THE ADVENTURES OF ANDRASTE THE DRAGON
Well now that my thoughts are in order and the muse has been satisfied I can now hopefully give you a more fun account.
But for now I am having some fun with the villains.
Chapter 36: The Magic Mirror or the Smart Phone
CITY OF MINRATHOUS CAPTIAL OF TEVINTER IMPERIUM
"WHERE ARE THEY!" Toth practically screamed as he slammed his tail into the ground.
The servants around the seven dragon gods ran for their lives as all seven growled. Urthemiel blew a black ball of flame at the nearest person. They disappeared into a ball of flame. As they ran for their lives as the displeasure of one angry dragon became known.
"Now Toth is that anyway to treat your worshipers?" said Razikale
The other dragon approached his brother as he grabbed a worshiper and ate him on the spot.
"I treat them as I will Kale! I asked for something so simple as to find the whereabouts of those Grey Wardens only to find out that they ran from me! They hid near that accursed city of Kirkwall near the Free Marches! The old slave city is now nearly impenetrable!" he roared
"Not impenetrable just well defended dear Toth," Razikale said to his thin necked brother.
Toth turned towards the rather smug red dragon and blew smoke in his direction. The other dragon merely flapped his wings once and the smoke disappeared away from him. Growling he drooled acid onto the ground and watched as many servants and slaves ran for their lives from the angry dragon.
"Watch what you say brother before I burn that pretty little scaly face from you," Toth said showing off very large teeth.
"Enough!" roared Lusacan as he emerged from his resting area.
"But Lusacan he insults me with his 'preserve the slaves' thing again!" Toth growled again his tail lashing and his wings raised in an aggressive notion.
Lusacan paid him no mind.
"You both will cease this useless activity, Kirkwall is protected by dwarven ingenuity but soon we will have our weapon we will use against the Free Marches. As we speak my troops are attacking Par Vollen to the north. They have something that does not require lyrium and we will use it to crumble the city if you wished it brother. But for now we will need it to find what we seek and destroy it before the Grey Wardens find it," Lusacan said to his brothers.
"What is this thing that they seek then Lusacan if you are so confident that they will find it?" Razikale asked
"My sources tell me that they are seeking the Library of Arlathan the library of all knowledge of Thedas. If it is true then we could be in trouble," Lusacan replied to his rather hot headed brothers.
The other two dragons regarded him with some resentment before realization dawned on them.
"That is the same library where we…" Razikale began
"Yes my brothers it is the same place and now the Grey Wardens wish to find it. If they do then all chances of us succeeding in conquering Thedas are doomed to fail. Dumat already knows of this and we must be weary for if the Grey Wardens find the source then we are in trouble indeed." Said a new voice and this time out of the shadows was none other then Urthemiel in all his glory. His neck and brow adorned in jewels as he walked further into their conversation.
"Having fun looking gaudy as usual?" said Lusacan
The Old God of beauty simply shrugged, "All I can say is that we better move quickly to secure the relic that the Grey Wardens seek before they do," said Urthemiel as he turned towards two onlookers.
"Get Lord Toth's soldiers assembled! We are going to Par Vollen!" he said
BONE PITS, FREE MARCHES
First point of view
I watched as Alistair brought me the book that he had found earlier in the archives of the Amell family. As I read through the pages and finally came upon the so called mirror that he was mentioning my heart nearly skipped a beat!
In the book was a picture of a mirror alright but the mirror looked more like…
"A Cell Phone!" I whispered
"A What?" Alistair asked
"A cell phone a device used in my world to communicate with others. There are different kinds of smart phones some of which will confuse older folks but still others will work. If this is a mirror and it acts exactly like a cell phone then there is a way to the library after all!" I said excitedly.
"Are you sure about this 'sell money' that you are talking about?" Alistair replied
"It is called 'Cell' 'Phone' pronounced 'sseellll' 'fffooonn'" I said rather insulted.
"Anyway we should be heading back before word of this heads out towards the Tevinters and we should let Carver and Avaline know that we are leaving also," he said and I nodded in reply.
It took several hours but eventually we were able to restock and get our supplies out before we headed out.
Just as we were about to lift off however shouts and screams could be heard from the direction of the Hightown market place. Guardsman were busy trying to get through as Alistair, Aleria and Zevran three looked towards the commotion.
It was then that the winds shifted and I picked up a familiar scent.
It can't be!
Growling low in my throat I let loose a very loud roar and everyone scattered as I came charging down the streets with the Grey Wardens on my tail. When I crashed the party after everyone scattered I stopped in the middle of the street. Wings spread out wide looking ferocious as I roared out to the heavens. The creature in front of me was none other then a werewolf as he howled at the sun and moon and I did the same. Coming down on all fours again I lowered my head and he rushed to my side.
"Andraste!" he shouted and hugged my head
"I will explain later Longfang but for now pretend that I am nothing more then a Grey Warden's mount," I whispered to him.
He repeated the request to the other werewolves that I recognize as they too told some humans and elves from the looks of it. Being able to pretend that I am a mount I began licking his face and nuzzling him.
"Hey be nice you overgrown Mabari hound!" he said to me and swatted me playfully on the snout.
I saw as the Grey Wardens slowly lowered their weapons
The werewolf kept nuzzling me and so did the others. The wolves ran up to me and shouted my name. I leaned down as they all nuzzled me. I turned just as an elf ran up to the Grey Wardens and spoke to them quietly. It was then that I saw them turn away and the shock on Alistair's face was spread towards Aleria as well.
It was there that a woman walked up with several people pulling a wagon out to them. The wagon held a man like he was dead. The man's face was pale as if he had recently died but I could barely see him breathing so that means he is in a coma.
The woman who was with him was obviously a noble by her dress and how she carried herself. Alistair recognized her instantly.
"Isolde! Lady Isolde what are you doing here?" he asked as he ran up to her.
The woman embraced him even though it was reluctantly.
"Alistair what are you doing in Kirkwall? I've heard that the healer known as Andraste was traveling with two Grey Wardens; but you? I thought you died at Ostegar?" she said
"No that was Logain who wanted us dead," Alistair said
"Alistair, Denerim has fallen," she said sadly
People in the streets of Hightown began to mutter to themselves as I raised my head.
"We traveled first to the Frost back Mountains searching for a healer and they told us to seek out Denerim as that is the place you told them you were going. As we traveled there it was apparent that Ferelden is gone," she said in tears.
"There wolves saved us," said a smaller voice and Alistair looked down to find Connor the son of the Arl was beside his mother.
"Connor hush!" she said to him
"No this has to be known! I destroyed Redcliff by accident…you see I am a mage and I have magic and because of me father is like this!" he said and because of the crowd around them as the gathered closer.
Avaline followed them and began to use the guards to usher the people away.
"This is no place to house werewolves and elves alike. Kirkwall is not the place to house anymore refugees," she said
"I am not here to be a refugee I am here to seek help for my husband and then we will go," she said
She then turned towards Alistair and Aleria, "I demand to see Andraste the dragon healer they said she is here so where is she!" Isolde demanded.
"I am right here," I said finally and the woman looked around.
I reared back on my hind legs and spread my wings out wide.
Isolde and the crowd scattered before I set off again this time flapping my wings and taking the wagon with me. I could hear the woman's screams as I flew off with the wagon. I flapped my wings till I at last was in the burned grounds of the Chantry. The remains of the building served as the perfect place to place the body. I could smell the magic that has been used on this building. The crews that were trying to fix the building were still busy digging out anyone who was trapped within the building.
They saw my shadow and scattered as I came in for a landing. Already crews scattered as I landed and folded my wings in. my back was arched as reared back to scare away the rest of the crew members.
The others quickly raced up the steps to the crater as I faced them.
"You wanted to find Andraste?" I said to Isolde.
"It speaks!" she said in shock
I flapped my wings flying almost level with her and made my voice louder then anything in Kirkwall.
"ALRIGHT LISTEN UP!" I said to them all
"I KNOW YOU ALL CAME ALL THE WAY FROM FERELDEN TO SEEK OUT THE ONE CALLED ANDRASTE THE DRAGON HEALER…WELL YOU FOUND HER!" I bellowed and with that I flew flame into the air. The wind from my wings swept across the streets of Kirkwall.
"I AM ANDRASTE OF THE BRECILIAN FOREST ALSO KNOWN AS THE DRGON HEALER," with that I fluttered my way down to the bottom of the pit of the construction site. The others raced to my side and the wolves howled at the sound of my declaration.
I could hear the Mabari dogs howling my name also and if I am correct in the distance I can hear Loki howling also.
"I am whom you are seeking," I said to her.
Isolde got on her knees and wept as she was crying tears of both fear and joy at finally finding what she was looking for.
I turned my attention then to the man in the wagon his face pale and near death.
"Tell me what happened to him," I asked her.
THREE HOURS LATER
It seems that the poison that the mage used was a simple but effective one. Blood magic was a very difficult thing to do but I think I may be able to help this guy.
From what Isolde told me of the boy Connor that too was a problem. But thanks to my dear friend Longfang I might be able to help him in that aspect as well.
"Well from what I can tell the poison is quite potent in its efficiency." I said to them.
"Can you help him?" Isolde asked
"Yes I can, I think I will need a few things first from our camp in the bone pits." I said
"Merrill I need you to return to the bone pits and summon Wynne and Flemeth since I have a new pupil for them," I said and the mouse that was in Aleria's breastplate sudden leaped from her and transformed back into Merrill the elf. The elf then disappeared in rock and roots.
"Now the poison is quite simple since it was made by Qunnari and enhanced by blood magic," I said
"How do you know this?" asked Isolde
"Well hanging out with one; was enough for me to learn a few things from Sten," I replied.
It was then that the sound of another dragon's roar could be heard and Flemeth made her appearance as she swooped low over the buildings and came to a landing in front of me. Transforming to her human self she smirked as Wynne stood beside her.
"Isolde let me introduce you to two of the finest teachers in all of Thedas this is Wynne of the Circle of Magi in Ferelden and Flemeth of the Korcari Wilds," I said to her.
Wynne held up a large bag which contained the stuff I asked for.
"You really know how to do things around here eh Andraste?" she asked
"Sort of," I replied
"Now what is this about a new student of ours eh?" Wynne asked
I lowered myself near Connor and they were in deep shock as I looked at him in the eye, "This boy is a mage in training. His mother had forbidden him from learning magic from the circle and hired a blood mage to do that job. All it ever did was cause the boy to become possessed by a demon and caused all sorts of trouble in Redcliff. He wants to learn magic the right way so that is why I wanted you two here. Wynne you can teach him the spells of the circle while Flemeth teaches him what she has learned over the centuries. I want him to learn magic right without the constraints of the chantry," I said to them.
The two women looked at each other and both shrugged.
"We are both old but not too old to pass on the tricks of the trade," Flemeth joked.
"Why not I found the art of shape shifting quite fascinating. In fact I wish to learn myself," Wynne said to Flemeth.
"I could use a new student so be it," was the reply from the dragon mage.
Young Connor turned to me in shock his face was as speechless and owl-like as anything else.
"You had summoned them to teach me magic?" he asked
"Yes, just to help with the problems you've been having," I replied
"Thank you," he said jumping up and down but then stopped, "But what about my dad?" he asked
"It will take sometime to mix up the antidote but your dad will need time to recover," I replied
And so it was between studying the legend of the 'smart phone' and making the antidote for the so called 'Arl of Redcliff' I was in fact quite busy.
By the time the potion was done I had held it up to the tip of my claws to his wife the lady Isolde.
"I need you to take a pinch of this and place it just under the nostrils of your husband he needs to inhale the scent of this potion to help him circulate it out of his system. I used the ashes of the prophetess Andraste also so I can enhance the power of this potion since this is one lethal dose that he had taken," I said to her.
Her face lit up as she turned to me, "the sacred ashes of Andraste? You've found them?" she said
"Actually the town of Haven is where the ashes are at. I just happened to get permission from the owner of the ashes herself before I used it," I replied back to her.
Surprised she turned to me and thanked me.
While we waited I studied the book more only to stop in order to hunt and well use the bathroom.
It turns out that dragon piss has some unique cleaning qualities when it comes to disinfecting sewers and homes. If I had known that I would have cleaned bathrooms for a living more effectively.
But I won't get into that one you are probably eating.
So anyways after the shock of my initial introduction to the people of Kirkwall it turns out that many refugees also seek healing aid. Anders decided to help since he is well known there. Both of us began treating the sick and the wounded in the Gallows. The old Circle of Magi in the gallows was the only place to house the sick…and to accommodate my large size. Anders it seems is forgiven of his huge crime against the chantry…for now. He still had to undergo trial and since Roslyn was the only one they wanted to do so we brought her and the baby back to Kirkwall. The others gladly joined us with a letter sent to Sten to meet us there.
It was at this time I was in the library of the Gallows trying to find the secrets to this device.
"There you are!" A voice said and I turned around to see none other then the champion of Kirkwall Roslyn Hawke.
She was dressed in some finery with her trusty staff behind her. Angelina was no where to be found.
"I was looking for you," she said
"Really?" I asked
"Yes, I wanted to tell you the results of Anders return," she said as she sat down on my offered tail.
I sat back on my hunches as she sighed; not knowing where to begin.
"Go on," I urged
"Well Anders's sentencing has been rough but at least Sebastian respects the will of the Grey Wardens. Commander Hathor has agreed that Anders is more important alive then dead. Well the Viscount was almost ready to execute him for destroying the Chantry. But a letter came from the Devine himself in Orlaris saying that Anders was doing the Makers work. I was shocked as well as he. When read…in fact I have a copy of the letter here," she said and reached into her pocket and produced the letter before reading it to me.
"Viscount Sebastian,
I apologize for the delay in this letter but the Darkspawn have been raging havoc on Orlaris for some time now. I was not able to get this letter out sooner but thankfully I have at least one pigeon left that was willing to fly. The reason I was writing to you on behalf of this mage is because there have been rumors and then reports of corruption from within the chantry in Kirkwall. Recent incidents involving both my knight commander Meredith and Her Grace Ethina have both shamed dishonored me. For a Grand Cleric Ethina should have punished Patrice sooner for her abuse of her name to people who are heretics. We do not force people to bow to the Maker. That was the greatest mistake of the past. I myself feel this shame when I see the Dalish elves pass by the Dales when they enter Orlaris.
If the people choose to leave the embrace of the Maker then only the Maker decides their fate. It is not our way to question them and to allow such actions is beyond foolish. Also I might note the abuse being done to the Circle of Magi is beyond what our sacred duty is! The right of tranquility, Meredith's abuse of power…shameful. What Anders has done was cleanse the sacred grounds of our Maker…even if he took it to the extreme I know what he goes through. Mages are people of feelings as well and we do not treat them like common prisoners. I for one know this is not the Maker's will. If you do capture the criminal and this letter gets to you in time please note that the Chantry offers to forgive Anders for his misdeeds. I know of his possession of the spirit known as Justice for the Warden Commander of Ferelden has informed me of this. Anders therefore instead of being punished with death has to spend his judgment with the Grey Wardens…since after all he is a Warden.
I have spoken to the Warden Commander of the Free Marches Alexander Menarche and he has agreed that Anders should be judged by the Grey Wardens not the Chantry. When he took the joining he became under the supervision of Grey Warden law. And though he left the Wardens to pursue his goal of Mage equality I for one would rather see him use his talents like he has earlier…as a healer.
So I beg you Viscount see reason before punishment is achieved,
His Divine Lordship"
Now I was indeed surprised when Roslyn read this to me. This was something new as my books on the so called Magic Mirror was all over the floor.
"So what is his punishment?" I asked
"Well when Warden Commander Alexander showed up he read the reports on Anders and what he has done and came to the judgment in front of the entire city that Anders punishment is that he help the people of Kirkwall by remaining here at the Gallows. He has to be a full time healer to help people when they need it most. Your friend Longfang as insisted on helping while the Arl that you helped is starting to show signs of coming around," she said
"How's Angelina doing?" I asked
"She is doing fine Avaline has volunteered to help with her seeing as she is starting to get too large to help with patrols. Her husband Donnic has agreed to be temporary captain till after she recovers from giving birth," Roslyn said.
"What about you?" I asked
"My punishment is to help Anders and since my crimes are as severe as his well….I not only have to marry him but…" she said
"But what?" I asked
"I have to assist you in ending this blight by becoming a warden." She said looking down
"What!" I nearly bellowed.
"I know it is a death sentence…not everyone survives the joining of the Grey Wardens," she said
I looked down at the ground knowing that Roslyn is worried that this is her end.
"Does Anders know about this?" I asked
"Yes, though he is not happy about it we have to go through with it for Kirkwall." She said
"At least you both are not living up to your responsibilities," I said
"I know," Roslyn replied
"When is the joining?" I asked
"In three days time in the meantime Carver and I have much to discuss about," she said standing up.
I watched her go out the main door while I looked down at the books that have gathered around me. Even though they are tiny and meant for human hands I still could read them. Having lost my will to read I closed the book I currently had and was about to clean up when one caught my eye.
It was another book written in Elven this one clearly was from the days of Arlathan.
Inside it detailed the mirror and what it looked like. The images of the mirror do match those of a smart phone from my world.
"Could it be?" I asked
There was also an account of where it might be. A map of Thedas showed the land where it was and what happened to the mirror.
I then began to look through another book more recent; the one I was reading earlier.
It detailed an account of a treasure hunter running into some Qunnari in Par Vollen. From what I understood the Qunnari found the mirror of great interest and took it back to their temple. The relic was sacred to them and because of it they had to protect it at all costs. I for one would not let this opportunity go so easily. If the mirror was indeed in the far north of Par Vollen then we must get there first.
Thought there is the problem of Roslyn Hawke's joining.
I just hope that she does not die in three days.
TBC