Vethari had seen beautiful women before, and she'd never been shy to allow herself to indulge in the fantasy of being with them. It's something she and Zevran had in common, they didn't think there needed to be a limitation on who you took to your bed. It was about the person and the experience not what they presented as. It was something that Orlesian bards wrote about when they sang her story to the masses and the part of her Ferelden chose to erase.

It tended to not catch her by surprise when everything she represented was whitewashed to fulfill a human's preference.

She was used to it by now, to the Ferelden people she was a city elf who had sought out her human companions in her darkest hour while being raised in status by the now King Alistair, and to the Orlesians she was a novelty.

Yet, the people of Lothering flocked to the wild hart that the Inquisitor rode and did everything they could to just catch a glimpse of her attention. She was striking, with shoulder-length black hair that bordered a deep purple, matching to her formal attire which was an embroidered shimmery green corset that reminded her of dragon scales. The Inquisitor looked regal. Vethari watched as the elven woman jumped off her hart with graceful ease and took hold of the reins, it was impressive that she used only one hand to control a beast as massive as a hart. Vethari didn't miss that she was keeping her other arm hidden underneath a cloak that hung sideways over her shoulder shielding, what she assumed, was the infamous magic hand.

Cassandra and Leliana both stood on opposite sides of Vethari ready to greet their friend as she neared, politely smiling through the crowd of villagers before handing her mount over to the stablehand upon walking through entrance of the old Chantry. Cassandra clearly couldn't wait any longer for the Inquisitor to get to them and rushed over capturing her friend into a tight embrace, letting out a laugh when the Inquisitor said something that Vethari didn't catch.

"So, what do you think?" Leliana said with a wide smile.

"No opinions just yet, I heard she is a mage. I'm sure the people loved that."

Leliana frowned and then cleared her throat, "It was an issue at first, but the Divine Victoria has made a lot of positive changes recently, even if her methods are a bit – underhanded - It has smoothed over a lot of the prejudice."

"Yes, the mage who is Divine, very scandalous. I wonder has it quelled the opinion about the savage Dalish or is that a detail that gets omitted?"

The Inquisitor looked up from her conversation with Cassandra and then met Vethari's gaze and something flashed across her face that seemed to indicate that she was surprised to see her. Vethari refused to step forward to meet her, instead she painfully waited as the savior of Thedas stepped up to her.

"It is an honor to meet you, Warden-Commander." The Inquisitor had a melodic sound to her voice with that accent that the Dalish had. A roll to her words, an undertone of difference to the rest of Ferelden. Vethari could absorb her appearance easier now – she was beautiful and lacked the roughness that she held herself, but that didn't mean there wasn't battle weariness on her skin. The scars told their own story. They were kindred spirits, and that idea made Vethari uncomfortable.

"Please, call me Vethari. I detest the title and after the fuck-up at Adamant I'd prefer not to associate with those traitors. Good call on having them exiled. Should I call you Inquisitor?"

"Gods, no. I prefer Athariel or Attie if you'd like. It was only a temporary exile, things were just too volatile. I couldn't trust the Wardens even if their firepower would have been useful." There was caution in Athariel's eyes and Vethari felt the same. They both were testing where the other stood in terms of views and actions.

"It should have been permanent, or at best, they should have all been executed."

Athariel's eyes widened at the harshness in her tone, and Vethari caught the color of her eyes. It was amber but within the edges of the iris was an unearthly green. Fade-touched they had called her in the tavern retellings of what had happened at the final battle with the corrupted magister, Corypheus.

"I wouldn't say they deserved death, but yes, they nearly jeopardized the entire state of the world grasping at a solution for a false Blight. Not that it matters now–" Athariel whispered as if they were being listened to.

"Ah yes, the 'elvhen god' threatening to tear down the Veil that separates us from demons. Your two best friends here already filled me in on the finer details. "

"Not just demons…"

"Mostly demons," Vethari said dismissively and then turned to Leliana, "I'm sure you're looking to catch up. I'm heading out to see where Zevran has gone off to. I refuse to believe he's missed the grand entrance of the Inquisitor."

"There is no need!" Zevran came from behind the Inquisitor, his arms spread wide. "It is good to put a face to the name of the one who helped me out of my little predicament with the Crows."

"Oh! Zevran, it's wonderful to formally meet you. I haven't forgotten your help in the slightest either. " Athariel smiled and turned to greet him, and Vethari caught something beneath her cloak. Her right arm was missing.

Zevran laughed, if he noticed the amputation his face and manners didn't give it away. "Naturally, even not meeting in person it's no easy task to forget Zevran Arainai. How was the travels here?"

Leliana glanced at Vethari and then stepped forward to join in on the reunion while Cassandra offered to take Athariel's pack, carrying it inside past Vethari. The Warden turned away from the jovial group and followed the Seeker, wanting to fish for more information about her counterpart in importance.

"What happened to the Inquisitor's arm? You failed to mention that she was a cripple." Vethari didn't mean for it to sound so offensive and swallowed as Cassandra gave her a disapproving glare.

"Apologies, I just didn't realize she had her arm amputated. Was it a result of having a magic hand?"

Cassandra relaxed her gaze, looking forward as she headed to a table across the hall. "Solas removed it, that's all we know. Athariel hasn't been the most forthcoming on the reason but it was killing her before he did. I suppose the romantic in me believes that he did it because he cared enough about her wellbeing."

Vethari was quiet and then ran her hand over her head, "What does the realist in you believe?"

"I think he had the power to stabilize it if the reports are to be believed. I think he removed it to lessen her ability to stop him from his insane scheme." Cassandra placed the pack down and then turned abruptly to face Vethari.

"Athariel is not fragile."

"I never implied she was" Vethari crossed her arms but Cassandra didn't back down.

"You are thinking it. I am no fool, but I will have you know she is someone to be reckoned with. I will not have you disrespect her again as you did now." There was a fire in Cassandra's gaze and it was occurring to Vethari just how fiercely loyal all these people were to the Inquisitor even Zevran spoke to her with a familiarity and they'd never met.

"I am cautious, Seeker, she's a Dalish, and no offense to you or her highness out there I have not had the best experience with them. She might have defeated a magister and physically traversed the Fade but I have suffered. I saw horrors your small mind could only imagine and then when it was all over I was the one left behind, alone. Worship your Herald all you want, but at the end of the day she's an elf and the world doesn't treat us with kindness for long."

"Vethari." Zevran's voice was stern, and she turned to be faced with Leliana, Athariel, and Zevran looking back at her. The Inquisitor didn't look upset, instead, it was sympathy that reflected on her face but Zev looked pissed. As if finally he had enough of her.

"What is it Zevran?" Vethari snapped. "Are you done running around playing hero or will you kiss the feet of the Inquisitor now that her holy presence has graced us little people. They hate us!" She was projecting her own internalized hate for her ears, for her status for the years of struggle she'd had to endure, and here was this elf before her getting nothing but adoration for what she represented. It was as if she had succeeded where Vethari failed.

Zevran massaged his brows, "I cannot speak to you when you are like this, The Inquisitor is here to help you and you are pushing it away because you are what, jealous because they didn't spit on her when she arrived?"

"I am NOT jealous, I am just not a hopeful idiot like you are!"

Zevran flinched and then scowled a retort as sharp as his wit ready on the tip of the tongue but he held back as the Inquisitor held up her hand. Athariel slowly pulled off her cloak and rested it over a nearby chair. She was falling into the role bestowed upon her nearly four years ago. The elven woman commanded the room, not an insecurity in sight, "I am here to help you." She said calmly, "And I am here to find Solas and save him from himself or be the cause of his death."

They were face to face again, "Let me be your ally, Vethari. I swear to you that you have my spirit blade at your side. Together we can heal a hurt that runs deeper than humans will ever know."

"You are just perfect, aren't you? The stories didn't exaggerate a single word, no, they didn't erase everything you are – I don't want the help of someone with the privilege of being recognized for benevolence. You are still able to live in the ignorance that your choices didn't ruin lives."

Vethari let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She couldn't stand between them and fall apart. This wasn't the first time in her life she walked away from something so uncomfortable.

"Excuse me." her face was unreadable and she maneuvered past them, making a beeline for the exit, not missing Zevran walking after her.