"How will we know if they were successful?" Cullen paced impatiently as another hour came and went. He told Rylen and Cassandra to go back to their longhouse to update the three no doubt still awake with worry. If this was to go on all night and day, then they would need to take shifts.
"They will wake up, my Thane," Dusan's deep rumble was calm as he watched over the other mages.
"And if they don't?"
"They will. You need to have more faith in the Phoenix." As the battle moved into the early hours of the morning, the adrenaline pumping through him kept his exhaustion at bay as he wore a path on the dirt floor of the hut. His worry stemmed from several reasons, the most worrying being the consequences of Evelyn's death. Everything was falling into place from their wedding to the impending arrival of the Grey Wardens. She was his responsibility, everything depended on her.
A sharp gasp made everyone jump and turn towards the two lying on the floor. Dhara's eyes snapped open as she sat up wide-eyed looking over to Evelyn who still lay there dreaming.
"Fasta vass, she not breathing!" Dorian, who had still been concentrating on his charge, mirrored the young mage's reaction.
"She was inside Despair when she cast a massive firestorm spell! I was able to pull her out, but she was covered in demon blood! The dream deteriorated as she became unconscious and booted me from it!"
"Move!" Cullen was on her faster than lightning, pumping her chest hard as Dorian felt for her pulse and breathing. Every few pumps they met eyes, the mage shaking his head. "Can't you do something, Dusan?!"
"Not if it's demon blood, it is unholy. Our magic cannot remove it from her."
"But is it all in her head or is she actually drowning in it?!" He looked from mage to mage as they thought about it, his anger rising with each second of silence. He growled redoubling his effort. "Evelyn, wake up!" He commanded - as if she ever listened to him, though he really wished she would in this instance!
Dhara was only about a foot from him watching intently, "Please, my Thane! Do somethin'!"
A memory from his youth surfaced in his mind of the time his father had saved one of the other village boys from drowning. He moved off her and turned her on her side. Placing his fingers down her throat, she instantly gagged, dry heaving a few times until a vile black bile coated the floor. He held her loose hair back as she spit, gasping for air as she braced herself against the ground. Wiping her mouth, she leaned back, guiding her back to rest on him. They crowded around them taking a quick assessment of her health.
"Water, please," she rasped out, spitting on the floor again. Ilara passed her a wooden cup of it that she used to wash out her mouth. Dorian gagged and turned away from her, scrunching up his nose at the smell of the black bile on the ground. Dusan began instructing Dhara on how to rid the sanctified hut of the vile ichor, while Ilara and he stayed with the Phoenix. "I'm fine, I'll just be ill for the next few hours until my body purges itself of the taint."
"Is the demon dead?" At her omission that she was indeed well, he could help but ask about the outcome of the mission.
"Oh yeah. I fried that fucker back to the Void, and then some," she smiled wearily back up at him. "Told you, Rutherford, I know what I'm doing though your assistance was helpful at the end."
"Did you really go inside the demon?"
Dhara quickly jumped in to answer his question, "Ye should've seen it, my Thane!" The young mage made motions with her hand indicating its size and then the fate that befell it. He couldn't help but stare a bit amused by her expressiveness.
At her telling, Evelyn's eyes went wide as she sat up on her own volition as everyone listened, "If you've seen it, you'd have shit your pants. It was the biggest demon I've ever seen. Dhara did very well." The redhead's face brightened with a satisfied smile, "You'll need to cleanse your back. Do you have anything akin to holy water, Augur Dusan?"
"Yes," he chimed in, "I will fetch some, it's the same water you drank at the Wintersend ceremony."
"Just plain rainwater?" She looked at him with skepticism.
The Augur's wrinkled chocolate lips smiled knowingly at her, "Rain is the Lady of the Skies' tears when the clouds obscure her view of the Mountain-Father, and as such is sacred - at least here in the Frostback Basin. Have faith, Phoenix, it will heal your wounds." With that, the elder walked out into the darkness of the wee hours of the morning.
"I hate to be a pain--" Dorian began.
"No more than usual," Cullen quickly muttered, his tired brain not even realizing he said it aloud until he heard the snickering.
"Oh, really? Well, I look forward to the two of you mating on a nightly basis, perhaps then you'll be in a better mood!" Both his and Evelyn's jaws dropped, "That's right, I just made it awkward and now I'm leaving. Have fun with that parting gem!" As Dorian's hand touched the door, the Thane's stolen bride vomited again. "Sorry darling, I didn't know how strongly you felt about it," he gave Cullen a 'yikes' face as he scooped up her hair once more while she purged more demon bile from herself. Glancing at the other two women who looked ready to both laugh and bolt out of the room, he scowled and nodded at the door. They happily fled, using the excuse that they were going to go find and help the Augur.
"Sorry," she spat, "bad timing. It was not purposely done, I swear." He only realized then that she was chuckling as much as she could in her present state.
He scratched the back of his head joining in, "Yeah, thanks for that, now I'll be condemned to an evening of him telling me what I need to do to woo you properly as he goes down his list of my flaws."
"Well, considering that you'll still here holding my hair while I empty myself of this disgusting taint, I'd say you're doing a fairly decent job." They shared another smile and laugh before her brow drew down, "While we're alone, there's something I need to tell you." He clenched his jaw in natural response to her tone, "While in the Fade, I mean - ugh, I'm still getting used to saying it - Land of Dreams, Realm of Dreams, whatever it is, I saw your father."
Never in a million years had he expected her to say that, "What?!"
She turned her body to face him, and quieted him with a gentle touch holding his hand, "He was trapped inside Despair's body, as were other souls. We freed them to move on, but your father just happened to linger by me. I asked him," she paused, almost making him think she was leaving something out, "… a question, about how many others were still inside, and there was no mistaking the uncanny resemblance once I saw his face."
"I-It's true, I take my looks from him."
"Scared me shitless, for a second I thought it was you - anyway, he wanted me to pass along a message to you and siblings," he held his breath, "he sends his love and asks for your forgiveness."
He felt his brow knit together as he stared off to contemplate the meaning of the words. Was he sorry for getting himself killed right after losing their mother? For not sending word back to the Hold one way or another for months until news finally came that he was killed? Then for the decline of law once Mia refused to step forward to take his place? That despite her stout support, that the responsibility and honor of their family rested with him to earn the Thaneship at any cost. To place him in the path of this prophecy to deal with. To shed his blood and sweat against his neighbors, some good friends, to preserve their family's legacy.
"Cullen, you're hurting my hand," came the soft, but still hoarse voice from across from him. He mumbled an apology not meeting her eyes that he knew were fixated on him. "I can see those words carry a heavy message. Shall I give you a moment alone?"
"No, I'm alright, it was just unexpected."
"I'm sure. I will leave you then to decide if and how to tell the others then. I will not say a word." He finally met her tired eyes, and a new wave of concern washed over him noticing the purple bags under her eyes and the scars from the demon's attacks. He cupped her cheek brushing a thumb over one that scored her across the eyebrow, "Don't worry, the blessed water with take away the marks, I'll be good as new." Her face suddenly turned green as he was quick again to move her long locks away from being soiled.
"I'll send word to Ros, to get a bath ready," she nodded at his words while still bent over. "Thank you for ridding us of bloody demon, I know it could not have been easy to see Aeron again. And thank you for the message."
Wiping her mouth with a disgusted grunt, she sat up looking paler but with a smile, "Just doing my job, Thane." They shared a look before her expression took on one of terror, "To be honest, I'm not sure what would've happened to you all had I not been here." Evelyn grimaced at the thought.
"Does that mean you like us now?"
A slow smirk grew on her face as he hoped, "You're all like family now, and some," she poked his shoulder hard pushing him back a bit, "actually will be." He couldn't help but smile at the fact that she had finally accepted things, because, for the longest time, he feared he was going to be bound to a spiteful woman who could indeed light his pants on fire every day.
"Come on, let's go find the Augur, get you the water, and go back home." She nodded and he helped her from off the floor. "Try not to vomit on my boots along the way."
"Shut it, you try cutting a hole through a few feet of demon fat and guts, then go delving in to blow the fucker up. It smelt like a vinegary bog of piss and rotten meat." A second later she was already bent over dry heaving. "I better tell you the rest of it later, I don't think my stomach can take it."
"I'm sure Dhara will beat you to it," as they exited the hut, his prediction was verified as they watched the young mage jump and lunge expressively as she told the story to the others. "It will be her job one day to recount your deeds to the clan."
She hummed beside him in acknowledgment, "And do I have a say in what she shares? I don't need everyone knowing about-- never mind."
"What?"
"Not important. Just things from my past." He didn't quite believe her but let the matter drop, knowing it could be something painful. "May we test out that boundary line we made on the bed earlier, I mean last night, technically? Despite the demon being gone, I can still have nightmares, they just won't feed anything this time."
"If that's what you want, I'll stay with you. Did Aeron..." At the hearing of his name, Dhara froze rigidly as they had joined her and Dusan, Ilara having left after helping cleanse her wounds.
"No, he didn't, just landed a few good hits is all." She looked worriedly over to her student, "I'm sorry D, are you alright after... that."
Rarely seeing the girl angry, she replied, "I was after seein' ye nearly cut his head off," she spat in disgust, "plowing whoreson. Are ye alright? T'was not I who he abused." Cullen remembered the cut lip, bruising about her body, and the dislocated arm that they could do nothing about as they held their breath waiting eagerly for the signal to appear again. Each new injury Dorian announced made him wish on the day of her challenge he had made that monster suffer more rather than giving him a swift death.
The heaviness of her sigh carried in it the years of living through that hell, yet overcoming it all. As she went to answer, he cut her off putting an arm around her, "I'll see to it that she is, Dhara." His voice was soft, one not many were used to hearing or at least had not heard for years. Yet, it came easily as he gazed at his bride with a new dawning appreciation of who she was.
Evelyn Trevelyan was stubborn and defiant, but it had saved her from becoming a victim, weakening under the lash of her abuser. Any lesser woman would have given in to the monster's torment, submitting to any punishment just to end the misery. It was those same two traits that she deployed against him when they had met. He didn't see it then, but she was fighting against another jailer. She had tried escaping, negotiating, and in one last ditch effort, challenged him to an all-or-nothing fight to the death. Granted, he wasn't a rapist - as they shared one physical, yet consensual night - but this was a woman who was not going to be subjected to anyone's will but her own after years of battle for her freedom in every sense of the word.
Not even actual demons could stand against her, having just vanquished one attached to the prophecy. Perhaps, he had been wrong about her not being worthy of the title of Lady of the Hold. It had been her fiery resolve that convinced him to let her go after the demon being so confident she'd kill it. Though he felt they were rushing into it, his faith in her was rewarded.
"The Phoenix, with the help of our future Augur, has vanquished the demon hurting our people. Let it be announced in the morning to the entire Hold and in all the others," he declared.
The two Augurs bowed their heads and then placed a fist on their heart. "It would be an honor to tell our people the news when they wake," Dusan replied resolutely.
"Now, let's get you back and rested," he still held her, and she had curled up slightly to his chest, looking up at him happy to have his strength. Cullen took a pitcher of the blessed water from the Augur for her to cleanse the purple scars cut across her body before she bathed.
Once home, he helped her get what she needed and then left to wait out in the common room for her. The others had since gone to sleep, but a plate of bread and cheese was left out for them to eat. Owayne lay in his makeshift room in the corner snoring, no doubt relieved to have heard his sister was alright. With his earlier revelation came a new respect for the brother of his bride, having traveled to the opposite end of Thedas to be with his sister. He was no longer afraid of her thinking of home for she had accepted her place here, with him.
His heart began to hope, to beat back to life that everything he had done and sacrificed for his family in the last eight years was finally working in his favor. Could he be allowed an ounce of, dare he dream it, happiness? In his eyes, it could take many forms from a peaceful home life to the completion of the prophecy. Restoring the balance to the Basin and maybe starting a family of his own finally. As he stared at the dwindling fire, the possibilities presented themselves to him.
His deep line of thought was stopped when Evelyn emerged from the washroom. Her hair was wet and her skin shined in the low light missing the signs of her earlier battle. She put her flowing nightgown back on and began to braid her hair looking over to him as he sat in the old but sturdy log chair his grandfather had made. It was draped in furs and even had a soft goose feather cushion on the seat. She looked expectantly over to his room, but seeing the food, she changed directions pivoting on a bare foot over to him.
Curling up in his lap with a piece of bread, he could feel the heat from the bath coming off her. He took in her vanilla and embrium scent that reminded him of holiday cakes. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to recline back, resting his head back until he felt the trickle of crumbs on him. He opened an eye to see her guilty face looking right at him, with those large molasses eyes. He scowled at her in jest before simply leaning back again closing his eyes and chuckling, "Didn't they teach you how to eat in your fancy noble house?"
She laughed while chewing on the hearty piece, "Yes, but the bread was cut more neatly."
"Sure, blame the bread for there being crumbs in my lap."
"I don't know why you're," she poked his nose making him open his eyes, "complaining, I'm the one sitting in them."
She shifted trying to brush them off, but he wrapped his arms around her pulling her to his chest. "Just leave it, I'm comfy." He let out a large yawn. Content with a yawn of her own she placed her head on his shoulder and a hand on the opposite one. The Thane pulled a heavy wool blanket off the arm of the chair to place over them, "I think we can get an hour or two of sleep in before the house wakes."
"That sounds lovely… thank you, by the way for staying with me while I was sick. Demon poisoning is nasty even for most healers. I think it has passed."
"No need to thank me for taking care of what's mine." She stirred at his words, feeling her eyes open and blink against his shirt. "I didn't mean…"
Her hands gripped him tighter, "I know," she tilted her head up and he looked down at her sleepily. Thinking on instinct, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. With a relaxing breath, she melted back into him.
"Only good dreams," he whispered.
"You too." A few gentle breaths later the two were fast asleep in the chair.
Three hours later, the clanking of pots with a whispered 'sorry' came from across the room as Rosalie began breakfast while Bran and Owayne talked quietly. He slowly came to out of a dreamless sleep for once, and the woman still asleep in his arms lazily stretched about not quite ready to awaken yet.
"Does fighting a big-arse demon not entitle me to a few more minutes," she turned her back to their audience, shimming back into the heat of his core.
"How are you feeling little sis? Heard you killed that bastard in true firebird fashion." The other Trevelyan called over.
At hearing his voice, she picked her head back up, "Sore, and I certainly did." She chuckled, "I think I confounded the bloody thing when I jumped inside it. It was hitting itself to try and dislodge me. In hindsight though, it wasn't the smartest move. At least I'm not puking demon blood anymore."
"You did… what?!"
"I second that," Bran echoed, both men with shocked faces. "I think it's story time."
Evelyn groaned burring her face back into his shirt, her voice muffling out, "A few more minutes!"
"Leave her be," Cullen finally intervened, happy to enjoy the mage tangled about in his lap. "The Augur will be telling the story in the market soon, you can hear his version first. I'm sure Dhara will do the tale justice, having been there and all." Pacifying them for the time being, he closed his eyes again to revel in the old-new feeling of having someone to hold.
"Don't you two have a bedroom you can move to so we can stop whispering?" Bran annoyingly pointed out.
Cullen opened his eyes again with an unreadable look to his brother, "We do, but seeing as this is my house, we will sleep where we'd like."
He felt her laugh silently against him, "Maybe we should sleep on the table so we can sleep and eat, Bran can feed us since he's so insistent upon us starting our day." Evelyn stretched her arms up out of the blanket circling his neck with a tired grin.
Branson huffed, "I liked it better when you two fought all the time." The couple simply ignored them the rest of the morning lulling in and out of a light sleep.
As the morning light streamed in through the high slit windows, shining right on their faces, she grumbled up to him, "Do we really have to get up?"
He arched his back forward in a stretch making her sit up, "The Thane's work is never done. I have to at least get up and meet with the council. We do have a war on - a defensive war but one nonetheless. I also need to send word to the other holds of your victory. Perhaps by the winter, we will have a babes to strengthen our people."
"About that," she rubbed sleep from her eyes, "they really shouldn't expect to conceive so soon. I would suggest everyone drink the Lady's water. I'm not sure of the extent of Despair's curse, but that should rid them of any internal taint. That goes for the men too."
"I will include that in the message." The prophecy suddenly recited itself in his mind, reminding him that only after the Phoenix's conception would others be able to do so as well… that was a problem for another day. They have a Knotting Ceremony to get through first.
Standing they made their way lazily over to their room to dress and splash some water on their faces. Though the breakfast was cold, it was still editable and they ate quickly. "What are you doing today?" He asked knowing that it most likely had to do with their wedding in three days.
"Not sure, but I better go check in with the Augur about my initiation tomorrow." Walking towards the doors, she turned suddenly blocking his path. "I wanted to thank you again for looking after me last night, I know it wasn't the most… attractive sight. I hope I didn't… I mean," she blushed looking to the heavens for the words, "Just thank you, I really needed that and I didn't even have to ask you."
"Well, Trevelyan, as I told you, I take care of what's mine. I do have more experience with marriage than you, so trust me when I say that's what husbands do." Since the demon's demise, he felt a lightness in his mind and soul. As if he was unable to process the deaths of his parents and wives when the demon reigned. While the pain could never be taken away, especially where his stillborn children were concerned, he looked upon it with new eyes. Despair had wanted him to blame himself, for he believed he was cursed, but in the years that followed after Ninne's death, he selfishly dwelled on his pain ignoring that of others who were losing infants or misarranging. It wouldn't allow him to see beyond his grief, and now that he could it was as if a whole new world had unfolded before him. He felt like an Avvar again, for change was constant as with the cycle of life and death. The gods ensured balance and took action to preserve their mortals. He needed to trust in their plan for him, having not been able to comprehend it before. There was much for him to think about now, he just hoped it wasn't too late.
Evelyn bit her lip trying to hold back her radiant smile at his words but failed, "I… do trust you, as you trusted me last night. It means a great deal to me. It's all very new to me. I never thought... I didn't expect to feel…" A palpable tension hung in the air between them. There was a different glimmer in her eyes he had never seen. The deep chocolatey pools swirled with warmth, begging to say something. He saw it on the tip of her tongue, her lush lips parting and pursing in frustration. With a defeated sigh, she laughed dispelling the heaviness the way she was always good at, "I'm quite articulate this morning." Though it was said in jest, a moment later she looked faintly angry with herself, as he watched the twitch of her brow. Remembering his thoughts of her last night and how differently he viewed her, he wondered if Despair's absence was affecting her too.
"When you find the words, you know where to find me," he sidestepped her and opened the door. Feeling as though he could've finished her sentence, he wished she would've just said it, it would've been easier, but she was still stubborn and so was he.