Chapter Seven
Thieves of the Qun
It was another month past; I had given Cullen and Fenris their birthday gifts and it was now the 1st of Solace.
We – Hawke, Axel, Varric, Bela, and I – were all on the wounded coast clearing out the bandits and lighting signal fires that would snuff back out within a minute. We did run into the dead Grey Warden messenger that had been headed for… me? I opened the note, reading Avernus' words.
"Awesome… bloody awesome; he is using blood magic to study my blood. But he has made some unusual discoveries…" I muttered, picking up the vial full of what looked like a mix of Lyrium and metal dust.
"You have a Blood Mage studying your blood?" Axel looked horrified. I looked up, "He's a Grey Warden, Axel… and he's over 200 years old. He lived through the rebellion that caused the wardens to be expelled from Ferelden. I knew he was a blood mage when I met him, but Wardens don't forbid it. I figured someone as old as him had ways to figure out what I am…"
Axel sighed. "But a blood mage…"
"It is thanks to him that I know as much as I do, Axel… but why was he sending a note? It should have only been the vial…?"
"What is that, kitten?"
I shrugged, "No idea. Bottoms up!" I cried out and drank the liquid before anyone could stop me. I coughed and saw stars.
"Ara! Are you insane? Drinking an unknown potion? It could have killed you!" Hawke shouted snatching the empty vial. I looked up at him. "Makers breath, Ara… your eyes…"
I summoned a mirror. My eyes were now opal in color, and they now held swimming flecks of gold and ruby. I looked back down to the paper.
"Goddess… he noticed that the elements responded to my blood, but gemstones didn't… he found a way to heighten my power over the elements and… something feels odd. I can sense… why did he focus on gemstones…" I pulled out my Sending stones.
"Aedan! Contact our favorite Soldiers Peak Mage for and ask him why his formula allows me to sense Gemstones."
"Er… I was actually just about to call you, sister… that formula wasn't only for Gemstone; in fact, that's a side effect. It was supposed to boost your elemental control and allow you to expand your pocket realm."
I thought about it and nodded. "Well, the elements do seem friendlier now… I'll let you know about the Pocket Realm. Thanks, bro."
"Yeah, love you too, sis." And he cut the connection.
We lit the first fire and waited. 5 minutes later, I heard, "Yes and it's… a real nice evening…"
"As you say captain." Donnic responded in a no-nonsense manner. She gave an awkward chuckle and Hawke looked at me. "Maker, she's bad at this…" I smirked. "Varric needs material for his romance serial that he's working on!"
Varric snorted "This is gold."
After lighting the second fire, we waited another 10 minutes to hear, "If it isn't done right, the blade can be too soft. Quenching the steel is a vital step that can make or break a sword. A blade for every purpose; what do you think…?" she asked and I stifled a snigger.
"Forgive me captain; I seem to have… drifted off a bit…"
Hawke looked at me again, "This is just painful, Ara…" I smirked, "But think of the blackmail potential!"
He chuckled and we were off to number three.
"Well, Guardsman, good patrol. I think we're done…"
I stepped from behind a rock with a huge smile on my face. "Aveline!"
"A… Ara, Hawke… don't…"
Hawke chuckled, "It's not like we have all night."
"Er… would someone tell me what's going on…?" Donnic asked. He was slightly taller than Aveline at 5'11, with dark brown hair, green eyes ad lightly tanned skin.
Varric chuckled, "Alright, I'm going to draw you a picture of where she wants to touch you." Isabela snorted and said, "You're a daft couple of… take a hint and bend her over a basin would you?"
"Captain…?" he asked in a strangled voice. Aveline gave and awkward laugh before he went bright red and rubbed at the back of his head, saying, "I… should head back to the Barracks."
"I thought we were friends…"
"You're gonna love what happens next, promise!" I giggled. "I'd better, Cousland."
We got back to the Barracks in Kirkwall. Aveline began pacing in her office. "Maker… where is Donnic? I need to head this off before it gets to the Viscount… Maybe a formal apology; something that shows the guards they can still trust me…" I was lounging in a chair with my feet on her desk. "Relax, Aveline. If I tell you that you marry the man, would that calm you down?" she froze and looked at me wide eyed. That's when Donnic made his entrance.
"My apologies Serah, My Lady… could I have a moment with the captain?" I stood with all the grace of a jungle cat, giving Aveline a wink before dragging my friends out of the office. "Would things have worked out if she didn't go through the awkward parts?" Axel asked.
"Oh yeah; but I'm a fox, Lt… we are, by nature, playful and tricky…"
"What do you mean by that?" Varric asked. "My spirit animal… it's a fox. Well, a Kitsune, really… that's a nine-tailed beast of legend. Stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives. They were also fabled shape-shifters in these stories… I can actually take on the form if I wish, but I can't take the form of an actual fox… only my white and blue nine tailed version."
"That… actually explains way too much, Feathers…" Varric shook his head and I smirked, "Can't you just imagine me with a tail, flicking back and forth in amusement, every time I do something like this? I'm a trickster born under the sign of the Water Guardian… I go with the flow, and make life fun all at once!"
"Faithful Guardian and Friend… I can see it," Hawke gave me a smile and I winked.
It was a while later when we saw Donnic leaving the office, flushed and… satisfied. I sauntered into the office, clearing the scent with a dramatic wave of my hand. She blushed and looked at me, "As you may have guessed… he didn't file a complaint. This was all incredibly stupid and… wonderful."
I allowed all nine tails to surface, "Everything played out how it was meant to. Sorry for my… tricks, but it's just how I am." Her jaw had dropped.
Varric explained my Kitsune thing and I finished the shift, becoming a fox in full. I had light blue fur for the most part, but the tips if each tail paws and ear were white; my eyes were opal with the gold and ruby flecks that my human form now held and I had swirling deep blue marks on my body. I hopped up into Axels arms.
"Makers breath! You're so… soft." H began petting me and I purred.
"That is… so wrong. You are petting our friend." I peaked and eye open at Varric and stuck my tongue out, causing disbelieving laughs from them all.
We got back to my place, drawing jaw dropped stares all through Hightown, and Cullen looked gob smacked when opened the door to Axels knock.
"Is that…?" I hopped from Axel to Cullens shoulders. "That's Lady Cousland, alright…"
It was time. Kingsway (9th month) 24th, 9:34 Dragon; Isabela and Aveline had gotten into a fight in Hawkes estate, and Hawke said we'd help Bela first – benefits of him loving her meant he didn't need my push for it.
Seamus had been killed last week, as had Petrice…
We arrived at the meeting place and there was a small group of Qunari already there. "Hold! You will surrender the relic!" I was off to the side, so they didn't see me when Bela replied, "I don't have your stupid relic."
"The Bas has no honor, kill it!"
They died swiftly enough when I stepped in.
"I suppose if the Arishok asks why we killed his men…" I cut him off. "We're here for the Tomb of Koslun, Hawke…" Fenris flipped his lid.
"The Tomb of Koslun?! The one written by the founder of their religion, the most revered being in their history? That text would be sacred beyond measure."
"Calm, Fenris; I know. This needs to happen." I directed to him, and then leaned in to Bela to whisper, "For the happiness you deserve, and a chance to take care of Castillion once and for all… come back to us; but if you're satisfied with less… be on your way, with it." She nodded.
As expected, she was gone when we left the foundry, Fenris pinned me to the wall, "You let her go?!"
"She might come back. Even if she doesn't, this is her path. We'd have to battle the Arishok either way. No matter what, this would have always happened. But Hawke, when he asks about it, don't hide it. Tell him that one of your former companions stole it – say it just like that." He nodded and Fenris headed off.
Hawke and I came alone to meet with Aveline, and she spoke to the guard at the gate.
"I request an Audience with the Arishok." She spoke with the confidence of a Sten and the Qunari at the gate looked at her then to the 20 men she brought. "He will allow it, but not in this number."
I spoke up, "As Katari, I declare myself, Serah Hawke and Captain Vallen for Audience… no more than 5 guards will follow." The Guard nodded and allowed the three of us in.
Unlike other times, the Arishok was not on his throne – he was standing at the bottom of the steps leading up to it. Hawke stood to Avelines left and I was to her right.
"Greetings, Arishok. We come regarding the elven fugitives that took refuge here." She began, and the Arishok looked to Hawke, "Irrelevant. I would speak to Hawke about the relic stolen from my grasp."
"One of my former companions took off with it."
"Her involvement was clear; your honesty is refreshing. The elves are now Viddithari; they have chosen to submit themselves to the Qun… the will be protected." I nodded, but Hawke spoke, "Have they truly converted, or are they using you as a shield?"
"They have chosen, and so have I. you have not hidden the abuses of your Zealots or the corruption in this city; you will understand why I must do this. Let us look at your 'dangerous' criminals. Speak, Viddithari, who did you murder and why?"
There were two elven men that stepped forward, one spoke, "A City Guard forced himself on our sister; we reported him… or tried to. Nothing was done about it! It didn't matter what we said; so my brother and I paid him a visit."
"They speak true," I said softly, causing all heads to turn to me. I could feel the truth in their words and Hawke flinched.
"There have been… rumors; I will investigate, but they still took the law into their own hands!" Aveline argued.
I spoke in time with the Arishok, "Sometimes that is necessary."
Aveline shot me a look and then said, "Like you avenged the Viscounts' son? It was not right then, and it is not right now."
"Their actions are merely symptoms; your society is the disease. They have chosen; they are Viddithari, they have submitted themselves to the Qun and will find a path your way has denied them."
"You can't just decide that; you must hand them over!" the Arishok looked to me and Hawke, "Tell me Hawke; what would you do in my place?"
"Why pass up perfectly good converts?"
"Indeed. I cannot leave without the relic and I cannot stay and remain blind to this… dysfunction. There is only one choice…"
"Arishok…" Aveline looked at me wide eyed.
"Vinek Kathas!" he called out, and spears began to rain down, even as my shield came around Aveline, Hawke and I. we escaped.
Once we were at a safe spot near Lowtown, Fenris and Varric rushed over; "Are you alright?" Fenris asked me as I swayed. "I'll be fine," I refused to look at him.
"Can you hear it? The Qunari must be spreading out; they're attacking the city!" Aveline shot me a glare. I nodded. "What could they hope to accomplish?"
"The Arishok doesn't care what happens to the city at this point."
"Aveline, go rally the City Guard… we will take care of things from here." She nodded and hurried off.
"How can this be the better option?" Varric asked softly. "412 children dead by morning with additional horrid things to come if I didn't allow this…" Fenris cursed softly, "It's a curse isn't it?"
I nodded, "When I look for the futures, I feel each death, hear their last words and cries for help… I try to avoid it. Hence why I didn't see…" I left the words hanging in the air, knowing that Fenris would guess my meaning.
He flinched and said nothing more as we killed Qunari. That's when we met up with them.
"Stroud! 2 years late is better than never, I suppose." The Warden flinched and I saw Carver and Bethany look at us, "Somehow, we guessed he was mixed up in this…" Bethany pointed to Hawke.
"You are dismissed Stroud; I know you've stayed longer than intended… thank you for bringing my wardens back to me." He shot me a glare, but left.
Hawke and his siblings caught up, the twins thanking me after hearing I saved their mother from a madman. And when we reached Hightown, I removed the spell of concealment from Hawke.
"Hi… Meredith…" I nodded and she noted that there was no Templar with me. "Where is your guard, girl?" I snorted, "Cullen was at the Gallows today, as you know, Alano had pressing matters for his day off, and Axel wasn't allowed into the Qunari Compound when the Guard Captain asked for our help." She snarled then turned to Hawke.
"I know you… the name Hawke has turned up in my reports many times… too many. But that doesn't matter now. The Qunari are taking people to the Keep and may already be in control. We will need to deal with them."
"Course we plan to help, Meredith."
"Good… I'll overlook your use of magic, for the moment…" she gestured to Hawke and Bethany. "You actually can't do anything to her… she's a grey warden assigned under me…" Meredith snapped to look at me. "You're a Warden?" I snorted, "Do I look like a Warden? No, but I have the Warden-Commander of Ferelden, Natia Brosca, as a Friend and the former Commander of the Grey, Aedan Cousland, is my brother. I told you, Meredith, I have better connections. Bethany and Carver Hawke are under my orders… but I will allow them to come to you for training if they wish; Carver did want to be a Templar…"
Carver perked up. Meredith snarled and stalked off. We fought more Qunari and some Carta on our way to the Keep before finding Orsino passed out in the courtyard between my house and Hawkes.
"Hello, First Enchanter… sorry to say you fared better than your people…" Hawke said. Orsino grieved, "The others… I told them to run…"
"Ah… First Enchanter Orsino. You survive…" I snorted at the dry words.
"Your relief overwhelms me, Knight-Commander."
"There is no time to talk; we must strike back before it is too late."
"Great! Hawke, you take the lead."
"He isn't even…"
"Neither is Orsino nor myself… yet we fight for the city, anyway."
"Very well; but whatever your plan, make it quick."
Of course we made our way to the Keep.
"There seems to be a great many Qunari at the Keeps Entrance…" Orsino commented.
"They've taken it over… clearly they have been planning this for some time…" She glared at me. "I was not privy to their planning, Commander. I had their respect, not their confidence."
"I will provide a distraction," Orsino said, and with my nod, Hawke gave him the Okay and we made our way through the keep while Meredith and her men guarded the entrance in case they came back.
"Shanedan, Hawke. I expected you." He nodded to me and I bowed my head.
"Katari… who do you side with?" I smiled. "These are my Kadan; you know as well as I, that you do not abandon your Kadan."
He nodded to me, "And if they submit?"
"Then so shall I; but they will not. I am a Koslun, Arishok…" the Qunari around us hissed a breath. "A Koslun…" he breathed. "It makes more sense now. Did the Sten know?"
"Blood debt prevented him from saying, but yes. He knew."
"What's a Koslun…?" Varric asked. "Prophet; Koslun means prophet," Fenris whispered.
"Hawke and you are Basalit-an. You know I am denied Par-Vollen until the Tomb is found, how would you solve this conflict?" I held up a hand and counted down from 5. We heard the fighting outside the door and Isabela burst in.
She handed the tomb to me with a pout and I handed it to him. "The Tomb…"
"It took me a while to get back, what with all the fighting everywhere; you know how it is," She shrugged.
"I thought you'd be long gone by now…" Hawke looked ready to kiss her and I smirked when she pointed to me, "Blame her. She promised me a better future with vengeance and shit…"
I giggled before the Arishok butted in after handing the tomb to a Sten off to his right. "The relic is reclaimed; I am free to return to Par-Vollen with the thief."
"Nope; Hawke will be dueling you for rights to Isabela! She is ours, Arishok."
"A battle to the death. Fitting, but if you want her, you will fight me." I nodded.
I pulled out two daggers – my Antivan and my Qunari ones – and we stepped to the side. We began when he rushed me with his great-sword; I heard Fenris shout and used earth magic to keep him away from us – that move cost me.
That was when the Arishok impaled me through the gut, causing me to scream in pain; Isabela shouted and I felt Fenris strain against my Magic, shouting at Hawke for allowing this. But it had been part of my plan… sort of.
Using magic to enlarge my Antivan Dagger, I lopped off the Arishoks head. He fell to his knees as he released the sword still embedded into my gut. "Tell Meredith… Hawke killed him…" and I passed out.
