An Inquisitor called Trevelyan
Another day passed and Trevelyan's only company was still Cole. The young man, Trevelyan stopped calling him a spirit, was a good friend and company. Somehow Trevelyan felt that Cole was feeling the emotions he had while him and his Cole had spent time together and that Cole was channelling and accepting those feeling as if they were his own. It was both remarkable and unsettling. He hoped nothing would happen to Cole as a side effect to it.
The mage, who was also trying to forget the title of Inquisitor since he was no longer one, had learned a great deal from Cole. The Inquisition's latest mission had been on Adamant, with the Wardens and that psychotic magister whose named eluded Trevelyan. Apparently they had succeeded pretty much the same way he and his inquisition had and took down the evil magister after a fall into the Fade. Stroud had been left behind as he had done and felt a tug at his heart for the poor man who never appeared to survive regardless of the timelines he was in. It must be the after effects of that moustache. Not everyone could pull of a ridicules moustache, not like Dorian could, at least. He chuckled at that before growing melancholic over his loss. Feeling the shift in his emotions Cole, bless his human heart, dragged his mind away from the grim thoughts and resumed his summary of the past events.
The wardens have been pardoned and joined the inquisition, that much was what he had done as well. They would be dispatched to different missions and so on. This Lavellan turned out to be an adequate Inquisitor after all.
Towards the nightfall finally someone decided to see if he and Cole were still breathing. Actually it was a group of the inquisitions' finest, involving three of his advisors and Solas. Where Cullen and Cassandra appeared to fit right in with the dungeon's grimy atmosphere, Josephine looked a bit out of place. Not that it he would be foolish enough to voice it, lest he was determined to get that knife in his back.
He kindly introduced himself to Josie which earned him a chuckle from the lady and a couple of glares from the other two. He was so glad that his scariest advisor, Leliana decided not to join them that he was willing to play the coy little prisoner.
"Things would have gone a lot smoother had we received the same, kind introduction." Cullen said with a serious face. If Trevelyan hadn't known him he could have missed the tiny smile playing on his lips and in his voice.
"I was rather confused that day and the accommodations had been less than pleasant. Now I get regular meals and a friend to share them with." Cole beamed from where to sat "You can say it improved my mood quite a bit. Though it is still ways worse than my quarters at the top of the tower. The view especially was to die for."
"If you can talk this much then you have gotten much better. Perhaps we should cut down your visiting times. We can't have our prisoner be too happy" Cassandra chipped in. If Trevelyan hadn't respected and cared for Cassandra in his own time, he would absolutely retort back to her but he had promised Cole to be civil for everyone's happiness' sake.
"Now, now, Cassandra. I believe Lord Trevelyan has no reason to remain as our prisoner any longer. Now that our Lady Inquisitor has returned we can determine what to be done. If it is alright with you, Lord Trevelyan."
"If it means I'll be getting out of this cell, then I don't mind the direction; at this point whether it leads to freedom or to the gallows is irrelevant. I am accustomed to be locked up but I rather not have it repeated every so often"
"That is not-" started Cullen, who was looking stricken and slightly pale "This isn't the circle, Trevelyan. We won't made you into tranquil nor let you rot in here"
"Execution is a fair game though, is it not?" he replied with an icy tone. He could tell Cole was slightly shaking behind him, a symphony of Trevelyan's deepest and darkest hatreds at the tip of his tongue and ready to be spilled. The mage wondered for a second which corner of his bleeding soul would be whispered out loud; maybe it would be his hatred for the chant or the days he had been left alone in the circle's less than accommodating dungeons. Deep down he knew there was something which would take priority in the list of things he was suffering from and that would be the unfairness of having met Dorian and not seen him since then. To Dorian, Trevelyan must have appeared like a fun looking experience; a perfect candidate as the research materials yet somehow he spooked him off and now, he didn't know what came after this but he was done with it all.
First things first, he kneeled before the shivering blond boy and grabbed his shoulder gently. "Cole, look at me" he whispered and waited for the boy to lift his chin with unsteady eyes "It's okay, kid. Just let it go. Don't hold onto my feeling. There isn't anything you can do about it, alright? They just hurt you not me."
"But you are hurting. You were fine and they came in and you started hurting again. Go away!" he yelled at the others "you are causing him pain."
"Cole, look at me!" As Trevelyan brought out his thick, no nonsense Inquisitor voice the boy's attention snapped back to him. "Take a deep breath. You are more human now. You can now understand that regardless of whether something's causing you harm or not, you have to face it head on. If my time as an inquisitor has taught me anything it is that you can't keep running away, that you always end up facing your troubles one way or the other and the sooner you do it, the faster you start healing. This is one of those responsibilities I have to face, regardless of the consequences."
"I understand. Varric had told to stop making people and myself forget so we can learn from it. It is the same as this."
"Yes, the dwarf is smarter than what his smutty books let on."
"Those books are treasures!" yelled Cassandra before realizing what she just blurted out and blushed with a deep red colour. "I mean, they are helpful in spreading the name of Inquisition. Not the smutty ones of course, but the other ones."
"Yeah, we get it" Trevelyan said with a smile. "I am sure no one will catch you reading one of them."
"Of course not. Anyway, we must focus on why we had come here in the first place" Trevelyan took a deep breath himself and rose on his feet. His heart somehow felt lighter after their banter and if he managed to calm his pure hearted friend then at least he wouldn't die with an eye open.
"I was wondering that. If the Inquisitor hasn't arrived yet, why are you here? Going to give me a prep talk or remind me to act like a noble or something?"
"Sort of" replied Josephine.
"Seriously?" was the deadpan response they got from Trevelyan, despite him trying to act like a gentleman.
"Beforehand we were concerned with your claims; you can surely understand that we could not trust a stranger who suddenly fell off of a rift and declared himself the inquisitor. We have been doing a research on you and your background to determine the credibility of your claim. Soon after Lord Pavus spoke with you we came to two possible scenarios about whom you could really be."
"It is more of a how you came to be than who you are" Cullen clarified with a nod of his head "I guess Solas can explain it better than any of us combined here."
Trevelyan turned towards the silent mage who had been patiently observing their interactions. "I have no doubt in my mind; you are definitely an inquisitor. If nothing else, your knowledge of us, level headed interactions with Cole and easily maintained conversations with our advisors are enough proof to convince me. As they should be able to convince all of us.
"As for your existence here... I had many theories in the beginning but now they are down to two possibilities. Either drinking from the Well of Sorrows has caused an unpredictable reaction with the anchor, causing a rift to open in time and somehow to a different timeline. Or that same reaction has erased your existence from ever being born and in your own timeline and a different person ended up interrupting Corypheus' ritual."
"That is an easy to answer question, is it not? Ask my parents whether I exist or not!" Trevelyan was growling but he stopped before he got too rude.
"We have" answered Josephine "I am sorry to tell you this so bluntly but they said that they never had a third child" He felt cold waters spilling down his neck and suddenly the gravity lost his hold on him. His knees buckled and it was Cole who grabbed him tightly and helped him sit down.
"And my older brother and sister?" he asked with a shaky voice, unable to look them in the eye.
"They are fine." said Cullen and an eerie silence filled the dungeon. It was Solas who broke the silence.
"The problem with my theory is that had you existed, even if you had died at the conclave we would have known that you have been thrown back in time to a different timeline. But with no trace of you evident, we simply cannot be certain of your existence."
"You cannot prove a negative" Trevelyan murmured "Something Dorian once said. I am an ambiguity and you can't do anything but believe my story."
"However you came to be here, the fact remains that you are here and we must act accordingly."
"What do you suggest?" Trevelyan asked, already expecting the question which would follow.
"As a carrier of the mark, would you, Lord Trevelyan, be willing to assist us in defeating Corypheus?" asked Josephine and Trevelyan almost laughed out loud at the obviously revised sentence. He decided to show a small smile instead. He straightened his back and approached the bars separating them, as much as possible. He wanted to properly look them in the eye and feel the truth and sincerity behind their request.
What he saw was a combination of determination and desperation, just like the first time they had met. In spite of their earlier arguments, these people were still the same lot he had been fighting alongside for all this time. He had already made his decision to help them out on his first time but he preferred not to mention it. He had to have a leverage.
"I sincerely hope you have a room better than this one because I am not willing to sleep beside Blackwall among the horse shit. Also I will be expecting a regular payment since I no longer exist in this world and my name is but a joke."
"Ugh, no one should be sleeping in a barn to begin with" said Cassandra.
"If the Inquisitor confirms it too, then we agree to your terms" replied Cullen after sharing a glance with both the ladies.
"I am glad to be working with you again" Trevelyan said shaking Cullen's extended hand. "And remember If you have a secret I probably know it" It was nice to them all go slightly pale at his claim.
"Oh, I like him. Perhaps we can further discuss these secrets, Lord Trevelyan"
"And give away my leverage? I think not, Lady Montilyet. You taught me better than that. But on other subjects I will be happy to oblige."
"Mage or not, he definitely is a nobleman" laughed Cullen. "We will return after we discuss your situation with the Inquisitor. Sit tight, Trevelyan."
"Just Tsion, if I do not have a claim to the name, I don't think I can use it with a clear conscious."
"We will return shortly then, Tsion."
And with that they had left, leaving a confused Cole and an apostate named Tsion.
...
Just Tsion... He wasn't used to that. Everyone in the Skyhold always referred to him as either the Inquisitor or at least as the herald. Other times he was Lord Trevelyan. Even in the circle people had chosen to call his family name. The only person he heard his birth name was from his beloved one, in their most intimate moments. Dorian would scream and whisper his name like worshipping an old god. As they would lose themselves in each other, his name would be a mantra on Dorian's tongue. An intimate gesture and a sacred word only shared in the bedroom. And how he loved hearing that sound, how he loved making Dorian scream it out in pure bliss.
Now his birth name was all he had. Along with the stupid anchor, of course. But his name had lost its divinity. Muttered in every mouth, it had lost its charm. Might as well, he taught, it's not like he had seen or heard from Dorian since their one brief meeting down in the cell. Almost as if he had disappeared from the face of Skyhold. Not that he had the time to actually check out any part the castle but it was rather rude of him to not to come see him at all.
After their agreement on his last day in the dungeon, Cullen and the famous Inquisitor had made an appearance. It turns out Rio Lavellan was a Dalish elf who had been sent to the conclave by her clan. Of all the things she could have been , she had been a rogue and she was a bit aggressive in Tsion's opinion. Of course their first meeting had included more evil staring and little speech. Cullen stood behind her tense and serious but his eyes were following her every move fondly and with great respect. There was clearly some story there but Tsion didn't really care. At the end he was let out and a guard was appointed to watch over him for the time being. He had actually gritted his teeth at Cullen but the Commander just shook his head. The decision went beyond him.
Hence he had a lot reasons to dislike the Inquisitor, but he didn't let it show on his face. He had bigger problems. Currently he was being escorted to meet Lady Leliana and he had to keep reminding himself that he was a grown man and a mage and he didn't fear his spymaster. Except she wasn't his spymaster anymore and he was a potential, unknown threat. He really hoped she would abide by Lavellan's decision and not hang him.
On his way he greeted Varric, who gave him a thumps up and a promise to listen to his story. Solas was busy painting some odd shapes on his walls and had just nodded towards him as they passed by. If he had climbed up the first set of stairs too quickly, the soldier didn't mind. As he slowed down, his eyes darted around the first floor of the library, looking for a very specific gorgeous hair but he was disappointed as the secluded corner was emptier than usual. With his shoulders slumped he continued on towards the upper level before he was poked in the ribs.
Two happy surprises were waiting for him in the spymaster's study room. Firstly Leliana was nowhere to be seen and his guardian walked off towards some lad feeding the crows to inquire about her. Secondly, Dorian was standing right there, leaning over the railings and closely examining a dead crow in his nest. His feet automatically walked towards him and having felt his approach, Dorian started talking in his usual fashion.
"Someone has poisoned this poor little creature. Could you imagine, what our world must have come to if some fool is desperate enough to harm an innocent bird as this. A shame really. Leliana has asked me to determine the type of poison although I am uncertain as to why I was called to assist since Sera or Varric would know more about the many ways of poisoning than me but perhaps I was the closest and she appeared to be in a hurry as she dashed down the stairs. Oh, by the way Lady Leliana is our spymaster but you already knew that didn't you?"
Tsion smiled, it was a mixture of pain and amusement. Unsure how his voice would sound like, he simply nodded in response.
"So, is it Lord Trevelyan or simply Tsion?" His heart skipped a beat when he heard his name being uttered by Dorian. He tried to remain stoic regardless "Your name has caused quite the ruckus here. Not that you heard any of it since you were locked up since you appeared. So which one is it going to be?" Tsion could almost believe that the young man was teasing him, fully knowing what that name did to him and his nether regions. In reality there was no way he could have known but this was Dorian and the man was anything but predictable.
"For now, Tsion is good enough." he replied while looking away. "Josephine said she will be contacting my family- well, whom are supposed to be my family, and ask if they would allow me to carry their name, in their terms."
"You are their child, are you not? It must be like hearing about a child years after he had been lost."
"Except, mother never gave birth to me. Maker, that sounded so odd."
"Odd is what we do around here, so you would fit right in." Tsion smiled at him, feeling slightly better. Although he smiled back, Dorian somehow seemed a little out of it. It wasn't the same vibrant smile he had shown him over and over again.
"You seem distracted" Tsion said after a minute of gazing into Dorian's eyes. He recalled the last time he said that and he could hear the reply in his head 'sex will do that to you'. He blushed like a teenager and turned his gaze towards a crow in the cage nearest to him.
"Asks the person who gets distracted by his own question" he could hear Dorian's laugh accompanying the sentence. Now he had to re-remind himself that he was a man and a mage to simply be able to look at Dorian's handsome face and to avoid turning into a tomato.
"Sorry, I lost my train of thought there. I have been locked away too long I suppose."
"If you say so. As to your question, we just returned from a mad chase in the Hinterlands; closing rifts and alike. You know how it is."
"I do. In my time I used to drag you to Hinterlands and beyond. For menial tasks and rifts alike."
"Did I complain there too?" he asked. Trying to straighten his back but wincing at the sudden movements. Tsion narrowed his eyes, grasping the railing tightly in worry.
"Yes, especially the horse rides. Did you injure yourself?"
"You could say that" he replied cryptically. Tsion wasn't going to accept that as an answer though.
"I could always give you one of my famous back messages. Guaranteed to fix your back and neck problem in one session."
"Aren't we confident! Or are you just flirting with me, Lord Trevelyan?"
"You never complained about it before or afterwards" Tsion said and as Dorian's eyes grow bigger he realized the double meaning behind his words "Sorry, it must be weird talking to someone who has known you longer than you know him"
"You are right. Also it is creepy. Not that I am calling you a creep but you must understand how this sounds."
"I know, Dorian. I keep reminding myself that these people do not know me. That if I were to walk into the Undercroft, I would be kicked right out by Harrett and Dagna wouldn't even stop to look my way. It is difficult to keep my posture up and pretend that I don't know or care about them because I do, yet I can't make them believe it."
"If it is any consolation I am certain Master Harrett would kick me out as well. The man had spit on the ground when we first met. As an outsider, I understand what you mean and you are wrong. You can make them believe your good intentions by actually showing them. I am certain you weren't always popular yet you had them believe in you and they had named you the Inquisitor. If you had done it once you can do it again. Maker knows being treated as an outcast never stopped me from doing what I did best."
"You still did your best" he agreed "As a pariah, you accepted your role and moved on."
"Indeed"
"I have seen you do it many times you know. Your strength and bravery are qualities I am envious off." Dorian looked rather pleased to hear the compliments. A hand went to his moustache and the other curled around his stomach. It looked like a defensive motion as if Dorian wanted to swat away his kind words but was too satisfied to hear them.
"My dear Lord Trevelyan," he said with a sultry voice and Tsion's breeches suddenly got very tight "I don't know anything about bravery but my strength comes from determination to see this trough to the end. Can you say the same?"
"You give yourself way too little credit, Dorian. I have seen what you can do. I have witnessed firsthand how you stood up for what you believed in and fought your way out of a nightmare. Any lesser man would have succumbed long before but you made your own future and when I got lost, to find my strength all I had to do was to look at you and that was enough to get me going. You were one of my pillars and don't ever think of yourself less than who you really are."
"Oh" came out and Trevelyan took in the sweetness of the shocked face before him. The mouth which has been forgotten ajar gave him all sorts of ideas and he thought how nice it would feel to kiss Dorian breathless. He refrained from doing so. Instead he chose to tease him, a little bit.
"Rendered speechless I see" he said smirking "I should give you fair warning, Dorian, I am very good at taking your breath away."
"I can guess why" Dorian murmured and quickly regained his posture "What I meant is, I would like to see you try and beat me at it. I was simply caught unguarded but now it is a challenge."
"Are you certain you want to make that bet? Have you already forgotten that I have head start?"
"The bigger the challenge, the sweeter the victory. We shall see who emerges as the victor. Now I shall leave you to your work. Lady Leliana has been patiently waiting for long enough" Out of reflex, Tsion looked around in panic until he caught the eye of the spymaster. Swallowing hard, he nodded at her.
"And that's my first point" Dorian whispered to his ear and left the scene in a rush.
"So what is this bet about?" asked Leliana with a knowing smile.
"I honestly have no idea" admitted Tsion "Wait, wasn't he supposed to determine what poisoned the crow?"
"Yes but since he provided me with a much more valuable information. I will let it slide. Now take a seat, Tsion. We are to have a long discussion about the Empress of Orlais."