"Is it true that you gave the middle finger to Captain Meredith?"
…
"Is it true that you fought a dragon?"
…
"Is it true that you punched the Arishok!?"
…
God Damn it Varric.
Infuriated, I stomp over the snowy landscape, my heated footstep melt the now soft snow underneath me, no more crunch instead a liquid sound of gloop almost. The frantic breathes of Evelyn perk my ears as her frantic footsteps easily trapped in the deep depths of snow; desperately try to crawl out to catch up to me.
"Ask Varric," I deadpan glaring at the girl, interrogating me with questions.
"B-but why did you side with the mages, your attitude before shows me you despised mages why side with them?" Evelyn pleads, her strong green eyes meet my calm turquoise, hers shaking desperate for answers as I sigh.
"It was bound to happen, siding with either side meant nothing in the end," I shrug that's what I told myself when Hawke chose the mages and I think that's what Fenris told himself.
"What that fool Anders did merely kick started the war that was bound to happen," I sigh tiredly scowling at the thought of that traitor, emotionally manipulating us to feel sorry for him, his extreme views pissed me off. Sure there are some things I learned to agree with thanks to Hawke's guidance such as tranquillity, no one should go through that, I'd rather die than live as a tranquil. Templars are not pure evil, I have seen their rash mistakes and recklessness but mages are no better than Templars at times.
"It was an unfortunate necessity. Sometimes to achieve the world one desires, one must take regrettable measures," my eyes narrow at the fool. "You weren't there, you wouldn't understand," I argue.
"Let me tell you this mage, while you were dancing freely naked in the moonlight while singing such blissful songs to make the flowers bloom. We were fighting, Varric and me, we were brought into a war we wanted no part in, all thanks to a mage and Templar that were both bickering like children," I argue silencing the male. "I agree the Templar have their issues such as mages," Solas agrees making me blink surprised by him.
"I never thought I see the day, Chuckles and Fox agreeing on something, the world truly is ending," Varric jokes as I grumble at the idiot.
"Was Anders a good person? What was he like?" Innocently Evelyn asks making me grimace with Varric.
…
Surprised, Cassandra and Solas raise a brow at the grimacing silent pair as the group continue on their way…
"So I take it you're from the free marches?" Varric suggests trying to change topic as my bare feet remain undaunted by the ice cold snowy touch of the ground. I ignore the faint shiver as I continue on my way, a distance from the others, not wanting to start another argument or speak of other… touchy subjects.
"Huh? Is my accent that noticeable, I've tried to hide it, people told me it sounds weird," Evelyn explains as I shake my head at the girl. An accent is an accent; no one should judge you based on your tone of voice. "Your accent, I can tell you were trying to hide it. I'm from Kirkwall, but you're from… further east, maybe?" Varric guesses.
"You... okay that's weird, right that's weird, oh gosh I need to stop talking," Evelyn freaks out her voice from low to high, desperate to hide her accent.
"Ansburg? This is going to bother me," Varric groans, his brow furrowed as he desperately tries to figure out where Evelyn is from.
"Ostwick perhaps?" I offer.
"Maybe," Varric sighs.
"Not you too!" Evelyn whines causing a slight smirk to appear. "Relax, your accent doesn't define who you are it's your actions, belief and choices that define yourself," I explain to her.
"Hm it would appear we share another thing in common," Solas points out.
"No we don't," I state.
"Aw come on guys her people are you people right?" Evelyn tries to make peace keeper oblivious to the scowling Solas and my twitching eye.
"He is not my people, I have no people," I quote.
"Huh? Surely you come from a clan or are you a city elf?" She enquires.
"Yes what are you I wonder?" Solas pipes in.
"What are you Solas? You are from no clan, no vallasin, no circle, you don't look like a city elf either," I point out smirking at his silence.
"Touché," he grumbles in defeat bringing a victorious smirk to me as I continue walking with a spring in my step.
Meanwhile:
"Do you know Varric?" I ask intrigued over the origins of Fennec freeing the mages of Kirkwall.
"Can't say, I'll tell you this never rope her into dalish beliefs if you wish to continue living," Varric smile while I frown puzzled by his words. I guess I'll ask Fennec later on.
"I can't believe it though," I whisper in awe.
"Can't believe what?" Varric raises a brow at the mage smiling, watching the elf ahead.
"I got to meet the great Fennec, the circle spoke of her speech inspirational for the decade but not much was known about her. Varric in your book you mainly focused on the champion, all her companions but Fennec why?" I turn to Varric frowning, intrigued for the reasoning as Varric releases a heavy breathe, brow furrowed.
"Look kid, some things are better left not knowing and Fennec didn't want others to know," Varric ends making me raise a brow but Varric steps forward, we all follow following the elf in the lead, already dealing with a few demons alone.
"ARGH!"
Fennic pov:
Startled, I jump back from the scream and turn to Evelyn crying out in agony as the others fight, a demon tries to attack the girl writhing in pain. Quickly, I strike my blade defending the girl in pain. "Hold on," I whisper steading her as she whimpers cradling her hand but no tears are shed, she endures the pain, good this is a sign of growth, I hope. "I'm fine," she hisses as Solas approaches. Quickly, she darts to her dropped staff and fires, freezing the lava demon that was aiming for us. Grateful, we nod at the girl who merely nods back, wincing as the mark flares up even more.
Suddenly, Evelyn leans on my shoulder for support. I blink wincing from the touch but bite down on my teeth, enduring the psychical contact as Cassandra and Varric handle the last demon.
"We must hurry, before the mark consumes her. My magic cannot stop the mark from growing further. For your sake, I suggest we hurry." Solas explains as Evelyn stiffly nods, enduring the pain of the flaring mark. Smoothly, I help her stand up as Solas helps steady her, Varric and Cassandra return looking concerned.
"Shit, are you alright?" Varric questions worried.
"I'm fine no need to worry," Evelyn miles bitterly biting her lip to endure the pain.
"Hold on. We haven't much further. I know it's difficult, but we must keep moving," Cassandra encourages her. "You're right," Evelyn smiles slightly and stands up, cradling her marked hand and we continue towards the others.
Calmly, we all descend down the hard stone steps of the staircase, slightly slippery from winters breathe. "So… are you innocent?" Varric asks trying to start a conversation as the winter breath nips at our skin.
"I don't remember what happened," Evelyn replies groaning as she cradles her forehead, trying to recall what happened but only results in her groaning from a killer headache I presume. "That'll get you every time. Should have spun a story," Varric smirks. "That's what you would have done," Cassandra reasons.
"No, not exactly knowing Varric he would exaggerate his amnesia," I pipe in smirking.
"She isn't wrong, besides it's more believable, and less prone to result in premature execution," Varric explains calmly. We continue walking towards the camp.
"I hope Leliana made it through all this." Casandra sighs, her brow creased in worry.
"Leliana is strong Cassandra," I remind her making Cassandra relax slightly appreciating my words. "She's resourceful, Seeker." Varric adds agreeing with my point.
"We will see for ourselves at the forward camp. We're almost there," Solas assures us.
"I just hope the camp has some sort of way to calm the mark," Evenly sighs looking down at the mark, biting her lip from the pain. We continue along the path up the hill. Horrified, Evelyn winces from the stench of rotten skin covering her nose however I remain unfazed, used to the smell of burning flesh, ash and burning wood, emitted from the corpse, a burning wagon with a burned corpse, three corpses; another burning wagon.
Determined, we get to the top of the hill and go up some stone steps, where we encounter another fade rift. GREAT! FANTASTIC! FABOULOUS!
"Another rift!" Cassandra points out the obvious. No shit Sherlock, the temptation to say that occurs to me but I bite my tongue, knowing not many appreciate my comments during battle. "We must seal it, quickly!" Solas advises as the soldiers cry out for help, not faring well against these demons.
"They keep coming! Help us!"
"Hold on!" Evelyn exclaims, wincing from her mark as she draws her staff to freeze the demons that were about to strike the heavily wounded soldiers. Swiftly, I jump down with Cassandra, Cassandra bull charges the demons whereas I cartwheel around or over some, striking them from behind or on their side, making them cry out in agony and eventually, they evaporate away in defeat.
"Hurry! Use the mark!" Solas exclaims as Evelyn uses the mark to close the rift.
"The rift is gone! Open the gate!" Cassandra's voice booms over the heavy sways of ice cold air.
"Right away, Lady Cassandra!" the soldiers comply in unison they open the gate.
"We are clear for the moment. Well done," Solas compliments as I notice Evelyn try to help the injured soldiers making me sigh. She really is one of those rare mages…
"Whatever that thing on your hand is, it's useful." Varric reasons.
"Either way we have the key," I reason as a few other healthy soldiers arrive and help those injured to camp to be healed. Together, we go through the gate into the forward camp.
Loudly, the wooden gates of the bridge creek forward with four soldiers (two on either side) are desperate; trying to help those wounded from our previous battle, a soldier on the left is quickly trying to retrieve the resources from the blazing wagon. I pick up the scent of ash, smoky burned wood and scent of burning food. On the plus side I suppose it provides warmth for those cold. Disgusted, Evelyn winces at the four canvas-and-rope-wrapped corpses on the left, looking horrified, sorrowful and disgusted. I pick up the fresh stench of charred skin and heavy iron in the air. Tired, three soldiers are sitting at a bonfire, desperate for the blazing comfort of the flames.
I notice Evelyn crouch down to the supply cache, stocking on potions since Varric took quite a beating from the demons trying to attack him from behind. Luckily, I managed to use my bow to stop them before any lethal attacks hit my dwarven friend. My ears perk up at the hushed desperate whispers of prayer as I turn to a soldier, and a Chantry priestess, bowing and praying to Andraste for forgiveness or whatever, there must be more to life than just praying…
The Light shall lead her safely
Through the paths of this world, and into the next.
For she who trusts in the Maker, fire is her water.
As the moth sees light and goes toward flame,
She should see fire and go towards Light.
The Veil holds no uncertainty for her,
And she will know no fear of death, for the Maker
Shall be her beacon and her shield, her foundation and her sword.)
I spot a familiar ginger haired girl only this time in different clothing. Silently, Leliana scowls at the fool of the chantry man; she is wearing purple rogue armour with hints of iron pattern and a familiar eye crest on her chest plate. Leliana's dark purple hood hides some pieces of her face but her bright orange hair dangles down, as her head bows purple gloved hands on the hard pale wooden table, tired of Roderick's rambling. Leliana's eyes hold layers of bags are hidden under the makeup she wears, her tired grey blue eyes meet my steel turquoise.
"Word of advice, ignore him," I gesture to Roderick as Evelyn frowns puzzled by my words. Calmly, we approach Leliana and Roderick at a desk in front of a tent
Past them, there is a fire on the left and at least three more corpses on the left, then at least two soldiers at the gate at the end of the bridge
"We must prepare the soldiers!" Leliana reasons.
"We will do no such thing!" Roderick refuses.
"The prisoner must get to the Temple of Sacred Ashes. It is our only chance!" Leliana explains.
"You have already caused enough trouble without resorting to this exercise in futility," Roderick accuses.
"I have caused trouble?" Leliana scowls at the fool.
"You, Cassandra, the Most Holy – haven't you all done enough already?" Roderick shouts at them.
"You're not in command here!" Leliana reminds him.
"Enough! I will not have it!" Roderick declares.
"Oh brother," I grumble fed up of the chantry in general.
"Ah, here they come." Roderick greets us with a "loving" sneer.
"You made it. Chancellor Roderick, this is–"
"-I know who she is. As Grand Chancellor of the Chantry, I hereby order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux to face execution," Roderick orders making me scoff.
"'Order me'? You are a glorified clerk. A bureaucrat!" Cassandra insults the fool.
"And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serves the Chantry!" Roderick insults the seeker.
"We serve the Most Holy, Chancellor, as you well know," Leliana calmly reminds the idiot.
"Justinia is dead! We must elect her replacement, and obey her orders on the matter. That is chanty-"
"Ah yes because the chantry is so powerful right? Tell me where your loyal Templar knights are?" I remind him grinning at his killer scowl. They wouldn't have left if that fanatic abomination of yours hadn't blown up the chantry! The elf is an accomplice she knew the abomination. She should be sentenced to Val Royeaux to be executed not here!" Roderick argues as I scoff.
"Fennec is aiding us and therefore under our guidance," Leliana intervenes.
"She had nothing to do with the chantry in Kirkwall being destroyed," sheepishly I look away at the comment.
"Isn't closing the Breach the more pressing issue?" Evelyn argues frowning at the bickering couple.
"You brought this on us in the first place!" Roderick accuses.
"Blaming others won't solve the issue at hand clerk!" I argue scowling.
"An elf has no right to speak in such matters," he reminds me making me scoff at the close minded person.
"She has more right to speak than you, she saw the chaos the chantry went through," Leliana defends me making me nod at her grateful.
Evelyn pov:
The chantry has its issues but still, this, this is getting us nowhere, this bickering; this isn't the chantry Lydia taught us back at the circle. She taught us to take action bickering only wastes time, discussion of tactics and choices is good but bickering is child's play, this is childish, this is not the chantry I once knew and respected.
"Bickering will get us nowhere the breach is what matters!" I point to the dark vortex in the sky, releasing wave after wave of demons praying on the weak and those willing to defend.
"Call a retreat, Seeker. Our position here is hopeless," the chantry male reasons as I raise a brow. I never knew men could be joint the chantry, I guess it's different here than back home.
"We can stop this before it's too late," Cassandra reasons and I nod in agreement as I notice Fennec send an approving nod.
"How? You won't survive long enough to reach the temple, even with all your soldiers," Roderick reasons and I agree with this harsh terrain and demons all over, we will lose causalities. "We must get to the temple. It's the quickest route," Cassandra informs us. "But not the safest. Our forces can charge as a distraction while we go through the mountains," Leliana offers another safer route but at the cost of all those innocent soldiers fighting for this cause. "We lost contact with an entire squad on that path. It's too risky," Cassandra argues.
"Listen to me. Abandon this now, before more lives are lost," Roderick argues as I scowl at him.
"And what? Wait or more lives to be lost? More innocent people to de because we did nothing!" I argue scowling at the fool.
"You caused this!" The male points at me as I feel an arrow of guilt hit me, did I? Did I cause all this chaos? I don't remember anything perhaps I did… all those innocent dead, all because of me, families lost, loved ones…
Scowling, I hold in the watery waterfall known as my tears as my body quivers in agony of guilt, now hitting me over and over. It's my fault, it's my entire fault, everything is-
"ENOUGH!" The sharp, firm voice of Fennec interrupts my thoughts as I turn to the scowling elf. Amazed, I stare at the confident elf before me frowning, I spot Solas eyes staring at her, impressed.
"Blaming someone will get us nowhere. What's done is done; right now we must focus on seeing if the mark works, if it does then we have the key to saving more life!" Fennec exclaims as I spot Leliana smiling in agreement with Cassandra. Angrily, Roderick backs down making me smile amazed by the elf before me. It's just like in the book! They spoke of her strong voice, a pair of unyielding eyes and a strong sense of freedom, refusing to back down.
Suddenly, a wave of pain hits me, a burning sensation hits me as I look down at my hand, it looks like it's eroding away even faster causing a stinging sensation through my body as I hiss whimpering in pain from my green flames, crystal blues cascade down my face from the terrible pain. Softly, I feel a pair of ice cold gauntlets on my arm and I open an eye hissing to find a frowning stone faced Fennec, steadying me as I whimper. Puzzled, I frown noticing the uncomfortable expression on her face.
"How do you think we should proceed?" Cassandra asks me making me raise a brow in surprise. Me!? They're asking me!? The person who apparently caused all this discord!? How would I know!? Nervous, I glance at the silent Fennec waiting for my answer, drat.
"Now you're asking me what I think?" I ask scowling at the trio, fed up with all this drama and chaos. "You have the mark." Solas reminds me making me sigh tiredly. "The apostate does have a choice," Fennec voices out agreeing with Solas, making me blink surprised by the two, who seem to have been arguing now agreeing with each other, alright progression!
"And you are the one we must keep alive. Since we cannot agree on our own…" Cassandra points out.
Hmm… it is a careful sustained assault better than just charging in there like reckless fools. Soldiers will stand with us to ensure arrival, meaning back up to cover myself, Varric and Solas with our range attacks. But then again Scouts in the pass may be lost, however if we take the mountain path its more risky, we could lose more people from the harsh climate or steep hills, plus soldiers down below may need our aid.
"I say we charge. I won't survive long enough for your trial. Whatever happens, happens now," I reason seeing Cassandra smile agreeing with my choice.
"Leliana. Bring everyone left in the valley. Everyone," Cassandra orders.
Spitefully, Roderick glares at us making me look away, awkwardly as we move pass the clerk seeing his spiteful glare of hate directed at Casandra, Leliana, Fennec and I. Oh boy, shyly I bow my head as we pass.
"On your head be the consequences, Seeker," I shiver form the ice cold chill from the clerics cold words. Nervously, I look up at the roaring breach, the source of all these monster, I have to do this, I have to help it's what Lydia and my mages from the circle would have wanted.
"You made your choice you can't back out now," I glance at the neutral Fennec's stern glare and nod sheepishly, understanding the choices and consequences that may come to my decision…