Chapter Two

Lost and Found

Cullen had been in the war room since Ellaina was abducted. He didn't eat. He rarely slept. He sent battalions of scouts out along with Leliana's spies, and every time he got a report that didn't have a location on it he flew into a rage. His soldiers stopped reporting to him and went to Leliana instead, but that didn't seem to help matters much. The crystal that had been planted in Calpernia's lair had been silent for too long. Dagna and Herrit had been sitting by it hoping that something, anything, would reach their ears. It was a futile hope. First days, then weeks, now months passed. Cullen was terrified. He was beginning to fear the worst when one day a scout burst into the war room panting.

"Commander! Ser, we found her."

"What, where? Is she safe?" Cullen exclaimed as he grabbed the young woman by the shoulders

"Ser, she's in the Western Approach! In Adamant, Ser!"

"Adamant, but why?" Cullen shook his head, "No matter, we must go now!" Cullen practically shoved the man across the room as he grabbed his report. Cullen skimmed the report on the way to meet with Leliana as soon as his eyes found "heavily guarded by Venatori and red Templars" he stopped in his tracks. Just what are they doing to her? He clutched the lyrium bottle he'd kept in his apothecary satchel. He had two with him. One for Ellaina and, should he need it, one for himself. It's been 2 months since she's had a dose. Can she handle it? Will it destroy her? Maker only knows what they've put her through.

{-Ellaina-}

What day is it? How long have I been here? Elaina stirred from a momentary slumber. Most of her clothing, save for her breast band and the shredded remains of her trousers, had been ripped off during one of her many torture sessions. She was in so much pain. Between the cuts and bruises and the lyrium withdrawal she wasn't sure what was causing what. She forced herself to focus on the pain; every single bone felt like it had been broken and improperly reset multiple times. While this was probably true for her ribs and wrists the rest of it was probably caused by the lack of lyrium in her blood. Moving hurt. Thinking hurt. Everything hurt. What day is it? How long have I been here? Ellaina was trying to remember. She had been using her chains to scratch tallies on the walls, but it came to a point when she couldn't remember if she had put a mark on the wall yet or not. She was certain there were several days where she put two, and a few where she marked none. Had it really been almost a month? Had it been more than a month? Come on Ellaina pull yourself together! She knew it was useless. She had given up the idea long ago of anyone coming to rescue her.

The old wooden door to the dungeon block opened with a creak and a bang. Two Venatori foot soldiers entered accompanied by Calpernia. The door to her cell was opened and the chains undone. Ellaina thought about fighting but she was too weak. She had given up struggling long ago. They dragged her to the wall at the back of the room, shackled her, and force-fed her the red lyrium. Her body instantly began to reject it. Calpernia and her guards stood and watched as her she forced the blighted stuff from her body.

"Your red lyrium resistance is something of legend, Inquisitor." Calpernia stood over her watching until her retching had ceased. Then she bent over and grabbed Ellaina by the hair on the back of her head, forcing her to look into the face of the angry mage. "Exposure does nothing, slathering your cuts with it has no effect, and ingestion doesn't work either. What is your secret?"

The vomiting sapped any remaining strength Ellaina had left, but once it was over there was no respite. When Ellaina had no response to Calpernia's questions, the Venatori soldiers grabbed her beat her relentlessly. Calpernia's resolve was breaking, just as Ellaina's was. When Ellaina remained silent, she flew into a rage. The magic she used made Ellaina's blood boil, and it wracked her insides. She felt a tendril of magic grasp around her heart and squeeze it. Ellaina had never felt so much pain. Ellaina tried to strengthen herself against the torment with a silent prayer.

Maker, my enemies are abundant.

Many are those who rise up against me.

But my Faith sustains me; I shall not fear the legion,

Should they set themselves against me.

Maker, though the darkness comes upon me,

I shall embrace the light. I shall weather the storm.

I shall endure.

What you have created, no one can tear asunder.

Though all before me is shadow,

Yet shall the maker be my guide.

I shall not be left to wander the drifting roads of the Beyond.

For there is no darkness in the Maker's Light

And nothing that He has wrought shall be lost.

The physical torture finally came to an end, but Ellaina knew that this was only the beginning. She felt herself slipping away. Teetering on the edge of consciousness, knowing that the Nightmare had wriggled his way in, touching the deepest corners of her mind. What demon would he unleash upon her today? Desire, despair, rage, or fear? She prayed that today would be the day she would awake after her torture to find this had all been a sick, sick dream.

"She won't last much longer!" Ellaina swore she heard Leliana's voice.

No. It's not her. She's in Skyhold with-

Her thoughts were cut off when she heard his voice. "Ellaina…" The demon was convincing. It wore Cullen's voice well, she heard fear and despair in her lover's voice, but she dare not look up. The sound of armor clanking drove her mad. His had a distinct sound, as it was heavier on one side than it was the other to compensate for one of the many injuries he had suffered during his torture at Kinloch. She always had a knack for identifying soldiers by the sounds of their armor. She refused to look up, but then she saw his boots. Felt his hand cup her face in that gentle way. Smelled his scent, the sweet mixture of ram skin leather, oil, and ivory soap. Tears rolled uncontrollably down her face.

He isn't real! He isn't real! The voice inside her head screamed, but Ellaina couldn't listen. She needed to see him one last time before the end.

She looked up into his face. His eyes were glorious. They burned that fierce shade of amber that made her knees melt from under her, and made her stomach flop around like a wanton teenager. This demon would be the end of her. It would undo her. She prayed as the demon's lips curled cruelly, an expression that the real Cullen would never wear. He unsheathed his sword and brought it to her throat, the feel of cold steel and then the warm gush of blood as her entire reality was shaken. Someone please save me.

Maker, I can't take it much longer.

Blessed are they who stand before,

The corrupt and the wicked and do not falter.

Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just.

Blessed are the righteous, the lights in the shadow.

In their blood the Maker's will is written

{-Cullen-}

Cullen's mind was racing but he managed to make it up to Leliana's sanctuary for a debriefing. Cassandra, Varric, Cole, Dorian, along with all of the other followers not accompanying them on this mission were there as well. However, one face was missing. Solas. Cullen puzzled over reasons why the elf wasn't present, but he didn't dwell on it. There were more important matters at hand. He could chastise the elf later.

"What's our plan of attack?" Cullen asked.

His question was met with an uncomfortable silence. Ellaina should be telling us what to do. She's our leader. Andraste please keep her safe.

Leliana was the one to finally break the silence.

"We already have scout Harding's patrol in position. They will take out as many of the Venatori as possible. Our soldiers are rallying at the camp nearest Adamant in the western approach. We have trebuchets at our disposal as well."

"Why are they keeping her at Adamant? It makes no sense!"

"Perhaps they are trying to summon the Nightmare again." Cassandra offered. "But Ellaina closed the rift there, I saw it myself."

"The Veil is still very weak there. It would be possible for Corypheus to summon the Nightmare again, but he would need to supply it with enough fear for it to regain strength." The elf spoke so quietly that it was almost impossible to hear him.

"Solas?" Leliana looked as surprised as Cullen felt.

"I do not wish to go with you, but I want to help." When Solas noted the confusion on their faces he interjected, "She is a Templar and, I a mage. If they are torturing her, as I expect they are, then she may not be able to keep her abilities under control." Solas stated solemnly, then turned to address Cullen. "I believe that Corypheus is using this opportunity to rebuild the strength of his demon army. Now that he has the Inquisitor captive he can do that without her getting in the way."

Solas turned to speak to Dorian.

"Dorian, I know you have volunteered to assist in this mission."

Dorian nodded at Solas.

"You have considered the possibilities of what can happen?"

This merited another nod from Dorian.

"I will be there as well." Cassandra interjected. "If her powers are out of control I can subdue her. Although I hope it doesn't come to that."

Solas nodded solemnly, worry knit his eyebrows together.

Cullen hadn't heard anything after the elf had said past "torture." The terror took hold of him as his own memories took over the forefront of his mind. Cullen shook his head trying to clear it. He needed to be strong.

Andraste preserve her. Cullen prayed silently.

{-Ellaina-}

Her mind was no longer completely her own. Most times she couldn't tell which thoughts were hers and which were put there by the Nightmare when she slept, or was tortured to unconsciousness. Thankfully, her mind was clearer this day than it was most others.

The elven Venatori who had been assigned to her "care" opened the main door. Light flooded in from outside, temporarily blinding her. It was not sunlight, however; no it was the distinctive green light of a Rift. Her mark sparked and the agony wracked her entire body. Did it always hurt this badly, or am I just so weak that I'm starting to notice it?

"Food for you. Not sure exactly why the Elder One wants to keep you alive so damn bad. Guess you're not as dangerous chained up and without lyrium huh? Want me to give you some?" The elf dangled in front of her the philter of lyrium Ellaina had been carrying with her.

Ser told her to always keep a vial hidden. "Just in case." He would lecture. "You never know when you're really going to need it."

So much for that I suppose. What good does it do me when it's being dangled in front of me? Why don't I remember it being this difficult before? I guess the addiction grows the older and more powerful you become.

The elf cackled as she pushed the philter ever closer to Ellaina's hand. The little wretch knew exactly how far Ellaina's chains would reach. Ellaina knew it was futile to reach for the bottle but she did it anyway. Just to watch it be yanked just out of her reach. She needed it desperately. If she could have just a vial of it, it might give her enough strength to break out of this place. The elf cackled again. Ellaina looked at her face and was surprised to see there was sadness in her eyes. Somewhere, deep down, this elf felt sympathy for her. If only Ellaina had full control of her mind. However, much to Ellaina's despair, she hadn't had control of her mind for quite some time. The Nightmare made sure of that.

"Be good little Templar. Or should I call you Inquisitor? Either way, you're just a maggot that I can't wait to see the Elder One squash." The elf dropped the tray in front of Ellaina and turned to leave.

"Breadcrumbs and spoiled wine again?" Ellaina chuckled. She was determined to keep some part of herself no matter what. "Can't your Elder One do better than that? I've been eating this shit for weeks."

The elf turned around and glowered at her. "What was that you said? Do not belittle the Elder One! He will be a God, now that he has you out of the way!"

"Has me out of the way? Last time I checked I'm still here." Ellaina retorted.

This enraged the elf. She shoved the key to Ellaina's cell into the lock and swung the door open. The elf was strong for how little she was, and Ellaina was weak from weeks of torture and lyrium withdrawal. She grabbed Ellaina by the hair and beat her head against the bars of the cell. Ellaina's vision spun and blurred. Everything was distorted and she could feel the blood running down her face, but she was still conscious. She saw the yellow-orange light out of the corner of here eye before she felt the searing hot pain in her chest. A mage? Why would they assign a mage to be my guard? Realizing their foolishness Ellaina called upon the hunger in her heart, the hunger for power put there by the lyrium in her blood. She used this to unleash a spell shatter that wracked every fiber in her, skin, bones, and mind. After the mage was stunned off her Ellaina spun her chains around and managed to land a square hit on the mage's temple, knocking her out cold. Ellaina collapsed choking on the blood rising to her nose and mouth. She sputtered and coughed for a moment and then continued to call on the last bit of strength she had to pull herself up and search for the keys on the mage. She found them and pulled them out from the mage's robes along with a note that fell to the floor. Ellaina could barely focus on the words, but she was able to read the missive.

Cold stone walls, chains, agony everywhere, cracked ribs, hungry. A hunger only lyrium can sate. Can't feel the hunger, mind gone, love replaced with hatred and fear. Is he real? Is this all a dream? Can't feel, can't breathe, can't think. Must hold on. Cullen, Andraste, Maker, preserve me.

Cole. He could sense me here? Then they must know where I am! Oh Maker please let them come for me. Ellaina fumbled with the keys to her bonds but

somehow finally managed to unlock the shackles around her wrists. She searched for the bottle of lyrium, mind and vision still reeling, body aching. Could she stand? She wasn't sure. Then she saw it, the blue liquid glowing next to the mage. Dammit. The philter had broken. Her only hope for strength was crystalizing on the stones. It called to her, but she couldn't answer. She crumpled to the floor, knowing that without the lyrium she had no chance at fighting her way out. Her only hope now was a rescue. Cullen, please, I need you. Maker guide him here to me. She prayed silently before slipping into unconsciousness, where her endless torture continued.