Breakfast was mildly entertaining as Sili enjoyed the Inquisition army and allies talking around. Many were retelling stories of events they had seen or heard, many about her. One man had insisted that the Inquisitor was hogging all the fighting, "She goes out, with like a handful of men, then gets to fight all of 'em. While we are a babysitting cleanup crew."
"Well, let her know, Captain Mavis. She's sitting right there." Another soldier laughed.
Captain Mavis looked over and saw where Sili was sitting, but she didn't look angry, "Well, Ser Mavis. Next time I fight a horde of Venatori brutes, I will let you in first. I warn you though, most are now taller than you, some even bigger than the Iron Bull. The red lyrium sticking out of their bodies makes some blows hard to penetrate, but no worries. I promise to let you have them."
The entire hall erupted in laughter, including the Inquisitor Lavellan. She looked to the captain and nodded, letting him know there was no ill will. Mavis made his way over, his embarrassment dissolving into amusement as he neared his leader. The clasped hands and she motioned him to sit in the vacant chair next to her.
"Are you serious, Ser? The Venatori monsters are really like that? Big, monstrous brutes?" Mavis asked as he sat.
"Yes." Sili stated bluntly, "Those men and women are twisted into something horrible... I hope none of you have to battle them, at least not in big numbers."
"Well, then maybe babysitting and cleanup aren't so bad..." Mavis smiled, "Though I heard a rumor that you'll be in the tavern soon?"
"Yes... After the last dragon battles, I was slammed into the rock wall and got a nasty head wound. There is more to it and now, by a promise, I said I would tell an old story." Sili replied, "Anyone can come to the tavern, about an hour."
"I will let others know, Inquisitor." Captain Mavis bowed his head and took his leave.
The seat was soon reoccupied by another, Sili turned to see Dorian looking at her, "Yes, Dorian? You have something on your mind, but you aren't being superior..." Sili asked finally after playing with the food on her plate a moment.
"My dear Inquisitor, you are looking better today and entertaining the masses so soon?" Dorian nearly laughed, "I just heard you were down here with the soldiers. I figured I would just see for myself."
"And see if I was alright?" Sili added, "Besides a slight, but growing headache, I feel relatively fine. Like I told the others, it will happen more. I am the Inquisitor and we are battling a giant, ancient darkspawn who wants to destroy the world."
"Corypheus wants to revive a long forgotten city from the Fade for absolute power, my dear." Dorian corrected.
"Same thing." Sili shot back, "Either way, more bad things will happen before the world is safe again. This isn't the Blight, where it's one area, this is all of Thedas."
"And you are doing wonderfully, darling." Dorian smiled, "I assume Varric told you?"
"What I need to know, but I still want to talk to Bull before anything else. Hence the hour until I captivate my audience. I think he needs to know I am okay and that I hold nothing against him. Can't say that about the rest of Skyhold." Sili shrugged.
"I really love him, but I have scolded him. Took me an hour to vent and another to calm down." Dorian looked at her like Varric had earlier, "You did scare us."
"Varric said the same, but none the less. Shit will happen." Sili laughed, slowly standing, "Is Bull at the tavern?"
"As always when the sun is up." Dorian sighed, "Don't go easy on him. Even though that was the plan, to go after the dragons, Bull got to wound up in the moment."
"If you, Varric, and most of Skyhold have had a say to him in the past day, I think he might just want to know that I am alright." Sili replied, "But we shall see."
The Inquisitor stood and made her way out of the main hall. She nodded to greetings and salutes as she made her way to the tavern. Krem was in his usual spot, drink in hand, but still gave his greeting.
"Greeting your grace." Krem tilted the bottle towards her, "Chef's sulking, has been since he came back to the tavern. You doing alright?"
"Yes, though I think Iron Bull feels worse than I look." Sili nodded, looking over to the Tal-Vashoth.
"Something going on?" Krem asked, getting serious.
"Just the headache. Some found out that this started a while ago, so to be fair... I'm going to tell everyone a story about my past." Sili replied, "But I wanted to talk to Bull first."
"Sounds like a plan. You need anything, your grace, you let me know." Krem nodded the bottle again, allowing the Inquisitor to take her leave.
Sili made her way over to Bull, who saw the elf coming and she swore he visible paled. She smiled at him and grabbed an empty chair to sit next to him. Sili leaned against the wall, staying quiet as she watched the tavern as she had the main hall. Sili tried hard not to look over at Bull, knowing he was freaking out inside.
When the Iron Bull shifted, she finally broke the tension, "I don't blame you, Bull. I know you may think I should, others think I should, but I don't. It was a dragon Bull, a fucking dragon." She stated, still not looking at him.
"Solas said that your head was an issue years ago?" Iron Bull asked.
"Not years, it may have seem that way, but it was less than half a year ago." Sili sighed, "He may have seen or thought other ideas, but it was started by an ex-clan mate. You'll just have to wait for an explanation."
"Why's that Boss?" Iron Bull, turning towards her, his one good eye raised in surprise.
"I told Varric as repayment for the scare I would tell it... to all of Skyhold that want to listen." Sili smiled, looking to Bull, "Partly because I don't want to repeat it a lot, nor do I want to be scrutinized under the advisors' gazes."
"Yeah, they can make the most simple of events seem so much more... problematic. Especially Josephine." Iron Bull laughed.
"She wants everything so tight that water wouldn't get through and she needs to understand that sometimes it's better to have good company than decent allies." Sili moaned, "I hate that half my background is either hidden or twisted just so the nobles won't freak out."
"Crap like that is for Josie to deal with. It's what brings her the greatest joy as you know." Bull laughed, "You run off a lot before it's all done, but she gets this devilish grin after her wins with some of these nobles."
"I bet she does, but we have awhile before the event. Anything else we need to discuss beforehand or are we good?" Sili asked, standing and stretching.
"Nah, we're good. Thanks, Boss." Iron Bull nodded, "There will be enough punishments from Dorian and Krem later. Hey, you need to go see Cullen at least."
"Already did." Sili nodded, mirth evident at the thought of those two punishing the Iron Bull. She took her leave and headed for the stairs, nodded to Krem one last time. As she ascended, the Inquisitor thought it best to check in on Sera. Though they never saw eye to eye on a lot, they were still friends and Sili saw past the trivial crap that made Sera's skin inch.
Many more patrons of the tavern saw their Inquisitor walking around and either nodded heads or bottles or saluted. Sili greeted them all with a smile and a nod of her own head. She wasn't into formalities unless it was groveling nobles or wanna-be supporters, and many of Skyhold knew this. Sera amongst them.
"There's you." Sera greeted, seeing her leader walking towards her little room, "Up and walking around already?"
"There's too much to do, though I get to stay in Skyhold a few days." Sili shrugged, walking into Sera's room and sitting on the bench, "You heard that within an hour, I am going to be entertaining."
"Yeah? How so... Wait, you going to entertain or entertain?" Sera laughed, "That would help morale, but Josie would probably have a fit."
"That might be fun just to see her face, but no. Just telling a story about before I got to the conclave and my head. It was from an ex-clanmate." Sili shrugged, "I know how you are with the past staying the past, but it might be interesting."
"And you're doin' it here? In the tavern? That's sweet, innit?" Sera nodded, "No, that's good. Let them all see that you are you and can be hurt and be fine, like everyone else."
"Good, be back in a bit." Sili nodded a good-bye and left.
She made her way around again, but headed up the next flight, intending to talk to Cole as well. Varric had told her as they walked, that Cole had been 'monitoring' them and probably knew what had transpired. Sili wanted to check on him as well and smiled upon turning.
He was in his little corner, walking around in circles like always, but stopped when she had approached. Cole smiled a little, but obviously was reading her, "Not lost, but looking. Always checking for others, good or bad, check out the problem, find solutions."
"Good morning, Cole. How are you?" Sili greeted, "Sorry about yesterday."
"Why are you sorry, you did nothing wrong? I am fine, though glad that you are here." Cole replied, twisting his hands.
"Later, I will be telling everyone what Solas and possible you saw. He will be up here to help you if you need it. I know stories like that trigger a lot of emotions, many hurts, ones that you can feel." Sili stated, getting to the point.
"I will be alright, I think. Thank you for caring, Desilinaris." Cole smile widened, "It may be fun."
"Oh I'm sure many of Skyhold will be drunk before lunch today." Sili laughed, nodding and taking her leave of the spirit.
The Inquisitor wanted to do a silent check of Skyhold, as she had done many mornings. It was her way of putting her hand into everything and seeing to issues herself. Sili trusted Josephine, Cullen, and Leliana, and they trust their own advisors, soldiers, and spies, but Sili couldn't trust them.
It was an odd way to think, but since Haven, Sili knew that everyone had their own agenda. The war table meetings and requests they all had were proof enough. Her clan being in peril had shown that not every immediate 'fix now' action was the right course. Her clan's future being one of them. Since saving a noble man's son, her clan was allowed peace near Wycome.
A report came and her clan thought Sili dead or captured and requested answers. As her leader had said, her clan had and wanted no problem with humans where none warrant. Josephine and Leliana wanted to send an elven scout or scribe while Cullen wanted to show force that Desilinaris now held. Sili had thought about it and sending troops would only lead to confusion knowing tensions were high. Sili knew many of the hunters would attack first and cause more harm than good.
She had sent a simple scribe and the news was welcomed that her clan was safe and wished her luck. Just before her battle with the dragons, Sili received more news about Wycome, which was disturbing. Bandits and raiders were attacking her clan, almost seeking them out and her Keeper had asked for help. She sent troops, Cullen's force this time and now she waited for a response.
Sili decided to wander down to the stables and check on her mounts, an Amaranthine Charger and a Wild Hart. Many of Skyhold's other residents were still getting roused, Master Dennet including and grumbled his greeting. Sili nodded to the horse master as she went to greet each mount and rubbed their necks as they nuzzled her for treats.
"You two will be fed soon." A gruff, but light-hearted voice laughed from the inside of the barn, "Good to see you are up and about, Inquisitor."
"Good morning, Blackwall. Meet in the tavern in a bit?"
"Something going on?" Blackwall asked, leaning against the door opening.
"Just going to be telling a tale, but most of Skyhold will be there." Sili shrugged, petting her mounts once more, "I need to finish my rounds and head back to the tavern. See you, Blackwall."
"Good day, Inquisitor. See you in the tavern." Blackwall laughed, heading back into the barn.
Sili nodded, letting her mounts nuzzle her a little more before leaving, passing by the merchants as they set up their tents. She slowly climbed the stone stairs, looking over to the healers' tents. One noticed and waved her off, the healers' way of saying they were fine. Waving in reply, Sili quicken her step and noticed a certain Seeker heading into the tavern...
