Chapter 58: Sloth's Rest
Dirty.
That was the one word to describe where Alim found himself. A dirty, mold encrusted warehouse somewhere on some unknown docks.
Crates of rotting foodstuffs, rusted tools, and weapons filled the dark space.
That… is when he heard the voices.
"Scream for me my love," a sultry Antivan voice purred, "Scream as I send you to a world where pleasure and pain meet."
He heard the sound of a heavy wheel turning.
A loud gasp rang out through the shadows.
"Yessss," a familiar voice hissed, "Yessss Rinna…I…I deserve this…my fate…my life is your to end!"
Alim's ears rose in shock.
He had found Zevran.
He leapt into the room. The assassin was tied to a rack, his muscles straining against the cords as they pulled taut.
His torturer regarded Alim coolly. It was a beautiful elven woman with dark hair and black expressive eyes. Her red mouth curled into a sneer as she spotted the warden mage.
"What is this?" she whispered her voice was both sweet and sensuous, "Another of your playthings Zev?"
Zevran turned.
"You," he gasped, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to rescue you," Alim replied.
"No," the elven woman growled, "Zevran deserves this, do you not know what he is? What he did to me?"
"Rinna please," Zev said, "This is between us my dear. Leave the warden out of it."
Rinna smiled evilly.
"A warden you say," she grinned. "Maldicion! I have always wanted to test my skills against a warden. They will write songs of this day!"
Alim drew his sword. The elven beauty pulled a pair of daggers from her back.
"We shall duel to the death," she smiled.
"No," Zev growled, "He struggled against his bonds, "It is my death that is deserved Rinna, no one else will die for me!"
Alim fired an arcane bolt at the advancing woman, his passed her head.
"You missed, "she sneered.
Alim gave her an amused smile.
"Did I?"
The demon sensed something was wrong, but it was too late.
Alim had cut one of Zevran's wrists free; he reached for the spare dagger he kept in his boot.
Free, he silently approached the woman from behind.
He pulled back her long raven hair, and slashed her throat.
She gasped, her hand to her throat, trying to stop the bleeding.
She turned to the one she had been tormenting.
"Again…Zev?" she gasped.
The look in his eyes…it looked like she had run him through with her blades.
She crumbled into dust before their eyes.
Zevran was breathing heavily; he looked on the verge of tears.
Alim waited for the crow to speak, when he did not…
"Zev?"
The assassin wiped his eyes; he took a deep breath and chuckled.
His mask firmly back in place, he smiled at the warden mage.
"Nothing like a good racking my friend," he said jovially, "My back needed a good stretch."
"Who was that woman Zev?"
The assassin gave him a wary look.
"Someone now dead," he replied, "let us be off my friend. I'm ready to…"
Zevran faded away, just as the others had.
Alim did not even have the heart to complain anymore.
He simple desired to find another door.
It appeared.
He stepped through it.
IOI
He found himself in Denerim; at least…he thought it was Denerim. He had left the city when he was still a baby after all.
Who could say if this version of the city was real or not?
Two palace guards led the way. As a Grey Warden he was allowed almost unrestricted access to the palace.
He said he wished to speak with the Lady Solona Amell.
He heard one of the guards refer to her as the advisor. That news did not surprise the elf; Solona had told him often that she dreamed of serving in the royal court.
It was not surprising that the demon had given her this dream to hold her here.
As a mage, Solona should have recognized that something was wrong. He hoped that he would she would be more like Morrigan, just waiting for someone to rescue her.
The guards led him up to one of the towers. It looked like the kind of place that palace staff and functionaries would live.
The guard asked him to wait as he went and got Solona.
Alim tapped his foot nervously, he…he did not like this, he could sense the demon, but it was elsewhere…illusive.
He hoped that it wasn't trying to deceive him.
Five minutes passed then ten, then fifteen…at least that is what it felt like. Time had no real hold here in the fade.
Irving had always tried to teach Alim patience, but it was starting to wear thin.
The longer he waited, the angrier he became, finally he marched the way the guards had left.
He would wait no longer. He needed to find Solona…NOW!
One of the guards appeared.
"Ser, remain where you…"
Alim pushed him aside with a gust of wind. He no longer desired to be patient.
They would no longer keep him from Solona.
The other guard raised his sword, he pointed it at Alim.
"The Advisor will not be disturbed," he growled, "She will…"
Alim drew spellbinder, he cut off the guard's head.
His fellow guard snarled in fury, he started to change.
Alim did not let him finish.
He sensed it now. He had found the demon here.
He blasted the spirit with lightning.
That guard crumbled as well.
Surprisingly, the dream did not end; Solona must have been continuing it somehow.
It was all the more reason to have words with his friend.
Alim stormed right up to Solona's door, he could hear voices within…
He pounded loudly on the door.
He heard giggling and the sound of someone's feet hitting the floor.
"Solona? He said.
"Just…just a minute," he heard the mage call back.
Alim sighed with relief.
She at least sounded alright.
The locks clicked and the door opened.
Solona stood before him, dressed in nothing but a silk bathrobe. Her hair was mussed and she was blushing bright red.
"Hi Alim," she said shyly.
The elf narrowed his eyes.
"Hi Alim?" he repeated, "Hi Alim? That is all you can say?"
She shrugged.
"Sorry," she whimpered.
"You do know where we are, don't you?" he asked.
She nodded.
"We're in the fade, I felt almost immediately."
The elf rolled his eyes.
"Then why in Andraste's name are you still here!"
"Love come back to bed," a masculine voice said behind her.
He knew that voice; it was a familiar sounding voice.
Solona's blush darkened.
Alim gave her an old fashioned look. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Cullen?" he asked.
"Cullen," she admitted.
Alim shook his head.
She bowed her head, "I…I just thought...if this was my end. Why should I not enjoy my final moments?"
"Because we are not dead yet," Alim hissed, "Irving needs us. The Circle still needs us. So summon your clothes and end this wet dream. We have work to do."
Solona whimpered, she…she knew he was right.
"Love…what is wrong?"
She glanced behind her, a sad look on her face.
"I need to go Cullen," she said, "I have business."
"Can I see you later?" he asked.
"I," she gave Alim a desperate look; he gave her a cold glare in return.
"I hope so," she whispered.
The dream ended, Solona appeared before Alim dressed in her circle robes again.
She looked chagrinned.
"Sorry," she whispered.
"Don't be," he sighed, "I…I probably could have stayed a little longer in my dream."
It was a lie, but Lona did not need to know that, he…he could not have spent any time with the false Belle.
Leliana was in danger, as long as that was the case.
He would not have been able to rest.
Solona started to follow him; she vanished before she took a single step.
Alim checked yet another companion off his list.
Only one remained.
It was time to find Wynne.
It was time to end this.
IOI
He was back in the circle again, but it was a circle transformed.
Bodies lay everywhere: apprentice's, mages, and senior enchanters all bound in death.
Alim reached out with his magic trying to sense Wynne.
Strangely enough, he was having a hard to finding her. He sensed the demon's presence of course, but there…there was something else as well.
It…it did not feel malevolent, but it was powerful…definitely powerful.
He stepped over the sea of corpses carefully. Wynne had to be around here somewhere.
It took a bit of searching, but finally he found the elder mage, she was on her knees looking down on the corpses of her fellows.
Tears ran down her cheeks.
"Maker forgive me," the old woman sighed, "I have failed them all. They all died and I did not stop it."
Alim hoped his presence would break her out of this…this nightmare, but she continued to ignore him.
It was time for the more direct approach.
"It isn't over yet Wynne," he said, "The circle can still be saved."
She looked up at him. Anger and sorrow warred on her face.
"Look at this," she said motioning to the bodies, "How can you say that when faced…with…with this?!"
"You have to fight this," he said, "No matter what you are feeling you have to."
"Why was I spared," she murmured, "If it was not to help them, then why was I spared? What use is my life now?"
She gave him a hard glare.
"Leave me to my grief," she said, "I shall bury their bones, scatter their ashes to the four winds, and wait here until I am dead."
Alim sighed in frustration.
"This is getting rather morbid old woman," he growled.
She rose to her feet, magic roared around her. He raised a defensive shield just in case.
"You do not know me," she snarled with fury. "Your blatant disregard for the souls of the dead is utterly inappropriate."
"They are not dead yet, he growled, his own temper starting to flare. He should not have to do this, Morrigan and Solona had both knew this place for what it was.
What made Wynne so different?
"Where were you?" the old woman snarled. "I trusted you as an ally and you were nowhere to be found!"
"Damn it old woman," he sighed, "Can't you sense it? THIS IS THE FADE! ARE YOU A MAGE OR NOT?!"
That gave Wynne pause.
"The fade," she murmured, "I…I thought I would recognize it. I…I have always had an infinity for the fade."
"You are trapped in a dream, concentrate; you will know it to be true."
Wynne closed her eyes, her brow furrowed with concentration.
"Something is stopping me," she murmured, "I…I have never had so much trouble. Perhaps…perhaps we should go away from this place, that…that may help."
Alim sighed with relief.
Praise the Maker!
"Follow me," he said, "The way out is…"
One of the dead apprentices sat up.
"Don't leave us Wynne," he cried desperately, "We do not want to be alone."
All around them the bodies started to rise.
Alim drew his sword.
Wynne gasped in horror.
"Holy Maker! Stay away foul creatures!"
"Come to your rest," the apprentice said limping to his feet, "Come and sleep soundly in the embrace of the earth, do not fight it!"
"No," the old woman gasped, "No, not yet! It is not time yet, my task is not yet done!"
"Come to your rest."
The 'dead' apprentices tried to seize the old woman. Alim lashed out with both sword staff and lightning. A strange glow enveloped Wynne, it pulsed outward. Demons wailed as the light blew them away like dry leaves.
Alim's eyes widened.
He…he had never felt such power before.
Wynne panted, she was sweating, but looked upon him with grateful eyes.
"Thank the Maker for you," she said, "I…wait…what is happening…where are you going?"
Wynne faded away. She left him standing alone in the raw fade again.
Alim grinned wolfishly.
The way to the sloth demon now sat open.
He marched proudly towards it, sword and staff in hand. He was tired of all the tricks and the games.
The demon wanted to play with them? Well…the elf had a new game to teach him.
It was called: 'How to turn a demon into a pile of ash.'
The warden mage was eager to play.
IOI
The sloth demon regarded the small elf curiously. Its skull like face shimmered with amusement.
"What do we have here," it cackled, "A rebellious minion, an escaped slave? My, my, you certainly have some gall."
The elf merely grinned at him; a strange mist began to form behind him.
"Play time is over," the demon purred, "You all have to go back now."
All around the elf other people appeared. The demon stood surrounded, it reached out with its magic, trying to cage them again, but the awakened mortals were blocking it now.
The demon growled with frustration.
One by one they addressed him, idle threats made against him in his own kingdom.
You tried to keep us apart because you fear us, don't you?
You shouldn't have tormented me like that, an Aeducan does not forgive.
You made a dangerous enemy when you invaded my mind creature.
Sloth snarled, but tried to hold his temper.
There was still a chance to salvage this.
"If you go back now, I will do better," he promised, "I will make you all much happier."
"We will be free," the elf growled.
"I did my best for you," the demon pouted, "I made you all happy and safe, I gave you peace, and now you say you want to leave. I'm hurt…so very, very hurt."
"Your time is done," the elf said pointing his sword at Sloth.
"We will do nothing you say."
Now Sloth did grow angry.
"You wish to battle me?" it spat, "So be it, I will teach you to bow to your betters mortal!"
He transformed into an ogre, the creature was prevalent in most of these people's nightmares.
The elf was undaunted, he…he transformed into a golem and attacked Sloth. Arrows, flame, and blades assaulted the demon.
It howled in fury and disbelief.
This could not be happening! This was his domain his!
They had no right to treat him this way!
The battle continued, and then…after many wounds and blasts of arcane energy, Sloth did something that it did not expect.
It…went to its final rest.
It…it was surprisingly…
…peaceful.
IOI
Alim awoke.
The elf shook his head, trying to clear away the last vestiges of sleep from his mind.
He startled when he realized that Leliana had fallen asleep in his arms. That she had snuggled against his chest. Blushing, he lightly slipped away from her, before she woke enough to notice.
Under normal circumstance he would have enjoyed that.
He…he felt different; acknowledging the way he felt about her in the fade changed something…it changed him.
He saw her with new eyes, both fearful and excited eyes.
The bard yawned and stretched deliciously, Even covered in dirt and blood she was ravishing. She gave him a warm look.
"Are…are you real?" she asked him.
He smiled and nodded, it was all he could do to keep from taking her into his arms and kissing her.
Yes, they were all back and she…
…she was so beautiful.
All around them the others stirred. Alistair awoke to find Morrigan's head resting on his chest. He gave the witch a quick kiss, she snorted and rose dusting herself off. Solona helped Wynne up. Zevran turned to helped Seri.
The sloth abomination lay dead at their feet, the creature that animated it was now dead and there was nothing keeping the body functional.
Theron walked up and kicked the dead abomination, it was a petty revenge, but Alim understood it.
The demon had paid, but for what it had done to them, for what it had made them all feel.
There would never be enough revenge for that.
Niall lay nearby, the poor mage had been the demon's captive too long.
He had died in his sleep, but his sacrifice had not been in vain.
Alim had promised him that they would save the circle. The man had been brave, he had tried to help.
That was all anyone could ask.
Alim found the Litany of Adralla; he quickly stuffed it into his pack. They would need it before they reached the end.
Uldred and who knew how many of his followers still lived higher up in the tower.
"We're not done yet," he said coldly, "I will not stop until every demon in this place follows that bastard Sloth into the void. Are you all with me?"
Grim faces all nodded, they were all angry, all tired of being manipulated.
He could relate.
Alim pulled his sword and led them on, into the magical laboratories of the circle.
He could sense more danger up ahead.
That was good.
They all needed to work out their frustrations.
He almost pitied the demons waiting for them…
Almost.