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[Serelir]

Wellllllllll... I have an idea for the next part, but I don't know where it fits into the overall storyline. There's all this crazy stuff going on right now with Caius and Monkai.

[Serelir]

I should just start writing it, but now I'm fixated on learning to sing In Uthenera. 

[raging_monkey]

Do it I'll sell tickets all process go to x charity

[Serelir]

Don't start selling those tickets yet! 

[raging_monkey]

Not even presale

[Serelir]

Ok, I'm fitting this stuff in after the assassination attempt and retrieving Caius from the dream, and before Monkai's encounters with Xaras, since Caius has returned for those (I suppose - unless that happened before the stabbing, or before Caius takes Nazlik out of Minrathous).

 

Elowyn returns without fanfare:

Spoiler

The Manor was strangely quiet when Elowyn stepped back through the Veil. Elowyn wondered how long she had been gone. It had been a year in the Fade, but it could have been ten years or just a few seconds on this side of the Veil.

 

“Hello?” she called, wandering the hallways. She finally found a guard. “Excuse me, have you seen the Magister today?”

 

He looked at her strangely. “The Magister has been gone for weeks! He’s out at the front with his troops. Had your head in a book or something?”

 

“Uh, yes, studying hard!” Elowyn laughed. She knew that Caius had been in the war, but was only vaguely aware that he controlled armies. She supposed he would, being a Magister. Still, she had been too caught up in her own trials and tribulations to pay much attention to Caius’ machinations.

 

She wandered over to the slave quarters. There was an outbuilding shaded by a large oak. Elowyn paused and stroked its bark with her hand. She’d never feel quite the same about trees. They were like kin now. She heard women’s voices and entered the doorway.

 

The conversation stopped, and all eyes turned toward her. “Hi!” she said brightly, “I’ve been away – could you tell me what is going on at the Manor? Where are all the apprentices?”

 

“He’s gone to the front! Taken ‘em wi’ ‘im,” said one of the women.

 

“We been havin’ a bit o’ holiday!” giggled another woman. There were a lot of women in this building, to be sure. They were braiding each other’s hair and soaking their feet and primping and preening. These were not kitchen slaves. Elowyn suddenly realized she had wandered into Caius’ “stable.” She’d heard rumors about his wild younger days, before he’d bought Nazlik.

 

“Oh, ah, carry on then!” said Elowyn. She felt a little envious of their carefree existence. She supposed it was carefree, anyway. Some of them went back to gossiping, laughing and looking her way. She just smiled serenely, held her head high, and sailed back out of the harem.

 

She found her slave woman in the garden. “Laelia!” she called, happy to see her again. Laelia dropped her trowel in shock. “Mistress, is it really you?”

 

“It is! It’s so good to see you! You look well,” said Elowyn. Laelia rushed into her arms. Elowyn patted her. “Have I been gone that long?” she asked, hoping it wasn’t too strange a question.

 

“The Master told us you’d gone away, and then he went away, and many of the others, and it’s been so quiet here! But we’ve all been worried about you and the Master. Ever since the assassination attempt. What would happen to us if you perished? Maker forbid.”

 

“I suppose you’d go to live with the Magister’s daughters? I should make a better provision for you, Laelia. I don’t want you ending up in the wrong hands, or someone taking your children.”

 

“Oh, Mistress, I would be so grateful!”

 

“I’ve been remiss. I promise I will take care of that in the next few days,” among other things, thought Elowyn. She planned to free her slaves as soon as possible. “I’m going to be in my study, if you need me.”

 

“Alright, Mistress. I’m just picking the last of these vegetables. Cook will be excited to see this harvest!”

 

Elowyn still didn’t know how many weeks had passed. Someone had dusted her study at least, though her books and notes were still sitting on the desk. The spell tome Caius had handed to her had been re-shelved. Elowyn opened the desk drawer. There was a folded note inside:

 

“I understand why you needed time to yourself, my apprentice. But know this: I need you here by my side, and I have missed you. C.”

 

Elowyn’s heart did a little somersault. Such intimate words from the Master! She had expected that he might be angry with her. She wondered how he was doing at the front, and worried about him and the other members of the house.

 

Her hands found a sheaf of her notes, and she was reminded that there was a duty left undone: she had to discover whether any other poor souls had been trapped by the evil mage from the brothel. However, she had to make inquiries without alerting any of the other magisters to this issue. Whom to ask? Ah, the Magister’s youngest daughter! Elowyn had only met Meriel a few times, in passing, but she recalled that Meriel was an archivist. Elowyn gathered some supplies and headed off to the Archives.

[raging_monkey]

I think it takes place a week after ely goes missing

[Serelir]

Dang, she missed it! Sorry this part was a little dull - needed a transition to the next bit of story. I suppose she could return with a bang, but I kind of liked the sense that time had passed and things had changed while she was away.

[raging_monkey]

Its all good it's nice to have "dull" helps normalize the people

[Uccio]

Calm moment are good to have, constant roller coaster becomes a bit demanding otherwise.

[raging_monkey]

True dat

[Serelir]

The Archives, Minrathous

 

Spoiler

At first glance, Miriel was nothing like her father. She was petite, delicate and blonde. Elowyn wondered what Caius’ wife had looked like. Miriel’s sisters were both tall and regal. Sometimes siblings resembled a grandparent. Elowyn’s own brother was a foot taller than she, though they had the same penetrating blue eyes. There was something about Miriel though, perhaps in her posture, or the set of her brow when she was thinking, that did remind Elowyn of her Master.

 

Miriel led Elowyn to a tiny office. She moved a pile of papers off of a chair so Elowyn could sit down. Despite being a small person, Elowyn found it a tight fit. “I’m the most junior archivist,” Miriel apologized. “This used to be a supply closet! So, what can I do for you? Did my father send you?”

 

“I’m looking into something for him,” Elowyn elided. “I need to find out if there are any residents of Minrathous who have lost their mental faculties, such that their bodies live, but their souls appear to be missing.”

 

Miriel contemplated Elowyn. “That’s… interesting.” Elowyn was sure Miriel wondered why her father was interested in such phenomena, but she felt that the less others knew, the better. Elowyn merely smiled at Miriel, waiting for her response.

 

“There’s an office at the Archon’s palace that tracks medical issues, accidents, and so forth. I presume you want to keep this inquiry under wraps?” Elowyn nodded, and Miriel continued, “Alright, I will write an order for this information so that it looks like a request from the Archives rather than from my father.”

 

Elowyn thanked her and caught a coach to the Archon’s palace. The office of the medical examiner was contained in the Templar compound. She felt nervous entering the stronghold of the Templars, but reminded herself that she was a mage in an empire run by mages, and that these particular Templars had no interest in causing trouble for her.

 

She asked for directions at the front desk and was making her way down the hall when a Templar in full armor blocked her path. She swallowed, feeling her heartbeat speed up anxiously, and looked at the Templar, trying to see his eyes behind his helmet.

 

“Elowyn?” he asked unexpectedly. Elowyn felt her mouth drop open. She stared at him, feeling as though she’d stepped into the Fade.

 

“Guy? Is that you?” she asked incredulously.

 

“Maker’s Blessings! It’s you!” he shouted joyfully, embracing her. She gasped as his armored body crushed her. “Oh, sorry!” he said, “I’m just so happy to see you!”

 

“What in Thedas are you doing here?” she asked.

 

Guy laughed and removed his helmet. He shook out his hair. “Gets a bit sweaty,” he said. “Well, as you can see, I’m working for Tevinter now, same as you.”

 

“I wrote to your mother,” Elowyn said.

 

“My mother declined to pass your letters on to me,” he said. “But after I recovered from the attack, I discovered where you’d gone and followed you. You sure have gotten around! I tracked you down to House Vaellanius, but they told me you’d gone away and didn’t know when you’d return.” He looked at her quizzically.

 

“I’ve just returned. I’m still completely stunned that you’re here! Pinch me?”

 

He pinched her arm playfully. “Ouch! Ok, I believe it – no one pinches like that!” She rubbed her arm, smiling. She hugged him again. It was like hugging a statue. “Do they let you out of here?” she asked.

 

“We have days off, yes. We need to catch up!”

 

“We do! Anytime, Guy, just send a message.” She couldn’t stop staring at him. He was like an apparition.

 

He ruffled her hair. “Where are you off to?”

 

“I’m looking for the medical examiner’s office – am I going the right way?”

 

“Yes, just down the hall there to the left. I’m reluctant to let you go, but I have to patrol outside.”

 

Elowyn stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. “Seeing you has made my day! I’m walking on air. I can’t wait until we can sit down and chat – I have so much to tell you!”

 

Guy was smiling ear to ear. “You’ve made my day, too. We’ll see each other soon, I promise.” He took his leave of her, and she continued on her way.

[raging_monkey]

Oooo wonder how this will turnout

[Serelir]

I don't know! Guess we'll see what happens when we throw an Orlesian templar into the mix.

[raging_monkey]

I'm expecting a big bang

[Uccio]

New player on the game. Which side he is we wonder?

[Serelir]

Torn between duty to the Archon and Elowyn perhaps?

[Uccio]

Exactly, there are dangers in Tevinter newcomers have no idea.

[Serelir]

Elowyn barely comprehends what is going on between the Archon and Caius - she believes Caius is out with the troops. I realized awhile back that I didn't need to know everything, because my character isn't omniscient. 

[raging_monkey]

Omniscience can a fun trait when done right it overpowers the character but makes them relatable to the reader . Thats what I like bout caius he's always in the loop usually 4 moves ahead of you but he's still a man there's a mystical symbolism to him.

Maybe Im over analyzing lol

[Uccio]

Thanks. Being simply a man has its limitations, he needs to rely on other people despite how he feels about himself. Mostly it works because he is thorough but there are times when it doesn't.

[Serelir]

I do like that about Caius! I, however, am not a great strategist. That flaw has stopped me from writing. Elowyn's lack of knowledge gives me more freedom.

[Uccio]

That is why I like to write the other characters as well. A smaller scale. It is a bit challenging to keep Caius from not becoming too good.

[Serelir]

Yes, he must remain brutal and strong. You've achieved a great balance for him, showing how he cares about his family and the events in his past that hardened him.

[raging_monkey]

Agreed I feel like every time I take swing at him I butcher him and water him down not giving him proper airtime. I have a idea but on screen it's sketchy and cliché. Cause next to Galatea is the hardest to write for me