By the next day the Inquisitor had the harpy flying in the skies above the main group. A chain was meant to leash her to him and he held on tightly as he rode upon his trusty steed. He would tug violently when enemies were in site, and with a vicious screech she would swoop down and eliminate them swiftly. Solas had to hold his tongue at such an abuse of power, but he had to settle with the fact that he did not her much. Varric lead them to where his champion friend was hiding out in a cave a whiles away from the village.
Blackwall was the one who kept idle talk with Varric; leaving Solas and the Inquisitor riding side by side in rigid silence. Solas made his best effort in riding a bit behind the Inquisitor to discourage any conversation, but his luck would run out sooner or later.
"Solas, what are your thoughts on the Champion of Kirkwall?" the noble human asked keep his eyes to the trail ahead.
Solas straightened glancing up to see the harpy still gliding up above, "I know only from what I have read of Varric's book, Inquisitor. I imagine he is a strong, selfless man. A man who, despite through all that he has been through, helped those in need and sided with the rebel mages against a corrupted power." he acclaimed.
"A terrible mistake that was." The man retorted with a high and mighty tone, "Now we have war here in Ferelden. Had he stopped those rebels perhaps things wouldn't have been so bad." he finished snidely.
He was trying to get a reaction from him, but Solas simple inhaled deeply, "Perhaps." he concurred not allowing any room for the conversation to continue.
It was nearly afternoon when they finally saw the cave. Varric was getting excited himself wanting to see his close friend's reaction to the legendary harpy.
"Varric!" they heard the Champion call out, a distant figure in the horizon.
Varric chuckled and kicked his horse in to faster trot, the Inquisitor and the others trailing behind letting the old friends catch up.
"Maker's breathe! Is that the harpy girl?" Hawke asks shielding his eyes from the sun to see the soaring figure in the sky.
Varric came off his horse and greeted the champion with a familiar firm handshake and hug, "That she is! She's eager to meet you, let me call her down."
Hawke watched curiously as the dwarf brought two fingers to his lips, letting out a sharp whistle that echoed up to the harpy. A twitter back was his response and they watched as she began to dive down from the heavens.
"I am almost certain they practiced that," Blackwall commented as Solas began to hurry on ahead with his horse.
Hawke let out an excited cackle , grinning almost maniacally as the harpy landed firmly a few steps away. She fluffed her wings and chirped happily in greeting butting heads with Varric and standing straight to meet eyes with the Champion of Kirkwall.
"Birdy, meet Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall and a very dear friend of mine," inversely he turned to Hawke, " Hawke, this is Birdy. The harpy girl we rescued from the Venatori."
Hawke stared in awe. He waved awkwardly and held out his hand, "It is a pleasure to meet you. Varric wrote a lot about you, frankly I wasn't quite sure whether to believe him or not. With him being an excellent storyteller, you would imagine how difficult it would be to believe him these days. He also says that you speak Common, is that correct?"
She gave a soft smile, her eyes dilating as she gently bowed her head, "I have learned. Still learn. Pleasure to meet Varry's friend"
Hawke gave a surprised chuckle and smiled more, "Wow! I mean wow! I real harpy! This is just incredible. Varric, the Inquisition is lucky to have this-" he stopped spotting the tight shackle and chain around her ankle. He frowned, "What is that?"
"It is a precaution needed for our Inquisitor to handle her," it was Solas who answered climbing off his horse, "Falon, how are you fairing"
She happily turned and greeted him in their usual way, "The air it feels wonderful. Featherless wants to fly?"
Solas gave a soft smile and shook his head, "Perhaps later, Falon."
The Inquisitor soon arrived next to Blackwall and followed the Champion into the cave to speak with his Warden friend. Varric and Blackwall followed, leaving Solas and the harpy outside to wait.
"Does it hurt when the Inquisitor summons you with the shackle?"
"Not too painful. I can survive."
"We will be dealing with the rift next and then continue to other tasks. Will you be alright?"
"Yes. Will we stop for food?"
Solas chuckled, "We will, yes."
The next few days was spent accomplishing missions in the name of the Inquisition. Most of them simple, others involved some battle and the rest was left to Inquisitor. They would set up camp once the sunset and start back up again at dawn. Overall it was uneventful as far as traveling with the Inquisition went.
That was until the day came the Inquisitor spotted the Northern Hunter. The dragon that was causing distress to the people of Crestwood. She was restless the night before and told Solas that she wanted to be freed to warn the dragon to leave before it was too late. Solas was torn, he did want to help, but letting her free would only anger the human noble.
"Featherless, please. I will try to tame him."
"On your own? I had thought tamings required many of your people?"
"I must try, please, falon." she begged.
Solas looked over the sleeping camp, he had last watch and was ultimately alone with the harpy. He debated within his head the situation. Looking to the her and the tent the Inquisitor was in. He had to remain in the human's favor, or at least enough so that he doesn't get kicked out of the Inquisition. He had his own agenda to think about. On the other hand, he has developed a strong friendship with the harpy over the months he's been tasked with watching over her. And she has slowly come to trust him with knowledge of her people; knowledge that even Arlathan had no idea of. He felt privileged and honored to have her trust and friendship. This situation is test that would either strengthen their bond or sever what ever trust she has in him.
Solas looked into the harpy's vibrant red eyes and nodded, and with carefully placed silencing runes and his own stealth skills, he unlocked her cage letting her out and releasing her from the shackle around her ankle. He felt a jolt of anger seeing the deep red mark it left, but she was quick to ensure she was alright.
"Hurry, falon, do what you must and hurry back as soon as you can! Go!" he urged.
She gave him a quick embraced, muttered something in her own tongue that resembled something like a hoot and took off into the night. Her figure melting into the black sky.