[open] where I go

[onlyhymns]

WHO: Knight-Lieutenant Cade Harimann and you
WHAT: A jumpy templar is out of the dungeon and getting his bearings on Skyhold. What horrors will he face? (by horrors I mean other people)
WHEN: Early Haring
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES:If your character met him during speed dating, feel free to assume that conversation happened IC (except Nerva) and that they're already acquainted.

Finally unleashed upon his new home, and wearing his traveling leathers with the unmistakeable flaming Templar sword emblazoned on the chest, Cade made his way around Skyhold with the intention of finding a purpose for himself.

1. The battlements. Cade was unnerved by crowds and limited sightlines, so he had taken to spending a good chunk of time up in the battlements. It gave him an opportunity to watch, listen, and grow accustomed to life below, which was so very different than how he'd come to understand the world.

2. The training grounds. Although he had first been seen in his heavy Templar plate, wielding a sword, left to his own devices Cade was more likely to use the archery range. He was an exceptionally good shot, and spent hours shooting targets with the single-minded concentration of one who was trying not to think about anything at all.

3. The chapel. He could often be found alone in the small chamber just off the cloistered garden, on his knees and with his head bowed to the altar of Andraste.

4. Anywhere! Give me a place and I'll find a reason that he'd be there.

Comments

training grounds

[wickedchase]

"Well well well -- look at who they let out of the dungeons below."

It's not as if he means to sneak up on Cade, but Twisted Fate habitually walks very light on his feet, and it was easier to just have a sit down and watch the templar fire off his arrows. Frankly, seeing him with any weapon is not entirely comfortable, but if Cullen feels that Cade can be part of the Inquisition, that's not really his business.

Either way, following up with him seems a fine idea.

"And how are we feeling, twitch?" Fate drawls, crossing his legs, giving off the display of being terribly relaxed.

[onlyhymns]

That voice. The sound of it sent a shudder over Cade, and he lowered his bow to glower at the elf, at least this time not looking like he was about to fly off the handle. The lyrium in his bloodstream made a huge difference in his temperament, even if he was never an exceptionally friendly person.

"Do you need something," he asked quietly, brusqueness entering his voice despite its low volume.

[wickedchase]

Fate folds his arms and glances over the templar, brow raised.

"What a fine, warm greeting." Not that he anticipated anything else. "Why, I came over to see how you were doing, of course. Not causing a scene lately, are we?"

[onlyhymns]

Cade opened his mouth to respond sternly, and only sighed, his head drooping. He pushed his hair out of his face and looked back up, still watching the elf with distrust, but at least seeming to have taken his admonishment to heart.

"No," he said, a bit sullenly.

[wickedchase]

It's not as harsh as it could have been, but clearly it seems to be weighing on Cade somewhat. Fate looks him over, then shrugs and stands up to approach him, seemingly without fear.

"I suppose not. I don't have a frame of reference on what having a lack of lyrium is like, but if you're so aware, then no harm done." The elf offers his hand.

"Shall we let bygones be bygones? Hmm?"

Chapel

[lennethvalkyrie]

Lenneth had walked by the small chapel a number of times, had glanced in with some curiosity, but had never seen anyone kneeling there until today. Today there was someone--a young man. She stopped in the doorway to watch him pray, a wistful smile on her face.

She stood quietly until he stirred, and then spoke. "That is... Andraste, yes? The Bride of the Maker?"

[onlyhymns]

The sound of a voice startled him. Cade straightened and looked over his shoulder, somewhat surprised at the person he saw there.

"Yes," he said softly. He hadn't met anyone yet who didn't know who Andraste was, but he'd heard tell of strangers here in Skyhold, who didn't know any of their customs whatsoever. Perhaps their ignorance could be forgiven, at least for a time.

[lennethvalkyrie]

"I... know little of her, save that," she said. It was strange, to be in a world where she did not know the gods. As strange to not be called to their feet as a general. She had met no-one yet who had seen the gods of Thedas, but that did not mean they did not show themselves. "Would it be burdensome for me to ask you to tell her story?"

[onlyhymns]

Cade watched her for a moment, then shook his head lightly and beckoned her inside. He was well-versed in the story, as any good Templar should be.
"She began as a slave," he began, turning his head to look back at the statue, "of the Tevinter Imperium. From childhood onward, she had visions of a being she understood to be called the Maker, who had abandoned Thedas after having created it, and from whom mankind had turned to worship the Old Gods. She fled the Imperium and married a mortal warlord, Maferath, with whom she could not bear children. So she prayed." He glanced to Lenneth, as though to make sure she was still following.
"The old Tevinter gods would not answer her prayers. She prayed and wept and finally, she sang. And the Maker, the one true god and creator of all things, heard her voice and invited her to join Him."
He paused for a moment, and looked up at Andraste's face, benignly carved as it ever was. "But she instead convinced the Maker to return to His people and His creation. She compelled Him to forgive us and brought His light to our world. And then," he took a deep, saddened breath, "she was betrayed. By Maferath, her husband. Who sold her out to the Imperium, where she was burned."

battlements

[lettersfromhome]

The view from up here certainly gave one a broader picture of the Inquisition as it stood. Elves, dwarves, qunari, mage and templar alike...it was all a great deal stranger than anything she'd seen in their little village growing up in the Hinterlands, or even their equally quaint home in South Reach.

That was what happened when you went out into the world, she supposed.

A gust of wind had Mia pulling her fur a little more tightly around her shoulders, but a stronger burst took her by surprise. The basket she'd held balanced under her arm as she walked suddenly blew out from under her, rolling along the battlement stones and spilling its contents as it went.

Looked as though the hounds were the only ones to enjoy those cookies now.

"Maker," she swore softly, before giving the basket chase.

Re: battlements

[onlyhymns]

Hounds or mysterious strangers wearing Templar insignia, but what was the difference really?
Cade was rounding the corner when the basket fell, and he hurried forward unthinkingly to help collect its contents. Having quickly caught the basket itself, he went about placing things back in it as he continued towards Mia. He straightened and held it out to her with a deferent nod of his head. "Ma'am," he greeted.

[lettersfromhome]

"Ah."

She let out a breath of relief as the basket was swept up, giving the kind young man who'd rescued it a grateful smile. "It's probably too late for them now, but thank you," she returned with a similar bow of her head. The basket was taken and firmly tucked under her arm once more. "I wasn't expecting it to be quite so brisk up here, though Maker knows why I didn't."

Her eyes flickered over the templar insignia briefly, but didn't linger long. Templars were present all over the keep, after all.

[onlyhymns]

Cade gave a small, polite smile in return. "Forgive me, I should have been faster," he replied, knitting his brow. "Is there somewhere you're trying to go?" He didn't see many women with cookies walking the battlements.

Chapel, w/ River

[colecomfort]

This was the one she'd talked about. The one who needed to find the song.

Cole couldn't hear his prayer — not specifically. Not in so many words. Prayers were for spirits of Faith, or for the Maker, or the Creators. Sometimes, when the intent was genuine, he would catch whispers of the intent behind it. The need, or the loss. But rarely the prayer itself.

He and River stood at the very back of the chamber, watching. Contemplating. Cole looked up at the statue of Andraste, then toward the ceiling.

"He's looking for it here." His voice was hushed, still hoping to stay hidden, but the silence of the chapel made it seem louder. "They always go to quiet places."

[girlinthebox]

"He needs to hear the echo in the hollow places," she murmured in turn, quietly as she could. "It needed to be bigger...this is the biggest thing he knows."

Her dark eyes glinted quietly as they passed over the templar, remembering how angry he had been, how he'd struck out in his panic. He wouldn't want to see her again. Better to stay sheltered behind Cole a while longer.

[onlyhymns]

Cade could hear hushed voices behind him, but these were not unusual in a place of worship, so he thought nothing of them. He remained in his silent meditation, resting back on his knees with his hands folded in his lap, trying to find the courage to go back out and face the world again. The rules were all gone, nothing made sense-- even Cullen was trying to go off lyrium, was he mad?-- and amidst it all, with no purpose, Cade felt all the more like a cowardly waste of space. Only Andraste, only the Maker had the power to make him whole, and perhaps, when he deserved it, they would. In the meantime, their presence was the only thing he didn't fear.

[colecomfort]

Cole had no desire to interrupt the man. This was where he came for guidance — his source of strength. For a while, Cole stayed silent, and listened. One by one, little strands of thought made their way to him. Most notably, Cade's doubts about the Commander's actions. And, as often happened, when Cole caught a thread of doubt, or pain, it pulled at him. Only then did he speak again.

"He loosens the chains, and we all hear the rattle. Wait to see when he falters, or falls. Is he mad?"

This whisper was a little less hushed, and filled the space more with its echo.

The Chapel

[equanimiti]

A haggard cough echoed through the confines of the chapel once the Knight-Commander entered, The bitter cold mountain air doesn't sit well with Alayre. He is truly unused to such weather but he's a hardy man. He's managed to deal with this climate well enough until recent. The poor man's health has turned south and it shows on his face. The Knight-Commander is paler than usual but those who don't know him shan't be able to tell.

Alayre pays his respects briefly to the priest before doing anything else. Mumbled words are exchanged in Andraste's name before the Templar glances towards the small chamber nearby. Something else is said that prompts Sauveterre to take a look. The priest mentioned about the newcomer who've came to give his respect. Knowing full well that no Mage would be caught dead in the chapel, Alayre figured this newcomer to be one of the many Templars who ventured to Skyhold as of recent.

"Pardon the intrusion--" Sauveterre trails off once he realizes the blond is in prayer.

[onlyhymns]

Hearing someone address him, Cade lifted his head and turned just in time to be surprised by who he saw standing there. "Ser," he breathed, and rose to his feet, inclining his head respectfully. He hadn't seen Alayre since the Hinterlands, and quite a bit had happened since then. He hoped he would not be expected to relate it.

[equanimiti]

A hint of surprise lingers within Alayre's gaze once he recognizes that face but he doesn't voice it. He gives Cade a measuring glance before allowing his steely gaze to linger elsewhere. "'Have you returned to Andraste's welcoming embrace?" He asks.

"'Tis good to see you again after such harrowing events but is it wise to believe that your arrival here heralds another situation?" The Knight-Commander questions as he gives Cade another thoughtful glance. "I can imagine that you've slept within the comforts of a jail cell for a time."

[onlyhymns]

"Yes, ser," came the answer to Alayre's first question, a fair bit of relief accompanying Cade's words. At the further questions, however, Cade seemed to shrink into himself, his face going red with shame.
"...I have, ser," he answered abashedly, "..but I... intend that it will not happen again."

training grounds

[byblow]

From behind him, Alistair asks, "Can you do that while people are running at you with swords?"

What he probably means is impressive arrowing, or hello, but those are the sort of things that people with single-minded focus are able to ignore or grunt at without pausing. Direct questions, you have to be rude to brush off. (And it isn't an offer to let him try, for the record: Alistair is in a shirt and trousers, no armor, with a cooked and half-eaten chicken leg in his hand rather than a sword.)

[onlyhymns]

The voice from behind startled Cade just enough to shoot the straw bale instead of the target, and he turned around in annoyance to see a man not much younger than himself, eating a chicken leg. He just stared at him for several moments, then realized he had been asked a question.
"..I... yes," he said dumbly, still thrown off by the inanity of the question, and only after saying so did he realize the man in front of him looked familiar. He knit his brow, staring at the man's face and trying to figure out where he knew him from.

[byblow]

"Alistair," he provides helpfully when the silence drags on longer than the length of a natural pause, gesturing to his chest, then to the other man's. "Cade." He's helping. Introduction: done. Or reintroduction, he supposes, but he doesn't except Cade to remember him all that well. "From the abbey in Bournshire."

[onlyhymns]

Contrary to Alistair's assumption, Cade's face paled-- and then he smiled, blinking in surprise at the man in front of him. Then, as the reality of things hit him, he gave a quick bow.
"Forgive me," he said breathily, and straightened again, "I--... it's been so long, you've..." He glanced him over. "...all the things you've done, I..." He stopped himself, shaking his head against his own rambling. "I'm amazed you still remember me."