them, but I would have hoped…"

"I know. It's unfortunate."

Bianca took a deep breath and started moving past Cassandra. She was tired of walking around aimlessly and wanted to get some actual work done. "It doesn't help that I'm bored. Hell, even my ex is bored." Cassandra raised an eyebrow and Bianca shrugged. "Lantos sent me another letter, how it got past Leliana I'm not sure, but even he's bored."

"Leliana is…out also." Bianca dropped her hands to her waist and let out an exasperated sigh. "Lantos sent you a letter? How can you tell he's bored?"

"He was talking about the clan's inventory and going on about how he needed to test some equipment. He does that when he's bored; rambling on about nothing in particular." The letter wasn't even threatening, it was as though Lantos thought he could simply send her a note. "Though he did tell me he was seeing someone else."

"Why would he tell you that?"

"No clue. Maybe to make me upset?" She shrugged and continued towards the tavern. Her hands closed and her eyes drifted towards a couple chantry sisters walking by. They bowed at her and called her the Herald of Andraste.

Her stomach turned over and she mustered a polite smile, then turned away before they could see the look of disgust on her face. "I hate the way people treat me like I'm some holy icon. It makes me uncomfortable."

"I'm sure it does, but you know you're helping to give people hope that order will be restored and the breach closed." Bianca shrugged and pushed open the tavern door. "If you're looking for something to do, there's a shoe merchant visiting, maybe you'd like to check them out?"

"We can buy boots from any old merchant…"

"This one has 'exotic' wear, as he calls it."

"Maybe I'll look later on." The tavern singer began singing Enchanter. Bianca started to smile as the music filled her with a sense of calm and peace.

The urge to dance overtook her, and for the first time in a long time she felt an easiness in her heart. Bianca closed her eyes and raised her hands while swaying to the right, then spinning once.

The back of her hands folded together and slid up before her face. Her eyes opened partially and her lips curled at those watching her. They filled the background, their gazes didn't bother her one moment; it was as though they did not exist.

She took a breath and stepped forward, swaying her arms back, then forward through the air. Her movements were fluid and simple.

Bianca's gaze drifted to the right and locked into the blue eyes of a dwarf sitting in front of the barmaid, Flyssa. His body was twisted away from his left forearm which hung off the bar. His light blonde hair was grown out, covering the tip of his ears and the tips of his eyes. The dwarf's skin was lightly tanned, and his thin lips were stretched into a subtle smile.

He watched her continue to dance and sway to the music until exhaustion beckoned her to stop. Bianca breathed out heavily and approached the bar, sitting beside him. "You drink?" The dwarf asked, to her surprise. "I'll buy you a glass of ale."

"You don't have to, but I appreciate it." The dwarf raised a copper for Flyssa. His lips parted, revealing a white toothy grin. She folded her arms on the table and ran her hand across her forehead, wiping away her sweat. "It's been a while since I let myself get lost like that."

"You don't dance often, I take?"

"Not really." Normally she'd be uneasy towards someone talking to her, but there was something somewhat enchanting about this stranger. Plus, she was far too tired to care. "When I was a little girl, I'd dance by myself in my room. My adoptive parents weren't too receptive of me, so I had nothing better to do."

"You're adopted?" He took his mug and lifted it towards his lips. "So am I, actually. My name's Gunther. Gunther Leif Erikson, but most people call me 'Sandal'." Bianca raised her eyebrows and leaned back. Her hands slid across the table and she glanced up as Flyssa set a small glass of ale in front of her. "My father's back in Kirkwall right now."

"I see." Curious as to why his nickname was 'Sandal', she leaned sideways and glanced down to his feet. Sure enough, he was wearing some fancy sandals that looked to be specially crafted by someone. Perhaps Sandal himself.

"So, do you buy a drink for every girl you meet, Sandal?" Sandal laughed and shook his head.

"No, I'm sorry. Your dancing was enchanting." He teased a smirk and raised his shoulders. "I bought you a drink because you look tired."

"Well." She took a sip of her drink and closed her eyes. "My father should be around here, but evidently he's off on some journey or something."

"Adventurers, you've got to love them." He rolled his eyes and took another sip of his ale. "Am I right?" Her nose crinkled and her lips slid into a tiny smile. "At the very least, they bring merchants like myself more money."

"You're a merchant, Sandal?"

"Formerly an enchanter with my father." He paused and raised an eyebrow. "Well, I say 'formerly'. I still am, but I'm a shoe merchant on the side. My dad doesn't know that yet, he thinks my shoes are a bit odd." She held back a chuckle and looked to the door for Cassandra, but the girl was gone.

"My friend was just telling me there was an 'exotic shoe merchant' in town." She was so used to her boots, but her feet often came out sore as hell. "So what's so special about the shoes you sell? Why are they different from boots by other merchants?"

"I create shoes, boots, and even soft slippers that you can wear by your bed." Sandal set down his cup and his clear blue eyes drifted to the corners, peering at her from the corners. "As a side note, I know how to add certain elements to them that can make the shoes warmer, cooler, tougher, you name it…"

Bianca jerked her head back, chuckling loudly. "Are you telling me you craft together boots that you can somehow enchant?"

His lips stretched into a smirk and he raised his hands, picking at his forefinger with his thumb. "I can make slippers that will have you swearing up and down that you are walking on the sky. For you, I can make it feel like every inch of your foot is being kissed by the softest lips."

"I'm sorry, are you trying to make a sell or flirt?" He was charming, she'd give him that much. Dare she say, there was something about him that drew her towards him. "So, why is your father in Kirkwall and you're here?"

"Neither, and I'm twenty-two now, I figure it's time to start making a name for myself. My father thinks I'm too obsessed with the idea of making footwear, so he usually likes to do all the talking." His lips stretched into a thin line and his gaze hardened for a moment as they fell to the ale in his hand.

"Quite frankly, simply saying 'hello' and asking people if they want a weapon enchantment has gotten rather old. I want out of the enchanting business, let someone else deal with that mess." His grip on the mug loosened and his shoulders sloped downwards. "I love my father, don't get me wrong, but that man didn't let me grow. He wanted me to look boyish, kept my hair cut and my skin pale."

"Branching out. It's always good. Running away? Not so much."

"I'm not running, I'm trying to make a name for myself. I agree with you, running doesn't solve anything." Bianca bent her arm up and perched her right cheek on her closed hand. She flashed a smile at Sandal and shut her eyes. "Still, you can't stay in one place if you don't grow, my dad didn't understand that. I need to show him I can make it as a merchant on my own."

"Well, I'll take a look at these shoes of yours, Sandal. My feet do get sore rather often from walking around on the hard ground."

Sandal's smile grew and his blonde eyebrows rose beneath his bangs. "I can fix that."

Back in her cabin, she sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Sandal crouched before her and slipped a brown slipper onto her right foot. The shoe was made of either satin or silk, knitted together perfectly upon a velvet-cushioned bottom. The very bottom of the shoe was made up of a soft, yet firm and durable material that looked of leather.

The minute the shoe was on her foot, she could feel a subtle warmth caressing it and drawing the blood to the surface of her skin. Her hands slid back on the bed and her shoulders rose. Bianca closed her eyes and mouth, then breathed in slowly through her nose.

"Wow," she said with a hum. Sandal turned his head towards her, gazing with eager and gentle eyes. "That is really comfortable."

"Try walking." He extended his hand to her. She looked to his open palm, tensing for a split second before placing a careful hand in his. She looked into his eyes and watched him rise up.

Her breathing caught in her throat and she allowed him to pull her from the bed. Her foot touched the ground, but as he said earlier, the sense of stepping on air caused her to stumble forward. A startled gasp shot from her lips and she landed against him.

Sandal helped her to steady herself and her eyes shot up into his, and the air in her lungs faded away as a breathless pant escaped her lips. Sandal's eyelids fell halfway and the corners of his mouth tilted upwards, stretching into a handsome smile.

"Careful there." His voice was soft like honey, and every breath he took was quiet and warm against her cold cheeks. A sudden blush crept across her face and she pulled away from him, stumbling to the right and catching herself.

"I um." She scratched her neck and looked away from him. "Wow." She walked across the floor, amazed with every cushioned step. "You weren't kidding about these shoes of yours, they're really soft."

"These are bedtime slippers, or even slippers for the morning. I've got many different possibilities, even comfortable armored boots. The trick there is stitching softened padding to the bottom to support your feet."

Bianca pulled her hair from her face and tucked it over her ear. "I might like that, actually." A specially padded sole inside sturdy boots sounded fantastic. "No more blisters from running around for hours at a time."

"Exactly. Can you believe my father thought such a thing was worthless? Dad is a bit old fashioned, to be honest. He always said I'd never find anyone to support such an idea."

"Well…I might support padded soles."

A knock at the door stole her attention and she twisted around to see Cassandra walking in. "I hope I am not interrupting anything."

"You're not, this was the shoe merchant you talked about. We were discussing armored boots."

"I see, are you going to buy a pair?"

Sandal folded his arms and peered down to the shoes on Bianca's feet. "I would be happy to give you a pair of my finest material if you'd like." Her heart skipped and she turned suddenly, surprised by his offer.

"You'd do that? Why?"

"A grace. It would be your first purchase, of course, so consider it a gift. If it suits you, great and if not, you can hand it back to me without any strings attached."

She liked the sound of the offer, and especially enjoyed the idea of not having any strings attached to the deal.

He walked up alongside her and held her attention with confident and warm eyes. "My finest was crafted from material collected from a dragon slain by one of my father's old friends."

"And the padding of the boots?"

"Incredibly soft and durable. I will go retrieve them." He left without another word. Bianca moved her hand up to her chest and looked at Cassandra

"Did you need something?" As she stammered out her words, Cassandra leaned against the door frame and flashed a knowing smirk.

"I was going to say, Varric is back and brought something for you." She started to ask what it was, eager to know what he might have brought back from wherever he'd gone, but Cassandra was already on her way out.

Bianca swept her hand over the back of her neck and walked towards the bed. When she felt something soft beneath her feet, she glanced down and saw she'd forgotten that she was still wearing the shoes Sandal had given her.

"I should pay for these…"

"Pay for what?" She raised her head with a start and smiled as Varric entered the room with Cassandra. "You would not believe the trip I took Cullen and Leliana on." He turned to the doorway with a smirk and Bianca watched her two advisors enter into the room.

Their eyes were weary and their faces long despite their feigned smiles. In Cullen's hand he held a stunning piece of fiery red armor. "Armor?" She walked closer to the armor piece and stared inquisitively at her father. Varric pat the armor and met her gaze.

"The finest dwarven armor craftsmen can make. Legion of the dead. It required a bit of tough material to find, but we managed." Cullen pulled his hand to his forehead and sighed.

"Deserts, demons, dragons…"

Varric shrugged and carried the armor to her, holding it up. "It's for you." Her heartbeat skipped and she took the gift with a bit of surprise. "After how easy it was for Lantos to get to you, I knew you needed something worthy of the inquisition."

He closed his eyes and took a soft breath. Cassandra crossed her arms and Leliana raised an eyebrow. "Oh is that all?" Cassandra asked with a huff. There was a suspicious note in Varric's voice, as though he wanted to say something more but was holding back.

She could hear the anger in his tone, so she knew he was still irritated over the lack of decent armor. "Thank you so much. I'm going to try this on right now." Bianca hugged him subconsciously. His face turned red and the advisors in the room started to smile.

The armor didn't take too long to put on, and it wasn't so heavy that she couldn't carry it. "I've only heard stories about the Legion of the Dead." She ran her fingers along the firm shoulders and turned to her father with a widening grin. "You know more about them than I do, I think?"

"Yes." Varric ran his hand along his neck and looked off to the side. "Maybe I'll tell you about them sometime." His mouth twisted into a faint smile and his proud gaze studied the armor she had on. "It fits you perfectly."

"Yes. Thank you again." In the corner of her eyes she saw Sandal returning to the room with the metal boots he offered her. "Oh! Perfect shoes for the armor. I met this shoe merchant…" Varric raised an eyebrow and started to turn. Sandal entered the room and stopped without warning as his eyes focused on Varric.

Varric's brow furrowed and his smile faded. "Wait a minute…This is the shoe merchant?" Bianca scrunched her face and walked up beside Varric.

"You know him?"

"We've met. I know his father." Varric's eyes squinted and his arms crossed over his chest. "Speaking of whom…"

"My father's back in Kirkwall," Sandal replied slowly. Varric's jaw hit the floor and his eyes grew large. "I can work with my passion on my own." Bianca moved towards Sandal, looking at the boots in his hands. "I believe I promised a pair of boots."

"Are you sure you don't want payment?"

"No ma'am, it's a gift." As Sandal smiled, she felt a bit of energy pulling her in. At the same time, she thought she felt someone glaring at the two of them, and when she turned, she saw Varric's protective and inquisitive stare on the merchant.

"What kind of merchant goes around giving their stock as gifts?" Varric dropped his arms and Sandal's eyebrows rose.

"It's more, if she's unsatisfied she is able to return them. It is nothing more than generosity."

Varric scratched at his head and huffed. "Since when do you say more than-"

"Enchanting. Isn't it?" The right corner of Sandal's mouth slid up into his cheekbones and a daring glint flickered in his eyes. Varric pulled his hand away from his head for the moment and glanced over when a sigh escaped Bianca's lips.

"Are you concerned?" Cullen smirked deviously and squinted his eyes. Varric dropped his hands and swept his arms outwards while shaking his head. "He is only a merchant, selling specially made boots to the inquisition." Cullen folded his arms and tilted his head to the right. "I think we could rather use him."

Bianca sat down on the bed and carefully pulled the boots onto her feet. "What do you think, Cadash?" Cullen scratched his chin and Varric rolled his eyes.

Bianca stood up and was instantly enamored with the comfortable feel of the boots. She kicked the bed gently and grinned when she felt nothing more than pressure. "Wow, these really are amazing." She clasped her hands at her waist and turned towards Sandal. "I think their inquisition can really benefit from your boots."

Varric started to blink and Sandal started to bow, placing his forearm at his waist. "I'd be happy to offer my services if you'll have me." His gentle and confident eyes meshed with hers, drawing her towards him. "But, you're a part of the inquisition now as well, aren't you? It's hardly 'their' inquisition."

Bianca bit her lip and swept her hand through the air. "I could do without people thinking I'm someone important when I'm not."

"I see."

"Anyway. I think this would be a good chance for you to prove to your father that you can do this, and to get your name out." She crossed her arms and turned her gaze towards Varric. "I know if it were me, I'd want my father to know and believe that I had what it takes to be independent and push forward."

Varric crossed his arms and looked down his nose at Sandal. "I have no trouble with him as long as he doesn't do anything creepy or strange. You guys don't know this kid."

Sandal shrugged. "My own dad doesn't know what I'm capable of." Out of the corner of her eyes Bianca saw Leliana shudder, as though recalling some horrific scene. "I can guarantee not only the best quality in my craft, but safety."

Varric waved him off and pointed to the boots. "Are they good, Bianca? Satisfactory?"

She smiled at him and nodded. "They're perfect, and they match the Legion Armor nicely. I should be able to get around just fine in this."

"Good."

So what's running through your mind? Do tell.