A new chapter!
Asteria has reached Redcliffe and has spoken with Fiona only to realize that a Tevinter Magister has arrived in Redcliffe and Fiona has handed the mages over to him as indentured servants-not only that, Fiona has no memory of ever meeting Asteria and inviting her to Redcliffe.
"Papa, what should I do?"
His eyes met hers, "Are you asking for advice on what I think you should do or what I would do in your position, da'vhenan?"
"Is there a difference papa?"
Her father walked beside her and she frowned as she listened for the sound of his footsteps, but spirits do not have footsteps.
"I think that you know exactly what you want to do." He finally replied.
She sighed heavily, "You aren't helping."
"I'm not about to tell you if you're right or wrong, Asteria. It would seem to me that the mages need you just as much as you need them. Are you going to let them suffer? Children are going to be shipped to Tevinter, da'len. Poor innocent children will be enslaved, and you have the power to stop it."
Asteria studied him, not entirely surprised by the passion in his voice as he spoke of children.
"Children are the future, Asteria, and they need protecting. Somewhere, their parents are hurting because they cannot raise them and they trusted them to a Circle for their own protection. Now, they're fate is to be enslaved in another country with no one to care for them. This entire situation is strange, or shifty, as you would say. I would save the mages and those children."
She nodded, "It's probably a trap though."
"Most likely. You should still meet that young man in the Chantry. Besides, I have faith that you'll come out on top." He smiled at her.
"Oh good, you're here. Help me close this, will you?" The mage demanded in an accent as they entered the Chantry.
Asteria swung her staff and a trail of ice magic followed it, freezing several spirits in place as Varric shot them.
Bull and Blackwall swung their swords at the other demons, distracting them.
The elf summoned a bolt of lightning just as the other mage did and their magic combined into a larger arc of lightning, surprising Asteria.
"Close the rift!" He yelled.
The elf pulled at the Rift's magic until it sealed, and she met the gaze of the other mage.
"Well that was interesting. Dorian Pavus of Minrathous." He introduced himself.
"Asteria Lavellan, Herald of Andraste."
"That's a lovely name you have, Ria."
"Ria?"
"Is it a problem if I call you that?" Dorian asked.
"Watch yourself. The pretty ones are always the worst." Ironbull remarked suspiciously as Varric nodded in agreement.
She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips, "I like it actually."
"Wonderful, I'll call you that." The Tevinter mage stated. "Now, back to business. You're in danger here. Magister Alexius was once my mentor, so my assistance should be invaluable-as I'm sure you can imagine."
"I was expecting Felix to be here." Asteria stated truthfully as she pondered over Dorian's words. Her gut told her she could trust him, but she couldn't be making such rash decisions as the Herald of Andraste. The elf fought back a smirk-Papa would love him.
"I'm sure he's on his way. He was to give you the note, then meet us here after ditching his father." Dorian explained.
"Alexius couldn't just to Felix's side fast enough when he pretended to be faint. Is he ill?" Asteria inquired.
"He's had some lingering illness for months. Felix is an only child, and Alexius is being a mother hen, most likely."
"Are you a Magister?" Asteria asked curiously, excited to hear something about Tevinter.
A sour look crossed Dorian's face, "All right. Let's say this once. I'm a mage from Tevinter but not a member of the Magisterium. I know Southerners use the terms interchangeably, but that only makes you sound like barbarians."
Rather than look insulted at his last comment, Asteria filed the information away for later. She loved learning new things about people and places. "So you're the one that sent that note, then?"
"I am. Someone had to warn you after all. You must know there's danger. That should be obvious even without the note. Let's start with Alexius claiming the allegiance of the mage rebels out from under you. As if by magic, yes? Which is exactly right. To reach Redcliffe before the Inquisition, Alexius distorted time itself."
Her silvery-blue eyes widened, "I hope that's less dangerous than it sounds."
Dorian's face was grave, "More. The rift you closed here? You saw how it twisted time around itself, sped some things up and slowed others down. Soon there will be more like it, and they'll appear further and further away from Redcliffe. The magic Alexius is using is wildly unstable, and its unraveling the world."
"You know a lot about this type of impossible magic." Asteria remarked.
"I know what I'm talking about. I helped develop this magic. When I was still his apprentice, it was pure theory. Alexius could never get it to work. What I don't understand is why he's doing it? Ripping time to shreds just to gain a few hundred lackeys?"
"He didn't do it for them." Felix stated as he joined their group.
"Took you long enough. Is he getting suspicious?" Dorian asked.
Felix shook his head, "No, but I shouldn't have played the illness card. I thought he'd be fussing over me all day." Felix turned to Asteria, "My father's joined a cult. Tevinter supremacists. They call themselves 'Venatori.' And I can tell you one thing: whatever he's done for them, he's done it to get to you."
Asteria wasn't surprised by that information but she still had to ask, "Why would he rearrange time and indenture the mage rebellion just to get to me?"
"They're obsessed with you, but I don't know why. Perhaps because you survived the Temple of Sacred Ashes?" Felix offered.
"You can close the rifts. Maybe there's a connection? Or they see you as a threat?"
"If the Venatori are behind those rifts, or the Breach in the sky, they're even worse than I thought."
"Alexius is your father. Why are you working against him? "
"For the same reason Dorian works against him. I love my father, and I love my country. But this? Cults? Time magic? What he's doing now is madness. For his own sake, you have to stop him."
"It would also be nice if he didn't rip a hole in time. There's already a hole in the sky." Dorian remarked dryly.
Asteria smirked, "All this for me? And here I didn't get Alexius anything."
Dorian returned her smirk, "Send him a fruit basket. Everyone loves those. You know you're his target. Expecting the trap is the first step in turning it to your advantage. I can't stay in Redcliffe. Alexius doesn't know I'm here, and I want to keep it that way for now. But whenever you're ready to deal with him, I want to be there. I'll be in touch." Dorian turned to leave before glancing at Felix, "Oh and Felix? Try not to get yourself killed."
Felix remained serious, "There are worse things than dying, Dorian."
Asteria watched the younger man leave, her heart heavy at his solemn comment. The poor young man carried a heavy burden on his shoulders, and even while ill, he was stronger than most people Asteria knew.
'Dareth shiral.' She thought as he left.
Asteria knew that Cullen was going to disagree with her decision to recruit the mages, however, there were innocent lives among them and they needed help-no one else was going to save them from being shipped off to Tevinter.
"I plan on recruiting the mages. We'll have to stop Alexius first." Asteria stated, meeting each of the advisors's gazes.
"We don't have the man power to take the castle! Either we find another way in, or give up this nonsense and go get the Templars!" Cullen exclaimed.
"Redcliffe is in the hands of a Magister. This cannot be allowed to stand." Cassandra countered.
"The letter from Alexius asked for the Herald of Andraste by name. It's an obvious trap."
A smirk pulled at Asteria's lips, "Isn't that kind of him. What does Alexius say about me?"
Leliana spoke up, "He's so complimentary that we are certain he wants to kill you."
Asteria found that ironic-the Magister's kindness and niceties were what convinced the Spymaster that he wanted her dead.
"Not this again." Josephine muttered.
"Redcliffe Castle is one of the most defensible fortresses in Ferelden. It has repelled thousands of assaults." He turned his gaze on Asteria, "If you go in there, you'll die. And we'll lose the only means we hve of closing these rifts. I won't allow it."
Asteria quirked an eyebrow at him, torn between the warm and fuzzy feelings his words inspired and the anger at being told she wasn't going to be allowed to do something. She was really starting to lose than fuzzy feeling the more she thought about his words.
"And if we don't even try to meet Alexius, we lose the mages and leave a hostile foreign power on our doorstep!" Leliana countered.
Josephine jumped in, "Even if we could assault the keep, it would be for naught. An 'Orlesian' Inquisition's army marching into Ferelden would provoke a war. Our hands are tied."
"The Magister-" Cassandra started
"Has out played us." Cullen cut in.
"The Magister's son, Felix, told me Alexius in in a cult that's obsessed with me. I doubt they'll graciously receive our apologies and go about their business." Asteria stated.
"They will remain a threat, and a powerful one, unless we act." Leliana advised.
"We cannot accept defeat now. There must be a solution." Cassandra spoke up.
Asteria thought back to her papa's teachings about the humans of Ferelden, "Where is the Arl of Redcliffe? I'm sure he'd help us get his castle back."
"After he was displaced, Arlt Teagan rode straight for Denerim to petition the Crown for help. His nephew is King Alistair. I doubt he'll want our assistance once the Ferelden Army lays siege to his castle."
"Wait." Leliana broke in. "There is a secret passage into the castle, an escape route for the family. Its too narrow for our troops, but we could send agents through."
"Too risky. Those agents will be discovered well before they reach the Magister." Cullen replied.
"That's why we need a distraction. Perhaps the envoy Alexius wants so badly?"
"Focus their attention on Lavellan while we take out the Tevinters. It's risky, but it could work." Cullen admitted.
The door burst open and Dorian entered, "Fortunately, you'll have help."
Asteria grinned at the mage's entrance, pleased to see him again, "Well aren't you full of surprises?"
Dorian winked at her as a scout followed him in, "This man says he ahs information about the Magister and his methods, Commander."
"Your spies will never get past Alexius's magic without my help, so if you're going after him, I'm coming along."
Asteria could tell that Cullen did not appreciate this Tevinter mage entering and demanding to be brought along on her mission, but he turned to her, "The plan puts you in the most danger. We can't, in good conscience, order you to do this. We can still go after the Templars if you'd rather not play the bait. It's up to you."
The raven haired elf knew he'd find a way to weasel the Templars into the conversation, but his last comment piqued her interest the most; he was leaving it up to her to decide.
She glanced at Dorian and nodded at him, causing him to grin. Asteria turned back to her advisors, "We're going after Alexius and then I will recruit the mages."
"My Lord Magister, the agents of the Inquisition have arrived." A Mage stated.
Alexius stood up, "My friend! It's so good to see you again." His eyes traveled to Varric and Ironbull, "And your associates, of course. I'm sure we can work out some arrangement that is equitable to all parties."
Asteria watched as Fiona stepped forward, "Are we mages to have no voice in decided our fate?" She pondered the woman's words carefully. She'd have to figure out how to get the mages to join the Inquisition when they were finished with Alexius.
"Fiona, you would not have turned your followers over to my care if you did not trust me with their lives."
"If the Grand Enchanter wants to be part of these talks, then I welcome her as a guest of the Inquisition." Asteria stated, holding Fiona's gaze as she said it-she would not allow the mages to feel as if they had no voice. Her fingers itched to tighten around her staff for comfort. 'Stand with me Papa.' Asteria begged.
Fiona bowed her head, "Thank you."
"The Inquisition needs mages to close the Breach. What shall you offer in exchange?" Alexius demanded.
"Nothing at all."
Before Alexius could speak, Felix broke in, "She knows everything father."
"Felix, what have you done?"
Asteria took a step forward, "Why did you want me to come here?"
"Do you know what you are?"
Asteria resisted the urge to point at her ears.
"You walk into my stronghold with your stolen mark-a gift you don't even understand-and think you're in control? You're nothing but a mistake."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously at that word, as a memory flittered to the forefront of her mind unbidden, but she forced it back as well as the pain that word brought with it. She could feel rage begin to churn in her gut.
When she spoke, it was with a biting tone, "If I'm a mistake, what exactly was the Breach supposed to do?"
"It was to be a triumphant moment for the Elder One, for this world!"
"Father listen to yourself! Do you know what you sound like?" Felix interrupted.
"He sounds exactly like the sort of villainous cliché everyone expects us to be." Dorian answered as he entered the room, taking his place beside Asteria.
"Dorian. I have you a chance to be a part of this. You turned me down. The Elder One has power you would not believe. He will raise the Imperium from its own ashes."
Asteria fought back the smart remark.
"Blah. Blah. 'My cult is better than yours.' I've heard it a thousand times."
She lost the fight.
Dorian turned to her, "Well, you know, it's a chance for the Imperium to really one-up that whole 'starting the blight' thing."
They shared impish grins.
Alexius glowered at them, "He will make the world bow to mages once more! We will rule from the Boeric Ocean to the Frozen seas!"
Asteria did not like the idea of people bowing to her-they did it already-but she really did not want them doing it because they were afraid of her power as a mage.
"You can't involve my people in this!" Fiona yelled.
Dorian stepped forward, "Alexius, this is exactly what you and I talked about never wanting to happen! Why would you support this?"
Felix reached out for his father, "Stop it father. Give up the Venatori. Let the Southern mages fight the Breach and let's go home."
"No! It's the only way, Felix. He can save you!"
"Save me? I'm going to die and you need to accept that!" Felix countered.
"The Elder One can save you if I reverse what happened at the Temple. Venatori, seize them! The Elder One wants that elf dead!"
The sound of several bodies falling to the ground captured Alexius's attention and he took a step back when he realized his men were dead, killed by Inquisition agents.
Asteria stepped forward, "Your men are dead, Alexius."
Anger burned in the Magister's eyes, "You…are a mistake! You never should've existed!"
Those words pained Asteria's soul as the memory flooded back to the forefront of her mind, but she forced it back once more. Dorian jumped in front of her as Alexius used a magic necklace to summon a portal.
"NO!" Dorian swung his staff and magic hit Alexius and the necklace. A large portal appeared and then everything went black.
End chapter!
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