Notes: English is the main language of Thedas. Also, since the elven language is broken and nearly incomplete, underlined words like this is spoken in Elven language. (FFNET might not show the underlines so I apologize for that.) 10pts for whoever gets the reference from the chapter's title ;)

Char: Dorian & Noah

Raising Vahari

Mr. Dr. Professor Pavus

Noah sat down on the edge of the bed, pulling on his heavy boots. He ran a hand through his loose hair, looking around the room. He couldn't find the leather strap for his hair and he didn't want to go out with it flying wildly everywhere. He started when he felt small hands tugging at his hair. He went to turn his head but one of those small hands pushed at his cheek.

He sat patiently as Vahari ran her hands through his hair. He felt tugs at the front of his head then the back. When felt Vahari moved away to inspect her work, he ran a hand over his head. She had braided it at the front and wrapped it into a bun at the back. He turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow and she just smiled at him. "That's one alternative, thanks." He grinned at her, ruffling her hair before standing. "I'm going to be out of the hold for awhile…"

Her smile melted away. She jumped off the bed and made her way to Noah's desk. The stone box from when they first found her sat neatly in the corner of the desk. The stone box wasn't anything grandiose; it was a simple, grey, stone box with no design on it. She opened the box and pulled out a necklace.

Noah's eyebrows drew down in confusion as Vahari held the necklace out to him. The necklace was a simple, brown, leather cord with a white, thick piece of material hanging from it. The white, thick piece looked as if it were a bone. He took the necklace from Vahari and fingered the bone looking piece. It was smooth, hard, and curved slightly at the tip. It looked as if it were broken off on both sides as there were small ridges on the top and bottom. It could of been a fang but at the same time it almost looked like an antler. On closer inspection, Noah could make out the designs that represented Mythal carved directly into it. He looked down at the tiny elf. She was frowning up at him.

He slipped the necklace on and picked Vahari up. "I'll be careful. Thank you," He said. Vahari wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug.

Dorian, as usual, sat in the library with a good book in hand. Well, the good book part wasn't a usual thing. He'd been sitting in there all morning reading and had the continuous feel that someone was staring at him. Every time he happened to look over his book, he saw nothing. This time, he slowly brought the book down to see Vahari sitting in front of him, crossed leg, staring at him with a frown. "Why, hello there, little one," He said slowly, closing the book. "I see Noah has left already." Dorian stood up and stretched. "Shall we get started?"

Vahari said nothing, just stared at him. Dorian wouldn't say it out loud, but the tiny elf was kind of creepy. She didn't talk and would just stare or glare at you until you said something to her. Then she'd either run off or electrocute you then run off.

"…Right…" Dorian crossed his arms. "How should I start this? I have no idea how to explain the mechanics of magic and all its drawbacks and complications to a 5 year old…" Dorian groaned. "Why did I agree to this? I'm not a teacher!" Dorian turned his attention to Vahari who had moved without his noticing. She was sitting in the chair he had previously been in reading the book he had been reading. Dorian raised an eyebrow, backing up to lean against the bookcase. "You can read that?" a nod was his reply. "Hm…Maybe I could just explain it to you how I would explain it to anyone else. This will be easier than I thought." Pain suddenly exploded in Dorian's head. He slapped a hand to the throbbing center of his head before a plop brought his attention down to the culprit. A fallen book.

He picked up the book and looked behind him with a frown. He turned his attention to Vahari but she had disappeared. "I take it back, this will be more difficult than I thought."

Solas leaned against his desk, staring at nothing. It would be more difficult to convince the inquisitor something was up with the child they'd found then he first realized. For one, the inquisitor didn't like him at all. Most of those in the inner circle as he'd heard many people in the hold refer to them as, didn't even notice the elf hated him. Solas furrowed his brow as his eyes roved over his desk once more. Something was missing.

He slowly looked up to see Vahari sitting up on the painting platform with her legs swinging over the edge. She was slowly flipping through a leather bound book she held in her hands.

Solas tensed. It was his journal. He slowly approached the little elf. He'd overheard from the others that she was good for disappearing when she felt threatened. "Hey," Solas felt it would make her feel less threatened if he spoke in the elven language. "I need that back. Could you please hand that over to me? It is very important."

Vahari looked over the journal with a frown. Solas all but gapped when the little girl held it in both her hands and tore it down the middle. She dropped the two halves of the journal and Solas watched their quick descent. A bubbling rage he hadn't felt in years sprung forth. He looked up to reprimand the little girl but she wasn't there anymore. Solas growled and picked up the journal pieces. A few of the pages fluttered back to the ground. "Fenedis…"

Dorian made his way down the stairs from the library. He passed a grumbling Solas with a raised eyebrow. "Varric," Dorian said, regarding the dwarf sitting next to the rotunda.

"Hm?" He hummed in response.

"Have you seen Vahari?" Varric looked up at Dorian slowly with an arched brow.

"You're just now looking for Vahari? Teddy has been gone for a good while."

"She was in the library with me a few minutes ago but," Dorian sighed. "she threw a book at me and disappeared."

"She threw a book at you," Varric repeated, sniggering. Dorian rolled his eyes up.

"I know she's come through here considering Solas is in there pitching a fit about something." Dorian grinned. "I guess Vahari dislikes him the most."

"Odd considering they're both elves."

"Hmm…That isn't so odd, considering Noah is also an elf but he does not seem too fond of Solas either."

"Meh." Varric shrugged. "You've got a point."

Dorian knew the hold was large but he hadn't realized just how large it was until he went searching for the little elf girl. He'd looked nearly everywhere. He was currently in front of the door to the inquisitor's quarters. He hadn't ever been in here considering he had never had a reason. He'd always had the sneaking suspicion that Noah didn't like him very much.

He pressed open the door and made his way up the stairs. Rounding the railing, he let out a slight sigh of relief. Vahari was in the room. She was sitting out on the balcony's railing, a stone box sitting next to her. She was kicking her legs. Dorian made his way towards the balcony, trying to gain her attention without startling her.

"Hey, Vahari," Dorian said quietly. The little elf turned her head to look at him briefly before turning back to look out over the balcony. "You know, Noah wouldn't like you sitting up here. You could fall and hurt yourself really badly." She frowned, her lip quivering. "Come now, what is with the sour face?"

"…Noë…" She pointed out over the balcony. "Hurt…"

"Now, now," Dorian placed a hand on her shoulder. "He's fine, I'm sure of it. Now, how about we start training so we can make him proud when he comes back, hm?" She looked at Dorian then back over the balcony.

"Promise?"

"Yes."

"Okay." she nodded.

Two weeks blew through without much incident. Dorian's wish he could say he made great progress with the elven mage but that would be a lie. The only arguable accomplishment he had made was stopping her from electrocuting everyone she came in contact with, save Bull. She still tortured the Qunari whenever she could for reasons unknown to Dorian. He found that part hilarious, though.

The two were sitting crossed leg on the floor in front of the inquisitor's bed. Dorian had long since found out the longer the days dragged on without Noah, the less likely Vahari would be seen outside of the room. He'd been attempting to start another lesson with her but she was much too distracted to pay any mind to him.

After awhile of sitting in one spot, she would migrate to the balcony with the stone box. If Dorian spoke to her she would just repeat the same thing: 'Noë hurt' and then say nothing farther for the rest of the day.

Dorian was silent as he watched Vahari take up her usual perch on the balcony. He followed after her and leaned against the railing. "Vahari?"

"Dori," She said. Dorian looked at her. "They took it…" Dorian furrowed his eyebrows.

"Who took what?"

"Them. The bad people. They took it." She looked down, kicking her feet.

"Took what from who?"

"They took it from Noë."

"Took what?"

"It. They took it." Vahari frowned.

"What is it?" Dorian furrowed his brow. He was getting nowhere with this. Vahari spoke very little and when she did, she spoke in short utterances. Dorian thought it might have something to do with her limited knowledge of English. Now that he thought about it, it could also be the reason why he hadn't been making progress with her and her magic. He'd need Noah there to translate for him.

"Noë comes. Take me please?" She looked at Dorian. "Dori, I want Noë…"

"Vahari, Noah isn't here just yet."

"Noë here. Please, Dori. Take me to gate, please." Vahari turned on the railing and jumped off. She grabbed on to Dorian's arm and pulled him along with her. "Dori, come!" Dorian sighed. There was no way he was getting out of this.

Along the way to the entrance gate, Vahari had clambered her way up Dorian's back. She clung to his neck, occasionally running her hands through his hair. She pointed at the gate. "Noë comes!" Sure enough, just as they arrived at the gate, they could see a group of inquisition soldiers coming in. There was Cassandra and Vivienne at the forefront, while the rest trailed farther behind. Dorian didn't see any signs of Noah or Blackwall with them. "Noë?" Dorian looked over his shoulder at the frowning Vahari.

Vahari wiggled her way off of Dorian's back and ran over to Cassandra and Vivienne. The two looked worn, their clothes torn and bloodied in spots. "Where Noë?" Vahari stopped in front of Vivienne.

Vivienne paused, staring down at the elf girl in surprise. She hadn't even knew Vahari could speak. She placed a hand on the elf's head. "Noah was caught up with something, Darling," Vivienne said.

"Where is it?" Vahari asked as Vivienne took her hand.

"Where is what?" Vivienne frowned as they made their way to the main hall. Dorian fell into step beside Cassandra who had begun to fill him in on what had happened.

"It. The bad people took it from Noë." Vahari tugged on Vivienne's hand.

"I've been trying to figure out what she was talking about for a while now." Dorian piped in.

"What is it, darling?"

"Noë had it. They took it. They don't have it and Noë don't have it. Where is it?" There were tears in her eyes. "Where is Noë?" Vivienne shared a look with Cassandra.

"Come along, darling. Let me get changed out of these and then I'll show you all the robes Noah had me get you made."

"But…" Vivienne led her away. She looked back at Dorian. "Dori, find Noë, please." The two disappeared into the rotunda while Dorian followed Cassandra towards the war room.

"I would probably be more useful to you if you filled me in on all that happened." Dorian crossed his arms as they passed by Josephine's desk. The woman had stood up to join them in their wall.

"We'll fill you in when we gather everyone in the war room. I'd rather not have to repeat myself," Cassandra said. "Just know the inquisitor has been captured."

"I figured as much." Dorian spoke lowly.