AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry it's been so long my lovelies, forgive us for the delay!
SHOUTOUTS GO OUT TO: su4knuj, Parliament of Ravens. Xanks, DarkPantheraClaws, and all the other awesome people who have been so supportive of our story!
Chapter 6:
"How does it feel?" Cassandra asked.
"Still getting used to it," Nimwen replied, adjusting the reins in her grasp. "Still a bit of a challenge keeping the reins in the hook," she added.
A week had passed since her first training session with Mahvir, and the journey to the Temple of Dirthamen was now underway. Nimwen managed to make great progress, practicing with Mahvir and, occasionally, Cassandra everyday. She could wield her staff with relative ease, and she'd learned to cast many of her spells with just one hand.
Three days prior to setting off though, a package appeared labelled to the Inquisitor. Inside, Nimwen found the most bizarre device, and two letters explaining just what it was. The first was from Sera.
'quisitor,
How you been, yeah? Lil' Inky good? She better be. Anyway, I knew you'd be gettin' in the dumps soon, so I thought I'd cheer you up. Dag and I got this idea for this thing- okay, it was her idea but I convinced her it wasn't "Too forward" or whatever she said. Anyway, it's an arm. Your arm. Actually it's a hook, but it'll do you good. Widdle's the best at this stuff and she made it good, just for you. You're gonna be able to do all sorts of stuff now. And you'll look like a pirate too! For real though, don't get all mopey again. I don't want you actin' like you did when Solas first took off, 'specially since I'm not there to help out. Take care of the pirate arm, and don't break it! Dagna worked real hard.
-Sera
After she managed to stop the tears of happiness that started as she read the archer's letter, Nimwen managed to read the second one, from Dagna.
Dear Inquisitor,
I hope you like this! I can say without exaggerating that this has to be the best thing that I've ever crafted. Well, technically that is actually the rune used to stop Samson's armor, but if you take into account this isn't magic then yes this is the best thing. Anyways, the base of it is designed to fit over what is left of your arm, and the hook will be good for just about any of your needs. Don't worry, the base will fit. I had Sera get your measurements while you were asleep. Hope you don't mind. Please don't mind. Moving on, I also sent a variety of extra hooks in for anything the main one can't do, or if the main one breaks. Which it shouldn't. Seriously that thing is as close to unbreakable as it gets. Nothing less for you! If you have any problems just send a message to my shop. Oh, yeah, I have a shop now, isn't it great? Good luck Inquisitor and thank you for taking a chance on me, I would not be where I am without you. Give my best to Lady Lori!
Yours,
Dagna
Nimwen felt utter gratitude and joy even before she put on her new limb. The base was about the same length as her old forearm, with the hook starting where her wrist would have been. Just as Dagna promised, the base fit snug around her stump, and only came off when she pushed the proper buttons and twisted it as the instructions said to. It was still an adjustment learning how to use her prosthetic, but she had high hopes she would soon be able to use it naturally.
"You are going to kill yourself," Nimwen heard Cassandra say.
"I'm fine, I have the reins in my actual hand too," she replied.
"Not you, him," Cassandra clarified.
This made Nimwen look over at Mahvir for the first time since they had set out. Sometime during the trip he had moved from riding normally to laying on the horse's back, his back against the horse's neck one leg propped up over the other. His arm was tucked behind his head while in his other hand held the book This Shit is Weird by Varric. Deceit was nested on top of his head, her blue eyes moving as if she was also reading. And Fear was on top of the horse's head. Every now and again Fear would actually tug the horse's ear to steer it.
"What in Thedas are you doing?" Nimwen laughed at the sight.
"Reading," Mahvir stated as he turned a page. "It's quite the read too."
"Finding my exploits entertaining?" asked the mage.
"Finding Varric's description of Solas entertaining. And what happened is also rather amusing. You know he embellished quite a lot of this, right?" Mahvir chuckled.
"It's not a surprise, he is always exaggerating," Cassandra said.
"You know you love his books," Nimwen teased as she fiddled with her prosthetic.
Cassandra raised a brow. "Do be careful, Inquisitor, I don't want you falling off your horse."
"I got it," Nimwen assured the Seeker. "I just want to figure this thing out. Dagna added a bunch of stuff." Along with the interchangeable hooks, Nimwen's prosthetic had a couple of different mechanisms within it. There was a button that allowed her to change the length of the hook, a hidden compartment that she hoped would come in handy someday, along with a few more buttons that she didn't know what they did.
Mahvir snapped the book closed. "Someone's coming." He turned on the horse.
"Warning!" Deceit shrieked at him as she flapped her wings to stay on his head. "You need to warn, Dirthy."
"Fear, you can stop steering the horse," Mahvir told the other raven ignoring Deceit.
"It was fun though," Fear snapped his beak in annoyance.
Sure enough a moment later several Dalish hunters stepped onto the road to block their path. "Stop there," ordered one of them. Then his eyes widened. "Inquisitor?" he asked.
Nimwen eyed the newcomer. "Who's clan are you from, lethallin?"
"Mine, da'len," the next moment Hawen stepped out, leaning against his staff and looking up at Nimwen. "What brings the Inquisition towards a Temple of Dirthamen?" he asked. His eyes slid from Nimwen to Mahvir and narrowed when he noticed Mahvir had no vallaslin.
"We seek to learn more from the temple," Nimwen explained. "Have you come to do the same, hahren?"
"Yes and no," stated the keeper. He frowned and looked at the few hunters with him. The clan was half the size it had been the last time Nimwen had seen them.
"You've had some of your clan start following Fen'Harel and, I believe I am correct in assuming, they're here on Fen'Harel's order. Thus you came after them to get them back from the Dread Wolf's clutches." Mahvir frowned. "This also means it's more than likely the main entrance is covered." He looked at Nimwen. "I might have another way we can enter."
"Really? We found no other entrance last time we were here," said Nimwen.
Mahvir blinked. "I hope not, that defeats the purpose of hidden entrances."
"How would you know about a secret entrance?" Cassandra asked, suspicious.
"I know everything, isn't that apparent?" Mahvir joked. He coughed. "On a more serious note, I've been to this temple a few times before now and spent a great deal of time here."
"What purpose would you have in a haunted temple?" the Seeker pressed.
Mahvir blinked a few times. "What purpose did you have in a haunted temple?"
"That temple is part of my People's history," Hawen stated. "And is currently overrun with agents of Fen'Harel," he growled the last bit.
Nimwen tried to hide her flinch at the way he spoke of Fen'Harel. It was hard to now associate the figure who drew the disdain of her people with the man she had loved, who she still loved. She wanted to pray that he would not become the villain the Dalish already saw him as, but then remembered she no longer had gods to pray to. "We want them out of the temple just as you do, hahren," she said to the older elf.
Before Nimwen could finish speaking or ask the Keeper to accompany them, Mahvir had slid down from his stead. "Yes, you should come with us, hahren." Mahvir smiled at Hawen. "You know, make certain we don't trip over something important."
"If you wished to accompany us, we would appreciate the support," Cassandra said.
Hawen scowled at Mahvir. "Very well." He turned to the clan and his First. He spoke with them briefly before returning with a hunter at his side. "Where is this hidden entrance you spoke of?"
"Well… hidden." Mahvir grinned and shrugged.
"That's the way to answer!" Deceit let out a few cawing laughs from the top of Mahvir's head.
"That's the way to get that mortal to hate you all the more, Dirthamen," Fear snapped his beak angrily.
Nimwen rolled her eyes, then remembered she was supposed to pretend she couldn't hear them. Since learning of Mahvir's true identity, Nimwen had been allowed the "privilege" of hearing Fear and Deceit's voices. After the initial shock of hearing full sentences uttered from the beaks of birds, the mage soon learned the behavior she'd witnessed from the birds prior was directly reflected in their words. Only she and Mahvir could hear them, so she had to pretend like she was unaware lest the others think she was mad.
"Be clear, Mahvir. Where are we going?" Cassandra inquired.
"Sadly into the brush. The entrance is buried a ways into the trees." He pointed in the general direction of the temple. "We're going to have to walk from here. The mounts are too large for that area." He pulled his staff from his back. "It's about an hours normal paced walk from here."
"Let's get started then," Nimwen said. "We'll find a place for the mounts and then we'll begin the walk."
"Agreed," added Cassandra.
Mahvir nodded. He helped them tie the mounts just off the road where they would remain unseen. When they were done Fear leapt into the air swooped down. His talons raked Deceit. "Off, my perch."
Deceit snapped her beak and launch into the air. "Don't mess up my feathers, oaf!" She landed on Mahvir's staff.
Fear landed on his shoulders. "Humph, you already look like something a cat coughed up."
Deceit spat at him. Her beak clacking with rage.
"Be nice you two," Nimwen scolded the birds.
"Are you sure those things are tame?" the Seeker asked, eyeing the ravens.
"Are any ravens ever tame?" Mahvir asked in reply. "These two are more likely to rip out one another's throats than disobey me."
"Only because we can't," huffed Fear. "That is the one and only time I listened to you," he glared at Deceit, "and now we're bound to this," he gestured his head towards Mahvir, "this... I will come up with an insult later!"
Deceit cawed in laughter.
"See to it that they don't give away our position," Cassandra said to Mahvir.
"They know when to shut their beaks," Mahvir assured Cassandra. "Or we can cook them for our next meal."
"What?" Deceit's beak dropped her blue eyes wide with shock.
Fear snapped his beak in his version of laughter.
"An odd choice in companion, da'len," Hawen stated, eyeing Mahvir and the two ravens.
"I assure you, hahren, you can't live without them by the end of the day." Mahvir gave an elegant bow.
Fear snapped his beak, flapping to stay on Mahvir's shoulder.
"You wanted the shoulder, Fear." Deceit prend her feathers, eyes shining.
"We'll see." Hawen eyed Mahvir with the normal mistrust most Dalish showed their barefaced brethren.
"Let's go," Nimwen said. She started to get off her horse, but realized that she had gotten her hook tangled in the reins. "Give me a minute," she said as she tried untangling the reins with her right hand.
"You're sure you don't need help?" Cassandra offered.
"I'm fine," the mage insisted, feeling her cheeks grow pink when no progress had been made. "Come on," she grumbled to herself as she tugged against the knot. She was fairly sure she was making it worse, but she would not admit defeat. She grew frustrated and started pulling her stump arm hoping to dislodge the hook. All this did was make her horse give out an angry neigh when his head was tugged. "Sorry," she said to the creature.
Fear landed on the horse's neck. He placed one taloned foot on her prosthetic then hopped onto it. He worked his beak through the tangle until it fell away from the hook.
"There." He shook himself, fluffing his feathers in importance. "That had better get me a tidbit later, mortal." He leapt into the air and returned to Mahvir's shoulder.
"Ma serannas," she said, still embarrassed that she had to be saved by a bird.
"I am sure you will get the hang of it soon," Cassandra said, trying to be assuring.
"Let's hope so," Nimwen said, dismounting at last.
Mahvir was looking off in another direction. He looked up at Deceit and gave a sharp whistle.
Deceit launched herself into the air. "Slave driver," she muttered. "You'd better not finish that book until I get back." She vanished into the distance.
"We should be off," Mahvir stated, his tone even. Without another word he headed into the brush.
Hawen took a deep breath and looked at Nimwen. "After you, da'len."
Nimwen nodded and fell into line, Cassandra following. As they followed Mahvir through the brush, Nimwen continued to examine her prosthetic. She wanted to get the hang of it before she ended up making another mistake like with the reins; though once in the temple mistakes could turn deadly. She admired the craftsmanship on the arm, the intricate details laced in.
'I need to thank Dagna once I get back. Maybe a fruit basket? She likes those,' Nimwen decided as she traced the etchings. She turned her arm over and made a puzzled frown when she found a button she hadn't seen before. It was small and located on the top inside of the prosthetic, where the inside of her elbow would have been. 'Wonder what this does?' she pondered. Curious, she pressed it. The sound of slicing metal filled the air. Nimwen gave a yelp.
"What's wrong?" Cassandra asked, jumping to attention.
Nimwen stared wide-eyed at her arm, holding it as far away as she could. "W-what is that?" she stammered. Sticking up from the prosthetic was a blade, longer than the false arm itself, made of gleaming silverite. It came to a lethal point and followed the same curve as the prosthetic base.
"Something I would rather not have pointed towards me," stated Mahvir without turning.
"Ignore him." Fear flapped down so he was on Nimwen's prosthetic. "It's a beautiful blade." He tapped it with one claw and leaned as the claw made the metal ring. "Good sound too. Many could fall without ever seeing this weapon coming. It could inspire great fear." His eyes gleamed. He ran his talon over the blade.
"What is that raven doing?" the hunter who had come with them and Hawen asked.
"Appreciating the artistry," Nimwen joked. "Now, how am I supposed to make it go down?"
Fear blinked at her and then tapped the button with his beak. The blade hissed back into the arm. "Use that well, little mortal." He leapt off her arm and returned to Mahvir's shoulder.
"I will," Nimwen smiled. 'Thank you, Dagna. Your fruit basket just got bigger.'
"What was that?" Cassandra asked.
Nimwen blinked, realizing she'd just spoken to Fear aloud. "Oh, nothing, let's carry on, shall we?"
They walked for over an hour more because Mahvir set a slower pace than a normal walk. Then, at least, he stopped by a massive tree. "We're here." He moved over to the roots.
"I don't see any stone walls like the temple has," the hunter pointed out.
The next moment Mahvir vanished between two of the biggest roots. "What's taking you so long? It's this way!"
Nimwen looked between the two roots, trying to find where he went. When she found the entrance she managed to squeeze inside. "When did you find this passage?" she asked.
The tip of Mahvir's staff was giving off a faint light. "I built this place, Lady Nimwen," he whispered and glanced up. He placed a finger over his lips and winked.
The next moment the hunter slithered down next to them. Hawen followed.
"Come on, Cass," Nimwen said.
Soon the Seeker was inside. "Strange, I never expected us to return here," she said.
"Feeling nostalgic?" Nimwen asked.
"Hardly."
"This way." Mahvir started off the moment Cassadra had entered the tunnel. It sloped down until the muddy walls returned to the familiar moss covered stone. The passage ended in a dead end. Mahvir moved up to the wall without hesitation and started to run his fingers down the stone.
"So, what do you plan to find here?" Nimwen asked Mahvir.
"At this stone, the entrance, inside, hopefully whatever Fen'Harel wants before he gets to it." His fingers stopped moving. "That should do it." He stepped back.
Where he had traced his fingers lit in a soft blue-green light. It was written elvish. The words flashed so fast, Nimwen wasn't able to read them. Then a grinding sound rumbled and the stone slid aside.
Mahvir slipped in before the entrance had finished opening.
Nimwen followed behind, the sound of sloshing water accompanying her steps as they entered the waterfilled room. "Just as I remembered it," Nimwen said. Though it was dark and a gloom hung in the air, there was still a beauty to the temple that Nimwen couldn't deny.
"Hopefully we will have no more undead to face," Cassandra said, hand on her sword hilt as she glanced around the chamber.
Mahvir gestured for them to come closer. He returned his attention to peering around the wall into the hall which led out of the room they'd come to and into the central part of the temple.
"It doesn't appear any of Fen'Harel's people are left in the quarters," he whispered when they were close enough. "They might have found the entrance into the main temple."
"Stay alert," Nimwen whispered to the others, gripping Shockmaw in her hand.
Before they could move out, a soft fluttering of wings sounded. Deceit appeared and landed on Mahvir's staff.
"They're swarming like little insects over the central chamber," she told Mahvir. "And the passage to the main temple was opened. The waters completely gone from their and stairs found. I managed to to get a quick look before coming here, but it seems they're taking it slow on proceeding or waiting for something."
"That will be the best chance we got at getting in before them, then," Fear shifted on Mahvir's shoulder. "Too bad you don't have more secret passages. It'll be harder to get- wait, wasn't there that one on the far side of the temple."
"It's guarded by the stone though," Deceit pointed out. "And we still have to get through the central chamber."
"Scout," Mahvir ordered Deceit.
"Slave driver." Deceit launched herself into the air again.
"She's looking ahead for us," Mahvir informed the others.
"Alright, we wait for her to return," Nimwen said. She sensed eyes on her. She turned and saw Cassandra staring at her. "What?"
"Are you prepared?"
Nimwen raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
"I know you are capable, but this won't be practice with Mahvir or myself. I want to know that you're certain you can handle a fight."
Nimwen sighed. "You and Mahvir have helped me greatly, and I've relearned much. I won't know until I find out, though, but I think I can do this. I wouldn't have come otherwise."
The Seeker surprised Nimwen by chuckling. "Knowing you, you would have come even if you had no limbs and a fever. You're stubborn, for good or for ill. If it's any consolation, I think you're ready, but should you falter, I will be there."
A small smile reached Nimwen's face. "Thank you, Cassandra."
"You're welcome. Now," the Seeker sighed. "We must wait on that bird."
"Does anyone else find it weird we're waiting on a raven?" asked the Dalish hunter. "I mean, it's a ravan. The only ravens I'd trust are Fear and Deceit if they came at Dirthamen's bidding."
Fear snapped his beak. "Who does she think she's talking about?"
Mahvir looked at Nimwen just long enough she could see his amused smile before he looked back at the hall. "I assure you, she is trained quite well," he stated in even tones.
Nimwen snorted. 'Trained,' she thought sarcastically to herself.
A shadow dropped through the gloom. Deceit returned to Mahvir's staff. She had made no sound upon return. "I flew around the back routes to that same passage. It's clear enough, unless you count ruble." She fluffed herself. "I got wet. That had better have been worth it."
Mahvir bowed his head. His hand resting on his chin for a moment. "This way." he moved out of the room and into the hall. He made a sharp right into the next larger chamber, Nimwen remembered the chamber had only that one entrance to it despite its massive size.
"Where should we start?" Nimwen asked Mahvir.
He had paused just in the chamber and was looking around. "This way, if I recall there is another hidden passage leading into the lower levels." He moved off through the water towards where part of the ceiling had caved to block part of the path. Mahvir clambered over it and stopped to wait on the other side.
"You spent how long here to learn of these passages?" Hawen asked when he joined Mahvir.
"A few years," Mahvir stated but his attention wasn't on the keeper.
"What is it?" asked Nimwen.
"Just give me a moment." He smiled at her, his breathing a little uneven. After a moment he moved over to the far end and knelt down. His long fingers moved over the uneven stone. "Here." He pressed a stone. It shifted into the wall. Then he moved another stone. The pattern was complex and hard to track.
When Mahvir stood, the stones were shifting as gears clicked and ground behind the wall. The passage was pitch black and a strong scent of mold and damp air rushed out to great. Mahvir moved his staff tip so it lit part of the passage beyond.
"I doubt that went unnoticed. We must be quick." Mahvir led the way into the passage. He didn't go far in, stopping with just enough room for the others to file passed. Then, with the end of his staff he tapped one stone and the gears started grinding and clicking again. Darkness fell over the group. The only light was the eerie blue glow from Mahvir's staff. A light which was even less because of the raven seated with her claws over where it come from.
Nimwen gazed into the darkness, tightening her grip on Shockmaw. She looked to Cassandra. "Just like old times, huh?"
The Seeker gave her a supportive smile, sword and shield in hand. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
*~ X ~*
Solas stood in the sanctuary within the very heart of the ancient temple, his hands behind his back. Water dripped and rushed down the sides of the stairs his agents had just uncovered. The moment they had found the stairs, they'd sent a message to Solas. He stood atop the original staircase which lead into the very heart of the sanctuary. He couldn't help but remember the last time he had been here with his dearest heart and the battle they had faced against the dead high priest.
Solas kept the pain of those memories from his face as he turned his gaze from the dais back to the stairs which had appeared to the side of the room. As instructed, the people were moving slowly as they clearedthe landing at the bottom of the stairs. He had warned them there was no telling the dangers which awaited them after twenty centuries of neglect. This was the reason they were moving slowly.
The elves chattered among themselves as they worked, each excited at uncovering the next part of the temple. The Dalish in the group were even more so than those city elves who'd joined them.
His heart tightened as he watched them. His heart had been just as excited if not more so upon learning of this temple. He wondered what her thoughts would have been upon learning the ritual had been one of three steps to unlock the real entrance into the very heart of the temple.
Dirthamen had always loved puzzles. When Dirthamen had been younger, Solas had watched as the boy Dirth had delighted in finding anything new. How he loved to learn and how he had taken great delight in the little puzzles Solas had made for him. Like with all the others, time and greed had corrupted the sweet, gentle twins Solas had once loved. This didn't mean Dirthamen had lost his love for puzzles. The temple was littered with them. From getting the first step of getting to the lower chamber, to the second, and third. Then there were bound to be more the deeper they progressed.
His mind wandered back to his heart. She had loved learning more about the past and he wondered if she still held that same joy now she knew the truth about the evanuris. A familiar pang of sorrow twisted his heart and tightened his throat as he thought of her. Of his beloved and the last moment he had seen her. Of the last time they had been here.
A soft sound came to Solas, jarring him from his thoughts. He stiffened and listened. At first he thought the others had triggered a trap, but the sound was too distant to be coming from where the others worked. He turned, listening hard. The sound almost pulsed through the ancient stone. A passage, somewhere in the temple had been opened.
The sound died away for a few heartbeats before it returned.
"Where is that coming from?" one of the elves asked.
"Go, see if you can find out," Solas instructed him. "Take another with you."
"Yes, ser!" The elf raced off with another, running passed Solas and heading deeper into the temple.
Was it possible there was another here who knew this temple better than Solas did? Perhaps the sentinels weren't all dead after all. No, all signs pointed to the fact they had died when the temple flooded. There was no possible way someone who served Dirthamen and still remembered this temple was here alive.