Wow, it's been a while since my last update. My appologies. Anyway, thank you so much to Sharem, Kirabaros, Kyu-chan, and Brelaina for your reviews. Thank you Akane Nagamiya and ShimmeringDjinn for favoriting the story. Thanks to Akane Nagamiya and Dieddarker for adding the story to your alerts and Locathah for adding me to your author alerts. As always, thank you Brelaina for being my awsome beta reader! :)
As for the special request, perhaps I can find a way to incorporate it into the story. Until then, hope you enjoy. ^_^ (I personally think this chapter could have been better, but I have some tricks up my sleeve for later chapters, so, hold on to your seats. ;D)
Ch. 16 Cold
Several days passed as they ventured west on their quest for the Urn of Sacred Ashes. Brother Genetivi's notes indicated that their next destination was a small town in the mountains called 'Haven.'
Violet sat on a log near the fire with Alistair keeping her company. Zevran initially asked to watch the camp with her, but Alistair was quick to retaliate and volunteered his company in his stead. For one, he still didn't trust the assassin with monitoring the camp as they slept. Two, he was still unsure about his motives toward Violet.
A cool breeze nipped at the back of Violet's neck. Alistair chuckled inwardly as he watched her face scrunch up when she shivered. So many things about her were different from ten years ago, but now and then he caught small habits resurface.
"You still make that face…" he commented amusingly.
Violet looked up at him while rubbing her shoulders for warmth. "What?"
"You still wrinkle your nose when you shiver," he said, smiling.
She frowned. "Is that bad?" she asked with slight concern.
He smiled broadly and said, "Yes, your cuteness will drive me so insane that despite my years of Templar training, I'll lose all self-control and start kissing you so hard we won't even notice the Arch Demon approach the camp."
Violet smirked. "If that's the case, then who's to say I'm not seducing you with a charm spell?"
He shrugged. "Maybe you are, but I could dispel it at any moment and quite frankly, I like it."
She waived a finger. "Careful Templar, lest you give in to a desire demon."
"You are no demon," he said charmingly and started to lean in.
"Abomination, then," she smirked as she eyed his lips.
He shook his head. "Nope."
"What am I then?"
"Beautiful," he breathed and kissed her softly.
Violet felt Alistair start to deepen the kiss, but she pulled back and leaned away. She rested her weight on one of her arms and sighed. "Looks like you really don't have self-control. If I don't stop you now we will get distracted," she teased.
"Ah, but you'd be to blame, my dear. This is your watch-guard shift after all and I was seduced," he teased, drawing out the last word.
"Then perhaps it would be safer for you to leave," she said coyly.
"Hmm… flee the seduction of a beautiful maiden and possibly miss a battle with darkspawn? I think I'll stay," he mused.
"As you wish, your Majesty," she said with a slight bow.
This made Alistair perturbed. Lately, Violet used the "King" fact against him to win their playful banters. He could never seem to find an appropriate counter – which amused Violet greatly.
"That's not fair," he groaned. He pouted and crossed his arms.
"All is fair in love and war," she replied proudly, satisfied with her win. "Anyway, what do you mean, 'still'? You noticed me doing that with my nose back then?"
Alistair looked to the ground, nostalgic. "It's a habit of yours. I thought it was funny because you really did remind me of a rabbit. So, I was always on the lookout for it on cold days."
"…You don't have some weird animal fetish, do you?" Violet teased.
He looked up in alarm. "What! No!" His face flushed. "…Do you?" he couldn't help asking.
"No!" she quickly denied.
There was a moment of awkward tension, but it ended with stifled laughs.
"Hold on," Alistair said as he stood up from the log they were sharing and made his way to his tent. He returned to the fireside moments later with his blanket and draped it over Violet's shoulders as he sat back down. "Better?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yes, much better. Thank you."
"Of course my love," he smiled warmly.
My love… There was a sweet and exciting atmosphere whenever he said that. They could both feel it. It was new and still felt somewhat forbidden. They couldn't help but still think their union was rebellious, but they also didn't care anymore. They weren't going to think of 'what ifs' and focus on their next missions and what was happening at present. The couple realized there was nothing they could do to prevent or prepare themselves for the Landsmeet. It was just a matter of waiting.
Right then, however, they were both content with watching the camp and holding each other for warmth.
A few more hours passed and Leliana came to take over. Violet's mabari, Chocolate, woke at her approach and quickly became alert. He wagged his tail excitedly as if asking to be Leliana's watch partner. Neither of the ladies minded so Leliana took her place on the log with Chocolate laying at her feet.
Alistair kissed Violet on the forehead and they bid each other goodnight. Violet went into her tent quickly. A few minutes later she peeked out of her tent flap. Alistair's tent was dark and she could hear faint snores coming from within. She quietly crept out and made her way to Zevran's tent.
Leliana looked her way in curiosity. Violet noticed her gaze and simply mouthed out the word, "Later," before turning back toward the tent and whispered Zevran's name.
There were rustles and eventually a sleepy yet excited elf opened the flap.
"Ah Warden, I knew you couldn't resist me," he whispered in his most alluring tone, but was caught off-guard when she quickly hushed him and silently urged for him to get back inside.
"Ohh, an eager little minx, aren't you? Well, I shall not keep you waiting any longer," he said with a charming smile and crawled back inside; Violet followed.
That morning, Alistair was the first to notice Zevran's tent and all his possessions were gone.
"Where's Zevran?" he asked Violet, who looked a little solemn as they packed up all their gear.
She put on her pack before responding with a sigh and a shrug.
Alistair frowned. "You don't know?"
"I'm not forcing him to stay here. He can go and come as he pleases. Maybe he felt like he needed to separate from us for a little while. Whatever the case, I'm sure he'll be back," she said and started checking to make sure she wasn't forgetting anything.
He mulled over what she said for a moment and then looked at Leliana. He remembered she had the shift after them and walked over to her to ask if she saw him leave.
"In fact, I did. He was very quiet too. Very stealthy," she answered without looking up. She continued to roll her sleeping sack.
"Did you ask him where he was off to?" he delved.
"I did, but you know how he is. He teased that I was worrying about him and that I should give him a farewell kiss." Alistair found it a little odd that she smirked instead of scoffed as she usually did when commenting on Zevran's pursuits, but figured it was because she had finally warmed up to him (given their recent matchmaking teamwork.)
"I take it you refused?" he asked. Admittedly, their exchanges did amuse him from time to time.
"Of course," she said, and finally looked up at him with a smile before returning to her work.
"I suppose we'll be off without him for the time-being then…" he announced to no one in particular. He didn't know whether to be relieved that the assassin (and possible romance rival) was finally gone or feel concerned for an unexpected friend.
Haven was blanketed in snow. The clouds were a dark grey and hung low casting an ominous aura. Even Morrigan seemed uneasy and eyed the locals suspiciously. The townsfolk glared silently as Violet and her companions passed. Those who did respond to her various inquiries only encouraged their quick departure.
Violet tried to talk to a little boy thinking that a child's innocence and honesty would be more helpful than the adult's responses. Unfortunately his answers were too ambiguous and just when she thought he was about to tell her some valuable information she found herself horrifically mistaken.
"Wha- Is that a finger bone!" she yelped as she jerked herself away from the boy.
He smiled and looked down at the bone in his hand that was wrapped safely within a handkerchief. "It's my good luck charm," he said proudly and caressed it, admiring its newly polished sheen.
Violet leaned against Alistair to boost her sense of security. Even Leliana grabbed his arm. Morrigan was obviously disturbed, but managed to stand her ground with her arms crossed. The group remained silent as they watched the boy run merrily away.
"Maker's breath," Leliana sighed.
"You know…" Violet started to say as she recomposed herself. "If the urn is really here… maybe that was Andraste's." She was partially trying to make light of the situation, but if the ashes were magical, perhaps the bone was indeed lucky.
Alistair was caught completely off-guard by her comment and laughed so loud that the group received more icy glares from the locals. Leliana didn't seem to like the idea of Andraste's remains being handled so carelessly, though, and only frowned. Morrigan, however, was rather amused; perhaps thinking the boy was smart for taking advantage of the artifact.
"Oh, that reminds me, we should go to the shop the guard mentioned. All this junk we collected lately is killing my back," Violet said, readjusting the satchel strap on her shoulder.
"Killing you? Sten and I are the ones carrying most of it," Alistair remarked.
"All the more reason then," she replied and patted his shoulder.
As soon as the group entered the store a powerful odor burned their noses. It was poorly lit and smelled of rotting flesh. Violet coughed to stifle herself from pinching her nose. She didn't want to seem rude despite the intensity of the smell.
"What in Andraste's name is that smell?" Alistair muttered while looking around the tiny room. "No offense, but it smells like the Circle."
"Hey, the Circle was musky, but it only smelled this bad when you were there because there were corpses-" Violet immediately cut herself off. The group looked at each other in suspicion. Violet looked across the room to find a man wiping a sword behind a counter.
"I'd like to trade," she said and started unloading items from her pack.
"The smell is stronger further in," Leliana whispered to her and eyed the entrance to the back room.
Violet finished her trading and started moseying toward the room. "I think I'd like to look around a little more," she said to the shopkeeper.
"Wha- Wait! What are you doing?" he said in a panic and rushed toward her to block her path. "That's private!"
Violet faced him and started channeling her energy. "What are you hiding?" she asked sternly.
"I don't see how that's your concern," he replied.
Her suspicions peaked. "I'm making it my concern," she said seriously, then commenced walking forward.
"N-no! You have no right!" he yelled and lunged at her, but Violet quickly lifted her palm and froze the man in place. "Watch him," she ordered and nodded at Leliana for her to follow.
The room was small and the odor was overbearing. The girls finally covered their noses as they rounded the corner.
"There," Leliana said and knelt beside a heap on the floor. She slowly pulled back a sheet and found the stiff and pale face of an armored man. "A knight from Redcliffe," she said angrily after examining his body.
Suddenly, there was a yell from the other room, but a pained grunt quickly followed along with a loud thud. They hurried back over to Alistair and Morrigan to find the shopkeeper lying unconscious at Alistair's feet.
"So what did you find?" said Alistair as he turned toward Violet and lowered his fist.
"It's the body of a Redcliffe knight," said Violet tersely. "If the ashes really are here, it's starting to seem less and less like the appropriate place."
"If this is how they deal with those seeking the urn, the Brother may be dead as well," Morrigan added.
Violet turned and hurried toward the exit and said, "Let's go."
As soon as they opened the door a mob of locals started attacking. Swordsmen closed the gap while the mages and archers took aim about 100 meters away. Violet sent a wave of telekinetic energy around her to stun the enemies in place. Alistair immediately focused on dispelling the mages' magic before rushing to attack the immobile party. Leliana and Morrigan concentrated their efforts on those in the distance. The fallen were consistently reinforced by new approaching locals, but eventually, they were able to rest just outside the chantry. As they caught their breath they could hear chanting from within the building.
"It sounds like the rest of the village is inside," Alistair observed.
Violet nodded and positioned her staff to prepare for another attack.
Leliana noticed Violet's defensive stance as she reached to open the door. "Wait, they could just be praying. We should at least try to talk to the Revered Father before slaughtering innocents?" she said abruptly.
"And risk a perfectly good ambush? We should just burst through while we have the advantage of surprise," Morrigan rebuked.
Violet frowned and looked at Alistair who merely frowned back. She sighed. "Stay on the defense. We will try to talk to the father, but be prepared to attack. Morrigan and Leliana, stay to the back of the room. Stun them if they try to make a move."
Morrigan was reluctant, but nodded with the rest of the group in understanding.
They walked in cautiously and surveyed the area. The townsfolk were standing in the center of the room while a couple guards stood to the side against the walls. The Father (Eirik is what the village entrance's guard called him) stopped his sermon immediately upon their arrival.
"Ah… welcome," he said crossly. "I heard we had a visitor wandering about the village. I trust you've enjoyed your time in Haven so far?"
Violet snarled. "You killed the knights of Redcliffe. I saw the bodies."
"This, my brothers, is what happens when you let an outsider into the village," he said, glancing at the armed men. "They have no respect for our privacy. She will tell others of us if we let her. Word will spread, and then what? You, stranger, do not understand our ways," he said, looking back at Violet with a scowl. "You would bring war to Haven, in your ignorance."
"I did not wish to fight, but you're right. I don't understand why you've done this. How can devout followers of Andraste encourage slaughtering innocents," Violet asked, readying her staff.
"We don't owe you any explanation for our actions," he said calmly. "We have a sacred duty; failure to protect Her would be a greater sin." He slowly started reaching for his staff. His eyes were trained on Violet. The guards started moving their hands toward the hilt of their blades. "All will be forgiven," he said and abruptly rose his staff in the air.
"Watch out!" Alistair yelled and pushed Violet out of the way of a winter's grasp spell. Violet fell hard on the floor.
Alistair stood frozen in place. Violet growled as she quickly got back to her feet. By the time she regained her stance the soldiers that had closed in around her were frozen as well. The villagers screamed and started running out of the chantry. Morrigan followed up her ice spell to concentrate on the soldiers around her. She lifted her arms and within moments cast a cloud of dark red entropic energy around the enemies. When the soldiers came to, they grimaced and held their heads, wailing in agony over hallucinations; their eyes were glossed over and slowly rolling to the back of their heads. Leliana accompanied Morrigan by selecting her targets, taking them down one at a time.
Violet focused her attacks on Father Eirik. While Alistair was still frozen, she sent a powerful cone of icy wind and froze the Father in place then quickly followed with a surge of electric bolts. Alistair broke from the encased ice moments later and noticed where Violet was focusing her attacks. Immediately, he cried out to gain strength and heavily slashed at Father Eirik. Some ice chipped away and blood started seeping from the cut.
The battle raged on and the soldiers around them slowly dwindled. When Morrigan's stun spells dissipated, Violet let out a wave of her own. Alistair gained enough strength to finally dispel Father Eirik of his magic. Now completely vulnerable, Alistair took advantage of that state and relentlessly slashed at the Father until he fell lifeless to the ground.
The chantry soon grew quiet with only the companion's panting echoing through the hall.
"Are you all right Violet?" Alistair asked as he sheathed his sword.
Violet laughed. "You were the one who got frozen, love."
He smiled, pulled her close, and kissed her forehead.
"Ahem…" Morrigan cleared her throat to gain the couple's attention (as well as Leliana's – who was looking on with a happy grin). "I hear movement behind this wall," she said while pressing her ear against the brick wall in the far right corner.
Leliana examined it, tracing her hand along the edges and knocking on it a few times. "It's a door," she said and started pulling it. Alistair came up next to her to help the process along. The entrance revealed a dark and drafty room. A low and pained moan sounded further in.
"…I hate the dark," Violet muttered and flicked her wrist to conjure a small fireball in her palm for light. She took a deep breath and stepped into the darkness.