Author's Note 1: This chapter has pushed me into the M category. Proceed with caution.

Chapter 4: Two of Swords

He loved feeling the warm breath on his ear, the soft touch on his shoulder, and the faint scent of citrus and amber. Teasing fingers trailed and tingled along his chest and Dorian shivered with pleasure.

"You like this?"

He kept his eyes closed. "I do. But this can't keep happening."

A sigh, a pout, another tingle like electricity up Dorian's spine and down to his loins. "But you enjoy this so much. It's like you lose yourself."

"And that's why this can't continue," he said, opening his eyes. "If I lose myself, I become everything I swore I'd never be." He extricated himself from the Desire Demon's hold. It usually appeared to him as any number of the young men Dorian had seen and found attractive, but never truly knew, and those times were the easiest for him to realize the temptation. But the demon, Ophelia, was becoming craftier of late, and just now looked like Felix; or if Dorian blinked, like Lepidus. And it was so damned hard to resist.

"Good day, Ophelia. Please don't trouble me again," he said politely, as he always did, and grasped at the faint threads that would take him out of the Fade and back to the conscious world.

It took a long time for Dorian to feel like he was really conscious again, and when he tried to sit up from the chaise he felt dizzy. He couldn't lie back again though, and risk falling back into the Fade. That was exactly what Ophelia wanted. He swung his legs over the side and rested his feet on the floor, and leaned on one elbow with his head down as he waited for the vertigo to subside.

When he looked up Alexius was standing in the doorway, watching him. It made Dorian nervous whenever that happened. How much did Alexius know, and how much did he see? Did he ever travel into the Fade behind Dorian and watch, the way Dorian's tutors had done when he first learned to navigate that strange limbo? He wasn't nervous about the demon; plenty of mages dealt with demons on a regular basis. But if Alexius had seen Dorian's true desires laid bare by Ophelia's wiles…

"Another demon?" Alexius asked and Dorian nodded as he pushed himself upright. "I'm surprised you haven't dealt with more of them, to be honest," he said and sat down next to Dorian. "With your abilities I'd think every demon in the Fade would be scrambling to make your acquaintance."

Dorian smiled, feeling drained and weak. "Just Ophelia again," he said. "She's relentless. Can't keep her hands off of me." Alexius laughed. "It would be interesting to know why you attract a Desire Demon. I'd think Pride would be more your style."

"I asked, but the Pride Demons were busy. Apparently they heard the Magisterium was in session," Dorian quipped, and Alexius laughed again before beckoning for Dorian to get ready for dinner. Magister Urathus and Livius Eremond were due for dinner, and Alexius was eager to show off his new protégé.

Dorian wouldn't tell Alexius, or his father, or Felix, or anyone; but he knew why the Desire Demon came to him so frequently and with such fervor. And why now, and not sooner in his training.

Dorian had never wanted for anything in his life; since leaving Vyrantium six months ago, all he did was want.

He wanted to go back.

He wanted choose his own path.

He wanted to love any man he chose.

He wanted to change the confines of Tevinter society.

It wasn't within his power to do any of those things, and it kept him awake at night. When he did slip into the Fade all of his desires were made manifest, and Ophelia came to him with promises of the things he could not have. He only had to surrender to her.

The first time he said no, he thought it would get easier. But each time she offered him more of what he wanted, and it became progressively difficult to deny her. Because denying her meant denying himself. The closer he got to coming of age, the more he realized he hated what he was becoming. He feared that one day he would look in a mirror and not recognize the man staring back.

Charmion was waiting for him in his room. She wore a flowing shift dress, deep burnt orange trimmed with gold: the colors of the Alexius household. "Master," she said simply, taking his cloak and assisting him with his other garments as he changed for dinner. Dorian stood still as Charmion helped dress him. He was perfectly capable of dressing himself, but he knew that his behavior was under a magnifying lens. Slaves could be made to talk to their masters; and masters who were Magisters or Altuses talked to one another.

Her touches lingered a bit longer on his bare skin than was appropriate, and while Dorian smiled, he gritted his teeth and felt hollow. Charmion looked up at him through her long, dark lashes and worked at buttoning and buckling his clothing. "You are dashing, Master," she said with a bow. "The ladies Mariana and Titania will be unable to resist you."

"I would hate to disappoint them," Dorian said. He fastened his amulet around his neck himself, brushing away Charmion's hand. This was one thing he would control. "Magister Urathus's daughters are said to be among the wonders of Minrathous," he added. But their brother, Oberon, was one of the wonders of all of Tevinter, Dorian thought with a secretive smile.

Felix joined Dorian out in the gardens, where more orange-clad Alexius slaves were serving shots of a chilled citrus liqueur. Dorian shot one down and took another immediately, which he raised to Felix in a mock toast. "To another exciting dinner?" he asked. "If the Orlesians could be bothered to get over themselves, they'd be disappointed to see that all we evil Tevinters do is hold meetings and garden parties."

"Don't forget the sacrifices," Felix said, also raising his shot glass. "Those should be coming later on."

Dorian just laughed, but there was a part of him that wasn't so sure Felix was joking; and he would be embarrassed to ask, either way. Even though Dorian was a guest in the Alexius house at the Magister's insistence, and though he was practically being groomed to be the youngest Archon in known history, he still felt the need to impress Felix.

"Ah, Dorian. Magister Urathus, and Enchanter Eremond," Alexius said, approaching Dorian and Felix. He glanced at his son, and though he kept on his smile, Dorian could see the concern flaring in his eyes. Felix leaned against a pergola post, looking casual and relaxed, though possibly he needed the support. "My son," he said at last.

"Magister. Enchanter." Felix bowed to the two men. "You honor us with your presence."

Eremond and Urathus nodded thanks, but their eyes were on Dorian. "This is Halward's son?" Eremond asked with a smile that was meant to be pleasant, but looked predatory. "You've pushed the boundaries of the school of Necromancy," he said. "Have you considered practical applications? Other than rotting away in Vyrantium as a theoretical scholar," Eremond added.

Dorian smiled. He had to, of course. But inside he bristled whenever anyone insinuated that his time with Vyrantium was a waste, and even more so that he would never return there. As far as he was concerned, the apprenticeship with Alexius was the temporary arrangement. "All magical study is practical, Enchanter," Dorian said, flashing a brilliantly confident smile. "Unless you're in the south; then it's just an inconvenience at best, and a curse at worst."

Eremond laughed. "You have your father's way with words, Dorian," he said. "Perhaps we will see how sound your theory is later this evening."

It was a clear challenge to Dorian's confidence, and he refused to show any weakness. He just nodded once politely and excused himself to find another glass of wine. He felt edgy, like he was seeing and hearing too much at once, both in this world and the Fade. Alexius had to know that Dorian hadn't been sleeping well, so why plan such an event now?

Precisely because Dorian was, for once, not at the top of his game.

Even his mentor was out to get him, it seemed.

But maybe he was just being paranoid. Maybe he just had to let go a bit and enjoy himself. He found a slave serving wine and took two glasses, intending to down both of them, but when he turned around Titania Urathus was standing before him. She bowed low, showing a gratuitous amount of copper-colored cleavage. "Lord Dorian," she said in greeting. "One can scarcely travel anywhere in Minrathous these days without hearing your name."

He bowed as well, still holding the wine glasses steady. "Lady Titania. You look lovely this evening. I trust you are enjoying yourself?" he asked, handing her the second glass.

"I am, thank you. Are you enjoying your studies with Magister Alexius?"

Dorian nodded. "Yes, thank you. I'm learning more practical applications of my skills," he said, regurgitating Eremond's words from only moments before. The truth was he wasn't sure just yet what he was learning from Alexius. The magical studies hadn't included much more than what he'd studied before Vyrantium. "And of course the politics," he added. "Simply fascinating." He took a sip of his wine. It was smooth and mellow and warm as it went down his throat.

"My father's always talking politics," she said, tossing her glossy dark curls over her shoulder and sipping her wine. She had full pouty lips and dark eyes that turned up at the corners slightly, and high cheekbones that gave her a regal mien. "It's the language of our household, it seems."

"My lady, it's the language of all Tevinter," Dorian said and finished his wine. It left him feeling more relaxed. "Shall we?" he asked, extending his arm to Titania. She took it and they walked the gardens, eventually meeting up with Felix, Oberon, and Mariana. Mariana hung on Felix's arm, clearly already drunk. Oberon was talking some sort of politics, but Dorian was just entranced by the way Oberon's robes clung to his lithe form.

"Brother, dear," Titania said, touching Oberon's arm lightly. Her twin stopped in his tirade and smiled. "I'd like to present Dorian Pavus."

Dorian nodded in greeting and smiled, but Oberon glared at him. "It is a pleasure, Lord Oberon," Dorian said when it became clear that Oberon was not going to be any help. "I hear you hope to become Magister soon."

Oberon narrowed his eyes. "Am I supposed to be grateful that you're speaking with me?" he asked.

Dorian blinked in confusion. "I was being civil," he said, trying to keep the uncertainty out of his voice. Oberon was looking for a fight, and Dorian was not in the mood to give him one. "I apologize if you're offended."

"I'm sure you're terribly sorry," Oberon said. "Excuse me," he said to Felix, and stormed away.

Dorian watched him go, too confused by Oberon's bitterness to appreciate the view. "Was it something I said? Something I didn't say?" he asked Felix.

"My brother's always been the jealous sort," Titania said, and Dorian remembered that she was still hanging on his arm. He longed to pull it out of her grasp, but that would be rude. He'd already slighted one of the Urathus children; slighting another was social suicide. His father would probably have him sent south and made Tranquil if he did anything of the sort.

"He's also hot headed," Felix said. He smiled at Dorian. "Don't worry about him. He'll get over having a stave up his ass eventually."

Titania laughed and pretended to be offended, lightly slapping Felix on the shoulder. "Your father would keel over if he heard such things from you!"

"Probably," Felix said and winked at Dorian before offering his arm to Mariana and heading in for dinner.

Dorian thought that if he could just make it through the meal, he would be fine. So far talk had just been about the direction of the Magisterium, and a mention about the Blight in Ferelden coming to an end. "Apparently the Grey Warden survived the final blow to the Archdemon," Eremond said. "It's unheard of. It could be worth looking into, unless the Wardens get their hands on her first. I'd imagine they'd want to know how she did it," he said.

"You are not planning another trip to the Anderfels, are you, Livius?" Urathus asked with a chuckle, though Alexius and Felix seemed pensive. "You know how the Wardens feel about us 'Vints'. They exist to clean up our mess!" That did get a laugh from everyone around the table.

"Well. We've had enough of business," Alexius said at last, pushing his chair away from the table. "I do believe it's time for the fun."

"What's your father's idea of fun?" Dorian asked Felix as they trailed behind the others on their way to a small den.

"You'll see," Felix said. He gave an offhand smile and didn't meet Dorian's eyes, and Dorian wished he could learn teleportation magic and disappear.

The den was piled with large, overstuffed pillows. Everyone reclined and servants brought bowls of cold peeled grapes before dimming the lamps. From a darkened corner came the sounds of a lute being strummed. Dorian was tired and a bit drunk, and the dimness and softness of this room were so tempting. His eyelids drooped.

Felix nudged him and Dorian scrambled to sit up and pay attention. Two female slaves sat in the center of the room, staring into each others' eyes. Their hands met; then their lips. Then they were tangled with one another in ways Dorian didn't realize were physically possible. All the while the lute music played and Felix and Titania and Oberon ate grapes and the two girls kept writhing and kissing.

Dorian glanced over at Alexius. He was watching, but not with the same intensity as the others. He appeared to be concentrating. Charmion sat next to him, staring raptly ahead. She held out her arm to him, and as Dorian watched, Alexius dragged a gleaming silver blade over her wrist. As the blood oozed out of the gash, the other two girls' kissing became a frenzy of touching and groaning and he forced himself to watch, just like everyone else. He thought he felt Alexius's eyes on him but he did not turn to see. This was just a test, just like anything else, he kept telling himself.

It was just a little blood. Not the gushing fountains of blood that people in Orlais thought they used. It just took a little. This happened all the time in Tevinter. Dorian could deal with this.

Then the chants began. The room felt darker, closer, as the two slaves continued their passion play on the floor in front of everyone. Eremond was chanting, his eyes rolled back in his head as he went into the Fade. Dorian glanced at Felix, but his friend was busy watching the show. He swallowed nervously and tried taking deep breaths to calm himself.

"Now," Eremond said in a voice that was his but was not his at the same time.

Dorian looked over at Alexius, who took the knife and without warning drew it across Charmion's throat. Her eyes went wide in shock; her hands scrabbled at her bleeding neck, and the red blood spurted onto the floor and over the lovemaking couple. Dorian held back a shout of horror, though his heart crashed against his ribs.

In the center of the room, above the kissing girls, a form coalesced. Her pale purple eyes scanned the room. "Your desire is my command," she said with a smile, looking down at the two below her with a smile of approval. "I see you already got started without me. How naughty," she said. She turned to Alexius, who still held the dripping knife. "You've shed blood to bring me here. Command me and your desires shall be manifest." Her voice was the purr of a kitten, the coo of a dove, the hiss of a snake.

"You know my desire already," he said with a glance at Felix. "And I know it's not within your power to grant. So grant us respite from the frustrations that plague us." Eremond chuckled, and Urathus leaned forward with a leering grin on his face.

The demon made her rounds and Dorian ignored pangs of jealousy when she caressed Oberon and kissed Felix, and Alexius and Eremond smiled while Urathus continued to watch the slave pair, his expression a mixture of delight and revulsion. She wasn't anything quite like Ophelia, which was something Dorian was grateful for. He tried to keep his eyes averted, but it seemed that watching was encouraged.

He'd spent his life navigating the terrains of the Fade and of Tevinter politics and society, and yet he'd never felt as lost as he did now. He'd been told he was powerful to the point he believed it, and now he felt helpless. The demon approached him and her face was a mask of amusement. Her voice was a whisper in his mind telling him to relax, to submit, to enjoy. She knelt down and straddled his lap, her hands on his face, her touch tingling and tantalizing.

The sensation stopped. She looked up and shrieked before disappearing. The room felt brighter. The music stopped. Everything was still covered in blood, but Alexius had dropped the knife and run to Felix's side. He was keeled over and shaking as if with fever. "We're done here," Alexius announced, holding his son; his hands made bloody prints on Felix's clothing. "Calla. Ember. See the Magisters out," he snapped at the two girls on the floor.

Calla and Ember stared at one another for a timeless moment. Their eyes took in the blood, took in Charmion's limp body, took in their state of undress. Calla's eyes widened and she looked like she may burst into tears. Ember whimpered.

"Do as I say!" Alexius snapped without looking at them. "Or I'll use one of you next!"

Calla scrambled to her feet, struggling to right her shift, while Ember tried to wipe the blood off her feet but only smeared it more. They led the Magisters and their families out of the room, leaving Dorian alone with Alexius, Felix, and Charmion's body. "It will be fine, Felix. We'll fix this somehow," Alexius murmured, rocking his grown son as if he were a baby.

Dorian looked around at the spilled bowls and crushed grapes and the blood and the forgotten body, then at his mentor; Alexius was powerless to stop Felix's illness, and Felix was powerless to reassure his father. There was so much to fix. Where did one begin?

Author's Note 2: Thank you Karebear, mille libre, Apollo Wings, theycallmepeter, Melysande, and those who have read, followed, favorited, etc.! I appreciate the support. Also a HUGE thank you to the wonderful people over at the Dragon Age Fanfiction Writers group on Facebook for suggestions of how to carry out this scene. I can't write Tevinter without some gratuitous blood magic, after all. Thank you for the ideas. You are all wonderful.