Bonne Lecture!
It took about a week for Siris to write down her research project with enough details to have a green card from the Inquisitor. She needed the Templars to see how one could safely diminish the lyrium quantity, or at least to make withdrawal bearable. Of course, the participants for the experiment would have to volunteer and knowing the southern Templars, it won't be easy to convince them: the suffering was part of the Maker's will, a proof of their dedication, the mark of their sacrifice for the well-being of others. But as the rumors about Samson being a former Templar grew, Siris was convince that not all the soldiers of the Maker shared the Chantry's point of view about the daily torture they endured. All Siris had to do was to find those who would listen to her and convince them. The only problem with her plan was that Siris could not guarantee useable results in months to come; nor in the years to come. This difficulty was what worried Siris the most. She could, in theory, use civilians addicted to the mineral, but they do not have the same pain resistance. And who could tell what the experiment would do ? So far, Siris wrote down a series of potential medication to help with the pain or the nightmare, but they were wild guesses. Fortunately, the lack of basic knowledge did not scare the Inquisition.
Once the authorisation from the inquisitor arrived, Siris asked Ser Nicolas to help her talked to the Templars. As most of them were employed as instructor for the recruits, talking to them while they work or at the tavern was easy enough. Nicolas' support definitely helped; at the end of the week Siris collected twenty-one names. Nineteen of them only allowed her to collect blood and hair until the researches were more advanced; the last two were ready to deal with the terrible effects of withdrawal. It wasn't enough, but beggars can't be choosers, Siris was still happy that some of the hundred and forty-eight Templars in the area of Skyhold believed in her project.
A week later, the first observation could be made: individual interviews allowed her to have a clear idea of all the potential effects of the use of Lyrium. These precious information gave her much to work on, even if she could only test on two of the volunteers. The blood and hair were great help too. Surprisingly, the hair did not react as much as the blood when exposed to heat. On the contrary, despite being highly flammable, hair only burnt after a few second, while the blood immediately evaporate. In both cases, lyrium dust was the only thing left; sometimes tiny crystals when the test subject came from a veteran.
"Lyrium commulate in the system with time." Siris said to herself. "And gets everywhere."
It was good knews: collecting hair was easier than blood, especially from people fighting blood magic for a living.
The woman was having dinner at the Herald's Rest when Blackwall Rainier came back from mission. The Inquisitor invited him to accompanied him in Crestwood which seemed to be invaded by undeads. When the bottle of wine arrived on the table, the man ordered another one, mumbling something like " It won't be enough…". Then, he gave a quick explanation of the situation back there. The Mayor of Crestwood drowned the village during the Blight, and now, with a rift in the lake, the deads attacked the survivors. Never the man thought so many corpses and demons in his life. From what Siris could understand, more monsters will cross the warrior's path. She felt sorry for these villagers: being attacked by your deceased loved ones who don't recognise you… the amount of anxiety these people must endure had to be extraordinary!
"What about you, little bird ?" He asked.
Siris told him about her recent successes: her meeting with Ser Nicolas, how he helped her to talk to the Templars, how the first week of experiment was going.
"Things are going well." She said with a smile.
Of course, it didn't last. Ser Nicolas chose this moment to enter the tavern with a serious look on his face. He directly walked to Siris and the Blackwall's table, sat with them but was only interested with talking to the elf.
"Ser Wiliam and Ser Valo were ordered to go help Crestwood." He said. "They are the only two who accepted to change their lyrium habits. Since they don't know when they'll be back, they told me they will go back to the old way. They are very sorry about that."
"Not as much as I…" Siris sighed. "The others won't hear about changing the quantity of lyrium for now; and they won't if others do take the risk first… what am I going to do ?"
"Can she go to anyone else ?" Asked Rainier.
"The Commander was the one to give the order. He used to be a Templar. Perhaps you can ask him if he would recommend other volunteers." Answered Nicolas.
Siris liked the idea, but was unsure about meeting the illustrious Commander of the Inquisition. The man had the reputation to be a hard-ass among the soldiers, yet they all hold him in high esteem. Maybe he'll listen to her ? However, Siris was also worried about something quite stupid: she recalled two humans wearing the name "Cullen": the Commander of the Inquisition and the Knight-Captain of Kirkwall's Circle of Magi. Both seemed to have dealings with the Templar Order, and Siris was worried the two men might be one and the same. If it was the case, considering the past between the man and the elven woman, Siris was unsure to how he would react to see her again… Especially if she's asking something from him. Again. Oh well… With any luck it won't end as badly as last time.
Nicolas went back to the barracks while Rainier was invited by an enormous qunari to play a game of Wicked Grace with his company. The giant asked Siris to join them but she politely decline the invitation. Not only did she never played cards, but she had a lot of work to do. The qunari told her she's welcome anytime she wanted, if not to play at least to drink.
Siris finished her meal quickly and left the tavern just as fast. She went to her office, grabbed a copy of her detailed research project and ran back outside. It wasn't completely night: she was hoping to talk to the Commander before courage let her down. Once at the door, she paused. The battlements were calm with only a few guards to watch the castle's surroundings. Light were coming out of the door and the widows nearby. Although, no one was talking inside. It was with shaking hands Siris knocked on the door. However, only a beast could have heard the sound of her phalanx against the wood. So, she tried again.
"Come in."
Siris knew whose voice it was. As she opened the door, she tried to think of something to say, an excuse or something similar.
The room was lit enough to read, but gave a mysterious look to the room. The Commander Cullen was sitting at his desk, trying to concentrate on a report. He was wearing his armor and the black and red coat the soldier were talking so much about: it did give him some sort of power. When he looked up, his eyes grew wide. He stood up quickly, as to show respect, but his manners were unsure.
No words were spoken as Siris and Cullen awkwardly stared at each other.
Only an elf with darkvision could notice how pale he was; and the slight tremor of the man's hand. It wasn't nervous, just a reaction of lyrium withdrawal. He was fighting, with success, the urge to collapse in his chair.
"I…" Siris tried to say. "I need your help. Again. I mean… Yeah. Hum, Ser Wiliam and Ser Valo are leaving, but they agreed to help with specific things for my researches and… Hum… I need other volunteers. I don't know…"
"Sure, anything for you- to help. If you need it. I suppose you do…"
Siris walked to the desk as the Commander was stuttering. The elven woman supposed he wasn't like that with the others. She didn't mind his behavior; it was kind of adorable to see a human embarrassed for no reasons like that.
She gave him the copy.
"It's the details of the research and experiment. I would like the potential volunteers to be willing and fully committed. I wrote what I expect of them. If you know anybody who would be interested."
Cullen took the document, sat down and quickly studied it.
"Do you have a list of the people already helping you ?"
Siris took a piece of paper from a pouch on her belt. The Commander read it. After a minute or two, he rose his head again.
"They accepted to donate blood and hair." He said, more to himself than to Siris. "You need volunteers to change the daily lyrium dosage and report the effects ?"
"Yes. I might try other things from food habits to alternate medical technics too; but I need informations first."
He sat back for a moment, thinking about Creator-knows-what. Surprisingly, Siris could not read Cullen like with others humans. His eyes were fixed on the document she gave him. The eld could almost see the mechanics in his head work, but could not start to guess his thoughts.
At some point he offered Siris to sat on the only other available chair in the room: a wooden stool buried underneath a small mountain of reports and books.
"Would you take veterans ?" He asked, before correcting himself. "I mean, former Templar to-far gone ?"
It was a difficult question. Yes, in theory she would gladly study such patients. But both them and their friends would have to understand she cannot save them from lyrium. For now anyway. Cullen seemed to understand the woman's position on the subject. On a blank piece of paper, he wrote a series of names, then gave it to Siris.
Ser Jacob Valor, Denerim's Chantry
Ser Amélie LaRivière, Rose-de-Neige village
Ser Thomas Duncan, Kirkwall lowtown
"I'll send words to them about your project. I know they'll accept if it means saving futur Templars from madness." Said Cullen. "I more questions, if you don't mind."
"I don't mind."
"These people are the shadows of who they used to be. I want your word you'll treat them with all the respect they deserve."
"I don't want to hurt them." Answered Siris.
"It doesn't mean you won't."
Cullen's eyes were cold and severe. The woman did not know how to react. She understood his worries and most of all that he might not trust her. Last time they saw each other, she wasn't kind before leaving without a word. She was far from being the best example of Tevinter or the elves.
As the awkward silence was getting thicker as she tried to find something to say, Siris had the feeling that there was more to it than the well-being of these three humans.
"If I offended you…" Siris muttered, her voice breaking a little. "I beg for your forgiveness, domne- Commander."
She bit her lip when the sudden reflexe came out. What was wrong with her ? Cullen noticed it, but did not know what to respond; but he answered the question, the awkwardness in his behavior back.
"I- no ! You did not. I mean… I heard of you, Leliana seemed pleased with you, the Inquisitor too but…"
"They don't know me as you do." Siris said, surprisingly calm. "It is alright. I understand."
A brief moment of silence took hold of the conversation. Siris stood up, politely bowed and went for the door. She said that they'll talk about this problem another day. In the meanwhile, she thanked him for talking with her at such late hour and hope to find a way to convince him of the honesty and seriousness of her motivations.
Before Cullen could say anything, she was gone.
Next chapter: soon!