Author's Notes:
Welp here it is! Redcliffe Nightmare! I think it is..
I tried my best to not make this too long.
Hope you like this chapter!
P.s. Excuse my Elvhen.. I tried.
In Hushed Whispers
Lavellan along with her party arrived in Redcliffe Castle. Leliana's agents went into position. As she and the others approached the castle doors, it swung open and they entered. Soldiers lead them towards the entrance of the throne room. They walked past the courtyard, soldiers were lined up on each side of the path. Everyone felt uneasy, and kept their guard up. Upon arriving, a servant walked and greeted them with distaste.
"The Magister's invitation is only for Mistress Lavellan. All others will have to stay out here." He said.
"Well…too bad. Where I go, they go." Lavellan replied haughtily. The others stepped closer towards her and glared at the servant. Intimidated, he consents.
"Very well…Follow me." He turned around, and started walking inside the throne room.
Everyone followed him silently. As they got closer to the throne, they noticed there were soldiers posted on each side. The door closed behind them, and two soldiers stood watch. Lavellan and the others knew Alexius is not counting on them leaving alive here. Ahead of them they saw Fiona standing on the side lines, Felix standing beside his father Alexius, who is sitting on the throne, patiently waiting. The servant announced them.
"My Lord Magister, The Agents of the Inquisition has arrived." Alexius stood up.
"My friend, it's so good to see you again…and your…associates of course. I'm sure we can make out some arrangement that is equitable to all parties." Fiona stepped up.
"Are we mages to have no voice in deciding our fate?" She asked. Alexius a sigh.
"Fiona…you would not have turned your followers over to my care if you did not trust me with their lives." He replied.
"Oh yes…because your face can be trusted, you have one of those faces." Lavellan joked. "If the Grand Enchanter wants to be part of these talks, then I welcome her as a guest of the inquisition."
"Thank you." Fiona nodded her head.
"So…you need the mages to close The Breach, and I have them. What would you give me in exchange?" Alexius asked as he sat on the throne.
"Hmm…nothing. I'm just going to take the mages and leave." She joked. "I know you want me dead." She glared at him.
"She knows everything father." Felix said.
"Felix…what have you done…?" Alexius asked as he shook his head in disappointment.
"Your son is concerned that you are involved in some kind of trouble." Lavellan spoke.
"So speaks the thief! Don't think you can turn my son against me. You walk into my stronghold with a stolen mark, a gift you don't even understand and think you're in control?!" He said, standing up from the throne, walking closer to her. "You are nothing but a mistake!"
"What do you know about this mark?!" She demanded.
"It is a power that you can't comprehend. It does not belong to you." He answered bitterly.
"Father…listen to yourself. Do you know what you sound like?" Felix asked.
"He sounds exactly the villainous cliché everyone expects us to be me." Dorian emerged from the side.
"Dorian." Alexius said. "I gave you a chance to be a part of this, you turned me down. The elder one has power you would not even believe; he will raise the Imperium from its own ashes."
"Who is this elder one? Is he a mage?" Lavellan asked.
"Soon he will become a God. He will make the world bow to mages once more, and we will rule all of Thedas." Alexius answered.
"You can't involve my people in this!" Fiona yelled.
"Alexius, this is exactly what you and I talked about never wanting to happen. Why would you support this?" Dorian asked.
"Stop it father, give up the Venatori let the southern mages close The Breach and let's go home." Felix said.
"He can save you." Alexius said.
"Save me?"
"There is a way…the elder one promised. If I undo the mistake at the temple."
"I'm going to die no matter what, you will have to accept that."
"No, Seize them Venatori!" He commanded.
Lavellan and the group stood ready for a fight. One by one the venatori's fell as Leliana's agents sneaked and killed them all. Lavellan looked at Alexius.
"You lose." She said.
"You! Are a mistake! You! Should never have existed!"
Alexius held out an amulet that glowed green on his hands. Dorian yelled and with his staffed sent out a bolt and it hit Alexius, causing the amulet to fall and opened a whirlpool on Lavellan and Dorian. In an instant they disappeared. Leaving nothing but scorch mark on the ground, where they stood.
Solas was the first to open his eyes and saw Lavellan and Dorian gone. Everyone looked around.
"Where did they go?!" Bull yelled.
"What happened?!" Sera asked.
"Chuckles, do you have any idea?" Varric asked.
"I…I'm not sure." Solas replied.
Suddenly the ground shook and a screeched sound echoed up the sky. The next thing they knew group of demons and abominations entered the throne room surrounding them.
"We will talk about this later, for now we have company my dears!" Vivienne said.
"Agree!" Blackwall and Cassandra replied together. Both their shields ready.
They formed a circle each facing different angles. Solas was the first to put up a barrier on everyone. Then everyone charged at the enemy. Cassandra and Blackwall hardened their armor and slashed through each demon and abomination as they pass. Sera shooting arrows and imploding her targets, Varric drop his traps as he shots incoming demons. Solas and Bull working together, freeze, smash, freeze, smash, their synced combination clearing the way each time. Vivienne steadily putting up barrier on them, as she hit their enemies with lighting and fire. After almost an hour or so of fighting everything seemed calmed. Everyone was running low on stamina, mana and potions.
"D-did we get em all?" Sera asked breathing heavily.
"Yes. We did. Thanks the maker." Cassandra replied falling on her knees.
"We…we should…split up and find Lavellan…" Varric said, leaning on Bianca for support.
"Agree." Solas replied as he supported himself with his staff.
Everyone was bloody from their own wounds, and blood of their enemies. As soon as they started to walk out of the throne room, more demons and venatoris burst in. They were surrounded by venatoris and rage, terror, pride, and other demons they've never seen.
"Aww…SHIT! More demons!" Bull roared.
"Piss!" Sera cursed.
They all gathered together, weapons at a ready. Everyone knew they will not last long but they were determined to find Lavellan that they will keep fighting until all the demons are dead. The group charged and for a moment it seemed they would win. As more and more demons pour in and their potion, stamina and mana is scarce and down to the last drop. Weakened and out of potions, they were overwhelmed and captured by the venatoris.
Everyone was chained up and lead to the dungeon. To their surprise and Solas's dismay they saw all two of the advisers and Erelan. Each were in a jail. Josephine on the ground whimpering on the ground. Her clothes ripped and blood stained. Something was not right about her. Cullen in another cell was facing the wall muttering something. He stripped off of his armor and was left with only his torn shirt and breech. Solas saw his sister crouched, and leaning on the wall, without hesitation ran towards her.
"Asa'ma'lin! Dirtha'em! Sathan!" He kneeled on the ground, clutching on the bars. Erelan moved her head to look at her brother.
"Isa'ma'lin…?" She answered with rasped voice. "Mar min…no…" She crawled towards and grabbed his hand. Solas was at a lost, her eyes were now red, her hands covered in red veins traveling all around her body. Red lyrium. The venatoris had fed her and the others red lyrium.
"Dara! Josa! Ma te'elan ea min! Ama mar'len." She pleaded.
Before Solas could say more, he was pulled away from her. One of the venatori mage sent a bold through the bars and she screamed. Erelan fell to the ground whimpering. Solas tried to attack, but was forced on his knees by one of the bigger warriors. All he could do was watch as his sister sobbed on the ground. They were once one of the powerful Evanuris, Dalish hailed them as Gods and Goddesses now, they were nothing. Solas could here Sera "elfy-elves" but he didn't care. He had no power to save his sister, and his heart ached at the fact Lavellan disappeared. He didn't know what Alexius has done, but whatever he did, she was gone. They were all put in different cells and fed red lyrium. Everyone tried fighting back but to no avail. Everyday each of them were fed red lyrium, every day it became harder and harder to fight back. Days turned into weeks into months and then a year passed. Josephine, Cullen and his sister died from red lyrium. Everyone else was succumbing to the power of the red lyrium, they don't know how much time they have left but they could feel their end is coming. Solas started to feel regret, in all the days, weeks, and months that passed not once did he wish to see Lavellan again. What he would give to tell her he loved her even now.
A loud crack was heard and two people fell on murky waters. Two soldiers were posted by a gate, one exclaimed.
"Blood of the elder one where did they come from?!"
They charged towards the two figures. Bolts of lighting and fire balls were thrown at the guards. The mages defeated one of the guards after freezing and shattering him to pieces. The last guard furiously swung his sword at the woman mage and she countered with her fire blast and burning him to death. Both mages put their staves away and the woman looted one of the guard and found a key.
"Interesting…it's probably not what Alexius intended. The rift must have moved us…to what? The closest confluence of arcane energy?" Dorian said.
"The last thing I remember, we were in the castle hall." Lavellan replied.
"Let's see. If we're still in the castle, it isn't…Oh! Of course! It's not simply where-it's when!" Dorian exclaimed. "Alexius used the amulet as a focus. It moved us through time!"
"Well…then…When and how do we get back?" She asked.
"Those…are excellent questions. Let's look around, see where the rift took us. Then we can figure out how to get back…if we can."
"You mean…you don't know if there is a way?"
"I have a plan…but I'm not entirely sure."
"Well…let's hope this plan of yours work. Let's go."
Dorian and Lavellan started walking around the area. Red lyrium were coming out from the walls everywhere they went. The palace seemed eerie and something was not right. As they kept walking Dorian noticed they have been walking in circles.
"So…this is just my guess…I think we are running in circles…are we-you lost?" Lavellan stopped walking and turned around looking guilty.
"…I am bad with directions…to be honest." She replied fidgeting with her fingers.
"Here I thought you were the leader of this inquisition." Raised an eyebrow.
"No one is leading the inquisition really…though I think Cassandra would mostly likely be the one for that position, if it ever came to that."
"My next question is…how did you manage not get your party lost in all the missions you've taken? Curious."
"Cassandra…leads the way and I just follow alongside her." She admitted.
"Ah…I see…well…I guess I will have to lead us out of here I'm guessing."
"Please." Lavellan replied pleading. Dorian shook his head and chuckled.
"You're lucky I find you adorable. Alright, let's go."
They went back to where they came from and from there walked up the stairs. As they opened the door two venatoris were on guard on each sides. Once they saw Dorian and Lavellan a fight broke out. Dorian casted his shield on him and Lavellan, they both fought side by side hitting the others with their spells. Once the fight was done, Dorian lead them to the left door and they went down some stairs. They opened a door that lead further down, that lead to more doors. As they descend on the stairs, Lavellan heard familiar voices, they were slightly different but she knows whose voices those are. She ran down the remaining stairs, as Dorian followed close behind.
She caught her breath at the first person she saw in a cell. It was Varric. His whole body was glowing red, even his eyes. Varric saw her and Dorian. Lavellan picked the lock and opened it.
"Andraste's sacred knickers. You're alive?" He said in disbelief. "Where were you? How did you escape?"
"We…didn't escape. Alexius sent us into the future." Dorian replied.
"Everything that happens to you is weird." Varric said
"You…don't look…so good. What happened?" Lavellan said, her face full of concern.
"Bit your tongue. I Look damn good for a dead man." Varric replied, grinning.
"You're no more dead than we are." Dorian said.
"The not-dying version of this red-lyrium stuff? Way worse…just saying." Varric replied.
"We get to Alexius, and I just might be able to send us back to our own time. Simple really." Dorian explained.
"That…may not be as easy as you think. Alexius is just a servant. His "Elder one" assassinated the empress and led a demon army in a huge invasion of the south. The Elder one rules everything. What's left of it, anyway, Alexius…is really not the one you need to worry about." Varric said.
"Well…that…makes things a lot better." Lavellan said sarcastically. "I promise you, Varric. We'll make sure none of this happens."
"I'm pretty sure you're crazy. Or I'm crazy. Either way, it's a nice thought." Varric replied smiling at her. "You want to take on Alexius? I'm in. Let's go." The next person they saw was Cassandra, Sera, Bull, Blackwall, Vivienne and finally the last cell Solas. Lavellan's heart sank at the sight of him. He was staring at the wall, like the others he was glowing red. Sera picked the lock and opened the cell. Solas turned around and when he saw Lavellan he almost fell back, shock to see her alive.
"Wha- You're alive?! We saw you die! I saw you die!" He said shaking his head.
"Solas…we never died." She said almost a whisper.
"The spell Alexius cast displaced us in time. We just got here…so to speak." Dorian explained. Solas locked his eyes with Lavellan as he spoke to Dorian.
"Can you reverse the process? You could return and obviate the events of the last year. It may not be too late…"
"Well…I'm glad someone understands what Dorian is talking about...because I don't." Lavellan said. She was about to touch Solas when he moved away.
"No, Vhenan, you will be tainted if you touched me." He said with sadness in his eyes.
'Did he…just…called…me vhenan? What…?'
Before she could say anything, Vivienne spoke up.
"I don't mean to break your…intimate moment my dears, but we have a magister to catch, and hopefully this future doesn't happen."
She was right they can't stay here. Everyone nodded in agreement and they all walked out the dungeon. As they made their way out, Lavellan saw Fiona.
"Grand Enchanter!"
"Your…your alive? I saw…you vanish into the rift." Fiona asked.
"Oh…Fiona…what is happening to you…?"
"Red lyrium…it…is a disease. Consumes your whole body."
"That…is…awful! This is…this not right!" Lavellan tried to contain her anger and sadness.
"Listen, what year are we in?" Dorian asked.
"Harvestmere…nine forty-two dragon." She answered
"Nine forty-two?! Then we missed an entire year." Dorian exclaimed.
"We have to get back Dorian." Lavellan said.
"Please…stop this from happening." Fiona begged. "Also…your spymaster Leliana…is here in the castle. Find her."
Everyone nodded in agreement and set out to look for Leliana. Lavellan had split up the group in order to find Leliana quicker. She, Solas and Dorian stayed together and went up a flight of stairs. Solas hasn't said anything to her or asked questions. She couldn't take the silence between them and broke it.
"Are there any others? Erelan? Cullen? Josephine?" She asked as they searched the room they were in. Solas was quiet for a while. Lavellan thought he'd never reply but after a while he did.
"No…" He replied in a whisper. "They…died…the red lyrium took them." Lavellan didn't know what to say. She clenched her fists. Solas continued. "I…thought I would never see you again." Lavellan was surprised.
"Solas…I-" Solas cut her off.
"Vhenan…let me finish. I was an idiot…thinking I…that we had time to see things through. I didn't realize before…how much you meant to me until that day you died…disappeared. After a year here without ever hearing your voice, your laugh, and to never see your smile was more painful than the red lyrium that is slowly killing me." He stepped walked closer towards her, but not too close to contaminate her. "If you…feel…the same as I do, promise me you will do whatever it takes, no matter how stubborn I am, to keep me by your side. Ar lath ma vhenan." Tears were starting to form on Lavellan's eyes.
"Solas…I…I promise…Ar lath ma…" She replied as tears fell down her face.
They stared into eachother's eyes full of love and devotion. She wanted to hug him, touch him, and he in turn want nothing but to do the same. For a moment it was only them in the room, no one else mattered. Dorian made a loud coughing noises that broke their trance. Lavellan and Solas fell back into reality.
"Well…at least you two are making the most out of this situation." Dorian said grinning.
Lavellan blushed and scowled at Dorian then walked away from embarrassment. Solas chuckled, how he missed seeing her flustered. After a while, everyone met up with them. Bull and Sera found where they kept Leliana. They all followed their lead. Voices are heard from the inside, Leliana was being interrogated. Lavellan silently opened the door, Leliana saw her. They made eye contact, Leliana nodded as she understood what to do. The guard turned around to see what she was looking at and in an instant Leliana wrapped her legs around his neck and then with a loud CRACK, he was on the ground. Lavellan took the keys from the guard and let Leliana down.
"Your alive!" She said.
"It's a long story." Lavellan replied.
"Doesn't matter. Do you have weapons?" She asked. Lavellan nodded. "Good. Let's go find Alexius."
"Your…not curious as to how we got here?" Dorian asked.
"No. All I care is killing Alexius. I assume you have a plan of stopping this yes?" Leliana grabbed her bow and arrow.
"Yes, the amulet Alexius has we need it." Dorian replied.
"Let's go." Everyone set out to find the throne room.
Leliana looked so dreadful. Her rosy cheeks and pink lips were now pale. Her beautiful blue eyes were now cold and dark. Dark circles. Her body malnourished. Torture marks everywhere her body, and yet she still goes on. Lavellan is now determined to stop this future from ever happening. She will not let anyone suffer ever again. She will defeat this "Elder one" no matter what. They had found the throne room, but it was locked and needed some kind of mechanics to open. Red lyrium shards. The group split up and went to look for the shards. It took a while to gather up the shards, the venatori mages were the ones carrying them. Finally, everybody met by the door all had a shard with them. Lavellan careful placed the shards on the sockets and in minutes the door clicked and opened. As they walk inside the room, Lavellan saw Alexius standing by a campfire.
"It's over Alexius. You lost." She said.
"I knew you would appear again, not that it would be now, but I knew I hadn't destroyed you. My final failure." Alexius responds.
"Was this worth it? Everything you did to the world, to yourself." Dorian said.
"It doesn't matter now…all we can do is wait for the end."
"It does matter! I will undo this!" Lavellan said.
"How many times have I tried? The past cannot be undone. All that I fought for, all that I betrayed, what I have brought? Ruin and death. The elder one will come; he comes for us all." Alexius said. He didn't notice Leliana sneaking pass him and grabbed Felix. "No! Felix!"
"That's…Felix?! Maker's breath Alexius what have you done!?" Dorian demanded.
"He would have died Dorian! I saved him! Please, don't hurt my son. I will do anything you ask." He begged at Leliana.
"Hand over the amulet, and we'll let him go." Lavellan said.
"Let him go and I swear you'll get what you want." He reached out to his son. Leliana glared at him.
"I want the world back." Leliana said as she sliced Felix's throat.
"NO! NOOO!" Felix screamed and hit Leliana with his magic, sending her flying to the ground.
The group went into battle with Alexius. As they fought, he summoned rifts to distract them. Lavellan had no choice but to take care the rifts first. After defeating them, they went after Alexius and again he summoned another rift. The battle went on for what felt like forever until finally he was losing mana and weakened. Lavellan let out a fire blast towards him and he fell to the ground. Dorian grabbed the amulet from his grasp.
"Okay, give me an hour to work on this." He said.
"An hour?! We don-" Before Leliana could finish her sentence, the castle shook and a shriek is heard on top of the castle. "The Elder one." She whispered.
Everyone in the group looked at eachother and smiled. They all had agreed to sacrifice themselves so Lavellan and Dorian can safely go back.
"Do what you must. We will go distract them. For as long as we can." Cassandra said.
"What? No! I am not letting you guys die!" Lavellan yelled.
"Look at us. We're already dead." Leliana replied.
"Promise you will stop this from happening." Sera said.
"But-!"
"Vhenan…I believe in you. You can do this." Solas said.
"Solas…" Tears started falling from her eyes.
"Go. You have as much time as I have much arrows." Leliana said.
Everyone left and out the door. Leliana waited by the door and started chanting. Dorian is almost done with the amulet when the door suddenly opened and demons started pouring in. Lavellan watched as her friends were massacred merciless. She saw Varric's body torn into pieces, Sera disemboweled, Vivienne was burned to death. Cassandra was beheaded and Blackwall's body was cut in pieces. Solas was the only one left, standing alone. She wanted to run towards him protect him, help him. Dorian held her back. Solas turned around and looked at her and smiled, with his last mana managed to blow up the demons closest to him. He fell on his knees and a pride demon picked him up, crushed and tore his body apart.
"NOOO! SOLAS!" Lavellan screamed at the top of her lungs.
Leliana shoots at all the demons with all the arrows she had left. Finally, Dorian finished and the portal was opened. Before they went in Lavellan witnessed Leliana's death. The demons surrounded her and tore her to pieces. Her scream was the last thing Lavellan heard until she and Dorian were sucked into the portal and back to the present time.
A burst of green light opened and two figures came out. Lavellan and Dorian had return to the present day. Solas and the other's saw how bloodstained both of them are. Lavellan grabbed Alexius by his collar and growled at him.
"You are done. This is over." She slammed him down. "Felix, I am not sure I will show mercy for your father. What he did…is unforgivable. I hope you understand." She said turning to Felix.
"Yes…I understand." Felix replied.
"Well…I'm glad that is done." Dorian said. Then a group of Ferelden soldiers marched in. The king and queen of Ferelden arrived. "Or…not."
"Grand Enchanter, We'd like to discuss your abuse of our hospitality." King Alistair said.
"Your…majesties…" Fiona walked up to them.
"When we offered the Mages Sanctuary, we did not give them the right to drive our people from their homes." Queen Anora said.
"King Alistair, Queen Anora, I assure you We never intended…" Fiona was cut off by the queen.
"In light of your actions, good intentions are no long enough."
"You and your followers have worn out your welcome. Leave Ferelden, or we'll be force to make you leave." King Alistair commanded.
"But…we have hundreds who need protection! Where will we go?" Fiona asked.
"Well…The inquisition still need mages…You can come with us." Lavellan said.
"What are the terms of this arrangement?" Asked Fiona.
"Hopefully better than what Alexius gave you. The inquisition is better than that, yet?" Dorian asked.
"You will come with us as our allies." Lavellan said
"It seems we have little choice but to accept, your generous offer. It will take three days for all the mages to arrive in Haven. Will that be okay?" Fiona asked.
"Of course! Three days of relaxing sounds great to me!" Lavellan smiled. She looked back at her companions, and avoiding eye contact with Solas. "Let's go back to Haven. Dorian? Shall we?" She offered her hand and Dorian took it.
Everyone followed them towards the courtyard and out of Redcliffe Castle. Dorian and Lavellan were riding side by side together, talking in hush tones and then laughing loudly. Everyone looked at eachother confused as to what just happened. They wanted to ask Lavellan, but she seemed to be engaged in entirely their own world. Solas had noticed she has been avoiding eye contact with him. Wherever Alexius sent them to, considering they both came back soaked in blood, something happened that seemed to change Lavellan. He will not question her now, but maybe when they return to Haven he will. They arrived at the campsite where all the advisers and Erelan waited. As usual the advisers asked what happened, Lavellan only told them that the inquisition has the mages support and in three days all the mages will be in Haven. Cullen asked where all the blood came from and she just smiled and told them she will tell them back at Haven, for now do not ask anymore.
The way back to Haven didn't take that long. Fiona stayed behind in Redcliffe to finish up some business and will join them soon. Some of the mages rode to Haven with Lavellan and her party. On their way back to Haven, Lavellan talked more to Dorian than the rest of them. Occasionally she chats with everyone else but Solas. Erelan had noticed her indifference with her brother. Whatever happened in Redcliffe had Lavellan on edge with Solas, and can't face him. By night time everyone arrived in Haven safely. The mages were escorted inside to avoid any complications with Templars and other people. Lavellan took a long well deserved hot bath, after, she went back to her cabin and fell on her bed. Tomorrow is a new day and some of other mages will arrive. She buried her face on her pillow and curled up. As she closed her eyes, she heard the screams of her companions dying infront of her. Her nightmare begins, as she relives the future that would happen if she didn't defeat this "Elder One".
Author's Notes:
Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Jeez...I went crazy on those deaths of the companions...especially Solas. (serves him right) Jk!
Like/Hate/suggestion comments are always welcome!
Until next Chapter!
Elvhen meaning:
Asa'ma'lin - Sister
Dirtha'em - Speak to me
Sathan - Please
Isa'ma'lin - Brother
Mar min - Your here
Dara - Go
Josa - Run
Ma te'elan ea min - You cannot be here
Ama mar'len - protect yourself
