BioWare owns all except all my stuff, and you know what all it is. But since I have 61 chapters and 200 reviews thanks to this wonderful company and Mr. Gaider's story, I need to give my thanks to them as well. : )
So, we have our group about to beard the tower, one Kinloch Hold. Will Knight-Commander Greagoir be a stickler for rules or regs, or will he side with the mages? Will he finally be an innovative thinker we all get to find out in this chapter. : )
And a big SHOUT OUT, to all of you! You all made this possible, going on 61 chapters and 200 hundred reviews, WOW, I am stunned, undone, thrilled, and so very honored. To keep you all entertained for so long a story, and I am guessing from the reviews and the traffic that I am doing just that, is a thrill for me. You have all contributed in so many ways, whether support or ideas, to this my first fanfic, I am truly blessed, thanks guys! : )
No worries MouseMage, I am not spoiling anything here by saying Cullen is not our culprit, though I do have plans for him, I think he is a good man, and I am plotting for him. : )
My author shout out tonight goes to Piceron and her story "What Comes Next." It has a lovely little twist and a lot of Swooper angst, so, please give it the love and reviews that it so richly deserves. Again, I fmd Misame has already beaten me to it, you saucy minx! : )
Again a shout out to Mr. David Eddings and his book series The Belgariad, along with a shout out to Night Hunter MGS who spurred on the idea, Phoenix Fire Lady as well, you do help make the ideas flow, as I said, you are all the best damn fans. And yes NH you are that damn good! ROFL! : )
SORRY for not getting this out last night, ugh, real life got in the way with a thousand things I had to do instead of this. BLEH!
Blessings!
Kester the ferryman rowed Kai, Zev, Argus, Gnat and Wynne across the cold, dark waters of Lake Calenhad to Kinloch Hold, the water acted like a mirror and made Kai feel as if they were sailing in the sky among the clouds, only the gentle murmur of the water as it dripped from the oar when Kester raised it and the sound of it plunging back into the water, breaking the surface in a burble, kept Kai from feeling like dwarves who see the sky for the first time. She felt that if she were to fall from the boat, she would actually be falling into the sky to be lost.
It certainly lent an air of mystique, as the mage Tower seemed to sit amongst clouds rather than in dark water that harbored who knew what. It struck her that the tower was, indeed, a haven of good and light, it was also a haven for the dark and unknown. It was filled with mages like Wynne, and the mage Niall, who had died in the Fade trying to save the Tower. It was a beacon for demons wanting to control mages and the mages who might let them. But then, wasn't that the way of everyone except the darkspawn? Who didn't have inner demons that wanted to be in control, or the spirits of their better natures? These deep philosophical thoughts only solidified Kai's vow that the mages should be free to make their own way, good or ill, and suffer the consequences just like everyone else. Her plans for the Templars to be the "gendarme" as they say in Orlais, the constables of the mages rather than their jailers, crystallized. It also might mean fewer chances of something like what happened to Drysi happening again. Kai added it to her ever growing list of things to do when Anora was off the throne. She gave a mental sigh, what a mess. Had she really agreed to come back from the Fade, Maker, what had she been thinking?
"You were thinking of saving Ferelden and having our children, my love," Alistair's voice teased her.
"Ah, yes, that." Kai got a warm feeling thinking of Fi and Duncan, followed by an overwhelming sense of longing to see them, "They were worth this whole hullabuloo" Kai gave him a mental smile.
Kai left Jarren behind to speak to the townsfolk, it had taken a lot of persuasion for him to stay behind and complete his assigned tasks there. He was to gather any desires or needs the townsfolk may have that "The Silver Griffon" could work on. Kai was both amused and proud, as a Crow, disagreeing with one's leader was strictly unheard of. However, her ex Crows were quickly becoming independent people who would follow orders but would speak their minds as well.
Oghren, too, had been scarce, once he heard that she would survive the Ogre attack, he'd been noticeably absent. Kai was fine with his playing hooky on this one. Coming up with a cover story that included a belching, farting dwarf who smelled like a brewery would have made things more complex. The elven male, the "child" and the war dog already in the mix were more than enough. Stories could only get so far before they became "fish tales," as Nan used to call them. Besides, it was as Zev said. She could hardly begrudge the dwarf's getting lucky, though that thought was leading to some uncomfortable images. Kai gave herself a mental head slap, not going there!
"Ah my love, just think what you could have had, now Felsi has him, you really missed out!" Alistair's voice laughed in her ear.
"Ha, ha, but remember, my beloved, you feel what I feel, see what I see, do you really want me to start imagining Oghren naked?" Kai gave him a mental head tilt with a smile.
"Great Maker, NO!" He gave her a shudder, "I give, I give!" She could feel him grinning, "You really are evil, you know that don't you?"
Kai only laughed at him, she was interrupted from her inner conversation as the boat skimmed into the cavern under the tower where the docks were. Magical rune lanterns lit the interior as Kester guided the boat with practiced ease to the wooden pier. He tied off the boat to keep it from floating away, and then got out and offered his hand to Kai, helping her out of the boat and giving her a conspiratorial wink where the Templars, guarding the entrance to the stone steps leading upwards, couldn't see.
Gnat, true to her role, put up both arms with a little impatient bounce, like a child asking to be picked up. Kai could only muse to herself how good Gnat and Leliana were at acting a part, must be the bard training.
"It is also a little bit creepy, considering she chatted up both you and Zev," Alistair's voice gave her a mock shudder. Kai laughed at him as she bent down and picked up Gnat, lifting her up and setting her down on the dock, grabbing her small hand in hers.
Zev and Argus came next, while Kester extended his hand to help Wynne. Kai made her way towards the two Templars, a man and a woman, guarding the stone stairway leading to the antechamber before the big hall. They immediately stepped in front of Kai to bar the way, but Wynne strode up and pushed between them, "Honestly, this woman needs to see Head Enchanter Irving right away, her daughter may have magical abilities!" The two Templars moved back into their previous position.
Gnat spoke out in her 'little girl' voice, "Mommy, I don't want to go in there." Kai chewed the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing and giving them away.
Kai pitched her voice higher and dropped the accent of her noble training, "Hush, poppet, it will be fine." She bent down and smoothed a hand over Gnat's forehead, and the elven woman took the moment to wink and give a small grin. Kai stood back up looking at Zev and Argus and waving an impatient hand at them, "Oh, do hurry up! And keep Snuggles out of trouble this time, I don't want Head Enchanter Irving putting us in the Tower dungeon because that dog chewed something up."
Argus whined and tilted his head, Zev just nudged him with his foot while averting his eyes and bowing at Kai, "Yes, mistress." Kai just huffed at him in mock annoyance and climbed the stone steps holding hands with Gnat.
They reached the small antechamber before the big double doors leading to the large hall. Wynne opened them and beckoned them all through. The last time Kai had been through these doors, there had been Templars running to and fro in a panic, some lying on the ground, wounded. Now, the huge hall was mostly empty save for two Templar guards flanking the doors she just walked through and two standing by the now open doors leading to the apprentice's quarters and the hallway that ran the length of the rooms and led to the stairway to the next floor. Wynne walked with authority through the doorways and into the hallway towards the stairs, while Kai kept having mental vertigo. The Tower was repaired and so very, very different from her last visit. The fleshy, organ like growths that covered the walls were gone, there were no dead bodies to step over, no pools of blood to slide in. The Tower seemed to be one of the few places in Ferelden doing better under Anora's rule.
As they made their way up the Tower to the Head Enchanter's office, they passed the occasional Templar and various mages, but no one stopped them to ask who they were or what they were doing. Kai let out a small sigh as she followed Wynne. In fact, they made it to the Head Enchanter's office doors without so much as a hand raised in greeting. Kai didn't know whether to be relieved or more wary. She didn't know what she'd been expecting, maybe a Fade demon to jump out and start eating everyone, she bit back a laugh.
Irving had his doors open and sat at his desk writing on parchment. His grizzled gray head was bent so low in concentration that his beard rubbed the front of his robed chest. Wynne tapped gently with her knuckles on the wooden door to get Irving's attention, "Irving, I have someone to see you. She is worried that her little one here may be showing magical ability. Kai shoved Gnat through the door just like a mother pushing a reluctant child forward.
They all filed into the room, and Zev shut the door behind him. Irving rose from his seat and come around his desk to greet her. He put out his hand to shake hers, and she slipped him one of the metal disks with the sign of the Scath on it. Irving took a discrete look at the disk and raised his eyebrow at her slightly. He then spoke loudly enough to be heard by the Templar outside his door, "Welcome to the Tower, this little one has been showing signs of knowing magic you say?" He then pitched his voice lower as he hugged Kai, "Hello, child. I am so sorry about what happened at the Dalish camp."
"Thank you, Irving, I just appreciate your coming in person and bringing some help, it really made a difference in the number of lives we lost. I owe you a debt," Kai smiled at him.
"Child, I still owe you for what you did here, saving all of us left in the Tower from Uldred. My debt is hardly paid so that you would owe me. We still have a long way to go before we are even on my side of the ledger. So, does this child really have magical abilities?" Iriving grinned at her.
"Hardly, ser," Gnat gave him a soft laugh.
"Ah, and hardly a child either" Irving chuckled.
"And no human either, shem." Gnat shook Irving's proffered hand, "But we needed an excuse to get past your sentries."
"We weren't sure how difficult it would be to get in here. Last time I came, it was easy, or at least once I volunteered to stop the demons, it was. I wasn't sure what it would take this time. I'm still dead to Anora, and I like it that way." Kai sat down in one of the chairs in front of Irving's desk as he went back around to seat himself. Gnat and Wynne both took extra chairs from around the long table in his office, Zev and Argus stayed near the door on watch.
"Actually, life here has been kept as normal as possible, for the most part, Knight-Commander Greagoir has been trying to ensure that it remains so, since you are dead and freedom for us is not forthcoming from Anora. But this has not come without consequences for Greagoir, I'm afraid," Irving sighed.
"First, let me promise that I will keep my word, Irving. I can't stand to see anyone treated unfairly or as second class citizens, I won't have slaves in Ferelden, I don't care if you can shoot lightning out of your fingers. No one should be penalized for being the way they were born." Kai held up a hand to halt any protest Wynne was going to make about incremental changes and trust, it was an old argument that she, Alistair, Wynne and Morrigan had around camp many times. "And now you have me intrigued, what has happened to make Greagoir's life difficult?"
"Anora, with the help of the Grand Cleric, is using the Templars as her personal army. Greagoir objects, of course, as do I, we may be oil and water, but he is an honorable man. He is also a man who has been doing some uncomfortable thinking and reassessing his own views. His arguments against what Anora has been doing to Ferelden, coupled with his arguments with the Grand Cleric about the Chantry's sudden close relationship to the Queen, have cost him. He is persona non grata with the Chantry, and even the Revered Mother refuse to hear his concerns. Add to that, Anora and the Grand Cleric have opened up conscription to the Templars, lowering the standards of who they will accept, if you can call it such, has been accelerated so they can be sent out more quickly, troublemakers and such have been sent here, while some are just young, inexperienced and uneducated. Greagoir has his hands full trying to complete their training. Others who have been sent here are simply less than savory, shall we say? Anora has promised to expand and build onto the Chantry in Amaranthine, making it a Cathedral that will rival the one in Val Royeaux. Of course it will bear a plaque honoring Loghain, as Anora's entire list projects do, this means more money for the Grand Cleric and more prestige" Irving grimaced.
"What," Kai got out of her chair and began to pace, "But how does she intend to pay for all of that?"
"She will continue to overtax the people of Ferelden, I suspect. From what I gather, she is spiraling even further out of control and into her own little world of madness. She does not live in the real world where her people starve or buildings and roads crumble." Kai could feel Irving's eyes as he watched her pace, "I know not what other plans she might have to generate that kind of funding, especially since you, my dear girl, have been a fly in Anora's ointment, shall we say, or rather 'The Silver Griffon' has been. Though, it does worry me what she might be doing to get together the kind of money that would attract the greed of the Chantry."
Kai gave him a grim smile and nodded, "Well, I am glad to hear that Greagoir is still an honorable man, as I am afraid that I have bad news that involves both of you."
Irving sat forward in his seat, "Would this have to do with our two missing mages by any chance?"
"In a sense, but only one of the mages really, Drysi, whom I have no doubt you are aware, is very pregnant, but do you know the story of just who the father is?" Kai cocked an eyebrow at him while her hands grasped the back of the chair.
Irving shook his head, "She would not say once she started to show and the questions and speculation started flying. I am sure you know such relationships are discouraged, but they do happen." Irving shot a quick look at Wynne, "As do the results of such relationships."
"Be that as it may, Irving, I was not a fifteen year old child, nor was I forced," Wynne's voice retorted crisply.
"She told you she was raped? The rumors around the tower had the mage, Anders, whom she ran away with, as the father even though he has been in isolation for over a year at the order of the Grand Cleric. I knew he couldn't have done it, though he is a bit of ladies' man." Irving sighed, "We thought that maybe she'd fallen in love and had an affair with one of the mages her own age and simply didn't want to name him, alas, this is more disturbing than any scenario I had thought of."
"Oh, it is about to get more disturbing, perhaps you should pour yourself a glass of wine." Kai gestured to the bottle sitting on his desk with a glass next to it, "I said it involves both you and Greagoir, as the child raping bastard is a Templar." Kai's hands gripped the back of the wooden chair so tightly, her knuckles whitened, Irving did pour himself a glass of wine now, from which he took a large swig.
"I think we had better send for Greagoir," Irving rose and motioned for Zev and Argus to come away from the door. He opened the door and spoke to the young Templar outside before returning to his seat. It took about ten minutes before there was a knock at the door, "Come in, Gregoir." Kai kept her hood pulled up as she turned to see Knight-Commander Greagoir enter the room, he looked worn and tired, he had dark circles under his eyes and more lines around his mouth. His hair looked to be more silver than the last time she had seen him as well, things were not well with the man. Kai felt an extra flare of pity, what she and Irving were going to tell him would only add to his burdens.
Greagoir walked in and looked at the group staring at him, "What is it Irving, you know I am really busy trying to make these whelps the Grand Cleric keeps sending me into real Templars. I really don't have time for someone whose child may be a mage, that's your department, " Greagoir pinched the bridge of his nose.
"That isn't why he called you here Knight-Commander" Kai threw back the hood of her cloak. Greagoir's eyes got wide, and he just gaped at her for good long moment.
"Maker's breath, I thought you were dead, I watched you collapse on the balcony. Anora announced that you had been assassinated." His face broke out into a genuine grin, "Oh blessed Andraste, I am so glad to see that it wasn't true!" Greagoir reached out a hand to her and Kai grasped his forearm while he grasped hers in a warrior's grip.
"You may not be so happy that I'm alive when you hear the news I bring" Kai gave him a small smile. She went on to explain about Drysi and the Templar, named Veyryl, who had been molesting her.
Kai watched as Greagoir's face became red and angry, "You are sure of this?"
Kai nodded, "Absolutely certain, it took a lot of persuasion to get her to tell us who. She's ashamed and blames herself. He threatened to kill her and say that she had been practicing blood magic, she's terrified of him. Even though he cannot touch her, he haunts her still, so yes, I am."
Greagoir's face went stony as he nodded at her, "He is one of the noble's bastards they sent to us to be a Templar. He is spoiled and thinks he is beyond the rules that we all live by, he is about to find out how wrong he is." Like Irving before him, he went to the door and spoke briefly to the Templar outside the door, then he closed it once again. A few minutes passed and a young blonde Templar came in, he was handsome but for the arrogant twist lips and certain coldness in his eyes. He looked Kai over and licked his lips, Kai just crossed her arms and cocked an eyebrow at him. It took everything she had not to take out the hidden garrote in her boot and use it on him.
"Veyryl, there has been a serious accusation brought against you."
The young Templar waved a dismissive hand and snorted, "By whom, this chit, what, is she claiming the little brat next to her is mine, can't be. Never saw this woman before in my life, though I would like to see more of her. What do you say, sweetness, care to play with a Templar?"
Kai laughed in his face, "I would rather have my insides washed with lye, than be touched by you."
Kai watched as his face got red and he started forward, "You little whore! I'll show you what it means to insult me."
But Greagoir stopped him with a hand on his chest, and Kai just smiled a cold smile at him, "You have been accused of raping the mage Drysi." Greagoir shoved the young man back.
"That slut, she wanted me, and now she wants to accuse me of rape? I only gave her what she asked for." His eyes narrowed, and his mouth pulled down in a growl.
"You mean a fifteen-year-old child asked to be molested by you while you threatened to kill her if she didn't comply?" Kai snorted, "You must be a lousy lover indeed if you have to resort to raping children and threatening them. Maybe you're just unable to perform with adults."
"Bitch, I only threatened her because I got tired of her crying. She was the one who made cow eyes at me whenever I was on duty, and then she tried to say no when I finally gave her what she want..." Whatever he was going to say got cut off when Greagoir's gauntleted fist slammed into his face.
"ENOUGH, you will be dealt with." Greagoir picked him up and shoved him out the door, closing it behind them.
Kai felt her own blood boiling. She looked at Irving, "Drysi is free of the Tower, unless she wants to come back, do you understand, Irving? I will make sure she is protected from any Templar who might try and visit her."
Irving nodded, "And her phylactery?"
"Destroyed already, and I want the hunt called off on the mage who helped her" Kai clenched her fists.
"I can't, nor can Greagoir do that unfortunately. The lad is a good lad, but the Grand Cleric hates him with a passion, he has embarrassed her by escaping seven times. Each punishment she has ordered has been worse than the last. She sent her own personal Templar, a woman by the name of Rylock, to hunt him, Rylock shares the Grand Cleric's feelings toward the boy. We can only hope he finds his phylactery and eludes them." Irving grimaced, "I am truly sorry, dear girl."
Kai nodded, and then it struck her, where exactly was Greagoir going with Veyryl? "Irving, where do you think the Knight-Commander was going with our rapist?"
"To the dungeons I would think, why?"
"Which way would he go when he left the room then?" Kai's felt her eyes getting wide.
"To the left, he would have to to go down" Irving looked at her confused. Everyone else seemed to have the same expression.
"Then going right would mean he is going up?" Irving nodded at her, "Is there an entrance to the top of the tower on the outside?"
Again Irving nodded, "It's a doorway by the stairwell leading to the Harrowing Chamber."
"I think he is planning on executing his own punishment on our molester." Kai pulled her hood up and ran for the door. She didn't even look to see if the others followed. She ran to the stairway leading up, barreling through more chambers with startled mages and Templars alike. She ignored them all to finally, Maker, reach the room where she once found the Templar Cullen trapped by Uldred. She had never seen the doorway under the stairs, being otherwise occupied at the time, and most of the room rested under that organic horrid goop.
This time it was easy to see as the door was already open, and she found a narrow, steep set of stone steps curving with the walls of the tower and leading up. Kai followed them, starting to get dizzy before she finally came to a trapdoor that was likewise opened, showing a patch of blue sky dotted with white clouds.
Kai didn't want Greagoir to cause himself more trouble by killing a noble's brat, even if he was just some bastard off of a mistress, Greagoir was already having troubles enough. She was just emerging when she heard a terrified scream. She leapt up to the tower's floor and turned to find Greagoir standing at the edge looking down. Kai ran up to him, "So, where's Veyryl?"
He turned to her with a calm look on his face, "Learning how to fly."
Kai kept her face a mask, "So, how's he doing?"
Greagoir looked over the side before turning back to her, "Does bouncing count?"
Kai grinned at him, "No."
"Then I am afraid he's not doing well at all" and Greagoir gave her a broad grin.