Dragon Age: Inquisition Fanfic: I’m Sorry - Part 2
@xavirne
Shorter chapter, but I think we both know what happens after this don't we?
When next she woke, Cassandra found the boy still in her arms, almost unmoved throughout the night. His steady breathing tickled the shell of her ear, forcing a small chuckle from her lips.
Carefully, so not as to wake him, the Seeker slipped out of his grasp while simultaneously covering him with the blanket. He didn’t seem to notice her absence, instead curling into the pillow with half a mumbled word.
Shaking her head at the admittedly adorable display before her, Cassandra moved to the folded clothes at her side. She dressed quickly, finishing strapping on her sword belt and ready for the morning’s exercises. Before leaving she pulled aside a nearby guard.
“The Herald is still asleep, I’ll be by the stream if he asks.”
The guard offered a nod and took up position by Cassandra’s tent. Satisfied, she limped to the stream to begin her stretches.
Sweat dripped down her brow as she finished her form. Her sword arm felt heavy, and her knee throbbed, but overall, she was relaxed.
“Cass?”
She turned with a smile to find Alphonse rubbing the sleep from his eyes, though clothed in his usual attire.
“Rest well?”
The boy nodded, though not without a grumble.
“Could go for another hour or so.”
The Seeker smirked.
“Well, we wouldn’t be able to get back to Haven if we woke later.”
“Mmm…”
Alphonse leaned forward and pressed his forehead against her thigh.
“We should get ready.” She added, while ruffling his hair.
“M’ready.”
“You have your pack?”
The child gave a noncommittal grunt in response and wrapped his arms around her leg.
“Come on, let’s go.”
“M’kay.”
Alphonse took hold of her free hand as they trudged back to the tent. Soon they their equipment readied, though not without some degree of prodding. Whatever Alphonse’s previous life was like, it appeared that early rising was not part of it.
“Breakfast!”
It was as if night had turned to day for all the energy the Herald displayed. He seemed a blur as he rushed to the fire pit, a wide smile on his lips.
“Should have led with that I suppose…” she groused.
“Food does tend to trump all.”
She turned to find Varric at her side, Bianca strapped to his back. The dwarf wore his familiar cocksure smirk, though there seemed to be a degree of softness to it, less so than their time spent in the interrogation cells.
“Thought you were supposed to take it easy Seeker.”
Cassandra scoffed and jerked her head towards the center of camp.
“You’re beginning to sound like Solas.”
“Wouldn’t want that, got a reputation to uphold.”
Alphonse was situated near the firepit, flanked by Solas and a few other guards. As soon as he made eye contact he called them over with a wave and a smile.
“Sleep well, Songbird?”
“Songbird?” asked Cassandra.
Varric chuckled as he collected a bowl of meal.
“You’ve heard him croon, right Seeker? He’s no slouch.”
She couldn’t help but quirk a brow at the child, who seemed keenly interested in the contents of his bowl rather than his companions.
“I sang when we went to the Chantry.” He said after a moment, cheeks red.
“Oh?”
Cassandra took her place at his side, setting a hand on his back for support.
“My brother used to say I was… blessed by Andraste herself.”
He chuckled weakly and leaned against her.
“Ironic, isn’t it?” he said, looking at his marked hand.
Varric paused to look her in the eye, concern creasing his brow.
“Alphonse…” she tried, only to find the boy wrapping an arm around her neck and planting a kiss to her cheek.
“No no, you don’t get it. I like the name!” he said cheerfully, “It reminds me of home.”
With this, he hopped down from his seat and gave Varric a hug as well.
“You should give out more přezdívky Varric.”
This left both the storyteller and Cassandra dumbfounded as the boy rushed off to whatever task he deemed important.
“Well… that was a turn around.” Said the dwarf after a moments pause.
“Indeed.”
Varric coughed.
“So… are we gonna discuss the dragon in the room, or not?”
Cassandra frowned and met his gaze levelly.
“What ‘Dragon’?”
“The fact that he killed three men just yesterday and is acting completely unfazed? That doesn’t strike you as odd?”
“We already discussed it, in the clearing.”
Varric quirked a brow.
“And?”
“I told him what he did was for the best. He was… terrified of himself Varric. What would you have done?”
He sighed and dragged a hand down his face.
“I don’t know Seeker, I really don’t. But... for someone so young to kill so early in life… it’s sick.”
Cassandra hung her head, looking down at her bandaged knee with a silent fury. If she’d just been faster…
“I think he’s seen far worse, in Redcliffe.” She said.
“True, just… let him be a kid Seeker. Don’t let this ‘Herald Of Andraste’ thing take over who he is.”
She locked eyes with the rogue, and with a nod, set a hand on his shoulder.
“I think that’s both our responsibility now, don’t you?”
His eyes widened in surprise, and a devilish smirk began to form in the corner of his lip.
“Are you going soft on me Seeker?”
She shoved him off the log.
“Hardly, this is for his well being. Now ready yourself, we march for Haven.”
***
The afternoon arrived just as they made their way into town. Alphonse had remarkably stayed awake the entire time, chatting with a few of the younger soldiers and even swapping a joke or two with Varric. Cassandra looked down to the child in her lap, at his fresh smile, the lighter look in his eyes. After a few moments he took note and looked up.
“Something wrong?”
She ruffled his hair.
“No child. Nothing at all.”
He seemed to accept this answer, turning his attention to Josephine and Leliana, who immediately began fussing over his appearance and quizzing him on proper court etiquette.
“Cass, help me!” he half whispered as they began to drag him off.
The Seeker chuckled from atop her mount and shook her head.
“You have my sympathies!”
“Traitor!” he called back.
Cassandra chuckled again and handed off the reins to a stablehand before moving to the Chantry to fill out her reports. No doubt Cullen would want to drill her about the group’s tardiness, something she was hardly prepared for. All she wanted was to fall into a bath and go to bed, maybe read for a bit.
She sighed as she shouldered through the big heavy doors. The sisters were muttering the Chant Of Light and Vivienne seemed to be reading in her little nook. Steeling herself, Cassandra marched to the end of the hall and entered the war room. Cullen locked eyes with her, concern creasing his brow.
“Scout Harding filled me in on most of the details.” He said.
Another sigh eased its way past her lips.
“Maker preserve me.”
A small silence was shared between the two, broken only by the sounds of prayer through the door.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes.”
Cullen sighed.
“Are you lying?”
“Yes…”
She felt the commander take up a position at her side. Eventually, he set a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. She took a breath, attempting to steady her nerves, and to stem the tears that threatened to fall.
“We almost didn’t make it.”
“But you did.” He said, removing the hand.
Another silence passed between them.
“He loves you, you know.” Said the former Templar, “Like a mother.”
Cassandra let out a scoff.
“Why he does is beyond me, I’m hardly the finest example of motherly care. At least Josephine acts like the noble she is, she’s far more… delicate when it comes to speaking to him.”
“Yes, but he doesn’t like The Game, and I think he prefers your brand of… oration.”
She scoffed once more.
“Well then.”
“You’re too hard on yourself.”
Cassandra shook her head and set her fists upon the table.
“He needs protection, more than I can provide.”
“He needs you, and especially you, now that we have the mages on our side. There’s no telling what could happen, or what will happen afterwards.”
“You mean because it might kill him.” She said bitterly, fingers tightening.
He sighed.
“Yes.”
She took a seat, rubbing her eyes with her still gauntleted hands.
“He’s just a boy.”
“I know.”
“He killed three men to save me Cullen. Three.”
The knight was silent at this. She risked a look to find him scowling, eyes fixed on the image of Redcliffe castle scrawled on the map.
“I… don’t know what to say.”
“He should never have been there in the first place.”
Cullen took a seat next to her.
“You would have been killed had he not. What’s done is done.”
“I know, but I’d hoped that he’d get out of this without being forced to do that. I didn’t kill a man until I was eighteen, much less have an opportunity to.”
“Are you concerned that this will affect his behavior?”
“I don’t know, but I think I should at least teach him how to fight, and when it is appropriate to act with violence. It’s the least I can do for him.”
Cullen nodded.
“Well then, you better get your rest.”
She smiled.
“You as well.”
With that, the Seeker strode out of the Chantry and back to her own little hut. She stopped as she passed Alphonse’s cabin, watched over by at least three guards, and probably Leliana’s people as well. The candlelight from the small building outlined three figures, easily identifiable as the Spymaster, Ambassador, and of course, Alphonse.
“Now, what is the proper way to greet a nobleman from Orlais?”
A heavy sigh escaped the boy’s lips.
“Now, Now Alphonse, this is essential, especially if you want to impress a certain lady.” Said Leliana with a knowing lilt to her voice.
Cassandra could hear a muffled groan, followed by a satisfied chuckle.
“Leliana.” Whined Alphonse.
“Come on, the quicker you do this, the quicker we leave.”
Cassandra held back a chuckle of her own as Alphonse groaned again before clearing his throat.
“Bonjour Lady Montaguie, mon nom est Alphonse Trevelyan, plaisir de vous rencontrer.”
His Orlesian accent was a little off, but otherwise the boy spoke perfectly. It appeared that all those grating hours learning from the two had paid off.
“Good. Now, to bed.” Said Josephine, with a distinct air of satisfaction in her voice.
“Oui tune Josie.” He quipped.
The two women shared a laugh together before offering a ‘goodnight’ to the boy and exiting his cabin. Cassandra offered the two a nod, before entering the building after them.
“Cass!”
She smiled and took a knee in front of him.
“Alphonse… how would you feel about… learning how to fight?”
The boy frowned and stepped forward, setting a hand on her knee.
“I thought I wasn’t supposed to?”
Cassandra covered his hand with hers.
“Ideally no, but these are dangerous times. And… I would like to teach you about fighting, when it is permissible to commit violence, and when to hold back your blade.”
His frown deepened as her took in her words. Slowly realization came to him, and he looked to the floor.
“Because of the clearing?”
“Yes.”
Alphonse sighed.
“I dunno Cass, I-I’m not sure I wanna fight ever again.”
She squeezed his hand.
“I don’t want you to have to fight either, but I want you to be able to protect yourself in case—” she paused, holding back the obvious fear she was about to voice, “In case I’m not there for you.”
He nodded. After a moment he stepped forward and gave her a hug, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“OK.”
Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief and wrapped him up in a tight embrace.
“We’ll begin tomorrow. Meet me in the training grounds after breakfast.”
He nodded into her shoulder and let go.
“Night.”
“Goodnight… songbird.”
The two shared a brief chuckle as they went their respective ways, content, and altogether confident that the future would be brighter than the previous weeks would indicate.
Of course, what one wishes for and what one receives are rarely similar…
