Author's Note: This is where the story starts to get interesting, a thousand thanks to my BETA, Xmaster, again! Also, thanks for the favorite SGTConlin!


Chapter 4
The Templar and the Witch

Branda's eyes fluttered open.

The room was dark, but warm, and somewhere in the corner she could see the outline of a person.

"Who's there? Weylin?"

There was a ruffling of cloth and a candle was lit.

Her heart sank.

It was Mother Sophia, Branda shuddered inwardly. The woman was pleasent enough, until she began regurgitating her Chantry teachings. Branda wasn't a big fan of the Chantry.

"You're awake! You've recovered faster then I thought you would."

The Mother lit a few more candles, giving the room a healthier glow. Branda shielded her eyes, "Ahh, what happened?"

The Mother pulled a chair to the edge of the bed and sat beside Branda.

"You can't remember?"

"No."

"You were injured. You're lucky Enchanter Irving found you and Weylin when he did, or you might not have...well let's not dwell on that."

"Weylin, what happened to him?!? Is he all right?" Branda interjected, scanning the room and half expecting the young man to pop out of the shadows and greet her.

The Mother fiddled with the edge of her sleeve for a moment, "Weylin dragged you away from the melee and the First Enchanter brought you here right away, you were near death."

"This doesn't look like the infirmary, and you still haven't answered my question." Branda was too worried about Weylin to care about what happened to her, she'd figure that out later.

"I was closer to the scene of the...incident at the time, and the Enchanter was certain you wouldn't last long enough for him to drag you to the infirmary."

"You still haven't told me what happened to Weylin! And what melee?!"

"Perhaps it's best if you're moved to the infirmary first." The Mother stood up and edged around the bed toward the door.

Branda eyed the Mother suspiciously,"Tell me now Mother! Is he all right?"

"Well, what you need to understand is-"

"I don't have time for this!" She muttered, hopping out of the bed, she suddenly realized she was in her small clothes. "Oh!"

Grabbing the sheet she quickly covered herself with it.

"Where do you think you're going?" The mother blurted out.

"To find Weylin!"

"You need to rest! You nearly died, you were saved only by the mercy of the Maker!"

"Well I'm not dead, and please Mother I don't want to hear anything else about the damn Maker!"

Clutching her chest, the Mother fell back into the chair as if Branda had stabbed her with a sword.

Feeling guilty for upsetting the elderly woman, Branda quickly spotted her tattered robes in the hamper and threw them on, "I'm sorry Mother, but I've got to find him."

Turning to leave, she bumped face first into a rather hard breast plate.

"Ouch!" Branda looked up at the Templar before her, "Carroll?!?"

"Oh be quiet woman! You'd think you never saw a Templar in your life."

The momentary shock of seeing Carroll was replaced with embarrassment, Branda quickly lowered her gaze and hoped the Mother didn't notice the tone of impropriety on her voice.

"Oh be gentle with the girl! She is still recovering from severe head injuries, forgive her if she says foolish things!" Mother Sophia gently patted Branda on the head.

Head trauma? Explains the headache...

"Yes, yes. Fine Mother!" The Templar sighed, "Anyway," Carroll reached out and grabbed Branda by the arm, "I'll just be taking the mage now."

"You will not! She has just woken up, give her a few moments to regain her footing."

"She seems fine to me."

"Perhaps to the untrained eye!"

Glancing at the Mother, than back at Carroll, Branda decided it was best to just stay out of the argument. She always seemed to make things worse when she tried calming people down, and the two people currently fighting over her seemed to be preparing for a fist fight.

There was also a small part of her that found the whole incident extremely funny.

"Sorry Mother, but Commander's orders." Carroll responded as he gently pried the Mother away from Branda, and then dragged her from the room. The Mother cursed, frustrated at being dismissed so easily, before she slammed the door shut.

As soon as the door locked, Carroll grabbed Branda and squeezed her in the most awkward hug of her life.

"Stop Carroll! The Mother might see!"

"I don't care!"

Shoving Carroll away, Branda tried to compose herself, "I'm fine."

"Maker's golden toilet I was worried! We all thought Cullen had killed you, and Weylin an apostate! Never would have guess-"

"Wait what!?!"

Why can't I remember anything?

"Tell me what happened now!" Sophia ordered.

Carroll sighed, "I was just about to!"


Weylin slowly woke to the sound of water dripping on stone, each droplet sending a shock-wave of pain through his brain.

"Ugh..."

Rolling onto his back, he stared up at the stone ceiling, it was barely visible in the darkness. Somewhere in the distance he thought he could see a torch, but where-ever he was there was just enough light to keep him from being completely blind.

Where am I?

Standing up, he pushed on his temple to try and alleviate some of the pain. The last thing he remembered was being surrounded by a very unpleasant white light, right after punching Greagoir in the jaw.

Well he shouldn't have tried to force me from Branda!

Oh who am I kidding I'm just stupid!

Looking around, he figured by the slimy walls, leaking ceiling and the heavy metal bars in front of him that he had been thrown in some dungeon under the Circle Tower.

The thought of being under Lake Calenhad caused him to shiver.

Approaching the bars, he cautiously touched them. Nothing happened, he sighed in relief, he wouldn't have put it past the Templars to have the Mages enchant their own prisons.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" He called through the bars. It might have been a bad idea to try and get the attention of an angry Templar but he didn't care. He wanted to make sure they weren't planning on leaving him to rot down there forever.

There was silence, but he saw the torch move further down the hall. He groaned, this didn't look good.

At least I'm not Tranquil.

Kicking the bars, he suddenly felt a shockwave of pain shoot up his leg. He screamed and fell backwards.

"Makers piss!" Weylin cursed, grabbing his foot.

Well I guess they enchanted the bars after all.

Closing his eyes, he bit his bottom lip and punched the stone floor. He was beyond pissed right now, and the fact his foot was hurting wasn't helping.

"Weylin?"

His eyes shot up, there was someone by the bars, but it was too dark to see their face.

"What do you want?!?!"

"Oh, well you could be more grateful you know, I'm about to braek you out!" The man yelled, "You might want to step back."

Weylin was stunned for a moment, but he heeded the warning, limping to the back of the cell he pressed himself as close to the wall as he could.

"I'm standing back." Weylin muttered, he wondered if the man was planning to blow the bars away, or if he was just a Templar playing a joke on him.

Probably the latter, damn Templars...

Through the shadows, he saw the man move, a second later that familiar white light engulfed the first half of the cell. Weylin yelped, half expecting the pain he'd endured earlier.

Cleansing, of course!

As soon as the light appeared, it vanished. The cell felt strangely warm, and Weylin ran back to the bars.

"Who are you?"

The man snorted, "You're lord and savior!" He waved over his shoulder. A young woman peaked from around the corner and ran toward the bars.

Even in the darkness Weylin could see the glow of her bright red cheeks.

"Branda?!"


Next chapter: Escape!