"Sometimes," he sighed, "I think the things I remember are more real than the things I see. "
― Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha
~oOo~
Never in my whole entire life would I have ever thought I would be in a damn video game. This place is too real to be a dream let alone anything else but real. As I sit on a rock, taking some time real quick to collect my thoughts before we moved on to closing the breach. The scrapes on my hands from when the shade threw me back feels and looks real so this really can't be a dream. I would have woken up if this was a dream.
Maybe I'm dead...
I fell from the bridge after the asshole pushed me but maybe I could be in a coma of some sort? I could be. Some type of coma where I'll only wake up if I finish the story of some sort. Maybe.
"Aleera?" I turned around to see Jacob standing behind me. I stood up and brushed off the snow before walking with him towards the others. "You alright?"
"Yeah just...a little shaken. I'm alright though." I told me as we moved to continue on. Solas kept staring at me like I was some thing that he's never seen before and Varric couldn't stop asking me questions. I've played the first two games, making Varric one of my favorites but right now I don't want to lose my head at the moment.
We met up with Leliana and High Chancellor Roderick whose an utter pick at the most. When he kept complaining I told him to grow a pair, grab a sword and do something about the damn rift. Cassandra smile and Leliana shook her head. Varric chuckled and said I would fit perfectly around her but I didn't comment back.
"Now you're asking my opinion?!" Jacob asked when Cassandra asked if they should go via direct path or the mountain path to be sneaky-sneaky. He looked at me and I shrugged.
"Let's not waist any time. We go the direct path." Jacob said and I sighed. When he gave me a questionable look I answered him that I'm not really much of a fighter and it was pure dumb luck I managed to kill two shades in the past few hours.
"We're wasting time! We need to close the breach!" Solas said and we got moving forward after we picked up a few mother health poultice along with some lyrium for Solas. We passed through another gate, helping the soldiers escape the demons while we fought them back, closing the rift.
"Lady Cassandra, you managed to close the rift. Well done." Said a male voice so I turned around to see a man with sandy blonde hair and amazing eyes dressed in kick ass armor walk towards us. He's hot and he's probably taken. It's always their hot and taken or gay. Even here I can't even imagine finding a damn person who won't mind their girlfriend bursting into flame, walking on water, throwing rocks as assholes heads (I mean I could land a boulder on top of a persons head!) or blow people down like storm in X-Men.
Of course I had to be weird.
Damn it all...
"Do not congratulate me Commander. This is the prisoners doing." Cassandra sounded like she hated to admit it which I found funny. Big surprise in small packages?
"Is it? I hope their right about you. We lost a lot of people getting you here." He said mainly towards Jacob rather than me which made me feel even more better about this whole situation.
"You're not the only one hoping that." Jacob replied.
"We'll see soon enough won't we." He turned his attention to Cassandra. "The way to the temple should be clear. Leliana should meet you there." He said.
"We best move quickly. Give us time Commander." Cassandra looked tense as the Commander slowly backed away from us.
"Maker watch over you for all our sakes." As he said that our eyes met and I swear something flickered in them before he turned to help one of his men towards camp. We turned away then and jumped down a ledge before moving towards the tear. When we got there it was something. I've never seen a tear that big and the red glowing stones around it didn't make it look any prettier.
"The Breach is a long way up." Varric muttered and I silently agreed.
"You're here! Thank the Maker." Leliana said as she and her men came forward.
"Leliana, have your men take up positions around the temple." Leliana nodded and left. "This is your chance to end this. Are you ready?" Cassandra asked Jacob.
"I'm assuming you have a plan to get me up there?" Jacob asked.
"No. This rift was the first, and it is the key." Solas intervened into the conversation. "Seal it, and perhaps we seal the breach."
"Then let's find a way down. And be careful." Cassandra said looking around. As we headed down we could hear voices coming from the tear. One of a man, maybe, evil and empty voice while the other was the old woman's voice from before. Varric made a comment about the red stones, which turned out to be red lyrium, and I told him that it had a sick feeling to it. I remember very little about red lyrium from the second game but I know the Knight Commander went bat shit crazy at the end due to her. So when Varric said it drives you crazy and not to touch it...
I didn't need to be told twice on that matter.
Jacob's mark glowed and it showed us the Divine and a shadow figure holding her hostage. Jacob appeared next, asking what was going on but the Divine told him to run and warn the other. The shadow figure pointed at Jacob, saying to kill the intruder. Once that settled Solas said that the rift wasn't close properly but opening it up again only to close it once more might do the trick but that would mean opening up the rift once more, causing some...issues with unwanted desks.
"That means demons! Stand ready!" Cassandra shouted to the others and we readied ourselves, more like they did and I tried not to pass-out from my heavy breathing. Shades and glowing wisps or whatever came out but the large demon that did scared me beyond straight. I stayed with Solas, aiming at the thing, firing fire ball after fire ball at them but also keeping the others away from Jacob when he would disrupt the rift. Solas and I turned our backs for one minute but that was enough to not notice the hulking mass swinging away.
"Solas! Watch out!" I called out as the hulking mass swung down at the mage. I pushed him out of the way just in time to get the impact of being throw backwards, knocking my head pretty hard. I gazed up; vision blurry as blurry shapes danced in front of me before everything went dark.
~oOo~
I was dreaming back in my favorite place.
The lake, the willow tree that would bend with the breeze, and how everything was beautiful; peaceful.
Normally the woman would be here, smiling and talking to me like she's known me all my life. But there's something different about this time. I can feel it on my skin as I sat in the soft grass, waiting. Hearing a twig snap I turned my head to smile at the pointed ear person with a jaw bone necklace.
"Hello Solas. Came for a visit?" I asked him with a smile. He seemed surprised that I was coherent and not in a dream state. "Confused?"
"Yes. Very much so." He said and walked towards me.
"Back home, where I'm from, there is no fade. Our minds create our dreams along with our subconscious. I learned at a young age that I could control my dreams. The ones like these I like to visit more often. Usually there is a woman here, her face blurry so I really can't see it but I have a feeling it's my mother." I explained to him. Solas came over and sat besides me.
"Your mother?"
"I was abandoned when I was a baby. They told me, my foster parents, said that my father left my mother and that my mother died in childbirth. I was only a baby when my foster parents took me in. They treated me right like they would their own child but everyone in my town knew my history. All they saw was strange child who kept to her friends and family, staying out of the spot light whenever she could. They'd often tease me when I was young that I was unwanted little girl whose parents never cared for her. Some days I believed they were right but I knew better." I explained to him and he nodded.
"Children are like that when raised the blinded parents. I'm sorry that happened Aleera." Solas said and the tone of his voice made me believe he actually meant it. We sat for a while, Solas asking me questions about how I arrived here and I told him the truth. At first he didn't quite understand but after a while he slowly began to understand.
"Do you think I died in my world?" I asked him and he was silent for a while before he answered.
"There may be a possibility but it uncertain as of this moment." He said and we talked a little bit longer, before he asked how I was doing. I said I felt fine but he said I would have a headache when I woke up. I groaned and he smiled.
He said it was time he let me to my dreams after a few minutes of silence. I told him that he could come back any time but just to warn me first. How I start my dream is not really up to me but how I end it. He chuckled and said he would warn me next time. He left then and my dream remained normal and peaceful. Birds began to sing and it seemed more alive than normal. I laid back on the grass to gaze up at the blue sky, watching the clouds roll by softly. I loved it here and I wish I could stay.
Too bad I have to wake up soon...
~oOo~
When I woke up, more like startled awake when I heard someone drop something on the floor. I winced and moaned in pain when I did, my headache hurting like someone was taking a bat to it. There was an elf kneeling on the floor in front of Jacob, from what I could tell from where I shielded my eyes from the bright light in the room. Jacob and the elf exchanged words I really couldn't care about right now before the elf scrambled and left.
"How are you feeling?" I looked at Jacob with a weak smile.
"Just peachy perfect. My headache is horrid and I feel like I went twenty rounds with Rocky."
"Rocky?" Jacob asked and I shook my head softly, not to anger my headache any more than I want to.
"Never mind. What did the elf want?"I asked him, slowly getting to my feet.
"It seems Cassandra wants to speak to us in the chantry. We should go and see what's going on." He rubbed his face before getting up too. "Are you going to be alright?"
"Yes, I'll be fine. After we talk to her maybe someone can help me with my headache. Maybe Solas?" I asked and Jacob put his arm around my shoulders as we left the house. The outside light did nothing but make my headache worse and it was killing me. A lot of people we saw bowed at us, more that the man leading me to the chantry.
Kind of creepy.
When we got inside, it was looked like a church would back where I'm from. As we neared the door where Cassandra was waiting for us we heard shouting from inside. Great. Add that to my headache.
"Chain the both of them. I want them prepared for travel to the capital for trial." Roderick said and when the guard moved an inch I turned around with glare in my eyes.
"Touch me and I'll burn you." I threatened as Jacob held me closer to him as a sigh of comfort.
"Disregard Rodrick, and leave us." Cassandra ordered and the guards did as they were told, leaving us alone.
"You walk a dangerous line, Seeker." Roderick hissed.
"The breach is stable, but it is still a threat. I will not ignore it." She shot back at him.
"I did everything I could to close the breach. It almost killed me...us." He looked down at me then lead me to an open chair. Leliana came and knelt down in front of me, asking if I was alright from the way I shielded my eyes.
"Just a headache from being thrown around. I'll go find someone to take care of it after we talk." I smiled at her and that seemed to put her at ease.
"The breach is not the only threat we face." Cassandra hissed with her voice tight.
"Someone was behind the explosion at the conclave. Someone most holy did not expect." Leliana said, standing up to face the clerk.
"Someone like that girl your fretting over!" Roderick said and I glared at him from my shielded eyes.
"Accuse me of blowing up anything more without proof and I'll blow you up." I growled and Jacob rested a hand on my shoulder.
"There, you have the person responsible!" He said and the girls shook his head.
"Perhaps they died with the others – or have allies who yet live." Leliana's eyes traveled to the clerk and I smiled.
"I am a suspect?" He asked.
"You, and many others." Leliana answered him with a harsh tone in her voice.
"But not the prisoners?"
"Last time I check, we did something about the breach and not pointed fingers at people. Cause, guess what, three more are pointing right back at you!" I said to him with a smirk.
"I heard the voices at the temple. The Divine called to him for help and there was no mention of the girl." Cassandra said.
"So his survival, that thing on his hand – all a coincident?" Roderick asked.
"Providence. The Maker sent him, both of them, to us in our darkest hour." Cassandra shot back.
"Though all before me is shadow, yet shall the maker be my guide." I said with my head down and eyes closed. I knew they were looking at me but I didn't care. I actually liked the chant of light so I memorized in for a school project and guess what? I got a B on it!
"We lost everything...then, out of nowhere, you two came." Cassandra, her voice sad and yet determined.
"The breach remains, and your mark is still our only hope of closing it." Leliana spoke this time.
"This is not for you to decide." Roderick hissed.
Cassandra came back and slammed a book down on the table. "You know what this is, Chancellor. A writ from the Divine, granting us the authority to act. As of this moment, I declare the Inquisition reborn." She advanced on Roderick. "We will close the breach, we will find those responsible, and we will restore order. With or without your approval." Roderick left with a sour look on his face and I couldn't be more pleased.
"This is the Divine's directive: rebuild the Inquisition of old. Find those who will stand against chaos. We aren't ready. We have no leader, no numbers, and now no chantry support." Leliana asked.
"But we have no choice: we must act now. With you two at our side." Cassandra said to both of us.
"If your truly trying to restore order..." Jacob said.
"That is the plan." Leliana answered him.
"Help us fix this before it's too late." Cassandra held out her hand and Jacob shook it.
"Hey, this is all great and stuff but would you all mind if I went to find someone for this splitting headache of mine? I won't be much help if I can't even look at you guys." I told him and Jacob helped me stand up.
"Do you need help?" He asked me and I slowly shook my head.
"I'll find a healer. If I get lost, I'll just ask someone." I told them with a weak smile before I left. As I opened the door to the chantry I bumped into someone whose built like a brick wall. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry." I pulled my hands away from my face to look at the person who I bumped into. Great...
The hot commander from before...
"Forgive me my lady, I did not see you there. Are you alright?" He asked in a slight worried tone but the volume made me wince. "My lady?"
"I'm fine, just a headache. I'm on my way to find a healer. I believe the others are waiting for you." I said to him with a weak smile that he somewhat returned.
"If you're looking for the healers then go to your left towards that small cluster of building and you'll find Adan, the alchemist whose helped our people here. I'm sure he'll help with your headache." The Commander said and I nodded slowly.
"Thank you Commander. Tell Jacob, when you see him, that I'll be back as soon as I can look at people in the eyes. The damn sunlight is killing me." I said and started to walk off towards the healers.
I found Adan a short while later, but before I went inside a hand rested on my shoulder to make me turn around. A cool hand removed my hands to place against my forehead, soothing my headache. I opened my eyes to see Solas standing in front of me with a smile on his face.
"I told you you, you would have a headache." He said and we went inside. Solas explained that I needed something for my headache and I told him that I was sensitive to light. Adan said it was expected, since he was one of the few who looked after Jacob and I while we recovered. I thanked him and he huffed, saying that my bump was something because of how there was no way of knowing if I was going to wake up from it or not. "She's strong. Of course I knew she would pull through." Solas said as Adan gave me something to drink.
"Cheater." I whispered, taking the drink and downing it down with a disgusted look on my face. It tasted horrid. "Gross."
"Not the best tasting but it will right way you in no time. Take this before go to bed and you should be better in the morning." Adan said and I nodded, thanking him before we left him to get on with his business.
"Thank you for the cool hand Solas. Of all the things I can do, winter is something I could grasp." I told him as we walked. I though he would leave me be after that but he stayed, asking me questions.
"What can you do? You say you are not a mage but how do you know this? Could it be different in your world but changed when you arrived here?" Solas asked.
"I don't think so, in my world there is no such thing as magic but my friend Eric is an exception however. He has magic while mine is more...me? If that makes any sense. I can control fire, water, earth, and air but I mostly use water or earth. Fire scares me and air is just to boring." I told him and he smiled.
"Your friend is a mage? How extraordinary."
"Yeah well, he taught me everything from controlling my emotions and everything else. He's like an older brother to me." I said sadly and Solas rested a hand on my shoulder.
"This must be hard for you, being away from your home. Maybe if we fix the breach you will be able to return home." Solas said and I gave him a weak smile.
"I feel like that's wishful thinking but I hope so." I said and he left me then, saying he's bothered me enough with questions as it is but I told him I didn't mind at all. I told him he could ask me any questions whenever I was not being poked and accused by the chantry. He chuckled and left me then, standing in front of the gates outside of Haven.
Yes...wishful thinking...
~oOo~
Happy New Years everyone!