Dream and Idea

[judgemewhole]

WHO: Norrington and You
WHAT: Norrington and the Seven dwarves Templars arrive at Skyhold
WHEN: Beginning the 3rd week of Haring
WHERE: Skyhold
NOTES: Warnings for the Chant of Light. Because Templars.

Night had fallen on Skyhold when the guards at the gate spotted seven soldiers mounted on horses, with another driving a car behind them, riding across the stone bridge to Skyhold proper. The call-out did not occur until the watchman on duty spotted the templar armor. The templars in Skyhold were many, but not so many that the watchmen didn't know who they were dealing with.

When they arrived at the gates, the man in front dismounted, and with a promptness that surprised the gate guards, gave them travel papers and proper identification. The man was clearly weary - his green eyes were red-rimmed with exhaustion, but he held himself up right and straight.

The guards sent word ahead, to anyone who might be up and still in charge, and then opened the gates to let the templars in. They pointed them to the well, and to the stables, while they got someone to ... well.

They didn't look like red templars. Were they rogues? Were they spies? They were watched quite carefully.

For their part, the templars themselves seemed rather subdued. Taking care of their mounts, talking amongst themselves. Except the tall, dark haired man with sharp green eyes. He muttered something to the red-headed templar, before starting to walk around Skyhold itself. It was clear the man was looking to get the lay of the land.

...Or perhaps to figure out just what the hell he had gotten himself into.

Who was to say it could not be both?

Comments

[judgemewhole]

He started to follow Cade again, his gaze becoming pensive once more as he looked at the young man's back. "If you don't have a squad here, Lieutenant, you are more than welcome to join my people and I in training, or anything else. I ... know you must have lost many of your brothers and sisters in Kirkwall's uprising, and I am most sorry, for your losses."

[onlyhymns]

Cade had been walking steadily again, but he stopped with a jolt as though he'd had ice water poured down his back. His hand rested on the wall and tightened into a nervous fist, then he lowered his head, speaking without turning back to Norrington.

"My squad," he said, his voice torn between anger and shame, "...defected." His shoulders hunched miserably. "My Captain was killed. And they took matters into their own hands. I couldn't stop them. I shouldn't..." He shook his head. "...they never respected me, and my inability to control them resulted in their deaths and countless others."
He angled his head to look over his shoulder at Norrington, his expression suddenly stormy rather than anxious. "It is an injustice that I am alive and my men are dead."

[judgemewhole]

Ah, Maker. No wonder Cade seemed like such a mess. Of course he would be - losing control of his squadron, and then believing it was his fault that they had gotten themselves killed. He breathed in deeply, before he put the hint of command in his voice. "Lieutenant, although you can be faulted for losing control of your men - you are not to be held responsible for their actions after they defected. Their deaths were on their own heads, as were the crimes they committed. If you hold guilt, very well, but I strongly recommend focusing it somewhere where you can use it, instead of allowing yourself to wallow."

He gave him a more quiet look, his voice quiet, "How are you making up for your sins, if all you do is beat yourself? The Maker does not want your condemations, Cade. He wants your actions. Do you think you might be able to serve Him again?"

[onlyhymns]

When Norrington spoke, Cade turned to face him more directly, his expression all business. He listened silently, with the perfect attention of a well-trained soldier, only beginning to show doubt when the Knight-Commander came to his point. A silence drew out between them, in which he was at a total loss for words.
When he did finally speak, it was hesitant and sincere. "..I don't know, ser." He didn't know how he was making up for his sins, and he didn't know if he was able to serve. He didn't know anything.

[judgemewhole]

"Well, that is a more honest answer than I expected, Lieutenant." Norrington's mouth twisted, before he spoke frankly, "You are no good to the Maker dead, Cade. Even you can agree with that. You don't see the path very well right now, and that is fine. Without doubt to test us, how can we know how strong our faith is. You just have to find your bearings."

[onlyhymns]

Despite his misgivings, Cade saw the wisdom in Norrington's words. "I will, ser," he decided, his voice hoarse but fraught with quiet resolve.

[judgemewhole]

"Then that is all anyone can ask of you, Lieutenant." He nodded his head, before nodding towards the far door, "Shall we continue the tour?"

He had given the young man far and away enough to chew upon.

[onlyhymns]

Cade nodded back and dutifully proceeded, the rest of the tour proving much less eventful than this beginning. That, and he was a bit more withdrawn throughout, rolling things over in his mind in between pointing out landmarks.