DAO: Remember Me
Thank you to everyone who subscribed and commented. I also thank all of you for taking an interest in my version of the story. All critiques are welcome.
CH. 4 Mage
"Violet," Alistair called out to her. Violet looked around. Everywhere she looked was a blurry dark grey. "Violet," he called again.
"Alistair!" she replied. She took a couple steps forward, searching for him. Why can't I think straight? she wondered. Something was wrong.
Taking another step forward she kicked a hard surface. She stretched her hands out to find an invisible wall. "What?" she muttered in confusion. Stretching her arms out again, she noticed the walls had closed around her. She was trapped at all four sides. "Alistair!" she called again. "Help, I can't get out!"
Just then, a beam of light pierced through the darkness above her head. She quickly looked up to find a little boy with golden hair looking down at her.
"There you are!" he sounded exasperated. "You're a really good hider. If you hadn't answered me I wouldn't have found you."
She started to tear, overwhelmed with relief. "I don't want to play hide and seek anymore…" she cried. Violet didn't know why she was saying that. It had been years since she played that game.
"Okay, Violet," he sighed. He looked just as relieved to have found her.
He reached down to her. She stood up, just noticing she was on her knees. She decided, then, that she would always stay by Alistair's side. She stretched her hand toward the light; toward him.
Her eyes fluttered open and noticed a young man with wavy black hair leaning over her.
"Are you all right? Say something, please," he said. She wondered if it was because she was crying. She wiped her face, but it was dry.
She looked up at the man. "Jowan?" she said, finally recognizing who he and where she was. Does that mean… it was a dream? she thought to herself. Her shoulders slumped in disappointment and embarrassment. How long had it been since she saw Alistair? Ten years, she answered silently. She shouldn't still be having dreams of him. It was so long ago, but she couldn't forget him. He most certainly would have by now.
"I'm glad you're all right. They carried you in this morning," Jowan continued as she stood from her bunk. "I didn't even realize you had been gone all night."
I've been gone all night? she wondered, still thinking to herself.
"I've heard of apprentices who never come back from Harrowings," he said. "Is it really that dangerous? What was it like?" he asked eagerly.
That's right, she thought. I just finished the Harrowing… She looked at him, finally remembering the trials in the Fade and her various encounters.
"It was… harrowing," she laughed. I see why they call it that now, she thought.
"Is that why they don't tell us what it's about?" Jowan asked in awe.
He babbled on, inquiring about the Harrowing and egging her to tell. She was tempted to gossip with her friend, but held it in. They developed their own mischievous childhood at the Circle Tower playing pranks on Templars and such, but Jowan always trailed behind instead of leading. She smiled, remembering Alistair was just the opposite, coming up with new ways to harass those in the Chantry. She wondered if he became a Templar as well, but frowned when she realized they could be rivals.
Jowan thought her frown was due to his persistence. "I shouldn't waste your time with this," he sighed. "I was supposed to tell you to see Irving as soon as you woke up."
"What for?" she asked in dismay. Wasn't she done with the Harrowing?
"He didn't tell me. About the Harrowing, I'd guess, but you never know with Irving."
She nodded, imagining all the secrets and mystery he held. She could never quite figure the old mage out.
Upon entering Irving's quarters, she noticed Irving and the old Templar, Knight-Commander Greagior, having another one of their squabbles. The issue at-hand would always be different, but their positions never changed.
She stayed silent, waiting patiently for their little dispute to end. Eaves dropping on the two men used to be a frequent game with Jowan and her, but the banters grew repetitive and so ceased to hold their interest.
"Gentlemen, please. Irving, someone is here to see you," said an unfamiliar face. He was tall and dark, with brown hair pulled into a small ponytail. He had an air of confidence about him. She wondered if it was because of his thick beard, armor, and weapons.
"You sent for me?" she asked Irving, eyeing the stranger's get-up curiously.
"Ah, if it isn't our new sister in the Circle." He smiled. "Come child."
"This is…?" the dark man started to ask.
"Aye, this is she," Irving finished.
She looked at them suspiciously. It may be hard to figure out what Irving is thinking, but she could always tell when he thought of something secretly amusing.
Greagior left the room and Irving commenced with introductions. She found out his name was Duncan, a Grey Warden there to recruit new mages for the army. She flushed in excitement. The mages that were already helping the army were able to leave the tower. If she were lucky enough to be recruited… she started to picture the old chantry, the stable, the shed… Alistair. Could she find him there? The only problem was that she didn't remember which village it was.
She escorted Duncan to his room, bemusing herself with wishful thinking. Her fantasies were interrupted, though, when Jowan stopped her after leaving Duncan's room.
"I'm glad I caught up to you," he said, all seriousness in his eyes. He was always an apprehensive child (mostly worrying about getting caught during their childhood adventures), but this time she knew he was deeply troubled. "I need to talk to you."
She followed him down the hallway to a more secluded area. All the while, she hoped her friend was all right.