Chapter 8: Lyrium Lullaby

Leone awoke and her brain sluggishly calculated the possible conditions her body was in.

Pain streaked throughout her blood as if it were the veins that pulsed life inside of her. She disregarded that as remnant reminders of the malicious blast earlier. That protective barrier surrounding the foci had been incredibly powerful. Soon she realized it was not just the pain of recovering from wounds. Despite the damage the magical barrier had caused her she felt something off and stinging.

It was far, far worse, for as she tried to stretch she felt the unrelenting tug of metal chains on her wrists and ankles. Even her slender belly was latched down by a heavy ring of metal that even her slight exhalations made her abdomen bulge over. The noise awoke someone for she heard the rustling of armored feet moving towards the door. Then fading footsteps. Just as her vision focused the voice of the Magister pierced her ears.

"You have awoken," was the simple statement lifted from the Magister's lips as she came to hover over the wounded warrior. Her face was still opulently gorgeous, but Leone's knowledge of her research had turned her into a warped demon before her eyes. She no longer could see the beauty and instead saw the deep venom of the woman's soul. "Come now, my precious experiment. You are doing so well...don't you want to know what has happened?" cooed the fancy elf as she meandered around the table holding Leone down. Manicured fingers lightly trailed along the edges of the manacles and rings holding Leone securely fastened to the operating slate.

Leone simply cleared her throat and warily eyed the Magister who giggled coyly behind her hand.

"I'll tell you anyway. Stubborn mule," she teased, stopping abruptly to face Leone eye to eye and placing her finger on her cheek. It was a manner of owning, of touching without being allowed. Deidre smiled absently as she did so, ruminating in her power. "I have begun the process of applying lyrium tattoos upon your injured body as you were unconscious. Prior I had been afraid of killing my lyrium test subjects, but you...I know how resilient you are," Deidre whispered, her voice pitching higher as she spoke. "Shall I call you Leone, Dorian's dear friend? Or shall I call you the Herald of Andraste? Either way you are quite the glorious tool."

Silence lingered in the air as Leone lay silent, trying to look at what she could but unable to even move her neck much with the iron chains holding it down.

"The world used you to close the rifts and now I shall use you to secure my position as the hand of Fen'Harel." Those words that fell from Deidre's lips halted Leone's movements.

Her hand moved from Leone's face to her collar, tracing the sharp slope of her clavicle.

"Since you've been unconscious the cuts into your body have been easy to make and treat. It is too bad that you awoke just in time for the lyrium process...although perhaps that means you have healed enough to sustain it fully. I have no doubts you will survive my experiment now," Deidre said and she stepped back from Leone. Leone's brain didn't know how to interpret any of this - the explosion, the foci, she knew nothing of what had happened since except that this Magister was beyond pissed. She could only hope that as she suffered the others had been able to at least escape.

For now she remained silent, gathering her thoughts. Before long though they had flown from her mind. The Magister's words had shook her and she found the annoyingly sweet voice tiresome to be honest. However, it was worse because she heard the woman moving now and she had stopped talking.

Deidre was maniacally thrilled to begin the lyrium processing for Leone's tattoos. The cuts had been made the past few days as shallow tattoos, like an underpainting for a work of art. To Deidre the marks were beautiful channels of possibility, allowing the strong creature she marked to finally be one with the true heritage of her elven lineage. They flowed with the lines of her veins and musculature as vines and spirals.

Now Deidre cut deeper - the scars thicker - and in the Magister's hand she held a vial of potent lyrium that she poured into those cuts. Unbeknownst to Leone, Deidre's hands glowed with vile magic as she chanted upon the distraught body before her. The bold azure liquid pulsed with a green glow before transitioning to a painful white river guided by Deidre's chanting. Slowly and methodically the Magister focused as she cautiously trailed the mixture into the fresh marks. While her magic imbued Leone with unwanted power, it also tied her to the Magister's will. She grew powerful and enslaved as the Magister carved and settled the tattoos upon Leone.

Leone could do nothing but try to hold her cries. It was only so long though before she gave in, as she may be a hero but she was still a living creature. And she was being tortured by this inexorably mad woman. At first it was a tear, her pride broken as pain flooded all her senses, and then it was a stifled sob. Just as Deidre finished the final flick of her knife and sluggishly poured lyrium into the following swell of blood Leone began to sob.

What kind of hero was she? A tool of the Chantry? Abandoned by lover and friends...perhaps even the Gods? For so long Leone had worked to secure the safety of others and now she lay broken. She lay smelling the metallic tang of blood from her abused body and feeling the absence of love.

And that was how her days continued for a time she could not even fathom, so broken by loss and torment Leone forgot time. It felt as if forever would be Deidre cutting into her flesh, marking it with intricate designs she favored – perhaps for magical reasons – and pouring the burning liquid of lyrium straight into the wounds. After so long she just cried and sometimes she would be exhausted, just staring into the ceiling of the brick basement wishing for death. How could she survive such desolation? Had she not served her purpose? What more could the world ask of an elven warrior?

Weeks had past after Leone gave up that Deidre had finished her work.

Her dream had become a reality; the warrior who had stolen her life's triumph had FINALLY paid for all the damage she had dealt. Soon Deidre would meet the great Fen'Harel. She could not wait to show him the results of her work – for she might have lost a foci he had searched near and far for, but – she could gift him a warrior like few others. He would only have to know the enchantments and this warrior would bend to his will, with skills no other warriors outside the notorious wolf of Danarius knew. Not many survived such a process, especially the few...twists she added for this subject.

"My work is done," she announced one day, not sure if Leone was even coherent anymore. When the elf had been in sobs at least she knew she was aware but recently her subject had taken on a glazed look - far off and absent. Mentally she might be lost, but Deidre didn't care. "You will be taken to the cages and kept. In a few days I will present you before our coming God. Fen'Harel. He will lead us into a world...well...do you even understand me anymore, I wonder?" Deidre muttered off, noting the lack of life in Leone's face again.

She was still as a doll and Deidre appraised her work once more. "You will see. It is for the return of our people. You will understand," Deidre promised. The enchanting and spells had drained the mana reservoirs of the mage so bags had appeared under her exquisite eyes and her manicured hands were covered in filth. Pride welled in her at seeing her work done, at the creature she had helped to create laying prostrate beneath her.

Slender, tall and lithe the elven warrior before her was infamous. A twig that bowed before no demon, human or God. One that had protected the world with the mysterious strength behind her wiry frame and willpower. Her tanned skin had waned, paling a bit under the basement and Deidre knew the chains were tight enough to leave slight sores and marks upon the frail skin. Due to her strength Deidre refused to allow the warrior to be released ever so…scraps had been fed to her prisoner and part of breaking her spirit had been the proud warrior soiling herself.

For now she was to be cleaned up, only her breasts and genitals covered so Deidre could admire her work. Soon she would test the tattoos for sure, but for now a faint glow had covered Leone's skin as Deidre looked on. Pulsing, deep blue glowing along the ornate tattoo of Leone's body. It was weak as she was and followed the lines of her veins, much like Fenris – but she would not see that for some time. Leone's mind registered the comments of Deidre but she...she didn't move. She didn't know why, but she simply didn't feel anything anymore except the pain. Also, she might have to urinate soon but what did it matter? They would just leave her here as they had the past few weeks. Diedre bent over, checking the lines of the tattoos, whispering a few more incoherent words and casting a spell to weaken Leone again. She fell asleep and as she did so Deidre cursed slightly beneath her breath with a heavy sigh.

"Servants, guards!" shouted the Magister angrily, rubbing her forehead. She could hardly bear the stench anymore now that she had completed all the tiresome and tedious work. Two servants with cursed collars came into the chamber. Both were young, one held some towels and brushes and the other a large bucket of water. Behind them were two warriors and a mage wearing a hooded, gray cloak. "I want her cleaned up and set up in the cage. Also, find some rags for her to shown in."

"Yes, milady," both servants bowed deep and low with the guards bowing only slightly lower.

With that Deidre left the room to recuperate from her exhausting regiment so she might test the might of her experiment and prepare her to meet their savior. Ever since the break in the Magister had been slightly edgier, even declining invitations to parties and social gatherings so the other Magisters had begun to spread rumors. She cared not though for she would not need their insolent company for too much longer. Besides, she thought, removing her stained, bejeweled gown – being the mistress of so many nobles gave her plenty of blackmail to hold a majority of the prominent wagging tongues. Finally...she would be recognized, all her struggles and accomplishments had brought her to the peak of her dreams past the enslavement of her youth. It soothed her so to know all these years of atrocious acts would be worth it.

Not too far away Leone was cleaned up by the young servants, both girls barely at the bridge of adolescence anymore. They tried not to grimace and keep blank faces as they wiped the fluids and stains from the deathly still woman. One tried to be gentle as she rubbed at the tarnished skin, knowing that this elf must be the one she had heard of...the Herald of Andraste. Her hero and hope lay here strapped down. The second servant girl caught her eye and cautioned her to hurry. Once they had completed their duties, the guards and mage stepped up.

Both guards unlocked the chains and rings revealing open sores and at the bare minimum, wrinkled red skin from the abrasions. Instantly, the mage began to glimmer with power, keeping a sleeping spell upon her heavily, his eyes barely blinking as the guards carried her form down a hall and up one flight of stairs still beneath the main floor. Into another dark room they carried her and in the chamber lined with mostly empty cages they found the largest.

A few cages were filled with animals and a majority with bones of some kind. For Leone, they had picked the largest and heaviest that was imbued with enchantments and barriers to prevent her from escaping. This cage was large enough for both men to walk within its barred walls while crouching and a thin, scratchy rag that could barely be considered a towel covered the bars making up the bottom. Gently they placed her on the ragged cloth and locked the cage behind them, holding off their exit as the mage cast a few spells before motioning to them that all was completed.

Within two days Leone had risen in the cage residing in the dank basement. Barely containing her excitement Deidre immediately summoned her guards and a few mages to her experiment's chamber. At her sides were the guards and mage shadowing her close by.

"I've been waiting for you, Leone," Deidre announced, waiting to see if Leone would meet her gaze. "Do you want to see what you can do now?" she teased, crouching to Leone's eye level. Leone continued to stare forward, her eyes shifting slightly to the right but otherwise staring through the other woman. After a few moments the Magister's irritation seeped through her visage and her face scrunched with annoyance, "Well...either way I want to. Until you can see the reality of our current state to our destiny...you'll just have to enjoy being a guest." With that her brows slanted sharply downward and cast a shadow on her luminescent skin.

It was the first time Leone had seen the Magister with her staff. She held it like a flower, allowing it to hang in her relaxed fingers with its base like a white stalk breaking out into white tendrils that flowed over a smooth, glowing orange orb at the prominence. Her power flowed again like a white river from her fingertips to cover her flesh and Leone felt the strength of it. Suddenly she realized why she could feel it.

Staring in shock her flesh glowed obscenely cobalt like a bomb released within. Tingling broke out throughout her limbs and she began to breathe heavily as she abruptly lost feeling and sensation in her legs then arms. Moments slipped by and all at once she felt confined as if her body was not her own, was her mind even safe? Was she going insane?

"You are mine, puppet," Magister Deidre proclaimed with a smirk, only the slight shake of her palm showing the power required to control the caged warrior. "Now, come. Let us try out your new abilities." With that she stood and mentally commanded Leone about.

First, it was simple enough – moving to the cage door. Stepping out of it and then kneeling before Deidre as if praying with her forehead touching the dirty ground. "Good, let's move up then, shall we?"

"You, prepare to spar," Deidre warned the nearest guard who unsheathed his sword into a defensive stance then moved forward. Leone's tattoos flared suddenly and Deidre frowned, "Uh uh uh…," she tutted her captive who faltered slightly. "Do as I say," Deidre said again and this time Leone's tattoos burned ferociously as if the wounds were still fresh. It weakened her inner defiance and her feet nearly tripped over themselves rushing the guard now.

Without a weapon and weak the guard eyed her laxly. He blocked a few punches and a kick. Even he winced at the sound of her bare bone smacking his leather armor. But with a blink he missed a counter she had thrown his way after a slow thrust of his sword towards her. Now she was at his side and contorted her body across his so that her hip slammed against his own. His pelvis came off center by the swift assault and his feet came up just inches from the ground. With that he was on the floor and he panicked, instantly forgetting it was a spar. Turning his wrist to stab her intentionally with his sword she lay over him trying to hold each limb down. In turn she slammed her heel against his jaw and he felt his teeth slam against each other.

"Enough!" ordered the Magister. "Good enough." Leone leapt up from the man and returned to Deidre's side, kneeling in a ready position like a slave. He clambered to his feet quickly upon being freed. His gnashing teeth had bit his cheek and blood seeped from his pressed lips. Frustration pulsated at the core of Leone but she held back, waiting to see the woman's next move. It did not take long.

"Shall we test something a little...different?" Deidre suggested, glancing down. Next she dismissed the guard back away with a wave of her hand. Leone looked up and followed the Magister's gaze which had fallen upon the mage standing behind the guards. The cloaked mage came forward with its face hidden in the shadow of its cloak. "Attack her," Deidre commanded, her tone even but her eyes brimming with excitement.

Leone braced herself, she wanted to move but Deidre's control had her rooted in place. It had been some time since she'd taken a direct spell to the face but she had little choice. She had expected the mage to hesitate but it did not and a second later a blur of blinding white light came thrashing towards her. Burning heat flowed within her body in a rush only to dissipate momentarily.

"Excellent," Deidre breathed while staring at Leone who was still frozen in place. She could see the burning tattoos flashing furiously as they worked to negate the lighting bolt her assistant had summoned. They could not dispel all of the spell, but the pain was dimmed greatly and more of a distraction than injury. "That will do for now. I am please," she nodded and softly padded away from the subservient elf. Her hand pressed tentatively against the stormy gray locks on Leone's head as she passed, "Good girl. I am thrilled to present you before our coming Fen'Harel. He has graciously agreed to meet with me soon. Do not disappoint me little beast." Leone bristled at the nickname, she enjoyed Beasty as a term of endearment – not this abominable connotation. Without any thought her body moved and she felt like a passenger within as her legs crouched deep to fit back inside the cage. Even her traitorous hands smoothly closed the door, allowing one of the other guards to come up and lock it. For the first time as she sat there, watching the group leave in silence she felt control of her body return.

After a few breathes she calmed herself and stretched best she could in the confines. Her heart pounded, wondering what it would be like to see Fen'Harel after so long. Would she even see him? He might have even forgotten her after so long and overwhelmed with plans of his own. Perhaps, if the Magister Deidre distracted him with his laborious conversations then she might be able to flee. In battles she had seen Fenris use the lyrium tattoos to phase through things - similar to Solas's Fade Step. Perhaps she could do the same. Gathering her stamina she tried to focus, imagine, whatever mages might do to concentrate their magic. Just as she felt a pool of thrilling power well within it was followed by a sharp pain arcing throughout her.

It thrust her upon her back and she saw the bars of her cage pulsating with the same annoyingly blistering white light of Deidre's magic. 'Has little beast been trying to test without me? Silly girl, save your energy for later and rest,' she heard the woman's lilting voice in her head. Despite the lack of activity and the fear Leone had that her muscles might be wasting away confined as she was…her eyes snapped shut. Brief as the activity had been her exhaustion and weariness had culminated in her going unconscious...prodded along by Deidre's magic as well.

By the time she came to Leone's heart was beating against her rib cage rashly. Her hands clasped the bars of her cage tightly, hurting the flesh as she realized they were moving and she could see nothing. A thick, black cloth – likely a blanket – had been thrown over her prison and she could hear the creaking of a wooden cart as they moved forward to some unknown place. It had felt as if she had just fallen asleep but she knew better. Trying to maneuver she threw her body against the walls of the small cage, trying to move it and find some way of getting free. Soon someone noticed however and she heard the cart stop.

"She's causing a ruckus, Magister!" shouted a man nearby and Leone could hear the footsteps of the Magister draw near.

"Fortunately - we have arrived. Go ahead and take her down," announced Deidre. Leone's heart dropped and she held her breath anxiously as Deidre removed the blanket once the cage had settled on the ground. It was still dark out, the stars had begun to dwindle as the sky was gently lightening. Darkness would still reign for the next few hours but the sun would rise soon.

Fresh dew lingered in the air and the cool air caused a shiver to run through Leone as she took in her surroundings. Thick trees sturdy from growth surrounded them and there was no apparent path in the area so it must have been a secret area. In the near proximity she saw in the faltering moonlight that some ancient ruins were nearby. They were protruding slightly from a mountain wall covered in vines. Much like her fresh tattoos they were thick, coursing all over the mountain side and nearly hiding the entrance from view but her sharp eyes clearly saw the outline of the modest design. More alarming were the two scouts near the entrance, their bodies illuminated faintly by a light from within the ruins...one she recognized from the veilfire during her voyages of the Inquisition.

He was there, Leone knew it and as her hand clutched to her chest anxiously she realized the pendant she had worn for some time was absent. Deidre must have removed it when she captured her.

To the left of the cage Deidre stood with her own pride and nerves filling her full. Her guards stood near with two carefully watching her subject Leone as they opened the cage door. This evening Deidre had pulled her hair back high into a bun and wore simple traveling dress to escape the city walls with little notice. Only now did Deidre lower her hood and take her staff from the cart.

"You do not know how long I've waited to meet him," Deidre spoke aloud, so gently it was a whisper on the shifting winds and Leone could have missed it. There was a hint of obsession behind it and her crimson orbs met the flowing azure of Deidre's eyes. "This is my chance," she stated simply and as Leone lost the sense of control over her body again her tattoos flared scarlet. "As such, I cannot risk more than I have," Deidre explained as she snapped her fingers and one of the guards came over with fresh shackles inscribed with enchantments. The two smallest were locked upon her wrists with a thick chain linking them together and slightly large ones were latched upon her ankles. Finally, the largest one – a single shackle was clasped around her neck and the chain link clanked into place with a lock between the metal links holding her wrists close.

Breathing deeply in, Deidre looked forward with Leone standing behind her shackled and covered in a beaten tunic. "Let us meet Fen'Harel and show him our future." Moving forward with no other comment, Leone fell in step with the metal jingling in a foreboding dance about her. Guards circled and flanked the Magister with two mages behind the chained warrior.