A/N: So, originally, I had skipped ahead quite a bit to the actual closing of the Breach, but I decided that it would cut out too much for my liking. So, I thought I'd back up a bit and do some more character building! Yay! But, seriously, thank you all for reading my garbage story. :D I'm happy that there are people who actually like what I write.

Slowly, but surely, the Inquisition grew. Person by person, and then in small groups they came. The more the 'Herald of Andraste' closed Rifts and defeated demons, the more people were drawn to their cause. They'd caught the eye of the Horse Master, Dennett from Redcliffe, a few mages who hadn't sided with the rebels, and a group of cultists from the Hinterlands who were no helping the refugees.

Tales were already beginning to spread about how The Herald defeated an entire tribe of Avaar warriors and saved an Inquisition scouting party. It was very exaggerated, mostly in part to Varric 'spicing it up a bit'. It had only been a few dozen of them spread out throughout the swampland that was the Fallow Mire. It was a place that was haunted by many spirits, and the skeletons of those who'd died from some mysterious plague years before.

Mina had brought it up to the resident researcher, a small, shy Elf woman named Minaeve. She and Mina got along famously. Minaeve had been Dalish, but had gotten sent out on her own by her Clan because they had too many mages already. At first Mina thought about sending a letter to her Keeper asking her to try and change the Dalish ways on this matter, but decided Minaeve seemed happy enough and it would spark anger throughout their entire race. One problem to tackle at a time… However, the Inquisition threw 15 at her at once and expected her to get them done immediately.

They had been researching more medicines to keep the troops healthy and for earlier warning signs of sickness. Minaeve's particular talents helped in battle, because she would study any remains that were brought back from a creature, which Mina was more than happy to provide. They'd both had the same thought: If you understand it, you can kill it. Solas, though he thought that sentiment a bit primal, was eager to help with archiving and passing on what they found to others.

It was constant work for many weeks. Mina would go to a 'war meeting' with the leaders, they figure out the best action to take, and Mina would execute it. Sometimes, Mina would get them to listen to what she thought, but most of the time, they didn't care to listen. Well, no one other than Cassandra. The Seeker didn't always agree with what Mina said, but she'd at least hear her out.

One of the many things they'd passed up, Mina did anyway. She took Blackwall, Solas, and Varric to the Storm Coast because she'd heard of a mercenary group that was up for hire. They'd sent a messenger personally, which certainly caught Mina's attention.

She'd purposely left Cassandra out of her plans because the Seeker would tell everyone else and it'd end up being a big fuss and then no one would be happy. Plus, they'd lose out on what Mina thought would be a grand opportunity. It turned out that she'd been right…

They made their way across the rocky shoreline of the Storm Coast, looking for the mercs. Mina had just been informed by Scout Harding, a clever, witty Dwarf, that some of the other scouts had gone missing after trying to negotiate with some local bandits. This set Mina's temper ablaze. She'd find these 'Chargers' and take them to get rid of the bandits. Two tasks done at once. She'd see how good the Chargers were, and save her scouts.

"Herald, you should know that there are dragons around here. We should really take more care in where we're going," Solas said.

Blackwall chuckled, "I don't think she really cares right now. If I were the dragon, I'd stay out of her way."

Varric nodded in agreement as Mina blasted a fallen tree out of her way with a fireball. They didn't have time to waste! She needed to get her scouts.

"So, Solas… You spend a lot of time in the Fade," said Blackwall a few minutes later.

"Yes. So I do," answered Solas.

"You're pretty friendly with some of the, uh, spirits right?" the bearded man continued.

Varric tried to cover up his laugh with a cough, but it didn't work very well. He'd probably done it on purpose just to get to Solas. It worked. The Elf shot him a dirty look.

"I am. What is your question, Warden Blackwall?" Solas said through gritted teeth. He knew something was coming.

Blackwall's eyes shone with mischief that matched his smile. "I was just thinking the other day and wondering if you'd…"

"If I'd what?"

"If you'd gotten more intimate with a spirit," finished the Warden.

Solas' face turned red and he scowled at the giggling men. To them, this was proof enough that he had. Solas denied it adamantly, but they didn't believe him. They didn't let up on the teasing one bit. Mina cracked a smile and rolled her eyes at them.

"Little boys, the lot of you!" she teased. She scanned the area ahead of them and brought the guys back to focus. There was fighting up ahead between a group of humans and a group made up of all the races Mina could name from Thedas. Among them was a Qunari with enormous horns. Mina almost laughed. That was definitely the Iron Bull.

They'd ended up recruiting the mercs with no problems, and sent all but the leader back to Haven. He'd been a great help completely wiping out those bastards that had killed her scouts. Turned out that these 'Blades of Hessarian' weren't as tough as they pretended.

Another memory with Bull flashed through Mina's head he'd gone with her, Blackwall, and Varric to speak with the Lady Vivienne, and when she accidentally recruited Sera. None of them wanted Vivienne, but she'd all but invited herself into the Inquisition. Her… strong personality took some getting used to for sure, plus some people didn't appreciate that 'Lady Viv', as they called her when she wasn't around, was a strong, confident mage. Sera was the big prankster and goofball. She lightened most everyone's mood and told the best jokes. And, she was a very ironic person. She was an Elf who didn't really consider herself to be an Elf. She was just a person, and Mina respected that. Why get upset with tradition that hadn't actually been a tradition in centuries? It was lost, but new things could be made. They agreed that the Dalish whined about lost culture too much.

Mina found that she spent most of her time with Varric, Bull, Blackwall, and Sera. A fun, lively group that really improved Mina's mood on most occasions. Outside of the modest tavern, Mina ended up spending a lot of time with Solas. He was an intellectual being… Mina admired the way his mind worked; especially when it came to matters of the Fade. Which, when she thought about it, that's almost all he talked about. He seemed to shy away from the waking world. Any questions about where he was from or the places he'd travelled to, he'd brush off and try to redirect the conversation to what he'd dreamt of in those places. There was definitely something more to him than he'd let be known, and Mina wanted to know what it was. However, he distracted her with magic techniques she hadn't known about or a new spell.

They had all been working very hard to save people from the Rifts and from each other. The days passed by increasingly fast, and missions piled up. On one of the rare days that Mina had to herself, she sought out Varric. She hadn't gotten to spend much time with him lately, and she felt a bit awful for it. He went on most missions with her, and she drank with him often, but they didn't get to let their guard down ever. They couldn't cut up like they used to or make jokes about Kirkwall or their friends. They meandered out of camp, trying not to draw attention from others, and found the old barn about a mile outside of Haven. No one would be looking for them, and it was far enough away that no one would hear them.

"How you holding up, kitten?" he asked as he sat down on a chair by the makeshift fireplace. Mina plopped down on some blankets she'd placed on the floor. She preferred it there. More room to stretch out.

"I'm ok. More tired than I've been in a while. This Herald of Andraste stuff is stupid," she answered.

Varric raised an eyebrow at her, "Is it? I didn't see what the soldiers saw, but I heard what happened in the Temple. I was there. Something isn't adding up. If it's divine…? I think we need some divine help right now."

"C'mon, Varric! There's no way some glowy holy woman came down from wherever the balls you all think your Maker went, and helped a random person who doesn't believe in them! Plus, if you remember, I'm not even from Thedas." She was frustrated at the whole situation. Sure, she wanted people to help the inquisition, and support what they were doing, but she didn't want it to be because of her. Mina wasn't blessed or holy, or anything special. She was just a person who had… odd luck.

Varric smirked and shook his head. He was letting it go a little too easily; there was something else he wanted to talk about, but didn't know how to bring it up. Mina usually let him take his time, but not this time. She was feeling irritable and impatient. Not with him, but with how things were going.

"Varric, I know you, and I know there's something you're avoiding. Tell me?" she said as gently as she could manage. She sat straighter and bit her bottom lip, eyes lighting up in hopes it was something good.

"I didn't want to tell you, because I know how you get. I got a letter from Fenris—actually, you got a letter from Fenris. He knew I'd read it first, so ignore the angry part to me. It came yesterday evening after we got back from Val Royeaux."

She leaped up and bounced in place as he grabbed the letter from inside his duster. Mina took it happily and took a second to look at the wiring on the outside. It just said "Da'assan" but it was Fenris' handwriting! She'd never seen it before. It was beautiful, and spiraly, and wonderful. It had its own neat personality that she would've never expected from him. It was much better than her own scratch marks. Leandra had taught both of them how to read and write since neither of them had really had the chance to. They'd kept it a secret from the others until they'd gotten the hang of it. Varric was surprised to receive a letter from her while she was out on a mission. She usually sent back symbols saying if she was ok, or if the matter required assistance.

Carefully, she opened it, not wanting to rip the parchment. She skimmed over Fenris scolding Varric for reading someone else's letter and telling him he was ill-mannered. It made her giggle.

Mina, my sister, I hope you are doing well. I regret not writing to you sooner. You know that I am not good at this sort of thing. I have heard that you have been getting into much trouble lately. I was almost certain you had died in the Conclave. Please be more careful from now on. If anything happened to you, I would kill those responsible. If at all possible, I will come to see you. Of course, I will have to find out where in Thedas you are. Enjoy your adventures, da'assan.

Your brother,

Fenris

Mina could feel her eyes sting with the threat of tears, and she was grinning from ear to ear. She was so happy to hear from Fenris. She was hoping he had been doing well enough. Though, with Hawke with him, they made an almost unstoppable team. She read it over again, her smile fading. There wasn't anything about Hawke in there. She hid her disappointment and looked at Varric.

"Thank you. I needed this. Well, off to get some food. There's more to be done tomorrow, and I have a War Meeting in a little while. Hopefully Leliana won't insist that we get Orlais' attention right now. That;s the last thing I need to worry about right now," she said cheerfully. Varric nodded and picked up Bianca. He knew how busy she was anymore. Be it willingly or no. Hopefully, he didn't notice her face fall… She shook those thoughts out of her head and hurried back to Haven. Cullen would want a full report on what happened with the Templars in Orlais' capital city.