Read and Review please! It gives me insperation to keep writing!
The servants, because apparently, she had servants now, were running around the dining table while three very confused kids sat and looked at each other with wide eyes. With a snap of some fingers and a twisted grin, a hole had opened up in their living room, swallowing them into the void. Then they woke up, tucked into fancy silk sheets, with valets trying to wake them for their 'exciting day.'
"Princes, please, you must be ready to leave soon." A young elven woman said, bringing a suitcase with her. "Oh, it's so very exciting, you get to meet the Divine herself, princess!"
"Uh...yeah...I'm at a loss for words."
"The cards, the cards, just pick three..." The strange man had said holding out a deck of cards the three frightened children. They did as they were ordered as if pulled by puppet strings. The man grabbed Magen's cards first and turned them over, snapping his fingers, and letting them hang into the air. "You...are the only daughter of the king of...hmm...Britania. In this new world, you are 18 years old. Oh, would you look at that, seems like this little lady is destined to be the Inquisitor."
"There's no country called Britania in Thedas," her youngest brother argued. He flinched when he turned his viper-like eyes onto her sharply.
"It's my world, I can do whatever I damn well please with it. I'll just slap on a few mountains and stretch the land out. Don't worry your pretty little head." He ruffled his hair. "You'll be a rouge, and your name will be Catalina Violet Gosland." The man told her.
The two boys watched their sister go, waving to her with wide eyes, as she left them in the dining room. An older man stooped down next to the older of the boys. "My prince, please come with me, we have a few more things to work out before your coronation next week." He pulled the chair out from the table and guided the boy away from his younger brother.
He kept looking back, but the butler wasn't slowing even for a moment. "But wait! I haven't-" the door closed behind him.
"Let's see you, hmm, kiddo." The man looked over the cards and smirked. "Aren't you an interesting one? You are the oldest son of the king. The heir to the throne. Just 16 years old, and about to become king, so soon after the death of your parents. And I shudder to think what the nobility would make of you, being a mage." The man threw his head back and laughed. He calmed himself for a moment. "You're name will be Elias Heath James Gosland."
The youngest of the group sat at the table, pushing his food around on his plate. He wasn't feeling very hungry. His mind was caught up in all the little details. Like the fact that he was now living in his video game. Now his sister was off to face deadly forces that she wouldn't be prepared for. Not that anyone would be prepared for fighting a god damned crazy mage demon thing. Then there was also Solas to think about. His whole 'end the whole world' bullshit.
He slammed his fork down on the table, causing one of the servants to jump, and drop the tray she was holding. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
"No my prince, it was my fault, I should have been more careful."
He put his head in his hands. "Lord on high."
"Last and least, it seems." The man thumbed over the last of the cards. "You are the 8-year-old Dalinev Lavellan. Your father took a trip through Ferelden and found himself a pretty elven woman. They spent time together and you were born. A year later, your father was approached by the clan, because you were exhibiting signs of magic at far too young an age. Your father's wife nor his other two children had any idea of your existence. The king took you into his home, but there was forever a rift between him and his wife. All because of your birth. The queen hated you, she attempted to have you assassinated several times when you were a young child, but it just wouldn't stick."
"Fan fucking tastic." He looked at the man and sneered angrily.
"Princess, how are you feeling?" The elven woman asked her after they'd been travelling for just under two days.
"I'm feeling fine, thank you." She made sure that her back was straight and that her chin was upturned. Just like she would see a Disney princess doing. She had been stuffed into a dark blue dress. She thought it was very uncomfortable and heavy but her handmaiden had insisted that she needed to look presentable before she met the Divine. Her maid had even spent hours twisting, curling, and braiding her red hair.
When the carriage stopped, Nicole didn't wait for the coachman to open the door for her. She flung the door open and stretched her hands over her head and stretched her body as she could in her uncomfortable heels.
"Princess!" Her maid stopped her and gave put something on top of Magen's head. Magen wondered how she could have forgotten. The circlet that had been gifted to her by one of the Ferelden noblemen who they would be meeting that day before they went to the Temple of Sacred Ashes. "There, you look beautiful, Princess Catalina." The woman curtsied and stepped to the side.
Magen made sure that she stepped carefully while she walked up the stairs of the Chantry. There were people who were watching her from their homes, others were more obvious, gawking at her. She felt a piece of meat on display. The only ones she didn't mind gawking at her were the children. She would stop to smile and wave at them.
She sighed in relief when they finally reached the Chantry, she subtly rolled her ankles to try and relieve some of the pain in her feet. The door was opened and several people bowed to her, greeting her.
There was a large group of people that were gathered in the hall, talking happily to one another. Everyone was just so excited to meet this Divine person. Magen wanted to ask what the big deal was but thought that her servants and the other people around there, would not take kindly to that. She nodded her head politely at a few people who seemed to recognize her while trying her best not to engage in any conversations.
But as luck would have it, she couldn't do that. A nobleman and his wife stepped into Magen's way, causing her to stiffen in surprise. "Ah, if it isn't the lovely lady, Princess Catalina. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lady." The man said, bowing at the hip. The woman curtsied to Magen, offering her own soft greeting.
"The pleasure is mine, I'm sure," Magen said, folding her hands in front of her, and bowing her head slightly. "To what do I owe this meeting, sir...?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Lord Dumante, if you please, Princes," He took her by the hand and kissed her knuckles. "My wife and I were hoping to speak to you about something, very important, I assure you."
"Very well, please, let's speak, my lord." Magen turned and looked back at her maid who was frowning at the nobleman. The four of them went to a more secluded part of the church. There was a small table that was being sat at by two elven servants. The nobleman snapped at them to move. Magen frowned when she saw them run off in terror.
"My lady, let me offer you my condolence of the passing of your parents," the noblewoman said, placing a hand over her chest. "It was so truly tragic, struck down by assassins on the road. How are you and your brother feeling?" She asked.
"We're doing the best we can. Elias will be crowned the next king by the next week. Our younger brother...I don't think he's quite processed it yet." Magen had to remind herself to refer to her brothers by their new names.
"You count that half-elf as a brother?" The nobleman asked. Magen heard one of the other servants gasp quietly. "Your father was, of course, a valiant man. He had but a moment of weakness, surely you do not seek to punish him further, by dishonouring his memory!" He sounded scandalized.
"If you have found me, only to speak ill of my brother, our conversation is over." Magen stood from the bench, but the noblewoman blocked her path, a nervous laugh pouring from her lips.
"Please, my lady, forgive the brashness of men," she bowed low. "We really do have something important to discuss with you."
Magen looked at them with narrowed eyes but sighed and sat back down. The nobleman pulled out a cloth and wiped a speck of dirt off of his mask. Magen watched him with narrowed eyes.
"Princess, we could not help but notice, that you have not yet been engaged to marry anyone." The noblewoman said, slipping a letter over the table, into Magen's hands. "We have four sons, princess, ages 25, 21, 19, and 18 all perfect ages to be wed. They are not here with us at the moment, but we would be ever so honoured in the royal princess of Britania would even consider our sons."
Magen looked down at the letter, keeping her mouth closed firmly. This was a new world, she had to keep reminding herself of that over and over, she couldn't just snap at them and rip their letter up. As a princess, she was under constant observation. So instead, she smiled. "Thank my lord, my lady, I will consider your offer." She bowed her head again before making her grand escape.
Her maid followed after her, fussing over her dress and hair. "Honestly, the nerve of some people." She huffed.
"Do you think I should ignore their offer?" Magen asked the older woman.
"No, princess, by the Maker no," the woman stopped for a moment and looked over her shoulder. She took Magen's hands in hers and leaned in closer. "It is dangerous for you to marry someone so below your station. Then there's also the little fact that Britania has no official religion." She paused for a moment and the two women looked around the hall, where they caught a few watchful eyes upon them.
"This is all so complicated," Magen complained. "Why can't people just worship who they want to worship?" She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. Her nurse made her put her hands back at her sides.
When they woke up in that strange world, they were given a fair bit of knowledge about the strange kingdom they came from. It was called Britannia, named for their founder. In the year 2:01 Glory, He led pilgrims through the harsh, unforgiving, Totalia mountain range and established a kingdom that was south-east of Ferelden. He led humans, elves, and dwarves away from persicution from the still sort of young Chantry. They all wanted to flee the escalating hostilities between the elves and humans. So they made their own kingdom.
No one chased after them, because it was assumed that walking those mountains was a death wish. But the future king Baritn called out to his god, Keleo, as well as all the gods of the people who marched with him, praying that they would give him guidance and to protect them. They made it to the other side with only small losses. The people there unanimously decided to make him king, and the building of a nation began.
The Kingdom did not resurface until fifty years later after the exalted march was over. They tried to make a trade agreement with Ferelden first, but others were so shocked by the fact that they had all survived, but there wasn't really anything done. Eventually, Baritn's youngest son assumed the throne at the age of twenty-one, when all his older brothers were killed when they were out at sea.
Other nations saw this as an opportunity, and they launched an attack on Britannia. But the son, who was called Flynn, lead a decisive victory against invaders. Then he did it again, and again, then once more against Antivian invaders from their coast. Flynn the Great was later assassinated by his own sister, but his wife took over the kingdom she led it into a golden age of prosperity in Glory 2:99.
She had nine children and with them made the first peace treaties with other nations, after showing her own military might. In Towers 3:05 she married her oldest daughters to the richest of the Merchant Princes and her youngest daughter to the king of Antivia. In Towers 3:08 she had her youngest son married off in Tavintor. She married her second oldest son to the first princess of Ferelden and her third oldest to the youngest child of the Orlesian Empire. When the third Blight hit in Towers 3:10, she sent a great many of her soldiers to go out and help the civilians that were affected by the blight. By that point, the kingdom of Britannia was viewed with great respect.
There was only one problem. Britannia refused to make the Andrastian religion their official state religion. Britannia refused to allow the Chantry to rule the nation with their laws. There was a total separation of church and state. Which was a huge issue for the rest of Thedas, because their teaching says that their god would not return to the world until everyone in the entire world accepted him as their god. So they tried two Exalted Marches against Britannia, one even during the Blight, but none were successful.
Before she died, Flynn's wife, queen Allura's last words were to the Chantry itself. "There will be no peace from a boot upon the neck. No one gets to decide for the rest of the world what their religion will be. Besides, what point is there in a god who pouts like a child up in the heavens."
This was not received well. With one final exalted march in Towers 3:65, where the new king decimated the Chantry army sent to dethrone him for his mother's words. The swords were laid down, there was an official truce, and King Bastion agreed to allow Chantry people to build a temple in his country for people to worship in, so long as they never tried to march against Britannia again. But there were some things that the Chantry still hated about Britannia. For one there was no circle of magi, they instead relied on ruins and proper education to keep mages safe.
They agreed to never march on Britannia again, they never said they would stop trying to force them to convert to their religion. So, generally, the royal family did not marry into families that were hard-line conservative Andrastians. Much easier that way. But the Divine herself had sent an invitation to Britannia so that their Princess could come and meet her.
Such an honour.
Magen knew that she was no longer Magen. But she felt so detached from the person who she was that it gave her vertigo. But she knew that she needed to play her part correctly, or she and her brothers would feel the burn of the Chantry's ire.
The group finally made their way all the way to the temple, Magen's feet were killing her. They reached the temple and a templar asked her to follow him so she could have her meeting with the Divine. She bowed her head and followed after him. She smiled and waved at a few people who were looking at her. She was left alone in the Divine's office, so Magen looked through her books. She had a lot.
Magen looked up in surprise when she heard a scream from beyond the door, where the Divine's room was. She hiked her dress up and ran towards the sound, throwing the door open. "What's going on here!?"
After the rift was sealed, she fell into a deep slumber, only waking after three days. She was in a wooden cabin, with animal skins and rope decorating the walls. She moaned softly and a young elven servant who entered the room gasped and dropped a box she was holding.
"Oh!" She gasped, taking a frightened step back. "I didn't know you were awake, I swear!"
Magen sat up and groaned softly. "Don't worry about it, I only-"
She dropped to her knees, bowing her head low. "I pray for your forgiveness, and your blessing, Princess!" She gasped. "I am but a humble servant to the herald of Andraste." She looked up. "You're back in Haven, your majesty! They say you sealed the rift and the Breach stopped growing, same as the mark on your hand. It's all anyone has talked about in the last three days!"
Magen looked down at her hand, at the glowing green with a deep frown on her face. It hurt when it rippled with energy. "So, we're safe then, aren't we?" She asked the elf.
"I'm only saying what I've heard, I didn't mean anything by it. Lady Cassandra will want to know that you have woken up, princess. She said 'at once.'"
"Where is she?"
"In the Chantry, your grace. With the Lord Chancellor. 'At one!' She said!" The woman turned and ran out of the room before Magen could get a word in.
When the young woman was left on her own, she rubbed her temples, trying to keep a headache from coming up on her. She looked around the room and saw that she had a letter from her brother, that was opened, as well as a report on her health. Her nice dress was folded up in a wooden chest. She looked at herself and saw that she was dressed in a simple green set of armor. She grabbed the letter from her brother.
Dear Catalina,
Right, Magen almost forgot that she had a different name. She'd need to start using it, she'd even have to start correcting herself in her own mind. She couldn't keep pretending to be Magen.
I need you to tell me what in the actual fuck is going on, right now! We just got a raven a few hours ago that the temple blew up! That you were the only survivor! I need you to write back to me as soon as you can, I'm freaking out over here! How can a young man focus on being king when his sister is in danger?
Please, just be safe, we love you.
And make sure to get back in time for the coronation!
-Your brother, Elias.
She put the letter down with a fond smile on her face. She picked up her medical report next and read that over as quickly as she could. Sounded like she was going to be fine, but it was a little spotty.
She made her way into the Chantry, and she could hear yelling from outside the door of a room on the far end of the hallway. She opened the door and stepped inside.
"Chain her! I want her ready for travel to the Capital for trial!" The jackass from before said, pointing angrily at...Catalina.
"Excuse me?!" She hissed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Do you have any idea who I am?!"
"Disregard that, and leave us!" The frightening woman with a sword said, waving the guards away who saluted and left them.
"You walk a dangerous line, Seeker." The man said
"The Breach is stable, but it is still a threat. I will not ignore it." Cassandra said
"Excuse me, I did everything that I could. If you'll all remember, it almost killed me!" Catalina stopped to take a breath for a moment.
"Yet, you live, a convenient result, wouldn't you say, pretender." The man snarled at her.
"Have a care, Chancellor, the Breach is not yet sealed, but it is also not the only threat we face," Cassandra said.
A young woman with red-hair stepped forward. "Someone was behind the explosion at the Conclave. Someone most holy did not expect."
"Perhaps a guest, who she invited to her personal quarters just before the explosion!" Rodrick rounded back to the princess, who just rolled her green eyes at him.
"Or..." the woman continued "whoever they were died at the Conclave and have allies that yet live." She levelled the man with an intimidating smirk.
"I am a suspect." The man said in shock.
"You! And also many others."
"But not the prisoner?"
"I heard the voices in the temple!" Cassandra interrupted. "The Divine called out to the princess for help."
"So...her survival, the thing on her hand-all a coincidance?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "You know what her country is, they would love to have been able to murder Most Holy."
"No, it was Providence, the Maker sent her in our darkest hour," Cassandra told him firmly.
"I am not some chosen one! You can't honestly believe that, can you?" Catalina looked at Cassandra with wide eyes. She could see the disapproval in the woman's gaze.
"We are all subjects to the Maker's will, no matter what we believe about him. No matter what you are or what you believe, you were sent to us right when we needed you most."
The red-haired woman came closer. "The Breach remains, and your mark is the only hope we have of sealing it."
"That is not for you to decide!" The Chanselor told her.
Cassandra grabbed a book and slammed it down on the table. She gave the man a triumphant smirk. "Of course, you know what this is, don't you Rodrick." She pointed to the cover. "This, is a writ from the Divine, granting us the right to act, should we need to. As of this moment, I declare the Inquisition, reborn!"
She moved towards him, backing the man into a corner. "We will close the Breach, we will find those responsible, and we will restore order! With, or without your approval."
The man looked around the room, before ducking his head and leaving the three women alone. The red-haired woman stood across from Catalina. "This is an official order from the Devine. We will restore the Inquisition of old, and we will find those who will stand against the chaos." She sighed. "But we are not ready. We have no leader, so army, and no Chantry support."
"Well I kind of get the feeling that we have to do something anyways," Catalina said, placing her hands on her hips.
"You a correct, we must act now, with you at our side," Cassandra said. Both of the women looked at Catalina expectantly.
"Listen, I refuse to fight a holy war for a god I don't even believe in." She told them both. "But I will still help you, for now. The second you start trying Exalted Marches, I'm out of here, got it."
"Yes, princess." The red-head smiled.
"Alright, well, my first order of bissuness is to get a letter to my brother."