Hey everyone. Sorry for the huge break but I was planning on posting a new chapter when I got a new review. But I didn't get another review ;.( which really sucks. And then I checked traffic and only 20 people have actually read up to this chapter, haha. So please, please, please, please, please, please, please, , please, please, please, review because I will worship you forever. Even flames are welcome! I've got another 2 chapters already typed up which I will post if I get some more reviews. LOVE YOU ALL AND THANKS FOR READING! BTW fluff in this chapter 3
"Here, look at this. Do you know what this is?" Asleena looked up from the dusty trail between her feet. The dirt was slowly receding into mud and grass, signaling their approach to Lake Calenhad. Alistair was looking down at her, a nervous smile upon his lips. He thrust something into her hand and closed her delicate fingers around it. She lifted her hand to see a beautiful rose, the same approximate red as Alistair's cheeks. Asleena smiled coyly at him.
"Your new weapon of choice?"
"Yes, that's right!" Alistair chirped, suddenly confident. "Watch as I thrash our enemies with the power of floral arrangements! Feel my thorns, Darkspawn! I will overpower you with my rosy scent." A laugh bubbled out of Asleena's throat, and all the birds in the area burst into joyous song. "Or, you know, it could just be a rose. I know that's pretty dull in comparison." Asleena looked at the full blown bud in her fingers, caressing the velvety petals.
"Sentiment can be a very potent weapon." She stated simply, meeting his eyes again.
"I picked it in Lothering," He began, completely serious now. "I remember thinking 'How can something so beautiful exist in a place with so much despair and ugliness?'. I probably should have left it alone, but I couldn't. It just would have gotten crushed by the Darkspawn and their taint. So I've had it ever since." Asleena grinned at this.
"Why are you telling me this?" She asked, shaking her head.
"I... I thought I might... Give it to you, actually. In a lot of ways, I think the same thing when I look at you." Asleena stopped smiling, suddenly shy. Here she was, an adorable, sweet man saying the most beautiful things to her and she just wanted to flee.
"I-I don't know what to say," She whispered, eyes fixed on the blades of grass between her feet. Asleena had never felt this way about anyone, never even attempted a feeble stab at romance in the Tower. It was all so new to her, but inside, she realized that she felt the same way about him.
"I was thinking, here I am, doing all this complaining, and you haven't exactly been having a good time of it yourself. You haven't had any of the good experiences of being a Grey Warden since your Joining, not a word of thanks or congratulation..." She smiled at the ground. "I thought I could say something. Tell you what a rare and wonderful thing you are to find amidst all this... Darkness." Asleena's eyes flew up to meet his, and she felt an overwhelming urge to kiss him.
"I..." She began.
"I guess it was just a stupid impulse. Was it the wrong one?" He asked, anxious at her unreadable expression.
"No, not at all. Thank you, Alistair. I really appreciate it." Now she smiled, and he visibly relaxed.
"I'm glad you like it. Now, if we could move on past this awkward, embarrassing stage, I'd really appreciate it." He said in a rush, as though trying to get it out as quickly as possible, afraid to lose his nerve. Asleena grinned wolfishly.
"Sounds good. Off with the armour, then." Alistair paled. She was obviously teasing, they were in the middle of the track with the whole party behind them. He guffawed uncomfortably.
"Bluff called. Damn, she saw right through me." As Asleena laughed, she tripped over a stone with a yelp. Before she could hit the ground however, two strong hands wrapped around her slim waist and pulled her back up. "Bit unsteady on our feet, are we?" Alistair mocked, holding her still. He suddenly realized the intimacy of the position they were in and the catcalls coming from the more lewd of their companions. Asleena didn't seem disturbed though, only wrapped her own arms around him and leaned in close. Trembling, he leaned even closer. Their lips almost met and then-
Zevran. He elbowed his way between the two of them, linking arms and grinning at them.
"I so wanted to join the two of you," He purred. Alistair yanked his arm out of the elf's grasp and stomped away from the pair of them. A jealous monster reared its head in his heart, chest constricted painfully as he watched Asleena laughing and talking with the assassin. The elf was far too touchy-feely with her for his liking and he still didn't trust him. But finally, after what seemed hours of Zevran regaling Asleena with tales of his adventures, the Circle Tower was in sight. _
"Anda proper Grey Warden now, hm?" Greagoir snapped sarcastically. "I'm glad you're not dead."
"No you aren't. You're still sore that you didn't get to make me Tranquil." Asleena grumbled, glaring at him darkly. Upon return to the Tower, Asleena was not expecting to find her home in great peril, most mages either dead or possessed. She had not been expecting Greagoir to have sent for the Right of Annulment. Aware that the Right of Annulment would kill everyone left in the Tower, Asleena and her companions went to rescue Senior Enchanter Irving from the demons and blood mages.
On the second floor of the Tower, Asleena and her team had come across the Senior Enchanter Wynne and she had demanded to be brought along in their search for Irving. Asleena sent Sten back to the camp to make room for her. Asleena enjoyed having another (sane) mage to talk to and even eventually found a mother figure in her. On the second to top floor of the Tower, Asleena, Wynne, Leliana and Alistair were transported into the Fade by a sloth demon.
Asleena navigated many islands of the Fade, gaining forms and killing various demons before she was allowed to rescue her three friends. Touching the Fade pedestal, she was transported to Wynne's nightmare. It took a bit of time, but Asleena managed to convince Wynne to think about how she had gotten there, causing the 'dead apprentices' to turn into demons, that they swiftly killed. In Leliana's nightmare, she had to practically drag the bard away from the 'revered mother' and then defeat them. But what unsettled her most was Alistair's nightmare. In the space of a minute, she found out that he had a half sister, named Goldanna, and that he was happier than he had ever been in his life.
Happier than with her.
She killed the demons ruthlessly, stabbing 'Goldanna' with her sword many more times than were necessary. As with the other two, Alistair faded and disappeared and she was once more alone. Using the Fade pedestal, she traveled to the realm of the Sloth Demon, where her friends reappeared. Together, they crushed it like a bug. Asleena noticed detachedly that she was getting better with her melee weapons. Suddenly, they woke in the Tower, and recovered the Litany of Andralla, charging for the staircase. At the bottom of the staircase was a small purple shield, trapping a Templar inside. Asleena's stomach lurched as she recognized Cullen.
"This trick again? I know what you are. It won't work. I will stay strong..." The Templar moaned, seemingly to himself.
"Cullen! Don't you recognize me?" Asleena gasped, rushing to the shield. Reaching out a tentative hand, she touched the shield, sending a jolt of electricity up her arm.
"Only too well... how far they must have delved into my thoughts..." He whimpered.
"The boy is exhausted. And this cage... I've never seen anything like it. Rest easy... help is here." Wynne reassured the Templar.
"Enough visions. If anything in you is human... kill me now and stop this game."
"He's delirious. He's been tortured... and has probably been denied food and water. I can tell. Here, I have a skin of-" Leliana offered.
"Don't touch me! Stay away!" Cullen shrieked, backing away from the redhead. "Sifting through my thoughts... tempting me with the one thing I always wanted but could never have... Using my shame against me... my ill advised infatuation with her... a mage, of all things. I am so tired of these cruel jokes... these tricks... these..." He started to sob. Alistair glared at his fellow Templar, glancing at Asleena to see how she was reacting.
"This is no trick. We're here to help." Asleena said, cheeks flushing red.
"Silence... I'll not listen to anything you say. Now begone!" Cullen shouted, closing his eyes pointedly. "Still here? But that's always worked before. I close my eyes, but you are still here when I open them."
"Makes you wish you hadn't said those things, doesn't it?" Alistair muttered and Asleena threw him a frustrated look.
"I am beyond caring what you think. The Maker knows my sin, and I pray that he will forgive me." Cullen growled.
"Why does it cause you so much pain?" Asleena queried.
"You are a mage and I, a templar. It is my duty to oppose you and all you are." Asleena hardened at this, standing straighter and stiffer than before. Her eyes glowed slightly red around the normal blue and her fingers sparked. "Why have you returned to the tower? How did you survive?" Cullen demanded. The fire in Asleena burned lower now, anger abating.
"I defeated everything in my way. Now it's Uldred's turn." She announced coldly.
"Good... kill Uldred. Kill them all for what they've done. They caged us like animals... looked for ways to break us. I'm the only one left... They turned some into... monsters. And... there was nothing I could do."
"You must stay strong," Wynne urged him. Cullen only focused on Asleena.
"And to think I once thought we were too hard on you."
"We're not all evil, Cullen." Asleena growled, flames reigniting around her.
"Only mages have that much power at their fingertips. Only mages are so susceptible to the infernal whisperings of the demons." Cullen cried.
"This is a discussion for another time! Irving and the other mages who fought Uldred. Where are they?" Wynne asked the cowering Templar.
"What others? What are you talking about?"
"Irving and the other mages who fought Uldred. Where are they?"
"They are in the Harrowing Chamber. The sounds coming out from there... oh, Maker..."
"We must hurry. They are in grave danger, I am sure of it." Wynne said to Asleena urgently.
"You can't save them. You don't know what they've become. They've been surrounded b-by blood mages whose wicked fingers snake into your mind and corrupt your thoughts." Cullen wailed.
"His hatred of mages is so intense... the memory of his friends' deaths is still fresh in his mind." Alistair whispered to Asleena, standing beside her protectively.
"You have to end it, now, before it's too late." Cullen told her. Asleena narrowed her eyes at him.
"I will not kill an innocent."
"Are you really saving anyone by taking this risk? To ensure this horror is ended... to guarantee that no abominations or blood mages live, you must kill everyone up there." Cullen shouted.
"I'd rather spare maleficarum than risk harming an innocent." Asleena informed him.
"Thank you. I knew you would make a rational decision." Wynne said gratefully.
"Rational? How is this rational? Do you understand the danger?" Cullen yelled frantically.
"I know full well the dangers of magic, but killing innocences becaues they might be maleficarum is not justice. I know you are angry-" Wynne began.
"You know nothing! I am thinking about the future of the Circle. Of Ferelden."
"I do not fear Maleficarum - they should fear me." Asleena said decisively.
"You may be confident in your ability to stand up to them, but what about the rest of us? Will you protect us from them?"
"Stay safe. It will be over soon." Asleena ordered him.
"No one ever listens, not until it's far too late. Maker turn his gaze on you. I hope your compassion hasn't doomed us all."
Asleena had known Uldred before she left the Tower. She had suspected him being a Libertarian but had never thought he would become a blood mage. He had seemed too strong to be possessed. The knowledge that such a thing could happen to her at any time frightened her. After defeating him with the Litany of Andralla, Asleena had helped Senior Enchanter Irving down the stairs back to Greagoir, who grudgingly congratulated her. Irving had promised the help of the mages in the battle against the Archdemon and Wynne had requested to be brought along on their quest. She had accepted, of course; they needed all the help they could get. Asleena sent the rest of her companions back to camp and decided to look around. Exploring the exorcised Tower by herself, Asleena happened upon many things that stirred up sad memories for her. She saw her old bunk, the corner of the library where she and Jowan used to sit in, even a corpse or two of her friends and teachers. Settling down in her place in the library, she hugged herself to fend off the stifling cold. After a few minutes - or maybe hours, she couldn't tell - she heard the familiar clank of heavy plate armour.
"Alistair, is that you?" She called, stepping to her feet. A man in Templar armour came in. "Alistair-" She fell to the ground, unconscious, as she was hit with a mana drain spell. Greagoir stepped around the Templar in the doorway, followed by another two Templars.
"Get her," He ordered grimly.
"Asleena! Where have you been?" Alistair demanded the next morning as she entered the camp. He raced to her side and captured her in his embrace. She was silent until he released her. "Asleena?"
"Alistair. I was at the Tower." She said.
"What happened to you? Why did you take so long getting back?" He queried, folding his arms. To tell the truth, Asleena didn't rightfully remember. She remembered white hot pain searing through her body and she shifted in discomfort. She remembered screaming for Alistair, for help. She shifted her position again. Why hadn't he come for her?
"I-I'm not sure." She said, face betraying no emotion.
"What do you mean you're not sure?" Leliana asked furiously.
"She means that she wishes to keep a secret from us," Zevran announced. "A lover at the Tower perhaps." Alistair snorted but Asleena's face remained immobile. Wordlessly, she marched away, stepping into her tent. Alistair followed, unnerved by her strange behavior. He found her pulling off her armour.
"What are you doing?" He asked, trying to focus on her face and not let his eyes wander. She continued undressing but looked up at him.
"I am a mage. Armour is impractical." By now, she had wriggled into her robes again. Noticing Alistair's red face, she stopped. "Do I make you uncomfortable?"
"N-no, it's just-"
"I always disliked my own body, perhaps it disturbs you also. Currently, I care not about it- it is but a vessel." Alistair gaped at her.
"What? Why are you acting so differently? What happened to you in the Tower?" He shouted, gripping her arms to force her to look at him.
"Stop. That pains me." She commanded.
"Fine! Go sleep with the bloody elf!" He muttered, stomping out of her tent to sit heavily beside the fire. She followed him and stood behind him.
"I have upset you somehow?" She asked tonelessly. He grunted in response. "If it is about the assassin, I have no intention of sleeping with him. I had feelings only for you." He whirled around and Zevran scowled.
"Had?"
"Yes. You are attractive enough, I suppose, and courteous. But now, I find that I do not care for anyone or anything." The rest of the campsite had been listening the whole time, and they muttered amongst themselves. "Now, I have decided we are to go to Orzammar. Arl Eamon will have to wait. He and his family are expendable in this war."
"'Leena, you cannot mean such awful things!" Leliana said, chasing after the mage departing to her tent.
"Alistair, I know what is wrong with her," Wynne said, approaching the confused man.
"What?" Alistair demanded and the elder mage flinched.
"She- She's been made Tranquil."
Durn durn durn…
I dedicate this chapter to YOshi for all the reviews.