Chapter Text
There must be a world, Leliana thinks, where things end differently for herself and Cassandra.
Perhaps there is a world where Cassandra stays. She relinquishes her heart's hold on the Seekers and the Templars alike, and she allows herself to embrace the new world being built around her. She and Leliana work together, in true tandem this time. The Inquisitor and the Divine are both impressive women, but difficult, and just like Justinia they benefit from the balance the Left and Right Hands provide. Leliana pushes them all to higher aspirations; Cassandra keeps them grounded and stable.
And beyond their roles in the Chantry…Leliana and Cassandra are together. And they are happy, or at least content. They fall asleep at each other’s side; they wake up in similar fashion. They bring each other flowers and read each other poetry.
When next they are at a ball, Leliana offers her hand, and Cassandra takes it with a smile for the world to see.
Or perhaps there is a world where Vivienne is never named Divine at all- perhaps there exists out there the possibility that despite all their differences and the long-lived wariness Trevelyan has always treated her with, the Inquisitor lends her support to Leliana instead.
Vivienne still refers to Leliana's plans as mere dreams, too disconnected from the reality they live in to ever be realized. She thinks her idealistic, a descriptor which Leliana finds amusingly ironic. Part of the irony is that she is not wrong- where Vivienne bends the rules, Leliana breaks them, and she trusts that her own faith is strong enough to sustain the Chantry through the fallout.
If the people of Thedas are to be sheep, then Leliana shall be their shepherd, and of all the roles she has lived it shall be the one she is the most proud of.
When a shepherd is not enough, however, Leliana also possesses the skills and the willingness to play the role of wolf.
Would Cassandra stay at her side, through all this? Would she become Leliana's steadfast Right Hand, as she had been Justinia's? Would she serve with the full strength of her sword and her heart?
It may be true that Leliana is idealistic, for she does believe she would. She sees a world in which Cassandra sees Leliana’s intentions and is swayed by her visions, a world in which the oaths the two women make to each other hold fast.
Together, they defend this new vision. Together, they walk this new path, even as they stain it red with the blood of those who pray and plot for their downfall.
If Cassandra thinks Leliana a tyrant in this world, she holds those words inside, and still she does not leave. For Leliana, for the bond they share, she offers her sword again and again, and still she calls their mission holy.
Reverence is not what Leliana asks for, nor is worship. To keep Cassandra at her side, however, she will accept that which is given.
Perhaps- perhaps- there is even a world where Cassandra asks Leliana to leave with her, and Leliana says yes.
They abandon the Chantry together, and they find whatever hideaway exists for the Seekers in the mountains. They cut themselves off from the world and build their own under the starry skies, amongst the wildflowers. Cassandra finds what she needs to find, and she builds what she needs to build- and Leliana is there with her, for once lacking in some higher purpose to guide her.
She does not tell this to Cassandra. She wants to believe Cassandra's purpose can become hers as well, that they truly are doing the Maker's work…but she is uncertain. Even Cassandra admits that she does not know what their mission truly means; she only believes it will become clear when she sees it.
Leliana is willing to wait for her clarity, if only because she needs to put her faith in someone.
Perhaps none of this happens. Perhaps there is a world where Leliana retreats from all of this, and she simply lives a peaceful life. Perhaps- and this is the most difficult world to believe in- but perhaps there is a world where, when Leliana receives Justinia's message that she may lay her burdens down, Leliana believes her.
None of these are the world in which Leliana lives.
In this world, Leliana dons her cloak and hood, and she travels alone to the small port on the edge of the Storm Coast. One silver lining of this world she lives in is that it is her job, above all else, to know things. Her latest knowledge tells her that certain supplies are being traded at this port, and that certain well-known warriors have been spotted traveling the mountain roads nearby.
As is usual, Leliana's knowledge proves correct, and she soon finds herself approaching a woman wearing plain armor and an achingly familiar scowl. Leliana moves quietly and fluidly through the small crowd of people at the dock, skilled enough in her work that none should have reason to notice her. But Cassandra knows her presence well, and some inner instinct causes her to turn and meet Leliana's eyes.
There is a short moment of silence as the two women regard each other, until at last Cassandra manages to unclench her jaw.
"Well," she says stiffly. "The Nightingale herself. This is a surprise."
The ghost of a smile touches upon Leliana's lips. "Is it? You know I often prefer the personal touch."
"Is that what you're here for?"
"I am here to talk." Leliana motions to the paved path and waits for Cassandra to reluctantly fall into step at her side. Together, they walk along the seawall, their voices given cover by the cries of gulls and the crashing of dark ocean waves.
Leliana takes the time to study Cassandra. The former Right Hand looks much the same as when Leliana last saw her in Orlais, save for the sprinkling of gray in her hair and the lack of sigil upon her shield. But there is more, something more difficult to place- a new set to her shoulders, perhaps, a renewed confidence in her stride that has been missing for some time. Leliana marks the change without comment, ignoring the pang it brings to her chest.
"We have questions for you,” she says. “You must know you are gathering attention."
"Ah," Cassandra says. "So this is to be an interrogation."
"Not an official one, though I do see the irony." The words are lightly teasing, but they earn only the smallest twitch in the corner of Cassandra's mouth.
Straight to business, then, Leliana thinks. Probably for the best. "You've begun a new Order of Seekers."
Cassandra shakes her head. "They are not the Seekers. Not anymore. But they are people looking to do the Maker's work, and I am passing on my skills to them."
"And what does that mean? There’s no need to be coy, Cassandra. It doesn’t suit you."
Cassandra crosses her arms, her chin jutting out in a familiar stubborn set. "Fine. It means we address the problems which the Divine will not. Her Circle is fragile, Leliana. Without proper Templars, it will eventually fall. When that happens, we will be prepared."
"And what else will you and your forces be prepared to do?" Leliana asks in a pointed tone, and Cassandra scoffs.
"I have no grand plans, Leliana. You know that is not…me."
No, it is not. This would almost be easier if it were. Leliana sighs. "I know. You take things a step at a time. But you should choose your steps carefully, Cassandra. Word is spreading of your Order, especially amongst those who never wanted to grant mages any autonomy at all. They believe-"
"They believe I am the rightful Divine."
And there it is- the poisonous heart of this matter, the thing Trevelyan and Divine Victoria simply cannot ignore.
Nor can Leliana ignore the tint of pride in Cassandra's voice at the statement. She levels a look at Cassandra- Cassandra, who hates these political games more than anything, but who cannot be argued with once her mind is set upon something- and she wonders, again, about the things that might have been.
"I was going to say they believe you could act as a powerful counterpoint to Divine Victoria's decrees. But yes…there are some who go further." Leliana stops walking now, turning to face Cassandra fully. "This is not a good thing, Cassandra. This is only a conflict the world does not need."
In this moment, Cassandra does not flinch away from Leliana's searching gaze. "There are many things the world does not need. Perhaps the Divine- and her loyal Inquisitor- should consider that for themselves."
It is the same circular argument they've always had, and this time Leliana cannot mask her frustration. "What would you have us change, Cassandra? Give me an option that makes sense, and we shall do it."
At this Cassandra softens, and for a moment her hard gaze goes wistful. Yet there is no give in her voice when she answers. "There is nothing to be done."
After a small pause, Leliana nods. What else is there to say? She'd known the chances of this conversation being productive were slim. It was hardly necessary for her to have come here at all, other than to confirm that Cassandra has no illusions about what is at stake. She supposes she'd just wanted to try, one last time, to see if any of those futures they could have made for themselves still had a chance of coming true.
Now she knows. This knowledge will not ease her sleep at night…but at least she can honestly say she tried.
"Then I suppose we are finished, for now." Leliana takes a breath, and she delivers the message she has come to deliver. "This was never going to be an interrogation, Cassandra. It is a warning. If this threat continues to grow, if people embolden themselves to move against the Divine…action will need to be taken."
For all her brashness, Cassandra is an intelligent woman. More than that, she has witnessed Leliana's work closely for years. Nothing more needs to be said for her to understand fully Leliana’s intentions. She takes the message in with stoic resignation, her fists clenching at her sides. "I see."
"I would rather not follow through on it," Leliana offers.
"But you will, if asked."
"I do what I must. Just as you do."
There is a finality to the statement, and with a cordial nod of her head, Leliana turns to disappear into the crowd once more. She is stopped, however, by the sudden sound of Cassandra's voice calling back to her.
"Leliana, I-"
Cassandra stops short, clearly not knowing what she wants to say. Leliana can see something forming on her lips- a threat, or an apology, or something in between. For once, however, Leliana does not want her words. They have said all that can be said to each other; what else could there possibly be?
With these thoughts on her mind, Leliana steps close to Cassandra, silencing her former companion with the light touch of a hand upon an arm. Cassandra ceases trying to speak, and for a moment they merely stand like this, so close yet only connected by the barest of threads.
There are so many things Leliana wants right now. So many wishes she could make, so many worlds she could dream of. But in this moment, in this world, all she does is press a soft kiss to Cassandra's scarred cheek, pausing just long enough to whisper in her ear before she departs.
"Until next time, my love."