"She's awake!" Cassandra and Leliana jump up at Solas' calm but firm voice.
"She's awake!? Damn she's a tough girl if she could survive that," Varric chuckles as I raise a brow.
"Is she safe? I saw the staff," I cross my arms anxiety flowing through them.
"Even without the staff she can still fight, either way she is awake," Solas argues making me scoff. "Cassandra and I will speak to her, Fennec will join us as well," Leliana announces. Huh? I frown at my sudden role in all this.
"Just in case, the prisoner tries to attack, you and Cassandra are resistant to magic are you not?" Leliana retorts as I sigh at her legit reasoning. I notice Cassandra's eager smirk, oh boy.
Don't get me wrong, Cassandra is strong, a worthy adversary but her recklessness will be her downfall.
"Let us go then," Cassandra encourages as Leliana nods in agreement and turns to me. "Very well," I sigh tiredly and glance at Varric, frowning when I spot a certain apostate by his side.
"Don't get killed," I state bluntly.
"Aw you care, the fox cares," Varric teases making me roll my eyes and turn to the apostate.
"No funny business got that apostate," I warn him darkly.
"If funny business means defending my life against these demons with the dwarfs aid then I cannot fulfil that promise of yours," Solas retorts making me growl at the smug ass.
"Watch your tongue elf before I rip it out!" I warn him darkly drawing my blade, but he remains unfazed furthering angering me.
"Fennic come let us go!" Cassandra's loud voice stops me as I sigh. "Keep him safe got it?!" I warn Solas gesturing to Varric polishing Bianca. Silently, Solas glares at me as I storm off following after the two in a heated discussion over the prisoner.
"We should kill this prisoner, they caused the divines death and it will bring the divine justice for her death and hope for the people," Cassandra argues. "We may need her; the mark may be the key to our salivation! It may be Andraste's will that she survived!" Leliana argues as I sigh at the mention of religion oh brother.
Unlike my brother I don't believe in any of that stupid god stuff. If gods truly exist why create darkspawn to kill us? Why do we pray and worship these gods that created the enemies and predators to kill us? All religion causes is hassle yes I see it brings hope to many but wars are usually caused by the different religions of the people, heck in Tevinter the black divine and the divine here, the tales told have caused conflict between these lands and the Tevinter imperium.
Quietly, I trial behind the two Cassandra darting to the prisoner door eager for justice whereas Leliana and I trail behind, being careful and waiting if she tries to strike, I will hold her back, that is my true purpose for being here. Since Leliana cannot interrogate and hold back Cassandra at the same time, not even our guards can stand against her fierce strength.
Groaning, the door creaks open as the ice cold silver steel shackles crashes against the hard stone wall from Cassandra's harsh push. She strides in while we trial behind. My eyes narrow at the apostate girl, young about her mid to late twenties Ferelden. The girl has dark brown short hair matching her tanned complexion and her forest greens glows in the embers of the lit torches, revealing a few dark freckles on her cheeks. She is chained, confused her forest green eyes scan the area, flinching at the sight of the scowling Cassandra then her eyes come across Leliana and I looking terrified, like a prey during hunting season.
"Wh-where am I?" She croaks out confused, scared and baffled as she eyes the armed guards.
"In a prison," I answer making her doe like eyes turn to me, terrified, it almost makes me feel sorry for her but then again, she's a mage and came right out of that breach, who knows what she's capable of?
Warily, I step back distancing myself from her as Casandra circles her with Leliana trailing behind, this causes a eerier silence adding more tension to the room until Cassandra breaks.
"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now. The Conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead. Except for you." Cassandra speaks calmly but the anger is resonating from her as she glares at the prisoner.
"You think I did this?" She retorts, her annoyed expressions morphs to sorrow. Sadly, her eyes downcast filled with the realization of what has occurred. Grief quick takes over, making my eyes narrow at the soft heart. Frowning, I approach, I kneel down and cock my head to the side narrowing my eyes at her face, picking up any hint of deception from blinking, looking away or even biting her lip, no signs, no signs of lying surprises me as I raise a brow when she stares back. Upset, her watery eyes filled with grief over those she lost, I presume due to the temple being destroyed and all those that perished, both mages and Templars are dead, friends of hers perhaps? Fellow mages from the circle perhaps?
Who knows… actually considering she's Ferelden, they go to the circles, like Feynril did.
"Fennic what do you think?" Leliana enquires making me raise a brow at the once bard spy. "She speaks the truth," I confirm her thoughts when she nods her head in agreement, however Cassandra is still sceptical, not that I can blame her in these harsh times.
"Explain this," Cassandra coldly remarks grasping her chained hands, revealing the bright green mark on her hand, growing bigger, consuming her hand almost as the rift gets bigger outside.
"I… can't," the girl struggles flinching from the marks fiery glow, her tone sounds genuine…
"What do you mean, you can't?" Cassandra demands annoyed once more by the lack of answers.
"I don't know what that is or how it got there!" She answers terrified as I spot her eyes watering even more, oh great a cry baby. Just what we needed.
"You're lying!" Roaring, Cassandra moves as if to strike the girl but Leliana and I stop her.
"We need her, Cassandra." Leliana reminds her.
"The girl just woke up and learned of what has occurred, while we have had time to endure and adjust the girl has not, she is not in the right state of mind to answer correctly," I reply as Leliana nods agreeing with my point.
"We don't have enough time to wait!" Cassandra argues back enraged but I remain unfazed by her loud shout. Cassandra backs down eventually from our calm glares making her sigh tired, giving us apologetic looks for her rashness and scaring the girl. The true exhaustion the warrior has endured since the beginning of all this madness shows.
"I can't believe it. All those people… dead," the girl whispers as crystal tears cascade down her face making me sigh, feeling slight pity for the girls doe like expression, reminding me of another innocent elven girl with an art for a magic I despise."Do you remember what happened? How this began?" Leliana
question the sad elf.
"I remember running. Things were chasing me. And then… a woman?" The girl answers confused as I raise a brow, perhaps a lust demon they usually take on the form of women?
"A woman?" Leliana frowns surprised by the news.
"She reached out to me, but then…" the elf groans as she cradles her head, obviously in pain from recalling her past thoughts.
"Go to the forward camp, Leliana. Fennic and I will take her to the rift." Cassandra tries to lead Leliana out and she complies. Why am I always dragged into things?