Chapter Five: The Lion's Roar
Author's notes:
Further working on the dynamics of Cullen and Evelyn's relationship. I hope you will like how it is playing out so far!
Thank you: MelissaGT, Bright Sparky, Lhuanna, 2009, MWolfe13, morganalefaye2003, Ellojello, moonandstargodess, , Betty Battaglia, cxcxa, nataliexo, Honeybear23, PureTime, detectivefoxy, and laurannebp for the follows! :D
And special thank yous for tj2413, salinagriego, Sadomhyde, Luckygirl1013, nalysyky, The Quirkyquizler femme! I am honored that you are liking and following the story! Thank you for supporting my work and I hope you will continue to enjoy chapters!
Thank you salinagriego for your review! I will do my best to focus more on the relationship! I added more into this chapter with that in mind. I hope you will enjoy and look forward to hearing what you think! :D
Evelyn, Solas, and Varric were left exchanging perplexed glances amongst each other as the Commander practically dragged Cassandra away from them in mid sentence.
"Is he, all right in the head?" Evelyn asked in a low voice to the other two as she tapped her own head with one quizzical brow lifted.
"Not sure, Curly is usually pretty calm and collected." Varric answered as he crossed his arms, and rubbed his stubbly chin. "But then, everyone is going a little crazy...I mean who wouldn't with rifts opening everywhere, a great hole in the sky, oh and demons scampering about the countryside." The Dwarf nodded to himself before becoming aware of the grimaces both Solas and Evelyn were directing at him. "No pressure lass," Varric added with a wide grin and wink.
Evelyn rolled her honey brown eyes at the Dwarf, then frowned as she recalled something Varric had said. "Who is Curly?" The young woman asked as she adjusted her helm resting against her hip.
"Oh, Varric has decided to gives us all loveable nicknames," Solas answered with an apologetic smile as he leaned upon his staff.
"That's right Chuckles," The Dwarf smiled and gave the sighing Elf a large pat against his back.
"Eh?" Evelyn gasped in playful surprise. "Do I not have a nickname?" The young woman asked as she inclined her head and gave the Dwarf a slight pout. "Why Verric, I am hurt...deeply hurt that after we have known each other for a full afternoon and I have not been gifted a nickname."
"Hmmm," The Dwarf hummed as he appraised the young warrior with tangled long hair and a slightly torn shirt that showed a bandaged wound on her side. "Well, you're a little harder to pinpoint with a nickname. Give me some more time and I'll have one perfect for you" Varric nodded wisely.
"How about Ladybug?" Solas offered with a warm smile as he adjusted his position.
"Ladybug?" Evelyn chuckled. "Really?" The young woman asked, eyes bright with amusement.
"Nah," Varric waved his hand about. "It needs a bit more flair!" The Dwarf added as he rubbed his chin again in thought.
"Alright, how about Praying Mantis? Much more flair if you ask me." Solas added with another kind smile.
"Why bugs, Solas?" Varric asked with a shake of his head while Evelyn continued to chuckle.
"They are a fascinating group of creatures." Solas explained, appearing truly earnest in his admiration for bugs.
Suddenly, the Varric and Solas heard Evelyn's laughter become higher pitched that even surprised the young woman. The pair quickly realized that she had been watching the Commander walk towards them, taking long strides as he combed his gloved hand through his tousled blonde hair with slight exasperated expression upon his noble face.
The young woman quickly averted her gaze from Cullen, as she suddenly felt that her boots were ten times more interesting the stare at as she cleared her throat. Something about the Commander just made Evelyn feel...odd.
She couldn't explain what it was. Though Evelyn's eyes had definitely been admiring his well built figure that filled his golden lion-like armor in the right places. Not to mention his piercing, yet kind blue eyes. Yes, Cullen was overall quite attractive, in that hero like fashion Evelyn had read about in tales of great quests. The Commander seemed every bit the grand warrior...until he had opened his mouth earlier.
"Everyone to arms!" Evelyn looked up to see Cassandra shout in her sharp accented voice. "We march to the Temple of Sacred Ashes posthaste!" The Seeker ordered with the wave of her studded gloved hand. Evelyn shifted her gaze, and noticed that Cullen had quickly looked away from her as he swiftly strode past the little group.
"Well, here we go," Evelyn sighed as she slipped back on her helm before following Solas and Varric as they marched towards the heart of ruined Temple.
Charred bodies in poses of fear and retreat were frozen about the grounds as more blackened broken bones were scattered about. Evelyn couldn't tell who's the rotting corpse belonged to who as the stench of sulfur kept threatening to make her gag. It was definitely a miracle she had survived all this...but how?!
Large pointed stones splintered through the grounds, all bore veins of unusual green glowing light that pulsed in rhythm with the Breach. Falling stones continued to rain down from the hole in the sky. But, none seemed to fall into the epicenter.
"Oh, I've got a bad feeling about this…" Evelyn whispered as everyone looked upward to see the pillar of light extending from the largest Rift yet.
"Woweee," Varric whistled as he looked up from the Rift to the Breach. "My neck aches just from trying to take in the sheer size of it!" The Dwarf added in awe.
A Rift suspended next to the statue that had been of Andraste, now crumbled pieces of large rubble floating about. Evelyn was quite awed, but also wary of what they were about to get themselves into.
"Let us make our way to the ground level," Cassandra commanded, making everyone tear their hypnotized gaze from the scene and continue along the ash covered path. The clouds above had encased the Temple in cold shadow.
"Now is the hour of our victory." Boomed a deep low voice from the pulsing Rift. Evelyn jumped at the voice as it continued to say, "Bring forth the sacrifice." The young woman's skin prickled with goosebumps as she recognized the voice that had chanted earlier that day.
"What...who?" Cassandra asked as she held up her hand, causing the rest of the troop to halt as they looked about uneasily for the invisible being the voice belonged to.
"That must be the voice of whoever is behind all this," Solas answered looking uncomfortable as his genial smile faltered. His eyes shifted to the Rift and he gripped his staff.
"Proceed carefully down to the ground level," Cassandra waved for the troop to resume. Though she felt less confident this time. The Seeker snuck a glance at the young woman who was now marching besides her and noticed her obvious discomfort. Cassandra didn't blame her. That voice had caused a chill to run down the Seeker's spine.
The troop continued their descent until something in their path slowed their pace and mesh into a single file. All along the wall and littering the ground were crimson glowing spikes and broken stones. The red stone pulsed as well, but at a different rhythm than the green tainted stone around the temple. As Evelyn drew closer, she began to hear a soft gentle hum emanate from the stone.
"Red Lyrium…" Varric breathed, then shook his head in distaste as he eyed the red stone. Evelyn noticed how the Commander seemed to be keeping his distance from the red pulsing stone, not daring to even look at it as he clenched his jaw.
"Cullen did you know about this?" Varric asked as he passed by the Red Lyrium. Tearing his eyes away from the element to look up at the Commander.
Cullen paused as he nodded, "We did, but…" The Templar's voice died in his throat as he noticed Evelyn had unknowingly edged closer to one of the red protruding stones with a hand outstretched in utter curiosity. She didn't know?
Cullen extended out his armored arm to block the young woman from getting too close to the Red Lyrium. "Trust me, you don't want to touch it," He whispered hoarsely. The Templar was already feeling nauseous just by being near the red glowing rock. Innocent honey brown eyes tore their gaze from the pulsing warm rock, to look up at him in surprise. Evelyn quickly pulled back her hand with a small nod.
Cullen tried to give the young woman a small smile in return, but was sure he looked liked he was going to be sick. Quickly, the Commander tilted his head in an awkward nod and turned away with the whip of his dark red cape.
Evelyn kept staring after the Templar, until the rumbling disembodied voice made her eye's widen as she let out a fearful gasp. "Keep the sacrifice still," growled the echoing voice suddenly impatient.
"Someone help me!" An elderly woman's voice called out in fear. Her scared voice echoed against the stone and something in the back of Evelyn's mind stirred at the familiarity her elderly voice.
"That...that was Divine Justinia's voice!" Cassandra gasped, and she broke into a sudden urgent sprint. The Seeker had thought she would never hear the Divine's voice ever again. Now, she had hope!
"Divine Justinia…" Evelyn repeated as she hurried after Cassandra and Cullen with the others following.
They slid down the rampart and were at the ground level, where the soil beneath their feet was charred...and still warm. Solas gave the young woman a curious look as he inclined his head slightly to the side. "You feel it?"
Evelyn nodded slowly as she rubbed her hands together, massaging them slightly. Her left hand that began to twinge slightly at her closeness to the Rift. Its must be a very powerful because the pulse seemed to go through her very body, then just her hand.
Taking in a deep steadying breath, Evelyn lifted out her left hand and felt the warmth of the green pulsing mark. But, the young woman didn't expect what happened next. A vision began to play for all to see as the faded image of the Divine was shown. Her arms were unwilling held out to her sides by encircling shadows that Justina struggled against. Her usual calm and kind face was wrought with fear as she look about for help. She seemed blind to the large group of soldiers who were presently there watching raptly.
"What's going on here!" Shouted an alarmed feminine voice...Evelyn's own voice. 'What in Maker's name?' The young woman thought as her jaw fell at what she saw. Before her, was past Evelyn entering a torchlit chamber before her honey brown eyes grew wide in alarm.
The vision went back to the Divine as she struggled fruitlessly against whatever held her. "Run! Evelyn run!" Justina screamed, urging the young woman to flee.
"Dorothea! I can't lea…" But Evelyn's words were cut short as the shadowed minions beckoned their master's command and pounced upon the young woman who let out a blood curdling scream. Then there was a flash of blinding green light and…
... "Evy! No!" Shouted, Evangeline's fearful disembodied voice before the vision faded away. Evelyn's hand fell limp to her side as she continued to stare up at the Rift where the vision had been.
An eerie silence filled the center of the temple as everyone still remained shocked at what had been revealed to them. But, the vision just raised more questions, than giving answers.
"You, the Divine, that shadowed man, and...who was the last voice?" Cassandra asked sharply as she looked over at the young woman with a frown.
Evelyn turned her head slowly to look over at the Seeker with a confused expression on her own face. "That was...Evangeline, my sister." Evelyn frowned and shook her head as she added, "But, she is no longer. I don't know, I don't remember what happened. Or how she is mixed up in all this. It's just not possible." Evelyn began rambling as she rubbed her hands together, soothing her tingling left hand.
The young woman could see doubt once again shadow the Seeker's face. While Varric looked thoughtful, and Cullen... Well, he was still looking up at where that vision had been, and seemed to have paled in his complexion. As if he had seen a ghost. Evelyn frowned at the frozen Commander, until another voice beckoned her attention.
Solas was greatly interested in the young woman's words about 'Evangeline'. "If she is no longer with the living, then maybe she is lingering in the Fade." The Elven Mage said thoughtfully to Evelyn.
"Well, we will have to discuss that another time!" Cassandra suddenly shouted for the breach and Rift pulsed and the ground shook. But, the glow at the Rift did not fade, instead it grew brighter as something...or somethings were trying to tear through into their world.
"Leliana, have your archers disperse along the upper walls. Cullen, have your soldiers set at the four corners below. Move in to contain the situation so that Evelyn has time and a clear area to interact with the Rift!" Cassandra began shouting orders as soldiers and archers ran about to reorganize themselves.
Cullen finally tore his gaze from the Rift and nodded at Cassandra's words. Then he and Evelyn shared a brief glance. "No crazy stunts this time!" The Commander nodded to the young woman with a blonde brow lifted.
Evelyn rolled her honey brown eyes and replied, "I promise nothing!" This time she heard Cullen let out a snort before he began reorganizing his troops. But, the young woman had to shift her gaze back to the Rift for she suddenly saw a swarm of Lesser Shades spill out of the tear.
"Crowd control everyone! Clear Evelyn's path to the Rift!" Cassandra shouted as all hell broke loose. Verric's cross bow arrows flew, Solas's magic froze few of the demons, while Cullen's group closed in. Shouts from the soldiers and howls from the demons echoed against the stone.
"This is your chance!" Cassandra cried out to the young woman as she bashed her shield into one of Lesser Shades. "We can end this here! Are you ready?" The Seeker asked as a path was cleared for Evelyn.
"Okay! I got this!" Evelyn breathed as she shook her hands, before holding out her left marked palm up to the Rift. Her hand twinged as green light glowed from her palm, but the Rift suddenly distorted and stretched...as something enormous was pushing itself through the tear!
"A Pride Demon!" Solas announced before the beast fully left the Fade. It jumped onto the ground, causing the earth to shake! It roared as it rolled it spiked plated shoulders and huffed shadowy steam through its nose.
"Okay, no biggie, we can strip away its armor right?" Evelyn shouted as she unsheathed her sword and unlatched the shield off her back.
Then came the electricity. The Pride Demon whipped around its hands and a string of crackling blue electricity extending from its clenched fists. "Oh Maker's pantalones why?!" Evelyn cried out, feeling now hysterical at the roaring beast whipped around tethers of sparkling electricity.
It seemed to sniff the air, and suddenly its eyes were focused upon Evelyn. Her glowing mark upon her hand was like a homing beacon for the demon! Its laugh was low and dark as it began to lumber after her. It raised its hands and began lashing out at the young woman.
Evelyn dodged and rolled away from the flailing whips. As the electricity smacked the ground, it left a hissing sear upon the earth. The young woman gulped as she tried to make a run for it. But, the Pride Demon would send a whip crashing down right in her path!
The rest of the ground troops were still tangoing with the other demons. A lesser Shade had sunk its claws into Cullen's crimson cape and began pulling the Commander back towards it with surprisingly strong grip! "This is the last time I wear a bloody cape!" Cullen snarled as he tried to pull his cape from the Shade!
"Evelyn! Run!" Cassandra suddenly shouted from the middle of the fighting crowd. Cullen looked away from the Shade to see that ahead of him, the great Pride Demon was whipping around its electrified tethers, trying to corner the young woman back towards the wall with every lash and bellowing an unearthly laugh.
"Leliana! Bring that beast down!" Cassandra shouted before she had to bring her attention back to the Shade she was fighting.
From the rampart above, the fiery haired Spymaster signalled to her archers to aim at the hulking demon.
Cullen looked up to see that a flurry of arrows rained down upon the enormous demon. The first wave of arrows was a success. The Pride demon bellowed and thrashed in pain as many sharp arrows pierced in between its spiked and plated armor, piercing its thick hide.
Leliana ordered another wave of arrows, but this time the Pride demon fought back. The beast whirled its electrifying tethers like lassos, protecting it from most of the arrows. Though a few managed to slip past, striking the Pride demon in between its armor plating.
Again Evelyn tried to make a run for it, but the beast quickly blocked her escape routes by whipping down its electric tethers.
Huffing, the Commander bent over backwards, his head sailing right past the demon's hunched face and glowing eye. Cullen smiled up at the confused demon...before he brought his great sword flying backwards with him. The Lesser Shade was split down the middle before the blade became stuck in the demon's body. Quickly, the Templar swung himself up and pulled his sword out of the shuddering Shade.
Meanwhile, Evelyn's back hit the wall hard. "Shit!" The young woman cursed for she hadn't realized how far the demon pushed her back! Now, with cold rugged stone pressed against her back, Evelyn was trapped.
The Pride demon laughed in triumph as it bore down upon the young woman. Indeed, this was the end for her.
At least Evelyn met some interesting people and had quite the adventure. The young woman's heart was thumping madly against her chest, as closed her eyes tightly as she heard the crackling static bear down upon her.
"RAGH!" Roared a deep rumbling voice. Evelyn quickly snuck a peek, before her eyes widen in complete surprise to find Cullen hanging from his great sword...that was embedded into the back of the great beast's neck!
What possessed the Commander to do something ridiculously stupid...Cullen didn't have a clue. But, at seeing Evelyn trapped with her eyes closed as the Pride Demon towered over her, had flipped some sort of switch in the man's head. All he could think about, was bringing that damnable beast down!
The blonde Templar resheathed his great sword and boldly sprinted across the way with torn crimson cape fluttering behind him. "Hold your fire!" Leliana had shouted in fear that the archers might strike the Commander by accident.
Cullen had lept onto the giant demon's back and used the already embedded arrows to scale up the Pride Demon. Once the Commander was in place, he gripped both hands upon the hilt of his blade, pulling it out of the sheath, before he drove it deep into the base of the demon's neck with all his might.
Howling in pain, the Pride Demon thrashed about, trying to grab at Cullen. Dark tainted blood seeped and bubbled out from around the blade. The beast stomped its feet angrily, making the ground tremble as it snarled in agony. Finally the beast grabbed the blonde Templar, prying him off from his sword.
Even though the great blade was still embedded in its body, the Pride Demon let out one more deafening roar as it threw Cullen into the air. Then it crumpled onto the ground, falling still in its own pool of glistening tainted blood.
"No!" Evelyn screamed as she saw Cullen being thrown into the air. "Solas!" The young woman shouted over to the Elven Mage, who quickly caught on. Solas spun around on the spot, whipping about his staff to point at the Commander's airborne body and covering him in a glowing protective barrier of soft blue light to cushion Cullen's fall.
Yet, the Commander still fell hard onto the dusty dirt ground. Feeling the wind knocked out of him, Cullen gasped loudly for breath, then began to cough violently from inhaling the particulates in the dusty air. He slowly rolled onto his back and steadied his breath, as his chest heaved under his breastplate.
"Are you alright?" Evelyn asked in horror as she knelt besides the Commander. Quickly she removed her helm for a better views as her shaky hands hovered up and down Cullen's body, searching for any obvious signs of a broken bones or blood. Luckily, Solas's spell had done the trick, though the Commander's brain may have been a bit rattled.
"Cullen? Hello?!" Evelyn asked, feeling a bit more panicked as the Commander's eyes opened and closed. Finally Cullen's blue eyes stayed open and his irises adjusted to the light.
"Hey," The blonde Templar slightly slurred, though smiled up at the young woman. "You're alright, good…" Cullen sighed as his eyes softened. "I thought I might as well try one of those daredevil tricks of yours." He gave her a wide boyish grin.
Evelyn chuckled and shook her chestnut haired head, she hadn't realized her tears had been filling her eyes. Quickly rubbing them away with her sleeve, the young woman added. "Thank you, for saving me." She said softly.
"You saved me, I saved you. We have each other's back, huh." Cullen whispered, before he sighed. Frowning slightly in pain as he closed his eyes.
Solas knelt down next to Evelyn as his eyes quickly scanned over the Commander's body. "I'll take it from here. You better go seal that Rift." The Elven Mage urged the young woman with a nod over to the glowing and shifting tear.
"Right, yeah, of course," Evelyn remarked as she looked down at Cullen one more time, before pushing herself up onto her feet and walking over to the Rift. The young woman flexed her marked hand, feeling her muscles twinged slightly under her skin. The closer she became to the Rift, the more the mark upon her hand glowed and in turn the tear's glow began to pulse.
"Oh no you don't!" Evelyn growled as she lifted up her marked hand. "I'm shutting you down!" The young woman yelled angrily and the mark upon her hand flared up in brilliant green light. Suddenly it shot out a stream of energy right at the pulsing Rift, overpowering it with Evelyn's determination and strength.
"Begone!" Evelyn shouted as she held her marked arm steady with her other hand. Concentrating all her might on her mark's power. The stream of light from her palm became stronger, causing the Rift to crumple in on itself in defeat, before it exploded violently.
The unstable energy backtracked from the exploding Rift, along the stream connecting to Evelyn, engulfing the young woman in blinding green light. Evelyn screamed in pain as she felt her body burn. Then she completely gave into the darkness.
'You did it Evy, but this is just the beginning...'
More rambling notes from the Author:
Whew! More action and progress in the romance department. But, I would to hear what you think so far! Favorites, Follows, and especially Reviews are much appreciated! Thank you for reading and supporting my work!
I changed up the battle with the Pride Demon just a little so that the battle I envisioned could take place. I hope you enjoyed how Cullen rescued Evelyn. I wanted him to get in on the action more.
Also, I might have been doing some research on DA Wikia. Found that Divine Justina's name had been Dorothea. More on that story later!
And if you are reading my Hobbit fanfic I promise I will be updating it soon!
(DISCLAIMER) I do not own nor claim to own any of the Dragon Age Franchise and Bioware's work. It is from the team's own brilliance…though my original characters are from my own madness.