ADD NOTE: I tried a new writing style in this chapter, a bit. My co-writer and I wrote the conversational part and I wrote the fighting scene. Hope you all enjoy this chapter c: Also, remember, the siblings speak in elven. The only ones who know what they siblings say are Soora, Solas and Flemeth, Morrigan knows little elven, as shown at the Temple of Mythal, but not enough for full sentences.
Chapter 8: Doubt Is Everywhere
Sera sharpened the last of her arrows, mumbling about how there were only so little she had left. Varric had the sense to sneak the arrows he couldn't carry in other peoples packs. Soora looked up from her place next to the fire, seeing Sera curse and mumble under her breath. Morrigan was standing over the fire next to her, boiling up the paralyzing poison.
"I'll be back." Soora nodded to Morrigan, who hummed in acknowledgement, before walking over to Sera.
"How many did you bring along?" Soora knelt down in front of Sera.
Sera sneered at the arrowhead, "Fifty...and that was before fuck-face attacked us."
"Now?" Soora spoke softly, her eyebrows furrowing.
"Five."
"Shit." Soora cursed, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Shite." Sera mumbled, sighing, "I'm sorry, Quizzy."
Soora smiled and placed a hand on Sera's arm, "No, don't be. We didn't expect it to turn out like this."
Sera tilted her head, looking up at Soora, "I should've been prepared for this, I usually have a secondary plan or—"
"I have an idea." Soora leaned forward, a smile creeping on her face.
"What?" Sera shook her head, confused.
"Come on!" Soora stood up, pulling Sera up with her.
"I don't trust Flemeth." Soora walked with Solas around the area, setting traps and placing wards. "Something is...off with her. She isn't like Mythal."
Solas pulled out another bear trap from his satchel. He nodded and sighed, "She is different than when I last saw her."
"How long ago was that?" Soora asked, taking the trap and kneeling on the ground. Soora set up the bear trap as Solas spoke.
"A decade, maybe more. When I awoke from Uthenera I didn't understand much of this world, Flemeth had found me and explained who she was—or at least told me she had taken Mythal's essence for her own. A favor for a favor." Solas started setting up a ward.
"Mm." Soora chewed on her bottom lip, fixing the trap before standing up and stretching, "Something is off and I don't like it...I think she's working with them."
"And why do you think that?" Solas continued working on the ward as Soora walked up behind him.
Soora shrugged, "I...honestly don't know, but something is telling me not to trust her..."
"What would you have us do if Flemeth was in fact spying?" Solas stood up, turning to Soora.
"Find out why they need you." Soora stated, matter-of-factly.
"What does it say in Mythal's notebook?" Solas started walking away, Soora following behind him.
"What do you mean?"
"At Skyhold, Flemeth said 'Remember what she wrote.' What did she write?" Solas stopped walking, turning to Soora. Soora frowned, averting her eyes, and stopped in front of Solas.
"I...I..."
"I know I said no more secrets," Solas sighed, fiddling with the cuff of his sleeve, "But I am worried about what Mythal said. The setting Flemeth decided to remind you of what she said...it has something to do with me."
Soora took Solas' hands in her own and sighed, "After tonight, after this stupid fight, I'll tell you. But if I tell you now...It might change, which I can not have."
Solas hummed in confirmation, looking down at their hands. They remained in comfortable silence, Solas rubbing small circles on her hand. Soora smiled and leaned into Solas, hugging him.
"Ar lath ma, vhenan." Solas whispered, resting his head on top of hers.
"You too, ma vhenan."
Soora and her companions stood outside of the temple. Soora and Solas had set up traps and wards around the area, Sera stood atop the temple, scouting ahead. Soora looked up as she heard Sera whistle, knowing she saw movement.
"Fenedhis!" Falon'Din yelled from within the darkness. Soora and Solas shared an amused glance, knowing he got caught in a bear trap. She heard Morrigan chuckle from behind her, "Idiot."
"Everyone remember the plan?" Soora stared ahead, unclipping her staff from her back. They all grunted or hummed in acknowledgement, pulling their own weapons out. Dorian, Morrigan and Solas placed barriers around their allies on the ground, Soora placing one on Sera for safety. Falon'Din fell into the clearing, cursing at Sylaise for throwing him in.
"I needed to see if there were any more traps." Sylaise shrugged, swinging a chain in her hand, a spiked ball connected at the end. The other three siblings walked out from the darkness behind Sylaise, weapons in hand.
"They don't look that menacing." Iron Bull shrugged, "The chick with the chains looks like a freak in bed."
"Not the time, Bull." Soora sighed, shaking her head. He chuckled, "Sorry, Boss."
They heard the sounds of arrows above them, Sera started lighting the torches that Soora forced Dorian, Bull and her set up around the temple clearing.
"Us elves can see in the dark." Soora picked up a satchel from the ground, stuffed to the brim with torches, "While as you more unlucky beings have to deal with complete and utter darkness. Set up these torches around the temple, Sera will go with you since she can see."
"Unlucky beings?" Dorian chuckled, "Watch out, Inquisitor, your bitchy is showing."
Falon'Din pushed himself up, growling about stupid traps.
"You know," Dorian mumbled, "For Gods they aren't exactly...God like."
"Don't let their boneheadedness fool you," Solas spoke, "They may act like idiots, but they know combat all too well—they've had centuries of fun."
"Centuries?" Morrigan scoffed, "Last I heard they were all locked away."
"...Things have change." Solas growled, glaring sideways at Morrigan.
"I think they're waiting for us to attack." Bull groaned, "At least they are polite and wait for us to finish speaking."
"Then let's not keep them waiting, everyone...remember what I said." Soora looked at Solas for a brief second before running off towards the siblings. The fight began, Sera sending the poison coated arrows at the siblings. As the fight progressed, the siblings movements slowed but not to what Soora and Morrigan were hoping for.
"Why isn't the poison working?" Soora yelled towards Morrigan, spinning with the movement of her staff before shooting it up and forward, a blast of fire knocking back Falon'Din.
"I do not know!" Morrigan grunted, skidding to a stop after being blow back by a stonefist. "Perhaps it doesn't work against Gods!"
"They aren't Gods!" Soora yelled back, kicking Falon'Din back and slamming her staff against the side of his head, "They're just people!"
"I use to believe that, too!" Morrigan shot her hands forward, a cone of frost shooting out from her palms, freezing Sylaise to the ground for a moment. Solas was thrown past Soora and Morrigan, grunting as his back made impact against the ground. His body continued to skid until he hit a tree trunk. He had been fighting Dirthamen since Flemeth's sudden disappearance before the battle.
"So much for the plan." Soora jumped back, avoiding a bolt of lightning from Falon'Din. He cackled, his neck cracking as he rolled his head around. Cassandra charged, a battlecry erupted from her lips as she shield bashed Falon'Din.
"Keep him off me!" Soora yelled at Cassandra, "Solas needs help!"
Sera sent out a flurry of arrows towards Andruil, getting her attention away from Iron Bull as he drank a health potion. Sera creeped back down in the shadows as Andruil looked around. Bull threw the flash away, pulling his sword above his head before crashing it down on Andruil. Andruil quickly dodged the brunt of the attack, only getting some scraps from the earth as it shattered under her. Varric aimed his arrow at Andruil's back as she collected herself, pulling a dagger out of her armor. Varric shot the arrow, an agonizing scream fell from Andruil lips before falling to the ground. She struggled to move, her shoulder shook as she tried to hull herself up. She fell to the ground, exhausted, passing out.
"One down!" Varric raised Bianca over his head as he blocked a blow coming from June. June stood over him, a spirit blame pressing against Bianca. Varric had beads of sweat falling from his forehead as he struggled to push June off of Bianca.
"For a dwarf you sure are weak." June smugly smirked, chuckling when he saw the aggravation on Varric's face. "You think this crossbow actually makes you a threat, Durgen'len."
"I don't know...what you just said," Varric shifted his weight, pushing June off of him successfully and shooting a bolt towards his stomach, piercing his armor, "But know that I can kick your arse any day."
June hissed, pulling the bolt out of his stomach, "Stupid fuck—ahh!" June screamed as he was thrown away from Varric by a boulder.
"I never liked you." Flemeth spoke in elven as she cracked her neck, glaring at June.
"You're back!" Varric laughed, a smile plastered on his face. Flemeth nodded to him before running after June.
"Can someone please take someone else down?" Solas yelled, raising a wall of ice in front of both him and Soora to block an oncoming attack from Dirthamen.
"Flemeth is back." Soora looked over at Varric and Flemeth as they fought June. Falon'Din pushed past Cassandra, shooting her back across the clearing until she hit her back against the temple. She fell to the floor, coughing as the wind got knocked out of her. She raised a hand to the back of her head, moving it in front of her to see some blood was on her glove. Cassandra cursed, forcing herself to stand up. Soora noticed Falon'Din creeping up on Cassandra.
"Dorian!" Soora called out to Dorian as he blocked an attack from Sylaise, "Cass needs you!"
"I'm busy at the moment!" Dorian cursed as Sylaise's grappling chain took away his staff.
"I'll be back!" Soora kicked her foot against the ice wall, sending it flying towards Dirthamen. Soora ran towards Falon'Din, tackling him to the ground before he reached Cassandra. Soora tumbled with Falon'Din, climbing onto his waist and grabbing onto his throat. She brought her hand back and punched him across the face, over and over again.
"Sick fuck." Soora cursed, slamming her fists against his face before she was pulled off of him by Sylaise's chain. Soora heaved, coughing as her back made impact with a tree trunk.
"He is a sick fuck," Sylaise agreed, laughing as she walked towards, "But he's still my brother."
Soora grabbed her waist, grinding her teeth as she look around the clearing. Most of her friends had been incapacitated, Solas was being one of the three still left standing.
"V—Varric! Dorian!" Soora hissed as she grabbed onto a branch, pulling herself up, "Take them...into the temple! Solas..."
Solas had already started distracting the other siblings as Varric, Dorian and Bull pulled the others back into the temple. Sera continued shooting arrows at the siblings from the darkness, their movement continued to slow. Flemeth attacked Sylaise, giving Soora time to gulp down a health potion and reenter the fight. Morrigan forced herself up at Dorian ran over to her, "I—I am fine." Dorian helped Morrigan up, rushing her towards the temple. Falon'Din broke away from his siblings, going after Soora and Flemeth.
"You think you can defeat us?" Falon'Din laughed, shooting ice shards from his palms towards Soora.
"I know I will." Soora held her hand out in front of her, a fiery barrier placed around her, melting the ice shards as they neared her. Falon'Din growled, spitting some blood on the ground and rushed towards Soora. Soora screamed, running towards him, her arm pulled back for a punch. Falon'Din jumped over Soora as she threw the punch, landing behind her and quickly turning around, sending an ice blast towards Flemeth.
"Flemeth!" Flemeth turned around when she heard Soora call her name, to see an ice blast hurtling towards her. She froze, her breath caught in her throat. Soora fade stepped towards Flemeth, shooting up her hands to create another fire barrier in hopes of melting the ice blast. Soora screamed, feeling the ice cut her skin as both her and Flemeth were consumed by the ice blast.
Dorian, Morrigan and the others watched from a distance, horrified, as Soora and Flemeth were consumed by the ice blast. Solas screamed, slamming his staff on the ground. A barrier pulse shot out around him, knocking back Dirthamen, Sylaise and June. Solas quickly ran to the ice, hitting his fists against it.
"That was easier than expected." Falon'Din chuckled, placed a hand on his hip as a smug smirk formed on his lips, "Poor Fen'Harel. Losing loved ones left and right. You've lost Mythal...twice now, yes? Not the same love you've had for this slut."
Solas slammed his fist against the ice, leaning his forehead against it, "N—No..." His voice shook as he whispered the word over and over again. He heard the siblings walk up behind him, their weapons pulled out.
"Come peacefully and we won't harm anyone else." Sylaise's stretched her hands above her head, yawning.
"Do you realize what you've done?" Solas hissed, his nails scraping against the ice.
"Who cares?" Sylaise picked some ear wax out of her ear with her picky, flicking it away.
"I care!" Solas screamed again, raising his hands above his head as the ice started to glow orange from within. Solas realized what was about to happen and started backing away, quickly ducking against the ground as the ice shattered. The siblings turned away, covering their head as the ice shattered. A blast thunders from inside the ice as it shattered, Soora emerging with her body consuming by fire. Flemeth laid behind her, a pool of blood slowly forming from under her. Fire swirled around Soora as she stepped towards Falon'Din and his siblings, the smirk that once covered his face had twisted into a sadistic smile.
"Finally," Falon'Din laughed, "Power."
Solas ran to Flemeth's side, pulling her away from the fire. Soora's pale skin glowed orange with rage, the fire burning nothing but the ground with every step she took closer to Falon'Din. Smoke pooled out of Soora's mouth as she breathed, small sparks of fire escaping as she laughed.
"You like hurting people, Falon'Din?" Soora spoke in perfect Elven. She had finally concord the Well and she was going to use it to her full advantage.
"Look who speaks like the people now." Falon'Din laughed, pulling his staff back out, "Ready to fight like one too?"
Falon'Din siblings had circled around Soora, beaten and bloodied. Solas took Flemeth back in the Temple, Varric and Dorian stood at the doors, guarding the others that stood inside. Soora shot her arms out to her sides, the fire leaving her body. It circled around her before shooting out at the siblings. They covered their faces, blocking the fire.
"I've been ready." Soora replied, her eyes glowing red with the power of the Red Lyrium staff. Soora turned her head to look at her companions, "Close the doors! Solas knows what to do!" Varric and Dorian shut the doors as Soora leapt in the air, shooting a ball of fire from her palm. Soora landed on top of a ruined pillar, unleashing a salvo of red lyrium fire from her staff, refusing to let up.
Dirthamen pushed Sylaise in front of him, quickly moving into the shadows as Soora was distracted with his siblings. June pulled out his grappling chain, shooting it towards Soora and pulling her towards him. Soora lunges with the chain, smashing a powerful blow to June's head, knocking him back. June ducks as Soora shoots another blow, he weaved and smashed his fist into Soora's side. Soora gasped, coughing, grabbing onto her side and staggering back. Soora unclipped her staff and twirled it, blocking another blow from June. She kicked his chest, knocking him back before twirling and slamming the metal staff grip against his head, rendering him unconscious. Soora grunted as Sylaise shot a bolt of lightning at her, skidding her across the ground. Soora sent out a pulse, Sylaise falling back as she was about to attack. Falon'Din leaped in, tackling Soora to the ground. He held her neck and repeated punched her face, smirking. Soora struggled, trying to reach for her staff.
Shit, shit, shit!
Soora screamed as she felt an arrow pierce her shoulder, keeping her stuck to the ground. Falon'Din straightened up, thanking Sylaise.
"Bitch deserved it." Sylaise snickered. Soora screamed, moving her shoulder around to loosen the arrow. Falon'Din placed his hand on her shoulder, the arrow sticking between his fingers. He smirked, pushing her back down. Soora screamed again, her head falling back against the ground. Falon'Din and Sylaise laughed, Sylaise pulling out another arrow and aiming it at Soora's head.
"Goodbye, Inquisit—Argh!" Sylaise screamed as a barrage of arrows rained down on her. Soora looked up, towards the temple, seeing Sera laughing while aiming another arrow at Sylaise.
"Just say 'What.'" Sera laughed, pulling back on the string. Sera shoot arrow after arrow at Sylaise, moving her away from Falon'Din and Soora.
"Get her!" Falon'Din growled at Sylaise, pulling out an arrow that cut through his arm. Soora quickly pushing Falon'Din back with her knees, making enough room to throw him off with her feet. Soora pulled out the arrow in her shoulder and grabbed her staff.
"Now, Sera!"
Sera smiled and picked up a bow that laid next to her feet, "Le's blow 'em up, Quizzy!" Sera shot the arrow as Soora ran towards the temple. Soora skid to a stop, turning around and shooting a fireball at the arrow.
"What are y—" Falon'Din watched as the arrow started to combust, pushing Sylaise in harms way and running back. The arrow combusted, sending Sylaise back, falling on Falon'Din as he ran. Sylaise laid unconscious atop of Falon'Din, he pushed her off and mumbling about incapably siblings.
As Soora walked across the clearing towards Falon'Din, past the three bodies that laid unconscious around her, a scream erupted from the Temple. Soora fixed her gaze behind her, seeing the Temple doors had been opened ajar. She turned back around, when she heard a twig snap. Falon'Din stood in front of her, his arm pulled back before shooting it forward, making contact with Soora's cheek. Soora fell onto the ground, unconscious, some blood dripping from her mouth.
"Mother!"
"Don't touch her!"
"What are you doing?"
"No!"