arla | ic contact; (eudio)

Let me repeat: she approached me with her sword drawn.

Good reason was that she saw me at the ball with Anders.

I've only asked for him to be left alone. I don't know why your people are having such difficulty following such a simple request. If she approaches Anders that way, Justice is going to come out and there will be a real mess.

I haven't-- I spoke to the initial group that arrived here. Cassandra is... I am not the Inquisitor that she knows. For me to order her or give her such direction isn't right. She hardly knows who I am. She has no reason to trust me.

[ And as much as that pains her, she has to give her friend the patience and space to let them re-learn each other. ]

Cassandra is a Seeker of Truth. She was sent to investigate the destruction of the Chantry. Please, understand where she is coming from.

I will speak to her. I cannot promise she will listen to me.

Whether she knows you or not, you are the bloody Inquisitor. How many people in Thedas do you hold power over without knowing them? I'm doing all I can to prevent trouble on this side and I'll not have it happen on yours because she doesn't know you. Control your damned people.

[The feed cuts off.

Hours pass before his voice is heard again. Still gruff, still steamed, but calm this time.]

Inquisitor Lavellan. I may have been too harsh with you. I'm sorry for that.

[But not for everything.]

Edited 2015-04-30 22:39 (UTC)

[ Any protest she has dies when the line disconnects. And, really, she takes the time to listen to his points, the hours between their talks settling enough that she can look at what he said and take it to heart.

She's surprised when he calls back. ]

You don't need to apologize, Ser Howe. You have every right to be frustrated with the situation and with me.

[ She sighs. ]

And you were right. It's my job to keep the peace, regardless of where we are. That's my duty. But ordering people, pushing them to do things-- That's not who I am and that's not how I lead.

[ I am not strong enough to do something like that. ]

Doing something out of character for yourself is a small price to pay if you can keep Justice at bay. Your soldiers expect orders. You're not going to get results just by being everyone's friend.

These people are not my soldiers. They chose to fight alongside me; none of them were ordered or conscripted into the Inquisition. They are free to stay or leave my side at any time and I would not force them to do otherwise.

Cassandra Pentaghast does not expect my orders. She has always had a voice, long before I was ever looked upon as anything more than a murderer of the Divine.

...You murdered the Divine?

[And suddenly Nathaniel wonders why all these people are so worried about Anders if they've promoted the Divine's clever assassin to head of the Inquisition.]

Of course not. I didn't even know the Divine was dead until Cassandra told me. But that didn't stop them from assuming I did it. They had me shackled and dragged into Haven while they attempted to stop the Breach when it first formed.

[ She sighs, rubs at her forehead. ]

The truth is much more complicated than that. Regardless, Cassandra put the Inquisition in motion with Leliana. I didn't.

[Man the weirdest shit happens to these people.]

Regardless, you're a Maker-damned leader. You have the world in your hands. You're not doing them any favors by serving them tea and holding hands and talking about their childhoods. Your Seeker tried to intimidate me. That is beyond tea and holding hands, and it is your responsibility to deal with it.

[ Her voice hardens, perhaps for the first time since entering this world. It is icy and threadbare, direct. ]

Do not presume to know how I interact with these people or what our relationships are.

I will speak with Cassandra. As I said, I cannot promise that she will listen to me, but I will still speak with her on this matter.

I haven't presumed anything but what you've told me yourself. This isn't about what's right for you.

[The feed cuts off again.]