Chapter Text
Solona wasn't sure exactly why she had been called to the first enchanter's office. She was just glad she wasn't the only one. She trailed behind Tanith and Daire as if she could escape notice. First Enchanter Irving had always been kind to her, but Solona was usually too overawed to speak whenever she was around him.
As the three of them waited outside the office, she listened with half an ear to Tanith and Daire chatter. The other two apprentices were full of ideas as to why they had been summoned, anything from a special new course of study to them being in trouble for some mischief.
Daire looked at Solona and laughed at that idea. "Please, Amell in trouble? You've got to be kidding."
Solona's face reddened as Tanith joined in with Daire's laughter. She didn't waste her time longing for things she would never have. All Solona wanted was to be able to keep up her studies and once she was a full mage to be given permission to do her own research. She believed in the Maker and Andraste with all her heart and Solona chose to abide by the Chantry's rules that were supposed to govern their lives without protest or complaint. She didn't even really mind the templars. They were just always there; her silent guardians. Some of the other apprentices loved to poke fun at her because of her acceptance, but it just wasn't in Solona to be a rebel. She was saved from further teasing by the door to the office opening.
"Ah, yes, here you are." It was the first enchanter himself. "Please come in."
The three apprentices looked at each other and then filed into the office. There were three chairs set up in front of the desk. The first enchanter shut the door behind them, gestured towards the chairs, and then crossed the room to sit behind his desk.
Solona waited for Tanith and Daire to take a seat, and she took the empty chair on the end beside Tanith, sitting down, and then giving the first enchanter her attention.
First Enchanter Irving propped his elbows on the desk, clasped his hands together, and laid them on the desk in front of him. "I'm sure you are wondering why you were summoned here."
Three heads nodded in unison.
"You three are the next apprentices who will be going through the Harrowing. As such, there are some things you need to know." The first enchanter paused.
Solona timidly raised her hand.
"You don't have to raise your hand. What did you want to ask, Solona?"
"Shouldn't Jowan be here in that case?"
The first enchanter seemed to freeze for a moment before he replied. "Let's not worry about Jowan right now." He continued on almost as if he didn't want to answer her. "Once you pass your Harrowing, you each will have a decision to make. Have any of you heard any rumors about what happens afterwards, specifically between templars and mages?"
Tanith and Daire exchanged a long look. Solona was just confused. She had no idea what the first enchanter was talking about. Templars watched them to make sure they didn't turn into abominations and protected them from the outside world. What else could there be?
Tanith said rather hesitantly, "There have been stories about templars demanding special attention, but I assumed it was just gossip."
"No, not gossip," the first enchanter said. "There is some truth to those stories."
Daire and Tanith again exchanged a look while Solona felt distinctly lost. What was the first enchanter talking about?
"Let me explain a few things of which you might be unaware. The templars have almost complete control of what occurs in the tower. I do have some small amount of influence with the knight-commander, but I must pick my battles carefully. Isolating young men and women on an island in the middle of a lake without adequate means to satiate their physical desires has consequences. Before a way was found to relieve those pressures, there were a lot of abuses that occurred, and eventually even those in power realized something had to be done. About one hundred years ago, a practice of service was begun, and clearly defined rules were established to benefit both mages and templars alike. These rules help protect all who live in the tower. They have been established in such a way that those who haven't undergone the Harrowing are the most protected."
"You can say what you mean, First Enchanter. You've obviously called us here to tell us something, so just go ahead and do it," Daire said. "We aren't children. We can take the truth."
Solona looked at him in shock, amazed Daire would speak to the first enchanter that way.
He didn't seem to mind, though. "You are exactly right, Daire. You aren't children anymore and that is why you are here. Very well, I spoke of a decision you each must make. Your first choice is to live on this floor with the other harrowed mages. You have access to the library, the dining hall, and the other areas on the bottom floors. Of course, the templars are still present to watch as is their function. You will be expected to abide within the decrees the Chantry sets, but otherwise are generally free to conduct your life as you see fit."
"I hear a 'but' coming." Again, Solona was surprised at the lack of respect Daire showed the first enchanter.
"Just so, young man. There is a price for this freedom. You will also be expected to spend a certain number of hours a week on the floor above this one. How many depends on how popular you are with the templars. While 'on duty,' you are expected to satisfy any templar who seeks service."
Solona felt her heart drop into her stomach. She wasn't sexually experienced, but Solona had no trouble understanding exactly what the first enchanter was talking about. She glanced at Tanith and was slightly sickened at the way the other apprentice's breath had speeded up. Tanith leaned forward towards the first enchanter and licked her lips as if she couldn't wait for this to happen to her. Solona reached up and pushed the glasses back up on her nose so they rested against her face once again before lacing her fingers together in her lap.
"You spoke of a choice, First Enchanter," Solona said. "What's the other option?" She was quite pleased that her voice, though soft, was controlled with no tremor evident.
"For those who prefer not to service the templars, you may live on the top floor of the tower. It's not heated or cooled as are the rest of the levels, and food is only sent up once a day. Sanitation is most basic, but the knight-commander has decreed that those who live there must have a bath twice a month."
Solona's first instinct was complete denial. She loved her daily baths too much to ever give them up.
"In order to help you make your decision, I shall show you both your options. If you would follow me, please." The first enchanter rose from his desk. Solona quickly jumped to her feet with the other two apprentices following her more slowly. When he walked past her to the door, she obediently fell in behind him. He exited his office and turned right, heading towards the door to the stairwell that led to the next floor. Solona had never been up them before. The door to the stairs was always guarded, and apprentices weren't allowed any higher in the tower. Now, she knew why.
The first enchanter spoke a few words to the templar on duty, and he opened the door for them. Solona felt a blush rise from her neck at the avid expression in the templar's eyes as they peered at her out of his helm. She hurriedly averted her gaze and started up the steps after the first enchanter.
Solona followed him up and then through the door at the top of the steps. She stopped suddenly as she could hardly believe her eyes. The large open area was set up as a sort of gathering area, but like none Solona had ever seen before. There were low divans along the walls and couches and chairs set up throughout the room. Paintings on the walls and statues in the room depicted naked figures in lewd poses and positions. Soft mage lights seated on various small tables provided soft illumination while smoke from incense burners wafted through the wide open area. Underneath the slightly cloying odor of the incense, there was a musky smell still evident. It reminded Solona of the time she had caught Merle and Oswin in the supply closet together. They had both been in the midst of dressing, but Solona had realized exactly what they had been up to. The same scent that had filled the air of that enclosed space could be detected here.
"Come along," the first enchanter said to her as Daire and Tanith both passed her, looking around with interest.
Solona obediently moved farther into the room, and it was then she saw that it wasn't empty. At one grouping of furniture, there were two male figures relaxing in chairs. At the foot of one, another male knelt clad only in a small, see-through robe. Solona blushed as there was nothing left to the imagination, and she realized she recognized the kneeling man. It was Douglas, a mage Solona hadn't really known that well as he had gone through his Harrowing several years ago. Douglas was obviously aroused. His eyes were closed, and there was a tension in his body as he held himself still. The templar in the chair was petting Douglas' hair. The templar looked up at them and smiled a small smile.
"Touch yourself for me, mage," he said, without taking his eyes off them as they approached.
Without hesitation, Douglas pushed the robe out of his way, grasped himself, and then began to stroke slowly up and down his shaft.
Solona looked away in embarrassment. She found the flagrant behavior of the templar disturbing. He made no effort to disguise his control of the mage who knelt at his feet and in fact seemed only too willing to flaunt that power. Her eyes happened to fall on the other templar and the mage he was toying with. She was distressed when she realized it was Neria Surana, who had gone through her Harrowing just six months ago. Neria was draped across the templar's lap with her head thrown back against his chest as she swung her hips from one side to another grinding herself across his pelvis. The robe she wore was open and dangled down her arms to expose the entire front of her body. The templar's eyes lit on them as they drew closer. His fingers, which had been squeezing Neria's nipple, ran down her torso and dived between her widely splayed legs. Solona saw a flush come to Neria's face and she looked away from them as her breathing grew heavier and a small moan left her lips, but she never stopped moving against the templar or changed her position.
"So, First Enchanter," said the templar with Neria on his lap, "are you bringing us some new playmates?"
"Not today, Ser Elliot. They are still apprentices and under protection as they have yet to endure their Harrowings although I expect it will be soon."
The other templar rose to his feet and circled the group, looking at the three of them as if he was assessing meat in a marketplace.
"Yum, this one is scrumptious," he said with his eyes on Daire, who boldly met his gaze. He looked at Tanith next. "I know several of our brothers who will be interested in this pretty thing." He turned to Solona, and her eyes dropped to the floor as she waited for what he would say about her. "Hm, a little on the heavy side, don't you think?" It was obvious he was talking to the other templar and not them.
Ser Elliot brought the hand that wasn't between Neria's legs up to rub at his face. "If she rides enough cock, she'll lose a few pounds."
Solona was mortified that the templars were discussing her as if she couldn't hear every word they were saying. She felt the prick of tears and wanted to lash out at the men who had just insulted her, but most of all she wanted to creep away in shame. She didn't think she was fat, but she certainly had heard enough taunts from some of the other apprentices the past few years. Solona preferred to think she was just big boned. To be fair, perhaps, she carried extra flesh around her hips and belly, but she never could turn down the pastries the tower cooks provided.
The first enchanter spoke again. "Come along, now. We must continue on."
The templar lost interest in them as he turned his attention back to the mage he had left stroking himself on the floor. "You better not come, boy. I haven't given you permission for that yet."
Solona watched the hem of the first enchanter's robe as she followed right behind him. She doesn't dare look at either Daire or Tanith. Solona had been the butt of enough of their jokes in that past that she was well aware of the smirks and significant looks the two would be sharing at her expense.
"Now, out here," the first enchanter was saying, "are rooms for individual pleasures. You may be ordered to one at any time by any templar." Solona raised her eyes to look and saw that there were four separate areas, but there weren't doors on any of the entrances. In the first one they passed, she could see a red-headed male tied spread-eagle to a bed. He was blindfolded and gagged. On top of him was a woman that Solona assumed was one of the female templars, judging by her muscular build. She had her head thrown back, and she was riding the man's body with enthusiasm. A stream of vile words left her lips as she continued to pump herself up and down on the captured body below her. Solona looked away, not wanting to know who the mage was. Her curiosity was at an all-time low by this point.
The next two rooms were empty. Coming from the last room, she could hear someone moaning and the slap of flesh on flesh. Solona really didn't want to look, but she seemed unable not to do so. Instead of a bed, the last room had a low platform, and on it was an elven male on his hands and knees. All she could see was that he had dark hair as his face was hidden by the pelvis of the man whose cock was shoved into his mouth. The templar was older, judging by the gray in his hair, and he hadn't even bothered to strip off his clothes. The laces of his breeches were open and they were pushed partway down his thighs. His hands were gripping both sides of the mage's head. Judging by the look on his face, the templar seemed lost in the pleasure that was being provided to him.
There was another man in the room as well. He was behind the kneeling man and was buried in the mage's bottom with his hands planted firmly at the mage's hips. The mage was passive between the two templars with no control of the rhythm as he rebounded between the templar fucking his mouth and the one riding his arse.
Solona watched for a moment almost hypnotized. Growing up in the tower, one couldn't help but be exposed to sexuality at an early age, but she had never seen anything like the sight in front of her. Solona was on the shy side and had never chosen to participate in the shenanigans of some of the other apprentices. She heard a titter behind her and that broke her fascination with the scene. She whipped her head around to see Tanith smirking at her. Tanith whispered a few words to Daire, and then they both started laughing. Solona flushed and then turned her attention back to the first enchanter. She realized he had never stopped walking, and she hurried to catch up with him.
The hallway they had been following gave out to a single large room. It was unoccupied, but it was another that seemed crazily decorated to Solona. There were several couches and low benches along with tables of varying heights. Every surface was covered in either rugs or thick hangings.
"This room is used for group activities," said the first enchanter.
"You mean orgies," Daire said with a grin.
The first enchanter sighed. "Yes, I suppose I do."
He kept walking heading for the next smaller room which seemed to be full of hanging attire, but nothing that Solona had ever seen anyone in the tower wear. There was even what she swore was a pirate outfit and a dress fit for a noble lady.
"This room is pretty self-explanatory. A templar may wish you to wear something besides the short robe, which is the standard attire while you are here."
Tanith ran her hand along some of the outfits as if trying to figure out exactly which ones she wished to put on.
The next room was even larger and full of pieces of furniture that Solona had no idea what they were for. There was a box with two openings, one that looked like a person would lie down with their head inside and their face exposed. Set into one wall was what looked like two long pieces of lumbar that crossed one another. There were hooks set into it at various places. In another area were hanging all sorts of paddles and whips. There were also collars, gags, and various other ropes and chains lay out on a table below. Solona shuddered as she hurried past. She couldn't image what went on here.
The first enchanter turned to look at them as he spoke in a very serious tone. "In the other areas, regardless of what it looks like, there are actually safety procedures that you will learn about before you beginning serving. This room, however, is a little different. No mage can be forced to serve here. It's strictly for volunteers. I would caution you to be careful before agreeing to do so until you have an idea of exactly what occurs and then decide if you are willing to participate in such activities."
The first enchanter's stride was quick as he moved them along. Solona was right at his heels as Daire and Tanith lagged behind taking their time in looking around and whispering to each other.
As they walked into the next area, there was a young woman seated on a wooden bench. She looked up at them, and Solona could easily read the misery on her face before the other mage rearranged her expression. She was dressed in one of the see-through robes and stood quickly when Solona and the first enchanter came through the door.
"First Enchanter," she said in a quiet tone and bowed her head slightly.
"It's Sharon, right?" Irving asked kindly.
"Yes, First Enchanter."
Sharon had gone through her Harrowing two years ago. She seemed to have changed much since Solona had last seen her. She remembered Sharon as a laughing apprentice with a touch of mischievousness always evident in her bearing.
"I have to go. Excuse me, please." Sharon pushed her way past them and Solona watched her leave. Her gaze then turned to the first enchanter. He was watching Sharon walk away from them with an expression of sadness in his eyes.
Seeing her observe him, he spoke very softly so that only she could hear. "Some people adjust to this life better than others." His eyes went from her to Tanith and Daire who were now giggling at something they had been whispering about.
Solona felt sorry for Sharon who was obviously miserable, but she couldn't help worrying about what this all would mean for her personally and how she would feel in a year or so if this became her life.
The first enchanter raised his voice, and for the first time Solona detected a hint of sharpness in his tone. "Come along, you two."
He then waited for the other apprentices to join them before he continued speaking. "This room is where you may change out of your robes and don the standard uniform before heading out to the main area for your shift. There are also areas where you may store things while you are here, although I wouldn't leave anything valuable unattended."
The first enchanter continued on to a nondescript door. He reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a key. "Watch yourselves. These steps are rather narrow."
The three apprentices followed him as they went up and up and up. With the stairs turning in front of her, Solona lost track of how high they climbed. As they progressed higher, the air lost its warmth and became cold. The chill seemed to emanate from the very walls of the tower itself. After what seemed a long time, they reached a small platform with another locked door. The first enchanter pushed the same key in the lock and swung the door open.
What hit Solona first was the smell. Body odor and onions were the primary components, but she thought she caught a whiff of sewer stench as well. As she entered the large open area she saw a group of people huddled around a small heating stone at the other end. The large area was bare of decoration or furniture although Solona could see what appeared to be piles of ragtag material that evidently were sleeping areas along the walls. Everyone turned to look at them except for the mage who was generating the heating spell on the stone as they approached.
A familiar figure moved through the others with a defiant posture. "Irving." Her tone was a challenge.
"Hello, Wynne." To Solona, the first enchanter just sounded tired.
"Come to gawk at us like we were some kind of animals, have you?" Wynne turned her eyes from the first enchanter to the three apprentices and swept them with a gaze that made Solona want to melt through the floor. "Isn't it bad enough the templars pen us up here?"
The first enchanter gave what sounded like a long-suffering sigh. "You know you are free to return to the lower floor at any time. You served your time, Wynne. Greagoir would not gainsay you."
"Don't remind me, Irving. I've learned from my mistakes as I've gotten older. You know what the templars do to us is wrong. I can't believe you condone their actions."
"You know I find no satisfaction in forcing this decision on our young people, but I happen to believe the alternative is worse. We've been over this many times in the past, and I'm not arguing the rights and wrongs with you now. I'm just here to show these apprentices their choices."
With his words, Wynne's attention returned to the three of them. "I assume Irving has shown you the serving rooms." Wynne gave a little sniff as she said last two words as if a bad odor had crossed her path. "I certainly hope you don't decide to become templar whores. This is a harder path, but at least you still have your self-respect."
"Wynne," said the first enchanter with a warning tone.
Solona threw a look at Daire and Tanith. For once they both looked as uncomfortable as Solona felt. She sidled closer to them, subconsciously not wanting to leave the safety of the group. Solona had a hard time believing the woman in front of her was the same one she had admired so much for her healing abilities. Solona had never seen Senior Enchanter Wynne with a hair out of place or in anything less than immaculate robes. Now her hair was oily and falling out of her normal bun. Her robes looked as if they had been slept in… repeatedly, and even standing some distance away, her odor reached Solona. She realized now why the senior enchanter didn't have an apprentice and only gave guest lectures instead of teaching her own courses. The knight-commander must only allow her down to the lower floors on certain occasions.
The first enchanter looked at the three of them huddled together and seemed to realize they had seen enough. "Come along now. It's time for us to return."
Solona hurried after him as a chant broke out seemingly spontaneously among these mages behind them. "Don't be whores! Don't be whores!"
The first enchanter quickly opened the door and rushed them through. As he shut the door and locked it, Solona could still hear the chanting from within.
Daire and Tanith hurried down the stairs ahead of her and the first enchanter. Solona was quiet as she considered the reality of what her life would be from here on out. How could she make a choice between two such awful options?
"Are you all right, Solona?" The first enchanter's voice was so kind she almost wanted to cry.
She gave him a weak smile as she tried to stop the tears that were threatening to form in the corners of her eyes. "I think I'm just a little overwhelmed."
"I'm sorry such a choice is forced upon you, but I must do what is best for everyone. The safety and happiness of the younger children must come first. I hope you can understand that."
In a way, Solona could. The younger apprentices were treated almost as pets by the older mages and seldom denied much as long as their desires were within what was allowed by the Chantry. Even the templars made allowances for their youth, and the high spirits the apprentices showed were often subdued gently. Solona had been mostly happy growing up, and she hadn't realized the price the harrowed mages paid to gain the apprentices those few years of as much normalcy as could be expected for a mage child. Now it was her turn to secure that future for the younger children.
"I'm trying, First Enchanter."
"You are a good girl, and I think one day you will make an excellent instructor. I'm looking forward to welcoming you as a full mage of the Circle."
Again, Solona felt the moisture building up in the corner of her eyes. She hadn't realized the first enchanter knew that much about her, much less that he thought so highly of her. "Thank you." She bit her lip and blinked her eyes rapidly behind the lenses of her glasses as she tried to hide her tears.
They went down a flight of stairs in silence before Solona felt in control of herself again. She asked rather timidly, "Can't you do anything for them?"
The first enchanter shook his head. "I wish I could. I've been trying to find a way to get Wynne out of the tower for years now. There are rumors that the king will be calling for mages to join the army. If that does happen, I hope that the majority of those upstairs will choose to volunteer."
"I see."
At this point Solona and the first enchanter reached the bottom of the stairs where Daire and Tanith were waiting for the first enchanter to open the door. Once again, he pulled the key from his robe. After they were through and the lock secured, he asked them to return to his office with him.
Everyone was silent as they made their way back to First Enchanter Irving's office. The first enchanter walked around his desk and sat back down, so the three apprentices sat in the chairs they occupied before.
The first enchanter leaned his arms on the desk before speaking once again. "Now, in all fairness, I must tell you there is a third option. I don't recommend this, but since it is a choice I feel obligated to tell you about it." The first enchanter paused before continuing on, and his gaze landed on each of them. "You may also choose to service just one templar, who then becomes your protector. You do not have to endure the serving rooms."
Solona perked up a bit. That sounded better than what she had seen upstairs.
"Here's why I don't recommend that option. It can be a very uneven relationship with the templar having all the power. You live in quarters that are assigned to him or her in the templar's living area, and you are at your templar's beck and call whenever they want you. Your templar can refuse to allow you to participate in the normal functions of the tower, such as teaching and studying, citing his or her needs. Because of the living situation and depending on your templar's demands, it can be very isolative. There have been times when a mage has been abused rather severely before I was able to intervene.
"The templar can also withdraw their protection at any time, and you must then immediately decide whether to join the mages in the top of the tower or take up general service upstairs. Remember that you will only be expected to spend a few hours a day in the serving rooms. Other than that, your time is your own, and you will never be approached by a templar outside of the serving rooms. Also, it is usually the first few years that are the worst if you choose service. There are always new apprentices being harrowed, and generally by the time you are thirty or so, your service is done. However, you retain the right to live on the mage's floor for the rest of your life. If you do decide to seek a templar's protection, be very certain of the templar you are entrusting yourself to."
Solona felt a shiver run down her backbone. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea after all.
After that, the first enchanter reminded them that they could not tell any of the other apprentices the information they had been given and dismissed them back to their classes.
Tanith and Daire took off chatting together as soon as they exited the office, and Solona walked slowly back to the apprentice quarters on her own as she tried to get a grip on all she had learned.
Over the next few days, it was strange that everything could seem so much the same and yet be so different. Knowing the decision that was looming in her future, Solona thought about her choices in the times she had alone, leaning first toward one option and then another.
Solona's days passed much as they always had until three nights later when the templars came for her and escorted her to the harrowing chamber.