Chapter 2
Quietly I moved through the Treasury of the Conclave. Smirking at my own movements, I moved towards my objective. The Jewel of Marazeth. Here it was, the object that will set me up for years and it was lying in a room mostly unprotected. I felt my heart pound in my chest in anticipation as I grabbed the jewel from the stand. Smiling in victory I shoved the jewel gently into my knapsack and started to move back through the shadows to the glass ceiling I had come through. Suddenly the door opened and I shot behind the closest pillar and hid there. As I stood there I listened carefully. Light, purposeful steps as they approached me. I slipped around the other side of the pillar as the person walked by, probably a guard. Shit. I'd have to get rid of them before they could alert the others. Pulling the dagger from my belt I turned around the pillar and stopped when I saw a familiar figure. The Divine. My heart leapt in my throat, I certainly hadn't expected her to be here. What the Void was this? Why would she check out her own Treasury? She must've heard me because she turned to me as I quickly sheathed the dagger.
"Oh, hello there." Her large intelligent eyes watched me with kindness and caution, but her tone sounded so sincere.
"Uh, hi…Your Perfection, Ma'am." I murmured awkwardly as she eyed me with a soft smile.
"You seem to know who I am, but who are you my Dear?" I shook my head and looked at the ceiling again calculating my options. I'd never make it off the grounds if she raised an alarm. "I see, maybe in due time you will tell me?" I nodded quickly feeling my own fear and confusion pounding through my veins. Why was she talking to me? I turned on my heel, but stopped. Why hasn't she raised an alarm? I'm sure she knows what I was about to do. I looked over my shoulder at her and pulled my lips into a tight frown.
"Look if you're going to arrest me, can you just do it already?" I groaned as I held out my wrists, wishing she would just get it over with. She however made no move towards me or to call the guards. She just stood the patiently. I dropped my wrists and stared at her twitching a little at the gaze she was giving me. Ugh, she was making me itchy just being around her. She patiently began speaking again and I couldn't help but listen to her calm voice.
"Can I tell you a story?" My eyes widened in shock, what the Void was wrong with this woman? "It's about a rock and a peddler." I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her. No matter what I said she was going to tell this damned story. "There was once a peddler who went from town to town selling goods and buying them through other merchants. Through one town he came to he found a merchant selling gems other assortments. Now the peddler was an intelligent man and he searched through the gems and found a rock that was not particularly beautiful, but instead rather ordinary. He bought it and kept it with him; cleaning it and taking care of it. One day while he was traveling a young boy asked if he could see the rock. The Peddler agreed and handed the boy the stone and he inspected it the way all children do and asked the Peddler why he had a rock among his collection of beautiful items. The Peddler told him that he believed it was more than just a rock. The boy didn't understand this, but as he handed the stone back to the Peddler it fell from his hands and fell to the ground cracking the rock open as it hit the pebbled walkway. They both looked at the rock and they were both amazed." She stopped and my eyes widened at her and held out my hands for her to continue. She smirked at my reaction.
"Well? What was in the rock?!" She chuckled lightly and gave me a warm look.
"Inside this rock was the most beautiful gem they'd ever seen in their lives. No one had seen such a beautiful crystal before." She finished her story and I stared at her blankly where was she going with this?
"This….isn't that gem right?" I murmured as I pulled the gem out of my knapsack and I heard her heartily chuckle,
"No, my dear, merely a story." I exhaled heavily and dropped the hand that was holding the jewel. "But, the story does have significance here. I see great potential in you, and I know a lost soul when I see one.
"Oh, no I know what this is. That story, you're trying to make it about me. You're a sneaky one, Divine." I glared poignantly at her, but she brushed it off her smile never wavering. "Thank you for not calling the guards on me, but I should be…going…" I started to back away and she nodded to me with the same smile.
"Of course. Don't stay on my account." She started, and part of me just knew she had something else to say, but I turned to leave anyway stopping when I heard her speak up again. "The jewel you took, you can have it. It will be of good value, and you will want for nothing for a while. But, what happens when that runs out? Find another jewel to steal?" She pointed towards my knapsack, "You can steal that jewel or you can take what I offer you." I turned back to her, my interest peaked as she continued. "Work for me. You are a promising thief, and I am currently looking for a woman of your talents. I believe you could be someone great just…with the right guidance. You will never have to run again, and you will be protected." My heart was slamming in my chest and I stared at her in confusion once again. That seemed to be the theme of my features today.
"You'd do that? For me?" My voice cracked, "B-But, I stole from you!" I almost cried out and she merely smiled calmly at me. Well at least now I know why they called her 'Divine'.
"Yes, and I forgive you for that. I believe the Maker brought you here so that I could help you. He has a plan for us all, and he may have put you among this path to do great things in his name." I was in awe of her, she was forgiving me and taking me in? I felt my heart leap into my throat making it hard to breath. "I will however need that jewel back though." She said with an amused tone and I nodded quickly as I took the jewel from my knapsack. The choice playing over in my head once again. Hesitantly I placed it back on the pedestal and gave her a nervous smile.
"Alright." I said to her and gave her a short smile, "When do I start?" The Divine smiled and waved her arm at me for me to follow her. I followed her out of the Treasury and – The world started to fall away as blinding white pain splintering through me forcing the memory to slip away. I felt a scream rip through my throat in agony. Dear Maker what fresh Void is this? The pain erupting through my right arm made my eyes flash open. Catching a mere glimpse of my arm I gasped at the sight. My right arm was engulfed in a green light. The same green light from when I found the man. I slammed my eyes closed again as I felt another scream tear a path through me, yet another wave of pain rolled over me. My whole body felt like a flock of druffalo were trampling over top of me.
"Dear Maker make it stop." I grunted a prayer in pain through gritted teeth. The pain stopped for a moment only to come back in another wave. I cried out again writhing as it coursed through me wracking me to the core. A cry beside me also sounded off and my eyes snapped open towards the person. It was the man from the Temple! I gasped and went to grab him, but noticed my hands were shackled. Staring at them incredulously at my bound hands, when had that happened? I saw a green aura emanating from my skin once again and I braced myself for the pain that was sure to come. His hand also lit up with a crackle. He cried out in pain making me jump. But I was soon in the same amount of pain he was in. Biting back a scream I dug my fingernails into my palms. Makers Balls it hurt so bad. I grunted as I bit my cheek to hold in scream that was itching to come out. It went away almost immediately and he relaxed as his hand lost the bright green energy at the same time my body did. His eyes turned to me and I gave him a short smile. He stared at me for a moment before a flash of familiarity cross his eyes. He looked as if he were about to speak, but someone cut him off.
"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you both right now?" My heart almost stopped at the sound of the voice. I know that voice, or at least knew that voice. I just couldn't place it until I looked up and saw the face I didn't think I'd see again.
"Casandra?" I asked my mouth dropping open. I didn't know her very well, but I remember her perched as the Divine's right hand. What was she doing here? How'd she get here? She turned her angry eye on me and I instantly felt small before her. She was incredibly intimidating when she wanted to be.
"Thedran." She growled, "How could you do this? Divine Justinia took you in! How could you murder her!?" I stared back at her so confused that I couldn't even speak. She however took it for guilt and picked me up by my shirt collar while snarling. "Answer me!" I glared at her,
"It wasn't me, Cassandra." My words were like a smack in the face and she dropped me at a bruising force. I grunted, but never moved my eyes away from hers. "But, I wouldn't expect you to believe me anyway." I broke eye contact with her and looked over at the man and noticed he had passed out again. I groaned inwardly and looked back up at her.
"Why would I? You have never given me any reason to trust you!" She ground out between clenched teeth. She was seething angry and my cool demeanor was only making it worse.
"Enough Cassandra." My eyes widened as I heard another familiar voice and Leliana stepped out of the darkness.
"Damn it Leliana you've been here the entire damn time and you let her interrogate me?" I reprimanded her, but she didn't smile and I felt my spirits drop completely. "Ah, shit not you too." I dropped my head and looked at my hands, "Leliana we're friends for Maker's Sake, you've known me ever since the Divine found me!" I looked back up at her, pleading her with my eyes, and all I saw in her face was pain.
"Quinn, I'm sorry, but we can't be too careful with this. Prove your innocence to us. Please." Leliana's voice was emotionless and that scared me. I understood of course, but it still hurt to be on the receiving end of it for once.
"Explain this." I heard Cassandra hiss behind me as she pulled my arm up and got close to my face. I looked down at it as it flashed up at me. Where had I gotten this? Where did it come from? I tried so hard to think back on it, but it was like my memory was wiped past when I went to go find the Divine.
"I can't." I said dejectedly as I stared down at the ground. Cassandra scoffed, disgusted at my answer. I glared up at her, "Look if I knew where this came from I'd tell you! The Divine was like a mother to me. I'd never hurt her!" Cassandra backed away and dropped her eyes to the floor the sincerity in my voice hopefully changing her mind. My eyes squinted at her and I shook my head, "But, you know that. Don't you? Just looking for someone to blame, huh?" Her eyes snapped up to mine and a look of disgust crossed her face, but before she could say anything in retort Leliana spoke up.
"What were you doing at the Conclave?" I felt my breathe hitch a little in my throat as her words stung me. My heart started to pound in my chest as I remembered the last time I saw the woman that treated me like one of her own.
"The Divine hired me for another job, I was to steal plans for an assassination attempt of the Grand Enchanter Yvette from the Denerim Circle. The Divine believed they'd be there to kill her publicly, and I was to keep it very quiet. Steal the plans, find the assassin, kill them and expose the person involved. It was worse than we both thought, it was the Knight-Commander Jorgens plans to kill her there and blame it on an apostate group that would also be there. The assassin was one of the apostates and I took care of him before anything could be fulfilled and blackmailed the Knight-Commander so that he couldn't pose a threat anymore." I sighed and looked around the room and then to the man again, still unconscious. "The last thing I remember is going to go find the Divine in her throne room and then my memory just…stops. I can't explain why, it just does." They both looked at me now and Leliana nodded with a short smile.
"Alright. Cassandra take her shackles off. The Divine discussed this exact plan with me before sending me here to find you." She said to Cassandra who turned to me and bent down and took my shackles off. I rubbed my raw wrists as the shackles clanged to the ground. Looking up at her she gave me a hardened look and turned away looking at Leliana.
"You deal with her. I will stay until the other prisoner awakes." I rolled my eyes at Cassandra, ever the grump. I held in the chuckle that threatened to escape my lips at my own joke. I stood a bit wobbly and gripped the wall for some sort of balance. Maker's balls I hurt so badly. I stumbled as Leliana waved for me to follow her. I looked back at the man still passed out on the floor his hands still bound. I didn't want to leave him. I couldn't. He needed my protection. I looked back up at Cassandra and Leliana and then back at the man shaking my head lightly.
"I can't leave him. There was something or someone in the green light he came out of. It told me to protect him. And for some reason I can't shake the feeling that it might be the reason I survived the explosion." They both eyed each other for a short moment and Cassandra spoke up.
"He will be safe here with me, but if you truly want to protect him then go ahead of us with Leliana to the forward camp and clear a path through the demons. If you do that, I promise I will bring him to you safely." My eyes turned to slits looking for any trace of a lie, but found none. Looking at Leliana I nodded,
"All right. I'll go with you. But, if you don't keep your end of the bargain, so help me Cassandra your ass is mine." She nodded as she steeled herself up and I nodded back and walked next to Leliana out of the dungeon we'd been placed in. She opened the door and my eyes burned from the sudden exposure to the light. Grimacing at the blistering cold air that rushed past me I opened my eyes and stared at the scenery around us. But, everything had a greenish glow to it, and in my confusion I looked up at the same moment my hand started to burn and ache once again. This time it started at my fingertips and spread out through my arm bringing me to my knees as I cradled the limb.
"The Breach. It showed up when the Conclave exploded. It's expanding and so is your mark. It's killing you Quinn. I'm so sorry. The only way to save your life and the Prisoners is to close it." Relaxing as the pain passed I held my arm, cradling it so just in case it decided to act up again. Leliana gave me her hand and I took it hoisting myself up to my feet. "There's an elf, Solas is his name. The mark you and the other prisoner have he thinks it might be able to seal it, but your mark is different. He's not sure why or how, but it is. He wants to test it, but we need a rift for that. I know where one is if you'd like to head there now." I looked down at my hand once more and nodded to her,
"Yes, let's go. But, I will need some weapons first." She nodded to me with a rare friendly smile and we moved to a nearby tent. As we walked on I noticed all sorts of people watching as we passed, and all looked pissed that I was breathing. Looking back at them I felt slightly worried, but I knew that with Leliana standing there no one would make a move. "Leliana why are they all staring at me like they want me to burst into flames on spot?" She looked towards them and then back at me with a sigh.
"They believe you killed the Most Holy. They all want you dead." She said stoically as we walked making me groan,
"Well isn't that just peachy?" I grumbled making her let out a short chuckle and an insanely small smirk. She showed me to the tent that had an assortment of chests with armor and weapons. Bows lying about with quivers piled on top of each other all half-hazard. I looked into the nearest chest and found a pair of daggers and I stuffed them into my belt. The familiar feeling of them making me smile. I turned around to her and saw her reach for a bow and quiver already stuffed to the brim with arrows. "Are you ready to go?" She grinned and nodded towards the exit and we were off. The first swarm of Demons that we came upon were slightly difficult to deal with, but not too bad. I felt the adrenaline pump through me faster and faster as we fought through them. My blades moved in quick flashes as I quickly took out all the surrounding Demons, Leliana picking off the ones on the edge of the path. We moved on through cutting a path through the demon infested woods. I felt alive. My blood thrumming in my veins as the Demons evaporated one by one in front of me.
The last patch of Demons were right at the wood line and the forward camp was just beyond them. They had the gate closed and I looked to Leliana who already had her bow drawn. I pulled my daggers in front preparing for the battle and with a nod from Leliana I shot off into the battle. I grinned as I sliced through the first demon, a wisp I believe, as I flipped past an assault of claws from another demon. I twisted my body bringing down the blades effectively sinking them into the demons form. It sunk into the ground with a scream of agony. Looking up I was about to attack another, but watched as Leliana's arrow sunk into its body mere centimeters from my face. Turning to her briefly I saw her smirk and I rolled my eyes. "That was very close, Leli!" I called out a bit of laughter in my voice as I twisted the blade in my hand and dug it into the closest demons distorted features and over the cries of its demise I heard her chuckle back,
"I can make it closer if that is what you want." She chortled and I rolled my eyes as I rushed another demon. Calling out as I drove my dagger deep into the monstrous creatures chest.
"No, thanks. I'm good!" I called back and cartwheeled around a wraith and drove the dagger into its side and twisted it angrily. Leliana picked off the last of the wisps and I looked around as I stepped over the gooey remains of one of the demons my lip twitching with disgust. So gross. We moved past the fallen remains of what used to be a demon horde and into the camp. I was shocked when the first thing I saw were people staring at me and Leliana in awe. I think I preferred the people back in Haven. Leliana noticed my unease and she grinned,
"Too much attention for your taste, Angel of Dumonde?" I laughed at the reminder of one of the titles I'd been given while under the command of Divine Justinia and she seemed to smile as well.
"Me? Oh, Never." I mused and she gave me a smirk which only lasted a manner of seconds before her face changed completely donning on one of a diplomat. I eyed her curiously wondering what had made her switch so quickly. I followed her line of sight and I saw the man from earlier. Taking a moment to marvel at him as we walked I noticed his short blonde hair creating a halo around him, his bulging muscles concealed under his arm as they worked at the parchment underneath his gloved hands. He stared pensively down at the map marking something with a quill making it impossible for me to see his face. Swallowing a smile, I continued walked with Leliana towards him, but he didn't seem to notice us yet.
"Commander." Leliana said in her authoritative voice and I watched as his head snapped up to her and then to me. His eyes lingered for a moment and the air seemed to be useless in my lungs as those beautiful honey eyes connected with mine. Breathtaking. I suddenly felt my cheeks heat us and I looked away breaking the eye contact before he could notice. What the Void was that? Blushing like some little Chantry girl? I scolded myself, finding sudden interest in the ground.
"Leliana, I've mapped out a path to the Temple, there is a lot of resistance on the path that goes directly to the Temple. The mountain path however is rather quiet which is peculiar…" He trailed off as he stared down at the map. Holy Maker, his voice was ever so wonderful too. Mused that little annoying voice in my head again and I inwardly groaned. I balled my fists and looked at the map too. It had a road leading up to the Conclave and another leading through a mountain passage. On these routes there were a series of markings placed on it as well as a token of some sorts. I looked at Leliana questioningly as she pointed at an 'X' marked in the middle of the path straight to the Breach.
"There is a rift there that is where we can test out your mark." Nodding at her words, I looked back down at my hand to where the mark would be and grimaced. I hope it works. I looked back up at Leliana and gave her a confident smile.
"All right, we will try out this Solas's idea, I cannot promise anything. But, I'll try. Hopefully if I can't that man can." I told her and she gave me a nod lightly squeezing my shoulder lightly.
"That is all we can ask for, my friend. Now, we must wait for Cassandra to meet us here with the Prisoner and her team." I gave a short nod my hands finding my best and roaming them softly over the handles of my blades bringing myself some comfort. I was Leliana's friend, but how far would that go if I couldn't seal the rifts?
"Ah, Sister Leliana, Commander, and…" I heard a voice approaching from behind us and I turned to it and heard the hiss of his voice when he regarded me, "Murderer." I felt a tight glare form on my face as I studied the small man. He was a cleric whomever he was. His snotty behavior and big hat gave that one away. He had a strange looking goatee and sunken in eyes that looked almost black as they turned to me. I remembered this man from somewhere, quickly running through my catalog of names and people, but I couldn't think of his name.
"Chancellor Roderick." Leliana spoke evenly and informatively as if she knew I was trying to remember him. The Chancellor moved his eyes to Leliana who stood a bit straighter.
"Why is she still here?! I want her incarcerated for her crimes against the Most Holy!" When Leliana didn't budge, he glared at her. "Fine." He muttered through gritted teeth as he snapped his fingers. Quickly, a pair of his guards came up and moved towards me shackles ready in the one on the lefts hands. I gripped my daggers harshly ready to attack, but stopped when I saw a pair of broad shoulder covered by a bunch of feathers and a fine blonde haired head catching the sunlight once again.
"Back down soldiers, that's an order." He boomed and the soldiers backed down immediately and moved back to their posts. I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. "And you Chancellor, you have no say in the matter go back to your tent. Someone will come and collect you when you are needed." I leaned from behind the Commander giving the Chancellor a smirk and a wave. The Chancellor's face turned the same color as his hat as he stomped away. Watching his retreating form made me chuckle lightly. The Commander let go of the pommel and huffed as he drug a hand through his soft looking blonde hair. I blew out a whistle as he turned to me and gave him a wide grin.
"Remind me to stick around you more often." He raised an eye brow at me and as I chuckled. "'You'll be collected when you're needed'," Mimicking his deep voice and crossed my arms all authoritatively. "That was impressive. Shut him up too, which is the best part." His lips curled up into a smile briefly before coughing and going back around the table. Suddenly, a thunderous sound erupted around us and my hand flared up. I heard a cry of pain punch from my lungs as my arm screamed at me. I grabbed at it and held it from their sight as I bit my lip as screwed my eyes shut. "Shit that smarts." I grunted as it finally subsided and I exhaled heavily. Maker I needed to get to that Breach now, for both me and the man. I cast my eyes towards the ground. "Leliana, I need to make for that rift now. This is getting worse, I can feel it. I bet that man's mark is getting worse as well, and I'm not going to let him die if I can do something about it. Just point me in the right direction and I'll take care of it myself." I said as I let go of my arm, but didn't hear a word from either one of them. I shot a look up at Leliana first and then at the Commander. "Well?" Leliana cautiously held her hand out to the front gate.
"Quinn you cannot go out there alone and I have to wait for Cassandra and the prisoner. I'm sure if you wait everything will be fine-"I shook my head silencing her with a glare, slamming my hands onto the table.
"You don't know that! Every moment I spend wasting away on talking he's one step closer to dying and so am I. And I'm not dying yet, I have things to do." I stated with a huff and looked at the Commander. "So, Blondie give me a direction." I ordered as I turned my eyes to the Commander and he looked at me for a moment before nodding.
"I'll do you one better. I will go with you." A bit taken aback by his willingness I stumbled for words, but instead of that I simply nodded to him. His lips quirked up in the smallest of ways in the corner of his mouth that same sinful scar quirking delightfully making me smile back before he turned around. He headed off and Leliana looked at me questioningly, but didn't say anything for a moment. I gave her a squeeze on her arm and she gave me a quick smile.
"Quinn, I do not agree with this. You should wait for Cassandra." I shook my head as we started to walk towards the front gate and I turned to her. I placed my hands on her shoulders.
"Leliana you need to have some faith in me. Maker's Breathe I'm a big girl and I'm more than capable of taking out a few demons." She didn't look convinced and I rolled my eyes at her silliness.
"I know you are. But, I don't want to lose another friend, and if you can close the rifts and the Breach, we need you." Understanding her point I nodded to her and gave her a signature smirk as I pushed back a couple of strands that had fallen into face.
"Then, I'll take special care to not die. Besides apparently I'm in good hands. I've got Mr. Tall, Blonde and Handsome with me." I said with a soft smirk and her eyes flicked over my shoulder an amused look crossing her hardened features and I felt my blood turn to ice in my veins. "Ah shite, he's right behind me isn't he?" She nodded with that same expression and looked as if she were biting back a laugh.
"Yes, well Mr. Tall, Blonde and Handsome is ready to go whenever you are." A blush tainted my cheeks, but felt a chuckle bubble up and I clapped a hand over my mouth to hold it in. Composing myself only for a moment I turned to him with a bright smile.
"Well alright then. Let's go." I said with mirth as I passed him tapping his breastplate with the flat of palm. He chuckled as I did and followed suit. His metal armor clinking ever so slightly as we walked out of the gate and onto the icy road cluttered with burns and rubble.