Chapter 46: The Child of Stars, part II
The journey back to the Circle of the Magi was oddly silent except for the steady thumps of horses and harsh breathing emanating both from man and animal. The frigid cold was ignored, thanks to Morrigan's spell of warm and haste cast on them prior to their trek, but the incantation could only last for so long. It finally wore off a few miles before reaching Lake Calenhad but both Hadrian and Alistair kept going, knowing that every second mattered when a child's life hung in the balance.
They left the horses behind at the inn and, after paying the innkeeper a handsome amount of money to ensure the horses wouldn't be stolen by wandering vagrants and bandits. The Templar at the bridge attempted to stop them but the frightening visage of the man striding towards him withered his confidence and the poor man just untied the ropes that tethered the rowboat to the pier. The two armored men got unto the boat, which miraculously bore the tremendous weight of three armored men, and the Templar quickened his pace, pushing through the water with long, strong rows.
As soon as the boat landed next to the pier on the other side, the two hurriedly jumped up and were in the Tower before the boat stopped moving.
"Commander Greagoir, we must see to the needs of everyone living inside here, including our brethren," First Enchanter's voice sounded strained, as if his patience was wearing thin beneath the harsh edge of Commander Greagoir's manner, who was about to answer back when he scowled at something else. It made First Enchanter Irving turn round and his eyebrows raised in genuine surprise at seeing the two men so soon after the horrible incident.
"My Lord," Commander Greagoir respectfully acknowledged the noble with a nod and a neutral smile. "Alistair."
"It is good to see you two again, but where are your companions? Four of you were here last time," Irving asked gently, his demeanor of frustration changed entirely and it was as if seeing two different people of the same body.
"We need your help," Hadrian said and he was about to continue when Commander Greagoir appeared to be listening with great interest. He really didn't need to involve an irate Templar, especially when there was a scared, possessed child to be saved. "Can you bring several of your apprentices with you? Without Templar escorts?"
"No, the Chantry Law forbids mages to be outside the Tower without Templar guards!" The older Commander couldn't contain his silence anymore. "Irving, you know what has happened here! I cannot let even one mage out of this tower-"
"It is not a topic of discussion, Greagoir," Irving replied angrily. "Also, this young man here," a hand gestured to the taller warrior standing to the right of Hadrian. "has been trained as a Templar. If it puts your mind at ease, though, I will only take four healers with me."
"Time is of the essence," Hadrian's voice was hard and he pinned Greagoir with a stoney glare, one that dared him to speak out against a high-ranking noble. "We must go now. Gather your people and meet us at the pier."
Hadrian had turned his back on the irate Commander, knowing that he may have made an enemy of the Templar Order. Quite frankly, the young man didn't really care about it. All he cared about was saving Connor's life and nothing else mattered. Connor reminded him of his deceased nephew and he vowed to save someone's family, even when he couldn't save his own.
The unusual bustle and haste did not go unnoticed by Alistair but he thought it wise to not say anything, at least not right now. Hadrian needed his support, not his complaints. Thus, he merely watched the man's back with one eye and keeping another eye on the small group of mages that now accompanied them back to the Redcliffe Castle. His templar instincts, ingrained in him by years of early training, couldn't be brushed aside by a few months of being at Hadrian's side. Yet, he trusted Irving enough to know those who would not so easily succumb to false promises of demons of the Fade.
At Irving's suggestion, the group decided to cut through Lake Calenhad, with the mages working the elemental forces of Nature to their advantage. Instead of the unforgiving rain and storms at the Lake, the weather stayed clear while they were there. The winds worked with them, giving the boat they were on a strong push until it could easily glide forward without any help from the two warriors rowing it.
The usual trek of four days was cut down to only two and, as they walked through the enormous wooden doors that guarded the inner keep of the castle, both Hadrian and Alistair hoped they weren't too late to save Connor.
-o0o-
"Loren, I do not like this," Cullen said plainly to the mage who hunched over another one, the latter deep in slumber or whatever state Ser Isaac had forced him in.
"I know, Cullen," Loren murmured quietly, "but if I was in Jowan's place, captured by him, would you be so willing to leave me in such a state?"
The blonde templar couldn't answer that question for he feared his answer. That he couldn't leave Loren like that. After seeing what the former Ser Isaac had done to his own Loren, he couldn't bear the thought of leaving Ser Isaac alive and well. His brown eyes sought out the headless body, with the head lying underneath the table, its eyes thankfully facing the stone wall rather than them. He would have imagined the two emotionless black eyes to be staring at them mockingly and that thought alone made him wish he killed the templar, not someone else.
"Isaac used a lethal dose of magebane on him," Loren muttered angrily, "no wonder he couldn't use blood magic to escape."
"Blood magic," Cullen spat out and he fought against the urge to physically pull Loren away from the other mage. Instead, he merely stood across from Loren, frowning at the sight of the man responsible for all this. His anger dissipated as soon as Loren looked at him, the way those emerald eyes seemed pained, just as they did on that horrible night.
"Please, Cullen, not now. We can talk after this whole incident is sorted out," Loren begged and Cullen's anger dissipated for now.
"What about the child?" Cullen asked, wanting to steer the conversation away from Jowan.
"He is stable for now but we should not follow him lest the demon manifests itself. This time, Connor would be too weak to push through the demon's influence."
"By the Maker," the templar cursed in frustration. "What happens if those two don't make it back in time?"
"Then we've no choice but to slay the child."
"Which won't happen," another voice interrupted them and the pair, along with everyone else including Arlessa Isolda, turned their heads to the entrance. There, standing in front of a group of mages, were Hadrian and Alistair, looking as fresh as if they hadn't traveled hard and long.
Loren groaned inwardly at the sight of First Enchanter Irving and he knew that escape without anyone else noticing was no longer an option.
As if hearing his thoughts, the First Enchanter immediately saw him and his surprise was visible through the astonished expression on his elderly face followed by a look of disappointment and a slight tinge of fear. However, the elder mage said nothing about Loren and he merely took his group of Master Enchanters to the next room, a title given only to those who passed the Harrowing and have served the Tower faithfully for at a decade or more. In other words, all of them were very skilled in the arcane arts. Luckily, Loren had a few tricks up his sleeve should they force both he and Jowan back into the Circle.
What happened next was anyone's guess but it was clear to Loren that some sort of decision had been made in the other room followed by a strange sound. A child's cry for his mother. But it sounded genuine and no longer influenced by the demon.
Everyone practically rushed to the other room, including the Arlessa's guards, and, though Loren desperately wanted to see this child that had everyone so concerned about, he also knew the grim truth of Jowan's involvement. Once the excitement and relief of the child's safety wear off, they would ask for retribution and Jowan would soon be in danger again.
"Cullen, we must go," Loren said with a firm tone. The templar appeared ready to refuse and cause a scene, which would bring the attention to the trio. He didn't truly want to cast a silencing spell on his protector and neither did he need to. Cullen just nodded in agreement, despite his previous outrage at Jowan. He touched Loren on the shoulder and whispered in the man's ear, "I'm with you, all the way."
Those words of support brought comfort to Loren and his heart was light as his lips moved to form the words of incantation: bear us swift from this place of grief and despair, and we shall be lead to those who have need of us. It was an ancient spell of transportation Loren discovered in one of the books of Arlathan, a book that survived the ancient city's fall and the years of strife following it. The three were wreathed in green and Cullen grasped Loren's shoulder tightly, to anchor himself to the one thing that gave his existence meaning, that made him living through the torture of Uldred and his cohorts worthwhile.
-o0o-
No one noticed the gentle green hues of light except for Hadrian himself for the young Cousland was the only one informed by Loren himself of their possible escape if events turned to their disadvantage. Farewell, my friend, and may the Maker watch over you... Loren whispered to him in his mind and Hadrian let out an unsteady exhale. How in Thedas was he going to explain this to Arl Eamon?
The releasing of Connor from the demon was nerve-wracking to watch indeed, even if it was literally seconds before Irving stood stock still, his eyes blank and his limbs slack, as the elder mage walked into the realm where others could not follow. Connor had screamed and thrashed, held down by his mother and Teagan on a makeshift cot, until he abruptly stilled before opening his eyes, clear and brown. Irving let out a groan, his eyes clenched tightly before falling into Hadrian's arms, the Cousland quick and strong enough to bear the weight of the First Enchanter.
"Irving?" Another mage asked, her hands trembling as they hovered over his supine form. Irving moaned and his eyes fluttered open. The other mages were both concerned and wary, unsure if Irving carried another passenger or not. "What is your most precious memory?"
A safety question and if the mage hesitated to answer or was too quick in the response, the others would be obligated to end him or her.
Irving sighed and he answered, slowly and steadily, "For the sun shining forth into Thedas and for men in understanding one another."
"Oh thank the Maker!" Another mage cried out happily and Irving was practically engulfed in the arms of his former students.
"My child, Connor?" Isolde's voice broke the happy reverie, "is he..?"
"He's alive and of his own will," Irving answered in a gentle tone as he slowly rose to his feet, aided by another male mage. "However, your child will be looked after in the Tower once this Blight is over."
It wasn't a suggestion but rather an order by the First Enchanter and with so many witnesses around, Lady Isolde couldn't deny anymore that her only son was mageborn and nobility were not immune to Chantry Law.
"Mother? What's happened? Why are there a lot of people? Hadrian? Fergus?" So Connor did recognize them after all. The little boy ran up to them and hugged them around their legs, literally bouncing up and down in joy at seeing his two favourite friends. It was as if he didn't remember what had happened before and perhaps it should stay that way as well, at least until he understood the dangers of magic.
"Connor is safe but there is still the matter of my brother." Teagan hated to disturb Connor's happy reunion with the Couslands. "Isolde, can you take Connor to your bedroom? We've important matters to discuss."
"What about that mage who was responsible for all this? Guards!" Three men stood to her attention and then promptly left the room only to exclaim that the three were no longer there. Isolde's eyes flashed in anger but her sharp tongue stayed in deference to her saved son.
"We'll worry about that later, Isolde. Now please go," Teagan pleaded, knowing how stubborn Isolde could be. The Orlesian Lady relented to Teagan's plea and she took Connor, promising her son that he would see those two again, but afterwards.
As soon as the duo vacated the room, Teagan wasted no time in relaying the status of Arl Eamon and an important piece of news: the Knights sent to the most western point of Thedas had not returned and there were rumors of a village with dark secrets hidden away from the rest of Thedas.
"A village? So close to the Frostback Mountains?" Fergus asked. Both he and Hadrian, with all their tutelage in the history and geography of Thedas, had never heard of villages so close to the dwarven lands. The harsh cold and unforgiving terrain was a primary defense of the dwarves, thus discouraging any vagrants who would think to loot their markets at the only entrance to Ozammer.
"Yes, unfortunately the dwarves have closed off all roads to Ozammer so tread carefully should you approach any dwarf there." Teagan warned them.
"Okay, we're going to need a good night's rest before heading out that way," Hadrian sighed heavily as he truly hoped he could get more than a night's rest after their righteous deed here at the Redcliffe Castle.
"We have rooms available here," the younger Guerrin offered but Hadrian declined.
"Thanks, but no. I have to speak to my friends back at camp. They are probably fraught with worry," Hadrian explained to appease Teagan's disappointment in his refusal to stay.
"I understand. And you, old friend?" Teagan looked to Fergus. "Connor would be pleased to see you and it's been several years since you last played games with him."
Fergus's brows furrowed in thought as the older Cousland mulled over the idea of spending more time with Connor and Teagan as well. This really was more of his brother's quest than his and something compelled him to stay. He had a feeling that he would need to head north, but more in an easterly direction, towards his homeland.
"I will stay here then," Fergus made his decision and Hadrian wasn't entirely surprised by his brother's choice to stay with the Guerrins.
"Are you sure, brother?" Hadrian wanted to ensure that this was what Fergus truly wanted.
"Yes, Hadrian. I'm afraid that you will have to leave me behind. But not for long, I think."
Hadrian tilted his head slightly in confusion to Fergus' cryptic remark. "In that case, I will leave several of my companions with you."
"Could you..." Fergus then hesitated, as if afraid of something. "Could you ask that elf to stay?"
"Elf? You mean Zevran? Why?" While he trusted that the assassin wouldn't betray him, at least not outright, Hadrian wasn't certain that Zevran would take Fergus hostage and demand a handsome ransom for his return. Then again, the images of Zevran viciously slashing out at those who tried to take Fergus from his blindspot certainly squashed that thought. Maybe having an assassin watch his brother's back would discourage any others from even thinking to assassinate his brother.
"I don't know. I honestly don't know."
It was that statement alone was what eventually convinced Hadrian to ask his elven companion to stay and keep an eye on his brother. Zevran's reaction to the request was not what Hadrian had expected either. The elf's slight bow and the deadly seriousness in his eye when Hadrian mentioned that someone may attempt to kill Fergus because of his noble status as the Teryn of Highever caused the younger Hadrian to worry and almost revoke his request.
"Do not worry so much, my lovely Warden," Zevran said in a soothing tone. "No one gets to even touch a hair on your brother's head without meeting my blades."
"Err...thanks, Zevran. This means a lot to me," Hadrian replied and he squeezed the elf's shoulder as thanks before heading out of camp, with Alistair and two other women following close behind him. "Oh, and no molesting my brother, Zev. He's not ready for that." The leader had shouted over his shoulder and the elven assassin just shook his head ruefully. He wouldn't dream of doing that, at least not with Fergus' permission of course.
As soon as they were out of earshot of Zevran and the others at camp, Alistair walked closer to Hadrian, only to ask him, "are you sure about that, Hadrian? Having an assassin watch your brother's back when he just tried to kill you a couple of weeks before?"
"Something tells me that Zevran wouldn't. At least not without being paid a good deal of coin and ample protection from the Crows."
"Hmm. Well, here's hoping that if Zevran does anything, at least he would warn Fergus first," Alistair grumbled and Hadrian let out a silvery laugh, slapping the other Warden on the shoulder before walking onwards.
"My brother may be a doofus," Hadrian said after calming down, "but he's very sharp when it comes to blades or jokes. He'll be fine."
"Hmm. Let's hope so or Morrigan may soon be targeting me for her gibes again."
The two women watching their unspoken leader and Alistair trade jokes and other nonsense with each other had their own conversation going on as well.
"Leliana," Wynne began to say to her redhead friend, "do you suppose there's anything different with those two?"
"Why do you ask such a thing? They've always been close." Leliana quipped lightly, keeping an eye on her two friends while watching their surroundings with another eye. As a bard, she learned very early on life to always stay aware of her environment, even during times of jest and relaxation. Such as now, the redhead noticed that some shadow had started to follow them, a lupine shape lurking in the safety of the bushes and trees that now cropped in their view as the foursome walked out of the village and into the cold wilderness that guarded the Frostback Mountains.
The shape was hazy at best, even when it was getting closer and closer to them. However, the redhead felt no malicious intent coming from the shape and she decided to not tell Hadrian. No point worrying her leader even further with news of an animal stalking them. Hadrian had enough issues to be stressed out about. Leliana knew that wherever they were going, he was going to need to focus all his attention on that quest.
-TBC-
A/N: Thank you my lovelies! Reading such encouraging reviews just made my days, even after a grueling exam. I hope you all enjoyed this new chapter and welcome any thoughts you may have. Thanks and have a great Thanksgiving holiday next week!