Denerim was another of those strange places where somehow Surana was pulled off into many side jobs and errands. It was as if being a Gray Warden managed to alert everyone with any half baked idea that someone would be willing to help complete it. Perhaps it went along with the dark spawn blood?Since Alistair had a few things to accomplish there, and Zevran a few leads, they left with Wynne to handle them. Considering the lot was now finally realizing they needed healing since Zevran's over stated abilities with locks and traps almost was set off by Alistair's peculiar abilities to find them? Of course that was before you took in Surana's tendencies to answer ever situation by flinging off fireballs or the newer force magics he'd discovered when speaking with Irving back in the tower.
Sten went off and vanished leaving the rest to just hope he wouldn't either terrorize the local bakery too much or kill someone. Honestly, with the qunari's found addiction to cookies it was not entirely off the wall to suspect he may just sit there and glower as they fed him tray after tray of sweets. At least he had the coin for it. Morrigan gave a long suffering sigh before she went shopping, with a quirk to her lips that displayed she was hardly against the task and Barkspawn trailing after the witch for protection. Yellow eyes had glared at Saeris, knowing that the Twiceblooded had insisted Morrigan not go alone and chuffed as much along with body language so the Mabari would guard her fellow Witch of the Wilds. Morrigan knew a great deal, but she was still an obvious apostate.
It left Leliana and Saeris alone.
"You know those assassins that came after me..would you mind terribly helping me with the situation?" Leliana asked softly. Saeris shook her head.
"You're helping me stay free. I'd be glad to return the favor ainée."
"Thank you. I meant to bring it up to Surana, but he has so many tasks already upon his shoulders." Leliana smiled at her, but there was a shiver to the woman's shoulder's, and the slightly older red head had already shared with them all her past as a bard, and her former mentor's betrayal. If there were more details shared quietly when helping to train Saeris's dexterity alone, they were ones that the copper haired mage would keep to herself.
"Where do we begin?"
"With the chantry. I will feel better knowing they cannot track you down." Leliana once more showed her mettle, pushing aside concerns for her own safety and confronting the woman who had built up and then destroyed her life. In the former bard's mind her friend's safety was paramount. "Now, I still have my former attire as a lay sister, but you cannot pass as one easily. Though it has been a while there were times some of the other sisters would help escort women to various chantry's who were considering offering their dedication, perhaps."
"If I 'cleaned up' would I pass as a commoner you think?"
"It is..yes. Yes that would do." A few coins at an inn got them a room where Saeris set to washing off her face paint and removing the braids and trinkets from her hair. Leliana slipped away, coming back with a faded serviceable dress of some color that once may have been yellow but now an indiscriminate beige. With her help they managed to twist her hair into a properly dowdy low bun though Leliana chuckled. "There is not much we can do about the shade. Red hair is always noticed and if you wore a cowl it would scream more old matron which you do not look. Cannot be helped." They rolled up their gear and placed it in their packs which would go with them, a wandering pilgrim being guided by a lay sister was not so unlikely a sight though with the current turmoil facing Thedas it was a little out there. Still, if only to use it as lending credence to why a woman may suddenly feel the need to seek assurance in the Maker's work it was believable. It helped that from her days in the circle spending time with a few of the Templar's, and the fact that attendance in the small chapel there was considered rather mandatory, Saeris and Surana both would be familiar with the chant. Far more than they desired.
If anything, it was Leliana who was the first example of someone with faith that did not feel forced upon her as she showed it. Even Gregoire had often made Saeris feel he was trying to impress upon her the beliefs that she was a mistake no matter how she tried to use her gifts, that she was meant to be a servant. Had he and most the Chantry their way, all mages would either be tranquil or exist only in the Chantry as religious peons without desires to explore in other ways.
Even before her second skin was learned, the nature inside of Saeris had snarled and rebelled at the idea that anyone had the right to tell her how to live in a dictatorship. She'd happily yielded to Valor because his way was to teach her to better strike out on her own, she was a creature of the wilds, not tamed.
Swallowing Saeris beat down the urge to snarl and lash out as she shouldered her pack. Her hair was pulled back, her face bare, and she felt bereft of herself. How much of her identity had become in her appearance! Taking it instead as a good lesson that she was more than her looks, or her trinkets and hair braids, Saeris followed Leliana. The Denerim chantry looked and felt much like the others, the scents were not unpleasant. Candles and incense, the dust of many roads that had been brought in by boots upon the worn rugs, various oils and offerings. The sound of chants and soothing tones offset by wails and worried calls. Everything from a lost ring to the blight and begging for a child's health to be restored assaulted her ears. Leliana kept up a steady litany of the chantry's history, the importance of Denerim and idle stories of when the location was founded. Stories of various sister's and mother's in the faith that the common folk would not remember after a generation, but that the lay sisters would study for examples, flowed in soft Orleisan accents giving Saeris something to focus on. They wandered for a long time, no one bothering to approach them as they saw just another woman following meekly after a clear lay sister who knew of what she spoke. A sight that they'd witnessed many times. Leliana was carrying Saeris's staff, an immense sign of trust, but also more believable as the walking stick it appeared to be in her hands.
After the third turn around, with Saeris haltingly repeating questions -actually some of the stories were fairly interesting like the sister who shaved her head and ate only porridge but insisted it helped keep her mind unclouded if she seemed a bit odd- they passed a door. A soft cough from Saeris, a knowing look from Leliana in turn and a faint nod. Saeris sensed magic behind that door. Tucked off in the corner as it was, almost hidden behind a statue. Surely this was not the main entrance. Pretending to lean on the offered staff from Leilana, as if weary, Saeris studied the statue, her body just hiding as Leliana bent and began to fiddle with her lock picks. After all, what fool would break into a chantry? There were valuables around but in a back room with only phylacteries?
It was almost laughable that back in the tower had been so many protections and efforts to go through from what Surana had reported of aiding in Jowan's escape, and here where the ones were kept of actual harrowed mages was merely a door.
"Tricky, but done." Leliana whispered proudly, not even letting the click of the opened lock give them away. "How will I know which to get?"
"Just look." Saeris whispered back, because that Leliana would be the one sneaking in was without a doubt. She was the rogue, the dextrous one. Leliana briefly ran her fingers over Saeris shoulder, and was gone.
()()()()()()()()
Leliana was not certain what she had expected, aside from the immensely uneasy idea that her beloved chantry was hiding such things as phylacteries in certain locations. Perhaps puzzles or traps, or long meandering riddles. The sheer belief in the fact that mages of the circle would never learn of their location of the hidden vials of blood, or the gall to find a way in though was evident in that all between her and the items she sought was two doors. One that had led to a store room with confiscated magical looking items that perhaps were of great value but doubtlessly noticeable if removed. The second opened just as easily, Leliana could admit she was a truly skilled lockpicker but still.
The room was cold. Hewn into the ground below to help keep the temperature dropped and with large stone walls and floor, covered in high shelves and crates. Various vials littered the place, as they had in Redcliffe's chantry. Each tiny glass container representing a mage living or dead that the chantry kept leashed and bound to them, a death threat if they ever dared to wander. The cruelty struck Leliana to her core and she began seeking out Surana and Saeris's. It was easier than you would think, all those who undertook the harrowing at a certain time had been grouped together. There was even a crate near the door helpfully labeled 'Lake Calenhad' with the current year. The irony was thick upon the air as she carefully slid the lid back. It had yet to even be unpacked. Showing the lack of concern the Chantry had for it's circle mages ever getting here. Labled clearly was each vial and just as troubling, a note on each mage.
-Surana, Alim
Astoundingly quick. Clean. Potential for Archmage. Quiet and afraid at the start of Harrowing. Found in Hinterlands, turned over as a child by parents. Evidence of fire magics over relied on. Temper. Strongly suggest keeping out of faction debate.
-Lavellan, Saeris
Exceptional transition seemed easy no signs of confusion or temptation in Harrowing, found in Kocari wilds. Has taken to books and keeps her head down. Strange uses of magic from her people. Harmless. Healer potential.
Leliana's brows rose at both notes which she took along with the vials and replaced the crate. Then, ensuring no footsteps had been left behind in the dust, backtracked as swiftly as she could. Any lingering concern the former bard had though about their potential discovery was abated when she slipped back out the last door, locking it easily behind her. Saeris had provided a fantastic distraction that showed observance of the chantry and it's ways above anything that Leliana would have given her credit for. It was no wild hound or fitful moment that kept their alcove secluded. It was the sight of Saeris kneeling before the statue, leaning on her staff with head bowed. Appearing to pray. No member of the chantry or lay person for that matter would wish to disturb such entreaties. It was just good fortune that it was yet another statue of Andraste that lay before the entrance.
"What or whom do you pray for?" Leliana asked curious, folding her hands in front of her body. The tension eased from Saeris's shoulders as she realized Leliana was done and successful.
"For any whom could use it."
"To whom? Andraste, the maker?"
"If there are ears that hear and wish to act, I need not direct it do I?" Saeris smiled up at her and then sighed. "I think I could use fresh air.."
"Perhaps a stroll around the gates." Leliana agreed, knowing that in such a place their voices would carry. Reclaiming the staff as her 'walking stick' from the mage it belonged to the former bard leisurely led out her friend. The silence was a tense one, and Leliana was impressed at how she kept her head down, appearing in contemplation. Not revealing that doubtless the shapeshifter desired little more than to rip the vials from wherever Leliana had them hidden and dash them upon the rocks. They had talked before finally arriving in Denerim though, and Surana had insisted they destroy the evidence just in case. One never knew with blood magic and the issues with Jowan had made the Warden-mage wary enough to caution his childhood friend.
"So, Surana's first name is Alim?"
"Yes." A clearing of her throat. "He didn't much care for it. Said it belonged to his father as well..who gave him up."
"Your own last name..?"
"It wasn't mine." Saeris answered simply. It wasn't, had been perhaps but to a very different girl who no longer existed. "My mother's clan. When they would have sent me away at not even seven years because of what I was born capable of, we eschewed their names. I was required to present one however, and it seemed easier to use one I had no attachment to." Because the last thing Saeris was going to do when here Leliana was helping her remove a blood magic component was explain something in the way of old magic. Not when she was so nearly free.
"I understand. I have never used my own."
The silence slipped back into a comfortable one then as they passed guards and pathways, finally out of sight Leliana handed over both vials and notes. Saeris paused, but did not read them. Under Leliana's gaze she folded them over, dropped the two bottles and then cupping her hands, blew softly. Blue and violet flames, so hot it scorched the air around them leapt from her grasp and devoured the glass and paper, ink and blood. When the last bit was not even ash, the flames were permitted to die out and Saeris turned a smile to Leliana.
"Thank you, ainée."
"What are sisters for?" Leliana laughed before opening her arms. The surprise in the mage's face lasted only a moment before she clung to the other red head, trembling in relief.
She was free.
()()()()()()()
When they rejoined the others at the inn they truly would stay at for the evening it was quite a number of stories. Running errands and shopping, Sten having managed to shut down the only bakery as they ran out of sugar but emptied his purse in the process and he was most assuredly not sharing his bag of goodies. Morrigan had a few new chains dangling from her skirt complete with charms and Barkspawn even had one on his collar everyone pretended not to notice. Zevran was chortling and wagging his brows about some card game he'd roped Surana into with someone named Isabella and Surana had yet to cease being as red in the face as Leilana and Saeris in hair. At one point though as Wynne checked everyone over and Alistair was moping in the corner -apparently meeting his relative had not gone anywhere near as well as he had hoped- Surana locked his gaze to her own.
"I felt something earlier..like I could breathe. Really breathe. Did you?"
"They're gone." Saeris smiled at him, and the two circle mages shared a giddy expression. Saeris was relieved that he had sensed something, as she had not, but considering she was no longer Saeris Lavellan it was only fitting. All the more reassuring that the efforts she had gone through to separate that person from Saeris Twiceblooded were indeed valid.
"I think I understand now, why Jowan had that look to him. When we shattered his. Like he was so at peace, almost.." Surana shifted and then grinned at her, ears red and Saeris snickered.
"You still blush too easily. Hasn't Morrigan cured you of that yet?"
"Ah..it's fine? Right?"
"We're friends, Surana. Whatever you and Morrigan are is entirely the business of the two of you. Just do keep in mind I have better hearing in that other skin of mine?" She smirked to tease and fluster him, chuckling as he started to stammer.
"She's pretty amazing. I mean.."
"Thought you were scared of spiders?"
"Well yeah but come on. It's Morrigan!" He paused then and slowly the color left his face. "She'd still bite me to prove a point, wouldn't she..." As Saeris nodded fighting laughter she could pin point the exact moment that Surana pictured it. "...she's still amazing."
That did it, Saeris was howling in laughter and when everyone else looked over grinned evily at Morrigan. "Surana likes you even with eight legs."
"I didn't..I mean I do but..I mean.."
Morrigan just smirked smugly and crossed her arms, drawing attention to her assets as the rest of the group chuckled at Surana's awkward behavior.
"Well it's nice to know some things never change. The world could be ending and you miscreants are still giggling over liking someone." Wynne mock scolded with a smile on her face. "Now let me look you over Surana."
That night they slept in actual beds and rather then figure out an extra room, Saeris smirked. "I'm fine on the floor." It made no difference to her, comfortable in her other form as she was though she and Barkspawn did end up with a few pillows and blankets tossed down to make a nest in. The idea of curling up back to back with the Mabari didn't even phase her anymore. Safe and warm and with the luxury of an early turn in so she could spend more time in the fade? That was what mattered. Content by the fire down in the common area of the Inn, deserted as it was, the two hounds were left alone.
()()()()()()()()()()()()
Saeris was not at all surprised to find herself in the Raw Fade, it was her default location as she did not impress her will on her locations, but she was a trifle puzzled as she looked around. Where was the spirit of this location? The wisps?
"Have you never been summoned before, Twiceblooded?" Came a rich voice and she inverted herself reforming facing the other way, ears perked up in surprise.
"Solas? No, I have not. Is that what you did?" Truly she had not realized she could be summoned. The dreamer mage laughed though, and nodded. Around them undulating greens stayed indistinct as he had yet to choose a location. Perhaps, at the distance they surely were from each other, could not?
"With your name I am able to find you. Not always admittedly, it can be tricky. I've noticed you do not always sleep and even then you are most the time firmly ensconced in the company of other spirits and dislodging you would be precarious." The elf dismissed with an elegant hand flickering. It was a very pretentious motion that had her tail wagging in amusement.
"I'm not going to have trouble getting back am I?"
"To your mortals? No, even for one such as yourself, with a foot in the mortal and immortal realm I am only pulling your consciousness to a middle ground, a crossroads of the Fade if you will in order to meet. Does this bother you?" Solas seemed to frown at the idea, as if the prospect of his company being anything other than enthralling to a spirit had never occurred to him. Indeed, as a dreamer, it was more likely for spirits to all but fawn over him and constantly tug on his attention. The curiosity but entirely independent nature of the Twiceblooded was fascinating for him.
"As long as I can return." And he could see the rippling of her light created form no doubt as she relaxed, sitting on her haunches to scratch at an ear in as much a visible sign of complacency as because she could. "My mortals do get into situations."
"Oh? What have you been up to since we met?" Now Solas changed the surroundings, perching upon a chair so elaborate it had to be a throne, with spiraling pillars and floors of ornate mosaics crawling into being around them. The transition would have seemed instantaneous, but as always her simple acceptance of the Fade as it was because she had no reason to contest it, gave Saeris an odd glimpse of watching it coalesce into the creations of his will.
"The usual. Fighting, wandering, currently curled by a nice fire with the hound they travel with. They all have such silly worries and concerns they rush off to deal with and twist themselves into knots over." Because in the Fade there was no point in concerning ones self with the inevitable Saeris gave no thought to it. Her own most pressing concern was handled, the rest would be one day at a time.
"I suppose it is something out of your experience." Solas agreed. "As young as you are, you would not likely understand what can drive a soul to do seemingly 'pointless' things."
"Why not?"
"You are free, traveling with those who value you."
Saeris tilted her head, remembering to do so in a more exaggerated manner as Solas apparently could not read the fluctuations she made as the wisps and spirits did. "Well yes, we help each other."
"What help could they possibly lend to a Totem of the Chasind?" Solas asked but it was as if amusing a child, rankling her hackles. With a sniff entirely for his benefit she tilted her muzzle up.
"One of them helped destroy a binding that was put on me by the Templars."
She regretted mentioning it instantly. Solas stood, his eyes glowing blue and the entire section of the Fade became coated in ice as a blizzard stirred her fur at the edges. Yet the show of his power for all it was quite impressive, could not touch her and trouble her because it was not directed at her. She still felt it though which made Saeris realize part of the dangers, and apparently properly given due to the Fade Walkers, as despite her lack of acknowledging it's presence as she would with another spirit she still felt the cold. It seemed Dreamers bent the laws of the Fade as the spirits knew them, in a way she had never been able to understand when told. Fortunately it added to her confusion as she looked around and Solas swiftly brought himself under control, though the protective fury was banked not put out.
"They bound you?"
"Of a sort." Saeris agreed, pawing at the ice crystals curiously. She could feel them even if thinking they were not there, a figment. Powerful indeed!
"Can they again?"
"I'll not let them. Nor would those with me. The Templar's do not know the binding is gone. I have no intention of revealing it in my actions." Because, of course, she should not be able to speak to them if she was but a twiceblooded hound in truth, spirit ridden or no. Finally Solas seemed to take a deep breath and compose himself.
"If such a thing occurs, I wish you to inform me immediately. Perhaps I could help."
Solas watched the way the light dimmed and flared in the spirit's surprise at his offer before regarding him. It was so entirely childlike, curious about his altering the fade in a way that Solas had not realized would seem alien to it. Though it focused on pawing at the snow and ice he'd created inadvertently and in doing so seemed all the more a wild creature. It was enjoyable to watch the curiosity being shown but the idea of this bright young spirit being bound by templar's that in his wanderings seemed to be growing more paranoid and vicious over time? It had brought out the urge to turn the very stones of their temples and strongholds to dust. Attachments for spirits tended to happen swiftly, and Solas had come to appreciate that in them, something that almost never happened among the living. Even this youngling had not been alarmed it had been summoned so much as surprised he had done it, and was not refuting his command.
And Solas could admit, it was definitely a command.
"I am not under your guidance." Twiceblooded stated, tail folded elegantly over paws as it sat and watched him, eyes ever glowing that citrine color. Solas found himself smiling, the last of his anger ebbing away in amusement at it's blatant lack of respect.
"No, you are not. I'd like you to be."
"I think I have enough pride." Came the teasing response and Solas found himself laughing freely.
"Cocky little thing." But it was said fondly. "Perhaps not a formal guidance as you've had from Valor, but mentoring then. Clearly you are not used to the dangers a mage can offer.."
"Three of my mortals are mages."
Solas paused and then slowly rephrased his meaning, he often forgot just how young this soul was and that time was so very different. It had only been a few weeks since they met but the interaction had not left his mind. It was nice to only be Solas, someone to speak with, instead of Fen'Harel or FadeWalker. Wisdom had been all but shooing him to seek others before he started meandering along the Fade so far from his body and he could admit no small measure of jealousy that this entertaining soul was seeking to waken and travel with mortals instead. If it had the knowledge of whom and what it was currently addressing doubtlessly that choice would be swayed but Solas's own pride would not let him blurt it out.
Much as he wanted to.
He also did not wish to feel the sting of his ego if the Twiceblooded spirit continued to prefer the company of quickling mortals.
"A mage who can affect the Fade as I can, there are some arts that can bind and change the nature of spirits. Not all mages use it to learn or are born to it naturally as I was."
The growl was sudden and echoing so loudly Solas turned, expecting to see a demon. It was then he realized that the light from his companion was far brighter and it's form a bit larger. Startled, Solas just waited as Twiceblooded seemed to shake it's head, reminding itself of it's company. Though fortunately it appeared only very upset, not corrupted the sound had been dangerous. Potential indeed.
"I have seen it. Those who summon and bind demons to themselves and those who have twisted magic and trapped spirits to corrupt them entirely."
"No.." The sound was sorrowful,wishing that such had never tainted the young one's awareness of the world but Solas did not reach out. Amongst spirits outside of in a dream they may assume the roles of, touch was far more than it was to mortals. Souls without bodies could transmit thoughts and memories from small wisps of power sent out, to actually touch another in such a fashion was saved for those of closest companionship's. Even Wisdom often did not actually initiate any form of contact, and with it came a barrage of thoughts and senses that would overwhelm Solas. He did however, feel heavy hearted. "I would have kept you from such."
"And how would I grow then? Locked away? No." Twiceblooded huffed out. "Both were horrible experiences but I have learned and it has aided me. I bear the scars from the second but I was not the trapped one. I only suffered in my mortal body perchance, not on purpose."
"Would you tell me of it?"
"What do you know of werewolves?" Saeris sighed then and Solas fought laughter at being on the receiving end of a dog's glare of annoyance. "You know this would be so much better if you could just share properly."
"I've taken memories others sent towards me before." He rushed to reassure it but the hound just whined.
"I'm young yet. Garble the process to the point it would make no sense to you. No. We'll do this the clumsy talking way."
"Werewolves?" Solas prompted with a frown. "I'm not sure I'm familiar with that term..."
()()()()()()()
Saeris awoke well rested the next morning and shamelessly joined Barkspawn in begging at the kitchen for meat after seeing the porridge her companions would get for their coins. Explaining the heavily edited events of the Brecillian forest had been rather cathartic, and Solas was a fantastic listener. His outrage at hearing of Witherfang's binding and the destruction of the Lady in the end was only tempered knowing the mage who had done it was dead. There was a time or two when he made her explain the feeling of the curse that Saeris had puzzled at his distressed expressions, but at least she was reassured by his words and behavior that Solas had been around spirits long enough to form friendships as they did. It made it far easier to associate with her new 'Dream-friend' even if he couldn't show his emotions and thoughts in lights and reflective wisps of memories. Perhaps some of that was due to finally understanding many of the interactions thanks to her companions in the waking world, Leliana was certainly being helpful!
"So, where to?" Asked Zevran cheerily as he sat beside her, where she was once more human in the rooms belonging to Alistair and Surana for the evening, passing out apples he had 'liberated' from a cart on the way over that morning. No one wanted to ask where he had been, there was a waft of perfume from the Antivan that well gave it away.
"Ah, some of us are going to camp at the Dalish again, pick up our gear and the like." Surana started before taking a deep breath. "Some of you. Myself, Sten, Alistair..and Saeris are going to go to Flemeth's hut so she can't take over Morrigan."
"No." Saeris choked out, dropping her apple as she felt her blood run cold. Distantly she heard them repeating the same arguments she'd already heard. Of why they needed to kill Flemeth. Saeris shook her head and closed her eyes, taking in deep breaths. She felt Leliana's hand grasp her own. "I will not stop you, but I cannot go. You cannot ask this of me!" She pleaded and opened her eyes. Morrigan though was who stepped up to her defense.
"Though not her daughter, Saeris is well known to mother. There is a chance she could take her over." Yellow eyes met Citrine and Morrigan's words did not need to be spoken for Saeris to know what else was being meant. Because if Flemeth asked, Saeris was not entirely certain she would have told the Witch no. In her own way, Morrigan was protecting her too. She nodded to show she understood and a fleeting smile passed over the pale brunette before she scowled.
"You should take a thief. Mother likely has valuables but you will need to unlock them."
"That rules out Zevran." Someone piped up and with the ensuing snickering, no one argued.
"Okay, Leliana?"
"I am with you my friend." Leliana agreed and Saeris let out a deep breath.
"Are you all right, lovely?" Zevran whispered to her and Saeris snorted.
"Just thinking I was better off sleeping."