A/N: Hey, everybody! I am so, so sorry that it took this long to get a new chapter up. I've been working a lot more on original stuff lately, so that decreased the amount of time I had for this outside of my paying job lol, and I had a bit of writer's block for this story, too. But recently some of the plot bunnies came back, and I found extra time to get out a new chapter. My sincere hope is that it never takes this long again to get a chapter done, but even if it does, I promise I will never abandon the story completely. I do really want to finish this one, and then write a DA Inquisition sequel at some point too! It would be really nice, though, if people could let me know they're still reading too, and still interested in seeing more chapters. Reviews do fuel me to write more chapters and faster, even if it's just a "good job". At least then I know people are still reading or don't hate the new material or what have you. So please, if you would like to see chapters more often, review and let me know, and I will increase my efforts to get at least once a month chapters up. Thank you, and I really hope you enjoy this chapter!
And, for those who did review the last chapter, WolFang1011, Guest Judy, and Kylia Quilor, thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
THERE IS STILL A GIFT FIC FOR THE 200TH REVIEWER, SO PLEASE REVIEW! THANK YOU!
Disclaimer: As always, any characters or dialogue you recognize belongs to Bioware. Mardin and everything else belongs to me.
Chapter 23: Demons
Mardin hopped out of the bed, stretching his arms above his head, his back cracking and popping in a satisfying manner as he looked around the room. He hadn't had much chance to study it last night when Brianna had dragged him in here, making good on her promise to allow him to help her break in her new bed. Which they had done vigorously last night, he thought with a smirk, casting a glance back at the surprisingly comfortable, canopied bed with its now rumpled satin sheets of dark blue. He thought he'd managed to wear his pretty mage out thoroughly, but she'd already been gone when he woke up, and he saw no sign of her in the spacious room now.
Though, judging by the rays of sun streaming in from the glass doors leading out to a balcony, it was probably quite late in the morning. Brianna rarely slept in as late as he liked to do when they were free of jobs, and there'd been little to do but help her get her new place ready over the past week since they'd helped Aveline out. He quite liked the way her room had turned out, though, he decided. The rich red tones of the walls and the lighter wood furniture of the desk and wardrobe suited her. He especially liked the large white marble fireplace with the plush rug spread in front of it. That would be the next place he'd convince her they had to christen.
But first, he needed to find food. He'd just begun looking around for where his breeches ended up the night before when the heavy wood door to the room swung open. Brianna came in, wearing a simple, short dress of deep purple threaded with gold that left her long legs on display. He smiled, appreciating the sight even as she raised her eyebrows at him, one hand propped on her hip, the other holding a square of paper. "You do know you can't leave my room naked, right? Mother would have a fit. And you'd shock Bodahn and Sandal."
Bodahn, the dwarven merchant whose son Sandal they'd helped find down in the Deep Roads, had taken up residence at Brianna's new home as well, insisting on becoming her servant in gratitude for what they'd done. Since she hadn't been able to convince him that Sandal had mostly rescued himself, Brianna had finally agreed, but Mardin knew she was still a bit uncomfortable with the thought of having servants and figuring out how to deal with them. So he gave her an easy smile as he finally spotted the plain brown breeches he'd worn the night before, scooping them up off the trunk at the foot of her bed. "I wasn't planning on it. Though I doubt Bodahn would be that easy to shock. He seems like a steady sort. Anyway, I had to find where you left these first," he added as he tugged them on.
He grinned at the light blush that spread over her cheeks, even as she visibly relaxed at his words. "Yes, well, I can never be sure with you. I'm glad you're finally up," she went on. "I keep thinking that one of these days, I'll find you in full hibernation."
He laughed at that as he found his blue tunic as well, tugging it over his head. "How long have you been waiting to use that one?"
"A while," she admitted, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Anyway, do you remember Sebastian Vael?"
"Sebastian . . ." Mardin muttered, casting about in his memory before it finally came to him. "Wasn't he the one who hired you to take out that company of mercenaries? The one whose family was killed?" That was the biggest reason he remembered the man; the mention of his family being killed by mercenaries had brought up old memories of Father, of finding his body with a dagger pinning a note to his chest. He clenched his fists tightly at the memory washing through him anew.
"Mardin?" Brianna's voice was tinged with concern, and so too were her eyes when he looked up at her. The sight warmed him a little too much, so he shook the memory off quickly.
"I'm fine," he reassured her, and ignoring the doubt in her expression, looked at the paper in her hand as he went on, "Did he contact you?"
She nodded, lifting the paper. "Yes, he sent a note over this morning. He thinks he's found out who hired the Flint Company to kill his family, and he wants to know if I can help confront them. He's waiting for my answer at the Chantry. I thought you'd want to come along."
"Of course I do." There was little that would please him more than helping a man gain vengeance on those who'd murdered his family, even if he barely knew this Sebastian. Whoever had wronged him still deserved to die a slow and painful death. He scooped up the two daggers lying on the floor, the only weapons he'd brought over here with him the night before. "I'll just have to go back to my room and get ready."
Brianna cast a rueful glance down at her dress. "Yes, I'll need to get changed before we go to the Chantry as well."
Mardin stepped up to her, and unable to help himself, ran a hand down her bare leg, enjoying the warmth and softness of the skin there. "It would be a shame to cover those legs up." He grinned at her.
She rolled her eyes at him, though she was smiling. "I'd rather have a little protection on my legs, thank you very much." When he slid his hand back up, she grabbed his wrist just as he reached the hem of the dress. "Later," she told him, looking amused. "I've already sent Sebastian a message that I'll be right over to meet him, so I can't have you making me late."
"I can make it quick," he promised, feeling his blood stirring already at the fact that he could scent a mild increase in her arousal just from the touch of his hand on her leg. It didn't seem to matter that he'd thoroughly enjoyed that smell last night; he already wanted more of it.
She pulled his hand away from her leg, and he sighed, letting her, only to be surprised when she wrapped her hand in his tunic and yanked him down for a quick and hard kiss. She pulled back just as suddenly, giving him a sly smile. "Later, because I want it nice and slow. Now why don't you go get ready and meet me at the Chantry when you're done?"
"I'm going to hold you to that," he warned her, unable to stop himself from giving her a quick kiss in return before he headed out the door of her room, thinking how surprisingly sexy he sometimes found it when she ordered him around.
He followed Brianna into the Chantry about half an hour later, wearing his armor, sword and shield once more. When Brianna asked where they could find Sebastian, a sister pointed towards the second level, where there was a balcony with an altar and dozens of candles. They could hear the sounds of an argument as they came up the stairs.
"I thought it would end here," a man's voice passionately declared as they reached the top of the stairs. "That young lady, Hawke, she decimated Flint Company. No survivors." Mardin followed Brianna around one of the many statues in the Chantry to see the man they'd met several months ago, Sebastian, arguing with an older woman with gray hair, wearing dark grey and red robes emblazoned with a sunburst. Sebastian shook his head as he continued, "Yet . . . now that I know who sent them, it's harder to see their deaths as justice."
"Death is never justice," the woman informed him, and Mardin couldn't stop himself from snorting at that, though he did manage to restrain himself from commenting further. Judging by the richness of the woman's robes and her reproving and authoritative tone, she was someone high up in this Chantry of theirs, who should be shown respect similar to a Messenger like Cranin.
The woman and Sebastian had both turned in their direction at the noise, however, and Sebastian smiled in relief as he spotted Brianna. "Hawke! You're certainly prompt! Oh, and forgive me, I'm afraid I don't quite remember your name." The former prince turned towards Mardin, holding his hand out.
Why did that sting, that lack of recognition? Mardin wondered as he shook Sebastian's hand, forcing a smile to his face. "Mardin Trichlor."
"Yes, of course! You were with Hawke before, weren't you?" Sebastian smiled as he released Mardin's hand, turning to Brianna next to him.
"Yes, Mardin was a great help in tracking down all the members of the Flint Company," Brianna said, smiling over at Mardin. He felt that sting easing at her smile as she turned back to Sebastian. "I'm sorry to interrupt."
"This is Grand Cleric Elthina." Sebastian gestured to the older woman, confirming Mardin's suspicion of her importance, though he didn't know exactly what a Grand Cleric did. Elthina smiled slightly and inclined her head at them as Sebastian went on, "And you didn't really interrupt. We were just talking about you."
"Saying good things, I hope?" Brianna asked lightly.
"Many people in Kirkwall have good things to say about you," Elthina replied, though her words didn't exactly sound warm to Mardin's ears. He frowned. She didn't set off his instincts, but neither did he much like her tone.
Sebastian didn't seem to sense anything amiss, however, for he told Brianna earnestly, "I've learned who hired Flint Company – the Harimanns, a noble family of Kirkwall. They were my parents' allies. It's hard to believe they betrayed us like this."
Brianna frowned at his words. "Tell me about this family."
"Lord Harimann used to be a good man, but he became rather strange in his dotage. He died some years back. His daughter took over the family," Sebastian explained. "Lady Johane Harimann. They say she's become quite reclusive of late."
Brianna nodded, clearly absorbing the information. "Any idea why they turned on you?"
Sebastian shrugged, though Mardin could see the deep-rooted hurt in his eyes. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to have your family killed by their supposed friends; losing his father to bandits had been bad enough. "Money? Power?" Sebastian guessed. "It's hard to say. Lady Harimann was always jealous of my family for being royalty when hers were mere nobility. But I can't imagine that pushing her into outright murder."
"What do you intend to do?" Brianna asked carefully.
"If you treat the Harimanns like those mercenaries, you could start a war," the Grand Cleric said sternly. "Go carefully, Sebastian."
"I will speak with Lady Harimann first and find out what drove her to this madness," Sebastian declared. "But I am the last of my line. I should not go alone and make myself a target, which is why I called you here."
Brianna glanced to Mardin, and he nodded. Much as he'd prefer to simply wipe this family out for what they'd done, he knew it would be more prudent to at least talk to them first and find out what happened.
"We'll go, of course." Brianna turned back to Sebastian with a firm nod. "If we're with you, that should make her think twice."
Sebastian bowed his head to her. "Again, your interest in my plight humbles me. I'm prepared to go today, if you're willing."
"We might as well go right now," Mardin suggested.
"No point in putting it off," Brianna agreed. "You might as well come with us, Sebastian, and we'll get a couple more of our friends to help along the way, just in case."
Sebastian nodded, following them as they headed out of the Chantry.
They picked up Fenris, Isabela, and Varric on their way, and Sebastian led them to one of the many other mansions in Hightown, a few blocks from where Mardin and Fenris stayed. Mardin stuck close to Brianna's side as she went up the stairs to the large door gracing the front of the pillared mansion Sebastian had indicated. Brianna knocked, but there was no answer, though they waited for several moments. Finally, with a shrug, Brianna turned the door handle, surprise showing on her face as it turned easily, swinging open into a dimly lit and empty front hall.
"That's strange," Sebastian said, coming up the stairs slowly, the others following him. "The door's wide open. And not a single guard posted. This is not the Lady Harimann I remember."
Mardin glanced through the door into the empty hall, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck rise, and that familiar sensation of unease settling deep into his gut. "Something is definitely not right here," Mardin agreed, giving Brianna a significant glance.
"It gives you a bad feeling?" she guessed, and he nodded. "Well, I think we need to go in and have a look, either way. Be careful, and stay alert," she warned the others.
Mardin slipped through the door ahead of her, not about to let her go first when he sensed danger, and kept his hand on his sword hilt as he entered the front hall. There were a few candles and torches lit along the walls, but overall it was dark and rather cold in the building. The hall was carpeted richly in red, and there was a grand staircase straight ahead, leading up to a balcony on the next level. There were also doors to the left and right. In fact, the whole layout was rather similar to the mansion he lived in with Fenris. There was no sign of anybody immediately nearby, though Mardin could pick up several unfamiliar smells belonging to various men and women.
"I guess we'd better start looking in all the rooms, see if we can find the Harimanns or any of their servants," Brianna offered as she and the others came up next to him. Mardin nodded, taking point as they began to move through the mansion.
Strangely, the doors on the first floor were blocked, and though Mardin figured he could break them down, given enough time, Brianna elected to continue up to the second floor instead. There were a few more doors blocked off up on the balcony, but they finally found an open hallway to the left, following it around to another balcony. Below them, a pretty young woman in a fine silk dress with long brown hair stood in front of a wine barrel, shouting at it. "More! You lazy son of a bitch! What's taking so long?"
"Flora?" Sebastian exclaimed in disbelief, hurrying down the nearby set of stairs and over to the young woman. Mardin followed along with the others, all of them halting a few feet away when the woman didn't react to Sebastian's call or their presence. Mardin felt a cold sensation skitter up his spine at the blank look in her eyes as they remained fixed on the barrel in front of her.
"Why does no one in this house care what I want?" she slurred, swaying back and forth, not even noticing Sebastian as he came up right next to her. "More wine! Or I swear, I will drown you in the dregs!"
"That sounds familiar," Varric muttered. "I don't envy anyone in this household tomorrow morning."
Sebastian waved a hand in front of Flora's face, but she didn't react, just continued to shout about wine and stare at the barrel. "She doesn't even see us," the former prince said at last in distress. "This is no normal wine."
Brianna frowned, studying Flora closely before she looked to Mardin. "What do you think?"
"I think he's right," Mardin murmured, grimacing at the insistent clamouring of his instincts. "The way she's acting . . . it feels very wrong. Very unnatural."
"We had best keep moving, if we wish to find out what's affecting her," Fenris suggested, and Brianna nodded in agreement.
"There's another hallway up here," Isabela called, having already gone back up the stairs and around the balcony.
"Let's go then," Sebastian said, hurrying up the stairs, and Mardin followed him along with the others.
They hadn't gone far along the hallway before it opened up into another room, and they all froze for a brief moment at the strange tableau laid out before them. A dark-haired man, richly dressed in a silk tunic, was adding logs to a fire blazing in the center of the room, though a fireplace stood on the wall behind it. A cauldron hung from a spit above the fire, sending a strange smell of – metal? - to Mardin along with the sweat of unwashed bodies. The man waved his hands frantically as he started to pace, shouting, "More logs! It must be molten!" He whirled to a male elf standing nearby, holding a dagger to the throat of a sobbing female elf. "You! More coins. I want every scrap of gold in this house!"
"P-please, messere . . ." the female elf begged, tears choking her voice.
"There's nothing to fear. You'll be beautiful. Pour it over her!" the man cried, raising his arms and gesturing to the pot over the fire.
"Don't! You'll kill her!" Sebastian exclaimed, but like Flora, the man showed no sign of hearing anything. "He can't hear me," Sebastian muttered, distressed.
Mardin, though his skin was crawling by now with unease at the unnatural reactions of these people, stalked forward with a growl building in his throat. The male elf, apparently having heard Sebastian, took his dagger away from the woman's throat and moved toward Mardin, who swiped aside the dagger contemptuously with his left arm, punching the elf in the face with his right, sending him crashing to the ground. The female elf bolted past them, tears streaming down her face, but the dark-haired man still didn't seem to notice anything going on around him. He just murmured to himself, "Perhaps I should be the one."
"What in the Maker's name is going on here?" Brianna exclaimed, staring at the dark-haired man in shock.
"It's like they're all in a trance," Varric said thoughtfully. "They don't seem to notice us at all. Just the humans, though. That elf definitely noticed us."
Sebastian just shook his head, looking horrified. "We must end this madness, whatever it is. All the Harimanns seem to be affected so far."
"This definitely doesn't seem to be the fun kind of party," Isabela added, looking into the cauldron with a frown. "And what a waste of money."
"Should we just leave him here?" Mardin gestured at the man, now staring off into space, as Sebastian headed for the open door across the way. "He was about to kill that elf."
"He does seem more dangerous than the woman," Fenris agreed, turning back to glance at the man. "It may not be wise to leave him here."
Brianna looked from the male elf sprawled on the floor, to the man, to Mardin. "Well . . . you could just knock him out, too. It's just a temporary solution, but it should work for now."
"Gladly." Mardin strolled towards the man, punching him squarely in the face, too. He did make sure to at least hold back enough to keep from killing the guy, though. There was the chance that Sebastian might want to question him later on.
Varric winced in sympathy as the man crashed to the ground. "Yup, everyone in here will be having a headache come morning."
"Let's keep going," Brianna urged, gesturing them to follow Sebastian through the other door. "We need to figure out why everyone's acting so strangely."
They caught up to Sebastian in the narrow hallway beyond, where he stood waiting for them, frowning deeply. When Brianna reached him, he shook his head, looking confused. "I visited this house often as a child. They could not have concealed such goings-on."
Brianna gave him a sympathetic smile. "I wouldn't think they could, no."
"None of this is quite right," Mardin said carefully, aware that Sebastian didn't know his abilities like the others. "Something else has to be going on here."
"So let's keep looking," Isabela piped up, waving them onwards.
They made their way through a few rooms, finding nothing, but eventually went up a set of stairs that led into a bedroom. Mardin nearly ran right into Sebastian's back, as he'd been in the lead this time, as Sebastian stopped dead several feet into the room. He came up next to the archer to see an older man with a beard and black hair, wearing only his smallclothes, sitting on the edge of a large bed. A lovely young elf woman in nothing but a corset was sliding down his front as the man moaned in pleasure. "Oh . . . lower . . . lower . . ."
"Mmm, now this is more my kind of party," Isabela drawled in tones of appreciation as she came up on Sebastian's other side.
Sebastian turned around abruptly, his face flushing red as Brianna and the others all halted nearby, staring. "I beg your pardon, Hawke," Sebastian said stiffly. "I did not mean to expose you to such things."
For the first time since entering the mansion, Mardin could feel amusement rising above his unease, along with a little desire, as he recalled Brianna doing the same thing to him last night. He cast Brianna a wicked glance. "Yes, exposing you to this sort of thing is my job."
Varric laughed. "And it's a job I'm sure you do with great enthusiasm, Red."
Brianna grinned, shaking her head as Sebastian turned redder and Fenris sighed. "Would you two stop it?" she admonished lightly. "At this rate, Sebastian is never going to want our help again."
Varric shrugged unrepentantly. "Choirboy should know what he's getting into if he's going to keep working with us."
"Choirboy?" Mardin repeated, his lips twitching. "Well, I guess it's more original than Red. Or Blondie."
Before Varric could reply, the man on the bed exclaimed loudly, "No! The feather! Use the feather! Where have you been all my life?"
Sebastian, having apparently gotten his blushing under control, frowned. "He has no idea we're here either. I've known Ruxton Harimann my whole life. He's a complete prude!"
"Where's your brother?" the man behind him drawled. "Let's ask him to join us . . ."
"He is obviously not anymore," Fenris said dryly. "In any case, we should continue searching. Something about this reeks of magic."
"Yes, you're right," Sebastian agreed, heading for the next door. "Staying here will not help us."
"Well, that's a shame," Isabela said with a sigh, moving to follow him after a last, longing look back at Ruxton and his elf. "You're going to make this up to me," she added to Fenris as he went with her.
"Why must I be the one to make it up to you?" Mardin could hear Fenris mutter as he, Brianna and Varric went to follow.
"I'll have to remember those feathers for later," Mardin whispered to Brianna as Varric moved out of earshot. She blushed and poked him in the side, but he noticed she looked briefly intrigued as they went to follow the others through the mansion.
After searching the remainder of the rooms that they could get to, they finally found a door leading to a wine cellar, and Mardin could feel the uncomfortable sensation in his gut and the heavy unease weighing him down grow much stronger as they made their way down the steps. In addition, he could smell the distinct scent of death below them.
"This is it," Mardin muttered to Brianna as they went. "Whatever's causing all this, it's down here somewhere."
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, they found a dead body lying off to the side, not far from some of the barrels of wine. Varric checked the body over quickly, discovering that it bore the insignia of the Flint Company. "Looks like you were right about the Harimanns hiring them, Choirboy," he told Sebastian.
"I had hoped to be wrong," Sebastian said heavily. "But I still do not understand why they did so. And I have yet to see Lady Johane."
"Then we keep going," Isabela said, gesturing to the back corner of the wine cellar. "It looks like someone's been digging around back there."
She started forward, Fenris at her side, and the others moved to follow them, but Mardin felt his unease spiral alarmingly high. He whirled back towards the stairs, having the feeling of being watched, and growled when he saw the three Harimanns from earlier standing behind them. His hand instantly went to the hilt of his sword; though the three seemed aware he was there now, something was still very blank about their gazes.
"Turn back. There is nothing here for you," Flora droned in an eerie voice.
The others, having all turned back at the sound of her voice, gathered around Mardin as Brianna said dryly, "Odd. When we watched you being a drunken ass, you ignored us completely."
"You shall not go any further!" Flora cried out.
Mardin watched, his skin crawling, as the three dropped simultaneously to their knees and fell over on their sides. A thunderous boom shook the whole cellar, and suddenly shades and demons were appearing in every corner of the stone room. Mardin snarled and drew his sword, shifting his shield into place as he moved towards the nearest rage demon, knowing from experience his weapon would be useless on the shades until Brianna was able to freeze them. Fortunately, there were more demons than shades, and between the six of them, they were able to make fairly short work of them. Sebastian proved to have rather impressive aim, rivalling even Varric's with his crossbow, Mardin noted as the last demon fell to an arrow before he could reach it.
"Demons. Temptresses," Sebastian said with disgust. "We must see what greater evil they were protecting."
They all turned around again, heading for the opening in the back corner that Isabela had pointed out. It led into an underground passage that appeared to belong to a ruin of some sort. The walls were made out of worn stone bricks, with battered archways at intervals, and as they went further, there were crumbling sets of stairs leading deeper underground. The whole place reeked of decay and mildew, making Mardin wrinkle his nose, and the air grew cooler as they went deeper, though Mardin knew that wasn't the only reason for the chill running down his spine.
"Does this feel like a trap?" Brianna whispered to him as they went lower, Sebastian in the lead now, and he nodded. "Definitely. Reminds me of the Deep Roads, actually."
"Oh, why would you say something like that, Red?" Varric groaned in disappointment from just ahead of them. "I really need to learn to stop following you underground, Hawke. I'm not that kind of dwarf."
"But what would I do without my favourite dwarf?" Brianna teased him, and Mardin laughed softly as Varric grumbled but couldn't help smiling back at her.
They continued making their way through the ruins, having to fight a few more groups of shades and demons as they went, and coming upon piles of bones scattered around the dilapidated ruins. Finally, just when Mardin thought the unease roiling through his gut couldn't get any more intense, they reached what looked like an ancient great hall, a wide open space with a few broken-down pillars scattered along its length. The light of a few wavering torches showed more bones scattered along the crumbling stone floor, and down at the very end was an immense old fireplace. Directly in front of that, an older woman with greying hair, dressed in fine silks, knelt in front of –
"A demon," Fenris hissed, and they all tensed, seeing the horned form floating in the air in front of the woman.
They began to cautiously make their way down the hall, weapons at the ready, and Mardin could hear the woman's voice floating back as they drew closer. "You must give me more. Starkhaven will not submit. I put that idiot Goran Vael into the prince's seat, but the other families won't heed him. I must marry him to Flora and solidify our hold. But I need more power." The woman clenched her fists at this.
It was one of those desire demons, Mardin saw. Brianna had once shown him a book filled with pictures and accounts of the various demons, so he'd know what they all were, and they'd run across a couple of the desire ones before as well. They all seemed to take the same form; that of a voluptuous, nearly nude woman with purple skin, horns, and deep black eyes. "I've given you much," the demon said in an eerie, yet somehow still seductive voice. "Your desires run deep. You've already traded your husband and your children. What more can you offer?"
"That's what's wrong with all of them," Brianna snapped, looking disgusted as they all halted several feet away. "You traded your family to this demon. What bargain was important enough for that?"
The woman shot to her feet, demanding, "Who are you? How did you get here?" She was looking over their group as she talked, and suddenly her eyes went wide with shock as they landed on the former prince in the midst of them. "Sebastian . . . ?"
"You were my mother's friend!" Sebastian snarled, stepping forward with his fists clenched. "How could you murder her?"
"Such an ugly word," the demon cooed, its attention focused on Sebastian now. "I prefer 'removed the only obstacle between her and her dreams'."
"This was your idea!" Sebastian pointed an angry finger at the demon.
"I could create such desires if I wished. But it's far easier to nurture those that already exist," the demon informed him. Unfortunately, Mardin was sure she was quite right; he'd seen the ugliness of what people could do to each other without any help from demons firsthand. The demons simply made it easier for people to do this sort of thing. "The desire for power is easy to find," the demon went on smoothly. "You and your friend both possess it, do you not? You both wish to rise."
Mardin noticed Brianna and Sebastian exchanging uncomfortable looks, and Mardin couldn't help but be a little surprised. He hadn't realized Brianna held a wish for power. The demon kept droning on, saying various things in that seductive voice, though she mostly focused on Sebastian, telling him how he could be a shining prince like his brother had once been. Mardin looked at the others, seeing that they were all getting a little glassy-eyed, and realized the demon's powers must be pulling them under. He didn't know why it wasn't working on him; perhaps because his instincts were still on high alert about how dangerous and unnatural the thing was.
He let the shift slip through enough to deepen his voice, and roared, "Snap out of it!" before he lunged forward at the demon with his sword.
It looked startled, and narrowly avoided being skewered, dodging at the last minute. "You!" it snarled, fixing its gaze on Mardin. "You're taking away my playthings!"
It raised a clawed hand, but had to dodge suddenly backwards once more as a bolt of magical energy nearly hit it. "Mardin!" Brianna shouted from behind him.
"Fine," the demon growled. "I'll just have to kill you instead."
The room suddenly exploded with more shades and minor demons, but Mardin was too busy keeping the furious desire demon at bay to help the others with them or Lady Harimann, who began attacking as well. He kept his shield up, blocking the furious swipes of the claws, dodging the magic the thing threw at him as it shrieked in fury, all while trying to strike his own blows. Unfortunately, each swipe of his sword was blocked by its claws; the demon was quick and strong. After what seemed like several moments of this as they circled around the room, the demon suddenly had to rear back once more as one of Sebastian's arrows flew straight for its head. The distraction was all Mardin needed; he thrust his sword home straight through its chest, causing the demon to howl in pain, but before it could react further, he'd already withdrawn his sword and delivered the finishing blow.
He quickly looked around the room once the demon had fallen; Fenris was just finishing up with the last remaining demon, and the others all appeared to be alive and well, to Mardin's relief. Brianna was healing a minor wound on Isabela; other than that, no one appeared to have been harmed. Mardin nodded in gratitude at Sebastian for the assist; the archer gave a solemn nod in return, looking sadly at Lady Harimann's body amongst the pile of demons.
"Let us return to the Chantry," Sebastian said as soon as Brianna finished with healing Isabela. "I must pray for Lady Harimann's soul."
"Of course," Brianna agreed, and they all followed as Sebastian headed back the way they'd come.
Mardin fell into step beside Brianna. "Are you all right?" he asked her softly, though he hadn't noticed any visible wounds.
"I'm fine. Well, maybe a little shaken up that I listened to that demon for a moment," she admitted, looking ashamed, "but I'm not hurt. Why didn't her powers work on you? It seemed to work on everybody else."
He shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe because my instincts were telling me how unnatural and dangerous it was the whole time? Or maybe because I have everything I desire right now? I'm not sure."
She cast him a surprised look. "What do you mean? You don't desire anything else right now?"
"Well, I wanted to find my sister, and I did. She's safe and happy. Sure, I miss her and Rylee already, but I've got the sending crystal," he tapped the crystal on his chest, that he'd used to contact Ayla a few times already since returning, "and she can always come to visit me now. I have a place to sleep, food to eat, work to do, and a gorgeous, feisty mage in my bed nearly every night." He smiled down at her. "So what could a desire demon have to offer me now?"
He watched with interest as she flushed red, looking both embarrassed and pleased. "Well . . . thank you," she said at last. "For the compliment, and for snapping us out of it. That roar of yours broke through whatever the demon was doing."
"You're very welcome," he told her. "Though I expect you to hold to your promise tonight, to properly show your gratitude." He winked at her, and she laughed, her eyes flaring with heat. "Of course, I will," she promised, and he smiled, suddenly looking very much forward to later tonight.
Somehow, it seemed to take longer to reach the wine cellar than it had to travel down to the ruin in the first place, but they finally re-entered it, just as Mardin's stomach was starting to growl with hunger, making him realize that it was likely well past lunchtime.
Flora, however, was waiting for them in the wine cellar, meaning he wouldn't get food anytime soon, he saw as she greeted them with tears streaming down her face. Whatever hold the demon had previously had on her seemed to be gone, and she no longer set Mardin's instincts off as she cried out, "Sebastian! I am so, so . . . 'sorry' is such an inadequate word. When I think what Mother made us do . . . what those creatures made us do . . ."
"We were friends, Flora!" Sebastian snapped. Mardin frowned. While he agreed that Sebastian had a right to be upset with the elder Lady Harimann, it was obvious all the others had been deeply under the demon's spell, and thus not to blame for their actions, as far as he was concerned.
"It was like a cloud came down on me," Flora explained tearfully. "All I could feel or think was what the demon allowed."
"Did your mother order the attack on Sebastian's family?" Brianna asked softly, since Sebastian seemed unable to find words, his face twisted in anger and disappointment.
"She did," Flora admitted quietly. "You . . . you know Mother, Sebastian. She was always jealous of your parents." Sebastian shook his head, looking distraught as Flora continued, "The demon twisted that until it was all she could think of. She was determined to seize Starkhaven for herself."
"It wasn't your fault," Brianna assured her. "While your mother may have made the bargain, you did not have any choice in the matter. You are a victim, as well."
Mardin smiled, pleased at Brianna's words as Flora gave her a shaky smile of gratitude. "I doubt many people will be so forgiving. If it takes every last coin my family owns, I will make reparations to everyone we've wronged. Starting with you, Sebastian," she added as she turned to the former prince once more. "We weren't the only ones vying for Starkhaven. If you face more opposition, you have my support."
"It will not make up for what happened," Sebastian said quietly.
Flora hung her head. "No, that's true."
Mardin frowned, glaring at Sebastian. "Easy, there. It was her mother that was in the wrong; she was just under the demon's spell. Considering you nearly succumbed to it yourself, I think you could have a bit more understanding for her."
"Mardin –" Brianna began, but Sebastian shook his head, holding up his hand to stop her.
"No, it's fine." Sebastian nodded at Mardin. "You're right. It is difficult to see past my anger." He turned to Flora. "I am sorry. You are not to blame for your mother's actions, and I am . . . grateful for your offer. When I have need of you, I will let you know."
"Thank you, Sebastian." Flora smiled gratefully, a few more tears trickling down her cheeks. "All of you, thank you for setting us free from that demon."
Brianna smiled gently at her. "You're welcome."
"We should return to the Chantry now," Sebastian said, and they all nodded in agreement, leaving Flora and the wine cellar behind.
They made it back to the entrance of the Chantry by late afternoon, judging by the angle of the sun as it dipped lower towards the roofs of Hightown. Sebastian bowed to them as they stopped at the door. "Thank you, all of you, for your help in this matter. I truly appreciate it. If you need my assistance in any of your future jobs, I will be happy to help. I owe you a debt."
"You don't owe us anything," Brianna told him firmly. "But if you want to help because we're friends, feel free."
"You have a good soul, Hawke," Sebastian replied, smiling slightly. "It was truly the Maker who led you to me."
Or the Goddess, Mardin thought, wondering if the former prince had a part to play in Brianna's destiny – and by extension, his. He still wasn't sure precisely what it was, a fact that grew ever more annoying as time went by, but he was starting to suspect that the Qunari were part of it, after that poison gas stunt of theirs and the Arishok's conversation with Brianna afterwards. Sebastian's arrows would be of help if ever the Qunari decided to attack, so he shook Sebastian's hand, wishing him good luck, hoping to remain on the former prince's good side.
"Feel free to join us at the Hanged Man some night if you like, Choirboy," Varric chimed in, shaking his hand as well. "You know, if you think you can play Wicked Grace without getting corrupted."
"Corrupting him is my job." Isabela winked at Sebastian, who flushed a little as he replied, "Well, Isabela, I'm afraid I'd have to decline your offer, but I'm sure a game or two of Wicked Grace would be fine."
"It would be nice to have another player that does not cheat at every turn," Fenris said, shaking his hand as well.
"I do not cheat, Broody," Varric informed him airily. "Whenever you lose, it's because of your lack of skill, nothing else."
"Right, well, I should take my leave," Sebastian interrupted hastily, as Fenris and Varric started to argue. "Although, Hawke, if you don't mind, could I have a minute of your time?"
"Sure," Brianna agreed.
"We're going to go to the Hanged Man for something to eat," Isabela called, already heading for the stairs, with Fenris and Varric trailing behind her, bickering at one another.
"I'll wait for you here," Mardin told Brianna, and she nodded, giving him a brief smile before she slipped into the Chantry after Sebastian.
She emerged only a few minutes later, coming over to him where he was leaning against the wall, watching others head into the Chantry. "What did he want?" Mardin asked.
"He was a bit worried about the demon and what it said to him," Brianna explained as they headed for the stairs. "He thought because I was a mage, I might have some advice about how to deal with it afterwards. Apparently, what it said about him envying his brother was true, and now he's worried he's not looking to take back Starkhaven for the right reasons."
"I'd say it's a good sign he's even worried about that," Mardin said with a shrug. "Someone who truly wanted to rule for all the wrong reasons wouldn't even be concerned about something like that."
Brianna smiled. "That's exactly what I told him. But he says he still needs to think about it, that he can't go take Starkhaven back while he doubts himself. So he'll stick around Kirkwall for a while yet."
"Good." Mardin nodded in satisfaction, already considering the best ways to use Sebastian's skills if they ever needed them as he added, "If the Qunari attack before we figure out why they're still here, we can get him to help."
"Well, I hope we can find what they're looking for before it comes to that, but it would be nice to have more help if we need it," Brianna agreed. "And I really hope they won't attack anytime soon, especially not tonight." She gave him a sly smile at her last words, her eyes heated as she looked up at him.
Mardin grinned at the thought of having her to himself once again as he told her, "No, I don't think they'll be attacking tonight. My instincts are quiet at the moment."
Her smile grew wider. "Good, then after we get something to eat, we can continue breaking in my bed."
"Or we can break in the rug in front of your fireplace," Mardin suggested, imagining the lovely picture she'd make laying naked on the rug below him, her hair spread out around her. His blood heated just at the thought of it.
"Why the rug?" she asked him, looking both amused and curious.
"I'm hoping we get to work our way through christening most of your new house," Mardin replied, grinning at her. "But we can start with the rug, followed by the rest of your bedroom, for now."
She laughed. "I'll think about it."
"Oh, Hawke, you're home! I'm so glad you're here!" Merrill exclaimed as she followed Bodahn into the front hall, where Brianna sat reading mail in a comfy chair in front of the fireplace.
"Good morning, Merrill." Brianna smiled at the elf as she set down one of the various messages asking for her help. Considering the one she'd been reading was asking for her investment in a nug farm, she was grateful for the interruption. "Did you need something?"
"Yes, I mean, no. I mean, I need your help, but for someone else," Merrill explained hastily, her expressive eyes bright with worry as she wrung her hands.
"Relax, Merrill," Brianna told her gently. "I'll be happy to help, but I need to know what I'm helping with."
"Right, yes, of course you do," Merrill agreed, bobbing her head. When Brianna raised her eyebrows, the elf went on quickly, "Do you remember Arianni?"
"She's Feynriel's mother, right? Is she the one that needs help?" Brianna asked.
"Well, yes. That is, she needs help for Feynriel," Merrill explained, starting to pace. "She's very anxious; she won't tell me what is going on, only that he is in trouble and she would like you to help if you can. You will, Hawke, won't you?"
"Of course." Brianna got to her feet immediately. If Feynriel was in trouble, she suspected it needed to be dealt with right away. "I'll get ready, and we'll go the Alienage right now to see what Arianni needs."
Several minutes later, Brianna followed Merrill into Arianni's tiny home in the Alienage. The older elven woman leapt to her feet immediately when they entered. "I was hoping you would come!" she exclaimed, her tattooed face as tear-streaked and worried as it had been the last time they met. "You did so much for my Feynriel already, but . . . He refuses to see me, but I know he's chafing at the Circle's ways that keep the demons from him. And now the demons have taken him! Two days ago, Feynriel went into a nightmare and hasn't returned."
Brianna frowned at Arianni's words. This was definitely not good news. "You're positive? No one can wake him up?"
Arianni shook her head frantically. "Ser Thrask tells me he lies like the dead. He barely breathes."
"Then he must be stuck in the Fade," Brianna said thoughtfully, looking to Merrill, who nodded in agreement. "Can the Circle not help him?"
"They say there is nothing they can do," Arianni said in disgust. "But I have contacted Keeper Marethari. The Dalish have an ancient ritual that might help. It requires someone Feynriel trusts to enter the Fade to free him." She looked at Brianna in hope as she said this.
She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You think Feynriel trusts me?" It was true that he'd sent her a few letters from the Circle, but she wouldn't have thought she'd be high on the list of people that Feynriel trusted, after she was the one that sent him to the Circle in the first place.
Arianni nodded vigorously. "I am certain of it. He respects you, and Ser Thrask has said that Feynriel believes you would help him if he ever needed it. Please say you'll try?"
"Well, it wouldn't be my first time in the Fade." Father had made sure that both she and Bethany were well acquainted with the Fade, so that they would know how to avoid temptations in it when they dreamed. It was one of the things he'd always believed the Circle did correctly, and Brianna happened to agree with him on it. And if someone needed to enter the Fade to make sure that Feynriel didn't say yes to whatever demons were plaguing him, Brianna knew she was likely the best one for the job. So she nodded at Arianni. "I'll help, of course."
The other woman beamed at her. "Thank you so much! You have been so kind to us. Keeper Marethari is coming here to perform the ritual that will bring Feynriel back. His childhood things here will help anchor him." She gestured at the books on the wall and the small wooden toys scattered about the cramped bedroom next to her living room, where a pale and unmoving Feynriel lay on a narrow bed.
"You shouldn't go into the Fade alone, Hawke," Merrill told her anxiously. "I'll come along too, if you'd like, but we should get some of the others as well. There could be many demons to confront, and we may have to fight."
"You're right, we should get a few of the others," Brianna agreed. Mardin, certainly, would be helpful, especially since he'd seemed unaffected by the desire demon last week. Fenris wouldn't be a good choice, considering his dislike of magic and mages in general and Feynriel in particular, but Varric would be willing to help no matter what, she knew. She glanced to Arianni.
The older woman nodded. "The Keeper won't be here for a little while, yet. You should have time to fetch a few of your friends to help if you'd like."
"Good." Brianna smiled reassuringly at Arianni, then turned to Merrill. "Wait here with her. I'll be right back."
It didn't take her long to find Mardin, who had just finished training Aveline's guards, and Varric, both of them agreeing readily. Surprisingly, Isabela agreed to come along as well, saying that frolicking through dreams sounded like an experience. Having gathered the three of them, Brianna returned to the Alienage just as Marethari arrived.
The Keeper came down the stairs into the sunken courtyard, back straight and head high like a queen, and many of the elves in the Alienage treated her as such, bowing and moving out of her way instantly as she walked towards Arianni's home. Arianni and Merrill were out in front, waiting for her, and Brianna and the others gathered around as Marethari stopped a few feet away.
"I came quickly, Arianni. I did not wish to tell you by letter how grave your son's situation is," the Keeper said soberly. "The magic he possesses makes him what the Tevinters called 'somniari', a dreamer. Dreamers have the power to control the Beyond, what humans call 'the Fade'. Feynriel is the first in two ages to survive for so long."
"Why are they so rare?" Brianna asked. Dreamers had not been among any of the lessons her father had taught her.
"Dreamers have great power in the Fade. They attract demons," Marethari explained. "Luckily, most prove too frail of mind to survive a demon's possession. A dreamer abomination would be near unstoppable."
An unstoppable abomination. Great, just what we need. Brianna exchanged a look of concern with Mardin before turning back to Marethari. "What exactly can a dreamer do?"
"Dreamers are unique for their ability to enter the Fade at will, without the aid of lyrium," Marethari told her. "In the Beyond, they can shape dreams and even affect the world beyond the Veil. Tevinter somniari used to enter the minds of sleepers and slay them in their dreams."
"So what exactly is the plan here? How are we supposed to wake him up?" Mardin demanded.
"The elves of the Dales were experts in the somniari arts. They could even help those with no power enter the Fade. I have done my best to recreate the ritual," the Keeper replied. "We will use Feynriel's childhood home as a focus to draw him back through the Veil."
"All right, let's get started," Brianna said, after looking to the others, who nodded in reply. "Send us into the Fade."
"I told you her courage was legendary!" Arianni exclaimed, beaming at Brianna before opening the door to her home and ushering them in.
"Arianni, please sit with Feynriel for a moment, while we prepare." Marethari gestured to the bedroom in which Feynriel slept unmoving. "The rest of you, please wait with her."
Sensing that the Keeper wanted to talk to her alone, Brianna nodded at the others and they followed Arianni into the small room, while Marethari pulled her aside into the corner farthest from the room. "There is more I must tell you that is not for her ears," the Keeper murmured.
"Is Feynriel in danger?" Brianna guessed.
"Indeed." Marethari nodded gravely. "And the danger may not come from what you think. Feynriel cannot become an abomination. The destruction he would cause is unimaginable. If you cannot save him from the demons, you must kill him yourself." Brianna stared at her, shocked, as the Keeper went on, "A death in the Beyond will make him what your Circle calls 'Tranquil'. He will be no threat after, either to himself or anyone else."
Brianna stared at her for a long moment, considering what to do. The last thing she wanted to do was make another mage Tranquil, as it was a fate she considered worse than death. However, having seen the damage even an ordinary abomination could cause, she wasn't sure she wanted to see what a dreamer abomination could do. What if he hurt or killed one of her friends, or an innocent bystander? Knowing she couldn't risk that, she finally nodded. "I would prefer not to do that if I have any choice. But if there is no other way . . . I will not let him become a danger."
Marethari nodded in return, looking satisfied at her words. "I wish you luck." She went into the other room, looking at Brianna's friends. "Now, is this the team you wish to bring with you into the Beyond? I hope you have chosen carefully, for all will face temptation."
"I trust them all with my life," Brianna said firmly, smiling reassuringly at her friends, who all smiled in return. Mardin's eyes were warm as he gave her a firm nod, and that settled the nerves she'd been trying to hide from the others as nothing else could.
"Then let us begin," Marethari said crisply.
Though Brianna had been in the Fade many times, one thing she had noticed was how it managed to look different each time. The only thing that never changed was the way that everything seemed blurry and unfocused, especially things off in the distance. The unfocused, dreamlike nature of the landscape around them was present this time as well, though the place that they were in appeared to be a version of Kirkwall's Circle, according to Varric, who'd been in it before.
Though Brianna hadn't been to the Circle before, she suspected that Varric was right, for it looked quite like she imagined it would. They were currently in a grand hall of marble and stone, with carpets of red covering the floor, various pillars and doors scattered throughout the hall. The others all looked around in fascination as they cautiously made their way through the hall, but Mardin was scowling, looking deeply uncomfortable.
"What's the matter?" Brianna whispered to him. "Is this place setting your instincts off too?"
"No, that's just the problem," he muttered back, hand tight on the hilt of his sword. "It's like my instincts are completely gone, or cut off. I can't sense anything, or smell anything. I don't like it at all."
She didn't like to see how upset he looked, Brianna realized, and she took his left hand, squeezing it gently. At least that felt real, she noticed. "Well, it makes sense. The Fade isn't a physical place, and we're not physically here, so your ability to sense the physical world won't work the same. But don't worry, we won't be here long. As soon as we find Feynriel and wake him up, we'll leave."
He smiled, squeezing her hand back as his expression eased a little, his blue eyes warm on hers. "Thank you. But yes, let's hurry. I'm not sure how long I can stand this feeling."
Brianna nodded, and let go of his hand as they began to explore the area they were in. This hall and the few rooms off of it were strangely empty. Finally, they went through the large double doors at the opposite end, which led them into a sort of courtyard. A wide set of stairs led down to an open stone courtyard before them, while balconies swept out to their right and left, with one door on either side. Before Brianna could even decide which door to go through, an eerie voice drifted towards them from the courtyard below. "Well, it's rare to see two forgotten magics in one day. It's usually a slow place, the Fade, not many surprises. I wasn't sure I'd like this one . . . but it has potential."
Brianna looked down towards the voice to see a demon gliding over the stone towards them. It was similar to a rage demon, with a large hunched back and formless features, long arms trailing almost to the ground, no visible legs, and only one eye. Its voice was slow and sedate, and she tried to place which type it was from her father's books, but the memory wouldn't come to her immediately.
"A sloth demon. Think active thoughts!" Merrill exclaimed before Brianna could recall the type. "Like . . . running and jumping and such."
Though the demon had no real features, it seemed to cast an amused glance in Merrill's direction as it went on, "Call me Torpor. I have a proposition that might interest you."
"And I'm sure you don't, since I make it a policy never to work with demons," Brianna retorted, pulling out her staff as she focused on active thoughts as Merrill had suggested.
"Have it your way," Torpor drawled as he raised his arms. Several other demons erupted from the stones around them, launching to attack them almost immediately.
Seeing that there were no shades, and weapons still appeared to be effective against demons here, Brianna focused on Torpor with her magic while the other four fought the remaining demons. She shot several magic spells at the demon, shielding herself from his attacks in return, and finally took him down with the combination of a powerful blizzard spell that froze him in his tracks, followed by a lightning bolt. Torpor howled with rage before sinking in on himself and disappearing.
"Well, as much fun as that was, shouldn't we find the kid and get out of here?" Varric suggested as he tucked Bianca away.
"Yes, you're right," Brianna agreed, seeing how uncomfortable Mardin still looked as he sheathed his sword. "I think we should check those doors up there." She gestured up to the balconies. "I can feel magic coming from the one on the left."
"I can too," Merrill agreed. "Powerful magic, like a demon's."
"Well, let's get it over with, then," Mardin replied, heading back for the stairs.
They entered the door on the left, Brianna in the lead, and were enveloped by a bright, glowing light as they went through it. Brianna looked around as the light faded away, noticing that all of her friends seemed to have disappeared. Feeling odd as she twisted and turned, she looked down at herself, nearly lurching back in surprise as she realized she was wearing a plain cotton dress of green, and both her hands and body appeared to be smaller and daintier, like . . . an elf's?
Hearing a noise in front of her, she looked up. A desk was across the room, behind which sat a young boy, scribbling away at a piece of paper. To the side of the desk stood Vincento, the brown-haired merchant who was Feynriel's father, that Brianna had met when first looking for Feyrniel. Or at least, something that looked like Vincento was there. "That's it, Feynriel. Hard on the downstroke, then lift. Good!" the Vincento thing said, in the same heavily accented tones. "I'll have you scribing all my letters soon. If I'd known you were such a bright lad, I'd have brought you into the business years ago." He ruffled the young boy's hair.
The young boy must be Feynriel, then, Brianna surmised, feeling sympathy for him as she realized how many times as a young boy he must have had this same dream. "Vincento" was clearly a demon, preying on his desire to have a father that had been there for him growing up.
The young Feynriel looked up at the demon with wide, hopeful eyes at the words. "Does that mean I can come with you to Antiva, Father? Mother said maybe this summer . . . Right, Mother?" He turned to look at Brianna as she came closer to the desk.
Oh, so I'm Arianni in this little scenario. Brianna felt quite uncomfortable at being looked to as someone's mother; she didn't think she was anywhere near ready for something like that. But if Feynriel thought she was his mother, she could possibly use it to her advantage, and make him realize that a demon was trapping him in this illusion.
She looked the boy in the eyes as she reminded him, "Your father never wanted anything to do with you when you were a child, and when you came to him for help when you were older, he sent you away. You can't trust him."
Feynriel whirled to look up at the Vincento fake at her words, demanding, "Why are you lying to me?"
"Don't listen, son," the demon said soothingly, ignoring Brianna as it focused its attention on Feynriel. "She's always been ashamed of you. She wanted you gone so she could go back to the Dalish. I'm the one who loves you."
"But . . . why can't I remember you?" the young boy asked, sounding confused and looking to Brianna for help.
"It's not your father, Feynriel," Brianna explained. "It's trying to trick you. You're trapped in the Fade by a demon."
"A demon?" the boy cried in fright. "No! No, I want this."
The fake Vincento straightened up from the desk, beginning to glow and warp as it said, "Then remember this is who took away the only thing you ever wanted!" The demon changed shape halfway through the sentence, reappearing as a desire demon, finishing its sentence in a sultry voice as it stretched.
Feynriel jerked up from the desk with a scream, running for the wall behind him and disappearing through it without a trace.
Brianna realized with a start as he did so that she felt different again, and looked down to see her own robes, body and hands with a distinct sense of relief. She chanced a quick look behind her to see that her friends had reappeared as well, and gave them a relieved smile before quickly turning back to face the demon.
"You!" the demon snapped, pointing at her. "You turned him against me."
"Complete accident," Brianna replied with an innocent shrug, hearing Mardin chuckle lowly behind her. "I was trying to help. Honest."
"Take away my pets, and I'll take away yours," the demon retorted. "How loyal are these friends you drag into the Fade? Would your pirate queen stay if the open water beckoned?"
Shit, Brianna thought in alarm, knowing how much Isabela missed sailing. Perhaps she hadn't been the best choice to bring into the Fade, after all. But surely Isabela would know it was all fake, she tried to reassure herself as the demon strolled towards the pirate.
"What do you say, sweetheart?" the demon cooed in its seductive voice as it grew closer to Isabela. Brianna noticed in alarm that her pirate friend was already walking in a dazed fashion towards the demon, her eyes glazing over as it continued, "A two-mast brigantine, square-main topsail. A hundred well-built lads to answer your every whim." The demon ran its hands up over its body as it added, "I know you've been looking for a stiff masthead."
Isabela made a noise of distinct appreciation in reply, her eyes never leaving the demon, and Brianna sighed, realizing that the pirate was already too far gone to listen to her words. "Well, I don't think I can beat that offer. Should I turn around now to let you stab me in the back? Or would you rather it be a surprise?" she asked sarcastically.
Isabela didn't even turn to look at her as she exclaimed, "You are just the sweetest!"
"The 'Siren's Call Two' awaits in Kirkwall Harbor," the demon informed Isabela, casting a look of victory at Brianna. "I'll be under the furs in the captain's quarters."
"I like big boats, I cannot lie," Isabela said simply, reaching for her daggers.
"Rivaini, stop!" Varric shouted, but Isabela was already launching herself at Brianna.
Brianna raised her staff, but Mardin got there first, slamming Isabela with his shield and sending her flying through the air. She landed on her feet, though, skidding backwards for a moment before she rushed forward again, Mardin going to meet her. Brianna turned towards the demon instead, firing off spells at it in a rapid fury, while Varric and Bianca backed her up.
"Don't make me do this, Isabela," she heard Mardin say behind her as she lit the demon up with an intense fire spell.
"Oh, handsome, fight me like you mean it," Isabela taunted him. "You know I love a challenge!"
The demon cried out as several of Varric's bolts hit it in quick succession, and Brianna followed the bolts up with a fury-driven blast of lightning, finishing the demon off as it disappeared with a cry of rage.
She turned to see Isabela wrapped up in several roots, obviously a spell of Merrill's, while a bleeding Mardin faced her with sword raised. Isabela had just about struggled free, raising a murderous gaze to Mardin, when he sighed. "Sorry, Is." He stepped forward, slamming his sword through her chest, and she let out a startled gasp before she disappeared just as the demon had done.
"Did we kill her?" Merrill cried, looking horrified. "What happens when people without magic die in the Fade?"
"I don't know," Brianna said heavily, staring at the spot where Isabela had disappeared. Would she still turn Tranquil even if she didn't have magic? Would it do some other kind of damage to her mind? Or would it actually kill her? She had no idea. She'd never heard what happened to non-mages who died in the Fade. "But I don't think we had a choice."
"I don't think we did," Mardin agreed, looking sombre as he sheathed his sword and came over to her. "She wouldn't stop attacking me, and I couldn't hold her off forever. I'm sorry." He gestured at the gash down his sword arm.
"It's not your fault, Red," Varric said as Brianna cast a healing spell on the wound. She nodded in agreement with the dwarf's words. "It's the demon's fault. And, I suppose, mine for bringing her into the Fade. I should have known she might be tempted by a promise of sailing again."
"If it's not my fault, then it's not yours either," Mardin told her softly as she finished healing his wound. "She agreed to come. She knew there might be a risk. The rest of us know too."
"Red's right," Varric agreed. "We made our own choice to come here, so whatever happens isn't your fault, Hawke. Come on, Daisy. Let's go find the kid before anybody else gets hurt. I'm sure Rivaini will be fine, anyway."
"Yes, you're probably right, Varric." Merrill gave him a tremulous smile as they headed for the door. As they came out on the balcony, she looked back at Brianna. "I think we should go in the other door, now."
Brianna nodded, feeling that there was powerful magic emanating from behind the door across the way; probably another demon. Hopefully this time they could get Feynriel completely free from the demons. "Let's go."
The other door had led them to another hallway, with several empty rooms off it, but entering the door at the end had the same effect as last time; a bright glow, followed by the others disappearing, and Brianna having the odd feeling of being different. This time, she looked down to see that she was wearing what appeared to be formal robes of the Circle. She looked back up to see a small, open space surrounded by stone walls, with trees and plants around the edges. Numerous elves were crowded throughout the open space, though they were strangely formless, all of them watching a version of Keeper Marethari on a dais opposite the door. "My people, I present to you . . . our hope," the fake Marethari declared grandly.
She swept her arm back to indicate Feynriel, this time at his proper age, walking up next to her on the dais. "His features may mark him as human, but in his heart beats the blood of the Dales! He is now a prisoner of the Circle, but through us, he shall find freedom!"
"I – I don't know what to say . . ." Feynriel stammered, looking out over the crowd.
Brianna pushed her way forward to the head of the crowd, looking up at him. "This is a trick."
"First Enchanter?" Feynriel exclaimed. Oh, so she was Orsino this time, she thought as Feynriel went on, "What are you doing here? Mother told me the Dalish are honourable! Why would the Keeper lie?"
"Why would she entrust her people to a human, when she wouldn't even let your mother stay with the Dalish after you were born?" Brianna countered.
The fake Marethari cast a glare down at her before it reassured the young man next to it, "You are one of us, Feynriel. Your magic will restore our greatness."
Feynriel shook his head, frowning. "But I-I can't even control my magic. The Circle says I have power, but no gift for using it."
"Don't listen to her," Brianna coaxed him. "That's not even the Keeper. It's a demon, trying to trick you."
"He lies!" the demon snarled, pointing down at her. "The First Enchanter is a pawn of the Templars."
Feynriel whirled on the fake Keeper. "No! Silence, demon! This is what the Circle warns of . . . the temptation. You're not the Keeper! Mother's people have no Circle, but they don't consort with demons." Once more, he turned and fled, disappearing through the stone wall in a burst of blue.
"You! Why did you interfere?" the demon growled, changing before Brianna's eyes with another flash of light into an enormous, horned demon covered in spikes that towered over her, as huge as the ogre she'd once fought with Carver. "With my power joined to his, Feynriel would have changed the world!"
"I wasn't going to let that happen," Brianna snapped back at him, giving a relieved smile when she saw her friends come up on other side of her, having reappeared once more. "And anyway, Feynriel only wants his freedom, not your power."
"Those who are free to choose always want power. You think your friends are different?" the pride demon – the first one Brianna had ever seen – demanded in a deep, echoing voice as he pointed down at them. "You think this proud Captain of yours would turn down my offer? When he has so little power in this world?"
Brianna shot a startled glance to Mardin, but he was shaking his head at the demon. "I don't want power in this world. I'm just here to do my duty as I should."
"Are you so certain you don't want it? It would be so much easier to fulfill your destiny if you had the power you once did in your own land," the demon cajoled. "There, everyone knew your name, whether they heard it with fear or respect. Here, if you are known at all, it is as the loyal lackey of a mercenary. I can change that. Teach this world the lesson that yours already knows: Trichlor is a name to be feared and respected. You will be known and revered by all, a leader once more as you should be. With that kind of power, you can do anything, fulfill your duty with ease. Think of the good you can do."
Brianna saw with horror that Mardin's eyes were starting to glaze as the demon's persuasive voice filled his ears. "Mardin, no, don't listen to him," she said urgently. "He's a demon! You can't trust him!"
"But . . . he's right," Mardin replied in a flat, emotionless tone, turning glazed eyes to her. "I have so little power here. I don't even know what's going on, what my destiny is. I can't protect anyone or save this world like that. But with the power to make others respect me, fear me, I could . . ."
"No!" she cried, reaching for him, but he was already stepping forward, looking up at the immense demon before them, with its eyeless face, asking, "What do I need to do?"
"Simply do me a few favors, and you will have more power than you could ever dream of. Start by getting rid of these nuisances for me." The demon bared its sharp teeth in a malevolent smirk as it looked over to Brianna. "You took my dreamer. Now I will take your lover, and watch him kill you."
"Red, you don't want to do this," Varric warned, raising Bianca. Mardin, however, ignored him as he turned back to them, sword and shield in hand.
"No," Merrill said in distress, though she had her staff at the ready. "I don't want to kill any more of our friends in here. We don't know what it will do to them!"
"Mardin, please, don't do this," Brianna begged, feeling despair pulling at her as she gripped her own staff tightly in her hands. He simply stared at her, those once warm blue eyes icy cold and devoid of any emotion as he raised his sword.