Doom Upon All The World

Chapter 40: The Telling Hurts

     "What do you mean she's gone?" 

Maeve stood in the front of the hall looking out the stained glass window behind the space where her great throne used to lie. She did not miss that chair. She hated that she had to condemn all those people in that thing but someone had to do it. She was just the closest person with the most power. She supposed it was not a terrible job. Herald of the Maker's bride, leader of the Inquisition, bearer of the Veiled mark, bringer of swift justice, defeater of great evil. It brought her much to live that life. It brought her Solas, who in turn gave her Nicolynn and Mythalus. It gave her Cassandra and Cullen and the rest of her friends. It brought her fame and riches and splendor. But now it was taking things from her. It took Dorian, Bull, Josephine, and Tom. She shivered to think what it might take next. 

      She stood there by the window as the others argued about the most recent loss. Perhaps it wasn't such a loss though. Maybe, a misunderstanding. Had she run away? Had she simply gone for a stroll? Had she been hurt? Kidnapped? Maeve pondered these things as they did. Only the others did it much louder. They bickered amongst each other about it as she stayed with her backed turned. She heard Morrigan's voice raise over the rest, Solas and Cassandra quieting their disagreement. 

     "The point is that she is gone. It matters not why or where she has left to, only that she is not here." The dark haired mage tried to reason but the pair of them were stubborn in their opinions. "She is wracked by grief. Her best friend is dead and now three more of us have perished. Can you truly blame her for trying to get away from it all?" Cassandra questioned. She stood near one of the tables, in a loose circle with Morrigan, Solas, and Varric. Cullen stood a ways back. Something was clearly on his mind but Maeve was too busy with her own thoughts to say anything. She feared what his answer might be as well and thus left it alone. "If you truly believe that, you are more naive than I thought, Cassandra." Solas put in, his hands held firmly behind his back as he stated his opposition. 

     "The Spymaster has clearly abandoned us. She stated her opinion on this before. She blames Maeve for what Gilderoy is doing and to preserve herself, she has left. Her cowardice has won over and she flees to the furthest corners as to escape her shame." Solas berated the woman as Maeve stared blankly at the colored work in the frame. She didn't agree with Solas completely. Perhaps some part of Leliana told her to flee but she couldn't believe that the woman would leave simply because she was scared. Leliana was willing to give her life for the Inquisition. Why would now be any different? According to Morrigan, the former bard was nowhere to be found. Her quarters were empty, the rookery was home to only a few raven's anymore, no one had seen her. She'd been invisible since she came back from looking for Tom. Maeve couldn't imagine what hearing about his death must have done to her. First Josie, then her husband. It was a lot to handle, even for Leliana. 

     "She would never do something like that, Solas. She may be persistent in her stance but Leliana could not just abandon Josephine's children after their parents passing." Cassandra protested. It was obvious in the tone of her voice that she was getting frustrated, the conversation becoming a personal spat. Solas did not respond for a moment. Cullen, Varric, and Morrigan did not fill the quiet either, all three of them choosing to let it play out between the two of them. "Fear makes people do uncharacteristic things." He answered. That seemed to put an end to their argument. Cassandra didn't know what to say back to him. He could be right. She knew exactly what fear could do to people.

     There was an iciness near the window. It only intensified as she stood there. She could vaguely hear Morrigan speaking again but she blocked it out. She didn't want t hear it anymore. She closed her eyes and saw her home. She saw the house in Halamshiral, heard her children's heavy footsteps above her, felt Solas' arms around her. Everything there was so perfect. Why could they not have that? "The smell of honey and tea wafts in the air. Light crashes through the window and a faint crying pierces my ears. Just a few more moments sweet one. " A voice whispered just beside her. She recognized it. Not only the voice but the words as well. A memory. The exact one she'd been thinking of. She turned her head and saw Cole standing next to her, head hung low, eyes dull and sad, skin pale as ever. "Cole, you've been gone for a while." She mumbled, wondering if the others could hear them, if they even saw him. "They're wrong." He uttered firmly. Whatever he was referring to he was very insistent about it. "She's not sad. She's not scared either. She is determined. Afraid but unfaltering. Amiss but certain. She knows what she must do and for that she has left." He affirmed. He means Leliana. Maeve sighed as she looked over the intricate pattern of the glass.