Here's another chapter for you guys! I didn't realize it at the beginning, but this turned loooooooooong, so sit back and enjoy this one. Also, my writing may be on the backburner for a little while, maybe for a couple of weeks, as school is kicking my ass a little bit (2 exams and 3 papers due in one week. I may explode harder than the Conclave did). Anyways, here it is!
Chapter 6: Long Lost Loves Reunited
"Leliana, do stop pacing. You're making me quite sick." Josephine looked at her nails, then turned her gaze back to the redheaded spymaster. Leliana looked at Josephine with a steely gaze, and resumed her pacing. Mari put a hand on the Antivan's shoulder.
"Josie, why don't you go to bed? Leliana and I will wait to see how Lyna is."
"Perhaps that is best, Inquisitor." Josephine straightened her skirts, walked over to Leliana, and gave her a hug. "She will be alright, Leliana. Lyna is a fighter. We both know this." Leliana nodded in response, and Josephine walked down the hallway and out of their sight.
A half-hour passed before a healer emerged from the room. "She is weak, but she will survive. Her wounds were not serious, and those that were were kept in good condition. She would see the both of you now."
Leliana walked into the room, and right up to Lyna, who was sitting up, reading a book. Mari looked back at Alistair and Elissa, who were sitting by the war room door, and shut the infirmary door behind her and stood at a distance.
"L-"Leliana hugged her fiercely before the elf could get a word out.
"Lyna Mahariel! You had me worried sick, absolutely sick! Not a letter for months, and then you just show up right outside our war room door, looking like you've battled death itself! What-where-when-"
Lyna laughed, and kissed Leliana, who proceeded to practically sink onto the bed. "Leli, my dearest love, calm down! It 'ent my fault that a barrier of guards has been put up 'round the place that I had to fight through." Lyna's voice was sweet like silver bells, though Mari could still hear the wisdom in her voice, and was laced with a Starkhaven-like accent. She looked at Mari with her large green eyes, and dipped her head in respect.
"Inquisitor. I've heard much about you from Leli, and I've a great deal to tell you. I apologize for interrupting your war meeting."
"No harm done." replied Mari with a smile, and walked over to the bed. "I've heard much about you as well, from Leliana."
"Oh, has my Leli been telling tales of me again?" chuckled Lyna. "Aye, my lass is a storyteller alright. Wouldn't be surprised if she's been telling all the tales of our great adventures, especially the, erm, saucer escapades we've had."
"Lyna!" Leliana's blushed matched the colour of her hair. Lyna laughed again, and even Mari had to laugh with her. Then Lyna's face took a more serious tone.
"Now, I should probably tell you the whole reason I've come here at all. I know about the disappearing mages."
"You do?" Mari couldn't hide the surprise in her voice. "I thought the whole of Thedas except for us, Bethany and Jonathan didn't know about mages anymore."
"My travels took me far from any mapped location, where I can assure magic still runs rampant through the streets. But when I came back here seven months ago, there was no mention of a Circle or mages at all. So that's when I knew. Dead space."
"Pardon? What's deed space? And Bethany told me that all of this had only started last week."
"Not deed. D-E-A-D. You'll have to excuse the accent, it's gotten stronger than I returned." grinned Lyna. "Anyways, when I came back seven months ago, I came into Tevinter, where it was quite apparent that there were no mages of any kind to be found. I expect that whoever is causing all of this dead space began in Tevinter and is spreading them through Orlais, Ferelden, and the like."
"Just what is dead space, exactly?" asked Leliana, who had curled herself onto the bed and was resting her head on Lyna's shoulder.
"Dead space is…well, it's a bit like those rifts that opened with the Breach. But these don't go into the Fade. They go...nowhere. And I should know, 'cause I fell into one. That's mostly why you didn't hear from me for all those months, Leli."
"I'd appreciate it if you told me the whole account, Lyna." said Mari, who had pulled out a bit of paper and charcoal from her pocket to record everything.
"Right. Well, the whole reason of my being gone at all was because I went on a mission for Lys-Elissa, to find a cure for the Calling. Which I did." This elicited a gasp from both Mari and Leliana. "Aye, but that's not quite the point. Anyways, I came back from the distant lands that had the Cure, and I stepped onto the docks in a little village in Tevinter. I had been a bit roughed up on my journey, and wanted to see a healer. So I asked a man on the street where I could find a mage that knew healing magic. He gave me a look like I had three heads, and told me to walk off my ale. So I punched him up and left him, wondering what in the name of the Creators was going on. I walked out of the village, and I was on the road when I saw this glowing blue light. I walked towards it, and…well, I suppose the best way to describe it would be a portal opening. It sucked me in, and there I was, in this glowing white place, all filled with mages. I looked behind me, but the entrance had closed.
The minute I moved, the mages jumped me. They had been standing all complacent when I came ion, but they were doing nothing but shooting fireballs and ice spikes now. I ran from them, but all there was was whiteness. My head burned, and I could feel the magic in my veins increasing on power. So I wandered for Creators' know how long, it could have been minutes or months for all I know. Suddenly, I bumped into a building that I hadn't seen five seconds ago; it appeared out of nowhere. I picked the lock and went in, and let me tell you, Inquisitor, I've seen a lot of shite in my travels, and this was certainly the weirdest. It was like a giant office, but there were the huge mirrors everywhere, and the whole room was covered in scrolls, books, and papers. There was an…aura about the place; it screamed magic, more than outside. I read everything in that room, Inquisitor. It wall all about the place I were in, little bits of nowhere called dead space. It's not quite in the Fade, but it's not in Thedas either. It's a sort of in between space, like the Crossroads. It wasn't natural, either. Someone made it."
"Do you know who?"
"There was never a name mentioned, but I found his or her war plans. Dead spaces were created to trap mages, and essentially break the lyrium from their blood 'till they exploded or lost their magical power, whichever came first. But your name was mentioned several times, Inquisitor. Very in depth details, about your mark, your daily activities, even your, erm, private life with your Commander. Whoever is behind this is right pissed at you to stalk you like that."
"There was information…on me?" Mari felt cold all over. To think that someone had spied on her so intimately when she and Cullen were...sleeping together. And she hadn't known at all! "How did you get out?"
"I found out how they were created, and used that power to open a portal. I assume that that office was a safe haven from whatever magic was being used, as I could open it as I would operate any other small magic I use. But the minute I walked out of that office again, those damned mages swarmed me, but they were stronger this time. I almost didn't make it out alive. I ended up in the Ferelden countryside, or that was as much as I could gather. I was delirious, I'm sure because I only remember bits and pieces of my journey here. I somehow made it up here to Skyhold, but I was so tired that I passed out right at your door. And here I am."
"That's…that's incredible." Leliana stroked the hair from Lyna's face. "I can scarcely believe any of this, my love."
"Believe me Leli, I wish all of this didn't exist either."
"What mage has this much power to literally be able to create a new world on top of ours?" asked Mari.
"Just like I said Inquisitor, I have no idea who is behind all of this. But there is one other thing I would like to say: I request to come with you on your journey."
"What?!" Leliana yelled just as Mari asked the same thing, and Leliana got off of the bed to look the elf full in the face. "I-no! Please Lyna, you cannot leave me again! I just got you back…" Tears were running down the spymaster's face, and she embraced Lyna so tightly that the elf started coughing.
"I know, my beautiful bard. But I must go; I know more about what they're dealing with out there. I promise, I will come back to you. I swear by the Maker and Andraste that I will come home to you, you hear?"
"I-alright."
"Now, promise me you'll look out for Elissa while I'm gone. You know how she can be when she's bored and stuck somewhere." Leliana nodded, kissed Lyna, dipped her head to Mari, and walked out the door. Lyna smiled as she walked the Orlesian walk out the door. "That's my Leli, always looking out for me, even though I know that I'll be fine."
"I know the feeling. Cullen worries constantly about me when I'm gone, or at least that's what Josephine tells me. He paces his office, and his reports are always late."
"Aye, Leli can be all scattered like that too." replied Lyna with a laugh. "When we were together in Orlais for a short time at the Court, I would often go out on diplomatic businesses, and Leli would be a wreck worrying about me, so much so that she would get forgetful and drop tea kettles and things of that nature. Of course I would do things like that too, when she left on personal missions or went off on quests for the Divine. Love's a double-edged sword, Inquisitor. We cut our feet to the bone for the ones we love." Lyna's face grew grave. "I meant it when I said I wished to join you. I hope I wasn't to forward."
"Of course not, Lyna. I would love it if you came with us; your experience could prove most useful."
"Good. Than I have a favour I must ask, if you'll hear me."
"Of course, anything."
"I want you to look out for Alistair on our journey."
"Oh? Why?"
"For Elissa's sake, and for that matter, for their children. Elissa is one of my dearest friends, and she saved my life, on more than one occasion. I asked Leli to look out for her, and now I respectfully ask that you do same for her love. Elissa is a strong woman, but I have a distinct Alistair has been her lifeline during her pregnancy, and let's face it, no child should grow up without a parent."
"I agree." said Mari. She had a sudden flashback to her own childhood; her father was constantly away at war, and all her mother did was try and find Mari a husband, and even before that she was treated like a doll by her whole family. "I will protect him to the best of my abilities."
"Thank you. Now, I need to speak with Alistair and Lyssa, so if you could get them…"
"Of course." Mari went out of the room, and found Alistair and Elissa slumped over, just barely falling asleep. "Um, Alistair? Elissa?"
"What! I-oh, Inquisitor. I apologize for falling asleep in your entirely too comfortable hallway." said Alistair with a yawn. Elissa nodded in agreement, and rubbed her eyes.
"It's quite alright. Lyna just asked to see you, is all."
"Oh, thank you." Alistair helped his wife off of the floor, and proceeded inside the infirmary. Mari smiled at them, and walked up the stairs of her tower into her quarters. Maker help us, we leave tomorrow, and with the awkwardness between Cullen and I, this could be a long trip.
"Oh thank the Maker you're alright, Lyna!" Elissa flung her arms around Lyna's neck, while being careful not to press her belly too tightly.
"Aye, I've missed you well enough Lyssa." Lyna reciprocated the hug, and looked questioningly at Elissa's stomach. "What's this about? Are you…can it be?"
"Yes." replied Alistair, who came over and captured the elf in an even harder embrace than Elissa did. "And two of them to boot."
"Hm." Lyna looked at Elissa with a serious gaze. "Well, this complicates things a bit."
"Why?"
"Because, like I said, I found it. The cure for the Calling." Alistair and Elissa both gave a simultaneous gasp.
"Tr-truly, Lyna? A cure?"
"Not just a cure, Lyssa, the cure. It almost cost me my life, but here it is." Lyna reached into her pocket and brought out a container, filled with a dark liquid. "I'm not going to tell you how I got it, because it's a long sodding story, plus I'm tired, and my wounds are aching. But nevertheless, here it is."
"So…how does it work, exactly?" asked Alistair.
"You drink it, at least as far as my research tells me. But only you, Alistair. I don't know what it will do to our dear Lyssa with her…condition."
"What will it do to me?" asked Alistair, gripping Elissa's hand tightly.
"It'll hurt like hell, but it's essentially a cleaning fluid, wiping out all the Taint from your veins. There is a small chance of certain death, but-"
"Certain death?" Elissa felt herself turn very pale at those words, and felt her stomach lurch.
"Look, clearing you're blood of poison is no easy task, and according to my research, very few people died when testing this. Besides, isn't everything the two of you do have an element of certain death?"
"I-good point." Alistair took the container from Lyna, and opened the lid. Quite suddenly, he grabbed Elissa's face and kissed her with fierce passion. "I love you, Elissa."
"I love you too." Elissa began to cry as Alistair drank some of the potion. He suddenly began to cough, and fell on the floor, fighting for breath. "No!" Elissa screamed, and ran towards him. A hand grabbed her own before she could reach him.
"No, it's okay. It's working." Lyna looked at Alistair with a smile. Alistair was still coughing by not nearly so bad now, and had managed to stand up. He suddenly and violently threw up into a can near Lyna's bed.
"Well. That was unpleasant."
"You absolute ass!" Elissa ran to him and hugged him. "You had me making internal prayers to the Maker for your life!"
"Not to worry, my love. I'm much better. I…feel again. It's gone, really and truly."
"Well, now that you two have made up, I would like to sleep before we leave tomorrow morning." Underneath the sarcasm in Lyna's voice there was a gentle compassion. Elissa nodded, and tugged on Alistair's shirt sleeve.
"Come on, love. Let's go to bed." They walked out of the infirmary, and as they wandered down the hall, Alistair whispered into Elissa's ear,
"You know, I don't have that Grey Warden stamina anymore. However shall I continue to please my lovely lady in our lovemaking?"
"Oh, I don't know." replied Elissa, a warmth spreading throughput her body. She opened the door, and beckoned Alistair inside with a finger. "I suppose we shall have to experiment and find out."
There we go! This took me quite a while to get going, and it was going to be well over 5000 words if I had kept this going to when they actually left(which was the original plan). I forgot how long expositional speech can get when my muse takes over :/ Anyways, if you liked, don't forget to favourite/review/kudos!