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The Cobbled Swan - Inquisitor Freyja Lavellan & Kasiya "Rook" Aldwir

CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR DRAGON AGE: THE VEILGUARD.

I personally love writing about my MC's and wanted to take a turn on them meeting as I would have had them in my lore.

Kasiya wasn’t nervous, at least, that’s what she had told Lucanis when he’d asked if she wanted him to come along. Despite the temptation of the offer, a ... friend to lean on, she had no real reason to be nervous. Harding was coming with her. She’d reminded herself just before dusk while tying her boots, again while combing out her bangs in the mirror Varric had given her, trying to look reasonable, or like a hero. She wasn’t sure which would come easier. In the weeks that had transpired up until this moment she felt like she’d lost the ability to look or feel like either. Every choice, weighing down on her, trying to keep up the facade of being a leader who was in control, who wasn’t scared, who wasn’t twenty one and trying to kill two gods.

“Rook?” Harding’s voice rang through the air like a lighthouse in a storm. Within a breath Kasiya was back in Minrathous. The clambering of people, the rattling of change dishes on the ground in front of performers or those who had lost their homes, their lives – everything. It was her fault, even if anyone said otherwise. If she had been here –

“Kasiya?” Once again the spiral comes to a halt along with her footsteps, Harding’s hand gripping her forearm and stopping her entirely. Kasiya finally meets the other woman's gaze, her head tilting down to the concern of her friend, “are you alright? I know we’re on a time crunch, but we can stop –”

“I’m fine, I forgot to eat breakfast is all,” a lie, Lucanis had breakfast in her hand the moment she had left her room. (Never sleeping seemed to give him the upper hand in that sense.) Harding somehow knew it as well. Kasiya had never been a great liar. It felt easier to do these days, above all, lying could at least soften the blow of worry. She needed to be their leader, making them worry about her state would do little good.

“When we finish we’ll be sure to eat then, let's not keep Morrigan waiting.”

Dropping her arm, Harding continued to lead the way, Kasiya following in step and trying not to look at the state the city was in. The Cobbled Swan was empty when they entered, strange and eerily quiet for the place she’d always seen as lively. Kasiya had only been a handful of times with Neve before it had fallen – Neve was still barely speaking to her these days. She can’t blame her, blaming herself came easy though. Neve had asked for help, and Kasiya had told her that she believed in her, that Treviso needed her. They both had, if she could have saved both – her choice came with a regret that did not pair with the promise she couldn’t make the same choice again. Treviso had the crows, but it at a greater chance of failure.

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon still and lit the room fair enough that Kasiya took moments waiting for their visitors to glance around. One foot in front of the other in a hovered step, fingers tapping along the bar in thought. Something she never had done even when it was at its best was linger long outside of the tables.

“Kasi!” her name rang clear, and suddenly she was ten again, terrified and shivering in a camp. Freyja Lavellan, The Inquisitor, was hurrying toward her only followed by Morrigan in tow looking less enthused by the woman's actions.

Kasiya felt like a child again, small and silver eyed, ears too big for her head then and shivering in both fear and the chill that ached her fingertips. Her family was gone, the attack had taken them, but it hadn’t taken her. Inquisitor Lavellan, or – she’d heard her called the herald of Andraste – at the time she hadn’t called her anything, incapable of speaking without introducing a new wave of sobs.

Eyes rimmed red and face covered in tears, dirt, and undoubtedly snot. Someone had put a blanket over her shoulders of dark colored wool, and the woman with deep orange hair and freckles was settling it properly around her to chase out the chill of night. Inquisitor Lavellan had asked her name, somehow she already knew that her family was gone, she said nothing of it. Instead she introduced herself before Kasiya’s trembling lips could even try to form a word, Freyja, of clan Lavellan, asked her name, and smiled as she did, a light in the surrounding darkness. Freyja had made careful work of using a piece of cloth to clean her face, cupping her hands on her cheeks after and whispering.

You’re safe now, I’ll make sure of it can you tell me your name?.

Kas-Kasiya.

Kasiya, that’s beautiful – Can I call you –

“Kasi! – You’ve grown up so much – Varric told me he’d found you – rather you found each other really, and as soon as I read your name in his letter I ran to show Cullen. He was just as shocked as I was – though we were both rightfully worried about what you’d been up to, I was glad it was Varric you were with – I wish it were in better circumstances – ” Freyja rambles, as if the world outside isn’t once again falling apart outside. The Inquisitor had that effect, the world could fall to shambles outside and somehow if she was there it felt like it could still be alright.

Freyja hadn’t changed much since then, it seemed, as the moment she saw Kasiya she had her hands landed on her cheeks with an almost sad smile. Her orange hair was tied back in a ponytail, she looked tired, Kasiya understood that now, but she was still here. Somehow, despite it all, things felt less scary again, like Freyja would fix everything. Like she could, far better than Kasiya believed could possibly be done in her own hands. It was clear that Freyja was looking her over in inspection, seeing how the past years apart had changed her. It felt like what she imagined coming home was meant to feel like, she missed that.

“You got your vallaslin –” Freyja asks, shifting back the shorter elves grey bangs from her forehead to examine it.

It’s only when Morrigan clears her throat that Freyja drops her hands from the other elves face and puts them up in surrender “we’re on a time crunch, Inquisitor–”, Morrigan reminds them all with a steady ease.

“Aren’t we always, and the world still stands?” Freyja chimes back as she places a hand on Harding’s shoulder to give it a squeeze, “I can’t stay, but I wanted to come, I needed you to know that you weren’t fighting alone out there, the south is in my care –”

“You can’t stay?” Kasiya no longer felt like she was ten, she sounded meek and pathetic until she caught herself, stammering over her words. “I just thought– with your experience that you could offer me some aid.”

Freyja doesn’t hide the hurt in having to deny her, lips tilting into a frown as she watches the younger girl. Things had changed, in time as they always do, since she’d last seen Kasiya nearly seven years prior. There was a new streak of scars across her face, her nose seemed crooked, and it wasn’t only that she had her vallaslin now. Freyja hadn’t known it had matched hers until now. Yet, Kasiya was still shorter than her, but her silver hair was longer, she still had the splatter of freckles across her cheeks they had bonded over on their trip back to safety. Even with her being only ten years younger, Freyja couldn’t look past the fact Kasiya was once ten and running through Skyhold while they found her a place to stay properly.

“Without the Inquisitor the south would have collapsed completely, she has not been idle while you assembled your team” Morrigan once again interjects, it looks like Freyja is thankful, Kasiya can’t hide the concern that overwhelms the sting of hurt.

“The south? I thought – the gods are up here, is it truly that bad?” When Kasiya speaks this time, it’s easier. This is work, more than anything, not a reunion. Even with the comfort of it, the underlying tension slowly creeps along with the sun through the morning.

“Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain have restricted their activities to the north, but they have deployed forces to the south – the strange new darkspawn – have spread fear and corruption worse than any blight in history,” Morrigan explains, emphasizing the gravity of the Inquisitors absence.

“Darkspawn have swarmed Orlais, straight through the center, both Val Royeaux and Halamshiral are barely able to keep their defenses against the attacks, Ferelden would have been lost if we hadn’t received aid from Orzammar – Denerim was lost – but Fereldans are holding the line at Redcliffe,” emotion nearly leaks into Freyja’s tone as she speaks, yet it’s clear the grim reminder has pulled her back from the moment of peace.

Kasiya tries not to picture it, as Freyja continues the losses, how the free marches have been impacted the most, the evacuation of Kirkwall. Every bit of information makes Kasiya more uneasy, the lump in her throat threatening to choke her lest she swallows it.

“My Ma–” Harding speaks, and it’s easier to focus on the matter at hand once more.

“I called in a favor, your mother is safe, and she’s with old friends, you’re taking care of the North, I’m going to take care of everything else – I’ve called in more than one old friend, and despite the best efforts of some, my name still carries weight,” Freyja eases Harding with a nod, “The south is my problem, I’ll keep our people safe, whatever comes with it, I will be there regardless if I’m wanted, you all know that better than most.”

Kasiya couldn’t understand how despite it all Freyja still held the same passion. She was there and ready to fight, ready to inspire, she was a hero – Varric knows the same woman and still believes Kasiya could hold a candle to the title of hero. She had no choice, if Freyja was leaving – this was going to fall on her and the others, there was no other way. She couldn’t fail them all.

“Kasiya, you stop those bastards, and I’ll make sure the rest is taken care of – you need to lean on your team – if I hadn’t had the people I did – do on my side – I wouldn’t be able to do this, your strength will be theirs, and theirs will inspire yours. You must take care of one another, whatever challenges might come from it,” when Freyja speaks it sounds like an order, Kasiya had always hated orders. Yet she needed direction, as helpful as Varric was – Varric felt like another source of guilt. The Inquisitor could still fight, Varric was on near constant bed rest because of her. Years spent off and on by Freyja’s side or in writing held more weight, if Freyja believed she could do this – how could she not?

“I won’t let you down, Freyja,” Kasiya replies, emotion seeping into each word as though it were a prayer not a promise. Begging her that her trust wouldn’t be in vain, that she wouldn’t fail them all on mission.

“I was your age, when this began, Kasi, I know the weight you carry, but you also carry hope, if I did not believe in you, I would not flatter you with such words and send you like a lamb into a den of wolves,” Freyja reminds, yet at the same time she reaches down and into her bag to pull out – “that metaphor may have been a poor choice.”

“Is that a wolf statuette – “ without thinking, Kasiya moves forward to take the statue, holding it as it glows and pulses against her hands, “I found – I’ve found these, in the crossroads – where did you–?”

“It appeared right around the time Solas’ ritual failed, when he was pulled into the fade, it’s tied to him, to the veil– from what Morrigan has told me it will be far more use to you than it is to me, Cullen doesn’t even want it in the house regardless – Nemaya keeps trying to play with it – ” she adds, despite her concern there’s a slight smile on her lips. Kasiya can imagine it, she can understand why Cullen wouldn’t want it in the house, and she doubts having it around a child is any good, yet Kasiya knows she needs it.

“Thank you – this is – you have no idea how much this is going to help –” Kasiya sounds almost excited, a missing piece of a puzzle she’s been chasing for answers.

Morrigan chips in once more, cutting off the ramble that the conversation is already at a lack of time for “we have some idea, child, Solas’ magic is ancient and part of him in a way far beyond that of mortals.”

“I’m not so worried over him, he’s trapped – but I know what this is for – and every bit of information I get on him gives me one more step closer to being ahead of whatever his plan is,” Kasiya’s voice gains confidence with every word, excitement building –

“He is in your dreams, keep that in your mind, he is far more cunning than what you can anticipate, do not lessen your concerns of him simply because you believe he is helpless in the fade,” Morrigan reminds, yet it does nothing to dim the spark of excitement in Kasiya’s voice.

“Solas was one of my closest friends, we bickered and we rarely saw eye to eye simply because of his ego most days, but when it came down to it – I too believed that he was on my side, I had less knowledge than you do now, and perhaps blind faith – do not let him catch you turning a blind eye simply because you believe he is licking his wounds.”

“I’ve learned the hard way, as much as I wish to save my friend, there is little that can save him outside of his own torment – when the time comes, whatever he may say, Kasiya, you must remember who he is. I want you to carve your own path through this, I trusted him then – I carry regret, but he saved me more than once, and I know even now if we were in the thick of things, he would do it once more – but do not think you can change his ways, above all, he will do what it takes to finish what he started, you must be ready to stop him,” Freyja doesn’t look away from Kasiya, her words sound nothing short of a plea as her hand comes to rest around the other womans as she holds the statue.

“We must go, Inquisitor, the south needs you, just as I believe our friend needs to attend to her own challenges,” Morrigan turns, leaving little room for further pleasantry. Kasiya notes it, the way she carries herself, as if she can somehow make her own mind work in the ways the witch has. To carry power and confidence despite the chaos around her.

Freyja moves, obstructing her vision to pull her into a tight hug, the world feels lighter for just a moment when she does. “You’re going to do great things, Kasiya, do not hesitate to write me – if you need me, truly need me – I will be here as fast as I can, do not let anyone let you believe you are lost in this, you have the south rooting for you, and your team, and the north is following suit, do not bow to the judgement that they will try to pit you in.”

When Freyja pulls away she doesn’t let Kasiya see her face, instead she’s nearly halfway out of sight when the woman even recovers from the gravity of her words. “You’re my eyes and ears, Lace! Don’t make me regret letting the north keep you!” she manages as her voice carries around the corner, followed by Morrigan’s tsk.

“Tell Cullen I said hello!” she calls, there isn’t an answer, it sounds pathetic, but she doesn’t care. It’s only herself and Harding, and Harding has already seen her reduced to near tears more than once. “The south –” Kasiya starts, but the sound of the door of the tavern opening sounds like someone is breaking in to do so, followed by a disgruntled bar keep.

“Took you long enough,” he snips out, not giving them a second glance before moving inside with the doors allowing the light to fully seep into the room.

“The south is in the most capable hands I know – we all need to work together and keep your promise to her, and you need to eat breakfast, one battle at a time, Rook.”

Kasiya’s nose scrunches, she shifts to put the statuette into her bag for safe keeping, ignoring the new weight that comes with it as she swings the strap over her shoulder.

“I want to look cool, in front of Freyja, just once –” she starts as they head out the door, only continuing as they make it to the bottom step and back into the city. Without thinking Kasiya makes an immediate turn heading toward the eluvian for the crossroads.

“You should have talked more about the dragon–” Harding teases, elbowing her and dropping the topic of breakfast, letting her lament for the moment instead.

“Freyja fought tons of dragons –” Kasiya nearly whines.

“None were blighted–”

“Do you think she would tell Bull?”

“Kasiya, I think she had to personally stop Bull from coming up here to do it if she did–”

“ – I think he’s more qualified, Lace, but putting him and Taash together might be too mighty of a force – I doubt they’d have seen eye to eye on it though –”

“You have a point – I think Taash and Sera would have gotten along–”

“Freyja barely let me talk to Sera after she tried teaching me to weaponize bees – I don’t want to imagine that – it would be a disaster, they’d send Emmrich into an early grave, and we need him.” Kasiya can’t help but laugh, she moves to drag her hands over her tired face – even when she was scared as a child – they had all made the world seem better. Skyhold had been what the Lighthouse now was, a sanctuary – Solas leading them to both.

“Do you remember Solas?” Harding asks suddenly, her own laughter dimming shortly before, “you know, before all of this – I do barely, he was always with her though in the field, and Dorian, I rarely saw her without one of them.”

“I do, I don’t know if he remembers me – or if he really cared to – I was so young, he probably just thought I was underfoot and loud, although – he used to tell me stories – not as much as Varric – but, every so often, about – I suppose what he went through, I didn’t know that then. After some time, before I went to the Veiljumpers – he stopped showing up as much, I spent more time with Cassandra by then anyway – learning to fight – and Sera offered to teach me how to shoot a bow – it was so short, but it felt like so much of my life – I should have written them all more, I don’t know where most even are,” Kasiya hums out as she stops to reach her hands out toward a cat, it sniffs her hand, purring as it allows her to finally pet it.

“Do you know Assan purrs?” Kasiya changes the topic with quiet ease, scratching under the cat's chin before moving along on her way, following after Harding as the city moves on around them.

“Does he really?” Harding laughs, looking up to the taller woman.

“Mhm, I sneak him treats sometimes, or when I hug him goodnight – it’s cute, I might start stealing him for warmth–”

“Lucanis is going to get jealous –”

“ – Lace Harding, do not start with this – I trusted you with a single speckle of a crush and you dare tease me?” she laughs, despite her words.

“Isn’t that what friends are for?”

“I suppose – Neve would never –”

“Neve would in a heartbeat – Bellara might be kind enough not to,” Harding quips, making her way to the eluvian and glancing up at Kasiya, “I know this might not mean – as much, coming from me, but Varric trusts you, and Freyja trusts you still to get this done – I do too. From the moment you decided you were going to crash a pillar onto Solas and let me help.”

“It means the world, Lace, truly, you’ve – you’ve been a rock in this, since we started, I trust you to have my back, and I’m glad you’re here by my side, maybe we can knock another pillar onto Solas and not miss –” Kasiya teases, patting Harding’s back before watching her lead the way through the eluvian “ – make a pancake out of him”.

Kasiya doesn’t hesitate to follow the scout, Freyja was right, she knows it. At least about trusting her companions, without them – even in this little time – she couldn’t have gotten this far. They made it all worth it – if she made it out alive – she wanted to be sure not to lose them to time – the future seemed brighter, even in the darkness she was fighting through blindly.

The walk back to the lighthouse is quiet, through the crossroads is easy with the amount of travel they’ve used it for. By the time they are in the basement of the Lighthouse and going toward the stairs the topic finally changes back to work.

“Can you help me gather the others? I want to see what we can find out from the statue –” Kasiya asks as they round the stairs, “Neve and Bellara, I’ll go get Lucanis and Davrin, when we get back in we’ll get Taash and Emmrich –”.

“Don’t need to look far,” Lucanis’ voice carries from the couch as they finally round the top of the staircase. His eyes follow Kasiya as if trying to read her, yet at his voice she nearly jumps out of her skin.

“Were you – were you waiting here?” she asks, hands gripping the strap of her bag, theres a book in his hand folded open by his fingers and resting on his thumb and pinky, “you were reading – sorry to – disturb –” Kasiya rambles, trying to catch herself, seeing her way out, Harding pats her back.

“You found one, let me go get the others, I’ll even get Davrin –” Harding smiles between them both and takes her leave far too quickly to be discreet.

Kasiya momentarily debates taking off her boot to only throw it at her friend. Instead she looks back to Lucanis, waffling for a moment.

“I was waiting for you to get back, yes,” he answers in her silence, moving to stand and rest the book face down to save his page. “I wanted to be sure you got back alright – it’s rare you don’t let me join you.”

Kasiya can’t help her smile, soft and nervous as she looks down and away from him, failing horribly to meet his eyes, soft laughter filling her lack of words, “I didn’t know you worried so much about me, I was only gone a few hours –”

“You were still gone, and Spite wasn’t pleased by that – if he is by anything –”

“Oh, so it was Spite who missed me?” she teases, finally gaining her footing in the conversation once more, her thumb grazing over the fabric of her bag.

“Don’t give him all the credit –” Lucanis complains as he looks at her, eyebrows raise as he waits for her to speak again, when she doesn’t he pauses. “I was thinking of going to the cafe today, after this most likely – why don’t you come with me and you can tell me about your morning.”

Kasiya brightens, just a bit as she smiles to him, “I’d like that a lot – actually – it’s a bit of a long story, I don’t want to bore you.”

“Kasiya, do not speak of such impossible things – you’ve yet to do a single boring thing since we met –” he reminds, grinning.

“I think some things I do may be seen as boring for the Demon of Vyran–” she jokes lightly, moving toward the stairs as he follows her.

“ – are you two flirting or is it safe to come out here, I don’t want to listen to that crap–” Taash calls from the banister, looking less than pleased with them both.

“Taash, I was just about to come find you if you want to join us, group meeting – I’ll get Emmrich too – ” Kasiya pivots, holding the statue in her hand as she looks to her friend. Lucanis grumbles something she can’t make out as he steps down from the stairs and returns to the main room.

Kasiya passes Taash with a huff, giving them a look that promised payback later as she moved to get their final companions. The sound of Assan cutting Davrin off to get into the building is heard but she doesn’t hear much after the warden tries lecturing him about manners.

#freyja lavellan #kasiya aldwir #dragon age fic #original character

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