Chapter 56: Dreams and Nightmares
"SHIT!"
Alim had come to hate the sloth demon's domain, every door brought new battles, and the dreamers that had been trapped here were only minimal help.
They shared their dream forms with him, but that was it. The shape of a burning corpse from a Templar, a golem from a mage, an arcane horror from some passing soldier, all of these forms had become his, and he used them to breach the sloth demon's traps.
He worried about the others, so far he seen nothing to suggest that they were all alright.
Just lay down and rest, you need to think.
The warden mage ignored those thoughts; it was just the fade, the demon trying to lull him back into a sense of lethargy.
He would not fall for that again.
He was too pissed to stand down now.
The lesser demons that sloth had trusted to guard his prisoners proved a little more distracting. One of them even took the shape of an ogre, much like the Duncan-demon did.
Alim had smiled at that; he needed a bit of a workout.
He transformed into a golem, normally hand to hand fighting was not his way, but the demons had aggravated him, it had been a tough fight, but in the end he had snapped the ogre's neck.
He was pleased with this golem form; it had allowed him to shatter sloth's supposedly unbreakable doors easily.
If only Shale could see this, he thought with a chuckle, nope…probably a bad idea, what if she found this form attractive?
She would never let him out of the fade.
One by one the demons fell. Alim stopped back in to talk to Niall, the mage was shocked at his progress, but hoped that this might lead to an escape, to all their escapes.
Alim hoped that he was right, but the elf was not done yet, the way to the sloth demon was likely open, but he would not risk facing the beast alone. He needed aid.
Besides he wanted to make sure they were okay.
That she…was okay.
He stepped up to the font, he thought about his companions…
It was time to leave this place.
IOI
He found himself in a huge chantry; massive braziers blazed with light, a giant golden statue of Andraste dominated the room.
Alim's ears twitched.
He knew who was here, he…he had been thinking about her most of all, ensuring her safety.
It was time to do just that.
He reached out with his mind, trying to sense anyone else here, much like he had done with the dreamers who the lesser demons had been feeding off of.
He felt drawn to the front of the chantry, a lone sister kneeled before a revered mother, her hood was pulled up hiding her features.
"Blessed art thou who exist in the sight of the Maker," a sweet Orlesian voice sang out, "Blessed art thou who seeks his forgiveness."
Alim smiled.
He had found Leliana.
He advanced towards her, part of him wanted to pull her to her feet, take her into his arms and hold her tight.
He pushed those thoughts back for now, his feelings for her would have to wait, at least until she was safe.
Would she even want me? I'm still a too short elf with two long ears, and a mage as well.
What could I ever offer her?
He ignored those thoughts; they would only lead to despair.
He still had a job to do.
"Leliana?" he whispered.
The bard startled her hood fell back revealing her lovely face.
"I found you," he purred.
She looked at him with great confusion.
"Who are you?" she asked.
His heart sank.
She was lost in the dream.
Damn it!
IOI
Leliana blinked her eyes, she…she did not know this person. Did she?
He…he seemed familiar, as if remembered in some fleeting dream.
Dorothea stepped forward, shielding her young charge.
"I beg you," the old mother told the elf, "Do not disturb the girl's meditations."
The strange elf glared at the mother, he looked about to say something, but thought better of it.
That was good, Leliana thought; she respected Dorothea too much to let some…some elf…insult her.
You are not cruel, but you still see us…see me… as other.
The thought stopped her, she vaguely remembered…
It vanished.
"Leliana," the elf said warmly, "It is I, it is Alim, try and remember who you are."
The way he spoke to her, the way he looked at her, it…it was so familiar.
"Dorothea," she said looking at her mentor, "Do…do I know this person?"
"Leliana is trying to move on," the mother said, "If you knew her in the past, I beg you to let her go, let her find peace in the love and protection of the chantry."
The elf…Alim glared at her.
"Leliana," he continued, "this…all of this… it is not real, try and remember what you were doing, and who you are."
"Isn't…real? I…I don't understand."
She shook her head, concentration would not come, only the desire to rest, to study, to know peace.
She tried to think, but it was not working.
IOI
Alim cursed silently.
The demon, disguised as a mother had a strong hold on the bard. He could break it given time, but it was easier if Leliana rejected it, if she stopped feeding it with her emotions and her life-force.
She did not remember him, that hurt, but she still had her faith.
Perhaps he could use that to wake her up.
"Do you remember why you left the cloister in Lothering Leliana?" he asked.
Her dreamy eyes seemed to focus.
"I…I remember," she murmured, "There was… a sign."
"Leliana," the demon clucked, "We have discussed this…sign of yours, and it was likely a trick, sent by a demon."
The elf glared at it; yes it would know a lot about demonic tricks wouldn't it?
Leliana rose from where she had been kneeling, she seemed stronger; she looked at 'the mother' with hardened eyes.
"My vision…it…it may not have come from the Maker, but I…I believe it was leading me to do what is right."
"The Maker does not care for the affairs of mortals," the mother spat.
Alim grinned slightly; the demon's jealousy was starting to show.
He decided to stir the pot.
"The Maker does love us Leliana," he said, "And one day…he will return."
He wasn't sure if he believed that, but he knew that she did.
It would help her get motivated.
"The Maker does care for us," she said strongly, "I believe that he misses his wayward children as much as we miss him."
She stepped forward standing eye to eye with the mother.
"Dorothea never discounted my beliefs. She was open -minded, willing to let me explore them."
She gave the mother a wolfish smile.
"I don't know who you are."
She turned to Alim, a slight smile on her lips.
"I…I still don't know who you are, but…I trust you…I can feel it in my heart. You…you would not lie to me. We…we have things to accomplish, no?"
Alim nodded.
"Are we close?" she asked.
He blushed slightly.
"We are…friends," he said.
Though he now realized that he wanted more.
"You do not have to leave," the demon said taking Leliana by the arm, Alim could hear the desperation in its voice, "This is your home, your refuge. You can stay, and know peace."
"There is no need," Leliana replied, "I carry the peace of the chantry in my heart."
The Mother's eyes narrowed.
"You are going nowhere girl," she hissed, "I will not permit it!"
"Dorothea?" Leliana sounded confused.
Alim pushed her behind him.
"She is free demon," he growled protectively, "Let her go!"
"She is ours," the Mother snarled like a feral animal, "Now…and forever!"
The Mother turned into a shade.
Alim blasted it with lightning.
Fire broke out over its dark skin; the demon wailed in agony, no longer did it have Leliana to draw on for strength.
It crumbled away before their eyes.
The bard gasped her blue eyes wide with fear and disbelief!
"HOLY MAKER!" Leliana gasped, "She…she was a…"
"She was a demon," Alim shrugged, "Are you feeling better Leliana?"
She rubbed her eyes.
"Oh…my…my head feels heavy," she groaned, "Like I have just woken from some terrible nightmare. I…I…Alim," her eyes brightened, "I'm starting to remember! The tower, the blight, and your name, your name is Alim."
The elf smiled.
"Welcome back sister."
Leliana smiled.
"We…we should get going. I…"
Leliana began to fade away.
"Wait…what is happening to me? Alim?"
The elf's eyes widened in fear, he tried to reach for her.
She faded away.
The elf cursed loudly, had she woken up, he hoped so.
"Damn you," he spat at yellow skies of the fade.
He tried to reign in his temper, Leliana was safe…at least he hoped so; he needed to free the others now.
He focused on finding Solona, Wynne…or perhaps Morrigan; perhaps together, with other, mages, they could free the others more quickly.
A door appeared before him as the last of the chantry dissolved. It looked like one of the broken arches he had seen around Ostagar.
Morrigan it is then, he thought.
He stepped through the door.
Time to move on.
IOI
The elf found himself in the Korcari Wilds; he recognized it from his short stay at Ostagar, and the muddy trek to Lothering after.
The sound of angry voices drew him closer, make that one angry voice.
"Go away you useless thing," it spat, "Can you see that you are not wanted!"
He stepped out from behind a tree and saw Morrigan, though not the Morrigan he remembered.
She looked…younger than he remembered, fifteen perhaps, maybe fourteen, he long black hair was in two braids, and her ragged robes far more conservative than he remembered.
She was still a child in this dream…interesting.
The object of her wrath was Flemeth; she also looked younger than Alim remembered her gray hair was still dark, and her face less lined.
"I am your Mother girl," the false Flemeth moaned sadly, "Do you not love me?"
Little Morrigan rolled her eyes.
"You are no more my mother than my little pinky is the queen of Ferelden! Tis foolish of you to keep up this charade, I…"
She finally noticed Alim.
"Finally," she sighed with relief.
"Hello to you too Morrigan," he said dryly.
The witch snorted.
"Tis about time you arrived Alim," she said, "Please deal with this spirit so that I can get out of here."
Alim's ears twitched.
"You know it is a spirit, yet you have not freed yourself?"
Morrigan's eyes narrowed.
"This spirit is foolish, but tis not stupid," she sighed, "It trapped me in the form, before my powers were fully developed, as long as it holds me I cannot resume my true shape."
Alim nodded, it was actually a smart move, a mage who had only just discovered their powers was far less dangerous than an older one.
The demon had been wise.
Flemeth glared at her young daughter.
"It seems that I need to teach you some manners," the old woman growled.
She backhanded her young daughter…hard.
Alim winced.
His parents had never struck him, not once growing up, and Irving had shielded from the Templars and their brand of punishment.
He could not help but feel sorry for Morrigan, if this is how her mother had treated her.
The witch sneered and wiped away the blood running from her nose.
"That is more like it," she sneered, "But far little too late spirit. Alim if you please?"
The elf drew spellbinder.
The demon tried to strike him with an arcane bolt, but his shields held.
He ran the false Flemeth though.
The Wilds faded away, replaced by the raw fade again.
Morrigan stood before him, restored to her old self.
She smirked at the elf.
"You have my thanks warden," she purred, "You have no idea how annoying that was. The real Flemeth was never…"
The witch gasped, she was starting to fade away as well.
"Not this again," she complained, "I refuse…"
She vanished, just like Leliana had vanished.
Alim snarled in frustration.
Was that how it was going to be? He was allowed to rescue his friends while he stayed trapped in this Maker forsaken void!
It was really starting to piss him off!
At least the others are free, he reminded himself, I have to push on. Once the others are safe…I can deal with the sloth demon.
He smiled coldly, imagining what he would do to the arrogant demon.
I'm going to make sure it wished it was never born!
He reached out once again with his magic, seeking his companions. It led him to another door, this one a crumbling arch; it looked like an old dwarven barrier door.
Alim walked straight through it.
The quicker he reached his friends, the quicker he could get out of here.
The quicker he could make the sloth demon pay!