Day 10
Dear diary,
Why Skyhold? I pondered, and I did have enough time to ponder because the tracks leading up the the castle were seemingly endless. Yes, Skyhold is far up in the mountains, hard to get to and even harder to besiege but on the other hand what nobleman would make the journey to meet with the Inquisition if they have to travel a full week to get to it. The Inquisition must have been desperate to find shelter somewhere otherwise I don't know why they couldn't just go to Orlais or something more, well you know, livable rather than some sky fortress. But I don't know the graveness of the condition of the Inquisition after the battle of Haven, as far as I know my sister has taken heavy losses and was forced to retreat. My sister is smart she probably knows what she's doing when she said to her advisors that a bloody sky fortress was a good idea.
Down the road I can make out red lyrium alongside the mountain walls, what the hell? The whole world is seemingly going to shit! First the templars and now this? I must uncover what's the matter of all of this.
Day 12
Dear diary,
Someone pinch me, Skyhold is a bloody fairy tale castle! From the distance it looks majestic yet firm, but above all, unbelievable, it must have been one remarkable team of builders to have build something so massive out of a lifeless mountain.
The path to it is even more incredible, I have passed pilgrims saying that the path to it will take a day to climb.
After a while I sit down to catch my breath and take a chug of water, a company of scouts pass and I get called out by a dwarven woman, who seems to be their leader "And who might you be? You're no pilgrim and you're no noble because you don't have an entourage" The scout leader said, as she placed a hand on her.
"Awfully vigilant there miss…?"
"Harding, Lace Harding leader of the Inquisition scouts and you are?" Lace responded adding a smile.
"I am Chris Trevelyan" I answered "And before you ask, yes I am the brother of the Herald. I looked for her in the ruins of Haven but your soldiers told me the Inquisition moved to Skyhold" I added.
"Yeah, I heard of it too. I was out on a mission during the attack. Lost allot of good people that day. My only wish was that I was there during it, I feel powerless" She said, as she was looking down. It must feel bad be such a dedicated character in the Inquisition only to lose most of your cause in one single attack.
"Aye, that's why I am here. To meet up with my sister and fight whatever fights she tells me too" I proclaim, sounding almost like a real knight but not quite.
"That's good, we need people to rebuild the Inquisition and then some to defeat Corypheus" She said hopeful, she took a chug from her flask adding "That bastard killed half of our men with that dragon of his, oh I if could get my hands on hi…" she balled her fist and gripped her flask so firm it almost shattered in her hand.
"Hold on, Corypheus? Dragon? That wasn't in the report I got!" I shot up from my seat/rock.
'Was it not in the public report?" she asked with a concerned look on her face.
"No it wasn't, I only got word of a battle and that all of Haven is buried under a couple feet of snow and rubble" I explained.
"Well if you must know a Darkspawn named Corypheus attacked Haven, he had corrupted the templar order of Therinfal Redoubt with Red Lyrium and gathered them to attack our battlements, here is the official report by commander Cullen" She handed me a piece of parchment.
The rest of the day we spent hiking and talking about the situation of the Inquisition. It seems to be that it took heavy blows and was forced to retreat and that my sister had to fight a dragon and a demon on her own to prevent the enemy from getting to the others, her bravery surprised me, she was never this courageous back in our young days, she was always bashful and innocent but I suppose becoming the Herald Of Andraste and leader of the second Inquisition must do wonders for one's self confidence.
We camp out in the mountain pass to prepare for our ascendence up the giant tower that leads to the keep. I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow, I look forward to seeing Evelyn again and getting out of these damned sweat soaked leathers.