MoonPriestess30: I'm so excited for the wolf part, you have no idea. I have got massive ideas for that bit and it's going to be so much fun to write!
TheReader994: Punctuation is my greatest downfall I will admit. I will definitely try harder and seeing as you asked for a little character interaction between the brothers, voila! I hope you like this chapter!
Chapter 20 – The harrowing.
As she walked down the stairs she heard some rather excitable talking and shouting. Curious as to what was going on she followed the commotion where she found Sebastian and Isabela under serious scrutiny from some of the children that had come in from the garden early. Mari was trying to regain control but the boys were far too excited, she had managed to shoo some into the garden but there were a couple more stubborn ones. 'You look just like her!' David said while practically bouncing. 'Are you from Katza's Uni? Are you a cosplayer? Is it for a play? If so, can I come see it? I had my character romance you, but my character was a woman, they always have better armour sets and I didn't like the look of the guy. I chose to be a mage so that meant Bethany died, and I didn't like that so I reset it and chose to be a warrior instead. Have you seen the scene between you and the girl Hawke? You like, jump on her and it's like you're playing cowboy-' David continues to prattle on at Isabela who looks like she's just come across a rather alarming bomb. Clearly she wasn't one for children of this age. Katza walked into the room and gently but firmly grabbed David by the arm and dragged him towards the back door, silently evicting him from the kitchen. His brother goes to follow but stops in his tracks as he runs into Fenris.
'Holy shit!' Jake whispered as he looked up at the tall elf. Fenris pauses not wanting to push back the child to get through, instead knelt down to his level.
'Language!' Mari and Katza snap.
'Sorry,' Jake mumbles in apology.
Fenris tries to hide his smile and turns his attention to the boy, 'I am Fenris,' he introduces himself. 'May I ask your name?' He inquires. Jake's mouth drops open, Katza covers her smile with her hand it was so sweet. She hadn't seen this side of Fenris, she didn't even know it existed. He seemed very gentle with a child like he was afraid he was going to scare the boy.
'You sound just like him!' He says in shock. Fenris nodded and stood back up then awkwardly patted him on the head as he gently steered him to one side so that he could enter the kitchen. Jake pauses for a moment before walking past everyone but he doesn't remove his eyes from the elf, he opens the door and half steps out. Fenris raises a brow as the child watches him with reverie. It was a little disconcerting. Jake looks around the door, 'you're my favourite,' he says simply before going outside and closing it behind him. Katza grinned and rolled her eyes, she was going to get some questions about this later.
Sebastian had been patiently waiting for the children to leave and while Isabela was speaking to Mari he moved over to Katza. 'Makatza,' he said softly, smiling brightly as she turned around. 'I am so thankful to the Maker that you are well,' the Prince's eyes light up. He embraces her gently and feels his heart jump as she returns his hug. 'I've missed you greatly, I prayed for you everyday,' he admits.
Katza moves away, 'I missed you too, Seb, thank you for your prayers,' she adds knowing that his faith was very important to him. 'What are you all doing here? I mean I know you said you wanted to take me back but I didn't even think it was possible,' she says leaning against the table. 'If I go back, I won't ever be able to return will I?' She looks over at her mother who was trying to hide the tears in her eyes. 'I don't want to have to choose,' Katza admits feeling her eyes begin to well up.
Isabela walked over to her and looped her arm through Makatza's. 'Please come back, we all miss you. All of us. I mean... it's not going to be the same without you and I'm going to miss all the talks we have and painting our nails and all the girly stuff we do,' she mumbles. Isabela found it hard to reveal her true emotions, she personally thought that Hawke would be a better person to do this but he had insisted. She leant her head against her friends, 'I know it'll be hard leaving your mother but she'll always be here,' Isabela says softly.
There was silence in the kitchen only the children outside could be heard. Mari sniffed and straightened up. 'Well, this isn't going to sort itself!' She said brusquely. Katza jumped at her bluntness, dislodging Isabela's head for a moment.
'Mama?' Makatza questioned as Mari disappeared into her office for a moment. She came out with a large army camping backpack, it looked like it was full to the brim of clothing and things.
'Here, I was going to suggest that you go travelling to get out of this funk that you've been in the last couple days. It seems like the perfect thing to get you going back to Kirkwall,' she says firmly.
'Mama, I haven't decided yet-'
'Yes, yes you have. Because I am kicking you out, you're to go and have your own life my darling,' she says dabbing at her eyes again. 'You don't have a lot of time and you can't stay here just for me,' she moved towards her daughter and hugged her tightly. 'We...We had our time together... I wouldn't change it for the world. You're my baby girl and I love you, and god I will miss you, but it's time you went on your own path and I can't follow,' Mari's words were tinged with tears as she tried so hard to keep them back. 'I will always be grateful to Silvanus for the gift that he gave me,' she said as she cupped Makatza's face. 'I love you, Makatza, my darling.'
Makatza felt her tears drop onto her mother's hand and she nodded. 'At least this time we get to say goodbye,' she said her voice wavering as she attempted to smile. 'I'll miss you, mama.' Mari hugged her daughter tightly before sending her upstairs to gather any more personal items that she might want to take with her. Makatza found it relatively easy to choose what she wanted to take with her. She thought she would have more difficulty but it was proving to be a doddle. There was a rather tearful goodbye at the door with Mari and only due to time restrictions did they leave quickly.
The older woman wiped her eyes and looked at the companions. 'You had better promise to keep my daughter safe. I know about the dangers of that world,' she says firmly with a underlying tone in her words. 'Any harm comes to her and I will find you,' she warned. Sebastian reassured the woman that her daughter would be perfectly safe, he was more than happy to vouch for her safety. Mari watched them until she couldn't see them any more and only then did she allow herself to sob.
-x-
'Makatza!' Merrill screamed in joy as the young woman appeared through the wavering portal. Fenris, Sebastian and Isabela soon followed and the blood mage was relieved of her duty and then able to jump on her friend. 'Ooooh, Lethallan I'm so glad you're here!' She squealed as Katza laughs holding her back.
'I missed you too, Merrill,' she smiles putting the elf down. 'Hey Varric,' she waved at the dwarf grins at her cheekily. Sebastian greeted Varric as well as he carried Katza's bag, he had refused to let the young woman carry it herself and despite the weight made it look easy. 'Hey And...ers...' She said before realising that he didn't quite look himself; he glowed and his eyes were bright.
'Don't mind him, he's not home at the moment,' Varric said simply as he shooed her away from the awkward looking mage. 'So, here you are, sort of,' he says as he looks her up and down.
'What do you mean sort of- oooh I'm kinda translucent,' Makatza said as she looked down at herself. 'Well that's gross,' she adds pulling a face. Isabela lifted Katza's hand and placed it on her chest.
'Oh I don't know, you could get up to some right kinky stuff with this-' the pirate smirked.
Makatza yanked her hand off her friend's bosom and stuck out her tongue. 'Ugh, Izzy! That's not worth speaking about,' she laughs shaking her head.
'Talk for yourself,' muttered Varric as he made a mental note. Sebastian was pink around the cheeks and even Fenris looked a little flushed. 'Right, seeing as the whole crew is here, why don't we start to head back?'
'Why am I see through?' Makatza asks Merrill as they all begin to walk, she breathed in relief as she felt her mana begin to beat again, the waves becoming a comfort. The elf smiles and explains that what she was in the fade at the moment was a spirit and that she'd be reunited with her body as soon as they return to Thedas. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to Makatza but it was a good enough of an explanation than any she might get. She took a moment to look around the Fade, it was the first time she had been here and so she curious as to what it was like. 'There's a lot of power here,' she said to Merrill.
'Well every mage is connected to the fade, plus there are demons here,' she says as she looks around. 'See, even Anders has a spirit inside him, that's Justice, he used to live in the fade,' Merrill speaks softly. It had gone quiet, even more so than when they first arrived. Makatza felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. 'I dinnae like this,' Merrill mutters.
There is a large humanoid shape crouched by the portal that they wished to go through. It grunted and growled in what Makatza took to be annoyance. It stood to face them it's face scanning over the party. The young woman felt fear pool in her stomach, it was larger than any man she had encountered, it had curved horns that twisted far back from it's skull. Large talons and claws that could easily tear them in two, and many eyes that darted back and forth between them. It opened it's mouth letting out a gutteral snarl. 'You,' came a clear voice in Makatza's mind. She jumped and stepped back.
'It's a damn pride demon!' Sebastian swore as they all readied themselves for combat. He looked back at Makatza, 'stay next to -! Katza!?' He said in worry as she had already begun to walk towards the arcane horror.
'Lethallan you can't!' Merrill cried and tried to pull her arm back, Varric and Isabela grabbed her around the waist and pulled her away from the young woman. Makatza's eyes had started to glow a soft yellow as she moved closer to the creature, her gait slow and filled with purpose.
Anders inhibited by Justice stepped forward. 'The demon is whispering to the mage. If you interrupt them the demon will simply take over her mind and soul,' he says in a monotone. Fenris swore under his breath as he realised that he didn't have any way of helping, there was a pang of worry in his heart; what if she accepted the demon's offer? He shared a look with Varric who had loaded Bianca with a shaft of arrows, clearly the dwarf was preparing for a fight.
Makatza reached the demon and stood in front of it as it spoke to her mind. 'Little one, such power,' it grunts as it reaches out with a claw and runs it under her jawline. It dove deeper into her subconscious, 'such a sad day, you've left your mother to join a family you barely know. The safety of home for an unknown death and the slim chance of love,' it laughs at her pitiful worries that could be easily fixed. 'So much... pride,' it drawls. 'Too prideful to ask for help,' it smirks. It leans closer as it grips her chin between forefinger and thumb, it's claws digging into her skin as it looked into her glowing eyes. 'How would you like the power to walk between worlds?' It asked.
The others couldn't hear what the demon said to Makatza but when she spoke they heard all too clearly. 'I could go between worlds?' She said softly. Merrill gasped and shook her head before burying her head into Isabela's shoulder. Fenris bared his teeth, of course she would accept, the young woman would want nothing more than to be able to see her mother when she wanted. Deep down he couldn't blame her.
'She won't accept,' Sebastian says simply as he lowers his bow.
Fenris scoffs a little. 'How can you be so sure?' He says in a low voice.
Sebastian looks over at Fenris and shrugs a shoulder. 'Because I believe in her, I believe she will make the right choice. Personally I feel there's very little pride in Katza for the demon to try to exploit, it'll fail,' the Prince says firmly. Fenris looked at his hand, annoyance crossing his features, he couldn't get rid of his doubt, which just proved his initial thoughts about Sebastian when it came to Makatza.
The young woman felt the power flow through her, it would be so easy. She would simply have to click her fingers and she could do what she wanted. She imagined surprising her mother and hugging her tightly, wiping away her tears and reassuring that she would never be far apart again. There was something wrong with the picture though, her mother's face wasn't filled with happiness and relief; it was terror, disappointment and shame. It was at that moment that Makatza realised in order to have this power she would have to give up her humanity. She couldn't accept the demon's offer. The spell broke and she jolted back from the beast and shook her head as her eyes stopped glowing. 'No... No.. I can't. I won't... I refuse!' She says firmly raising her voice with every word. The demon snarled and raised it's hand as it lands a blow across her face sending her flying to the side and crashing to the floor.
'Katza!' Isabela and Merril cried out moving towards the young woman as the demon began to summon lesser creatures for the fight ahead. The companions were thrust into a battle between arcane and demons. Makatza sat up coughing and wiping blood from her mouth as she looked around. The Pride demon was staring at her and she could feel the whispering in her mind. All she had to do was say yes and the fight would stop. Everyone would live. Was she so prideful she would let all her friends die? Makatza grunted as a flash of pain tore through her mind, forcing her to curl up. The demon was going to take her by force if needed.
Fenris hadn't been able to get to his sword in time and was having to defeat enemies with force alone. He had managed to grab one of Sebastian's arrows that he had found lodged in the eye socket of a fallen creature. He looked over to see Makatza in a ball on the floor, the Pride Demon advancing on her. With a curse he dodged the blow of a lesser demon and slid over the ground until he reached the young woman. 'Makatza!' He said firmly demanding that she look at him. She raised her head and he could see the tear streaks down her cheeks. A soft silver light poured from her eyes as she wrestled for her mind. Fenris stayed low and crouched next to her.
'It hurts,' she admits as she looks at him.
Fenris reached out his hand, 'Makatza,' he says softly as if he was trying to calm a wild mare, 'you are strong enough,' the elf says trying to convince her and washing away his own doubt. 'I know it-' He didn't get to finish his sentence as he was picked up by the Pride demon.
'Fenris!' Makatza screamed as she got up. 'Let him go!' She begged trying to shake the whispering from her mind. The horror began to crush him in it's hand making him cry out in anger and pain. Makatza scowled as she felt her rage flow through her. 'I said. Let him go!' She commanded. She could feel the power of the fade, this whole place was a conduit for somebody like her. She raised her hands and concentrated, her anger was an inferno inside her heart and so that's what she would do, she would unleash hell. Fenris was thrashing to be free despite the broken ribs he was sure that he had received. Distracted by Makatza's growing mana the demon loosens it's grip and he's able to work himself free and fall to the floor to be pulled aside by Varric and Isabela. The companions ran behind the young woman as the heat rose. Makatza screamed as streams of fire left her hands, evaporating everything in it's wake. Unnatural screaming echoed around them, Isabela was forced to close her eyes as the air became stinging hot. When she was able to see again there was nothing but smouldering piles of ash scattered around the area.
'Makatza?' Isabela said softly as she stepped closer. Katza turned around her arms limp by her side as she begun to sway.
'Is it gone?' She asked.
'Yes Petal,' Varric nodded as they looked around. Being surrounded by fire and feeling the suffocation of intense flames was something he didn't ever wish to repeat. 'I'm pretty sure they're gone.'
Fenris looked up, his arm draped over the dwarf's shoulders as he rested on his knees. He looked at Makatza and saw her knees twist as her hips swayed in the opposite direction. 'She is going to collapse!' He says urgently as he spots her eyes roll back in her head. Sebastian leapt forward and caught her, picking her up gently.
Merrill looks at Justice/Anders and says quietly. 'Did you feel her drain your mana?' She asked. Justice looked at the blood mage and nods. It seemed that Makatza simply siphoned energy from every mage connected to the fade at that moment. 'That's not good,' Merrill mumbled making a note to tell the Keeper. Isabela took Fenris' arm and helped him up and stumble towards the portal while Varric collected weapons. Sebastian walked through with Makatza first, then the inured and finally Merrill brought up the tail. She looked around at the devastation around her and gulped. This could mean trouble.