Guardian 9:41 Dragon - Kalia

There was brief discussion with a man from the Chantry before the Seeker asked Kalia what to do. Kalia was only half-listening to the conversation, but thought that it made more sense to take the safer path to the breach. If she had been paying attention, she might have suggested fighting alongside the soldiers to support what the Seeker had suggested. As they strode along the mountain path, the Seeker and Varric had a short conversation about the Champion of Kirkwall.

No doubt talking about how he started all of this. Blood magic is a terrible thing, but allowing the Templars to kill everyone with magical abilities because they might become blood mages is ridiculous. The Champion of Kirkwall was one of the most respected people in the Free Marches. If he hadn't approved of the Templar's actions, maybe none of this would have happened.

In the back of her mind, she knew that kind of assumption was unfair. Solas was leading the group, with Kalia not far behind him and Varric and Cassandra bringing up the rear. The walk had proven uneventful, aside from a few stray demons in an abandoned mine.

The relative calm was shattered when Varric suddenly yelled at Cassandra.

"I don't know where exactly Hawke is!" shouted Varric. "And at this point, if I did I'd tell him to stay far away! He's dealt with enough magical shit gone wrong, he doesn't need to be around this."

The Seeker gave him a look so cold Varic shivered. Or, maybe it was just cold. Kalia could never tell. Solas looked back and thought her expression was due to the breeze and walked closer to Kalia. Cassandra stomped off, while Varric hung near the back. Both of them were still clearly upset with each other.

"If you are cold I can warm you," said Solas calmly. "I imagine your clothing does not provide you with much warmth and..."

"Actually I am fine," Kalia blurted. "I've never really been cold."

Solas's eye twitched reflexively.

Oh no. Stupid. He's already shown that he's not one to let things go, that was a stupid thing to say.

Kalia's fears were confirmed when she saw the look on Solas's face.

After a few moments, it was clear Kalia wasn't going to explain any further. Solas sighed.

"What did you mean by that?' Asked Solas. "Do not pretend as if you don't know what I mean."

Ugh. He's definitely on to me. What could I say that wouldn't cause him to be more suspicious of me?

"Solas," Kalia began. "If I answer your question, will you promise not to ask any more questions? At least until...after whatever happens, happens? It may not matter for much longer."

Shit. I need to stop saying things like that, he didn't do all of that work to save me just for me die on the mountainside.

Clearly Kalia was correct as Solas gave her a pained look. It was odd however, his emotional state didn't match his look. She could sense conflict in him, but it wasn't about her. She took stock of the group. Cassandra was about four steps ahead of them, and Varric was struggling to keep up with their pace, lagging behind as dwarves often did.

"Trevelyan, is it not?" Solas asked, knowing the answer.

"Kalia," she replied quickly.

"Kalia," he said with a note of acceptance. "I do not believe you will die today. I pray, for all our sakes that you don't. However, if my curiosity has become an annoyance I will stop."

Solas picked up his pace. Not enough that he was running, just enough for Kalia to notice.

Damn it, this isn't any better.

"Okay Solas," Kalia said. "I have never felt cold, at least not the way other people feel it. When I would feel cold, I feel more of a numbness. It is not unpleasant. Depending on how I feel, I can usually use the cold that I feel to bolster my strength."

Shit. Did it again.

Kalia knew that Solas could tell he wasn't giving her the whole story, but he didn't press her. He seemed lost in thought.

No doubt trying to figure me out.

Solas was so lost in thought he didn't notice Kalia summoning a barrier around him moments before a blast of spiritual energy would have hit him in the chest. This act of kindness cost her as she took a blast to the side and fell to the ground momentarily.

Solas was concerned, but only for a moment. Kalia quickly rose to her feet, and executed a near perfect fade step. Which shouldn't have been possible for someone so young. Rather than assisting fight the demons that fell through the breach, Kalia appeared next to the rift and attempted to disrupt it. When she was successful, the demons that had been summoned by it were stunned and quickly dispatched. Kalia closed the rift and stood silently under where it had been, murmuring to herself. Cassandra and Varric were talking to the scouts they just rescued. Solas walked over to Kalia, and he noticed that there was a thin layer of sleet over her feet, allowing her boots to blend into the ground. It made her look as if she was rooted to the spot.

Kalia glanced at him apprehensively.

Shit, did he hear me? Is he going to say something about speaking elven again?

Solas looked at her, noting how she appeared to wince when he came near her. Solas realized that the way he'd been acting around her had led her to be concerned about him. He wanted her to trust him, he needed to be nicer. But after being alone for so long, he didn't really know how.

Instead of asking one of the hundreds of questions running through his mind, he simply pressed his palm to the nape of her neck, and allowed her to draw restorative energy from him. This time she relaxed, and he noticed a pull; something in her was seeking out his energy and drawing more into her. He studied her face and saw that she was seemingly unaware of this. At first, Solas thought it was the mark calling out to him. However, this didn't feel like the breach. It didn't even feel like the Fade.

After a moment, Solas let go. Kalia smiled in thanks. This was the last time the two of them would have a moment together before the breach. When they reached the remains of the temple. They heard voices calling out to them, replaying the events. From what they heard and 'saw,' Kalia interrupted a ritual involving a cloaked man and Divine Justinia. The cloaked man told someone to kill her and then the memory faded. Solas explained that they need to open the rift, and then close it properly.

Kalia did so, and a Pride Demon appeared. Kalia stood shocked for a moment, as did all of those who'd never seen a pride demon before. Solas, Cassandra and Varric all jumped into action. Kalia soon followed, and the combined efforts of all of them allowed them to defeat the demon.

Solas noticed that the demon tried to speak to Kalia as it died, in the same mix of the king's tongue and elven that she spoke. She was too far away to hear it, and the others wouldn't have understood most of it. But Solas did. It called her a dog, and said that her new power was another mistake.

More questions for Solas. More questions that may not be answered. As soon as she attempted to close the breach, she was encased in green light. Then, there was a massive pulse that went up towards the breach. For a moment, they all thought that she'd been carried up into the light. But when Solas's eyes adjusted, he saw Commander Cullen carrying her away. Solas charged, irrationally angry and ready to attack when he saw Cassandra give him a hard stare.

"She is no longer a prisoner," Cassandra said, clearly attempting to placate the man. "But she is unresponsive. As soon as the Commander gets her back to Haven, you may be at her side. For now, your knowledge and skills are needed here."

Solas knew it was useless to disagree. But he would have answers, eventually.