Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize from the game.

Author's Note: Well, here's chapter 19. I apologize for thee slight delay on this one. I hope you enjoy it.

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Chapter 19 – A Nightmare Landscape

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When you are broken and shattered, you shall seek comfort under my tutelage.

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Injured. Weak. Whatever he would do now would have to make its mark perfectly. One last dream then. The time for using love, lust and jealousy was long past. He didn't have the time or energy for any of that anyway. No, he would have to use something entirely different. Paranoia should work nicely. He would leave Eternia and Morrigan no choice.

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A lush green field rolling with hillocks. It stretched as far as Eternia's eyes could see. She noticed Morrigan beside her right away. Perhaps it was the stark difference that there was no other living thing visible. She looked at the witch who gave her a reassuring smile as they spun their gaze around.

"Where are we?" Eternia asked quietly.

"I do not know." Morrigan replied carefully. "Tis almost like a dream."

She paused for a moment and tried to put her fuzzy thoughts back in order. The warden tried the same and little by little the memories seeped through. It was a struggle though, as if someone were trying to stop them from remembering. In the dreamworld's shadows, Deimos cursed his waning power.

"It is a dream isn't it?" The warden said softly. "Like that nightmare from before."

The witch nodded slowly. "And if your worries were justified then we should see a familiar face soon enough."

"Correct." Deimos spoke as he revealed his presence. "It is good to see you two again. Did you miss me?"

"What do you want?" Morrigan growled through gritted teeth.

"Right now all I want to prove is that I can destroy you if I should choose to do so." He replied.

"And what if we don't fight? Death will only wake us up." Said Eternia, her eyes narrowed.

"You will fight because the alternative will be equivalent to giving up. Is that the point we have reached? Where you no longer have what it takes to face me?"

"What have you done with Leliana?" The warden practically screamed.

Deimos shrugged his shoulders indifferently. "She's... busy. She won't be joining us here, trust me."

Eternia and Morrigan grasped their staves firmly as Deimos smiled delightedly. No one but the three of them in the vast endless meadow. Deimos' blades appeared in his hands. He approached slowly, his gaze flitting quickly between the witch and the warden. Morrigan struck first, attempting to lob a fireball which Deimos sidestepped. He then quickly spun himself out of the way of a blast of lightning from Eternia. He dodged again to avoid a frosty explosion from Morrigan. Apparently out of patience he tossed both his swords in elegant arcs.

The witch ducked to the ground to avoid the blade. She felt it whistle over her head. She also heard a violent clang as Eternia blocked one of the blades with a conjured boulder. The warden turned to see Deimos assault Morrigan viciously with the blade he had recovered. She managed to keep what distance she could although a violent cut glistened on her left arm.

"We've been in this exact situation before you know." Deimos laughed. "Except this time, Leliana isn't here to save you."

He paused in his attack to take a step forward and kick Morrigan to the ground. He turned around and ran quickly for Eternia, sidestepping the magic she threw in his direction. Eventually he stopped and paused to evade a lightning strike and barely avoided a fireball from Morrigan who was on her feet again.

Deimos stepped back, twirling his blade hypnotically. He stared the two of them down and faked a throw at Eternia who reacted instantly by sidestepping. The witch stepped forward to help and realised she was in a bad position. She ducked and was met by laughter as Deimos faked another throw in her direction. He then sent the sword spinning towards Eternia who shrieked as the sword cut her leg badly.

She fell back, trying to create as much distance as possible as Deimos retrieved both his blades. Eternia saw Morrigan come and stand beside her as they kept a sharp gaze on Deimos who circled them like a predator would circle its prey. However it was Deimos' eyes that widened as an arrow embedded itself in the ground next to his feet.

"Impossible." Eternia heard him mutter as she turned her head.

She couldn't help herself from gasping in delight as she saw Leliana for the first time in a while. The witch cracked a wide smile and was unable to resist a jibe at Deimos.

"Just like last time, is it not?" She mocked.

"That's what you think." Said Deimos softly, somewhat flustered.

The warden approached the bard slowly. She stood at the base of a nearby hillock, a beautiful white bow in her hands. She wore a spectacular velvet dress that hugged her form. She smiled widely and laid her bow on the ground as she hugged Eternia tightly.

The warden was a tad surprised by the display of affection while they were in the middle of battle but she returned the embrace. That was when a searing pain shot through her body. It was centred on her gut. She pulled away violently and stared down at the bleeding wound. She looked up weakly and her knees gave way as she saw Leliana clutching a bloody dagger.

"Wha..." Eternia moaned weakly as the dagger hilt struck her on the temple.

In her peripheral vision she noticed Deimos slash at the witch's legs, bringing her to the ground. The other blade found her stomach as Morrigan gave a small yelp of pain. Eternia tried to rise but the bard's foot was placed firmly at the base of her neck, pinning her down.

"Like last time?" Said Deimos, quirking an eyebrow. "I think not."

He gestured Leliana as he approached the warden. The bard removed her foot and left to keep Morrigan pinned instead. Eternia could see Deimos looking down at her, a small smile decorating his boyish features.

"She's mine now." He said softly. "You're just a little too late."

"No." The warden groaned. "It can't be."

"I'm afraid so. You also must realize that when you do finally find her, your only choice will be to kill her."

Eternia looked up with an uncomprehending expression on her face.

"You see, there is a decent chance that she is either possessed by me or under my thrall. If that is so, then not killing her will leave you open to betrayal and leave the world at my mercy. If she is herself, which I doubt, then you will only cause yourselves a bit of sadness. If you are willing to risk handing me the world for a bit of happiness then that choice is yours."

Eternia weakly shook her head, unable to muster the strength for words.

"Ask Morrigan later. She will see the cold harsh reality of your predicament. The best part is that it is you two who are responsible for Leliana ending up like this."

"No." The warden muttered firmly.

"Really?" Said Deimos as the small smile turned to a malicious one. "I'm sure dear Leliana would be so happy to see the great sex you have without her."

"You." The warden hissed.

"That's not what she sees." Replied Deimos as he shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sure you see where you stand. Now wake up."

Deimos' blade punctured her neck as the green meadow dissolved.

Morrigan stared up pleadingly at Leliana. The bard's expression softened just a little. She gave the witch a small kiss on the cheek before slitting her throat.

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It had worked perfectly more or less. And since he had used little magic in the dream, he had just a bit left. Probably enough to give the bard some pleasant dreams. After all, she deserved to be happy the night before everything would change. He picked a few memories out of her mind and let them settle in. He then relaxed his spirit as he thought of how things were progressing. It would take a while for his magic to return. He would have to manage without it. Otherwise, everything was fine.

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Leliana walked silently through the forest. Relief was still washing over her, Deimos dead and the elves were sane again. Eternia was discussing something with Alistair, regarding the chantry and how to deal with their expected reactions. She on the other hand was looking for Morrigan who had gone to bathe herself.

She wandered slowly towards the stream as she marvelled at the beauty amidst which Arlathan was nestled. It was a true pity that things had to turn out the way they did. She heard a rustle and noticed Morrigan returning to the camp, fully clothed once more. Leliana grinned as she eased her way a little closer and then tackled the witch to the ground from behind.

She pinned down Morrigan who was struggling and twisted one of her arms just a bit.

"What? Leliana...' The witch said as she turned her head. She then gave a soft smile. "Alright, now get off."

The bard twisted her arm just a bit more.

"That hurt." Morrigan hissed unconvincingly.

"That is the idea, no?" Said Leliana as she tickled Morrigan's neck a bit. "I'll get off. Just ask nicely."

Morrigan shook her head a groaned as the bard bent down to bite nibble lightly at her neck.

"I am not begging." The witch muttered as she drew on some magic and forced the bard off.

In the next moment Leliana found herself pinned against a tree with Morrigan's lips attacking hers.

"Cheater." The bard mumbled as Morrigan merely laughed. "You know, Eternia's missing all the fun, we should get back."

"You're right." The witch sighed as she gave her one last kiss before dragging her back towards camp.

And as the night progressed Leliana dreamt of the night with Eternia after the blight, the first night she had shared with Eternia and Morrigan. She would awake, happy and content at least for a while.

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She would remember exactly what she felt for Eternia and Morrigan and how strong it was. After all, the more she remembered the more betrayal would hurt. Perhaps he should not have done this, maybe he was eventually going too far.

But, if he had been willing to sacrifice Andraste, the person he had loved above all else, for his goals then no price was too high.

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Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Feedback and criticism is welcomed. Next update will hopefully be soon.

To my reviewers:

Nightwish11606: Thanks a lot! Glad you like the action scenes. As for Leli's plan? We shall see soon enough.

interesting2125: Thanks! Well, we can all root for the antagonist once in a way ;) I hope you enjoy what I have planned.