Chapter 41

Of Amusements Great and Small

The Frostbacks bathed in the dim glow of looming winter snow clouds as they rode up the valley to Skyhold. The grey rock cast long, shadowy teeth across their path, sending chills through their already cold bodies. Dorian commented on the plummeting temperature. Not directly a complaint but the faint whine in his tone betrayed his true thoughts on the matter. By Enya's count, it was the fourteenth time.

She had taken Cassandra's offer to lead as an opportunity to shelter from the icy wind, for if she rode in just the right spot, Cassandra was tall enough to use as a shield. Enya didn't often wish she were a mage, but Solas' ability to warm himself when needed was a skill she desperately envied.

Enya cast a glance over her shoulder back at the rest of the party, finding him in the rear of the group with the aforementioned, climate-maladjusted Tevinter mage, discussing Dorian's magic use. The Tevine attempted a spell similar to Solas', only to yelp when he heated his body to much. The Iron Bull laughed loudly and gave Dorian a friendly clap on the shoulder.

"Well you know, usually I can just bask in the glow of my own personality," Dorian quipped eliciting a chuckle from Varric and Blackwall.

Cole, on the back of a chunky, hairy pony cocked his head to the side, "How can one's personality keep them warm?"

Enya ducked her head as she grinned. The glow of his icy pale eyes from beneath the brim of his hat, confused and troubled, took hold of her heart. Erassan bore that look at times when he was growing up, open and endlessly kind and curious, never ceasing to cause trouble and always failing to hide his emotions. It was endearing.

Cole turned his gaze on Varric, expectantly.

Varric patted him on the shoulder, "A joke, kid."

Solas from the other side of the boy added, "Humans often use illustrative humor as a disguise for their mistakes."

"Ah." Cole nodded, "Flames cover cheeks and lick at fingertips, burning, scalding. I wanted heat but this is too hot. Laughter coats the wounds and stings like lemon. Better than…"

Dorian cut him off, "I'd appreciate if you didn't advertise my thoughts to everyone."

Cole looked up surprised, "Yes. Your personality warms me too, Dorian."

Dorian opened his mouth to respond, but whatever words he might had said fled him. He closed his mouth again and bowed his head at Cole. Enya's smile widened. True, Cole was strange, but his heart, such as it was, was in the right place. Even so, many found his earnest abilities off-putting or inconvenient. Yet here he sat, learning as much as he could. She suspected this was to allay their fears more than it was to discomfort them further.

Skyhold, their valiant fortress, awaited the party crested the hill and descended into the shadowed river valley. The rivered echoed between the mountain peaks, shaking the path with its war against the canyon it carved through the ages. Despite the snow through which they had trudged on the climb up, atop the mountain there must have been a thaw for the path on which they usually trod when coming and going lay enveloped by raging water.

Enya called them to a halt and glanced at the mountainside, searching the slopes for a suitable alternative. She found it in a narrow outcropping just wide enough for them to journey on their own feet. Until the water receded, their mounts would have to stay behind.

"We'll have to go on foot," She called over her shoulder, dismounting.

The party pulled the tack from their horses and piled it as neatly as possible below an overhang just above the level of the path. Hoping the water would not rise and sweep it away, they left it and their horses behind, shouldering their packs themselves. Enya gave Theneras a sound scratch along the underside of his jaw and he turned his head to afford her better access before she retreated. His deep brown gaze followed them up the mountain.

It was slow going, but the sun lit their path with the glow of late afternoon, and the wind died away, allowing them mostly unimpeded passage over the slope and back down into the valley of tents along the river. The spot where Enya had often enjoyed meals with Solas while they'd worked together in the healing tents was completely submerged in the frothy water.

"We've had to move out camp about with the weather warming."

Cullen strode toward them. By the expression on his face, the last few days had been tiring, but there remained that same determined energy in his eyes, despite his exhaustion.

"Commander," Cassandra greeted, though Enya noticed warmth in her voice in spite of the formality.

"Cassandra," Cullen bowed his head and then turned back to Enya, "As I was saying the thaw had caused a fair bit of flooding. Luckily, we haven't lost anything vital, but the influx of new blood that came after you closed the Breach is no longer possible due to the water."

Enya nodded, "We had to leave our horses out in the valley."

"I'll send some soldiers out to protect them. Horses are too valuable to leave out in the wild to fend for themselves. There have been a number of bears and wildcats spotted in the area. I won't leave it up to chance."

Cullen lead them through the encampment. When they passed the soldier's mess, he gestured to one of his men. They exchanged a few short words regarding the horses, then the soldier bowed to Enya, hand curled over his heart and departed. Enya listened with care to the news Cullen imparted to her as they walked, mulling over each new piece of information. She'd never remember it all, but she would try anyway. Dwarves reported that the walls were nearly back to their original strength. The healers were requesting a formal hospital for the more critical patients. Letters came in from all over Orlais requesting aid. A Ferelden Arl claimed that they'd stole his fortress, Caer Bronach though he was willing to forfeit his ownership for a fee. Josephine was getting to the bottom of that one. There had been a disturbance in Denerim. In the end, these instances were all lost to her, for Cullen mentioned a missive from Keeper Deshanna regarding a problem. He recommened she speak to Leliana for further information as her scouts had been the ones to bring the letter.

At the base of the road to the castle, Cullen bid them farewell to return to training and organizing. Blackwall too departed, for he had agreed to help train the Inquisitions soldiers, claiming his Grey Warden training would make for an excellent addition to their repertoire. Enya could scarcely argue against it. The rest of their party returned to Skyhold and retreated to their various tasks save for Cassandra. Together, they went to the war room.

Leliana and Josephine, either by intuition or observation met them there. Both had their own news to add to the mix of information Cullen had given her. Cassandra seemed to take it in stride. She and Leliana were fast in discussion on a matter about the Venatori threat while Josephine tried to get a word in about a possible contact in Orlais. Enya finally found her words and jumped in.

"I know we've a lot to discuss and we've been gone a good while, but the Commander mentioned trouble for my Clan. I wondered if we might put our attentions toward that for a moment."

Leliana nodded, lowering her purple hood. From a desk in the corner of the room, she retrieved a short letter and handed it to Enya.

Da'len,

If I felt I had another option, dear one, I would not bother you. I know you are kept busy by the events surrounding this tear in the sky and that your duty now lies beyond that of our clan and your family. However, the rifts that now cover Thedas have caused much unrest and with it, confusion and fear. As you know all too well, the Shems are prone to lash out when they are frightened, often against us. If they didn't, Eliana and Nuvenin would yet be with us.

Bandits are attacking Clan Lavellan. The raiders are well armed and heavily armored, and they come in numbers our hunters cannot match. We had settled in a small unclaimed valley not far from Wycome, a safe place with few rifts—but these bandits may force us to seek a new home. If your Inquisition can help, you might save our clan much hardship.

Dareth shiral,
Keeper Istimaethoriel Lavellan

"Your Keeper does not seem terribly pleased with your position here," Leliana commented.

Enya shook her head, "She was curious about the Conclave, but the Clans do not seek recognition or notoriety. My position paints a target on their back, and Keeper Deshanna is not so foolish as to think otherwise."

The spymaster nodded, "In any case,"

"Or perhaps especially in this case," Josephine interjected.

Grimly, Leliana nodded again, "I believe we are obligated to do something. Commander Cullen could send some men to protect your people, but…"

"That would only make them more vulnerable to attack. Adding an army, even a shem army," Enya paused as the slur slipped effortlessly past her lips. She frowned, "Would only serve to make the Clan an even bigger target and frighten the people of Wycome more."

"The Inquisitor is right. The Lord of Wycome would see it as an Inquisition attack. Any chance we would have of negotiations with him, should they be needed, would be forfeit," Josephine laid her writing tablet on the table where it dripped wax onto the far northern corner of Thedas, "However, if we avoid a direct confrontation with these bandits, I think I may be able to contact the Lord and leverage him to use his own soldiers to protect the Clan. And alliance with the Inquisition could prove advantageous to one of the Marches' lesser known leaders."

"That could work," Leliana nodded, "However, I recommend caution in allying ourselves with the Lord of Wycome. His integrity is not well-known. Charter has a few Dalish scouts that remain from a clan I once knew in the Brecillian Forest. Their clan was mostly destroyed and they had nowhere to turn but the Inquisition. I could ask her to send them to bolster your Keeper's hunters."

Enya nodded, "Keeper Deshanna won't want more mouths to feed with winter upon us, but if they can fend for themselves, she'll accept the aid. I would ask they also search for the bandit's hideout while they are there. If we find them, then Cullen may be able to send some men to root them out."

"Good. Then it's settled. I will contact the Lord of Wycome and attempt to acquire his aid."

"And I will send word for Charter to send her scouts north to find your clan. You will send word to your Keeper?" Leliana asked, shifting a few of the wooden ravens toward the Free Marches.

Enya nodded.

"In the meantime, I had word from Crestwood that you liberated a fortress from bandits, uncovered a crime committed by its former mayor, and closed a rift that was bringing corpses to life."

Enya's hands rested on the table as she glanced over the map, "And more importantly, Hawke introduced me to her warden contact. Stroud. He's Orlesian."

"Yes, I know him. He was in Kirkwall when, well," Leliana looked to Cassandra for a moment, "He helped get people out of the chaos following the destruction of the Chantry. A rather honorable, if dour fellow, I recall."

"He hasn't changed," Cassandra replied shortly.

Enya continued, "He explained about Corypheus, about how many of the senior Wardens knew of his existence."

"And yet they did nothing?" Leliana's eyebrows climbed skyward.

"Contrary to your experience, Leliana, not all Warden's are as honorable as the Hero of Ferelden or King Alistair."

Enya's eyes snapped to the Seeker for she though the woman could undoubtedly be called blunt, she was unused to this utter lack of empathy. Cassandra rose from the table, crossing her arms. There was fury in the spymaster's breath as she glared at her former partner. Enya sensed the embers of an old argument blazing to life, but the ambassador intervened.

"Rather than debating the integrity of the Grey Wardens, might we return to the matter at hand," Josephine gestured at Enya, "Inquisitor, you were saying the Wardens knew of Corypheus?"

Enya went on to explain the Calling, trying to ignore the worry that danced through their Spymaster's face. While she may have remained inscrutable to the masses, in the war room, among peers, Leliana's veil slipped enough for them all to see the truth. Just how close had she been to the Hero of Ferelden? Enya wondered, for here among legends, there was so much she still did not know.

"You should go to the Watchtower as soon as possible, Inquisitor," Leliana advised. "We haven't the time to waste. We must learn as much as we can while Corypheus is weakened."

Enya retreated to her quarters after a short meal with The Iron Bull, Krem, and Varric at the Herald's Rest. The more time she spent with Bull the less intimidating his horns and size became. Under the deep voice and scarred exterior, lurked a kind and surprisingly intelligent soul with an eye for justice and honesty. Krem served only to reinforce this opinion with a story about how he'd come to join the Bull's Chargers. Despite tales of conquest, there lay a deep respect for all who tried to make the world better.

The Qun was another source of fascination for her, and Varric chimed right in with his own experiences. The two bantered back and forth on the events of Kirkwall until the stars filled the sky and Enya's bed called to her. She bid them farewell and paid for another round of their drinks before retiring, her head teaming with thoughts of the Qun. How different and brutal the Qunari society was, and yet… there was something she could understand was comforting about it. The lack of individuality went against everything for which she stood, but it was interesting to consider. Blind faith of a different sort. Sleep pulled her deep into its embrace and by morning the weariness of travel was long forgotten.

A strange sight greeted Enya when, after a quick morning meal, Enya searched for Cassandra. As was to be expected, she found her near the sparring ring, under the tree by the training dummies. However, contrary to the warrior's usual routine, she sat on a stool, her back against the wall, eyes racing over the pages of a book. Enya had never pictured her friend to be one who enjoyed books, not that she thought she was illiterate, quite the contrary, however Cassandra had expressed a dislike for sitting still. Enya had simply thought she would lack the patience to read for pleasure.

"Good book?" she inquired as she approached.

Cassandra leapt to her feet, shutting the book and upsetting the stool. Her hand came to rest behind her back hiding the cover from the Inquisitor's now intent gaze.

"Inquisitor, I didn't…"

Hands on her hips, a laugh slipped into Enya's voice, "No you didn't. It really must be a good book. I haven't seen someone move that fast since my brother got caught stealing sweets from my mamae's tin."

To add to Enya's surprise, a blotchy red blush spread over the Nevarran's face as well. By Mythal, what had she been reading? She raised her eyebrow.

"It's just… reports. Nothing important. I…"

Enya crossed her arms, "You are allowed to relax sometimes."

"Yes, well, I have more important things to do than read books."

"You're a terrible liar, Cassandra."

The Seeker opened and closed her mouth in protest, "I am not!"

"So those reports?" the elf pointed toward the book hidden behind her back, "shouldn't I see them too? You did make me Inquisitor afterall."

"Fine!" Cassandra relented. Her shoulders sagged in defeat, "It's one of Varric's books, Swords and Shields."

It was impossible for Enya to contain her surprised, "The romance serial?"

Cassandra's blush deepened, "It's literature,"

Dorian scoffed as he descended from the ramparts, "If that's literature, I'm a nug."

"No one asked you, Tevinter!"

Stopping level with Enya's shoulder he leaned over, "I couldn't finish the last one she leant me. Unreadable."

"It's not…"

"I actually feel dumber for having tried," he quipped as he left.

The Seeker let out a huff, after him. Her glare could have killed a charging druffalo.

"The characters, I… Varric must never know," She stepped closer to Enya, her voice bordering on threatening, "Promise me."

"Never, ever," Enya replied with mock seriousness.

"They're terrible and… magnificent. And this last one ends in a cliffhanger."

Cassandra shifted in her distress, staring down at her hands. Then suddenly she looked plaintively at Enya, "He must be working on another. He can't just…"

Her higher faculties must have caught up to her and just as quickly as she'd let this barrier down, Enya watched her change back into the no nonsense Seeker of Truth to which she'd become accustomed.

Darkly, Cassandra implored: "Pretend you don't know this about me."

Cassandra tucked the book under her arm and retreated into the requisitions tower leaving Enya to shake her head in amusement. As much as she wanted to honor her friend's wish, she felt certain that if she asked, Varric might be convinced to write further chapters if he knew how great Cassandra's love of his stories was.

The main hall of Skyhold whispered with the chatter of the few visiting dignitaries whose fortunes timed their arrival prior to the flood. Varric seemed unphased by the noise, for he poured over papers covered in numbers, a quill in his hand as he jotted notes on yet another parchment. At her approach however, he lifted his eyes.

"Inquisitor." He greeted, "To what do I owe this meeting?"

"That looks complicated," Enya stopped her hands resting on her hips.

He shrugged, "I suppose it does to the unsuspecting passerby. I find most respond to maths like a chantry sister responds to a high dragon. They go white and wet themselves a little."

Enya raised an eyebrow, "Oh really?"

"Well maybe I'm exaggerating, but keeping financial records does seem to be a daunting task to most." He ran a hand through his blonde hair, leaving behind a streak of black ink, "But personally I just find it dull. Now what did you want, Clover? I assume book-keeping has little to do with you visit."

"Were you ever planning on continuing 'Swords and Shields'?"

The dwarf chuckled, "I told you I'm rubbish at writing romance. Probably says something about me as a person. I hadn't intended to continue that particular series. Why do you ask?"

"Well, a certain mutual friend of ours has developed a taste for your books and I'm afraid she's desperate to know what happens next."

"Are you talking about who I think you're…" He let out a low whistle shaking his head at Enya's grin, "Really? Cassandra? Tall, grumpy, overbearing? Follow the Chant of light so closely it borders on mania? That Cassandra?"

Enya nodded, "Yes. She was most distressed that the last chapter ended on a cliffhanger."

Varric crossed his arms, "Well she'll be waiting for a while. I really wasn't planning on finishing it. It's easily the worst things I've ever written."

"What if I asked you very nicely?"

He frowned, "So let me get this straight. You want me to finish the next chapter of my worst serial to and give it to Cassandra…"

The dwarf trailed off, fingers clasped about his chin as he thought, "Oh that's such a terrible ideal. I have to do it."

Enya let out a victorious sight only to stop short as he continued

"On one condition: I get to be there when you give it to her."

"Deal," Enya held out her hand and he shook it.

"It'll take a while. I have to finish these first."

"I would expect nothing less," She replied and then took her leave.