Lady Pentaghast tries to swallow down the large lump that she feels forming in her throat and tries to concentrate on the warm hand of Cullen that she feels wrapped tightly around hers. She feels him slip his fingers through hers again in an action that is too intimate for friends and that makes her stomach knot, she was going to be betraying both the men that loved her and was lying to the one that currently clung to her so tightly. Her protector, her best friend and her Knight in Shining Armour had no idea what was about to happen and no idea that he had agreed to enrage the Inquisitor to the point that he would try and kill her. The Seeker had to lie to The Commander, had to tell him that Daniel's plan just involved destroying the vial when the Inquisitor was at his most vulnerable. She had to convince him that Lord Trevelyan had to be blinded with rage so that they could end the curse that held him and shatter the glass. Little did Commander Rutherford know, the only way to lift the Blood Magic's influence on the Inquisitor was to use the power contained in the bottle. She was going to have to die at his hands to have him unleash the Life Bond from its confines of the vial around his throat.
The Seeker concentrates on the sound of his boots as he walks beside her, the steady pace of his soles hitting the stone giving her something to match her breath to so she remembers to release it. The man at her side loved her. Truly loved her and was willing to do anything for her, even if the end outcome was that Lord Trevelyan was returned to her and she would no longer be holding his hand like this and would be back with her true love. Cullen would sacrifice his feelings to help her, he just didn't realise what she was willing to sacrifice for the Inquisitor. Lady Pentaghast watches as he reaches his hand out to push the front door of the Trevelyan's home open, he places his hand high on the wood so she can step through it under his arm as he draws her through with the hand that he holds.
"I won't let him hurt you." The Commander mumbles when he notices the worried look in her eyes when she nods thanks to him for holding the door, she sees him glance back into the house sure that he has seen Lord Trevelyan not far behind them. Cassandra sees his eyes move back to hers again seeing another flash of doubt, she hoped she wouldn't have to see his face when their real plan was finally revealed to him. The Seeker didn't want to see his heartbreak before the world went dark.
"I know." Lady Pentaghast nods biting her bottom lip slightly, she feels The Commander drop her hand as he steps out into the yard of the Trevelyan estate looking around him to check that they are alone. "Cullen, I want you to know that whatever happens.." Cassandra begins watching him do a quick sweep around the area as if he is involved in a military operation and he is trying to secure the area.
"What do you mean, whatever happens?" Cullen asks with a frown walking over to the low stonewall running the edge of the steps, he peers over the edge of it before looking back to her when he is sure they are safe. Cassandra sighs when she sees him placing his hands on his hips waiting for answers she doesn't want to give him, she lets her own eyes trail around the grounds wondering where Daniel has concealed himself and whether he is watching them.
"I want you to know how much you mean to me." The Seeker whispers looking to The Commander again when she sees that he is distracted when he sees someone move in the hallway inside.
"Come here," Cullen whispers, motioning for her to move away from the house and to join him on the paved patio at the front of the house, pretending that he isn't trying to just get her away from the door and Lord Trevelyan that he is sure hides there. Cassandra hurries to him trying to listen for any telltale sign that the Inquisitor is watching them but can only hear the sound of talking and people laughing lightly coming from inside the house. "He's there. No more talking." The Commander whispers lowering his voice so only she can hear him, he brings his finger to his lips indicating she should keep quiet.
"Finally we are on our own." Lady Pentaghast replies raising her voice hoping that her words are reaching her lover. She feels herself cringe at her words when she looks at Cullen watching him smile and shake his head at her overacting.
"I said stop talking." The Commander whispers suddenly looking nervous when he moves to place his hands on her waist. "We still have time to change the plan." He adds drawing her closer to him until she can feel the warmth of him suddenly engulfing her. "This is a really bad idea." Cullen whispers when Cassandra watches his eyes drop to her mouth again and sees his Adam's apple bob with his nerves, he was acting like this was going to be more than just a way to make Lord Trevelyan jealous.
"Kiss me." The Seeker whispers meeting his eyes when he looks back to her, he loved her and she could see it all over his face that she was about to cross the line they had drawn and break his heart. "Just do it.." Cassandra feels her breath catch when he drags her closer still until she is flush against him, his large frame suddenly covering hers. He places his hands on her cheeks rubbing his thumbs against her skin as if it is all he has wanted to do his entire life when he gazes at her.
"What if this changes everything?" The Commander sighs as he closes his eyes for a moment. The Seeker feels him hesitate so places her hands on his shoulders before letting them slip down his sides. Cassandra notices how different his hands feel to Lord Trevelyan's, she can feel the rough callouses on his fingers that she knows only warriors like the pair of them would have.
"It can't change anything." Lady Pentaghast gives him a reassuring smile as lets her hands trail over his back feeling the hard muscle beneath his shirt; she had seen The Commander in various states of undress before during sparing, armour fittings and downtime and of course, she had noticed that he was in very fine physical shape, but she had never let her hands wander over him before like she was now. She felt guilty, she loved the Inquisitor and she was placing her hands on another man.
Cassandra moves her hands to rest at his waist when he wraps one arm around her body, the other still cupping her face to direct her eyes to his. The Seeker feels herself freeze under his touch knowing that she wasn't giving a very convincing performance of someone desperate to be touched and kissed by him.
"Relax.." Cullen smiles again looking just as nervous as her but for a completely different reason. She nods and tries to return his smile but he dips his head to press his lips against hers in the softest of kisses The Seeker is sure she has ever experienced.
He had kissed her before, the night that he had almost gotten the Inquisitor killed when he was suffering during a lyrium withdrawal, but this was different. This was tender and gentle and full of his love for her, even though he was kissing her because she had asked him to, she knew his heart was in it.
"That wasn't so bad was it?" The Commander whispers as he removes his lips from hers giving her a smirk.
"Not so bad." Lady Pentaghast smiles biting her lip slightly, the feeling of his soft mouth still on hers.
She feels him move both arms around her body when he leans down to capture her mouth with his with more force than he had previously kissed her with. She was sure the Commander could have stopped at their first kiss, sure that Lord Trevelyan would have been raging just at the gentle touch of his mouth on hers. The Seeker slides her arms around his neck when she feels him place his hands on her shoulder blades trying to have closer contact with her, she knew they would have Lord Trevelyan's full attention by now with their actions and she hoped that when this was over, he wouldn't remember what he had seen.
"I wish you'd picked me." Cassandra hears Cullen mumble against her lips when he moves his hand to her hair, tangling the strands between his fingers as if he is desperate to continue kissing her and have every part of him wrapped around her.
The Seeker closes her eyes wondering if they would ever be able to return to being friends again after she had allowed him to kiss her like this and had let him glimpse into how it would be if he could have her for himself instead of seeing her with Lord Trevelyan if she had ever chosen him instead of the Inquisitor. He was her closest friend and she couldn't stand to think that this was going to ruin everything they had worked hard to build between them.
Lady Pentaghast feels herself almost unbalance if it wasn't for his tight grip on her when he presses his now demanding mouth against hers, she bites back a cry of surprise against his lips when he traces the tip of his tongue along the line of her mouth. The Seeker steps onto her toes to meet him, returning his kiss with just as much enthusiasm that he is showing her, forgetting herself for a moment and getting lost in his lips. She notices the sweet aniseed taste of his tongue from the drink he'd been glugging to try and calm his nerves and the way that his hands are sliding over every part of her he can reach. She feels him place his hands on her face again clearly forgetting that the whole point of kissing her was not to satisfy his wants. Cassandra berates herself, what was she thinking letting herself get caught up in the Commander.
"I trusted you!" The Seeker hears Lord Trevelyan roar when he has seen enough of The Commander's roaming hands and mouth on her. "This is how you repay me?" The Inquisitor shouts when Lady Pentaghast feels Cullen quickly let go of her, glancing over his shoulder when he sees that he has finally decided to interrupt them and he looks furious.
Cassandra feels her lovers eyes move to her when The Commander turns to face Lord Trevelyan keeping his body firmly in front of her trying to protect her from him. She watches him step out of the doorway and into the yard to join them, the vial against his chest glowing brightly being fuelled by his rage. She sees his eyes narrow when he notices the flush on her face and the glassy trace of lust in Cullen's eyes and on his face.
"Inquisitor." The Commander begins reaching behind him to place a hand on Cassandra's leg trying to keep her behind his body and away from Lord Trevelyan. "This isn't what it looks like.." Cullen croaks seeing The Inquisitor's eyes leave Lady Pentaghast and glare angrily at him, his eyes dropping to his hand on his Seeker.
"Take your hands off of her, dog!" Lord Trevelyan spits as he steps one more pace closer to them. "I trusted you." He says again when she notices that his eyes are still set on The Commander and his anger is mainly directed at him and not her. The whole point of their plan and to have him see them together had been to have his rage focused on her and it wasn't working.
"I want his hands on me." The Seeker shouts feeling Cullen grip her thigh beneath his palm trying to tell her to keep her mouth shut when he sees a flash of fury behind the Inquisitor's eyes. She sees Lord Trevelyan snap his eyes to her face, frowning at her words when she hears Cullen shushing her. "I asked him to come outside with me so we could be together. I am the one that betrayed you, not Cullen. I wanted him and begged him to take me to his bed long before I even met you." Cassandra continues trying to ignore The Commander who quickly scoops her up in his arms trying to place his hand over her mouth.
"Stop" Cullen hisses as she wriggles away from his hand, pleading with her with his eyes. "Please, don't do this." He adds when she pulls herself free from his hold. "He is angry enough." Cassandra feels him take hold of her hand trying to stop her when she steps out from behind him.
"He needs to know the truth, Commander." The Seeker shakes her head and glances at him with an apology in her eyes, she pulls her hand away approaching Lord Trevelyan. "Does it upset that this has been going on under your nose and you didn't even notice?" Cassandra laughs when she sees the Inquisitor narrow his eyes at her, it was working and he was completely focused on her now, but she had never felt more terrible about the words coming from her mouth. "Does it upset you that I'm his? Does it hurt to know that we love each other? Does it make you angry to know how much he satisfies me more than you ever could?" Lady Pentaghast adds watching Lord Trevelyan huff at her words.
"It's not true, Inquisitor." Cassandra hears The Commander moving to her again, trying to get in between her and Lord Trevelyan before a flash of magic binds him in his place. "No!" Cullen cries struggling against the invisible restraints that hold him when he sees Lord Trevelyan stalking ever closer to Lady Pentaghast. "It was my fault, not hers. Don't hurt her. She loves you, not me." Lord Rutherford pleads thrashing against Daniel's magic trying to free himself. "Daniel let me go, he's going to hurt her!" Cullen growls continuing to struggle even though he knows he can't break free.
"He is twice the man you could ever be." Lady Pentaghast continues hearing another animalistic growl from the Inquisitor at her words. If she couldn't see that his hatred was now solely directed at her, she could see the vial pulsing angrily at his neck. "You are pathetic." Cassandra laughs again seeing that the more she pokes at him, the more he is losing control of his temper.
She watches him snort at her as he begins clenching his fists at his side, The Seeker falters suddenly realising that she was pushing him to breaking point and the thought of what he was going to do terrified her.
"Please don't hurt her." Cullen cries as Cassandra looks over to her protector seeing the pain on his face when he sees that she is in trouble, getting dangerously close to Lord Trevelyan and that Daniel has left him powerless to do anything about it.
"Quiet!" The Inquisitor snarls at The Commander having heard enough of his pleading. "I will deal with you later." He growls as Lady Pentaghast watches the Inquisitor reach for a concealed blade that he had been hiding him at his waist.
The Seeker hears Cullen start thrashing again when he sees that Lord Trevelyan is armed, she hears him shouting at the Inquisitor that it was his fault and to face him like a man and to leave her alone, but her eyes are too busy focusing on the highly polished metal of his knife.
"I told him to find you out on the road. I was the one that sent The Commander after you. I told him that if he killed you, we would finally get to be together. I told him that once you were dead he would be Inquisitor and it would be his bed I was sharing every night. I sent Cullen to kill you.." Lady Pentaghast feels her breath catch when he is suddenly close to her, his eyes fixed on hers filled with hate.
She glances down at the hand that he grips the knife tightly in before looking back into his face, no recognition or sign of her Inquisitor but the man in front of her wanted to punish her for her words.
"I wanted you dead!" Cassandra spits at him trying to ignore The Commander's begging behind them. "Murderer!" The Seeker tries to keep her voice even when she sees the lust for her blood behind his eyes.
"Ashton, please!" Cullen pleads again as he stops struggling against the magic, his body tired from the effort. "Remember who you are. I'm begging you, don't hurt her!" He shouts when Cassandra hears his invisible chains falling away and letting him free, she hears him stumble at the sudden lack of magic holding him up.
"This is the only way. She has to die." Lady Pentaghast hears Daniel sigh when she feels that he has appeared at the Commander's side behind her, she allows herself a quick look behind her seeing that although Daniel has removed the magic that was binding Cullen, he is stopping him from charging forward and rescuing her.
Cassandra looks into Cullen's face when he realises that they have all tricked him and that this was their plan all along. Daniel wasn't just going to destroy the vial when the Inquisitor was angry, they were trying to make him kill her to remove the magic from Lord Trevelyan.
"Cassandra, no." The Commander sobs as Daniel places both of his hands on his shoulders keeping him in place, The Seeker looks back to Lord Trevelyan when she feels him rest the sharp edge of the blade against her thigh.
"Keep them back, Daniel!" Cassandra chokes when she sees that Lord and Lady Trevelyan have appeared at the door after hearing the shouting out in the courtyard. She sets her eyes on their worried expressions when they see their son, the Inquisitor, with a knife in his hand that he slowly lifts to her throat. "Don't let them see." She sobs feeling him move the blade to the soft skin beneath her chin.
"Ashton." Lady Trevelyan sobs, not gaining any reaction from her son. Daniel raises his hand in their direction creating a solid magic barricade keeping them inside their home and away from the danger before turning his attention to keeping Cullen away. Cassandra hears The Commander shouting again, begging Daniel to do something and find another way to free the Inquisitor.
"You better kill me before I kill you." Lady Pentaghast sobs feeling the tears begin to fall when she looks at Lord Trevelyan and sees nothing but hatred for her. "Kill me." Cassandra whispers feeling him press the blade harder causing a small bead of blood to appear, she turns her head away not wanting to look at him when he takes her life.
She feels his hand falter wondering if there is any part of him left that the vial hasn't affected, any part of him left that is fighting against his urge to kill her.
"Kill me instead!" Cullen shouts forcing her to divert her eyes, her thoughts immediately going to her friend and her regret of hurting him like this. She wished she had been kinder to him and not involved him at all, she wished she had left him inside the dining room and that he wasn't going to have to watch her fall. "Take me instead, Inquisitor!" The Commander shouts as Cassandra sobs again when she looks into Lord Trevelyan's eyes, most of all she wished she could see her Inquisitors smile one more time, her real Inquisitor.
"I love you, Ashton." The Seeker chokes closing her eyes tight so she can't see anything but black.
Cassandra tries to block out the crying and screaming she can hear from the house, from the family that had taken her in as their own and that had shown her so much love. She screws her eyes even tighter when she hears The Commander sobbing behind them, his wails making her cry even harder when she is sure she can hear his heartbreaking.
"I love you." Lord Trevelyan mumbles forcing her to open her eyes at his words, her eyes desperately searching for anything in his face that would show her that he is still inside and is fighting against the blood magic. The Seeker lets out a shaky sob as she feels him lower the blade from her throat, convinced that he was remembering her and is realising what he is about to do.
"If I can't have you, then no one will." The Inquisitor hisses through gritted teeth when he leans his head close to hers, he suddenly draws his hand back and plunges the sharp end of his blade up, at an angle and through her body.
The Seeker feels her eyes widen in surprise when she realises that he has stabbed her, she feels her breath catch in her throat when the air is forced out of her because of the strength that he has placed behind the knife that he has entered beneath her ribs. Cassandra hears his mother scream and a loud cry of her name from her Commander but suddenly all she can hear is the pounding of the blood rushing between her ears as the pain engulfs her. The Seeker had been stabbed many times before, it came as part of the job, but this was a fatal blow and this was making her legs buckle beneath her.
"Ash.." The Seeker feels the words tumble from her mouth in the hopes that it will bring him back to her, she feels him wrap his arm around her body supporting her weight when her legs begin to give out. "Cullen." Cassandra sobs when she can hear him wailing again and struggling to get away from Daniel, she hears the anguish in his voice and knows that his emotions are real and that he has no idea what he is going to do without her.
The Seeker drops her hands to place over the Inquisitor's that still grip the handle of the blade that he has driven into her; she feels the warm spreading between her fingers that she knows is her blood. Lady Pentaghast groans when she feels him pull his hand back removing the knife, causing even more pain at the loss of its razor-sharp edge. Daniel had told her that it would hurt but he had promised her that they would be able to use the vial to save her, but when Cassandra glances to the Mage she sees that he is too busy trying to control Cullen to help her.
Lady Pentaghast cries out when she feels the Inquisitor let go of her, letting her drop to the floor at his feet. She squeezes her eyes closed trying to fight another cry of pain when she clutches the wound he has given her, feeling the blood soaking quickly through her clothes and onto her hands. She looks up at Lord Trevelyan who has moved on from any interest he had previously had in her and begins to walk away, she watches him wipe the blade on his breeches before returning it to its sheath at his hip.
"Cass!" Lady Pentaghast hears his voice before she even feels him running to her, Daniel finally letting The Commander go to her when they have watched Lord Trevelyan leave her on the ground. "It's okay." Cullen sobs making The Seeker smile lightly, he was such a good friend. She feels him drop to his knees at her side, scooping her up in his arms even when he sees the pain shoot through her at his touch. "You are going to be okay." The Commander whispers quickly as he draws her closer to him, beginning to rock her trying to comfort her.
Cassandra sighs remembering the moment she had seen the Inquisitor cradling the spy much like this in the courtyard of Skyhold, they all knew he was going to die and she was sure Cullen knew she was too.
"It isn't his fault." The Seeker sighs again when she feels The Commander place his hand over hers trying to stop the bleeding, she watches him look up to see that Lord Trevelyan hasn't even noticed what he has done and is trying to get back into the house. "Cullen, this isn't Ashton's fault. It's the vial, it's not his fault." She sobs when she sees him look down into her face, his grief and sadness spilling onto his cheeks.
She closes her eyes for a moment starting to feel like she was losing feeling in her body. The Seeker feels his hands on her cheek, his fingers stroking her skin and brushing her hair back as he cries.
"Cassandra, I love you." Cullen whispers as he leans forward to press his mouth against her forehead. "Please don't leave me." He adds letting Cassandra place her hand on his face trying to bring him some comfort.
This wasn't how she had ever imagined her death; she had once hoped that she would die a warrior's death, while on the battlefield fighting for a good cause. More recently she had hoped she would die as a very old lady in her sleep, after spending a very long and happy life at her Inquisitors side. Never did she imagine she would die at his hand and not even have him to hold her in her last moments. Cassandra lets her body relax in Cullen's arms when she feels her eyes close again, hearing his sobbing as he drags her limp body against his.
"Commander Rutherford, we need the vial," Daniel whispers as he slowly crouches down next to The Commander, his eyes watching the blonde man cling to Cassandra's body as if he is afraid she will be taken from his arms. "We have to destroy it." The Mage adds feeling guilty for interrupting the man's grief when he watches him smooth his hand over her hair and close her eyes with his fingertips. Daniel tries to divert his eyes when he watches The Commander press his mouth against the Seekers forehead.
"You made her do this." The Commander chokes as he gently lowers Lady Pentaghast to the ground, he removes his hand from her side when he knows that he has felt the last of her life drain from her body and that he isn't going to be able to stop her bleeding. Cullen takes hold of her hand, holding it tightly in his not wanting to let go of her and ignoring the dark red that stains both of their skin.
"There was no other way.." Daniel sighs looking at Cullen, he had no idea that the Commander's feelings for her were so strong and that he would have to watch him fall apart in front of him. "Cassandra wanted to save my brother." Daniel begins hearing The Commander scoff at his words. "She knew what she had to do, the sacrifice she had to make. But we need to finish this, we need to destroy that bottle and free him from its influence." Daniel adds placing his hand on Cullen's shoulder.
"I don't care about the vial." Cullen huffs as he leans over her again holding her hand in both of his, The Commander looks to the Inquisitor's family that look equally pained at what they have seen take place but are still trapped behind the barrier that Daniel has placed around the house. "All I cared about was the Inquisition and her.." The Commander adds lowering his head.
"Don't touch her!" The Inquisitor snarls when his attention has been drawn back to his brother and friend that are gathered around the Seekers body. Daniel and the Commander look up at Lord Trevelyan when they see him drop his eyes to Cassandra and then to the blood on his hands, the pair wondering if he is having a flash of recognition and seeing what he has done.
"You did this." The Commander snaps, fixing his stare on Lord Trevelyan as he approaches them, his grief being replaced by anger that he knew wouldn't change anything. "You killed her." He sobs leaning further over her body, still trying to protect her from the Inquisitor. "You never deserved her, she was too good for you and you killed her!" He growls trying to keep Lord Trevelyan back. Daniel climbs to his feet stepping out of the way knowing that he could be in for trouble and sensing some already present tension between them.
"Keep away from her.." Lord Trevelyan adds with a huff coming to a stopover Cullen and Cassandra. The Commander fumes when he doesn't even bother to look at The Seeker.
"She would have done anything for you and you took advantage of her." The Commander continues, his anger building when he sees Lord Trevelyan just shrug at his words.
Cullen climbs to his feet placing his hands on the Inquisitor's chest, he shoves him backwards and away from the Seeker. Cullen shakes his head slightly, he was angry at the man that had killed Cassandra, and he knew it wasn't his fault but it was making him feel better to have someone to blame.
"You continually lied to her and betrayed her trust. You have no idea how lucky you were to have her." Cullen huffs, his brow furrowing. "You hurt her and left her worrying about you because for some reason she actually loved you." The Commander sighs when he watches The Inquisitor kick at a stone with the tip of his boot. "I loved her!" Cullen growls trying to get his attention, angry that he won't meet his eyes and sad that he was not seeing any recognition or response from the friend he knows is being hidden by the anger.
"She didn't love you!" The Inquisitor suddenly bellows catching Cullen off guard, The Commander swallows hard seeing Lord Trevelyan fix his still angry eyes on him. "She was mine.." He spits shoving Cullen even harder in return.
"Now neither of us can have her.." The Commander chokes trying to keep his voice from wavering. "Now neither of us will ever get to hold her again and tell her that we love her." Cullen whispers when he glances to see that Daniel is trying to approach the Inquisitor, without him noticing. "But it is you that will have to live with the fact that you killed her and you killed her child!" The Commander shouts ignoring the cries that he hears from the Inquisitor's parents hearing that they were going to be grandparents again. He shoves Lord Trevelyan again trying to unbalance him.
"Get me the knife!" Daniel cries as he throws himself at Lord Trevelyan, using his shoulders to tackle him to the ground. The Commander watches The Inquisitor fall to the ground, taking the mage down with him. Daniel uses his weight to try and pin Lord Trevelyan to the floor as he begins struggling beneath him, yelling and screaming with rage that his brother has bested him. "The knife Cullen!" Daniel shouts again looking up at The Commander, who stands dumbstruck for a moment.
"Let go of me!" The Inquisitor roars trying to fight Daniel and throw him off of him, Cullen sees Daniel pinning his brother's shoulders down in an attempt to keep him from struggling. "I'll kill you." Lord Trevelyan spits as he thrashes beneath Daniel's hold.
"Take it!" Cullen shouts his reply as he quickly bends to take hold of the blade that is strapped to Lord Trevelyan's waist, The Commander falters when he sees there is still blood on the blade that matches that which is on his hands. He forces the knife towards Daniel when he sees the Mage struggling to hold onto Lord Trevelyan for much longer. "Can't you use magic on him?" Cullen asks as he moves to place his weight onto The Inquisitor's legs to stop him kicking at them both.
"No, I need him to not be bound." Daniel huffs with effort as they both fight against his flailing arms and legs, the Inquisitor tying to remove their hold on him. Daniel watches as the Inquisitor raises his marked hand above them, the green light and electric sparking from his palm as he threatens to open a fade rift. "He'll kill us all," Daniel shouts placing both his hands on his little brother's shoulders trying to slam them against the floor to distract him from his actions with his hand. "You must force it into his hand before he opens a rift." The Mage shouts, looking over his shoulder at Cullen who just nods slowly in response.
"No!" The Inquisitor cries when he hears Daniel's instruction, he tries to fight harder against them pulling his hand out of their reach as it bursts into life. The large green shards of light and energy being forced up into the sky, beginning to make it split in two. "You can't stop me." He pants wriggling again trying to get away from them.
"I'm sorry, Ashton." The Commander whispers as he moves away from holding his legs down and moves up his body, he grabs hold of the Inquisitor's wrist pinning it above his head as Daniel holds his shoulders in place, trying to avoid the green coming from his hand and his legs that are threatening to kick him. "This is for your own good my friend." Cullen huffs trying to fight his anger at Lord Trevelyan, he had to ignore his grief that he had killed Cassandra and focus on doing what he could to help him.
He had to believe in his heart that he was right that Lord Trevelyan had loved Lady Pentaghast just as much as she loved him, and if he was himself he would never have let anything happen to her or hurt her. No matter what this Inquisitor had done, somewhere in there was his friend and he had to do what he could to bring him back. Daniel turns his head away not wanting to watch when Cullen lifts the blade high above his head before driving it down hard into the palm of the Inquisitor. The Commander feels The Inquisitor's whole body shift when the pain shoots through him and he lets out a large sob and a scream of agony, a cry from deep in his chest that sounds like a wounded animal. He immediately stops fighting them when his only concern becomes his pain and the cut deep into his hand.
"I'll get the vial." Daniel chokes avoiding looking at The Inquisitor who lays back panting, the fight being taken out of him as soon as the knife had come into contact with his mark. "It's stopped the rift." Daniel adds glancing up at the sky and then to his brother that lies sobbing beneath him.
Daniel waits for The Commander to climb off of Lord Trevelyan before he does the same, neither of them needing to restrain him any further. Daniel looks down at Lord Trevelyan again watching him curl into a ball, drawing his hand protectively against his chest as the blood pools in his palm. Cullen backs away panting from the effort of trying to keep Lord Trevelyan still, he drops the knife to the floor realising what he has done to his friend.
"Is he okay?" The Commander asks watching The Inquisitor clutch his hand, he glances over to where his beloved Seeker's body lies wondering if she would have ever forgiven him if he let anything happen to Lord Trevelyan and not tried to lift the magic from him. "Daniel, is he back with us?" Cullen asks again realising that as much as he felt the man before him had taken away everything he loved; If Lord Trevelyan was back with them now he was going to have an even harder time living with the knowledge that he's killed the woman he loves.
"No.." Daniel sighs as he reaches to take hold of the knife again. "We have just disrupted his rage for a moment. Don't get too close to him." Daniel adds stepping carefully over his brother. "You did the right thing." The Mage glances at Cullen who just nods slowly before he kneels at the Inquisitor's side again, he places the blade beneath the leather that holds the vial at his neck. "There is no telling if this will work.." Daniel sighs as he tugs the blade towards him slicing the necklace letting the vial drop into his waiting hand.
"I'll kill you both." Lord Trevelyan croaks rolling onto his back again, he lets his hand fall to his side as he closes his eyes trying to keep the pain from his face. "Starting with you.." He adds kicking out in the general direction of his brother.
"Destroy the vial." Cullen huffs placing his hands on his hips as he shakes his head, the Inquisitor hadn't been returned to them and he was still throwing threats around even after he's been injured. "I'll do it." The Commander adds holding his hand out to the Mage, Cullen frowns when he sees Daniel just shake his head.
"I wish it was that simple," Daniel replies giving him a small smile. "It's a life bond, both of their blood is in there. If we just destroy the vial it will kill Lord Trevelyan just as he killed Cassandra." Daniel adds watching another wave of grief wash over the Commander at his words. "Solas gave them the gift of life, he knew that if anything happened to either one of them, they could use that vial to be returned to each other. Whoever's blood is in there has the power to bring the other person back from the dead. I don't believe that your Elf-friend was trying to cause harm to them, I don't think he knew what affect the vial would have on my brother and I don't believe he knew the kind of reaction his mark would have to this blood magic." Daniel sighs again as he lifts the vial to his face, it slides away from him again as it had done before.
"You mean there is a way we can get her back?" The Commander asks hurriedly, he approaches Daniel again grabbing hold of his shoulders. "Do you mean we can make her live again? Tell me what we have to do." He asks giving the Mage a shake in his excitement.
"It has to be him that brings her back. He's in no fit state to do that, he has to want her to live and that magic has removed any chance we have of him cooperating with us." Daniel huffs removing himself from under Cullen's hands. "I'm sorry, I hoped that removing the vial from him would be enough." Daniel adds watching the Commander's shoulders sink. "It has to be him, his blood is in there."
"Take my blood." The Commander suddenly shouts snatching the knife from Daniel's hand. "Put my blood with theirs, let me bring her back." Cullen adds trying to take the vial from him in his eagerness to follow through with his plan.
"I don't even know if that is possible.." Daniel shakes his head when he moves the vial out of Cullen's reach. "This magic is between two people, not three. The whole point is that it binds a pair together so that they can keep each other safe. Solas has seen something in their future that means he wants to give them a chance to live again. I've never heard of anyone adding a third person's blood into this kind of magic." Daniel sighs when he sees the Commander is standing firm on his decision. "It might not work at all, it might kill all three of you. Are you willing to risk yourself for a maybe?" The Mage asks setting his eyes on Cullen.
"I love her.." Cullen huffs making Daniel sigh again. "I can't just give up on them both. You said yourself he isn't himself and he isn't getting out of this unless we break the magic. If the only way to break it, is to use it then that is what we have to do. You have to mix my blood in there and make me part of it." The Commander nods as he pushes the knife back towards Daniel. "Say this did work. What would happen?" He asks glancing at the Inquisitor who still clutches his hand to his chest while laid out on the floor.
"If and this is a big if. If the bond was to be altered allowing your blood into it, you would be able to bring Cassandra back. What I can't tell you is what it will do to you, this isn't supposed to work like that and I don't know what will happen. It might destroy the vial but adding your blood might cause it to affect you like it has done my Brother. It might change the dynamic of this magic to such an extent that all three of you will be tied to each other.." Daniel takes the blade from Cullen following his eyes to Lord Trevelyan.
"So if one of us was to die in the future, we might all die?" The Commander asks watching him nod slowly. "But it might equally end this altogether and mean all of us would be free of the magic?" Cullen adds as he looks over to Lord Trevelyan's family that are stood the other side of the barrier watching them.
"I don't have any answers for you. This is a very dark magic Commander, there is nothing stronger than love, life and blood. But yes, you may all have your fates entwined and it might mean that one day any one of you might have to choose between who they save and who they leave to die." Daniel looks over at his parents seeing the hurt on their faces that he is there and the accusing eyes that he has done this to them and has caused her death.
"Well he will always choose to save her, over me.." Cullen mumbles looking back to Daniel.
"But how sure are you that she will always pick him over you?" Daniel asks with a small smile. "I can't stop you but I don't think this is a good idea. Cassandra may be returned to you now but it might mean she is taken again in the future." Daniel watches Cullen smile lightly.
"We have to try and save her." The Commander nods stepping closer to Daniel, he holds his arm out to him dropping his eyes to the knife. "Do it. I don't care what happens to me." Cullen adds looking into the Mage's face again. He didn't even know this man but he was willing to try anything if it meant he could bring The Seeker back, even if it meant risking his own life. The Commander watches Daniel nod slowly, there was no way he could talk Cullen out of this and he knew it.