"Why does this keep happening to me?!" Ozen screamed. Solas had told him news about what happened to Dorian. He was sure Dorian was fine but Ozen wasn't taking the news very well. Ozen woke up confused, weak, something normal after being possessed by a vengeful demon. Ozen was sitting against the cold wall, his knees to his chest with dried blood on his hands. He, of course, was thinking of the time he held his beloved in his arms. With her dying breath, she wanted him to kill the man that done this to her. Her blood was on his hands. Ozen never forgot that.

Now Dorian's blood was there. In Ozen's eyes, Dorian was going to end up dead, just like her. Just like his family, his clan. Ozen didn't hold back the sobs that came from his chest. Solas stood there staring into the cell feeling his heart sink to his feet. He wasn't sure how to comfort Ozen or anyone in this situation. Instead, Solas walked to the entryway, letting the guards know that Ozen was awake. Solas stepped out for a moment, needing to tell Cullen and the rest about what was going on with Ozen. He also wanted to give the man some time to adjust to his emotions.

Ozen sobbed, not having much of a memory from what happened to get him here in the cell bothered him. He had hurt Dorian without meaning to. He nearly killed Alister. The pain at his side was a reminder that he was a monster. According to Solas, Alister had put his blade into his side so that he wouldn't slice his throat with the dagger. The blade he had hand-crafted for himself. He never wanted to turn against the people who had helped him become the man he was today. He never wanted them to second-guess him. He wanted to be a strong leader but now it felt like it was gone. He was falling apart and it only happened in a matter of days. With his clan missing and his family being slaughtered, he felt like there was so much of himself missing. He was starting to wish that Dorian knew about time travel. Ozen wanted nothing more than to go back to the time at the beach with his little sister and hold her one last time. He could go back and warn Dorian about the demons. He could have stopped them himself. He would have protected his family. He would have done anything to make the demons stop.

"I'm sorry." Ozen cried, "I've let so many people down. My people."

His hands were clenched into fists which were resting on his knees now. He didn't want to face Dorian after this. Ozen knew that Dorian was going to be upset. If it were to happen to him Ozen would be upset too. Not only that but Ozen feared that if Dorian found out about Ozen's past, he may leave him. Ozen couldn't handle the loneliness he faced after Arwin died. Ozen sat there, alone in his thoughts, praying to his god hoping that someone would answer.

***

Dorian lay in the infirmary with his thoughts in the clouds. The room was quiet, something he hadn't heard in a while. It relaxed him, only for a moment. Ozen flashed in his mind and that is when panic set in. Was the demon destroyed? Was Ozen still alive? Dorian sat up, groaning in pain. He was thankful that he could move. Dorian wondered about Ozen if he was dead or not. Whatever demon was inside of him was destroying him from the inside. Dorian could see it through his eyes. What else plagued his thoughts was the realization that the man he loves has a deep hatred for humans. Dorian started to question why they were together. Was it for a selfish reason? Dorian swung his legs over the cot, groaning at the pain shooting from his side. He removed the blanket from his body, revealing the mark on his torso. It was irritated and stitched up.

He was about to get up when the door had opened. It was Verric. Dorian sighed, seeing the look of concern on his face.

"What is it, Verric?" Dorian asked with annoyance.

"Just wanted to check on you, Sparkles." He grinned.

"I'm fine. Where is Ozen?"

"In the cells. He's there so he can have some time to... think."

"I need to go see him." Dorian tried to get up but his wound had failed him. Pain shot up his side causing his legs to shake.

"He's fine, Dorian."

Dorian couldn't take that as an answer. Nothing was fine anymore. He had several questions that needed to be answered. He wanted to see Ozen for himself and he wanted to get to the bottom line of this blood mage who was trying to kill those of Skyhold. He never wanted to see Ozen possessed by a demon again. He wanted this to end. Dorian fumbled as he tried to get to his feet. Verric went to help him but Dorian waved his hand at him. He didn't need anyone's help. He grabbed his staff that was left by the bed. He used it to lean his weight onto. This hasn't been his first time nearly dying after a mission. If he wasn't mistaken, Ozen was the one with the most injuries out of the group. Solas is the one with the least. Dorian was somewhere between Verric and Cassandra.

"I am going to go and see him," Dorian grunted. Verric sighed, shaking his head. He didn't agree with Dorian seeing Ozen, not after all that had happened. Verric knew he didn't have a say in it though. Verric didn't stand in Dorian's way. He hoped the best for Sparkles and the Inquisitor. Instead, Verric went to see how Cassandra was taking all of this. She hasn't been one to see much action with demons or them possessing others.

As Dorian made his way down to the lower sections of the castle, he thought about what happened back there with the possession. Flashes of Ozen's red eyes haunted him. He shuttered at the thought of the blade twisting into his gut. The elvish slang whispering in his ear. This wasn't the Ozen he fell in love with. Ozen may have his past but Dorian knew that he wasn't the same anymore. As Dorian slowly walked down the steps, he could hear shouting from inside the corridor. The voices echoed in the chamber, sounding alert. The door at the bottom of the stairs swung open, slamming against the stone. Dorian stood frozen at the fearful look in the soldier's eyes. Dorian's heart sank down to feet.

"What happened?" Dorian called out, trying to make it down the stairs quicker.

"Sir I swear I tried! Solas came down to check on Ozen and well, he has gone mad sir!"

"What do you mean?" Dorian reached the bottom step. His heart was racing as well and his wound throbbing.

"He... he stabbed Solas, Sir. He's gone."

"What in the hell do you mean he's gone?!" Dorian exclaimed. He had been down to this section many times with Ozen just to catch a moment with him. There was not only a massive waterfall but also the floor was half gone! Ozen didn't know any magical spells, in fact, he didn't quite understand magic. He just knew that he supported the mages. Dorian shoved the scared guard out of the way seeing Solas leaning against the cell door with a dagger in his leg. Dorian rushed over to him, quickly kneeling beside him as the guard rushed to get help.

"Where is he?" Dorian questioned. Blood soaked through Solas' pants. Dorian looked around the cells, his mind rushing to try and piece together what was happening. Demons haunted Ozen and now Ozen was running away. Dorian swore under his breath, looking at the cell adjacent to Solis. There was a chance he could have escaped through the open ceiling. Dorian ran towards the cell, ignoring Solas and his protests. Ozen wasn't the same after being possessed by the demon. It was leaving lingering effects on him. Solas tried to calm Ozen down but instead, Ozen threw a knife to his leg. One that was hidden in his boot. Solas cursed at himself for not realizing Ozen had several blades on hand. He was an assassin after all.

Dorian rushed to the cell, attempting to climb his way up to the opening of the cell roof. With his injury bothering him, it was a little hard to climb up the loose cobblestone. He swore under his breath, making a run towards the door. Dorian prayed that he could reach him before he left Skyhold. He didn't want to call out to anyone and make a scene about it. He just wanted to grab Ozen before he did something stupid. He needs to rest, he needs to put his mind at ease before chasing down a blood mage we know nothing about. Dorian began to wonder if the demon had told him anything valuable. As he charged up the stairs, screams could be heard outside of the main hall. It was a woman screaming followed by a shout from Cullen. Dorian ignored the searing pain going through his body, pushing through so he could reach Ozen. Once he made it to the top of the stairs, he slammed open the door. Men, women, and children all fill the main hall. Some whimpering, others crying, in front was Cullen demanding his men to block the doors.

"What's going on?!" Dorian demanded.

"Enemies have breached Skyhold. Ozen is missing."

"What-"

"Thank the Maker!" Cassandra sighed. She was caught in the crowd with Dorian's staff in hand. The same staff Ozen had made for him and gifted him. Dorian frowned.

"Let's go. My friend is meeting us at the Exalted Plains. He has word of this blood mage."

"But-"

Verric cut Dorian off, "Whoever this blood mage is knows everything about him. You are safer with us."

"Where did Ozen go," Dorian growled. Verric and Cassandra looked at each other. Verric sighed, putting his trusty crossbow behind his back. Cassandra was looking down at her feet. Dorian slammed his staff down on the ground in frustration. Dorian didn't understand what was happening. Ozen was possessed by a demon thanks to a blood mage and Ozen was weak after his family was taken and killed. Dorian knew that Ozen wasn't mentally strong enough to deal with demons. Even before he became possessed. Ozen had his doubts but Dorian knew that he was physically strong. What if a demon tricked him again? Ozen could easily destroy Skyhold.

"What about Skyhold? The enemies?"

"The mages have it taken care of," Cassandra comments, "two scouts were found scaling the walls. Cullen is taking them in for questioning."

"This was just out of caution." Verric sighed, "Ozen has worried everyone."

"Let's go," Dorian mutters. Together, they left Skyhold with their minds wondering the same thing.

What happened to Ozen and why is this blood mage ruining their lives?

Dorian muttered a prayer to the Dalish god, hoping that they would keep Ozen and any other Dalish mixed up in this safe.