It almost looks peaceful.
Standing in one of the larger offices within the Circle tower, hands behind his back, Garrett gazed out through the large circular window dominating the far wall, scanning the city below with a calm he was surprised to feel. It was too late for second guesses now, for doubt and fear. Now it was all or nothing... there was a freedom in it... and Garrett could almost understand why so many liked to be uncompromising and zealous... it was simpler, easier.
Below, Kirkwall stretched out before him. There was less smoke rising from it than before, less movement of people. Less sound too, Garrett knew, despite the window muffling it. Despite the sun being up, a fiery orange dawn against a scattering of grey clouds, it was almost as if the metropolis was still asleep.
Garrett wasn't fooled though, the city wasn't asleep, it was waiting, holding its breath, afraid, not daring to move in case it would be struck down by the situation brewing in its heart.
He couldn't see many templars, with his troops on the walls surrounding the tower, they were being careful and consigning themselves to the city streets just outside, out of sight, but close enough if needed. Still, Garrett had a good assessment of them, his gang of Cats kept him up to date by aid with signals used by mirrors.
As such, he knew that the templars around the tower's walls were fairly few, maybe two thousand, all guarding the exits in case someone should try to leave. Of the rest, eight thousand were securing Kirkwall's outer walls and gates, some patrolling the streets in strength, others storming the abandoned estates of the nobles, surely trying to find something incriminating. The remaining twenty thousand were still in and around the Templar Keep, getting outfitted, getting briefed, being prepared...for what, not even the templars knew, Garrett guessed.
Garrett wasn't alone in the room though. Behind him, sitting on the central desk dominating the room, Anders had his back to Garrett, his dark cloak and hood making him seem smaller than he really was, as pale blue eyes intently stared at the door at the other side of the room. Since entering the tower, the man hadn't said a word, perhaps overcome by old memories...though there was something eerie with his calm, as if he knew exactly how it would play out.
Garrett, for all his calm, envied that feeling of certainty.
Further back, Orsino had his hands behind his back, his finer cloak swishing against the stone floor as he paced back and forth, his fine elven features drawn up in thought and worry, head lowered. For all his earlier confidence, the man now seemed afraid.
Garrett, standing still, closed his eyes and drew a deep breath.
We can do this, I can do this.
As if to express doubt about that, the door behind him crashed open.
Slowly turning, Garrett took in the scene before him with analytical eyes, gauging the situation.
Anders had stayed seated. Only his hands had moved, palms pressing against one another in front of his mouth, cold eyes looking straight ahead. Despite having his back to Garrett, the man somehow seemed...pleased.
Orsino had frozen mid-pace, hands now in front of him, as if trying to ward off an attack as he leant back, his attempt at a defiant look looking more like a shaky sneer.
And by the doorway, Meredith stood.
In full armour, the black plates of a Templar Commander, she looked even taller than she was, the impression reinforced by the fine dark greatsword on her back, a gift from Garrett that looked like it'd always had been hers now. Her hard features, already iron, seemed to have been forged into steel. Her eyes were the worst though, holding a cold rage within them, like ice hellbent on shattering the rock before it.
The woman was sizing the group before her up, her lips a thin line as the cold anger within her eyes seemed to only grow and grow with each person marked down. Slowly, she took a step into the room, and then another, eyes scanning the walls suspiciously, perhaps fearing an ambush. Like I'd risk that, violence is the last thing we want now. Behind her, Maric appeared, the hound having lead her to the chamber. Now, as silent as a footpad, he closed the door, leaving the four alone and undisturbed while the Mabari dutifully kept guard outside. Thank you.
His full attention on Meredith, Garrett watched the woman's steps slow, her head twisting and turning as she looked across the room. When she spoke, the words were unexpected. "I'm impressed." She looked up, at the ceiling. "No bodies on spikes, no altars, no body parts hanging from hooks..." She turned, cold eyes flashing as she focused them on a wincing Orsino. "You keep up appearances well, apostate."
Garrett took a step forward, hands still behind his back. "Don't be ridiculous-"
"Ridiculous!?" Meredith echoed, gaze snapping over to him. "The mages are unsupervised by templars, they've attacked their charges and work alongside a man who shares a bed with an apostate." Meredith made an angry gesture at the still sitting Anders. "And with a criminal apostate who's waged a war on us for years!" The man didn't answer her accusation, he only smirked, seemingly content to watch in silence. "What is so ridiculous!?"
Garrett groaned inwardly. This isn't starting well. "For starters, they've been without templar supervision for an hour...do you think they've all descended into mad blood-magic in that little time?" He managed a pale smile. "If you do...then the next few days will be hell for you."
Again, Meredith echoed his words, but this time more uncertain, worried. "Days?"
Orsino, having found his courage once more, nodded, his tone hard. "Days, weeks, months...as long as it takes for you to come to your senses."
"You don't make demands of me, mage." Meredith snorted, rising to her full height.
Orsino, despite being far shorter than the templar, glared back with heat. "Oh yes I do, templar. The tower is ours, we have supplies for over a year, and you have no power here now."
The words, full of confidence, made Meredith take a step back, the anger in her eyes not faltering, but a twitch of her lips showing a hint of worry. Garrett, quick to capitalise, took a step forward. "Indeed, and while it's ridiculous to think the mages have already fallen to the allure of blood magic, in a few months, however..." He left the rest unsaid, Meredith's imagination doing more than his words ever could.
Meredith looked uncertain for but a moment, then shook her head, raising an angry finger to point at Garrett and Orsino in turn. "No! You do not try to control or rule me! Templars are above secular law, and certainly above mages!"
Orsino, crossing his arms over his chest, smiled. "Doesn't look like that right now, Meredith..."
"You have failed, Meredith." Garrett snapped, then quickly continued as Meredith opened her mouth to protest. "You have lost control of the tower due to your few guards, because of your fear of mages. You have driven the mages here to rebellion, a rebellion not coming at the best of times with mage-templar tensions already on the rise throughout Thedas. You have turned the entire city against you in a world where the templars are already viewed with suspicion." He paused, but this time Meredith didn't speak, unable to protest the words as she mutely shook her head. "And when my letter reaches the Divine, explaining the magnitude of your failure...well you'll be lucky if you just lose your command. You'll at least be replaced, hopefully by someone less...zealous in her duties, maybe even lax..." The last words, the twisting of the knife, made Meredith grimace.
Orsino softened his tone, the mage's anger easy to extinguish by his desires. "It doesn't have to be that way though, Commander...the letter can still be stopped, this disagreement put to an end. All you need to do is listen."
"I...I..." Meredith took a step back, then another one, eyes full of confusion and fear of a situation she was ill-equipped to handle. But then they narrowed, the woman shaking her head. "N-no, I will not falter, I will not surrender, I am the righteous sword of the Maker and my cause is just!" She shot Garrett a glare, only to then chuckle and look away. "And to think I was that close to offering you the Viscount seat...what a fool I was."
Garrett's face turned grim even as Orsino shot him a worried look. Lies, you were not, do not try to fool me, you'd never give up power willingly. "You didn't, live with the consequences." He took a deep breath, calming himself. Focus. "Now, you might think yourself just and righteous and whatnot, but that doesn't change the facts. You have no control over your mages, you have no control of the tower, you are about to be replaced as Knight-Commander. All this, you can prevent if you for once agree to make concessions. One agreement, and you're back in control, like nothing has happened."
Meredith snorted at the notion, but didn't dismiss it, making Garrett nod to Orsino to continue the verbal attack. "We'll come quietly, we'll submit to your authority, but with addendum to how we should be treated, written down."
Again, Meredith remained silent, her glare going from Orsino to Garrett, then back again.
Orsino shot Garrett a questioning look, making him shrug. The First Enchanter shrugged back, then turned his attention back to Meredith. "First of all, no punishment will be meted out for what we've done here. Second, authorizing making someone tranquil will no longer be for you alone to decide, but for you and your captains, as well as me and two senior enchanters, to decide by committee." Meredith snorted, but Orsino didn't seem to be phased. "We won't be unreasonable, Meredith, we too desire to keep the tower safe from mages too susceptible to possession."
Meredith, her eyes still glowing with rage, took a deep breath...and then gestured for Orsino to continue, the woman refusing to look at him now.
Orsino straightened, a light of eagerness in his eyes as he spoke. "Thirdly, no templar may harm or otherwise abuse a mage unless the mage is in some way violating the rules of magic and behaviour. Any accusations of a templar not following such rules will be subject to our committee, with punishments up to expulsion of the order being available. Further, any mage who does violate such rules will also be subject to that committee, with punishments up to being made tranquil being available." Orsino took a deep breath. "Then there's only some minor things. More books of varied topics made available in the library. Easier access to passes to go into town, of course with an escort. No templars in the sleeping dormitories unless invited. And of course, a rule that any mage is obligated to report another mage not obeying the rules or being suspicious."
Meredith frowned as the list finally ended.
For what felt like a long time, silence reigned.
When she spoke, it was with suspicion. "That last rule...already exists."
Orsino chuckled and smiled. "Yes, but now we'll actually obey it."
Meredith, unfamiliar to humour, shot the mage a glare. "Why would you?"
Sighing, Orsino rubbed his temples. "You still don't understand...look, Meredith, we want to be in the tower, we're safer here than among the public...but we also want to like it here. Right now, we don't, we hate it, we fear it...and that is why we're here now." Orsino shook his head. "Don't you understand? We don't obey the rule, not to cover for other mages, but out of spite of those who make our home so insufferable!" Somehow, Orsino managed to soften his words and glare as he spoke again. "Allow us to enjoy our stay, allow us to feel at home...and we'll protect that home as surely and bravely as any templar." His shoulders sagged as he stared at Meredith. "We don't want to be your enemy, but neither do we want to be your victim...let us be a, if not a friend, then at least an ally against that which threatens to destroy our home."
Meredith, looking tired, was shaking her head at the mage, but not with the fervour Garrett had expected, only weary. "How can I trust your words after this...? How can I..." A sigh, and Meredith turned weary eyes to Garrett. "And you? You want your seat as Viscount, I suppose? The Viscount Keep and full authority to rule the city and take its taxes, I suppose?"
Garrett, feeling almost silly after Orsino's long rant, inclined his head in ascent.
"Take them." What? Garrett blinked in shock as Meredith looked back to Orsino. "It's a bloody mess, Kirkwall, the negatives outweighing the gains by now...can't rule it even if I wanted to any more." Then, she shot him a glance, eyes flaring with anger. "But for this...I'm considering making you an extremely short-lived Viscount."
Still in shock, Garrett barely managed to speak. "Well...the no repercussions for this that Orsino mentioned would include me and my nobles as well..."
Meredith ignored him, her gaze fixed on Orsino. "But as for you...I understand what you are saying, it might even be a noble goal...but for all you've done here, you should be happy I don't execute you on the spot!"
Orsino glared back. "You listened to my demands, they're not open for debate. Take them or leave them...but then you will have to live with the consequences. We can hold this tower for ages, if need be!"
"Hey now, let's not be too rash here.." Garret raised his hands, eager not to see his victory slip out of his grasp. "I'm sure we can form some agreement." Maybe some minor punishment for the mages for this and less of all his demands met...but enough to make all parties happy...and me Viscount.
"Consequences?" Meredith snorted at Orsino, new-found brazenness in her voice. "You think you can hold this tower on your own? Or do you delude yourself into thinking Hawke and his nobles here will help you, now that I've agreed to give him what you want?" Orsino turned his head, eyes wide as he stared at Garrett...and saw the truth in Meredith's statement. Grimacing, Garrett met his gaze. Get as best a deal as you can while you still have a position to negotiate from, but I won't sacrifice my people for some extra books in your library. Meredith's voice was cool. "Tell me why I shouldn't annul the whole bloody Circle...I might agree to simply put you all in isolation for the next year." Meredith's gaze was cold, hard, merciless.
If he hadn't felt so pleased, Garrett would have felt sorry for Orsino and intervened, but as it was, he wasn't about to endanger his winnings.
Orsino though, surprisingly, only looked afraid for a moment. He shot Garrett a glare, then scowled at Meredith as he straightened. "If you think to threaten me, Meredith, you are a fool. You do not want to wage battle with me, you'll lose." He took a deep breath, he was shaking, yet seemed determined. "I'll destroy your templars in a single stroke, the battle will be over before you even know it's begun." He paused, managing a smirk. "Tell her, Anders, tell her why the battle's already lost and she should submit to our demands."
Garrett, puzzled, turned his gaze to the mage that so far hadn't said a word. What are they on about...? The question left an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. One reinforced as they all turned to look at the man.
Still sitting on the desk, his hands now on the edge of it as he leant forward, Anders seemed like a statue, some grim gargoyle on a Tevinter dungeon. He was smiling, a flash of white teeth against pale skin and deep scars. "Battle...?" The word was a whisper, a hint of mockery in them.
Garrett felt a shiver run down his spine, something about his friend's behaviour...frightening.
"There will be no battle..." Behind him, Garrett felt Orsino grin. "...there will be a war."
Orsino coughed. "What are you-"
Before them, Anders' eyes flashed, pale blue light...and the mage's mouth split in an even wider grin.
Behind him, through the window, a red light suddenly appeared, then grew...and rose...
Garrett felt his jaw drop as the distant Chantry, one of the city's landmarks, simply...disappeared, dozens of city-blocks along with it. Instead, a red cloud of blossoming fire was shooting up into the air, like a living inferno, it raked at the skies with claws of red lightning. The top of the light reached the clouds, turning them orange as blue and white lightning crackled through them, meeting the unnatural light coming up from the ground.
A moment later, the red fire shrunk, turning into a solitary thread connecting the sky and ground...and below, nothing but stones and bones remained.
The red light shot back down, slamming into the ground like an arrow cast from the sky...and the ground exploded into a cloud of dust, a tidal wave striking out in all directions, sweeping through the city, sweeping towards them.
The tower shook, the very stones under Garrett's feet creaking with the impact...and then suddenly, it was over, the view outside one of devastation as the Chantry and the homes surrounding it had been reduced to nothing but rubble.
It was unreal, Garrett had barely heard a sound...yet now part of the city had been annihilated? He could not make it fit together and could only stare in horror and shock.
Behind him, Orsino's voice was a low whisper. "Anders...what have you done?"
Garrett managed to slowly move his gaze to Anders, who met his with a knowing calm, the smile not fading from his mouth as he spoke. "The revolution is at hand, Hawke, no matter if you want it or not."
Meredith, growling an oath, drew her blade, making Garrett draw his own and spin around while edging towards a wall, his gaze darting between all others in the room, not sure which one was the threat.
Orsino had fallen to his knees, clutching his heart as he stared at Anders in utter horror...and the still mage looked back with a calm look on his face.
Meredith was the first to speak, her words a loud bark. "You treacherous monsters! You've killed every priest in Kirkwall! You've murdered thousands! I'll see you all burn for this!"
"No!" Garrett, panicking, lowered his blade and took a step forward. "This was not our plan, Meredith! You must believe me! I had no part in this! And look at Orsino, he's horrified!" He pointed his blade at the smug-looking Anders, disgusted with the man as much as himself pointing him out. "It's he who did it! Just look at him!"
"A tower full of apostates fighting against the righteous templars, you as their leader and you expect me to believe you!? Now!?" Meredith snarled in fury. "Again, I've proven myself weak in negotiation with you and your ilk! You are all as guilty! You've all aided and worked with him! You claim innocence, but all I see is lies, magic and falsehood!" She raised her blade in a high guard, the enchanted dragonbone shimmering, eager for blood even as its user took a step back, seemingly unsure who to strike first. "He did not do this on his own! How could he!? He had help! And since I don't know from whom, I'll kill you all!"
"There's no need for that!" Garrett, panicking, gestured at Anders again. "Look at him! He's the one you want! We...we can launch an investigation! Anyone who helped him will be found and tried, I promise! But don't punish the innocent! Don't do anything rash!"
"Rash!?" Meredith repeated, shaking her head. "No, no you're a fool if you think I'll heed another word you say!" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Clever you, getting me away from my army under a pretence of negotiating. What will you do now? Kill me and hope Cullen isn't made of as stern stuff? He'll butcher the lot of you!"
For a moment, Garrett considered the alternative, then he shook it aside. No, I can't, I must save this! "Meredith, no! You get it all wrong! You're free to leave, do so as a sign of good faith on my part and I promise I'll find all responsible for this and hand them to you within a day!"
Meredith was backing towards the door, blade still raised as her voice turned into a low growl. "You'll pay for this...oh you'll pay...I will not be fooled, not again."
"Meredith, please!" Garrett sheathed his blade and held up his hands, pleading. "Give me a day! One day and I'll hand over all of those who did this! I promise!"
Meredith held his gaze for but a moment, then snarled and kicked the door open before turning and running, a prayer on her lips.
Taking a step after her, Garrett shouted. "I promise, damn it!"
The only answer he got was her rapidly disappearing footsteps.
Silence.
Deathly, cold, frightening, silence.
Slowly, Garrett turned to face Anders, finding the man still sitting on the desk, smiling, calm. "You..."
"No, not me..." Anders smirked. "...this was not me."
On his knees, Orsino sniffled, the First Enchanter now a broken man.
Anders, ignoring the elf, held Garrett's horrified gaze. "This was Justice."
8
8
8
Thanks to Abydos Jackson, for being so impatient.