Chapter 43) Arrogance
Nuada POV
"So, mages go to a special school?" I asked, summarizing Aldous's lecture. The way he'd hesitated told me it was far more complicated than that. But I smiled like I hadn't caught on. It was easier to play the fool. I'd learned that already. "Can I go outside?"
"No, Lord Nuada." Aldous's hand fell on my head, ruffling my hair. "You're still recovering…" I tensed at the reminder. The poison burning down my throat… the way she'd laughed as she'd braided my hair and hovered her knives over me… sitting and waiting as I slowly suffocated… "How about an adventure story?"
"Okay." I made myself smile. It was better to be a fool and deny it happened. It… really was…
I really shouldn't have been surprised the people around us were dead, but I sighed anyway. They looked like they were sleeping. Though, I suppose they did die in their sleep, trapped in the Fade. That… was something I should think of another time. I still felt queasy after that whole thing, and not just because I, as someone very lacking in magical talent, shouldn't have been able to explore the Fade as I had.
I flinched when I glanced over at Wynne as she gave Leliana and Layla check ups. I should also be there. It would be smart. But the memory of… of the Crow-Nurse woman echoed too deeply in my head. It was better to just avoid it for now.
As I stood up, I accidentally jarred one of the corpses, a scroll rolling out of their hand. I snatched it up before it hit one of the blood puddles, opening it up a little out of curiosity. It looked like Tevene, for some strange reason, and it seemed to have been written by someone named 'Adralla'. I rolled it back up and stuck it in my pack. It would be a shame for it to get damaged. Besides, maybe I could borrow it for Elspeth to read. She'd adore it.
Checking to see Wynne was still busy, I wandered into the next room, blinking slowly at the strange cone of light that stretched all the way to the ceiling. Through it, I could see the door high above my head, and the winding staircase that led to it.
But at the bottom of the cone, trapped within, was a young man kneeling, head bowed, whispering parts of the Chant. He was… alive? Someone survived up here? Though, judging by all the lovely ripped up and contorted bodies, I'd hazard a guess he really wished he hadn't.
"Hey there," I called gently. The boy jerked his head up, staring at me with wide, almost wild eyes. Yeah, he wasn't exactly grateful being the sole survivor.
"…More tricks…" he growled. It cut off at the end, choking on a sob. "I will not falter. I will not let you win, demon!"
"If this were a more tense confrontation, I might've taken that as a compliment." Carefully, I approached, keeping an eye on the boy. I tapped the light, marveling at how it was as solid as a dwarven-made fortress and the way it rippled out like smooth water. This was actually very fascinating. "What is it?"
"It operates under the same principles as barriers and the Arcane spell 'Crushing Prison'." He rattled that off fast, though, sadly, I had no idea what he was really talking about. "Demons should know that."
"Luckily, I'm not one." I briefly debated trying to see if the thing fell, but decided that would be very stupid. If it could fall so easily, the boy would be out. "My name is Nuada." So, instead, I sat in front of him, hoping the 'equal ground' would help calm him. "Nuada Cousland, from Highever."
"…Cullen." The boy slowly sat down too, glaring at me warily. I couldn't blame him. "Cullen Rutherford." The name 'Cullen' was familiar. I wanted to say Alistair mentioned him. Was this the same one? "I'm originally from Hoennleth."
"I know that village." I smiled, hoping it eased him. He did relax slightly. "There's this giant statue in the middle of the town square, right?"
"Yeah, we used to decorate it for festivals." He relaxed a little more. "I'd hide my caramel stashes near there, to keep them from my siblings."
"You've siblings?" A sound caught my ear, and I twisted to check it when he tensed. "It looks to be the door creaking." I faced him again, doing my best to appear reassuring and calm. "So, you have siblings?"
"Yes, three." He smiled hesitantly. It looked a bit broken, but it was at last a smile. "Mia is the eldest of us, and I have two younger siblings, Branson and Rosalie." He hesitated before asking, "do you have siblings?"
"I do, an older brother and a younger twin sister." I smiled, thinking of them, and not on how Fergus was dead in the Wilds. "We drive each other insane, but we love each other dearly. Though, sometimes, the competitions could get fierce." I grinned, unable to help it. "Fergus never forgave me the first time I beat him in a sparring match."
"That's like Mia." He was still tense, but there was a bit of eagerness in his tone. Perhaps he was slowly believing I was no hallucination? "The look on her face when I finally won a chess game against her…"
"You play?" He nodded slowly, and my grin widened at a sudden idea. "Pawn to D4."
His expression blanked before he got what I was doing, and then he grinned too, face lighting up. "Pawn to D6."
"Pawn to D4." I settled into the game, made a bit harder by imagining the board too. But, honestly, that was fine. Chess was a wonderful game for helping you relax, and not a lot of people played against me anymore.
"Knight to F6." Something about his own smirk made me think it had been a while since someone had challenged him too.
"Knight to C3."
"Pawn to G6."
And so the 'game' went. Slowly but surely, I forgot I was in the Tower at all, surrounded by blood and corpses. I felt like I was in Denerim Castle, playing chess against someone Loghain recommended, determined to win just like I normally did. It was fun. I hadn't had fun in a long while, or so it felt, and Cullen was good at chess. I hadn't had a challenge in years, and here I was, feeling the familiar rush as we went back and forth on who was ahead and who wasn't.
"Nuada?" Both Cullen and I yelped at my name, and it took me a few moments to realize it was Leliana who'd spoken. "What are you doing?" she asked, staring at me like I was insane. From where she stood, I doubted she could see Cullen, especially with me sitting in front of him. "Are you… playing chess with yourself?"
"That's counterproductive and completely not fun," I deadpanned. I shifted a little so she could see Cullen, who looked just as disoriented as I'd felt a few seconds ago. "No, we're in the middle of a very fun, very good game that you just interrupted."
"I'm sorry. I had no idea the environment was so conductive to such intense matters." I stuck my tongue at her childishly and she smiled. "So, there is a survivor up here? Who is-?"
"Cullen?!" And that was Layla. She pushed past Leliana and bolted for the shield. I moved out of her way, so she could better face him. Cullen, for his part, looked like someone punched him in the stomach. "Cullen…" she breathed, crouching down. He still just stared at her. "I'm sorry. It's Layla."
"…Was it all really a demon after all?" he mumbled. Shaking his head, he placed his hands over his ears, slumping slightly to become a lesser target. "No, no, I won't give in. I will not. I know you demons, tempting me with ill-advised infatuations…!" I didn't think this was something any of us should be hearing. Certainly, Layla's eyes were very wide. "Stop! Please…" His voice cracked. "Please, just stop! Kill me now!"
"The poor child…" Wynne decided to join us in the room at last, and her eyes narrowed in concern as she looked at Cullen. "He's absolutely exhausted, among other things." She frowned as the studied the cage he was in. "I can guess the principles on which this was made, but I don't think I can break it. Not without putting his life at far greater risk." I honestly didn't think he cared. "I'm going up to check the door." Hmm? "It'll lead to the Harrowing Chamber. If they are anywhere…" So, we'd finally be able to learn if we could save the Circle or not. "I'll yell down when I'm done making sure it's not trapped." Leliana and I both nodded, and we lingered in the back as Wynne left, and Layla tried desperately to reason with Cullen.
"And here I'd thought I had helped a little," I sighed, leaning against the wall. Feeling something snag my hair, I reached up to undo my ponytail, finger-combing out the tangles. I needed a hairbrush or something. "Maybe I should've stayed quiet."
"Oh, I don't know," Leliana began. She was studying the two. "You both looked rather like excited little boys before… well…" She shrugged. "Physically, he actually seems all right, relatively speaking." This was true. He had no injuries that could be seen. "I'd guess some dehydration and some hunger, so it'll probably take him a bit to recover on both fronts." She spoke as if it was something she'd experienced, so I patted her on the shoulder. She smiled at me. "But I guess the demons wanted to break his mind first, before his body." Yeah…
"Is it so surprising I would come back?" Both of us winced at Layla's desperate question. "This was my home!" she shouted, looking like she was about to cry.
"As it was mine!" Cullen snapped back. I closed my eyes to not see the furious pain in his expression. "And look what they've done to it!" His voice cracked with a half-smothered sob. "They all deserve to die!" I heard Leliana muffle a gasp next to me. "Just like they killed the others! All broken and bleeding and twisted!" That sob wasn't even hidden. "To think I used to believe we were too hard on you all!"
"Not all of us are like that!" That didn't matter, though. The possibility existed for all of them, even if logic dictated some wouldn't. It was… just like elves being wary of humans, really. …Had I acted like that? I couldn't tell, but I should make an effort to try not to from now on. …I should also ask Aiden about whether or not my family overstepped bounds, harming the elves in the name of 'kindness'.
"Only mages have that power! Only mages are susceptible to the whisperings of demons!" As horrible as the thought was, I was a little glad he was trapped in that light cage. While he probably wasn't violent by nature… well, sometimes people didn't think rationally when in pain. Clearly, the demons had a lot of fun shattering him into pieces. It would take him years to… no, 'recover' was the wrong word. Maybe 'accept' would be better? I mean; I was still traumatized by that healer, and it had been over ten years. It was… wrong to just expect someone to 'recover' from a trauma, especially in a short time.
"Is it all right if I interrupt?" I called, pushing myself off the wall and opening my eyes. Layla, still crouching, looked like someone stabbed her with a knife and twisted it for good measure. "I don't think this conversation is going to be good for either of you, if you'll forgive me for being a busybody." I pulled my hair back into the ponytail and Leliana carefully walked past me to help Layla up. "Just focus on me for now, Cullen." I smiled, and saw him relax ever so slightly. That I wasn't a mage was probably earning me brownie points. "Wynne is up there, checking the door." I pointed for good measure, and saw her fiddling with something on the frame. "Is that where the others are?"
"Y-yes…" Cullen whispered. He refused to look at Layla, and stood so he and I could be at eye level. "Though, I wouldn't expect to find anything good. The sounds come there…" He shuddered, hugging himself. "Maker…" Oh, seriously? It wasn't enough that he had to deal with a demon rummaging through his head and all his friends dying? He had to also hear Maker knows what from a place he couldn't even see? Maker, why did you hate the kid so much?
"Then we had better hurry," Leliana murmured. She had a supporting arm wrapped around Layla's shoulders. "They must be in grave danger."
"You can't save them!" Cullen slammed a fist against the wall, and it flashed like a lightning bolt in a storm. "You don't know what they've become!" He started to shake. He… okay, he really needed a hug, and for someone to get him away from this Tower, if not Fereldan entirely. "They've been surrounded by blood mages, with wicked fingers that snake into your mind, twist your thoughts!"
"But… but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try," Layla whispered. She looked so very hurt, trembling slightly, but there was a firmness to her posture, even if she half-leaned on Leliana. "Even if we cannot save everyone, that is not an excuse to not try and save someone, yes?" That was… simultaneously one of the wisest and most naïve things I had ever heard. I couldn't say I hated it, though. "Let us…" See whether the Tower can be saved.
"Yeah, let's go," I murmured. Layla smiled at me, still looking like she was going to cry. "I'll take rear." After all, we had no way of knowing if we'd met the demon that did this to Cullen. "Wynne, we're heading up!"
"Are you really saving anyone by taking a risk?" Cullen growled. I lingered on the staircase as Leliana and Layla went up, not once looking back even as they passed Wynne. "You're just ensuring that they'll win!"
"Child, killing innocents because they might be malificarum is not justice." I gave Wynne the most incredulous look. "I know you are angry," she continued, not noticing me at all. "However-"
"Um… Wynne?" I whispered. She glanced at me. "I don't think that's actually going to help him right now?" I knew I was right, based on the glare he sent up. "So long as he doesn't turn into a rampaging serial killer, let him have the anger."
She sighed, and I thought for a brief second she was going to dismiss me. "Anger is part of the grieving stages, and it is quite healthy." I nodded. "What I am hoping, though, is that he'll remember the words when everything starts to scar." If that was the case, then it probably could've been worded better. "I'll be heading up."
"Yeah, go catch up." Wynne went through the door and I looked back down to Cullen. "Hold on just a bit longer, okay?" He looked really small from up here. How old was he anyway? I wanted to say he was my age, or even a little younger. "However this ends, it'll end soon." I made myself smile. "And when it is, we're continuing that game."
I thought I saw him nod as I walked through the door, shutting it behind me. But that could've just been wishful thinking.
Okay, going from talking to traumatized torture victim to watching someone be tortured was just all sorts of wrong.
"…I know that mage," I murmured, peering around the corner. I'd insisted on us laying low until we had an idea of what was going on. Wynne and I were on one side of the doorway, Leliana and Layla on the other. "He's the one who participated in the strategy meeting at Ostagar."
"Uldred has a good head for strategy, especially when utilizing magic," Wynne murmured. Well, that explained that, and probably also gave some insight in how he slaughtered the Circle in such a short time. "He's skill with Entropy magic, as well as Creation." She grimaced a little. "Truth be told, he is more skilled at the Creation spells than I am, and I teach it." Oh? "He's rubbish at elemental magic, though, only managing the weaker fireballs, so that might help us."
"Why is that?" Leliana whispered. I continued to watch Uldred torture the mage, itching to intervene, but well aware that doing so would just end in a lot of death, none of it Uldred's. "And why tell us?"
"Abominations will often take the abilities of the possessed mage." Oh. Well, that's something that was never written in the books. "So, be careful of your senses. He will likely try to trick you with illusions, among other things." Oh, that was lovely. How were you supposed to defend against that? "But with few exceptions, there shouldn't be a lot of magic slinging." Yay?
"There is Irving," Layla gasped, covering her mouth to muffle it. She pointed to the group of bound mages in the back. "He is the one in green there." It didn't take long to find him, truth be told. He settled himself purposely in front of the others in a feeble attempt to protect them, just as a leader should. He… also looked a lot like Aldous. That… huh. I wasn't sure how much I liked that. "W-wait, what is he doing to Godwin?"
I brought my attention back to Uldred and gawked as he poured magic into the mage he had been torturing. Slowly, the mage's body spasmed, twisted and contorted, some parts bloating and others shrinking. When the magic cleared, all you had was a monster than barely resembled the person it had been.
"He's turning them into abominations," Wynne hissed. That was an abomination? If that was the case, I could see why they were called that. That process was horrific. "Quickly, before he does that to the others." Right.
The four of us nodded in agreement and walked into the room. Leliana and I had our weapons out, ready for anything, while Wynne and Layla kept themselves tense, hands curled slightly to prep for spells.
Uldred, however, just looked amused as he turned to see us there. "Ah, look what we have here," he greeted. He smiled amicably, even bowing a little as he shooed the abominations to the side. "Some guests to join in our revels? Oh, and Irving's star pupil, return home from the fighting." He crossed his arms, looking a little put out. "Strange, how are you alive? Did you truly fight your way through my servants?" Unless the whole Fade escapade counted as more than one, we only encountered one of- "Wait, that's right. I killed a lot of them to fuel the fun up here." …Well, that explained that. "Still, I would've thought Sloth would've been enough." He sighed, shrugging and shaking his head. "Ah, well, it's so much better for them to die in the service of their betters than live with the terrible responsibility that is independence." I had never wanted to gut someone so much in my life.
"What are you doing, Uldred?" Wynne demanded, glaring at him. I really wondered what she thought she'd get out of him. "Destroying the tower, torturing your fellows…!"
"Ah, Wynne, always ready for a scolding. If only you'd leveled that scolding years ago, when the templars took your baby away." Wynne blanched, flinching away. That was obviously a nerve, and there was no way Uldred didn't know that. "But, you're mistaken. I am simply setting them free!" What. "A mage is but the larval form of something greater." Oh, lovely, he was completely bonkers. "Your Chantry vilifies us, calls us abominations, but it is simply us reaching our full potential!" He gestured at the bound mages, scoffing, "Look at them! Swallowing the black lies, they deny themselves the pleasure of becoming something glorious!" He held his hands out to Layla and Wynne, who were just staring like they couldn't believe what they were hearing. "What about you two? Shall I give you this gift? It would be so much easier if you accepted."
"I don't know if you're thinking more like an Orlesian, Nevarran, or Antivan," I immediately deadpanned, unable to help it. "I recall the whole 'here, accept this poisoned gift that will cause you great pain' thing in all three places."
"And did you not endure pain to become strong in weapons?" Uh… "You weren't born with the strength to cleave people in two, yes? You trained for it, ripped your body apart and let it knit itself stronger, and twisted your form to become broader and more muscled." He sighed, shaking his head while I tried to think of a retort. Sadly, one didn't really come. "Some people can be so stubborn. All I'm doing is speeding up the process."
"I think there is quite a bit of difference between willingly going through training, and being forced into a process through questionable consent!" Leliana snapped, coming up with her own retort. Her grip was tight on her bow and I could see her other hand twitch towards her quiver. "I'm glad so many stood up to a monster like you!"
"And what good did that do?" Uldred half-sang, giggling like a child. "I still won, yes?" Considering the number of survivors, I wouldn't call it a total victory yet. "Wait!" He suddenly smirked, filled with sickening delight as his tone suddenly become like an indulgent parent. "What do we have here?" He gestured and I felt dread creep down my spine as Irving walked up. Perhaps we were too late? "It's the First Enchanter!" Uldred beckoned Irving a little closer, pointing to a wide-eyed, trembling Layla. "Come and say hello to your old student, Irving. You always did dote on her like she was your daughter." I was going to crack his skull open for doing this to her. "Oh, but don't mind the blood!" He put a hand by his mouth, like whispering a secret. "He's had a rough day."
"L-layla…" Irving croaked, standing so stiffly, like a puppet dangling from strings. "St-stop him…" Oh? What was this? "He… is building an army…" Maybe it wasn't too late. "He will… destroy the templars and…"
"Oh, Irving, you sly little fox!" Uldred sounded way too happy there. "Telling on me like that, for shame!" He gestured and Irving went flying back, collapsing to the ground. "And here I thought he was starting to turn!" He sighed, hand on his cheek very much like an exasperated mother. "Well, no matter, he'll serve me eventually. As will you all." I could honestly say I would cut off my own head before that happened. "Oh, the plans I have…!"
"Never!" Layla snapped, finally speaking. Her eyes burned in fury, and for the first time, she actually had a scary glare on her face. "I will set myself aflame first!"
"As if I'm giving you a choice!" Uldred laughed. It echoed harshly through the room. "Your raw potential, with the strength of a demon… it would be unstoppable!" He laughed again, pleased beyond measure. "Yes, that's what I've decided! That is what will be!" Wow, and here I thought I'd never meet someone who could rival Vaughan in arrogance. "Fight, if you will. It'll just make the victory all the sweeter."
At the first flash of the light, I lunged forward, sliding under Uldred as he warped into some giant purple creature with far too many eyes and spikes. A claw crashed into my shield as I got my feet under me, grunting from the force as it pushed me back a bit, my heels brushing against the bound mages.
"Try to keep as behind me as possible," I told them as an arrow thudded into Uldred's neck. It was almost comical how tiny it looked. "I'll protect you." To emphasize my words, I unhooked my pack and let it fall to the ground. "Please do so quickly, because-" I grunted again as my shield caught a fireball, grimacing as sparks splashed on my face. I had no idea if it was as 'weak' as Wynne claimed it should be, but fire hurt.
"Angle your… shield downward…" I glanced back to see Irving had crawled to sit right behind me, pushing the others farther back. "That's what… the templars do…" he told me. I nodded and did as he asked, grinning when the next fireball didn't spark over my face. "Who are…?"
"I'm a friend of Layla's." A glyph locked Uldred down temporarily and a blast of green magic crashed into Uldred's face. "We'll do proper introductions later, First Enchanter." I shifted to intercept a blast of magic and knocked my pack over. "Ah, I'm sorry for the mess."
"It's… fi…" I glanced back at his sudden gasp, very confused as he groped for the scroll I'd picked up earlier. "The Litany… of Adralla…!" Um… "This is… ah, so many miracles…" I was so lost. I was also not quite liking how 'Uldred' seemed to shrug off attacks, and the abominations were starting to join the fight. Okay, think… think…
"Leliana, focus on the eyes!" I yelled. There weren't many living creatures that liked injuries anywhere near the eyes. What was…? "Layla, if you can remember what you did outside the Vault at Highever, do that!" I just hoped they could hear me. I couldn't see them around Uldred's bulk. "Wynne, if you know ways to restore stamina as well as healing, focus on that!" Ah, I didn't have a clue what any of them could really do. That was incredibly stupid of me. Next chance I got, I was making an extensive list of everyone's abilities and talents! "If you or Layla also know a way to strengthen attacks, add that in!" This strategy was far too general, but I was dealing with three intelligent people, so hopefully, it would be fine?
"Child, get this to one…" I automatically reached down as Irving handed me something. I stared when I realized it was the scroll. "The Litany… protects against… blood magic…" he explained. I could only stare in utter shock. "And… and weakens demons…" You mean I just happened to pick up… Wow, who knew that looting corpses could be beneficial? "Use it yourself or…" Yeah, no, something told me this would be better in the hands of someone good at projecting and not thinking twenty things at once, so…
"Leliana, change in plans! Come over here!" Seeing an abomination coming towards me, I shifted and snapped my leg out, slamming my heel into its neck. Down it went, writhing, so I assumed I collapsed a windpipe, like I would've in a human. "Layla, if you can't remember-!" I was immediately cut off by two glyphs appearing on the ground and suddenly exploding, sending the abominations crashing into the walls, spasming as they fell. "Never mind, clearly, you have it under control." I thought I heard her laugh.
"You needed me here?" Leliana asked as she ran to me. She looked very frustrated, likely because of how ineffective the arrows were. "What is it?"
"Here," I said, passing the scroll to her. "Read this aloud. If it works as it should, it'll weaken our oh-so-lovely friend there, and mess up any attempts of using blood magic." Her eyes lit up and she snatched it from me. "Make sure you're secure." She nodded and ran off, keeping one-eye on Uldred. The abominations were a non-issue so long as the paralysis held, assuming they didn't go unconscious, or die, from cracking their heads against the wall, so we just had to deal with Uldred himself.
I grit my teeth as he shrugged off a fireball and another bit of green magic blasting him in the face. I really hoped that Litany worked, or we were going to be in a lot of trouble. Maybe the smarter thing to do would be to set up a distraction, gather the mages, and run down to the first floor where the other templars and mages were. This might be an 'overwhelm with numbers' scenario, but would any of them be able to move fast enough? Though, considering Uldred's current size, it might be hard for him to get through doors?
So caught up in my thoughts, I almost dodged the claw heading my way, remembering at the last second that I couldn't. I had the mages behind me. More importantly, I had Irving behind me, the one person Greagoir would listen to. So, instead, I watched how the claw was swinging, set my shield up accordingly, and tried to think ahead, wondering how long it would take for Leliana to read out the Litany.
I gaped when the claw suddenly changed positions, though, far too fast for simple movement. What the…? Oh. Oh, this was what Wynne meant, wasn't it? The claw I had been blocking must've just been an illusion. The real claw was… already through my guard because I'd placed my shield in the wrong spot and now it was too late because I'd been arrogant and didn't pay attention.
Well, this was going to hurt.
"NUADA!" I really had no idea who shrieked my name as the claw bit into my armor and sliced straight up the right side of my torso and face, directly over my eye. And, honestly, I couldn't bring myself to try and figure it out as the far right side of the room disappeared for blackness, and electricity crackled over my armor, searing portions of my skin.
I bloodied my lip to keep from screaming, and it was only anger that kept me upright as I slammed my sword into Uldred's arm and twisted, slicing the claw clean off. Uldred screeched, rattling my hearing, but stumbled back, away from Irving and the other mages. That was all that mattered. I could deal with anything, so long as the people I protected stayed safe. Now, if Leliana could just…
I breathed a sigh of relief as I heard Leliana's voice ring out. I was too dizzy and pained to actually make out the words, but the effect on Uldred was immediate. He roared in pain and fury, white light crackling over his body, looking almost like chains. That would be good.
Feeling myself teeter, I dropped my sword and tugged off my shield, throwing it as hard as I could with unsteady legs and shaking arms. It hit lower than I would've liked, but it did catch him in the chest with enough force to send him back farther. Good, good. Now, plan… I had to think… tch, focus, Nuada. It was just a bit of pain, and it was just your eye. This shouldn't be enough…!
"Wynne, try to bind him up!" I shouted. Weaponless, I pressed a hand over my eye, wincing as the rest of my body reminded me it was injured too. It was just my torso. It was just my face. It was just my eye. I wouldn't falter. I was a Cousland, and I would not let a little pain defeat me! "Layla, pick an offensive spell and use it!" I stumbled and shaking hands steadied me from behind. That must've been Irving. "Leliana, coordinate with her!" Oh, this was a lot of blood. "Do it quickly, before the effects of the Litany fade!" Did it fade? I actually had no idea.
"Uldred!" That… that was Layla. I had never heard her voice so filled with fury. "You…!" A spark of light shone on the other side of the room and the air instantly grew colder. "DROWN IN YOUR ARROGANCE!" Pale blue light whipped through the air, wrapping around Uldred. He screeched and writhed, trying to escape, but the light just gripped all the tighter and then froze, turning him to ice one limb at a time.
He roared in fury, conjuring fireballs, illusions, even something I thought might've been healing magic to escape, but it was all in vain. The ice clawed up to the tips of his horns, freezing him solid. As he started to fall, three arrows flew, punching into the ice and creating a small, small crack.
With that weakpoint created, Uldred shattered into pieces as soon as he hit the ground. Gone. Dead. I thought so, at least?
"Yay, he's dead," I deadpanned. I made myself take a step, the world blurring. "Is everyone all…" Oh, the world wasn't just blurring. It was also tilting and… and all the weight on the knee wasn't very good for the joint, especially since I seemed to keep falling and…
"Nuada!" Someone caught me. A blur that resembled long red hair made me think it was Layla. "Nuada!" Let's see… rapid breathing, sweating, too weak to stand… oh, I was probably going into shock, huh? It had been a while since that happened. "H-hang on!" She managed to shift me up a little. "I'll…"
"Others?"
"Wynne has them." Why would she…? Oh, right, she was a healer. How did I forget…? Yeah, shock. I was going into shock. "So, let me… um…" She hesitated, her hand hovering over my face. I tried to think of why, but then remembered. I had refused her healing before, and she now knew why. "Please…" And, honestly, I was absolutely terrified, but…
"Just the eye," I mumbled. Or maybe it was slurred. I wasn't quite focusing properly. I closed my eyes… eye… to minimize how dizzy I felt. I felt faint. Maybe I just should? No, that was the coward's way out. Or something. I couldn't even remember. "Well, and anything else that'll otherwise kill me?" Was I coherent? Wasn't sure. Felt a bit… bit cold and warm at the same time. Weird. "Minimum required, but dying is bad." Father and Mother would never forgive me if I let myself die like this? Well, it was doing duty and protecting, but…
"Yes, dying is very bad." I flinched at the light near my face, visible even through my eyelids, but held still as it slowly washed over me. "…Oh… y-your eye…"
Yes, Layla, I was well aware that the injury went over my eye. "Will I live?"
"Yes." Well, that was emphatic.
"Then it's fine. I'll adapt."
"All right." The light slowly faded. "There. You are healed enough to not die from the injuries." …I was really grateful she listened. "I did have to work a bit on that stomach wound of yours. It was showing signs of infection." That was… fine. That was fine. "I also will want to check on the injuries, since they can worsen easily, but I promise to just bandage them unless they need something else." That…
"I can deal with that." I opened my eyes, and turned my head a little more to better look at her. Yeah, I had no sight in the right eye. "Well, who would've thought Loghain's insistence on me learning how to fight ambidextrously would prove useful?" I still sighed, though. "I have a lot of practice ahead of me to get comfortable with that." She made some noise of confusion, so I added dryly, "Layla, I might be an idiot sometimes, but I'm pretty sure you don't want sharp pointy stick in your blindside's hand." Her expression blanked before she smiled sheepishly. "Anyway…"
"Thank you." Hmm? "You protected Irving, and got injured for it." Her voice was soft, and she smiled a bit shyly. "So, thank you."
"I chose to protect Irving, and it was my own arrogance at not completely heeding Wynne's warning that got me the inju-"
"Can you not just accept a word of thanks with a smile?" she huffed. I smiled wryly. "You are impossible." Yes, yes.
Realizing I was still leaning against her, I thought about straightening, but… well, we did just save a bunch of… oh, Maker, we just saved the Tower. We actually did it. After… after Highever and Ostagar and Lothering, we finally…
I slumped, resting my head on Layla's shoulder, just too relieved to try and maintain the normal mask. "I'm sorry," I whispered when she squeaked in surprise. "I just need a few seconds."
"…Take all the time you want," she murmured back. I thought I felt her hand stroke my head. It felt nice. "I should really start tying my hair back, huh? It never seems to obey a ponytail, though."
"Go for a braid, like Elspeth." She was really warm. I felt almost sleepy as I closed my eyes again. "I'll do it for you, when we're out of here."
"Thank you."
"What's that famous line?" I heard Leliana murmur. She must've walked up. "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye?" I mimed a blow at where I thought she was and she laughed. "Not bad. Little high." Oh, so she was shorter than I thought when sitting. "Wynne has given Irving a clean bill of health." Good. "The others seem to be well too." She giggled. "We won." That we did. That we did.
"…Oh, Maker, you're right…" Layla breathed. Her breath hitched and I felt a tear hit my face. "We saved the Tower!" I shifted to get up, only to find a small hand pressing my shoulder back into her. "No, you idiot, you need to rest!" I smiled slightly and shifted to be a bit more comfortable. "You took a really bad injury, and then you were stupidly stubborn about it!" Yes, yes. "Give me back the heart attack!" How was I supposed to do that?
"Aw, Nuada, you're smiling~" Leliana was having fun. "Do you like being scolded?"
"We succeeded, all three of us are alive, and I'm resting on a very pretty girl's shoulder," I retorted without missing a beat. Layla squeaked, and I could feel her blush. "Why wouldn't I be smiling?"
"Nuada!" Layla snapped. But if she had a reply, it was drowned out by Leliana's laugh, laughter Layla and I soon joined in.
Things would be interesting without an eye, but if that was the price for saving this place… it was more than worth it.
Author's note: Yes, I did that to Nuada. Fights up close, never fought a demon before, it made sense for him to take a bad injury. (Yes, I am aware of how much pain Nuada should, and was, in. Nuada is just very, very stubborn, and messed up in the head.) Adralla was from Tevinter before fleeing to Fereldan. I know it was also used during Asunder, but I don't have my copy to actually check how it was used precisely, so we're just going with this interpretation? Ahaha? Cullen is shown to greatly enjoy, and be very good, at chess, and I remembered my notes mentioning Nuada liking it, so that part basically wrote itself. The moves listed are the first few moves from 'Kasparov's Immortal' game, or so the site I looked it up said. Also, much as I love Wynne, I have to admit her words to Cullen were more than a little patronizing? Like, I get what she's saying, a lot, but it's probably not something you should be saying to someone who is VERY traumatized. I almost left it out, but then realized it was probably a good idea to show this flaw of hers. Godwin isn't the mage being tortured in game, but I'd wanted a name for Layla to say, and his sidequest isn't one I'll be doing, so…
Next Chapter – End of the Dalish Quest with Cleon
