Gasping. Air… I need it! That was all she could think as she rolled on the ground slowly trying to get her sight to pull together into one solid image not a sea of multiple. Her hearing was nothing but a high pitched melody of irritation and aggravation sending the world into a dizzy accumulation of stimuli thst didn't fit together just right.
Finally as if everything pulled together in an instant she swallowed a huge gasp of air when her sight and hearing came back. Now on her back begging for air to enter her lungs did the sounds of pained squeals and battle calls fill her ears causing them to ring. Turning her head she saw the huge, lanky Envy demon slashing its hands at the warriors that swarmed its body. Bull, Cassandra, and Varric fighting to defeat the great beast as it screamed off taunts and cackles of laughter.
Oh how for a split second, Evelyn wished she could just lay there and just let herself fall off this mortal plane into peace and quiet but that was a quick lived. Bull…. The Iron fucking Bull was knocked clear off his feet and into a wall, only to fall limply to the ground made her jump up her mind instantly recovering its senses but her body was slower to recover. Her trembling hands and numb nerves grasped her staff with a pace she deemed too slow.
The magic circle appeared floating right in front of her chest, glowing a bright golden hue, before she hit the center with her palm causing three comet-like projections to spur from the circle and hurtle themselves to her team members enveloping them in a bight cocoon of gold. Dancing her staff around she now sliced through the circle causing it to break into three parts now rapidly healing her party.
Bull was now on his feet shaking off his exhaustion sending her a look of gratitude before he charged right towards the beast ready to get the harsh attention off the tired looking Cassandra. Like the animal he took the name from, his body hunched down baring his horns and presumably hard head like a battering ram as he slammed straight into its legs. Both Bull and the demon now tumbled falling into the ground kicking up dust.
Now this was everyone's chance to take advantage of the surprised demon. Arrow after arrow left the shaft of Bianca's wonderfully crafted body puncturing the demon with harsh power while Cassandra, now rejuvenated by Evelyn's healing spell, began to hack at one of the legs of the demon determined to cut it clean off its body… and succeeded might I add. Letting out a screech of utter pain Evelyn took this chance to take her victory. Her staff sent out bolts of fie, ice, and lightening hitting her target while effortlessly guiding them expertly from hitting her companions. But as the creature now began to stand, even if one leg short, her mark burned harshly. The rift above their heads was ready to be closed and she gratefully welcomed it too. Slamming the dulled end of her staff onto the ground she raised her hand to the rift letting the power race out her mark hitting the rift causing it to hiss and sputter madly.
Instantly the Envy demon focused its gaze on her now beginning to limp towards her knocking the others away. "N-NO! YOU WILL NOT TAKE MY VICTORY!" Its voice was of spine breaking tones chilled to the point of fear as it walked towards the mage its slimy arms outstretched for her. With pursed lips and a merciless expression she laughed clearly amused by this.
"Foolish Envy… you lost when you set your eyes upon me…" Its movements grew more and more sluggish as the rift began to suck the bodies that belonged to the fade back into its clutches….including Envy. Its long spider-like fingers reached out ready to grab at her flesh only to stop an inch away. Like they were frozen in time she stared up at its gruesome face for what felt like forever. Eventually, however, Envy too was pulled off the ground now hurtled back into the fade before the rift exploded into nonexistence sending everyone on their asses.
Hitting the ground her hand burned like never before causing her to curl up and press her marked hand to her chest as she groaned in pain. The calls of her name did little to nothing to ease her pain as she lost them in her sea of pain. She dared not to open her eyes for even thinking of doing so hurt her… but she could at least feel the hands on her arms trying to get her to stand but she just gasped in pain back arching at the contact which granted her the reaction of everyone letting go of her. When had darkness claimed her? She did not know nor did she remember anything after… just pain and silence.
Could you be so blind as to forget me... little lamb?
Instantly Evelyn's eyes snapped opened to see a roof above her. Coughs and splurges of air came from the slender woman before she felt hands on her shoulders. Turning her head she was met by the face of Varric worry and concern flooding his face... no fear of her just for her and that made her smile. "H-hey no need to look like you will lay an egg at any moment..." The elf joked easing that worried expression just enough so that he could sigh in relief and chuckle a bit.
"I damn sure did when you started screaming your head off..." Her brows furrowed at his words as confusion rushed over her face and he recognized that now sitting down.
"After closing that rift you started screaming bloody murder and whenever we tried to grab you or move you elsewhere you'd just twist and gasp in the most horrid way. We had to wait several hours for Solas and other healers to get here to find out what was happening... and all we did was sit there and watch as you suffered and yelled begging to... die..." By this point the elf stared at Varric just oblivious to what she had done.
"Do you really not remember that?"
"...I...remember closing the rift...and then just pain...then the next thing I knew I am here. What happened to me?" Varric shook his head now rubbing the back of his neck pondering that himself. By the way his scowl just fit right onto his face it was clear that he spent many hours like that pondering for an explanation.
"I don't know... but Solas and Dorian finally got you to calm down to the point where we could carry you inside... you have been out for a week since then and everyone has been here in Therinfal Redoubt waiting for you to wake up and tell them what the fuck actually happened. But I can see that isn't going to happen. Cullen even moved a huge piece of the army here just in case people got the stupid idea to attack us while you were vulnerable." Now Evelyn had enough of this babying. She now sat up much at Varric's disapproval now that he urged her to lay back down but her hand raised stopping him in his tracks.
"I am the Herald of Andraste. A mage of the Ostwick Circle of Magi... and most importantly I am not a weak elf as I look to be... I have to at least look strong or the people of Thedas will begin to share my weakness and fall prey to our foe and such I will not allow. I have showed myself weak enough already... spare me the lecture." Her words were stern but in no sense mean. She had so much on her shoulders that she could not afford this moment of weakness or her very enemy will take advantage of such weakness.
Now throwing the blanket off her body and moving her legs so that they hung of the side of the bed she began to stretch out her limbs. With a satisfying pop in each limb she finally stood only to have Varric at her side there just in case she fell. Smiling down at him she was grateful to have him there for her at that moment but soon she felt a cool breeze on her body. Looking down she saw that she was stark naked in front of the dwarf and she gasped her olive skin growing a dark red. Covering herself with the blanket as quickly as she could she looked over at the dwarf who was laughing lightly.
"It's not like I have not seen a naked woman before, you know." Oh that stark grin that came over his lips made irritation grow in her body along with even more embarrassment. At that moment is when she started throwing things at him, anything she could get her hands on.
"YOU DAFT DWARF! GET OUT! GET OUT! AND I SWEAR TO ANDRASTE THAT IF YOU PUT ME IN ANY DAMNED BOOKS OF YOURS I WILL FIND YOU AND HANG YOU BY BIANCA'S STRAP!" Oh he ran now. Dodging most of the objects that came his way as he laughed even more just running straight for the door.
"No promises, herald!" Met only with a loud hiss from the elf made him laugh harder as he left the room quickly so that she could change and gain back some of the dignity that she thought she had lost. Slowing down his pace when he was out in the hall, more importantly out of her reach, he chuckled now walking down it to the end of the hall and into a large room where most of Evelyn's personal companion's now waited for her to wake. As soon as he entered the room he was met by a worried Cullen who spoke quickly.
"What happened? Is she awake?" The dwarf now noticed that most where looking at him with eager faces and standing now.
"Yeah. She's awake. Woah!" He grabbed the Commander by his coat stopping him and giving him a smirk of warning. "I would wait until she comes out... she is not exactly wanting company until she is dressed." He heard a displeased grunt from the Seeker realizing she got what he meant at the moment even though it took others a while.
"Hey not my fault she decided to wake up when I was on duty... and that she decided to stand without thinking about herself for a moment... hee hee. Besides she had a nice ra-" Before long a hand from behind smacked him square in the back of the head causing him to take a few steps forward at the force that pushed him forward.
"Not like you are doing anything to keep your mouth shut." The Herald now hissed standing there dressed in a simple blue mage robe her face pushed into a harsh scowl towards the dwarf.
"I will deal with you later." She warned causing the Bull to chuckle in amusement at how the dwarf now backed off putting good distance between him and the Herald. Now turning her attention to everyone she cleared her throat now standing there tall despite the exhaustion that clung to her face.
"I formally apologize for causing such a disturbance and enough of one that it caused everyone to temporarily move the base of operations here. I can assure you nothing of this sort with occur again..." After she was finished speaking everyone remained quiet and still staring at her with expressions she honestly could not place at the moment. Before a hand rested on her shoulder originating from her side caused her to look over to find the Commander at her side.
"Are you alright is the more important thing." It was Cullen whose voice that broke the silence. Turning her head she now looked on the male as he now looked upon her with a gaze that seemed different than before anything else. No longer did everyone hold a look that she was just a tool in their eyes that needed to be okay... they were all genuinely worried for her state. She blinked just taken aback at this show of emotion she honestly not use to getting from others. Swallowing hard the elf nodded quickly her hair of white just bobbing showing that it was just barely being kept up in the bun she always put it up in when going out on a mission. Then the room exploded into shared concerns and words that just showed their relief to see her safe and well. How could she be seeing this? Was this true? Were people seeing her more than just a...mage?
