The tower came into view as the two men slowed their horses down to a complete stop just upon the hill. I was slowly awoken by a gentle voice in my ear. "Solona," Cullen's voice seemed only too distant but I shake myself awake. I had no idea I had fallen asleep on the way here. Evidently I did, which only proved that I was more tired than I led on. We come to a stop before the Spoiled Princess. A name that I found oddly amusing but did not know the story behind it. Not to mention the fact it was positioned right there before the Tower. Probably didn't get much business. Apart of me wondered if the Templars came here when they didn't have to work but I pushed aside the thought when Cullen slips out of the saddle behind me. I grip the horn, not quite knowing how to get down from these things until he holds his hands up to me and I find myself slipping quite easily to the ground below the animal.
Alistair takes the reins as I fix my robe realizing that I was beginning to hate these long robes. They did nothing for the traveler and that explained as to why Morrigan dressed the way she did. I wonder if I could pull that off… but the thought of it was making me slightly embarrassed at the absurd idea. "Master Cullen?" I recognize the voice. It was from the ferryman who led us across the river. "Kester?" Cullen moves away from me and leaves both Alistair and I behind to greet the older man. "I thought you'd never return." A shrug of his shoulders Cullen shoots a glance to us. "And Mistress Solona, you have returned as well? Things must be more dire than they were leading on." Concern hits us both like a tidal wave. "Dire?" Cullen presses for answers but Kester avoids them. "I don't know how bad but they replaced me with some Templar named Carroll." I groan, not really knowing that I did it out loud. Carroll had a way with being the world's worst Templar. He barely followed the rules, he watched the female Mages intently and most of all he had a bad sense of humor. "Carroll, is in charge of the ferry?" I almost thought I heard a small laugh come from Cullen at the idea. "Something must be dire if the Knight-Commander has him here."
He speaks his thanks and pushes past Alistair, in the process he grips my arm and pulls me along with him. "What could have happened?" He was asking me but I did not know. The only thing we both knew was the veil was thin upon the top of the Tower. That was why they placed the Circle there. If someone or something pushed past the veil that could cause many horrible things to happen. "I don't know, Cullen." We were in a hurry, evidently I wasn't moving fast enough because he still pulling me along side of him. Alistair is behind us, I sense his confusion but I knew he was one of the few who could understand this situation more so than I. After all they were trained to learn about these things. "Carroll!" The shout comes from Cullen as he let's go of my arm. I nearly lose my footing but Alistair is there, helping me stand up a little straighter. "Andraste's tits, is that you Cullen?" The other Templar squints but I sigh remembering just how much I hated Carroll. "You have to let us across now." The demanding tone in his voice wasn't helping our protest of the situation. "I'm sorry, Cullen but I can't do that. Knight-Commander has strict orders about these things." Of course he would place just about every precaution out there, which meant only one thing; The Circle was compromised. "Come on, Carroll." I move past Cullen to find the Carroll hadn't changed much. "We are Grey Wardens now, we have the right to go up there." He rolls his eyes, his arms crossing before him. "Yeah and I'm the Empress of Orlais." Like I said he had a bad sense of humor. "I thought only Women could be Empresses." Alistair wasn't exactly helping the situation. "Don't question royalty." I take a small glance to Cullen and he is rubbing the bridge of his nose, evidently annoyed by this.
"Okay, fine what is it that you want?" Were we really bartering with him? I thought everyone had to listen to us when we held these treaties? But evidently I was wrong on those accounts. "I am feeling a bit peckish." Then it hits me, Sten gave me something before we left for the Tower. Stating something along the lines he didn't need them or something. I couldn't remember but without a thought I pull open the back of Cullen's pack and pull out the wrapped up cookies. "Here," I hand them to Carroll and his eyes light up. "Oh, cookies!"
Alistair was finding this all amusing but I close up Cullen's pack and settle myself back down before the cookie eating Templar. "Where did you get those?" He asks of me but I shrug. "Sten." Suddenly Alistair is laughing like no tomorrow. It was amusing because now I was laughing with him. "Alright, so shall we go?" Carroll helps me into the boat with Cullen and Alistair behind me in the process. With the help of Cullen, Carroll made it across in no time.
There were always many steps leading up to the front of the Tower. Long winding steps that normally caused me to get tired again. This place had so many stairs it was a wonder as to how we all stayed so fit.
The steps cleared off as Cullen opens the doors only to be greeted by an small group of Templars and a very disgruntled Knight-Commander. The older man seemed in a hurry but I was curious now as to what was really happening. "Lock the doors and keep the men on guard at all times." Lock the doors? I look over to the once open area that led to the apprentices chambers only to see blood smeared across the floor and the walls. My stomach fell in that instant. "I thought I told Carroll not to let anyone across, despite who they might be." His attention was upon us but I couldn't bring myself to look to him. I was still afraid of this place, despite knowing I was innocent. "Knight-Commander," Cullen takes the final step and the older man seemed to relax a bit seeing him. "We have come to ask for the aid from the Circle." The treaty he kept tucked away in a secret location in his armor, he hands it over to Greagoir as the older man skims it over. "I am sorry, Cullen but the Circle is lost to us." I feel a cry break from my lips. "And so you decided to bring the Apostate with you as well?" There was a small surge of dislike flowing through me in that small second. "She is a Grey Warden, Knight-Commander. She should be treated as such." He was actually sticking up for me, and some how I found that still cute.
"I apologize but we do not have the time for pleasantries. The Tower is overrun and I am waiting for the Right of Annulment." Before I could say anything Alistair is at my side. "You have got to be joking. If you call for the Right then that means… that means the entire Circle is over run with…" I didn't want to think about it but I finish his sentence for him. "Abominations." The entire place was compromised and now I started to put the pieces together. "We have lost many men and Mages alike trying to save the Tower." Evidently they didn't try hard enough. My whole life was this tower. The people within it were like family, despite the fact I never had many friends to begin with. My heart was being squeezed within my chest but the news was dire enough to make apart of me understand what was really going on. "Then we will go in there and finish what you cannot." Cullen was joking, right? I look up to him but he is dead serious. "Are you sure? Just the three of you taking on whatever is in that tower?" As if by will, Alistair nods. "We are Grey Wardens, it is what we do." Oh yes, by all means lets just take on the impossible just to prove them wrong. How dire was this really?
"Then I shall let you go, but hear me now; I will only heed the word of the First-Enchanter if things are back in order." Somehow I wondered if we could do this. We took on a whole horde of undead, hell might as well take on a whole army of Abominations as well.
We gear up, Alistair purchases a few poultices and Lyrim potions. I want to tell him it wasn't needed but he doesn't listen. They both buy new armor and I realize that I was completely out of this armor wearing loop. I had my protections but when Cullen throws a piece of clothing my way I look down to it in my arms. "Put that on." I hesitate of course. Not quite knowing what he was asking of me. "Those things have magical protection woven inside of them. They will help keep you alive more so than our own armor." Oh well, if that's the case then yeah sure I'm going to put on clothing because he says it is safe. I shrug and find a nice corner to quickly undress in. When I finally figured out how each clasp went together and which pieces tied together. I was in a heap of panic. The robe hit the middle of my thighs, the stockings I wore were the only things keeping my bare skin from showing and the boots with the gloves… Suddenly I was missing my old robes.
I fumble out of the dark corner only to be greeted by two helmed figures I assumed was Alistair and Cullen. They were prepared and now so was I. As I move to the doors Cullen stops me, handing me a dagger. "I don't need this…" I start to protest but he shakes his head. "In case something happens to us." Suddenly I begin to see the much large picture here, there was a chance we could all end up either turned or just dead.
The doors open, I can hear the mutter of the Templars closing it behind us but I fear more so for what we see laying before us. Mages, Templars all thrown about like rag dolls. Their cold dead eyes looking up at us and I panic. My throat catches when the smell of blood and sweet Lyrim hits me. My eyes begin to water but I move past the bodies only to find my old Apprentice room. I find my bed quickly, knowing I stashed a few things under the mattress. I hope that they are still there. The quiet cough from Alistair I shoot him a look but I cannot see his face so well hidden behind the visor of the helmet. "Just… I'm trying to find something." I struggle as my finger-tips locate the small painted box. Without a thought I pull it open and there it was. A small silver locket I have had since I was a child. The images upon the inside tells me they are of my parents and it is the only thing of my old life that I have left.
I am being brought to my feet as I stuff the locket into one of the hidden pockets of this so-called robe and follow behind them. We find the next set of doors and are blown back by the gust of cold wind hitting us.
"That should teach you for messing with us." Another gust of cold wind and when I sit up there is nothing but quiet smoke rising before a barrier filled doorway. "Oh that hurt." I hear a mumble from Alistair but he was fine just as was Cullen when he moved to his feet quite gracefully. I fumble around until I am back up to my feet but we are greeted with hostile looks until the older woman turns around. "Wynne?" I call out but she doesn't seem to see me. She was tired, beyond tired it seemed. "Wynne? Petra?" The two of them look to me, but it is the scared look in Petra's eyes that made me realize how bad this really was. "What happened here?" I push past Cullen to help Wynne to her feet with Petra's help. "Many horrible things happened. But why are you here?" Wynne is upon her feet, her calm demeanor is hesitating taking in the three of us. "We came to help." I offer but find myself stepping away from them. "This is my home too, Wynne. I have a right to help." As if my words had helped she relaxes a bit. "And the Templars?" Of course she would know of the two behind me. "I know that is you Cullen." Ugh those eyes know everything I want to laugh but I find my words catching in my throat. "Sorry, Wynne." He pulls his helm off but she doesn't relax for a bit. "Why are you here?" I pause wanting to explain but Cullen had taken the words right out of my mouth. "We are here to secure the tower but we need to reach the First-Enchanter, in order to complete this task." She lets out a quiet, relaxed breath for a second. "You will need help, then." She looks me over. We both knew I was capable but I lacked skills in many things. "You will also need a skilled Healer to help you through this." Oh, she was taking a shot at my ability for hating healing magic. "That we will," Cullen really wasn't helping either. "Then I will go with you." I move to protest but am stopped by a hand upon my shoulder. "Thank you, Wynne."
She gives us a smile of gratitude as we move to the barrier. "I must say that I am impressed I have been able to keep this up for so long." I really wasn't. The woman had remarkable skill, talent and just willpower to do this. "You did what you had to, Wynne. Now shall we?" I offer and with my added magic I help her release the barrier.
We move through the halls of the Tower on the same level. Coming across the library the Abominations hits us. The demons were next down the line. Everything was either burned to a crisp or covered in the blood of those who tried to defend the Tower. There were bodies everywhere, thrown around like dolls. My heart was hurting from the painful memories surfacing from within this room. Studying late at night, practicing with Jowan and more recently spending quiet time with Cullen. My memories were those of good times but now they were being replaced by the horror surrounding us. We fight our way past the abominations only to reach the next floor. Rushing the steps I pause before the stockroom. I knew this place, this was… I see a silent figure huddled over a box of cases in the corner. I move quickly but I knew that figure from anywhere. "Owain?" I call for him and he doesn't look up. "Owain is that you?" I stop behind him just as Wynne and Cullen did. "Is that you Solona?" He stands up but the monotone voice he had still gave me the shivers. "Yes, Owain it is me. Wynne and Ser Cullen are here as well." He is slowly taking us in but with time I get the sensation he was at least glad to see us. "It is good that you are all safe. I have tried to find a way out of the tower only to be blocked by a barrier." A snort from Wynne tells me she didn't know he was there. "If you would have said something Owain, I would have let you through." He turns his distant gaze upon me but I sigh in regards to what he was doing. "I stayed here because it was safe and Niall told me too." Niall? He was one of the few newest Mages placed upon the Council. And he was one of the few who I held in high regard within the tower. Also he was a good friend, someone that I never thought of admitting too in the midst of public.
"Where is Niall and why hasn't he left yet?" Wynne presses for answers. "He came for the Litany of Adralla." Then that meant one thing. "There was a Maleficar here?" Once more I sense Cullen's Templar training kicking in. "Yes, Master Uldred was the cause for all of this Niall told me." I do not want to hear this. Master Uldred was a good man, at least that's what I was led to believe. "If he has the Litany then this should have ended. Something happened to him, we must press forward." Wynne gives Owain a small grateful pat upon the shoulder and we are being forced to move forward.
The halls were in disarray. Things were being burned in the rooms and Demons start to appear more and more frequently. The whole second floor was much like the first only we found Blood Mages surrounding the floor. They had blocked off most of the doors with barriers until we defeated them, dropping the barriers in the process. Moving to the next staircase I pause before it. "Some how I don't want to know what's up there…" I let my small worry break free but Wynne gives me a small grateful pat on the back. "Do not hesitate in the midst of battle, my dear. You are strong just as Irving said you were. You have proven yourself, despite your lack for clothing as a Mage." I find myself blushing, wanting to cover up what I was wearing with my hands but I hear a snort of laughter behind me from Alistair. "They have magical protection…" I found myself using that excuse but she gives me a smile and moves through the door quickly.
Upon the third floor we encounter the same things. The dead laying around us and more Abominations, Demons greet us as we press forward through the floor. Towards the end, we found another Abomination trying to transform a few Tranquil. They didn't seem bothered by it but of course they couldn't show their fear. A fight broke loose but I cast the Abomination down with a few heavy spells and took out the archers quickly.
I helped Wynne check to see if the Tranquil were alright and they seemed to be in one piece but they were thankful for our timely rescue. I give them each a health poultice and move with the others to the fourth floor. That was when things went down hill.
We found Templars still alive but under the spell of a Desire Demon. She is floating around them, her eyes glinting off their metal breastplates but I wasn't surprised when she was playing them for a fool. She had them under her grasp. She was each a lover to them, a mother or a wife. Holding each one in their own little fantasies. It was well disturbing, I had no idea Templars had such things locked away. They did the Maker's work but they wanted more from it.
She knows we are there and we attack. The Templars attack us as well. Sending both Wynne and I through the door only to find ourselves fighting our way back through it. Knowing they were our weakness we did not stop until everything was gone. The horror of this all, I cannot bring myself to look to Cullen. These were his friends, his comrades and his family. They were the only people he had ever known outside of his life within the Chantry. Just as I saw my own fellow Mages being thrown about like bloodied dolls the pain was too much for us to stop and weep over this.
We find the next door and open it. The door doesn't budge at first until Cullen says for us to back away. With the help of Alistair they managed to bring the door down in a few swift kicks and we rush in. The form before us, I can suddenly sense this being. "Sloth…" I mutter under my breath and Wynne turns to me. "I should have known…" I slowly curse a few words and he turns around. His gaze moves between us. "More guests to entertain, I shall enjoy this." His dreary voice hits me and I feel myself weakening. "Slaughtering more of your kind, is enough entertainment for me." Cullen spits but he is also breaking, we all were.
"Sleep, take a nap. You are all so tired." I try and try so hard to fight it but I break. My knees buckle under me as I collide with the hard floor. Sleep sounded great at this point.
A/N: Okay first off I know this leads into the Fade part which I am going to explain here in this little side-note as to what is going to happen within the next chapter(s). They will be within Cullen's POV because he is the fearless Leader. Solona will be trapped just as Alistair and Wynne. And this was slightly rushed, yes but I was in a hurry to get to the Fade part. I wished they did more of a personal thing within it for your character instead of just meeting Duncan and etc. Kind of dull really.
AND THOSE LOVELY SHOUT OUTS NOW SINCE I OWE ALL OF YOU ONE! sandradee27: thank you for your kind words! i am happy that you enjoy the story so far! and yes a jealous cullen is always entertaining! hahaha don't we all want our own Cullen, sigh. ;) xmaster: lmfao yeah i just kind of have this idea of Alistair sort of enjoying Solona's attention. but yes i hope so too. darkmage6: wooo! is so so so so right! ;) cluaran: thank you for enjoying it so far! at this point i am currently working over their little history. it will be interesting to say the least as to how their relationship developed. oh man, what's kind of amusing is how she is completley oblivious to both of them. she is in her own world kind of finding their attention strange but doesn't question it. i'm guessing it will take a little straightforwardness from either one of them for her to see the bigger picture. thank you though! i am so glad you are enjoying it! mapachita: thank you, i know i owe this but you are wonderful! as always much love to all of you who are reading this! i will enjoy reading your comments/reviews on everything! ;)
Annnd of course Dragon Age is not my own but it does belong to Bioware! XD!
