Thanks for reading! Well, time for Command to come back on the picture. Additional translations in the end notes.
Mahariel opened her eyes in the Fade and looked around. It was the night after the one when she met Solas. Her surroundings did look like the Dales but something was utterly different. Everything looked…More. Surreal. The grass was greener, the flower more colorful. She narrowed her eyes at the peculiar silver vine running on a trunk. Oh. So, if I'm not misled…
"Inquisitor." She turned around to face the blond woman.
"Command. You did not come in a while, any problem?" Concern tainted her voice. Command shook her head.
"No. I have been careful enough. I could not reach for you too eagerly, some might be intrigued by my sudden interest in mortal." Mahariel looked around and commented.
"Is it the Dales?"
"In a way." Mahariel raised a brow.
"Elvhenan-old way?" Command smirked.
"You catch up quickly."
Mahariel sauntered around, astounded again. This was almost too much to get to walk in the memory of the Elvhen Glory. She could not get to find them by herself and, whatever Command was actually trying to tell her, she was grateful in an endless extent for that.
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Which one it is, I wonder?"
"More riddles?" Command chuckled.
"I practiced."
Mahariel was a bit confused. Her thoughts did wander towards the previous riddles – she had written them in a cipher and hid them in both her quarters and her pack – added this one…She was quite certain, this was a warning. And the fact that the spirit could not talk freely confirmed the idea of danger. And yet, Command seemed quite light-hearted. Maybe because it did not care, but if so, why bother coming? She did not see why the spirit would be playing with her.
"You are in command, you need the knowledge. What is to be done with it is none of my resort. Things are unclear. I'm telling you to be on your guards and I want you to be one step ahead if things shall turn poorly. I shall not lead you to paranoia. Paranoia is no leader's friend." Mahariel considered the words and nodded.
"I see your point. So, why are we here?"
"I shaped it but it's no more mine than before."
Command gave her its elbow. Mahariel took it as they began to walk into the woods. Mahariel was looking everywhere, dazzled by everything. Her thoughts wandered towards Solas. She was certain he had seen such memories and way more. No wonder how woeful he seemed when they were talking of Elvhenan. Picturing it was a thing, but seeing, touching what had been lost…Command was eyeing her with a look she could not quite place. Well, it was Command after all. Probably some thoughts about what was a good leader was declaring how unwise her entanglement was.
They stopped when they heard a mad cackling nearby, followed by a menacing low growl. Her ears located quickly the direction. She forced Command into a jog. The spirit scoffed with disbelief.
The voices were a bit clearer this time. Still indistinct, but she made out the cackling was from a woman voice and the growl from a man. No specific timber. She froze as soon as she was able to see the scene. It was no shadow this time. The features of both were impossible to deduce, as if a huge blur was standing instead of their faces, but she could acknowledge a tall Elvhen woman with long ash-blonde hair, somehow looking like the current form of Command. The lines of her armor were blurry, but the color was definitely gold, as the bow she was holding. The man facing her was attached to a tree. By his position, it was easy guess he was wounded. The side of his skull were shaved as long brown-copper hair were covered by…Something white? A crown? A…Skull of some animal? Forgetting it was a memory and that she could not be seen, she hid behind a trunk. She listened cautiously, trying to make out the too quick elvhen she half understood.
"Ghi'myas ara halla'en, Fen! -?- na'mis!" The cackles grew even louder. The menacing grunt answered before actual words in which a disdainful smirk was perfectly audible.
"Tela -?" Whatever he said seemed to piss her off in quite the extent.
"THU GYA'MA?!" She slapped him fiercely.
Mahariel was staring at the scene, mouth ajar. Was it…Were they…Why the…She had no time to think further as a black figure suddenly swooped in, voice sickening and dark.
"Andruil, Fen'harel ise emma."
"Ar ryemah banalasa, Anaris." Came the intervention of the prisoner in which the smirk was still too audible.
The woman stood face to the cloaked form, yelling something Mahariel did not catch at all. The argument which began was a huge blur of elvhen. Not that she really needed the words, she knew what she was witnessing. Not a memory, a story…An old tale. The scene went on, the argument quickly turning to a fight. As expected, the prisoner helped the cloaked form, pointing to a weakness in the woman's armor. The female elf sent an arrow in its back after he attacked the tied one. Both lied unconscious on the ground while the prisoner escaped. His chuckle resounded long in her ears after the scene was over. For a reason she could not quite place, considering the lack of distinct timber in the eerie voices. She did not really focus on that, however, processing hard. I actually just saw the tale of Fen'harel and the Tree. I actually saw and heard Andruil, Fen'harel and Anaris. And Andruil actually sounded like a mad woman harassing sexually the Dread Wolf. She was skeptical. She did not hear or think of this tale for some times. How did they –
"We are not in a place you shaped, Inquisitor. This area of the Fade is not influenced by you."
"Are we in someone's dream?"
"No. We are in someone's memory. If it was a dream, the person will know we are here."
"A Dalish? It is the vision a Dalish gave to the tale?"
Command raised an eyebrow. The Inquisitor was no stupid and usually quick-minded. She did not want to understand. Command did not understand why, however.
"You refuse to understand what I am saying. Why?" Mahariel paused. Why? Because this is insane!
"I…I thought what we saw in Skyhold was anchored into the place! Not in someone's mind! Don't you see why I cannot understand?! You are telling me someone present during these scenes is actually somewhere and, for what I gather, I may as well know this someone!" Command tilted her head, trying to understand the reaction of the mortal. She simply pointed out.
"Inquisitor, a leader has to be strong. Keep your voice down, you cannot lose control here." Mahariel's features hardened as soon as she heard the warning. She ignored the patronizing tone. She deserved it. She took a deep breath. Her thoughts were rushing but she tried for her voice to be even.
"Move us if you must but I'm not letting that go." Command straightened suddenly and her eyes widened with fear.
"Too late, he knows someone is here." She grabbed Mahariel's wrist. "I can't move us, but you can. Use the mark!"
"What?! I'm not going to do a fucking hole in someone's head!" Command looked around and her teeth gritted. Damn mortals.
"It won't hurt him."
"What do you mean not him?!" A wolf howled suddenly. It was the only clear sound Mahariel had heard here. Command acted before she had time to put two and two together. It forced her palm open.
"I command you, take us back in her realm."
The rift snapped open in front of them and Command pulled Mahariel through it roughly. The Inquisitor stumbled on the uneven ground of an indistinct place. She took her hand back from Command who seemed suddenly exhausted.
"How did…Fenedhis, is actually anyone able to use the Anchor on my hand?!"
"No. But I am Command, I wielded it to my own will. Won't be doing that any soon again, hopefully. Your will is incredibly strong, Inquisitor." She snorted.
"Not enough, obviously!" She paused and considered Command. "You were afraid, why?"
"I don't know him. I cannot see through him. We once had something in common but he outpowers me. Even without all his strength. Without a clear access, I only have the whispers of the Fade. Sometimes I see a betrayer who doomed his people, sometimes I see a man who cares too much and is ready to do anything to protect and save them. Both are dangerous enough."
Mahariel frowned, considering her words. The scene they saw…The persons present…The only clear sound, a wolf's howl…A betrayer…She froze, mouth ajar.
"WE TRESPASSED IN THE – " She stopped her words herself, considering yelling that was no good idea. She pinched her lips together and tried to gain back some calm. She took a deep breath and looked for a clear paraphrase. She swallowed hard and barely whispered. "He Who Hunts Alone?"
Command gave a single nod. Thoughts hurried into Mahariel's head, processing hardly the implication and somehow hoping the spirit was messing with her. The spirit heard it all but seemed pleased by the declaration which finally came out loud, somehow calmly.
"I do not know him."
"He certainly knows you." Mahariel frowned but eventually settled for a nervous snort.
"Great, another one who knows me…Should I send him some pastries?"
"You are not afraid." Pointed Command out. Mahariel laughed nervously.
"Right now, a bit actually. I cannot say I'm at ease with pissing him off by entering his head."
Command tilted her head, trying to figure out the elf. How peculiar were these being. Mahariel was pacing up and down, taking some deep breathes, obviously still not able to process fully. They had trespassed into the Dread Wolf's memories. So, first, he was actually somewhere to be found. And apparently, she actually had his interest in some way. Do you ever realize how crazy you sound?! And, so what?! The gaze of the Dread Wolf's is actually on me?! Why?! Don't tell me he bought these Dalish craps! No, this is just not possible.
"Only highly unlikely. And for the dalish craps you are referring to, this is coincidence. Or irony, I imagine you would call it."
Mahariel turned back to Command with a start, having almost forgot she was not alone. She shook her head to chase her messy thoughts. Okay…Let's try to be pragmatic one second.
"What does he want?" Command shrugged.
"I cannot tell. As I said, I cannot read him, I'm outpowered."
"Is he…Is he even beyond the Veil?" Command seemed to consider the question a time.
"It is hard to say with the rifts and the weakened Veil. I'm unsure. I recognize him in your shadow, though, vessels are but an illusion. You see me in a way that is easier for you and I see clearly your vessel because of the Anchor. You exist in both. The others are not the same. They are…Blurry. I saw a wolf behind you, but was he actually or did I see him because the Veil was thin…I cannot say."
"A wolf? Like an actual wolf?"
"I saw his form of command. I cannot say if you would see the same if you were to face him." Well, that does not help.
"So, to be clear, you cannot tell me what he looks like, on which side of the Veil he is, nor what he wants?" Command looked apologetic.
"For what it's worth, I did not sense threat towards the chain of command. I don't think he means you harm. He seems interested in you in a way I cannot place. Which seems beyond his Anchor."
"His?" Command frowned.
"You know the rifts and Breach have been caused by an elven focus, to which your Anchor is somehow tied."
"Foci which were wielded by members of our Pantheons…So it was his. At least, it does explain why he would be mingling with mortal business. He is likely pissed at Corypheus for using his orb."
"It is an explanation worth another. But as I said, his interest seems beyond that. Any idea why?" Mahariel shrugged.
"I don't hate him. This is rare for an elf these days. Maybe is it as simple as that." Command tilted her head, with what seemed genuine interest, in a way she saw Cole do too.
"Don't your initial chain of command ask of you that you do?"
"A chain of command can dictate your deeds and words, but not your feelings, lethallan. I shall not hate someone without hearing his side of the story."
"Yet, you are afraid of some others you never heard the side either."
"Yes, I am. The Forgotten Ones are…Creepy. And my opinion about him have not always been that. I used to despise and fear him to. But I got reasons to question this judgement. One quickly forget he was first God of Rebellion or that his dedicated title of harellan is a recent word which comes from one meaning noble struggle. And for each story we have about him, he is never black or white. He is in grey area. If studies pointed me this direction, I won't be opposed to see my feelings towards the Forgotten Ones change. I just never found reasons to reconsider them." Command nodded, thoughtful.
"You did not ignore the chain of command, but you did not follow it blindly. You are an interesting being, Inquisitor. I consider my debt is paid, but maybe can we meet again anyway."
Mahariel smiled and nodded. The spirit could be smug, but it was nice. Command finally took its leave, deciding the elf needed the end of the night to herself, to think about it all.
Ghi'myas ara halla'en, Fen! - you went after my halla, wolf
THU GYA'MA?! – How dare you
Andruil, Fen'harel ise emma. – Andruil, Fen'harel is mine
Ar ryemah banalasa, Anaris. – I must refuse, Anaris.