Wow. Oops. Totally took forever on this one. I just could not get it to listen to me. But I finally did it and got past the damn intro section, now onto the good stuff!
Chapter Four: Promise Surviving the Breach in the Sky
Heliwyr opened her eyes and groaned up at the unfamiliar ceiling. Her back itched and she rubbed against the bandage resting there. The back of her head pounded with a familiar weight. Dark wood panels blocked Heliwyr's view of the sky and she cursed humans yet again. Fuckin' humans and their shitty need to lock themselves away. Fucking Dread Wolf take them all.
She wanted the sky, the clouds, the feel of the breeze on her face. How could the humans stand this? Staying behind walls and hiding away from the world around them.
Sitting up, Heliwyr observed the room. Clutter lay around her, though none of it belonged to her. Is that a- Creators, why is there a raven in here? She pinched the length of her nose. A sigh escaped and she lifted herself up onto her elbows.
Not even five minutes later, an elf girl wandered in with a crate of herbs. Heliwyr noted her bare face before the girl noticed she was awake and gasped. The crate fell to the floor with a bang. then the girl followed. She collapsed to her knees and bent her head to meet them.
"I'm so sorry, my lady. I didn't know you were awake!"
The girl continued to grovel and beg for forgiveness. Growling, Heliwyr lifted herself from the bed and wandered over. She knelt, tucked her hand under the elf girl's chin and lifted. Searching her eyes, Heliwyr found only strange reverence and fear. "Why are you so frightened?"
Eyes watered and the girl drew away. Who do I have to kill to fix this mess? Wait. Killing is bad. I know. She wrung her hands and averted her eyes. "They say you saved us. That the Breach stopped growing, just like your Mark."
On cue, the Mark flared up. Heliwyr gritted her teeth and pressed on it with the tips of her fingers. The pounding of her head resonated with the pull of magic. Her toes curled into the camel-thorn wood floor.
She continued on, glancing up at Heliwyr shyly. "It's all anyone has talked about for days."
Fenedhis, has it been that long? What's happened since I went to the Breach? We need more information. Heliwyr took a calming breath. "Are we safe now, then?"
The girl flushed and shook her head. "No, the Breach stopped growing, is all." She stood and backed away, hands flitting about. "I'm sure they'll want to see you now. Lady Cassandra said at once."
Heliwyr frowned at her. She hoped that other city elves wouldn't treat her like this. It would take a lot of work to simply change this girl's opinion of her. But that could wait until later. "Where is Cassandra?" Never mind that, where do I find something to wear? Some boxes rested in the corner.
"In the Chantry, with the Lord Chancellor. At once, she said!" The bare faced girl shifted from foot to foot. As soon as Heliwyr gave even the tiniest nod she fled with all the speed of a Dalish within her.
Sighing, Heliwyr moved to the boxes and a mirror propped against the wall. Inside the boxes were various articles of human clothing. They couldn't have..? No, of course not. That would be too accepting of them. She'd have to wear whatever and find proper clothing later.
Ridiculous beige clothing with far too many buckles. Thankfully, it wasn't too resistant to movement but would be useless in a fight. What had happened to the clothing she had? Who had changed her, for that matter? Best not to think of that, now.
The mirror made her frown. She looked skinny and weak and washed out in this damn clothing. The brown of the clothes clashed with the caramel colour of her skin. In return it made the red of her hair look distinctly...unappealing. And her eyes looked almost demonic. It was a disaster. She'd never worn such awful clothing in her life. Let's never wear this again.
A horrible thought popped into her head as she remembered other things humans liked to wear. Sure enough, there were boots sitting all too innocently by the door. If they think I'm going to even touch those monstrosities they have another thing coming. Maybe she could burn them in the fire later…
There was nothing to do about her hair, she'd long given up on it. Let the fluff just do as it pleases. At least it remained without tangles. A cursory attempt at running her hands through did nothing to tame the curls.
Bending down again, Heliwyr collected herbs from the bare faced elf's box. She delighted at finding dawn lotus, amongst elfroot. Observing the rest of the room, she found little notes on the desk. Patient Observations. Skimming through it, Heliwyr understood more of what she went through.
Assassinations. Or, at least attempted ones. It was good to know how the people outside would be treating her. Thankfully, Cassandra had her back. Maybe? Varric seemed to be nice, though. Maybe he'd stand up for her when they inevitably tried to kill her. Solas...well, she wouldn't blame him if he fled. He was an apostate amongst many, many humans. Heliwyr would not wish the rite of Tranquility on anyone.
There was no avoiding it forever, and Cassandra would undoubtedly not appreciate her tardiness. Heliwyr tiptoed to the door, careful not to make any sound. She couldn't or hear any signs of people just outside her door, though there was a fuss in the distance. Slowly, she opened the hardwood door and peered outside.
"What in the name of all the Creators is this?"
People. Humans. Standing around everywhere. Staring her down, a clear path made for her along the way to the Chantry. Their eyes were focused, piercing, and Heliwyr shied away from them. She was unused to having such attention, it normally came along with bad things.
Heliwyr was unsure. Did she bare her teeth at them? Scare them away? Prove her strength so none would dare attack her? But there were so many. She was a hunter, not a warrior. There was no way she could take so many in a fight. But then they smiled at her and murmured their thanks, so maybe they weren't out to kill her yet.
Still, their watchful faces unnerved her, so Heliwyr bared her teeth and swept through them. None seemed to mind her attitude, though. Instead, it made them happier. Clearly the Breach has addled their minds. I hope not to find Cassandra in this state as well.
They talked of strange things. They praised her for stopping the growth of the Breach and called someone the 'Herald of Andraste'. Heliwyr was an elf but knew about Andraste. Knew about what happened to the elves after her death. Knew everything about that. To be Andraste's Herald would not be a good thing, considering how Andraste had died. This will not happen to us. Not to me.
It didn't concern her though, she was an elf. She obeyed the Creators, not some absent Maker. Perhaps they talked of Cassandra. The woman had that air of regality and command. She'd make a lovely 'Herald'. She was tall, too. People in charge were always tall. Unlike me.
But the whispers and looks followed Heliwyr until she gave in and sprinted to the Chantry, slamming the doors behind her.
Quiet consumed Heliwyr and she let out a breath of air. The glow of the candles warmed her after being in the cold. As a base of operations this town, Haven, wasn't so bad but Heliwyr preferred the heat of the Free Marches. The frosty air bit at her hands and made using a bow more difficult than she was used to. It would take plenty of practice to overcome this fault. At least she could still use knives.
The Chantry was empty, to Heliwyr's relief. She wasn't sure what she would have done if more people had seen the disgrace of her actions. Humans were so strange, they'd probably think it was some kind of joke. And then tell me to start scrubbing the walls. After everything we've done.
As she walked along the carpeted floor, Heliwyr took notice of books scattered here and there. She shook her head at the folly of humans. Knowledge was meant to be preserved, not left lying about waiting to be destroyed. Or for elves with wandering hands to slip it away for later perusal. If Heliwyr was to remain among humans, she needed to learn their ways. Wisdom was always helpful.
Voices echoed along the great stone walls, muffled by the door at the end. Cassandra's was easily recognizable, clear and hard like her. The other one… Fenedhis, not this man again. He must be this Chancellor.
They were arguing about her. Heliwyr was pleased to note how Cassandra defended her against a man of the same faith. It had been a good idea to go along with her after all, otherwise, Heliwyr might not have been so lucky. The Chancellor, however, accused Heliwyr of this, that, and everything. How does he find the air to spew all that out? Cassandra remained firm and Heliwyr took that moment to enter.
Immediately, the Chancellor ordered the guards lining the small room to arrest her. Heliwyr tensed, ready to fight if necessary. The guards wore heavy armor and she wasn't sure if she could take them. She'd do what she had to. We will. But Cassandra dismissed them easily, to the Chancellor's dismay.
Heliwyr took spiteful pleasure at the annoyance on his face.
He glowered down at her, but Heliwyr responded with her own dangerous look. The Chancellor would not try anything. Heliwyr knew he was too weak and too fearful. Still, it was good to ensure he would stay far away from her, if only to avoid his awful voice.
Turning, Heliwyr faced Cassandra and Leliana, who had joined them. They didn't seem too displeased that the Breach was still in the sky. In fact, they regarded her with relieved faces. Heliwyr made a small bow, to show her respect. To those who deserved it. "I did what I could. Even this much took great effort. I almost died trying to get it done."
The others nodded, except for the Chancellor. He sneered at her from a safe distance, to the side of a large table. "And yet you still live. How convenient for you."
His accusations meant nothing to her. It was clear he had no voice among these people. Needling him, however, remained amusing. "Yes. Your people do know much of doing things for their own convenience. Don't they?" Her bitterness tainted her voice. Heliwyr glowered up at the Chancellor. He sputtered and his face turned an interesting shade of purple. Suck it you fucking Shem prick. You can't fucking touch me. Us.
And apparently the others suspected him. After the visions from the temple, it was clear someone caused the Breach to kill everyone. Including the Divine. But they didn't suspect her. They were wrong. They- Wait, what?
Heliwyr forced her attention back to the conversation at hand. Providence? Then the Herald is- "You think that- what?- the Maker chose me?"
"I think you were exactly what we needed when we needed it."
Leliana nodded. "Your mark is the only hope we have of closing the Breach permanently."
Before the Chancellor could start another of his rants, a book slammed onto the table. All eyes turned to Cassandra. Her gaze went to the Chancellor. "You know what this is."
A book, with the instantly recognizable symbol of the Seekers. Heliwyr tensed. She would not, would not, be drawn into a holy war. Elves never got out of these alive. This would not be a repetition. She would make sure of it. Elves protected their own. All of us. She had seen first hand the terrors the Templars and Seekers had wrought. If Heliwyr had her way, it would never happen again.
"This is a writ from the Divine, giving us the power to act. As of this moment I declare the Inquisition reborn. We will close the Breach, we will find those responsible, and we will restore order. With or without your approval."
Heliwyr hid a smile. She could get behind this woman and her plan.
I just adore Cassandra to bits. She was a huge inspiration to how I wanted my character to look. I'd never even considered scars before her but now... All my poor characters need a few.
Even more foreshadowing for you guys! I wonder if anyone can guess what's up with our tiny, angry elf.