Note: I'm back! Sorry this took so long but between the healing arm and bouncing back and forth with Mass Effect it took some time. I also had a case of writers block with this one as I foolishly believed that I would remember what I wanted to do after Admissions. Silly me. This is a longer chapter and there are a lot of things going on. Yes, Dorian and Balian are my favorites.
Thank you to the favorites and follows and a shout out to GlysMari for the very kind review. I'm glad you're enjoying it so much.
For the end of this I listened to Sound of Silence by Disturbed and the two Evanescence songs I use for Balian and Dorian, Taking Over Me and My Last Breath
Feedback is always appreciated and please enjoy Chapter 18: Tevinter
Dragon Age
"The Relic"
Chapter Eighteen: Tevinter
It was official…Balian hated Tevinter. Everywhere he went people sneered or didn't look at him at all. People gasped and scurried from Bull, a Qunari in Tevinter wasn't common but once in a while they saw some Tal'Vashoth. Bull couldn't care less about the people around him; he kept his eyes on them since he never dropped his guard around the 'Vints'.
They looked right through Balian or sneered and whispered about his vallaslin, he was used to the whispering and murmurs so that was easy enough to ignore. What he had a hard time ignoring was the looks, like he was worthless…less than nothing…a slave. It put his hackles up…permanently.
For the most part, travel was simple. To the outside observer it was a Magister traveling with two slaves or two mercenaries depending on who was asked. Balian was having a rough time doing as Dorian had asked, controlling his temper. The first town they came to nearly resulted in disaster. Balian witnessed a slave girl being abused and reacted poorly.
"Balian," Dorian warned as his lover stalked toward the display of abuse.
Balian ignored him, the girl shrieked again as her master hit her again. "Let her go," he ordered as the girl cowered but didn't look surprised to the abuse.
The old shop keeper paused upon Balian's order looking bewildered at someone telling him what to do. "Mind your own business, Knife Ear," he spat and raised his hand to hit her again like he wasn't even there.
Balian caught his wrist with his right hand, gripped his throat with his left, and drove him back into the wall with a fierce glare. "You hit that girl again and I'll kill you."
"Balian!" Dorian barked. He was all for Balian kicking the crap out of that guy, but Knight or not, he could be executed for interfering. "Let him be."
"Get your slave off me!" the man yelled and infuriated the elf more.
"I am not a slave!" he snarled back.
Dorian could see they were attracting attention and so could Bull. "Balian, let him go. Now."
Balian flinched, he didn't understand how Dorian could let this happen and he was torn with beating this man to a bloody pulp and not getting themselves arrested for something that was legal in Tevinter. "Dorian-…"
"Let him go. There's nothing you can do." Dorian saw Balian wrestle with it. Balian was a good man and didn't understand Tevinter. It took all of the elf's self-control to do what was asked but he did it and threw the man to the side before storming away.
"Let's go before he gets us killed," Bull mumured to Dorian. Dorian grumbled, as much as it irritated him he was right but so was Balian. His country was disgusting.
They narrowly escaped the authorities and for the rest of the trip to Vyrantium, Balian was sullen and silent. He hated Tevinter and Dorian could see it.
Dorian leaned over the side of the ship as his stomach turned, he really hated sailing. He groaned and put his forehead on the railing closing his eyes wishing his nausea would pass. Bull was right about taking a ship from Vyrantium to Minrathous, it was faster and Dorian suffered through it as quietly as he was able.
"You alright?" Balian asked as he appeared next to Dorian.
Dorian didn't need to look or hear his voice to know he was there. He moaned his answer obviously uncomfortable. "Yeah," he lied, he'd survive it just would be comfortable. "I hate sailing."
Balian felt for him, he'd never been seasick a day in his life but no one liked vomiting. "I know you do." He said and fished around in the satchel on his belt, the one he carried his potions and herbs in, and came up with a vial of liquid. "Here, drink this," he said offering him the vial.
Dorian didn't pick his head up but looked over at the vial being offered to him. "Looks terrible," he muttered.
Balian chuckled. "Just drink it."
He took it and drank it down in one gulp, his face twisted to its awful taste. "And it tastes terrible," he complained with a shudder as he choked it down.
Balian couldn't argue with that and took the vial back to reuse it later. "Not arguing that," he said. "But it cures nausea, should make you feel better."
Balian was correct; his stomach was starting to settle. "You don't get seasick, why do you need that?"
"Because it cures hangovers too."
Just from the taste, Dorian thought he was going to vomit again but managed not to. "Drink that much in Starkhaven, do you?"
Not as much as Dorian thought and he shrugged. "Not too much else to do on my off days," he replied. "Feel better?"
He did and Dorian was surprised, whatever was in the vial worked like a charm. "Yes, actually…what's in that?"
"Herbalist in Starkhaven is very good at his job," he replied with a smile. "If Sebastian needs me and I'm too far gone to function this puts me right again."
Dorian harrumphed at that explanation but was grateful for the help. "Thank you, Amatus," he smiled and moved closer to kiss him but Balian put a hand up to stop him.
"You're welcome, Vhenan, but you are not kissing me until you wash your mouth out."
Dorian couldn't blame him but his expression shifted to a smirk. "Didn't have a problem with other things earlier."
Balian blushed but the other thing was better than left over vomit. "Ass."
Dorian spotted his blushing and giggled. "Yes please," he grinned.
More blushing. "Fuck you," he said but that was a poor choice of words that Dorian seized.
"Even better," he smirked.
Balian playfully punched his shoulder. "Dirty old man."
Dorian smiled, surly and complicated or not he loved that elf.
Minrathous was a sight; it was the biggest city that Balian had ever seen. The biggest city in all of Thedas and it occupied an entire island all its own. It appeared on the horizon and soon it filled his view. Ships were in dock, gulls flooded the sky, they weren't even on land yet and there were already a lot of people. Balian tugged on his gloves while glancing to Dorian. He looked nervous, antsy actually.
"You alright?" he asked and Dorian scoffed.
"Oh, thrilled," he responded dryly. "When I left all those years ago, I couldn't wait to go back. Southern Thedas was…is so barbaric. Every time I come back…I can't wait to leave…just not me anymore I guess."
"You grew up," Balian said and Dorian gave him a half smile. "Outgrew the pettiness, became a father."
Balian had no idea how right he was. "You'll hate it here," Dorian said truthfully and Balian remained silent. "Just don't play into their game. They'll treat you worse than anyone ever has."
Balian remained silent as the ship docked. He already knew that Tevinter was nothing that he'd ever experienced and it was worse than anything he'd ever thought of. On the island, Minrathous was a walled city and it extended far along the rocky beach beyond his sight. A heavily guarded bridge connected it to the mainland.
Bull, Dorian, and Balian offloaded the horses and moved off the docks. Balian stared at the towering curtain wall that was bigger than anything that he'd ever seen; only Fort Drakon came close. "Creators," he said through an astonished breath.
"Just wait until you see inside the wall," Dorian smiled. Minrathous may be morally corrupt but it was a magnificent city.
Docks not on the island stretched far along the coastline and were protected by the sentry posts on either side of the bridge. The center part of the city was protected by the curtain wall, probably the oldest part of the city, but a second wall ringed the main wall. It was shorter and protected what Dorian referred to as the middle class; high end merchants, middle class homes, military officers, etc. That wall encompassed the majority of the city, outside of that were the slums unprotected by any wall bigger than a stone fence. In all of history Minrathous had never been breached, now Balian could see why. Located on an island with walls and the only way across was over a guarded bridge. Minrathous was perfectly strategic.
They didn't go across the bridge, but instead headed a little further north and away from the coast for about half an hour. Dorian let out a long sigh as they approached the manor. The villa was beautiful. It was big but very tasteful, built in the shape of a U with a wall and a gate leading in. The grounds outside the gate were well kept and undoubtedly tended to everyday.
"What's this place?" Bull asked.
Dorian groaned before answering. "Home." One of them anyway, Dorian's family was from Qarinus but since his father had a seat in the Magisterium, from time to time they lived in both places.
Bull and Balian looked at each other and then at Dorian. "Home?" Bull questioned.
"This is the Minrathous house. Mother has been living here for the last ten years or so," he answered.
Balian was looking over the people that were working on the grounds but his attention shot to Dorian when he said that his mother was living here. "I'm going to meet your mother?" he asked sharply halting his horse.
Dorian cracked a smile at Balian's tone. "Oh, she'll like you," he said and urged his mare forward. Biscuit turned sideways eager to follow but Balian held him back now very apprehensive about this.
"Still glad you came?" Bull asked and heard the elf make a derisive noise.
The villa was big and Dorian had called this a smaller one, the home in Qarinus was twice the size. When they entered the gate the road turned out to be circle that outlined a great and beautiful garden in the center of the courtyard. To the left were the stables and it occupied the entire wing, in the middle and to the right was the house in the shape of an L. The architecture was common for Tevinter; stone pillars, columns, and a clay tile roof.
"Master Dorian," a woman called sounding surprised, "we had no idea you were coming."
The party dismounted and Dorian turned to the older woman coming toward them. She was in her 60s with a full head of grey hair. "Atia," he greeted happily and actually gave the woman a hug. Bull and Balian looked at each other curiously then back to the two of them. "Balian, Iron Bull, this is Atia. This woman practically raised me."
"So, you're to blame," Bull commented with a chuckle.
Dorian closed his eyes and cursed under his breath but Atia only laughed. "That I am," she replied sound like she'd accepted the challenge Bull had thrown. "He complained a bit but I whipped him into shape." She said and looked to Balian. The elf had said nothing only a nod when he introduced them. "So you are the Balian," she smiled. "Dorian was right, you are very handsome."
Balian blushed. "He's bias," he replied unaware Dorian had told anyone in his family about him. "Pleasure to meet you."
"Is mother here?" Dorian asked but his question was answered with the sound of her voice.
Aquinea Thalrassian was very beautiful; she was 5'5", had long black curly hair that was streaked with grey, and brown eyes. "Atia, prepare the rooms, food, and drink for our guests," she ordered as she approached them making the old woman bow quickly and hurry away. His mother looked the group over collectively but turned her attention to her son. "Dorian," she greeted. The tone was chilly but there was still the motherly air about it. Their relationship had deteriorated when Dorian refused to allow her to meet her granddaughter. He offered for her to come to Skyhold largely at Khrys' suggestion but his mother was just as stubborn as he was.
"Hello, Mother," he returned and kissed her cheek.
"Did you bring my granddaughter?" she asked and Dorian glowered tiredly.
"No," he answered. "You have an open invitation to Skyhold." Her impassive face was nothing new to Dorian and he ignored it. "May I introduce Iron Bull of the Chargers and Ser Balian Lavellan of Starkhaven." Aquinea gave a tentative nod to the Qunari and then to the scarred Elf she blinked before giving him the same tentative nod.
She wasn't sure how to feel at having a Qunari and an Elf as houseguests but she looked at her son and nodded. "Well, should be an interesting dinner." She said finally. "Come, let the stable master tend the horses."
"You come unannounced and you bring your Elf with you?"
Dorian's expression was flat. "Ahh, yes… the Elf he also tends to go by Balian…he's funny that way."
"Always the glib tongue," she sighed. "I do hope Gabriella didn't inherit that."
Dorian huffed, he was tired and in no mood to fence with her. "Mother, we are hungry and it has been a long journey. I'd like meal I don't have to roast over a fire, a hot bath, and sleep in a bed that's not swaying or crawling with something."
Aquinea harrumphed to her son gestured to Atia. "Atia, draw up a bath for our guests and get some clean clothes for them for dinner."
Balian took in his surroundings as they walked, he was counting people. Attendants, servants, slaves, guards, etc. He saw workers, one or two elves but mainly humans. No one appeared timid or scared they all seemed content with life. Balian wasn't sure how he felt about that, during the entire journey he's seen slaves from one end of the spectrum to the other. Happy ones and terrified ones, it baffled him.
"I have the girls drawing up a bath for you and your companions now, Dominus," Atia informed Dorian while lighting the sconces on the walls. "Your friend Iron Bull is in the next room and Ser Balian will be-…"
"He won't need a room, Atia, he'll stay here," Dorian cut in and Balian gave his best deer in the headlight look.
"Of course," Atia laughed lightly and fluttered from the room closing the door behind her.
Balian took a good look at the surroundings. It was a big room with a pillar bed, colorful drapes, and tapestries, and big windows. "That was…interesting."
"Just wait until dinner, Amatus, she'd make a wonderful Inquisitor," Dorian said.
"So your family knows of me?" he asked not really wanting to sit his dirt and sand covered body down on the clean silk bedcovers.
Dorian smiled proudly. He wasn't ashamed of who he was, his father had been, his mother was on the fence but he knew who he was and was proud of it. "Of course they do. Mother stuck her nose up but she really will like you."
He'd never been in this position before and he wasn't sure how to handle it. His mother liked Dorian despite of him being a Tevinter Magister, and the clan actually treated him as their own which was a shock to all parties involved. "I'm an Elf, how do you figure that?"
Dorian didn't like it when he felt like he wasn't good enough and put a hand on his cheek. "Because I like you. Say what you will about my mother but she cares for those who care for me. That's why Atia still serves her…she's not a slave. Mother freed her years ago," he said and moved away from him.
Balian pulled his gloves off and deposited them on the table; from there he started the process of getting out of his armor. He had it down to a science and could do it alone, it was a little harder but he could do it, but he didn't have to…Dorian helped. Silverite was hard to tarnish but you could tell that it was dirty and the clothing under it was sweaty and could use a wash.
Dorian and Balian had dozed off; it felt good to be in a high quality bed with silks and furs. Balian passed out as soon as his head hit the pillow and Dorian chuckled at that. The elf was exhausted from being hypervigilant as soon as they crossed into Tevinter. The knock on the door startled both of them.
Balian was up with a knife and Dorian gave him an amused, curious expression. "A little edgy, Amatus?" He glared and Dorian grinned. Surly elf and he loved him. The grin on his face made Balian's glare deepen. It bothered him that Dorian was very casual here even with the obvious danger he was most certainly in. Dorian opened the door and stepped back revealing Atia. "Yes?"
Atia spared the bare-chested elf a glance, his scars were a showstopper but the older woman concentrated on Dorian. "Dominus, you have a guest. She says you are expecting her."
Dorian nodded almost certain he knew who it was. "I'll be down in a moment, thank you," Balian was already pulling clothes on when Dorian turned to him.
"Lucerni?" Balian inquired.
"So you do listen to me," Dorian needled with a grin and Balian returned the expression with a smile of his own.
"I hear everything when it comes to you," he replied and Dorian laughed.
"Now that's a disturbing thought," Dorian chuckled as he tied the boots on. The next knock annoyed him. "Yes."
"Hey," Bull greeted sticking his head in, "what's going on?"
"Someone I've been expecting is here for a meeting," Dorian answered and Bull was satisfied with his response.
"Ouch," Bull commented looking at Balian, who was in the process of getting his shirt pulled on. During all the time they spent on the road Bull hadn't really seen the full extent of the bear's damage. Balian was shy, and unlike Bull, liked to keep as many clothes on in public as he could. The elf said nothing in reply and laced the shirt up.
Balian and Bull quietly followed Dorian into what looked like a study, the house was quiet and the temperature had cooled considerably but it was still humid. A tall blonde woman greeted them. She was as tall as Dorian with a strong build, blonde hair, the structure of her face seemed more male then female.
"Mae," Dorian greeted and the she gave him the customary bow. "Maevaris Tilani, Balian Lavellan and Iron Bull." Quick nods were exchanged as they regarded each other.
"Why are you here?" Mae asked more than a little surprised that Dorian was in Minrathous. She was definitely biologically male; her voice register was not female.
Dorian gave a slight shrug as Mae eyed him critically. "Someone tried to assassinate Khrys and all spies we have point to Tevinter ordering it."
Mae gave him a single nod but she was clearly not satisfied with the answer. "Right. I never thought you'd be stupid enough to show up yourself." Balian barely stifled a snort. He had had the same thought on the matter.
Dorian's eyes narrowed as they tried to keep their voices as low as possible. "What do you know, Mae, what is going on?"
"There is a growing faction through the senate, we don't have the exact number and we don't know who the leader is yet, but they want war with the south."
"Why would they want that? If the Qunari press then they'll have the entire world to fight," Balian questioned. The blonde magister shrugged.
"Fanatics don't always think things through," she explained to the elf. "From what we know, they have targets on every power in Thedas. Khrys was just the first."
"We have to find out who's behind this and stop it. We stopped them from killing Khrys thus helping keep Fereldan and Orlais stable. We don't need Thedas plunged into chaos," Dorian said
"Obvious statement," she said dryly.
"So what do you know?" Balian asked and the blonde mage looked at him. Odd to see a Dalish Elf within a hundred miles of Tevinter but he was here, tell-tale tattoo and all announcing his heritage to the world.
Mae returned her attention to Dorian. "The Lucerni know it's within the Magisterium but we don't know exactly who or how many. It would have to originate from them. They are the only ones that have the power."
Dorian's brow furrowed. "The power for what?"
She sighed heavily. "A coup. To take over the parts of the government, all they need is the Magisterium everyone else will fall in line."
Dorian thought hard and his face contorted with confusion. To take over the Magisterium would take considerable clout and an ambitious plan. "They'd need major military support." They would need more than that but gaining enough military control would stop the Magisterium in its tracks.
"Which we think they have but we don't know who."
Dorian was growing annoyed. "You must know something."
Another heavy and irritated sigh from Mae. "A few people but no proof. Erris Forlani, Kell Octus, Prisca Cassius, Liani Catari, and that's just a few Magisters off the top of my head."
All of them were names that Dorian knew, names he'd heard before, some associated with his father's murder. "Who, in your opinion?"
She contemplated a moment and then answered. "Prisca Cassius."
Dorian raised an eyebrow. She was a known blood mage, ruthless and conniving. "Her paramour is a General," he commented and Mae nodded.
"Artus Cicero," she supplied.
Cicero commanded at least a legion maybe more. That did not bode well. "What else do you now about them?"
"Court gossip but we're working on the rest."
Getting half the story was annoying and his shifted his weight from foot to foot. "Care to fill me in?" Balian asked.
Dorian turned to his surly lover. "Prisca Cassius and Artus Cicero are the star-crossed lovers of the Magisterium. She is high upper class and a member of the Magisterium he is a soporati born in the shit slums of Minrathous conscripted into the military and is now the best General in the Imperium. They met 20 years ago…inseparable since. Forbidden to marry."
Balian scoffed. "Sounds like a romance novel."
Dorian chuckled. Many romance novels had been written with that premise but they never did the true story justice when it came to them. "Indeed. So where do we begin?"
Balian had attended several meetings, soirees, masquerades, and parties but never as a guest…always in an official capacity of some sort, namely as Sebastian's bodyguard. Now he'd traded one charge for another only Dorian was a whole lot harder to control. The mage dared confrontation and that made Balian nervous, it was for that reason he refused to give up his armor to attend this little party. It took a heated debate to get him to attend without the silverite shell of protection. The compromise was chainmail under the tunic and once again he went the same way he'd attended every other party: as a bodyguard.
As expected the attendees looked at him and Bull with the same eye: complete and utter distain. The scarred Dalish Elf and the giant scarred Qunari. Balian was armed, he had to surrender his longsword at the door but he had two knives on him; one in his boot and one up his sleeve. So far the party wasn't any different than those he'd gone to in Denerim, Starkhaven, and Orlais but he'd learned what to look for there…in Tevinter he wasn't quite sure. Nearly everyone in the room was dangerous. Nearly everyone in the room was a mage. He didn't like this one little bit.
The servants, or slaves, flocked to him. He was different, he didn't belong, but above all he was polite to them. He smiled, said 'please' and 'thank you' and even bowed to a pretty flat-ear girl who flushed when she saw him.
"Will you stop flirting with the staff?" Dorian admonished quietly.
"They're not staff they're slaves," he fired back tightly.
Dorian groaned. "Oh please, not this again." Balian let it go.
Bull had been to Minrathous before, a few times in fact, and knew how to talk to these people. Granted he'd never been among the elite but they found the Tal'Vashoth as a curiosity. They sneered at him, gave him backhanded insults, and laughed when he brushed them off. When people spoke things were revealed and Bull knew how to listen for information that was important.
Dorian spied the most likely candidates of from across the room. Prisca Cassius was hard to miss even in a crowd of people as best dressed as she was. She had the classic Tevinter features, dark hair, dark eyes, and sun-kissed skin. Her hair was long and braided up elaborately with jeweled berets placed to contrast her black hair. She wore a colorful gown of gold and red and a very stern expression. To her left was a tall, handsome man that Dorian knew immediately. He'd never met Artus Cicero personally but knew him on sight. He was tall, with shaggy dark blonde hair, blue eyes, and dressed in finery of black, gold, and red. Dorian had always found him handsome, very handsome but the General had been Prisca's for as long as anyone could remember.
Balian tracked who Dorian was looking at and cocked his head slightly. "Wow."
Dorian snorted. "Which one?" he replied with a laugh. "Prisca Cassius and Artus Cicero…meet the duo that's probably behind it all," he added quietly.
"Well, at least he's handsome," Balian muttered.
Dorian agreed. "Just control your temper please." Balian nodded though annoyed that the advice was becoming a bit of a mantra.
It was a dangerous game that Dorian was playing, everyone knew he was a part of the Inquisition, most probably also knew that someone tried to assassinate the Inquisitor, and some probably knew there was a rumor that Tevinter was behind the attempt. Dorian arriving without an army at his back puzzled them. Those that were behind it could strike at will but he seemed fearless. He trusted Mae's judgement and if she believed Prisca and Cicero were behind this then she was probably right. He approached them feeling like he was about to expose himself to a predator.
"Lord Dorian of House Pavus," the stunningly beautiful woman began as he appeared in front of her with a dashing smile, "it's been some time since we've seen you."
Dorian gave her a bow and turned on the bullshit charm. "And you also, Lady Prisca, you look absolutely stunning," he replied with a fake but convincing smile.
Prisca returned his smile with an equally fake one. Her eyes turned to the stoic and scarred elf standing to his right. "A Dalish Elf?" she questioned and gave him an appraising but not at all friendly look. "Who is your slave, Dorian?"
Balian had stopped getting offended when he was referred to as a slave, it irked him and he didn't like it but he'd begun to roll his eyes in annoyance. "He's not my slave. He's my paramour," Dorian answered and Balian would have looked surprised had he not noticed the General giving him a critical eye as his apparent lover did the same. "This is Ser Balian Lavellan of Starkhaven."
"The Champion of Starkhaven," Cicero said. It had been the first thing he'd uttered yet. His accent was softer than Dorian's but admittedly delightful. "Sebastian Vael's famous Champion and bodyguard." The taller man stepped closer to Balian as if trying to establish dominance. "Somehow I thought you'd be bigger." Balian didn't move apart from a head tilt to maintain eye contact with the tall Tevinter General. "Quite the collection of scars, Ser Balian, perhaps you should learn to duck." Again there was nothing from the elf, baiting him didn't usually work as Cicero was learning. "Does he speak?"
Dorian sniggered. "On occasion."
"Elves as Knights? Bah!" Prisca sneered. "Is that was the south does these days?"
Balian actually spoke this time. "There's one or two of us." The plain way he addressed her made Dorian smile slightly.
"So he does have a tongue," Cicero laughed, it was a jovial laugh it was condescension. "I have heard of you, Ser Balian…they call you all manner of things…Balian the Bear, Bearkiller, whatever the Elf one is, Champion, hero…but you're just an Elf to me. A slave." Cicero now moved around as he grandstanded at Balian's expense. He turned his back, unworried about what a man with his reputation could do, called him a slave to his face and smiled about it.
"He's not a slave, Artus, now I'd stop calling him that before I let him do exactly what he's thinking," Dorian warned but that only made Cicero grin.
"Now that's an idea, My Lord," he replied and raised his tone for the room to hear. "Who here would like to see the famous Champion of Starkhaven in action?" Cicero managed to make Balian's highest title sound laughable and the elf was growing annoyed. "The Champion in a point match against me?" The roomful of nobles that was stuffy enough to rival any in Orlais clapped, intrigued by the idea of sport. Half of them probably believed it was a setup, after all, no Dalish Elf could ever hold that type of title. Dorian grumbled as Balian remained silent in the face of such a colossal asshole before him. Pleased with the reaction from the crowd Cicero smiled to Balian. "What do you say, Ser Balian," he even managed to make Ser sound like a joke, that irked Balian more than being called a slave. "Southern Progression verses Northern Oppression?"
Balian caught sight of Dorian's sharp headshake and ignored it. "Glib motherfucker," he thought to himself. "Agreed."
Cicero's grin widened. "Ser Balian's longsword!" Cicero called.
Dorian nearly had a kitten. "You intend to fight with real blades?"
"If Ser Balian is half to knight he's reputed to be he won't get hurt," Cicero said and Dorian froze in his tracks with a distinct feeling of déjà vu: Bull'd said those same exact words to him.
"Bail," Dorian started before the Elf waved him off.
"I'll be fine," he said quickly as his sword was brought. It was taken quickly by Cicero who pulled it and examined the fine blade. Balian's impassive expression hid the fact that he was going to relish kicking the General's ass.
"A truly well-crafted blade," Cicero admired. It was the first honest statement he'd made all night. "Perfectly balanced…where did you get it?"
Balian took it from him. "It was a gift," he answered simply. "First to ten?"
Cicero nodded satisfied with that. "Lethal strikes." This wasn't a fight but it wasn't exactly a sparring contest either. It was a match using real weapons; the object was to obtain a killing blow without landing it. It took skill, a lot of it, to control the weapons, laws of motion, and tempers. One wrong move and someone could be beheaded or skewered. Lethal strikes meant that it couldn't just be a hit; it had to be a killing blow.
Enough space had been cleared right there on the ballroom floor for them to move around and an audience to gather. "How the hell did this go ass up?" Bull asked quietly and the mage grumbled, glaring at his lover. Balian had legendary patience but if antagonized enough he fought. He cursed in Tevene enough to make Bull chuckle, something about stubborn men and their pride.
Balian eyed his opponent, studied him, took in all the little things he could see. Cicero was taller with a sturdy build, right handed, no scars that he could see, and favored his left leg ever so slightly. Knee injury? Hip maybe? He was a General, a horseman, it could have been anything. The grip on his sword was light meaning he was a well trained professional. He stood with his right side to his opponent. Balian didn't have his shield so he mirrored the stance.
They attacked at the same time. Balian parried the blow and was in Cicero's bubble in seconds with a crossguard spike to Cicero's throat. "One," the elf said.
Cicero backed off seeming a little perplexed. It had happened so quick his mind hadn't caught up yet. The General studied him closer ignoring the fact he was an elf. Balian was far smaller than he but with the same build, strange for an elf to be so heavily built. He visibly favored his left arm but it wasn't necessarily a weakness, a knight with a reputation that he had must have learned to incorporate any weakness he had into his fighting. Just because he favored his arm didn't mean he going to be easy to beat.
The next attack was initiated by Cicero; it was a straightforward attack that Balian blocked easily. The exchange was quick this time and Balian narrowly avoided having his throat cut as Cicero earned a point. Balian was tense as the blade was far too close for comfort and lingered. Cicero grinned, an unsettling grin, and backed away. The crowd gasped and clapped as Cicero earned another point after Balian over committed. So far the General fought fair and kept to the rules of the game.
Dorian fidgeted on the side but Bull's looming presence prevented him from outright pacing. Watching Balian spar with Thom, Michel, or even Bull was one thing, they wouldn't actually hurt him, and Cicero was for all intents and purposes an enemy. A collective gasp from the crowd made him scan the room quickly, Balian's pommel spike stopped a quarter inch from Cicero's left temple. They barely parted when it was on again. The Elf was more nimble then his opponent anticipated and he rolled under the strike and came up behind him carefully ensuring that his sword stopped short of slicing his entire back.
It was three to two in favor of Balian, so far no one had lost their cool but it was only a matter of time. Dorian figured that Cicero would lose it first, a General of the Tevinter Imperium being bested by an Elf would definitely not sit well. As the fight progressed to now being tied at five Bull and Dorian both observed the room. Dorian knew the Qunari spy was keeping his eyes open and figured he'd been staring at Prisca the entire time.
"Your paramour looks in good form, Lady," Dorian complimented moving to stand beside Prisca.
"He always does," she replied plainly. The blood mage grinned as a particularly long cession ended with Cicero using brute force to knock the elf on his back.
"Still looking for support on becoming the Archon?" he inquired and she looked at him briefly before she continued to watch her lover square off against a savage.
"Still the Inquisitor's token Magister? I couldn't help but notice his last name, Lavellan, same as the Inquisitor's. Decided that the brother was as good as the sister?"
Dorian found that hilarious. That was a running joke in Skyhold that was actually started by Khrys. "Cousin actually and he's far better," he smirked.
Prisca ignored him. Dorian's pariah status was well known and it was well known why he was viewed as such. One he practically defected to the South and two he refused to be the good son who married the girl despite his preference. "You enjoy being a deviant," she scoffed.
Her tone amused him. "Yes I do. Before you try to pick apart my sex life look at your own, My Dear, a magister of your breeding and caliber falls in love with a soporati from nothing…we are who we are and we fall in love with who we fall in love with." She said nothing in reply but glared at him before her attention was back on the match.
This round had become a draw, Cicero's sword at Balian's throat and Balian's sword at his inner right thigh. They pushed back from each other; Cicero was starting to get a little frustrated. Balian was still the element of calm and collected. He was going to win this.
The Magister turned her attention to Dorian but looked as bored as she could. "The Tevinter Imperium is the greatest in the world. The south will bend the knee again, Lord Dorian, and soon," Prisca said and Dorian kept his face impassive.
For as frustrated as Cicero was becoming his attacks were still smooth and controlled, however it wasn't good enough. Balian had figured him out. Up until the last point which would name Balian the winner and pull off a nice upset in front of scum of Tevinter, Cicero may have been frustrated but his attacks were controlled. After being beaten back to back a few times his control unraveled. Cicero attacked quickly. Balian caught his one handed swing with his left hand, surprising the General with how strong the elf actually was, he then punched him hard cross the jaw before he could swing. Balian staggered back tasting blood in his mouth, he recovered and attacked. Swords echoed though the room and their blades slid down to the handles, their strength being tested.
Cicero kneed him in the stomach trying to break the stalemate but the rumors of how strong he was were not overrated. Balian pressed and succeeded in stripping the sword from Cicero in a swift snap of his wrists letting his spiked crossguard do the work. He backhanded the general, kicked his left leg aiming for whatever injury he'd sustained, and Cicero dropped to one knee. The room was so quiet now that you could hear a pin drop. The elf held the sword to the beaten General's throat.
"Match," he said and Cicero acknowledged it.
Bull laughed and clapped but he was the only one, Dorian beamed with pride and gave him a slight bow. The rest of the room wasn't sure what they'd just seen. How could a fine General like him be defeated by an Elf?
Balian picked up the dragon handle sword that belonged to the general and offered it back. Cicero was not pleased. Not at all but rather than looking like a petulant child he accepted the match for what it was. Balian was good, that much was abundantly clear, but he was still an Elf who beat him. That annoyed him. "Who trained you, Ser Balian?"
"My father," Balian answered quickly and Cicero cocked his head. He was thinking anything but that seeing as how he was a bodyguard for a Prince, a Knight, and a renowned Champion. The look from Prisca stopped him from any follow up questions as their swords were handed off and the evening continued.
Servants brought them all drinks before Prisca snapped her fingers. The girl who Balian winked at served him before Dorian, her beaming smile made Balian smile back. Dorian rolled his eyes. "Will you stop that, you tease?" he griped and Balian simply chuckled.
They barely made it back to their room in his mother's villa before they couldn't keep their hands off each other. Dorian loved to watch him fight and the subtle, harmless flirting with the servants at the party gave the illusion that he was competing for him.
"So what did you learn from Prisca?" Balian asked in a satisfied content tone. It wasn't cold in Tevinter but snuggling under the covers with Dorian felt amazing.
"That she's the mastermind behind the whole thing…probably plotting to have me killed as we speak," Dorian replied with the ease of talking about the weather. "What did you learn from the General?"
"That he's going to be very difficult to beat," he replied flatly as he lay on his back.
"You beat him," he said running his fingers over Balian's strong but scarred chest.
"He underestimated me."
The elf was modest, he always was. He knew what he was doing and that was why Sebastian never wanted to let him go. "But you still beat him. Why did you do that, by the way? I know you don't like sparring. Don't like showing what you can do."
Like his ill-advised match with Bull his it was all pride and the desire to knock a loud mouth on his ass. "Only way I could shut him up. After the second or third round I knew I could beat him."
Dorian propped up on his right elbow with a narrowed expression. "Are you saying you toyed with him the whole time?"
The elf chuckled lightly. "No. He knows what he's doing but like all you Tevinters, he's overconfident. Cullen will have a hard time with him."
There was a quick rap on the door and Dorian grumbled loudly. "In all the time I lived here and in all the time since no one's knocked on the door this damn much. What?" Bull opened the door and stepped in quickly. "What do you want?"
"Figured I'd wait until you two were finished," he smirked and Dorian rolled his eyes. "That looks cozy." The enormous Qunari moved to the foot of the bed and put his hands on the soft blankets.
"Iron Bull, don't you dare," Dorian's warning didn't stop him and Bull flopped down on the foot of the bed. Balian and Dorian barely got their feet out of the way before he landed making the bed creak and groan.
"Lummox," Dorian hissed as the bed shifted.
"He's like a giant child," Balian said and practically kicked Bull in the side of the head as he turned over onto his left away from Dorian.
"Could have invited me in. You know for hospitality purposes," Bull said with a smirk that Dorian wanted to kick off his face.
"I'm not interested in Qunari," Balian muttered. He was far more comfortable with giant Qunari at the foot of the bed then Dorian or Bull would have expected. He simply snuggled deeper into his blankets.
"Don't know what you're missing," Bull grinned. "Dorian knows," Balian lifted his head briefly.
Dorian tinged an embarrassing shade of red. "This is really not a conversation I want to be having now."
"Or ever," a tired sounding Balian chimed in.
Before they asked again Bull backed off the teasing and shifted to why he actually disturbed them. "So the pretty chick and the general, think this is them?"
"Definitely," Dorian replied. "She's always challenged the system, thought the Imperium has gone soft. Wants to return to the expansionism of old, with the conditions in the south as they are, killing Khrys would be the quickest way to unraveling the stability."
"My thoughts exactly," Bull agreed. "She'll probably try to kill you before you can leave."
"I know," Dorian replied quietly, he didn't like being a target.
"I'll be outside," Bull said with a nod and slapped what turned out to be Balian's leg. "You're up tomorrow."
There were no attempts on Dorian's life that night or in the morning and Dorian headed out to the Magisterium. Both Bull and Balian were armed and in armor or as close to armor as Bull got. Balian paused as he took in the sight of the Imperial Senate building, it was huge, domed, made of beautiful smooth marble and granite. According to Dorian it was one of the oldest buildings in Minrathous. After taking in the magnitude of the building he continued on. After Dorian had spoken to Mae she managed to get the Chancellor, spokesman of the Magisterium, to call a meeting on such short notice.
They waited to go in and tried to talk Dorian out of his chosen approach to the situation.
"I don't think coming out swinging is going to be the best way to go here," Balian commented and Bull very much agreed.
"I agree with Wyvern-killer," Bull said intentionally using the name to needle Balian. The elf rolled his eyes.
Dorian scoffed at that and the eye roll from Balian. "While I'm delighted that you two agree on something besides me and my quirks we don't have much time. We need to know what is going on. Prisca is behind this, we know that, we don't know her strength. How many more of the Magisterium does she have on her side? Mae sent me a message this morning saying that Cicero controls not one but two legions…that's ten thousand men. How much more of the army does he control?"
Balian understood that they needed information but it made him nervous. "So going into the Magisterium and announcing that one of them is a leader of a faction that wants war with all of Thedas is the smartest way to go about that?"
Dorian laughed. It was definitely not the smartest way to go and if Khrys were here she'd be bitching at him for the same reason. "No. But it'll certainly be fun."
Balian was now at the glaring stage. "Or suicidal. Dorian…come on, that's a room full of Mages. My armor's enchanted but I think they might be a bit much for me." Bull grunted an agreement.
"Oh, Amatus, no…they won't attack outright. That'll be later…probably an assassin," he replied and patted his love's arm before heading to the huge doors leading into the Magisterium chamber.
Balian opened his mouth to protest more but Bull cut in. "I'd let it drop, you won't talk him out of it," Bull said and Balian grumbled.
"Great."
They followed him in, the polished marble and granite was unlike anything they'd seen anywhere other than Orlais. This wasn't the main senate rotunda, this was just for the Magisterium alone but it was still grand. Balian and Bull had never seen anything quite like this. The Winter Palace, Starkhaven, Val Royeaux, Skyhold, Fort Drakon…none of it held a candle to Minrathous.
It was a bit like a coliseum, nearly a full circle of seats sitting on a circular dais that went high up. The seats were divided between the Circle, the Chantry, and the major houses. They held all the power in Tevinter and could even manipulate the Archon. Balian couldn't count them all. There were at least a hundred.
The Chancellor was a man about the same age as Dorian. Same general appearance as well with the black hair and tanned skin only he had a full goatee. His name was Erris Forlani, a member of the Circle of Magi and a name that Mae had mentioned as a potential evil doer. "Magister Pavus, it has been some time since you attended. And you've brought guests, why is that?" he said in a voice that matched his tall and broad appearance.
"Guests? A Qunari and an Elf, savages," Another sneered.
Dorian glanced at Balian and Bull, both remained impassive. Balian looked better than he'd ever thought, a gleaming Knight, polished armor, clothes pristine thanks to Atia, he wasn't a savage and by now word had spread about his handiwork with Cicero. "Ahh, well, the savages are here to make sure I leave the same way I came in: in one piece," Dorian said.
Erris stiffened and sighed heavily as he glanced back to his fellow Magisters. Erris was new at being the Chancellor but he had a quality about him. He was very level-headed. "You requested this meeting."
Dorian sighed before he continued. "The Inquisition knows that Tevinter wants nothing to do them. I'm the pariah which is why you gave me the position as Ambassador. To get me out of your hair and make it seem like you have a vested interest in the rest of the world but now it seems that all fingers point to the Imperium for the attempted assassination of the Inquisitor."
Murmurs grew louder through the magisterium. "Are you accusing the Imperium of trying to kill the Inquisitor?" Erris asked holding up his hand to silence the room.
Dorian smirked, an expression that made Prisca visibly sneer from her seat. "I'm accusing the Magisterium of ordering it," he corrected confidently.
That sparked an outrage, loud murmuring, yelling, and squabbling between one another. "By our reports the so called assassin is dead. Killed in the act. How would you know where he came from?"
"Because the Inquisition is not stupid. We're an inquisitive lot," he replied then lowered his voice to a growl. "And I know a Tevinter assassin when I see one."
Prisca stood, outraged by his accusation. "You dare accuse us? We had nothing to do with it, southern Thedas can fall into the sea. Why would the Magisterium care to assassinate a figure head for the backwater chantry military arm?"
That was the question of the hour. Why would they want to assassinate her? Bull's reasoning was very astute but it was still a mystery. "Because you yourself said that southern Thedas would once again kneel before the Imperium, who stands the most to gain from southern Thedas in chaos?"
"You bastard! Traitor!" Another magister yelled. Dorian recognized him but couldn't remember his name. "Seize him!" Guards stepped from their place and Balian drew his sword ready to defend.
"Stop!" Erris barked and the room went silent. The guards stopped and then stepped back.
Dorian seemed unworried about the guards, as a mage he could take them out easily enough but Balian would never let them get close. "I am not a traitor, I never have been. Some of you conspired to have my father murdered and yet I stay. I am here now trying to find out which one of you insane bastards is trying to plunge the world into more war and get this nation destroyed by either southern Thedas or the Qunari."
"You have overstayed your welcome, Magister Pavus. I would suggest you leave before you offend more of us and I detain you, your Qunari, and your Elf," Erris advised calmly. If he was involved in the conspiracy he wasn't letting on. "I extend you this offer once because of your role against Corypheus. Leave now. Leave Minrathous. Leave Tevinter."
A tactical retreat was the order of the day. Dorian had effectively pissed off the Magisterium but they were allowed to leave unopposed. Balian didn't like it, not because he had to run away but because everywhere he looked was a potential enemy.
Too many people on the road unnerved Balian. Even with Bull, a Qunari in Tevinter, Balian was still the one no one knew what to do with. Fully armored Dalish Elf, he didn't carry himself like a slave, he looked people in the eye and stood his ground. He was not a slave and everyone could see it but he felt best with his helm on. No one knew, people didn't eyeball him they focused more on Bull.
The road cleared some but there was still a ton of fishermen, merchants, and people in general rushing to get everything done before the day ended. They came to a stop waiting for a knot of people to pass. Bull and Dorian chatted about something he couldn't really hear through the silverite helm. Across the road something caught his eye. A mounted, masked and hooded archer several paces away on a fine bay horse, leather armor in shades of black and brown…an assassin. He saw him draw up the bow and Balian reacted in seconds.
"Dorian!" Balian barked pressing his right leg into his horse. Biscuit wheeled to the left in front of Dorian causing a holy mess between the three horses as the arrow buried itself into Biscuit's neck. The big horse squealed in response and Balian barely controlled him as he tried to flee from the pain. Warhorse or not a horse was still a horse. He reared and spun as his master tried to stay in the saddle.
Dorian was quick on the uptake when the panicked horse ran into his creating a domino effect back to Bull's. He tracked the arrow and unleased a blast of fire. The archer's horse reared and panicked at the fire that was too close for comfort. The bowman hit the ground and a hard crack was heard. The bow broke when he landed on it. Bull gave chase and the archer ran. The qunari got to him and dismounted from his enormous horse grabbing the man by the back of his tunic. Despite being grabbed and manhandled by a qunari the archer fought. He came up with a knife catching Bull in the neck. Bull dropped him and his hand went to his neck.
Balian gathered Biscuit finally and wheeled the very irritated horse in time to see what happened with Bull. He pulled his knife, flipped it around and threw it. The weapon went exactly where he wanted it to go and the man dropped.
Dorian got there and promptly dismounted to tend to Bull. The qunari batted him away and the mage looked down. "Damnit!" he cursed as the masked man twitched while bleeding out. "Don't Elves know how to take prisoners?"
Balian didn't answer and his expression was hidden behind his helm. Dorian didn't really need an answer to that since he knew that Elves may have but Balian apparently didn't when people he loved were threatened. The knife he threw was lodged in his throat which was a good throw from six paces away on a horse that was not in the least bit happy.
Bull let Dorian heal his neck and then kicked the assassin over onto his back. "Efficient," Bull said as he pulled the knife from his throat in a sickening sound. "But the goal is information."
Balian had dismounted but his horse wasn't settled. "Alright, fine," the elf huffed. "Next one I'll let kill him and we can question him after," he sniped and returned his attention to his horse. The arrow hit in the muscle right in the center of the big horse's neck. Nothing vital. Biscuit leaned away from him snorting nervously. The arrow was in a good several inches. "Bull, what kind of point?"
There was a pause as the Qunari pulled a shaft from the quiver. "Bodkin," he replied and tossed the arrow aside.
Bodkin was all penetration but at least it wouldn't do too much damage on the way out. He held his horse and quickly pulled it out managing to keep his horse semi-calm. Balian sniffed the arrow, made a face and threw it with an Elven curse. "Magebane."
Dorian joined him as the arrow hit the ground, it was definitely meant for him and once again Balian proved why Sebastian never wanted to let him go. He was very good as a bodyguard. "It shouldn't hurt him. I can try to heal it," Balian patted the nervous horse.
Bull searched him. "Just like the other…no missives, no papers, looks the same as the other one though."
"We need to get out of here. Get on a boat and get back to Skyhold," Balian said and Dorian turned slightly. "I do not want to be detained by Tevinter."
"This is too quick to be from the Magisterium this is in response to last night," Bull deduced and they were both inclined to agree. Balian's worry was not unfounded; they just needed to leave for two reasons now.
Leaving Mintrathous was a clandestine event. Dorian had effectively unnerved whoever the shot caller was and Balian had already averted one attempt on Dorian. They couldn't leave fast enough in Balian's mind, the boat ride across the bay quick but not quick enough in his opinion. They needed to be out of Tevinter quickly. Bull had arranged a ship to depart in the middle of the night to take them back across the bay to Vyrantium. Even on the boat Balian didn't relax, probably wouldn't until they got back to Skyhold.
The child crying in the middle of the road sent up warnings for Balian and he glanced back at Bull. "Stay here," he ordered and edged Biscuit forward surveying the road. "You alright, Kid?" he asked and the little girl looked up at him. She was filthy, covered in dirt, now mud from the tears and he dismounted leaving his heavy shield still in its keeper on Biscuit's left flank. He pushed the big horse back and as soon as he did so he recognized his mistake. Almost a dozen men came out of the trees and the child ran away. The elf cursed, how could he be so stupid?
"You must be Ser Balian." The apparent leader taunted as he sized him up. "A Knife-Ear as a Knight…guess he wasn't lying, boys," he said in a tone loud enough for most of his companions to hear. "But you did beat the boss…so I'll be taking your sword after we string you up."
This was a hit and Balian cursed to himself as he shifted his position slightly putting his right foot forward and hand right hand on the handle of his sword. The man before him was flanked by two other men, only one was in heavy armor, military armor. "Move aside," Balian ordered calmly.
The man returned his order with a crooked, unsettling smile. "No."
In a flash Balian drew, his blade exploded from his side and he hit three of them in the first swing. The first two had been deflected by their armor but the third hit did damage. The blade caught him just under the chin cleanly slicing his throat. Blood sprayed onto him and now the fight was on.
He heard magic behind him but focused on those before him, as badly as he wanted to make sure Dorian was okay he had to trust that Bull was there and that Dorian could take care of himself. He was fighting without his shield and against a trained military officer. He broke Balian's guard in a hefty swing but his left pauldron deflected it with a hard metal to metal sound. Balian still felt the hit jar his once broken left collarbone but his armor did its job and the fact that the hit didn't penetrate was a fatal mistake for the officer. Balian roared as he drove the spiked crossguard under his chin and through his windpipe. It was a gruesome way to go and he gurgled up blood before dropping to the ground. He killed the next man easily, one perfect swing decapitated him. Behind him was a major scuffle. Bull had dismounted and cleaved a few people in two, Dorian he didn't see but he saw the magic.
The bolt hit him in the chest and he felt it pierce into his body, his breath left him like he'd been punched in the gut. In the midst of a fight time slowed for him and he looked down at the bolt in his chest. He staggered and came back to reality. He swung the sword and killed the man to his right. He focused past the shock and pain pushing the fight. It hurt to move his left arm, hurt to breathe also but he pressed. He blocked an attack and delivered a decisive lethal strike into the side of the neck. He felt the pain radiating through his chest and almost lost his balance.
The second bolt hit and he fell to one knee tasting metal in his mouth, he coughed and blood burst from his mouth. He still had his sword and he steadied himself with his left hand, the breath he took in sounded bad. He tried to stand but couldn't and wound up driving one of the spikes on the crossguard of his sword into the dirt. The strength in him left and he collapsed on his left.
Dorian saw Balian go down, the crossbow bolts punched right through his breastplate. Rage ignited in him and he tracked the archer stalking forward with flame in his right hand. The steady stream of flame toasted the archer in an agonizing scream. The enraged mage killed the other remaining attacker quickly with a fiery bomb taking out a huge swath of the road and spooking all the horses.
"Balian!" It was Bull who appeared over him first. Then Dorian crashed in looking panicked.
"Oh, no, Bail, no." he said sounding more like a plea.
"They're deep." The quanari informed, pulling them out could cause more harm than good but Balian had a chance, Dorian could heal. Bull ripped the first bolt out and Balian screamed, with that scream came blood both from the wound and from the elf's mouth. The second one was worse, more blood and a gargle noise from Balian.
The look on his face scared Dorian, Balian was terrified. He kept spitting up blood until it was all over his face, armor, and Dorian. The mage's right hand glowed with creation magic hovering over Balian's chest, the wound was mortal and Dorian would be lucky to heal this. Malcolm could heal it; he wished the spirit healer was here. "Damnit!" Dorian cursed. "It's not working."
Balian could feel his life slipping away, like he was in a tunnel, he remembered this feeling. He remembered making peace with his life long ago while bleeding to death in the woods. He wouldn't make peace this time, he didn't want to die, he didn't want to leave Dorian. There was nothing he could do; crossbow bolts that could punch through heavy armor like this never left their victims alive. He was dead and he knew it.
"No, no, no, no." Dorian babbled, his healing spell wasn't working. He didn't have enough power or talent with creation magic to stop his lover from dying. "I could use Blood Magic."
Balian heard that and took a fistful of Dorian's tunic. "No," he managed out as more blood escaped his mouth. "Not for me," he added and coughed more blood. "Not for me."
Dorian ignored him and pulled the knife from his belt and took the glove of his left hand off with his teeth dropping it immediately. Bull blinked and looked at Dorian. "He said no, Dorian."
"He's dying, I don't care," Dorian snapped harshly and took a deep breath before slicing his hand palm.
"Dorian," Bull tried again.
"I'd rather have him alive and angry with me than dead," the mage snapped. Dorian didn't practice blood magic but he was a researcher and student of magic. He knew how blood magic worked but had really never practiced it. This was a spell that he knew and he was willing to risk its effects to save him. The air filled with Blood Magic and Bull growled moving away from him, Dorian continued in Tevene casting the spell and using its incantation. The white orbs changed to red as the magic swirled around them.
Balian gasped loudly as the spell worked, Dorian's skin was buzzing with the blood magic, it felt like ants crawling all over him. Balian knew he was dying but now he was healed. Shocked and angry he looked up at Dorian. "What did you do?" he demanded and tasted all the blood in his mouth. "Dorian, what did you do?"
Blood Magic carried consequences, it traded life for power and while this spell didn't kill him –or at least not yet- he was weak. It worked. Balian, his love, was alive. That was the last thing he saw and then the world went black.
Balian's hands were shaking violently as he took off his armor. It was a haunting feeling to know that he was seconds from death and was saved by a mage. When the bear nearly killed him he had time to accept his fate while he slowly bled to death. Mary, the merchant who found him, saved him with herbs and poultices. Dorian used Blood Magic and that upset him. Blood was splattered all over his armor and there were two bolt holes in the chest. That was a sickening thought and for a moment he thought he was going to throw up. He steeled himself and swallowed hard before continuing to remove the blood soaked clothing.
Dorian quietly entered and saw Balian. His chest was covered in blood and it stained his trousers, Dorian felt sick but controlled himself. He nearly lost him. "Bail," he said and the elf turned sharply like he'd been startled. He was so wired right now it didn't matter what it was, he'd jump out of his skin and Dorian saw something he didn't expect, fear. There was dried blood down his chin, on his cheeks, his throat, and down his chest, Dorian wanted to help clean him up and moved to try.
Balian took a startled step back and held up his hands. "No! Don't touch me." he said albeit a little more aggressively then he had intended.
Dorian blinked and Balian looked him up and down. Dorian seemed a little ragged, tired, whatever spell he used took something out of him and his once shiny, jet black hair was heavily flecked with grey now. What had he done? What did Dorian sacrifice for him? "Balian-…"
"You used Blood Magic," the elf growled, anger and fear in his eyes burning through the mage better than any fire.
"I couldn't lose you, amatus," Dorian replied. "I'm sorr-…"
"Get out," Balian snarled cutting Dorian off causing the mage to blink. "Get out!" he barked angrily.
More words died in his mouth and he turned from him. He'd never forget that look of anger and fear in Balian's eyes, eyes that had once been filled with love. What had he done?
Being kicked out of Balian's tent was like a kick to the stomach. Dorian made it about 20 feet and felt his stomach buck, he doubled over and wretched out whatever was on his stomach. Either due to the spell he just cast or the fact that he almost lost the man he loved. He collected himself and made his way to the fire away from the tent. Bull'd found the enemy camp and ransacked the hell out if it and decided to make himself at home.
"He told you not to do it," Bull chastised from the fire. "He told you and you did it anyway."
Dorian felt the nausea pass and carefully made his way to the fire. The spell took a lot out of him, he'd taken a lyrium potion and it barely scratched the surface. He sat, or rather collapsed down and looked at Bull. "I couldn't lose him," he said after a while.
Bull wasn't stupid. He could see Balian's reaction a mile away and surprised that Dorian didn't. "You may well have anyway," the big qunari said rising to his feet. "Here," he said passing him a blanket. "You don't look so good."
Dorian took the blanket, managed a smile, and unfurled it over himself. "I'll be fine," he replied quietly.
Blood Magic unnerved him still but he cared about Dorian, as close as they had been in the past he was certain Dorian would never have done that to save him. "What did you do?"
"I gave him apart of myself." He answered as his eyes grew heavy. Despite it all his body just wanted to sleep.
The next day began earlier than Dorian would have liked, he was still weak but looked better than the night before. Bull was clearly worried about both of them. Balian didn't say six words to anyone. He just woke up, if he even slept, and tended to the horses. His armor was ruined but he still wore it, it was all he had. He didn't eat either and was up on Biscuit ready to go before Bull and Dorian were. Dorian wanted to talk to him or at least have Balian say something to him but the elf barely even looked at him. He didn't relish the idea of climbing up onto his tall mare as he still felt like crap but the idea of walking he relished even less. He sighed heavily and gave it his first attempt. He cursed in Tevene when it didn't work well.
"Fuck it," he cursed in frustration and embarrassment. "I'll walk," he added patting the black mare's neck.
Balian grumbled warring with himself and slid off his horse moving over to Dorian swiftly. "Come on," he said flatly though managing to sound a little irritated.
Dorian shook his head. "I'm fine," he assured and the elf was visibly irritated.
"Get on the fucking horse," he snapped. Dorian's brow furrowed but he let Balian help him into the saddle. He started to say something but before he could get a word out Balian was gone and mounted back on Biscuit with ease.
Dorian's shoulder fell, he'd lost him. He didn't urge his horse on to follow Balian and Biscuit. "Just give him some time," Bull said as he pulled Asaarash up next to him. Dorian took the advice but it didn't make him feel better so he tapped his heels and the mare moved forward.
Over the next few days it was more of the same Balian was silent and spoke to Bull about the journey. Dorian had gotten better over the last few days but still wasn't the same. It hurt him that Balian didn't talk to him unless he had to or sit with him.
Bull stood next to Balian and was quiet for a long set of minutes before speaking. "What's your problem?" Balian didn't know the answer to that but he knew what he was referring to. "I know you told him not to, I was there when you said it, but I can count on one hand how many people he'd use Blood Magic to save and I wouldn't get to five. He saved your life because he couldn't live without you. So get your head out of your ass and talk to him."
Balian was at war with himself, he both wanted and didn't want Dorian and so far the side that was in an uproar was winning. He didn't have a fear of Blood Magic per say but he knew how dangerous it was. It was that Dorian did it at all that caused the violent collision of feelings he was experiencing right now. Dorian looked up at him but said nothing. He wasn't surprised he hadn't talked to him socially in days. He only gave orders and spoke mainly to Bull and he could tell Dorian was hurt.
"I told you not to do it," he said finally after a long silence and awkward eye contact.
Dorian kept himself in check. He wanted to yell and scream, kiss him and hug him all at the same time. "You may have been prepared to die but I wasn't prepared to lose you."
The Elf was irritated, clearly. "I didn't want to die," he replied sharply.
"Then why are you so pissed at me? I saved your life?"
"You used blood magic-…" he voice got a little louder than he wanted and curbed it now sounding frustrated. "I told you not to. I didn't want to die because I didn't want to leave you like that but I'd rather die then put you in danger which is exactly what blood magic does."
"I didn't make a deal with a demon, amatus, I gave you a part of myself," Dorian explained a little affronted by the idea that one dabble in blood magic would undo him. He was a very strong mage and had never been tempted by demons.
Balian was quiet for a moment as he wasn't sure what to say. "Will you be okay?" he asked referring to the way Dorian had looked over the past few days.
Dorian nodded. "Yes," he answered simply and that was the truth. It would take him time to recover but he would be just fine. Balian was satisfied with the answer and Bull was appeased so he walked away with more to think about.
Note: Artus Cicero = Jaime Lannister and Prisca Cassius = Monica Bellucci
Yes...I have actors in mind for nearly everyone.
