Sisters of Tevinter

Counsel

     Dawn came slowly in a line of rose and gold on the horizon. The sky was overcast, the stars had faded, and frost coated the ground in a bitter chill. 

     Jor shivered, tucking her hands into her pockets. Solas, unbothered, looked to the South. "We will have to travel along the mountains for now. A fjord blocks our path through the forest." 

      Jor's chilled fingers fumbled with the map as she drew it from her coat. The mage was right. "Okay. How long will that take?" 

       "Another day or two. I do not anticipate delay." 

       "...That's good. No more wolves?" Jor's lips twitched upward. 

      Solas gave a thin smile. "No more wolves."

     The sounds of shifting and rustling rose behind them, their companions were stirring. Footsteps came, then Varric was beside Jor, handing her a stale slice of bread. "Good morning." 

      "Good morning," Jor replied with a smile. "How are you?" 

      "My back hurts, but other than that-" The dwarf laughed. He held out another slice of bread wrapped in cloth for Solas, who took it carefully. 

      Bull groaned from behind them. 

      "Get up, chief," Krem barked, kicking him in the shin. "We're moving out." 

      Kaisen laughed her high laugh and nudged Cassandra's arm. "I'll scout ahead."

      "Very well." The Seeker rubbed her eyes and staggered to her feet. Dane barked and bounded after Kaisen as the Crow vanished into the trees. 

      Jor munched on her bread and walked to the ashes of the campfire to sling her satchel over her shoulder. The companions set out once more across the landscape, following the mountains, crossing through rocky valleys. 

        The second night was quiet. Varric and Krem took watch. Kaisen went ahead to alert Haven to their return, leaving Jor's scarf on her satchel while she slept without a goodbye. 

         This irritated the scholar, but the way was not far. Kaisen would be fine.

         The next morning dawned with freezing rain that quickly turned to thick layers of falling snow. The companions trudged up the mountain, slogging through frigid white powder, until finally reaching the gates of Haven. 

          Bull kicked the cobblestone thresh hold, shaking snow from his boots. "So." He looked up at the massive log walls. "This is the base of operations." 

          "It serves us well," Cassandra said softly. 

          Jor nodded, striding through into the layered village of stone and wood smoke. "I have to speak to the council. If you'll excuse me." 

          "Kick ass in there, kid," Varric called after her. Jor allowed herself a small smile. She quickstepped up the stone stairs and rounded the apothecary, striding into the chapel within the mountain. 

          She pushed open the double doors and stepped into the warm, candlelit hall. "Hello?" her voice echoed off the stone. 

          "Lady Trevelyan?" Ambassador Josephine poked her head out from a offset room in the hall, her arms piled full of scrolls and letters sealed with official looking wax. 

            Jor tugged her scarf from her face and smiled. "Hi. Need some help?" 

           Josephine made a soft noise of assent. The scholar closed the distance between them and scooped a few scrolls of parchment from the woman's arms. "Better?"