A/N: Heyo! Apologies for such a long wait on the new chapter. Just moved into my own home with the wife! So with all the stuff going on I'm going to do my best to get you guys chapters as quick as I can. Without further due... NEW CHAPTER!

Chapter 8: Misfits

Brianna was the first to wake up in the Misfits tent forest, a small block of them just past the main gate towards the small house that was near Haven's wooden walls. She crawled from her tent and stretched, letting her tired muscles wake and her bones pop in a satisfying way. She wore a simple grey tunic and her underwear to bed and didn't really care who saw her in the morning, which occasionally gave some of the guards on patrol something to look at other than snow, trees and the occasional nug. Her raven black hair was a mess since she never bothered to tie it up while she slept, so she just brushed it back with her fingers as her eyes slowly adjusted to the morning light reflecting from the wet snow on the ground. She stretched a bit more as she looked over at the other tents, not seeing any fresh tracks from the other members of the mercenary band so it was safe to assume that the rest of them were still asleep.

Brianna went back into her tent and got her gear on, ready to start the day with looking for assignments or general ways to help out around Haven since there wasn't much else to do around the camp. It was the group's rest day; no endurance or strength training for her band. She put her axe on her back as she climbed out, heading for the training area to see if Cullen had gotten up yet to start training the troops. She chuckled to herself as she tied her hair back and made herself look a little more presentable.

"He's quite the interesting one. Most men would have gladly jumped onto my advances, but the Commander is different. He was a Templar after all... vow of chastity?" Brianna thought as she rounded the corner to see the troops start squaring off with Cullen walking up and down the columns of soldiers. She licked her lips a bit as she approached him, wondering if he was muscular beneath all that armor and fur. She spoke up "Commander. Always an early riser, I see."

Cullen turned towards her with a small blush, knowing exactly what was going to happen. She would strike up conversation, get him talking and interject the occasional flirtatious remark which would cause him to stumble on his words a bit. Not that he didn't like that she would flirt with him, but quite the opposite. He enjoyed her flirtatious remarks and her presence overall since she broke the monotony of training the soldiers and going over the requisition paperwork. He just wished she wouldn't do it in front of the soldiers and make him look a bit foolish.

"Brianna, always a pleasure to see you. What can I do for you?" Cullen questioned as he looked away from his notes to look her up and down. She wore some older, more worn elven armor crafted from ironbark, which complimented her bronzed skin complexion nicely. She was a pleasurable woman to him; tall, slim... and powerful. The woman could command a brigade and assert that authority.

"Oh, you know, just-HEY!" She barked as she looked past him. She marched past Cullen and went to a pair of recruits taht were squaring off, one using a sword and shield and the other using a great-sword. The shield baring recruit had dropped his shield and was shaking his arm out, and he was the target of her rage. She barked "Are you trying to break your fucking arm!?"

The recruit looked at her, then at Cullen with a very confused look, like he wasn't sure of her scolding him.

"Well? Aren't you going to answer her?" Cullen replied as he put his board under his arm. He watched as Brianna tore into the recruit for improper shield discipline and being a boulder in combat and it would be the death of him. Granted, she didn't just tear him apart for being a fool since she picked up his shield and showed him how to properly handle a two handed weapon while using a shield. Once the quick lesson was over, she handed the shield back to him and patted him on the shoulder, getting a small smile from the soldier as they returned to sparing. He couldn't help but think that it was a bit attractive that she could create such an aura of command from troops that weren't even hers and they would immediately listen to her.

"Sorry about that. So, what were we talking about?" Brianna questioned as she brushed some loose hair behind her pointed ear.

"We hadn't started much of a conversation." Cullen chuckled a bit as he slightly looked her over. She was a slender petite woman, but as far from fragile as a woman of her body type should be. He had seen the way she could swing that axe that the Iron Bull could use and she had nothing but pure control over every swing, creating a graceful arc of death brought by pure white steel.

"Right. So how goes Ruby's training? Heard you're teaching her the sword and board?"

"Yes. She's using a simple buckler with a bastard sword. Something that could be transferred to something lighter or heavier no matter what she chooses. She's becoming quite proficient with it at a very quick rate."

"Well. probably because she has such an amazing and handsome teacher." Brianna flirted as she popped her hip to the side, resting a hand on it as she smirked. She could see the blush creep across Cullen's face while he cleared his throat to try and deter her attention. She knew exactly how to get him to trip on his words and make him blush. He was such a strong man, and yet she could make him falter so easily with just a few words.

"I'm sure she is just a quick learner."

"So, Cullen, do Templars take vows?"

"Of course. Some took vows of silence... some of chastity to keep their spirits pure."

"Did you take a vow of chastity?"

That caused him to break into a loud blush, his face going quite red that contrasted hard against his blonde hair. Luckily for him, her company had roused from their sleep, donned their gear and met at the gates of Haven.

"Looks like your company is awake." Cullen pointed out, trying to get her attention off of him.

"Oh well. I'll see you around, Commander. Maybe I'll be around sometime later to see if we can get a sparring session in." Brianna sighed before flirting a bit more, winking at him as she walked away. She looked back and saw that his blush had only gotten worse as she left. She got to her crew and updated them on what they were going to be doing with their day. She sighed "Alright crew, here's your mission for the day: relax. Rumor has it that Ruby might be making the call on whether to go with the Templars or the Mages. So, until then, relax and enjoy your day."

Everyone nodded and started to scatter throughout Haven, except for two. Once Brianna had walked away, Raphael caught up with Malachi and grabbed him by the arm, practically growling at him as he did.

"Malachi. I need to talk to you." Raphael snarled as the black leather armored assassin turned towards him. Malachi looked down at the armored gauntlet holding his arm, then back at the Templar with a look of disgust and anger. Being manhandled was one of the things he despised the most, especially by self righteous Templars.

"The fuck do you want?" Malachi basically barked as he yanked his arm away from the Templar.

"What are your intentions with Ruby? Do you plan on properly courting her? Or are you just chasing her to get under my skin?"

Malachi couldn't help but laugh at the points that Raphael was making. One was that he had any right to question Malachi on his intentions with the red headed cutie they were both chasing. Two was that Raphael was so serious about it he was already talking about courting her even though she hadn't chosen either of them. And finally that he felt he was so important that he would be doing all of this just to get on his nerves.

"You really think that I would have gone this far just to annoy you? Please. My intentions, if you really want to know, is to see if she wants to spend some of her free time with a fit badass with a side of great sex. Then maybe we could talk about actual courting, and hopefully some good times in bed before that." Malachi answered. He could see that answer really struck a nerve with the red headed Templar as his face turned red with anger.

"You... perverted... arrogant... disrespectful... if you don't treat her right-" Raphael attempted to threaten, but was cut off as Malachi bumped him with his chest.

"You'll what? Nothing, that's what. Look, when she makes her choice, which will obviously be me, then step away and accept it." Malachi barked as he pushed off Raphael. He chose not to stick around and walked off, leaving the Templar with his last words.

Raphael stood there for a second, trying to put his thoughts back together after Malachi tore into him. There was no way that Ruby would chose such a miscreant over him. He also remembered that she was getting accustomed to his presence and his relatively shitty attitude. He felt his blood start to boil again... he needed to hit something, so he went to the training yard to get a few swings in on the training dummies. He walked through the gates and spotted Great Horns talking with Cassandra, the height difference between the two was staggering since he was about a head and a half taller than she was. He decided to use one of the training great swords and started wailing on the training dummy while slightly eavesdropping on the conversation next to him.

"So, how are you feeling about everything?" Great Horns questioned after watching Raphael wail on the training dummy for a moment.

"They are slowly coming together, but not as much as they should. We are still shunned by most of the Chantry, but we have at least gotten them to stop any assaults upon us. Overall, Ruby has done more for the Inquisition than most of us have... and yet she is just barely a woman."

"It is very impressive. Almost as impressive as you are." Great Horns flirted a bit. He could easily admit that he had a bit of an attraction to tough women, and Cassandra was one of the toughest women he had met other than Brianna and Ataashi. Cassandra simply smirked and rolled her eyes at his remarks.

"Hardly, but I have to admit, i do see a bit of myself in her. Her passion and drive to do what's right... it's admirable. She has become the Herald of Andraste, even if she doesn't quite believe. I know you are Qunari, but do you believe in the Maker?" Cassandra questioned. She had chatted with Great Horns before, but she hadn't really had much in depth conversation with him.

"I do, actually. My family was Tal Vashoth, and so am I. So technically not Qunari. But, again, yes I do. I'd like to think there is some plan out there for us and someone is guiding us along that path... a path to something greater. Like me being a Tal Vashoth Mage, for example. If I was born under the Qun with these powers? I would have had my horns cut off, my mouth sown shut and my free will stripped from me. That isn't a life I'd wish on anyone."

Cassandra blinked a bit in surprise since she had no idea that someone like Great Horns could have such a profound thought like that. It was almost... poetic.

"Well... I thank you for sharing that with me. So, if I may also ask... why are you called Great Horns? I do have to admit, the gold casing upon your horns are quite majestic. Is that why?" Cassandra questioned.

"That's exactly why. With horns this amazing? You have to let people know since some just can't quite grasp the concept." Great Horns responded as he reached up and caressed his gold covered horns. Cassandra couldn't help but chuckle at the large Qunari currently feeling up his own horns, it was quite the amusing sight to see. She was about to add on, but a large bark from Raphael caught her attention as he drove the blunted great sword into the dummy and got it stuck. Great Horns chuckled " Feeling better?"

"I am... now I need to get it out." Raphael panted as he grabbed the hilt and attempted to pull the blade from the dummy. His sister, Racheal, walked out the gates of Haven, seeing her brother struggle to pull the blade from training dummy and made her chuckle just a bit before she turned towards the armory. Her real target was the Mercenary Company, Bull's Chargers. She had heard a few stories about the company, but more specifically it's leader The Iron Bull, and wanted to see if the legend lived up to the man, so to speak. She could easily spot the Qunari in question, since he stood taller than most Qunari and taller than just about everyone in Haven, by the stables sharpening his axe. She walked up to him and introduced herself.

"Iron Bull, I'm Rachael, of Brianna's Misfits. Pleasure to meet you." She introduced as she bowed a bit, careful not to impale herself on the Qunari's horns. She looked up to see Bull just looking at her with a bit of a weird look on his face.

"Just a tip, don't try to bow around Qunari, that's just weird. Anyway, nice to meet you. I'm sure if Brianna has picked you up, then you're doing some good work and your're pretty good at whatever she has you doing." Bull pointed out as he brushed off his axe to get some of the metal pieces off. He went on "So, what brings you around to my camp?"

"Just... looking for some advice on working with a mercenary company. My brother and I are pretty new to it and I was just looking for any tips you might be able to share." Rachael replied. There was a drop of truth in her statement, she was looking for some help with mercenary life. She grew up in a well off home until her abilities came to fruition, and then she was sent off to the Circle. After the start of the Mage Templar War, her and her brother were living in ways she had never thought of. The real reason she wanted to talk to Bull was to see if the stories Brianna had told were true, since Brianna had a tendency to over share with her group. So she heard about 'riding the Bull' and she was a tiny bit curious since, well, Rachael was a bit attracted to Qunari. Almost all of the Qunari she met were large, broad and buitl... it was arousing to her. So far, Brianna's stories seemed to hold up.

"It has it's ups and downs. You get to see the world, but settling down isn't much of an option with work. Advice on that, keep one good sized bag with the essentials in it. Don't get too attached to anything and carry it around, both physically and literally." Bull advised. He'd seen enough men and women break from the weight they decided to carry and he hated seeing it. Rachael sat down next to him as he continued "If you start carrying around the weight of what happened, it will break you. It's not a matter of if, but when."

"Thanks for that. Anything on... relationships?" Rachael asked, hoping that she wasn't blushing as she looked Bull up and down a bit. Bull had to be one of the biggest Qunari she had ever seen, so large and built. She was lucky to snap back as he started talking.

"Relationships? I may not be the best at that one, being Qunari in all. We aren't exactly a relationship type of people." Bull answered as he checked the blade edge, making sure it was sharp without any imperfections that could cause the blade to break.

"So Qunari don't have sex?"

"Oh no, we still have sex. It just doesn't usually have any strings attached to it. You head over to the Tamassarans, pop your cork *click clock* thanks again, see you next week. Sometimes it's a long, drawn out process, your body aches and you're walking funny for a few days."

"That's... something. So, mercenary relationships."

"Right, so the best is to not have anything that locks you down in one place. Creates too many problems when it comes to getting work in case it goes too far out of you comfort zone, or leaves someone home alone and unprotected. You're brother, the Templar, and the Assassin are classic examples of that right now. Depending on which one Imekari chooses, they'd either have to quit the Company, or quit the relationship."

Rachael nodded as she pondered his words. Mercenary life was a fickle life to work with and she wasn't quite settling into it as well as she had hoped. Originally, her and Raphael worked with Brianna to help innocent Mages and civilians leave Kirkwall once the fighting started, but didn't have enough gold between the two of them to pay the fee. So Brianna told them that she would help get them out of Kirkwall and drop their debt provided they come work for her, and for a while things were pretty good. Brianna never took any kind of assassination or purging of civilian jobs, usually caravan guard or elimination of pests, like bandits and animals. She thought about Bull's words and thought about one that she didn't quite understand. so she simply asked "What's Im... Imek..."

"Imekari. It's Qunlat, Qun speak, for 'Child' since that's exactly what she is. weirdly enough... I think she's just what this Inquisition needs. It needs a leader." Bull pointed out. Strangely enough, she was doing exactly that in almost everything but title. Sure, Cullen was the commander of the armed forces, but his political game was weak at best. Josephine was fantastic at the Game, but she couldn't come up with a military strategy to save her life. Leliana was a spymaster, and that doesn't look good leading a group called the Inquisition.

"You really think Ruby could lead the Inquisition? I mean... she's just so young... and that's coming from someone only a few years her senior." Rachael pointed out.

"Honestly? Yes, I do. Let's look at everything that girl has run into. Conclave explosion, taking back the Temple of Sacred Ashes, bringing the Hinterlands to relative peace and dealing with the political nonsense of the Chantry, the power mad Templars and even Tevinter crap with the Mages. Yet she has taken everything with stride, getting allies and people of knowledge to handle these problems. Imekari would be a good fit as the leader of the Inquisition."

"Plus being the 'Herald of Andraste' does certainly help."

"Yeah, having the mark that closes Rifts and will hopefully seal the Breach does certainly help that."

"Well, thank you for answering those questions. Perhaps we can talk some more, perhaps, over dinner?" Rachael thanked as she stood up, adding a bit of flirtation at the end.

"Sounds great! We can get the Companies together and see how bad of an idea it was!" Bull laughed as he put his axe on his back.

Rachael smiled and chuckled, simply walking away as she waved. Internally she cursed herself for not pushing a bit more since she just got so wrapped up in his words and that voice. He was so aware of everything and knew how to pick it all apart, detail by detail... it was intoxicating just listening to him speak. She sighed simply and walked around Haven.

O0000O0000O

Malachi went and found some peace in the one thing that really brought him some happiness other than gold or cute heralds of saviors; cooking. That was his one true passion, to create fantastic and delicious meals that would always bring joy to people. No one really knew this about him since no one really cared that much about his interests or could they stand his way of going about life. He was working on his breakfast, some eggs with sausage and potatoes with some crispy bacon and white gravy. He had taken off his black leather armor top so he was left in a dark gray tunic with a white apron over it and started beating the eggs.

He was just about done beating the eggs when the door opened and Ruby quickly ran inside and shut the door, planting her back against it and sliding down. He raised his eyebrow as he watched her bury her face in her hands and sigh heavily, shoulders slumping hard as she groaned.

"You feeling alright, cutie?" Malachi questioned as he poured the eggs into the pan before going over to the sausage. He heard her jump and bang her head against the door, probably expecting no one to be there since it was so late after breakfast to the point where lunch was starting to be considered.

"Ah! Mal? What are you doing here?" She questioned as she got up. It was a surprise to her that he would be here. She was just trying to hide from everyone that was attempting to get her to tell everyone who she was going to side with, or sway her opinion.

"Making breakfast. Want some?" Malachi offered.

"No thanks. So, as well as being an assassin... you're also a chef?"

"Yeah. Before I became an assassin I spent quite a bit of time in the kitchens, learning how to cook. It's kinda, well, my passion."

"... to be... a chef?"

"Yep. Once I have enough gold saved up, I plan on retiring from the mercenary business and opening my own restaurant."

Ruby blinked a bit in surprise since all she knew about Malachi was that he was a well meaning pervert that was also an assassin. Him wanting to be a chef was a bit out of left field. She pointed out "I have to say, I would have never guessed that about you."

Malachi couldn't help but chuckle as he started to crumble the sausage into a different pan to cook it. He knew the few people that had real knowledge about him, and half of them he was no longer in contact with.

"Yeah, most people wouldn't guess that about me. Gotta keep some tings close for the, lucky lady, that I want to spend some intimate time with." He chuckled as he looked over his shoulder to get a good look at a blushing Ruby. He sighed happily as he worked on his breakfast, unable to keep the question from coming out. "So, come to a decision regarding me and the Templar?"

Ruby sighed as her head dropped to the counter, groaning since this was yet another decision she eventually had to answer. She didn't want to choose since she knew she would be breaking someone's heart and leaving them out to dry after they had been so nice to her.

"Honestly, I've barely had time to think about what I want with all of this stuff coming down around me. Templars or Mages and everyone in between... it's all so frustrating... and draining." Ruby groaned. She picked her head up and was face to face with Mal, who had a small smirk on his face.

"That's fine. Take as much time as you need. You're an amazing girl, and you shouldn't rush a decision like this. Just go with your instinct or what makes you happy... or both." Malachi explained softly. The last thing he wanted to do was rush her and have her make a decision she'll regret, for both between him and the Templar and the choice between the Mages and the Templars. He could see her blush pretty hard as he pulled away going back to his breakfast.

"Thanks... I appreciate it. I know you two are really wanting me to pick... and I appreciate your patience and understanding. I'm not very good at this." Ruby sighed and explained. Once she made her decision with which group to go with and sealed the Breach, then she knew she'd be able to think about who she could start dating since she would finally get some time to herself. Ruby finished "Thanks for the talk Mal. This has been... enlightening."

"Anytime, Ruby. See you around."

"Bye bye." Ruby sighed as she left the kitchen with some clearer though. She felt a bit of weight off of her shoulders and her mind was a bit clearer after talking with Malachi. She took a deep breath and sighed again as she turned and headed for the Chantry... ready to give her final decision about who to side with.

A/N: And it seems we have reached quite the turning point. Who shall Ruby choose? The controllers of the Fade, the Rebel Mages? Or the unrelenting demon and mage hunters, the Templars? This will be your last chance to vote if you haven't. It is a very close call at this point and I want everyone to give their thoughts into it. Plus i wanted to give a bit more on some of the Misfits since I enjoy their group. Anyway, PM or review your thoughts, comments or concerns. Until next time.

-Chief