What world did I fall into? Eva sighed as she sat at the table in the Tavern. Was it always like this? Did they always hate us? Or did we just give up and accept our fates? Her fingers laced together as she placed her hands along the wooden table. The texture was rough along her skin, and on top of that it smelled like the Iron Bull had spent the day here. He drank a lot.
"I understand your fear," Cassandra voice tore Eva from her thoughts. She turned her head to see the adults speaking. When Eva arrived, no one seemed to remember her, and they surely didn't remember she was 10. The mockery and snickers that echoed in her ears was enough to make her face flush with anger. In fact, since her talk with Varric that's all she's been harboring, a foul mood. That's why they didn't take me seriously for being someone that is forced to save their lives. Her eyebrows knitted together while her green hues narrowed. She felt like anger was choking her. They already took my mamae and I am supposed to save them? Blaming me, picking on me, ignoring me… Her hands curled into fists as she sighed angrily.
"I can't picture a worse situation that you just made for yourselves." Varric's voice caught her attention. "You paired up with the worst and still hope for a good outcome?" He asked and Eva turned into her seat. She was instantly met with the stormy blue eyes of Solas, as if he had been watching her the entire time as they discussed what Lady Fiona had done. Eva only could crack a smile at him, and he did the same. She knew he could sense her emotions. Mana, spells, and keeping a cool head were all new aspects she must learn now. And it has not been easy. But they practiced every day when they were back in Haven. Her lessons were tested when they traveled and they either ran into rifts, bandits, or anything else that needed to be killed. Talking and being civil was foreign territory.
Another sigh. Just thinking about her list of activities made her feel somewhat exhausted, she also had Leliana and Varric teaching her how to use the elements and her surroundings as an advantage. Both were teaching her how to use a bow from a long distance, in case she couldn't get too close to the action like the others can. That was exhausting too. The other shems in Haven started taunting her, calling her a rogue mage. It didn't make much sense until she was reminded that mages were apostates, they had no freedom. Then the nickname felt more like an insult. Caged mages, no freedom. Is this why mamae and I always went ahead? Her mind dipped into her memories and all she could recall is either gathering herbs with her mamae, and making sure their new camping grounds were aways from the shems and any major cities and castles.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the others got louder. Some mages seemed mad at them for being here, others were happy to see them. The entire situation was confusing to her. Thank the makers for Cass. Cass usually had no issues taking control of any situation.
"As one indentured to a magister, I no longer have the authority to negotiate with you." Fiona said firmly.
"Then who does?" Eva asked with a tone of anger.
"Oh my, the rumors are true. And here I hoped that I would be able to have a sensible conversation on how to close the breach." A man dressed in weird clothes approached the group. Cassandra immediately left where she was standing to move in front of Eva, one hand already clasped on her sword. "Temper, temper. If I recall, you are here to ask me for help, yes? I have no interest in fighting. We have the same objective, restore the hole in the sky." The man said with a smile, one that Eva thought too honest.
Fiona cleared her voice as she too stepped aside to allow the man to pass. "Allow me to introduce Magister Gereon Alexius." The man sat across Eva and Cassandra immediately sat next to her. Solas was standing directly beside her, and Varric took a spot in the back. She may be the Herald and the one to save them, but she's still just a kid. She wasn't strong enough yet with her lessons or her magic to defend herself.
"So, how did a child become the savior of our world?" Alexius asked. Eva only stared at him. If she wasn't annoyed before, she is pissed now. "I don't remember." She said while leaning back and crossing her arms. "I just know we need help to close it." She added.
Cassandra sighed and took the conversation by the reigns. "We had two choices and we decided to go with the mages. I believe with our supply with lyrium we will have enough power to seal the breach and end things once and for all." Alexius nodded, his hand tapping his chin as he mulled things over in his mind. "And what benefit does this give me?" Alexius asked, a small smirk tugging at his lips.
Eva's felt her eye twitch as she stood up and slammed her hands against the table. Cassandra put her hand along her back to guide her back to sitting, but Eva felt her blood going aflame. "You benefit by helping us save the world! Stop these demons from creating more rifts and killing people!" She practically yelled at the man, though this didn't seem to any effect on him. He had leaned back, watching in amusement at the young herald.
"Young mages, such hard to predict when they will have a flare up, don't you agree?" He glanced at Fiona with the same smirk. Both Eva and Cassandra's eyes widen with surprise. How did he know I am-? Eva's thoughts were interrupted as she felt Solas's palm on her shoulder, guiding her to remain seated. Even though she was angry at the situation with the elves, she had to appear professional, even at the age of 10. She was their example of the Inquisition.
"Most agreed. She is under my constant watch and protection to help train with her new abilities," Solas said with a smile. Behind that smile a wolf inside growled. "Now, back to our main problem, are you able to help us with the main rift? This is why traveled so far; we seek the aid of mages."
Eva sighed as she brushed Solas's palm from her shoulder, standing from her chair. "Will you help us or not? With or without your help I will find a way to stop this madness." She frowned and felt her shoulders lean forward. She was beyond the point of talk and was exhausted. "I made a promise. I will stop this no ma- ah!" Solas was beside her instantly as a young man fell practically onto her. What Solas didn't know was the feel of parchment that slipped through her fingers.
"Maker, I am so sorry." The man said quickly as they as watched steady himself. The magister was at his side instantly. "Felix!" His tone sounded worried as he leaned into support the man's weight.
"My deepest apologies, Herald. Please excuse us." Alexius hurriedly walked, hearing him ask for Fiona's aid and powders. Eva blinked in confusion as she watched the scene as they exited the tavern. The others were in conversation in confusion as she looked down and opened the small parchment.
"Uh, guys?" Eva said aloud as she held up the parchment. "It's a warning, that guy must've slipped it into my hands when he fell on me. That's when I felt this note. Should we go?" Eva asked aloud as Varric read it over and looked at Cassandra.
"It's 50/50 chance, I know you know that." Varric said to her. Cassandra grunted and looked away. "We will be prepared at least if it is a trap, but something is not right here, Seeker. We owe it to them to find out what's going on, especially since we do not have the Templers on our side right now."
"I just want to go home…" Eva said aloud and started to make her way to the door.
"Beg pardon," a man's voice caught their attention as they were greeted by a mage. Eva looked to Solas before looking back to the man. He seemed…Off. Different from the other mages, like he was in some sort of trance. "I heard you seek the aid of mages; I would like to offer my help. The magister does not want our kind among them. We do not have a place to go."
"I—Uh, what's wrong with him?" Eva asked as she looked at the others. She saw Cassandra's shoulders slump forward and Varric even seemed to have a sour look on his face. "He's… Um, He is a tranquil, Eva." The word was practically forced out of Cassandra's mouth as she continued to stare at the man.
"Tranquil?" She asked. Varric only sighed, rubbing the back of his head at her curiosity. "Yeah, elfroot, tranquil. A mage that has been cut off from the fade. Templars… Well, they can control mages in more ways than one. I saw a lot of tranquil back in Kirkwall, elfroot. Mages that don't have the ability to control their magic and become a threat to themselves and others around them." Varric grumbled. She continued to stare at the mage, noticing a strange brand on his forehead.
"Or because they simply have the power to do it," Solas added. His tone was dark, angry almost. She felt Cassandra nudge her a bit to stop staring. She broke her contact with the man and looked to her group. "I still don't understand…," Eva said. "He's a mage, right? He's cut off from the fade?" Then it clicked. Eva looked back at Solas in horror. Her hand trembling as it covered her mouth. "No, you mean he's a slave?!"
Solas frowned, his stormy blue eyes catching Eva's green hues. He simply nodded but Varric cut in. "It's more complicated than that, elfroot, trust me." Cassandra sighed and headed towards the man. They were in conversation as Eva turned to look at Varric and Solas. "They took away his ability to think for himself! They took away his freedom!" Eva snapped.
"What else don't I know about being a mage?!" Varric was still rubbing the back of his neck out of discomfort and Solas wasn't sure what to say, at least aloud and around people that aligned with the Magister.
"Eva, this is a conversation for later. I promise I will explain everything once we are out of earshot." Solas guided her away from the mage and Cassandra as they headed out the door. Cassandra would know to follow. Some decisions were best left to the adults because the shock of new knowledge would only break Eva further.
"To the Chantry… Then I'm going home." She said as the Tavern door swung open, flooding the room with light.