Most of Skyhold was very accepting. No one really mentioned Mira's ears and all was good. She could go about her business and be taken seriously. That was the case until she oversaw the training of a new group of recruits.

She was discussing the condition of the current army with Cullen when she heard, "Good to know the Commander's fucking a knife-eared whore." At first, all the violent things she could do flashed through her mind. Some of them didn't even involve magic. She decided against it, though, and spun around.

"What did you say?" she accused, crossing her arms.

The offending recruit went pale. "I-I...nothing."

"Don't fucking lie to me," Mira growled. She made her way towards him in a few long strides. She was glaring up at him. "Tell me what you just said."

"I..."

"You called me a 'knife-eared whore.' I heard you. My ears are bigger than yours for a reason," Mira said. She stepped away from him. "Your sword. Go get it. You'll be sparring me today."

"B-but you have the unfair advantage," he started, stumbling over his words.

Mira turned to face Cullen again. He was watching the ordeal with a stoic expression. "Commander," she addressed, "do you not train your soldiers to defend against magic to the best of their ability?"

"I do, Inquisitor," the Commander said, "it's one of the first things I teach."

"Good." Mira looked at the recruit again. "Are you saying you're incompetent, then, soldier?"

He shook his head, his face pale. He was terrified. Good.

"Then go get your fucking sword."

The recruit resigned to his fate and sulked to the armory. Mira readied herself in the training ground, crossing her arms. She muttered under her breath about ungrateful shems and their disrespect for anyone other than themselves. It was infuriating. Most of the recruits owed their lives to her, and they treat her with such flippancy.

"His name is Hughes," Cullen said behind her, still with the stoical tone of before.

"Thank you," Mira said, matching his inflection. She did not turn to look at him.

Hughes finally appeared, carrying a sword and shield. He seemed unsure of what to do, shifting from foot to foot and looking at the ground.

"Hughes," Cullen barked, "ready yourself."

He braced himself, in a decent-looking fighting stance.

Mira did the same, now looking at him with the eyes of the huntress she was known for being. She circled him, never taking her eyes away from his. He looked terrified still. As he very well should.

She spun her staff, and a bolt of electricity shot towards him. He shakily deflected it with his wooden shield, bouncing it elsewhere.

Mira heard the beginnings of a crowd forming, murmuring and gasps as they fought. Hughes didn't stand a chance. Within minutes he was on the ground, Mira's staff blade at his throat.

"Dead," she chided. Hughes' throat bobbed as he swallowed his fear.

She did not help him up as he stumbled to his feet.

"Don't ever fucking call an elf that, let alone your Inquisitor. You fucking disgust me." Mira turned away and filed through the crowd.

Cullen tried to say something to her, but she ignored him. She continued to her quarters and slammed the door.

"Ungrateful fucking shems!" she yelled, punching the stone wall. "Good for nothing fucking bastards!" With every word came another blow. She slid down the wall and put her face in her hands, knuckles bloody.

"Mommy?"

Mira looked up, seeing Rose. She was holding the stuffed nug that Krem had sewn her (Nibbles, she called it) in her tiny arms. "Yes, baby?"

"Why're you sad?"

Mira sighed. "People are mean sometimes. I'm not allowed to be sad outside, so I'm sad in here. Did I wake you up?"

Rose shook her head. "No."

Mira winced as she used her hand to push herself up. "Come on, sweetness. Let's get you and Nibbles some breakfast."

The pair made their way to the kitchens, Rose holding onto Mira's hand in one palm, and in the other she had Nibbles.

Mira tried to make nice with everyone. She didn't want Rose to see her as angry and spiteful as she felt. She even smiled at the chef. It was just terribly hard to act like every time you saw a human, you didn't flinch.

After they got their muffins, Mira knelt to the ground.

"I know I'm not as tall as the others," she laughed, "but it's been a while since I've carried you like this."

Rose giggled and climbed onto her back, squeezing her neck almost too tight. Mira walked out into the sunlight, making sure to keep Rose's head from the doorway. They strolled through Skyhold, listening to Rose talk about Nibbles. She wasn't listening, per se, but she was nodding and agreeing when the toddler's voice sounded like a question.

"Inquisitor!"

Well, fuck.

Mira turned around, seeing Cullen jog up to her. "I wanted to give you space after...this morning, but since I saw you, I thought it'd be a good time," he said. Mira nodded, almost not listening to him as she took another bite of her muffin. She really didn't want to talk to him – or any human – right then.

"Mm-hmm."

"I'm sorry for Hughes. Not for-well yes, because he called you that, but-for the rumor that has apparently been going around. If I'd known about it..."

Mira snorted. "That was the only part about what the fucker said that didn't offend me." She heard Rose giggle at her profanity.

"Oh," the Commander said, rubbing the back of his neck. He was steadily turning red.

Mira smirked slightly and watched him squirm under her gaze. She took a bite of her muffin and shifted slightly. "I'll see you at the next meeting?" she asked. It wasn't really a question, but he nodded.

Mira turned on her heel, walking away.