Hey everyone! So, I apologize deeply for not updating sooner, Finals and all that junk ;) But, thank you all so much for sticking with me, you guys are legends and I love you all!
We walked up the stairs to the Chantry, the Herald and I both stopping for a moment as our palms sparked. I looked to him and he to me as we strode inside. I paused however my blades flicking from their sheaths as I watched demons pour out from a large rift in the middle of the room. A tall man with black hair swung his magic staff at a demon sending it in small pieces into the Fade. He looked towards us, noticing our presence and took a breath.
"Good. You're finally here. Now, help me close this, would you?" He asked, his black mustache moving up and down as he spoke. He had a familiar accent, the same as Alexius and Felix's. He's Tevinter too. I looked over his clothing as well, definitely Tevinter. I grinned however when I saw a couple of demons fall from the Fade.I ran forward slicing through the demons. The Tevinter man watched me as I flipped over a demon and drove my blades through its head and ripped them out. An appreciative look crossed his eyes and he nodded. He sent forward lightning at another monster that crawled from the Fade before I swept through and sliced across the neck of the creature. They were moving faster than normal and I noticed they were standing in a golden ring. Just like before. I turned to see the Herald drive his sword through a demon as Bull and Varric took care of another as the Herald drove his blade through the chest of a whisp. Cassandra looked to the Herald as she kicked a demon off her blade and nodded. I jolted, however, as the rift above me called to my hand. The pull of it making my hand snap forward, a heat pulsing from my palm making it glow brightly from underneath the glove. Tendrils of pain wound up my arm and I bit my lip as I pulled my arm back down. Liam ran up to me and snapped his hand up to the rift and closed it with a clap. I felt the Fade release me and I took a deep breath noticing the black haired man staring at me. The glow from my palm went away, not that it was very noticeable from underneath the glove. I nodded to the Herald as he touched my shoulder.
"I'm fine. It just stung." I reassured trying to make the worry leave his eyes.
"Fascinating. How does that work, exactly?" The raven haired man asked as he approached us. I looked to the Herald as we turned towards the man who chuckled at us. "You don't even know, do you? You just wiggle your fingers, and boom! Rift closes." He added with an interested tone. I placed my hands on my hips and shifted my weight.
"Who are you?" I asked as I looked him over. He snapped his fingers and grinned at me.
"Ah. Getting ahead of myself again I see. Dorian of House Pavus, most recently of Minrathous. How do you do?" He greeted and I felt a smile twitch my lips, but I swallowed it as he continued. "Magister Alexius was once my mentor. So my assistance could be valuable as I'm sure you can imagine." He added with a smirk.
"Are you a Magister?" Trevelyan asked and I felt my pulse speed up a bit in apprehension. He could be...he has the look to him. But, I knew Magister's and this man didn't seem like one.
"All right. Let's say this once. I'm a mage from Tevinter, but not a member of the Magisterium. I know southerners use the terms interchangeably, but that only makes you sound like barbarians." Dorian replied saucily making a smirk spread across my lips.
"I like him. He's sassy." I murmured to the Herald to which Dorian turned his head towards me. Inspecting me for a moment as Trevelyan grumbled.
"Are you the one who sent that note, then?" Trevelyan asked and I folded my arms over my chest waiting for the mysterious Dorian to respond.
"I am. Someone had to warn you, after all. Look, you must know there's danger. That should be obvious even without the note." He replied as he looked from me to the Herald. "Let's start with Alexius claiming the allegiance of the mage rebels from under you. As if by magic, yes? Which is exactly right. To reach Redcliffe before the Inquisition, Alexius distorted time itself." Dorian finished and I felt my eyebrows lift.
"I hope that is less dangerous than it sounds." Trevelyan muttered not sounding very excited about this.
"More." Dorian corrected and from behind me I heard Cassandra scoff quietly.
"Well, sounds like a Tuesday." I interjected with a smirk. Trevelyan and Dorian both looked to me with bemused smiles.
"The rift you closed here? You saw how it twisted time around itself, sped some things up and slowed others down. Soon there will be more like it, and they'll appear further and further away from Redcliffe. The magic Alexius is using is wildly unstable, and it's unraveling the world." Dorian added with a morbid look to both of us.
"You're asking me to take a lot of faith." Trevelyan said and I frowned at him before looking to Dorian again.
"I know what I'm talking about. I helped develop this magic. When I was still his apprentice, it was pure theory. Alexius could never get it to work. What I don't understand is why he's doing it? Ripping time to shreds just to gain a few hundred lackeys?" He questioned as he shifted his weight and ran a finger along his mustache. From the corner of the room though, I noticed someone walk in. I stiffened, but relaxed when I realized who it was.
"He didn't do it for them." Felix filled in as he moved out of the darkness. Dorian looked over at him and nodded.
"Took you long enough. Is he getting suspicious?" Dorian asked in a quieter tone. I looked between them and lifted a hand to my chin. Friend's maybe? They seem very familiar with each other.
"No, but I shouldn't have played the illness card. I thought he'd be fussing over me all day." Felix paused and looked over at Trevelyan and I. "My Father's joined a cult. Tevinter supremacists, they call themselves Venatori. And I can tell you one thing: whatever he's done for them, he's done to get to you." Felix said and I patted the Herald on the shoulder with a smirk.
"Looks like you have an admirer." I said cheekily to which he glared half heartedly at me for.
"And yet somehow I'm less than flattered." He grumbled towards me and I grinned as he looked back towards Dorian. "Do you have any suggestions?" He asked and I too waited for Dorian's answer.
"You know you're his target. Expecting the trap is the first step in turning it to your advantage. I can't stay in Redcliffe. Alexis does not know I'm here and I want to keep it that way for now. But, whenever you're ready to deal with him. I want to be there. I'll be in touch." Dorian said before walking off. He turned slightly and looked towards Felix next to me. "Oh and Felix, try not to get yourself killed." He said, his eyes falling on me before he left out of a back door of the Chantry.
"There are worse things than dying Dorian." Felix replied as the door shut behind his friend.
"Well this is exciting. I've never witnessed time magic before this." I said as I placed my hands on my hips and grinned towards the Herald.
"You have a very strange kind of optimism." He replied with a slightly amused tone.
We traveled back to the Crossroad village taking a detour through the woods. I sat by the fire, my hand running through my hair as I thought over the day. It had been late when we left Redcliffe and by the time we got here it was already dark. Varric sat next to me looking to the circle of curious townsfolk surrounding him. Telling some fanatical tale about a maid named Fran. Nothing I hadn't heard a thousand times. My eyes drifted over to the entrance where Cassandra had left to do a sweep of the area, but she'd left about thirty minutes ago.
"Is Cassandra back yet?" The Herald asked from over my shoulder. I looked back at him and shook my head. "Do you think something happened? This isn't like her." He replied and I shrugged as I looked towards the woods.
"Maybe she's just slow." I replied eliciting a worried frown from him. I sighed and nodded, "Ugh, fine. I'll go look for her." I huffed and he joined me.
"I'll come with you." He said and I nodded as we walked out of the small town. I kept my footsteps light as I followed the path that it appeared Cassandra took. Cassandra had very heavy and frumpy footsteps. If something did happen to her I wasn't surprised, by the look of her footsteps she was practically lumbering around like a bull. Quietly I moved along the path with the Herald and noticed the tracks stopped. "What's wrong? Why have we stopped?" He asked and I frowned as I looked around, but stiffened as I noticed other tracks around hers. Ambush. Where her footsteps stopped I saw a few broken branches. Sign of struggle. Someone took her, or from the looks of it a lot of someone's. I squatted down and ran my fingers along the ground where liquid was splattered.
"Blood." I muttered and from behind me the Heralds panic was so severe it was almost palpable.
"Blood?! Is it hers?!" He asked and I grimaced as I stood and looked around.
"I'm not sure. It's too little to be fatal, but whoever got injured, they might've left a trail." I said and he nodded as he moved with me. This is just great. Way to go Cassandra. I walked along the road looking for a blood trail and noticed drips every once in a while. The footsteps also helped, but they were getting lighter and lighter as we went on. These guys were good. Suddenly I heard a snap from my right and spun on my heels, my dagger drawn. The Herald flinched as he looked over at me and then down at his foot.
"Sorry." He whispered and my daggers dropped. Seriously? I sheathed them again and looked back at the path shaking my head. He crunched another and I spun on him and held up my hand.
"You need to be quieter. If the people who took Cassandra are still around they could hear us." I whispered as I looked to him. He nodded and frowned.
"I'm sorry. I'll try to be quiet." He said as he looked away. Be nice, Varric's words chastised me in my mind. I sighed and placed a hand on my hip.
"Look, when you step just start with your heel and roll onto the ball of your foot and try to keep your steps light. Imagine you're walking on glass." I instructed to which he stared for a moment before nodding. I flipped up my hood and walked forward again hearing the Herald move somewhat quietly behind me. We walked all the way down the road and further past the bandits we'd taken care of last time we were here. I took off my hood and moved into the camp with the Herald. A scout was speaking heatedly with another as we walked in.
"I'm telling you something is wrong. Lisette is not back yet. She's never been late for her shift change. Not once. What if she's been mauled by a bear or...or kidnapped or something?" The one scout said while the other shook his head.
"That is a bit extreme. She might've just gone too far and is on her way back. Protocol is that we wait a total of 24 hours before we can file a missing person's report." The other scout said from behind a desk. His eyes suddenly drew to us and he stood immediately. "My Lord Herald, Lady Protector. What are you both doing here?" He asked quickly and I looked to the scout who was staring off angrily.
"The woman you were talking about, when did she go missing?" I asked and the man looked back at the other scout before looking back to me.
"I don't know. The last time I saw her was around 20 minutes ago." He said and I nodded and looked over towards the Herald.
"Around the same time." I told him and he nodded as he stepped forward.
"Can you show us where she went missing?" He asked and the scout nodded and we walked into the clearing and past the rocks. He pointed to a tree with an 'x' marked on it and nodded.
"That's her post. She marked it so she wouldn't forget. She's always on time and she doesn't leave her post ever." He said and I nodded not yet turning to him. I needed to follow her tracks and- "I-I'm not sure if this will help, but. I found this letter on one of the dead bandits." The Herald took the letter and I read it over his shoulder. Orders. To hold the Hinterland position next to the Crossroads village. The man looked to me and nodded. "The Mercenaries Fortress is the southwest from here. Or so it says in the letter." The man stated and I looked over towards the road leading southwest.
"Alright. We'll find your friend." I promised and looked towards the Herald who nodded to me.
"Write a letter to the Commander that The Lady Protector and I-"
"Wait, wait. I don't think this is something that the Commander would be very happy about if he found out. He would ridicule me for months and I don't think I could take that man's sassy yet oddly deadpanned version of scrutiny." I said and the Herald stopped before nodding again.
"Nevermind. Forget that letter. Come on Quinn." He ordered and I nodded with a smile. We walked quietly for a while before I looked over at him.
"You know. You're actually taking this quite well. Not your first rescue?" I asked and he looked over at me with a tiny smile.
"I look calm? I suppose that's good." He said mostly to himself. "In truth, I'm freaking out. How could I have let this happen?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.
"Cassandra getting caught is not your fault. If you'd personally delivered her to the Mercs...well then it would be your fault." I replied and he looked over at me for a long moment.
"True…i guess I'm not all too worried because you're here. You have a plan to get her out, right?" He asked and I rubbed the back of my head before shaking it.
"Nope. In truth I don't really plan." I said and he looked at me wide eyed.
"You...what?" He asked slightly louder than I wanted.
"That's Leli and Cullen's thing. Not mine. I come up with things on the fly and then make a plan through that. But I don't plan out every step. It's tedious and I hate it." I replied to which he stared at me wide eyed for.
"Maker we're going to die." He said and I glared at him.
"Hey! Have some faith in your Protector. I've gotten you this far haven't I?" I asked and he nodded reluctantly as we kept going. I stopped however briefly when I noticed a bird fly solo above the tree line. A messenger bird? It certainly looked like one and it was headed back towards Haven. I shook it from my thoughts as we walked towards the front of the fortress and I pulled Trevelyan back behind some trees and a large bush. Two men stood at the front of the gate leading across the bridge. I needed to take them out first, but when I get inside there's no telling how many could be in there. There could be hundreds. I touched Trevelyan shoulder and nodded. "I'm going to get myself captured." I told him as he stared at me blankly.
"You are?-what? Why?" He asked and I held up a finger to my lips.
"It's the only way to find out where Cassandra is without a bunch of effort. I'm willing to bet you a silver that they'll put me in the same cell. However, I need you to stay here. I can't have you getting captured as well. Do you understand?" I asked and he frowned at me.
"I can't just let you waltz in there not knowing what you'll face. They could kill you!" He said in a hushed tone. I nodded in a nonchalant way.
"Kill me? Nah, it's impossible." I said jokingly and he looked me over for any sign of faking but found none. "Look, just promise me you'll keep your head down." I told him but he shook his head looking down at me with a scorning gaze.
"I'm not a child. I can handle myself." He grumbled at me and I paused for a moment as I looked up at him. I softened my eyes and placed my hand on his forearm.
"Liam, I know you can handle yourself. It's just that I'm an assassin, I've trained my whole life to do jobs like this. This is what I do best, so let me do it." I said and he frowned as he looked away.
"I don't like this." He said and I smiled at him.
"You don't have to like it. Oh, and hold these for me." I replied as I handed him my daggers before I pulled my hair down and shook it out.
"What? What will you use then?!" He asked surprised. I rolled my eyes, but smiled encouragingly at him.
"I'm sure they have weapons inside. I'm well versed in most. Plus I've got other weapons." I said and he frowned as he crossed his arms.
"I really don't like this." He grumbled as I mussed up my hair slightly and sighed. I hate doing this. I staggered out in front of the two men guarding the post. I looked around and moved in towards them. The two men jerked when they noticed me and I wobbled trying to act drunk.
"What're you doin' out 'ere? Yer not allowed to be 'ere." One of them men said as I walked forward and pouted as I looked around.
"Oh no. I was lookingfer my friend, Terrance." I replied as I looked around. "We were supposed to meet here in secret." I whispered loudly to them. "But he seems to be late." I pouted, placing my hands on my hips.
"Sorry miss no one by that-" The other man suddenly elbowed him in the gut and spoke up. I pretended not to see as I hummed to myself and looked around like a stupid, drunken girl.
"What he means miss is tha' he's right inside. Waitin' for ya." The man said and excitedly I clapped my hands together.
"Oh, thankyou, kind gentlemen. Would you be sookind as to bringhim here?" I slurred, internally laughing at the sly look they gave each other.
"Actually miss he planned somethin' for ya. Wanted us to bring ya to 'im." The one on the right said and felt my skin crawl, but played it off.
"Oh!...Wellokay." I slurred and let out a giggle before walking off with them as they held out their hands. I looked behind me and saw Trevelyan peeking from around the corner.
"What's your name miss?" The one on my left asked and I grinned.
"Quinn." I replied and they nodded.
"Well miss Quinn, he's just this way." They said as they pulled me along towards the lower area of the fortress. I smirked at the thought. Cassandra was probably in the dungeon. Idiots. My eyes slid towards the wall where a set of keys hung and I grinned as I pretended to trip and hit the wall. Sliding the keys into my pocket I groaned, but giggled as they pulled me back up in between them. "Careful there, don't want you getting hurt." The man murmured next to me before they pushed me into a cell. I stumbled clumsily before looking up at them with mock confusion.
"W-wait! Wait please?" I called out melodramatically as they shut the doors. They laughed and walked off and I held onto the bars. "Nooo, this isn't at all what I wanted." I added quietly and sarcastically as they left. I looked down at my hands with a grin. Their keys.
"Are you alright?" A woman asked from the corner and I turned to look towards her in the dim light. That's not Cassandra.
"I'm fine. Who are you?" I asked and she stood into the light. She was pale with black hair and high cheekbones. Her pointy ears sticking out from her hair. Dalish. I observed and she leant her head forward with a silent respectful nod.
"Lisette. I am a scout for the Inquisition." She said and I lifted an eyebrow at her. Nodding I looked at the bars.
"I know who you are. A friend of yours was looking for you." I said and noticed a faint blush appear on her cheeks. My eyes widened slightly at her bashfulness, but chose not to say anything.
"O-oh...was it Scout Allen?" She asked embarrassedly and I shrugged towards her.
"Didn't give a name." I replied before looking back towards the bars and sighed. "Do you know where the Seeker is? I was looking for her, but she seems to not be where I thought she was." I said and she walked forward.
"They just took her. Maybe 10 minutes ago." She said and I nodded letting out a groan of annoyance. She just couldn't make this easy for me, could she? Sighing again I took the keys I'd swiped from my pocket and unlocked the cell.
"Is there anyone else here?" I asked and she shook her head.
"Just me. There was a man here...but I think he might have...might have died." She said and I nodded as I opened the gate. "Are you with the Inquisition?" She asked and I nodded as I looked ahead for enemies.
"Quinn Thedran, at your service." I replied and her eyes widened as she scampered up next to me.
"You're the Lady Protector!" She practically yelled and I stuck my finger to my lips urgently.
"Yeah, I need you to be quiet. I cannot hear when you are yelling in my ear." I said as I walked forward. "Although I'm sure everyone could hear you." I grumbled as I walked through the long hallway and heard men coming our way. Great. I shoved her not unkindly into a dark corner and hid myself waiting for the men to approach.
"I swear to you I heard something." One man said and as they came round the corner. I waited as they walked out in front of me and moved from my spot. I moved behind the over on the left and snapped his neck. The other man turned with wide eyes as I grabbed his sword and ran him through. Grabbing them both I dragged them towards the corner I was at and hid them. Their slack bodies proving a bit difficult to move.
"Come on, and keep quiet." I ordered and she nodded with wide eyes as she moved to me. I crept through the darkness retracing the steps they'd taken to bring me down here and found the door. I held up my hand for her to stop and slowly opened the door and poked my head out. Nodding mutely I looked back at her and she moved out of the door behind me. I turned to her and pointed in the direction that I came in from. "Go down that hall and turn right. Run straight out of the fortress and don't look back. Get to the closest Inquisition camp and stay there." I ordered and her eyes widened.
"You're going to save her alone?! There are dozens of mercenaries here!" She reasoned loudly and I slapped my hand over her mouth.
"Maker's Breath could you be any louder?" I asked as I looked around her. She gave me an odd look before peering down at her shoes. "Look, there's no reason to freak out. I've got this." I replied confidently, but she didn't budge.
"No ma'am. I'm sorry I can't do that. I was told never to leave a man or woman behind. No single person could do this." She said strongly and I rolled my eyes.
"You underestimate my power." I replied like a dork before looking away. "But if you're so hell bent on not leaving someone behind. Think of it more as a strategic withdrawal on your part. I need to save Cassandra, which means I cannot also focus on you. Meaning if you get into trouble it's going to be significantly harder for me to get you out of it." I replied and she nodded affirmatively.
"I'll be on my best behavior and do whatever you say. But, I refuse to leave you here by yourself." She said and I clicked my tongue as I looked around. That sounds very familiar. It was still dark out so I would still have a very good advantage.
"Ugh, fine. You can come along. But, anything goes wrong you run, got it?" I asked and she nodded and I moved forward along the hallway. "Question...did the Commander teach you those things?" I asked quietly and she nodded fervently.
"Yes ma'am." She replied quietly for once before looking at me again. "How'd you know?" She asked and I rolled my eyes as I kept moving forward through the dark hallways.
"It was idealistic and irritatingly noble. It must've been him." I responded and the smile dropped from her face making me feel slightly bad for popping her pride bubble. "But...it's a good motto nonetheless. An honorable one." I added and she looked up at me and smiled. I looked back towards the hallway and slid two throwing knives from their pocket as we moved through the dark cautiously. I came to a stop and looked over to see two guards standing at the door facing away from us. Silently I threw both knives forward and. The girl stopped, her hand on her mouth. She looked horrified as her eyes moved up to me. Averting her eyes quickly she move forward hesitantly as if she were suddenly afraid of me. More guards turned the corner and I quickly dispatched them as the girl caught up to me. Looking left and right I nodded for her to go towards the left. Running along the hallway I looked beyond the balustrade and slid my daggers in place to scale the ladder. "Wait here for a moment while I check up here." I ordered and she shot me a worried and amazed gaze at the same time. It reminded me of a look Cullen gave me when I told him to push me across the frozen lake. Her pointed ears flattened slightly as she looked beyond me.
"Be safe. Please." She said making a string pluck in me. Why did it sound so much like worry? She didn't know me. I gave her a confident smile and shot her a two fingered salute as I climbed up the ladder. I got to the top of the ladder and I looked around, but saw no guards. It was silent, the air ducked from the room making standing in the middle of the room a tad unsettling. A slow smile came to my lips as my heart pumped adrenaline through my veins. Here we go. I ran forward silently using the shadows of the night to disappear and reappear through the fortress. Slipping my hood over my face I continued to pad down the hallways. As if on cue I heard a grunt of confusion. I slid quickly behind a wall as the man came around looking for me.
"I coulda sworn I heard something." He said and I grabbed his mouth as my hand came to the back of his neck.
"Where's your leader?" I asked and the man tried to turn his head, but I stopped him. He lifted a shaky finger and pointed down the hallway.
"The room with the balcony. H-He's in there." The man mumbled through my hand.
"And the Seeker is she in there too?" I asked and he was about to say something, but I cut him off. "A nod will suffice." He paused and nodded feverishly. Good. I pulled my arm around his neck and held it with my other arm. He gasped as he tried to claw at my hands, but he fell to his knees, his clawing growing weaker and weaker till he hit the floor. I nodded and pulled him into a corner and hid him. Moving along towards the room with a balcony I paused when I heard laughter coming from a door that was held ajar. I walked towards it, the light cascading out and into the hallway illuminating me slightly as I stood in the crack of the door trying to see what was going on.
"Those bitches don't know what's coming for 'em!" A voice from earlier said and I felt my lip twitch down into a scowl.
"Inquisition said they'll give us the ransom for the two girls. Be here in the morning to give us the money. Boss'll be so happy, maybe he'll let us nab some of those pretty townswomen." The other said and I fought the growl that rumbled in my throat.
"Inquisition thinks they can fuck with our money! We'll plough their women and send 'em back in pieces!" The man cheered and I pushed the door open and the laughter died down. They turned to me and the man with a mug still in his hand glared. "Whothe fuck're you?" He asked drunkenly as the other stood.
"It's that bitch from earlier! She's escaped!" He exclaimed and as quick as a whip I vaulted over the table and cracked my foot against his skull. The drunken one stood and tried to pull his sword, but I threw a knife and it embedded in his hand making him drop the blade. I grabbed the hair of the man across the table as he howled in pain and slammed it down into the table splintering the wood.
"Filthy pigs." I hissed as the man by my foot tries to get up. I delivered a kick to his chin and he fell backwards unconscious. I looked to the drunk as he laid groaning against the table. I looked over and saw a bowl of apples. Grinning maliciously to myself I got to work.
Once I was done I walked out of the room and took a bite out of an apple I'd picked up. Looking towards the hall again I waltzed forward as I took another bite out of the red apple. I opened a door quietly as I nonchalantly strolled in and saw a throne on the opposite side of the room made from some type of leather with antlers sticking out of random places. Rolling my eyes, ugh a mercenary with a superiority complex. I looked towards the balcony seeing a man standing next to it looking over his table. A map with red pins in it laid under his hand as he flipped a coin in his hand. I walked over to the throne and sat down in it. In a chest next to it I saw a red gleam and opened it to see a blade amongst other treasures. Its red glow calling to me as my hand reached out and grabbed the hilt. It felt good in my hands, a surge of power lighting my veins from the light, yet deadly blade. I spun it in my hand, nodding with an appreciative look and took another loud bite of my apple. His ears perked up and he turned quickly towards me.
"How'd you get in here?!" He asked a bit louder. I grinned as I took another bite.
"I walked." I replied shortly as I looked over at him lazily noticing the scowl lines on his face.
"And who are you?" He asked as he took a few steps forward, his hand on his axe. He was a rather large man with black armor that reflected the moon's light just at its peak over the mountains.
"I'm with the Inquisition. Didn't we tell you we'd be here in the morning?" I asked and he stiffened.
"And the ransom?" He asked as I took another bite. Swallowing, I wagged my finger at him.
"The Inquisition does not negotiate." I said and he snarled at me.
"Not even for The Lady Protector?" He asked and snapped his fingers. I looked towards the far door as men walked in from the next room dragging in Cassandra. "Behold, we have captured the great Quinn Thedran!" I looked Cassandra and then back to him and let out a rich laugh. I couldn't stop either, my abs hurting from how much I was laughing. "Wh-what are you laughing at?" He asked as my laughing subsided and I sat back up in the chair.
"Oh sweet Maker, that's too funny!" I laughed chuckled and stood pulling out my daggers. "Never mind. I don't want to spoil the surprise." I said as I looked towards Cassandra who was slightly conscious. Drugged probably. She didn't have any signs of injury. I looked back towards the leader and glared. "Now, let my friend go or I'll kill you all." I threatened hearing the Leader laugh.
"A small thing like you? Killing all of us? That's rich!" He laughed and his men started to laugh as well. I laughed along with them when suddenly the Leader stopped and glared. "Kill her." He hissed back I grinned and got ready. The men surrounded me only three of them, which was quite funny. Spinning the glowing dagger and a knife in my hands I saw the first man charge, followed by the second. I slid past the first and caught the blade of the second. He pushed against my blade, but I wheeled around behind him, releasing his blade and driving mine into the junction between his shoulder armor and upper arm. He cried out as I kicked him in the back sending him sprawling into his friend. The third man charged me and I flipped backwards through the air in front of him bringing my foot to his chin. From the collision his head snapped backwards and he collapsed. I grinned to myself as I landed and looked to the other two men on either side of me. They ran at me at the same time, both blades extended. Just as they got close I slid down into a split and rolled away. They ran each other through unable to stop as I bounded to my feet. I was about to turn when I heard the crack of a whip and my head snapped to the side. I turned my head back slowly towards the person holding the whip and touched my cheek. Blood ran down it from where the whip had grazed me. He whipped it at me again, but this time I held up my wrist and let it coil. With a yank I pulled the man forward and drove the glowing blade in between his ribs as he stumbled close. He released the whip and fell to the floor. Three down, all that's left is the Leader. Suddenly a ball rolled around near my feet. It released a smoke around me that was so thick I could taste it, like death and lilacs. I coughed and gasped for air as I threw myself from the gas. My limbs felt off and my lungs felt contracted. He laughed as I wheezed,
"You like that? Bought it off a man in Val Royeaux. A toxic gas that paralyzes the enemy and makes their breathing...very painful." He enlightened as he walked towards me. I tried to move away, but he was right. I was paralyzed in place on the floor. I looked up at him as he held his axe up and grinned maliciously. "You were a good opponent. I'll give you that." He said and brought the axe down when suddenly a figure came out of nowhere and toppled the Leader over. My eyes widened as I looked over and saw a girl getting up and backing away from the leader. She ran back towards me and tried to help me up.
"My Lady we must retreat! Can you walk?" She asked and I shook my head trying to force myself to speak.
"Get-out-of-here! He'll kill you-" I choked, but he was already moving forward. She ran towards him and held up a blade much too big for her. He easily disarmed her and chucked her away into a far wall. She crashed across the table and landed with a thud. "Lisette!" I cried and looked towards the Leader stalking forward towards her as she fought to stand. I forced my body to move, but it barely responded. He raised his axe and brought it down towards her. Panic set in me as she rolled away and kept rolling as he attacked. I pushed myself upwards as he brought the axe down again. In a crouched position I watched her roll again, but this time she moved into the far wall. Trapped. He raised the axe and was about to bring it down again. Her eyes were wide with fear as she stared up at him. I tried to force myself to move, but I couldn't. My heart pounded loudly in my ears as my eyes widened in fear. "No!" I cried, but his axe didn't stop. Suddenly a blade shot out and countered the blow. My eyes widened even more Trevelyan parried expertly. I smiled slightly as he pushed the man away from Lisette. The man backed away and Trevelyan held out his sword towards the Leader as he walked towards me. His eyes shifted to me as I fought to stand.
"Are you alright, Quinn?" He asked and I nodded, wincing as the feeling of my lungs being crushed was going away. He looked towards Cassandra and then back at me. "Is Cassandra alright?" He asked to which I nodded again.
"I think so." I replied, but heard the Leader growl.
"Get out of my way boy or you will die as well." The Leader hissed making Trevelyan snarled. My eyes widened as I looked him over. He seemed different when he was like this. The usual gentle Trevelyan was now fearsome and brave. It took me by surprise to say the least. He isn't the same from when we went to go see Mother Giselle… he's changed.
"You want them you'll have to go through me." He hissed and I stared at him in complete shock. He even sounds different. The Leader attacked and Trevelyan parried moving to the side before striking back. His movements were practiced, but stiff. Like he'd done them a hundred times, but against targets that didn't move. I took heavy breaths, gaining my composure as Trevelyan fought. He was doing well, very well actually until the man punched him in the stomach with the handle of his weapon and whipped his gauntlet against Trevelyans face. Liam was thrown to the side and onto the ground. I jumped over him and kicked the Leader in the head with a roundhouse. He stumbled back as I looked to Trevelyan.
"Thanks. I'll take it from here." I said and attacked the the Leader. Time to end this. With much effort I threw myself at the man and swiped my blade across every bit of flesh I could see. He stumbled backwards in pain towards his balcony before letting out a growl and attacking again. I smirked and leapt onto a box to give me a boost before driving my glowing blade forward. Sliding past his axe the blade ripped through the metal of his chest plate and embedded itself into his breast making him gasp in shock. He backed away and gripped the blade in his chest as I looked at him from my crouch. He wobbled slightly backing into the wooden balcony. "By the way, I'm Quinn Thedran." I said as before I leapt upwards and planted both feet onto his chest and grabbed the blade. Flipping myself off of him, I shoved him forward. He flew backwards snapping through the wooden railing and falling to the ground. I landed on what was left of the balcony and looked over the edge with a grimace. "Well… I can't be sure, but I think he's dead." I quipped looking away from the splatter that was once a man. The Herald moved next to me and peeked over the edge making a gagging noise and covering his mouth.
"Sweet Andraste's knickers that's disgusting." He gagged as he looked away. I nodded in agreement and looked to Cassandra.
"Go check on her. I've got Lisette." I said and he nodded walking over to Cass as I checked Lisette who was in the corner unconscious. I lifted an eyebrow and checked her vitals. Must've just passed out. I concluded as I tapped her cheek being kind of gentle. "Hey, Lisette. Time to wake up, we've got to go." I murmured, but she didn't move. I frowned and shook her again, but she was still out cold. I sighed and looked back to Trevelyan who had gotten Cassandra to stand after giving her some kind of potion. She was still incredibly out of it and could barely move, but at least she was standi-Nevermind. I thought to myself as she toppled back down to the ground on top of Trevelyan. I chuckled as I rose to my feet and walked over to them. "Should I leave you two alone for a moment or…?" I trailed off with a grin as I looked down at him. He glared up at me from underneath her.
"That's not funny." He grumbled as he pushed her over to the side gently. "Help me with her." He added and I nodded helping him pull her to her feet and she mumbled against my ear.
"Thedran?" I nodded and she grumbled something to herself that I couldn't make out.
"Can you manage? I've got to get Lisette." He nodded and swung Cassandra into his arms. I grabbed Lisette and slung her onto my back before moving out of the room.
We trekked back to the camp and I smiled over at Trevelyan who seemed to be struggling a bit, but Cassandra was starting to come to and held onto him. Which was elevating some of the weight.
"You fought really well. Have you been training?" I asked and he looked over at me shocked before nodding.
"You're not going to yell at me running in there after you?" He asked making me shake my head.
"That's the Commander's thing. You saved Lisette and possibly me. You're a hero, so congratulations are in order I believe. Maybe when we get back to Haven we can drink to this? I know Bull would love any excuse to get hammered." I chortled and he nodded with a grin.
"I'd like that." He said with a smile and paused. "I have been training though. Cassandra is helping and I've been attending some of the Commander's soldiers training routines. He's a very skilled swordsman." He said and I nodded.
"I know. I fought with him before we attempted to close the Breach." I agreed as we walked up the path to the camp where the Bandits encampment once were. "Why don't you get Cullen to train you privately. I'm sure he wouldn't mind." I pointed out, but he shook his head.
"I couldn't. He's already a very busy man. I mean he barely sleeps." Trevelyan replied with a frown. I stared for a moment wondering if it was true. Did Cullen really not sleep? I frowned too, but decided to move on from that for a moment.
"Is your cheek alright? It's starting to bruise." I pointed out as I nodded to where the Leader of the Mercenaries had hit him. He shrugged and smiled at me.
"It'll heal. Plus, I've heard that women dig bruises and scars." He replied with a wag of his eyebrow. I laughed loudly before shaking my head.
"Well, you're not wrong." I replied with a grin we moved over the hill. "Hey, Trevelyan?" I said as I adjusted Lisette on my back and moved to the top of the hill. "I'm sorry about what I said back on our first mission and for being so harsh on you. It was wrong of me to ask so much of you." I said and he looked over at me with a smile.
"Thanks, Quinn. I...well you weren't wrong. I'm in the middle of a war if I like it or not. You need to know should the need arise I'd be able to protect myself and maybe have your back as well." He replied and I smiled placing my hand on his shoulder. Interesting, maybe this man could be our salvation...
"I know that now." I replied and he looked over at me with a wide grin as we got to the top of the next hill and looked down towards the camp below. Both of us stopped. In front of us the camp was bustling with Inquisition members. I looked over to Trevelyan as he gulped and walked forward. A scout ran up to me, one I recognized from earlier. Scout Allen? I nodded to him as he looked at Lisette over my shoulder, his eyes wide.
"Is she…?" I smiled and handed her over.
"She's fine. Just let her rest and have something for her to eat when she wakes." I suggested and he nodded as he pulled her gently into his arms. We approached the camp and I flipped up my hood before moving away from the Herald.
"Where are you going?" He asked and I turned slightly.
"You are their Herald. Let them believe you did this. Plus...I've never liked the limelight. I'll be around though." I said as I turned and went around the front entrance to the side to wait as he walked in. Inquisition soldiers murmured around him as healers came and took Cassandra into a tent opposite to the one Lisette had been taken into by the scout. People started to clap and cheer for him as he entered the camp. Cheers were also heard for him and soldiers and scouts alike all raised their fists for the Herald. Trevelyan forward a smile on his face as he nodded to the men and women around him. I felt a smile tug at my lips as I hid between the tents. I looked over for a moment and saw a flash of blood hair disappear into a tent and froze. Did I just see who I think I saw? No, he wouldn't be here...right? I walked out of the hiding spot as everyone cleared the area mostly. I moved to the Herald as he stood outside of Cassandra's tent. I was about to speak up when a scout moved to us.
"Lady Protector. Lord Herald, the Commander wants to speak with you." He informed and pointed towards the third tent to the left. "He is in that tent." He said and I stared at him in confusion.
"Wait. So the Commander is here?" I asked in shock before turning to the Herald who had a very guilty look. "Did you write the Commander like I said not to?" I asked and he cringed.
"I-well...Yes and no. I found an Inquisition bird in a cage saying that they'd be here in the morning to give the ransom money signed by him. So I scrawled on the back what you were doing and sent it back to the Inquisition. I knew you could save her yourself and they wouldn't have to negotiate. I had no idea they were planning on storming the fortress." He added quickly and I felt my shoulders sag. I sighed and patted his shoulder.
"Right...well have fun with that Herald. Give the Commander my regards." I said as I started to walk off, but the Herald grabbed my cloak.
"Oh no you don't. You're not leaving me to talk to that man alone. You were the one who insisted they go in without an ounce of help." He grumbled as he pulled me back. I groaned and shook my arms.
"Fine." I grumbled as I walked forward with him to the tent.
"What are the chances that he's in a good mood?" Trevelyan asked sounding a bit worried. I tapped my chin thoughtfully as I stopped at the tent.
"Well... We're about to find out." I said and he lifted an eyebrow as we walked in. The tent was brightly lit with candles with a small desk that Cullen was standing at. His eyes flicking up at us before he stood completely straight, his head grazing the cloth of the top of the tent. I leant over to the Herald and quietly in his ear I said. "Yeah...I'm going to say our chances are very, very slim.."