Having watched the destruction over the world, Cullen sat in his office with stacks of maps and paperwork on his desk. He had hoped to be apart of the team that fought along side Norin. Instead, Cassandra had made it quite clear that his part in the Inquisition was to manage the soldiers and to tackle paperwork. After years of training with the Templars, Cullen gazed longingly out the window to be apart of that world once again. He sat back in his chair as he looked over the mass of papers scattered on his desk. The only way for any of this to be done is to start it. With a sullen sigh, Cullen pulled out a quill and began to sign the papers.
Then, he heard the bells at the front gates ring violently in the distance. The Herald had returned. Cullen signed a paper as fast as he could, quickly stood up to where his chair had fallen and was out of his office. Walking passed the War Room, he couldn't hide the smile on his face when he saw the Dalish Herald walking in with the rest of the group. However, his smile soon faded when he saw how she seemed so at ease near Solas. It must be an elven thing... She looked to Cullen and he felt something warm inside of him. Her calm, crimson eyes seemed to bring out a peace in him that he hadn't felt in a long time. Though their conversation had been brief, he had a feeling that she was exactly what the Inquisition needed.
"Sir Cullen," Cassandra's sharp voice caught his attention immediately as she left Norin's side, "Here is a report of what happened at Redcliffe. It needs your direct attention."
"Good," Cullen took the scroll, and even Cassandra glanced over her shoulder at Solas and Norin, "I'm glad she's made a friend here."
"Solas may have an influence over her," Cassandra commented, though Cullen didn't know whether it was a good or bad observation, "I'm hoping she will have others in her council rather than just elves."
Cullen looked to Cassandra and even the Seeker noticed her own words as well. Cassandra shook her head gently as she held her forehead, "I mean... She ought to be seen with others as well. Just because she's an elf doesn't mean we all have to be elves. I...no, I mean-"
"I understand, Seeker," Cullen placed a hand on Cassandra's shoulder, "She's not just an elf. Norin is the Herald of Andraste and the leader of the Inquisition."
Almost as if summoning, Norin approached the two as she held her staff close to her, "Is there anything to report, Sir Cullen?"
"Oh? Uh, yes," Cullen began to lead her to the chantry's doors, "I'd like for you to see how the soldiers are handling so you know what's going on. And it would be good for morale if they were to greet you in person."
Norin looked over her shoulder to see Solas meeting her gaze and nodding. He was the only other elf in her council and it brought her some comfort to know she wasn't the only elven. She followed Cullen to the campgrounds to see many of the soldiers training while a few lay injured in their respective tents. When the soldiers noticed Norin, they stopped to look at her and Cullen. She glanced up at Cullen, "Why did they stop?"
Cullen put his hands behind his back, proud of his men and women that were fighting to recognize Norin properly. He smiled down at her, "They have heard of how you can close rifts and how you've faced down demons on the battlefield. They've heard how you would heal your teammates in the midst of battle even if it meant you were attacked. To them, you are their leader and they'd gladly fight for you."
The Dale looked over the soldiers once again before walking away from Cullen to the medic tents. Surgeons didn't seem too pleased at her entry, but none of them were willing to say anything as Cullen followed close behind. Norin went to one bed to find a female soldier with a near fatal stab wound to her abdomen. The soldier weakly looked up at her and managed to ask, "Is...You're..the Herald?"
"Shh," Norin whispered as she ran her hand just above the wound while she closed her eyes.
The wound was deep, but it would not claim this woman's life. At least not by Norin's watch. Norin's hand began to glow as if her hand was on fire. The woman coughed and groaned as if in pain while the surgeons rushed to the woman's side and stated, "Stop! You're hurting her!"
Norin refused to stop. She ignored their statements and one surgeon prepared to push Norin away, but Cullen pulled them back. Then, the woman ceased coughing and opened her eyes fully. Norin's hand went back to normal and looked to the woman. This time the woman smiled and grabbed Norin's hand, giving it a tight squeeze, "Thank you, Herald."
Returning the smile, Norin wordlessly went from bedside to bedside and healed what she could. There were a few soldiers that would leave, but the surgeons would have to take care of the rest. Once Norin was finished, she left the medic tents with Cullen and wandered around the outskirts of Haven once again. Norin hitched her staff to her back as she gazed at the surrounding mountains. She missed traveling in the forests or staying at old Elven ruins, but Haven was slowly growing on her. The footsteps approached her from behind, Cullen seemed rather pleased that she had helped the soldiers as she could, "You are starting to be loved by them."
Norin loosely crossed her arms as she shrugged, "I'm just an elf that has been gifted with magic. Whether or not they can agree with that is out of my control. I can only heal them and hope that we can beat whoever is evil."
There was a long silence that passed between the two. Norin enjoyed the landscape, but it wasn't home. Her time here was to try and eradicate whatever killed the Divine and end the Rifts. But...when this was all over, she wanted to return to her clan and join up with her people. She still wanted to be their Keeper and to find the ruins of her kind. This was just a temporary job and she didn't want the people to become too attached to her or vice versa.
"Why does your healing hand hurt them?" Cullen broke the silence.
Norin looked up at Cullen as her hands went up in flames once again. The fire hurt her too, just as fire would hurt others. But she had grown used to the painful flames. She held out her burning hands to Cullen, "Fire is a creation that can both help and hinder it's master. While Fire can burn someone alive, it can also keep people warm and cook food that would be inedible. Using flames to heal someone is a complicated ability. While it heals abrasions and certain wounds, the heat that warms the person can also burn them from the inside out."
Cullen's eyes widened and Norin could see the anger surge through him at the mention of hurting his soldiers. She quickly extinguished her flames on her hands and put her hands up once again to calm Cullen, "That is why only one or two in my clan are allowed to heal with fire; the Keeper and their First. No one is allowed to attempt such magic because of how fatal it can be. None of your soldiers are seriously hurt by my flames and I saved them as best as I could."
This seemed to calm Cullen as he nodded in agreement. She had to admit that his protectiveness was admirable. Hunters and gatherers were seen as highly respected because of the dangers they take, but Cullen took his pride of his soldiers to new levels. Norin had to smile as she sighed softly, "I'm not sure how I feel about them fighting for me, Sir Cullen. I don't feel like I truly belong here. If I didn't have this anchor..."
She gazed down at the mark on her hand before Cullen gently took her wrist, "This does not define you and neither do your ears. You belong here just as much as anyone else."
Norin couldn't help but feel her wrist tingle from excited magic. Cullen seemed worried as he looked to her wrist. She quickly pulled it away and rubbed the area he had touched and shyly said, "Magic... My skin will feel like needles if i'm nervous or excited about something."
"Are you afraid of being here?"
The question had popped up in her mind a few times in the last week she had been in the Inquisition. But hearing Cullen ask the question made her stomach drop. The way his face seemed so concerned about her stay, and how his eyes were holding actual worry for her. She had not expected a human to understand what it was like to be among a different kind after hiding from them for so long. Her clan had avoided Shemlan contact for many centuries only to have her right in the midst of them. Not only that, but Cullen towered over her. But she couldn't see him doing harm to her. His stance and the way he carried himself around her were more of a protective stance than that of a warrior.
"I am," Norin admitted as she shifted her glance away from Cullen, "On the battlefield and during missions for the Inquisition, I forget that I am an elf among humans. When i'm back here and see so many Shem...human faces, I'm reminded that i'm not at home."
Norin regretted her statement as she saw the sorrow in Cullen's eyes. For a human man that had been a soldier all his life, he seemed to be able to feel emotions that she hadn't expected him to feel. His hand had instinctively reached out to her, but he pulled it back to behind his back. Norin watched as he looked to the ground before looking back at her, "I can only hope that you see that we're not as wicked as the tales make us out to be. You've seen how my soldiers revere you and how many here see you than more than just an elf. There will always be one or two people who don't agree with your race, and it's up to you to show them you're capable of more."
With that said, Cullen began to walk back to the soldiers. Whether or not he was right, Norin knew she needed to return as well. She looked back to the surroundings and forced herself to turn away from the wilds to go back to Haven.
That evening, Norin sat amongst the others in the council with a plate full of food. However, she had not seen a great deal of the food that had been prepared. None of it seemed to have herbs in it and the fat in the meat was nauseating to look at. She could see that the chefs were looking right at her and seemed to be worried that she hadn't eaten anything but the bread they served. Norin gave a meek smile as she touched the meat with her finger. There was still some blood left inside of it... Not only that but whatever they were feeding the livestock had left a putrid stench to the meat. The vegetables that were on her plate seemed to be soaked with the grease that was cooked with the meat. As much as Norin didn't want to seem rude to her cooks, she didn't think she could eat any of this without throwing it back up.
"It takes a while to get used to the food," Solas sat next to her and sat a cup of herbal tea in front of her, "Drink this with your food. It'll help with any vomiting that occurs after eating."
Norin smiled gratefully at Solas before sipping her tea. The spices gave the herbal tea a comfortable reminder of home. She looked to Solas to see him watching her, and he swiftly looked away as he coughed into his fist. Norin then was able to pick up the food with her utensil and take a bite of the vegetables, and the taste didn't seem to bother her this time. After each bite, she would sip more of her tea before she had realized she had nearly eaten half her plate before she knew she was full. Music filled the chantry halls as they all feasted as people flooded the room as well to see the council and Herald. Then, a young elven woman dressed in pure red quickly approached the table. Cassandra stood to attention quickly and stood between Norin and the new intruder.
"State your business!" Cassandra drew her sword at the elven woman.
"Woah woah! Calm down seekie-pants," the young woman laughed gingerly, "I came here to see the Herald, and I didn't know she was elfy. Please don't tell me you're too elfy..."
"Cassandra," Norin slowly stood up, "She can speak."
Cassandra growled beneath her breath and sheathed her sword, but didn't move from her post. The elven woman snickered beneath her breath as she walked passed Cassandra, "I'm Sera, and a friend of Red Jenny's. I heard that you can close those demon rift things and I wanted to be apart of it."
"I'm afraid we have plenty of rogues who are requesting to be apart of the Inquisition as well," Solas commented to Norin, "Having one more may be too many."
Norin thought about Solas' comment and walked around the table as she looked Sera up and down, "Your an elf as well. But you don't look Dalish or live among city elves."
"Because i'm neither," Sera seemed to take an offense, "And just 'cause i'm an elf doesn't mean I can't kill demons and baddies. I've killed more people than hairs on your pretty head."
"Oh really?" Norin raised her brow as she leaned against the table behind her, "Prove it."
Sera seemed like an interesting person, but she had heard enough talk from others who wanted to join to know when people were blowing smoke. The red elf seemed to enjoy the request with a defiant smirk before drawing her bow at Norin's face. Cassandra pulled out her sword, Cullen grabbed his, Leliana prepared her daggers as the other soldiers around readied for a fight. Norin stared right into Sera's eyes as Sera glared into Norin's. Then, the two burst out laughing as Sera lowered her bow. The others watched in complete confusion as Norin finally caught her breath, "Okay, okay, you can join the Inquisition. Did you really think about shooting me in the face here?"
Sera was still laughing on the floor when two of Leliana's people helped her back up. She shrugged them off as she caught her breath as well, "I was thinking about it, but I'm sure someone had a dagger on my neck. 'Sides, why kill you? You may be elfy, but you're not on my list."
Norin extended her hand, "Welcome aboard, Sera. We're happy to have you."
Later that evening, Norin meandered to the tavern in her burgundy cloak. She kept her hood up as to not get noticed from the others. Ordering herself a goblet of wine, she sat at a small table with her wine while listening to the conversations around her. While most chatted about the day's events, there were a few who discussed their homesickness. Norin sipped at her wine to get the taste of supper out of her mouth before she noticed Sera enter the tavern. The elven woman didn't seem to recognize her and sat at her own table to order her drink. Norin appreciated the fact no one could recognize her in her simple disguise. Then again, neither Solas nor Cassandra usually went to the tavern to relax. Norin then looked out the window, the wilds were calling to her heart as she felt the burning ember inside of her starting to die out. She needed the wilderness to bring out her fire and remind her of her origins.
"I still can't get over the fact that the Maker and Andraste sent back an elf," a man nearby grumbled to another man, "I get that she's the Herald and whatever...but a human would've been better."
"The savage elves are probably eating this up," the other man responded, "Once this is done there's going to be more trouble getting elves to go back to their place."
"That's if they don't get even more savage and eat us," the original man croaked and began to chuckle.
"Oi!" Sera approached the two men, "You got a problem with elves or something?"
"No," the original man looked up at Sera, "We were just-"
"No, I heard you," Sera pulled out her daggers, "If you want to wag your tongues, do it so I can cut them off!"
"Hey! No fights in here! Take it outside!" the bartender called out, only to have Sera spit on their table and walk back to her own.
Norin pulled her cloak closer to hide herself as she stood up to make her way out. She didn't want to see anything else or hear anymore tales. Once she was back outside, Norin glanced to her side to see Solas taking stocks on the potions while the rest of Haven seemed to be ready to sleep for the night. Sneaking passed the potion's master quarters, Norin sneaked passed the front gates to see the soldiers were sleeping while Cullen spoke with Cassandra. This was bad, Norin didn't want Cassandra to be ought this late nor did she want Cullen to be up either.
The Inquisition deserved better, and surely Solas would find a way to get rid of the Rifts without the mark. Norin walked passed the soldier's camps before she knew she was on the path towards the forests. Her footsteps were quiet enough to get away unnoticed, and there wasn't a great deal of people out to watch for her. The Inquisition would have to fight without her, the soldiers would have to find another leader to love and place on a pedestal, and those who wanted to join the Inquisition would have to understand that a simple Dalish elf was not the answer or an icon to idolize.
Memories of her clan flooded Norin's mind as she tried to figure out where they would be located at this time of the year. They were at a temple dedicated to the Dread Wolf the last time before she and Rosseth went to see the Divine. Her clan ought to still be there...
"Who is that? Where are you going?"
Shit... Norin quickened her pace to the point where she was in a full run. Her cloak flew off of her shoulders as she snatched her staff to keep it from bouncing on her back. That's when she heard Cassandra's battle-cry and scream, "Norin! NORIN!"
She couldn't be caught this time. Norin dared to look behind her to see Cassandra with a calvary chasing after her. Turning back to the forest ahead of her, Norin returned with a scream, "I can't do this! I'm sorry!"
"What are you doing, Herald!?" she heard Cassandra's voice closer, it was almost a hair's breath away of being caught, "You can't run now!"
While Cassandra had longer legs and more muscle mass to carry her, Norin had the natural speed of the elven on her side. Praying to the ancient gods, Norin came to a hault and wielded on staff in a defensive stance. Cassandra put her hands up and took a step back, her breath was labored and her eyes wide though determined. Norin tried to not show she was out of breath as well and noticed Haven in the far distance. How fast had she ran? She then looked to Cassandra and the others not far behind, "I can't do this, Cassandra. Demons..rifts.. And those loyal to the Inquisition will not follow an elf to the end. Shemlan have lied to us before and I will not let them set up one more!"
"And when have we lied to you!?" Cassandra shouted angrily causing Norin to back away in freight, "When have any of us lied to you!? We told you from the very beginning of the risks and sacrifices we all had to make, even you! None of us have lied to you. Why are you running?!"
"Because i'm not like you," Norin's staff went into flames as she touched the grass in front of her in a straight line with the tip of her staff, "I don't want to lead an army, I don't want to constantly fight demons and watch more people die."
"Norin!" Cassandra shouted, but a thick barrier of flames engulfed into the night air.
Norin turned her back and ran off as the wall of fire grew to great lengths to prevent any followers. Cassandra cursed into the night as she bore her shield and ran through the fire. She was not the only one who dared to pass through the flames... Solas took one of the horses as he set up an ice shield in front of him and the horse to safely pass through.
Cullen couldn't just sit and wait for someone to bring back the Herald. Cassandra was out there looking, and Solas wasn't going to just let Norin leave like she had... There was a bad taste in his mouth when he thought about how Solas was out there and not him. He was the captain of these soldiers and ought to be doing a search and rescue. Cullen went to grab his gear when Leliana appeared in the doorway, "You can't just leave your soldiers here without command. Just let Cassandra go and get her."
"I wish I could just leave it at that, but I can't," Cullen walked passed the master rogue when she grabbed his wrist, "Release me."
"Regardless of how you feel, you have your duty as a captain to ready your soldiers," Leliana reminded Cullen sternly.
As much as he wanted to just go off on the hunt, he knew she was right. He growled beneath his breath before shaking off her hold on him. Leliana placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a friendly squeeze, "When Cassandra brings her back, i'll set up a meeting between the two of you."
"You don't have to-!" Cullen spun around, but Leliana was already gone.
As appealing as a 'set-up' meeting was, the thought flustered Cullen and he quickly went back to his room. The last thing people needed to see was the small blush on his scarred cheeks...
The clouds were ominous and it hid the light of the moon. Norin's eyes glowed slightly in the dark as most elven people had. She was capable of guiding herself in the dark. However, these lands were foreign to her and she wasn't able to recognize certain locations or if she was close to any Dalish camp. First, she needed to get to where the rubble was of where the Divine had been killed. She recalled Cassandra had taken her there during her first week, but she had been in such a daze it was hard for her to recall the path they took. Norin kept up her speed nonetheless. She could only imagine that Cassandra was someone that didn't falter from a path once she had a target in mind. The only thing that Norin could think of to keep Cassandra off her tracks was to take to the trees. Her clan's hunters normally hunted from trees, but as a First her feet were normally planted on the ground.
'I hope i'm close...' she thought to herself until she came upon a large oak.
She climbed to the highest branch and found the broken remains of the cathedral that once housed the Divine. Though she didn't believe in the Maker or Andraste, it was still a holy site that broke her heart to see it in shambles like Elven Ruins. She was close though. Her path wasn't far. But she could hear in the distance the shambles of feet coming for her. Placing her staff in it's halter on her back, Norin dared to go on feet and ran to find shelter in the distant Temple.
Meanwhile, Cassandra cursed in a hushed voice as she balanced herself on a tree. When she caught her breath, she punched the tree a few times before shouting angrily in the dark. Solas approached Cassandra, "I believe I know where she is going. However, I believe it best that just I go."
"Why!?" Cassandra snarled as she whipped to glower at Solas, "Just because you're both elves that means you two have such a grand connection!? Well let me remind you that she has still run off despite you're failed efforts to win her trust!"
Solas waited patiently until Cassandra's fury ran it's course. Cassandra punched the tree once again before spoke softly, "I spoke out of anger. I did not mean that. But.. I just don't understand how it works."
"Perhaps you must look inside yourself and figure out if you're comfortable with an elf Herald," Solas commented as he began to walk passed her.
"It's not that!" Cassandra responded quickly as she went to match his speed, "But the two of you have become inseparable. It's like she has no interest in anyone that isn't an elf. I just don't understand why she fears anyone that's human when I've done everything in my power to make it welcoming for her!"
Solas stopped in his tracks and took a breath. He then turned to Cassandra, "The Dalish, at least most clans, avoid Humans completely in the fear that they will be enslaved or killed. You may not have had a hand in oppressing elves, but many of your kind have. What happened was that we took one scared Dalish, given them a power that only she is burdened with, and then placed her on the highest pedestal for the world to see and criticize. So tell me, do you see why she is running now?"
Cassandra remained silent for a moment before placing her hand on her forehead, "How could I have not seen this? You are right."
She paced for a moment before turning to Solas, "Bring her back when she is ready. But when she returns, I would like to speak to her personally."
Solas nodded once and watched her leave before he turned to continue along the path to the Dread Wolf Temple.
They weren't there! They weren't there!
The rain began to fall hard as Norin took shelter beneath one of the broken pillars. Close by was the untouched statue of Fen'Harel, the Dread Wolf. Though his trickery hid the ancient gods, Norin was grateful that his temple was still where it was and had not been touched. She would have liked her clan to still be there... Norin sat on the grass as she pulled her knees to her chest. Exhausted and now slightly hungry from the run, all she wanted now was to see her clan and sleep among her people. She couldn't go back to Haven. Not now. Tears stung her eyes as she felt as if the world was crushing around her. Rosseth was gone. Her clan moved on. Humans that wanted to idolize her probably wanted her dead for desertion.
Norin placed her staff next to her as she murmured, "Ir abelas. Keeper, I'm so sorry. It was you who should have lived and I to walk with Falon'Din to the Beyond."
She could almost hear Rosseth laugh now at the words and say 'tel'abelas' and to move on without the clan. While Rosseth had been a great Keeper to their clan, she was one to know that if there were danger that meant her leaving the clan to save all their lives she would leave without hesitation. For Norin... She hugged her knees closer, she would do anything to have them back.
"Ir abelas," Norin cried quietly into her knees, "Ir abelas, Rosseth..."
"Andaran atish'an."
Norin lifted her head slowly. At this point, she didn't care who approached her whether elven or Shemlan. Solas stood in the rain as Norin quickly stood up with her staff in hand. He held his hand up as he walked underneath the pillar, "Ar lasa mala revas. You are free from Haven. But I have come to persuade you to return."
"I can't go back, not now," Norin tried to wipe the tears from her face, "I don't want to go back. Haven is not my home and I don't want to be the Herald anymore."
"Then that is your choice," Solas simply shrugged and sat down against the pillar.
Confused, Norin lowered her staff and wiped more tears off of her cheek, "What? Why aren't you..."
"Demanding that you're not allowed to leave? Screaming in your face that you don't have a choice? Ma nuvenin, but I doubt you will change your mind," Solas placed his head against the old pillar, "Interestingly enough, you take shelter at a temple that tricked your ancient gods. Did your clan stay here as well?"
Norin, now that she calmed down slightly, slid down back to the ground and placed her staff on her lap, "Yes. Rosseth said that even if Fen'Harel tricked the ancient gods to their locations, he was still able to walk among the world unseen once again. If we were take take shelter here, perhaps we would be unseen especially since..."
Since they were to sneak into seeing the Divine. Norin felt another wave of tears threatening to unleash when she noticed Solas gazing directly at her. She looked away and noticed that he stood up and sat closer to her. He may not be Dalish or of her clan, but she felt as if he could understand the turmoil inside of her. Solas looked out at the pouring rain as Norin continued, "Rosseth had taken me as her first when I was very young, still but a child when my magic began to emerge. I had caught my mother's tent on fire and burn my father's bow by accident. Rosseth had been advised that having another 'fiery elf' wasn't a good idea since she was naturally given fire as well. I remember that she had laughed and said that our fire would keep all the world warm at night and they should be happy."
Feeling herself laugh at the memory helped Norin's mood as she recalled Rosseth's warm features. She then looked to Solas, "You would have admired her. I know you don't care much for Dalish, but she would have given you a reason to i'm sure."
"I don't doubt it," Solas spoke softly as he looked to her as well.
Norin smiled before closing her eyes and resting her chin on her knees. She didn't want to go back to Haven, but now that her clan had moved on she didn't have the choice. Then, Solas spoke, "I would like to have you return with me, but if you choose to go off on your own I will not stop you. However.."
Solas moved himself to face her which had Norin turn to look at him as he continued, "I feel like you do not truly understand the place you are in. You don't want to be a leader, but even in your clan you would have been one. Think of yourself as a Keeper of a newer, larger clan that now contains humans, elves, dwarves, and maybe other races of yet. And you get to be the face of all oppressed elves and Dalish who fear for their lives."
He was right. She would have been Keeper and leader of her clan if she had returned. Norin, now interested, turned to Solas, "What if no one likes me because i'm Dalish?"
"You had humans on their knees in front of you," Solas reminded her, "Tell me if i'm wrong, but is that a sign that they dislike you?"
"No..." Norin answered weakly, then felt her chin tilted by him to look at him once again.
"You are a Herald to them. If you don't like that title, don't answer to it. But you a natural Keeper," Solas smiled as he spoke.
Norin felt a flame burn within her; it was similar to when Rosseth would inspire her and something sparked within Norin. For once, she felt the desire to lead the Inquisition. If she could be the face for all the elves who were slaved, oppressed, or fearful for their lives, she would show the world that her people would not be bound to humans again. Norin stood up, Solas quickly following her. She strapped her staff to her back as she looked up to Solas, "I hope you know the way back, because I don't know how to get to Haven from here."
