A/N: I wanted to take this chapter to do some character development and really help fill in some blanks. I should warn you there's a lot more language in this near the end. Enjoy!
Chapter 7: Rage, Vigilance, Endurance, Pride, Justice
Something was different.
The Gallows remained the same, ominous with silent misery.
The mages, still oppressed and downtrodden by the ever cold and cruel templars.
But something was different.
When I looked at the abused and bloody, I had not pity, but anger. Not at them, but at their torturer. Meredith.
I gasp, as I realize the change that had taken place. I had changed.
When had I started to think like this? When did I become manipulative? I had always been cunning, but shrewd? No.
I started to think about this feeling settled deep into my heart. It was hatred. And all I wanted to do was take a knife and carve it out. I didn't like it, but I couldn't control it. I have seen what rage does to people, what it does to me... I remember that woman, that blood mage, who had tried to use Lucas and I for her...I shivered...experiments.
I hate blood magic, but Meredith... she makes me want to scream at the injustice of all the mages here, be it blood mage or no. She is crazy, and needs to be dealt with.
I look back to just last night. I hadn't truly noticed then but I...manipulated...Cullen. I used his kindness towards me to get what I wanted. This is not the Thalia I used to be.
I laugh, full of irony. What would Skylar have to say about me now?"
"Keep your head up! Do you want to be those slavers' stew?" Skylar helped me to my feet. Being a mage and learning to fight like a warrior is tougher than is looks.
"That hurt! You could have gone a bit easier on me!" I rub my backside, just knowing I was going to get a nasty bruise. Ugh, sparring.
"I'm not the one who decided to run away, not only to come back."
"No, you're the one walking straight into their fire, you crazy bastard," I laugh and shake my head.
Skylar frowns, "And you insist on following me. You're risking your life, Thalia, I can do this on my own. You can go home."
"I need to do this. They still have people, people I know. I can't just ignore that because it's dangerous!"
Skylar sighs, "You have a good heart, one made of gold to be sure. I'm afraid that will get you killed one day."
A heart made of gold? No longer was I that idealistic naive girl.
Now I had a different motivation, and an indomitable spirit. I would not let this place brake me! I will find a way to make Meredith pay, and save everyone here. Just like like that day...
I laugh again, "I guess some things never change, Skylar."
IXI
Something was different.
It was the air, Cullen thought, it seemed to be thicker tonight. Fog, perhaps.
He made a mental note to increase the guard patrols tonight. Escape attempts always seemed to happen when the fog rolls in.
He sighed, wondering exactly what had gotten into him last night. He shouldn't have been so soft on Thalia, he should have just let Ser William escort her out. Losing the respect of the men is a dangerous thing. He can't let a mage have that kind of power over him, not again. What kind of Knight-Captain would he be if he succumbed to the wills of a mage? A dangerous, reckless, beautiful...
He shook his head vigorously. Thoughts like that are exactly what he needs to avoid. He didn't get to being Knight-Captain by having a soft heart and weak will. He would harden his heart again, this time with steel if need be.
His thoughts drifted to the Knight-Commander, to Meredith. She was strong, much stronger than him. He supposed that is why she was Knight-Commander, and not him. She was able to do things he could not. He never questioned her, not until just a few days ago. The decisions that she had been making were...disturbing to say the least.
Cullen was still human, he still had a conscious. He did not believe in the mistreatment of the mages, yet he did not believe in being too lax either. The circle in Fereldan had not been ready for such an attack. The templars there were not vigilant. He knew from experience.
On more than one night he had fallen asleep on duty, only to be woken up by a smirking Solona. He was lucky it wasn't an angry mage. On the night the circle had fallen, other templars...weren't so lucky. The most ironic thing, the reason he didn't die in the ambush, is that he was awake in the library mulling over memories of Solona.
He shivered. The images of blood mages entered his mind, the experiments that they performed on his friends...right in front of him.
Cullen exhaled a large breath, clearing his mind of all gory thoughts. He had a patrol to organize after all, distractions could not be afforded.
He will remain vigilant.
IXI
What a strange girl... Flint found himself thinking as he picked over the slop called dinner.
A shem helped him of all things. He hadn't made friends with any humans at the circle until she showed up. Despite everything that had happened to him he still didn't trust humans, at least not at first.
His thumb brushed against his ring. Their ring. Lyna...
They were going to bond, to be together for the rest of their lives, but cruel fate had other plans for him and he was taken to the circle of Fereldan. He assumed she had moved on, believing he was dead, and had bonded with another. At least, he hoped she did. He wished her happiness and love.
This ring was the last thing he had to remember her by, to remember what it had been like before the circle. Before the horror that continued to fill his life.
The circle of Fereldan fell not long after he arrived. Blood mages had taken root there, having plotted for years that day.
Yet Thalia was not the first shem to help him. He would have died that day in the tower if it had not been for the Grey Warden.
Thinking about his happy humble beginnings and how he got all the way here... in Kirkwall...
He had his fair share of adventures ever since the fall of the circle, but the second he had gotten word that his clan was traveling near Kirkwall...he had to come.
He just had to see Lyna's face again. To know she was alright, to let her know he was alive. But again cruel fate intervened and he was taken screaming to The City of Chains.
Now he sits here, pondering over his lost life. So close yet so far to his clan. His family, his heart...his home.
IXI
He spat, "He's a fucking mage-lover, that's what. I bet he sleeps with them, since he loves them so much! That git doesn't deserve to order us around!"
Ser William was one of the few templars not on patrol this cold night. He sat at a round wooden table playing cards with the remaining off-duty templars.
"I'll tell you what's what," Ser Payard takes a sip of his ale, "We should see to it ourselves that Cullen gets punished. Then maybe ones of us can get to be the Knight-Captain." He smiled devilishly.
"You mean to frame him?" Ser Alrik spoke up, suddenly becoming interesting in the topic. If he was Knight-Captain then he would certainly be able to push his agenda even further...
"We's done it to the mages we don't like. Why not the man we's don't like either?" Ser Payard revealed his cards, "Four of a kind boys, looks like I takes all."
"Not so fast Horace," Ser Alrik holds up his hand, "Straight flush."
"You dirty cheater!" Ser Payard almost flips over the table in his outburst, "Otto, you better nots be cheating!"
He smirks smugly scooping the coins into his bag, "I have done nothing of the sort, now what is this plan you were going to tell us about?" He expertly evaded Ser Payard's accusation.
Smooth, this guy should be in politics. Ser William thought to himself.
Ser Payard laughed, "I've been thinking, whats if we use that...eh...girl...what's her name again? The one thats friends with that knife-ear withs the ring."
"Thalia." Ser William says with distaste.
"That's the one!" Ser Payard chuckles, "She and the Captain are too close don'ts you think?"
Ser William starts to laugh, this...idea...he just knows he's going to love it, "He might as well have bent over for her. It won't be hard to convince the Knight-Commander of that!"
"Yeahs, but I'm thinking something even better. What's you say we don't need no framing? What's you say we actually push them, and catch them red-handed. Then Cullen won't put up no fight, stupid honor filled piece of shit. Haha! We'll get him and her at the same time!"
"Play the match-maker you mean? What kind of backward plan is that?" Ser William is not convinced.
"Ha! Match-maker my arse! We's won't be like no match-maker you ever met. Because I gots a plan. I thinks you may likes this, Reeve."
Ser Reeve William raises an eyebrow, "Will I?"
"When's the last time you were withs a woman?"
IXI
Anders did not expect the woman at his doorstep, he could not have known how life changing an impact she would have on him. On everyone, on this entire city, on the world.
He invited her in, and her rag-tag group of companions. They asked if he was a Grey Warden, they asked for maps, they asked for assistance.
He thought of his apprentice and friend Thalia, doomed to the Gallows. These lot looked like a capable bunch.
"I'll give you these maps in exchange for a favor."
"As long as it doesn't involve children or animals," Hawke had said to him.
Anders gave her a strange look but continued, "I have a friend, she was captured and taken to the Gallows months ago. I fear for her safety, as does her family. Surly you've heard of the Royals?"
Hawke's gaze turns serious, "I have, they helped turn Darktown around. To the best of their abilities anyway... Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Anders nods, "I am. Her name is Thalia, she has dark red hair and violet eyes," He pauses, "Before I tell you anymore, will you do this? Will you help me free her?"
Hawke has a look of hesitation that her companions use as time to input.
A tattooed elf speaks out against the idea the most, "This is a bad idea. How can we trust this mage? We barely know him. This is not worth the risk of gaining Meredith's attention."
"We need those maps Hawke. There's no way into the deep roads without them. By the time Meredith finds out we'll already be gone." A dwarf with a hairy chest speaks in favor of freeing Thalia.
She sighs, "We have no choice, but how do we know you'll keep your word?"
Anders thinks carefully, this could be his only chance, "I will offer you my aid and skills in battle for now. Creating a plan to free her will take time, after it is done I will give you the maps, as promised."
"This is foolish!" Fenris exclaims and storms out of Ander's clinic.
"He's a good person, just a little rough around the edges," Hawke smiles. Anders gives her a skeptical look.
"He won't try to stop us from freeing Thalia," She reassures him.
"So," The dwarf claps his hands together, "When do we start Blondie?"
A/N: Thank you guys so much for reading my story, and if you have any criticism, compliments, or just want to let me know you're waiting for the next update, leave a review :)
