Things get a bit heated between our Commander and now Inquisitor, but in a good way ;)

Hope you're enjoying it so far. Please leave a review if you are xx

—-

Chapter 9:

A gasp escaped Lara as she woke up to a sharp pain in her left arm, especially her hand. It glowed an angry bright green. Stronger than it ever glowed before.

The anchor is permanent.

Corypheus's words rang in her head. What did that mean?

She stood up and took in her surroundings. She was definitely underground but how long she had been here wasn't clear. Her body ached from her injuries and her head painfully throbbed, threatening to split. Ice hung from the ceilings and snow piled on the ground. A tunnel was in front of her.

Okay Lara. Walk.

She made her way up the stairs and into the tunnel, taking her time and not rushing her body. It needed healing and fast. As she continued on, the tunnel ended and demons appeared. When using the mark, a fierce burst of magic shot from it, causing her to lose her balance. They disappeared in an instant but Lara regretted using it as she felt the mana leave her body. What happened to her?

Solas. I need Solas.

She stood up and continued on which led her outside. She was in the mountains. A harsh bitter breeze billowed, snow falling everywhere making her vision unclear. It was nighttime which didn't help her. There was nowhere else to go and she couldn't stay here. She hiked onward, her legs aching from maneuvering through the thick snow, the cold reaching her bones, the snow wetting her skin and hair. Her mana was nearly depleted the longer she went on. She didn't dare use her magic.

The wind whistling in her ears, her teeth clattering, her body shaking and on the verge of giving out again. Horrible thoughts formed in her head. What if they didn't make it? What if they were on a different side of the world? What if she never found them and she was stuck here forever?

Lara. Focus!

After hours of trudging, she was safe from the weather in between mountain peaks. She found an abandoned campsite. Was it them? Was she on their path? With a whimper, she dragged her legs further. Her body screamed in protest, her vision blurry. She was barely hanging on. Dimmed lights soon appeared in the background. She shook her head. It was her mind playing tricks on her. She raised her arm slowly, the green hue still dancing around her hand, hoping someone would notice. Her arm hurt so she lowered it. Her legs were now shaking, the world spinning around her, her body numb from the cold but aching from the pain.

She was slipping. The world was fading. Her legs gave out and she nearly collapsed till an all too familiar scent filled her nostrils. Warm, strong hands wrapped around her body, saving her.

"She's here!" His voice cried out.

"Lara…stay with me," He spoke to her. It was the first time he ever said her name.

"Cullen…" She barely whispered. She wanted to see his face but all she was met with was darkness.

—-

"You were with her! There was more you could have done. She was missing for days and then she appears in this state," Solas's voice rang.

"She is alive! Surely that's what matters," Dorian responded.

"She is alive because I have been healing her. If the Commander hadn't noticed her mark, she may not have made it," Solas sounded annoyed.

"Excuse me? I have been healing her too. I'm not just a pretty face you know…"

"Pretty isn't the word I would use," Solas fired back.

Lara let out a groan as the aches returned to her consciousness. She slowly opened her eyes to the inside of a tent, with Solas and Dorian at each other's throats. She let out a smile, welcoming the normalcy but also a sharp gasp at the pain as she tried to sit up.

"My dear, you're awake! Finally!" Dorian noticed and rushed over to her. Solas right behind him, his eyes wide.

Solas and Dorian both helped her to sit up.

"Solas…my mark…" She started, her voice hoarse.

"I felt its energy as soon as I was by your side. We can discuss the details later. Your priority is healing and no magic for now. Your mana needs to be restored," Solas answered, reassuring her.

Lara looked down, playing with the fur that lay across her lap. She closed her eyes trying to assess where her injuries were until a realization hit her. Her eyes flew open.

The coat…Cullen…

She looked up at Dorian who gave her a knowing look.

"I was wondering when you would notice. It was our dashing Commander who noticed your mark in the distance. It was he who rescued you. The healers had to shoo him away but he was adamant that we leave his coat on you to keep you warm. You were frostbitten."

A vague memory of him speaking her name came to mind before the world turned dark.

"Dorian, I need to speak to him. My last words were horrible…"

"I'm aware. Remember me reminding you if you died, those were your parting words?" He arched his eyebrow and made his way out of the tent.

Solas stayed with her in silence. Guilt creeped into every crevice of her body. Surely, he hated her. She pushed him too far. She made too many strikes against him. He'd have every reason to hate her. A flap of the tent caused her to look up and there he stood, with Dorian behind him. She examined his face. His blonde hair more unruly than ever, heavy bags under his eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. His stubble had grown in giving him a more rugged look. The same coat that lay across her lap, he wore on his shoulders.

He had a spare and he gave it to her despite what she said to him. Slowly, he walked over to her, his eyes never leaving her.

"I believe this is the part where we leave, Solas," Dorian spoke from the entrance. Solas glared at him but left nonetheless.

They stood in silence, neither taking their eyes off each other. The tension building between them with so much they wanted to say but couldn't. Lara bit her tongue. She needed to go first.

"I'm so sorry for what I said. It was cruel…" She started.

"Don't worry about that. What matters is that you are alive," He answered.

"Please don't lie to me. Tell me you're angry," She shook her head.

"I am hurt. Hurt that you constantly hold my past as a Templar against me. It's what it always comes back to. I've allowed you to convince me that mages can be trusted, but you won't allow me to show you that Templars can be as well."

Fuck…

Lara held her breath. His confession stung but he was right.

"I get it. I was wrong. I pushed you at a distance, like I always do, so I can risk my life but I took it too far," Her confession flowed out of her. She couldn't stop it.

He closed the distance between them, one hand resting on her bed, the other cupping her face. She jumped at his touch, their eyes locked. Her heart racing in her chest.

"Then make it very clear for me, Lara."

The sound of her name on his lips made her stomach flutter. This was a side of Cullen she never saw before. Ambitious, determined, bold.

"Am I to be your enemy or am I to be by your side? I cannot give you both," He finished, his voice strong and confident.

Her eyes widened at his request. All she could hear was her heart racing. Oakmoss and elderflower consumed her, clouding her thoughts. Her body screaming to revel in his touch, let his hands explore her body like in her dream. Her mind yelling to push him away. The barrier was breaking more and more and Lara was getting to a point where she didn't know how to stop it.

"I-I don't know," She whispered.

"Forgive me. You've only just awakened and you're still injured. I will give you time to make your decision," He answered, sliding his hand from her face and moving backwards from her bed.

He made his way towards the exit when Lara spoke as if to stop him.

"Your coat?" She asked, holding it up.

"Keep it. If you won't have me by your side, then you can at least have my coat. That's an order," His head turned towards her as if expecting a rebuttal from her.

"Do you like ordering me around?" Lara asked before she could stop herself. A part of her was enjoying this side of Cullen but a part of her was also wondering how hard she hit her head.

His jaw tightened at her question, his hand grasping the handle of his sword.

"Do not toy with me, Lara," He replied and turned abruptly to leave her tent.

She let out a huge breath she didn't realize she was holding in and slumped down painfully onto her bed, wrapping his coat around her letting his scent lull her to sleep.

—-

Lara finally had the energy to walk around her tent and venture outside. She was met with more bickering between her advisors and Cassandra. She had never heard them so angry, especially Cullen. It was nonstop. Solas advised her they had been at it for days and it had gotten worse since her arrival. She sat with Mother Giselle who advised her to sit out the discussions and focus on her health. She was a beacon of hope now that she had survived the Elder One and not even he could remove her mark.

Mother Giselle was able to give her insight into Corypheus's background on how he became a darkspawn. It was helpful but no one could guess his next plan of action now that removing the mark had failed.

She walked over to her advisors. All of them sat in a heated silence, almost as if they had given up hope. She didn't know how to help them or what to say. They needed somewhere like Haven. They needed a place of refuge and here in the mountains was not the place.

Before she could do anything, Mother Giselle's voice sang from behind her. No doubt it was a Chantry hymn. She turned upon hearing Leliana sing along with her. Others soon joined in, even Cullen who looked defeated. Lara remained silent as people were gathering around her, some bowing before her. Her eyes widened in surprise. She was their hope and she had to let them hope even if she didn't believe in herself. It made her uncomfortable but what choice did she have? These people had nothing left at the moment.

After the singing subsided, Solas appeared behind her.

"Herald. A word," He said calmly, walking away to wherever it was he wanted her to follow.

It was a secluded area with an open view of the mountains. Solas lit a torch with veilfire to allow for light.

"My mark won't eat you alive if you call me Lara, you know. Please don't call me Herald anymore," She commented.

Solas gave her a smile. "As you request. I should also note your Commander is quite annoyed with me. I have a solution but I would only share it with you once you were well."

"Oh. What is it?" Lara asked, confused.

"I will get to that in a moment. First, I wanted to discuss the orb that Corypheus carried. The power he used against you. It is elven. He used the orb to open the Breach. Unlocking it must have caused the explosion at the Conclave. I do not know yet how Corypheus survived…nor am I certain how people will react when they learn of the orb's origin," Concern spread across the elf's face.

"That's fair. What is it exactly? How do you know about it?" Lara asked.

"They were foci, used to channel ancient magic. I have seen such things in the Fade, old memories of older magic. Corypheus may think it originates from Tevinter, but his empire's magic was built on the bones of my people. Knowing or not, he risks our alliance. I cannot allow it," Solas's voice was stern.

Lara let out a deep sigh. "What a fucking mess. Elves will definitely be an easy target."

"History would agree. There are steps we can take to prevent this," Solas paused looking into the veilfire.

"By attacking the Inquisition, Corypheus has changed it. Changed you. Be their guide. There is a place that waits for a force to hold it. A place where the Inquisition can build and grow. First, I would need to venture to the Fade to ensure it is still there and I would like you to accompany me," Solas faced her.

"Hence this little corner away from everyone else?" Lara raised an eyebrow, smiling.

"Precisely. Your mana has increased. You are ready," He responded.

She sat side by side with Solas, eyes closed, venturing off to the Fade allowing him to guide her. To show her what future lay ahead for the Inquisition. She hoped it was untouchable so that Haven never happened again. This seemed to matter to him if he only wanted to speak of it through her, so she allowed him. She trusted him.

—-

Lara and Solas led what remained of the Inquisition through the mountains once the sun rose. Cullen was still not happy it had to wait this long as supplies were being depleted and morale was at an all time low.

The journey through the mountains was breath-taking. So many areas unexplored and untouched, as if having no clue of what was going on in the world. A place away from it all. This time in nature was doing her good for her healing and her health. The energy of it flowed through her body.

"We must be near. I can feel it," Solas spoke. Lara held her hand up, signaling the others to wait.

The two climbed up to the nearest peak to see what they could find in the distance. Once at the top, the sight before her took her breath away. It was a secluded fortress, a castle almost, waiting to be used to its fullest potential. Definitely an upgrade from Haven.

"Solas! It's a fucking fortress!" She said in disbelief at the beauty in front of her.

"Skyhold. Or in the language of my people, Tarasyl'an Te'las," The elf replied, looking at her.

"I've never seen anything more beautiful," She whispered, still in awe of the place.

—-

A week had passed to get everyone settled in. Makeshift tents were made in the meantime until housing could be sorted, and a makeshift hospital was set up for the mages to heal any wounds. Lara could feel a magical presence which Solas informed her there was magic that permeated the stones to protect it from evil. Lara was grateful for him, they would've had nowhere else to go otherwise.

She stood atop the steps, admiring the mountain peaks and looking at the hold bustling with life. There was a lot of work to be done to make it more livable, but Josephine was already working her connections to get some help.

She saw her advisors down below with Cassandra, who summoned her to come down. Once she arrived, her advisors dispersed leaving her and Cassandra alone.

"Skyhold has become a pilgrimage. They come daily. If word has reached them, it will have reached the Elder One," She started, walking away. Lara followed.

"We have walls and numbers for a fight but the threat is far beyond what we anticipated. But we now know what allowed you to stand against Corypheus. What drew him to you," She carried on, continuing up the steps.

"At this point, it's just Andraste's blessing. It's that simple," Lara responded. It was no use over-complicating things.

"Did her blessing grant you worthiness? Or was it given because you were already worthy?"

Lara didn't answer. She definitely was not worthy. You're nothing but a mistake.

"Your decisions let us heal the sky. Your determination let us escape from Haven. You are that creature's rival because of what you did. All of us know it," They continued up the staircase where Lara descended from.

"The Inquisition needs a leader: the one who has already been leading it," She finished and they came face to face with Leliana holding an intricate sword to her.

Lara's eyes widened as it soon clicked what was going on. She looked down from the staircase and saw the townspeople, soldiers, her advisors, and her party members gathering around. She locked eyes with Cullen who had a smile on his face that she hadn't seen in weeks.

"You," Cassandra's voice called from behind her.

No! You've got this all wrong! I can't do this…

Panic rose in her body, her throat constricting. They wanted her as leader? She was not fit to lead anything. She was the reason everyone was in this mess.

"Perhaps you're not understanding what you're doing. A mage at the head of the Inquisition?" She turned to Cassandra hoping she would realize her error.

"Not a mage. You," She answered calmly.

"Who also happens to be a mage."

"I will not pretend that there will be no objections but times are changing. Perhaps this is what the Maker intended," Cassandra ignored her remarks, pointing to the sword.

"There is no Inquisition without you. How it will serve, how you lead: that will be yours to decide," She finished.

Lara wished now that Corypheus had ended her. That he took her mark away and rendered her useless, just like she was. Haven was destroyed because of her. The trauma of what happened that night came back to her as she was recovering. She didn't defeat him, only delayed him. That future was still possible.

Everyone stared at her. She had no option. She was trapped into taking this role and pretending to be something she wasn't just to make everyone happy and give them hope.

False hope.

She buried that thought and stepped forward to take the sword. It was heavy in her hand but the intricate design and shade was well thought out. Lara swallowed the feeling of unworthiness holding this type of weapon. It didn't feel like hers but she would have to accept.

"Fine. Let's show them that a mage can stand for what's right," Lara answered. If she couldn't save the world, she could at least save a mage's reputation.

"Wherever you lead us," Cassandra answered with a smile.

Cassandra walked to the edge, addressing the people. Lara stood behind her, with Leliana by her side.

"Have our people been told?" Cassandra yelled out.

"Yes! And soon, the world," Josephine replied, looking proud.

"Commander, will they follow?" Cassandra addressed Cullen.

Cullen still had his eyes on her. The power this man had over her just with a look. He turned towards the people, his back now to her.

"Inquisition, will you follow?" His voice booming throughout the courtyard.

He was met with shouts and cheers, some raising their fists in the air.

"Will you fight?"

The crowd roared even louder.

"Will we triumph?"

Once Cullen was satisfied, he turned around and his eyes immediately locked with hers again.

"Your leader! Your Herald! Your Inquisitor!" He shouted as he raised his sword up to her.

His soldiers followed suit, raising their swords to her. Without thinking, she raised her sword as well in unison.

The cheers and shouts were deafening from down below. Cullen's eyes still remained on her, he smiled and nodded his head at her. Guilt filled her body. She remembered Solas's words from the tavern. He accepted her, a mage, as his Herald. Here he was faithfully accepting her as his Inquisitor. Yet she never gave him a chance to accept a Templar as her Commander.

Get it together…he's the enemy, Lara. He represents the suffering of your kind.

She shook her head as if to erase the thoughts. No, he was different. This was his second chance. She was eager to know what he did as a Templar. Has he silenced a mage? Made one Tranquil? Has he ever killed a mage? Did she even want to know this? If he did, it would make it easier to hate him. She wasn't sure if she wanted to hate him. This barrier she built up, he was slowly crumbling it down.

Am I to be your enemy or am I to be by your side? I cannot give you both.

Her heart skipped a beat at his request. She still had to give him an answer. For now, she needed to avoid him and Skyhold had plenty of room for her to do that.