Rook
Sitting in the chair, with Harding and Neve in front, Rook thought it was a strange moment in her life that she would probably remember even when she was old. Above all, because if she looked away to the side, the Inquisitor was standing next to the bookshelves, intently reading one of the books she had taken from them, expectant of the information she could obtain from Solas through them, almost as if it were an addictive substance for her.
If a year ago they had told her that she was going to meet one of the most important people in all of Thedas, not to mention the most important, maybe and only maybe she would have laughed in their face. Laughing out loud. And showing them the middle finger.
Now, it wasn't so funny anymore. What would be next, meeting the Demon of Vyrantium? she wondered, with a wry smile.
Yeah, right. And she was Mythal herself. Ha.
In front of her, Neve let out a heavy sigh, as she settled into the armchair around the table and reached for the tea she had prepared earlier, after finding the kitchen.
—We managed to stop the ritual —she commented, almost more to herself than to the others, as she stirred the liquid in the cup.
Harding looked at the Inquisitor for a moment with a frown, as if something bothered her, but nodded and turned to them, attentive to her words.
—But Varric paid the price— she said, her head lowering with sadness. Rook squeezed her hands, which she had intertwined, but shook her head towards the dwarf.
—Hey. Varric knew the risks, just like all of us. He decided to talk to Solas, and what happened happened. It's no one's fault —Rook reassured her, although inside she was still blaming herself.
She twisted her face, trying to get rid of those thoughts. It wasn't time to feel sorry for herself. The team needed her one hundred percent and she wasn't going to give less than that. Besides, with Varric out of the game (so much so that he couldn't even attend these meetings), someone had to take over the command. And Rook was beginning to suspect that it was her turn.
—Even so, now Solas isn't here and we are here, in this strange place— the dwarf continued, pointing around her.
—The Lighthouse— Lavellan whispered, as she turned a page. The astrolabe flickered for a moment, as if recognizing its own name.
Maybe this place was alive, somehow. And it wouldn't surprise her at all, the pink-haired girl said to herself, with curiosity.
—That's right, Solas called it that— Rook nodded, thoughtfully, trying to detect some magic in the room after that curious thought. Neve raised her eyebrows at her words, as she took a sip of the tea she held in her hands.
—Oh yeah? When? —she asked, suspiciously. Rook frowned, still looking at the astrolabe, which was turning slowly.
It's true. She hadn't told them anything about her encounter with Solas yet. And with Lavellan, although she didn't know it at the time.
—I had…a dream with Solas— she began, her friends opening their eyes in surprise upon hearing her. Rook squeezed her intertwined hands again, lowering her gaze—. He invaded my dreams when I was K.O., just to complain that we had ruined his ritual —she let out a laugh, somewhat amused—. Pretentious elf.
—You must be careful, Rook. Solas can kill people in dreams. He's a Dreamer mage. You were almost lucky to catch him in a good mood —Harding intimidated her, worried.
Lavellan made a gesture with her head, turning it slightly towards Harding. Rook took it as if it was true.
—Don't worry. It was because I bled a little where the ritual took place and, with that, he connected me to him— she made a gesture with her hand, moving it from side to side—. Even so, it seems that he's locked up in that kind of prison. He can't hurt me.
—Of course, a mage using blood magic to control your mind —Neve commented mockingly, demonstrating once again her animosity towards the Venatori.
—Except that he's not a mage, Neve, but an elven God —Harding corrected her, frowning beside her.
—Organizing a ritual doesn't make you a God— Neve contradicted in turn, crossing her arms and passing one leg over the other, as she moved it in the air, unconsciously.
—And turning others into stone, does that seem like enough reason to upgrade him, or is he still falling a bit short? — Lavellan argued in turn, defending the dwarf and briefly turning her gaze from the book to fix it on Neve with seriousness. The detective held her gaze, but couldn't help swallowing slowly.
Rook rested her chin on one of her hands, watching the exchange of words between them. Certainly, the Inquisitor was an expert in intimidation. And she didn't hesitate to exercise that gift, if necessary.
—Whatever— Rook interrupted, giving them a stern look, silencing them—, in terms of power, he might as well be a God against us. As much as we want to put ourselves on his level, it's going to be a bit difficult, considering the years of lead he has on us.
Harding squeezed the cup she had between her hands at that terrifying fact, but breathed in, drawing out a courage from within, which made Rook smile.
—Well, but still, we've stopped the ritual. We're safe, right? —she asked, looking at everyone equally. Rook leaned back, resting her sword on the back of the chair.
—No, unfortunately. According to Solas, he had two elven entities trapped who have escaped by messing up the ritual. And they're not exactly friendly —she informed them, seeing how the detective's and the dwarf's gestures twisted with some fear. Neve turned pale for moments, but spoke in a low whisper.
—Then, those two presences that we saw…
—Elgar'nan and Ghilan' nain— Lavellan dropped the bomb, as if it didn't matter, with a sweet elven accent that contrasted with the gravity of the news. Rook gave her a bad look, as she covered her face with her hand, sighing.
And this elf was in charge of such a large institution?
—Exactly —Rook said through gritted teeth, as she rubbed her face, tired—. Two elven and very angry entities, against whom Fen'Harel rebelled millennia ago —she let out another sigh—. I tend to think they're even worse than Solas, no matter how much we dislike him right now.
Lavellan watched her silently for a few seconds. Her hair fell, covering part of her face, leaving only one of those mysterious eyes in view.
—I can tell you for sure: they are dangerous. Very dangerous—she moved her hair away from her face, placing it behind her ear. She turned another page of the book, with a carefree look, but with seriousness on her face, as she returned to look at the pages, moving her pupils quickly as she read. Rook leaned forward, resting a hand on the center table at that information that Lavellan had said and that she had already half suspected, after Solas's reaction in her dream.
The Dread Wolf knew how to act, of course, but fear had appeared in his gaze several times while he had spoken to her. And Rook had taken meticulous note of that fact.
—Then, they are our next targets. In the end, it's our fault that they escaped— Rook informed them, making an x gesture with her finger, emphasizing her words.
—We have to face them as soon as possible— Harding stood up, agitated, but in agreement with her—. Especially before they can do any more harm to anyone.
—Without even knowing what they are like, that's suicide— Neve argued with her. Then, she emitted a groan of pain, grabbing her head. Rook couldn't avoid the concern that rose in her chest at the detective's pain, but decided not to mention anything for the moment, returning to the main point.
—In this I agree with Neve—she nodded towards the mage, in agreement—. We must first investigate how to combat them, at a minimum. In the end, they are gods. We can't face them without a plan.
—And what do we do then? Do we stand idly by? — Harding retorted, worried. Rook shook a finger, leaning back on the back of the chair again.
—Of course not. We're going back to the forests of Arlathan. The ritual started there and maybe, there we'll find out something useful. Something that we may have left behind, without realizing it.
Lavellan closed the book with a loud slam, suddenly. She placed it on the shelf again and headed to the infirmary, not without looking at her with a determined look.
—I'm going to change to prepare to leave— she murmured, nodding towards Rook.
Then, she disappeared down the stairs in silence, like a shadow. Those who remained at the table looked at each other, mutually, trying to figure out if something had bothered the Inquisitor. Seeing that they couldn't think of anything, Neve pointed towards the stairs that went down.
—That's how we can go to the Eluvian because we came. Maybe it will take us back to the forest.
They stood up, ready to look for the answers where they needed to.