Chapter length: 3,008
Words in Jack's Language and her thoughts are in italics
Zero is dead kids, and Jack has risen from the ashes.
Once they reached the Chantry, Jack was pleasantly surprised that Leliana did not lead them back to her cell like she expected. Rather they went to the very back of the Chantry where she remembered the War Room was stationed.
There were only two other people in the room; a woman in a blue and gold dress, who she vaguely recognized as Josephine Montilyet, and a man she immediately recognized as Knight-Captain Cullen Rutherford.
Former Knight-Captain, rather, as he was now commander of the Inquisition's army and had left the Templar order. He looked much better from his days in Kinloch Hold and Kirkwall, but he still looked rather tired. And wary. Specifically, of her.
They were all staring at her, so Jack broke the silence as Leliana shut the door with a hard click. "Alright, what you want to know?"
"Who are you, and why are you here?" Leliana asked as she walked around the other side of the table to face her and Danica with Josephine and Cullen.
Three against two-ish I see.
"My full title is Threader Captain 027435800, but am called Captain Zero. Varric and Danica have renamed me 'Blackjack' or 'Jack'. But I do not think that what you asking? I not come here with purpose, I not know how happen either. Only know I cannot return now that guardians have left. Not here to harm. Have promised self to Danica and will help Inquisition in any way I can."
"The men who were after you, they were guardians then? Why were they so keen on killing you?"
"Guardians are like Templars in my world. I was threader. Threaders are similar like mages, but no magic. Are historians of sorts. Record keepers. Watch a person's history, their decisions and choices, and we analyze how they shape worlds' history. Threaders not look at one history. Are millions of histories and threaders study until they are reassigned. Impossible to go through all of history. I studied Hero of Ferelden over ten years before reassignment to Champion of Kirkwall for more five years. I was reassigned to Inquisition not long ago before fall."
"And they were after you because?"
"Because it is job to. When threader assimilate, meaning escape into thread world, guardians are sent after threader to kill them. After threader are killed, guardians return to my world and dispose of the thread the threader fell in. Doesn't do anything to assimilated world, but erases problem from threader history."
"So the… guardians are going to dispose of this worlds thread? And it won't hurt us?" Josephine asked. "I'm not quite sure I understand what a thread is other than a world's history. Is it a literal thread? Like a thread from clothes?"
"Thread just what we call it. Suppose analogy works well. More like record keeping. Think of thread as like tree. Start at base and every choice effects future splits off into branch. Every decision after splits off into another branch. Can go on forever, but thread mostly ends with subject's death or end of power. Each branch tip is full history and threaders just go up branch one at a time."
"That sounds very… complicated." Leliana told her, her eyes slightly narrowed.
"It is. And very long in time. Most of time, threaders voluntarily ask for reassignment to other thread. They begin to go mad from so many possibilities. Are general rules to thread-ing and if threader stays too long studying thread, rules start to change. 'Everything is true until not' is personal motto for me. Say something happens ten times, you are expect thing happen next time, but does not always happen. Thing throws you off and you begin to doubt everything you learn in past. Begin to go crazy."
"So you've studied Thedas for fifteen years, what does that mean for us?" Cullen asked, leaning onto the War Table with both hands.
"Means that I have relative knowledge of future events. Was farther in the thread before I fell by at most three months. Means I can help you close the breach earlier and be more prepared for possible future events. I not know a lot, but what do know will most likely be great help. Danica first 'Herald' I study, so not know if changes good or bad or effect on future. Will help anyway. Wish could be of more. Wish knew entire story and not part. Wish knew how things all play out."
"So you know the future-" Jack coughed slightly and Leliana rolled her eyes. "-or rather the possibilities of the future?"
"Know the choices I saw in the thread up to not long after close of breach. Not where your journey ends, I'm afraid. After you close breach, person who created it comes to Haven to attack you. Not exactly dure how far into timeline I fell, but have upcoming choice: Templars or Mages. After choice, you free to close breach, and as far as I know, either choice will close breach. Other choice not chosen will close off contact however. Pretty sure is fixed point."
"And you've seen this possibility?" Danica asked beside her, looking kind of pale.
"Yes. Things are not set in stone though. Many things can change. Besides few things, don't think many fixed points." Jack soothed.
"What exactly are fixed points?" Josephine asked.
"Cause of threader insanity, usually. Are point in time that always happens until not. Still confusing no? Example: Ostagar always falls when Loghain McTir retreats. Always happens. In many, many threads I study only one time I see not happen. That a fixed point. The fifth blight is fixed point, the arch-demon slain fixed, although who slay dragon matter not. Kirkwall always falls," Jack glanced at Cullen before looking at Danica. "Temple always explodes."
There was a brief silence between the four as glanced at each other, then Leliana spoke. "You say you know a possibility of our future. Alright, then what do you know?"
"You contacted Mother Giselle in Hinterlands yes? Thought saw her out in Chanty. Before too far into story, must tell you involvement from me will change what know. Presence here changes how things play out. Will not be same." Jack took a deep breath.
"Mother Giselle. She recommend you speak to Chantry members in Val Royeaux, yes? You go try convince the Chantry you doing good as the Inquisition, however you declared heretics and denounced by mother upon arriving. Lord Seeker Lucius there too, and responds with violence to mother. Not for the Inquisition's sake. Lord Seeker commands Templars to leave Val Royeaux and denounces Chantry, refusing alliance with the Inquisition. Will return to Therinfal Redoubt. Lord Seeker not as once was, however not know what wrong."
"That's outrageous." Jack heard Cullen mutter. She didn't acknowledge him.
"After arrival in Val Royeaux, you receive invitation to party hosted by Madame de Fer in salon. At party angry marquis will attempt to cause fight. Madame de Fer will stop before can happen. Will offer to join Inquisition as wants to return to orderly days. Also in Val Royeaux, you have chance to meet a Red Jenny named Sera. She want to join too, wants to make sure Inquisition remembers little people not just important ones. Both have strengths and weaknesses, and could be good companions, despite own agendas."
"And what do you think of the those two? Personally." Josephine offers a tentative smile.
"Sera means well and stands for little people who get looked over. She does odd things and isn't particularly serious about much, but she wants to help and is great with bow. Both want normality. Madame de Fer is very formidable lady and very skilled. Is force of nature. Feel she is not true reflect of feelings in majority of mages over circles however. Stability is good. Last ten years have not been working lately. Mages feel trapped and prisoners. Feel circles is gilded cage. She not see mages stride only own. She want to reinstate the circles. If know anything, I know history repeats self. Nothing will change if that is case."
"And after Val Royeaux?" Cullen's face was rather pale, but his voice was strong. "What happens then?"
"Fortunately, you not have choose immediately who supporting." She directed this at Danica. "Can wait for relative stability. Herald saw chose the mages' side in conflict. Don't want to say too much about what saw. Will tell eventually, but want you to make own decision. Will tell after choosing. Choice should come from personal belief, not because I know potential outcome. Choose what cause speaks to you. Either will close breach."
"That's good then, right?" Danica spoke up, sounding relieved.
"Er… Not exactly. You close breach, yes, but person who created comes for you. Calls self 'Elder One', is angry after you close breach. In thread, he came with Templars infected with Red Lyrium." Jack paused as a shutter ran through her. "Would take guess to say if you chose Templars, would be facing Red Lyrium infected mages during attack. In attack, you learn true name is Corypheus. Is someone Champion and Varric have already fought and killed. Killed dead, in fact. Am unsure how survived, but stop at nothing for Danica. Wants to see world burn."
"How does he return? What has given him such a terrible power?" Leliana asked, her eyes blazing with passion.
Jack frowned and shook her head sadly. "Don't know answers to questions. Only so much I saw. Am running on limited information, many things I don't know as not have finished thread. Never even finished first thread. Any information have, only partial knowledge. If had gone through entire thread, maybe more answers but would take many threads and years to have full answer."
"Back to the attack on Haven," Cullen redirected. "You said Haven was attacked, but it cannot survive such a thing and still stand. Do we fall with it?"
"Attack comes from nowhere, with no knowledge of fore coming. Many people die. Hope by telling information that we can change outcome. Can save many people. Start by moving townspeople and those who not fight out of way. Corypheus will come no matter what. Attack is fixed point, any attempt to stall or avoid will backfire. Many more might die than I see if try to get around. All can do for now is prepare to move innocent out of way."
"In the thread, how do we survive?"
"As lays dying from fight, Chancellor Rodrick remembers path out back of Haven. Is only one who knows about it. All others made summer pilgrimage died in explosion of Sacred Temple. Once knowledge comes to light, people take pilgrimage away from fight. Everyone left alive evacuates Haven, Herald is fight to turn trebuchets to mountain and bury Corypheus' army in snow. Signal is given that all are out except Herald. Distracts Corypheus then fires trebuchets burying army and Haven in snow."
"I die, don't I?" Danica whispered, choking on her breath.
Jack squeezed her limp hand. "No. Survive by miracle. Don't want to say much for fear of change, but survive. Meet up with Inquisition during night and survive."
"Where do we go?" Josephine whispered into the following silence. "We do not have many benefactors currently and our influence does not spread very wide thus far. What do we do?"
Jack pointed at the war table's map. "Is old fortress north of Haven. In thread, Solas comes across fortress in dreams of Fade, he directs remaining Inquisition to fortress. Is called Skyhold and has been abandon for long time now. Has fallen into disrepair, but with some time can prove great purpose for Inquisition. You make a new home there. Sadly, is most I know. Not long after watching Inquisition settle in, found myself waking in cell. After arrival in Skyhold, no more knowledge I have."
"You do realize this sound completely and utterly unbelievable right?" Cullen asked her, face still very pale. All their faces looked rather pale, in fact.
Despite the tense situation, Jack raised an eyebrow. "More unbelievable than giant green hole in sky? Demons raining through breach? Someone surviving explosion that killed all others?"
"Point taken."
There was silence as the other four looked at each other, then at Jack, then back at each other.
Finally, Leliana spoke. "How can we trust what you're saying? You've given us a lot of information, but how do we know what you're saying is true?"
Jack nodded. "Understandable. I not done anything bad since arrived, but no reason to trust either. However, I given you information can easily confirm. Talk to Chancellor Rodrick about pilgrimage. Go to Val Royeaux and see if everything happens as said; not been here long enough to change that, at least. Meet Sera and Vivienne, make choice if want to join. Talk about choices with the mages and Templars and I give you more information after decision on who want to choose. If want more questions answered, will gladly help or tell if can. Some questions I keep because not my secret to tell. I keep everyone secret. All but own. Will answer any question on me."
"I only have one last question for today." Leliana said, stepping forward to where her face shown in the dim light. "You studied the Heroes for ten or so years, so you say. What was something I said to the Hero in confidence? Something no one else would know?"
Jack scrunched her face together. "All blends together at some point All blends together at some point. Do not know specific conversation might have had. Many Leliana's talk about childhood though. Talk about sweet orange, lavender, mother's grey linen dress, Marjolaine, and Lady Cecilie. Allora took you to Denerim. You spared her."
Leliana's face cracked in surprise and pain, but quickly returned to her blank, if not outwardly pleasant, expression. She nodded and stepped back into the shadows.
"I will talk to Chancellor Rodrick then." Leliana gave a short bow to the others, then left the room.
"Any more questions?" Jack asked wearily.
Josephine shook her head and left, curtsying as she passed Jack and the Herald. Danica and Cullen remained, Danica helping Jack to her feet while Cullen shuffled behind the war table.
"You… You studied the Hero and Hawke, does that mean…?"
She smiled sadly at him. "Yes. Not worry, Commander, you are good person. Many trials you overcome, are person of great duty and kindness, even if you not think." Jack tried to put some of her weight on her bad leg, but she hissed in pain.
"I'll let you go; any questions I have can wait. Danica, would you take her to the healers, please?" Cullen looked away from the girls, choosing to examine the war table instead.
"C'mon Jack." Danica wrapped her arms around Jack's waist. "We'll get Solas to look at your leg for you."
To say that Jack was pleasantly surprised she wasn't immediately chucked back in her prison cell was an understatement. She had expected blatant distrust and hesitant acceptance only after the things she had warned them of had come to pass.
Well, not that this was so much trust as hesitance and waiting for proof.
However, her surprise only grew when Danica led her to a nice little cottage near the Chantry and the tavern. It was very quaint, one room with separating rooms, two windows on either side of the door. The cottage was homely and Jack immediately loved it. A small bed was pushed against the opposite wall, there was a bookcase filled with tomes that Jack was sure she couldn't read, a reading chair in the corner of the room.
"You'll be staying here now." Danica told her as she led her into the small room. "Solas will take care of your leg while I'm in Val Royeaux. I'll be leaving in the morning it seems, now that we have your information. When Solas discharges you, there's a soldier who is going to teach you how to fight while we're away."
"How long think Val Royeaux take get back?"
"A week or two at most." Danica helped Jack onto the bed. "Three days there, eight days in the city to take care of everything, then three days back. I'm hoping to cut things short though. Hey Jack?"
"Yeah?"
"I really don't want to believe what you told us, but I do. I feel you aren't lying to us, and whatever happened earlier today only helped solidify that you aren't from here. I just need you to swear to my face you haven't lied to me."
"I swear it. More stuff with mages, but not want to say anything until you make decision. Not want to influence decision. Must choose because you believe, not because I know."
Danica nodded, seemingly more relieved with her promise. "I'll hold you to your promise. Do me a favor and don't mention anything we talked about in the war room to anyone who wasn't there. I mean no body, not even Solas. I need some time to think about what you've told me."
"Of course. Will say nothing outside of Josephine, Leliana, and Cullen. Said you leaving to Val Royeaux tomorrow? Have fun in city. Be good."
She smiled softly. "I'll send in Solas for your leg and try to introduce you to that soldier before I leave tomorrow."
"Thanks."
As Danica shut the door behind her, Jack flopped back onto her nice new bed. She felt like a boneless blob from all the excitement of the day as she shucked off her shoes and curled into a ball on the bed. She was completely drained of all emotion and the setting of the sun left her eyelids closing in on themselves. She briefly tried fighting the sleep that came to claim her, but the haze of sleep covered her like a warm blanket and she succumbed to the feeling.
I'll just close my eyes for one minute, and when Solas comes in, I'll get back up.
This was a long chapter, but whooooo! We're finally getting somewhere! Leave a comment about what you think! I always enjoy feedback :)
This week I'm recommending Keep to the Stars by MaryDragon on Ao3. Really good read, especially if you like Cullen fics. If you have a fic to recommend hit me up, I'm always looking for new stuff
-Jade