Chapter 3 Moving on Up
Mason had warned Tempest, since she had not gone through the Harrowing at her old tower Gregoir would want to put her through it as soon as possible. Tempest had forgotten all about it as she settled into her routine. A week had passed since the birthday party and she had yet to find herself in any real trouble with Gregoir or Cullen for that matter. He seemed intent on making sure she didn't cause any mischief. Especially when Gregoir told him about what Mason had said regarding her setting robes on fire.
"Wake her Ser Cullen." Gregoir said his voice quiet not wanting to wake the other mages nearby. Cullen stepped forward and leaned down placing his hand on her shoulder and shaking her gently at first. Then with much more force he shook her and rasped "Mage Tempest wake up!"
Tempest jerked up "Wha…who, Cullen?" her voice groggy and surprised. There was only one lantern lit and all she could really see was him but she knew more Templars were there. Cullen stepped away from her and she watched the glowing lantern rise and Gregoir's face appear. "It is time mage Tempest."
"All right." She said swinging her legs over her bed she grabbed her robe and waited a moment. "Umm I need to put my robe on." Tempest almost laughed as she heard the quick movements of Templars turning around. Once her robe was on and situated she took in a breath and let it out "I'm ready."
Irving took her arm and they made their way up the tower. The final stairway appears up to the Harrowing chamber. The mood already somber darkens. The Templars faces are grim and Irving's is filled with concern. Maker this is worse than a funeral. Tempest thought as the door opened. The air was thick and heavy with the scent of Lyrium.
The Templar's moved out circling the massive stand where a bowl of Lyrium lay in wait. Gregoir began the lecture he had given a thousand times regarding magic and its place. Tempest scanned the faces of the Templars when her gaze fell on Cullen. He looked over at her and he frowned sadly. Tempest quickly looked away and licked her dry lips. Shifting in place she heard her stomach growling. Great, she thought, that's all I need to pass out right before my Harrowing.
Irving reached over and handed her a cookie and she gratefully took it. Gregoir was still talking "Magic is said to serve man never to rule over them. So said the prophet….Maker's breath are you eating a cookie Mage Tempest?" She froze and then shoved the whole thing in her mouth chewed and swallowed as quickly as possible.
"No Knight Commander." She kept her face innocent.
Sighing he rubbed his brow "Irving you have anything to add."
"Remember this is a realm of dreams, your will is real there." He patted her shoulder and smiled.
"You are ready." Gregoir said and pointed to the bowl.
"That is a lot of Lyrium." Tempest muttered as she walked closer to it. Her heart thundered the closer she got. The blue glow encircled her and called to her. Placing her hand into the Lyrium an explosion rocked the tower sending her flying back.
"Andraste's knickers that was no fun…ugh this place just so dreary." Dusting herself off she quickly began changing the way things looked making it much more pleasing to her. "Well let's go find this demon that plans to possess me." Wandering through the dirt trail she happens upon a mouse who transforms into a man. He tells her a sob story of how he was a mage who was trapped here. She had wanted to scream DEMON, but found it wiser to keep silent for the moment.
As they progressed down the trail they were assaulted by wisps and fade wolves. Getting rid of them was no real challenge. After the last wolf was killed she noticed a spirit with a variety of weapons around him. The closer she got the better she felt this was no demon.
"And which spirit are you?" Tempest asked looking the weapons over.
"I am a spirit of Valor. This test they make you go through is unfair you should be able to battle your enemy one on one." He hammered down on a sword.
"I agree I would prefer the combat myself…did you make these weapons yourself?"
"Yes, do wish one of my weapons mortal?" His voice was tinged with eagerness.
"Well if it helps me against the demon yes I do, I suppose you want to fight for it?" Spirits could be so easy to read at times. She thought to herself.
"Indeed, if you fail human you will die." His voice was grave.
"Why is everyone talking about killing me today?" she shook her head.
Valor lunged at her with a spear and Tempest jerked out of the way and threw a spirit bolt at him sending him back a few steps. Charging Valor switched from his spear to a sword and shield. With a roar he swung at her and Tempest slammed him back with a lightning bolt. Staggering back Valor refused to back down. "Valor if you don't back down I might kill you." Tempests voice was worried. She did not want to kill a good fade spirit.
Valor ignored her plea instead rushing towards her again. Tempest created a sphere of cold and threw it with as much force as she could muster and Valor froze in place. "Maker's balls I didn't think you could freeze a fade spirit." She said in surprise at first and the panicked. Rushing over to the frozen spirit she set flames on her hands and began melting the ice away from him.
He burst from the ice and stumbled down. On instinct she reached down to help him when he pulled her magic from her into him. Valor shuddered and his grip around her tightened. "You feel beautiful."
Oh this does not seem good. Tempest glanced around "Valor you need to let go of me now." Keeping her voice gentle she tried pulling away from him and he kept his hands firmly on her. Panic began to sit in was this her test? Had she been lied to? A familiar voice shook her from her turmoil.
"Valor let her go." Compassion walked over to the two of them and Valor glanced over at him.
"Have you felt her Compassion…she is wonderful to feel." Maker that sounded oddly perverse Tempest thought trying once again to jerk away from him without resorting to all out war.
"You must let her go Valor NOW!" Compassion's voice echoed and Valor forced himself to pull away from me.
"Forgive me mortal I did not mean to…" Tempest smiled and shook her head.
"It is all right Valor; do not trouble yourself, now about that weapon." She said wanting to forget the whole incident. Valor quickly handed her a staff and returned to his work. Compassion turned and smiled at her.
"Are you all right?" His head was cocked to the side a rather human thing to do.
"I am all right Compassion thank you." Her voice was sincere as she glanced about shyly.
"You are welcome mortal, keep safe." Compassion turned and disappeared, leaving Tempest slightly bewildered.
"Interesting friends you have." Mouse said startling her. "Maker I forgot you were there." She said aloud and it snickered but said nothing. Shivering she kept moving. Staff in hand she was ready to get this whole thing over with. Her next encounter was with a demon of sloth much to her irritation. It seems mouse wanted to learn to shape shift into a bear and Tempest played along with the charade.
Turning back she walked towards the small plane where mouse had mentioned earlier being the place she would see the demon she had to defeat. The ground shook as a rage demon emerged threatening to possess her and Tempest laughed and sent a stream of cold at the demon then shattered it into a million pieces. A shard of ice shot across her cheek cutting into her. Healing the small wound mouse turned back into a human.
"You were amazing! I knew you could do it!" his voice excited. He almost reminded her of Jowan except for the teal eyes.
"Let's save the theatrics I tire of this game demon of Pride." She glared at him and he threw his head back and laughed.
His body began to discolor and soon he changed once again to the massive demon he truly was. "Maker you bastards are huge." She growled.
"Be wary mage you may have passed this test but true tests never end." He disappeared in an angry burst.
Groaning Tempest struggled to wake. Did they not catch you when you fall? What if you hit your head on the stone and died? Everything around her was blurry when she heard Gregoir's voice. "Cullen, bring her to her quarters." Hmm, a bed would be nice. She thought before passing out again.
Cullen bent down and slipped his arms under her body and gently picked her up. He jostled her slightly to get a better grip when her nose and lips fell on his neck. His pulse jumped at the feeling of her touching his skin. Moving her away from his neck he looked down to see her smiling in her sleep. Slowing down his pace he found himself mesmerized by her. How many mages had he carried back and none enraptured him the way she did. Her eyes slid open and he couldn't pull himself away from her sleepy gaze.
"Ser Cullen?" her voice muffled.
"Yes Mage Tempest." He said trying to keep his voice firm.
"Can I get a cookie before bed?" she sighed and closed her eyes again.
He was thankful she didn't see the grin that spread across his face.
"Holy Maker you're awake!" Jowan said staring down at the scrunched up face of Tempest. "We thought you were going to sleep another day!" He sat down taking hold of her hand his face worried. The irritation Tempest felt faded and she smiled at him. "I slept that long?"
Solona nodded her head "Everyone's been worried. Cullen brought you back the night before and you slept through till this morning."
"No wonder I'm so hungry." Tempest sat up her robe a crumpled mess and covered in cookie crumbs. Standing up she brushed them off and tried straightening her robe.
Hearing armor rattle Tempest looked up to see Cullen with what seemed a relieved look on his face. "Your awake, good I am to escort you to your new quarters immediately." He walks over and picks up her trunk with ease. He saw her surprised look and tried not to look smug.
"I guess I better go but I'll come back later okay?" Tempest hugged Jowan and Solona.
"We will be waiting!" Solona said winking at her making Tempest give a questioning look.
Cullen moved quickly through the hallway and up the stairs to the mages quarters. Each room held three beds that had no doors, but were walled off by bookcases and screens to allow for some privacy. They were required to remain as open as possible for Templars to be able to quickly see what might be transpiring. Following him into the first door way he walks to the center bed and sets her chest down. She was not sure who the room belong to previously but the wooden screens had been painted with scenes from nature and the book case that provided a wall was filled with books.
"I will leave you to get settled." Cullen said when Ayden appeared around the corner.
"Why templar Cullen I should thank you for providing me with such a lovely neighbor." He smiled coyly and Cullen glares but says nothing.
"Is that so?" I say smiling at him.
"Indeed my day just go better." He had wolf like grin on his face and her cheeks redden.
"The First Enchanter wants to see you as soon as you are able." His voice laced with anger.
Tempest glanced at him confused but nodded in agreement. "Thank you Ser Cullen."
Cullen turned and paused about to say something and then just left.
"Maker I thought he would never leave." Ayden said moving closer to her.
Licking her lips Tempest laughs nervously "I, I better go see what Irving wants."
Ayden was to sexy for his own good Tempest thought; as she hightailed it out of there. Stopping at the mages kitchen she grabbed a few rolls and made her way to Irving's office. Cullen she noticed was nowhere to be found.
"There you are welcome to the circle dear girl. I have your new mage robes and your staff for you as well as a ring." He motions to the small pile at the end of his desk.
"Thank you First Enchanter." She says grabbing her newly acquired items.
"It goes without saying to not speak of the Harrowing to anyone." His gaze direct and voice firm.
"Of course." Her head bobbing in understanding
"Now take some time to reflect study…"
"Eat." She sighed rubbing her stomach.
He laughs "Yes that to."
After changing into her new robe and putting on the ring Irving gave her, Tempest made her way back down to the apprentice quarters in search of Jowan and Solona. She found them sitting on her old bed playing cards.
"Hey got room for one more?" Tempest sits on the bed and Jowan quickly deals her in.
"So what is going on between you and Cullen?" Solona finally blurted out.
"What? Nothing why would you think that?" a look of shock crossed Tempest's face.
"Well first of all, he hovered in front of the door the entire time you were sleeping after you're harrowing. That and you're always talking to him." Jowan's eyes narrowed scrutinizing her carefully.
Tempest rolls her eyes "I always talk to the Templars because agitating them is part of the fun. They don't like talking to us but they have to be semi polite."
"Right and you pick Cullen because…what?" Solona shot back.
"He's always around when I am." She said her voice holding no inflection.
"Liar!" Solona laughed.
"Please, anyways I need your guy's advice and I swear by the maker if this gets out to anyone I will make your lives very very miserable." Tempest looked around quickly to see if any mages were nearby as the two began swearing on the maker and families graves.
"My room is right next to Ayden." Her voice was a whisper.
"You lucky bitch!" Solona yelled punching Tempest in the arm.
"Oww!" she rubbed her arm pouting and then ducked down closer to them.
"I think, I think he's umm…"
"Trying to woo you?" Jowan said and she gave him a blank look "A lot more crass than that."
Their eyes widen "Oh, OH!"
"Shhh! I don't know what to do!"
"You mean you've never?" Solona's voice trailed off.
She gave them a look of annoyance. "When would it have happened?"
"Oh, oh your right." Solona nodded her head and looked over at Jowan who seemed fascinated.
"I have no idea what to do." Throwing her hands up she falls back on the bed and Jowan lies down next to her looking at her intently.
"Question one, do you want to?"
She bit her lip "I have no idea."
"Well you will find out soon enough keep us informed." Solona said lying on the other side of her.
"Planning to live vicariously through me I take it."
Jowan and Solona laughed "You know it." They said simultaneously.