Part 24
A New Path
"Did Cas know?"
"Of course. You try to keep anything from that woman. Besides, she has been my loyal friend for some time now. She would know if I was planning to change my standing drink order and the tavern, let alone whether I finally got up the nerve to kiss you."
Astlyr lazily traced a scar on Cullen's chest. They lay, coiled in one another's limbs, enjoying the afterglow of their romantic interlude. The first of many Astlyr hoped. Both were completely nude and wrapped warmly under Cullen's blankets. They had found that cuddling was rendered slightly awkward by Astlyr's horns, but they managed. She had draped herself partially atop him. Cullen ran his hand gently up and down on her breast bone. "I expect Cole knew as well," Astlyr sighed. There was no keeping secrets from her Spirit Companion, that was certain. At least she was reasonably assured he would not have been privy to her thoughts while she and Cullen got to know one another. She had felt nothing by happiness.
"Where did you get this one?" Cullen asked, brushing a kiss to her shoulder where a small, round scar was visible against her darker skin.
"I fell off my pony when I was a child. It was at a trot as well, and I landed right on my shoulder." he chuckled, "No grand story behind that one. In fact, most of my scars are from doing stupid or clumsy things. Especially when I hit puberty and really started growing. Most of these are from fights, though" she held up her hand where her skin was a latticework of scars. Long and short, wide and ugly. Her hands were about as far from dainty and feminine as one could get. Callouses stood out on her thumb and palm from sword or shield. Cullen lanced his fingers with hers so that their palms were touching and she felt his callouses. His hands too were pocked with scars from many fights.
"What about this one?" she pointed out the favorite of hers, the scar on his lip.
"That one," Cullen gave a mirthless laugh. "Knight Commander Meredith. I wouldn't follow her orders any more. She backhanded me across the mouth with her gauntlet on."
Astlyr bristled, "I assume you retaliated?"
"She was my commander, even if I was defecting from her," he shrugged.
Astlyr gave him a long kiss, trying to gift him all of her steadfastness. All of her reassurance. She felt him gentle at her touch and she knew he was happy. She tucked a strand of her hair, which was loose and hanging down onto his naked chest, behind an ear. She looked up into his gold-flecked eyes again, "I'm sorry if I brought up a painful memory," she said.
"I hardly noticed," he smiled with an expression of relaxed bliss on his face.
"Speaking of memory," she said, her voice teasing now, "you mentioned something about doing other things with women when we began our own little escapade. Did you have a beau once?" Astlyr was not certain what a templar might call the woman he was with, but she decided 'beau' was probably closest. She could not see him taking a 'lover'.
"There was a mage," he admitted, the sweet touch of a blush once again lightly tinting his cheeks. "It was back in the Fereldan circle, before...everything. I was young, she was young. She was also determined. Wouldn't take my horrible stammering and fleeing as an answer."
"So you were always this awkward around women?" Astlyr rested her cheek against his chest, careful not to scrape his chin with a horn.
"Maker, yes," he groaned, running his hand through her hair, absently. "I loath the courtship part. Perhaps that is why I am drawn to strong women. Someone who doesn't leave it up to me all the time."
"So who was this other woman? And what became of her?" Astlyr made a show of looking suspicious.
"You know, honestly, I don't know what happened to her. I think she died when the circle was overrun. She might have become an abomination, though I like to imagine she went down fighting instead. She had strong feelings against blood magic, at any rate."
"What was she like?"
"She was very bright, one of the most skilled young mages in the cicle. A little bit sassy. Pretty. She was a redhead."
"Damn redheads," Astlyr snapped in mock annoyance, bringing her fist down lightly on the bed beside Cullen. "Always stealing the men from us perfectly decent white haired people."
"It's really more of a silver," Cullen mused, raising his hand, still tangled as it was with her hair. "I think I like this better, if I'm honest."
"Good," Astlyr smirked, then began to slowly extricate herself from her new lover's limbs.
"What's up?" Cullen asked, watching her. He put one hand behind his head as she scanned the room for her clothes. "I think my shirt fell off the loft," she grumbled, also spotting only one boot. She rolled over, laying on her back beside him. The two of them barely fit on his bed in this position.
"Astlyr?"
"Mmm?"
"Do you suppose you had better stop by the infirmary today?"
She let a little smirk claim her lips, "do you think you hurt me, Cullen? You were very gentle."
He chuckled, "No. I mean, in case of...you know, unwanted consequences."
"Oh," she understood him. "I honestly have no idea if humans and qunari can interbreed. I'll have to ask Bull."
"Maker, that'll be fun," Cullen said sarcastically. "Remind me to have important business on the other side of Skyhold when you reveal the details of our romance to the gigantic mercenary you used to be with."
"Don't worry, Cullen," she found his hand and patted it before tangling her fingers with his under the blanket, "Iron Bull will be alright with us. I'm certain. However, if you'd rather, I'll be certain to see the healer for some pregnancy prevention herbs."
"Thank you," Cullen gave her hand a squeeze. "I think I might like to be a father someday, but now is too soon. I have a fortress to run."
Astlyr chuckled, imagining Cullen trying to ride herd on several rambunctious children and still be the stoic commander of Skyhold's military. It was a humorous scenario indeed. Then Astlyr squinted as something else caught her attention, "Maker, Cullen, who fixed your roof?"
"I did," he admitted, sounding sheepish.
"Well, you did a rubbish job," she laughed. "No wonder it is so damn cold in here all the time. Its a miracle your bed isn't a snowbank. I'll fix it for you."
She had thought the man might protest. Stumble through some remarks about her being a woman, and it being dangerous. She wondered about Cullen at times. How stubbornly he held on to whatever training he had been given on the noble treatment of ladies. He seemed to have no such illusions with her. Instead he smiled, "That would be most helpful. Thank you."
The pair remained in Cullen's room a bit longer until hunger forced them out. As they made their way down to the tavern Cullen fell a step behind for a moment. When Astlyr looked back he had a troubled expression on his face. She turned, watching him. "What is it?"
"I just...I was thinking about...about what we just did. I hate labels, and I don't want to cast a poll over this...us..."
"Oh for the Maker's sake, spit it out," she chuckled, taking hold of his shoulders and giving him a gentle shake. "You and I had sex and you gave me a lovely shield. You're allowed to stop over-thinking everything you say to me and tripping all over your own thoughts."
"Oh, I don't think that's going to happen in a hurry," he smiled thinly. "I was just wondering; what are we now?"
"What are we?" she tilted her head.
"I...well, I just wanted to know if this was a one-time situation. A 'thank you for the excellent shield, Cullen.' If it was, I understand," he was rubbing the back of his neck again and looking away.
"What do you want it to be?" she asked. Her throat felt tight and her hands had gone alarmingly clammy. She had thought he had meant them to be a couple now. Had she been wrong? Had a quick, if exciting, lay with a qunari been all he was after? Her mind cast back to those men she had slept with who had bragged to their friends that they had bedded the dragon lady. But Cullen wasn't like that, was he? She raised her chin. If he had merely been seeking a quick fling, that was alright. She was a warrior and the inquisitor, and she could handle that sort of thing. She hadn't turned him away. It had been consentual and wonderful for them both, and if it was over, it had certainly been fun. But why was her heart beating too fast? Why was the thought of him declaring their time together to be a fling so abhorrent?
Cullen had moved to the inner ramparts and was looking down at the people of Skyhold going about their business. He rested his elbows on the stone, thoughtful. "I wanted...well, I had hoped that it might be more than a just once sort of thing. Not the sex," he clarified hurriedly. "All of it. You and I. I had hoped..."
Astlyr decided it was time for a decisive, leaderly response. She took his hand firmly in hers and led him down the wall steps to the tavern without a word. He had the good sense to follow without protest. Inside people were enjoying an early supper and the amiable chatter filled the place to the rafters. Iron Bull and all his chargers had set themselves up in their usual corner and were singing an especially raunchy drinking song. Some of the other patrons were scooting farther away and the barkeep seemed to be pondering if he could get them to stop while keeping all his limbs intact, and coming to the conclusion that it wasn't worth the risk.
Down into the middle of this chaos Astlyr led Cullen, who followed willingly behind her. Once she had established the two of them in the center of the room, before the big fireplace, she turned to Cullen, grabbed hold of his collar, and pulled him in for a kiss.
This was a risky maneuver and she knew it. She knew the man valued his privacy, but neither of them were good with words. A demonstration of her intentions was in order and she wanted it on no uncertain terms. To be the strong woman he had claimed he desired. To her unending relief, after the first moment of bafflement, he kissed her back and he even managed to remember he had hands, which he wrapped around her, drawing her close to finish off strong.
After what both seemed to deem an adequate amount of time, they separated, looking around the room. Almost everyone in the place was grinning at them. Varric, who was above in the gallery on the second floor, leaned down to shout, "You owe me three gold coins, Tiny!"
"Yeah, yeah," Iron Bull grouched.
"Oh, what was the bet?" Astlyr asked, noticing with pleasure that, while they had stopped kissing, Cullen had not removed his arms from her waist.
"I didn't think old uptight templar would do anything public for a good week at least." Iron Bull said. His crew fell into a flurry of agreement, or disagreement. Asltyr saw a few more coins change hands.
"Maker, did everyone in Skyhold know our business before we even knew it?" Cullen asked, looking around at the crowded tavern.
"I'm afraid so, Curly," Varric said, smirking.
"Nothing stays secret in Skyhold for long." Astlyr shrugged, beaming just the same.
"Indeed. I should have remembered," Cullen's mouth quirked in a smile of his own.
Astyr and the commander settled in for a good meal, and to take the barrage of heckling that came with their shiny new relationship. Astlyr was impressed. Cullen took it all in far better stride than she had thought he might. She was accustomed to her peoples' sense of humor. She shared it on most occasions, but she knew the templar could be sensitive at times. He must have been expecting the good-natured ribbings, however, and managed to smile through it all, though sometimes he did have to retreat behind his mug to regroup. Especially once Dorian joined them.
Astlyr noted that Titus was with her mage friend. The younger man was looking pale and a bit wan, but smiled willingly and even managed to lend a shy voice to the banter on occasion.
The night devolved quietly into a truly pleasant evening. Cullen moved off to speak with Titus and Dorian. Conversing quietly about the path they had chosen without lyrium. Astlyr found herself embroiled in another losing game of Whicked Grace when Josephine joined the group. At least this time they weren't betting items and clothing and Cullen was staying well out of it. Astlyr did notice with a gratified smile, that the handsome commander did shoot quite a few glances in her direction. She gave as good as she got.
That night Astlyr lay in her warm bed smiling fondly as she thought back on her day. It was wonderful to have a whole day to recall fondly. She had to admit to herself that she was absurdly pleased that Cullen had finally worked up the nerve. In her time with Iron Bull she had never gotten that giddy, girlish feelingly of glee, which she caught herself indulging in several times through he night as she thought of a certain templar. Perhaps her time with the commander would not lead to the ultimate conclusion she was used to from her relationships. Still, she wasn't ready to go handing him a dragon's tooth or anything. She peeked at her new shield, which she had propped on a chair so she could admire at as she got ready for sleep. The moonlight that shone through the balcony doors gleamed off of the perfect curve and she caught sight of the coin set in the metal. Finally her eyes fluttered closed and she fell into pleasant dreams of handsome templars.
"So we'll go by boat?" Astlyr leaned her weight on one arm against the table as she peered down to examine the map spread before her. Her other hand rested on her hip.
"Yes, until you reach this point," Cullen, who stood across from her at the war table, indicted the route. "You'll disembark at a little port village called Carr's Way. You see, if you take this route, and follow the water inland, you'll reach the Western Approach much more quickly than you would if you traveled by land. You'll still have to go southwest for a bit through the desert, but this should make things substantially easier."
"I wish there was a port here," Astlyr gestured to where the southern point of the Frostback mountains came to meet the Waking Sea.
"Reaching that location by going over the mountains would lose you any time you gained by sea travel," Josephine pointed out. "The Frostback Mountains in winter are extremely inhospitable, especially if you do not have a fortress to hide within." She smiled at her little joke.
Astlyr rubbed her chin. "Won't going all the way to the Storm Coast be a waste of time as well? We'd have to backtrack, by sea or otherwise."
"Indeed," Cullen said, leaning down to indicate a little carved boat, which Astlyr suspected he had made specially for this briefing. She hid her smile as he guided the boat from The Storm Coast and up to the foot of the mountain range's eastern foot. "We have already sent word for a ship to meet you here. From there you can journey on to Carr's Way and the Western Approach."
"You mean, you can journey on," Cassandra entered the room, catching the last snippet of what the commander had said. Cas was not wearing her armor, instead favoring a plain tunic and sash to indicate her office as a high commander of Skyhold. Though one might have guessed this merely by the way she carried herself. "You will be accompanying The Inquisitor this time," she informed Cullen.
"What?" Cullen raised his head from the map, eying Cassandra dubiously.
"As I said," the warrior pressed on, one of her stern eyebrows peaking, "I will be remaining here as the military commander at Skyhold. It is my turn to put my feet up, and your turn to get your fancy boots dirty."
"My boots are not fancy," Cullen protested jokingly. He was smiling knowingly at Cas now, hazel eyes bright with an eagerness that Astlyr found endlessly endearing. "I know what you're doing Cassandra," he said, "and you needn't."
"No indeed?" The seeker stopped and examined the map, still walking with the stiff, upright bearing of a general who expected to be obeyed.
"Really, Cas," Astlyr put in. "Cullen and I have been apart loads of times, and this trip isn't some romantic getaway that we both deserve. It's another hard journey with little to no time for frivolity."
"Then I suppose you shall have to find it where you can," the seeker smirked, adjusting one of the clean leather dueling gloves she wore. These only added to the lordly effect of her attire.
"You're certain?" Astlyr could see Cullen losing the struggle with his smile.
"If you keep asking me, I may have to change my mind," Cassandra warned, raising an eyebrow archly.
"Thank you, Cas," Astlyr smiled at her friend, patting her shoulder firmly in a gesture that would have made a lesser woman flinch.
"Do we have anything to finalize here?" Cullen asked Josephine, who had moved to check the map, quill poised over her writing board as always.
"I do not believe so," the diplomat said, absently brushing her lips with the feather of her pen. "The ship and crew have been hired, the destination planned. Supplies have been gathered and readied. You should be able to leave at any time."
"Alright then," said Cullen, his smile like a sunny day, "I had better go and gather my things, eh?"
"Indeed," Astlyr said, feeling pleased to have her new lover along on their journey, but knowing she and the others would feel the absence of Cassandra's strong arm and steadfast logic. Cas had never been one for desert travel, Astlyr reminded herself as she shot her friend a quick look and a nod of gratitude. "I want to check with Fen quickly before we go, just in case he has anything to add at the last minute."
"Right," Cullen said, "I hope he managed to get some sleep. He looked a bit out of sorts yesterday."
Astlyr moved off towards the elf god's quarters. A pair of guards were still stationed outside the rooms where Ghilan'nain was being housed. Astlyr had not seen much of the halla goddess since she had come to Skyhold. Astlyr wondered if she should pay a visit. Would she be welcome? She didn't even speak the same language. Perhaps when they returned with another foci she would make some time to speak with the goddess, with Fen'Harel as translator.
"Fen?" She tapped on his door as she opened it and stuck her head inside. Fen'Harel was there, carefully placing maps into a traveling bag. He had not even unpacked half of his gear from their last outing. Astlyr might have scolded him, reminding her friend that all gear should be unpacked and cleaned between trips, but then she would have to admit that she had been to distracted to do that with her own. Damn that highly distracting templar. Her lips still twitched in a smile as she thought of him. "Good morning," she said when Fen did not look up.
Finally the elf turned slightly, giving her a quick smile before returning his focus to his papers. "I hope the morning finds you well, my friend."
"The others are all preparing to go, but I wanted to make certain you had not thought of anything else that we should know," Astlyr strode across to him and leaned against the back of a chair, facing him. His slender fingers shuffled busily through the parchment, checking and re-checking. "How has Ghilan'nain been coping?"
Fen'Harel ran his hand through his hair, pulling it back from is face. He needed a haircut. His brown curls were long enough to hold back in a ponytail. She wondered if he enjoyed having it. With Solas he had kept his hair trimmed down to nothing. He looked up at her, finally making full eye contact. He still looked a bit wan, but better rested than the day before. He seemed tense, still on edge. "She is unused to spending her time behind stone walls. Even in the days of the elvhen she preferred the outdoors...well, what I can remember of her. There are still too many gaps in my memory for my liking," he admitted, sighing and leaving his papers alone, the ends sticking up from the top of his satchel. He flopped down in the chair on which Astlyr leaned and tilted his head back, eying the ceiling as if for answers.
"Are you alright?" Astlyr questioned, nudging his shoulder.
"Yes...no. Yes. Physically I am well, but I have been troubled," he admitted, his voice tight, unwilling. Astlyr recalled how he had behaved when he had asked for her aid with the spirit of Wisdom. How challenging he found it to seek help. Ages alone had clearly taught the Dread Wolf to trust no one's abilities save his own. "There are large pieces of my past still missing. So much has come back with clarity, yet some things refuse to return to me."
"Didn't Cole say something about Mythal taking parts of your memory?" Astlyr reminded him.
He huffed; a sound like someone had punched his air from him as he slouched in the chair. "I know. I had hoped that it was not true. That the gaps would be filled. Instead there is only blackness, especially with my early past and my days with my fellow gods and the elvhen. I have clear memories of my time with the Inquisition," he said hastily, as though she might be worried he was going crazy. "I'm sorry. I should not trouble you with this. Not now. We have important tasks at hand."
"Trouble me," Astlyr said, nudging him again with her arm. "It's what I'm for. I'm not the best leader. I don't know what I'm doing most of the time, but at least I have learned that I can listen to my people."
"Your people?" he looked up at her, his eyes seemed almost unnaturally blue. He chuckled dryly, "I have always been the one who watches over. The god. The guardian. I am still not used to being considered someone else's person."
"Well, I don't own you or anything," Astlyr said, putting up her hand in a forestalling motion. She wasn't in a hurry to imply slavery. "I mean it is my responsibility to protect you and make certain you are alright."
"And that," said Fen'Harel, in a low voice, "Is something which I must grow accustomed to. You should know, Astlyr, that I have a bad habit of looking for an exit. An exploit. Though I may trust you, my mind still spends an alarming amount of time wondering how to extricate myself, should things turn sour. Everything has, without fail, for so many years. I have survived by being cleverer than everyone around me for so long-"
"Well, you are almost certainly cleverer than me," Astlyr assured him with a grin. "And should things go sideways I have no doubt you could get yourself clear without much trouble at all. But when Corypheus threatened, you stayed. You could have walked your own path and come in at the end of gathering up your orb. Instead you stayed and walked with us. You may come up with escape plans, but you have chosen not to act on them. I'm not worried."
She expected him to assure her that she should be worried. That she should not trust him. Instead he stood, stretching his back and standing taller than he had been. He finished tucking the papers into the satchel. He said nothing for a long moment, placing the strap of the satchel over his shoulder he turned and gave her a quick nod which she understood to be both an indication of his readiness to depart, and his gratitude for her acceptance.
The group was to muster in the forge once again, though as she and Fen'Harel made their way, speaking little, she heard someone calling to her. Dorian hurried up and Astlyr indicated that Fen should walk on to the muster without her. When the elf had gone she turned to the Tevinter mage. "What's on your mind, Dorian?" she asked.
"I have a favor to ask of you, M'gel," he said. His careful use of her pet name was not lost on Astlyr.
"What's up?" she stopped walking and faced her friend.
"I...well I hate to ask this because I know you rely on me as one of your best mages," he gave her a quick, cheeky wink. "Not to mention resident charmer and the only one with any fashion sense-"
"Dorian," she grasped his arm, laughing. "What was it you wanted?"
"Er, yes. I was wondering if I might beg off of this particular adventure. You see, Titus still has a long road ahead and I did rather promise to be there for the lad as much as I could. I know you will feel the loss greatly."
"We will, I have no doubt in my mind," Astlyr said, still holding her friend's arm warmly. "Of course I understand. You should be there for Titus. Especially with Cullen going with us."
"Is he?" Dorian beamed, "Maker, it took the two of you long enough to make it official! I heard you were all over each other in the tavern last night. And I missed it, Maker blast it all! I had been starting to ponder if I might have to magically intervene with the two of you. You warrior types are always so stoic, its a wonder you ever get together at all."
"All over each other at the pub?" Astlyr folded her arms.
"Mention was made of a good deal of tongue." Dorian waggled his eyebrows expressively.
Astlyr swatted his arm, "and I imagine you are single-handedly keeping that rumor circulating. I know you were rooting for us."
"Me'gel, I was the captain of your cheering team." She wasn't certain his grin could get any wider. He looked ready to bubble over with happiness and it made Astlyr feel as if she could do the same. She wouldn't admit now, but she would truly miss having her dear friend at her side on this mission, possibly the longest she would be gone without him in some time.
"I wish you and Titus the best of luck. Take care," she said, warmly clasping his hands.
Dorian hugged her. She wasn't overly fond of hugs, and seldom had opportunity to share them, but Dorian's always felt right. A no strings attached embrace which never failed to fill her with a warm reassurance. She hoped, as she returned the gesture, that some of her own strength could find its way into her friend. He would need it as he helped his lover cope with the deadly withdrawal from lyrium. They broke apart and he gave her another beaming grin, his eyes nearly lost in laugh lines. "Thank you, M'gel. Have a safe journey. I know you'll never be as safe as I would like, without me to watch over you."
"Get out of here and see to your man," she scolded the mage.
"Right you are," he said before turning and heading back into Skyhold, waving absently over his shoulder as though she were merely going to lunch, not on a lengthy journey.
Astlyr was still smiling as she strode out of the fortress, bound for the forge to gather her people again.
Astlyr reluctantly handed Smoke's reins to the stable boy who had ridden with them to meet the ship which would take them closer to the Western Approach. There was no room for horses on the ship, not to mention, in full winter coats of fur, the poor animals would have been no match for the desert heat. No, upon arrival in The Approach Astlyr and her people would be given new mounts to use until their mission was completed.
After she had said her goodbyes to her horse, with the aid of several sugar cubes, she turned to take in the ship. It was anchored well back from the pebbled shoreline. There was no port here, so the ship remained in the deeper waters and three longboats were sent out to collect Astlyr's party and their supplies. The captain had even come ashore to greet his prestigious passengers. Astlyr had groaned inwardly when she saw the flag they flew. The sunburst. "Andrastians," she grouched. Just what she needed. A whole ship full of people to bow and scrape and think her some kind of religious icon.
The captain stepped ashore and walked straight to Astlyr, with no sign of unease. This was unusual. Very few people met Astlyr without first having to steel themselves, or showing intimidation in some way. She decided she liked this man as he extended a weather-worn hand for her to shake. He was tall, for a human, and well muscled. Perhaps in his mid to late forties, his trimmed beard was flecked with grey, as was his long hair which was tied back in a ponytail. She did note that he wore the sunburst emblem on the cuffs of his coat sleeves, but he did not address her as The Harold. "Welcome, Inquisitor," he said, in a the loud, pleasant drawl of one accustomed to giving orders.
"Hello, Captain Kale," Cullen stepped forward, warmly taking the man's hands.
"It can't be young Cullen? No! Maker bless me it is!" the man addressed as Kale fairly cheered.
"You know one another?" Astlyr surmised as she watched the two men.
"Kale's ship was the one that brought me from my old posting in Fereldan to Kirkwall," Cullen explained.
"I heard that didn't work out for you, lad. I'm sorry for that," Kale said with warm sincerity.
"I like him," Cole was standing beside Astlyr now, and several of the crew which had come ashore with their captain jumped at his sudden appearance.
"Now then," Kale cast a baleful eye over his men. A warning, Astlyr recognized. "You were all told we would have the company of a spirit. You've heard tales of young master Cole, I'm certain. How he helped save the world."
The men and women who were loading the supplies into the longboats put their heads down and bent their backs to their work, looking admonished. "It's alright," said Cole, good-natured as ever. "Lot's of people are afraid of me." He leaned closer to Astlyr, "I could make them forget, but the captain would not like it."
"I think you're right to let them get over you on their own. You're letting them all see you?" she asked out of the corner of her mouth, watching as Cullen took a moment to reconnect with the captain.
"I thought it would be best," Cole replied, watching the crew go about their business with efficiency. "It will be difficult to keep myself hidden from them on board the ship, especially because they all knew I would be coming, and if I shouldn't make them forget..."
"Ah," Astlyr nodded, "I think you're right, Cole. Alright, ladies and gents," she addressed her own people, who had finished unpacking their horses and sent the beasts on their way back to Skyhold with the stable man. "Let's help these nice people load up their boat and we'll be on our way."
"Ship," grumbled Varric, throwing a bag of weapons over his shoulder and carrying it to a waiting longboat. "Never did like ships. The trip over from Kirkwall was bad enough. I should have found a reason to stay home like Sparkler."
Astlyr knew her dwarvish friend was mostly joking. Astlyr herself had crossed the Waking Sea once. She had been born and raised in the Marches and had saved enough money with her mercenary work to hop on a passenger vessel over to Fereldan a few years before the events of the conclave. The ship she had taken then was larger than the one that waited for them now, but she suspected she would feel the same way about it.
"People crush together below decks, like a tomb. I don't like the feel of the closeness. It stifles, strangles and I struggle free. The captain lets me sleep on the deck," Cole caught her discomfort without even looking up. As if reading her were as natural as breathing.
The boy was completely correct of course, but she made an effort not to think about those things now as she stepped gingerly into a longboat, careful of her weight and how it was distributed. No use capsizing before she even got to the ship. Not to mention the water would be absolutely deadly if anyone spent more than a few moments in it. The Waking Sea was a busy sea. The waters in constant motion as though ever stirred by some massive, invisible hand. The real danger was the cold. One tumble into that water and you wouldn't recover quickly. A few drops splashed Astlyr's leg as the boat got under way and she flinched as the frigid droplets soaked through her clothes.
The ship itself was covered in a thin sheen of ice on the outer hull. Anyplace the water touched was left shimmering as tough it was made of glass. The vessel was called The Griffon and the prow from the break to the keel was equipped with metal plating, almost like a blade, no doubt meant to break or shunt aside any floating ice The Griffon might encounter.
Rope ladders came tumbling over the side of the rail down to the waiting longboats. Above, Astlyr saw crewmen waiting to help the the newcomers onto the deck. Astlyr climbed carefully. Already the ladders were slick as the water below spattered them.
"Welcome back, Captain," a woman came forward. She wore a sealskin long-coat with a fur lined hood and had a rangy, native look. Her dark eyes roved over Astlyr and her people as they climbed one by one from the boats.
"Thank you, Finna. Inquisitor, this is Finna, my first mate." Captain Kale introduced.
"What happened to that other fellow, Benji, was it?" Cullen asked as Finna moved to firmly shake hands.
"Retired," Captain Kale said. "Lucky for me, young Finna here was available. I couldn't ask for better."
"Flatterer," she scolded. "You can keep your silver talk to yourself, sir."
The captain slapped a hand to his chest as though she had wounded him deeply, making a show of staggering back on the icy deck. "She's a feisty one. Watch yourself, lad," the man elbowed Cullen playfully.
Astlyr bit back a chuckle at Cullen being called 'lad'. He certainly wasn't as old as Kale, but the commander had left his 'lad' years well behind him. Suddenly the first mate rushed forward, eyes wide with excitement. Astlyr turned to see that Cole had climbed onto the deck. The boy had chosen to use the ladder rather than teleporting for fear of frightening the crew. "Is this him?!" Fenna asked eagerly. Her hands hovered as though she was aching to touch Cole.
"You may," the spirit boy said, holding out a hand.
Finna grasped Cole's offered hand in both of hers, flipping it over, then touching his sleeve in wonder. "Gods," he exhaled in obvious awe. "And you're not a human body with a spirit inside? You're spirit alone?"
"Yes," Cole answered, patiently tolerating the woman's odd adoration. "I chose to look like a human I met once," his voice hitched marginally when he spoke of the original Cole, but Astlyr anyone else noticed.
"What is going on?" Varric finally achieved the deck and took in the odd sight as the woman pulled gently on the brim of Cole's hat and grinned.
"She's Avvar," explained the captain, watching with a bemused expression. "They fancy spirits are sort of...godlike or something."
Fen'Harel and Myfanwy came next and both took in the odd scene. Now a few more crew members were pausing in their work to see what the fuss was all about. Astlyr was intrigued by an Avvaran woman on an obviously Andrastian vessel, but as she glanced around she noted that not everyone was wearing the sunburst symbol as openly as the captain. Perhaps, she thought with some relief, she would not be addressed as The Herald at every turn after all.
"I believe that spirits, as we know them now, are wise and good," Finna clarified, "and can lead us closer to our deities."
"And what of demons?" asked Fen, obviously curious. Astlyr wondered how much contact he had had with the Frostback natives in his time.
"The corrupted spirits?" Finna shot Fen'Harel a quick glare, "are forged by we humans and our folly. We avvar are extremely watchful for them and remain ever vigilant that our mages do not tempt such creatures."
It was obvious that Fen'Harel was eager to continue the conversation, his curiosity piqued, but the captain interrupted before he could press on. "This is a lovely lesson," he said, looking bemused, "but I think it best we get under way. Finna, if you would."
"Right you are, Captain," Finna ceased her eager scrutiny of Cole and turned to address the crew. The longboats had been pulled up into place at the ship's sides, like ducklings come to rest beneath a mother's wings, and the first mate began to shout "Alright you lubbers, let's see that anchor weighed! Up in those shrouds you lot, run out the sheets! Stow our passengers and their gear below decks, and look sharp about it! Move lads, or I'll flay you alive and use yer guts to give The Griffin a new coat of paint!"
Astlyr chuckled at the avvaran woman's turn of phrase as she set about helping the crewmen bring their gear below. She was startled by a qunari striding up from below decks. It was a male, and his skin seemed to be a combination of the more classic grey, and the brown which Astlyr bore. He was muscular, though not as much as Iron Bull. If Astlyr had to guess she would estimate him to be in his late teens, or perhaps early twenties. One of his horns was completely missing and the other resembled Astlyr's in that it swept back along his head rather than sticking out to the side like Iron Bull's. She opened her mouth to speak to this, the fourth member of her kind that she had ever met, but he gave her such a glare that she snapped her mouth shut again. He shouldered past her without a word.
"What's his problem?" Asked Varric, pulling a pack over his shoulder to carry it below.
"That's Six," Explained one of the crewmen with a shrug. "Don't know why he's being so prickly. He's usually a ray of sunshine."
Judging by the laughter which followed this statement Astlyr guessed that 'Six' was not renowned for his jollity. She shook her head and loaded several packs onto her own shoulders as Six moved to weigh the anchor. He soon had the great wheel which coiled the thick anchor chain turning all by himself. His fellow crewman cheered him until a glare from Finna set them to work again.
It turned out that taking their supplied below decks was quickly achieved. As soon as Cole had been down once he was able to teleport back and forth, rendering even Astlyr's superior strength a bit pointless. She finally just went back out onto the deck. The crew wasted no time getting The Griffon up to speed. Icy spray rushed in Astlyr's face and in spite of the constant bucking and rocking of the deck, which made her feel decidedly unsteady, she still enjoyed the feeling of freedom as the wind took the sails and they were well and truly on their way to another adventure.
***** Let the traveling chapters begin! Hey, at least they're traveling by sea. That's different. I hate just teleporting characters places (except Cole haha). I think the travel time is valuable too. But we'll see what you think next chapter. Don't worry, there will be excitement and gooey character stuff to go along with a nice sea voyage.
And avvar! How exciting is that?! Have any of you played the Jaws of Hakkon DLC? What do you think of the avvar? Even if you haven't played the DLC, what do you think of them? You know that Fen totally cornered Finna later and had a long conversation about spirits and gods. You all know it to be true ;)
So...the redheaded mage that chased Cullen in his youth is totally based on a good friend of mine's mage character. She is a wee, tiny, itty, bit OBSESSED with Cullen, so she had to make a cameo. But sorry, she died in the tower (probably) because the Hero of Fereldan was someone else. Perhaps she escaped, who knows, but she better stay away from Cullen, because he belongs to Astlyr now! Haha
Just a heads up, I have been given a new project for work which is going to eat up a lot of my time. It might cut back on my writing time especially. I'll be certain to let you know if I have to skip a week, or if chapters will be late. To keep updated check out my author page too (especially if you're reading on ) : pages/Emily-Luebke-Author/283743888311991
Check out the repaint of the cover art here: art/The-New-Ways-of-Old-Gods-Cover-art-V-2-532350117
Next: 5/14/15