Dorian had only meant to close his eyes for a moment, to rest and regain some of his energy, but he must have fallen asleep. Cassandra calling out to the camp, announcing that they were nearly prepared to head out, jolted him awake. He sat up, his head already pounding with the telltale signs of using too much magic too quickly adding to the ache he'd already had from being around red lyrium. He rubbed his sore eyes before turning to study Elden.

His breathing was still shallow and quick and he was still so pale and ashen. It was terrifying, seeing him like this. It was as if he was fading away before his very eyes. Elden was a leader despite his anxieties. He was strong and commanding but he was kind as well, willing to make himself vulnerable before those he cares about. To see him end up like this, everything stripped away piece by piece through this unbearable torture— it was too cruel.

This man risked everything every day for their cause, could this really be how it ended for him? Elden deserved so much better than the hand he had been dealt. And as selfish as it was, Dorian desperately didn't want to lose him. Not now, not ever.

He'd been selfish from the beginning though, endangering the Inquisition through their relationship, and he'd been selfish when he'd decided to end things between them no matter what he'd told himself to justify his actions. But Elden deserved to live, damnit. He was a good man, he'd been through too much, it couldn't end here, it simply couldn't.

Dorian had been holding Elden's hand tightly and as he slipped it free, Elden's eyes slowly opened. They were unfocused and glassy and Dorian wasn't even positive he knew he was there. Despite being free of the lyrium, he looks so much worse, exhaustion taking everything from him.

"No," he said looking terrified, trying to move, but all he could do was turn his head away. "Please not this again. You're not really here."

"Do you know who I am?" Dorian asked.

"You're supposed to be Dorian."

"Good, that's good," Dorian said feeling somewhat relieved. Maybe he was on the mend after all. Or was that just wishful thinking? But then Elden spoke again and it broke Dorian's heart completely.

"Please, just kill me, I can't take it any longer," he begged, tears welling up in his eyes.

Dorian could feel tears springing into his own eyes and he cupped Elden's face in his hands as he leaned over him. "I'm so sorry." He took a moment to collect himself, fighting to keep his voice even. "If this were true, if I was really here, would you trust me?"

Elden looked at him with hollow eyes devoid of hope but at least he nodded.

"Then please believe me when I tell you that this isn't an illusion and no one will lay a hand on you again while I breathe. You're safe now, I'm going to get you out of here."

Elden nodded reluctantly, trying to blink his eyes into focus and Dorian smiled encouragingly at him.

"Good man. Hang on just a little longer for me, will you?"

Elden's eyes fell closed again and he slipped into unconsciousness. Dorian sat there for a long moment more, aching for Elden, a tear sliding down his cheek despite himself. It was agony seeing Elden like this and being unable to do anything to ease his suffering.

"Please. Hold on."

How many times had Dorian repeated that? But then, he'd continue to say it over and over again. Maybe that was selfish too, maybe it would be better to let Elden finally rest, but he couldn't. He wouldn't stop fighting for him. Despite everything, Elden had never once given up on him and Dorian wanted to do the same.

Footsteps crunching in the snow outside the tent drew Dorian's attention and he quickly wiped his face as Cassandra entered. She had a makeshift litter to more easily drag Elden through the snow on and they prepared to move him. Dorian remained crouched at Elden's side during all of this, reluctant to part from him but knowing he couldn't hold his hand while they walked.


Trudging back down the mountain was just as miserable as climbing up had been. Perhaps even moreso now that they had to ensure no one went tumbling head over heels down steep slopes. Dorian stuck close to Elden's litter, glancing over at him constantly as if seeing him might provide some sort of comfort. He was still breathing which eased his anxieties somewhat, but still unconscious and clearly in pain. This was the safest and smoothest way to transport him, but every jostle had Dorian holding his breath at the way the Inquisitor winced.

When the warning cry went up that red templars had been spotted, he wasn't all that surprised. He wasn't proud of it, he should have been focusing on Elden's safety, but the fury he'd been stoking through all of this flared to life and he readied his staff. Finally he could take a little revenge on the Inquisitor's behalf. None of them would ever lay a hand on him again. They were under the cover of the trees now, on more or less even terrain, so they pulled in close and prepared for the fight.


Elden didn't know where he was or what was happening; it was all just a chaotic blur of agony. There were brief glimpses of Dorian through it all and he knew it could very well be another illusion, more visions from the Venatori to manipulate him, but Elden still couldn't help but hold onto it tightly, like a lifeline. Truth be told, hearing Dorian's voice, feeling his hand holding his own, was likely the only thing getting him through this. He was just so tired, but Dorian had asked him to hold on and how could he not at least try?

He had felt like he'd been on fire, something deep within him trying to crawl its way out, but that was gone now, replaced with a different kind of burning pain that made him long for unconsciousness. But then he felt something cold and wet land on his face, rousing him. Snow, he realized, as he strained to open his eyes, the world a blur of color and shapes, the sound suddenly coming into focus as well.

What he had thought was the pounding of the blood through his skull was actually the clash of weapons and the commotion around him. He watched with rising horror as he saw red templars all around, locked in combat with his companions, with his friends. They were fighting for their lives, holding their own for now, but how long until that changed? Would he be forced to watch them all die again?

This was all happening because of him. He had to do something, anything. It was a struggle simply to sit up, the entire world spinning around him and his side burning in agony. He tried to drag himself away but faltered, leaning back against a tree as he looked around for something, anything he could do to help. If he ran, maybe he could lead them away from his friends, but how far could he make it in his current state?

And that's when he saw her.

The Venatori, her long greying hair tied back and a cruel smile on her lips, striding towards him. Elden couldn't breathe, couldn't move. He pressed back against the tree as if he could burrow inside of it, feeling himself shaking as he cast around for something, anything that might help him.

But there was no helping him. If she wanted something done, it would be done and there was no resisting it. She had mercilessly taken him apart, piece by piece, and she would do it again until she was done with him and then he would die and he would be grateful for it. That was the only certainty now. This was his world and there was no escaping. He'd wanted so desperately to believe Dorian, that he could be free, safe, but there really was no hope. There was no escape.

Someone stepped in front of him, blocking the Venatori's path to Elden's astonishment and confusion. How could anyone stand against her? But when he finally managed to drag his eyes up, he saw it was Dorian, expression one of rage and determination, staff at the ready, and Elden felt frozen to his core at the sight, feeling as if the ground had been pulled out from under him. He tried to call out but his voice wouldn't work. He needed to stop Dorian because there was no preventing this, there was no saving him from the Venatori, but of course none of that mattered to Dorian, he would try regardless. That was just who Dorian was. He couldn't die here, for Elden and his foolishness.

Elden truly had messed everything up, dragging down his friends and now he was going to get them all killed and he was too useless to stop it.

Suddenly Cassandra came barrelling out of nowhere, her shield colliding hard with the Venatori from behind, knocking her to the ground. The Venatori recovered too quickly, reaching for her fallen staff, but an arrow from Varric knocked it away. Cassandra was still advancing and Dorian took advantage of the momentary distraction Varric had created by freezing the Venatori in place, preventing her from dodging as Cassandra ran her through.

Elden simply stared in shock, unable to truly comprehend what had just happened as Cassandra pulled her sword free, crimson splattering across the snow as the Venatori collapsed, lying still. But then Dorian was kneeling before him.

Dorian was okay, he was alive, they all were. Elden was curled in on himself, shaking violently despite himself, and he tried to reach out, to touch Dorian, to prove to himself that this really could be happening.

"I said I'd get you out of here, didn't I?" Dorian took his hand and smiled softly at him.

A sob escaped Elden and he doubled over, leaning into Dorian, feeling arms wrap around him, holding him close. Elden tried focusing on the warmth, on the proof that Dorian was still alive. He repeated to himself over and over again that they were alive, they were free from the Venatori. She couldn't hurt them any longer.