There were no words to describe how terrible it was, seeing Elden in this state, pale and just so hopeless and empty. There wasn't really time to deal with that at the moment, however. They were still in grave danger and he needed to get the Inquisitor out of here. Elden complied when he urged him up, but he'd gone silent, eyes on the ground as he winced through the pain in his side, perhaps convinced this was nothing more than a dream.
He was going along with it, however, and that was all Dorian could ask. He took one of Elden's arms across his shoulder to support him, hoping the stab wound in his side could wait for attention for a while longer, and they hobbled out of the room together. Dorian had only gone down a few long hallways on the way here but somehow making his way back felt like an eternity. Elden's labored breathing in his ear only made him more acutely aware of every step.
He could hear the sound of battle ahead of them now and he tried to get his staff at the ready, but it was an awkward position still supporting Elden. As he rounded a corner, the shuffling of rubble caught his attention. He shoved Elden up against a wall hoping he could support himself for the moment, clenching his teeth at the grunt of pain it drew from him, but there wasn't time.
Dorian spun around, staff up at the ready, in time to see a red templar, just as corrupted as the other he'd killed, jump down at him from a hole in the crumbling wall. Dorian had his barrier up in plenty of time to send the creature glancing back but it recovered much too quickly, it's movements more animalistic than human as it leapt at him again. Dorian brought the sharp tip of his staff up, slicing through its chest where it's armor had split from the red lyrium jutting from it's chest. Ripping it out and swinging around the blunt end of the staff, he smashed it to the ground with a sickening crunch and immediately rushed to Elden's side again.
Elden was staring around wildly, at the creature Dorian had just killed as well as the others they could see around the corner ahead of them still locked in battle. He was grasping at his side as if looking for his sword and Dorian took his arm again, pulling him up off the wall and urging him on.
"I know you'd rather fight but you're in no condition," Dorian chided, trying to sound as if his heart wasn't pounding out of his chest at how tense this all was.
They needed to pass a hallway before they could reach the exit and Dorian didn't even realize he was holding his breath as they approached, straining to see around the corner. The sounds of battle were getting louder as well and he almost didn't hear the quiet footsteps hurrying up behind him. Before he could make a move, the Iron Bull stepped out of the passageway directly in front of them.
"Get down!"
More from relex than anything Dorian dodged to the side at Bull's command, nearly falling as Elden stumbled beside him. Still, they managed to get out of the way as Bull's axe collided with the wall where they had been standing a moment before, a Venatori spy pinned there, nearly cut in half.
"Thanks for that," Dorian said, helping Elden stand again.
"Pleasure," Bull replied, wrenching his ax free, although his smile vanished as he looked over the Inquisitor's state before turning his eye back to Dorian. "I'll hold them off, get the boss out of here."
"Don't have to tell me twice."
Dorian hated passing by everyone locked in the heat of battle. He wanted to stay and fight as much as Elden did, but all he could do was throw up barriers and shoot off a spell or two as he passed. He needed to get Elden out of here. And then, finally, they were outside and free. The storm was all but blinding now and he hardly knew where he was going. He could still hear the terrible cries of the creatures that had once been human and it spurred them on.
Dorian was trying to remember where the pathway had been as they climbed their way out of the valley. He was squinting through the snow so focused that he almost missed when the ground dropped away in front of them. They came to a sliding hald at the ledge and Dorian sighed in relief. Well, he supposed, they'd found the road at least.
Now that they were stopped, trying to catch their breath and Elden feeling much heavier against him, he could hear the sound of footsteps and the clank of armor. Had reinforcements arrived? But then he caught sight of glowing red through the heavy snowfall. Reinforcements for the enemy. Of course. They could probably leave the path and climb down where they'd nearly fallen. It was steep but not impossible to navigate, but he needed to warn the others or they'd get trapped in.
He planted his staff on the ground, concentrating hard as he pulled up as much magic as he could muster. This would have to be a careful shot or he'd get them all killed. He aimed for a spot above the marching templars where he remembered the mountain wall being and released his magic just as the cry went up as he was spotted. They had no time to act, however, as his shot caused a small avalanche to come crashing down on top of them.
"This way," he heard Varric say behind him and nearly jumped out of his skin. He hadn't heard him approach.
Dorian had no desire to stick around to see how effective his attack had been and instead turned to Varric who was already clambering down the steeper part of the mountain. Dorian lowered Elden down to him and between the two of them they managed to make their escape.
Dorian wasn't sure how far they'd gone, out here surrounded by nothing but white with no way to tell distance, but he could feel Elden shivering against him and he knew they would have to stop soon. Thankfully Varric found an area up against a cliff face that would provide them some protection from the wind and snow. Dorian tried to use his magic to warm Elden, but they'd need a proper fire for the long run. Varric was in the middle of piling up a bundle of sticks he'd had in his pack when they both froze at the sound of footsteps in the snow outside.
Dorian raised a finger to his lips signaling Varric to keep quiet as he gingerly picked up his staff and approached. A display of magic could draw attention if there was anyone in the area so he held his staff out, blade at the ready. The footsteps grew closer and he could hear the clink of armor. Holding his breath he waited until the last second before leaping out to confront the templar-
Only to discover Cassandra standing there, eyebrow raised and eyeing his staff.
"Maker, Cassandra," he said, exhaling and leaning against the stone in his relief. "Am I glad to see you. How did you find us?"
She gestured behind her and through the snow he could see Cole there, looking restless. Of course he'd managed to locate them. Vivienne and Blackwall came trudging up behind them as well.
"Is-" Dorian said hesitantly, afraid to ask. "Are we all that's left?"
"Thankfully no. We were separated," Cassandra explained. "but I believe everyone made it out. It's unlikely we'll be able to find them in this storm though. We might as well set up camp here until the storm dies down."
Dorian nodded and returned to kneel at Elden's side. He seemed disoriented and confused so Dorian placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently.
"It's alright now, Inquisitor. You're safe," Dorian assured him.
"Am I?" Elden asked, staring out into the swirling snow.
"Yes," Dorian said as comfortingly as he could, brushing hair from Elden's forehead. "You can rest, I'm here."
"For how long?" Elden said it so quietly Dorian wasn't entirely sure he heard it correctly, but Elden sighed almost immediately and continued. "I'm sorry, never mind, just, don't make promise you can't keep."
Dorian wasn't quite sure what to say to that so instead he pulled his bedroll out of his pack and draped it over Elden while the others began setting up the tents.
