Dragon Age Inquisition:
Tale of the Clumsy Inquisitor
Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Dragon Age, its script or characters. Also I make no money from this Fan-fiction.
SPOILERS FOR DRAGON AGE INQUISITION MAIN QUEST LINE AND CULLEN ROMANCE!
Title: Tale of the Clumsy Inquisitor
Chapter Two: In differences
Fandom: Dragon Age Universe
Characters: Corinne Trevelyan, Seeker Cassandra Pentagast, Lady Leliana, Varric Tethras, Chancellor Roderick and Solas
Pairing(s): Eventual Cullen x Corinne
Rating: Teen +
Word count: 1553 words (excludes Titles, author notes and warnings)
Author's comments:
When writing these chapters I really started to understand why I hate Solas as a character. He acts like he knows too much from day one and it really bugs me. Even my mum thinks he's a dickhead which is rather amusing
Thank you for the faves, follows and reviews.
Previously:
"My name is Solas if there are going to be introductions. I am glad to see you are still with us"
"He means I kept that mark from killing you while you slept" adds Varric.
"You know what this thing on my hand is?"
"Unlike you Solas is an apostate and well versed in such things"
"Technically, all mages are now apostates, Cassandra. My travels have allowed me to learn much of the Fade, far beyond the experience of any Circle mage. I came to offer whatever help I can give with the Breach. If it is not closed, we are all doomed regardless of origin."
"Then I owe you my thanks… I suppose since you kept me alive this far" I comment bluntly.
It's a lot of pressure knowing I may be the only one that can stop all this madness.
"Thank me later if the breach doesn't kill you" he responds.
Chapter Two: In Differences
The two soldiers that were fighting alongside us retreat back towards Haven while we all discuss my mark. Before Cassandra leads ahead, Solas comments "Cassandra, you should know: the magic involved here is unlike any I have ever seen. Your prisoner is no mage. Indeed, I find it difficult to imagine any mage having such power."
"Understood, we should get moving quickly the others are waiting for us"
"Well at least Bianca's excited" Varric mutters glancing at me
"Better late than never" I mumble as I follow behind
The road is blocked by flaming rumble and the corpses of demons and soldiers that had been slain in battle.
"This way down the bank; the road we would of taken is blocked" Cassandra says leading the way down the slight incline towards the valley further ahead.
"We must move quickly" Solas responds impatiently.
We continue down the narrow ravine hugging close to the mountain face as we head towards the forward camp. We spot another corpse of a scout. So much death, whatever caused this is not like anything Thedas has ever seen before.
"There falling from the sky!" I shout
"DEMONS!" yells Solas.
"Glad you've brought me along now, Seeker" comments Varric as he reloads his crossbow.
We see four demons ahead of us. One of them is standing at the ledge shooting magic at us.
Cassandra charges forward to attack two of the wraiths that are in a cluster in front of us, as Solas and Varric shoot at the two spirits who are firing magic at us. I charge in alongside Cassandra helping her as best I can to slay the demons as quickly as possible. After the demons are slain, I collect one of the frosted rags. If we study this it could be useful to help teach the forces how to slay them quicker. We are going to need an edge if we are to survive all this.
"Well that could have went a lot worse" I shrug, replacing my blades back in their scabbards.
"So I take it you're from the free marches? " Varric comments as we continue to walk quickly over the frozen river bed. Houses either side of use still a blaze from the previous fights with demons.
"Oh?" I'm surprised he's noticed my accent. Wonder if he can guess where I'm from.
"Your accent familiar, I'm from Kirkwall; but you're from… further east maybe?" he asks.
"That's quite the ear you have"
"I'm all kinds of impressive" Varric replies back confidently. Cassandra just makes another derisive snort noise towards him, which makes me laugh. Though I stifle it once I see the glare she's sending my way.
We continue to walk forward slowly heading up further into the mountain range. My mark flares up again and I wince as the pain starts up again. What the hell is this thing?
"Shit are you alright?" Varric asks staring at my mark
"D-Don't worry about it… I'll get used to it" I breathe through my teeth
"My magic cannot stop the mark from growing further. For her sake, I suggest we hurry" Solas replies as he steps ahead of us.
"So are you innocent?" Varric asks as he steps behind me.
"I honestly can't remember what happened… before all of this"
I hate not knowing. If there's something I could have done to prevent all this…
"That'll get you every time. Should have spun a story"
"That's what you would have done" Cassandra interrupts, huffing impatiently.
"It's more believable and less prone to result in premature execution" he replies smirking.
Yeah, luckily they still need this mark on my hand…
We continue on our current path up a winding stone steps that gradually merge into the mountain face. It's a steep path, made even more uncomfortable to climb due to the wind howling and blasting against us.
"I hope Sister Leliana made it through all of this" Cassandra says worriedly
"She's resourceful, Seeker. I don't know why you're worried. She survived the Blight alongside the Hero of Ferelden didn't she?" replies Varric
Cassandra doesn't reply, just keeps her gaze focused ahead of us.
"We will see for ourselves at the forward camp. We are almost there" mentions Solas
….
We see a couple of guards ahead panicking as another rift pulses green in front of us.
"Another rift" Cassandra shouts.
"We must seal it quickly" yells Solas.
It's slightly smaller than the last. A mixture of shades and wraiths pour out and begin attacking us as we draw near. Cassandra and I charge forward flanking the demons from both sides as Varric and Solas take out the spirits launching magic at us. While she barrels into them I slide up behind to finish them off. It's efficient and we seem to work well together. The rift eventually began to pulsate slower. I hope that's the last of the demons.
"Hurry use your mark now" yells Solas as he hurls electric bolts at the shade behind me.
I reach up my hand in the air and using the power from the mark to seal the rift. Pain spreading up through my arm as I yank my hand free from it.
"The rift is gone! Open the gate!" commands Cassandra.
"Right away Lady Cassandra"
….
"We are clear for the moment. Well done." Solas comments glancing in my direction.
"Whatever that thing on your hand is, it's useful" states Varric.
"I'm just glad it's useful…. with the hassle it's been causing" I comment looking down at my hand as the mark continued to twitch. More corpses of fallen men and women lay on either side of the pathway. It's still shocking to see so much death. I was still rather young while the blight hit Fereldan so I was slightly shielded from its effects, but the others seems to not be bothered as if they've already witnessed enough death in their lives already.
"Shouldn't be that far now" commented Cassandra still walking ahead of us.
"Good… I'm surprised she made it through all that"
"You do not know Leliana. She has been through much. Yet the Divine perishing…" Cassandra trails off
On the bridge there are soldiers and a cart full of wrapped corpses. There are varied chests, barrels and broken weaponry on either side. I help myself to more potions so we are fully stocked before heading into the depths of the valley nearest to where the chaos began. There is a small tent at the far end with a desk in front. An older male in chantry robes is arguing with Sister Leliana.
"We need to prepare more soldiers…" she states
"We will do no such thing" he comments abruptly
"The prisoner must get to the temple of ashes it's our only chance" Leliana tries her best to reason with him as he continues to bark orders at her.
"You have already caused enough trouble without this exercise in futility"
"I have caused trouble…" she mumbles looking frustrated
"Here they come" he replies back bluntly ignoring Leliana's comment.
"You've made it… Chancellor Roderick this is-" Leliana says just as Roderick interrupts us.
"I know who she is… as Grand chancellor of the chantry I hear by order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux for execution" he barks at Cassandra.
"Order me! You are a glorified clerk a bureaucrat" yells Cassandra and crosses her arms in disgust.
"And you are a thug. A thug that supposedly serves the chantry"
"We serve the most holy Chancellor… As you well know" Leliana says trying to break up the argument.
"Justina is dead. We must elect her replacement and obey her orders on the matter" he replies bluntly.
"Isn't closing the breach the main issue?" I say cutting in as he stares in my direction.
"You brought this on us in the first place. Call a retreat seeker. Our position here is hopeless"
"We need to stop this before it's too late" she replies
"We won't survive long enough even with all your soldiers" Roderick continues to complain.
"We must get to the temple it's the quick route"
"Not the safest. Our forces can charge as distraction as we go through mountains" continues Leliana.
"We have lost contact with an entire squad on that path it is too risky" responds Cassandra.
"Abandon this now before more lives are lost" Roderick pleads
The breach expands above our heads glowing brighter every time it pulses. My hand begins to pulsate in rhythm with it. I scream aloud holding on my wrist in pain as the others glance at me again.
"How do you think we should proceed?" asks Cassandra as I regain composure.
"You're asking me?" I question. It seems a bit strange for me suddenly to be the one making the decisions.
"You have the mark" snaps Solas.
"And you are the one we must keep alive. Since we cannot agree on our own…" Cassandra adds.
"I say we charge. I won't survive long enough for your trial. Whatever happens, happens now" I reply frustrated and in pain.
Cassandra nods in agreement.
"Bring everyone from the valley Leliana"
"On your head be the consequences, Seeker." Roderick says, seemingly determined to have the last word.
Leliana nods, leaving followed by a group of scouts heading out into the mountain pass.