Happy 2015 everyone, sorry for the delay. It's been super busy suddenly and I JUST got engaged, so I'm still riding the high of it right now. Thank you for your patience and your support! :D
Solas panicked, he had no way to remedy the situation, as he felt the heat from the veilfire. Fear overtook him as well, his instinct telling him to run. He knew in this moment that this wasn't the answer or the reaction that Cassandra was seeking. She wanted nothing to do with Anara, and the flaring of her magic didn't seem to help the situation.
He felt the fire's heat, if only for a moment, wondering if this was what Andraste felt in her last moments. But as quickly as the green flames overran them both they were snuffed.
Their magic was being suppressed, a silencing aura filled the area, the air felt thicker now as a mage. The Commanders templar abilities were still formidable. Despite the crushing feeling of Cullens power over his magic, Solas felt glad that The Commander could comprehend the situation. Solas was grateful, but still unhappy with what had happened. His eyes avoided Cassandras as he looked down, his fingers wiping away the tears that began to freely flow from Anara's eyes. It seemed she had an idea of what happened all along, but could recall none of it.
"Solas." Cassandra spoke through gritted teeth. "Outside, now." She looked at Cullen, "Commander, you stay here and keep...keep her silenced. We don't need a repeat of the Conclave." She looked over at Solas, who seemed completely absorbed in the welfare of the woman in his lap regardless of what just happened.
"Solas.." Leliana spoke, fearless but curious of the mage on the floor. "You need to let her go."
Solas turned his head, looking through Cassandra, he wanted nothing to do with the warrior. A Pentaghast were good for only two things. Dragon hunting and military expansion, and he needed neither of those right now.
" Promise me she won't be harmed." Solas made it a habit now of making deals, trying to broker one thing to another, trying to ensure Anara's safety.
"We promise, nothing will come to harm her. Please Solas." Leliana spoke, he didn't know whether to trust her. She was a bard, not just a singing minstrel, but an Orlesian bard, one with a barb tongue and daggers to her back. Solas began to feel conflicted, not knowing really who to trust.
But he looked at Cullen, the man stood there, hand upon the pommel of his blade. Unmoved and indifferent to the situation. He was more focused on his ability then of truths or lies. But he knew with Cullens experience as a Templar, that he could trust him out of everyone else. Solas knew that, and as much as he hated that reasoning he resigned to the idea of following the two women.
"Of course." Solas spoke, his eyes closing as he nodded, fingers moving off Anara's cheeks. Gently lifting her up, her eyes looked heavy and unsure. She pulled her knees to her chest as she buried her face, how Solas remembered such a sight in her fragmented memories. How she would always hide her face in sadness than allowing it to show.
Solas reluctantly sat up, still looking at the woman sitting on the floor. He stepped towards Cassandra who looked angrier than normal. Her head motioned outside, letting Solas leave on his own accord. When Solas walked out of earshot she turned to Cullen, "I want her hands restrained, and a Templar in here at all times. To ensure that this...incident doesn't happen again. " She left Cullen to his decision as Leliana and Solas left, Cassandra following behind.
Cullen nodded, understanding what Cassandra wanted, he knew that she had an air of caution about her, especially in this situation, but a Templar was good enough, no need for restraints. But he figured in light of recent actions, he supposed there was validity in her caution. He motioned to the guard, " We will need some stocks and a Templar, if there's any left.." Cullen didn't let his concentration wane, he knew that she was a danger, if not for her magic, then for the mark inside her.
But despite all his instincts telling him of abominations and apostates Cullen softened himself just alittle. He took his duty to the maker, to Cassandra and to this cause too seriously sometimes. He was looking across at a woman no older than her mid twenties clutching at her legs, her chin upon her knees as she stared into the floor. Cullen didn't like what felt like eras of awkward silence between them, he figured there should be an attempt at civility before the stocks arrive. "What's your name?" Was the only unfortunate question he could think of.
The silence seemed to continue, as he tried to determine if the woman was mute, or if the explosion caused her to become deaf. He didn't know really how to approach the situation now. If he was still in Kirkwall he'd have taken a different approach, perhaps just like he did with Wilmod. But those times were behind him, like Meredith, like Kirkwall, like the circle tower in Kinloch Hold. He thought deeply about those times, those things that set him apart from the person that he was now. So much has changed in those years, in yet here he stood, still trying to coax answers from a mage.
He thought so much into his past that he barely heard a word coming from across the room. He shook his mind from his past as he looked at the woman across the room. Her eyes still staring into the floor. "Pardon?" Was the only thing that Cullen could think of saying, the only thing that came to mind, it was polite, right?
Her eyes blinked, mouth slightly opened as words struggled from her lips. "Anara.." Her voice was weak and cracked, Cullen remembered she had been asleep for three days and under watchful eyes. She cleared her throat, trying to coax more words from herself. " Anara..Trevelyan..Enchanter to the Circle in Ostwick, Aequitarian…"
Cullen looked at her, her eyes still on the floor, like she was avoiding eye contact with him. Her words seemed rehearsed, like she had said it many times before. He wondered if she knew who he was, what he had done, or the things that he's seen. He figured that it was just conditioning to her time in the Circle, to their Knight-Commander, to her plight as a mage and perhaps what she knew from the Conclave. He couldn't quite put his finger on it about this mage, mentally she seemed no different. She wasn't completely standoffish, but not defiant to his presence. Her magic wasn't aggressive, or defensive, just passive to his Templar abilities. If he didn't know any better he'd feel that she was a Loyalist, fearful of the idea of there being no Circle, no Templars, no structure.
"You're wrong." He heard her say, his eyes passing back over to her. Her temperament seemed to change, her body language different. She wasn't sheltering herself anymore, but instead remained open to the world around her. Her voice no longer seemed meek, or cracked. It seemed that she was finally coming about her wits.
"You're wrong, I am no Loyalist, but I am no Libertarian either. Knight-Captian.."
Cullen's mind was in a panic, Knight-Captain, how did she know? He was brought back by her ability, perhaps she was perceptive, perhaps she could read minds. Perhaps she was corrupted by demons. Cullen became fearful of the idea that a pride demon sat inside her, waiting. He wanted answers, needed to know how and why she found out so easily about him.
"Your face.." Her eyes making contact with his. " Your face gave it away. You hold yourself high, but you have something dark in you." His eyebrows furrowed, confused by her observations.
"I was apart of the circle since I was a child. I know the power of Templars, of Knight-Captains, and Knight-Commanders. Just as much as I know their thoughts and gaze" Her eyes went back to the floor it seemed she was beginning to know her fate here, as the guard rushed in with a Templar.
"Commander, this is the only Templar that willingly volunteered." Her back straightened, as the Templar stepped forward. His gaze was malicious, compared to Cullens, his hand upon the hilt of his blade, prepared for a fight. Cullen seemed to sense that between the Mage and the Templar, he stood in between.
" She is of no danger, you can stand down." The Templars gaze didn't falter, Cullen could sense the tension he had with the woman.
"She is a mage sir, and mages were responsible for what happened at Kirkwall."
"We are NOT in Kirkwall." Cullens patience running thin. "You are dismissed."
"Commander?" The Templar looked up at Cullen, his face angered and serious. "A mage cannot be left alone." He defied Cullens orders, his back straightening, trying to appear taller.
" I will stand guard then." Cullen's face grew dark in rage at the man in front of him. "You. Are. Dismissed."
The Templar turned on his heel, walking out the door, mumbling to himself, calling Cullen a mage sympathiser among other things.
As his adrenaline calmed down he turned from the door, looking back at Anara. "You're safe now, I promise. What happened at the Circle will not happen here."
Her eyes passively looked over him, trying to decide if she should trust him, "We are not in Kirkwall Commander, just as we are not in Ostwick. But I thank you." She stared down at her hands, as the door opened to the holding cells, Haven's smith walking in.
"Took us awhile, but we've found the stocks. It's been awhile since Haven had criminals. " The blacksmith was taken aback looking at Anra sitting there, awake as she just held her arms out.
" I understand." Was all she said as Cullen took the stocks, locking them over her wrists. She closed her eyes, accepting the actions that it seemed everyone already judged her for.
Cassandra stood outside The Chantry with Solas, her anger boiling over, "What did you expect to happen?" Her arms raised in anger as she questioned his motives.
" I had no expectations, we needed her awake. We need to study the mark and The Breach. How do you expect that to happen when she's unconscious?" Solas's patience was beginning to wear thin with Cassandra. She wanted too much from him with very little effort being put on her part. " Or did you expect others to do all the work for you?"
"You dare…" She stepped forward, finger pointing to his chest. "I have been out there, slaying demons coming from the breach and you say such things? If the Divine was here.."
"But she's not, she's dead along with the rest of the Conclave. You want answers, and I am trying to provide them, but I cannot without her being awake."
Cassandra looked at Solas, her face displeased with the idea, but accepting of it. She grimaced at the bluntness of his words, "She will be your charge then Solas, what she does is your responsibility." Cassandra turned from him, resigning from their heated debate, She paused near the training grounds. "But first Solas, you will go with Varric and the recruits up the mountain to The Breach." She seemed to smile inward to herself for her apparent stroke of genius. Keep him away from the mage, and she should be easier to question. Yes, it seemed that was the thought that was passing through Cassandras mind.
Solas hated her idea, The Breach and it's power interrupted his dreams and made walking in the fade more difficult. His teeth clenched, remaining neutral on the outside to the Seekers new prospect for him.
"Of course." He gave some attempt at a nod as he walked away towards his room, the distance between him and the door seemed impossibly far. As he shut the door behind him Solas gave an angry shout, his magic flaring outward, knocking over an end table, flipping a book and knocking trinkets off of shelves. Usually he was in control of not only himself but of his magic, His emotions ran high now since that fateful night in her memories. All he cared about now was the woman sitting in the holding cells, all he wanted was her. He calmed himself, resigning to what Cassandra had planned for him. He hated the idea of leaving her here with the Seeker and the Templar Commander, but he begrudgingly accepted it, allowing himself to leave his room, to leave Haven.
The snow was cold on his feet, his staff and small pack on his back. His robes were layered, prepared for the bitter cold that was awaiting him up in the mountains. His eyes looked over to the Chantry as the gate began to shut behind him and Varric. He didn't want to step away, he didn't want to leave, but as Adan had told him many times, it was out of his hands. Regardless of how much he wanted to fight it, it was out of his hands.
" Ma vhenan, dareth…Ma'arlath.." The words seemed to whisper from his lips, the doors finally closed. He had hoped that his words had reached her, had stirred within her heart and her mind. He had hoped to use his connection with her after their bridge. But he feared that the magic had faded, that she wouldn't remember their kiss that pulled her from oblivion. He hoped that she still felt it, that they were still connected, that she knew his words. "Dareth.." The words rolled from his lips, hoping that she remained safe in the hands of the Commander. Hoping that he can truly trust the the Ex-Templar. His mind began to wander again, his mind dwelling on the kiss he shared, and the kisses that he wished to share in the future.
"You ok Chuckles? You seem...Broody" Varric was ignoring the small band of recruits that traveled ahead of them.
" I am alright Varric, my mind was..Somewhere else." Solas looked up in the sky, looking towards the breach.
"Oh? Tell me all the details Chuckles. Spare no description." Varric seemed like he was prodding for a new story to write.
" I think Not Varric, my life isn't a story for some pages." Varric looked over at Solas.
" All lives are meant for the pages of a book Chuckles. Why should yours be any different?"
Solas bowed his head, "I have seen things not meant for a book Varric. " His eyebrows furrowed, knowing full well the things he's seen and experienced in the fade. As well as things that he's seen and experienced in the fade that he would never want to tell Varric about.
The small group crossed over the bridge, Haven in the distance as they ascended the mountain. Night was beginning to fall, the darkness spreading through the distance. The Breach spread streaks of green across the sky, like a fatal warning to the world. Solas could feel it's magic and it's pull to him as they got closer, looking for camp.
The snows thickened as the darkness grew, Varric looked down at Bianca, shining her trigger, checking the mechanisms. Solas sat close to the fire, keeping himself warm as he looked at the ground, his mind trying to wander into the fade. The magic here was busy, the veil thin and the Breach expanding. He didn't know whether or not he'd be able to find her in the fade tonight. He didn't know if he should anymore after what had happened earlier that day.
She could've destroyed everything, killed them all and even herself in a storm of veilfire. What he had done, trying to bring her back from her slumber, backfired. She was not prepared for the memories flooding in, for the pain left by the mark. It had consumed her, and in that she lost control of what was inside of her.
He feared what would happen if they met in the Fade tonight.
Would she hate me? For doing this? For bringing her to this?
Solas had no answer, his mind far away from the group that gathered near the temple. He had so many questions to ask, so many thoughts and feelings that he had to go through. That he had to feel, but he couldn't dismiss them, couldn't dismiss the guilt that he felt when he saw tears streaming from her eyes.
Oh those sweet brown eyes crying, how her face seemed to twist in pain. He wondered if he'd ever be able to forgive himself. He couldn't find the answers anymore, he didn't want to dwell on it. All it did was make him feel worse about it, and that brought on a headache.
" I bid you goodnight, I'm retiring for the night." Solas interrupted Varric telling a story around the fire. Their attention was solely upon the dwarf who seemed annoyed by the interruption.
" You're about the miss the best part Chuckles. I was about to get to the smutty bit between Hawke and Fenris. You know Fenris right, he's another broody elf that I knew. " Varric seemed to take a jibe at him, " Alright Chuckles, alright. But I'm not going to retell this part to you. You'll have to read about…"
Solas shook his head as he stepped away from the fire, listening to Varric in the background, "Anyways, Hawke came home to find Fenris there, his lyrium marks practically glowing…"
He reached his tent, opening it up to his small pack and staff laying there besides his cot. The furs of august rams and cotton making sleep look much more appealing. He sat down on his cot, his back hunched over as he rest his elbows on his knees. Cradling his face in his hands, he rubbed the worry lines on his temple and between his brow. His eyes felt heavier, feeling the pull of the fade draw him in, like a warm body. He gave up resisting the need, his body pulling the furs around himself. Hoping not to find a desire demon still waiting for him in the fade.
Her body had given up after being under Templar guard for so long, the only words from her mouth being, "Yes Knight-Captain." or "No, Knight-Captain." It seemed like she was beginning to become infuriating to most Templars. But not to him.
He knew that she had suffered at the hands of Templar rule. He knew that Ostwick wasn't the best Circle in the Free Marches. It had a long history of corruption, and Templar abuse, some worse than others. He knew through her queues that she had been trained in her answers, that they had been beaten into her, or coaxed through Lyrium. Cullen couldn't figure out how, or why any Templar would commit such acts, but he only need to remind himself of Kinloch Hold and what happened all those years ago to remember why people do such things.
Her eyes had shut, her body on the floor of the room that Cullen still guarded. No Templar was stupid enough to take any watch duty, and those that did were not the Templars he needed in this situation. Cullen hit the back of his head against the wall, all he knew was her name, her circle and her mage fraternity. She wasn't willing to give up anymore information beyond that.
He watched her sleep, her face relaxing and softening. The tears that ran down her face still stained her cheeks, sun freckles across the bridge of her nose. She had a round face and curly brown hair that fell across her face. Cullen tried not to stare at her, she was asleep, thank the maker. But regardless make she was pretty, but he needed to push that aside, she was a mage after all, and it was his duty...Was...WAS…..
He had forgotten that he wasn't a Templar anymore...He was a Commander….NOT. A. TEMPLAR..
His power waned as he struggled to stay awake. His head rested against the wall, his sword resting upon his shoulder, eyes finally giving over to sleep.
" Ma vhenan, dareth…ma'arlath.." Solas could hear his words repeat again and again as he entered the fade, " Ma'arlath." Solas spun, looking around the fade in confusion. He suddenly wondered if some greater force was mocking him. The words repeating, "Ma'arlath." Solas didn't like the idea of demons or spirits knowing and holding his true feelings, or to use them against him. He didn't like it, and being in the fade unfortunately left you to their will.
" Do you still call to me? Even after our bridge?" Solas turned again, the voice loud and clear, as if it was booming from the sky above him. He was confused, and scared at the same time, fearing the woman he loved was truly responsible for the Conclave. He heard light steps behind him. " Do you think I couldn't hear it? That I wouldn't understand?"
Solas turned around, to see Anara walking down stone carved stairs, her magic reaching out and causing ripples in the fade. She looked clean, noble and strong. Like all identity with her being a mage was stripped away, almost as if she was born again in the fade. Solas couldn't help but approach, her magic, her physicality, how her back straightened when she walked. He was drawn to her, like a moth to a flame he felt her approach, as he felt his heart quicken.
"I did not know if you heard me..I did not know that you'd understand.." They slowly began to close their distance as her feet left the last step, touching the ground around them. Her cloak and dress dragging along the ground. Her steps getting closer, Solas began to feel his breath quicken. This wasn't a memory, this wasn't a dream he created. She was here, in the fade with him. "But you did...You heard it...You understood it.."
She nodded as Solas reached out, his hand out, pulling her close. "Ma vhenan'ara." He couldn't hesitate, nor hold himself back any longer. She was alive, awake, and right here, right now in the fade with him. "Ma vhenan'ara.."