Bored, I wander through the Haven camp to see a few tents and log cabins with refugees inside, shivering under the cold terrain, civilians huddling together for warmth. Shaking, I frown at the young children of both elf and human quivering; I can hear the harsh clicks of their teeth grinding together from the ice cold touch of winter.
"Poor kids," I turn to the woman, Threnn, I believe she is called the quartermaster of Haven according to Leliana. She is helping the refugees and soldiers to recover with food and supplies needed. I notice her sorrowful expression.
"These are dark times," I sigh remain stoic under the icy breathe of old man winter, refusing to bow down to the winter chill.
"Is there anything I can do?" I ask curious. I need to do something I can't just wander forever and do nothing.
"Well, we're running low on food for the refugees although the Herald said she would do it. She hasn't come back yet though, I hope she's alright," Thenn explains to me as I face palm. Of course she would…
"I'll go get her," I grumble.
"Thank you," Thenn smiles making me groan. If I don't, Cassandra will ring my neck in, losing our key to stopping this breach and the mess caused by the hole in the sky and demons. Calmly, I head out to leave the camp I feel my fingertips twitch, eager to draw and connect my blades into their bow form.
Boom!
What the heck!? Startled, I take a step back from the sudden burst. I wince as my nose twitches at the scent of ash and burned oak, oh boy. I look up at the sky seeing a faint trail of coal black smoke. What the heck has she done now!? Panicked, my brisk walk turns into a fast paced run as I rush into the dark depth of the forest, following the scent of ash, burning flesh and scorched wood. I stop in my tracks as my ears listen to the faint crackle of crispy fire and the slightly whine.
Slowly, I slow my pace hen I arrive at the scene only to blink at the poor mess before me. I stare at the melted hole filled to the brim with icy water from the scorching flames, I notice a few marks of soot but no body, did she…did she burn the skeleton of the poor creature?
Blinking, I stare amazed at the scene caused by a single girl.
"Why… can't I do anything right?" I hear the tiny whimper as I stare at the mess before me. Defeated, Evelyn's shoulders are slumped, shaking as her thin tanned fingertips cradle her temple, her long dark brunette hair dangles down covering her face but from her body language, I notice her sorrow.
"What did you do?" I voice out, breaking the sorrowful tenseness of the room, blinking amazed at the sight.
"I tried to hunt, I found a nug chased after it but I kept slipping on the snow so I decided to fire out some fire spells," she reasons. "Don't you know ice? You could have frozen it?" I argue. "I did," she smiles proudly, her smile wide as she points to the pile, I fail to notice before, only to stare at the pyramid of ice cubes, an ice prisoner encasing the poor nugs inside.
"That will take a while for them to thaw out…"
"But this one was stubborn and I guess my temper got the best of me," she remarks bashfully looking away, her cheeks heated embarrassed. "Really?" I remark sarcastically as I point to the debris with nothing but a thin pile of ash, no bones, no skin, no nothing to eat.
"Urgh… it's hard okay," she sighs her hands on her knees as she falls once more into the sunken snow.
Frowning, I glance at the faint footsteps tacks, more nugs around. Hmm…
Torn, I glance at the crestfallen girl.
"I can't do anything right, the tower never taught us how to hunt," she sighs.
"Alright it's settled, stand up," I order stiffly.
"Hu-Hey!" She scowls as I grab her wrist and force her to stand.
"You want to be useful right?" I question.
"Yeah?" She nods uncertain.
"Watch," I gesture for her to follow, her clumsy footsteps create a loud crunch as I sigh. "Follow," I gesture to my feet and she nods. Slowly, she copies my precise, agile and light feather footsteps as I carefully connect my blades to form into my bow as we kneel down.
"You see this?" I whisper quietly pointing to the short tiny footsteps on the snow. Determined, she nods as her forest green eyes stare at the tracks. "These are nug footsteps," I gesture to the path following through the bushes. Carefully, I push aside a few layers of leaves, creating a brief crunch foe laves, not alerting to the nug thankfully as we peer through to find the little nug, nibbling on some plant. Good distracted.
Excited, I notice Evelyn's eager grin at the little guy and her fingertips sparkling a ruby red flame. Quickly, I grab her wrist making her brow furrowed until I shake my head. "Try a more subtle way of stopping it," I whisper. Furrowing her brow. Evelyn nods as she begins focusing until she smiles at her plan. I notice her fingertips release a familiar electric spark. She smiles brightly as I nod and step aside, arrow loaded, ready as she steps forward, hand outward as she bites her lip and with a whisper of a chant, releases a tiny arrow spark at the nug.
Scared, the nug cries out in alarm as its shot and tries to move only to cry out as it fails to move and instead crashes into thr soft snowy ground.
"It worked!" Evelynn whispers. Happily, she smiles mile as wide as the sun as she celebrates with her little jumps, causing a brief chuckle to escape my lips, from her childishness.
"Oh my gosh!" She gasps as I raise a brow at the giddy girl.
"What?" I sigh frowning.
"You giggled, you can express emotion!" She teases as I roll my eyes at the grinning girl. "Don't think this is over," I gesture to the struggling Nug as another comes out.
"I got this!" Swiftly, Evelyn fires a small spell from her staff, releasing a bright blue light encasing the rabbit's half in ice.
"No! Come on!" Evelynn scowls at the moving Nug, its bottom half trapped in ice.
"At least it's not fully trapped in ice," I sigh and draw my arrow. Easily, I fire out two arrows swiftly ending both life's, I notice Evelyn's scowl at the dead nugs.
" They were so cute," she sighs.
"Circle of life, mage, you've read the books," I reason.
"I guess but still seeing it in real life, it's different, this whole experience of being outside is still alien to me," she confesses. "Why? The circle was destroyed months ago you should have adapted by now," I shrug. Frowning, I raise a brow at the silent Evelyn.
"It's different, as a girl I dreamed of leaving the tower and when the day finally came. I thought I was ready but…-"
"You weren't," I catch on and she nods.
"No one is, I suppose come, that woman is worried about you," I sigh and approach the pile of ice cubes.
"Threnn," Evelyn smiles.
"Yeah her," I shrug as together, we grab the dead nug's and head back to camp.
"You retuned," Threnn smiles happily at us and the food bought. Greedily, she happily accept the food. "This is great, it make take time to thaw out the nugs from the ice but the rest is great," she praises. Quietly, I glance at the silent Evelyn looking down at the floor.
"Yeah, most of these were caught by Evelyn," I answer simply, not noticing the surprised expression of Evelynn. Really, great work Harold, as expected of the chosen of Andraste," Evelyn winces from the tile as we leave.
"Why did you say that?" She whispers as I turn to her, my brow raised in confusion.
"Say what?" I enquire.
"I did most of the work but you killed them," she huffs. "You tracked them, you imprisoned them. I mean sure it wasn't the best method but still the food was caught," I shrug. "Thanks," she smiles grateful and leaves as I frown. Thank me for what? I'll never get it.
Evelyn pov:
I still can't believe it, Fen helped me. I knew she wasn't as grumpy as people let on. Smiling, I look back at the elf entering the chantry for warmth. Still, I owe her big time, I can't believe the way I caught those nugs. I mean sure I have zero experience with hunting but still to return with ice cubes to eat wouldn't have been the best idea, heh. Still, tracking, if it weren't for Fen I wouldn't have learned how to track, I should thank her later some way.
Bored, I decide to explore. Smiling, I return to training grounds for the troops, my nose winces at the stench of sweat, reminds me of home, of the eager students spending day and nights, during the hot summer days reading in the stuffy library, reading with a heavy stench of sweat in the air. I remember one time when Dio was dragged out of the library under the strict orders of both the Templars and Lydia to bathe, he smelt like a dead muddy pig according to Lydia. However, my smile falters at the slick metallic sound of blades being unsheathed and clashing against one another, making me wince as I recall the sharp blades the Templars had, reminding us of our place in the tower. I wince recalling Lydia healing a fellow mages once for trying to escape, their hand lost to the slick steel blade of the Templars. The Templars demanded to call him handy.
Frowning, I keep a distance form the soldiers and decide to further explore the training grounds. My ears perk up at the familiar heavy female grunts, away from the training recruits and soldiers, curious I decide to follow only for my eyes to widen at the familiar raven haired warrior. Smiling, I approach Cassandra, striking at the fake dummies practicing her swordplay.
"Are you alright?" I frown seeing her angry strikes at the dummy. Silently, Cassandra focuses on the dummy not noticing me, making me sigh.
"Worried?" I ask louder.
"Is it that obvious?" She turns to me, snapping out of her focused trance. "I'm afraid so, is this from that duel I heard you had with Fennic a bit ago?" I ask. "No. Fennic has given me pointers; like she said my trainer Cassandra you are too brash. You must think before you act. I see what must be done and I do it. I see no point in chasing around the problem like a dog chasing its tail, but I misjudged you in the beginning did I not? I thought I saw the answer right before me. I cannot afford to be so careless ever again," Cassandra explains to me.
"It wasn't like you had no reason to suspect me," I reason trying to be fair. Now that I think back to it, from what happened, I would suspect myself as well, I mean I did just pop out from the breach, that is causing all this craziness.
"I was determined to have someone answer for what happened. Anyone," Cassandra confesses making me nod in understanding.
"We're human, we always look to blame someone it's in us, a ugly trait we need to get rid of but struggle to remove," I explain.
"You've said you believe you're chosen. Does that mean… you believe in the Maker?" Cassandra enquires as I simply nod. "It's better to believe in some sort of hope and reason for being here, besides I was raised in a family filled with chanty people, you learn a lot from them over time. I believe He exists," I explain.
"You do? I'm surprised but… I suppose it's comforting. Surely, the Maker put us both on this path for a reason. Now it simply remains to see where it leads us," Cassandra reasons as she turns her back to me. "Agreed, I just hope it leads us to some sort of solution," I confess making Cassandra nod in agreement.
"It occurs to me that I don't actually know much about you," Cassandra points out.
"I thought you knew that," I frown puzzled. When you make someone you prisoner, most do a background check just in case.
"I suppose I could ask Leliana. She has collected a frightening amount of information on you. But I don't want to ask her. I want to hear it from you," Cassandra reasons making me smile slightly at the idea. "It would be nice than having someone know about me from another source," I confess. "Then tell me," Cassandra encourages making me smile.
"I was born in Ostwick, and that's where most of my family is," I reply, smiling at the thought of my mother and her warm bright smile but it falters as I recall bitterly my chantry cousins…
"The Trevelyans, is it not? A large clan with a rather clever coat-of-arms. Tell me, do you consider the Free Marches your home? Are you eager to go back?" Cassandra enquires as I frown.
"Maybe, it would be nice to see my mother again but I'm not sure," I shrug causally looking away, my eyes looking away slightly at the thought. Would they even want a abomination among their ranks? Probably not, I mean they did send me to that tower…
"Wherever I am is home enough for me, thought it would be nice to see my family again, I shrug not sure on the answer.
"That's how I feel now, after years of tending to business for the Divine," Cassandra grimaces.
"I'm sorry about your loss, she meant a lot to you both I can tell," I sigh. "She did that's why we must find the culprit and avenge her death then complete what most holy wanted," Cassandra answers, her voice determined. I nod in understanding and respect for the woman with a good motive.
"Well since we're asking questions, I'd like to ask some myself if you wouldn't mind," I ask smiling. "There's not much…to know," Cassandra warns me.
"I don't mind if we're going to be working side by side, fighting demons I'd like to know the people I'm fighting side by side with if that is alright?" I ask worried, that I may be making her uncomfortable. "It is fine," Cassandra confirms much to my relief.
"My name is Cassandra Pentaghast, daughter of the royal house of Nevarra, seventy-eighth in line for the Nevarran throne. I joined the Seekers of Truth as a young woman, and was with the Order until they withdrew from the Chantry. I remained as the Divine's Right Hand, carrying out her order to form the Inquisition – and here we are. That's all there is to know, my lady," Cassandra explains as I raise a brow at the royal house of Nevarra, famous for being dragon slayers, hmm I could see Cassandra tanking and taking on a dragon, heh. That must be cool, to take on and slay a dragon… but also terrifying, I mean the sharp fangs, the fiery flames and the mighty furious roar, oh boy…
"You're a member of Nevarra's royal family?" I ask smiling at the thought of Cassandra being a princess of sorts.
"The Pentaghasts are a very large clan. Half of Cumberland could say the same," Cassandra replies.
"Really?" I raise a brow intrigued.
"No, but it feels that way. I have hundreds of relatives so distant; they need charts to prove we're related at all. And they have them, oh, yes. The Pentaghasts value their precious blood like it runs with gold," Cassandra grumbles bitterly
"And you joined the Seekers to get away from that?"
"It was a life worth getting away from."
"The Pentaghasts are famed for dragon-hunting, but few actually pursue the craft. Most are fat and lazy. They pay lip service to the Maker and care only for idle pleasures and past glories. My brother was all that kept me in Nevarra. Once he was gone, so was I."
"What happened to your brother?"
"I'd rather not speak of Antony," Cassandra grimaces as I panic, feeling a sense of dread and worry.
"I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to bring back dark memories", I apologies guilty, feeling a wave of worry and guilt hit me for being so insensitive.
"It is fine perhaps another question?" Cassandra recommends. "Good idea! Um, you don't seem to like your homeland much."
"My family polluted it for me. What little I saw of my homeland was through the bars of a gilded cage. My uncle treated me like a porcelain doll to be placed on a shelf and dusted only when necessary. Thus I did not see Nevarra, the real Nevarra, until much later. By then I realized I knew it not at all."
"I see. I apologise but I can understand, back at the tower, the Templars tuahgt us the outside world as perfect, not fit for abominations like us but now seeing it, feeling it, experiencing it, they were wrong, the outside world isn't perfect, but nothing is," I explain as Cassandra nods, agreeing with my point.
"I best get going to the Hinterlands to see Mother Giselle," I sigh. "Indeed," Cassandra nods at me as a form of goodbye which I return and then head to the war room, Hinterlands here I come…
So here we are the Hinterlands, it's gorgeous. Smiling, I stare in awe of the forest greenery. The crisp sound of breaking lush green leaves and hard brown sticks crush from our soft footsteps. The frail green hairs of grass tickle against our feet, bringing a small smile to my lips from the soft motherly touch as we are greeted by the cool wind breeze, not too cold like Haven but not too hot either. Shining, the sun shines down upon us as we approach the camp being set up for the scouts to gather resources for the refugees.
Curious, I decide to check see how the others are doing, the team I brought with me is Varric, Solas, Cassandra and Fennic. We need tanks if we come across any Templars or enemies to distract them so we can attack from afar. Although, I notice Fen seems to be at a distant, eyeing the landscape while the other three stick closer together albeit reluctantly. Sighing, I spot the leader of the scouts approaching, a dwarf! Huh, cool. I've never really seen a female dwarf before well apart from Varric but he's a guy, there were no dwarfs in the tower, then again dwarfs don't have the gift of magic, due to the mining of lyrium and the adaptation of mining the lyrium made them lose their magic, it's sad but quite interesting what adaptation can do.
"The Harold of Andraste, I've heard the stories, everyone has. We know about what you did at the breach, it's an honour to meet you my lady. Inquisition Scout Harding I all of us here will do whatever it can to help," she exclaims as I cannot help but smile nervously, all these people want to help me? All I did was raise my hand…
"Harding huh? Ever been to Kirkwall's Hightown?"
"Varric," Fen warns him only making his cheeky smirk wider.
"I can't say I have why?" Harding questions intrigued.
"You'd been Harding in a-no never mind," Varric sighs seeing her not getting the joke, or so I believed was trying to be a joke, especially from the pained groan from the face planting Fen. "Oh come on Fox I tried didn't I?" Varric smiles at Fen who simply shakes her head and ignores the smirking Dwarf. "Urgh, how do you put up with him?" Cassandra turns to Fen. "Drinking, lots and lots of drinking," Fen grumbles tiredly as I raise a brow, huh I know Fen was grumpy but never pictured her, the drinker then again I never drank before so…
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," I bow my head slightly trying to be respectful, grateful for the aid given to us, to help me…oh boy.
"We should get to business, the situations pretty dire. We came to secure horses from Redcliffe horse master. I grew up here and people said Dennet's herds were the strongest and fastest this side of the Frostback's. But with the mage and Templar fighting getting worse, we couldn't get to Dennet. Maker only knows if he's still alive. Mother Giselle is at the crossroads helping the wounded. Our latest report say they spread their too, corporal vale and our men are doing all that they can to protect the people, but they won't be able to hold out very long. You best get going no time to lose," Harding explains to us as she turns her back to attend to other business.
"Well then who's ready for an adventure guys!" Nervously, I smile at the group who merely shrug as I lead the way, Fen behind me then Varric then Solas and finally Cassandra.
"None of this explains how that mark was acquired however," Solas begins as I sigh, feeling eyes on me. Nervous, I glance at the stoic Fen in front now; eyeing the landscape, bow in hand for some hunting perhaps.
"She claims not to remember," Cassandra replies as I sigh, annoyed at the stinging pain in my head desperate, clawing at my head to recall but like always come to a blank.
"And you do not believe that?" Solas questions making me smile relieved to see Solas on my side.
"It is too convenient," Cassandra argues as I feel a pang of panic hit me from her words.
"Sometimes the mind buries what it cannot endure."
"And sometimes the guilty lie. Let us press onwards," Cassandra sighs tiredly.
"Guys where's Fennic?" Varric points out surprising the group as all eyes try to find any hair of white, only to find none.
Fen!? Horrified, I look around, feeling a wave of panic hit me and concern for Fennic. What if a Templar came from behind and kidnaped her? What if a rebel mage came and used blood magic on her, torturing her as we speak? What if-
"ARGH!"
3rd person:
Surprised, the group turn to the multiple cries of pain and blink at the sight below them. Calmly, the familiar white haired elf stands, calm and unfazed, her breathes even not even a slight pant of exhaustion as she merely kneels down next to the big brown animal on the ground, laying in a coat of blood intermixed with another pool from a armoured male, a Templar from the insignia on the chest plate, now covered in crimson as the elf calmly begins looting from the Templar body and then gets out a familiar dagger.
"NO!" Evelynn jumps down and rushes to the dead animal surprising the white hired elf that raises a brow at the girl, now hugging the dead bear.
"Um…"
"Fennic do not run off like that!" Cassandra scolds the girl who raises a brow.
"I'm sorry but while you guys were talking behind Evelyn's back and I mean both psychically and mentally without including her in the conversation, rude by the way. A Templar saw us and was about to contact reinforcements, so I thought it would be best if I ended him unless you wanted to have to deal with more hassle that is?" Fennic exclaims making Solas raise a brow and Cassandra to look down, ashamed slightly.
"Um…thanks?" Evelyn mutters smiling nervously.
"Then what's with the bear?" Varric asks curious.
"The Templars scream alerted the bear who attacked me, so naturally I attacked back, self-defence," Fennic turns to me as Evelyn sighs.
"You shouldn't run off like that though we were worried. Besides this poor cute little bear was just scared," Evelyn coos in a strange tone causing the female and male elf to wince from her high pitch. "Yes cute with its razor sharp claws and teeth," Fen mutters sarcasm evident in her tone; she fails to notice the small smirk on Solas features.
"I always wanted to see a baby bear," Evelyn coos as Fen sighs, face in one hand while the others merely watched intrigued by the dynamic pair of opposites.
"You know there's probably one in that cave over there," Fen jokes pointing at a random cave not noticing the hopeful expression on the girls features as she stands up, giving Fen the chance to skin the bear.
"Really?" She smiles and stands up as the group raise a brow at the girl who hums as she walks over to the direction Fen pointed at.
"Fen stop her!" Cassandra barks.
"What? Why? Come on she's a circle mage she knows I was joking. She can't be that dense…oh god dammit!"
Cursing, Fennic jumps up and dashes after the smiling girl, her face seating in worry of Cassandras fierce glare as she and Cassandra chase after the eager and curious marked girl, while the boys sigh and trail behind, both smiling slightly at the funny scene before them.
"Chuckles I never thought I'd see the day you would smile," Varric jokes lightly.
"Ha ha," Solas replies back sarcastically as he watches the scene before him with a faint of a smile at the amusing scene of the usual stoic now frantic Fennic, the fuming and raging Cassandra and the happy go lucky curious circle mage.
"Are you insane!?" Fennic grabs the human pulling her back as Evelyn frowns.
Evelyn pov:
"No, see look aren't they adorable!" I smile as I point to the little baby bears of bright brown as brown and warm as a familiar pair of brown eyes. Smiling, I can't help but feel the giddiness and joy of seeing these little gems fill my body. Never have I seen such creatures, in books perhaps but seeing the in person, it's different, it's amazing, it's more natural…
The others return. "We should flee to avoid a fight," Cassandra reasons. Sighing, I nod, I know I'm being selfish, a trait I hate but it's just I've never seen a bear and animals in person, animals were forbidden in the tower but seeing their soft baby features, the urge to touch their soft feather like fur and to see their cute little mannerisms, it's a gift, a joy, a privilege, I have dreamed of and has come to fruition.
"Sorry," I apologise meekly as the two girls sigh. "Everything okay now?" Varric calls out as I look down, feeling a wave of embarrassment and shame hit me, we're meant to be going to the Hinterlands not wandering around, this isn't what Scout Harding and the other scouts fought for, I'm being selfish yet again…
"It's fine. Just warn us next time if you want to see an animal…"
Surprised, I raise a brow at the stoic Fen.
"You're not angry?" I turn to the others who merely shake their head. "You're a circle mage from what I was told. You were restricted of the outside world; you missed out on seeing these creatures," Fen shrug casually. "Thanks," I smile slightly relieved to see them understand. "Just warn us next time bookworm," Varric teases as I nod feeling a tad bit flustered.
"I'm puzzled you were fine killing Nugs how is a bear different?" Fen frowns puzzled by my logic as I laugh nervously.
"Well, Nugs aren't as cute as bears," I answer smiling meekly.
"Bear are cute?" Cassandra frowns.
"You know, nugs don't have that soft grizzly fur, you can cuddle with and their snout isn't as cute as that little bright button nose, the bear has plus it's so fluffy! Oh and big you can just cuddle with it while a nug you get scared if you hug it, you'll kill it," I explain as the group blink and shake their head, accepting my logic as me. Together, we continue our walk to Mother Giselle.
Finally, we arrive at the area of which mother Gisele resides in to help the refugees and those wounded, caught in the crossfire of the mage and Templar fighting. Frowning, I glance at those shaking, quivering, trembling in fear, pain or hunger from the war, that we helped create cause. This is my fault, all this pain, suffering and sorrow, caused by our group of friends. We just wanted to survive, live, be left alone not get thrown into the affairs of two bickering children, each side with their own fault.
I sigh, forcing away those negative thoughts as I spot children, human and elven happily playing with one another, oblivious to the bloodshed and sorrow surrounding the area, to be young again…
"Ignorance is bliss I suppose," I raise a brow at the mage, Solas silently standing next to me.
"It depends on the situation," I shrug.
"In a way, but do they not deserve the right to know?" Solas nods his head in agreement but questions me as I sigh. "Perhaps they do, but sometimes the truth can hurt," I argue. "So keeping them in the dark is best?" He argues. "What I mean is this, the innocence of youth is a gift, a gift that can be easily corrupted by the truth or other factors, making the children lose their innocence of the world and join us, this war is bloody that is true but surely they have a right, if it's their choice to enjoy what they have and what they still can before the truth is slapped in their faces?" I argue as Solas frowns in deep thought from my words.
"It would be their choice to learn the truth," I summarise. "Perhaps you are right, you surprise me yet again Fennic," Solas smiles slightly making me raise a brow. "Are you testing me?" I frown. "Testing?" Sola raises a brow. "You seem like the type to test people for answers, besides you seem like the shady type," I state.
"Careful Solas," I smirk cheekily.
"Hm?" Solas raises a brow at my smug smirk.
"Keep on smiling and your face may crack," I smirk at his frown.
"Now, now you have enough wrinkles as it is," I add my smirk widening at his furrowed brow as we trail behind Varric, Cassandra and Evelyn.
Slowly, we stop in our tracks when Evelyn's spots some scouts, who bow to Evelyn and stand aside for Evelyn to see the inquisition plain banner, proclaiming their influence here, to spread the word for more aid and more people to join our cause, propaganda in a way. Finally, we find the chantry women, mother Giselle. She is trying to coax a wounded soldier on a medical bed to allow a mage to heal him. She has dark skin and wears the typical chantry uniform even the funny hat, making my smirk appear slightly at the tall and probably hard to balance hat.
"There are mages that can heal your wounds. Lie still," Giselle softly instructs as a mage approaches from behind, wearing the typical mage robes form the circle.
"Don't. Don't let them touch me mother their magic is-"
"Turn to noble purpose; their magic is surely no more evil than your blade," Giselle reasons calmly.
"But-"
"Hush dear boy. Allow them to ease your suffering," Giselle softly whispers as the soldier complies and lies on the bed, where the mage uses his healing capabilities to heal the now fully healed soldier, resting in the cot in a slumber.
"Mother Giselle?" Evelyn approaches as I stand to the side while the others disperse, still uncertain. Warily, my eyes narrow at the mage who had treated the soldier.
"You must be what they are calling the Herald of Andraste," mother Giselle walks over to Evelyn.
Evelyn pov:
"What you said to that soldier?" I frown at her words, the Templars back home spoke of how our magic was a curse, people feared us for our curse while grand enchanter Lydia told us they feared our gift, either they people fear magic and let she who speaks to the chantry, make it sound as though magic is okay, now I'm confused.
"We do not teach that magic is evil. We teach that pride is evil- and does not corrupt only mages. I know of the chantry's announcement and I am familiar with those behind it. I won't lie to you. Some of them are grandstanding, hoping to increase their chances of becoming the new divine. Some are simply terrified. So many good people taken from us," Giselle explains. "It was horrible, so many deaths, so many lives lost, so many loved ones gone just like that, all that remains and survivors mourn," I sigh, blinking trying to force back the tears as I recall all my friends, enchanter Lydia, Dio…
"You have lost people as well," Gisele notes as I nod. "My loved ones, friends, family, they were a family to me," I whisper as Giselle smiles sympathetically at me as I close my eyes, refusing to cry, I can't not now, I have to focus, all these people rely on me I can't let them down.
"But I did not ask you to come to simply debate with me," Giselle exclaims.
"Then why am I here?" I question, wishing for answers.
"Fear makes us desperate but hopefully not beyond reasoning. Go to them; convince the remaining clerics you are no demon to be feared. They have heard only frightful tales of you; give them something else to believe," she reasons.
"You want me to appeal to them? But will that work? I'm a mage, last I checked magic was bad, mages are abomination," I argue frowning at the idea of those cleric eyes, those familiar chantry garbs of people, glaring,, taunting, hissing at me in disgust, I shiver at the familiar memory.
"How could this happen?"
"You said she would be safe!"
"You said our blood was pure!"
Shivering, I shake my head at the sorrowful memories.
"If I thought you were incapable I wouldn't have suggested it," Mother Giselle's calm soothing voice snaps me out of my dark thoughts. "Will they even listen?" I sigh as I recall the stubborn members of the chantry.
"Let me put it this way, you need not convince them anymore you just need some of them to doubt. Their power is a unified voice, take that from them and you will receive the time you need," Giselle answers as I nod, getting the idea, she is as smart as she is faithful.
"It is good of you to do this, thank you mother Giselle, we would have bee lost without your guidance," I smile grateful for her advice and aid in the matter. "I honestly don't know if you've been touched by fate or sent to help us but I hope. Hope is what we need now," she confesses as I nod in understanding. I'm still in shock to be honest, me a mage, an abomination the herald of Andraste it's wrong, it sounds wrong in my mind but I will do what I can to help…