"So this is where you've been hiding."
Dorian sat up with a start, knocking the book that had been resting on his lap to the ground. He must have dozed off at some point and he rubbed hurriedly at his face, trying to focus. Varric was standing there looking concerned and watching him expectantly and Dorian just waved him off.
"I haven't been hiding," he protested more sharply than he'd intended, reaching down to pick up his book. "Did you need something?"
"Just checking to see how you're holding up," Varric said and to his credit he did appear genuine.
"I wasn't the one who was stabbed." Dorian stood, not particularly interested in holding a conversation, especially not one about his feelings, and went to search the shelves again for more books.
"No, but you look it." Dorian scoffed, but Varric continued. "I know how much he means to you. You've changed since you met him. No one can fake that."
Dorian bit his lip. Hard. "You may be the only one who believes that," he said, keeping his voice carefully steady.
He didn't want to think about that, about how much he cared and how close he'd come to losing the only thing that had ever truly mattered; the man that inspired him, who cared so much and made Dorian feel things he never thought possible. Dorian was resilient; he could survive anything life threw at him. But if he lost Elden- he wasn't sure how much of himself would be left after something like that.
"Well," Varric said. "If you you want to talk-"
"I don't," Dorian replied sharply.
He listened to Varric's retreating footsteps, echoing slightly through the rotunda. As soon as he heard him pass through the doorway, growing quieter, Dorian slumped forward, leaning heavily against the bookshelf. His eyes burned and he closed them tightly, refusing to feel anything. There would be no more tears. He breathed deeply, shakily, and had only just composed himself when he heard more footsteps approaching. These were heavy and deliberate and he knew it was the Iron Bull before he even reached the top of the stairs. Dorian stood up straight again, selected a book and began to flip through it.
"You're going to want to come with me," Bull said, coming to a halt behind him.
"Oh? And where exactly are we off to? Some empty back passage that a body could easily be hidden or disposed of? Do what the others should have done immediately?" Dorian asked bitterly, but he still tossed his book onto the desk and gestured for Bull to lead the way.
"Believe it or not I actually think you're telling the truth," Bull said calmly. "Like Vivienne said, either you're smarter than all of us or just dumber and no one's that good."
Dorian sighed, feeling guilty for his outburst. "I suppose i should thank you for that. Where exactly are we going then?" He stopped when he realized they was heading for the infirmary. "You can't be serious. "
"The boss wants you there," he said simply.
"If you're all willing to accept the possibility of blood magic, then you have to have consider the consequences of putting me in the same room as the Inquisitor. I thought you of all people would understand that."
"Of course," Bull said. "That's why Cassandra's there. Make a move and she'll kill you before you've taken a step. Besides, I've seen the boss take down dragons. I'm pretty sure he can handle you now that he's on guard."
"Of course he can but we both know he has a frustrating habit of being a little too trusting. He would have given himself to Corypheus back at Haven if he thought it would have helped.
"That's why we're there," Bull said as he pushed open the door and headed inside.
Dorian hesitated for a moment. He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and walked inside where he found the advisors, Cassandra, Blackwall, and Vivienne already there. Dorian was much too relieved to see Elden up and dressed. And of course the damnable man practically lit up when he caught sight of him entering. Dorian wasn't exactly sure how to respond to that so he settled on grim silence as he turned his attention to the conversation that was already underway.
"-very difficult to prove of course," Vivienne was saying, "but because of it's complexity, usually only one command is given. Now that it has been carried out, he should no longer pose a threat."
"Even though it ultimately failed?" Cassandra asked skeptically. "And how likely is it that something like this could happen again with any of us? Or our army? This could pose a serious problem."
"This is an incredibly complex spell, it is unlikely to be repeated on a wider scale, especially since the Inquisitor's party eliminated the perpetrators" Vivienne said. "Besides, with the amount of work it takes with such a low level of success," here she cast a glance in Dorian's direction, "I highly doubt this will become a common tactic."
"Still," Leliana interjected, "it would be wise to instate some form of interrogation for anyone who has spent any length of time with the Venatori."
"What exactly would that kind of interrogation involve? I don't want our people suffering more once we've gotten them back," Elden said because of course their safety was his priority.
"Of course," Vivienne said. "I have a few ideas, nothing too invasive. I can work with Leliana, Dagna, and a few other trusted mages to sort out the most likely options and present them to you later today."
"Thank you."
Dorian tuned out as the conversation turned to the usual war room talk. He watched Elden instead, the way he listened intently, ready and willing to help despite the fact that he had nearly died only the day before. He didn't look much better than he had the last time he saw him. Dorian planned on yelling at him once the others had left because getting dressed seemed like a pointless waste of energy. Actually, Dorian wanted to yell at all of them for interrupting his rest. Surely this business could wait. He was studying Elden's face when he noticed his eyebrows draw together slightly. What was that? Had he winced?
"You okay, boss?" Bull asked. Obviously he had noticed as well.
Elden wavered before slumping forward, barely catching the windowsill to hold himself up. Bull, Vivienne, and the surgeon were at his side first and Dorian wanted nothing more than to push his way forward, but he didn't. He couldn't. While Bull helped him sit, the others glanced reflexively at Dorian who blanched, looking down at his hands guiltily as if he expected to see another dagger or something equally lethal in his hands. They were empty of course.
"I'm sorry, I'm all right," Elden said, but Vivienne and the surgeon forced him to lie down so they could examine him.
Dorian was fairly certain he forgot to breathe for a few minutes at least. A part of him wished they would drag him away, as guilty as he felt. On the other hand, though, he never wanted to move from this spot until Elden was fine again. Maker, please just let him be fine.
"Poison," Vivienne said and Dorian's mouth went dry. There was a buzzing in his ears and it was so difficult to hear through the terror creeping up his spine "The dagger must have been coated. I'm afraid we need to know what kind in order to administer the proper antidote, otherwise we'll just make matters worse."
None of them needed to point out that poisons were as common in Tevinter as they were in a Crow's pockets. Even if Dorian reached out to his assassin friends there was no guarantee that the Venatori had been using whatever was fashionable in Tevinter at the moment. Nothing about them had seemed fashionable after all.
"Then we need to go back, search the bodies," Cassandra said urgently.
At least they all seemed to be on the same page. And they all seemed to be accepting that Dorian really had gotten the dagger from the Venatori. The question was, did they believe it was blood magic too or did they think he took it from them willingly?
Despite his better judgement, Dorian remained at Elden's side for the next several hours even as the others came and went. Never alone, of course, he couldn't risk that. Obviously no one else approved, but of course the Inquisitor turned a deaf ear on any complaints and even had the audacity to thank Dorian for staying. Honestly he would have stormed out, but he so desperately needed to know that Elden was okay.
Except that he wasn't. Sure, he was all smile and reassurances, but he was only going to get worse, not better. He was still so pale and if this continued they all knew that, despite Vivienne's potions slowing it, he would eventually simply waste away. Dorian was holding his hand tightly when everyone gathered again.
"We can set out immediately," Cassandra was saying. "You'll be coming with us, Dorian."
He stood slowly, trying to prolong the contact with Elden. He was angry with himself for it, knowing he should distance himself before he made everything worse, but he just wanted to feel his warmth, as fever hot as he was.
"And I'll be coming too," Elden said and they all stopped.
"Inquisitor," Cassandra began.
"No," Vivienne said. "He's right. It would be best if he were present when we find the antidote."
Judging by the solemn silence that followed, everyone understood. They didn't exactly know how much time he had left, but it couldn't be much. Exerting himself wasn't exactly wise, but there may not be enough time for them to find it and get back. They had to risk it so he was on hand when they obtained the antidote.
"Well," Elden said into the silence. "Let's head out then. I know I for one would prefer to get this over with as quickly as possible."
Elden was avoiding looking anyone in the eye and Dorian wanted to kick himself. No doubt he hated having everyone worry about him this way. He certainly appreciated the concern, of course, but in moments like this he felt like a bother. He hated worrying them but Dorian just wished he would accept their damned concern and take care of himself for once, put his own health and safety first for a change. Still, Dorian knew he hated being the center of this sort of attention so he might as well help get things moving.
"Right then," Dorian said, turning to leave. "I guess I'll go prepare. Meet you all in the courtyard in ten?"
