Chapter Text
Isera’s heart calmed as she slipped into the shadows. The shemlen passed by her with no knowledge of her existence. This is exactly how she preferred her life to go. Moving unnoticed was easy for her, and it meant less interaction with the shemlen.
Living among the Dalish didn’t exactly foster warm and fuzzy feelings with the shemlen. Hence, why she was on this trip in the first place. Keeper Deshanna had sent Isera along with the senior scouting party to give her more experience dealing with humans in a civil manner. Isera’s relationship with any human often ended in bloodshed, on both sides.
Moving downhill from the temple, back to the place they called Haven, she found fewer places to take cover. Snow was not her specialty. If the area were merely wooded no one would ever see her, but the trees were covered in snow and her footprints clearly marked.
So, reluctantly, she moved back onto the path. With her hood up, she kept her head lowered as she descended the steps.
No one commented or talked to her as she reached the bridge nearing Haven. Though, the guards there gave her some looks, but were too cold to do anything about it. She didn’t look too threatening either. Isera felt both angry and pleased with their underestimation of her. Angry because they didn’t think her a threat, and pleased it meant they would be easier to take out.
Crossing the bridge, she passed several chantry sisters conversing about the mage “problem.” A group of Templars grumbling about the cold. A pair of apostates eyeing the Templars suspiciously.
Isera didn’t concern herself with the shemlen’s problems normally, but now it was her instruction to do so. So, she made a point to remember what she heard.
Heading through Haven’s gates, she took notice of a new symbol that became more common. An eye with waves coming from it and a sword behind it. She heard them saying they were a part of something called the “Inquisition.”
The name alone made Isera nervous.
Now in Haven proper, Isera once again managed to blend into the surroundings and not be noticed. She slipped behind a building and took a deep breath, focusing on staying silent.
It was in those moments that the air shifted and a shockwave burst through the town, green light filled the sky, and a loud cracking noise cut the air.
Isera dropped down, covering her head and ears, and retreated back against the wall to hide and protect herself. Her hands were shaking and instincts told her to flee and hide. So, she stayed where she was.
The initial eplosive sound slowly faded and several aftershocks followed, but those faded as well. The light, however, did not fade. Isera looked into the sky and her stomach dropped.
Above the temple, green twisted and swirled in a haunting dance. Rocks were being lifted up into the air and swallowed by the green.
Isera ran.
Thoughts of her team filled her head as she shoved her way through the panicking crowds. She had to get there. She had to help them.
The entire world was in a panic. Screams and shouts filled her ears, but she didn’t hear them. She just heard the ringing in her ears from the blast and the silence in her gut that told her the team was dead.
As she crossed the bridge again, she told herself that she wasn’t a mage and that she couldn’t actually feel these things. That meant they could still be alive.
Right?
Yet, even as she ran through the snow and crowds, she knew they were dead. She had seen the massive… thing form in the sky. She heard the crack and felt the shockwave from the explosion. For anyone to have survived that, it would be nothing less of a miracle.
Her hands shook, and her chest tightened with each step. Denial was the only thing that kept her moving.
Time blurred as she climbed the mountain, the panicked faces that she passed only served to worry her more. She saw a child screaming, a man limping with a broken arm, a Templar being dragged by another away from the temple. She was close to the temple now. Just a few more staircases if she remembered correctly.
As she climbed another staircase, she felt heat growing near her head. Reflex kicked in and she ducked down.
Green flames flew over head.
Eyes wide, she looked in the origin’s direction.
An abstract green form, the same shade as the thing in the sky, wavering form floated several yards from her.
When Isera reached for her bow she was met with the startling realization of just how cold her hands were. Even as she grabbed an arrow and notched it, her hands slipped from the stiffness.
She never had to loose the arrow though as sword cut through the green form and it dissipated with a distant yell.
Isera looked at the figure who had swung their sword.
Templar armor was the first thing she noticed. The next was long brown hair and intense eyes. The third was the rounded ears.
She swallowed, looking around to see if there were anymore of those creatures, or anymore Templars.
“Are you alright?” The Templar woman asked, looking around as well. “I think that was the last of that group.” She sighed in relief.
She paused, observing the Templar. Her armor was dirty, scuffed with dirt and what looked like blood, but something about it was off. Like it wasn’t from a person.
Isera gave a curt, “I’m fine.” Already this was likely the most civil conversation she ever had with a human.
The Templar nodded, then glanced over Isera. “You’re Dalish, yeah?”
Isera nodded, her body tensed again, her fingers tightening on the arrow, ready to draw and kill the Templar at a moments notice.
“Heard your people are good shots.” She declared simply, rolling her shoulders as she looked around the landscape.
“The best.” Isera said, her voice low enough to warn the Templar.
“Good.” The woman sighed. “Everything's gone to shit and demons are pouring out of green.. holes.. Or whatever.” Her hand motioned weakly. “The entire temple is gone.”
The only reason Isera didn’t vomit right there was because she didn’t want a shemlen to see her weak.
“I’m going.” Isera said simply, walking again towards the temple.
The Templar protested, “What? No!” The Templar reached out a hand to block her path. “There are too many of them, you’ll be slaughtered. Even the best fighter can’t handle a hoard of demons.” She said it sincerely, but Isera would not listen.
Isera bristled at the action. “My clansmen are up there. I will not abandon them, shemlen.” She spat sharply, dodging the Templars attempt to stop her and continuing.
She vaguely heard the Templar sigh, but her anger overwhelmed any regret. How dare that shemlen give up so easily on my clansmen! My family! They have absolutely no concept of- Her internal rant was interrupted by the sound of armor moving up behind her.
Isera turned, dagger out. “Why do you follow, shem?” She snarled. The dagger glinted green for a moment, reflecting the light in the sky.
The Templar held her hands out, her expression exasperated. “I’m not just going to let you go out there on your own. I just came from there and letting someone go there alone is not something I'm willing to do.”
“Are you going to stab me in the back?” Isera’s lip curled.
The templar’s face twisted in disbelief. “No!” Her hands dropped in shock at the suggestion.
Isera scoffed, but turned away and continued walking. By the sound of steps behind her, it seemed the Templar was insistent on tagging along.
Isera grit her jaw and moved forward, faster than before. She’d just have to outlast the Templar.