Author's Note: As ever I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Merrill truly didn't know what to make of these two humans who now followed her carefully through the Lowtown market. They were magically powerful, and apparently came from a society of mages who used magic in ways she'd never dreamed of. They seemed kind, and yet she was very confused by them. Which in fairness was not a hugely strange state of being for Merrill.
She'd met very few humans who showed the kind of courtesy they did, being an elf as she was. And they spoke of things she'd either never thought of or which sounded downright outlandish and possibly insane.
To add to her confusion, they apparently either did not know what demons were, or were surprised that she and apparently other mages considered them a threat. She'd need to investigate that more closely. As a Dalish Elf she did not have the same hangups about magic, the Fade and spirits, that those who followed the Chantry did. Even still her kind considered demons a very real and persistent threat when utilizing their magic. That these two very normal looking humans did not, was surprising.
They also seemed…both impressed and underwhelmed by Kirkwall at the same time, and it was the largest city Merrill had ever seen!
When she had taken them out to the balcony in the market district of Hightown to look out over the city, they been less impressed by the size than by some of the more eccentric aspects of the cities construction. The Gallows, the statues in the harbour and the great chains. When she'd asked about it, they had merely stated that people didn't tend to make chains, or statues that big where they came from, and that considering the level of technology—whatever that was—they were surprised to see a building as large as the Gallows Fortress.
That had got her thinking, whatever this technology was, they were clearly used to a version of it which was…more, than what Kirkwall had, something that allowed them to easily construct buildings the size of the Gallows. And yet their people didn't build statues or chains on the scale they did in Kirkwall. Odd.
Finally as they were exiting Hightown she'd given in to her curiosity and asked them a question which had been bothering her since that conversation. "Does Kirkwall seem very large to you?"
Harry and Hermione had both shaken there heads, though Hermione had paused before explaining. "For a city of this level of development, Kirkwall is actually fairly large compared to most of the cities back home in our past. However most of the cities where we come from are bigger than this."
"Mythal!" she'd exclaimed, "Your cities must be very large then! Only a few cities in Thedas are bigger than Kirkwall!"
The others had just nodded their heads agreeably. "How large was the city you were from Hermione?" Merrill asked curious. Something in the way Hermione had spoken suggested she lived in such cities herself.
"I lived in London before coming here…and London is large even by our standards, though not the largest in the known world. It covers, not counting some of the outlying cities and towns which don't quite connect with it, just over fifteen hundred square kilometres and is home to roughly thirteen and a half million people."
Merrill had just about tripped when she heard that and turned to stare at the human who was looking at her with a bemused, but sincere expression. "Are you serious, you're not teasing me are you?" She asked a touch suspiciously.
Hermione shook her head, and then Harry nodded agreement. "She's telling the truth, London is huge. I lived on its outskirts most of my life."
Merrill could hardly conceive of a place that large. "Thirteen million people?" she whispered."And that's not even the largest city you know of?"
Hermione shook her head, looking mildly amused now. "Tokyo Japan, which has the largest metropolitan population in the world covers over fourteen thousand square kilometres and has nearly thirty seven million people living in it."
Merrill couldn't believe it, more and more she was beginning to understand that these two really were from some other world. "Creators…how many people lived where you came from, your world I mean, it must have been extremely busy!"
Hermione thought on that. "At last counting, the number of humans living in the entire world sat at around seven and a half billion. Though that number isn't exact, people are being born too fast to keep a current number accurate for more than a moment or two. And yes…Earth, the world we're from is filling up fast."
She blinked at them shaking her head. "I can't even imagine…"
That had basically drowned out her thoughts for a good while until they reached the landing just outside the Hanged Man. "This is Varric's favourite pub, he says the drinks are awful but it's a nicer place than the stuffy ones up in Hightown…" She trailed off uncertain what to say to them now. How could anything she showed them compare with what they had left behind?
"Ah, particular about their patrons are they?" Harry asked, happily enough smiling up at the wooden statue hanging by its foot above the door.
"Yes, most won't allow elves…the only one which will allow anybody, is the Blooming Rose, and it isn't the sort of place you take your friends….unless you're Isabella." She agreed, slightly cheered as she noted that neither Harry nor Hermione, seemed to look all that harshly upon the world around them despite how different it was from the home they described. In fact they seemed mildly intrigued by most of it.
"Oh, not a nice bar?" Harry asked.
She shook her head. "No, it's just…well the drinks are said to be good but people go there to buy other things…" She saw their curious and suspicious looks and decided to just admit what the place was. "It's a brothel."
The two human's eyes widened in surprise, and she couldn't help but giggle a little, apparently these two were not the sort to visit such a place. Isabella would have been disappointed.
"Yes, we'll most certainly not be going there." Hermione sniffed in disapproval.
"Definitely not," Harry agreed hurriedly. Earning a slight approving look from Hermione. "Thanks for the warning Merrill."
She nodded amiably, then started leading them away again, down through Lowtown's housing towards the alienage. She frowned up at the sky as they descended, things were clouding up. A shame that.
Finally they made it through the dirty streets, only once stopping when a guard asked if they'd seen anything suspicious. They'd told him no, and had continued on their way soon enough. It was even true, Kirkwall's streets were fairly quiet, a combination of the Templars roaming around, the guards who had been whipped into fine shape by Aveline, and Hawkes vigilant efforts the years previous. People were always a bit shady in Lowtown it was true, but they'd seen nothing worthy of comment while they traveled today.
Upon entering the alienage Hermione had paused staring about, a strange look on her face, it was enough to give her friend a worried expression and have Merrill asking what was wrong. "When I'd heard the term alienage, I'd thought it odd, after all it means a place in which to be alien, an outsider. But I'd hoped it was just a district which was set aside for those who wanted their own community…This though…"
Merrill nodded, understanding, the alienage was not a very nice place, the elves living in it did their best but the Viscount's men had never cared for it much, and before Aveline it had been entirely un-watched. In times past slavers had openly entered the district and kidnapped elves from their homes. Those days were gone but it was still not a pleasant place.
"It's a ghetto, a slum." Harry grumbled sourly. "Nobody should have to live like this."
Merrill couldn't help but feel slightly buoyed by that attitude, it was a sentiment she'd felt many times before. "No they shouldn't, but that is the world we live in. Perhaps someday it will change, but for now…"
The others nodded understanding, she wasn't lying down and accepting what was happening to her people, but she knew that right now, with things as they were no efforts could succeed in truly improving the relationship between elves and the rest of the world. But she clearly hoped that someday that would change enough to make a start on matters.
She led them across the main courtyard of the district. "This is the Vhendahl tree, it's a symbol of the elves living in alienages around Thedas. A touchstone with the old elven empire. A time when we were free."
The other's eyed the tree with interest. "It's not exactly the same but we saw a similar tree in the ruins where we found the Eluvian." Hermione admitted doing her best to emulate the accents on the foreign word. "If a mirror was there and so was one of these trees, it may be a safe bet that the ruins we found were elven in origin."
Merrill nodded, tentatively agreeing with the notion, before indicating a door not far away. "This way please, my home is just over here."
The two humans followed her across to the door and she took out her key, turning it in the lock before opening the thin wooden door. She ushered them inside and then followed them in.
She smiled apologetically at them as she watched them look around. When compared with their tent it really was the barest hovel… "Thank you for agreeing to come, I know you have an interest in my Eluvian, but…still I appreciate you agreeing to take a look at it, and here of all places."
Hermione smiled at her. "It's very nice Merrill, you clearly take good care of your home."
"Thank you, would you like anything to drink, I've got— water?" She admitted sheepishly, she'd had a similar conversation with Hawke a long time ago.
"That's fine Merrill, you needn't worry on our behalf. Would you like to show us the mirror?" Harry offered, after sharing a brief look with Hermione.
Here Merrill paused. "Er—if you don't mind I should really clean up my room, that's where I keep it. I don't have visitors there…ever really." she noted absently. Hawke had seen it once or twice when visiting, but that was all. She'd had no lovers with whom she would have shared it. And aside from Hawke had no friends she knew well enough to allow within it.
It was an odd feeling to think she was about to allow two relative strangers in to examine one of her most prized possessions.
They voiced their understanding and settled in to wait while she went to clean up. She chased out a pair of rats, kicked the worst of the dust to the corners, threw a fireball into the metal bucket in the privy to clean it out…lit some candles and stuffed some of the stray straw lying around back into the haphazard mattress she used. Finally she nodded in satisfaction and opened her door, ushering the two human mages into her room.
Their eyes immediately fixed on the mirror, not that she could blame them and they gravitated to it. "This isn't its original frame I'm afraid," Merrill admitted. "That one was destroyed when it was damaged. I placed the same enchantments on it that the original had, but it still wont work. I had to do a lot of…hard things, to get it repaired."
Hermione was nodding pacing around the Eluvian. "We tried to repair the one back in the ruins, but nothing worked on it, how did you manage?"
"Ancient elven tools my clan kept for sentimental value." She indicated the devices rest on a barrel next to the mirror. And a great deal of—" she paused then sighed, knowing she'd need to take this leap if she were to explain. "A great deal of blood magic to purge the taint and other influences from the shards."
Hermione looked up sharply, and for a moment Merrill braced herself for a rebuke, but the girl only looked sideways at Harry who looked interested. "Do many mages use blood magic here?" He asked curiously. "It's not terribly common back home."
She shook her head, relieved they had yet to fly off the handle. "No, the Chantry forbids it, and in truth many mages are not ready for the costs associated with using it. It is dangerous after all."
Harry nodded, "Yes, I've looked into it, at least back home not many use it because it's so volatile. You can get enough magic from it to barely light a candle one try, and the next you get enough that you burn yourself out. It's generally only used in extreme situations." He noted sadly. And she wondered what his experience with it had been. Again he'd failed to mention the threat of demons. And she believed she had just the method by which to safely broach the topic.
"I tried everything I could think of to fix it, even then when I finally got it like this I couldn't get it working. I tried seeking guidance, but I was stopped before I could ask the demon what I needed to know."
This drew more worried looks, she guessed that while their people had little experience with demons, what little experience they had was negative. "Is dealing with demons common here?" Hermione asked more cautiously.
She laughed darkly. "No, again the Chantry forbids it, and if they find out about it kill anyone who dares even speak with them." Her tone conveying the message they needed to keep what she'd told them to themselves, clearly. "And even those of us outside the Chantry do not commune with them lightly. They are exceedingly dangerous beings, and a constant threat to all who use the Fade. A chance you take only at direst need."
Hermione looked pensive at that. "I can't say many people dare meet with demons anymore back home either. Those suspected of it were indeed killed back in the day. Add to that, demon's reputations as tricksters and liars…"
Merrill nodded, "They are tricksters and liars, and who can blame them, they are trapped in the Fade. Forced to eke out an existence feeding off the stray emotions of the living which filter into that realm. They want out, at any cost, they are what happens when emotions and intents become twisted."
The humans nodded understanding, but clearly didn't have any experience worrying about demons themselves. "You've mentioned the Fade a few times," Hermione stated. "Can you explain what it is?"
Merrill marvelled at them, how could they not know of the Fade? "The Fade is a…another world, which is separated from our own by the veil. It is an ever shifting realm of dreams and magic, it is the place from which all mages draw their magic for spells. It is also the reason why mages are feared. It is the realm of demons, and many mages are not skilled enough to avoid their traps or deny their temptations. Many attempt to draw on a demon's power directly, only to find like so many others that they are not strong enough, and realize too late they've let the demon in. Those who allow a demon in are changed." She paused considering the humans who looked at her curiously.
"Weaker demons with less control twist and warp their hosts into what are known as abominations, stronger more talented demons can hide, hold a mortal form for some time, sometimes indefinitely. Though should they wish to use their strength they must resume their true form. They are very dangerous…Nobody fights a demon lightly."
Hermione in particular looked fascinated, and worried. "Strange, you draw your magic from outside yourself?" She asked sounding enthralled by the notion.
Merrill nodded confused, perhaps these humans were just crazy? That would certainly explain a lot, though it would be something of a shame considering she found herself liking them. "Where else would I draw it from?"
Hermione hesitated. "Where we come from, people draw from many sources, blood magic, yes, but rituals too, some which siphon off ambient magical energy, even from souls in very extreme cases…. ley lines, though that is rare," Again an odd look passed between her and Harry. "But the most common place witches and wizards draw from back home is from their magical core." She saw Merrill's astonished look and explained.
"A person's magical core draws from the wellspring of power within their own soul. It constantly refills as you replenish your body, and varies widely in depth…Some, like Harry's are very large and refill quickly making them powerful. Others are shallow and slow to refill, making them less so."
Merrill stared at them wide eyed. "You don't draw from the Fade, at all? T-That's amazing! How is that possible? I've never heard of anything like that."
Hermione looked intrigued, as she contemplated the notion. "I don't know, but it makes me wonder how different magic is here, from magic back home. If we get the chance we should look into it…" She glanced at Harry who had been pacing around the mirror. "Any luck?"
"No, no carvings I can see except the enchantments, and without knowing this thing's password or whatever I can't see us opening it the normal way…Want me to try some parseltongue on it?"
Merrill felt like she'd been tumbled down the stairs in a barrel, she had no idea what half the things these two said actually meant, but all of it sounded fascinating.
"Sure it couldn't hurt…although," She turned to Merrill, "You may want to step outside for a minute, just in case this does work, you don't want to get pulled along for the ride should we get sucked through again…"
Merrill's eyes widened, and she nodded hurriedly, as fascinating as their world sounded it also sounded horribly frightening. She didn't want to go there if she could avoid it. "Yes, of course, call to me if it works and you are still here though yes?"
Hermione nodded smiling, "Of course Merrill, and just in case this does suck us through, thank you for all the help." She said hefting her bag onto her shoulder. Harry did the same with the bag which held a packed their packed up tent in it and Merrill quickly beat feet from the room.
Sadly she heard a pair of disappointed voices calling her back a minute or two later. The two of them were unslinging their bags again as she entered. "No luck then?" She said sorrowfully, as much for her vain hope of activating her mirror, as in sympathy for their plight.
Harry shook his head. "No, we'll either need to find a way to open this one or find another mirror which is easier to open. Surely they can't all be locked if your people used them as a common method of transport."
Merrill shrugged, she honestly had no idea either way. "I searched the ruins where this Eluvian was hidden extensively, I found nothing telling of how to use it. I've also had to make do with what records and tales my people have either been able to keep themselves or trade from others. I'm sure there are proper records and instructions out there somewhere though…there may even be an open Eluvian if you know where to look—"
Hermione nodded agreeably. "Any ideas where?"
The little elf sighed, slumping to sit on the edge of her bed. "No, as far as records and instructions go they could be anywhere, a forgotten tome in a cave somewhere, or on a shelf in some dusty old ruin in some lost forest…much of what was in Arlathan itself was either burned in the fires or pillaged by the Tevinter Imperium and I'd really rather not venture there."
Harry and Hermione looked at her curiously. "Oh, why not?" Hermione asked.
She blew out a slow breath. "The Tevinter Imperium is a very cruel and corrupt place, they unlike the rest of Thedas, actively take and keep slaves. I think they would have been cast down by the other empires for that alone if not for…well a couple things really."
"They are still, despite their somewhat diminished state these days, a very large, powerful and wealthy people, almost as big as Orlais in terms of lands and wealth. They also have the largest population of unshackled mages in Thedas and currently fulfill the very important role of keeping the Qunari away from the rest of Thedas."
Harry snorted in amusement, "Now I know how you must feel talking with us some times, I understood a fraction of that."
She smiled a bit at his understanding. "All you need to know is that it would be a very bad place for a free elven mage like me to go, and that they are very unfriendly to outsiders. As for the Qunari…They're big, grouchy grey skinned giants with horns. Who wouldn't understand the concept of fun if it came up and bit them on the…backside" she finished weakly. She really had been spending a lot of time around Varric and Isabella.
"They attempted to take over Kirkwall a couple years ago, I find them fascinating, but a little frightening as well." She admitted thoughtfully.
"Okay, so Tevinter, where ever it is, is a bad idea. We'll put that lower on the list. You said there might be ruins where other eluvie-thingies are?" Harry asked.
Merrill giggled lightly in amusement as Hermione huffed indignantly. "Honestly Harry, it's Eluvians, it doesn't do to mispronounce—"
Merrill snickered, seeing Harry's fondly put-upon face at Hermione's chastising tone. Clearly these two had been together a long time. They certainly acted like an old married couple. Isabella would have been asking them who was better in bed by now she was sure.
"I know, and I'm sorry. You too Merrill, I didn't mean to make light of your people's artifacts. But my question stands."
Merrill nodded getting back on task. "Yes, there are many Elven ruins out there. Though most are empty or have long since been stripped of anything of worth. Most are to the north in the Tevinter Imperium around what was the heart of the old "Elvhen" empire. Some are to the west near the Anderfels, some, just a small number are to the east in Antiva. Most of the rest are south however, in Ferelden and Orlais.
"Which would be our best bet do you think?" Harry asked.
Merrill considered that. "Antiva is closer but the ruins there have been heavily raided by fortune hunters, they also tend to run off Dalish Elves so I don't know much about them anyways. The ruins near the Anderfels and in northwestern Orlais are sparse, but large, I suppose you could try there…However most of the ruins I know of are in the Brecelian forest in Ferelden, or spread throughout the Dales in Orlais. There were a few others I believe scattered throughout the mainland of both countries. Orlais, tolerates elves, though Ferelden is better in that regard. It is said King Alistair is on good terms with the clans in his lands."
The two humans across from her absorbed that, then Hermione spoke. "What about records that have already been collected, aside from Tevinter some must survive somewhere?"
She nodded, "Certainly, a great number likely exist in the archives of most nations, and more in the circle towers. Those that haven't been pillaged by rebel mages or marauding Templars that is." She noted a touch wanly. "I've already searched the archives here with some help from my friends. I even learned a little more than what I knew before."
Harry huffed tiredly pulling up one of her chairs and sitting. Hermione however was pacing. "It sounds to me then that our best bet would be one of the larger empires, from what you have said and what I remember of that map Captain Aveline showed us, aside from Tevinter those would be Orlais and Ferelden correct?"
She nodded dutifully. And Hermione resumed her pacing. "Assuming nothing else we can think of gets this Eluvian working, I can see nothing else for it but to go searching in those places you mentioned. It won't be an easy trip. Judging by the scale of that map Aveline showed us it is a great distance to those southern nations…We'll need supplies, a guide, maps and money—probably best to fly although…we don't have many brooms with us. I think that—"
Harry cut her off chuckling, while smiling fondly at her. "We have supplies Hermione, we were outfitted to explore that ruin for months if need be, though I don't think they intended to keep us there that long… And we have gold, you know my habits regarding that. True we'll need a map, but I assume you can buy one of those somewhere here…"
Merrill nodded agreeably, a thought entering her head, though she'd need to think on that a bit more later. "There are many sold at the merchants guild, my friend Varric has contacts there. And I'm sure you could hire a guide easily enough…Did you mention flying?" She asked as what Hermione had said permeated her brain.
Harry shrugged. "She did, but it's true we don't have enough brooms to carry us easily, not unless one of us doesn't mind being trapped in the tent for hours on end while it's packed up on the other's back while they fly. And I know how Hermione hates flying."
She stuck her tongue out at him, which had Merrill laughing again. "Well, if that's not an option, though it sounds interesting…" Flying on brooms? Imagine! "There's always carriage, or going by boat. The Harbour has boats going to Ferelden or Orlais most weeks. The only other options are by foot or horse around to the west of the waking sea, or by braving the Deep Roads. Which I wouldn't recommend, it's awful down there!" She exclaimed sincerely before blushing at her outburst.
"The Deep Roads?" Harry asked curiously.
"Tunnels which go between the old Dwarven cities and thiags, most of them are overrun by Darkspawn or collapsed. It's more direct true, but very dangerous."
Harry chuckled, "And again I understood half of that. Don't worry, you can tell us about those later. I need a break while I try and absorb everything."
She nodded understanding. "Well…as you seem to have most of the things you need for a trip sorted, I suppose I could show you up to the merchant's guild they'll have a map for you!"
Hermione nodded, smiling fondly at her. "Thank you Merrill, that would be appreciated."
Merrill smiled, though internally she was feeling a touch sad. It sounded like her new friends would be leaving soon. Then it'd just be her Varric and Aveline, and Aveline was busy most of the time…And she hadn't had the chance to ask half of the questions she wanted to ask them yet!
She sighed, getting to her feet. Why couldn't things be simple? I miss Hawke…
Merchant's Guild
Hightown, Kirkwall
Free Marches, Thedas
Harry gave the dwarf across the counter from him a hard look. "You're telling me that to get the best map you have is one hundred gold coins?"
The dwarf nodded smugly. "Yeah, you ain't got enough money for that too bad, we ain't running a charity here." He grumped in an accent which sounded distinctly like he'd come from across the pond back home.
Harry looked the dwarf in the eye then snorted. "Pardon me for saying so but, nug-shite." He said borrowing a swear he'd heard one of the many dwarves at the guild hall use. "I know for a fact you can get a fifteen by fifteen map at half that detail for five. And no you can't convince me that the extra five inches and detail are worth ninety five more gold coins." He growled, as the dwarf looked nervous seeing Harry's tirade had drawn attention.
"Also, while I know perfectly well dwarves are resistant to magic, don't think for a second I can't explode your head if I'm willing to tire myself out a little." Harry said conjuring a ball of magic into his hands and tossing it back and forth meaningfully. He was grateful to Merrill for that little primer on dwarves, though he hadn't really needed it. The Dwarves back home were similar in almost every way. Short, grumpy, magic resistant and apparently overly fond of gold.
He wouldn't have really exploded the dwarf's head of course, that would have been all sorts of wrong, but he wasn't above threatening a crook into giving him a fair deal. He pushed one last bit for good measure. "Of course if I raise my voice a little more and speak my suspicions about what you are doing to a room full of Dwarven warriors, businessmen and some I suspect are sneak thieves I'm sure they'd take a closer at their own dealings with you."
The Dwarf may have already been pale before, but now he was white as a sheet. He cleared his throat noisily after a moment looking about cautiously, noting some of the others casually shifting closer to overhear what the fuss was. "Of course sir, my mistake, I read you the wrong figure…Er—twenty sovereigns. That's for the best map we have available, thirty by thirty with incredible detail, it's what we use for our own guild meetings. Even marks trade routes instead of just the normal carriage roads!" He said hurriedly.
Harry nodded easily. "Show me one of those in comparison to the smaller version, if I'm satisfied I'll pay an extra two on top of the stated price for your time."
The Dwarf nodded, easing slightly. At least he'd make a small profit off this (apparently not so ignorant) foreigner. "Of course sir, I'll be right back."
He looked sideways at Hermione who had been leaning against the counter a short way away, she rolled her eyes at him in amusement then smiled. She knew as well as he did that had the dwarf forced the issue he would have been forced to fold. But the Dwarf hadn't known that.
A couple minutes later the dwarf returned. and unrolled a large map on a table more centrally located in the room, handing the smaller sample across to Harry to compare against it. It really was a good map…for one made with pen and ink. The detail was good and there were certainly more roads and settlements listed. Someone had even gone to the trouble of dying various sections to accurately depict the environs of each area. Note to self stay away from the putrid grey area in the south west….
"This will do," Harry agreed, and proceeded to dole out the agreed upon amount, which the Dwarf took in relief. "Pleasure doing business with you." Harry said pointedly before stepping away from the counter and nodding his head to Hermione as she joined him. He handed her the map and she examined it as they walked.
"Explode his head?" She asked chuckling as they paced slowly towards the door.
He shrugged. "I was improvising…It just felt right, and besides it worked didn't it?"
She nodded agreeably as they made their way out into the daylight of Hightown. Where to their surprise they found Merrill, looking quite distraught as she spoke in a hushed voice with Aveline.
Sobering at the worried look on their new friend's face, they marched over to her as Hermione carefully folded their new map and stowed it in her bag. "Captain Aveline, is something wrong?" Harry asked as he approached.
She looked up and nodded to them as Merrill turned away looking uncertain. "In a word, yes. You likely had no way of knowing it, but you are not the only…unusual visitors Kirkwall has had of late, though these others are not so foreign as yourselves." She explained tiredly. "They are known as the Seekers of Truth, and are in essence the chantry's method of watching over the Templars and Mages. I do not know if you have heard any details, but they have reason to be very upset right now. In large part due to…unsettled events in Kirkwall recently."
Harry was nodding. "Merrill was mentioning the Qunari attempted to seize Kirkwall a couple years ago?"
She nodded, though pursed her lips as she did so. "Yes, and if only that were the entirety of our troubles. Not a year later, tensions between the local circle of magi and the Templars. Neither side was entirely blameless, no matter what some would tell you. In the end it erupted into full conflict between the two factions right here in the city." She shook her head. "That would have been bad enough if not for—"
"If not for Anders." Merrill mumbled sadly.
"Anders?" Hermione asked.
Aveline looked uncomfortable. "A—former associate, and a very troubled individual. An apostate mage, though that was not what set him apart, he was partially possessed by a spirit. Over time he and it twisted each other's personalities beyond recognition as I understand it. At some point following the Qunari uprising, when tensions were at their highest between the Templars and Mages he got it into his damned fool head to destroy the chantry here in Kirkwall blowing apart a large portion of eastern Hightown. You may have noticed the gates on the far side of the district are sealed, that is because there is nothing but ruins beyond."
She paused considering, while Harry and Hermione shook their heads at the tragedy. "Ander's confessed what he had done to his friends and was executed for his crimes, but…it was too late to stop the Templars from attempting to annul the Circle. The fighting here ended when a friend of myself and Merrill, Marian Hawke fought and killed the leaders of both factions forcing an armistice. The rebel mages fled and the Templars have remained to pick up the pieces."
"Unfortunately it hasn't ended there." Aveline grumbled. "The rebellion among the mages has spread, and distrust for them is at a height I've never seen. The Templars here are…only under control because Knight Captain Cullen has been so conscientious. Other Templars have not been so controlled. Things are rapidly deteriorating between the Mages of Thedas and everyone else. So the Seekers came to investigate what really happened."
Harry nodded, understanding so far. "Unfortunately, in order to enact their plan to start curtailing the violence, they have needed to…borrow a couple key people from Kirkwall for their mission." Adeline continued, looking worriedly to Merrill.
"They have conscripted Knight Captain Cullen and promoted him to the rank of Knight Commander, though it was notable they didn't say Knight Commander of what exactly. Last I saw him he was no longer wearing Templar plate. They are also leaving with a friend of ours Varric Tethras. A Dwarf. Now that might not seem like much, but it has a deeper effect than you know."
"House Tethras, what there is of it, has been spending a judicious amount of coin to influence people to stay calm here in Kirkwall, and as much as I might sometimes wish it otherwise many people listen to and respect Varric. With him leaving, and Cullen being replaced by another Templar, the entire political landscape has shifted."
"And another friend of mine will have left…" Mumbled Merrill, Aveline frowned wanly at her before patting her comfortingly on the shoulder.
"The new Knight Captain of Kirkwall is a Templar by the name of Agatha. Not a bad sort, but she's not Cullen either. She doesn't want her men murdering Mages in the streets should they be found, but she also doesn't believe it safe to have mages within Kirkwall at this time. It is her…considered opinion that an official edict be given banning all mages from the city. Now, she may be possible to talk around should I call in several favours, but until I do Merrill will be forced to leave the city."
Harry sighed and Hermione looked saddened. It was a complex and dangerous situation. And Harry at least could see both sides of it, though he suspected Hermione did too. The city was, beneath the deceptively calm surface a powder keg of high emotion and factional tension. Knight Captain Agatha likely truly believed the best solution was to separate the quarrelling parties by forcing the Mages to stay away. Unfortunately that didn't help Merrill.
He eyed the Captain carefully. "My guess is that while Merrill is your friend you're hesitant to burn what political capitol you have allowing her to stay. Am I right?"
She sighed and nodded. "As much as it pains me to say it, yes. The situation in Kirkwall is tenuous, and despite the good work I've done here my own placement as Guard Captain is equally so. In order to maintain law and order within the city I need every favour I can get my hands on to keep it together. If needs be I will use those favours to allow Merrill to stay though should she wish it."
Harry winced, by asking that question aloud he'd put a heavy burden on Merrill, and she clearly realized it considering how she'd sagged. He looked to Hermione hoping for guidance and wasn't disappointed, she glanced at Merrill pointedly then looked to him brushing his mind briefly and flashing him the message she wished to convey.
His eyes widened, then he smiled as he saw the elegance of that solution. It was strange they were going to suggest this, being so newly acquainted with Merrill but it was a good plan, and she had seemed trustworthy enough. "Perhaps we can help?" He suggested, and Aveline looked to him skeptically.
"I'm sorry, but I don't see how, unless you have managed to somehow curry the favour of several major groups within the city in the little time you've been here…"
He shook his head. "Sorry, no. But that wasn't what I meant. I meant we might be able to help Merrill out."
She and Merrill looked to them curiously, and he explained. "You see thanks to our discussion with Merrill and our investigation into the mirror, we now believe that unless we get absurdly lucky and manage to stumble upon the exact method to open the thing by accident, that we'll need to leave the city ourselves and go searching for either an open Eluvian elsewhere, or records detailing how to open one which is closed." He explained patiently.
"As skilled as me and Hermione are in our own world, we know next to nothing in this world and have next to no allies. It would benefit us to have a guide who is familiar not only with Thedas as a place, but with the traditions of its people, particularly the elves. Merrill would fit that bill nicely. If our formal request for her assistance helps her out too, all the better as she's been nothing but good to us since we met."
Merrill blinked owlishly at them, something which came very naturally considering the girl's default wide eyes, and Aveline nodded slowly, "That could work, though it would be up to Merrill. Who I would warn to be cautious if she accepts. You seem decent sorts, but you are still relative strangers."
Merrill nodded understanding, before looking back to Harry and Hermione thoughtfully. Though she looked doubtful as well. "You would really want me to come along?"
Harry blinked, that was…not the question he had been expecting. He wondered how often in her life people had told her to go away or abandoned her? With a lurch he realized that from what he'd heard, the first friends she'd had in years, led by this "Hawke" whomever she was, had been largely forced out of the city already, willingly or unwillingly leaving her behind.
Harry nodded seriously, and Hermione spoke confirming it. "Of course Merrill, we'd love to," She smiled a touch teasingly, "We wouldn't have offered if we thought you were awful."
Merrill smiled briefly before pausing, and pacing to the railing nearby, allowing her to look out over Kirkwall. She stood stalk still, clearly considering for a time, and Harry and Hermione shared a look with Aveline who merely shrugged.
Finally Merrill seemed to come to a decision and nodded, "Yes, I'd like to come with you, if you don't mind that is…" She sighed. "My people don't need me here anymore, and everyone else except Aveline have already left. You however—You want me to come along?"
She sounded almost uncertain before shaking her head as if that notion confused her. "I'd be happy to help you if I can, and besides. Delving into old elven ruins pretty much ensures I'll learn something about my people…I've missed the south. Perhaps this really is for the best."
Harry nodded slowly, not wanting to interrupt while she was working through her thoughts on the matter. Finally speaking when she seemed to have stopped. "Well, if that's decided then, we can start to make arrangements so we can head out. Maybe we can stop and grab some lunch before heading to the docks to look for a ride?"
Merrill nodded, seeming more sure as time passed. "Okay, I hope we can get a big ship this time. The last time I was on a boat we were all packed in on a tiny ship with no room…I was so sick….They told me that larger ships were nicer."
Hermione nodded as she stepped up beside her indicating they should start walking, Merrill did pause and waved goodbye to Aveline after indicating they'd try to come see her one last time before they left so she could say a proper goodbye. Before long they were off in search of food.
Taarbas, that was his name, that was his purpose. As a member of the Qun his birth name had little meaning, especially among Bas (Outsiders or Infidels), being a long and rather unwieldy set of characteristics and traits as opposed to a name as they would understand it. All had a place in the Qun. But if you became one with the Qun, that is all you were. Another cog in the machine, another muscle in the body. You had purpose, you had place, and to some that was enough. But not for all.
Taarbas was reasonably satisfied with his lot in life, though if you were to actually ask him if that was the case, he wouldn't see the relevance. His role was a simple one, he was what Bas would refer to as a Quartermaster. One who kept track of inventory, handled the care of weapons and armour, and above all, saw to the dispensation and handling of the weapons of the fallen. As was his role here in Kirkwall.
When people thought the word Qunari, they immediately thought big, grey, horned and grumpy. Strictly speaking this was wrong. Any being, of any race, should they submit to the Qun, were Qunari by the definitions of that people. If one were getting technical the species which were the originators of the Qun philosophy and made up the vast bulk of that race, were called Kossith.
What many did not know about Taarbas, was that despite his obvious task, and very existence which followed that name, he had an additional purpose in Kirkwall. A simple one actually. To listen…and then to record, and pass what he had heard along.
Strictly speak this was not spying, he was not ordered to sneak into keeps or interrogate informants, or even kill anyone not in self defence. But he didn't need to do any of those things to pick up a wealth of knowledge.
Taarbas had taken to loitering in the hanged man. Something which would have confused the patrons had they ever payed even a modicum of the right kind of attention. He ate, but he did not drink. He payed, he sat, he listened, and occasionally he'd offer to pay someone to bring him any Qunari weapons they should find. He was nearing the end of his primary task, by the count he kept meticulously all but a handful of his people's weapons had been found and duly turned over for coin. In addition the time allotted for his mission was nearing its end. He, and the pair of very humourless Karasaad warriors who guarded him and the coin allocated for his mission, would be leaving back for more friendly shores soon.
It was very strange to the Qunari, though not unwelcome that these barbarian southerner would allow them to return to their city so soon after they had attempted to seize it by force. But they would not complain, at least this once.
Not that this task was easy by any measure. Many who "owned" captured Qunari weapons refused or were reluctant to part with their prizes. In addition, though those who ran this city allowed them to enter Kirkwall for this task were agreeable. There were a portion of the locals who were not.
Even here in the Hanged Man, a place of relatively relaxed atmosphere, Taarbas and the two Karasaad had taken to wearing some of their armour and carrying their weapons openly to dissuade even more inebriated Bas from troubling them.
Yes, soon his missions would end, but today he'd actually gain a little something to add to his report back to the new Arishok via the Ben-Hassrath. The moment the small elven Saarebas ('Dangerous Thing' or more commonly: Mage) entered the tavern he knew he would have something to report, all sighting of companions, former or current of the one known as Hawke were to be reported. As were their doings. However it was the two who entered with her that gave him pause.
Strangely dressed, human, young and healthy, something about them screamed Saarebas, at least to him. Weaponless, dressed in unusual garments and possessing a confidence disproportionate to their unarmed state.
He listened carefully to what was being said as they passed and grabbed a table. "Yes Merrill larger boats are far more steady than small ones, I'm sure if we can find one in the Harbour, we can probably afford a birth aboard one. If not I'm sure I've got a few potions which will see you through the trip…which reminds me, are their many apothecaries, you know people who sell herbs, and potion reagents?" The female human asked.
The little elven Saarebas nodded, "Oh yes, in fact there's a very good one in the Gallows, it used to service both the Mages and Templars…now it's just the Templars of course, but they still pay well I'm sure."
The male hummed, "Soldiers and magicals…I can see how that would work for them." he paused, and dusted his hands off as he sat. "So, you said this place had good meals? What should we order?"
"Well mostly I have the soups when I'm here, though they do have good meat and potatoes. I try not to ask what the meat of the day is though…Soups it is then? I was always partial to the Antivan chicken soup. It's a little spicy…"
Taarbas nodded mentally to himself, yes you could call the Antivan chicken soup spicy he supposed. Though it hardly rated compared to what was made in Rivaine or Seheron. More interesting however was this talk of resupply for potions making and their discussion of taking ship.
"So Merrill, if we have a choice in the matter where would you prefer us to head first, by ship I mean? Are their any ports you'd rather start from?"
"Not Gwaren," She said firmly, and Taarbas couldn't blame the little Bas. Gwaren was a cold water port in the south of Ferelden, it was one of the more distant ports from Kirkwall and was one of the closest to the lands cursed by the Fifth blight.
"I think we should try for either Denerim, Jader or Val Royeaux."
"What can you tell us about those places?" The male asked curiously, before stopping as the three made an order to the waitress who had wandered up.
The Elf answered once the waitress left. "Denerim is the Capital of Ferelden, and it's largest port. It was badly damaged by all accounts during the blight. However it has begun to heal if the rumours are true. Ferelden is a somewhat…rustic country, though no less powerful for it. They are famous for their fearless warriors, somewhat er—uncouth manner as Sebastian would say, and Mabari warhounds. Many say the entire place smells like wet dog, but that's an exaggeration…thankfully."
"Jader is an Orlesian port city almost exactly on their border with Ferelden just beyond the Frostback mountains. It is perhaps the shortest distance from Kirkwall of the places we wish to go. Not as large as Kirkwall I'm told, though a lot nicer, as a lot of places in Orlais are said to be."
"Val Royeaux is the Orlesian Capital, and is the largest city in that country, it is home to the Orlesian royalty of course, but also to the Chantry leadership. The Divine's palace is there, as is the largest Circle tower in Orlais. It also houses a large garrison of Templars." She paused. "Anyone I've talked to says that anyone of import in Orlais have a home there. If you are hoping to meet powerful people it would be there…"
The male made a rude noise before grunting slightly and murmuring an apology to the female human. "Sorry, it's just I've had more of politicians than I can stomach thank you. Hopefully we won't need to rub elbows with them too often."
There were general sounds of agreement and then a pause as the food arrived. They ate and drank a little, though it was notably only water. The talk turned to generalities and Taarbas went over what he knew. Merrill, an elven Saarebas known to be friends with Hawke was leaving Kirkwall in the company of two suspected human Saarebas, these Saarebas seemed largely ignorant of local custom, food and even the generalities of a large nation such as Orlais. Curious. He would make note of it.
Taarbas was many things, observant even being one of them, but he failed to note the glance the male human threw him as the three exited some time later after paying.
Elven Alienage
Kirkwall, Free Marches
Thedas
"So," Harry drawled, easily as he watched Juno and Crookshanks caper around the main square of the Alienage under Hermione's watchful eyes. "That was a Qunari was it?"
Merrill looked justifiably confused as she she looked up from a bag she was packing with some of her meagre belongings. Currently she was carefully wrapping a small carved Halla statuette Hawke had given her in one of her blankets. "Where? There's one in the alienage?"
He chuckled, "No, sorry, I was referring to the big guy we saw at the Hanged man." Harry explained. He understood her confusion, that had been hours ago. They had since then been down to the docks to book passage on a ship and returned to Merrill's home.
The ship they had booked was a large Orlesian armed merchant headed for Jader. The captain had tried to hassle Merrill, but Harry had made it clear that was unacceptable to him, and that he could easily take his business to a Rivaini liner across the harbour.
The Captain had brightened somewhat when they'd merely booked their space in the hold and not one of the births, meaning he could easily sell another slot or two for some additional gold. They had pitched tent in the alienage so as to avoid irritating the new Templar Captain. So Captain Aveline's little joke at the Seneschal's expense was short lived.
"Oh yes," Merrill remembered thinking back. "Yes, that was a Qunari."
"Friendly looking fellow," Harry noted dryly. "Not as sneaky as he thinks though, I could tell he was listening in on us. Any ideas why?" He asked.
Merrill, blinked at him for a moment before settling in thoughtfully. Nodding a minute later, "It's because of me, o-or rather I think it's because of Hawke. Oh no that didn't sound right…" She groaned.
Harry raised a hand to stop her, "Don't worry I understand. You're not blaming your friend." He assured the little elf. Then chewed his cheek lightly before speaking again. "That's a name I've been hearing a lot since coming here. Hawke. Who was she?"
Merrill started to speak, an almost eager look on her face, then stopped, and looked thoughtful. "It's easy to find people who will tell you the…heroic version of Hawke. The version Varric tells in those wonderful books of his. Oh—" She sighed. "But it is not so simple as that, and I do not know that I could tell you what you should know. Not easily."
Harry nodded soberly, a surprising look of sympathy on his face. "I think I get what you're saying Merrill. I have been at the centre of my own adventures once upon a time. Nobody except for a few ever really knew it all…And only a few more have heard the abridged version of the truth." He admitted. He looked thoughtful for a moment before noting her expression of interest. "A tale for another time I think. How about you give me the basics of who Hawke is to you?"
Merrill nodded, silently accepting his unspoken promise to speak in more detail about himself. "Hawke…was my friend, the first true friend I ever had. I had companions and people I was friendly with or depended upon back in the clan, but Hawke was my first…friend. Does that make sense?"
Harry nodded firmly. "Only too well." He nodded vaguely towards the door, more clearly indicating Hermione's presence beyond it. And not for the first time Merrill wondered just what these two strange humans were to each other.
But she pressed on, "But she was more than that, some would tell you she was a rogue, a scoundrel, and she could be, but never with those who mattered to her, never to those who would suffer needlessly for her behaviour."
She paused considering what else might give a good first impression of her friend. "Loyal, and deadly with blades or a bow. Scary when she wanted to be, heard Isabella who's a master duelist describe her as a whirlwind of razor blades. Though Varric only said that she regularly made him want to go clean out his shorts after a fight." She giggled a bit at that irreverence from her Dwarven friend.
"She was champion to Kirkwall, doing her best to keep her new home together…She was a refugee you see, when she first arrived. And she wanted to ensure she didn't lose her new home."
"Where did she come from originally?" Harry asked gently.
Here Merrill smiled, and laughed, light hearted and tinkling. "Ferelden, same as me, though you wouldn't know it from our accents. Originally from a town known as Lothering, near the edge of the Kocari wilds…They had to leave during the blight, and they nearly didn't make it…"
Harry nodded, then raised a hand again to stop her. "That's another word I've heard a lot since being here, I've always heard "blight" used in the terms of a sickness that affects herds or crops. I take it from the context this is not the case?"
"No," Merrill said shortly, suddenly serious. "The blight, it's something far, far worse than a disease. Though it does include a sickness as a part of its horror."
She sighed pausing to consider how best to explain. "To understand the blights, you have to understand where they came from. Until recently, well—relatively recently, I believed there was no explanation for it, but that if their was one it was the human's fault." She smiled sheepishly, "Dalish remember, we didn't get along well with humans generally."
"But, Hawke and I and some other friends…we found out the hard way that the Chantry's version of events was more similar to the truth than we thought…" She paused considering halting her packing for a moment. "You know of the empire to the north, known as Tevinter?"
He nodded shortly and she continued. "In the past they were not Andrastian like the chantry, though they maintain their own version of that faith themselves. They believed in the Old Gods…massive entities which took the form of Dragons."
Harry winced. "Ouch, dragon worship." She didn't know it but he was imagining someone crazy enough to try and worship a Hungarian Horntail. And getting barbecued for their trouble.
She nodded though continued despite the interruption. "They believed that their gods, or god depending on if your hearing the Chantry approved version or not, lived in a Golden City concealed in the Fade." She waited to be sure he was following. "We don't know how or why, but there was a…group, of Magisters from Tevinter, particularly powerful ones, who got it into their head to enter the Fade and enter this Golden City to personally serve their Gods in exchange for gifts…"
He snorted, "That never works out well, one of the major religions back home have a similar though not identical story."
She could believe it, some people were just too stupid to be believed. Some truths were universal. "They managed to penetrate the Fade and make their way there, but…something went wrong. The city was corrupted by their existence, their…Hubris, Varric called it. The city fell and they were cast back to Thedas. But they were changed."
She frowned thinking of Corypheus. "They were corrupted, twisted by dark magic which had altered their forms. But it was not merely that, if that were the entirety of it they would have eventually been slain and forgotten. They…were more powerful, yes, but they also spread their corruption to others, turning them into what are know as Darkspawn. Now, Darkspawn, are dangerous creatures, consuming any of their blood even by accident in the heat of battle proves fatal to all except the Grey Wardens."
She paused considering whether or not to dive into that mess just yet and decided against it. "However it is worse than even that, the Darkspawn, and these fallen Magisters, they are drawn towards their Old Gods, as they failed to find them in the Fade, they began to dig and search for the sleeping place of these beings."
Merrill sighed. "And they found one, and spread their corruption to him. "Dumat was the first I believe though I am not certain. With the corrupted power of a true deity the corruption became more powerful, and the Darkspawn more coordinated. They struck for the surface, but first they invaded the great Dwarven kingdom and almost utterly destroyed it. In that first invasion, that first blight, when the Darkspawn became organized behind an Old God, they destroyed almost the entirety of the Dwarven people. Now, there exist only a handful of Dwarves settlements, and even when there are no blights they are besieged."
Harry nodded his understanding. He wondered at the parallel to the Dwarves back home or in any fiction he'd ever heard including them. On earth they were not so endangered as here from the sounds of things, but they were nevertheless a slowly dwindling species.
"They reached the surface of course, but were eventually beaten, which is a discussion for another time I think, or we'll be here all night." She chuckled ruefully, noting the fading light outside. It was early winter in this area of Thedas, the sunlight faded quickly.
"But to answer your question I'll say this. Each time the Darkspawn, led by these fallen Magisters find an Old God they corrupt it and attack the surface. The attacks that claimed Hawke's first home, were the beginning of the Fifth Blight."
Harry hummed as he considered that. Something about that story was kicking at the back of his mind and it took him a moment to figure out what it was. "You say you and Hawke found evidence that the Chantry's version might have been more true than you realized?"
She nodded. Then paused considering what to tell him. "Hawke was attacked by a group of Dwarves, supposedly a Dwarven Carta. But it wasn't like them to behave so foolishly. They like gold, Varric says killing people is bad for business. But they attacked Hawke anyways. We learned later that these people were not in their right minds."
She continued packing away some of her belongings into various boxes and bags she had. It was a depressingly small amount. Harry suspected he had owned more while living at the Dursleys. "They had been driven by someone to attack Hawke to draw her to an old ruin connected to the deep roads. It was a prison, designed by the Grey Wardens, who are very fond of fighting darkspawn." She exclaimed earnestly.
"We learned as we entered the prison trying to find the source of the attacks that Hawke's father, an apostate mage had been contacted by the wardens to reinforce the protections on the prison. It was all a trap, designed to bring someone with Hawke blood to break the defences. A magister, one of those corrupted by entering the city had been imprisoned there and had reached out to the Dwarves minds to help him escape."
She looked down embarrassed. "It wasn't our intention, but in our bumbling we released this magister, a being who called himself Corypheus. We fought him, and some Grey Wardens he drew in as well in an attempt to escape. We destroyed him, but learned that he really had tried to enter the city in the Fade. He was clearly blighted, there was no denying what had happened…Still, it was terrifying. I should not like to meet another like him ever if I can avoid it."
Harry nodded easily. "I can understand that." Then paused as he considered the space around them. "Well…Thank you for explaining that Merrill, you should tell 'Mione that some time. She's a lot smarter than I and is always excited to learn something new. However, I see we've basically packed everything except the mirror and your bedroom. Do you want any help with getting that into the tent?"
She nodded happily. "Yes please," Merrill was excited by the notion that she'd get to live with them inside their wondrous tent. It was quite unlike anything she'd seen before. She couldn't wait.
It took a few minutes of finicky work with a levitation charm and some expansion work on her doorway to safely get the repaired Eluvian out her doorway. They met up with Hermione who had been curious what was taking so long, before returning, they with their pets to the tent.
Merrill spent several hour discussing what she'd spoken of to Harry with Hermione. Harry had been right, Hermione was a different sort of student, and asked many more questions. Merrill enjoyed herself a great deal recounting her stories to them in more detail while Harry prepared supper.
Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed that! As stated in the author's notes last chapter. If you want to see any potential replies to reviews, check the site as email notifications for PMs is not working at present on FF.
