Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Dragonage or anything else I may reference
Magic and the Inquisition
Chapter 36 The Beginning of the End
Skyhold
Skyhold was a different place now Valeyna thought as she continued to stroll through the stone courtyard. While the ruined castle that they had first discovered after the fall of Haven had been quickly rectified once their resident wizard came back, the truth was as the colder air of winter that had kept them in their homes had now fully vanished and that spring was fully upon them, she could easily see the beauty of such a place.
The once white blanket of snow that had given her shivers in the middle of winter as she thought about how she was going to pass through it turned more into an aesthetic appearance. It was still cold up here and snow continued to drift on a semi-regular basis, but it was tempered snow, the enchantments worked onto the fortification by the wizard keeping the are generally warm and the residents more comfortable. Though it could still rain and snow, and the same occurs with storms, she knew that were it to come to a battle Nat could stop it in an instant as the wards he had created would fling to life under his command.
It was truly a wonder of magic one that she wished she could understand how he had done it, but much to his displeasure, he had simply stated that there was not the time to explain it instead withdrawing further into his office. That aside as she looked around the bustling courtyard now filled with a larger amount of merchants as they all sat on one side all looking at her eagerly hoping to catch her and sell her something of value.
To the other side, she could hear the loud neighing of horses as they chattered and chattered amongst one another their hooves occasionally pattering loudly against the floor as some of the stable boys began to help the owners move the horses into the stalls. Speaking of which she noted oddly that there was a lot of horses, so many in fact that a temporary stable had seemingly been made out of nowhere as a set of carpenters were working as rapidly as they could their tools clanging in order to make somewhere safe for the horses to stay.
Valeyna raised an eyebrow, they were not unused to visitors at Skyhold, but the sheer amount of horses present and then the number of merchants all yelling to nearby soldiers, it was as though she had entered the market of some great city as people went to ply their trade. Looking at the horses she noted even from this distance that those currently reined in were no minor horses, instead they were great horses, the type that would be expensive to maintain given the cleanliness of the coat and how healthy yet big the horses looked. There were even a few warhorses saddles amongst the group recognisable by their sheer size as well as given how some of them were eying up some of the mares their neighing starting to increase as they tried to get closer.
Valeyna shook her head, she felt sorry for the poor stable boys.
With that oddity aside though she continued towards her throne room; the idea of being able to sit down in her chair and dealing with more petty crimes was not the most entertaining idea, but after having been in the lower village dealing with some minor problem with some of the mages that had shown up, it would suffice to have a place to sit down.
Her moment of relaxation didn't last very long however, not even by the time she had reached the bottom step did she hear the loud voices that bellowed from above within her courtroom. Sighing she adjusted her shirt slightly so it looked better when she marched in rather than the more dishevelled look that had overcome her due to the wind. With that completed, she carried on up the stairs granting the guards at the entrance a respectful nod as she did her best to ignore the every growing noise that came inside. With a hard push, the doors were then opened to her revealing just what was making such a loud ruckus.
Nobles
All she could see as she stepped forward her eyebrows fluttering as she looked in every direction around her was a large selection of nobles. Recognizable because of the fine clothing that they wore upon their bodies, the group was like a rainbow of colour. Different hues of all sorts, from brighter colours like reds, blues and greens to other colours such as white and black all decorated her hallway like a flower garden.
With the way clear ahead she gave them al a general nod of recognition before hurrying past them towards her throne where she saw that Josephine was looking at her with a nervous look. She wasn't the only one present though Leliana was also there behind the spymaster but unlike the diplomat's worried face, hers was all amusement her eyes twinkling as the light reflected in the dresses. Others were there as well Varric who was dressed casually was standing nearby a door dressed casually as he looked around before then shooting an amused glance to Bull and Blackwall who were both leaning against a wall, the two of them like Leliana seemingly looking at the situation as though it were the greatest thing they had ever seen.
Cassandra who was on the other side however did not look amused in the slightest instead her scared face was set in an obvious frown that seemed to say that she wanted to kick out all of these people here and now, their cries and problems be dammed. The others weren't to be seen anywhere though it was the lack of Sera she worried about most and shot her eyes upwards expecting to see some type of elaborate prank.
"So, what's happened?" She asked as she glanced at the assembled nobles. There were all sorts in the crowd just from their appearance alone, Ferelden, Orlesian, Antivan, Nevarran, Tevinter, there were those from all countries just as there were those from all sexes and skin colours though they were all decidedly human and dressed in their countries fashions.
"These lords and ladies have come here seeking engagement" Joesphine stated plainly.
"Engagement" Valeyna nearly choked as she stared back at her advisor not noticing the snicker that emerged on Liliana's face.
"Yes," Josephine answered with a small smile and musical note. "Though they are not all for you, some are for Commander Cullen and Lord Tempest"
"They are?" Valeyna carried on her eyes reverting back to the nobility now starting to notice how the proportion of women seemed to be three to one. "Where are they then, why aren't they here?" Valeyna asked now becoming very noticeable of her two advisors absence. Josephine gave a pained smile one that she hid from the nobility even as they continued to watch the Inquisitor firmly in their eyes, as though she was an animal ready to be speared through. Valeyna shook her head, this was not going to be fun.
"The two of them stated that they had military actions to perform, specifically they said they were going to experiment with a new type of rifle and artillery piece that Nat said he was developing"
"Cowards" She swore loudly. "What factory, did Nat say which?" Josephine shook her head. "That utter bastard, leaving me to handle this."
"Yes it was rather amusing you should have seen it, we were in a strategy meeting and as soon as we got word of the first arrival, Nat promptly told Cullen about new weapons and before we could even get so much as a word out they had both left the castle," Leliana said in great amusement, to think that the two military commanders of the Inquisition, leaders who had led men against demons, bandits, and other enemies would retreat so quickly in the face of marriage.
"Did they say how long they would be?"
"Nat mentioned that after checking out the weapons that they should check on the other factories and on the forts guarding the Inquisitions trade paths, as well as having a quick check on Empress Celene to make sure that she arrived back at Val Royeux safely in person"
"That's going to be a week minimum" Valeyna her eyes twitching turned back onto the eager nobility watched as a few of the nobles hearing that began to quietly turn around and head back out of the main doors, that was not the majority however as the others only pushed forwards eager to get a shot to get to speak with the Inquisitor herself.
"Nat also mentioned that he was going to spend a week at the University of Orlais while Cullen met up with some old Templar friends" Josephine added, a few more nobles left. Valeyna was thankful for that she had no idea how many guests Skyhold could support, but she knew it was not even a quarter of those still gathered in front of them.
"Why didn't they send a letter?" Valeyna whispered in her advisor's ear as she saw the men eying her in different fashions. Normally she would have been flattered and perhaps before she would have been willing to entertain a few of them at the same time, but as the Inquisitor and Nat constantly seeming to cram in her head that this action was bad for politics, she had to leave her desired unsated.
"They wanted to meet yourself and the commander's in-person" Josephine responded quickly as she noticed the already growing frustration on the woman's face.
"Did you tell them they're not here?" Josephine nodded causing the Inquisitor to sigh again. Under other circumstances she may have laughed at it, the idea of Nat and Cullen hiding somewhere in the castle as they nervously kept out of sight of a great number of noble ladies was indeed a hilarious one. Poor Cullen would be blushing his face bright red as no doubt he would have a host of noble lords and ladies pinching his bottom as they went to feel just how firm and tight it was.
And then there was Nat who would. She stopped, actually it was probably best that Nat was away. Her she noticed he was seemingly becoming more comfortable with even shooting off an occasional joke, but a whole gaggle of ladies all of whom would be insistent on marriage. She would prefer if her castle stayed intact as well as that half the Orlesian noble population did not vanish overnight.
Still, it was leaving her in quite a conundrum, if she offered to host the nobles until they returned then that would lead to all sorts of complications and rival disputes. That was not something she needed to contend with, not after the last dam ball, the quicker she got rid of them the better. The question was how?
Once again as she felt the stares of the nobility upon her, there eyes looking carefully analysing her as every noble did probing her for weakness that they could exploit did she realise once again just what position Nat had put her in. He was the harsh brutal one, the butcher of the Inquisition, even if he was desired because of the power he had gained, one harsh look and some cold words would have the majority of nobles running away fearful just what this mage might do to them that had gained his fury, the memory of the Templars still burnt into their mind. She, on the other hand, had a more gentle and merciful approach, she couldn't just simply kick them out.
What would Nat do? Blinking she believed she had an answer and raised her voice so that it carried to the end of the hall entering the ears of every single noble there and then.
"My Lords and ladies, on behalf of myself as well as Lord Tempest and Commander Cullen, I would like to thank you for coming in person to meet us. Truly such hard work shows just how much care and attention you have for the Inquisition and ourselves, however as grievous as I am to admit it, I'm afraid that none of us, are in a position to accept any sort of marriage proposal at this moment. I am sorry if this has caused alarm, however for the sake of the war all efforts must be focused on Corypaheus and his defeat. If you desire to stay the night and rest, we will make sure that there is enough room in Skytown however I must ask that you clear this area if your concern is purely on that matter."
Immediately there was a whole host of sound, angry yells mixed in with a few very brief relieved sighs however the majority of emotion was anger. Wincing Valeyna did her best to try and hope that this wouldn't cause too much problem, she knew it wouldn't do, marriage was a major thing in the world of nobility but as stated she simply did not have the time for it nor could she see herself marrying anyone she did not love. The guards made quick work of clearing off the yelling crowd though and though a few were louder in their rejections making it outright clear that this was a travesty and that they would regret it, those same people made themselves scarce when they saw the slightest tip of the muskets from the soldiers choosing their life over their honour.
When the door finally closed behind the guards the last of the suitors gone revealing still a handful of nobles though far less than last time, Valeyna leaned back and recomposed herself, hopefully, these other matters would be easier to deal with. Just as she planned to, however, it was at that moment when one of the side doors and out walked none other then Nat and Cullen the two striding into the room entirely ignoring the stares of everyone else.
"Those bastards" Valeyna muttered under he breathe, no doubt the two of them had been waiting for her to clear the suitors off so they could then move in without problems. "Commander, Lord Tempest, I thought you had gone away on urgent business" Cutting like an icy blade through flesh Cullen stopped in his tracks his face instantly turning to face her as his expression seemed to resembled a dear that had gotten caught by a wolf mere seconds before its teeth gouged into its flesh.
"Inquisitor, we were uh, just discussing… strategy. You see we uh, recently had a report about enemy troop movements in uh… Orlais" Cullen gulped and then did his best to seemingly turn himself into a ball as much as possible as the gaze of the Inquisitor hardened into a thin veneer that promised he was going to face a thrashing later on. With the commander suitably subdued Valeyna turned her gaze onto Nat however as per usual Nat didn't seem bothered in the slightest, in fact, he hadn't even stopped walking. Now he stood by her side humming a small tune to herself seemingly smug even as she levelled that glare on him to no effect.
"My Inquisitor, you really need to smile more, a face as pretty as yours shouldn't have a reason to snarl, especially on such a fine day as this" In an instant Valeyna's expression broke and she reeled back entirely unexpected by the strange look Nat sent her, it was infuriating that cocky smirk that had appeared on those cute thin lips of his. Even with his illusion back all around him, she could still remember what he had looked like in Orlais, those handsome features that princely look those gorgeous violet eyes. "Are you all right Inquisitor" Nat's voice full of fake and amused concern snapped the Inquisitor out of her memories causing her to blush a deep red as she realised just what had happened.
"Fine" She answered meekly. "I'm just glad you're here, with me. I was afraid that one of the nobles had snuck into somewhere that they shouldn't have" To the side, it was all Varric and a few of the others could do not to laugh as they saw the Inquisitor once again completely loose in their verbal spar.
"You know for a woman who's seduced countless men and done multiple at once, have you noticed just how easily she blushes the moment the kid teases her" Bull chuckled to Varric, even the nobility a bit on edge watched the interaction with obvious concern a small amount of understanding growing on their face.
Good, Nat thought with ruthless emotion. If they believed that the two of them had any sort of relationship then they would back off, the last thing either of them needed was some sort of romantic entanglement at the moment. Unfortunately, as he turned back to the Inquisitor and saw the blush adorning her cheeks he couldn't help but feel if he had gone too far.
He was not a fool ignorant of her feelings, he knew she cared for him, how could he not when he had peered so many times inside of her mind. What had once started as an attractive glance that one might send an actress back home had blossomed into something more, more then mere liking him, it was more than just a simple crush. She would not have to confess any feelings to him making him suddenly aware, that he knew already.
He could not return those feelings however and even as he looked at her now sitting in that throne he felt nothing, that spark that had been there he had crushed utterly. Love was a mere illusion, used to manipulate and betray others and this woman was no different, how she went from man to man, and occasionally to a woman flinging herself at them. She may feel love now but that would fade, it always did in people, yet he couldn't allow it at least not yet. Lives were in peril, his country was still in peril, better to keep her attention on him then lingering in directions that could cause ill harm.
So he simply smiled noticing again how the woman seemed to blush. Better him then enemy.
"Shut up, where were you?"
"As Cullen stated we were discussing strategy."
"And I was not invited?"
"It was a minor thing, just another talk about Coryphaeus's movements a few days ago" Valeyna's eyes widened in recognition it was probably a good thing. After the ball there had been an enormous panic, Coryphaeus was marching east towards Val Royeux. Originally there had been calls for soldiers, chevaliers had been armed and what forces near Halamshiral had joined the forces of the Inquisition ready to march north and prevent such action.
It had not been needed, Nat amongst a few others had argued against action stating that it was a diversion, a trick. It would take time to meet Corypaheus army and by then the place they would meet, a place nearby some woods would allow the forces to retreat and then escape from another side whilst the Inquisition would get lost in pursuit. By holding back they would allow Corypaheus to escape but then again there was no way to defeat him and with his dragon nearby he had argued that a battle would be costly.
"Coryphaeus will not attack Val Royeux, even were he to burn it to the ground and slaughter a quarter of a million people, he would gain nothing at this point. He doesn't have the resources, everything he does needs to be rationed through done for a military edge. What he cannot do through military might he will achieve through other methods, if we march to confront his army he will simply leave to complete his true objective. We should not intervene. Only if his army starts burning villages and pillaging lands do we need to confront him, otherwise, we will spend valuable resources on a wild goose chase, best we concentrate them on finding out his true aim and what he wants our main force away. Besides he's not stupid, he knows if he does too much at this stage with no backup, the whole of Thedas will rally behind him in anger and then he's fucked. For now, he has to mitigate damage to prevent more allies from joining us, let them see it as Orlais problem, not there's. "
She remembered his voice so clear, strong, self-assured, not a doubt in his mind, with the heart of Orlesian war masters on him he was every part the young noble they expected him to be. Perhaps it was that reason why grudgingly they accepted, that and the fact that Nat had stated there was no honour in fighting disgraced Templars at this point.
Still, even if they had rather reluctantly accepted the decision to not openly engage Corypaheus in his forces so soon, the reasoning behind such action was still being kept rather secret. No doubt she thought that Nat suspected spies in their midst, either Coryphaeus, Fen Harels or the Qun, all desiring to know just how the great Wizard planned on defeating the greatest evil of their time. It made her wonder as well, but as much as she wanted to ask just what was going on in that mind of his she could tell even with his silence that there was a deep well of concern brewing within him, one that had started the first moment he had considered how to defeat Coryphaeus and one that he was yet to find an answer.
"I hope you plan to inform me what this meeting was about sometime later"
"If you want, but as I said it's nothing that hasn't been spoken to you before"
"Good, otherwise I will ensure to inform the lords and ladies have left that you have managed to arrive rather suddenly" In a tone as sweet as honeyed milk Valeyna leaned forward her eyes gleaming as she expected Nat to gulp and cower behind her chair, his aversion to romance was a thing she hoped she could use against him. However much like ever Nat did not even seem to hear her, that or he was entirely unbothered by her trick seeing it for what it was. If she called the nobility back because Nat and Cullen had arrived then that indicated she too hand changed her perspective on a future marriage. Blast him, he had already considered her plans.
"I'm afraid my calendar is all booked up for the next three years, I wouldn't have time" Nat answered back in a tone that was just as sickly sweet as her own. "Anyhow, I'm here to deal with the little trouble maker" With a gesture aimed towards the guards, the group turned their heads their attention falling upon the familiar sight of Duchess Florianne. "Given the… situation. Empress Celene has in he very kind and great wisdom asked that we deliver punishment to the traitor. She had already been stripped of all her titles and rank, her future is in your hands"
Sneering at the guards as they pushed her forwards roughly ignoring her attempts to move away, Floriannae soon found herself placed in front of the entirety of the nobility as the Inquisition looked down on her. It was a rather amusing image from the nobility, the woman was still dressed in the gown she had worn she had been in when she had been arrested that night. Her face however once puffed up with makeup and eyeliner and all sorts of scents designed to make her seem more attractive to others had all faded away leaving her true face like a bony skeleton to leer angrily at her captors.
Cruelty Valeyna leaned forwards a wicked look in her eye as she saw one of the individuals for so much trouble now in front of her at her mercy. She took a few moments to savour this feeling, that of utterly dominating a person until finally, she took in a deep breath the spring air never having tasted so much sweeter.
"Out of your element Floriane, welcome to the Inquisition. My Party."
"Peh"
"Despite her posture, Lady Floriane has recognised your authority," Josephine said as like the other she enjoyed as the woman glared at her defeated.
"Should I curse you on behalf of the Elder One. I realise he had no intention of honouring the concordant's I manipulated. Do as you must. I respect your mastery of the Game, even as I despise your victory. Celene does not know her fortune"
"Cute" Nat butted in. "How you think with these last set of words you think you can regain some minor monument of respect amongst your peers, that they will have at least something to say in your departure." Nat shook his head his tone as ever neutral yet his words seeming to hit with the harshness of a slap across the face each time. "If you believe that your peers will forget just what you did, that you betrayed your country, that you set up your own brother to take the fall, that you made a pact with one of the original Magisters that broke into the Fade itself, to deliver their world to him for your own game… It's adorable, truly."
In a single moment as he spoke those words all seeming respect that the woman may have had for the Inquisitor slowly turned at an agonising pace. Memories of that night in the garden of how easily he had dispatched her guards burst forth followed then by the chilling sensation that her backup plan had also failed spectacularly. The other assassins that had been in the palace, the other nobles also positioned to attack should the plan fail had failed to arise. Not out of cowardice, but simply because they had failed to be there.
How such a thing had occurred was now obvious to her, the subtle growing number of Inquisition troops both in their bright scarlet coats and those who had disguised themselves as Orlesian guards had taken her fellow traitors where they would never be seen again. But despite this she knew who was responsible, for all the beauty an outward appearance of the Inquisitor it became obvious now Nat was the true commander, his word was law, his actions were the actions of the Inquisition. And as he mocked her here in the courtyard once again so openly removing any chance of redeeming herself in the eyes of politics she knew her career was forever gone never to be recovered.
"The choice is yours, Inquisitor, she admits to guilt. Though I would recommend not using the death penalty for this one" Intrigued Valeyna allowed her head to rest on her shoulder before nodding.
"Yes, death would be too simple, to clean. You would have destroyed the lives of hundreds of thousands, enslaved them turned them into nothing but mere animals. Like most nobility, you've never walked in the shoes of those she's endangered. Lady Florianne, I give you a chance. Common work, farm work. Do some good."
"Forced to walk with animals, how droll" Rolling her eyes Florianne turned her heel striking the floor with a loud echo.
"Florianne, I do hope you enjoy your new more simple way of life. I'm sure you'll make good friends with the other wives oh and I do hope you find a good husband." Calling out afterwards in the dry humourless tone Nat watched the small little movements of the woman come to a stop as it finally began to dawn on her just what she was. A commoner, there would be no late nights staring into the sky lounging on a chair as servants dropped grapes in her mouth, no more brilliant dresses to wrap herself in day and night, no more manicures and pedicures. Her clothes would tear, her nails would break and her usual gentle hands would harden, after a few months her once noble appearance would vanish and what possessions she had would be sold off either for more food or for grains.
They would have to set a guard nearby to make sure she did not run away, that or make a zoo exhibit out of her. Knowing the Orlesians they would no doubt happily attended to pay their respects to the woman, smiling and jeering at her as they made her life a living hell as she would have done to these villagers.
Only when the woman had been forced outside the main hall the great doors closing behind her with a great bang that echoed outwards and into her very soul did she realise that would be the last time she would ever see such luxury in her life again. From now on she was nothing but a peasant girl, Nat doubted she would survive till this time next year.
"Great now that's sorted what's next," Valeyna asked leaning back in her chair.
"We have received word from the Empress, she has asked that we send forces to investigate Emprise Du Lion. The Red Templars have recently established a base there and are using it for some purpose"
"So soon? I thought we had stopped their plans"
"Obviously they're desperate for some base of operations. No matter I'll round up some men and have them marching by sundown" Nat replied casually. At the declaration of action, there was an immediate sense of hope amongst the nobles as well as what he could only have described as contentedness, obviously, they were glad it was the Inquisition who was going to stick their necks out on the line.
"No, we'll go. If we give time for the Templars to prepare the fortress we may lose more lives then needed. Reay the car and grab Solas, Cassandra get Cole if you can. Josephine is there anything major or are we free to go"
"There is one thing. Lady Morrigan has asked to speak to us in private when we are able"
"Oh" Valeyna quirked her eyebrows at the mention of the witch, supposedly she was here on Celene's orders, yet despite that she couldn't help but feel that there were other reasons for as to why she had shown up with a large cart of belongings, including form what she had heard, a rather large mirror. Just as she thought of the mirror her mind ready to write it off as a complete oddity, she stopped. This was feeling familiar, had Nat also taken a rather large mirror? Come to think of it he had also mentioned the Eluvians. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, it couldn't be, Morrigan had an Eluvian, how?. "Tell her to come to the war room as soon as we'll be able. Cassandra can you grab Solas instead, Nat with me" With the order given the once busy hall once again began to clear as those who had been within quickly departed leaving the leaders of the Inquisition to prepare for a talk and eventual departure.
"So what's our next target," Valeyna asked suddenly as the group emerged. Morrigan was not present in the room something that Valeyna found odd given how the woman wanted to speak to them, none the less even with her absence she decided to take advantage of this quiet.
"Nothing exact for now" Nat answered. "We outnumber and outgun Coryphaeus and Orlais ad the other countries are politically stable. Other then Emprise Du Lion, Coryphaeus has pulled all his forces south into the Dales and for the most part, has abandoned the war entirely" Nat answered as they gathered found the holographic map as it began to light up and soak the typical darkroom in a multitude of colours as the world came to life.
"We're well-loved in Orlais, send the word and Empress Celene will send her support" Josephine added.
"And your work at Admamant denied Coryphaerus his army of pet daemons. With Orlais support we outnumber Coryphaeu's forces even more. Coryphaeus followers must be panicking" Cullen strangely for one of the first times looked at the Inquisitor in an optimistic tone. With the war seemingly going their way and great victories achieved however, it was no surprise and not even Valeyna could stop the happy smile that emerged on her face. Though the war was not over, she couldn't help but feel as though they were at the start of the end.
"My agents agree. Our victories have shaken his disciples."
"We've beaten their "god" twice over. Coryphaeus must be livid" With a smug look shared between Leliana, the mod of the war table was oddly happy for the first time. As she glanced around Valeyna felt her own relief increase, soon the small smiling faces would had broader and more full of life, even now she could imagine the victory celebration that would occur. Yet as she moved from the older members she alongside all others that Nat was once again fully concentrated on the map, seemingly planning the next battle.
"And he'll be angry, more likely to make a move toward something. Now is the time to consolidate our victories and to ensure Corypaheus defeat. We may have pushed him out the north but the fact that he still holds Emprise Du Lion shows he is not simply going to hide. We still have
to confront him and his followers in the open, besides while we do outnumber him, any battle that is not going to be in an open field will be to Corypaheus favour. He will likely start reinforcing a new base of operations in which case even with an assault we could take major casualties and that's even if we manage to capture Coryphaeus which is not assured"
And there was the bad news, for once she wished Nat would not be so concerned about the war. They were winning and by a fair amount, yes they still needed to think and plan but now they could afford to take other action. Already the workload had become less, letters had been sent thanking the inquisition for keeping the road safe and uniting the country. With Orlais now in the war they could also pull all their forces together with less concern as Celene would handle the defence of her own country. Yet the way Nat seemed to be so concerned… she sighed.
Why couldn't he just relax?
"What do you recommend?"
"We need to trap them in the Dales, remove what forces they have out of that area first and then we can tighten the noose and keep them held in that area. We'll also need to deal with Lieutenant's, I've heard Imshael is in Emprise Du Lion which sorts one problem out but he's not the only one. If we can cause chaos in their ranks then we'll damage the leadership, but we also have another benefit one we need to take advantage off"
"You mean the forces that Corypheus has left in those places to defend them," Valeyna said as she looked towards the glowing red symbols that indicate the presence of Corypheus's followers. "If we can eliminate them then we fight Corypheus, army head-on then we may stand a better chance"
"Thin their ranks then. Yes, that could work not to mention if we can get our troops involved it will give them the experience they'll need. It's not exactly how I planned on using them though" Nat chuckled at Cullen's comment.
"I don't think any of us were expecting Coryphaeus to retreat so quickly, it makes me wonder if in the information we received from the future made us take overblown action"
"You mean like adamant. Still what's our plan to deal with Coryphaeus, if he comes to support his men, is there anything we can do about it" Valeyna said at first in a mirthful tone however as the subject morphed onto the leader of their enemy and specifically their ability to seemingly never die, the conversation dimmed.
"No. And I'm fearing we are not going to work that out unless we confront him more, that or the other plan wit trying to fracture his soul… but even then. Cracking a soul, our current best shot would be to locate Flemmeth, perhaps she may be willing to assist us in the war. Though what that will cost us… The tales don't paint a pretty picture"
"Oh, I assure you, if you go to my mother begging for her aid she will extract a very fine reward for her trouble, one that you are certain to despise." Cutting in suddenly all bar the wizard spun on their heel to face the recently arrived Morrigan.
"Of that I doubt little, but unless you hold the secret to Coryphaeus's power, we are left with few options, both of which could leave us dead"
"You have no idea… the things that Mother has done… it would haunt your nightmares"
"Better to haunt dreams then the world of the living. Tell us Morrigan, I'd rather we know what we're considering ahead of the time before we make a deal with the Devil." There was no joy in Nat's face Morrigan saw, no mocking look as she might have imagined, it was a calm cool look one that he had gained his reputation for, yet she did not need to see his face nor see his mind to know that his mind was no doubt harbouring in dark places that perhaps it should not be.
"And what if you find that her deal is too much to pay, where then will you look, what actions will you take"
Silence fell upon the room, a cold hard deafening silence as the question echoed round. As wanting eyes turned towards the wizard, expecting some reply, a solution to all their problems as had done so before, the power that had halted the enemies plans, slain dragons, killed titans and made enemies cower in fear. But there was no response, not a single word was uttered, not a strategy raised or battle plan thought about, only a deep oppressive silence.
"You don't have a plan" Valeynas words were barely above a whisper her heart pounding in her chest. Such a thing was impossible, unthinkable, after all, that had occurred, after every victory gained, every devastating blow dealt upon the enemy, and yet Nat didn't answer instead his face met with Morrigan's and said not a word. "Nat, plan?" Valeyna said in a louder more desperate tone. However, Nat seemingly couldn't hear her his entire person unresponsive as though a statue where he had been frozen in time unconscious and unaware. "Nat"
Concern shot through her enough that before Valeyna even knew what she was doing she was by his side one of her arms upon his shoulder as she shook him harshly. Even as hid body moved to her touch though his mind seemingly refused still stuck staring at the woman as though he was broken.
"Nat" She shook him harder. Terror flashing trough her heart and into her spine forcing the hair on her head to stand on her head, her mind raced and moved quickly as he didn't move and her magic flared out as she tried to examine him. As the power of the fade swept over him through her magical essence covering his like a lover gently prodding and coating him inspecting him in a more intimate manner, did he not responds. She called out to him again but again he did not awner her call instead staring there not at Morrigan for she had moved her own golden eyes shook at what had occurred.
"Inquisitor let me" Pulling forth on her magic Morrigan was mere moments from letting it lose when they saw the flickering of eyebrows. Slowly Nat turned towards her his face no longer entirely expressionless but for the first time, it was grave like he had just stared at some great cruel terror that was let loose upon the world and there was nothing he could do. Finally, after a few moments, his lips parted and with the barest of sounds as though his breath was caught and he was fearful for his life did he whisper and though they could not see them his cold haunting eyes of violet hue died all warmth lost in an instant having frozen over with cold purchase.
"There may be away, but I will have to learn it, more than that, it will require sacrifice and the blackest of magic" His words were hoarse and haunted, each sending a shiver like artic ice up there spines enveloping them and never letting them go.
"Sacrifice, you don't mean blood magic" Cullen yelled horrified as he looked at the boys as memories of the Ferelden tower of Kirkwall danced in his minds like little nightmares bring to life to mock his very existence. Nat turned to him his very gaze acting as though it was the dead of night and they were outside as a gale ravaged their body biting into their skin as the darkness closed in.
"No Cullen, if we are left with no other choice, then I shall have to shatter his very soul. To reach within him, to find that which is more precious than any other and to torture it, to break it, to inflict my will and vengeance upon it, breaking and cracking, to destroy it utterly and leave nothing behind, to remove its very existence."
"You're not saying… Morrigan this can't be right" Horrified her face one of such disgust and fear Leliana had stepped back her normal calm expression etched into one of unseen proportions. He was talking not about killing Coryphaeus but instead fracturing the most precious thing in existence. Morrigan's gaze turned onto Nat not a single amount of horror or mistrust instead there was just an understanding nod, from one individual who had performed similar actions to another who proposed them.
"It would work, were Coryphaeus to be captured and his spirit so utterly broken, then he would not have the power to transverse between bodies. But still, to propose such a notion… to actively break something while it is still within the body… It would be best to contain it"
Despite the as ever calm and neutral tone he spoke with, all in the room could tell with utmost certainty the doubt that now circulated through the wizard unhindered. Fear, concern, horror and a growing sense of utmost dread as though he had been one of those poor muggles who had their feet wrapped and bound with rocks and were now mere moments of being dropped into the lake.
"Nat, we can find another way," Valeyna said gently her eyes looking over the wizard in great concern.
"And what way is that I see no other path ahead of us, no easy way to break Coryphaeus," Nat said his eyes downcast to his hand. They were shaking. Rapidly he moved them out of sight, away from the prying eyes, but it was too late Valeyna had seen them. Rapidly she dashed across the room and then with a firm notion grabbed them and held them in hers, allowing her skin to rub against his. Nat eyes hidden gazed up at her and shook his head before then with a powerful yank took his hands back. "There is no other way, Dorian, Solas, Fiona and I have all searched. We've scoured every book we have, formulated countless theories and banished them all. Other than capturing Coryphaeus himself, there is no way to kill him, but this way might work"
"For one who seems so set on course for destroying this evil, you seem strangely opposed to taking the needed actions" Morrigan stated carefully. Nat turned his attention onto her his eyes narrowed, of course, she felt that way, it was how she was taught.
"The soul is a valuable thing, but I will not bore you with moral or religious matters. My magic reacts poorly to things, as though it is wrong on a fundamental level. Even now I can feel it twisting and turning at the very idea, to purposefully shatter a soul… every instinct I have is screaming at me not to do so, that this will end poorly in ways unimagined."
"You cling to a moral defence when the fate of the world is at stake, how unbecoming. My beloved would have destroyed you in such a manner" Morrigan teased though her disappointment in this wizard shone clear as day. For one who was so feared by the Templars, who had garnered such attention to baulk at an act as simple as shattering the soul of a living being, after what she had gone through to get Kieran, it was almost insulting.
"I never said I would not do it, too many lives are at stake, for me to care about my very magic itself being horrified at such a thing, that not even the last great dark wizard we had, did not even shatter the souls of others bar himself. Coryphaeus must be defeated, if that requires dark actions so be it, I won't leave this world to torment when I could prevent it. But neither do I desire that outcome. If possible it would be best if we continued on the plan on capturing and containing Coryphaeus; we know it can be achieved and it is far more manageable. The Wardens guarded him for centuries, I can make a cage even more damming"
"You could take him back to your world" All eyes turned towards the Inquisitor. "You said that the elves didn't make an impact because there is no Fade, because mages cannot access magic. Coryphaeus without magic is nothing, were you to take him back to your world, he would be stripped of all his power and strength. There would be no threat"
"It is a possibility I have considered" Nat admitted. "What you say is true, not only would Corypaheus be split apart from any source of magic, but my people could create and guard the man far more so then this world here, and even were he to escape our level of technology would have him destroyed. Not to mention to my knowledge there is no presence of the blight"
"You would receive no complaint of the nations of Thedas, Orlais under Celene may even help you with your search to get home" Josephine added her face once again smiling as they had finally come across a way to defeat Coryphaeus.
"Not to mention if he is trapped in your world, nothing from ours would ever be able to touch him, it's foolproof," Cullen said smiling at the wizard.
"Except if that happened Coryaheus would need a guardian, we couldn't just trust in the fact that Coryphaeus may not be able to access power and it would be foolish to think that nothing could cross the boundary between worlds again. We also couldn't risk anyone crossing over" Leliana spoke regretfully the conversation turning back onto the sour subject that they had yet to address but all had a feeling that it may come to pass.
"I am also not that popular with the government back home, were they to discover what I had done, even for my reasons… I would be buried. Perhaps in time I could convince some, but in the end, I would have actively brought Coryphaeus to my own home, I could be branded a traitor, worse Corypheus may be invigorated my worlds magic and rain death and destruction upon us. House Tempest's days would be numbered. And that's going on the belief that we can even find a way home, the magic used was extraordinary, it could take decades for us to discover it on our own, and if not… well the elven language is mostly lost, it could take who knows for us to translate what very few remnants remain and even those don't support the idea that we will find that one ritual. It is a plan, but one too optimistic. We should find a way to defeat Coryphaeus here, permanently"
"Then you have but to shatter that being soul, to break it into so many pieces that the enemy would never be able to draw strength upon them" Nat nodded slowly at the news, he had been expecting this. As the thoughts turned to such actions he felt his heart begin to beat quickly, not in adrenaline as he was so used to but fear, his own magic seemed to react shifting and turning at the idea as though he was a normal person who had just seen a dead body wishing to vomit and expel his insides.
He would be dammed if he did this.
Not by heaven or hell for they did not exist, mere figments made up by a superstitious lot, and the soul did vanish after death, whether to the afterlife or something else. Yet it was possible and the effects were known, Each fragment would hold some part of their power and as they were created, more and more of that power would be shared amongst the different shard, until eventually with enough that roaring waterfall of current able to smash and obliterate the stones below carving a path through mountain stone, would be nothing but a single drop left in the river bed on a hot summers day.
It was, delving into the magic that made his skin crawl, this went beyond what Voldemort had done and he had done so many great things, terrible, but great. This, on the other hand, could not be described as terrible but apocalyptic to bring forth the end, he would forever be remembered by it were others to learn. He could do everything in the world, end war, poverty, hunger, send the human race into space and advance it leaps and bounds, but all they would care would be that he had done something utterly blasphemous that would be a synonym for evil, there with the likes of Voldemort, Grindelwald, Morganna, Medea.
It did not matter, as he turned his head to face the others his mind made up, he gave a simple nod and allowed the shivering feeling as though dementors had sucked him of his very soul had done through him. His life was worth nothing, it never had. But to defend his people, to defend his home, he would not see hie beloved island that had stood for millennia proud and strong that had beaten back tyrants aplenty be corrupted by the taint, he would defend her as best as he could. If that meant committing atrocities to save her then so be it.
"Good, perhaps you may show your power yet" Morrigan smirked.
"Maybe but I guess why you want answers as to why we talk in terms regarding worlds"
"It would be appreciated, it is not often that I hear people speaking about things in such a plural manner" Nat nodded, with a wave of his wand he summoned a seat for Morrigan, then seeing the affirmative looks on the others advisors heads he began to explain the situation to her.
Morrigan was relatively quiet during the explanation, at first, she was doubtful of the claim, the fade was powerful but for him to have come from an entirely different world with different laws of magic was a hard one to believe for her. She asked a few questions and got back swift yet detailed answers, for evidence Nat gestured towards the table wherewith his magic he began to show accurate maps, not of Thedas and the known world, but the whole of Earth.
As he gestured to a small island in the centre of the map just north of a peninsula country, Morrigan had decided to watch him as carefully as possible searching for any type of hint that he may be lying, that he would stumble over his words and countermand himself, yet he never did. Instead, he spoke with authority and the detail… She and the others had heard of authors who wrote fictional books based on entirely different worlds, some of them had even read some, yet the detail of history on this place far outstretched anything that could be imagined.
The history of nearly the past thousand years were rich in detail, from when England had been first united after a series of war, to rebellions, wars with France, the discovery of new continents, empires, unifications, more wars, scientific discovery, wars, the industrial revolution, war, expansion of empires to coalesce around the world, practically seizing near almost all of it, wars to the recent time that had a lot of even bigger wars that made even the blights look pitiful in comparison. It was only the magical nature of blights that made them more destructive in the long term as things often did not grow.
By the end of it, Morrigan was leaning forward on her chair asking the occasional question and getting a response back from the wizard that he answered back swiftly letting the woman know the answers to her questions. When it was finally over she got up from her seat, her curiosity sated for now and gave a contented smile.
"Well, now that you have revealed your secrets, perhaps it is time that I share some of mine. Come follow me, I am sure that you will all find this to your interest" With a cautious eye to one another, Nat and Valeyna agreed and followed the woman as she began to lead them through the halls of their castle until finally, they reached an empty room.
Inside the room was a large mostly empty room, though it had been repaired, the grey walls entirely lacking in any sort of decoration may have caught some others off guard compared to the rest of the place were it not for the fact that a large number of crates, chests and boxes were also stored in this location holding a great many deal of supplies. What they two were here for though was not the number of crates and weapons and ammunition, but instead for the overtly large mirror that stood at the back of the wall, the torchlight glimmering off it's a reflection in an unnatural way filling the room.
"That's a big Eluvian" Nat commented In genuine interest as she saw the sheer scale of the mirror. It was truly an astounding thing, every one of these eluvians he had laid eyes upon was of a smaller scale, taller then an average-sized human, likely enough to give headspace to elves, but they were not so large that once would have fitted a cart through instead appearing as they were made for personal transportation. However this one was of a far greater scale, at least twice the height and three times the width, this Eluvian could have easily taken a horsedrawn carriage through it.
"How did you get it in here," Valeyna asked as she noticed that the door on the way into the room was much smaller than the mirror that Morrigan had managed to smuggle in.
"That's a secret Inquisitor. I see that your companion has it, I assume you know what it is and what it does"
"Hard not to, it's the transportation system of the ancient elves. They didn't even bother to build roads because of these things" His wand drawn, Nat began to gently cast a series of spells on the Eluvian, allowing his own magic to interact with that of the elves. The eluvians he had a feeling would be essential if he ever was to return, but that was not the main reason he inspected it, rather it was to see if the magical flow of this one differed at all compared to the last one they had.
Who knew if an older mirror had more of the original elf magic in them, from the stories Varric had told Merril had spent years repairing her own one, yet as he looked at the readings he was somewhat disappointed by the fact that the magic that sung around this area originated from Morrigan, it appeared that like most that still existed in the modern-day, Morrigan had found a damaged mirror and sought to repair it, something that she had obviously achieved given how magic still flowed through it even if currently the entryway was shut off and yet to be commanded to open.
Once again he found himself drawn to the size of this Eluvian. This was no ordinary mirror he could tell, other then it's more industrious purpose he could not help bet feel as though there was something unique about this one, as though some hidden secret lay beyond it. As his curiosity began to rise, he wondered just why Morrigan had dragged them here, she would have known by now that the Inquisition was hunting down Eluvians as tales of the nobility spread that the Inquisition was funding the purchase of such mirrors. Then there were Fen Harel's agents, how had they not intervened with a mirror so large and useful, one that could grant such an enormous advantage for the transportation of goods and supplies.
"Do you mean to take us to the crossroads, Lady Morrigan" Shock and horror flashed across the mages face, her skin turning pale as she faced the wizard her eyes demanding in that instant to know how exactly he had come across not only that name but also to know where they were going.
"Gaspard is not as secretive as he ought to have been, I found the notes of his adventures a year ago. A world between ours and the fade, one called the crossroads where the Eluvians meet. It's a highway is it not, that's where you plan to take us"
"You are just full of surprises lord Tempest, is there anything you know about me that you wish to share" Nat shook his head, information on Morrigan was actually somewhat rare to come upon. Even with her participation as part of the party that defeated the fifth blight the woman was a conundrum and not may people wrote about her presence, not even Leliana spoke of her much instead preferring to talk about others like Sten and Alistair. Even the dog got more mention then the Witch of the Wilds.
"Your face, you're worried, what about" Valeyna inquired noticing how the woman seemed to have a thousand and ones blaring past as her normally beautiful face seemed to crease greatly in concern as she considered what all this meant.
"You were hiding" Nat guessed. "From your mother?"
"Yes, I took refuge in the Crossroads, that woman… she steals the bodies of her daughters for her own use"
"Possession" Nat corrected even if he didn't showcase his feelings. "Well, there goes that plan. Be honest with me, is there any possibility we're going to have to confront and kill your mother?" There was no anger on Morrigans face even as she heard those words, no sense of love for the woman who had brought her into this world and raised her instead there was only a cautious look, one that as she gave him worried the wizard even more deeply.
Already he had made a good amount of enemies, more than he perhaps should have given the situation they were faced with. The Inquisition had been reborn to fight Coryphaeus yet he was already redirecting that power, discovering more and more enemies. Was he too paranoid, seeing enemies in too many places because of past actions and beliefs, he himself was no saint?
Solas, Fen Harel, the Qun, Coryphaeus, Imsahel, Darkspawn, the Architect, Templars, loyal mages, Chantry the old Gods and Titans. Those were just a few of those he was seeing as his enemies in this world and now he was likely to add Flemmeth to this list as well. He took a deep breath his mind continuing to race as it theorised about the position of each but also the relative strength and goals of what each faction may want to possibly achieve and why. So many opponents and so few time, in fact, as his mind continued he felt his heart become more and more heavy as a niggling doubt one that he had tried to push away came to the fore.
He was never going to see home.
How could he, home was… relatively safe? A war would come, muggles and the magical world would clash as the wars of old flared up, he should be there when it occurred, there had been a Tempest defending their country for hundreds of years since before Napoleon when the house was founded, yet he was here, defending these people, away from his duty. Yet as much as he doubted it as he looked at the beautiful face of Valeyna her high cheekbones and pale skin as her long radiant golden hair ran down her shoulder serving to only highlight her ethereal beauty, even more, he knew he could not leave, not yet.
The enemies of this world had to be defeated, Coryphaeus destroyed, the Titans put to sleep, the Darkspawn wiped off the face of the map, the old Gods put down, Fen Harel halted in their tracks, Solas stopped, the Qun eviscerated and Fleemeth eradicated. Those were just the obvious enemies, yet there was more he had to do, after all, that he had done here, to destroy so much he needed to try and make things right. How could he defend his own nation one he cared and loved deeply if he could not hope to safe this world, a land wherein comparison he was more powerful then he would be at home, where the chance of defeat was less. Earth had others it could call upon, and his father could represent the house in the war.
But could he really abandon these people?
Now was a turning point in world history he could feel, stories and legends would be told of this story, students in the future would lean about the exploits of the great heroes like Valeyna, Cullen and Josephine. Statues could be erected; politics would hinge on what those who lived now would think and feel a thousand years later.
"Nat, snap out of it"
And just like that, his thoughts were returned to the present, back to the two women, one who stared in great concern, her vallaslin flickering in the torchlight.
"Inquisitor"
"You really do worry me at times"
"I can look after myself"
"If you two are quite done with your flirting, perhaps we can continue on with the matter at hand, or do you know enough already to be able to speak with such confidence," Morrigan asked with the slightest hint of annoyance as memories of her journey with the Warden began to surface up again.
For a moment Nat considered his knowledge, all of it was second hand and all of it had been ripped out of the head of others, Celene, Gaspard, Briala, they were the ones who had experienced this so-called Crossroads. All of them had hoped to claim it for themselves, to gain an advantage in the now finished civil war. He wondered if Morrigan was aware that the elves saw it differently to humans, as when Celene and Gaspard had walked through it had been dull and grey, lifeless as though they had seemingly stepped into a black and white picture. Briala, on the other hand, had seen it in an entirely different light, quite literally in fact. The hues and images she had seen were far different to those that the humans had seen, colours and rainbows great images as though she was inside a great painting.
It made him wonder what he would see.
"Lead the way" Without any further words needed Morrigan opened up the portal with little fanfare a great course of bright blue energy swirling around her arms before then vanishing as with a burst of teal light the mirror came to life shining with luminescent radiant energy. As Valeyna stared in amazement catching a grin from Morrigan Nat looked at it in a blank expression as he hid his concern.
"Afraid to enter, I thought you would have loved to see this place Nat" Valeyna commented as she noticed his lack of action.
"The last time I entered a strange magic portal, I was nearly destroyed as the raw magic tore me up and sought to break me apart atom by atom. Excuse me if I'm a little cautious"
"I still don't understand that you're one of the most powerful people I know and yet it was you who nearly got killed, not anyone else" Nat resisted a shudder as the memories of his body being filled to the brim with magic burst to the foreground. On one hand when he had first entered he had felt power like he had never done so before in his entire existence. The way magic thrived in the raw fade… it made Hogwarts itself feel like a vague shadow, like the merest grain of sand in a vast desert that sprawled on endlessly, but that was before. There was too much power and it desired to enter him, to fill him with power that Voldemort could have only dreamed off, would have done anything for even the slightest tase. But he was not the dark lord and he could not handle such raw extremes when his body was not designed for it, as his body started to crack and tear from the pressure.
"Please tell me that the Crossroads is not part of the Fade if it is… I can't follow you, not for long"
"Be assured, the Crossroads is a place between the Fade and the real world, you should find little danger there?" Memories of others said otherwise but Nat kept that silent, for now, Morrigan was trying to be open and honest with them in order to gain their trust, now was not the best time to go against that effort. Instead, he simply gave a nod and made a note to stay near the entrance, he was not going to get stuck in a place that was in between.
"Come on we have other work we need to get on with" Acquiescing to the Inquisitor's request Morrigan took the first steps into the mirror her form warping for a moment before then vanishing. Next was the Inquisitor who with far more curiosity brimming in her eyes joyfully strode forth leaving Nat last as with far more caution by gently attaching a rope to his waist and attaching it to a corner of the world, alongside a newly made portkey, carefully followed in after his wand drawn and ready to be unleashed against any enemy.
"It's a bit grey, I know but I assure you that this place has a great many wonders of things hidden"
"Grey" Valeyna questioned as she looked at her surroundings, "How can you call this place grey" Morrigan blinked at the words, confused she gestured to the ground where a long thin tree dead by many a long year sat decrepitly.
"Inquisitor do you not see the tree, how long it has been dead," Morrigan said gesturing towards the mentioned tree.
"Dead? That tree is alive and the flowers… I've never seen anything like it" True to her words Valeyna walked forwards to the seemingly dead tree, in her eyes what was decrepit to Morrigan was, in fact, alive. Beautiful and shining, the whitebark happily reflected the bright lights in the distance as warm and sunny colours poured in from the heavens sending the entire world aglow with magical and beautiful light. "This place it's beautiful. My people really built this" She said in awe a she turned around marvelling at simply the tree and ground in front of her not even once bothering to look at the rest of her surroundings.
"I don't understand, you are saying that this tree is alive but it is clearly dead, lost long ago"
"It's the magic Morrigan. Depending on your race depends on what you see, the elves are inherently magical so it's bright, humans of this world less so" Emerging from the entrance Nat gave a cursory glance at his surroundings expecting at an instant to be attacked by someone or something. When no strike or ambush arrived however he put away his wands and began to glance around slowly analysing the strange junction.
"Good job I'm wearing sunglasses, bloody hell this place is bright"
"Bright! You can see colours as well?" Valeyna turned shocked as Nat walked forwards.
"Wizard," He said the word to his mind explaining everything there and then "we're inherently magical as well. Back home there are a lot of things that muggles could never even be able to see no matter what they would do, ghosts are among them but even then there are other things that require a person to have seen something"
"Like what?"
"Thestrals" Nat answered as he continued forwards not staying with the two women as he instead approached one of the great many mirrors in the area. "They pull the carriages back at Hogwarts, of course as well as being a wizard they require that wizard or witch to have seen the death of some sentient being first-hand.
"I feel jealous, here I am the only one of two who is unable to see this place in its true form"
"Trust me Morrigan you might be better off it's a bit bright"
"No, it isn't," Valeyna responded suddenly grabbing the attention of all those present in the areas as a cold feeling dropped on the wizard. "I mean it's not grey and there's colour, but really bright?"
"I must be seeing some of the magic intertwined, understandable given my training" Nat responded thoughtfully as he looked around further. The area they were in, he would have described it as a large courtyard, round and made of interlocking stone slabs carved with great care in an elegant manner the place was rather elegant, one befitting of what had likely been a major trade hub. "Interesting thought, it's similar to the Flu network, but far less streamlined"
"Flu?" Morrigan questioned her eyes tilting curiously.
"A magical transportation system from back home, one of a few. It's similar to how this place works, they're all connected to one another and transportation and communication can happen throughout, but where this all takes everyone to a central hub where they must travel a reduced distance on foot to another mirror, the flu network will take you straight to the desired destination. The central hub is supposedly located in the Ministry of Magic, but that's only ever used if there was a major breakdown"
"You're people can make this type of magic?" There was not a sense of awe but almost a hint of respect from Morrigan's voice, as though despite the story she had been told by the two previously as well as the previous tales from nobles about the wizards battle experience, that this was seemingly the most advanced used she had ever come across.
"Of course, it's even part of our NEWT's, it doesn't exactly tell us how to set one up. A few years ago there was an incident with a certain group of pranksters… they had a tendency of sending explosives into other peoples homes and making a mess of things. Nothing lethal mind you, nobody got hurt, but it took months for them to hunt the pranksters down, was only discovered what happened when someone mispronounced a place and ended up in their hideout. Turns out there was a man on the inside hiding things. Suffice to say they tightened that up" Nat chuckled as he remembered that day in the Great Hall when the news had finally broke, once again pure dumb luck had managed to stop the pranksters but it was a concerning thing all the same. Magic users were growing to lax, in a war with muggles and a turn cloak at their side, the result could have been horrendous.
"You're people have the funniest of stories," Valeyna said kindly. "Could you make a Flu system here"
"It's possible, I passed my exams after all. I wouldn't know how to do it off the top of my head, but if I had the time and I check my library, there's a chance I could have the knowledge in how to make one. Though be warned the Flu is a bit more… picky then these Eluvians. Less room for mistakes"
"Go on, tell us more" Morrigan gestured as she listened fully to the young wizard her own attention having been completely taken.
"The Flu works on fire, certain powder and a connected fireplace"
"Fire? Are you telling me you set yourselves on fire?" Nat nodded. "Gods above"
"Anyway we stand in the fireplace, think of the place we want to go, drop the powder say the name of that place loudly and clearly and then when the fire ignites, fwoosh, we're engulfed in a rush of flames and sent down the network to our destination. The real trick though is landing, it's one thing to go in, it's another thing to land without landing flat on your face." Stunned silence reigned as the incorrigible reactions of the two mages stared at the young wizard as if he was crazy.
"I prefer our system" Valeyna muttered as she turned back to the still glowing door, from here it looked like the mirror was made of molten silver, waves formulated and spread across like on the ocean wave on a calm day.
"Well, there's always the waterway in which case we stand in a toilet pull the handle and get sucked in downwards or the windway in which case we get engulfed in the wind and are blown across the sky on really fast air currents, or the earth way where you get entombed in the earth and pop out the other side. And that's without mentioning portkeys, vanishing cabinets and Apparation"
"Are you trying to kill yourselves?" Valeyna cried as mental images of dying in such horrendous fashions spread across her mind. Just the idea that if something had gone wrong that a person could suffer such a horrid fate simply for transportation. What made it worse though was the casual manner in which Nat spoke of these things, as though getting incinerated was only some minor hindrance, or finding yourself absorbed into a toilet where only the gods knew how many peoples excrements and bodily fluids resided. She shivered, wizards were crazy she decided.
"Things rarely go wrong Inquisitor, unless they specifically tamper with everything is fine. Bar apparation of course, learning that and messing up is… a bit of an of a nuisance I've been told" Valeyna's eyes narrowed sternly.
"Why do I have a feeling you're hiding something"
"You'll be fine inquisitor, Setting up the thing won't be too difficult at least compared to keeping it going. Maintaining the current supply of Flu Powder on the other hand… well with that I'm limited"
"You are not burying, drowning, shooting me up into the sky or incinerating me"
"How do you feel about shadows, it's looked down on and nobody uses it anymore but"
"No, If you make anything it will be like the eluvians"
"Well, that removes the safest options then" Valeyna choked. Those were the safe options? What was with Nat's people, for a moment she wondered if allowing mages to do whatever they desired once they were free the right choice"
"The car, we'll use that bloody car of yours if we have to, just no suicidal transportation techniques"
"Well, If you want speed, I could always fly the car instead of simply driving it" Valeya blinked, then blinked again. Quickly as she felt her emotions began to build up once again she remembered what her Keeper had taught her and took in a deep breath and then took another one out as she recollected herself.
"The car can fly?"
"Of course, it can fly, it's a wizards car, plus I'm the one who enchanted it. That thing could act as a submarine if I so desired"
"Then why do we drive anywhere"
"Because flying boring, all you do is sit there and stare at the ground. You go faster true, but it isn't a fighter jet" Valeyna shook her head, she was going to have to ask so many questions. To think he had kept the car hidden for so long, true she understood initially why he had done it, he was being wise, not trusting anyone until they could trust him, but hiding the fact that the thing could fly, that instead of having her heart seemingly go into a sense of horror as he sped up on the highways adjusting every now and again to stop a collision when they could instead have taken a nice easy flight over the mountains… She liked adventure, she did not like nearly crashing and having her spine shatter.
"Next place we go together we are flying" She demanded with a child-like fierceness.
"We are literally in the remains of your ancestral people who created what could be described as wormholes that was the bedrock of their entire civilization formulating mass trade and communication all over the continent, and all you care about is if the tin can is able to fly" Gesturing towards the large courtyard that they were in Valeyna quickly blushed as she realised he was right.
"How adorable, are you two going to discuss what pet you should get next, what about children?" Sneering at the two Morrigan had seemingly had enough of their constant bickering and once again gestured towards the large courtyard that they were now in, however, the moment had been lost and any sense of awe and wonder that the two members of the inquisition may have had towards the place was long since gone. Clearing her throat as she prepared to speak though Morrigan caught the sly glimpse the Inquisitor shot at the wizard when she had mentioned children.
"As I was going to say, if this place had a name it has long since been forgotten"
"This place is amazing, how could it even exist?"
"That's something I've been wondering myself" Nat muttered. This place was unlike anything he had ever seen or felt. The theory of the place did not confuse him, like it may have others, it was another realm of existence once between two others, yet it was not that it existed that drew his mind to wander but rather how it had come to be. "The magic needed to create this place, it's as if we're out of the legends of my people"
"You're people" Valeyna questioned ever so slightly incensed.
"Depending on the Mythology there are a great many realms needed, but to create a realm between others… that to my knowledge has never ben achieved in my own people's magical history"
"But I thought you said that you're people had learned temporal magic"
"We have, as we have spatial magic. But in the case of the latter, it is within an object itself, expanding the sides of a chest or room. The spell requires an already enclosed space, without one… It is stupendous, amazing, terrifying this place, and if this was merely the transportation system, it makes me wonder what the so-called Gods were capable of"
Though he could not show any fear for the sake of his own position the thought terrified him to the core, not even when the Nightmare himself had delved into his darkest fears and worst memories did he feel as bad as he did now as the sheer weight of what had occurred struck him. Not even when he had been deep with the undergrounds of the Earth moving towards a creature of such utter magnificence in its size did he begin to feel terror as he did now.
He pushed it aside quickly though, not allowing for a single moment it to show through. It did not matter if the Elves and their gods had been capable of such feats, in the end, if the war came to a head and the wrath of powers long since thought lost came to the fore then he would stand against them for good or ill.
"I can't believe we were so powerful, to create such a realm and the fact that it still remaining even after our people were destroyed"
"It's a tantamount to their power and knowledge, a remnant of what once was. What I would do to learn the magic of these powers" Nat carried on as he continued to look onwards. Despite there being what appeared to be stone walls encircling the entire courtyard, he could tell as he stretched out his magical senses that this place was far larger then it appeared. This was a hub, but it was bound to not be the other one, after all, the vast majority of mirrors they saw now were of smaller make, more for personal travel and transportation rather than that of large goods.
"Do you think there are other places like this, places that could have been used for other purposes?" Valeyna inquired as she gently brushed her palm against one of the golden edges of the mirror feeling as it's smooth surface seemed to hum gently under her touch as though she were an old friend.
"Quite likely, In fact, I would even dare say that there would have been more of these places, smaller more personal ones, at least for the so-called gods"
"Should we have a look around?" Nat shook his head the memories of Briala and the others coming racing to his mind. There were a great many things in this place besides them, monsters, magical traps, corpses. There was even the possibility that the elves of Fen Harel were also stalking the passageway between realms, hunting for spies or for any remaining intact Eluvian that they could learn the location of and promptly steal when others were not watching. And that was before mentioning the problem that they may get lost. Despite it being a hub the great number of mirrors all leading to branching pathways, some perhaps into further places of this realm and other back into the mortal realm and then even others which may lead into the Fade itself. All could twist and turn, doors believed to be open could be locked behind them, places that looked safe could lead them to the darkest pits of the Deep Roads just as much as it could any other destination.
"Let us give it time, I will create more golems to map the eluvians, the last thing we need to be doing is exploring recklessly and getting ourselves killed with magic we know very little about" Even as he said it, the two women watched Nat's magic began to take hold and a shape made out of stone was formed in front of the wizards. Myriads of lights and bursts of magical power shot through as a great host of spells were unleashed until finally after a fair number of minutes of working in silence, a group of ten golems stood up their faces entirely passive not a single trace of life in their magical fuelled bodies and waited as Nat began to make work on creating a map.
It took quite some time but fascinated with the progress but women mentally followed what they could even as no words were said and started to wonder if they too could create such beings. They were somewhat crude, human-like in nature and not like the Dwarven golems born of war to destroy enemies bust instead thin and fleet-footed to allow for the best chance in swift navigation. The map was also quite detailed and though vague to start off with as a single command from the wizard was given, the golems preceded to march in their given direction, the master map the wizard had slowly beginning to fill in with more and more detail. Only when the golems were entirely out of sight did the group return back to what they were discussing beforehand.
"Even if your little pets do explore this place, there is little they can do. Most of the eluvians are closed and only a few can be opened from this side, even if they discover every such mirror, how do you know you will not garner attention from things that do not desire our presence here"
"You believe there are creatures here, and that other eluvians can be opened, how?" Valeyna commented hiding her fury as once again she realised that her second in command seemed to know far more about what was going on when it came to her own people then she herself did. It was her heritage, after all, the last few relics left here by those who had come before, it was her right to choose what happened with them, yet these two acted like scavengers.
"The elves left guardians of these places, I can't sense any currently but no doubt when you're people fell someone had the idea that these places would need protecting from any invaders. As for the eluvians… it is possible that not every single eluvian was within easy reach whenever Arlathan fell, or perhaps others sought to sever the connection of the one closest in an effort to preserve themselves. Either way, it is possible that in the most remote corners of the old elven world that there are still some eluvians that remain intact"
"How ironic that it was an eluvian itself that brought my love to me then" Morrigan spoke softly in remembrance. Seeing she had caught her audience attention she allowed a gentle smile and continued to walk forwards with a comfortability that showcased just how long she had been here.
"An eluvian, did you have one when you stayed with Flemmeth? Morrigan chuckled loudly at the comment.
"As if that battered old crone would have dared to leave something so valuable and interesting lying around. No, my dear, it was an eluvian which was what forced my warden to become a warden in the first place. He was young you see, he and his friend had been hunting for food when they came across this rabble of villagers. As they pleaded for their life they mentioned a strange rumour they had found. Curious they decided to investigate. After having fought through the denizens who were already dwelling there, they found a strange mirror. They did not know what they had found at the time and that was perhaps why they were so unprepared for what had happened"
"Why, what happened" Said Valeyna as she brushed an errant strand of blonder hair out of her face.
"Tamlen, my Wardens friend was enraptured. He approached the mirror and touched his hand against the mirror and when he did so he said he could see things, unfortunately, he had drawn the attention of something else. My love warned him, but before they knew what had occurred there was a flash of light and when my love awoke Tamlen was gone and my love had been dragged back into camp by the Grey Warden known as Duncan."
"The Warden commander of Ferelden" Nat nodded his head the story that he had heard and read about coming to his mind. It was a strange thing as despite how quickly they had dealt with the Blight, in the span of a single year which was a feat never having been achieved before, the legends of the hero were not as well recorded as one may have imagined. There were stories from each of the individual locations they had visited, the tower, Orzammar, the Dalish camp, as did the warden's former companions have a word to speak or so when pushed, yet there was no story to read. Therefore to lean the origins of the hero of Ferelden was certainly interested.
"He went back soon after and met with Duncan, it was there that my love learned that he had been infected with the blight and that the only chance he had to preserve his life was to become a Warden and so travelled to Ostagar where I am sure you have heard the tales"
"So the Warden commander found an Eluvian, interesting. It could explain how he got the blight, if it was active then it could have had a connection to somewhere that there was a darkspawn presence. Maybe something came through but Duncan may have been able to mitigate things quickly saving a disaster"
"Oh, drawn to a conclusion already?" Morrigan eyed the wizard curiously, his mind indeed worked fast if he was attempting to work out just why the Warden had become infected.
"Not entirely, the eluvian would make sense, but if there was a Darkspawn presence, one that was able to activate and utilise the eluvian network, why did they not use it in the war. Surely something like that could have been a massive advantage, though it means we still have to be careful as darkspawn could be within this realm."
"What are you saying Nat" Slowly as though he was being watched Nat once again began to recast the same observation spells on some of the local mirrors, analysing them with all that he knew for any little hints of information that could reveal to him just what had been responsible for the situation with the Warden. The results, however, were just as he expected, nothing out of the ordinary from what he could tell, most were entirely inactive, dead, null, void without a single trace of magic flowing into them, others only had the barest hint of magic as though it was a battery on its last legs as the magic within them was close to collapsing, others, on the other hand, were seemingly in better shape. Not able to be opened from this angle, but he summarised that with some work put in they could be used again.
"I wonder if it's possible to be corrupted with the Taint" Muttering to himself he began to think on all that he knew of the eluvians. Perhaps ti was some mad theory, yet he could not help but feel that it might be possible, in his own home it was possible for magic to be corrupted and the blight from what he could see was magical in nature. It had to be given how the blood of a Titan a being that was likely infinitely more powerful them himself could have its very life force corrupted and even dragons which were resistant was not immune, not even the god dragons. And this elven magic as he continued to feel it he felt the gentle elegant tunes of the magic, dancing in the wind as though some great and beautiful melody was wafting through the air commanding all to sing in triumph.
Was Magic alive in this world, or could by its very nature of being magic allow it to be infected in ways that were strange and not quite possible to understand.
"You are correct. I have spent a great amount of time when I learned about the existence of these artefacts, and it is indeed possible for them to be corrupted by the taint"
"But how the taint can only corrupt live things, how can it corrupt magic itself" Valeyna demanded as she felt entirely out of her depth. She was knowledgeable on her clan's history and she was no fool in magic but this was not what she had been taught, her magic did not lie in old and long since forgotten magics instead focused more on what would keep her clan alive.
"That is indeed a very good question Inquisitor, one that I have sought an answer for myself"
"Imshael," Nat said sternly. Attention captivated Morrigan raised her eyes at the mention of the so-called ancient demon, she even remembered when her Warden had supposedly fought one of them in Denerim during the blight. "The journal that explained the empresses escapades into the Crossroads led her to the demon Imshael, apparently the demon was able to make a key to all the eluvians. How I don't know, but it does mean that the demon has a lot of knowledge. Something we could use"
"You want to make a deal with a demon" Whipping her head in shock Valeyna considered the plan on speaking with the demon. It was possible that if the demon was as old as it was said in the books, being around when human mages first started experimenting with blood magic that the being was bound to have knowledge on certain things, but on the other hand a demon that had stayed alive for so long in the flesh was concerning.
"Deal? No. Capture, torture and break them until they beg for death and the disillusionment of their form, yes. Don't worry inquisitor we have enough legends back home about what happens when deals with demons are met and I have no intention of allowing it to hold any advantage or even entertaining such an idea."
"That doesn't put me at ease"
"Neither does it for me, but it is privy to Coryphaeus plans and given how Corypaheus is corrupted by the blight, we cannot put it past him to not become desperate enough to rely on the power of the blight to bolster his forces. In which case the Eluvians could become a deadly machine if they were to be planted in the middle of cites and allowed to corrupt or facilitate movement around Thedas"
"So you mean to capture this demon," Morrigan asked her voice neither approving nor the opposite instead seeming only to get them to question the logic of such an action and if it could be risked.
"If it is possible, yes, but if not, then we take Ishmael down. He is too dangerous to be left alive"
"Bold words, are you sure that the demon will not simply laugh"
"If he laughs, he laughs. It only makes it easier to thrust in the knife when he isn't watching." Nat responded curtly not at all bothered by the idea of the demon laughing when they met up. Besides, there are political advantages to be gained in such actions. Ishmael is responsible for more than a few deaths of those who were close to Briala. If we bring back his head, we may even get a reward for it" Even as he spoke a false sense of confidence happily present in his tone as though he were describing the weather, Valeyna had learned by now. There was another reason to taking out Ishmael, what it was she couldn't guess, but knowing Nat it was out of fear of something.
"How very… Orlesian of you"
"Orlesian would be to listen to the man pander on for a good three months and then spend the next half a decade of coming up with the absolute master class revenge plot that would embarrass him in front of everyone which would then forever ruin his reputation and leave him feeling less than the dirt." Nat quipped as he remembered how the Slytherins played politics, it was truly a sight to behold at times, yet he couldn't help but think that they were so caught up in their own mind games that they forgot that a certain amount of strength was needed to carry them out.
"You don't want to outwit a demon, whatever would the circles say?"
"We both know the response to that dear Morrigan. But anyway back to the topic that we are here for, I can tell that there is something you wished to share" Morrigan nodded her long dark hair sweeping to the side.
"This is not the first Eluvian I have come across. There are several that are hidden in the corners of the world, broken, dysfunctional, taken by others. I had come across in my research one in some elven ruins in Southern Orlais, however, the threat was too much and I since retreated"
"Elven ruins?" Valeyna queried. "Did you manage to catch any names at all, possible the leader of the camp?"
"I wish that I would, but no the danger was too great and that Eluvian was well to guarded for me to carry onwards. So I carried on my research and painstakingly I was able to repair my Eluvian"
"I would like to say that it's strange for one of the elven clans to hold onto such things, but in truth, it isn't," Nat commented as the idea of a certain Dalish clan settling in some long lost forgotten ruins came to mind. It must have had good hunting grounds he thought possibly even enough area to farm and grow food, that or via the Eluvian or simple nearby proximity they had access to other valuable supplies or markets. He touched his chin as his eyes narrowed in thought, for such wealth to gather amongst the Dalish though, there must be something at play as to why not even Valeyna would have heard of such a clan as surely others would have flocked to the banner in order to join them in their quest. Yet that was not the case and there was no Chantry calling for another Exalted march, that only indicated to the elven clan having a certain amount of strength or control to maintain such secrets. Regardless, it was concerning.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking Nat" Valeyna smiled with an excited glee at the prospect, every fibre of her body wanted to rush the woman for answers on this location. Yet as she looked back her rush and flood of adrenaline was countered with the calm and thoughtful approach as he began to consider just what forces would be needed to keep a powerful mage at bay.
"It does warrant our attention, least of all because of Coryphaeus sudden intrigue in your ancient history, but to hold of Morrigan… I would prefer we get our affairs in order before we go off galivanting into the forest on the trail of if's and maybes." Valeyna sighed, why did he have to be so cautious in life, why couldn't he just be willing to throw caution to the wind, to rush headlong into danger believing in his own superior might as he crushed any who opposed him.
"I'll speak to Leliana, ask if she can send scouts ahead, maybe see if we can contact them. If we do we can always ask for a diplomatic arrangement. If we simply send our army in now there's a good chance we could draw Coryphaeus attention to the area"
"Correct though I will alert Cullen to step up the training, I will also see if I can not hasten the development of breechloading a little quicker, I have a feeling that this place Morrigan speaks of is going to become a battlefield."
"I still can't believe he walked his army out in the middle of the day like that and we did nothing" Like a tiger at the sight of prey and a scavenger ready to take it from them Valeyna levelled a small glare at the wizard for his lack of action. They could have dealt a devastating blow to Corypaheus she thought, had their forces moved and confronted Coryphaeus they could have sent with a quick time span a warning to the wider world that Corypaheus would be defeated and hastily. Instead, however, Nat as always preferred to stay in cautious waiting for the advantage of numbers and supplies before sullying forth.
"It was a trap, something that we want to lay for the enemy, not step blindly into one ourselves"
"We knew about it though, we could have easily struck him when he wasn't looking"
"Just because you know something ahead of time does not mean you can prevent it. No Coryphaeus may think his bluff worked, that we appear weaker then we are, but that plays to our advantage. We'll lead him on for a while, hamper his operations with more surgical strikes, make him feel like it's our only course of the war. Then when the time is right we'll lead him into our own little trap, separate him from his men and that's when we eviscerate his entire army. Without backup, they will crumble quickly, and then it is merely a matter of time before he will then confront us at our home turf"
"You're leading him to Skyhold" Nat smirked.
"What better place to bring down the one who would tear down the sky itself and bring calamity upon all of us, then the place named after where it is held up."
"Skyhold is ancient, magic still runs deep within those halls. It would be a fitting battlefield and strongholds to bring down the monster, one which would make for a fitting song" Morrigan carried on. With another look at the two them, she quickly said goodbye and made her way out of the eluvian the light still open leaving the two magic users alone as they continued to glance around suspiciously as though at any moment some creature would burst forth and attack them.
Yet no action came instead the small breeze coming from nowhere obvious continued to blow through the area. And the air while not cold was not a warm experience.
"How old is Skyhold?"
"Ancient, I can't give an exact date, but the place has a history. One that has often been through periods of use and neglect, but the name, the magic, Sola's age and connection to Fen Harel, his temperament and our own personal quest as to why we are centred here. I cannot help but wonder if it was not chance that Solas led you here not by accident, but rather by purpose"
"What are you saying?" Nat looked around his eyes locking onto the mirrors as though they were listening in on him, even as he cast a set of privacy charms preventing the escape of sound from leaving their current position did he not seem entirely at ease.
"What if the Veil was made?"
"What, that can't be right, the veil has always existed"
"Has it? Think about it inquisitor, your people were exceptionally powerful, enough that they could create an entire realm that was separated from others. Yet now that power is gone, in fact, no creature other then perhaps the Titan we came across is capable of that, not even the Tevinter gods"
"You're talking nonsense now, even if my people were powerful enough to build this place it's small compared to the rest of the world, to have the power to separate two worlds entirely, do you have any idea of the amount of power that would be required. Magic would have to be everywhere"
"Exactly, what if it was, such a feat is inconceivable now, nobody has anywhere near enough power to tear the entire veil down, yet it is not so strong that it can not be ripped. Think about how many mages have been able to tear holes in the veil, how many demons have slipped through the cracks and possessed mages. It's not some all-mighty beast, if anything, it's a thin barrier, forever in need of repair." Valeyna shook her head, this couldn't be right, what Nat was proposing was simply ridiculous.
"I've heard some weird theories people but what you're proposing is utterly impossible, there's no way anyone would have the power to sever two linked realms into one"
"Then how did I get here" Nat whispered. "You're people were capable of a great many feats, perhaps akin to my own peope or even surpassing. You consider it impossible to make the veil, but what is harder, to create a portal to a brand new world, one that may not even exist in this universe but instead in an entirely different one, possibly branching off into the multiverse. The power that would be required, the chance and scale would be enormous, it is so hard to imagine that if they were possible of that then perhaps they made the veil".
"Okay, okay" Valeyna sighed in defeat, "Say I take your word for it, that one of my people created the Veil, that he separated my people and weakened our magic, why would they even do such a thing"
"Now that is the question of all questions that need answering, one that will surely give us a great amount of insight into the history world and one that gives me cause for concern."
"What do you mean" Nat turned his eyes starting deep into the mirror, every thought in his mind raced and rushed at incredible speed, theories were created thought about and then thrown way as though they had never existed in the first place. History and past events were covered of the great legends in mythology and from what he had learned so far. In the end even as he stared into the mirror his thoughts turning to the great mage that was Solas, seemingly trying to blend into the world yet so arrogant that he believed nobody would notice the little hints he constantly gave.
Just who was Solas, the man was most mysterious and other then his age there was little that anyone knew about him, he was wise had a fondness for spirits and like to draw quite a bit, but other than that what was known about him was too vague for much of an examination. It bothered to him to no end and with the concern of Fen Harel seemingly coming to inflict his will in recent days, he could not help but feel like a deeply unsettling sensation that came over him. Even during his lessons, he could feel that tension as that ever since of niggling doubt was ever-present demanding that he pay more attention to Solas's lessons, as though at any point a key thing could be learned.
"Nat?" Valeyna's voice carried over the empty thing like a whisper but a whisper that seemingly changed in this place as though something or someone was almost present their eyes settling upon them as the air seemed to chill and grow uncertain. Was this place even safe, Solas knew of this place it would be impossible not to have. Was he watching through one of the mirrors, his own knowledge of elven magic was likely unsurpassed by any in the world and who knew if he was able to hack into one of these mirrors stared back.
"I don't like it, whatever caused an individual to divide the world in two… The scenario that the world had to be in for such a drastic choice to considered let alone occur… I cannot help but feel as though this may have been the option"
"The best option" Valeya's voice was like an angry harp as each word she said seems to grow into a more discordant note. "How could stripping us of our immorality destroying our civilization, turning us into slaves have been the best option. Anything would have been better than this, we lost everything. What could have possibly been worse"
"Extinction" His words were an icy lance striking straight through the chest of the inquisitor holding her there with a dark and foreboding feeling settled on her. Struggling she desperately tried to ask how he had come to such a dark conclusion, yet the words did not escape her for she was unable to form any instead looking at her friend as he continued to stare at the mirror his eyes unseen as they locked into concentration doing his best to remember as many of the elven legends as told.
Andruil and her story of Mythal with strange darkness that had taken her to the void reminded him so very much of the Blight. Then there were the Titans, given their size and power, what they could do… how would the elves have settled when such things were existing especially with the dwarves, what might be the Titans own children in times past. Then there was the Fade, the power of that place, of what he had felt like every fibre of his entire being was flooded as though he had been an empty flash and had been dunked into the bottom of the ocean. It had tried to fill him but he was such a small vessel and there was nowhere for him to go, anyplace he released the magic that had swept into him was only put back into the environment around him and then absorbed back. The sensation was pleasant only for a moment before it was too much, ripping him apart as his own magic sung in gladness and then in utter mercy to be left alone.
If that had been the power that the old gods had access to before the possible creation of the veil, even if it was only a snipper of that and not what mages could draw upon no… The raw magic that could be created, Solas's stories of glistening silver towers hanging in the sky like chandeliers as magic teemed everywhere, as elves ran happily and magic was as natural as breathing as their very bodies teemed with it. The wars that would have been inflicted, of how the world was changed and shaped, and finally of the gods themselves.
What power did the gods have when the mages of olf perhaps far surpassed that of modern kind of when Tevinter only rediscovered what had been taught. The world had been their plaything, their battles the things of nightmares that would break men of that ages. He wondered if perhaps in those days if that war could compare to the muggles world wars or even the age of nuclear weapons. If so… then perhaps the creation of the veil was to save lives, not to end them.
"I have a possible theory, but I have no proof just yet, not unless we reveal to Solas that we know or…"
"Or what" Valeyna narrowed her eyes, she could already tell she was not going to like the response, yet as much as she knew such a thing her own curiosity was so heavily tempted. These were only theories, mere ideas that could be wrong in every possible way, mere laughable ideas that would be considered eccentric, yet despite all this she could not help but feel as though he was reaching something, grasping for an answer that he was close to but had not yet reached. Nat remained silent seemingly torn on his course of actions however not taking this for a moment Valeyna tapped him on the shoulder drawing his attention away from the mirror and onto her own stern expression. "Nat I have a duty to my people even with the Inquisition it's the duty of every Dalish to hunt down and preserve what there is of our history and culture if you think you might have an idea. Please, pursue it."
There was a moment's silence before Nat nodded slowly.
"Imshael"
"The demon, you think he knows about the ancient elves?"
"Positive. It was him that reopened some of the eluvians for the Empress and her servant, if that doesn't say that he knows about the ancient elves then nothing does. And if the legends about him being around Tevintr are anything to go by, he knows things"
"But you don't want to take the risk, why are you afraid of the demon, you've fought gods and the Nightmare" Nat looked at her, as she stood there radiated by the light of this place it seemingly glowing as though a sun was now shining in the middle of summer he felt as her magic seemed to flare up in response, it was unconscious yet it was there.
He dared not tell her about their first encounter, even without prying into her mind or erasing it he could tell that such a thing would go down poorly, he had killed her people in cold blood to save his own life. How could she ever trust him after that hoe would she ever forgive him instead of seeing him as an enemy as someone to cut down and put his head on a spike. Already he was planning on leaving her, the moment this war was won he wanted to return home back to his own normal life where there wasn't this amount of danger. He could still remember that heartbroken and betrayed look as well as the uncomfortable and sad ones she thought she hid from time to time when he spoke of his home. Such looks did not escape him and as did the knowledge that Imshael would no doubt inform her of his little murder the first moment they joined together.
Were he to get the information on Solas and Fen Harel that they needed, she could not be present, not if this world was to stand.
"Imshael is a dangerous foe, from what I have learned he will slow doubt into the hearts of those the speak of. It starts off slow unnoticeable but like a poison no matter how hard you try you cannot escape you, slowly it rots you from the inside until eventually, it destroys what was there before. We cannot risk that between you and me, our strong relationship is too close, any doubt in either of our minds… we could doom millions"
"You seriously think I can't brush aside a few sentences from a demon, I'm not the type to fall to corruption, neither will I become an abomination, you don't have to worry. Besides you're younger then me if anything I should be more worried about the demon corrupting you then me. Unlike you, we have to deal with demons regularly in our world and the circle has their rituals to help deal with them, what do you have?"
"Oclumency, a certain amount of education in politics and deceit, as well as a history of killing things. Not to mention there may be certain… spells that have a history in being used against demons if I can get them to work."
"And if not?"
"Biological and chemical warfare might have to be used" Once again Valeyna was confused as to just what he meant, yet didn't question it instead she simply nodded her head.
"Fine, do whatever you have to, but I want him taken alive. He could hold other secrets and for the love of the gods be careful"
"Arent I always"
"How many times have you nearly died so far?"
"More then I'd like, less then I think it's going to be when this war is over"
"Hopefully, you'll remain so lucky" Nat shot her a somewhat amused look before summoning a cup of tea. Taking a sip he allowed the substance to flood through his veins and as always give him a sense of calmness putting his mind ever so slightly at rest taking off the edge that may have ploughed him a lot worse than was he without it. Then in good humour and with a fake expression of confidence on his face he winked at the woman and started to head back to the main Eluvian that they had vanished out of.
"I'm not Potter Valeyna. Skill and intelligence are what's allowed me to last this far, not sheer dumb luck. Anyhow, you still have more guests to entertain and I have another prison to devise. You know at this rate if I ever get back I should consider training to be an architect"
"Nah I don't see you as the type"
"Good would be a boring job anyway, too much drawing, and I like to move around. Anyhow, I'll speak to the others before we depart, need to work out just how to contend with this demon. Think I may also check on my factories as well, see if they've made any process with breech-loading" And with that Nat passed straight back through the barrier that had allowed them into the crossroads and back into the real world leaving the inquisitor alone confused.
"Breech-loading, why is he trying to shoot peoples clothes?" Confused she shook her head. Nat was strange at times before she could continue onwards to follow him though she froze in her own tracks as what he had just said to her today about Solas came back to the forefront.
If Nat was right and all these theories he cooked up weren't some stupid thing he made up to entertain her, then why was he doing this. The path that Fen Harel's agents were taking was not a friendly one, they had attacked her, taken her hostage and had even planned on using her as an offering of all things. But why, what use would Fen Harel have for her and why was he being so aggressive, not to mention if he was being aggressive why had he not long since claimed Skyhold for himself.
Only with the help had Solas were they able to take shelter all those months ago, had they not discovered it, not found a place to set up and made camp that had a clear pathway down the mountain to the rest of civilization then they would have died up there cold and alone their bodies frozen in the mountains and if not they would have starved to death leaving only a set of emaciated corpses that would have been covered in thick white powder. The very thought scared her, to die in pain and suffering.
Was that what happened in the other timeline, she had been gone yet at least for a while the Inquisition had remained intact, strong enough even that it had lasted up to now even with the fall of the wardens under Coryphaeus even with the destruction of Haven. The Inquisition had fought on, but that only left one question.
Where had Nat been?
He had returned to the inquisition relatively shortly after the march of the Inquisition in their timeline, yet in the other, he had not been seen. What was different? Why had he not returned, as the thought about it she felt a strange sensation in her heart, as though ever so slightly some warmth entered and filled her with joy. The only difference had been her, she was alive now whereas she was presumed dead.
He had returned for her.
That was her only idea and it was one she could not help but enjoy. With everyone else that was in his life at the moment, with every other member of the inquisition he had not once returned to carry on with the fight, not for the other mages not for Leliana and Cassandra as the next leader, not for anyone. It was her presence alone that had brought him back to the fold. But why with his power he could have led the inquisition, it may have been strange at first, but she would doubt that her advisors would have opposed it too much, he had shown his insight and wisdom by then but even more so now. With the situation so dire he would have been the next leader, one who even with Coryphaeus victory over her at Redcliffe could have likely stemmed the tide.
So why her
What was she to him.?
And more importantly what was he hiding from her to the point that he did not want her meeting the demon. Lies about deceit and causing turmoil, there was a hint of truth she could sell, but she knew him to a certain extent by now and whatever was going on had him seriously concerned something that only grew her own concern even more.
She sighed and shook her head a she felt her heart began to ache firm pain as the anxiety from just what she had to deal with began to set in. So much work to do and seemingly never enough time to get it all done in.
Skyhold Courtyard
"You should not be here" Young and gravely like an ancient prophecy of dark and troubled times to come, Nat turned his attention to the source of the voice only to see a child younger than him. Small and no older then perhaps elven the boy was a small fragile thing, certainly not the type that one may have expected to see from a farmer. There were some noble features about him, a more defined look that seemingly came from his father, but as was typical of the young wizard it was not the boy's physical appearance that drew his attention but instead the magic that lingered in the air.
"Neither should you, but here we both are achieving the seemingly impossible."
"You have made things chaotic, it is impossible to determine anything, what was once so clear is now a storm of brief and vague thoughts"
"Yes well that is to be expected given the situation, but the same could be said of you Urthemiel"
"Who are you talking about my name is Keiran," The boy said blinking up with honest yet confused eyes.
"So she hasn't told you then, I see. Interesting. What can I do for you Keiran, I'm Nat" Extending his left hand to the boy, Nat watched cautiously as the boy looked at it for a moment before gently grasping it and holding as Nat then proceeded to shake it.
"I know, I've heard stories about. None of them are right"
"Oh, and what stories would those be a little dragon?" Despite the strange nickname given to him Kiran smiled at it giving a small beaming look to him.
"They say you're scary, that you are some great monster who will tear down the world and destroy all in its path. They say that they're worried for the future"
"Oh and how did you come across such rumours, to my knowledge the Orlesian nobility doesn't care for eavesdroppers"
"I hear them, in my dreams at times"
"I see," Nat said nodding his head hoping not to put the little dragon at ill-ease. "And what do you think? Kieran's eyes scrunched up his eyebrows fluttering as though he was trying to concentrate on something that was just behind the curtains but was yet to grasp it until finally his eyes still locked he spoke in that gravely yet wise beyond his years means.
"You are a storm that has shook and now threatens to destroy the structure of the world, you are not wrong not like how some of the nightmares I have are, but rather out of place. Your winds start somewhere far away and have been shifted, of course, you're actions have landed in the wrong place, yet there is little that you can do. You did not want to be here" Nat shook his head. "But if you do not want to be here, then why do you stay?"
"Merlin knows," Nat said shaking his shoulder. "Maybe a sense of responsibility, maybe guilt, maybe lust for power, Maybe curiosity, maybe every emotion there is in the world combined to a certain degree. I do not know"
"You say that yet you are chosen by that which soars highest"
"You say I have spiralled the world into chaos and made things unclear" Nat returned the comment
"You wish to know what you have caused so far," Nat nodded. "You being here has caused countless death, the world does not like unknown factors and has sought to rectify them"
"Ah I see, my presence has caused a reaction, the world has been trying to set things right but has failed. Let me guess… the wolf was not meant to be awake so soon"
"Not to where it is thirsting for blood so soon"
"So soon" A shiver ran down his back. For a moment he sought to ask more questions but silence himself, already he could feel the winds of magic shift and change, they did not like the idea of being told so soon and he could not help but feel as though asking the question just yet was as though he had been placed before a door with a key in his hand. That question and the answer given would unleash a fury upon the world, one that had so far somehow been kept at bay despite all that had occurred since his arrival.
"You sound worried, are you okay", And once again the young expression not of an ancient being but of a mere curious boy was staring back at him, with wide sparkling eyes mixed with no small amount of concern, Nat simply nodded his head and waited a bit expecting the dragon to return shortly, but when it did not he patted the boy on the shoulder before then walking away.
Now was not the time to push his luck and the boy held seemingly little control over his prophetic powers, so, for now, it was best to wait until contact with Imshael before he discovered more.
With his mind turned onto the wars of the future he made a note to increase weapon supplies if this so-called Wolf had truly awoken and was now thirsting for blood, he had a feeling he was going to need a bigger gun.
Hi sorry for slow upload speed, with things returning back to normal in the country i have a lot less spare time then i used so it's going to be longer between chapters, sorry
Hope you're all doing well though
