Alternate chapter title: "Cullen is surrounded by gorgeous women but they all scare him"
But it didn't fit up there ^^^ hehe
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Dragon Age original plotline, characters, or games. These are all the property of the amazing Bioware team, and I am merely a fan reveling in the beautiful and intricate world that they have built.
"Talking"
'Thinking'
.*.*. ҉ .*.*.
Cullen POV
After the Inquisition was established, the town of Haven seemed to come alive. There was an undercurrent of excitement in the air, despite the anxiety of many. The people of Haven were hopeful, relieved that something was being done about the Breach. People moved with purpose, soldiers throwing themselves into their training, blacksmiths and apothecaries increasing their production rate, messengers coming and going at all hours as news of the Inquisition spread like wildfire.
The Hands of the Divine and the strange elf with the glowing hand had stayed up nearly all night outlining their plan for the rebirth of the Inquisition. The elf woman had left the meeting room first, claiming that exhaustion had crept up on her. Neither Cassandra nor Leliana were surprised; the rogue was still recovering from her battle wounds and losing consciousness for three days took a toll on one's body.
The day passed in a flurry of activity. Later in the afternoon, as the sun began its descent, Leliana sent Cassandra to wake Lavellan from her nap so that they could introduce her to their war council. Commander Cullen was the first to arrive, of course. His Templar training had instilled a deep sense of self-discipline, and that meant he was always five minutes early to everything. Josephine was next, entering the room with a slightly displeased look to her face that probably had something to do with the fact that she was wearing a ridiculously ruffled dress despite the cold weather. Not that anyone was surprised, sacrificing in the name of fashion was a common trait to those who were raised in court.
"Cassandra will be here shortly, with Lavellan in tow." Leliana told them.
Cullen quirked a brow. "La-vel-lan?"
"She is the one who sealed the rifts." The redheaded spymaster explained.
"Oh!" Josephine exclaimed. "So that must be an elven name, yes? I heard she was Dalish!"
The Antivan squealed, eyes lighting up in excitement. The tales of Dalish elves were often romanticized among the noble classes. Theirs was a beautiful tragedy, a proud people who cast off the chains of Tevinter and lived as one with nature – or so the stories told. The tales often failed to speak of harsh summers and cold winters, the continued prejudice of humanity, and the struggle to survive against predators, human hunters, disease and famine.
Leliana sighed. "Yes, Josie, she is a Dalish."
"No one ever tells me anything." Cullen griped jokingly. "This is the first time that I've heard anything specific about the 'Herald of Andraste'. Everyone else in Haven just talks about her 'Mark' or how Andraste sent her to us."
"She is a Dalish elf from the Lavellan Clan." Leliana informed them, giving them a quick summary of the elven woman that they were about to meet. "They hunt in the territories of eastern Orlais, north of the Dales between the towns of Halamshiral and Jader. According to Lavellan, she had been sent by her Keeper to spy on the Conclave."
"A spy?" Cullen's eyebrows lifted.
Leliana nodded. "Had the Conclave worked, the decisions made there would have affected all of Thedas – including the Dalish tribes, and in particular, their mages. Lavellan said that if the Chantry had chosen to condemn all mages, the Dalish tribes planned to flee to unknown territories, in order to protect their keepers and apprentices."
"Practical." Josephine tapped her chin with her quill. "But I am surprised that the Dalish actually took such precautions. They so rarely involve themselves with human affairs."
"I imagine that the Mage-Templar War has spread into their territories as well, and neither side has been very forgiving to those caught in the crossfire." Cullen said with a deep frown. "Not to mention the Templars would have labeled the Dalish Keepers as apostates, regardless of Chantry concessions on the matter."
The three of them fell into silence. Cullen was the most disturbed out of all of them. He felt a deep connection to the Templar Order. He had faced the worst-case scenario a Templar could dream of, and yet he had also witnessed how hatred could corrupt the Order. It was his disappointment at the failures of his Order and the Chantry that had driven him to joining the Inquisition after all.
They heard voices echoing in the Chantry hall, approaching them.
"Looks like they are here." Leliana spoke, just before Cassandra pushed open the door.
The Seeker held the door open as an elf followed her into the room – Lavellan, he presumed.
Cullen studied her carefully, wondering how such a strange elf could possibly slip through the security at the Conclave. She had typical elven features: tall nose, sharp cheekbones, and slanted eyes. But what surprised him was her golden brown skin that matched Josephine's tan; he had thought all elves were pale-skinned, at least in southern Thedas. He'd heard that the elves up north, Seheron and Rivain perhaps, were tanned and brown, but they rarely made it this far south.
Immediately Cullen noted her choice of weapons – dual blades. Lavellan's gaze flicked over the room lazily, but he was an experienced enough fighter to realize that she was studying her surroundings. As the elf stepped into the room, he realized that he could not hear her footsteps.
It did not take a genius to realize that she was a rogue.
His instincts were on edge as she returned his gaze, studying him in a calculating manner. Lavellan glanced at his side, noting the sword there, and then flicked to his belt and boots. When she met his gaze again, the small tilt of her lips told him that she was well aware of the knives that he had hidden in those very spots. Oh, she was good.
He watched as she turned her inquiring gaze upon the Antivan woman, glancing over Josephine. Cullen noted that the elf's eyes lingered on Josephine's bodice and cuffs, realizing, with a start, that their ambassador was also not as helpless as she appeared either.
Many men would be jealous of Cullen, being surrounded by so many beautiful women. Too bad they were all lethal.
"May I present Commander Cullen, leader of the Inquisition's forces." Cassandra's voice interrupted his thoughts as she introduced him.
Cullen straightened his shoulders and focused on the conversation at hand. "Such as they are. We lost many soldiers in the valley, and I fear many more before this is through."
Lavellan gave him a cordial nod, but her expression remained unreadable. No doubt she was uncomfortable being surrounded by so many humans in one room.
Cassandra gestured towards Josephine. "This is Josephine Montilyet, our ambassador and chief diplomat."
"I've heard much," The Antivan greeted her, restraining her earlier excitement. "It's a pleasure to meet you at last."
"And of course, you know Sister Leliana." Cassandra turned to her long-time partner.
Lavellan nodded to both women in greeting, still remaining silent.
Leliana smiled. "My position here involves a degree of –"
"She is our spymaster." Cassandra deadpanned.
Leliana gave the Seeker a frosty glare. "Yes… tactfully put, Cassandra." She bit out dryly.
At this, the elf finally showed some emotion as her lip twitched in amusement. Apparently this was not the first time she had witnessed the bantering relationship between the two Divine Hands. Cullen and Josephine were probably the only other people in the world that knew of the deep bond between the two women, despite their differences.
"Impressive titles…" She addressed the entire council with a nod. "A pleasure."
"Your Mark needs more power to close the Breach for good." Cassandra spoke, immediately getting down to business.
"Which means we must approach the rebel mages for help." Leliana put in.
Wait a second. Cullen shook his head and interrupted them. "I still disagree. The Templars could serve just as well."
Cassandra gave a frustrated sigh. "We need power, Commander. Enough magic poured into that Mark –"
"Might destroy us all." Cullen snapped, glancing apologetically at Lavellan. They were making a bad impression already, it seemed. "Templars could suppress the Breach, weaken it so –"
"Pure speculation." Leliana interrupted with a wave of her hand. Despite her position in the Chantry and her proximity to Divine Justinia, Leliana had always supported mage freedom and it was no secret. It had been a matter of no small concern to many in the Chantry hierarchy. It certainly concerned Cullen.
"I was a Templar." He told her with a tight voice. "I know what they're capable of."
"Unfortunately, neither group will even speak to us yet." Josephine overruled all of them. "The Chantry has denounced the Inquisition – and you, specifically." She glanced pointedly at Lavellan.
The elf shrugged. "Not surprised." Then she lifted an eyebrow in a wry expression. "I'm am surprised, however, that they were able to pull their heads out of their asses long enough to actually agree on something, and in the span of a few days for that matter. Must be a Chantry record."
Cullen couldn't agree more. Cassandra and Josephine were less amused at the comment.
"Shouldn't they be arguing over who's going to become Divine?" He asked disdainfully and on a similar note. He might have been a pious Templar once, but after witnessing the repeated failings of the Chantry, there was little love left for the institution he had once served.
Josephine sighed and faced Lavellan. "Some are calling you – a Dalish elf – the 'Herald of Andraste.' That frightens the Chantry." Her face became stern. "The remaining clerics have declared it blasphemy, and we, 'heretics', for harboring you."
"Chancellor Roderick's doing, no doubt." Cassandra muttered unpleasantly.
Lavellan's amusement did not seem to falter. "Ah yes, the Roderdick."
Cullen choked, as did a few others in the room. Cassandra seemed amused, oddly enough.
"Why didn't we just leave him in the valley?" The elleth continued. "With all the demons around, it would be easy to make his death look like an accident."
The advisors all stared at her incredulously. Cullen sighed and shook his head; such typical thinking for a rogue. Finally, Josephine cleared her throat and chose to ignore the elf's comment.
"It limits our options." She continued. "Approaching the mages or the Templars for help is currently out of the question."
Lavellan suddenly sucked in a sharp breath, and they all turned to look at her in question.
"Uh, I'm sorry, what did you mention earlier?" She asked Josephine.
The Antivan furrowed her brows. "We can't afford to meet with either of the –"
"No, earlier." The elf flapped her hands. "What are people calling me?"
"Ah, yes. That." Josephine nodded. "They are claiming you to be the Herald of Andraste."
Lavellan blinked once, twice. "…the fuck…" She whispered, and then it seemed to hit her, her eyes widening as she glanced around at each of them. "Just how am I the Herald of Andraste?"
She whirled around to face Cassandra. "Didn't we already have this talk?" She demanded, tugging on her ears. "I'm an elf! A Dalish! Why the f–"
"People saw what you did at the temple; how you stopped the Breach form growing." Cassandra interrupted her before she went on a rant. "They have also heard about the woman seen in the rift when we first found you. They believe that was Andraste."
The elf shook her head in denial, holding up her hands as if to ward off their words. "NO. Oooh no. No no. No."
Leliana understood her frustration. "Even if we tried to stop that view from spreading –"
"Which we have not." Interrupted Cassandra, and the redhead sent her another glare.
" –the point is, everyone is talking about you." Leliana continued to Lavellan.
Cullen chuckled and addressed their obviously frustrated savior. "It's quite the title, isn't it? How do you feel about that?"
The elleth crossed her arms with a frown. "They will be sadly disappointed." She gave them all pointed looks. "I am no hero, nor do I want to be."
The Champion of Kirkwall had once said something similar. Cullen understood her reluctance to become the object of such faith, one that was not even her own.
"We are not always given a choice." He told the rogue. She glared harder at the table and muttered a curse.
"People are desperate for a sign of hope." Leliana told her. "For some, you're that sign."
"And to others, a symbol of everything that's gone wrong." Josephine said, rather unhelpfully, in Cullen's opinion.
"By the Creators!" Lavellan growled. "Shouldn't they be more concerned about the Breach? There's a fucking rift between the Fade and this world, and they are more concerned with rumors about me?"
Cullen echoed her sentiment, but also realized that the Chantry was full of stubborn traditionalists. "They acknowledge that the Breach is a threat." He said to Lavellan. "But they do not think we, the Inquisition, can stop it."
"The Chantry is telling everyone that you'll make it worse." Josephine added. Again, very unhelpful.
The elf sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.
"There is something you can do." Leliana spoke up with an encouraging smile. "A Chantry cleric by the name of Mother Giselle has asked to speak to you. She is not far, and knows those involved far better than I. Her assistance could be invaluable."
"And someone from the Chantry would help a declared heretic?" Suspicion crossed Lavellan's face, not that Cullen blamed her. It was an unusual time to be receiving invites from Chantry sisters.
Leliana shrugged. "I understand that she is a reasonable sort. Perhaps she does not agree with her sisters?"
"…We shall see." The elf murmured.
"You will find Mother Giselle tending to the wounded in the Hinterlands near Redcliffe." Leliana told her.
"Look for other opportunities to expand the Inquisition's influence while you're there." Cullen added, hoping that Lavellan's prickly demeanor would not cause too much trouble. "Particularly anyone that could help us establish supply lines between here and the Hinterlands."
Josephine nodded in agreement. "Commander Cullen is right. We need agents to extend our reach beyond this valley, and you're better suited than anyone to recruit them. We'll need contacts and suppliers for our forces, and especially medical support for the soldiers and the refugees."
"In the meantime," Cassandra gave Cullen and Josephine a warning look, probably worried that they were already overwhelming the poor elf with their requests. "Let's think of other options. I won't leave this all to the Herald."
Lavellan's expression had shuttered shut at hearing the unwelcome title, though she gave the Seeker a nod in thanks. She was staring down at the map of Thedas that had been spread out across the table which they all stood around. Green eyes flickered towards southern Ferelden.
"What do we know of the situation in the Hinterlands?" Lavellan asked to no one in particular.
Leliana spoke up. "It's chaos, to be frank. The Circle of Ferelden fell after the events at the conclave, and both the Templars and the mages scattered. Though some chose to run, others decided to join the rebels on both sides. I've reports of skirmishes throughout the Hinterlands between Templars, mages, and bandits who are looting the homes of those fleeing the violence."
Everyone in the room winced, the warriors curling their lips at the dishonorable deeds.
"So assume everyone is trying to kill us, huh?" Lavellan murmured, trailing her finger across the map from Lake Calenhad to the Frostbacks. "Getting to Sister Giselle will not be easy."
"I can send in scouts to secure a few campsites ahead of your arrival." Leliana assured her. "We don't have an army just yet, but you will not be completely on your own."
"Indeed." Cassandra put in. "I will be accompanying you to the Hinterlands. As a former Seeker and the Right Hand of the Divine, my presence should be enough for both the Chantry and the Templars to think twice before killing you on sight."
The elf gave Cassandra dry look that made Cullen smirk. Clearly, the comment was not encouraging.
"We'll need to put together a traveling party." Lavellen told them. "It will be too dangerous for Cassandra and I to travel on our own." She glanced at Josephine and Leliana. "We'll make note of the inns and taverns that we pass on our way to the Hinterlands so you can make contact with them later."
Being friendly with the inns and taverns in the region would grant the Inquisition a huge boon. It secured places for their soldiers to eat and sleep, and became places for spies to gather information. It was not a novel idea, but the fact that a mere Dalish scout had come to that conclusion was impressive to Cullen. She thought like a soldier, not a civilian.
"I'll also need a proper set of armor before we head out." Lavellan said, glancing down at her borrowed clothing. "As well as some new weapons."
While Josephine was writing down Lavellan's requests, Cullen glanced over to Leliana. The redhead gave him a smug look, obviously pleased with Lavellan's pragmatism. Cullen was surprised; he hadn't expected the Dalish to be so... level-headed. He would have expected the elf to still be complaining about humans or something.
"When your scouts return with their report, I'll head out with a party to the Hinterlands. I assume you will be also need to get resupplied, Cassandra?" Lavellan asked the Seeker, who nodded in confirmation. "Me too. It'll take a few days at least for us to depart. We'll speak later about what to expect."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and the elf left the room, dismissing them with her wordless exit. The door swung shut behind her with a thud.
There was a pause, before Leliana chuckled, making the other two women glance at her questioningly.
"She is a natural, isn't she, Cullen?" The spymaster asked him in a light voice.
Cullen shook his head with a small smile. "And she doesn't even realize it."
Cassandra was the next person to catch on, her eyes lighting up with understanding. "She might be able to command forces, but can she lead a movement?"
"We can only hope." Josephine said. "Because there is no one else who can."
"She will learn." Leliana spoke with conviction. "Being Dalish, she is no doubt uncomfortable being surrounded by so many humans. But she is willing to help, at least."
"Is she?" Cassandra asked doubtfully. "Willing to help? My impression was that the only reason she stays is because of the Mark on her hand."
"Perhaps that is what she says now," Leliana said, "But given time, I think she will become the hero that we need."
"You are awfully optimistic." Cassandra muttered.
Leliana gave them a secretive smile. Perhaps she knew better than the rest of them. She had known the Hero of Ferelden after all, and Maker knew that no one had been as unprepared to save the world as the Warden had been.
"What did you think of her, Commander?" Leliana asked him.
Cullen paused to think before he answered. Lavellan had been a little rough around the edges, but she was not completely incapable. She could work on her temper... and certainly needed to rein in that tongue of hers. But she was certainly confident, which was always a good trait in a leader.
"She is… an interesting character." He finally replied to his peers. "I am curious to her background however. Am suppose you already have agents investigating her past, Leliana?"
The spymaster smiled guiltily. "Indeed. It will be hard, however, as my spies cannot ask any of the Dalish about her past – the elves would immediately be on guard. The best I can hope for is second-hand information."
"Surely that is unnecessary?" Josephine exclaimed with disapproval.
Leliana gave her an unapologetic look. "It is simply protocol."
"Just be sure that your men are not caught." Cassandra warned the redhead. "We do not need to alienate the only person that can help us stop the Breach."
"Of course." Leliana sniffed, offended that the Seeker had so little faith in her people.
Cullen hid a smile. The two women were complete opposites, yet the two of them got along so well. They were always amusing when they were together. Divine Justinia must have thought them quite the handful.
"Yes, well, let us all get to business then." Josephine said, her quill scratching something down onto her parchment. "We have much to do, no?"
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