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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
- 3
- 4
- 5
Author's Note:
I put this chapter up, then took it down to work on it... and then didn't work on it... >A< Sorry, chickadees, I'm just too tired to work on it... (Enjoy an influx of chapters that I just finished, though!)
Enjoy!

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

Chapter Four
Just the Beginning

Rio had enjoyed the Hinterlands a great deal. There had been all sorts of new things to see, new people, new creatures... And apparently, a small-scale revolution, which nearly everyone had failed to really let her know about. Her first battle with Shades had been amusing enough for everyone else. Her first encounter with the rebel mages and the rogue Templars, however, was less entertaining. Of course, Rio didn’t know what to expect when they first got there, not until an arrow went whizzing past her ear and Cassandra gave a battle cry.  Without a second thought, she panicked, turning to run back up the hill to the safety of the camp, eager to return to Haven.
Fighting Shades and Terrors was one thing, she had shouted at Solas, but those were people and that did not sit well with her.
Of course, that was until a well-armed Templar came charging at her, sword raised high. When they made camp next, Solas tried to talk her down from her slight panic. She was irritated at first when she realized he was talking to her like she was some little kid, but she had to admit, his logic was pretty sound. While she didn't want to kill anyone, they weren't going to be as nice about it, and no amount of complaining how “messed up” it was would change that.
Holding the map, Rio continued her way down the patch, grateful that they seemed to be heading away from the bulk of the fights. She was eager to find the horsemaster and get a quick cat-nap, though they were still pretty faraway. Looking at the map again, she frowned as she tried again to match up what she was looking at to the squiggles and symbols on the paper. Map-reading wasn't really her strong suit, and it required every faded memory of camping with her parents to try to remember which way was north, but no one said anything, so she assumed she was doing just fine. Besides, things were starting to get better, she told herself as they made their way down another little valley, towards an old-looking tower sort of thing. When Cassandra said that this would be a good place to set up a camp, Rio was glad to set her small pack down, turning to try to help the others set up camp. She was quickly shooed away from trying to help set up the tents, moving to sit on a nearby rock to examine the map. Looking up, she asked, “Uh, hey, guys, what's this area called?”
Solas looked up from where he was helping Cassandra set up some poles in the ground. “I believe... it's called Dwarfson's Pass... if I'm not mistaken.” He went back to his task as Rio looked back at the map, eyes scanning along thewest side.
She frowned down at the parchment, forcing her eyes to look slower as she found herself going over it a fourth and fifth time with no luck. She was about to tell them it wasn't marked anywhere on her map when Varric placed a hand on her shoulder and pointed to the southeast part of the map. She blinked when she spotted the area marked in black, then frowned a little. “But that's in the... opposite...” she said, her voice trailing off as her cheeks slowly turned more and more red, clearing her throat gently as she tried not to bring attention to her mistake. She quietly made a small note on the map where they had set up their camp, finding the old tower easily now.
After a short rest and a brief meal, however, Cassandra had been informed of this minor mishap, the Herald's face turning red again as she tried to hide herself behind the map. Grunting softly, she shook her head, sighing, “Well, that may help explain why we are headed in the opposite direction of Dennet's homestead...” Turning to Rio, she frowned deeply, “Why didn't you say something? We were following you!”
Rio flinched at Cassandra's words, shrinking back a little as Varric put a hand on one hip, looking up at the Seeker. “Well, don't blame her, we're just as much to blame for simply assuming she'd know where to go... Besides, it's not like she intentionally led us astray, and we've barely lost any time at all with this.” Motioning around them, he smiled a little, “It will do her good to learn the area.”
When Solas nodded in agreement, the Seeker gave a disgusted noise again before she turned to lead them back the way they had come, Rio scampering after them as they continued on their journey, the distraction soon forgotten as they made their way.
Despite the aggressive battles and tiresome trekking through the backwoods, Rio found herself in awe of this place. More than once, she stopped to just take in the sights, even though it meant they were making their way at a snail’s pace. Cassandra was eager that they be on their way, but seeing her eyes light up when the sunlight caught the ridge just right, Varric was glad to argue for the occasional rest.
All along the way, she couldn’t help asking questions, absorbing every little bit of information she could get.  Solas gathered herbs as they went, showing them to Rio and explaining their uses, having her try a couple herself. It wasn’t long before she was happily gathering the herbs without any prompting, glad of the plentiful elfroot when they made camp and Solas showed her how to make a basic regeneration potion. The sharp mint came in handy when Rio’s natural energy wore thin and she stiffly fell out of her cot each morning.
Glad as he was that she asked questions, Solas soon ran out of things to occupy Rio, and was glad when Varric picked things up, telling her fables and legends from all over as they walked. Her eyes danced as she listened to his stories by the campfire each night, grinning from ear to ear as he told her all about everything, from what life had been like in Kirkwall to being on the run, and everything in between. He took great pride in seeing her eyes light up, that smile replacing the scared, confused look she seemed to wear all the time.
What little time they didn’t spend walking everywhere or telling stories was spent on her training. After the tents caught fire for the fifth time, Solas finally took to teaching Rio a safer distance away. She had fumbled at first, going through the motions as Solas guided her movements, but she was soon learning how to hold her staff, how to move with it, and, most importantly, how to wield it as such. That was the hardest thing to teach properly, Solas realized, directing her again to think not of wielding it like a club or a bat, but as one would use a spear.  She watched him as he spun his staff, and when she tried to mimic the motion, she sent it sailing off through the air where Cassandra caught it before she declared that lessons were done for the day and they needed to hurry up and eat.
Here and there, they helped people—retrieving blankets, hunting for some hungry villagers, delivering messages everywhere. As they helped people, Rio found herself slowly more and more comforted by the new world she found herself in. Everywhere, people were surprised for the help they received, and rather than questioning motives, they were thankful for the help and offered what little they could in return. She was surprised again and again by the people of Ferelden and found herself wondering a few times what it would be like to stay.
More than one person pledged themselves to the Inquisition's service by the time they managed to get to Dennet's farm, and many more were ready and willing to help those around them as the fight around them seemed to finally slow. Rogue Templars and dangerous apostates that wanted nothing more than open warfare in the streets were soon silenced as the Inquisition began to slowly spread its influence.
Several rifts had been opened, cleared, and sealed safely by the time they had acquired horses and recruited the horsemaster Dennet to the Inquisition, and Rio was excited at the chance to get to ride—for about an hour. By the time she finished Seanna's races, her backside was sore and she didn't want to so much as look at the horse. She wasn't given a choice when a raven showed up at their camp, ruffling its red and black feathers as it cawed at them. It brought a message from Leliana, requesting them to return to Haven.Something in the message made the Seeker leap to action, and they rode hard to get back. While it was much faster on the way back, Rio felt like every bone in her body ached from sitting in the saddle all day. When they reached Haven again, they found an angry crowd being broken up by Commander Cullen, Roderick at the head of the group. It didn’t take long before Rio realized that her advisors expected her to set out again for some place called Val Royeaux, and even as she’d tried to protest, she soon found herself back in the saddle again, having not even recovered for half a day from the miserable trip she'd just gotten back from.
Much as she wanted to complain, though, Rio was a good sport about it all. Well, as good as could probably be expected. She complained a lot, and they had to frequently stop to let her stretch, but they were still making good time, Varric said, even though the journey felt like it may never end.
When it did, they were in a sprawling city with tall spires, painted bright colors and glittering everywhere with signs and plaques that shone in the sun. Rio read several of them, slowly getting a feel for the place as they went, eyes wide as curiosity took over once more.
There, of course, they met with the clerics of the Chantry. Rio was less than pleased to begin with—she and the church back home had never really seen eye to eye, and she wasn't sure how she was supposed to get them to believe her innocence when she already had to fight the urge to awkwardly make jokes at their accents.
Not my fault they sound like Frenchmen, she thought to herself as they were getting ready to leave once more. Sighing, she turned to follow the others when they passed a small group of gossips, and she heard “What a pity, calling such a drab creature the 'Herald' of Andraste...” Stopping as her ears perked up slightly, she slowly turned to face the man, blue and gold eyes darkening as she scowled at him. Before anyone had a chance to stop her, of course, she was standing in front of the masked man, glaring up at him, hands on her hips as she snapped, “Oh, really? And what makes you any better?” She heard Varric's chuckle as Cassandra tried to whirl back around in the crowd to stop her. “You're the surrender monkey wearing a plaid monstrosity and a hat so large, it's painfully obvious that you're compensating for something!”
Said man gawked at her from behind his mask, and she could see the edges of his ears grow red before two of the women who were standing with him started to giggle, nudging him playfully as they proclaimed it was true, and the Herald seemed to have quite the eye for these things, exchanging playful jibes as the man slowly calmed again. Laughing quietly to himself, Varric gently led Rio away before she could find something else to get them all into trouble.
They walked quickly, though not too fast, Rio's eyes glued to the ground as they made their way around the large tower to make their way back to the caravan as Varric asked her what she'd called the man. About to answer, she jumped when an arrow came out of nowhere, striking the pavement and sticking upright between two stones.
When nothing else fell from the sky, Cassandra stepped over to it to grab the message that had been tied to the arrow's shaft. As she read it, a gentleman in strange green robes approached them, bowing deeply to her before addressing her politely as the Herald and telling her that her presence was being requested. Frowning, Rio took the black folded parchment, looking it over before handing it to Cassandra, trading it for the missive in her hand. Both appeared to be from parties interested in both meeting the Herald and joining the Inquisition. Reluctant to head out again, Rio pleaded with Cassandra to check them out—it would do the Inquisition good to gain more direct allies, and with more allies came the hope that maybe there would be a better chance of getting some real rest, and making more progress on getting home.
It took Varric's assurance that this wouldn't set them back at all to get Cassandra to agree, and even then, she was reluctant. Varric pulled her into a little shop next, having seen the invitation for the Herald to join someone called Madamme de Fer, and knowing that she needed something other than the few leather and trenchcoat outfits she'd managed to get her hands on during their travels. He pushed her towards a curtained off area and dropped a couple of gold pieces into the shopkeepers hands before he said that she needed to be dressed properly for a high-class Orlesian salon.
The next hour was a blur of silks and satins and comments about her hair. She scowled at the shopkeeper when he tried to remove her coat, Varric jumping to her rescue as she reached for her staff. It took some time, but he managed to convince her that they only wanted measurements, and after some minor arguing, the shopkeeper was fine with her leaving her long tunic and breeches on. He was quick and efficient as he went about his task of measuring her from nearly every angle, his tiny assistant coming in and looking her hair over and offering suggestions of how to put it up into the twists and buns that were most fashionable nowadays.
Twirling it, she pulled out two small pins to secure it into place, both she and the shopkeeper gasping at the sight of angry-looking burns that laced up the back of her neck up into her hairline and disappearing down into the collar of her tunic. Before they could react further, Rio was off the small stool, shaking her head furiously as the metal pins scattered, hair cascading messily over her shoulders as she lunged for her clothes. Varric only just managed to stop her from bolting entirely, calming her gently as he waved the shop keeper out for a moment.
Brown eyes narrowed as the dwarf caught the curious looks when they grudgingly left. No doubt, it would be on the lips of every gossip within the hour about the burns and Rio's reaction. He worried less about the gossips, though, when he saw Rio quickly pulling on her clothes, mumbling about how someone else could damn well go to the fucking party, almost in tears. Gently putting a hand on her arm, he stopped her, letting her take a moment.
When she finally looked like she wasn't going to bolt, he stood in front of her, worried at the way she wouldn't match his eyes that something bigger had happened. Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a handkerchief, handing it to her as he smiled gently. “Hey, now... Don't you worry...” he said, his voice low as he watched her angrily wiping her face. “It's not unusual for a warrior to have some old battle wounds they'd rather keep hidden,” he assured her when she looked at him, those blue and gold eyes watery. He felt himself melt just a little as he watched her, wondering not for the first time how someone like her got mixed up into a mess like this.
He was most surprised when she sniffled, shaking her head a little at that, “'M not a warrior... They aren't some battle scars I just picked up one day...” He felt himself frowning before gently patting her shoulder again.
“Yeah, well... They don't need to know that... If anyone asks, I'll step in and make something up.” When Rio looked doubtful at him, he gave her a wink, “Trust me, the Seeker fell for them... The Orlesian nobles won't even suspect a thing...” When that got a small smile, he helped her dress again, taking very great care not to tough or mention the marks as she smiled a little down at him. Staff in hand, they turned to leave, Varric giving a few words to the shopkeeper and his assistant for the dress they would be back to pick up soon.
Leading her out of the shop, they made their way about Orlais, seeing the sights as a very bored Seeker and mostly-neutral Solas followed along. They had been curious at her red-rimmed eyes and solemn expression, but a look from Varric had silenced their questions without a word as they fell into step behind them. It didn't take long for Rio's spirits to raise again, the moment in the shop forgotten as she sat with Varric in a small cafe off the main streets. Light-hearted stories warmed her again as she listened to the dwarf, glad for the distraction as they made their way through the city once more.
Thrilled at the chance to see more of the city, Rio set out to find the three clues for one of the invitations. Three red handkerchiefs were found throughout the city, one in a quaint little cafe, one by the docks, and one on a balcony. Dashing this way and that, she was pleased to spend her time this way, and with her companions, she was happy to find that the earlier upset was forgotten.
Clutching her prizes, Rio was glad to head out once more, only to be stopped by an elf woman. Dressed in heavy robes, she looked out of place in the warm market, but she bowed to Rio with a small smile on her face, and she couldn't help but relax a little. Cassandra and the woman spoke mostly, Rio learning that her name was Fiona, and that the Seeker was surprised to learn that she hadn't perished at the Conclave. Rio frowned at that, gazing back at her as the Grand Enchanter bowed again, inviting them to Redcliffe. She could have groaned at the very thought—another few weeks of riding, yet again, to meet with some people who were just too damn important to ride to meet with her instead—but the idea seemed to please Solas, and Varric and Cassandra seemed curious at the invitation, so she said nothing, biting back the complaint of how tired she still was.
They made their way to the inn where they were staying, the Dusty Archer, a place that had come at a reasonable price with a great deal of secrecy, thankfully. Once there, Varric ushered Cassandra and Rio into the room to allow her time to get ready. Finding the finely wrapped parcel on the bed, Cassandra tugged the ribbons open, gasping at the deep blue and bright silver cloth that fell out of it, catching it just before it could fall to the floor. Rio blinked, tugging her sash open as she stepped back out from behind the changing screen. “What is it? Does it look bad?”
The Seeker shook her head a little, frowning as she held it up. The silk brocade was a lovely shade, accompanied by a soft cream shift with delicate lace. At the sight of the long dress, Rio frowned. “Wait, what? No, no, I didn't sign on to get all dressed up like some... spoiled little princess!”

***

A couple of hours later, Rio was being ushered into a large, lavishly decorated ballroom, dressed in something that wouldn't have been out of place at a Renaissance fair. Deep blue silk brocade with suns and starbursts stood in stark contrast to her pale skin, delicate lace peeking out at her wrists and gracing the floor as she walked. Every movement was accented by the flowing fabric. In her right hand, she held her staff, hand clutching it tightly. The others had been stopped at the door, and it didn’t seem to matter what she said to the guards, they had no intention of letting her friends in.
Feeling alone again, she tried to bite down on her tongue to stop the panic as it rose, her bodice feeling tight against her ribs, and it was growing tighter by the moment. Looking around herself, she let her eyes fall to the floor, blushing as she felt everyone's eyes on her as she was announced. She tried to keep from squeaking when a few people approached her, a woman in a large gown and gold mask and hat, and a man dressed in a tight vest and breeches, sporting a pointy-nosed mask and what looked like a turban on his head. Looking at the mask, all she could think about was Pinocchio and she had to fight back a laugh, coughing gently behind her hand as she brought herself back in again.
“What a pleasure to meet you, my lady,” the man said, offering her a low bow and a gentle flourish of his hand. Rio wanted to curtsey, but feared her legs wouldn't want to bend that way, simply nodding a little in his direction as he straightened up. “Seeing the same faces at every event becomes so tiresome... You must be a guest of Madame de Fer, or perhaps for Duke Bastien?”
Rio smiled just a little bit, about to answer when the woman next to him spoke up excitedly, “Are you here on business? I have heard the most curious tales about you!” She giggled behind her mask and high collar, eyes glittering in the pale light of the salon. “I can't imagine half of them are true!”
Rio chuckled softly at that, lightly reaching up to touch one pointed ear, feeling it twitch a little beneath her fingers as she shivered softly. “Well, depending what you've heard... possibly...”
“Oh, better and better!” the woman exclaimed, clapping her dainty little hands. “The Inquisition should attend more of these parties!”
“The Inquisition!” someone spat, making Rio turn to find another man in a large hat descending the stairs, his own mask hiding his face. Frowning, she held onto her staff, wishing not for the first time that the others had been allowed in, but there was nothing she could do about it now, standing straighter as she watched the man approach. “What a load of pig stuff! Washed-up sisters and crazed Seekers? No one can take them seriously. Everyone knows it's just an excuse for a bunch of political outcasts to grab power!”
When he came to stand before her, Rio couldn't help feeling herself bristle as she frowned at him, shaking her head a little. “No, we're just trying to set things right! The hole in the sky threatens not only your world, but mine!” She tried not to let herself grow uncomfortable when she heard a wave of whispers at that, setting her shoulders back as she let herself stand tall. She wouldn't be put down, not when she was doing the right thing for once.
“Ah, yes,” he said, his voice dripping with arrogance as he managed to look down his masked nose at her, “the outsider from 'another world', here to restore peace and balance while hiding behind an army!” Stepping closer, his voice oozed over her as she fought back a shudder, trying hard to stand her ground. “We know what your 'Inquisition' truly is...” Motioning to the grand room, he announced, “If you a woman of honor, you would step outside and answer these charges!” Without waiting for so much as an answer, he reached behind him for the elegant sword on his back, Rio's heart leaping in her throat as she scrambled to take a step back.
The sound of crackling ice echoed through the now-silent room, ice lacing over the man's chest and dancing along the edge of his mask as he appeared to be frozen in place. Rio's heart hammered in her own chest as she worried for a few moments that it had been her fault before she heard the resounding clack of heels on the marble steps as a woman approached, dressed in the most elegant white and silver robes Rio had ever seen, sporting, of course, a mask, but also a hat with what looked like a pair of horns curling out of it. She felt relieved when she realized that this woman was the one who had cast the spell, allowing Rio the chance to relax for a moment, looking from the woman to the frozen man before her.
“My dear Marquis,” she said, her voice smooth and firm, “how unkind of you to use such language in my house... to my guests...”
Rio felt her face turn red again, glancing down at her feet as she tried not to draw attention to herself when the stronger mage crossed the foyer towards them. “You know such rudeness is... intolerable...” The last word was directed at the marquis, but those dark brown eyes flitted to Rio, who had dared to look up again before looking quickly back to her feet.
“M-Madame Vivienne!” the Marquis gasped, ice crystals rolling off his lips as he fought against the chill. “I humbly beg your pardon!”
“You should,” the woman said, her words as icy as the spell on the Marquis. “Whatever am I going to do with you, my dear?” Turning, she looked at Rio, drawing her gaze with a small smile. “My lady, you're the wounded party in this most unfortunate affair,” she said, making Rio increasingly uncomfortable. “What would you have me do with this foolish, foolish man?”
At first, Rio's anger rose up, wanting to make the man suffer more, but as she hesitated, she felt the rage fade slowly, taking a breath. Feeling everyone's eyes on her, she reminded herself that people would be looking at her and the decisions that she made, whether or not they were the opinions of the Inquisition or not, and she felt her heart clench painfully as she fought the urge to panic.  They expected her to speak on behalf of the Inquisition, and this choice she was making would speak volumes about them...  Taking a deep breath, she murmured softly, “I think the Marquis has... learned his lesson...”
At her words, the tension in the room seemed to ease, the darker-skinned woman turning back to the Marquis with a small smile. “By the grace of Andraste, you have your life, my dear.” With a flourish of her hand, she snapped her fingers, the spell over the man breaking and making him stumble back with a shaking cough. “Do be more careful with it,” she added with a small wave of her fingers, the man turning to sulk out of the room.
The mage in silver turned to face Rio, and she didn't know if she should stand her ground or cower, instead opting to stay as still as she could, ears flicking back for just a moment before she managed to meet the stronger woman's gaze. “I'm delighted you could attend this little gathering,” she said, her voice almost warm as she smiled at her, making Rio smile just a little bit in return. “I've so wanted to meet you.” Turning away, she motioned for Rio to follow, continuing to walk without even turning to see if she was there. She did follow, of course, after a moment of hesitation, her slippers making only a soft whisper on the carpet as she walked quickly to catch up, skirts fluttering around her.
Off to a little side room, Rio stopped just short as the woman stood before a window. Waving her forward, she instructed Rio to turn, slowly, in the moonlight that flooded through a huge window. As she did, she felt the full scrutiny of the cold woman's gaze, that critical eye falling on her, and she had to quell her panic. Was she making a note of how simple her gown was, or how the style was so out of place here? Or would she comment on her hair, which she had the tavern lady pull back out of her face to tie back with ribbons and loosely braided? Would she turn up her nose at the delicately embroidered capelet that she still wore? The servant at the door had tried to take it, but she insisted that she wasn't going to be long and it was no trouble to simply keep it with her.
Looking back up at her, she found an expression of curiosity on the woman's face, eyes looking her up and down carefully. “Well, my dear...” she said after some silence, “You don't appear to be from another world... If anything you look quite normal...” Crossing her arms, she couldn't help a small smile, “Though I suppose it helps that you don't look too widely out of place...” Rio's blush make her chuckle before she said, “Allow my to introduce myself. I am Vivienne, First Enchanter of Montsimmard and Enchantress to the Imperial Court.”
Rio did manage a small curtsy this time, though her legs shook from the effort to keep standing under the other woman's gaze. “Charmed, Lady Vivienne,” she said gently, only barely able to look her in the eye again.
“Ah, but I didn't invite you to the Chateau for pleasantries,” the enchanter said. “With Divine Justinia dead, the Chantry is in shambles. Only the Inquisition might restore sanity and order to our frightened people.” Her smile grew, and Rio felt it again, a slight niggling of dislike for the woman before her, who looked as though she felt herself above everyone, even and especially Rio. “As the leader of the last loyal mages of Thedas,” she said, “I feel it only right that I lend my assistance to your cause.”
Something about the woman made her want to deny her outright, but, remembering Leliana's words about having so few supporters, she nodded just a little and gave as pleasant a smile as she could manage. “Welcome to the Inquisition, Lady Vivienne.”

***

Back at Haven, Rio started to feel the full effects of everything settling on her shoulders as her advisors once again began to argue. Leliana and Josephine both urged her to seek out the mages, while Cassandra and Cullen pushed the Templars forward. Neither choice looked all that great to Rio, who was just getting a bigger and bigger headache as she listened to them argue. Whenever she tried to ask if the Templars could really weaken the Breach, Leliana cut in that it was only speculation; when she asked if the mages could actually lend enough power to the mark to help it close the Breach, Cullen stated that it was too dangerous and could backfire. Back and forth they went for the better part of an hour before Rio threw her arms up and shouted for them all to just shove it before she turned and kicked the door to the war room open. She was rather proud of the resounding slam when she closed it behind her, storming towards the large double doors.
She didn’t make it far out of the Chantry before she nearly collided with someone standing just outside.  Squeaking as she tried to stop herself from crashing into the newcomer, Rio was relieved when strong arms caught her and gently set her back on her feet. Looking up at him, Rio blushed as she stammered an apology, trying to straighten herself before looking up at the young man, taking in the tanned face and deep brown hair.
“I’m sorry, I guess I didn’t expect someone to come running out,” the young man before her said with a gentle smile that made Rio’s face burn in embarrassment.  “I have a message for the Inquisition, but I'm having a hard time getting anyone to talk to me.”
Looking around, she frowned, wondering why none of the scouts had taken his message, though she supposed it didn’t really matter. Shrugging a little, Rio smiled up at him and said, “Well, I'm part of the Inquisition, I guess... Why don't you give the message to me? I’ll make sure that someone gets it, at least.”
His smile slipped for a second as he hesitated, looking her quickly up and down as if he tried to figure out if he should or not before nodding a little. “Lieutenant Cremisius Aclassi, at your service. We got word of some Tevinter mercenaries gathering out on the Storm Coast. My company commander Iron Bull offers the information free of charge. If you'd like to see what the Bull's Chargers can do for the Inquisition, meet us there and watch us work.”
It sounded rehearsed, like something he’d said a thousand times, but something in that voice told Rio that he believed it, and she found herself smiling up at him. It was refreshing to be invited in person, rather than swept along to chase after someone. Thinking it over for a moment, she nodded and smiled. “All right, Mr. Cremisius. It was a pleasure to meet you, and we’ll be seeing you and your group again shortly.”
He nodded his head in reply as he held out his hand to her and said proudly, “We're the best you'll find. Come down to the Storm Coast, you'll see what I mean.”
Giving another sincere smile, she shook his hand firmly and turned to head back into the Chantry. Anything to get herself out of Haven again and away from the arguments that echoed from the war room. Crossing the foyer again, Rio opened the door and cleared her throat, waiting until the others paused to look at her before she said calmly, “I believe we have a few more people to meet. Seems we got an invitation to somewhere called the Stormy Coast, something about a mercenary company that wants to join up? Come to think of it, I think one of Scout Harding’s messages mentioned it too, so we’ll be going there next.” Ignoring everyone's looks as everyone insisted that she take this seriously and make a decision, Rio turned to head back outside. A brisk walk would do them well, and she had always loved storms, so a place called the “Stormy Coast” sounded like heaven to her as she started to make her way out.
The sound of a page being turned drew Rio’s attention as she stopped. Peeking between the columns, Rio smiled a little when she found Vivienne, sitting in a corner and quietly reading a book by the light of a single candle at her side. Leaning against the wall, Rio asked, “How about it, Viv? Wanna come? I've never been to the Storm Coast before...”
She didn’t expect the icy look that was shot her way, flinching a little as her smile slipped, taking a step back before she could catch herself. Straightening a little, she felt a little uneasy as the other woman stood, frowning down at her, almost withering her good mood. “My name is Vivienne,” she corrected firmly, closing her book and standing, “but yes, I think I would like to come along, if only for the chance to see your training in action at last.” Rio's smile brightened a little though she didn't feel like she was brimming with confidence at the thought of the enchantress judging her every move. With a nod, she turned to step back out of the Chantry. Maybe she would have time to work in another lesson with Solas before they set out...

***

Whatever nice things she might've thought about a place like the Stormy Coast had been washed away by the actual place. Everything was a muddy, stormy grey, and everything was very, very wet. She hadn't minded the first day as they approached and the light rain had soaked her clothes through. But the second day, the chill set in, and now, at the actual coast, Rio had been cured of any romantic notions she'd had about a place that always rained.
“This must be how people in Seattle feel,” she muttered to herself as she managed to carefully slide herself off her horse. A scout was kind enough to motion her towards a tent, where she found a change of clothes, a towel, and a wide-brimmed hat. She had thought she looked ridiculous in it for a few moments until she stepped back outside and found the rain sliding off her new coat and hat. She gave a happy cheer and declared that whoever had thought to pack waterproof clothes for her deserved a bonus in their pay, earning a round of chuckles from the scouts.
Traversing the uneven terrain was difficult, though, even with the rainproofing, Rio found as she slowly made her way down the hill from camp. The others had set out like it was nothing, just stepping over the slick rocks and muddy ground. More than once, Lady Vivienne shot deep frowns her way before instructing her that she needed to hurry up. She sighed, wishing not for the last time that Solas had agreed to come with them.
More than once, she wanted to remark how well Vivienne was doing in her heeled boots—she didn't slip or fumble once—but whenever she started to bring it up, she had to catch herself to keep from falling. Varric stayed closest by, just in case she needed help, and Cassandra and Vivienne were further along.
Rio was adjusting her hold on her staff as she looked to Varric, smiling until she saw him frown, reaching for his crossbow. They had to scramble back when two bandits leapt from behind boulders on either side, Varric shouting for Cassandra as Rio took her stance to defend herself as more bandits came at them.
In any other setting, Rio might've felt pretty good about fighting on the uneven ground, but all confidence she'd built up faltered when she whirled to strike at a bandit behind her, her boots slipping on the wet ground. Her feet went out from under her, and she fell hard, accidentally letting loose the spell she'd been casting. She knew it was going to miss its mark before she landed, feeling the rock dig into her back before her head hit the ground, stunning her for a second.
As she tried to come to her senses again, she heard the last of the bandits fall, flinching at the sound of an outraged cry. Sitting up slowly, she groaned, holding her head as she managed to get to her feet again. Looking up, Rio found who had shouted, and flinched again.
The Enchanter stood as if mid-spell, frozen in place from the wayward spell. Even through the pain that shot through her head, Rio knew this wasn't good. Looking at Vivienne, she wondered if she would need to break the spell it like Vivienne had done to the marquis, starting to make her way forward with several apologies. Her slick boots hindered her further as she tried to help, only to find that Vivienne was able to get herself free before Rio even got that far.
Her apologies died in her throat when the dark-skinned woman turned on her, practically scowling. Where the others had quietly accepted her mistakes and moved on, it seemed the Enchanter had no intention to be kind. “What were you thinking?!” she hissed angrily, eyes flaring. “You cannot fling spells willy-nilly like that! If you're going to participate in a battle, at least put some effort into your aim instead of just flouncing about.”
Each word cut deep as Rio bowed her head, ears folding back a little as she murmured a soft, “I'm sorry... I slipped, I didn't mean to hit you, I just... tried to help...”
Straightening her robe, Vivienne looked down at her with cold, hard eyes. “Perhaps you should return to camp. Clearly, this area is beyond your level... I'm certain Scout Harding wouldn't mind too terribly to take you back to Haven if you preferred.” Rio shook her head a little at that, biting back her apology as she mentally berated herself for bringing the Enchanter instead of Solas. It was like her great aunt Irma all over again, all sharp tongues and condescension, and for a moment, Rio hated how small she felt as she felt the tears prick at the edges of her eyes.
Varric frowned as he watched the Herald shrink away from the Enchanter, looking to Cassandra, who frowned in return. “My Lady Vivienne,” the Seeker said, stepping forward. “Rio is still learning, and she does not... possess your skill at the handling of magic... She meant no harm.”
Vivienne's gaze shifted to Cassandra for a moment before turning back to Rio, frown deepening before she nodded a little. “Perhaps you're right, my dear. However, a mage that cannot properly use their spells should perhaps not be using them.” She didn't miss the was that Rio's eyes darkened a little, defiance shining in her eyes. Before she could spit out a reply, the enchanter looked at Rio's staff with a scrutinizing eye, a brow raising. “Your staff, my dear.”
Rio looked from it to Vivienne, blinking at the change of subject. “Wh-what about it?” she asked, eyes distrusting as she watched the enchanter.
“It is too powerful for you. No wonder you're just throwing spells about,” she said as if she was remarking on something that was perfectly obvious. Stepping smoothly over the uneven ground, she simply snatched it from Rio's hand before turning to tromp back to the camp.
Rio blinked as she looked down at her empty hand before watching Vivienne walk off with her staff. She ignored the way her head and back hurt as she scrambled back up the path after her, Varric and Cassandra close behind. Blue and gold eyes flashed angrily as she shouted, “You can't take Rhys, he's-” Her voice caught in her throat as Vivienne shoved a much shorter staff into her hand, the plain red crystal winking at her as the cold iron chilled her hand.
A perfectly shaped brow raised as Vivienne looked down at her. “Who is Rhys?” she asked as if she didn't even care to know.
Rio bowed her head, clearing her throat as she murmured quietly, “N-no one... it's.. not important...” Looking at the cold staff in her hand, she already missed the wood of her other staff as she tried to get comfortable with the metal grip, trying to will the tears away as she let her hat fall to hide them.
The look on her face was not lost on Varric, however, who reached out to stop Vivienne, frowning deeply. “Give it back,” he ordered firmly. He didn't flinch when she turned her cold gaze on him and folded his arms over his chest. “I said give it back. That staff belongs to the Herald.”
Vivienne rolled her eyes, crossing her arms as she stood unmoved. “I wouldn't expect a Dwarf to understand. This doesn't concern you.”
Varric's soft eyes turned hard as he said gently, “She's still new, but she's trying, and that's what's important.” When the Enchanter made no move to return the staff in question, Varric reached over and took the iron staff from Rio and shoved it at Vivienne. Without waiting for her reply, he pushed past her, returning a few moments later with the carved wood staff, eyes daring Vivienne to try to stop him.
As the dwarf handed it back to a grateful Rio, Vivienne frowned deeply, hands on her hips, but she said nothing, making no move to take the staff away. Her eyes shone with tears as she breathed a tiny thank-you, bowing her head as she quickly wiped the tears. Varric smiled just a little, gently patting her shoulder before starting to lead them back down the path. The soldiers around them watched in curious silence but said nothing as the group set out again, Rio limping a little as they made their way.
Closer to the bank, they could hear the sounds of a battle, Vivienne turning to Rio as she seemed to regain her voice. Motioning to a small side-path that led up to a ledge overlooking the beach, she said, “You know, my dear, you might do best to simply watch this one. The terrain on the beach looks worse than on the hillside.” Rio felt her face burn beneath her hat but didn't say anything as she turned, climbing up the narrow path to stand on the ledge as the others moved around the base of the hill to the battle. She stood there for a short while, watching as they circled around to join in the fray before she sighed, plopping herself down with a flinch, letting her cloak flutter wetly around her.
Boredly, she watched the fight, alternating her focus between the water sluicing off the brim of her hat to the battle going on below. As she watched Cassandra leap into the fray, she thought numbly how not long ago she might've freaked out at the bloody fight out on below. Now and again, she almost felt the urge to try to help, even from this distance, but Lady Vivienne's words echoed in her head every time she started to. Besides, from what she could see, Lady Vivienne seemed to have the battle pretty well covered, flinging spells with great precision.
Sighing to herself, she propped her staff against her shoulder, eyes wandering over the mercenaries as they worked. That's why they were here, wasn't it? To appraise the work of the Chargers. She found herself rather impressed—they worked well as a team, and despite being outnumbered at first, they were quickly dealing with the great numbers around them. In the middle was a great, hulking figure, sporting what looked like another horned hat like Vivienne's and a giant axe. Qunari, they'd said he was. Not that she knew what that meant. Must've been another place, like Ferelden or Orlais. She could hear his shouts from where she sat, finding herself enjoying this potential addition more than the last one.
Varric launched another volley, glancing up at where the Herald had been exiled, frowning to himself as he watched her adjust her hat again. He really didn't think it was quite fair to put her up there, but she seemed to be doing okay for a moment at least, besides being obviously bored. At least when she fought in battles, they were interesting, almost fun. Her reactions were always real and open, and every experience was a new one for the Herald
Sighing, he started to turn back to the battle until something caught his eye, looking up again where Rio sat. His eyes widened as he saw a flash of white, turning to face Rio as he saw the dagger raise behind Rio. With only a moment to react, he lifted Bianca, aiming and loosing loose a bolt in her direction. She must've seen it, because she gave a shrill shriek as she tried to lunge away from it. Her hat went flying off as the bolt snagged it on the way past, sinking into the chest of the Tevinter rogue behind her. The daggers fell from his hands as Rio scrambled to get away from him, the figure in white slumping lifelessly to the ground and rolling back down the hill.
Looking back where Varric was watching her, she gave a shaky wave and thumbs up in thanks, turning to grab her hat, frowning at the hole in the brim. His shoulders relaxed a little, realizing the battle had ended, waving Rio down from where she sat. She nodded a little, getting up to cautiously make her way down.
As she joined them on the beach, the mercenary leader was talking to his men, Rio walking stiffly up to them as she tried to ease the slight pain in her back. Pushing her damp hair out of her face, she looked up at him as he called out to Krem. “How'd we do?” he called as Rio stared up at the horned giant, jaw falling open.
He wasn't wearing a horned hat.
He had horns.
She wanted to say something, anything really, looking at Cassandra and Varric, who didn't look the least bit concerned about this detail, and the words died in her throat, turning to stare at him again.
“Five or six wounded, Chief,” Krem said with a slight nod, “no dead.”
“That's what I like to hear!” he said with a nod. “Let the throat-cutters finish up, then break out the casks!”
Krem nodded to him, then gave a slight wave to Rio and the others as the Iron Bull turned to face them. When he did, Rio couldn't help the startled squeak that came from her as she stepped back, Varric trying as hard as he could not to laugh. He didn't blame her, really, for jumping—the Qunari was twice his height and easily double his own weight—and, if he had to guess, this was probably the first time she was meeting one. He was definitely intimidating, somewhere around or over seven feet, with wide shoulders and bulging muscles and a wicked-looking patch over his left eye. Judging by the number of scars he bore, he had been in his share of fights, and as dangerous as some of them looked, he was definitely still standing, and little worse for the wear. From the look on Rio's face, she was probably imagining that he could snap her in half.
Varric nudged her forward a little, making her squeak again before she hissed, “J-just give me a second!” She took a deep breath, murmuring quietly to herself, “Just having... a weird day...” Looking back up at the Qunari, she managed a small smile.
Whatever he must've thought, he kept it to himself as he nodded his head a little at her. “So you're with the Inquisition, huh? Glad you could make it,” he said, motioning her forward. “Come on, have a seat—drinks are coming.”
She shifted a little, nudged forward again by Varric, who chuckled. “You'll have to forgive the Herald, it's her first time meeting a Qunari... Apparently, they don't have them where she's from...” Her dark look down at him didn't faze Varric as he smiled up at her. “Say hello to the man... Use your words...”
The Iron Bull couldn't help laughing as he watched the emotions play over her face before she plopped on the boulder, flinching a little as she tried to get comfortable. She sighed a little, looking up at him with those bright eyes that caught him a little off-guard. She looked normal enough for an elf. She was a little pale, but not sickly-looking, and maybe just a little on the thin side. She reached up with a bare hand to push her hat back on her head a little so she could see a little better, and he spied pale blonde roots, though the rest of her hair was raven-black and braided loosely over one shoulder. With those very faint freckles and stark black vallaslin, he had a hard time believing she was from some other world and not just some elf from a backwoods clan somewhere.
“Sorry,” she said softly, eyes still a little wary as she looked at him, “first time meeting a Qunari...” Her ears flicked a little as she slowly relaxed. “No one told me what to expect...”
Bull nodded a little at that, “I see... And what do you think?”
For a moment, she hesitated, ears twitching just the smallest bit, like a rabbit listening for danger, regarding him very closely. After a long pause, she said softly, “Are your horns real?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she flinched, pulling the brim of her hat down to hide her face as she groaned loudly. “I'm sorry, that was a stupid question!” she said, voice muffled by her hat as she shrank back a little.
Bull chuckled a little as he watched her, shaking his head a little. “It's all right. You must be the Herald of Andraste they've been talking about.”
She tilted her head back, eyes a little narrowed, “I am not the herald of anybody, how many times do I have to tell you people?” she said, voice tinged with annoyance as she looked to her traveling companions, frown deepening. She caught Vivienne's hard look before clearing her throat, carefully leaning her hat back. “Sorry... Yeah, I'm the one they're calling the 'Herald', I guess,” she said, finally meeting his gaze again, brushing some damp hair out of her face as she added, “And I'm guessing you're Iron Bull.”
He chuckled dryly, “Yeah, the horns usually give it away.” Her eyes followed the lines of his horns, but he could see her bite back the question she had. It as probably one he'd heard before, but he'd still been curious what she might say. Nodding a little as Krem walked up, he said, “I assume you remember Cremisius Aclassi, my liutenant.”
Krem nodded a little, smiling, “Good to see you again.” Turning to Bull, he said, “Throatcutters are done, chief.”
“Already?” Bull asked, his grey eye looking up at Krem from where he sat on a piece of driftwood. “Have 'em check again, I don't want any of those Tevinter bastards getting away.” His grin grew a little as he added, “No offense, Krem.”
Krem shrugged the comment off, smiling, “None taken, chief. At least a bastard knows who his mother was—puts 'em one up on you Qunari, right?”
As Krem walked off, Rio wanted to ask what they'd been talking about, but the conversation moved on before she could get the words out. “So you've seen us fight. We're expensive, but we're worth it, and I'm sure the Inquisition can afford us.”
Blue-gold eyes blinked at that, realizing suddenly that she hadn't thought about whether they could afford a mercenary company, looking to Varric, who chuckled at her expression. “H-how much... are we talking, exactly?” she asked, looking back to Bull as she tried not to worry that they'd wasted everyone's time.
“Wouldn't cost you anything personally,” Bull said, smiling, “Unless you want to buy drinks later. Your ambassador, what's her name—Josephine—we'd go through her and get the payments set up.” He caught her uneasy look and wondered where the worry about money came from. There had been nothing helpful in any of the previous reports about where she was from, what she did there, or even anything significant about how she got there, and that was enough curiosity for him to want to push it just a little more. His tone softened a little as he said, “Gold will sort itself out, don't worry about that. All that matters is it's worth it.”
Rio nodded a little as she said softly, “The Chargers seem like a pretty great group...”
“Oh, they are,” Bull said proudly, “but you're not just getting the boys. You're getting me. If you need a front-line bodyguard, I'm your man.” Standing up, he nodded firmly as she rose stiffly, hand going to her back as she straightened up. “Whatever it is: demons, dragons—the bigger the better!”
Rio nodded as she listened, blinking before she said, “Wait, what?” She turned to look at Varric, eyes widening. “Dragons are a thing here?!”
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Her Destiny Lies Elsewhere