Chapter Twenty Nine

Only In My Dreams

I just wanted you to like me for me. - Alistair

The Graveyard

Sebastian felt cold.

Blue eyes blinked a few times but he managed to open them fully and his vision began to clear up. The archer planted his hands on the cold dirt and pushed his aching body up. Sebastian breathed harshly as the cold seeped across his skin and he shivered violently. The priest looked around when he could see properly again and he was greeted to the sight of a graveyard. His throat instantly dried and he scrambled to his feet to look around for Theron. He remembered talking to the elf when he ran out of the mansion.

There had been a flash of light and blistering heat then Sebastian felt his body being pulled and stretched. He needed to see if Theron was here...wherever here was. Sebastian staggered past the headstones but stopped when he saw a large stone door with an elaborate designed carved into the rock. Just looking at it chilled him to the bone and he tore his eyes way from the door.

The graveyard was filled with small stones but the names had been scratched out. He saw two gates that were open but the one to his left had fog seeping out from beyond the iron gate.

The priest stared at the imposing graveyard and wondered what could have made something like this. He thought about being in the Fade but the feel of this place was strange. Just looking at the graves felt wrong and their very presence just offended him. This was not a place of the Maker. There was just something so very wrong here and the sooner he left he better. He prayed to the Maker that Theron was alright.

Sebastian looked around for a weapon, for something he could use to defend himself with but there was nothing he could use. Gulping down his fear the priest went to move past the fog but stopped when he heard voices coming from the fog. Sebastian strained to make out the voices and he felt his heart jump when he heard Theron yelling. Relief filled his heart as he dashed through the gates towards the source of the voices.

He needed to find Theron and get away from this place. He stepped through the gates and onto a grassy hilltop overlooking a vast wasteland. The sky was blood red in colour and lightning forked across the terrible sky. Sebastian gulped heavily as he walked across the hill and stopped when he saw two figures just up ahead. The fog was thick here but it rested just above his ankles giving him a clear view of what was happening.

Sebastian felt his heart seize up when he saw Theron trying to back away from another man who was advancing towards the elf. Sebastian had never seen that look on Theron's face before. He looked terrified and then grief became visible on his features. Seeing him like this didn't make sense, it wasn't right. Theron didn't back away from any enemy he faced in battle. He had always been fearless and more than ready for a fight.

Sebastian gritted his teeth and ran across the hill to reach his friend. Whatever this place was he wasn't going to just leave the elf here. The archer stopped when he got close enough for Theron to finally see him. The single eye widened in horror as he stumbled away from the other man.

"Sebastian, get out of here!" he yelled at him.

"Now you're just being rude Theron." The other man laughed as he turned and glanced at the prince. "I've been dying to meet this man you're so fond of."

"Don't listen to him." Theron pleaded while the other man narrowed his eyes. The man was tall with chestnut brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing armour with a emblem of the Grey Wardens. Sebastian had seen pictures of it while living in Starkhaven.

"Who are you?" Sebastian clenched his fists.

"Theron won't give me a name. Maybe you can name me." The man smiled, a smile that chilled Sebastian even more than the fog ever could. "But you can call me Alistair. It will do for now."

"You're not Alistair." Theron shook his head, his red hair clinging to his face and neck. "Stop looking like him!"

"What's going on? Where are we?" Sebastian demanded.

"This place is Theron's soul. That is the simplest way I can explain it to you." the thing, Alistair, replied. "And you have been pulled in. He really wanted to here."

"I don't want him here." Theron ran past Alistair and grabbed Sebastian's arm. "We need to leave now!"

"Why don't you just give up Theron? Just stay here and rest like you truly want." Alistair crossed his arms. "We both know you've never felt right since your resurrection. You don't belong here anymore."

"No!" the elf was gripping his daggers now and holding them out. "This is my soul, my body! You're a blighted parasite!"

"Theron, what is going on?" Sebastian yelled in frustration.

"I...I..." Theron looked at the archer, his eye filled with nothing but pain. "Forgive me Sebastian...I'm so sorry."

"He doesn't know?" Alistair looked gleeful. "You've got little choice now. Then you better tell the devour priest before about your little issue."

"I never wanted to tell you." Theron whispered as he dropped his arms, defeated. "You were the only person to not look at me differently. You never judged me. I-I wanted to keep that feeling of peace."

"Theron, what are you saying?" Sebastian asked slowly. For some reason his stomach had tied itself into knots.

"I died Sebastian." Theron cried sharply. "I was killed fighting the blighted Mother in Ferelden. But Justice...he brought me back."

"Oh Maker," Sebastian took a step back and Theron could feel his heart breaking. This wasn't supposed to happen. He didn't know what he would do without Sebastian's friendship.

"I came back but something was with me." the elf stared at the shocked prince. "That thing took up residence in my soul. When Justice brought me back I was possessed by him."

"Not exactly." Alistair sighed. He walked towards the desolate looking elf, his long fingers gently pushing up his chin so Theron would look at him. "You're so stubborn. Even after so long you're still fighting me."

"Stay back demon!" Sebastian backed away from them but he tripped ion a stone and fell to the ground.

"I am no demon." Alistair snarled in rage. "You'd best remember that boy. Demons are the embodiment of mortal weakness. Rage, desire, sloth, pride, all these things create demons." Alistair walked up to Sebastian who was now frozen in place, his blue eyes wide. "I am something much, much older."

"Leave him alone!" Theron ran forward and shoved Alistair to the ground.

"Getting feisty?" Alistair laughed as Theron punched him across the jaw. Alistair grabbed him by the throat and easily tossed him off.

"Gah!" Theron cried when he landed hard on the ground.

"Don't even try to fight me." Alistair growled. He walked towards the elf who was trying to get up. "You just don't have the strength anymore."

"But I do!"

Alistair whirled round and was blasted back across the hill when blue light slammed into his body. He was thrown across the hill and landed hard against a thick tree. Theron scrambled to his feet and stared in shock at Hawke...but it wasn't Hawke anymore. Blue light made his eyes glow and his voice resonated with ancient power.

Justice stared down at Theron, his face taking on a pained expression even though he didn't say a word. Sebastian was struck speechless when justice arrived and Alistair was getting back on his feet, rage evident in his face.

"Justice!" he snarled, his eyes now blazing red with fury.

"Leave them alone." Justice narrowed his own eyes as he gripped the staff Hawke always used in battle.

"You know better than anyone that I can't." Alistair grinned maliciously. "This is my playground now."

"This is Theron's soul. You're nothing but an intruder." Justice stood in front of the elf in a show of protection.

"And whose fault is that?" Alistair laughed. "You brought him back Justice. You gave me the window I've been waiting for. Everything that happens is because of you."

"I know that." Justice answered, his eyes downcast. "And I will do whatever it takes to fix my mistake."

"Oh but you're not entirely to blame." Alistair walked slowly towards the spirit. "The mage Anders played quite the part in my return."

"What are you talking about?" Theron interjected. Granted he barely talked to Anders most days but the mage seemed like a good man and Theron had never met him before he came to Kirkwall.

"You know don't you Justice?" Alistair clenched his fists as red energy gathered around him. "It doesn't matter anymore. You're going to die here."

Sebastian had watched the exchange, his eyes going back and forth between Alistair and Hawke or the thing living inside Hawke now. The priest was trapped in a whirlwind of emotions, his thoughts were jumbled together and all he wanted to know was why this was happening.

Theron's face betrayed what he was feeling. His anger and grief was so visible and Sebastian could only swallow when the elf turned that look upon the red eyed menace. Sebastian wanted answers but Justice was right about one thing, he needed to get out of this place along with Theron. The archer took a breath then ran towards the elf and grasped his arm causing that wine eye to look at him in shock.

"This is your soul right?" Sebastian demanded and Theron only nodded in response. "Then you control what happens here. You can beat him!"

"I-I can't!" Theron cried.

"You stopped the Blight! You destroyed the archdemon and lived to tell the story. This is nothing!" Sebastian yelled at him.

"You're wasting your breath." Alistair blasted the energy at Justice who in turn sent his blue light flying towards his opponent. They were both knocked off their feet by the attacks.

"Theron, we have to get out of here." Sebastian pleaded with him.

"There's another gate." the gasped out as he doubled over in pain.

"I can't keep fighting him. The more damage I do the weaker Theron becomes." Justice explained.

"Gah!" Theron cried out as he clutched his stomach. "The gate...it's in the graveyard!"

"Run!" Justice threw up his hand and a blue barrier appeared around the trio. "Get to the gate now!"

Sebastian took hold of Theron's arm and they ran across the hilltop while Justice kept Alistair busy. The world around them began to shake as lightning forked across the sky violently. Theron fell to his knees in pain causing Sebastian to place an arm around his shoulders and pull the elf out of there. Justice used his power to send a wave that slammed into Alistair and stunned him giving the group enough time to enter the graveyard again.

"There!" Justice pointed to the gate on the other side of the yard.

"The moment we get out of here I want answer." Sebastian gritted his teeth. First Theron pulled him into this place and then Justice arrived to save them. Sebastian was running purely on instinct. But he was going to get his answers once they got out of this Maker forsaken place.

"I promise I'll explain everything." Justice answered. His blue eyes glowed brightly as he ran towards the open gate while the world continued to shake around them. "You deserve to know the truth."

Sebastian managed to pull Theron through the gates but stopped when they were blinded by a harsh light. The priest tried to keep a grip on Theron but the elf was pulled away from him. Sebastian prayed that the elf was safe. Despite everything that had happened he didn't want Theron to get hurt.

He never wanted Theron to feel bad or alone. He wanted to protect the elf. Theron had been through so much in his life. The scars on his face proved that and he told Sebastian of his life before he became a Warden. Why didn't Theron tell him about this? Sebastian wanted to know the reasons.

His blue eyes stung against the harsh light and then he felt body body hit something hard and darkness consumed him.


Not a long chapter this one but Sebastian will want answers now and Theron has little choice.

Updates will be a few days between I think. Between getting my essays done for this semester and working on the radio station for the college I attend I'll be busy until the end of the month at least.

But coming up next Sebastian and Theron have that long overdue discussion while his merging with Justice begins to affect Hawke in a way Anders never saw coming. Enough of a teaser?

All my love to you fantastic readers and reviewers.