I sit on a wooden seat just outside the Chantry. One of Leliana's ravens sit on my arm, gently rubbing its beak against my hand. It nips at the mark and I pull my hand away, "Hey. Not that. You could make me blow up Haven. As funny as that would be…"
I look around, seeing everyone else at work. All except me. Cassandra had dismissed me after the declaration of the Inquisition being reborn. It seems I'm only needed when demons needs slaying and Rift's need closing.
The raven squawks and ruffles its feathers. The wind is picking up, sending a shiver down my spine.
Leliana appears from the doors and holds her arm out, "Sorry Lydia, but your friend is in need of service."
I stand as the raven flutters over to Leliana, perching on her arm, "Not a problem. I'll… um. Go back to my house."
That raven was my only friend.
Leliana ties a note to the foot of the raven and pushes her arm outwards, sending the raven off to where ever it's needed. Another raven follows close behind, each going separate ways.
As I turn to leave, the Commander waltzes towards the oak doors. He and Lelianna share a smile and a nod as he hammers a piece of parchment to the doors. The symbol I saw on the large book back in the Chantry is printed on the large piece of parchment. But this symbol has a sword going through the eye.
The Commander looks at me, "The symbol of the Inquisition."
"Looking good," I say. Then I clear my throat, "Ah, the sigil, not um… you." I nearly kick myself for saying that. "I mean… you look good, just the sigil…" I give up.
He blinks and I see him swallow, "Ah…" He glances away, "Leliana is… ah, Cassandra coming?"
"She should be here any minute," nods the woman.
I groan quietly, trying not to hurl myself into the brick wall.
But then I spy Chancellor Roderick gaping at the piece of parchment. He shakes his head and leaves the crowd as they come to read the paper. I watch him disappear from the crowd.
A dark-skinned woman, no older than Leliana, joins as on the landing, as the crowd around us begins to step back, watching us. Like we're the leaders—the ones everyone looks up to.
Perhaps it would be best to just head back to my house. I'm out of place here. People looking up to me isn't something that usually happens.
Cassandra walks towards me and everyone steps out of her way, bowing and nodding to her—just like they had when I had woken up. She wears a different armour—without the sigil of the Chantry painted across her chest. Surely she doesn't wear armour all the time.
A slight smile plays on the edge of her lips and she looks to me. I shift uncomfortably, glancing at the Commander then back to Cassandra.
A banner flaps down in front of the doors, revealing the sigil of the Inquisition. And the Breach still swirls in the sky—a rip in the Veil. And if I'm completely honest, it does look magnificent—the brilliant green pulsing through the sky, the rocks hovering just outside the tear. It looks like something out of one of Grandma's stories… only this time it is real. And I seem to be the one in the centre of it all.
And we stand as a group. All of us haphazard people randomly plunged into the war against the Breach. Or it may have been the Maker's will.
Either way, one thing is certain.
The Inquisition is reborn.
When the little ceremony was done, Cassandra walks with me to the room she calls the War Room.
As we walk through the Chantry, I glance at me hand.
"Does it trouble you?" asks Cassandra.
I stop walking and look at the warrior, "Not anymore. It's stopped spreading and it doesn't hurt."
"We take our victories where we can," smiles Cassandra—a rare gesture. "What's important is that your mark is now stable. As is the Breach."
I nod.
"You've given us time, Trevelyan," she continues. "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."
"Sounds dangerous," I say, not really sure what else there is to say. I laugh softly, "I mean, what harm could there be in powering up something we don't understand?"
Cassandra smiles again, "You better keep hold of that sense of humor."
We walk into the War Room, where the others stand around a wooden table. The War Table itself has a massive parchment map of both Fereldan and Orlais, with table pieces scattered all around the map.
"You've met Commander Cullen, Leader of the Inquisition's forces," says Cassandra.
Cullen smiles at me and I feel the slight heat of a blush tinging my cheeks, "Yes, we've, ah, met briefly before."
"It was only for a moment on the field. And I'm pleased you survived," he says.
I'm glad he hasn't mentioned the other time we met briefly.
Cassandra cocks her head towards the dark-skinned woman. Her skin, like chocolate, her eyes almost the same. Her face is soft and smiling and her black hair tied into a bun and she keeps tucking wisps of her hair behind her ear. And she's pretty, I'll give her that.
"This is Lady Josephine Montilyet, our ambassador and chief diplomat."
Josephine's warm eyes flick to me and she smiles, "I've heard much. It's a pleasure to meet you at last."
"Montilyet? You're friends with my family," I say, glad to finally have someone I know—even if Josephine and I have never met in person.
The diplomat nods, "Our folks were good friends, although they have not seen each other in a long time."
"And the forth," nods Cassandra, glancing at Leliana, "You know Sister Leliana."
"My position here involves a degree of…"
"She is our spymaster."
"Yes," nods Leliana. "Tactically put, Cassandra."
"It's a pleasure to meet you all," I say, smiling at them.
"I mentioned that you mark needs more power to close the Breach for good," says Cassandra.
"Which means we must approach the rebel mages for help," suggests Leliana.
"And I still disagree," comes Cullen's voice. And it is a little dreamy… He looks at the spymaster, "The Templars could serve just as well."
Cassandra sighs, "We need power, Commander. Enough magic poured into that mark—"
"Might destroy us all. Templars could suppress the Breach, weaken it so—"
"Pure speculation," cuts Leliana.
"I was a Templar. I know what they're capable of," says Cullen, although his voice cracks.
Josephine picks up her board, equipped with an small ink tube, a candle and parchment to write on, "Unfortunately, neither group will even speak to us yet. The Chantry has denounced the Inquisition—and you, specially." She looks at me.
"They still think I'm guilty." It wasn't a question.
"That is not the entirety of it any longer," she says. "Some are calling you the Herald of Andraste, and this frightens the Chantry. The remaining clerics have declared it blasphemy, and we heretics for harboring you."
Herald of Andraste: that's what I heard when I woke up. Some of the people were whispering the title.
"Chancellor Roderick's doing, no doubt," curses Cassandra.
"It limits our options. Approaching the mages or the Templars for help is currently out of the question."
"Will the Chantry attack us?" I ask, concerned that we may be overrun before we can even close the Breach.
"With what? They have only words at their disposal," says Cullen.
Josephine looks at the Commander, "And yet, they may bury us with them."
"There is something you can do," says Leliana. "A Chantry cleric by the name of Mother Giselle has asked to speak to you."
"Me?" I ask.
The spymaster nods, "She is not far, and knows those involved far better than I. Her assistance could be invaluable."
"I'll see what she has to say."
"You will find Mother Giselle tending to the wounded in the Hinterlands, near Redcliffe."
"Look for other opportunities to expand the Inquisition's influence while you're at it—Maker knows we need it," says Cullen.
"We need agents to extend our reach beyond this valley, and you're better suited than anyone to recruit them."
"In the meantime," says Cassandra, "Let's think of other options. I won't leave this all to the Herald."
I blink, glad to have Cassandra at my side.
We look over the War Table and Leliana places a finger on the Hinterlands, "I'll have my scouts search ahead, slip past the fighting and protect her."
I look up, "Fighting? The Templars and the mages fight has spread to the Hinterlands?"
Leliana nods, "And Mother Giselle is caught in the middle."
"We'll reach her as soon as we can."
"And that's all we can ask," says Cullen.
The three of them look at me, waiting for me to continue.
I fumble for words, "Um… ah. We'll need mounts… I think."
Cullen nods, "We have four horses in the stables. They'll be put to good use in the Hinterlands, just keep them away from the fighting."
Cassandra's lips are tightly pressed, "We should leave it at that for today. It's almost nightfall and I'm sure the Herald is hungry."
"Oh, I'm fine," I say.
"Very well," says Josephine. "We'll leave you be for today."
"We'll set out to the Hinterlands first thing tomorrow," I say. Looking at Cassandra, I see if she agrees.
She nods her head.
I sigh inwardly. Having to help lead this mission wasn't something I was planning on. Especially when they seemed like they didn't need me before.
As the five of us leave the War Room, I watch as they move together, talking quietly amongst themselves. And I'm left trailing behind them, their conversation almost too soft to hear. Josephine heads to her chambers, while the others go their separate ways.
I'm left standing outside, in the cold be myself.
Walking through Haven, I make my way towards the potions shop, hoping to stock up on some remedies.
As I walk up the steps, I see Solas standing just outside the shop, watching the Breach in awe.
He spots me and nods, "The Chosen of Andraste, a blessed hero sent to save us all."
"Ah… I wouldn't call myself a hero. Just someone who wants to close the Breach," I say. "Though, maybe in time…"
"Pragmatic, but ultimately irrelevant," says Solas. He looks away, "I've journeyed deep into the Fade in ancient ruins and battlefields to see the dreams of lost civilisations. I've watched a host of spirits clash to reenact the bloody past of ancient was both famous and forgotten." He stops and looks at me, "Every great war has its heroes. I'm just curious what kind you'll be."
"Hopefully a good one."
Solas bows his head.
I shift my feet, "You mentioned before, ruins and battlefields. What did you mean by that?"
Solas smiles, "Any building strong enough to withstand the rigors of time has history. Every battlefield is steeped in death. Both attract spirits. They press against the veil, weakening the barrier between our worlds. When I dream in such places, I go deep into the Fade. I can find memories no other living being has ever seen."
"You… fall asleep in the middle of ruins? Isn't that slightly dangerous?"
"I do set wards. And if you leave food out for the giant spiders, they are usually content to live and let live." I flinch at the mention of giant spiders and Solas seems to sense my discomfort, "I am sorry if I upset you."
"No," I say, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "I'd just rather stay away from giant spiders." Looking at him, I focus on his shiny head, trying to stop the images of spiders flooding my mind, "I've never heard of anyone going so far into the Fade. That's extraordinary."
"Thank you. It's not a common field of study, for obvious reasons. Not so flashy as throwing fire or lighting. The thrill of finding remnants of a thousand year old dream? I would not trade it for a thing."
A smile comes to my lips.
"I will stay then," he says. "At least until the Breach has been closed."
"Was that in doubt?"
"I am an apostate surrounded by Chantry forces in the middle of a mage rebellion. Cassandra has been accommodating, but you understand my caution."
"Of course. Cassandra trusts you after all, she wouldn't let anything happen."
"Thank you, I appreciate that thought." He looks to the sky, "It would be best if you got some rest. I hear we are going to the Hinterlands on the morrow."
"To find Mother Giselle."
He nods and I leave him be.
The sun has begun its descent, sending rays of oranges light through the sky. The Breach's green glow is mingled with the orange light.
I decide it would be best to head back to my house, as so I don't disturb anyone else. I may be the Herald of Andraste, but I know the people are still suspicious.