The Mark, The Inquisition and The Decisions.

As she walked she heard people talking, whispering among them but loud enough for her to hear. As if it couldn't get more awkward enough, they were kneeling and some bowing their heads. She heard a man saying that she was the "Herald of Andraste". A woman pointing at her saying she stopped The Breach, and another responding that she heard she was supposed to close the damn thing.

'Oh…well I am sorry to disappoint your high-ass…'

Feeling the people were starting to gather around her, she started running towards the massive door of The Chantry. As she opened the door, she was greeted by Cassandra. They gave each other a small nod in greeting and started walking towards on the hallway towards a room.

"Does it trouble you?" Asked Cassandra.

She stopped and looked at her marked hand. It was calm but still sparked here and there.

"It doesn't hurt…if that's what you mean."

"We take any victory where we can." Cassandra smiled "Solas believes a second attempt might succeed-provided The Mark has more power. The same level of power used to open The Breach in the first place. That is not easy to come by."

"What harm can there be in powering up something we barely understand." She laughed at her answer.

"Hold on to that sense of humor." Cassandra replied smiling.

Cassandra pushed open the door and they entered. The room had a massive table and a huge map opened with pyramid like pieces on different places. One caught her attention "The Hinterlands".

'Wonder what they have planned for that specific area…'

Her thoughts were disrupted when someone coughed. She looked up and just realized that they weren't alone. She looked around and saw Leliana standing close to Cassandra and in the middle was the man she met while running to the temple and a woman to his right with a pen and parchments on her hands.

"May I present Commander Cullen; leader of the inquisition forces." Cassandra gestured to the man.

"We only met briefly I am pleased you survived." He said nodding slightly.

"This is Lady Josephine Montilyet, our Ambassador and Chief Diplomat." Cassandra pointed at the woman next to the commander.

"Andaran atish'an" She responded, and nodded her head slightly.

"You speak elven?" She asked surprised that a Shem actually took the time to learn her language.

"You just heard the entirety of it…I'm afraid." Josephine replied with a hint of embarrassment while clearing her throat.

"Of course you've met Sister Leliana." Cassandra stepped back a little so she can see Liliana hiding in the shadows.

"My position here involves a degree of-"

"She is our spymaster." Cassandra intervened.

"Yes…Tactically put Cassandra." Leliana replied sighing.

"Pleased to meet you all. I am Lavellan first of my clan."

After all the pleasantries Cassandra went on ahead about what they are going to do from here on. The mark needed more power to close the breach. Leliana suggested asking The Mages for help, and Cullen suggesting that The Templars can do as much helping. Leliana and Cullen argued about the possibilities of what could happen if either they chose the Mages or Templars. Cassandra agreeing with Leliana that the Mages is more helpful seeing that Lavellan is a mage herself. Cullen argued that it didn't matter. Josephine intervened saying that neither of the party would speak to any of them. The Chantry denounced them as heretics. Lavellan scoffed and folded her arms. Cullen blamed Chancellor Rodrick for the rumors. Josephine told her that the people see her as the "Herald of Andraste" with that title a lot of people are frightened and want her dead soon.

'Well there's a cheery thought…beheaded for something I clearly didn't have the power to stop it.'

When Lavellan thought that there was nothing else they could do, Leliana told her that a Chantry cleric by the name of Mother Giselle, has asked to talk to her. Lavellan was confused a Chantry mother wanting to talk to someone she doesn't know. Leliana went on saying Mother Giselle can be found in The Hinterlands, tending to the wounded of the war that is going on between the Rebel Mages and The Templars.

It was pass noon when they settled that they go and meet this Chantry Mother and hopefully expand the influence of the inquisition. She opened the heavy door and was greeted by the sun's ray of light making her squint her eyes and adjust to the brightness. As her eyes settled she looked around her and saw men and women walking around with crates or boxes, Chantry Clerics huddled together praying for guidance. She walked around and noticed that the place was bigger than she thought. She walked towards a table full of different things. Lavellan didn't realize the person that was standing near the table and only caught her attention when she thought that Lavellan was another refugee elf only to realize it was her 'The Herald'. The person introduced herself as Threnn; she is the quartermaster for the inquisition tending to what they need. Lavellan walked further and found the gate and walked out of it. There she found the soldiers training on her right, to her left is where the weapons and armors are made. She got to talk with the blacksmith and told him that the armor she wears was great and fit her well. The Blacksmith called Harriett, was pleased of how she appreciated his craft skills. She walked back to the little village and found a merchant that sells almost everything.

As she kept walking she heard music, people singing and laughter inside a particular cabin and she knew she has found the Tavern, she went in and found people drinking and laughing like there was nothing wrong with the world around them. It warmed her heart to know that the people were now enjoying themselves rather than have their fears take hold of them. She walked up towards the bar area where she met Flissa, the bartender. Flissa seemed to be surprised at her arrival that she was stuttering her words. Lavellan smiled and asked Flissa to not be afraid of her, she is just a normal being like the rest of them. Flissa just smiled and asked if she needed anything. Lavellan smiled and asked about the people here and what else is there to find around the area. Flissa gave her answers as much as she can.

Lavellan thanked Flissa and left the tavern, and started walking up towards the apothecary taking in the soft cold breeze. She closed her eyes and slowly walked backwards and let her mind wander about. She didn't see where she was going until she bumped into someone behind her. She opened her eyes and turned around only to slip and almost fell on her butt when a strong firm arm wrapped itself around her tiny waist. She looked at her savior and found it was Solas. She could feel his warmth around her and she gasped and pushed him away suddenly that it caught him off guard for a bit.

"Ir abelas!" she said bowing her head slightly to hide her reddened face. Although the sight pink of ears gave it away.

"Tel abelas." Solas said calmly.

She looked up and saw he was staring at her, calculating her it seemed. She stood and looked at him, or in truth admired him. His face was calm and his posture; hands clasped behind his him with his back straight. He almost looked like some God looking at his disciple. In that moment she found herself staring at his piercing icy-blue eyes and he was also doing the same thing. Her breath came to a halt. The thought of him staring at her made her face redder and she can feel the tips of her ears hot and knew that she was probably redder than a tomato itself…if that was even possible.

'There you go again…like mother always say "Stop daydreaming while walking!" but no…no…you keep on dreaming! Ah…he probably thinks I'm a foolish or irresponsible looking child!'

She groaned and hid her face with her hands. Her thoughts were interrupted when Solas spoke.

"The Chosen of Andraste, a blessed hero sent to save us all." He said looking at her.

"Am I riding in on a shining steed?" smirking at her response.

"I would have suggested a Griffon, sadly they're extinct. Joke as you will, Posturing is necessary." He said smiling down at her. He walked away from her and stared at the sky. "I've journeyed deep into the fade in ancient ruins and battlefield to see the dreams of lost civilizations. I've watched as hosts of spirits clash to reenact the bloody past in ancient wars both famous and forgotten. Every Great War has its heroes. I'm just curious what kind you'll be."

He turned and looked at her again. Lavellan felt her knees almost gave out when he stared back at her again. She focused all her strength to walk closer to him. She was about to answer his question with another joke that she was going to be a 'valiant hero with a glorious horse as she rides into the field'. But thought against it, instead asked him a question.

"What do you mean ruins and battlefields?" She looked at him, eyes full of curiosity that she thought she saw Solas smile.

Solas went on explaining how he dreams of such places and finds himself in awe with all the things the spirits shows him. She asked him if he was ever afraid when he sleeps. He told her he sets wards for protection and leave food for the giant spiders so they leave him be. She admired how he can go far into the fade with such pristine.

"Thank you. It's not a common field of study, for obvious reasons. Not so flashy as throwing fire or lightning. The thrill of finding remnants of a thousand-year-old dream? I would not trade it for anything. I will stay then, at least until The Breach has been closed." He says looking out into the sky.

"Was that in doubt?" she asked looking at him with a questioned look. He turned to look at her.

"I am an apostate mage surrounded by Chantry forces and unlike you; I do not have a Divine Mark Protecting me. Cassandra has been accommodating, but you understand my caution."

"You came here to help, Solas, I won't let them use that against you." She responded with a force that surprised both herself and Solas.

"How would you stop them?" He asked.

"However I have to." Her voice was stern and unmoving. She doesn't know what came over but the thought of the others torturing or killing him made her want to protect him from such a faith.

"Thank you." He whispered with relief in his voice.

Lavellan smiled at him and turned towards the apothecary cabin before anything embarrassing happens to her again. She wouldn't want Solas to think that she is a child with no sense of the world. That may have been true, since living with her clan they barely really did anything outside of their own space. She stopped thinking of her clan and went inside the house and greeted the man standing. He introduced himself as Adan, and he was the one watching over her while she was unconscious for three days. She thanked him and asked what she can do to repay him.

Solas was still looking at her while she went inside the apothecary. He was curious as to what kind of person she is. First thought came…

'A daydreamer, clumsy, yet her eyes full of curiosity about everything around her. There is eagerness to learn new things in those eyes. Deadly. For me. Yet this could be interesting.'

He chuckled to himself with the thought. Yet, his curiosity about her made him want to learn more about her. As he started thinking about how she is, right on cue he heard the door open and saw her waving and telling the healer her thanks and that she will be back with the notes he needed.

"I will repay you Adan! Don't worry about it!" she said waving and running as she passed Solas, like he didn't exist.

He looked on in wonder or more like shocked. Weren't they just talking a moment ago? Now she ran like he didn't exist. Curious little Da'len. He watched on as she stopped by and talked to Varric. He shook his head and went back inside the cabin he claimed as his own.

She knew Solas saw her running and passing him like he didn't exist. She didn't dare stop to greet him because she knew how awkward that would be. They just finished talking and what else can she talk about? When it came to talking to him she felt like her lungs needed air and her throat becomes tight that if she did speak nothing would come out. No sound, no words. As she ran passed him she begged for his forgiveness in her head. She saw Varric by a campfire and stopped to talk to him. She never really introduced herself to Varric, now she thinks about it she didn't even told Solas her name.

'Oh good going Lavellan another reason for him to think of you as a child…an uncivilized child…stupid! Stupid! Stupid!'

Her thoughts were interrupted when Varric asked her a question.

"You holding up alright kid?"

She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him confused. "I'm sorry…can you repeat that?"

"So now that Cassandra is out of earshot, are you holding up alright? I mean you go from the most wanted criminal in Thedas to joining the army of the faithful. Most people would have spread that out more than one day. "

"Well…I am confused and saddened that a lot of lives were lost on that day…" she said looking down at the ground.

"Yeah…I hear you…a lot of men and women died sensibly. For days we stared up at The Breach contemplating on how to stop it watching demons and maker knows what fall out of it. I still can't believe someone made it out there alive."

"That makes two of us. I just got lucky…I guess."

"Well if it was by luck that kept you alive; let's hope you have a lot of those. Maybe I can rub some off you." He laughed at his own comment and she giggled along with him.

They both sat down on the ground and she asked Varric why he stayed when he could have went back to Kirkwall. He told her his reason, and also maybe write a book about the adventures they were going to have. She asked him about what kind of books he has written and how popular they are. Lavellan and Varric exchanged questions and answers to each other, even made jokes. Varric told her the time he was at Kirkwall, all his adventures with the Hero of Ferelden and Champion of Kirkwall. Lavellan told him stories of when her clan moved from places to places and all the different things she encountered, limited as they may be. As time went on Lavellan noticed the sun setting.

"Oh! I should get going; I promised Adan I'll help him find the notes from his previous healer." She said as she got up on her feet.

"Do you need help kid?" Varric asked.

"No, I got this. It's only finding a note." She replied smiling at him.

"Okay, just be careful it gets very dark here when the sun does set." He warned.

"Well…thanks for the warning, but I'll be fine. Remember I grew up in the wilds." She smirked. He laughed and waved his hand for her to make her way. She was about to run but remembered she never told him her name.

"Varric, my name is Lavellan…not kid." She smiled and winked at him. He chuckled and ushered her to get moving.

Lavellan went out the gate and saw the soldiers already packing up for the night. She looked at the map Adan gave her and followed the trail towards the cabin. It took her almost an hour to find the cabin.

'Well…bumping into trees and tripping over rocks…and falling down doesn't help. Varric was not kidding when he says it gets dark…'

She looked up and saw some stars poking out from the dark clouds. As she kept walking she finally saw a light and a cabin. She ran towards it and opened the unlocked door. She looked around and found the note that Adan told her about. She smiled and took the note and walked out from the cabin. As she walked around, she stared at the sky again counting the stars she sees and drifted into her daydreaming state. She didn't notice the figure in front of her until she smacked her face on the figure and fell on her ass and hissed at the pain.

'I really…need to stop daydreaming while walking…'

Her thoughts were broken when she heard the familiar voice.

"Do you always greet people you know like this?"

She froze at the spot and she knew that voice. Lavellan looked up and saw Solas looking down at her with a slight smile. She groaned and wanted to bury her head in the snow or at best yet, her whole body in the ground. Solas gave a light chuckle and offered his hand to help her up. She covered her face with the note she found for Adan and took his hand with her other hand. She was surprised how easily he lifted her up with just one hand that she almost yelped in surprised. She could feel his heat radiating at her and she tried her best not to blush. She was not aware how close they really were until she looked up and their noses almost touched. Solas and Lavellan shared a moment of surprised and backed away from each other, surprised that they were that close. She tried here best not to breathe hard or lose balance. Solas just turned his head and looked around. Lavellan found herself staring at him again.

'Oh my…his jawline…is really…sexy I want to touch it…trace the line down to his-'

Lavellan shook her thoughts away before it went overboard. She cleared her throat and spoke.

"I'm sorry…I didn't see you." It was all she could say and looked down. She noticed the bottom of her leggings was covered in snow. She hastily patted herself and accidently hit the soreness of her ass and let out a small hiss.

Solas noticed her winced while dusting herself. He stepped closer towards her, one arm up the air holding the torch to light them both. He almost laughed at what he saw. Lavellan was covered with the snow from head to toe. He bit his lip to stop himself from laughing but knows that Lavellan saw him smirk as she shook off the rest of the snow on her.

"Are you alright Herald?"

"I'm fine…and don't call me herald…" she muttered the last part of her sentence.

"Ah, my apologies, I don't recall knowing your name…" He said.

"It's-" She looked up and caught herself staring at his eyes, and he stared at her eyes. She gasps and looked down instantly. "It's Lavellan…" She said softly that Solas barely heard her name.

"Lavellan." Solas repeated. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine…" she muttered still looking down.

"I see…well…please be careful on your way back." He replied. Solas started walking towards the area where the cabin is, then heard Lavellan asking him a question.

"Where are you going?" She was already looking up to where he is.

"To sleep." Solas simply replied.

Lavellan looked at him with curiosity. Who sleeps out here, in the cold? There is a perfectly warm bed waiting for him at his Cabin. Her head ran with so many questions but she just let it be and didn't want him thinking she was prying into his privacy.

"Well…good night…stay warm." She said and walked back towards the village, trying not to show her pain while walking.

'Stay warm?...what? Who says that to a mage who obviously has the power to do so?! What is wrong with you? Here you thought he stalked you or followed you….wait why would I be happy that he followed me here? I shouldn't be happy! What is wrong with me…?!'

Solas stared at her for a moment while she walked back to the village. He smiled to himself and started walking towards his destination.

'On nydha, da'len'

Lavellan walked towards Adan's cabin and gave him the note she found. Adan was thankful that she found the notes of his predecessor. Lavellan waved goodbye to Adan and walked back to her own 'cabin'. She stared at it for a moment before going in. She never thought that one day she will live in one of these. She sighed and opened the door. Inside felt warm and cozy, it felt like 'home', she guesses. She started undressing and as she started to take her leggings off she hissed at the pain that she totally forgot was there. As her leggings came off and she was on her smalls only, she walked towards the mirror and turned and looked at her butt. There a HUGE patch of red and purple skin is visible.

'Well…that's what I get for daydreaming while walking…I guess I have to deal with it for a while.'

Lavellan sighed and resigned herself to her warm comfy bed. Tomorrow will be the day that they will pack and leave for The Hinterlands. Her duty as an agent for the inquisition starts. But for now sleep. She tucked herself under her blanket and in an instant fell into a dreamless sleep.