Dragon Age: A Bard's Love
Chapter O9
Atropos Unbeaten
"Of course, The Wardens who visited before gave some good words about Montsimmard. About how perfect their Templars and how well disciplined and orderly the mages are. It saddened them that they couldn't recruit more from this city." Cogdale said giving a small half expressed bow to the Knight-Commander. Cogdale felt the sweat carve its way down his cheeks to the cleft of his chin. He held in the best he could from falling to his nervous ticks that he always relied upon to relieve him of his anxiety. He firmly kept his hand on the handle of his sheathed blade. The Knight-Commander with his near feminine demeanor looked Cogdale up and down again with an aura of disgust.
Cogdale took this opportunity to bring up Nelisa to the Knight-Commander by taking off his helmet to ease of some tension for the uptight Orlesian man.
"One mage in particular who we took interest Knight-Commander was young woman Nelisa." Cogdale suggested with even softer tone to his voice. But once her name was mentioned Bandeige's cautious look turn to anger. The intense frown from him let Cogdale know that the Knight-Commander was the one who ordered for Nelisa's tranquility. But Cogdale must play with this man.
"Excuse me? Why are you giving me such a ugly look?" Cogdale said frowning and flaring his eyes. The smoke from Cogdale's eyes shocked the Knight-Commander, which intimidated him. "Please answer me, We Grey Wardens have connections with the Divine." Cogdale leaned in letting his eyes nearly put Bandeige into a trance. Bandeige let his guard down and unsuspectingly gave in to Cogdale's demand. "I am, how do you say?... Sorry for my prudeness." The Commander bowed and guided the 7 of them further into The Circle. "I shall have Templars go find Nelisa." He said, his frightened Orlesian accent sounding like his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. Cogdale looked back at his friends. Leone was thoroughly impressed with a raised eyebrow and that Antivan smirk of his. Leliana gave Cogdale a congratulatory wink.
The halls that Bandeige lead them through were polished a pearl like shimmer and the columns that supported the halls were twined by large bushes that seem to have never been barbered to look perfect but that the fact they just were. The storm that had earlier caught up with them had now swallowed all of Montsimmard. Thunder and the strong pattering of rain could be heard outside the walls of The Circle. The occasional weed like grape vine had moused its way through the walls and ceilings of the hallway. A scent of mead and embers boomed through the hallway and was getting stronger the further they entered The Vineyard. Cogdale half expected to see a bonfire and naked mages prancing around it when they turned the corner. This wasn't the case as it was a open courtyard like surrounding with a strange cage like bars high above the ground, as if to hold in someone who could fly. The bars didn't protect the tiled floor from being soaked in the cold rain. The tiles' creases were used for irrigation into the plants and bushes that bordered the walls of the yard.
"Rain! Bagh such annoying weatha!" Bandeige complained as he grabbed an apprentice's robes and ripped off a cloth to cover such a small part of his head. Once again mages were treated like objects rather then living and breathing individuals. The apprentice was frightened but then gave an ugly face when the Knight-Commander walked by. Cogdale placed his helmet back on to deter the rain from pelting his face. Holding back the urge to look behind him to see what the others were doing to keep themselves from getting wet, Cogdale lost grip to his sword because of the hilt becoming wet. It didn't help that the chainmail that layered his hands as gloves was also slippery.
"We are near." Bandeige said as he pointed to some shelter from the rain that several mages were using to socialize. Cogdale didn't know if he meant they were near their overall goal in The Circle or if he meant they were near shelter from the rain because his inability to speak King's Tongue. A sneeze startled Cogdale from behind when they arrived inside. It was Leliana rubbing her nose. He could tell the sneeze had annoyed her. Cogdale didn't want to think about it but the winter was becoming a harsh one and no one was safe from becoming ill. He to was feeling a bit flakey since they left Lydes. All of the mages were fixated on the pseudo grey warden group.
"If you don't mind Knight-Commander but may I ask where you are taking us?" Cogdale asked the man. Bandeige looked back at Cogdale and smiled rounding another corner. The structure of the Vineyard was still perfect as it was at the entrance. How these Orlesians could keep it up over more then 8 ages is astonishing. "So tell me Warden." The Knight-Commander prodded. "Have you encountered any of your darkspawn?" he asked. "Around Orlais?" Cogdale asked, the question was so vague it made the Knight-Commander seem like he didn't believe the tainted beings didn't exist.
"Oui" he said nodding. Thinking back to Halamshiral Cogdale nodded giving off a burst of flame from his eyes for added effect. "We here in Montsimmard haven't seen them." Cogdale didn't want to start idling of into pointless conversation. "That's the way we want to keep it Ser." Cogdale said rubbing his fingers together listening to the gauntlet clatter around like someone was dancing. Sure enough in the background to his fingers was Bandeige's feet skipping like that of a peasant girl. Eyebrows did rise from the entire group, only in resulting to Leone spinning his fingers around his ear implying that this Templar had gone off the lyrium pool.
They had reached a dead stop in what seemed to be the library of The Circle. It was somewhat identical to the library of Lake Calenhad. Which meant they were in the Student quarters. Nelisa could be near by if he knew anything about the circle. "Wait here" Bandeige signaled pointing to the ground where they stood. He then walked off behind a shelving. Giving the group sometime to talk to one another.
"Are we anywhere near Nelisa?" Leliana asked walking to Leone. Leone looked around for a few seconds, trying to gain a grounding to see if he could remember where exactly she was when he fell into the room she was in so many years ago. Cogdale took his helmet off again as the library was oddly warm. A puddle of rainwater was settling under his feet as the droplets glided down his armor to the floor. Leliana wringed her hair out and added to the puddle. He could hear orlesian whispers behind the books and walls he could only recognize the word Leliana used to describe Grey Wardens in orlesian. So he knew the mages were curious or scared of them, not knowing their true intentions were to free one of their fellow colleagues from The Circle.
Leone nodded and leaned his head towards to his right to imply the path they needed to take just in case Nelisa wasn't one of the fake recruits that the Knight-Commander brought them. "Did you remember our steps?" Leliana whispered into Cogdale's ear with the Warden's stoic stare he said yes with his eyes. That was only if they were so lucky that the Templars would let them step out the way they came in. The city guard could also come aid the Knight-Commander being a puppet force for the corrupt Orlesian ways. Some of the apprentices were now brave enough to go back to finding books they needed to study but still keeping a steady eye on the group.
"How lost you are…" Helena whispered in her feathers. Helena also noticed something Cogdale did when looking in the eyes of these mages. They seemed to be lead to believe that the outside world is somehow more dangerous then what they were dealing with inside this place. They were like test mice that only knew their walls as comfort. They were on the side of the Templars. Cogdale waved Helena over and talked into her ear so only she may hear him. "See how free you are… cherish it. But don't fear your oppressors… Fight them." Helena gave a true smile for once and nodded to him.
"Here they are, the ones that Warden named… Jauffre looked over." A Templar said guiding some mages and another Templar out as if they were sheep that needed to be sheparding. Leone shoved his way to the front of their group. He gasped just for a brief second. Cogdale looked at the 5 standing before him and spotted the woman who must've been Nelisa. She was as tall as an average elf, Her jet-black hair tickled her collarbone her skin almost as golden as the Kossith. But she was definitely human; she had that shine of humanity in her eyes. Her robes were oddly more unique then the rest of the apprentices being an ocean blue and highlighted by oranges and yellows. Something that seemed to be Orlesian in design. It must've been her robes she wore when she was just a consort for the empress.
"Like I said, these are the individuals Jauffre looked over… except the blood mage here." The Templar said dropping his dull edged sword on her shoulder. She gritted her teeth as her shoulder gave way to the weight and pain from it. Leone held himself from doing something stupid though.
"We'd like some alone with the blood mage and this young templar please." Cogdale asked pointing to the 2 of them. The Orlesian Templar his oddly made helmet with a melded face on it bowed to him and left them to their supposed questioning of the recruits. The other 3 were dismissed and walked off. Cogdale gestured them to follow him out into the rain; away from tattling eyes. While they wandered to somewhere secluded Nelisa recognized Leone and her saddened gaze transformed into joy. The instant they were out of sight Nelisa leaped onto Leone like a cat to a ball of yarn.
"Leone! You.. You're here! You're really here!" Nelisa paraded kisses and rubbing her face with his for several minutes. Leliana held hands with Cogdale while watching it. Cogdale smiled but realized they didn't have time to let these 2 court each other. They had to sneak her out of the Circle.
"Excuse me… but what the fuck?" a voice hidden behind the group exclaimed. It was the Templar recruit that Cogdale chose to not make them seem more suspicious then what they already were. Cogdale would have to do something about the templar though. "What is it?" Ehmric grunted. Cogdale was speechless when the dwarf spoke; almost losing what he had thought to say to the young lad. "But why is this apprentice… accused of being a maleficarum now indulging in kissing this knife-eared Grey Warden of yours?" The young man asked with anger shaking out of each syllable to leave his teeth.
Cogdale approached the boy and went to him face to face, trying to intimidate him. "I won't lie to you ser." Cogdale said patting his sword to let the Templar what situation he was in. Everyone began to touch his or her weapons following his attempt at scaring the orlesian templar. "We're here to help this mage escape your Circle. Because she loves this man." Cogdale took a breath placing his helmet on. "Now… you have two choices. Make the fool choice of trying to alert your fellow men and be murdered by ME." His implying of himself let everyone know they weren't to be involved if something were to happen so they let go of their weapons.
"Or come with us. Start a new life away from your corrupters." Cogdale extended his other hand, which wasn't occupied on his sword to the Templar. The Templar looked at Cogdale's hands. The Templar quickly took Cogdale's open hand and with shame lowered his head. "Comment ai-je me retrouver dans tout cela?" he asked himself. "Keep your mouth shut and all will be good and dandy." Cogdale said to him. "You yap that thing called a mouth to anyone and I will personally rip your eyes out and shove lyrium in your sockets." Cogdale threatened the kid as he motioned the whole ordeal to give the image to the templar.
Cogdale frightened Nelisa, she kept close to Leone. The 2 of them kept their conversations to a whisper. To make sure the could be snitch didn't, Ehmric quickened his steps and pulled out a dagger pressed it against his back. A hair muffled chuckle came from the often-mute dwarf.
Cogdale constantly stared back at his problem every once and a while. He felt uneasy with this tag along he brought to his fault. They walked back to the student quarters where the Knight-Commander was waiting for them with a brisk smile. Realizing he still had the shred of apprentice robe in his hand he quickly tried to throw it away into a small candle to burn it away.
"They appease you? Yes?" He asked in poor King's Tongue. Cogdale said "yes" and pushed the 2 of them forward. Placing his hands on both of their shoulders. "Nelisa here is an amazing healer and overall mage, we hear the rumors of her being a blood mage but she bares no sign of it. This Templar here is what we truly need for a pure hearted and husky Grey Warden. And who knows he may become a Commander of the Grey as he matures with the Order." Cogdale said with delight in his voice. Bandeige returned with his own delightful smile and continually nodded.
"Let them get their possessions then." Bandeige insisted. Cogdale's throat felt like it would collapse in on itself. Letting the Templar go would be a horrible mistake. But they had to comply, as it was custom and more so with Orlesians. Nelisa faintly walked to where her bed must've been. Cogdale held the Templar's shoulder with a vice like grip until he ripped away. The Templar gave a large sneering smile as he walked away backwards from them. Cogdale felt defeated. He knew the Templar would tell with a single gesture of his hands behind his back he let everyone know they should be at arms. Leone growled at Cogdale knowing it was his fault.
The Knight-Commander stayed with the group in silence as he awaited the 2 recruits to come back so they could leave with the Wardens. Cogdale had plans randomly swirling around in his head on what would happen, especially in such a populated area full of apprentices. Helena twisted her grip extremely tight on her stave which Bandeige noticed giving concern to with his eyes with a frown.
"Why is she… tense?" The Commander asked leering at Helena. "She came from the Circle at Calenhad, she is just very… jumpy after what happened there several years ago." Leliana said progressing to Cogdale's side. Bandeige nodded but kept his eyes on her. "My sorry, but I forgot your names." Bandeige asked while his eyes were still glued to Helena. "Oh I don't think we introduced ourselves." Cogdale said, suddenly the entire moment fell silent. Even the storm outside seemed to have paused from all the growing tension. After being welcomed in as guests, Cogdale now felt as if he was an intruder just caught. Aeronwy who had been completely void of sound began to breathe heavily further increasing Bandeige's uneasiness.
Mages began to quickly disperse from the library as if told a demon had taken residence inside of every page of every book. Not a good sign. Knight-Commander Bandeige suddenly gave the most fake smile Cogdale had ever seen. From that moment Cogdale knew they were set up. "SHIT!" Cogdale unsheathed his blade, everyone followed suit as Templars exposed themselves from every corner of the room.
"I knewwww! That you weren't who you said you were the instant I met you Cogdale." Bandeige snickered. "How do you know my name if I never told you." Cogdale asked baffled. Bandeige said only 2 words. "The Wardens…" He said his crooked teeth seem to become more gangly every second.
"What?" Leliana now spoke out. "What about The Wardens?" She pulled the arrow back on her bow aiming at the Knight-Commander's head. "They want you dead Warden." Bandeige said a faint snort popped out of his laughing. Cogdale fell a few steps back. "Why?" Cogdale asked. Bandeige only turned around beginning to walk away while the Templars began to approach them.
"We also know of your apostate you already have in your possession." A Templar spoke out. "When we're done gutting the lot of you. We'll enjoy making her a tranquil like that sodding blood mage." Another said.
"You fucking lie!" Leone shouted his teeth clattering. "Oh ho ho! But we're not! We're already done with her." Bandeige said turning back to them beginning to laugh hysterically. Leone sprinted off in the direction Nelisa had gone. The Templars letting him go while they closed in on Cogdale and the others. The Templars now encircled the group who were dead center of the library. Cogdale couldn't see all of them but he had to guess they were outnumbered nearly 5 to 1. What Cogdale feared was coming true along with the realization now that the Grey Wardens wanted him dead for no reason. To them he was still a Grey Warden. A guardian of all life against the Darkspawn; the symbol of the sin of mortal pride. The Templars rushed the group quickly with their shields and rangers who fired arrows at them. Cogdale's swordsmanship exceeded that of any of these Templars who fell quickly to every parry and counter. Their bodies starting to pile up on one another. Leliana had leaped up on the chandelier that was residing high above the library firing her arrows, which she had a day earlier tipped in poison at the archers.
Aeronwy was physically fighting the Templars hand to hand. She had obviously broken her knuckles previously but continued to bash her gored hands against Templar armor. After what felt like 5 to 10 minutes of fighting Cogdale personally had ended 12 templars' lives. Helena was throwing massive waves of ice on them freezing them in place then dead stop kicking them to pieces. Rage was in her eyes while she shoved her bladed stave through the stomach of another Templar.
Realizing their power of numbers wasn't working the Templars backed off some mortally wounded. Checking on his friends Cogdale looked each one of them over while the Templars cursed and cried. The one who was wounded badly was Aeronwy who had been stabbed in her left shoulder and breast. She was unflinching though and stood her ground. Garrden had lost a few pieces of his armor in the fight but was ripping replacements off from the dead bodies.
Helena hardly had a scratch other then what seemed to be freezer burn on her face from all the ice oriented spells she used. Leliana wasn't touched so Cogdale sighed a breath of relief. Ehmric's Dwarven armor held up well he only had a slight limp after he yanked his axe from a corpse and returned to formation. Cogdale himself didn't let any Templar touch him except for 2 cuts on his exposed forearm and upper arm.
This time around stealth oriented combatants for the Templars ambushed the group. One of them knocking Cogdale's helmet off his head. The pain from his previously broken nose and bruised eyes reappeared but he held his ground and anticipated when the Templar would jump out at him from the darkness. First, The Templar kneed his face and disappeared again. Second, A jab to Cogdale's throat made him gag a few seconds. Third, a severed leather strap on his back slingshotted back and slapped his cuirass. Finally, Cogdale predicted the next move and dug his sword into the exposed jugular nearly severing the Templar's head. Leliana had picked off several who were hidden in the dark.
Bandeige was severely frightened and tried to run away but 2 simultaneous arrows to his ankles ended his fleeing. The group approached the wounded Knight-Commander who still tried to pull himself away. "You're an idiot." Cogdale said as he caught Leliana who jumped off the chandelier. The Knight-Commander could only cry and snivel as he lowered his head. "The Divine will hear of this." Bandeige exclaimed spitting at Cogdale's face.
"No she! Will! Not! you decrepit hermit." A random voice said as Bandeige was decapitated. There stood behind the corpse of the Knight-Commander another Templar hidden by his helmet. "My apologies Warden." The Templar said. "I am Knight-Captain Artiere." He explained. "The Knight-Commander to my sadness had been lost to lyrium madness several months ago. We were too afraid to do anything though. This is all my fault." Artiere shamefully said.
"If you leave now we will not even mention you were even here." Artiere. "I suspect I will become the new Knight-Commander and in a selfish way I must thank you for this." He said bowing to Cogdale.
"Cogdale!" Leliana exclaimed. "Nelisa! And LEONE!" Cogdale gasped and ran the direction both had gone. The others followed suit, bursting down every door looking for the 2 of them. One door they knocked down led to the First Enchanter's quarters… He was dead crucified on the large window on the wall to the back of his large desk. They couldn't do anything but continue looking for Leone and Nelisa. After searching nearly 30 or more rooms they finally found the room.
In it lay a dead Leone. His sword still in his grasp and his throat slit. He was facing the right wall and in his remaining hand was a note. When Leliana approached his body and grabbed the note she turned to see what he was looking at before he died. She gasped falling on the floor. "What! What is it!" Cogdale said sliding over to Leliana. He looked at what she was looking at… There stood Nelisa… the symbol of the chantry burned upon her forehead. Her eyes were lifeless as she stared at Leone's body. A single residual tear was falling down her cheek. She whispered out one last emotional word… "Leone."
