ACT II: Putting On A Show For The Masses
Note: Holy shit, guys, I'm going to throw up, this chapter was a BITCH to write. I couldn't cut it off anywhere. Have fun! Again, I don't have a beta, so any mistakes are my own and this is for pure fun.
"Inquisitor!"
I paused in my tracks, glancing about me in surprise. When was the last time I actually saw Josephine? Finally with a tilt of my head up, I could spy her at the middle landing between the second courtyard and the main fort. She waved at me not wishing to shout, and signaled for my approach. Confused, I left the healing tents and made my way up the steps toward her.
"Yes, ma'am?" I asked once I was a few feet away from her. She glowed, in a far better mood and grace than previously. She does love it when a plan comes together. I couldn't help but smile at her, a low chuckle in my chest. "You seem exceptionally happy about something."
"Well, perhaps happy is not the right word, but yes. I am pleased with the situation. Here, come, if you would?" She addressed me with a small bow and took a moment to wait for me, pacing herself by my side as we walked up into the main hall.
"Is there something happening?" I asked, noting that the hall itself echoed with noise, the dim purring of voices echoed from within, a cathedral's call of the faithful. There were banners with the Inquisition's symbol that hung from the walls, framing the doorway and windows. The glass polished and shining, with the wood frames of the doors glowing from oil and repair.
"Yes." Josephine nodded to the guards that stood at the massive entrance. "We mean to prepare you now as something must be done soon."
"I am freaking out with the vague explanation here, Josephine." I admitted, a worm of worry curled in my gut as we entered, the ceiling breathing up before us, banners swaying from their pegs at each pillar. The stone beneath shining from wax and clean up, a line of pews settled on either side of the walkway, facing the main interior where the end was raised in a platform with stairs.
"Well, you see —" She began.
"Josephine." I cut off, pointing to the front. "Is that a fucking throne?"
She puffed at my curse, coming into her full height. "It's impressive, no? Fit for a leader. Meant to show influence — and the burden of it." She walked up to it as I followed her, numbed from the neck down. I cannot fucking believe this, what the fuck.
The throne was massive. A hard wood of darkened, nearly burnt coloring — is that Ebony wood? — with a red tint not unlike the hue of blood. Spears jutted out from behind it like a sunburst with the golden eye of the Inquisition emblazoned at the center. Extreme vibes from Game Of Thrones tumbled through my whirling thoughts.
I walked up to it, fearing to touch it but curiosity driving me to do so. The wood was smooth as water to the touch, the insignia of the Inquisition was concave rather than convex, carved deep into the ballooning back of the chair. All of it tapered down toward the cushioned seat, buttoned and nailed into the wood with gold caps that shone brightly against the blood-red cloth.
"When the fuck did we get this?" I asked into the ether. Josephine cleared her voice behind me, stepping up beside the throne and glancing it over.
"Last night. We — understand that you prefer to have a minimalistic style." Josephine tuttered, smoothing her fingers over a bare armrest to avoid my startled look toward her. "As Inquisitor, there are certain responsibilities and duties you will be expected to perform."
"Like saving the fucking world isn't enough?" I snipped sharply. She frowned at me and I sighed, "Sorry, just — are we being serious here? Am I understanding you right, you're asking me to be a — what, a sovereign power?"
"You are a beacon of law, Inquisitor." Josephine attempted to placate me, her words firm. "As all others retreat from responsibility, you will be looked to as a pillar of justice."
"Why are we deeming me fit to judge anyone?" I hissed quietly, stepping a bit closer to her, a hand's length between us. My internal organs were on fire as fear raced through my veins. The idea alone of sitting before anyone to pass judgement were all of my worst nightmares combined. Crowds. Attention. Pressure to perform. Choosing. My words floated between us, thankfully the echo was muted to just our area as she straightened her shoulders, assessing her words.
"You are our leader, you were from the moment you took up the title of Inquisitor." Josephine explained, retaining as much of her calm demeanor as she could. "The Inquisition sovereignty is derived from the allies that validate it. The people trust you and chose to follow you. Would it be such a leap to accept your judgement of their disputes?"
"Hold up, are there actually things to judge?" My voice cracked, blindsided.
"Yes. Those who have done wrong. You will know of them, at the very least." She explained with a nod, and then tilted her head at my whirlwind look of confusion. "All this presumes they have survived their initial encounter with you, of course."
The Hand of Korth, my wayward thoughts chimed up.
A deep and extended sigh escaped me, my lungs popped from stress. I brought my hands up to my face and held them to my eyes and forehead, breathing for a moment, asking for peace and patience as I considered the new turn of events. I should have seen this coming. I knew it was coming when we first got here, there was no way to avoid this — and I can't now, not without upsetting a loooot of people.
Fuck me, this day is just great.
"This needn't be bloody, Inquisitor." Josephine guessed at my state of mind, leaning in with a hand on my arm to lower it. It came down to have our gazes meet and she offered me a small, sympathetic smile. "Here, you are both empowered and bound. Justice has many tools. If their application is clever, execution may even seem merciful by comparison."
"That doesn't help, Josephine, but — I understand." Painfully, I understood now the mantle I had taken on, my mind flashing back to the first months of my arrival here, where the floundering pilgrims looked to me as the Herald for guidance. We leveled up. Yay… fuck. A exhale rattled my chest and I focused on Josephine, knowing she hadn't brought me here just to show me the throne.
"I take it we have duties to perform today?"
-0-
Indeed we had duties to perform today. The judgements weren't going to occur until the evening, so we had the rest of the afternoon to prep me. I was holed up in Josephine's new office, barren for the moment aside from a desk and chair, and the glowing fireplace. Leliana was silent in the background, standing in the corner of the room as Josephine covered the specifics.
"I take it there was some form of judiciary procedures in your world, correct?" Josephine tuttered behind me, her hands pulling and tugging at the newest coat they had slipped me into (apparently my regular blood-stained clothes, though intimidating, were unacceptable for public court).
"Yeah. Not to make it complicated, but usually the judge was the last stop." I answered, swaying a bit as I was tugged to the left, the tails of my coat straightened out.
"True. In this case, you will be listening to the grievances of your public, for all parties if there is more than one." She tugged again, but this time upwards, and moved around front to adjust the lip of my pants over my hips. "Goodness, we might need to have this tailored again. I thought I had the measurements correct."
I laughed, "What happened, did I grow out instead of up?"
"Oh, goodness, no!" Josephine chuckled, buttoning a few plaits on the side. "You've gotten a bit smaller around the waist. Are you eating?"
"I — yes?" I answered, pleasantly confused. When was I thrust back into younger-sibling status? I gave her a shrug of my shoulders. "I think? I had breakfast, at the very least." She huffed at me and continued. I knew the sound for what it was, having heard Jake make the same noise when he didn't believe an answer. Ah, to be young and irresponsible again.
"So, I'm going to look presentable. Do we know how many of these I'm doing today?" I asked, my hips jerking for a moment as my belt was straightened and tightened, my arms lifted briefly as Josephine reached along my ribs and shifted my blouse around.
"There two, and we are to use these to set the precedent of what to expect of the Inquisition." Leliana chimed in from her shadows. Her hip was pressed against Josephine's desk as she watched us, her eyes drawn to Josephine's movements around me.
"Is that because I'm expected to kill someone or no?" I asked precariously, glancing over at my Spymaster.
Leliana shrugged, nonplussed. "It will be your decision. This is to show our intent, that all who come before us will be judged according to the law."
"The law being… me." I sighed. Josephine stepped away from her fussing and I took the time to stretch my hands over my head before resting at my sides. Josephine moved me toward her mirror in the corner, where it stood tilted on its stand, unassuming and out of sight unless needed. She stepped around me and tilted it down so I could take a look.
My mouth screwed in surprise, "I… wow. Is that me?"
"Oh, yes!" Josephine grinned, brimming with pleasure. "I daresay you've bloomed beautifully." Not that I could contest her, I wasn't sure what the standard of beauty was in comparison. Humans, elves, dwarves, and even Qunari (though I hadn't seen anyone else than Bull), were an enormous variety of what 'beauty' could be.
Head to foot, I was decked in firm cloth, stitched tight and curving over my form. The colors were muted, to either impress or disquiet without being gnarly or gross. Dark, devastating copper-reds for the main coat, with black trousers and black belts that hooked around my hips. My boots were darkened leather that hiked up to just over my knees and there was gold inlay and trim all throughout the outfit, both in coat and trousers as well as my boots.
"I look like the goddamn Nutcracker King." I laughed, turning slightly to glance at the back of the coat, embroidered with the Inquisition insignia squared from shoulder to shoulder in black stitching. My hair had been detangled and braided along the right side of my head. It went down and combed loose from the base of my skull then over to my left shoulder, with only a few strands to come down my face, the rest behind my ears.
"The who?" Josephine questioned with a blink. She came around to my side and peered at me through the silver mirror. "I think you look rather dashing — handsome? Which would you prefer?"
"Josephine," I snorted, amused, "anything you call me is just fine." Leliana smirked behind us as she came up, Josephine's ears going red to the tips and I couldn't help another laugh, feeling a strange disconnected, out of body experience with the whole thing. Clothes made the person, for sure. I feel like a character in a story, this is so weird. Cool!
Here was hoping I didn't immediately sour the situation with sending someone to the gallows.
"We will have an audience, you must look the part." Leliana explained, glancing at a spot on my shoulder and tugging it into place. "The hall will be filled with our resident subjects, as well as the nobility who sponsor us, and our soldiers along the walls." A bundle of nerves skittered through my guts at the mental image painted in my mind. It would be a full house since this would be the first of many duties I was going to perform as Inquisitor.
"Question." I asked into the mirror, watching the ladies next to me. "If someone disagrees with my judgement, is there a course of action they can take to overturn it?"
Josephine twitched, surprised. "Ah, no? Not — usually. Your word is absolute here in Skyhold. Other sovereign countries or powers will occasionally send you their disputes, as you are a neutral party, and you'll pass judgement."
"Though, if I understand your concern, if the accused party or parties feel they did not receive justice, they can petition their country of origin." Leliana stepped around my side and came to face me, nodding as her eyes swept over me to inspect the full effect. "That will be rare, though, as they have been sent to the Inquisition for judgement because their country could not settle on a verdict."
"Yikes," I murmured, inhaling to stretch my lungs under the fitted blouse and coat. "That makes sense, I guess. Means I really gotta make sure I do this right and not become a tyrant."
"That is doubtful." Leliana replied softly with her gaze settling on my face. "We would not have trusted you to the position of Inquisitor if we believed for a moment you would abuse the power."
"You've secured alliances throughout Ferelden and Orlais. The nobility stand for the Inquisition as a viable power to fix the catastrophe we're in." Josephine stood next to Leliana, her hands folded before her, resting against her stomach. "Until the Chantry is reestablished, we are the word of justice."
"And isn't that just a scary thought." It came under my breath, so I sighed and nodded. "Alright. You said this was going to happen this evening?"
"Yes." Josephine walked over to her desk, Leliana and I followed quietly. "One of your judgements this day will be Chief Movran the Under. You killed his son, The Hand of Korth, but he was arrested for harassment."
"Oh, that's going to be a mess." I muttered. "The other? You said I had two?"
"Knight-Captain Denam." Leliana replied at my side. "The Commander has also put in an official request to be allowed to face the accused."
I blinked, "Can he? He's not a Templar, he's the Inquisition Commander. Is it personal?"
"In a way, yes." Leliana smirked at me briefly. "I'm pleased to see that you did not immediately agree. The Commander would be allowed to make his statement against the accused, but he would not be allowed to suggest judgement."
"Ah." I answered with understanding. "Speak now or forever hold your peace, like a wedding. Kinda."
"Uh. Yes?" Josephine agreed, utterly confused. I resisted the urge to chuckle, I guess they don't do that here. Oops. "In any case, the full details of the situation will be provided to you at the trial, and you will pass judgement upon the parties."
"Oh, boy." I exhaled. Flying, electrified jitters were jumbling around in my lungs at the thought. "Do I have to wear this every time we have to hold court? Why does this one have to happen now?"
"You won't always wear the same uniform, as Josephine has loved dressing you in different colors." Leliana murmured, highly amused and avoiding Josephine's quiet pout. "But a uniform is necessary as official representation, and as for why it must be now —"
"Chief Movran has been in our custody two weeks after you had returned to Haven from the Mire." Josephine clarified, glancing through the parchment pieces on her desk. "By rights, he should have had a swift judgement, but between the destruction and rebuilding…"
"And Knight-Captain Denam has recovered from his injuries." Leliana picked up, her lips white as they pressed together with distaste. "He is now demanding that he be released into the hands of Orlais, but as there is no Divine to judge her Templar, it falls to you."
"So it's time-sensitive, then." I nodded. "Is Orlais or Ferelden pressuring us to release either of them?" Leliana and Josephine shared a look across the desk, a whole conversation flashed in the span of seconds before Leliana turned away and Josephine nodded.
"Yes." Leliana answered. "More Orlais than anyone else on Movran's behalf. They are concerned that the Inquisition harboring a known aggressor, a Templar, amongst its own without judgement is a statement in itself."
"Oh." I replied, numb. "Oh, shit. No, yeah, I get that. Gotta get that shit outta here quick, then."
"Agreed." Leliana and Josephine answered. Josephine cleared her throat, "For now, we have a few more hours to go over the legalities you will be facing. Let's take that time now, and have you practice moving in that outfit."
"Right," I griped, "Gotta look natural. Ready, steady, go."
-0-
Evening struck, and I could hear the Main Hall fill with incoming guests, witnesses to the first judgement to be passed in Skyhold after its revival. Leliana had left us long ago, agreeing to oversee the court from the balcony, but choosing to remain out of sight. Josephine would be my recorder and prompter, and Cullen was going to double as plaintiff and bailiff. I'm sure that was illegal somewhere.
"Remember!" Josephine took one more sweep over my person, checking for flaws. "You command the floor. This is your Great Hall, and these are your subjects. You are the first and last, the only power that matters in that room. Yes?"
"Yes." I croaked, twisting my neck briefly to keep from choking on my collar. "Yes, I know." I know and I'm about ready to shit my pants. Crowds were never my thing. A deep inhale through my nose and out through my mouth, brushing Josephine's hair near my face. She patted my back and clucked her tongue.
"There. Magnificent." She approved with a nod of her head. "They should be seated now. I shall go out first and introduce you by your title. Are you ready?"
"No." I immediately replied, voice tight. "But that doesn't matter, right?"
"Unfortunately, it does not. On my mark, Inquisitor." Josephine left me to my turbulent thoughts and marched out through the door, the Main Hall going quiet as Josephine came into view. I could hear her voice echo through the hall and vibrate through the stone. I inhaled deeply, holding my breath and closing my eyes to concentrate.
"All rise! The Court of the Inquisition to commence! The honorable Inquisitor Jaime Welton presiding!"
Don't trip.
The wooden door groaned as it swung open and the world slowed to a crawl. Each breath I took swelled in my ears like the tide, loud and insistent. I refused to look toward the pews that lined either side of the Main Hall, knowing that if I did, I would vomit all over my new boots. Silence prevailed, my boot heels clacked against the stonework and echoed in my head.
My shoulders were squared and pulled back, neck straight with a downward tilt to my chin as Josephine had instructed. Her voice floated through my thoughts: Humbled by power, but not haughty. You are not nobility, you are your people. Do not look down your nose at them. I did my best to keep my expression clear and somber; that wasn't hard with enough bloodshed on my hands to rekindle old memories.
I came to the throne and lowered myself into it with as much grace as I could muster, my gaze unfocused as I raised my head and seemingly peered into the crowd. I focused out through the corner of my eyes to avoid the stares of the people before me; the overwhelming heat I felt growing under my throat at the Main Hall's full attention upon my small, lonesome person was stifling.
Don't. Don't you dare throw up.
I hesitated for a nanosecond, screaming internally at how to position my legs. Princess hook behind an ankle or do I cross them? Fuck! Of all the times not to remember. My mind settled on crossing my legs over the knee, keeping my thighs tight together, my leg hung like a throw-rug against my other leg, loose and swaying with the natural bounce of my muscles.
I was resisting the painful urge to bounce my leg quicker from sheer anxiety.
I finally focused once I was relatively positive I wasn't about to throw up or pass out from the enormity of the situation. A swarm of faces greeted me, some masked, others painted full to their hairlines, others clear complexion as they stared back, their gazes flickering between my every twitch and move. All along the sides against the wall stood the gleaming armor of the Inquisition's soldiers, their black and golden armor polished to shine and their helmets hiding their faces. The very picture of an unstoppable, palatable force to face.
There was a long stretch of a deep emerald carpet that flowed from my throne down the steps and down the long path between the wooden pews toward the main entrance. At the door I could see another set of figures, more soldiers, who stood and faced out. At the walls along the main door there were a few rows of Templars that shifted anxiously against themselves, a quivering mass of nervous energy.
I looked up to the balcony. Vivienne and Solas stood on either side of Leliana, who was centered against the railings, her arms crossed over the stone rail that housed them safely above the main hall. Dorian was further along the lower stairs to the left of them, curiously watching the scene before him.
A swallow went down my dry throat and I brought my gaze heavily to Josephine who stood to my right at the front of the audience, just in front of her I could see Bull and Krem standing side by side against the wall. They stood before the hanging banner from the first pillar. They're hidden from the crowd. Realization struck and pleasure warmed me that they stood there for my protection or Josephine's. A flood of seawater relief choked my lungs, stinging each breath.
Krem gave me a firm nod and Bull crossed his arms with a smirk.
Electricity surged through my spine and though I had already been sitting straighter than a rod, the strength was finally there to match it. My shoulders felt like unfurled wings and the tilt of my chin was more for the soft smirk on my lips than any humility that I felt. Josephine blinked, perhaps seeing the change, and she fought her own smile, her shoulders twitching lower with relief.
Let's do this.
"This was a surprise to the Inquisition. After Inquisitor Welton returned from the bogs, we discovered this man attacking." Josephine turned away from me, a dancer's twist on her heels to face the accused, addressing the audience before us. I leaned back in my seat, my elbows on the armrests, my hands in my lap. Proper. Polite. Disinterested. Just as Josephine had taught me.
"This man arrived and proceeded to attack our fort, with a… goat." Josephine faltered briefly, unsure of how to present the information to the crowd without being causing a ruckus of laughter. The crowd shifted and murmurings crawled between the bodies, louder as the seconds grew.
"Silence." I called out, letting the last letter ring against my throat. The word ricocheted through the hall. It was chilling how quickly they fell into a deathly silence. My gaze shifted to Josephine and she nodded in thanks. The chief was escorted forward, his footfalls heavy and muffled against the carpet. His horned helmet swung from one side to another, nearly taking the ear of one of my soldiers. He grinned under his beard at me once he was at the first series of steps.
"Chief Movran the Under." Josephine introduced him with a wave of her hand. "He feels slighted by the killing of his Avvar Tribesmen. Who repeatedly attacked the Inquisition first."
My attention shifted from Josephine's golden form to the blue and white muscular form of the chieftain. He bowed his head only forcibly when both Inquisition soldiers on either side of him glared. His teeth flashed under his lips, but he bowed, raising his head soon after, tugging at his manacled wrists to have the chain rattle loudly in the hall. I tilted my head, the rest of my body unmoving in the throne, my focus on the Avvar.
"You answered the death of your clan… with a goat?" I asked, hardening my voice to keep the crowd from breaking into another round of quiet chuckling or snickering. We have to set the impression that this isn't a game. This is real. This has consequences. I exhaled, waiting for my answer with a raised brow.
"A courtroom? Unnecessary!" The Chieftain laughed, his voice thrumming deep from his chest. "You killed my idiot son, and I answered, as is my custom. By smacking your holdings with goat's blood." I blinked, mildly alarmed at multiple things: one, that he managed to get to the fort from outside, and two, he threw a goat hard enough to splatter it against the stone wall.
Holy fuck. I turned to Josephine, my brow raised higher.
Josephine shook her head, "Don't look at me."
I fought a laugh. Remember, maintain composure. Serious. No laughing. But holy fuck is that funny as hell. My lips pursed to hold back my amusement, hopefully creating a severe look.
"No foul! He meant to murder Tevinters, but got feisty with your Inquisition." Chief Movran shook his head, spitting nicely to one side. "A redheaded mother guarantees a brat!" He grinned and rattled his chains again, the soldiers next to him nervous and alert for any attempt from him to bolt away or toward me. I greatly doubted that he'd get past Bull fast enough.
Cullen stood taller just off to my left, eyes glued to the Avvar, his hand tight on the pommel of his sword. I was surprised to spot Blackwall in the alcove of Harritt's door that led into his smithy, hidden in his own black clothing amongst the shadows, his glare out for the world to see. Another grin wanted to fight its way to my face; what a feeling to be surrounded by one's companions.
"Do as you've earned, Inquisitor." The chieftain eyed either side, undisturbed by the display. He laughed at me, "My clan yields. My remaining boys have brains still in their heads!" I considered the man before me, as large and imposing as Amund had been when we first met. My gaze drew a long, quiet look from his boots to his horned helmet, wondering at the best course of action.
Tevinters? I refused to look up and over to Dorian. The mage himself was willing to kill his own countrymen for the safety and security of a future without Corypheus. Who says I can't do the same? My eyes never left Movran, knowing that anything less would be seen as weakness.
This is my court. You're in my house now.
"It seems our conflict was accidental, Chief Movran." I answered, my voice echoing off the stonewalls, reverberating toward the entrance. My shoulders shifted higher against the back of the throne, allowing me to project as best I could. "Unfortunately, that can't be repeated."
I lost no soldiers to your son, my scouting party had only been taken hostage to goad me into a fight. But that doesn't mean I want it happening again. I don't know your customs, but I won't have you impose them on me or mine.
"Chief Movran," I called his name, drawing his gaze up to my face, "I banish you and your clan — with as many weapons as you can carry — to Tevinter." Because then you're someone else's problem, not mine. This also ensured that Tevinter had to divert their resources elsewhere as well. There was a ripple that went through the audience. Dorian's laugh, a quick bark of amusement, echoed through the Hall and it gave me some peace of mind that I hadn't overstepped.
Krem grinned from ear to ear, nudging Bull's side briefly. The Qunari waved him off, shushing him, but I couldn't ignore the satisfied grin that settled on his face.
Whew.
The Chief laughed, "My idiot boy got us something after all!"
"By the decree of the Inquisition, Chief Movran the Under is hereby banished to the lands of Tevinter with the means to arm himself and his clan in their exile." Josephine declared over the rumblings of the crowd, her voice musical through the Hall. "Chief Movran, you and your clan are to return under pain of death."
The Inquisition soldiers saluted us and took the Chief up by his elbows and lead him back toward the exit, but the Avvar only laughed and willingly followed, his grin gleaming across his face. I settled back into my throne and closed my eyes briefly with a sigh, releasing the tension that had bundled up in my chest. Gonna end up giving myself heartburn if I keep that up. The silence prevailed until the Avvar was out of the Hall and Cullen turn toward Josephine first before focusing his attention on me.
The muscles along his jaw jumped as his gaze met mine. I remained as I was, stoic and immobile, my head only turned toward him, chin tilted. No favoritism. Remain neutral. Thank god for Josephine, otherwise I would be a mess. Cullen walked up the steps toward me and saluted with his fist across his chest. My nod allowed him to continue.
"Knight-Captain Denam, Inquisitor. He awaits judgement for serving the Lord Seeker at Therinfal Redoubt." Cullen's voice was gravel on the stones, bouncing around the throne with his veiled anger. He stopped on the highest landing, only a handful of feet from me.
"I knew some of the Knights who died there. I request to oversee his sentencing." Cullen nodded around to the crowd, explaining his presence in the court. More murmurs grew up from the audience, the Templars at the entrance clustered together, unsure if the atmosphere was directed at them as a whole.
I raised a hand and all attention came to me, "Your request is granted on the condition that you accept any sentence I deliver."
"I accept, Inquisitor." Cullen bowed his head gratefully and turned to signal toward the entrance. My heart was ringing in my ears. This is different. An Avvar man escapes death with weapons, but a Templar? A man that killed his kin for what? Power? Christ. A swallow shot down my throat as Denam was led up to the front, standing before me in the same place as Movran.
Cullen drew himself high, "Denam knew the dangers of red lyrium. He murdered the Knight-Vigilant and corrupted his brothers and sisters." The Knight-Captain had his chin tucked to his neck, his gaze boring holes into the stones beneath his feet. For this man, the soldiers held onto his arms with steel grips and their stances were wide to barricade him in case he bolted.
Did you attempt to run before this?
I raised a hand to stop Cullen, my attention on Denam. "I question the lucidity of the Knight-Captain. Answer me, are you of sound and sober mind to understand the charges against you?" I am not about to convict a man out of his mind. We don't know what the effects of red lyrium are even if he's recovered from his injuries. Cullen looked at me askant, surprised at my interruption.
The Knight-Captain brought his seething glare from the ground to my face. I could see the scars of pot-marks and brawls along his jaw and cheeks. His hair fell from his eyes and framed his face, darkening the grit of his teeth as he shifted in the hold of the soldiers.
"I only did as I was told!" He snarled at me.
Cullen stepped forward, his tone searing. "We found everything! The corpse of the Knight-Vigilant, even the papers proving you knew red lyrium was poisonous!"
"Commander." I let the word drop like a gavel. Cullen shuddered with irritation, drawing his spine straight with his fiery gaze nailed to Denam. The Knight-Captain turned away from him and settled his eyes on me before they slipped away to the floor.
"There is a greater power walking this world!" Denam hissed, his shoulders hunched painfully. "I wasn't fool enough to deny it. None of you would have. I demand justice!" My leg lowered from my knee, my hands moved to the ends of the armrest and my gaze floated to Cullen. Everyone in my near vicinity froze. Cullen and Josephine stiffened like rabbits to run, Blackwall straightened his back against the door with Harritt disappearing into it.
Krem and Bull straightened near the banner, their arms dropping in preparation.
A weird giddy moment of surprise bubbled in my stomach. What the hell did they just see? I only put my leg down, guys, holy shit.
"Commander Cullen." My foot hooked behind the opposite ankle as I turned to face him. "Inquisition forces found the body of the Knight-Vigilant and we are accusing Knight-Captain Denam of his murder. The court awaits proof that it was by the hand of Denam that this murder was committed."
Like the threat of rolling thunder and hail, the courtroom went intensely still. The Commander looked to me as if I betrayed him, but I keep my mouth firm and my shoulders level with my gaze. I will not fall into the trap of trusting someone's word without evidence. The Salem Witch Trials may not exists here but I know better.
"We have proof, Inquisitor." Josephine interrupted softly. She cleared her throat and gestured toward the wall where Bull and Krem stood. From behind the banner, Knight Templar Delrin Barris appeared. My attention swirled around like wildfire and Ser Barris held my gaze for a brief second before bowing his head to me, a fist across his chest. Denam snarled at him, alarmed.
"Your Worship," Barris straightened, determined. "When you took Knight-Captain Denam into custody, he would have had a ring of keys that opened the doors to their respective rooms and offices, back in Therinfal." Denam's face fell and he made to clutch at his side, but he was stripped of any weapon or article of personal items. I got Josephine in my sights.
"This is true, Inquisitor." She immediately answered, folding her hands before her. "We have this evidence in our possession, found on Denam's person when he was brought into custody."
"Knight Templar Barris," I returned to him, twisting only slight in my seat, "Would any other Templar have access to these keys, or know where to acquire them if the Knight-Captain did not have them?"
"Inquisitor! You're not insinuating —" Cullen approached the throne heatedly and for a moment, I felt panic rise in my throat. I'm not about to lose control in our first session, Cullen! Without a second thought, I stood from the throne and faced him, staring him down as one would an approaching beast. Cullen stayed his step and gripped his sword, but didn't move.
Blackwall relaxed just beyond the corner of my vision, but I noticed he was far closer to the throne than he had been before. Control. Bring it back into control, Jaime, don't let them think there's infighting.
"Cooler heads will reign, Commander." I answered him, tension was the only thing that kept my body from shaking with nerves and anxiety. Breathe, Jaime. "I am not insinuating anything. As a neutral party, the Inquisition must consider all sides of the account, even those we cannot fathom. Am I understood?"
There was silence.
My eyes narrowed. "Am I understood, Commander?"
"Understood, Inquisitor." Commander Cullen exhaled, releasing his shoulders from their pinch. There was a beat as he took the moment to close his eyes and disengage. He stepped away from me with a bow of his head. Quickly, I shifted my attention to Barris and the poor man snapped upright from a trigger.
"I asked a question, Ser Barris." I reminded him.
Barris swallowed. "These keys are only accessible to our higher command. If any other Templar were to have them, they were given the keys by their supervisor. He also refused our requests to clear out the Knight-Vigilant's quarters."
"Do we know how long the Knight-Vigilant was dead?" I asked between my two prompters. Cullen kept his mouth tight and didn't answer me, so I turned to Josephine and she twitched slightly, but nodded her head.
"According to the reports from our healers, the Knight-Vigilant had been dead for near on a week." Josephine's nose scrunched and she turned to Barris, her eyes alight with curiosity. "Templar Barris. Explain how this absence went unnoticed until the arrival of the Inquisition?" Good, thank you, Josephine. At least someone was siding with my line of thinking.
Barris' face darkened with shame. "We were advised that the Knight-Vigilant had abandoned his post. The state we were in, we could not question the information. I accept responsibility for the transgression."
"Who told you he had abandoned his post, Ser Barris?" I asked firmly.
"Knight-Captain Denam. The other veterans were unaware." Barris replied with certainty. "There was infighting during our congregation, as there was no one to fill the post so suddenly. The Envy demon, then Lord Seeker Lucius, confirmed it."
"Traitor!" Denam screamed at him, hauling at the grips of the soldiers. Barris ignored him, so Denam only screamed louder. "You knew we wouldn't survive on our own! This was the only way! We would have been slaughtered otherwise!"
"Perhaps death would have been better than this dishonor." Barris answered quietly, his head bowed.
"Knight-Captain Denam." I cut through the man's growling with a step forward. "If you had chosen to support Corypheus, and your letter proves that you were aware of the poisonous nature of the red lyrium and that it would ultimately destroy the body — is the end result not the same as slaughter?"
"Some of us would have survived!" Denam spat at me, mouth drawn back in a snarl. The soldiers held onto his arms, one of them had hooked his leg around Denam's ankle to keep him in place. "Not all that drank the lyrium succumbed to the effects. The Elder One knew —" He snarled, yanking at his arm in frustration, nearly knocking one of the soldiers from their stance.
Knew?! Knew what?
"Denam!" I commanded, stilling all three struggling parties. "Tell me what you know of the red lyrium. How did you know any of your kin would survive?"
"The red lyrium is poisonous, much like the Blight. The Elder One knew that some would die, but others — others would survive and become powerful!" He gritted his teeth and ducked his head, his arms shaking in the grips of the soldiers. "This was all I knew. I chose to live! I knew there was no other way! You're a fool to think you would have survived, we were trapped... "
A sob broke from Denam's throat.
But the case had been settled.
"Knight-Captain Denam." I watched him as he pulled insistently against my soldiers. "The Court of the Inquisition finds you guilty of murder, both of the Knight-Vigilant and of your brethren-in-arms." Denam screamed as he tried to launch out of his jailors' hands, shaking his head as he was held back.
"No!" Denam howled. "You can't! Not after I survived this long! Don't you see?"
"Knight-Captain Denam is to be jailed until tomorrow, there he will be taken to the gallows." I replied, glancing between the soldiers. My heart was thundering in my chest. "The Inquisition will see him hung by the neck until dead, tomorrow at dawn." The soldiers nodded and yanked at Denam, dragging him back down the path toward the entrance. The Templars at the end of the Hall parted like the Red Sea, their faces turned away in shame.
I watched as the man was dragged away and I wondered at what I had just committed. Much like Cole, I was working on what I believed, rather than any form of professional training or experience. I need to be careful. I need to make sure I am always the middle line. My gaze caught the shifting Templars. I'm going to need to figure out what to do with them. Denam hadn't been in command, but he was their last superior aside from the veterans.
I turned to Barris, my voice a sigh. "Knight Templar Barris, the Inquisition is appreciative of your participation and acknowledges your willingness to take responsibility. This court judges you guiltless."
"Thank you, Inquisition." Barris bowed his head, his eyes shut tightly.
"As previously agreed, the Templar Order is in an alliance with the Inquisition. You are free to stay amongst the ranks until you deem the Order fit to depart." Commander Cullen interjected, his voice firm despite the exhaustion I could see around his mouth and eyes.
"Understood. We shall remain until further notice." Barris acknowledge as he raised his head. My eyes found Josephine, I waved my right hand gently, my request silent: let's end this, please.
"The Court of the Inquisition has ended." Josephine's voice rang clear through the Hall. "These matters are settled. The Inquisitor will now retire."
Thank the fucking Maker.
