Leliana did not look up from her paperwork when she heard footsteps leading up to her tent. "I did say I would explain more later, didn't I?" she said in a half-hearted attempt at being jovial.
The elf behind her sighed. "Why am I here, Leli?"
Leliana finally put down her papers. "Because I asked for you."
That didn't even earn her a courtesy grin. Her mind quickly went through its calculations. This wasn't The Grand Game, but bringing about a force so monumental as an Inquisition would require similar kinds of chess-board manoeuvres in order to convince the pieces to play. She'd hoped, somewhat naïvely in hindsight, that Fae's blind trust in an old friend would be enough, but that was evidently not the case. If she'd grown up to be anything like Neria, that meant she valued honesty, regardless of whether it was something she wanted to hear. Therefore, it would be best to lay out all the cards on the table now and allow her to make her choice, rather than make it for her and risk her wrath later- and if Leliana's reports were anything to go by, Fae did have wrath to give in recent years. Calculations complete, Leliana put her chosen strategy into action.
"Every great leader has a second-in-command," she began. "Sometimes they are the one person the leader can lean on, or perhaps they are the true power pulling the strings as needed."
Fae considered with her arms folded tightly across her chest. "You believe the Herald will be this great leader- that makes sense, what with her being 'Andraste's Chosen,' or whatever, and she seems nice enough…"
"Power changes people," Leliana paused. "Not for the better, in most cases. And the bigger the Inquisition grows, the more power she will have. There is too much at stake to risk creating a tyrant."
"But why make me her second-in-command, if that's what you're planning? You said in your letter she would be more likely to trust me as a fellow elven mage, putting aside the fact that she's Dalish and I'm not, which makes a bigger difference than you might think- that might be enough to include me in this small council you've organised, but to make me her second…?" Fae shook her head. "Isn't that a bit of a stretch? Not everyone is so… sympathetic towards elves as you, Leli, let alone elven mages."
"You underestimate your own legacy, Fae. First cousin to the Hero of Ferelden, the youngest mage ever Harrowed, the Mage-Saviour of Kirkwall. Not to mention your unique talent with those visions of the past."
"Ok, that's…but people don't know about those things. Most people, anyway."
"They will. If they can believe Andraste personally saved a Dalish elf and gave her the singular ability to heal the Fade, they can also believe She gave another the gift to see what others cannot."
Fae frowned, and Leliana prepared for further protest, until she recognised something akin to pity in the elf's eyes.
"You don't believe Andraste sent her, do you? I would have thought you'd be the first to believe it," she said softly.
Leliana froze momentarily, and then shrugged, turning back to her seemingly endless paperwork. "What I believe is of little consequence. This is where we are. So, will you stay and help us?"
"…I will. For now. I need to think about it. And… I'm sorry for your loss. I know you enjoyed working for Divine Justinia." When Leliana turned back around, Fae had already walked away.
Ellethir had been wandering around the camp, looking for anyone approachable enough to strike up a conversation with. She'd found such a person in Varric, one of the allies she and Cassandra had met on their way to the Breach. He was a middle-aged dwarven man with the air of a battle-worn hahren, tired of the fight but with a lifetime of stories to tell, and the horrors of recent events only served to weigh even heavier on his shoulders.
He seemed amenable enough to tell them, indulging Ellethir's many questions: about his crossbow, his acquaintance with Cassandra, his journey from Kirkwall to Ferelden. Varric talked about his writings, too, and he even offered to lend her a copy of his most well-known book, 'Tales of the Champion.' Varric was half-way through explaining the synopsis of another of his books, when he unexpectedly let out a surprised "Hah!" and called out to someone behind him. "Shortie!"
Fae startled; she'd been looking around for Ellethir and wasn't expecting a familiar face. "Varric!" She half-stumbled down the icy steps to meet them. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing!"
"Leliana asked me to join her here, you?"
"At least you were asked, Seeker Cassandra practically dragged me across the Waking Sea by my chest-hair to meet the Divine."
"But, you said you were here to help?" Ellethir interjected, confused. Clearly she was missing something.
"Ehh, it's complicated, Herald, I'll tell you about it later. This is Faellathi, she's an old friend."
"We've met," Fae clarified.
"You have many old friends here?" Ellethir inclined her head.
"Yeah, uh, that's also complicated," Fae laughed uncomfortably. "I just came here to tell you the Seeker sent word, they're ready for you in the chantry."
"Ah. We should be going, then. Thank you for allowing me to bend your ear, Varric," Ellethir said formally, but Varric waved her away.
"Anytime, Herald."
Cassandra was waiting for them just inside the chantry, offering to lead the way to the chamber at the end of the main hall as before. The three of them fell into an awkward silence as they walked, and Ellethir found herself glancing down at her hand often, as the green light dancing across it kept catching her attention.
"Does it trouble you?" Cassandra asked.
Ellethir sighed. "If it wasn't enough to close the Breach, what use is it?" she mumbled sulkily.
"You did everything we asked of you," Cassandra reassured her.
"And it still didn't work."
"What's important is that your mark is still stable. As is the Breach. You've given us time, and Solas believes a second attempt might succeed- provided the mark has more power; the same level of power used to open the Breach in the first place. That is not easy to come by."
"Couldn't that kind of power just make things worse?"
Cassandra laughed. "And people call me a pessimist."
"We wouldn't be channelling power directly at the Breach, we'd be channelling it towards the mark on your hand, amplifying its own rift-closing ability," Fae explained. "…In theory, anyway- I'm not exactly sure how we'd do that in practice," she admitted.
"A conversation we must certainly have soon," Cassandra opened the door to the meeting room. "Allow me to introduce the Inquisition's small council, as it is now, Herald. You've met Commander Cullen, leader of the Inquisition's forces."
A tall, blonde human man in full plate and a feathered cloak inclined his head. "It was only for a moment on the field. I'm pleased you survived."
"And this is Lady Josephine Montilyet, our ambassador and chief diplomat."
"Andaran atish'an," she sounded out carefully.
"You speak elven?" Ellethir asked, pleasantly surprised.
"You've just heard the entirety of it, I'm afraid," Lady Josephine admitted in a strong accent Ellethir couldn't quite place.
"And of course, you know Sister Leliana."
Leliana clasped her hands behind her back. "My position here involves a degree of…"
"She is our spymaster."
"Yes. Tactfully put, Cassandra," Leliana said dryly.
"And finally, you've met Faellathi Tabris, the Inquisition's…?" Cassandra looked to Leliana.
"We have yet to decide on a formal title for your position, Fae. I was considering Seer."
Fae looked decidedly unconvinced, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. "Like the seers of Rivain? That's not what I am."
"Of course," Leliana conceded. "But seeing things that no other cannot, not even other mages, is what you do. And there are few this far from Rivain that would know the difference. It is a title that implies seniority and competency in magic, and that is all anyone outside this room needs to know."
"And what exactly do the people in this room already know?" Fae said stiffly, glaring daggers at Commander Cullen in particular. For his part, Cullen watched Fae as if she was a ghost no one else could see. Ellethir sensed once more that there was some critical information she was missing here.
"As much as is necessary," Leliana said firmly. "We are all on the same side here."
Fae scoffed, but dropped the subject, for now.
"…I mentioned that your mark needs more power to close the Breach for good, Herald," Cassandra spoke up, eager to redirect the conversation.
"Which means we must approach the rebel mages for help," Leliana nodded.
Cullen shook his head. "And I still disagree. The templars could serve just as well."
"We need power, Commander," Cassandra sighed. "Enough magic poured into that mark—"
"Might destroy us all. Templars could suppress the Breach, weaken it, so—"
"Pure speculation," Leliana interrupted.
"I was a templar. I know what they're capable of."
"Yes, Knight-Captain, we all know what they're capable of," Fae quipped.
"I am not the—"
"Unfortunately," Josephine said pointedly, "neither group will even speak to us yet. The Chantry has denounced the Inquisition- and you, specifically."
Ellethir sighed. "They still think I'm guilty."
"That is not the entirety of it any longer. Some are calling you the 'Herald of Andraste,' and that frightens the Chantry. The remaining clerics have declared it blasphemy, and we heretics for harbouring you."
"Chancellor Roderick's doing, no doubt," Cassandra added.
"It limits our options. Approaching the mages or the templars for help is currently out of the question."
Ellethir crossed her arms. "I don't even know why everyone's saying I'm the Herald of Andraste. I'm Dalish, we have our Creators, not your Maker and your Andraste."
"That may be, but people saw what you did at the temple. How you stopped the Breach from growing. They have also heard about the woman seen in the Rift when we first found you. They believe that was Andraste," Cassandra explained.
Leliana nodded. "Even if we tried to stop that view from spreading-"
"Which we have not," Cassandra side-eyed her.
Leliana pretended to ignore it. "The point is, everyone is talking about you."
"It is quite the title, isn't it?" Cullen smiled.
Ellethir tried to muster a smile in return. "It's… unsettling."
"I'm sure the Chantry would agree."
Leliana stepped forward. "People are desperate for a sign of hope. For some, you're that sign."
"And to others, a symbol of everything that's gone wrong," Josephine added pointedly.
"They aren't more concerned about the breach? The real threat?"
Cullen shrugged. "They do know it's a threat, they just don't think we can stop it, and the Chantry is telling everyone you'll make it worse."
Ellethir rubbed the back of her head. "Then how do we prove them wrong?"
Cullen pointed to a spot on the giant map that covered nearly the length and width of the table in front of them. "We start in the hinterlands, near Redcliffe. My reports say its inhabitants have been hit hard by mage-templar fighting, so our best bet for proving our worth as a force is to quash the warring factions and aid the refugees caught in the middle."
"As for quieting our naysayers, a Chantry cleric by the name of Mother Giselle has asked to speak to you," Leliana continued. "She knows those involved far better than I, and her assistance could be invaluable. She is currently in the hinterlands as well, tending to the wounded. By your leave, I can have my scouts send a message to expect our arrival on the morrow."
Ellethir considered. "I'll see what she has to say, but I thought the Chantry was against us?"
"Perhaps she is a reasonable sort," Leliana ventured.
"Is a cleric very high up in the Chantry hierarchy? Will her support be enough to change their minds?"
Cassandra and Leliana exchanged glances. "Not on her own," Leliana admitted. "She may have some useful contacts, but the truth is, the more allies we can gather, the better our chances."
"As for Mother Giselle's own influence, a cleric is not traditionally one of the senior-ranking members of the Chantry, but many of those who were, the grand clerics, are…by the Maker's side, now," Cullen added solemnly. The room was silent for a few moments.
Cassandra sighed. "If that is settled, we should draw this meeting to a close. We'll set off tomorrow morning, as soon as you are ready, Herald."
"I'll try not to sleep away the next three weeks this time," Ellethir joked half-heartedly, earning at least a couple of appreciative smiles.
As everyone began to file out of the room, Cullen stepped forward. "Miss Tabris, if I might have a word, before you go?"
"…As you wish."
Ellethir caught sight of the glint in Faellathi's eyes as she left, and closed the door behind her quickly. Clearly there was some history there. She wondered if she could ask Faellathi about it later, or if that was inappropriate. She could practically hear Keeper Deshanna's reprimand ringing in her head about being too nosy.
Fae stared at him, determined to hold her tongue for Leliana's sake.
Cullen cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I… just wanted to say- I understand, given your history, why you may distrust templars. And I wanted to apologise for that, and also clarify that I myself left the Order, several years ago. In fact, none of the soldiers here are officially templars anymore; many of them do not have alternative armour besides that issued by the Order, but we are not affiliated with them any longer, nor do we condone the chaos they have had a part in, as of, uh, late."
He waited for Fae to respond, but she simply stood still, her expression unreadable, so he continued, with the sense he was digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole. "I… don't know if you remember me, but we were both at the Ferelden Circle, before the Blight. In fact, I had believed you'd died during the…events there, until Sister Leliana informed me otherwise. I'm glad I was wrong."
"Are you?" Fae smiled sweetly. Cullen had seen a smile so much like hers before, and he felt heat rushing to the tips of his ears. But there was something venomous in this smile.
"Of course I am, I—"
"I remember you, Cullen," Fae said steadily. "I remember how the others told me you lusted after my cousin, before she was sent away to save the world. I remember that I was a child, dragged across a cold stone floor and held screaming over a bowl of enchanted lyrium," she continued, volume rising. "I remember Neria coming back to save me and every other surviving mage in that Circle while your brothers in arms, charged with protecting us, cowered on the other side of the door. I remember how hurt she looked when she told me that you pushed for the Rite of Annulment even after she saved your ungrateful skin."
"I—"
"And I remember Kirkwall," she spat. "All those years you were there, I was there too. You said, right to the Champion of Kirkwall's face, that mages cannot be treated like people. Of course, that was before you knew she was a mage herself. And you rose through the ranks while your Knight-Commander and your fellow templars beat, starved, raped and imprisoned the very people they were supposedly sworn to protect!" Fae's subsequent giggling bordered on hysterical, and then her expression changed again, eyeing him as if she was daring him to challenge her.
"You see, Knight-Captain, I do remember you," she said, her calm demeanour returning. "Better than that, I know you. You spent years basking in the glory of being a hero to the people, a knight in shining armour protecting everyone from the big bad mages. And the moment you realised that everyone would feel sorry for the men, women and children being massacred in the streets as they fled their prison, you switched sides. And here you are again, ready to play the hero. But I know what you are."
Cullen was pale, but he found his voice enough to protest. "The bloodlust that Knight-Commander Meredith encouraged is part of why I left the Order. They—"
"They, them, we, us. You are the same as you ever were. If I didn't think it would royally piss off Leliana, I'd kill you right here and now. So, I think our best chance of being successful allies is for you to stay. Away. From me. Hm?"
Cullen nodded wordlessly, and Fae flashed him a brief smile. "Good talk," she concluded, swinging the door open and nearly crashing into several people who had obviously been leaning on the door, and now were looking in every direction but hers. Fae stared in surprise at the small crowd that had gathered, made a disgusted noise, and stalked off.