Chapter Twenty-One: Second Impressions
I return to the main hall and find my way back to my room. I'm still alone in the small, cold sleeping chamber. It's the first time I've had real privacy in ages. A bath has been drawn for me and left by some unseen helpers. Declan, I bet. He's really amazing at leading and delegating. They did make a good choice for Inquisitor.
I warm up the fire with a bit of magic, remove my clothing and relax in the bath for a few moments, appreciating the warmth of the water. I wash my body and hair thoroughly, trying to get rid of the dirt from traveling. Once the water starts to grow cold and I'm certain I'm as clean as I'm getting, I step out of the bath and dry off. I use a bit of magic to blow heat over my hair, helping it to dry a bit faster.
I decide to dress for the occasion, but I still want to feel protected, so I go with armor. Some of the others had worn theirs the last time at the table, as I recall. I select a similar pair of flowing trousers to what I have been wearing, that are loose in the thigh, but gather near the calf. This pair is in shades of pink, orange, and peach that blend seamlessly together. On top, I choose a corseted sleeveless tunic that I'm fairly certain enhances my small, but proportional curves. Over the tunic, I wear a long embroidered coat in a deep pink color. It has a similar high collar to my blue armor, but I leave the coat open. The sleeves bell outward just a little over my forearms before gathering at the wrist.
I style my hair with braids and twists crisscrossing the back, but leave the bulk of my wavy locks down. I add a few jeweled hair pins to embellish my dark hair. I look in the mirror, turning this way and that, and, seeing the subtle glint of the jewels as I move, I decide I'm satisfied with my appearance.
With no further time to rest, I leave my room. There are two people standing outside my door. They immediately go in and start emptying the tub. I need to thank Declan. I find my way through the twisting hallways to the main hall.
It's a slightly different crowd from before. Declan is there, of course, and Dorian, and Varric. I give Varric what I hope is my best friendly expression.
"Declan, thank you for allowing me to dine with you again today," I say as I approach the table.
"I would have been disappointed to leave without seeing you again," he replies. "You look stunning, as usual."
I make a point to sit between Dorian and Declan, which puts me directly across from Cassandra. I smile at her, attempting a friendly greeting, and she flashes a small one back in return. Ok, not as stern as she appears. Good. A red-headed woman has joined us as well. She is dressed in a hooded long tunic with chainmail sections covering the front. She, like Seeker Pentaghast, is very prominently wearing the symbol of the Inquisition. Someone important here, then. I look to Dorian for an introduction.
"Ah yes," Dorian says, indicating the red-haired woman. "This is Leliana, and while you clearly know nothing about her, I'm sure she has already thoroughly investigated, and now knows everything there is to know about you. Leliana is the Inquisition's spymaster."
"A pleasure," she says with a small nod of her head. "Dorian exaggerates of course, but we all have a few secrets, no?"
"Some more than others, I suppose," I reply with a polite smile.
"Funny, though, I wasn't actually able to find out much about you," she says, the pleasant expression never leaving her face.
"Well, we moved around a lot, so that's to be expected," I explain.
This is a dangerous woman. She won't find anything about our family, because she doesn't know where to look. I didn't lie, I was born in the small fishing village on the coast, like I said, but I didn't specify when, exactly. She probably assumes I'm hiding my identity. But I'm determined that this dinner will go more civilly than the last one. Dragon Girl is bad enough; I don't want to become known as Ferox the Table Breaker, or Ferox the Dinner Wrecker. I sigh. I can do this, right? Dorian is here, he'll make it easier. And Declan.
Suddenly reminded, I lean over and whisper to the Inquisitor. "Do I have you to thank for ordering the bath for me?"
Confusion crosses his features, "No, but I wish I had thought of that."
I'm fairly certain Varric wouldn't have done it, and Dorian went to see Cassandra and wouldn't have had time. So who gave me the gift of the bath?
"If you want my opinion, I'd say it was Leliana," Dorian whispers on my other side, having overheard our conversation.
"Oh, aren't you all the little conspirators?" Leliana comments, obviously curious about our quiet interaction.
"Just trying to figure out who generously ordered a bath for me. Dorian has a theory that it might have been you."
"Indeed. Every woman deserves a nice bath after a long journey, yes?" she responds, the small smile back again, and I can't tell if it's genuine or not. I decide it doesn't matter.
"Then my thanks should go to you, dear lady. A bath was exactly what I needed after weeks on the road. It was most thoughtful of you."
"We're still expecting two more, correct?" Cassandra says, looking toward the door.
"Yes. Ah, here they are now," Declan answers, gesturing toward the door.
My brother walks in next to a man I've never seen before. He's tall, but not as tall as Tenebris. He's broad of shoulder and has a beard sculpted into a rather flattering shape. He's wearing armor, but his doesn't have the symbol of the Inquisition like the rest. His displays the griffon I know represents the Grey Wardens.
"Who's the handsome newcomer?" Dorian asks next to me.
"The one with the beard?" I ask, fascinated by it.
"No, dear girl, definitely not, although that says a few things about your taste. The tall one."
I turn to him, surprised. "Um, Dorian, that's my brother."
"Truly? That fits, you're both gorgeous, but did he get manage to get all of the height in the family?"
I laugh. Dorian is delightful, and if I'm guessing correctly, I don't have to worry about this one liking me. That's a relief. "No, Etiam is around the same height. I just didn't manage to get any of it, apparently."
"A tiny little spitfire," he grins at me.
"That's right. I may be small, but I'm feisty."
Tenebris and the Grey Warden approach the table. "Warden Blackwall, Tenebris, I'm happy you could join us," Declan states, standing and welcoming them to the table. Declan introduces everyone.
"Ah," Blackwall says, "the Dragon Girl."
"I suppose that's accurate," I answer. I think I'm coming to like this new title.
Tenebris states, "I was just discussing Corypheus's so-called Archdemon with the Warden." He slides a look at Blackwall that I can't read. I'll need to talk to my brother about that later.
"Which we both know isn't a true ancient at all," I add.
"Right, just a high dragon that was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Still a formidable foe, but it's good to know this isn't a real Blight," Blackwall states.
Tenebris continues, "Blackwall has been informing me about how red lyrium has been used to infect the templars and create these new red templars."
"Red templars? That sounds...terrifying," I respond.
Dorian comments, "And here I thought the Venatori were going to be our biggest problem, but no, let's give the poison lyrium to the templars, turn them into nightmarish monsters. That's a marvelous idea!"
"Any luck on a way to combat the corruption?" I ask Tenebris, but aim the question at the rest of the table, as well.
"Not so far. It would help if I had a way to study the red lyrium directly, but safely. I'm certain the answer lies there; we just haven't figured it out yet."
Varric clears his throat. "I...may be able to help with that. I have a contact who helped me build the box used to store the piece we first found in the ancient thaig. I've been keeping it in Kirkwall and have alchemists studying it in shifts."
"That would be most helpful information. Any chance we could bring the specimen here?" Tenebris asks.
"You want to bring that shit in the house? Okay, but you're cleaning up after it," he jokes.
"Maybe it would be better if we sent you to Kirkwall, Tenebris," Cassandra suggests. "You could speak with the alchemists personally and determine what they have learned."
"Good thinking," Tenebris admits. "To Kirkwall, then."
"Oh, perhaps you could go visit Varric's brother, Bartrand, while you're there. He's in Kirkwall, right Varric?"
Varric nods.
"It would let you see the effects of the contamination first hand. And hopefully, you can figure out something to help him."
"Worth a try," Tenebris admits. "Will you be joining me, Ferox?"
"No, I've been assigned a mission with Cassandra in the Exalted Plains. There's a Gamordan Stormrider," I tell him excitedly.
"Lucky. Those are your favorite," he responds with a grin.
"I know!" I exclaim. "But, it means we'll be separated."
"Not for long. You'll probably be back before I will, but I won't be much longer, I'm sure."
"Cassandra, have you chosen who will be on our team?" I ask her, hoping Dorian will be traveling with us.
"Yes, besides you and I, we will be taking Solas, and Sera," she informs me. I look over a Dorian who shrugs.
"We already had two mages, we did not need a third," states Cassandra.
"Traveling with Solas…" I blurt out, then realize what I've said.
"That's right," Varric comments, remembering. "There was bad blood between your families."
I feel Tenebris's gaze for a moment, before Leliana speaks up.
"So there is someone who knows your family, after all," she says, suddenly curious. "Still, it would have to be the mage without much of a history, either."
I just shrug. Best not to give her any more information. I look to Cassandra instead. "So Cassandra, you had questions about dragons?"
"Not exactly. Dragons, I know. I'm from a long line of Nevarran dragon hunters," she explains. Ugh, dragon hunters. Worse than Wardens. And I have to follow this woman? "I just want to know how it is that you do what you do."
"I use elemental magic and talk to them. The trick is getting them to listen," I tease, but she doesn't laugh. "Okay, but I guess you want more specifics. What are you getting at, Cassandra?"
"When I was younger, there was a girl, a mage, who could do what you could do. It started as just a unique gift with animals. But there were...bad people, some high-placed, who used this girl, forced her to drink the blood of dragons to enhance her power. She was later able to command them."
My horror must have shown in my expression.
"I take it that's not how you obtained your gift," she comments.
I shake my head. "No, I would never harm a dragon unless I had no other option. I certainly wouldn't do it just for power. Dragons are precious, magical. They should be protected and preserved. The girl...what happened to her?"
"She lived, and her power returned to normal. However, after everything that she had been through, her emotions became too much for her, and the resulting demons that she attracted...they were forced to make her Tranquil for the safety of everyone."
"Tranquil?" I choked out.
"I take it you don't approve. I'm not surprised, given your upbringing."
I sigh. This is really hard to be civil. Keep it together.
"Sister," Tenebris cautions.
"No, that poor girl, that makes me so angry. Made Tranquil, because of someone's greed! That kind of need for power and glory dooms us all," I say, hoping for a reaction. I get none, blank faces looking at me, unchanged. I finally lose my temper, standing at my place, my chair falling to the floor behind me. "Can't you see you're killing yourselves?! Your ignorance will be the end of Thedas!"
"Ferox!" Tenebris calls out, finally catching my attention. I look at him, embarrassed. "That's enough. I know you mean well, but if they don't understand, shouting isn't going to make them understand." He comes around the table and hugs me.
"I feel like I missed something," Leliana says in the calm tone of hers. "What don't we understand?"
"The true consequence of the death of dragons," he tells her.
"What are you talking about?" Cassandra asks.
"The death of all magic."
"I've heard this theory before," Dorian interjects. "I read something on this once. That dragons contain magic, and absorb it as they grow. And when they die, a bit of the world's magic goes with them."
Tenebris answers, "Yes and no. They do absorb some, but mostly they grow it themselves. They literally are magic, just as lyrium is. Dragons and lyrium support all of magic on this side of the Veil. Without them, magic will die. And without magic, all life will end."
"Correction, brother. Magic is already dying. The lyrium has been poisoned and the dragons were hunted nearly to extinction. So much has been lost already, and it is only because of the keepers of dragons that Thedas hasn't already fallen." I turn to the others. "I apologize for losing my temper. I just want so badly for you to recognize the danger and help us."
"Us...help you, not you help the Inquisition," Declan clarifies, finally speaking after being silent for several minutes.
"You know this is why I came here, Declan. I wanted to convince you how important this is. We should work together."
"We should work with you...you're talking like you're not part of this."
"Of course I am...we are."
"You still see yourself as different from us."
"I'm on your side, Declan. The Breach needs to be healed. Corypheus must be defeated. The red lyrium poses a danger to us all. Saving the dragons is in line with saving the world."
"Firefly…" Varric says, and I look over at him. I give him a wistful smile. He looks concerned, but doesn't move from his seat. "What would you have us do?"
I smile at him, grateful that he's trying. "I need to save the dragons that we can. I'll be successful in the Exalted Plains, I promise, but the Inquisition should avoid engaging any other dragons until I can get there. They can scout other locations if we need to relocate them, but I mostly just need them to stay out of my way and let me handle the dragons."
"So then you refuse to teach others to do as you do," Cassandra concludes.
"Not refuse, no, it's more like I can't. It would take more time than we have. You'd need a master of primal magic, which is a rare enough thing, and one who can speak Draconic on top of that. I'm fairly certain you don't have anyone who fits that description."
"Ferox really is the best there is at this," Tenebris insists. I smile at him, happy that he's behind me in this. "Our family isn't like most, but both of us have signed on for this. The dragons could not be in better hands than hers. Get her to them, and you will see."
"Thank you, brother."
"Who are you people, exactly? I haven't been able to find any evidence that you even existed, and I can find just about anyone," Leliana asks directly.
Tenebris and I look at one another. I shake my head. They'll never believe us without seeing it.
"Let it suffice to say that where we are from, our family is legendary," he says enigmatically.
"You know our agenda already, we're not a threat to you," I add. "We just want to stabilize the world and help the dragons. Will you allow us to help?" I look at Declan for the confirmation.
"Yes, of course I still welcome your assistance."
Tenebris looks at me. "Ferox, I understand why you wanted to come here now. You were right, they need us."
"And we will see it done."
"With or without Etiam and Lucis."
I nod.