'Your Worship'
His voice echoed in her mind. A listless blush settled in her cheeks until she snapped out of the daydream by force of will.
How dare he?!
She grabbed another fistful of snow and packed it into a hard ball before throwing it at a wall and watching it explode into white powder.
Somebody is besotted with a mercenary!
Dazai, the desire demon in her head, sang teasingly, causing Adalyn to furrow her brow.
"Hey now, Herald!" A cheerful voice called from behind her.
Sera.
And indeed, it was.
She was preciously balanced on the roof of the tavern hands on her hips and a smirk on her lips.
Adalyn liked Sara, and found her personality to be very unique yet very similar to her pirate friends.
"You know what those are?" Sera asked rhetorically, pointing to a small pile of snowballs that Adalyn had made. Sera didn't stop for Adalyn to say anything,
"They are for fun. And you are ruining it." Sera picked one of the snowballs and smashed it in Adalyn's face.
Adalyn felt slushy cold water dripping down her forehead and nose, and she grinned into the feeling of her nose going numb.
"So in your face, it's on." Sera crowed, snatching more of them and making a getaway.
"Have at you!" Adalyn shouted and made two more chasing after Sera.
They ran around the Tavern a couple times, dodging and throwing, and laughing when one hit some random bystander.
By the time they had worn themselves out and could not longer feel their faces or hands, they had crashed through the door to the Tavern collapsed at a table that Varric was already settled at.
Varric was scribbling at some reports spread out over the table and had a pair of reading glasses pushed up the bridge of his nose.
"Bartender!" Adalyn called,
The woman looked up eagerly and dropped the cleaning cloth she held.
Adalyn grinned at her, "Can I get something that's warm with rum in it?"
"Make that two!" Sera called from her face plant on the table.
The bartender bobbed her head; "I can do that!" she set to work concocting the order and Adalyn relaxed.
She thought of her friends aboard The Demon's Gale, or, what was left of them.
The Captain Red, The kind Tal-Vashoth quartermaster, the grumpy cook, and the rest of the crew… and Talmar. Her first real friend.
She felt the inside of her mouth taste like the bitter and salty combination of bile and the sea.
Templars had found them playing around the Fereldan coastline outside the coastal city of Gwaren.
They were playing with magic, making waves in the water and laughing, not harming anyone.
The Templars had come up behind them and grabbed their arms, pulling them away
She had screamed and struggled. She feared them. She didn't want to go back to the Circle.
Talmar had bit down on his lip hard and used the blood to kill the Templar holding her.
She remembered seeing the blood, how it went in one ear and out the other, and the Templar's eyes rolled back white in his head and there was a dull thud as he hit the ground.
She remembers Talmar screaming for her to run. That he wouldn't let them take her back.
She was a fool to let her feet carry her away, because when she came back he was dead; hung from his neck by a rope tried to a tree branch, the Templar responsible nowhere in sight.
In her mind, it was murder.
Ever since then she found it very hard to trust Templars, even though the ones she knew in Rivian were always respectful of her in the past.
Do you wish to check in on them?
Dazai asked in her mind.
She nodded slightly and closed her eyes; his power let her sight ascend out of her body and into the sky, sailing across countries in instants. It took them little time to find The Demon's Gale floating off the coast of Antiva in fair weather. Their gaze zoomed in on the deck; she watched all of the crew and searched for familiar faces.
The Captain and cabin master stood together on the deck talking while a few cleaning boys scurried across the deck with buckets of water and rope. Adalyn's former teacher, a Rivani seer named Karris, stood on deck looking empty-eyed up to the sky.
Soon after she looked at the old woman, the seer turned her head to face where Adalyn's consciousness floated on the magic current and waved.
Adalyn waved back, and knew that she could sense the motion.
The seer hobbled over to the Captain and motioned for him to duck down to her level to hear her whisper.
The Captain stood back up and waved at the sky in general, he couldn't see her, but the feeling was there. The tattooed and goateed Captain wore another obnoxious hat today with a peacock's plume stuck in it.
Adalyn laughed and sent her thoughts down to Karris,
Who does he think he is impressing with that hat?
The woman chuckled and thought back,
He likes to show the sea and sky who is prettier.
Adalyn thought of telling them where she was, but was stopped by Karris.
I have been watching you, and we all pray for your success and safety.
Did you know I would become the Herald of Andraste?
Adalyn asked.
Karris was always a more powerful future seer than Adalyn, who was better at seeing far away in the present.
No. But when I looked into the future for you long ago I saw a decision. A decision that will shape not only who you are, but also how your new organization will fare in the coming days.
What decision?
To forgive those who have done you wrong, to trust what seems like ultimate betrayal, to see light in the darkness… choose the Templars and change the fate of their Order…. Or. Find temptation that even a demon could not offer you, the power to change your past and present by bending time… to choose the mages is to change yourself forever.
Adalyn processed this information in stride and said,
Thank you, this has been most helpful.
You are welcome to speak with me at any time.
Then Adalyn was gone from the clouds and back in her body sitting in a chair in the Tavern.
Sera was slapping her across the face and cursing up a storm.
"Sera, I'm fine!" Adalyn insisted, scooting away from her before she decided there was a need for arrows.
Sera grumbled and backed off, "It's not natural to space out that long. Thought a demon had you."
Adalyn shook her head and smiled, "Nope, just thinking and maybe snoozing a little."
"Well," The bartender said, setting down a piping hot drink on the table, some cream poured on the top of the mugs. "This will wake you up, I think."
Adalyn thanked her and took her mug, blowing on it as she thought.
If I choose the Templars, I can change the fate of their Order, but they could betray me. On the other hand, dealing with the Mages seems like it will be life-changing and maybe not in a good way. What did she mean by, 'temptation that even a demon could not offer you'? Any thoughts?
She asked Dazai, who responded with a very unhelpful,
Butt-stuff?
Adalyn made a noise of disgust and sipped her drink. It was good. She liked rum and coffee. It was very good. The warmth spread to her bones as well and she stretched in contentment.
Sera watched her for a second inquisitively, then huffed and left her with Varric at the table muttering, "Weirdy".
The door to the Tavern opened, and a woman carrying a stringed instrument walked in the place. She had her dark hair tied up in a braided bun and a curved pout of dull coral-colored lips.
Adalyn knew her. She was her cousin, Maryden.
She walked right up to her and snapped her fingers and pointed to her, "I know you."
The woman shook her head, "I have no recollection of…" Her eyes trailed down to Adalyn's left hand and she said, "Ah, the fabled Herald of Andraste. I look forward to singing tales of your exploits across Thedas." She deadpanned in the deadest tone of voice ever.
Yep. She really hadn't changed since Adalyn was a child.
"Won't blame you if you don't remember me, because…" Adalyn smirked and tossed her hair over her shoulder with smugness, "I must have grown in beauty since we last met. I am sure I am near unrecognizable to you now-"
"Ah," The woman said, "You must be my cousin, Adalyn."
"Yeah, it's been a while!"
Maryden's expression went from dead to concerned,
"You were kidnapped ten years ago. What happened?"
Varric stood up from his seat at the table and came over,
"You were kidnapped as a child, Herald? Wow." He said.
"Yeah… about that. That wasn't the best part of my life, but I got to move around a lot!" She said, faking positivity. Internally she was screaming.
Maryden placed her hands on her hips and looked down at her shorter cousin.
"And how did you become the Herald?"
"Uhh…"
"And a blood mage?"
"Ugh. About that… I… Oops?" Adalyn shrugged apologetically.
Varric snickered and quipped, "'Oops, Shit', a tale of the ages, written by the fabled Herald of Andraste."
Maryden sighed, "At least you are alive… all I knew is when our grand-mère cut off contact with your father completely, that you and your mother were taken away somewhere."
"Do you…" Adalyn hesitated, then continued, "Do you know where my father is?"
Maryden's expression darkened and she said quietly, "He was in Fereldan when The Blight struck right before you were taken. He is dead. I am sorry."
Adalyn's heart fell a little. She knew he was dead already because whenever she went to search for him using her vision, she could never find him.
She began to feel a little coldly numb from the slight shock until Varric nudged her side and motioned to the table,
"Why don't we sit down and have you two catch up. The next round is on me."
Adalyn's heart felt warmed by Varric's kindness and took him up on the offor, sitting down at the table and ordering another coffee run drink.
After their drinks arrived, Maryden was the first to speak.
"Your Ambassador, if you wish, can contact our family and perhaps receive an endorsement, maybe even some political attention." She suggested, sipping at her frosty drink.
Adalyn picked a warm drink in a mug with a dollop of whipped cream on the top.
"To tell you the truth, I haven't really thought about contacting any relatives before now." She dipped her finger in the whipped cream on top of the drink and tasted it.
"Is Grand-mère well?" Adalyn wondered if the old woman was still as strict as she remembered.
"She is stubborn, like you, and still playing The Game as shrewdly as ever."
Varric raised an eyebrow, "You're Orlesian?" He asked Adalyn,
"Hmph. Learn something new every day. I could have sworn your accent was Free Marcher."
"I am not Orlesian by birth; my mother was." Adalyn clarified. "My father was a Free Marcher, and I also lived in the Free Marches for a good bit of my teenage life."
Maryden had turned to Adalyn and said as an aside,
"Going back to my earlier suggestion of political ties, you are second in line to inherit the Chastain Duchy upon my disownment."
'Disownment?" Adalyn shook her head, surprised that her well-behaved cousin would be disowned for anything.
Maryden smiled softly, "I disowned myself, and now I am here, doing what I love, and for a profit. I am contented being a minstrel."
"You trained to become a bard, after I went away?"
"I grew revolted by the politics of it all, and left to seek my own profit. I despise politics; this is why I left the inheritance to you."
"Just to let you know, I happen to be a mage; it isn't as if I could claim such a title." Adalyn commented, taking a sip of her drink and licking off the cream-stache that resulted.
Varric clucked and set down his notes, "Now, now, Chesnutt,"
Adalyn wrinkled her nose at the new nickname. (A play on her Orlisain surname, no doubt.)
"The Champion of Kirkwall claimed the Amell title and manor despite being a mage."
"Hmm. I am not sure I want to be considered for the Duchy, but Josephine will definitely want to know about this."
"Have you told anyone of your aspirations to become a Chevalier?" Maryden smirked and Varric leaned in,
"No; do tell, Minstrel." He said with a grin.
Adalyn settled back in her chair with a huff and took a sip of her drink and watched them begin chatting away.
I should go tell Josephine.
She thought, and stood, thanking Varric for the drink and leaving her near-empty mug on the table.
The outside was colder than she remembered it being just an hour earlier, she pulled her coat tighter around her and once again bemoaned the fact two of the buttons on the front had fallen off, creating an opening. She kept the two buttons in her coat pocket, but had never gotten back around to fining someone to help her sew them back on. (She couldn't sew, and anything she tried to embroider looked like the stitches were made by a blindfolded dragon high on lyrium.)
She knocked on Josephine's office door and heard a cheerful, accented, "Please do come on in!"
Adalyn stepped inside her office and approached the desk, smiling politely at Josephine.
"Good Afternoon, Josephine. I have some names you might put to use, if need arises."
Josephine's eyebrows rose expresionatly, "Might it be someone I should put on our guest list?"
"No," Adalyn said, thinking about her sour-faced grandmother setting foot in Haven, "But they are my family."
Josephine gasped, "Your- well! You refused to speak of family before this… Oh! This is exciting! Just let me get my papers." She scrambled to prepare some black pages and her seals and her inks, when she ws done she sat with her quill poised.
Adalyn nodded and begun, "My aunt and uncle Halewell of Orlais own a minor estate and titles, also my Grand-mere, the Duchess Chastain."
With furious scribbling and various 'oh, my's' Josephine finished her report and grinned extaticly.
"Why did you not tell us sooner of your lineage?"
"I…" Adalyn smiled awkwardly, "Have not been in contact with them for a little over a decade."
Josephine held up and hand, "I perfectly understand, and I will pursue no more questions. I will make use of this information, thank you."
"No, thank you, Josephine." Adalyn gave a small bow and smile, taking her leave after saying hello to the mage in the corner.
As she was exiting the Chantry when she heard, "A moment, if you would, my dear." Vivienne's voice rang through the air commandingly.
Adalyn stopped walking and turned to the Circle Mage, "Yes, Madame DeFer?"
Vivienne glided statefully over to her and rested a hand on her shoulder,
"Why did you not tell me from the very beginning my dear?"
"Tell you what?" Adalyn asked, fishing for a reply.
Vivienne smiled, "That you are nobility. That you have relatives who play the Game."
"Oh. Was that important to know?" Adalyn asked nonchalantly, picking up a book on the origins of Andraste and pointlessly inspected the cover.
"It means you have connections, you are not completely socially dead. There is hope for you."
Adalyn frowned, put down the book, and crossed her arms, "I am perfectly fine staying socially dead, thank you very much."
"I can never understand why, my dear. Nor why you became a blood mage." Vivienne said dismissively, waving a hand to her nose in a show of distaste.
Adalyn's annoyance turned to bitterness, "I guess you have never feared the Templars, then."
"Why would, I? It is untrained mages we truly must fear."
Adalyn bit back her most unsavory thoughts but admitted to the truth of what Vivienne said,
"I was not trained until after I became a blood mage, I never got the opportunity."
"My dear, you always had the opportunity; that is what Circles are for." Vivienne crossed to her desk set up in the corner and smoothed out a few letters that were left there.
"No, I didn't. It wasn't easy for me to even reach a Circle. And when I did, they nearly killed me." Adalyn
Vivienne's eyebrows rose in surprise, "Well, then I must say your experience is unusual. Circles and Templars are two things Thedas still desperately needs."
"Untrained mages do suffer. I know that better than anyone." Adalyn muttered, biting down on her long thumbnail and chewing on it pensively.
"What if a more relaxed approach was taken?" Adalyn proposed, crossing to Vivienne.
"Like in Rivain, they have a good magic-teaching tradition. That is where I learned my magic."
Vivienne scoffed and turned aside, "Now I supposed the Dalish will take us all under their wing!"
"And why not?" Adalyn exclaimed, "We could learn from them."
Vivienne pursed her lips. Adalyn could tell she was displeased, but she continued anyway.
"Templars do serve a function, and it is an important one, but there is no need to keep mages in shackles."
Adalyn bowed slightly for politeness' sake and uttered, "Bonsoir, Madame." And took her leave.
She just walked away and out of the Chantry, not quite knowing where she was headed.
As she walked in the sunset-stained snow and breathed in the frigid air she wondered once again about her former teacher's words.
"If I forgive the Templars, I can change their Order, huh?" She wondered quietly to herself out loud.
It seems better than the alternative.
Dazai commented, voice hinting at a dark mood.
How so?
She asked. She passed a few soldiers at the gates and waved, they waved back in good cheer.
'Find temptation that even a demon could not offer you' and 'change yourself forever' were the phrased that seemed like a bad sign. I wouldn't trust anything more powerful than a demon, because at least WE are reasonable.
She snorted in disbelief as she sat down on a crate by Haven's gates, taking a break from her aimless wandering that had lead her here.
And… I don't want you to change, Addie. Ever. You are mine, you can't change.
She felt the demon send some of his reach into her body from the fade. She felt It softly half-posses her body in demonstrative warning.
She knew she could shake Dazai off if need be, but she also knew the demon had never been serious about possessing her.
She didn't trust him, even though her mentor told her to treat It as a partner. (She also told Adalyn to stop referring to Dazai as 'It' and start calling It 'him'. Adalyn was afraid she would begin to humanize the demon more if she did and refrained.)
She sat there a moment longer before hearing the sounds of excited talking among the straggling forge workers grow louder.
She raised her eyes to see what the hubbub was about and instantly saw why.
The Chargers, a group of twenty or so armored men and women were tromping casually to Haven, some of them straggling behind the group, tired and complaining of the cold, others just chatting among themselves jovially, and all lead by a huge shirtless Qunari.
"Chargers! Attention!"
She heard his voice but could not see him from where she was sitting, so she stood.
And there he was, skin bathed in the evening light, commanding the Chargers to straighten up and look presentable.
She felt her heart pound and shut her eyes to silence it before meeting the Chargers and welcoming them.
She put on a diplomatic smile and strode towards the Chargers crying out a cheerful greeting to The Iron Bull and his company.
Her smile was only half-fake.
If she has smiling for real, she would have been grinning like a fool.
Seers in Rivain are real and are a big part of the magic there cannonly in the Dragon Age Universe. Go here for more information: wiki/Rivain
And yes, the demon's name is Dazai. And yes, I thought it would be nice to have Adalyn and Maryden related, please don't judge me too much.
I hope you at least sort-of liked this chapter and will continue reading.