Calmly, Dorian and I tend to the injured man, Varania talking to him to distract him from the pain as Dorian and I attempt to help the man, considering Solas isn't in the great of mind to help as I notice his stiff body language and scowling features as he speaks to Cassandra.
"Solas, I am sorry about your... friend." Pained, Cassandra begins.
"Thank you." Solas thanks her.
"I knew demons and spirits were similar, but I did not know one could become the other so easily." Cassandra confesses.
"Not similar, Seeker. The same. The Chantry sees black and white, but nature is, and always has been, grey. A spirit is a purpose. A demon is that purpose perverted." Solas corrects.
"That might be true with a spirit of compassion, but what is the purpose of a hunger demon?" Cassandra questions him.
"Survival. Satiation. The pleasure of taste, of feeding. True hunger, however, is much darker. Think of all those who starve in this world. Mankind has itself to blame for the existence of demons." Solas answers.
"Solas, you heard of the spirit they encountered in the fade. Could it have been Justinia?" Hopeful, Cassandra brings up.
"If you are looking for certainty, Cassandra, I cannot help you." Solas tells her.
"She helped the Inquisitor-as Justinia would have." Cassandra reasons.
"Then spirit or no, her actions were worthy of respect." Solas responds.
"I suppose that is all we will ever know," Sadly, she sighs making me sigh at the still grieving figure, while Fen helped Leliana over it, I'm still trying to get Cassandra over her loss.
"How are you feeling, Cassandra, after the revelations about your Seekers?" Solas quiries curious.
"How do you expect I might feel? Most of my life was dedicated to the Order. I did so much I believed was good in their name." Cassandra exclaims.
"Now that you know them corrupt, you must determine which parts of yourself to discard and which to keep." Solas reasons.
"I assume you have advice?" Cassandra catches on.
"I would hardly presume. In our travels, I have been impressed by your honesty and your faith. It is a difficult path, Seeker, but if anyone can walk it honourably, you can." Solas assures her.
"I noticed, Solas that you did not seem surprised by what I uncovered about the Seekers." Cassandra points out.
"No? They are an organization." Solas shrugs making me frown, just cause the inquisition is an order doesn't mean it will be the same.
"You think organizations to be inherently corrupt?" Cassandra frowns.
"Given enough time, yes. To survive, an organization must devote resources to maintaining itself. Those resources inevitably accumulate until the original purpose, however pure, is all but lost." Solas explains.
"You make the Seekers sound like a mindless beast." Cassandra scowls.
"A beast, no matter how mindless, will die and give way to a successor. An organization is eternal. There are always corrupt men who hoard power for their own gain and there are always honourable men who hoard power to fight them," Solas elaborates.
"Solas, I assume you know it's possible to reverse the Rite of Tranquillity." Cassandra ponders hopeful.
"I did hear of what you learned, yes." Solas exclaims.
"I know of only one mage thus cured, and... he had no control of his emotions. He was distraught. Do you think that would have passed? If the Tranquil are cured only to end up thus..." Cassandra questions worriedly.
"They would be a danger to themselves and others, yes. It is difficult to say. In your Vigil, you were Tranquil for but a moment. They have suffered much longer. Such control is like a muscle, atrophying without use. Given time it might be restored, but until then..." Solas answers.
"That may be a risk we are obligated to undertake." Cassandra defends.
"They will be grateful... even the ones who do not survive. You seem troubled, Seeker. Still plagued by thoughts of your order?" Solas enquires.
"I... am reminded of what I was told following my vigil. They said my abilities were a gift from the Maker, a reward for my faith and dedication. But it was a trick, wasn't it? A ritual no different that the Harrowing, simply magic..." Cassandra confesses lost.
"Do you know how rare spirits of faith are? How difficult it is to draw them to this world? You should be proud, having accomplished something so remarkable, not ashamed it was not what you thought," Solas speaks.
"Thank you, Solas. That... does make me feel better." Cassandra bows her head grateful.
"Your faith does you credit, Cassandra. I hope your Maker is worthy." Solas tells her.
"You don't think much of the Grey Wardens, Solas." Cassandra points out.
"They are fools, a fact only amplified by Corypheus' meddling." Sharply, Solas snipes.
"A harsh assessment–but after Adamant, perhaps not undeserved." Cassandra notes only then for our ears to perk up at the sound of grumbling from the groaning man we focus back on tending to it.
"My wife she…." Panting, the man heaves.
"We will find her don't worry." I assure his panting form.
"Veronica she has her, she has my wife, I know…I know where she is…" Panting, he weeps.
"Can you guide us there?" Gently, Dorian questions him.
"Y-Yes please save her and my child." Desperate, he agrees.
"Of course," Determined, we nod and follow after the staggering male.
Together, we continue on our way until noting a female mage slamming her staff on the ground enraged, glaring up at the familiar figure before her confidently sitting on one of the huge crates of lyrium, one leg over the other smirking cheekily at the fuming mage, staff in hand.
"That's Veronica," Dorian recognises bitterly as softly, he places the shaking elf who had guided us here down, to hide just in case, ready for the battle to come.
"No Hope!" Suddenly, the man, Hope's husband who we tended to reaches out only to be shushed by Dorian and Varania, gently setting the distraught man down to hide, to keep him safe, however at the price of his safety, it comes at the cost of blowing our cover.
Fen POV:
"Hello little fox…" Startled, I turn to the voice, my eyes narrowed as I take a leap back from the familiar knight, above us on a higher platform, holding the storage crates of lyrium no doubt about it.
"Seems you found my guests…" Chuckling, he smirks looking over at those numbly working, my eyes widening as one of them raises a jagged rock from the floor, slitting their throat messily leaving them to heave, choking on their blood as they gurgle, crimson spewing out as I detect the heavy stench of iron as he goes limp choking on his blood as some guards simply kick the body, waiting for a response to find none, leaving the body to rot.
"I don't think guest is the correct term for them." Snidely, I remark scowling at the limp forms hung, chained, beaten black and blue, shaking, screaming, nails embedded into his skull red pooling form his dark streams of raw red.
"Perhaps but still you've been quite the thorn in my side little fox." He sneers at me.
"Who are you?" Frowning I question him.
"Still don't recognised the man you ruined…" Snarling, he growls.
"Nope." I shrug.
"How about I show you?" Snarling, he roars, raising his hands to remove his helmet.
"As much as I'd love that got a job to do." Curtly, I cut him off.
"Yes I can see that. Tell you what let's take this somewhere else, more personal…" Smirking, he offers.
"Far from them?" Sceptical, I arch a brow.
"Knights honour." He smirks.
"Fine then…" Warily, I follow after the fool above us
"Please Silver wraith don't go he'll kill you!"
"I'd like to see him try," Assuredly, I smile at the trouble children assuring them as I head to the top of the cave, my widen to find ourselves on the narrowed structure beam bit of the cave done by the vints, my eyes narrow as I look down at the distant figures below fighting.
"Time for some fun!" Quickly, I cartwheel back drawing my blades as I narrowly miss the wave of flames from his lyrium blade, my eyes widen to find such a blade.
"Where did you…?"
"A gift from my master, master Denarius…" Proudly, he bows as my eyes dilate, flinching, feeling my blood turn ice cold at the name drop.
"You…." Quickly, he lunges at me as I double back, seeing him prepare another wave of blue at me which I quickly dodge, lunging forward startling him. I smirk striking at him, a fury of swipes, making him go on the defensive or try but due to the width of the blade, he struggles as I manage numerous quick strikes at him. Smirking, I fall into the rhythm, strikes a flurry of blows only for my eyes to widen when he rudely interrupts and whacks the hilt of his blade at me, making me stagger back. Hissing, I cradle my cheek, tasting a burst of iron in my cheek feeling the stinging pain in my cheek making me hiss from and recoil from it. Scowling, I glare at him, giving him the stink eye as he delivers a serious of blows at me. Quickly I twirl back. Briefly, my marks glow as my fingertips briefly graze the blade, feeling the marks pulsating activating upon my own as I flip over him avoiding his strikes.
"There she is." Hissing, I hear a voice below making me dart down, taking a quick breathe, regaining my breathe as I look down from the hiss to see a familiar mage to my surprise alive and seething, hands up in the air commanding the pride demon.
"You murderer!" She screams and fires out a projectile of flames at me which I rapidly miss.
"No she's mine!" Roaring, the knight guy seethes.
"Ladies, knight, there's enough of me to go around." Mockingly, I sneer as I narrowly miss it but the beam support we stand on collapses. Urgently, I snatch hold of the wires holding the beam platform. I spin myself on the wire and the fool lunges at me only to meet my feet to his gut, winding him. He hits the hard floor beneath us where I dive down, ready to end him, only for him to roll over. Infuriated, I seethe as I deliver another flurry of blows, him too still in shock from recovering from the landing to register and block. I continue, seeing him clearly struggle, my ears ringing hearing only the screech and echo of our metal blades clashing until, suddenly, the sturdy fist of a pride demon makes contact with my form, punching and pining me into the hard steel wall making me release a groan as I note the indent in the wall from my body making contact with the wall.
"Fen!" I hear the troubled voices as I crash down onto the floor, cradling my gushing crimson head, frowning at the heavy liquid of red, tasting the heavy taste of iron as I shakily stand staggering.
"Vhenan!" Swiftly, I ignore the anxious voice as I raise my head, smirking at the groaning knight as quickly, I lunge forward blade in hand. I release a feral screech, my blood boiling, my marks glowing as I strike my blade to the floor, releasing a wave of lyrium at the shocked knight, causing a huge explosion from his now shattered blade, shards of the sword impaling the ground below him as he is tossed aside like a ragged doll, unconscious, ending the battle in my favour. Panting, I turn, feeling my blood boiling and my marks glowing as I turn coughing out splatters of crimson unnerving some while others adjusted, simply glance away. I turn to the Vint, seeing Veronica's body language hunched over, slumping, tired as the demon takes over no longer controlled, it goes crazy as I delve back into the sheets of the shadows.
Carefully, my ears hear the sound of shouting, battling and battle cries. I hear the roar of copious warriors laying on the ground dead. My eyes expand to see a familiar beast roaring, a pride demon. Scowling, I peer over the corner, hidden under the veil of shadows as I scowl at the familiar mage in action, Veronica. How is she alive!? My eyes narrow at the abomination but sigh, must have been a fake or body double, but I….Quickly, I sneak out from the veil of shadows, my blade meeting Veronica's soft fleshly throat as she releases a gasp of shock, stopping the pride demons movements as she turns to glare.
"You know you looked better drowning." I remark.
"You killed my twin sister! You bitch!" She seethes.
"You lot are all the same hungry. So you take and you take until there's nothing left leaving innocents to starve!" Coldly, I glare.
"Fen you're okay!" Relieved, Eve smiles at me only to falter form my harsh glare and arms crossed.
"What the bloody hell are you lot doing here!? Now tell me who you are!" I demand tired, brushing them aside to turn to the knight.
"An eye for an eye!"
Eve POV:
"Enough! If you think I'm letting my sister's killer go then you go can think again!" Veronica screeches at the smirking familiar figure before us.
"Fennic!" I call out to her making her blink surprised to see us.
"Who what? Inquisitor!" Horrified, Veronica gasps,
"Ooh lookie, seems you got a playdate. I understand perhaps we can reschedule another time," Cheekily, Fennic smirks as we watch the elf disappear much to both our and Veronica's dismay well more like her rage, leaving us alone with her.
"What are you doing!?" I demand when scowling she turns to the shaking woman in the corner shielding her stomach fearful. She releases a feral scream of agony as she slams her staff down on the floor beneath her, getting out her blade to cut her hand as the woman releases another cry of agony.
"Simply speeding up the process," Smirking, she sneers.
"You can't the baby would-" Solas begins.
"The baby would be alive for us to train for our empire." Sharply, she cuts him off.
"Don't touch her!" Screaming, the man shouts but it falls to deaf ears.
"So you're the inquisitor and master Pavus." Veronica spits out bitterly.
"Veronica how could you do this!?" Dorian demands disgust laced in his tone.
"How could I what? Want to save our people, I've lost too much thanks to those filthy Ox men, and now we can reclaim our homeland!" Proudly, Veronica declares ignoring the screams form below.
"You're killing innocent people!" Solas scowls.
"Innocent? They are knife ears they are below us!" She scoffs.
"I won't let you do this." Dorian refuses.
"I'd like to see you try." Cockily, she smirks.
Loudly, we hear the sudden clang of metal making us all turn to look up, my eyes widening to find Fen cartwheeling back from the knight from before, striking at her as she manages to dodge them.
"Fennic!" I call out in concern as she manoeuvres around the man's strong strikes.
"Relax Bookworm." Varric smirks.
"She's going to get herself killed!" I hiss.
"Not necessarily, if there's one thing I know about Fen she's a fighter and not your everyday one. Give her a weapon she knows how to wield." Confidently, Varric assures us as we watch the battle.
"You're kidding." I scoff.
"I'm not kidding, the only one she doesn't know are well staffs but yeah give her a weapon she can figure it out. This girl has experience of fighting more so than socialising." Varric assures.
"What do you mean?" Cassandra frowns.
"She's fought her entire life Eve even as a slave, she had to defend Denarius. She knows what she's doing especially with her battle style." Varric elaborates.
"Battle style?" I mutter puzzled.
"Yeah you know how you mages have that whole dance of sorts when using spells." Varric shrugs.
"I suppose." Solas exclaims.
"It's like that with Fen, she has this rhythm no one can pick up on it when she battles, like it's been engraved into her." Varric simplifies.
"Did she just disappear?" Cassandra gawks as we watch Fen dive at the knight commander, using her speed to almost vanish into thin air to strike from behind and take the knight off guard and strike.
"She is a rogue." Simply, Varric shrugs.
"I know but not that fast." I argue dazzled.
"Like I said inquisitor, Fen has been fighting for years, she has experience way beyond most people…it's like her whole purpose is to battle." Varric shrug as amazed we watch Fen release a wave of energy, attacking him and knocking the man down as she leaps down, turning her burning gaze to Veronica.
Fennic pov:
"You are mine! You were promised to me by my master and I will no-argh!" Swiftly, Veronica is cut off by the swift blade to her throat, blood pours down her throat, staining her robes as she collapses to the floor, the illusion of the pride demon falling and fading. I frown at the mess caused, shaking her head as she looks up, to scowl as us then turns to the knight captain guy, shakily standing only to be pushed back down from my fierce punch to the face, making him stumble back, hissing from the blood drenching down and staining the floor below.
"Spare him Fen!" Eve shouts making me turn to scowl at her.
"And why should I!? This fool has hunted me down and for what? Just for some armada against the Qun!?" I argue at the girl's logic.
"It helps, with the Qun coming we need all the help we can get, we're desperate my masters had thought of working with the savage slave rebellion leader Roark and his little pet…" He sneers.
"Roark? Oh for…" Seething, I lower my head, pinching the bridge of my nose with my forefinger at the thought of that freak.
"Another flame?" Coldly, I hear Solas question disdain in his tone as I sigh.
"No! He was...it has nothing to do with you." I mutter bitterly recalling our joint ideals, back then my ideals were messed up, were wrong and he was the same, only…I woke up he is yet to awaken from his delusions.
"You too maybe oh oh he's been eager to see you again, your every move he's watched, you're every contact he knows you're-"
"Is there any man you've hooked up with who hasn't been some psychopath?" Dorian question cutting off Richard as I go silent.
"For the last time he and I..." Feebly, I argue embarrassed over our complex relationship.
"You can say that again. He executed three magisters live to the public in you name." Richard spits out.
"Wait, I think I heard of him. The magistrate executor, a self-proclaimed hero among the slaves, powerful and-"
"A fool. One I am going to kill" Coldly, I reject cutting Dorian off, he's too proud to do something so stupid. Glaring, I draw my blades ready to end this fool growing weary and tired of his ranting.
"Fen keep him alive you've ruined his life enough, think about it. He lost his home, his family his status thanks to him going blind don't you think he deserves with his fading years to live through his last years?" Eve offers making me scoff.
"I…fine. Only if the prisoner gives me the info on Adam, seems I've got some contacts to talk to…" I grumble giving in.
Staggering, we make it outside, briefly, my eyes wince from the harsh light of the blazing sun my nose wrinkled as we help the saves outside the slave mine. I feel the warmth grain of the sandy dirt beneath me touch the soles of my feat, appreciating the warm breathe of the air, my nose twitching relieved to smell the scent of grass, dust and fresh air, no iron, no urine, no rotting flesh, normal fresh scents.
Silently, I watch Eve and the others rush over to help the people medically wise. Tired, I stagger about, swaying to the side, exhausted, until my ears perk up at the sobbing sound, wailing, making me frown as I turn to the source and the helpless pleas of Eve, my eyes widening when recognising a familiar blonde, Finn, thrashing in the arms of the struggling, and freaking out Eve.
"Come on I don't mean any harm I just want to help you," My ears hear the pleading voice of Eve.
"I don't need any more of you help all you do is hurt people all of you with your magic!" Wailing, Finn screams at her startling her as she attempts to pick up the freighted boy.
"I…Argh!" Pained, Eve releases a shrill screech of both shock and pain as Finn opens his jaw, snapping, and chomping down on her hand, making her release a shrill screech of pain as she drops, Finn. Quickly, I dive down.
"Inquisitor!" Varric and the others call out in concern, not caring for Finn as I reach out managing to catch the shaking boy now trembling in my arms.
"I just…I love kids why won't he love me? Oh Maker is he okay?" Worriedly, Eve questions guilt in her eyes as I stand up, holding the kid bridal style in my arms, reeling back, nuzzling deeper into my chest, fearful of Eve.
"Well considering he had been kidnapped and enslaved by human mages for years and then you a human mage comes up to suddenly hold him. I think he'd be a bit terrified…" I remark as Eve lowers her head.
"I…" Eve whimpers, guilty as I sigh.
"Let me talk to him," Smoothly, I sigh feeling a few eyes on me as he nods and I approach the crying child. Worried, I rush over to the sobbing boy's side, alone. Where are the other kids? Blinking, I approach the weeping boy.
"Finn." Lightly, I call out kneeling down as he weeps, ugly sounds emitting from him as his blurry glass hues meet my concerned blue as he plunges into my chest, holding me. Tenderly, I pick up the crying child, gently shushing him as he lies in my arms. "It's alright, it's alright," I chant over in a low comforting whisper as he cries in my chest.
"I want my mummy! I want my mummy!"
"It's alright Finn we'll find her." I whisper.
"I already did!" He cries.
"Huh?" I blink confused.
"She…she didn't respond I think she was like Charlie…I think she…" Shaking, he sniffs in my arms, my eyes widening at the sad news.
"Shh…you don't know that yet come on it's alright," Quietly, I try to assure the boy.
"I want…I want my mummy…"
"I know." I whisper back.
"They hurt her all of them, all of them, them…" I feel Finn's small tiny hands trebling tighten on me as my brow furrows at the hidden malice in his tone.
"Stop. Stop right there." Sternly, I stop him.
"H-Huh?" Shocked, he blinks.
"Listen to me the path you are going down is one I would not go down." I warn him gravely.
"But they did, they hurt…" Feebly, Finn argues.
"Sweetheart listen to me. Living a life of hatred isn't healthy it isn't right trust me on that I've been there and done it, it does nothing but bring pain." I inform him.
"But they hurt mummy I'm alone now." Finn whispers tearful.
"You're not alone. Not anymore." I promise.
"How do you know that?" He questions.
"The inquisitor will help you, find a place for you to make new friends, meet new people and live your own life…" Calmly, I assure him.
"But…she's…do you trust her?" Warily, he glares at Eve tending to the other children, a sad smile on her lips as she forces a smile on her.
I do. Now can you…?" I questions.
"O-Okay!" Bravely, he nods.
"Vhenan." Blinking, I turn to Solas frowning at me in disapproval as I sigh.
"Hey, Solas could you check the kid?" I request from him seeing Solas furrow his brow.
"No! Please no! He…Fen get it away from me…" Whimpering, Finn huddles into my chest.
"Finn?" I raise a brow noting his shaking form in my arms.
"He's one of them isn't? He has that staff, I…" Terrified, he shakes.
"He's okay…he just wants to help you." Softly, I assure him.
"Do you trust him?" Weakly, he looks up at me.
"I do. Can you?" I sigh.
"O…Okay if you do I mean…" Blushing, Finn nods as gently, I pass him over to a scout as Solas tends to him then after doing the check up, we watch the scout take Finn away to be with other kids his age around here.
"You're quite good with kids." Solas blurts out as I blink.
"No I'm not, not normal kids anyway, messed up kids maaaybe. What's with the staring?" I furrow my brow.
"Nothing really…" Solas turns away as I note briefly a faint blush on his features bringing a raised brow to my features.
"That's not what it looked like to me, seems someone's been staring…" Haughtily, Varric teases passing by.
"Hm what do you mean Varric?" I raise a brow watching him help tend to the other slaves.
"I think chuckles was thinking of you with his kid…" Varric reveals making my eyes widen, my blood turns ice cold and my muscles freeze as I see Solas go silent.
"No I wasn't." Solas denies but I see his blush darken.
"Sure and that look in your eye didn't scream it." Varric teases smirking.
"Yeah no. I don't even think I can have kids." I sigh shaking my head.
"We don't know that for sure." Solas inputs making me raise a brow.
"Someone's hopeful." Varric notes in a sing song tone.
"Can we focus on the slaves please rather than just me?" Tired, I remind the two who nod sheepishly as I roll my eyes at the morons, continuing to focus on the task at hand.
"ARGHHHHH! MAKER HELP!"
"Argghh!" Shocked, I leap back with Varric as we turn to the high pitch scream of agony echoing in the room, my ears ringing from the horrid shrieks of pain.
"Oh bloody Maker!" Eve hisses as I frown.
"What the hell is going on!?" I demand, my voice firm through the panicked screams of agony, seeing the scouts rush over.
"She's giving birth!" Eve tells me her tone panicked as I feel my eyes bulge out as I rush over the scene seeing a familiar pair of elves, Aeron clinging to his wife hope, tears in his glassy eyes as he holds his wife's shaking sweating simmering hand thanks to the boiling sun, making it hot ruby red features gleam even brighter from the glaze of sweat as she cries out in genuine pain.
"NOW!?" I gawk feeling a wave of shock and fear at the thought.
"No she's just faking it of course she is!" Dorian snaps.
"What do we do!?" I question turning to Eve and Varania as Dorian and Solas rush over to the source of screaming.
"We need sheets and water!" Frowning, Eve shakes her head, a stoic expression on her face as she orders the resources.
"I'll get the scouts they'll have the resources!" Varric volunteers.
"Right…." Eve mutters focused as Varric rushes off and Varania and I turn to follow Eve in case of help
"Aeron I'm…it hurts…" Whimpering, I hear the voice of Hope cry, tears cascading down eh sweaty state.
"Hold on love he'll be here soon…" Gently, Aeron assures her, his tone wobbling as I note the glassy hues in his eyes as his tight grip on his wife tightens, placing his lips upon the crest of her ring as she releases another cry of pain.
"It hurts it hurts!" Hissing she cries out in agony making me grimace. People want to go through this all for one kid!? What is wrong with them!?
"I know my love…" Gently, he whispers, caressing her trembling features.
Blinking, I watch as Eve and Solas dive in with Dorian, Eve having taking the consoling route considering her healing history while Dorian and Solas are focusing on the main thing, helping her give birth to the kid.
"You're doing really well…" Gently, Eve assures her as Solas stands, back turned a dark look on his features making me frown as I gently place my hand on his shoulder, stopping him as he turns to me.
"What's wrong?" I question as I turn to see Varania tend to the other refuges noting a few coming in curious only for her to stop them.
"Towels and water are here!" Varric screech returning with the resources as Eve orders the scouts to help Varania tend to warding off the onlookers curious over the screaming.
"We're losing her…"
"What!?" I hiss as Solas frowns at me silencing my outburst turning away, disgusted at the news feeling the cool steel fingertips of my gauntlet touch my face from my face palm. I lower my head at the grim news.
"The lyrium…" I whisper, my eyes widening at the realisation.
"What?" Solas furrows his brow as I release a tense breathe.
"Huh? What are you?" Dorian blinks as I approach. Urgently, I push past a few surrounding Hope, my hand grasping hold of her wrist twisting it, to reveal her inner wrist with ice blue arms coiling around her wrist pulsating, moving, growing.
"Is that?" Eve gasps.
"Lyrium poisoning…" Solas identifies gravely as I nod, no words come out of me, speechless.
"Wait what?" Aeron glance at me worriedly as I grimace.
"Don't tell me, the kid it's…" Dorian whispers as Eve takes charge while Solas, Dorian and I discuss the complex issue.
"It doesn't look good." Sadly, Solas bows his head.
"Oh Maker…" Dorian hisses pained.
"Well can you save her…?" Hopeful, Eve turns to us, her tone low as she questions lost.
"I…the lyrium has been slowly poisoning her as well as the baby." Solas utters as I turn away pained…childbirth as it is now is risky despite our magic, childbirth is a bloody battle and for this to happen…
"We need to tell them. They deserve to know." I reason as the others go silent conflicted on the matter, making us all glance at the quiet Eve uncertain, afraid and most of all torn.
"Aeron…" Gently, I call out to the panicking husband turning to us frowning. Gradually, Eve settles him down with his suffering wife telling him the grave news, my ears ringing in pain as I hear his response well more like screech.
"No! NO! PLEASE YOU GOT…" Desperate, he clings to Eve falling to his knees a sobbing wreck as Eve kneel down hugging the man, who wails matching his wife's once thunderous storm screech soon dimmer down.
"It's coming!" Varania hisses taking control after Eve's departure to tell the grave news to Aeron.
"Shit!" Varric curses as the healers all rush over while lost, Varric and I turn our backs to the process, deciding to help the refugees with the scouts over it that is until…frowning, my eyes narrow at the still silence in the air, the heavy tension as Varric and I share a uneasy glance, turning back to the scream to find…the still figure of the limp Hope.
Pained, I turn to see Eve's shaking form, tears in her glassy hues as Solas passes grimly holding the child in his grasps. Blankly, I stare, hearing nothing but the pained sobs of Aeron shakily standing.
"YOU DID THIS! You killed my wife! My family! My child!" Ranting, he screams at me as I stare silently screaming.
"Aeron please-" Eve beg trying to reason with the hysteric man.
"NO! You…you're meant to be a hero to us, a saviour, the liberator of the slaves you're meant to save people. You're nothing but a murderer, a disease, a false hero, a false prophet! I've lost everything thanks to you!" Shocked, I watch as Aeron grabs Eve's blade and…
"Aeron stop! Don't!" I scream reaching out to him as his blade teasingly touches his neck.
"Let my death be on your head, so called saviour of slaves." Spitefully, he spits out silenced by the gurgle of his blade, my eyes broadening in horror.
"No!" Eve screams out as I stagger back as the crimsons leaking out from his neck as he collapses to the ground dead…
"Now do you see what freedom can do to people sister?"