The next day, Herald Trevelyan expressed her desire to seal the breach. All the tools were in place, and there were plenty of mages to lend power, so it seemed a simple thing. Jadell had taken the opportunity to talk with her few fellow former Templars at length from the sidelines, never alone in spite of the fact that the moment Vivienne and Fiona had identified Vincent he was drafted to help.
No many knew he'd been from the Orlesian circle before coming to Starkhaven. He preferred to keep it that way.
Once the hole in the sky was sealed the air felt clearer. The atmosphere was instantly festive, and Vin even grabbed her for a quick dance. After that they snuck off to the edges of Haven together, chuckling as they climbed together up a tree. The air was chilly but beautifully brisk. Jade nuzzled into her love, and he simply wrapped his arm around her.
"Nobody will be looking for us."
"Not yet," Jadell noted. "I'm not sure how long this obscurity can last."
"You're far too good at your job," Vin tisked. "You should purposely bungle or something."
"Says the mage Madame Vivienne immediately started gushing over when she saw you. I heard the gossip. But I can make a difference, Vin. So can you." Her pointed tone made him stiffen.
"I hate it when you make sense."
"Honestly love? So do I." She looked over the horizon, then stiffened. "Vincent..."
"I see them." The duo jumped down together, Jade hissing a bit as she hit the ground. "Can I suggest..?"
"I'm not sitting this out love." She took a deep breath and forced herself to completely straighten. "We need to hurry. It's Starkhaven all over again."
- 0 ~
The Red Templar attack happened fast. The duo wove through the initial battles, heading for the gates just as the dragon roar echoed in the air. Jade caught Commander Cullen and approached. "Tell me where you need us, Commander."
"Get to the Chantry," he directed. "Take as many as you can."
Jade have a sharp salute and moved into action. "Vin, we're faster apart here. You sweep left, I'll get the right." Before she moved, Jadell looked to one of the nearby bodies. Red Templar. Very dead. "Bastards," she muttered, grabbing his sword.
Five minutes and twenty refugees later, Jadell headed through the Chantry doors with a three year old girl clinging to her neck. "So you see mommy here?" she asked girl looked around and started to whimper. Then an elven woman pushed through, making the child squeel happily as Jadell let the woman take the child from her.
Vincent looked to her, eyeing humorously. "I was here two minutes ago my dear."
"But I only count eighteen from your side. And I saved a child so that counts double."
Cullen looked at both incredulously. "Are you two having s contest at the end of the world?"
Jadell just shrugged. "Better than falling to pieces. I saw that...thing. No coming back from that, is there?" Her nose scrunched a bit as she sighed. "Just tell me what direction you need me pointing next, Commander. When you need me."
The next few minutes were a blur. The Herald of Andraste, Lady Trevelyan, dashing in and accepting a plan to save everyone by putting herself on the line. As the tall woman exited, Jade watched the look on Cullen's face. She recognized it very well and let a smile curl briefly just before snapping into action and hurrying down the passage with the rest.
Halfway down she heard her name called from behind, in that rough timber she had already started to recognize. She lagged as needed, stepping back towards Cullen. "Commander?"
"I need a group to scout ahead. Care to be... pointed?"
Jadell nodded. "I'm game, but I have no tracking skills. Get me two who know their way in the snow... and I'm taking Vin."
"Your boyfriend?" That was the red-head beside Cullen. Leliana, as she recalled.
"Fire mage. Strong fire mage," she added. "We need that if something goes wrong."
"Take Ritts and Mareque," Leliana suggested. "They'll meet you at the exit. Move swift as you can."
That was all the guidance Jadell needed. She pushed through the crowding in the tunnel, intent on fulfilling her duty. When Vincent felt her hand on his shoulder, he didn't even feel the need to ask what was going on. Instead, he just moved with her at the faster speed to press ahead of the crowd.