The Cost of Pride

by megatoxic

Fallen finds herself in Thedas and is completely unprepared. Sure, she knows the story and she's played the game, but this is no game. This is life and death. Can The Dread Wolf help her or will he be her biggest enemy?

15. Powers of Observation

The Cost of Pride

Megatoxic

*Disclaimer: Bioware owns Dragon Age.*

-In game dialogue-

Chapter 15: Powers of Observation

The closer we got to the capital the more obvious it became. The rustic houses and farm land turned into brick stone houses and the farmland seemed to disappear entirely. Before we knew it, we had arrived at a long bridge that would take us into the city itself. As I sat on Knight's back and looked at the city from the outside, I couldn't help but to be impressed. The people of Thedas had built all this without the help of modern technology. Granted they had mages, but it was still impressive.

There was a large stable outside of the city that many people were congregrating at with their horses. We were on a large hill a couple miles away simply observing our destination. "We can pay to have our horses cared for there while we are in the city. Once we get inside there is little room for them," Cassandra explained to us. "Kirkwall is the same way," Varric added. I was glad to be getting a break from the saddle. My body would greatly appreciate it.

Ellana's face looked pale making her dark vallaslin stand out more. "It looks so big. How many people live in there?" she asked shakily. I hadn't even thought about how intimidating it must have looked to the Dalish woman. "A great many," Cassandra supplied. "Not helping seeker," Varric chided. "You will be fine Ellana. We will be by your side the whole time," Cassandra promised. Solas slipped from the back of his mount and began removing his staff from the strap holding it in place.

"What are you doing Solas?" Ellana asked him. "We are about to enter a city filled with scared people. Fallen and I will not be safe if we simply walk in announcing for all to see that we are apostates," he explained calmly. He approached me and began untying my staff as well once his was free. "How will we protect ourselves?" I asked him. He glanced up at me while his hands continued to work, "You did not use a staff at first and we do not require them. They help us focus it is true, but staff or no we are still mages."

"You and Solas should refrain from using magic while we are in the city," Cassandra advised us both. My memory of the occurences within the game seemed to be fading the longer I stayed there, but I knew that Val Royeaux was not going to be a walk in the park. "And if we are attacked?" I asked her boldly. "Then you will allow us to handle it," Cassandra responded readily. "The last thing we need in these difficult times is word to spread that the Inquisition's mages cannot control themselves," she explained. My temper flared, but Solas' hand touched my thigh to still me. "We will keep to ourselves seeker," he promised her.

We all watched as Solas took the staves and leaned them against a nearby tree. My skin tingled as he embraced his magic. A bright blue glow engulfed them before they disappeared from sight and all that was left was the bark of the tree they had been leaning against. I ran my hand ove the surface of the bark, but didn't detect them in the slightest. "How did you do that?" I asked him in wonder. "Magic," he replied and then chuckled as I rolled my eyes at him. "That is a fine example of the things you two will refrain from doing within the city," Cassandra said pointedly.

*

Once we had paid to have our horses and Alpha cared for we were allowed access to cross the bridge into the city. The statues that lined the bridge were huge and there was so much gold everywhere that the reflecting sunlight on it was bound to give me a headache. As we got a few more paces in, I felt an arm wrap around my own and I turned to see Ellana attached to it. "They won't fall on us will they?" she asked me timidly. I giggled at her question and she poked her tongue out at me like a child in response. "Have you never been in a city?" I asked. "No. Haven was my first, but that is nothing compared to here," she said earnestly. "It was strictly forbidden. We were told horror stories of elves that went into the citys and were kidnapped by slavers," she admitted.

"There is truth to those stories. We should stick together," Solas warned us. At that moment, a couple passing us on their way out of the city noticed us. The masked woman gasped and put her hand over her mouth dramatically. The man beside her grabbed her hand and began to drag her away quickly. "I think they know who we are seeker," Varric stated sarcastically. "Your powers of observation never cease to amaze me Varric," Cassandra responded in annoyance.

Ellana's face blanched whiter and her grip on my arm tightened. "They are afraid of me," she whispered. "They are afraid of everything Ell. We are here to give them hope," I reminded her gently. "Isn't that one of Leliana's scouts?" Varric asked suddenly pointing out an Inquisition scout headed our way. Once the scout was close enough, I could make out the handsome features of Kalen under the hood. "Kalen?" I asked, "Is everything alright?" Cassandra spoke up, "The city still mourns."

"That it does Seeker Cassandra," Kalen confirmed solemnly, "The chantry mothers await you all, but so do a great many templars." Cassandra looked surprised at the news, "There are templars here?" Kalen nodded his response, "The people seem to think that the templars will protect them from the Inquisition. They are gathering on the other side of the market where I believe the templars will try to meet you." Cassandra sighed heavily and began moving forward again, "Only one thing to do then."

"They wish to protect the people from us?" she questioned angrily as we followed her lead. "Well, we knew to expect some kind of reaction Cassandra," Ellana pointed out. "Well I certainly didn't expect the templars to make an appearance," Cassandra admitted. Kalen was still with us and added, "What we have heard is what the people assume the templars will do. I have discovered no concrete plans." Varric's little legs were moving quickly to keep up with us all when he added, "Do you think the orders returned to the fold maybe to do with us upstairs?"

Cassandra continued on still in a confused tone, "I know Lord Seeker Lucius. I can't imagine him coming to the chantry's defense and especially not after what's occurred." She was in deep thought for a second before stopping the party and turning to Kalen, "Return to Haven. Inform the others of what has happened. They need to know in case... we are delayed." Kalen bowed respectfully, "As you say my lady." He glanced my way one more time. I smiled at him as best I could under the pressure of the moment. He started to smile back, but something over my shoulder caught his eye. He quickly made his leave and I turned to see Solas standing innocently behind me.

I was unsure what message he hand just slyly sent Kalen's way, but now I was annoyed as well as scared. "We are about to walk into a city full of templars," I announced to our party weakly. This had to be the craziest thing I had done since arriving in Thedas. Ellana looked worried, but determined, "I will not allow them to take you or Solas." Cassandra looked our way, "Agreed; however, their presence does change things. You should both hang back when we approach the mothers and try to remain as inconspicuous as possible."

Solas moved closely to my side, "I agree. I will keep us within eyesight, but within the safety of the crowd." I glanced up at him anxiously, "And what do we do if they approach us or try to hurt our friends?" Cassandra hurried to assure me, "The Lord Seeker wouldn't be stupid enough to attack us in the middle of the market. If someone approaches you then you follow Solas' lead. He has spent a long time looking as unthreatening as possible." Solas' lips turned up in an attractive smirk and I knew internally he was laughing because Cassandra had no idea how right she was about that.

*

I led Fallen to a far side of the market near a few merchant's booths. It was close enough that we could see the Herald approaching the mothers, but far enough away that we could be easily overlooked. Fallen appeared extremely on edge and I could sense a fear and anxiety coming from her that was putting me a little on edge as well. It was hard to focus past my worry for her. This was unlike me and concerning.

When we saw the templars approaching she gasped and grabbed my hand. I felt her small fingers intwine with mine and squeeze tightly. She turned her head towards my shoulder and seemed to be bracing herself for something as she tried to look away from the scene. The sound of gasps and several screams caused me to turn back to our companions and I could see that a templar had struck the mother that the Herald had been speaking with. I glanced down at Fallen who was now watching with open eyes again. She had looked away right before the blow... surely she could not have known it was coming...

My train of thought was suddenly interrupted as my sight landed on a human man that was watching Fallen closely. He was dressed nicely and had a half-mask on as the nobles here preferred. The spy in me recognized the interest he was showing her as a red flag. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her in closer to me. She gasped, "Solas, now is really not the time..."

"Shhhh da'len. You are being watched," I whispered into her hair as a lover would send sweet words. She wrapped her arm around my waist in return and grabbed the front of my tunic with her other hand, "What should we do?" I chuckled and ran a hand through what she referred to as her 'ponytail,' "We appear together until he looses interest." Without giving her time to adjust, I pulled her into a dark alcove hidden by well manicured bushes and trees.

I was surprised at how quickly she adjusted and went with my lead. She made a point to laugh like a lovesick fool would and throw her arms around my neck. Once I had her against the wall she blinked up at me at a loss. "Well, now that they all think we're screwing back here what do we actually do?" she asked. "We wait until you can see the others and we go out to meet them like two people embarrassed to have snuck away at such a time," I mumbled into her warm neck.

There was a loud sound of clanking armor as the retreating templars were making their leave. Fallen pulled me closer to her in anxiety as they passed, but I found no complaint as the soft curves of her hips fit my palms perfectly. "They terrify me Solas," she admitted to me. "They are leaving now it seems. I would not let them harm you," I assured her and that was the moment I realized I meant it. She was looking at me curiously when she asked, "How would you stop them?" I met her gaze seriously, "How ever I had to."

That seemed to be what she wanted to hear, but for some reason I could also detect a hint of humor from her at my words. She glanced over my shoulder and pushed me back firmly, but gently, "They're coming this way." She grabbed my hand and started to pull me back into the open, "Let's make it look good." As if on cue, a blush colored her cheeks and she smiled sappily at me. I added a little more by letting her hair down roughly and tussing it up a bit. She bit her lip to make it swell a little and I loosened the front of my tunic with my free hand.

When we stepped fully into the way of the others the Herald's eyes went wide, "Mythal's tits! First the Lord Seeker and now you two!" I bowed to her slightly hoping to look apologetic to anyone looking in, but when we moved closer I spoke lowly, "There was a man watching Fallen." The Herald looked startled, "A templar?" Fallen looked between the two of us, "I never saw him." I ignored her input and replied to our leader, "Some noble looking for sport. What happened?"

"Basically Chuckles, we shouldn't count on templar support," Varric said looking aggitated. "Don't count them out yet Herald," Cassandra stated to the elven woman ignoring the dwarf, "they would be able to do the task." Mythal's markings crinkled at the corner of her eyes as the Herald frowned, "That wasn't promising Cassandra and I'm not even sure where to begin from here." Fallen grabbed her friend's glowing hand and smiled encouragingly, "Don't loose hope Ell. This will work itself out I promise." I frowned at my vhenan enansal's support of the templars, "Neverthless, we should meet with the mages as well."

The seeker looked at me and nodded in agreement, "Solas is right. Let's head back to Haven and inform the others of what has happened." The Herald's red hair shone brightly as she moved to take point on the way out of the city. She was quite an attractive elf and if I was not already bound to Fallen I could have considered an intriguing seduction with her. The major downfall was Mythal's slave marking on her cheeks. Since the fall of the veil, I had not been able to get past them. I caught Fallen watching my eyes on her friend and I saw a flash of envy there before she looked away. Good job old fool, I reprimanded myself.

We had barely made it halfway around the market when a whooshing sound caught in my sharp elven ears and I instinctively pulled Fallen tight against me. An arrow with a piece of red paper in it was sticking out of the ground and not far from the Herald's feet. She quickly read the letter and looked intrigued, "Something about friends and more clues, but I think it's someone who wants to help." Her green eyes were quickly scanning the upper floors of the buildings nearby. Cassandra removed her hand from the pommel of her sword and pointed at a man headed our way, "I think he wants your attention." The elven woman rolled her eyes in humor, "Now who has amazing powers of observation Cassandra." Varric laughed out loud at the friendly jibe and Fallen giggled.

The dark-skinned man bowed to the Herald politely before handing an invitation to her, "An invitation, my lady, to a dinner party tomorrow night hosted by Madam de Fer." Ellana looked overwhelmed, "By who?" But by the time she looked up to ask the man was already moving away into the crowd. "Well, that escalated quickly," Fallen stated. "Looks like we'll be staying the next couple of nights in the city," Cassandra acknowledged, "we need any allies we can get."

"Agreed," the red head responded. "Let's look for these other clues and then we can rent some rooms for tonight." I was not looking forward to staying in the human noble infested city, but I understood the necessity. It tooks us a couple of hours before we found the rest of the clues from this 'friend of red Jenny' who wanted us to meet them late that very night. "Dinner and rest first!" Elland exclaimed before leading us back towards the market.

"What about Alpha?" Fallen asked suddenly. The elf appeared annoyed with her friend, "She is an animal. She will be just fine with the horses. We paid extra for them to look after her." Fallen shook her head and stood her ground, "That was a one day agreement and she will think I abandoned her." I could sense the distress suddenlysuddenly coming from her. The two friends seemed to be staring each other down before the elven woman caved and threw her hands up in frustration and defeat, "FINE! Let's go get the damn beast cursed by the Dread Wolf himself so that we can rest and eat!"

Relief and success rolled off of Fallen in equal measure, and I once again acknowledged internally her gift at swaying our leader's course of action. "Thank you lethallan," Fallen said genuinely and the Herald smiled at her friend using the elven endearment for her. "Yeah, yeah. The things we do for family," she said affectionately. As I watched the two women lead the way back to the stables arm-in-arm, I could not help but recognize that they really did act like sisters.

Translations

Da'len: little child; little one

Vhenan Enansal: heart blessing

Lethallan: someone with whom one is familiar

Resource

http/dragonage./wiki/Elven_language