Clinging To Enchanted Frost

Chapter 2

The first thing my mind focused on when I woke up was the uncomfortable absence of my familiar, Chione. It made me feel empty and alone. All I wanted to do was curl up and cry, but I knew that she would like me to keep fighting. I didn't sense any immediate danger, but I was surrounded by unknowns with slight hostile intentions in an unknown area. I settled my breathing, which had begun to quicken with fear, and took stock of my body and mind.

My body ached but seemed intact, and I could tell that my body was restricted in movement. My left hand felt different and tingled with unknown magic. Putting that aside to deal with later before I began to panic again, I continued my internal role call. My glamours seemed to still be in place, but my magic was becoming increasingly agitated, possibly due to the unknown magic connected to my hand. My thirst was very apparent as well, and I knew if I didn't feed soon, my magic would lash out, and I could lose control. Testing my connection with Chione again, I realized that it was still active, just out of focus, as if we were adjusting to a severe accident that shook our connection loose. This answer would make sense considering the accident that I vaguely remembered.

Now I had to figure out where I was and where Chione is. Plus, who these hostiles are in the room with me. Opening my eyes slightly, I peeked around the room I was in. There were four heavily armored humans standing in a square around me. Each had a sword drawn and pointing towards me. By their stiff posture and elevated heart rate, I could tell that they perceived me as a threat, a dangerous threat, which was surprising as I didn't recognize any of them by smell or aura.

I opened my eyes fully and attempted to play off that I was waking up. One of the guards backed away, sword still drawn, and rapped on the door three times in quick succession, then twice more after a short pause. She held there for a moment before I heard a heavy set of footsteps paired with a lighter set approach. A minute after I had already heard them, the guard stepped away and back into position. Then the door burst open, and two armored women walked in.

One had short black hair with a braided crown; she was wearing heavy warrior armor with a shortsword and shield clipped to her back. The other woman hid beneath the hood of purple rogue armor that was not dissimilar to an outfit my people used in battle centuries ago. From what I could see of her face, she had dark red hair and cold, calculating eyes. Her aura was much more intimidating than the warrior woman.

The warrior approached as the rogue conversed softly with the guard, who knocked on the door to notify them that I was awake. She stopped just before me and spoke, harsh and explicit.

"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now. The Conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead, except for you." I knew she was trying to intimidate me into giving up knowledge, but considering I didn't know what she spoke of, it was pointless.

I raised my head slightly, meeting her eyes. "I apologize for your losses, but I'm afraid I do not remember anything beyond getting into an accident this morning then waking up here. Where am I exactly?"

Her brows furrowed, and she looked towards the rogue. They seemed to communicate silently before the warrior continued the interrogation. The warrior approached rapidly and grabbed my wrist shackles, showing the unknown magic mark that had been placed in my left hand. "Explain this."

I stared at the mark, thinking rapidly. Finally, not reaching any conclusions on what it is or where it came from, I responded. "I'm sorry, but I can't explain it. I don't know where it is or where it came from."

The warrior rushed forward in anger and grabbed my shoulders, snarling. "You're lying!"

I held my temper in check as the rogue chastised her. "We need her!" The warrior sighed and stepped towards the rogue, speaking clearly. "Leliana, go to the forward camp. I will take our prisoner to the rift." Leliana nodded and left the dungeon, her light steps barely echoing up the stairs.