Chapter 2
"Someone help me!"
Rebekah was roused from her sleep by the memory, the voice of that woman calling to her in the rift. She still couldn't remember the events that had transpired, but it was clear to her that she had interrupted some nefarious plan that had ultimately led to the destruction of the Conclave.
The conversation had resounded through the crater under the rift as they had sought to close it. The Seeker had looked shocked to hear echoes of the past reverberating off of the stone, but Solas had seemed unsurprised.
Cassandra had known that voice, claimed that it had been Divine Justinia, calling out for help. When Rebekah's embodied voice had responded, Cassandra had whirled on her. She had assumed that this meant Rebekah had some knowledge of what had happened, but whatever memories had lingered in the rift were gone from Rebekah's mind. There was still a gap between when she had walked up the steps of the Temple and when she had woken in the dungeon.
Solas had explained to Rebekah that it was possible that she would never remember, that perhaps the instigator of these events had stolen them from her somehow.
Rebekah rose from the bed, throwing her legs over the side and resting her bare feet on the rug that covered the cold stone floor of her hut. She ran a hand through her light brown hair with a great sigh.
It had been days since she had repaired the first rift and her body and magic still ached from the strain it had put on her. The effort to close the rift so soon after battle had left her magic completely drained, her body not far behind.
She had collapsed, right there in the crater beneath the Breach. Her companions had feared the worst, but Rebekah had survived.
For days she had laid in that bed, going in and out of consciousness, barely managing to eat. Sometimes she would awake and find someone sitting on a stool next to her bed, more often than not it was Solas.
The door creaked open softly and Rebekah tilted her head in order to see her visitor. It was a thin elven woman with short brown hair carrying a wooden crate. The woman did not look up at first, smiling to herself. When she did look up and noticed Rebekah awake and staring at her, her expression immediately changed.
"Oh," she gasped, the wooden crate tumbling from her arms and clattering onto the floor. "I didn't know you were awake, I swear."
"It's alright," Rebekah replied, her tone soft and her voice raspy from lack of use.
The young woman dropped to her knees in a deep bow and Rebekah shot up from the bed in surprise. She stumbled backward slightly in the process, knocking into the table beside the bed.
"I beg your forgiveness, and your blessing. I am but a humble servant," the girl intoned, her voice laced with something that Rebekah could only identify as fear.
"Maker's breath! What is going on here?" Rebekah thought, her brows knitting with confusion. "Please, there's no need..."
"They say you saved us, my lady. The Breach stopped growing, just like the mark on your hand," the elf explained. "It's all anyone has talked about for the last three days."
Rebekah had heard as much from Solas one night, when she had awoken to find him perched next to her, his nose stuffed in a book. However, that foreknowledge did not prepare her for how the people would react to her presence.
"I'm certain Lady Cassandra will want to know you've awakened," the elf cried out to herself, standing abruptly and backing towards the door. "She said 'at once.'"
"Can you tell me where she is?" Rebekah asked, feeling dismayed by how the elven woman was acting. Is everyone going to behave this way around me? She acts as if I'll hurt her.
"In the Chantry," she replied, her hand reaching behind her for the door handle. "'At once,' she said." With that, the woman rushed back outside, slamming the door behind her.
Rebekah shook her head, a weight settling over her that made it harder to breathe. She didn't want to leave that the didn't want to see those people who now called her the "Herald of Andraste."
Solas had told her about it briefly, praising her for the good work she had done with the rift. Where she had once been a prisoner, believed to have destroyed the Conclave, she was now a savior who had stopped the spread of the Breach.
She was still pacing and wringing her hands when a knock came to her door.
"Come in!" She called, and the door creaked open to reveal Leliana.
"Forgive me, I can come back later if you like," Leliana began, gesturing to Rebekah. It was only then that Rebekah realized she was pacing around in her nightclothes.
"My apologies, I didn't quite notice." Rebekah replied with a sigh, gesturing at the thin cotton gown before plopping back down on the edge of the bed. "How did I even get in this?"
"One of the healers, I suppose," Leliana replied, taking a seat on the stool across the room. "I was sent by Cassandra to retrieve you. Your presence has been requested at the Chantry."
"So I heard," Rebekah said, without explanation.
"Here," Leliana turned behind her to grab a bundle of clothing that had been resting on the desk. "I had Seggrit prepare some new clothes for you." She stood from the stool and placed the bundle beside Rebekah. The Cousland kerchief that Rebekah normally had tied to cover the burns on her wrist rested on the top of the pile.
"I hadn't even realized it was gone," Rebekah said, more to herself than Leliana, as her fingers traced the Cousland heraldry.
"It must be very important to you, to have kept it for so long," Leliana replied.
Rebekah rose her head slowly to find Leliana giving her a knowing look. "I wondered if you would even remember me, had I mentioned it."
Leliana nodded, smiling slightly. "Maybe not at first glance, but when they brought you into the dungeons they had me check for anything that would identify who you were. At first I was confused when I found it tied around your wrist. 'Why would she have this? How is she tied to the Couslands?' And then a memory began to take shape. A memory of a badly injured young girl at the Circle and the Hero of Ferelden applying a poultice to her kerchief to tie around the girl's wrist."
"It seems like such a long time ago," Rebekah said, fingering the frayed edges of the kerchief.
"It does," Leliana agreed. Then, after a brief moment of silence, "I never asked your name then."
"Rebekah," she replied, meeting Leliana's kind blue eyes.
Leliana inclined her head in greeting. "Well, we best not keep Cassandra waiting. I will wait outside while you dress. We can walk to the Chantry together." With one last small smile, Leliana walked back outside into the light snow fall.
The walk to the Chantry had been every bit as terrifying as Rebekah had expected. Where hostility had been before, now there was complete adoration. People bowed and curtsied as she passed, her new title only a whisper. Herald of Andraste.
Rebekah had quickened her pace in order to escape those whispers and without a word, Leliana mirrored her.
"Does it unsettle you?" Leliana asked as the Chantry doors closed behind them.
"It feels so..." Rebekah trailed off, the words to explain how she felt eluding her.
"Do you not believe?" Leliana continued, coming to a halt before passing into the room where they would meet with Cassandra.
"Believe?" Rebekah inquired.
"That you have been sent by the Maker. That the mark on your hand was given to you by Him as a means to save us," Leliana explained.
The thought was so alien to Rebekah, it almost seemed comical. Her, a mage, sent by the Maker to save the world? Not a chance.
"It feels false to claim that I believe that," Rebekah replied, shaking her head. "Then again, who am I to claim that I know the Maker's plans?"
Leliana nodded, a small smile gracing her lips, "True enough." With that, Leliana's gaze returned to the closed wooden door and she took the remaining steps towards it.
Before she could move to open the door, it swung inward to reveal Cassandra glowering at the person retreating from the room. Chancellor Roderick looked just as flustered and indignant as he had when Rebekah had first encountered him. Solas had told her that the Chancellor had continually called for her transfer to Val Royeaux, despite her ability to close the rifts.
His face was fixed in a scowl that only grew deeper when he realized who was standing outside of the room. Without a word, or a second glance, he walked past Leliana and Rebekah. His rage was almost palpable.
"Good, you're here," Cassandra said, motioning for the pair to come into the room.
"You wanted to see me, Seeker Cassandra?" Rebekah asked, as she entered the room. The door squeaked shut behind her and she watched as Leliana rounded the table to stand beside Cassandra.
"Yes," Cassandra began, her hand resting on a thick book upon the table. "Tell me, are you familiar with the Inquisition of old?"
Rebekah hesitated briefly before responding.
"Yes," she replied, her brows furrowing in confusion. What a strange thing to ask. "The group was created following the Blight and eventually split into the Seekers of Truth and the Templars, but that was ages ago."
Cassandra nodded,"The Conclave was Divine Justinia's, her first hope in stemming the violence between the Mages and Templars and bringing order back to Thedas. However, it was not her only plan."
Rebekah slowly nodded, not quite sure what direction this conversation was going.
"This," Cassandra began, pointing her finger down towards the book on the table, "This was the Divine's directive to us, that we should form the Inquisition of old, should the Conclave not succeed. Just as before, the world has been thrown into chaos, and we must restore order. In order to do that, we will need your help."
Rebekah's eyes widened with shock. "Me?" She squeaked, her eyes flicking from face to face to see if this was some joke.
"Of course. You have the mark, after all," Leliana answered.
"The Breach must be closed, and we must find the person who did this and bring them to justice. We cannot achieve this without your help," Cassandra added with conviction.
"What about the Chantry?" Rebekah replied, the comprehension of what they were asking of her slowly forming. "Why aren't they... handling, this?"
"The Chantry has decided on your guilt. They continue to demand that we send you to Val Royeaux. They are completely lost without the Divine," Cassandra continued, coming around the table to stand beside Rebekah.
"They still think I'm guilty?" Rebekah said with a tone of disbelief. "Who would willingly do this to themselves?"
"I don't think you would, nor do I think you are the person behind this," Leliana replied from the far side of the room.
"Neither of us believe you are guilty," Cassandra added. "You are the only one who we know can close the rifts and the only hope we have of closing the Breach. Will you stand with us?"
Rebekah's head was spinning. She hadn't been outside of the Tower for over a decade. The journey to the Conclave was the first time that she had stepped foot in the outside world since she was a girl. She didn't have experience with people outside of those at Kinloch Hold, and had no experience with actual conflict. Now, she was being asked to take a role within this war, to step outside of her life as a meek follower of Chantry doctrine and rules and become an integral part of this revolution.
When has inexperience ever stopped you? The thought came unbidden, from a part of herself that she had forgotten long ago. You can't leave these people. They need your help. Without you, the Breach could swallow the world.
And that was what scared Rebekah the most, what set her heart racing. If she refused, if she gave into her fears, she would be condemning the world.
"Of course," Rebekah began, her voice quiet. "Now is not the time to be that timid Circle mage," Rebekah berated herself. She cleared her throat, straightening and pushing her shoulders back. "Yes. I will stand with you and help in whatever way I can." The confidence in her voice was shaky, but it was a start.
"Good," Cassandra said with a small smile of her own, extending her hand to Rebekah.
Rebekah followed suit, grasping Cassandra's gloved hand in her own. Upon feeling Cassandra's tight grip, Rebekah flexed her fingers tighter. After one last squeeze, Cassandra released, her hand dropping to the pommel of her sword.
"We have long road ahead of us, Herald. I hope we are all ready," Cassandra continued, and Rebekah could already see her mind at work, assessing how best to proceed. "Leliana, have Josephine prepare the missives and send the ravens as soon as they are done. I would like everyone to meet back here this afternoon for a formal meeting."
With a brief nod, Leliana walked towards the door, flashing Rebekah a brief smile before exiting the room.
"Should I be back as well, for the meeting?" Rebekah asked, not quite sure what position she would hold within this order.
"Yes, of course. You have the mark. As such, you will be needed out in the field to repair any rifts that have opened. We'll need to discuss how best to proceed and where to send you first," Cassandra replied.
"I see," Rebekah could already feel her throat growing dry and instantly regretted agreeing to join. "Then I shall see you this afternoon."
Rebekah didn't wait to hear Cassandra's reply. She rushed from the room and out of the Chantry completely.
Rebekah did not want to return for the meeting later that afternoon. A majority of her day had been spent pacing in her hut, meditating in an attempt to calm her already frayed nerves, and staring out of the lone window that faced the wooden perimeter fence. The anxiety had burrowed into her and now gripped inside of her like closed fist.
Standing outside of the meeting room in the Chantry, Rebekah stood wringing her hands and listening to the muffled voices of those already inside. She could already tell by the differing tones that more than just Cassandra and Leliana waited inside.
"Deep breath, Rebekah. Take one last deep breath and then it's time to open that door!" Rebekah commanded herself. She took one deep inhale in through her nose and let it out slowly through her mouth. Then, she stretched out her hand, wrapped it around the brass doorknob, turned it, and opened the door.
The grip within her stomach tightened as she looked at the group of four assembled behind that pock-marked table. All conversation halted as she slipped into the room, gazes resting on her. What she felt as she walked into that room reminded her of the butterflies she would get as a girl when she was summoned to meet with the enchanters, as if she were just a trainee waiting to be scolded by her elders. She took another deep breath in and attempted to smile as she came to a stop opposite them.
"Ah, you must be the Herald of Andraste," the well-dressed woman said with a smile. Her heavy Antivan accent and her darker skin tone distinguished her from the others in the room.
Rebekah only nodded in response.
"I am Josephine Montilyet. A pleasure." Josephine inclined her head in greeting and Rebekah knew that sometime after this meeting she would have to ask for the woman's name again.
"You've met Commander Cullen, Leader of the Inquisition's forces," Cassandra said, continuing introductions.
"It was only for a moment on the field. I'm pleased you survived," Commander Cullen continued with a soft smile.
All of the thoughts swirling in Rebekah's mind suddenly came to a halt.
The voice of the unnamed man had seemed so familiar to her when she had encountered him in the valley, but she had never quite discovered why. Now, upon hearing the man's name, recognition clanged through her like a bell.
Cullen.
"No, it can't be," Rebekah thought to herself, her brows furrowing. At the continued silence, the small smile that had graced Cullen's features began to retract.
"I believe you two may already know each other," Leliana broke the long silence with her words. Rebekah suddenly became aware that she had been staring fixedly at Cullen's face for far too long, and she could see him shuffling uncomfortably.
"Oh?" He asked her, confusion lacing his tone. He looked from Leliana, back to Rebekah, and Rebekah could tell that he didn't feel the same sense of familiarity she had.
"Yes, I had almost forgotten," Cassandra cut in. "You were both at Kinloch Hold."
Cullen's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the Circle and Rebekah glanced away from him, wishing she could be anywhere else. She could feel his gaze on her as he searched her features for some sign of who she was.
"I apologize," Cullen began, his voice sounding as if his thoughts were in some far off place as he searched his memories for her. "I don't remember ever meeting you."
Rebekah didn't want to respond, didn't want to remember the young Templar that had called for the Circle's annulment even after Elena Cousland had saved them.
"No need to apologize," Rebekah replied, managing to keep her tone soft. "I was a young girl when you were a Templar there. I probably look very different than how you would remember."
Cullen. She could see it now, the young Templar that she had once known within the stalwart Commander who stood before her. He had the same sandy blonde hair, though he styled it differently now. He had the same kind hazel eyes. The scar on his upper lip was new, as was the confident way with which he held himself. Even with the bashful way he ran his hand over the hair at the base of his neck, she could feel that confidence ebbing from him.
"Ah, that would explain it," he said, still seemingly lost in thought.
The other women watched the exchange in silence, Cassandra looking a bit perturbed that their meeting had been derailed so quickly.
"Josephine is our ambassador and chief diplomat," Cassandra said, continuing her introduction of the people who formed the heart of the Inquisition. "And of course you know Sister Leliana."
"My position here involves a degree of…" Leliana began, before being swiftly cut off by Cassandra.
"She is our spymaster."
"Yes. Tactfully put, Cassandra," Leliana replied, lowering a playful glare at the Seeker.
Rebekah felt a bit cowed as their gazes came to rest on her again. She felt so young and inexperienced as she stood in their company. She had no titles to claim, no worldly experience, nothing to offer this Inquisition besides the mark on her hand.
"Those are some impressive titles," she said to them, clasping her hands tight behind her back to keep from fidgeting.
"We've been discussing what could be our best course of action for closing the Breach," Cassandra began, her eyes flicking to Leliana and Cullen in particular. "After gaining some insight from Solas, we have determined that we must find some way to put more power into your mark. As it stands, we don't have enough. "
"We need to cultivate the same level of magic that was required to open it," Leliana continued, locking eyes with Rebekah. "Which means we'll have to approach the rebel mages for help."
"I still disagree," Cullen spoke up, his hands resting on the pommel of his sword. "The Templars could serve just as well."
"How so?" Rebekah questioned, a little thrown off by Cullen's suggestion.
The glare he had been leveling at Leliana suddenly turned on her and Rebekah could feel herself shrinking from the gaze and for a moment wished that she hadn't spoken up at all.
"We need power, Commander. Enough magic poured into that mark…" Cassandra began before Cullen could reply.
"That amount of power could destroy us all," Cullen responded, his expression grim and his voice turning harsh. "Templars could suppress the breach, weaken it…"
"Pure speculation," Leliana replied, and Rebekah began to sense the argument that had surely been raging before she had stepped into the room.
"I was a Templar once, I know what they're capable of," Cullen growled at Leliana.
"Unfortunately, neither group will speak to us yet. The Chantry has denounced the Inquisition, and you specifically," Josephine explained, pointing her quill at Rebekah.
Rebekah recalled the conversation she'd had with Leliana and Cassandra earlier that morning and shook her head. "I still don't understand why they are so concerned with my guilt and less concerned about ensuring that the Breach is closed."
"I'm sure that you are aware of your new title," Josephine continued and Rebekah nodded, the expression on her face clearly showing how uncomfortable the moniker made her. "They have deemed it as blasphemy, and we have been named heretics for harboring you. This makes talks with either group out of the question."
Talk of what to do next continued for what felt like hours. Rebekah stood silently as Cassandra, Leliana, and Cullen bickered over whose support to seek with Josephine piping in to remind them that we still didn't have an avenue through which to speak to the mages or the Templars.
Rebekah continued to feel out of place, unsure of why she had been invited to these talks and what exactly she would be asked to do. Clearly, she was responsible for closing the rifts that had opened all over Thedas, and she would ultimately close the Breach, but that didn't make her necessary for council meetings. Surely that was what they were, the council of the Inquisition.
Then again, if they would all remain at Haven while she went off gallivanting through Thedas, it might be prudent for her to know why she was being sent where and what she should be doing once she got there.
In the presence of those great minds, Rebekah continued to feel like an inexperienced child. The more they discussed, the more she realized that she would be the ultimate decision-maker out in the field. They were in charge at Haven, but out in the world she would have to trust her own instincts to make choices and alliances that would benefit the Inquisition as a whole.
The realization of what she would truly be for them terrified her.
In the end, they came to a consensus that the decision between the mages or Templars would come later. First, they needed to gain support and Leliana had an idea of where they could start.