Chapter Text
Thunder rumbled overhead and lightning sparked in the distance. Why was it raining? She hated the rain. Her clothes were already soaked, hair sticking to her scalp and blocking her eyes from time to time. Mind you, it could have been worse; she looked to the companions at her side and saw the furry form of a wolf as it walked along side Nixlanni.
Evelyn was soaked true, but that was nothing. Tanith was in her wolf form in torrential rain that showed no signs of stopping. She even smelt of wet dog not that it seemed to bother Nixlanni who talked softly to the Warden as if she were in human form, Tanith would occasionally make a soft bark or growling noise in response.
She looked back; Cassandra and Dorian were not so far behind. She had to cover her mouth when she saw Dorian’s drooping moustache. It was just too funny, however, the laughter came free when he looked at her as he mouthed, “Do not say a word”
Cassandra at that point had looked at her and then to Dorian when she saw the direction of her gaze. She also chuckled. Nixlanni looked back as did the wolf beside her. Nixlanni walked over to Dorian who stopped in front of him causing the mage to frown at her. She reached up and curled it up slightly as best she could. This time Dorian laughed.
At that moment, Evelyn decided that rain perhaps was not so bad.
They continued towards the ruins just outside the village, however Tanith was growling as they neared and Evelyn could not figure out why. Tanith bolted forward and jumped over a low wall. Evelyn and Cassandra ran forward. Tanith was stood on top of a ghoul having ripped it open with teeth and claws, thankfully the thing was dead again. Tanith however walked slowly forward, tail between her legs growling lowly. Cassandra saw them first.
“More! At least ten” she called.
Nixlanni pulled out her bow setting three arrows ready to fire. With a gesture, the tips of her arrows caught fire and she unleashed them. Dorian followed her lead and unleashed a wave of fire in their direction. The fight was over fast, the fire lost quickly in the rain once the magic used to channel it was removed.
Tanith returned carrying something in her teeth. The look in her eyes showed Evelyn that she was not too thrilled having to stay in the guise of a wolf. However, with Wardens in the area and with them potentially allied with Coryphaeus they could not risk it. Her cure had removed the taint from her so that was undetectable, but it did not remove her ability to detect It. She had a weakened sense compared to other Wardens but it was still present in some capacity.
Evelyn took the item and noticed that bore a Warden seal. “Is this yours?” Tanith gave a low growl “Stroud’s?” Tanith barked and her tail swayed. “It seems we are on the right path”
They reached the town of Crestwood shortly after and it wasn’t what they were expecting. The town was besieged by the dead and the group had dispatched several mobs of corpses and spirits on their way to the gates after passing through the destroyed section.
Once they were inside the gates they were guided to the mayor and after a somewhat brief meeting they were back on their way out of Crestwood and to an old fort controlled by Highwaymen as it was the only way to get the Dam to clear water so they could get to the rift.
The fort itself was easy to clear given that the people within were used to fighting caravan guards and extorting merchants, none of them were prepared to fight the Inquisition. The battle was over quickly and once their leader had fallen, quite literally as Tanith had thrown him off the roof, the stragglers either fought on and were killed or fled into the night.
Several hours later when it was coming to early morning the Inquisition had established a foothold in the fort and were now in control of trade routes though Crestwood, although they simply provided protection to those who travelled past and access to Inquisition merchants should travels desire to trade.
Once they made their way across the dam and entered what appeared to be a tavern they were able to activate the dam and clear the water from the tunnels and Old Crestwood. Venturing in the tunnels however was a different story.
“Why can’t demons leave the dead to rest?” Cassandra said grumpily as they were attacked for the umpteenth time.
“At least we are nearly free” Nixlanni said as she brought her staff blade into the skull of a shambler.
“That is true” Cassandra replied sheathing her sword.
They broke through into daylight several minutes later and Evelyn was happy to be breathing fresh air again. It was better than the damp and stale air of the recently drained caves.
“What happened here?” Tanith said in shock as she left her wolf form, and when Evelyn looked around she could see why. Corpses wandered around but the issue was given that the town was flooded why did the majority of them have arrows and battle wounds decorating their bodies.
“We should look around” Evelyn said, Tanith brushed past her as she walked towards the town and despite the fact she had been a wolf for going on a week, she seemed to be unaffected by it.
“How can you be an animal for so long and be unaffected” Evelyn asked they walked into the ruins.
“Easily” Tanith said “Your daughter talked to me, reminded me who I was” Evelyn looked back at Nixlanni who smiled and did a little wave.
“How did she know to do that?” Evelyn asked turning back.
“I don’t think she did” Evelyn said as she drew her sword and readied fire in her hands as they neared a group of the dead. “I think she just did it as I was a friend, or maybe she loves animals and always wanted a pet” Evelyn smirked at Taniths daft smile and they cleared the group of the un-dead and checked the buildings around them.
Evelyn found nothing but soiled crates of food and weapons. Nixlanni didn’t seem to be having any look at the house across the street. Evelyn left the building she was in and walked closer to the centre of town and what she saw was worrying.
Cassandra stood close to Tanith as the Warden-Commander seemed to be in a rage, Evelyn made her way closer.
“I fought to stop things like this” Tanith shouted “Yet the coward turns his back on his people leaving the dark spawn to murder them and floods his town!”
“He will pay, but we need to stay calm” Cassandra said.
“Calm?” Tanith glared “I will be calm when I have his head on a spike at Crestwoods gates”
“No” Nixlanni said “He will be judged by the Inquisition”
“Judged?” Tanith said laughing “Then what? Cullen cuts off his head for an audience of bloodthirsty commoners?”
“Tanith” Cassandra said in a low hiss “What would Leliana think of this display?”
Tanith looked at her and took a few breaths with closed eyes. When she was calmed they made their way back to the fort, once there Nixlanni sent a squad of soldiers to Crestwood to take the mayor into custody however they returned empty handed. Following that several groups of soldiers were dispatched to track him down while the group made their way to meet with Hawke.
Hawkes arrival in Skyhold had caused no small amount of fuss. The mage was a well known face and hiding under a hood did not make her as invisible as she desired. Varric had of course born the rage of the Seeker. Cassandra however had calmed down rather speedily following a talk with Evelyn and Hawke had proven useful so far which was why they were set to meet her.
At least the weather was more tolerable following the closure of the rift in the caves. Dorian had finally stopped complaining, which was a nice change however he still mumbled and since Tanith walked next to him as a wolf she would growl. They encountered Hawke outside a cave, there were a few bodies outside that looked to be mercenaries of some description.
“Took you long enough” Hawke said when they arrived “At least you stopped the rain. Stroud is inside” Hawke frowned when she saw the group “I thought the Warden-Commander was coming?”
Tanith dismissed her wolf form and stood before Hawke who let out a long whistle followed by a wolf whistle. “Damn. Isabella wasn’t kidding”
“How is Issy?” Tanith said.
“The same” Hawke replied “Plus if you call her that when she can hear you...”
“She will cut my pretty little face” Tanith finished “Yeah I know, does she still do the little finger thing” Hawke laughed, nodded and began to reply.
Cassandra coughed both to interrupt and get their attention “We have more pressing concerns”
“Cassandra” Dorian said in protest “Why do you always wait until the story begins to get fun before you spoil it” he pushed past the Seeker “Ladies, let us continue this story as a later date. For now we have a warden to speak to”
Once they were inside they walked through a makeshift wooden tunnel and ended up near a door that when pushed open revealed a table and several crates, Evelyn looked around and realised that it was pretty clear the mercenaries were actually smugglers.
Stroud walked out into the open and had his sword was drawn pointing at them.
“Lower that weapon” Tanith said.
“The last I heard you were dead” Stroud said “Forgive me if I am a little cautious Commander”
“Say my title that way again” Tanith said angrily “I dare you”
“Prove to me who you are” Stroud said.
“Warden-Commander Tanith Amell of the Fereldan Gray Wardens” Tanith said “Formerly of the Circle of Magi and one of the candidates to replace the First Warden” She folded her arms as Strouds sword began to lower.
“While you are Warden Jean-Marc Stroud” she continued “Trained as a chevalier and recruited into the wardens by Clarel de Chanson you also have a fear of shaving that damned moustache. Oh and there is also this.”
Tanith moved before anybody could react and threw a punch into his jaw, causing Stroud to drop the sword completely. “Satisfied?” Tanith asked shaking her hand.
“Very” Stroud said lowering himself to pick up his weapon and sheath it. “I know you said the next time we met your would hit me, but did you have to do it so damned hard.”
“It felt good,” Tanith said and Stroud huffed “Besides you hit me if I recall”
Stroud rubbed his jaw “Well when you are in the combat circle and you can’t take a hit” he teased as he straightened up.
“It was after the bout ended” Tanith laughed “You cheeky fuck”
“Anyway” Stroud said with a sad smile “As much as I would love to catch up Commander. The reason we are here is the Calling”
“What of it?” Tanith said, “I have experienced it twice now”
“Of that I am aware” Stroud replied, “I think Coryphaeus is like your Architect”
“So you think this is him, creating an imitation calling?” Tanith said rubbing her chin.
“What would that mean?” Evelyn asked to which Cassandra voiced a similar question.
“It would mean that every Warden would be hearing the calling, thinking that their time has come” Tanith said “That explains why they are missing, does it not?”
“Yes, I can hear it right now. And No” Stroud said, “Clarel has lost her mind”
“How so?”
“I never trusted a mage” Stroud said and looked around but met Taniths gaze “Present company excluded” Stroud added quickly.
“Nice save” Dorian said with a chuckle, which caused Stroud to smirk.
“She intends to use a blood ritual of some kind to stop blights from reoccurring. With the rumours of Coryphaeus controlling an Archdemon”
“It is no Archdemon” Tanith said, “It is a blighted dragon”
“The fear is still real and when I stood up against her I was branded a traitor, I knew I had to find you, you and the Inquisition are the only ones who can stop this”
“What say you Inquisitor?” Tanith asked Nixlanni.
“We need the Wardens” the elf replied, “The Inquisition will help you Warden Stroud”
Once they had concluded the meeting, they had agreed that Stroud would continue following the Wardens until he knew where they were held up and then report to Skyhold with Hawke who had insisted on going with him.
So the party returned to Skyhold. The Winter Palace waited for no one and the Ball was due to take place in the near future. If they hoped to save the Empress, they had to be ready.