Dragon Age
"The Relic"
Chapter Three: Letters
The crisp mountain air of the Frostbacks felt good against Bree's skin, the sky was so clear and blue there wasn't a cloud in sight, causing the bright sun to gleam off the pure white snow. Skyhold never really rose above 40 degrees so while some of the snow melted in the summer time the main snow pack remained, it just made Skyhold muddy. Bree looked over the jagged peaks and then down into the valley far below and could barely make out the town nestled at the base of the mountain. There was a long and winding road that lead from there and up to Skyhold's gate but it was unbelievably well-guarded by Cullen's men. Her mount shifted beneath her, the snow crunching under the mare's big feet. Skye was a seven year old Dalish All-Bred that'd been a gift from her father three years ago. She was just over fifteen hands and honey bay, almost buckskin in color. She had two white stockings on her hind legs that reached up to her hocks leaving only a few inches of black before transitioning into the brown. She was a stocky mare and one of Thom's favorite former horses, smart but had a mind of her own, the type of horses he liked.
Bree liked it in Skyhold, but she really didn't have much to compare it to besides Halamshiral, Redcliffe, and Val Royeaux. Skyhold was home and it always would be. Looking at the sun she decided it was time to head back and spun Skye to head back down the scout trail and return to the Fortress, she'd already been gone long enough to make Fenris and maybe Dorian worry. She kicked Skye into a canter on the trail and then into a hard gallop as she raced across the straight away to the drawbridge. She laughed seeing the gate guards skitter out of the way; they were used to her blasting across the bridge at a breakneck pace. Skye's hooves pounded against the stone before she slowed up reaching the muddy lower courtyard.
People scattered at the reckless riding but she only giggled trotting Skye to the stables. There she found Thom, Captain of the Fortress Guard. Skyhold wasn't a city but after the Inquisition underwent an organizational shuffle a 'City Guard' was created. Thom was placed in charge of it but didn't like the misnomer and began calling it Skyhold Fortress Guard which eventually got swindled down to Fortress Guard.
Thom Rainier, formerly known as Blackwall, remained with the Inquisition much to the displeasure of Alistair and Lydia. Alistair was disgusted with him for pretending to be a Warden and offending the Order he held so dear to him. Lydia wasn't much happier with him either and her order to the Inquisition was simple, she gave Thom two choices, he could either join the Wardens and hope to survive the taint spending the rest of his life serving the order that he'd disgraced or he could give back all the artifacts, banners, and journals he'd found across Thedas and never set foot in a Warden Keep again. Her punishment was far lighter than what Alistair wanted to do, for the crime of Impersonating a Warden-Constable, stealing the artifacts, and misusing the sacred Warden Treaties the King wanted to throw him in the prison at Vigil's Keep for the rest of his life or flat out execute him. Lydia, however, was the Warden-Commander, the only Warden-Commander left in Southern Thedas, so the decision was ultimately hers. If there was one man in the Inquisition that she could say she hated, it was Thom Rainier. Too much of a coward to join the Wardens himself, he took the name of a great man and pretended to be him disgracing the ancient order. Not everyone saw it that way though, Warden-Constable Nathaniel Howe, Lydia's second in Command, actually liked Thom despite his past indiscretions.
For now, Thom was the Captain of the Fortress Guard and a senior agent of the Inquisition; he also took over a lot of the cavalry training with the young horses. "You should slow down, young Lady," he admonished as she turned Skye in a tight circle before jumping down, "one of these days you're going to run someone over."
"Nonsense," she replied with a smile. "Skye'll just jump over them."
Thom's throat rumbled in a hearty chuckle as he walked over to Bree and Skye. "I'll take care of her if you like, Mi'Lady," he said and offered to take Skye's reins but Bree shook her head.
"Oh, no, it's alright, I got it," she said and Thom nodded watching the teenager take her horse into the stable to unsaddle her and clean her up.
Thom went back to tending to the big bay Forder he was now working with. This one he intended to be another one of his. Dragon, his twelve year old grey Courser, was by far his favorite horse but he was getting old. He was fine warhorse, highly trained and a champion tournament mount. The bay had no name yet was tall and heavily built, like all Forders were, and mild mannered. He was only three so he didn't know too much right now.
The stables housed almost exclusively horses; Khrystabel's Wild Hart was the only non-horse within Skyhold. Tem was massive compared to the horses, big and dark red, the Hart's antlers were enormous requiring a bigger stall just for them. Tem was also eerily smart and selected who she listened to, Khrys and Fenris were about it. Occasionally the oversized Elk complied with a request, and it had to be a request, from Ulrich, Bree, and Thom. The only horses that got along with the Hart were Dragon and Malcolm's horse Kyp.
Thom heard the shriek from a child making the Forder jump under his hand but he settled with a gentle pat from him. He looked back to the entrance and figured who it was before he caught sight.
"Arabela-…" Cullen's voice scolded in his father tone at the little girls' loud shriek. "Bowen, don't run. Bowen!"
Both children shrilled happily racing into the stables going straight for their favorite animal, Tem. The Hart may have been slightly temperamental but the one thing she liked was children, anyone who said that Harts weren't intelligent like humans or elves never saw Tem gently play with the kids letting them hang from her antlers and climb all over her.
Both children zoomed by Thom and the Forder making him chuckle slightly. "Hey! I said don't run!" Cullen barked his tone the one he reserved for commanding his troops. It was also the tone he used when he wasn't kidding. Arabela and Bowen slowed to a walk but swiftly headed to the Hart's stall.
Cullen growled in exasperation as the kids laughed happily petting the Hart's forehead when she dropped her head down for them. Thom chuckled as the Commander made his way toward him.
"Father Cullen," Thom greeted with a gruff chuckle. Seeing Cullen as a father was a strange sight, Thom had always thought that. Not that he wasn't a good father, or an apparently good husband, it was just strange to see him married at all. The man worked more than he slept and flustered so easily, he was protective though. Thom calling him 'Father Cullen' was always a joke as there was 'Father' Cullen and 'Commander' Cullen, who were two different people.
"Shut up," Cullen groaned knowing that it was a joke, a running joke between them.
Thom chuckled as Cullen watched the kids but stood by Thom and the Forder. "Kids are yours today?" he asked and Cullen sighed. This early in the morning the kids were usually with Ariel and Cullen was hip deep in briefings, meetings, and reading reports. The Inquisitions Army ran better, with more discipline than any other force in Thedas because of Cullen's diligence.
"Ariel's not feeling well this morning," he answered and spied his target coming down the ladder from the hayloft. "Ulrich!" he called.
Ulrich was the Horse Master now since Dennett retired, he was also Ariel's older brother making him Cullen's brother-in-law. He was a tall lanky man with red hair, pale skin, and a sharp sense of humor. Ulrich wasn't much good for fighting but he was good with horses, he had a knack for them, a calming presence. The kids abandon Tem at the sight of their Uncle and ran to him clinging to his legs and shrieking happily. It took him a moment to shake them off and they ran back to the Hart though Arabela split off and went to her father's horse, a heavy sorrel Forder mare named Flame. Cullen was nothing if not unimaginative but as ordinary as the mare looked she and Cullen together were a heck of a team.
"Hi, Cullen," Ulrich greeted slipping through the rails in the fence. "what brings your from your roost this early?"
"Ariel's not feeling well and I have a meeting with Charter and Josephine, can you watch them?" he asked getting right down to the point. "Ariel didn't sleep well last night but she's finally sleeping now…I don't want the kids waking her up."
Ulrich nodded with a little hesitation. "As best I can…I've got a few new horses to tend to and a few injuries I want to stay on top of," he said. The problem was when Cullen's kids needed watching they needed watching. Left to their own devices for too long they got into all sorts of trouble. Knocking over haystacks, accidently letting a few horses out of their stalls, they'd even locked themselves on a balcony once but thanks to Cole no one needed to bust down a door to get them back. They were hellions, plain and simple.
"I can watch them, Cullen," Bree offered from behind them as she led Skye toward the paddock area after unsaddling her.
Cullen turned toward the sound of her voice and she stopped to talk with him letting Skye nose the dirt looking for grass. He wasn't opposed to the offer but never liked asking for any kind of help. "Are you sure? They're not your responsibility."
Bree giggled with a friendly smile. "It's no problem. I still remember all the times I sat in your office when Mom and Dad were busy," she said and Cullen nodded with a slight smile. He'd babysat Bree more times than he could count but the difference was she was mellow, his kids weren't. She'd sat on his lap watching him write dispatches and sift through letters. Arabela would do that but Bowen got bored too easily.
"If it's no trouble I won't deny the help," he said and she nodded.
"It's okay, I was gonna go up the library and do some reading with Dad," she explained and Cullen snorted. Arabela and Bowen apart were manageable but together they were a handful, Khrys even had a hard time with them along with the others who were usually tagged for babysitting duty. Fenris was a surprisingly good babysitter but not because of his inner father, the Elf looked strange and acted strange, mostly the kids were too mesmerized, curious, scared, or all three to do much of anything besides what he told them to. Dorian though, had embraced fatherhood and while he winged it when he had to with Bree, he'd developed a knack for it over the years. Cullen may have had his own misgivings about the Tevinter Mage but he was shockingly good with kids.
Cullen nodded to the teenager with a thankful smile. "Thank you, Bree," he said sincerely. "I'll come get them as soon as I'm finished."
"Take your time," she assured as Ulrich offered to take Skye from her. The mare was patiently waiting to go back into the paddock so she could graze. "I heard you say Ariel wasn't feeling good…so take your time. I'll watch them."
Cullen patted her arm appreciatively before moving to the stables and letting out his trademark whistle calling his children to him like magnets.
"You're a good girl, Mi'Lady," Thom praised as she observed Cullen hugging the two kids before leaving.
Bree turned to him as he had gone back to brushing off the bay. "Don't tell anyone," she chuckled causing him to laugh out loud.
Tea didn't used to be a drink that Dorian liked, he preferred wine but Khrys gradually turned him onto it. He actually enjoyed Khrys' favorite Dalish herbal tea and he carried a cup of it up the steps to the balcony near the apartment wing. Fenris was seated on one of the couches fiddling with an exotic looking knife and Michel on the other reading through a handful of messages. Dorian looked down at the white haired Elf eyeing the knife he'd picked up on the last mission. "Is that a Tevinter seal?" he asked and Fenris shrugged.
"Seems to be," Fenris replied flatly.
Dorian cocked an eyebrow to his rather curt response. Fenris wasn't really chatty with him to begin with but sometimes it seemed like he took it to extremes. Dorian admitted that he wasn't much better only instead of insulting mages and prissy nobles he went after the Elf's broody behavior and general irritability. "I thought you were in Orlais," he said and paced a little between Fenris and the balcony door. Michel had gone with Fenris and Cole so Dorian had probably walked in on the two of them finishing up a debriefing before the meeting that Khrys was soon to have.
To this day Fenris wouldn't dare go near Tevinter without the might of the Inquisition at his back. Cole was good and he'd fair better than most with the Spirit at his back but he wasn't an Army. "Close to the border. Took it off one of the agents protecting our target," he explained, starting to wrap the handle in soft leather.
"Ahh, a souvenir," Dorian said, Fenris didn't respond.
"Did you tell him yet?" Khrys asked trotting up the steps of the smaller balcony that used to be occupied by Vivienne.
Michel stood politely turning to face her; it was an Orlesian trait, when a woman entered the room you stood.
The question was directed toward Dorian and Michel narrowed his eyes looking between Dorian and her seeming a little puzzled. "Tell me what?" he asked and she looked at Dorian. Bree may not have called Michel 'dad' but he helped raise her too and had a vested interest in her life.
"Fenris, could you…" she began and the Elf stood nodding to her.
"Inquisitor." He said politely as he brushed by Dorian. "Mage."
Dorian couldn't resist. "Elf."
Khrys shook her head; Fenris was going to kill him one of these days.
Now that Fenris had departed Dorian decided that unsavory tasks were best done quickly, "Alistair wants to marry his son Duncan to Bree," Dorian blurted and Khrys blinked. After nearly two weeks of humming and hawing over this and being a general pain in her ass Dorian just blurted it out.
"Well, that was certainly subtle," she joked with a smile, and Michel had a narrowed expression on his face as he watched Dorian.
And the Great Game began. Michel sat. "You want to wed her to the Fereldan Prince?" he clarified and Dorian turned to him quickly.
"I never said I wanted to," Dorian corrected sharply. "I said Alistair wanted to."
Michel would be lying if he said he didn't feel like a father to Bree, he could still vividly remember the day he met the little three year old. He'd been away from Skyhold for year before returning and when he did Khrys had a daughter. He remembered when the little girl met him she'd hugged his right leg tightly, her big eyes staring up at him with a happy smile. It'd been a confusing and very new feeling for him. He didn't know how to handle a child and over time he became more comfortable with the little girl. She looked up to him no matter how much distance he tried to put between himself and her mother.
He didn't have to question that this was a huge issue for Dorian, as much as the mage irritated the hell out of him he was a good father, attentive, fair but firm, and as protective as they came. Khrys was the more level-headed one of the pair so he suspected that she wasn't as opposed to the idea. It wasn't like she was going to marry her daughter off to the first suitor who came to call but she wouldn't automatically shut it down as he figured Dorian had. For his part in this it flattered him a little to be clued into the 'proposal' by the king but to be perfectly honest he didn't see an issue. This was the Great Game, Fereldan style, meaning it was much less bloody than the one its western neighbors played.
"So what's the problem?" he asked.
"What's the problem?" Dorian repeated surprised. "She's fifteen, you ignorant fool."
Probably not the wisest words to say to a man who was considered to be the best swordsman in Orlais but he just leaned back in the couch looking up at Dorian thinking of what to say next. Michel was used to the insults, most of them weren't meant to anger him, not really; it was just the Dorian bluster. Michel knew why Dorian despised Chevaliers and didn't take it personal. Once, Dorian called him a 'half-breed bastard' and Michel drew on him, not only because it offended him but Bree as well. After his unequivocal threat and accurate point Dorian made sure to curb his comments when he as angry. "She could do a lot worse than a crown prince."
Dorian blinked. "Well, the Chevalier has a point," he thought, he hated when that happened. Dorian had to concede that point and shrugged. "True but that's not the point. She's young."
Michel had seen far worse and looked from Dorian to Khrys and back to Dorian. "She's fifteen…isn't that when you nobles start tossing your children around for marriages anyway?" he made it a point to specify the nobles, he wasn't one, he pretended yes but he was just a Chevalier that wasn't executed for his lie.
Khrys couldn't help but smile as she watched her lover and Dorian verbally fence over this. To her he wasn't Michel the elf-blooded peasant bastard, he was Michel de Chevin, a distant relative of a noble family and Gaspard let him keep the lie. Michel saw a lot during his service to Celene and had been through more but he knew that game entailed.
"See! Right there. That's my point," Dorian pounced, pointing at him. "I had to deal with that, you got to witness that with Celene, and I won't make her do it. She can marry whoever she wants, I won't choose for her."
Michel sighed, sometimes Dorian was the smartest man he knew but he'd never tell him that, and then there were times like these when he had the father tunnel vision that made him appear rather idiotic. "And if she chooses to marry the Prince?" Dorian ground his teeth together; the Chevalier was on a roll today. He distinctly remembered Khrys saying almost the exact same thing in the countless discussions they'd had since he'd returned. "I have met Prince Duncan; he's a good young man…and not a mage."
"Oh good, insult everyone in the room, why don't you, I was waiting for that," Dorian snarked back and Michel stood with a sigh, he meant no offense by the comment but mages still had a distinct lack of normalcy, marrying an ordinary Prince seemed like a the best idea.
"I don't see what the problem is, Dorian," he said. "She's a young woman, she's smart, if you don't like the Prince that's your choice but she'll do what she wants to do anyway," he finished and moved past him to Khrys. "My advice is to talk to her about it."
Dorian blinked at Michel's reaction, he actually made a lot of sense, as the blonde man leaned in on Khrys, giving her a light kiss on the lips before heading down the stairs to the main hall, Dorian practically flopped down on the couch that Michel had been on and huffed. "Well, I hope you're satisfied, we told the peasant noble."
Khrys narrowed her expression to a glare. "Don't call him that, Dorian, he has a name…and he's right."
Dorian recognized his error and sighed, his expression was apologetic but he didn't say anything. That wasn't the first time she'd scolded him for that and she scolded Michel for calling him 'Mage' all the time as well. "I invited Duncan to come to the next Council meeting," he informed, resigning himself to the fact that it really couldn't hurt for them to at least meet. "The kid wants to learn about the Inquisition."
Khrys studied him; she knew Dorian well and could see that he didn't like this. Bree was growing up and it didn't sit well with him. It never sat well with any father to watch their little girl move forward with her life. To meet a man, or woman, marry and begin the next step of their lives. Bree was everything to him so she could see why he was having some trouble. "I'd be delighted to show him," she agreed, and walked onto the balcony taking a breath of fresh air.
"Still wish we had a second?" he asked letting a glimmer of his humor show in his tone.
Khrys giggled as the memories of their one and only night together came back. "Right, because you so would have been up for a second 'breeding attempt'."
Dorian scoffed cringing to the term, it was used in jest but Elan coined the gentle euphemism when she gave him the potion. His memories of that night were still a bit foggy but obviously the ultimate goal had been achieved. The potion did its job and Khrys did most of the work after his awkward bumbling of doing something completely unnatural to him was drowned by testosterone and whatever ingredients Elan put in the potion that tasted like sour milk and Spindleweed. "That's a good point," he said looking straight ahead and snatching the pillow from the other side of the couch and hugged it against his chest.
He still remembered the day after or rather the week after; there wasn't one person, not one damn person, in Skyhold who didn't know after the first day. Cullen couldn't have put a finer point on how fast gossip spread through the damn Barracks. Bull was the worst and Cole wasn't much better. Cole was at least completely oblivious to exactly what had happened so it was like awkwardly explaining it to a child with more questions than you could shake a stick at. Bull…Bull was just crude, How was it? How tight was she? How did she do it? Was she aggressive? Did she do anything else to please you? And any other lewd, crude, or rude comment or question the Qunari Merc could think of.
She sighed and turned away from the scenic view to her friend on the couch. "Dorian, you're sulking," she chided, trying to stifle a laugh at the way he appeared on the couch feet stretched out, slouching, clutching the pillow to his chest, with a pitiful expression.
He didn't move just sighed. "So what if I am?"
She couldn't help but chuckle as she moved behind him crooking her right arm around his chest hugging him from behind. "You need to relax, Dorian, it's starting to age you."
Dorian snorted a laugh at her comment. "Never, I'll stay this devastatingly handsome until the day I die." He smirked and heard her giggle feeling her chin on his left shoulder.
"That could be sooner than you think if you don't relax," she added and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you later, I have a meeting."
"Tell my dear Commander I said hello," he snickered, needling Cullen was his second favorite pastime but it was far safer than his favorite one. Taunting Fenris and Michel was like taking his life into his own hands but he couldn't resist.
Khrys patted his shoulder and moved away with a smile before pausing and looking at him. "Any progress with fixing his tonic?"
Dorian moved his feet but still didn't leave from his sulking position. "Not yet. I haven't finished the books from Denerim though."
She nodded, satisfied with his answer and left him there to sulk at the idea of his daughter possibly being married off.
When Khrys entered the Council Room the usual suspects were there. Charter, the red-haired city Elf succeeded Leliana after she was made Devine. While Charter didn't have the same touch that Leliana did, she got the job done. She helped Morrigan control the networks of Eluvians and was the one who controlled Fenris and Cole's assignments. Morrigan was the Inquisition's 'Arcane' advisor, not that the couple hundred Mages present weren't advisors enough in their own right, but Morrigan did have knowledge that no one but Solas had. Morrigan had come up with a way to use the Eluvian crossroads as a way to move around and pretty much steal other Eluvians from Solas. It had taken years to amass the network they had and still getting Fenris to go through it was like trying to give a cat a bath. Josephine still functioned as the Inquisition's Ambassador and Political arm; she'd left for several years to maintain her family's estate. As the head of the House she was responsible for her family and that meant she needed to go back to Antiva full time. Josie had only recently returned to Skyhold at the request of Khrys. Cullen was like Skyhold's fixed point, he never changed, his army had doubled in size since the Exalted Council but it was scattered throughout Thedas. The contingent in the Western Approach was his biggest aside from the Army in the valley below, under the command of Rylen at Echoback Fort. The contingent provided back up for the Warden's at Griffon Wing, the Darkspawn infested land had the biggest military presence in Orlais that wasn't the Imperial Army. Rylen also kept an eye on the Mage College Fiona had set up in the old Tevinter Ruin. It had taken years to clean it up and make sure it was safe for use. Cullen's other big branch was in Fereldan, Briony commanded the force in Denerim, though it was half the size of the one in the Western Approach.
Khrys and Cullen found each other in the hall heading to the end of the hall. "Good morning, Inquisitor," Cullen greeted and Khrys narrowed her eyes at him. He looked a bit ragged, tired, and little pale. Lately he'd always looked a little pale.
"Cullen," she smiled with a nod. "You okay?"
Cullen nodded, he'd been fielding questions like that for weeks, and he hadn't felt this bad in years. Between the Lyrium withdrawal rearing its ugly head again, his hyperactive children, and his wife feeling under the weather he felt like hell. "I'm fine, Khrys, but thank you for asking."
"Pain today?" she asked and the stoic commander pushed the door open with an audible groan.
"I'm fine, Inquisitor," he repeated sternly and Khrys nodded to herself. Typical Cullen, when he wasn't feeling well he was grumpy.
A chorus of good mornings flooded through the room as Cullen and Khrys entered. The War Table was still there and meticulously maintained by Cullen and Charter, anyone else who touched it took their lives into their own hands. There were no chairs and hadn't been any for years, it made any meetings go by quicker when everyone had to stand.
"Good morning," Khrys answered and the meeting commenced quickly as it usually did with Cullen present. He wasn't one to stand on ceremony especially when he wasn't feeling good.
The basics of the weekly meeting were much the same as before. Cullen's army hadn't changed, Denerim, under Briony's command, was functioning well as was Winterwatch, Grand Villa, and Hargrave all under the command of Captain Kirstin Livit. In Orlais, Captain Julius Bordeaux commanded the troops at Suledin Keep and there was never much to worry about with Gaspard catering to the Inquisition's every whim. Of course their busiest post was clear out in the Western Approach, Darkspawn continued to flood the blight poisoned land, Rylen had reported a few Dragons in the area no doubt offspring from the one killed during the War, so generally it was business as usual for Echoback Fort. Rylen's reports were always fun to read if not a little worrisome.
As the meeting progressed through Josephine's short briefing they got to Charter. Khrys had already gotten a briefing from Fenris and Michel, but Charter would help connect the rest of the dots her agents had acquired.
"Fenris and Cole reported more signs of those strange ruins," Charter began and Cullen snorted.
"Not sure a marker stone in far flung areas of Thedas counts as a ruin," Cullen grumbled and Khrys let out a soft chuckle.
"Can't deny the one they found out beyond the Abyssal Rift wasn't a ruin," she replied and Cullen had to nod to that. "Fenris said Cole took rubbings of the marker they found. Have we found anyone who can translate the writing?"
Charter shook her head. "No one has seen it. The writing doesn't even resemble anything in Thedas."
Khrys thought a moment. "Our Agents keep running into Fen'Harel's so he wants whatever's at the end of the rainbow and that means so do we," she reinforced and sighed. "Has Sutherland reported in yet?"
"No," Charter replied.
"How long's he been out?" Khrys asked.
"Over a month," Charter answered and saw Khrys' worry. Sutherland was hands down Khrys' second favorite crew next to Fenris and Cole. Sutherland had been around since Haven was buried and did more recruiting than anyone else did traversing Thedas 'adventuring'.
"Antiva, right?" Cullen inquired and Khrys shook her head.
"Rivain," she corrected. "Hope he wasn't stupid enough to go to Par Vollen to look for anything."
Cullen chuckled. "Devon's not that much of a thrill seeker although we may have to pry him from the Rivaini brothels."
The group laughed and Charter shook her head. "Shayd would kill him," she giggled. "I'll send a raven…see if we can track him down."
Sutherland was great at what he did, and Khrys was certain he could handle himself but he did have a tendency to stumble into trouble. "Morrigan?"
"My and Charter's agents have uncovered two more Eluvians that are in the process of being restored. Two agents of Fen'Harel were also discovered trying to use an Eluvian to get into the Crossroads," the Chasind woman stated her speech proper and smooth as it always was. Cullen may not have trusted the Witch but he was always impressed by how well-spoken she was, she was Chasind…a Witch of the Wilds, he grew up around knights and nobles who had the vocabulary of a child and here was this Chasind witch spouting words he needed to look up on occasion.
As the meeting continued Khrys couldn't help but think of something Cole brought back a while ago, something about those strange writings and markings was driving her crazy, she's seen them somewhere but she was damned if she could figure out where.
Education in Skyhold was the same as you would find anywhere else, separate from the school in Herald, Skyhold had a dedicated teacher who lived in the Fortress. She was a Dwarf, a surfacer from Kirkwall that Varric had recommended, named Tashi Freeman. She was good with the academics and was able to roll with the more unusual things about Skyhold. The most unusual thing she'd been faced with was Cole. The spirit was extremely adept at killing demons, darkspawn, and Venatori but he had the mind of a child. He didn't understand the waking world so he took it upon himself to sit in on the classes and learn. Khrys had to hand it to Tashi, she was certainly able to adapt.
Now that Bree was older she got to study with her dad. Dorian was an archivist, plain and simple. He loved to read and she remembered him reading to her since as far back as she could remember. She'd sit on his lap while he quietly thumbed through some text on ancient magic or rituals or just plain history. Her mother did the same thing only the topic for her was mainly Dalish history or any texts about the ancient elves and Arlathan. She knew three languages by the time she was 10, Tevene, Common, and Elven.
Bree herded Bowen and Arabela through the halls up to the library. Bowen was six and looked like Cullen, thick blonde hair and that lopsided smile; he was full of energy and had a mischievous streak. Arabela was nine, a little calmer than her brother with long locks of red hair like her mother. She didn't like to wear dresses, she liked to play in the mud and run around acting like Cullen commanding the troops. His officers simply chuckled at the little girl pretending to order them around.
Dorian heard the sound of loud children echoing up the hallway and saw Arabela and Bowen being herded by his daughter. He was proud of Bree, she'd become a fine and responsible young lady, if she had these two children it was highly probably that she volunteered for babysitting duty. That made him proud, she was kind and selfless and always willing to help. Traits no doubt inherited from Khrys and not him.
"You are late, Gabriella," he scolded but he was actually teasing her. He knew her morning routine usually centered on a morning ride so he was actually surprised that she wasn't later than just a few minutes. She gave her father a sarcastic smile and ushered the children toward him. "And I see you've brought helpers."
"Watching them for Cullen for a little while," she explained. "Hope you don't mind."
Dorian smiled. "Not at all. What better person to help shape the inquiring minds of the young?" he said with a chuckle.
"Tashi," Bree replied and Dorian paused at the obvious snipe from his daughter's sharp wit.
He laughed and squatted down to the lower shelf of on the cases in his little research alcove. "You have been spending too much time with Fenris," he replied and pulled a book from the shelf.
Bree chuckled a little. "He's not that bad you know," she said and earned a sideways look from her father. No words were needed to know what he thought to that. He knew Fenris wasn't bad, he had a soft spot for Bree despite her being a mage but he irritated the fuck out him.
"Ara, why don't you try this one today, and help your brother with the words," the little girl nodded at him and she and Bowen sat down on the floor cracking the old book open. "As for you…," he began turning to Bree, "still interested in Knight-Enchanting?"
Bree nodded happily. "Yes," she smiled; it fascinated her, the old arts of the battlemages. "I love reading the stories of Queen Lydia against the Archdemon and Dragons with a swords and a staff."
Dorian shrugged a little. "Lydia's more of an Arcane Warrior than a Knight-Enchanter but never the less…I was able to bring this book back from Denerim," he said and passed her a thick book that was worn and used but well-cared for. "Lydia sends her regards and to keep it as long as you need it."
Bree smiled and gave him a hug holding the book in one hand. "Thank you, Daddy," she said and Dorian smiled. Bree was an extremely talented mage, a Dreamer even, able to enter the Fade at will; she'd been tutored and mentored by Khrys, Fiona, and himself. Like he and Khrys she was especially attuned with Pyromancy but it was time she started looking to a specialization, something to hone her skill. She liked the battlemages, they were her favorite stories growing up and they were still her favorites now.
"You're welcome," he replied as she put the book down on the table standing over it and started to flip through the pages.
"Your mother and I are both Necromancers, you haven't given any thought to that?" he asked and she looked at him with a twisted expression.
"No offense, Dad, but that creeps me out," she replied and saw him chuckle. "Raising the dead, syphoning from dead bodies, marking them as thralls…" she embellished a shudder. "Creepy."
Dorian's chuckle remained, Necromancy wasn't for everyone, he taught Khrys years ago but the number of Necromancers outside Nevarra had dwindled, most incorrectly tied it to Blood Magic so the discipline was starting to fall out of favor. "Well, I guess I don't have to worry about you doing Blood Magic."
"Lord Pavus," a guard announced as he made his way to him from the stairs. "Two dispatches for you, Ser; one from Val Royeaux and one from Starkhaven."
Dorian nodded at the man and took the two sealed letters. They got regular letters from both locations though why the guard sought him out rather than Josephine was a little unusual. Dorian understood why they were brought to him when he looked down at them. They were personally addressed to him. That was a bit unusual; most were addressed to Khrys or Josephine.
He moved away from Bree and leaned on the railing behind him starting with the Starkhaven letter, he wasn't in the mood for sifting through Orlesian fluff. Sebastian tended to be direct, if not a little wordy. He skimmed the letter and narrowed his eyes at it. Sebastian was congratulating him on the offer from Alistair, but how the hell did he know about that. As far as Dorian knew it wasn't supposed to be common knowledge, hence the reason they did it in private and face to face. Sebastian went on to praise the pair and offered his blessing if Dorian thought it best to pursue this union and not one with Orlais. To that he narrowed his eyes further and became acutely aware of the letter from Orlais in his hand bearing a royal seal. If what he thought was in the letter he might just jump over the railing. He ripped into the Orlesian letter and read it. His expression dropped down to the valley floor along with his stomach. He blinked several times to the letter and swallowed.
"Bree, I'll be back. Keep reading," he said and swiftly left heading for Khrys.
Michel followed the sound of the books rustling and chairs scraping across the stone as he made his way down the steps. This place was nicknamed 'The Vault' and existed below the Rotunda. The defunct passageway had been discovered by the Dwarven builders hired to shore up the Fortress several years ago. Now it was filled with the trinkets, artifacts, and the general unknown items that the Inquisition came across over the past fifteen years. There were shelves and shelves of books so old the pages were so delicate they nearly cracked when you flipped them.
He entered the dusty, cold, hold and tracked the noise to the far side finding Khrys trying to reach an item on the top of the shelf. Standing on a stool the shrimp-sized Elf could reach the book but manipulating it with one hand was proving to be quite the challenge. He examined the situation, taking the time to stare at her ass a moment before speaking up; the dainty little Elf was gorgeous and he counted himself blessed by the Maker to have her.
"Here," he began and she looked over her shoulder down to him, "let me."
She didn't argue, in fact she welcomed his help, she felt his right hand lightly brace the small of her back until she was flat footed on the stone floor, she only came to his shoulder. He stepped up onto the stool and pulled the tome off the shelf grunting as he didn't expect it to be quite so heavy. "Its heavy," she informed but it was after the fact.
"Thanks for the warning," he replied playfully stepping off the stool. "Where?"
Khrys giggled softly. "Table," she pointed and hurried over ahead of him to make sure it was clear.
When he set it down he stepped back letting her brush the thick layer of dust off the top of the book. This tome had been collected years ago in the extreme northern shore of Seheron by some Tal'Vashoth mercenaries Bull recruited. The tome was big, like the books she'd come across in Mage, and Chantry libraries. It was bound by some form of dark brown leather with a triple helix pattern on the cover, that symbol was a mystery, no one in Skyhold had ever seen something like that or the writing within the tome. She opened it and began flipping through the pages, they where thick and beige and stained by time. Whatever this tome was it was ancient and from a culture no one even knew of.
"What are you looking for?" he asked looking over her shoulder; he couldn't understand any of it anyway. Michel was a learned man, he ready countless book of varying topics and even a lot of magic related texts to understand the enemy they faced.
"Remember that rubbing Cole took from the ruin in Sea of Ash a while back?" she asked and Michel nodded, Fenris' report was unsettling at best the Spirit nearly went nuts in that ruin and he had to admit both the Spirit going crazy and the ruin itself were rather creepy. Being in the Sea of Ash was even worse, Fenris found somewhere he hated more than Tevinter. "I could swear I've seen that cast somewhere."
"Cole said that ruin was thousands of years old," Michel offered and Khrys nodded, she was present for the briefing too but it wasn't exactly correct, Cole had babbled a lot in that place; babbled, panicked, disappeared, reappeared, babbled more, panicked again, and continued to spout of words that Fenris couldn't remember. The only thing Fenris took away from the whole confusing ordeal with that the ruin was older than anything else in Thedas. It was, to this day, the most unsettling report either of them had ever received from a company that had returned.
She hummed a quiet affirmation. "Yeah, and anything ancient that Solas is interested in I'm interested in."
Michel looked down at her as she focused on the pages of the book. Over the years he understood more and more about her complicated relationship with the ancient Elf named Solas. He'd saved her life twice, fell in love with her, and then abandoned her. He was responsible for her arm and the mess that the Inquisition found itself in. He knew that there was some unfinished business between them but he'd kill the mage if he touched her again. "Well, I'm not good at research but is there anything I can do to help?" he offered and she smiled looking up at him.
"Keep me company?" she asked and a small smile spread across his face. He was more than willing to do that, he didn't care if he was watching her write out a dispatch or comb through tedious research it didn't matter but he'd draw the line at a magical ritual. He wanted to spend every minute with her.
Michel's helping turned into Michel sitting in a chair twirling a knife into the thick table top. He enjoyed reading but the books that she was slaving through were in a language he couldn't read. He wasn't even sure what language it was. He'd learned a passable amount of Elven but he could read and write Orlesian and common. While she looked through the book for something that was familiar to her they chatted about things he'd found, new and unnerving conversations with Cole, and other intriguing small talk.
"So, what is your opinion on all this attention Bree is getting?" he asked as she was about halfway through the giant tome. Dorian's reaction was predictable, but Khrys seemed on the fence about it. Despite what he'd told Dorian earlier he was very concerned for her safety, any man who would have her had to go through several people for approval and he was one of them.
She paused in her reading and glanced at him leaning back in his chair. Her daughter would marry who she wanted by her choice, like Dorian she would never allow her to be used as a pawn no matter who asked. "I think it's her choice but…Dorian's right, she's too young. She shouldn't have to think about that right now."
Michel studied her looking for any indication of what she was thinking; he wasn't sure what effect this would have on her. He knew she had been bonded once, a long time ago, while living with her clan in the Free Marches. A casual conversation between them that told him she was uncomfortable with the idea of bonding or marriage. He still thought asking her though, every day, but didn't knowing her opinion on the subject. Her husband, Lathan, killed himself a few months after she miscarried. "Are you okay?" he asked actually proud of the fact that he'd gotten better at reading her moods and when something was wrong.
She didn't have to really think about that answer as she didn't share the sheer panic that Dorian experienced, she trusted Bree was a smart girl and this was a small thing to lose it over. There would be far worse things down the line so she took it all in stride. "Yeah," she answered with a confident smile. "Yeah, I'm perfect…or I will be when I find what I'm looking for."
Michel wasn't sure if he believed her but after nine years he'd figured out how to handle Khrys. Pushing her to talk about anything usually ended in disaster and she'd eventually talk in time. For now he let it go and went back to watching her flip through the pages trying to find what she was looking for.
"Khrys!" Dorian's voice echoed off the stone walls making Michel rotate in his chair at his tone.
"He bellows," Michel said dryly and Khrys chuckled at him.
Khrys' smile made him smile. "He's hard to miss isn't he?" she giggled and he chuckled louder.
"Khrys!" Dorian called again scurrying toward them like a man on a mission.
"What?" she asked and he up held the letters.
"Oh, I don't know, just a letter from the Prince of Starkhaven, congratulating us on the potential union between Gabriella and Duncan. A marriage he'd happily support rather than one from Orlais." Dorian stated. "Paraphrasing of course, he is rather wordy sometimes."
Khrys stopped what she was doing and looked up at him. "Orlais? Where'd he get that?" she asked seeing Michel's expression change too and Dorian slipped into his flamboyant irritating behavior.
"Ahh…well, listen to this. Lord Dorian Pavus, blah blah blah blah, given our long standing alliances blah blah blah blah, I see there is an opportunity to strengthen our ties if you would consent to a union between your daughter and my son," he skimmed as Khrys dropped what she was doing and snatched the letter from him. "I realize there are others asking for your daughter's hand and blah blah blah, Emperor Gaspard De Chalons, Empire of Orlais."
"What?" she snapped, reading the letter quickly.
"Why would he offer Jean-Fredric she's a mage?" Michel asked sitting up and paying attention to this, for Gaspard to offer his son, the heir to Orlais, to a girl that was not only a mage but an elf-blooded one at that was shocking to say the least.
"Yes, thank you for the commentary, Ser Michel. Why is he here?" Dorian hissed.
Michel stood holding his glare. "Do not test me, Mage." Michel warned.
Khrys grumbled to their constant bickering. "Gentlemen." She said in a warning tone of her own then looked to Dorian. "How did he hear about this? How did Sebastian?"
Dorian looked away from Michel still giving him a threatening glare, as much as he bickered with the Chevalier he didn't want to cross him, no given his reputation as the man who bested Gaspard in single combat so he turned his attention from him to Khrys. "Alistair apparently has some 'loose lipped' servants," Dorian hissed. "Besides Lydia, Alistair, and I the servants were the only ones present."
Now Michel was a little more worried about Bree being courted by not one but two Princes and the one that worried him the most of Jean-Fredric, Gaspard's only son. He didn't wish the great game on Bree, not ever, and he'd do anything to protect her from harm. "Again, why would he offer his only son to someone who can't bring him anything?"
This time Dorian ignored him. "The gall of that Orlesian bastard to try and use my daughter for political gain," Dorian continued, "and to send in a bloody letter, he wanted your hand in marriage after the Exalted Council to strengthen Orlais. He's never gotten over you saying no."
"I didn't say no, his Council did," she replied quickly and Michel's brow furrowed looking to Dorian then to Khrys.
"Oh, really," Dorian questioned, the aggravation on his face leaving momentarily changing to humor.
Khrys blinked at how that sounded and flustered a little. "I mean…ummm…I would have but his Council beat me to it," Dorian cocked his head at her comments; he was there when he publicly asked to marry the Inquisitor much to the absolute shock and dismay of his Council and Court. For the Emperor of Orlais to ask to marry an Elf was monumental news. Though Gaspard did have a soft spot for her, Khrys saw nothing but problems with a marriage like that. Orlais would lose its mind and Gaspard wouldn't remain Emperor for very long. She didn't want to marry him anyway but the idea was nice to think about.
"If Gaspard thinks I'll let my daughter marry his son he's out of his mind, I'm still not keen on the idea of her marrying Duncan either," he stated firmly. "And just think, in a few months they'll all be here for a Council meeting…this'll be one I don't intend to skip."
Khrys raised her hand to calm him. "Relax. I don't need you tearing the Council apart just because two of the members asked to marry our daughter. I'll let Josephine have these and she can decide the best course of action to take that won't risk alliances."
Dorian scoffed loudly. "You're worried about alliances? You sound like Gaspard."
Khrys' expression hardened toward him. "Dorian, you need to relax. This is how it's done."
Dorian bristled at her telling him how noble marriages were arranged. "Don't tell me how this is done, Khrystabel," he snapped harshly. "I lived it. You didn't. Dalish clans don't arrange bonding's like Tevinter, you were the lucky ones, your bonding was easy."
"That's enough, Dorian," Michel warned his hard glare still trained on him, the discussion that seemed to be descending into an argument.
Dorian's temper started to rise; he was done talking about this and annoyed beyond belief. "You, stay out of this," he snapped then turned his attention back to Khrys. "You may be laid back about this but I know what lies ahead. People squabbling over her, pressuring her, making decisions for her, treating her like a commodity rather than a person, I won't let that happen and if I have to deny every request an lock her in the tower until she's forty, I will," he hadn't spoken like this to Khrys in a very long time, he wasn't particularly proud of it but he was tired of this. Receiving both letters once again put his protective father side on high alert.
"Do not speak to her like that," Michel growled stepping closer to Dorian to make his displeasure crystal clear. "my final warning."
Dorian realized he was dangerously close to crossing a line if he didn't curb his runaway temper. He was so aggravated and annoyed about all this he was close to making this situation worse. He wasn't wrong and he knew that. He grumbled keeping the words he was thinking to himself as he put the remaining letter on the table with a healthy amount of irritation before leaving the Vault growling to himself. It was not his intention to snap at her but he was irritated, her calm was a source of irritation for him in the past and also something he liked about her. Right now he hated it; she was too calm about this.
Michel's glower followed him as he left, he couldn't blame him for being scared but he didn't need to be an ass about all this. Khrys waived Michel's concerned expression away as she brushed off Dorian's attitude and picked up the letter from Sebastian reading it quickly.
Khrys was frustrated by the time she was done looking through the giant tome. She didn't find what she was looking for in there but she knew she'd seen that rubbing somewhere before. There were more tomes and books down there that she would sift through later. Cole was forward thinking when he took that and according to Fenris the only thing he said was 'it's important'. Cryptic as usual but he was a spirit. There were more books she had to go through, she'd seen that cast somewhere…she knew it, now all she needed to do was find it.
"Hi, Josie," she greeted closing the thick door behind her and walked down to the ambassador.
"Ahh, Inquisitor, good day to you," the Antivan greeted with a smile. "Everything is in order for Gabriella's birthday next month," she said. "Are you sure you don't want to move the Council meeting to another day?"
Khrys nodded; there was no reason to ask those attending both the meeting and the part to come to Skyhold twice. Holding it at Bree's birthday celebration consolidated time and there was no reason they couldn't steal away thirty minutes for a meeting. "Yeah, it'll be fine," she assured and offered Josie the letters. "There's a situation developing that I think you need to handle before it kills Dorian."
Josie snorted and took the papers that were being handed to her. She skimmed them and blinked clearing her throat before looking back to the Inquisitor. "Oh…," she said surprised, "so if this is Gaspard also sending an offer than am I to assume King Alistair suggested Prince Duncan?"
Khrys nodded. "That's what Dorian said. Apparently word got out to both Sebastian and Gaspard," she sighed. "Of course he's turned into a frantic humming bird now."
Josie laughed. "I understand," she said with a smile. "There are sure to be more to come, I'll handle them as they come in. With your permission I can also arrange negotiations with both Royal families."
Khrys shook her head quickly. "No. No. No. If you think Dorian is crazy now…"
Josie giggled a little; he was protective, very protective. "I see," she said smiling and nodded at the Inquisitor. "Very well, I will handle these as they come in and inform you of anything you should know."
Khrys was content with that, if anyone could contain this before it got out of control or Dorian lost his damn mind, it was Josie. Now she was back on her quest to figure out just where she'd seen that cast.
Michel had taken several books from the vault up to their bedroom so Khrys didn't have to stay in the cold Vault for so long. She smiled to his behavior as she always did; Michel had a kind and gentleness to him but when he was forced to fight he decimated all. The change of venue did nothing to stem her frustration though. She had ancient Dwarven books, Elven books, and even some Tevinter ones, all had been taken from ruins in far flung corners of Thedas and the Abyssal Rift. Not many of her teams ventured to the Rift, it was dangerous, poisoned by the Blight leaving only the crumbling ruins as signs of ancient civilizations. Fenris and Cole had ventured out there twice, the second time with Morrigan and even for that heavy team the Sea of Ash and what lay beyond was unnerving, like walking through a graveyard or burial ground…you just knew it was somewhere you shouldn't be.
Frustrated with the oldest Elven book she had on hand she dropped it on the floor next to the couch with the two that came before it. Helping her look through the books was Bree. The girl did like to study, she liked books; a trait she got from Dorian who was more than happy to nurture it.
Bree sat at the desk and looked up from her Tevinter book furrowing her brow. "Mama, what exactly is this cast?" she asked her mother who had her feet curled under her on the couch.
"I don't know," she answered honestly and sounded as frustrated as possible. "I've seen it somewhere in a book I just can't remember which one."
They both heard footsteps trotting up the steps as Bree went back to her book. That was her father's gait not Michel. She smiled when her father emerged from the stairs. "Hi, Daddy," she smiled brightly as Dorian looked from her to Khrys then back again.
"The library not homey enough for you, my dear?" he asked Bree as he crossed the room to the desk lifting the spine of the book she held so he could see the title.
"I was helping Mama," she answered and Dorian cringed a little at the title of the book.
"The Lesser Known Imperium?" he read from the cover before releasing the book, his tone full of distain. "That's a dry read."
Bree giggled and Khrys said nothing but shook her head. Dorian knew she was still not happy about his words in the Vault hence the silent treatment so far.
"Trying to find that mystery drawing Cole took in the Abyssal Ruin," Khrys said plainly, now her tone told him that she wasn't pleased with his behavior.
"Well, I could have told you it wasn't in there," he replied cringing again at the fact his daughter was sifting through it. "I've read it, twice, unfortunately. Nothing in there but 'facts' dryer than the parchment it's written on."
"You could stay and help, Lord Pavus," Khrys replied and Dorian raised his eyebrows, her tone had some venom to it and she called him 'Lord Pavus' which was never a good sign.
Dorian turned to his daughter who wasn't stupid; she knew what normal behavior was between them and also knew when they were fighting. "Bree, would you excuse us please?"
Bree closed the book leaving it on the desk and trotted down the stairs. Dorian gave her a few moments before standing before Khrys lacing his hand behind his back. "Khrys, I want to apologize," he began and she spared a few glances up at him. "I didn't mean to be rude earlier. It wasn't fair to you and it was beneath me to behave like that," he said and got tired of standing. He pushed the book at her feet further down the couch and sat down sitting up straight and looking at her as she was still eyeing the book. If she was ignoring him she had every right to. He was an ass earlier. "I know what happened with your clan and Lathan all those years go and I would never purposely imply that any of that was easy." Khrys looked directly at him over the top of the book slowly lowering it down so he could see her face. "I'm sorry, Khrystabel, I was out of line and being an ass."
Khrys giggled slightly at him calling himself an ass. "Yeah, you were," she agreed and the mage stiffened at her feet. "You wouldn't be a Magister if you weren't an ass on some level," she said and her eyes went back to the book.
Dorian's expression narrowed to a glare, she was teasing him and he knew it. That was her teasing tone when she was still mad at him but not mad enough to kick his ass, mad enough to insult him playfully though. He watched her prop the book on her hip, reach down and casually fling another one from the pile at him.
"As long as you're feeling apologetic help me out," she said as he caught the book casually flying at him and read the spine.
"Dwarven?" he asked and she could hear the disgust in his voice. Dwarven was not his best language and their history was an even drier read than the book that Bree was working through. Nevertheless, he scooted back on the couch and sighed. "Alright…" he huffed, "what am I looking for?"
