The entire room grew restless, and it was not from waiting for Alysia, rather it was from the curiosity that plagued their minds ever since she returned with a mysterious figure. Varric on the other hand enjoyed watching Cullen and Cassandra on the brink of losing their minds at her; she clearly knew how to keep them on their toes, he noted.
Cassandra tapped her fingers impatiently on the wooden table; adjusting her hair occaisionaly to buy the time. She eyed Varric who was staring at her from across the room, at made a muffled disgusted sound when he winked at her.
"She's wasting our time," Cullen finally spoke into the silent room.
"Patience, Commander," Leliana replied while staring off into the distance, as was Josephine who absently drew circles on the back of her hand.
Cullen scoffed at the Spymaster's remark and rubbed the back of his neck, a habit that he could not kick. He picked it up when he was in Templar training for Maker knows what reason.
Solas lay casually against the brick wall, staring at the map on the table. His eyes drifted to the location where he first met Alysia, the location meant little to him but the abnormal circumstances that surrounded Alysia's sole survival constantly bothered him. His pointed ears perked up when he heard the door creak open.
Everyone's eyes fell upon the two figures who stood at the door, breaths held, expectantly waiting for Alysia to tell them truth; Alysia and the stranger paced slowly into the room. Silence slowly crept in as everyone stood around anxiously, hoping for one or the other to say something first. Noting that everyone in the room was shifting awkwardly, Alysia spoke first.
"Firstly, I would like to apologize. To all of you," she said as she looked at everyone in the room briefly. "I know my sudden… absence was irresponsible and I take full responsibility for everything."
Everyone shared glances amongst each other, and waited for her to continue.
"Secondly, I have spoken to Mother Giselle and we will be seeing more of her in Haven sometime tomorrow. She has agreed to aid the Inquisition in whatever we may need," she spoke now turning to Leliana who nodded in agreement.
Before Alysia could continue, Cassandra interjected her. "You brought a stranger to attend the Inquisition's matters?" she scoffed, while folding her arms.
Alysia groaned to the room, "If you would let me finish, Seeker," she muttered while turning to the stranger who now spoke on Alysia's behalf.
"Thirdly, I am no stranger," it said, addressing the room. "I serve the Inquisition as much as all of you do, especially where Alysia is concerned," it continued, removing its hood, exposing its indentity entirely.
Everyone gasped in unison; their eyes grew wide at the uncanny resemblance the stranger shared with Alysia.
"Oh Maker, no," Cullen groaned to himself.
Its hair was midlength, blonde and fell in sleek curls, eyes emerald green like the pendant it wore around its neck. It looked around five years older than Alysia was, sharing the same olive complexion as Alysia.
"Meet Aurelia Trevelyan, my sister," said Alysia and she tried to muffle her laughter and everyone's face.
"Maker. We have two of them," Cassandra said while she did a double take at Alysia then back at Aurelia, who were both grinning.
Josephine almost lost her head, muttering at how rude it was to have yet another noble in Haven and not receiving them formally—she and her shemlen customs, Solas shook his head slowly at the thought. They were all the same to him, nobles, peasants, Gods—it mattered very little to him what their title meant.
Varric simply just smiled at Aurelia when no one was looking at him, who batted her eyes at him in mock horror. Cullen held his head his in his hands, probably in horror at how another noble self-invited themselves into the Inquisition. He truly did dislike them, Alysia mused. She could not put her finger on why her advisors were so flabbergasted at Aurelia's arrival, saved for Leliana, who was the only person in the room who actually graciously greeted Aurelia, with words at least.
"If I knew my presence here would be welcomed, I would have left home sooner," Aurelia joked while winking at Cullen who reeled at her action.
Alysia groaned internally at her sister, barely two minutes into exposing her identity, she was already flirting with Varric and the Commander.
"Okay, now that this is done and over with. Can we please continue our daily meeting?" said Alysia, while waving her hand to the room in an attempt to get their attention.
Solas merely chuckled at her failed attempt when everyone was still buzzing about Aurelia.
"Guys!" she exclaimed, slamming both her hands on the table. "Meeting. Now."
Cassandra held her head with the palm of her right hand, as if it were about to fall off.
"Let's," she finally spoke with a hint of ease in her voice.
"So, you spoke to the Revered Mother. What can she offer to help us?" Josephine asked, businesslike; her composure completely different from her previous stuttering self. If Alysia could give the lady Ambassador any credit, it would have to be for her aptitude for making haste on the matters involving the Inquisition.
"She said that she would arrive tomorrow with names to help our cause," Alysia replied.
"That's promising," Leliana spoke while she jotted down notes on her paper.
"And what of Dennet? Have you spoken to him?" asked Cullen.
"Not yet, I'm afraid. I will return to the Hinterlands once the Revered Mother is here," said Alysia while staring at Cullen squarely.
"There is one other matter, Herald. A few months ago, the Grey Wardens in Frereldan have vanished. I sent word for those in Orlais but it turns out that they have also disappeared. Usually I would not consider the idea that they could have been behind all of this but, the timing is curious."
"That does sound odd," Alysia said, deep in thought.
"The others have disregarded my suspicion," said Leliana, turning to the other advisors, "But I cannot ignore it. Two days ago my agents have heard news of a warden by the name of Blackwall, living in the Hinterlands. If you have the opportunity please seek him out, perhaps he can put my mind at ease."
"And if he can't?" Aurelia interjected
"Then there could be more going on than we thought."
Alysia's ears perked up at the sound of people arguing near the tree she was having her breakfast under with Aurelia, she jerked her head up to observe the commotion. A huge crowd gathered right in front of the Chantry, arguing amongst each other, saved for a few people who shuffled around the crowd minding their own business and not wanting to get involved in an argument between Templars and mages.
A Templar pushed his way through the left side of the crowd and accused another mage of murdering the Divine, naturally a mage countered by saying that the Templars left her to her own demise. Angered by the mage's accusation, the rogue Templar turned his hand to the hilt of his sword to unsheathe it. Just as his was about to pull out his sword, Cullen interjected by standing in between the arguing pair.
"Knight-Captain," the Templar exclaimed, shocked to see a former Templar coming to a mage's defense.
"Knight-Captain?" Alysia wondered, confused. Was Cullen a former Templar?
She sat still under the tree, bread in mouth, and tried to ignore the crowd jeering at each other. She really did not want to interfere in a trivial fight, especially when it involved mages and Templars.
Cullen shot an annoyed look at the Templar who called him his former title, "That is not my title. Not anymore," he spat. "We are not Templars any longer. We are all part of the Inquisition," he said, addressing the entire crowd who were now in an uproar.
Before Cullen could continue, a man spoke from the crowd.
"And what does that mean exactly?" a hint of animosity in his voice.
Cullen turned his face to the approaching man, his face contorted into a snarl.
"Back already, Chancellor. Haven't you done enough?"
Chancellor Roderick smirked at Cullen "I'm curious, Commander. As to how your Inquisition and its Herald will restore order, as you've promised," sarcasm dripping in his voice at the mention of Alysia's title.
"Of course you are," Cullen muttered under his breath, annoyed at the Chancellor's feigned innocence. He noticed the crowd growing larger, all of them gawking at the exchange between the Chancellor and their Commander. He shook his head at their curiosity. "Back to your duties. All of you," he said, especially to the Chancellor who held a smug look.
She noticed how the both of them were shooting disgusted looks at each other, half-sure that it was going to end up into a brawl. Cullen would win obviously but she could not have the Inquisition's reputation be smeared over two hot-headed men. She wiped her crumbed hand and walked towards the two men, scowling at the thought of having to be the one to break up their fight. For grown men they were both honestly acting like pre-pubescent boys.
Aurelia waved Alysia on, muffling a giggle growing in her throat.
"So what's going on?" asked Alysia, rolling her eyes as she spoke.
Cullen turned to Alysia and shot her an accidental dark look, which he apologized silently for by warming his expression at her. "Herald, the mages and Templars are now blaming each other for the Divine's death. Morale is still low at camp. We can't have them fight amongst each other. Especially not within the compounds of Haven."
"Which is why we require a proper authority to guide them back to order," the Chancellor interjected, he curled his lips in rancor when he saw Alysia's eyes growing dark at him.
"And who do you think would be a better fit for that? You? A random cleric who wasn't important enough to be at the Conclave," another spoke, it was Aurelia, sauntering over in the midst of their argument.
Chancellor Roderick scoffed at her remark, "And who may this be?" he asked, annoyed. "Another misfit taken in by the Inquisition?"
"Someone who is clearly more important than you are," Alysia said, frowning.
He shook his head in displeasure at the three of them, "Centuries of tradition will guide the people out of this mess, the people need the Chantry to lead them, not the Inquisition."
Alysia slapped her forehead with her hand, "Cullen. Remind me again why we're letting the Chancellor stay?"
"Because your Templar knows his place," said the Chancellor, exaggerating on the title.
"He's no Templar. Not anymore. Now I suggest that you leave Chancellor before you find yourself disposable,"
"Is that a threat, Herald?"
"Probably," Aurelia said, amusement in her voice.
Chancellor Roderick frowned at the sisters, and walked away, to which Alysia gestured rudely at him when he was no longer looking at them.
Cullen smirked at the defeated man and turned his gaze to Alysia who was now looking up at him, frowning.
"Thank you for coming to my defense," he whispered to Alysia, apology in his voice.
He truly did act like a child, and he knew better than to push the Chancellor's buttons. For once he was glad Alysia stepped into the mess he created, but he did not like being on the receiving end of her ire.
"It wasn't for you," she whispered to him. "It was for the Inquisition," she said while turning her back on him and walking away.
Maker. She's trying to rile me up, isn't she?
"Not bad for a spoilt noble, hey?" Aurelia asked, grinning at him. To which Cullen groaned and walked back into the Chantry, face in his hand; that was not a conversation he ever wanted to delve into.
Alysia strolled down the footpath leading to Haven's gates; she spoke to the villagers who approached her. She was slowly getting used to them calling her by her title, but most of all she truly did adore the villagers. Through everything she knew that they held a high regard for her, not because she was a noble but because they truly believed that she saved them. Alysia's face perked up in mid-conversation with Adan when she saw Rhoswen running while calling out to her. The elf stopped right in front of her, and tried to form words through her pant.
Not catching a word of what Rhoswen said, Alysia blinked rapidly at the elf.
"Mother Giselle. She's here. In Leliana's tent." the elf finally spoke after catching her breath.
Alysia grinned widely, "To the Revered Mother," exclaimed Alysia while pointing her index finger at Leliana's tent and running haphazardly through the steps.
"Oh, Herald! Watch your step," Rhoswen cried out to the already sprinting Alysia.
"So what of the Revered Mother?" asked Cassandra who was standing next to Leliana in the war room.
"She says that she would like Alysia to address the clerics in Val Royeaux, she's given me some names," said Leliana, who propped a stack of papers in the middle of the war room table.
"Having the Herald address the clerics is not a terrible idea," chimed Josephine who was flipping through the names listed on the papers.
"You must be joking," exclaimed Cullen who turned to Josephine, scratching his head in displeasure.
"Mother Giselle isn't wrong. At the moment, the Chantry's only strength is that they are united in opinion. Take that away from them and they will crumble."
"And we should ignore the danger to the Herald?" challenged Leliana.
Don't speak about me as if I'm not in the room, Alysia thought bitterly to herself.
"Well, let's ask her," said Josephine, who was now turning to Alysia expectantly, interrupting her thoughts.
"Me? You're finally asking my opinion on something? After stringing me along for weeks now, and making me prance around as the Herald offucking Andraste, you're now asking me what I think of something that directly involves me?" she bellowed, hands on her hips.
Cullen snorted loudly, where everyone just gaped at the fuming Alysia. It prompted the entire room to stare at him; he tried to muffle his laugh with his gloved hand and pass it off as a cough, but he failed miserably.
"I'm not worried on going to Val Royeaux—"
"Don't underestimate them, Herald," interjected Josephine, who was furrowing her brows.
"I will go with the Herald. Out of good faith, Mother Giselle has given us names. We should use them," said Cassandra, who turned to Alysia and smiled warmly.
Shocked by Cassandra's sudden regard for her, Alysia gaped at the Seeker who was now staring straight at Leliana, jaws clenched. This is probably the first time that she has ever seen either Hands of the Divine not agree on something.
"What's the use of these names if the Herald comes out hurt in all of this?" Leliana said, her eyes narrowing at the Seeker.
"What choice do we have, Leliana? We can't approach anyone to help us seal the Breach. We should use what influence we have to speak to the clerics."
"She is right, you know? I've got nothing to show for, if I don't put myself out there. I need to at least show them that I am no monster to be feared," said Alysia, determined to change the Spymaster's mind of treating her like a precious porcelain doll.
"The Herald is right," Cullen said calmly. He couldn't find a reason to disagree with her on this matter. It was true that she did act like a stubborn, hot-headed child at times, but he had no reason to doubt her resolve in wanting to change the Chantry's perception of her.
Alysia turned her gaze to him and smiled warmly, glad that he was on the same page as her, for once.
"Well then. We leave for Val Royeaux tomorrow, at first light."
Alysia and her companions walked through the tall gold plated metallic gates; she gazed at awe at the long hall of statues that greeted each visitor of Val Royeaux, stopping occasionally to read the plaques underneath them. The walls were painted baby blue like the morning sky, music filtered through open windows, and the smell of fresh baked cakes filled the comfortably warm air.
It was truly unlike any other city, Alyisa mused. Val Royeaux was more than just its beautiful decorations and the people that spent their life there; it was its own person.
"Over there, Snowflake," Varric said, pointing at a large crowd gathered near a scaffold.
She couldn't see much around the crowd other than a few Templars and a Chantry mother addressing the crowd, the crowd cheered in agreement with the Chantry mother when she accused the Inquisition, or rather its self-proclaimed Herald for causing the death of Divine Justinia.
"Not this shit again," Varric mumbled under his breath, half to Alysia.
Alysia's stomach dropped when she saw the Chantry mother staring directly at her, menace in her voice as she called upon the Herald of being a false prophet.
"We cannot allow her to rise where our Divine fell," the Chantry mother said while pointing at Alysia, to which the entire crowd turned to her and yelled abuse.
Alysia felt her temper flaring but held her tongue, afraid that her smart mouth might actually be her undoing in a mob of angry people. She clenched her fists and tried to be diplomatic. For once.
"I did not come here to listen to biased accusations, we, the Inquisition, came here to talk. Let us put our differences aside and talk," Alysia said, her voice slightly shaking.
"It is true, Mother Hevara" Cassandra chimed in. "The Inquisition only wants to end this madness before it is too late."
"It is already too late. You murdered the Divine," Mother Hevara said, frowning at Alysia. "Look, the Templars have returned to us, the Chantry. They will fight for the Divine's death," she continued, pointing at a group of Templars who were now approaching the scaffold.
Before the Chantry Mother could continue her speech, a rather burly man in a Templar armor swiped her across the face, causing her to fall face first onto the wooden plates. The crowd jeered at the Templar, who simply ignored them.
"Still yourself, she is beneath us," the Templar said to his men, while walking down from the scaffold.
"Lord Seeker Lucius?" Cassandra muttered in shock.
"You know him?" Alysia hissed.
Ignoring her, Cassandra ran towards the man who but only disregarded her, and continued walking through the bustling crowd.
Alysia felt bile rising in her throat; not from the fact that he hit a Revered Mother or because he ignored Cassandra but merely because she did not like him one bit. Enraged, she cut across the crowd, and forced her way through the mob of Templars. As she was about to grab the man by his hair, he turned around to face the Herald, who was now snarling at her in anger.
He gripped Alysia by the collar, lifting her slightly off the ground and pointed his index finger at her.
"You my child are a false prophet, a puppet of the Inquisition."
Alysia held her hand up to her companions, informing them not to retaliate. She didn't struggle under his grip, rather she treated it as her indirect welcome to knee him in the jaw. Seeker Lucious gripped his lower jaw in pain, and wiped the blood of his bottom lip and snarled at Alysia in displeasure.
"You have no power here nor can you appeal to the Chantry. The only respect you can demand is mine," he yelled out to her.
"You are nothing but a pawn in this entire game. What good can the Templars do?" she said, anger rising. "If you came here to make heretic speeches, what good are you?" she blurted out, knowing that her words had not an ounce of filter in them.
Lord Seeker Lucius merely curled his lips at her remark, "I came here see the Chantry crumble. Val Royeaux does not deserve the Templars," Seeker Lucius said, enmity in his words.
"We will stand alone in this fight against the void. We march, we leave those who don't deserve us," he said while walking away from the crowd. Some of his fellow Templars agreed with him and continued their march out of the capital, the others stared in disbelief only to march along with their peers, feeling defeated.
Alysia stood there, rooted to her spot as she saw them walk through the gates. She had never been so angry in her entire life, she could literally kill the man if he ever so appeared in front of her again.
"Charming isn't he?" Varric stated as soon as the Templars left.
"He has clearly lost his mind," Cassandra said, infuriated.
"How are we going to ask the Templars for help?" Alysia asked, while scrunching up the left side of her hair in annoyance.
"I would not write them off so quickly, Herald. There must be people in the order who will stand with us," Solas said. Everyone turned to him, confused at his sudden enthusiasm with shemlen politics.
"For now, we should report back to Haven," Cassandra said, ushering Alysia out of the bazaar.
Nightingale,
I hate this city so much; I thought the ribbons in the bazaar were pretty and the music too? But fuck the pretty things and the people.
Why are they so angry? Especially the armored men. Fuck them.
I also encountered a "non-elfy elf"—her words, by the name of Sera. Solas hates her. We're keeping her. No arguments.
Plus, I got an invitation from Madame de Fer. She wants to join the Inquisition. You'll love her and her shoes.
Heading off the Hinterlands now.
Regards,
Frowny (According to Varric). If anyone calls me that, I will gut them in their sleep.
Nightingale,
I found the horse expert, expect some mounts soon.
Also, I found the broody Warden you spoke of. I think he likes me. Sera and him are becoming fast friends. We're keeping him right? Yes? Yes.
Be back soon.
Sincerely,
Tickles (Don't ask)
Nightingale,
So change of plans. Am at the Storm Coast, fitting name because it rains every fucking day. My boots are soggy, and my hair smells of sea air, gross.
Also, I accidentally became the leader of the Blades of Hessarian. Cassandra is not pleased.
Plus, I found another friend. He has a smart mouth and let's me sit on his shoulders, cue Commander Gloomy Tightpants groaning in the background.
With love,
Extremely wet (not even the good kind)
P/S: Aurelia stop trying to intercept my letters. I am on to you.
Alysia dragged her sore feet across the snowy ground, her eyes too exhausted to focus on anything besides making her way back to her cabin. She was half sure that if she closed her eyes for a mere second, she would fall asleep; she mentally recalled the things she had been through for the past several weeks. After the dreadful events at Val Royeaux, she found herself being led further and further away from Haven. She almost got hit by an arrow, by the Friends of Red Jenny, which in turn led her to an odd elf called Sera who was simply adorable in every way but still odd. She received an invitation from one of Lady Vivienne's men who insisted that she be allowed to join the Inquisition's cause.
She finally met Master Dennet, who was so pleased with had she done with the wolves and the building of watchtowers, that he personally invited himself to care for the Inquisition's mounts. Amongst the bear hunting and elven artifact finding for Solas, she found Blackwall, who was a strapping Warden with an overgrown beard. Then she received word from a person called Krem who insisted that the leader of the Chargers needed to see her; so off she went to the Storm Coast to meet this Iron Bull who turned out to be every bit that she expected. In between all of the travelling, she found time to fill Threnn's requisitions with the help of lovely scout Harding who Sera couldn't help but lust over. Poor Sera. So, from being called a fake prophet to now having five new recruits, she couldn't really complain.
She slipped out from the heavy armour as soon as she walked into her cabin, thanking the Maker how light her body felt when her she fell against the soft, warm sheets. She was certain that this would be the only proper sleep that she would get in a while, she still had to deal with the mages and the Templars, both of whom she disliked for obvious reasons, but right now she couldn't give a crap of which fractions she would end up in. Sleep was all she wanted and the next order of business would be alcohol. Everything in between could wait until she was finally rid of her exhaustion.