Chapter Twenty-Two: Pathologically Early
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age.
Emma was eventually persuaded to go back and tell Emeric what they had found at Gascard's mansion. It helped that Aveline and Carver were for once on the same side even if neither of them actually acted like it during the course of the discussion.
"I don't see Emeric," Emma complained.
"Are you sure?" Anders asked her. "I mean, I can't tell since the minute someone puts on templar apparel they are immediately indistinguishable from anyone else in templar apparel, male or female. Perhaps you should try calling for him."
"That's a little sad, Blondie," Varric told him.
Anders nodded. "I agree. The faceless monsters that the Chantry calls 'templars' are truly horrific."
"That wasn't quite what I meant…" Varric murmured.
"Good idea," Emma said, nodding. "Emeric! Oh, Emeric!"
"Hey," a brunette female templar said, approaching them. "Are you Hawke?"
"My name is Emma not 'mage'," Emma said furiously, glaring at her.
The templar eyed her strangely. "I said 'Hawke' not 'mage'. But I'm going to take that as a yes. If you're looking for Emeric, which I assume you are because you keep shouting his name to the sky, then you should know that he's already left to meet you."
"But I'm not supposed to meet him anywhere," Emma said, confused.
"No, but you are," the templar assured her. She pulled a note out of her bag and handed it over to them. "See, this note came from you about half an hour ago."
Carver read it out loud. "Emeric, it is I, Hawke. Yes, really. This is in no way a trap. I have found all the answers you seek. I could go and tell you them in person but…actually I can't. For some reason. Really. Instead, I'm going to need you to meet me at midnight in that dark alley that is colloquially known as 'Assisted Suicide Lane' due to the obscenely high murder rate there and the common belief that anyone who willing goes there deserves what is coming to them. Don't tell anyone where you're going."
"I do not understand," Merrill said, frowning. "Why would he leave now? It's only half-past noon and the note said not to meet him for another eleven and a half hours."
"Emeric is almost pathologically obsessed with punctuality," the templar said, shrugging.
"I do not understand this either," Sebastian admitted. "If Emma arranged to meet with him at midnight, why did we come here to try to meet with him? It seems most unnecessary."
Fenris groaned. "Clearly that letter is a badly-done and obvious trap, probably because Emeric was onto something despite what the idiots surrounding him seemed to think."
"I'm sure it's not that bad," the templar denied. "Emeric has been acting strangely for months. It's probably just a misunderstanding."
Carver closed his eyes and took a few deep, calming breaths. "Are you even listening to yourself? You have the note, supposedly from Emma, right there. It's very clear, albeit highly suspicious. What does Emeric's 'strange behavior' of trying to do his Maker-damned job have to do with anything? And how can you possibly dismiss this as a 'misunderstanding'?"
"It has to be a misunderstanding," the templar insisted. "Because the only other possibility is that he was right or something and that's just too far beyond the realm of believability to be considered."
"Finally, someone who speaks sense!" Aveline exclaimed, pleased.
"Oh, is that what happened?" Varric deadpanned. "Because it sounded an awful lot like the other thing."
"I am forced to agree that this note from me being sent asking Emeric to meet us somewhere when I did not, in fact, send any such note is highly suspicious," Emma said reluctantly. "Maybe I have to worry about identity theft now and wouldn't that be something? We should definitely be there at midnight to see what's going on."
"We could do that," Carver agreed. "Of course, since he's already left – presumably to go there – now then why not just go there now and ensure that no one gets the opportunity to kill him? I'm nearly positive that whoever set this trap, despite likely being the killer we're seeking, is not psychotic enough to want to show up twelve hours early."
"But what if Emeric isn't there?" Emma countered. "I don't want to wait there all day."
"But Emeric might die because of it," Carver protested. "Competent or not, I'm sure he's no match for whoever lured him there."
Anders shrugged. "So? He's a templar. This is probably the best outcome we could hope for."
Carver sighed. "I didn't want to have to do this but…Emma, I've heard rumors that the thugs that prey on people out on Assisted Suicide Alley are notorious mage haters."
Emma had taken off almost before he had finished that sentence.
Emeric was already there when they arrived and it was a good thing that they showed up when they did, too, because there was a whole host of demons descending on him.
"Demons!" Emma hissed. "You were right, Carver." She shuddered as she realized what she had said. "Demons hate mages. Everyone knows that."
"They do?" Aveline asked, puzzled. "I would have thought they would like them since mages or the ones that they can make deals with and possess."
"They can actually do that to anyone," Emma revealed. "It's just that they prefer to do it with mages. The templars say it's because they want a more powerful host or whatever but I think we all know that the real reason is because demons hate mages."
Anders nodded. "They really do. And that's how I know that Justice is not a demon. Not that I've been wondering about this recently or anything."
"Have a moment of near self-awareness later," Fenris advised. "Kill these demons first!"
They did so and then Emeric (who had prudently gotten out of the way of the fighting since the others had it well in hand and he was clearly not in their league) came over to them.
"Thank the Maker you were here!" he said gratefully. "You are rather early, though."
"Not as early as you," Isabella pointed out.
Emeric shrugged. "It's kind of my thing. Now, your note said something about you knowing everything?"
"Actually, that wasn't my note," Emma explained.
Emeric frowned. "It wasn't your note? Then what…the murderer!"
"That kind of leaping to conclusions is most unprofessional, Ser Emeric," Aveline said reprovingly.
"But he's probably right," Carver protested.
"That is completely irrelevant," Aveline said dismissively.
"I must be on the right track," Emeric said, almost giddily. "What did you find at Gascard's?"
"Well…he says he isn't the murderer so Emma just sort of let him go," Carver confessed unhappily.
"That is most unfortunate," Emeric said, frowning.
"Especially since he did, in fact, have an abducted girl with him," Fenris added. "She's fine now, though. She ran off during the fight."
"But if he were the killer then why would he want me dead?" Emeric mused. "Killing me only makes himself look more suspicious since everyone knows I suspect him. Nobody else, not even you, believe that he's guilty anymore so it's really not necessary. Could someone be trying to frame him?"
"I don't know," Carver replied. "He did tell us that an easy way to predict the next victim would be to see if they receive white lilies as that's his calling card."
Emeric nodded. "Guard Captain, I think it would be a good idea to put out a warning that if anyone, particularly a woman, receives anonymous white lilies to be on their guard and not to go out alone because they might be next."
Varric nodded. "That makes a great deal of sense."
"Well I still think you're crazy so I'm going to reject your idea," Aveline said bluntly.
"Why do we even have guards if they're going to be this stupid and useless?" Carver asked rhetorically.
Aveline glared at him. "You're just jealous because you can't join the guards."
"Well…I was," Carver conceded. "You're doing wonders to get me passed that."
"This is disappointing but perhaps not surprising," Emeric said, sighing. "I'll try and spread the word where I can and I hope you will do the same. I'll send word to you should I find anything out."
"And no more meetings in Assisted Suicide Alley," Carver told him. "And don't trust any notes sent by 'us' because we always come in person."
Emeric actually smiled. "I was wondering about that…Thank you again."
Anders sighed heavily. "Well…we tried."
"We'll do better next time," Emma assured him.
"I really wish that you two would just act like normal people sometimes," Carver told them, shaking his head.
"I really do think that's a lost cause, Junior," Varric told him.
Anders glared at him. "And I wish that you would cease with the incessant anti-mage rhetoric but I guess we can't always get what we want."
"Maybe," Carver allowed, "but it would be nice to get what I want some of the time."
"I'm so glad that you're finally going to visit me at my house!" Merrill said delightedly. "I was beginning to suspect that you didn't like me or something since you've never been there."
"Oh, Merrill, it's not like we don't like you!" Anders replied.
Carver drew back, shocked. "Wait, what?"
"No, you see, we actually hate you. Hate is much stronger than simple dislike," Anders clarified.
Carver relaxed. "Okay, that sounds more familiar. But seriously, you guys, try to be nicer to my girlfriend."
Emma was dragging her feet and looking around desperately for some way to get out of having to go visit Merrill's house. "Hey!" she cried out, her eyes lighting up. "I recognize her! I don't remember why but she seems like a terrible person to me. Does anyone know who she is?"
"Oh, I do," Merrill told them. "That's Arianni. We saved her human mage son Feynriel from slavers three years ago and now he lives with my old clan."
Emma looked torn now between going and talking to her and going to visit Merrill.
Carver sighed, knowing that a visit was probably not in Merrill's best interest. "She said that Feynriel needed our help in that letter she wrote, remember?"
"No," Emma answered honestly. "But I'm looking for a distraction so I'll take your word for it."
Merrill's face fell. "Looking for a distraction? But why?"
Emma ignored her and hurried over to Arianni. "So you said you had a problem?"
"I tried to visit my son among the People and he turned me away. I just know that the demons have taken him!" Arianna exclaimed.
"Not for nothing, but have you considered the fact that he might still be mad that you sold him out to templars?" Isabela inquired.
"That would be ridiculous," Sebastian scoffed. "Templars exist to guide and protect us."
"I am this close," Anders warned, raising his staff.
"I did not," Arianni admitted. "And it didn't matter anyway because the Keeper has said that demons are trying to possess him and so we need you to go into the Fade in his mind and free him or we'll have to kill him now. And if you could hurry then that would be great."
Carver started choking. "W-way to put the pressure on, lady!"
"He's been sleeping for two days now and my son is starting to get a reputation for being lazy," Arianni wailed.
"Under the circumstances, I think that things could be worse," Varric said dryly.
"Keeper Marethari has a way to free him but someone he trusts must enter the Fade and draw him out," Arianni explained.
"And it can't be you because you hates you for being a terrible person," Emma concluded. She shrugged. "Well, a mage in need and whatnot. Let's go."
"Wait, why would he trust us?" Carver demanded. "He met us, like, once three years ago."
"But we support mages," Anders said as if it explained everything. "As a non-mage – and especially as a templar – you could never understand."
"I really think that says more about you people than it does about me," Carver told him.
"Do you hear that?" Anders asked triumphantly. " 'You people'? Yet more proof of templar oppression!"
Carver just rolled his eyes and entered Arianni's house where an unconscious Feynriel and an unflappable Marethari were waiting.
"Keeper," Merrill muttered sullenly.
"Ah, Merrill. Have you come to realize that following the instructions of a demon who seeks only to escape into your body and wreak havoc on this world is a bad idea yet?" Marethari asked hopefully.
"I am an adult and I can make my own decisions!" Merrill cried out.
"Yes, you can, but I would really prefer you did not make stupid, suicidal ones that put us all at risk," Marethari said reasonably.
"I'm not even going to listen to you because you clearly have no idea what you're doing," Merrill told her, crossing her arms and pointedly looking away.
Marethari sighed. "I don't know where I went wrong with her, I really don't."
"Maybe it was the part where you didn't kill her for becoming a blood mage," Anders suggested helpfully.
"No, I think it must have been before that. She had to think letting a demon teach her blood magic was a good idea for a reason," Marethari replied.
"And, not to be racist or anything, but I can't believe that you would delve into the ancient magics to protect this half-breed when you wouldn't for me," Merrill complained.
"I don't know, Sunshine, I think that sounds pretty racist. You did call him a half-breed, after all," Varric pointed out.
"Well, it's all about potential consequences," Marethari tried to explain. "You could very well get us all killed while failing with Feynriel just means that he'll be a tranquil or possessed and killed before he awoke. It would be tragic for him, of course, but much safer for the rest of us."
"You never liked me," Merrill accused.
Marethari just shook her head and decided to ignore that. "I suppose you are wondering why any of this is necessary. Well, Feynriel is what is known as a dreamer. They are very rare and he is the first in two ages to survive. He basically has the power to control the Fade and this makes him very powerful but also an irresistible target for the demons that hate us all. Should he pull through this he will need to go to Tevinter to learn how to keep himself safe. His unconscious state is proof that he is being attacked by a demon right now."
"We've got to do something," Emma said seriously.
"Unfortunately, I only have the power to send four of you into the Fade. Who shall it be?" Marethari inquired. "Oh, but first, Arianni, I want you to leave. The fact that you left the Dalish offends to birth a human son offends me and there's no possibility that you might go into the Fade since you've clearly forgotten everything you've ever learned about Dalish pride and self-sufficiency or you would not live in such squalor in this human city."
"Hey, I live here and it's very nice!" Merrill cried out.
"You keep complaining no one has mugged you yet even though they mug everyone," Fenris reminded her.
"I don't see your point," Merrill said stubbornly.
"I'm going, obviously, as is Anders," Emma began.
"I'm not letting you to go mucking about in the Fade by yourselves," Carver said seriously. "You'd probably end up possessed as well and then Mother would kill me. I'm going."
"Well if you're going then I want to bring Aveline to deal with you," Emma replied, crossing her arms.
Carver sighed. "Fine, whatever."
"So I'm on Carver-sitting duty?" Aveline groused.
"Why can't I go? I really want to go! This sounds like it will be fascinating!" Merrill exclaimed.
"We just can't trust you in the Fade to not make a deal with a demon or something and screw us all over," Emma explained patiently.
"Well…what about him?" Merrill demanded, pointing at Anders.
"Anders hates demons," Emma said simply.
"Plus, he's already possessed so that's one less worry," Carver told her. "Don't worry, this should be fine. Probably. And if you went they'd probably find a way to really kill you or something."
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