CHAPTER SIX
The meeting with the Clerics in Val Royeaux…did not go well. The Clerics publicly denounced the Inquisition to be a heretical movement, despite Myra's adamancy that they merely wished to close the Breach. The Templars stormed in and assaulted the Clerics and the Lord Seeker spat in their direction. Something about him made Myra uneasy. He did not look sane, and Cassandra seemed to think the same.
A few good things came out of their trip to Val Royeaux. They made contact with the leaders of both the Templar and Mage rebellions, and they recruited two new members of the Inquisition. Myra met Vivienne by invitation to her soiree. She found the whole affair absolutely fascinating: the masks, the elusive dialogue, hints of the Game that the nobles played. She'd have to ask Josephine and Leliana for stories.
She met Sera under the cover of nightfall. Myra appreciated having a companion her age that could make her laugh. Sera was so light-hearted, if not a bit dense. She was a breath of fresh air Myra needed amongst all the doom-and-gloom.
The journey back from Val Royeaux was…interesting to say the least, due to the strange mixture of companions she'd accrued. Sera and Vivienne remained on opposite side of the campsite at all times, Sera often making faces at Vivienne when her back was turned. Vivienne didn't seem to like the idea of "camping," but she "tolerate"d it well enough. Sera got a real kick out of that one. "Tolerate"d.
However, Myra worried. Cassandra spent most of the night just staring into the campfire's depths, a melancholic air about her. After a few nights of this, Myra approached her, once the others had turned in for the night.
"Are you alright?" Myra asked. "You seem…"
"Upset? It is because I am," Cassandra confided, staring into the campfire's depths.
"Is this about the Lord Seeker?" she asked.
"Has he gone mad? Our encounter in Val Royeaux was so unlike him," Cassandra said.
"The Breach has caused many things to shift and change…People are scared, and sometimes that makes them act unreasonable or strange…unlike themselves…" Myra delicately placed her hand on Cassandra's shoulder. "Try not to dwell on it. We'll find out what happened."
"Do you truly mean that?" Cassandra said, her back still turned to the Inquisitor.
"Truly," Myra said.
Cassandra placed a hand over Myra's. "Thank you."
When they returned to Haven, Leliana, Josephine, and Cullen already awaited their arrival in the Chantry. After the debriefing, Leliana pulled her aside.
"You may want to check on Fennec. I believe she caught word of the Val Royeaux conflict."
Myra sighed. "Of course, she did. Thank you, Leliana. I don't know what I'll do with her when I'm gone…Which reminds me…Cullen, Cassandra, and I wanted to try and find her parents. Fennec said herself that they're dead, but I'd like it confirmed. Thoughts on the best method?"
"I could have my scouts search for their bodies. They wouldn't have gone far without their daughter, and if they did," Leliana's gaze sharpened, "they don't deserve to have her."
"My thoughts exactly."
"I'll send word to the Hinterlands."
As soon as Myra left the Chantry, she was tackled.
"Oof!" She looked down to see a mess of curls burrowing into her legs.
"You were gone for so long," Fennec mumbled.
Myra brushed stray snowflakes from the child's head. "I'm sorry, my child. The journey was long."
Fennec looked up at her with watery eyes. "Why couldn't you take me with you?"
Myra crouched down and hugged her. "I feared what might happen."
"How do you think I felt?" Fennec cried.
"Hush," Myra said. "I'm here now."
Fennec nodded slowly before burying her head back into Myra's shoulders. Myra petted her hair and held her close.
The next morning found Myra and Fennec in line for their morning rations. As they filed in front of the Chantry, they saw Sisters and soldiers lifting pews and arranging them in the long hallway leading to the War Room. Cassandra and the advisors used the day for worship, so Myra had never actually seen the Chantry utilized as a…well…Chantry, before now.
Myra saw Fennec staring at the Sisters as they passed. Her conversation with Cullen before leaving for Val Royeaux disturbed her peace of mind like an incessant itch.
Finally, she asked. "Would you like to attend the service today?"
Fennec looked up at her excitedly, then averted her gaze downward. "If…that's okay…"
Myra hesitated. She caught sisters pointing towards her and whispering amongst themselves. But, for Fennec's sake, she pulled her close and smiled. "Of course it's okay. We'll attend the morning service, how does that sound?"
Fennec grinned. "That sounds great, Myra!"
They got their breakfast. Myra tried to make conversation, but Fennec scarfed down her breakfast at a rate the Herald had never seen! When they had finished, Fennec practically dragged her to the Chantry and found them an open seat near the back. Myra shifted uncomfortably as a human scooted next to her in the pews. Fennec looked up at her before going back to fiddle with her hands.
"My parents used to take me," she said quietly.
One of the elven servants nodded at Myra as she passed. She noticed the servant did not wear the vallaslin to honor the gods. Why would she? She believed in Andraste, or what these humans had venerated her to be, just as the Dalish venerated their own gods.
The pews filled quickly with the Maker's faithful.
"I've never seen so many people." Fennec awed.
Everyone joined in excerpts from the Chant at the beginning. Myra mumbled along awkwardly. A couple tardies squeezed into what few spots remained.
"I am surprised to see you here."
Myra jumped a bit at the Nevarran accent. Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast and Commander Cullen had squeezed into a spot beside Fennec.
"Fennec wanted company," Myra said. "Besides, I've never heard the Chant before."
"Your interest pleases me," Cassandra said.
"Hush," Cullen scolded them. "It's Mother Giselle."
The entire room quieted as the Mother took the podium.
She stood with a presence many would consider divine, and even Myra would admit there was a light about her, the same light that sometimes overcame the elders when they spoke of the Creators.
"Brothers and sisters, all children of the Maker," she began, "many have come to me troubled by the clerics' decision in Val Royeaux, and many have come to Haven's Chantry to seek comfort. Today, I hope to provide such comfort, and soften your hearts that have surely hardened."
Myra shifted back in her seat and crossed her arms. Cullen scoffed a bit, but Cassandra and Fennec listened intently.
"Let us not turn our heads from our brothers and sisters in Val Royeaux. Instead, let us remember that troubled times terrify us, and terrified people make terrible decisions. Act with love towards hate, for 'blessed are the peacekeepers, champions of the just.'"
The people gave their solemn agreement. They sang a few hymns, and while the Inquisition was by no means a choir, the spirit of worship reminded her of the stories taught to her as a child and made her feel more at home.
A few more sisters spoke between the hymns before the service ended. At the end, the sisters passed a bowl for tithes. Myra had never given tithes before. She felt strange at the thought of withholding her money, so she followed Cassandra and Cullen's leads and added a couple silvers. They looked to her and smiled a bit. Myra flushed and passed the bowl along quickly.
When the tithes had been collected, Mother Giselle thanked them and left them with the Maker's blessing.
Cullen and Cassandra stood up and started to leave. Fennec looked to Myra, who nodded after them. As the faithful exited the Chantry, everyone buzzed, talking about what they'd do on their rest day or what they thought of service.
"I liked it," Cassandra said. "It is hard to maintain a clear head when bureaucrats become involved."
"I'll agree with you there," Cullen said. He turned to Myra. "What did you think of the service?"
Myra twisted her betrothal ring, unsure if an honest answer was the best one.
"I understand if you didn't care much for it," Cullen said. "It's not for everyone."
"I liked it," Myra said. "It had a good spirit." She left out the part about it reminding her of Dalish story-telling.
"Does that mean you'll be joining me, erm, us…?" Cullen asked. Cassandra gave him a look Myra couldn't see.
The Herald looked down to Fennec. "What do you think, my child? Would you like to join the Seeker and Commander for Sunday services?"
Fennec nodded slowly. "If that's alright with you, Myra."
Myra petted her hair, smiling. "Of course."