Val Royeux- the Grand Cathedral
For the first time in his rather short life, at least all things in comparison, Benjamin Trevelyan stood in the halls of the center of the Southern Chantry. The center of his religion and his personal beliefs. The place that helped shape and entire world, for both good and evil. Here, the Divine stretched forth both her hands, here, the Chantry was in its prime.
In all of its splendor, mirrored in the architecture. High arched ceilings, marble floors. Ornate ornamentation decorated the walls, and were mounted on pillars every few feet. Tapestries from Chantry history. Showing notable members of the Chantry's history, along one wall, but none of the other Divines.
The other wall, sunlight drifted in through high backed windows adorned with frescos of our Lady Andraste, the heretic Shartan, and even a few of the traitor Mafareth. Though the latter was decorated in stark detail, either making him look like a vile, drooping, lurking villain, or in chains. Or with vile magisters in the back ground.
Noticeably absent, aside from the symbol of the Templar Order, there were no displays of the Chantry's many military accomplishments.
Also probably on a different end of the Cathedral. Benjamin thought.
"Wow, with all this they could have afforded a thousand shoes for the poor…a million." Sera remarked. Then growled.
Ah Sera simultaneously missing and getting the point.
The rest of his party, Cassandra her black and Silver Armor adorned with the Seeker Symbol polished to a sheen, and Brandon, looking decidedly out of place looked at the female elf awkwardly.
"What?" She shot back.
Benjamin only sighed.
"Inquisitor, the Divine will see you now." An aide, prim and proper, came around the corner before disappearing, apparently inviting them to follow.
Oh thank the Maker.
The four of them plodded after him, Ben's staff thwacking off the floor and Cassandra's boots causing the floor to reverberate quite grandly.
The four of them were quite well armed, with their best and most practical weapons. No Cermonial blades, they were coming in preparation for a fight, though Benjamin did not doubt it.
Normally this would make the Divine's guards and attendants nervous. But, the Inquisition was on good speaking terms with the Chantry, for the moment, so they were allowed. Plus with the ambushes on the roads of the Empire and the Kingdom of Ferelden occurring, the Inquisitor thought it was better to be safe, then sorry. And it's not like we aren't outnumbered, here.
The Chantry bell boy showed them to a side room, not the main hall of the Divine, but one used to entertain guests in a small intimate setting. For tea, or the latest gossip, or simply to relax.
The room fit this description to a t. Small, adorned in smooth, earthy colors, browns, and greens.
"My dears, it has been far too long, I'd ask how the other was doing, but since you are both here, I do not have to bother."
Benjamin turned to smile as Divine Victoria, formally Vivienne, AKA Madame de Fer swept into the room. Still looking as resplendent in her Chantry robes.
Though Benjamin's first reaction was a nervous tick of slight revulsion. She is not the one I would have put into the Divine's chair if I had a choice, though it could have been much worse.
Vivienne was a friend, and though she and Ben disagreed on a great many topics…both personally, and a matter of policy, the Inquisition and the Chantry were close.
"We are doing fine Madame Vivienne."
She frowned at Benjamin's appellation, but seemed to let it pass.
"So what brings the Inquisition to my hallowed halls?" She asked instead.
"Inquisition patrols have gone missing, and then have been discovered killed. No group has claimed responsibility, and no strong evidence has come out of our investigation pointing us in the right direction."
"I see," Vivienne mused, "I have heard of these incidents and have been running my own investigation, which has turned up nothing."
Brandon made a noise behind them, sounded like a snorting noise. "What with the resources of the Inquisition and the Chantry we cannot find a single group?"
"Southern Thedas is large my dear…?"
"Brandon, Captain Durrow of the Inquisition, a pleasure to meet you Divine Victoria."
"Charmed," Vivienne's features twisted into a small smile, which still managed to look slightly fake.
"But, he is right. You have not heard anything?"
"No," The Divine bit her lip, "But there are interesting things happening in Thedas."
Benjamin waited for her to continue, and then when she did not he arched an eyebrow at her.
"The Templar Order has been reinstated. But, not all of those Knights and officers who were veterans, and did not succumb to the thrall of Red Lyrium, not all of them have returned back to the service…some have quite publicly joined Cullen's little crusade in not taking Lyrum any longer, while others have simply…disappeared. Not coming out of hiding, not rejoining the order, but simply staying to a private life. Rumor would have it that some have been gathering in an old Fort to the East, near the Ferelden Boarder. An important Templar training station."
"And, you are pointing us in the direction of Ex Templars who refuse to come calling at your heal?" Benjamin gave her a look.
Vivienne pursed her mouth in a tight, disapproving frown. "You should know, being a former Circle Mage, and not too powerful while you were, how dangerous Templars can be when provoked. The Templars are elite Warriors trained in all manner of combats, and the Inquisition represents a force to be reckoned with…one led by a mage out of the Circle confines."
"Is that a threat?" Ben asked.
"Why no my dear," Vivienne chuckled, "nothing of the sort."
"But if the Templars are involved…" Cassandra wondered.
"We still don't know that." Brandon stated.
Cassandra shot him a look but didn't say anything.
Largely because Benjamin waved her down. "No, we don't know. In fact I would prefer if it weren't the Templars, but I do believe this outpost is worth investigating." Benjamin said getting up.
"My dear, won't you stay and enjoy some of the tea?"
"No time like the present, besides…I think me and Cassandra want to do some…erm…shopping. Yes, shopping."
Vivienne at least had the decency to look dejected. But there was nothing she could do as the Inquisitor and his trope of people left the room. Benjamin saw Sera leave Viv one last parting look.
The Chantry courtyard.
Benjamin wandered the paths outside the Grand Cathedral for several minutes. Few people were here. It was peaceful, isolated. Large shrubberies and hedges blocked a lot of the surrounding area from view, and also any prying eyes from seeing them.
The boulevard opened up towards the center, with a great pool and fountain was in the center…and Cassandra was off to the side looking at a bed of flowers.
Benjamin paused for a second, both in admiration, and because her posture looked tense, contemplating more than just the flowers.
"I know you are there you know." She said, sounding somewhat stern.
He stepped in behind her and wrapped a small hand around her waist, pulling her in, but gently, not trying to be too intrusive as he looked at the flowers with her.
She sighed, "We do not make it to Civilization that often."
"It comes with the territory I am afraid." He said.
"Not that I mind, really," she continued, "Civilization does have its flaws. Games of politics, and chance, people being too concerned about their own power and little status symbols."
"It is amazing, I spent most of my life in Civilization. The Chantry Circles. And then they rebelled so I was forced out. Forced to go out on my own, spending my time in the wilderness, or on the outlying boarder of farms, towns, and other settlements. It was amazing though how much of humanity still lives in the wilderness, and survives, and yet I did. Ripped from my comfortable books and cushy environment I survived, and then even thrived."
"And Skyhold is hardly the center of the world." Her lips quirked into a smirk.
"I prefer it that way honestly, if you are going to be out in the wilderness might as well be the really good kind. Surrounded by mountains, and stars."
She nodded, but sighed slightly and scowled fiercely at the flowers.
"And just what have the germaniums done to you?"
She laughed, "It's not that. Just…more problems with the Templars? The Chantry? I was hoping it would all be over by now. That we could have peace, instead of ripping each other apart."
"We still don't know if it is a Templar," Benjamin pointed out.
"Yes, but if it is then…it worries me."
"Not all Templars are Cullen, or even yourself. Samson fell. And many Templars in my Circles existed with a rough hand. All of them I have been to."
"I know that…" She snapped, then sighed. "I just wish it wasn't true."
The two of them stayed like that for several moments wondering at one another, contemplating the flowers. Benjamin was chewing over what she had said while rocking with her, head on her shoulder.
It was a terrible thought. While he knew better, the ideal of the Templar certainly was powerful. Protecting people from the dangers of magic. And magic was dangerous, if anything Corypheus himself had proven it.
But what would a Templar, any Templar, have in attacking the Inquisition? We too exisist to strop the dangers of magic, and make the world a better place. Could they simply be evil?
The question didn't really bare much consideration, down that path lay chaos and doubt, enough to make his head spin.
He sighed.
"Time to go back to Skyhold, I know, but if we are going to solve this problem we need the resources of the Inquisition. That is, what we do."
She nodded, "To Skyhold."
"To Skyhold."
They said, turning and leaving the room heading back to their destiny.