Reluctant, but all too curious, Solas began the harpy's training within the first week of his return. He first tested her skills in hand to hand combat, she was quite efficient with her claws and talons, even used her huge wingspan to push him out of the way.
He was somewhat relieved she wasn't entirely helpless. Her reason of knowing to defend herself was admirable, "One must defend self; one must defend their people. It is how we survive."
He had agreed full heartedly. That must be why they don't communicate with other races. They are wise for being isolates, if only his people had done that.
After ensuring she was capable of defending herself, the Inquisitor decided to invite himself to their small sparring sessions. Fully armored and wielding his trusty double handed long sword, he stood at Solas's side.
"So, has it made any progress?"
"Yes, Inquisitor, she has shown efficient skills in close hand to hand combat. We will be moving to armed combat next."
"Perfect, I can show it armed combat. Is it mostly just animal instinct fighting, like charging at you or does it actually fight with sense?" the man asked while inspecting his sword.
Solas rubbed a bit frustratedly at his temple when the warrior wasn't looking, "No, Inquisitor, she has displayed a well set of defensive and offensive moves. she uses her physical attributes to her advantage."
"Nice, alright well. Come bring it out. I'll fight it now, I guess," he stuck his sword into the ground leaning on it.
"I will go retrieve her," Solas didn't wait for his dismissal simply slipping away from the training ground and heading to harpy's cage.
"So, she can fight."
Solas turned finding that the Qunari spy was following him, "Yes. Why, is the Qun planning on kidnapping and re-educate her to do their bidding?"
The Iron Bull continued to follow, already used to the elf's distaste of his people, "No, a creature like that doesn't need re-education, not unless she converts to the Qun. That would defeat the purpose of studying them. My people just want to learn what we can from this single being. Finding a new race is not something to look over."
Solas scoffed as he continued with the trailing qunari.
"She is something special, Solas. I know you don't like me or what I stand for, but we can at least agree that the Inquisitor is not above killing her if he wants to or needs to."
He was right. From the short time he's been in the Inquisition following the Herald of Andraste and now Inquisitor, this man was does not care for anything but himself. He's sided with the Templars letting the mages fall to Corypheus. He was the one who killed the demon that Wisdom had turned into. He was the one who let all those good people die during the fall of Haven. The man can't even stand the sight of himself, an elf fighting beside him! Why would he even care for this majestic being health and safety if it doesn't benefit him.
The only real reason he's keeping it is to make himself look better to the world and now so that he can train 'it' to kill and obey the Inquisition like some kind of mabari war dog.
After that conversation, Bull and Solas had made a small truce. They will both do what it takes to ensure that the harpy doesn't end up dead by the Inquisitor's hands or any hands for that matter.
Within a month and half, the harpy was capable of fighting any foe that it was ordered to as per Solas's advice. She had a technique like that of a rogue, but it was unique to her. It was found that she uses her surroundings a lot when in battle and keeps her attacks close. She prefers fighting without weapon, using only what she has in physical traits.
"Featherless, fights without blade," she observed one day when returning to her cage from their training session.
"That is because I am a mage. My weapon of choice is magic. I use a staff to channel it better."
She chirped softly in thought following him into the cage. He sat under the tree and she curled up next to him tucking her wings around her, "Magic is from Fade?"
"Yes."
"Magic is strong."
"It is, which is why some people think it should be controlled and monitored. It is why the humans created the Chantry. Magic should serve the people not rule them." Solas quoted sarcastically.
She gave him a confused look tilting her head, "What do Elvan think of magic?"
This caught him off guard. No one has really asked him of his people before. The Inquisitor sometimes asking for some tidbit that could help, but no honest curiosity like hers. It was refreshing, "Magic was a gift. Back then all Elvan had magic. It was even said that the Elvan were immortal before the fall of Arlathan."
She kept her eyes on him as he spoke, her pupils slits focused on him, "Back then," she spokes softly her voice barely above a whisper, "I remember. Arlathan."
Solas raised a brow, "Remember? How do you remember Arlathan? It's been over millennia since the fall of Elvhenan."
She shifted a bit closer, staring into his eyes almost as if she were looking for something. Does she trust him? Is he worthy to know about her now?
"I am old, Featherless."
He blinked, "Old?"
She nodded turning to stare into the distance, "Pulumin can live for many years. Not immortal like Elvhenan, but can live very long lives."
This was interesting to him. Could she have been around during the time of Arlathan, live to see it fall and watch as the humans took reign?
"When were you born?"
"I do not know exactly, but as child, I remember hearing of Arlathan. The Patre would tell us stories of wingless sharp ears."
Patre, Solas thought. Was that some sort of tribe leader? He wanted to ask so many questions, but refrained out of fear of losing her trust, "Have you ever seen them before?"
She shook her head, "When young, we are taught to make contact with no outsiders. It would put our own in danger."
Solas nodded, "That is a valid point, but why not seek knowledge from other people?"
"Why seek something we already have?"
Solas held back his opinions when she gave him a cold stare.
"Whatever knowledge Arlathan had was not enough to keep them in power long."