Fennic POV:
Quietly, we approach Val Royeaux, the bright golden gates gleam in the hot sun matching the golden, white and mint green colour scheme of the city, the capital and Chantry land. I raise a brow at the numerous stoic stone statues, each wielding their own weapon. Curious, Evelyn jogs over, reading all the small plates with information on the statues whereas I stay by the group, watching the curious girl with sparkling green eyes, admire the beauty of the place and the rich history and such of Val Royeaux.
Sighing, I ignore the stares of the locals wearing typically the masks to cover their faces and fancy clothing, though nothing compared to Tevinter. They have a lighter colour scheme than Tevinter.
"Ah!"
Terrified, the female wearing a strange huge green bonnet, matching pearl white and mint green mask and her long dress with gloves with a colour scheme of white, mint green, dark green and gold flees, scared of our mere presence. I notice Evelyn's hurt expression reminding me of a kicked Mubari puppy oh brother. I notice a few stare at my marks making e scowl and stare back, my smirk widens when I spot them back down. "Pathetic," I utter smirking smugly not seeing Varric and Solas glance at me.
"Don't let them get to you Fox," Varric tells me.
"Please as if I'd let a few posh pricks get to me," I smirk as one flees from me, petrified.
"Here I thought you'd love the attention," Solas teases.
"Oh yes. I love people staring at my arms and then thinking what's a lowly elf doing here?" I reply sarcastically smirking at the smirking Solas.
"Ah a sarcastic couple how adorable," Varric teases.
"Please Varric I have standards," I scoff.
"And I do not have relations with a child," Solas replies.
"Child? Please at least I am not some bald ass hobo," I smirk smugly seeing a slight twitch on Solas' expression although he acts unfazed, my smirk grows at his slight motions of irritation, it's amusing to say the least.
"Just a guess, Seeker but I think they know who we are," Varric smirks at the frowning Cassandra.
"Your skills of observations never fail to impress me Varric," Cassandra grumpily replies as we pass through the golden gates of the Sun Gates. Impressive entrances into the city; made of steel and covered in a golden facade depicting the rise of Emperor Kordillus Drakon and said to blind an attacking army in full daylight, according to the locals, a contrast to the simple yet nicely done, Night Gate, a less imposing entrance to Val Royeaux.
Quickly, a scout approaches, huffing, panting; sweating. Someone's in a rush, we all turn to one of the female scouts of Leliana's.
"My lady Herald," respectfully, the scout bows to Evelyn making her take a step back, still not used to the tile and respect, not that I blame her, especially for a mage to be respected in this day of age.
"You're one of Leliana's people," Cassandra recognises the inquisition eye on the slick silver badge, equipped to the green hood of the scout.
"What have you found?" She questions eager for information so we can prepare ourselves for the events that lie ahead, behind these golden gates.
"The chantry mothers await you but so do the Templars," the scout reports.
"Of course Templars would be here," I grumble tiredly.
"There are Templars here?" Cassandra questions surprised.
"People seem to think the Templars will protect them from…from the inquisition. There are gathering on the other side of the market. I think that's where the Templars plan to meet you," the scout stands up after her report. "Thanks," Evelyn thanks her, grateful as I merely nod my head to show my gratitude as she salutes respectfully.
"Only one thing to do then," Cassandra steps forward.
"Shut the chanty up?" I offer.
"No," Cassandra states.
"You guys are no fun," I sigh bored.
"Come on we need to focus," Evelyn encourages as we all head on inside.
Curious, I raise a brow at the brown wooden stand where a woman in elite looking chantry robes, speaks to the crowd of civilians while I notice a few Templars in the back as the woman rambles.
"Oh brother," I grumble tiredly as I notice a few chantry woman eye us.
"Good luck with that," I grumble as I decide to take a seat on the pure snow white marble of the fountain, my eyes eyeing the bright golden lion its jaw open to vomit out fresh, bright blue water.
"Have you thought of joining the chantry?" The woman pushes a parchment into my hand, making me raise a brow and slightly twitch at the parchment filled with all sorts on why to convert.
"No thanks," I reply politely.
"I really think-"
"Sweetie, I'm going to need you to put those remaining brain cells together and work with me here, okay? You do your religion and I'll respect your choice in my life. But don't convert me to your cult or whatever the chantry is nowadays," I grumble tiredly making the woman look horrified at me.
"Well I never!" Enraged the woman storms off while I merely scoff and roll my eyes.
"I think that's the most nonviolent you've ever been to a chantry converter," Varric smirks.
"Maybe," I grumble tiredly recalling the purple eyes and unconscious chantry people would be on the ground for their numerous times of banging on my door and asking to convert me to the chantry, elven times the same woman called and I punched her, right in the jaw. Heh, it was funny, that was until Aveline found out the cause of the recent knocked out chantry woman…year that didn't end ell, urhg, I shiver at the bad memory.
"You took that surprisingly well," Solas notes, looking impressed?
"What you thought I was going to punch her?" I smirk.
"Most likely I thought you would," Solas confesses.
"Eh, you're not wrong hobo," I smirk at his frown.
"I am not a hobo," he argues.
"You look like one," I shrug.
"I do not have the time to argue with a child," he grumbles making my smirk widen.
"Oh eggy did I hurt your feelings I'm so sorry," I smirk at his scowl.
"Don't be, what sorry is your lack of manners," he retorts making me frown at his smart comeback.
"Aw, is little eggy hurt don't be, I mean sure you don't have much for looks but I know uglier guys out there that you will fit jut right in," I smirk confidently, only to falter at Solas' smug smirk.
"What's so funny?" I turn to a chuckling Varric.
"You said uglier meaning you don't find me as ugly as others, if anything you gave me a compliment," Solas explains.
"What! No" Kaffas! I didn't!" I glare only making his smirk widen.
"But you did," Solas reminds me.
"Shut it you kaffas," I grumble as Solas huskily chuckles smugly as I glare playfully at the confident elf, stupid elf, stupid baldy, stupid hobo…
"Grumpy," I mutter as he ignores me making my smirk widen as Cassandra and Evelyn approach the crowd.
"People of Val Royeaux, hear me. Together we mourn our divine, her naive and beautiful heart silenced by treachery. You wonder what will become of her murderer? Well wonder no more," she begins as I stand up, my brow furrowed in wary as I notice a few Templar soldiers step forward. Worried, I draw one of my daggers only to feel a warm, tight, protective grasp on my wrist, making me wince from the psychical contact as I'm pulled back gently. Alarmed, I turn to Solas, his face close to mine.
"Don't," he warns me.
"Don't? They'll attack!" I argue.
"They won't, neither side can afford to have a fight here," Solas whispers as I sigh, his reasoning isn't wrong. Torn, I glance at the scene and sigh. "Fine," I grumble and yank my hand free as I cradle my hand frowning at it as I hiss at a sudden phantom pain of fire and lyrium. Nervous, I release a shaky breathe as I try to forget his hands, his dirty hand, his bloodied hands, his disguising hands…
Concerned, I notice Solas look at me as I sigh
"I'm fine," I assure the mage.
"Are you sure?" He whispers seeing my discomfort.
"I'm fine," I mutter and he nods, siting by my side as we continue to watch the scene unfold.
"Behold the Herald of Andraste, claiming to rise where our beloved fell. We say this is a false prophet. The Maker would send no mage in our hour of need!" The woman declares making me scoff; I notice Solas frown as well.
"The chantry has never been wrong at all," I mutter sarcasm evident in my tone.
"Agreed, their record is as clean as glass," Solas agrees sarcastically.
"Have they forgotten that Andraste may have been a mage as the Tevinter imperium speaks about or will they once again ignore the ideals of others," I mutter grumbling.
"For once, I agree," Solas nods. "Well, I never thought I'd see the day," Varric smiles at the pair of us, chuckling at our arms crossed and annoyed expressions on our features, while Solas is more subtle mine shows my annoyance.
"You say I am a false prophet, you may be right, you say I am a mage you are right, but that does not matter. What matters is the breach, what matters is finding the cause of the breach and stopping it, what matters is closing the breach before more suffer from it. While you speak and make such speeches, the inquisition is fighting, doing something, making a difference while you stand merely talking, doing nothing!" Evelyn declares surprising most of us. Huh and here I thought mage girl would be all for the chantry, maybe I pictured her wrong…
"It's true the inquisition only seeks to end the breach before it's too late," Cassandra affirms, her voice firm but desperate for aid in the fight. Stomping, my ears perk up at the heavy metallic sounds of footsteps, each one in sync with the other, either creepy or well done for routine. The Templars approach…
"It is already too late! The Templars have returned to the chantry and they will end the inquisition and the people will be safe!" The chantry woman declares as the Templars take stage.
'Whack!'
"Ah!"
Startled, we all watch the elite chantry woman fall to the ground, cradling her bruised cheek from the punch sent her way by a Templar.
"I get it when I said shut the chantry up I didn't mean this," but, I will admit that was amazing! I can't help but smirk at the sudden turn of the table.
"Still yourself she is beneath us," the captain, of the Templars I presume tells the conflicted looking Templar recruit.
"She is beneath us, those words don't sound foreboding at all," I mutter sarcastically. "No, that phase is perfectly suiting for the Templars," Solas exclaims.
"I'd much prefer the phrase, "there's nothing you or anyone else can do to stop me!" Varric jokes making me smirk slightly at the cliché line.
"What is going on!?" Evelyn questions puzzled by the Templars attack, she takes a step back, I notice her hand twitching wary of the Templar, not that I can blame her, since she was trapped with them, for years in a tower and one wrong move would be death. But then again, it was to protect the outside world of blood magic and abominations, you can never be sure of when a mage will turn, better to be safe than sorry.
"Her claim to authority is an insult much like your own," the leader glares at Evelyn then walks off the stage, the Templars trailing behind their leader.
"Lord Seeker Lucius, it's imperative that we speak," Cassandra approaches the male.
"You will not address me," Lucius rudely remarks making me frown at the impolite male.
"Lord Seeker?" Cassandra frowns, stopping her rushed footsteps to catch up with the male, with Evelyn stopping behind her.
Creating a heretical movement, raising up a puppet as Andraste's prophet. You should be ashamed you should all be ashamed. The Templars failed no one when they left the chantry to purge the mages. You are the ones who have failed and to use a mage as Andraste's prophet, pathetic. You, who unleash our righteous swords with doubt and fear, if you came to appeal to the chantry you, are too late. The only authority that demands respect is mine," Lucius declares as I feel the urge to just stab this self-righteous prick however I feel a familiar tug pull me back, making me feel disgusted from the contact and glare but Solas remains unfazed with Varric as I am forced to watch.
Evelyn pov:
"Templars one of your own commands the inquisition forces! Join us as he did!" I argue, recalling the chat Cullen and I had during a peaceful break.
"You're a mage your ties are worthless, they are all made traitors just by being in your company," Lucius states as I take a step back feeling a wave of pain, anger and sorrow hit me from his cruel but true words. How dare he…
"At least I'm not some scum who easily kills innocent people who show a mere hint of magic! At least I don't terrorise the people with the blade of death! At least I am no monster!" I declare fury, rage and bitterness in my tongue as I feel my blood boil in frenzy, the ferocity I have buried for years in that tower finally surfacing as I glare daggers at the male.
"Silence abomination!" He draws his blade. Terrified, I take a step back only to feel someone push me back, behind them, shocked I open an eye to find Fen in front with Cassandra, Cassandra still in shock, but quickly shakes her head, standing protectively in front me while Fens blade is armed and easily deflects the blow.
"This happens again Templar and you too will join your brethren back at Kirkwall," Fen sneers as I stare at the cold glare in her expression and malicious glare she sends the male back, away from us.
"Monster!" He seethes.
"Oh look the pots calling the kettle black," Fen smirks at the seething Templar as I stare at the glaring male who sends a nasty glare back at me but I remain unfazed.
"Hide behind your soldiers while you still can apostate," he seethes only to be silenced by Fen's blade teasingly across his neck. Cockily, Fen smirks.
"But lord Seeker was if she really was sent by the maker what if-"
"You are called by a higher purpose do not question," a recruit says to the soldier from before on the stands, looking torn.
"I will make the Templar order, one that stands alone against the void. We deserve recognition, independence, you have shown me nothing," Lucius states.
Fennic pov:
"We don't want to show you anything! You don't deserve any kind of help! Recognition for what slaying helpless mages, sending fear to children and the people you swore to protect, you deserve nothing!" Evelyn argues back surprising me for her burst of confidence and livid expression. The inquisition less than nothing, Templars Val Royeaux is unworthy of our protection, we march!" Together, the Templars storm off like the children that they are.
Quietly, we all gather around, I raise a brow noticing Evelyn's shaking demeanour, familiar fire sparks fly off her fingertips. Warily, I keep a distance from her, as my eyes widen at a familiar shiver of fear hit me, fire, just like…
Wincing, my nose winces at the familiar stench of rotten flesh, iron and sweat…
"Take deep breathes Evelyn," Solas advises in a calm tone making Evelyn nod stiffly as she complies, her once quivering body turns back to its still, more calmer composure.
"Sorry," she sighs.
"It's not your fault," Solas reassures the girl who simply nods, seeing the others soft nods apart mine and Cassandras.
"Charming fellow isn't he?" Varric mutters sarcasm evident in his tone.
"Oh definitely, I would love to have a cup of tea and some cakes with him sometimes," I mutter back bringing a small smile and snicker to Solas, Varric and Evelyn.
"Has lord Seeker Lucius gone mad?" Cassandra frowns, puzzled by his cold attitude towards her and his actions.
"You seem to know each other? Did you know him very well?" Evelyn question curious.
"He took over the seekers of truth two years ago after lord Seeker's Lambert's death. He was always a decent man. Never given to ambition and grandstanding, this is very bizarre," Cassandra explain to us.
"I wouldn't be surprise if there was some sort of corruption," I mutter bringing a new idea to the table. "No, impossible!" Cassandra frowns rejecting the idea while I merely sigh at the girl in denial.
"Do you think he can be reasoned with, if worse comes to worse," Evelyn questions Cassandra.
"I hope so, if not him I sure there are others in the order who feel not as he does," Cassandra sighs.
"I suppose that boy who questioned Lucius earlier and was on stage looking torn could be helpful to us," I offer. "Perhaps," Cassandra nods her head at the idea. "Either way we should first return to Haven and inform the others," Cassandra reasons, making us nod our heads in agreement and turn to head out however…
'THUNK!'
Startled, we all turn to the sound and find an arrowhead imbedded into the wall. Intrigued, Evelyn approaches, oh brother more trouble I'm guessing.
"Guys what's this?" Evelyn kneels down as we all turn to the girl reading a letter…