It is as horrible as she remembers. A pernicious, freezing damp that sinks deep into her bones; looming shadows ooze-ing across jagged, weeping rocks that haphazardly spear forth from the mist-mired ground. A low susurrus carries on the stagnant air - tickling at her ear like a clammy breath. If she turns to hunt for the source of the whisper it shifts, keeping ever at her back.
Despite the oppressive, revolting milieu however, she feels a strong sense of coming home.
I suppose, I have now spent more years in the Fade, than the waking world, Lani muses. Behind her left shoulder, Lea has emerged from the Eluvian, and Lani can hear her frantic breathing over the ambient, rattling echoes of the Fade.
"This is…" Lea gasps, eyes wide as she takes in the Fade. "It's wrong though. Why is it so wrong?" Her hand flies to her mouth, the colour draining from her radiant skin, turning it a dull, ashy pallor.
Lani remembers her first time quite clearly now, when she escaped the Conclave explosion. That terrible feeling of vertigo - as though ones consciousness was no longer quite nested within ones body. Here in this place of perpetual twilight, where sometimes down was up; where screams became muted and a soft whisper could suddenly hit you like a clarion. It was a constant assault on the senses and even the psyche.
Almost like a place caught between dreams and waking, she realises; not strictly following the rules of either realm.
Lea lurches away suddenly, scrabbling across the stone on her hands and knees, and retching over the side of the outcropping they've landed upon. She looks so wretched and undignified, that Lani can't help a cocky smirk, but she manages to straighten her features by the time the Elvhen sits back on her heels.
"I presume Solas was more stoic," she mutters, wiping a shaking hand across her mouth.
"If he felt ill, he hid it well. He seemed excited mostly." Lani imagines he must have felt as she does - like he was home.
"Mmph, of course he was." Lea draws her feet under her and attempts to rise. Forgetting herself, Lani steps forward to place a hand under her arm and help her up. At the contact, Lea flinches, "Oh…" she utters, studying Lani with intense curiosity, "Your aura is gone?"
Lani helps haul the Elvhen to her feet, "I guess I'm not leaking Fade, since we are in it now," she chuckles. "Do you feel alright? It's not too late to turn back."
Lea glances behind at the shimmering portal and then slowly takes in the vast, eerie landscape ahead of them. "I'm fine," she declares resolutely.
Lani has been waiting herself, for the tell-tale signs of fatigue. So far so good. She had hoped using the Eluvian would help mitigate any strain she might experience - she doesn't even know for certain if opening a rift over such a vast distance would exhaust her, or if it was merely breaching through time that had done it. In any case, she'd successfully made it into the Fade; whatever happened after the return trip was of little consequence, so long as she arrived safely at Skyhold.
Lani clenches her left hand and the Eluvian snaps closed behind her. "Can't have demons sneaking out that way." She waves her hand toward a point on the horizon, "I believe we should head in this direction." Lea keeps pace beside her as they set out, scurrying over the rough, uneven terrain.
"It's been almost a year since you defeated Erimond, how is it possible that Warden Stroud yet lives?" Lea asks at length, as she traverses a murky, bubbling river; hopping effortlessly from one foot to the other over a series of stepping stones. Upon reaching solid ground she turns and notes the peeved expression on Lani's face. "Would you prefer I maintained a pretence of ignorance?" she smirks.
"No, no," Lani waves away the notion and then levitates across the river. Lea cocks her head, clearly having the realisation that the constraints of the physical world don't necessarily apply here. "I'm curious as to just exactly how much you do know."
They continue together along the path. "There are… details, I cannot share with you," Lea admits. "I know this is not a good foundation for trust. If you can accept that however, and my promise that I will not lie to you, would that be a satisfactory beginning?" Lani quirks a sardonic eyebrow. "Mmm, a new beginning," Lea adds contritely.
Lani studies the willowy elf - she has tried to hold onto her resentment and anger at being lied to, but there was just something about Lea she found appealing. An inexplicable fondness that she could not account for, but which had made it difficult for Lani to keep lying to her in return.
"That would depend on what your definition of a lie is, I suppose," she sighs, thinking of Solas and Flemeth, with their half-truths and omissions.
"If I cannot tell you the truth, I will simply say so, rather than spinning some cover story. Unless we happen to be in the company of your Inquisition agents that is."
Lani looks askance at Lea, knowing that her response to this statement could give dangerous insight into Lani's relationship with her Council and friends. Is it not reckless - and wrong - to agree to such? Would she not be lying to her friends by proxy?
"I can accept that… for now," she states, feeling immediately guilty.
They travel in silence a ways, Lani attempting to suppress her feelings of resentment and self-reproach, lest she call a demon toward them with her strong emotions. Lea has also drawn into her own thoughts, as she quietly studies their surroundings.
"Are we going the right way?" she eventually prompts.
"Of course," Lani replies. "I know where I want to go, so we will inevitably reach that destination. You could not get lost here, unless that was your intention."
"Where are all the spirits?" Lea wonders.
Lani carefully picks her way down a slippery, pock-marked slope. "No doubt in dreams and memories that are far more interesting than the Raw Fade. Though, it is likely we shall find some soon. Curious and compassionate spirits, drawn to dreamers under Nightmare's thrall, wanting only to ease their pain and fear. What we should be wary of however, is the lesser demons that also lurk, snatching up whatever scraps of suffering fall loose from Nightmare's jaws." Lea listens to her, eyes crinkling with an arch amusement and Lani frowns, "What?"
Lea rubs her nose to hide a lop-sided grin and shrugs. "The things you have seen," she muses wistfully, deflecting Lani's query. "Though it remains quite unsettling, I am glad to be here."
"That makes one of us," Lani quips and Lea chuckles. "I am not eager to face Nightmare again."
"A shame there was not a rift closer by," Lea observes.
"Last time, we landed in Nightmare's realm with a lot of noise and fuss, I was hoping we might sneak in without it noticing us this time. It's not an exact art - not for me at least," Lani explains, "If I could open a rift with such pinpoint accuracy, I would have dropped us on top of Stroud."
Lea pulls up short, "I thought you were only able to open existing Veil tears? I presumed you were using the Eluvian to tap into one of those?"
Lani snaps her mouth closed, she needs to stop assuming that Lea knows everything. "As you know, Kieran previously opened the Eluvian to the Fade," she deflects.
"Yes but-"
"I simply used the Anchor to draw on enough power to replicate that feat," Lani concludes, dropping off a short ledge into the valley below. A soupy, green mist pools in the basin, rising to her waist. It shifts and whorls around her as she walks and Lani tries to suppress the slow ache that builds in her chest; her thoughts drifting to the Fade construction of Arlathan, rising from misty memory at Solas' command.
Of its own volition, her hand presses over the top of the iridescent pendant hidden beneath her armour. Flemeth had promised that she could help Lani heal; why then does it still hurt so much? Why does she continue to yearn for something that wasn't real and can never be?
Lea stalks up beside her once more and Lani glances at her side-long, fresh resentment burning in the pit of her stomach.
"You've closed the Eluvian however," Lea remarks, continuing to press the matter. Lani's mouth twists and Lea shrinks somewhat beneath her baleful glare. "I understand, you don't trust me with all of your secrets either, that's fair," she holds her hands up in a gesture of placation, letting the topic drop.
"You are quite trusting however," Lani's lip curls into a wry sneer.
Lea's clear green eyes narrow, "How so?"
"As you so astutely observed, the Eluvian is closed." Lani dips her left hand below the fog, letting the Anchor surge; lighting up the mist like a lightning cloud, "I have the only means of escaping the Fade…"
"You would not leave me here," Lea replies confidently, "You are going to all this effort to rescue Stroud, you would not leave me at the mercy of Nightmare in his stead."
"So certain are you?" Lani rasps coldly.
"Tch, and I thought you were cuddly," Lea retorts sardonically and Lani's bitterness ebbs in the face of her good humour.
"I'm sorry," Lani apologises, feeling a terrible pang of remorse. "I am being cruel, it is not fair of me to lash out at you."
"Instead of at Solas, you mean?" Lea shrewdly intuits. Lani ducks her head, aggravated that her lingering feelings for Solas are so apparent. She does not want Lea to see the naked anguish on her face. "What happened between the two of you?"
Lani is almost rendered speechless by the question, "You don't know?" With all the details Lea possesses, on this she has a blank? Does she genuinely not know what passed between herself and Solas, or is she simply probing for Lani's perspective on it? "How interesting," she peers at the Elvhen with an avid grin - pleased to know she holds some of Solas' secrets too.
Lea sighs, "I think it was a mistake to touch you," she confesses.
Lani laughs in earnest, "Undoubtedly."
As they clamber out of the misty valley, Lani's hackles raise, triggered by a familiar, oppressive sensation. There is an indefinable presence in the air; a suspended pressure - like an impending storm.
"We are close," she warns Lea. The Elvhen stands beside her, shoulders curling toward her ears; obviously also sensing the change in atmosphere. "We are in Nightmare's realm now, be on guard."
With a terse nod, Lea grasps her glaive, swinging it into a defensive hold. Lani had wondered if it was merely an affectation for her Sentinel guise, but she holds the weapon with great surety. In the next instant, etchings flare to life, scrolling along the shaft of the weapon in vibrant, blue light. Lani stares at them with fascination, she has never seen such a thing before. The blade crackles, shrouded in blue flame. When Lea arcs it through the air, the glaive hums with an intensity that Lani can feel buzzing in her teeth.
Lea's gaze is full of emotion as she studies her weapon. "It has been an age since you sang Lea'dira," she murmurs reverently.
"You did not name your weapon after yourself," Lani scoffs with disbelief.
Lea's eyes twinkle gleefully, "I did not. It was a gift from June."
"June the crafter? June the God… that June?" Lani makes a skeptical sound, "Now you are teasing me."
"So certain are you?" Lea smirks playfully.
Lani shakes her head. It was no more preposterous a notion than Solas being Fen'Harel, but she wonders why Lea would make such an admission. A gift to her specifically? Exactly how old is she? A cold drop of sweat trickles down her spine - How old is Solas? Whatever the case, now was not the time or place to investigate such matters.
Fighting the trepidation that threatens to paralyse her legs, Lani creeps forward into Nightmare's domain, but she barely makes it several steps before a booming, sinister laugh echoes around them.
"You have come, Inquisitor," Nightmare croons, "I did not think you would be so foolish."
"Gara," she hisses, "So much for going unnoticed."
"You have entered my realm, no fear can escape my attention here."
"I'm not afraid of you, you bloated parasite!" Lani shouts.
Nightmare laughs again. "You will never be as convincing a liar as Solas," its disembodied voice drips with mockery. "And you bring me a fresh feast, how kind."
Figures emerge from the shadows - Fearlings taking shape, and Lani summons her spirit blade in readiness. "We need to keep pressing forward," she directs and Lea gives her a firm nod. Activating her barrier, Lani dives forward into a wall of faceless, clanking Templars. They fall easily beneath her assault, not possessing the strength of true Templars - their attacks draining her spirit more than doing true physical harm.
The danger lies in their relentless and innumerable numbers - shifting forms striking her with fresh terror at every turn. She incinerates a handful of Templars and then Cassandra is before her, sword in hand - her other companions closing in all around her. Lani springs up a set of rough hewn steps, Lea cutting a swathe through a cluster of Fearlings on her flank - Lea'dira's song buzzing in Lani's bones.
Lani erects a wall of flames at the bottom of the stairs, cutting off their pursuers and turns to find a mockery of herself, twisted into a monstrous abomination. She does not hesitate, carrying forward to strike down these nightmare versions of herself. Glancing askance at Lea, the Elvhen is white-faced, her features set into a grimace of determination. Lani wonders what sort of dark fears could rattle the ancient elf.
Climbing another flight of stairs, there is a break in the throng of Fearlings and Lani catches a glimpse of the valley below.
"There!" Lani points toward the corpulent, pitted body of Nightmare, creeping over the landscape on its spiny legs. It fixes its many dead eyes upon them, gleaming fangs dripping with anticipation.
"Arlathan te'rosa enemah'sal, nuisal'nan iselenemah harellan," the beast croons.
"Provoke me at your own peril, vermin!" Lea snarls, her eyes crackling with the same blue light as her glaive, calling a storm down upon the Fearlings that obstruct their approach. "I do not need to hide my true nature." Lightning and hail pummel and scatter the remnants of their foes.
"Your nature?" Nightmare chuckles slyly, "You are lost, Sileahilan, your purpose corrupted."
Lea scowls, her hands throttling the shaft of her glaive, "You are one to talk of corruption, Saronsilath."
Nightmare roars in fury, a fresh wave of Fearlings emerging from the shadows below its looming bulk. The creatures scale the rocky precipice, to become a pack of snarling wolves prowling around the pair - their many eyes blazing bright red against the shadow of their fur.
"I think you struck a nerve," Lani remarks, ringing them in a wall of flame and catching a handful of shrieking Fearlings in the blaze.
"Even a demon has fears and weaknesses," Lea replies as they make swift work of the Fearlings within the circle; taking a moment to catch their breath as the flames slowly dissipate. "Did you see Stroud?"
Lani shakes her head, "It must be keeping him close, drawing us in."
"To catch a bigger prize," Lea grunts. Her glaive slices clean through a pair of wolves and then she lunges forward to deliver a fatal thrust to a third.
Lani starts, her lungs seizing, when a familiar, malformed figure rises from the valley. "You were a fool to send me here," Corypheus booms, towering over her. "Did you think it was a punishment?" His long, skeletal hands rake toward her and Lani scrambles back, her heart thundering in her chest.
Lea's glaive bursts through Corypheus' torso and he dissipates into a cloud of smoke and ash. Met with Lani's wide, frantic eyes, Lea places a concerned hand on her shoulder and Lani drags in a painful rasp of air - remembering at last to breathe.
"I hate Fearlings!" she growls, her skin prickling with barely contained rage. Lani leaps off the precipice into the valley below, slowing herself to a soft landing at the bottom. Lea is barely a moment behind her and they rush toward Nightmare.
A terrible stench assails her nose - the fetid smell of death and corruption - the scent of the Blight. The elves duck and weave, searching for any sign of Stroud. Nightmare harries them, bony legs scrabbling over the ground in a clacking staccato - like the clamour of a thousand angry crabs. The sharp tips of its feet thrust at them, smashing through delicate spires of rock in a hail of debris.
"Inquisitor!" Lea cries, her voice tinged with revulsion. Lani follows the line of her gaze, barely catching sight of Stroud, as Nightmare twists and turns - guarding its soft underbelly from their blades.
Lani ducks behind a large stone column, bile burning up the back of her throat. The tiny glimpse she'd caught showed Stroud submerged within Nightmare's body - the demon's flesh growing over him like a distended boil - only one of the Warden's arms and his face remaining free.
"What have you done?" Lani shudders, her skin crawling.
"I feed him and he feeds me," Nightmare rumbles, "Soon, you will join him."
Lea comes skidding in beside her, breathing hard, "Thoughts?"
"I'm going in for Stroud, can you get me a clear shot?"
Lea nods, "I've got your back."
Together they break cover, dashing over the treacherous terrain. Lani dodges one of Nightmare's legs and thrusts her hands up, launching flames toward its eyes. Nightmare ducks low, shrieking and thrashing as half its eyes are charred to ash. Lani hears the rapid patter of Lea's feet, as the Elvhen nimbly runs up a rocky spire that curves toward the demon. She launches into the air - a streak of blue and gold - Lea'dira arcing over her head to slash down toward Nightmare. With a mighty crunch, the glaive pierces its carapace and Nightmare rears back with a howl.
The moment Stroud comes into view, Lani springs forward. She is not entirely sure what will happen - if she can successfully complete a Fade step within the Fade - but she wills herself to instantly cross the distance to Stroud. Lani does not allow herself to be distracted by the terrifying feeling of her corporeal form rapidly dispersing and displacing - for in the blink of an eye she is beneath Nightmare, already calling her blade to her hand. She slashes along the margin of the boil, avoiding what she estimates to be Stroud's concealed body.
The Warden falls free in a shower of black ichor and Lani does her best to catch him, screwing her face up as the fluid washes over her. "Ooof!" Lani struggles to grapple his slick body - even in his emaciated state he is heavy and cumbersome. Creators, the smell, Lani gags - breathing through her mouth does little to help.
Nightmare roars in fury, scuttling backwards to lock its enraged gaze on Lani; a ragged, weeping gash splitting the left side of its arachnid face. Lea'dira whistles over Lani's head, as Nightmare's fangs descend upon them; hacking off one sharp fang at the root. Nightmare's leg slams into Lea, tossing her sideways into a pillar. Lani blasts more fire into Nightmare's face, as she desperately tries to heave Stroud to safety.
"Inquisitor?" Stroud croaks, struggling to open his bleary, sunken eyes. "It cannot be."
"We're not out of this yet, Warden," she warns, arms wrapped around his chest and body bowed under the weight of him as she staggers backwards.
Lea emerges from the rubble of the shattered pillar, dust shaking loose from her hair and blood trickling down her cheek. She calls forth more lightning, driving Nightmare back from Lani and Stroud. "We've got company," she warns, as Terrors and Wraiths clamber over the horizon - called by conflict.
"Take Stroud!" Lani insists. "I can't…" she nearly drops him, his wet body slipping from her grasp. "I need my hand free."
Lea rushes to her side, effortlessly slinging Stroud over her shoulder and still confidently wielding her glaive with her other hand. Lani snorts at the sight and calls her spirit blade once more. Nightmare rushes them again and Lani dashes between its piercing limbs, cutting one of its legs off.
"There is no escape!" Nightmare booms, "Even if you destroy my body, I will return - again and again, so long as Blight rampages." A Terror leaps toward Lea and she impales it on her glaive, driving it to the ground, but more demons are rapidly closing in. Lani dives clear of Nightmare and the demon cackles triumphantly as the Anchor flares in her hand.
"Yes…" Nightmare hisses, "Pierce the Veil! My minions will tear your people to shreds, clearing the way for my ascendancy!"
"Keep dreaming, viansal'in!" Lani retorts, her face pulling into a frenzied grimace.
"Sulahnean?" Lea calls out in alarm, as a rift begins to open beneath her and the Warden. "No!" She falls into the vortex with Stroud and Lani closes it behind them with a flick of her wrist.
Nightmare chuckles, low and cruel; unperturbed by this turn of events. "You are a fool, sacrificing yourself for Stroud. How may years does the Warden even have left before his Calling? He won't even have the strength to venture into the Deep Roads. He's going to waste away and become a mindless ghoul - his greatest fear. You've dragged him into a waking nightmare. You've utterly failed!"
"You talk too much," Lani tersely replies. A Wraith hisses over her right shoulder and she twists, dodging its sharp talons. Her blade slashes upward, cleaving the demon in half. More approach however - too many - herding her toward Nightmare.
"No-one is going to rescue you," Nightmare crows in triumph, "How can they? You are all alone now, little rabbit. Come into my embrace."
"But I'm not alone," Lani quietly realises. She calls upon the raw energy of the Fade and puts her faith in the all-mother. "Mar en'an'sal, Mythal." Putting aside her own ego, a calm falls over Lani and once again she can hear the whispers in the back of her mind - the very same she heard the night Mythal gifted her a piece of her soul. They speak in a language long dead, more ancient than Elvhen and although she does not comprehend the words, she understands the intent.
It comes to her then, as readily as calling fire to her fingertips, or opening a rift. The power was within her, all she had required was the inspiration - the knowledge that here especially, her form could be shaped as easily as her spirit.
Within the span of a single breath she is growing, her body thrumming with power. Hands and feet become talons, a long scaly tail and feathered wings sprouting from her back.
"Impossible!" Nightmare cries, as Lani's mouth morphs into a razor-sharp hooked beak. When she opens her golden eyes, she finds herself looming over Nightmare, her furry body limned in orange flame. She pounces on the cowering demon, claws tearing through its tough carapace as though it were butter. The demon tries to throw her off, crashing carelessly into pillars of stone in its lurching frenzy. Finally exhausted, Nightmare collapses beneath her; a twitching, oozing husk and Lani unleashes a deafening screech upon the lesser demons that still mill before her. The high, piercing peal echoes through the Fade, and the demons flee before her fury.
Lani digs at Nightmare, until its body finally disintegrates, releasing its corrupted spirit. Rising on her haunches, she catches the great, inky mass between her front talons and calls forth a flame so hot, it burns white and blue. Nightmare's essence twists and writhes, fighting her grasp, but her will is stronger, empowered by Mythal's relentless determination. Finally, the very last trace of the demon is gone, leaving nothing but hot air between her claws.
Lani springs up from the ground, flying to a high peak overlooking Nightmare's domain. She lands, settling comfortably on the summit and folding her wings against her back. No doubt lesser demons will now fall to fighting amongst themselves, til one rises up in an attempt to take Nightmare's mantle for itself. In the meantime though, the people of Thedas will sleep a little sounder.
She turns her sharp eyes upon the Black City and her giant form quivers, the feathers on her wings fluttering like leaves. It is so close, she could reach it; see for herself the truth of Corypheus' claims. Lani swiftly turns her back upon it, she does not want to know; nothing good has ever come from trying to reach that place.
With a thought she becomes an elf again and she rests a moment on her hands and knees. She feels so tiny and helpless all of a sudden and Lani thinks it is dangerous to take on such forms too often. One could easily forget that they were ever anything else - and the temptation of power is too great. Lani has already spent enough time in false guises - First to the Keeper; The Herald; The Inquisitor; Maera - masks and mantles she has carried, that suppressed her true self.
With Mythal's soul-shard firmly embedded in her and the Anchor on her hand, what Lani wants might remain an impossible dream - to finally, truly be herself. She rises wearily to her feet. If that is what she wants, the worst thing she could do right now is return to Skyhold, but duty and loyalty call her there. She sighs ruefully, scratching at her eyebrow - maybe she is naive, but she still has hope that she can be the Inquisitor and not lose sight of herself - now that Cole is not meddling with her person.
"Last chance," she warns herself with a little smirk, as she reaches forth with the Anchor. The rift swirls open, pushing aside the Veil and Lani can already feel the pleasant warmth of the waking world chasing the chill of the Fade from her body. She steels herself - preparing for the inevitable scolding she is going to receive from everyone and calmly steps into the rift.
Emerging in the lower courtyard near the stables, she startles the merchants with her arrival. Wary of demons that may have escaped from the rift, they slowly creep out from behind the cover of their stalls. Looking around, Lani hopes she managed to deposit Lea and Stroud someplace nearby.
What if I dropped them in a ravine? she imagines in a moment of panic. She races across the courtyard and bounds up the stairs to the training yard. Clusters of spectators have gathered, speculating in hushed tones as they glance toward the Great Hall. Lani frowns, racing up the next flight of stairs.
Near the top of the landing, the tang of ozone hits her, sharp on her tongue - either Lea has been casting, or is on the verge of it. Passing through the large doors, she spies a ring of Inquisition soldiers, arranged around Lea in a threatening posture. To her credit, Lea has not taken her glaive in hand, but rather holds her palms up in supplication. Her magic bristles however, ready to strike should she feel herself truly in danger.
"You've barely arrived at Skyhold and immediately the Inquisitor goes missing. You'll forgive me if I don't entirely buy your story," Cullen barks at the Elvhen.
"It's not a story," Lea replies wearily, "The Inquisitor dropped me here through a rift after all."
"Which conveniently, none of us witnessed," Cassandra remarks from Cullen's side.
"The masons did, why don't you ask them." Lea's eyes go wide when she finally spies Lani over Cassandra's shoulder. The tall Elvhen's body sags in relief, falling to her knees and brushing a hand down her face.
"Where is Stroud?" Lani asks.
Cullen spins around. "Herald!" he cries in shock.
"Stroud has been taken to the Infirmary, he was in bad shape," Cassandra informs her with a scowl. "What did you do? You said you would not be reckless!"
"What are you doing?" Lani returns angrily, waving her hand toward Lea, "Is this any way to treat an Ambassador?" The Elvhen has recovered her footing, relief warring with resentment on her fine features - clearly not happy that Lani expelled her from the Fade.
"I… uh we… that is we thought…" Cullen trails off awkwardly, scratching at the back of his neck; a red flush creeping up his face.
"They thought I tricked you into the Fade and then abandoned you there," Lea succinctly supplies. She has managed to recover her composure - studying Lani with renewed interest.
"It was a reasonable assumption to make," Cassandra retorts.
"It was?" Lani asks, "Why?" She wants to believe that they have a good excuse, grounded in rational thought - but given their silence and awkward postures, it seems unlikely.
"It seemed unlike you, to be so rash," Cassandra finally remarks.
"I didn't want to risk losing anyone else in the Fade," Lani informs her.
Cassandra grunts in exasperation, "And what if you had been lost? You can't keep doing this Lani!"
Lani's own temper flares - this is the first time she has ever chosen to enter the Fade. "Fortunately, I won't be your problem for much longer," she snaps. She had done good; she'd rescued Stroud and returned safely. They have asked her to risk life and limb countless times since the Conclave - why was this suddenly different? Because it hadn't been their call? Because it didn't meet their goals?
"That is unfair, Lani," Cassandra replies, genuinely hurt.
"So were you," she retorts, folding her arms and Cassandra blinks in surprise.
"You're right," the Seeker sheathes her blade. "You were in great pain at the time and did not intend to abandon us. I apologise for suggesting you did." Cassandra turns to Lea. "I am sorry for casting accusations at you without justification. You helped Lani and rescued Stroud, I am grateful."
Lea inclines her head gracefully in acknowledgement and turns expectantly toward Cullen.
"Ah yes, I suppose we were rather rash…" he equivocates. Cullen signals to the soldiers gathered around Lea, dismissing them. They put away their weapons at last and begin to file out of the Hall. "I am also sorry," he finally admits, his jaw tense. Lani does not expect Cullen will put his trust in Lea any time soon and she can accept that - she did come here under false pretences after all. She is glad they can admit their fault however.
Lea's green eyes catch hers, narrowing with pensive thought and Lani drops her gaze to the floor, growing increasingly uncomfortable under her silent scrutiny. She feels very tired all of a sudden and she twitches her arms uncomfortably - she is still covered in Nightmare's gore.
"Wait til Dorian and Varric hear about this," Cassandra drawls in warning.
Lani groans, pressing her hands together pleadingly, "Just don't tell them til after I've had a bath, please?"
TRANSLATIONS:
Arlathan te'rosa enemah'sal, nuisal'nan iselenemah harellan - Arlathan shall never rise again, fiery vengeance is all that awaits traitors.
Gara - Fuck, Dalish slang
Lea'dira - Brilliant strike
Mar en'an'sal, Mythal - Grant me your blessing, Mythal
Saronsilath - Empathy
Viansal'in - Cuntface