Everything hurt and nothing hurt.
What an odd feeling.
Somehow... familiar?
She looked around, yet nothing seemed out of place. What was it that felt so... off? So strange? Her brain felt veiled im a thick fog. She noted that she was barefoot. Her hair was braided and pinned. Her clothes were so soft and so... traditional. Dalish, the Inquisitor realised with a start.
She wiggled dirty toes, a grin creeping on her face. It felt so nice to have her toes in the dirt.
"Lavellan." A warm voice made her head snap up, green eyes searching the area before resting on a familiar face.
"Cullen!" She said, relieved. He swept her into a fierce hug, to her surprise, but she sank against him.
"Do not-" The second voice was sharper. "Fall for that, Inquisitor. That is a demon." Lavellan turned her head to see Solas walking up, silent as ever.
"What do you mean, a demon? Because he's human?" She was taken aback.
"He just wants to tear us apart. He's jealous." Cullen said, narrowing his eyes.
"Jealous? But..." That seemed very unlike Cullen. Panic squeezed at her heart very suddenly.
"Lavellan, you know far better than this. This is a demon. I have been searching the Fade for you for days, now." He frowned, studying the scene before him. 'Cullen' was growing irritated, eyes flashing a strange pale red before morphing into their normal molten gold.
"Lavellan, my love, you must know that isn't true." Cullen sounded more desperate, the icy claws in her heart grabbing tighter.
Lavellan shook her head vigorously. A demon? No- he couldn't be. Could Solas truly be lying due to jealousy? Solas, of all people... That seemed more unlikely.
"Is this not real at all, Solas?" She asked, her voice nowhere near as steady as she hoped. The panic was creeping in at the edges, leaving her voice frayed.
He took a few steps forward, steely eyes trained on Cullen warily. "You are in the Fade." Solas repeatedly sternly. "Blood magic put you to sleep and we have been unable to wake you. You must let go of this demon."
"Solas, I-"
"Now, Inquisitor!" Solas roared in warning.
A strangled snarl ripped from Cullen's throat before Lavellan could react. His hands snaked around her waist, pulling her tightly against him, fingers digging into her skin. The elvhen woman cried out in shock. She could feel his skin warping and bubbling around her, his frame seeming to shrink. Cullen began to laugh, Cullen's laugh, but the pitch grew higher gradually. A woman's laugh. No. A demon's laugh.
Lavellan began to struggle ferociously. A Desire Demon. Fenhedis, she cursed internally. A bolt of electricity snapped past her head, slamming into the demon and throwing Lavellan to freedom. She landed on the ground, catching herself with her arms braced outwards. The Inquisitor had no staff here, but made do with her hands, joining Solas in the fight against the demon that was gripping her so hard for so...long, apparently.
Solas stunned the demon, sending it stumbling backwards. Lavellan followed the other elf, breathing freezing air from her hands, slamming into the demon with force.
It laughed again, the sound closer to hysterics.
"I almost had you!" The desire demon declared. "So desperate for love, you'll turn to a human!" She taunted. Lavellan's lips curled into a sneer.
"That is not-" Lavellan started, Solas cutting her off.
"Do not bother to explain yourself. It will just twist it." He said, staff slamming into the ground as a great Stone Fist smashed into the demon from the earth, eliciting a loud screech. He looked at the Inquisitor. "Anchor- now!"
She held her hand in front of her, green light bursting forth with a crackling noise. A small Fade Rift pulled at the desire demon from Lavellan's hand, drawing the demon closer. It fought against her, and Solas threw flames in the demon's direction. It collapsed to the ground, an unnerving screech erupting from its' body as it dissolved into a green puff, being devoured by the anchor.
Solas immediately relaxed, turning his gaze to the Inquisitor.
"Wake up." He said, voice harsh and commanding.
Lavellan sat bolt upright in her bed, breathing heavily, skin clammy.
"You're awake." The warm voice made her jump, and she turned to face Cullen.
"Are you... real?" She asked, color draining from her face. The Dalish woman understood the Fade, but abominations and demons were taught a bit... differently to the Dalish. She had never had an experience like that.
"What? Of course." The blonde man seemed a bit miffed, looking at Lavellan curiously.