Cullen and I walk out of the war room feeling anxious. I look at him. He rubs the back of his neck again.
I grin at him "you up for a sparring match? I think we both need one after that."
"Now that is not a terrible idea," he grins, "meet at the sparring grounds in 10?"
I grin wider and nod, heading toward my little cabin to change into armor.
Changing into my Dalish armor makes me feel like me again…not some "herald."
I grab my ironbark staff and head over to the sparring grounds.
Cullen looks a bit surprised when I show up.
"I would have thought you would be wearing your dragon armor and… in shoes," He says curiously.
"I'm more comfortable this way, the wraps are much more comfortable, I don't understand how you can wear shoes all the time. They are so confining and they give me blisters," I explain.
"But don't your feet get cold?" He asks confused.
"No, we are used to trekking on all kinds of stuff. I like being able to feel the ground. Wearing shoes makes me feel like the ground isn't level," I say patiently.
He thinks on that for a moment.
"I can see why you might feel that way if you are so used to it." He muses thoughtfully.
"So rules; no magic and no templar stuff," I add grinning.
"Deal!" He yells charging me.
I easily block him with my staff.
"Very good!" He grunts out.
"You're going to have to try harder than that," I taunt.
He chuckles, "As you wish."
It seems I'm quicker but he is definitely stronger.
We back and forth for the next half hour trading blows and blocks, He charges forward with his shield. I block him with my staff. Knowing I don't have the strength to block him indefinitely, I twist myself and the staff dropping low sweeping his feet out from underneath him in one quick swift movement. The commander lands flat on his back with a grunt.
We suddenly hear clapping. I look around and people have been watching us.
I hold my hand out to help him up, "it seems we gathered an audience."
"So we have and you trounced me thoroughly," He smirks wryly.
"You will have to show me that move of yours again, your clan taught you well," He admits.
"The keeper always warned that I may have to fight many types of fighters at a distance and up close" I explain, "She would have me spar with the many types of fighters in the clan."
"I wish the circle was as wise," he says thoughtfully, "many of the mages stuck in the middle of this war don't know how to do anything but cast a spell. Sometimes more mundane learning is needed."
"Now show me how you were able to drop me," he jokes.
"It's my stance," I explain tossing the staff aside for the moment.
He drops the sword and shield watching intently.
"Come here and try to push me," I instruct.
He complies by walking over and trying to give me a grabbing my arms pushing me backward.
"I see!" he exclaims, "You are standing almost in a modified rogue fighting stance very stable but still have mobility."
"However, I think without the staff, I may have the advantage," he teases.
I smirk knowingly.
He pushes me a bit harder. I fold under him grabbing his arm spinning to the right, pulling his weight toward my right shoulder. The momentum caused by his push works in my favor and I flip him easily over me. He lands on the ground in front of me with a grunt.
I giggle wickedly.
Cullen is astonished.
"You can grapple?" He says incredulously.
"I actually grapple poorly compared to most of the clan" I admit smiling, "I was only allowed to practice with the len, I mean children."
"You do quite well in comparison to most humans," he says.
I nod and reach over to help him up again. He grabs my hand bringing his leg out sweeping my feet out from under me. Now I find myself falling forward, onto him as he still has my hand. I land with an oomph on his chest. We both start laughing.
"I guess I deserved it as I dropped you twice in front of everyone," I joke.
"Well, I definitely earned the second one due to my overconfidence," he teases back.
We stay still for a minute while we catch our breath.
I peel myself off of him, "your armor is not exactly the softest landing area, commander," I banter, "maybe except for the fuzzy stuff on your shoulders."
"They're called pauldrons and the feathers keep me warm," He quips back.
I look at the crowd, and notice Solas is watching me intently.
I look back at Cullen, "Food?" I ask.
"Maker yes" he agrees. We pick our discarded weapons and start walking off the grounds.
I wave to Solas, "Solas do you wish to join us in a victory dinner?"
He gives me schooled smile, "I would be delighted."
We walk into the tavern together find a table and order the food.
"I'd like to know more about templars," I say to Cullen as we wait.
"If you need insight into what the order is doing now, I have no idea," He says simply, "anything else I will answer the best I can."
"What does the training involve?" I ask curiously.
"There is weapon and combat training. Even without their abilities, Templars are the best warriors in Thedas," He explains, "We have to memorize the chant of light and improve our mental focus."
"Did you enjoy your training?" Solas questions politely.
"I wanted to learn everything. If I was giving my life to this, I wanted to be the best templar I could," He answers smiling.
"You were a model student," I say grinning.
Cullen laughs, "I wanted to be, I wasn't always successful."
"After all watching a candle burn while reciting the chant of transfigurations wasn't the most exciting task," he says smirking, "I admit sometimes my mind wandered."
"Why did you join the order?" Solas asks leaning into the table, with interest.
"I could think of no better calling, than protecting those in need. I used to beg the templars at our chantry to teach me," He smiles at the memory.
"At first they just humored me, but I must have at least shown promise or at least a willingness to learn," He continues.
Solas smiles and nods for him to continue.
"Eventually, the knight-captain spoke to my parents, on my behalf and they agreed to send me for training. I was thirteen when I left home," He finishes gently.
"Thirteen…that is so young" I say furrowing my brow.
"Oh I wasn't the youngest there many are promised to the order at birth," He says quickly.
"They aren't given a choice?" I ask.
"Before they take their first lyrium they are given the choice to go out into the world or stay and become templars," He says.
"Many stay out of a sense of duty or a sense of obligation, some like me stay because we want to make things better," He answers honestly.
"I didn't become a full-fledge member of the order until I was 18, you are trained and educated first." He continues.
Our food has made it to the table it is silent for a while as we eat.
"Before coming here, the Keeper strongly suggested, I avoid templars. Do they do anything besides hunt mages?" I ask curiously.
"Templars protect against the dangers of magic, before the order left the chantry this meant serving in a circle," he explains patiently, "they were also tasked with hunting down apostates or fighting demons summoned by the weak and malicious."
"What do you think of mages? Are they all a threat?" Solas asks cunningly.
"I've seen the suffering magic can inflict. I've treated mages with distrust for it…sometimes without cause. It was unworthy of me. I try not to do that here," Cullen answers earnestly.
"There was a time when mages and templars were paired together on the basis of mutual trust and friendship," He explained dreamily, "I would like to see the practice revived. The only reason it was abandoned is because the number of mages increased more than the number of templars. Then it became a relationship of jailor and prisoner."
Solas looks surprised.
"Cullen that is lovely thought. I met mage on the outskirts of the crossroads. She was one of the mages the templars attacked when she tried to help the refugees. I found her templar lover dead on the road with her phylactery and letter," I say gently.
"She was grateful to have some word even though he was gone. They had been together for many years," I continue dreamily.
"What did you do?" Cullen asks curiosity brimming in his eyes.
"I gave her the letter and the phylactery, and recruited her to join us; she made it clear she did not want to fight so I asked her to use her healing skills to help. She's working with wounded even as we speak," I finish smiling.
"So, you are bit of a romantic," Solas states smiling.
"Ok maybe just a little bit," I concede.
"It can't be any worse that recruiting that inquisition scout, that was able to talk the pants off the apostate mage," I joke grabbing my flagon.
Cullen looks confused, for a moment then understanding lights up his face.
"That was Ritts, wasn't it," He laughs, "now I understand why Leliana asked for her to be transferred."
Solas smiles craftily. "not to mention, Faith the apostitute," He deadpans.
Cullen lets huge laugh out.
I almost choke on my ale, trying not laugh. I swallow carefully before chuckling and shaking my head while pinching the bridge of my nose.
"She has been…relieving the soldiers…tension," Cullen says tactfully.
I hide behind the huge flagon trying furiously not to blush.
"Why Da'asha, I believe you are the same shade you were when we found out what she was," Solas teases lightly.
"If I remember correctly, our seeker was the same shade as well," I point out cheekily taking myself off the hot seat.
"That is true," Solas agrees smiling.
Cullen looks surprised.
"Cassandra actually blushed?" He says in amazement.
Solas nods. "Yes, right through to her ears," he adds smirking.
"That is just perfect," Cullen says smiling evilly.
"Well gentleman, I'm calling it a night," I smile at the both of them pushing my chair back.
"I'm sure Nadia is waiting for me with Fenris," I say in way of parting.
"A perfectly good elven name," Solas says approvingly.
I wave at them and walk out the door heading to my little cabin.