Mage and Templar Origins – Part 2
Ciara was in turmoil. Lawrien could feel that as clear as day. Ciara had a few tells, and one of the major ones was that she kept redoing her brown hair. It had been untied from it's messy bun and redone at least five times now.
Lawrien had slipped away from her mentor when he had been unlocking his office, speaking to a Grey Warden. Irving probably wasn't happy that she wandered off, but it was Myra's big day. He'd be happy again in no time. No, instead she went to see Jowan, tugging Ciara along the moment they ran into each other. Jowan had said something about a secret meeting earlier, and Lawrien had to admit. She was really curious. Maybe he finally wanted to try out a prank.
He felt nervous and unsettled. Almost fearful. Much to Lawrien's confusion. But she had followed him into the Chantry where he stopped next to a lady at the back corner of the room. Lawrien wasn't religious. She didn't like the people who tried to force her to believe, but she understood those people. They took comfort in their Gods, or God, or whatever it was they worshipped. The woman before them was a firm believer, but it was light and gentle. Not oppressing and overwhelming.
"We can't have a secret meeting in front of the Chantry lady, Jowan," Lawrien teased.
Jowan scrambled, even as Lawrien laughed. The pair held something soft and sweet between each other. Lawrien felt it whenever Cullen was around Myra. Ciara snorted, and Lawrien felt the amusement leak from her.
"You do realise that you just revealed a secret meeting in front of someone who wasn't apart of said secret meeting?" Ciara mused, eyes glinting, she was joining in on the teasing. "Not so secret now is it Lawrien?"
Lawrien could feel Ciara relaxing, the turmoil settling a bit and beamed once more. That was good. She didn't like Ciara hurting. Ciara should be happy.
"Lawrien, she's part of the secret meeting!" Jowan hurried to explain and Lawrien nearly flinched at the full on panic and dread that hit her.
"So, this is the lady you've been seeing," Ciara noted, raising an eyebrow. "Are you going to finally introduce us to her?"
"You knew about Lily?" Jowan startled.
"We all knew you were seeing someone," Ciara said. "Although it's usually shared between mages, not Chantry folk who have taken their vows."
"Jowan and I love each other," Lily said, smiling warmly at Jowan and Lawrien felt the sweet, warm feeling embrace her again, almost washing away Jowan's panic.
It still lingered though.
Jowan frowned, looking around. "Where is Myra?"
"She's still with Irving, they were talking to a Grey Warden whose visiting," Lawrien said, grinning. "He felt nice, but tired."
"She can catch up later," Jowan hurried on, and his dread shot right up when he met Ciara's eyes. "Look Ciara, whatever they told you about me isn't true!"
Lawrien blinked, startled at the sudden outburst, but it was the feeling of despair that slipped out of Ciara that hit her hard. Despair and disbelief and almost fear. Why was Ciara afraid?
"I don't know what you mean," she lied, actually raising an eyebrow, her face the picture of bafflement.
Lawrien winced, but thankfully no one caught on to it. Jowan looked taken aback. "You truly don't know? They didn't say anything?"
"Who, Jowan?" Ciara frowned, crossing her arms.
"What's going on?" Lawrien asked. "Why are you so upset Jowan?"
It was Lily who spoke up, sounding grave. "I saw the documents. It's the approval sheet of those who would be made tranquil. Jowan's name was on it."
Ciara knew. Lawrien could feel it. That's what Greagoir had told her. Lawrien saw the fire lighting the chapel burn brighter and forced herself to calm down, taking a deep breath, realising her magic was reacting to her own terror. They couldn't do that to Jowan. Jowan was her brother, they couldn't take away all his feelings, all his hopes and dreams.
She wouldn't let them.
"Lawrien..." Ciara murmured to her, laying a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine," Lawrien said, taming the fire back down, forcing it back under control.
Lawrien specialised in elemental magic. Fire came to her the easiest. Ice for Myra. They both of course had other talents. Lawrien was a Force Mage, while Myra was a Spirit Healer. Anders was the same, while Jowan was building up his fire magic.
"So you really believe they are going to make Jowan Tranquil?" Ciara frowned. "Why?"
"I saw the documents myself on the Knight-Commander's desk," Lily insisted.
A sharp spark of anger startled Lawrien. Ciara glared daggers at Lily. Jowan winced.
"And why were you snooping?" she asked coldly. "A chantry initiate has no business going through the Knight-Commander's desk."
"Ciara, stop," Jowan pleaded. "It doesn't matter,. She was only trying to help me!"
"I was handing out messages," Lily admitted. "There was no one in the room, I just couldn't help myself..."
Lawrien tilted her head. That had been honest.
"Alright, so we just ask Irving what's going on," Lawrien said. "He'd talk to me or Myra."
A spike of panic rolled through Jowan, and he ended up clinging to her arm, wide eyed. "That won't work," he cried. "Irving serves the Circle before it's people! He won't defend me. Look, everyone has just assumed I'm out practising blood magic, when I've actually been meeting up with Lily."
"And you can't tell them that because Lily would get into serious trouble," Ciara mused, sighing heavily. "Jowan, you're really pushing me into a dangerous corner here. If my Commander finds out I'm keeping such serious secrets from him I could be sent to off to start my Templar hunting duties earlier than expected."
Lawrien frowned. The Knight-Commander had been keeping Ciara close by for her training so far. But it wouldn't be long until Ciara was sent out from the tower to go hunt down and capture mages.
"How about I just go set the paperwork on fire? We've done that plenty of times to Irving," Lawrien said, grinning. "I'm already in a lot of trouble for interrupting the Harrowing."
"They won't just forget who they want to make Tranquil, Lawrien!" Jowan protested, terror rolling through him. "I'll just be a husk and I don't want that. I don't want to lose my love for you four or my love for Lily. You're my family! I need to destroy my phylactery and escape."
Ciara blanked. Lawrien flinched, and squirmed when her sister grew cold. Her face remained carefully calm and at ease, but her eyes betrayed her distress.
"Jowan, why did you ask me here? Of all people?" Ciara hissed.
"Because I'm scared and you're my sister," Jowan pleaded, reaching over to grab Ciara's hands who stiffened, looking more and more alarmed. "Please, Ciara."
Lawrien tilted her head and grinned. "Let's do it!"
"Lawrien, this isn't like one of our daft pranks. This is serious," Ciara whispered.
"I know. Jowan's family though," Lawrien reminded her.
"I know that," Ciara sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping. "By the Maker I'm such a fool. Fine, but let's not involve Myra. She's only just passed her Harrowing."
"Agreed." Jowan nodded, relief pouring off him.
Lawrien felt a dark resolve linger out of Ciara though, her eyes growing hard. She wanted to help, Lawrien could feel it, she wanted to redeem Jowan in the eyes of the Templars. Lawrien smiled. Ciara had known the entire time but played dumb.
Ciara didn't truly believe Jowan was a blood mage. She couldn't. It would ruin what they shared between them.
.::.
Myra watched from across the library as Lawrien babbled out a ridiculous research project about what was basically just burning plants to Torrin who looked baffled. Lawrien's relief turned to horror though when he asked her to present to him a proposal and nodded, laughing nervously as she left.
"A proposal? Why?" Lawrien groaned despairingly.
"Having trouble, dear sister?" Myra asked, completely amused as Lawrien yelped.
"Myra!" She beamed once she got over her shock. "You're studying already?"
"Just a bit of light reading," Myra said. "So, what are you up to this time?"
Lawrien blanched, much to Myra's bemusement. "Um, nothing?"
"Right," Myra drawled. "So this rod of fire-"
"I just want to burn things?" Lawrien offered, wincing.
"You, a fire mage, wishes to use the rod to burn things instead of your magic?"
"Exactly!" Lawrien laughed but it was nervously.
"You know, this is a good day. So I won't bother trying to interfere and make sure you're being reasonable. Just don't get into too much trouble, alright?" Myra asked, relieved when Lawrien nodded.
"Thanks, Myra!"
"Mr. Sweeney's over there." Myra pointed in the direction, watching as Lawrien eagerly rushed in that direction. "I better not regret this."
"Something wrong?" Her table partner asked as he approached once more, the Grey Warden carrying more books as he sat down.
"My sister tends to cause trouble."
Duncan chuckled. "That sounds familiar. That was Lawrien Amell, was it not?"
"Yes, how did you know?" Myra felt her brow furrow.
"Irving told me about you as well as her while Greagoir spoke to me of Ciara Trevelyan. Greagoir also told me of the great deal of trouble the five of you get into." Duncan looked thoughtful. "There was you, Lawrien Amell, Ciara Trevelyan, Anders and Jowan, is that right?"
"Correct." Myra smiled. "Anders and Lawrien are the worst for it while Ciara tends to follow along for the amusement. Jowan and I have so far been unsuccessful in stopping them throughout the years."
"So I have been told," Duncan chuckled, looking far too amused.
.::.
Ciara and Jowan headed for the library when they realised Lawrien was running late. The pair sighed, Jowan complained that she had probably gotten into trouble on her way to get the fire rod.
They found Lawrien in the hallway with Irving, their sister growing more and more nervous as they spoke. Irving grew more and more suspicious, and that seemed to add to Lawrien's stress.
Lawrien couldn't lie to save herself. She was too honest.
"So you had Sweeney sign off your form for the rod of fire because you want to burn a hole in Anders clothes?" Irving raised a brow. "While he's away off on one of his escapees?"
"E-Exactly!"
"And what else?" Irving asked knowingly. "You're far too nervous for it just to be that, young lady."
"And Ciara's?" Lawrien asked hesitantly, earning a heavy sigh.
Ciara smirked. "Head back to Lily, Jowan. We'll meet you there," she whispered before storming over Lawrien's way, snarling. "My clothes? Seriously, Lawrien?"
Lawrien squealed and dashed off, deftly avoiding Irving's hand who tried to grab her when Ciara began chasing after her, yelling at the top of her lungs.
"Get back here!" Ciara screamed.
They continued the chase until they got to the stock room and long out of Irving's sight. They returned to the chapel once Owain handed over the rod. Jowan remained nervously in the corner, and Lily smiled once their eyes met.
Lawrien sighed in relief. "Thanks, Ciara. I managed to get the form signed by grandpa Sweeney but Irving caught me on the way out."
"And considering what Anders did last time with the rod he must have been instantly paranoid about what you were going to do." Ciara smirked.
"I did burn a Templar's butt on the way out," Lawrien sniggered.
"That one always scowling at Sweeney? Good," Ciara agreed.
"You both okay?" Jowan asked, as they approached his side.
"Just fine. Irving didn't have anymore time to interrogate Lawrien," Ciara said. "We got the rod first, just in case Irving decided to confiscate it."
"Then we can be on our way to freedom," Lily said, breathing a sigh of relief. "Let's go then."
.::.
Ciara had tried to warn them that magic wouldn't work against the second door, but Lawrien tried it anyway. Now she was tossing the rod idly between hands, bored. Jowan and Lily fretted, which led to the idea of trying the other door.
"Not a good idea," Ciara said. "Greagoir told me to make sure you all avoided using it because it's guarded whenever you 'explored'."
"He's such a nice guy," Lawrien laughed.
Lily grimaced.
"Guarded by what?" Jowan asked.
"He didn't tell me. I assumed it was some kind of wards?"
"As long as we get our magic back I'm happy. I hate when it's suppressed." Lawrien said, tossing the rod up once more as she headed for the other door.
One of the soldiers twitched. Ciara tackled Lawrien when the statue became animated, swinging it's mace at Lawrien's head. Lawrien yelped. Jowan called out their names, just as Lily rushed up, expertly disarming the statue, and swinging it's own mace at it. Ciara leapt up, spinning neatly round the distracted soldier. She plunged her daggers into it's back just as Lawrien lit it on fire.
Flames enveloped Ciara's daggers and Lily's mace. Together they cut their way to the repository, where things finally grew peaceful.
"Careful," Ciara cautioned, reaching out to tug Lawrien back from an interesting looking staff. "This is where the First Enchanter and Knight-Commander store their most powerful and dangerous artefacts."
"Hi, Eleni!" Lawrien greeted, squirming free of her grasp to greet the statue.
Ciara sighed. Of course Lawrien knew the talking statue. Lily tried to usher her away, but Lawrien ignored her, brushing the dust off the Tevinter statue's shoulders. Ciara glanced at Jowan who was admiring a wall.
He had showed no signs of blood magic. His power level had so far remained the same as always.
"Hey, Ciara," Jowan called, waving her over. "The wall here seems pretty weak. I bet we could break it down with the rod."
"Good idea," Ciara said, nodding as she reached over to help him move the bookcase.
Jowan explained the idea of the statue amplifying the rod's magic. Lawrien grinned, eyeing the rod almost hungrily. Ciara decided it would be safer out of Lawrien's firing range, and tugged Lily and Jowan out the way with her.
Lawrien cheered when the wall exploded.
Irving was going to cry.
"I love this rod!" Lawrien laughed, rushing through the opening.
Lily was right on her heels, grinning.
"We shouldn't have given her that rod," Ciara groaned.
A hand caught her arm, and Jowan smiled warmly at her. She paused when he pressed a kiss to her brow, baffled.
"Thank you, Ciara," Jowan said, grinning widely. "You have no idea what this means to me."
She blinked, astonished, before shaking it off. "Just... Just stay safe, okay?" Ciara said, reaching up to ruffle his hair. "The world is dangerous out there."
"I know. Don't worry," Jowan smiled. "Lily and I are going to get married and get far away from all this. I'll never use magic and I'll stay away from lyrium. It'll be a good life."
"Just make sure she doesn't hurt you, otherwise I'll have to hunt you both down and deal with her." Ciara squeezed his hand, earning a grin that nearly rivalled one of Lawrien's.
"She won't ever hurt me. We're in love." Jowan beamed as they walked into the chamber, the pair instantly shivering at the cold.
Only Lawrien seemed happy to walk around it in. Lily was standing close by her, rubbing her arms as she searched eagerly for the right phylactery. Jowan left her side immediately, their hands separating as he joined in on the search. Ciara sighed and looked down at her feet, feeling more and more resolved.
Jowan hadn't resorted to blood magic. It would have been the easiest thing to do too. She was satisfied then. He was just a normal mage. Her eyes met Lawrien's when she looked up and her sister threw her a happy grin.
Lawrien must have felt her settle back down then. That was good. Ciara hated worrying her and Myra. It was a hard burden after all, being an empath.
"We have to hurry. We're running out of time!" Lily cried.
Ciara agreed as Jowan went up the stairs to the other set and Lawrien glanced around. "I wonder if Myra's is still here."
"I doubt it. They would have moved it to Denerim where yours is once she passed her Harrowing," Ciara sighed but whirled around when Jowan gave a victory cry.
"I found it!"
Ciara's turmoil came running back with a vengeance. "That was fast..."
"Well that's good," Lawrien grinned. "Now let's smash it and go."
"It's amazing how something so small stands between every mage and their freedom. So small and fragile..." Jowan whispered in wonder, staring intently at the vial before releasing it, letting it smash into the ground.
Ciara winced, but chanted to herself that this was right. That Jowan was innocent. He couldn't become a Tranquil after doing nothing wrong.
"And I'm free," Jowan sighed in relief. "Let's go, quickly now!"
They rushed out of the repository, Jowan and Lily holding hands the entire time. Lawrien laughed happily and Ciara couldn't help but smile too. Her family was important to her. Always. But there would be repercussions for this. They wouldn't get away with this. Ciara hung her head, knowing she would have to choose her side at that point. Honestly she had already chosen. She had helped Jowan.
Greagoir was going to be pissed.
They reached the stairs and slipped out of the repository. Jowan looked beyond relieved, happily patting their shoulders before wrapping his arm around Lily's waist. "I can't thank you both enough. Now Lily and I can live in peace-"
"We should be quiet. We're still in the Circle," Lily hissed.
She was tense now, eyes darting all over the hall. Not that Ciara blamed her. Anybody could come walking past at any moment.
"Well you two better be going," Lawrien grinned. "Make sure to make a kid after me right?"
Jowan flushed. "Lawrien!"
"Let's go. Now, Jowan," Lily pleaded softly, his gaze turning soft when their eyes met.
"Alright, Lily. Let's-"
Ciara flinched at the heavy footsteps approaching them and whirled round, horrified to see First Enchanter Irving and Knight-Commander Greagoir approach. Greagoir's face was full of fury as he stormed up to them. "So what you said is true Irving. An initiate conspiring with a blood mage."
Lily froze under his gaze while Jowan pushed her back protectively behind himself. Greagoir simply sneered at them. "I am disappointed in you, Lily. The Chantry will not let this go unpunished."
"Jowan isn't a blood mage!" Lawrien snapped, stepping in front of her brother, eyes burning with protective fury. The Templars around Greagoir tensed up, ready to fight back but Greagoir ignored her, too busy examining Lily.
"Shocked, but within control of her own mind. I had thought she had been a thrall."
"Knight-Commander, I have seen no use of blood magic," Ciara reported immediately. "He possesses the same basic skill set he had demonstrated this year. There have been no sudden lurches of power even when his life and his loved ones lives were put into danger."
"You and I will speak more on this later Ciara Trevelyan but right now I don't wish to hear another word out of you!" Greagoir barked. "You've disappointed me twice today."
Ciara bowed her head, cursing mentally. She decided to obey for now, hoping to ease the growing tension.
"Don't tell her to shut up!" Lawrien snapped.
"Lawrien," Irving scowled, earning a flinch. "I'm disappointed in you, child. You could have come to me with this."
"You don't care about us!" Jowan snapped, pushing Lawrien gently aside. "You just bow to the Chantry's every whim!"
"Enough!" Greagoir barked. "As Knight-Commander I sentence this blood mage to death! And this initiate has scorned her vows! Take her to Aeonar!"
"Aeonar?" Ciara gasped.
That was a brutal punishment. If Greagoir was this pissed off then Ciara had no idea what was going to happen to her. Lawrien's hand grabbed her arm, clenching it tightly. Lawrien looked just as nervous as she felt. It was Jowan who snapped when Lily began to whimper softly, pleading to be spared as Ciara's fellow Templars began to approach Lily's cowering form.
"NO!" Jowan screamed and out of nowhere he pulled out a knife. Ciara froze, shocked before the hurt sunk in. "I won't let you take her!"
"No..." Ciara whispered hoarsely.
The knife swung down and Ciara watched in terror as he stabbed the knife straight into his hand, blood splattering out everywhere. The blood slammed into everyone, including herself. Ciara hit the ground and everything turned black.
.::.
"Ciara!" Lawrien cried out, jerking away from Jowan's side to check on Ciara's limp form.
"Sh-She'll be alright..." Jowan stammered nervously. "I only knocked her out. I-I'm sorry, Lawrien, but she would have killed me... I didn't hurt her too badly..."
"No, Jowan. You did."
Distress leaked from him, but Lawrien remembered the hurt and shocked betrayal that had hit Ciara the moment Jowan raised his dagger. Lawrien didn't understand why Jowan wouldn't tell them. They were family.
"You lied to us..." Lawrien bit her lip.
"Blood magic!" Lily cried, backing away from them, her face growing more and more paler by the second. Disgust and anger rolled off her. "By the Maker how could you, Jowan? You said you'd never-"
"I admit I dabbled!" Jowan rushed to explain. "I thought it would make me a better mage!"
He was covered in his own blood and waves of distress leaked off him. He still tried to plead with Lily, but it was the footsteps that rushed towards the doorway that attracted Lawrien's attention. Myra's horrified, wide eyes met hers' before they went to Jowan. Lawrien saw her look over all the blood, and Lawrien flinched. She had never seen Myra look so disappointed and afraid in her life.
She was afraid of Jowan of all people. Their brother.
"Blood magic is evil," Lily protested. "It corrupts people! Changes them!"
"I'm going to give it up. I'm going to give it all up!" Jowan cried out desperately, holding out his hand. "I just want to be with you. Please Lily, come with me!"
"I trusted you... I was ready to sacrifice everything for you..." Her voice broke and Lily nearly caved in but she shook her head and turned away. "I don't know who you are, blood mage! But stay away from me!"
Jowan flinched, as if slapped and stumbled back, glancing over her and Ciara who stirred, groaning softly, making Lawrien tense. "I-I am so sorry..."
With that he ran, making Lawrien nearly cry out at the sight of another brother running, leaving them behind. She clutched Ciara tighter though as she struggled to wake up, just as Myra ran over to Irving, hands shaking as they glowed, alight with healing magic.
"Myra?" Irving groaned as he struggled to sit up. "When did you get here, child?"
"I-I overheard that they got into trouble. I thought it was just the usual and I wanted to lecture them but this?" Myra gritted her teeth. "I should have turned him into a bloody ice statue!"
"None of us expected this," Irving reassured as he stood up, Greagoir, who was beyond pissed, marching over to him. "Are you alright, Greagoir?"
"As good as can be considering the circumstances!" he spat. "If you had let me act sooner this would not have happened and now we have a blood mage on the loose!"
"Can't you use his phylactery?" Myra suggested as Ciara groaned, sitting up shakily.
"D-Did Jowan just use blood magic?"
Lawrien nodded. "Yep."
"That bastard lied to us. To our faces," Ciara cursed, a rare sound which nearly made Lawrien laugh weakly. Lawrien did glance up though at the Knight-Commander when he came over, yanking Ciara to her feet who winced, holding her head.
"Jowan broke it," Lawrien admitted and the Knight-Commander's frustration built up even further. He looked ready to snap.
"Commander? May I?" Myra raised her hand, glowing with healing magic.
"Look after my men first, Miss Amell." The Knight-Commander ordered, sighing deeply but some relief slipped out of him when Myra began to treat his men, her soothing magic gently healing their wounds.
Ciara sighed. "I doubt he got very far. There's a lake outside after all, unless he did an Anders and decided to try swimming across."
"You're his friends! Did any of you ever suspect anything?" Greagoir demanded, glaring at herself, Myra and Ciara.
"I would have turned him into an ice sculpture if I had," Myra glowered.
"I would have killed him," Ciara said.
"I had no idea!" Lawrien grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. "I wonder when he started that up?"
"I thought he was only sneaking about to meet up with Lily," Ciara sighed. "I'm sorry, Knight-Commander. I had hoped to find proof that he wasn't a blood mage. I was a fool."
The Knight-Commander growled softly. "I warned you not to get close. I told you so many times. We will speak privately about your future after I've sorted this out."
"I understand." Ciara felt numb, her emotions locked up tightly and Lawrien flinched.
"It wasn't her fault. Jowan tricked us!" Lawrien frowned.
Irving placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Enough, Lawrien. You're in enough trouble as it is."
"We will use every resource we have to capture him but first..." the Knight-Commander frowned deeply, staring intently at Lily with cold anger. "You assisted a blood mage. Look at all he's hurt!"
Myra had healed quite a few of them already, now working on Ciara's head wound. Lawrien frowned. "But that's not fair. She didn't know either-" Lawrien began, ignoring Irving's hushing. It was Lily's eerie calm that silenced her, baffling Lawrien.
"No, save your breath. I can speak for myself." Lily's eyes hardened, as if overcoming whatever had terrified her before. "Kn-Knight-Commander, I was wrong... I was accomplished to a... A blood mage... I will accept whatever punishment you see fit... Even... Even Aeonar..."
"Get her out of my sight!" Greagoir spat out as Myra's magic now washed over him. Myra was beginning to grow tired though, breathing a bit more heavier than before. "Now what am I to do with you, Lawrien Amell?"
"Did you take anything out of the repository, child?" Irving asked tiredly.
"No. I did dust off Elani though," Lawrien admitted. "There was a cool staff, but Ciara wouldn't let me touch it."
"Well at least you did something right today." Knight-Commander Greagoir eyed Ciara who kept her eyes down, not meeting his gaze. "What am I to do with you?"
"Please don't send them to Aeonar," Myra pleaded. "I beg of you not to, Knight-Commander. These two are idiots but they don't deserve Aeonar."
"I doubt that needs to happen," Irving agreed, he felt truly distressed at the thought and he tugged Lawrien closer to his side, keeping a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Knight-Commander, if I may?" Lawrien recalled the Grey Warden, he was the one Myra had been with in the library. "I am looking for Grey Warden recruits as of right now. Irving spoke highly of both Lawrien and Myra Amell, and you spoke highly of Ciara Treveylan as well-"
"They are very young still Duncan and highly reckless," Irving admitted, resting his other hand on Myra's shoulder. "And really Myra is only just about to become fourteen-"
"You promised him Grey Wardens?" Greagoir yelled, alarm pooling off him.
"I agree on young Myra's behalf, and yes, Lawrien and Ciara are both still young as well, but they would flourish well with us I believe. We all know their talents are wasted within the Circle," Duncan said, looking fondly over them both, making Ciara instantly weary and confused while Lawrien grinned at the warm feeling. "Besides, worse things plague this world than blood mages and we need all the help we can get in fighting the Darkspawn."
"Does this mean we're going to the Deep Roads?" Lawrien asked, confused.
"There are still sometimes attacks on the surfaces, but yes. It means you get to come help Orzammar too with the Darkspawn," Duncan explained before looking firmly over Irving and Greagoir. "I take these young women under my wing and will bare responsibility for all their actions."
"I did warn you about how much trouble they get into right?" Myra reminded Duncan, smiling lightly. Duncan chuckled in return.
"They will surely keep me busy," Duncan mused.
"How can they be rewarded for this? This is a mockery!" Greagoir protested.
"You know Duncan can just easily conscript the two of them, Greagoir. It is out of our hands now," Irving hushed him, earning a grumble.
"Sounds pretty fun, huh Ciara?" Lawrien grinned, laughing at Ciara's sigh, how exasperated she felt.
"A Grey Warden? I seem to be going through multiple organisations at this rate," Ciara replied, shaking her head.
It was Myra who pulled them into an embrace though, hugging them close. "Please try to stay safe."
They both hugged back, Ciara's numbness growing warmer, but it still lingered with hurt. Lawrien and Myra both tightened their grips on her, trying to reassure her that she wasn't alone.
"We'll keep each other safe," Lawrien grinned. "Promise."
"Good." Myra buried her head in their shoulders, letting out a shaky breath. "Good."