It’s headcanon time! Why the hat?
This story makes sense only after the loyalty quest is done so basically it’s a whole bunch of spoilers, proceed with caution. In Inquisitor verse this makes sense only at the end of friendship/romance arc.
The tea, the fireplace and large overly soft chairs provided an atmosphere too calm and that false feeling of safety lingered in the air. Both were on the verge of giving into sloth, falling alseep right there, up until the Inquistor dared ask and Ve nearly jumped, startled. Just like that, the magic of the moment was gone along with the comfort, as both sat, staring at the big black hat which was resting on Evelyn’s bed, a bit to the side. For a moment it seemed like she would never answer and yet, she did:
‘This happened quite some time after I took the phylactries along with the relics and decided to flee----- for the first time in a very long period I could’ve sworn I had no single, real, big goal; except for the obvious idea - run girl, run.’
‘So it all felt like a hectic dream: this way, no, there. Sleep here, hide, hunt. Was so surreal, all of it.’
‘At some point I figured the simple truth, got to move towards Kirkwall, take a ship to Gwaren. Oddly, this went rather good. Everyone smuggled tons refugees, just as well, worst luck would’ve been running into slavers and I didn’t..’
‘Easy as pie, I thought. Suddenly fortune favoured me but when I looked around, where was I really? Ferelden. Korcari Wilds to the one side, Brecilian Forest to the other and ahead... not much there either. I was lost in many ways, being mentally-challenged and insightfully-blind proved to be the hardest part or so it appeared.’
‘Soon, I was facing Templars and mages, left to right, more often than not. Meeting wild animals instead would be considered a blessing.’
She paused as outright tension overtook her posture, eyes clouded by a memory very clear and cruel.
‘Fighting mages was easier - watch your barriers, Fade step, hit as hard as you want to live, just the right spot above the ear... their heads cracked like those sweet corn-melons mother used to put out on the table for special guests.’
‘Yet, I couldn’t fight all of them anyway, had to run eventually but Templars, oh, Templars. Never had a single idea how to fight those to begin with. How could I? Have I ever been trained? Pft. So I ran even faster, but I guess tomorrow had something else entirely in stock for me.’
‘I thought I was so careful and, what do you know, a Templar enters the scene! Damn, she was old. I think she was completely insane, maybe it was the lyrium and those of her brethren could not kill her, had no heart to.’
‘She started chasing after me, I’m almost certain she saw a demon in my place, and I struggled. For days I tried to get away from her but couldn’t and I had no rest, no sleep. Until we made it to a bridge and I jumped off it. Thought I’d break every bone in my body but, no - alive, mostly well, just damaged a leg. Still found the strength to run as the old woman couldn’t afford to dive in after me.’
‘That’s when I saw a farm... limped in the direction of it and a Fereldan farmer greeted me. So calm. So eternally sad. It was as if his eyes were full of sorrow I could never understand for the selfishness of my nature. I spotted the graves not too far from his house instantly - two.’
‘I didn’t have the chance to say or explain, he took me in, said he’d help; I countered that I was a mage, almost dared suggest I didn’t deserve the help, and most likely I didn’t, but he thought otherwise.’
‘Such a lovely man. Such a kind, caring fool.’
‘The Templar followed shortly after. Together we barely managed to overpower her but, naturally---- naturally this had to be on my shoulders too. He was wounded mortally and died. Asked to bury him next to his wife and child and I didn’t even know his name.’
‘Her too, he said. So, why not.’
‘For some time I stayed there, thinking, trying to convince myself it wasn’t my fault but only came to the inevitable conclusion that it was. Somehow in her delusion the old Templar must’ve been drawn to my satchel, with all the phylacteries and relics---- that was the only explanation to it.’
‘That’s when I knew for sure: I’m very many things. A survivor, a fighter, a killer, a manipulator among them. Never a good person though. That man was... and died for that.’
‘I felt like this was an occasion to remember, you know: acceptance of who I really am. Also, wouldn’t hurt to be grateful. If there’s nothing good about you some honour and respect would rather make your persona bearable at least.’
‘So then I took the hat he’d been wearing as a reminder, as a token. Got no name but this will do.’
With that she sank deeper into the char and smiled.
‘Plus, I pull it off, don’t I.’
