Chapter 38: The Pass
"Be honest with me, Sister. What can we expect from these villagers? Will they support our cause?"
Dee did not respond, her thoughts were elsewhere, in Haven…with Reaper.
She frowned.
He is alive, she thought.
He has to be alive.
The group was currently making its way over the snowy hills not far from the mountain pass that led towards Haven. Soon they would be in the valley, the valley that had hidden the village for so many centuries, hidden it until the Hero of Ferelden had found it. They moved as one now, Dee's people, and a full squad of Commander Martel's Templars, the rest of their force, made up of both Leliana's agents and Martel's Templars waiting outside the valley, waiting for the signal to move up and begin their push to strike at the apostates.
As the one least able to defend herself, Dee had been placed in the center of their group. Clad in armor almost identical to her mentor's she rode a mule being led by Kel Dace. The creature had been the only mount in Redcliffe capable of making the journey through the wilderness. It may have been slow, but at least it kept her from having to trudge through the snow, tripping over any root or rock hidden by the snow.
It did not make her feel any less ridiculous however.
My noble steed, she thought, how Reaper would laugh if he could see me now.
When this was over, when they were reunited…there was so much she wanted to tell him.
She looked forward to that reunion, perhaps more than even she was willing to admit.
First, however, they needed to make contact with the villagers, those who had fled when the mages first fell upon Haven; they were likely the only source of real intelligence about what might be waiting as they made their way towards the village and temple.
That task fell to Dee and her fellows.
Gray Eyes had bounded on ahead, again, making sure that there were no scouts watching for the approach of intruders. Dee was not concerned, the huntsman knew how to stay out of sight, if anything the Templars' presence concerned her more, and what would come when they reached the end of this journey.
"Sister?" Ser Amelia repeated.
Dee sighed.
Clearly ignoring the woman was not an option.
The blind sister's, brow furrowed at the question, not so much the question itself, but at what it implied
"Our" cause, she thought to herself.
When exactly did this become our cause?
The Templars had their own agenda, no one could doubt that. What that meant for Dee, Reaper, and the rest of the chantry forces here, she could not truly say.
It was a troubling thought to say the least.
Leliana would have suggested that she play along with their new allies, at least for now.
Haven needed to be liberated, they all agreed on that, what happened after well…
…that had still not been decided, yet.
"Haven was…is the home to the most faithful, Ser Amelia," she said, "They are good folk, pious folk, they will do what they must to free their home from these apostates, I'm sure of it."
"I have no doubt," the Templar woman responded, Dee detected a hint of sarcasm in her voice, yet chose not to comment on it. She recognized Templar arrogance when she heard it, and she had heard it often during her early journeys with Reaper. That arrogance usually remained right up until Reaper saw the Templar hanged.
She tried not to think about that last part.
Things were tense enough between the chantry and Martel's forces.
She had no desire to make things worse.
She remembered Ser Amelia, of course, back before she and Reaper had left to find Gray Eyes, the Templar had approached her. Gaging her reaction to whatever it was that the late Lord Seeker Lambert had wanted to make of the world. The meeting may have been innocent, but it had given Dee a taste of things to come, though she had not realized it at the time.
Now she found herself travelling with Amelia and her fellows. Dee did not trust them, but trust was not necessary, she sincerely doubted that the Templars trusted them. She had heard a few of Amelia's fellows make off comments about the strange companions that the Blind Sister had surrounded herself with, Andrea and Gray Eyes chief among them.
Dee had pulled both aside over the last few days, making sure that they would not put themselves into a position where they would be baited by the Templars, baited into doing something foolish, something that the chantry's former guardians could use as an excuse to act against them.
Both had agreed to watch themselves. The werewolf turned huntsman had always avoided the Templars, and knew how to remain silent when the need called for it. Dee had feared that Andrea would be hard pressed not to confront them, given her history, but the former pirate, now witch surprised her.
"I can play the good little pet when I need to, sister," her companion said, "You have no cause to worry about me."
So far, Andrea had remained true to her word. She kept silent, yet no doubt remained under the Templars' watchful gaze.
"What of it, Sister," Amelia continued, "Do you believe when can convince the Haven survivors to support us?"
Dee considered how best to answer that question. In this, honest was not entirely the best policy.
She knew what it was the Templar woman was asking her, or rather understood what she wanted to hear. Amelia was fishing to see if Dee knew how loyal the people would be to Templars seeking to move in and claim their home as a base. In truth Dee could not say for certain. It likely depended on who was in charge, and how far Amelia and her people were willing to go to see Haven freed.
The rest was a roll of the dice.
Dee frowned.
She did not like such odds. It would be hard enough to free Haven, to find and free Reaper.
She would have preferred less risk, with fewer surprises.
IOI
Both the Nightingale and Knight Commander Martel had been eager to get this mission going, the longer they waited the more time the mages that had taken Haven had to dig in and prepare for whatever form of retaliation their enemies might bring to bear.
Sister Daelle understood that, but still pleaded for patience, the wooded paths leading to Haven were treacherous enough in the winter without striking out unprepared.
No, she still stressed the need to have a huntsman to guide them, someone used to the Ferelden wilderness during the winter months, someone who could handle not only the cold, but any surprises the woods might throw at them. She felt that Grey Eyes was that man.
She would not start out until he arrived. Plus, he was the only other member of her party that had met Reaper; the two men had been cordial enough.
Grey Eyes would have a stake in seeing her partner liberated. Despite his…affliction, or perhaps because of it, she thought him as trustworthy as Charter or the Nightingale.
In preparation for them leaving, the Knight-Commander assigned Ser Amelia to act as his representative on the advance team, and Dee's bodyguard. The sister had tried to decline his offer, but the Templar officer would not hear it.
"You are the most vulnerable person going on this mission, Sister," Martel reminded her, "For that reason, you should remain here, but that is not something we can allow. You alone have experience with what we should soon face. Sister Leliana says you served in the Haven chantry for a time. You know these people, the people of Haven. You know them, what they want, what they desire in life. That makes you the most valuable asset we have right now, the Haven survivors know you, or at the very least know of you."
The man chuckled.
"We're going to need you before all this is through. With the exception of your master, you are one of the few people with us that these Haven rebels might listen to."
Dee acknowledged that, she had spent some time in Haven, aiding the people that had come in the wake of the dragon cultists that had been defeated by the warden and his allies during the Blight.
Most people in Haven should know her, but that did little to lessen the risk. Would the villagers accept their help, and, more importantly, would they accept the Templar's help.
That was the more important point here.
IOI
"Haven has always been a singular place to live, Ser," Dee said to Amelia, "Isolation leads to a sense of independence that you may find…troubling."
Dee smiled slightly.
"I advise you to keep an open mind, and not try to bully these people. Havenites have a certain way of doing things."
"They would refuse our help?"
Dee did not need to see to know that the woman was frowning, it was in her voice, clearly Ser Amelia expected to be greeted with open arms in Haven, to be seen as a liberator.
It was not that simple.
The Divine had spent the last few years making sure that Haven was in the hands of people who were not only pious, but loyal to the chantry first.
Dee had never really understood why until she had begun her travels with Reaper.
What she had seen beyond Haven had opened her eyes.
It was hard to forget those lessons, especially since the Templars had abandoned their role as the chantry's defenders. She had originally thought that order could be cleansed, that by removing a few troublemakers, it would fall back into line and be the force it should have been, the defenders of the faith.
She did not believe that anymore.
"When we meet them, I suggest you leave the talking to me," the Blind Sister advised.
"As you wish," Amelia nodded, "Though I find it hard to believe that anyone of faith would turn down Templar aid. We are a known commodity after all; your allies are…not so dependable, I think."
"What are you implying," Dee asked her.
"Only that your allies do not inspire trust, a shaggy huntsman, A dwarven leg breaker, a Rivaini scoundrel, Lady Wren…who…is more suspect than most."
Dee bit back an angry retort.
She could not deny that her allies were…an acquired taste, but unlike the Templars, they had never betrayed their vows to serve and protect. Her people might have their own motivations, but they were honest.
Could Martel and his Templars say the same?
Dee did not think so.
As the sun began to dip below the mountains, the Templars set up camp. All agreed that the path was too dangerous at night. The place where they stopped had been suggested by Leliana, an area with enough trees and rock formations to hide the group from anyone who might have been watching from Haven. The foliage allowed a fire, the group would be warm, and little or no light would escape. This was the place that the wardens had set up their own camp almost a decade ago.
The Nightingale could not have chosen a safer place.
Kel helped Dee settle in by the fire, while the others tended to the camp. She listened as Amelia barked orders to her fellow soldiers.
The sister frowned.
So far, things had gone well enough. Ser Amelia had kept her fellows on a tight leash. That would likely change when their reinforcements arrived…
…When the battle began, anything could happen.
Dee intended to be ready.
Again Dee's thoughts drifted to Reaper, what might happen if Amelia or her fellows discovered that he was in Haven.
Before they had left Redcliffe, the Templar woman had tried to endear herself to Daelle by suggesting that Reaper had become a good friend of hers during his time with the Templars. That the two of them had grown quite close.
Dee was not sure what to make of that.
What the woman meant by "quite close" she could not say. All she knew is that it made her feel more than a little possessive.
Reaper would never turn to such a woman, she thought.
He would not.
She tried not to dwell on such thoughts. She suspected that the Templar only sought to distract her from what was about to happen.
Dee was determined not to be baited.
Te sound of boots crunching on the snow drew her attention, the sound of a familiar voice cursing under her breath.
Dee smiled.
"Is everything okay, Andrea?" she asked.
The pirate-witch snorted and sat down near her.
"Tis too cold for my tastes." Her ally said, "Give me the warm coastal winds of the Free Marches any day."
"The mountains are not for everyone," she admitted, "Fortunately we need not travel over them for much longer. "The tunnel system the cultists built through these mountains was designed to keep their numbers warm and hidden.
Dee pursed her lips.
"Hopefully our enemy has not discovered them."
If Andrea took any comfort from this, she did not show it.
She sighed and continued to mutter under her breath.
Dee felt sorry for her, but realized that there was nothing they could do.
They had come to far now, they were committed to this course.
All they could do now was follow it through to its conclusion.
Kel eventually returned with her supper, dried meat and fruit, not most nourishing of meals perhaps, but something she had grown accustom to in her travels. Dee sat back and listened as her people and the Templars settled in for the night.
The conversations of the templars' interested her far more than that of her own people. She kept an ear open for anything that might suggest treachery on their part; so far she heard nothing to suggest that.
The soldiers spoke of where they had come from, and battles they had fought. When they did mention Haven it was always spoken of with more than a small amount of reverence in their voices.
Surprisingly the only voice she did not hear was .Amelia. The Templar woman had been so chatty since they had left Redcliffe that she chose to be quiet now was surprising.
Had she simply decided to turn in for the eve, or was something more going on?
Once again Dee cursed her unseeing eyes. It was entirely possible that their Templar allies might have revealed more than what they were telling through simple glances.
Dee could not help but fear that she might be missing something right now, something that might tell them what they might have waiting for them at the end of this journey, a battle with the mages, yes, but what came after, what these Templars were prepared to do once the battle was won.
Dee took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. She closed her eyes and tried to focus.
Her thoughts drifting not only to Reaper, but to Leliana as well, both of the people she loved most were right now behind enemy lines so to speak. Reaper was in danger yes, she was sure of that, but the Nightingale was also at risk.
If things went badly, if Martel thought they were going to betray him.
Her mentor would be left in harm's way. Yet, Leliana had agreed to the terms with no complaint.
Whatever was going on, Dee hoped her mentor had a plan. Martel did not strike her as the type of man to be trifled with.
Being the Left Hand of the Divine would not mean much to a man like the Knight-Commander Dee feared.
She hoped her mentor was prepared for what might come.
Once the fighting started it would not be easy to reach her. They would…
The sound of voices drew her out of her reflection, she straightened in her seat.
It sounded like someone was approaching.
"Sister," she heard Gray Eyes call out.
"Sister."
"Yes Wulfe," she called out, "What is going on?"
"The people from Haven are here," the werewolf responded, "A knight and three others; they were on their way here when I stopped them."
Dee nodded.
"I take it they got our message then?"
"So it seems," the huntsman answered, "there is more too, they have a prisoner, they think you might want to speak with her."
"A prisoner," Dee said, "One of the mages that attacked the village?"
"Maybe," he agreed, "The Havenites think it best that you speak to her."
"Very well," Dee agreed, holding out her hand. "Could you guide me, please?"
The huntsman growled in the affirmative.
She felt Gray Eyes strong arm wrap around hers pulling her to her feet.
She found herself eager to speak with this mage.
Perhaps she had some news of Reaper.
Any news would be good at this point.
She had high hopes, until she heard the sound of raised voices and of steel being drawn.
"Damn fools," she heard Gray Eyes growls, "Bloody Templars."
Dee sighed, she had a good idea what was going on.
"Damn it," she murmured under her breath.
"Shit."