Pushing.
The Red Templars had been pushing hard.
It was suppose to just be a small scouting mission, just right around the newly set camp of the Emerald Graves. Just a quick one which was why Loki had grabbed Varric, Blackwall and Sera to help him scout out the area and then return back to the camp with the others, knowing better then to leave his companions alone for to long.
Maker knew they would argue if he wasn't there to break them apart.
But they had come upon a camp of Red Templars and had been spotted, leaving Loki and his four man group no other choice then to fight. Blackwall had of course blown and inwardly the Inquisitor prayed that the camp had heard it even as he summoned his magic to him, the knight enchanters blade shimmering into view as he burst into action, slashing away at the foot soldier closest to him while barriers glimmered blue across his body.
But there were just so many of them, all pushing, all fighting and there was just four of Loki's group there.
And that was why he was distracted, trying to keep everyone alive even as they were pushed and prodded, defending himself and his friends. Loki didn't notice the edge of the cliff, his eyes on Varric, drawing a barrier up around the dwarf as the red Templar general pushed Loki backwards, a evil grin crossing what had once been a human face as Loki faltered back with a shocked cry, the Vashoth unable to catch himself as he fell back and down, his last view of his shocked friends faces before he hit every rock and outcrop on the way down.
The barrier flickered out and dissipated halfway down and then everything was pain. Loki felt bones break and half closed injuries reopen, new ones joining them before he finally came to a still at the bottom of the cliff, Adaar barely conscious as he did.
He was just one pulsing knot of pain, green eyes blinking as he tried to move but every move was agony to his body and all the noises were so far away from him. The mage was sure his ribs had taken a beating, perhaps even broken, as had his nose from the feeling coming from his scarred face.
The Inquisitor, leader of a powerful force that could challenge almost any nation with the army it had gathered, whimpered in pain and nausea, forcing himself to remain awake.
'They'll come find me...they have to...shit, Maker's tits...everything...everything hurts.' Loki hissed as he tried to move a arm and found it throbbing.
'They have to find me...'
He thought, mind fading in and out, only the dimming light telling him just how much time was passing along with the cold in his body. Soon both the pain and the cold were fighting against him. 'Bull has to come...he wouldn't...wouldn't leave me out here...' Perhaps he was getting a bit desperate, but Loki knew that Bull would not be the one to stop looking for him first. He knew the mercenary leader would fight tooth and nail and continue looking until he was exhausted.
But how long would it take for someone to find him.
Loki's mind faded out once again only to be brought back to the world of the living at a shout.
"Here! I found him! I found the Inquisitor!"
Loki almost sobbed. He didn't recognize the voice but someone had found him. Someone had found him where he had landed. He shuffled a bit to turn his head and his relief turned to horror as all he saw was Red.
[][][][][][]
"What do you mean he's not here!" Cassandra shouted, her dark brown eyes narrowed with emotions. "He fell down here, we know he did!" She gestured to where Bull was standing, a piece of ripped leather clenched between his massive fingers. Part of the Inquisitors coat.
"He is not here anymore my lady. He might have moved." A nervous scout offered.
"Then find his tracks! He is injured and there are still Red Templa-"
"Hurts so bad." Cole suddenly said, his fingers brushing a rock with darkened red spots on it. "Aching, tearing, must have broken something, every move spikes of agony through my body. So cold, how long. Why has no one found me yet? Bull will find me. He has to find me. Bull has to come. Bull always comes. My Kadan always comes."
Bull's hand threatened to tear the leather apart between his fingers.
"Shout, Maker's breath, I've been found, I'm going home. Agony in lifting my head but needing to see. Fear curls through, Red. They are Red."
A ominous silence settled on them all.
The Red templars had come before them. They had been to late.
"...Vishante Kaffas." Dorian swore, summing up what they were all thinking.
[][][][][][]
Being dragged away from where he had fallen had hurt, not that Loki had given his captors the pleasure of hearing him whimper. He knew the bastards would get of on that. They were already crowing at being the ones to capture the Inquisitor, the Herald of Andraste.
Talking so eagerly about delivering him to Samson and then to Corypheus himself.
Loki glared at them from where he was sitting, arms cruelly tied behind his back, not that he would have been able to defend himself even if they were free, his right arm was broken from the fall and they had also dosed him with magebane to cut him from the fade so there was also that. 'Perhaps they lost the ability to cut mages from the fade while using red lyrium.' He thought sullenly, scrowling around the gag in his mouth. 'Templar bastards...shit everything still hurts.' He shifted, biting down on the gag hard as the already broken bones in his body jarred even more.
He looked up and noticed one of the Generals were staring at him. Or rather at Loki's horns.
Loki's hands curled into the rope that was biting into his tanned skin, his body tensing slowly. 'What is he doing...what is he THINKING...' It had always been hard to understand someone wearing a fucking helmet but one of these Red bastards were impossible to read.
And then the Templar stood, grinning in a way that shot cold ice into Adaar's stomach.
"Boys, as you all know, I was in Kirkwall when the oxmen were there." He shouted, never removing his eyes of their captive even as shouts of recognition came from all over the camp. "As such, I saw what they did to their mages."
Loki's forhead furrowed and then his eyes widened. Fight came back to tired and aching limbs as he struggled with the ropes on his arms.
No. No they couldn't!
Loki would not allow this.
"Oh look at him fight! It seems the Inquisitor himself knows too! I say we bring this oxman down a few pegs for Samson and our master Corypheus!"
Loki snarled through the gag at the Red templar, pain, fatigue and broken bones as good as forgotten in the rush of adrenalin that went through his body. But he was getting nowhere as the general closed in the distance between them, his grin growing at the jeering cheers of his men as he did.
"Beside, a weak man is a better present. Easier for our master to dispose of after all." One massive hand came down and grabbed a decorated horn, dragging Loki onto his knees even as the Vashoth tried to pull back.
"I never did ask, is it like with cattle, will taking your horns hurt?" He sneered even as he pulled his weapon. "I guess we'll find out once I cut these things of you, they'd make a wonderful trophy, perhaps in Minrathous, I imagine the Tevinters would pay well for them."
Loki bit harder down on the gag, glaring up at the man with his green eyes even as a tremble of fear went through him. Some of his fellow mercenary group had gotten their horns removed. They had been drunk of their asses though for it and there had been elfroot potion on hand for after. The blood flow had been cauterized so no infection would set in and then a salve applied.
But out here?
With Red Templars doing the deed?
It was going to hurt like a motherhumper, Loki just knew it.
And he was not disappointed. Pain unlike anything he had ever felt was aching through his head and down his spine, spreading through every limb as he thrashed and screamed into the gag as the Templar sawed through his horn with a sword, going right under where the metal decoration started, skipping going through the metal and thereby going close to the nerves.
Easier to cut through the horn then the metal perhaps. Or perhaps the Templar knew it would hurt more if he went that way. He had talked of cattle, so he must know something, perhaps once a farm boy before he became a templar.
It felt like forever, white hot agony spreading through his entire body when he finally dropped to the grassy floor, panting into the gag and shaking, sweat coiling down his body. Loki could taste blood in his mouth and vaguely hear laughter.
"So even the mighty Inquisitor can scream!" More laughter but Loki ignored it as he felt warmth trickle down the side of his head. Had he screamed, Loki wasn't sure but he must have if they said so. To many black spots were dancing in his eyes and he felt like he was about to throw up any second.
"Now for the other one!"
Loki groaned weakly as he was pulled up by his remaining horn, pained tears gathering in his eyes. It hurt so bad, everything hurt. 'Bull...'
He wanted to be back in Skyhold. In his room, Bull's arms wrapped tight around his waist, hearing the others heartbeat through layers of muscles and skin, fingers playing with the dragon tooth necklace. He wanted to be sitting on the roof with Sera, both trying to throw cookies and hit the well. He wanted to sitting with Solas, discussing spirits and the fade with Dorian joining in with a comment now and then. Sparring with Cassandra and Blackwall in the courtyard. Having tea with his advisors after a long session at the war table. Trading stories with Varric while Vivienne watched from her lofty spot above the throne, a small smile on her face when Loki came to see her after.
Adaar let out a sharp cry as he felt pressure put on his already hurting left leg. "Ah, you're still with us then Inquisitor. Good, we wouldn't want this over for you to quick." The man sneered to laughter from his men as he started sawing away at the horn.
'Bastards, wanting me awake for it all.' He thought sullenly before his mind was swept away with the pain, jerking and crying out into the gag as the sword hit nerves. It hurt like the blasted void had decided to drag him in. Behind him the Anchor flared with his emotions but unable to draw on the Fade, it only flickered with light, a harmless light show even though it startled several Red Templars.
"Easy boys! Its just light! He has no magic to use it now, remember!" The General jeered as he finished cutting through the horn, a smirk curling his lips cruelly as the Inquisitor dropped like a bag of potatoes to the ground again, shuddering and panting. "Give him another dose of magebane!" He held the horns in his hands, smirking even more before throwing them to one of his men. "And bag these! Samson might want to keep them!" They crowed even as a soldier hurried over and forced Loki's mouth open after tearing the gag off, pouring another vial of magebane into him.
'Its over...at least its over.' Loki thought shakily, his face moist with sweat and tears, his mouth wide so he could breath.
"Oi, anyone have a sewing needle and thread!?"
'No...' Loki shuddered and fought to get up but with the amount of magebane in him and state he was currently in, all he could do was twitch and squirm a bit as the general ordered two rather hulking soldiers to hold him still, needle and fishing thread in the sadistic man's hand.
He grabbed the mages chin and held it tightly, getting close and personal. Loki could smell the others breath, a rank smell that witnessed about decay. "You can scream with your mouth closed still Inquisitor." Loki growled and tried to bite him, that only got laughs out of them before the General set to work.
The needle STABBED through his lips, sharp and painful just like they meant to make it. The pull of the thread through his lips as the once human worked ached more then Loki wanted to admit.
'Maker, just let me pass out already.' He thought desperately, feeling the heavy stitching the other was preforming on him. It felt like eons before the templar was done, Loki's lips sewed shut firmly, his head dropped to rest on his chest when his chin was let go, a shudder going through his body.
And then he was dragged back by a harsh hand in his hair, white hair stained red with his own blood, the templar smirking at him. "We don't have any of those delightful masks they gave the mages but a blindfold will have to do." He taunted, his harsh grip in Loki's hair remaining until a cloth came around the mages head, blocking out all the lights to leave him with only the sounds of the enemies taunts and jeers and the pain in his body.
He could only imagen his companions reaction when they found him, beaten, broken, dehorned and dosed up on magebane.
Hot air washed over his ear and Loki shuddered, wishing he could escape the painful grip on his hair. "Its going to be a long trip Herald, I am sure you'll be there if we need some entertainment."
The implication sent shudders through Loki's body as he was dropped to the ground for the last time that night, sweat cooling on his body as he stared into the blackness of the blindfold. Blessed darkness enveloped him, the setting of unconsciousness finally claiming him.
[][][][][][][][]
Bull hand clenched around the dragon tooth, his good eye scoping out the Red Templar camp. He wanted to just barge into it, he wanted to find his Kadan and get him out of there. He wanted to tear everyone in it apart.
But Solas had talked him out of that, letting everyone settle up around the camp as they should. Bull's thoughts on it all was compromised, everyone knew that. He couldn't help it, not with Loki somewhere there, void knew what those bastards had done to him!
He gritted his teeth and looked at Sera beside him, her quick eyes also flickering over the camp, arrow resting on the bow. She was as ready as him to get down there, just waiting on the signal.
The plan was easy. Scouts setting up traps all around the camp except for a narrow mouth where they could go through once the traps were activated, the attack group distracting the Templars and in the meantime Cole would do his thing, find Loki and get him away, get him to safety.
Bull hand slowly slipped to the hilt of the ax his Kadan had given him. Bull had laughed as he accepted the weapon. 'Its almost as pretty as you.' He remembered teasing, delighting in the blush covering the others face as he waved Bull of.
Blackwalls horn blew and Bull tore out of their spot like a man possessed, the glyph of the traps lighting up behind them as they went, a arrow fizzing over his shoulder into a Templar throat from Sera.
He saw Cole for a few moments almost in the middle of the camp before the kid disappeared again, on his way to where ever they were keeping Loki.
Perhaps it was the raw anger at the audacity of the Templars, perhaps it was the ambush itself or perhaps it was just them being better now that their numbers matched but the battle lasted no longer then a few minutes, blood coating the battle ground as the Templars fell to traps, to arrows, to magic and blades.
Bull's good eye saw Dorian raise their enemies to fight those who had once been friends, the Vints face set in a mask of anger even as Cassandra charged between the corpses right at a large General, her shield and sword ready.
Vivienne's fire and spirit blade, unmistakeable on the field now that Loki was not among the fighters, her spite aside as she fought side by side with Blackwall. Iron Bull knew that if Loki was seeing this, he would have been so proud.
And then silence, the eerie silence of a battle field with the dead on the ground.
Any other time, Bull would have taken a few moments to look around but not this time.
Cole.
Cole would have found Loki. So Iron Bull needed to find Cole and thereby the Inquisitor.
He vaugely heard Cassandra telling the Harding to burn the bodies as he made his way through the groups, seeing the lights of the traps go out, his grip slick on his ax from blood yet none of that mattered at the moment.
But when he found what he was looking for, the ax clattered from his grip, his steps halting from the shock. He hadn't expected to find Loki healthy, he hadn't expected to find him whole, not after falling down a cliff and being a day and a half in the grip of the Templars. But he had not expected to find this.
Cole had propped the Inquisitor against a massive tree, the spirits hands twisting together in uncertainty as he looked back to Bull for guidance.
Loki was shirtless, bruises and cuts on his body from the fall on full display, scars from fights through his life that usually only Bull saw, his arms were tied back and he must be numb in them with the way they were cutting into the olive tanned skin, blood and dirt coated him, his lips sewed shut, blindfold around his head and his horns...bleeding stumps.
With horns it was either all or nothing depending on where they were cut and how the nerves were inside them.
Bull moved over and knelt down, reaching out with a shaking hand to brush the others neck, feeling the pulse before pulling a knife, reaching behind the other to cut lose restrained hands, ignoring the gasp behind him as the others had joined.
Loki made a pained little noise that escaped through sewed lips, shuddering from pain and Bull swallowed. "Easy Kadan...we're here." He murmured quietly, reaching up to push the blindfold of the man, green, red rimmed eyes looking at him in confusion before broken relief entered the gaze as it as Loki stared at Bull, a sob stuck in his throat.
"I know, easy, we're getting you out of this." Bull promised, cupping Loki's cheek with his mangled hand, stroking the skin with his thumb before carefully cutting at the thread in the others lips.
Bull had never thought to hard about saarebas. Didn't want to.
But seeing Loki like this, hearing the little gasps of pain as he was cut free from it...it made Iron Bull ache.
"Knew you'd come." The whispered words from freed lips almost broke the mighty leader of the Chargers as he cupped the back of the others head, pulling Loki's forehead to his shoulder.
"Always Kadan."