A/N College. I'm not saying anything else, but college is the reason I couldn't update on Wednesday. I'll be uploading a new chapter now, as well as later on Sunday, and then again on Monday to catch up with my schedule, so...
Read, Review, and Enjoy! :)
Scorpio's Legacy Chapter 21 just needs a bit of polishing so expect that by midnight Sunday (Central US Time). Finally I get that stubborn bastard off my plate! XD Unfortunately it won't be properly Beta-tested by the lovely individual I found as I feel like I just want it done and gone before I end up tearing my hair out... again. ;)
FYI I usually like to update everyone on what I'm doing in whatever A/N for whatever story I'm writing so don't get confused or agitated if you see this and think, 'oh this guy is just advertising his stuff so its not important' because it IS important to ME and a lot of my other readers-
-and before I start rambling again I have one question to answer from a PM I got a week ago (last time I got on to check my messages) and after reading it I'd like to bring it to everyone's attention:
I am aiming at the release date of Dragon Age: Inquisition to finish the DA: O and DA: II parts of my SI. That way everyone who is getting the game can have a lot of free time (myself included) to purchase and play their copies into oblivion and back before I write the last installment of my SI, which will most likely take until summer of 2015 to finish since I have college and stuff.
And I rambled anyways... :) Here's chapter seven for you all...
I deflect another array of fireballs Flemeth has thrown at me and turn their magic inwards to strengthen my barrier like she taught me. "Good, unlike the mages from the circle you are quite proficient in the use of combative spells." I smile at the strangely rare praise and focus my fade magic outwards in an attempt to sunder the Veil temporarily using the knowledge my library in the Fade taught me over these last two months.
I'm not sure if it was Morrigan and I hunting, or just me getting lucky, but a new section of the library opened up in my dreams. The section on Fade Magic.
I cut my palm while whispering the incantation I learned in my dreams and suddenly the entire area around me explodes in a blast of fade energy. I'm thrown back to Flemeth's side of the clearing just outside the hut and look up to see a Tear in the Veil staring back at me. "Oh that's not good..." It pulses and a Rage demon jumps out, roaring in, well, rage.
"You just had to push your boundaries didn't you?" Flemeth mocks while grabbing her staff and taking up a defensive position as I flash-freeze the demon solid.
Eight more flood out and Morrigan walks out of the hut, "Tis quite difficult to brew potions with all this-" She ducks under a cone of fire and I blast a flash of Winter's Grasp at the lesser Rage demon to halt it's advance.
"The Hut is on fire." Flemeth notes calmly while casting Tempest and Firestorm at the same time to electrocute and incinerate eight Shades that decided to follow the demons out.
I turn and flash a water spell onto it to put out the raging fire. "AH!" And soak Morrigan at the same time. She glares at me and flashes a curse and a few nightmares across the battlefield while her robes cling to her body, possibly chaffing her fair unblemished skin.
She's going to kill me for that, she spends ages on her hair alone.
I throw down my new spell, Frost Storm and slow the entire field of shades and demons to a crawl, some freeze solid like Morrigan.
Ok, NOW she's going to kill me.
"It would be best if you closed the Tear." Flemeth bites out.
I cringe and use the moment of opportunity to rush forwards and towards the Tear.
If we don't close it we aren't going to win this fight and that means Flemeth kicking my ass from the afterlife while I fail to escape that horrendous fate.
I feel the tendrils of sweet fade energy calling to me as I approach the Tear. The sinister draw to cut the Veil and let this eternal magic through is almost overpowering. A Desire Demon jumps through and I cut her down with a dagger to the chest.
They're becoming too powerful, it needs to close now!
I close my eyes, grasping at the Fade itself and reaching out to touch the strings that were damaged. I mentally visualize repairing the strings and let my magic do the work for me like the books in the Fade tell me.
Good thing Flemeth made me memorize an old Tevinter book on Dreamers. Their magics are not that different than this, and I can cross reference my dream books with it just in case the Fade is wrong or right in some areas.
The screams of fury and anger that the demons call to me nearly breaks my concentration. I whisper the Ancient Tevinter words for 'mend' and 'strengthen' over and over again while repairing each individual strand.
'You are the mortal trying to stop the Tear? You are weak-minded if you believe one mortal could do what the other's cannot.'
The voice is dark, angry, and only infuriates me into fighting against the demon horde even harder. I take the last string and feel my power draining. I cut my palm and pull out wisps of fade energy to mend the Veil as I continue my work unhindered. I finish the mend as the last demon falls by Flemeth's and Morrigan's spells. I fall to my knees, my mana drained from the excruciating experience. Then it hits me.
I just tore... and mended the Veil... myself.
...
I don't know whether to be ecstatic or terrified... no mortal has done that and lived without heavy sacrifice or a mountain of Lyrium. What am I?
Flemeth's sharp bark of laughter brings me back to reality. I manage to stand back up as she speaks, "You are more like me than I have anticipated. So full of power and potential." I watch her face darken, "You are a threat to this world as much you are its savior. You are no-longer welcome here Darien, your power will draw attention to us." I catch her voice's meaning and lower my head in deep thought. "You are not one of us, not yet, but in time you will see to your own path." I look back up and scowl at her sharply.
What is this? Am I now homeless? All because a few demons recognized what I could do?
Morrigan watches us with shock written across her face. I step forward and smile at Flemeth before handing her my amulet, the protective wards built into the pendant now releasing the shadow that's hidden me from many demons for so long. "Goodbye Mother. I do hope to see you again soon." I say bluntly, still a bit shocked that I have to leave.
She hands me my pack, the original one I haven't seen in over two years. I look inside and smile sadly at the dead ingredients among broken glassware that was my alchemy set.
From a different time, a different place... Once again I've ran from my past and successfully survived the repercussions. Just perfect.
I throw it over my back and turn to walk away. "Stop! Tis madness! Mother he is a strong mage! He has surpassed even I in your teachings and you wish for him to be sent off into the world alone before he finishes your lessons?" Morrigan argues adamantly.
Flemeth nearly growls at her, "Quiet girl! You will not interfere with his fate. He is not one of us and requires this to build his destiny."
Morrigan grumbles silently, but agrees. She looks at me sadly before stepping up and hugging me unexpectantly. I freeze at the shocking display of emotion and return it only briefly, knowing how much she hates prolonged physical contact. "I'll be fine Sister. Twas fun while it lasted yes?" I joke to her.
She scoffs, pulls away, and frowns, "Yes, twas just lovely. All our ventures into civilization and such. You will be lucky if the templars don't cut you down the first chance they get. Tis not uncommon for apostates to be be-headed when discovered by the Chantry." I catch her small smile and nod to her while snorting a laugh. She smirks back with menacing eyes meant to intimidate. I simply smile knowingly.
"I will see you soon Sister." I turn and jump into my Raven form to fly off north, not looking back and not wondering where I was going.
The time is almost up for the Blight and I need to find the Hawkes quickly, I am NOT letting any of them die before reaching Kirkwall! Tis simply cruel!
As I flap my wings and soar across the sky towards Lothering once again, I remember that I had eight of Flemeth's rare and ancient books in my robes and squawk a chuckle at my successful theft of priceless magical tomes.
When I finally get to the village/town I flutter down and land on a rooftop and survey the area.
Lothering, the place of my beginning and possible end if Flemeth's insane ramblings have any merit. Huh, looks just like it did all those months ago. I wonder if the Revered Mother dropped that 'kill all birds on sight' order she gave her templars after the 'incident' yet. I'd better stay clear of them for now just to be safe.
The sun is starting to set and I watch as dozens of patrons flock to the tavern for a night of heavy drinking.
I wonder if they still use that recipe I gave them. Probably not since the berry-ale was seasonal, not year-round.
"I don't care brother, I'm a man now and I'm having a damn drink!" I turn my head and spot two men and a woman walking across the small bridge in the middle of town and towards the tavern. I look closely at them and spot the well-kept beard of the male Hawke default as it shifts downwards in a slight frown, "Mother won't like this Carver, but alright. One ale and then we're out of there."
Oh man its strange seeing them in person. It's like I've been playing Dragon Age on 240p my whole life and I just bought an HDMI cable and blew the graphics out the window.
"Just make it quick, I don't like being in the open. It feels like somebody's watching us." Bethany looks around nervously while eying the one templar walking past them to get back to the Chantry with fear and trepidation as they continue onwards.
Wow, I knew Bethany was cautious but to outright fear templars so blatantly... She must grow up right-quick with the Blight or I'm missing something.
I flutter and drift down to land behind a crate near the entrance and change back to an elf. "This is going to be just great, two apostates and a hard-headed bastard walk into a bar-" Hawke's joke is cut off as they enter the tavern. I internally smile.
Oh ho ho! We got a sarcastic Hawke! This is going to me great indeed.
I stand and pull up my hood while dropping my black velvet into a cloak to hide my strange robes and weapons. I push inside to be assaulted by the stench of stale ale, piss, and sweat.
Yeah, just like old times.
I gag and almost up-chuck a rabbit I ate on the way here as a wolf before going inside. The calming and up-beat tune the now two bards are playing in the elevated area of the place makes me smile in remembrance of simpler times. I spot a surprising elven woman with pulled back red hair and a bright smile serving drinks around the full tavern and sit down in the dark corner near the door to watch the three Hawkes at the bar as they order some cheep ale.
Huh, I think I know a hawk form. Maybe not as well as my other ones but I could do it if I had the ti-
"Welcome good sir, can I interest you in our specialty?" I blink at the server from behind my cowl and smile at her strangely pleasant voice before nodding. "Alright, there's honey-ale, berry-ale and regular ale. What'll you have?
"A berry-ale and some local news." I say quietly while passing one of the hundred and ten sovereigns I found still in my pack into her palm.
I almost forgot about Erianne and Owen after all this time. I barely care about it anymore. If my memory wasn't so great I'd have already be oblivious to what Erianne might have done after all this time. The wilds will do that to you.
She gasps at the gold and grins happily as she takes it, "Oh yes! Yes sir I will be right back with your order!" She dashes away into the kitchen and before I even have time to sit back and fold my hands in my lap she's running back and dropping a full mug in front of me.
"Thank you sweetie. Tis always interesting meeting another of my kind amongst the Humans." She looks at me strangely and I lower my hood for a moment to show off my ears before pulling it up over my shaved head.
I've found it's easier to move around without hair, and I have to watch that ascent I picked up. 'tis' is not used regularly in common Ferelden.
She smiles and sits down across from me, careful not to catch her expensive-looking dress on the table or chair. "Oh, you're Dalish? I never met a Dalish before. What are they like?" Her sharp blue eyes twinkle in the low light with curiosity I haven't seen in ages. I take a sip of my drink and smile at the familiar taste.
They kept the recipe.
"My clan were surprisingly diplomatic with the Humans that we came across. We weren't that prideful either, we had a great life and a good amount of lore still intact from the Dales so we kept ourselves occupied with daily activities and such." I take a swig of the ale to clear my parched throat from the easy lie.
Well, partial lie. I've been getting flashes here and there about a clan. What clan however still is yet to be known, but I did, or rather this body, used to live with a Dalish clan near the Kocari Wilds so I just assume the rest of my clan died so save breath.
She smiles and leans forward, showing off her ample bosom on purpose. I keep my eyes above her neck. "Oh? I'll have to meet them sometime. They sound interesting."
And as usual I've taken interest from a woman who knows how to seduce a person without them noticing. The simple 'I'm sexy and you're interesting' bit simply doesn't work on me. Twas a favorite of my sister's when walking through the village after all and she did nothing so openly risqué as show off her bits without proper motivation.
...
Ok that was creepy...
I nod to her and only let a small smirk catch my lips, "Yes, that would be quite interesting indeed. Now please secure your bosom properly, you are being quite obvious and I'm not interested at the moment."
She purses her lips and sits back while pulling her breasts back into her dress properly, "Alright, alright, the local news then?" I simply nod. She looks off into the distance and taps a slender finger against her bottom lip, "The king's army is rumored to be on the march towards the ruins of Ostagar and many people are wishing to join up around Lothering when they pass through."
Huh, so they're still a bit behind schedule. Normally they've already been there for two months, or maybe I'm just confusing it with something else.
She sighs while leaning back casually, "I personally think the whole thing is going to end up in a disaster."
I raise an eyebrow she can't see, "Oh? Do you wish to elaborate?"
She smirks and leans across the table to whisper, "It's rumored the King is the problem with the lack of an heir, not the queen, and wants to go down in the flame of glory before it comes out."
I stare at her for a moment in shock as she sits back.
There are rumors? Then Cailen is with the army, and already convinced that this would be the end? Or is this speculation? Cailen wasn't the brightest ember in the flames and if I remember, Anora was the one who ran the country while he was only a figure-head of a sort. Yeah this news isn't too much to worry about. Mostly speculation.
I nod, "Alright, thanks for the news sweet thing." I pass another gold to her and tilt my head up so she sees my wink.
Her eyes brighten and she nearly jumps over the table as she quickly kisses my cheek, causing me to blush slightly. "I have a room if you want to do something later." She whispers before stepping away to return my half-empty mug to the kitchen. I shake my head and sit back in satisfaction.
I've still got it, or it was the gold since I'm pretty pale and, well, Dalish. Or maybe she just sees that as attractive?
I shake my head clear and focus on the Hawkes again. Bethany looks drunk already and she's not even halfway done with her first mug. Hawke himself is holding her upright while pounding back his third mug and laughing at Carver as he spits out his ale at something Hawke said.
What a lively bunch. I wonder who's going with the King's army? Carver I know goes no-matter what, Bethany never goes because she's cautious and fears magic, and I think Hawke is a mage as well by his joke earlier.
I watch them for a bit longer, using my elven ears and training as a wolf to pin-point specific sounds and listen in on their conversation from across the room.
"The stars are twirling a-and I need to get another ale." Carver mumbles from his hunched position at the bar.
"Oh you- you- ow." Bethany pushes her ale back and holds onto Hawke's left arm for dear life as the room is probably spinning for her right now. "I-I need t-to- Maker can the room stop spinning?" I snicker as Carver loses his grip on the counter and falls backwards off his seat.
Hawke bursts out laughing, "Having a nap down there brother?"
Carver groans and fails to get back to his feet. "Oh, Maker. Why do people enjoy drinking?"
I stand up and decide to help out the group a bit. "Tis quite interesting," I say while looking down at drunk 18 year-old carver on the floor as I step over. "that two apostates and a bastard enter a bar and none of them know about the shadow at their backs as they besot themselves." Hawke turns abruptly to stare at me in shock and Bethany instantly sobers up to fidget nervously. Carver is still moaning at my feet. I reach down and grab him by the shoulders to pick him up, "There you go son, come on, time to sober up." I grab a flask of water from my pack and pour it over his head.
"Ah! Hey! What'd you do that for?!" Carver shouts as I set him up on his feet.
Hawke looks at his siblings before staring back at me, "What do you want?" He whispers angrily.
"A moment of your time." I turn around, not waiting for them to follow me as I step out of the tavern and up to the edge of the stream that runs through the center of Lothering. I crinkle my nose at the foul stench rising from the depths of the murky river.
That looks disgusting. I'm guessing they dumb their sewage into the stream? Oh that is nasty.
"Aright, we're listening. Who are you and how do you know what we are?" Hawke demands as his group steps up behind me. I turn and look over to see Bethany looking like she's about to pass out from the shock and Carver seems content to fondle the hilt of his bastard sword, a permanent scowl tainting his good looks.
I'm not into that type of thing, but I can tell he'll definitely be handsome when he stops hating the world.
I shift my stance to a casual one, "I am a whisper in the shadows, a raven in the sky, a plucker of strings and webs. Beyond that you do not need to know. Tis a mystery." They all stare at me like I'm insane, "And I heard you joking to your friends here about it when you entered the tavern. There's a table right next to the door by the way. You might want to check that next time."
Carver and Bethany frown at Hawke who cringes, "Ah, I see. Well, are you going to extort us or just tell the templars and run us out of town?" He asks worriedly, half-joking.
That would not end well at all. Period.
I shake my head and drop my hood to my shoulders. All their eyebrows shoot up in shock from what I assume is my ears. "I will not tell anyone since I am of the same accord." I open up a bit of my cloak and cast a burst of flames for them all to see before closing it.
Bethany and Hawke gasp and as expected, Carver growls. " Y-you're an apostate?" Bethany asks in shock and surprise.
I smile and nod at her, "Those of the blood must stand together in the mist yes?" She blinks in confusion.
Damn my insane mannerisms! Flemeth doesn't question origins, but instills them quite forcefully.
I shake my head, "Tis simply maddening." I mutter quietly before looking back to her, "We are kin by power, as such we must help each other or fall to the templars all the same." She worriedly agrees with a simple nod.
Hawke grins, "Well, now that that's taken care of, what shall we do with the witty elf?"
I scoff, "I'd suggest allowing him a place of rest before he flies away." They stare at me again. "It doesn't matter, yet. Now I simply require a place to hide from the templars and continue my research and study uninterrupted. I have the gold if you require compensation." Hawke scratches his beard in deep thought.
Come on, come on... take the bait...
"Alright, though I'll need to speak with mother to see if it's fine. I'm sure she will be fine with it."
YES! Phase one of saving the Hawkes complete!
I grin, "Thank you, now, my name is Darien." I hold out my hand and Hawke takes it and nearly crushes my metacarpals with his grip. I bite back a wince, "Yeah, strong grip."
He laughs, "You are one strange little elf you know that?" I simply nod to avoid squeaking from my crushed hand. "My name is Garrett, though for some strange reason everyone likes calling me Hawke. I'm not a bird!" I stifle a laugh.
Bethany steps forward next, "My name is Bethany, I'm Ha- Garrett's sister."
I take her hand and kiss the back of it politely, "A pleasure to meet you Bethany." She rips it away and stares at me in shock. "Oh, come now. Tis only polite to be gentle with a beautiful woman whose brother's are close enough to rip me apart limb from limb."
Hawke bursts out laughing, "Oh he's a funny elf! It's so rare to find a decent jester in this day and age." He jokes, kind of, his eyes spell murder, but his lips whisper sarcasm.
"They die quite young." Carver adds bluntly. I resist the urge to stick my tongue out at him.
"So serious this one... Tis not surprising that one such as yourself has survived as long as you have." I compliment. Carver huffs and crosses his arms while glaring at me.
Damn, he's like the embodiment of a tit. Aveline hit it on the head smashed that nail into dust.
"Now lets not waste anymore time." I look up at the darkening sky. "Tis late and not safe along the main paths in the dark. Wolves and bears tend to wander aimlessly looking for little elves to snack upon." I say worriedly.
Haw- Garrett bursts into laughter before slapping me on the back as we start over the bridge. "Oh I think I'll enjoy pestering this little guy." I frown at him as I walk further ahead, one hand on my staff and the other on my dagger.
I wasn't kidding, Morrigan once said that wild beasts simply seem to wander to me like I'm their favorite treat. She joked that it was why the Dalish never went this far south, or at least I HOPE she was joking.
I was right to be cautious. "Don't hold back!" I flash into a raven and fly out of reach just as the black bear smashes the rock I was cornered up against. "Bethany fireball! Carver hold the right flank! Darien- Where's Darien?!" I flash out of my raven form and skid to a stop right beside Hawk- Garrett.
Damn it that is going to be hard to get right.
"Darien? You- sod it! Cover the left flank! They're coming!" I nod to him as he readies a spell and Bethany throws a fireball at the two wolves behind us.
I drop my cloak to the ground around me and flash a wall of ice three feet high around our left flank where the black bear from before tried to eat me. It roars and claws at the ice wall angrily. I build a second layer up and it holds, "Left cover-!" Another explosion of fire from Bethany tears the two whimpering wounded wolves behind us apart. I turn to nod to her and see Hawke glowing green.
What the hell?
Carver glows slightly as well a few feet away as well and stops his screams of pain.
Hawke's a healer?!
I stare at him for a moment before focusing and tossing a triplicate of frost wisps over my wall of ice and into the black bear. It growls as it's massive muscles start to frost over. "Tis a beautiful night!" I shout as the wall turns into water at my touch and I flash a fire blast into the bear, incinerating it's thick fur out-right.
"What?" Bethany shouts from behind me.
I snap my staff around and send a wave of ice shards into the bear, pinning it into the ridge behind it and allowing me to snap a fireball into it's head, cracking the skull with massive elemental force while searing the flesh off it's face. A quick death for a noble beast. "You know, romantic and all that sappiness. Too bad the wildlife disagrees!" I cover her as her mind refocuses on her one spell, I don't need to turn around to know she's blushing.
"Less flirting more killing!" Garrett shouts as two wolves rush him.
I flash into my wolf-form and use my superior size to tackle both gray wolves to the side and into Carver's range. I jump over his swing and run around him as he beheads the two wolves with his bastard sword. I call my Alpha Howl at the other three down the road and they turn and run for their lives as I reform into an elf and stand defensively at the head of the group. "Emma Hahren! Ma'vir!" (I am elder! My place!) I cringe.
I'm seriously in need of a refresher coarse in Elven. That was terrible.
The wolves leave out of sight and I lower my staff and nod in satisfaction.
"What was that?" Garrett asks in surprise.
I pick up and brush the dust off my cloak, "What was what?"
"You turned into a wolf AND a raven!" I look up at him and all three of them look pretty freaked out.
Huh, Morrigan did say shapeshifting was rare.
"That was shapeshifting, a rare form of ancient and forgotten magic I have learned throughout my travels. Tis useful in a fight no?" I smirk and light a flame in my palm to see them staring at me uneasily. "What? Tis not a matter of good or evil, tis useful!" They just stare. I scoff, "Uneducated novices!" I huff and throw my cloak back on.
Hawke shakes his head and smiles, "Whatever, now lets get back home before the templars find these corpses." I nod and we all turn to jog quickly away from Lothering as the approaching templars I can sense with my passive magical abilities start running.
Ironically the farm we stop at is the one I stumbled onto two years ago. Garrett knocks at the front door while Carver and especially Bethany watch as a troop of torchlights flicker around in the distance behind us. "We must hurry Garrett, the templar's are coming." I whisper as he knocks on the door again.
"I forgot my key, sorry but unless you want to-"
I kick the door open, bending open the lock and shaking a few books off of a shelf on the right to hit the floor in three loud bangs. I step inside and see a dinner table with five chairs and a bookshelf next to a fireplace on the right wall. A table just past the table against the far wall with alchemical equipment set up and bubbling, a window just above it. I nod, "Nice place." I turn around and see none of them have moved from the doorway. "What?"
"You just broke down our front door with your foot." Carver says in astonishment.
I frown, "Yes, tis not difficult once one knows how to do it without permanently breaking the lock." I raise a finger into the air. "One must not kick without proper instruction or risk breaking their foot." They blink at me in surprise before stepping inside and closing the door. I take a dagger from my cloak and jab it between the bent iron bar and the door and force it to bend back into shape before throwing it down to properly lock the door. "There, just like new."
"What in the Maker was that noise?" We turn around and I quickly sheath my dagger in my cloak. One Leandra Hawke stands in the doorway from the bedrooms to stare at the cloaked stranger in her dinning room in surprise. "Who are you?" She looks over at her children who's appearance is worn down from battle. "Garrett what happened? Who is this? What's going on? Did he break down the door?"
Garrett steps forward, "We were in a fight with some wildlife, this is Darien, the templars noticed our use of magic, and yes, he broke open the lock-"
"I bent open the lock, tis much more useful and less expensive if you avoid breaking the lock." He glares at me but I ignore it as I lower my cowl and hold out my hand, "A pleasure to meet you elder Hawke. I am Darien, an Elven Apostate who stumbled upon your children as they besotted themselves in the local tavern." She takes my hand and shakes it wearily while scowling at her children, most likely from the 'besotted in a tavern' part.
"Hello Darien, I must say I have not met an elven apostate before, nor any apostate other than my husband and children. I would welcome you to my home if I knew your intentions." She states evenly.
I nod and let go of her hand. "I simply wish to stay here, paying rent or no, to avoid any suspicion from the local Chantry as I am quite powerful in the ways of magic and do not wish to harm any miss-guided templar that might cross my path." I pull my cloak up and expertly pull it into it's original design. My staff resting in it's holster on my back with my nearly empty pack that was hidden under my cloak.
She looks me over with a raised eyebrow, a bald, barely covered, mysterious elven apostate with two daggers holstered across his bare chest. She blinks before smiling wearily, "I would request you wear more clothing while you're here, but beyond that as long as you do not endanger my family I am fine with you staying with-"
*BANG BANG BANG*
We all jump as the door shakes on it's hinges.
Oh great.
"By Chantry decree, open this door!" I hold up a hand to the Hawke family as they prepare for battle and quietly shoo them into the bedrooms.
Blighted templars... just perfect.
"I'll take care of this." I whisper to them.
*BANG BANG BANG*
I grab a plain shirt and pants from the hamper near the door and throw them on while tossing my cloak at Bethany who catches it in surprise as I redress. "Whatever happens, do NOT come out understand?" Garrett goes to protest and Leandra's scowl shuts him up as I close the door leading out of the other bedrooms probably.
I hope this works.
*BANG BANG BANG*
"Open up by the-"
I swing the door open to stare at the three templars blankly, "Yes Sir Templar?"
The surprised Knights look down at me, "We are looking for the master of the house." The large leader of the group asks with a slight bit of malice.
I shake my head, "They are asleep, and do not wish to be disturbed." I play the servant and stay adamant.
The templar without a helmet leading the three of them blinks, "Oh? Then would you wake them? I must ask them some questions."
I shake my head, "Lady Hawke requested not to be disturbed." I argue easily.
The templar behind the leader's right shoulder speaks up, "Hawke? The farmers that work with healing potions on the side?"
I nod at him, "Yes, I am their servant, Sulin, and very weary of speaking to templars when I'm supposed to be collecting alchemical ingredients." I look at them wearingly, like I was breaking a rule by talking to them.
They stare at me for a moment, I don't falter under the foolish gaze of the weak-willed Knights. "Alright, well, have you seen anyone running around? Anyone perhaps in dark cloaks?"
I internally scream that someone saw me, but keep myself composed, "No, I was just about to head out though, If I see anyone in dark cloaks I'll be sure to report it."
They all look at each other before shrugging, "That is acceptable, and pass this information to Lady Hawke as well would you?" I nod and close the door quietly behind them as they turn away. I bar the door and look out the window to see them heading back to Lothering and smirk.
Flemeth taught me well. Foolish templars. I have to burn my cloak, that sucks.
The side door opens up. "How did you do that?" Bethany asks incredulously from the doorway, still holding my cloak.
I smile and take the shirt and pants off before grabbing my cloak from her as she blushes, "I was taught quite well by a powerful apostate who's evaded capture her whole life." She stares at me in astonishment. I wrap the black velvet around me and form my original robes, "Tis not as easy as bending a lock, though I might teach it to you if you are willing." She looks me in the eye and nods with obvious interest.
Leandra steps out as well and smiles at me, "You know how to handle yourself. Welcome to our home Darien." Garret and Carver appear behind her with similar looks of surprise that I fooled the templars with such ease.
"It's good to hear you say that Lady Hawke." I bow as a servant would to a noble.
She laughs, "Oh no, just call me Leandra, I don't need everyone thinking you're my servant. I disliked the idea of being above anyone else even as a little girl." She jokes seriously.
I smile at her forthrightness, "As you wish Leandra."
This is going to go quite smoothly I think. Tis going exactly as planned... to some degree.
A/N And welcome to the family indeed! So interesting so far is it not? ;)
One question for this one: What do you guys/gals think about the story so far? As always I'm curious. :) And if you have any further questions you can either leave it a review or Private Message me and I'll get back to you ASAP.
