A templar's Faith, A mages Resolve

Chapter 2

The Hands of the Divine

A/N:Reviews are love!

Pain. It was all that filled her mind, as if someone had plunged her hand into the embers of a blacksmith's forge. She let out a cry as her eyes snapped open, letting out a cry as she grasped... Shackles? The pain faded, the glowing green that invaded her vision along with it. What in Andraste's name was this? The mage pulled at the chains, yanking hard, but they were firmly attached to the ground. The movement of armor made the mage jerk her head up. She was surrounded, soldiers pointed swords in her direction.

"What is happening here?" She hissed yanking the chains once more as she heard voices beyond the only door of what seemed to be a dungeon. Her heart shot into her throat as the door swung open. The two women that walked in stirred a long lost memory. Their names escaped her, but she knew who they were. The right and left hands of the divine. It had been nearly a decade if not more since she had laid eyes on the two before her. The two that were staring her down like two wolves approaching an injured halla. They circled her like them too.

"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now. The conclave was destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead; except for you." At first, the right hand's words didn't seem to reach her ears, but a moment later they seemed to crash down upon the mage like a gale wind.

"Dead? No. It can't be possible; you're lying! You're -" suddenly, the shackles, the guards, it made more sense. "You think I attacked the conclave." It was no question. "I am a servant of the divine, why would I do such a thing?" She asked, her steely eyes darting to the right hand, that clearly bore armor of the seekers of truth.

"I do not claim to know the mind of a mad woman. If you are not responsible, than explain this." The woman swooped down, the mage flinching away until the chains could not extend any further, but it did no good. The seeker grasped ahold of her wrist in a vice like grip, waving the glowing green mark upon her hand, that stretched under her wrist as if someone had carved it into her flesh.

"I... Can't." This was the first time she had really looked at the thing that had caused her so much pain. Deep grooves of glowing green, much like the veins of lyrium that ran deep underground. It was unnatural, and it burned.

"What do you mean you can't?" The woman threw her arm down, clearly becoming more infuriated by the moment, and who could blame her?

"I can't. I'm sure I wasn't speaking elvhen. I don't know how it got there, I don't even know how I got here, although, by this interrogation I'm going to assume that this is your doing." Perhaps she didn't need to be so rude, but the seeker wasn't the only one frustrated. "It seems that the new order of things is 'guilty until proven innocent'." The seeker lunged. The woman grabbed ahold of the collar of the mage's cloak, dragging her forward only a few inches before the hooded woman intervened, pulling her away.

"We need her Cassandra!" Called the left hand, and suddenly, the mage was grateful for the woman's presence.

"I don't understand, what happened?" Asked Maev, hoping that this woman would give her at least some sort of answer.

"You say that you are a servant of the divine. Explain yourself." Said the woman, her eyes were as sharp as an eagle's Talon's but at least it seemed that the woman would give a chance for Maev to speak, perhaps then she would get some sort of answer. The mage shifted, resting on her knees.

"I was approached, years ago in the ferelden circle. I was given a mission by the Divine Justinia. She wanted to see if mages could live without the Templar order. An experiment, to perhaps prove that mages could live without policing. If they were nurtured, cared for as children instead of criminals, if she could find a new way for them to live." Maev gripped her wrist hard, her voice straining as she spoke. The mark burned again. She could feel her skin break, crack open as the groves spread to her forearm. "I was called to the conclave to present the Divine's evidence." She grunted through gritted teeth.

"And you destroyed it-" snarled the seeker, but the right hand waved her off as she approached. The seeker let out an animalistic grunt and threw her hands into the air, turning once more to pace.

"Do you remember what happened?" Asked the hooded woman, definitely the calmer of the two.

"I - I don't -" Maev racked her mind, she was searching, hoping to find her lost comrades, and then... Nothing. As if she had been knocked on the head with a hammer. And then...

The mage sucked in a deep breath as she pressed her eyes closed. "Darkness. Creatures, monsters chasing me... A woman?" A nightmare. It had to be, but what other explanation could there be?

"A woman?" The hooded woman's voice. Merida's eyes snapped open.

"A woman. She called out to me, and then..." Nothing. Darkness, and than pain. The pain that still burned. The left hand turned away, to face the right.

"Go to the forward camp, Leliana. I will take her to the rift." Said the seeker, and the left hand, walked out the door. Fantastic. She was left with the one out for her blood. At least more visibly.

"What. Happened." Repeated Maev. "I have answered your questions as best I could, please answer mine." She had no protection now.

"It is best if I show you." The seeker kneeled, unclasping the chains, replacing them with rope. Rope that could easily be burned away, but for what purpose? In running, she would be a fugitive forever. Than, she would never be able to return to her people. She had no choice but to cooperate. Maev got to her feet, following the woman out of the building she learned was the chantry of Haven.

The immediate sunlight was blinding. Maev raised her hands, shielding her eyes from the sun, but that wasn't all that lit up the midday sky. In the distance an ominous circle of green clouds hovered, and suddenly, the mage felt her stomach sink.

"What is THAT?" She gasped, unable to tear her eyes from the blemish that marred the once blue sky.

"We call it the Breach." Said the seeker, turning to face her prisoner once more. "It is a rift into the world of demons, and it grows larger every minute. If is not the only one such rift, but it is the largest. All caused by the explosion at the conclave."

"An explosion can't do that." Said Maev, her silver eyes tearing away from the glowing light for no longer than a second to give the seeker a confused stare.

"This one did, and unless we act, the breach may grow until it swallows the world." The weight of the woman's words didn't have time to settle before the glowing green massacre causing breach let out a pulse, as did the mark on Marv's hand. Her knees buckled as she let out a cry, she could feel her skin split, the mark crawling up her forearm. Just as quickly as the pain had come, it faded, leaving only a dull burn.

"Each time the breach expands, your mark spreads, and it is killing you. It may be the key to stopping this, but there isn't much time."

"Of course, if I'm dead, what use would I be to you?" Perhaps the question came out more bitter than intended. "What do you mean the key? What can I do?" 'Before this thing kills me.' The seeker stared, clearly fighting a battle in her head whether or not to react to the attitude the elf before her was giving.

"That mark may be the key to closing the breach for good." She finally said, grabbing ahold of the elf's arm, hauling her to her feet. "Whether that is possible, we will discover shortly. It is our only chance however. And yours."

"You can't honestly still think I did this!" Snarled Maev, jerking her arm away. She watched the seeker's fist ball up, falling to her side.

"Perhaps not intentionally. Something, clearly went wrong."

"And if you're wrong, and I'm not responsible for this mess, which let me state one again that I am NOT."

"SOMEONE is, and you, are our only suspect. You wish to prove your innocence? This is your only way."

"Fine, I'll do whatever you want." She snarled, her glare deepening the longer she stared. "If I do this, will I live?" The question, in light of all the deaths at the conclave, a death that in all rights she should have had part of, it was a selfish question, but one that she couldn't help but wonder.

"We have no way of knowing." In spite of the burning in her veins, she was doused in icy fear. Even as they made their way through the village of haven. She didn't need Cassandra's explanation to see that the villagers thought her guilty. Their stares said it all. Let alone their words. She could hear them, like the whisperings of demons in the dreaming fade. Her eyes darted from person to person, trying to catch a glimpse of perhaps one face that did not belong to a Shem that wanted to lunge and rip her heart from her chest. Once they exited the gates to the village, the seeker's words caught her ears once more. "There will be a trial, that is all I can promise." The woman turned to her, reaching a hand out. Maev jerked back, the seeker letting out a disgruntled noise. "If you want your bindings removed, stay still." She barked. Maev pursed her lips, holding her wrists out. Freed of the rope, she rubbed her wrists, wincing as she touched the mark. She peered down, lifting the material of her sleeve to stare. Bile rose up into her throat, but she forced it down. "Come. It is not far." Cassandra turned, heading down a snowy path. Reluctantly, the mage followed, quick steps, almost breaking into a run to catch up. And then the breach pulsed.

Maev couldn't help the cry that once again escaped her as she stumbled, her legs losing function as she slammed into the ground. The burning grew, stretched up her forearm once more. She could feel it delve into the crook of her elbow. Her teeth ground together until the pain faded. She hadn't been aware that the seeker had reached her side until again she helped her up.

"The pulses are coming faster now." She grunted.

"I noticed." Maev hissed as the two continued on their path, an uncomfortable silence falling between them. "How did I survive?" She blurted the question. Curiosity would always be Marv's downfall.

"They say that you stepped out of a rift then fell unconscious, a woman standing behind you. No one knows who she was. Everything in the valley was laid to waste. Even the temple of sacred ashes. I suppose you'll see soon enough."

"I- let's go." There were a million and ten questions that lingered on Maev's tongue, but she bit them back. The last thing she wanted to seem was incompetent. Instead, she followed in silence, that was of course, until the bridge they were crossing crumbled beneath their feet. She let out a groan as she rolled on the ice, greatfull that it hadn't shattered, keeping them from possibly drowning in the waters below. As she stood, her eyes darted to a spot on the ice, out of a glowing green spot, a demon sprouted, followed by another.

"Stay behind me!" Shouted the seeker, and momentarily it seemed like a plausible idea, but as the woman charged off and a demon spawned between them, the idea shattered. The mage took steps back, hands outstretched, prepared to throw whatever magic she could manage at the creature when something caught her eye. She whirled. A staff! She lunged, facing the demon back once more. A fireball exploded against it, followed by another, and another until the creature was reclaimed by the fade. Maev turned, the second demon was ready to strike the seeker's back.

"No you don't!" She snarled, waving the staff. Cassandra jumped away from the fireball as her own demon disappeared. Maev let out a shout as she continued to send a barrage of fire at the creature until it too was gone. "It's over." Maev breathed, gripping the staff for dear life. It seems her body had not yet recovered from whatever had happened at the conclave.

"Drop your weapon! Now!" The mage jumped back as she found the seeker's sword pointed at her, clearly the woman was ready to strike.

"Take it, if you wish, but I do not need a staff to be dangerous. Not once seeker have I given you reason to mistrust me. As well, if you were planning on my death, I would have preferred it be in that dungeon rather than being ripped apart by demons." Maev stood at her full height, her jaw set tight. The light from her mark, holding the staff illuminated her pale face, the green vallaslin that wound around her eyes and down her chin glowing in it's light. The seemed stared for a few more moments before letting out a heavy sigh and dropping her blade.

"You're right." Cassandra almost let a smile pull at her lips. This defiant elf reminded her of... herself. It gave her hope. She had such determination, and she didn't seem to take any kind of trouble from anyone. "You no not need a staff, but you should have one. I cannot protect you."

"I'm glad that we seem to have found some sort of common ground." Cassandra let a huff of air out her nose before turning back to the path. Silence, again. Maev wasn't sure if it was a blessing or a curse. Only the crunching of the snow beneath their boots was heard for a few minutes before shouting reached their ears.

"We're getting close. I can hear the fighting." Announced the seeker, pulling her blade out once more. Why she bothered to sheath it was beyond Maev's understanding. Habit perhaps?

"You'll see soon, we must hurry and help them!" She called back. Maev sighed. She simply adored when people did not answer direct questions. She was getting tired of 'you'll see'. Though it seemed, her answer would come sooner than expected.

They reached the top of the hill, and not a hundred feet away was a glowing green... something, and out of it spewed demons much like the ones they fought by the river. A rift. There could be no other explanation. The seeker charged forward, blade extended as she slammed headlong into a demon knocking it backwards so that she could slash at it. Maev too, launched herself into the small battle. Amidst the fighting she noted a few soldiers, a dwarf (that missed her head by inches as he shot at a demon) and an elf, his staff swinging expertly as they worked to slay the demons. The last of them fell, the dwarf staring up at her. She opened her mouth, perhaps an introduction when a hand grabbed her wrist. In surprise, she let go of the staff, leaving it to tumble to the ground.

"Quickly before more come through!" Shouted the elf, lifting her arm so that her hand pointed to the rift.

"Wh- ah!" The mark roared to life, a stream of crackling light connected it to the rift, and with a sound that would be etched into her memory forever the glowing green mass of twisting crystal was gone. Maev staggered back, cradling her hand against her chest. She could feel sweat dripping down the back of her neck as she calmed herself. "What did you do?" She gasped.

"I, did nothing, the credit is yours." Said the elf smoothly. Maev looked back to him, shaking her head.

"I, did THAT?" Clearly she was confused.

"Whatever magic opened the breach into he sky, also placed that mark upon your hand. I theorized that you could use the mark to close the rifts created in the Breach's wake - it seems I was correct."

"Meaning , it could close the breach itself." Said Cassandra. For a moment Maev had completely forgotten about the seeker's presence.

"Possibly." Replied the elf. "It seems you hold the key to our salvation." Maev took a steadying breath, staring down at the mark. 'Maker, what have I gotten myself into.' She thought.

"Good, I thought we'd be ass deep in demons forever." The mage whirled once more, eyeing the dwarf as he put his crossbow away, fixing his gloves before taking a few steps forward. "Varric Tethras; rogue, storyteller, and occasional unwelcome tag along." Maev couldn't help the smirk that pulled at her lips.

"Finally, someone here that believes in introductions." Said Maev with a smile. "A pleasure to meet you Master Tethras!" The dwarf let out a laugh.

"What, the seeker here didn't introduce herself before trying to take off your head?" He asked, taking the mage's extended hand and giving it a firm shake. Behind her, Maev could hear the disgusted noise said seeker made.

"If it weren't for the left hand, I wouldn't know her name at all." Maev shot a glance over her shoulder, clearly the jests were getting under the seeker's skin.

"At the time there were more pressing matters." Huffed the seeker.

"Of course." The mage let out a snicker. She liked the child of the earth. "So, are you with the chantry?" She asked. Behind her, it was the elf's turn to laugh.

"Was that a serious question?" She simply ignored it.

"Technically, I'm a prisoner, just like you."

"I brought you here to tell your story to the divine, clearly that is no longer necessary." The seeker interjected. It seemed the dwarf wasn't as much of a prisoner as she. This only brought up more questions. If only she had her notebook and quill.

"Yet here I am. Lucky for you, considering current events." He grunted back, earning a scowl from the seeker. They bickered worse than an old married couple.

"That's a nice crossbow you have there."

"What, Bianca? Yeah, we've been through a lot together, and she'll be great help in the valley-"

"Absolutely not!" This time the seeker stepped forward, staring down the dwarf. "Your help is appreciated Varric but no longer necessary."

"Have you BEEN in the valley seeker? Your soldiers aren't in control anymore." Cassandra opened her mouth to argue, but Maev stepped in, throwing an arm between them.

"I don't know what the problem is. It seems to me that we can use every bit of help that we can get." The seeker and dwarf both stared before the tallest of the three made that noise once again, turning towards the forward camp. A married couple.
"My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions." The elf. At a single glance, it was clear that he was an apostate. A polite one at that. "I'm glad to see that you still live."

"He means 'I kept that mark from killing you as you slept." Chimed Varric.

"It seems I owe you a thanks then. You seem to know a great deal about all of this." Perhaps too much.

"Like you, Solas is an apostate."

"I am not, and have never been an apostate." Said Maev, reaching to pick up her staff from where it had fallen. For a moment, Solas looked disgruntled.

"We are all apostates now." He stated, eyeing the mage. "My travels have allowed me to learn much about the case, far more than that of a circle mage." At his words, Maev let out a barking laugh.

"You assume, Solas that I am an average circle mage but alas, we will have time to discuss this, after we deal with THAT." Maev jerked her head towards the breach. "There are more important things than throwing around one's pride."

"Regardless of origin, the breach threatens us all." Said the apostate, leaning on his staff. She was wise.

"Oh, forgive me. I haven't introduced myself have I?" Said the marked mage as they walked together towards the breach. "Maev Lavellan."