(AN: Hey everyone and welcome back for this next chapter and hope you all are having a wonderful New Year. Please enjoy this next chapter installment of DA: Ascension chapter 4.)
Outside the city gates, Leliana and her party parted ways with the rest of the group preparing to leave for their part of the quest. Leliana mounted up on her very own nuggalope, whom she named Nugget and already in the seat waiting for her was her pet nug, Schmooples. Nugget was also hitched up to a wagon with supplies and to help carry Shale; while the Spirit and Willow both had levitation as their form for quicker mobility.
"Everyone ready to set out?" Leliana asked. "As long as this wagon isn't bumpy on the road I'll be just fine for I'm bumpy and bulky already as I am," the golem remarked sarcastically. "Oh Shale, you are as smooth as they come, same as the wagon" Leliana witted playfully.
"If we are lucky, we shall reach our destination by nightfall," the spirit noted. "Then let's make haste," Leliana suggested.
Leliana and the others reached the middle of the Bannorn by midday finding a little village just off the Imperial Highway. They all decided to stop by to rest for a bit before moving onward again. Leliana put up her hood before dismounting from Nugget so she wouldn't be recognized by the locals as the Divine. Shale stepped out of the cart making quite the thundering sound as she did so gaining all eyes from the villagers in the process.
"Ugh! Another village full of humans just my luck," Shale noted with disgust. "You can stay back with the wagon then," Leliana suggested. "I'm gonna take a quick peek over at the tavern," she added. "If I didn't know any better, but ain't it too early to have a drink at this time of day," Shale retorted. Leliana laughed at the remark. "I'm going in for information to see what news is about," she assured.
The spirit of destiny and willow waited by Nugget along with Shale as Leliana ascended into the village. The villagers stared at her suspiciously the more she pressed on hearing them whispering amongst each other. Leliana was clever not only was her hood up, but also wore a partial mask that covered the lower part of her face. She needed the populace to believe that she had disappeared as the divine for it was the only way for her to truly take part in this quest. She didn't feel joy or pleasure in this deception, but she knew than most that hard paths had to be taken at times for the greater good. She reached the local tavern walking over to the bartender there.
A short while later the group saw Leliana returning with haste in her walk towards them. Without saying a word she gestured they leave promptly as they had done. After having moved for a few miles Shale could no longer stand the utter silence that was between the group.
"What happened back there? Why did we have to leave so fast?" Shale asked, vastly curious. "It wasn't safe for us to stay any longer," Leliana responded vaguely. "What's that supposed to mean?" Shale inquired. "Leliana?" the spirit pleaded to her. Leliana let out a sigh, "The carta was there in the tavern asking about the whereabouts of my…. of our warden," she explained worriedly. "I don't quite follow," Shale stated with confusion. "If the carta is out looking for Denix or any of us it could only mean one thing. The carta is also with or in part with the Blacken Incursion too," Leliana explained. "Pigeon shit!" Shale exclaimed. "Exactly," Leliana agreed. "Come let's get to the templars as soon as possible," she continued.
Sunset was nearly approaching, when the party stumbled on the skirts of the lake dock to the now templar tower. Leliana and the others took hold of The Spoiled Princess for the night before meeting with Cullen and the other templars. Once morning drew the party gathered and requested passage to the tower from the ferryman. Once across they headed inside the tower with Cullen already there to greet his guests.
"Welcome, I'm Knight Commander Cullen. What is it that I can do for you?" He greeted the party.
"Introductions are hardly needed between friends don't you think?" Leliana responded as her face was covered. "That voice it can't be, it's not possible," Cullen stumbled. Leliana then removed her hood and mask revealing herself to him.
"Maker's breath, you're alive! Once word had gone around that you disappeared everyone had thought of the worst," Cullen exclaimed.
"You've heard what had happened at Skyhold and too who…" Leliana started. "How could I not?" Cullen asked sharply, cutting Leliana off. "We lost a really good man and a friend that day by all those evil monsters," Cullen revolted at the thought. "This is why I'm here. Why I've had to disappear from the public eye. Cullen, Denix has returned and we need your help against this threat," Leliana started and then proceeded to explain the entire situation to him getting fully up to date.
"I see you need the full force of my templars to aid in your cause. Very well if it helps seek justice for our fallen friend then you will have the templar order at your side in this fight that I promise as the Knight Commander," Cullen declared.
"Thank you, Cullen," Leliana stated with gratitude. "There's also something else, it seems that the carta is also involved somehow," she added. "The carta? That is odd for them to be caught up with such monstrosities," Cullen pondered. "They're looking for Denix too," Leliana mentioned. "So I would assume you too would expect the same thing here," Cullen inquired with Leliana nodding in agreement. "They must be reporting to someone," she started. "Which only means that someone is also leading the blackened incursion," Cullen followed up. "Exactly," Leliana agreed.
While the two were still pondering over that notion a vase got tipped and broke when it hit the floor breaking both Leliana and Cullen's train of thought. They looked over in the direction of the broken vase to find that someone was hiding behind a door eavesdropping on the whole entire thing only to break their cover when hitting the vase by accident.
"Again Lucille, we go through this every time when we have guests here at the tower," Cullen scolded. "Come on over," he added. "Leliana, this is Lucille, my Knight-Lieutenant here at the tower," Cullen introduced as she made her way over. "And an eavesdropper on the side then," Leliana witted. "Commander Cullen, I wouldn't have to do such a thing if you would allow me to be part of such conversations to begin with. I'm the second highest rank here at the tower after all," Lucille defended herself. "Especially in this case," she continued bluntly. "Pardon?" Cullen and Leliana asked in unison. "Lady Divine, Knight Commander, I ask that I personally take leave to join this fight at the warden's side as my service of being a templar and to the maker." Lucille requested.
Cullen as well of Leliana's party and of course herself were stunned to hear such a request being made. Lucille had even drawn her sword and kneeled in respect of the two who were her higher ups. Leliana and Cullen made eye contact with Leliana nodding with approval. Cullen then drew his sword and placed it on Lucille's right shoulder accepting her request to join Leliana and her party.
"Thank you, Knight-Commander, you will not regret this I promise you," Lucille thanked graciously. "But, I must also insist that I bring him along with me," she demanded with a stern voice. "Him? Who's him?" Leliana asked. Cullen grunted a heavy sigh, "Him as in Sentry, one of our Sentinels here in the tower," Cullen stated. Both Lucille and Leliana stared at Cullen with wanting eyes. "Okay fine the sentinel can join you too," Cullen caved.
"Cullen, if I may ask, how many sentinels are placed within the tower," Leliana asked. "I believe the tower has two hundred some stationed here," Cullen replied "Why do you ask exactly?" he followed up sternly. Leliana gave a quirky smirk in which Lucille picked up real quick to Leliana's thinking. "We should add them to our forces against this incursion," Lucille highly suggested. "My templars and the tower's sentinels would give us a stronger force, so be it," Cullen companded.
Lucille left the room to gather her things and to retrieve the sentinel known as Sentry. Cullen and Leliana stood in wait while also reminiscing with they're days past in the inquisition and its inquisitor. Shale and the spirit stayed back next to the entry door with Willow hovering next to Shale. Lucille made her way back to the tower foyer now dawned with her templar armor while equipped with her long sword and shield, but also with a greatsword on her back, Next to her was an armored fellow in medium grade armor equipped with a star-mace and round shield being the sentinel known as Sentry.
"We're ready to take leave with you Lady Divine," Lucille stated while giving the proper bow to her. "Let us leave out formalities while this quest is ongoing, I'm undercover after all and call me by my name if you would," Leliana instructed kindly. Lucille nodded in reply before turning her focus over to Cullen. "We'll wait for your call when to send our troops. I have the utmost faith in you, Lucille, that you will succeed. May the Maker watch over you," Cullen departed generously. She and Cullen gave each other the proper bow before she and Sentry joined over with the others. "Leliana, may the Maker watch over you," Cullen greeted her goodbye. "And give Denix my best as well," he added. "Thank you and I shall," Leliana replied gracefully before leaving with her party. Once back on the mainland the party gathered over by the Spoiled Princess to set up the wagon and pack up again. Shale, Lucille and Sentry settled themselves in the back as Leliana mounted up on Nugget now they were ready to set off again.
"Where is it we are headed off to next," Lucille asked curiously, "We are meeting up with everyone back at Redcliffe," Leliana responded. "Another village filled with humans and birds can't wait," Shale retorted. Leliana chuckled at Shale's remark before gripping the rings signaling Nugget to press forward.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of an olden forest, the warden and his party were greeted with a letter from a messenger bird. After reading the letter, Denix turned to his party with a questioned look on his face.
"Well, what does the letter say spit it out already?" Jardol demanded impatiently. "Levi Dryden is requesting my presence at Soldier's Peak and that it is urgent," Denix stated. "I think I will depart from here and the rest of you should head to Redcliffe," Denix suggested, "No, we are with you now and we will all join with you to the keep," Anders insisted firmly with all others nodding in agreement. "Besides it may be a trap best to go with the numbers we have over you going at it alone," Jardol suggested. "Woof," Max agreed with Jardol. "You all are sure about this then?" Denix asked intently. "Yes, we choose to join regardless of the matter it may be," declared the Lady of the Forest. Denix and his party then shifted plans to travel north to meet with Levi.
Elsewhere, at the now occupied Skyhold, where the elder mage has taken full command, he now sits on the very throne once belonging to the Inquisitor. A small group of carta members made their way into the main hall.
"Sire, we bring news," said one of the carta members.
The elder mage sat up from his now claimed throne fully invested to hear what is to be heard.
'We found him! We found the warden, my liege!" the carta member continued. "He's here in Ferelden, sire." they added.
"Are you sure it's him? The warden, the very one that killed me?" the mage declared demandingly.
The dwarf bowed down on his hands and knees nodding excessively to confirm. The mage placed a smirk on his face. " I will exact my revenge. Send out the horde all of them, I need the warden alive," The mage commanded, sending fractions of the blackened incursion loose on the land.
Dragon Age: Ascension
Chapter 4
(AN: I hope you all enjoyed chapter 4 for what it's worth as I said these chapters are on the slow burn right now, but I am aiming to keep the promise it is building up and I state this chapter ending is a clear nod to that. However, chapters 5&6 will still go on this slate yet I'm sorry. I also want to take time to mention that another story is coming forth and will be a companion story to this one. I'll have that one and chapter 5 update together next. Thank you all for taking the time to read my story and remember swooping is bad.)