The Golden City Blackened

Chapter 2: Introductions

Arathas

I watched as the red­headed woman with dark eyes glared intently at Tav and I. She questioned us surprisingly gently, "Why are you helping me? You have nothing to gain, yes? It makes no sense." Tav rolled her eyes and slammed her ale on the table, "Have you ever heard of common courtesy? Of course not: you're the Left Hand of the Divine. You only deal in secrets and shadows." She intensified her gaze and I felt myself shrink slightly, "Miss Leliana, excuse Tav. We just want to help and we really idolize you."

She sighed, "So, your names. Arathas and Tav, yes?" I nodded. She inspected us, looking at Tav intently, "You're a dwarf?" She glared, "Yeah, what of it?" Leliana smirked, "You're quite charming, young lady." Tav blushed almost invisibly, but I caught it. Leliana then turned to me, "You are Arathas. You're quite obviously a Mage, what are your specialties?" I smiled, knowing exactly what she meant by this.

She wanted to see if I had any fatal weaknesses. "I'm a healer, but I also deal in primal magic as well as a small amount of defensive glyphs." She nodded, "Well I know what must be done. Take me to Val Royeaux immediately." I glared this time, "Why do you think we've been sleeping in the desert for weeks? Why do you think we were desperate enough to approach a random stranger? We have no coin!"

Tav smirked, "We've come here to sell our bodies for money."

Leliana looked appalled, "What?" I laughed nervously, slapping Tav upside the head. "She's just joking." Leliana sighed deeply and said, "I never thought I'd have to do this again." She snatched the local minstrel's loot and strummed a couple times. I immediately looked to Tav, recognizing the old drinking song. Tav began to sing it, but Leliana stopped her, "No offense or anything, but let me handle this." Tav glared and plopped into her seat angrily. Leliana began to sing, soon attracting most of the bar toward her.

As this happened, I decided to loot everyone's money while they were distracted. Tav saw what I intended and followed my lead. She went to swipe someone's coin from the bar when her foot slipped from the stool she was standing on and flopped to to her inevitable embarrassment.

The music suddenly stopped as Leliana realized Tav's fatal mistake. Her jaw tightened in the slightest and she threw the loot down, rushing toward Tav. It was too late as Tav had already punched the bartender in the face for trying to stop her.

She scrambled from her position and ran at Leliana who got a fearful glint in her eyes as she screamed, "Run!" She suddenly turned tail and ran toward the door, leaving me behind in a metaphorical pool of emotion. I stared in shock as they raced out the door without me.

I was brought to my senses when I was struck in the stomach by an unseen force. I quickly shielded myself with my hands and ran out toward my companions. The first thing I did was freeze Tav's feet to the ground and steal the coin she had stashed in her jacket so I could count it.

Leliana glared subtly and said, "Unfreeze her." I pouted and shot fire at Tav to melt the ice, making her scream in surprise and anger, but she was now free.

She ran past me, fully engulfed in flames as I laughed. Leliana yelled, "Put her out!" I

begrudgingly tossed a water spell her way, accidentally getting Leliana as well. I watched as she realized her hair got wet and she turned toward me with fire in her eyes,

"I will kill you, Mage!"

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A/N:

Sorry it's short, but I thought this would be a good break in the story. I will continue soon with Tav's POV. Leave some comments and such with feedback, please. I appreciate constructive criticism and I would really love knowing if people like it. Thank you! <3