“By all means, unsheathe your sword for all the good it would do you.”
These shemlen, filled with such confidence in their actions. This man was used to circle mages, castrated by their harrowings, kept on their knees by the threat of death or tranquility. Her people had met such a tranquil once, with eyes hollow as the void of night, and had seen death as a mercy for the creature. The threat of the transformation must dangle like a blade over the necks of mages consigned to a circle, so it was no surprise that they could be easily cowed by templars. Until, apparently, it became too much and they rejected their bonds and fled. Their flight was ill thought out, but admirable all the less. You could not chain a wild animal forever- eventually they would consume the hand that held them at bay.
It was laughable to think that the templar assumed she would be tamed so easily.
“The tear in the sky threatens us all. I understand this, clearly, and I assume our followers do the same. Do you really think they would reject such a hope on the basis of my magic? It seems only natural that a mage would be the one to close the tears from our world into the fade, for we navigate it so much more easily than you.”
Curious, she took a step forward to see how he would react. Would he flinch? Would he pull his blade in the hopes of rending her head from her body before she could act?
“You are afraid. Did you think I would openly attack them? Did you think I would fall to a demon the moment you questioned my control? That I would tear them apart as weaker targets before I moved on to you?”
Here she began to show the true depth of her anger as her eyes flashed and her hands clenched into fists.
“You know nothing of me or mine. Do you think that just because I have never gone through a harrowing that I am unfamiliar with demons? Do you think I hold no resistance against them because you cannot hold me in your hands and understand me as you do the mages you held chained in your circle? Demons do not frighten me, and neither do you.”
Prying the tips of her fingers from her palms, she held her hands out to her sides, open to him in a gesture of supplication though her eyes burned bright as iron held to the fire.
“Do your worst, Templar. But know that I will not bow to you, or the principals you so cling to. I am my own. I need not submit to you on the basis of whatever fears you have grafted onto my person.”
This is when Cullen knew he had accidentally crossed a line. He had upset her and there was
no way the fire in her eyes would subside unless he apologized. Then again he knew that his
morals might not let him completely mean an apology that she deserved. Once again his lack
of straightforwardness had gotten him into an unexpected situation.
“ I am not questioning your abilities or your knowledge of demons.
I’m sure the Dalish have their own ways of a harrowing or they have
the knowledge needed about demons and abominations. ”
A deep breath is drawn as he watches her take a step forward and he is tempted to react
but he doesn’t. He doesn’t move an inch as his eyes stay locked with her, as sheepish as
the commander could be he wasn’t going to completely back down when is pride may be at stake.
“ Mages have helped people before and they have proven their worth.
Just because a person has magic in their blood doesn’t make them any
different from the person next to them. ”
Did he mean that statement? Maker only knows if he did or not. Magic ability or not the mark
on her hand was needed to help close the rift in the sky from devouring the world whole.
“ I know nothing of you but you know nothing of me either and I would
appreciate if accusations weren’t thrown around. There have been circles
where Templars and Mages lived peacefully, before Kirkwall was thrown
into chaos. I also know how possession works. Its not as simple as a mage
goes rouge and then they have demons coming out of their head. You have your
abilities under control and I will take that seriously. ”
He found that his back had straightened and his eyes stayed locked in hers as he spoke.
He had no intentions of taking the discussion any further if it meant that they started shouting.
Surely others in the Chantry would hear them and if it led to that he would kindly leave and end
the discussion then and there if he must.
yousharknotpass
kianamaiart
titsay
