Bull sighed as he rolled onto his back, taking in the clouds for a moment before closing his eyes. His mind cleared as he took in the sounds around him, birds chirping, the wind brushing a few stray leaves along the ground, and a very noticeable crunching of dirt against the sole of a shoe. A small smirk pulled at his lips as he listened closer, the crunching of the earth had stopped and was replaced with shuffling of bushes, as if someone was trying to maneuver their way through them but with some struggle. A small 'ouch!' reached his ears and he all but lost it from there.
"Three, two, one…" Bull mumbled to himself, and not a moment after he said one did a rather small body come lunging out of the bushes and tumbling onto him. Eva crashed into his chest, perching herself up with a wide grin on her lips.
"Bet you didn't hear me that time!" She said and Bull laughed, and I mean he really laughed. He sat up, pushing Eva into his lap as his large hand came to rest on the crown of her head while he gently ruffled her snowy locks.
"Demons could hear you from a rift!" Bull grinned and Eva pouted with a sigh, crossing her arms in mild disappointment. "Ah, don't sweat it Boss. You're learning quick, though next time don't fight with the bushes." He smirked as a small tint of red stained her cheeks.
"I got caught, it wasn't my fault." She grumbled and he laughed more.
Eva rose from his lap and looked around. They weren't too far off from where they camped for the evening. Along with her new lessons on using an arrow, Bull thought it would be ideal for her to learn the concept to stealth. She wasn't terrible at it but she wasn't the greatest either. Usually, much like earlier, she would either get caught on something, trip on something, or walk too loudly. That could be rectified with going barefoot like Solas, but it was far too cold for her to do so. Bull stood from where he sat, pulling his large battle axe up and swinging the weapon into its hatch on his back.
"Probably should be getting back, Boss. I'm starving and I know you are too." Her stomach growled immediately after he said that and she felt her cheeks heat up again, but this time she was grinning up at the giant Qunari. It took a few weeks for Eva to come around to him, but she warmed up rather quickly to Bull and his Chargers, much to Josephine's dismay. Bull wasn't exactly filtered when speaking about certain things, and his excuse was that Eva would eventually learn about that type of stuff anyways, may as well come from someone she knows and likes. Josephine as well as Cassandra disagreed entirely. "Alright Boss, hop on!" Bull grasped at her small frame and picked her up, placing her atop of his shoulders. Eva grinned and held on to Bull's horns as he took off into a sprint.
"CHARGE!" Eva yelled, pointing her hand forward and Bull went faster, laughing along with her as they tore across the clearing back to camp.
-
"For the last time Varric," Cassandra shot him a glare as she sighed. "Cullen voluntarily joined the Inquisition." She snapped and Varric only grinned in response, throwing up his hands as a show of surrender.
"Well, I'm still convinced Josephine was too polite to decline." Varric added slyly as he made his way to his tent.
Cassandra's eye began to twitch and she was about ready to tear off the dwarfs' head before a roar of laughter caught her attention. She turned, spotting Bull and Eva approaching the camp sight. They were walking now, obviously caught up in one of Bull's tales since Eva was in tears from laughter. Please be age appropriate, Cassandra thought to herself as she sighed internally. She didn't want to have to talk to Bull again about keeping things clean for Eva. The man lived an interesting life, that much was certain.
"Welcome back, Herald." Cassandra said stiffly, nodding at Bull as he set the young girl down on the ground.
"Hi Cass!" Eva smiled up in her direction as the two made their way to the pot of cooked ram meat. Bull picked out a large piece, go figure, as Eva went for the smaller portions. They both practically inhaled their food and it took Cassandra everything in her power not to tell them to slow down and chew their food first.
"How was the training?" She asked instead.
"Needs practice but getting better-damn, this is good!" Bull said as he tore into another piece of meat.
"Language!" Cassandra snapped, glaring at the Qunari who only shrugged in her direction. Eva didn't seem at all phased as she had already begun a conversation with Solas and seemed engrossed in that. It was amazing how easily Eva got distracted and tuned others out. She needed to learn her technique and try it on Varric sometime.
"See Seeker, told you they'd be back soon." And cue her irritation.
She sighed and stood from her spot, dusting off her pants before looking to Varric. "I had no doubt he wouldn't return her safely, Varric." She said as she lifted her pack from the ground and made her way to her tent. "I'm going to bed, we leave first thing in the morning."
"Ugh, why so early?" Bull asked.
"We need to reach Mother Giselle as soon as possible. Cullen requested we be back before the weeks' end." That was all Cassandra said before nodding to Eva, who waved at her in return.
"Woman needs to drink more." Bull grumbled.
"Couldn't agree more." Varric chuckled.
Morning came too early for them and Eva was never a morning person to begin with, though Solas always managed to coax her out of her bed roll with promises of warm tea or more stories about the fade during their travels. Though this morning was particularly difficult, because she hadn't slept as much as she could. It felt like she fighting to keep her eyes open at every second, but to only have them droop randomly before someone startled her awake.
"Lethallan," Solas whispered in her ear and she nearly jumped off the ground, scrambling to stand but swayed a bit on her legs. A small smirk graced the older elf's lips but he quickly covered it with his mask of indifference. "It is time to depart, are you ready?" Solas asked as he watched her carefully, noting the large yawn and tired nod.
Eva said nothing as she gathered her things and waited for Solas. Haven was kind enough to lend them horses for this journey until they could obtain proper horses from some horse master that was near their current destination. Maybe they should visit him this week too? Solas lifted her with ease onto the horse and she stiffened only slightly, still not being a personal fan of horses herself. But Solas was quick to mount the horse as he sat behind her. He gave the animal a small kick and they were off; the others had left ahead of them but it wasn't too long before they caught up.
"Is she alright?" She heard Cassandra ask.
"Fine, fine. Just tired." Eva mumbled out, her eyes drooping again.
"Did you not sleep?" She persisted.
"Not so much." She shook her head as she looked up to Cassandra, who now wore a worried expression. She was really the mother hen of the group. "Bull kept me up." Eva admitted, a small blush spreading on her cheeks. "He snores… Loud."
A small vibration shook through her as Solas chuckled a bit from her remark. "He does indeed, I'm surprised you even slept through it, Seeker." He added. Solas gave a small tug on the reigns as the horse came to a stop, "Lethallan, if you could adjust your position you may rest until we reach the village." Eva didn't need to be told twice as she shifted in his lap, her legs draping over his arms as her head tucked safely into the warmth of his chest. The steady beat of his heart met her ears as her senses were filled with his scent. Elfroot, ink, and a hint of tea. For someone who hated it so much he really did drink a lot of it. Eva smiled a bit, snuggled just a bit closer into the warmth of his body before finally going still.
Cassandra watched with wide eyes, you could practically see her swooning over the of the scene before her. She and Josephine were easily swayed with things like this, Solas didn't quite understand. The elf gave her a firm stare which snapped Cassandra out of her 'gooey state', as Eva would call it before he gave the mount another kick, sending them into a quick yet steady pace. He didn't want to disrupt the sleeping bundle in his arms.
"You're caught." Varric commented casually, glancing over to the apostate. Solas sighed internally, though his face remained neutral.
And here we go again. "I am ensuring that she acquires the recommended amount of sleep for her to function properly. Should we go into battle, she cannot fight in her current condition." Solas clipped, his tone held a certain coldness to it, which only made the dwarf grin more.
"Whatever you say, Chuckles, whatever you say." Varric grinned as he turned his attention back towards the road ahead of them.
The journey to the village from their camp took less time than they anticipated, giving them ample time to tend to the villagers needs. Eva didn't mind in the slightest with aiding the refugees, but she was slightly sour about being woken up. They spent half the day gathering supply caches for Whittle, gathering ram's meat for the hunter that had no desire to step outside their small haven. She couldn't blame them, the number of Templars and Mages that attacked them were unbelievable, though the Iron Bull had no problem driving his axe through them.
"HAH." He roared as blood sputtered from the open wound on the mage's neck, some of it spilling onto Bull as he cut the man down mid spell. Eva felt her stomach lurch with disgust. "I can do this all day, good for the soul." Bull said.
"Mindless slaughter?" Cassandra snapped at him she smashed her shield into a Templar, sending the man flying towards Solas's direction. Solas casted his spell and consumed the solider in ice before shattering him into hundreds of unrecognizable pieces.
"It's not mindless, we're clearing the road for safe travel!" Bull replied.
Eva and Varric fell back behind the others as they fired their weapons, staggering the enemy before either Bull or Cassandra could get to them. At least she wasn't a terrible shot. Or that's what Varric said. She still needed practice on long range shots. She pulled her bow string back, sending her arrow flying into the shoulder of a mage.
"NICE SHOT." Bull yelled from his position before cutting down the last person in sight. "There, that should keep the refugees safe. We should find their base and smoke them out."
"Indeed. Only then will this area be safe, save for the rifts of course."
Of course. Eva mentally groaned before sighing. "We should get back; I still need to talk to Mother Giselle."
"You best pray this works, Seeker. I don't see how she's going to calm things down at Haven."
Cassandra grunted in response. "We can only try, Varric."
-
They made it back in no time and dispersed. Bull went to go check on the food situation, having complained several times that he was hungry and needed a drink. Solas retreated to the tents that they had set up when they arrived, something about a location he saw while in the fade and was going to mark it on their map for a later date. Varric traded goods with the towns market with what he found from picking bodies. Cassandra and Eva sought out Mother Giselle who found near the healing cabin.
Eva spotted her standing next to an injured man, who seemed reluctant to have any help from a mage. 'No! Don't let them touch me with their corrupt magic!' The man hissed out angrily, wincing from his obvious wounds but still acted like a stubborn ass. Eva frowned when she drew nearer, his protests becoming louder and crueler.
"I have a friend that's a mage… He healed me plenty of times, it never once hurt me." Eva's voice carried as she stood slightly behind the two. They both looked up in surprise, even more so when the spotted the small elf. "You're clearly hurting, please let him help you." The mage that was near looked just as surprised, especially since she just stood up for him.
"What would a whelp like you know about anything regarding mages?! Have you no idea what they've done?!" The man hissed out and she winced at his tone. That is when Cassandra stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"There are more important things to be concerned over." Cassandra said with a small glare. The man instantly shut up. "Either accept his help or not, but do not insult him further."
Mother Giselle turned to face both fully, surprise still lingering on her features as she looked them over, though she offered a small smile. "I believe introductions are in order." She said kindly.
Eva stepped forward a bit and smiled. "My name is Eva and this is Cassandra. She's a seeker." Cassandra suppressed the urge to smirk at Eva's introduction.
"I believe Leliana sent word ahead that you were expecting us. Eva is our Herald."
"Herald?" Mother Giselle repeated, her eyebrows raising with curiosity. "I didn't expect a child… She's so young. I heard stories that she was much older."
"Obviously false." Cassandra stated.
"Regardless, I did receive word that you need my help, yes?" She asked, her tone was still kind.
Eva nodded and that's when Cassandra went into explaining the situation to the Revered Mother. They both agreed she could aid in gathering clerics in some city that she has never heard of, and that she herself would have to go and speak with these said clerics. Apparently, she was their only hope for the Chantry not tearing itself apart. Eva disagreed. Though her opinion didn't matter currently.
"I will meet you at Haven then," Mother Giselle said with a firm nod. "We need to set an example."
"Example?" Eva asked, her brows raising in curiosity.
The older woman smiled and nodded. "The Maker wishes His word to spread by example, not by war. We win no converts with blood."
Eva looked up to Cassandra who was nodding back with agreement. They shook Mother Giselle's hand before departing from the cabin, leaving her to get back to helping the injured refugees.
"Cassandra," She asked as the woman turned to look at her. "Are we staying here for the night or packing up?"
"We should start heading back. I fear if we delay our stay we won't meet Cullen's deadline." Eva frowned.
"Why does he need us back so soon? I thought we'd see the horse man while we were here..." If one more person in Haven complained to her about how the horses sucked, she was going to lose her mind. It's not like she picked the horses that were provided, and this errand was the best she could do for the town. It would at least shut the humans up.
"He didn't say," Cassandra pulled her out of her thoughts. "But it has to be important if the Commander is requesting our return so early."
Eva sighed and nodded. She disagreed, but if the matter was important she didn't want to get a lecture from Cullen or Josephine about her and her party being tardy. "Alright, I guess we can gather some supplies and head out. Can you get everyone together?" Eva asked as Cassandra nodded. Good, one less thing she had to do. Maybe, just maybe she could catch some sleep while they prepared for the trip.
-
"You play Wicked Grace, Chuckles?" Varric asked as he pulled alongside the elf. Varric was good at making small talks on long trips, one of the many reasons she brought him along. He was always in a good mood and provided humor for the group. Though Eva felt a small pang of sympathy for Cassandra.
"I've tried my hand in it." Solas replied, keeping a steady pace.
"You any good?" Varric asked, raising a curious brow in his direction.
"That depends," Solas replied. Eva looked back at the older elf before looking over to Varric.
Varric pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. "It's a simple question, Chuckles."
"It all depends on how you play the game, master Tethras."
"Do I hear a challenge in the future?" Bull retorted from behind them. Eva was surprised the poor horses hadn't given out already from Bull's weight and size.
"Perhaps." Was all Solas said before falling silent once more. Varric pulled back with Bull, discussing a future date to set up this Wicked Grace game of theirs. Eva made a mental note to ask about it later.
A sudden pulse rippled across her marked hand as she winced, drawing her right hand to her chest. Cassandra immediately looked back as Solas looked down to her. The pulsing continued and only grew before a large crackle was heard not far from them. An earth-shattering cry following the crackle.
"Demons!" Cassandra yelled before dismounting her horse. Solas instantly came to a stop and pulled Eva off the horse with him, putting her behind the group as two despair demons charged for them.
Cassandra was first to charge forward, Varric already aiding in staggering the demons as his arrows pierced into them. Their screeching intensified and Eva felt slightly faint from the noise as she stumbled to get her bow in order.
But it all happened so fast. Before she even had the chance to fire Cassandra was blasted off her feet and Eva became immobile, unable to draw her bow as the freezing sensation crept up her body, leaving defenseless. Solas was quick to free her from her frozen prison, knocking the demon away with a blast of fire.
"You must seal the rift!" Solas yelled, this time raising a wall of fire around one of the demons, it's dying cry fresh in her ears.
Eva nodded quickly and scrambled to her feet, leaving her bow behind her as she ran through the chaos. The more demons they killed the more the rift would spit out. Eva tore off her glove quickly before thrusting her hand forward towards the rift. The pulse of energy radiated in her hand and began to grow.
"HURRY!" Bull yelled before one of the demons descended on him with its freezing abilities. Another crack sounded from the rift and the demons that were attacking them collapsed, giving them time to kill those remaining. Eva kept her hand up as the pulsing continued and she knew that it was just about to close. Come on! Just a little more!
A sharp pain cracked against her head as Eva was thrown to the side, one of the despair demons had managed to regain consciousness. It approached her quickly and she scrambled back, trying to aim her hand at the rift once more. Ice consumed her hand as she was frozen against the ground, her body suddenly immobile.
'Oh, you have a great amount of sorrow coursing through that small body of yours.' The demon said almost too gleefully. She felt her eyes widen in terror as a sickening cold feeling suddenly blossomed through her chest. Every memory that she tried to suppress and forget became a moving picture that was displayed in front of her. 'Give me your sorrow. Give me your life.' It said with a changing tone to its voice.
The chill felt like it spread into her bones as her vision became questionable. Was… Was that. No. No, no, impossible!
"Mamae?" Eva said aloud, her mother now standing in front of her, dressed just as she was the day she lost her. But… How?
-
A loud scream caught his attention as Solas managed to burn another demon into dust. Eva. Leaving the others to fend for themselves, he charged forward, swinging his staff around quickly while summoning another surge of fire that directly hit the despair demon. It screamed before dancing away, leaving Solas to free Eva from her frozen prison. He quickly gathered her in his arms before heading to the rift, with her hand in his he managed to close the rift without any more demons coming through. The despair demon succumbed to Bull's axe.
"Closed." Solas said while accessing the damage of the group, never putting Eva down from his hold. Mild damage, nothing a potion couldn't fix up. Though the real damage was to the emotional distraught elf in his hold. She didn't know the damage a despair demon could have on a person, he did.
"Eva," Solas said gently but she didn't budge. Her eyes were wide, mouth slightly open as her shallow breath became heavier to a point where she started hyperventilating.
"I saw her." She said with a tremor breaking her voice. "I SAW HER. I HEARD HER." Eva began to struggle in Solas's hold. She just saw her mother… Right? She was here! She had to find her! But her struggles were rendered useless as the hold on her grew tight.
Green hues met stormy blue ones as she narrowed her gaze at Solas. "Let me go!" She snapped, her struggles only growing.
"It wasn't her, Eva." Solas said sternly, his gaze narrowing with hers. His words must've sunk in because she instantly became still in his arms.
"But-," she shook her head. "I heard her! She was calling for- for help. For me…" Her voice broke.
"Demons such as this type have the ability to twist the mind and make you believe something is there, when it is not." It felt like she was just punched in the gut upon hearing that. "A desire demon has the ability to ensnare and prey upon its victim using whatever means against it, just as a demon of despair is able to do, but with ones' emotions." He felt the need to explain further in detail, just to ensure that she understood what transpired.
Cassandra called out to them as she rushed over, giving Eva a look over before expressing her thanks to Solas. He nodded as the three of them made their way to Varric and Bull, who were already passing a potion to Solas and Cassandra.
Eva blinked when Solas pushed a healing potion into her hands, he suddenly was blurry in her vision as she felt fresh tears slip down her cheeks.
"Lethallan," his voice dropped, his expression changing into one of worry and sorrow. This was not like him to feel so strongly for others, but it was no secret that Solas protected the girl fiercely, even when it that protection extended to her emotions. "You must drink the potion; it will help heal you from the effects of the demon." Solas pressed but Eva just stared up at him with a broken expression.
That's when Cassandra gingerly removed the bottle from her hands and uncorked it before pressing it lightly to her mouth. She drank the potion, there was no point in protesting. She felt the chill immediately dissipate from her body as her other wounds were soothed, but her heart was still very much shattered.
"We- Should move on." Cassandra said with a hint of hesitancy in her voice.
Eva only nodded slightly as her gaze shifted from Solas, to Cassandra, to her own hands pressed together in her lap. Solas placed her on their shared mount and soon they were back on track, heading back to Haven.