a/n- I hope you all appreciated the fluff last chapter. I'm not usually the kind of person who holds off on revealing a pairing for so long, but hey, it works for Solas and Lavellan. I figured I'd give you all a double update since this chapter is that annoying little chapter that bridges the gap between two really long ones. It is very likely that the time travel section of "In Hushed Whispers" will be close to 4,500-5,000 words in length considering what I already have written. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 23
Alexius' Folly
Redcliffe castle's walls reached up to scratch the sky. Their turrets clawed at the clouds and it seemed to Enya that once they entered, they would never be able to leave. The agents that had travelled with had abandoned them at the crumbled windmill on the hill above the village. These agents were fourteen of Leliana's best and to watch them work together was like watching bees in a hive. They wound their way around each other with the ease of knowing where the other intended before they intended it. Their skill and grace was reassuring, and Enya found herself less anxious of her mission when they were present.
It was strange that they met no resistance at the gates. Guards were posted ever so often along the path, just as a good leader would station to ensure his fortress' safety. Had Enya not been aware that Alexius intended her harm, she would have found it easy to believe that there was no danger within the beast that was the castle. However, with this knowledge, the lack of resistance made it clear that Alexius bore them no good will.
The castle bore scars. Enya could sense in them in the air around her, something horrifying had happened in the past, a secret the stone walls recalled all too well and would not give up. She shuddered at the memory of death that permeated the air.
They approached the Venatori Guards that waited at the foot of the steps to the throne room. She appraised each of them, counting their numbers in case it came to a fight, but it was unnecessary. A man in a grey silk tunic approached them, is thatch-coloured hair slicked back from his hollow cheeks. His lips twisted with disapproval.
Enya fixed him with a glanced that dared him to fuss, "Announce us."
The man paused and sneered, "Magister Alexius' invitation was for the Herald only." His sneer deepened, "Your companions will have to wait here."
She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow in irritation, "My friends come in, or Alexius won't be receiving an audience with me."
The doorman shifted foot to foot, considering her request. She could see him weigh the options in his head. Their eyes met and she hoped he saw the threat in them as she tilted her head the other way.
He nodded, "Very well."
The door to the throne room opened at the expense of two of the South's Rebel Mages. The members of the Inquisition nodded to them in gratitude. Enya noted their disdain for her as well as for the task. Perhaps the Templars would have been a better choice. She did not expect all of the mages to like the Inquisition's meddling, but she hadn't expected outright hostility. She put the thought aside, the mages would be grateful to the Inquisition once she managed to get them out from under Alexius' thumb.
The Ferelden Throne of Redcliffe sat upon a dais at the other end of the room. Alexius stretched across the seat with and expression of boredom as he spoke to Grand Enchanter Fiona in hushed tones. Felix stood to his side. Even from this distance, the tension in his shoulders was visible. Enya avoided eye contact with him in the hope that he would not give their foreknowledge away.
"Ah, the Herald of Andraste! A pleasure to see you!" Alexius rose from the throne on their approach and strode forward, "And your…associates have come with you, I see."
Enya tried to hide that she'd noticed the faint tone of annoyance in his voice. She raised her chin.
"I had hoped we could finish our negotiations," she pressed.
"Indeed, let us drop these pleasantries. To business,"
Alexius returned to his throne. His fingers formed a bridge between its arms as he considered her with the scathing superiority of a cat with a mouse. Enya tried not to savour their advantage too fully for fear it would show on her face.
"I'm certain that two reasonable people such as ourselves can reach an accord."
Scandalized frustration washed over Fiona's features, "Are we mages to have no decision in out fate?"
Enya glanced at her and then nodded, "I would allow you as a guest of the Inquisition Fiona. As you say, this is your fate as well."
"Thank you, Herald," Fiona bowed her head.
"Fine, fine." Alexius waved a hand at them, "You need mages to close the Breach. As you can see, I have them. But I wonder, what shall you give me in return?"
Enya smiled and cast a sidelong glance toward Solas before replying, "I'm afraid I have little to offer a man who willingly manipulates time without thought for the consequences."
His self-satisfied expression slipped, "You come here to ask me for help and accuse me of some ill-conceived and scarcely possible magic? I had heard the Dalish lacked courtesy but I was not aware it was to this extent."
Enya drew her shoulders back and raised her chin. At least he had not used a slight. She had to be grateful for that at least. He was trying to deflect attention from his activities after all.
"Stop defending yourself, father," Felix stepped forward, "She knows everything."
"Felix,"
Enya felt a surge of empathy at the pain on Alexius' face.
"What have you done?"
It was an accusation of betrayal and she couldn't stand for it, "He is only concerned for what you might have involved yourself in."
"You think you can walk into my palace and turn my own son against me?" Alexius' anger blazed from him, boiling in the cauldrons of his pewter eyes, "You are no more than a theif. You stride about, flinging your hand at rifts, but you don't understand even half of what you are doing, how you came to it to begin with. You think you are in control, but you are no more than an inconvenience, a mistake."
With each sentence he moved toward her, towering over her from the dais. She stood her ground, his intimidation did little phase her in light of Leliana's agents. This knowledge allowed her the tiniest of smiles.
"If I'm a mistake, then what was meant to happen?!" she demanded.
"It was to be a triumph, the moment when the Elder One finally returns to the Fade and takes his rightful place as a God!" Alexius' hand moved in great sweeping gestures.
He truly believed what he was saying. She could see it in the darkness of his eyes, the anger in his brow as he moved about, imploring her to understand he foolishness. He was the only one enlightened.
"Do you know what you sound like, Father?" Felix's voice broke as he fell his father's statement.
He wore the most heart-breaking frown. The smooth and serious timbre of Dorian's words answered him.
"He sounds exactly like the villainous cliché everyone expects when they think of Tevinter," Dorian's drew level with her shoulder, "Come Alexius. Do you not remember the time that we spent trying not to become this?"
"You had your chance for this greatness, Dorian, but you could not handle such responsibility when it was offered." Alexius drew a breath, "The Elder One has more power than you could possibly imagine and he will use it to draw the sickness of indecision and weakness from the blood of Tevinter and bring us into a new age of prosperity." The magister's gestured grew more extravagant, "The world with bow to mages, to the Imperium, once more!"
Dorian sighed. Despair took hold of his face until even the curled corners of his moustache seemed to sag downward. Out of the corner of her eye, Enya saw Fiona shaking her head. Her outburst was strong.
"My people are not meant for this. We did not sign on to serve you so that you might destroy all order left in Thedas!" Fiona placed her head in her hands.
Enya felt her heart tighten and then her elven ears caught the gentle thud of a body falling to the ground, then another, and another. Grim satisfaction took her as Leliana's agents took the place of the Tevinter guards. She glanced over her shoulder at her companions. Cassandra's face was white with horror and anger. Enya recognized the determination in her chocolate eyes of a person who now had a name on which to place blame. Solas was impassive, but his shoulders were tense and she saw his fingers were ready to grasp his staff if the need arose.
"You should have thought of that before you pledged yourself to Tevinter." Alexius' tone grew cruel.
"How can you do this?!" Felix demanded.
"The Elder One," His fury softened, "He can save you!"
Regret bloomed across Felix's face as he realized that his father had given up everything he had once been to save him.
"Save me," and he reached out to Alexius, "There is no saving me. I may continue to live a little longer but one day, I will slip into the Void."
"There is a way, the Elder One," Alexius turned away from Felix and refocused on her again, "If I undo the mistake at the Temple…Seize her, Venatori!"
His voice died but no agent sprung to action. She watched his eyes flicker back and forth between the columns of the throne room, wondering as to the futility of his command. Enya stepped forward.
"You've lost, Alexius. Your men are dead," Enya's voice carried darkly in the moment, her victory overshadowing her compassion inside her.
Alexius shook his head, "You are nothing more than a mistake!"
he said as if to deny her words as foolish praise, but there was no way to ignore the dead men who lay piled along the columns and the Inquisition scouts who stood in their place. Alexius looked around the throne room, his eyes wide, a flicker of panic brewing in them. He shook his head a few times and then withdrew something from his robes. Enya had but a moment to take in the designs that twisted across its surface before Dorian pushed her back and stepped in front of her.
"Alexius, don't do this!" he implored.
"I must, for Felix, I will fix this mistake."
Alexius focused on the amulet, which floated from his hand. Dorian attacked him, knocking the magister back but not before a swirling vortex appeared in the air before them. There was a tug, and then everything vanished into the deep blackness of shadow.