Vivienne, Marnie, and Gale took a carriage to the capital. Gale had never ridden in a cart or carriage before, so he was extremely fascinated by the whole experience.
"'Tis like a moving room!" he said, reaching up to touch the ceiling.
"Control it, please," Vivienne gave Marnie a grossly bored look.
"You know, Enchanter, most people in Gransys ignore pawns completely. You may refrain from paying him any attention."
"Gladly."
Marnie sat tensely across from Vivienne and beside Gale. She considered whether she was too bold in taking Vivienne's offer. It wasn't like the two women got along, but maybe this was an attempt and an opportunity for the both of them to get past that. They may not agree on a lot, but they were still on the same side in the grand scheme of things. Besides, Vivienne wouldn't offer help if she honestly didn't want to follow through.
"So... your tailor can work miracles. Can they make two originals before the ball?"
"Absolutely, darling. Though you must know the Inquisition's resources are better used elsewhere. I hope Josephine gave you a generous allowance."
"We're good for it," Marnie nodded. Vivienne eyed Marnie. She wasn't sure if Marnie was being withholding to give less for Vivienne to use or because she was keeping secrets. Either way, her fashion was appropriate for court.
"How much court training have you had?" Vivienne asked.
"I was tutored for three years in Orlais," Marnie replied. "I went to a few soirees in that time. Nothing akin to the court of the Empress, of course, but I know how things work. I suppose there are only a few outdated manners to worry about."
"Worry not, my dear," Vivienne said. "If anything, it'll make you look charming, not incompetent. Do mind your pawn, though. You'll be thrown out in disgrace the moment it climbs on a table or offends the guests."
"Don't worry. Gale goes unnoticed when he needs to be."
"Tell me you're not bringing more than one," Vivienne sounded fatigued just thinking of it.
"I wouldn't dare," Marnie assured her lightly. "What's in style lately? I can stand having old manners, but I don't think the nobility will excuse being out of style."
"Quite right," Vivienne nodded. "Lately I've noticed a number of older unmarried women taking up a particular shade of light blue in their outfits. Low cuts are always in fashion, but you must have a certain... standing to pull it off."
"So you could," Marnie stated. "I was considering getting a suit, actually. 'Twould be most practical, in case we need to intervene in anything. Although a gown would easier conceal weapons."
"My, my, you aren't considering bringing weapons into the court of the Empress, are you?"
"Oh, as if I'd be the only one!" Marnie retorted. "Hatpins were all the rage for their versatility when I lived in Orlais. But I won't risk anymore than that. 'Tis not like I'll be walking in with a bow and daggers."
"Inquisition agents will be smuggling gear for the Inquisitor. I encourage you to use those resources."
"Naturally," Marnie nodded. Then they whiled away the hours to the capital discussing fashion and things that seemed of little import.
.
After leaving them with the tailor, Vivienne disappeared to attend to business farther into the city. She told the Arisen not to wait up for her. In truth, aside from taking her to the tailor, Marnie doubted Vivienne had much intention to accompany her anywhere. So, Marnie and Gale were left to their own devices in Val Royeaux.
Marnie and the tailor chatted amicably as the tailor took Marnie's measurements and discussed what she was having made. She asked for specific colors and some implementation of the Gransian crest to denote who she was. Marnie's taste was modest, but if the tailor recommended something fashionable, Marnie was easily swayed. She spared no expense.
"You're a member of the Duke's court?" the tailor asked.
"We're appearing to the Empress in his stead," Marnie replied.
"And what do you usually wear to court?" the tailor asked. "I'd love to inspire my design with your culture."
Marnie looked a bit sheepish. "We usually wear our armor."
She expected the tailor to find such behavior gauche or barbaric, but he was quite the opposite.
"To show your station," he stated.
"Not exactly..." Marnie figured she'd look specifically foolish if she was caught in a lie about it. "'Tis more to show who you are. If you're in armor, you're either an ambassador for foreign troops or you're a part of the Duke's elite task force. Our position is, for lack of a better word, militant. Not political."
The tailor gave her the strangest look. He was confused as she was as to why the Duke would send a soldier to court. Why wouldn't he send anyone else, anyone with more experience in politics?
"It will take sizable effort on my part to not look foolish," Marnie said. "I'm sure the Empress would be mortified meeting with someone poorly dressed. I trust you'll do your part to help me. Our Lady Vivienne did recommend you in highest faith."
Marnie couldn't read the tailor's expression behind the mask, so she gave a wistful look to her pawn. Gale had stopped poking around the shop some time ago and now leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. She'd noticed him falling into that position more and more often lately. Was he bored? Sullen? Under-stimulated? She'd hate for him to fall into repetitive behaviors simply because she wasn't doing enough for him. Besides, it was odd for him to grow fatigued of his pawn-like behaviors. He was usually so restless that he was hard to restrain, but lately he'd neglected observing the world around him in favor of sitting still and being quiet. It worried her, some.
Gale didn't notice Marnie staring at him for a few minutes. When he did, he straightened almost apologetically, as if he thought she'd asked him to do something. Marnie gave no indication. She looked a bit sympathetic, if anything.
The tailor stood and turned to Gale.
"And for your... companion?" the tailor asked, unsure of how to address Gale yet. Vivienne hadn't done anything to establish who Gale was or why he was there.
"I'll have a matching suit made for him, please," Marnie requested, stepping aside. Gale took her place and shifted his weight to one foot. The tailor began taking Gale's measurements. "He won't need the crest; just the color. The more subtle you can make it, the better."
"Stand up straight, please," the tailor muttered.
Marnie looked back at Gale. He stood up straight again, but only long enough for the tailor to finish measuring him. As soon as the tailor got to his feet, Gale slouched on one foot again. He was just staring at the ground at this point, and Marnie wondered why he'd gotten so sullen all of a sudden. Still, she finished with the tailor without calling attention to it. They finished drafting the design and discussed the payments before bidding their good afternoons and parting ways.
Gale followed Marnie out to the street with his arms folded and his head hanging. Marnie took his arm since she couldn't take his hand and pulled him aside.
"Hey," she started quietly. Gale's gaze lifted. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, Arisen."
Marnie wasn't sure. He always said he was alright.
"You've been sulking since we arrived," Marnie noted. "Are you tired from the trip? Is it something Vivienne did?"
"No, Arisen," Gale looked at Marnie imploringly. It truly wasn't that. Then what was it?
Marnie fell silent. She reached a hand up and cupped the back of Gale's head, bringing him closer until their foreheads touched. Gale melted at the touch. Timidly, his tense hands disentangled from his sleeves and reached for her free hand. He nearly crushed it in an iron grasp. When Marnie opened her eyes again, Gale looked harrowed, but he still didn't explain himself.
"Let's get something to eat," she suggested. If he wasn't going to tell her what was wrong, she wouldn't force him.
They went to a bakery nearby, where they could smell the fresh bread and sweet treats from a block away. Marnie bought a fruit-filled pastry for herself and a bun covered in honey for Gale. She knew he hadn't had one before. As they sat outside the bakery eating their treats, Marnie divided her attention among the people of Val Royeaux and her pawn.
Gale perked up after having something to eat, so Marnie finally allowed herself to relax again. From resignation, not relief. It was so easy to forget that even her own pawn could have an experience or a backstory completely unknown to her. Visiting other worlds through the Fade, even the few moments they spent separated in their own world had an effect on him. And it wasn't like he'd just tell her what was on his mind—most pawns wouldn't. Marnie had almost forgotten that since Gale had been stuck with her for months now.
.
In the city, there was always much to do, and more unspoken rules than one could count. Climbing on rooftops and collecting fountain coins might've been a common spectacle in Gransys, but Marnie would surely leave a negative impression on the people of Orlais if she attempted any of that here. Still, she and Gale found other things to do. They perused shops, bought a few goods and gifts, and explored the reaches of the capital. Night had fallen by the time they returned to the inn where they'd booked a room for the night.
"I suppose we'll head out in the morning," Marnie said to Gale as she settled down for bed.
She sighed when she hit the mattress. Even the cheapest inn in Val Royeaux had beds to rival those in Gran Soren. Gale watched her from the window with a small smile until her breathing became heavy and even. Then he resumed looking out the window at the pale gibbous moon. There were few things to observe at this time of night, but the curious celestial body had Gale's attention for the night. He wondered why there wasn't a moon over Gransys.
.
Marnie was surprised to hear from her pawn the next morning that Vivienne had already left the city—yesterday afternoon, no less. Marnie would've been a little miffed, but Gale also said Vivienne had arranged for another carriage to take Marnie and Gale home, if they elected to use it. In the end, the Arisen was only a little shocked Vivienne would leave them without saying anything. Neither of them were the other's keeper. She'd express her thanks to Vivienne for introducing them to the tailor when they reunited in Skyhold.
That decided, Marnie and Gale began their journey back to Skyhold before noon and arrived at sunset few days later. Though the evening was still young, Marnie didn't make any appearances around the castle after they retreated to their room with their boxes and bags in tow. Marnie spent the evening sorting through their purchases and attempting to place all the fittings she'd received in the mail weeks ago. Gale helped by not doing anything; Marnie was putting things in a particular way for now, and he had no say nor idea how it should go. Marnie eventually felt bad for him.
"Why don't you look around Skyhold?" she suggested. "You don't have to bore yourself for my sake."
"I'm not bored," Gale shook his head reassuringly.
"Go see the others," Marnie nodded to the door with a smile. "You have other people in Skyhold who would like to see you. Dare I say, Gale... I think you've made friends here."
"I have..."
Gale let that thought guide him through the halls as he searched the fort. He thought about who would consider themselves his friends. Varric was definitely one of them. Gale remembered how the Inquisitor had reassured the Arisen. Varric and Dorian and Bull especially. Did that carry over to Gale as well? Did "liking someone" mean they were friends? Is that truly all it took?
He supposed it did. Even considering all that, Cole was an obvious choice. Gale didn't even have to think about that.
He found Cole first, since he was so easy to find in the attic of the tavern. Cole was perched on the third floor on the edge of the loft, letting his feet dangle between the bars of the railing as he watched the patrons below. He looked up and beamed when he felt Gale approach.
"May I join you?" Gale asked, more out of being polite than asking for permission.
"Yes, please," Cole sighed.
"Any hurts tonight?" Gale asked, settling cross-legged beside him.
A head shake. "Not many. Sera made them all laugh. They're singing again. I wanted to help her, but she sort of scares me."
Gale was glad morale was better tonight, at least. "How have the others been?"
"Alright," Cole replied, then amended his statement. "Better, I mean. The Inquisitor helped Cassandra and Varric. Varric gave her a book she'd been wanting. She reads them to me, when she wants to. She thinks reading it with someone else would hurt, but she wants to share it."
"Oh?" Gale leaned an arm on the railing. He seemed to recall the books Cole was referring to.
Cole nodded. His gaze wandered. A forlorn look overcame him, and he looked beyond the walls of the tavern in the direction of the main hall.
"Dorian's alone. Sharp feeling. A fresh bruising over a wound he'd left years ago. It still hurts. The skin is weak after it's been damaged."
"Has he been hurt?" Gale asked. If he needed healing, Gale would be happy to provide.
"Not like that."
"Oh." Gale understood immediately. "What happened?"
Cole was hesitant to answer. He remembered how Dorian scolded him for bringing it up on the road, and he remembered how Varric had lectured him about "discretion" and respecting people's private thoughts. "You don't talk about people when they're not around." Cole knew that. Gale tried to wait him out, but in the end Cole only said Dorian left for a few days and came back like this.
"Won't you help him?" Gale asked.
Cole looked away. "I could, but... if I do anything wrong, I might make it worse... I've done all I can to help him."
Gale considered it. He knew Cole felt... vulnerable after his and Marnie's falling out. Maybe he feared more rejection. Maybe in preserving himself, Cole was less confident in what he was able to do to help people. Gale didn't know. But he did know that friends helped each other, and he knew how to help his Arisen after events that he either didn't witness or didn't understand.
"I'll make sure he's alright," Gale stood. "I'll keep an eye on him, just in case it gets bad."
Cole let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you. It's good that he won't be alone."
.
Gale wanted to know what had happened to Dorian, but more importantly, he wanted to know if he was alright. If they were friends—which Gale was sure they were—Gale wanted to know if there was anything he could do. He found Dorian brooding by the window of the library, alone. He was sitting at a small table with a glass in one hand and a bottle of wine on the table. Was he alone because he wanted to be by himself, or because he didn't want to be around the others? Gale thought best to find out before making another move.
"Must you brood like that alone?" Gale asked.
"Ah," Dorian looked forlornly over his shoulder, unable to muster the energy to even fake bravado. "Forgive me. Is my brooding disturbing your Arisen? Did she send you to scold me?"
"No. Are you alright?"
Dorian chuckled mirthlessly. "That's a rich question, isn't it? If I must tell you, no, I am not. I'd rather leave it at that."
Gale shifted on his feet. He wasn't sure quite what to say, but if Dorian was going to send him away, he would've done so already. Dorian refilled his glass and offered some to Gale.
"Care for any?"
"No, thank you," Gale shook his head. "I don't drink."
But he sat in the other chair and waited. Dorian must've been a glass or two in already, judging by his loose motions and even looser lips.
"You've probably come to pry, I take it?" Dorian asked. "Because you and Cole. You never know when business is your own."
"Only if it would make you feel better," Gale said. "You don't have to tell me."
Dorian opened his mouth, then shook his head. "Your social skills are better than Cole's, at least. At times. Tell me, is your Arisen prone to fits of melancholy? Or is this something all pawns learn to do?"
"Is what something all pawns learn to do?" Gale asked.
"Being here," Dorian said. "Gravitating towards people with problems. I thought you and Marnie would be gone for another day, yet here you are to fret over me just when I thought I'd get some time alone."
"Do you want to be alone?" Gale asked. "If you did, you'd be drinking in your room."
Dorian heaved a sigh. He supposed he didn't have an argument for that. If he wanted to be around people, he'd be drinking in the tavern. Where people could see him and have their thoughts and opinions. He couldn't deny that being in the presence of a pawn who couldn't judge him was different. Even Cole was prone to making unwarranted statements compared to Gale.
Dorian didn't know what came over him, but before he knew it, he was telling Gale everything. About going to see his father in Redcliffe, about how his father had tried to bind him for not "saving face" for the family, about his attraction to men and all the personal backstory he'd suffered for it, about Dorian and the Inquisitor's conversation following their trip wherein Dorian maybe slightly suspected that the Inquisitor was trying to get rid of him or that the Inquisitor didn't want him there in some form or fashion. Not only that, but Bull's needling, the Arisen's pestering. Why did he even try to endure here if no one could fucking stand him? Most of those feelings were probably paranoia or miscommunication, but that's how it felt right now. Why else would the Inquisitor lie about taking Dorian to see his father and then try so hard to get them to make up?
As he was telling all this, Dorian had an inkling Gale was only humoring him, but Gale gave no indication he was doing anything but listening politely and intently. The influx of information didn't even faze him. At last, Dorian could unload everything without a fear of someone jumping to conclusions, judging him, or even trying in their own patronizing way to help. But the action still came with guilt, and maybe a feeling left over like he'd shared too much and must never speak again.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I suppose this is overwhelming for you. I'm not your Arisen."
"'Tis alright," Gale replied slowly. He honestly didn't mind hearing about other people's troubles. And since they were in the business of sharing, Gale thought it fair to bring up some of his own experience. Just so Dorian didn't feel awkward. "I had a human friend... His name was Eren. He liked men, too."
Dorian raised his eyebrows and took a sip from his glass. His patience was admittedly thin, but he didn't have the energy to dismiss Gale.
"His father rejected him as well," Gale looked out the window. A slight fog had settled in the yard. "'Tis my fault his father found out. He saw us making love on the beach, and he never forgave Eren for that. Eren stayed with me after that; I took care of him."
Dorian's eyes widened. "You had a human boyfriend in another world?"
Gale nodded. "I was happy with Eren. I can't remember what happened to him. I feel s... sad when I think of him?"
Gale looked to Dorian with a weary, confused look on his face. Dorian's eyes trailed idly up and down Gale's form.
"Yes, that sounds about right," Dorian sighed. He leaned on the window. Just slightly closer to Gale. The icy cold of the glass soothed the oncoming headache. "So you and I have more in common than I thought."
Gale didn't say anything. Dorian tentatively reached forward to cup his hand over Gale's to keep him in place.
Gale stayed as long as necessary, which was a long time, but he was happy to ensure Dorian didn't suffer alone. After more conversation and some time with just the two of them, Dorian finally sat up. He didn't dare try to stand with Gale sitting there.
"Your Arisen must hate me for dragging you away from her so long," Dorian sighed. "Go return to her. Leave me in my wallowing."
"Oh, no," Gale shook his head. "She's already asleep. I haven't anywhere to be tonight. Actually, she might feel better if someone ensured you got to bed in one piece."
"Such a worrier, your Arisen," Dorian rolled his eyes, but not unkindly. "Help me up."
He let Gale accompany him upstairs. He draped an arm around Gale's shoulder and hung on him as Gale escorted him to bed. He didn't question how or why Gale knew the way.
"You're a lovely boy, Gale," Dorian said. Or at least, that's what Gale thought he was saying; it was harder to tell when Dorian was so drunk. "Your Arisen is... in good hands, I can assure you."
"Yes, Master Pavus," Gale said as he led Dorian to sit on the edge of his bed and knelt to take off Dorian's shoes. Dorian watched him with a dizzy, half-lidded gaze.
"Mm..." he sighed. "I'm 'Master' now, am I?"
Gale gave him an expression that was as vague as the pawn ever was, but something about it captivated Dorian so deeply that the ache ever increased. Dorian's head swam and his heart fluttered ever faster as the pawn stood up and guided Dorian under the covers. Just before Gale turned to leave, Dorian's hand darted out to grab the pawn's wrist. He didn't know what had come over him. Just a couple hours ago, he couldn't get rid of the pawn. Now he didn't want to. Loneliness, was that it? Did it truly compromise him, after everything else he'd had to endure?
Something dawned on Gale's face. Not quite realization; he knew what Dorian was up to the moment he started talking. But something in the pawn changed. He was no longer the rigid support of a servant; he was a person in a way Dorian didn't see before. Gale sat on the edge of the bed and lied down on top of the covers with him. Gale took Dorian's hand in a gentle hold.
Neither of them said anything at first, but there was an unspoken communication between them. Gale continued looking at Dorian with that peculiar look. Dorian was overwhelmed with an absurd urge to kiss Gale, but he couldn't decide on kissing his lips or his cheek or his forehead... or whether he should do such a thing in the first place.
"What are you thinking about?" Gale asked quietly. He noticed Dorian hadn't fallen asleep yet.
"You," Dorian admitted. "What about you?"
Gale rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, still holding the other's hand. He thought about how to phrase it for a moment before braving a small whisper.
"Sometimes... I feel like I could do better than my Arisen," he admitted. "As if... she isn't the only thing I care about. Is that bad?"
Dorian chuckled and pressed his forehead against Gale's cheek. Of course Gale would be thinking about something so simple, so gentle.
"I think worse things every day," he said. "The whole world makes people like us feel like caring is wrong, Gale. Don't fall for it."
Normally he wasn't so trite. But Gale was different. He was naive. He was vulnerable in a way most people weren't. Dorian couldn't let that be lost for negligence on his part.
Gale smiled, half at Dorian's words, and half at the physical contact. Dorian didn't speak again. He was finally asleep. Even then, Gale didn't move. He just lied there, listening to Dorian's steady breathing and reveling in the peace of this moment.
.
The next morning, when Dorian roused, Gale was lying in bed right next to him, watching him, though not in the most unsettling way. Dorian bolted upright in bed, looking around the room frantically. Gale sat up as well, rubbing his eyes and brushing his hair back into place with his fingers. Gale had lost some clothes last night. He was still fully covered, but his shoes and robes had been discarded into a neat pile at the foot of the bed.
"I suppose you've slept long enough," Gale murmured. "I suppose you didn't remember last night right away. Take your time."
"I—" Dorian didn't know what to say. "I don't suppose we..."
"Don't worry, Dorian. I wouldn't take advantage of you," he said. "You let me stay the night, that's all."
"And your Arisen is okay with that? You're... okay with that?"
Gale straightened, arms full of clothes, and gave Dorian a wide, genuine smile. There it was, that personhood again. Had it not recurred, Dorian might've thought he'd imagined it last night.
"Dorian, you're my friend. 'Tis no reason to be ashamed of what we are."
Dorian watched Gale as he looped his arms into the sleeves of his robe and pulled it into place.
"Do you feel very sick?" Gale asked.
"I fear I'll have a headache for days," Dorian replied tersely.
"I'll have tea made for you," Gale offered.
"That's quite alright Gale. I'd rather sit with it a while."
"Alright," Gale nodded. "I should return to my Arisen. She's already woken. If you need anything else, I'll be with her."
"Alright," Dorian nodded, then before Gale managed to disappear, he said, "Thank you, Gale."
Gale didn't say he was welcome or anything. He only looked at Dorian with that strangely bright, lively "person" look that made Dorian's heart flutter with uncertainty and comfort all at once. A stern nod. Then Gale was gone.
.
Marnie didn't think much of it when she woke alone. She dressed herself, got some breakfast, and headed to the stable before the Inquisitor found her.
"Marnie," he greeted her. "How was Val Royeaux?"
"Fine. Though considering how you're asking, you have more important things to talk to me about."
Trevelyan put the pleasantries aside. "Solas needs our help with a personal matter. We need to help a friend of his—a spirit friend. I figure your expertise could be of some use."
"I'll find Gale," Marnie said. "I don't know where he's gotten off to, but we'll be ready as soon as you need."
"Good. I'll see you two at the gates in one hour."
He left her then, and Marnie tacked the elk and packed their things. Gale didn't come to her even when she called, so she hid away in an empty room of the main hall and tossed a Riftstone shard into the air. The stone exploded in a swirl of ethereal light, and Gale fell through. The pawn landed on his feet and raised his right hand to show the glowing scar on his palm as the small Rift closed behind him.
Marnie was not pleased. He could tell by how she was glaring at him.
"What happened?" she asked.
It wasn't foolish to think Gale could make it back to his and Marnie's room by himself without incident, but after leaving Dorian that morning, Gale took a detour on the battlements and ended up falling off when a flock of birds startled and flew by him. At this point in his story, Marnie and Gale were already with the others at the gate and were setting off on their journey.
"You fell of the battlements?!" Marnie demanded. "We don't have a wealth of Riftstone fragments here, Gale. Why am I wasting them over trivial matters like you falling off the battlements right outside our bedroom!"
Gale looked thoroughly reprimanded but simultaneously indifferent as she scolded him. She wasn't truly angry with him, but Gale understood her frustration. They didn't have many fragments or access to a Riftstone. As long as that was the case, Gale was almost mortal. They both needed to be more careful. None of the others in their company reacted. The Inquisitor, Solas, and Cassandra only looked at the road ahead. It was a long way to the Exalted Plains.
.
In the Exalted Plains, the group followed Solas as he led them along the road to where he'd heard his friend. As they drew closer to the place, the path became a trail of destruction. First they saw the body of a mage, killed by arrows. Next they saw rubble and burned bodies along the trail.
"These look like claw marks," Cassandra indicated one of the bodies.
"The work of a beast, perhaps?" Gale asked.
"No," Solas looked ahead. His face changed to one of despair as he saw an outcropping of pillars surrounding a large monster in the clearing. "No. No, no, no..."
They jogged a bit closer, then came to a grinding halt so they wouldn't alert the demon. The Pride demon was doubled over, as if immensely weak. But even in this state, it could cause unimaginable destruction.
"No," Solas gasped. "My friend."
He balled his hands into fists in front of his face with a growl of rage. Trevelyan turn to Solas, irritated that this little detail was omitted when they set out.
"Anything you'd like to share, Solas?" he proposed.
"That is not it's natural form!" Solas shouted. "It's been corrupted!"
"Corrupted?"
"Forced to act against its original purpose," Solas elaborated. "What did they do, what did they do, what did they do?!"
Gale put an arm in front of the Arisen to keep her behind him. He had never seen Solas so angry before. It might've scared him, actually, but he'd come to learn that Solas wasn't going to do anything in front of the others. Not like this. Still, Gale didn't look away from Solas, even as another mage joined them.
"We'll figure this out, Solas," Trevelyan tried to placate him. Solas looked between him and the stranger.
"Perhaps we should ask," Solas snapped.
"A mage!" the stranger tentatively greeted them. "You're not with the bandits? Do you have any Lyrium potions? Most of us are exhausted. We've been fighting that demon..."
"You summoned that demon!" Solas yelled. "Except it was a spirit of wisdom at the time. You made it kill! You twisted it against its purpose."
"I-I-I understand how it might be confusing to someone who has not studied demons, but after you help us, I can—"
"We are not here to help you," Solas growled. After a moment of staring the man down to the point the other man cowered, Solas looked expectantly at Trevelyan.
"We're here to help the wisdom spirit that you corrupted," Trevelyan's tone was level but accusatory. "And I don't recommend explaining how demons work to my friend here."
"Listen to me," the other mage pleaded. "I was one of the foremost experts in the Kirkwall Circle—"
"Shut. Up." Solas didn't tolerate any more from the man. "You summoned it to protect you from the bandits."
"I... yes."
"You bound it to obedience, then commanded it to kill. That is when it turned." He turned to Trevelyan. "The summoning circle. We break it, we break the binding. No orders to kill, no conflict with its nature, no demon."
"What?" the mage asked. "The binding is the only thing keeping the demon from killing us. Whatever it was before, it is a monster now!"
"Inquisitor, please!"
"Breaking a summoning circle has to be easier than fighting a demon," Trevelyan said. The other mages were already fleeing.
"The summoning circle is part of the demon's current nature," Solas warned. "It will certainly attack us as we attempt to break it."
"Inquisitor, the Arisen can distract the demon while the rest attack," Gale suggested. "The demon would be drawn to her either way."
Trevelyan and Marnie exchanged glances. She looked ready and willing to comply.
"Do it," Trevelyan said. "Make sure it doesn't get near anyone else."
"Leave it to me," she nodded and sprinted around the beast in a tight circle.
"Don't hurt it!" Solas called after her, flinching as the Pride demon took a swipe at her. "We must hurry."
There were four pillars in an uneven pattern around the clearing, each glowing with a strange spirit energy. The pillars had a similar texture to soapstone—rather soft for a stone, easily carved, but still a chore to break. Trevelyan and Cassandra struck the pillars with their swords, Solas conjured destructive spells to disrupt the magic. Gale had little to do aside from watch and worry over his Arisen. Trevelyan tried not to be irritated with him for not helping. He knew the pawn must be worried for his master brazenly placing herself in harm's way even for a good cause.
Marnie had yet to even raise her weapons at the demon. She'd been moving more and more slowly around it, keeping just out of its reach as it spun. Soon, she slowed to a complete stop in front of the demon while the others worked at the pillars behind it. The Pride demon stared her down, heaving with exertion and a will to fight.
"Arisen, be careful!"
"Just stay over there, Gale! Easy..."
Trevelyan braved a glance at the Arisen. With how Gale had shouted, he feared she'd gotten injured or pinned somewhere. However, what he did see made his stomach drop like a stone.
Marnie was unarmed. Her daggers were still sheathed. She stood still in front of the demon with her palms extended as if she was calming a disgruntled animal. What was even more unsettling was that the demon was completely still. It glowered down at her, but it didn't make a move to attack her, though it had ample opportunity. It was... calm.
"What is she doing?" Trevelyan whispered, the pillars momentarily forgotten.
Solas mumbled something incredulously under his breath in elven. Marnie was so fixated on the demon she didn't notice the others. She smiled slightly in relief.
"There, that's better... Stay like that, look at me."
They made quick work of the last pillar. As soon as it was broken, the demon shrank. Its monstrous form dissolved, leaving behind a humanoid specter swathed in darkness with glowing green eyes. Marnie relaxed. She flinched when she felt Solas's hand on her shoulder. Solas moved past her to kneel before the specter.
He spoke in elvhen, and the spirit reciprocated. The spirit was in pain. Solas couldn't bear to watch it as he raised his hands and released the spirit. It disappeared, leaving a silence and stillness in the area that made it feel empty. The world lost another good spirit, simply because it was turned against its nature for a short while.
"I'm sorry, Solas," Trevelyan spoke quietly.
"Don't be. We gave it a moment's peace before the end. That's more than it might've had. All that remains now is them."
He stood, and the anger slowly returned to his face, albeit less severe now. He stalked towards the rampant mages.
"Thank you!" the mage started. "We would not have risked the summoning, but the roads are too dangerous to travel unprotected."
"You tortured and killed my friend."
Solas continued walking, and the mages backed away in response.
"We didn't know it was just a spirit! Th-the book said it could help us!"
Solas was going to kill them. Trevelyan hesitated from intervening and looked among his companions. Cassandra looked coldly at the mages. Marnie was averting her gaze as Gale clutched her arms so hard that his hands shook. By the time Trevelyan looked back at the rogue mages, Solas had conjured a burst of flame that killed them instantly. Now the mage only looked at the embers.
"Damn them all," he growled. "I need some time alone. I will meet you back at Skyhold."
.
Trevelyan, Cassandra, Gale, and Marnie traveled back to Skyhold alone. They set up camp at night just outside the Plains to make sure Solas wouldn't be joining them. If he didn't, they'd set out that morning. As they did their nightly rituals, none of them spoke. The mission was a failure in a sense, but the stakes were admittedly, (though they were loathed to admit), inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. A tragedy that didn't even belong to them.
That being said, Trevelyan eventually warmed up to ask Marnie something that had been bothering him. He didn't know what to make of Marnie's interaction with the demon. Was she able to help it recall its true nature due to her pull to the Fade? Or was this another magic trick she neglected to tell them about? No, he knew her better now. She wouldn't keep it from him; he just had to ask her.
"Marnie?"
She looked up from where she sat by the fire. Trevelyan sat with her.
"Yes, Inquisitor?" she asked.
"I was wondering about what happened when we were helping Solas' friend."
"Oh," Marnie looked sheepish, and for a moment Trevelyan thought the worst. But her next words put him at ease again. "You want to know why I didn't intervene."
"What? No, I wanted to know how you tamed the demon."
"What?"
"When you were distracting the Pride demon, I saw you... stand in front of it, and then it stopped moving. It seemed calm. How did you do that?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"You mean the best battle strategy you thought of in that moment was to put away your weapons and face the demon head on?" Trevelyan pressed.
By now, Gale had taken notice of their conversation and drifted closer to the Arisen. Whether she'd called him or he thought the Inquisitor was something to protect her from, Trevelyan couldn't decide.
"'Twas bound, and a former spirit," Marnie supplied sadly. "Perhaps an Arisen comforted it. I don't know. But I'm not a familiar of such things."
Now Trevelyan realized she was afraid of being misunderstood. Trevelyan didn't doubt the danger she'd be in if she did such a thing in Gransys. The few stories Gale had told them about people being wrongly persecuted for witchcraft was enough to give him that insight.
"That makes sense, actually," Trevelyan said casually. "Well, it seems being the Arisen isn't all bad after all."
Marnie gave a pained grimace of a smile, feeling thoroughly patronized. But at least she wasn't in fear of being called a witch anymore.
.
A/N: Sorry I've been gone for so long! I've been more than motivated, but I've been having some health issues that actually landed me in the ER right before Christmas (nothing serious; just an autoimmune flare...). I've also been taking all sorts of medication off and on, so I'm sorry if this chapter reads a bit "different." Admittedly, everything I write just feels a little off. In the end, I figured posting a subpar chapter for the sake of progress is better than no chapter at all, and I might edit in a few months if I think it'll fix the "inconsistently medicated Vibes" issue. Anyway, excuse my venting, thanks for sticking with me this far, and I hope you liked the chapter.