The Cost of Pride
Megatoxic
**Disclaimer: I do not own any Bioware/DA characters. I am simply an avid fan with a day dream about her favorite RPG game.**
Chapter 2: Sure, This Must Be Real…
When I started to resurface from the darkness, I felt like something was weighing me down. An unexplainable force seemed to be pressing down on my head and my eyes simply would not open. So I allowed myself to stay in the darkness. I figured that this was safer than dealing with my injuries and whatever was waiting for me outside the darkness. Eventually, I was able to start hearing movement around me and a voice that was familiar from somewhere. I felt cool hands on my forehead that moved to my right shoulder and then down to my injured wrist. Where the hands traveled there seemed to be a static-like feeling that had goosebumps raise up on my flesh.
Then I started to understand the words that the familiar voice was saying to me. It was a masculine voice and it seemed to be trying to encourage me to wake up. "You can wake whenever you are ready…" and "I am mending your injuries there will not even be a scar…" Where did I know this man's voice from? It had a definite Welsh infliction to it and an almost nasally quality, but not in a way where someone would be extremely annoyed by the fact.
Finally, I was able to open my eyes. Everything was incredibly blurry at first and I could not focus on anything in particular. I was aware that I was lying on a very stiff and scratchy surface and there was a slightly moldy smell surrounding me like an aged book that had gotten wet at some point and been placed back on the shelf. My eyesight started to clear up and I was able to focus on a light on the wall to my right. I was surprised to see that it was a torch placed in what appeared to be some sort of bracket or holder of sorts on a stone wall. Really, who has torches in their home? That was all I could think as I allowed my eyes to roam the room that I was in.
I could see that it was a small room and that there was a torch blazing on the opposite wall as well. There was a big wooden door directly in front of my bed with bars placed where the glass or window would be, and I was also able to assess that I was lying on essentially a wooden board with straw thrown across the top of it. I was trying to process all this information and the only conclusion that made any sense to me was that I was in a dungeon. Now, how I got there was completely unknown to me, but I had seen enough medieval themed movies and games to be unable to get the idea that I was in a dungeon out of my head. I pulled myself up on my elbows and I was pleased that there was no pain in the shoulder or wrist. Wait how could that be? That thought had barely focused in my mind when the door to my room opened wide admitting a small woman in who was followed by two other women that I would never have imagined seeing in real life.
The small woman who had first entered had flame colored hair that was thrown over one shoulder in a long braid that traveled down to her waist. She had two bright green eyes that were intent on my face. These were lovely features that in themselves were not unusual. No, what threw me off was Mythal's black vallaslin that graced her checks and her ears which were definitely tapered and pointed into tips at the end. I know that my mouth had to be hanging open, but when I looked at the two other women behind her I thought I was going to faint. The seeker Cassandra Pentaghast and the spymaster Leliana were now standing on either side of the door they had entered. Leliana turned gracefully and closed the door behind her.
The small elven woman wasted no time in jumping right in, "Who are you" she asked in a very feminine but determined voice. I took a split second to appreciate the Dalish accent that accompanied her words. "My name is Fallen," I answered automatically. Leliana chose that moment to step in, "Fallen? That is all? What is your surname?" Her voice had the same deceivingly delicate French/Orlesian lilt to it that accompanied the game Leliana. She was also smaller framed than I expected and didn't look like she would be much taller than me if I were to stand directly beside her. "Fallen Faith Silcox is my full name," I replied in a shaky voice.
"Silcox you say? I have heard of no such family name in my meetings amongst the nobles," a rougher Nevarran voice chimed in. I turned my attention to the Seeker and kept my eyes locked on her coal lined ones, "That would be because I am definitely not a noble." "Nor would it seem you are from around here as your accent is such that I have never heard before," Leliana input with a tone that suggested I not attempt to lie to her over the matter. This was definitely not the first time in my life that I hated my southern accent, "I would guess that I am a long way from home then. I was being attacked by man when a window of sorts opened up in front of me and I had no choice but to go through it." "Where are you from?" the small elven woman asked and for the first time I glanced at her hands. Her right hand was clearly glowing a brilliant green through what appeared dirty bandages wrapped around it. This was the Herald of Andraste.
I had to think quickly and smartly about my situation. I seriously doubted that if I tried to explain where I really came from that they would actually believe me. I wouldn't have in their position. "Ferelden, I am from Ferelden. South Reach to be exact. My mother was a serving girl in Denerim when she found out that she was expecting me and she moved away to South Reach to have and raise me. It was just me and her. I never knew my father," flowed out of my mouth very quickly and I knew I would have to keep track of everything that I told them for later down the road… you know if I made it to later. The Herald moved closer to where I was laying with a sympathetic look in her eyes, "I am sorry that it was like that. I can only imagine. My name is Ellana Lavellan and these two women behind me are the Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast and the spymaster Leliana." Ellana had pointed to each of the women individually as she addressed who they were. "I am sorry to have kept you in this conditions, but you must understand our hesitancy. You arrived by some unknown magic and posses magic yourself. These are trying times and we have to be wary of unknowns," her words were kind and I understood them enough. Cassandra and Leliana were both looking at me as if that still wanted to light me on fire.
The words that stuck out to me the most though were concerning me having magic, "I am a mage?" All three women looked at my with confused expressions. "Yes you are. Have you not known that you were for sometime now? You appear old enough that your magic should have made itself known by now," Cassandra directed at me while looking at me as if she didn't believe me in the slightest. "I was not a mage before I came here. I swear it," I proclaimed firmly now sitting up on the edge of my cot. Leliana took a step towards me and tilted her head before stating, "Now that I believe. Know this, we will keep an eye on you. You will never be out of sight of a member of the inquisition for even a second. I will be sending scouts out to see if we can find anything on your background. Our Herald still has a lot of work to do. She has managed to stabilize the breach in the sky, but there is still much work to be done. We will make sure that you also get training for your magic as well." Leliana turned her gaze to Cassandra, "We will have to keep an eye on her for her safety as well. You know that the tensions about mages are high right now especially apostates which she surely is at this point. Also, you should probably go ahead and alert Cullen about her. You know how he overreacts to these kinds of things."
Leliana appeared to have more control that I had assumed through my play throughs of the game. I had always assumed her to be a background figure. The spymaster who worked solely from the shadows, but from the authority in her voice as she spoke to Cassandra I got the distinct impression that this was a little different when in the real situation. Well, if you could call all this a "real" situation. Ellana chose that moment to speak up, "If that is what is going on then we need to get her cleaned up and figure out who she will be staying with for now." Cassandra nodded her head in agreement, "I agree. For now, I wonder if it would be best if she stayed with another mage especially since she has claims to having no experience with magic. Mages are very vulnerable to possession in their sleep." Ellana tapped a finger to the side of her head, "I think I know an old man who could help with that."
At those word, I felt my heart nearly fall out onto the ground beneath me. There is only one person that Ellana could possibly be talking about and I didn't feel ready to face him at all. The Dread Wolf is called such for a reason. I had played the game all the way through and as I looked into Ellana's kind eyes I felt sympathy for her. Would Solas talk her hand? Would he break her heart like he had broken my Lavellan's? Ellana must have read something on my face, "Don't be afraid Fallen. Solas is a very wise and powerful mage. He is also kind and an excellent healer. He took care of all the wounds you suffered before arriving and watched over you. I am sure he would not mind at all with assisting you." I felt a blush spread across my checks, "Would he not feel uncomfortable sharing his space with a woman he doesn't know and won't people talk?"
I heard Leliana clear her throat very pointedly, "I am sure they will; however, you are both apostates here on the mercy of the inquisition and with our protection. I am sure that the two of you can see the wisest course of action would be to do as we suggest.You do not have the luxury of caring what propriety should look or be like." Her tone was very determined and left no room for argument. Cassandra was nodding her head in agreement, but did offer a small morsel of assistance, "Please do let us know though if he tries anything inappropriate. We must do what is necessary for safety purposes, but if you feel he abuses his position please speak up." All three women were looking at me very calmly and it occured to me that they were waiting for me to speak. I turned my attention to the one who had been the nicest to me so far, "Of course Herald, I will do as you and your companions see fit."
Just like that, Cassandra was handing me a dark black cloak that a soldier outside the room provided her and I slipped it on over my tattered red sundress. Cassandra nodded at me in approval as I tied it up. "I will take you to the bath house to get cleaned up and into some fresh clothes." All I could do was respond politely with a "thank you," and put my life and wellbeing into their hands for now. As, I followed behind her, Ellana and Leliana both disappeared into the Chantry. When Cassandra and I stepped outside of the Chantry doors into the freezing cold my eyes instantly latched onto the breach in the sky. All I could think in that moment was "sure, this must be real…"