DA:I Lost in Thought

Aylin couldn’t keep her mind focused, she knew she should listen to the plans of how to approach Val Royeaux but she found her thoughts traveling back to the crowd of Templars and mages that were gathered in front of Haven’s Chantry. They were at each other’s throats, one blaming the other for the death of the Divine. The templar had even went so far as to draw his sword, challenging the mage he was arguing with. She could feel how the simple motion of him reaching for his blade fed the anger of the crowd, fueling the crowd’s desperation to find answers to who killed the Divine or who let her die. She could still see the satisfaction on Chancellor Rodderick’s face as he watched the quarrel unfold as if it was Inquisition itself falling apart at the seams. If Cullen hadn’t been there she wasn’t sure what would have happened. She remembered how he stepped between the two without hesitation, quickly disbanding the crowd before the argument could escalate further. He was calm and his words held command leaving no room for questioning. She knew little of the commander, just the whispered rumors floating throughout the Circle, but she did wonder how the what kind of man he was. He seemed different from the other Templars and that frightened her, she wasn’t sure why she felt that way. Perhaps because she had only one expectation of those in the order and wasn’t sure what to expect from him. He said, they are not Templars not anymore but what did that actually mean?

For all of Cullen’s sense of propriety, she couldn’t help but laugh when she heard the quick quip Cullen had given Chancellor Rodderick. She could still hear the chancellor’s response, Mock if you will… I’m certain the Maker is less amused. Worse, she could remember her own response as she had walked away, I doubt the Maker gives a damn about me. She could only hope that she was the only one to hear her, the last thing the Inquisition needed was for word to get out that the ‘Herald of Andraste’ didn’t believe in the Maker.

Looking up from the table, she saw her advisors lost in conversation with themselves. No doubt debating on what more we needed to do before we could make our move.

”Having the Hearld address the clerics is not a terrible idea…”

“You can’t be serious!”

“Mother Giselle isn’t wrong: at the moment, the Chantry’s only strength is that they are united in opinion.”

Shaking her head, she looked back down to the maps on the table ignoring the arguments of her advisors. Why am I even in here? …I know nothing of politics or strategy… I am just their tool she thought bitterly, closing her eyes as she took in a calming breath. It felt like she had already done so much working out in the Hinterlands, yet there was still so much to be done. The devastation that this had caused was everywhere she turned. How am I supposed to do this? I am just one person she wondered hopelessly as she looked over the map. There were so many pieces, each representing some task that needed to be done in order to gain favor over the lands. In the end, she knew that eventually she would have to choose a side to close the breach but how could she choose? If she sided with the mages she was supporting the rebellion, the chaos that started this war. If she sided with the Templars she was a traitor to her own kind. The mages had the power, perhaps with enough she would be able to close the rift. But the Templars were not useless… if the breach was torn by magic, maybe it would take the Templars to close it. Will any good come of this? she wondered as her mind wandered as her council discussed their plans about going to Val Royeaux.

”And we should ignore the danger to the Herald?”

“Let’s ask her”

“Herald?”

“Hmm? Oh… Right…” Aylin said as she looked up from the map, trying to look as if she had been listening the entire time. “So, go face the people who want me dead… Right then,” she said knowing that there was no point in avoiding what was to come. “What could possibly go wrong?” she laughed quietly.

“I will go with her,” Cassandra started in her usual confident tone. “Mother Giselle said she could provide us names? Use them.”

“But why? This is nothing but a—“ Leliana questioned as she turned to look at Cassandra.

“What choice do we have, Leliana? Right now we can’t approach anyone for help with the breach. Use what influence we have to call the clerics together. Once they are ready, we will see this through,” Cassandra explained as she looked to the other advisors to see they had all agreed.

Aylin looked over her advisors as they had finally reached an agreement. She wasn’t sure what to think of those around her, wondering what they really saw her as. Was she the ‘Herald of Andraste’? Or maybe she was still the one behind this all? All she knew was that she was their tool, and for now she was safe. What was to come of her after she sealed the Breach and her use was no longer needed, she wasn’t so certain. They would head to Val Royeaux to speak with the clerics in the morning, if all goes well she will be able to cast some doubt into the Chantry. Perhaps we can get Varric to speak for us, he is good with stories Aylin thought in the back of her mind.