Chapter 8:
Turning Heart and Turning Minds
Her desk is always busy, candlelight flickering to the breeze, steady and constant from those passing by. The sound of the quill on paper, like a beast scratching to get out of a locked room; her face focused. What a gift she is. Her golden clothing, reflecting in her eyes. She is a true beauty and fearless in everything she does. Approaching her desk, Lavellan always feels as if she should shroud her in appreciation. She must remember to have the cooks bring her tiny cakes. Some value of thanks for the good friend she is.
"Inquisitor, we are ready to review Dorian's request if you have a moment." Her polite manner, always covering her efforts. Leliana enters the room with Dorian and Morrigan. Cullen the last to enter, stands with arms crossed, unhappy with what is about to unfold.
"I just don't see why our Inquisitor has to go, why can't we send in spies?" The Commanders distrust in the plan revealed immediately.
"We already discussed this. Dorian knows the area better than any of us, if he gets into any trouble he will need more than the spies we will have in place." Leliana cuts the concern out removing the pieces of heart. Clearly, this is going to happen.
"I have received communication from your father, Dorian. He is eager to see you home soon."
"He will suspect a ruse. Do we have everything in place?" Dorian shows his understanding of his father and the lengths he may go to secure his son from the rebel Inquisition.
"The elven spies are already in place, the scouts have met with Josephine's people, we are just waiting on you and the Inquisitor." Leliana confirms the plan.
"Have we considered that they might try to detain Dorian?" Morrigan addresses the question lingering in all of their minds.
"That's why you will be going as his escort, Morrigan." Leliana begrudgingly eyes Morrigan. "You have the secrets of the well on your side, correct?" Crossing her arms with a tip of her hip a sign of sass from the spymaster.
"Me? Ha. You think me a fool?" Morrigan taunts the idea.
"No respectable mage shows up without an escort, Morrigan. Lavellan cannot, Muin cannot, and clearly, we know why. Same as with Bull, Cole, Sera, or any of us. Your connection to us, remains unknown." Leliana eyes her hard with her intent. "The Inquisitor, Muin, and Sera will already be in the building, replacing the servants. Bull will have his chargers stationed and ready for the call, if needed. It's not like we are throwing you to the wolves. You are here to help us, aren't you?" The argument continues. "Once Dorian has met with his father, he will ask to visit the city, escorted by the Tevinter Magisters, of course. Once he enters the Archive Hall, we will have to act fast. Sera, Muin, and Lavellan will create a distraction, while Dorian grabs the Archive Hall key from the guard. The visit will end abruptly as they will be embarrassed over the actions of the servants. You will have to go break them out of their… rooms. They will not take the actions lightly. Moving swiftly, from there you gain access to the archives." Leliana places her game pieces along the map.
"Starting a war with Tevinter is not the goal." Cullen cuts in. His stance bold, but the worry clear on his face.
"My contacts will cover your entrance and exist, beyond that you are on your own as I am sure you are aware of the risk they are taking." Josephine places down her pieces.
"This is the plan the almighty Inquisition comes up with?" Morrigan shakes her head. "However, we do need their information, I digress." Morrigan stops her thought, exposing her new agenda. "There may be something else of use in the area. If I am to do this, then you must allow me to seek this source." Morrigan lays down her piece in the game.
"What source do you refer to?" Leliana narrows her sight, showing her distrust.
"You asked for my help, using my knowledge from the Well. Tevinter holds many elven artifacts. The land did belong to the elves before Tevinter, after all. If there are artifacts, they could be of use to the Inquisition."
"Do you know where to find these artifacts?" Lavellan breaks her silence with a sign of agreement to Morrigan's cause.
"Not exactly, but I will do all that I can to find out more." Morrigan's point pressing hard.
"If there are elven artifacts, we must procure them." Seeing the benefit over the risk, Leliana steps in on the agreement.
"Makers breath, so you want to start a war? It is risk enough just being there." Cullen disagreeing with this new agenda.
"If a few of you show up early, we could cover your entrance. This will give you time to search for the artifacts while we get everyone else in place. It won't give you much time, but it's better than trying to recover them, after a break in." Josephine grabbing at ideas to aid this new twist in the game.
"And what happens when they find the artifacts missing?" Cullen continues the argument further.
"They are elven, they don't belong to them. What are they going to do? Start a war over artifacts they stole?" Morrigan's rebuttal showing her intelligence and ability to outwit any who stands in her path.
"She has a good point." Dorian voices his support, "but they will not just ignore theft."
"They are not going to openly attack the Inquisition. We have Orlais and Ferelden behind us." Josephine clears the concern. We will suspect them to send attacks, but with a few letters to the proper people, we can have those forces eliminated.
"My troops could use some good fights." Cullen plays protection as his support comes around.
"Morrigan, get us as close to the place you sense. We will meet the rest of you at the port. Send Bull and his chargers in to clear the area taking no unnecessary risks." Lavellan demands unity, the room fills with command. A stand echoing the power that they all hold, together. A force, growing beyond what they ever dreamed. The hunt begins.
Morrigan, Lavellan, Muin, and Sera journey off into the territory of Tevinter. Cloaked in large dark hoods, hiding their faces from any who may pass by. The sands are hot under the blazing sun. Morrigan pulls out the map pointing out the direction the group will travel. Meanwhile, the others carefully move into place around their target location of Minrathous. Slave wear laid out awaiting the Inquisition elves, while hands exchange favors between the allied, as every piece moves into position. Uncovering her head, Morrigan holds up the map the directing to a small settlement that sits just off the horizon. Solas, Tevinter.
"Well, this is interesting." Morrigan looks over to Lavellan.
"Solas?" Her brow frowns suspicious in the obvious coincidence.
"Morrigan?" Lavellan breaks the moment.
"I can tell you more, if we proceed, Inquisitor." Morrigan gestures her hand outward, as if to say, after you.
"Well this place is creepy." Sera starts to pick up on the strange feeling in the air.
"I agree." Lavellan's gut in knots. His name, a Tevinter settlement where elven artifacts remain. Her head running circles around the fragments of information, nowhere to put them, they push against her will.
"There is elven magic nearby." Muin's voice breaks out in a tone never heard from her before. This stirs Lavellan further, a choice of words she is so familiar with, haunt her. Feeling a rush go through, she pushes through her sentiment.
Buildings begin to break through the haze. The roofs peak just over the wall surrounding the settlement. Statues of a dragon stand on each side of the gate; bold in black.
The settlement is small, no larger than a common town. Guards stand ready atop the walls. Wearing minimal armor, they do not seem excessively protected.
"The fat one on the ledge is mine." Sera's playful claim.
"You want to wager?"
"Bring it, just keep your lighty thing on your own side."
"Last to fall has to search the corpses."
"Yuck, that one look squishy too, ha-ha."
"Charming, can we get on with it then?"
"You want in, Morrigan?"
"Ha, you wish for me to take away your fun?"
"Witches ain't fun. 3…2…1…"
Flares of magic and arrows meet with the eerie laughter of the two elves as the simple guards fall to the skilled pair. Muin stands brushing off her hands.
"Yeah, rub it in."
"If you two have had quite enough."
"Yes, mother."
Muin turns her face to hide her laughter. It has been some time since the elf has had companions around. Surely Sera arouses a playful spirit long hidden.
Slipping into the settlement, few buildings stand in the shadow of a large temple. Set at the back of the village, centering its dominance on the land. The smaller buildings are Tevinter; however, the larger building boasts a distinct look about it. Oversized black dragon engraved doors threaten any who approach. Guarded by several forces, a mixture of mages and heavy armored troops. The sledgehammers reflect the sun in blinding flashes. Metal and black clothed figures pace back and forth. As the party creeps along unnoticed.
"Those are not Tevinter, is this place abandoned?" Lavellan's voice low.
"Something is wrong." Morrigan whispers. "I, I can't… they are gone."
As the last words leave her lips, a blast of fire comes up from behind them. The ground quaking, rocks fall from the buildings around. The breath of a great dragon knocks them all off their feet. The beast swoops barely missing the ground. The guards stirred to the commotion rush to attack the exposed group. Magic's flare up the sky. Muin freezes her target in light, running to slash into him with her two hook-like blades, ripping into him with a spin to the ground. Sera flips backwards releasing a barrage of arrows; poison in their tips. Placing her feet as she lands, she steadies herself for the next release. Lavellan spins in with her blades tearing the foe to the ground, keeping the other mage from casting his spell on Sera. Marking her next target, she paralyzes him before meeting him with a fierce slash of her blades. Morrigan twists her staff in the air releasing a blast of force against her target that sends him hurled to the ground. The battle is urgent. The dragon circles above, poised for another attack, readying its breath for a burst of fire. Morrigan shouts out sensing the incoming dragon fire…"LOOK OUT!" They all scatter, leaving the enemy to face the blast. For a few, it is their end, however a few forces remain standing. It is not long before they have cast down the rest. Just in time to avoid another attack from the dragon's fiery breath. Lavellan rushes to get to the great doors, but the dragon has beat her to the entrance. Standing in guard of the mysterious building, its might too much for the group unprepared; they must retreat. "Whatever it is guarding, we need to get to it." Morrigan demands.
"Morrigan, that dragon is not like the others." Lavellan meets the topic.
"Something is blocking me from searching further. But whatever is in there, it has the answers we need." Morrigan's intrigue heightens.
"We have no way of doing that now, we will have to come back." Lavellan makes the call.
"No, there is something stronger here, something called in the dragon not wanting to be found. I felt whispers. I wonder if another eluvian stands behind those doors." Morrigan reveals the pieces of what she heard.
"We need to get to the others, we can still recover the information Dorian is looking for." Lavellan leads the focus. "We will have to come back."
Meeting with Josephine's contacts, the others happily reunited.
"So, were you successful?" Dorian opens the discussion.
"I think the question you should be asking is, why is there a great dragon protecting Tevinter territory?" Morrigan briefs the group.
"A dragon? In Tevinter? Well that's not good." Dorian confirms the group's sentiment.
"Can't things just be normal already?" Sera expresses her disgust.
"Let's get what we have come for and get back to Skyhold." Lavellan urges the party.
The three elves go along to put on their disguises and get in place, while Morrigan and Dorian met with Magister Parvus. The building boasts the wealth this nation holds. Dragons carved in great mass along the pillars, as if to invoke fear. Holding up the ceilings that tower open and raised high displaying darkened arches. Books amass the bookshelf covered walls that need stairs and walkways to reach. Everything presented in exquisite detail, gold and darkened metals line every banister. Lavellan, face down, stands holding a tray watching as Dorian, Morrigan, and Magister Parvus enter the room Attended by four mage guards adorned in black robes, oversized hoods, and staffs. Sera stands on the other side of the Hall, her face showing her hatred. Muin stands covered in the slave wear waving an incense holder back and forth, like the ticking hand of a clock. The room still and cold.
"It has been a long times since I have seen such greatness. These libraries used to keep me for hours on end." Dorian plays out his part.
"Indeed, I have never seen anything to meet its match." Morrigan enters her role.
Magister Parvus turns and excuses the mage guards. "Please leave us, I need a private moment with my son." His voice commands in a softer way than expected.
The party stirs a bit, worry filling them all as the mages bow and exit the room. The door slams shut causing them all to flinch inside.
"Dorian." Magister Parvus begins, "you can tell your friends to show themselves."
Uneasy, everyone holds their positions.
"I know why you have come Inquisitor, you do not need to hide – as a slave – in front of me." He makes them all aware of his understanding of the moment. "I knew my son was not here for me or a visit." The Magister continues his confession. "Inquisitor, please, you do not have to fear me as your enemy. I was never able to thank you for bringing my son to meet with me in Redcliffe. I have had time to consider his fate as well as my own."
"My fate?" Dorian interrupts with an irritated breath. The Magister continues his thought. "Many years ago, we once sought friendship with your kind, we have in turn suffered for what our people have done. Though not many of us want to correct our wrong, my son has shown me there is more, than our society, in need of protection."
Dorian looks on at his father in disbelief. "What are you saying?" His brow tightens revealing his compassion, unsure if what he is hearing is truth.
"Thank Andraste, I didn't think I could keep that up much longer." Sera busts out unable to hold her irritation for the situation in any longer.
"I lost everything when I turned you away." Magister Parvus continues. "At first, I thought this Inquisition another mindless rebellion. But, I have seen the work you are doing, you are opening doors long hidden away. Doors many have fought and died to keep secret, to include my own family. I've always known it was not right." The Magister turns now to his son. "Dorian, please accept my help as an apology for everything I have done to you. Here is the key you seek. There is a door behind the last shelf, behind it you'll find what you need. The last thing I can lead you to, there are dwarven scrolls buried in a tomb, west. With these documents you will expose more truths than this world has seen in thousands of years."
"Father." Dorian understanding the betrayal that is taking place, looks in sorrow at his father.
"Dorian, I will be fine. There are more of us, more than you know. You will meet with us again, when you are in need." Magister Parvus turns to exit the room. Off to the side, a few servants come out with two others holding the faint looks of Morrigan and Dorian, clearly to fool anyone who expects betrayal. "Take the tunnel, it will lead you out in secret. We will speak again soon." The door shuts enclosing the party in a stone silence.
"Turning hearts and turning minds." Muin speaks out in a delicate sentiment, smiling at Dorian.
"Well then." Dorian for the first time in his life, speechless.
"Let's get the stuff already and get out of here, my skin is crawling and not in a fun way." Sera grabs her bow from behind a pillar.
"Indeed." Morrigan agrees and just as promised, the room holds four scrolls and an artifact, elven in origin. The party, leaves through the long narrow underground passage leading out to the docks. Meeting with one of Leliana scouts, Lavellan points out the dwarven scrolls location to the scouts as the rest of the party returns to Skyhold. Again, gaining answers and more questions.