For the second time in maker knows how long, Amelia's head pounded. Opening her eyes this time, however, she saw the wooden slats of a ceiling. A fire off in the corner kept her warm.
Quite the difference from the last time she'd struggled to consciousness.
"Oh! I didn't know you were awake!"
Amelia's head whipped to the side, her gaze landing on a child kneeling on the ground. She frowned as she slid her legs off the bed, landing with a soft thump. The child nervously lifted their head up to look at the other woman. Amelia noted pointed ears and lithe frame - elf. The long, dark hair and high pitched voice let her know it was a girl.
"There's no need to be afraid," Amelia said quietly and rested her elbows on her knees. "I won't hurt you, sweetheart."
"I- Lady Cassandra wanted to know the minute you were awake," the girl stammered as she rose to her full height. "I really should go-"
"You can go, if you want to," Amelia told her with a warm smile. "But I do have a few questions to ask, and you seem like you know everything."
"I- yes! I do!"
"Great! I knew I pegged you for someone who could help me. Can you tell me what happened to the breach?"
"Well, you stopped it, ma'am. The rift quit growing and they brought you here, to Haven. You were unconscious but Adan - our healer - he took care of you."
"Are they happy? The people?"
"I really should go alert Lady Cassandra, Herald. I've already wasted so much time."
And with that, the little elf ran from the cabin. Amelia smiled at her retreating back before she pushed up off of the bed. Her joints ached and her head throbbed, but she managed to go through one of the dresser drawers. While she appreciated the assistance she'd been given, the beige cotton wasn't going to cut it.
After she'd donned a royal blue tunic and some tan trousers, she went to step out of the door. Her big toe meeting the raised doorway, however, caused her to both curse and realize she wasn't wearing any shoes. Hastily, she threw a pair of boots onto her feet and stumbled out of the door.
Only to be greeted by damned near every citizen of Haven.
She bared her teeth in an uneasy smile as she walked down the stairs. The whispers confused her. What was the Herald of Andraste? She saved the Divine? Had the citizens of Haven drank something to make them all loony?
A guard gave her a warm smile and told her that Lady Cassandra was in the chantry. Her confusion must have played clear upon her face, as he gave her a knowing nod before directing her where to go. She patted his arm in thanks before jogging her way towards the Chantry.
Shouting reached her ears before any view of the Chantry did. She heaved a heavy sigh before she pushed through the doors. She could clearly make out the Chancellor's voice, angry and whining. Cassandra and Leliana could be heard yelling after him.
Well. This should be fun.
Amelia pushed the door open and relished in the two seconds of silence that followed. Immediately, however, Roderick began his ranting, insisting that she be sent to trial, answer for her crimes. She rolled her eyes before sitting on the edge of a large table, eyes narrowing at the other man.
"Chancellor, enough!" Cassandra snapped as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Amelia stopped the breach from going. She was going to willingly disarm when asked. She-"
"Should be tried for murdering the Divine!"
Cassandra growled before she hurled a large book onto the table. Amelia admired the intricate design on the title, how the weathered leather appeared to be well loved and taken care of. Her admiration, however, was short lived when Cassandra said something about conscripting for the Inquisition of old.
"Andrasrte's tits," Amelia breathed, eyeing the book again. "The Inquisition of old? What are you trying to do, make me the monster mothers tell their children of before bed?!"
"You're being foolish," Cassandra replied with a wave of her hands. "The Inquisition is exactly what we need at this moment."
Amelia studied Cassandra as she tried to decipher if she was being truthful. The steel resolve that met her eyes let her know that she did, indeed, mean to reinvent the Inquisition.
"Well," Amelia muttered and pushed herself up from the table. "There's two things that need to be done before I do anything else to help you."
"What is it, Amelia? Surely we can do it for you," Leliana responded.
"I need your two fastest ravens," Amelia said as she began walking out of the room. "I need two letters to go out as soon as possible."
"Letters? Lady Amelia, surely-" Cassandra began.
"No, Cassandra," Amelia snapped as she turned around, eyes spitting fire. "You will not get me to budge from this. Those letters go out before I do another damned thing for your Inquisition. That's my one requirement."
"Lady Amelia," Leliana said, hesitant. "I can definitely get you our fastest ravens but could we perhaps introduce you to the rest of the advisors first? They've been waiting to speak with you since, well, you first woke up."
"Fine," Amelia sighed."Let's go."
"We won't have to go anywhere," Leliana replied as two other people filled the room.
"Sweet Maker!" Amelia yelped as she jumped to the side. "A head's up would have been nice!"
"This is Lady Josephine Montilyet. She is our ambassador," Leliana said as she motioned to the woman who had entered.
Josephine was a handsome woman. Her hair fell down her back in a long braid, her clothes a fine, silken spun yellow. Her eyes a stormy gray and damned observant. Amelia gave her a quick hello.
"A true pleasure to meet you, my lady!" Josephine said, her enthusiasm so thick Amelia felt as if she could reach out and physically touch it.
"Likewise," Amelia replied with a strained smile. Her entire being shook with the need to escape to her cabin and write her sister.
"And this," Leliana said as she motioned towards the man who had entered. "Is Cullen Rutherford. Our Commander."
Amelia's eyes lazily made their way up and down the commander's body. His blonde hair was boyishly tousled and the scar that ran across his upper lip made his grin crooked and adorable. An athletic build, muscled in all the right places, definitely had its appeal.
"Commander," Amelia purred.
Cullen cleared his throat as his skin flushed red hot. "Lady Trevelyan."
Oh, would you look at that. A little nervous boy, Amelia thought to herself with a small smile. I know a little bird just like that.
"It's been a pleasure, everyone," Amelia said as she stifled a sigh. "But I really need to go. The letters-"
"We understand," Leliana interrupted, a strained smile now placed upon her lips. "I will have the ravens to your cabin in a few hours, at the most."
Amelia nodded and spun on her heel, running out of the chantry as if demons were nipping at her heels. She saw the wide looks and side glances that were sent her way but she ignored them. Her chest heaving, she shoved through the door of her cabin, only stopping briefly to attempt to catch her breath.
The redhead zoomed to the writing desk. She'd never been happier to see papers and a quill. Quickly, she penned the first letter.
Anna,
I'm alive. I should have written before but, well, to be completely honest? I've been unconscious.I'm in Haven, with… friends. Come at once. I need to see you. Send Papa my love.
Love,
Amelia
The second letter was penned just as fast.
Ash,
You won't believe a word you hear. Come to Haven. I've got quite the story to tell.
Love,
Amelia
She quickly sealed the letters with some wax, taking a quick note of the Inquisition symbol. Seems like dear Cassandra had been planning this Inquisition for a lot longer than she let on. The mark flared briefly, more of a slight tingle than a pain. An annoying tingle. She turned her body around on the chair, her green gaze leveled on the door of the cabin.
The letters had taken only moments to write. Leliana had said that the ravens would be here within the hour. Surely she wasn't going to take the entire hour to send them, right? She nervously nibbled on her thumb nail as she watched the weathered wood.
The hour did pass before there was a knock on the door. Amelia shot from the chair immediately, tripping over the damned thing in her desperate attempt to rip the door open. Leliana stood on the other side of the doorway, one perfect red eyebrow arched in a silent question. Amelia just shrugged, her chest heaving, as she thrust the letters into the spymaster's hands.
"These need to go out. Now," Amelia panted, her eyes wide and pleading.
She knew just how desperate she must look, and she hated it. But to get word of her sister, any word, was worth the desperation. Leliana just nodded and turned away, two beautiful ravens perched on each shoulder.
"Don't you need-" Amelia began to call out, but was cut off.
"Trust me, Amelia," Leliana called back, mirth clear as day in her voice. "I know where they need to go to."
Amelia cocked her head to the side as she watched Leliana walk away. She wasn't sure how she felt about the spymaster knowing where the letters needed to go. A sense of unease settled deep within her chest, so much so that she rubbed at the center of her chest with the heel of her hand.
"I just need to see her," Amelia muttered to herself as she closed the door. "Maker, if you're out there? Let her be okay."
She toed off her boots and stumbled towards the bed. She immediately pulled the tunic over her head. Throwing herself on the bed, she sighed and closed her eyes. The events of today had been taxing. She was looking forward to a good nap.
"Lady Amelia- Oh Maker! I'm so sorry!" Cassandra yelped as she barreled through the cabin door.
Amelia sighed and briefly debated just leaving her eyes closed in the hope that Cassandra would leave. The part of her that craved whatever knowledge Cassandra could bestow upon her, however, forced her to open her eyes. She turned her head to look at the other woman and smirked when she saw the blush on Cassandra's cheeks.
"Yes, Cassandra?" Amelia asked as she rolled over onto her side.
"I- uh, came to- Shouldn't you put some clothes on?" Cassandra tried, and failed, to speak to Amelia without acknowledging her clothing, or lack thereof.
"They're tits, Cassandra," Amelia replied with a yawn. "We've all seen a pair or two in our lifetime. I bet you've even got some nice ones under that ar-"
"IcametotalktoyouabouttheHinderlands," Cassandra interrupted in a rush.
Amelia cocked her head to the side. "You what?"
"I came to talk to you about the Hinderlands," Cassandra said again, slower this time.
"I'm going to guess this is where you tell me I need to throw a tunic on and follow you back up to the Chantry?"
"It is, yes."
"And there goes my nap."
Amelia pushed off of the bed and stalked to the front door. Her hand was wrapped around the handle when she heard Cassandra clear her throat from behind her. She turned around to face Cassandra, one eyebrow quirked in a silent question. Cassandra held her tunic out to her, that same blush creeping over her cheeks.
"Oh. Right," Amelia said before she tossed the tunic over her head. "Can't have all the blessed children of Andraste seeing their Herald with her tits out now, can we?"
"Maker help us all," Cassandra muttered under her breath.
"I heard that, you know."
"I intended it."