Standard Disclaimer: Bioware owns all Dragon Age characters and in game content. I own the bits that are left.
Chapter 18 – Take Care of the Seeds Sowed
9:20 Dragon Age, aboard a vessel bound for Highever – Neria (10), Greagoir (40), Irving (50)
Greagoir heaved a deep sigh as he gazed distractedly out at the waves that were only visible due to the few lamps on deck. He needed to think and the cabin he shared with Irving was too stifling even with the First Enchanter asleep. He felt like pacing but years of discipline prevented him from acting on it.
It had been strange meeting Ines again after three years of physical absence but constant letters. Despite the closeness he had felt in their correspondence to each other, actually interacting with her face to face was vastly different. However, he could not identify the change, it was as if a wall had risen between them that he did not comprehend or breach. The only time he got a glimpse of the Ines he knew, the Ines she still was in her letters, had been when she willed it, like a window opening unto her real self for a short while before shutting him out before an impenetrable wall.
He sighed. Things had only gotten worse when he had questioned her on the wisdom of sending Neria into the jungles of Antiva with only a Crow for protection. They had not spoken after that altercation until Neria finally returned. Between accompanying Irving on the various meetings during the College of Magi, he had not had the time to truly speak to her and ask all the things he wanted to before discovering Neria's disappearance.
Now he wished he had left it alone. The man in him had riled at the Knight-Commander part of him for wasting this chance. After all, the only reason he had accompanied Irving and Neria on this trip was to see her. To travel for a month across the Waking Sea and Amaranthine Ocean just to spend three weeks in the furnace that was an Antivan summer before travelling back the same way for the same amount of time was not Greagoir's idea of a good time.
He heaved yet another sigh, looking up into the starless sky this time. Perhaps it was just as well that there now seemed to be an insurmountable chasm between the two of them. She had always been the stronger of the both of them, making all the right decisions. Knight-Commander that he was, there would never be a future for the both of them. Besides, he was uncomfortable with the blatant way that she flouted Chantry rules to get things done. It was best to keep his distance before she further warped his beliefs and render all he had sacrificed pointless.
Neria breathed a sigh of relief when Greagoir finally retreated below deck. She had sneaked up from her cabin to get in some practice and relieve the strange ache in her heart that started since she resisted the temptation to visit Zevran in the Fade. Her initial belief that there needs to be proximity between the both of them for it to succeed had been disproven after two weeks at sea.
Each night, she only had to think of him and a portal would appear that led to his dreamscape. It was disconcerting to Neria that she had become so connected to the young Crow. The dreams he had were disturbing but Beolagh had warned her against further meddling. Even though she wanted desperately to dispel the horrors Zevran experienced each night, she would force herself to turn away and escape into the blankness that was raw Fade. It did not get any easier but she was no longer a part of his life. She would not subject him to her presence in his mind. It did no one any good to dwell on could have beens.
Each day, she would ponder on the words that her mother spoke and each night her heart would ache for someone to hold her and tell her that everything was going to work out fine. However, there was no one she could share this secret. Irving would neither understand nor condone any non Chantry sanctioned magic. Greagoir would probably take the opportunity to make her Tranquil. Therefore, nightly, she poured her frustrations into physical exercise, becoming a whirlwind of daggers and limbs. This helped to clear her mind so that outwardly she was still the lovable and inquisitive Neria the crew adored. She would not succumb to despair. It was not beneficial and a total waste of time. She will enjoy herself until she had more information on this curse, whatever it was and however it may affect her.
-0-
9:20 Dragon Age, Antiva City, Antiva – Zevran (17), Rinna (14)
Once the contract for the First Enchanter's demise was completed, the status of Master Frediano's cell alleviated from small and non-threatening to up and coming. That meant more Masters were wary of them and sought to nip the problem in its bud. Every time Zevran or other members of their group left the neutral territory that was the Crow recruit training facility, they would be set upon by Crows from other cells.
It got so irritating that Zevran craftily suggested to Master Frediano to take the initiative to reduce the numbers of their enemies by the usual way or some sort of diplomacy. Unfortunately, it turned out that Master Frediano was not too gifted with words and Zevran had ended up whoring himself out to appease the different Masters he inadvertently offended. Of course, if they ended up dead and their cells assimilated into Master Frediano's, that was just part of a vicious rumour circulating the city. The details of their gruesome deaths had kept many stout hearted and strong stomached citizens from their meals upon its telling.
The attacks finally stopped after the size of their cell reached more than seventy and that was when Zevran met Rinna again.
The female apprentices were all flustered and jittery after Master Frediano announced that the great Zevran Arainai was going to hand pick one of them to be his personal apprentice. As the size of the Master's cell increased so did the amount of work and, apparently, his lover did not wish to spend too much time on training that did not yield any profit.
"I wonder if he is as handsome as they claim?"
"I heard he can turn you on with just words."
"They say that he's so fast with his daggers, they are a blur."
"Those tattoos of his are supposed to be all over his body."
Rinna snorted. The Zevran she remembered was a lanky albeit handsome boy who did not care to be kissed. While ten years and Crow training could change a person drastically, she doubted he was as fabulous as the rumours.
The door to their dormitory opened and a young elven man sauntered in after Master Frediano. Rinna's eyes were instantly drawn to his face. The sharp elven features were more manly and distinct with two swirls of dark brown inked into the side of his face, almost begging her to trace them with her fingers. Her heart stuttered then started racing and Rinna felt warmth spread up her face and down to the pit of her stomach when he smirked at all the room's occupants. Audible sighs were heard from around her and she squashed the urge to join in, mentally rolling her eyes in exasperation with her fellow apprentices and herself.
She stood as rigid as she could as he meandered through the meagre space and chatted with each apprentice. Finally, he stopped in front of her. His eyes swept from the top of her long, curly burgundy coloured hair that she had managed to tame into interlocking braids at the back of her head, to her ocean blue eyes, slender body, dainty limbs and back up again in a smouldering gaze. Rinna felt her face flush under his considering gaze and stiffened her back, looking straight ahead, focusing intently on his cuirass.
"Undressing me in your mind?" Zevran quipped and to Rinna's mortification, she flushed a deeper red.
The sardonic smirk on his face barely slipped a fraction when Rinna glared and retorted. "I am not interested in bedding a whore who has probably slept with half the city."
Gasps were heard from those closest to Rinna at her audacity but to her frustration, Zevran merely chuckled wickedly. "I will have to teach you how to discern rumours and truth." Turning to Master Frediano with a roguish smile, he beckoned at her with a fingertip. "I'll take this one. I like her spunk."
"Don't you have to observe them training before you make your decision, Zevran?" Master Frediano asked doubtfully. "I want someone who will eventually be an equal to your skills not just another pretty face."
"Time can be taken to train skills but spirit has to be there to break and mould into a useful tool." Zevran confidently stated before smiling conspiratorially at Rinna.
-0-
9:20 Dragon Age, Cousland Castle, Highever, Ferelden – Neria (10), Elissa (9), Fergus (15), Nathaniel (14)
The whole of Highever is in celebrations. Apparently, Emperor Florian's niece, daughter of his youngest sister, Celene, had ascended the Orlesian throne. The sixteen year old had immediately expressed her interest in ceasing the hostilities between the two countries. Teyrn Cousland had led a diplomatic delegate to Orlais and secured trade agreements that were lucrative for both countries.
Irving and Greagoir were of a mind to leave Highever without meeting the Couslands again but the Maker obviously had other plans. As they were hurrying to the mews to retrieve their mounts, they met Teyrna Cousland and her children giving out food to the poorer vassals within the village.
"It is a great pleasure to meet you again, Teyrna Cousland." Neria smiled radiantly as she dipped into a deep curtsy.
"Neria! Your voice!" Eleanor gasped in surprise before looking to both Irving and Greagoir for an explanation.
"I was sent to Antiva to see Senior Enchanter Ines so that she could cure my injury. I was not always mute. It was the result of an unfortunate accident." The practised lie rolled off her tongue before either of them was able to reply.
"I'm glad that you found good fortune in your travels." Fergus grinned at the little elven girl to whom he owed his life to. His breath hitched when she raised her brilliant hazel eyes and gave him a dazzling smile. He felt his loins tighten within his breeches and a light flush travelled up his neck. What in the Void is wrong with me? Fergus fought to calm down even as his mother made ready to leave for the castle. He ducked his head and hunched in a bid to hide his awkward condition.
Neria frowned at Fergus' reaction. It reminded her so much of Anders that she was more than a little perturbed. Was this the curse in action? I can't even smile at others?
Elissa was silent as she stared at Neria openly. In the two and a half months that she had been in Antiva, Neria had acquired a light brown tan and looked even more exotic. She was also much more comfortable in her leathers, moving with a grace that Elissa only managed to attain after years in the same.
"You must stay with us tonight and join in the celebrations." Eleanor offered without preamble. "That is if you do not have any reason to rush back to the Circle?"
Irving and Greagoir exchanged looks before Greagoir nodded in agreement. Neria beamed in anticipation. She loved a good party but the only holiday celebrated within the Circle Tower was Satinalia and that was only once a year. She could not wait to eat, drink, laugh, dance and even learn to sing some new songs if they had a minstrel.
The one thing that Neria had missed the most after her "accident" was humming out the odd tune learned during each Satinalia from visiting minstrels. She had always been fascinated with how a gifted minstrel was able to stir emotions with tune and words. It was like a magic form that was not taught within the Circle Tower and Neria was determined to master it. She never had an audience so she could not gauge if she was good or just plain awful. She decided that she would put her voice to the test at the Cousland celebrations. After all, they were unlikely to ever meet again once she returned to the Circle Tower.
Fergus' eyes sought out Neria despite the numerous admonishments he gave himself while changing for the festivities. At his mother's insistence, she had changed into a gown Elissa had never worn before it got too small for her. It was a lacy, white velvet dress with beads sewn into the bodice and a big satin bow tying its victim into the contraption. Elissa had taken one look at it and ran the other way. However, Neria obviously had a higher appreciation of the attire. Fergus watched her pick her way carefully through the crowd, taking great care not to get mud on her new slippers. The moment she saw him, she flashed a bright smile and Fergus felt his throat going dry once again.
"I think Teyrna Cousland and Elissa will be taking a little longer." She quipped with a twinkle in her eyes. "I didn't think Elissa was enamoured with the attire the Teyrna had picked out for her."
"You are just being polite." Fergus could not help answering with a smile as well. "Knowing my sister, she is giving my mother a headache with vehement protests and threatening to come in her leathers."
Neria laughed, a trill of silvery laughter that caused others around them to turn to her in fascination. Fergus felt a strange heat creep through him and glared in annoyance at the others before grasping Neria by her elbow. "Let me introduce you to some friends of mine who have come to join us in celebrations."
Fergus led Neria away from the interested spectators around them and towards where he last saw Nathaniel and Thomas Howe. He struggled with his turbulent emotions, something he usually had little trouble with as he had been trained since birth by his parents to keep his emotions close to his heart and not on his sleeve. He desired the little elven girl and it horrified him. She was clearly just a child and he had only just started to be aware of the opposite sex. However, the usual objects of his focus were much older and more voluptuously endowed.
He stifled a sigh of relief upon spotting his stoic friend standing near his younger brother beside the tables groaning under the weight of all the food placed on them. Thomas was piling his plate with sweet breads and puddings while Nathaniel was grousing on his choice of sustenance.
"You will make yourself sick if you eat all that." The dark haired boy stated brusquely as he slapped Thomas' hand away from another helping of sweet rolls. "Finish what you have on your plate before taking more. I doubt you can finish them as it is."
A petulant look appeared on the younger blond. It ruined his perfectly good looks and the squeak of his voice did him no credit. "You've no right to order me around! I will eat all I want!"
Nathaniel smacked his younger sibling on the back of his head. "Last I checked, I am still the older brother here. You will listen or I will tell Mother and let her nag at you."
"You wouldn't!" A dismayed look appeared on the young boy's face. "Void take it! I'll finish this and come back for more. You'll see!"
Thomas stomped away, curtly bowing to Fergus, bearing his heaped plate. Neria smothered a laugh at the disgusted look on Fergus' face. He obviously had no love for the pintsized noble. She turned curious eyes on the serious looking, older boy who was still shaking his head.
"Nathaniel, I would like you to meet Neria, literally my saviour." Fergus gestured to a momentarily stupefied Neria. She had not expected that sort of an introduction. She quashed the urge to cast her eyes downwards as the teenaged noble stared down his impressive nose at her. Mischief dancing in her eyes, Neria sank into a very proper curtsy, all the while smiling up radiantly at him.
Instantly, the ice in his eyes melted and Nathaniel's mouth quirked upwards in answer. Fergus had never seen Nathaniel warm up to anyone so quickly. He felt a flare of irritation when he recognised the look of speculation his friend was casting between Neria and him.
Nathaniel felt strange, friendly feelings stir within him for the petite elven girl in front of him. He bowed perfunctorily in return and, finally, unable to suppress it, a smile appeared on his face.
"Why are you bowing and smiling at a knife ear?" A voice thundered over the noise surrounding them. Neria turned to see another noble, a much older one, sneering at Nathaniel, Fergus and her.
"A gentleman should always answer a lady's curtsy with a bow, Father." Nathaniel answered as if from rote.
Very obviously rolling his eyes at his son's dour retort, Rendon Howe narrowed his eyes at Neria. "She is no more a lady than the pigs in the Cousland's sty."
Without missing a beat, Neria turned to Fergus. "Wow! I knew your family is nobility and all… But even your pigs are noble? Isn't that a little too much? Do you eat them? Or are they just kept for their ancestry? No good for anything else other than the blood that runs within them?"
The cleverly disguised insults within the questions startled a laugh from Fergus, a suspicious sounding cough from Nathaniel and an outraged gasp from the Arl. "I will have you flogged for your insolence." He clamped his hand down on Neria arm and tightened it into a vice.
Before Fergus could protest, Neria smiled icily at the older noble, her eyes having darkened to dark obsidian. "You may wish to remove your hands before they are permanently detached from your body."
The Arl's sneer faltered a little before his nostrils flared as he glared menacingly at Neria. "I will enjoy breaking your spirit, knife ear."
Neria's eyes sparked with barely restrained ire and an audible woosh was heard as she ignited in blue flames. Arl Howe screamed in a decidedly unmanly manner as his hands were engulfed in the flames and his skin blackened. He let go of Neria and raced to the nearest water barrel and plunged in his hands.
Neria chuckled wickedly while Fergus and Nathaniel stared in dismay after the Arl. They turned frightened eyes on the little girl but she simply smirked. "Don't worry. It was just an illusion. Let's get out of here before he realises that."
Nathaniel turned to see his father's thunderous expression as he lifted perfectly unscathed hands out of the freezing water before grinning and motioning them away from his irate parent.
"You scared me there!" Fergus let out the breath he had not realised he had been holding and laughed heartily. "Did you hear the way he screeched? Like a little g-g-girl!" He managed to speak around his mirth.
Nathaniel scowled at his friend and levelled a penetrating glance at Neria. "What was that?"
"An illusion, of course. I do not have the habit of maiming a new friend's father immediately after being introduced." Neria replied imperturbably. "I did warn him. I do not appreciate being manhandled or called names. He's lucky to have been your father or he would have had a more permanent reminder." Her eyes glazed into cool obsidian before she blinked and it was that bright hazel again. "I hear music. Is there to be dancing already?" She bounced excitedly on her slippered feet and grabbed both their hands, stalking determinedly towards the joyous melody.
Fergus and Nathaniel glanced at each other helplessly and shrugged. Neria's mercurial moods were perhaps a part of her being a mage.
Elissa found her brother standing to the side in the crowd circling the dancing couples. She nervously smoothed out the aquamarine gown that her mother had insisted she wear or be subjected to a month of proper lady's training with Deliah's mother. She capitulated without another protest. Deliah's mother was the epitome of a gentle lady. She would have gushed and keeled over at Elissa's penchant for trousers and weapons training.
"Where's Nathaniel? I thought you would have found him by now." Elissa asked while discreetly looking around for her fellow rogue. She liked Nathaniel. He always treated her like an equal, disregarding her age or gender. He was the one who had first taught her to wield daggers when he had found her awkwardly and wildly flaring with the practise ones that Fergus had discarded.
When Fergus did not answer, Elissa narrowed her eyes in anger at her brother and was about to stamp on his foot in retaliation when she realised his attention was fully on the dancers within the circle. She glanced in the direction he had been watching so intently and saw a smiling Nathaniel dancing with an equally pleased looking Neria.
Elissa felt a strong stab of pain in the regions where she supposed her heart was supposed to be. Nathaniel had always been a stoic and taciturn boy and it only worsened as he grew older. In all her years of knowing him, she had never seen such an expression on his face. It made him even more handsome than he already was and Elissa was angry that it was so easily directed at Neria, a virtual stranger.
The music rose to a crescendo and faded. Nathaniel twirled Neria back into his arms and swept her up above him before slowly bringing her down, very close to his body. She was openly laughing up at him by the time her feet were back on the ground and Fergus let out a frustrated growl.
Elissa raised a surprised gaze at her brother. Since becoming a teenager, Fergus had kept most of his feelings close to his heart as her father had always expounded on the necessity for this skill within the nobility. Fergus took his words to heart and had stopped displaying any outward signs of emotion in public.
Music started playing again and Elissa could see Nathaniel asking Neria for another dance. The elven girl shook her head and mimicked drinking of water. Nathaniel bowed and walked towards the refreshments table while Neria made her way to Fergus' side.
"Elissa, you look so pretty!" Neria gushed in open admiration while the human girl narrowed her eyes in suspicion at the flattery.
Her long dark brown hair, usually braided and twisted into a bun to keep out of the way of her weapons training, had been let down and brushed to the death by Nan. She also knew that the gown her mother had chosen set off the highlights in her hair from the constant exposure to sun and the green of her eyes. However, she did not think she looked any better than a trussed up chicken. Given the dismissive snort from her brother at Neria's words, Elissa flushed in anger at what she felt was insincere fawning.
Neria batted Fergus' arm in, to Elissa, an overly familiar way. "Stop that! She's lovely!" Smiling dazzlingly up to Nathaniel who was approaching with some mugs in his grasp, she queried "Don't you agree, Nathaniel?"
Elissa held her breath as Nathaniel's eyes roved from the top of her hair to the tips of her booted feet. She had literally put her foot down when her mother had requested for her to wear silk slippers, protesting vehemently enough for her mother to relent on this small detail. Now, as Nathaniel's gaze lingered on her boots, Elissa wondered if she should have given in and just went with her mother's whim.
"She looks almost like a girl for the first time since I have known her." Nathaniel answered in a dry tone before offering the mugs to them. Elissa's ire rose when she noticed that he had first offered the drink to Neria. She tamped down on her raising irritation and gulped the drink without a thought and immediately spluttered, coughing violently.
One of Neria's eyebrow rose as she took a sip of the brew, smacked her lips in appreciation and took a larger swallow. "This is nice. What is it?" She looked in askance at Nathaniel before taking another mouthful.
"It's Orlesian apple cider." Tipping some into his mouth, Nathaniel blinked and continued. "Apparently, it's more alcoholic than what we have in Ferelden. Perhaps, you should not be drinking this." He moved to remove the mug from Neria's hands.
Neria chuckled and twirled away, upending the cup, swallowing the brew in quick swigs. She sighed contentedly and gaily spun. "This is much better than the red wine that they keep in the Circle Tower. Where do I get more? Is it for sale?"
Eyes twinkling, Fergus replied with open affection. "With the new trade agreements, it should be widely available within a year."
"All hail the Couslands!" Neria whooped in sudden exuberance. The hail was taken up by those surrounding them just as Teyrn and Teyrna Cousland joined the merriment. Elissa fumed as she watched her parents incline their heads to the crowd's enthusiastic cheer. She is such a bootlicker.
The minstrel started a love song and a soft smile grew on Neria's face as she gazed unseeingly into the distance, before closing her eyes to fully concentrate on its words.
O fare you well, I must be gone
And leave you for a while:
But wherever I go, I will return,
If I go ten thousand mile, my dear,
If I go ten thousand mile.
Ten thousand miles it is so far
To leave me here alone,
Whilst I may lie, lament and cry,
And you will not hear my moan, my dear,
And you will not hear my moan.
The crow that is so black, my dear,
Shall change his colour white;
And if ever I prove false to thee,
The day shall turn to night, my dear,
The day shall turn to night.
O don't you see that milk-white dove
A-sitting on yonder tree,
Lamenting for her own true love,
As I lament for thee, my dear,
As I lament for thee.
The river never will run dry,
Nor the rocks melt with the sun;
And I'll never prove false to the girl I love
Till all these things be done, my dear,
Till all these things be done.
As the minstrel repeated the song to the crowd's call for an encore, Neria lifted her voice to join his, pouring her feelings of helplessness in neither being able to stay in her country of birth nor with the one Antivan friend she made outside of the Circle Tower.
Talk started to cease around her as people stopped talking to listen to the sweet and melodious voice mourning for lost love. By the second stanza, the entire courtyard was quiet and quite a few eyes were wet. The minstrel stopped singing before the third stanza after noticing the crowd's mood. However, Neria continued on, even without the accompaniment of music, her voice rang true, never faltering, taking them all through her grief. When she concluded the song on a soft note, there were many who were openly weeping. Neria gazed around her in astonishment, noting Elissa furtively wiping her eyes with a linen handkerchief while Fergus and Nathaniel looked strangely glassy-eyed.
Elissa was the first to find her voice. "That was amazing. You were even better than the minstrel we hired and he came highly recommended from the nobles in Denerim. Where did you learn to sing like this?"
Neria blinked owlishly, shaking her head to clear the mire it had fallen into before grinning radiantly. "Apparently, I'm a natural at this."
They did not linger in Highever this time, departing immediately at dawn the day after the celebrations. Neria could have done with more time in bed. She had three more mugs of the delicious apple cider after singing song after song. Each time, she noticed that she was able to sway the crowd's mood based on the emotions she poured into the song. As long as the emotion was convergent with the lyrics of the song, the crowd was very soon moved to merriment or sorrow. Even when she deliberately chose to pour emotions that were dissimilar to the spirit of the song, people would react to the emotion she endowed it rather than the song itself.
Was it a school of magic not taught at the Circle? She absently shrugged to herself and made a mental note to research on this too on her return to the Circle Tower. Patting the young mare she was riding, she raised her head to absorb the rays of the sun. She would surely miss this feeling once they were back at the Circle Tower. Although she received more sunlight than other apprentices due to her duties within the herb garden, there was still something different about standing outside directly under the sun versus receiving it from under panes of glass.
Her heart soared as she saw the spire that heralded their impending approach to the Circle Tower. No matter the restrictions and other idiosyncrasies, this place was the only home she had ever known and she was thankful that she was found by Ines all those years ago. She could not imagine her life if she had been sold as a slave, perhaps trained as an assassin like Zevran. At least now she understood her love and thirst for knowledge. If her mother was a Keeper, it was probably in her blood to seek out knowledge and hoard it. Her dexterity probably came from her father. She had seen the way he dual wielded a sword and dagger while fighting the slavers. Despite never knowing her parents, it would seem that she did not fall too far from the tree just like those flowering trees all crowded together in the jungles of Antiva.
She took deep breaths to calm herself when she noticed dark clouds forming overhead. She did not wish to be drenched when shelter was just hours away. Sighing audibly, she reinforced the Force Field spell that she had placed on the boxes of chocolates. Neria could not wait to share her bounty with her friends and the younger apprentices of the Circle Tower. There were very few treats apprentices could afford. She was blessed that she already had skills that earned her money at her age. Whenever she could, she liked to give presents and treats to her friends.
9:20 Dragon Age, Circle Tower, Lake Calenhad, Ferelden – Neria (10), Anders (15), Veness (11), Jowan (11) , Solona (16)
It was nightfall by the time they finally disembarked from the Kester's small row boat. Neria smiled beguilingly at Greagoir and asked sweetly. "Would you please help me carry the boxes of chocolates? I miss my friends so much and I don't want to miss dinner either."
Greagoir chuckled good-naturedly and nodded. Once she had safely placed all but one of the boxes in Greagoir's much larger hands, she raced ahead of him and Irving in glee.
Unfortunately, the huge steel doors were surprisingly closed. Neria frowned in annoyance and raised her hands to pound on them. She might as well have saved her strength for her efforts made not the slightest noise. Grumbling under her breath, she waited for Greagoir and Irving to approach before retorting petulantly "It's like they don't welcome us home."
Irving smiled and replied calmly. "They can't possibly know that we would be early, Neria. However, it is rather strange that the doors are closed this early in the evening." Helping Greagoir with Neria's burdens, he motioned for the templar to knock. He was the only one with gauntlets that would protect his hands from the hard steel door.
The doors opened and Ser Bryant peered into the near darkness. "Ser Greagoir? We were not expecting you back for another week."
"It's a long story. I trust that we are in time for dinner?" Greagoir asked throwing an amused glance at Neria.
"They just sat down." Ser Bryant knelt down to give Neria a hug. "Welcome back, lass. How's your voice?"
"It's back." Neria trilled as she hugged him back tightly. While she loved and respected Greagoir, Bryant was her favourite templar. He was much more forgiving of her misadventures than Greagoir could ever be.
Kissing his cheek, she disengaged herself from his arms and hurried towards the dining hall. Bryant laughed heartily. "Still ruled by her stomach I see." Turning to Greagoir and Irving, he raised a speculative eyebrow at their burdens. "Neria's stuff I presume?"
Greagoir sighed long-sufferingly. "Here take this to Cook and have her put them in the ice cellar for Neria." After offloading his cargos to the other man, he continued. "Anything to report?"
Bryant would not meet his eyes and Greagoir frowned at his behaviour, hackles rising. "What is it?"
"We had an escape, Knight-Commander." Bryant reluctantly muttered. "It was one of Neria's friends."
Small arms came around to hug Anders from the back. Even before hearing her melodious voice, Anders felt himself hardening and knew it is Neria. In spite of all his recent experiences, only Neria has the ability to arouse him like this.
"I'm back!" Neria joyously shouted while kissing Anders' on his back. Thrills ran down his back and blood rushed to his groin in an instant. Anders groaned inwardly in utter misery. Her voice was like a child but it did not stop his lecherous mind from conjuring images not at all suitable for him to be thinking about someone her age. Her proximity was not helping at all. Anders clenched his hands and fought the strong urge to turn around and hug her back. That would only expose his embarrassing state to her and it was not his intention for her to know of the nature of his affections towards her this young.
Neria smirked as she felt Anders stiffening in her hug. Thanks to the time she had spent in Zevran's company, she had a more intimate knowledge of the opposite sex's body language. She swallowed a chuckle and released her hold, peeking out from behind Ander's back with a huge grin on her face.
"I brought back some delicious Antivan chocolate confections for all of you." Neria stated with aplomb, jiggering the large box in her hands. She did a silent count of her friends and a frown started to form on her face. "Jowan, help me with this." She handed the parcel to him before turning to address her female friend. "Veness, where's Aneirin? Has he progressed that well in his studies that he is taking a turn at infirmary duties?"
Tears welled up in Veness' eyes. "Oh, Neria! It's awful! Aneirin escaped and they sent out a hunting party to recapture him." She came round the table to pull Neria into a hug. "They won't hurt him, would they?"
Neria pulled out of Veness' hold with utter astonishment. "He what?" Her mind swirled with the implications of the news. Taking a calming breath, she returned Veness' hug and soothingly patted her friend's back. "It's only his first escape and he specialises in Spirit Healing. They won't hurt him. Even though there are three of us in our group of friends, we Spirit Healers are really very rare, you know." She smiled up assuredly at Veness.
Veness felt herself calm for the very first time since she learnt that they had sent templar hunters after Aneirin. She hugged Neria tighter before releasing her with a grimace of a smile. "It's so good to have you back." Pausing in sudden realisation, she gawked at Neria. "You got your voice back!"
Giggling at Veness' expression, Neria smirked. "Took you long enough to realise it." Catching sight of Jowan lifting the cover of the box of chocolates, she snapped in mock anger. "Jowan! You are not even going to give me a hug before eating those?"
Jowan flushed and dropped his hold on the cover. Placing the box on the dining table, he enveloped Neria in a bear hug and mumbled shyly. "I missed you. Thank the Maker you are back and Senior Enchanter Ines managed to cure your vocal cords."
Neria sighed contentedly and hugged Jowan back with genuine warmth. Anders felt a sharp stab of jealousy at their easy affection which was only exacerbated when Neria replied feelingly. "I missed you too." She grinned when Jowan pressed a kiss on her forehead before releasing her to peer under the cover of the box of chocolates again.
Placing a hand on Anders' arm, she urged him to move over while she squeezed herself between Jowan and him. Anders shuffled uncomfortably as her unique scent of belladonna and lily of the valley wafted up to him. He had once asked Neria about her choice of scents and she had laughingly retorted that they were both deadly and medicinal, beautiful yet tough which was all she wanted to grow up to be.
He took deep breaths to calm himself but that only made her scent cloy further into his nostrils and he was so glad that he was sitting close enough to the table for it to hide his more than obvious state of discomfort. Neria stroked his thigh in concern, so close to his erection he nearly moaned. "Anders, you are very flushed and breathing so heavily. Are you alright?"
He had to clear his throat three times before he managed to squeak out. "I… I'm fine. Have some chicken. Cook's been worried and depressed since you have been away but she must have had one of her premonitions. Today's meal is back to her normal standards." Anders shut his mouth with an audible snap when he realised that he was babbling. Why does she always reduce me to this imbecilic creature? Why can't I be smooth with her, the one that really matters?
Neria blinked at Anders' uncharacteristic display of nervousness and decided now was not the time to tease her friend. Turning back to Veness who had re-seated herself opposite them, she asked. "Why did Aneirin escape? Did he finally decide that the Dalish were the place for him or did something happen while I was away?"
She felt Anders stiffen again after her last question and turned curious eyes at him. He avoided her eyes and focused totally on the grilled chicken on his plate. Neria made a mental note to question Anders further on his strange reaction when they were alone. Giving Veness her attention again, she saw tears in her eyes again. "He didn't tell us anything before he left. He didn't even leave a letter…" A sob rose in her throat and Neria reached across the table to pat her hands while a frown started to form on her brows. "But… Anders was especially close to him in the weeks before he made his escape. He-" Now Veness pointed an accusing finger at him. "-would not tell me anything!"
Neria squirmed out of the seat she had taken opposite Veness and made her way around the table to her side. The apprentice who had been sitting beside Veness scooted over without her prompting and she inclined her head in thanks. She was surprised to note that it was Solona Amell and she was watching her with such animosity in her eyes that Neria was momentarily taken aback. Veness's sobs brought her out of her mental shuffling to remember if she had ever done anything to the other apprentice to warrant the hatred she saw in her eyes. Mentally filing away yet another strange response to her return, Neria sat down next to Veness and pulled her into a hug. Barely managing to peer over Veness' shoulder, she stated quietly in a matter of fact tone. "Anders will tell us if there was anything to tell, right Anders?"
Anders gulped nervously. There was strength in Neria's voice despite its childish lilt. Even though the words were innocent but the threat behind it was all the more apparent than if she had shouted it at him. Any internal debate he might have had died in his throat when Neria's eyes, the only part of her face visible behind Veness' shoulders, blazed obsidian. Silently, he sent pulses of magic towards her. We will talk later, alone.
Neria gave him a barely noticeable nod and soothingly patted her friend's back. She knew that Veness had always looked up to the serious Aneirin and had, perhaps, even a small crush on him. That he had left without a word of his intentions must have cut deep. She will just have to give him a thorough tongue lashing when he is back.
"Come, Veness, have a chocolate." She filched the box out of Jowan's hands, opened the lid of the box and offered Veness the sweet confections. "I have it on good authority that it helps ease emotional hurt." Popping one of them into her mouth, she winked mischievously when Veness gazed doubtfully at her. "Even if that good authority happens to be just me, you believe in my healing abilities, don't you?" Grinning impishly to cover up the weird feeling of unease in her heart, she picked up a random piece and pushed it into her friend's mouth.
"What do you mean that you believe that there were some issues within the templar order that led to the apprentice's escape?" Greagoir demanded with a weary sigh. Everything was a conspiracy to Ser Bryant. His belief that the mages were content to stay in the Circle Tower and only escaped if forced was ludicrous to Greagoir. That this belief is rooted in his belief that templars or Senior Enchanters were abusing the mages or apprentices only intensified Greagoir's scepticism.
When he had first promised Ines that he would groom someone to take over his role as Knight-Commander, he had considered Ser Bryant but later, before the Divine's decree that templars and mages were no longer allowed to fraternise, he realised that Ser Bryant was much too lenient. He always believed there was a reason for each action, no matter how ridiculous it was. He tolerated too much nonsense from the younger apprentices, barely punishing them for misuse of magic in pranks against their peers, the servants or even the templars.
In the end, he was slightly relieved that the choice was taken away from him with the Divine's proclamation. Ser Bryant would have been too soft for the role.
"Ser Alrick, Ser Rhodri, Ser Hamilton and Ser Frasier were too enthusiastic about hunting down Aneirin for me to dismiss their possible culpability." Bryant replied with steel in his tone. He was not sure if Greagoir had become wilfully blind to the abuses that occurred within the Circle Tower or he really did not realise the extent of it.
"Did it occur to you that they may have just wanted to leave the Circle Tower for a breather?" Greagoir sighed tiredly. "Or that they wanted to fulfil their duty as templars in a more active way?"
"What would it take for you to open your eyes? These children need to be protected. If they are not, they may just turn to other means and become maleficar from lack of choice." Bryant retorted with vehemence. The templars in question were very clever. Never once had he caught them doing anything untoward to Aneirin but the way Aneirin flinched each time a templar approached him or spoke with him told Bryant there was something very amiss.
"Enough!" Greagoir roared in frustration. "You are focusing on plausible misdemeanour from your fellow templars when you should be concentrating on keeping the mages and apprentices in line."
"What happened to you, Greagoir?" Bryant muttered sadly. "Did Ines' departure scar you so much that you do not wish to see with your heart anymore?"
"How dare you! I am your commanding officer!" Greagoir bellowed in rage. "I will not have you insinuating that I have had relations with a mage!"
Bryant stared incredulously at the older man. "You are ashamed of your love for her." Scoffing disbelievingly, he huffed. "I'm glad that Ines is not here to see you go down this road and become the type of templar she hated most."
"I abuse neither mages nor apprentices. How can I be what she hates the most?" Greagoir gritted out of clenched teeth.
"Did you ever really know her? The type of templar she hated most was the ones who were blind to the abuses perpetrated by his fellows, the ones who saw only what they wanted to see rather than felt everything that was not visible to the eye, who blindly followed the Chantry when our duty should be to the mages." With a curt salute, Bryant exited from Greagoir's office.
"The templars who went out to recapture Aneirin are back!" Veness burst into the apprentices' dormitory, shouting on the top of her voice. "Neria! Hurry! Only you would be able to stop them from punishing Aneirin too drastically!" She raced to Neria's bedside and shook the sleeping elf.
Neria blinked sleepily and sat up slowly. "What time is it?"
"There's still an hour before dawn." Veness replied, barely remembering to suppress her voice. Loud groans greeted her statement.
"Shut up!"
"Would you mind keeping it down?"
"People sleeping here?"
"Sorry!" Veness gushed while pulling Neria out of her bed. Neria allowed herself to be helped up. She was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. She had waylaid Anders before bed and interrogated him. He had told her everything and it had made Neria heartsick to know that Aneirin had been subjected to such abuses to protect them. She knew about Aneirin's previous occupation. He had shared it with her when he was in one of his melancholy moods. She will find out who these templars were and make sure they received the suitable disciplinary punishments, official or unofficial.
Veness and Neria sneaked out to the entrance chamber where a group of four templars were standing in front of an irate Greagoir. "What do you mean he is dead? You do realise that, currently, there are only three Spirit Healers in the Circle Tower? Two of them are not even Harrowed!"
Neria clapped her hand over Veness's mouth when she nearly cried out in anguish. She was barely suppressing her own grief and rage. Let's see what they have to say first. Veness calmed down enough to remain silent and still after receiving Neria's pulses of magic.
"Ser Greagoir, we did our best to bring to him back but he resisted and even turned to blood magic to fight us." Ser Alrick placated as best as he could.
This time Neria had to cast Paralyze on Veness to keep her from charging in to dispute the other templar's words. Her hands clenched in anger at the obvious lies. No Spirit Healer would accept a demon's proposal to learn blood magic. Doing so severed the connection between a Spirit Healer and the Spirit bonded to the Healer which aided them in their healing abilities. Given that Aneirin loved his skills in healing, it would be against his nature to succumb. Neria did not wish to imagine in what dire straits he would have had to be in to break this fact.
Greagoir did a double take. "Aneirin turned to blood magic?" He stared intently at the other templar but Ser Alrick did not so much as blink before he nodded. Only Neria noticed the slight twitch in his gauntleted hands, that he had kept behind his back, which gave away his lie.
"Well then, I suppose it cannot be helped. Any injuries?" Greagoir asked dispassionately. He was never spared too much thought over the deaths of blood mages. They were an affliction that, if possible, he wished to rid the world of.
"Ser Rhodri managed to skewer him before there were any serious injuries." Ser Alrick reported in a distinctly gloating tone, gesturing to his fellow templar. He did not know this but he may as well have signed Ser Rhodri's death sentence himself. Neria's eyes blazed cold obsidian as she memorised the templar's name and features. There may not be an official punishment but that did not mean that she would let this injustice go uncorrected.
As she cast Grease on the ground underneath the paralysed Veness and started to drag her friend away, her mind was already planning all the possible scenarios and retribution she could exercise without getting caught or punished.
Veness raged at Neria all through breakfast for casting Paralyze on her. She did not understand Neria's apparent lack of response to Aneirin's death. She mourned Aneirin's death openly, weeping randomly, glaring at the templars who were involved in his hunt whenever they walked around without their helmets. Word spread and Neria noticed Wynne drawing Greagoir away from the dining table with insistence. It was obvious that the Senior Enchanter had been weeping.
Aneirin had been the only close elven friend Neria had in the Circle Tower. He was the only one who was interested and with whom she could share her findings on elvhen lore. He was also the sobering factor in their group, often vetoing the most reckless and potentially hazardous misadventures. They all felt his absence, sometimes pausing in their discussions expecting him to cut in with his more stoic opinions.
So it was not that Neria did not grieve for Aneirin' death, she was just more subtle about it. She grew more silent, more focused on her research within the library, often reading way past bedtime. The templars never gave her any reason to retaliate even though she exposed herself so enticingly to their perverseness. She wondered if she was still too young to interest them. She did not realise that Ser Bryant had taken to swapping night watch with anyone within the library to watch over her. He kept his helmet on to prevent anyone from knowing it was him but the perpetrators did not appear to molest the young elven mage. It almost made Bryant wonder if he was really overly paranoid as Greagoir had accused him of being.
Neria rarely played anymore, spending all her time reading in the library between meals. She convinced Anders to take up her duties in the infirmary and made fresh batches of potions every morning before breakfast. Book after book she read and searched for information about her curse. Finally she found a section in a book titled Ancient Worship of Old Gods.
Acolytes of Andoral and Their Gift
The acolytes of the Old God, Andoral, were highly blessed for their devotion to her. Each acolyte was given the ability to enslave others through sex, touch, smile or look. The First Acolyte was reputed to have the ability to enslave simply through a focused look into another's eyes.
The enslavement could last from minutes to years, depending on the frequency and intensity of the act used to enslave the target. It takes a lot less effort on the part of the acolyte if the target is sexually interested in his or her gender. Even less effort is required if the acolyte is pleasing to the eye. A target with whom the First Acolyte, who is usually chosen for his or her physical beauty, has sexual intercourse would likely be enslaved for decades or until the death of the target.
This gift, although beneficial to the malevolent had considerable unwanted side effects for the benevolent. Firstly, one's physical expressiveness must be tightly controlled. Hugging, touching, even smiling could unwittingly enslave a target. Secondly, sexual interaction normally instantly enslaves a target.
Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how one views it, this gift may be returned if the acolyte unwittingly falls in love with someone enslaved to them. The act of making love breaks the enslavement and also causes the acolyte to lose this gift. However, that is not the only thing lost. The acolyte will also lose any inherent talent that he or she was born with and has shaped his or her life. For magic users, it is often magic. For archers or rogues, their dexterity. For warriors, their strength.
Thus, it is not surprising that acolytes of Andoral were often sexually celibate with the person they love or even totally celibate if they have achieved other means of enslavement, eliminating the need for sex.
Enslaved people would give their lives before allowing any harm to befall on the acolyte. This is often abused but rarely were there any protests against the act.
It is rumoured that there existed a handful of very fortunate acolytes who are able to differentiate between the devotion showed by an enslaved target and the true love displayed by those immune to this Gift. However, the characteristics of those with immunity are unknown or unshared.
Neria's eyes had widened with each paragraph. Just a look to enslave a target? What a look that would have to be. Her mind churned with the possibilities and she began to detail her plan of vengeance for Aneirin's wrongful death.
Neria needed people to test her gift on. She did not wish to start with a templar in case anything went wrong but she did not wish to enslave another apprentice. Sorting through her thoughts, she realised to her dismay that she may already have unwittingly enslaved Anders through touch, smiles and looks. Furthermore, she had been doing it nonstop for years.
A devilish thought entered her mind and she decided that since he was likely already enslaved to her, she could safely test the limits of the enslavement without endangering anyone else.
Thus it was that Anders found himself sitting opposite Neria in the library. She was holding his hands and grinning dazzlingly at him. He felt the inevitable rush of blood to his loins and took a deep breath, hoping to calm the flush that he could feel creeping up his neck.
"Anders, if I was in danger, would you die for me?" Neria asked hesitantly.
"Without a doubt, I will never let anything happen to you." Anders replied with barely a thought.
"I learnt that you have been with many women while I was away." Neria started to say matter-of-factly.
"They don't mean anything to me. I am just practising so that I would be good for you." Anders gushed out, again without thinking. He flushed a deep red when he realised what he had inevitably confessed.
Neria blushed. This was harder than she had imagined. For a brief moment she thought back to the dreamscape in which the Desire Demon had trapped her while in the jungles of Antiva. Shaking her head, she gritted out. "I did not mean that. I meant that you have only been with women. Do you not like men?"
"Maker, no! I have no interest in men." Anders retorted with great disgust on his face. "How would that even work?"
Looking deep into his eyes, Neria commanded. "I want you to find out how two men can have sexual intercourse."
Anders' eyes glazed before he blinked and replied. "Okay, for you, I will do it." He stood up and left Neria sitting speechless in the library. She had somehow not expected that to work. By the time she came to her senses and thought to seek out Anders, he was nowhere to be found. Questioning Jowan who was loitering within the common room, Neria found out to her horror that Anders had gone somewhere with Enchanter Karl, a mage transferred from Anderfels, who within a week of his arrival propositioned no less than six male apprentices.
She raced up to the Enchanter quarters and panted in front of the door to Enchanter Karl's room. The sound of rustling cloth caused blood to drain from her face. "Anders! Are you in there?" Neria shouted in desperation. "Anders!"
An oath could be heard within the room. After a full minute, the door opened and Enchanter Karl stood in the doorway blocking Neria's view of the room. "Is there something you needed, Neria?"
"Enchanter Karl, I have something urgent to say to Anders. If he is with you, may I see him?" Neria pleaded, obsidian eyes locking on the enchanter's blue ones. When he did not move aside, Neria placed her small hands on his own and asked again. "Please move aside if Anders is in there."
Enchanter Karl's eyes glazed and he backed away from the door. Neria felt a shiver of fear move down her spine before she took a deep breath and stepped in.
Anders was kneeling face down, fully undressed on the much disarrayed bed with his ass tilted up and opened in offering. "Is she gone? Will you hurry up and finish what you started? I barely got any satisfaction in that first few thrusts."
Tears rolled down Neria's eyes and dismay silenced any protests from escaping her throat. She wordlessly commanded Enchanter Karl with a finger to her mouth not to speak and waved him towards Anders. She exited the room as quietly as she could and sank down beside the door to weep soundlessly. What have I done? She had never meant to hurt Anders this way. As the sounds of moans, groans and finally a shout leaked out of the door next to her, Neria placed her hands over her ears and shook in mute sorrow and regret.
Ser Rhodri did not think much of it when he seemed to find the young elven mage, Neria, everywhere. She was a sweet child, always smiling and giving affectionate hugs to the people around them, even if they were templars. He has also been a recipient of one of her demonstrations of warmth and had, from that moment on, resolved to protect her from all harm.
They were all waiting for the furore of Aneirin's escape and death to die down before making their move against his group of friends. Anders was too flamboyant and after Aneirin's escape, Senior Enchanter Wynne had taken a very active interest in the young man. Veness was well versed and schooled in the Primal school of magic and that could get out of hand if they did not manage to subdue her in time. That only left Jowan. That apprentice who only managed to learn the weakest of spells and could barely be called a mage. No one had actually thought of touching Neria as she was well liked by everyone and they had practically watched her grow up within the Circle Tower. Raping her would be too appalling when they remembered her stumbling around in her nappies.
Each day, Neria would appear before Ser Rhodri. It killed something in her to smile and hug him as if he was a well-loved uncle but she held on to the thought that, once enslaved, he would, possibly, tell her everything she needed to know. Days flowed into weeks and Neria was finally sure that he is truly enslaved. She had used Anders' reactions to her to gauge and he was well on his way to behaving as her friend did whenever she touched him. She peered up at the unsuspecting templar and smiled her most dazzlingly smile.
"Ser Rhodri?" He looked at her with questions in his eyes. Neria's eyes blazed and she intoned with steel in her voice. "I want to know everything about how Aneirin died."
Ser Rhodri found himself telling Neria all the details of their hunt for the apprentice. She shot rapid fire questions at him about his involvement with Aneirin's death, his participation in abusing Aneirin and finally enquired about the names of his accomplices. Some distant part of his mind was aghast with his revelations but most of him was glad that Neria was happy with his compliance.
Silence reigned after Neria learned the full extent of Aneirin's abuse, torture and murder at their hands. Blue flames leaked out of her and she took deep calming breaths to keep from unleashing it. Her mind raced with the possibilities of a suitable punishment and finally decided to allow Greagoir to handle this.
"You will go to Ser Greagoir and confess everything you have told me from the very beginning. You will also give him the names of your abettors. You will tell him that you had an attack of conscience if he asks you for the reason of your confession. Is that clear?" Neria gritted out through clenched teeth before flashing another fake smile at him.
"Whatever pleases you, Neria." Ser Rhodri rose and made his way to Greagoir's office. Neria hoped that she had made the right decision. Before she left Antiva, Ines had drawn her aside and told her to be more wary of Greagoir. "He is no longer the Greagoir I fell in love with. The Chantry or the lyrium has warped his mind." Neria hoped that Greagoir was not so far gone that he would not punish these rapists and murderers. Heaving a resolute sigh, she shrugged. She had given the opportunity for official resolution to be meted out. If it was not to her satisfaction, she would just have to take things into her own hands again.
Greagoir stared at Ser Rhodri in utter disbelief and disgust. "Do you have proof of your words?" He ran his hand in his hair, mussing it into tangles.
"Isn't my word proof enough? We were always careful to wait till you were out of the Circle Tower before doing this. No one ever saw us performing the deed." Ser Rhodri replied without remorse.
Greagoir closed his eyes to keep himself from seeing his smirking face. When he opened them again, his eyes were the colour of storm clouds. "You are relieved of your duties until an investigation may be carried out about this." Ser Rhodri saluted him before exiting his office. Greagoir rubbed his knuckle against his forehead. Ser Bryant's words returned to haunt him. Blind, he had been so blind. For such atrocities to have been committed within the Circle Tower under his leadership was a sure sign of his ineffectualness. Now he only hoped that he would be able to protect others from meeting the same fate.
"I refuse to be so wrongfully accused!" Ser Alrick heatedly defended himself. "I did not do these horrible deeds you have accused me of! I would not be able to vouch for the others but I did not do these."
Ser Hamilton and Ser Frasier gawked at his blatant lies.
"You were the one who first suggested and acted on it…" Ser Hamilton started to say even as Ser Alrick turned to pierce him with an indignant glare.
"Lies!" He roared.
"We wanted to patch up the apprentice with poultices and bandages but you wanted to reserve them for yourself." Ser Fraiser sneered. "You kicked his face while he was lying on the ground bleeding to death." Turning to Greagoir, Ser Fraiser started to sob. "I only wanted some relief from the tedium. I did not give a vow of celibacy when I joined the Templar Order. Being inside all day in this place with only a week of holiday when we can visit our family every year, is cruel and inhumane. We aren't allowed to fraternise with each other or the mages. People cannot live like this!"
Ser Hamilton whispered brokenly. "I did not mean for his death. He didn't mind. He was already whoring himself out to feed his family."
Greagoir's face was nearly red with anger and tendons protruded from his throat. "You will all be dismissed without severance or references. Get out and stay out until we complete the necessary documentation."
Ser Alrick bellowed. "You cannot do this to me! My family is related to nobility! I will get them to write to the Grand Cleric about this!"
The door slammed shut as Ser Bryant and Ser Maron quickly ushered the miscreants out of his office. The unsatisfied look on Ser Bryant's face stayed with Greagoir for a much longer time.
Dismissal? Was that Greagoir's idea of a fitting punishment for murder? Neria's eyes blazed obsidian and her body glowed with blue fire. The chair she was sitting on turned to black ash. Anders' eyes widened in shock before Neria found the presence of mind to force her emotions down. She would have to take care of this herself after all.
The next morning dawned bright and clear outside the Circle Tower. It was almost as if the beauty of the morning heralded a good day for all. As the eldest apprentices filed past the common area to the classrooms, they screamed in discordant tones, vomited or fainted away at the sight that greeted them.
Blood and gore flooded the ground. The smell of stomach contents, human waste and blood permeated the area. Words that were written in blood decorated the walls as if in some morbid design.
Ser Hamilton was kneeling, impaled through his stomach on his own long sword, his intestines littering the ground. Ser Frasier was lying on the floor in a viscous pool of blood, his hands stained from grasping a dagger that had obviously been used to slit his own throat. Ser Rhodri's face was bulged and blue black from hanging on a strip of cloth that had been tossed over the very high ceiling beams.
The templars herding the senior apprentices paled and some of them lost their stomach contents then and there. One of them had the presence of mind to get Greagoir.
Greagoir was visibly shaken at the sight. The words on the wall were: We are abusers, rapists and murderers. Dismissal is too lenient for us. We deserve death. May the Maker have mercy on our souls.
Ser Alrick came charging into the scene. He took one look at the corpses, the words and shouted. "This is the work of a blood mage." Voice gaining volume, he ranted. "Perhaps if we really did these deeds you had accused us of, we were controlled by the blood mage."
Greagoir turned to one of the younger templars. "Go and get Anders, Jowan, Veness and Neria here."
"Neria, Ser? Wouldn't this cause her distress?" The younger templar dared to question.
"That is an order!" Greagoir roared, unable to tolerate any further discussion. "Classes are cancelled today. Go back to your dormitories." Nodding to the templars still capable of taking care of the apprentices, he motioned for them to leave.
Ser Bryant burst into the section and skidded to a stop. His eyes rounded at the sight of the carnage and gulped audibly.
Neria, Anders, Veness and Jowan were herded before Greagoir. Anders paled and immediately ran to a clean corner to regurgitate his breakfast. Veness swayed and only remained standing with the support of Neria. Jowan fell to the ground in a dead faint. Neria was pale and tears were in her eyes as she looked up at Greagoir. "Why did they commit suicide?"
Greagoir stared incredulously at the young elven apprentice. "What makes you think it was suicide? It could have been blood magic? That would explain Ser Rhodri's inexplicable confession."
"Does blood magic not leave any magic traces?" Neria cocked her head curiously. "I distinctly remember that it was the only school of magic to leave very strong magic traces, stronger than any of the other schools. Or did I remember wrongly?"
Greagoir did a double take. Neria was right. He had been so ready to pounce on the excuse of blood magic for his subordinates' inexcusable behaviour that he had not noticed there was no trace of magic in the area.
"The blood mage could have controlled another templar to get him to cleanse the area." Ser Alrick protested zealously.
Neria turned obsidian eyes on Ser Alrick. "You must have been sleeping while they were teaching the effects of a Cleanse."
Ser Alrick gasped at her disrespectful words. "Why you little -!" His hands were raised to backhand her but stopped at Greagoir's cold stare.
"Ser Alrick. You should be very much aware that a Cleanse cannot remove the taint of blood magic. Only the good strong soap and the passage of time can." Ser Greagoir turned to the four apprentices. "You may leave. I was not thinking clearly when I summoned you."
"Anders, help me with Jowan." Neria called out. Anders stumbled over and lopped Jowan's arm around his waist, assisting him to stand. Ser Bryant came over to help too.
They left the gruesome scene behind and were some distance away before Veness softly whispered. "Did you do this?"
Neria levelled a steady glance at her friend. "No, they did this with their own hands."
Ser Alrick sent a panicked look at Greagoir. "I can't stay here much longer. How long would it take for the papers to be ready?"
"I thought you were not happy with being dismissed for something you did not do?" Greagoir enquired in a mild tone. "Given the very violent way they have admitted their guilt. Perhaps you are not as guilty Ser Rhodri accused, why don't you stay?"
"No… No…" Ser Alrick turn white with fear. "They did not commit suicide. This is the work of a blood mage. I cannot stay here. Even if you don't dismiss me, at least transfer me somewhere else."
Greagoir turned piercing grey eyes at Ser Alrick. He took in his frightened expression and sighed. "Why don't you leave for Denerim now? The report of your crimes is already on its way to the Grand Cleric. I will leave it up to her to sentence you."
"Thank you, Ser Greagoir." Ser Alrick stammered before leaving hastily.
Facing the writing on the wall, Greagoir muttered. "Don't thank me, thank whoever convinced them to do this. No matter what was done to Aneirin, this is too severe a punishment."
Author's Notes
I am late and I greatly apologise for this (so sorry to all my loyal supporters, hope you were not too disappointed). Real life has been hectic between work, editing, and freelance work and now school! On top of all these, I had a medical scare. -_-" It has been an upheaval of a month for me. Ah well… Hopefully I would be able to be back within in another fortnight. If not, it would be a month. To put it realistically, around 20 August 2012, which is a week after my exams for this semester. :P Please bear with me on the slow updates.
The song is an old folk love song titled The True Lover's Farewell.
I would like to thank Sandrael Lycura, Eona, Corea and Narcoleptic-Since-89 for your continual support and reviews. :)
Narcoleptic-Since-89, thanks for adding me to your list of favourite authors. :)
Narcoleptic-Since-89 and Princess Gwendolen Diana Julia, thanks for adding me to your list of author alerts in addition to adding this story to your list of favourites and story alerts. :)
Thanks to edroamaar for adding this story in your alert list. :)
I would also like to thank all the silent readers of this story. Did you notice? There is now a new review feature. You no longer have to create an account to leave a review. However, I would appreciate a name to thank here if you should decide to leave a guest review. :)
It really helps my writing to know what people think of each chapter cause this is my very first fanfiction (yeah, I know, I am starting this a bit late in life :P). So please review to let me know if it's a hit or a miss. :)
My heart literally soars when I receive notifications of people reviewing, adding this story to their list of favourites and/or putting this story on their alert list (Yeah, I'm easily contented like that :P). Thank you all so much for your support, it helps to keep me writing and I hope to continue to meet or even exceed expectations in thanks for everyone's support. :)