Reckless | Chapter Four
Ozen walked ahead of the group, his thoughts swarming again as the wind blew in the Plains. He, Dorian, Solas, and Varric were heading toward the beach where his family was last seen. He prayed that Solas could help him somehow, given how powerful Solas was with his magic. He was stronger in some ways than Dorian when it came to his magical abilities. Solas understood the Fade, more than anyone else did. Ozen had a feeling he was going to be needing that knowledge today. Ozen stopped, thinking he heard the snapping of a twig on the other side of the river bed. He looked to his right, seeing nothing but a Halla. He bowed his head a little, showing respect towards the creature. The creature flicked its tail, lowering its head to drink from the stream again. Ozen wished he could speak to the Halla like another in his clan. He wondered if Talin was still alive or if he had died with the rest of the clan.
They are not dead...
That's what he wanted to tell himself at least. He turned his attention towards the beach, grabbing his brutal dirk daggers from behind him, closing his eyes, and letting his magical ability take over. Ozen was a trained assassin. He was able to disappear and reappear rather quickly, shocking enemies and putting them down before they could blink. Ozen had mastered this trick after several years of practice. Everyone in the party knew about this but it still worried them. The mages and the dwarf prepared themselves for battle. Ozen walked slower, looking around the surrounding area. Dorian stayed close to the river, looking up the hill into the trees. The sun shined brightly, making it a little bit harder for the mage to see anything. Varric stayed in front of the group, looking out in the distance towards the beach. Solas looked to the left of him, over the hills into the distance. None of them had seen anything. No sudden rifts. No recent bloodshed.
Ozen suddenly appeared again, this time he was running. The quickening footsteps caused Dorian to snap his attention towards the rocky beach. For a split moment, he wondered what Ozen was running towards. That is when Dorian's eyes fell upon a body on the ground. The river must have washed her up, or something was watching over them.
The mage began to run. The others followed suit, Verric trailing behind them. When Ozen got to the lifeless body on the beach, he fell to his knees. Panic had set into his chest. His breathing stopped at his throat, his throat tightened. He didn't want to believe what he was seeing.
This is all a fucking dream!
The more he screamed it in his head, the more of a reality it was becoming. This small body had washed up to shore from the river. He silently thanked the Creators for giving him this sign but also cursed them for not protecting her. When he came up to the body, he had dropped his daggers, not caring about them anymore. He was panicking. He slammed to his knees trying to grab the body before the river could pull her back in. His heart was hurting as if someone was twisting a dagger into his chest. He tried to hide the tears that were pricking his eyes. He shook his head, not wanting this to be real. Solas, Verric, and Dorian witnessed their Inqusiter falling apart in front of their eyes. It crushed Dorian to see the pain he had caused in Ozen.
Her body was wet, lifeless, and cold to the touch. Her small legs had a purple haze over them. Her little white dress clung to her body. Ozen saw the blood stain on her back. Someone had stabbed her in the chest. Ozen pulled the little girl up to his knees and turned her over. His baby sister lay lifeless in his arms.
His thumb traced over her small arm, finding the scar she had gotten as a toddler. She had been playing with her brother's daggers, cutting herself in the process. Ozen's bottom lip started to tremble as his body rocked itself.
"No... please no...."
They heard the crack in their Inquisitor's voice. Varric and Solas stood a few feet away, looking down at the decaying body. Dorian came to the other side of the little girl, putting his hand on hers. Dorian knew at this moment he needed to be strong for Ozen, no matter how difficult it was. Ozen thought about Dorian for a brief moment. Ozen knew how Dorian could help fix his mistakes. Ozen knew that necromancy would be useful in his quests. He suggested that Dorian would learn it; given that Solas gave off strange vibes that Ozen couldn't trust. Dorian didn't like it but it wasn't hard for Ozen to change his mind. Ozen looked over to Dorian, Dorian looked back at Ozen.
"Please..." Ozen muttered. His voice had desperation laced through just one, simple word. Dorian gave a small nod, not sure how he felt about bringing this small little girl back to life, even if it was just for a few short moments. It was all the time Ozen needed to at least say goodbye to her.
"I can..." Dorian's voice trailed off as he looked down at the lifeless body. He wanted to blame anyone besides himself for the little girl. Dorian couldn't look at Ozen. He wanted to do this for him but he felt guilty. If he was just a little bit stronger, a little more aware, then Ozen wouldn't be holding onto her so desperately. He wouldn't be broken and on the brink of losing his sanity. Ozen was desperate for his family to come back. He was like a small child not wanting to be left behind by his clan.
"Please..." Ozen whispered, "I know it's not for long... I... I need to know..."
Varric and Solas stood back. Ozen's stomach twisted into knots. Ozen brought his hand to Lilly's bangs that hung in her face. She had very curly hair compared to the other Dalish She loved her curly hair and so did others in the camp. Ozen's parents would always compliment her on her beauty. Ozen couldn't agree more with his parents.
Ozen held his little sister as Dorian's whispers started to be drowned out by the rushing river. Ozen watched Lilly's skin get color again. Her bruised face started to twitch. Her cheeks became less sunken in, her eyes were starting to move under her eyelids. As Ozen witnessed the miracle in front of him, he held her hand as her body rose a few inches off the ground. A purple hue surrounded his sister alongside Dorian. Varric and Solas stood by, Varric trying his best to keep his lunch down; out of respect for the Inquisitor.
"Just a few moments," Dorian said in a hushed breath. Ozen knew it took a lot out of Dorian and he needed to be quick about it. Lilly's body lowered back to his lap, her eyes opening. She blinked several times, turning her head to see her big brother staring back at her with a painful sorrow-filled look.
"Ozen!" She exclaimed.
Ozen's heart flipped inside of his chest. Her voice sounded so small and fragile. She wasn't herself anymore. Ozen swallowed and choked down the ball that was lodged into his throat. She was alive, something he couldn't believe. But, in the back of his mind, he was disgusted with himself. How long has she been dead? He knew nothing good could come out of this moment but he was willing to try.
"Who did this to you, Da'len?"
Lilly looked at her brother with worry and confusion knitted on her broken face. Ozen noticed her little nose was broken and swollen. The cold water had taken any hint of color around her eyes, and the tips of her beautiful elven ears were black. Ozen wanted nothing but for the cruel bastard who killed her to be dead. He would burn this land down even if it meant murdering innocents.
"I don't know..." She whispered. Her eyes used to look bright green but now, death had certainly taken over, Ozen missed her wonder.
"I need to know..." Ozen whispered. He bit his trembling lip, "Please." He was brushing his calloused fingers over her cold cheeks. Ozen had tears flowing down his cheeks, as much as he tried to keep them back.
"Where is Mommy and Daddy?" She asked. Her voice sounded so small, weak.
"I don't know," Ozen was beginning to grow frustrated.
"Ozen..."
He hadn't heard his little sister call him by his name in years. Hearing it now made him feel worse.
"Ir abelas..." Lilly whispered. She began to feel weak again. She was able to draw closer to her brother. To feel his warmth for one last time. The memories of the past played in her mind, as she softly hummed a lullaby Ozen had sung to her when she was a child. Ozen gripped her shoulder, holding her as tightly to him as he could. When he couldn't feel her breathing against his body, Ozen tore off the chest piece of his armor. He tossed it aside, whispering for Lilly to stay. Just for a little longer.
"Who did this? Lilly, who hurt you?"
"You did," She whispered.
Ozen was taken aback by what Lilly had said. He used his free hand to quickly get the tears off of his face. Lilly looked up at him, her face no longer angelic. Her eyes had sunken into her head again, darkening around the sockets. Her eyes were as red as dragon scales.
"L-Lilly?"
"DORIAN!" Solas cried out to his friends. Solas could sense the Fade. A demon was going to come through if they didn't stop. Necromancy was dangerous in and of itself. Solas never agreed that a mage should mess with death in this way. If Dorian didn't stop the spell, Lilly could become bound to a demon. Ozen was too fragile-minded at the moment for something like this. Varric could see that Dorian was becoming weaker, the purple hue around him was becoming lighter. The look on Ozen's face had said it all.
"Na melana sahlin!"
Lilly blinked, her eyes now bloodshot, the color was hardly green at all. A demon was possessing her now even if she was fighting it. Ozen wanted to scream. He wanted Dorian to stop. Instead, instincts took over. Lilly began to sob, telling her brother how sorry she was in their native tongue. She gripped onto her brother's chainmail, screaming in agony. Dorian was lost in the spell. It felt like something was grabbing Dorian's around his neck. His chest was tightening. His mind flooded with images of rejection and death. Fear soon gripped the mage, the demon feeding off of it. It was becoming stronger in Lilly. Ozen could sense it but his fears started to surface.
He knew what he needed to do but he couldn't grasp that reality. His sister needed to die a second time.
Solas ran towards Lilly while Varric ran towards Dorian. Solas brought his hands in front of him, casting a lightning spell towards the body of Lilly. The demon screamed, Lilly's head turning in a horrifying direction towards Solas. He could hear the spine snap and break. Ozen hadn't noticed this and neither had Dorian. They were in a trace. Solas prayed they would snap out of it soon, or else they would all be in trouble. With the demon-possessed Lilly falling out of Ozen's hands, it charged after Solas. Solas stood ready. Ozen knelt there on the gravel, feeling the water come up to his knees. He was trying to shake off the dreadful feeling that plagued him. The demon was showing him who had done this to his family through what seemed like dreams.
It was a human.
An awful human who hated elves and his cause.
"I was summoned to kill you." The demon spoke, "You will die along with the mage you claim to love."
Varric ran to the river, quickly taking off his jacket so that he could scoop water inside of it. He made his way to Dorian first, who looked ill. His tanned skin was starting to turn into a different shade, pale like a vampire, which made Varric feel uncomfortable. Varric was quick at tossing the water at Dorian. Dorian was able to snap out of it thanks to the bitter chill. While Dorian went to collect himself, Varric turned his attention towards Ozen, who was now standing with his dark red blades in hand.
"Oh shit," Varric muttered.
Ozen had his attention on Solas and what looked to be a demon child. Ozen's beloved little sister was gone. A fear demon had taken over her body. Ozen wondered if Dorian was to blame or if it was the demon that was causing him to think like this. Ozen's hands tightened on the handles of his blades. Ozen was plagued with thoughts. In his eyes, the monster that had killed his little sister was in front of him. A shemlen. As Ozen walked closer to the Shemlen, Solas was hitting the demon with his lightning spells. He saw that Varric had gotten Dorian out of the trance the demon had put him under. Ozen, on the other hand, was starting to become a puppet with the fear demon. Ozen was trying to fight the many thoughts that the demon was feeding him. Vision upon vision blocked his vision from what was happening around him. Ozen was scared for his family, the demon was trying to attach itself to those fears knowing that Ozen's body was stronger than this dead child elf.
Dorian tried to stand and tried to call out to him but he was far too weak to do anything. Varric wouldn't have made it in time to try and save Solas. As the demon tried to attach itself to Ozen, Ozen was under a murderous rampit. He turned to the weak Dorian and began to charge. Verric had his arrows at the ready but Solas was quicker and with one swift motion, he was able to strike Ozen with a lightning bolt, letting their leader crumple to the ground unconscious. Solas struck the dead little girl, causing the rift to close quickly.
Lilly was no more. The fear demon perished, and from what Varric and Solas could tell, there were no open rifts. Varric sighed in relief, looking down at Dorian, who was hunched over. His hands gripped the stones of the beach. His arms were trembling.
"Let's get you and Inquisitor home, Sparkles," Varric muttered.
Dorian struggled to move. His body was weak and shaking. He was out of mana and strength. Varric was too short to help him much but was able to call in the Inquisitor's mare. With the help of the giant horse, compared to Varric that is, he was able to help Dorian on the horse and take it towards Solas. Solas was able to get Ozen to his feet and onto the mare with Dorian. As they held onto the reigns, Dorian slumped forward, resting his head on Ozen's shoulder. Ozen was trying to sit up straight for Dorian's sake. Only Solas could feel the energy within Ozen had changed slightly. Solas could sense that the demon was trying to attach itself to Ozen. He prayed that it was just that, a feeble attempt. Solas touched the nose of the mare, muttering an elvish command. The mare trudged forward, Varric walking beside it with Bianca in his hands, looking out towards the river. When Varric looked ahead, he could hear faint whispers coming from the Inquisitor that sent shivers down the dwarf's spine.
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