Chapter Text
Bambi had been in Haven for 5 weeks when the Breach opened.
If she was being honest, it was a bit of a blur on how she got there. She’d been at home, in her little studio reading before bed. Then-darkness. Clamoring voices and shouting, followed by pain and a sweet but distorted voice, saying something she couldn’t parse out. Then, she’d woken, on a crowded carriage full of other women, of various races and ages, all sleeping soundly as they were carried to this random destination.
It had taken her less than a minute to realize she wasn't dreaming, another minute to have a minor panic attack, and 5 to make a plan.
First part of the plan? Don't let anyone know she wasn't from here. Given the state she was in, dressed in a drab dress with an apron and packed like a sardine into a carriage, there was a good chance whatever was happening was of the unsavory variety. If she called attention to herself, it was more than likely to get her killed or worse.
Second was also quite simple: survive. Play along, don't let anyone catch her doing something strange, figure out where she was, and if need be, make a plan when she could to leave. There was a chance that whatever put her here could get her out, but-
That chance was slim, especially since she had no idea how or why she would be here.
There were a few hours more of silence as the carriage went on. Despite the slow rocking motion and the warm pressure of bodies around her, Bambi managed to stay awake and alert, having found a small crack in the wood of the carriage, big enough to press her eye against and watch the outside.
There was snow, everywhere.
The moonlight was bright on the snow, casting everything in shades of monochrome white and black. She could see wintering trees, long thin branches reaching for the sky, along with conifers doused in their fine needles. There were shapes of creatures running between patches of shadow, glints of tapetum lucidum flickering in the half-light. But when she finally saw the shape of one she recognized, her heart sank.
‘I don't think the sight of a nug has ever made someone cry before’ Bambi thought quietly as she watched the tiny beast paw at the snow before the carriage took it out of sight. The tears were hot against her face, the skin having long since chilled with contact from the frozen wood and air. She wiped them away with a harsh movement that made one of the other women beside her grumble sleepily before settling again.
Bambi did not look outside again until the doors were opened.
The reveal of their location happened all at once, and Bambi could scarcely remember her own actions during the clamor.
It started with the carriage stopping and the sound of voices, loud and mostly masculine. Around her, she felt more than saw the other women wake, a dim murmur or movement and whispers of “Are we there?” and “Why have we stopped?”, before the doors at the far side of the carriage opened, a man in armor standing there with a fierce expression.
“What the hell were you thinking?!” He then said and rounded on another man, this one clad in warm but well-made clothes with a scowl on his face.
“You asked for maids, I bring you maids. What's the problem?” The scowling man said, a hint of an accent Bambi could not parse in his voice.
“You packed them like chattel. Look at them, packed like lambs for slaughter!” The armored man, who Bambi was cautiously warming to, motioned to them before shaking his head angrily, muttering something no doubt unflattering under his breath, too low for Bambi to catch properly. His head raised and his eyes flickered between the variety of faces. His eyes slid to Bambi’s and caught them for a long moment before breaking, and he stepped back. “Men, help our new maids out of the carriage and into the Chantry! I’ll deal with our merchant friend.”
From there, a small flood of armored men and women came forth and began motioning the packed women out of the small vehicle. Two soldiers at the front to help them down to the frozen ground, one to take a tally of them as they got off and two others to hand the maids their bags. The last five soldiers began walking them in groups up to the Chantry. Bambi, having been in the back watched this with impressed eyes, though her heart stayed in her throat the entire time, as she recognized the insignia on the armor as she got closer to the front.
The Inquisition.
She was in Haven and judging by the lack of green in the sky, it was prior to the Breach.
Lovely.
“Hold a moment ma’am,” The soldier helping her down said, and craned his neck to the man making the tallies. “Thought you said there was only supposed to be 14, not 15.”
“There is” The tallier retorted, his brow crinkling. “That's what we agreed upon, at least. Oh well, an extra pair of hands is still a pair of hands and Bellows’ll make sure that merchant doesn't get a copper bit over the agreed fee for hiring them.” The tallier waved his hand and the soldier holding Bambi’s hand nodded and helped her hop down from the platform, Bambi’s mind taking in the facts quietly. “Ah, your name miss?”
“Bambi Leitner, serrah,” She said quietly and he nodded and handed her off to the soldiers handling the luggage, who handed her-
Oh
It was her old canvas and leather pack. The one her grandmother had given her on her 18th birthday, that had been passed down from her grandmother's mother. Her own mother had never requested the pack, but Bambi had always begged for a pack like her grandmother's, her young imagination always wanting a great adventure like in her favorite stories as a child.
Somehow, having Samwise Gamgee as a childhood hero made a girl want to explore all the more.
She took the old pack with careful hands and slung it on her back with a practiced motion and was handed off to the last of the soldiers leading the maids to the Chantry. The walk was quiet, and Bambi took to observing the village as they walked, having realized her guide wasn't the most talkative. There were more people than Bambi would have thought would fit in Haven, but some part of her said that many would be gone soon, either due to the Breach or the rupture of faith afterward. She caught sight of familiar faces as they passed certain places as well. Adan, upon his little hill, speaking with an older man. Threnn, speaking to and organizing scouts, and Seggrit haggling with a dwarf on a bolt of dark fabric.
It was strange, to see all these familiar faces in reality, and the ache in her chest became a tight bundle of fear. What if she was assigned to the Conclave? What if she was there the day the Breach opened?
What if she was there to become the herald?
The thoughts stopped as she was escorted to an open door and a harried-looking older woman, directing the other maids, the other soldiers having long gone on other duties.
“One more for you Miss Anne” Her escort declared and the woman turned and made a frustrated noise.
“They told me to get beds ready for 8, then told me today there would be 12 and now I have 15? What am I supposed to do with them?!” The woman burst and Bambi winced a bit, stepping back. “Barely have enough beds, and it's not like any of them are going to want to sleep in the stables-”
“I could,” Bambi said without thinking, making the assumed Head Maid stop and look at her. Flushing, Bambi continued. “I don't mind the stables, ma’am, as long as I know when to show up for my duties so as not to be late.”
The head maid lurched forward and Bambi flinched a bit when her hands were taken into a tight, cold grasp. “Truly? Please, you don't mind?”
“No ma’am, not at all.” Bambi gave the older woman her best smile and watched with easy fascination as her shoulders dropped and she sighed in relief.
“Your duties start at sun up, you’ll meet the others at the doors to the Chantry for assignments for the day. Duties end when either your tasks are completed or until you are dismissed. Can you do that?” Anne said and Bambi nodded, struck dumb by the sudden contact. “Oh! Your uniforms!” She disappeared back into the rooms and came out with 3 dresses, all plain, deep brown with dark red trim, and 2 ecru-colored aprons. “You'll be expected to do your own washing, and the bathhouses are open after dinner for all servants and maids. You get one rest day per tenday, but if you finish your duties early, come to me and if I have no tasks needing doing, you'll have the rest of your day to yourself. Now, I've got to corral this lot. See you at dawn!”
With a blink at the sudden information, Bambi watched Anne disappear back into the room of complaining voices, a larger smile on her face than the scowl had been before.
“That was kind of you.” Her soldier observed quietly as they walked, now heading back out to the stables. “The stables aren't the most comfortable or private thing in the world, but we only have the two stable hands at the moment, so it won't be crowded, though you’ll be sleeping in the tack room. You sure alright with that?”
“I'll be fine, so long as the stable-hand mind themselves” Bambi replied evenly. Corbin snorted lightly and nodded. The rest of the walk was quiet, as the walk to the chantry had been and soon Bambi found herself staring at a door located next to a set of empty stable stalls, Corbin walking away as she took hold of the knob, opening it slowly. Inside was a small tack room, with a set of bunk beds against one wall, and a smaller cot in the corner.
“Hello?” She greeted and heard the sound of a startled shout and watched as a boy, maybe 15 years at most, in a pair of worn trousers and no shirt fell off the top bunk of a set of beds, the body in the other bed simply sitting up, and staring at her.
“Um, hi, what-” The boy on the floor leaped up and flushed, brushing off his pants. “What can I do for you miss?”
Bambi fought down a smile and gave a probably unneeded curtsy. “My name is Bambi. There wasn't enough room in the maid's quarters for me, so they are having me sleep in here. Is that alright?
The two boys blinked at her before looking at each other and nodding slowly.
“Um, yeah, I guess. You- you don't mind sleeping in here?” The one still sitting said, now swinging his legs over to properly face her, his face confused.
Bambi raised a brow as she walked over to the bed in the corner, placing her pack under the bed and sitting down, taking a deep breath. “Not particularly. As long as the two of you mind your manners and clean up after yourselves, I see no reason to mind”
“Well,” The standing one breathed. “Guess we should introduce ourselves then. I’m Thom and this shorty is my older brother, Owen”
“Oi! I ain't short!” Owen shouted in complaint and Bambi watched him launch off the bed, tackling Thom to the ground. She watched them wrestle for a moment, struck silent in surprise before letting loose a small avalanche of giggles, making the boys look up from their wrestling and join her.
And thus, Bambi’s life in Haven began.
She woke up the next morning sore and in her under-dress, but rested to the feeling of a hand shaking her shoulder. Blinking, she raised her head and turned to see Thom, dressed in clean but clearly worn clothes.
“Morning miss. Thought you might need waking, sun’ll be up soon” He whispered and Bambi nodded, sitting up properly.
“Thank you, Thom, I'm assuming you and Owen are off to work?” She said, slipping out of bed and stretching, a great yawn breaking off the end of her sentence. Thom huffed a laugh and nodded.
“Yes miss. Up before the sun for the horses. See you at the mess for lunch!” With a wave, she watched the teen disappear out the door, and she huffed a laugh. She got dressed quickly after that, her uniform dress and apron fitting nicely. Her boots, having been kicked off under the bed before she fell asleep, went on easy as well, the laces pulled tight. Then, she carefully tucked her pack under her bed, brushed out and re-braided her hair before wandering out into the early morning air.
The dress was warm-ish and her old boots gripped the perma-frost underfoot easily. Her eyes flickered over the few people walking around the mostly still village, mostly servants or scouts she found. The Chantry itself had little light as she walked in, pushing the door open slowly so as not to make much noise and disturb any of the sisters inside. A few gave her a look and a nod when they saw her quietly post herself near the door, but carefully out of the way. She didn't know exactly how long it was before she was joined by another yawning maid, a few trailing after her until all of them were neatly lined up blinking sleepily.
“Oh good, you're all here,” Anne said, as she walked up, a tray of something in her hands. Bambi watched as she carefully passed out small rolls to each of them, taking her own with careful hands when it was passed to her. “As this is your first morning, food will be brought to you. However, in the future, you will be expected to go by the kitchens before your duties if you want to eat. If you miss breakfast, there’ll be nothing until the noon lunch bell” The head maid nodded, standing back once all the food was passed out. “I will interview each of you to see which tasks are best suited for each of you, as the merchant that Sister Leliana hired conveniently forgot to, apparently only concerned with quantity over quality. If we find you are not suited for working here, you will be given three days to improve or find yourself another position. If after those three days, you are still not suited, you will be given the wages you earned, and your things and will be sent off with the next flock of traders going into either Ferelden or Orlais.”
Anne eyed each of them and Bambi felt her back straighten, even as her eyes strayed to the floor, mind churning. It seems that having picked up various hyper-fixations over the years may actually come in handy here, as Bambi’d taken up several fiber crafts over the years, along with the labor involved in her job working under her father meant she had decent strength and stamina, and was not faint when it came to dirt and grime.
“Now, Tasha, we’ll start with you. Follow me” She waved the girl forward at the far end of the line from Bambi and a young elf trotted after Anne, her brown hair cut short. Swallowing, Bambi braced herself for the day ahead.
It was a long time before Bambi’s turn, various maids before her either leaving the interview and Chantry with either smiles, frowns, or, in the case of two human maids with glittering jewelry and far too much makeup, in tears. Finally, after several hours, Anne came for her.
“Bambi, come along please” Anne waved for her to follow, and Bambi did so gratefully, her legs a bit sore from standing mostly still for the last few hours. There was a bundle of nerves in her stomach, twisted like wires, each one sparking and making the tangle all the tighter. Eventually, Anne led her down a hallway, into a small room, lit with candles. It had a small desk, with two chairs facing it and one behind, along with a small tray of tea, a slate, several sticks of chalk, and various other random tools and accoutrements. “Sit, if you’d like”
The tone was welcoming but the words held something that had Bambi’s brain running.
“Would you like me to serve the tea first?” She asked instead of sitting and saw Anne’s smile widen.
“You passed the first test, well done. Yes, serve three cups please.” Anne said, as she took the seat not behind the desk but to the left in front. This had Bambi straightening and giving a slight curtsy, making Anne smile even more.
“Of course ma’am,” The younger woman said, walking over to the desk and carefully inspecting. Tea was already in the pot, with a bowl of coarse sugar, a pot of honey, and a small pitcher of what looked to be cream. “How would you like yours prepared?”
The sound of writing on a slate made Bambi’s ears perk up, but she didn't let it show. “Plain for me please, two sugars for our host. You may prepare yours as you’d like.”
Bambi got to work immediately, carefully pouring the two with two hands into the small, fine cups. She made the Host’s first, then poured Anne’s, and finally her own, before setting them out in that order. However, instead of sitting, she stayed standing and looked at Anne again. “Is there anything else required of me at the moment?”
The older woman inspected her for a moment, spine straight, hands clasped at her waist, and gaze tilted down before shaking her head. “You may sit now, well done.”
Bambi smiled lightly and bobbed a curtsy before sitting carefully, ankles crossed. She waited until Anne took a sip of her tea before sipping her own and held in a wince. It was a dark tea, but she found herself unhappy with the stringent brew, as it was a slight bit over-brewed.
“Any comments on the tea?” Anne asked, carefully, leading but not giving anything away with her bland tone. Bambi waffled for a moment before nodding.
“It's a bit over-brewed if I am to be honest. Only a bit, but enough to be made bitter.” She replied and watched as Anne nodded, making another note on the slate in her lap before standing and walking to the door, and opening it. Bambi, startled, stood as well, standing just next to her chair. “She’s ready for you my lady” Anne informed a figure just out of Bambi’s sight line and she felt her eyes widen as the person Bambi least expected walked into the room.
In her armor, Cassandra Pentaghast stood, an assessing look in her eyes and hand resting blithely on the hilt of her sword.
Immediately, Bambi dipped into a lower curtsy than she had with Anne, a shot of cold fear shooting through her. ‘Of all the fucking people!’ Bambi mentally cursed as she kept her eyes on the ground. Out loud, she heard herself greet the Seeker with a polite “A pleasure to serve you, lady Seeker”.
“Very polite, I see. Did she pass the first test?” The Seeker asked and Bambi fought the urge to look at Anne as she heard the sound of the slate changing hands.
“Flying colors. She’ll make a good ladies' maid, at the very least. Good posture, polite, and at least socially intelligent.” Anne replied and Bambi saw her feet turn back to face her. “Oh, you can raise Bambi. No need to stay in curtsy”
However, Bambi felt a trap and carefully stayed where she was, and heard a huff of laughter from the woman.
“See? So well mannered.” Anne laughed and Cassandra made a noise, intrigued.
“Very. You may rise” She commanded and Bambi finally straightened, eyes kept on the floor. “Now, sit down. I have more tasks for you and few involve you standing.”
“Yes, my lady” Bambi replied and quietly sat in her chair, trying not to let her nerves show as Anne sat lightly next to her and Cassandra took the seat behind the desk, placing the slate next to her hand.
“Your next few tasks are very straightforward, with little need for any posturing or etiquette” Cassandra informed her and motioned to the various tools littering the desk. “Use each tool or set to your best ability. If you cannot use them or do not know how to, say so and we will skip over to the next item. Begin”
And so the next hour went by, Bambi’s heart settling as she became immersed in her tasks. Sewing, darning, and weaving were a pass, as was polishing silver, shoes, and armor. The whetstone was used with careful hands and the dagger given back to Cassandra hilt first was met with a lightly impressed look. Bambi carefully skipped over the unknown chemicals and accompanying objects, and begrudgingly the two simple books next to them, while the small sheet of math problems was solved with relative ease, a few ‘harder’ ones purposefully done wrong. Better to think her illiterate and of limited book learning, than be too well learned. However, the last few items had her pausing, as they sat rather innocently together. It was a small sheet of music, next to a flute, violin, lute, and harp, each supposedly tuned.
“I cannot use any of these instruments, my lady,” Bambi said carefully and watched as Cassandra made to note it, but stopped as Bambi kept speaking, “However, I can sing if that would be alright?”
Cassandra eyed her and exchanged a glance with Anne before nodding. “Go on”
Carefully, Bambi stood in front of her chair and saw Anne’s raised brow as she settled herself. “Any specific selection you would like?” She asked quietly, and nodded as Cassandra shook her head ‘no’.
Then, Bambi took a moment to mentally select her song, closed her eyes, and began to sing, quietly for a moment to test the acoustics of the room only to grow a bit louder when she determined the correct volume so as not to be overwhelming.
“Where the north wind meets the sea
There's a river full of memory
Sleep, my darling, safe and sound
For in this river all is found…”
Disney songs seemed a safe bet, Bambi hoped, the lyrics simple but wonderful in the right context and she’d found several covered by her favorite artists and made into arrangements that better suited moments like now. As she finished her song and let the last note tumble from her lips, she opened her eyes and saw both women staring at her, Anne’s expression more comical than Cassandra’s but both clearly surprised. Bambi felt a blush rise to her face and hurriedly went to sit before Anne made a motion to keep standing.
“Bambi, that was wonderful!” She gushed and Bambi felt the blush worsen. “Could you do another, please?”
Bambi looked to the Seeker, and taking in the mute nod, took a deep breath, trying to get her blush under control.
“Could you do a love song, or something happy?” Anne requested and blinking, Bambi nodded.
“O-of course. One moment, please” Bambi thought for a moment before smiling, having settled on another song. It was a risky one but hopefully, it would make the impression Bambi was looking for: a simple, sweet girl, best suited for a Ladies' maid or handmaiden, or even a pretty instrument brought out for only special occasions. If she got lucky, someone might take a shine to her, and ask the Inquisition for her employment contract and get her the fuck out of here.
“On summer nights when the barn is high,
The stars are twinkling in the sky
Take a walk by the riverside
And let the music be your guide…”
The song was a fun one, more of a bouncy country-tune than the previous but sweet and happy and Bambi finished the song a bit lighter than she’d started it and was pleased to see both of the older woman looking at her with considering smiles. Bambi gave a light bow and stayed standing for a moment, waiting for her next test or task. Cassandra stared at her for a long, slow moment before sighing and standing.
“You gave given us much to think on, Miss Leitner, and more than one thing to discuss regarding what position to put you in.” She said and began walking to the door, motioning for Bambi to follow. “I must ask you to stand outside for a moment to deliberate.” The older woman pulled the door open and Bambi swallowed, stepping out. Cassandra pointed to a small alcove next to the door and Bambi padded over to the spot and no sooner than she’d entered it, the door behind her closed with a muted thud.
All at once, the energy she’d gained from the song prior left her and she slumped, sighing deeply. “By the Void, this is nerve-wracking” She muttered and to her horror, heard a snort from her left. Straightening immediately, she whirled and saw a young man clad in mage robes staring at her with a small grin on his face.
“I supposed you must have been the singing I heard, yes?” The mage asked and Bambi watched his eyes flicker up and down, clearly taking in the plain clothes that marked her a servant. “If they don't take you on, I’m sure you’d make a killing in Orlais. Do you have a name, my lady?”
Bambi smiled tightly. “Not a lady, Ser mage, merely a servant. My name is Bambi” She curtsied slightly, unsure of the man before her. In response the mage before her smiled and came a little closer, sketching a bow.
“Enchanter Maxim Trevelyan, at your service,” He said, and Bambi’s heart sank. Oblivious to her anxiety, the mage continued. “I suppose you must be one of the maids that came in last night. One of the soldiers was ranting about the treatment of you and your cohort from the merchant who helped transport you.” Maxim tutted gently. “You’d think a man hired to aid the Most Holy’s people would be a bit more pious.”
Bambi’s mouth twisted a bit and she nodded, sighing. “Unfortunately, for some, gold speaks to them more than any God.”
“Too true, Bambi dear” Came Anne’s voice from behind, and Bambi jumped again, making Maxim laugh. “Oh! I didn't mean to startle you”
“Poor girls nervous ma’am” Maxim teased and bowed a bit as Bambi turned, coming up to her side. “I was coming back from speaking with one of the Tranquil and found myself lured by a song. Instead of finding a Desire demon to banish, I found a nervous little maid. I do hope you are hiring her, otherwise, I’ll have to write to my father and see if he’ll take her”
Cassandra stared the Enchanter down with an unamused look on her face. “There is no need for that. Bambi has been hired on, with full pay and a permanent position” Cassandra then turned to Bambi and she saw the older woman’s expression both soften and become more serious. “You will temporarily be under the appointment of Anne, who has assigned you to the clothing rooms, mostly mending, weaving, and sewing. However, there is an individual that I am looking for at the moment, and once they arrive, you will be their personal maid. Anne has told you already your rest days, and your food and bathing schedules, yes?”
Bambi, dazed, nodded hurriedly. “Y-yes Lady Seeker. One rest day per ten days, food before duties, then mid-day and supper, washing and bathing to be done in the evenings.” She reiterated and saw Cassandra and Anne nod approvingly.
“Well done. Now, it is late in the day, I’d advise getting yourself something to eat and taking the rest of the day to yourself” Anne informed her and began to guide Bambi towards the door. “Duties will always start at dawning, and your rest day is next Friday. So, get some rest, I'll see you first thing tomorrow” Anne left Bambi stunned at the door, and Bambi slowly opened it as she heard Anne walking away and blinked at the sudden rush of light hitting her face.
Taking a deep breath, Bambi took in the mid-day sun and sighed, trying to calm her pulse.
It took her a long moment to move again, this time in the direction of the gates. She rather desperately needed to be away from people for a moment and if she could swing some peace and quiet before the next upset to her plan of being not in the direct line of the story. Either her clothes, her general hurry, or a mix of the two seemed to keep people away from her and she slipped out the gates without any hangup.s She took in the sight of the training fields, and the soldiers there, milling about. She noticed the lack of Cullen as she passed it and decided it was better not to think about it as she found the small copse of trees that would be a logging site after the Herald found it.
She sighed quietly as she sank down onto one of the felled logs, already cleared of snow by another visitor to the site, and took stock of her situation.
So, she’d already fucked up.
She’d thought not being perfect would mean that they’d glaze over her, even with her manners. The songs had been a choice but she’d purposefully left out her ‘higher education’ and while she didn't know what most of the chemicals were, it didn't seem to matter as she’d polished that chest-plate to a mirror shine and that knife could act as a razor it was so sharp. She thought she’d done enough to stay under the radar!
“Ugh, this is gonna be such a headache” She muttered and buried her head in her hands. She let the quiet of the frozen mountain wash over her and felt her shoulders drop inch by inch as she simply listened and breathed, thoughts slowing from the flow of sand through cupped hands into the steady stream of molasses in summer. “Okay,” She breathed and raised her head, looking to the sky above where the Temple was, the site of what would eventually be the Breach. “If they want me so bad, they can have me”
And with a decisive nod, Bambi stood, took two steps, and promptly fell over a chunk of wood.
“Motherfucker!”
Her first week was a bit chaotic, between beginning her duties (washing and changing sheets for the sisters and those in the Chantry, mending, weaving, and other random menial tasks that Anne assigned her after seeing her general ease and busy hands) and the routine of Haven. Thom and Owen spent most of the time outside their rooms, tending to the horses and various mounts brought in, leaving Bambi free reign of their shared rooms outside of the bustle of her own tasks. The times they did spend together were mostly during-or-after mealtimes, where the the boys would bring in dinner for the three of them, along with a share of watered-down beer and they’d spend the late hours of of the night sharing stories or keeping eachopther company. It’d become apparent that the boys were far from home but not missing it quickly, as Owen often slid over any mention of their parents besides the mention they had disapproved of his chosen job (farrier) while Thom went silent any time a gentle push was made about where they’d lived. In response, Bambi made her own back-story an ‘open secret”, and had told them that she was an innkeeper's daughter, she’d most recently come from a village called Hasmal in the Marches, and she’d joined the Inquisition on a whim, among other small Thedas-adjacent things about herself that wouldn't make her suspicious.
The boys lapped it up and most nights ended with Bambi reciting a story from a book she’d memorized, or simply made up on the spot, using bits and pieces of old fairy and folk tales, leading to a quickly formed tradition of a bedtime story. The boys may have been in their teens, and rather desperate to be adults in their own light, but it didn't mean they didn't become starry-eyed at the tales of the rogue Zorro, or become frightened by the horror tales of a very edited R.L. Stein. The one time she’d tried a Lovecraft story, she’d given Thom a nightmare, and decided it was best to stick with tamer stories from then on.
As for her nights prior to coming back ‘home’, Bambi made herself busy doing her own laundry with the other girls, watching the sky from one of the rocks in the druffalo fields, and retiring to the bathhouse when she had the chance, using the bars of soap, cloths and hot water provided for each of them by the Chantry. Other times, when being released from her duties early, she’d run into Maxim, often passing by from running supplies to the Tranquil, and had struck up a somewhat distant but affectionate friendship with the mage. Her sleep was a soft, quiet, thing with what she assumed was little-to-no Fade connection, judging by the lack of Spirits she encountered. The only thing she ever heard or saw was someone humming a lullaby in the distance or the flicker of mono-chrome fur and peachy skin, seemingly just around the corner. However, one day, when Bambi caught sight of her pack during her get-ready time after the boys had left, still slid under the bed, latched tightly and untouched, Bambi made a mental note to go through it when she actually had the time before rushing out the door to her duties in the laundry room.
And so, on her first and so far only day of rest, Bambi finally took out her pack to inspect what Past-Bambi had deemed necessary and nearly screamed.
The pack was full.
Like, to-the-brim full and she could see no rhyme or reason on how it was packed.
After debating for a moment, Bambi decided to just dump everything out on the bed and start sorting. It took a few shakes, vigorous ones, but eventually, she got all the little bits and bobs unpacked and laid out, until Bambi was staring down in amazement and confusion at the pile below her, emotions warring. There were a lot of items here, items she could definitely use but-
How? Why???
Bambi sat back on her heels as she looked at the assortment before pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes. The items were, to put it simply, chaotic. Sure, there were useful items, like the lighters and the meds, and knives, but how and why did she have fireworks? Was she missing more time than she thought? She knew, for a fact, that she did not have fireworks in her studio in her memory. And the yarn? The coffee? They weren't needed, they were comforts, it was like-
Bambi paused.
Like she’d packed not knowing what was going on.
Sure the bag was full, but she had to dump it out to see what was inside, it wasn't nicely packed, just packed, and upon carefully going through the items, there was no way all of it fit in there. There just was not enough room in it! Just by existing, her bag gave her more questions than she had answers to. Sighing, Bambi quietly packed what she knew couldn't be kept out, which was most of the pack. She kept out her favorite black and red spotted bandanna, using it quickly to cover her hair, and swapped out the leather ties keeping her hair in a braid for her elastic hair ties to put her hair in a high bun. Two variegated yarn cakes and a 3.5mm hook were tossed onto her bed to make a shawl and the last thing she kept out was her bowie knife. That, she tucked together with the sheath into her boot, snapping closed the ankle strap with a click. The rest she carefully packed away, much more carefully than it had been packed in the first place, and still found that there was more room inside than there should have been. When did her ancestor's pack become a TARDIS?
Sighing, Bambi tucked her pack back under the bed and pulled her yarn and hook into her lap, making a loop, and started an old shawl pattern she had memorized. It was a few hours before the boys came back, smelling like clean skin, rather than horse for once, talking between themselves and carrying dinner for the three of them, Owen with the bowls of stew and Thom with a large pitcher of the weak beer that was customary.
“Miss Bambi!” Thom greeted exuberantly, wandering over to the young woman. “What are you making?”
Blinking, Bambi paused her stitches and smiled at the teen. “Hello, Thom. Making a shawl actually. It's cold up here and I need something for my shoulders. How’s that mare you were working with today? Any luck?”
Thom shook his head as he placed the beer down on their small table in the back of the room, before grabbing their mugs from the small storage cupboard and pouring out their positions of the stale-tasting liquid. He placed them down gently on the table as the older boy placed the food down, before taking his place on the floor next to Bambi’s bed. “Nah, no luck today. Her owners having a rough time of it too. Poor girl keeps nipping and rearing but no one can tell her problem.”
“You both keep crowding her” Owen scolded, taking his own place at the table. “Either she’ll let you help or the problem will work itself out.”
Thom stuck his tongue out at his older brother before facing back to Bambi. “Hey, think you can tell us one of those tales tonight? I could use something happy right now” Bambi looked up from her crochet and into his eyes, big and pleading. Sighing the woman put her project down, and eyed the brothers, and the food before them.
“I suppose I could. I went through my pack and found a book I forgot I’d packed before coming here. Will one of those tales work?”
Even Owen looked interested as both boys eagerly nodded and Bambi went through her pack, pulling out The Language of Thorns before flipping through it until she found the story she was looking for.
“This story is called The Witch of Duva” She began and cleared her throat. “There was a time when the woods near Duva ate girls…”
The night passed quickly for Bambi and her roommates, between the warm stew and her clear timber letting the story pay out in between sips of her beer, to the delight of her listeners. At one point, the boys moved to their beds instead of staying at the table by her feet and by the time she was done with her stories (as the boys had begged for another and she’d succumbed slightly and started them on the first two chapters of Sabriel, which went over rather well) and the books were closed firmly and put back into her pack, Owen and Thom were looking at her with half-glazed eyes, blinking in the low-light of the guttering candle. Laughing lightly, Bambi stood and stretched, back popping.
“Go to bed boys. We all have work tomorrow.” She reminded them and for once, neither brother argued as she blew out the candle on the little table, before making her way over to her bed and drew the covers over herself, snuggling into the warmth of her straw mattress with a sigh.
Then, after 3 more weeks of quiet work in the clothing rooms and caring for the boys who’d become hers, the Breach opened while Bambi was on the training fields for once, delivering a missive to one of the officers about their clothing order while trying to avoid Cullen, who’d arrived barely four days prior.
“I need a healer, now!” She shouted into the din of the fighting soldiers. The man below her, bleeding from a gash as long as her forearm, gasped for air and she fought to keep pressure on the wound. Around her, two other soldiers were posted and around them, she could see the goo-corpses of at least two shades and from the noises, the third was being quickly dispatched.
“What the hell are these things?” One of the soldiers, snobbish Lennart with the pale yellow hair, yelled and the other, strict but sweet Joshua with the crooked nose, growled in response.
“I don't know, and frankly I don't care as long as they die faster than they can get into the village. Miss, can you stand?”
Bambi eyed her twisted ankle and the long, thin scratch going up her calf and nodded sharply. “I'm fine. I'm more worried for him, he's bleeding badly. I need a healer or at the very least, supplies. Can you get us into the walls?”
Joshua rolled his shoulders and nodded. “We’ll try our best”
The four of them made a good team, Bambi taking off the remains of her apron to tie the rag she was using to the soldier’s chest, while Joshua and Lennart escorted them into the walls, Lennart helping Bambi and Joshua keeping an eye out for more Shades and demons. They were met at the gates by a harried-looking scout, who motioned the soldiers back out with a barked order and helped Bambi and her charge into the make-shift healer’s tent not 10 feet from the gates, already manned by several mages and non-magic healers.
The soldier was taken quickly and Bambi found herself at the side of another soldier within moments, a bag of bandages and materials shoved into her hands.
It was hours before Bambi had time to think about the Breach, bouncing between bandaging and stitching wounds, to being directed to hold men down, to feeding potions to others to ensure they didn't bleed out. Soon, she heard the sounds of people talking as she took a breath, pressing the backs of her forearms to her head, her hands and wrists covered with blood. It soon became apparent after a few moments that the survivor had been found, and was now in the dungeons, taking a nap.
Bambi huffed quietly, half in horrified amusement, half in relief that it wasn't one of her own.
An Adaar Mage. Poor man.
She used some of her remaining energy to find a wash basin and scrubbed her hands as much as she could while the mages took over, the worst of the wounds tended to for now.
“Bambi?” A whisper came from behind her and she whirled around to see Owen, his arm in a sling. His eyes were red and he looked ready to fall over but it didn't stop Bambi from gasping and pulling him into a hug.
“Owen! Thank the Maker you're okay. Wait, where's Thom, is he-?” Bambi’s heart leapt and then settled as Owen shook his head, shoulder lowering.
“He's fine. Battered and bruised like I am, but he's okay. What about you? Are you…?” Bambi smiled at him lightly and brushed his fringe back, cupping his face.
“I'm fine too. I was on the training field with the soldiers, running a message for Anne to an officer. Two of the soldiers helped get me into the walls after I helped keep another soldier alive. I've been here tending the wounded in the meantime.”
“I heard- I heard that the Divine…” Owen trailed off and Bambi felt grief for the boy, realizing that like most of those in Haven, he was a devout Andrastian. “Is it true?”
“I'm sorry sweetie” Bambi whispered and pulled the boy into another hug, tucking his head into her shoulder. “She’s gone”
In her shoulder, she felt Owen sob and arm not in a sling came around her waist with a tightness that had Bambi realizing she may have bruised her ribs earlier. She held the boy for a long time, and when Thom arrived mere minutes later, pulled him into the hug as well. It soon became a small pile of them on the ground, both boys refusing to let her go as they sank to the snow-and-ash-covered ground. Many of those who passed gave them sorrowful but knowing looks, while a select few came to sit with them as well, recognizing the grief emanating from the boys in her lap.
“Shall we pray for her?” A small voice came from Bambi’s left and she turned her head from where she was gently stroking Owen’s hair as his head rested in her lap, Thom leaning on her other shoulder like she was the only thing keeping him up. She saw one of the boy’s friends, a message runner on the younger side named Carlen. He was looking at the Breach with tears in his eyes, despair rife in his expression. “It feels… it feels like we should pray for her.”
“Is that what you want to do hun?” Bambi cajoled gently and when the boy nodded, she offered the hand not stroking Owen’s hair, Thom stirring a bit at the gesture. “You’ll have to guide it, but I’ll follow along okay?”
Carlen nodded and quietly began to recite a quiet prayer, Bambi joining in as she remembered what verse he was reciting from her own slow reading of the full book. It took only a moment for them to be joined by Owen and Thom, and then more as people heard the familiar cadence of the Chant until there was a small group of them, Carlen at the center with Bambi’s boys finally sitting up, each clinging to her as much as they could. Bambi’s voice was lost in the crowd and she found herself scanning the crowd and nearly flinched when she saw the familiar face of Leliana in the back of the pack, her face blank but mouth moving to the prayer. In a moment of solace, Bambi met her eyes and bowed her head momentarily, which made the blankness on Leliana’s face break for a brief moment, grief showing through before it was patched with such speed Bambi almost thought she imagined it.
After the prayer and the crowd dispersed, Bambi gathered her boys and the few others of their civilian friends that had made their way over and corralled them into an empty tent and began to pass out blankets and usher them into beds, despite the sun’s zenith barely being passed.
“Sleep, all of you” Bambi ordered, and found no arguments as boys curled around each other like kittens in their beds. “I'll keep watch over you.” And with that, Bambi unsheathed the recently sharpened knife from her boot and faced the mouth of the tent, only to pause when she saw another familiar face in the doorway, sagging against his staff.
“Have room for another?” Maxim rasped, only to flinch when Bambi threw herself at him, nearly throwing her dagger in her haste to put it down. “Hey, easy, skinny bruised mage here”
“Thank the Maker you're alright” Bambi breathed and pulled back, before taking his face in both hands, eyes scanning his. “I heard you’d gone to the Temple-”
“I'd just left with my siblings and a few others when the blast happened” He informed her, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead to hers, Bambi’s eyes filling with tears as she realized the gravity of the sentence. “We managed to get down the mountain with minimal injuries thanks to Marcus and Maggie, along with a few others who’d been leaving at the same time.”
Bambi was silent for a long moment, mind racing and tears falling slowly down her face before she took a slow, deep breath, nodded, and pulled back. “Gather your siblings and others you met. They can stay in here, with us for now.”
Maxim’s brow furrowed as he looked down at her, before scanning the room of sleeping teenagers. “Are you sure? You're rather protective of these boys of yours-”
“Maxim, you’re one of my boys” Bambi informed him and watched his mouth click shut. “And your family is under my care as long as you are. As for those you met, I think we have more important matters to attend to than infighting. Get them, and come right back”
Maxim nodded and in a moment of trust, handed her his staff before departing the tent on swift feet. Bambi carefully leaned his staff against one of the ten poles and began to prepare other beds for the newcomers, and cleared the floor in some spot’s when she’d run out of space. The group was smaller than Bambi’d expected and was led by Maggie, with Marcus close behind leading a few strangers and Maxim taking up the tail. The Trevelyan triplets were all thankful for the rest it seemed, Maxim taking the pallet closest to Bambi with his siblings flanking him on either side and the few that followed collapsed into the makeshift beds with nary a word, save for one of the golden-colored elf twins giving her a grateful look before going face-first into one of the make-shift pillows.
And so, Bambi, knife in hand and back straighter than an iron bar, stood vigil over what was hers and made plans for her newest charge.