Leliana, Josephine, Cullen, and a fully recovered Cassandra stand together within the meeting room of the Inquisition's leaders. The letter of the news they have been anticipating has finally arrived in Haven, with its contents able to confirm what they have been fighting for.
Cullen is genuinely surprised by the news, as is Josephine, and both advisors carry pride in their gazes and postures as they think of the blue knight who managed to achieve this almost preposterous outcome.
"She did it..." A deep breath, as if all the tension in the world has been released, Cassandra practically whispers this announcement openly as she meets Leliana's content and thrilled look, both carrying the same wave of emotions behind their stoic masks. "Arturia... She has won over the mages."
"According to the letter," Leliana begins, "The entire group should be arriving back to Haven in about a week without any delays. Two weeks should something come up during their travel. That should give us enough time to fully process all of this and properly prepare for our new additions."
"I'll be damned..." Cullen mutters, looking as if he needs a chair to sit on. "She really did it."
"I wouldn't count my chickens before they hatch," Josephine insists with a wave of her feather pen, "There are still the negotiations to take place, but other than that... It seems we've finally got our King and Queen chess pieces off the board, for now."
"Unlike Fiona, who personally met the King and Queen of Ferelden themselves," Leliana states almost far off, imagining the look Fiona must have upon the two most powerful figures in the south of Thedas - second to the Empress of Orlais herself anyhow. "It is certainly a relief to hear that the Ferelden throne hasn't changed Alistair too severely. Charming as always for him to call the Herald of Andraste 'short' of all things during such a precarious situation."
Cullen holds back a chortle behind his clenched fist before clearing his throat. "That's hardly a topic to invest in compared to what else happened there." His face hardens into a more serious expression as he recalls the contents of the letter. "It's frightening that this was the second close call made on Arturia's life, but to send her back in time?"
"Arturia and Dorian will give all the details once they arrive back in Haven," Leliana replies smoothly. "I certainly look forward to hearing their experiences."
'It's funny how we had this exact same conversation a while ago,' Cassandra mulls over to herself. 'To go back in time, and have a chance to change history. I wonder if that temptation was there for Arturia? Did she try anything? Or did she hold back?'
"I second that, however, the most important thing to discuss would have to be about the incoming influx of Mages," Josephine once more brings up. "Now that the royals of Ferelden personally saw to it that the Rebellion was banished from their lands, that leaves Fiona's people in an undesirable position. They'll be desperate to gain any kind of protection, regardless of who else is on our side."
"No doubt they'll want to keep their freedom. I'm not sure about granting the Mages independence, though, considering the events that led to their banishment," Cullen voices his thoughts, his years of Templar conditioning leaking through. "But it seems that's where Arturia is leading."
"We will discuss it with her. Later," Cassandra backs up, agreeing with Cullen's feelings on the matter. "I would have preferred if they'd be conscripted. Either way, we can declare that the war between the Mages and the Templars is now and officially over, if unofficially."
"Thank the Maker for that," Cullen sighs. "An end to this bloodshed... so long as we can keep both groups from staying in one place for too long."
"I agree. The political situation of the mages that happened at Redcliffe went completely out of control," Josephine states, chewing on her lip. "To the point that both the King and Queen of Ferelden personally banished the Mage Rebellion out of their land. It's similar to the Templar Order's own status at the moment - that being that they are shunned by society. Their reputations are currently in tatters, losing nearly all support for their cause. Arturia succeeded in the goal she promised, yes, but the ramifications of harboring two previously opposing groups will leave us, all of us, in a difficult - if not more taxing, position. Putting it bluntly, there's going to be great repercussions we will be forced to deal with for the foreseeable future, even after we seal the Breach."
"In other words, we need to show people that we will not make the same mistakes as the Mage Rebellion and the Templars did, and that they will be better than what they were before. Are you suggesting that we give off the image that we are rehabilitating them?" Leliana conveys.
"We can worry about their fates once the Breach is dealt with," Cassandra states.
"For now, the Templars and the Mages should remain separated," Cullen insists firmly. "There is blood on each other's hands. Maker knows how long it will last. We just need to ensure there won't be another war breaking out between them within our own base of operations."
"Given how... restricted our current accommodations are, they will be sharing the same land, but will be living on different ends of it," Josephine states with a decisive nod. "In the meantime, who should we leave in charge of both groups?"
"Cullen and I will be responsible for overseeing the Templar Order," Cassandra assures with all of the authority and finality of a Seeker of Truth. "Vivienne and Fiona will be working together to make sure that the Mages, both for and against, will come to a consensus, organize their numbers, and settle in together. Vivienne and Fiona have a history, and they won't agree on everything, but they are the most suitable candidates for this job. And they are both professional enough to not let their personal matters cloud their judgments. Until a plan is made to close the Breach for good, then we can decide how the Mage-Templar War should end."
No matter what may come, Divine Justina's will shall be done, no matter what it would take to see it through.
Night has fallen over the campsite of the Inquisition and the mages from Redcliffe. They are one day away from reaching Haven, and all of the excitement and turbulence it will certainly bring from its people the moment they are within reach.
Staring up at the stars outside of a tent is Fiona, having given up the title of Grand Enchanter and leader of her rebellion - now superseded by the Inquisition. For better or worse, it is the only choice left for them to embrace the promise of freedom, true freedom. Though whether this promise was simply another illusion for Fiona, that remains to be seen, no matter how strongly the words of the blonde-haired knight rung in the mage's heart.
She begins to wonder how it all went so wrong. Not out of self-pity, but out of compassion for her fellow mages. How she couldn't see through Alexius' ploy before it was too late. How powerless she had been after knowing that the man was responsible for the deaths of her mages, and other innocent lives. Even the Templars had the wool pulled over their eyes, although a wolf's fur would have been more fitting, yet she could not shy away the truth of the injustice that was done onto all of them. And for what?
For the sake of a son who was never going to survive. Fiona had to consider this for a long time. 'I wonder if I would have done the same thing...? No. Even out of love, I could never imprison my child with the results of my crimes. I pity you, Alexius, but what you tried to do was selfish.'
He would have prolonged his own son's suffering had he accomplished what he set out to do, make the pain even worse. It is such an ironic distaste, the fact that what won over Fiona over to Alexius was not only to keep her fellow mages safe, but that he was also a parent who cared for his son deeply. She should have known better than to trust a Tevinter Magister though.
"Evening, Fiona. I trust things are going over well enough as can be on your end?"
Fiona's musings are put to an end when she heard the familiar voice of the blonde knight herself, and the elf mage turns her head. She sees Arturia approaching her with a tray full of food, and behind the girl are the ones known as Solas and Dorian.
"We did not see you at the dining hall today. I was not sure if you had eaten anything, so I brought some food for you," Arturia explains as she sat down on the grass next to Fiona. Putting down the tray that had breads, fruits, and slices of cooked meat.
Fiona regards Arturia for a moment. The girl looks no older than fifteen, yet there is a lifetime of experience within those emerald orbs of hers that makes Fiona wonder if Arturia had lived longer than she looks. She has a strong feeling that is the case. "Apologies. I forgot to stop by. I was busy... thinking over some things." She carefully picks up a piece of grape from the tray, inspecting it. "Thank you. For this, for... all of this, I suppose."
"I should thank you for hearing me out, Fiona. I know it cannot be so easy to trust others, after Alexius's betrayal. But you have my word that I will be nothing like him," Arturia promises.
"That remains to be seen," Fiona dryly replies, eating the grape. "But you did, nonetheless, bring us out of a terrible situation. I am anticipating to see you fulfill your promise. Though I am still a little doubtful it will come as easy it is mentioned."
"There are hurdles to overcome, true. But I won't rest until I see that you and your people are well cared for. Once I give my word, I never back down from it," Arturia assures. Her words hold conviction, and Fiona finds herself impressed by the girl's tenacity. For some reason... Arturia reminds Fiona of a king.
Fiona takes a piece of bread as she looked back up at the stars. "You are just as the stories say. The Herald of Andraste. Unwavering. Brave. Compassionate. Powerful..." She turns back to the seated girl beside her, "Though, I still wonder who the real Arturia Pendragon is under all that? It still surprises me that you were able to accomplish so many things on your own."
"Not quite. I had my allies to thank for," Arturia replies, straightening her posture with the elder elf's attention now on her. "I'm sure you can understand, with the amount of supporters here, who still chose to follow you. Even after Alexius had taken your place, there were still mages who looked to you for guidance."
Fiona's pale eyes soften upon hearing that, and an etch of guilt lingered in them. "And I have betrayed their trust in me."
"Not betray. They understood that you had no other choice," Arturia amends. "And it was Alexius who deceived you all, not you."
"You are kind to alleviate any guilt on me, but my hands are just as tainted," Fiona professes, showing her palm. "It was my decision to accept Alexius's offer. I have no right to be Grand Enchanter after I willingly gave it away. Not only that, but I made the most treacherous decision to give my people to the man who had been killing us secretly all this time, and through the Templars nonetheless."
"The Templars were at fault for many things, but yes, Alexius did have a part in pushing your group to the brink," Arturia's eyes narrow in what seems to be suspicion, the kind of expression one makes when they suspect foul play at hand. "That was his intention. He wanted to use you and the other mages, even going so far as to trick you into thinking that he was your only savior."
Fiona chuckles bitterly, "The funny thing is... he was. Before you, he really was our only saving grace from the war. My people weren't simply dying, we were losing. It came to the point where I had, more often than not, considered surrendering for the sake of saving what was left of them. But I could not allow that to happen. I could not let my people return to the abysmal state that was the Circle. You've no idea what they've done to mages there, things that the likes of Vivienne had avoided, and why she refused to see - even now - what a wretched system we've been forced to follow under."
She looks down on the sliced bread in her hand, "Between accepting a deal from a demon in disguise, or eternal torture no different from slavery, I'd sell my soul without a second thought if it meant freeing my people. I know what it's like to have your body be used, your will broken. I could not let my fellow mages suffer another second longer." She ate the bread in her hand, and spoke in between bites, "But it seems, despite what I tried to do, it ended up backfiring, and I nearly damned my people instead of saving them. I honestly wished I did meet you first instead of Alexius, but we were pressured. Our enemies were getting close, and I had to make a call. It might have bided us more time, though I can't say for how long, especially since Alexius had other plans in mind."
Solas frowns upon hearing that and he walks up closer to the seated women on the ground. "Fiona, do you truly not remember ever meeting us? Arturia, myself, along with Cassandra and Varric?"
Fiona shakes her head. "I'd remember such a meeting. I would not lie to you, especially if I willingly gave you the location of my camp."
Arturia frowns as she looks down at the tray. "Grand Enchanter, what led to your meeting with Alexius? You said that enemies were getting close, but from what I had heard, the war had been fairly even between your group and the Templars. And weren't you already given protection before coming across Alexius?"
"We received word that our previous benefactor, Arl Teagan, had intended to rescind protection over us, after hearing about a legion of Templars heading our way," Fiona explains. "It created a panic amongst us, and I knew I had to act before we would be thrown to the wolves. It was around that time that Alexius approached me, and you know the rest..."
"A legion of templars?" Arturia raises a brow. "As far as I know, the Templars hardly held enough numbers as it is, and even if they had planned to attack you, we would have caught word of it. Was it after the Inquisition made contact with the Templars?"
"It was before that," Fiona answers slower than before, dreading where this conversation is heading. "I had already given away my leadership to Alexius by the time we heard about the Inquisition attempting to approach Lord Seeker Lucius - or rather, the demon posing as him. You can imagine my surprise when, as it turns out, you were not only planning to have our groups join under the same flag, but you even stopped their attacks on our camps. The Templars must have changed their minds when you made your move towards them."
"Except even before then, the Templars were in complete disarray. They were fighting nearly every end of Thedas, be it mage or civilian. There wasn't any indication of a large army being made to seek you out in Redcliffe," Arturia replies, her frown growing deeper, "Furthermore, regarding Arl Teagan, we had our people reach out to those who would be willing to grant you support and give sincerity to our cause of allying with you and the Templars - before the whole Tevinter Magister business happened. One of the supporters was Arl Teagan, and according to him, he had no intention of giving you away to the Templars. He was even willing to invoke his right as Arl to claim the Templars as invaders on his land should they dare cross his borders. He seemed genuinely surprised when you, seemingly out of nowhere, decided to leave his land."
"W... What?" Fiona looks back at Arturia, eyes wide in genuine shock and growing horror. "Arl Teagan said that? But... But I thought...!"
"We've also had a brief conversation with the Templars' new leaders," Solas speaks up. "According to them, even when Lucius was in charge, there was no grand army being made to wipe out your camp in Redcliffe. The only time he called for all his men to gather was to greet us, and that was solely just to wipe us out. The Envy Demon was going to sacrifice most if not his entire army just to take over the Inquisition. There wouldn't have been anything left of the Templars. In fact, you would have been given the advantage had they successfully cut down their own numbers."
Fiona's thin black brows shot up. "They were... killing themselves? That's not... I don't understand. We've all heard of the Templars planning an attack on us. That's the sole reason why I was forced to seek Alexius for help!"
"I... think I know what happened," Dorian slips into the conversation as tactfully as he could, walking around Solas. "It might be that the news of templars coming to overtake your camp... were simply rumors. You might have heard that from within your group, however..." He pauses, gaining a solemn expression before pushing on forward, "It wouldn't be above Alexius to plant his own agents into your camp, and spread discord amongst your people so to put you in a state of desperation."
"That's not possible," Fiona declares fiercely, shaking her head in denial. "I've met and known all my mages for years. I would have known if there was a traitor-"
"Not unless your Alexius, with the power of time in your hands," Dorian explains gently. "This is something that we've begun to piece together ourselves: Alexius used his time magic to plant his agents into your ranks, and then make way into guiding you to him. He put you in a position where you would have no choice but to be subservient to Tevinter, no matter what. In other words, he created the illusion that you had a fire outside your door, when it was really just the rain, but it nonetheless pushed you into making a hasty decision to ally with him."
Fiona looks dead in the Tevinter Mage's eyes as he continues on. "Think about it. Doesn't it seem curious how, when it feels like you've been cornered, Alexius comes in to save the day?"
The former Grand Enchanter takes his words to heart and lets them stir in her mind. She thinks back to all the times she's heard of her people worrying about a massive Templar army coming to wipe them out. The rumors of Arl Teagan planning to kick them out in order to protect his own people. It had been floating in the air, but now that she is properly thinking about it, there wasn't a time when she stopped and considered where had the wind come from.
"If I may ask, Fiona," Dorian once more goes on, a look of sympathy on his expression, "Was there a moment when Alexius recruited your mages personally? Have them become fellow magisters like him?"
"I..." Fiona considers Dorian's question for a moment, "Yes... That did happen. I was there, and I let them know that they had a choice to accept Alexius's offer and-"
Her eyes widened as the horrible realization enters her mind.
"Those mages were the magisters we've killed in the throne room where Alexius had planned to ambush us," Dorian reveals. "It seems safe to suggest that those were the agents Alexius had planted. He was simply getting back the men he had sent to your group in the first place."
A long pause fills the air, and the bread falls out of Fiona's hand.
Throughout the entire campsite, everyone could hear the loud song of cussing in Orlesian tongue.
Arturia saves the food tray and sat back to watch as Fiona springs up from the ground and, to be delicately said, absolutely loses her shit.
There are barrels tossed around. The fabric of the nearby tent is ripped apart and essentially creating a new entrance. The ground is freezing with every stomp of her feet as her ice magic is released bit by bit, and throughout her fury, Fiona curses up a storm if not a spell.
Dorian and Solas stand by readily beside Arturia, as if ready to unleash a powerful barrier should Fiona's temper get too out of control. Thankfully, there is no need for such concern, as after a minute of her rage, Fiona finally calms down, taking deep breaths, until she found her way back to where Arturia sat and slumps against the ground beside the knight.
"Hah... Apologies. Life has a way of throwing all its shits at me. I needed to let it all out, at least once..." Her shimmering eyes open to see the stars once more, and then she brings her head down, slamming her face against her hands. "I was such a fool... He played us, and I-! I fell for it...!"
There is a sob in her voice as she no longer has the strength to keep her head held high.
"I-I betrayed everyone's trust. And for what?! Everyone who suffered. Creating even further distrust to our group by joining the Magister. It was all for nothing!"
She couldn't hold back anymore. She weeps in her hands, unable to face anyone right now. She simply let her feelings pour out, her frustration and anger turning into sorrow. 'Why...? Why is it always someone else who holds the strings over my fate? At least let myself pay the price of my mistakes alone, not anyone else...'
She hears the shuffling feet of Arturia, bringing Fiona out of her grief. "...I must seem pathetic to you right now."
The knight kneels down in front of Fiona's knees. "Not at all. It's only good for the heart to unleash your sorrows from time to time, that's something I've come to learn recently."
Looking up, Fiona met Arturia's comforting gaze. There is no pity, simply compassion, as the knight asks her.
"Fiona, what do you wish to do now? What do you seek?"
Fiona wipes the tears away from her face, controlling herself once more, she takes a few deep breaths. "...All I want is for my people to be treated and seen for what they are, for what we are. People with our own hopes, wants, dreams, and lives." She smiles sadly, "Is that simply too much to ask? Or is this world simply unjust?"
Arturia gently takes hold of Fiona's hands, which are wet with tears, and the knight holds them within her own tightly. "The world is unjust, but that is why people like us exist, so that we can correct this fault. We can start by helping you and your people, and by my honor, I shall do my best to grant your group the world that you deserve to live in."
Hearing that affirmation, seeing the resolute in those young eyes that has seen so many tragedies, Fiona never really let herself get too close to people, but she nonetheless found herself captured by that promise as she squeezed back Arturia's hands, believing in the knight's words without hesitation.
"I must say, Enchanter Vivienne. It surprises me that you are willing to consort to Fiona's demands after everything that's happened," A mage of the Circle voices honestly to the finely dressed Enchanter beside her. They are walking outside the entrance of Haven, taking in the view of the wilderness and a chance to possibly catch their champions returning home.
"Believe me, darling. Nothing about me has changed," Vivienne gives a coy smile. "I'm simply suggesting that keeping ourselves unaligned through opposing views would prevent us from seeing the bigger picture. There's no merit in standing for what we believe in if we are not alive to see through to it."
"I see your point. Very well, I will go and tell the others. I only hope that it won't get too out of hand. We might not live to see the end results of it, before or after the Breach is dealt with."
"I ask nothing more. And don't worry, once the whole Breach situation is far and behind us, we will reinstate what the Circle stands for, and it will be even better than it was before." With a nod, the mage from the Ostwick Circle Vivienne bids the Circle supporter adieu, and watches her take her leave. Vivienne looks up to the bright blue sky, where the sun is just reaching noon.
This is the day that Arturia and the others would finally return to Haven. After what she's heard happened at Redcliffe, Vivienne is more or less impressed and displeased with the outcome. She already knew that Arturia would have made it possible, that girl is phenomenally competent when it comes to such matters, after all. Even so, Vivienne could only foresee that it will all but nip the girl in the bud as soon as Arturia fulfills her promise to Fiona, and by then, they'll see the merit in the Circle's existence. All Vivienne can do is to stand by Arturia patiently and help console any damage that would be done in the aftermath.
"Enchanter Vivienne."
She hears the ever-burly and frustrated tone of the Seeker behind Vivienne, and the mage turned gracefully. "Good morning, Lady Cassandra. Come to see my progress?"
"I have. How goes with conversing the Mages of the Circle?" Cassandra is straight to the point. Vivienne can certainly respect that part of her, although, she would have liked a nice chat or two before getting down to business. With Arturia not around, there have been only a small number of decent fellows and women to have a nice conversation with. Although, Vivienne is starting to get used to Sera's shenanigans, especially at the continuous scene of the little mouse fleeing from a certain Nightingale's keen sight after Sera's last egg prank.
"It went accordingly as expected. We have more and more supporters willing to compromise with Fiona's people," Vivienne answers. "And how goes the Templars?"
"Commander Cullen is currently overseeing the templars before the mages show up. We'll be keeping them where they are so to avoid conflict."
"Mm. Yes, it makes you wonder if all this really would be worth it in the end," Vivienne questions out loud in a feign of absent mindedness. "Just know that if a fight does break out, I'll do what I can to alleviate the situation, but I will be standing by the templars."
"As will I, but we are not here to pick sides, Lady Enchanter," Cassandra reminds her firmly. "Even if we may disagree with Arturia's choices, we must stand by her. Division is something that cannot be afforded at this point."
"Of course. I know she is only trying to achieve the best outcome for all." 'It's just that life doesn't always go the way we want it to,' Vivienne thinks to herself.
"Will you be alright?"
"Pardon?"
"I know that you and Fiona have opposing views," Cassandra clarifies, her tone much more careful and delicate than usual. "To be quite honest, I see strong points in both your argument and Fiona's regarding the Circle. It makes what Alexius did to her and her people unnecessarily cruel. All she wanted was to free the mages, and he took advantage of that, and had planned to enslave them."
"I will admit, I do empathize with Fiona, but it also goes to show that she was in way over her head when she started this rebellion," Vivienne argues. "There are flaws to be addressed regarding the Circle, but it doesn't change the fact that she and her group chose the worst time possible to be rebel mages. People were already on edge after the events in Kirkwall, with the Breach coming into existence making things worse than previously thought possible. Despite many fingers pointing at both groups to be responsible, you and I both know that no templar has the capability to unleash that amount of power that destroyed the Conclave, killing the Divine there."
Vivienne's statement leaves Cassandra silent, seemingly in agreement with Vivienne's suspicions.
"It certainly hasn't helped that Fiona's group went on to join the magisters, putting themselves under worse lighting than before. They were deceived, yes, but Fiona should have known better. I even had in mind to scold her as soon as she arrives, but no worries, I will keep it to myself. I have years of experience in working with parties I personally disliked and detested. So even if we may bud heads from time to time, with how much is at stake here, and with how many lives are counting on us to make this work, I'm sure we can agree to swallow up our mutual hatred for each other and work together."
"I see," Is all Cassandra responds with, and then her attention turns to something at the other side of the hill outside of Haven. "You are right that Fiona should have not accepted Alexius's offer. However..."
Vivienne turns to follow Cassandra's line of sight, and there they see in the distance, the flag of the Inquisition waved in greeting.
"I don't blame her for choosing to," Cassandra admits quietly, as if talking to herself. "When we are at our lowest, even dirty water would seem like an oasis to us, if they are given at the palm of a saint - regardless if they are one or not."
"Perhaps. I personally would have been stronger than Fiona, just as I will remain steadfast in my beliefs," Vivienne then finds Fiona's figure in the crowd, and for a split second, her face nearly broke its composure, "However, it does not make this any easier."
Name of the post that helped write the Fiona scene. REALLY informative and insightful: Dumped, Drunk and Dalish - Defending Fiona.
You can search it up on Google and it'll be the first link that pops up.
Until next time!
