Summary: Blackwall's trial day has dawned, and it's something no one's taking any pleasure from. Not least Warden Alistair, who's overseeing the actual fighting and not liking Inquisitorial responsibility on his shoulders... and having to be in close proximity to his maleficar stepdaughter who has a debt to pay.
A/N: Taking a break from the Tranquil Liberation Front arc to wind up the Blackwall one. Hopefully this will wrap it up nicely. I put Alistair in charge. He's really not happy about it.
Also Nords really should just not go to hot places. They're completely unsuited to it. Thank Auriel Altmer are heat adapted and also know how to prepare for hot weather because Maia insisted on going and has Liriel to thank for staving off heat stroke.
The heat and dust was oppressive to any of Kyne's children. Nords, as a rule, were not made for warm climates. Elisif was sweating under the heat, sun salve on her visible areas of skin still a smell she couldn't get used to… and Maia was being particularly fretful. No, she didn't want sun salve on her skin, no, she didn't want to wear a hat, it was too hot, Mama, I don't like it!
"Are you sure you don't want to go back to Skyhold," Elisif said wearily. Maia apparently liked that idea even less than the oppressive heat.
Wordlessly, Liriel reined in her own dracolisk next to Elisif's, reached into a bag with frost runes on it and offered Maia a chunk of frozen berry juice on a wooden stick.
Maia seized on it in delight, and Elisif could only whisper 'thank you' to Liriel.
"Alinorian specialty," Liriel said cheerfully. "Perfect for a day on the beach. I know you two aren't used to the heat, either of you. Here."
One spell later, and a summoned parasol appeared above Elisif. Maia looked up immediately, perking up and becoming rather less fretful now the temperature had dropped a bit.
"Thank you, Liriel!" Maia cried, seeming happier. At least, she was until they reached the edge of the former sulphur pits.
They still stank of sulphur and Stendarr knew what else. Fumes were still rising from the pools of… whatever mineral sludge that was.
Maia shrank closer in to Elisif, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"No, I don't like it either, darling," Elisif sighed. "Trust me, it was worse before the engineers got to it. You could barely even breathe!"
"It's horrible, Mama!" Maia protested. Elisif held her out to Liriel while she dismounted, before reclaiming her child back off the long-suffering Altmer.
"Yes it is," Elisif said, taking her hand and turning to look for the others. "Now where is everyone else. I would have thought your father would be right behind us."
"There he is!" Maia called, pointing to the green dracolisk cantering up behind them. Alistair was on its back, looking like he was about to fall off.
"Stop! Stop! Oh gods, how do you get this thing to stop… aaahhh!"
In true Alistair fashion, Alistair gave up on trying to control the dracolisk, flung himself off the back, rolled over a few times then lay in the sand moaning.
"Auriel's sake," Liriel sighed, before running after the dracolisk, hitting it with a few calming spells to get it to stop and come join them again. Leaving Elisif to go and tend to her husband.
"Daddy!" Maia cried, looking alarmed – but mercifully Alistair was fine. Covered in sand but fine.
"Ow," was all he said as Elisif helped him up.
"I thought you could ride!" Elisif cried.
"I can! I can do horses just fine! Just not these… things."
"They're dracolisks, Daddy," Maia pointed out. "And they're nice! You just have to be polite to them."
Somehow, the dracolisks all seemed to like Maia. Something to do with her curtseying on first meeting and saying 'Good morning, Ser Dracolisk!' to them all. Elisif's had proved to be a lot less temperamental after that. Sadly, Alistair's had not.
"Perhaps I'll try doing what you did then," Alistair joked brushing himself down. "Bowing to it and saying 'Hello, Mr. Dracolisk!'"
"Best not to, I think yours is a female," Elisif told him. "Look, Liriel tracked her down for you."
Liriel was walking alongside the animal, not even holding the reins, busily engaged in a one sided conversation about how ill-mannered humans were. Surprisingly, the dracolisk was making approving signs.
"To think, you nearly ended up king of somewhere," Liriel said, eyeing Alistair. "Forgive me for saying this, but probably for the best you're not."
"Oh, probably, Divines know I'd have been terrible at it," Alistair said, not even disputing that one. "Still, I'd have given them a laugh, right Maia?"
Maia giggled then turned her attention back to her melting ice treat. Which was good, because the rest of the party was arriving. Loghain and Dorian on their mounts. Fiona and Eola on theirs. And behind them, two Orlesian nobles and their escorts, along with the caged wagon with the prisoner in the back.
Thom Rainier, armoured up but not armed, prepared for the trial. And, sent by the Emperor to ensure fair play, two Orlesian nobles. One male, one female, and while their clothes were the less ornate travel versions, they must be dying of heat in those outfits, not to mention the masks.
"Lord Michel Callier. And Duchess Sheryse de Montfort. We're pleased to see you both. My apologies that this is even necessary. The journey must have been long and exhausting for you both."
"No journey is too long to see my brother's murderer finally get justice," Lady Sheryse said fervently. "We will endure any discomfort to see it."
"Indeed," Lord Michel sniffed. "I had a vocation in the Chantry. I had given up everything to serve the Maker. I was more than willing to leave the Game behind me. And what happens? My brother, dead. His entire line, wiped out! And I, the last remaining son, forced to return to worldly life to ensure the Callier name does not die out. It is a disgrace. This man should hang. But… Sheryse and I discussed much on the way out here. We have heard the tale of how he joined the Inquisition in the first place, saving the life of the young Stormbreaker."
Both of them turned masked eyes to Maia, who noticed the attention and drew immediately closer to her mother, still a bit unnerved by the masks.
"Is that her?" Sheryse gasped, bending down to get a better look. "La petite Maia? Mademoiselle, it is an honour. All Orlais has heard of your skill and bravery in banishing the storm that nearly killed the Inquisition."
"Thank you," Maia whispered, not sure what else to say, but Elisif patted her head and smiled.
"She's a bit shy around new people," Elisif explained. "She wasn't actually supposed to be here, but she insisted. I was away from Skyhold for weeks, she didn't want me to leave her behind."
Something in Michel's posture softened as he too regarded Maia with interest.
"So much power and yet she is still very much a child like any other," Michel said, reverence in his voice. "Well, having seen her for ourselves, we are glad she is still with us. Distressing as our brother's death was, perhaps it was the only way for the Maker to ensure Rainier was in the right place and time to save this one."
"Nothing would give us more pleasure than to have Vincent and Loretta and the little ones still here," Sheryse said solemnly, getting to her feet. "But they are in the Maker's care now and at peace. The Chant teaches us to trust in the Maker, but for years we struggled believing how his plan could allow this tragedy to happen. But… hearing now of the Inquisition… it is helping. We grieve and always will, but at least we are both finding meaning. Thank you, Your Worship."
"It's no trouble," Elisif said quietly. "Does that mean you'll abide by the trial results?"
Both of them nodded.
"Yes," Sheryse promised. "We believe the Maker had a plan even for such as Rainier, but that does not mean we should not hold him to account. So we will insist on justice for our dead… but the Maker shall decide his final fate. If he dies, it is no more than he deserves. And if he lives… then maybe the Maker has a purpose for him yet."
Maybe. Elisif watched as they hauled Blackwall out of the prison cart before bringing him to the bridge over the sulphur pit and unshackling his wrists. Alistair was carrying Blackwall's sword and shield. No one was giving him weapons until it was time.
"Well, we know why we're here. Rainier, you understand the terms? You'll travel with Wardens Loghain and Alistair, with Grand Enchanter Fiona and Eola as mage backup. Your job is to dispose of the darkspawn in Coracavus prison, find the Deep Roads entrance and provide support to Fiona and Eola while they seal it. Should you survive, it's been agreed by myself, Marquise Briala and the Emperor himself, and now ratified by the kin of the family you killed, that you will be deemed to have served your sentence. Fall in battle and… I can give you a memorial at least."
"Don't bother with the memorial, I'm not worth it," Blackwall said gruffly. "The rest, I agree to."
Maia cried out, not liking that at all, and while she didn't notice both Michel and Sheryse taking note of how piteously she was staring at Blackwall, Elisif did.
"Kill monsters and come back, Blackwall! You have to!" Maia cried.
"Yes. I do," Blackwall said firmly, bowing to Maia. "Little 'un. Be good for your mum, and take care. I'll keep your dad safe, promise. Lady Herald. It's been an honour."
Elisif placed a hand on Maia's shoulder to stop her running off, smiling as Alistair took his turn in saying goodbye to Maia first and promising to tell her the story afterwards, and then bowing and kissing Elisif's hand.
"Not sure I'm allowed to kiss you in front of all these Orlesians," Alistair admitted. "But I promise I'll sort this one out for you, Thuri. I love you, you know."
"I love you too," Elisif whispered, watching him go with the same pang in her heart she always had knowing he was going into battle without her. She hoped Blackwall was worth all this, she really did. Now all they had to do was wait.
They made it over the bridge and up the cliffside path without incident, Alistair stopping to have a look through the ocularum at the top. Creepy knowing how they made these things, but had to be done.
Then they ventured into the canyon, and both Alistair and Loghain looked up immediately, sharing a knowing look.
"Three of them round the corner. I think one's an alpha," Loghain said grimly.
"Means the other two will be archers, most like. Emissaries feel different," Alistair said, lowering his voice. "All right, Rainier, here's your weapons. You take point and take the alpha. Loghain and I will take an archer each. Mum and Eola will back you up and provide mage support. Hope you can take the thing down before the barrier wears off."
"And if I can't?" Blackwall said, taking his sword and shield off Alistair and looking in vain for some sign of the friendship that had once been there.
"If we can take down ours, we'll come back and help," was all Alistair was prepared to say. "But this is a trial by combat. Means you do need to do some fighting, right?"
"Understood. But… if I do get the Blight… will you at least do me the favour of ending it quickly? Don't drag it out."
Alistair nodded, willing to grant that at least. And so the battle began.
Three different groups of darkspawn before the main prison, each progressively tougher, and while the sunlight hindered the darkspawn, the heat wore on the party as well. Still, it was done, and once Eola and Fiona had managed to solve the astrarium puzzle, it was down the shaky wooden platform lift into the relative cool of the prison.
"Well, they've been here, I can smell them," Eola said, wrinkling her nose. "Glory to Namira?"
She said that last in Tamrielic. Blackwall caught the name, remembering it as the name of a Tamrielic god… but not one of the Eight that Liriel had listed and whose names were getting round Skyhold by this point, largely due to having been in the glossary at the end of Rise of the Dragonborn.
Eola decided she didn't care one way or the other. Blackwall would either die, or live. And if he lived, who would listen to a convicted murderer?
No darkspawn initially, and while Loghain sensed a few a long way down the main corridor, Alistair indicated down the stairs.
"There's some down there and it might be the cells. If you brought prisoners in by the lift, you wouldn't want to take them far. Deep Roads entrance might be down that way too."
Eola laid a rune behind them, hoping the explosion would warn them if more spawn arrived.
"Let's go then."
The cells it turned out to be, and while there were darkspawn present, there was no Deep Roads entrance. Just some treasure, a veilfire rune… and a note from one of the Venatori regarding the giants they'd brought from the Emerald Graves.
"Giants?" Eola cried, screwing the note into a ball and lobbing it at the far end of the cell room which had collapsed in a rockfall and was also unaccountably on fire. "Like those fuckers in the wood of dead elves? You have got to be kidding me. Those things are like twenty feet tall and solid muscle."
"And they've got them here," Loghain said, grimacing as he remembered the fight in the Emerald Graves involving three of them plus half the local wildlife getting in on the action. "At least there's no brontos here to get caught in the crossfire."
"No, just varghests," Fiona said wearily. "Well, we will try not to antagonise them. Maybe they will see the giants and run."
"We can't possibly be that lucky," Blackwall said, already resigned to the worst. "Come on. More darkspawn in the corridor, you said?"
They returned to the stairs, having cleared out the cells, and Alistair hung back to talk to Eola.
"Eola. You know you can summon weird and creepy things like darkspawn and undead things and tentacled monsters and those atranurks."
"Atronachs," Eola said, wondering where this was going. "What about it?"
"Well, you know how normally all that's a crime against the Maker and the Eight and frankly just wrong."
"Please keep talking, Alistair, you're really endearing yourself to me here."
"I'm not-! Look, I'm just saying, if there's giants here, could you… I mean, what I'm trying to say here is, whatever you need to summon to get rid of them, as long as you can control it and don't break the Veil and it goes back where it came from afterwards… I think I'm OK with it? I mean, don't hold back worrying what I'd think or anything."
Eola actually laughed.
"You honestly think I'd do that? Alistair, you're adorable. Don't worry. I'll do what I must. You just keep it distracted long enough for me to cast."
"Right, right, I just… you know what? Keep being you. I think you might just be the most horrifying thing in here."
"I like to think so," Eola purred. He was of course right. Eola didn't mind. She had a reputation to think of after all.
More darkspawn in the corridor, and one lone ghoul that might have been a Venatori soldier once. Eola noticed Blackwall visibly shuddering at the sight, but that didn't stop him decapitating it. And then, at the far end, guarded by another group, was the Deep Roads entrance.
With the enemies cleared, it was no great task for Fiona and Eola to jointly raise up a nearby grate and seal the thing.
"Job done, you think?" Eola asked, rather proud of her handiwork.
"Not yet, we should do a sweep of the prison in case there's any more," Blackwall warned. "And you saw the notes. The Venatori were here and they fled further in. We should hunt them down too."
"Even the giants?" Loghain asked in faint disbelief. "Look, the trial was darkspawn, no one would fault us if we cleared the ruins but left the giants for the main Inquisition forces."
"No," said Blackwall, hefting his sword. "I'm seeing this through. You are with me or you're not."
All eyes turned to Alistair, instinctively seeing what the ranking Inquisition member thought. Alistair wished they wouldn't. If anything, Eola was the ranking Inquisition commander. Then he recalled what putting the Blight Witch in charge could mean and decided it probably had to be him. Didn't really bear thinking about otherwise.
"We'll press on and deal with the darkspawn, there's definitely a few more that way," Alistair said, pointing onwards. "As for the Venatori… we'll track them down if we can, but they're not part of the mission. If it's too dangerous, we retreat and get reinforcements. Once we've cleared the prison, Eola can send up the signal, or Mum can."
Trial by combat it might be, but Elisif wasn't prepared to risk her husband, nor Madanach his daughter. They'd arranged a distress signal that would summon aid if need be. All of them hoped they wouldn't need it.
Further on, more darkspawn to fight, and then the prison opened out into a lavish atrium – the roof was full of holes and it was covered with sand, but everyone could see it had been the luxurious command centre for the prison once. Once the darkspawn had been dealt with, Eola took the chance to have a look round… including deep-freezing the lock on the locked prison governor's office and getting Loghain to kick the door in.
"Oh now, this is just what I was after," Eola whispered, merrily looting the place. "Don't you think this would make the perfect Blight research centre? I mean, look at it! Cells to keep captive specimens in, or conduct dissections. There's a Deep Roads entrance to go track more down. A workbench over here, a nice little office for me, it's in the middle of nowhere so no whining about abominations all the time. Keep not far away to keep us supplied, you've got those massive gates on the canyon beyond to contain any incidents. When we are done, I am asking Elisif if I can have this place."
"If it gets the Blight labs out of Skyhold, I am all for it," Fiona said crisply. "I can't imagine I'm the only one."
"See, that's what I love about Orlesians, even when you're throwing shade, you're always so polite. I adore it," Eola purred. "Shall we move on?"
The corridor beyond had more darkspawn… and then a locked set of doors with a dead Venatori at their base. Left behind by his fellows and left to die. He also had the key on him, and Alistair took the key off Eola to open the doors.
"So wait, if the doors are locked, and dead guy was left behind to seal them… that means no darkspawn on the other side," Eola realised. "Hey, we did it! Place is cleared. Of Blighty things anyway."
"She's right," Loghain said, turning to Alistair. "None that way. All I can sense is Alistair here, and… wait."
"There's another darkspawn somewhere, and it's right behind-!" Alistair spun round but saw only Eola, his mother, and Blackwall – had one of them learnt invisibility?
And then Blackwall, who'd been quiet since the atrium, swayed back and forth before collapsing at their feet.
And Eola, not normally known for her squeamishness, actually cried out.
"NO!" she cried, rolling him over. "No, gods no, you can't be, you can't, Namira no."
Blackwall's skin was a horrible clammy shade of pale, already covered in a thin film of grey-tinted sweat… and his eyes were clouding over.
"Felt it hit when I took on that last alpha," Blackwall whispered. "Didn't want to worry you."
"You fucking fool," Eola whispered, wiping a tear away. "You fucking, fucking fool. Why didn't you take the vaccine, you fucking idiot? I could have saved you!"
"I know," Blackwall wheezed. "And I appreciate you trying, Blight Witch. I really do. But saving a little girl was just me atoning for the past, there's no debt to pay."
"The fuck there isn't," Eola gasped. "You made me cry in front of this lot, asshole."
That did get a chuckle. "Sorry, Blight Witch. Anyway. You should step back. Need the Warden there to keep his promise."
Alistair stepped forward, sparing a glare for Eola.
"Seriously, you tried to cheat the trial by sneaking him a Blight vaccine?" Alistair sighed. "I don't even believe – of course I do. Madanach and Elisif, do they know?"
"It was Da's idea," Eola whispered, stepping back. "He was ready to throttle Rainier himself but he realised during the questioning he didn't actually want him to die and started regretting coming up with the idea. So he came to me for help. Cicero and I worked out a plan to get the vaccine to him in secret. Except the stupid bastard turned it down and with Cicero in Montsimmard, and Da telling me I needed to respect Blackwall's wishes, I couldn't do anything about it. So now I'm stuck here, watching a friend who saved my sister and my husband and my father and me, die horribly. Of something I could have prevented."
To her surprise, Alistair's face softened.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. You tried to do the right thing. I mean, I'm not entirely sure it was… but you were, and that's the important thing. Divines know I'm not going to judge you for caring about other people."
He turned his attention to Blackwall, kneeling by his side, face sombre.
"I… believe it or not, I actually feel sorry for you."
"Don't," Blackwall gasped. "I'm not worth it. Just get it over with. Don't let me turn into one of those… those things. I'll take a warrior's death over that any day."
"Victory or Sovngarde," Alistair said softly. "You know, I bet the Maker's got a Fade-realm for heroes."
"Don't think I'm going to see it, lad, but thank you," Blackwall gasped. "Now, lad. I'm ready."
It was at that exact moment an unearthly roar echoed down the hallway and the ground shook. Loghain was on his feet and turning to the source immediately.
"Maker's balls, it's a giant," he shouted. "Never mind him, we're all dead if we don't fight!"
"Fuck's sake," Alistair whispered, but he turned to see Eola with her hand on his shoulder.
"Go fight it, I'll take care of this. I did bring a knife. It's sharp. I know how to use it. I'll join you in a sec."
Alistair did not like this, but he had little choice. Leaving Eola to it, he ran off to face the giant, Fiona's barrier covering him and Loghain, and the three of them moving to keep it at bay.
Eola came and knelt by Blackwall, wickedly sharp blade at the ready.
"Hold still," Eola said softly. "This is really gonna hurt. But you've not left me with a lot of options, have you."
"Get on with it," Blackwall snapped, drawing on the last of his strength. "They need you out there."
"In time. Now, I believe I have a debt to pay."
Blackwall cried out, reaching for her, wanting to know what she was doing, but he had her answer as she stepped back and pulled out a vial of darkspawn blood, pouring it in a circle round herself. Then she drew the knife and slashed, not Blackwall's throat but her own arm, blood dripping out as her eyes turned black.
Letting the knife fall, she raised her arms and red swirls surrounded her wrists, tendrils that drew black power from the blood… and then Blackwall started to scream as they began drawing something from him.
The pain felt like every nerve in his body was on fire, blood vessels constricting, his lungs on fire as every Tainted cell obeyed the call… and then a torrent of black bile came rushing from his mouth and Blackwall briefly passed out, brain not quite able to process the horror plus lack of oxygen. Eola managed to hold it all as it drew itself into a vicious pulsating ball hovering above Blackwall… and then she loosed it, sending it flying down the corridor to smash into the giant's face.
Slowly Blackwall opened his eyes, coughing and staggering to his knees, still woozy… and then the Tamrielic healing spell hit him, Restoration magic filling him and healing him, and he realised not only did he feel fine, he couldn't feel a single piece of Blight in him.
Maker curse her, the fucking Blight Witch had just saved his worthless hide and used blood magic to do it.
"What the fuck did you just do?" he whispered, looking up and then flinching to see Eola, arm still bleeding, sinking down the far wall, pale and exhausted. Not only had she used forbidden dark arts on him, she'd also just used the last of her mana to heal him, not herself.
It was a strange kind of maleficar to do something so… so selfless.
"What have you done," he whispered. "Why the hell did you just damn near kill yourself to save me?"
"Because Grey Wardens can inspire," Eola whispered, closing her eyes but smiling, always that damnable smile. "Make you better than you think you are. Now go kill that giant, Warden."
Her eyes closed and the Blight Witch passed out, slumping onto a pile of rubble. Blackwall swore under his breath, but he was no healer. He could do little for her now. He just had to hope Fiona knew healing magic. She also had the first aid kit. Which meant sorting out the giant so Fiona could try and keep Eola the Blight Witch in this world.
The giant had picked Loghain up and thrown him into the wall, then turned on Alistair and swiped the Wisdom of Dirthamen out of his hands, straps breaking from sheer force. Alistair gasped, then stared up at the creature, preparing to block with his sword… but even this reconstructed elven one from Sulevin Cradle wasn't going to do much against a giant.
Fiona's fireball thankfully got its attention but that meant it had been bearing down on her at precisely the moment the Blight cloud hit it.
"What the..." Fiona whispered, staggering back and casting another barrier to shield herself and her son.
And then moments later, they heard it. A war cry.
"FOR SKYHOLD! AND THE WARDENS!"
Blackwall, apparently Blight-free and healed, charged past them both, barreling into the giant and expertly severing a hamstring then leaping out of the way as it took a knee.
"Don't just stand there, Wardens!" Blackwall shouted. "Alistair, get your shield! Loghain, on your feet. You faced an Archdemon, don't tell me that was easier than this!"
Loghain glared but said nothing, dragging himself to his feet and returning to the fray. Fiona's magic was also lashing it… and then from down the corridor, Alistair had retrieved his shield and let his Thu'um carry where his blade would not.
"IIZ SLEN NUS!"
Ice froze the giant and it fell prone, helpless to resist as blades pierced it and shock magic shook it, and once Alistair himself had covered ground to join in, it fell dead.
Leaving two Wardens and a Grand Enchanter all staring at Blackwall.
"That has got to be the fastest recovery from Blight I've ever seen," Loghain said, staring incredulously at him. "What sort of miracle happened?"
"Never mind that, Eola's down," Blackwall said firmly, turning to Fiona. "Grand Enchanter, can you help her? She used all her strength on curing me."
Fiona took off without another word, three men following behind, and as Fiona surveyed the blood everywhere and the telltale cuts on Eola's arm, she inhaled sharply.
"Blood magic? Everything in me tells me to let her pay the price for it. And for your sake?"
"I didn't ask her to," Blackwall said, heart thudding as he contemplated her father, her sister, her husband, Maker damn it, she had kids back home, didn't she? Saving Maia's life did not warrant Eola giving up hers. It just didn't. "It was her own idea. Apparently she thought I was worth it."
Loghain was shaking his head, turning away, but Alistair came to kneel next to his mother.
"Mum, please," Alistair said softly. "I don't want to have to tell my husband his daughter died. He loves her."
"Did you know she was a blood mage?" Fiona said quietly.
"I didn't know for sure, but I'm not surprised," Alistair admitted. "Madanach says it doesn't work on Dragonborns. If this is what it does to you, I think we'd know if she was using it on one of us."
Fiona shook her head, staring at the fading Blight witch.
"Andraste have mercy on us all," she sighed, raising her hands to cast. Magic covered Eola, and the cuts on her arm healed, and her skin looked just a little less pale. Her breathing eased, but she didn't wake.
"It's all I can do," Fiona sighed. "But she should live long enough to get her to a proper healer. Son, I think we need to send up that distress signal now."
"All right," Alistair whispered. "Are we, er, telling anyone about..." He indicated Eola, then Blackwall. "I mean, does this count as a pass or not? You got the Blight, you should have died! But… Eola nearly ends up sacrificing herself for you."
Alistair looked at Loghain, who just shrugged and Blackwall, who was staring at his feet, not meeting Alistair's eyes, then at his mother, who had just finished sending the distress signal through a hole in the roof.
"Son, you're the Inquisitor's husband and she trusts your judgement," Fiona said, sending up the last ice spike and turning to him. "And you were a Warden. You know what sacrifice means. What do you think?"
Alistair growled, ripping his helm off and running fingers through his hair, not liking decisions like this being left up to him, a feckless halfwit who was doing well if his day started with him managing to get his feet in the right trouser legs that morning. But as always with Alistair, he was brighter and more capable than he ever gave himself credit for, and Elisif's influence had rubbed off… as had Madanach once telling him 'if you can, choose mercy'. Of course, Madanach had then go on to add that if mercy wasn't an option, smack down hard and be the Wrath of Sithis itself, but it had started off all right.
"You should not have passed this. But… the Maker and the Eight are all pretty clear that dying or risking dying to save someone else is worth something. If someone like Eola, a borderline sociopath most days, was prepared to give her life to save you… if you can inspire even her to do something heroic… maybe you can inspire other people too. Maybe you're worth something yet. So… I mean, I'll tell Elisif the truth. But as far as I'm concerned, if you promise to do something with your life, get out there and help other people, make your existence count for something… then you're free to go."
"What, you mean that?" Blackwall gasped. "You'd let this count?"
Alistair nodded, seemingly resigning himself to the will of the Eight.
"Yes. You're not irredeemable. But this isn't a pardon by any means. You're still guilty of the original crime. It's just that justice would be better served by you going out there and making up for it. Be a better person. And make the world a better place."
"It'd be my honour," Blackwall said gruffly, removing his own helm and wiping a tear away. "Warden Alistair, you'd have made a bloody good King, you know that?"
"Don't say things like that, they'll start making me go to meetings," Alistair said, shuddering. And then his face fell even further as Blackwall got on one knee.
"You don't need to get involved in the politics to be a leader and an inspiration, and you know it," Blackwall said firmly. "Warden, I'd like to pledge my life and blade to the Inquisition for as long as it endures or as long as it'll have me. And that's not just me worrying about an angry mob either – plenty in Skyhold'd be all too willing to spit in my drink or throw a punch if it came to that. Assuming your lady wife doesn't ship me out to the middle of nowhere, anyway."
"I think I can probably talk her out of that one," Alistair said, finally smiling a little. "Might be able to stop people spitting in your beer too. You might even find you still have a few friends. Although… I don't think you're getting your girlfriend back. Sorry."
"It's understandable. I didn't expect anything else," Blackwall said, staring at the floor. "Is that a yes?"
"Yes it is," Alistair said, reaching out a hand to him. "Thom Rainier, by the power vested in me by the Herald of Andraste, Lady Inquisitor Elisif, I welcome you into the Inquisition under your real name… and furthermore declare you shall henceforth be known as Thom Rainier the Black Wall, who stands as the barrier between the arseholes of the world and innocent people. Because frankly it's easier on us all if we can still legitimately call you Blackwall."
Blackwall laughed, accepted Alistair's hand and let himself be drawn to his feet.
"I can live with that, lad," he said, finally looking like his old self. "And you even got the word henceforth into a sentence without reading off a script. Well done."
That got a wry smile off Fiona and a smirk off Loghain, who'd been watching all of this as he knelt by Eola, hand on her shoulder and occasionally checking her pulse and breathing, as if to assure himself she wasn't about to die on him. Fortunately, Fiona had not forgotten either her Circle training or Grey Warden field medic training, and Eola did not die that day. Even if the reinforcements arrived with a panicked Elisif at the head (Maia having been sent back to Skyhold through the portal as soon as Elisif saw the signal) and Liriel alongside her, and Liriel took one look, swore in Aldmeris for a good minute and starting casting her stronger Restoration spells.
And Elisif hugged Alistair, went off to one side, listened quietly to his version of events, shook her head in disbelief, and then nodded, before officially confirming his verdict. Thom Rainier, thanks to the Blight Witch, finally stopped being a man on the run and became a soldier of the Inquisition. It was not a universally popular decision by any means… but it was accepted, even by Bethany Hawke. While she stood by her principles and refused to take Blackwall back, the two of them were seen having a long talk on the battlements of Skyhold, and eventually seemed to reach an accord, and with Varric, Iron Bull and Sera all welcoming Blackwall back as if he'd never been away, Skyhold eventually moved on.
Apart from one young apprentice who wasn't in the mood to forgive, and who'd furthermore also noticed the furtive looks Bethany and Cullen were giving each other. Neither appeared to have noticed the other's attention yet… but Suzette could see the way this was going, and under no circumstances whatsoever was Knight-Captain Cullen ever going to be her surrogate dad. She'd seen Varric writing letters to find Lucy's real family, remembered her real mother turning on her after her dad died and her new stepfather took a dislike to her, and realised with horror that could happen again.
That time the Circle had saved her. This time, what would? Who'd want to adopt a mage child? And then it occurred to her that perhaps the Circle might still be an option after all.
Which is why her feet took her to Enchanter Vivienne's lavish accommodation on the Great Hall's upper balcony, where the last remaining First Enchanter was reclining on a couch, reading a letter from a friend in the nobility and frowning.
Suzette got as far as the top of the steps and then hesitated, regrets and doubts assailing her. Not too late to run back to Bethany. Not too late to change her mind.
Then she thought of Cullen glaring at her over a dinner table, and Bethany staring into the distance, pretending none of it was happening, and Suzette steeled herself and stepped forward.
"E – Enchanter Vivienne?" Suzette managed to get out. "Are you busy?"
Vivienne looked up sharply, surprised to see a young mage child coming to see her. Especially one from the mage rebellion.
"I'm always busy, darling. No such thing as a good time to see me, but that does mean no time is worse than any other, I suppose. Suzette, isn't it? Aren't you one of Enchanter Hawke's apprentices? My dear, if you had a question about your magical education, she's as well equipped as any in Skyhold to answer it, surely. Unless..."
Vivienne put the letter aside, sitting up, something occurring to her as she indicated the other chaise across from her.
"Is something the matter, my dear? You look a little out of sorts, and for you to come to me, it must be important."
Suzette gingerly took a seat on a couch that was far too big for her, toes just about brushing the floor. Still, it was a very nice couch.
If she joined an Orlesian Circle, she could sit on couches like this all the time. Keeping that image in mind, she asked the question that had been on her mind all day.
"Are you taking new apprentices?" Suzette blurted out. Vivienne's expertly plucked eyebrows shot up.
"What an odd question. Why in the world… ah. That dreadful Rainier business. Of course. You poor darling. That must have affected you deeply. And to think, he's going to be walking around Skyhold as if it never happened. I daresay that bothers you."
"I hate him!" Suzette cried, emotions suddenly all welling up at once. "I had a family, a real one! But it wasn't real. He's really someone else. He ruined everything! And now they say Lucy's going to her real family, but I can't because… because I don't have one any more. And Bethany's sad, and the only time she's not is when she's talking to Cullen, but I don't want him! He's not my father! He's never going to be my father. But I don't get a choice. I'm her apprentice and if she gets a boyfriend, I'm stuck with him. But I don't want to… if she goes out with Cullen, I don't want to be her apprentice any more, but someone needs to teach me! But all the free mages have apprentices already, and I don't have a Circle to go to. But… there's yours?"
"There is, isn't there," Vivienne said thoughtfully, looking Suzette over carefully, and while it must have crossed her mind that getting one over the mage rebellion by stealing one of their apprentices would be quite the coup, she wasn't heartless either and she wasn't blind to the fact she had in front of her a little girl in need as much as a political trophy. A little girl who on first glance might even pass for Vivienne's own child.
"Is that what you're asking me, Suzette? If you can join Montsimmard Circle as one of my apprentices? Darling, you have to know we are a Loyalist Circle. We support the Chantry and follow Andraste's teachings. Of course, I could give you a better idea of what that means if the Chantry had a leader, or any sense of direction and purpose. But it will be living in a Circle again, with magical discipline being required, not like living with the malcontents and being allowed to do what you like."
Suzette was fairly certain she'd not been allowed to do what she liked, but that was the case for children everywhere. Truth be told, she'd not minded the Circle itself, just the Templars being scary. She was sure they wouldn't be scary in a Circle Vivienne was running, and when she told Vivienne that, Vivienne actually laughed, delighted.
"My dear, you certainly know how to charm people! A skill as vital as any spell you'll ever learn, I promise you. All right. If you're sure. Pack your things and come back here, I'll show you where the Loyalist mages are sleeping. Now, most of them aren't taking personal apprentices either, but we are managing to at least work with the more reasonable rebels in providing tuition. You'll be in classes with children you know, and teachers you already know, and using many of the Inquisition resources you're familiar with for your personal study."
That made sense, and secretly Suzette was rather glad she could stay at Skyhold.
"But if none of the Loyalists are taking apprentices either..." Suzette began, frowning. Unheard of not to be assigned personally to anyone.
"Most aren't, but some might, and people might change their minds too," Vivienne said, amused. "Certain circumstances might require certain adjustments."
Seeing the confusion on Suzette's face, Vivienne elaborated.
"That, darling, means your unusual circumstances will require my personal attention. You will be answering to me as my personal apprentice. Does that sound an opportunity worth having?"
Suzette gasped, amazed at the First Enchanter offering her that. She'd barely expected Vivienne to say yes at all, let alone offer to mentor her personally. Promising to be the best apprentice ever, Suzette took her leave and ran off to pack, absolutely certain that even if Vivienne did one day get a new boyfriend, said boyfriend would never dare bully her. No one got on the wrong side of Enchanter Vivienne in a hurry.
Vivienne watched her go, feeling very pleased indeed with how that had gone, and also surprisingly sentimental. A new apprentice, at her age and station. Quite the responsibility, but the thing about being First Enchanter was not having to do all the work oneself. Had she not been seeking out some manner of protege for quite some time? Suzette might do nicely. And while she was still young, that just meant Vivienne had more opportunity to mould her. After all, it wasn't like Vivienne was going anywhere.
A/N: Someone recently commented that Eola should just rip the Blight out of Loghain - love for that to happen, but it turns out ripping the Blight out of a living someone requires very careful handling so the Blight cells exit via existing routes and don't cause massive organ damage, all using blood magic as well, so it nearly kills you if you're doing it on someone you want to keep alive. For non-combat situations, Eola's got rather less lethal means of reducing someone's Blight count, but they're slower to work. Fortunate, because when she gets back to Skyhold, she can expect her father going off on one and her husband wringing his hands and wailing, and basically the both of them insisting she literally never does this again, OMG.
Elisif's sticking around in the Western Approach to sort out Echoback Canyon, but that'll happen off-page. Next chapter is back to Skyhold, and we pick up with the Di Rosso family reunion arc, as the Ciceros send their demands to Skyhold (conveniently ensuring that the official Circle reports to Vivienne don't get there while they're at it).
