Daughter of Tethras

Disclaimer: Don't own Dragon Age

A/N: By now you realize it's an arc that was set off by Bianca's mother. Yeah, next chapter involves just how Harding and Lantos came together.

Chapter 28 (Last Stop Before Home)

Bianca stood behind Scout Harding, watching as the woman studied a map scroll. "We've got a little further to go." They group was exhausted from the travel, but thrilled at least to be out of the deserts. Including the Hissing Wastes, they'd been through two others; the Western Approach and a place that some referred to an 'Oasis'.

"Good thing we're not dealing with those deserts anymore." Lantos leaned against a tree overlooking a large snowy cliff. "That 'oasis' is not much of an oasis." Bianca raised her eyebrows and peered down at her hand.

"Chalk that up to another place I don't want to go to again." They tore through a number of rifts in the process of their journeying. They made camp at a few locations, though it was different not seeing the Requisition Officers or anyone else around. "The Emerald Graves are more of an oasis." She walked backwards, digging her heels into the snow. "I'd like to visit that place with my father."

"You should." Lantos crossed his arms and turned his head to the right. "I'm sure he'd take you." The man pushed himself from the tree and gestured at Sandal. "Meanwhile, the merchant has yet to run out of stones. I'm not sure how or why that is even possible." Bianca rolled her eyes and Harding shook her head.

Sandal made his approach and spread his arms outwards. "There are rocks all around us, and material needed to create a simple enchanted rune. It's really not difficult to make one out in the wild if you know how to do it."

Harding raised her head from the map and her shoulders sloped downward. "Lantos, you've been giving him a hard time this entire time, could you please cut it out?" Lantos let out a grunt and Sandal taunted him with a laugh, earning a growl in response.

Bianca's head was throbbing and she was exhausted enough as it was. "You're not helping, Sandal." She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at the man. "I swear the two of you have been fighting over whose nuts are the biggest, but if you keep it up, you're not going to have any left."

Harding rolled up the map and took a step forward. "We're somewhere in the Emprise, which is good. Skyhold isn't far, just northeast a few miles." The woman turned and shrugged. "We're near the tower of bone, so we can make camp for a bit before moving on."

"Right, I've camped here when we came through before. It's a nice spot." This wasn't her favorite place to be of course, and it was cold as hell, but it was better than nothing. "I'm surprised we haven't run into any Inquisition agents yet."

"There's been signs of them." Lantos walked over and looked up at the strange tower while dusting off his waist. "We've passed over recent campsites. The only issue is we were in such a rush to find you that we didn't think of grabbing any of your Spymaster's messenger birds."

"I see. No way to contact the Inquisition and let them know I'm even alive." The Inquisition must be lost looking for her then, and she hoped her father missed her as much as she missed him.

They took some time to create a campfire, and since they didn't plan on staying too long there was no reason to use the tent materials in the pack that Harding and Sandal brought along.

Bianca sat at the campfire while Lantos remained standing on the other side of it. His arms were crossed and his shoulders were broadly spaced. Looking up at him she could see his narrow stare focusing on the fire as if he expected it to speak.

Harding scouted the location for any raw materials and Sandal remained close by, scraping rocks and collecting as many minerals as he could find. "Lantos." The man's gaze didn't falter from the fire and his only respond was a quiet grunt. "How's Dasher and the clan?"

"Wouldn't know." She jerked her head back and watched his eyes slide towards her. "I haven't been back since I alerted you to Varla's plans in Orzammar."

"Oh." She knew he was talking about the actual ambush planned on the ambassador. Dasher always liked to get his hands dirty if he could, but the ambassador was too important to the Inquisition to risk. "So…" She bowed her head and clasped her hands between her knees. "What happened?"

"You had your commander send troops. A fight broke out…" His voice trailed off and his eyes squinted. He wasn't saying everything, but she was scared to let him continue. "You should know that when I met Harding, I no longer had a desire to take out Dasher."

Her heart wrenched with fear and a tightness spread across her chest. "Lantos, Dasher isn't-" His eyes moved back to the fire and the skin around them started to crease.

Lantos pulled his leather armor down a bit to reveal a scar on his upper right chest just beneath the collar bone. It hadn't been there before. "I'm sorry Bianca. I got between him and one of your solder's blades, he was cut down after I was…" She let out a gasp and her eyes welled up with tears.

"No. I don't believe you." Her voice rose enough for both Sandal and Harding to look. "Dasher can't be dead. I refuse to believe that!" She stood up and pointed an accusing finger towards him. "If he is, you're probably the reason he's dead." Lantos uncrossed his arms and started to chuckle.

"Yeah. Yeah I am, you know why?" He walked around the fire, glaring back with equal rage. "Because I'm the one that contacted you. I'm the one that told you about Dasher's plan." Lantos's voice rose and a wrinkle pushed up between his dipping eyebrows. "You could have had your Spymaster go in and get them out without any incident, but you decided to send soldiers to guard the Ambassador instead."

"It's not my fault what happened to Dasher." Her tears overflowed and her teeth ground tight. "How was I supposed to know? Cullen was angry that you were still sending letters, he demanded to send soldiers. I only went his way to calm down my friend. If I had known it would get Dasher killed…"

"I'm not placing blame, Bianca, I'm only telling you what happened." Lantos turned his back to her and shrugged. "The clan thinks I'm becoming soft, they've lost all respect for me."

"Good." She sneered at him. Her hands shook violently and her heart was screaming out its painful burst. Lantos scoffed at her and turned partially. His right hand was clenched and shaking at his side, and his dragon-like eyes peered out as though to stab her.

"It's not good. They've thought we were in cahoots ever since the Conclave. They've been trying to find you themselves. I'm the only one that was keeping them from doing exactly that, but when I left, I pissed them off. No one leads Dasher's clan, Bianca. I'm only telling you what happened."

Sandal approached from behind and Harding started towards them from the opposite side. "Can we not fight?" Sandal asked above them. "Please. Let's try to calm down." Lantos raised his voice and unclenched his fist, throwing his finger towards the man.

"No one asked you, Salesman. This is between Bianca and myself."

Harding walked alongside Lantos and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Lantos, he's right, you both need to stop." He closed his eyes and lowered his hand with a sigh. "We're being followed, or we have been two or three stops ago." Bianca felt her heart stop and she glanced at Harding with wide eyes.

"What? Why haven't you said anything!"

"I didn't want to alarm you. I don't know who, but I keep hearing people all around us." Harding slid her hand down from Lantos's arm and looked with concern at Bianca. "I've taken us the long way around purposely, we lost our tail at the last stop, but if you continue to shout, you're going to draw attention to us."

Bianca looked over her shoulder and took a deep breath. "Okay fine." She looked back at Lantos, still seething with anger. He was frowning at her and his forehead had two creases stretching across. Lantos's shoulders were sloped down and his hands were closed tight.

"I don't know what to tell you," he said. "I know Dasher was important to you. You don't deserve to find out this way, but you needed to."

"Just stop talking." She wiped her face with the back of her hand and walked a few paces away. Every memory she had of the Dasher played through her mind, part of her wanted to believe Lantos was lying to her, but the truth was in his eyes and the tone of his voice. Her heart was breaking, and after a few moments of silence, a sob shook through her body and broke from her lips.

She felt an arm around her shoulders and glanced to see Sandal beside her. "Hey." He walked her a few feet from the campsite and stopped beneath the shade of a tree with her. Bianca sniffed as he took her hands and looked her in the eyes with a warm smile. "I know it hurts. Dasher was important to you."

"He saved my life." She looked back at the campsite. Lantos was watching them with a blank expression. His eyes were oddly misted and his lips stretched into a thin, flat line. "Lantos…abused me, but only with his hands and his words. The Carta? My clan…" She hit the tree with her back and sank down, pushing her hands into her hair and clenching tufts of it in her hands.

Sandal lowered his voice and knelt in front of her. "Bianca." She didn't want to talk about her clan, it was difficult enough just to think about them.

"They think women exist for one thing. The reason Lantos and I ever got together in the first place was because he and Dasher stopped them…protected me from them." Her lungs began to burn and her throat tightened as she remembered her clan's brutality. She clenched her eyes and started to shake.

"I thought I could trust him, but then he became angry, aggressive. He never once went as far as the clan had, he wasn't that kind of person…" She dropped her hands and gasped loudly. "Oh god why am I telling you this?"

"You don't have to." Sandal took her hand and gave it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "I'm here for you, and right now? So is Lantos, evidently." She chuckled through the tears and wiped her cheeks once more. "So is Scout Harding. Does it bother you that they're together?"

"A bit, but only because I'm scared for Harding." Bianca looked at the couple. Lantos was still watching them closely and Harding was at his side, holding his hand and resting her head on his shoulder. "But apparently she's calmed him down. I don't know why I wasn't ever able to do that…"

"I have an idea, but you might not be happy with me if I say it."

"You may as well."

Sandal squeezed her hand and drew her eyes into his. "You're stronger now. There's a confidence that emerged in you since you and your father connected that wasn't there before." Bianca smiled back at him and sniffled as Varric entered her mind. "You don't need Dasher's protection anymore or Lantos, and I think you know that. Back then? You were hurting, you had wounds dug into you from just about everyone that you came across…you didn't stand up for yourself, probably because you were afraid to."

She frowned and dropped her gaze. "Yeah…" It wasn't like that anymore. She was much stronger now than she'd ever been. "I guess I wasn't tough enough to deal with Lantos's abuse."

"You should never have to deal with abuse. You left that relationship behind, and you were right to do so. I think even he sees that now."

"Yeah, evidently Scout Harding's gotten through that stupid arrogant head of his." She looked back to the couple and sniffled once more. "If he treats her right, fine. I don't care if they're together…"

Sandal stood, still holding her hand, and gave a slight tug. She was drawn to his warm smile like a moth to the fire, her frayed nerves were soothed by his sweet, compassionate eyes and she willed herself to be pulled to her feet.

"Sandal, I…Thank you for listening." She leaned into him and slid her arms around his waist. Her chin came to rest on his right shoulder and her eyes closed. He hugged her waist and whispered to her that he was happy to do so. "I do care about you, I don't want you to get the wrong idea though."

"What do you mean?"

She took a deep breath and leaned her head back, gazing into his curious eyes. "I like you." Her heart skipped a note and a lump swelled in her throat. "I'm grateful you came to help, and I would like to get to know you, but I'm just conflicted…I want to give you a chance, but I don't know if I'm ready to start another relationship just yet but…"

This was just something she needed to get off her chest, something she'd been thinking about since they left the Hissing Wastes.

Sandal shook his head, still smiling at her. "I understand full well. I care for you as well, but I haven't said anything because I don't know if you're ready to have that talk." She chuckled once and her lips curved up. "But when you're ready, I'll be right here, and until then we're friends."

"Right. Friends."

In truth it felt safer for her this way. She was terrified still of being hurt again, and she also wanted to focus on spending time with her father. Her interests weren't fully geared towards romantic dalliances as many girls her age were so interested in.

There was a rustling nearby that caught her attention, and when she turned she could see a number of dwarves approaching them. They were being led by a warrior with blonde hair and a goatee that framed a familiar sadistic grin that made her blood turn cold.

"It's Aaron, of my clan!" She heard Lantos curse and quickly reached for her axe. Aaron's upper right lip rolled up to reveal a flash of white teeth.

"Bianca. Lantos." Aaron's pale green eyes fell into slants and he spread his arms out to the sides. "Fancy meeting you two here."

Lantos moved in front of Bianca, growling at Aaron and the rest of the dwarves present. "What was so important you had to bring the whole clan after us, Aaron?" The man looked to Lantos with a huff.

"We're here for Cadash, Lantos. We know you'd gone soft." Aaron raised his hand and sliced it through the air. "Step aside if you know what's good for you." Bianca took a small step back and her forehead tensed as she watched Lantos.

He was holding his ground and his fingers were curling slowly around the hilts of his daggers. "Aaron. I highly suggest taking the clan and leaving." He tilted his head. Sandal walked up beside him and stared down the Carta while clenching a rune in each hand. "Otherwise, my acquaintance here and I are going to eradicate the last of you."

"Figures." Aaron scowled and motioned past Lantos. "Dasher gets killed by that bitch's Inquisition soldier and you're still protecting her."

"I'm not protecting her, she's capable of dealing with you herself if she has to."

"Oh shut up." Aaron pulled his sword from the sheathe on his hip and removed the shield from his back. The rest of the clan drew their weapons as well. Bianca felt a layer of sweat breaking from her skin while the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. "We're all here because we're not underestimating the two of you. We know what it's going to take to take you out."

Lantos leaned his head upright and glanced sideways at Sandal. "Do your enchanting shit, Sandal. Let's make it a fair fight, shall we?"

Sandal grinned and raised the ember colored stone in front of his lips. "It will be my pleasure." Aaron raised an eyebrow and when Sandal threw the stone, he jumped out of the way.

An explosion of flame burst from the stone and set many of the dwarves present aflame. Aaron was thrown to the side, but he caught himself and pushed up to his hands and knees. His teeth bared and he watched as five of the remaining dwarves managed to avoid the fire.

"One rune and half of you lot are gone," Lantos said with a confident smirk. "The Salesman here has one more rune in his hand, do you want to take a chance?" Aaron stood and positioned the shield in front of himself.

"Bastard. We'll kill you all." Aaron charged forward and Lantos leapt into the air, then forward over the man. Aaron twisted his body around, but before he could move his shield, Lantos slashed his right dagger across his back. He lurched forward with a pained grunt and spun on his heels. "Going to have to do better than that."

"I recommend not trying to challenge me. Go ahead though...I've wanted to do this for a very long time, Aaron."

Bianca wanted to join in the fight, but her legs were frozen in spot-paralyzed with fear as she watched Aaron closely. Every inch of her body was trembling as the remaining dwarves proceeded towards Lantos.

"I can't fight them," she whispered aloud. Harding stepped next to her, raising an eyebrow.

"What's going on? Why aren't you helping the guys?"

"I can't." She was close to vomiting, unable to stand the sight of these people. "It's not because they're my clan. Dasher's gone, he can't control them anymore." Harding put a hand on her shoulder and pointed at the cavern nearby.

"Then start heading towards Sahrnia." She shook her head and sputtered while watching as Sandal attacked another of the Carta with a powered rune. Harding removed her bow from her quiver and grabbed an arrow. "We'll handle these people."

She flinched as her the memories of her clan pounded in her head. "I don't want to leave you guys behind." Harding fired off an arrow and sighed.

"Well can you at least fight?"

Lantos did back-flip in the air and landed on one knee in front of them. He turned his head and looked up to Bianca. "Don't just stand there like a statue, get the hell out of here." She snapped back into reality. A lump formed in her throat, thickening to the point she couldn't speak.

Aaron's body shifted upwards as he breathed heavily. The man's green eyes mixed in with hers and his toothy smirk only grew as he started to chuckle. "Come on Cadash. Show me what you got." Lantos stood and pointed a dagger at him.

"Don't talk to her." He turned his head and placed a hand on Bianca's armored chest. She gasped out as he gave a subtle push, enough to cause her to stagger back a step and focus her attention onto him. "You won't be able to fight them off, and I'm not babysitting. Get moving."

Harding jumped between the two, looking at Bianca with a sigh. "Like I said, we'll meet you in Sahrnia. Wait for us."

Bianca swallowed the lump and turned to run, scolding herself for doing so. They were right, she was fighting off too many flashbacks and painful memories to concentrate on a fight. They didn't need her to be a liability, and that was exactly what she would be if she tried to fight Aaron and the clan.

All she could do was concentrate on running back to the town and to trust that the others could handle the fight.

By the time she'd reached the village, her body was burning with adrenaline that overpowered the searing pain in her muscles. She was drenched in sweat and holding her hand over her abdomen. "Is that the Inquisitor?" She heard someone say, but she ignored them. "She looks sick."

The color was all but gone from her face, her skin was clammy and pale, and she was fighting to stay upright despite the crippling nausea.

It didn't take long for her to fall to her knees, however. The townspeople helped her to stand and walked her into a home to let her lay down on a warm bed.

Eventually the mental struggle she faced was subsiding, but the wait for the others to return was excruciating. It felt like hours had passed by when she was back on her feet and moving, and even still there was nothing.

"I should go back." She paced on a bearskin rug, pounding her closed hand into her open palm. "They need me. I can do this. I won't forgive myself if something happens to them. If Aaron kills them…"

She looked out the doorway of the cabin and groaned. "No. I can't stay here any longer, I have to go back." They told her to wait, but being unable to do so any longer, Bianca grabbed her axe from the bed and rushed out the door.

Before she could leave the Sahrnia gates, she saw a group in the distance and her breath held fast in her lungs. She tightened her hold on the handle of her axe and her heart began to race.

As they grew nearer, a sense of relief flooded her. Leading the Sandal and Harding was Lantos. All three were covered with blood spatter, but they didn't look any worse for wear.

She moved forward and raised a trembling hand over her mouth. "You're okay." Her joy fell out with a gasp of surprise. "I was about to come looking for you."

"Well we're fine," Lantos replied. He crossed his arms and shrugged. "Aaron is no longer an issue. Some of the clan managed to run off, so it wouldn't surprise me if they show up, but Aaron didn't make it." She closed her eyes and breathed out slowly.

"I wish you three wouldn't have sent me off. I can't stand not helping."

"You were too affected to fight them." Lantos walked past her and she turned towards him, glaring with narrow eyes. He leaned against the wall of the cabin and hummed. "Are you doing better now?" She relaxed and looked in the direction they came from.

"I'm doing fine." She was still nervous, but she was better than she had been, and would be much better when they reached Skyhold. "Let's take a break here, and then we can continue on."

"Sounds good to me." He scratched his bearded chin and looked at the others. "Harding? Salesman? Are you two okay with staying here a while?"

"Anything for a breather," Harding replied.

Sandal glared at Lantos and crossed his arms. "The name's Sandal, and yes, this is just fine to rest up at."

What are your thoughts about this chapter? What are your observations? Is there anything worth noting or anything that caught your attention?