Chapter 53
9:33 Dragon
City of Kirkwall
A few weeks had passed since the devastating row between Riona and Fenris that appeared to have severed their relationship for good. The elf had not shown his face at the Amell Estate since then, obviously thinking that his actions did not merit an apology, and Riona was not going to chase after him to demand an explanation. She had met Isabela a few times after Fenris' disappearance, and she got the distinct impression that the Rivaini was still seeing the elf now and then, but any careful attempts to inquire how Fenris was doing were easily sidestepped by Isabela. It was likely Fenris had asked her not to discuss him with Riona, and the Rivaini was keeping that promise.
Back at the Amell Estate, Orana had settled in nicely with the rest of her staff, even if it had been a frustrating first week, the girl clearly expecting regular beatings and mistreatment, and almost panicking when it did not come. A kind word or a compliment from Riona or Bethany was taken almost as if to lure Orana into a trap, which would then be snapped shut with the following stream of rude disapprovals. The girl had no concept for 'freedom' and was shocked beyond belief when Riona pressed several sovereigns into her hands as her first pay, and they needed to be extremely patient with the young elf, making her understand and more importantly, believe in these new and alien concepts she had never experienced before.
Merrill proved very helpful with that, Orana at first feeling more comfortable with a fellow elf, and Riona often caught them talking amiably in Elven, Merrill explaining everything she knew about life in Kirkwall and making Orana understand she did not have to fear Riona and Bethany the way she had feared Hadriana. Bodahn and Sandal had treated their new fellow member of the staff as kindly as they treated everyone, and so within a few weeks, Orana finally was starting to feel like truly one of the household, accepted and appreciated by the Hawke sisters.
Speaking of Merrill, she was by now spending so much time with the Hawkes that Bethany at some point had asked the elf to move in with them, and while Merrill looked very tempted, she could not make the decision to abandon her eluvian for too long. Still, she was helping Riona and Bethany go through the belongings of Hadriana, trying to find more information about the seals that the magister was supposed to attend to. Not much had been found, except a crudely drawn map in what appeared to be Hadriana's diary, pointing at a Darktown entrance to another magister's cache, but Merrill and Varric had searched for it several times to no avail. It seemed as if they were missing something, but no one knew what; Riona and Bethany were about to go and look for the entrance themselves, thinking their friends might have missed something.
The elf had come to visit them on this day as well, she and Riona had made plans to visit the Chantry again and see what Riona thought of Merrill's latest findings. This research had been stalled lately because they had directed all their efforts to deciphering Hadriana's legacy, but now they wanted to pick it up again, and since Bethany, accompanied by Varric, had taken Spot on a lengthy walk around the Wounded Coast with the intention of letting the mabari take his first swim, this was the perfect time for Riona and Merrill to revisit the Chantry.
Together they sat in a secluded corner of the upper floors of the Chantry, leafing through some very old tomes, the dust making them cough constantly, as Riona put aside the book she had been studying, looking at her elven friend, immersed in her research. "You've never spoken much about what happened back at the Dalish camp," she spoke up suddenly, startling Merrill a little. "Have you really put it behind with such finality as it appears?"
The elf looked up at her, unsure as to what to reply. "I don't know," she shrugged. "I try not to think about it too much. But... the look that Pol gave me when we came upon him in the cave, it was filled with so much... fear and loathing. I think I'll see that before me for the rest of my life. That someone would find you so despicable and frightening..."
"Even if you know he's wrong?" Riona asked.
"Even so," Merrill nodded. "I hope I'll never give them reason to say they were right about me."
"Well, you know you have to be careful, that is a good start at least," Riona smiled, then recalling something. "Though... back in the slaver den, when we fought Hadriana. Remember that? I thought I saw you using your blood to control one of those slavers. Previously, you claimed you did not know such spells and wouldn't use them."
Merrill lowered her head, looking sad and ashamed. "I... I'm sorry. I said I burned those books, and I did, but this one spell just stuck with me, it is not complicated, and I think I must have copied it in my mind just from looking at the page once. When I saw all of you caught in the magister's spell and Fenris down injured, it was just... the first thing that popped to my mind."
"It saved us. I can't truly reprimand you over it, though it worries me," Riona said. Merrill nodded with a guilty look on her face. "Merrill?" she asked then. "Did you hear the spirit call to you then? Promising to give you the power to save your friends in exchange for something?"
"Y-yes..." Merrill admitted. "But how did you know that?"
"I've experienced the same in a moment of great desperation. That is when we are most vulnerable, and when they feel they have the best chance to take over," Riona said. "'But you denied it, didn't you?"
"I refused," Merrill said. "I already knew the spell, after all. I needed nothing from the spirit that I didn't already have, I had just been... reluctant to use it."
"And for good reason," Riona smiled, reaching out and taking Merrill's hand in hers. "You have a good heart, Merrill. Listen to what it says, and you will be fine."
"Thanks... thanks, Riona," Merrill smiled, teardrops glistening at the corners of her eyes as the elf looked deeply moved by her words.
"Oh, I've also meant to ask how the work on the eluvian is going?" Riona asked a moment later, having grabbed another tome to peruse. "Has the arulin'holm proved useful? You said you would invite us, but we've heard nothing."
"I did say that, didn't I?" Merrill mumbled apologetically. "Well, I've had some success, but... I haven't been able to restore the mirror in full. All the cracks in the glass are now closed and it 'looks' repaired, but the glass is still... muddled, opaque and it does not respond to anything I try to make it do. I just wonder... is this as much as the arulin'holm can help or am I missing something."
"Have you turned to the spirit for aid?" Riona asked.
"Not yet," Merrill replied. "But I fear I might have to soon. It's just so frustrating! I feel that I am so close and the secrets of the ancestors are at my fingertips! So many questions, the true fate of Arlathan, the disappearance of the Creators!"
"Just remember Merrill," Riona said, giving the elf a pointed look. "You won't be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor if you're a gargling, snarling abomination. You won't even be interested in the fate of Arlathan or the Creators."
"Good point," Merrill smiled. "I should write that down!" Then, after a moment she pointed at something in the tome she had been reading and flipped it over so that Riona could look at it. "There, again! Do you see?"
Riona peered at the yellowed page. The family name of Amell stood written there, but like on several other occasions, it appeared to have been written over a previously erased word. "What could it mean?" she wondered.
"Well, the length of that erased word looks about the same all the time, right?" Merrill said, Riona immediately realizing that the elf was correct. "Like one family name has been erased and the Amell name written on top of it."
"Yes, but what is it?" Riona exclaimed with slight frustration.
"I'm quite sure it's Krayvan," Merrill replied with deep conviction. "I doubt I'd be able to prove it, but it just makes sense. I can't find any information on them in these books, even if the family was prosperous only a decade ago."
"Why would they disappear so suddenly?" Riona wondered.
"Well... I imagine the name was no longer very popular with the locals after the Imperium lost its foothold here in Kirkwall," Merrill said.
"...what do you mean? I don't get it."
"I did tell you about this city once being called Eremius, not Kirkwall," Riona could only nod at Merrill's words. "Named after Magister Eremius Krayvan, the founder of this city."
Riona could only blink, her mouth flapping silently making her look like a fish ashore. "...my... ancestor... a magister of the Imperium?" she exclaimed in shock. "That's... that... that would actually make more sense than my initial protests would suggest," she suddenly said, realizing something. If it is true... someone with the blood of the founding magister of this city in their veins, returning to this place amongst all this chaos and change unfolding around them... as Flemeth had said, we stand on the precipice of change... and she felt right in the middle of it all. How could she honestly believe it was a simple coincidence? Hah, I wonder what Fenris would say if he knew I was a descendant of one of the vilest magistrates of the Imperium.
"So you agree that it's not impossible," Merrill interrupted her trail of thoughts.
"No... no, I suppose I agree," she nodded, a little numbly. "But... I think I need to get away from this now," she waved at the cramped, dusty room they were in. "I need to take this all in. Perhaps... yes, I had meant to visit Aveline in the Keep. Would you like to accompany me?"
"Certainly! Those plants will need watering again," Merrill chirped happily, getting up from the table. "And can you believe it, she actually killed one poor orchid? That woman, I was so mad at her! Gave her a real piece of my mind, I did! Can't understand why she just smiled and laughed, I meant every word of it!"
Riona couldn't stop smiling herself as she led Merrill out of their little research chamber, helpfully provided by one of the more friendly mothers, but as they proceeded down the stairs, Riona immediately overheard a voice she didn't expect to be hearing for a long time. "By the Maker, is that really Sebastian?" she wondered aloud. "I thought he would be laying siege to Starkhaven by now!"
As they made it downstairs, it became clear that it was indeed Prince Sebastian Vael, once again arguing with Grand Cleric Elthina. "I'm giving it all up," she heard Sebastian speak passionately. "I made a vow to the Chantry, and it was wrong to turn my back."
"Sebastian, listen to yourself!" Elthina reprimanded in a patronizing voice. "You're as impulsive now as the day you turned away from us. Do you think the Maker wants another rashly spoken vow that you'll abandon when the next passion takes you?"
"I will not-" Sebastian tried to protest weakly, but was cut off.
"This is your life, child. Do not throw it away being blown about like a weathervane," Elthina said, finally spotting the approaching Riona. "And here's Hawke. Come to goad you into further heroics, no doubt."
"Huh?" Riona shrugged, looking at the frustrated Grand Cleric as Elthina retreated, leaving Sebastian standing with her and Merrill. "What's going on, Sebastian? I thought you had already spoken with your allies, gathered an army..."
"I know you don't agree with my choice, Hawke, but I can't continue to break my oath," Sebastian looked at her, shaking his head. "And for what? Why would I want to rule Starkhaven and deal with jackals like Lady Harimann for the rest of my life?"
"Sometimes we just can't walk away from what we are, no matter how much we want to," Riona shrugged. "You can no less walk away from your birthright as I can stop being a mage."
Sebastian scowled. "But I do not have hubris enough to imagine that it matters to the common people who rules them. Someone will take the reins. The fields will be planted, the crops gathered," he said. "No one will notice that a Vael lives and isn't there. And I can devote my life to the Maker's will on Thedas."
"And what if the new ruler of Starkhaven proves himself to be a tyrant, mistreating his people, raising taxes and threatening his neighbors with aggressive expansion?" Riona asked, her frustration spilling over again. "Can you still sit here in the safety of Chantry with clean conscience, doing nothing?"
The Prince sighed deeply. "Perhaps you are right. I've been praying for guidance and had nothing," he admitted. "I cannot return to Starkhaven and subject my people to war, not without a clear sign that it is the Maker's will."
"It seems as if you've made your decision, then," Riona said, turning to leave. "I'll keep watching the sky for you, maybe one day I'll see the Maker write in the clouds, 'Sebastian, go to Starkhaven, damn it!' I'll be sure to come back and tell you."
"I'm sorry to see you disapprove, my friend," Sebastian said, as she and Merrill were slowly walking away.
"No, I'm sorry to see you making a decision you'll regret later," Riona replied, shaking her head as together with her elven friend they left the Chantry and started their walk towards the Viscount's Keep.
"Riona! Welcome in!" Aveline greeted her, as soon as she stepped into the Guard-Captain's office. "And Merrill, you as well," she added, having noticed the elf behind Riona.
"Hey Aveline," Riona smiled, sitting down, while Merrill grabbed a watering-can, hidden behind a cabinet, and muttered something under her breath as she walked back outside to gather some water. "Merrill thinks you're being mean to the plants again."
Aveline sighed. "Perhaps I should just hire her on my staff, and make it her responsibility, then she couldn't complain about me not taking care of those bloody plants." She let out a brief bark of laughter, before turning grim again. "I was hoping you would stop by. I received a disturbing message from an ambassador of Ferelden, in the employ of Queen Anora."
"Oh? News from Ferelden! Do tell!" Riona eagerly stared at her friend, unable to contain her excitement. Even if she considered Kirkwall her home now, the events back in Ferelden were of great interest to her.
"The civil war is not going well for Anora," Aveline started the tale. "Month ago, her army suffered a heavy defeat at the gates of Denerim, and were forced to abandon the city to Arl Eamon's forces. Anora and her loyalists have withdrawn to Gwaren and fortified themselves there."
"Just like her father, Maric and Rowan all those years ago," Riona noted. "Strange how history repeats itself."
"Indeed," Aveline nodded. "The ambassador is here to appeal to the refugees to return and take arms for Anora. As well as trying to talk Dumar into sending aid, not realizing the Viscount doesn't even command any forces he could send. The templars and the Chantry will not interfere... for now."
"You're not implying I should return to Ferelden, are you?" Riona asked.
"Not unless you feel you must," Aveline said, looking thoughtful. "To be honest, I cannot make up my mind which side has the strongest claim. Anora was Cailan's wife, but there is no blood connection and she never bore his child. With Eamon, the Theirin line would be preserved, at least."
"Bloodlines are important," Riona nodded, thinking back on her discovery in the Chantry and the subsequent talk with Sebastian. "Not to mention that Eamon's wife is a mage, isn't she? Maybe she would be able to fight for more rights for our kind."
"She is a blood mage, though," Aveline said.
"So is Merrill," Riona pointed at the elf, as she stepped back into the office with a filled watering-can.
"What?" the elf looked at them wide-eyed. "What are you talking about?"
"Ferelden might soon be ruled by a blood mage queen, Merrill," Riona explained.
"Oh! Exciting!" the elf exclaimed, then becoming thoughtful. "Would your Chantry and templars agree with that?"
"Not for long," Aveline shook her head. "They have not moved against Maythre and Eamon because the situation with the new Ferelden Circle is very delicate. They are very outspoken in their support of the queen-pretender, and the templars fear an open rebellion of mages and their numerous supporters."
"...I just realized the consequences that could have if it spilled to mage Circles everywhere," Riona whispered, unable to ward off a shudder. "Damn it, the situation here really doesn't need to be ignited by a revolution elsewhere."
"You said it," Aveline agreed. "I was left very disturbed by the ambassador's visit. At least he should be on his way soon, off to Val Royeaux with an appeal for the empress to aid Anora. She is quite desperate to cling to her throne."
"No wonder," Riona said, allowing the news to sink in completely before she spoke again. "I haven't asked you about the situation with the qunari lately. Everything quiet for now?"
"Thank the Maker, yes... haven't heard anything major for a while," Aveline looked very relieved. Then, another shadow of worry passed her face, as she leaned closer to Riona across the table. "Listen, Riona... there was another matter I wished to talk to you about."
"Oh? What is it?" Riona's eyes widened. "You know you can ask me anything."
Aveline threw a quick look at Merrill, but the elf seemed to be oblivious to their conversation, busy working with a hunting knife to remove some dead stems from a large potted fern. "I need a favor." Riona continued to stare at her friend, urging Aveline to explain more. "I need you to give something to guardsman Donnic in the barracks. No questions asked, and he is not to know it's from me." With that she withdrew a package from the drawer in her desk and handed it over to Riona.
As Riona moved to pick it up, she immediately noticed that it was quite heavy. "Ooh, what is it?" she wondered.
"That is not important," Aveline said, taking a deep breath. "And... you're doing very poorly on the 'no questions asked' part."
"Sheesh..." Riona grumbled, taking the package and getting up to leave.
"Please, come back and tell me his reaction afterwards," Aveline called out after her. "I really appreciate this, Riona, trust me."
Still a little dumbstruck, Riona headed straight for the barracks, not more than dozen yards away, wondering for what possible reason Aveline needed her to perform such a mundane task. Was she perhaps suspecting Donnic of being corrupt or something? Trying to investigate his dealings in secret? That was probably it, Riona decided as she walked into the barracks, immediately noticing Donnic, sitting at a table and reading a very captivating book, occasionally reaching out to grab some peanuts from the nearby bowl.
"Guardsman Donnic?" she tried to start the conversation, still not sure what to think of the entire affair. Donnic really didn't seem like the dishonest guard type, so what was going on here really?
"Serah Hawke," Donnic smiled at her. "It's been a while! Can I do something for you?"
"No, quite the opposite," Riona attempted a smile as she passed the package over to Donnic. "This is for you. I, err, think you're going to enjoy... whatever it is."
Donnic looked very surprised, but also curious, as he quickly undid the threads and pulled out the contents of the package. Then he blinked and sat back down. "It's a... copper relief... of marigolds? Oh. And it helpfully says so on this note. 'Marigolds'." He looked up at Riona in astonishment. "That's... very crafty. Is there... a meaning to this I should know?"
Riona's own eyes must have been wide as saucers, as she had expected many things, but certainly not... copper marigolds? By the Maker, what was Aveline's game here? "I, uh... hoped you might know?"
"You are acting very peculiar, Serah Hawke," Donnic gave her a weird stare and picked up his book, resuming his reading, while Riona stumbled back outside, feeling a little dazed and plenty embarrassed.
A little angrily, she stomped back to Aveline's office to confront her friend, but the deep worry on Aveline's face quickly made her anger dissipate. "You're back," Aveline exclaimed. "Of course you are. You are quick. Efficient. Get things done. For good or ill. ...so, how did Donnic react?"
Riona blinked again. Was there perhaps something in the water? Somebody had slipped some rum into the Guard-Captain's morning tea? "I suspect he thinks I'm crazy now," she said.
Aveline sighed. "I've clearly gone about this the wrong way," she said, shaking her head. "I thought the message was clear, metal is strong, copper ages well, flowers are soft..."
"...what?" Riona managed. "Are you feeling well?"
"We'll try something else. Just don't talk to Donnic again!"
"I wouldn't be able to now after that!" Riona exclaimed, starting to feel a headache approaching.
"Here, take this," Aveline passed her a piece of paper. "The patrols for next week. Post it to the roster and just... listen. I want you to report Donnic's reaction to me."
"Is he in trouble or something?"
"This... isn't about an accusation I can put in a report and explain," Aveline replied mysteriously.
"Argh," Riona said, turning to walk back outside. "Posting the roster then."
The guards surrounded the roster board immediately, like a bunch of ants jumping on a cube of sugar. Immediately, there was plenty of clamoring, grumbling and friendly poking at each other, though Riona's attention was on the conversation between Lieutenant Brennan and Donnic.
"Hey Donnic!" Brennan said. "Whose pucker have you been greasing to get a post in Hightown?"
"What? You're daft," Donnic looked surprised as he stared at the roster board. "I'm working dockside on those smugglers, remember?"
"Says here you're guarding the square. Always been a make-work job, that one. You someone's pet?" Brennan said mockingly.
"Check your eyes, it's got to be a mistake!" Donnic protested.
"Says the pet," Brennan glared and walked away.
Donnic stepped closer to the roster and peered at the paper. Then he groaned. "What did I do to deserve that job?"
Riona stealthily sneaked back to the Captain's office and reported her observations to Aveline. "Donnic thinks I'm punishing him?" the redhead gasped, looking very unhappy. "But Hightown is the safest patrol! It's a reward!"
"Hey, I'm just telling you what I heard," Riona answered defensively. "It looked like he would have been perfectly content with working on his dockside investigation."
Aveline jumped from her chair and started to nervously pace around her table, almost knocking a confused Merrill off her feet. "Alright, this is a disaster, but maybe I can still fix it... I will need three goats, and a sheaf of wheat. You," she pointed an accusing finger at Riona, "will take them to his mother."
"...excuse me?" the headache was finally here and hit Riona in the back of the head with a giant hammer.
Aveline sighed. "It's a dowry tradition. It should smoothen the process."
There was a loud clang as something heavy dropped on the floor. Riona and Aveline both turned to see Merrill, standing with her mouth agape, the watering-can had fallen from her hands and made a mess on the carpet. "Oops," the elf recovered, quickly bending down to limit the damage done to the carpets.
"I think Merrill's reaction sums it up rather well," Riona said. "Just how did you expect this plan of yours to work out?"
"I... don't really know," Aveline admitted, looking defeated. "I have been the Captain so long... that is all I know to do. I have forgotten how... these things used to go. I remember it being easier!"
"You just can't tell him yourself, can't you?" Riona spoke kindly, recognizing the fear she had gone through herself.
"I'm paralyzed with fear from the thought," Aveline sighed. "Please, help me Riona, or I know I'll botch it somehow, if I haven't already."
"I think... it's probably still salvageable," Riona allowed herself a smile.
"But what to do now?" Aveline still couldn't calm down. "I'm the Captain, he's my guardsman. I can't get past that."
"Take him out for a round of drinks?" they had forgotten about Merrill completely, when she suddenly jumped into the conversation with her suggestion. "Get drunk at the Hanged Man, and by the end of the evening, you won't remember your silly ranks," the elf added with a giggle.
"Say... Merrill, you're a genius!" Riona exclaimed. "It doesn't need to be something complicated, Aveline. In fact, we're probably overthinking this too much, and Merrill is right. Just invite him to the Hanged Man!"
"Alright," Aveline finally relented. "But you invite him!" she suddenly turned to Riona. "Just... make something up, whatever! Don't mention me, I don't want him to even think I'll be there!"
Riona groaned. After the copper marigolds disaster, she certainly did not feel like making herself a fool in front of Donnic again, but it seemed like Aveline was determined not to give her any other options. "Alright, alright," she groaned, turning to leave. "Just be there tonight. Maker, I'll be glad when this is over with..."
