Chapter 12 – Tough answers
For four long days, the crystal located in the forge remained silent. Hawke came to the dwarf several times a day hoping for some good news. She was so focused on this that she could not attend to anything else. At some point, both she and Varric began to worry about Mira whether she had made it safely to Calpernia's headquarters and had left without incident. After three days the woman contacted them through one of Varric's spies. She relayed that she had managed to get the crystal safely to the site but she had taken the opportunity to stop at Val Royeux to resupply.
When Hawke once again came to the forge on the fifth day she found Dagna smiling and enthusiastic.
-Are there any results? - she asked quickly.
-And what results there are. - replied the dwarf with a statement and, tinkering with the crystal for a while, managed to activate the image and sound. Hawke listened to every word and watched every gesture carefully. Corypheus' subsequent conversation with Calpernia only confirmed her earlier suspicions. Venatori's leader had doubt as to the "Elder One". A significant name was also mentioned, the Temple of Dumat. Calpernia tried to convince Corypheus to let her go to the temple and complete some ritual but he clearly would not allow it. What in this temple did he want to hide from his right hand? Hawke knew this would be their next target.
-Thank you, Dagna. You are irreplaceable. - she said with excitement.
-I know. - the dwarf laughed.
Hawke walked out of the smithy into the main hall, where a slight commotion greeted her. The Inquisitor and his advisors were just heading to the War Room. Marian smiled and approached them briskly.
-Inquisitor I have a good... - she started but was met with a quiet nervous sigh.
-In a moment Hawke. - he answered as gently as he could but frustration was visible in his green eyes. The three advisors, along with Cassandra, just passed by. Confused, Marian accosted Vivienne who was walking at the end.
-What happened? - she asked.
-Politics, my dear. - said the dark-skinned mage nonchalantly. - Excuse me now, my dear, but I desperately need a bath. The road here has been terribly tiring. - she just added and disappeared behind a side door.
Marian headed towards the war room. Before she reached the door she heard loud arguing coming from the room. She had to find out what had happened in the palace. No one even paid special attention to the fact that she had joined them. Everyone was busy in a heated exchange of words. The most vocal was Josephine.
-How could you let this happen, Inquisitor? - she asked accusingly. - She was not guilty of anything!
-It was not the Inquisitor who killed her. - Leliana said.
-But he let her die. In my eyes, those are two things that coincide.
-Enough! - growled Cassandra. - The decision had been made.
-By whom? Is that what the Inquisition has become now? Allowing an innocent person to die just because they are "inconvenient"?
Hawke furrowed her brow trying to piece together the conversation into some sort of concrete whole. She approached Leliana.
-What happened? - she asked.
The spy-mistress sighed quietly.
-The Empress was murdered by the sister of Duke Gaspard. - she explained.
-What? You couldn't prevent the murder? - Hawke was surprised.
-We could. - Josephine spoke up once again. - Our Inquisitor knew very well that it was Floriane who wanted to kill Celene, but he let it happen.
Hawke furrowed her forehead in surprise. Her blue eyes shifted to the Herald. He was leaning against the wooden ends of the large table and his focused green eyes were probing the map. Marian could see that he was analyzing something again. By the Maker, was what the ambassador saying true?
-Gaspard will bring order quickly. - Cullen spoke up. - We need Orlais troops to fight.
-At what cost? - the ambassador insisted. - We let an innocent person die and for what? Military force? Celene was a good empress, Gaspard is a tyrant.
-Just as Cullen said, we need troops and we need them as soon as possible. - Ayden spoke from the table. He straightened slightly but his gaze never left the large map. He grabbed a few pawns and shifted them slightly. - Celene would hold more balls and more talks, and we are running out of time.
The pawn held by the onyx-clad glove fell suddenly from his left hand. Ayden hissed quietly and clenched it slightly. It did not escape the Champion's attention.
-So the Empress's cousin has now taken the throne? - she asked.
-Yes, and we contributed to it. - said Josephine angrily. - The Inquisition has blood on its hands. I didn't think that...
-Show them. - Hawke suddenly interrupted. Everyone's gaze went to her, but she was looking at the Inquisitor. He sighed loudly and his cheeks trembled slightly. Bright green eyes stared stubbornly at the map.
-Hawke please. - he replied quietly.
-No Inquisitor, I'm the one pleading you. - said the Champion gently. - I see you are calculating this decision but I ask you to trust in the judgment of someone else this time. Show them. - she asked once again.
Herald drew in air heavily and let it out slowly. After a moment he straightened up and his right hand reached for his left gauntlet. The heavy onyx piece rested gently on the map. He then pulled up the sleeve of his shirt slightly. Everyone almost held their breath including Hawke who was standing across the table. From the inside of his hand, small dark veins spread. The corruption now reached a third of his arm. Maker's breath, when he set out it was not that advanced.
-Sweet Andraste, your mark... - Cullen began but was unable to finish the sentence.
-It grows larger with every rift I close. - informed Ayden. He grabbed the glove lying on the map and put it on hastily. His green gaze shifted to the shocked ambassador.
-Josephine, I know you don't support violence and are horrified by what I've done regarding the succession of Orlais, but we are running out of time. We must confront the forces of Corypheus, and quickly.
-I... I didn't know.- the ambassador replied quietly.
-Nobody knew, Josephine. - said the Inquisitor reassuringly. - I have kept this secret from you for as long as I could, but it is time to reveal the cards. With Celene, we would be facing months of negotiations, which we simply don't have time for. You don't have to approve of my decision in Halamshiral but I ask you to at least accept it.
-Corruption looks a little different from the one you had at the very beginning. - Casandra spoke up. - Does it...hurt? - she asked uncertainly.
-Only when the Anchor activates. - he admitted. - When it is at rest I can only feel a slight tingling in my fingers.
Marian stared at him. She knew he was lying. After all, a moment ago he had not been able to hold a simple pawn in his fingers. She remained silent this time.
- So... So what's the plan? - Josephine asked in a humble voice. Her previous anger had faded away.
The Inquisitor shifted his focused gaze to the table.
- Leliana's spies have reported Venatori activity in the Arbor Wild. - he informed them. - There are old elven ruins there and we know that Corypheus is looking for something inside it. I told Gaspard to move all the troops to that place. - he pointed his finger at the location on the map. - The Inquisition forces will join them and together we will confront Corypheus.
- Do we know what this darkspawn is after? - Cassandra asked.
- No, but if this thing is so important to him that he takes almost all his forces to search, all the more reason to stop him. - said Leliana.
- Cullen, prepare our soldiers. - Ayden instructed. - Cassandra, you make sure that Gaspard's troops arrive at the designated location. Josephine, send letters to our allies. We need them. Leliana, our new... ally. - he added after a while. - This Morrigan, I hear you two know each other. - Leliana only nodded. - Can we trust her? - he asked.
-Morrigan always has some hidden agenda but one thing you have to give her credit for. Her knowledge of magic and ancient artifacts is unique. - she said. - Besides, she also cares about the world not ending.
-All right then. I'll consult with her on the next steps. If in the meantime should your spies have any new information I want to know.
-Of course, Inquisitor. - Leliana announced and was the last to leave the room. Eventually, the Inquisitor was left alone with Hawke.
He leaned heavily with his elbows against the edge of the table and propped his head up, combing his coppery hair. His templar armor chimed quietly. After a moment, he felt a touch on his shoulder and flinched slightly. He turned his head, staring at the bright face of the Champion.
- I'm glad you're here. - he murmured quietly. - Forgive me about earlier. - he added hurriedly.
Marian smiled warmly and nodded slightly, giving him a sign that she didn't mind.
-A new ally? - she asked curiously.
-Long story. - he answered in a weary voice. Seeing his reaction, Hawke did not continue the subject. Instead, she decided to lighten up the heavy mood a bit.
- So, I know the results of the ball but what happened during festivities? I bet you couldn't keep away from the honorable ladies of the court.
In response, Ayden only sighed aloud.
-It couldn't be that bad. - she continued. - All that fancy food and drinks. I could appreciate that if nothing else. - she made a pause for a brief second. - And now I wish I had gone to.
Ayden looked at her with a sincere, warm smile.
-Well I also had to... dance. - he answered finally with some hesitation.
Marian, with difficulty, held back her laughter. She knew that with noble background Ayden has been taught how to dance but somehow the prospect of seeing it made her childishly amused.
- Maker, and I missed that. - she said after a while when she was finally confident with her voice.
- I'm glad you did. - admitted Ayden.
Hawke leaned slightly over him and placed a short kiss on his cheek. He smiled warmly.
- What this is for? - he asked.
- I have good news... I think.
Ayden straightened up and turned to face her.
- Oh, yes. In the hallway, you wanted to tell me something. Was your mission successful?
- Yes. - she answered with a smile. - Come with me and I will show you something.
Hawke led him to the forge. On the way, she told him about the memory crystals and how they had managed to record an interesting conversation between Calpernia and Corypheus. When they were there she instructed Dagna to run the recording. The Inquisitor needed to see it in person.
After watching the whole thing, Ayden mused. He analyzed.
-So their alliance is not as solid as it may seem. - he finally said.
-The Coryphaeus is hiding something from her. - Hawke admitted. - Something in Temple of Dumat. We need to investigate this lead.
-That might give us an advantage but... - his green gaze rested on the Champion. - ...I have a lot of things to do right now to prepare our troops.
-Easy Inquisitor, I wasn't going to take you anyway. - Marian replied with a sneer. - I'll get to the temple with Varric and Dorian and find out what Corypheus is so carefully hiding.
Ayden furrowed his brow and a look of concern crossed his face. He sighed quietly then turned to the dwarf.
-Thank you Dagna.
His gaze once again shifted to the Champion. He nodded slightly suggesting that she leave the forge with him. They both said goodbye to the dwarf then Marian followed him to his private chamber. She felt subconsciously that some kind of reprimand was waiting for her. When they were in place, Ayden turned to her briskly.
-Hawke are you planning to go there in a team of three? - he asked seriously.
-You don't seem to have much faith in our abilities. I feel offended for myself as well as for Varric and Dorian. - she replied in the feigned offense.
He sighed aloud.
-Marian, I have read about Temple of Dumat...
-Of course you have. - she interrupted him with a slight hiss. He pressed his lips together but continued speaking.
-There are remnants of ancient elven magic at work there. The Veil must be extremely thin in that place and that means demons. Besides, Corypheus certainly added something from himself.
Hawke stepped closer to him. Her blue resolute gaze made him fall silent.
-Ayden, I've lost too much already. - she said plainly. - My father and brother were taken by the Blight. My mother was killed by a sick degenerate who wanted to bring his dead love back to life. My sister was locked in a Circle and narrowly missed being tranquil, and Anders paid for my carelessness with his life. - she grabbed his left hand and lifted it slightly upwards. - It's slowly killing you and if there's a slim chance that I can find some way in this fucking temple to at least slow down the process then I have to take it. - she let go of his hand. The Inquisitor stared at the inside of his palm for a moment before clenching his fingers slightly and shifting his green gaze to Marian. She approached a small table and poured herself a glass of red drink and drank it quickly. She made a sour face. - Maker's balls, you really don't have any wine here?
He walked over to her and, grabbing her arm, turned her in his direction. Both of his palms rested on her shoulders. Hawke placed her fingers on his metal breastplate probing the blue symbol of the flaming sword with her thumbs. After a moment she rested her forehead against it.
-If I lose you too...- she said quietly. - I want to make sure that I did everything in my power to prevent that.
He embraced her and put his chin on her head. His mind spontaneously fled into rapid planning. With all his might, he tried to gather all the scraps of information about this temple so he could somehow minimize the threat. However, there were not enough pieces of the puzzle to form a meaningful plan.
- Please be careful. - he finally murmured.
She slipped out of his grasp and her blue gaze rested on his face.
-Logain gave his life for us. - she said. - I know the weight of such sacrifice Ayden.
He smiled warmly and there was peace in his green eyes.
Hawke walked over to the small table again and poured herself a cherry juice. She soured her face again.
-Seriously? Not even half a bottle of wine? - she asked.
The Inquisitor snorted loudly.
-I promise that the next time you come here there will be wine waiting for you. - he announced.
Hawke looked at him seriously but after a moment she laughed out loud.
-I hold you to your word, Your Worship. - she said and toasted with cherry juice.
-You know... - Inquisitor spoke up suddenly. - We still have some time before duty calls us both.
He took a few steps back, stopping next to the spacious bed. His flirtatious smile made the corners of Marian's mouth lift as well. She set her glass down and walked over to him.
-I don't know. Undoing all those straps and buckles might take a while. - she answered.
Without a word he took the onyx gloves off his hands and reached for the buckles of his breastplate. His green gaze never left her face. After a moment, the piece of metal landed with a clatter on the floor. As his fingers moved to the belt he felt her touch. He took his hands away, letting her finish the job. More pieces of metal landed on the floor.
-It didn't take that long after all. - he said.
She smiled and bit her lower lip. His lustful gaze never left her face. He touched her pale cheek with his right hand and his thumb went to her cherry lips. He drew her to him bestowing a long passionate kiss. Maker's breath, the wild feeling she evoked in him was incomparable to anything he had experienced. She was the first woman in his life. The vows of chastity he had taken before joining the Templar Order had set him on a clear path so far. But now the Order in its former form had ceased to exist and the world stood on the threshold of collapse. The feeling that bloomed between them was like a lone flower found among the ashes.
He felt a sudden light push, followed by a soft landing on the wide bed. Hawke knelt over him and with deft fingers began to unbutton her linen blouse. After a moment, she grabbed his right hand and pressed it against her left bare breast. Ayden felt the quickening rhythm of her heart under his fingers.
-I'm giving you everything that's left here. - she said quietly. - It is not much, but I put it in your hands.
He stared for a moment at his hand clasped in her fingers. Then his green gaze moved to her pale face.
-I love you. - he whispered suddenly. She blinked her eyelids and her embrace eased slightly. In her eyes, he saw... surprise? Sweet Maker, why? He didn't have time to expand on that thought because he felt her lips pressed against his, seeking reassurance. He surrendered to that pleasure without thinking of anything else. Before the world swept them back into the whirlwind of events they had this moment of respite all to themselves and they both intended to take full advantage of it.