Chapter Text
The clash of swords hitting shields is loud in the training yard, but not loud enough for me to not hear the Divine's approach. I bow my head as she gets closer. "Most Holy." She smiles and shakes her head. "I have told you respectively to call me Justinia. But, I understand 'most holy' is a hard habit to break. Took Leliana years to break it." I nod knowingly before I see a green light to my left.
When I reach for my sword the Divine puts a hand on my shoulder. "I've been expecting her." I turn and watch as an elf, dalish by the markings, steps out of what seems to be a hole in the fade. She waves her hand and it closes before she looks to the Divine. "Justinia?" Her accent is Ferelden, there is only one female Keeper I know of in Ferelden. "Keeper Mya, it is good to see you again old friend." Mya smiles and turns to look at me before narrowing her eyes.
"Your not about to feed me to the wolves are you?" The Divine shakes her head. "He is no longer a Templar, he is the Commander of our forces after having left the Order a few months ago." She seems to accept that answer before walking over to Justinia. "Shall we?" The Divine nods before turning to two approaching figures. A templar and a mage.
"Our leaders send their dearest apologies, it seems that they both believed the other would kill them and sent us in their steed." Mya snorts and shakes her head. "Paranoid shems, if you didn't act so prejudice towards everything you probably wouldn't need this conclave in the first place." The Templar narrows his gaze at her. "And I'm assuming it's so much better amongst the Dalish then?" She nods. "We haven't had a possession in hundreds of years, nor abominations for four decades. Can you shems say the same?"
All he replies with is an angry huff and a muttering of 'knife eared bitch' before turning to the Divine. "I was not informed that the Dalish would b-." Mya interrupts him. "I'm sorry shem, but if your gonna insult me have the balls to do it out loud won't you. Try not to act like a da'len your an adult, and a warrior of a supposedly honorable organization." A few recruits snicker and I don't bother to correct them, smirking myself at her dressing him down.
"How dare you! I am the Knight Captain and you will show me some respect!" She chuckles before making a gesture with her hand before he's on his knees throwing up some substance. She kneels down in front of him and tilts his chin up. "The Dalish have a special magic specifically for Templar's, we can drain your lyrium, burn it inside you, or make it explode inside your veins. You will call my Mya or Keeper but if I hear knife ear, against any elf, here again, I'll make you wish I'd kill you." She waves him off and he sighs in relief as she stands and turns to the mage.
"The same goes for you, I can drain your mana faster than any Templar you've ever seen. Have I made myself clear?" They flinch and nod before looking to the Divine for help. "Such offensive terms will not be used while you are here nor during the Conclave, is that understood?" They both nod before going to set up nearby. The Templar walks up to me. "Night Captain Cullen? How is that behavior acceptable?!"
"Racism is not tolerated here, not by me or anyone else. Try to remember that next time and you should not have a repeat of the lesson she has taught you." He nods before spitting out a 'yes Knight-Captain' before walking away. "That is not my title." He nods before continuing on his way.
When I look back up they are looking at me. "Well, aren't you adorable?" I roll my eyes at her wink before turning to the Divine. "I know this war affects everyone, but I am still surprised you asked her here. She is no circle mage, that is obvious even without the keeper armor, and I know that some templars do try to take the dalish mages from their clan. But this war was started by a circle mage turned apostate."
"Does this mean you didn't miss me, Cullen?" I smile at her before shaking my head. "It is good to see you again, especially now that I'm...feeling better." I cringe at the memory of how she found me last time. "It is good that you are feeling better lethaline. I...heard... about how you were in Kirkwall." I quickly turn away before clearing my throat. "As good as it is to see you again, I am still unsure as to why you are here."
She nods in understanding. "The Dalish have no Templars, yet she was correct in her statement that they tend to have fewer abominations and demons than we do. I asked her here for in case there could be no compromise, we would get rid of the circle completely. The Dalish do not have them, nor do they have Templars watching their every move. They learn spells we've never heard of, they don't have blood magic, they don't have any of the problems that we do." I nod before turning to the Keeper. "And what is your plan with this, if I may ask you for it."
"For there to be fewer problems. You shems have a tendency to not know how to mind your own business and have stolen allot of mages from clans, even killing whole clans to do so, and that is unacceptable. If there can be no arrangement that is agreeable to all parties, both will be punished for their crimes against the dalish." I raise an eyebrow at her. "Were taught to take Apostates when we find them, not the Dalish."
"You were taught to take any mage that doesn't bow down to your precious Chantry. Most Templars see a dalish mage, a mage that does not listen to nor care for the Chantry, and they see Apostates that need to be taken in for... let's call it a re-education. We do not believe in nor follow the Chant of Light, so we are obviously an enemy of the Chantry. It's a strange trait for you humans."
I can't help my shifting at her words, she's not right, but she's not exactly wrong either. "Not all of us are like that." She hums. "I am aware, and as long as you respect me I'll respect you, but many humans believe that they are on the right. That if they pray hard enough and convert every living thing to their religious beliefs, your Maker will return to you."
I go to argue but can't seem to find one. "What do you believe?" She tilts her head. "Why does it matter to you?" I consider for a moment before answering carefully. "It will help me understand you better, and possibly keep me from saying something embarrassingly rude later on." She smirks before looking away in thought. When she turns back she answers me.
"The Dalish believe that all gods, including yours and the Qunari's, all lived and walked across these lands. They have not abandoned us, but tend to sleep for long periods of time in a state called Uthenara. They live for so long the memories overwhelm them, therefore they need to sleep for a few centuries to process all their memories. When they are not amongst us they are sleeping for a few hundred years, and that is why you believe he has abandoned you." She pauses for a moment and considers me before continuing. "That is all I wish to tell a stranger."
I nod. "I understand, I think." She laughs as she turns to walk away, "Thats what it feels like to have someone try to explain something in a language they don't use." I'm sure my confusion, as well as the Divine's show on our faces. She holds up a crystal that she has on a necklace. "You will hear your language from me for as long as I wear this crystal, it's a Charm of Translation, I understand common fine enough to understand what you're saying, but I don't speak it if I don't have to."
"I remember all the Elvahn that you've taught me, despite the years it's been since I've spoken it." She smiles at me before jerking her head in the Divines direction. "I'ts mostly for her benifit. Cassandra won't talk to me, I think she doesn't like me very much, and Lelianna wants to know too much. We both know how I react to shems who like to pry where they don't belong." I cringe at the memory of what happened to Alex when he tried, it did not go well.
The Divine nods understandingly before leading her away. "I apologize for having to ask for this sort of assistance, but if you have any knowledge of healing magic-" Mya nods, "I do, and I'll be happy to help." Justinia smiles in relief before guiding her to the healer's tent.