It wasn't Solas who told the harpy of the upcoming trip. It was the Iron Bull. He had found the qunari the morning before the trip, talking with the harpy.
He was seated on a crate beside the large cage, and she, nestled up against the bars, chirping as he gently petted her feathered crest. Solas stopped a little ways away, watching the exchange from afar.
"Bull," she chirped out, reaching her hands up to his, "Big hands."
The Iron Bull, chuckled and let the harpy play with his large hand, "Of course, I carry a heavy battle axe. How else would I be able to swing it around if I don't have large hands."
She smiled tracing a claw along his palm, inspecting scars and calluses, "Strong. A warrior grip. Qun are strong."
Bull nodded in agreement, "We have to be. We make sure everything is in balance and in place. That's how the Qun works. Everyone has a role. Which, brings me to why I am here. The boss says we are going on a road trip. And my role is to protect you."
The harpy perked up, looking up at the qunari with wide eyes, "Travel. To be borrowed."
"Sort of. Some scholars want to learn about you, it's good to get out of this damn cage every once in a while, eh? Don't worry, I'll protect you, pretty bird, while we travel to Orlais."
The harpy gave a small smile, but then frowned as she thought to herself, "Solas?"
The Iron Bull sighed, "Ah, yes, you're very close friends with him. I'm sorry to say he won't be coming."
She seemed deflate at the news. Wilting like a flower in the shade. The Iron Bull, however, wasn't having that. He gave a playful growl and petted her head, "Don't worry, pretty bird, I heard how you and Varric kept contact with him when he was away. I can be your 'messenger crow' if you'd like. Eh? Get it? Like the ones Red uses?" Bull chuckled at his joke.
The harpy perked up and gave a toothy grin to the qunari, "Thank you, Friend Bull."
Solas watched the exchange from afar. At least he could somewhat rely on the qunari. He looked at the folded parchment in his hand. It was full of lists, instructions, notes, and advice on handling the harpy. What was he doing? Handing over some defenseless pet? She is a person. Intelligent, free willing, and capable of taking care of herself. She can speak her mind and do things herself. Solas sighed crumbling up the piece of parchment, stuffing into a pocket.
That night, they found each other in the Fade. She was in her hidden paradise, her home. Solas sat on a mossy boulder inspecting a beaded band she handed him when he appeared.
"What is this, falon?" he firsted asked.
"Pulca," she said in her native tongue, "A band. They are handmade for one's amec. A promise to keep their bond strong and loyal. This one was given to me by my first amec. Long ago." she explained. He ran his fingers over the thick beads. It was all made with natural products. Shells, nuts, pebbles and so on. Woven all together with what appeared to be a thick vine. She explained how the stronger the friendship between two people the thicker the band would be. This one in particular reached almost half of his forearm. Very close friends.
"May I ask why you showed me this, falon?" he asked as he handed the personal possession back.
She smiled and held up what appeared to be a new band in the making, "You are my amec."
Solas felt his heart flutter a bit. It's been so long since he had a friend. It's been so long since anyone has considered him close enough to make him something like this. It's been so long.
She hummed softly, and spoke something in her native tongue, followed by a soft whistle, "I leave tomorrow, amec, but I will finish your pulce tonight. I am sorry it is not much. The tree hear does not bear drop many nuts."
Solas held up his hand to pause her concerned rambling and smiled gently, "I am grateful all the same, my friend. Thank you."
It was Solas that gently butted his forehead to hers in their common greeting. She hooted happily.
It was a week later when they arrived at Val Royeaux. The harpy had grown to appreciate the company of the Iron Bull and his Chargers. She was cautious of the Iron Lady, Vivienne. The single exchange they shared during the travel was a side eyed glare when the harpy made a mess of her meal, and a rude remark of her 'beastly habits'.
As promised, Bull scribed letters to Solas for her. He admitted that the people of Skyhold seemed bored without her melodic songs. Even the Inquisitor was restless and asked for more the bard to play more in the tavern.
Bull wanted to ask questions. He explained his part in the Qun and claimed that he would report back to his people about her and her kind. She explained one thing to him, "To protect my people, I would cut off my tongue, Friend Bull. Express loyalty and earn trust. Only then will I answer."
He seemed to respect that.
It was the Iron Lady who took her to the University of Orlais. She was caged and carried into a large castle like building. One last glance to Madame de Fer and she was alone. Truly alone.
The studies were long. Some were routine. Her amec had done these with her before. Others she was cautious. She did not speak, for she was not spoken to. Treated like an animal. Put on a leash. Studied and tested. Feathered plucked, talon cut, and abilities tested.
How high can it fly? How strong is its talon? How much can carry? What does it eat? How loud is its screech? Is it immune to magic? Does it react to this? Can it consume that? Can it defend against this? Predator? Prey? Does it wake in the day or the night? Can it see in the dark? Can it hear small things? Can it sense that? This and that and so on, until finally.
"The Inquisitor says it speaks."
"You mean like a parrot, mocking?"
"Speaks. I hadn't seen it do it before."
"Make it speak."
She spoke. She spoke her native tongue at first and then in their own.
"I speak for myself. I am no beast."
Two chapters within a week. Thank you for still reading this. I hope you all have happy holidays. I have a question if anyone is willing to answer? or not just ignore it. I was thinking of starting a blog on Tumblr for this fic. Sort of like an Ask-Blog. I have a lot of ideas for this harpy character and been thinking a lot about the sort of way her people are, and i would like to either put it on tumblr as like a fun facts blog and interactions or the other option would be to have a separate story full of just harpy culture and what not. Let me know your opinions. or not. Its up to you guys. Thank you again for reading, favoriting and following.