Chapter 3: False Chanters are Dangerous to Their Health
As they ascended the mountain staircase to the Chantry in Haven, The Doctor had an uneasy feeling as they got closer; the feeling that something familiar was at work…something that was pretending to be something else in his past.
'It's not the Slitheen; they take overweight people to hide their appearance. It isn't the Cybermen, they'd have had advanced tech welded to these people's ears by now…Definitely not the Daleks, they just kill people and move on. The Master's stuck with Rassilon and the Time Lords…don't know whether I'd be overjoyed or sorry about that one. Sontaran's…no. They'd be interested in a planet like this but I don't think they have the means, motive, or ideas for this whole thing in the first place.' The Doctor thought, trying to piece together who would do something like using Darkspawn taint as a cover for something else.
The Doctor wasn't the only one who was trying to piece together the mystery; Amy was trying to piece together her own puzzle from a different angle.
'Okay, The Doctor's worried about something…and when The Doctor is worried, then everyone should worry. But what's he worried about. Tamara? No, she's almost like a rock. Leliana? No…bit of a nutter, but not that bad. Wynne? No, she's almost like a grandmother…but with enough spells in her head to make sure no one messes with her. That only leaves Morrigan. But the only thing wrong about Morrigan is that she's just a bit on this shy on modesty…and that side of annoying with her 'Twas' and her 'Tis'. Amy though, trying to piece the whole puzzle.
But The Doctor and Amy weren't the only ones to be thinking about their current situation. Tamara was also trying to piece together what was going on about the village in general and The Doctor in particular.
'Not even five minutes and The Doctor has integrated himself into our little group…but there's something else that I don't trust about him. He knows something about what's going on…like why every warning sense in my body is telling me this entire village is full of darkspawn when I can clearly see that they are normal people…if a little secretive. Also, why is it that something in me is also telling me not to trust The Doctor even though he's been almost better then Alistair on a good day. Maybe if I slow a little I can get the thoughts of the others.' Tamara thought as she slowed down to talk to the other three.
'So, any thoughts on what's going on?' Tamara asked in a whisper.
Morrigan was the first to voice her opinions, 'Well, I don't know if this is relevant but I keep getting a sense of danger from the village…almost like something is watching us through the eyes of the people there.'
Tamara nodded before she looked at Wynne.
'Well, does anyone find it odd that everyone here in the village is a little jumpy at our arrival and a little excited at The Doctor's?' Wynne asked.
'I'd say almost as giddy as schoolboys at the fact of The Doctor's arrival with us.' Leliana added.
'Speaking of The Doctor…any thoughts?' Tamara asked.
Morrigan bit her lip and looked off to the side.
'Morrigan,' Tamara said, wanting to know the reason.
Morrigan steeled herself before saying, 'I think he is a person to keep an eye on. I sense great power from him. Almost as great…nay, greater, then The First Enchanter. Also…does anyone also see him…change?'
Wynne let out a small gasp in surprise.
'Wynne,' Tamara asked.
'Well, I don't want to seem out of place…but every so often, I look at The Doctor and I see someone else in his place. More recently someone in a long brown overcoat and a strange suit with lines down the entire outfit…and strange shoes.' Wynne said, describing what she saw.
Tamara shook her head and thought, 'Great…what else can happen.'
Their arrival at the Chantry was, for lack of a better word, interrupting for the townsfolk inside the building. Father Eirik looked at the group of six with curiosity, worry, and excitement. But it wasn't because of the fact that trespassers were interfering with the sacrifice of Brother Genitivi to Andraste…but it was the fact that The Doctor was in that little band.
Oh, he knew about their arrival from the gate guards from earlier. And he also knew about the green glow that was infusing the village. Hell, he was there when Kolgrim had made a pact with the man who brought the glow. The thing that he did with the people of the villagers was borderline blood magic…but then again he'd seen worse in the course of his duties as the head of the Chantry in Haven. It was time to do as the man in green had instructed, and removed The Doctor from Haven.
The Doctor and party entered the Haven Chantry and noticed the 'Revered Father' in the middle of services. The only difference was that the people with him in the services were villagers who set his finely tuned danger sense off at an alarming rate; The Father more than the villagers.
After dismissing his flock, The Father had turned his attention over to The Doctor and company.
"Well, this is certainly something of a rare treat. A fallen Teyrn's daughter, a dark witch who could be greater then she is, a possessed corpse of a woman…and a mage at that, an insane former Sister who used to be a bard, and two people from a different era in our history." Eirik said to the group.
The Doctor looked at Eirik and said, "Well, you know us…but the question is, who are you?"
Eirik smirked and said, "Revered Father Eirik of the Haven Chantry."
"Don't give me that…really, who are you? Are you from Raxicoricofalipatorius? Clom? Do you answer to Cybercontrol? Davros? The Daleks? Really, who are you?" The Doctor had persisted in his questioning.
Father Eirik's smirk had gotten wider as he said, "I really don't know what you're talking about, Doctor."
Now The Doctor smirked as he said, "Ah, but how do you know my name if we didn't get the chance to introduce ourselves."
Father Eirik had went from smirk to scowl as he said, "The gate guards told me…and what a poor job of concealment, too. 'Bann Doctar and Almy Phonde of Val Royeaux', really."
But The Doctor was in full reveal mode. He turned right from the group and stood next to a walled up doorway.
"Really…but answer me this: What's behind this door here?" The Doctor asked the now sweating Father Eirik.
"NOTHING…ahem, nothing…nothing that you six should worry over. Now just step away from that door, Doctor and we'll finish this conversation peacefully." Eirik said with something darker in his voice.
The Doctor's smirk grew a tiny bit as he said, "Well, if it's nothing then I shouldn't be able to do…THIS!"
The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and pointed it at the walled up doorway. Pressing a single button, the device had screamed in its own way. Suddenly, a door popped open and inside a mini-Library was a balding middle-aged man with a broken leg strapped to some kind of chair. On the back of the chair was a device that was attached to the man's head. With the brickwork pulled away everyone heard him screaming, like he was being tortured.
"What the…?" Tamara stood agape.
"Maker…" Leliana stood beside Tamara in disgust.
"What…?" Wynne simply asked.
Morrigan was shocked beyond words. For the first time in her life she didn't know what to say.
'Even Flemeth wasn't as cruel as this person inflicting this torture on this person.' Morrigan thought.
"Now, where are you from Father Eirik?" The Doctor asked.
The Father looked around and saw the disgust building in everyone's faces. The person closest to him was the fair Almy or whatever her name was. In a move of desperation he moved fast and snagged Amy by the neck and had one hand armed with a dagger and the other over Amy's mouth to keep her quiet.
The group responded with Tamara drawing her sword and shield, Wynne drawing her staff, Morrigan drawing her staff, and Leliana drawing her bow.
"Now, now…we don't want anything hasty done to this human…now do we?" Father Eirik asked as he was walking to the back of the room to a tapestry.
The Doctor looked at Amy, then toward the back of the room at the tapestry. The Doctor had walked carefully over to Leliana.
'Whatever you do, don't shoot.' The Doctor whispered to the archer.
'Why, I have a clear shot at his head?" Leliana whispered back.
'Because we need him alive to answer some questions…questions that won't be answered if he dies.' The Doctor whispered.
"STOP WHISPERING! Now, the girl and I are going to walk out of here without anyone following us. If I see so much as a hair of any of you following, she dies." Father Eirik demanded, the darkness in his voice returning.
"Sorry, but there is something that I want to know before you go," The Doctor said as he went over to the drinks cabinet near the tapestry.
"Really…and what's that?" Father Eirik asked.
The Doctor took a bottle of liquor out of the cabinet and held it next to the sonic screwdriver.
"Can you survive something that has been tripled in flammability?" The Doctor asked as he stood between the tapestry and Father Eirik.
The group was now at a loss to see what would happen, The Doctor stood between the Abomination that was Father Eirik and its freedom from the chapel; his only weapon was a bottle of liquor that had been increased in flammability three-fold. The only question would be if he were to call the creature out on such a destructive weapon.
"Well Doctor…state your terms." Father Eirik said in defeat.
"Amy goes free and you tell us who you are." The Doctor said with certainty.
"The girl goes free…as to my identity…well…ascend the mountain, there you will find your answers…and maybe something more, Warden Cousland." Father Eirik said before letting Amy go.
After he did, The Father had dropped to his knees. Shortly afterward, the creature died.
"I'm surprised that worked," The Doctor said.
Amy marched up to The Doctor and shouted, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'I'M SURPRISED THAT WORKED'!"
"Tried that trick once; didn't work out like I'd hoped." The Doctor admitted sheepishly.
What the group didn't expect was the hearty laughter of one Warden Tamara Cousland.
After a few seconds of laughter that turns to chuckling, Tamara said, "Oh, come on. Tell me someone didn't find that funny!"
And that's chapter 3. Hope you like it.
Disclaimers were in earlier chapters.