A/N: So, I injured my left hand and can barely type with it (stings like a bitch, gah) so updates are probably going to be a little slower. As I already had half of this chapter written, I was able to go ahead and finish it. I don't know when the next update will come, sadly :(
Also - the bit at the end is because of my boyfriend xD He is studying to e a masseuse soooo he's always lecturing me about massages and how he can render someone helpless if he wants xD
There's no real reason this chapter should exist. It's nothing but fluff, really. Enjoy!
Chapter length: 4520
Onward!
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Let's Play a Game
Upon returning to Haven with the mages – after Alexius surrendered to the Inquisition and Queen Anora kicked them out of Redcliffe – all Callum wanted to do was sleep, but there was much to be done. After days of traveling, he just wanted a hot bath and a warm bed, preferably with Dorian nearby if not with him, but instead he was quickly led to a meeting in the war room where Cullen informed them he would be putting the mages through training, and that he was worried about abominations occurring with the veil so thin here due to the Breach. He chided Callum for readily accepting the mages into their ranks, to which Callum replied that Cullen had not been there so he had no real say over the matter.
Though upset that Cullen was a touch angry with him – he liked their odd friendship, after all – Callum felt he did the right thing in accepting the mages as allies. They needed their help with the Breach, after all, and otherwise the mages had nowhere to go. Taking them in as prisoners would make him no better than Alexius.
After checking in with them in the war room, he found Hawke waiting for him outside the chantry, having arrived just before Callum and Dorian did. Callum had to admit he was happy to see the mage.
"How was the Storm Coast?" he asked as Hawke led him toward the fire where Varric was usually found. The dwarf was nowhere in sight, nor was Hawke's usual elven shadow. "Is everyone okay?"
"Everyone's fine," Hawke said with a nod. "Fenris is sleeping; I didn't have the heart to wake him. Varric is sleeping off his victory drink."
"Victory drink?"
"Oh – from where you got us the mages," Hawke said with a smile. "And thanks, by the way. I should have been there."
Callum shrugged. "He wanted to speak with me, anyway."
"That is true, but you did well."
"Thank you."
Coming from Hawke, the Champion of Kirkwall and a man Callum considered a friend, that was high praise indeed.
"I also heard you traveled through time," Hawke said curiously.
Callum nodded slowly. "Yes, that is true."
"They tell me you saw a 'Dark Future'?"
"Is that what they're calling it?"
How apt.
"So? Tell me about it."
"Not much to tell, really. Red lyrium was… What?"
At the words 'red lyrium' Hawke's expression hardened suddenly, mouth slipping into a frown.
"Red lyrium…"
"Yes," Callum said with his own frown. "Does that mean something to you?"
"In Kirkwall… Well, there was red lyrium there. It took years to effect people," Hawke said quietly. "Meredith… she was influenced by it."
"Oh," Callum said softly. "I didn't know that. But these people weren't just infected with it – they were ingesting it or something. Becoming it."
Hawke's brows furrowed. "Well… shit."
Callum smiled thinly. "My thoughts exactly. What else do you know of the red lyrium?"
"Not much," Hawke admitted slowly. "Varric knows more than I do, I'm afraid."
Callum could tell it was a sore spot, the red lyrium, and quickly changed the subject. "So did you meet the Bull's Chargers?"
Hawke smiled faintly. "Yes, they have joined us. The Iron Bull leads them; you should meet him. I think the two of you would get along. He has offered to be my bodyguard, but I told him I already had Fenris."
Callum snickered. "How did Fenris take it?"
"His markings flared and he said that position was not open."
"Wish I'd have been there to see that," Callum said with a chuckle, imagining the look on Fenris' face.
"How are you and Dorian?" Hawke asked. "Being sent into the future must have been rough."
"It was," Callum said, looking away. "It was… horrible. Everyone was dying. I watched them die. I… There was a demon army, and someone called the 'Elder One', who Alexius was apparently working for."
"Have you spoken to Alexius about this Elder One?"
"Not yet," Callum said, shrugging. "I doubt he'll want to talk to me. He might talk to you, though, since you're the Inquisitor."
"Inquisitor," Hawke repeated with a sigh. "I will never get used to that particular title. Champion was bad enough."
"You are a man of many names," Callum said with a small smirk, as he once said the same thing about himself so long ago, back when things were so much simpler. So much easier. Back when all he had to worry about was doing odd jobs with Emry and hunting down the mage who killed his family.
"Well, I suppose I should let you return to your cabin. You look tired."
Callum nodded, smiling at Hawke. "I'm exhausted, really. But then you're probably tired too; it's a long trip to the Storm Coast and back."
"Very true," Hawke said with a small chuckle. "I will speak with you later."
Callum nodded goodbye and turned to finally head back toward his cabin, steps growing heavier the closer he got to the cabin and his nice warm bed. Traveling back to Haven had been tiresome, especially after his ordeal at Redcliffe Castle. Time travel. Somehow, he knew it wasn't over yet. The blood mage still existed, but the Inquisition had the time amulet safely locked away; he made sure of that. Hopefully that would be enough to keep things from happening.
Somehow, though, evil always found a way.
Dorian was waiting for him just inside the cabin. Callum smiled at the sight of him in the soft glow of the fire.
"Hey," he said quietly, closing the door behind him.
"How is it that we are to return to business as usual after the future we saw?" Dorian asked, quirking a brow at him. "Cassandra asked me to help train the mages, you see; Hawke will be helping as well. Am I to continue as if I did not see that 'Dark Future'?"
Callum shrugged, feeling more tired by the second. "I suppose we just… move on."
"And what of what we saw?"
"We know this 'Elder One' wants to kill Empress Celine," Callum said. "We'll go from there, I guess."
"I suppose that's all we can do," Dorian said uncertainly.
"Hawke and Varric are working on the red lyrium subject… I think."
"Well… that is something, at least."
"I wanted to say thank you."
Dorian looked at him, brows furrowing slightly. "Whatever for?"
Callum shrugged, chewing on his lower lip as he attempted to find the correct words. In the end he could only say, "For going with me into the future."
A thin smile crossed Dorian's face, accentuating the bags under his eyes. He was tired as well. A week-long nap was in order, Callum was certain. "As if I would let you wander the future alone."
Callum smiled tiredly. "Yes, well… there's no one I'd rather be stranded in time with, future or present."
Dorian chuckled quietly. "Let us not make a habit of it, yes?"
"Agreed."
He'd had enough time travel to last him a lifetime. Two lifetimes, really – though the life he had in the future no longer existed because that blood mage changed the past. It was enough to give him a headache.
"I'm going to sleep for a week," Callum said. "You're more than welcome to join me."
"Yes, amatus," Dorian said with a nod. "That sounds marvelous."
xXx
Dorian woke late the next morning to find Callum already gone from the bed they shared. Yawning, he sat up and looked around, but the cabin was still and silent; the rogue was not here. Figuring he met with Cullen to discuss further plans regarding the mark on his hand, or their combat training, Dorian climbed out of bed to begin his own day. Today he would meet with Hawke and the newly freed mages and discuss how important their mission was.
This Elder One needed to be stopped, whoever or whatever it was. Thinking about it put a foul taste in Dorian's mouth; the demon army, the red lyrium consuming people, watching Cassandra and Leliana die, those brief moments of terror when he realized Callum was not next to him after they traveled forward in time…
After he was dressed for the day in his usually mage's robe, he left the cabin and wandered out of Haven around the lakeside where the mages would be meeting. Hawke was already there with a smirk on his face even before he noticed Dorian's arrival.
Well, this will be good, I take it.
Hawke approached him, smirk turning into a grin. "Today we are going to have a little game."
"A game?" Dorian repeated with a frown.
"Yes, the other team should be arriving any – ah, there they are now."
Dorian turned to face where Hawke was gesturing and found the Templars – those who joined them with Cullen – approaching, with Cullen, Fenris and Callum at the head of the group. Fenris looked eager yet reluctant; Callum was grinning even before he waved at Dorian.
"Warriors and rogues versus us mages," Hawke said as he waved at Fenris.
Dorian smirked. "I like it."
"Only basic spells," Hawke said, raising his voice to be heard over the chatter around them, addressing the mages even as Dorian could hear Cullen addressing the others. "We don't want to hurt them; this is a basic strategy game." Then he looked at Dorian, smirking. "And no canoodling with the enemy."
"I don't know about that," Dorian hedged, smirking himself. "I can't be held responsible if he defects to our side."
Hawke laughed and shook his head before addressing the mages again. "The others are equipped with staves only. We don't want to hurt anyone, got it?"
There was more chatter in agreement. Dorian could see the eager looks on everyone's faces, on both sides. They were like kids getting told they could play rough but not too rough. The mages were eager to attack the Templars; the Templars were eager to attack the mages. This would help work out their aggression in a safe way, as well as train them to work together and everything.
This plan is brilliant.
"Cullen will take his group away; we will meet on the course we have created," Hawke finished telling them. "Work together and play fair. If you do not, you have no place in the Inquisition and you can go back to fending for yourselves without protection." His eyes narrowed. "Are we clear?"
More agreement from the crowd, less enthusiastic this time. Dorian took in a slow breath and hoped everyone was listening. It would not do to have someone, even one of them, on either side, decide to go rogue and viciously attack someone else. It would only lead to chaos, and injuries. Severe injuries and even death.
This reminded him strangely of Tevinter, and the duels he had with his fellow peers. They were always rough and violent even if they were told not to kill each other. That didn't mean they couldn't seriously wound the other. It was always violent and bloody no matter what.
Dorian's enthusiasm died away, replaced with an odd sense of worry.
Hawke nudged his arm. "So, we've been dubbed the 'Inquisitor's Team', while the other has been called the 'Herald's Team'."
Dorian smiled thinly. "Yes, that seems apt."
Hawke frowned. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, everything is fine. You are certain there won't be serious injuries?"
Hawke nodded. "As certain as I can be. These mages have been running for a long time; they won't risk their new freedom and acceptance just to take out some aggression on a Templar."
Dorian hoped he was right.
"Can the same be said for the Templars?"
Hawke looked away. "Honestly, that's what we are going to find out. They have deep-seeded beliefs. That is why they have only been given staves. They cannot seriously injure anyone unless they really, really want to, and by that point we'll have caught them."
"You expect betrayal?" Dorian asked, frowning again.
"You can never be too careful. But Cullen, Fenris, Bull and Callum are on that team; they'll keep them in line."
Dorian hoped that was true, and that no one was in any real danger.
This isn't Tevinter, Dorian. Everything will be fine.
This was Haven, not Tevinter. This was a game, not a devious duel. They all knew what was at stake if they could not get along and work together. The Breach was the main concern, not the mage-templar war.
xXx
In all honesty, Callum had fun with their little strategy, team-building game. He, Fenris and Bull stalked around everyone, keeping an eye on things for Cullen whilst also fending off mages with their shields and staves. It had been a long time since he did something like this. When training to be an assassin he did some similar things, of course; but that was all more… lethal. If you failed training, you died. They practiced with real swords and daggers, too. This was much more tame in comparison, but was fun.
Eventually Fenris even lightened up a little, smirking as he took down another mage – without hurting them. The mage scurried off as Fenris twirled the mage's staff in his grip, turning to face the others. He tried to hide his smirk but failed miserably; he was having fun attacking mages in a way that wouldn't get him in trouble.
So far Callum hadn't seen Dorian or Hawke since this game started, but that was fine. He was in no mood to attack Dorian, playfully or otherwise. Other than not wanting to attack his friends, he was having fun, though. He easily avoided an ice spell which would have left him cold but not frozen, and ducked behind cover, entering stealth mode. As Sera, Varric and himself were the only rogues in the game, they were allowed to enter stealth mode at any given time. It would help the mages learn to expect the unexpected because in a real battle nothing went as planning. This was no like their previous lives on the run or in the Circle; this was a matter of life or death. Failure meant certain death as their enemies would not hesitate to kill them.
This Elder One wouldn't hesitate to kill them.
Upon thinking of the Elder One and the future he witnessed, his good mood effectively vanished, leaving him scowling.
"Cheer up," Varric said, elbowing him in the hip since the dwarf was shorter than him. "We already have one Broody; we don't need two."
Callum smirked and shook his head. "Just thinking, not brooding."
"About this 'Dark Future' you saw?"
"Yes, that."
"Creepy stuff," Varric said, shaking his head. "Glad I didn't see it."
Callum nodded, smirk dispersing. He was happy Varric hadn't seen it; Callum wished he himself hadn't seen it, but he couldn't erase his memory any more than he could reclaim his lost memories from the Conclave.
Will I ever remember what happened?
Every time he asked about it, no one knew how to respond. They did not know why he forgot, nor why he couldn't remember now. As time passed it became less and less likely he would ever remember what happened after Hawke left the Conclave.
"Is this where the party is?" came a familiar, velvety smooth voice and Callum looked up, smirking as Dorian emerged from around a few of the smaller trees, looking at them smugly. "You brute types, so loud. If we were enemies, you would be dead."
Callum chuckled. "If we were enemies, you wouldn't speak to us."
"Mm, yes, that is true," Dorian said with a nod.
"Dicey, don't consort with the enemy," Varric chided.
"Dicey?" Dorian asked with a quirk of a delicate brow.
Callum shrugged. "Because I like to stab things, apparently. You don't even want to know what he calls you when you're not around."
Dorian's eyes lit up like a small fire, warm and full of mirth. "Oh? And what do you call me?" he asked, looking at Varric who stood scowling at them.
"Consorting with the enemy," Varric said, shaking his head.
"He calls you Sparkler," Callum said with a quiet snicker at the look which overtook Dorian's face.
"Sparkler," the mage repeated. "I do not sparkle."
"You glitter a little," Varric said, smirking.
"Are we finished speaking with the enemy?" Fenris inquired. Callum was honestly surprised the let the conversation linger this long.
"I suppose I could attack you," Dorian said, looking at Callum. "Or, since Hawke has forbade me from 'canoodling' with the enemy, perhaps I could be your hostage, yes?"
Callum smirked, shaking his head. "And why would you want to do that, Dori?"
"Dreadful thing, fighting," Dorian said. "I find I am not very good at 'pretend' fighting."
"I declare Dorian a prisoner of war," Callum said, looking at Varric. "Make note of it."
"Hear that, Tiny?" Varric asked, looking at the massive qunari with them, known as The Iron Bull.
Because apparently the 'The' was important. He liked it. Callum thought it was amusing. The two had gotten along swimmingly so far, as Hawke predicted. He and Bull had the same type of humor, it seemed, and fighting style… though Callum was more the 'stealth mode until you are behind the enemy' style while Bull was more the 'ram through the enemies until you are behind and in front of them' style. Either way – killers.
Mercenaries, too, in their own right.
"Taking Vints hostage," Bull mused. "I like it, though killing them would be best."
Callum scowled. "Hush, you, we are not murdering anyone."
"Who is this?" Dorian asked, frowning at the qunari, and Callum realized they had yet to be introduced.
"Dorian, meet The Iron Bull," Callum said. " 'The' is important."
"I see," Dorian said slowly.
"And The Iron Bull, this is Dorian Pavus," Callum said.
Bull nodded once in acknowledgement, still seemingly uneasy with working with – and speaking to – a 'Vint'. Emry used to call Dorian that, too. Thinking about Emry left a sour taste in Callum's mouth.
"I thought I said no canoodling with the enemy," Hawke groused as he came upon the scene, scowling at them.
"Ah, but, as you can see, there is no 'canoodling,'" Dorian said with a smirk. "We are merely discussing how I am now a prisoner of war."
Hawke's brow rose inquisitively. "Is that so?"
"Yes," Callum said with a nod. "It's all very strategic."
"How are the mages doing?" Fenris asked, looking at Hawke.
Hawke smiled. "They are doing well. The others?"
"Fine," Callum said with a nod.
"Nothing too antagonistic?"
"Other than Fenris stating if they tried anything out of line he would personally ram his fist into their chest? Nope, nothing," Callum said innocently.
The look Fenris shot him was priceless. Thanks for selling me out.
Callum grinned back. Deal with it.
xXx
The 'game' went well enough, in Dorian's opinion. Everyone was still alive and relatively unharmed at the end, though some had bruises from the staves, but nothing major. In the end he left the 'battlefield' with a smile, walking next to Callum who kept yawning, obviously exhausted from the day's events. He had to wield heavy staves, after all, while all Dorian had to do was fling a few simple spells. Child's play, really.
"Well," he said upon entering the cabin, "that was interesting."
Callum tossed him a tired smirk as he closed the door behind them, shivering. "It's freezing."
"Perhaps it is the ice spell you did not deflect," Dorian surmised.
Callum scowled at him. "Be thankful I did not use you as a shield."
Dorian shrugged, watching the rogue as he stalked toward the fireplace, quickly attempting to start a fire. Taking pity on him, Dorian flicked his wrist and a small fire grew amidst the logs in the fireplace, causing Callum to step back appreciatively, smiling at him.
"Thank you, Dori."
Dorian smirked despite himself. For some reason that nickname always left him smiling, and he wasn't entirely sure why. It was better than 'Sparkler', at any rate.
Why Sparkler? Because I use fire spells?
He honestly had no idea.
"Did Hawke speak to you?"
The question came out of nowhere, and the atmosphere changed subtly, the smile disappearing from the rogue's face, leaving Dorian frowning.
"No," he said slowly. "Why? Did he speak to you?"
"He's going into the Hinterlands tomorrow," Callum said. "To look for a Grey Warden by the name of Blackwall. He wants you to go with him."
"Oh," Dorian said, frown deepening. "Just me, then?"
"He has something else he wants me to do. Well… the invitation was for me, I guess."
"And what is this he wants you to do, exactly?"
"First Enchanter Vivienne wants to speak with me at a party she is having," Callum said, shrugging. "It's nothing dangerous; she just wants to speak with the Herald of Andraste. She might even join us."
"I see," Dorian said slowly, even as he internally sighed. "And is this what you want?"
"I don't know. I would like to do nothing but nap for the next week, but apparently that's out of the question."
The scowl on Callum's face was familiar and left Dorian smirking despite everything.
"Perhaps afterward, you can rest," he said. "Where is this Vivienne, exactly?"
"Near Val Royeaux," Callum said. "While I'm there, Hawke wants to take care of a few things in the Hinterlands."
"Finding Blackwall."
"Among other things."
"Such as?"
"I don't know; he's working on expanding the Inquisition's influence or something, so he's doing things for people through there. He wants you to go with him so they have two mages."
"He can take Solas."
"Fenris and Solas don't get along very well," Callum said, shaking his head.
"And, what? Fenris and I get along swimmingly?"
It wasn't that he and Fenris hated each other, but Dorian was certain Fenris would not help him if he was in need.
"He's getting… used to you," Callum assured him. "I wouldn't say he likes you or anything, but at least he doesn't want to snap your neck anymore. He doesn't trust Solas for some reason; I don't know why. To my knowledge the two of them have barely spoken to one another. Anyway – so Hawke wants two mages with them while they deal with mages and Templars in the Hinterlands."
"And what if they have rifts?"
Callum sighed, looking away. "Then they are to mark them on a map and I will go there to close them when I can. Right now it is too unsafe in the area, though, with the apostates and Templars."
"I thought the whole point of going to Redcliffe was to get the apostates on our side," Dorian said, confused. Why would they need to worry about the apostates, then?
"No – we got the rebel mages," Callum said. "They were just trying to protect themselves. The apostates, however, are killing whoever gets in their way and are very dangerous. Mixed with the rebel Templars… well, it isn't pretty."
Dorian sighed, running a hand across his face. Exhaustion weighed heavy through him, finally catching up to him from the day's events. "Very well," he said quietly. "I will accompany Hawke."
"Thank you," Callum said, smiling. "It will be you, Hawke, Fenris and Cassandra."
"Varric is not going?"
"He's looking into his contacts about the red lyrium we witnessed in the future," Callum said, shrugging. "So he's a little busy right now."
Dorian nodded. "I see. In that case, when do we leave?"
Not that I want to leave…
He was quite happy here, and they only just got back from Redcliffe. Leaving again, so soon, without Callum… did not seem right. But Hawke was in charge around here, really; he was the head of the Inquisition, and if he thought they needed Dorian's help, then perhaps it was best he did as Hawke said.
Callum was only traveling to Val Royeaux to meet with an enchanter; hopefully he would take precautions and back-up, and he would be fine. If this Vivienne did wind up joining the Inquisition, it would only help them.
The things I do for the Inquisition…
"You leave tomorrow afternoon," Callum said apologetically. "I'm sorry; I didn't even know about this until earlier today."
"It is fine," Dorian sighed, shaking his head. "I was just hoping to relax a little longer, that is all."
"I could help with that, if you want."
Dorian quirked a brow. "Oh? And how would you help, exactly?"
xXx
"Mm… yes… that is… yes…"
Dorian's sleepy voice filtered into Callum's ears and he smirked down at the limp mage, tender beneath his probing fingers.
"I am excellent at massages," Callum said.
"Mm… how…?"
Callum chuckled at Dorian's inability to form words at the moment. "I am a killer, remember? I know how to render you immobile without lifting my blade. I know all the muscles and tendons and how they connect. If we were enemies you would be dead right now."
"Good thing… I'm not… then…"
Callum smirked, carefully kneading his fingers into the tense muscles of Dorian's back, watching as the mage went even more limp under his touch, a breathy sigh escaping him.
It wasn't the first time Callum had seen Dorian shirtless, but it was the first time he was touching the warm, smooth skin, feeling for himself the finely tuned muscles he could only picture before. Dorian was well built for a mage.
And he is awesome because of it.
"You're too good at this," Dorian sighed contentedly.
"Yes, well, I'll have you know this is part of my plan."
"You… have a plan?"
"Yes – seducing you is my plan, and it is working, yes?"
Dorian chuckled tiredly beneath him. "Yes, amatus."
He still had no idea what that meant, but felt this warmth in his stomach every time he heard it coming from Dorian's soft lips. He wished he didn't have to let him go tomorrow, but they each had their own jobs to do for the time being. They would meet back up here soon.
"Be careful," he said quietly. "In the Hinterlands, I mean."
"I will," Dorian promised sleepily. Callum wondered if he would even remember this conversation in the morning. Judging by the breathy cadence of his voice, probably not, he mused.
"I will see you when you get back."
Dorian was putty under his hands, waiting to be formed.
Callum sighed, leaned forward and kissed lightly at the back of Dorian's neck, causing the mage to stir slightly, becoming slightly more aware.
"Mm… you be careful, as well," Dorian yawned.
"Mm, the horrors of Orlais," he sighed with a smirk. "However shall I deal?"
"You could always… give them… massages…"
Callum chuckled. "Sleep, Dorian; you're telling me to massage nobles."
Dorian was silent for a moment before he released his own breathy chuckle.
"Yes… I suppose it is time to sleep before I say something even more ridiculous." He stretched out a little more, sighing heavily. "Goodnight, amatus."
Callum smirked. "Goodnight, Dori."
A/N: And there's that chapter. Again, no real reason for it to exist, but yeah, there it is xD Thanks for reading and please review!
~Muffy the Dough Slayer~
