#dorian gets made out with right in the front gate in front of everyone

[attractthecrows]

when the inner circle leaves the Inquisition to go their separate ways Revallen casts a protection charm on them that he applies with a kiss. no it doesn't have to be a kiss but that's Nessie's favorite so he just got used to it

[tomtenadia]

A Little Braver - ch. 5

So, here is ch. 5 for you all.

We finally get to meet the mysterious man that Aelin was kissing.

Also, the firehouse gets a great news

Enjoy it!

Ten days had passed. Aelin had been discharged from the hospital and allowed to move around in crutches providing she took it easy, a concept totally alien to her. She had gone back to the station as soon as she could do it.

The deadline for the performance review was fast approaching and she had spent the last few days at the station. They only got a week extension so she had offered to help but all she could do was sit and direct the show. Also, working kept her mind off… things… and as in things she meant a certain arsehole who had gone completely awol. She had texted him and never got a reply. Lately every time she tried to phone him she was told that the phone was not available. So she had stopped. He clearly was offended by what she had said. She just wished he had spoken to her, explained why her confession had terrified him so much. Just as she had finally found the resolve to try again after losing Sam, he had gone and ruined everything.

A glove hit her face “planet Earth calls Aelin.”

She refocused for a second and noticed Ansel’s red mane of hair in front of her.

“Dorian is looking for you. He is in your office and Aedion is there already.”

Aelin groaned “can they come to the couch? I am so comfy here.”

“Apparently not.”

“Fine.” She dropped the documents she was revising and grabbed her crutches and pulled herself up.

At snail pace she made her way to her office and once she got there she saw Aedion standing in front of her desk while Dorian had his feet up on it and was sitting relaxed on her comfortable chair.

“I don’t care if you are the chief. First, feet off my desk, second, arse off my chair.”

Dorian moved away and let her sit down and grabbed her crutches.

“So, what is so important that I had to leave my spot on the couch?”

Dorian passed her the documents he was holding, with a grin. He was positive this was going to cheer her up.

“No fucking way. You did it.”

He smiled at her smugly “Not entirely my merit.” He confessed “As you remember, the community protested in front of the government in the aftermath of the embankment accident. They did it just before the budget review was due. The government could not ignore them and what you all did that night. And I guess that the statement from your cheerleader had helped a lot as well.”

“Who?”

“Someone I am not allowed to mention in your presence.”

Aelin stare darkened all of a sudden.

“We are getting a second engine, but that engine needs staff.” She pointed out, her excitement taking a hit “I was just getting to that” added Dorian quite quickly, “Thomas has offered to give you a few men to help staff the second engine. It will have a mixed crew of newbies and experienced staff for a while. Aedion and I thought it was the best way to go.”

Aelin nodded “I want to help interview the candidates. Aedion is busy with drills. I, on the other hand, I have plenty of time.”

“As if I can sideline you. You are the captain after all.” Added Dorian knowing full well that if Aelin had her mind set on a task it was almost impossible to dissuade her.

“I want a bigger female presence. I can’t believe that from all the candidates that graduate from the academy there are no good female firefighters.”

“I can spread the news at the academy and see who applies and go from there.”

“Good.” Aelin relaxed on the chair.

“We have also have been invited to a party thrown by the mayor.”

“You are joking.” Aelin hated that kind of party. She had been to a few and it had been a nightmare.

“There is no escaping it. We have all the be present and dress mess is required.”

“My leg is in a protective support, if I wear dress mess I need to wear the skirt which means heels and can you see where I am going with this?” Aelin protested.

“I guess we can do an exception for you. Wear your regular blue trousers, make sure your boots are shining and wear your uniform shirt with the tie, not the t-shirt. And don’t forget the hat.”

“I can live with that.”

“When is the dreadful event?” Asked Aedion who hated those ceremonies just as much as Aelin.

“This Saturday.”

“We are on night shift, you genius.”

Dorian smiled dangerously “Not anymore. Second team is taking the night shift. Let me remind you that attendance is compulsory and pass the info to the team.”

“Yes, Chief.” And Aelin was very tempted to flip him off, but he was still her boss.

“Lys and Elide are to come as well. They are part of the team.”

“Oh so, no one is immune to this horrible shenanigans. Lovely.” Aelin sat back, still annoyed at the invitation.

“No darling, if I have to suffer, you will all go down with me.” And with that Dorian disappeared behind the door.

“Come on Aedion, let’s go and ruin the team’s day.”

Slowly the two made their way back in the common area where the squad was relaxing. Aedion had put them through a gruelling session of drills in the morning and now they needed time to unwind. No one had taken nicely the fact that the review has been postponed only by a week, but at least they hadn’t asked Aelin to attend as well with a destroyed knee. She would be there of course but on the sidelines.

“Ok, people,” Aelin shouted as she slowly made her way to her team “Brullo, switch off the tv for a minute.”

“That doesn’t sound promising,” complained Ren.

“Where are Lys and Elide?”

“In the ambulance doing inventory.” Replied Nox.

“Ok, can you please go and get them?” She asked him.

He nodded and ran away and got back a few moments later with the two ladies in tow.

“Ladies, sit.”

“Uh oh.” Said Lysandra, sitting on Aedion’s lap.

“Now that everyone is here, I have an announcement.” She smiled wickedly and the team shivered. That was her scary smile “Our esteemed mayor has decided to throw a party this Saturday. Bad news is… we are all invited so that he can show us how he appreciates what we do for the community.”

“Fuck no,” shouted Ansel, while finishing the bowl of cereals she was eating.

“We are on night shift.” Added Brullo.

“No we are not. Dorian gave the shift to second team. We are all free.”

A chorus of very rude words erupted from the team. Yeah, everyone hated those parties.

“Oh and by the way… it has to be dress mess.”

The protests grew louder. Aelin let them vent for a moment before putting an end to it.

“Guys!” She shouted, and the room went quiet “I know none of us like those parties, but my hands are tied. Dorian made it pretty clear that this is mandatory. So, protest how you want but there is no getting out of it.”

The team went back to their protest when Aelin raised her voice again “Did I say I was done?”

The group went silent again.

“The second piece of information is hopefully a bit more welcome.” And she really hoped so “we are getting our second engine.”

The cheers that erupted from the team were of pure joy.

“How did you do it?”

“You have to thank Dorian. He is the one who pulled the trick.” And Rowan apparently. No, she was not going there.

“He really is better than his old man. We have been pleading the old bastard for ages and nothing. A few months in charge and Dorian gives us the second engine. If it wasn’t that I am I straight I’d kiss the guy.” Said Ren happily and everyone laughed. 

Good, Aelin thought, they needed the good spirits.

“How will we do for crew?” Asked Ansel.

“Thomas is willing to give us some of his experienced men from one of his engines and take a few newbies. We’ll man the engine with a hybrid crew. Half experienced and half newbies. I need everyone to help with training. Aedion and I will do the main stuff but you guys are involved in this as well. I am out of commission for a while so I can only do classroom training.”

“We’ll help you, cap.” Chimed Nox happily.

Aelin turned to Ansel “I have asked to have a few more ladies in the team.”

“Thanks for that. Far too much testosterone in here.”

Aelin sat back down on the sofa, her knee started to get sore again “We are going to have other women hopefully, just don’t break their hearts.” She told Ansel.

Two of the guys sprayed what they were drinking, Aelin laughed “Oh come on, don’t tell me you had no idea Ansel was swinging on both sides.” Joked Aelin smiling at the woman.

“Both…” asked Brullo still quite shocked.

Ansel drank her coffee very calmly “Men, women, on a few occasion both at the same time.”

Aelin laughed at the expression of the guys.

“Ansel, I think you broke our boys.”

Aelin mobile went off and for a moment she hoped. But that hope had been short lived.

“Give me two minutes,” she said at the person at the phone. She stood and very slowly she made her way back to her office.

Once she got off the phone she stayed in her office to work. Then the dispatch siren went off and she heard the team depart and staying behind broke her heart.

She worked a bit longer but her mind could never fully concentrate. So she decided to do something stupid while the team was out on a call. She booked a taxi and not long after she was in front of the station waiting for her ride.

The driver got her at the airbase pretty quickly. She took out her pass and she hoped it worked even without him about. The man at the main gate let her through after checking her badge. So apparently he had told people she was allowed on the premises. That was a start. Painfully she reached the second check point and a guard approached her. Ok, her luck had already ran out.

“Can I help you, miss?”

“Yes, I am here to see captain Whitethorn.”

The man looked at her with curiosity for a second.

Did she got to the right airbase? As far as she knew there was only one and the first guy let her in.

“I am sorry miss but the captain and his team left a week ago.”

“Left?” Her voice trembled.

“Yes ma’am. They have been recalled and deployed a week ago.”

“Oh.” Was all Aelin managed “Th— thank you.” She turned and made her way back to the exit. Her heart slowly breaking. She sat down on a cement wall and let the sobs come. She took the phone and dialled his number and it went to voicemail “You could have told me. Instead you left. You just left me. Do you really hate me that much?” She sobbed and brushed her hand against her eyes “I hate you and I wish I never met you. Don’t ever bother look for me when you come back… I don’t want to see your face anywhere near my station. I am done with you, captain.” She hung up the phone and lowered her head and kept crying. She was done with men. She was done with pain and a broken heart. It was not worth it.

Eventually she pulled herself upright again and started walking. She had no idea to where, which she then realised that with crutches was a really bad idea. She had to stop a few times, exhaustion taking root. But the pain in her leg was keeping away the pain in her soul. It was much later when she realised she ended up in the west of Orynth and decided to go to west station, perhaps she could bribe the guys to give her a lift back to her firehouse.

Once outside the station, Thomas was the first one who noticed her. He ran to her and Aelin collapsed in his arm.

“Aelin, what are you doing here?’

“I need to sit” was all she managed. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to the section with all the bunk beds. He placed the crutches on the floor and sat on the bed at her side.

“What happened?” He asked when he noticed her puffy eyes “Why are you over here? On your own?”

“I was at the airbase.”

Thomas looked at her in shock “are you telling me that you walked in your condition from the airbase to here?”

Aelin nodded. “Can you give me a lift back?”

“Of course,” he patted her leg “let me go and tell the guys.”

He came back not long after, and lifted her in his arms “Let’s go.”

Once in the car Aelin relaxed and leaned her head against the window.

“Excited about the big night with the Mayor?”

Aelin groaned and Thomas laughed.

“Exactly the reaction my whole team had as well.”

She sighed “Dorian said it’s mandatory and I think for the very first time I have been this close to hit him. But he still is my superior.”

Thomas chuckled “If there is someone who can hit the chief without repercussions is you.”

Aelin turned and looked at him with a questioning stare.

“I mean because you are close. It’s not news that the man is madly in love with you. He might let you off if you beat him. Actually he might even like it.”

This time it was Aelin’s turn to laugh “Dorian and I… nothing ever happened. We are just really good friends. Not even a kiss.”

“So now the news is that you have your eyes set on a certain airforce captain.”

Aelin tensed at those words “You all are a bunch of crazy gossiper, you know that?”

Thomas shrugged “What did he do?”

“I don’t want to talk about him.” Her tone hard and the man at her side realised it was time to shut up. They were at her station anyway.

Aelin noticed the engine was back and she knew she was in trouble. They clearly had noticed her absence. When she decided to look at her phone again she saw a lot of message and missed phone calls from Aedion. Damn, she was screwed.

“Here you are, my lady.”

Aelin leaned over and kissed him on the cheek “thank you so much for the ride.”

“Anytime.” He opened his mouth as if to speak, then stopped and tried again “if you need to talk, I am here. I know you have your friends, but if you prefer to talk with someone who is not around you all day, I am here.”

“You are wonderful.”

He helped her get out of the car, they said goodbye and he drove away again.

Aedion came marching on as soon as he noticed she was back “where the hell have you been? Why don’t you answer your bloody phone? We came back and you were not here, where you were supposed to be.” She felt bad for making them all worry but she did not feel like explaining herself so she just moved past him and in silence she dragged herself to her office and slammed the door shut.

She sat down at her desk and plopped her leg on the spare chair the guys had placed at her side so she could stretch her injured leg, hoping for the pain to subside. She took a few minutes for herself, then texted Lysandra telling her she needed her and Elide.

The two women arrived a few minutes later. They sat on the chair in front of her desk and Aelin knew that Lys was just as mad as Aedion had been.

“Where were you? We came back and you were gone.”

“I went to the airbase.” She confessed, looking outside the window, the sky looked heavy grey and she was positive snow was coming.

“As in the airbase. His airbase.”

Aelin nodded “I needed answers. I needed to know why he left that way. I had to ask him why all this hate.”

“And?”

Aelin felt tears sting her eyes again “he was gone.” She paused “the whole team has been recalled and left for a mission a week ago. No goodbyes. Nothing. He just took off.”

Lysandra stood and ran to hug her friend “what an arsehole.”

Aelin started sobbing again “all I could do was leave him an angry voicemail telling to get away from me forever.”

“I am seriously going to kick his arse.”

Aelin pulled back from the hug “Not worth it remember?”

“We all go to that stupid party and we’ll find you a man there. Perhaps a hot wealthy man.”

Aelin chuckled “You know what, screw it. I’ll remain single all my life and if I want a good time I might ask Ansel.”

The two women laughed “she might take you up on that, you know, right?” Added Lysandra.

“Can we just stop talking about it? Fine he is hot but is he not a nice man. I want to forget that I even contemplated the fact that I had feelings for the bastard.”

“Copy that. I will pass the message along.”

“Have you considered that he might not be able to reply to you because of where he is? Perhaps he is on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the sea.”

Lysandra and Aelin stared at Elide.

“What?” She said shrugging “Lorcan gave me his number, he told me to text him. But he added as well that in the case he was going to leave for a mission not to worry if he did not reply because sometimes their phones don’t work.”

“So you knew they were away?”

“No,” replied the woman lifting her hands “I haven’t heard from him in a while. He is not the greatest of texter and I haven’t spoken to him in a while. I had no idea he was away until now when you told us.”

“Basically airforce boys do not know how to communicate. Got it.” Sarcasm dripping from Aelin’s voice.

Aelin shifted uncomfortably in her chair and Lysandra noticed that.

“Are you okay.”

“Just my leg, bothering me like hell today.”

“Sure, if you only just didn’t walk from the airbase to west station…”

Dispatch alarm went off and the two ladies ran out as the ambulance was needed.

Aelin tried going back to work but her brain was not there.

Out of boredom and curiosity and probably a deep desire for punishment she looked up the captain online. The search engine brought up a page about him. He was only two years older than her. Native of Wendlyn but moved to Terrasen when he was quite young for his father’s job. According to the article he climbed the ranks quite quickly and was thought to be one of the most promising captain in the TAF in a very long time.

“Nerd.” She joked.

Then she scrolled down to personal life and she got even more curious but froze when she read the paragraph.

Fuck.

The man had been married. His pregnant wife had died in a car accident over a year and a half before. She opened the link to the newspaper article about the accident and noticed the picture of the accident site. Her eyes fell on one detail of the image and swore.

She stood and wobbling she went to the file cabinet where she kept the reports for the old cases. She found the one she needed and sat back down. Lyria Whitethorn, that was the name of the woman. She had a look through the case file. She did remember it. It had snowed heavily and the road and had been icy and pretty bad in some areas of town. That accident had been horrendous and it had involved quite a few cars. Lyria’s car had been stuck under a lorry. According to the police it seemed like it had lost control and smashed under the lorry that had crashed against the barriers at the side of the road. She died on impact. It had been an horrendous night. They spent hours working under the snow and only one person had come out alive from that disaster.

She leaned back and felt tears running down her face. They had one big thing in common. They both had lost someone they loved. And all of a sudden it hit her. His reaction. His fear. And for a moment contemplated that he was just as scared as her to get involved again. She closed the file and  grabbed her head in her hands. How badly had she fucked up? 

She took her phone and dialled his number. The number was not available and she left him a voicemail message again “Hey it’s me again. I know you are away and probably can’t get this message. If you listen to the old one as well, just ignore it. I was mad. I did not mean it. I… just… let’s just talk when you get back. Please. Be safe, okay?”

She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes and cried for both of them, for what they had lost and for the fear of committing again. 

Saturday eventually arrived and Aelin was at home getting ready for the party. Lysandra and Elide had joined her since Lys was going to drive them all.

Aelin had been in a bad mood since her discovery about Rowan but had not told anyone about it. To do so would mean reveal his secret and she could not to do that. It was far too personal.

“You’d think that being barely able to walk would excuse me from such horrible events.” She growled while tying her tie.

“You have been in a funk for a few days. Are you okay?” Lysandra had noticed her bad mood.

“Fine.” She snapped. “I am sorry…”

“Just don’t piss off any politicians, okay? We need them.”

Aelin sighed “I will behave.”

They arrived at the venue not long after and they noticed the already high number of cars present.

“Are we too late to bail?” Asked Elide who had been uncomfortable as well at the idea.

“Unless you want Dorian to rip you a new one, I would leave aside that plan for now.”

The three women made their way to the main entrance where someone checked their names against a list. Aelin for a moment hoped that someone had messed up and forgot to add them.

But that hope died quickly when the man greeted them a bit too happily.

“Ok, are we ready?” Said Aelin gathering the courage she needed to face such a horrible night.

They entered the venue and the notes of classical music hit them.

“At least they have great taste in music.” Commented Aelin staring at the great hall.

Dorian spotted them from the distance and walked to them with a brisk pace “Ladies, you made it. wonderful. Go, mingle, have fun. There’s plenty of food.” He grabbed Aelin’s hand “You come with me. The mayor wants to meet you.”

“What?” Blurted Aelin, sweating cold all of a sudden.

“The mayor would like to speak with you. He met Thomas already. Now it’s your turn.”

“I am not speaking to the mayor.”

“Aelin… this is an order from your superior.”

The woman growled back “Oh, so pulling rank, now?”

“Come,” he repeated.

Aelin turned to Lysandra and Elide “if I don’t come back soon, please come and get me. I love you both.”

Dorian rolled his eyes and he started walking and Aelin followed behind.

Eventually they arrived where the mayor was entertaining some guest and Aelin wanted to turn away, but Dorian sensed her intentions and placed a hand on her lower back in warning.

“Ah, Dorian, I see you have captain Galathynius with you. Wonderful.”

Aelin leaned on one crutch and extended her hand to the man “please to meet you sir.”

“The honour is mine captain. And thank you for coming even in your conditions.”

As if I had a choice and she looked at Dorian glaring at him.

“I just wanted to offer my thank you in person for what you do in the community and what you did the night of the embankment accident.”

“The community comes first.” She commented and Dorian gently nudged her sides at her comment.

“You are absolutely correct, captain. I am aware that you will be getting a second engine at east station, I hope this is a welcomed news.”

Aelin smiled “Very much sir. It has been a long time coming and we are very excited.”

“This is my email,” he gave her a business card “email me. Any idea, concerns or anything else related to your job. I will do my best to make it happen.”

Aelin took the card and was speechless. 

“Now unfortunately being the host forces me to go around and be pleasant with all these strangers. I don’t think there is alcohol enough to survive such an evening.”

He gave her a huge grin, waved at Dorian and walked away.

“Are we sure that was the mayor?”

Dorian nodded dumbfounded.

“Do you think he was drunk?”

Dorian shrugged, just as confused as her “Just don’t loose that card.” The man then left her and she had a moment alone to look around and enjoy the music. She hadn’t been at a classical concert in a lifetime and missed it. Or at the opera. She wanted to go to the opera again.

She had her eyes closed when she perceived a figure at her side. She opened her eyes again and noticed it was Thomas, looking at her in a curious way “Hey you.”

She looked at him and froze. The man in front of her was gorgeous. She was used to see him in his everyday uniform or the fire gear, and his hair tied and under an helmet. She almost did not recognise him. He had his dress mess uniform on, and his hair was free and she discovered it reached his shoulders. 

“I almost did not recognise you there.”

He grinned “I know, without soot and dirt on me it must be a challenge.”

She smiled back at him.

“How is your night going?” He asked, moving closer to her.

“Counting the minutes until Dorian tells me it’s okay to go home.”

She shuffled in her position and he placed a hand on her back “you should sit down.”

“Does this place have a balcony?”

Thomas grinned “Follow me, m’lady.”

“Did you meet the mayor?” She asked as they started walking.

“I did.”

“And?”

“He gave me his business card and told me to tell me if there was anything we needed.” He made his way through the crowd.

“Me too. I am going to email him and ask a bucket load of expensive equipment.”

“I have my wish-list ready.” Thomas commented smiling wickedly.

They arrived at the balcony and once there Aelin leaned heavily against the wall.

“Are you okay?” Suddenly Aelin noticed their proximity. Thomas was right in front of her.

“I am fine.”

“Want something to drink?”

“Please. Wine if they have it.”

He smiled and she noticed his dimples appear “I’ll be right back.” And she felt her face flush hot.

What was happening to her? Why all of a sudden she was attracted to him?

She saw Lys walking by and waved at her.

“What are doing here?”

“Hiding.” She said hurriedly “I have a problem.”

“What did you do?”

“I want to do something stupid.”

“As in?”

“Thomas.” She explained.

Lysandra looked at her friend with a puzzled face.

“As in he is the one one I want to … do”

“Holy fuck,” she exclaimed almost spilling all her wine on her uniform.

“How?”

Aelin looked up “I don’t know. He was here, he was nice, he smiled and I just… have you seen him tonight?”

“No I was with Aedion and the guys.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“Don’t do… anything.” Then she moved away “he is coming back.”

Thomas came back with the drinks and placed them on the ledge beside them.

She had known and worked with the other captain for a very long time. They had gone through the academy together. And never, not once she had ever felt a smidge of attraction for him.

He leaned against the wall just beside her, shoulders brushing gently “is your team ready for the performance review?”

Aelin nodded “Yes, Aedion and I are going through as many different scenarios as possible. They are ready. But I hate that I will have to stare from the sidelines.” She told him “How did yours go?”

Thomas drank some wine “We had a few bad moments. My newbie fucked up a couple of things and threw the whole team off track for a moment but they did recover splendidly. Manon was the best in our individual challenge.”

“Ohh I like her. Can I please get her and Asterin for my new engine?”

“We’ll see.” The man gave her a wide smile that made his dimples come back.

She pinched his side and he grabbed her hands to block her. She stopped and stared at him for a moment and then they both moved at the same time. Their lips met and he pushed her against the wall and she left her crutches fall on the ground. His hand behind her back to hold her up. The kiss deepened and Aelin opened for him and a small moan escaped her.

“Oh shit.” Said a voice at her side and Aelin recognised Lysandra and Aedion at her side.

She and Thomas broke apart quickly. Thomas coughed embarrassed, looked at Aelin and excused himself.

“What the fuck was that?”

Aelin’s hand went to her mouth, her lips still swollen by the kiss.

Aedion kneeled to pick up her crutches and passed them to her.

In that instant the rest of the team arrived.

“Why is everyone out here? It’s cold.”

“Aedion and I just discovered Aelin making out with Thomas.”

“Do you mean captain Hamilton?” Asked Brullo.

“I thought you liked the silver haired fox.” Added Ansel.

“Are you and Thomas a thing now?” This time it was Ren.

“I don’t know okay?” Aelin shouted, frustration rising “It happened.”

“You… happened to trip on his lips?” Nox gave her a smug smile and Aelin would have stormed out if she hadn’t been on crutches.

Aelin placed the glass back on the ledge and started to walk away. Lysandra caught up with her “I am sorry. It just came out.”

“Lys, I don’t care.”

The woman grabbed her arm “Aelin, please…”

“What? I don’t know what I was doing okay? We kissed. And I don’t understand my feelings anymore.” She leaned against the wall, her knee throbbing with pain “I haven’t known my feelings since Sam died.” She sniffled “I work. I throw myself into work because that it’s when I do not think that he is gone from my life.” She closed her eyes and tried to put all her pain back “it just felt nice for a moment to have that again. And I know I am sounding like a pathetic mess… I don’t know why I did it.” Aelin sobbed “I am so tired of hurting.” A tear appeared at the corner of her eyes “you have Aedion. I don’t have anyone.”

Lysandra hugged her friend “I am so sorry.”

Aelin leaned into her friend “we are fine.” She pulled back “but I am going home. I am in a ton of pain and I really want to lie down.”

“I’ll tell Dorian if he starts looking for you.”

“We are off tomorrow. Fancy a girls day? We can invite Elide and Ansel.”

“Yeah. Yeah, please.”

“Good,” Lys patted her shoulder “now go home and relax.”

She was outside ready to call a taxi when she heard a voice calling her. She turned and saw Thomas running to her.

“Aelin,” he stopped in front of her “I am sorry. I have no idea what got into me. I was there and all of a sudden I wanted to kiss you.”

She turned to him and moved closer enough to kiss him. His hand slipped to her waist and pulled her closer. She melted in his arms and felt his hand caressing her back.

“I was going home.” She said against his lips.

“I can’t let you piss off Havilliard on your own.”

She kissed him again and then detached so he could call a taxi.

Their ride home arrived not long after and the journey to Aelin’s flat was not too long. 

They made it to her flat and he lifted her in his arms and walked to the bedroom. He dropped her on the bed and leaned on top of her and kissed her deeply, his hands trailing on the sides of her body and Aelin leaned into the touch. Her hand trailed up to his face and then fisted into his golden hair and pulled him down for another kiss. Maybe it was a mistake but she could not care.

Slowly he started to unbutton her shirt and Aelin did the same for him and not long after they were both naked and Aelin stared at his body and realised the man was so incredibly well built. 

“You will have to lead the dances, captain.” He lowered himself again over her and kissed her in a way that made her forget all the pain and hurt.

It was later, after their adventure in bed. 

Aelin smiled at him satisfied. The man had skills and for a while he made her forget the real reason why that night she had searched for comfort in him.

They were now sitting in bed, their back against the headboard and the blanket covering them up.

“Did we just mess up our friendship?” He asked turning to her “I am not complaining I just…”

She sighed at his side “I think we did it for the wrong reasons.”

He agreed “Epically awesome rebound sex?”

Aelin nodded and Thomas turned to her “you are stunning though, and if the captain can’t see it, well, it’s his loss.”

“You are a sweet man” and she caressed his face “and your ex is a bitch.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him down, “fancy watching stupid movies? We can also order in. There’s a place round the corner that stays open till late. I had no food at that stupid party.”

“I’ll get the beers.” He said getting off the bed and putting his briefs back on. 

Aelin grabbed a discarded t-shirt “I’ll order the food.”

He came back with the beers and offered one to her “to our own party.”

They clinked the bottles and went to camp on the sofa.

TAGs: 

@rowaelinismyotp

@swankii-art-teacher​

@courtofjurdan

[rufousnmacska]

Do you think Aelin used Dorian?

In COM, when Aelin and Dorian had an argument about how Dorian was hanging hanging out with Roland, Dorian said something along the lines of "what do you care? The only reason you are kings champion is because you used me.". Aaaaand in typical toxic fae fashion, she growled at him instead of responding.

I mean, it certainly didn't hurt having the Crown Prince in her back pocket, during the contest. So it leads me to believe that she did use him. (Knowingly or unknowingly).

Tbh, i really don't think she was all that of a good friend to him.

1. When the stopped seeing each other, she went behind his back and slept with his best friend (if that happened irl I would cut a bitch off for doing that).

2. Completely ignored him in COM

3. Didn't even think of him in HOF

4. Only "saved" him because Chaol begged her to. Manon, added to his own inner strength, saved him.

5. Disrespected him in EOS, pretty much disregarded his opinion. That gave room for Aedion to Disrespect him.

6. Completely ignored him, when he was grieving over Sorscha.

7. Was unsupportive when he was moving on with Manon.

Wow. 😮

It’s been a while since I’ve read all the tog books, especially the first two. I tend to start with book three on rereads because Manon. 🙂

In Tog, Dorian and Celaena were both initially using each other. I think it’s contained in an extra you can find online (or maybe it is in ToG), but Dorian is pretty clear about using her as a means of pissing off his father and trying to show he could play these political games too. And she’s using him to gain her freedom. But as time went on, I think their friendship was genuine and they had some cute moments. I was bothered by her treatment of him in CoM. Not because she ended up with Chaol but because she wasn’t able to see Dorian as just a friend and treat him as such. Even after he lets her go. But remember, while they were all pretty young, Celaena was the least experienced and new to relationships, both romantic and platonic. I think by the end she and Dorian had grown and settled into a stronger friendship.

I think it’s reasonable that she didn’t consider Dorian much in HoF. That was her healing arc book and she had bigger issues to work through. He wasn’t really a problem in her life. Not like Chaol. Or her identity and past. So it makes sense to me that Dorian wasn’t front and center in her mind.

In QoS, I found Aelin pretty annoying overall. Chaol too, though that opinion seems to be pretty popular. On the one hand, I think Aelin was thinking as a queen and not a friend when it came to Dorian. And I can understand that, if not personally agree with it. She also was trying to keep herself from being hurt. She saw killing Dorian as a mercy to him, but also herself. Cut her losses now as a type of self protection. Regardless, her being so quick to give up on him really bothered me, even if I could see how it made sense for her character to react that way. I thought their talk at the end was good, but too short, and therefore lacking. SJM could’ve done a lot more with that reunion. Especially considering Aelin’s history with Sam, and that the main trio aren’t together again until towards the end of KoA.

EoS was … weird to me. Aelin seemed like she didn’t care about Dorian at all beyond his role as an ally. She was often condescending and disregarded his opinions. I’m not sure why. I know she was under a lot of pressure, some of it self imposed. And again, there were times she was in queen mode, but not all the time. So yeah, that bothered me a lot. And her reasoning wasn’t as clear to me as it was in QoS. It put the Dorian-Manon interactions into a brighter spotlight though, as Manon was one of the few people who respected what Dorian had to say. (Rowan was the other.) Maybe that was what SJM was trying to do?? Bring Dorian and Manon closer by separating him from Aelin? I don’t know. I appreciated the Manorian stuff, but it didn’t need to be done at the expense of Dorian and Aelin’s friendship in my opinion.

By the time KoA comes around, they honestly don’t feel like good friends to me anymore. That’s largely because they don’t see each other until almost the end and their reunion is rushed. Instead of him reconnecting with Aelin and Chaol, we get everyone arguing about who will die to lock the gate and why it should be Dorian. I’m exaggerating. A little. But seriously, by the end of KoA, I felt like their friendship, which had been mostly well handled in the early books, was just something that was there. I know there were a lot of loose threads to tie off in KoA, but that relationship was really tossed aside in my opinion.

Overall I think you could argue that Aelin had a bigger impact on Dorian’s character arc than the other way around. Not that he wasn’t important to her growth. But she was a big first step to get him to reject his father. Sorscha was step two. From there, he needed to learn how to accept and respect himself. That’s where Manon played a big role. As for Aelin, Dorian helped teach her about friendship and trust and acceptance. But I don’t know that he was as crucial a breakthrough for her arc. All of that is my way of explaining why, even in the books where they weren’t together, Dorian seemed to spend more time thinking about Aelin than she did of him. I wouldn’t say that means their friendship was unbalanced, just that SJM used them differently in the other’s character development.

I hope that makes sense! It’s late where I am so my brain is starting to close down for the night. 🙂

(PS - I may not be taking Manorian fic requests right now but I love talking about them. So feel free to send in asks or private messages!)

[gh0stlyink]

𝔗𝔦𝔱𝔩𝔢 - ᴴᵘˢʰ, ᴺᵒʷ

𝔉𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔬𝔪 - ᴰʳᵃᵍᵒⁿ ᴬᵍᵉ: ᴵⁿqᵘⁱˢⁱᵗⁱᵒⁿ | 𝔖𝔥𝔦𝔭 - ˢᵒˡᵃˢ ˣ ᵃᶠᵃᵇ!ⁿᵒⁿᵇⁱⁿᵃʳʸ ᴸᵃᵛᵉˡˡᵃⁿ ᵒᶜ

𝔚𝔬𝔯𝔡 ℭ𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱 - ¹,⁹⁷⁹

𝔚𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰 - ¹⁸⁺, ᵐⁱˡᵈ ʷᵒᵘⁿᵈ ᵐᵉⁿᵗⁱᵒⁿ

𝔖𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶 - ᴱᵐᵉʳʸ ᶜᵒᵐᵉˢ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ᵃ ʳᵃᵗʰᵉʳ ˡᵒⁿᵍ ᵐⁱˢˢⁱᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ⁱˢ ᵗᵃᵏᵉⁿ ᶜᵃʳᵉ ᵒᶠ ᵇʸ ᵃ ᵐᵃᵍⁱᶜ ᵉᵍᵍ

✧○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○✧

"It isn't like you couldn't also take a break."

The words of Solas were swimming around in Emery's mind as they trudged through the gates to Skyhold. Even welcomes thrown at them from left and right weren't enough to slate his echoing voice.

I suppose I could have…

They had convinced Solas to stay at Skyhold for this last mission. Emery felt like he had been running himself thin weeks prior, so they wanted him to just take a break, but he decided to use the same argument on them.

Somehow, they had gotten him to stay, saying something to the effect of: "Well, I'm the Inquisitor. I can't just not do my job." Begrudgingly, Solas had relented, but he told them that he hoped they would be back in at most a week. Emery said they would try, and they did indeed.

However, it took them two weeks to complete instead of one. Emery had a feeling Solas was not going to be happy.

Regardless, they were excited to be able to see him again. To be able to listen to his stories of his travels in the Fade. To be able to trail their fingers across his shoulders.

To feel his lips brushing against their neck...

Emery quickly brushed those thoughts away. There were too many people around, and they didn't want to raise any suspicion. They still had some work to do before they turned in for the night, anyway.

That didn't mean Emery couldn't speak around before they headed to Josephine. They spoke to Varric for a while, and he told them about a possible scene in the book he was planning. They spoke to Dorian, who was possibly too curious about Solas, because he asked about whether or not Emery had seen him yet. They said no.

The conversation led them to search for Solas. It didn't matter if Dorian had figured out about their secret relationship. They had already thought about confiding in him, anyhow. He was becoming a dear friend.

When Emery entered the bottom of the library they looked around, only to see that no one was there. They searched around other places in the hold that he would frequent, but he was nowhere to be found.

Finally, they went to Josephine. She generally knew where everyone was.

"Hey, have you seen Solas around? I have a few questions for him?" They asked, trying to be as casual as possible.

"I haven't seen him since this morning," she replied without looking up. "Said something about gathering herbs."

"I see," they were just about to turn around and search even more for him, but Josephine cut stopped them short in their tracks.

"We have a lot of things we need to go over with you, Inquisitor."

And with that, Emery was practically dragged into the War Room. Their advisers knew how hard it would be to get them up in the morning if they had been let go so easily. Of course, Cassandra was the one who had gotten them all to agree to get Emery into the War Room as fast as possible. Only after going over several documents, sending out many orders, and going over resources, they were finally let free.

"It isn't like you couldn't also take a break."

His words were burning, now. They couldn't search for him now; it was impossible. Hopefully, he was waiting for them.

Emery could barely pick up a loaf of bread from the dining room before they escaped through the door to their quarters. The stairs were worse. Every lift of their knee made them want to fall backwards to simply crumple at the base, but the soft promise of their bed kept them going.

Final door. So close... So close... They pushed through, now, and practically fell-

No. They did fall, but they were caught. Caught? Caught by what?

Then the familiar scent filled their nose. The scent of elfroot and that sweet musk they could never describe. Strong arms tightened around them, holding them up from falling further.

They didn't have to look up to know it was Solas who had caught her.

"You seem you have gotten clumsier since our last meeting," his voice soothed, a hand slowly turning circle patterns across their back. The other one had secured the loaf of bread before it had fallen to the floor.

"I'm not clumsy," Emery said stubbornly, as they looked up through their ebony hair.

Solas chuckled and led them to sit in a nearby chair carefully. He placed the loaf of bread on the chair side table cloth, then he crouched down in front of them, taking the side of their face in the palm of his hand. "You look absolutely exhausted," he said more seriously, brushing locks of their hair behind a pointed ear.

"I'm fine. Perfectly fine," they tried to smile widely at him and sit up straight, but a spasm in their back caused them to shrink in pain. "Perhaps...not."

Solas sighed, but smiled warmly. "Lucky for you, I supposed this would be the case." He got up and walked over to a table he had apparently set up with a bowl of water and neatly folded cloths.

"Yes, lucky for me," Emery murmured wistfully. They sounded like they would be able to fall asleep at any moment.

Solas wasn't about to let that happen yet. He was wringing out a cloth from the bowl of water, then brought it over to Emery. "Your day is almost done, Vhenan. Let's freshen you up a bit."

Emery would have moaned from the contact of the warm cloth upon their cheek if they weren't so tired. They couldn't help put lean into the feeling, their eyes closing easily.

Solas put his fingers below their chin and straightened their face. "Do you enjoy making my job harder?" He brought the cloth down their neck, earning an actual escape of breath from Emery's throat. He couldn't help but smile.

"Of course not," came their slow reply, eyes opening lazily to gaze at him.

He brought the cloth up the other side of their neck and along their jaw.

They shivered.

Solas gave them a loving smile, his eyes nearly closing from bliss. "I'm only teasing you," he was brushing lightly over their eyelids now. "You should only worry about resting now. I've got you."

Emery lifted their hand to grab his free one. They ran circles over his knuckles with their thumb. "Sorry I wasn't back in a week."

Solas laughed softly as he stood to put the cloth away. He then made his way behind the chair Emery was sitting in and started undoing the intricate braids that were holding up their hair. "Em, I'm just glad you're here and safe."

Emery sighed happily when his fingers ran through their loose hair, the tips of them working back and forth over their scalp. "Still, I thought we would-"

"Hush now, Vhenan."

His breath was at their ear now, hands moving down their neck and working into the tense muscles. Their shoulders relaxed, head tilting slightly forward.

The only words that were said now were soft spoken elvish. Emery couldn't understand them all, but they were soothing and sent gooseflesh across their skin. They were sure it was loving by the way he was speaking.

Solas was undoing the ties of their clothes now, starting with the pads on their shoulders. He was being so careful. It was as if they were a fragile sheet of glass. He eased the leather down their arms slowly, letting them fall unceremoniously on the floor.

He moved around the chair, fingers trailing along the back of their neck, and began with the ties to their shirt. Soon it had been slipped over Emery's head, added to the pile forming on the floor. He would get to that later, but he was too busy taking in the form in front of him. How they so easily melted into his touch.

He knelt down again in front of them to go for their belt. He wanted them to be able to sit for as long as they could, but it was getting near the time they would need to stand.

Once the belt was undone, he led his palms down their thighs, squeezing them gently as he did so. Emery was beginning to believe he was trying to work them up, but he was only making his way to work on the laces of their boots.

He untied them quickly, sliding them off, then got up and held out his hand. "Come now, I'll take you to the bed."

He didn't have to ask them twice, and they took his hand so he could help them up. He couldn't help himself from pulling them in his arms briefly to brush his lips down their neck.

This earned him a sharp moan, and they almost collapsed forward into his embrace, but he took their hand instead to lead them to the bed. Before he let them sit down, he worked their pants down to their ankles.

Emery sat back and helped him out by lifting their legs so he could pull them completely off. Their foot wrappings we're next, and quick to go. They were only wearing their underclothes now, which was a sheer top and undershorts.

That's when he caught sight of the wound on the back of their calf. "Blackwall told me about the pack of wolves."

Emery leaned forward to cup the side of his face. "That was nearly a week ago. It's basically healed now."

Solas shook his head. "Basically won't do," and with that he got up to get a fresh wet cloth, then came back to wipe at the bite.

Emery winced. Maybe the flesh was angrier than they thought.

"See? If I hadn't caught it fast enough you might have had to amputate your leg," he mused.

"It may be sore, but I know I took care of it enough so that it won't come down to that," Emery laughed, but they couldn't help but to scrunch up their face in pain. It didn't hurt so much to walk with, but touching it out right made it flare up.

"No, truly," Solas lifted their leg a bit higher. "I believe it was at the brink of falling off completely before I came to your rescue.

Emery let out a soft laugh. "You know what, for the sake of my energy levels, I will agree with you," they said, then placed the back of their wrist on their forehead. "Oh, Solas. Whatever would I have done. Without your magical touch I never would have-"

Solas was kissing up from their knee and up their thigh now, which had caught them off guard.

"O-oh-" they could barely get it out before Solas had pressed his lips to theirs; fierce, but soft. It sent a warming sensation through their chest, especially since he was between their legs. The hand that wasn't securely holding onto the back of Emery's neck was holding the back of their knee high up on his waist.

The moment was over quickly, but it had left Emery out of breath and wanting. He had abruptly walked away from them and towards the table with the loaf of bread.

"Wh-where did that come from!?" Emery finally let out, looking at the one before them with bewildered amusement.

"I simply could not help myself, Vhenan," he admitted, and brought the bread over to hand to Emery.

They took it gratefully and ripped a chunk off to stuff in their mouth. “You really are a tease.” they said through chewing.

“There’s more where that came from, I assure you,” he promised, nuzzling their ear affectionately. “Now eat while I bathe the rest of you and get you patched up, my love.”

✧○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○ꊞ○✧

[Authors Notes]

this is a repost of a drabble i posted on my main, and honestly, it was so filled with errors, that i am going to delete it.

also, i want all of my stuff in one place

wattpad | ao3 | fanfiction | main blog | witch blog | consider supporting me<3

[masquerade-story]

Chapter 2 - Strange Happening

"Help me get her onto the ground, quick!"

"Careful, careful! Watch out for her hands!"

Rayne and Grey hurriedly eased Crystal onto her side as the latter twisted and writhed with a clear expression of agony on her pale face. Grey carefully wedged a pillow under Crystal's head once she was safely on the floor, while Rayne worked to push the beds back to create more space. Lillian turned on the bedside lamp and scrambled for her phone, activating the timer to keep track of how long the seizure lasted. If it was longer than five minutes, she'd have to call 911.

Crystal twitched and flailed on the ground, her eyes wide and vacant, mumbling fragments of sentences and random words between shrieks of pain. Rayne knelt by her sister's head, gently sweeping aside tangled locks of blonde hair and patting the side of her clammy face. "It's alright, it's okay. There, there. You're fine, you're safe."

Grey scrambled up onto the bed with Lillian, his face grim. He clenched his shaking hands, trying to calm the frantic beating of his heart. It'd been a long time since Crystal had a seizure, and even longer since she had a really nasty one. Considering they stayed the night in a suspiciously unhaunted haunted house, and the things she said the night before, Grey couldn't help having a strange feeling it was all connected.

Was the timing of her seizure really an unfortunate coincidence?

Grey forcibly shook his head, chasing such ominous thoughts away. He looked over at Lillian to check the timer only to find her already looking back at him. Judging by the look on her face she had similar concerns, but neither was willing to voice them at the moment. Whether it was or wasn't a coincidence, the discussion of it could wait until Crystal was no longer hurting.

The twins exchanged a long silent glance, concern and fear mirrored in their eyes, before watching the numbers on the timer tick ever higher.

At the five minute mark the seizure showed no signs of stopping, so Lillian dialed 911. After a moment, her face paled until she was almost as white as Crystal. "There's no signal," she whispered, her voice a bare thread of sound cutting through Crystal's agonized muttering and Rayne's gentle murmurs.

Grey checked his phone just in case and shook his head, jumping off the end of the bed. "I'll be right back, maybe there's better reception outside! If not, I'll run to the car and-"

"NO!"

Crystal's sudden shriek stopped Grey in his tracks. He looked over his shoulder, and though her eyes remained vacant, she was definitely forcing herself to look in his direction. He hesitated before saying, "Crystal?"

"No... No don't... Fence, fence, fence, barrier, don't..." Crystal gasped for air, chest heaving as she struggled to breathe. Her body convulsed as though fighting against her attempts to communicate. "Not... Not yet! I... I'll... be fine... They... stay! Don't, don't, don't... Don't pass the fence!"

Grey looked on, helpless, unsure whether to abide by Crystal's wishes or go ahead regardless. Rayne carefully wiped Crystal's sweating face with the corner of her pajama shirt, blocking her vision while nodding at Grey to leave.

With her permission, Grey bit his lip and sprinted out of the room, bare feet slipping on the hardwood floors. He pinged off the walls in the hallway and took the stairs in a few clumsy bounds, landing hard on the ground floor. Pain briefly shot through his knees, but he ignored it and ran for the front door.

Grey took only two steps out of the house before he froze in place. He put his glasses on out of reflex on being forcibly woken up, but he still felt the need to pat his face and check that the stylish black frames were still there.

A thick, rolling fog encircled the house, forming a churning dome that obstructed vision of anything past the fence. The yard and house themselves were completely clear, not even so much as a tendril of mist clinging to the tall grass and weeds, with a faint bluish light level that suggested early morning.

Grey swallowed a lump in his throat. He checked his phone again, but wasn't surprised in the least when it indicated no signal. When he looked up again, he caught sight of...

Something.

Something big.

A dark shadow moved within the fog, undulating in a way that somehow made his stomach clench in fear. There was no way to guess what it could possibly be, only that it was even bigger than the house, and circling the yard at an impressive speed.

Wordlessly, Grey backed into the house and shut the front door. When he returned to the room, Rayne looked at him with a hint of annoyance in her gaze at having him return so soon without any help while her sister was still in pain. "What, did you get lost?"

"I, uh. Think we just have to wait this out, actually."

"What are you talking about? She needs an ambulance! Or at least a paramedic!"

"That... Might be impossible."

"Dorian!" Rayne snapped, but froze when she realized how pale he'd gotten. "What's going on?"

"I... I don't know exactly? But I think... I think we should listen to Crystal."

"Crystal's having a grand mal seizure, she has no idea what she's even saying!"

"Look outside."

"Dorian Grey Duvall-"

"LOOK OUTSIDE!"

The girls flinched when Grey raised his voice. He never yelled, no matter how angry or upset he got, so he knew it would get their attention. He still felt bad though, as the sound of his yelling made Crystal instinctively flinch in the middle of her twitching, tears springing to her eyes, pained muttering turning into fearful whimpers. Rayne flinched too, but most of her attention was focused on making sure her sister didn't hurt herself.

Lillian sprang off the bed, edging around the beds to the large window overlooking the front yard, hesitating only a moment before she threw open the curtains.

She stared. Her body started trembling, and she was only able to wrench herself away from the view when Grey placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"That's... Grey, what the heck is going on?"

"How should I know? But that's what I saw when I went outside, and I... I figured I should listen about not leaving."

Rayne frowned, glancing between Crystal and the window. "What... Is out there?"

"Manda. Or maybe it's a Leviathan..."

"W... What?"

"The kaiju. Big sea snake?"

Rayne opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. Before she could ask, both Grey and Lillian simultaneously pointed at the window with as much emphasis as the silent gesture could contain. Crystal's convulsions lessened to involuntary twitching rather than erratic flailing, so Rayne made sure the pillow was firmly under her sister's head before getting up to look for herself.

Rayne preferred contacts, but she didn't have time to put them in since Crystal's scream woke her up. She fished in her backpack for a spare pair of glasses, and slipped them on so she could actually see whatever was making the twins tremble like leaves in a storm. When she pulled back the curtain, Grey took another peek at the thing over her shoulder, unable to resist the feeling of awestruck yet terrified curiosity.

Rather than seeing a creature's physical form, Grey felt like he was seeing the fog move to avoid touching a continuously moving sinuous black void, an absence of existence instead of a living thing. Trailing wisps of fog hinted at fins, or wings, or limbs of unimaginable shape and usage. The longer he stared the more his head started to ache from the incomprehensible ridiculousness circling the house, and after a few moments he had to look away again.

"The way it's moving..." he muttered to himself, closing his eyes to fight off the headache stinging his eyes. "It's like it's... Diving? Weaving in and out of the ground outside the fence... Like the ground isn't even there."

"I couldn't see any of the trees," Rayne whispered, slowly closing the curtains to block the view. "There were so many, and tons of branches hanging into the yard, but I... I couldn't see anything. Not even the leaves of the bush near the gate."

"What is that thing?" Lillian whispered back, her already quiet voice almost inaudible. "Will it... Hurt us?"

"Eater... Eat, eat, the eater..." Everyone froze, then glanced at Crystal when her strained voice broke the silence following Lillian's question. She was still shaking, her hands twitching, but her eyes were bright.

Very bright.

"Yo, Coco? Your eyes-" Grey shouted, flinching when both Lillian and Rayne covered his mouth to silence his outburst. He barely resisted the urge to lick their fingers, pointing emphatically at Crystal's face.

Instead of the grayish-blue they were all familiar with, Crystal's eyes were such a brilliant and bright cyan that Grey wouldn't be surprised if they could glow in the dark.

Crystal raised a shaking hand to her face, dragging her fingers down her cheek, her nails leaving thin scratches on her pale skin. Rayne hurried forward to stop her, pulling her hands gently but firmly away from her face. "Crystal, are you alright? Can you hear me?"

"Eater... The eater... Eat, eat, eats... us not us!" Crystal whispered, her voice steadying but her wording remained obtuse. She turned to look past Rayne, her glazed eyes staring straight at the window. "Us not us. Shadows on the wall! Hand in the light, shadows connect the layers, the hands don't touch but the shadows connect one into one into two. Leaving the cave, passing the light, passing the shadow second star on the right!"

The more she spoke, the more frustrated she became. The expression on her face meant her mind felt clear, but she couldn't bring up the words to properly communicate whatever it was she wanted to say. It happened whenever she started to recover from either a seizure, or an anxiety attack, and Grey felt a pang of sympathy. He didn't have seizures, but used to have anxiety attacks with some frequency as a teenager.

"That thing won't hurt us as long as we stay inside the fence, right?" Grey said, and Crystal gave a single, jerking nod. "It's some sort of eater-thing that eats something that isn't fleshy meat suits, so we aren't in immediate danger?" Another nod.

Rayne sighed with relief, pressing her cool hand to Crystal's fevered brow. "Alright, we're good then. The rest can wait until you get better, so try to relax okay? Don't work yourself back up just when you've started to recover."

Crystal made a sound like a disgusted sigh, but still managed a third nod and closed her eyes.

Lillian made sure the curtains were firmly closed over the window, then glanced over at Grey and gave a little start. "Grey! Your eyes too...?"

"Have I gone blue?!" Grey gasped, horrified, but Lillian shook her head.

"No."

"Must you hurt me this way? Why would you get my hopes up like that?"

"I meant, they've gone... Bright."

"Bright?" Grey turned to make a face at his twin, but then he gave a little start of his own. "Oh! Like yours?"

"Mine?!"

They both ran into the nearest lavatory, fighting to be the first through the door, with Lillian emerging the winner but Grey pulling the underhanded tactic of grabbing the back of her shirt to lean past and be the first to look in the mirror.

"Yo! Yoooo? Yooooooooo." Grey dragged the vowels out further and further which each surprised utterance, turning his head left and right to examine his eerily unfamiliar bright mint green eyes. He leaned toward the mirror until the tip of his nose almost touched its polished surface, and slipped off his glasses to get a closer look. Then he turned to say something to Lillian, and froze mid-turn, staring at a point over her shoulder.

Just like his twin, Grey was legally blind. He was so nearsighted that he couldn't clearly see text on his phone if he held it out at arm's length. With his glasses on, distant objects were still blurry and indistinct.

Yet somehow, he was suddenly able to see individual quartz grains in the stone brick wall of the hallway. Grey frowned, checked that his glasses were still in his hand, then looked at Lillian. Her eyes were now a rich, vivid emerald green behind thick lenses. Grey snatched her glasses as he ducked past her into the hall, sprinting toward the far staircase. "Lils! Stay there and tell me how many fingers I'm holding up!"

Lillian sighed in annoyance at her brother's antics, until she noticed what Grey already discovered. "Um. I can... See you? You're holding up three fingers!"

"Now you, hold up some fingers!"

"Grey, what-"

"Just do it!"

"Alright..."

"There, that's two! Right? Hey, no dropping a finger to cheat!"

"What the heck..." Lillian muttered, staring down at her hand with the index finger awkwardly curled as though it froze in fright at being called out for cheating. "What in the world is going on?"

Grey jogged back over, handing over her glasses, while staring at his own with a mixture of wonder and confusion. "I... Have no idea. I think Crystal might know something, we'll just have to wait until she recovers."

"I know we're used to her knowing a bit about everything, but doesn't this all seem kinda... Outside even her purview?" Lillian asked, rubbing the back of her neck. "This whole situation is... It doesn't even feel real. I saw that thing outside and it still doesn't feel real. How can anyone know anything about what's happening to us?"

"I dunno, Lils. But worrying about it won't do anything, not while we have no other way to get information." Grey smiled in what he hoped was a comforting manner, patting Lillian on the shoulder. She quirked an eyebrow at him, a question in her gaze that she didn't bother to voice, so Grey ignored the look until she was ready to ask whatever lingered on her mind.

They both returned to the room where Rayne was frowning at her phone, leaning back against the side of the bed. She'd wrapped her sister securely in a few blankets, meaning Crystal's seizure was on to the exhausted recovery stage. The twins let out simultaneous sighs of relief seeing her safely bundled up.

"What happened?" Rayne asked, raising her eyebrows without looking away from the screen.

"Lils and I have perfect vision now," Grey said nonchalantly, flopping down on another bed. Rayne scoffed.

"No, really. What happened?"

"He's not kidding."

At Lillian's deadpan confirmation, Rayne finally looked up, glancing from one twin to the other. "Hold on... Seriously? Uh... Whoa. Damn, your eyes are super green. And your faces are naked?"

"Hmm..." Grey rubbed his chin, staring at Rayne's face. "I can't tell if your eyes changed, they're black as always. Try taking your glasses off? Look at the furthest wall over there."

Furrowing her brows, Rayne hesitated before also removing her glasses. She stared at the bedroom wall for a long moment, before her knit brows slowly rose once more. "Ah. I see."

"You see?"

"I see."

"You see good?"

"I see really good."

"How good is good?"

"There's an ant between the bricks toward the ceiling. If I focus, I can see its little legs wiggling about."

"Rock on. Crystal's vision too, I guess?"

Crystal stuck her arm out from the blankets to give a shaky thumbs up.

"Yup, Crystal too."

Grey groaned dramatically, flopping back onto the bed with his arms spread wide. "So the good news is, we've all developed a superpower that increased the clarity of our vision."

"Worst superpower."

"Agreed."

Rayne sighed, setting her phone on the bed and covering her face with her hands. "I had three bars before I fell asleep last night, but there's no signal at all now. There's no Wi-Fi installed here, and it's too far in the boonies to leech a signal from neighbors."

"So yeah, we just wait?"

"We just wait."

Crystal reached her arm from the blankets and tapped Rayne's leg. She drew a small circle in the air, with three fingers held up. Rayne sighed again, in relief this time, and gently patted Crystal's shoulder.

"Okay, she says we'll know more in three hours."

"She said all that with one gesture?!"

"That was the one-handed sign for three hours, and we were just talking about waiting."

"Damn you both and your secret sisterly sign language of love communication."

"It's American Sign Language!"

"It's a damned mystery is what it is." Grey huffed, pulling his phone from his pocket and holding it at arm's length just to marvel at the fact he could still see the tiny clock text even without his glasses on. "3 hours, huh? That'd be around 9 AM. Do we wanna go back to sleep, or do we wanna get up and have breakfast?"

Crystal made a hand sign Grey definitely recognized, at the same time that Rayne said: "Food, for sure."

They did rock-paper-scissors to pick who had cooking duty, then Rayne and Lillian went downstairs to make breakfast burritos. Meanwhile, Grey rolled onto the bed with Crystal, and flopped his leg over her. "Make room, I'm gay."

Crystal grunted, and awkwardly shuffled aside so he could lay more comfortably.

"Will all this be over in three hours?" Grey asked softly, folding his hands over his stomach.

Crystal hesitated, then shook her head.

"Will we die in three hours?"

She emphatically shook her head.

"Do you know what's going on?"

She stuck her hand out of the blankets and made a vague wiggling hand gesture.

"Are you well enough to text yet so I can get some answers?"

Thumbs down.

"Worth a shot. Lemme guess... You'll feel better in about three hours?"

She made the disgusted sigh noise again while nodding. Knowing her, it was because she was frustrated about not being able to communicate what she knew, and not annoyance at his constant questions. Grey mimicked the disgusted sigh, draping one arm over her while letting his other arm dangle off the bed.

"This is homophobic."

Crystal snorted, nudging his side with her elbow through several layers of blanket.

"Well it's true! Should have expected it when making a band full of queer folks, I guess. Rampant homophobia."

After a moment, Crystal rolled over within the blankets so that only her brilliant cyan eyes peeked out from underneath, staring at Grey with an intense gaze. "Are... you..." Crystal paused, her words fighting on the way out to get stuck in her throat. Then she took a deep breath, and tried again. "Are you... scared?"

"Hm? No, not really. I trust your danger sense that much, I guess. You're so overprotective, you'd warn us even if we were only gonna skin our knee! It's hard to be worried when you aren't."

"No... Anxiety?"

"Oddly enough, it's not..." Grey froze, and it was his turn to furrow his brows. Crystal's eyes squinted in the smug smile unique to a prescient as Grey scratched the side of his face in confusion. "Wait, why aren't I freaking out about this? There's a damn kaiju encircling the house! Ray is more worried about you so I get that, you are you so I get that too... Lils is trying super hard to not panic, but... Ah! Is that why she was giving me a weird look earlier? Cuz I said there's no point in worrying about it now instead of also being maximum panic?"

Grey slapped his forehead, and Crystal let out a soft, sleepy laugh. "All of us, same but... different now. Not anxious, because... No need. No danger."

"I kinda get it, but I also have so many more questions." Grey sighed, rubbing his temples, and Crystal made an apologetic noise of sympathy. "Just rest up, yeah? We can talk later."

Crystal nodded and closed her eyes, falling asleep in moments. Grey rolled over, staring at the curtained window with a curiously peaceful heart, even with the knowledge of what lay beyond their strangely isolated yard.

[novamm66]

Red Sky in the Morning - Chapter 24 - Sailor’s Delight.

This is it folks. The conclusion to my (first) story. I am a bit sad. This has been one wonderful journey for me and I have learned so much. 

I hope you enjoy.

—

Everything happened at once. Imshael screamed and exploded into its demon form the moment it lost contact with Kiaya’s magic. Dorian retracted the spell, and suddenly Kiaya was flying through the air to crash into Sera’s arms. The moment Kiaya’s knees hit the floor, she vomited, but she pushed Sera’s hands away.

“Go,” she croaked, “Help them.”

Kiaya’s head was spinning, and her eyes wouldn’t focus as she tried desperately to track what was going on. Dorian was casting while Sera was off to the left. Still, Kiaya couldn’t see far enough to know what was going on anywhere else.

Kiaya focused on Dorian’s feet and the snap of Sera’s bowstring, trying to ground herself. She was utterly useless in this fight, which was the point, but she would not abandon her friends and let unconsciousness take her. A call from Sera drew her attention, and Kiaya watched as the rogue raced to Varric’s aid before he was overwhelmed. This left their flank open, and an enemy fighter less than nine paces away. He was held in a trap for the moment but quickly fighting free.

“Dorian,” Kiaya croaked. 

“I see him,” Dorian answered. Then the fighter broke free. “Shit! There’s nothing I can do!” Dorian was balancing two spells already, and dropping either one of them was not an option. The fighter charged at the mage, ready to cut him down, but Kiaya lifted herself on hands and knees and lunged directly into his path.

Kiaya took his boots to her ribs before the man fell, trapping her beneath his legs. She tried to roll away, but she was too weak to push him off. She heard Dorian scream her name, but her vision was filled with the sword rising above her.

Before the blade could fall, Cole appeared and opened the man’s throat. The sword clattered to the ground next to Kiaya’s head, and in a blink, Cole was gone. It took all of Kiaya’s energy and focus to struggle free of the dead man. She crawled until she came up against stone, then collapsed. She tried to open her eyes to see what was happening, but she couldn’t move. She could hear the ebb and flow of battle, heard Imshael’s screams fade to silence. She tracked the footsteps of her friends as they approached her.

“Kiaya, can you hear me?” Dorian’s fingers pressed to her throat.

“What happened?” Cassandra was panting, but she sounded unharmed.

“She saved my life and took a hit to the ribs for the trouble. She’s alive.”

“Heal her,” Sera demanded from near Kiaya’s head.

“I can’t, not with mage bane in her system,” Dorian replied. Kiaya could practically hear him roll his eyes. “Help me sit her up.”

Kiaya felt a bottle pushed between her lips and tasted the bitterness of an elfroot potion across her tongue. Kiaya felt her strength return, and she opened her eyes and lurched to her feet.

Hands reached out to stop her, but she shook them off. “I have to know. I have to walk.” Kiaya took a few steps, her hand never leaving the wall. “Ok, that’s enough of that.” Kiaya sagged against the wall before Bull caught her and lowered her down to the floor.

“Easy,” he chuckled.

You’re a bloody fool.” Dorian knelt in front of her. “Attacking an armed opponent like that. How many fingers do you see?”

Kiaya squinted at Dorian’s outstretched hand, “Four, but I’m assuming the two floating around not attached to anything aren’t real.”

Dorian shook his head and started checking to see if anything was broken. Kiaya glanced around, taking comfort in the smiles of her friends.

“Imshael?” Kiaya had to ask.

“Gone,” Cassandra answered. “Banished back to the fade.” 

“Thank fuck. Can we go home now?”

—

Kiaya’s happy relief lasted until they entered Skyhold’s lower camp. It was evident by the activity that something had happened. Skyhold itself was just as busy, everyone moving with haste and purpose. Loaded wagons were rolling through the gates. Kiaya asked her friends to stay ready until she figured out what was going on, and she headed for the war room immediately. The advisors were leaning over the map, but they straightened and smiled when Kiaya entered.

“Welcome back, and congratulations,” Cullen said warmly.

“Thanks,” Kiaya reached for and squeezed his hand. “What’s going on?”

“Corypheus has surfaced again,” Leliana answered. “His army is tearing up the Arbor Wilds.”

“Just for fun? Or are they looking for something?” Kiaya frowned.

Cullen shook his head. “It’s definitely a search for something. Whatever it is, it’s unlikely that we want him to have it.”

“Isn’t that the truth.” Kiaya stared at the map, calculating the distance. “I guess there is no reason to unpack then.” She sighed.

Josephine patted Kiaya’s hand with sympathy. “You and your team can rest and ride out tomorrow. You will be able to catch up to the army quickly, which will be leaving within the hour. We have also just received confirmation the Orlesian troops we requested will meet you there.”

Kiaya glanced up in surprise. “Our army isn’t enough?”

“Reports have the red templars outnumbering us. I would guess it is most of his forces.” Leliana’s voice was grim.

The lightness Kiaya had felt from returning home was gone. Corypheus was still out there, and this time they had no idea what he was planning. “Alright, can you let everyone know to be ready to ride out again tomorrow at first light?” Kiaya asked.

“Of course,” Josephine answered and hurried out the door. Leliana followed her, leaving Cullen and Kiaya alone.

“It figures,” Kiaya sighed as she turned and sat on the edge of the table. “I’m getting back, and you are leaving.”

Cullen chuckled as he moved in front of her and placed his hands on her face. “I’m glad you are back in one piece. Are you alright?”

“Yes, although Corypheus has put a damper on our success.”

Cullen expressed his relief by kissing her slowly, deeply. Kiaya sighed her disappointment when he stopped, Cullen smiled down at her. “I wish we had more time, but I have to leave.”

“I was really looking forward to celebrating with you tonight,” Kiaya huffed.

“I know,” Cullen laughed, pulling her to her feet, “but I promise to make it worth the wait.”

—

“Where is she?” Cullen stormed into the tent where Leliana was questioning Samson as quickly as his bandaged leg and walking stick allowed. Cullen had taken an axe to the thigh while protecting Kiaya at the gates of the temple. She had been forced to leave him bleeding in the water as she raced Corypheus to the temple, and that had been the last time they had seen each other. It was easy for Cullen to let his desperation show.

Samson, stripped of his armour and chained, sneered at him. “How would I know? Bitch left me for dead.” His injuries from the battle had been healed, so they weren’t life-threatening, but he still looked battered from his encounter with Kiaya’s team.

Cullen was ready to lunge at the man, but Leliana beat him to it, striking Samson across the face hard enough to bloody his lip. “You are not in the best position for glibness. Next time I will let the Commander pummel you.”

Cullen leaned across the table that separated them. “Where would Corypheus take them?”

“That was always your problem, Rutherford: Always asking the wrong questions.” Samson grinned as Leliana shifted. “Corypheus has no interest in taking anyone anywhere. If he had caught her, all you would have found is the pieces.”

Cullen’s vision went red, and he reached out and slammed Samson’s face into the table. Touching the other man-made Cullen feel ill: he could feel the lyrium in Samson’s veins, and he backed away while Samson laughed through the blood streaming from his broken nose.

Leliana had watched the exchange with a relaxed smile. “Thank you, Commander. Perfectly done.”

Samson continued to snicker as the two moved to leave the tent. “Just look at us now, Rutherford. How far we have come,” he called after them. Cullen paused, but he didn’t rise to the bait, and Sampson’s gurgling laughter followed him out.

“You were right, he did respond better to you,” Leliana said as they walked the short distance to the command tent.

Cullen shook his head in disgust. “He has nothing left to lose and has no reason to tell us anything. I am glad he couldn’t resist taunting me even if we didn’t learn anything more useful.”

“We know it’s likely that Kiaya and the others are alive, given what Samson just said and the fury that Corypheus was in when he left. With three of the most powerful mages in Thedas, they are likely somewhere safer than we are.” Leliana touched Cullen’s arm reassuringly. “The question is, what do we do now?”

Cullen sank into a chair, his freshly healed wound throbbing from the short walk. “I would like to leave two divisions to help the Orlesian army flush out and deal with the remaining red troops. They do not seem to be organized, so it’s likely he has abandoned them, but they still pose a threat. A small compliment will ride back with us, and three divisions will follow quickly to bolster Skyhold’s defences if Corypheus strikes at us there. The remainder of the army will travel back with the wounded.”

Leliana nodded at his plan. “When do we ride out?”

“Tomorrow. I don’t like leaving Skyhold’s weakened as it is, and it’s the first place Kiaya will send word.”

—

To: C.C. & L.N.

We are back in the Sky. We are safe and well.

Are you?

K

—

To: K.T.

Message received. We are two weeks out from joining you.

I am well. Thank the Maker, you are alright.

C.

—

Cullen’s heart was pounding in time with his horse’s hooves as he rode onto the battlefield. It was Solas who approached as Cullen dismounted, the mage looming in Cullen’s vision. His voice echoed when he spoke.

“Corypheus is defeated, but the Inquisitor is dead.”

Cullen surged forward, his vision narrowing to what lay on the ground beyond.

Cullen bolted upright, his heart pounding wildly as his eyes darted around the room and canopy above until they landed on the sleeping woman beside him. Amazingly, Kiaya had not been disturbed by his outburst, and Cullen focused on her face, trying to slow his breathing to match hers.

It was only a dream. Cullen told himself. Once his heart stopped racing, Cullen shifted out of bed carefully and dressed. He wasn’t going to fall asleep again, and Kiaya had only just returned from a round of missions. She deserved all the sleep she could get.

Cullen had trouble setting into his work. His mind kept bringing back images from his dream. Eventually, he made his way to the Chantry, with the sun still well below the skyline. He knelt in front of Andraste’s statue and prayed until sunlight bathed Her face. When he finished and turned to leave, Kiaya was watching him from the doorway. He quickly crossed the room and pulled her into his arms.

“Are you alright?” Kiaya asked as she ran her fingers through his hair.

“Better now,” Cullen sighed into her shoulder.

“Nightmares?” She asked.

Cullen nodded. “I didn’t want to disturb you.” He held Kiaya tighter. “I can’t bear the thought that you have to face Corypheus again, that I have to send you against him, and there is nothing I can do. Kiaya, I…” Cullen’s words shuttered to a stop, and his breath rushed in and out of his lungs.

“Shhh. I know.” Kiaya sighed and stroked his hair.  Her fingers travelled to his jaw, and she looked deeply into his eyes. “Nothing is for sure, but I promise you that while there is life in my body, I will fight with everything I have to make it back to you. Our luck has gotten us this far. I love you, Cullen.”

They stood in the morning light, wrapped in each other’s arms until the breakfast bell sounded.

“Shall we eat before getting to work?” Cullen asked, keeping her hand in his as they moved out into the gardens.

“Unusual for us, but let's try it.” Kiaya laughed.

A few steps short of the doors to the main hall Kiaya froze. “Cull-” but her voice cut out as the mark snapped to life, and Kiaya doubled over and screamed.

“Kiaya!?” Cullen panicked, his eyes darting around the peaceful garden for any sign of a threat, but there was nothing that looked threatening. Doors and windows were banging open, but that was apparently in response to Kiaya’s cries.

The mark stopped as quickly as it had started, leaving Kiaya gasping on the ground. Before Cullen could do or say anything, Kiaya shot to her feet and took off running. She stopped on the top step outside the main hall doors, her eyes focused on the horizon to the south-east.

“What is going on?” Cullen asked, ignoring the confused voices from behind them.

“I don’t know.” Kiaya sounded strained. With a crack, the mark flared again, and if it wasn’t for Cullen catching her, Kiaya would have toppled down the stairs. Kiaya muffled her screams in Cullen’s shoulder. The mark stopped again, Kiaya’s panting breath the only sound Cullen could hear. A green light split the horizon, and moments later, a boom echoed off the mountains.

“Corypheus has reopened the breach,” Kiaya said. Her face was pale, and her eyes wide as she stared at Cullen. He could feel her shaking against him.

Skyhold suddenly exploded with activity. Alarm bells sounded, and the defensive measures they had put in place filled the air with running feet and shouted orders.

Kiaya looked up at him. “I have to go.” They stood together a moment before Kiaya pulled away and took off towards their quarters and her gear. Cullen headed down the steps to oversee the activity at the gate. Leliana appeared at Cullen’s side.

“Can we send soldiers with them?” She asked.

Cullen shook his head. “We don’t have the numbers. Most of our army is still days away; if we send any troops that we have here, Skyhold will be undermanned and at risk. Kiaya won’t agree to leave our people here unprotected.”

Cullen shaded his eyes. He could just see the signal flags up in the village below. Their soldiers would be organizing the civilians to come up to the fortress. It was going to get very crowded, very quickly.

Cullen and Leliana moved towards the stables as Kiaya and her friends appeared, quickly tacking up their horses. Cullen set Kiaya’s saddle and tightened the cinch while she fastened Rollin’s bridle. Cullen lifted Kiaya up onto the bay’s back, but then he couldn’t let go of her hand.

Kiaya’s fingers squeezed his. “With everything I have,” she repeated her promise. Kiaya kicked Rollin into a gallop, and her party thundered through the gates.

—

Night had almost fallen, but no one was showing any sign of leaving the rookery.

Cullen was pacing back and forth the length of the floor while Leliana was at the spyglass. Josie, Evelyn, Danin and Lyra were sitting on the barrels and crates stacked along the inner railing. They were waiting for news. The Breach had disappeared from the horizon just before midday, but no word had arrived yet.

No one spoke as the light slowly disappeared, the tension was palatable, so when Leliana hissed and swung the glass, everyone jumped.

“It is a raven. One of ours.” Leliana confirmed, and there was a collective sigh. But Cullen couldn’t fully release his worry. It seemed to take forever for the bird to arrive and for Leliana to retrieve the message.

Everyone was silent as she turned back to the group, unrolling and scanning the tiny scroll as she turned back to the group.

The relief in her smile told Cullen what he needed to know before she spoke.

“She won, and they are all alive.”

—

Kiaya stared at the bed canopy above her. She was tired, but sleep was out of reach. This was the first quiet night after the victorious return of Kiaya and her party to Skyhold. The celebration had lasted two days, and the party spread from the keep down to the camp below. Kiaya had been in high demand, and it wasn’t until now that her mind had a chance to catch up.

Kiaya sighed and slipped from the bed. She stirred up the fire and curled up on the couch in front of it. She was going to have to get used to being the Inquisitor. When Evelyn told her that she was pregnant again, Kiaya decided that she would step up and allow Evelyn to have the normal life she deserved. Kiaya was excited for Danin and Evelyn, but she wasn’t looking forward to the public role Kiaya would now fill.

Kiaya reached for her neglected sketch pad and pencil, opening it to a blank page and staring for a moment before starting to draw. Corypheus’s death had not eased the burden from Kiaya’s shoulders, and the victory felt hollow for her. She should be grateful for the ease of his defeat, but it had left her angry, and Kiaya wasn’t sure she would ever be able to let it go.

There was so much damage still left to repair, and much that would never be the same. Before Kiaya had reached Skyhold, Scouts had reported that there were still active rifts, and the red lyrium infecting the land hadn’t receded, while the political and religious landscape was drastically changing. The new Divine would be leaving for Val Royeaux in the next few days, and that would be the beginning of the end of Kiaya’s little family.

The lines on the page began to form a face, and Solas was looking over his shoulder at her. Kiaya was worried about him. He had taken the destruction of the orb personally and had disappeared before she had been able to talk to him. Kiaya knew in her heart that this time he wouldn’t be coming back. The rest of her friends were sticking around to help for a while, but eventually, they would need to move on as well, and that thought made Kiaya’s chest ache.

Kiaya knew that she was worried about the inevitable, and there was nothing she could do about it. Everything was going to be different now, and she was still burned by the mark. She hadn’t told anyone, but the mark’s power had changed: it was stronger, wilder, and it scared Kiaya.

She heard Cullen shift in bed. ”Kiaya?” His voice was foggy with sleep.

“I’m fine. Just can’t sleep,” Kiaya answered. She thought that Cullen had fallen asleep again, but after a few minutes, she heard him get up. He settled on the couch next to her.

“Sweetheart, I can feel your worry.” He kissed her shoulder. “You have done great things, can’t you give yourself a little time to enjoy that?”

“Apparently not,” Kiaya answered. “I know that I should give myself a break, but I haven’t figured out how to do that.”

Cullen waited until Kiaya looked at him. “Whatever happens next, we will face it together.” Truth and love glowed gently in his eyes, and Kiaya’s tension eased. She nodded, unable to think of anything to say. He kissed her tenderly. “Come back to bed. Tomorrow we will figure it out.”

Kiaya followed him and curled in close to Cullen’s chest. He gently rubbed her back, and the warmth and tenderness chased Kiaya’s anxiety away and allowed her exhaustion to pull her under.

She pressed her lips against Cullen’s heart and fell asleep.

********

There we have it.  Thank so very very much for reading.

Like and reblogs are always appreciated. Asks are very welcome too.

To read from the beginning the Master List is Here or if you prefer it is here on AO3

[alphaauthor]

The Quite One- Caliban

The Chiling Adventures Of Sabrina

Character: Caliban

Prompt: you are sabrinas twin sister living in her shadow, no body really notices you until caliban coms along

Sabrina has always been the more out going one of the two of us. She was the definition of a Morningstar when I was not. She was loud and I was quite only taking when I felt the need to. I liked staying at home with my cat, celeste,  and reading. Sure I liked to go out with my friends but if it came down to it I would gladly take a night at home.

Sabrina came walking into my room and shut the door. She looked at me as I put the book I was  reading down. “ what you doin Cass ?” she said trying to start a conversation with me, but I had a feeling that’s not why she came into the room. “ just finishing up a new book, why?” I said eyeing her when she walked father into your room. We had a stair off before she finally took a breath and said “ look it’s going to sounds crazy, but we need to go hell”. I looked at her and put my book down on the night stand next to you bed sitting up a little more. “ What do you mean we need to go hell?”

Sabrina looked at me and signed “ I can’t just leave nick down there, he did nothing wrong and is being tortured for it, I need to go to save him! And I need your help doing it.” She looked at me with hopeful and pleading eyes. After a lot more convincing Sabrina had convinced me to go to hell.

Not only had she managed to convince me into going she also convinced Harvey Ros and Theo into going with us. Sabrina found a way to get to hell. Currently you where standing with Dorian gray who was telling us that without the flower the spell to bring us all back would not work.

Sabrina looked at the painting before turning around to look at all of us “ I love you guys and also, stay close” she said. Sabrina turned back around and locked at the picture 

“ Here we pass into the unholy kingdom

through we pass into the city of fear

Eye into the gate for the lost and forsaken

Abandon all hope ye who enter here”

As Sabrina was saying the spell the wind stated pick up all around me. Sabrina walked forward the painting before placing her hand upon the painting and then it was like we where all falling and the next thing I remember is washing up on shore coughing up water in the sand.

Sabrina looks up form where she was and looks at everyone “ is everyone ok?” She ask you all look at her and shake your head yes. Harvey starts to get up and look around “ wait so hell is a beach?” He says with confusion in his face. I hadn’t notice until now but he was right we where all sitting on the beach. I noticed a rock with writing in it, “ the shores of sorrow” I read out loud to the whole group while still trying to catch my breath.  we all sat up and take a look around Theo stands up and points to something “ Guys look” Our eyes go to what he was pointing at, I stand up right next to him “ what are those?” 

 Right in front of my eyes there where cage like things with arms reaching out of them, the sight itself was very unsettling 

“ The souls of the damned” I heard a voice say from behind me. I turn around to see who the voice belongs to. What i saw was not what I was expecting, it was a boy who looked to be about my age with sandy color hair wearing a white open shirt. The mystery man makes eye contact with me as I turn around  “ they drown as the tide comes in, over and over for all eternity.”. the mystery man continues with eye contact with me, I want to look away but just can’t seem to pull my eyes away from him.

“ Hi” Sabrina says as she steps in front of me making me break eye contact with the man. In doing so blocking me from his view. from what I could see The mans smirk dropped as her looked at my sister.

“Where looking for Lilith” When he doesn't answer her she keeps going “ Madam Satan, Queen of hell? She’s in pandemonium if you happen to know the way”  Sabrina said in a cheerful voice. While moving me behind  her even more so that I could not see him. The man raised his hand and pointed to a trail of blood 

“ All blood flows to pandemonium”   he said with no emotion on his face. The man looked back and Sabrina “ Follow the blood red road where it flows and there you’ll find the throne of hell” Sabrina nodded and looked down the path of blood 

“ Thanks and you are?” Sabrina said while turning back to look at him. “  Never step off the road” he said while moving his hair out of his face and taking a step to the left so that I was in his line of sight, he looked at me with his smirk returning to his face. The man looked me up and down then moved his eyes to everyone feet. 

“ It’s clear that your wearing dead mans shoes” The man looked back up and locked eye contact with me, “ Any demon wroth his salt can smell mortal flesh from a mile away” The man says while breaking eye contact to look at Sabrina> The man starts to turn around to head the other way. We all look at each other wondering what just happened. Sabrina looks at me like I would have an answer but I just shrug my shoulders because I don't even know what just happened.

“ Come on, let’ s go” Sabrina says as she starts to walk towards the trail of blood. I take on last look and the man who went back to building his sand castle. He looks back up at me and smiles. I look back up to the group and do a little run to catch back up to them. all while I can still feel his eyes watching me. 

##########################

Let’s just say that hell was not a place that I liked very much and in all honestly I wish that I said no to coming. After being in hell I don't think that I would wish even my worst enemies to hell. When Lilith found out we where in hell she sent someone to come get us. I was not the biggest fan of her but in this moment I was grateful for her. 

Lilith told us about how the people of hell did not see her as their queen. She wanted us to tell the infernal court that we where handing over the throne to her and she would help us get back home and give us nick. Sabrina and my self agreed to, as the two of us did not want to  rule over hell. I would be happy to never come back here. 

Lilith sat in the throne in front of the court. Sabrina, me, Harvey, Ros and Theo all stood off to the side of the throne in a line. Looking out on the court just made me what to go home and finish reading my book even more as the court was scary and I wanted to be as far away from them as I could possibly be. 

“ Court I bid you welcome” Lilith said while sitting on the throne, the throne room became quite as she spoke all of them turning their heads and bodies to look at her. “The city of pandemonium has an honored guest, may I present to the hordes, Sabrina and Cassandra Morningstar daughters of Lucifer Morningstar”  She said while looking over to us. Everyone turned their heads to look at us. Making me very uncomfortable. I was not used to being in the spot light that was Sabrina's thing not mine. “In his absence they are here to officially declare me queen of hell” When Lilith finished the whole room turned into whispers none of each I could hear to understand. She looked to us as she continued “  isn't that right girls?’ I shook my head yes, Sabrina on the other hand answered her with words “ Yes, that’s right” 

The court did not look to happy that we where handing over the throne “ This is treason! Hersey” One of the Three Pelage kings, Beelzebub, said. Asmodeus raised his right hand into the air pointing at Lilith “  Lilith is a concubine, not a queen!” Beelzebub looked at me and Sabrina “ We do not recognize her.” Thinking that they made their point about not wanting her to be king Sabrina was going to step forward to tell them that it was the truth. While she was doing that I was slow making my way to stand behind Lilith as the men that already my stomach twist in knots kept raising their voices.

The Man kept taking before Sabina could get another word in “ The realms are in chaos, and the earth, the pit, the heavens, the cosmos they all reject Lilith's claim to the throne.” Lilith steps forward challenging them “ and who do you propose would rule?” The three Pelage kings start to laugh as if they had been waiting for her to ask them that. By now everybody was looking at me and Sabrina and the only thing I wanted to do was to go home and forget all about everything that had happened today.

“ All hail Caliban, prince of Hell” Beelzebub said. The sound of the throne room doors opening sounded. The person who stood behind them was not who I was excepting to see. The person who walked in was the one who had told us how to get here when we first got here. Caliban walks into the room his eyes looking around the room almost as if he was looking for something, “ Molded from the clay of the pit itself.  Native son of the inferno,  born to restore and rule our dark domain!” Sabrina looks just as shocked as I did to see that the person we saw when we first came to hell turned out to be the prince of hell. “ Umm Hi?” Sabrina said while looking at Caliban then looking back to where I stood behind Lilith. Caliban followed her eyes and looked at me. Caliban looked at Sabrina “ Hello again” He then turned his body more so he could fully see me as I stood behind Lilith “ Hello again Princess”  He said while looking at me. Caliban then turned his attention back the court in front of him 

“Since the Dark Lord's desertion,  the Nine Circles of Hell have been breaking down.  I, Caliban, will restore stability  and do what Lucifer failed to do  conquer the Earth.  Remake it as our tenth circle  and enslave the tribes of mortal and witch” Sabrina took a step backwards so she was next to me and Lilith who I had take a step forward to stand by her side. “ Tenth? Isn’t nine circles enough?” she said in confusion. I shrugged my shoulders. Lilith looked at us “We’ll lose everything” It was then that I heard a faint whisper “  Come to me girls” I looked at nick when I heard those words knowing who they came from as soon as the words where said. Nick looked back at me and Sabrina. 

The next thing I know i’ m in what in assuming to be nicks mind with Sabrina. “ Lucifer” I say as he walks into the small room. “ My darling daughters” he said while looking at me and Sabrina “ What a disappointment you two are.” “ right back at you” Sabrina fires back. “ You betrayed me, For that your suffering shall be legendary, even for hell” He said with fire burning behind every word he said. “  but you have a crown to claim” Lucifer said while looking at us, finding my voice I spoke up “ We don’t want the crown, never have and we never will”. Sabrina adds in “ All I want right now is my boyfriend back.”  Lucifer looks at us angerly “ Have you no pride girls? This so-called prince Caliban is made of dirt! You have royal blood in your veins! Only you two can restore the balance in hell” Sabrina looks at me then to our ‘dad; “ We don’t care about hell” Lucifer looked at us “ But you should.  When the balance is off in Hell, so it is off in Heaven,  so it is off on Earth.  It's basic cosmology: to preserve one realm,  you must preserve them all.  And already the chaos your failed abdication has provoked  threatens your precious Greendale.” I look at Sabrina in worry, Sabrina however just looked at him and calmly asked, 

“ What are you talking about? What threats” 

“ The old ones are coming, should be rolling in any minute now.”

“ you’ re lying, again”  do lie, and often, but not about this.  Nor am I lying when I tell you  that only a true queen has the authority,  the power, to liberate Nicholas Scratch from this realm.  And the kings will never declare Lilith queen,  no matter what you say or do.  So if you want him back....”  After lucifer said this Sabrina disappeared and I was stuck in a room alone with lucifer. I turn around in a circle trying to find a way out, only to realize there is no way out. “ Hello Cassandra, I thought me and you should have a little chat.” I look at him like he is crazy “ why would I want to talk to you?”  Lucifer looks at me then starts to walk around me “ you know you and Sabrina are completely different people” he says. I look at him when he makes his way back into my line of vision. “ it's not a bad thing in fact I see it as a good thing, Sabrina is going to step up and take the throne and then Caliban will challenge her of course.” Lucifer says “ Don’t tell her but out of you two your my favorite, and although I don’ t want either of you close to boys, I see the way Caliban looks at you.” I look at him not understanding where he is going with this at all “ What are you getting at?” “Sabrina will try to take the throne for herself but I want you to have the throne with Caliban by your side.” The only thing he was doing was messing with my mind “  Why would you want that? You just said you didn't like him” Lucifer looks at him and smiles “  Yes but he has some knowledge of ruling hell and I want it in one piece when I get back, plus I see the way he looks at you”  Lucifer says “ he would do anything for you and doesn't know it yet.” Lucifer looked at me his smile dropping “ Listen hear and listen well, you are much more powerful then Sabrina is. The only problem is that part of you is still a mortal it drains your body physically. So try not to use to much power. Sabrina doesn't have to worry about it because she can’ t access the amount of power you can, am I making myself clear?” 

I nodded not dully believing what he was saying. I blinked and I was back out in the throne room, before I could say anything to the three kings Sabrina looked at me and Lilith  “ no we won’t”. Sabrina took a step forward looking at the three kings “ I am Sabrina Morningstar,  and that throne is mine by blood and by birth!” Lilith looked at me then Sabina leaning into Sabrina “  Yours to give to me, you mean”  Sabrina looked at her “ No, mine to claim” The three kings started to talk but I couldn't pay attention the only thing on my mind was that lucifer was right Sabrina did step forward and took the throne while leaving me in the dust. I was so lost in thought over what to do I almost didn't hear Caliban step forward and start to talk.”  You may be able to take the throne now but what about your sister?” he said raising his arm towards me, the look on Sabrina's face was almost like she forgot that I was there. In all truth I think everyone forgot that I was there. Sabrina looked at me before saying “ only one person can rule, and I think I should be the one ruling it” she says without making eye contact with me “ Im sorry what?” I say while looking at her, Sabrina looks at me “ as much as I love you I don't think you could rule hell” That one hurt my own sister doesn't think that I could rule hell, but she thinks that she can. 

“ If she wants the crown,  she's going to have to prove herself worthy. I challenge you Sabrina” Caliban says. Sabrina and Lilith have a chat in private “ She can be challenged its true but a certain number of signatures are required”  

“ as my first act of queen this court is dismissed!” Sabrina yells. They all start to leave the room Caliban walks up to see “  I'll see you soon princess” when everyone is gone Sabrina try's to talk to me but I just turn the other way 

##########################

Even since we got back from hell I haven’t seen or talked to Sabrina. When we got back from hell I went up to my room and locked the door have been there science. I was painting a picture when all of the sudden I'm in hell with Lilith standing above me. “ I look up at her with a look that could kill “ why am I here?”i said Lilith looked at me “ the courts want you here for this meeting. why? I don’t know.” 

When I walked into the throne room I see my sister sitting on the throne and that only fuels my anger. I’ m about to go up to her to give her a piece of my mind when the throne room doors again. Caliban walks in. “I, Caliban, demon prince of Hell,  challenge the Morningstar to her seat on the throne.” The whole room goes crazy with cheers “Look upon this scroll.  I have gathered 666 signatures of the highest born of Hell  to endorse my challenge.  By infernal law of the court of Hell, it must be accepted.” Sabrina looks at Lilith asking if its true to which she says yes. Caliban continues to talk “Then I challenge you on a quest for  the Unholy Regalia.  The regalia are the three most powerful occult objects in history.  Relics that have been lost to the ages, mind you.  Legend has it, he who finds and collects the relics  may take his seat on the throne, whether they be Morningstar or not.  Do you accept my challenge, Sabrina?” Sabrina looks at him with anger “ Yes”. Caliban smiles “ One more thing, your sister seeing as you do not what her on your team, if I win she becomes my queen, therefore she plays on my team” Caliban looks at me and smiles. Sabrina stands up “ No its not going to happen!’ Caliban looked back at her “ I don’t really think that's your choice to make” he says looking at me “ it’s her choice” Caliban holds at his hand waiting for me to take it. I look at his hand then to Sabrina who is already looking at me “ you can’t be thinking about this!’ I think at Caliban's hand and start to walk toward him. Taking his hand he smiles down at me due to the height difference. Sabrina starts to yell but the only thing I can focus on is the warmth that overcomes my body when he starts to teleport us to who knows where.  

[the-awkward-outlaw]

Second Chances - Ch. 22

Turning of the Tides

Warnings: Swearing, unimaginable fluff

Word count: ~8500

Masterlist 

Read on AO3

The night after your adventure in Lagras, Dutch takes Arthur, John, Bill and Lenny out to deal with Bronte. Hosea tries desperately to change his mind, but to no avail. As the group rides out of camp, he shakes his head. 

You watch them leave, feeling worried. Bronte will surely be heavily guarded and then there’s the possibility of city cops. Grimshaw assigns you to guard duty for the afternoon. 

As you stand by the gates of Shady Belle, you listen to the forest. A horse stomps its way towards you from the direction of the house and you turn to see Molly riding a small dun horse. You can tell from her eyes she’s been crying. She and Dutch fought again when he returned last night and most of the day she drank heavily. 

“Ms. O’Shea,” you say. “What are you doing?” 

“Don’t you worry about me!” she snaps, pausing her horse. “You get to leave with Arthur whenever you want, but anyone sees me set foot out of here and everyone loses their minds!” 

“Molly, the city is dangerous right now, I really don’t think-”

“I don’t care what you think! I’m going and you can’t stop me!” She kicks her horse into a gallop and leaves. You stare after her, worried. 

Charles approaches you, prepared to take the night shift. You hand him the repeater and go into camp. Spotting Hosea and Abigail at the table, you sit down, interrupting their conversation.

“Molly’s leaving,” you state.

“We know,” Hosea says sadly. “We tried talking to her, but she don’t wanna listen to us.” 

“She just needs some time,” Abigail says. “Dutch ain’t been too kind to her lately. Everyone needs a break from this place sometimes. She’ll come back.” 

The three of you fall silent for a moment. “Y/N, I’m glad you came over,” Hosea says. “Wanted to talk to you about this bank job.” 

“I didn’t think I would be involved,” you say. 

“Well, you’re not yet. But in order to do this right, we need to create a diversion away from the bank. I figure you, Abigail and myself will do that. We’ll go in, looking like city folks. I figure we plant a dud stage and set it off with dynamite.”

Abigail chews on her lip. “We’ll have to make sure no one sees us with the dynamite.” 

“That’s easy. We’ll take the stage we stole and put dynamite inside before leaving. You two act as lookouts while I light it and we walk away before anyone figures out what we’re doing. If all goes according to plan, no one will suspect a thing and we can sneak out.” 

“I don’t know, Hosea,” you say. “Seems like a lot of our plans the past few months haven’t gone too well for us.” 

“This one will, Y/N. Just have some faith.” Hosea pats your hand and stands up. “Just think about it, hmm?”

You nod and he leaves, lighting his pipe. Abigail stirs in her seat, almost as though searching for something to say. 

“So you and Arthur are getting pretty close?” she says. 

“Yeah. He’s, well, let’s just say when I first met him, I didn’t know how much of a romantic he was.” 

She laughs. “He’s always been like that. The carin’ sort. I just wish John…” she sighs heavily. 

“He’s getting better though, isn’t he? I’ve seen him with Jack more.” 

“He is, but I still have to talk him into it. It’s like he can’t make up his mind about the boy, and yet Jack looks up to him so.” 

“He’ll come around. John may not be the brightest man here, but he knows what’s right.” 

“I suppose. Well, I better go see to that boy.” 

She gets up and walks into the house. Javier sits by the fire with Uncle, but they’re both quiet. You see Karen stumbling about on the edges of camp, a bottle swaying from her hand. Sighing, you get up and decide to head to bed, hoping you can sleep without Arthur by your side. 

By morning, all the men except for Arthur and John returns. Lenny tells you and Abigail they stayed out after Bronte was dealt with. Dutch seems irritable, but he doesn’t seem to notice the absence of Molly. You approach him as he pours himself a cup of coffee.

“Hello, Dutch,” you say. “I wanted to let you know that Molly-”

“I don’t want to hear about Ms. O’Shea right now,” he grumbles. “I cannot worry about her, I got too much goin’ on.” He stomps away towards the house, stopping near Hosea. 

Midafternoon comes and Arthur and John finally return. John bids him farewell and heads off towards the gazebo where Abigail is sitting with Jack. Arthur rubs his jaw, his stubble nearly returned to normal. He sees you and walks over.

“Hello, Y/N.” 

“Arthur. You okay? Surprised you didn’t come home last night.” 

He sighs and hides his eyes with his hat. Something is troubling him. 

“You wanna talk about it?” you ask. 

“Yeah. Yeah, maybe that would be good. Let’s go somewhere else, I don’t wanna be in this camp anymore.” 

He leads you over to the horses and you mount Rannoch, feeling worried. Arthur

doesn’t speak as you walk and you don’t pressure him. He takes you in the direction of Rhodes and you recognize the familiar path leading to Clemens Point. Stopping in the clearing, you look around at the familiar area. After dismounting, he heads towards the lake, still not speaking.

You stand next to him as he gazes out across the burning lake and take his hand. “What’s going on, honey?” you ask.

He sighs and sits down, leaning against the large tree. You do the same, your shoulders touching. 

“Well, we got to Bronte just fine. Slippery snake tried to weasel his way out, but Dutch took him to the swamp, same place that big ol’ gator tried to get us. He killed him, but in… in a bad way.” 

He explains how Dutch had drowned Bronte and then fed him to the gators. The violence of it seems to shock him. 

“I ain’t known Dutch a long time,” you say, “but that don’t seem like him.” 

“No, it ain’t. I been with him 20 years, never seen him do nothing like that. He’s killed a lot of folk, sure. Who of us hasn’t? But feedin’ a man to a damn gator, I don’t know many people who deserve that. And it was just the way he looked at Bronte. Almost like… like he wanted what Bronte had and hated him for it. I’m not makin’ any sense.” 

“No, Arthur, you are. I’m just… It just seems like ever since that trolley job, he’s changed. Been so angry. The way he talked to you the other night. I don’t know, he’s even been lookin’ at me funny, like I made him mad or somethin’.” 

“Don’t know how you could have. You should hear the way Pearson talks about ya. Almost expectin’ him to propose to you any day now.” 

“Arthur, you pig!” you laugh and smack his arm. He chuckles and pulls you into a one-armed hug. 

“Come on, let’s go to Rhodes,” he says.

“What for? You think it’s safe after Sean?” 

“Yeah I think so. Most people involved with that got killed and it’s been long enough. I was thinkin’ we could maybe play some black jack, have some fun.”

“Yeah, okay.” 

  You both head into Rhodes as the sun sets, relieved that no one seems to recognize Arthur. He stops in the store to buy a few things, and he tells you to find a new book. You see one titled “The Portrait of Dorian Gray”, and place it on the counter next to Arthur’s items. Nodding approvingly, he pays for it with his other things. 

Afterwards, he guides you down the street, offering you his arm. He keeps smirking at you, making you suspicious.

“What’s going on in that mind of yours, Mr. Morgan?”

“Nothin’. Just happy to be out here with you is all.” 

“Uh-huh,” you say, not believing a word of it. Just as you’re about to approach the front of the hotel, Arthur stops and pushes you against the wall of the building. You’re about to ask what he’s doing when his lips are on yours, his body pressed against you. 

He pulls away slowly. “Sorry, darlin’. Just… felt like I needed to do that.” 

Blushing, you giggle. “You’re funny, Arthur, but what are you doing? You can kiss me whenever you want, why now?” 

He smiles. “Like you said, I can kiss ya whenever I want.” His thumb traces your cheek gently, making your heart flutter. 

“You’re real funny, Mr. Morgan.” 

“And you’re beautiful.” He kisses you again, softer this time. He sighs and pulls away.

“Thought we were here to play black jack?” you open your eyes, your hands on his shoulders. 

“Yes we are.” He offers you his arm again and leads you up the stairs towards the black jack table. Before you have a chance to pull out your money, he lays down your bet. As the dealer begins handing out cards, you notice Arthur’s been holding your hand since the moment you sat down. Something’s going on with him, but you’re not sure what. 

You play for nearly an hour before Arthur decides he’s done for the night. He takes you to the main floor and buys dinner. Over the meal, he’s become oddly quiet. You try to pick up a conversation, but he doesn’t seem interested. Figuring he’s just tired or worried about Dutch, you suggest getting a room for the night, to which he agrees. 

He gets up and pays for a room, beckoning for you to follow him. He leads you to a room in the back with a bed no wider than the one you share in Shady Belle. Shrugging, you sit down, Arthur next to your side. He’s still quiet and he seems to be lost in his head. You extend your hand and gently grab his face, turning it to you. 

“Just you and me here now,” you say and kiss him. He sighs and kisses you back. Your hand wanders down to his shirt and you undo the first button.

“Not tonight, darlin’,” he says, grabbing your hand. You pull back and look into his face, which is hard and unreadable. 

“Is something wrong?” you ask.

“No. Just… not in the mood tonight. Ya mind if we just go to sleep? Plannin’ on an early morning.”

“Why? What’s going on tomorrow?” 

“Nothin’. I’ll explain in the mornin’. Just get some rest.” 

Something in you wants to push further, but his eyes seem sad. You nod and unlace your boots, lying down. He lies down as well and you slide into the crook of his arm. His hand rests gingerly on your shoulder, but it feels as though he’s forcing himself to tolerate your touch. 

In the morning, you wake up alone. You look around but Arthur’s nowhere to be seen. His hat’s resting on the dresser under the window. After sitting up, you grab your knees. Something about the way he was acting last night when you were alone seems strange, completely unlike him. A strange feeling settles into your stomach. 

The door opens and Arthur walks in, his hair damp. He offers you a brief and uncharacteristic good morning, which you quietly return. 

“Come on, get dressed,” he says hastily. 

“Where are we going?” 

“Huntin’ trip.” 

“Okay, but where?” 

He looks at you before answering. “West Elizabeth, I reckon.”

He quickly leaves the room, letting you get dressed in privacy. You can’t shake off the feeling that he’s irritated with you. You try thinking back, wondering what you may have done or said, but coming up with nothing. He had been so sweet when you’d come into town, but after dinner he acted like he didn’t want you around. 

You leave the room, still conflicted and meet him by the bar. He silently beckons you to follow him out to the horses. 

“Figure we can take a stage,” he says, his voice flat. 

“You sure? Why don’t we take the train? It’ll take half the time.” 

“Because I want to,” he says quickly. He doesn’t go further as he leads you to the stage, the driver napping on his seat. Arthur dismounts and raps the carriage. “Hey!” he calls out when the driver doesn’t respond. He wakes up with a small snort. 

“Huh, what?”

“You mind takin’ us to Strawberry?” Arthur says. 

The driver rubs his eyes and yawns. “Sure, get in. Gonna be a trip.” 

Arthur opens the stage door and gestures you inside, his face stony. Bowing your head, you climb in. Arthur takes the seat opposite of you, hiding his eyes beneath his hat. You clutch your hands as the stage begins moving; the driver urging the horses on. 

The next few hours pass in almost complete silence. The nasty feeling in your stomach has grown. You begin to wonder if Arthur is planning on ending your relationship.

I told you, a nasty voice says. No one could ever love you.

Leaning back, you look out the window to the passing world beyond, wishing the voice would fall silent. It doesn’t. 

He’s come to the same realization everyone eventually comes to. You’re not worth it, you’re not worthy of being loved. He’s going to break it off with you and forget this ever happened. He’s going to run back to Mary and they’ll be happy.

A tear finds its way out of the corner of your eye and you angrily wipe it away. If Arthur notices, he says nothing. You wish he would.

He doesn’t care about your pain, you stupid woman, that awful voice says again. No one has ever cared, why would he be any different? You were a fool for believing he loved you.

You suddenly wish you were alone in the stage, alone to show your weakness. Arthur still sits rigidly in the seat opposite you, his eyes hidden and his hands clasped. You lean your head against the wall near the window as more tears betray you. Why is he taking you to West Elizabeth to break up with you? Why couldn’t he have done it already? You close your eyes and will yourself to sleep as the horrible voice continues to whisper to you.

Arthur shakes you awake abruptly. “We’re here,” he says in a hollow voice. You sigh and follow him out of the stage, wishing he’d just get this over with already. You wonder, as you mount Rannoch, what you will do when you get back to camp. Should you leave? That would be the wrong choice. Just because Arthur’s breaking up with you doesn’t mean you have to lose the rest of your family. The thought of losing touch with Hosea, the other girls, even Grimshaw is too painful.

Arthur hops onto Artemis and wordlessly leads you east towards Big Valley. When the expanse of green lays ahead of you, he stops. “Figure we can hunt for a few hours,” he says. You nod, doing your best to keep your face blank. You kick Rannoch into a run without waiting for him and break out of the trees, the wind flying through your hair and the sun bathing your face. A sense of freedom comes over you as a herd of pronghorns dashes through the wildflowers. You pull Rannoch to a stop on the north end of the valley. Ahead of you, a large stag with proud antlers lifts his head from the river and runs towards the trees. The sight brings the memory of Arthur telling you about his strange dreams of stags, and the hollow feeling returns.

For the next few hours, you keep your distance from Arthur, hunting the pronghorn and even a moose to keep the horrible thoughts at bay. The sun’s beginning to set behind the giant mountain on the western border of the valley and Arthur stops Artemis near you as you finish skinning a pronghorn doe. 

“Hey, let’s go to the lake,” Arthur says, leaning on his saddle horn. You look up and he offers you a small smile, his eyes bright again. You swallow and nod, your chest still heavy with doubts. After flinging the pelt across your horse, you get up and follow him down the trail into the forest. 

“You’re real quiet,” he calls back to you, turning in his saddle to see you. 

You’ve been buried in your own head and you look up to see him staring at you. Is that worry on his face?

“Oh, yeah,” you mumble, dipping your head again. You’re convinced he doesn’t want to hear anything going on in your head anymore. 

“You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to,” he says, turning back to the trail. “I sure do like hearin’ your voice though.” 

He’s lying, the voice says. You don’t respond, patting Rannoch’s neck. 

Arthur stops on the trail, Lake Owanjilla lying ahead. The western sky has turned a brilliant pink, the ridges of the mountains burn gold. If you didn’t feel so miserable, you’d find it breathtaking. 

“Here’s a good spot,” he mutters and dismounts.

“Here we go,” you mumble quietly so he doesn’t hear you. He leads you to the edge of the lake, hanging over the water. A clear, cold stream rushes into it on your left. You stand next to Arthur, awaiting the blow. 

“Sure is a lot of beauty in this world,” he says, looking across the lake. An owl somewhere in the trees hoots. “You helped me see that.” 

“I’ve done nothing, Arthur,” you say. You stare out across the water too. 

“You’re wrong, darlin’,” he says. He turns his body to you and you look at him. He grabs your hands and smiles softly. “Ya know, the best thing I ever done was go into that sheriff’s in Blackwater, lookin’ for bounties. It lead me to you, even if my intentions were selfish. You done so much for me since I met you, I… I don’t know where I’d be without you.” 

He places a palm on your cheek, wiping away a stray tear. 

“I didn’t do anything,” you repeat, more tears leaking from your eyes.

“You taught me what love really feels like,” he says. “With Mary, there was always somethin’ I had to do to earn her love. You give it freely, and yours is so much more pure and powerful. It’s not that I didn’t love Mary when I was younger, it’s just that with you, it don’t matter no more. I love you more than anything and I… I can’t imagine a future without you.” 

“What are you saying, Arthur?” you ask. You’d been expecting him to tell you anything other than what he’s saying now. Arthur takes his hands away and reaches into his satchel and he kneels down. Your heart stops as he shows you his upturned fist. 

“I’m askin’ you if you’ll marry me, sweetheart?” he opens his hand and shows you a ring, an emerald set into the gold band. Your knees feel shaky as you begin to cry, your heart feeling as though it might burst. Arthur sighs and stands up, hiding the ring in his fist.

“Listen, darlin’, if you- if you don’t feel the same, I-.”

You cut him off. “Yes, Arthur. I will marry you.” 

His face breaks into a massive smile and he grabs your hand, gently sliding it onto your finger. You stare at it for a moment before looking up at him. His own eyes seem watery and he pulls you into a tight hug, letting you bury your face into his chest, the horrible voice finally falling silent. His scent fills your nose and you breathe in deeply.

“Thank you, darlin’,” he sniffs as he rests his cheek against your head. 

You look up and kiss him, placing your hand on his cheek. “I’ll always love you, Arthur Morgan.” 

He grips your hand and kisses the ring on your finger. “I feel like the luckiest man alive.” 

“I’m not exactly a prize, Arthur,” you joke. 

“You are to me.” 

You both watch silently as a massive eagle circles over the lake, finally dipping down to the water and plucking a fish with its talons. 

“Come on,” Arthur says, patting your back. “Let’s get a fire going.” He guides you over to a wide spot of grass and begins a fire while you set up the tent. You sit down next to him and he immediately pulls you into his lap. You smile as the big cowboy cradles your head into his neck. 

“How come you looked so miserable this mornin’, sweetheart?” he asks. 

You huff a small laugh. “Ah, you’d think it was stupid.” 

“Nah, I could never think that.”

“Well, I thought… I thought you were going to break things off this morning. You were so distant and unlike yourself.” 

“I’m sorry, darlin’. I was scared.”

“Scared?” you look up at him. “I could never see you scared. How many times you been shot at?”

“This was different, darlin’,” he kisses your forehead. “I was terrified you were gonna say no.” 

You pause, trying to think of a response. 

“Why didn’t you?” he suddenly asks. “I thought after everythin’ you been through, marriage would be the last thing you’d ever want.” 

You listen to his heartbeat for a moment. “Because I love you, Arthur. It’s not that I can’t imagine a future with you, it’s just that the possibility of that future ever happening is impossible.”

“Me too. But what I meant was why? You been married before, and we both know how awful it was. Why you willin’ to try again?”

“This is completely different from the last time, Arthur.” You turn so your back’s against his chest. He clasps his hands on your stomach. “Last time, none of it happened with my consent. He was a complete stranger to me. This time couldn’t be more different. A chance to have something normal for once.” 

“Well, I’m glad you said yes,” he kisses your temple. “I don’t know what I woulda done if you didn’t.” 

You smile and pat his hand. As night falls properly, you cook dinner and then Arthur takes you inside the tent. He makes love to you in a way he never has before. He worships your body, every flaw, every scar, every inch, and you do the same with him, leaving no part of him untouched. 

The next morning, you wake to find Arthur sitting up and writing in his journal. You smile at him through tired eyes and roll over, placing your head in his lap. He chuckles and runs his fingers through your hair. 

“Hey, darlin’.”

“Mm, Arthur.” 

You sit in silence, enjoying the warmth radiating from his body, his fingers causing your skin to erupt in goose bumps. After a while, he pats your shoulder. 

“We ought to get back to camp, sweetheart. Figure the others will wanna know.” 

“Know what?” you look up at him. 

He smiles, you see his slightly jagged tooth, which you secretly love. “Know your answer.”

You sit up, still looking at him. “The others knew you were gonna ask me?” 

“Of course. Needed some advice. To be honest, when I first knew I wanted to marry you, I thought it would be too soon. We’re in a big mess right now, Pinkertons breathin’ down our necks. However, I don’t really see things gettin’ better any time soon.”

You nod, grabbing his hand. He squeezes yours. 

“Hosea made me realize that if I felt ready to ask you, then it meant it was time.”

You smile and lean in, kissing him. His arms loop around you, holding you close and warming you against the morning’s chill. 

“I’m glad you did. Can I admit something to you?” you say.

“Of course, darlin’. I want ya to know you can tell me anythin’.”

“I believed for a long time that I was gonna be alone forever. I’d never have anyone to depend on, never have someone I could trust the way I trust you.” 

He kisses your forehead. “Well, I’m glad I could prove you wrong.”

You nuzzle into his neck, adoring the familiar scent of pine and leather that seems to emit from his skin. His hands rub your back gently and he begins to hum a tune you recognize. One of the horses snorts and you remember you can’t stay here forever, as much as you’d like to.

“Come on, cowboy,” you pat his chest. “Like you say, they’ll be wantin’ to hear.” 

The two of you pack up camp quickly after a brief breakfast and some coffee. You ask Arthur if he wants to take the stage back to Saint Denis or Rhodes, but he says he wants to just ride back on the horses. 

“That’ll take almost the whole day,” you say.

“I know, but it gives me the chance to be alone with you a little longer.” 

You can’t help but smile, riding side by side with him. You adore the soft core he hides beneath his tough exterior. 

It’s late afternoon by the time you see the trees surrounding the path that leads to Shady Belle. You pat Rannoch, he and Artemis are heavily laden with game and pelts that you’ve hunted on your way down. 

“Who’s there?” Javier calls. 

“Just us,” Arthur replies. He hitches up and you do the same. Just as you’re about to grab the pelts from Rannoch, three figures walk towards you. Dutch, Hosea, and Grimshaw march your way, looking as though they’ve just shared a joke. 

“Well?” Dutch raises his arms expectantly. Arthur steps beside you, staring at them. 

“Are we to call you Mrs. Morgan now?” Hosea asks, a proud smile stretched across his face. 

You blush and grab Arthur’s hand. “Well, I suppose. We’re not married yet though.” 

Grimshaw puts her hands on her hips and marches over to you. Expecting her to start yelling for disappearing again, you await her blow. Instead, she quickly grabs your left hand.

“I wanna make sure this man’s done right by you,” she says, inspecting the ring on your finger. She seems to approve and releases your hand, smiling. “You done good, Mr. Morgan.” 

“Thank you, Miss Grimshaw.” 

Dutch chuckles deeply and turns back to camp.

“Everyone. Everyone!” he hollers. Several of the gang come up to hear what he has to say. Arthur hooks your hand around his arm. You feel nervous, never having accepted compliments well. 

“Tonight is a night for celebration! Arthur and Y/N are going to be married!”

Mary-Beth and Tilly clap, laughing loudly, Karen hollers out excitedly. Several of the men announce their congratulations, coming up to clap you and Arthur on the back. It makes you blush.

“Well, let’s celebrate properly then!” Uncle says, going to sit down by the fire. “Javier! Come play us somethin’!”

Despite being on guard duty, Javier complies. He sits down by the fire, his guitar in hand. “I know just the one to play tonight.” 

Lenny and Mary-Beth grab you and Arthur, guiding you to the big log directly in front of the fire. You sit down, your hand still looped around Arthur’s arm as Javier tests a few strings. He finally clears his throat and begins playing. You recognize the first notes of the song you had sung for the gang back in Clemens Point, The Sweetheart Tree. It makes you smile wider as Arthur rocks gently back and forth. 

When the song’s over, Jack runs over with strings of flowers in his hand. “I made these for you and Uncle Arthur!” he says, holding up the flower necklaces. Arthur chuckles and takes them, thanking him and putting one over himself and the other around your neck. Jack smiles proudly. “So she’s gonna be my aunt?” 

“That’s right, kid,” Arthur says as he drapes an arm around your shoulder. Jack gives a small “yippee” and skips off. Arthur kisses your temple and gets up, heading off to Pearson’s wagon where several boxes of alcohol have been laid out. He’s immediately swarmed by Lenny, John, Bill and Karen. Hosea sits down close to you as Javier finishes his song. Grimshaw takes a seat, along with Mary-Beth. 

“I’m real proud of you,” Hosea says, lighting his pipe. “Must have taken a lot of courage to say yes, after your last marriage.” 

You smile and look into the fire. “It didn’t, actually. I wasn’t scared when he asked me. Surprised, but not scared.” 

“Ah, you two were meant to be,” Mary-Beth says breathily. 

“It’ll be good for him,” Grimshaw says. “Hopefully you can help him settle down a little. Give him something to keep him centered.”

“Oh, I doubt even I’ll be able to tame him,” you chortle. “Always been a man of the wild.” 

Javier and Uncle pick up a song together and several of the others come over to join in. Hosea looks at you with a clever gleam in his eye. 

“You ready for tomorrow?” he asks.

“What’s tomorrow?”

“The big bank job in town.”

“That’s tomorrow?” you say, a little louder than you had meant. 

“Ah, must have forgotten to tell you. Sorry about that. Anyways, you, me and Abigail will take the stage coach ahead of the others and plant it a few blocks from the bank. You’ll need to wear something nice, make you look like an upper class lady.” 

“Okay,” you say. You’ll have to ask one of the other girls if you can borrow something, not having any dresses aside from the one you wore to that awful party at the mayor’s mansion. 

Dutch walks over, attracted by the mention of the bank job. “Now Hosea, before you get too excited about this, we need to smooth out the plan. Got a few wrinkles in it that are worryin’ me.” 

“We will tomorrow, Dutch. Let us enjoy this night. Like you said, we’re celebratin’.” 

As Javier begins playing a new tune, you look fondly over at Hosea. You call his attention.

“I know it might not be for a while,” you say as he looks at you. “But you’re the closest thing I’ve had to a proper father. Would… would you walk me down the aisle when Arthur and I get married?”

He smiles widely. “It would be my honor, Y/N.” 

You grin at him, thanking him. 

The party lasts for several hours. You and Arthur are forced to tell the story of how he asked multiple times. Some of the members, mainly Karen, Bill and Pearson drink themselves to the point of passing out. Arthur brings you a bottle of Caribbean rum, which you’ve never tried before. After half a bottle, you feel it getting to your head. You and Tilly both drunkenly try to play Domino with poor results. Lenny stands by the table, laughing as you drop a tile and try unsuccessfully to pick it up. Arthur stumbles over and screams, “Leeennaaaaaaayyyyy!” 

“Oh God, Arthur!” Lenny hollers back. “Not again!” 

Arthur guffaws as he stands next to you, taking a long drink from the bottle in his hand. You give up on the tile and stand up, draping your arms over his shoulders. 

“Think…” you hiccup. “Think it’s time for bed, Mr. Morgan. I ain’t seen straight for an hour.” 

“Okay, Mrs. Morgan,” he slurs, bending down to kiss you. You grab his hand and lead him towards the house, bidding the others good night. The walk seems much harder than usual as you and Arthur stumble over one another. When you’re finally in the house, he starts grabbing you, making you laugh.

“Room first,” you mumble. By the time you get upstairs and into your room, he practically rips your clothes off. You don’t even make it to the bed as Arthur lays you down, kissing every inch of skin he can reach. You rip his shirt open, glad to find he neglected to put on his union suit this morning as you run your fingers through his chest hair. He growls and nips your shoulder. As you reach down to remove his gun belt, you hear him mumble. 

“I love you, Y/N Morgan. Lord knows how much I love you.” 

You wake up with a terrible hangover. Arthur groans next to you on the floor, rubbing his head. 

“God, I wanna die,” he mumbles.

“Me too. Why’d we drink so much?” you say. You’re about to roll over to kiss him when he shoots up, drapes a blanket around his hips and runs out on the balcony. You hear him retching so you heave yourself to your feet, dressing. Arthur comes back in, wiping his mouth clean, and begins to dress as well. 

“Come on, cowboy,” you grab his hand. “Let’s try clearing our heads.” 

You both stumble down the stairs, still holding hands. You wince as the morning sun hits your eyes. Arthur leads you over to the fire and pours you a coffee. The hot drink seems to do little to clear the headache and your stomach clenches painfully. You throw out your coffee and dash to the river just in time to vomit what’s left of the alcohol in your system. 

Arthur walks up behind you, finishing his drink. When you stand up straight, he pulls you into his arms. 

“I gotta go speak with Dutch and Hosea, figure out this bank job,” he says. You nod into his chest, your head still pounding. He guides you back over to Pearson’s wagon, grabbing you a canteen of water. You greedily drink as much as you can, then he does the same. 

As Arthur heads to the house where Dutch and Hosea are talking, you head over to the crates where the other girls sit. You feel a little better as you sit down, picking up some sewing. 

“So you two gonna get married quickly or you gonna be engaged a while?” Karen asks, her eyes bloodshot. She looks worse than you feel. 

“I don’t know. We ain’t talked about it yet.”

“What about kids?” Tilly asks. “You gonna try havin’ ‘em as soon as you’re married or wait?” 

This question causes you to pause. Arthur’s the only one who knows you’re barren. You’re not in the mood to disclose that to the others just yet.

“We’re probably gonna wait. Who knows what our situation might be like for the next little while? Ain’t the best idea to have kids until we know it’s a good time.” 

“Well, be prepared for a lot of hard work,” Abigail says as she walks over with her coffee. “Much as I love my boy, it’s a thankless job.” 

“Ain’t that sort of the point?” you ask. “I mean, why’s a kid gotta be grateful to his parents just for bein’ born? Ain’t like they asked for it.” 

“Still,” she says. “You’d think after all I done for him, he’d at least be grateful.” 

“Kids ain’t supposed to be grateful,” you say, returning to your sewing. “And they don’t see the world that way. I’m not sayin’ you should spoil the boy or make his life difficult, but it ain’t fair of you to expect so much from him, as much as you’d like him to.” 

“You ain’t got kids,�� Abigail finishes her coffee. “You don’t understand.” She walks away, muttering something beneath her breath. 

The next few hours, you do chores around camp and your head clears. Hosea approaches you and Abigail in the middle of the day, suggesting you get ready. She heads off without a word; you ask one of the girls if you can borrow a dress. Arthur comes into the room just as you’re changing.

“You ready for this, darlin’?” he asks. 

“Guess as much as I’ll ever be. Does Dutch know what he wants to do after this?”

“I dunno, he keeps talking about goin’ to Tahiti or Australia. I honestly don’t know the appeal of either one of ‘em, but I guess the Pinkertons won’t find us there.” 

“What about heading back west like he talked about?” 

Sighing, he sits down. “I don’t think that’s happenin’, darlin’. Wherever the train goes, the Pinkertons can get us.” 

He begins changing into a suit you’ve never seen before. He tucks a blue puff tie into his patterned blue vest. 

“Where’d you get that, Arthur? The suit?” 

“Oh, Trelawney made me buy it for that river boat job. Do I look okay?” He fidgets with the buttons of his coat sleeve. You walk up and adjust his tie, smiling.

“You look very handsome. Not at all like some country man.” 

“Well, I hope not. Now you know what to do?”

You swallow and nod. “Yes, once we set off the dynamite, Hosea’s gonna take us to the north end of Saint Denis, we’ll grab a wagon and meet you all back here.” 

“Hopefully, much richer than we are now,” he smiles, tucking a lock of hair behind your ear. “You be careful out there, darlin’. Don’t want you gettin’ hurt.” 

“Nothing’s gonna happen to me. But promise me you’ll be careful? You’re guaranteed to be getting shot at.” 

“Awe, I’ll be fine. Maybe we’ll get lucky and Micah will get shot.”

You giggle and push him out the door. “Don’t get my hopes up.” 

As you walk outside, Dutch calls to Arthur. “You got everything?”

“Think so,” he says, straightening his sleeve. 

“So,” Hosea says as he climbs onto the stage. You and Abigail get into the back. “We rob ourselves a bank and within six weeks, we’re living life anew a tropical idyll spending the last of our days as banana farmers?” 

“Exactly,” Dutch says from the back of the Count. Arthur, John, Micah, Lenny and Javier mount their horses as Bill and Charles sit on one of the wagons.

“Let’s get out of this godforsaken place and go rob ourselves a bank!” Hosea yells out. The others holler and agree, Micah forces his horse to rear up. You suddenly get a flashback of Bison Point when Dutch and so many of the others had left in much the same manner to rob the ferry. A bad feeling settles into your stomach. 

Hosea whips the horses and the stage charges out to the front of the line, causing you and Abigail to sway inside.

“This is it, gentlemen!” Dutch calls out behind the stage. “The very last one!” 

“Where have we heard that one before?” John responds. 

“What has happened to you, John? You lost all your heart.” 

“I’m just trying to stay real about this.” 

“‘Real’. How I detest that word,” Dutch says. “So devoid of imagination!”

“How soon we shippin’ out?” Micah asks. 

Dutch begins talking about how he has a plan to get a boat organized and go down to South America.

“What about the money in Blackwater?” Micah demands. 

“Forget that, it’s gone!” Dutch hollers. “You all talk like it’s the only goddamn money in the world. We’re gonna take it from the people who take it from us. This is a big city bank!” 

“Right,” John shoots back. “With guards, security, police.”

“Hosea has done his reconnaissance, we’ve been over this.” He goes over the plan again, sounding frustrated yet determined. By the time he’s done, the stage is passing Calliga Hall.

“Hosea!” Dutch calls. “You know the drill. Any problems, meet us back in camp!” 

Hosea whips the horses on, the stage speeds up and drives into the city. Hosea guides it carefully down the cobbled streets, navigating around other wagons and riders. He stops it on a narrow street a few blocks from the bank. You and Abigail get out as he climbs down.

“Alright, ladies,” he says quietly, clapping his hands. “Each of you stand on one end of the stage, keep an eye out while I light her up.” 

You walk with him towards the back of the stage and stand on the sidewalk, looking around for potential witnesses. Hosea reaches into the back lockbox and pulls out a tied bundle of dynamite. He quickly places it inside the stage.

“Hold on,” you say, spotting a man and woman walking across the street at the end of it. Hosea pauses and watches them. Luckily, they take no notice of your party and walk on, disappearing around the building. “Okay, clear.” 

“We’re good on this end, Hosea,” Abigail says. 

“Alright, act quickly, ladies. Once I light this thing, we only have a few seconds to get down that alley and be gone.” He gestures to the alley between the two buildings the stage sits in front of.

“We’re ready, Hosea,” you say. 

He lights a match and touches it to the wick, which begins sparking.

“Now!” Hosea whispers. You and Abigail hastily follow him down the alley, trying to get away from the stage as quickly as possible without looking suspicious. As you reach the center of it, the stage explodes, the rubble clattering around the street. It’s immediately followed by screams, yells, horses neighing, a whistle blows. 

“Ladies, I think we’re done here,” Hosea says. He ushers you both down the alley in front of him, heading down towards the other street. You’re hoping the others are having as much luck as you when someone painfully grabs your arm. You’re suddenly slammed into the brick wall and Agent Milton, the Pinkerton, points the barrel of his pistol inches from your face. You hear Abigail get pushed into the wall and look over to see Ross pinning her. Several other Pinkerton agents and policemen stand behind him.

Hosea lifts his hands, shocked, and is about to speak when Milton interrupts him. “Mr. Matthews! We received word you and your gang of delinquents would be here, but we doubted you’d really be so foolish to rob the bank. Looks like our informant was right.” 

“Mr. Milton,” Hosea says, his eyes sparkling cleverly. “We have no business here other than to enjoy the day in this lovely city.” 

“And the fact that you just left the street where a wagon exploded is nothing more than a mere coincidence? I doubt that.” 

Hosea takes a step towards him. “Mr. Milton, we’ve no quarrel with you. We are on the verge of leaving, we’ll never be your problem again after today.” 

“I’m afraid it’s too late for that, Mr. Matthews! I’ve given you all how many chances to go and live as better men, but you’ve done nothing but laugh in my face.” 

Milton pushes his hand against your throat, pulling the hammer of his pistol down. You grab his hand on your throat, Arthur’s ring glinting on your finger as Milton’s finger twitches on the trigger.

“Wait!” Hosea says, stepping close to him. “Take me, not her. Give her and the other girl a five minute head start, I’ll go with you quietly.” 

“Hosea, no!” you choke.

“Quiet, Y/N!” he says, not breaking eye contact with Milton. 

“You’ll show me where the others are?” Milton demands. “No lies?” 

“No lies. Just promise me you’ll let these two have a chance.” 

Milton hesitates. His finger brushes against the trigger, his hand on your throat tightens painfully. Finally, he lifts the hammer and points the gun at Hosea.

“You heard the man, Ross. Let the girl go.” 

Hosea sighs heavily and keeps his hands up as Milton approaches him. He grabs him by the collar and points the barrel at his head, standing behind him. Milton glares at you.

“We had a deal, Ms. Y/L/N. You have five minutes, don’t think I won’t try to find you.” 

“Hosea, no!” you scream as Abigail grabs your hand and yanks you away. You try fighting her off.

“Get out of here, Y/N!” Hosea calls. “You have a wedding to attend!” 

“No!” 

Abigail wrenches your arm painfully as she pulls you down the street. “He’ll be fine, Y/N,” she hollers back at you, sounding hysterical. “Hosea always finds a way out.” 

You run with her, trying to keep the tears at bay. You look back and find the Pinkertons gone, along with Hosea, although a few policemen mill about, screaming at one another. 

Abigail leads you over a few blocks. You don’t pay attention to where she’s taking you, all you know is you’re farther from the bank than before. Just as you hope that Arthur and the others will be okay, you hear a faint gunshot. The sound brings you to a halt and you turn in its direction, a horrible feeling in your gut. The air is suddenly filled with the cracks of guns from the distance, echoing off the buildings. The city has turned to chaos.

You’re just about to charge into the street in the direction of the fight when Abigail grabs your shoulders, pulling you back. A wagon with a policeman standing behind a gatling gun roars past you, the wheel nearly catching your dress. 

“We need to get out of here!” Abigail yells as policemen and Pinkertons flood the streets. One of the Pinkertons points to the pair of you, whipping his gun out. Your five minutes are up. Abigail yelps and grabs your hand, dashing off down a thin alley just as the Pinkerton shoots his gun at you, the bullet plunges into the brick wall of a building. The alley winds and leads into a small plaza, a broken fountain sitting in the middle. You see not too far beyond the next street, which is swarming with more policemen as the gunshots continue to ring out. 

“I don’t think we can get out!” you scream at Abigail over the blasts. “We should hide! One of the buildings.” 

Without thinking, you dash over to a door facing the plaza, kicking it open. An elderly black woman screams, falling backwards onto her kitchen floor. Abigail slams the door shut after you, slightly dulling the ringing of gunfire. The woman doesn’t move and you bend down, trying to wake her, thinking she fainted. She doesn’t respond and you feel her throat, finding no pulse. She must have suffered a heart attack. 

You and Abigail quickly inspect the house, finding too many windows for your comfort at the front of it. The back where the old lady died only has one window, a narrow staircase leads to the upper floor. 

“Should we go up there?” you whisper. The gunfire still echoes through the city outside.

“No, we might get trapped,” Abigail says. “Let’s just stay here in the kitchen, it’s blocked from the front of the house.” 

“Help me move her then,” you say, gesturing to the old woman. You both pick her up and lay her on a couch in the front room. She looks as though she could be napping. Heading back into the kitchen, you both sit on the floor and away from the single window, praying no one will find you.

Several hours have passed, the gun shots have finally stopped. The city lies dark and unusually quiet except for the splashing of the torrential downpour. You would have left the city by now, except constant patrols of Pinkertons and policemen roam the streets. You and Abigail have been checking the front windows overlooking the street every half hour or so, finding no citizens or anyone else. The city must be on lockdown, meaning the others must be in it still. You pray for the thousandth time that everyone’s alright and you’ll see them in a day or two back at Shady Belle.

While waiting, you and Abigail raided the old woman’s closets to find new clothes. You slip on a pair of trousers that look as though they belonged to a teenage boy.

Abigail comes back from checking the front. “Think this is as quiet as it’s gonna get tonight, let’s try sneakin’ out now.” 

You sigh and nod. “Sure, this rain should help cover us.” 

You sit up, shaking your leg, which has fallen asleep. Once it’s steady, you open the back door leading to the small plaza with the broken fountain. You sneak out, hunching slightly and letting the rain soak you. The plaza’s clear. Just as you’re about to make a break for the other side, something big slams into you. Abigail covers your mouth just as you scream. You both look over and see a familiar face. 

“Charles!” you hiss. “What happened?!” 

“I’ll explain later,” he mutters. “We need to get out of here. Follow me.” Without another word, he guides you out of the alley and onto the street. He checks constantly as he runs slowly down the street. Through the rain, the form of a wagon appears, two horses patiently hitched to it. You see the words “Saint Denis Police” painted on the side. You point it out to Charles and the three of you run towards it.

Charles opens the door and looks inside, finding nothing but a police man’s hat and coat in it. He’s about to put them on when you slap his shoulder.

“Let me drive us out of here. You’re too recognizable.” 

Charles nods and you put on the coat, tucking your hair in underneath the hat. He and Abigail get into the carriage, slamming the door shut. Climbing up, you pray this will work. You click and flick the reins, trotting the horses on. Looking down at your feet, you spot a rifle. You hope you won’t have to use it as you navigate your way down the street. 

You spot several policemen and a few groups of Pinkertons wandering the streets, yelling to one another over the rain. One officer beckons to you.

“You find anything?” he hollers.

Putting on your best masculine voice, you respond. “Nothing!” 

He nods and continues on his way. You drive onto the large street near the train tracks, passing another police carriage. You sigh heavily as you drive down the bridge, heading away from the city. Once you’re off the bridge, you bring the carriage to a stop and hop down, ripping off the coat and hat. Charles and Abigail get out and you all decide it’s best to travel on foot back to camp.

For the next hour, Charles leads you through the swamp. He doesn’t say a word about the events that transpired, nor do you and Abigail ask. The rain begins to let up just as Shady Belle comes into view. 

“Charles!” Karen yells, holding the repeater as she keeps guard. “What the hell happened?” 

Charles beckons her to follow as you and Abigail go into camp. Grimshaw, Sadie and the others come into the middle of camp, greeting him expectantly. 

“Mr. Smith,” Grimshaw demands. “What has happened? We were expecting you all back hours ago! Where are the others?”

Charles shakes his head sadly. He looks around. Everyone’s staring at him, worried expressions on their faces. 

“Hosea and Lenny are dead. The others found their way onto a boat. I… I don’t know if they’ll be coming back.”

[manaquisition]

In Hushed Whispers: Briefing and talk with Alexius

Cullen: We don't have the manpower to take the castle. Either we find another way in, or we give up this nonsense and go and get the templars. Cassandra: Redcliffe is in the hands of a magister. This cannot be allowed to stand. Josie: The letter from Alexius asked for the Herald of Andraste by name. It's an obvious trap.

We need to stop arguing [2] How nice of him: Isn't that kind of him. What does Alexius say about me? Alexius made his move

- [2] Leliana: He's so complimentary that we are certain he wants to kill you. Josie: Not this again. Cullen: Redcliffe Castle is one of the most defensible fortresses in Ferelden. It has repelled thousands of assaults. If you go in there, you'll die and we'll lose the only means we have of closing these rifts. I won't allow it. Leliana: And if we don't even try to meet Alexius, we lose the mages and leave a hostile foreign power on our doorstep. Josie: Even if we could assault the keep, it would be for naught. An Orlesian Inquisition's army marching into Ferelden would provoke a war. Our hands are tied! Cassandra: The Magister-... Cullen: Has. Outplayed us.

There must be a way: We can't just give up. There has to be something we can do. I don't think it's over Let's get the templars

Cassandra: We cannot accept defeat now. There must be a solution.

[1] Contact the Arl: Where is the arl of Redcliffe? I'm sure he'd help us get his castle back. This isn't worth the trouble We need another way inside

[1] - Josie: After he was displaced, Arl Teagan rode straight for Denerim to petition the crown for help. I doubt he'll want our assistance once the Ferelden army lays siege to his castle. Leliana: Wait. There is a secret passage into the castle. An escape route, for the family. It's too narrow for our troops, but we could send agents through. Cullen: Too risky. Those agents will be discovered well before they reach the magister. Leliana: That's why we need a distraction. Perhaps the envoy Alexius wants so badly. Cullen: Focus their attention on [PC] while we take out the Tevinters. It's risky, but it could work.

Dorian opens the door rather forcefully and marches into the room as if he owned it. Scout Jim is trying to catch up with him. Dorian: Fortunately, you have help. Jim: This man says he has information about the magister and his methods, Commander. Dorian walks up to the Inquisitor's right and looks around the war table. Dorian: Your spies will never get past Alexius's magic without my help, so if you're going after him, I'm coming along. Jim stands in the open door like he wasn't sure how it worked. Cullen (to the Herald): The plan puts you in the most danger. We can't in good conscience order you to do this. We can still go after the templars, if you'd rather not play the bait. It's up to you.

- The scene fades to black and shows the 'confirm operation' dialogue with Leliana giving the UI the side eye -

[Note: Choosing the mages will make it impossible to work with the templars] Redcliffe Castle and the mages who could close the breach are under the control of Magister Gereon Alexius, a Venatori cultist with an unhealthy interest in [PC] and the power to reorder time itself. He has 'kindly' invited [PC] to the castle - alone - to negotiate. It's an obvious trap, but Leliana and her agents can infiltrate the castle and remove the Venatori threat while Alexius's attention is diverted. A dangerous game, but it's our best chance.

The herald and her party members except Dorian walk away from a wooden double gate (around 4x3m) with two regular-sized doors. For some reason the gate is adorned by a huge Inquisition symbol, the door opens right through the symbol's centre on the blood channel of the sword. Two member of the Venatori await them, they're wearing the same outfit as Alexius earlier, just that their hoods are white and the armoured parts are copper. On top of their faces they're wearing black masks with some sort of antlers or perhaps plumbing. There is low-key ominous background music.

Herald: Announce us.

A blonde human (blue eyes, dark eyebrows, clean-shaven, young-ish) in a blue tunic and green breeches walks forward. "The Magister's invitation was for [Mistress] [Herald] alone. The rest will wait here."

1. Then I'll stay here 2. They're negotiators 3. They go where I go - "Where I go, they go"

- 3 - the man looks at the Herald, who hints a shrug and doesn't move an inch. Then he nods his head, bows lightly after that. The party of 3 follows him, a third Venatori falls in behind them from next to the door and the two with the masks following after.

The herald walks over a green carpet and ascends a set of flat steps towards a throne under a dais leading to a balcony that is flanked by two elephant statues. Fiona is standing on foot of the stairs to the right, Alexius is on the throne, and Felix is standing to his right on the left side of the arc to his father's right hand. The blonde civilian keeps himself to the far right of the carpet. The Venatori guards distribute themselves among the pillars to the side of the room.

Servant: My Lord Magister, the agents of the Inquisition have arrived. Alexius, whose right foot is resting over his left knee, gets up, the chair creaks. Alexius: My friend! It's so good to see you again! <He walks forwards until he stands on top of the first flight of stairs> And your... associates, of course. I'm sure we can work out some arrangement that is equitable to all parties.

Fiona steps forward: Are we mages to have no voice in deciding our fate? Alexius: Fiona, you would not have turned your followers over to my care if you would not trust me... with their lives.

1) Perhaps we should include her: If the Grand Enchanter wants to be a part of these talks, then I welcome her as a guest of the Inquisition. Fiona: Thank you! <she sounds a little surprised> 2) Because you simply ooze trust 3) Let's get to business

Alexius turns around and faces his throne, takes a few seconds to demonstratively seat himself again. Felix looks towards him and seems uncomfortable Alexius: The Inquisition needs mages to close the Breach and _I_ have them, so. What shall you offer in exchange?

1. We have connections: The Inquisition has many backers among the Orlesian nobility. I'm sure we can find suitable compensation. Alexius: I'm not sure what the 'Orlesian nobility' have to offer that I don't already possess. 3. Tell me about the Venatori 4. Nothing 5. I know you want me dead 6. Let's talk about time magic.

Felix: She knows everything, father. Alexius: Felix, what have you done? (in a tone as if he had told him the police might come calling)

1) He's concerned about you: Your son is concerned that you're involved in something terrible. Alexius: So speaks the thief. Do you think you can turn my son against me? (he sounds a bit paranoid) You walk into my stronghold with your stolen mark, a gift you don't even understand, and think you're in control? (the pitch of his voice is different, he seemed pretty reasonable in the Redcliffe tavern, but went full super villain while no one was looking)

2) Your trap has already failed 3) Why are you really here?

The Herald takes a step towards the throne, Alexius takes a step towards the herald, background music is still ominous, Felix keeps looking at his father but has changed from uncomfortable to unhappy

Alexius: You're nothing but a mistake.

1) Who killed the Divine? 3) What was supposed to happen? 6) What is the mark? - If you know so much, enlighten me. Tell me what this mark on my hand is for. Alexius: It belongs to your betters. You wouldn't even begin to understand its purpose.

Felix steps forward. Felix: Father, listen to yourself! Do you know what you sound like? Alexius half turns to look at Felix while Dorian appears from next to a pillar from the side. Dorian: He sounds exactly like the sort of villainous cliché everyone expects us to be. Alexius: Dorian (he does not sound surprised, more tired or annoyed) I gave you a chance to be a part of this. You turned me down. The Elder One has power you would not believe. He will raise the Imperium from its own ashes.

1) Who is the Elder One? - That's who you serve? The one who killed the Divine? Is he a mage? Alexius: Soon, he will become a god. He will make the world bow to mages once more, we will rule from boric oceans to the frozen seas. 3) You're a fanatic 6) What kind of power?

Fiona: You can't involve my people in this! Dorian: Alexius, this is exactly what you and I talked about never wanting to happen! Why would you support this? Alexius stands in front of his throne and looks down Felix: Stop it, father! Give up the Venatori! Let the southern mages fight the Breach and let's go home. Alexius: No. It's the only way, Felix. (He reaches out for his son's arms, upping intensity rather than volume) He can save you. Felix: Save me! Alexius turns away from Felix and towards the throne Alexius: There _is_ a way. The Elder One promised, if I undo the mistake of the temple... Felix: I'm going to die. You need to accept that. Alexius gestures with his left. Alexius: Seize them, Venatori. The Elder One demands this [woman/man]'s life.

Stabbing noises, behind every column a Venatori is being assassinated by an Inquisition scout, 5 in total. Alexius backs off a little, looking agitated. Herald: Your men are dead, Alexius. The music changes to something rather more dramatic Alexius: You... are a mistake. You would never have lived. He raises his right palm and conjures up a green cube on a chain. Dorian counters with something green and formless that looks almost like a rift. Dorian: No! He throws his pell at Alexius, whose hand turns into green crystal. Alexius is thrown off-balance and his spell goes off premature. It's a greenish ripple effect that spreads out, then the scene fades to black.

[katedoesfics]

Shadows of the Future | Chapter 70

Rusl bit his lip as he checked his phone for the umpteenth time over the last couple of days. Dorian had been radio silent. No angry call, no threatening text. He knew Dorian was aware of his escape; there was no one else who would have been able to get them out of the Yiga ambush in the desert. But he thought he would have gotten something from Dorian.

It seemed, instead, Dorian chose to keep his anger contained, ignoring Rusl completely. Rusl couldn’t help but to feel disappointed. He debated calling to check in, but decided against it, slipping the phone in his pocket. He leaned against the paddock fencing, watching the horses graze.

The world was quiet, though he knew it would not last. Link and Zelda had their own plans to go after the Yiga Clan, and while Rusl didn’t want them to be involved, he knew the Champions were the best ones for the task. He desperately wanted to do more, but the truth was, there was little he could do. For years he had done everything he could to make the war easier on his son. Now, all he could do was let the pieces fall where they may.

He looked over as Link and Aryll approached, and Aryll perched herself on the fence beside him and grinned.

“So, that’s where Link gets it from,” she said. “You’re a sucker for little fuzzy animals.”

“No,” Rusl started. “Just the ones that could kill you with a single kick.”

“You know.” Aryll straightened proudly. “I could teach ya how to ride. I’m the best. Way better than Link. I win every time we race.”

“Oh, yeah?” Rusl raised a brow at his daughter. “I’d like to see that.”

Aryll hopped down from the fence and made her way over to her favorite horse. She climbed onto the horse’s back and kicked him forward. “Let’s do it!”

Link crossed his arms. “Get down,” he hissed. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Well, you know what?” she said. “You can’t tell me what to do anymore.”

Link sneered at her. “Yes I can. You’re not going out, and that’s final.”

“Hey, fuck you,” she barked. “You’re not my father.”

Link turned a helpless gaze to Rusl and he laughed.

“No, no, you’re doing great,” he said. “You really have the Dad thing down pat.”

“Fuck you,” Link muttered.

Rusl hopped the fence. He patted the horse’s neck, then climbed easily onto it’s back.

“What are you doing?” Aryll asked. “You need a saddle. You don’t even know how to ride.”

Rusl grabbed mane and pressed his heels into the horse’s side. The horse moved forward, and Rusl directed him around in a circle. “Ah, I think I’ll be fine.”

Aryll narrowed her gaze on him. “You can ride?”

“I guess we’ll find out,” he said. “Let’s go.”

Rusl leaned over to open the gate, but Link stepped out in front of him.

“Will you quit it?” he hissed.

“Stop being such a party pooper,” Rusl said with a grin. He kicked his horse on and Link had no choice but to step out of the way. As soon as they cleared the gate, Rusl kicked his horse again, and they broke into a gallop with Aryll following close behind.

It had been decades since Rusl last sat on a horse, but he had no problem keeping his balance on the mighty steed as the gelding raced forward, his neck outstretched. The pounding of hooves on dirt and the wind in his face brought back memories he had long forgotten about. But he couldn’t enjoy the memories for long as Aryll quickly caught up to him.

When they reached the tree line, they slowed slightly, and just as Link caught up to them, Aryll pushed ahead. She veered off the path, taking another path around to jump over fallen trees. Rusl followed close behind, and he and his horse easily cleared the logs behind Aryll.

Back on the main path, Rusl caught up to his daughter once more, and the horses galloped neck and neck until they broke out of the tree line and across the meadow. They didn’t stop until they reached the top of the hill, turning the horses as they waited for Link to catch up.

“Wow,” Rusl said aa Link finally reached them. “You weren’t kidding. He does suck.”

Aryll crossed her arms. “Yeah, but not that much,” she said. “He was holding back.”

“So, what’s your excuse?” he said, turning to his daughter.

“Me? My excuse?” She scoffed. “What’s your excuse? How the hell do you know how to ride like that?”

“I grew up on a farm,” Rusl said simply.

“Since when?” Link asked, narrowing his gaze on his father.

“Oh, I dunno,” he started. “Since I was around ten I guess.”

“Your parents had a farm?” Aryll asked eagerly.

“Hell, no,” Rusl said. “My parents were trash. They went to jail when I was eight and I was bounced around in foster homes.”

Aryll frowned. “Really?”

“I was a terrible child,” he continued with a grin. “I stole and crashed a car when I was nine. Among other things.”

“I guess that’s where you get it from,” Link muttered to his sister, but Aryll was not amused.

“I wasn’t the one driving!”

Rusl narrowed his gaze on her. “You crashed a car?”

“N-no,” she stammered. “Cremia did.”

“Because you were all drunk,” Link said.

“You what?” Rusl sneered.

“Hey, shut up, you weren’t there!” She quickly tried to turn the subject back to him. “I’m way more innocent than you were.”

“I would hope so,” Rusl muttered. “That’s how I ended up on the farm. No one wanted me around.” He smiled. “But there was this woman who apparently loved to take on all the trouble kids and put ‘em to work. Her name was Telma. And she didn’t take shit from anyone.”

“I don’t believe it,” she said.

“Not everyone had a perfect childhood like you did,” Rusl pointed out.

“Perfect is a stretch,” Aryll said. “I’m pretty sure the government would have taken me away if they knew I lived on peanut butter and banana sandwiches and pizza.”

“But did you die?”

Aryll smiled. “So, Telma. How come we’ve never met her?”

“She died when I was twenty,” Rusl said.

“Oh.” Aryll hesitated. “So, you were a troubled foster child who lived on a farm with Telma and learned to ride horses.”

“Yup.”

“And then what?”

Rusl sighed. “And then what?”

“Clearly we know nothing about you,” she pointed out. “And I know even less about Mom. I want details.”

Rusl paused to think. “There isn’t anything else to tell,” he said. “I joined the service when I turned eighteen. I met your mother when I was twenty-two. For some reason, she agreed to marry me, and we had two pain in the ass children together.” He grinned. “The end.”

“Wow,” Aryll muttered. “Some life story.”

“It wasn’t that exciting.”

“That can’t be true,” Aryll said. “Something exciting must have happened. Like a top secret mission when you were in the army!”

Rusl hesitated. “There were a few times the Yiga Clan ambushed us,” he said simply. “When we were in Faron.”

“What was in Faron?” Aryll pressed. “A secret Yiga Clan base?”

“No,” Rusl said. “But we lived there for a while. And after Link was born.”

“You did?” Aryll frowned. “Why did you leave?”

“Because the Yiga were after Link,” he said. “Impa promised us she could protect us in the city, so that’s where we went.”

Aryll considered this for a moment. “The Yiga Clan attacked you guys?”

“Yup.”

“But you made it to the city?”

“More or less.”

She narrowed her gaze on him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Your mother made it with Link,” he said.

She narrowed her gaze on him. “What about you?”

“We had a convoy across the kingdom,” he said. “They were with one of the Sheikah and I tailed behind. There were quite a few of us to throw the Yiga off in case they were following us. But they found your mother and Link and tried to drive them off a bridge.”

Aryll’s eyes widened. “No way. You’re full of shit.”

Rusl narrowed his gaze on his daughter. “The Yiga don’t fuck around,” he said. “I’ve told you they’ve been a pain in my ass for years.”

Aryll hesitated. “So, what happened?”

“Your mother got away safely.”

“How?”

Rusl sighed. “I drove my car into them and we flipped off the bridge.”

“And you lived? ”

Rusl laughed. “No.”

Aryll blinked at him. “What?”

“We fucking went into the lake,” Rusl said. “No one lived.”

“But… you’re alive.”

“By some dumb fucking luck,” he muttered. “Dorian saved me.”

“Wait. And the Yiga Clan dropped it? Just like that?”

Rusl shrugged. “Guess they figured we all died. Link included. And in the end, that’s what they wanted.”

“Unless Dorian went back and told them the truth,” Link said. His gaze was narrowed on his father.

Rusl shrugged. “Maybe he did. Maybe he didn’t. Regardless, it kept them quiet for a while. They spent the next few years preparing for Ganondorf and opening the portals around Hyrule.”

“That was them?” Link sneered.

“Well, who else would it be?”

Link hesitated. He pulled his gaze away. “We should have dealt with them ten years ago,” he said. “If I had known -”

“There was nothing you could have done,” Rusl said. “And I certainly wasn’t going to let you try to stop them. Not after you barely survived Ganondorf. The Master Sword needed to be returned before the Yiga Clan could get their hands on it. And that’s the best thing you could have done at the time. You were safe under Impa’s ward; the Yiga Clan weren’t getting their hands on you as long as you remained in the city.”

“That’s how they found us?” Aryll asked softly. “Because we left the city?”

“Yes.”

Aryll hesitated. “So, after everything you did for us, we fucked everything up.”

“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Rusl said with a shrug. “Link would have eventually found out about the Yiga Clan and he would have gone out to try to stop them. There was nothing I could have done to prevent that. Even faking my own death, apparently.”

“You did that… to stop Link?”

“I was their captive,” Rusl said. “I was MIA. Roham had no choice but to tell you I died. And you were better off believing that. When I got out, I couldn’t go back. I would have brought the Yiga Clan right to you both. And there was no way I could have come back and explained what had happened. Link would have learned the truth, and he would have gone after the Yiga Clan. He would have walked right into their hands, which is exactly what they wanted.” He shrugged. “I don’t even think they bothered to look for me. They wanted me to go back. Anything to lure Link to them. I didn’t have a choice if I wanted to keep you both safe.”

“They got us, anyway,” Aryll muttered.

“Yeah, they did,” Rusl said slowly. “And that’s why I came back. You were in too deep. If I wanted to protect you both, I couldn’t stay in hiding. I knew Link would try to take them on himself, so I had to stop him from getting himself killed, again.” He turned to Link, emphasizing the last bit, but Link rolled his eyes and turned away.

“This is all fucked up,” Aryll said. “No wonder Link doesn’t trust anyone.”

“Welcome to your fucked up family,” Rusl said. He turned his horse around to head back into the forest.

“I don’t know if I’d say you’re fucked up,” Aryll started. “But certainly unique. I don’t think anyone could top a hero brother and a father who came back from the dead.”

“You’d be surprised,” Link muttered. “Give it time. Something else is bound to pop up.”

Rusl grinned over his shoulder. “You really don’t want to get any deeper than you already are.”

Aryll frowned. “How much deeper can we get?”

“Depends on how much of the truth you want to know,” Rusl said. “Hyrule is built on secrets. Hylia even has her own secrets.”

“How so?” Aryll asked, her gaze narrowed on her father. “She’s a Goddess. How can you possibly know she has secrets?”

“It’s our job to know,” Rusl said. “Hylians are the embodiment of Hylia.” He glanced at his daughter. “Maybe you haven’t noticed, but we’re not like everyone else.”

Aryll hesitated. “Well, yeah, I guess.”

“That being said, we’re not exactly like Hylians once were, either. The bloodlines have changed through the generations. There are very few true Hylians left. Even those that remain do not carry the same power that Hylians once had.”

“What are you saying?”

“Hylians are dying out,” Rusl said frankly. “The Sheikah are dying out. And once we do, so will Hylia. No one believes in her like they once did.”

Aryll frowned. “So, what secrets does she have?”

Rusl glanced at his children. “It’s not important,” he said after a moment.

Link narrowed his gaze on him. “It sounds important.”

“It’s not,” Rusl insisted. “The point is, this war gets deeper with every rebirth of the hero. With every generation, Hylia’s powers weaken.”

“What does that mean?” Aryll pressed.

“It means that Hyrule is coming to its end,” Rusl said. “Not in our lifetime, but soon. The Hylians will be extinct, and as a result, the spirits of the hero will not be reborn. Ganondorf will rise and Demise will return to power.”

“So, what’s the point of all of this if he’s going to get his way in the end, anyway?” Aryll sneered.

“That’s not for us to decide,” Rusl said. “Whatever happens in the end is beyond our control. All we can do is buy Hyrule time. We stop Ganondorf every time and hope that somewhere down the line, there is a way to break the curse.”

“You’re leaving the entire future of the world up to chance?” Link sneered.

Rusl turned to him. “What do you think you can do about it?”

“I wouldn’t stand around and do nothing.”

“The Sheikah have been trying for years,” Rusl assured him. “No one is standing around and doing nothing.”

“What in the hell did we do to deserve this damn curse, anyway?” Aryll muttered.

“The Goddesses took everything from Demise,” Rusl explained. “This world belonged to him.”

Aryll blinked at her father. “That’s… that’s not true!”

“It is. Whether you want to believe it or not. He was originally intended to keep the Triforce safe, but he abused that power. That’s when Hylia stepped in to stop him and sealed him away.”  

“Hyrule doesn’t belong to him,” Aryll insisted. “Not if he had evil intent.”

“You’re right,” Rusl said. “But that’s how it was. That’s why things are this way.”

“And there’s nothing we can do to prevent this?” Aryll asked softly.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” Rusl said.

“But we should be worrying about it,” Aryll said, raising her voice. “We should be doing something!”

“The Sheikah have dedicated their lives to this,” Rusl said. “If there’s a way to change Hyrule’s future, they will find it.” He looked over his shoulder, noticing then that Link had fallen behind. His horse was grazing happily, and Link’s forehead was creased as he stared at the ground, deep in thought.

“Look,” Rusl started. “I’m sorry I said anything. I wasn’t going to because I knew you would try to make this your problem. But I promised no more secrets.”

Link looked up and met Rusl’s gaze. He searched Rusl’s eyes, and Rusl hesitated.

“What’s wrong?”

“You told me this,” Link started. “When I was there.” His brows furrowed and he looked down at the ground. “Except you were working with them. You tried to get me killed.” He hesitated. “If it were just a hallucination, how could I have known that?”

His father didn’t seem fazed by Link’s words. “It’s part of who we are,” he said. “It’s a subconscious kind of knowledge. Like the power of the Triforce. You really didn’t know it was there until you needed to know.”

“The voice of Hylia,” Aryll said softly. “That’s what they say, right? That only Hylians can hear her. We just don’t really listen anymore, do we?” She frowned. “We’re responsible for our own demise.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Rusl said. “Even the Sheikah can’t know for sure what the future holds. There’s almost always more than what meets the eye.”

[rufousnmacska]

Goodbye and Hello - 1

I’m still bitter we didn’t get a proper manorian goodbye in Kingdom of Ash. So here’s my attempt. KoA spoilers!

Tagging @itach-i and @nestasbucket. If you’d like to be tagged in the next few parts, let me know!

fanfic master list (including the link to my fics on AO3, under the same username)

**********

Part One

I Wish...

Laughter and music filled the great hall as everyone gathered for their final night together. All the armies, all the healers, all the witches planned to leave Orynth tomorrow.

Manon stared at her plate, trying to convince herself to eat what was on it. A round of applause broke out and she looked up to see a crowd gathering at the far end of the room. A group of young witches walked past her, hurrying to join the dancing. As the clapping took on fast tempo, Manon’s attention returned to her food.

The initial burst of joy that had accompanied the tiny purple flower brought from the Wastes had dissipated over the past weeks. The reality of what it meant slowly settled like a lead weight in her chest. Seeing Ironteeth and Crochan witches looking forward to the future helped to buoy her mood sometimes. But it couldn’t erase the truth that none of them really knew what the future held in the Wastes. And it couldn’t fill the hollowness that continued to grow inside her.

Her eyes flitted across the room, never lingering very long on anyone or anything. The itch to fly was beginning to prickle under her skin. She knew Glennis watched, so Manon ate a few bites, then stood to leave, claiming she had to pack.

It wasn’t a lie exactly, as she did need to gather her things. But she also needed to get out of here. The witches at her table accepted the excuse without so much as a glance, and Manon felt a sharp pang of grief at the thought that the Thirteen would have seen right through it. Asterin would have gone along to make sure she actually did pack, Sorrel and Vesta following close behind.

As she walked through the maze of hallways, she could almost feel Asterin trailing her to the room she’d been sharing with Dorian.

Most nights she ended up in the aerie, but she usually began them here. He never stopped her going, even when she accidentally woke him. She had not mentioned the Thirteen to him, to anyone, since those moments after the final battle. He knew why she was pulled to the balcony to stare across the plain with Abraxos. He’d offered to come with her once, and when she’d hesitated, he’d kissed her forehead and said, “Just ask if you ever change your mind.”

When she opened the door, his scent wrapped around her, and she immediately set to gathering her things. This was going to be hard enough without drawing it out, she might as well get it over with. A humorless laugh escaped her as Manon better understood why Dorian had left without saying goodbye all those weeks ago.

“What’s so funny?”

She whirled to find him closing the door. She’d been so lost in thought she hadn’t noticed he’d followed her here.

“You should be back in the hall. Enjoying the celebration with your friends,” she said, ignoring his question.

His eyes bore into her, and she almost looked away. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”

She went back to stuffing clothing into her bags. She didn’t want to do this. Didn’t know how to do this.

Without a word, Dorian walked over and took the shirt from her hands. Setting it aside, he gently turned her to face him. Manon didn’t think she could look at him, so she stared straight ahead, focusing on the triangle of bare skin where his collar hung open.

The pale band around his neck called to her, and she brushed her fingers along it. The sound of his heartbeat quickened and she felt the heat rise in his skin. For a moment, she considered not stopping. Considered taking him to bed to distract them both from whatever conversation he seemed intent on having tonight. And what was coming tomorrow.

But the idea seemed like a coward’s way out, and she was not a coward. Even if fear lined most of her thoughts these days.

She’d admitted her fears to him once before, and he had not judged her. There was no one else left that she trusted this much, no one she’d allow to see her this vulnerable.

As before, he knew what was wrong, at least the shape of it. But instead of confronting her, he’d been quiet and patient and... there. Always there. Nothing more, unless she’d asked.

Dropping her fingers from his neck, she took a breath and said simply, “I’m afraid.”

Dorian pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her and resting his chin on her shoulder. “Of what?” he asked, his hand stroking her back.

His touch felt so good, the pressure easing her tense muscles, and she relaxed into him. “I don’t know how to do this without them.”

The truth had been building in her for days. Confessing part of it lightened the heaviness inside her, just a little. So, she went on. “I don’t know if I ever truly believed we’d go home. Not until recently. And now. To face it without them...” She trailed off. As he squeezed her tighter, she said, “I feel so alone.”

Not once had Manon truly considered a future without all of the Thirteen. A future where they were gone and she was left to carry on. Even the prospect of being queen, a duty she’d now fully assumed, had never altered that image. If they weren’t there, she wouldn’t be either.

Dorian pulled away, steadying her with his hands on her shoulders. “You are not alone, Manon. They can never be replaced. But don’t ever think you’re alone. You have friends and family who care about you.” Moments passed in silence until finally, his voice roughened with emotion, he said, “I care about you.”

He’d said it before. But there was something in the words this time that felt different. A weight that had been lacking. The weight of a promise.

Manon slowly lifted her head to meet his gaze.

***

The dread of saying goodbye had made Dorian’s heart feel more and more fragile with each passing day. Now, he thought it might actually shatter.

It wasn’t lost on him that Manon couldn’t even say their names. No matter what mask she’d worn in front of the others, he saw the truth of what lay beneath.

The Thirteen were her family. Her entire family. And they were all gone. Glennis and her Crochan cousins might fill in that void someday, but it would take time. If it happened at all.

In a past life, Dorian would have tried distracting her with pleasurable touches or pretty words. In this life, had she been anyone else, he probably would have done just that. But Manon was not anyone.

Yet, if he spoke the words he truly wanted to say, whose mind would it ease? Likely not hers, as it would only overwhelm her. But his self control faltered as he felt the pain and sorrow emanating from her, as if his magic could sense it.

“I care about you,” he rasped. With each word, a spark of warm magic flowed from his hands into her. That spark lit something in her, making her eyes glow like flames as they met his.

“What do you want Dorian?” she asked, her voice little more than a whisper.

She’d asked that of him days ago. But this time, it was an entirely different question. The desperation to answer with the truth, with the words he’d kept from her before - You, all of you - almost won out.

Almost.

It would be too much for her right now, he reasoned, an extra burden she didn’t need to carry. Especially with their goodbye growing closer with each minute.

“I want…” he started, then stopped. If he couldn’t tell her everything, he could at least give her a glimpse into what he felt.

Dorian took her hand in his, and they both watched as his thumb glided back and forth over her fingers. “I wish we could take off on Abraxos and fly around the world,” he said. “Not as a king and queen. Just a man and a witch. No crowns, no responsibilities.”

Manon’s eyebrow quirked in mild amusement and Dorian took it as a sign to continue.

“We can go wherever we want. East to Wendlyn, or the fabled lands across the western ocean. North to the frozen wastes, then to the Southern Continent. I can visit libraries and book shops and you...” he paused, thinking.

A wry, expectant expression crossed her face and he almost laughed.

“You can visit blacksmiths for new and exotic weaponry. When we run out of money for new books and daggers, you can teach girls how to fight while I perform magic tricks and shape shifting for crowds. I will make you breakfast in bed each morning.” He gave her a knowing look. “And you can shut me up each night.”

Manon’s smiles had been given sparingly before the war, yet he’d still come to think of himself as an expert on them. The smile she rewarded him with now, the first he’d seen since they’d reunited, was soft and brief and breathtakingly beautiful.

“I asked what you want, not what you wish,” she admonished with a touch of teasing.

Without thinking, he asked, “Can’t it be both?” When she didn’t answer, he added, “I want whatever you choose to offer.”

Manon closed her eyes, all traces of her smile gone. No doubt she was remembering when she’d first spoken those words to him, on a ship just off the Eyllwe coast. It felt like lifetimes ago, but it had been little more than a few months.

Or, he realized, perhaps she was thinking of a different offer she’d made more recently, in a tent at the edge of the White Fangs. One he’d abandoned rather than answer. He knew that if he had, if he’d faced the same choice as Gavin, then the keys, the gate, this war... all of it would have ended much differently. He told himself he didn’t regret it, and perhaps he didn’t. But it haunted him nonetheless.

She said nothing, and turned away again to resume her packing.

Mentally kicking himself, he silently watched her move around the room. She didn’t have much to take with her, and he had no idea what had been done with the Thirteen’s things. It was likely that their weapons and supplies had been redistributed as the siege had dragged on.

When Manon was done, she stopped at the makeshift bed, little more than a pile of hay covered with blankets. Without looking at him, she said, “I wish we didn’t have to leave tomorrow.”

Any remaining will power he had left dissolved in that moment, and Dorian walked to her side. “I wish for that too, witchling. More than anything.” She shifted towards him and he pulled her into a hug. “Whatever happens, you will not be alone."

The embrace lasted forever and no time at all, until she broke away and took a half step back. Tentatively, not bothering to hide her shaking, she took his hand and placed it over her heart. "You will always be with me.”

Dorian smiled, amazed. He was always amazed by her.

“And you will always be with me.” He clasped her hand against his own heart, another wave of his magic pulsing into her.

***

Promise again laced his words, and the force of it settled within her chest. Just as his touch had done, the soft smile he gave her now seemed to pierce through her sadness.

Manon sat down on the bed, pulling him with her. Curled into his arms, she pressed her ear to his chest and listened to the strong, even rhythm. She’d expected a night of little rest, but instead, Dorian held her tightly, giving her occasional kisses until she fell asleep.

Waking well before the first rays of dawn, she tried not to disturb him when she rose to get dressed. Dorian’s eyes opened the instant she sat up and he watched silently as she began to strap on her sword and daggers.

“Are you planning to sleep in?” She’d meant it to sound light and joking, but it was overshadowed by the farewell they could no longer put off.

“You want me to go up to the aerie with you?” He tossed the blankets aside and stood, quickly throwing on clothes. “I thought you’d want to say goodbye here,” he offered as explanation.

I don’t want to say it at all, she thought, but said nothing.

A sharp knock on the door announced it was time, and she scanned the room once again before her eyes landed on him. “Ready?”

He opened his mouth, and for a second she thought he might actually say no. Instead, he nervously ran his fingers through his hair and nodded once. When he held his hand out for her, she didn’t hesitate.

They walked slowly to the castle’s uppermost balcony that had been serving as the wyvern aerie. Dorian’s hand was like a vise and Manon wondered whose trembling the tight grip was meant to quell.

When they reached the final door leading them outside, he stopped short and spun her around to face him. “The Ferian Gap.”

It wasn’t a question but he seemed to need an answer, so she said, “Yes.” He relaxed a bit, and she added, “I don’t know how long before I can get away."

With a tight smile, he cupped her face in his hands. “I know. We can decide on a time later. I just...” He blinked rapidly, but it didn’t lessen the bright sheen of moisture in his eyes.

Manon raised up onto her toes and kissed him. “I know,” she said into his lips. He dropped his arms around her waist and lifted her up against him. Sliding her arms around his neck, she held on as if her life depended on it. Just as he was holding her.

***

Dorian tucked her braid into the fur collar of her cloak and they walked outside to where the others were waiting. As soon as their queen appeared, shouts to prepare for flight rang through the dark, frigid air.

He stayed with her until she checked all the harnesses on Abraxos, never taking his eyes off her as she climbed up into the saddle. Every nerve in his body wanted to leap up there with her, every ounce of his magic strained to touch her. But he stepped back, just far enough to be outside the reach of Abraxos’s wings.

When she was settled and strapped in, and there were no more excuses to delay, Manon placed her hand on her heart and said, “Goodbye, princeling.”

Dorian touched his own chest and said, “Goodbye, witchling.” He forced himself to give her a lighthearted wink. “For now.”

A twitch of a smile. “For now,” she agreed.

Before he could take another breath, Abraxos was at the drop-off overlooking the city far below. His booming wings flapped once, twice, and then they were airborne. On brooms and wyverns, hundreds of witches took to the sky, a few falling into formation around their queen with the rest streaming behind.

He stayed, watching as the large host grew small on the horizon, where the first rays of morning were breaking over the mountains. The sunlight caught a shining wing that flashed silver, just for an instant. And then, it was gone.

Long after they disappeared and he could no longer stand the cold, Dorian turned and went inside.

***

Manon felt Dorian’s magic surround her and Abraxos the moment they’d taken off, and she was surprised by how long it stayed with them. Its warmth soothed them as they passed over the blast site that was the focus of their nightly vigils. When the power began to flicker, like a candle being blown out, she glanced over her shoulder, unable to make him out as anything more than a dark figure on the highest balcony.

And then, it was gone. They’d flown past the reach of his magic. The freezing air bit into her now unshielded skin and Abraxos released a melancholy whine.

A lifetime of habit had Manon twisting around in her saddle, an order for Asterin already forming on her lips. When unfamiliar witches stared back at her, she said nothing and faced forward again.

The reminder hit her as it always did, like a physical blow. Like the punch to her gut that had left her behind, and left her alone.

To be continued...

[thecrowwrites-blog]

Inquisition’s Magister: Chapter 1

This is where the oops all began. Before I start posting all these, I just want to say a big thank you to @norroendyrd for being an incredibly supportive reader and always leaving the best comments- I wouldn’t have been inspired to continue this story without your support. Also, thank you to @onthefrits for helping me bring this story back to life when I was debating the rewrite.

All right, on to the story!

"We should approach the Templars!" Cullen insisted, his usually calm demeanor beginning to falter as the argument droned on.

Leliana brought her fist down on the table. Her patience had faded long ago. "It's not safe! The reports I've been getting-"

"And the mages are any better?" he argued.

Lord Cedric Trevelyan crossed his arms and leaned his hip against the table. "We've already had a meeting with Magister Alexius. The King's Road is clear of both apostates and rogue Templars. The Hinterlands are stable, for now, and the refugees are tended to. We need to act now. We can't bicker much more."

Cullen scowled. "And what about Horsemaster Dennet? Shouldn't we focus on seeking him out first?"

"Our focus is sealing the Breach," Cassandra cut in firmly. "It will take time to prepare our new allies, be it the mages or the Templars. Other missions, such as contacting the horsemaster, can be taken care of during that time of preparation."

"I agree." Leliana took a step back from the table, folding her arms behind her back. "Our priority should be forming an alliance while we have the power and opportunity. Something about the mages does concern me. That man- Dorian Pavus, did you say?" Cedric nodded. "What he and Alexius's son told you at the chantry worries me. Rifts that control time, both a student and a son turning on Alexius, cultists called the Venatori? Not to mention there is the danger of having a hostile foreign power in Fereldan."

"It could all be a lie," the commander said, forever the voice of doubt.

Cedric scoffed. "We saw what those rifts did. Cassandra, Blackwall, and Solas all saw. And that would be too big and too many lies to be so easily crafted."

"Don't forget that Varric has crafted many tales," Cassandra reasoned, "but I can't disprove what I saw. The Herald is right to believe the man Dorian."

"I'm glad you think so!" Dorian said excitedly as he strode in, a flustered inquisition soldier following after him.

"Commander, this man says he's here to help! Is he trustworthy?"

Everyone looked to Lord Trevelyan, their unofficial leader. He looked at Dorian with his dark hair, waxed facial hair, and earnest eyes. There was nothing but sincerity in his expression, just like when he had helped them in the chantry. "He is," he told the soldier and then dismissed them. "Welcome to Haven, Dorian."

"Excited to be here!" He folded his arms and leaned against the doorway. "If you're going to face Alexius, I'm going with. He was my mentor- you're going to need me. No one knows him better." Cedric ran a hand through his mop of feathery black hair and looked at all the others. "We cannot just storm into the castle." Cullen started to join in his argument when Leliana cut them both off.

"There's a secret entrance only used by the family. I know where it is. My agents and Dorian can sneak in there and take care of the Magister's men."

"They would never make it!"

"They will if there is a distraction." The spymaster looked at the Herald, who nodded in understanding.

Cedric stuck a dagger in the board next to "Redcliffe." "Let's answer Alexius's letter. We need to find out what's happening with the mages."

***

Alexius stared at the ceiling over his bed in Arl Teagan's castle in Redcliffe, regretting every decision he had ever made in his life- marrying Livia, having Felix, sending him to the university in Orlais, not being with his family when they were attacked by hurlocks, his fight with Dorian, swearing himself to the Venatori. However, he did wish his apprentice had chosen to join him. He hated being alone in the mess he had created.

He sat up in bed as one of his men came in, their head bowed. "I am told the Inquisition has arrived, Magister Alexius. They want to negotiate for the aid of the mages. Fiona is currently speaking with them."

"The one from the Fade is there?"

"He is, sir."

Alexius ran a hand over his stubbly hair. "They are coming to the castle?"

"They are, sir. As I said, Fiona is speaking with them. They are at the castle gates."

"I will come to the main hall shortly."

The mage nodded and excused himself. Alexius sighed and stood shakily after the door had closed. His body ached in protest, and he wished he could have blamed it on his age instead of on the countless sleepless nights he had spent tending to his son just to keep him alive.

Alexius pressed his forehead to his palms and choked back the lump in his throat. Tears burned in his eyes and threatened to fall. Not too much longer... This will all be over soon... Won't it? Maker... Maker, I pray it will be...

Tired and ready to be done with it all, he left his quarters. To his surprise, his son was coming down the hall toward his room and stopped when he saw him. "Ah, Father, I wanted to speak with you before we met with the Inquisition."

The Magister felt his heart sink when his son staggered and nearly fell. Alexius quickly steadied his son. "Are you all right?" he asked worriedly.

"I'm fine, Father," Felix insisted with a sheepish smile. "I just tripped."

"Do I need to get your powders? This just happened the other day at the negotiations in the tavern, as well," he noted worriedly, keeping his hands on his son's shoulders.

Felix shook his head, chuckling lightly. "Really, Father. I'm okay. You worry too much."

"Do I?" His stomach churned as it did so often in recent months.

Felix gave his father an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry, Father. I didn't mean to cause such an interruption the other day. I know how important this is."

"It's fine, Felix. You are ill and I care about you far more than some meeting. I am just glad you collapsed within reach of someone."

"Father..." There was a pleading in his son's tone that tugged at his heart.

"Do not say it, Felix."

"Please. Don't do this," he begged quietly. Alexius didn't answer him and brushed him aside to make his way to the main hall. He tried to ignore Felix's footsteps following just behind him and instead focused on forming his plan for the so-called "Herald" and how he would get rid of him so the Elder One would save his son.

Magister Alexius walked as slowly as physically possible to the throne room. He was in no hurry to take care of his business with the so-called Herald of Andraste. In all honesty, he had nothing against the young man. From what Alexius had seen, he was just a naive boy, trying to do what he could for the world. The Elder One was the one who wanted him dead.

The inquisition was waiting for him when he entered the hall and took a seat on his stolen throne. "Agent of the Inquisition! So happy to see you again." Felix took his place standing beside him. It was all Alexius could do not to stare at him like a worried mother hen watching a sleeping chick with a fox sniffing around it. "And your associates, of course. I assume you are still after the support of my mages?"

"Your mages!? How can you say that as if you own us!" Fiona asked in despair. "We have no say in this?"

"You do," Lord Trevelyan told her before the Magister could answer. "I invite you to be a guest of the Inquisition in this negotiation." Fiona thanked the boy with a bright smile as she moved over to the inquisition's side. Alexius scowled. It wouldn't matter in a few minutes. "Magister Alexius, we left off discussing what it would take for you to lend the support of the Southern mages. The Breach needs to be sealed, and I beg you to see that. However, I understand no one wants to waste the opportunity to be benefitted. The inquisition has gathered many resources and noble favors to offer in exchange for your aid."

"I doubt either can give me what I want." Alexius stood. The Herald's eyes narrowed with a knowing look. Whether it was because of his infamous spymaster or someone who had betrayed him, Magister Alexius knew that he knew everything that the Magister had in store for their meeting. "You were a mistake! You should never have happened. The Elder One wants you gone, and I will grant his wish so that my son may live."

Felix turned to Alexius, taking several steps back from him. "Father, you can't destroy the world for me! I'm going to die- you can't change that!"

"But you do not have to die! I can change it!" he insisted feverishly and gave a sweeping gesture to the Elder One's agents under his command. "Venatori, seize the inquisition!" But even as the words left his lips, he watched as his men fell to the blades of inquisition spies. Some collapsed to the tiles with arrows in their back. To his horror, Dorian stepped out from behind one of the pillars and took his place beside the Herald. Alexius's expression twisted into a furious snarl. "No!"

"Surrender, Alexius. You're surrounded and your men are dead!"

The Magister took an amulet from his pocket, and, in one swift movement, started casting the spell to send the Herald into a place where he would have no power. "I do not need my men- I will get rid of you myself!" The amulet, a block of jade on a black leather cord, started to glow with a dark, ominous energy.

As it started to expand into a large void, Dorian dived in front of the Herald, a spell of his own at the ready. "I won't let you do this, Alexius!" he shouted, launching his spell into Alexius's as it was completed.

The ball of black and green energy enveloped Dorian and the Herald, and then it exploded into ash.

Gereon Alexius staggered back, barely catching his balance in time to keep from falling over. Felix looked at him, mortified. "Oh, Maker, Father... What have you done..."

The Magister's lower lip trembled and he stepped back. "I did what was best..."

"You have to undo it," his son snarled with a fury Alexius had never seen in him. Alexius held the amulet away from Felix, but he elbowed him aside and snatched it from his hand. He couldn't find it in himself to try and take the amulet back. "Felix, you don't know how to use the spell. How will you bring them back?"

"I can still try!" His son held the amulet in both his hands and began to repeat the incantation used to activate its enchantment. As the same rift began to form, Alexius saw the spell start to pull apart and go out of control.

"Felix, be careful," he yelled as he saw the rift burst into the same cloud as before and lunged forward to knock the amulet from his son's hands.

Felix shielded his eyes as his father's hand hit him and there was another blast of blinding green light. When it cleared, his father was gone.

[masquerade-story]

Chapter 1 - Moving In

"Whose dumb idea was it to go camping like this anyway?" Grey grumbled, smacking away a tree branch that seemed determined to get friendly with his face.

Walking behind him, his twin sister Lillian rolled her eyes and poked the small of her brother's back. "Yours. It was your idea."

"Oh please Crystal! Please oh please might we go live at the haunted house in the woods where we'll certainly perish! I, Dorian Grey Duvall, swear on my sister's honor to let you protect me!" Rayne fluttered her eyelashes, lowering her voice to sound more like Dorian. She yanked the handcart she was dragging over a set of roots, careful to steady its contents before resuming her walk.

"Has to swear on my honor cuz he doesn't have any of his own left after the last time," Lillian snickered, while Grey pointedly ignored their teasing and continued clearing the overgrown path.

Bringing up the rear with a digital camera trained on everyone's back, Crystal grinned and panned the camera to take in the large, dense trees, and huge, leafy bushes. "For a haunted forest, it's actually pretty nice here. Ah, more meadow rue! Specifically thalictrum rochebrunianum, neat."

"Gesundheit," Rayne said, eliciting giggles from the group.

"The lacy one over there with the purple flowers," Crystal clarified. "There's some rue anemone and meadow rue 'splendide' around here too. Don't touch the white flowery plant up ahead by the way, it's giant hogweed. The leaves and sap can give you phytophotodermatitis, making you blister up in the sun."

"Bro, how do you remember any of this? And as for you, you're a scary bitch," Grey cringed away from the plant in question while swearing at it, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at its pretty little flower clusters.

"I read a lot."

"Me too, doesn't mean I absorb any of it! I spent like six hours on Wikipedia the other day, don't even fully remember what I looked up."

"Was it about The Hobbit or Merlin? Cuz that's all you ever look up."

"Look, Lils. I know I'm walking in the front and all, but you don't need to stab me in the back like that. Also sometimes it's Pacific Rim, thank you very much."

"Was it Pacific Rim?"

"No it was The Hobbit."

The group talking and laughing were the self-proclaimed 'Fairy Rock' band Aos Sí Echtrae. Each of them wore a hiking backpack containing personal items, while Rayne also tugged along a sturdy handcart holding supplies and instruments with ease - a drum kit, harp, bouzouki, and keyboard piled up alongside some smaller instruments and the camping stuff Crystal insisted they bring along.

Though their banter was light-hearted and comfortable, they took their excursion very seriously. After all, they'd temporarily rented a locally infamous haunted house to use for a music video! It was a large investment, but they'd become popular online and had enough supporters that they were able to fulfill one of their member's dearest dreams.

Dorian Duvall, or Grey as he preferred to be called by friends, and his twin sister Lillian Duvall played bouzouki and keyboard respectively. Both had the same willowy stature, button nose and almond eye shape, but despite their similarities they both gave off very different impressions. Where Lillian looked soft and gentle, with large doe-like green eyes, and a kind smile, Grey had a mischievous glint in his hazel eyes and a roguish grin that he utilized with careless abandon. Lillian wore her sleek black hair long and loose, falling down past her waist and kept away from her face by a cloth headband, while Grey wore his hair in a high ponytail decorated with small braids.

As the one who absolutely loved haunted houses and anything spooky, it was Grey's idea to film on location for their new Halloween-themed album, Masquerade. Though it was the middle of July, they were hoping to get everything ready for an September promotional release before the album dropped in October, and so hurriedly set up for their video shoot in order to give themselves plenty of time for editing.

All four of them worked together to compose their music, write lyrics, and design stage costumes as well as fan merchandise. They also lacked anything resembling a lead vocalist, taking turns depending on what sound worked best with each song, and preferring harmonies rather than solos.

"Ray! There's a log up here!" Grey called out suddenly, kicking the fallen tree blocking their path. Rayne grunted acknowledgment, and shuffled around Lillian to help move the obstruction.

Rayne Rose played the drums, and also did a majority of the heavy lifting due to being the strongest person present in any room that didn't involve professional weightlifters. Her muscular arms were covered with watercolor flower tattoos, which she proudly showed off by refusing to wear any shirt with sleeves. Her curly hair, dyed a gradient of aqua blue and purple, was cropped close to her face for summertime weather. The short style purposefully revealed ear gauges and more than a dozen total ear piercings, matching the many piercings on her brows, lips, and nose.

The twins had fresh yet roguish charms, while Rayne had a more heroic air with heavy brows and an intense black gaze over lips naturally curved into an amused smirk. She dusted off her hands after tossing the log aside with little effort, while Grey panted for breath from the exertion of merely helping her lift it. Crystal, for her part, made sure to get the whole thing on video for future blackmail purposes.

Crystal Rose, Rayne's older sister, played the harp. Unlike her athletic and statuesque sister, Crystal was on the soft and plump side. Her long, wavy blonde hair was pulled back into a messy twist to keep it off her neck, the ends still pink from the last time she dyed it. Her face was round and childish, with bluish gray eyes above an upturned nose and broad cheekbones, unremarkable features made more charming by her innate overwhelming charisma and natural exuberance.

She was the kind of person that random strangers would strike up a conversation with, lost kids would try to hold her hand, wild animals would approach like an old friend, and when she raised her voice even the most crowded room would quiet down. She was also the kind of person who got carded when buying alcohol despite being thirty years of age, due to what Grey dubbed 'Acute Babyface Syndrome'.

"Anyone need to clean their glasses?" Crystal asked, pulling a cloth from her pocket to swipe hers clean. Aside from Rayne, who wore her contacts, Grey and Lillian both opted to wear glasses for the hike so they wouldn't have to worry about losing a contact forever if they tripped - a serious and ever-present concern for the slightly clumsy twins.

"I'm good!"

"Not yet, thanks."

"I'll take it," Rayne said, keeping her expression blank, and Crystal narrowed her eyes.

"If you wipe your sweaty face with the glasses cloth I'll push you into the patch of poison ivy over there."

"Ope, nevermind then."

The haunted house was a thirty minute hike from the nearest road, along a mostly uphill path that hardly anyone ever used and certainly wasn't wide or steady enough for any automobiles. By the time they reached the stone fence encircling the house's enormous overgrown yard, everyone except Rayne was ready to collapse.

"I'm gonna be so in shape after this if my binder doesn't kill me first," Grey wheezed, leaning on the stone fence and looking up at the haunted house of his dreams with a longing yet exhausted expression. It stood atop a hill in the distance, surrounded by several acres worth of mostly empty property speckled by a few large trees and scraggly bushes. Behind it was a small barn, a chicken coop that hadn't seen use in ages, and a greenhouse conspicuously lacking anything actually green. "A stone brick cottage in the middle of the woods overgrown by vines, a sagging peaked roof with exposed beams, and gaping windows whose panes are cracked like spiderwebs... Looks spooky enough! If the door doesn't creak ominously when we open it, I'm filing a complaint."

Rayne pulled the handcart into the yard, then glanced over her shoulder at Crystal, who was panning the camera up to take a wide shot of the house from just inside the fence gate. "How's it feel, Coco?"

Crystal frowned, furrowing her brows. All four of them believed in the supernatural after they all experienced several strange circumstances growing up, and Crystal had long proven to have abilities that most people would've considered fake nonsense.

She kept a dream diary after experiencing incidents where she'd dream events before they occurred, and wanted to prove to herself it wasn't a figment of her imagination. Whenever something weird happened, she was the first to alert everyone and get them away from danger before anything bad happened, and had an uncanny sense of whether people were lying.

"Hard to say. It does feel... Weird. The walk through the whole forest was fine, but as soon as I walked into the yard... The air's different."

"Really?" Grey raised his eyebrows, hopping over the fence and holding out his arms. He was the second most sensitive to any external oddities, with a particular penchant for finding rather nasty unexplained phenomena. After a few seconds he frowned as well. "No, yeah. That's a weird vibe for sure. It's like, the forest was fine and funky fresh, then you get over here and it's..."

"Musty," Crystal and Grey finished at the same time, and exchanged wry smiles.

"Could be trepidation from perceived fears," Lillian pointed out, gesturing toward the house. Though she also believed in the supernatural, Lillian also liked trying to find reasonable explanations before resorting to the occult. "The big empty windows feel eerie because people expect houses to be brighter and look more lived in, right? It's possible it's just a subconscious response to an old, dilapidated building."

"Dilapidated..." Rayne muttered, raising her eyebrows as she surveyed the house. She had a sensitivity to people's emotions and motivations, and could sometimes pick up lingering feelings from objects, but she didn't feel anything in particular coming from the building. "I don't think it looks that bad? We've lived in worse."

"It hurts me, physically, every time you and Crystal tell us about that kind of thing," Lillian sighed, patting her hand over her heart while Grey nodded next to her. "This place looks gross! It's horrible to imagine little Ray and little Coco in a place even worse than this..."

"Hey, they hired someone to clean the inside and arrange some basic furniture for us to use," Grey said. "It won't be fancy, but the interior shouldn't be too gross! And we'll sleep in the same room for safety! After all... This is the Corpse Consuming Cottage!"

"Ugh, that name..." Crystal and Rayne both cringed at the same time, while Lillian's eyebrows shot up.

"Wait, it's called what?!"

"Yup! Bad, right? But it's earned the name cuz of how many people have gone missing here. Poof! Gone without a trace! Every single person who's ever bought this place has disappeared, along with any family they brought along." Grey grinned, wiggling his fingers at his suddenly horrified twin. "I even made a spooky spreadsheet citing all my sources, aren't you proud? It's legit, this place is either hella haunted or hella cursed."

"Will we be okay!?" Lillian muttered, color draining from her cheeks.

"There's a loophole," Rayne said, and Crystal nodded.

"Yeah, we didn't buy the house. We're just renting. Supernatural stories are always big sticklers on rules, right? Chanting something three times, turning a certain way, walking a certain pattern. If buying the house is part of the problem, then renting it shouldn't be counted as the same thing because possession isn't being transferred." Crystal turned the camera to zoom in on poor Lillian's pale face, hiding her mischievous grin behind the lens. "Theoretically."

"Don't even pretend you aren't absolutely terrified too, Miss I Can't Go On The Haunted House Ride At The Amusement Park I Have A Doctor's Note," Grey scoffed.

"I don't like ghosts or wraiths or poltergeists or whatever wicked whatsits terrorize the night because I feel bad for them thanks very much, but..." Crystal glanced over at the house and frowned, furrowing her brow again. "I feel bothered but not... Threatened? Like there's something here watching but it won't hurt us."

"That's as good as a gold star to me. Let's crack this bitch open and make some lunch!" With renewed vigor, Grey fished the key from his shorts pocket and ran up the creaky old porch to the front door. "Come on in, it's nice and cool inside! Comparatively speaking, I don't think there's an air conditioner. Just fans. But it'll be clean!"

Like he'd promised, the interior was cleaner than the exterior condition belied. Furniture was sparse, but they were all fine wood antiques with a hand-polished sheen. Everyone dropped their backpacks in the foyer and stretched for a moment before getting to work.

"Water's on!" Grey called from the kitchen, where he set the tap to run. "There's dishes and cookware in here too!"

"Silverware?" Lillian called back, in the middle of helping Crystal and Rayne unload the handcart.

"Yup, as requested! I think they're all antique like the rest of everything here."

"Don't you dare break any antique dishes, Dorian Grey!"

"No promises!"

"Electricity works," Crystal said with some surprise, flicking a nearby switch after setting her harp case on the floor in the living room, alongside a towering pile of boxes holding personal things they'd had delivered via the realtor. She held her breath to listen for any crackles or pops, but the overhead light didn't give so much as a flicker. "Wires might actually be okay? That's surprising, this house is really old. Must've been recently renovated."

"Probably to try and reel in prospective buyers," Rayne said, setting down three drum cases. The rest of her kit was already unloaded, so she took a moment to glance around the living room with Crystal. "Inside looks much nicer than outside."

"We can make it look spookier with filters and editing," Crystal said, running her finger against the windowsill. When it came up without dust, she furrowed her brows. "They were real thorough cleaning this place."

"Found the terrifying cellar!" Grey's faint muffled cry echoed from somewhere in the house, followed by the sound of Lillian shouting his full name and charging off after him.

"Any cold spots?" Crystal shouted down the stairs after circling the entire bottom floor trying to find them. The cellar door was tucked into the kitchen's pantry, which was a full walk-in room rather than a little cabinet.

Since the house was so far from town, part of the rental contract involved the current real estate agent making sure the kitchen was stocked before tenants took over. All the shelves were packed full with newly purchased dry goods and spices, mostly sorted into pretty glass jars for aesthetic appeal.

"No cold spots, just some nice shelving, big old ground freezer and a wine rack! Fruit preserves and stuff but they didn't leave any complimentary wine. Zero out of ten, not recommended."

"What makes it terrifying then?"

"Big spiders."

Crystal grimaced and backed away from the cellar door, narrowly evading Lillian as she retreated up the stairs at maximum speed.

The house was surprisingly large. The ground floor had a large open kitchen with an attached breakfast room, a living room, a dining room, a sitting room, a study with empty floor-to-ceiling bookshelves alongside display cabinets, and a laundry/changing room attached to a bathroom with an enormous sunken bath large enough to be used as a hot tub.

"I would buy this house just for the tub," Lillian said, stroking the porcelain with obvious affection.

"Please don't," Grey muttered. "We're evading the horrible disappearance curse via fairy loopholes, don't you go walking into the trap face-first like that!"

"Fine, but when we leave, we're bringing the tub with us."

"Yeah sure that's completely feasible and not at all slightly insane."

The upper floor had five large bedrooms with attached changing rooms, two lavatories, and a walk-in storage closet. Rayne carried their bags into the master bedroom, then returned to the handcart to retrieve the extra supplies they brought - a couple of brand new air mattresses, blankets, boxes of instant food, tents in case the house was in worse shape than expected, a first aid kit, and little tools like scissors, binoculars, and lighters.

"This place is supposed to be super haunted and cursed, yet..." Rayne hummed to herself, patting the mattress in the master bedroom. Every bed in the house was neatly made, with clean sheets and blankets that still smelled like soap. "Won't need the air mattresses. They really worked hard to make this place nice, huh?"

Finally, the attic under the peaked roof had a few small gaps in the shingles, but otherwise lacked any signs of weathering or exposure damage. The only things occupying the space were a few cobwebs in the darkest corners. "Ugh, nothing for us to snoop through," Grey muttered, poking his head into the attic for only moment before heading back downstairs to start moving boxes from the living room into various bedrooms for later sorting.

Crystal and Rayne turned the fans on in all the rooms to start circulating air, opening windows on the shaded side of the house to catch any stray breezes, while Lillian and Grey got started on making lunch. The house which stood empty for so long soon filled with laughter, conversation, and the smell of good food.

"I just can't get over how unhaunted this haunted house is," Grey lamented, tapping a fork against his empty plate. "I've been looking and there's not so much as a suspiciously shadowed corner or creaky stair board!"

"Are you sure those disappearances were legit?" Lillian asked, gesturing for Crystal to pass the salt so she could douse her potato salad. "You checked the sources themselves, right?"

"I did! That's why it's so weird!" Grey drained the remaining water from his glass, glaring down at the ice cubes rattling at the bottom. "Other than the terrible cell reception, weak internet signal, and our gut feelings, there's really no sign of anything being weird. I was promised jumpscares!"

"You were promised no such thing," Rayne muttered around a mouthful of grilled chicken sandwich, deftly capturing some lettuce before it escaped her lips and hit the table. "The outside looks spooky enough for use in our video, we can think of this like a vacation and relax for a bit until we have to leave."

"There's a barn out back, maybe that's haunted?" Crystal suggested, but Grey shook his head.

"I already checked... It's clean as a whistle. No disturbed earth or rattling rusty tools or anything!"

"Would you feel better if one of us got possessed by a demon?"

"Maybe. It'd have to be a really good possession though, if you're not crawling on the ceiling I want a refund."

"Oh, you're paying us?"

"Hell no, a refund of my feelings. My feelings!"

"Speaking of feelings, how do you feel, Coco? Lils?" Rayne interrupted just as Grey was about to get dramatic. "That was a doozy of a hike. You guys alright?"

Both Lillian and Crystal suffered from several health problems when they were younger, and were still weaker than the average person because of it. They had to work harder to remain healthy than most people did.

Lillian, since her mouth was full, flexed her arm and gave a thumbs up to show she was feeling alright. Once her mouth was clear of food, she added: "Mostly just sore, but nothing a long bath and some music won't cure!"

"Coco?"

Crystal gave a start, realizing she'd been staring out the nearest window for awhile and tuning out the conversation. She turned back to Rayne and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, what was that?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just feel a bit woozy, I think."

"Sensing something weird?"

"Honestly? I don't know." Crystal sighed, opening a can of grape soda and pouring it into her glass. "I still feel like we're being watched. And..."

She hesitated, then shook her head. No matter how Grey tried to cajole the rest of the sentence from her, Crystal kept the rest of her thoughts to herself. If she felt they were in danger she wouldn't be so tight-lipped, so they dropped the subject and started discussing their upcoming album instead.

After lunch they moved several beds into one room, turning the master bedroom into a big slumber party area. The rest of the afternoon and early evening was spent getting video and photos of the house and its yard, trying to find the perfect angles for use during the actual performance recording.

Rayne gathered some logs for firewood after noticing a fire pit in the back with some carved stone benches surrounding it. Dinner consisted of an open flame barbecue using packaged meats they found in the fridge, and a few veggies and fruit rolled into foil packs.

"We've really gotta thank that agent lady," Grey said, reclining in his chair. "She really came through with the supplies! It's so good having a fully stocked kitchen from the start, I was worried we'd be having pancakes and instant ramen for days."

"I'll head to town tomorrow and grab more meat for the freezer in the cellar," Rayne said, chewing on a skewer of chicken. "It's got a little variety right now but I'd like to stock up so we don't have to make as many trips. You and Lils might be fine with rabbit food, but Crystal and I need that good good protein."

"We're natural carnivores," Crystal agreed.

"Is there anything else we need from the store?"

"Nah, I can't think of anything. There's like, four entire bags of toilet paper, and towels and wash cloths and soaps and detergent and even pads and stuff. Like, I know we paid for the service but the level of consideration is really impressive!"

Crystal stared into the flickering flames, watching the embers rise into the rapidly darkening sky only to flicker away among the stars. The strange feeling she'd had all day was building to a crescendo, swelling in her chest in anticipation of...

Something.

Rayne glanced over, nudging her sister in the arm. "Coco? You're out of it again."

Crystal nodded. She opened her mouth, closed it, then opened again. Seeing her strange behavior, Lillian and Grey both fell silent.

Finally, Crystal heaved a sigh and poked at the burning logs with a long stick. "Remember when we first posted the video for our band? It was uploading and we were all watching the loading bar while holding our breaths? How it felt?"

"Don't get nostalgic on me old man," Grey muttered. Though his tone was teasing, there was an affectionate smile on his face.

Lillian nodded and smiled. "It was so exciting and terrifying at the same time. Maybe nothing would happen, maybe we'd be one of many bands that never got any traction. But maybe... Maybe we'd get lucky."

"It was kind of a relief too," Rayne added, gesturing with the skewer in her hand. "Like, we did it! We made our first song, and did our first video, and were gonna show it to the world. It felt really real right then. All our hard work."

"Yeah... And remember what I said?" When they all shook their heads, Crystal chuckled and poked the fire hard enough to send a flurried shower of sparks into the air. "I said it felt like a change was coming. For better or worse, something big was about to happen."

"Right, right! We'd either succeed in our dream or fail absolutely, with no in-between. That's what you said, yeah?" Grey sighed, patting his full stomach. "I remember. Man, that was heavy. I couldn't even sleep that night, you know?"

"Is it happening again?" Lillian asked, her voice even softer than usual. "That feeling?"

"Yeah. I've felt that way all day. I thought maybe it's cuz we never did anything as big as this, renting a house and doing a whole video shoot on location, that maybe I was worried about how ambitious our idea was, but..." Crystal bit her lip, poking the fire again. She made a point of avoiding their gazes, focusing on the burning embers and crackling logs. "I think if we stay here tonight, there's no going back."

Silence reigned for a few minutes. Then, quietly, Rayne whispered: "Are we in danger?"

"It's not like that. It's just... A massive change, that feels... Overwhelming. This is bigger than the previous time."

"Bigger than chasing our dream?"

"Yeah."

Rayne reached over to grab Crystal's hand, while Grey hopped up and sprawled across Lillian's lap despite her protests. He just laughed and said, "What's that matter? No matter what happens tonight, tomorrow, or whatever! We'll get through it together like we always have. You and me, sweethearts. Us against the world!"

Crystal smiled and gently squeezed Rayne's hand. "Yeah. We'll be fine, no matter what."

Once dinner was finished, the fire fully smothered and the leftovers packed away for later, everyone did rock-paper-scissors to determine order of bathtub usage. One by one, they soaked away their worries, changed into the pajamas they brought, and crawled into one of the master bedroom's beds.

As midnight ticked over, a single shaft of light from the full moon filtered through the room's lacy curtains, illuminating their peaceful faces. The sleeping occupants remained blissfully unaware of the tendrils of fog creeping along the ground, emerging from the forest to wrap the entire house in a dome of mist.

Several hours later, as the first rays of dawn burst from the horizon, they were finally awoken by a piercing scream.

[novamm66]

Red Sky in the Morning - Chapter 12 - Cut and Run

Fuck me silly.

Kiaya started to hyperventilate as she stared up at the scar in the sky. She could hear Solas and Vivienne giving the final rundown of instructions to the mages, every word making her panic worse.

This is going to hurt so much.

I can’t do this.

She tore her eyes away from the breach as she desperately searched for a way out. Her gaze was arrested by the commander, standing by the entrance to the crater, guarding their backs. His eyes met hers across the distance and he smiled at her: a real smile, genuine and caring. Kiaya felt a calm wash over her panic, and she only jumped a little when Cassandra touched her arm.

“Are you ready?” The Seeker’s tone was soft, pitched low so only Kiaya could hear her.

“Not even a little bit.” The mark sparked on her hand. It seemed agitated being this close to the breach again, like hot worms under the skin of her hand. It was not a pleasant feeling, and one that Kiaya was sure was about to get a lot worse.

Cassandra’s reply was halted by Solas coming to their side. “When you are ready, we are set to begin.” Solas looked confident as he smiled at Kiaya. She struggled to smile in return and nodded.

I want to run.

Kiaya turned and walked towards the Breach.

---

The celebration had started before they had even gotten back to the village. Everyone had seen the breach close, and everyone’s spirits had risen as the hanging threat lifted. Cullen, however, was uneasy.

Cullen had spent the evening trying to think of something to say to Kiaya. He knew he wanted to say something, but he just wasn’t sure what. The opportunity never really presented itself anyway. Kiaya was in great demand, everyone wanting to speak to her, and Cullen had lost track of her quickly. He didn’t feel up for much merriment himself, so he retired to his tent, where the never-ending stream of paperwork was always waiting for him. It was quite late before he left his desk. The revelry was in full swing, singing and dancing around the bonfires throughout the town while the drink flowed liberally.

Cullen felt some of his tension drain. The happiness around him was infectious. What are you worried about? Everything is fine. And it all appeared to be. His attention was caught by the boisterous laughter of children and he turned to see Kiaya sitting on the ground, a little girl in her lap, telling a story. As Cullen drew closer he could see shapes floating in the air in front of her, illustrating the pirate story she was telling. No one in the small group noticed as he approached, too engrossed in the story, and he stopped just shy of the firelight so he wouldn’t interrupt.

The tiny figures, made from water drops, shone and sparkled in the firelight. The eyes of the children were wide as they watched, and Kiaya looked more relaxed then he had ever seen her.

The children cheered when the sea captain defeated the monster, saved his ship and sailed off into the sunset, the boat puffing into steam when it reached the fire. A clamour ensued, every child wanting another story, and a few of the adults too.

“Alright, that’s enough everyone, it is well past bedtime and the Herald has other things to do.” A matronly mage, who had been sitting among the children, rose to her feet. Every child, all young mages Cullen realized, gave Kiaya a hug before running off towards the tent city the mages occupied just outside of Haven’s walls.

Kiaya sighed as she watched them run, then began to struggle to her feet. Cullen moved forward, offering his hand, “That was wonderful.”

Kiaya yelped and lost her balance, plopping back to the ground.

“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Cullen stammered an apology.

She laughed, and accepted his outstretched hand, “Serves me right for not paying attention.”

“They really loved your story,” Cullen said as he smoothly pulled her to her feet.

“Who doesn’t love a pirate yarn?” Kiaya’s grin was downright cheeky.

“You really are good with children you know.” Cullen smiled down at her.

Kiaya snorted. “Sometimes. Kids are easy. I’m blunt and honest and they like that. Adults, not so much.”

They were standing very close together. Kiaya’s face was tilted back, catching the light of the moons in her eyes, her smile soft and warm as she gazed up at him. Cullen was acutely aware that her hand was still enclosed in his.

“I wanted to say before,” Cullen’s voice dropped low, even though they were mostly alone at the moment, “today, at the temple you were amazing.” Maker, I sound like a fool. “And before that, with everything you have done, how hard you have worked to help…”

“Commander.” The voice of a messenger interrupted him and Cullen straightened quickly as he suddenly realized he was leaning into her, and stepped back. Kiaya’s hand clung to his until the last possible second before letting go.

Cullen returned the man’s salute, barely listening as the man informed him of a drunken fight among some of his soldiers. A stupid issue, but one that needed his immediate attention. He dismissed the messenger before turned back to Kiaya.

“I am sorry. I need to deal with this, but can we speak again? Later?” Cullen silently berated himself at the wistfulness he could hear in his own voice, but it was completely forgotten as joy spread across Kiaya’s face.

“I would like that, very much.” Kiaya blushed. “And thank you, Cullen. For what you said before. It means a lot, to me.” Her words were rushed, and it looked like she was going to say more, but instead, she smiled at him before whirling around and headed up towards the Chantry.

Regretfully, Cullen watched her go before heading in the opposite direction.

—-

The alarm bell had Kiaya bolting down the stairs she had just wearily climbed up. From her spot in front of the Chantry, she had a terrifying view of the number of torches that sprang up across the valley. Whoever was out there, there was a lot of them.

Panic was everywhere, everyone was caught off guard, and Kiaya was fighting against the tide of people to get to the main gate. The gates were closed when she got there, the commander barking orders to his soldiers. Everyone else looked tense and confused.

“What’s going on?” Josie sounded scared.

“I don’t know.” Kiaya panted for breath. “We have to get everyone in the walls.” She moved towards the gate.

Before anyone could respond, a knock sounded at the door.

“Open! I can’t come in if you don’t open.”

—-

Kiaya’s ears were still ringing from the explosion of the oil drums; they had narrowly managed to get away in time. Her lungs burned as she gasped for breath, looking around the Chantry. There were so few survivors, and many of them were wounded. Many people were crying or praying and all Kiaya could think of were the tiny bodies of the children littering the snow. I have to save them.

She moved over to Cullen who was standing at the open doors, ushering in more survivors. “Cullen, we have to do something.”

His amber eyes were filled with desperation, but his response was halted by Roderick and the strange boy limping through the doors.

Kiaya’s mind raced and struggled as Roderick told them of the one chance that could save everyone. Cullen was speaking, saying that they would still be overrun if they couldn’t delay the Templar army and the archdemon until Kiaya interrupted him.

“Can you lead them, Rodrick? Show them the way? If we give you time?” At the older man’s affirmative Kiaya whirled around, calling to her companions. “Cass, you, Dorian, Sera and Varric go with the chancellor. Make sure the way is safe. Find Blackwall and Master Harritt, if you can.” The two men were hopefully halfway up the mountain with the horses. “Solas, Bull, Vivienne, ready yourselves to go back out. We are heading for the upper trebuchet.”

The hall erupted in chaos as everyone leapt to act. Kiaya watched for a moment, desperately trying to memorize her friends’ faces.

“Kiaya,” She blinked at the sound of Cullen’s voice. She had forgotten he was next to her. “You don’t- “

Kiaya interrupted him, turning and gripping his arm. “Your plan will work, Cullen. We can bury them. When the others get back here, bar the doors and get everyone as high up the valley as you can and send up a signal. I will buy you as much time as I can.”

She stared at him as he nodded, relief at his understanding quickly overwhelmed by regret. She started to turn away when his hand trapped hers on his forearm. “Maybe- “

She couldn’t think of anything to say to him, every possibility threatening to rupture the control of herself that she needed to keep moving. Kiaya squeezed his hand, feeling the warmth of his fingers even though his gloves.

“Boss, here.” Kiaya dropped her hand and turned away to accept the full potions pouch Bull was holding for her. She refilled hers as she moved toward the door.

“Let’s go have some fun, Bull.”

—-

Cullen waited. He stood at the door, which had been left just enough ajar to give him a view of the courtyard without being noticeable. He couldn’t see much through the smoke and ash.

“Commander.” Rylen appeared at his side, “We have removed the prisoners and they are on their way out. Most of the survivors are clear of the passageway now. Leliana is watching from the ridge above.”

“Good. Thank you” Cullen acknowledged his second's report.

The two men stood in silence, waiting while the minutes ticked by.

Suddenly, a movement in the haze caught Cullen’s attention as three dark shapes dashed into the courtyard, making a beeline for the Chantry door. Cullen and Rylen jumped to open it, and then closed and barred the door behind them. Iron Bull was covered in blood and breathing hard, and Enchanter Vivienne and Solas were looking drained and exhausted. Cullen couldn’t fight the disappointment that arose that Kiaya wasn’t with them, even though he knew she hadn’t intended to come back.

The only thing he could do was get the signal up. He turned and led the way towards the passageway out of the Chantry. Their pace quickened until the group was running down the passage, their footsteps echoing so that it sounded like the armies of the fade where right on their heels.

Cullen emerged from the passage mouth into the valley beyond. It was surreal how peaceful it was, the stars shining above in a clear sky. He looked to the ridge that rose behind him, and he could see Leliana silhouetted there against the glow of the fires below.

“Rylen,” Cullen’s voice rang with command, “Start moving the survivors further up the valley. We can’t be sure that we are far enough away.”

Rylen saluted and quickly moved to follow orders. Cullen didn’t spare another glance before he ran up the hill.

“We are clear! Send the signal!”

“No.” Leliana’s voice cut across his words. “We can’t send it yet.” The spymaster was staring through an eyeglass at the village below.

“Why? She’s alone down there!” Cullen could feel his rage starting to build.

“Kiaya’s not alone.” Leliana’s voice didn’t sound happy. “And she can’t see the signal at the moment.”

Cullen growled in frustration as he turned around, ready to go search for his own spyglass, but was stopped by Bull who was holding one in his outstretched hand.

Cullen thanked him quickly as he turned back to the valley and raised the glass to his eye. It took a moment for him to locate the northern trebuchet through the smoke but when he found it, his blood turned to ice.

Kiaya knelt on the snow between the archdemon and the red lyrium monster he had seen before with Samson. The mark on her hand was active and she was writhing on the ground. Leliana was correct: a signal now would only alarm the enemy and Cullen could do no more than watch as the monster wrenched Kiaya from the ground.

Tense moments passed as no one on the ridge made a sound. Cullen’s eye stayed glued to the glass. Both he and Leliana gasped as they watched Kiaya get thrown into the trebuchet and collapse on the platform.

Please get up.

Cullen’s heart leapt for joy as he watched her pull herself to her feet.

“Fire.”

“Now.” Both their commands rang out together, and relief flooded Cullen as he listened to the arrow whoosh through the air. He kept his glass trained on the scene down below. He saw Kiaya straighten as she tracked the signal. Cullen wished he was close enough to hear what was said, but he could see the determination on her face as she gripped a sword much too big for her to wield. He heard Leliana hiss through her teeth when Kiaya kicked out at the leaver.

He ground his teeth as he watched her run. He couldn’t tell where she was going; maybe she didn’t know herself. He heard the shot hit the mountain, and he could feel the ground shake as the avalanche picked up speed.

“Maker give her strength,” he whispered.

“And speed,” Leliana responded, the only one close enough to hear him.

“No!” Cullen’s view was suddenly cut by the arch demon’s wing as it took off. He snapped the glass down and his eyes fought to refocus on the distance. Seconds later the snow barrelled over the town, enveloping buildings and putting out fires.

Suddenly, it was a very dark, the smoke obscuring the light of the moons and all light from the battle doused. But they could hear the booming thunder as the avalanche continued.

“We have to move, now. We don’t know how far it will reach.” Leliana sounded shaken and Cullen nodded in response, unable to tear his eyes away from the valley below. He stood still as he listened to her issue commands and the others moved away, but he couldn’t find the will to leave.

“Cullen.” Leliana appeared at his side again. “She knew what she was doing.”

He whirled to face her, staring at her hard. “How does that make it better?” He growled.

When she didn’t answer he turned and stalked up the hill.

If you would like to read from the beginning here is the Master Post.

Or if you prefer, Archive Link is Here

Likes and Reblogs are always welcome and if you enjoyed it I would love to know!

[emilyspanicroom]

Dust and Shadows Part 5:

Check out...

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Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

She screamed and screamed and screamed.

Distantly, she was aware of Rhiannon shouting at her to stop. She was going to burn it all down. The fields caught on fire matches to fuel her flame. And she screamed.

Someone would notice the fires soon and raise the alarm.

Lina didn't care. Let them notice. She was tired of accepting it. Accepting what other people wanted, accepting that things were just too difficult for her to understand.

Around her, hell opened.

“Lina, stop!” Rhiannon shouted at her. There was the briefest touch of iron talons on her arm before Rhiannon hissed in pain.

Her mother had lied. Her father had lied. Everyone had lied and told her the lies were the truth.

They had been such beautiful lies. She was sick of it.

She was sick of it.

Somewhere in the midst of it all, Rhiannon had left.

Fine. She didn’t want her there with her anyways.

People were shouting now. Most likely they would be running up to the palace to tell her mother to control her unruly brat.

The princess who needed to be lied to because the truth would be too much for her to bear. Because she was still a child.

She knew as she burned that her mother and her uncle and all the people she had trusted, had lied to protect her. Lied out of love.

But they had still lied.

It didn't matter.

The messenger stumbled right into the middle Aelin's meeting. His eyes were wild, the right sleeve of his coat blackened, as if from a fire.

He collapsed in front of her high, carved chair.

Aelin stood, a sinking feeling crushing against her ribs. Somehow she knew what this would be about. The man’s sleeve was indication enough.

Lina.

"Your Majesty, the princess..."

The man shuddered, his words unintelligible from lack of breath.

She knelt, sudden fear pounding against her veins. “What has happened to the princess?” The man only shuddered again.

Aelin pulled him upward with a vicious jerk.

“What has happened to my daughter!” She almost bellowed.

Dorian was quicker.

He pointed out the window.

Blankets of golden flame covered the barren fields and slowly stretched to the crops, devouring everything in its path. A field of death and destruction.

And at its center was the heart of the flame, the only one could summon such fire. Such pure, cataclysmic rage.

It was as if her heart had stopped in her chest.

Lina was burning. Judging from the height of the flames it wouldn’t be very long before the fire began to eat at her, her energy, her very bones.

All she could do was stare. Because she was frozen. Completely frozen.

Everything seemed to move so incredibly slowly.

At the corner of her eye, she saw another small figure, getting closer and closer to the palace. Manon had apparently seen it as well.

Manon's chair was pushed to the ground as the witch ran to the window.

"Rhiannon!"

The witchling was soaring towards the gates, face deathly pale, her white hair streaming behind her.

It was Dorian who flung open the door. The broom Rhiannon had been riding clattered to the cobblestones.

Rhiannon took one look at him and threw her arms around him. Dorian gave a strangled gasp.

Rhiannon didn't usually like people touching her, holding her. But she clung to her father with all her witch’s strength.

Dorian held her a little away from him and pressed kisses to her brow.

“Rhia.” He murmured into her hair.

A disappearing burn ran across her arm, too recent for her witch blood to completely heal.

"Lina... father, you have to come put out the fire. She's lost it!"

Manon pushed Aelin aside with a hiss. Slowly the ice around her began to crack as the sheer weight of what was happening reached her.

"What in the rutting name of hell happened?"

But Rhiannon pointed a finger at the distant fire.

“Lina.” The name was a broken plea.

Lina, burning out. Lina, loosing control.

The ice broke.

Aelin ran like she had only run once before. Ran because her daughter, the thing she loved best in all the world, who she would give anything for, needed her. She lept over gates and stumbled over rocks. Faster. Faster.

Dorian and Manon and Rhiannon ran behind her, all so slowly. She left them behind.

She lept over gates and stumbled over rocks. Faster. Faster.

She would not let it be too late. Like she had been too late for Nehemia and too late to forgive Rowan.

Not for the third time.

The fire was a ring around the field.

The flames were scorchingly hot. So hot they could have melted stone. Fire like that which would have burned in Hellas’s realm.

It was a reflection of the fire in her veins. Here, that fire had been reflected and magnified by a thousand-fold.

Aelin wondered for a second, if it was possible, for fire to be burned. If it was possible for her to burn.

But she was willing to burn if it meant getting to her daughter.

Every sense of self-preservation in her screamed as she threw herself into the flames.

It burned.

Agony blazed up her arms, her legs, her core as she walked into the very heart of the flames.

She was burning.

She forced her eyes to stay open. She had to find Lina.

Panic possessed her as searched the field of fire.

Lina was sitting, with her eyes closed, palms still outstretched, pouring out fire. Her shoulders were slumped, wracked with sob after sob. her mouth was open as if she had screamed and screamed until her voice had died and she could scream no longer.

Aelin grasped her daughter's hand.

Her skin bubbled where it made contact with the golden flames. Pain, like she had never felt before, blazed through her, yet she clung on even more tightly to her baby, the center of her world.

She would not be too late again. And she would not lose the one person she loved most in the world, again.

Lina's eyes flickered open. So slowly.

She would kill whoever had caused this.

The fire covered her, burning her skin.

And Aelin pulled her daughter close to her chest.

He had smelled the smoke and watched as his daughter sat and set fire to the barren grass fields.

So like Aelin. So like his queen.

He watched as she screamed.

His heart had gone absolutely still.

He had moved to help her, to pull her out of the fire. His daughter.

His daughter. Strange that he should have a daughter. Strange that the child he had only seen twice was now more dear to him than his life.

Not strange, but right. As things had not been right for eight years.

Then she had arrived.

His Queen. Running like the assassin she had once been.

His Queen had flung herself into the flames and wrapped her arms around Lina, and carried her out. Out of the blazing hell.

He watched.

The clothes had been burned off her back, her full breasts and torso covered in burns. He remembered those breasts. That body. Just as he remembered the spirit he had seen as she ran straight into hell itself.

His Fireheart.

She didn't move. Only lay there as her chest rose and fell with each breath. It would be pain unbearable, to be burned like she had been.

His Fireheart was in pain.

There was a roaring in his ears now. It eclipsed every other thought in his mind and any shred of reason.

Rowan Whitehorn ran at the invisible barrier to the woman and kingdom he loved.

He had tried again and again before to break down that invisible wall. And when it had not wavered, he had given up.

He did not give up now. He charged straight towards it

and fell through empty air.

It wasn't there anymore.

He did not give himself time to think of the miracle before him.

Rowan ran to his Queen's side, as he went, he sent ice to freeze over the fire that was still inching towards the farmer's fields. It died in an instant.

Aelin was barely breathing. Terror gripped him in an icy hold.

"Fireheart?" He hadn't said that name in eight years.

His Queen did not move. By her side, Lina lay, unconscious in exhaustion.

"Fireheart?" His voice broke.

Her skin was a patchwork of burns.

Rowan gritted his teeth together and summoned his power.

Her skin began to knit back together.

Aelin gave a barely distinguishable sigh. "I've missed you so much." She whispered.

His heart contracted. Rowan swore. "I'm here. I'm here." He promised.

Her skin had turned from the ghastly shade of raw flesh to its original sun-kissed gold.

Aelin gave a short laugh that was cut of as she gasped in pain. "No, you are not. You never stay."

She did not think he was going to stay.

"Why?"

Her head twisted.

"Because this is all a dream."

Rowan recoiled.

She was hallucinating. She did not believe it was real. No, his queen did not truly want him back. How could she, after what he had done?

Far away, three figures crested the hill.

Dorian and Manon and their daughter.

Coming to save his Fireheart.

She deserved better. The barrier had just been a fluke.

So Rowan shifted,

and flew away.

"Rowan was here." Dorian sent his power around Aelin and Lina, levitating them both into the air.

Manon cocked her head to one side.

"Of course he was."

"But Queen Aelin never lifted her exile." He objected

Manon lulled over the thought. Blood bonds were controlled by the will of the dominant partner. If an order was given, then the subject would need to submit.

But if the order Aelin had given was not what she truly wanted and willed...then maybe the command would reflect that.

"She never said it. But she did."

There was a long pause. Rhiannon glanced at both of them in incomprehension.

"Are you going to ask her about it?" Manon asked.

Dorian shook his head. Aelin had once given him a choice. To talk or not to talk. She had given him his space. He was prepared to return her gift.

"It's her call."

Aelin opened her eyes to see the familiar sight of her bedroom.

She blinked and held up her hand.

Whole. Not burned.

No doubt one of the fae healers had been in to heal her burns.

A maid moved in a nearby chair and walked towards the bed.

"Your Majesty?"

Aelin turned her head.

"How is the princess?"

"Tired, but not hurt." The maid smiled.

Aelin nodded. “And the King and Queen of Adarlan and General Ashryver?”

“The Court of Adarlan is taking dinner in their suite. General Ashryver and Lady Lyssandra have been informed of your Majesty’s condition. Lady Lyssandra would have sat with your Majesty but the healers did not think it wise. They are both waiting to see you if your Majesty is willing.”

She smiled softly at the servant girl.

“Not yet.”

The girl bobbed her head and made no motion to move. Aelin sighed and cocked her head.

"You are dismissed."

She wanted to be alone for a while, to think.

The door shut.

Lina had lost it. Lina had lost control and she almost hadn't been able to stop her. Part of her wondered what had made Lina so angry.

The other part of her was thinking of His voice.

Her Mate's voice.

She thought she had heard him next to her, healing her, calling her.

"Fireheart."

She had thought she'd heard him promise that he was by her side. Together, indestructible, burning the world to ashes.

Aelin turned in her bed and clutched at her pillow.

No, it wasn't possible. Not with what she had done.

No, it was only that her heart had betrayed her, by showing her what she wanted more than anything in the world. Just a dream.

It had been a lovely dream.

[ahrorha]

Flame of Winter

Chapter 12

“Just a little more to the right.” together with Iron Bull and a couple of others Solas heaved the big heavy table into the rotunda. He had decided to turn the room into his study. He had convinced Josephine, who managed and oversaw the reconstruction efforts of Skyhold, that it was perfect for his research being so close to the library. What he didn't tell her, that the main reason he had chosen it, was to be accessible to his agents. They had successfully infiltrated the ranks of the Inquisition the last couple of months. Acting as servants, messengers or even spies for Leliana, who had taken her station in the rookery above him. It would be easy for them to pass him reports and messages and have in return his own smuggled out undetected. After all that happened, he couldn't longer rely solely on his dream communications with his key-agents. He needed to get his word out on a larger scale. 

Satisfied about his workspace Solas spread out his reports, books, letters and maps. There was much work to be done, things needed to change. He had greatly underestimated Corypheus, one of many miscalculations he made. The defeat and desperation, he had felt after his escape from Haven was a humbling experience and one he couldn't afford to happen again. Also, he had misjudged the people living in this world. A few months ago, he wouldn't have spared a second thought for them in his plans to take down the Veil and restore the world. He had only seen the ignorance and barbarism of lesser people. Now he lived as an apostate amongst them this had changed. He began to see their lives, their joys and sorrows, their determination, their hopes and dreams. He was even starting to form friendships with some of them. It didn't change that what was unavoidable or what must be done, but it was adding weight to the burden he already carried. .

His eyes scanned the different maps in front of him. All his knowledge and centuries of experience hadn't prevented his mistakes, but if he had learned one thing during the ages, it was patience. Yes, patience was the key. He needed more information about this world, needed to better understand the different mechanisms, the people, the various groups of power and their potential reactions and threat to his plans. He had underestimated their will to live, to fight. Not that they could prevent the inevitable, but he needed to be several steps ahead of them so he could react faster. But first things first, the threats to the common people should be erased. They shouldn't suffer unnecessarily from the mistakes he had made. They should be able to live relatively peaceful for the time that was left. The Inquisition could fulfil this role as protector and provider, even when this meant to spread the Chantry's doctrine in the process. Their current policy of supporting the common people suited his plans even more. Elves were, as always, largely overlooked in their support or were even threatened to cooperate. They wouldn't benefit much from the Inquisitions call for justice and freedom, but the message was a strong one. To work and fight against the oppression, to band together in this time of need. Recruitment for his own cause would be ripe for the picking. It was time he learned more about the elves of this era. If Eirlana and some of the other elves he had met were any indication, he had judged them too quickly and harshly after he had awoken. Also, he needed to study the Veil. What had influenced it over the centuries, its effects on the waking world and the Fade. With the Anchor lost, for now, he needed to study, and process a plan to take the Veil down even without the Anchor. With new determination, Solas took his quill and began to write his orders and new directions. . Enjoying the fresh evening breeze, Eirlana walked back to Skyhold. She had visited the makeshift clinic outside its walls and had stayed much longer than she planned. On her way up to the fortress, she needed to catch her breath several times. Her body felt drained and weak. It reminded her she needed to recuperate more from her own illness. Taking a short rest, she looked up at the fortress. It had only been two weeks since their arrival, and already it had changed dramatically. A lot of the rubble had been cleared, roofs fixed and a crew of masons was now working feverishly on repairing its walls. Slowly Skyhold turned into a functioning base. The gears of the Inquisition were turning again and wagons with supplies, new recruits and volunteers arrived daily. With newfound determination, everyone was gathering and uniting under the banner of the Inquisition, to fight against the evil Corypheus stood for. Though Eirlana wasn't feeling much of the hope or faith, the others felt. Rather it was the opposite, she was worried how things were developing. It began the day Ryan was made the Inquisitor, their official leader. They had only been a couple of days in the fortress. Riddled with fever, she leant against Solas to hear Ryan's speech. What he said was not a surprise. He would serve his faith and would lead the Inquisition true to Andraste's teachings and the Chantry's beliefs. It was the reactions of the crowd, their cheers and devotion, that ran as a freezing chill through her. With Ryan's opinion about magic and the heavy presence of templars it already wasn't easy to be a mage within the Inquisition. Now it was known, that they were fighting against an ancient magister, with Tevinter followers and former Circle mages, wielding a magical orb of Elvhen origin. It strengthened and confirmed the prejudice and fear the people had about mages and magic. With the rebellion and the mage-templar war in the background, the future of magic-users and elves looked even bleaker than ever. The path the Inquisition was now on, could lead to a dark future for her and everyone like her. She wasn't alone with her thoughts, she felt Solas stiffen as Ryan spoke. She knew he shared her concerns.

.

Walking through the courtyard, Skyhold was settling down for the night. Training sessions ended, weapons were set aside, soldiers went to wash, smiths and workers lay down their tools, women were serving out stew and bread. Greeted by a few people Eirlana made her way to the rotunda. She found Solas at a desk writing, surrounded by papers and opened books. On the edge of the table was a plate of bread and fruit hardly touched. She shook her head and smiled, seeing him so focused, forgetting the world around him. When she walked closer, she saw a templar patrolling the library above them. Keeping an eye on the mages studying there, to keep them safe. She was glad that Adan had banned them from the clinic after she and a few other healers became nervous by their presence. As of yet she and Solas had been spared the honour of their security. It was one of the advantages of being part of the inner circle of the Inquisition.

“Solas, you have been here for hours.”

He looked up when Eirlana touched his shoulder lightly, bringing with her the scent of healing herbs and salves. “You were at the clinic this whole time?” he said concerned.

“We both need to watch our working habits.” she smiled. “What are you doing?” she leant forward, studying the map with different markers and dates written on it.

Solas watched her, her eyes shining with interest. To his relief she looked a lot better, the dark circles under her eyes had vanished, her pale skin had regained some of its colour. But he couldn't help but feeling worried, the memory of him waking up next to her shivering was still fresh.

.

It was in the early morning when Solas awoke. Only a few noises could be heard outside, most people yet asleep after their exhausting long journey to Skyhold. Half asleep, he closed his eyes and turned around to find a more comfortable position. He could feel Eirlana lying curled up next to him.

Memories of what happened between them last night flooded his mind. With mixed feelings of warmth and apprehension, he opened his eyes. What had he done?

In an instant, he was wide awake when he noticed her shivering. Touching her forehead, he felt she was warm with fever. Her breath sounded raspy, her lungs struggling for air. Draping his blanket around her to keep her warmer, he rushed outside to get fresh water and medicine.

.

“One moment Chuckles. I need to have a word with you.”

Solas met Varric at the gates. Feeling irritated about the delay, he snapped. “Not now! Varric.”

Varric raised his eyebrows, surprised by Solas' tone. “What's wrong?”

Not ten minutes later Varric and Iron Bull were helping him cleaning out the room, collecting elfroot and firewood. Solas was grateful for their help. Eirlana in the meanwhile sat huddled in a corner, a little drowsy and coughing. They made quite a racket, throwing rubble and broken furniture down into the gardens. Dorian, who had slept next door, looked around the corner, wondering what all this bustling was about. It was far too early in his opinion.

“Excuse me. May I suggest getting her out into the sun. With the dust you are whirling up, no wonder the poor thing is coughing her lungs out.” Dorian waved his hand in front of his face to make a point.

Reluctantly Solas saw him taking Eirlana outside. He didn't know if he could trust this newest addition to the Inquisition.

It took them only two hours, to make the room livable. It was scrubbed clean, blankets aired out, a brew of fresh elfroot was cooling off, and Eirlana lay bundled up on the field bed Varric had arranged. They were all dusty and sweaty from their task.

Varric grunted and wiped off his forehead. “Five sovereigns for the one who can get me a warm bath.”

“I can throw you in the snow.” Iron Bull suggested with a grin.

“You Qunari have clearly another definition of warm Tiny. It explains why you run around half naked all the time.”

Iron Bull played with his eyebrows and flexed his muscles. “Trust me not everyone is complaining about it.” He gave Dorian suggestive look.

Dorian looked quickly away muttering “Barbarian” under his breath.

A warm bath? The dwarf deserved another credit Solas thought. That was exactly what Eirlana needed. “Gentlemen, if you please would follow me.”

Varric and Iron Bull looked at each other puzzled. Bull shrugged before following Solas down into the courtyard. They walked into one of the smaller buildings filled with rubble.

“Don't tell me you want to have this cleaned out as well.” Varric sighed.

Climbing over a fallen beam, Solas found what he was looking for. “Not entirely master Tethras, not yet.” He tried to open a rather large door at the far end of the room. “We need to get this open.”

Iron Bull shoved some of the clutter out of the way. “Here, let me try.” He pushed and pulled at the door with little effect. “Do you really want to get this open?” Solas nodded. Iron Bull scratched the base of his horn. “Alright. Wait here, I get the Chargers.” With their help, the path to the door was quickly cleared, and the dwarf Rocky had an excellent idea for opening the door.

.

Left behind Dorian and Eirlana got curious where the others had gone to. They went looking and found them walking in and out of the small building. Sitting down on the wall of the upper courtyard they watched them. Suddenly there was an explosion, and big clouds of dust blasted out of the damaged building. Alarmed people came running from all sides, some had drawn their weapons fearing another attack. Varric, Solas, Iron Bull and the Chargers came outside coughing, completely covered in grey-white dust. The Chargers were laughing and cheering, giving Rocky pets on his back, whirling even more dust into the air. It was a very amusing scene.

“Now that's a sight.” Dorian started laughing, followed by Eirlana and several soldiers around them.

Solas spotted her laughing and coughing, wiping tears from her eyes. It was the first time he saw her laughing so freely, and it was the most beautiful thing he had seen in ages. In a few paces, he was beside her, pulling her up into his arms.

“Solas no, stay away from me.” she shrieked joyful, trying to free herself from his dusty grasp.

Iron Bull nudged Varric. “Told you, they just needed some time.”

“WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!” Cassandra shouted. Everything fell silent around her. She stared venomously at Varric and the Chargers still standing in front of the building.

Varric raised his hands in defence. “Don't look at me Seeker. I have no clue. You have to ask Chuckles.”

Her eyes immediately shot in Solas' direction.

“I can explain.” he took Eirlana by her hand. “If you would follow me.”

What was left of the door, hung on the warped hinges. Behind it, stairs let down into the mountain. Solas summoned a light to show the way. After a few steps, they could hear running water. The stairs ended in an open cavern with a small underground lake, fed by an underground stream. The excess water spilt out over the edge, creating a waterfall. Next to it, lay several stone pools, filled with steaming hot water bubbling from a hot spring. Structures of several baths filled the cave, along with mouldy wooden screens, broken pipes, rotted benches and moth-eaten curtains.

“I'll be damned.” Varric broke the silence. Grinning, he took his pouch. “Here Chuckles a deal is a deal.” and pressed five sovereigns in his hand.

.

Leaning over the table, Eirlana saw the reports of rifts discovered. She studied the map where Solas had marked them down, several were circled, others were connected by lines. Solas had marked them with dates and short descriptions. History books lay open with several bookmarks between the pages. As far as she could tell, he was trying to link historical events to the locations where the rifts had opened. It looked like there was a connection between great events in the past and the appearance of the rifts. Leaning closer, she traced their travels, marked by a path of closed rifts. Written down, the scale of the problem looked enormous. The ones they had closed a mere drop on a hot stone. How many more were there or hadn't even been discovered yet?

“There are so many of them.” she mumbled.

She traced one of the lines. “Solas I can help you with these.”

She looked over her shoulder and saw his mind had wandered off. “Solas?”

He blinked a few times before she had his attention.

“I am sorry.” a smile formed on his lips. “Your presence is distracting.”

The warm look he gave her made her body tingle, a slight blush crept onto her cheeks. Solas leant forward, trapping her in his arms and pulled her on his lap. He was relieved her health had dramatically improved with rest and care, but he couldn't help worrying. Her body and physique were so different from his own. “What did you say vhenan?” he kissed her shoulder.

.

Eirlana needed a moment, cursing at herself for the fear and panic she felt as he pulled her into his arms. She exhaled and let her body relax against his warm chest.

“I said that I can help you with these dates. You are going to investigate those locations in the Fade, aren't you? You are trying to find a cause why these rifts are appearing in these places.”

Solas' eyes shone with admiration, during the day others had criticised his work. Dismissed the significance of plotting out the past against the locations of the rifts. They questioned why it was relevant or that they just needed to focus on the closing of the existing rifts, whatever the cause. He felt pride that she understood what he was trying to do. She was so much more than he could ever hoped for, her spirit bright, her instincts sharp, her intelligence shining in this dark world. Her very existence seemed impossible, yet here she was defying everything he thought he knew about this era.

.

Solas stretched his neck, brushing the tip of his nose against her sensitive ear shell. Eirlana inhaled sharply at the sudden contact and shied away, shivering lightly. She turned her head towards him, smiling shyly. Her small nervous gestures, the warm look in her eyes, her tongue wetting her lips, they were calling out to Solas, luring him. He slid his fingers into her hair, curling them around the back of her head and pulled her closer. His lips graced over hers giving her time to pull away. When she didn't resist his touch he captured her lips again, kissing her tenderly. His tongue darted out, teasing her lips. Timidly Eirlana parted them, giving him access. Solas let out a soft groan and deepened the kiss, feeling her warmth, tasting her sweetness.

Eirlana's heart soared by his sudden affection, her body shuddered as their kiss deepened. Aside from soft touches, they hadn't done much after they acknowledged their feelings for each other. His sudden passion took her by surprise. She could feel the vibrations in his chest as he softly groaned, it made her hum in response. She enjoyed the tenderness of his touch. It felt strange, yet natural, not forced upon or compulsory demanded from her. It was her own free will that gave and took.

For a moment Solas forgot all his troubles. He knew it was selfish of him, but he couldn't resist the feelings she ignited in him. She was too warm, too sweet, too bright. His passion for her was growing, it washed over him and made him feel alive like never before.

.

The doors to the rotunda burst open with a crash. Startled Solas and Eirlana broke apart, catching their breaths. Varric stormed inside, muttering curses, looking angry and grim. They both looked puzzled at each other, they hadn't seen Varric so mad before. Freeing herself from Solas' arms, Eirlana stood up. “Varric? What's wrong?”

Varric took a deep breath, calming himself down. “It's nothing.” he frowned. “I just have survived a pissed off Cassandra and his Inquisitorialness.” His voice was loaded with malice. “Damn it! Why of all the things that could have knocked at our door it had to be Corypheus?”

For a moment Varric was silent, hoping he hadn't just made his biggest mistake in his life. When he looked up and saw their worried looks, he let out a deep sigh. Judging by their stares, he had to be a sore sight for eyes, but that wasn't important at the moment.

“Hey, are you guys free this evening?” he asked them with a sad smile. “I want to have a few drinks with Hawke, and I could use some friendly company before he has to take off again.”

Solas had heard rumours and grand stories about Hawke and his dealings with Corypheus. This could be valuable information he needed. He nodded towards Eirlana. “Varric, of course, we will join you.”

.

A few hours later Solas and Eirlana entered one of the empty towers. Varric had managed to change it into a cosy gathering. Two braziers were burning in the room providing a comfortable warmth. Crates and blankets lay spread out in a circle serving as tables and chairs. Iron Bull and some of the Chargers already had opened a keg of beer and were passing around the drinks. Varric sat next to a man that had to be Hawke. He was a broad-shouldered man with a dark, full beard and messy hair. His bright blue eyes were sharp but twinkling with curiosity as they joined the circle.

“Hawke, these are Solas and Eirlana. A couple of not so crazy mages.” Varric introduced them. Solas felt a small sting. If they knew the truth about him, they would name him differently.

Hawke's face was marked by scars, small furrows and wrinkles, there was a lasting sadness and weariness in his eyes as he smiled at them. Evidently, he hadn't lived an easy life.

“Welcome.” he greeted them with a warm voice. “Any friend of Varric is a friend of mine.”

It didn't take long before laughter and talking filled the room. Varric and Hawke telling stories of their adventures and misadventures. How they had met, the first time Hawke visited the Blooming Rose, how they tricked slavers, smugglers and templars, the crazy bar fights and how often Fenris won at Wicked Grace. Varric told Hawke how Eirlana almost stripped Cullen out of his knickers at her first game. Hawke couldn't believe it, and Eirlana started blushing fiercely with everyone's attention on her. Iron Bull and Krem jumped in on the tale, describing in great detail Cullen's awkward moment.

Hawke had to catch his breath from laughter. “I would pay to see that.” he wheezed.

“Oh, I am planning to lure Curly into another game. Just wait and let me work my magic.” Varric grinned.

As the hours went by the Chargers left, and the talks turned more serious. Feeling sleepy Eirlana leant against Solas, enjoying his warmth. She listened as they talked about Corypheus. How Hawke had found him, bound by some sort of bloodmagic. How he seemed crazy and disoriented, thinking that it was still the era of the Imperium. How they had killed him after a long battle, leaving his cold death body in the underground prison.

Solas listened thoughtfully. It was troublesome Corypheus had survived that encounter and the explosion of magical energy at the conclave. His mind raced over the possibilities, his survival could point to one thing, and he hoped he was wrong. He had always assumed the taint and the magical stasis Corypheus was kept in had prolonged his life. Now it was possible the crazed magister had uncovered some form of immortality. A corrupted one, judging by the state of his mind and body. The effects could be unpredictable and potentially unstable. What kind of foul magic had mankind developed out of the ruins of the People? And how was it all connected?

Dawn arrived too soon and with it, Hawke's departure. He would scout ahead for the Inquisitor and contact his friend within the Wardens. A part of Solas regretted that Hawke was leaving. He wanted to know more about the magic that had bound Corypheus and the method of his imprisonment. Hopefully, he would have another chance to talk to him. Aside from the information, Hawke's observant, easygoing and humorous nature made for a pleasant change compared to the many other humans he had to deal with. Hawke rode out at first light, after giving Varric one last bear hug.

.

The Inquisitor and his advisors hustled the next two days, to get everything ready for their departure to Crestwood. It was decided Solas would join the team. Cassandra insisted on bringing a healer after Ryan had returned wounded from a scout mission a few days earlier. Blackwall and Sera would also join them. Eirlana would stay behind this time, giving her more time to recover.

While Varric complained, he wasn't going, Solas wasn't thrilled to go. The choice of companionship would make this a tiring experience. He also felt reluctant to leave Eirlana behind, and that worried him. His primal possessive instincts were resurfacing more rapidly than he expected. Especially after he overheard Cullen talking with her the other day, asking after her well-being. He recognised the look Cullen gave her, and it made him want to snarl as jealousy swept over him.

'Back off! She is mine!' the wolf in him growled. He was startled by his own thoughts.

'How is she yours?' He argued with himself. They had kissed, so what? He had kissed so many others in the past. Women had come and gone in his life with the passing of time. Often he didn't even notice their departure. This jealousy and possessiveness he felt was dangerous and selfish. Even if he cared about her, he had to control his emotions. He couldn't afford to act impulsively, to much was at stake. His role within the Inquisition was a calculated one. If he started to act on his true feelings, all would be in peril. It would only complicate his plans in the long run. He sighed inwardly, he really was too used to do what he wanted. Maybe being away from her for a time was for the best. It would give him the opportunity to recollect himself, regain control of his emotions and refocus on that what was important.

.

It was early in the morning when Solas and the others were preparing to depart.

“Solas?”

He turned around. “Vhenan.”

Eirlana stepped closer and took hold of his hands. “Have a safe journey, please be careful.” she leaned towards his ear and whispered in elven. “And good luck with them.” hinting at his companions.

Solas huffed a laugh at her remark. He brushed her cheek before he pressed a kiss on her forehead.

“I will vhenan. Promise me to get well.”

“Bleeeeeeeh. Can you please stop with all this mushy stuff, mister elven glory?” Sera interrupted them.

Ignoring Sera, Solas pressed his forehead against Eirlana's and let out a small sigh before he got on his horse and followed the others out the gates. This would be a couple of long weeks.

Eirlana watched them until they disappeared into the distance. It would be a new experience spending her time without Solas. Aside from her feelings for him, his presence and guidance had become an anchor in her life. A life that still felt strange, even after all these months. He made her feel safe and secure in this world. Looking around, she felt vulnerable, alone with her opinions and views. Shaking off her discomfort she walked towards the library, she needed to become stronger and learn to live her life on her own feet.