"Does it talk?" Varric asked curiously, eyeing the raven on my shoulder.
"Not yet, but you will soon won't you my darling." I cooed. Cassandra let out a disgusted noise.
"Why do you have the bird again?" Asked the Herald, eyeing it uneasily.
"Leliana gave him to me. He's for messages out in the field. He's oh so very clever aren't you, yes you are!" I giggled as I stroked under his beak, he almost let out a purr.
"And have you named the beast?" Solas said, from behind. Further from behind than I remembered. I turned to look for him and I saw his look of contempt that he held for the bird.
"Not a fan of birds Solas?" I teased and he rolled his eyes.
"They carry many unsanitary diseases, it is natural to want to avoid them." He said calmly. I could only laugh, who knew the oh so stoic Solas had a fear of birds.
It cawed loudly then and he jumped in a rather undignified manner. Of course, Trevelyan and I flew into hysterics. The bird cawing along with our laughter.
"Yes, how very humorous." Was all he said before marching on ahead.
We had been walking through never ending hills and forests trying to find the cross roads, or at least the camp set up near them. It was growing dark now as well and the thought of journeying these woods in the dead of night was not appealing.
"What about... Jet?" Trevelyan mused. Ah, names for my raven. Apparently she had gotten over her initial uneasiness towards me and I was rather grateful for it. But nonetheless, Jet would not do for a name for an animal of such splendid beauty.
"Far too simple, it must be grand and full of... Pizazz." I sighed.
"Pizazz? Maker is that even a word?" Cassandra groaned.
"Of course it is! Varric isn't it a word?" I cried indignantly.
He chuckled and nodded, "One of the best."
"Hmm, what about... Ser Squawks a lot?" Trevelyan said again. I laughed at this and the raven shook his feathers as if in disgust.
"Oh no, he doesn't like it." I chuckled.
"You're both thinking too hard, the best names always come from simplicity." Varric interjected.
"You have one in mind?" I asked.
"You want Pizazz, I get you pizazz." He said dramatically, "Ladies and gentle-elves, may I present to you Captain Feathers McSquaw!"
"Most certainly not! That is a most undignified name." I protested as I again stroked under his chin.
"Why must you name it at all?" Solas said his voice dripping with distain.
I arched my brow, "Because I want to."
"And that is your sole purpose for doing anything, yes?" He said caustically but I chose to ignore him. The fact was I couldn't tell whether he just disliked me or whether he was simply trying to pick an argument. It was strange. I'd known few people who like to argue, mainly because they simply loved to listen to themselves talk. He seemed to think he had the answer to everything. The arrogance with which he held himself, so sure and condisending... It oozed from every step. Dripped from every syllable. If he were not such an know it all arse hole he would be divinely attractive.
I continued to coo over my new friend, running names by him until he seemed to respond to one. So far, he simply looked around the hinterlands with his birdish jerking movements. And so the crow went unnamed as we finally came upon the camp.
I sighed with exhaustion as I slumped down against a boulder, Varric did the same only on the other side of it. Solas was much too dignified and the Heral spoke with Harding, one of Leliana's spy masters.
"Watch her. Keep an eye on everyone, but I must know if I should doubt any of my people's loyalty." I remembered Leliana's orders as her spy that wasn't technically her spy. So I kept my eye on Harding as she spoke with the Herald. She seemed to have an easy way with words, charismatic and charming but with an obvious edge that seemed almost forced. She seemed more bark than bite, but I didn't doubt her loyalty.
"You got a thing for dwarfs Trixy?" I heard Varric say wryly. I almost jumped, almost but I turned my head casually to smile at him.
"Only you, dearest Varric, only you." I winked.
He laughed at me, "It's the chest hair, isn't it."
"That and your sparklingly witty repartee." I replied and again he laughed. But it seemed distant, and his eyes took a step back into a memory, as if my words reminded him of something.
It was then that Trevelyan addressed us, "We'll camp here tonight. I think it might be too late to battle our way to the crossroads now." I could see Harding about to object to her words, but possibly her andrastian faith stopped her from correcting her apparent Herald. The rest nodded thankfully and settled down for the night around the fire, talking quietly of menial things. I however made my way towards Harding.
"You believe we should head from the crossroads tonight." I opened. I spoke quietly, even though we were far from the fire, I didn't want to risk it.
She nodded, "I didn't want to be seen undermining the Herald. Sister Leliana said it was paramount that we obey her in order for others to do the same. Only the crossroads is over run, the refugees can only fight for so long and if Mother Giselle bites it, well. That's our hope for chantry support out the window." I nodded, seeing her predicament.
"Then why not send a few people to deal with the rebels and templars?"
"Like I said," she sighed in exasperation, "I can't be seen going against the Herald's orders."
I whispered now, "Then don't be seen. Send scouts, send me and by morning the only thing the refugees will have to bother with is a stray wolf. Trust me, a few scared mages and frazzled templars are nothing." She eyed me suspiciously now, mulling my plan over whilst trying to decide if she could trust me. Her eyes glanced towards Trevelyan and then back to me.
"Alright, but let me send word to Sister Leliana."
"No need." I stopped as I clicked my tongue and the crow landed gracefully on my shoulder. "I'll send word once we're finished. If she knows you went against the Herald, it'll be your head. Me? Well I'm just here for the scenery, she can't say anything." I smiled cheekily and a smirk grew on her face.
"Alright, you seem confident enough. I'll send a patrol of scouts with you. Make this clean and quiet of you can. The cross roads aren't more than a ten minute walk north of here."
"I'll be back by sunrise." I told her as she signalled eight scouts. She told them in hushed tones about the plan and they all looked to me.
"You will follow Lavellan's orders. She's Dalish and she lead a scout group back at the Temple. She knows what she's doing." She said sternly and they all nodded.
"By your leave Lavellan." Said a blond hooded woman.
"I'll make up an excuse for your absence, say that you needed to dance naked under the stars because its a full moon tonight." Harding said cheekily as we readied to climb down the side of the cliff.
"How gracious of you." I laughed as I hopped over the shrubbery. My crow flew off down below and perched on a near by tree as the rest of the scouts followed me and we precariously made our way down. The full moon was indeed high in the sky so it created shadows that we could stick to.
As we drew closer, we could hear the fighting, the screaming... I drew my bow and let magic tingle readily at my fingers. I signalled for the scouts to fan out in a ring formation, staying hidden until I gave the call. The mages and templars were clashing, burning and killing regardless of who or what they destroyed on the way and I could feel anger boiling in my stomach.
I drew my bow taught and picked a mage as my first target. Just as he was about to summon a ball of fire I gave a loud whistle and eight arrows fired out in quick succession. Mine met its target, piercing the mages neck and rendering him a spluttering heap on the ground. Then we made ourselves known, though sticking mainly to shadows. The scouts drew daggers, fired arrows and through their smoke flasks and I was quite startled at how well trained they were in comparison to the soldiers. These people were professionals and they killed with deadly accuracy. Not to be outdone, I fired two more arrows at a mage and a templar archer. Then a quick side step and a twist and I had my spare dagger lodged in between a Templars ribs. He fell and I withdrew the blade quickly spinning to stab it in another's neck. A well placed fireball scorched two mages coming into the fray and three more arrows took down three more templars. They kept coming however, and the fight was beginning to harden.
Sticking my fingers between my lips I whistled twice and called, "Fall back!" And almost instantaneously I heard the shattering of glass and the scouts all fell into shadow. I followed, back to the treeline, leaving our enemies confused. After a few stamina draughts and a reformation we went back into battle. This happened twice more as the their numbers became thinner and finally as an arrow found the final mage, the crossroads were silent.
The refugees emerged from their dilapidated homes crying out thanks and praises, giving the still night a pleasant warmth. I saw a tall woman in red with a ridiculous hat coming towards us.
"Ah, the inquisition." She said softly in a light Orlesian accent.
"Mother Giselle, I presume."
She nodded regally. "I have prayed for your coming, Herald and-"
"What? No, no, no, I'm not the Herald. I'm just Lavellan. I'm an Inquisition..." Spy, "Soldier, the Herald is back at the camp." I supplied hastily. Again she smiled and did another little bow,
"Even so she sent you to us and-"
Again I interrupted her, "Actually... She doesn't know we're here. She planned to come in the morning but Harding and I knew you'd would be arse deep in trouble so we came out to make sure you didn't get blown to bits by these bastards." I gestured to the carnage around us and the woman looked almost in shock. She recovered quickly though.
"Then I thank you serah, you have done us a great service." I smiled and shrugged awkwardly, really not used to that amount of gratitude.
"The Herald will be here early in the morning, we should really be getting back now." I waved jauntily but she called out to me, and I didn't miss the waver of desperation in her voice.
"Might I trouble you further. The night is still yet long and I fear more clashes will take place before it is through. Would it be too much to ask that you and your party remain at least until sunrise. We can provide little but you may save lives." I suddenly felt overwhelmingly guilty for even considering leaving these people to fend for themselves once more. So I shook my head.
"Not at all, we will gladly stay." I nodded and a smile of relief washed over her face.
"Thank you, may I have your name?" She said kindly.
"Nevalla, of Clan Lavellan." I said with a short bow.
"Then I thank you whole heartedly for your kindness, lady Nevalla." She bowed in return. "Now, while there is a moment of respite, your people must be thirsty."