9:29 Guardian 25th
"Uh why are you giving me all these letters to write." I asked while Eren was going through books in the library. There was a neat stack of papers that Eren suddenly dropped in front of me.
"Those are marriage requests that you need to send back polite refusals for." Eren flipped a few pages. I gaped at the stack.
"All of those are marriage requests?! From where and when did you get all these?" I asked going through them.
"From the beginning of the month. It was Wintersend. Usually we would have tourney or a tournament but unfortunately the snowfall was too high this year so it was canceled. That didn't stop the other part of it." Eren groaned.
"Other part?" I wondered.
"It's not a grand festival like in Satinalia or in First Day. It's a day of trade and theater but Ferelden keeps away from Theater. It's something Orlais like and people are still hurting from the war. A lot of arranged marriages happen during this time and it doesn't surprise me that the Banns have sent some of their letters for me for their daughters. Though, as I've said before, I am not interested in settling down." Eren explained, finally sitting down with a few books. I looked at his stack.
"Getting ready for a test or something?" I asked, taking a few spare vellums and my ink ready for the letters I'm going to have to write.
"No. From what my father has told me there have been recent reports of an unknown enemy past the Korcari Wilds. I have been trying to find information about the Chasind or Avvar that live in those areas to see if we can find anything like the attacks we've been experiencing." Eren opened a book and started to read. My quill fell when he mentioned the Korcari Wilds.
"Has there been any survivors in these attacks?" I asked. Eren shook his head.
"Only remnants of destroyed homes and people being slaughtered. There have only been two incidents but that's enough to at least cause alarm. We need to strike first and fast before things get any worse." Eren rubbed his face. I nodded and let Eren do his work.
All I could think about was the darkspawn. That's where they first hit Ferelden before spreading out to the whole country. I wrote away the letters while still thinking about the attacks. I thought that it was too early. It wasn't 9:30 dragon yet! Still I couldn't panic yet and I couldn't tell Eren what might be the real reason for the attacks.
I stayed quiet and focused on the letters. I made notes to make more preparations for saving Eren's family. It was all I could do at this point.
9:29 Drakonis 26th
It's been a minute. I know I haven't been writing much but that's because I really had no reason to. It was the same routine everyday but the last three days were a bit different than most. I might at as well write all I could remember.
Eren had another shake down. This time far from Highever. It was a coastal town that was big on smugglers. Every year the Royal Guard would shake it up, arrest everyone it could, and then leave them alone. Eventually, it got repopulated by more pirates and mercenaries and the whole thing would happen again. Eren wasn't thinking of cleaning it up, that was the capital's job. It was a serial killer we were tracking down.
They were hitting Highever greatly the past month. It was the reason I wasn't writing so much. Eren and I were devoting nearly our whole time trying to get evidence and track this guy down. We had a shake up in the warehouse and then we realized that we were tracking a wanted mage. A man in his twenties that escaped and killed the Templars tracking him down and broke his phylactery. Luckily the circle sent someone to help.
After pooling in all our knowledge and, hitting him when he didn't except it, we got him running. We picked up one of his bloody and torn robe and let Alfred do the work. It led outside of the city.
"Are you sure we should do this Eren?" I paced as we were a mile outside of city limits. "The guy is a mage and you should leave this to the circle!" I urged. The Templar, who was named Riley, nodded with his dark brown and messy hair waving around.
"We don't have enough time to call in for reinforcements. We have him and, by Andraste's bosom, I am not letting him get away!" Eren stomped toward me. It didn't intimidate me though. Alfred whined next to the Templar. I glared at him.
"As much as I would rather go toward the circle and gather a few of my allies, he has a point. If we lose him now, then he will take a ship anywhere and continue his exploits. I agree with the Captain. We must strike now if we are to apprehend him." Riley answered. I glared at him too and he cleared his throat. I had a few tense seconds, trying to go through every bad situation in my head. Finally, I let out a long aggravated sigh.
"All right. We'll go through with this but we have to with a plan or else we're screwed." I crossed my arms and leaned against a tree. Eren rubbed his face and looked at Riley and then at me. "What?"
"At this point the only one that he doesn't recognize in our ragtag group of sorts…is you." Eren finished. I gave him a deadpanned look.
"I'm going to be the bait aren't I?" I face palmed.
"Captain I assure you that if we manage to-" Riley started before Eren held up his hand to stop him.
"Look, he knows both of our faces because we both went up against him but she hasn't. Even if we did ambush him, we can't risk another one of his blood mage spree." Eren countered.
"Oh but you can risk me? I see how you are." I huffed, looking the other way. Alfred brushed his head against me and Eren did a long sigh.
"You have no idea how hard this is for me but I don't have a choice. Anyway, we're wasting time talking here. Do you want to go through with the plan or not?" Eren asked. I looked at him and I realized that he was trusting me with this.
"As long as I don't dress in drag and do the hula." I mumbled.
"What?" Eren got confused. I shook my head.
"Nothing. What do you want me to do?" I asked.
"We're going into dangerous territory. Pirates, smugglers, mercenaries, accountants, the worst of the worst." Eren said. I raised an eyebrow at that last one. "You're going to need to go in there and try to convince him that you'll be his bodyguard. Try to convince him to travel with you down the pilgrim's path toward Amaranthine. We'll be a few yards away and a small inn on the road. Riley here will be able to get the drop on him as soon as we have him close. I'm trusting you with this Nia." Eren stared at me hard. I gulped. This wasn't a time for fear. It was a time for action.
"Yes." I nodded. Eren smiled at me and ruffled my hair and threw dirt on me. I sputtered as Alfred ran around me and I fell. "There, now you look the part." Eren chuckled. Riley shook his head at us. We continued on until Eren and Riley fell back. I continued on with my head held high. The closer I got to this village, the more thugs I encountered.
There were a few that leered at me and I glared back with the best scowl on my face. Alfred was sticking close to me, sniffing at the dirt and growling at anyone coming close. I shushed him silently and Alfred kept his tension. No one wanted to mess with 50 pounds of pure muscle that can easily tear their throat apart. Alfred's ears suddenly perked and he kept up with a faster pace to not look suspicious.
Say anything you want about mabaris but they're smart as hell. I followed him toward a pub near the waters. It smelled as horrible as Drakon river when I swam in it. I spat on the ground to avoid wanting to throw up and went inside. There were a few that stared at me and my hound but I kept my gait sure and proud as I threw down a few coppers on the bar stand.
"The best death you have." I leaned against the counter. Alfred barked. "And your finest bone." I rolled my eyes, trying to blend in. The bar maid nodded and got the things I requested. The stuff I got was sure enough to scare paint off the walls but Alfred was content in the bone with some marrow still into it. I downed a good chunk of it before I started to gasp and cough. A qunari sat next to me and laughed.
"Good shit isn't it? I like a woman that can drink as well as you can. What do you say…" His hand started to inch closer to my thigh before Alfred snarled and did a warning bite. The qunari backed off as I glared him away. Alfred put his head on my lap and did a small bark. I looked down at him and he directed his gaze to a really scruffy looking guy with tattered robes. That was him. I nodded to Alfred.
He left me and did his best impression by wagging his butt at the guy. I got off my seat and downed the rest of my drink, fighting the burn down my throat, and walked toward him. I did a long whistle and Alfred came to my side. The mage looked up at me but unsteadily.
"It seems like my dog likes you. Want a drink?" I nonchalantly sat at his table.
"Got enuff to drink." He slurred. I looked down and up, analyzing him. Whatever Riley and Eren did to him left a nasty wound.
"I got a potion for what you have if you're willing to hear me out?" I offered. He looked at me and blinked. I took his silence for me to continue. "Looks like you got hit with something rough. If you'd like, I can keep you out of trouble…"
"Don't go…bleh, got enuff gold…" He spat on the floor.
"Hm, I don't usually do charity work but since my hound seems to like you, I'll make an exception. Do we have a deal?" I asked, putting down a weak potion in between us. He looked at it, at me, at Alfred, and took the potion. "Good, I'll wait at the gates." I smiled and left the pub. I walked out as if I owned the place and continued walking until I reached the 'gate' which was really two old posts. As soon as I reached it, I let out a long breath and panted dramatically. Alfred gave me his confused face.
"Holy shit, Holy Jesus Christ, Oh my God." I panted. "I can't believe I pulled it off. God damn Eren owes me a frigging pay raise after this." I whispered harshly. I cleared my throat and regained my bearings and leaned at a nearby tree. I watched the shadows get longer and I started to get nervous. Did he just dump me? Maybe I put too much trust in him…I knew it! I frigging failed!
As I was beating myself up mentally, I saw that Alfred got up from the spot he was laying in and head butted my thigh. I was about to tell him to lay down when I saw the guy limping over to us with his staff. I almost felt sorry for the guy…Almost.
"The potion did wonders. You have my thanks." He cleared his throat. I nodded.
"I have a contact in Amaranthine, someone that can take you anywhere you want to go for the right price. I can get you a discount since I know them so well." I stood up and started to head north up Pilgrim's Path.
"How do I know that I can trust you?" He stopped.
"What do you want me to show you?" I asked. He took off a small knife.
"Your blood…I only need a little for…reasons." He looked away. He was a blood mage I reminded myself. He could use that to power himself or take control of me…but I needed to do this to gain his trust. I bit the inside of my mouth and took off my glove. I got my dagger and hissed in pain as I made a shallow cut. He looked surprised before taking a small empty bottle and taking a small portion of it before I wrapped it up. "Good, lead the way." He smiled darkly. I did with Alfred giving me a look. I shook my head.
I didn't know what I was going to get myself into. I followed the path and continued through the road, the mage following silently behind me. I didn't even want to start any sort of small talk. I had to keep on my toes and yet look relaxed at the same time. I tried my best to look casual which was easier since Alfred was with me. I helped him a few times when he couldn't keep up. I could tell that he didn't trust me either.
It was a very thin rope I was walking. Then I saw the inn coming up and Alfred rushed forward and started barking wildly. I knew that was probably the signal to Riley and Eren. I ran toward Alfred.
"Hey! Keep it down! Down boy! Heel!" I struggled to catch him before he finally calmed. "Crazy dog." I shook my head before taking him away from the inn. The mage stared at me. "Sorry, he gets wild a few times. He'll listen to me now, right boy?" I crossed my arms and huffed. Alfred whined. The mage huffed and shook his head. I cleared my throat and continued behind him. I looked at the setting sun and my anxiety levels shot through. I had a feeling, a very bad feeling in my gut. I couldn't shake it.
I went ahead as usual before hearing a rustling in the wood. I gave a signal for him to stop to look into it and prayed it was Eren. As I sneaked toward it, I realized that it was…and Eren bashed me in the face. I fell to the ground and he jumped over me.
"Alfred now!" He yelled but I was too disoriented to get up. Note to self: Never let Eren bash you in the face with his shield or any other shield for that matter. Both of my nostrils were bleeding as I got up and the place just got brighter by the fireball that he sent out. Then Riley came out behind him and worked his Templar magic. I saw the mage kneel down to one knee, groaning really loudly.
"You have been caught malificar! You will be sent to Aeonar for your crimes." Riley roughly brought him up. Eren came up with his sword and shield out. Alfred at his side. Then I saw the mage took out the vial of my blood. He smirked.
"No! Get that away from him!" I shouted but it was too late. He smashed the vial and ran his magic through my blood and sent it back to me. Every single one of my muscles failed to listen to me and a fog entered my mind. I felt like a drooling loopy lunatic. I wouldn't be surprised if I looked like it.
"Nia!" I heard Eren shout echo in my mind. I felt my hands grab my daggers and I heard more shouts of pain. My eyes couldn't focus on anything. If this was the cause of being controlled by blood magic, I can see why it was staunchly regulated. I looked up and saw myself being controlled to Eren before my body stopped.
'I will protect you.' I heard Halo's voice for an instant before I regain my bearings again and promptly threw up on the side.
"No!" The mage screamed before Riley, who I briefly saw was badly wounded, was about to end his life. "I am never going to be your prisoner again!" His whole body glowed red before we were all flown across the road. I looked up and in the middle of the road wasn't the mage.
It was a demon, a rage demon. It growled while Riley ran toward it and cut off one of its arms. The rage demon let out a spurt of white hot flames and cooked Riley in his own armor. He screamed in agony until he slumped over, dead.
"Eren we need to go now!" I frantically looked around and saw Eren passed on, his head bleeding. I gasped in horror as Alfred stood to defend it while the rage demon headed toward him. The fear was there but it wasn't as bad as the guy I killed. Demons were different. I got up and got a few rocks and hurled them over, hitting the rage demon. It turned over to me.
"You want some of this!? Then come and get it!" I shouted, grabbing my daggers. The rage demon roared and slithered over to me. I had no ice enchantments, no ice bombs, and no mage with ice spells but there was a small pond I noticed. I kept on throwing rocks and realized that his arm didn't regenerate. That meant that weapons did hurt him. It slithered faster toward me and I ran toward the pond. All the grass underneath it caught fire.
I ran ahead and quickly climbed up a tree. I calmed my breathing. The pond was just in front of me. I heard a roar of frustration and I saw a few trees getting caught on fire.
"Where are you human!? I will rip you apart and burn you until you are nothing but ashes!" The rage demon yelled. I pressed myself against the bark and put away my daggers. I noticed it coming closely to where I was. I held my breath until it slithered past me, right in front of the pond. Right where I wanted it.
I grabbed the branch and silently held my body aloft, grasping at the branch and hanging from it. I rocked too and fro and then I swung with all my might and pushed the rage demon into the pond. It roared as the water turned into steam. I got my daggers and started to slash like no tomorrow. Every slash took a little bit out of its body until I found what looked to be like a heart. I stabbed deep into it and the rage demon melted into the pond.
I panted and the adrenaline started to ease out of my body. I realized that I was covered in minor burns and they started to really hurt. I hissed in pain until I heard Alfred coming and barking. I really wanted to sit down and sleep for about a week but I remembered Eren. I grunted through the pain and followed Alfred as he let me lean on him. He led me to Eren and I got on my knees while rooting in his pockets for a potion.
I found one. I maneuvered to rest his head on my lap. I slathered some of the potion on the wound on his head and opened his mouth. I emptied the bottled and he drank it. He groaned and opened his eyes. I laughed when I felt the relief wash over my back.
"Oh Thank God, thank Jesus Christ. How do you feel? You got knocked in the head really badly." I explained and smiled down at him. Eren groaned and held his head.
"Wha…what happened? The mage-!" He got up but soon regretted it and put his head back down.
"The mage turned himself into a demon using blood magic. Riley…didn't make it." I sighed in sadness. Eren nodded.
"A demon? Is it still around?" He asked worriedly. I shook my head again.
"I killed it. Didn't come away unscathed. My burns hurt a lot but we got to get out of here and report this to the Chantry. Do you think you can walk?" I asked. Eren slowly sat up and moaned.
"Oh…my head…" He groaned with Alfred coming up to his side while I came to the other. I draped his arm over my shoulder.
"Ok we're going to help you up. Careful and slowly Alfred." I said. He barked. I knelt and then heaved slowly upwards. Eren groaned but pushed his weight on me. He was frigging heavy, especially with his arm. "Ok, let's go to the inn."
Beta'd by the wonderful FearaNightmare.
Told you there would be more excitement! Truthfully this chapter would have gone on longer but I split it in half for now. :3
Shout out to macsammy for favoriting! Thank you Chimera Spyke (No I have not killed a man if that's what you're wondering), Rainsfere, and Syutaku for reviewing! Please Review!