Chapter 56: Deal with the Demon (Theron)
- Just a little bit left. Hold on, - Adela said in a commanding tone.
- We have been walking for a very long time, - Theron answered, holding the barely standing Tamlen. - I hope your friend is close.
The Dalish looked around. The group left the forest. In front of the elves, dwarves and Fen were picturesque lands. A large lake, illuminated only by the moon and stars from the night sky, was surrounded by a mountain range. To the right, in the distance, the lanterns of an unknown huge fortress were burning. To the left, there were some strange Tevinter ruins with a circle in the center. And opposite the group was a hut without a roof.
- My friend lives there, - Adela said. - Faren, look after Tamlen and the dog. Theron, come with me. He has to get to know you.
She and Theron entered the hut. There, near the table, stood a tall horned grey-haired Qunari dressed in black and red. Having heard someone entering, he immediately turned around and took out two swords. Theron reacted just as quickly and aimed his bow at the old Qunari.
- Thunder take you! - said the Qunari. - Adela! You should never scare me like that!
- And hail to you, Ox. We haven't seen each other for a long time.
- Introduce your friend to me, please.
- This is Theron. And he is also a Grey Warden.
- Well, young one. Nice to meet you.
- Where does such a strange name, Ox, come from? - Theron asked, noticing the scars on the Qunari's lips.
- Yes, simple as that, young one. When I was among the Qunari, I was called saarebas - "dangerous thing." Then I defected to the Tal-Vashoth - "True Grey". But I didn't like them either, so I became a loner, a maraas, a "nobody." And the locals called me Ox, and I guess I shouldn't explain why.
Theron noticed a strange mirror in the hut, which reminded him of the mirror from the cave that had separated him from Tamlen. But then he took a closer look and saw that it was just an ordinary mirror.
- So why have you come all the way here? - Ox asked.
- Our friend, Tamlen. He's been tainted, - Adela replied.
- So make him a Grey Warden, as usual, and that's it.
- It is not that easy. He is heavily tainted. First, the external symptoms must be cured. Do you remember that you owe me? Help us, and I'll forget about the debt.
- I know how to do it. But for that, I will have to use blood magic and enter the Fade. Does everyone agree to this? Adela, I know you have no prejudices. But what will the young one say?
Theron remembered Marethari's words about the dangers of blood magic, but he had no choice.
- I agree. Do what you must.
Ox and the Wardens left the hut and met Tamlen, Faren and Fen. The Qunari picked up the tainted elf and led the others towards the ruins.
- And what's with this fortress? - Faren asked, pointing at the fortress in the distance. - Who lives there?
- Murderers and kidnappers, - Ox answered.
- Care to elaborate?
- Templars. This is Aeonar, a prison for all of those who did not please the Chantry. A terrible place, I try not to get close to it.
Upon reaching the ruins, Ox placed Tamlen in the center of the circle, slashed his wrist with a knife, and sent a clot of blood towards Tamlen. The elf lost consciousness.
- What have you done? Answer! - Theron shouted.
- I sent him to the Fade. There he will meet "Her".
- Whom?
- "Her". "She" is a demon with no name that can heal him. "She" might need something.
- What exactly? Freedom?
- I don't think so. In any case, you need to go to the Fade too.
- But how? My father was the Keeper, but I am not a mage myself.
- Lie down on the grass and try to sleep.
Faren and Adela laid out the sleeping bag. Theron lay down on it and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he was already in the Fade. It turned out to be just as Marethari and Merrill had described it. Everything around shimmered with different shades of green. Theron found himself on one of the islands, and other islands hovered around in a dark green haze. Going behind the pillar, Theron found Tamlen talking to a demon in the form of a translucent woman.
- Welcome to my domain, - the demon said. - Tamlen has already said what he wants.
A portal formed next to the speakers, from which Ox emerged.
- But how? - Theron asked.
- I am a somniari, a dreamer, - the Qunari replied. - I can enter the Fade at will.
- Greetings, Ox, - said the demon. - I hope you remember our agreement.
- Certainly. Now help the elves.
- What do you want in exchange for healing Tamlen? - Theron asked. - If you want freedom, then I am ready to give you my body after my death.
- I'm not interested. I already have an arrangement of this kind, - said "She", looking at Ox. - I wonder how far you will go for your lover.
- What? How do you know?
- I know everything about you. And I know that you are a Grey Warden. You probably haven't been told, but you only have thirty years left to live. After that, you will either join the darkspawn or die in battle.
- This was unexpected. I did not know.
- I knew. Let's settle this. I will agree to heal Tamlen if you let me hasten the Blight in your blood. You will have ten years to live instead of thirty, but Tamlen will no longer be a ghoul. The choice is yours.
Theron glanced at Tamlen.
- Don't, lethallin... Don't do this... I'm not worth it... Please...
But the Dalish knew what he had to do.
- No, Tamlen, you are worthy of all the best. I agree, demon.
- So be it, - said the demon, and waved its hand.
Theron felt the blood flowing in his veins begin to accelerate. Experiencing a strong pressure on his body, the elf fell to his knees and yelled in pain. Then he lost consciousness.
An hour later, the elf woke up in the real world to the joyful barking of Fen.
- Come on, get on your feet, - Faren told him, helping him up. - You did it. You need to see it.
Theron ran to the center of the circle. Together with Adela and Ox stood a completely healed Tamlen. There was no trace of Blight on his face and body, his skin took on a natural look. The two elves immediately kissed each other.
- Guys, should we leave you two alone? - Faren asked, and Adela immediately pulled him back.
- You did it? For me? - Tamlen asked.
- I told you that I would cure you at any cost, - Theron replied.
- I wouldn't be so happy just yet, - Adela said. - This is a temporary effect. And before your boyfriend's skin gets corrupted again, we need to get back to Redcliffe. There I can find all the ingredients for the Joining solution.
- You know how to conduct the Joining?
- What's more, I have a vial of archdemon blood, but it's only enough for one recruit. I must confess that at first I did not believe in Tamlen, but you, Theron, convinced me. I'm ready to do the Joining at Redcliffe.
- Wait, - Ox said. - Before you leave, will you agree to take me with you? I think I still have the energy for one more adventure.
- I agree, - Theron replied. - But I must warn you that there is one of yours in our squad, he introduced himself as Sten of the Beresaad.
- I'll stay sharp, thanks. If I've dealt with my arvaraad, then some Sten won't hurt me either.
The group headed south towards the south. At the end of the line, the happy Theron and Tamlen walked together, holding hands.
Author note: The English version has finally caught up with the one in my mother tongue. Since I have some other things to do, the new chapters will be released less frequently than before. I'm planning to adapt Origins, Warden's Keep, Awakening, GoA, Witch Hunt, II and perhaps Inquisition, and I'm not going to give up. If you have any questions, you can ask me in the reviews.