Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age.
Chapter I: Trials of a Templar - Part I
While navigating the Storm Coast, The Iron Bull has an interesting, and enlightening, conversation with the Herald's companions. Little does he know that he has his work cut out for him...
"It's Seeker Pentaghast, isn't it?"
"It is. Did you not know?"
"Just checking. Your little elven friend has a strange accent."
Cassandra sighed. "It is annoying, but she is trying to learn Common. Perhaps you may be able to help, given her understanding of Qunlat."
"Didn't think you'd be too happy about that."
"Why not?"
"If she didn't start spouting gibberish, I'd say Qunlat was her first language, but she's insisted she wasn't born under the Qun. That would mean she was converted young, between six and ten winters I'd wager. Maybe twelve at a push."
"So she did live under the Qun!"
"Not permanently. Her pronunciation's good, but her grammar's terrible. If she was educated under the Qun, she was probably taught on Par Vollen, captured by 'Vints during a raid, and taken back to Tevinter."
"I… I cannot begin to… How will we know?"
"She's a stickler for details so, when she finds the right words, she'll take. It'll take time, but she'll open up to you, Seeker."
"I… find that hard to believe."
"Oh?"
"We did not start out on the… best of terms, and there are some things that no amount of apologising, however sincere, can erase."
"That's all water under the bridge, Seeker."
"Varric's right."
Cassandra scoffed.
"The first step's always the largest. But, once you've taken it, you're already half way there."
"Are you going somewhere with this, Bull?"
"I am. Just wondering if you'll get there first."
"And where, exactly, are we heading?"
"Your Herald called you Basvaarad. Know what it means?"
"Unfortunately, no. I have heard the term Arvaarad before, but not Basvaarad. I would assume they have similar meanings…?"
"They do. Arvaarad translates to 'one who holds back evil', which is combined with bas, a name for those non-Qunari. Basically, it's a fancy way of saying 'Templar'."
"Oh. But I thought an Arvaarad… leashed a mage, with a collar, and sewed their lips shut."
"They do." He pretended not to have noticed Solas' glare.
"And she… she thinks I'm… like that?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe she's afraid of you. Maybe she's glad you're around to kill her if she loses control."
"Was that… supposed to reassure me?"
"Nope."
"Then what was the purpose?!"
"You're a warrior, Seeker – damn good one at that – and warriors follow orders. But you can't follow an order you don't understand, and you won't follow one you don't like. Until she learns Common, or until she's comfortable calling you a Templar, you're her Arvaarad. Now, that could be an insult… or it could be a mark of respect. You won't know which until you –"
"Talk to her. Yes, I know. I… will try."
"If she heard you, Seeker, you know what she'd say."
Cassandra sighed. "Try not. Do or do not. There is no try."
"Nice. Short and sweet. Mind if I use that?"
"I've already written it down. Apparently, someone called 'Master Yoda' said it. Don't suppose that rings a bell, Tiny?"
"'Fraid not, but I can do some digging, see if we can't put a name to a face. Did she say anything about him?"
Solas pulled up alongside the group, his eyes still fixated on the Chargers riding ahead with the Herald.
"I understand this Master was a Force Mage. From what little I gathered from her description, he is old, unusually short in stature, and possesses pointed, elongated ears, although she claimed he was not an elf."
"Should be easy enough to find. I'll speak to Red when we're back at Haven."
