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Her Destiny Lies Elsewhere	By : TheStarvingArtist Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 7181 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN DRAGON AGE. This is a work of fiction, and I make no money from it. This fic contains dialogue from the game.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Author's Note: I don't know how I feel about this chapter. In all honesty, if I hadn't convinced myself that some stuff needed to happen before I tackle the Demands of the Qun (btw, that's the next chapter), this chapter probably wouldn't have happened. So yeah, I know, filler chapter. More plot-progress next time, and you'll get to see the actual breakdown of “I can't handle this” that's coming for my poor Rio. It was going to happen in here, but it happens after the Demands of the Qun stuff, and I needed that to be separate because FEELS.
Who wanted Rio art?
My drawings:

http://the-inquisitor-rio.tumblr.com/post/116093758631

What I've Commissioned:

http://viva-la-dalish.tumblr.com/post/115912144618/
(Hers looks better than mine, and for that I'm sorry)
Review Replies:
Rhino: (I apologize for this story taking me so long to write, I am plugging away at this, blargh) Yeah, Rio's not going to pick up on much of it at all with Solas. (she is going to have to have an elf-history lesson at some point, I'm sure). You can be as chatty as you like! I haven't played the DLC yet (because I was afraid that I'd play the DLC and stop writing) but I will be getting to it soon-ish =D (Sadly, I don't think they're going to let Rio pick the décor...)

**This fic contains many quotes and much dialogue straight from the game.**

Chapter 11
Changes

The rest of the day was passed in revelry as the work finished for the night, the tavern filled with song and cheers as everyone praised the Inquisitor. Rio did not join in the merrymaking as much, sitting to the side as she drank her own tankard of ale quietly. She accepted their praise with a raise of her glass, but the longer she was there, the less she felt like one of them, and more like some figurine, placed upon a pedestal to be admired beyond them, like she was both one of them, yet better, and it made her uneasy.
She brushed off their invitations to move closer to the fire as Varric began to tell his stories, shaking her head. She even turned Dorian down when he offered to get her another ale, rising from her seat to edge towards the door. Bull looked up as she walked past them, stifling a yawn. Smiling, he raised his tankard and called, “Hey, Boss! Come on, stay a bit longer! The rest of the world will be there in the morning, I promise!”
Her eyes were tired as she gave him a small smile, shaking her head as she answered, “Nah, Bull, I’m... I’m gonna call it a night, I think... Thanks though!” she added with a small wave before she excused herself for the night, making her way to the door. Dorian caught the lingering look that followed her as Rio slipped outside before Bull turned back to the Chargers, and he couldn’t help the smile that curled over his lips. Something was brewing, that much was painfully obvious, and if he was very careful, he might be able to catch them unawares enough to help things along, just a little faster than their current snail’s pace...
Outside, Rio was stretching her arms over her head, toddling over to the stairs that would lead her down to the lower bailey and her tower room.  “So much to do,” she mumbled to herself as she sighed heavily, “so little time...” She was just thinking about maybe being able to get a bath tomorrow as she opened her door, jumping when she realized Josephine was there with Rio’s bag in her hand.
Josephine had been waiting for a while, it seemed, tutting as she took Rio’s arm and turned to lead the Inquisitor back out, frowning. “Your rooms are finally ready, Rio,” she said, frowning as she gently led her by her arm back up the stairs towards the main hall. “I've taken the liberty to have a bath drawn up for you, and we have more yet to go over.” Rio's groan was loud, but unheeded, pulled through the now-bare main hall, the chandeliers off the ground and debris cleared away.
At the back of the hall, through a door and up a couple flights of stairs, Rio was pulled into a large bedroom, blinking as she looked around. It was still a bit sparse, a bed, some shelves, a fireplace with a roaring fire, and a sofa against the railing over the stairs. All in all, it was quite spacious, and more than she expected with tall windows and not one, but two balconies, glass doors leading out to them. She peeked through one of the heavy curtains over one door, though she couldn't make out much in the dim moonlight as Josephine laid out a couple of towels and a shift for Rio.
She sighed when the Inquisitor didn't look up from where she was peeking through the curtains at the mountains around them, clearing her throat as she watched. Rio blinked, turning to look at her before sheepishly closing the curtain again. The bath was still hot enough to put off steam, and that was all it took for Rio to start stripping her clothes off, tossing her coat towards the bed, sash and vest quickly followed by her footwraps.
Whatever modesty she shirked returned as soon as she stood in her long linen shirt, starting to untie her leggings when she realized Josephine was still watching her. Blushing as she swallowed heavily, Rio started to play idly with the edges of her sleeves, biting her lip uneasily.
Soft eyes widened as she realized why Rio was hesitating, turning away to give her a few moments of privacy, moving over to the desk where she flitted through the papers there. Once her back was turned, Rio pulled off her shirt, tossing it and then her pants towards the bed before slipping into the tub. She grabbed for the soap and cloth from the stool next to the tub, starting to scrub over her skin. There wasn't much dirt there, she had taken some pride in at least keeping somewhat clean, but it did smell nice, the rose-scented bubbles smoothing over her pale skin.
After she scrubbed her arms and legs and between her toes, scraped under her fingernails, and brushed the rag over her face, rinsing one last time, she let her hair fall wild and tangled over her shoulders, down her chest and into the cloudy water, black-tipped strands giving her a small amount of modesty as Josephine finally turned to look at her. Smiling a little, she moved around behind her, lifting a bottle of cleansing oil. Rio shivered as it was poured into her hair before the ambassador rolled her sleeves up, helping Rio to clean her long hair carefully before rinsing it again. A softening cream was applied next as tanned fingers lightly brushed through the curls, frowning at the uneven length and burned, ragged ends.
Lifting up a towel for her, Josephine helped Rio slip out of the bath, letting her dry herself quickly as her advisor fetched her pale linen shift. Tossing it to her, she turned her back again with a smile as Rio pulled it on over her head. Fetching the small basket that held ivory combs and a silver-backed brush, she motioned for Rio to move to the stool by the fireplace, watching her plop onto it with a small huff. Shaking her head, she carefully started to try to smooth her hair, clucking over the state of it.
She was quiet as the brush and combs worked through it, letting her advisor fuss over the gold and black locks to her heart's content. She sighed, eyes falling half-closed, lazily watching the flames, another light oil brushed through her hair lightly as Josephine tried to will the damage to go away. It was definitely long and unmanageable in spots, but ragged almost here and there, evidence of fire-blasts, near-misses with Templar swords, and near the longer ends, evidence where Rio had tried to trim it up herself.
Sighing deeply, the Antivan ambassador stood with her hands resting on her hips, frowning down at the mess of damp curls and shaking her head. “Really, Rio,” she started, shaking her head as she lifted the pair of scissors from the bottom of the basket, “it would grow in better if you had it trimmed properly...”
Rio frowned at that, opening her mouth to protest as Josephine grabbed a lock of singed hair, several inches shorter than the rest. “It is uneven! That archdemon alone did a real number on it... I mean, it's almost down to your scalp in parts! I can't imagine what the courts would have to say if they saw the Inquisitor like this!”
“That she doesn't care what she looks like?” Rio murmured, frowning as she shook her head a little. “It looks fine, Josephine, really. I'll just... I dunno, put it in a braid or something...”
Josephine's frown deepened as she tried to plead with her, “Rio... Please, just... I promise you'll feel better... Just something to help it grow out stronger, if you want to grow it again...”
Blue-gold eyes narrowed a little over her shoulder at Josephine, frowning deeper as she carefully thought it over. She knew her hair looked like a mess, and she had just kind of pushed aside the thought of caring about it because it wasn't important at the time. Now, as Inquisitor, though, she needed to look the part, and she knew in the back of her mind that Josephine was right. Sighing, she turned toward the fire again, closing her eyes as she nodded a little. “All right... fine... Just... try not to cut off all the black, okay?”
Josephine brightened as she carefully pulled the locks back, letting the cuttings fall to the floor as Rio closed her eyes tightly, biting her lip as she told herself to keep her faith in her advisor.
* * *
The next day, after another change of clothes, Rio stepped out of the main hall, adjusting her loose tunic, the pale cotton falling back and leaving her scarred shoulders open. It had taken a lot of coaxing from Josephine, and assurances that here, she was the Inquisitor, one of the people, and would not be judged for the appearance of her scars. So far, one maid had seemed surprised to see them, but she didn’t say anything as Rio walked past. One hand toyed with her forest-green sash, the loose ends fluttering in the breeze as Rio shivered a little. While her leather leggings and footwraps kept out much of the cold, her hair had been shortened, cut very nearly to the scalp on the sides, the rest braided down her back. The mountain air was chilly, but invigorating as she smiled. She looked almost like she fit in now as she passed a couple of scouts with similar hairstyles, and that made her bold. Almost skipping down the steps, she held her hat in her hand, smiling as she debated going back up to put it back before she spotted Dorian standing with Sera in the open yard.
His soft eyes looked up at her and his frown turned to a small smile as he took in the changes, nodding approvingly. “Ahh, Inquisitor Rio!” he said with a growing smile as she crossed the yard towards them. “I see you’ve decided to do away with your wind-swept wild-woman look and adopt something a little more sophisticated.”
Rio blushed, though she still smiled at her friend, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her face as Sera turned and snorted, fighting the urge to laugh as she looked Rio up and down. Rio’s smile disappeared almost immediately as Sera, looked her over, “What the (hot and arid place) happened to you? Tried to go all native and lost the fight with the scissors?” She shook her head, nose wrinkling at her clothes and hair. She ignored the way that Rio’s polite mask slipped back over her face, her head bowing as she lifted her hat, letting it flop into place and pulling it down as she turned away and excused herself quietly.
Dorian, seeing the drastic change in Rio, turned and scowled down at the smaller elf, “Sera! Andraste’s ((word)), do you not have an ounce of tact?” He and Sera started to argue again as Rio kept her head down, walking away as she ignored the looks she got now. Maybe she should just go back inside, she had plenty of paperwork to keep herself busy... Spotting the stables in the lower bailey, she decided she would go and see Kaaras at least, making her way through the archway and down the steps again.
At the bottom of the steps, she almost walked into the middle of another argument, looking from Solas to Vivienne to Cassandra. Stopping, she glanced down, blinking as she spotted a boy in a large hat and ragged clothes, nearly jumping. She hadn’t even seen him there and she’d almost walked right over him! “Oh, I’m sorry,” Rio said softly, smiling a little, even though he didn’t look up, just barely turned his head a little towards her and said nothing. “I didn’t see you there...” Her smile faltered a little as a memory came flicking back, blue-grey eyes looking up at her, making her swallow hesitantly as she looked down at him. “You’re... You were at Haven... weren’t you? I... I remember you...”
The boy, Cole, nodded his head a little, his voice soft as he said, “Yes. I was there.”
Vivienne’s raised voice pulled her from her thoughts as she said, “This thing is not a tray puppy you can make into a pet. It has no business being here!”
Solas frowned, looking at Vivienne, grey eyes hard as he replied, “Wouldn’t you say the same of an apostate?” Their glares were rather evenly matched as Rio watched, making her way forward.
“Inquisitor,” Cassandra said, noticing her approach first as the other two turned to regard her there. “I was just consulting with Solas and Vivienne on this matter. I had wondered if Cole was perhaps a mage, given his... unusual abilities.”
Rio blinked, glancing back at the boy before looking back to Cassandra, a small frown forming on her lips. “Unusual? Like, comes from another world unusual, or just a little weird...?”
“He can cause people to forget him, or even fail entirely to notice him,” Solas said, stepping closer as his hands folded behind his back, looking down at Rio.
She raised one brow at that, smiling just a little as she said, “Well, that sounds useful... Maybe he could teach me that trick...”
Solas frowned just a little, shaking his head. “These are not the abilities of a mage,” he said firmly, making Rio frown a bit more. “It seems that Cole is a spirit.”
Blue-gold eyes narrowed a little at that as she pushed her hat back just a bit as surprise crossed her face. “Wait, you mean like... like a shade? Or a wraith?”
“It is a demon,” Vivienne said sternly.
“If you prefer,” Solas replied coolly before addressing Rio once more, “although the truth is somewhat more complex.
Rio frowned deeper at that, thinking to herself as she said, “Cole warned us about the Templars, though, and about Corypheus... He saved a lot of lives back there... That doesn’t sound like a demon to me...”
Vivienne shook her head, dark eyes narrowing as she frowned at them both. “And what will its help cost? How many lives will this demon later claim?”
Shaking her head in response, Rio frowned at Vivienne, “I don’t think he’d do that...”
The look in those dark eyes made Rio stiffen as Vivienne said gently, “My dear, these are matters that are far beyond your limited knowledge of these things. He is a demon, plain and simple, and he will do these things.”
Rio’s eyes flashed angrily at Vivienne, already bristling as she scowled at the enchanter, about to give the other woman a piece of her mind when Solas stepped in with a careful shake of his head, “Actually, I think you’ll find, in fact, his nature is not so easily defined.”
Her frustrated cry almost made Solas back up, instinctively slipping out of her reach as her hands clenched into fists at her side, spitting furiously, “Oh, come on, Solas! If you know something, just say it already!”
He frowned a little at her impatience, holding his hands up as he began to explain, on the lookout for any stray punches she might want to throw in his direction. “Demons normally enter this world by possessing something. In their true form, they look bizarre and monstrous.”
Blue-gold eyes darted back to Cole as her agitation slowly slipped away, frowning a little before she looked back at Solas, shaking her head a little, “So then he’s not a demon! He looks like a kid, can’t be older than me.”
Cassandra’s frown deepened as she asked, “Is it possession, then, Solas?”
The elf shook his head, a tiny smile crossing his lips that made Rio almost want to get impatient at him again. “He has possessed nothing, and no one, and yet, he appears human in all respects,” he said, his voice tinged with the excitement at the knowledge of something new and truly unique, turning his gaze to Rio as she looked up at him. “Cole is unique, Inquisitor. More than that, he wishes to help!” He paused, knowing his next suggestion was going to be somewhat unpopular as he said, “I suggest allowing him to do so.”
Vivienne would have none of it, arms folding over her chest as she scowled at Solas, “Are you out of your mind? You are far too lenient when dealing with spirits, and the last thing the Inquisition needs is one following about. If we were to accept a spirit among our ranks, one whose intentions we simply cannot know, then we are inviting our own downfall before we even get back off the ground!”
As the enchantress continued to argue, Rio couldn’t help frowning, her own arms crossing over her chest as she tried to think it over. This was quickly going nowhere, and as Inquisitor, this would fall to her to decide. Shaking her head a little, she rubbed her temple slowly as she said, “But that... doesn’t make sense, Solas... You said that demons either possess something from this world, or they’re here because they were summoned and bound by whoever brought them through! Everything you’ve shown me makes it pretty clear they wouldn’t be mistaken for something so close to a normal person.”
He gave a small nod to her as he continued, “Normally, you’d be correct, but Cold has willfully manifested in human form somehow, without possessing anyone.”
She had to think harder, frowning deeper at that. “What about the demons from the Breach? And the rifts? They didn’t possess anything, and no mages brought them through—they were definitely there.”
“Those demons were drawn through against their will, driven mad by this world,” Solas countered, making her sigh deeply.
Rubbing her now-throbbing temples, she muttered, “I’m starting to sympathize with them... This world’s enough to drive anyone insane... Every time I learn something new, the rules change and I’m wrong again...”
Solas’ smile was gentle, almost sympathetic as he nodded. “I know that this is a lot, da’len, and normally, yes, you would be correct. But from what I’ve learned, Cole himself predates the Breach by months, possibly years. He looks like a young man, and for all intents and purposes, he is a young man! It is wholly remarkable, Inquisitor!”
Rio sighed a little, unable to join in his excitement at the new development as she shook her head a little, “Great, more stuff with no precedence... I’m getting a little tired of being the first for everything...” She started to look around, hat falling forward again as she said, “Maybe we should just ask him... um...” Frowning deeper, she turned around completely, looking at the spot where Cole had just been. “Where’d he go? He was just there...”
Cassandra’s frown turned uneasy. “If none of us remember him, he could be anywhere...”
Frowning as she pushed her hat up again, blue-gold eyes flickered over the camp, finally spotting him a few feet away, near the healer’s tents, standing close to a crackling campfire. Sighing a little, she motioned for the others to stay as she moved to approach him. Solas watched her with curious eyes as she moved towards him slowly, almost cautiously, but without fear of the boy. Vivienne was displeased—she had been hoping the Inquisitor might see sense upon seeing that the boy wasn’t a boy at all, but she found herself disappointed again in the choices of their dear Inquisitor. Cassandra wasn’t the most pleased, but she let herself trust in the Inquisitor’s decisions. After all, nothing had been ordinary since her arrival, and she seemed to specialize in the strange.
No one was perhaps more surprised that she was actually considering it than Rio. Her hands actually shook a little as she remembered his face, how she had frozen up at Haven. She had to remind herself again that he wasn’t Rhys, there was no way he was her little brother. Looking at him closely, she shook her head. No, he was too old; Rhys would’ve only been only about fourteen or fifteen by now, and this boy was closer to her age, maybe nineteen. She held onto that thought tightly as she swallowed heavily. Looking down at the fire that he stared into, she found herself stepping back just a little as flashes of memories hit her hard, first the house fire, and then Haven, the dragon...
“Haven,” Cole said, his voice soft as she turned to look at him. “So many soldiers fought to protect the pilgrims so they could escape...” She could only nod quietly, watching him still. She remembered the scouts, the soldiers that battled alongside them, every little bit just to buy them some time... Cole’s voice turned softer as he seemed to listen intently, murmuring, “Choking fear, can't think from the medicine, but the cuts wrack me with every heartbeat... Hot white pain, everything burns...” She flinched a little at the words, remembering waking up alone and screaming. She took in a ragged breath as she listened to Cole, her eyes drifting to a wounded man lying on a cot nearby, obviously in pain. She idly reached up, hand pressing to her burns as the flickering phantom pains made her shoulders tense.  “I can't, I can't, I'm going to... I'm dying, I'm...” Her heart lurched in her chest as she saw the warrior tremble before he went very still and a rush of cold washed over Rio. “...dead,” was all Cole said at last.
Guilt welled up in Rio’s chest as she stared at the soldier, ears lowering again as her hat fell forward and covered her eyes. She hadn’t realized how many had been hurt, how many were lost as they made the journey. They had pressed so hard, trying to hurry, to get somewhere, anywhere to safety... If they had gone slower, taken more time to get here, maybe more would have been okay... She swallowed heavily, clearing her throat as she tried to push the thoughts away. “You’re... um... You feel their pain,” Rio said quietly, looking at Cole once more.
“Yes,” he said as he nodded just a little beneath his hat, still not looking at her. “And not just their hurts...”
She shifted a little, unsure if she should reach out to him and comfort him. “Does it hurt, being this close to it?”
“Yes, but here is where I can help,” he said softly, as though it was very clear to him. Turning away again, he stepped away from the fire, Rio’s blue-gold eyes watching him before she followed him forward, ears perking up a little as she listened to him, standing over the soldier. “Every breath slower. Like lying in a warm bath. Slipping away... Smell of my daughter’s hair when I kiss her goodnight...” Another memory hit Rio before she could stop it, warm arms around her, a pearl necklace, soft perfume and a kiss to the top of her head... Shaking her head a little, she fought to push it down, blinking away the tears as she tried to listen, hearing the soldier’s sigh as he slid away. “...Gone...” Cole murmured.
Sniffling a little as she quickly tried to wipe at her eyes, willing the tears to stop, Rio watched as Cole turned away to the next. Would he keep showing her this? Why was he doing this? It hurt to see this... but it was her fault, each one of them... She should have reacted faster, made them evacuate at the first sign of trouble... She should have saved them...
Her eyes lifted again as she watched Cole kneel next to a scout that was half sitting up. “Cracked brown pain, dry, scraping... thirsty...” Without a word, he lifted a waterskin, helping her to drink deeply as he said, “Here...”
The woman’s voice shook as she looked up at him, her soft green eyes relieved as she murmured, “Thank... you...” Cole helped her to lie back comfortably and she slipped into sleep.
“It’s all right,” Cole said before Rio could ask, “She won’t remember me.”
Swallowing heavily again, Rio watched him closely, frowning just a little.  It’s not Rhys, she told herself firmly, trying to keep that at the forefront of her mind, watching this gangly boy in front of her.  He is not Rhys... “You’re using your... spirit... thing... powers... to help them?” she asked, though it felt obvious what he was doing, she felt the need to keep talking to him, to keep his mind off things she didn’t want to remember.
He stood slowly, looking down at the sleeping scout. “Yes... I used to think I was a ghost. I didn’t know. I made mistakes... but I made friends too.” He hesitated a moment, his voice softening, becoming almost sadder. “Then a Templar proved I wasn’t real... I lost my friends. I lost everything...” His head lowered further, the floppy brim of his hat easily hiding his face as she pushed the brim of her own hat up to watch him. “I learned to be more like what I am. It made me different, but stronger... I can feel more... I can help...”
She looked at him for a few long moments, chewing on the inside of her lip as she turned over the decision in her head. On the one hand, he was a spirit, and spirits could become demons. However, he had already proven that he wanted to help. Pushing him away now felt wrong when they needed all the help they could get, but would it be worth taking that chance?
“You could... stay if you want to help,” she said gently, trying to judge his reaction as he nodded slowly.
“Yes... Helping. I help the hurt, the helpless...” His head lifted, glancing around as he said, “There’s someone...” Without another word, he made his way back to the corner where a heavily bandaged man lay on a cot, breathing raggedly. Even Rio could see the pain he was in as she followed, listening. “Hurts, it hurts, it hurts, someone make it stop hurting, Maker,please...” Cole breathed. He shifted, Rio’s eyes widening with almost horror as she watched him draw a blade, though he turned to glance at her from beneath the brim of his hat.  “The healers have done all they can. It will take him hours to die. Every moment will be agony. He wants mercy... help...”
She frowned firmly at that, shaking her head quickly as she gently touched his shoulder, making sure he could see her face as she spoke. “N-no, Cole. You can’t do that... You don’t know for sure that he won’t pull through...”
“His body is failing,” Cole said gently, trying to understand why she wouldn’t let him help this way. He watched her eyes, saw the resolve there, the determination that pushed her forward, and he listened closely to her.
“He could get better!” she said, eyes begging him to understand as she looked back at him. “Or maybe they’ll think of something else! You have to let them try...”
Cole’s head tilted to the side, frowning as confusion lit his face. “How do you know?”
She was at a loss for an answer, shrugging a little before she sighed and shook her head. “I don’t... And neither do you. That’s... just part of being alive... You have to try...”
Looking down at the soldier, Cole mulled over her words as he willed the man to fight, pleading softly, “Try...” After a few long moments of silence, he turned to look at her, his blue-grey eyes unyielding as he gazed into hers. She swallowed heavily, matching his gaze as she let her hand slip from his shoulder. After a few moments of silence, he murmured softly, “Soft eyes, big and round and real, lashes pale, hair is ragged, needs a trim, does he ever smile? Grim, grey, washed out like a blurred photo, I wish I had a picture still... Not Rhys...” He blinked slowly, looking puzzled for a moment before he said gently, “I... would like to stay... I can help...”
At his words, Rio had to fight back her reaction, choking on the tears as she let her eyes fall closed. She had just been thinking how she wanted to have a picture of Rhys... Forcing a small smile, she opened her eyes again, managing a small nod as she looked at him. “All right, then, Cole... Just... stay out of trouble, and we’ll get along swimmingly...”
Cole nodded quickly, bowing his head again as he said quickly, “Of course!  Tiny, no trouble, no notice unless you want them to!”
* * *
Later that afternoon, Dorian found Rio tucked away in the library, hidden behind tall stacks of books that she’d placed to hide her from view. He almost walked right past her before he caught the smell of something burning and heard Rio’s cursed mutterings as she quickly tried to put it out. Leaning against a bookcase, Dorian cleared his throat, watching as she jumped and almost toppled half the books in her haste to get to her feet, peering at him with those bright eyes from between the brim of her hat and the dusty back of an old book on Ferelden history. She relaxed when she saw him standing there, sighing as she sat back down in her chair. “What is it, Dorian?” she asked, resuming her attempts to light the candle in front of her.
“Strange to find you here,” he said, watching as the new librarian tried to pick up some of the books she was currently using as a shield. He waved him off, frowning as Rio tried every method to summon the tiny flickering flame again. She’d just had it before Dorian came along... “Still having trouble?” he asked after several minutes of concentrated hand waving, seeing her shoulders drop as she looked up at him again.
“I just had it,” she said softly as she tried, once more, to light the candle. Slumping in her seat, she gave an irritated sigh, staring at the unlit wick, willing it to flicker to life. “I hate fire magic... It doesn’t want to listen...” Reaching up, she idly flicked it with one finger, frost spreading down the pale wax and along the wood of the table, making her groan. “I don’t understand it! I’ve been trying everything I can!”
Dorian watched her push the candle away, the frost licking at the tips of her fingers as she pushed her hat back. “Perhaps,” he said gently, taking a chair and pulling it up to sit across from her, easing a stack of books out of the way, “you’re just looking at it differently...” Her bored look made him sigh as he slid the candle between them.
With an effortless flick of his fingers, he lit the wick, the frost melting away as Rio watched, her frown deepening. “You find it difficult to use magic because there is none where you’re from,” he said, “so you’re still adjusting to it, how it moves, how it bends and twists in the world around you. Someone from Thedas, whether they’re a mage or not, they can still feel some of the ebb and flow.” Just as easily, he extinguished the candle, watching her as she frowned at it, her ears lowering. She was a smart girl, and he knew it, she just needed to be able to see it for herself...
Dorian smiled, just a little as she finally looked up at him again, chewing on the inside of her cheek before she said, “All right... I assume you have an idea?”
“I do,” he said, nodding a little as he drummed his fingers on the table between them. “What puts you most at ease? When you're stressed, what helps you relax and open up to your surroundings and yourself?”
Rio didn't even have to think about it, shrugging just a tiny bit before she said softly, “Well... music, I suppose... dancing...”
Dorian smiled at that—she had the form and grace of a dancer, and it was rather fitting. Nodding, he asked, “And have you done much since arriving in Thedas?”
Rio's frown deepened a little before she sighed deeply, shaking her head a little. “No, of course I haven't... Haven't really danced for a long time...” she said softly.
“Why not?” Dorian asked, leaning back in his chair as he watched her try to avoid answering the question.
Her sigh was deep, like she pulled it from the bottom of her soul, eyes turning sad. “When my family died, the state wouldn't pay for me to continue my classes, and I didn't qualify for any scholarships... When I got older, the only kind of dancing I could do was... Let's say, less than reputable...” Dorian's curious brow quirk made her blush as she sighed again, closing her eyes tightly as she rubbed over her face. “I don't suppose you know what pole-dancing is,” she said quietly, sighing when he only shook his head in answer. “It's... ugh, I don't even know how to describe it... it's...” She looked around, taking in the various people that milled about, frowning deeper before grabbing a piece of loose parchment and pulled a pen from her pocket. Dorian didn't even ask what it was as she started writing quickly before turning it over and sliding the parchment to him. He was careful to read it quickly, flipping the parchment down again before frowning, turning it over to read it over one more time, frowning at the neat scrawl there.
“I see,” he said quietly as he gently turned the parchment back over, mulling over the words she’d written there. While he perhaps didn't know exactly what She was a lovely young woman, a bit slight, he supposed, but quite pretty. He could only guess what exactly a ‘dancer’ did, though he supposed he could probably venture to guess...

Rio shifted a little, shrugging as she looked down at the table and he could see it again, that almost-shame for the things she’d done in her past, but she quickly shrugged it off. “It was a job, and for the most part, I really liked it...” she said, blushing. “It was fun, and it paid well, but it wasn’t the kind of dancing I wanted to do... That, and Johnny didn’t like me working there...” Dorian couldn’t help wrinkling his nose at that. Even absent, the little weasel left damage in his wake... No matter, he thought to himself, gently patting her hands as she sighed, looking up at him. “But I love to dance...”
Dorian nodded at that, turning this information over in his head before he stood with a smile, offering her his arm. “Well, then let’s go and see about finding you something to dance to...”

* * *

Bull was talking things over with Krem, discussing the latest reports on activity around Haven when the door to the tavern opened, late-evening sunlight streaming in as Dorian strode in, fussing with his hair as Rio followed after him, hands in her pocket as she walked sheepishly behind him. “I said I was sorry,” Rio said as Dorian frowned. “It wasn’t like I did it on purpose...”
“You didn't have to get impatient, you know,” Dorian said, frowning as Rio sighed again. “You should have just taken a breath and stepped back... That could have been much worse... And it's going to take a long time to
“Fine, you wanna borrow my hat until it grows back, you big baby?” she asked, hands on her hips as they sat down.
Bull chuckled as he leaned over, “What happened now?” he asked, curious as Rio leaned back, hat flopping a little as she smiled.
“I... set his swoop on fire.”
Bull and Krem both stared at her in silence as she giggled, Dorian frowning, “I don't know why you call it that. It's my hair. You set my hair on fire.”
Rio's eyes rolled as she sighed dramatically, “I set the front of your hair on fire, the part that you...” she smiled, making a little flip with her fingers, chuckling, “that you swoop.” At his strained groan, Rio couldn't help sighing, patting his shoulder gently, “It's okay... All the ale you want on me tonight, okay?”
The evening was beginning to wind down as Rio sat with everyone, enjoying the stories that were passed around, even sharing the tale of setting Dorian's hair on fire and joining in the songs as she leaned back in her chair. At some point, her hat went missing, and she looked like she wanted to hide under the table as Dorian assured her repeatedly that she looked fine without it, looking to Bull for Bull for confirmation as she frowned. His easy smile made her relax again, and she was easily put at ease as she tried not to fidget too much in her seat.
A few pints into the night, though Rio was only nursing her second, Varric came wandering in, Rio beaming as she waved him over. “Come on in, Varric!” she cried, the gold flickering in her eyes as she smiled. “We were just discussing what to do about Corypheus.”
“Well, we could invite him to sit in on one of your training sessions,” Dorian said, a round of oohs echoing around the table as she raised an eyebrow at him. “You're sure to be so distracted, you'll blow him up instead.”
As Rio laughed and nudged him hard, Varric chuckled, wandering up to her as he said, “I might be able to help with that.” Blue-gold eyes turned almost sober as she looked at him, watching him carefully as he smiled charmingly. “Well, I know someone who might...”
Leaning back a little, she raised one eyebrow at him as she said, “Well, that sounds like something that's going to cost me an awful lot of gold... Come on, Varric, spit it out...”
She watched his thoughtful expression shift, just a little, though it might've been a trick of the light, as he said, “I sent word to... an old friend.” At Rio's look, he continued, “He's crossed paths with Corypheus before, and might know more about what he's doing. He can help.”
Shrugging nonchalantly at this information, Rio said, “Well, more friends can't hurt... What's it going to cost to introduce this friend of yours?”
Varric glanced just back over his shoulder, making Rio shift in her seat, straightening up as she looked down at the dwarf. Whatever it was, if Varric was shifty about it, then it was definitely serious. “Parading around might cause a fuss... It's better for you to meet privately.” At Rio's motion to the tavern, Varric waved his hand to the door and said firmly, “On the battlements. Trust me... It's complicated.”
Rio could have groaned—two words she could have gone the rest of her life without hearing, and Varric had to say them. Waving everyone off as she pushed herself to her feet, she set her tankard down, turning to slip out with the dwarf. The sun had set, and everyone was settling in for the night as work slowed everywhere. Turning, she jogged to catch up with the dwarf before scaling the stairs and crossing the battlements, through a tower, towards an open area. At first, Rio was concerned to find no one waiting there for them, but as they approached, a tall figure slipped from the shadows, making her jump back.
Before Rio could sound an alarm, Varric held up his hands and said with a small smile, “Inquisitor, meet Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall.”
The scruffy man in battle-mage armor chuckled low, shaking his head a little, “Though I don't use that title much anymore...” He bowed his head to Rio, who still looked somewhat ready to fight, or run away, really both still seemed like viable plans.
“Hawke,” Varric said, motioning to Rio as she slowly lowered her guard, “the Inquisitor. It's all right, Rio, he's a friend...”
The gold in her eyes sparked in the moonlight as she looked to Varric with a frown as names and faces started to click, remembering the book in the library (with what Varric had explained was a knife-wound through half of it). “Wait, Hawke? The Hawke? Like, Qunari invasion, Champion, Seeker was looking for him, Hawke? Ohhhh, Cassandra's gonna be so pissed at you, Varric...”
“Yeah, I know, Squeaks,” he said with a slight chuckle, “we'll just... add it to the things she's already angry about.” Looking to Hawke, Varric said, “I figured you might have some friendly advice about Corypheus. You and I did fight him, after all.”
Hawke leaned back against the stone wall, almost slipping back into the shadow as he smiled just a little at her. “You've already dropped half a mountain on the bastard,” Hawke said, shrugging one shoulder. “I'm sure anything I can tell you pales in comparison...”
Rio looked him up and down slowly, frowning a little as she tried to think. In the back of her mind, she knew that some of that book had been drivel and nonsense, but still... “I dunno,” Rio said with an equal shrug, “you saved a city from a horde of rampaging Qunari, didn't you?” Sighing, she turned to look out over Skyhold, bathed in the silver light of the moon.
“I don't really see how that applies,” Hawke said with a soft chuckle as he watched her, “or is there a horde of rampaging Qunari I don't know about?”
Looking back at him over her shoulder, he studied her closely. She looked elven, from her black vallaslin to her bright eyes that caught and reflected the moonlight, those gracefully pointed ears... She was tall and lithe, taller than both Merrill and Fenris. She was even tall for a human, with hair of pale gold hanging down her back in that loose braid, tipped in black. Seeing her now, if he hadn't read Varric's report so many times, he might've mistaken her for Dalish. Here and there, though, subtle things tipped him off, a look in her eyes, a strange word, the lilt in her voice, something made her seem just a little bit odd.
“Well, there's a Qunari. Almost like a horde all by himself,” she said with a small giggle, those eyes glittering. “Luckily, though, he's on our side... I'd hate to see what it would be like if he wasn't...”
Pushing off the wall to circle around her, Hawke bowed his head a little towards her. “So, then... What can I tell you that you don't already know?”
Rio shrugged a little at that. “Iunno.” she said, “you tell me. He said you fought Mr. Red Lyrium before, so... I guess start there?”
“Fought, and killed,” Hawke said, nodding at that as he scratched his bristly chin thoughtfully. “The Grey Wardens were holding him, and he somehow used his connection to the darkspawn to influence them.”
Rio's frown deepened as she listened, ears flicking impatiently. “Corypheus got into their heads,” Varric said, drawing Rio's gaze, “messed with their minds, and turned them against each other.”
“If the Wardens disappeared,” Hawke said, frowning again, “they could have fallen under his control again.”
Rio frowned, trying to remember back to the many history lessons she'd received since they arrived at Skyhold, sighing. “This just gets better and better, doesn't it...”
Hawke clapped a hand on her shoulder, gazing down at her as he said, “I've got a friend in the Wardens—his name is Stroud. He was investigating something unrelated for me.”
Rio quirked a pale brow at that, looking up at Hawke. “If you didn't know about Corypheus, then what were you checking out?”
“The Templars in Kirkwall were using a strange form of lyrium,” Hawke said, eyes grim as he saw the color drain from Rio's face. “It was red. I'd hoped the Wardens could tell me more about it.”
Rio could have spat tacks, she was so livid, reaching up to rub her temples with a loud groan. “Ugh, how stupid do you have to be to do something like that?” she said, feeling the phantom pains throbbing between her eyes. It had been a long time since she'd faced Corypheus, but it still felt like he was close by, the red lyrium making her head ache as she tried to reel herself back in. “We encountered red lyrium, growing out of people,” she spat, looking up as Hawke's eyes widened. “It's dangerous, and it's bad... Where's your friend now?”
Hawke's frown deepened as he thought back. “Last time we spoke, he'd been concerned about corruption in the Warden ranks, but since then, I've heard nothing...”
Varric nodded idly as he said, “Corypheus would certainly qualify as corruption in the ranks...” Looking up at Hawk, he frowned, “Did your friend disappear with them? We've been having trouble finding more Wardens...”
Hawke shook his head at that, “No. He did tell me he would be hiding out in an old smuggler's cave near Crestwood.”
Rio nodded a little as she took in a fortifying breath, steadying herself again. “Thank you, Champion. Errr... Hawke... Whatever...” she added quickly with a wave of her hand. Stupid titles, she never knew which one to use...
Hawke nodded gently as he said, “I'm doing this as much for myself as for you. Corypheus is my responsibility. I thought I'd killed him before... This time, I'll make sure of it.”
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Her Destiny Lies Elsewhere