"Rise and shine, Ser Tabris!"
Jaiden blinked. She was in a large, soft bed, cocooned in warmth. Stirring up the fire and chirruping merrily at her was a maid, face slightly smeared with ash. Confusion circled in Jaiden's mind for a moment, before her thoughts settled. Of course, this was Rachel, the Weisshaupt maid who had been tending to her every need since she had arrived.
The Warden sat up and stretched, grunting in satisfaction. The sunlight was filtering in through the high window and she rubbed her eyes a moment. The phantom pain of aching muscles and cuts passed over her body, but was gone as suddenly as it came.
"Morning, Rachel. Any reason for the dawn chorus?" Her words were not sharp, but amused, and she laughed as the maid stood and waved a blackened finger in her face.
"It is past noon, you lazy elf," the woman said without heat. "And Duncan wanted to see you as soon as you had a moment."
"Can't we put off that moment, just for a bit?" Her hands reached out for Rachel, but the maid pulled away.
"I am filthy, Ser," she said primly. This only lasted a second before a wicked grin curved her lips. "But once I have bathed, I think I can find some time to keep you busy for a bit longer."
"Excellent." Jaiden pulled her down for a quick kiss, disregarding the sooty fingerprints left on her furs. Strange; she and Rachel had been together several times, and yet the kiss felt like the first intimate contact she'd had in months. "And for the love of the Maker, stop calling me Ser Tabris. It makes me sound like a hulking ox."
"As you wish, m'lady."
"Jaiden."
"Jaiden, then." Without warning Rachel threw back the blankets and Jaiden hissed at the rush of cold air. "Now, get up! It's not urgent, but you can't disrespect your superiors. I've been putting him off all day!"
"Fine, fine." Yawning, Jaiden got out of bed and stumbled towards the pile of leather armour. It was beautifully crafted, made from the thickest possible hide while not hindering her ease of movement, tooled by Dalish elves who had added embellishments of winding silver vines. She did not bother trying to scrape her hair back; she doubted Duncan had called her for anything formal, or Rachel would have been far more anxious.
Jaiden strolled out of her room. The white stone of the corridors seemed to glow in the sunlight, and the windows opened out onto a spectacular vista of mountains. She'd been here a long time, and still the view took her breath away. Flowers placed in vases periodically down the hall released a wonderfully intense scent, and the walls were hung with ornate tapestries that would have taken years to create.
She couldn't recall ever being anywhere more beautiful, or feeling so rested.
As she walked towards the main hall, other Wardens passed by, hailing her cheerfully. Most were Weisshaupt Wardens, who seemed very removed from anything that happened outside the great stone walls of their home, but a few were from Orlais and a couple from Ferelden.
I thought there weren't any other Ferelden Wardens apart from me and Alistair…
Why would she think that? There was Duncan, for a start.
The large wooden doors of the hall stood open, revealing the long tables where the Wardens ate, rising up to the dais at the end where the Commanders sat during meetings. The ceiling was high and vaulted, with ornate paintings running across it; a thousand griffins, soaring through a blue sky, each carrying a warrior on its back.
Sten would like that.
Who's Sten?
An image of white braids slipped through her mind, but dissipated before she could make any sense of it.
I think I need something to eat.
She smiled as she caught sight of Duncan on the dais. He was sitting, listening to a minstrel playing a Rivani tune on a wooden flute. His eyes were closed. Jaiden was a little surprised; she had never seen the Commander so relaxed. The tension that had furrowed his brow the last time she had seen him had lifted, and he looked years younger. As she approached, Duncan's eyes opened and he lifted a hand in greeting. Beside him on the table was a pitcher and two goblets, and he leaned forward to pour her a drink.
"Good morning, Jaiden." The brown eyes twinkled with amusement. "Or good afternoon, rather. I hope my request for your presence did not distract you from anything…important?"
Jaiden's skin prickled with embarrassment; not much escaped Duncan, and it would have been foolish to assume that he had not noticed her dalliances with Rachel.
"No, I'm not busy at the moment." She sat beside him and took the goblet. The liquid was mead, a sweet honey wine she had only had on a handful of occasions. "Mm. This is sublime."
"It's specially imported from Orlais. I believe it is one of their best years."
Jaiden could well believe it. The strong, sweet taste was a world away from the cloying bottles passed furtively around the alienage, stolen from the back of a merchant's wagon as he argued with the guards at the gates of Denerim. She had not tasted it again until they had stopped for supplies along the road to Redcliffe. Leliana had insisted, and she had got quite drunk, much to the amusement of her companions.
Jaiden shook her head firmly. More nonsense. Aftermath of a dream, perhaps? She took a deep draught, although she knew that it would not exactly aid in clearing her head.
"Anyway, I asked you to come for a reason. I just wanted to make sure you were happy here at Weisshaupt. You've been here for some time, haven't you?"
"Around a year, I think." The answer fell out of Jaiden's lips without going through her brain, and it caught her off guard. A whole year? "And yes. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been."
"I can imagine that it is something of a step up from your beginnings in the alienage." The minstrel finished their tune and began a soft folk song. "Ah, this is one of my favourites. There was so little time for music throughout my life; I enjoy having the leisure of simply sitting back and listening."
Jaiden nodded, but felt slightly knocked off-kilter again.
"When will I get to go back out again? Don't think me ungrateful, the year has been wonderful, but I got so used to travelling; I like being on the road, and there are still darkspawn to defeat."
Duncan looked at her with concern, and the minstrel faltered mid-note.
"Jaiden, are you feeling quite all right? You know the darkspawn are gone."
"They – are?"
"Yes." Jaiden felt a sickening lurch. This was definitely not right. "You were there at the last great battle." Duncan smiled upwards, his eyes following the griffin flight across the ceiling. "It was a triumph for all of us, chasing them back into the Deep Roads and setting the underground lairs ablaze."
"But what will the Wardens do now?"
"We will be the keepers of history." Duncan's gaze had returned to her and he watched her warily, answering her questions in a tone that suggested she should already know this. "We shall tell tales and sing songs of a more tumultuous time, that others may rejoice in knowing that time is past."
Jaiden frowned. She had not known Duncan very long, but she had heard enough to be suspicious of the idea of him being idle. "The Duncan I know would not rest upon his laurels."
The Warden-Commander sat back in his chair, folding his hands over his stomach. His expression was now benevolent and amused, like a father watching his daughter playing at being an adult. "What I was before was a man forged in the fires of war. Fighting was all I knew for most of my life, and I learned to hold that life lightly; how easily it could be plucked away was nothing I dwelt on." He took a sip of mead. "I am different now, at peace. I have learned to be tranquil."
There were a great many choice words Jaiden could apply to Duncan, but she knew that 'tranquil' would never be one of them. Even if the darkspawn were wiped out, he would remain vigilant, bound by the same oath she had taken. She met the Commander's eyes and felt a jolt. There was expression there but it was still somehow flat, like a beautifully-rendered painting; a thin layer of illusion.
Hesitantly, hating herself for saying it, she spoke. "I…I don't think you're Duncan."
A ripple passed through the air, and Duncan actually glared at her. She shrunk under his gaze.
"Foolish child. I have given you so much and you cast it back in my face. Can you not be content with the peace I offer?"
It was no longer Duncan speaking, but something behind him, operating the Warden like a marionette. The voice had taken on an echo with which Jaiden felt suddenly familiar.
The demon at Redcliffe. Connor. Circle Tower. Sloth demon…
The memories came pouring back as the false ones began to fade, and Jaiden felt a strong pang as those of Rachel disappeared. She looked Duncan in the eye. "You offer complacency, not peace."
The hall shimmered as Duncan stood, now fully armed and armoured, and drawing his sword. "It seems only death with satisfy you. So be it. Have your war and your darkspawn – may it be your doom!"
With that, he lunged.
Remembering how easily the man had slipped through Ser Jory's guard, Jaiden backpedalled hurriedly, but she needn't have worried. This false Duncan could not touch the real one for skill, and her blades slammed into his chest before she could really register what was happening. More Wardens were coming, armed to the teeth, but easily defeated; it was as though they had only the vaguest idea of what fighting actually entailed, and even before she had joined the Wardens Jaiden would have seen the wide gaps in their guards.
Reality began to shift; the beautiful ceiling faded away and the walls started to crumble until she could see out to a vast, greenish space with strange shapes that floated through the sky. As the last Warden fell, the illusion was destroyed. Her memories of Weisshaupt, the friends she had made, the journey, the quests…Rachel…fell away, and new faces and places came in their stead.
Jaiden had no idea where she was. There was a sense of vast emptiness, and she vaguely remembered a conversation she had had with a mage some years back about dreams.
Is this…the Fade?
A shimmering light caught her attention, and at the end of the hall a gleaming silver basin appeared. It was filled with something that glowed bright blue.
Jaiden looked around. She was standing on an island decorated with a few tumbling walls that had been used to create the illusion of Weisshaupt. There was no way she could see to travel to the other islands she could see floating alongside hers.
She was mind-numbingly scared.
Inhale. Exhale. Relax. Think.
Duncan's voice drifted through her mind. He had drilled her on this, and after a few seconds she stopped shivering.
The glowing substance seemed to call to her. She had no idea what it was or what it would do, but it was an avenue of action, and if it could get her out of here she would risk it. Jaiden strolled up to it, took a deep breath, and plunged her hand in.
O
The smell of incense hung heavily in the air, mixing with the scent of clove pomander and oranges from the people moving to and fro in the main section of the Chantry. Leliana made her way to a side chapel, gently running a hand along the smooth stone of a column. It was a reassuring feeling. She was safe, inside strong walls that had never failed to protect her, amongst those who had shown nothing but kindness and a grace bestowed by the Maker. The Revered Mother was waiting, and she smiled beatifically.
No words were exchanged. Leliana knelt and clasped her hands together, allowing her mind to clear before being filled with the words of the chant. The hard floor hurt her knees a little, and her back was sore from being bent forwards in supplication, but such things were not a concern. The Mother stood by with the benevolent look of a true mother watching her child whisper thanks to the Maker before bedtime. She had a chance to repent for all she did, and gladly accepted the peace that filled her heart.
Time passed. She was still kneeling as footsteps entered the chapel, accompanied by a soft clanking that told her the intruder wore armour. Bile rose in her throat at the sound, some dreadful memory trying to force itself on her before clearing. Had she not been in the Chantry all her life? She kept her head down and continued to recite, while whoever had walked in stood there, watching.
"Leliana." Out of politeness, she lifted her head to acknowledge the speaker, and was surprised to see an armoured elf standing before her. What was more surprising was the look of relief in her eyes. "What are you doing?"
"Who are you?" Leliana asked, nervous. The elf's smile dropped, a worried expression crossing her face. Before she could respond, the Revered Mother put a hand on her shoulder, speaking firmly.
"Please, do not disturb the girl's meditations. She is trying to find peace." To Leliana's shock the elf rudely pushed the Mother back a couple of steps, fire flaring in her eyes. The Revered Mother did not lose her composure, although she looked annoyed.
"Revered Mother," Leliana said nervously, "I do not know this person." There was something about the elf that made her extremely uncomfortable, as though her very existence was a violation of what should be. The fury in her eyes did not help this impression.
"You know full well who I am. The Fade is playing tricks with your mind," the elf said shortly, gesturing around her at the Chantry walls. The Fade? The dreamer's realm? What is she talking about?
"I-I'm sorry…I don't…" Leliana felt a surge of annoyance. Who did this woman think she was, barging into the Chantry, into her prayer time, and calling her delusional! Fortunately, the Revered Mother stepped in before any sinful thoughts of violence could cross her mind.
"Please, do not vex her. She needs quiet and solitude, to calm her mind and heal her heart." Leliana relaxed as the Mother's soothing voice washed over her. This instantly became panic as the elf stepped straight towards her, grabbing her by the arms and shaking her.
"Leliana, listen to me, please! This isn't real!"
"I don't understand…" Everything still looked solid, and the pressure of the woman's fingers on her arms was strong enough, but her outburst had seemed to make everything…shimmer, for want of a better word. Her mind was revolting against something she could not comprehend, and she attempted to push Jaiden away.
…How do I know her name?
The elf did not let go.
"Don't you remember why you left the cloister?" Leliana was about to say that she had lived in the chantry all her life, when something pushed into her head. It sat at odds with what she thought she remembered, and despite herself visions of a swirling darkness and a rose came into her head.
"I remember…there was a sign…" The Revered Mother looked furious, far more so than Leliana recalled ever having seen her. Even that time as a child, when she had…wait, no, I didn't know her then…or did I? What?
Leliana wanted nothing more for Jaiden to go away. She was disturbing her now, disrupting what she thought she knew, and she didn't want to think about whatever it was nagging at her. The Revered Mother spoke to her, gently, although she kept shooting poisonous glances at the elf. "Leliana, we have discussed this…sign of yours. The Maker does not care to interfere in the affairs of mortals. This 'vision' was likely the work of demons."
"She would know about demons," Jaiden snarled, finally releasing her grip on Leliana's arms. "Being one herself."
The Revered Mother struck her.
"How dare you! How dare you compare me to those vile things!" The noise of the slap rang through the Chantry, as Jaiden was thrown against the opposite wall by the force of the blow. As she smacked into the stone, a burst of certainty filled Leliana's mind. However grievous the insult, there was no way the Mother could have the strength to do that. She turned on the woman, whose features were beginning to look a little blurred.
"The Maker cares for us. I believe He misses his wayward children as much as we miss Him. My vision may not be from Him, but it urges me to do what is right." With a sickening sensation building in her gut, Leliana slowly took her bow from her back. I'm armoured…and armed…this isn't right… "The Revered Mother knew this. I don't know who you are, but you are not her." She went over to where the elf was lying on the floor, rubbing her jaw and wincing, and helped her to her feet.
"She's a demon in disguise," Jaiden said as she fell into a battle stance. "Here to deceive you. She won't let you go easily." The walls of the chantry appeared to be melting, and Leliana knew she had to leave, quickly. Her brain felt full of fog, and suddenly the only thing that looked real was the elf before her, who was holding out a hand and smiling.
"Let's go," Leliana said, slowly. "My head has not yet cleared, but there is something familiar about you and I...I think I can trust you." The Revered Mother's voice turned her head again, and in the voice was temptation itself.
"This is your home, your refuge. Stay and know peace." Jaiden's stance was still aggressive, but Leliana did not want to fight…whatever this thing was that wore her saviour's face. She was still not entirely convinced that the elf herself wasn't a demon, but something had changed. Everything around her felt like danger now, and the frightening sensation that had radiated from the elf on her arrival had gone. Jaiden suddenly seemed to be the safest thing in the world. Leliana patted the Revered Mother on the shoulder.
"There is no need. I carry the peace of the Chantry in my heart." The Mother's hand came up and caught her wrist in a painfully strong grip. Leliana could suddenly tell how the elderly woman had managed to send Jaiden flying.
"You are going nowhere, girl," the Mother said, and her voice sounded strange, suddenly, as though there were two people speaking at once. "I will not permit it." Leliana tugged uselessly against the grasp, and Jaiden drew her sword.
"You are not the Revered Mother," she said, holding up the weapon. Leliana cast around for the templars, the chantry-goers, anybody who had been outside, but the world outside their small chapel had become fuzzy and indistinct, clouded with bile-coloured atmosphere. "So begone."
"No," the Revered Mother laughed. "She is ours, now and forever!" Leliana's fingernails scrabbled at the woman's hand, watching in horror as the familiar features melted and grew, and then she was looking into the grinning face of something more horrible than her mind could comprehend, and it was hurting her, determined not to let her go – any moment now her wrist would snap, the thing would take her mind, leave her body as an empty shell on the floor of…wherever they had been…
Jaiden let out a sound that could be described by no other term than a roar. It was nearly impossible to conceive the petite-bodied elf being able to make such a noise.
"LET GO OF HER!"
She lunged forward, bringing her weapon down on the demon's arms.
The thing screeched and flailed, dropping Leliana to the floor, where she could only watch as Jaiden attacked without mercy. Her memories were coming back in a dizzying rush, and she felt sick as some were restored that she had never wanted to think of again. Every mistake, every callous thing she had done, all the pain, the misery, the betrayal…
The demon gave a final shriek as Jaiden plunged both her weapons into it and tore outwards, ripping it to shreds that vanished into the heavy, shifting air of the Fade. The Chantry had completely gone now; there were a few scrubs about, and above were the fragments of the Black City. There was a clatter as the swords were dropped on the ground, and then Jaiden was in front of her, holding her hands and pressing her forehead against Leliana's, forcing her to look up.
"Leliana. Look at me."
"She – she was a…"
"That was not your Revered Mother, Leliana," Jaiden said steadily. "That was just a demon."
"I know…I know." Leliana struggled to get hold of her thoughts. "The real Revered Mother probably…died…at Lothering…"
She hadn't realised she was crying until Jaiden pulled her into an embrace, rocking her and making gentle noises of comfort. "Ssh, sssh. It's okay. It's all right."
"My head feels heavy – as though I've just woken from a terrible nightmare." Leliana eventually managed to push words through the block in her throat. She forced herself to stand up, despite the sudden desire to simply fall asleep in Jaiden's arms. There was something important that needed to be done, and she tried to pull herself together; as she turned towards the elf, however, white light started to pour out of the cracks in her armour. She looked up in fright at Jaiden, who grabbed for her wrists. Her hands passed straight through.
"What's happening to me?" The bard could not suppress the hysterical edge in her voice as her limbs started to go translucent.
Jaiden said something that Leliana could not hear. The skies of the Fade swirled and enveloped her.
And then there was nothing.
O
"Attack!"
Alistair's nephews flung themselves at him, giggling, swatting at his legs with the cheap wooden swords he had nailed together for them. Thomas managed to scramble up the warrior's back and get on his shoulders, beating his uncle about the head – although not too hard. Samuel attached himself around Alistair's leg and he deliberately staggered, pretending they had felled him.
"My nefarious schemes foiled! It cannot be!"
"Finish the tyrant king!" Thomas whacked Alistair hard on the shoulder and the warrior feigned death for a moment. "Uncle? Uncle Alistair, are you all right?"
He lunged upwards, grabbing a squealing Samuel under the arms and tossing him in the air. "Aha! You can never defeat me!"
"Incoming!" With her usual disregard for the circumstances, his niece Alicia leapt into view and threw a stone at his head. It clipped him sharply on the temple.
"Ow!" Alicia flung her hands over her mouth, horrified.
"I'm sorry!"
Alistair put his fingertips to his forehead; they came away slightly stained with red, but it wasn't serious. "As though a stone could take me down," he boasted, trying to calm the girl before she burst into tears. "See?" He wiped the blood away. "No damage done."
"You won't tell Mummy, will you?"
"Of course not. I'll just say clumsy Uncle Alistair tripped and bashed his face against the door again, all right?" Alicia nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Although I'll say, you've got a good aim. We'll make a great archer of you yet."
"What about me?" Thomas asked, offended.
"Well, you-" he lifted Thomas onto his left shoulder – "will be a mighty warrior, famed for your noble spirit and valiant deeds. And you-" here he lifted Samuel onto the right, "will be a dashing rogue, with a quick blade and faster tongue, and very popular with the girls."
"Yuck! Girls are icky!" Samuel had not yet hit puberty, and it showed.
"Hey, some girls aren't. My companion Jaiden was a brilliant rogue and a woman." He looked over at Alicia. "A role model for you, perhaps?"
"I want to meet her someday!" Alistair laughed. Ever since he had first mentioned Jaiden, Alicia had hung on his every word about the elf, constantly badgering him with questions.
"And you will. She's travelling at the moment, although she has promised me she'll visit the next time she's in Denerim."
"Alistair!" Goldanna's voice rang out as she pushed through the door. "Please put the boys down before you drop them!"
"Better do as your mother says, or she'll cuff me." Alistair lowered a protesting Thomas and Samuel, smiling at his sister. She feigned a glare, but burst out laughing as Alistair caught another stone in the back of the head. Alicia grinned sheepishly at him.
"It looks like my daughter is doing a fine job on her own of reprimanding you. Anyway, it's almost time for dinner; round up the little monsters in the next five minutes, all right?"
"Sure thing, Goldanna." The sun was beginning to set anyway, and Denerim, for all it was supposedly the 'jewel in Ferelden's crown', was definitely no place to be out at night unless you were doing something shady.
He was just starting to herd his protesting niece and nephews into the house when he heard somebody calling his name. Alistair turned to see a very familiar form jogging through the marketplace, heading for him. A grin spread over his face and he spread his arms.
"Jaiden!" Before the elf could say anything he had picked her off the floor in a hug. "It's so good to see you!"
"You as well, Alistair." For some reason, Jaiden looked cautious, and as he put her down she cast around, frowning. "Are you all right?"
"Never better," he said, not put off by her wary attitude. "I was just talking to my niece about you, isn't that a crazy coincidence?" He turned his head and called out. "Alicia! Somebody's arrived I think you'd love to meet!"
The little girl came barrelling back out the door, stopping dead and staring up in awe at the elven Warden. After a few moments she stepped behind Alistair, peering around him shyly. He'd told so many tales about Jaiden he supposed that she was something of a legendary figure to his niece.
"Alistair, what's taking so-" Goldanna came back out of the house, wielding a spoon, but stopped at the sight of Jaiden. "Oh, hello. Are you one of Alistair's friends?"
"It's Jaiden!" Alicia said breathlessly. Samuel and Thomas had now come out and were circling around the elf, admiring her armour.
"Ah! The hero of Ferelden, I've heard so much about you." Goldanna held out a hand to Jaiden.
Jaiden simply stared at it and after an awkward moment Goldanna lowered her hand.
"Er. Well, this is my sister, you remember me mentioning her, right?" Alistair was now beginning to worry about his companion. She was oddly quiet and tense, and he wondered if something had gone horribly wrong on her last mission and she had bad news. Hopefully nothing's happened to the others.
He gestured to the children.
"These are my nephews and niece." The children waved awkwardly, and Thomas drew himself up and gave Jaiden a formal bow. Alistair ruffled his hair. "We're one big happy family, at long last."
"You seem very…content."
"I am." Even as he said it Alistair knew he had never been more so. "I don't recall ever being this happy in my life, isn't that strange?" He held up his hands. "Not that I didn't enjoy my time on the road, but this is…I thought being a Grey Warden would make me happy, and it did for a while after I left the Chantry. But it didn't last long. This-" he gestured to his family. "-this makes me happy."
"You have no idea how overjoyed I was to find I had a little brother." Goldanna smiled, reaching up to pat Alistair on the head. "All those years I thought he was dead – well, I'm never letting him out of my sight again."
"That might prove a problem." Jaiden's voice was so low that Alistair was pretty sure he was the only one who could hear her. She kept her tone polite, however, as she raised her voice. "Do you mind if I borrow him for a bit? We have work that needs to be done."
Alistair pulled her away, ignoring the elf's outraged expression.
"I – I don't think I'll be coming." Oh, now that expression was outraged. "I don't want to spend my life fighting, only to end up dead in a pit with rotting darkspawn corpses."
"Up until a few minutes ago, I would have said the same." A shadow crossed Jaiden's face, but Alistair could read nothing into her expression. "But we both took an oath, and right now we're all Ferelden has."
Alistair was about to retort, when Goldanna came up alongside them.
"Well? Is your friend going to stay for dinner?"
Hopefully a full stomach and a change of clothes would make the elf somewhat less sour. Alistair would have assumed she would be delighted to meet his family, but she was glaring at Goldanna. Is she jealous of what I have now?
Jaiden had never struck him as the type, but who knew?
"Stay you'll stay! Goldanna's a great cook. Maybe she'll make her mince pie." He shot a hopeful look over his shoulder, and Goldanna laughed.
"Of course, dear brother. Why deny our famous guest?"
"I can't stay," Jaiden said abruptly. She turned her eyes on Alistair. "And neither should you."
"You're acting really strangely." Alistair felt somewhat offended. He'd told so many stories of Jaiden's fun-loving nature that he felt bad for Goldanna's children, seeing this surly woman who didn't even acknowledge them.
"Do me a favour, Alistair." Jaiden's light eyes were intense, and the ex-templar felt uncomfortable. "Think, and tell me, how you got here. What happened to make you leave the group to find your sister without us, and shirk your duties as Warden."
"Fine, fine! If it'll make you happy."
Alistair opened his mouth to start speaking about his decision, but nothing came. No memories or explanation for how he had ended up in Denerim without so much as a by-your-leave. He frowned.
"It's…a bit fuzzy. That's weird."
"Alistair, come and have some tea." Goldanna was tugging at his arm now, her eyes concerned. He pulled away unthinking, trying to concentrate as images slipped through his mind.
"No, wait…I remember a…tower…" The sounds of the market had faded away and suddenly all Alistair could hear was his own voice. It was very, very quiet. "The Circle…it was under attack. There were demons. That's all I remember." Something shifted.
Jaiden breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. And then we got trapped in the Fade." She gestured around, the sweeping sensation of her arm leaving sluggish trails in the air. "Where we are now."
Alistair's first instinct was to block his ears. He really did not want to hear this.
"This is…a dream? But it's so real…"
"Of course it's real." Goldanna's tones were soothing, and all Alistair wanted to do was turn his back on his friend and follow his sister in for supper. "Now wash up before tea and I-"
"Something doesn't feel quite right here." Despite his best efforts to ignore it, the world was beginning to morph, and Alistair stepped away. Alicia, Samuel and Thomas stared up at him, and Alicia tugged at his armour. Her pleading eyes almost swayed him, but he forced himself not to be sucked in. "I think I need to go."
"NO!" Alistair leapt in fright as a horrific growl issued from Goldanna's throat. "He is ours, and we'd rather see him dead than free!"
Before his horrified eyes the home he had loved collapsed into the ground and his niece and nephews changed, growing and decaying grotesquely into armoured skeletons. Jaiden drew her sword and before he could protest she reached out, slashing the thing that had once been Alicia's throat. An overwhelming sensation of grief crushed his chest.
Jaiden made swift work of the rest of his kin. Afterwards, she looked at him sorrowfully.
"I'm so sorry I had to do that to you."
Goldanna's form lay on the ground for a moment, her neck sliced wide open, before melting into the floor. The Denerim market was now completely gone, and he stood in a barren patch of land, dotted with broken stonework and rough scrubs.
"I don't believe it." Already Thomas, Samuel, and Alicia were fading from his mind, becoming dreams instead of memories. He bit back tears. "How did I not see this earlier?"
"The demon trapped us all in worlds it thought we would enjoy – so we wouldn't try to escape." Alistair looked down and realised that Jaiden seemed mournful as well.
"What – what was in your dream?" The elf looked away.
"I'll tell you later. Maybe."
"All right." He winced. "And if you could try not to tell the others how easily I was fooled?"
"It's a promise, Alistair. I was fooled as well."
Jaiden began to fade away, and when Alistair tried to look at his hands he couldn't see his own body any more.
"Where are you going? What's happening?"
There was no answer before oblivion claimed him.
O
Jaiden breathed heavily. All through the islands of the Fade, she had worked out the tricks and forms she needed to fight the demons, and was collecting her friends from their dreams. She felt like a voyeur, and hated herself for waking them up; would it be kinder to let them all die?
But it didn't matter what she felt. She needed them. And so she went through, releasing everybody, trying to harden herself against their images of peace. Wynne, the woman she had only known for a few hours, was the easiest for her to release morally, but the most difficult to persuade. When the dead apprentices rose about around her Jaiden felt her heart wrench for the mage. To think herself responsible for their deaths only to release she had been sanctifying demons…
At long last she had them all. And with a wearied groan, knowing that this was far from the end of it, Jaiden sank her hand into the font one last time, allowing it to carry her to the Sloth Demon.
O
I doubted that just a fortress would keep Jaiden happy, so I threw in some extras as an incentive. I hope I portrayed the character's experience of their dreams realistically enough. And because it keeps me happy and writing, if you enjoy this story, please leave a review, however brief.
