Freedom of the Ancients Chapter 2

The roads from the Arbor wilds to the Ferelden and Orlesian border were poorly maintained, added to the fact that more than a few trees were burning along with the occasional farmhouse I passed. Eventually I came across an abandoned farmhouse with the roof mostly intact. Walking over to the house I stopped when I saw an armoured woman walked out of the house, unfortunately for me she spotted me.
“Hail friend!” she called “What business do you have on this road?” she asked as she waved me over and I approached.
“I am heading eastward.” I replied as I approached cautiously and she nodded.
“As am I and my companions, we are heading to the Conclave, please join us.” The woman said and I walked towards her. “Forgive me, but introductions are in order, I am Knight-Captain Evelyn Trevelyan.” She said with a bow “formerly of the Templar order.” She added and I stopped mid-step. “If you are a mage my friend relax, my companions and I are not hunting mages, we remember that the Templars are meant to protect mages as well.” She said and I hesitantly followed her into the house where three men were sat down in front of the fireplace, one was an elf.
“Knight-Captain, I see you’ve brought us a guest.” The Elven Templar said with a tired smile.
“Indeed I have Ser Caerwyn.” Evelyn said with a smile before looking at me “forgive me, young friend, but I forgot to ask you your name.” she said and I smiled shyly.
“I am Varharel Surana.” I said bowing slightly “a pleasure to meet you.” I added and Caerwyn looked at me in surprise.
“Well met Varharel Surana, I am Ser Maxwell, former Knight-captain of the Montsimmard circle.” One of the Templars said with a polite smile.
“I am Ser Byron of Starkhaven.” The other Templar said, by far the youngest of the four. “Please, come sit by the fire friend, you need not be afraid of us.” He said and I walked over.
“I am Knight-Lieutenant Caerwyn of Ostwick, I served under the Knight-captain.” The Elven Templar said with a small smile.
“What brings you all here?” I asked and Evelyn smiled as she took a seat.
“We are heading to the Conclave to see the peace talks between the Rebel Mages and the Templars.” She explained “This war was started because of the fact Mages saw Templars as faceless killers little better than Pirates, and because they didn’t quite realise what the world was like outside the circles.” She said before raising her hand to silence any comment I would have made. “By which I mean that they don’t realise that a lot of people are scared of the fact that any mage MIGHT become an Abomination, or MIGHT be a maleficar.” She explained and the other Templars nodded.
“They have a point however for every mage that turns into an Abomination or become a Maleficar, there are ten other mages who are just good people trying to live their lives in peace.” Sir Maxwell said “I myself have hunted down ten Abominations, I remember the names of each one of them, I made sure to give them the same respect I would give to a brother or sister who died.” He said as he rubbed his face.
“I remember facing down my first abomination, it was originally a young girl, she was so scared because her parents had kicked her out and she was so alone and scared she was an easy meal for the vulture that possessed her.” Ser Byron said “in her last moments the girl managed to get control and she thanked me for freeing her and died in my arms.” He added and the Templars fell silent.
“I hope that once this war is over there are less incidents like that Ser Byron.” Evelyn said sincerely and the other Templars nodded in agreement.
“Have you seen an abomination Varharel?” Caerwyn asked and there was a look in his eye that I couldn’t quite place, but I ignored it for now.
“No, I’ve never really been far enough from home to see Templars or Mages from the Circles.” I said truthfully.
“Lucky for you, you’ve probably managed to avoid most of the trouble.” Evelyn said as she sat back in her seat and then looked at me. “How old are you by the way Varharel?” she asked and I hesitated for a moment, unsure of whether or not I should say, but I didn’t get the sense that they were going to attack me, or at least not without good reason to.
“I’m fifteen right now, but I’ll be turning sixteen in a few weeks, my family sent me with urgent business to Ferelden and my mother can’t travel as she is with child.” I explained which was true and I noticed that Caerwyn shifted a bit.
“Your mother wouldn’t be Neria Surana by any chance would she?” he asked and I nodded and he smiled slightly “I knew her from when I was posted in Ferelden, she was one of the most gifted healers I knew, I was sad to see her leave, but I knew she wanted to keep her child.” He said before looking at me “I don’t know who your father is, but I would like you to accompany us, consider it my way of repaying your mother.” He said and I noticed a few of the other Templars giving him a look I couldn’t identify.
“I agree with Caerwyn, I’d like you to travel with us Varharel, I wouldn’t feel right letting you go running around Orlais and Ferelden by yourself.” Evelyn said and the other Templars nodded before she stood up. “Get some Rest everyone, we’ll set off early tomorrow, I’ll take first watch, Caerwyn you take the next watch, Byron you’ll be on third watch and Maxwell will take the last watch.” Evelyn instructed and the Templars nodded before standing up.
“Come on kiddo, we’ll give you a few nights of rest before getting you to take watch.” Ser Maxwell said with a small smile as we headed up to the bedrooms.

The next week passed without incident until we reached the pass through the Frostback Mountains that allowed entrance from Orlais into Ferelden. There stood several Orlesian soldiers who al looked over as our group approached.
“Halt! State your business!” the lead guard said,a large man who could barely fit into his armour and stank of alcohol, sweat and a room in the Temple the Sentinels referred to as the ‘Special relief room’.
“We are going to the Conclave hosted by her Holiness.” Evelyn said as the Templars adjusted their stances as we came to a stop.
“You three I believe.” The guard said gesturing to the humans in the group before looking at me and Caerwyn. “But these Knife ears could be spies for the Empress, we all know she’s been rutting with the Vermin.” The guard said and the Templars bristled.
“How dare you speak to a Templar that way you drunk buffoon!” Ser Maxwell bellowed “Ser Caerwyn is a valued member of the Order and this young man is a recruit we found!” He added using the cover story we had all agreed on.
“Why would the Maker allow a bunch of filthy Knife ears to fight for Andraste?” one of the other guards asked mockingly and I looked at them.
“I believe you are forgetting that Shartan fought alongside Andraste when they fought for their freedom from Tevinter.” I said politely “I am sure the Maker had no objections then about Elves assisting Andraste in fighting the evil magic used by Tevinter.” I added, recalling the lessons my mother had given me on Chantry history.
“Quiet Rabbit, nobody was speaking to you!” One of the guards snarled with undisguised dislike.
“Enough!” Evelyn yelled glaring at the guards “you are interfering with Templar business, continue to do so and you will be brought before the nearest revered Mother for judgement.” Evelyn said before drawing her sword and blocking an attack from the guards and things quickly went downhill from there, the five guards rushed at the Templars who quickly formed a shield wall in front of me and quickly fought against the Orlesians cutting the men down with only minor wounds to themselves.
“I can’t stand Orlesians, you know they actually set their chevaliers loose on Alienages at night and let them slaughter us elves?” Caerwyn asked and the other Templars nodded as I looked at the dead Orlesians in horror.
“T-That’s horrible!” I yelled “How can Orlais claim to be civilised when they allow slaughter like that?” I asked looking at the Templars who looked at me sadly.
“Orlesians like to think they are civilised, but they can be the most barbaric people of all, they think politics is a game and barely bat an eyelid when families are slaughtered or destroyed just so one of the Nobles can get more power and influence.” Evelyn said “most Nobles are like that sure, but the Orlesians revel in it, ifit were up to me I’d switch things up, make the commoners the nobles and the nobility commoners.” Evelyn said
“Or just make the Nobles join a military order?” Ser Maxwell asked with a small smile “M’lady Trevelyan.” He added and Evelyn pulled a face.
“If someone calls me Lady Trevelyan please tell me so I can kick their ass.” Evelyn said as she walked over and gently hugged me. “Varharel, I want you to promise me that despite what me and the others say, regardless of what you hear about the Orlesians, do not let that colour your opinion of Orlesians, there are good men and women amoung the Orlesians, just as there are bad.” She said and I nodded.
“I promise Evelyn.” I said sincerely and she gave me a nod.
“Right then Boys, we’re moving out the Divine isn’t going to wait for us to get there before trying to restore peace to our lands.” Evelyn said and we all nodded before making our way across the border and into Ferelden, soon heading southwards towards Haven and the Temple of Sacred Ashes.