Rook

Rook leaned for a moment on the wall of the hallway with a heavy sigh, after walking a few steps down the hallway that led to the Inquisitor's new room, while rubbing her face with a hand.
God, it was desolate. It had been desolate.
Rook couldn't understand all the objects that were in that room, but she could understand each of the representations of the walls. Each scene, each image, each moment, of all that they were, that the god and the elf shared together, each one more desolate than the other.
And each one with more love impregnated than the previous one.
That's why Lavellan hadn't wanted to talk about her past with Solas. If she had to guess, Solas had put all that there meticulously, as if he knew that one day the Inquisitor was going to need it, as if he knew that he himself needed to remember those moments, to not get lost in himself.
Or perhaps because he was a masochist, looking at those paintings every day, remembering what was and what could have been, if he had only taken a step back.
And the last mural...
And to think that the elven god of Treason, Rebellion and Lies was really a skilled painter. So much so, that he had managed to faithfully reflect the figure of the Inquisitor on the wall, almost like a reflection of the Inquisitor herself on the wall.
And that only made her return to the same thought as before.
Perhaps it was a refuge for Solas when everything was coming down on him? Or a self-inflicted penance?
She supposed that she would never know, unless she asked Solas himself. And she didn't think he was going to answer that, precisely. If she sensed well, the god was reluctant in his secrets, but even more so in his feelings, especially those that he related to Lavellan.
Come on, she would put her hand in the fire for that thought.
At that moment, Rook heard blows coming from the room. She turned around, alarmed, but didn't take a step, freezing in place.
"Go away"
The Inquisitor's whisper came to her mind, again, making her close her fists again with annoyance, making her clench her teeth, while she turned around, furious.
There had been so much pain in a single word, in a single command
And Lavellan still didn't open completely to others. Lavellan, who according to what Harding had told her, had been a light for and by others.
Lavellan, who kept as many secrets as Solas himself.
She didn't know what to think. She didn't know whether to say if she really liked her, if she distrusted the Inquisitor or if she wanted to help her alleviate that weight on her shoulders. But, whatever it was, Lavellan herself was in charge of raising those walls, preventing anyone from crossing them. Because Lavellan was so hurt by Solas, by everything that loving him had caused, that she had closed in her shell, as if that was the penance of the Inquisitor herself.
Rook frowned, even more annoyed.
Would Rook ever love so much that she would forget all her friends, all the support they had given her, discarding them as if they didn't matter? Was love only pain, and that's why the Inquisitor had forgotten all the good?
Rook headed to her room, partly annoyed, partly sad for Lavellan.
No one should suffer in that way, but she herself had self-inflicted it, or so it seemed to her, she snorted, unable to avoid it.
"Little one, it's not like that. There are things that..."
Rook left her mind blank, blocking Weaver's voice. No, now she didn't want anyone to defend the Inquisitor, not when Rook knew that she was right, when she knew that there was no reason to be in that selfish attitude. She had friends who cared about her, she said to herself, thinking of Varric and Harding. They always spoke well of her, they always supported her, but Lavellan seemed to have forgotten that, focusing on her pain for Solas.
And that wasn't fair. Neither for her nor for all the people who loved her.
She opened her door, releasing the air from her chest slowly while trying to calm down. She lay down on her sofa-bed and began to meditate, asking the tiredness to plunge her into the arms of her friend sleep. She breathed in, once more, while her head was blank, and her heart slowed down the rhythm of her heartbeats.
It was time to ask for advice about the gods to the culprit of everything.

The mist parted, for every step she took. The ruins floating, similar to those of the afterlife, was the first thing she noticed. She walked a little more, approached again the ravine that separated her from the god, who waited for her on high, with that figure always threatening, but less and less superior for her. Seeing her, Solas smiled foxily, but Rook returned the smile, placing a hand on her hip, making the god believe that she was simply showing off.
But not Solas, Rook thought, amplifying her smile, letting the feelings that she had when going to bed reorder, leaving only the satisfaction in her chest.
Ah, what a pity that Solas couldn't read her thoughts, because she would love to see the face that the god would put when discovering that she had seen all those secret murals. Perhaps she wouldn't say anything, out of kindness towards the Inquisitor, although her heart right now was slightly angry with her.
Solas raised an eyebrow at her silence, but didn't lose the smile. He took a step towards her, dangerously close to the ravine, as if he weren't afraid of falling.
"How soon you have returned. I see that the situation must be more pressing than I expected" He crossed his hands behind his back, mockingly, adopting his usual posture of superiority.
Rook rolled her eyes, without removing her hand from her hip, and tilted her head slightly when looking at him, losing the smile.
Back to the god of sarcasm, how not.
"Hello, Dread Wolf" she told him, showing her tiredness through her tone, while narrowing her eyes slightly when looking at him.
Solas ran a hand over his chin, amplifying the smile at her greeting.
"Or maybe I'm wrong, right Rook? " he asked, ignoring the elf's welcome. "Maybe you come to tell me that my worries are unfounded. That absolutely nothing happens" he said, with that hateful smile. "In the end, and I quote your words verbatim, I'm nothing more than the God of Lies, Treason and Rebellion, right, Rook? " he asked her, using her previous argument, but adding much more mockery.
Rook rolled her eyes again, exasperated and raised her arms, moving them in the air.
"Seriously, Solas? That's why no one likes you" she argued, pointing at him sharply, with accusation.
Solas raised an eyebrow at her finger, without losing the smile.
"I was in charge of an entire rebellion against the gods, which lasted centuries and culminated with the creation of the veil and the destruction of the elven empire" he argued, without needing to add more.
Rook raised her hands, turning slightly to one side, rolling her eyes.
"Okay, it's just one of the reasons why nobody can stand you" she said, through gritted teeth, but realizing something, inevitably, while feeling the laughter bubbling inside her.
Could it be possible, Rook thought, without avoiding the smile that ran across her face, that she was starting to like Solas?
Instantly, Lavellan's presence appeared, without giving her time to think more, since she saw her appear in a mist, in front of her, making Rook do all her preparation so that her surprise wouldn't be noticeable, averting her face from Solas as if she was tired of him.
Liar.
Lavellan blinked rapidly, looking at her hands first and closing and opening them, as if she didn't quite believe where she was. Then, she turned to her, confused, but with a certain determined sparkle in her eyes. Rook only shook her head slightly, looking at her out of the corner of her eye.
Good thing she was going to try not to interfere in her conversations with Solas, she thought, frowning her lips slightly. Lavellan placed herself next to her in silence, not realizing the annoyance of the pink-haired girl.
Solas, noting her silence, changed his expression to a more serious one, perhaps believing that it was because of his words.
"Rook, my information was correct. And you have verified it" he told her, almost whispering, as if he feared the elf's reaction.
Rook nodded, biting her lip and crossing her arms. Then, she breathed in and swallowed a little of her own pride.
She needed Solas's help, no matter how much she didn't trust him.
"I need to know what the gods are plotting" she asked him, looking at him with sincerity in her gaze, wanting to extend a flag of peace between them two. Solas tilted his head a little, in silence. At first, he seemed to accept that offering but Rook soon discovered that they were hopes in vain. He made a small gesture of denial, which caused a low snort in Lavellan next to her.
"Here it starts. Get ready Rook" the Inquisitor advised her, in a murmur.
Solas crossed his hands behind his back again, narrowing his eyes slightly with distrust.
"You ask something that no mortal in this world possesses. Show me why I should offer that information to you, Rook. Show me why you are the right one to lead this offensive" he murmured, challenging her without needing to say it directly. Rook lowered her head, biting her lips.
She wasn't the right one. She was only as a replacement for Varric, while she waited for him to recover. And Sola knew this well, but he wanted her to have the initiative, to realize that the team needed a leader, someone to trust.
How intelligent this elf was. He knew how to put his enemies on the ropes only with words, making them doubt even their ability. And Rook was feeling it in her own flesh, making her doubt herself, without much difficulty.
In the end, she didn't think she was a leader. She only wanted to fix the mess that she had caused almost without wanting to. At that moment a hand rested on her shoulder, comforting. A hand that transmitted a warmth that the elf now needed. And Rook smiled, knowing who was going to speak next, warming her heart a little.
"We trust you Rook. You are our leader" Lavellan's voice was full of confidence and resolution, and she didn't need to say anything else to convince her. Rook raised her head, with her chin up, placing her hands on her hip.
"Someone must take action" she opened her arms, confidently. "And, hey, maybe of all my group I'm not the most suitable, but here I am. I was the one who started it. I am the only one who is here right now and the one who will finish all this, with or without your help" she looked at the god, challenging. Solas raised an eyebrow at her arrogance, come so suddenly.
"Well said, Rook" Lavellan smiled at her, satisfied for having left the elf speechless.
But then, Solas let out a laugh of mockery, recovering his composure. He crossed his arms, raising his chin as well.
"Do you pretend to convince me by saying that anything goes as long as you do something? " he asked her, with scorn, showing his teeth slightly and showing a pointed fang, almost like a threat.
Solas hadn't liked that arrogance of the pink-haired girl. And he was demonstrating it with all his posture.
"When I was with the Crows, we had to face an Antaam invasion operation" Rook began to walk from one side to another, without taking her eye off the Wolf, with her fists clenched and her brow furrowed, showing her teeth as well. "One night, I saw how they were preparing prisoners to transfer them to another city. There were too many to launch an attack."
Rook stopped suddenly, raising her head, remembering that moment.
It would be the beginning of the Weaver's cover to be blown up, revealing her secret. Still, she didn't regret it. Neither now, nor at that moment, remembering the face of her master, angry with her.
It was the first time she saw him really disappointed with her. And that had hurt her more than anything in this world.
"But you did it anyway" Solas interrupted her, with a peculiar sparkle in his violet eyes, losing the smile and uncrossing his arms. "You used unconventional tactics, confusing the Antaam and releasing the prisoners, Weaver. You should be proud of yourself."
Rook looked at him surprised, partly because Solas had that information and partly because of his half compliment.
"How did you know? " she asked him, stupefied.
"His spies. He has a huge network of spies" murmured Lavellan next to her, at the same time that Solas spoke:
"You chased me for a whole year along with Varric" He shrugged, somewhat indifferent. "It would be negligent of me not to investigate my pursuers, having the means and the people to do it" he raised an eyebrow when looking at her, slightly. "And more being one of the pursuers one of the most capable mages in recent times."
He turned to one side, thoughtfully, after a few seconds of silence, in which Rook didn't take her eye off him, trying to guess where the god was going to pull now with those words that almost seemed physical weapons in his lips. Lavellan, next to her, also kept silent, looking at him, but with her lips frowned, almost as if she was solving the puzzle that was Solas.
The elf raised his head, with the memories darkening his gaze. Then, he looked at her sideways, out of the corner of his eye. His violet darkened visibly when fixing his gaze on her.
"I thought the same at the beginning of the rebellion. But are those reasons enough, Rook? Do you really believe that that is valid for everything? " he asked her, without mockery in his tone, almost as if he were asking her genuinely.
But Rook had seen how his lips tilted slightly upwards, before he hid it effectively. He didn't believe her capable, she realized with displeasure. Solas didn't believe that she was capable of handling the responsibility.
She began to open her lips, to argue with him, but a hand stopped her. Lavellan approached the ravine, looking at her slightly, with determination in her face.
"Let me talk for a moment, Rook. If he wants the war this way, we will use dirty weapons" she told her, with a malicious smile.
Ah, how well she liked this elf sometimes, Rook thought, smiling at her in turn, but without fixing her gaze on her. Rook placed herself next to her, discreetly. Then, Lavellan touched her shoulder, causing a torrent of feelings to overflow in her. Rook swallowed, feeling how Lavellan took over her body and part of her mind. She raised an arm, resting her chin on her open palm, while tilting her head, lowering it slightly, to which Solas frowned, confused.
He had recognized something, Rook thought.
Perhaps it was a typical posture of Lavellan, one that she used to adopt when she got angry? The words began to flow through her mouth, without giving her time to think about more:
"I don't know, Fen'Harel " she emitted, in a low whisper, with her voice somewhat hoarser, with a threat hidden in each word. "But I know of someone who, without having them with her, became a leader, knocking down an entire army with an avalanche of snow and causing them to prostrate themselves on their knees in front of her afterwards, while dedicating an ode to her, calling her "Herald of Andraste", even if she didn't want that title" she raised her chin, proud, although inside she was surprised by the Inquisitor's words "Was it enough for you on that occasion, apostate mage? " she told him, without raising her voice, but it was as if she had thrown a sharp dagger at Solas, who opened his eyes, surprised. He took a step back, not believing it, with a greenish sparkle in his violet eyes, while growling, emitting a slight green light in his gaze. Then, he showed his teeth again, furious.
"How do you know that? " he asked her, through gritted teeth, while grabbing his chest, as if it hurt him. Lavellan separated from Rook at that moment, making her look only for a moment towards her direction, but only for a second, feeling betrayed before the danger.
I shit in the whore, she thought, wanting to bring a hand to her hair, nervous.
Lavellan, really, you can't drop a bomb like that and then stay silent, she told the Inquisitor in her mind, although she knew that she couldn't hear her.
She shrugged, wanting to seem indifferent, although a cold sweat was beginning to run down her back.
Could you sweat in the afterlife? She thought, almost without wanting to.
" I only investigate those whom I pursue and those who give me the contract, Dread Wolf, just like you. It's normal among the Crows " she told him, snapping her tongue, wanting to seem disappointed at his doubts, although she was really about to start laughing hysterically because of the nerves.
Solas looked at her intently, still in an unnatural way, as only a god apparently could do. His gaze diverted towards one of Rook's sides. Time passed between them tense. Even Lavellan had remained still, swallowing saliva, under the weight of Solas's gaze that, although he didn't see her, didn't avert her gaze from that side, like a predator looking for his prey. Rook took a small step in front of her, wanting to hide her slightly, although the god didn't see her.
In the end, you never knew for sure what could or couldn't do Solas.
After a few more seconds, Solas didn't take long to nod, seeming convinced. The greenish sparkle disappeared from his eyes, returning to his normal violet, while returning to his position, with a grimace on his mouth. Rook sighed relievedly in a low voice.
It worked. Damn, it worked.
She was going to pray to whoever it was from when she left that place.
"The evanuris " Solas began, after that tense silence", yearn to reclaim their territory. And, for that, they will need two things."
Solas raised one of his fingers, starting to enumerate, giving her the information that she wanted so much.
"First, the Ruin. What we see is nothing more than a small fragment of how terrible it was and all its power. The rest is imprisoned... Until they release it" he murmured, tense. "And I assure you that they need that power."
He raised another finger, with an intense look in his violet.
"The second thing they need is followers, as they call themselves gods. But what is a god without praises or devotees? " he asked, in a rhetorical way. Rook crossed her arms, snorting with annoyance.
"I don't plan to kneel before some murderous and corrupt monsters just because they have pointy ears like me. Neither me nor many elves " she retorted, raising her chin. Next to her, Lavellan frowned.
"Neither you nor anyone with three fingers on their forehead" Lavellan corrected her, imitating her posture.
"I agree with you" Solas smiled at her, pleased at her words, softening slightly his frown. "But Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain don't care about the elves. They will seek followers thirsty for blood and power."
Solas made a gesture with his hand, accompanying his words, averting his gaze towards the horizon.
"Despots. Scoundrels. Cruel and corrupt people, those who fear their own vulnerability and who will seek any opportunity to become stronger " He looked at Rook, intently, with seriousness". Look for those people and they will take you to them directly."
"Thanks" Rook smiled at him amiably, thanking his indications. Solas seemed surprised, raising his eyebrows even, but nodded, receiving the thanks.
Wow, he wasn't used to being thanked, Rook thought, tilting her smile. It almost seemed sweet to her. Next, with a hand on her chin, Rook murmured to herself:
"Okay, with what we have to go hunting for bad and corrupt people. Great" she nodded, pleased by this information, thinking that the elf was not going to offer her anything else.
But, then, Solas took a step to one side, making one of the stones of the ground fall into infinity.
"The Vi'Revas" Solas interrupted her ramblings, raising his voice a little, to get her attention. Rook looked at him, with doubts in her eyes, but without speaking, waiting for him to continue.
"It is the Eluvian of the Lighthouse. It can take you anywhere, if you manage to master its secrets. Have you succeeded? " the elf questioned her, frowning.
Rook shook her head, hugging herself slightly.
"We have an expert in ancient artifacts trying to fix it. She will succeed " she assured him, nodding, knowing that Bellara was more than capable.
Solas lowered his gaze for a moment, his posture falling slightly.
"And, Rook, one more thing " he asked her, in a murmur.
Solas looked at her. Rook saw regret and remorse in his eyes, mixed with a few more things, that she didn't know how to decipher. His body was slightly inclined forward, as if he was seeking forgiveness, although that sparkle in his eyes made her doubt, slightly.
"I..." he cleared his throat, bringing a hand to his mouth and averting his gaze. He ran a hand over his cheek, rubbing it slightly. "When you see Varric... Tell him that I regret what happened. Deeply."
Rook looked at him, in silence but nodded.
In the end, it was true that it was an accident, although Solas could have controlled it. But she supposed that everyone deserved to seek forgiveness. She was looking for it today still, in the end.
She began to turn around, to leave, wanting to call that mist of unconsciousness, but Solas's voice stopped her again.
"Is there anyone else besides your companions and Varric in the Lighthouse?"
Rook stopped short, freezing at that question.
Damn. Solas was beginning to suspect things. Things that had to do with a certain elf next to her, who had frozen too, with her eyes open like plates.
Rook, to practice. All those improvisation classes would have to serve for something.
She turned her face, expressionless, towards Solas, trying to show some confusion in her gesture. Lavellan retained the air next to her. She grabbed Rook by the arm, reaching towards her in a few quick steps.
"An elf " he began to say, while clenching his fists to the sides, but opening and closing them every so often, with nervousness. "A different elf, peculiar, beautiful. Someone who is remarkable. Someone... important in the current world."
Rook inclined her face, covering one of her eyes with her pink hair, surprised at the god's nervousness. She touched her chin with one of her fingers, trying to repress the smile that wanted to appear on her lips.
Ay, but how cute he was. He was nervous to know things about Lavellan. An elven god of more than nine thousand years was nervous about a any elf.
Although the "any elf" couldn't be applied precisely to the Inquisitor.
"Solas, you have to be more specific. I'm not a fortune teller. Asking me for an elf like that, just like that, without more clues..." she told him, looking at him, while resting a hand on her cheek and at the same time covering her mouth. Lavellan's grip intensified on her arm, transmitting her confusion and some betrayal with that grip.
Solas clenched his fists and lowered his gaze for a second. Next, he fixed it on her, with an enormous intensity, so much so that now it was Rook's turn to swallow saliva, losing the smile that was showing on her face.
Damn, now he didn't seem sweet. He seemed...desperate.
"She is known as the Inquisitor. She is the leader of the Inquisition, who closed the breach ten years ago" he turned slightly, with a tic in his jaw. "I tried to be informed about her in these years but... let's just say it has cost me a bit" he murmured, frowning.
Rook pretended to be surprised, but without missing detail of that last.
So Solas hadn't been able to gather information from Lavellan in these years. That is, the Inquisitor had hidden for some reason, while hunting down the Dread Wolf.
Interesting.
"My contractor? " Rook shook her head fervently, trying not to laugh at the irony of having her right next to her, with a scared face. "Why would she contact me, Solas? We both have the agreement closed and more than ready. The last time I heard from her was a year ago."
Solas diverted his gaze again, but Rook had time to see the sadness that was lodged in his gaze, along with some disappointment.
"She and I... We were close. I thought she might get to contact you before reaching me. If you had any clue..." he asked her, in a low voice, this time with sincerity.
Next to Rook, a snort of indignation was heard. Lavellan separated from her, posing her hands on her hip, when looking at him.
"Close? Only close? " Lavellan growled, with rage.
Ay, Solas, how you screwed up, Rook thought with a grimace.
So she did what any friend would do in these occasions.
She turned around, smiling slyly at the god, while raising a hand, saying goodbye.
"Who knows. Oops, my time is running out. See you later, crocodile."
And she disappeared into the mist, leaving Fen'Harel with the word in his mouth and a gesture of incredulity on his face.