Echoes of pain rang in her ears. The screaming shook her back into a painful reality. The demon was very much alive and there wasn't many of the humans left. Slowly she rolled onto her side, gasping just slightly as a sharp pain ran through her side. Gingerly, she ran a hand down her side where the pain originated. Blood. Her breathing increased when she saw more begin to pour out. She had no choice. The demon would sense her eventually. With a muffled grunt she shoved her hand upon her wound, admitting a small blue light. It covered her entire hand as the magic began to pour into the wound. Slowly, the skin began to knit itself back together. She was thankful Solas taught her this trick, otherwise the pain would be that much worse. There was no way she could replenish her blood without using something called 'blood magic'. Solas told her under no circumstances should she ever dabble into that area until she had a complete grip on everything.
Another gasp escaped her as she moved carefully, ensuring her steps were light like a cat. Leliana's lessens stuck with her. Looking over a boulder she was able to see the entire lake. The Pride demon was targeting Cullen and his men. Without hesitation, Eva forced her hand towards the sky, striking the torn veil. The demon's scream was horrifying. The Pride demon swung around, looking her dead in the eye. It snarled with rage as it made its way to her.
"GO! EVERYONE GO! I CAN ONLY KEEP IT AWAY FOR SO LONG!" The men didn't hesitate, but Cullen remained. He drew his sword and lifted his shield. A loud yell sounded from him as he began to charge. Other shouts were heard. She couldn't afford to look. Her eyes closed as tears slowly descended her cheeks. She couldn't make out if the screams were good or bad, but it didn't matter.
"You're safe." Solas spoke behind her as he instantly grabbed her hand. He mumbled something in elven, something she had never heard before. Not even in her own clan. She gasped as she felt her hand burn with power. The rift was fading, and with it, so was the demon. "Now Commander!" Solas shouted. Eva barely made out Cullen as he ran towards the demon. Leliana's arrows guided his steps in defense as his sword pierced the demon.
Her eyes went wide and breath hitched. Cullen was flung from the demon and smashed amongst the rocks. "Focus!" Solas said sternly. She immediately turned her attention to the rift. She felt the familiar pressure as the rift grew smaller. The Pride demon had taken a hit as it was being pulled back into the fade.
"Almost there, Eva!" Solas shouted over the wind.
Everything stopped for a moment as the demon was sucked back into the fade, and much like her wound, she mended the sky. Her sigh echoed into howling wind. The rift was close. The demon was gone. She was able to see some soldiers tending to Cullen. He was alive, but by the look of it he was severely injured.
She gasped as pain ran through her. "Eva!" Solas was by her side instantly as her head swan. Looking down, her magic didn't heal completely. She lifted her hand to see it stained with blood. Her blood. The earth was moving slower now as she gazed back to the frozen lake. She saw bodies of the men and women who acted with no questions. How many others died?
She took one last glance at her hand before the darkness consumed her.
"Do you need assistance? A poultice? Anything?"
"I need time," his answer was clipped as he placed Eva gingerly onto her bed. "I need you to leave so I can tend to her wounds. I am sure the Commander needs more help than Eva."
"Sir, I was instructed to-," Solas immediately snapped his head up, His eyes were a storm of fury.
"Your final chance. Leave!" And with that the solider took off immediately. He was certain he would report to either the Spy Master or The Seeker. However, that wasn't what he needed to focus on now. Gingerly he rolled Eva onto her side. "I was right. She tried to mend it," he sternly said. His eyebrows knitted together as he examined her wound. It looks as if she hit the rock just right. It wasn't deep, but the wound looks as if she landed on a sharp object. He immediately went to work. Both hands were gingerly placed on the wound and his hands began to glow that familiar blue.
He was stronger, older, wiser. The mages today wouldn't have been able to tend to this and keep her alive. The skin began to knit together as his magic was pushed further into her body. "Come on," Solas said in concern. "I know you're there, come on Eva!" This time he sounded fearful. She lost too much blood during the attack. With a deep breath he closed his eyes, allowing himself to slip into the fade. He was always stronger here and it was a place he trusted most. He needed assistance to keep Eva stabilized. "My friend," Solas said tensely. "My friend, please. I need your help."
"I saw from where she stood," a voice followed. Solas felt the presence of the spirit. "She does not have long, Fen'Harel." Solas only tensed more at his name.
"Please help me help her. She is fading and she has the object I require." Solas continued to knit her skin gently and slowly. There could be no mistakes in her condition. "She is the one to lead," he sighed, feeling his mana draining him slowly.
"Curious that such a young elf would be the key to your freedom." The spirit hovered near Solas, stretching out of what looked like an arm. The spirit placed their energy upon Solas's hand. "The magic for this is dangerous. You must keep mending the skin, I will take care of the rest."
That was all Compassion said before looking back to Eva. She was significantly paler and was hemorrhaging. Solas could feel warmth seep into his skin. His hand was glowing brighter and that was all Compassion. The spirit focused on the organs. Touching up anything that was struck and ensuring that it would heal properly. If she made a miraculous recover everyone in the village would be suspicious. Something Fen'Harel did not need.
Solas started to see the skin knit quickly together. The blood had ceased as the tear was closed completely shut. "Thank you," Solas breathed out a small sigh of relief. Compassion smiled at him or smiled the way a spirit could.
"She will change the world. Keep her safe, Fen'Harel." Before he knew it, Compassion had vanished, and in the just in time. The cabin door opened, and he didn't need to look to even see who it was.
"Is she alive?" Cassandra's thick accent cut through the once peaceful silence.
"Yes, but her condition is severe. She will need substantial rest. Which means no traveling, she can't push herself further. She is on bed rest till the rest of her wounds heal." Solas stood from his hunched position to stare the Seeker in her angry eyes. "The Commander?" Solas asked without much thought.
"He will live. He is also in a fragile state. The hit he took was no small feat." Cassandra said, looking over towards Eva. "She lost a lot of blood."
"Yes," Solas said. He couldn't afford to get too much into it. "I was lucky enough to stop the hemorrhaging, otherwise she would have died."
"You are to watch her. When Commander Cullen is in a better position, he will also be taking charge of her as well." Solas snapped his head in Cassandra's direction.
"I was told she would be training with me and I alone."
"After this incident- She needs a templar, just in case. I am sure you understand, Solas?"
The air was thick with anger and disappointment. Having Cullen watch her will make everything harder for their true training to be complete. He is certain Cullen does not know the way of the ancient arts of his people, and there was no record of any kind to prove otherwise. Though that was a small blessing. The shadow elves that had forgotten did not need this information. Neither did the damn templar. Solas released a very small, but frustrated sigh. "I understand his concerns, Seeker. He made it very clear. Do you honestly think she can train in peace, without distractions to further scare her?"
Solas stood upright, dusting his hands off as if he had just finished healing her. Cullen would not hesitate to strike Eva down if she even slipped an inch. As a young mage, that is something that happens a lot. "Cullen will not stand for even one mistake". Solas released another agitated sigh as he ran his hand over the temple of his head.
"Seeker," his voice was not its usual cheery self. The woman did not move as she watched Solas turn to her direction. His eyes were blurry, angry, and damned nearly glowing its stormy blue. "Did you not hear what Eva said to the Commander before she threw herself to the pride demon?" His voice was tense as he watched her eyes open just slightly.
"Nothing good, I imagine, from what he was babbling about when he saw Eva fall."
"The necklace. His lucky charm was thrown back at him. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with him. I have traveled and trained with the child. She would never, ever abandon anyone. Whether she dislikes or likes them." Solas spoke as he looked from Cassandra over to Eva. Color was returning to her cheeks as her breathing was steady, even. If he hadn't known better, it would look like as if she had just fallen asleep. Compassion was a strong healer and he was thankful the spirit was near them when she was attacked.
"Solas-" Cassandra started but instantly stopped when Solas shot his hand up.
"Absolutely not. He is not to be around when she is in training with me. I will accept you, or another templar that will not harm her because of one slip up. She is new to her mana. She is trying hard to contain it. The circles had some purpose at one point, but this is not the answer for Eva."
His eyes darted to the Seeker when she inched her way in just a bit. "I cannot promise that, Solas. I am one of her guardians; but it would be my word against his. The only two who can solve this issue is Leliana and Josie.
"If she does not master her abilities in the short time before we have before leave for Redcliff, she needs to ready. She is also training with Leliana. She needs stealth, to be within the shadows if it comes between her and death. Cassandra sighed as she stepped back from the door frame. Solas was watching her like a hawk.
"You are very loyal to her, very protective." Cassandra said lightly. "She's lucky to have you." Cassandra let a small smile slip before turning to the snow outside.
"Do not forget, Seeker" Solas said before she made her move out. "Eva is from a clan. Not an alienage, not the circle. When too many mages are within the same clan, they cast them away to find their own way." Another sigh. "Her life will forever be changed, and we need her to be in the best health physically and mentally. She has gone through too much since the explosion."
"I understand," Cassandra said as her head dipped down.
"Understand that she is 10 years, who just recently lost her mother, with no clan to return to, and is now in charge of saving us all. That is what you need to understand."
Cassandra paused for a split second. "I never saw it that way… Thank you Solas. I will do my best to convince them." And with that she vanished into the snowy weather. Solas drew his attention back to his patient. Sitting beside her, allowing his mana to run through her body. He numbed the aches that he could sense wracking her body. It was the only thing he could provide. Compassion did most of the work.