Chapter Text
Table Quest: Cupid’s Arrow
A letter, addressed to Leliana, on homespun paper.
Sister Nightingale,
I’ve heard of a young man in your company named Cole, and his somewhat unusual circumstances. My sources say that he has made a place for himself in your organization, and that you are doing well in dealing with him.
If these reports are true, I have a request to make of you. We attended to a young woman and her daughter during the blight. Their village had been attacked by darkspawn in the night, and they barely made it to our chantry before the child died.
However, the child did not leave us. Just as we closed her eyes and began to pray for her soul, we heard her voice. Another little girl, identical in every way, stood beside the body of the child who had died.
Only she was not the same little girl.
My belief is that she is similar to your Cole, a spirit who has taken human form. She did not remain a child however, and has grown into a healthy young woman in the decade she has stayed with us. I estimate she was around six at the time of her death, and would now be sixteen. She certainly has all the features of a sixteen-year-old girl.
Her mother, believing her child to be possessed by a demon, no longer wanted her. The child has lived with us. I have protected her, sworn those who knew of her circumstances to secrecy, but she is… an unusual girl.
Hearing that there is another similar case, I was hoping you might have better resources to care for the girl, with people who might understand her better than the rural Chantry sisters.
Her name is Amy.
Sincerely,
Sister Miranda
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“Two of my soldiers, a brother and sister, have family near this chantry. They will enjoy the rest, and will be able to protect the girl and escort her here.” – Cullen
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Amy arrived on the Inquisition’s doorstep, all five feet three inches of her, during a blizzard. Leliana had asked Solas to be present at the girls’ arrival, in order to determine what exactly she was. Cullen, and several ex-templars, quietly stood by as well.
The three travelers stepped into the main hall, soaked through with chill. They pulled off their cloaks and the bulkiest of their armor and settled around the fire as they delivered their report.
“And you must be Amy,” said Varric, gravitating to the girls’ side. “Cold?”
Her teeth chattered. “Yes, but the fire is nice. Thank you for asking.”
Solas watched her as she stretched out her hands and feet. “She seems more connected to her physical body than Cole,” he observed. “Cole never seems bothered by the cold.”
Amy’s large brown eyes fixed on the elf. “The cold is uncomfortable, but it won’t hurt me.”
“I see.” He stepped toward her, hand resting on his chin.
“How was the ride?” asked Varric, knee up on the center table. “Run into trouble?”
“No.” Amy smiled, but said nothing more.
She also wasn’t blinking.
“The girl is sweet,” said one of the soldiers who had accompanied her. “She had a rather hard time leaving the Chantry, though.”
“What do you mean?” asked Solas.
“She...” The soldier looked at the girl, concern on his face.
Amy finished for him. “I scared him. I screamed and wouldn’t let go of the post. I didn’t want to go.”
Leliana turned to the two in armor. “I hope you didn’t force the girl. If she didn’t want to leave-“
“The Chantry sisters wanted me gone,” Amy said, her eyes dropping to her hands, which had begun to fidget. “They didn’t want me anymore. I was a burden. A problem. Too much.”
The group waited for her to finish speaking, expecting her to ramble the way Cole often did, but she didn’t continue.
“For what it’s worth,” Varric said, rapping his knuckle against her arm. “We’re happy to have you, Kitten.”
She turned her large eyes to Varric and smiled.