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Chapter 7:
The damp air pulled at Mahvir, tightening his lungs. He had been using time magic to slow the effects since leaving Skyhold. It would only get harder to breath the further into the flooded temple they travelled. Damp air, humid air, cold air, all of it aggravated his lungs and restricted his ability to fake being healthy. Nimwen knew he wasn't, but Cassandra, Hawen, and the hunter with them had no idea. He would rather keep it that way.
"This place is amazing," the hunter had moved the furthest into the passage.
"Be careful, da'len," Hawen warned. The keeper had pulled out his staff to help light the passage.
"Everybody keep your guard up," Nimwen added. She glanced at Mahvir, her eyes showing hints of concern.
"Well, there's only one way to go," Mahvir stated and started off.
Water ran along the smooth, stone walls. Despite being a side passage there was more wealth here than had been seen in the chambers above, more because those had been slave chambers. Mahvir had to stop a shudder. He still hated the fact he had allowed slavery within these temples. Not that there had been much of away he could speak out against it near the end. Still, slavery, of all things to allow, the enslavement of another within the People? He knew all too well the feeling of a lash across his back.
The passage sloped downward, turning to a near square set of spiral stairs. Mahvir found himself following behind the others. At some point Nimwen had naturally taken the lead, Cassandra close to her side with the Keeper and hunter only a few paces behind. Mahvir's footsteps were quiet and he drew no attention to himself or the fact he was falling further behind the others.
"We should be reaching the main chamber soon," Nimwen said. The faint blue light from the top of her staff helped illuminate their path.
"I am still uncertain what it is you think is here," Cassandra said to Mahvir. "What sort of artifact does Solas seek?"
Mahvir didn't try to reply. One, it was taking most of his concentration to move down the steps with his bad leg as well as hold his breathing at a regulated pace through his nose. Two, he was at the top of each flight when they were at the bottom now and he would have to shout to be heard.
"We could ask them to move slower," Fear stated. "Though, this is more amusing to watch."
"No, amusing would be reading that dwarf's lovely writing," Deceit interjected. "You had better let me finish that book, Dirthy. Oh, then we're going to meet him!"
Mahvir ignored her.
"Mahvir?" Nimwen turned around to look at him. "Ma isala halani?" she asked.
"Banal," Mahvir managed a quick reply. He continued down the stairs, using both the wall and his staff for support.
Nimwen raised a brow, seemingly unconvinced. Still, she turned back and continued walking, glancing back at him every now and then.
The hunter frowned. "You know our language?" she asked Mahvir.
Mahvir suppressed the urge to reply and instead continued focusing on where he was putting his feet.
"Na, he just speaks it natively," Fear retorted and rolled his eyes at the ceiling. "If only they could hear me talk. We wouldn't have any more of this dancing around, playing dumb. They know this is your temple. And they would be begging to help you."
"Quiet," Mahvir hissed at the bird so only Fear could hear him. He didn't need help and wasn't a god. He didn't need Fear announcing to everyone he had once been Dirthamen. Dirthamen was someone else entirely to the Dalish. He wasn't the God they were looking for.
The others had stopped at the bottom of the last flight when Mahvir joined them. He had slipped himself a herb to help ease his breathing when Nimwen hadn't been looking.
In the distance they could hear the shifting of stone. "I believe the main passage caved," he stated behind the others who had yet to notice he had caught up.
"You think he sent people to clear away the rubble?" Nimwen asked.
"Sound alone should answer that question." Mahvir touched a stone with the end of his staff. The space before them shifted and ground as a statue was moved aside. "Either way we'll have only the undead for company for awhile."
"How grim of you," Nimwen teased.
"More truthful than grim." Mahvir bowed his head. His voice even, almost dull instead of holding the normal playfulness he would have placed into the words. He didn't want to waste energy on teasing and jokes. They were going to encounter more than undead ahead and he needed to be able to fight not only dead sentinels but the stone guardians which would have woken when the main passage was disturbed.
Nimwen furrowed her brow, as if she wanted to say something, but if she did she remained silent.
"Be ready," Cassandra warned them, adjusting her sword in her hand.
The statue finished shifting aside. Water had trickled into the room at their feet. The light glistened off the water and into the main section of the temple. Mahvir moved out in the lead this time. He remembered the space they exited into when it had first been built. The dark stone, towering statues and sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach when he had seen it all.
Now, the gold had mold growing over it, the statues broken from many centuries. All but those which had spells woven over them.
The moment Mahvir had stepped out, a shadow moved. From the darkness an undead sentinel charged him, daggers drawn.
Mahvir twisted his staff as Deceit took to the air with an angry shriek at the undead. His staff slammed into the undead sentinel. The next moment the sentinel was frozen over by Deceit's sharp gaze.
Nimwen followed, sending a shock that shattered the frozen sentinel into shards. "Are you alright?" she asked.
"Not even scratched," he stated. Then lifted his staff. "More are coming." To Deceit through a mind link with her, he instructed, "Stay close, use magic to freeze as many as you can."
"I thought it would be nice to let that mortal girl at them," Deceit retorted. The soft sound of her wings told him she obeyed him. Three more were frozen right as they entered the light of Nimwen's and Mahvir's staves.
Hawen and the hunter joined them. Hawen had his staff raised and shattered one of the undead while the hunter loosed an arrow which struck a new one racing at them from the shadows.
Cassandra slammed her shield into an incoming sentinel. She pushed it away and, as it staggered, she slashed into its torso.
"Cass!"
Before it could hit her, Nimwen struck the corpse sneaking up on the Seeker with a Fade-conjured fist. As it lay on the ground, she froze it over.
Cassandra stabbed into the sentinel, killing it before it even had the chance to break free.
"How many do you think there are?" Nimwen asked.
"Roughly?" Mahvir asked. "About a hundred give or take."
He twisted. Lightning raced from the tip of his staff. The energy crashed into another sentinel. The sentinel staggered, but the magic was too weak to do more than daze it.
Mahvir scowled. He was useless without being able to use time magic. He glanced at Cassandra. "Get back!" he shouted.
Stone cracked. The next moment a massive blade swooshed through the air. Water exploded up over the warrior, the blade missing her by a hair's breath.
"What was that?" Nimwen called out.
"A guardian," Mahvir replied.
Mahvir moved forward. Pain lanced through his legs as he forced himself into a limping, slow run.
Water rushed up over Mahvir's waist as the massive guardian moved. One foot crushed several of the undead sentinels. The guardian turned its glowing eyes towards them. It raised the broken blade. The air seemed to thicken as the blade rushed through air.
Mahvir leapt. Time sped up around him as he used his power to dodge the blow. He returned to normal time as water crashed down around him. The water caught him. Pain lanced through his back as he was slammed back into a wall. Water flooded his mouth as he gasped. Blood trickled from his mouth.
"Fenedhis," he muttered. His vision buckled. Stupid. He had seen it coming and rushed headlong into it.
Mahvir struggled to feet. His chest tight. Each breath pulled at his lungs. He could feel warm blood trickle down his face from where he'd hit his head. He shook his head. Lights popped before his eyes.
"Fenedhis," he spat blood.
The guardian turned its glowing eyes on him.
Mahvir grinned. "That's right, focus on me." He lifted his staff and pressed one foot up by the wall to remain standing.
The guardian lifted its massive sword.
"Go!" he shouted at Nimwen. "I can distract it for a time and rejoin you."
"No, I'm not leaving you!" Nimwen yelled back.
Time slowed. Mahvir limped to one side. Crash - the enter room shook as the blade crushed the ground. Rock flew into the air, More water flew over Mahvir, drenching him through to the bone. The blade blocked his sight of the others.
"Mahvir!" he heard Nimwen scream. There came a low thum, and the chamber was washed in glowing green light.
Well, that just made everything worse. More sound of stone cracking filled the air. Other statues came to life as the light struck them. They raced through the water, most smaller than the large one they had been fighting, but just as powerful. She had to use that spell.
Mahvir sighed and lifted his hand. Time stopped around him. He felt a sharp pain in his mind as he focused on his magic. His eyes were giving off a soft light. He lifted his staff. Time returned in a crashing wave over him. One of the guardians crumbled to dust.
Each breath was pained. Damp air and combat weighed on his lungs. It felt as if they were held in a vice.
The main guardian had turned. It was heading towards Nimwen and the others now.
"We could get everyone out of this," Fear whispered in his ear. "And I hate suggesting it but I also don't want to die."
Time slowed again and Mahvir moved back to the others. He pushed Hawen and the hunter out of the way of the blade before returning to the normal time flow. The three of them crashed into the water.
"What the," the hunter spluttered.
"Mahvir!" Nimwen called out, relief in her voice. "Are you okay?"
Her being distracted wasn't a good thing. Cassandra was alone against the mobs of guardians.
Mahvir couldn't breath. He sat there unable to do anything now. More guardians were waking over the temple grounds. Undead were appearing again.
"Fear," his voice cracked, sounding weak and frail.
"About time." Fear's eyes started to glow.
Energy surged through Mahvir's body as he started to give off the same red light coming from Fear's eyes. For a heartbeat he was between himself and the power which would come. Time slowed. He was able to place himself between Cassandra and the oncoming attack before the fusion started to take affect. He lifted his hand. A barrier erupted over him and the Seeker. The blade slammed into it. The guardian fell back from the force of the impact.
Sheer, blinding agony raced through Mahvir. Fire erupted from his back moments before two massive black wings exploded out. The wounds sealed in the next moment, forming skin around the wings. Hair fell down his back, feathers wrapping around locks of the hair. Talons grew from his back and wrapped around his shoulders, chest and hips. His gloves ripped as his nails elongated.
Mahvir straightened. The fire pulsed through his ears as he flexed his wings.
"My turn," the words were in his native tongue. He charged forward. The largest guardian shattered when he struck it in the chest.
"Maker's breath!" Cassandra cried out.
The temperature dropped as a plume of frost formed over three of the remaining guardians. Nimwen strode towards them, lightning flying from her staff. An icy armor formed over her as she entered her blizzard, encasing her face and body.
Mahvir dove and landed in the center of the mass of guardians. "Know fear!" He shrieked. The sound carried over the stone until it crumbled. He launched into the air. Close to the ground, he wove between several move. The stone crumbled with ease.
Pain lanced through his wing. Water flew up over. A stone arrow had caught him. Mahvir rolled, gritting his teeth against the pain in his wings and ripping through his back. He could feel the burn scar tear as the left wing was wrenched. He came to rest close to the others.
"We can't hold this form much longer," Fear's voice echoed in Mahvir's mind.
"I know."
Mahvir panted as he stood. Blood dripped down his arm, one wing now hung limp, dragging in the blood stained water.
The guardian that shot him trudged forward, another arrow already notched. Just as it released, a glowing blue wall erected in front of Mahvir. A sound akin to shattering glass pierced the air as the head of the arrow broke through the wall of ice. More formed over it before it could go all the way through.
"Mahvir." Nimwen ran in front of him, sending ice and lightning bolts over her ice wall to keep back the guardians. "Are you alright?" She turned her head to look at him, and her eyes widened as if the sight of his new form finally dawned on her.
"My thanks, Nimwen." Mahvir straightened and leaned against his staff. Her being here gave him time to do what was needed to end this battle. Fear was too injured to continue. "Deceit, to me!"
The bird dove at them. Moments later Fear fell from Mahvir. He shrieked in agony and rage as he flapped his injured wing. He spat insults at Mahvir.
Before the weakness could take effect from the first fusion, Deceit landed on his shoulder. The next moment, the area around them was lit in a blue light. He and Deceit became one. Her feathers grew out around his shoulders and waist falling down to form robe like clothing. The feathered cloth appeared over his mouth and nose. More feathers entwined into his long hair. Her talons grew into guards around his wrists and ankles, ripping through flesh to do so.
"I can take it from here," he told Nimwen, knowing she could understand their mother tongue. He placed his staff on his back. Ice moved whispered from one hand and grew into a long sharp blade. Lightning crackled in his other hand. The raw energy formed another blade.
He vanished from sight.
"Move fast, Dirthy," Deceit spoke in his mind. "I can hold to you only for a short time. You've taken too much damage when you were with the oaf."
"I understand," Mahvir thought back.
He raced through the water, moving faster than he had even with Fear. The ice blade slashed through three guardians before he appeared behind them to the others eyes. He turned. Ice raced out from the blade and encased more of the guardians. Lightning arched out. It slammed into the frozen enemies. They shattered, sending ice and stone flying through the room.
Then, Mahvir turned to the undead. He twisted the blades around him. He charged. Ichor flew into the air.
Pain lanced through his body.
"We can't hold the form!" Deceit shrieked in his mind.
Mahvir gasped. The energy fled him. Water flew up as he collapsed, fighting his own body instead of the few remaining enemies. It felt as if a pillow had formed over his mouth and nose. Agony surged through his twitching limbs as he fought to try and stand. To try and breath.
* ~ X ~ *
Just as her ice wall finally crumbled, Nimwen saw Mahvir fall. Her heart sped up, panic set in. She quickly looked over and saw Cassandra and the others finishing off the last of the stone monsters. 'Safe, they're safe,' she assured herself as she rushed to where Mahvir went in. Her eyes scanned the dark waters for a sign of him, and caught sight of a silhouette in the water. She waded towards him, her blood growing cold every second he remained under.
"Inquisitor!"
The sound of Cassandra's shout made Nimwen turn.
While the others were busy trying to subdue a greatsword wielding guardian, the other one was able to make its way towards her. She thrust her staff to make an ice wall, but the stone monster shattered it before it could totally form. She felt trapped. She had to get Mahvir, but she needed her staff to keep the guardian at bay. It was then she remembered the new weight on her left arm. She continued to fire lightning and frost at the guardian, slowing it but not halting its path, as she knelt down and shoved her prosthetic into the water. She blindly fished around, until she felt her false arm hit something. She managed to latch the hook into the tattered remains of Mahvir's robe, and with a grunt pulled him above water.
"Cassandra!" Nimwen shouted as she wrapped her arm around Mahvir. "I need help!"
The guardian, now covered in singes and frost, let out a roar. It turned just as Cassandra pulled her blade from its back. The guardian swung its sword, but only sliced air as the Seeker ducked. Water churned as Cassandra charged forward and slammed her shield into the guardian's stone knee.
The sound of metal against rock made Nimwen's ears hurt, but it was worth it to see the guardian fall to its knees. She heard Cassandra deal the killing blow as Nimwen looked down at the elf in her arm.
"Mahvir, can you hear me?" her worried voice asked.
Mahvir's breathing was low, pained. It sounded as a rasp of breath. His eyes were half closed. A soft, familiar light edged them. It was like when Solas had used his magic after their last kiss.
Nimwen wracked her brain for something to do. She had an idea, but whether it would work or not she was unsure. 'There's no time for speculation,' she thought. Ignoring her already exhausted mana levels, Nimwen focused all her energy into the healing spell taught to her by Keeper Deshanna long ago. 'Please work,' she pleaded. She had done the spell hundreds of times, with ease. The members of her clan when they were sick, her own brother who kept his breathing problems secret, they were no different than Mahvir, right? But he was different.
She felt the sweat build on her brow but she pushed her magic, the green glow of her hand growing as she pressed it to his chest. "Come on, Mahvir," she yelled. She feared her spell might not be enough.
'Of course it won't be enough, how could mere Dalish magic help him?'
Nimwen winced. He was from another time, from when her people walked as gods and lived forever. But they were still elvhen, right? Mahvir had said so, and so had Solas-
Nimwen swallowed. "Please, be enough," she whispered. 'Please, let me be enough.'
A gasp sounded from Mahvir. He twitched in her hold; then, the glow of his eyes died away. He blinked. "Nimwen?" The question rasped, but his breathing had eased.
Nimwen let out a sob of relief. "You're okay," she croaked. She was in disbelief, even with herself. The feeling quickly faded and she started looking him over, talking a mile a minute. "Are you in pain? Do you need more magic? Can you speak? Nod if you can speak. Where were you shot I need to fix it…"
"Nod if I can speak? Shouldn't I just speak?" The questions were weak, but there. He managed to stand and leaned against his staff. "I am fine, Lady Nimwen, thanks to you. The arrow hit my wing. Which I don't have now." He gave her a weak, tired smile.
"I'm just glad you're okay," Nimwen smiled back, too relieved to bother returning his jest. She stood, her eyes still scanning him for any injury that needed healing. Not that she could have. The room spun slightly as she clung to Shockmaw for support. Her legs felt like jelly, and she knew she had overdone it with her magic.
"Nimwen."
She heard splashing water and saw Cassandra and the others jog towards them.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Nimwen panted.
Sword and shield still in hand, Cassandra strode to Nimwen and put herself between the mage and Mahvir. "What are you?" she asked Mahvir, voice low and dangerous.
"Cassandra, what are you doing?" Nimwen demanded.
"You saw what he turned into," Cassandra snapped. She stood protectively in front of Nimwen, as if she feared Mahvir would attack.
"Cassandra, stop it," Nimwen ordered, though her wavering voice lacked any conviction.
"I'm an elf, Seeker. Do you not see my pointed ears?" He pointed to one of his ears.
"That's not what she was talking about, idiot!" Fear landed on Mahvir's shoulder. "And my wing still hurts. I still feel my lungs screaming too."
"You're the one who suggested the fusion, oaf." Deceit landed on Mahvir's staff. "It's your fault both of us were forced into it."
"Ah, you love fusing with master," Fear snapped his beak. "You just never admit."
"I do not!" Deceit moved her head so her beak was pointed into the air. "I hate the terrible weakness afterwards and how we are denied control."
Fear fluffed his feathers. "If I wasn't so weak you would be in the water!"
"What is this?" Cassandra gasped. She moved Nimwen back and raised her sword.
"I said enough!" Nimwen found the strength to grab Cassandra's arm with her hook and forced her sword away from Mahvir and the ravens.
"What are you doing?"
"What are you doing?" Nimwen snapped at the Seeker. "Mahvir is one of us, and you do not point your sword at a comrade."
"You saw what he turned into. No mere elf becomes such a thing. He must be an abomination, and those things demons."
"He is not an abomination," Nimwen growled.
"I have followed you for years, Nimwen. I followed you here because I believe you can handle yourself, but do not think that means I'm still not ready to protect you, from anything or anyone. If he is not an abomination, then what is he, and how do you know he can be trusted?"
"He's not an abomination and I trust him wholly!"
"But why?! What is he to you?"
"He's Solas's son!" Nimwen screamed. Her eyes widened. She slammed a hand over her mouth but it was too late. The words were out. With blood iced with dread, she dared a glance at Mahvir.
Fear snapped his beak. "Brilliant!"
"That's one way to keep a secret," Deceit's voice was dull as her sharp eyes looked down at Nimwen.
There was no shock, no hurt, no emotion on Mahvir's face. "I am his son, though he doesn't know of my existence."
"What? Y-you're…?" A million emotions flashed across Cassandra's face, visually representing her no doubt conflicted thoughts. "How, how did this happen?" She turned to Nimwen. "Where did you find him?"
"He found me," Nimwen clarified.
"If you are Solas's son," the Seeker's disbelief at the statement was evident in her voice. "Then, are you one of them? One of the ancient elves?"
"No, I was born three years ago and somehow look to be in my twenties," he joked.
Cassandra's eyes narrowed. "Do not jest with me. If anything, this only proves you cannot be trusted. Inquisitor, I know you still care for him, but do you realize the danger of having the Dread Wolf's son at our sides?"
"You don't understand, Mahvir isn't working with Solas," Nimwen insisted. "He came to us because he doesn't want Solas's plan to succeed. If he was a spy, why reveal himself?"
"To prey on your compassion."
"Stop." Nimwen glared at Cassandra. "Don't you dare, Cassandra. I am not a child nor am I that naive Dalish girl you found amid ruins. I know when I can and cannot trust somebody. I let him near my daughter for fuck's sake. Do you think I am stupid enough to let just anybody near Lori, Cassandra?"
The warrior opened her mouth to speak, but Nimwen cut her off. "You will never raise your sword to him again, and you will treat him with the respect he deserves as an ally of the Inquisition as well as a member of my family. Do you understand me?"
Cassandra's mouth hung open in shock.
Nimwen maintained her stony stare, but behind the mask, she worried. If Cassandra ignored her and went for Mahvir, Nimwen had no magic to fight her. She begged whatever powers controlled the world Cassandra would see reason, and Nimwen would not have to fight her friend.
After what felt like an eternity to the elf, she watched Cassandra's stance relax.
"You truly believe he is here to help?"
"With all my heart."
Cassandra let out a sigh, and Nimwen could see the strain of the years on her face. "Very well. I still do not trust him, but for you I shall give him a chance."
"Thank you," Nimwen replied, relief filling her.
Mahvir had been standing there watching them. His dark eyes and face giving nothing away. "If it's been decided I am not to be killed this day, perhaps we should find a place to rest and never again mention I am related to Fen'Harel?" His voice was even. There was no sign he even cared Cassandra didn't like or trust him.
It was then Nimwen finally remembered they were not alone. "Keeper Hawen." Nimwen turned to the Keeper and his hunter. They would have heard everything. Hawen was a reasonable man, but Nimwen would not be surprised if he decided to attack the son of the Dread Wolf. "Keeper, before you do anything please just be calm and-" Nimwen paused, brow furrowed in confusion. Keeper Hawen and the hunter stood, faces stoic and calm, the complete opposite of what Nimwen expected. "Keeper?"
"They can't hear you right now, Lady Nimwen. When our dear Seeker here first blocked you and I, I took those two out of the normal time flow. I believe it is best they didn't hear I was the child of Solas let alone that I am an ancient elf." Mahvir looked at Nimwen and Cassandra. "If we are not going to mention it again, I will return them to normal time flow."
"You can control time? How?" Cassandra asked.
"I am not a normal mage, Seeker," Mahvir explained. "It is one of the reasons why when Fear or Deceit fuse with me I do not fall under their control. Yes, I control time, but that is all the magic I can do. I will never create barriers or fields of ice or fire. The only time I can is with one of them." He gestured at the ravens. "And I lose the ability to manipulate time then. Also, I have little connection to the Fade as a result of my," he hesitated, "gifts. Does that answer your question, Seeker?"
"That is…" Cassandra struggled to find the word.
"Unbelievable?" Nimwen suggested.
"Yes. As seems to always be the case with you, Inquisitor."
"You know you can leave, right?" Nimwen teased.
"I am not so easily dismissed." The Seeker turned to Mahvir. "Release them, and swear that you will never use these powers to harm the Inquisitor, or the Inquisition. Are we clear?"
"If I wished the Inquisition or Lady Nimwen harm, I wouldn't be aiding you now. But I swear I will never harm her or your group." A soft glow came from his eyes.
The next moment Hawen and the hunter were moving towards them.
"What were those things?" The hunter asked as she eyed the remains of the stone guardians.
"Guardians meant to protect the temple," Nimwen said, as if the confrontation never happened. "There may be more or other traps deeper inside. Hahren, this may be too dangerous for you two."
"I knew the risks coming in, da'len," Hawen stated. "Much of my clan left when we learned of the Dread Wolf's plan to restore Elvhenan. If this is the only way to get them to see reason, I will go through any danger to protect my clan."
"And we are getting to see Dirthamen's temple. Dirthamen!" The hunter's eyes were wide. On her face was the vallaslin of a follower of Dirthamen. "I mean we know so little about him and Falon'Din. We've lost so much knowledge of those two creators. I wouldn't pass up a chance to be down here for the world!"
Mahvir tilted his head to one side.
Nimwen smiled. The hunter reminded her of when she was first in this temple, when she first joined the Inquisition. The excited look in her eyes at the prospect of knowledge brought Nimwen comfort, that she was not the only one who delighted in learning. It also conjured sadness, knowing she could no longer take joy in learning the lore of her people, when so much of it was just perverted and romanticized versions of the truth. She sometimes wished she could go back, back when the Creators were real and her clan's stories were more valuable than gold. But she couldn't. So instead, she wished the hunter would remain oblivious to the reality of the world for just a bit longer.
"Let's go," she said quietly.
Mahvir bowed his head, long hair falling around his face as a curtain. He then straightened. Without a word he turned and limped out of the water onto higher ground. The two ravens were, for once, silent. In fact, Fear had settled on Mahvir's shoulder, beak tucked under his wing and eyes closed. Deceit remained awake, her icy eyes alert and head held high.
Ma isala halani? - You in need of help?
Banal - no