"What's going on?" Amryn asked aloud, standing in haste from the desk she was just sitting at. Ian had followed her lead and stood himself, watching the men all run in suit past them and down the hallway which led to the staircase. Watching all of the suited men pass, Amryn noticed one in particular. He was running along side them, in full suit as expected. It seemed like he was yelling orders at them but stopped when his eyes landed on her. Only a single moment had passed but it had seemed like an eternity. The mysterious man's eyes bore into her, filled with emotions that she couldn't precisely read. To her, it mostly seemed like confusion but she couldn't be entirely sure.
Amryn's eyes tore away from the figure once his face straightened and he resumed what he was doing prior, and they turned towards her Knight Captain who was staring back at her already.
"What?" Her bright blue eyes bore into his green ones, awaiting an answer.
"Fresh recruits." Ian responded. "I'm sure they passed by too quickly for you to notice but a man was running along side them. That's why all of the shouting. He's training them to be able to run and move in their full armor." He explained to her, which she nodded but still was calming down from having braced herself for attack.
"Also, there were as few recruits falling behind. I'm sure they will get an earful later." He let out another chuckle, his eyes shining at her as he sat back in the seat he previous resided, nodding at the lady mage to do the same. "Don't worry, everything is fine."
Amryn relaxed her tense shoulders as she sat back into the thick wooden chair, her gaze falling back to the table top.
"Yeah I noticed the man. It just didn't register that they might have been recruits." She sighed, leaving out the fact that she had a run in with that same man earlier that day.
"So what was it you were saying?" Ian asked, leaning in slightly, emerald eyes fixated on her face.
"It was nothing." Amryn said plainly, giving him a small, innocent smile.
Ian looked at her oddly, but accepted her answer.
"Alright, if you're sure." He said lowly, which caused Amryn to chuckle nervously.
An awkward silence fell over the mage and the templar who were seated at the table, causing Amryn to fidget, looking everywhere except at the Captain who had opened his mouth to speak but was cut off.
"Well, if it isn't our favorite mage in Thedas." A familiar and thick Orlesian accent penetrated the the veil of silent awkwardness. The man who spoke, as well as another man stopped beside the blonde.
"Oh, and Captain." He added, slightly bowing his head to show respects to his superior, a smile playing at his lips.
Amryn stood as the men approached and bowed her head at them before sitting back down at the table, closing her book.
"Groves. Clemont." Ians voice rumbled, almost sounding relieved that the two arrived when they did. "Please, sit." He motioned to the two extra seats at the table. The two abided their Captains suggestion and seated themselves. Groves a on Amryn's left, and Clemont on her right. Neither of them wore their armor.
"What is this? No armor day or something?" Amryn laughed at the men before her. "Out of all of my years knowing the three of you, Groves and Clemont especially, I have never seen you out of your armor." Her eyes glanced in between all three men situated around the table.
"Regulations don't require-" The Fereldan, Groves, started but Amryn cut him off.
"Don't require you to wear armor during off duty hours. I know, the Knight Captain already went over that with me."
"Then why ask?" Groves asked, genuinely confused. He never was the brightest out of the Order, but he was most certainly powerful. Even if a bit naive.
"It was a joke, Sir Groves." She retorted, laughing slightly at the Knight who only huffed back at her.
"Anyways," Clemont butted in, changing the subject with a more serious tone, continuing. "What came of Conrad, Ian? I doubt the Knight Commander was exactly happy about his actions."
Clemont talked almost as if he didn't care whether or not Amryn was sitting there, which baffled her. Her electric blue eyes stared at his face which was turned towards Ian, who stared at him without giving an answer. Amryn noticed Clemont's neck, which most of it was covered by his rust colored shirt. But peaking slightly out, Amryn could spot a dark bruise, finger shaped, which was undoubtedly left by the suspect in question, Conrad.
Her gaze returned back to their faces, which were still looking at each other, as was Groves. Ian broke and sighed, running his hand through his short, dark hair.
"We are still awaiting orders on punishment." His eyes turned towards Amryn, causing the other two men to look as well. "The Knight Commander wanted to speak with Lady Amryn about what happened."
"Why?" Amryn questioned, shocked at the fact that the Knight Commander had asked to meet and to speak with her.
The question caused Ian to sigh again, but he answered truthfully, leaning in and placing his hands on the table. He spoke almost inaudibly, allowing only the three at the table to hear.
"Conrad accuses you of attacking him first. He says he only acted in retaliation, in fear of his life being endangered."
"What?" Amryn gasped, leaning in as well, eyebrows furrowed. "But I had enchanted shackles on me to prevent me from using my magic when he attacked me."
"I know." Ian soothed. "I know..." He looked down at the table away from her.
The Orlesian and the Fereldan both looked between the mage and the Captain, unsure of what to say.
Ian raised his eyebrows as he turned his face back to Amryn.
"That wouldn't keep you from stealing a knife hidden in his boot."
Amryn made a sound of disgust, she defended herself, trying to remain silent as she could "You know I wouldn't do that. That's not what happened."
"We know this." Groves added, "We think that the Knight Commander is leaning towards our side."
"But, he wants to meet with you to confirm whether your story matches up with ours." Ian finished Grove's statement.
Amryn placed her head in her hands, a sudden headache creeping into her skull. She didn't know what to think of all of this. Sure, she hated Conrad but she would never bring it upon herself to attack someone without being attacked first.
She felt a hand being placed on her right shoulder. Assuming it was Clemont, she looked at him questioningly.
"Why are you and Groves defending me? And Ian...?" Her voice sounded confused and curious as to why they were all willing to help her.
Clemont hesitated, giving Groves time to cut in.
"It's because we trust you, Lady Mage." His dark chocolate colored eyes shimmered at her as his dark, thin lips curled into a reassuring smile.
Amryn looked between them, still confused.
"Why do you trust me so suddenly."
"My, you are filled with questions aren't you?" Ian chuckled, amused by the female mage that sat before them and he nodded at Clemont to explain.
"Groves and I trust you because Ian trusts you. We strongly believe that his judgment is the correct one. We have been friends since before the circle and we would follow him to the Deep Roads and back if he ordered us to." Clemont's hand now rested back on the table in front of him but his gold eyes still rested on Amryn's face.
"Hell, if he ordered us to stay behind while he went into the Deep Roads, we'd probably disobey his order and follow him in anyways." Groves laughed, causing the other two men to laugh as well and Amryn to smile at them.
"Well, I certainly am flattered. Thank you." Amryn grinned widely at them, unable to control the blood rushing to her cheeks.
The four of them at the table stopped talked and their faces straightened as a fifth, unfamiliar voice spoke up to them.
"It seems Ostwick's Templars are getting a bit... Too comfortable around mages."
The voice sounded almost Antivan in origin, but Amryn didn't recall ever meeting any Antivan Templars in Ostwick's circle. Definitely none who sounded like that. The company of four all stood and faced the body that the strange accented voice belonged to. There stood a man, in full armor, helmet included. It seemed like he towered over the four of them, built large and sturdy. Purple seemed to radiate from underneath his helmet, which made Amryn stare at the opening in his helmet to figure out what was causing the glow. After a few seconds, her eyes focused on his, confirming that's what was emitting the faint glow of, not purple, but a dark magenta.
After getting past the fact that he had abnormally colored eyes, she realized he was glaring at her. A very cold glare at that. Who was his man? She had a run in with him earlier that day, and just several minutes prior, he was running along side the recruits and was staring her down. But who was he? She had never seen him before today.
