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#solas you stupid bastard you just gave her the chance to make herself more of a weapon than she already is
biowarenerd · 7 years
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Chapter Two: Haven
“Now that Cassandras out of earshot, how are you holding up?” Varric asked Max as they sat in the local tavern the evening after the Inquisition was formally reborn. “I mean you go from being the most wanted criminal in all of Thedas to joining the army of the faithful. Most people would spread that out over more than one day.”
Max grinned. “Guess I’m not most people. Don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
Varric chuckled. “Or a bit of both. Never know. But you might want to consider running at the first opportunity. I’ve written enough tragedy stories to see what’s coming.”
Max eyes the hairy dwarf. “Varric, I’m not going to run just because the going gets tough. Peoples lives are depending on us. That’s why we are sitting in a tavern getting drunk.”
Varric gave a hearty laugh. “You got me there. Just remember that you are not some big shot hero. Heroes are everywhere. I’ve seen that. But the hole in the sky? That’s beyond heroes. That’s gonna need a miracle.”
“Too bad I’m no miracle. I’m just a man trying to do the right thing. Does that sound too good to be true?”
Again Varric chuckled. “That’s nothing. Sebastian, an old colleague of mine, has got you beat as far as politeness goes. I swear that man could get his arm ripped off by an ogre and apologize to it for getting in its way.”
“Isn’t Sebastian the Prince of Starkhaven?” Asked Max.
Varric nodded. “Yup after Hawke helped him get revenge on his family’s murder, and after the mages rebelled, Choir Boy moved back to his home. I’m sure he’s boring all sorts of people over there.”
“What about the rest of Hawke’s associates? Where are they?”
“Hawke , as well as I, don’t think of them as associates. To us they are friends. But to answer your question: Merrill is helping out the people in Kirkwall’s alienage. She’s doing the best she can but knowing Daisy, she still hasn’t memorized the layout of the city yet so she is I imagine still getting lost. Now she just gets others lost with her. But I know she won’t let anybody harm those she is helping. Fenris is hunting down any Tevinter slaver taking advantage of all the refugees. I’m not sure exactly where he is now but you can normally just follow the corpses.”
Max grinned. “Pleasant.”
“That’s Fenris for you. Anders is doing Maker knows what in Maker knows where. Honestly I don’t want to know anything about what he’s up to. Aveline is still guard captain. I’m pretty sure Kirkwall would fall into the sea if she wasn’t on the job. Heard she and her husband had a kid a while back. Feel sorry for the poor bastard. He’s gonna be doing drills by the time he’s three. Isabela went back to the Raiders. She’s calling herself an admiral now. I don’t know if that means she’s a captain or just has a really big hat. Her plan is to loot enough treasures so she and Hawke can buy an island or something and move in. Hawke’s little sister is helping to restore Kirkwall. Apparently she is high up on the important people ladder there now. I’m sure she wishes she could be wherever Hawke is, watching his back. Same with Isabela but I’m sure she would be watching his backside a little more intently.”
Max studied him for a few moments. “Where is Hawke by the way? Do you know if he was at the Conclave or not?”
Varric shrugged just a little too quickly. “I don’t know. I haven’t heard from him in a almost a year actually.”
*He’s lying.* Max has had years of experience in telling if someone is lying or not. Being the son of a noble will do that.
“But I’m sure that wherever he is, he’s killing loads of thugs and saving plenty of damsels in distress while laughing like a maniac. He always was the sarcastic dramatic hero.”
After another hour at the tavern, Max excused himself and went and found Solas. The bald elf was a little odd but very smart. He told Max wondrous things about the Fade, the place where dreams come from as well as demons and spirits home. When he had had his full of knowledge for the day, he found himself wondering around the training ground for the new recruits. By chance he came across the Seeker who was beating a practice dummy to death. She had her back to him so when he spoke up, she jumped in surprise.
“I think you need practice dummies made of sturdier stuff.”
“That would be nice.”
“Like maybe iron.”
Her mouth twitched in a grin. He was actually enjoying the challenge of making her smile.
“Did I do the right thing? People may say that I’m a madwoman, a fool. And they may be right. I don’t think I just do. I see what must be done and I do it…but I misjudged you in the beginning, did I not? I thought the answer was before me clear as day. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Max looked at her. “It’s not like you had no reason to. If I had been in your shoes I would have done the same. Just with less yelling and shoving.”
Cassandra winced. “I’m sorry if I was too rough on you. I was angry and upset and those emotions clouded my judgement.”
Max shrugged. “It’s no big deal. I did stop the Breach from spreading so that’s one good thing out of all this.”
Cassandra looked sidelong at him.
Her penetrating gaze made him flinch uncomfortably. “What?”
“Nothing…Just… You look familiar now that the world isn’t falling apart around us. Where have I seen you before?”
Max smiled at her. “I’m a member of the Trevelyn noble family of Ostwick. So you may have seen paintings of me or something. Dad always made us have a portrait taken of us three.”
Cassandra looked at him quizzically.
“You three?”
“Oh yeah. I’m the youngest son of Bann Trevelyn. Youngest of three actually. Just don’t tell anyone I’m a noble alright?”
Cassandra raised an eye at that. Most of the nobles she knew wanted nothing more than to tell everyone that they were rich and ‘better’ than everyone else. She decided to ask him. “Why don’t you want people to know you are a noble, my Lord?”
Max frowned. It was something he didn’t do often as Cassandra found out. He was very bad at it.
He made a 'there you go gesture’.
“That’s why. I don’t like being treated like a noble. I’ve had enough of that growing up. I don’t need nor want people to go parading my name around like its something worth honoring. I don’t deserve to be a noble so I don’t want to be treated like one.”
“Why don’t you deserve it? Did you do something bad?”
Max shook his head. “No nothing really bad. I didn’t kill anyone or steal something if that’s what your asking. Nothing as base as that. No I did something far worse. At least my family thinks it is.”
“Well what did you do?”
Max shuffled his feet. “I don’t feel like talking about it. Not yet.”
Cassandra groaned. “You can’t do that. You can’t peak my interest then leave me wanting more.”
Max raised his eyebrow. “Oh? You want more about me? Hmmm. I don’t think I’ll tell you. First you have to tell me a little something about you 'Right Hand of the Divine’.”
The Seeker flinched. “You know my title?”
Max chuckled. “It’s not hard to put two and two together you know. I heard your name once or twice in the Chantry when I was younger.”
“And how old are you, if I may ask?”
“Thirty. A I’m not dumb enough to ask a lady her age. Varric, maybe but not me.” Her mouth twitched in a grin. *So close.*
She sighed. “So why are me about myself?”
“Just trying to make things between us less…” Max searched for the word.
Cassandra raised an eyebrow. “Antagonistic?”
“Precisely.”
“Well if you must know, I was born and raised in Nevarra.”
Max grinned. “I got that that from the accent.”
She looked sidelong at him. “My accent isn’t that noticeable.”
He nodded.“It absolutely is. But don’t worry: it works for you. It’s still nicer than an Orlesian accent, that’s for sure.”
Cassandra looked at him quizzically.
Max tried to keep a straight face for as long as he could but her stare was too much. Finally he let out his pent up laughter and she realized that he was teasing her. She scowled and rolled her eyes.
“Do your friends like it when you make fun of them?” She asked, annoyed that she had thought he actually liked her accent.
He smiled again. *That smile of his is infectious.* she thought. It was hard not to smile with him.
“I wouldn’t know. I don’t have a whole lot of friends.”
“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”
He grasped his chest and feigned a wounded look. “Ouch.”
“Why don’t you have a lot of friends? Is it because no one can stand your constant teasing?”
Max sighed. “No, I just preferred to be alone. I was like the lost sheep of my family. Didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life, kept to myself. That kind of thing. What about you? Do you have many friends? Wait let me guess: no one brave or stupid enough to approach you in order for the friendship to start burning has came up to you yet?”
Her mouth twitched in a grin again. “You approached me. Your talking to me. So what does that make you?”
Max went to speak then shut his mouth once he realized that he had been outsmarted. He shrugged and faced the defeat with dignity.
The two talked for about thirty minutes before Cassandra retrieved a practice sword and tossed it to him. Not ready for it, he dropped it. It clanked on the rocky snowy ground. Max eyeballed it uncertainly. “What was that for?”
“Training. I want to see how well you can hold your own in a fight. When we were stopping the Breach, I noticed that Uluru were quite flimsy with a sword. I want to make sure you know what you are doing else I have to clean your entrails off the battleground.”
“Just to let you know, I don’t use swords. I’m more of the sneaky stabby type of guy.”
Cassandra raised her eyes. “You use daggers? Hmm. From your choice of weapons at the Breach, I thought you were a swordsman.”
Max shook his head. “I only used the sword because that was what I had. I prefer to fight using daggers. Or stilettos if you have any. But I’m not fighting with a sword unless I really have to. Bad things happen when I use a sword. Not used to its length.” Cassandra nodded. Then groaned. Max wondered why and then he found out.
Varric had come up behind them and had overheard their conversation.
“I have a good friend who would have blushed with all this talk of sword and dagger length.”
Max couldn’t hide his grin. Cassandra rolled her eyes. “Ugh. What do you want Varric?”
“Oh just stopping by to tell you that you both are need in the war room.”
Max groaned. “Why me? I’m not important enough right?”
Varric gave a hearty laugh. “'Not important enough’? Was that a serious question?”
Max stared blankly at him.
“Well, shit. You really don’t know?”
“Don’t know what? What is it I don’t know?”
Varric doubled over with laughter. Max pestered him about what he didn’t know but Varric just waved him off as he walked away back towards the tavern.
Max looked to Cassandra. “What was that all about?”
She took a couple seconds before she responded. “Some say you are the Herald of Andraste. People heard about what happened at the Breach. People have heard stories of how we found you.”
“How did I survive the blast?”
“No one truly knows. They say you stepped out of a rift. A woman was there behind you. No one knows who she is. But people are saying that it was Andraste herself sending you to help us.”
“That sounds like the last thing I remember before I woke in chains. In my vision or whatever you want to call it, a woman did reach out to me as I was running away from some type of creature. But that’s all I remember. What do you think about it?” He asked her.
“Yes I believe she sent you in our hour of need. What else could it be? But what about you? How do you feel about it?”
Max shrugged. “I don’t know how I should feel. I don’t feel like I’ve been 'touched by Andraste’ or anything. Anyway, we should probably head down to the war table. I suppose we are important.” ******************* They walked into a large room with a wide table in the middle. Three people stood around it. Leliana was on the left side of the table, and two other people were were standing across from the door. A male and female. The male had short sleek blonde hair and a stubble filled face with a small smile. He had on a chest plate with red feathers lining the top. At his side was a gleaming iron sword. Beside him stood a small dark skinned woman with her long black hair tied in a bun. Locks came out on the sides of her face and a bright smile lit up on her face when they entered. She wore a dazzling yellow skirt that immediately caught every eye whenever she entered a room. But her smile, Max noticed, was just a mask. He was used to nobles wearing a mask to hide their real plans. Although this woman’s smile did seem authentic. Maybe because she thought he was the Herald.
*So a noblewoman and a soldier and a hero. Odd trio.*
Cassandra gestured to the soldier saying, “This is Commander Cullen: leader of the Inquisition’s forces.”
“As they are. We lost a lot of men because of the Breach.” The mans voice even sounded like a soldiers.
“And we’ll lose a lot more before this whole thing is over.” Max said.
Cassandra turned to the lady in yellow. “This is our ambassador: Josephine Montilyet.”
Josephine bowed her head. “I’ve heard much. It’s an honor to finally meet you.” Max bowed in reply.
Finally Cassandra turned to Leliana. “And you already know Leliana.”
Max rubbed his bearded chin. “Yeah her name does ring a bell.” He said sarcastically. That earned a chuckle from Cullen and a coy smile from Josephine. Leliana hid a grin and Cassandra ignored the comment altogether.
Leliana nodded and said, “My business here involves a degree of-.”
Cassandra cut her off. “Leliana is our spymaster.”
Leliana sighed. “Yes. Tactically put, Cassandra.”
Max grinned. “That’s an impressive bunch of titles.”
Max thought he heard a snicker come from Cassandra’s area but when he looked at her, she had on her usual stone serious face on.
“So why did you three call us down here? Just to admire the glowing green mark on my hand spewing out magic? That’s a popular thing to look at nowadays from what I’ve been told. Or do you want to talk about the so called 'Herald of Andraste’ business? That’s a close second.”
Leliana spoke. “We called you down so we could discuss what to do next.”
“Why me though? I’m not that important other than the blasted thing carved into my hand.”
Cullen chuckled. “Not that important? You are a hero who saved the world from being swallowed up by the Breach. I say that makes you at least a little important.”
Max shook his head. “All I did was stop it spreading. I didn’t get rid of it. Hell, some people even think I put it in the sky in the first place.”
Josephine spoke with a heavy Antivan accent that sounded very enticing. It made him want to listen to her voice more.
“The Chantry seems to think that. They already did even before you stopped it. And Chancellor Roderick has been at the forefront of that belief.”
“With all due respect, I say hang the Chantry. I don’t see them out here trying to stitch the hole in the sky.” scoffed Cullen.
“The Chantry’s only strength is that they are united in opinion. And yet they may bury us in them. We should try to come to a truce with the Chantry before anything else. Maybe there are some sisters sympathetic to our cause?” She said in question.
Leliana stepped forward. “Not sisters but a we may have a mother of helping. There is a woman:Mother Giselle, who is out in the Hinterlands aiding the refugees trapped amongst the fighting. She has shown interest in helping the Inquisition. We could reach out to her and help aid the refugees at the same time. If that’s fine with the Herald?” She poised the question at Max who jumped as he realized everyone was looking at him, expecting an answer.
“Why are you all looking at me?”
Cassandra sighed, annoyed. “There may be rifts spread throughout the Hinterlands. That means there may be demons preying on the refugees. And since you are the only one who can seal them, you need to go with whoever goes to meet Mother Giselle.”
“You had me at demons preying on the helpless. We can’t have that now can we?”
Cullen nodded. “Now all that’s left is to figure out who is going. The Herald obviously. I say he be accompanied by force of twenty men at least for protection.”
Leliana shook her head. “Out of the question. A force like that would only attract unwanted attention. We need to send a small force of maybe four or five people including the Herald. That way, they can help without drawing too much attention tho themselves. My scouts can occupy any good base camp spots and keep an eye on what’s going on.”
“I will go with the Herald.” Cassandra said. It was not a question.
Max raised a hand. “Um, the Herald has a name you know. It’s Max by the way. Just for future references.”
Cassandra ignored him. It was a favorite pastime of hers it seemed.
“Who else will go with him?” Josephine asked.
“Solas should go. He knows more about the rifts than anyone else.” Suggested Cassandra.
“Varric should go as well.” Max said.
Instantly, Cassandra shook her head. “Out of the question. I am not going anywhere with that dwarf. I’ve had enough of that rogue to last a lifetime. If I spend any more time with him I’ll go mad.”
Max looked her in the eyes as he said, “Cassandra, Varric has the most experience here besides maybe Leliana as far as following someone around killing bad guys. Besides, if I have to put up with both Solas and you, I’ll go mad.”
“But-.”
Leliana cleared her throat. “It makes sense, Cassandra. Varric joined Hawke on many of his 'adventures’. If anyone knows how to work as a small team, it’s him.”
After a few moments. Cassandra relented. “Fine. But if he annoys me, I’m throwing him off a ledge.”
Max smirked. “I kind of want to see that now.”
Cassandra turned to him. “Then I’ll throw you off a ledge.”
“Can it be a small rock instead?”
“For you I’ll make it a mountain.”
“Aww we’ve only known each other a day or two and yet you are already giving me gifts.”
“I’ll give you a gift in the shape of a fist.”
Josephine cleared her throat loudly, causing both of them to turn back to the table.
“What?” They both asked at the same time.
“Let’s focus on the task at hand and not at throwing each other off mountains.”
Max shrugged. “She started it.”
“Did not.”
“Did-.”
Cullen interrupted them. “Please for the love of the Maker, be quiet.”
Max grinned at Cassandra. She snorted in disgust.
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dragon-age-story · 7 years
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Chapter Two: Haven
"Now that Cassandras out of earshot, how are you holding up?" Varric asked Max as they sat in the local tavern the evening after the Inquisition was formally reborn. "I mean you go from being the most wanted criminal in all of Thedas to joining the army of the faithful. Most people would spread that out over more than one day." Max grinned. "Guess I'm not most people. Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing." Varric chuckled. "Or a bit of both. Never know. But you might want to consider running at the first opportunity. I've written enough tragedy stories to see what's coming." Max eyes the hairy dwarf. "Varric, I'm not going to run just because the going gets tough. Peoples lives are depending on us. That's why we are sitting in a tavern getting drunk." Varric gave a hearty laugh. "You got me there. Just remember that you are not some big shot hero. Heroes are everywhere. I've seen that. But the hole in the sky? That's beyond heroes. That's gonna need a miracle." "Too bad I'm no miracle. I'm just a man trying to do the right thing. Does that sound too good to be true?" Again Varric chuckled. "That's nothing. Sebastian, an old colleague of mine, has got you beat as far as politeness goes. I swear that man could get his arm ripped off by an ogre and apologize to it for getting in its way." "Isn't Sebastian the Prince of Starkhaven?" Asked Max. Varric nodded. "Yup after Hawke helped him get revenge on his family's murder, and after the mages rebelled, Choir Boy moved back to his home. I'm sure he's boring all sorts of people over there." "What about the rest of Hawke's associates? Where are they?" "Hawke , as well as I, don't think of them as associates. To us they are friends. But to answer your question: Merrill is helping out the people in Kirkwall's alienage. She's doing the best she can but knowing Daisy, she still hasn't memorized the layout of the city yet so she is I imagine still getting lost. Now she just gets others lost with her. But I know she won't let anybody harm those she is helping. Fenris is hunting down any Tevinter slaver taking advantage of all the refugees. I'm not sure exactly where he is now but you can normally just follow the corpses." Max grinned. "Pleasant." "That's Fenris for you. Anders is doing Maker knows what in Maker knows where. Honestly I don't want to know anything about what he's up to. Aveline is still guard captain. I'm pretty sure Kirkwall would fall into the sea if she wasn't on the job. Heard she and her husband had a kid a while back. Feel sorry for the poor bastard. He's gonna be doing drills by the time he's three. Isabela went back to the Raiders. She's calling herself an admiral now. I don't know if that means she's a captain or just has a really big hat. Her plan is to loot enough treasures so she and Hawke can buy an island or something and move in. Hawke's little sister is helping to restore Kirkwall. Apparently she is high up on the important people ladder there now. I'm sure she wishes she could be wherever Hawke is, watching his back. Same with Isabela but I'm sure she would be watching his backside a little more intently." Max studied him for a few moments. "Where is Hawke by the way? Do you know if he was at the Conclave or not?" Varric shrugged just a little too quickly. "I don't know. I haven't heard from him in a almost a year actually." *He's lying.* Max has had years of experience in telling if someone is lying or not. Being the son of a noble will do that. "But I'm sure that wherever he is, he's killing loads of thugs and saving plenty of damsels in distress while laughing like a maniac. He always was the sarcastic dramatic hero." After another hour at the tavern, Max excused himself and went and found Solas. The bald elf was a little odd but very smart. He told Max wondrous things about the Fade, the place where dreams come from as well as demons and spirits home. When he had had his full of knowledge for the day, he found himself wondering around the training ground for the new recruits. By chance he came across the Seeker who was beating a practice dummy to death. She had her back to him so when he spoke up, she jumped in surprise. "I think you need practice dummies made of sturdier stuff." "That would be nice." "Like maybe iron." Her mouth twitched in a grin. He was actually enjoying the challenge of making her smile. "Did I do the right thing? People may say that I'm a madwoman, a fool. And they may be right. I don't think I just do. I see what must be done and I do it...but I misjudged you in the beginning, did I not? I thought the answer was before me clear as day. I won't make that mistake again." Max looked at her. "It's not like you had no reason to. If I had been in your shoes I would have done the same. Just with less yelling and shoving." Cassandra winced. "I'm sorry if I was too rough on you. I was angry and upset and those emotions clouded my judgement." Max shrugged. "It's no big deal. I did stop the Breach from spreading so that's one good thing out of all this." Cassandra looked sidelong at him. Her penetrating gaze made him flinch uncomfortably. "What?" "Nothing...Just... You look familiar now that the world isn't falling apart around us. Where have I seen you before?" Max smiled at her. "I'm a member of the Trevelyn noble family of Ostwick. So you may have seen paintings of me or something. Dad always made us have a portrait taken of us three." Cassandra looked at him quizzically. "You three?" "Oh yeah. I'm the youngest son of Bann Trevelyn. Youngest of three actually. Just don't tell anyone I'm a noble alright?" Cassandra raised an eye at that. Most of the nobles she knew wanted nothing more than to tell everyone that they were rich and 'better' than everyone else. She decided to ask him. "Why don't you want people to know you are a noble, my Lord?" Max frowned. It was something he didn't do often as Cassandra found out. He was very bad at it. He made a 'there you go gesture'. "That's why. I don't like being treated like a noble. I've had enough of that growing up. I don't need nor want people to go parading my name around like its something worth honoring. I don't deserve to be a noble so I don't want to be treated like one." "Why don't you deserve it? Did you do something bad?" Max shook his head. "No nothing really bad. I didn't kill anyone or steal something if that's what your asking. Nothing as base as that. No I did something far worse. At least my family thinks it is." "Well what did you do?" Max shuffled his feet. "I don't feel like talking about it. Not yet." Cassandra groaned. "You can't do that. You can't peak my interest then leave me wanting more." Max raised his eyebrow. "Oh? You want more about me? Hmmm. I don't think I'll tell you. First you have to tell me a little something about you 'Right Hand of the Divine'." The Seeker flinched. "You know my title?" Max chuckled. "It's not hard to put two and two together you know. I heard your name once or twice in the Chantry when I was younger." "And how old are you, if I may ask?" "Thirty. A I'm not dumb enough to ask a lady her age. Varric, maybe but not me." Her mouth twitched in a grin. *So close.* She sighed. "So why are me about myself?" "Just trying to make things between us less..." Max searched for the word. Cassandra raised an eyebrow. "Antagonistic?" "Precisely." "Well if you must know, I was born and raised in Nevarra." Max grinned. "I got that that from the accent." She looked sidelong at him. "My accent isn't that noticeable." He nodded."It absolutely is. But don't worry: it works for you. It's still nicer than an Orlesian accent, that's for sure." Cassandra looked at him quizzically. Max tried to keep a straight face for as long as he could but her stare was too much. Finally he let out his pent up laughter and she realized that he was teasing her. She scowled and rolled her eyes. "Do your friends like it when you make fun of them?" She asked, annoyed that she had thought he actually liked her accent. He smiled again. *That smile of his is infectious.* she thought. It was hard not to smile with him. "I wouldn't know. I don't have a whole lot of friends." "Somehow that doesn't surprise me." He grasped his chest and feigned a wounded look. "Ouch." "Why don't you have a lot of friends? Is it because no one can stand your constant teasing?" Max sighed. "No, I just preferred to be alone. I was like the lost sheep of my family. Didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, kept to myself. That kind of thing. What about you? Do you have many friends? Wait let me guess: no one brave or stupid enough to approach you in order for the friendship to start burning has came up to you yet?" Her mouth twitched in a grin again. "You approached me. Your talking to me. So what does that make you?" Max went to speak then shut his mouth once he realized that he had been outsmarted. He shrugged and faced the defeat with dignity. The two talked for about thirty minutes before Cassandra retrieved a practice sword and tossed it to him. Not ready for it, he dropped it. It clanked on the rocky snowy ground. Max eyeballed it uncertainly. "What was that for?" "Training. I want to see how well you can hold your own in a fight. When we were stopping the Breach, I noticed that Uluru were quite flimsy with a sword. I want to make sure you know what you are doing else I have to clean your entrails off the battleground." "Just to let you know, I don't use swords. I'm more of the sneaky stabby type of guy." Cassandra raised her eyes. "You use daggers? Hmm. From your choice of weapons at the Breach, I thought you were a swordsman." Max shook his head. "I only used the sword because that was what I had. I prefer to fight using daggers. Or stilettos if you have any. But I'm not fighting with a sword unless I really have to. Bad things happen when I use a sword. Not used to its length." Cassandra nodded. Then groaned. Max wondered why and then he found out. Varric had come up behind them and had overheard their conversation. "I have a good friend who would have blushed with all this talk of sword and dagger length." Max couldn't hide his grin. Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Ugh. What do you want Varric?" "Oh just stopping by to tell you that you both are need in the war room." Max groaned. "Why me? I'm not important enough right?" Varric gave a hearty laugh. "'Not important enough'? Was that a serious question?" Max stared blankly at him. "Well, shit. You really don't know?" "Don't know what? What is it I don't know?" Varric doubled over with laughter. Max pestered him about what he didn't know but Varric just waved him off as he walked away back towards the tavern. Max looked to Cassandra. "What was that all about?" She took a couple seconds before she responded. "Some say you are the Herald of Andraste. People heard about what happened at the Breach. People have heard stories of how we found you." "How did I survive the blast?" "No one truly knows. They say you stepped out of a rift. A woman was there behind you. No one knows who she is. But people are saying that it was Andraste herself sending you to help us." "That sounds like the last thing I remember before I woke in chains. In my vision or whatever you want to call it, a woman did reach out to me as I was running away from some type of creature. But that's all I remember. What do you think about it?" He asked her. "Yes I believe she sent you in our hour of need. What else could it be? But what about you? How do you feel about it?" Max shrugged. "I don't know how I should feel. I don't feel like I've been 'touched by Andraste' or anything. Anyway, we should probably head down to the war table. I suppose we are important." ******************* They walked into a large room with a wide table in the middle. Three people stood around it. Leliana was on the left side of the table, and two other people were were standing across from the door. A male and female. The male had short sleek blonde hair and a stubble filled face with a small smile. He had on a chest plate with red feathers lining the top. At his side was a gleaming iron sword. Beside him stood a small dark skinned woman with her long black hair tied in a bun. Locks came out on the sides of her face and a bright smile lit up on her face when they entered. She wore a dazzling yellow skirt that immediately caught every eye whenever she entered a room. But her smile, Max noticed, was just a mask. He was used to nobles wearing a mask to hide their real plans. Although this woman's smile did seem authentic. Maybe because she thought he was the Herald. *So a noblewoman and a soldier and a hero. Odd trio.* Cassandra gestured to the soldier saying, "This is Commander Cullen: leader of the Inquisition's forces." "As they are. We lost a lot of men because of the Breach." The mans voice even sounded like a soldiers. "And we'll lose a lot more before this whole thing is over." Max said. Cassandra turned to the lady in yellow. "This is our ambassador: Josephine Montilyet." Josephine bowed her head. "I've heard much. It's an honor to finally meet you." Max bowed in reply. Finally Cassandra turned to Leliana. "And you already know Leliana." Max rubbed his bearded chin. "Yeah her name does ring a bell." He said sarcastically. That earned a chuckle from Cullen and a coy smile from Josephine. Leliana hid a grin and Cassandra ignored the comment altogether. Leliana nodded and said, "My business here involves a degree of-." Cassandra cut her off. "Leliana is our spymaster." Leliana sighed. "Yes. Tactically put, Cassandra." Max grinned. "That's an impressive bunch of titles." Max thought he heard a snicker come from Cassandra's area but when he looked at her, she had on her usual stone serious face on. "So why did you three call us down here? Just to admire the glowing green mark on my hand spewing out magic? That's a popular thing to look at nowadays from what I've been told. Or do you want to talk about the so called 'Herald of Andraste' business? That's a close second." Leliana spoke. "We called you down so we could discuss what to do next." "Why me though? I'm not that important other than the blasted thing carved into my hand." Cullen chuckled. "Not that important? You are a hero who saved the world from being swallowed up by the Breach. I say that makes you at least a little important." Max shook his head. "All I did was stop it spreading. I didn't get rid of it. Hell, some people even think I put it in the sky in the first place." Josephine spoke with a heavy Antivan accent that sounded very enticing. It made him want to listen to her voice more. "The Chantry seems to think that. They already did even before you stopped it. And Chancellor Roderick has been at the forefront of that belief." "With all due respect, I say hang the Chantry. I don't see them out here trying to stitch the hole in the sky." scoffed Cullen. "The Chantry's only strength is that they are united in opinion. And yet they may bury us in them. We should try to come to a truce with the Chantry before anything else. Maybe there are some sisters sympathetic to our cause?" She said in question. Leliana stepped forward. "Not sisters but a we may have a mother of helping. There is a woman:Mother Giselle, who is out in the Hinterlands aiding the refugees trapped amongst the fighting. She has shown interest in helping the Inquisition. We could reach out to her and help aid the refugees at the same time. If that's fine with the Herald?" She poised the question at Max who jumped as he realized everyone was looking at him, expecting an answer. "Why are you all looking at me?" Cassandra sighed, annoyed. "There may be rifts spread throughout the Hinterlands. That means there may be demons preying on the refugees. And since you are the only one who can seal them, you need to go with whoever goes to meet Mother Giselle." "You had me at demons preying on the helpless. We can't have that now can we?" Cullen nodded. "Now all that's left is to figure out who is going. The Herald obviously. I say he be accompanied by force of twenty men at least for protection." Leliana shook her head. "Out of the question. A force like that would only attract unwanted attention. We need to send a small force of maybe four or five people including the Herald. That way, they can help without drawing too much attention tho themselves. My scouts can occupy any good base camp spots and keep an eye on what's going on." "I will go with the Herald." Cassandra said. It was not a question. Max raised a hand. "Um, the Herald has a name you know. It's Max by the way. Just for future references." Cassandra ignored him. It was a favorite pastime of hers it seemed. "Who else will go with him?" Josephine asked. "Solas should go. He knows more about the rifts than anyone else." Suggested Cassandra. "Varric should go as well." Max said. Instantly, Cassandra shook her head. "Out of the question. I am not going anywhere with that dwarf. I've had enough of that rogue to last a lifetime. If I spend any more time with him I'll go mad." Max looked her in the eyes as he said, "Cassandra, Varric has the most experience here besides maybe Leliana as far as following someone around killing bad guys. Besides, if I have to put up with both Solas and you, I'll go mad." "But-." Leliana cleared her throat. "It makes sense, Cassandra. Varric joined Hawke on many of his 'adventures'. If anyone knows how to work as a small team, it's him." After a few moments. Cassandra relented. "Fine. But if he annoys me, I'm throwing him off a ledge." Max smirked. "I kind of want to see that now." Cassandra turned to him. "Then I'll throw you off a ledge." "Can it be a small rock instead?" "For you I'll make it a mountain." "Aww we've only known each other a day or two and yet you are already giving me gifts." "I'll give you a gift in the shape of a fist." Josephine cleared her throat loudly, causing both of them to turn back to the table. "What?" They both asked at the same time. "Let's focus on the task at hand and not at throwing each other off mountains." Max shrugged. "She started it." "Did not." "Did-." Cullen interrupted them. "Please for the love of the Maker, be quiet." Max grinned at Cassandra. She snorted in disgust.
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