"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Nani's amber eyes fluttered open. The stale air of the Circle tower was replaced with the fresh scent of pine trees. She sat up from her sleeping roll, her ears twitching when she heard the sizzle of a campfire.
Eshne was finishing up a plate of bacon and tomatoes when she noticed Nani was awake.
"Hey, gorgeous," She called, "Redd made us some food."
"Redd?" Nani rubbed her forehead.
When he heard his name, Redd came out from behind his tent.
"Eat up, lass, got a long journey ahead." He said to Nani, smiling when he handed her a plate of food.
Nani looked at the bacon and tomatoes, an intense hunger growing inside of her. She was ravenous, but she waited. Eshne left the fire, cleaning up the dishes and laundry as Redd put out the fire with his boot.
"How long was I asleep?" Nani asked.
"A decent six hours," Redd answered, "Must be the fresh air. I've always wanted to take you girls out into the world. I'm just glad to have the chance."
"Where are we going, da?" Nani curled her legs under her arms like a child.
Redd smiled, "Starkhaven. I've told you this, my little spitfire...always wanted to take my sweet girls to my homeland."
Nani hesitated, cocking her head to the side as she thought.
"You said you never wanted to go back there." Nani said.
Redd stood to his full height, his eyes wavered a bit, "I know I've said things in the past, Nani...but time heals all wounds."
Nani felt a lump grow in her throat. She looked up at Redd, knowing now that it really wasn't him.
"Da, why can I hear you?" She finally asked.
Redd laughed, "You know Eshne found a cure for you in Denerim, hon. She's quite the healer."
Nani nodded, setting her plate of food aside. She sighed.
"You know Eshne had low marks with nursing." She said, feeling tears stream down, "And you, you know we shouldn't be away from the Circle. You could be branded a traitor."
"I would do anything for you girls-" Redd grew angry.
"All my life you never kept me from the Circle, why should now be any different?" She shook her head, "You can't be real."
"Don't be ridiculous, Nani, you know this is real. I'm real, Eshne's real…" Redd balled up his fists, "It would break your mother's heart to hear you say these things."
Nani felt rage swell up within her. Her eyes sparkled with electricity and she summoned a staff to her. At the same time, Redd pulled out his sword, and Eshne her own staff.
She sent a bolt of lightning into Redd, knocking him back. When Eshne sent a blaze after Nani, it was countered by frost. Nani seemed surprised the frost didn't upset Eshne's lungs, so Nani gave it her all.
"My own sister!" Eshne cried between flashes of fire, "I should have known you'd turn on me one day."
"You're not my sister, demon!" Nani conjured a bolt of energy right into Eshne's collar, bursting her chest wide open.
Eshne fell to the ground, but Redd stood back up. He waved his sword around.
"I thought I taught you better." He said.
"You taught me nothing, you vile creature." Nani deflected a blow from his sword with her staff, shattering it in two.
She conjured a shield to fend off the next blow. Redd's eyes were no longer his own.
"How could my little spitfire treat me like this?" He asked, "I raised you…"
Nani grunted under the pressure, "You made a big mistake, demon."
Redd raised his brow.
Nani put her free hand to his chest, "You never knew my real mother, you son of a bitch."
Her eyes frosted over, and Redd quickly froze over. Nani broke the body with the shattered part from her staff. She watched the pieces of Redd fall to the ground.
Nani fell to her knees, the pieces of the fade ripping around her to show the true barren wasteland that it had been. The shards dissipated into dust, floating away into the stagnant air.
In the corner of her eye she caught a glimmering portal. She dusted herself off and conjured another staff for herself. Without a second thought, she walked through.
She was taken to a place similar to the raw fade she had just seen. Black rock floated about, and Nani felt that she weighed nothing, yet she could still feel gravity pull her to the ground. In the distance she could see a circle of broken pillars, a man in mages robes looking up into the sky.
Nani ran for him.
"Niall!" She called him.
Niall cocked his head to the side.
"Who are you?"
Nani felt her heart drop, "Niall, it's me. Na'Nalia…"
Something clicked in Niall's head, "Nani…are you a demon?" He asked her, starting to use his hands to sign what he knew.
"No." Nani shook her head, "I'm real."
"You left with the Grey Wardens," Niall said, "Why are you here?"
"I'm here to help the Circle." Nani answered, "At least until we got trapped in the Fade by the demon."
"Yes, Sloth…him and his little trap. But you escaped your dream." Niall smiled, "You were always so strong. This place drains everything from you, until you're nothing. I know you, you're trying to find a way out. Believe me, I've tried."
"There has to be something, I'm not giving up now. There are others here, Eshne and Wynne…" Nani sighed, "We have to try, Niall."
"I studied the runes on the pedestal." He pointed to the marble pedestal in the center of the circle, "It reveals that there are different domains. Perhaps your friends are there." Then he added, "Sloth resides on the center island, you can't get to him unless you kill his lackeys. Who they are, I don't know…I've already tried. There's always an obstacle in the way."
"I've gotten pretty good at overcoming them." Nani said.
"This place will drive you mad."
"And I surely will go mad if I just sit here and do nothing." Nani told him.
"I've seen the demons...they're not to be trifled with."
"Neither am I." Nani said adamantly, "Niall, I have to do this." The she added, seemingly uncomfortable, "What happened?"
Niall looked as if his eyes had glossed over, "I remember...I was trying to save the Circle. I took the Litany of Adralla from Owain. Uldred conspired with blood mages. At the council they just descended upon us. I thought the Litany would help protect our minds against Uldred."
"I'm surprised you acted so quickly." Nani said.
"Not quickly enough. Everyone is dead...the Litany was our only hope." Niall shook his head, "I'm such a fool."
"We'll get out of here, Niall. We will," Nani assured him, "And when we do, we'll use the Litany and kick Uldred off the top of the tower. It's not too late."
"Such hope," Niall smiled, "I suppose your tenacity is why I loved you."
Nani didn't return his affection, instead clearing her throat and looking to the pedestal.
"I'm going to get us all out of here, Niall. I promise you."
"Then go." Niall said, "Be the hero I couldn't be."
Niall pointed her to the pedestal, "There's one on each island. When you're ready, just place your hand and direct your energy to where you want to be. You can will yourself to the next island."
"Thank you, Niall." Nani said sadly.
"Be careful."
Nani didn't answer. She placed her right hand over the pedestal, and willed herself to the next island.
Nani felt like she was going to drown. When she landed on solid ground, the air around her felt like a cool liquid running all around her.
The hair on her arms stood up when she heard soft wailing all around her. She gripped her staff when she saw the translucent forms of elves and men roaming around her, their bodies rotting away.
A chill ran through her when they vanished and reappeared in random places.
Nani swallowed her fear and began to move forward. Her curled hair moved about as if in water, but Nani knew she could breathe.
The ghosts ignored her, thankful that she could hardly hear their eerie cries.
Large black trees began to form before her, and in the center was a cottage emitting a warm glow. Nani moved forward towards the light.
When she reached the door she heard voices inside. She hesitated before she turned the knob.
The moment she touched it, the house fell away. Nani reeled backwards.
The forest seemed to grow thicker, and where the house once was she saw Eshne sitting on a wooden chair. Cullen wasn't too far from her, standing at an invisible oven and holding a small blonde child.
Nani looked at Eshne, her hair out of her braid and flying up in the air just like Nanis. Eshne's violet eyes were glossed over when she watched another child materialize. She had bright red hair, and handed Eshne a drawing on a parchment.
"Thank you." Eshne said, her voice cracking.
"Here you are, my darling." Cullen said, coming over with an invisible meal, "Just how you like it."
Eshne smiled through her tears, "It's perfect."
"I received a letter today, Nani made it to Antiva. She's been doing quite a bit of traveling since the Circle dissolved." Cullen said.
"At least she's happy."
"We all are."
Nani finally broke the silence, "Eshne?"
Eshne didn't look up from looking into Cullen's eyes.
"Hi, Nani." She said.
"Eshne, this isn't real."
"I know."
Nani watched Eshne look at the parchment with her childs drawing.
"I'll never have this. The demon knows this. We're taunted with what we want most...but I couldn't force myself to come outside."
Eshne finally stood up. Nani cocked her head to the side when Cullen kept talking to the chair Eshne was sitting in, the children acting as if Eshne had never moved.
"What's going on?" Nani asked, "I had to kill my dreams…"
Eshne stood next to Nani, watching the ghosts move in and out of the trees.
"I broke it." Eshne said, "Sloth tried to appease me with all my hearts desires. Finally he settled on this." She showed Nani the parchment, which was completely blank, "She never draws anything."
"Eshne," Nani said, "I know this hurts, but we need to leave."
"Have you seen anyone else?"
"I saw Niall." Nani admitted, "He looks...bad."
"You saw the body, Nani, the demon has had him a long time…"
"I know." Nani said quickly, "We can't let the same thing happen to us."
Eshne nodded, "Let's go then."
The second Eshne began to walk with Nani, the wailing from the trees stopped. Eshne and Nani froze in place. An eerie silence followed.
Through the trees a soft mist began to form. The glowing bodies of the ghosts slowly appeared, and they all stared at Eshne. Nani grabbed her hand.
"Run."
The moment they began to run, the ghosts gave chase. Nani and Eshne dodged through the trees, holding onto each other for dear life.
"There!" Nani pointed to the pedestal in the distance.
They raced towards the marble pedestal, the ghosts closing in. They could see their breath before them, cold fingers hitting their legs and arms.
Nani threw her staff to the side, grabbing onto the pedestal trying to will herself away. She felt Eshne tug at her, the ghosts holding her back.
Eshne closed her eyes, gripping Nanis hand like it was her lifeline. Nani pulled Eshne to her, holding her close.
They both closed their eyes, letting the Fade take them.
It was almost like a blur. Melia stood in her aravel, the world whirling around her. She thought she could see Ashalle and...Merrill? They moved about her slowly, yet it seemed they were speeding about the aravel. Ashalle then stood in front of Melia, she held a flower crown of baby's breath and an assortment of differently colored roses.
Once she set it on Melia's head, everything came together. Melia felt she could stand without wanting to fall over.
"I'm so proud of you, da'len." Ashalle said, going behind Melia to pull her hair up into a loose bun of snowy curls.
"Thank you." Melia said, her throat dry and cracked.
She looked down to see that she was wearing a white dress, she felt that it was backless, surprised Ashalle approved.
Merrill came back into the aravel holding a mirror.
"Lethallan, look," She held it up to Melia, "You are just like Ghilan'nain."
Melia took a step back, thinking that she saw the mirror itself undulate. She collected herself. She watched her hand brush the side of her blushing face.
'Was this me?' She asked herself. The touch was real enough. But she could see herself wearing a dark berry lip stain, something she never thought to ever wear.
"That was my doing," Merrill smiled, "You remember? I kept pushing you to wear it until you gave in. Softie." She laughed.
"I suppose I did." Melia said.
"Are you ready?" Ashalle asked her, "Hahren Paivel is waiting to lead you. Don't worry, Ivor is with his uncle."
"Ivor?" Melia felt a lump grow in her throat.
"Are you ready, Melia'nain?" Ashalle asked again.
"Yes?" Melia felt unsure.
"She just has the jitters," Merrill laughed, "It's endearing. But let's go." She pulled on Melia's hand.
It took a moment for Melia to adjust her eyesight. The sun was high in the sky, casting an ethereal green light through the leaves of the trees.
She could now see Hahren Paivel, he led a halla to Melia, helping her atop the gentle animal. He put a hand on it's neck, leading the halla through the forest. Ashalle and Merrill walked ahead giddily. Melia couldn't remember the last time she saw Ashalle so lighthearted.
Through an archway of trees, Melia could see her clan gathered in a circle. The circle parted enough to make way for Melia and the halla.
She saw Thackery in the circle, he was rosy cheeked and grinning ear to ear, his ebony hair somewhat tamed. He was holding Ivor in his arms. Her son smiled when he saw his mamae, holding out his arms ask if asking for her to hold him.
Melia saw Nicolai standing behind him, one hand on Thackery's small hip. Next to them, Eshne and Nani were standing and smiling, Nani ignoring Zevrans whispers. Eshne seemed to be crying, Nennet patting her shoulder. Wynne held Eshne's hand, starting to tear up herself.
Leliana and Morrigan stood on the other side of the circle. Sten, with his usual glower, was behind them.
Hahren Paivel helped Melia off of the halla. She could feel the stares of those in the circle around her.
Paivel put her hand in someone else's. Melia was scared to look, but she almost choked when she saw Tamlen's soft grey eyes staring back at her.
"Andaran atishan, emma lath." He spoke gently, he held both of her hands and moved her so they stood before the keeper.
"Tamlen h-" Melia started.
"Brothers and sisters of the Dalish," The keeper spoke up, "Today, we are here to witness the joining of two of our clansmen."
Melia couldn't keep her eyes off of Tamlen, her head was spinning.
"I don't…" She started.
The Keeper ignored her, "Tamlen will now speak his vows of love."
"Wait…" Melia felt a pain behind her eyes.
"My heart," Tamlen began, "I willingly give myself to you. Body and soul. Until even after the Creator's will us into the earth for our eternal slumber, I promise to you that we shall always be one."
Melia looked back up to Tamlen. His face began to static and he grew taller. Melia couldn't feel herself breathing, the words she tried to form stuck to the back of her throat like halla milk.
Tamlen's voice changed to that she had become accustomed to hearing. Now, instead of Tamlen, Melia could make out Alistair's features. He kept speaking his vows.
The two faces kept changing, one moment she would see the face of her beloved Tamlen, and the next she could see Alistair, his brown eyes softening as he looked at her.
Alistair now spoke to her, "I will be your armor, as I know you are mine. Never will I utter a degrading words towards you, for your ears should only hear the sweetest music and words of love. The bond we create is sacred. And I shall praise you in this life and through the next."
Melia started to cry, her bones starting to ache and burn. She felt Alistair's calloused hand wiping away her tears.
"Stop that." Melia managed to say, "This isn't happening."
"Da'len," The keeper said, "Bonding is a sacred thing, it is alright to be overwhelmed."
"You would never approve of a bond with a shem." Melia shook herself away from Alistair, "What is this trickery?"
"A shem?"
Melia looked back at her supposed betrothed, now seeing Tamlen.
"What…" Melia felt sick to her stomach.
"You have already spoken your vows, emma lath." Tamlen smiled at her, taking her hands in his, "I am overjoyed to be with you." He kissed her delicate fingers.
"I don't remember saying my vows…" Melia said quietly, her eyes tearing up once more.
"I ask the Creators to witness this bond," The keeper called out, "Know that the Dalish persevere. Even in dark times, there is youth and eternal love. Join us, clansmen, celebrate this sacred occasion and let us dance and revel."
Melia fell into a blur again. She could see everyone in the circle dancing around her and singing their praises to the couple.
She felt Tamlen take her into his arms, she felt his lips on her neck as he slowly danced in the center of the circle with her.
It was only she and Tamlen that seemed to be moving slowly while the rest of the clan and her friends danced tirelessly around them. Tamlen then bent down to kiss her. On instinct she closed her eyes, remembering what it was like to experience a kiss like this.
She felt her face getting scratched by hair that now seemed to grow around Tamlen's mouth.
Melia opened her eyes to see that she was kissing Alistair. She wanted to pull away, but now the kiss changed. It was eager, but soft and gentle. Melia's head swam in a sudden ecstasy she never thought she would have felt again.
The kiss was broken by a scream.
"Mel!"
"Melia don't! It's a trick, we're still in the tower!"
Melia turned to see Eshne and Nani running for her, dressed in their robes. Nani splayed a line of fire from her staff. Melia hadn't seen what she was attacking until she saw her clansmen slowly melt into disfigured shapes.
Her dress had disappeared and Melia felt her daggers behind her once again. The form of Alistair that had been holding her started to choke her, throwing her to the ground.
Nani jumped and pushed into him, holding her hand to his face and heating up her skin so that whatever creature it was melted under her touch.
Eshne came to Melia, helping her up.
"I don't understand…" Melia choked out.
"It's alright, Mel," Eshne said, taking the crown of dead roses off of Melia's head, "You're in the Fade. It was trying to trick you so the demon could drain you. We need to find the others."
It all came flooding back to Melia, the mage's tower, the demon, blood mages…
Nani came over, smelling like burning skin and hair, "We found Niall here, but in order to leave we need to fight the demon who put us here. You're the first we've found."
Eshne went to comfort Melia, but she reeled back when she saw Melia's body begin to glow white.
"What's happening?" Melia asked.
"I don't-" Nani started, watching in horror as Melia disappeared.
Eshne and Nani looked at each other in disbelief.
"Why did that just happen?" Nani asked.
Eshne shrugged, "Well it didn't happen we we found each other. Maybe it's a mage thing? Perhaps Sloth is hiding the others away after we find them, but mages are harder to pull from raw Fade?"
Nani was determined.
"Let's go find Nicolai then, see if this theory works."
Nicolai finished signing his enormous stack of parchments. He leaned back in his chair and wiped his eyes. When he heard a soft knock on his door, he got up to answer.
"Hahren!" Shianni smiled at him, "Too busy for a visit from your favorite cousin?"
"Where's Soris?" Nicolai joked.
Shianni laughed, Nicolai noticed no alcohol on her breath.
"How can I help? He asked her.
"I know Valendrian left a lot for you to handle," Shianni began, "But one of the shop-keeps is having an issue."
"What kind?"
"How about I drag your ass out and show you?" Shianni put her hands on her hips.
Nicolai relented, "After you then."
He followed Shianni through the Alienage. He thought it odd when he saw so many market stalls, and humans shopping there. He watched a human woman let an elvhen man lift up spices for her to smell. She nodded and he scooped some for her.
Nicolai looked up at the vhenadahl, admiring the colorful ribbons and lanterns hanging from it. Nicolai had never seen the Alienage so alive, so clean…
As if sensing his thoughts, Shianni turned to him.
"I can't believe how quickly you've turn this place around. Even the humans aren't calling it an Alienage anymore, it's the Commons. I wish Nennet could see this, but you know her, adventure in her heart." Shianni sighed, "I think Valendrian would be proud of you Nicolai. When the city pardoned you I don't think they expected this."
"Right." Was all Nicolai could say, he was in absolute awe.
No longer did his home smell like sick and sewage. Now he took in all sorts of spices, flowers, and fruits. He was shocked to even see a perfume vendor from Orlais, littering an elvhen man with a strong citrus oil.
"The Commons, huh?" Nicolai asked Shianni.
"Don't hate the name you came up with. Some of the nobles wanted it to be the Elvhen Commons, but you said you didn't want racial labels." Shianni said, "You're acting very silly, Nicolai."
Shianni finally opened one of the larger shops, the windows blacked out. He didn't have time to react before he saw Thackery standing there.
"Hey, Nico." Thackery smiled.
"What's this?" Nicolai felt his heart flutter.
Thackery went to him, "I bought it. We can finally have the goods store we talked about."
"When did…"
"I thought you'd be happy. Don't worry it wasn't a bad price at all." Thackery told him, "I even got Mel to send me crafts from the Clan to sell."
Nicolai felt his head swim, "But I thought you didn't want anything to do with the Dalish?"
Thackery scoffed, "They're still family, You don't back out on family."
"Right."
He saw Thackery's mood change, and before Nicolai could react he heard a shuffle at the door. He turned around to see Nani and Eshne trying to catch their breath.
"Fuck me…" Eshne breathed out.
"Nicolai, this isn't real." Nani told him, "The demon is trying to trick you."
"Foolish bitch," Thackery said, "You couldn't just let him be happy."
"Shut up." Nani blasted him with a bolt of electricity.
Shanni went to attack them, but Eshne set her on fire, quickly killing her.
Nicolai looked between the two of them.
"It wasn't real?"
"Do you remember the demon? The Circle?" Eshne asked.
Nicolai felt it click in his head, "Oh…" When he noticed Nani and Eshne staring at him he raised his brow.
"What?
"He didn't disappear." Nani said.
"Definitely a mage thing." Eshne agreed.
"What?" Nicolai repeated.
"We rescued Melia from her dream and she disappeared. We think non-mages are being pulled by Sloth and kept until we find everyone." Nani explained, "We need to hurry to the next platform, who knows who's next."
"Very well," Nicolai nodded, "I admit I don't know much about magic. I have no idea what's going on."
"We'll explain more along the way." Eshne said, her and Nani leading him out.
Nicolai took one last look at Thackery's body, furrowing his brow when the corpse turned into black ash. He watched the particles float away, then turned back to find the others.
Nani, Eshne, and Nicolai found themselves in a dark room. Eshne felt around to see where her companions were, and when Nani felt her hand she screamed.
"What was that?"
"Nani, it's Eshne."
"What?"
"Eshne!"
"Oh! Shit I thought something else grabbed me."
Nicolai couldn't see past his own hand, "We need to find a torch or something. Nani is barely going to understand us if she doesn't know what you're signing."
"She can hear loud yelling if it's close to her!" Eshne shouted.
When Eshne shouted, a light fell on a table in the middle of the room. The three stood in silence, startled when a far off door was kicked open. Zevran was being dragged over to it, strapped down as tight as his captors could make it.
The three mages tried to run after him, but the room kept getting longer and longer.
The captors turned a wheel that had just appeared, Zevran being pulled by all of his limbs, never once making a sound.
"I think the mutt flinched this time." One of the torturers cackled.
"Maybe," The other said, "We'll make you scream yet."
In the light the mages could see that the two men were in fact Dalish elves, or at least they once might have been.
"We're not going to go easy on you." The first one said.
Zevran shook his head, "No I wouldn't want you to. I'd be disappointed if you did." He was clearly not trying to cry out in pain.
"He's got spirit I'll give him that." The first one said, a red gleam in his eye, "A shame we'll have to break him."
"Zevran!" Nani called, letting her suspicion of him fall to the ground.
When she said his name, the room closed in, the three wardens finally able to move forward a bit.
Zevran caught her eye, "What? You-you're not supposed to be here…" He gritted his teeth when the second Dalish tightened the rack.
"This is all a dream!" Nani called, "This isn't real!"
"No." Zevran shook his head, "I need to stay strong. If I am going to be a Crow, I have to...tolerate pain."
"Don't you remember the Circle? The demon?" Eshne asked him.
The room shortened itself even more.
"What?" Zevran gritted his teeth again, "This cannot be...but. I can feel it. You speak the truth, this is a dream?"
"Yes," Nicolai said, "The demon has you under its hold, and you must break it."
"It questions us," The first Dalish said, "That's a very very bad thing to do...Perhaps we're not pulling hard enough." He yanked the lever.
Zevran felt his muscles screaming when he was pulled once more, a sweat broke out on his face, but he did not scream.
The other Dalish pulled out his daggers, running for the mages. Eshne willed a new staff and turned the rock under him into mud, Nani froze it in place so that he couldn't move. The Dalish threw his dagger at Eshne, but Nani conjured a shield to deflect it.
Nicolai ran at him with his own conjured daggers, not hesitating to stab the man in the throat.
The other Dalish grew overzealous, pulling Zevran on the rack as hard as he could. Nani ran at him, punching him in the face and freezing him solid.
She loosened the rope on Zevran slowly, not wanting to hurt his muscles.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
"What's this, concern from a beautiful woman? Maybe this is a good dream after all." Zevran smirked at her, "Perhaps I can reward my-" He stopped.
Nani saw the same white glow fall on Zevran, he looked at her and she could see legitimate fear.
"Don't worry, we'll find you again." She said, watching him disappear right before her eyes.
Eshne and Nicolai met up with her.
"I suppose your theory is correct." Nicolai said, "Sloth is too lazy to summon the power to teleport mages."
"Well we still need to find Nennet, Thackery, Wynne, and Alistair." Eshne pointed out, we've got more work to do."
The other two readily agreed.
"Let's get to the next portal then." Nicolai said.
The three of them walked to the next pedestal. Eshne nudged Nicolai.
"So you wanna tell me why Thackery was in your Fade dream?"
"What happens in the Fade stays in the Fade." Nicolai looked at her.
"Fair enough."
Nennet closed her eyes, feeling the salty air flow through her curly hair. She held on tight to the helm, listening to the heart sea shanty that her crew was singing.
She opened her eyes and looked out on the the sea, the moon shining over the water. She likened it to fireflies in the Brecilian. She admired the view before her, the crew singing and enjoying the night air.
Nennet was content. She was ready to spend the years to come out on the glorious sea. Every time Isabela came to visit her she smelled just like this. It wasn't that Nennet was pining for Isabela, rather the freedom that the scent of the ocean had. Now she was here, and she was finally free from the Alienage.
"Captain." Her second mate came up onto the deck.
"Yes?" Nennet kept her eyes on the ocean.
"Permission to ask our course?" He asked.
Nennet took another breath of the salty air before she answered.
"Wherever this beautiful mistress and my Calypso takes us." She answered.
"Very good, ser."
"Is there a problem with my crew?" Nennet asked, raising her brow.
"Not at all, ser. The crew will follow you into the jaws of Davy Jones." He said.
"Then that is all I ask. Get some well deserved rest, Cain." Nennet said, promptly dismissing him.
Nennet kept her focus on the sea. She was obsessed, drunk with the freedom that was given to her.
She was mid-thought when she heard a commotion on deck. She peered over the rail, seeing spells being thrown back and forth, killing her men.
Nennet unsheathed her rapier and donned her Captains hat. She ran down the steps, jumping the last part. She was taken aback when she saw Nicolai running for her, Eshne and Nani fighting behind them.
"Nennet!"
"Nico?"
He grabbed her by the shoulders, "Nennet, you need to focus. This isn't real. The demon had us under control and is trying to keep us apart."
"What are you even talking about, Nicolai?" Nennet curled her lip in disgust, "How did you get on my ship?"
"We're traveling the Fade to rescue everyone, Sloth has everyone under a spell to keep us complacent. You have to believe me."
Nennet stared into his blue eyes, searching for a lie and finding none. Her shoulders loosened.
"I knew it was too good to be true." Nennet felt tears falling down her cheeks, "I knew it…"
"I'm sorry, Nennet." Nicolai let go of her, the sounds of battle subsiding.
Nani and Eshne met up with them, confirming what Nicolai had said.
"I understand." Nennet nodded slowly.
When she finally admitted her delusion, Nennet began to feel her feet burn. She looked down, seeing a white glow consume her.
And suddenly she was gone.
Thackery woke up with a splitting headache. He opened his eyes, surprised to see himself back in his mamaes aravel.
The wind opened the flap to the aravel, bring in the sweet scent of pine.
When he stepped out, he felt a sense of unease. The Dalish camp before him had suddenly flashed as if he were in a fortress. His eyes settled on the campfire, where he saw Melia playing with Ivor.
He walked over, feeling as though he were drunk without imbibing.
"Tack!" Ivor saw him first, squirming away from Melia to run to his uncle.
"Hey, kid." Thackery picked him up, "Driving your mamae crazy are we?"
"Not at all," Melia said, she stood up to kiss Thackery on his cheek, "We were waiting for you."
"Why is that?" Thackery asked Ivor.
"Don't be coy," Melia laughed, "We're celebrating your becoming a hunter."
Thackery's body went cold, "What?"
"You're getting your vallaslin. I admit I'm jealous that I don't know which one you're picking, but I'm sure it'll have special meaning." Melia smiled at him, "I'm very proud of you, Thackery."
Thackery returned Ivor to Melia, not sure what to say. Suddenly his surroundings flashed again, Melia wasn't there. Instead, Nicolai stood in her place. But then he was gone again, and Thackery was back at the Dalish camp.
"I know you're nervous, don't be." Melia told him, "All hunters felt the same way."
"I need to take a walk." Thackery felt sick.
"As you wish, lethallin."
Thackery had to remove himself. His head hurt even worse than before. His heart almost stopped when he ran into Ashalle.
"Mamae, I-" He started, nearly reeling back.
Her eyes weren't her normal gentle coffee brown. They were rather replaced with hard black buttons.
"Oh…" Thackery felt himself fall back to the hard ground.
As he fell, the Dalish camp washed away, revealing the fortress once more, wardens walking around nonchalantly.
Then he was back in the camp and on the ground. He crawled backwards from Ashalle, who was holding out her hand. He backed up into someone, looking up and seeing the Keeper looking down at him. She too had buttons for eyes.
Thackery rolled himself away. He ran through the camp, every member coming out to welcome him, all with buttons for eyes. He finally stopped back by the campfire, Melia and Ivor were gone. Instead there was a beautiful woman with messy black hair. She had the same honey skin as Melia, but when she turned around Thackery instantly knew it was his mother. The buttons in her eyes were green rather than black.
"Hello, da'len." She extended her hand, "Come meet your father."
An elvhen man came up behind her, dark black hair and black buttons for eyes.
"No." Thackery shook his head, "That's not him…"
"Thackery Mahariel, how dare you!" His mother shouted.
Thackery suddenly felt himself surrounded by his clan members, all with the same button eyes.
The crowd opened up, and he saw Melia walking towards him.
"You couldn't have just let it happen." Melia said, "Couldn't have been happy when your clan finally opened their arms to you."
She looked up, Thackery feeling his heart drop when her eyes were replaced by the deep black buttons.
"No…" Thackery felt himself fall to his knees.
Melia held out two black buttons and a threaded needle, "Don't you want to be part of your mothers clan?"
"Mel…" Thackery fell into a sob.
Melia stopped in her tracks. Thackery looked up to see a dagger sticking out from her chest. He watched in horror as her body fell to the ground, her button eyes detaching and revealing empty sockets.
Thackery screamed her name, not noticing Nicolai fighting off his clan members. Nicolai grabbed him up and carried him over the shoulder. Thackery watched Nani and Eshne fight back the clan until no one was left standing. Nicolai finally set Thackery down, he held Thackery's face in his hands.
"Thackery," He said gently, "It's over. It's not real…" He stroked his cheek, "The demon was trying to trick you."
Thackery started to sob again, "It was so real."
"I know. I'm so sorry."
"I just want it to be over." Thackery said.
"Me too…"
Thackery started to see his hands and his feet glow white. He looked up at Nicolai.
"Don't let me go!" He begged, "Nicolai!"
Nicolai held onto Thackery as long as he could, his hands burning until the white light finally took a screaming Thackery.
Nani ran over to Nicolai.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
Nicolai shook his head, "Better off than Thackery...we need to find him. Fast."
"We will." Eshne said, clearly out of breath, "Let's get to the next pedestal."
Nicolai nodded, racing over with the others to get to the next island.
Eshne and Nani were frowning when the mince pie was placed in front of them. Alistair sat across from then gobbling it up. Nicolai politely declined, stating something about an allergy. Alistairs sister, Goldanna, seemed put out.
"Well it's there if you want it, darling." She said, her voice sugary sweet.
"You two aren't eating." Alistair pointed out.
"You said if we came in you'd listen to us, Alistair." Eshne pointed out.
"Fine fine…" Alistair sat back, patting his stomach, "So, Melia didn't want to come?"
"It's your dream, dummy," Eshne said, "You could have her stark naked running around a field of flowers. I should have done that..."
Alistair choked on his food.
"Yeah...mince pie, Alistair? Really?" Nani asked.
"The real reason we're here, is to let you know you're in the Fade." Nicolai told Alistair, "The demon is making you think you're here with your sister."
"I don't know why you're saying this." Alistair shook his head.
"Don't you remember the Circle? The demon?" Nani asked.
Alistair was lost in thought. He sighed.
"It's fuzzy...I don't know…"
"More mince pie, brother?" Goldanna popped up beside him, eyeing Nani, "I'm so glad to have you back. I've been looking for him for so long."
"I'm sure you have." Eshne glared at her.
"Wait...I remember…" Alistair started, "The mages under attack. The darkspawn…"
"It happened, Alistair." Nicolai said.
"It seemed so real." Alistair bit his cheek.
"I can assure you, Alistair. It's not." Nani was adamant.
Goldanna spit at her, "Of course it's real. How dare you tell him otherwise! Alistair, wash up before supper, your friends are no longer welcome."
Alistair shook his head and then looked at his sister, "Goldanna, I need to go with my friends."
Goldanna let the pie fall to the ground. She dropped her sweet voice in favor of a deeper one.
"You'll never leave. I'd rather see him dead than free."
Goldanna held a kitchen knife to Alistairs throat.
Nicolai jumped at her, the knife slightly nicking Alistair in the neck. Nani went over to help him.
Nicolai struggled with Goldanna on the floor, her demonic children descending upon him. Eshne blasted them off of Nicolai with flashes of fire. She kicked the knife away, opening up the rock underneath them to seal Goldanna away.
Nani helped Alistair to his feet.
"Are you alright?"
"Just...confused. But I'll be fine." He said, "How did I not see this?"
"The demon can be very convincing. It's not your fault." Nani told him.
"I suppose...hey," He then added, "Don't tell the others I was so easily convinced. Maker forbid Morrigan ever hears about this."
"Our lips are sealed." Eshne said.
Alistair went to thank them, but when the white light descended upon him he found he couldn't speak. He dissipated away before the mages could say anything.
Eshne looked at Nani.
"Now we find Wynne."
Eshne, Nani, and Nicolai found Wynne kneeling over a pile of dead bodies. Eshne and Nani recognized them as mages from the tower.
"I did nothing to help them." Wynne said, "I let them die…"
Eshne ran to her, "Wynne, you can't believe this. It isn't real, the demon is lying."
"How dare you," Wynne looked at Eshne, her eyes red with anger and tears, "Where were you? You could have stopped this." She pushed Eshne away, "Leave me to my grief. I'll bury the bones and wait until I too join them…"
"Wynne-" Eshne started.
"Hard to stop something that didn't happen." Nani said pointedly.
"You watch your tongue, young lady." Wynne shot back.
"Wynne, you have to believe us. Don't you remember how you got here? We can still fight, prevent this from happening…" Eshne tried to persuade her.
"I-I…" Wynne shook her head, "I don't know. Please don't make this more painful for me. I've suffered enough."
"Please, Wynne, we're the only thing that's real. You have to believe me." Eshne begged her.
"If this will get you to leave me alone, fine." Wynne glared, getting to her feet, "Though I don't know to what purpose this will serve."
One of the dead bodies moves his head to look at Wynne.
"Don't leave us," He said, his white eyes gazing back at her, "You did this and we suffered."
"Sweet Maker," Wynne held her hand to her breast, "Foul demon you will not take hold of me."
Wynne conjured a staff, helping Nani and Eshne shoot spells to the few bodies scattered to the ground. Nicolai threw one back down on the ground when it got too close to Wynne, giving her time to cast an arcane bolt.
The four of them stood looking at each other once it was over. Wynne ran to Eshne and hugged her.
"My darling girl, I'm so sorry."
"It's alright," Eshne said, "The demon is clever, and hurtful at times."
Before any more apologies were issued, Wynne began to see a white glow fall over her body. And this time Nani, Eshne, and Nicolai felt the same.
"This is it!" Nani called to Eshne.
"Let's go kick a demons ass!" Eshne yelled.
Eshne signed 'I love you' to Nani, just before the white light fell over all of them.