Lady Marceline once more stood in her officiator's position just off to the side of the carpet that led up to the Inquisitor's throne atop the raised dais. This time, it was decided that it would be Estella who would be the one to preside over the day's judgement. Marceline had received detailed reports of what had transpired in the Approach, and though she once respected the name of the Grey Warden, she was pleased to hear that they had been escorted out of Orlais by one of their own. In addition, once word spread that it was the Inquisition that had successfully sieged the Grey Wardens at Adamant Fortress, they would start to be realized as legitimate threats, for better or for worse. They were murky waters that she would have to navigate, but that would have to wait for a later time.
The other advisors, Ser Leonhardt and Ser Rilien, each stood at their customary positions around the throne, and Romulus likewise was nearby. Others were among them to witness the judgement as well. The Kirkwall Guard Captain stood on the other side of the carpet from her, and he looked tired-- but sober, fortunately. He had yet to shave, even for the day's proceedings and his armor sat haphazardly around his shoulders, but to his credit he remained standing at attention. Their respective captains of the mages and the templars also stood among them. It was her understanding that Aurora once had dealings with the accused, and all three of them were in Kirkwall during the time that he was active.
Eventually, Larissa moved out from behind her and handed off her clipboard. Marceline took a few seconds for herself to read over its contents before she finally spoke aloud. "Lady Inquisitor, if you are ready?" she asked, deferring to the Inquisitor for permission to begin.
Estella still sat gingerly in the ornate chair that served as throne, but her discomfort was masked very well otherwise. Her facial expression was placid, her shoulders back and her spine straight. She didn't dress to Marceline's own standards, but the way she presented herself wasn't anything to complain about either—polished light ringmail and dark leather trousers tucked neatly into tall boots. At the question, she took a visible breath and nodded, her eyes sliding to Ashton for a moment before she spoke. “Yes. Bring him in."
Ser Leonhardt didn't even need to repeat the command; the guards at the door heard Estella and opened it themselves, admitting two templars, who'd been chosen to escort Pike from his cell for the obvious reason. They respected the position they were in and his right to a trial, clearly, but neither did either look pleased to be in his company, and they brought him to stand before her briskly, backing off only half a foot once he was where they wanted him.
"Lady Inquisitor, I present to you the apostate and fugitive Elias Pike," She hid the disgust in her voice very well, and she let her eyes linger on the man only for a moment before they moved back to Estella.
That didn't stop a laugh from escaping Pike. Though she would've rather had it otherwise, Pike was brought to them ungagged. He had a right to a fair trial, and that meant being able to speak on his defense. She didn't expect much of a defense though. "Madame Inquisitor, it is... pleasant to see that you remain alive. Somehow," he said. One of the templars roughly shook him by his shoulder, but otherwise did nothing more, leaving Pike chuckling once more.
"The formal charges levied against him for the crimes committed as an accomplice to Corypheus are as follows," Marceline continued, preferring not to indulge the madman. "Crimes against the Order of the Grey Warden, blood magic and apostasy, attempted assassination of both Inquisitors, terrorist activities committed in the city of Kirkwall, and many, many others," she did not wish the read the entire list in her hands.
"What? No murder? Or is that filed under crimes against the order and what not?" Pike grinned and added sharply. A commotion arose from the other side of the carpet as Pike's words had set off Ashton, who was now trying to get to him.
The flighty bird-like woman stood closest to the large doors leading into the chamber. Sparrow's expression bellied many things, but managed to placate itself into a gloomy grimace. Her eyes were downcast as the proceedings continued. Even as Ashton’s hackles raised to meet Pike's glib remark, cutting through the room like a knife, she hadn’t moved. Perhaps, that was the greatest indication that she wished for Pike’s head to roll.
Leon stepped into Ashton's trajectory, physically blocking the other man from reaching Pike.
“Ashton. Please." Estella's tone was gentle, but there was a firmness to it that she rarely used. “He's entitled to speak for himself without reprisal." Her brows were heavy over her eyes, but she turned them resolutely back to Pike.
"Is he?" It was not so much as a question from the Guard Captain, but a statement. As someone with a family of her own, Marceline felt it... understandable. She couldn't, or even wouldn't imagine what he was going through. But despite that, Estella was right. Eventually, after casting glares around the room, Ashton reeled himself in, but he didn't relax. It was Aurora who gently grabbed him by the arm and drew him back, and even after she did not remove her hand.
Pike on the other hand seemed surprised. Not at Ashton's outburst, but Estella's words. He stared at her with his brows raised, putting his feral eyes on display for everyone to see. "I am?" he asked, rather incredulously. Eventually, his features settled back into a smirk. "Then I didn't do it. See, the Wardens and the Templars? They did it to themselves. They set themselves up for the fall. I was simply the push over the edge they needed," he said with shrugged. "It would've happened regardless."
“And if you push someone off a bridge, it's still attempted murder," Estella pointed out. It was a passable imitation or Rilien, actually. She sighed through her nose, turning to her advisors. “There is also the matter of Kirkwall to consider," she said quietly, but left a silence for them to speak.
Leon took the opportunity first. “There is no comparing the magnitude of his various crimes. We have as much right to pass judgement here as Kirkwall does, and they as much as us." He glanced back at Ashton for a moment. “We should be careful not to allow personal feelings to interfere here, however. Justice must be blind."
Ser Séverine cleared her throat from the side of the room. "Lady Inquisitor, if I may..." she paused, evaluating the prisoner before her. It was obvious she had significant disdain for Pike, but she was doing well to keep her tone neutral, and her expression. "This mage has proven time and time again that he is a danger to everyone around him. With the forces he meddles with, and the stability of his mind, or lack thereof, it would seem to me that he is a danger to himself as well. I... would not normally suggest the Rite of Tranquility as punishment, but if there is a mage deserving of it, I believe it would be this one." There were more templars than usual in the hall for the judgement, and a few of them could be heard murmuring in approval.
The Knight-Captain's gaze turned to Estella. "If I have suggested too much, please don't hesitate to correct me. But I'm sure you remember the sight of the Chantry explosion in Kirkwall as well as I do. I would not see such a thing happen again."
“That is not a solution. If we are to kill him, let us simply kill him. Destroying every trace of his identity and letting him wander in a shell is no mercy. And if he deserves none, you would do better to put him to the sword." Rilien delivered the words into the void that followed, his own dull tone a reminder that he knew perhaps better than any of the rest ever could just what the suggestion of tranquility really entailed. He did not seem offended by the suggestion, merely to be inspecting it in his typical logical fashion.
"I agree with Rilien, tranquility should never be an answer," unlike Rilien, Aurora spoke with a deep frown. As a mage herself, and captain of the Inquisition's mage forces, Aurora had numerous dealings with tranquil. Perhaps it was an emotional response from the captain, in spite of Leon's words, but Marceline found herself in agreement with Rilien. Sparrow nodded in accession, though she made no comment.
"An execution would be far more efficient than the Rite of Tranquility, while also not upsetting the mage faction that has allied with us," And allowing their Inquisitor to order Pike be made into a tranquil would do just that. It also appeared that the man himself understood this, as he stood with a grin, unperturbed of the talk of his possible tranquility. Either that, or he was well and truly mad. It was difficult to tell, in all honesty.
It was Aurora who spoke again, this time to Estella. "I believe he should be sent to Kirkwall to stand trial in front of Sophia and the Templars who remain there," she said with a thin frown. "He was once of the Kirkwall circle, it's only fitting that he should receive justice where it all began," she added as she crossed her arms.
Estella sat back slightly in the chair, clearly deep in thought. It was unclear what she thought of the suggestion to make Pike tranquil, or of the other options available to them. It took her several minutes to straighten fully again. When she did, she sighed slightly. “I can understand why everyone thinks as they do. But I believe matters between Pike and the city of Kirkwall are even less resolved than his business with us." It made a certain amount of sense; the situation with the Grey Wardens had been more or less resolved. Kirkwall had as of yet had no chance to seek justice for what had become of the Chantry there.
“I remand you to Captain Riviera's custody, on the understanding that you will be safely transported to Kirkwall to face judgement by the Viscountess and answer for your crimes. Lady Marceline, if you would be willing to provide them also with an official account of our evidence for his other deeds, I believe Lady Sophia should be given the most accurate picture possible of what he has done."
Ashton turned toward Estella, already shaking his head in the negative. "No," it was a quick, sharp answer. He winced afterward as if he hadn't meant to sound so venomous, and began slower in the following attempt. "No... I can't. You don't want me to be the one escorting him. He wouldn't make it," he said, shooting a dangerous glare Pike's direction. The other man simply shrugged the glare off and began looking around Skyhold, apparently bored with the conversation taking place.
"I suggest sending him to Kirkwall before I take my leave."
"If my services are not required here for a short time," Knight-Captain Séverine suggested, "I would be willing to escort the prisoner to Kirkwall with a small detachment of my templars. You have my word no harm will come to him, forgive my earlier suggestion. I will gladly trust the judgement of Lady Sophia." The other benefit to Séverine was obvious. She had previously mentioned serving in Kirkwall for some time, and had not been able to return since her departure on orders to observe the Lord Seeker's activities.
Estella nodded easily. “All right. Ser Séverine's custody, then." She glanced to the templars at guard, who stepped up behind Pike and took hold of his arms once more, ushering him down the long runner.
Sparrow only stayed long enough to hear Estella’s decision being made, though it was difficult to tell if she was at all happy with the results. By the pinch of her mouth and the tightness in her fists, she might’ve thought it best to simply kill him there. Perhaps, she would have done so if it were her choice to make. She passed behind Ashton and settled a hand across his shoulder, feathering it across to the other, before sliding out the door as if she’d never been there in the first place. No words could replace what was lost. So, she offered none.
As soon as the door was closed behind them, Estella stood, descending the dais as though she couldn't be away from it soon enough. “I'm sorry, Ashton; I didn't mean to suggest anything you didn't think you were up to." Her remorse broke clearly through the veneer of stoicism she wore; she pursed her lips and shook her head slightly. “That was it for today, right?" The question was directed at Marceline.
Marceline glanced down to the clipboard in her hand and after a moment of inspecting it she nodded. "Yes Lady Inquisitor, that should be it," she answered, holding out the clipboard for Larissa to melt back into view for a second to take.
"Actually," Ashton spoke up, causing a few set of eyes to turn his direction. He met a couple of them before turning his gaze on someone specific. "Rilien, if you can, I have a favor," he said, crossing the carpet so that he did not have to speak to him across the room. "I... Can you get a letter to Lucien for me?" he said, sighing deeply. "He... I want to be the one to tell him about Nos. He'd want to know."
Rilien blinked in typical owlish fashion, then inclined his head. “Of course. Do you already have the letter you would like to send, or should I wait for you to pen it?"
"I still need to pen it," Ashton noted, "I'll see that you get it soon." His hands then went to his head, his fingers running through his thick brown hair. "How about Ithilian and Amalia? Do you know where we can get into contact with them? They should know too." He asked.
The tranquil shook his head. “No one here knows where they are. If we encounter them before you do, I will see that they are informed. If you wish to leave a letter for them in case that happens, I will keep it for you." Rilien folded his arms into his sleeves.
Ashton forced a tiny laugh. It was a hoarse, dry creature, without any mirth. "I... think I'll leave that to you. I've only got one in me, I'm afraid," he said with a broken smile.
Rilien did not argue, simply dipping his chin again in acknowledgment. “As you wish."
The other advisors, Ser Leonhardt and Ser Rilien, each stood at their customary positions around the throne, and Romulus likewise was nearby. Others were among them to witness the judgement as well. The Kirkwall Guard Captain stood on the other side of the carpet from her, and he looked tired-- but sober, fortunately. He had yet to shave, even for the day's proceedings and his armor sat haphazardly around his shoulders, but to his credit he remained standing at attention. Their respective captains of the mages and the templars also stood among them. It was her understanding that Aurora once had dealings with the accused, and all three of them were in Kirkwall during the time that he was active.
Eventually, Larissa moved out from behind her and handed off her clipboard. Marceline took a few seconds for herself to read over its contents before she finally spoke aloud. "Lady Inquisitor, if you are ready?" she asked, deferring to the Inquisitor for permission to begin.
Estella still sat gingerly in the ornate chair that served as throne, but her discomfort was masked very well otherwise. Her facial expression was placid, her shoulders back and her spine straight. She didn't dress to Marceline's own standards, but the way she presented herself wasn't anything to complain about either—polished light ringmail and dark leather trousers tucked neatly into tall boots. At the question, she took a visible breath and nodded, her eyes sliding to Ashton for a moment before she spoke. “Yes. Bring him in."
Ser Leonhardt didn't even need to repeat the command; the guards at the door heard Estella and opened it themselves, admitting two templars, who'd been chosen to escort Pike from his cell for the obvious reason. They respected the position they were in and his right to a trial, clearly, but neither did either look pleased to be in his company, and they brought him to stand before her briskly, backing off only half a foot once he was where they wanted him.
"Lady Inquisitor, I present to you the apostate and fugitive Elias Pike," She hid the disgust in her voice very well, and she let her eyes linger on the man only for a moment before they moved back to Estella.
That didn't stop a laugh from escaping Pike. Though she would've rather had it otherwise, Pike was brought to them ungagged. He had a right to a fair trial, and that meant being able to speak on his defense. She didn't expect much of a defense though. "Madame Inquisitor, it is... pleasant to see that you remain alive. Somehow," he said. One of the templars roughly shook him by his shoulder, but otherwise did nothing more, leaving Pike chuckling once more.
"The formal charges levied against him for the crimes committed as an accomplice to Corypheus are as follows," Marceline continued, preferring not to indulge the madman. "Crimes against the Order of the Grey Warden, blood magic and apostasy, attempted assassination of both Inquisitors, terrorist activities committed in the city of Kirkwall, and many, many others," she did not wish the read the entire list in her hands.
"What? No murder? Or is that filed under crimes against the order and what not?" Pike grinned and added sharply. A commotion arose from the other side of the carpet as Pike's words had set off Ashton, who was now trying to get to him.
The flighty bird-like woman stood closest to the large doors leading into the chamber. Sparrow's expression bellied many things, but managed to placate itself into a gloomy grimace. Her eyes were downcast as the proceedings continued. Even as Ashton’s hackles raised to meet Pike's glib remark, cutting through the room like a knife, she hadn’t moved. Perhaps, that was the greatest indication that she wished for Pike’s head to roll.
Leon stepped into Ashton's trajectory, physically blocking the other man from reaching Pike.
“Ashton. Please." Estella's tone was gentle, but there was a firmness to it that she rarely used. “He's entitled to speak for himself without reprisal." Her brows were heavy over her eyes, but she turned them resolutely back to Pike.
"Is he?" It was not so much as a question from the Guard Captain, but a statement. As someone with a family of her own, Marceline felt it... understandable. She couldn't, or even wouldn't imagine what he was going through. But despite that, Estella was right. Eventually, after casting glares around the room, Ashton reeled himself in, but he didn't relax. It was Aurora who gently grabbed him by the arm and drew him back, and even after she did not remove her hand.
Pike on the other hand seemed surprised. Not at Ashton's outburst, but Estella's words. He stared at her with his brows raised, putting his feral eyes on display for everyone to see. "I am?" he asked, rather incredulously. Eventually, his features settled back into a smirk. "Then I didn't do it. See, the Wardens and the Templars? They did it to themselves. They set themselves up for the fall. I was simply the push over the edge they needed," he said with shrugged. "It would've happened regardless."
“And if you push someone off a bridge, it's still attempted murder," Estella pointed out. It was a passable imitation or Rilien, actually. She sighed through her nose, turning to her advisors. “There is also the matter of Kirkwall to consider," she said quietly, but left a silence for them to speak.
Leon took the opportunity first. “There is no comparing the magnitude of his various crimes. We have as much right to pass judgement here as Kirkwall does, and they as much as us." He glanced back at Ashton for a moment. “We should be careful not to allow personal feelings to interfere here, however. Justice must be blind."
Ser Séverine cleared her throat from the side of the room. "Lady Inquisitor, if I may..." she paused, evaluating the prisoner before her. It was obvious she had significant disdain for Pike, but she was doing well to keep her tone neutral, and her expression. "This mage has proven time and time again that he is a danger to everyone around him. With the forces he meddles with, and the stability of his mind, or lack thereof, it would seem to me that he is a danger to himself as well. I... would not normally suggest the Rite of Tranquility as punishment, but if there is a mage deserving of it, I believe it would be this one." There were more templars than usual in the hall for the judgement, and a few of them could be heard murmuring in approval.
The Knight-Captain's gaze turned to Estella. "If I have suggested too much, please don't hesitate to correct me. But I'm sure you remember the sight of the Chantry explosion in Kirkwall as well as I do. I would not see such a thing happen again."
“That is not a solution. If we are to kill him, let us simply kill him. Destroying every trace of his identity and letting him wander in a shell is no mercy. And if he deserves none, you would do better to put him to the sword." Rilien delivered the words into the void that followed, his own dull tone a reminder that he knew perhaps better than any of the rest ever could just what the suggestion of tranquility really entailed. He did not seem offended by the suggestion, merely to be inspecting it in his typical logical fashion.
"I agree with Rilien, tranquility should never be an answer," unlike Rilien, Aurora spoke with a deep frown. As a mage herself, and captain of the Inquisition's mage forces, Aurora had numerous dealings with tranquil. Perhaps it was an emotional response from the captain, in spite of Leon's words, but Marceline found herself in agreement with Rilien. Sparrow nodded in accession, though she made no comment.
"An execution would be far more efficient than the Rite of Tranquility, while also not upsetting the mage faction that has allied with us," And allowing their Inquisitor to order Pike be made into a tranquil would do just that. It also appeared that the man himself understood this, as he stood with a grin, unperturbed of the talk of his possible tranquility. Either that, or he was well and truly mad. It was difficult to tell, in all honesty.
It was Aurora who spoke again, this time to Estella. "I believe he should be sent to Kirkwall to stand trial in front of Sophia and the Templars who remain there," she said with a thin frown. "He was once of the Kirkwall circle, it's only fitting that he should receive justice where it all began," she added as she crossed her arms.
Estella sat back slightly in the chair, clearly deep in thought. It was unclear what she thought of the suggestion to make Pike tranquil, or of the other options available to them. It took her several minutes to straighten fully again. When she did, she sighed slightly. “I can understand why everyone thinks as they do. But I believe matters between Pike and the city of Kirkwall are even less resolved than his business with us." It made a certain amount of sense; the situation with the Grey Wardens had been more or less resolved. Kirkwall had as of yet had no chance to seek justice for what had become of the Chantry there.
“I remand you to Captain Riviera's custody, on the understanding that you will be safely transported to Kirkwall to face judgement by the Viscountess and answer for your crimes. Lady Marceline, if you would be willing to provide them also with an official account of our evidence for his other deeds, I believe Lady Sophia should be given the most accurate picture possible of what he has done."
Ashton turned toward Estella, already shaking his head in the negative. "No," it was a quick, sharp answer. He winced afterward as if he hadn't meant to sound so venomous, and began slower in the following attempt. "No... I can't. You don't want me to be the one escorting him. He wouldn't make it," he said, shooting a dangerous glare Pike's direction. The other man simply shrugged the glare off and began looking around Skyhold, apparently bored with the conversation taking place.
"I suggest sending him to Kirkwall before I take my leave."
"If my services are not required here for a short time," Knight-Captain Séverine suggested, "I would be willing to escort the prisoner to Kirkwall with a small detachment of my templars. You have my word no harm will come to him, forgive my earlier suggestion. I will gladly trust the judgement of Lady Sophia." The other benefit to Séverine was obvious. She had previously mentioned serving in Kirkwall for some time, and had not been able to return since her departure on orders to observe the Lord Seeker's activities.
Estella nodded easily. “All right. Ser Séverine's custody, then." She glanced to the templars at guard, who stepped up behind Pike and took hold of his arms once more, ushering him down the long runner.
Sparrow only stayed long enough to hear Estella’s decision being made, though it was difficult to tell if she was at all happy with the results. By the pinch of her mouth and the tightness in her fists, she might’ve thought it best to simply kill him there. Perhaps, she would have done so if it were her choice to make. She passed behind Ashton and settled a hand across his shoulder, feathering it across to the other, before sliding out the door as if she’d never been there in the first place. No words could replace what was lost. So, she offered none.
As soon as the door was closed behind them, Estella stood, descending the dais as though she couldn't be away from it soon enough. “I'm sorry, Ashton; I didn't mean to suggest anything you didn't think you were up to." Her remorse broke clearly through the veneer of stoicism she wore; she pursed her lips and shook her head slightly. “That was it for today, right?" The question was directed at Marceline.
Marceline glanced down to the clipboard in her hand and after a moment of inspecting it she nodded. "Yes Lady Inquisitor, that should be it," she answered, holding out the clipboard for Larissa to melt back into view for a second to take.
"Actually," Ashton spoke up, causing a few set of eyes to turn his direction. He met a couple of them before turning his gaze on someone specific. "Rilien, if you can, I have a favor," he said, crossing the carpet so that he did not have to speak to him across the room. "I... Can you get a letter to Lucien for me?" he said, sighing deeply. "He... I want to be the one to tell him about Nos. He'd want to know."
Rilien blinked in typical owlish fashion, then inclined his head. “Of course. Do you already have the letter you would like to send, or should I wait for you to pen it?"
"I still need to pen it," Ashton noted, "I'll see that you get it soon." His hands then went to his head, his fingers running through his thick brown hair. "How about Ithilian and Amalia? Do you know where we can get into contact with them? They should know too." He asked.
The tranquil shook his head. “No one here knows where they are. If we encounter them before you do, I will see that they are informed. If you wish to leave a letter for them in case that happens, I will keep it for you." Rilien folded his arms into his sleeves.
Ashton forced a tiny laugh. It was a hoarse, dry creature, without any mirth. "I... think I'll leave that to you. I've only got one in me, I'm afraid," he said with a broken smile.
Rilien did not argue, simply dipping his chin again in acknowledgment. “As you wish."