faderift | No Maker, No Master

WHO: Cade & Cullen
WHAT: Blond Templar Situational Discussion Power Hour
WHEN: After most people have returned from the Fallow Mire.
WHERE: Skyhold dungeon
NOTES:I'm down with thread-hopping for spies and/or eavesdroppers if you should feel so inclined.

Nobody really knew what to do with the Templar in the cell. He showed no intention of harming anyone further, and also seemed, strangely, to have accepted his position and made no argument as to why he should be released. Like a crated hound, Cade seemed to take solace in this cold, quiet place as an alternative to going back up into the world and being faced with more apostates that he couldn't wrangle. The Inquisition guards knew this much: if released, he might attack again, whether in his right mind or not, and they couldn't risk it until he was dealt with by someone of a higher authority.

Cade's extremities shook from lack of lyrium, his eyes glazed and his head throbbed, and he knew that he could die from this, but he accepted it. He had already failed his men and his Order; there was no glory left for him, and surely the Maker had turned His eye away. All there was left to do was wait, either for death or for absolution.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Cullen knew the symptoms Cade was facing all too well. While he had seen what lack of lyrium did to his fellow Templar, he knew from first hand experience what lyrium withdrawal could do to his own body. It was not a pleasant experience to go through at all. Cullen still had bad days, days where he did not think he could get through. Cullen relied on faith and determination to push through those bad days, and he should hope that Cade will learn to do the same, should he choose.

A night in a cell should calm tempers, and the next morn found Cullen heading down there to visit the man. "I heard it was quite the spectacle you put on."

[I'm putting it down as several days just to account for some of the other tags I've done with him down here, I hope that's okay!]

Cade was dozing in the corner when he heard a voice, and snapped to attention with a haste that was almost uncanny. As soon as he had found his feet, he dropped to one knee in deference to whom he previously understood to be the Knight-Captain.
"My apologies, Ser," he said hoarsely, keeping his gaze lowered. Though he wanted to follow with a qualifier: I was mistaken, I don't understand what's going on, I'm half-crazy from withdrawals; he had never liked to make excuses, regardless of their validity.

[that works! sorry!]

Cullen was quiet for a few moments after the apology, still trying to decide exactly what he was going to do with the man. He can't fault him for the way he acted from withdrawal. "Up on your feet. You don't need to kneel to me."

Cullen's tone is hard, but not harsh. "I don't need apologies, I need answers. What is your name?"

Cade quickly obeyed, though he staggered slightly from dizziness once he was on his feet. He gripped the bars in front of him, meeting eyes with the Commander only briefly before looking past him. "Knight-Lieutenant Cade Harimann, ser," he replied.

The name throws him, because he remembers that name. Kirkwall. He remembers this man - or what this man used to be, before the withdrawal. He fought alongside him during some of the darker times in Kirkwall. Before addressing Cade, he turns briefly to the dungeon guards. "Keys, now."

When the guard beings the keys over, Cullen makes short work of opening the door. "We have several options, considering your current situation."

As relief passed over Cade's face, he seemed to become about ten years younger. He knew he wasn't out of the woods yet, so to speak, but a tinge of confidence in his fellow Templares re-entered his being. As he had suspected, the Commander would not abandon him.
"Ser," he said, deferentially prompting him to continue.

"One, we find you some lyrium. You'll be back to normal, and I'll set you on light duties around here at Skyhold until you feel able enough."

The obvious option, so to speak, a logical one in any Templar's eyes. "Or, you wean yourself off of the lyrium and we take it from there. It's hard, and there are significant side effects, but it can be done."

The options were not what Cade had been expecting, and he found himself staring at Cullen as though the man had grown a second head. ....wean off... lyrium? Light duties?

He opened his mouth to protest, and closed it again, too taken aback to even formulate a question. Did Cullen realize he was a Templar? Was Cullen not a Templar? What kind of loony bin had he staggered into?

Cullen sighs. "We have a small supply of lyrium. I can get you some if you wish so you can continue on. Or, you can stop taking it, as I have."

Bombshell dropped, and Cullen's thankful that none of the other guards are around to hear him. No one but Cassandra knows of his decision, and he still fights with it every day. "The choice is yours."

Cade stared at him a moment longer, his face rapt with horror. "You've..." he breathed, "...ser, you've stopped?"
He glanced over the man, amazed that he was in as good of condition as he was. "I-- ...I can't imagine I could and still be useful to you, ser."

"Yes, I stopped, some months ago after I left Kirkwall." He leaves it at that, as some reasons were left to be kept to oneself. He doesn't mention the aches and the chills and the headaches and the nightmares, either.

"Then by all means, continue taking the lyrium. You are not forced into doing anything you don't wish to do."

After some deliberation, Cade finally gave a small nod. "I... could not in good conscience go off it, ser," he decided, although now that the possibility had been opened to him, he was sure he'd consider it further. It was an addictive substance, after all, and although he suppressed such disobedient thoughts, it was true that he'd seen it bring out the worst in certain people. Such as his previous commanding officer.

No Maker, No Master

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject