The Daughter of Tethras
Disclaimer: Don't own Dragon Age
A/N: This chapter is mostly in Varric's perspective, so of course you're going to get some detail as the reader that the characters don't yet have.
Chapter 13 (The Untold Story)
Iron Bull joined the journey to Redcliffe in place of Cassandra since she was sick, and Bianca thought it would be a good idea to have his help in training her with a broad axe. They were currently taking a break from the travel, so Solas and Varric were sitting on a few rocks and watching the two train.
"It's so different," Bianca complained while swinging the blade into the ground. "I'm used to having a longer blade." Her body shifted with each pant as she gripped the bar of the axe. "Don't even get me started on those overhead leaps you do."
Bull raised his hand up and laughed. "Oh you'll work your way up to those. It's really not that difficult once you get the hang of it." Bianca leaned her head to the side and lifted the axe with a huff.
"Okay, so what would you have me do?"
Bull looked around, humming softly as he studied the terrain. "There are a few trees you can knock down." He pointed to a group of three thick trees nearby. "I want one vertical strike, then I want one clean horizontal cut. Two separate trees." She raised an eyebrow and glanced at the third.
"There's one more?"
"Oh yeah, that one." Bull scratched his chin and let out a contemplative hum. "I want you to hack the hell out of it. Throw all your energy into the swing."
Varric raised his hand over the side of his mouth, calling out. "Don't drive her too hard over there, Bull. We still have a long way to go." Beside him, Solas started to chuckle. He turned to the elf and narrowed his eyes. "What's so funny, Chuckles?"
"You watch over her as a father, but you will not tell her she's your child." He crossed his arms and looked to Bianca, watching as she made her way to the trees. He didn't have the heart to say anything, or rather, he was far too frightened of many things to tell her.
"This is the world we live in, Solas. Cassandra might have you believe we have more important things to worry about than whose child someone is." Solas eyed him for what felt like an eternity of silence. A feeling of unease came over him and he shrugged as if to deter Solas from this particular talk.
"What is it you're afraid of? What are you holding back?"
Varric ran his hand over his head and slid it down towards his chin, sighing as it passed his mouth. "I don't know. I can't explain it. I might not be what she expects or wants, maybe I'm not what she needs…I don't even know if she wants a father." He dropped his hand to his knee and shook his head. "If I had it my way, she would have been with me."
"You did not give her up?"
It was her mother that gave her up, but because she was married to someone else at the time, she couldn't keep the baby. Varric wanted the child, but at first Bianca swore to him that it would be temporary. He learned the truth, that because she wasn't going to divorce her husband and he was going to leave her, she gave the baby up to a family.
She made him stay with her by telling him that if he stayed with her, she'd tell him the name of the family that had her. Which she did. Mother Bianca promised that as long as he stayed involved in their illicit affair, she would retrieve their daughter-when the time was right. It was morally degrading, and he was ready to end the affair several times.
Still through the years she threatened him, saying that if he left her, she would tell the family to give the child away to someone he couldn't locate, so he could never see her again. So he obliged, waiting throughout the years for the woman to say okay, but fearing that each time he would bring up wanting to find their daughter that he would forever lose the chance, and fearing that if he said one word to her, she would make the call.
Rather there were many fights they had that ended with her threatening to have the Cadash family send the baby away.
Now that his daughter was here, he didn't know what to do. The longer he watched her, the more he thought this was just a dream-or a very cruel jest. "There are some stories…" Varric frowned and his eyes turned down. "Some that I just don't want to tell."
Eventually he might have to explain to Bianca about her mother, and that was a talk he was dreading.
Solas pat him on the shoulder and pointed out to Bianca. "I understand, Varric. Tell me, is she everything you imagined her to be?" Varric gazed at his daughter with a proud smile, watching her stumble when her swing missed the tree. Bull started shaking his head and Bianca laughed nervously.
She appeared to shine in the light, her features were gentle and he couldn't help but to be filled with a sense of love and pride as he watched her take another swing at the tree.
"No." Varric leaned forward, folding is forearms inward while perching his elbows on his knees. "She's much more than that, she's my daughter, and she is remarkable."
"When did you know?"
"It didn't take long." The minute she revealed herself as being from the Cadash house, it clicked. He had some suspicion when he saw her for the first time, and when she introduced herself as Bianca, but her being from the Cadash home cemented it. "Marcus and Amelia don't have other children that are the same age as her, their children are either much older or younger."
"I see." Solas pulled back and stood up. He dusted off his pants and then placed his hands at his waist. "Will you tell her mother?" Varric cringed and shut his eyes. His heartbeat sped up and he slowly shook his head, muttering under his breath.
"I'm going to have to." He was terrified how the woman might react. She had always perceived Bianca as a threat, to his understanding, that the moment he had his daughter in his life it might mean he'd be able to leave her.
He didn't want to tell the woman, but he felt like it would be wrong as it would be cruel not to let her know the whereabouts of her daughter, if she even cared. Then, if he didn't tell her, he knew she'd explode in anger over his keeping their child a secret. Either way, he felt as though he were screwed.
"The truth is that woman doesn't want me to leave. She's a little…I don't know, I don't want to talk about it."
"I understand completely, my friend." Varric smiled tentatively at Solas, grateful the elf wasn't going to push. "Know that I am here whenever you wish to talk."
Bull and Bianca approached the two, so Varric pushed himself up from the rocks. "How was training?" He looked to his daughter with a caring smile. She was breathing heavily and covered in sweat.
"Exhausting," she replied, "But good nonetheless." Bianca took a deep breath and glanced past Varric and Solas. In the distance she could make out a small convoy of four Qunari surrounding a large wooden crate. "Hey look, there's some more Qunari."
Bull narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. "Tal Vashoth, by the looks of it." Varric turned with a moan. He still had vivid memories of squaring off with Tal Vashoth and the Qunari, and he wasn't thrilled to see them.
Bull stepped closer and gasped suddenly. "My god, they have a prisoner." In the crate was a female Qunari with short horns going out from her head and curved upwards at the very end.
They began walking towards the convoy and took notice of Bull's consistent gaze on the female Qunari. She had beautiful blue eyes and shimmering golden hair. Her face was smooth and looked to be in the shape of a heart.
"She's so beautiful," Bull whispered in a single breath. "How could they take a beautiful woman like that prisoner?" Varric didn't like it either, but his instincts told him there was a reason.
Just as the thought popped into his mind, he saw a flash around the woman's hands. His eyes shot open and he let out a startled gasp as one of the Tal Vashoth poked the woman with a long staff.
"She's a mage," Varric announced. He couldn't get another word out before Bull was rushing for the caravan. His heart stopped and he grabbed his crossbow with a grunt. "Great, more fighting."
Solas whipped out his staff and shot a blast of ice at one of the Tal Vashoth alerted to their presence.
Then with one ferocious roar, Bull smashed through the cage, freeing the prisoner. The female joined the fray, using her magic to quell the Qunari. The fight was over quickly, but for Varric, he ran up to the woman and aimed the bow just in case they just helped a violent prisoner.
"Bull, she's a prisoner, think first."
The woman raised her hands and took a step back. "It's okay, I'm good. My name is Megan Adaar, and I thank you." She lowered to one knee and bowed her head. Bull pushed Varric aside and ran up to the woman.
"That was some sweet fighting you did," Bull marveled in awe. Varric hadn't paid much attention to the woman, but he had to admit, she had displayed some masterful technique. "You're a mage? Is that why you were prisoner?"
Megan closed her hands and stared down at them with a look of scorn. "Yes. I was brought up to fight with a sword, however, and I only use my magic when I absolutely have to." She turned her head over her shoulder and stared at the enemies on the ground. "Those bastards stole my sword and threw it into a lake."
"What happened?" Bianca asked. There was a note of concern in her voice that Varric admired. He was impressed that despite all that this girl had gone through, she still cared for others. "Were you attacked?"
"Yes." Megan crossed her arms and shut her eyes. "The night of the conclave, my clan wanted me to go but my father refused." Her muscles began to tense and a vein bulged from her neck. "Because of his refusal, I woke up that night with my house up in flames. They murdered my parents and I had no choice but to run."
Varric pulled his hand over his mouth and shook his head. Bianca reached out, gingerly placing her hand on the woman's forearm and looking into her eyes. "I'm so sorry you went through that."
"How did they catch you?" Solas inquired. "If you don't mind me asking." Megan frowned and ran her hand over her neck.
"I swore vengeance and went after them, but I was overwhelmed." He couldn't detect dishonesty in her voice, and the way her eyes were quivering, it looked as though she were trying desperately not to cry. "I'm sorry that you got involved, I would never have wished anyone to."
"I'm glad we did!" Bull exclaimed. He spread his arms out and looked over his shoulder. "We were headed to Redcliffe Village." The Qunari approached her with his hand extended. Megan looked at his hand for a moment before flashing a tiny smile and shaking his hand. "Do you have anywhere to go?"
"They destroyed my home, and I'm sure they have others looking for me. I'm on my own…but I can take care of myself, so don't worry about me." Bull turned around, looked at the others squarely and crossed his arms.
"She can benefit the Inquisition. I'm sure of it."
"Okay," Varric thought while rolling his eyes. "He's become infatuated with this girl already." Varric sighed and bowed his head. There was no chance of turning her away if she needed somewhere to go, so he wasn't going turn down Bull's request. "I suppose Leliana or Cullen might be able to find something for you to do out in the field." He ran his hand over his neck and turned towards Bianca. "Bianca? What do you think?"
"Do you want to help us, Megan?" Bianca rubbed her chin and motioned to Bull. "He leads a mercenary group and we're with the Inquisition. We're trying to find some order and peace where the Mages and Templars are fighting." Bull spun on his heels, grinning from ear to ear.
Megan's eyebrow rose and she appeared unsure. "I've seen a lot of chaos while they were transporting me." The woman looked sideways at the chaotic Hinterlands and breathed in slowly. "I imagine if you have something for me, I am indebted as much as I don't want to be in anyone's debt…"
"Certainly." Bull began to walk off, waving his hand in the air. "Come, I'll show you the way back to the Frostbacks." Megan leaned back.
"I think I can find-"
"I insist, let me be your guide."
Varric shook his head and Solas started to laugh. "You may as well," Solas said, "I don't think he's going to give up anytime soon." Megan watched Bull with an endearing look and took a step forward.
"I suppose that will be okay. Thank you again…"
The pair disappeared over the hill, much to Varric's annoyance. They would have to stop somewhere and camp so they could send a messenger bird out for one of the other companions to make their way to them-or wait for Bull to return.
Either way, he was dreading the wait.
Bianca walked ahead of them in pursuit of the nearest campsite. Solas hung back with him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Would you be comfortable talking with her while we wait? Tell her you're her father, what have you to lose?"
Varric's eyebrows pulled together and his mouth fell into a frown. "I'm sure I could lose a lot. What if I'm not what she wants? I've never been a father, Solas, I don't even know where to begin."
Solas breathed out and closed his eyes. "You only have to be there for her, but I suppose when the time is right…you will know. As for being a father? Be with her, if she makes a mistake, be understanding. Be compassionate and guide her...if you're upset, don't yell or you'll frighten her. If you love her, it will show. She's your daughter, so treat her with as much compassion as you can. You have her, so keep her safe."
"How do I do that?"
"By being the father she never had."
"Yeah..." He smiled as his gaze fell onto her. "I think I can try that."
So what are your thoughts? We know by way of the game's storyline that the mother will show up again. What do you think of Solas's advice? And yes, the person they ran into is my female qunari inquisitor that I paired with Bull. It's a cameo only appearance, so the only times you'll see or hear about her in this story are if Bull brings it up. I went with cameo because I thought it might be interesting to see, if they all exist in the same world, then where would they be should they not be the Inquisitor. I digress, onto the more important part of the chapter, do tell your thoughts and observations. Oh I should let you know, while my playthrough of Bianca went to help the Templars, Mages make a bit more sense in this story...you'll see why