Andraste's Chevalier

Chapter 9- Prisoner

"I am starting this journal to write my thoughts. There is a part of me that thinks I am still in the mining caverns, and that this is all some arcane trick. Maybe I have lost my mind. In the event this isn't some bizarre illusion I wanted to begin archiving my journey in this strange world.

What led me to this predicament? Well it all started when an ancient talking stone convinced me to jump into a mirror..."

- From the journal of Eratus Riverwood

I woke up with a gnawing sensation that this wasn't the first time something like this had happened.

I could still smell the forest but now there was the unmistakable scent of smoke. There were voices muttering, incomprehensible and somewhere far behind me.

There was an uncomfortable weight around my neck. It wrapped around and rubbed against my skin like sandpaper. There was also something heavy wrapped around my wrist and ankles. I tried lifting an arm and heard the movement of metal chains.

I opened my eyes, everything was dark, but I could still see to an extent. The weight around my neck turned out be a long wooden block, with my head poking through a hole in the center. I had two sets of metal manacles around my ankles and wrists. I tugged again, and the chain moved until it was taut, at which point it started pulling against me. That was when I noticed more chains linked to each manacle and the corners of the wooden block. The ends were tied around the metal cage that I just realized I was in.

I was facing the forest, which was now just the black outlines of trees. There was light behind me casting shadows ahead. I tried turning in its direction, but the chains pulled me back. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see some wooden structures that looked like narrow wagons, except there were red sails on top, like one expected to see on ships. Several campfires burned in open spaces between the wagons, casting more shadows. I could see images of barrels, drying racks, and moving figures.

"What in the-," I said.

"Ah the shem is alive!" I heard someone say behind me.

I switched to elvish. "What happened?" I asked. I tried to turn to face the figure, but the wooden block bit into my neck and the chains pulled me back. I tried several times, rattling the chains, and causing the metal bars to creak but they held firm.

"Hah! Lyna told us you were an oddly strong one. She also told us you spoke elvish. I had a hard time beliveving it but I guess she was right on both accounts. Good thing we put all that extra weight over you," the voice replied.

The fog in my head began to clear. Lyna. That was the name of one of the elves who met me out of the tomb. I had just taken down the brood mother when I fainted. There was something else tugging my torso. I felt my chest with my hands, the chains jingling with the move, and felt a cloth wrap.

"I-I got poisoned. There were three elves there," I said.

"Oh you definitely did get poisoned. Elora said it was a miracle that you are alive. I think it's a miracle that you took on a queen spider and not only live but nearly kill it on your own. We were about to leave you for dead, until Merrill started mouthing off. You can thank her for being alive shem," he said.

Merill? That was the name of one of the elves. The timid one. The Mage.

"Look, I am an Alliance Paladin. There must be some mistake. Why am I locked up?" I asked.