Dorian sat beside Ozen, holding his hand, and gritting his teeth. It's daylight now, probably late afternoon. Dorian hasn't slept, he has barely closed his eyes. His eyes were tired but his mind refused to rest. Ozen was fighting for his life right now. The tribe has tried its best to help Ozen. Using elfroot for his big would, bracing his shattered legs which were now swollen and bruised. They also stitched him up by his kneecaps and also the demon claw marks on his side. Ozen was resting. Dorian was not going to leave his side, every time he did something bad happened to him. Dorian didn't want that to happen to Ozen ever again. Dorian brought Ozen's hand to his lips, planting a gentle kiss. Dorian kissed every knuckle, every fingertip. He brought Ozen's hand to the side of his face, holding it there for a few moments as he looked at him. He looked so broken and weak.

"Please wake up soon, Amutus," Dorian whispered.

The tent door flew open causing Dorian to flinch. He jerked around, holding tighter to Ozen's hand. Ozen's mother stood there, her skin color was a little better than the last time he had seen her. She wasn't as pale as the other Dalish clan that Colton had belonged to. Though she and Ozen shared the same markings on their face. She had the same color eyes as Ozen as well, a truly remarkable color that seemed to glow a little brighter at night. Now though, her eyes were more red than white which sent Dorian into a panic. Not that his heart would handle much else.

"Get away from my boy, Shemlen." She growled. Dorian can see the blade in her hand. She was a rouge, hopefully one who wasn't a trained assassin. Dorian didn't let go of Ozen's hand. He didn't look away from the women. Instead, tears filled his eyes as his heart ached for her understanding. He wanted to speak but instead, his bottom lip just quivered. He was a strong man and usually stood up for what he believed in but right now he was shattered. There was a chance that Ozen wouldn't be waking up. He didn't want to leave him. There was nothing in the world that could move him. If she had stepped inside and stabbed him in the back, he would have died next to Ozen.

"I am not the enemy," Dorian whispered.

She swore to him in her native tongue, Colton stepping in front of her. He muttered something in Elven, which started a bickering argument. Dorian turned his attention back to Ozen, watching as his temple twitched. Ozen's eyes were beginning to squint. His ear flickered. Dorian's heart leaped into his chest. He turned to look and saw no one standing at the tent entrance. Ozen squeezed Dorian's hand. It wasn't much but it was enough for Dorian to feel it. Ozen coughed and groaned. His chest was hurting. His whole body felt like someone had torn it apart and barely put him back together.

He was happy to be alive though.

"Hi," Ozen grumbled. He coughed again, struggling to move. Dorian kissed his temple, and Ozen's face was turned away from him.

"You don't need to move." Dorian comments.

"But I want to see you." Ozen lightly chuckled but ended up having another coughing fit. With all of the strength he had, Ozen had turned towards Dorian. It hurt, and his neck popped several times which told him that there was a possibility that his spine was messed up. He winced as his muscles ached. The pain seemed to stop a little when he saw Dorian. He never wanted to leave his side again. The last few days had been hell for him and Ozen was lucky to be alive. The things he had seen as he dreamed in the Fade, it wasn't something he wanted to witness ever again. He was surprised that Dorian didn't hate him. Ozen grinned while Dorian quickly wiped the tears away from his eyes.

The sudden scream jerked Ozen towards the tent entrance.

"Mom?" He called out, historically coughing afterward. Dorian grabbed the small cup of water that had been placed on the nightstand beside him. He brought it to Ozen's chapped lips. Ozen took a few sips, enjoying the cool liquid going down his throat. It had been a few days since he drank anything. An overwhelming sicking feeling washed over Ozen. He closed his eyes, focusing on the urge not to throw up the contents. The tent door came open again. This time in a fast motion, one that caught Dorian by surprise. As Dorian turned, the woman drew out her dagger. Time seemed to stop for Dorian. Colton was running towards the woman with his weapon drawn. He could see Verric searching for his crossbow. Dorian stood there, his eyes wide with fear. He wanted to reach out in front of him and stop her using a simple spell that like knock her over. Instead, he stood there motionless. Ozen couldn't lose another family member. Ozen panicked, wanting to stop his mother. He struggled to move. All he could do was stare at Dorian, demanding that he move out of the way. Ozen noticed his fingers twitch to his side. Ozen looked up to Dorian's terrified face. It was the same face he had when he saw his father.

A single tear fell down his cheek.

All Dorian could do was mutter under his breath: "Amuths." Before the dagger of a mad woman plunged deep into his chest. The woman held onto the handle of the dagger, twisting it as it plunged deeper into Dorian's chest. Dorian fell to his knees as the woman stood over him, seething through her teeth. Ozen didn't recognize her as his mother. Her hair was white and thin, her eyes were crazy like a demon. Ozen's vision blurred. Dorian was coughing. Scarlet liquid spewed from his lips. Colton rushed inside the tent. Ozen blinked, reaching out toward Dorian. He ignored the pain from moving. He ignored his brain to tell him to stop moving. As he reached towards Dorian, he felt himself falling. He cried, his legs pulsing with pain. Ozen could hear someone calling out to him but there was nothing but ringing in his ears.

Dorian looked down at his chest. There was no pain. Instead, he felt a warm sensation covering his chest. He coughed, blood spewing from his mouth leaving a copper taste lingering in his mouth. He glanced over to Ozen, the man had fallen from his cot. He was desperately reaching out to Dorian. Instead, Dorian just smiled at him. He knew he was going to die. Dorian didn't have any regrets. He was glad to see Ozen back safe. He was happy to have fought alongside him. He was happy to have loved him. Ozen cried out to Dorian. Ozen could almost reach the man. He just needed to pull himself closer, even if his body was refusing to give him any strength.

"Amutus..." Dorian whispered.

Ozen watched Dorian fall to his side. Colton and Cassandra had rushed into the tent. Ozen screamed.

"You can't leave me!" He screamed. Cassandra struggled to help Ozen. Ozen was fighting out of her grasp, demanding he would be let go of. Ozen needed to help Dorian. Instead, Colton turned to him with a saddened expression. Ozen didn't have to hear any words. He knew that his beloved Amutus was gone. The blade must have gone straight to his heart, killing him instantly. Ozen turned to Cassandra. She was able to help him sit up properly. He hugged her, gripping onto her shirt as he sobbed onto her shoulder. Verric and Solas rushed into the tent to examine the situation. Solas rushed to Dorian's side, hoping to help the man. He tried all of the healing spells he knew. He was desperate to get Dorian back. He wasn't sure why. He and Dorian never really talked. Maybe it was because he was so important to the Inquisitor. Or maybe Solas, in the end, thought of Dorian as his friend.

"He's gone." Verric could hardly choke the words. Just moments ago, Dorian was sitting there watching Ozen. They had a break. Everything was going back to the way things were again. They were all going to head back to Skyhold in the morning so that Ozen could be there and rest. Dorian was going to be Ozen's personal healer.

"I want that bitch dead." Ozen cried out, "She is not my mother anymore. She never was. Her hatred for humans has gone too far!" Ozen shouted. Cassandra was already walking out of the tent. Ozen sat on the ground staring at his legs. Verric wanted to say something to him but there were no words left. Verric looked to Solas who looked frustrated.

"Can you raise him from the dead?" Ozen questioned.

"It wouldn't be wise."

"I asked if you could!" Ozen snapped.

"No." Solas lied. Solas knew that he could. He wouldn't. The last time they did this demons came out of it. They didn't need a demon to possess Dorian's body only to have them kill him again. Ozen wouldn't be able to handle it. Instead, Solas made his way toward Ozen, using his healing powers to mend more of his broken legs. Ozen sat there feeling the pain in his legs as Solas healed them. Ozen's body felt numb after a few moments of healing. He didn't want to think. He had to remind himself to breathe. He couldn't glance over to Dorian's lifeless body. It wasn't fair. Dorian had gone through so much to save him and now he was gone. Ozen couldn't save him. He couldn't stop his own mother from killing his Amutus.

"We were going to get married," Ozen said, leaning back on his hands while his legs jerked by themselves.

"I..." Solas wasn't sure what to say. He focused back on the healing.

"When this was all over and things were back to... Somewhat normal... He..." Ozen bit his trembling lip. Ozen closed his eyes, letting out a shaking breath. He instead sat there, not saying anything to anyone.

***

Ozen had thought of a million ways but now to bring Dorian back from the dead. Time travel. Necromancy. Sacrifice. Blood Magic. All of those ideas fell short, mostly because they would do more harm than good. Their travel back to Skyhold took less time than before since Colton decided to travel with them using the extra wagon they had. Colton had agreed to join the Inquisition. Ozen liked having a fellow Dalish with them. What Ozen didn't like was his mother staring back at him the whole ride back there. She was not the woman she was. Losing the tribe must have really gotten to her. She had always hated humans but now she sought her messed-up version of justice. Ozen wanted to put her on trial. He demanded to know why she had done it. Why did she have to take his Amutus away from him?

Once they reached Skyhold, cheers erupted from outside. It startled Ozen. Cassandra and Verric had looked at one another slightly confused while Solas remained in his thoughts. The body of Dorian was dragging behind them on a makeshift sled. Ozen wanted him here at Skyhold to give him a proper goodbye amongst his friends. He had sent word to his father in Tiventer about his son's death.

"He was a Shemlen, Ozen." Ozen's mother broke the silence in the wagon. Her hands were tied behind her back. her grey hair a mess, falling in front of her wrinkled face. She too bad scars on her cheeks, like her son. Training with draggers would do that.

"Not all humans are monsters," Ozen snapped back at her, "Dorian-"

"I saw the way you looked at each other." She spat, "It's disgu-"

"SHUT UP!" Ozen screamed. He was now standing, slamming his mother back. His hand was around her throat. She had a wicked smile on her lips. Ozen wouldn't hesitate to excite her right now but they already had one dead body among them.

"You were supposed to be betrothed to Arwin. Not him,'"

"She was a practicing blood mage," Ozen grumbled, "She is dead and gone."

He let go of this mother and sat back down on the bench. His legs were shaking. His mother shook her head, looking down at her feet.

"You are not my son."

The wagon was deathly silent now. The words piercing through Ozen's already broken heart. He ignored her. Soon, he would put her to death with his own blade. Ozen wished her dead already but there was a small sort of him that had hoped she would beg for mercy. He frowned, wishing things had changed.

"I'm glad," Ozen whispered. Even though tears were falling down his face.

Not a moment later, everyone can hear Colton cry out that they were indeed back at Skyhold. Cheers could be heard outside of the wagon. The people of Skyhold were happy that their Inquisitor was home along with the fine warriors. As they brought the wagon onto the bridge, silence stiked the people of Skyhold. Mutterd erupted, cried echoed. Ozen's heart had sunk down to his feet. This was all just a terrible nightmare that he was back into now. His mind was growing numb again. He didn't want this. He wanted Dorian alive. The wagon stopped, and Ozen stayed as the others left. Cassandra took his mother to the soldiers standing outside of the wagon. Some soldiers were taking Dorian's body away from the eyes of the people. Ozen didn't move. He stayed where he was with his stomach in knots.

If he stepped out of this wagon, then his nightmares were going to come true again. He wishes he would wake up from this never-ending nightmare. Maybe a demon was showing him what would happen if he killed her. Maybe this is what happens when you kill a blood mage. Colton stepped into the back of the wagon. He sat across from Ozen. He didn't say anything. The presence of a friend helped calm Ozen's nerves.

Ozen sighed, "If I go out there... I have to face it all,"

"I get that. Being a leader isn't easy."

"Have you lost someone close?" Ozen found himself asking.

"I can't say I have. Sadly." Culton frowned, "I know how much you have lost and I am not about to say that I have but..." Culton paused to think about his words, "All I know is that Dorian wouldn't want you to be down and out. You have people to lead. He will be waiting for you on the other side." Culton grinned.

Ozen nodded, not feeling any better but he knew that Culton meant the best. Culton helped Ozen stand. As Ozen walked out of the wagon, the bright sun burned his vision. He winced, holding his hand to his forehead to block the bright light. Cassandra helped guide the Inquisitor down from the wagon. As Ozen's feet touched the soil, cheering cries came from the people surrounding him. At that moment, Ozen couldn't help but smile. Even after everything he had lost, Ozen stood tall. The people of Skyhold needed him. He still had a bigger mission in front of him. He knew that Dorian would want him to stand tall and see this threw. Ozen took a step forward, never turning his back on Skyhold again.

The End