I stomped my way through the snow, trying to not get stuck in the thick of it. Adan, our healer, had mentioned notes about a new potion, so I was off to find it for him. Also the quartermaster, Threnn, had asked me to find some iron and a logging stand to fill her 'requisition'. Honestly, I was just glad to be able to go somewhere by myself.
I reached a little cabin hidden behind some giant rocks and went inside. It was warmer inside somehow but I wasn't going to complain. After having a quick look around the scarcely furnished room I found the notes I was looking for. I put them into my pouch carefully then sat down to rest.
And cry, apparently. Now that I was alone I could let the tears fall free. I cried because some of my family had died. I cried because I wouldn't be able to see my family for a long time, maybe never again. I also cried because the Maker, or Andraste, had put me into this situation which may kill me. I was going to be married to a rich nobleman, one with influence. We would have had a spectacular wedding, then within a year I would be pregnant. Our kids would be treasures and I would spoil them rotten. I may not have loved Cyril at first, but I think eventually we would have fallen in love. I'd already met him a few times and he seemed like a lovely man.
As I sat there, cross-legged with my head in my hands, I thought about the life I could have had, but will never. All because of this mark on my hand. I pulled off the glove that protected it and looked at my hand. Green, swirling patterns covered my hand and wrist. It looked beautiful, truly, but with that beauty came a price.
I stood and wiped my eyes. This was my duty now. I had to help save the world. Nothing would stop me protecting those I loved and those that needed saving.
I walked back into the Chantry with Cassandra beside me. My hand had a dull ache in it and I was trying to shake it out.
"Does it trouble you?" she asked.
We stopped in front of the war room, "Sometimes. It depends on the rifts I close, or how I'm feeling. But otherwise my only complaint is that it didn't close the Breach. What use is it if it can't fix that?"
"We tried our best, and we will try our best again soon. That is all we can do. I know it must be hard for you, but I want you to know that I have faith in you. We all do." She smiled at me, "Solas believes that with enough power we can close the Breach again, but we will need the same amount of power as what created the Breach. It will not be easy to come by."
"So you have a plan then?" I grinned at her.
She smirked and led me into the war room. Inside, two huge tables had been pushed together so a map of Ferelden and Orlais could be placed on it. Standing around the tables was Leliana, the man I and met on the battlefield and a woman I presumed to be Antivan.
"You've met Commander Cullen, leader of the Inquisition's forces." Cassandra gestured to the man standing opposite to me.
"It was only for a moment on the field. I'm pleased you survived." He gave me a friendly smile.
Cullen had gorgeous blonde curls. All I wanted to do was touch them. The urge was almost irresistible and my hands twitched at the thought.
"As am I." I replied, smiling back.
"This is Lady Josephine Montilyet, our ambassador and chief diplomat." Cassandra said, nodding at the Antivan woman.
"I've heard much about you. You are related to Lady Serena Mauntell, yes? I have met her on a few occasions and she talks of your family fondly. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." She curtseyed politely.
"Great Aunt Serena? Yes, my father's aunt. She told me about the few times she visited Antiva. She seems to love going there." I said fondly.
"And of course you know Sister Leliana." Cassandra put in.
"My position here involves a degree of…"
"She is our Spymaster." Cassandra said simply, cutting her off.
"Yes, tactfully put Cassandra." Leliana frowned slightly.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all." I said formally.
"I mentioned that your mark needs more power to close the Breach for good." Cassandra said.
"Which means we must approach the rebel mages for help." Leliana quickly added.
"I still disagree. The Templars could serve just as well." Cullen argued, his hands resting on the hilt of his sword.
Cassandra sighed, "We need power, Commander. Enough magic poured into that mark-"
"Might destroy us all. Templars could supress the Breach, weaken it so-" Cullen interjected.
"Pure speculation." Leliana cut him off.
He turned to her, "I was a Templar. I know what they're capable of." Cullen said fiercely.
"Unfortunately, neither group will even speak to us yet. The Chantry has denounced the Inquisition-and you specifically." Josephine said, using her quill to make her point.
I crossed my arms over my chest, "They don't even have a Divine. Who is deciding all this?"
"Exactly. Shouldn't they be busy arguing over who becomes the next Divine?" Cullen agreed.
"Some are calling you 'The Herald of Andraste' and that frightens the Chantry. The remaining clerics have declared it blasphemy, and us heretics for harbouring you." Josephine continued.
"Chancellor Roderick's doing, no doubt." Cassandra said bitterly.
"It limits our options. Approaching the mages or Templars for help is currently out of the question." The Ambassador finished.
"Varric told me the stories. I don't see the problem with them. It's inspiring people, giving them hope." I recalled.
"Even if we tried to stop that view from spreading-" Leliana started.
"Which we have not." Cassandra added.
"The point is, everyone is talking about you." Leliana finished.
"It's quite the title, isn't it? How do you feel about that?" Cullen asked.
I tried not to blush under his attentive gaze, "It will be hard to live up to, but I will try and do my best."
"I'm sure the Chantry will try and prevent that." He chuckled.
"To some you're a sign of hope and to others, a symbol of everything gone wrong." Josephine said.
"So the giant hole in the sky doesn't worry them?" I asked them.
"They do know it's a threat. They just don't think we can stop it." Cullen answered.
"The Chantry is telling everyone you'll make it worse." Josephine said quietly.
"There is something you can do. A Chantry cleric by the name of Mother Giselle has asked to speak to you. She is not far, and knows those involved far better than I. Her assistance could be invaluable." Leliana said.
I nodded, "Then I'll see what she has to say."
"You will find Mother Giselle tending to the wounded in the Hinterlands near Redcliffe." Leliana pointed to the location on the large map.
"Look for other opportunities to expand the Inquisition's influence while you are there." Cullen added.
"We need agents to extend our each beyond the valley, and you're better suited than anyone to recruit them." Josephine scribbled down something on her clipboard.
"In the meantime, let's think of other options. I won't leave this all to the Herald." Cassandra finished.
After we had finished setting up camp on a secluded hill in the Hinterlands, Cassandra introduced Varric, Solas and I to lead scout Harding.
The dwarf looked up at me, obviously impressed, "The Herald of Andraste! I've heard the stories. Everyone has. We know what you did at the Breach. It's an honour to meet you, my Lady. Inquisition Scout Harding, at your service. I-all of us here-we'll do whatever we can to help."
Varric chuckled, "Harding, huh? Ever been to Kirkwall's Hightown?"
"I can't say I have. Why?" she replied.
"Because you'd be Harding in Hi…Oh, never mind." Varric half-heartedly joked.
I still thought it was funny. A huge laugh burst out of my mouth and soon my stomach clenched in pain of laughing too hard. Varric laughed at me while I struggled, then when I was trying to regain my composure he whispered, "You good, sweetheart?"
I nodded and turned back to Harding, "Sorry." I said with a lopsided grin.
She giggled at me, "Don't worry about it. It's good to see you laugh. Makes you a real person. Anyways, the Hinterlands are as good as place to start as any to start fixing things. We came to secure horses from Redcliffe's old horse master. I grew up here, and people always said that Dennett's herds were the strongest and fastest this side of the Frostbacks. But with the mage-Templar fighting getting worse, we couldn't get to Dennett. Maker only knows if he's still even alive. Mother Giselle is at the crossroads helping refugees and the wounded. Our latest reports say that the war's spread there too. Corporal Vale and our men are doing what they can to help protect the people, but they won't be able to hold out very long. You best get going, no time to lose."
I nodded, now more serious, "Thank you, Harding. It's been a pleasure to meet you."
She smiled and nodded before leaving with a few other scouts. I walked over to a ledge overlooking where we wanted to go. Turning to my little group I grinned and said, "Let's go kick some arse."
I sat on a bench with Varric, eating a bit of bread, while we watched people mill about at the crossroads in the Hinterlands. Today alone we'd gone and found apostate caches for the refugees, killed dozens of rams for their food, closed a few rifts and fought off rogue Templars and mages as they tried to attack everything in their path. In summary, it'd been an eventful day.
"Tomorrow we need to find the Templar and mage encampments. I have a fairly good idea where they are, considering all the maps we've found. Then maybe we'll go see Dennett." I said.
"Sweetheart, have you ever considered that Cassandra should be leading this instead of you? I mean, she is older, more experience in this kind of stuff. She started this, so why do you have to continue it?" Varric said suddenly, turning to me.
"Uh-what?" I asked, shocked.
"Why are you the one doing everything?" He asked, now frustrated.
"Wh-why am I? Well, because I have to help. I have the mark on my hand and I can close the Breach and rifts with it. I do actually want to help too." I looked down and brushed the crumbs away, "My cousins and uncle died in the Conclave. Any of them were better suited than me at doing this job. I have to prove that I can live up to everyone's expectations, otherwise we'll fail, and that's not an option." I looked at him seriously.
He studied me curiously for a moment, a deep crinkle between his brows, then shook his head. He stood and looked down at me, "I don't think you need to prove anything to anyone. None of this shit is your fault." He looked away as if pained to say what he did next, "Should've told Cassandra…never mind. I'll see you later sweetheart."
I watched the dwarf walk away. I had a feeling there was something he had left unsaid and it concerned me the way he had looked just then. I already considered Varric my friend, though I wasn't sure about any other of the people I had met so far. Cassandra is so intimidating, and amazing, and basically everything I aspire to be. A strong leader, faithful, skilled as a warrior and legendary. Solas…well, Solas is a very nice elf. I've met a few, and of those who weren't servants, they were quite rude towards us humans. He is outstandingly smart as well and it blows my mind every time he starts talking. Honestly, sometimes when he talks I just stare at him in amazement because I can't comprehend his words. Then there's the ambassador, Josephine. Lovely woman. Wouldn't dare to go against her in the Game. I may know it well but that woman has had far more experience than me. One of the reasons she has her job, really. Leliana outright scares me. I feel like she could kill me in the middle of the night and no one would even notice I'm gone. And Cullen…Maker that man is handsome. Probably much older than me, I'm sure, and I'd presume he could have any number of women he desired. But he is such a good looking man…
I realised I'd started daydreaming and snapped my head up. I looked around quickly to make sure no one was watching my face turn a very bright shade of pink. I stood quickly and hurried to my tent, keen for a good night's sleep.
Cassandra POV
The girl is quite astonishing to watch in battle, truly. The way she jumps, spins and twirls with her blades cutting deep and quickly into her foes flesh was a masterpiece to watch. She had obviously been training all her life, which was surprising for a noble girl. The way she talked to people was interesting as well. Those in need she would do anything for; one dying man asked her to sing to him and she immediately sat next to him, held his hand and sung a beautiful song about children playing in ancient groves. He died as she did and Alys cried a little after that, but who wouldn't have? We were all quite moved and I respect her much more now. Her patience with nobles is far greater than mine and I have no idea how she charms them with such ease. I watched her talk to an older woman with a harsh scowl that was quite sceptical about her being 'the Herald of Andraste'. An hour later, they both parted ways assuring each other that they would have tea together soon with huge smiles on their faces. Lady Trevelyan continues to surprise us all everyday with her actions and I believe that she will continue to do so for a very long time. Maker, I am starting to believe that my choices were not wrong. I hope she proves my decisions right.