A Different Perspective

Eleven

"Inquisitor?" Krem, the Lieutenant of the Bull's Chargers, questioned then Herah sighed.

"I've contracted you to work with the Inquisition, but now I need you to keep Adaline safe." She said and looked at me.

"Only if you want to-"

"I don't doubt Celine will try something here. I'm a builder, accidents can happen." I said and crossed my arms over my chest.

"So you are asking us to protect Lady Tethras?" Krem asked and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I've got Bull out with Dorian, Sera, and Solas in the Emerald Graves hunting assassins. Blackwall has left with Cassandra, Vivienne, and Cole in the Frost Basin looking for a band of bounty hunters. Josephine and Leliana are attempting to deal with this bounty and the assassins that dare come here. Cullen is keeping the patrols up, and Varric-"

"No." I said and Herah sighed.

"What about Varric?" Stitches asked, but I shook my head.

"Varric is not in the right mindset to go anywhere, and he prefers to be by my side. Being by my side blinds him from what's going on beyond my day to day life, so he can't protect me properly with this sort of thing." I explained and Krem nodded.

"So you would like us-"

"Keep an extra eye on Adaline, please. I wouldn't ask if-"

"Cover all of your bases, Inquisitor, we understand. The Chargers are ready to work for you, Lady Adaline." Krem said and I smiled, nodding at them.

"Thank you, Krem. If you'd excuse me, Varric is in a mood." I said and left the main hall, going to find my husband. As he was this morning, he was in the tavern drinking with Hawke. I went over then sat next to Varric, but Hawke stood and smiled at me as he left.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I set my hand on Varric's shoulder and he looked at me.

"I'll be fine eventually." He whispered and sighed, drinking his ale.

"Varric, let's go. I want to nap, and I don't think it's wise I be alone." I said and he looked at me.

"It's the middle of the day-"

"And I want to nap." I smiled and he smirked, setting his empty cup down.

"Alright, darling. Let's go." He said and set some coins down, standing with me. As he grabbed my hand, we went to our tower then I changed into something more comfortable, laying in bed with him.

"Is this alright?" He asked as he sat in the bed next to me, his quill in hand as he prepared to write.

"Mhm!" I whispered and laid down, slinging my arm over his thighs and curling into him, sleep slowly taking me.

####

I groaned as someone knocked on the door then I slowly opened my eyes, seeing Varric also asleep and feeling his hand on my back.

"Lady Tethras?" I heard and slowly pushed myself up onto my arm, rubbing the sleep from my eye. As I pulled away from Varric, he startled awake and rubbed the heels of his palms into his eyes as I went over, opening the door.

"Yes?"

"Dinner, sent by Lady Cassandra." The girl said and I moved, letting her in. As I went to the dresser, to brush my hair, I stopped and set the brush down, sliding my hand over to the letter opener that was on the top. I looked at Varric in the mirror then saw his hand reaching for Bianca as he stood by his desk.

"Miss?" I turned to the servant and she looked at me curiously as she uncovered the food.

"Has Lady Cassandra returned from the Hinterlands?" I asked and she smiled softly.

"She has, my lady. Just got back an hour-"

"Who sent you?" Varric asked as he held Bianca, the servant looking afraid, then angry.

"You shamed Lord Elliot! Empress Celine demands your head!" She yelled and Varric pulled the trigger, but the girl was faster. As she came at me with a knife, I stabbed her with the letter opener then gripped her brown locks, slamming her head into the mirror. She screamed in pain, her head bleeding now, but I gripped her hair tighter and punched her face in.

"GUARDS!" Varric yelled out the open door as the servant girl knocked my legs from under me, knocking me off my feet. I cried out as I hit the ground then she jumped on me, pushing the knife towards my face as I held her wrists, grunting against the effort.

"Get off of her now!" Varric yelled, Bianca aimed at the girl.

"You'll be dead before the guards get here!"

"You wish!" I snarled and kneed her back, throwing her off of me and into the cart of food. As the food crashed around her, I stood as Cullen and the guards came running in, Herah right behind them.

"Are you okay?!" Herah asked and I nodded, panting from the effort of the fight.

"She didn't hurt me-"

"Have a healer look you over, in case she cut you or poisoned you!" Herah ordered and I nodded, taking deep breaths as Varric came over and grabbed my hip, holding Bianca in one hand as the guards took the assassin out.

"Firefly-"

"I'm fine, Fuzzy!" I breathed and gripped his shoulder, looking down into his worried eyes.

"I'm alright!" I smiled and looked at Herah as she stood there.

"Go, Hawke can look you over. He's a healer." Varric said and I looked at him then nodded.

"He's in the tavern. Tell him I sent you." Herah ordered and I left, walking with Krem, who was waiting outside the room.

"Where were you?" I asked and he sighed.

"We- I apologize, Lady Tethras. We were patrolling the walls with Commander Cullen, Grim and Skinner were supposed to be at your door." He explained and I frowned, stopping and turning to look at him.

"Supposed to be?"

"They've gone missing, milady." He said and I looked at the door that led to our room. Instantly, I felt my eyes widen and I turned, running after the guards who had taken the assassin.