"Parshaara!" Sten growled as Jowan approached the group. It appeared they were still hotly discussing the turn of events. "If he can no longer control himself he is as bad as the bas saarebas and must be treated as such!" The Quanari growled at Gilmore. Apparently, Sten wanted to execute Cullen immediately.
Jowan cleared his throat and Roland came over.
"She is awake…but we might have another small problem."
"Better than another 300 kilo problem." Roland grumbled his eyes glancing back to the Quanari.
"I'm not so sure." He admitted. "She has a concussion to be sure….and with that no memory of what caused it."
"Oh. Well then." Rory frowned, rubbing the back of his neck.
Jowan was once again glad that Gilmore was not the archetypal muscle head Knight and had taken over leadership as soon as he saw Nemmy go down. He glanced past the knight at the small group, Morrigan, Sten and Zeveran were all standing in the middle of camp. It seemed since the skirmish with the refugees no one had set a watch. Also no one appeared to be with the Templar.
"No one is watching Cullen?"
"I checked on him after we set up camp. He is…better? He hasn't said anything other than prayers since Morrigan told him what happened. He asked how she is and Demon is guarding, it is the damnest thing I have ever seen." He hooks a gloved hand in the direction of the tent where the Templar was apparently being held.
"The dog is guarding him?" Jowan knew mabari were supposed to be smart but that seemed to be beyond understanding. He also knew the dog was fiercely protective of his mistress so how the hound had managed not to set upon the Templar and somehow became guardian was both fortitidous and impressive in equal measure.
"More like keeping an eye on us and how we treat him. He actually snapped at Sten when they were arguing his fate."
"She is going to want to see him you know. We can hold it off for a day or so but she won't let anyone do anything without at least talking to him first." Jowan watched the knight nod looking to the tent behind him where Nemmy was.
"I should go check on her. Could you… I don't know see if Cullen is …hell I don't know if he is him."
Jowan had not been expecting that.
"And say what exactly? We are not exactly friends."
"No one is. But you have known him for years haven't you? He is tied down so you do not have to worry about that. And the mabari likes you well enough.
"Alright I will look in on him at least." Jowan acquiesced and Rory looked very relieved as he nodded thanks before heading off to check on Nemmy.
Circling the others, he walked to where the skirmish had happened. The ground was still muddy and the snow was just beginning to melt. So many footsteps but so little blood, it was actually quite impressive and Jowan knew next to nothing about combat. He noticed the small boot prints besides the much deeper ones that were ground into the mud and pawprints all around. Damn Nemmy needing to be in the thick of battle she was right next to him when she set that spell off.
Spell combinations was not something usually taught to appetences. Most discovered them by accident during their own training but the pull of mana that Nemeria had managed was something he had never seen before but had heard about senior enchanters using a similar method. Spell might they called it, additional casting power from the fade being pulled into the real world and an on edge Templar sensitive to the flow of mana had been besides her when she had done it.
"You have to be careful with Cullen." He had warned her after the fade.
"He would never hurt me." But she had not met his gaze. She never could lie to him. She had been acting more confident then she had been.
"You trust to soon and too quickly." Irving had scolded her when she had wanted to send Jowan into the Fade.
The First Enchanter had been more right then he knew. Nemeria always wanted to see the best in people and it had cost her. What was he supposed to say to the Templar? Glad you didn't kill your girlfriend but now you have a witch, a crow, and a Quanari that want to disembowel you. But don't worry I will take good care of her after you are gone because this is the chance I wasted all the years ago?
He was outside the tent and heard a clink of armor from within. The Templar was awake and knew someone was there. Soft padded footfalls and a low woof was the mabari's acknowledgement as Jowan entered and absentmindedly patted the hounds head.
"All men are the Work of our Maker's Hands,
From the lowest slaves
To the highest kings.
Those who bring harm
Without provocation to the least of His children
Are hated and accursed by the Maker."
The Templar's head was bowed and he was of course praying, his hands bound behind, around the center support of the tent. Demon had retreated to the far side of the tent, lying down but his paws out and chest still up at attention as he watched the two humans who in one form or another belonged to his mistress.
Jowan shifted his weight until he was sure the Templar heard him. Finishing his recitation the man opened his eyes that were rimmed red. (Had he been crying?). He looked startled for a moment but not angry.
"You." The surprise in his voice. "Is she awake?" His eyes soften a mix of shame and guilt until Jowan nods. His head drops with relief and whispers, "Andraste be praised!"
"Did she? Does she know..Gilmore wouldn't tell me anything" Jowan was almost feeling sympathy for the man. Was this why Roland had seemed so unsure? Jowan sighs taking a breath before deciding how to continue. He certa
"She just woke up and is very disoriented. She has a concussion so she won't be up for at least a day." He saw the fear in the blond man's eyes return so he hastily added. "But I expect she will make a full recovery."
The Templar's shoulders fell and Jowan could swear the corners of the man's eyes glittered with unshed tears for a few second making the mage feel all the more awkward. He glanced over at the hound who was sitting there like a statue only the deep brown eyes moving between the two men.
"Thank you Jowan. I know you did it for Nemeria but if you had not been here I shudder to think what could have happened. It seems Nemeria's faith was well placed."
How much did it have to hurt the Templar to thank a blood mage for tending to his lover, Jowan could only image. The kindest words Cullen had spoken to him in well, ever. But now the man even in his armor seemed small and defeated. He had to say something.
"Roland is with her now. She does not remember what happened. I..I didn't tell her."
He exited soon after feeling there was not much more to say. He was by no means an ally of the Templar. The man had been one of the first to say Jowan should be executed. He went back to Nemmy's tent and was faced with a very pale and sour looking Warden and a tired looking Rory. As soon as she saw him however her face light up.
"Jowan! Rory won't let me up! I told him I am fine the dizziness went away." She gave her best pout face at the knight.
"And then you started speaking Elvish to me Nemmy. You should just relax." He was rubbing Nemmy's hand absentmindedly and Jowan felt only the briefest flash of jealously.
"I can at least make ice or potions or something since I have to stay awake anyway. Just sitting here all night will drive me batty!" She pleaded to the men.
"I'll leave you in Jowan's care and get you both some supper."
The knight stands and pushes a lock of hair behind her hair affectionately before leaving. And Jowan leans over to check Nemmy's pupils and notices that the knot has started to bruise and the ice was melted into the cloth.
"So what is the prognosis doctor? Will your patient live? Will she ever dance the Remmigold again?"
"Considering I've seen you dance I think a knock on the head might be an improvement." He chuckles. She certainly was in a mood but if that was a result of the blow to the head or being told she has to lie still for a whole day remained to be seen.
"Very funny. Can I at least sit up now? "He nodded and helped her up but he noticed she keep her arm around his waist to steady herself. Vertigo was to be expected.
"Thank you for everything. I don't think I said that before, in between my whining." She gave a half smile.
"No need. Taking care of you is part of my job description somewhere after wetnurse and potions master."
"Oh like I never took care of you when you were sick!" She said with mock annoyance. "Like when you had the measles and no one would go near you? She looks at him seriously. "How is he?" Her hand goes to the thin silver chain Jowan had noticed before. Typically Nemeria to be more concerned with the idiot who attacked her than herself.
"I thought you didn't remember what happened." He sounded harsher then he intended. But the hurt in Nemmy's face made him instantly regret it.
"At first I didn't, but Rory is really bad at evading questions. And I would like to think…." She chews her lip before sighing and continuing. "I would like to think that Cullen would be here otherwise. Or at least Demon."
"What the hell were you thinking naming your dog that?" He chuckled at the irony of a so called demon watching over the Templar.
"For the first time in my life I wasn't thinking about being a mage actually. Right after we left Flemeth's there was a large group of darkspawn and he was there tearing everything up! Morrigan let me keep him.!" She smiled with a childish happiness that had been missing from her face for a long time.
"Well wasn't that nice of her. Next time we are in Denerim you should get him some barding and you can ride him into battle."
"That is actually my secret plan for Sten." She giggled and Jowan laughed at that mental image.
"My head hurts." She said plainly.
"Well let's get some dinner into you and then we can see about finding work for you. And don't even think we are going to let you pull guard duty!"