//------------------------------// // The Inquisition // Story: Dragon of The Inquisition // by Jack of Tales //------------------------------// Lydi'aleera blinked a few times as she started to wake up. Her vision was a little hazy, but she could see that she was somewhere else instead of the temple. Her head was a little foggy as she tried to remember what happened. Her head is also contently pounding, which didn't help the situation at all. Let's see...............I remember lifting my hand to the Breach, the demons popping out, and Spike--. Like a dam breaking, everything came back to her. The explosion at the Conclave. Being capture by humans. Blamed for something she didn't do Closing some rifts. The battle at the temple. Her hand hurting. And Spike.... A gasped and something falling to the floor interrupted her train of thought. She immediately shot up, her vision becoming clear once again. She was, indeed, in some kind of wooden building. A house, if she is correct. She could see some details, like a small bird cage holding a crow in the right corner of the room, a bookshelf in the right side and a line of furs to the side of the window. She smelled some herbs in the room as well. A single candle was burning next to her, along with several torches that illuminated the walls. She wasn't wearing the same armor as before. She is in some regular clothes that hugged her body a little. An elven servant is standing near the entrance, her mouth agape like she had just saw a spirit. "I-I'm sorry." She finally spoke, shaking like a leaf. "I didn't know you were awake, I swear!" "No. It's alright." Lydi'aleera said, trying to calm the servant. "I only just--" She didn't even finish her sentence as the servant got on her knees and..........bowed. "I beg your forgiveness and your blessing. I am but a humble servant." Lydi'aleera blinked as she saw the person bowing before her, as if she was one of the elven gods. "It's......alright." She said. She looked around the room before she spoke again. "Can you tell me where I am." "Your in Haven, my lord." The servant said, still bowing before her. "They say you saved us. The Breach stopped growing, just like the mark on your hand." She had completely forgot about that. Lifting her hand, she saw the mark spark for a second before dying down to a dim. It didn't hurt as much anymore, though it did sting a little bit. "It's all everyone has talked about for the last three days." The elf continued. "So they're.........pleased?" Lydi'aleera was confused. She didn't think anyone would care for her, especially since they think that she did the explosion at the temple. "That's only what I heard." The servant got up. "I'm certain Lady Cassandra would want to know you've awaken. She said, 'At once.'" "Where is she?" Lydi'aleera questioned. "In the Chantry, with the Lord Chancellor. 'At once', She said." The elven servant left the house, leaving her alone once again. She sighed. 'Might as well see what's happening.' With that in mind, she started pulling the covers off of her. She then turned and sat at the foot of the bed. She started to stand, but her legs were weak, nearly letting her fall. She quickly leaned near a wall for support, slumping down until she was in a sitting position. Looking around the room once more, she saw that her staff is lean close to her. She immediately grabbed, felling the soft wood and the smooth handle. It wasn't like her usual staff she had made in the clan. It was the first staff she made when she became the Keeper's apprentice. Throughout her life, she keep it close to her, like a child clinging onto a doll. For all she knew, it was probably destroyed when the temple exploded, or in the Beyond somewhere. Taking a few breaths, she started to use her staff to climb back up, leaning on the wall for support. Once she got back up, she took some careful steps, using her staff as a walking stick. Then another. Then another. Then another. 'So far, so good.' She continued walking to the door. There were some moments when she started to fall, but she quickly regained her footing as she used her staff. She soon stood at the doorway. Taking a few deep breaths, she opened the door, the sun glared down at her as she held her hand out, shielding some of the sunlight from her as she took her first steps outside. Like the servant had said, she is back at the human town of Haven. The wooden buildings looked cozy enough to live in as she saw them. The town itself is separated by a wooden wall with a stone gateway. Large statues of what she assumed to be wolves dominated the steps to the other portion of the town. Up in the sky, the Breach swirled and danced, like a artistic painting coming to life. But that wasn't what she was focusing on. Rows of people were staring right at her the moment she got outside. She felt her heart skip a beat as they all looked at her. Two soldiers were standing guard over a small stone step that led down to the crowed of people. They stood there, saluting to her as she hobbled down the steps. As she got down from the steps, she saw the people gazing back at her with................admiration, respect? Whispers can be heard amongst themselves as she walked. She can hear faint conversation by some. "That's her. That's the Herald of Andraste." "They said when she came out of the Fade, Andraste herself was watching over her." "Why would Andraste send an elf, a Dalish elf, to save us?" "Hush, she could hear you." She felt her cheeks lit up in embarrassment as they watched her, though her long brown hair hid it well. She didn't like getting attention. That much was certain. She was always the shy one in the Lavellan clan, never speaking to anyone because of her constant studying of magic and to become the next Keeper. The only person she ever considered a friend was her big brother, Aesar, head of the hunting parties in her clan. Once she acended some steps that lead to another portion of the town, she started to think of some of the things they said. 'Hearld of Andraste? But I don't believe in their religion!' It was ridiculous. She is Dalish, a true The Dalish elves always worshiped their own gods, even after the Fall of the Dales to the humans. Elgar'nan, the Eldest of the Sun and He who overthrew his father. Mythal, The Protector. Fen'harel, the Dread Wolf. Andruil, the Huntress. Falon'din, the Friend of the Dead. Dirthamen, the Keeper of Secrets. Ghilan'nain, the Mother of Halla. June, the Master of Crafts. And Sylaise the Hearthkeeper. Besides, she didn't believe in the 'Maker' or his prophet. Before she even knew it, she is at the large wooden door to the 'Chantry'. The door itself had a large symbol of the sun on it's frame. The priests and sisters bowed to her, like she was a queen of a far-off land. She pushed the doors aside as they opened, taking in the scenery in the room. It was big. With chandeliers hanging from the celling, pillars with torches lighting the room, and candles on the floor to give it a homely feeling. She pressed on, her shadow ever shifting to one side or the other. A banner with the sun embezzled in it hung over a door at the end of the hall. As she got there, she heard voices coming out of the room. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she knew that they were talking about her. She stood right at the door, the voices becoming clearer now. She recognized the voices of Cassandra and the Chancellor known as Rodrick. Taking a slow, deep breath, she opened it. The room she is in is relatively small, compared to the room she woke up in. A long wooden table is set up in the middle of the room, complete with various objects like a few books and two mugs. A steel shield was hanging on the wall next to a bookshelf. A statue of the humans god is standing near a wall. Two guards, who are Templars, stood guard near the door she entered in. She recognized Cassandra and Leliana, as well as the human cleric that wants to kill her without a second thought. The cleric, 'Rodrick', she remembers, pointed a finger at her. "Chain her. I want her and that thing prepared for travel to the capital for trial." "Disregard that, and leave us." Cassandra ordered. The guards saluted and filed out of the room. Lydi'aleera let out a shuttered breath once they left the room. She heard stories of what the Templars do to anyone that had magic. She always feared what they would do if they find her clan and take her away, locking her in a tower they call a 'Circle' and under Templar watch. Rodrick glared at Cassandra. "You walk a dangerous line, Seeker." "The Breach is stable, but it is still a threat. I will not ignore it." "I'm still a suspect, even after what I did?" Lydi'aleera is a little pissed off that she is still a prisoner, even after what they had witness at the temple. "Apparently, you are, elf." Rodrick scoffed. Lydi'aleera attempted to put on a brave face and glared at him. She maybe a small, timid elf, but she can at least stand up for herself. "No, she is not." Cassandra rebutted. Lydi'aleera was surprised, and glad, that she is siding with her. Days ago, she was screaming for her and Spike's head on a pike. "And for good reason." Leliana said. " Someone was behind the explosion at the Conclave. Someone Most Holy did not expect. Perhaps they died with the others," She then looked at him. "Or have allies who still live." "I am a suspect?!?!" Rodrick exclaimed. "You, and many others." "But not the prisoner." "We heard the voices in the temple. The Divine called to her for help." Cassandra said. "So her survival, that thing in her hand----All a coincidence?" He folded his arms as he finished. "Providence. The Maker sent her to us in our darkest hour." What?!?!?! She nearly yelled when they mentioned this. She blushed as she looked down at her feet, to avoid all the eyes that were on her. "I-I'm not some 'chosen one' sent by your god. I'm Dalish. I don't believe in your 'Maker'." "I have not forgotten. Regardless of what you are, or what you believe in, your are exactly what we needed, when we needed it." "The Breach remains, and your Mark is still our only hope of stopping it." Lydi'aleera perked up at Leliana's statement. "This is an outrage!!!" Rodrick slammed his fist down at the table. "I will not let this stand." Cassandra, having gone to the bookshelf during their discussion, returned with a book in her hand. She slammed the book down at the table. The book was thick as a brick, filled with pages and notes, with frames that had metal to reinforce the structure. The cover had a strange symbol of an eye inside the sun itself. "Do you know what this is, Chancellor?" Cassandra said, pointing to the book on the table. "This is a writ of the Divine, granting us the authority to act. As of this moment, I declare the Inquisition reborn." Rodrick was walking backwards as Cassandra approached him an accusing finger lashing out at his chest. "We will close the Breach, we will find those responsible, and we will restore order, with or without your approval." Rodrick opened his mouth to say something, but promptly closed it as he made his way to the door. He bumped right into Lydi'aleera, which she returned a glare as he left. She didn't like, and would happily burn his arse to the Beyond, if she had the chance. ..........Creators, this entire thing is changing her. "This is the Divine's directive:" Leliana's soft tone interrupted her thoughts. "Rebuild the Inquisition of Old, find those who will stand against the chaos." She sighed. "We aren't ready for this. We have no leader, no numbers, and now, no Chantry support." "But we have no choice." Cassandra said. "We must act, with you at our side." "Me?" Lydi'aleera said, pointing to herself. "But I'm just an Dalish elf." "You are the only one that can close the Breach." Cassnadra pointed out. "What you saw at the temple, even if you don't remember, could prove to be very dangerous to the world." She sighed. "Your right. I can do that." See looked at Leliana. "But what is the 'Inquisition of Old.'" "It was created by the Chantry after the Fall of the Tevinter Imperium." Leliana explained, like she was teaching a class. "They are people who banded together to restore order in a world gone mad." "After, they laid down their banners and formed the Templar Order. But they have lost their way." Cassandra finished for Leliana. "We need those who can do what must be done united under a single banner." "What if I refuse to join?" She questioned. "We are not forcing you into this." Cassandra answered. "You can leave if you want." "But whoever have started this whole thing could still be out there, plotting to kill you." Leliana said. "Added to the fact that some people are calling you, a Dalish Elf, a savoir, some of them would hunt you down until your are captured, or killed." Lydi'aleera weighted her options carefully. She didn't want to be wrapped up in all of this. She was supposed to spy on the meeting because her Keeper told her that it would affect elves everywhere. Now she part of something she didn't want to be in. She could just leave and return to her clan, to live out the rest of her days as any other Dalish elf would. However... If what Leliana said was true, people would be after her, screaming for her blood. Even if she did leave, they would hunt her down and kill her before she could say anything. And suppose that she made it back safe to her clan? What then? The Breach in the sky was sprouting out demons like there's no tomorrow. The demons would destroy everything in their path, including her clan, if they could be careful. Added to the fact that the people, or person, that made it was still out there. They could still have allies among the populace, like the Templars. She sighed. "If your trying to restore order..." "That is the plan." Leliana said. "Help us fix this, before it is too late." Cassandra extended her hand in a friendly manner. Lydi'aleera knew the gesture as she took a step forward and grasped it in her hand, shaking in agreement. She knew that things will never be the same again.