A/N: Sorry about missing the last Monday, but the weekend before was really busy and this week with the release of Omega DLC for ME3 and Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition, I've been too busy playing games to really focus on writing. That said, chapter 14 is ready and the next one is almost done too, so I should have something for the next Monday as well.
Enjoy! Or try to. :)
Chapter 14
Circle of Magi, Nevarra City
The nightmares continued to plague Bethany for the next three nights as well, growing more and more intense, letting her slowly catch a better glimpse of the images haunting her vivid dreams. She always woke with heavy, throbbing head, hampering her ability to recall exactly what she had seen, but she felt that the insidious voice whispering in her mind was becoming more and more recognizable, allowing her to slowly put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
That voice speaks of my blood, and why I am special because of it... they must know of my ancestry, it can be nothing else but that. It senses our Imperial bloodline... but nobody here would know of it... in fact, the only one who could possess such knowledge would be... sweet merciful Maker, it could only be Corypheus, surely? I must make inquiries, ask if anyone has seen Cullen, whether he has arrived in Nevarra or here at the Circle...
But her inquiries seemed to fall on deaf ears, the few templars she had addressed with this question simply shrugged and moved on, others began to look at her suspiciously and even in the case of Hammer, the giant Knight-Lieutenant, outright threateningly, forcing Bethany to stop her questioning, leaving her with nothing to do but wait until she could make contact with Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast again.
The effects of this strange presence within the Circle were beginning to visibly affect everyone present, both mages and templars. Many mages were complaining about spiking headaches and feeling unwell, but they were very careful not to say too much, remembering what had happened to the Libertarian enchanters, Freyd and Kiellin, both still kept tightly locked away in tiny cells, until the Templars figured out whether there was something to these suspicions about the pair being involved in blood magic. This all caused the mages to try and behave as normally as they could manage, attempting to hide any signs of being affected by some strange visions and headaches, fearing that admission of such symptoms would get them locked away with the two Libertarians.
And these signs grew in strength as days went by. Bethany began to notice things like more and more mages muttering, talking to themselves, sometimes aloud, looking around fearfully as they caught themselves, rushing away immediately before she could confront them. Sometimes she saw people, both mages and templars, walking into walls, struck by dizzy spells as they tried to rise from the table, stumbling and taking a tumble down the stairs, still everyone tried to insist that they were feeling fine and that it was just clumsiness on their part.
Earlier in the morning Bethany had tried to seek out the two young Aequitarian girls, Sylvin and Elenia, with whom she had struck something of a friendship. She had managed to sneak up on the elven girl, Elenia, near the kitchens, the young mage sitting on a wooden bench with her shoulders slumped, appearing to be speaking to someone even if Bethany couldn't see anyone else nearby. "Yes, Master... I know where the Greymouth Cave is... of course I know how to get there, it is not far... I will be happy to show you..." Bethany felt her heart skipping like mad from hearing the other girl speaking something so strange and disturbing, freezing and hoping that Elenia would go on and reveal something else, but then the girl had stopped, almost as if sensing her presence.
Elenia would not answer anything about this Greymouth Cave, claiming that she did not know a place by such name. When Bethany had asked about Sylvin, her friend with whom Elenia seemed to be joined at the hip, she had not wanted to reveal anything either, eventually muttering that Sylvin had been feeling a little unwell, then uttering hasty apologies and quickly withdrawing before Bethany could press her for more.
Since nobody would confess about feeling poorly, denying this mysterious sickness, Bethany tried instead to ask her fellow mages more about this Greymouth Cave, but alas, found herself faced with the same impassive stares, everybody as one claiming they had never heard of it. As more and more time went by, Bethany began to feel very alarmed and frightened, almost as if finding herself to be the only one sane in what began to look increasingly like a mental asylum. There was a desire to lock herself in the safety of her room, fearing that this strange presence might compel the others to turn on her, but she was desperate to find at least someone who might have resisted these visions, unwilling to give up on Cassandra just yet.
It was becoming increasingly clear that the murder mystery had by now shifted to be the secondary goal of her purpose here. It was far more important to understand what had led Corypheus here and what he intended to do with the Circle and everyone present... and stop him from harming these people, or at the very least, escape with her life intact, if she was powerless to do more than that.
Growing increasingly paranoid and frightened, she spent most of the afternoon avoiding the others, sneaking off to the library and trying to find something on this Greymouth Cave in the few geography books stored in the bookshelves. It did not take her much time to find what she was looking for, though when she began to read, she could not understand what was so special about this cave. It was fairly well known to those living in the vicinity of Nevarra City, the entrance looming roughly six miles outside the city limits, a popular destination of eager would-be adventurers, or young couples looking for a few thrills and some privacy. It was also clear that most of those who had denied knowing about this cave had lied, though why they had done so, Bethany was at a loss... aside the speculation in one of the books that the cave system stretched deeper than assumed, there was absolutely nothing remarkable about it.
Puzzled and worried, Bethany had found a secluded alcove in one of the upper floors of the old fortress, from where she could observe the courtyard and everyone coming and going to the Circle, anxiously watching, wondering whether she would spot the former Knight-Lieutenant, and following Meredith's death, Knight-Commander of the Circle of Kirkwall, Ser Cullen. Instead, after more than an hour of sitting, waiting and slowly beginning to shiver, she was relieved to spot the familiar figure of Seeker Cassandra entering the fortress. Bethany immediately jumped to her feet and dashed downstairs, trying to find a good spot where to intercept the Seeker, praying to Maker that Cassandra had arrived with the intention to find her and inquire about the results of the investigation.
She had to wait for almost two more hours, afraid to venture further downstairs where the majority of the templars milled about and mages rarely dared to enter, having no business to intrude upon templar dealings. Eventually, Cassandra reappeared in her view, looking thoughtful as she climbed upstairs, the raven-haired warrior shaking her head and muttering something at herself, making Bethany deathly afraid that she had also come under the evil spell of Corypheus. But I must speak to her anyway, she is my only way out of this place, and if I do not take this risk and trust her to fulfill her promise... I will never get out of here alive.
With this thought, Bethany reached out from the dark storage room she had been hiding in, grabbing Cassandra by the hand and wincing as the Seeker's other gauntleted hand came around to squeeze her in a stony, painful grasp, almost making her cry out in pain. "Bethany! Maker, don't scare me like that... I could have cut you in two with my sword!" Cassandra gasped, giving the young mage a reprimanding stare.
"Oh... I'm sorry," Bethany managed nervously, hiding her trembling hands behind her back. "I... needed to speak with you, urgently."
"Well, I am here now," Cassandra replied, echo of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips, before she looked around cautiously to see whether there was anyone in sight. "How goes the investigation? Have you found something new about the murders?"
Bethany blinked, wide-eyed, unable to quite hide her surprise. How can she still be concerned about that investigation? Doesn't she sense what is going on here? she thought rapidly. "Not much... I have run into some problems recently," she said carefully, not wanting to appear too agitated. Cassandra may be on my side, but I don't want to risk the Seeker starting to suspect that I am possessed or worse... and if I start to speak about voices in my head, she just might begin thinking that.
"What kind of problems?" Cassandra asked, looking at her curiously.
"Well... just people all around acting a little odd..." Bethany replied vaguely. "You... haven't noticed anything strange? People not wanting to speak with you, deliberately avoiding you, not making much sense when you speak with them?"
"That's the standard reception that a Seeker gets in every Circle where they show up," Cassandra smirked. "Nobody is really thrilled to share things with us, even the templars. Sometimes the templars in particular. Though..." she froze for a moment, tapping an elegant finger against her chin. "I must say, those guards were acting a little strange, as if they had been asleep. I had to yell at them several times until they snapped out of their slumber and then they would not let me in, even if I am certain that they recognized who I was."
"You're not spending the nights here, by the way?" Bethany asked. There has to be an explanation why she's not affected. Not everyone can have an Imperium magister amongst their ancestors! "I thought they had given you some guest quarters."
"That is true, but the past few nights I have been staying at my parent's estate," Cassandra explained, wondering a little about the relieved expression on Bethany's face. "They demanded that I visit them, and proved to be surprisingly civil company for once, insisting that I spend more time with them."
"That's good, that's very good," Bethany smiled nervously.
"You are deeply worried about something, I can see," Cassandra said suddenly, cutting straight to the chase. "Are you in danger? Did you reveal too much by questioning someone? Tell me what is wrong and I will see what I can do to protect you, Bethany."
"I... I don't know if I'm in danger... I'm not sure, I don't think so..." Bethany muttered lamely, not sure how to explain her predicament. I fear that Corypheus is trying to take over the entire Circle just like he did with the Carta in Kirkwall... Maker, doesn't that sound just a bit too farfetched to believe? "Oh... there's just one thing," suddenly something occurred to her. "Cassandra, can you get information about the visitors coming to the Circle? Are there any records somewhere?"
"Yes, the guards keep the records at the entry gate guardhouse," the Seeker replied. "But these murders have been committed by someone within the Circle, I'm sure we both agreed on that?"
"We did, but..." Bethany said slowly, her thoughts spinning frantically. "I thought maybe our murderer has an accomplice," she tried eventually.
Cassandra simply shook her head resolutely. "It would be better if you were honest with me, Bethany. There is something that you are not telling me."
Bethany let out a deep sigh, her deep brown eyes shifting nervously as she faced the Seeker's stern stare. "I... alright, I think there's something else going on here... something not connected with the murders... and I wanted you to check the arrival records to look for one particular name..."
"Who would that be?" Cassandra inquired.
"You might remember him from your visit to the Kirkwall Circle... a young Knight-Lieutenant there by the name of Cullen," Bethany explained.
"Cullen, yes, I do remember him from both Kirkwall and Ferelden," the Seeker nodded. "What makes you believe that he might have come here?"
"I thought I saw him amongst the templars the other day, and I was frightened that he might recognize me or learn of my presence here," Bethany quickly lied, this time managing to sound convincing. "He loved to torment me back in Kirkwall, and I... I guess I was frightened that he might be eager to punish me for escaping from his clutches." Forgive me for having to speak ill of you, but I must make her believe my story or all will be lost.
"Understandable," Cassandra nodded, looking a little upset. She took Bethany's hands in hers, offering a comforting squeeze and managing a supportive smile. "Don't worry, I promised to keep you safe and I will. Now wait here while I go check the records at the guardhouse."
And with that, Cassandra rushed off, leaving Bethany alone, waiting in the small storage room next to the stairwell leading down to the floor filled with templars. Time seemed to crawl by as she waited for the raven-haired Seeker's return, the few minutes feeling like hours and when Cassandra finally reappeared before her, Bethany couldn't stop herself from reaching out and briefly touching the other woman's arm, merely for comfort, to make sure that she was there, real.
"I'm sorry, Bethany... but there's no mention of Knight-Lieutenant Cullen in the records," Cassandra informed her, looking hopeful about being able to relieve the young mage's obvious distress. "He's not here in the Circle of Nevarra City, I can assure you."
"Yes, I see... thanks for checking that for me, Cassandra, I truly appreciate it," Bethany spoke, not looking quite as relieved as she tried to sound. I guess he must have arrived in secret, or... maybe someone smuggled him inside, a fellow templar, a possessed accomplice... I just feel that Cullen has brought Corypheus here, I know it to be true!
"Now then, before someone has interrupted us... have you found anything new about the murders?" Cassandra inquired, casting quick glances left and right, making sure nobody was approaching the stairwell. "Maker, it certainly is quiet here this afternoon."
"I'm telling you there's something weird going on, Cassandra," Bethany whispered, finally unable to keep the truth to herself any longer. "Everyone's been complaining about headaches and dizziness over the past few days, there's something weird going on here!"
"Hmm," Cassandra rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "That is worrying if true... but you are unaffected, yes? I wonder why..."
"Maybe because I'm a recent arrival and this is something that has been at work for a while here?" Bethany tried, having the presence of mind to conjure a believable explanation that would save her from having to reveal the delicate truth of her ancestry.
"Yes, that could be it," the Seeker agreed after another pause. "And you don't think that this could be related to the murders? Perhaps we should not exclude that the two events are linked."
"I suppose they could be related..." Bethany shrugged helplessly. "What are you thinking of?"
"I think you should continue your investigation, Bethany, but you need to be even more careful," Cassandra spoke warningly. "I think you should also try and appear affected by this mysterious malady, do you think you can act the part convincingly?" Bethany nodded quickly at that. "What if someone else here is unaffected? What if they are the culprit behind the plot? Perhaps they are our assassin? Pretend to be suffering from the headaches and dizziness, and perhaps our suspect will reveal themselves to you."
"That... is not a bad idea," Bethany nodded quickly. "I will do that, though so far I have not noticed anyone sticking out in the crowd, so to speak... maybe they're acting too? Oh, and Cassandra?" she briefly touched the other woman's hand again. "Please tell me you're not going to spend the night here, I would hate to see you fall under that spell."
"Don't worry, Bethany, I won't stay the night," Cassandra offered a comforting squeeze in return. "I will remain here for a few hours, try and dig up some clues, see if I can sense any malevolent influences somewhere that could be the cause for something like this."
"Oh, good... I'd just hate for something bad to happen to you," Bethany smiled uneasily. "Someone has to get me out of here afterwards..." And hopefully I can get through this whole mess in one piece...
Knotwood Hills, Arling of Amaranthine
Riona Hawke sat on the ground, elbows propped against her knees, chin buried in her palms, the young mage deep in thought as she watched the dark entrance to the passages leading to the dwarven thaig of Kal'Hirol and the Deep Roads below. Nothing had emerged from the caves for several hours now, following their escape, the young woman having to drag her lover out of the depths of the thaig, Nathaniel remaining unconscious after she herself had knocked him out cold with her staff.
I guess she... it was honest when it made its promise not to follow us, Riona thought, recalling her conversation with Seranni, or to be more accurate, with the entity known as the Architect. Wish I hadn't whacked him quite so hard, she mused, staring at Nathaniel's prone form, now slowly beginning to stir. He's probably not going to be happy about that, she sighed audibly, feeling a growing sense of unease about the whole situation. That someone would just be able to sense your ancestry like that... such a creepy, disturbing feeling.
"Ungh..." her musings were interrupted that very moment by Nathaniel moaning, opening his eyes and then immediately wincing from pain. "Maker..." he breathed out, remaining lying on the ground, where Riona had settled him on a bedroll. He gingerly reached out with his hand to touch the back of his head where Riona had struck him, wincing again as his fingers explored the massive bump the size of a small egg. "What the... everything's in a fog... what happened... Riona, are you here? Where are we?"
"I'm here, Nathaniel," Riona replied, immediately jumping off the rock she had chosen as her vantage point and coming to sit next to him. "We're just outside the caves leading into the Deep Roads. I had to carry you out."
"Carry me... oh... it's starting to come back to me now... so it wasn't a dream after all. The Architect is alive..." Nathaniel groaned, still unable to rise, trying to gather his strength. "And... you hit me on the head, did you not? That blow came from behind... where you stood..."
"If you even dare thinking yourself betrayed, I suggest that you reconsider," Riona replied harshly. "You were doing your best to get us both killed by Seranni and her clan! What on Thedas possessed you to risk with our lives? No... wait, I think I answered that question already... Architect must have been whispering in your mind."
"I... yes... I think you must be right," Nathaniel said quietly, managing to prop himself up on his elbows. "If... if I had all my senses intact, I would never have endangered your life like that... not for Velanna's sake. You... you believe me when I say that, please say you do?" he looked at her, a little desperate. "You know how I feel about you, Riona."
"Yes. Yes, I do," she answered hoarsely. "It's just... I understand that you were not yourself... it's just going to take a little time until... no, don't look at me like that," she managed a small, brave smile as Nathaniel appeared slightly horrified from her words. "This won't change anything between us, I promise. Not in the long run... if... if you still are considering that..."
"Of course I am," Nathaniel smiled through the considerable pain of the headache. "I would very much like to consider this... long run," he added, with Riona's help getting up into a sitting position, gingerly starting to gather his belongings. "I'm just wondering... it was a strange way for the Architect to speak with you... as if he knew you, which should be impossible..."
"I did not even knew about this Architect until you told me about him," Riona shrugged, quickly trying to think of a convincing lie to calm Nathaniel down. "My training as a mage has made me more capable at resisting influences like his... and your last meeting with him ended in violence, so perhaps that is why he chose to address me instead."
"I suppose so," Nathaniel shrugged, wincing again from the unwisely sharp movement. "Still... doesn't really explain why he even allowed us to leave."
"I hope you're not complaining," Riona grumbled, getting slightly annoyed at Nathaniel's questioning, unwilling to disclose the whole truth to him, at the same time beginning to feel worried about slipping up in this tangled web of lies and half-truths that could end up damaging their relationship.
"Not really complaining, no," Nathaniel managed a brief chuckle, continuing to pack away the bedroll. "As soon as we return to the Vigil's Keep, I will need to write to the Grey Wardens. They must be informed at once about the reemergence of this old threat."
"That seems prudent," Riona nodded. And perhaps it is time that I finally get in touch with my friends in Kirkwall... Flemeth warned me about not contacting Bethany, but that does not mean that I could not write to Aveline and ask her about my sister... something sinister is stirring in Thedas, and I think Bethany should be aware that there are ancient beings of old Tevinter Imperium who can sense our ancestry... even if they were magnanimous enough not to kill me on this occasion... it would be foolish of me to easily dismiss something as this Architect...