Cat had been pacing for what seemed like hours now. At first, she had been content to wait, and had simply found a spot against a wall to sit. She had even tried to take a nap, but that had been impossible for she was too wound up. She had tried to remember all the things that awaited her friends in the circle tower, but gave that up early on, as it only made her anxiety worse.
After a time, she had gone over to the man she knew to be the quartermaster, and had perused his wares. She had even found a small crossbow, which he had dubbed a "trainer" but felt confident that its small size would be perfect for her. She had him keep it aside for her, promising payment once her party returned.
After that, she had begun her pacing. Back and forth, back and forth. It kept her moving, though it did nothing to distract her thoughts. She heard something in the room around her, and stopped pacing to focus once she heard the muffled laughter. It did not sound pleasant, more like these men were laughing at her.
"Pardon me?" she said in a polite tone. "I didn't catch what was said."
A templar stepped forward, a cross between a sneer and a smirk written on his face.
"I said, your rabbit is already dead, but you shouldn't worry. There are plenty of men here that can console you," he said with a glint in his eye and his hand outstretched.
Cat recoiled in disgust. "Not likely," she said speaking in her most superior voice to dissuade him. "And he's an elf not a rabbit, and he's a friend, not whatever you're thinking." She turned away from him in a huff, while he and his friends cackled behind her.
"Sure, my lady, I could tell you was very friendly with your "elf" earlier." She could practically see the finger quotes in her mind when he said elf.
Time moved forward, and everywhere Cat turned, this type of racist and crude talk followed her. While she didn't know how long she had been suffering through it, she knew she was at the end of her rope. She made her way back to the quartermaster, and asked about the crossbow again.
"I've saved it for you, my lady, but your friends aren't back with payment as yet," he responded, looking confused.
"I know," she sighed. "I'm going in after them."
"What? But my lady, it's not safe-"
"Which is exactly why I need this weapon," she said quickly before he could continue. "I am certain that they are fine, but I simply cannot wait any longer." She said it with finality, hoping that he would not continue to argue with her.
"Perhaps, something as collateral?" he asked tentatively.
"Ah, yes" she patted her pockets, thinking that she had nothing, before remembering her necklace. It was a gift she bought for herself before her divorce, when Steve had forgotten her birthday. She kept it on as a reminder that even when others disappoint, she could always rely on herself. "Will this do?" she asked unclasping the necklace and re-clasping it before handing it to him.
"I- I can't take this my lady, it is too fine" he stammered, looking at the jewelry with wide eyes.
Cat smiled, "I will come to reclaim it, so you need only hold onto it for me," she said. "But for now, a weapon is needed more than jewelry."
"Of course, my lady," He set her necklace gently down inside a box, and then began handing her items. First a quiver, which she slung over her head to hang across her body, then bolts to fill it, and finally the crossbow.
Once geared up, Cat smiled at him, and thanked him for his help. She marched over to the Knight Commander.
"Commander… Greagoir!" she said as she suddenly remembered his name.
"Yes?" He turned to look at her.
"I need to go through the gate sir, I need to help my friends." she said, almost pleadingly.
"I cannot in good conscience let you do that my lady," he replied. "It is far too dangerous."
"I can understand your reservations Ser," she took a deep breath. "But if anything happens to them, I will never be able to forgive myself for staying here, safe, while they are risking their lives. I've given them enough of a head start, and now I will be following after them." She was done with waiting, and she was going to go, no matter what these templars said and she let him know it, albeit in a really polite way.
She wouldn't call it a smile, but she did see the corners of his mouth slightly turn up. "I can understand how you feel," he stated softly. "I too, would choose to be with friends facing horrors than staying safely behind." His gaze turned firm again, as did his voice. "However, it will be the same as for your companions, I will not open the door again unless the First Enchanter were to tell me that it is safe to do so."
Cat nodded as he said this, "I understand Ser, and I thank you!" She directly around and headed toward the huge doors, smiling as she heard him call, "Let her through" and slipping inside once the doors were open enough for her to fit.
Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the slightly dimmer room, and she continued forward noticing the shimmering barrier erected across the doorway in the left corner of the room. She heard several gasps from her right, and turned toward the sound, seeing several women and younger children gaping at her.
"They let you in..?" one of them asked, though she wasn't certain if it was directed at her, or simply just spoken aloud.
"I'm looking for my friends" she said in response. "A man, two dwarves and an elf that came through her a few hours ago?"
"Yes," a woman answered stepping forward. Cat recognized her as the mage that tried to stop Wynne from going, than tried to join her. "They came through, and Wynne escorted them through to the tower."
"And then put the barrier back in place?" Cat asked, although it was obvious.
"Yes," she answered ruefully. "I'm sure to keep us here and safe, so that we couldn't join them later."
"Sounds familiar," Cat responded with a smile. "I just got through my own" she said, gesturing with her thumb at the massive doors behind her. She then nodded, and introduced herself. "I'm Cat," she said.
"Petra" the mage responded. "A pleasure."
"Likewise," Cat stated. "Now, any idea on how I can get through this?" nodding toward the barrier.
"Unfortunately, no." Petra said. "It will only dissipate once Wynne releases the spell, or if something were to happen to her, or her mana- "
They both turned at the interruption as the shimmering barrier dissolved into sparkles that faded from existence. Cat couldn't help but think of how pretty it was, before realizing both that her way was clear, and what that could mean for her friends.
"That's probably not a good sign," Petra said quietly.
"No, but at least the way is clear. I'm going to go help my friends." She turned to Petra. "I'm not going to force you to stay, but with the barrier gone, they may need your protection," she said nodding to the other mages.
"That's true." She looked around in thought before releasing a sigh. "I should stay and protect them, though I do want to go with you." she said to Cat. "Before you go however, we can give you a few potions that we scavenged on our way here. We thought we may need them but I fear your friends may need them more."
"That's very generous of you," Cat remarked, turning so that Petra could help put the pack with potions on her back.
"If it will help Wynne in any way, then it will be worth it," she responded. "Maker guide you Cat."
"Thank you again Petra," and with that, Cat walked onward through the doorway into the tower.
Cat was secretly glad that Duran was such a completionist, though he probably didn't even think about. He was one that never left an enemy alive, or a room unsearched. She stayed on guard with her crossbow loaded, but the worst she was finding was corpses and blood. Not that she wasn't immune to such things, but found it better than the alternative of living people or demons to fight.
She continued through the tower in a straight path, not stopping to search as her friends had done. She was surprised that the layout was almost exactly as she remembered it, though the rooms and staircases were all bigger than the game had shown, and much more furnished, though that was expected with all the mages and templars living here. They could hardly function without places to sit.
She stopped momentarily as she reached another staircase, peering to her right, and noticing the office belonging to the First Enchanter. Stepping inside the office, she marveled at his personal library, though she was disheartened to find that she couldn't read the writing on the spines. That did not bode well for her future, but she put it from her mind.
Just for fun, she moved to the chest in the left corner of the room, noticing that it was closed, but unlocked. She lifted the lid and peered inside, wondering if they had left anything in it to cover the theft of the grimoire. She frowned as she noticed the black book was the only item in the chest.
Cat thought for a moment, then reached down and picked up the book. She leafed through it, noting some small illustrations in the margins here and there. Though she couldn't read it, she felt sure that this was the grimoire that Morrigan wanted. Perhaps she hadn't said anything to Duran about it, or she had… and he had purposefully left it? She wasn't sure what to think, but decided to take the book along.
She took the time to ensure it was protectively wrapped in parchment that she found in the desk, and nestled it in the pack Petra had given her. Then picking up her crossbow, she continued out of the office and up the stairs.
The third floor was much of the same, and Cat continued at a hurried but watchful pace. It seemed as though her companions had been pretty thorough, and while she was eager to meet up with them, she also felt something akin to Indiana Jones, searching for lost treasure.
She reached the top of the stairs on the fourth floor, continuing on. Right then is when she mentally hit herself for not going through the quest beforehand. True, she hadn't wanted to think about all the things her friends would be facing, but now she was walking blindly as she couldn't remember what was upcoming.
She stopped in the open archway, peering inside the central room and gasping as she saw her companions dead on the floor. She ran over to the nearest, Oghren, and checked for a pulse. Finding one, she let out a huge sigh of relief before turning to Alistair and checking his. They were alive!
But, why would they…
It hit her at the same time, figuratively as she recalled the sloth demon, and literally as she looked up to see the sloth demon reaching out to her before everything went black.