The Golden City Blackened

Chapter 4: Val Royeaux at Last

Arathas

I almost jumped for joy when I saw the shape of the city in front of me. Val Royeaux was right there after two whole days of Tav complaining about her feet and making fun of my punishment.

Relief was at hand, finally! I trudged up to everyone else's pace and pointed. Leliana's eyes brightened in the slightest and I smiled at her. She just nodded subtly. Tav sighed, "I still can't take off my boots..." I rolled my eyes as she pouted. The closer we got to the city, the more Tav seemed to get energetic. She started tugging on my staff in excitement, mumbling to herself about "fancy shite". I smiled, looking at the giant gates.

I felt a strong yank on my weapon, making me grunt in frustration. Leliana took my mage's cowl from my head, making my hair tumble out. I quickly tried to pull my hair up into a bun and cover it, but Tav was pulling my staff so hard that I couldn't even touch my hair at all.

That's when I heard her whisper­-yell, "Ara, put your staff away! I see Templars." I quickly yanked my staff from its holster and handed it to Leliana. She tucked it in her oversized armor, then pulled my cowl further forward to hide her face. I tried my best to make my robes look like an actual dress while Leliana explained, "I need to go into the Chantry on business. If I should not return, I thank you for all of your help
and generosity."

She took off toward the big building meant for worship. I followed, trying to blend in, but still trying to keep on Leliana's trail. Tav just held on to my robes and followed the
best she could at the rate we were going. I dodged several people, weaving my way in and out of the crowd and thinking over my next moves. When I got to her, we were standing outside the large gates.

I shook my head in defiance, "I can go in with you, Leliana! This is dangerous,
given that you're a wanted woman." I glanced back to the Templars who were eyeing us suspiciously. I heard Tav whisper, "Ara, no! You're a Mage. The Chantry doesn't like our kind! Just let her do her thing!"

I mentally blocked her out and focused on Leliana, "I will go in with you if you will have me." I heard protests from behind me, but I just watched Leliana intently. The corners of her mouth twitched ever so slightly in a small smile, "Go to the tavern. I can handle my own, I think." I sighed in defeat, hearing Tav celebrate at the thought of ale. Leliana reached into her pocket, then threw a copper at Tav, taking on a different attitude.

She sounded cocky as she said, "Buy yourself a good ale, Tav. Don't let her loot everyone, Arathas." We both nodded, then watched as she turned and opened the door to the Chantry, walking in with a certain confidence, mixed with acceptance. I sniffled slightly as I felt the back of my eyes burn.

I glanced subtly at the Templars that were gathered near a preaching woman. They were now focused solely on her, so I took the chance to drag Tav into the nearest tavern I could find. I sat down on a chair and threw a bag of money at Tav, "Get me some Aggregio Pavali." She looked slightly perturbed before she nodded and walked away.

I sat and let my hair fall around my face. I couldn't help but think that Leliana was a big part of our lives already. I just knew we had to make sure she was okay. Besides, Tav seemed to like her quite a lot. I fought off a sense of decision and sighed. I looked up to see a couple getting very into their lip­lock. I pushed down the urge to cringe and looked back down, only looking back up when I saw the bottom of a wine
glass in my line of sight. I looked up to see Tav sighing, "Don't be so down, Ara. I have a feeling we'll see her again if you're up to trying."

I nodded, "Okay, but she never said she wasn't coming back when she was done." Tav rolled her eyes, "She said 'if I should not return'. That means she's gonna come back if she survives." I nodded, "Alright. If she's not back by dawn, I will not hesitate to look." She nodded, downing her own cup of ale. I followed suit, not caring enough to
be classy with my wine.

I just wanted it down.

I woke to the sun just peeking out from the horizon. Tav was in the other bed, snoring like a bear. I threw a pillow at her and said, "It's dawn. There was no sign of her." She sat up and threw the pillow onto the ground, "Ara, you're gonna get caught and I'll have saved you for nothing."

I turned and gave her a serious look, "Tav, we have to help her! I have a bad feeling
about this. Please help me." She shook her head, "Arathas, I don't want us to get in trouble. We're not in school anymore, this is real life. You could very well be made Tranquil. What would we do then?"

I felt my jaw clench at the Tranquil card. "Don't you pull that Tranquil crap with me,
Tav! I have to do this. Please help." She finally sighed, "Fine. If you're gonna walk into the fire, I'll walk in with you, Salroka."

I threw a rock at the Chantry door, cursing. Tav jumped up and said, "Come on, let me do it!" I moved out of the way and watched her take out her maul. She raised it and swung at the door's lock, hitting it several times before she turned to me, "Freeze it." I felt my eyebrows contort into a confused line, "What?"

She rolled her eyes, "Freeze the lock as much as you can. It makes it more fragile." I looked around for Templars, soon realizing that they were all inside the chantry. I focused my mana on the lock and it froze quickly. Tav promptly swung her maul one more time and it finally broke. We opened the door and Tav immediately said, "It's evil in here, Ara..."

I nodded, walking forward and preparing my mana to strike at any moment. I searched the area and found that my staff was on the ground near the door. I picked it up and showed it to Tav. "Leliana is in trouble. She promised she'd take care of it..." I grasped it in my hand and walked forward as Tav drew her shield, walking with me.

I saw a door on the other side of the room, so I started toward it when it burst open and a flurry of Red Templars ran at us. I used Fade Step to
run past them to where I saw a familiar article of clothing: my cowl. I inwardly cursed. That was my favorite cowl.

I continued surveying when I realized a man was holding a necklace that was glowing. I sensed that it was messing with time, but Leliana was being pushed into a vortex as it materialized behind her. Feeling instinct take over, I screamed, "Tav! Hurry and get over here!"

She was suddenly by my side and she cursed, "Sodding Magisters! You always ruin the fun." We ran forward to grab Leliana, but we were going too fast. I threw her backwards as Tav and I barreled into the vortex.

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A/N:

Ooooh, drama. This is going to be fun.