DAO: Remember Me Ch. 17

Ch. 17 Free

Title: DAO Remember Me
Author: TalonDragon000
Game: Dragon Age Origins
Pairing: Alistair/Surana
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Bioware except for OC.

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Freedom – the freedom to live one's life; the freedom to choose; the freedom to love… How old was I when that was taken from me? My dreams, my family, my home were all gone in a single night. From then on I was imprisoned in a tower and constantly watched by distrustful eyes. I longed for the outside world. We both did.

We made a promise… a long time ago…

Jowan was seated on the cold hard floor of the prisoner's cell in Redcliffe Castle. He leant his back against the stone wall. He was back in the familiar tight quarters – damp, dark, musky, and cold. What was so different between this prison and the Circle? Either way he couldn't escape. Either way he was always monitored and controlled. All the mages felt it.

Yet, somehow, Violet always managed to make it fun, he mused. Violet…

He sighed and buried his face in his palms. I'm sorry Violet…

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"Black Squirrel… Black Squirrel," a faint whisper sounded in Jowan's ear. He groaned softly and turned over onto his side. Slowly he opened his eyes and found Violet staring intently at him from the side of the bed.

"Violet?" Jowan said while rubbing his eyes. "What time is it?"

Violet hushed him and quickly looked around the room to make sure everyone was still asleep. "It's Purple Bunny, not Violet. And it's time."

"Do we have to?" Jowan groaned. "I'm tired…" he said and started pulling the covers up to his chin.

"Of course we do," she said seriously.

"We can't do it… tomorrow night?" he asked, fishing to find a way out of their mission.

"No. Now get up," she urged and started shaking him.

Jowan continued to lie there and limply sway with her pushes. "Why do I have to do it? Can't you ask someone else… like Anders? He's always sneaking around."

"We tried that, remember? He talks too much and keeps getting distracted. Now, get up," she said more urgently and yanked the covers off of him.

He sighed irritably and sat up. "Fine, fine; what are we doing again?"

"We are raiding the kitchen," she replied.

"…Why? What are we getting that's so important?" he asked.

"That's a surprise," she said and winked (though it was barely visible, given the poor lighting of the room). "You just have to keep watch."

"Okay," Jowan yawned and slid off the bed.

They crept to the door and slowly pushed it open a crack. Violet looked to each side to find the hallway bare.

"The coast is clear," Violet whispered and continued into the hallway. Jowan sleepily followed suit.

As soon as they closed the door behind them they heard footsteps echoing in the distance. Violet quickly channeled her energy and engulfed their bodies in a continuous gust of wind. The wind swirled around them and lifted them into the air just in time to get out of sight. Jowan noticed she was taking measured and even breathes to maintain their elevation. Strain was noticeably written on her face. They floated for a couple more meters before finally dropping back to their feet and stealthily ran toward the doorway to the second stairwell.

They pressed their ears against the wall and listened to the Templars on guard idly chatting.

"Okay… cover me while I move," Violet instructed. Jowan nodded and watched the hallway, ready to cast a sleep spell on anyone that approached.

Violet cracked the door open and cast a sleep spell before the Templars were able to notice the door moved. "Temp-liars sleep," She whispered and motioned him to hurry up the steps.

She peeked through the door for a moment before hurrying inside and shut the door behind them. A few moments later they heard the guard's moans as they regained consciousness. Violet took Jowan's hand and quietly scurried to the prayer room (which they knew was always empty at that time of night) and hid behind a big statue of Andraste.

"Temp-liars sleep?" Jowan mocked after taking a deep breath.

"They need a code name and I couldn't think of anything, okay?" Violet pouted. "Would you rather I said 'temporary liars?"

"What does that even mean?" Jowan asked confusedly.

"I don't know. That sometimes they lie?" she replied, getting a little agitated.

"Mages lie sometimes too, though," he rebutted.

"Well, you have a better idea?" she asked defensively.

"….No," he said reluctantly. He was never very creative when it came to their schemes.

"Then that's what we'll call them," she concluded and looked toward the door. "Okay, the kitchen is just a couple of rooms away. We'll sneak along the hall using an alternating bounding overwatch method. I'll go first. When we reach the kitchen, cover me. I'll seize the item and we'll reconsolidate here at the statue. Got it?"

Jowan blinked and raised an eyebrow. "You've been reading the military tactics books again, haven't you?"

"Well, we've completed multiple missions using them, haven't we?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"Maker's breath," he muttered and pinched the bridge of his nose. "This better be worth it."

Violet smiled and patted his back. "Let's go."

They trailed along the hallway walls, Violet first for a couple feet, then Jowan, and continued until they reached the kitchen entrance and snuck inside.

Violet pointed two fingers to her eyes then turned them out toward the hallway to silently command Jowan to act as lookout. He gave another sigh, but crouched down and peeked out the door. Within moments Violet returned cradling something carefully to her chest.

"Are we clear?" she asked.

He nodded and they ran back to their hiding place.

"Can I see it now?" Jowan asked and reached out to unwrap it, but Violet slapped his hand. "Owe!"

"No, we have to get back to our quarters. The Templars are probably scouting now," she said and carefully placed the item into her small satchel.

"Fine," he frowned.

Getting back was a little trickier. The Templars were extra cognizant of their surroundings, so Violet had Jowan open the door for her to save a few seconds to cast her spell. They spotted a Templar about to inspect their room. Violet cast another sleep spell just as he was about to reach for the handle and they snuck back inside.

When the Templar came to and finally inspected the room Violet and Jowan were laying peacefully asleep in their respective beds.

"That was close," Jowan muttered when the Templar closed the door behind him. He rolled over to his side and gasped to find Violet already crouching next to his bed and digging through her satchel. "Maker, you're very adamant tonight. Will you tell me what this is about, already?"

Violet looked up and smiled at him. Carefully, she unwrapped the item and snapped her fingers so a tiny flame danced on her thumb. "Happy Birthday!" she said in an excited whisper and held out a small slice of cake to him and hovered her thumb over it. "Blow out the candle!"

Jowan gaped before sitting up. "It's not my birthday…" he said, but took the small plate.

"I know, but it's your favorite," she said, her excitement unwavering.

"What?" He looked down and inspected it closer using the small fire for light. "It's… chocolate raspberry?"

"Mhm!" She nodded. "Now make a wish!" she said, wiggling her thumb.

"But… how did you know it was there?" he asked bashfully.

"I overheard the Templars talking about it tonight. Now will you make a wish already? This is hot," she demanded playfully.

Jowan laughed. He couldn't understand why she would go through all that trouble (even more so if they got caught) just to give him a slice of his favorite cake. None-the-less, he humored her. He shook his head with a smirk and closed his eyes.

What to wish for… He thought for a moment. What do I wish for? He frowned. I wish we were free.

He blew the flame out and looked at Violet who smiled back at him with sad eyes. She knew what his wish was. Almost all the mages wished for the same thing.

Violet plopped down next to him and watched Jowan enjoy the first bite. He motioned the plate toward her and she gratefully tore a small piece for herself.

"Where would you want to go?" she asked as she licked her fingers.

"Anywhere…" Jowan replied sadly.

Violet nodded slowly. "Okay then," she said and lifted a pinky up to him. "Let's make a promise. When we are full mages, we'll join the Army, and see the world together."

Jowan smiled and wrapped his pinky around hers. As they continued to enjoy their cake he imagined the both of them roaming vast lands and colorful landscapes.

"Of course, we'll have to run a few errands along the way though…" Violet mused, interrupting Jowan's daydreams.

"Hm? Oh." He realized she was talking about 'him.' "You're still going on about that boy?" he asked with a frown.

There were many things he silently envied: her unnatural discipline and focus to study and excel so quickly in their class, her kindness, her humor, her charisma, but mostly he envied the little boy who stole her heart only after two years. She told many stories about him which he only half-listened to. Could he ever impress her as much as that boy did one day?

His jaw tightened. "You know, he abandoned you. Or did you forget that part?"

Violet paused midway to placing another chunk in her mouth. She looked at him with a frown. "He didn't abandon me. I know he heard me," she said, resting her hands on her lap.

"You think he heard you," he corrected.

She looked solemnly at her hands without another word. Jowan relaxed his demeanor with a sigh. He didn't mean to make her sad, but his frustration got the better of him. "I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have said that."

She nodded and managed a meek smile. "It's okay. You are right. I have no way of knowing if he heard me or not, or if he came for me or not…But that doesn't mean I can't hope." Violet looked up at him. Her eyes danced with what he knew as unyielding faith.

There was no point in trying. He had tried for years to change her mind and he grew to know Violet was sometimes as stubborn as a Revered Mother. He had no chance of winning her heart, but he could still win her admiration.

One day, he silently vowed, I will be even more powerful than you. Then maybe, you'll finally look at me with those same eyes… as someone more than a person to take care of… as more than just a sidekick.

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Jowan sighed angrily and ran his fingers through his hair. He let his hands rest on his head as he hung it low in shame. "Jowan, you fool," he muttered.

Click, click, click.

"What-?" He looked up to look for the source of the strange noise.

A dark hooded figure was crouched at the base of the cell door intently picking at the lock.

"Who-?" Jowan started to ask in bewilderment, but the stranger quickly brought a finger to his lips to gesture his silence. Jowan sat there blinking dumbfounded.

"Why-?" he tried again to get some answers, but the figure huffed irritably and looked at him for a moment. The shadowed glare unnerved Jowan so he held his tongue. The stranger reached into his pocket, pulled out a note, and handed it to him before working the lock again.

Jowan was hesitant to read the note at first, but he found himself slowly unfolding it.

"Black S.," he muttered, reading the note out loud. "Temporary liars sleep." He gasped and felt the blood drain from his face and hands. He trembled. "Fly. Love, Purple B."

He let his hands fall into his lap and looked over to the figure. In that moment, the door squeaked open; the lock-picker stood up, and vanished into the shadows.

Jowan shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck shamefully. "You saved my sorry, undeserving ass again Violet…"