Evelyn gripped her arm, ignoring the spiking pulses of pain as she slowly surveyed the bodies strew about the temple grounds. The mark had not fully recovered since she had forced the powerful surge of magic needed to block out the attack of the magister's dragon. Indeed she had been next to worthless as they had pushed past every trap, puzzle and enemy the temple had thrown their way. Cassandra had shielded her from it all, pausing only after the last enemy lay dead to flash a worried half smile her way, but Evelyn had tossed aside her lover's concern.
Templars, ancient elves, and Inquisition soldiers lay scattered about, blood soaking into dirt and stone. A senseless loss of life. She had not meant to anger these ancient elves, she had wanted to recruit them to her side but it had not been meant to be… the only positive was that their way to the Well of Sorrows was now unobscured. She stared as the clear pool, the shifting colors whispering against the silence. Something in that water called to her at a deeper level and a part of her yearned to answer it. She took a step forward, halting as a warm hand wrapped around her upper arm, Morrigan's voice in her ear.
"The well clearly offers power Inquisitor, a power that can both be used to defeat your enemy and perhaps find a cure for his mark. Can you truly afford not to use it?"
Evelyn turned and glared into the bewitching golden eyes, studying the other woman for any hint to what her true purpose could be. She had made no secret of desiring the well's power, indeed she had even momentarily abandoned the party in order to stop the one who meant to destroy it. A wealth of knowledge lay hidden in the murky depths if the ancient elf was to be believed. And if he was right on that account then surely he was not wrong about the danger of drinking of such. Still… She broke the witch's gaze to stare once more at the small body of water. To be bound to a god… what that would feel like… would it make her immortal… the thoughts pecked at her, overlapping in her mind. She didn't know if she believed in the Maker, let alone the elvish gods but there was no denying that great power lay here. Evelyn looked across the water at the unopened Eluvian and then back at Morrigan, her brow furrowing as she listened to the soft words being uttered.
"I did not expect the well to feel so… hungry. It calls to me, warm and inviting, a living temptation."
Morrigan paused and locked eyes with the young leader at her side. "I am more than willing to pay the price for such knowledge as this well might possess. I am also the best suited save for your elven apostate to bend the well's power to my will…"
Evelyn turned as heavy footsteps drew closer, her eyes falling on Cassandra as the seeker stepped forward, light hazel eyes edited to glimmering slits at the sign of familiarity between herself and the witch. The rogue winced at the cold venom in the seeker's voice.
"I do not like this Inquisitor. She is far too eager, too willing to do this no matter the cost."
Morrigna seethed at the interruption and turned to glare at the other woman, her voice haughty. "Why hide it hmm? Tis no secret, to restore this lost knowledge there is much I would risk."
The witch watched as the brash warrior took another step towards her, armored gauntlet draped casually across the hilt of her long sword. Morrigan had little doubt that if given the proper motivation this seeker would have no qualms about running her through. She had heard much about this former Right Hand and could feel the disapproval and suspicion rolling off the other woman in waves. She watched as the Inquisitor stepped forward, leather covering metal as the young leader laid her hand over that of her lover's. Morrigan hid the automatic sneer that curled her lips. It was like looking through the past and watching the lay sister calm her Cousland making the witch more than happy that she, herself, had never been snared in so pathetic a trap as romantic love. She was drawn back to the present by the snarl in the warrior's voice.
"And what would you do with it? This knowledge? You could be worse than Corypheus…"
Morrigan laughed and shook her head. "You would have us walk away then? Leave this source of power to someone else for fear of what might be?"
Cassandra studied the bright yellow eyes that shone back at her, unblinking. She did not trust the witch nor the motives that drove her. Leliana had warned that Morrigan was powerful and selfish and that any offer she might make was hardly out of a desire for the greater good. The seeker had seen the far off look in her counterpart's eyes, knew there was more that Leliana wanted to say but the spymaster had always held her secrets close. Even after years of working together Cassandra knew hardly more than she had when they'd first been introduced. Shaking her head she fixed the apostate with a glare.
"So we are to trust your word that you will not turn and use this for your own agenda?"
Morrigan laughed again and turned to look at the Inquisitor who, thus far, had remained silent, the oddly colored green eyes studying her closely. She stepped closer, her voice lowering slightly, for Evelyn's ears only. "All I can give you is my word that I will use this power to help further your cause. I accept the risks. Allow me to drink Inquisitor."
Try as she might, Evelyn could not read the pale figure in front of her. She wanted to believe Morrigan, wanted to trust that the apostate would not put first her own agenda but Cassandra's words had sparked a feeling of unease that she could not shake. She turned from that patient stare and studied the still water in front of her. There was a part of her that yearned to drink of the well herself, to soak in that ancient knowledge, to learn the origins and mysteries of a class of people she had never truly contemplated until her hand was marked with their magic. Evelyn took a step towards that whispering pool when a light touch drew her back.
"Inquisitor…"
She turned to see Cassandra looking at her, eyes burning with a familiar intensity, questions and concerns she was not ready to face. Evelyn shook her head, flashing the tall warrior a weary grin before turning back to the waiting witch.
"You are not mistaken Morrigan, there is power here and it is calling to me as well…"
She paused, holding her hand up as the apostate opened her mouth, no doubt to deliver a well thought argument. Evelyn shook her head and pressed on.
"I do not know that it is wise to trust you… I know next to nothing about what drives you but I know that such a power would be wasted on myself. The only other person here who might benefit from such a thing wants no part in it so I must trust that you, in all your knowledge, can recognize the threat that Corypheus is to us all and that you will keep the word you gave me while within your Crossroads… The well is yours."
Morrigan tilted her head slightly, a smile ghosting her lips, relief flooding her. For a moment she had seen the glint of greed and desire reflecting in those pale green orbs, had feared her desire to possess that rare knowledge would be be denied in favor of another. She turned towards the well once more, welcoming the growing whispers and stepped forward, pausing at the edge as her eyes caught the inscription that had been placed on the other side.
A thrall to Mythal... Pure nonsense. Morrigan took a step, feeling the water deep in through her boot, Another and she was knee deep. Another and the water rose to her waist, it's caress as warm as any lover, the whispers growing louder, more disconnected. She stretched her hands out, fingertips skimming the water and closed her eyes as the chanting grew around her, louder, faster until a key note sent her to her knees, cool water rushing overhead.
Evelyn ducked, throwing a hand across her face as the well rose, its water escaping the edge of the pool. She wiped the moisture away, her eyes darting to find Morrigan collapsed against still wet stone. She stepped forward, shaking off the warning grip of her seeker before cautiously approaching the prone figure. The Inquisitor kneeled, reaching out, startling as the witch twitched and rose, lips mumbling elvish words Evelyn had yet to learn or understand. Her brow furrowed as the apostate assured her she was intact, that she was still the same but even now, even in this moment of vulnerability Morrigan was as hard to read as ever. Evelyn opened her mouth to question the other woman further when Cassandra's voice rang out.
"Inquisitor!"
Evelyn turned, her gaze distracted by the spark of magic beneath her feet as plumes of dark smoke rose from the cracked ground. She heard Morrigan's gasp and looked at the witch, eyes widening as she followed that yellow gaze to the far end of the temple where they had first exited. There stood her enemy, his lyrium ravaged face twisted with rage as a discorded voice rang out in anger, "No!" She watched him rise, the scar on her hand tingling, energy crackling as he raced closer. She felt the tug of a hand on her arm and turned towards Cassandra as Morrigan's arm rose, bringing life to the Eluvian behind them.
"Into the mirror… now…"
Evelyn commanded, her feet stumbling as she fought the iron grip that pulled her backwards, determined to not leave until the last of the party had entered the Eluvian. She saw the look in Cassandra's eyes and shook her head. "Go. I'll be right behind you." The stubborn set of that rigid jaw told her that the warrior was not going anywhere and she turned to look back once more at the darkspawn that hurtled towards them, gasping as what little water that remained in the well rose, a shadowed figure cocooned within halting Corypheus in his tracks. She wanted to stay… to see what or who could startle the magister so but felt her body tugged back again and gave into the strength of the seeker pulling her into the shimmering glass, gasping as she fell to the other side, wincing as her body fell against solid ground. Evelyn rolled to her back, sitting up, her eyes darting around in confusion to find herself back in Skyhold, in front of the very Eluvian Morrigan has first taken her through. She watched as the witch approached the still shimmering glass on unsteady feet, a wave of her hand dispelling the magic that fueled the mysterious mirror.
Evelyn rose, eyes fixated on the apostate, brow furrowing once more as Morrigan breathed, "It is done." She saw the unsteady sway and darted forward, catching the slender woman in her arms as she fainted before gently lowering her to the ground. Amused eyes opened to look at her, full lips curving into a wry smile.
"You are too kind Inquisitor… most would have let me fall."
"You should know by now I am not most Morrigan."
Morrigan sat up, eyes closing briefly as she sought to slow the hurricane of knowledge pouring through her mind. Too many thoughts; so many voices to sift through. She arched a brow and regarded the Inquisitor once more. She had been uncertain that this woman was going to allow her to drink from the well. Indeed the way the rogue had weighed the logic of such a decision it had sounded as though she would drink herself. The witch looked past the pale Free Marcher to the even paler elf that stood behind her. The man intrigued her now more than ever. He clearly knew what the well possessed and yet he seemed to want no part in it; an oddity she could not explain. Though she'd had little dealings with elves, the ones she had met seemed obsessed with regaining their past, the glory of their lost ancestory; even those that dwelled within the alienages, though they made a show of pretending that they cared not for their history. Solas seemed to be an exception to that desire. The voices that whispered within her mind silenced immediately when the elf's eyes met her own, a dark feeling of foreboding washing over her under that inscrutable gaze. What did he know that she didn't she wondered... Morrigan shook the thought off as she rose back to her feet, glancing at the redhead to her left.
"I need some time… Inquisitor… there is much to sort through and no doubt your war council will want to hear what happened as soon as they return."
Evelyn raised an eyebrow and nodded, watching as the apostate slipped from the room, the rest of the party following until it was just her and Cassandra alone in the room. She could feel the seeker's eyes on her, could feel the unspoken concern and the rapidly fading patience so often associated with the brash Nevarran.
"The mark… it is growing worse."
The words were spoken as a statement rather than a question and Evelyn nodded once as she raised her hand to peer down into the depths of shifting green that shone from the cut across her palm.
"Yes," she breathed and lifted her eyes to look at the seeker.
Cassandra studied the younger woman, this Free Marcher who had been chosen to lead them all, her friend, her… lover. She paused in brief wonderment again that such a thing was possible and how long it would take her to get used to referring to the noble as such. Her brow furrowed as her eyes fell once more to the mark and wondered just how long the other woman had been hiding her pain, hiding her fear. The seeker had though the threat of the mark had been thwarted by Solas back in Haven. To have borne witness to the pain Evelyn suffered, to know that there was nothing she could do to help… she had not felt this helpless since she watched the Temple of Ashes explode and felt the crushing weight of the knowledge that she had failed in her duty, that the Divine was dead and the sky had been torn open. Cassandra stepped forward, her hand sliding beneath the other woman's, gingerly coaxing the mark closer, her thumb tracing the jagged edge of that broken flesh as she struggled to form the words to a question she did not want to ask. She watched the light in Evelyn's eyes shift, much like the wound in her palm and cleared her throat, wincing slightly at the rawness of her tone.
"Can it be stopped?"
She caught the sigh as it escaped the other woman's lips and felt the marked hand pull away from her grasp, watching as the Inquisitor turned from her to stare at the cold glass of the Eluvian. Cassandra fought the urge to press forward, to wrap her arms around that slender frame, to whisper the stubborn words of encouragement and faith that threatened to spill from her lips, to vow that she would not allow such a thing to take the rogue from her, that the Maker would not be so cruel but she knew such words would fall on deaf ears. So she stood, silent as she waited for her answer.
The Inquisitor studied the seeker's reflection, her hands curled into fists, as she fought against teh knot of emotion strangling her words. She was not ready for this, she was not ready to confess the seriousness of her condition, to voice her probable fate, to break this woman's heart with the certainty that the future held no happy ending for the two of them. Evelyn closed her eyes, her mind casting out for an ambiguous answer when she felt strong arms encircle her, pulling her into Cassandra's warm embrace. She melted into the touch, forgetting her worry, surprised by just how badly she had missed so simple a thing.
Cassandra had read the answer to her question in the subtle twitch of those soft lips, the barely concealed grimace, the darting of those green eyes as they had looked away from the shimmering of her reflection in the dull magicless glass. The seeker was warrior enough to know that the entire lot of them were living on borrowed time; that at any point death could descend and take one of them without warning. This was war and war she understood but to be killed slowly by a wound that the world demanded remained unhealed… that she could not fathom. Cassandra wanted to comfort her friend, assure her lover that all would be well but the words stuck in her throat. She could not force the lie from her lips so she did the next best thing and pulled the other woman to her, breathing in the scent of her skin, feeling the tension bleed from her slender limbs.
"Whatever happens we will face it together."
The words tickled the skin of her cheek and Evelyn turned to look at the serious expression on the other woman's face. The way that rough voice stated those words sent a shiver through the young noble's spine and she felt a wild urge to act on that feeling, to turn in Cassandra's arms and reaffirm the connection they had, to revel in the exchange, the closeness. She wanted to forget the mark, forget her duty, forget the mad look on her enemy's face as he realized she had, once more, thwarted his plans. Evelyn let her eyes drift close and reached up, trailing a finger along the hard line of her lover's jaw as she turned, her lips sliding over the seeker's slightly chapped ones. She felt the rush of breath being stolen from her lungs as Cassandra inhaled sharply into the kiss, but Evelyn pushed forward, uncaring. She traced her tongue along the edge of the seeker's bottom lip before sucking it between her lips, teeth dragging at the flesh as the responding groan vibrated through her. She felt her lips curl into the beginnings of a grin as the arms around her tightened, trapping her as Cassandra's mouth slanted over hers, the stroke of the warrior's tongue sending fire through her veins.
Cassandra felt the desperation in the kiss, recognizing the need for action instead of words and knew this was Evelyn's way of silencing their conversation. A part of her thought to pull away, to question her lover further but the lips that pressed hungrily against hers were effectively distracting and she gave into the need that was quickening in her veins. Fingers fisted in leather as she pushed that slender body against the wall, hips pressing, legs tangling as nimble fingers worked at the straps of her armor. A muffled sound in the distance prickled the back of her neck and Cassandra pulled back, hand falling to her hilt as a pale hooded figure slipped in through the barely open door, worry twisting the features of a familiar face.
Leliana quirked an eyebrow at the scene, quickly realizing that she had, once again, interrupted the two of them from what she was sure was a much needed moment of stress relief. Her agents had reported the party's return and she had swiftly descended her tower, eager to hear the report directly from its source and to also share what she had learned with regards to the events at Adamant. The Wardens had all but disappeared from almost every corner of Thedas save for their headquarters buried out in the south of the Anderfels , the only clues as to their location was found within the few pages of a blood stained journal she had been able to decipher. The reading of the author's thoughts had been disturbing enough without the implication of what the ancient order planned to do. The few agents she'd had assigned to seek out the Wardens location had finally returned and their news was not good. Even now the order appeared to be gathering in Weisshaupt, in numbers that were usually only seen at the start of a Blight. Every command post had been abandoned from here to Nevarra, to past the Antivan Sea leaving nothing but the impression that the Wardens had left their posts in a hurry; meals left uneaten, personal belongings remained unpacked only just a few signs of the level of rushed retreat. And at the heart of it all… there was still no sign of her love, as if Elissa had disappeared from the face of Thedas. Leliana tried to tell herself that her concern for what was happening with the wardens was greater than her own personal interest but even she could not charm herself into believing that great a lie. Cassandra's voice pulled her from her thoughts and she jerked as she felt the light pressure of a hand against her forearm.
"What is it Leliana? What has happened?"
The spymaster almost laughed at the concern in the seeker's voice. How naked her emotions must be for Cassandra to read them so clearly! Although the thought was not wholly so ludicrous. The two of them had worked together for years and even though the seeker could be willfully blind at times she did possess a remarkable clarity for reading people (a gift Leliana had told her would make her a formidable player in the Game would that she ever deigned to play it) Slowly she shook her head, eyes roving from seeker to Inquisitor as she gave voice to what all she had uncovered, watching as concern gave way to intrigue which quickly turned to alarm - the Inquisitor's notorious fiery temper cutting across her words as green eyes flashed with emotion.
"Then we will go to Weisshaupt immediately."
Cassandra shook her head, her voice lowered as she hissed at the impetuous woman beside her. "We have just returned from battle,and you are not completely healed Inquisitor - "
Evelyn shook her head, "No. I can heal on the journey there. We cannot ignore this. Dorian told me a little of what we stumbled into from our escape from the Fade and with these journal entries… Corypheus is a danger yes, but if the Wardens are summoning a demon army we cannot simply ignore that in favor of a darkspawn who thinks he is a god -"
She paused as Cassandra's brow furrowed, watching as lips parted to argue and held up a hand before turning to her spymaster. "Leliana call a meeting of the war council, send for Blackwall, Morrigan and Fiona as well, I want their opinions as well." Evelyn watched as the now familiar cowl covered Leliana's face once more, waiting till she heard the soft opening and closing of the door before turning to address the furious seeker at her side.
"Cassandra…"
She let her voice trail off as fierce amber eyes glared at her for a moment before the tall warrior began to pace the small confines of the room, the heavy footfalls of her boots echoing off the stone walls. Evelyn watched, waiting for the flash of temper to fade before attempting to explain her other reasons for wanting to go so soon when all of a sudden the steps stopped and she found herself pinned to the cold stone wall dark eyes staring down at her, the breath knocked from her lungs.
"You were raised amongst the nobility… did you sleep through your history lessons? Weisshaupt is a fortress! Its walls unscalable even by scores of darkspawn during the Second Blight - "
Cassandra paused her tirade to draw breath, her scowl deepening in disbelief as the red headed flashed her an all too familiar roguish smile.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're achingly beautiful when you're angry?"
Cassandra snorted and glared at the Inquisitor, determined to ignore the compliment. She rolled her eyes at the young woman who only chuckled in response, her own tone full of ill disguised disgust as she jammed a finger at the other woman's chest, ignoring the screech of metal as her gauntleted finger slid against the chainmail.
"Do not change the subject! We cannot -"
Evelyn slid her hand over the seeker's silverite paldron, feeling the sweat dampened strands between her fingers as she yanked the warrior's mouth down to her own, silencing Cassandra's harsh words. She felt the warrior try to pull back and chased her retreat, fisting her hand in the seeker's hair, her other hand gripping the wide curve of the other woman's hip, anchoring their bodies together. The Inquisitor broke the kiss to whisper between hurried pants that she did not intend to storm such a fortress, her hand falling to yank at the stubborn leather ties of the seeker's pants. She pressed forward again, her lips trailing along each inch of skin she exposed as her other hand worked loose the straps and buckles of the seeker's plate armor, breathing broken excerpts from the scores of poetry she had perused for this woman mixed with low curses and phrases from what little she'd memorized of the Chant of Light all during her early days of planned seduction.
Whatever happens with us… your body will haunt mine… the innocent wisdom of you… your touch… firm, protective, forever...these memories we make seal our bond… "
She paused, letting the heavy plate crash to the floor, eyes fixated on the darkenening hazel of Cassandra's eyes, on parted lips, listening to the seeker's stuttering breath as she slipped her hands beneath the white tunic, pushing it higher as she slid her palms along heated flesh, cupping full breasts as she leaned forward to scrape her teeth along the edge of a flushed ear.
"I tried to resist this… you… but fate or circumstance brought us together… pushed us into each other's arms and I will not forsake you… in my heart burns a flame, unquenchable, all consuming… never satisfied…."
Evelyn swallowed Cassandra's moan, her fingertips teasing one point to hardness and then the other as her left hand trailed down, slipping between rough leather and smooth skin, past the now familiar thatch of curls and into silken heat. She pressed deep, curling and sliding in rhythm to the rough gasps and low moans escaping her warrior's lips. Evelyn fixed her lips to a jutting collarbone and sucked hard, marking her lover as she looked up, watching Cassandra arch back as her body rocked against her hands movements.
Threnodies?
Cassandra struggled against the electric jolts of pleasure racing through her body, her muscles jerking with each stroked thrust, wanting to hear more. The huskily whispered words weaving a spell around her, their uttered cadence in time with those sure movements. It was beautiful, blasphemous, and perfect and the seeker was determined to fight her own release if it meant hearing more.
"You know my heart… take it… take me… and know I am not worthy of anything… of you least of all…."
Cassandra gasped as silence descended, long slender fingers twisting just right, curling, pressing. Her eyes flew open to see the intensity of the Free Marchers stare, barely catching the words that breathed against her lips before the world exploded behind her eyes.
Tell me I have sung your approval… for you are the fire at the heart of my world… and in you I shall burn.