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A Match to Tinder	By : Anesor Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4095 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age 2, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. Aldera is my character, as are a few new ones.

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-- West of Cragscar and Lake Calenhad, the mountain road
Anders:
Keeping my temper had been like dancing on the edge of a dwarven ax all day. The princeling had been pushy about the loss of that woman too often. I regretted, no, deeply mourned, the loss of children or other innocents inside the Chantry that day. But his heavy handed mentions of the too early deaths of the Grand Cleric and other Sisters surely did not have the effect he expected.
He never lamented the deaths of those without vocation, like children or cooks, only Elthina. Nor did he even remember that many of the mages who died during the Templar attack at the Gallows were innocents and children too.
Hawke left Vael and I sniping at each every so often, but didn't contribute much. I tried not to feel betrayed, but the grasp of her hand told me she agreed with me.
She is not dedicated to the mages, no matter what she says! Those blades are dull and must be honed to be of use.
Shut it.
Are you still convinced she will fight for mages, or will she waver?
She will be killed too, just for helping us.
We cannot remain idle like this, the Templars are closing their fists while we wander. We must take the fight to them!
Her plan for six months is sound.
We must make plans, take advantage of their weaknesses, and rally the mages to the fight.
What do you think we can do to take advantage of their flaws?
Back and forth that went for the last hours of our march. After we ate, I dug my book out of my pack and started jotting ideas for other Circles.
My fingers were sore and ink spattered when Hawke stole my quill.
She has yielded to sloth and is only an obstacle to us freeing the mages.
Of course not.
Justice wanted to argue with her despite my objections, but he stopped objecting quite as strongly when she brought a vial of lyrium out. I already was quite fond of this: him shutting up so I could have uninterrupted time with her.
Once I'd downed two of the vials, I could only hear a humming inside. The air was cold until we were wrapped in the blankets and bedding, or was it that I was wrapped around Dera? At last she stopped shivering, but her expression bothered me. Then I realized that she hadn't really spoken since we left the camp.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts even as my hands slid along her thighs. Finally I managed to slow and ask. “Love? What's wrong? We're far enough from Chantry-boy, unless you think Merrill will manage to seduce him. … No, I'm not sure Andraste herself could get Vael to loosen up that much.”
That got me a snicker and a brush of her lips against my skin.
Still, something was wrong. I couldn't resist holding her close, but secrets were too often dangerous. I understood why she hadn't told me of her plan. Justice didn't really believe, but now... Merrill didn't react, so they had already spoken. And I'd bet she's pried all she could out of Sigrun too.
Did she have more secrets? I'd given her permission to do what was necessary, but I'd expected a quick execution if I lost control again, not secrets. I could not like this distance that had not ended when I learned where we were going.
By this time we both were still in each others' arms.
Would she, could she, tell me if she had any more secrets?
“Hawke.” Why couldn't I find any words through the humming? I pulled back. One of the hardest things I've ever done. “No secrets. What's wrong?”
Dera spoke in a bare whisper. “You began writing, with the same dangerous intensity as for your manifesto. You sounded like Justice was angry again when we spoke. I'm not sure I can...” Her voice petered out.
She couldn't find words either, which made me feel a little better.
Breathing a sigh into the crook of her neck, I admitted, “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” As for the bronto I feared was in the room, I was now afraid to ask. What could she do but lie? I'd built her mistrust brick by brick and promised I would do whatever it took for her to trust me again after Kirkwall and still I grew closer to threatening her every day.
I kissed her forehead and then her lips, praying the Ashes were a miracle and not just magic like one dwarf thought. I didn't want to tell her that. “Everything's fine now, you should rest.”
As hard as it was to say, her sigh and quickly dropping off to sleep told me that she had been afraid more than she wanted admit. I finally slept after another vial.
I was slobbered on enough to wake me in the morning, and it was cold. We gathered our things and returned to the camp. Our food supplies had been replenished with rations from Vael's force, so they were already eating. We ate quickly and set off again climbing into the hills, passing quickly through a hunting village late morning without any problem.
Mid-afternoon, we spotted a group of travelers ahead of us. We were traveling more quickly than they, much more quickly. I could see why as soon as we caught up with them.
The travelers were a pair of older Fereldans, familiar with each other in the way of kin or long lovers. They weren't wealthy and had no weapons. The one was having trouble walking, but he only had a crude crutch, freshly made. I didn't like his color either.
Hawke hailed them, though I drifted over to the older man, reminded of aging and the unlikelihood that I would reach his age.
“We are safe enough now, through Andraste's grace.” He spoke with the concentration of someone in pain. “I am Donel, and this is Kendil. We faced a threat and were blessed enough to overcome it last night.”
Eying the blood that visibly soaked through some of their clothing, Sebastian asked, “Maker's blessing on you. What attacked you?”
Kendil spoke with the slight slurring of exhaustion. “A wolf, huge wolf. It weren't afraid of the fire until I kicked the embers at it.”
“Yes, Kendil saved us. You are wise to travel with a mabari, my friends.” Donel smiled, even as he slowly settled onto the ground.
I traded glances with Hawke, and could almost hear her warning to be careful.
She waved at me, saying, “Heysal here did poultices and surgery on a pirate ship, or so he claims. Maybe he can take a look at your injuries.”
“We have nothing to pay you, we are pilgrims for Her blessings,” Donel said.
That shouldn't have been surprising. “No need. I am experienced with bandaging, as she said. Could someone get water? I need to clean the injuries before I get the salve out...”
Their wounds were dirty and poorly bandaged, but that I could repair easily. More tricky, with these pilgrims and Vael watching was for me to use only the barest trickles of magical healing only after I applied the poultices. They were good recipes, which would have done much alone.
By the time I had treated Donel under his friend's watchful eye, Hawke was looking over the terrain and speaking with Sebastian and Merrill quietly.
The salve eased his injury, and Kendil gripped my shoulder. “Maker bless you... Surely Andraste looks over us to bring you here.”
He was much more talkative about the Maker than most of those I'd cared for in Darktown, or less bitter, and I was careful to not look at Sebastian. We'd probably argue.
Hawke stepped over and said, “We should probably stay with you, for tonight at least, and give you some time to heal.”
Sebastian fumed for a second, but then stopped when he saw the relief on the pilgrims' faces. “We will accompany you at least until the next village, where you should rest before continuing.”
With the slightest of grins, Hawke took Sebastian with her, and they came back with enough branches and saplings to make a stretcher. Vael was volunteered along with Kendil to carry Donel. We soon left, and I hoped we might reach the next village before dark.
We weren't far, and made some torches to cover the last distance to the small inn. Hawke ordered the smaller room for the pilgrims and we took the larger. Once we'd eaten, and they were settled in their room, Sebastian entered our room and his hidden fuming came out into the open.
“Do not think that healing like that will balance the scales in the Maker's eyes for what you have done!” A brief pause and he added, still loudly, “Heysal. Spreading bloodshed, death, and destruction of innocents makes pirates like you unfit. Nothing you do now can make up for those deaths, you cannot buy your way to the Maker's side.”
For an instant I wanted to laugh at this speech as he had seemed to like Isabela, despite his words now. But he was abiding by his oath, even in his disapproval, and I hadn't denied that I would pay.
Forcing myself to speak quietly I told him, “I never thought it would, that's not why I do it. I have studied herbs and poultices for most of my life, only rarely as for the pirates, have I been able to practice my skills where people need them.” I looked at Hawke in warning. “I will probably die in the darkness, alone.”
Sebastian looked puzzled. Like the others of the Chantry and Templars, he could not understand that I wasn't doing this for power or wouldn't stop for some cookie the Maker would give to beaten Circle mages.
Hawke looked annoyed again at my reminder that I did not want her to go into the Deep Roads with me when my Calling came. She shut the door, while Merrill seemed to be ignoring our argument.
The argument appeared to have ended, as my agreeing with him had taken the wind out of his sails. But I seemed to have ended one, only to start another, as Hawke was angry at my plans for my Calling. She could have a better life for twenty years or more after me.
My wonder was that I had been with her so long already.
Stepping over to her, I slid my hand down to hold her arm and tried to coax her out of her irritation. “Love, are you still hungry? We could find you a sandwich.”
Dera smiled slightly at her old private joke before frowning and poking me in the chest with a finger. “You know better.”
I didn't know how to convince her, but I was happy we weren't going to fight about it again. Sliding my arms around her, kisses were as far as I thought we could get with Chantry boy in company. Dera didn't like others nearby even if I didn't mind as much.
In the morning we arranged for the pilgrims to rest here for three days while Donel healed. I checked his wounds one more time and showed his companion how to treat him before we set out. Once we were back on the dirt road, it was a relief to stop being the pirate healer, though Sebastian was being silent and moody.
Merrill and I discussed the herbs I'd used and which to watch for as we traveled. The herbal I'd studied in the Orzammar outpost used some plants more common in these higher elevations. Hawke was talking more to Paws.
It took two more days of uphill travel into the mountains where we found a small inn, a cleaner one than usual. The innkeeper finally confirmed that Haven was further into the mountains after Hawke slipped him some extra silver. We'd need to take a side path that veered further south, though it was now the more traveled path because of pilgrims who heard tales of the Warden, the Arl, and the Ashes. He was the first who had information or interest.
We set out in the morning and were ambushed just outside of the village. Justice was enraged when he saw that the one attacker had worked at the inn last night and he killed them quickly. I wrestled control back before we could charge back and attack the innkeeper.
Hawke looked up from the bodies, and said unhappily, “I'd prefer to leave them to rot like most bandits, but their kin are only a stone's throw away.”
Sebastian put in with disapproval, “And perhaps they need to learn true charity towards pilgrims as well.”
It was a pleasant change for him to disapprove of someone else.
There was wailing from some and anger at us as being brigands to attack their people, but Hawke with her large blade and Vael with him speaking as a disapproving Brother of the Chantry settled the angry ones. Sebastian offered to speak for a funeral service if it was soon.
The innkeeper's reaction was not of surprise and the anger came too late, but he hadn't spoken.
“You knew, or you told them to attack! How many have lost their possessions or lives?” I shouted, trying to outrace my spirit's outrage. I don't want to destroy this village, they are not all guilty!
He has caused how many deaths? He has not paid for his betrayal of travelers, of us.
We cannot kill innocents!
During the seconds of my distraction, Hawke had Celebrant out and pointed at him. “How many pilgrims have you done this to?
“Just the wealthy ones, with armor or coin,” the innkeeper said, eyeing the blade tip only inches away from his face.
“Or maybe the ones that appeared wealthy?” Merrill asked quietly as some of the other villagers started to understand what was happening.
“Look, supplies are expensive up here, merchants don't visit much and we need it to survive the winter.” The innkeeper made the too familiar noises of justification.
“Those who do harm their brothers and sisters, to their livelihood and to their peace of mind are not beloved of the Maker. I suggest you find a different way, before you lose everything, my son.” Sebastian looked down his nose as he spoke.
The argument shifted as those who hadn't known argued with the few that did.
After a moment, Hawke whistled. When the talking quieted she told them, “We aren't staying. If you want the brother to do a service, you can argue later.”
We lost another couple of hours for the service, but Hawke did confirm the path to Haven with several of the others this time. We should reach Haven tomorrow or the next day.
It wasn't tomorrow, we had an autumn storm blow up and rain became sleet. We used an extra tarp that we acquired to keep our crowded tent nearly dry.
The last slope into Haven was a steep wash, with loose stones and slippery mud until it leveled out in a small village. The first local I spotted was a teen, chopping wood inside a fenced yard. He didn't hail us, but hurried inside the nearest home.
Remembering bits of what the Warden said, I couldn't help feeling uneasy. Finding an extra insane version of the Chantry like she did was not what I was hoping for. A barking dog was cut off with yip and a belfry I hadn't noticed on the house roof began to ring. Quiet noises of industry, churns, wheels, and bellows that were barely audible stopped. The only noises I could hear from around us now were livestock.
I looked at Hawke and gripped my spear, lowering the point for quick action. She looked wary. Even the Chantry-boy was frowning. Maybe he expected some grand building and crowds of fair maidens to throw flower petals in front of his feet. Merrill stepped quietly, managing to blend into even the autumn landscape.
A man in the simpler and sturdy clothing of areas far from cities, came outdoors, tying a cloak on with dark stained hands. “You've reached Haven, what business brings armed strangers here so close to winter?”
Hawke stepped forward to say, “We are pilgrims, armed for protection against attack, seeking the Ashes of Andraste.”
“Isn't everyone?” he asked rhetorically. “Your trip may be in vain, as no pilgrims have gotten to the Ashes for some time. There are many protections and dangers in these mountains and few have ever passed further than the hostel that was built a few years back. Visit the hostel, pray over relics they have if you want, but winter is almost overdue so you should return to the lowlands for your own safety.”
“Aren't there any Sisters here to help pilgrims and care for the Ashes?” Sebastian wondered, sounding a little scandalized.
The other man looked shifty for a moment, but answered quickly enough. “Yes, Sisters and warriors arrived after that Brother took word to Denerim. Few have remained very long when faced with defeating a glacier.”
The sun was descending rapidly on this side of the mountain, and Mew dug in and warming my neck as colder air blew down from the mountaintop. The path continued up the mountain, a wide and traveled wash that was cleared of any underbrush.
I wasn't exactly sure if I wanted to face Chantry and Templars when I was tired. I wasn't here to fight them despite the growing anger within, so I remained silent as Sebastian asked about the Chantry and Hawke asked about supplies and an inn.
Ignoring Vael's question, the other man waved up the hill. “We don't like strangers coming here to display their faith like a shining bauble. Some have been a menace, and our families were nearly wiped out by pilgrims bringing their sins with them years ago. Life is hard here, and we have just enough for our families. Pay your respects and move on.”
Relics are often on display and various Chantries argue over which one had this or that piece of remains. I had read of many even while still a student, wondering if any of the miracles were really healing mages like myself. But this was unexpectedly hostile. Were these pilgrims after the Blight, or was he referring to the Warden? I didn't think I should mention her.
Sebastian looked like he wanted to charge up the hill immediately, but even he seemed disquieted at the man's attitude. This wasn't the eager greed that crows around true or false relics, but resentment over our arrival.
The longer this talk had gone on, the more the silence from the buildings around us bothered me. I stepped a little closer to Hawke, taking a sip of water from my flask to disguise my wariness. I didn't spot any children and nothing other than a few wild birds or insects were moving.
Forcing some cheer I finally spoke. “Then to the Chantry we will go! I will say that sleeping in a warm bed would be a great improvement over the rocky dirt of the last few days.”
“I will be glad to visit the Sisters and Brothers here,” Sebastian said. He looked a little sour to be agreeing with me, but he would have no qualms living in a Chantry.
I wondered if he could manage to keep to his oath, and what would happen if he failed.
He dies first. Then we will sweep through this outpost.
That wasn't a surprise, and we probably could. This could be a problem for me if there were still some kind of tests in the Gauntlet. I was careful not to think about the tests that the Warden had told campfire tales of. I doubted I could pass any Chantry test. Vael's knowledge would be much deeper than what Hawke had been studying.
The local man told us we only needed to go uphill to reach the Chantry, and he walked alongside us as we moved through the silent village. One building looked like a store of some kind, even if it lacked a signboard. It was not pointed out as we passed, showing a severe lack of interest in pilgrim money.
No one else came into view until a larger building was visible. It looked like a Chantry, but not quite as it was made mostly of wood without even the pretense of stone. There were two large statues beside the entrance, along with the usual banners and fresh paint. But the building was off in some way, and some of the smaller statues were different in style and pose. Bits of what Attryne told me were at the edge of my memory; some Brother who'd been searching had been captured and nearly killed here... a cult that should have been ripe for a March if the Warden had not destroyed what was in the way of fighting against the Blight.
The man who led us uphill didn't enter, but hurried downhill.
Inside the layout felt off, even if we were greeted by a young and earnest Sister in the familiar robes. Sebastian took over the conversation and nearly glowed with his happiness at being inside a Chantry.
What seemed odd to me was that she was nearly the only female introduced from the Chantry people as she gave us a tour. Many were wearing a different style of robes, aside from the differences for the cold. Sister Marjorie introduced us to the Mother who was in charge, but it had to be nominal because of her age, and that there was a Brother that the others deferred to just as much. Vael warmed to him as almost an equal.
That insane cult Attryne mentioned might still exist; they worshiped dragons as Andraste reborn. I looked at Hawke, but she was only wary. Sebastian was lapping up the respect being given to the Brothers here. Merrill was being curious. They didn't know. Hawke had relaxed ever so slightly on meeting the Sister and on not seeing any Templars.
I couldn't. A Twisted version of the Canticles was not any better if dragons were involved.
I hadn't read many of the tales printed about the Blight, but just now I realized how little was in the ones I read about events here in Haven. The only thing that was in every version was a greater dragon and smaller ones blocking the way into where the Ashes were, how the Grey Wardens became dragon slayers almost as practice for the Archdemon. That didn't match the Warden I knew so I'd ignored the stories.
Soon we left the Central halls of this Chantry and we entered colder spaces that were the plainer bunk rooms common for Chantry housing. There were study areas and chapels and private rooms; not many, so they were crowded for the people here, and as little privacy as in my Circle days.
Sister Marjorie hadn't guessed that Hawke and I were together, or maybe that wasn't allowed, so she showed us to four bunks that were fairly close to a fireplace, before showing us the common areas for study, prayer, and eating. The chill and strong drafts away from the Chantry itself said that the place still wasn't repaired from the long damages that the Warden had shivered at telling.
I was going to be cold and unable to use magic to warm myself, making my mood fouler. Now there were Templars about, as we got further into the complex. They were alert, but only some of their attention was on us, some was further in and away from the entrance and the Chantry. Their clipped tones and hard eyes reminded me of the darkest days at the Vigil, when attack was immanent.
The Knight-Captain Ormonde's voice was flat when he told Sebastian, “I'm sorry, Ser, but it is not safe to seek the Ashes now. It would show wisdom to pray and study briefly before seeking another relic.”
Hawke finally spoke, “It was not safe to travel here with brigands and wild animals. There are more pilgrims who we passed on our way.”
His face falling, the Templar said, “You are welcome to remain here, but we are awaiting reinforcements so I cannot say when you will be able to visit the Ashes.”
For a moment I wondered what it was, dragons?. That quarry near Kirkwall seemed to be one of their favorite nesting places. Was this another one?
Merrill wondered before I could ask anything, “Did you eat these Ashes too? What did it do to you, to taste your saint?”
That made me look at Vael and the Templar to see if either would get angry at one of her questions. While the prince looked angry, the Templar didn't.
He smiled serenely and said, “The taste wasn't different, but Her grace was wondrous. I came here to protect the Ashes not long after the Blight, a way to serve in my last days as my vision clouded and reason faded. But then I Saw, and I have served here ever since.”
Hawke asked, “So you have been to the Ashes yourself? What I've heard is conflicting and even unbelievable.”
“I'm sorry, I do not remember much that would help you.” He sounded like he meant it. “I probably did not have long left until the lyrium finished clouding my mind and others bore the brunt of the challenges,” He paused a moment and looked searchingly at Hawke and then at Merrill who was close.
“We must do something...” Sebastian started to say, but then he floundered when he realized that he forgot what name to use for her.
Interrupting him was almost too amusing. “Brana, I don't think we have a choice.”
Gesturing at our worn weapons and armor, Hawke said, “We're experienced mercenaries and have fought terrible beasts.”
“These are not just beasts but dragons, and have already killed too many, pilgrims and Brothers. I pray that the Knight-Commander will call the faithful here in this time of troubles. You will be safe in the shelters and Haven has not caught their attention aside from the occasional stolen livestock.” He seemed honestly worried about us.
We exchanged glances, with Sebastian looking the most uneasy. I realized that he hadn't been with us in any of our visits to the Bone Pit when there had been any of the dragons. He looked a little apprehensive, but didn't look like he'd bolt.
I would have preferred Aveline be with us or even Oghren, but we didn't really have a choice.
Hawke almost looked like she wanted to pat the Templar's shoulder. “We've faced a dragon before, my first was during the Blight after facing darkspawn. We'll leave in the morning, if we can leave some of our bulkier equipment here, Ser.”
My stomach suddenly dropped out as sounds became hollow.
Let the drake eat them all! They should not be protected!
--- x ---
A/N: The chapter title was inspired by a quote from John Donne.
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A Match to Tinder