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Fading into Ferelden Chapter 76

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    Never in my life did I imagine I would be in this place. I never even knew it existed! The very temple where Andraste’s ashes are. Maker this is amazing. Utterly amazing.
   
    As I look at the carvings on the stone pillars, I can certainly understand Genitivi’s interest in this place. It is wonderful. The temple itself is grand and so humongous. Even in its abandoned state it still seems to demand respect. I only wonder what this place was like many years ago, when people walked through its great halls.
   
    And of course, Andraste’s very ashes lie inside the Temple. Thank the Maker for allowing us to be here. I only wish that it was under better circumstances, instead of having to get the ashes and leave for Redcliffe at once.
   
    Though I seem to be the only one enraptured by the temple. Wynne has shown some interest, as has Alistair, though most everyone else cares not for it. Sten does not seem to understand anything of the Chantry, and Morrigan is… Maker forgive me but the more we travel together the more I see her as a bitch.
   
    Most everyone else is simply indifferent. Dylan however surprises me in being so. I know from past conversations we have had he is a very spiritual person, even though our views are different.
   
    Actually, since we first began our fight against the people of Haven he has been acting differently. I can tell Shelari has noticed it just as I have. I do not believe I have actually seen him be as angry as he is now. Perhaps it would be best if I speak to him on that.
   
    As expected he is not close to anyone of our party, instead away from everyone and leaning against the wall of the temple. The cold look in his eye fits quite well with how cold it is in the temple.
   
    “Dylan, I think you and I should talk”. As I get close to him and his eye turn to me, his gaze seems to soften. If only a little.
   
    “I am alright Leliana. I do not need to talk right now”.
   
    “Your lips say so, though your behavior says otherwise”. Taking a few steps closer I say, “Shelari and I both know you are rather upset. Since the fight in Haven you have not spoken a single word to anyone”.
   
    “I’ve whined and complained enough as it is. I don’t want to do so again towards you, or anyone. I am alright, really”.
   
    “Shall I guess then why you are upset? Would you prefer for me to be as Zevran, continuously poking at you to speak until you do so?” My lips form a slight grin from the thought.
   
    It seems that Dylan finds it slightly amusing, as I notice him grinning, if ever so slightly. “I suppose I might as well. You obviously saw the residents of Haven. How they were under the total control of the revered father, correct?”
   
    “Yes. They were brainwashed. I cannot recall ever meeting folk such as them before”.
   
    “That is what angered me. You saw what they were willing to do, right? How they were all too eager to die for their beliefs? How they seemed utterly fanatical? I have seen such things before”.
   
    Dylan’s hand moves to his chest, grasping his necklace in his hands. He looks at it intently as he says, “In my world it is all too common. There are so many religions in my world. Most of the adherents of them are decent enough folk, whether they are of my religion or others, or follow no religion at all. However there are some who pervert the teachings of their faiths. Within my people, whose symbol is this star on my necklace, we have a group known as the Sikrikim. Instead of following the Torah, the Law of my people, they attack, insult, and treat as traitors anyone whose views are different than theirs”.
   
    Dylan’s eyes no longer look cold as they did before. Any cold that was there seemingly was erased by fire and anger. He has been upset before though not like this. And while I do not know the terms he is using his anger is certainly clear. “And when you saw what was happening in Haven, you were reminded of that?”
   
    “I am always angered whenever someone takes a good idea, whether it is from your Chantry, my Torah, or any other holy work and twists it into something ugly and disgusting to suit their needs. Though seeing that they convinced a young man who was so young to do that, it just… I can’t stand it. I hate it”.
   
    “People always will change things to their own benefit. They always have and always will. But the Maker shall punish the wicked, and reward his true followers. Just as he favored Andraste and punished her enemies, so will he in the end reward the truly faithful, and punish any pretenders”.
   
    “I hope so. Sometimes I just, it is hard to believe that with what I have seen. Both in this world and my own”. His necklace drops from his hand, landing back against his chest as he looks to me. “I admit I am jealous of how you have kept your faith so strong with all that you have gone through”.
   
    “You should know better than anyone else I have not always been as sure of the Maker as I am now”. As I lean against the wall next to him, feeling the cold against my back I say, “It took Marjolaine betraying me to fully place my trust in Him”.
   
    “It sucks that for a person to have faith they sometimes need a great catastrophe to happen to them”, Dylan says, folding his arms over his torso. “As you had yours, with my luck mine will probably happen while I am here. I just hope that it won’t be as horrid as what happened to you”.
   
    “Don’t say such things”. My hand reaches towards his cheek, just barely touching it as I feel his cold cheek against my equally cold hand. “Nothing of the sort shall happen to you. I shall make sure of it”. Slowly and gently, I carefully move my hand over the left side of his face, still slightly scarred and over the eye patch. “You have been through enough already”.
   
    For a moment I think I feel a slight amount of warmth in his cheek, like a lone ember amongst a snowstorm. I finally see a smile on that face as it begins to turn red.
   
    “W-well, while I am not sure if that will be th-the case, I appreciate your sentiment”.
   
    Oh that stutter! I know I shouldn’t though I cannot help but giggle, try as I might to hide it behind my hand. That stutter of his, while embarrassing for him, I cannot help but find cute.
   
    “Dylan, Leliana, Aniise says we are moving forward through the Temple now. Make sure you’ve got everything together”, I hear Alistair say. Turning to look at him, he looks at Dylan, and says, “What are you two going on about? Why are you blushing?”
   
    “Oh, i-it’s nothing A-Alistair”.
   
    Dylan quickly leaves to join up with the rest of the group, though still is fairly red. Alistair seems to be confused as he looks at him, and then me before he goes back to Aniise.
   
    Tis good that Dylan seems to be better now. Though while he was certainly embarrassed I am happy to be able to take his mind off of his troubles. I only wish he would not be so shy around me when I am close to him. Perhaps I could speak to Zevran about knowing how exactly to get him to open up more.
Another chapter with some religious stuff.

The Sikrikim are a nasty group of people. Even other Ultra-Orthodox do not like them. They are known for throwing rocks at buses, robbing stores, demanding money from stores in there neighborhoods, throwing stones at anyone they think is dressed immodestly, and other horrid things.

Anyway, enough with that. On with the plot!

DAO belongs to Bioware and EA.
© 2013 - 2024 yoyonah
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AmbroseElizabeth's avatar
I would like that place too if it weren't for the fact that it's so long and annoying. :XD: I think the first time I played the game it took me at least three days worth of game time to complete that place.

I doubt even a "great catastrophe" as you put it would make me religious to be honest.:shrug: I don't really know what you meant by that exactly, but with my anti-religion-especially-Christianity family and upbringing, I doubt I could ever make myself believe that there's some bearded dude watching us day and night. I know there's something following me about, but I doubt it's an old bearded guy (and if it is, that's just creepy:XD:).

They sound bad... And it's that sort of people, along with the ones that try to force religion on you, that make it even harder for me to believe that the all-seeing god dude is what they claim it/him/her to be.

Anyway, on to chapter 77 I go! ...I did read this last night, but the internet was turned off before I could comment. :P