Chapter Text
Light streamed in through the stained glass window. Pews were scattered around to make space. Everyone, chantry member and normal citizen alike, ceased what they were doing and turned their attention to Ava. The silence was defining. Her stomach lurched.
Seriously. Again, with the staring?
A sudden burst through the main hallway’s door tore through the silence like a sword through butter.
“Arrest that elf!” Chancellor Roderick’s voice echoed throughout the chapel.
Hello to you too asshole!
Two Templars began to approach Ava, their footsteps making a loud metal ‘thud’ each step. She looked passed them and at Cassandra, fully expecting her to interject any second now. But there was nothing. Cassandra looked at her in sorrow as she made her way towards the outlander, who was now being forced into chains once again.
“Wait. What?” Ava yelled.
"You are being taken into custody until travel arrangements can be made to deliver you to Val Royeux. You will face execution.” Roderick said smugly.
All the courage Ava had mustered before entering the chapel died in an instant. Instead, she felt a deep, all-consuming numbness. This couldn’t be happening. It made no sense. She had just finished convincing herself that this was really happening. That she was now actually a part of the game.
This can’t be real.
Yet, she felt her arms being twisted by rough hands. A shiver went down her spine as the cold metal of the worn cuffs closed in around her wrists.
"Not so fast chancellor," Leliana intervened. "We agreed to an interrogation."
Roderick scoffed and waved his hand.
"What more proof could you possibly need?" He started. “Nobody innocent would possibly cover their tracks this efficiently.”
Leliana rounded on him, calm but firm. "There is much we still do not know. That does not mean that she is guilty. She hasn't had a proper chance to fully speak for herself yet."
"All you will get from this filth is more lies! Andraste would not send an elf in our time of need."
Ava could see Leliana’s calm mask harden at the chancellor’s accusation, but it was Cassandra who interjected first. "And what makes you believe, Chancellor, that you can speak for Andraste?"
Cassandra question halted him for a moment. He froze, staring from Cassandra to Leliana. Not willing, or unable to reply. Then his face twisted into the familiar mask of disgust he wears so often. "Fine. You can have your little interrogation. It will change nothing," he said and with a gesture to the Templars, and started to leave.
The soldiers released their hold on Ava, but not her cuffs.
Roderick turned back for one more comment. "The most holy will receive the justice of her premature slaughter."
Ava shuddered.
"Come with me." Leliana urged and started walking.
Ava followed her like a little lamb, lost in thought and confused.
How could this be happening? This wasn't how it was supposed to be.
It took all of her willpower to focus on her surroundings, the chandeliers swinging from the ceiling, the little cracks in the stone, the woven tapestries donning the walls. Ava attempted to keep her head in the moment. She struggled to keep that gnawing, sickening feeling at bay. However, she could not stop herself from asking the question which was the root of her nauseating fear. A question in which the only answer could come through experience.
What happens if I die here?
"Just where are we going?" Ava asked in an attempt to distract herself again.
"To get some answers," Leliana said expressionless.
In another show of strength, Ava resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
Ah how I love philosophical answers that dance around the truth.
It wasn’t long before she got the answer she really wanted. They were going to the cells.
Great. Just great.
Leliana gestured to a small wooden stool at the rear of the filthy cell. The seat looked so fragile it threatened to break from the next small breeze that would blow through the cold barred window.
Ava didn’t think about protesting and sat down immediately. It was as uncomfortable as it had looked, but against all laws of physics, remained intact.
Nightingale remained standing, hands crossed in front of her chest.
She looked her directly into her eyes and Ava could understand why people feared her. Her gaze was intense, you could almost see the blood on her hands just by looking into her stare. It was nothing short of terrifying. Ava swallowed but didn’t dare to look away.
"I have to admit,” Leliana started. “This has never happened to me.”
Oh, I can definitely relate to that.
“I have found no information pertaining to you,” Leliana continued. “None of my sources, not a single one of my contacts, could find anything on you. And we looked. Thoroughly. No witnesses have spotted anyone matching your description nearby. In any village or circle. It is almost like you didn't exist before the conclave. No name. No family. Nothing."
Ava swallowed again. The last sentence had cut her deeper than she’d like to admit.
“You already know what is on the line.” Her eyes traveled to the chains around Ava’s hands. “So,” she continued. “I think your life is incentive enough to tell me about yourself.”
Ava took a moment to clear her throat. “What do you want to know?”
Leliana gave her a surprisingly soft smile. “Let’s start with your name.”
A thousand thoughts ran through Ava’s mind. Was Ava a common name in Thedas? She tried to scan her brain feverishly for any NPC’s with a similar name but could find none. And she couldn’t afford a long pause on such an easy question.
"I'm... Fenjosi,” she said almost instinctively.
"Fenjosi?" Leliana repeated.
"Yes." Ava nodded. “It means ‘runs with wolves’.”
It was the name of her Inquisitor. The one who romanced Solas. Who know might expect her to know the elven language. Shit.
“So you are a Dalish then?” Leliana asked.
“Was,” Ava replied. Couldn’t risk mentioning any Clan that did not know her.
“Which Clan where you born into?”
Fuck.
She was tempted to say Lavellan, but they would know that she lied. They would all know.
“I don’t… I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” Leliana’s asked dubiously.
“I… I grew up with a human mother.” Ava started, not sure where she was going with it. “She wasn’t my birth mother, of course, because half elves look like humans. And I look like an elf. Because I am an elf.”
At this point she had to tear her eyes from Leliana’s confused expression.
“Anyway,” Ava continued. “I grew up with my mother. My adoptive mother that is. In the woods.”
“So it was just the two of you? Alone. In the woods?” Leliana inquired.
Ava’s heart hammered in her ears.
“My mother was… strange.”
“Strange?”
“Yes. It’s hard to explain, but she was scared of everyone and everything. She always said that she was the only one I could ever trust. Said that we could only ever need each other.”
Did I just describe the plot of Tangled?...
“I see,” Leliana replied and Ava met her eyes again. "Now, I have only one more question.”
Ava nodded eagerly.
“Do you honestly think I believe anything you just told me?"
The spymaster abruptly paced towards the cell door and slammed it behind her.
“I will give you some time to… ponder the truth.” Leliana chose her words precisely. “I will be back, and next time will not be nearly as pleasant. I promise.” She turned and vanished down the jail corridor.
Well this is not going as planned…
She tilted her head back and closed her eyes.
I need to work on my alibi.