Chapter Text
The qunari was unconscious, lying in a massive heap on the cell floor. He was laid on his stomach, curling around the green mark on his hand. As the seeker looked at this strange mark, a pulse from the Breach was felt through Haven and the mark reacted in sync. It glowed brighter, and appeared to disturb the qunari, when a low grunt of pain was heard. Cassandra clenched her fist, resisting the urge to draw her blade and end him now.
Gritting her teeth, she turned to the elven apostate that entered with her and set him with a glare. “Do your work apostate,” She ordered him, hand on the sword tied to her hip, the unsaid threat clear. The bald elf studied her for a moment, most likely calculating his chances of winning in a fight with the Seeker, and nodded an affirmative. He turned and walked towards the prisoner to begin work on the pulsing mark. Cassandra turned on her heel and left the chamber.
As she ascended the stairs to the main hall of the chantry, and through her haze of fury, she could hear muffled sniffling echoing off the walls of the empty hall. The shedding of tears was not such an uncommon thing these days, but it was out of place. The building was after all, mostly empty do to the fear of the prisoner below. Anyone remaining on this level likely didn't know, or didn't care.
On a whim she went to investigate. Halting her brisk march to the exit, she slowly followed the noise until she was led behind the shadow of one of the hall's stone pillars, and was surprised to see a small girl of no more than eight or nine years of age. The surprising sight of the girl helped to rid Cassandra of some of her anger.
The child was crying, but was attempting to stem the tide, clutching one sleeve of her coat with one hand, and covering her eyes with the other. A sheathed short-sword and small travel pack were laid out beside her. Cassandra began to slowly approach the girl.
“What are you doing here?” Why wasn't she with the other refugees? Cassandra's voice seemed to bring the girl out of her stupor as her head snapped in Cassandra's direction, obviously startled. The girl quickly scrambled to her feet, sword quickly out and in hand, bringing her into the torch light, allowing Cassandra to get a good look at the girl. She was dirty and looked to be exhausted, either from crying or perhaps running, judging from her very disheveled state of dress. Her red hair was pulled into a braid, but it was coming undone. She was scared, eyes red and mouth pulled in a fearful frown, the shaking from her hand holding the blade accentuating the fact.
Cassandra eyed the girl's weapon, but put a hand up, “I'm not going to hurt you, I only want to know why you're here,” The words came out a little bit harsher then she intended, but the girl seemed relieved despite that, and let the sword drop to the ground beside her pack.
“I'm sorry! I'm not...” The girl's voice was hoarse, and it cracked as she spoke. With the back of her hand, she began to rub around her eyes, in an attempt to present herself, but it did little as she began hiccuping. Cassandra shifted her weight as awkwardness settled in her stomach. What does one do when a random child is reduced to tears in front of you?
Feeling strange and not at all sure of her self, she hesitantly reached a hand to rest on the girl's shoulder, “It's alright. You're alright. Take a deep breath.” She said, in a meager effort to calm the girl, supposing that inaction might be cruel.
It took quite a bit, but the girl's breathing evened, and her tears stopped. A good sign, Cassandra let out a tiny breath of relief. “Now... Can you tell me whats wrong?” The girl wiped her face with the sleeve of her coat, and looked at the seeker with grey eyes made red by her tears.
“I was looking for my father, but...” Then the Breach happened, Cassandra realized, feeling pity for the girl's situation, which she was sure would not be uncommon. Her anger flared, this was another thing the qunari needed to pay for. The girl continued, voice rising in volume, “But... But I know he's alive! He has to be. He said he would be here!” Cassandra feared the girl would began to cry again.
There was little she could do for the girl at the moment, the Breach was too pressing of a matter to be put aside for a single missing person, but that did not mean nothing could be done. “What is your name girl?”
“Sophie... I'm Sophie,” The girl managed through her returning sniffles.
“Alright. Sophie. I cannot help you at the moment, I am trying to fix the Breach. I'm sorry,” Sophie looked away, but not at all surprised, apparently expecting such an answer, “But one of the Chantry sisters out might be able to help your search or at least find you a meal to eat. You should find one of them.” Some direction was better then none, right?
Cassandra went to release her shoulder, but the girl promptly grabbed the woman's hand and held it with both of hers briefly. “Thank you, Lady.” Sophie said earnestly, then let go, backed up to pick up her things and walked towards the Main doors of the chantry.
The seeker hoped the girl's father was alive, and that Thedas survived long enough for her to find out. Cassandra then started toward the exit herself, as she had to return to her duties.
--
Two days had past since Cassandra had spoken to the little girl, Sophie, and the Breach was no closer to being fixed. The stress of the situation was beginning to wear on everyone, few people slept and those that did were only doing so because their body shut down out of exhaustion. The number of demons in the area has only increased, no matter how many were killed, since nothing could be done about the rifts in which they were appearing, their numbers could never truly be cut down. They needed a way to deal with the rifts, fast.
Solas should have had something by now.
Cassandra fumed, as she tore though another shade demon. The action simultaneously eased her anger, and increased her frustration at the bleak state of affairs. She quickly scanned the area near the rift, checking for more demons, when she found none she relaxed a little to inspect the rift and see how soon the next wave of demons would arrive. This rift was quiet and still for the moment, meaning it would be an hour or so until the next wave.
Hearing others approach from behind, she turned to find the soldiers meant to secure the rift. Cassandra and the squad commander shared a nod as she sheathed her sword and shield, and allowed the soldiers to do their job. Cassandra then began to head back to Haven, where it was hopefully warmer than this place.
On the journey back she briefly contemplated on what to do if Solas found nothing. It was... If Solas failed it would mean many more people would die, maybe everyone would die. The Breach needed to be closed. Helplessness clawed in her stomach, and she tried to stomp it out.
She found a seat in front of one of the many campfires, with a bowl of some kind of mystery stew, probably Fereldan judging by the grey color. Something to keep you going rather than to satisfy. The sight of the 'food' brought a small disgusted noise from the Seeker. While disappointed in the food, she refused to actually complain about it. However a voice next to her did not have such reservations.
“This sucks, even Meraad cooks better than this.” Meraad? That wasn't name Cassandra had heard before, she looked over to see the source of the mumbled voice and found Sophie seated on the same log as the seeker, in a much more presentable state than two days ago, but a cut had appeared on her temple, healing but relatively fresh. The girl's face was wrinkled up at the grey concoction, but she was still eating it none the less, apparently out of the childish phase of refusing to eat unwanted food. This amused the seeker, not at all blaming the girl for that reaction.
“Hello, Sophie” Cassandra spoke, turning her eyes back to the girl. Sophie turned her head to smile somberly a little at the woman, but lost it when she took another bite of the Fereldan stew. The absolutely disgusted expression on Sophie's face brought a huff of laughter out of the seeker.
“Hello Lady... Ugh this is terrible,” The girl working through the taste to greet the older woman, while continuing to mumble complaints.
Glancing around the girl Cassandra noticed that there still wasn't an adult with her, she still hadn't found her father it seemed. “I take it this 'Meraad' isn't much of a cook?” Cassandra asked with mild curiosity.
“Yeah, he's awful. Every time I tell him so, he says, 'Its not Ferelden, so its not that bad.' I never really got what he meant until now,” Sophie's seemed a little amused at the memory at first but quickly returned to melancholy. Cassandra could sympathize, joking while family was missing was... well.
The seeker decided to prod further, “Is 'Meraad' part of your family?” The stew's taste was losing its edge.
“Hmm, don't think so.” The girl answered, “Me and Father have only been with this Kith a little while. Friend would be better. Maybe. Haven't decided.” Kith? That... reminded Cassandra of something, but it was on the edge of her mind, just out of reach.
The girl continued taking no notice of any of Cassandra's slight confusion, as she ate the stew and spoke between mouthfuls, “Had to leave the last one, kept underpaying us. I mean, Father, not me.” Sophie gestured towards the sword at her side, “Father started teaching me real swordplay the last while, but I can't go on jobs till I'm older.” Sophie stopped eating suddenly, and frowned as she stared into her bowl.
Cassandra had just finished her own food, when the girl spoke again, this time with a dead seriousness that surprised her. “Lady... may I ask you something?” Looking over, she found Sophie watching her carefully, Cassandra raised an eyebrow and nodded at her to ask. “I've asked around and... They say the hole in the sky... that a... Qunari did that. Is that true?”
That caused the Seeker to grip her empty bowl tightly, it would of shattered were it not wooden. “I cannot see another explanation.” Steel hardened her voice, as everything that happened came rushing to the forefront. The Conclave. Gone. Divine Justinia. Gone. Regalyan. Gone. Dozens of innocent people. All of it gone, along with any hope of peace between Mages and Templars. She closed her eyes and took a breath, trying to stomp back the pain and anger.
“And this... Qunari... He's alive?” Sophie spoke again. Cassandra snapped her eyes to stare at the girl, brows furrowed, and found Sophie to be staring back, unflinching. Studying her now, she noticed how tense the girl had become, gripping one of her coat sleeves tightly.
“He is.” She answered, and watched as Sophie relaxed immediately, which set off many alarms, and Cassandra suddenly remembered why some of the words and names the girl said were strange. They were Qunlat, the language of the qunari. Her brows furrowed at the realization. Was the prisoner...?
“Okay. Thank you.” Was all the girl said, then let her gaze drop to look into the fire.
“Why do yo-”
“Cassandra.” Leliana, interrupted.
At once the seeker had her full attention on the spymaster. If Leliana was approaching directly that could only mean that something was happening with the prisoner. She gave a nod. Setting her empty bowl aside, Cassandra stood and eyed the young girl beside her. “I have to go, stay safe Sophie.”
“You too Lady.” She replied her eyes this time had a calm and perhaps resolved look.
Leaving the girl behind Cassandra approached Leliana, but stopped her as they entered the chantry. “That girl... Sophie. I think she has a relation to the prisoner.”
Leliana met her eyes, studied her for a moment an eyebrow raised, “I will have someone look into it.” Cassandra nodded and they continued inside.
“He is awake?”
“Yes”
“And Solas?”
“He said to bring the Qunari and meet him at the nearest rift.”
The pair reached the door to the small dungeon, and hopefully answers were just beyond it. Cassandra, with a shove, opened the heavy door, letting it smack against the wall. The resulting bang reverberated though the chamber, bringing the prisoner's attention from the mark, to the two newcomers.
Leliana stayed back, while Cassandra stepped toward and around the kneeling qunari.
Looking him over quickly, she could see that the man was dangerous, even without the glowing green mark. He was definitely a warrior of some sort, and not a mage. That was a small comfort, in these dark days. He had scars crossing his face, probably experienced then, and his horns were plated with metal.
If Cassandra were someone else she might have been intimidated by him. However, she was not someone else.
“Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now,” She spoke voice like a blade, finally beginning the interrogation, trying to carefully hold back her anger until answers were at hand, but it was not easily held. “Divine Justinia is dead. Everyone at the Conclave is dead. Except for you.” Accusation clear as she pointed a finger at the qunari's face, in front of him now, finishing her short inspection.
When the words came out of her mouth, the man's expression changed so rapidly, that Cassandra had to actually look at him for the first time. His face didn't not contain the usual indifferent and condescending air that qunari are known for. She found that he... did not have the face of monster intent on destruction, but monsters did not always look monstrous. Her life had instilled that lesson.
His face was set in panic as he began to speak, “What do you mean everyone is dead?!” His blue eyes wildly darting between the two women. He began to try to stand up, causing the guards to draw closer, ready to run him though at a moments notice.
This was not the response Cassandra was hoping for. Ignoring his question, she shoved him back down before he could rise up fully, and grabbed his marked arm, forcefully bringing it up, “Explain. This.” The seeker's anger seeping though, as she threw the arm back down.
“I can't! I don't know what's going on!” He shouted back.
Her control slipped.
“You're lying!!” Her voice little more than a snarl, as she grabbed at his throat.
Leliana finally stepped in, pulling the Seeker back and away from the qunari. “We need him Cassandra.” Looking into the other woman's eyes, making sure the message was received. Understanding that her outburst was out of line, Cassandra conceded, and looked at the qunari with a scowl, at a larger distance this time. The man was staring into the floor now, and actually looked like he was nauseous?
Leliana took her turn to question him, “Do you remember anything about what happened? How this began?” Leliana was much calmer than Cassandra, but the ice in her tone left no doubt that she was just as angry.
The qunari closed his eyes for a bit, eyebrows furrowed, “I was making the rounds. But then... I was somewhere else, not the temple. I was... It was dark. I was running... things were chasing me.” He opened his eyes to make eye contact with the two women looking down at him, to convince them or maybe himself of his story. “Then... a woman...” He looked at the floor again.
“A woman?” Leliana called out in mild surprise, probably thinking back to the reports of the qunari's appearance.
“She... reached out to me, but then...” He trailed off, letting out a frustrated noise, his memory appearing to fail him, but Cassandra did have to begrudgingly admit that he did indeed seem sincere. It quelled some of her anger.
Deciding that they would get no more answers from him, it was time for the real work to begin. Cassandra turned to address Leliana, “Get to the forward camp Leliana,” She looked over at the horned man, “I will take him to the rift.” Leliana, accepting the order, gave a small nod and motioned for the guards in the room to follow her exit.
Cassandra went to kneel in front of the qunari, and unlocked the irons on his wrists, only to wrap them with rope. The man was staring at her now, but he gave no protest to the new bindings.
He began to speak, his voice much lower and quieter than it was before, “Please. Tell me. What happened?”
Helping him to his feet, his legs likely feeling somewhat numb, he had after all been kneeling on the floor for some time, she answered, calmly this time, “It will be easier to show you.” A bit of the stress of the last few days showing though. Once he was completely on his feet, she motioned for him to follow her out of the chamber.
--
Cassandra did not expect the qunari to be so... cooperative. She had assumed it would have taken at least some convincing. However the only convincing he seemed to need was to be told that the Breach was a threat to everyone and the mark may be able to help deal with it. Oddly enough, he seemed to care little about the threat to his own life, but he continued to appear... sick. Perhaps the work of the Mark? Or guilt? Or perhaps worry over... family? Leliana would need to confirm, but it was looking more likely at this point.
No matter. He appeared to be honest in his willingness to help. Though she still didn't see an alternative explanation of his involvement, she felt a bit of doubt take root.
That couldn't be debated now of course, the Breach was a threat to all Thedas, and questions about the qunari's guilt or innocence could be answered after the tear in the sky was dealt with.
–
He didn't speak with her again until they had almost reached the first rift, weapons in both their hands. “Cassandra right? How long has everything been... like this?”
She eyed him briefly, “Almost, three days.”
He inhaled sharply, then in a harsh breath, “Vashedan.” Then inhaled again through his nose, “And is everywhere else like it is here? Full of demons?” He said somewhat though his teeth.
“This is worst of it, but yes.”
“Fuck.”