*Sun shined from the sky showering the little forest around them with golden light leaving, rays of light punctuated the foliage reaching inside the lush forest creating a stark contrast between the darkness under the trees.
Nazlik gazed around with her mouth open, "what a strange place. Is this his dream, is Caius here?".
"This is one of his memories, or a dream", Elowyn said cautiously, she glanced Nazlik´s stunned look carefully. This went over her head. "Listen, you need to stay with me no matter" Elowyn stressed pulling her sleeve. "Do you hear me?".
She was worried that they might come across some of Caius memories which might cause distress to Nazlik. Or a dream she had taken part of. "Come, we need to move", she took Nazlik´s arm in hers. They came across a small spring among the trees. From side of the little bond they found a trail leading forward.
"We might as well follow this", Elowyn said stepping on the trail. In a few moments they came to a small clearing. Among the flowers two children played, trying to fence with straws. A little girl and a older boy. "No fair! you are bigger!" the little girl exclaimed as the boy touched her.
Elowyn gazed at the children, she could see they had some elven features in them. Hints of slenderness in their features. Nazlik gasped, "they look like Caius!". She took a step forward before Elowyn was able to stop her.
"Monster!", the boy screamed pointing at her. He took his little sisters hand and started running away. Nazlik ran after them Elowyn at her heels, "don´t, it is just a dream. This is not real!".
The children ran across the meadow and disappeared down the hill on the other side. Nazlik ran but stopped abrubt at edge of the slope causing Elowyn to run into her. "Look!" she gasped.
Down the creek, close to the forest they could see little log cabin. Some laundry was spread on a string and smoke raised from the chimney. A golden haired elven woman stood in the yard feeding chicken. She was holding a basket in her hands leaning against her swollen belly. She raised her head to see the little children run down the hill screaming, "monster! Mom there is a monster!".
She gazed at Nazlik at Elowyn shouting, "children, to me". Without turning her head she shouted over her shoulder, "Caius! Come here!".
A man stepped from behind the cabin wearing simple trousers and a plain tunic. His sleeves were rolled up, holding a axe in his tanned arms long hair tied into a ponytail. He raised his hand to cover his eyes from the sun to see them.
"Caius?", Nazlik gasped, "with a family?". "This is a dream", Elowyn explained silently. "This might be a dream he once had".
Suddenly a thunder disrupted their moment. Wind started to rise and dark clouds gathered on the sky. Darkness spread and covered everything. Then the rising wind carried a distant roar to them. Nazlik turned to look and saw a dark figure above the forest far away. It came closer fast. "Dragon!" she gasped. Elowyn winced, this was the same black dragon she had faced once.
With the beating of the mighty wings a dragon, black as night soared straight towards the cabin. Trees waved like a grass in the whirlwind it caused. It´s mighty roar shook the ground.
"Run children, run!" the elven woman screamed running towards them holding her belly. Caius bolted running dropping the axe. He ran after the elven woman like a wind.
She reached her children pulling them close to her body. "Caius!" her scream echoed in the creek. Dragon roared again, this time so close it shook the ground. Caius ran towards them raising his arm, a bolt of lightining shot from it striking at the dragon. It roared of pain, then inhaled with a sound of mighty bellows.
"No", Elowyn whispered in horror. She wanted to close her eyes of what was to come but couldn´t.
Caius turned to his family and gestured. A glimmering force field appeared on them folding them inside its protective cover. He turned to face the dragon, power twirling around him. "Caius!", Nazlik screamed.
Then the dragon breathed fire. It opened its gigantic mouth revealing lines of razor sharp teeth, long as swords. With a deep rumble a massive wall of fire erupted from the open mouth with the sound of thousands of forest fires. Fire engulfed the small creek completely.
Nazlik screamed falling on her knees. The dragon veered gracefully and with few mighty beatings from its wings it was gone. Dark clouds cleared from the sky revealing sun once more.
Fire raged for a few moments, then slowly died down leaving smoke and smouldering little fires behind it. The cabin was but a pile of burning rubble.
And in the yard charred bodies lay in silence.
Nazlik fell on her knees weeping, "my love...".
"That was not Caius", Elowyn whispered at the sight of it all. "That was a Caius who never became a Magister. He wasn´t strong enough to resist the dragon".
"I will kill it", Nazlik grind her teeth. "No don´t!", Elowyn gasped, "that dragon was the real Caius".
Nazlik turned to look into her eyes, "how do you know?".
Elowyn wrung her arms. A little lie would have been a easy way out of this, but she felt too close to her to do that. "I have been in his dreams, I saw that same dragon". "Oh", Nazlik said surprised, then turned to look away, "you were in his dreams" she whispered silently. Elowyn bit her lip, "we should continue our search".
She took Nazlik´s arm and the world twirled around them melting away.
Darkness was impervious all around them. Elowyn concentrated and little light appeared next to her. "Caius did that too", Nazlik said longing in her voice. "Where are we?", Elowyn gasped looking around, "these look dwarven. Are we in the Deep Roads?".
Nazlik gazed at at the tunnels around them, straight lines. Carvings and statues. "Yes, this could be Deep Roads. Caius spoke to me of them once. He went there not so long ago". She turned around, "but why are we here?".
"There must be something here, something that Caius experienced once", Elowyn said contemplating.
Like a signal the sound of battle started to echo from the distant tunnel. Explosions. Roars, inhuman sounds. Shouts and screams of men. "Come", Nazlik said determined running onward. "Remember, this is just a dream", Elowyn shouted following her.
They crossed several tunnel junctions following the noise, sounds echoed but they were able to keep following the source.
"I am a Magister of Tevinter Imperium, come and meet your death!"
Nazlik stopped in her tracks, "I know that voice, that is Caius!" she exclaimed. "It is not sure, this could be another dream him", Elowyn panted coming to her side. They sneaked around the corner and came to a opening hiding by a pile of rubble.
In the large cave behind it a infernal fight was going on. Horde of darkspawn charged against small group of Tevinter soldiers and mages. And in the forefront stood Caius. Power flashed around him and lightning struck with a tremendous force across the sea of darkspawn cutting dozens of the monsters down. A fireball followed wrapping numerous of the monsters into a fiery inferno. Dust and smoke filled the air.
"That is my Caius!" Nazlik shouted pulling her sabres, "wait for me love, I am coming!". Series of energies flashed around Caius clearing the area close to him. Black blood, body parts and intestines filled the ground. Caius raised his hands and the ground shook causing cracks appear on it and in the walls. Nazlik sprang forward cutting her way through the sea of monsters.
"That is not Caius!" Elowyn screamed but Nazlik had already disappeared into the shifting mass.
Caius raised his both hands and a volley of lightning arcs flew around him cutting down more monsters. Followed by a wave of ice freezing so many. A gigantic ogre rushed towards him roaring of pain despite the ice covering its body.
Caius took a two handed grip of his staff, a pulsating power appeared around him causing ripples to distort the air. First it only glowed lightly but then the power intensified forming a blazing sun around him illuminating the cave, obscuring his form. He had strangely serene look on his face, as if he was not present anymore.
Caius raised his staff and struck it to the ground releasing the power with a powerfull and violent boom. Destructive energy ripple expanded to all directions causing tremendous carnage. Darkspawn exploded into a bloody flesh chunks in a wide area. The whole cave shook and cracks filled it from floor to ceiling, opening up into a gigantic series of ruptures spreading through the cave. The ceiling started to give away.
Nazlik struggled through the horde her eyes locked in Caius. She saw how the gigantic ogre reached out wrapping its pawn around Caius chest when the ceiling started to fall.
Nazlik gasped as the monster struck its massive fist into Caius chest several times causing him to twich as each hit caused more blood to pour from his mouth. She could hear his rib cage crack from the distance. Then as the ceiling came crushing down burying the men and monsters alike the ogre threw his remains into the dust cloud.
"No!", Nazlik screamed running after him disappearing into the falling rubble and lingering dust.
Elowyn stood by the cave entrance as it caved in, she stumbled backwards to avoid the falling rocks. "Nazlik, what have you done?", she whispered.
Darkness moved, everything melted away. Nazlik ran forward determined. She had seen him, the true him she was sure of it. Then she was on a clearing again, this time tropical forest surrounded it. "Seheron", she whispered, "I would know this place anywhere".
Nazlik walked among the colorful flowers letting her hands gently brush them as she passed by, "I am home" she said amazed. Everything looked so real, the scents she had know from her childhood filled the air. Butterflies and colorful birds flew by. Nazlik smiled at the serenity of the place.
"Come, lets see what is here" she said but the silence made her turn. Only insects and birds responded. "Elowyn?" she asked surprised looking around, she wasn´t here with her.
No matter, she was here to find Caius and she would. Nazlik left for the clearing entrance, she didn´t want to go through the jungle. Too easy to get lost. Halfway down the second clearing she started to hear voice. Someone was pleading, "please ser, I had nothing to do with the attack, nor did my family. I´m just a poor farmer".
Nazlik sneaked closer hiding behind he trees. Then she saw him. Caius stood there, his back turned to Nazlik. She almost stepped out of the cover but then she saw the man before Caius, on his knees. In the other end of the clearing she could see a group of Imperial soldiers ready to depart. "Come on Caius, kill them and be done with it. I´m hungry, I want to leave already!" one of the soldiers shouted at him.
Now Nazlik could see there was a woman and two children covering behind the kneeling man. A cold feeling started to creep into her stomach.
"You go already, I will catch up with you later", Caius responded without removing his gaze from the man. The soldier shrugged and waved at his companions. They mounted their horses and slowly rode away.
"Please ser, I beg of you", the man begged wringing his arms. Little children wept in their mothers arms. "Sssh, please be quiet. Do not anger the good ser", she whispered to her children gazing Caius with horrified eyes.
Caius stood like a statue before them. Then he pulled slowly a small silver dagger from his belt. "Sometimes" he said, "sometimes man has to reach beyond the boundaries of normal men to achieve what he wants". The cold tone is his voice made Nazlik shiver.
Caius twiddled the dagger in his fingers. "You have a extraordinary opportunity to be a first hand witness for such attempt". "No.. " the man bemoaned.
"Blood magic", Caius said calmly, "the only magic which is supposedly banned in the Imperium. Still being the most widely used because of its advantages".
He made a small cut on his pawn, letting a small blood stream run down his hand dripping from his fingers.
"Come here" he said to the older girl in her mothers grip with a small gesture. The little girl wriggled her way out of her mothers arms with glazed eyes. "No please no" she pleaded trying to reach the child but she slipped her grasp.
"Take this" Caius said handing the dagger in her arms. "Now cut your fathers arm, here and here", he instructed like a teacher showing with his own arm. "Long cuts, and deep".
The little child turned to her father with dazed eyes. Tears fell down from the fathers eyes, "it is alright my darling, it is not your fault. Father loves you forever". If she heard him nothing revealed it, the expression on her face was stone cut.
With a swift moves she opened his arm cutting deep with the sharp blade. Her father grunted of the pain but remained as stoic as possible, for her. The wife bemoaned at the sight of it. Caius leaned down soaking his pawn in the mans blood. "Good", he whispered with a ominous voice.
The wife burst crying, "please my lord, please have mercy on us!". Caius just gazed at her silently contemplating his next move. Blood gushed out of the mans arm, the veins had been opened thoroughly. He fell slowly down turning white on his face.
Caius turned to the wife staring at her still contemplating and ignoring the mans condition, "what would you be willing to do to save him?".
He leaned towards her, "would you be willing to give your own life?". "Yes, yes I would" she exclaimed tears falling from her eyes, "please save him". A cold smile lingered on Caius lips, "it is done".
He grabbed the dagger from the girl sliding the blade gracefully over the mothers collarbone leaving a red stream behind it. She twitched of the pain but did´t cry out. The girl standing next to Caius didn´t even blink, she was still firmly under the mind control.
But her sister wasn´t, she sat there with broken eyes. Drips of drool falling from her open mouth while she breathed superficially. Her mind had found a refuge from the horror.
Caius reached out gesturing, his silent chant raised a small wind around them. Suddenly the mother blinked, she could feel the effect of the spell. Red mist lingered between them. Tiny wrinkles started to appear on her skin, her eyes started to close as if she felt dizzy. The effect on the man was the opposite. His wounds started to heal and color return to his face.
"I knew it would work!", Caius exclaimed so pleased with himself. Nazlik shivered, how could he? Experimenting on people. She felt sick to her stomach.
In a few moments the fathers wounds had almost healed and Caius raised his hand cutting the effect. "So it works too", he stroked his chin in his thoughts.
The wife lay on the ground barely breathing. "Thank you my lord for not killing us" she whispered.
"Don´t thank me yet", Caius whispered with cold eyes. With a tiny gesture the healing process was reversed once more. Husband started convulsing out of control, within a few moments he was dead. The woman cried on the ground too weak to do anything else.
"Would like to have a last word with your husband?", Caius asked compassionately. "He was, after all, your man".
"Why are you doing this?", she whispered. This time her voice was weary and fear had left it.
"Experiment, is the key word", Caius said turning to the man. He started gesturing once more accompanied with a low chant. The air started to feel colder and it seemed to be get darker despite it it was a midday in Seheron. Chill wind blew in the clearing.
Suddenly the man twitched. His wife screamed and tried to back down. "Talk to her", Caius commanded the corpse. "Kacie, my love", a eerie voice lingered in the air. "Bray?", his wife raised her head in wonderment, "is it you?".
"It is I my love" the voice responded. "I love, so much. Come back to us", she wailed. "I´m sorry my love, I can´t. But I will always love you". Caius raised his hand and the dead body twiched again, becoming limp. This time for good.
"What are you?" the wife whispered looking at Caius.
"I am the man who will change the world", Caius whispered to her. "Now, there is still one more thing...".
Nazlik had seen enough. With a roar she rushed forward from the bushes. Caius wheeled around gracefully, a arch of lightning shot from his extended arm. Nazlik could just barely evade it despite her enchanted outfit. "He is fast", she thought. "Caius" she screamed when he started gesturing power twirling around him.
Caius stopped looking at her surprised. "How do you know my name? Did the qun sent you just to kill me? You look familiar... ". Nazlik could see that this was not her Caius. It was a younger man, somewhere between 25 to 30. And his eyes were like pieces of charcoal in his face. No emotions could be seen.
"I´m here to save you" she whispered throwing her sword at him.
Elowyn could not find Nazlik. She had completely disappeared from her grasp. Her surroundings melted away and formed into a large marble room. A swimming pool took most of the space, statues and tall columns surrounded it. From the high dome sun light set its rays in illuminating the room with mirrors.
She walked slowly around the pool. This must be part of the mansion, she recalled. Vel spoke to me about it. The water was still. Then a small ripple appeared on it. It started moving towards her getting larger each moment. With a slight splash Caius surfaced from the water, he swam towards the edge with strong strokes.
Elowyn took a careful step back, there was no telling yet if this was the correct Caius. She could not pinpoint to him precisely since he was all around them. It might be another dream.
Caius reached the edge and started slowly walk out of the pool through the steps. His eyes were fixed in Elowyn. Elowyn couldn´t help but look at his body appearing from the water.
"I know you", he whispered. He raised up from the pool water dripping from his naked figure. "I know you", he exclaimed once again. Elowyn tried to concentrate on him, a dream or not?
Caius walked slowly around her his body radiating coldness of the water. "You are her", Caius leaned closer to whisper in her ear. "I have been thinking of you". His wet body brushed softly against hers while circling around her.
"Oh... ", she breathed. "Then you know Nazlik too right? We were looking for you". "I´ve been thinking of you both", he stopped before her, looking into her eyes. Caius tilted his head, he whispered with a deep smoky voice "would you like to swim with me?".
"Oh.. I mean... that is.. we should find Nazlik", Elowyn tried to collect her thoughts keeping her eyes locked with Caius eyes. They were so dark, and somehow warm. Like a smoldering campfire, somewhere there under the surface in darkness she could feel the heat. He was so close. She could see the scars on his body up and close. Even the ones down his body.
Caius moved closer, his body touched hers, "we can find her later". He reached out placing his hands around her hips, "there is time for that afterwards".
"After the swim?" Elowyn whispered. "After everything", Caius whispered placing his lips gently on hers kissing her softly with burning lips pulling her against him. He lifter her up in his arms walking towards a bed near them. "T.. the bed?", Elowyn asked bemused. "Yes.. " Caius whispered letting his lips wonder on her face with a slight brush. "Your scent... it makes me wild...".
"Shouldn´t you ask me to join you?", a voice spoke from behind them.
Caius turned around Elowyn in his arms. Nazlik stood there, naked. She walked closer with swaying hips. Caius licked his lips at the sight of it, "of course my love, there is room for all of us in the bed".
"I thought so", Nazlik said with a enticing smile.
She walked to them letting her hands wonder around Caius and Elowyn. "This is going to be interesting" Nazlik whispered with a sultry voice. "What.. " Elowyn felt disoriented, what was happening to her?
They moved slowly to the bed. Caius placed Elowyn gently on it, his hands wondered around her dress opening the fastenings. "I am good", he whispered at her, "I've had a lot of practice. You will love this".
Nazlik slid into the bed next to Elowyn. "Why don´t you come here between us and let us do the work for you this time?". Caius gazed at her for a moment, then nodded. "Why not, I am all yours". He turned around falling on his back between them. Nazlik purred letting her hand wander across his chest. Elowyn just lay there confused.
There was a metallic flash when Nazlik struck a dagger she had been hiding behind her back into Caius throat. Blood gushed on them as she twisted the blade driving it deeper through his throat. Elowyn shrieked when his blood sprayed on her face.
Nazlik kept turning the blade deeper despite Caius weakening resistance. Then his twitching stopped. "That was not Caius", Nazlik whispered her face covered with blood. "It was more like a desire or something".
"you mean?".
"There is a desire for you inside him", Nazlik smiled at her, "I´m not blind, I know Caius". She reached out to take her hand, now her shimmering armor was once again on her. "Come, we still have to find him". "How did you find me anyway?", Elowyn asked, "you are not dreamer. I thought you were lost in his dreams". "When you want something you will find a way", Nazlik whispered.
The world melted away once again.
And then they were in a small hill. Moon was shining high above in the clear night. They glanced around, "where are we?" Elowyn asked. "Does this look familiar?".
Nazlik looked around, "there is something...".
"Do you believe in destiny?" a voice spoke from the hill. Two figures sat there, their silhouettes clear against the full moon. Nazlik and Caius.
"Caius", Nazlik whispered, a plaintive smile appeared on her lips and tears started to fall down her cheek. "I know where we are, on that hill I confessed my love to him. It is his dream". Elowyn gazed at her silently, "maybe we should go".
She took her arm and world turned once again.
Sun shined. The world was full of flowery scent. flowers, thousands of flowers dotted the field. Small trees in full bloom covered in flowers stood around them.
"Oh, this is beautiful", Nazlik exclaimed, "can you smell that scent?". Elowyn gazed around, "air is full of it, we should look around".
They walked onward through the field. Sun shined and butterflies flew around them. Everything seemed so cheerful. Then they heard laughter fill the air. "Listen" Elowyn whispered. Laughter filled the air once again, it sounded like a young woman, then a voice of a young man joined.
They glanced at each other and sneaked closer between the small trees. In a small clearing, among the flowers they saw a young man and a elven woman sitting. Those two were entangled in a wild kiss and did not notice their presence. These were a younger version of the two they had met in the first time.
Nazlik took a step forward. The elven woman turned startled by the sound. "Look Caius!" she whispered shivering, "a qunari!". Young Caius turned to look at them with his brow furrowed. "We have to leave, now!". He jumped up taking her hand.
Within a few moments they had disappeared between the trees. "Let´s see where they go", Nazlik said, "might as well do it".
Behind the trees there was a another flowery meadow. In the center of it was a black hole, like a ugly cut on the face of this little clearing, punctured and spoiled the lovely scene. They approached it carefully.
Blood and pus covered the rim of the hole. Steps covered by decay and blood led the way down into darkness. A foul wind blew from it, bringing the smell of rotten in their noses. Elowyn wrinkled her nose, "yak! That smell!". Something red pulsated there, deep down. Like a beating of a heart.
"I think we need to go down there. I can feel a presence", Elowyn said holding her nose.
Nazlik nodded and stepped on the first step, "it is slippery, watch your step".
Down the steps, through dark stone tunnel they went. Something oozed from the ceiling and walls, "It is blood" Nazlik whispered. Blood dripped on them as if the stone itself was crying with tears of blood. Elowyn cast a light to guide their way. Eerie voices echoed, silent whispers followed them.
Finally the stairs ended. Through a stone hallway dominated by high columns they reached a large doorway, and from beyond it the red light pulsated. Nazlik took Elowyn´s arm and they walked into a large hall.
The walkway they were on was raised above the floor level. Nazlik gasped. Pools of blood surrounded them, occasionally a small ripple broke the surface as if something was swimming beneath the surface.
Bodies, torn and cut hung from the ceiling in different heights. Wailing and cries filled the air. Nazlik walked onward shocked. "Where are we?". She winced as a face appeared in the blood, pleading. Bloody eyes filled with horror. Elowyn jumped in her side as a arm reached for her from the blood, "please, please have mercy on me".
In the center of the hall, surrounded by blood stood a throne. Standing on a elevated platform where steps led. Fires burned around the throne casting flickering lights on it and the man sitting on it.
"Caius", Nazlik whispered, "finally". Elowyn gazed at him cautiously, "he looks strange".
Caius leaned on the stone arm rest resting his chin on his pawn. His gaze was cast down, as if he was musing over something.
"Caius!" Nazlik stepped forward, "it´s me my love!". Caius twitched, he raised his head looking at them. "Nazlik?", a whisper left from his lips. A figure stepped forward from the shadow of the throne. A naked Nazlik stepped softly at Caius side placing her hand on his arm. "What is it my love?".
"Demon", Elowyn gasped, "a desire demon". Nazlik grunted at the sight of it, "Caius, that is not me! Look at me!".
Desire Nazlik standing next to Caius wrapped her arm around his shoulders letting her fingers run across his chest. She took a gently grip of Caius chin turning him to look at her. "There is nothing here my love, just a dream of the past pestering you. I am here". She leaned forward for a kiss, a long and twisty tongue slipped between Caius lips. She kissed him passionately.
Nazlik roared with rage, "get your hands of him!".
Desire turned to look at them, she licked her lips winking at them. "Tasty..." her whisper taunted them. Then her hand started wonder down Caius chest and slipping into his pants. She tilted her head with a teasing smile. "Mine, all mine.. " her steamy voice filled the air.
Nazlik took a step forward pulling her sabres, Elowyn called for her mana.
"Stop right there", desire demon hissed. "I have waited so long for him. So long I have been bound to him by his will. So long have I wanted him. And now I have him. I found him wandering in the darkest of dreams, my love" she touched Caius cheek. "I will never let him go!". She leaned forward with a wicked smile, "the dragon is finally mine".
Like a signal the wailing and crying around them intensified. Shadowy figures raised from the blood pools with their mouths open, pleading and begging.
"You see, my love has been a bad man. This all is a reflection of what he has done in his life. The lives he has taken or destroyed. The pain he has been sharing to others for the pain he felt", the demon gestured around them.
She turned to them with exultant look on her face, "and now you will witness my love in his full glory! Rise my dragon!".
Caius stood up from the throne. A dark shadow expanded from him. It grew into a gigantic size stretching itself. A pair of massive wings started to beat the air above the throne.
"Come on, we have to run!" Elowyn screamed taking Nazlik hand. They turned to run down the walkway. Escorted by the high pitch laughter of the demon. Nazlik grind her teeth, "No! I will not leave him for this demon!". She pulled her hand free and turned around.
A massive pitch black dragon stood over the throne looking at them with fiery eyes smoke rising between its massive jaws. Its roar shook the hall causing rocks fall from the ceiling and all the shadow figures wailed and cried.
"Kill the demon! I will take care of Caius!", Nazlik shouted running towards the dragon. The dragon bent its massive hind legs and sprang in the air. Elowyn fade stepped right next to the demon. She gestured and a powerful lightning arc shot at the demon. In the dream her dreamer ability amplified her power throwing the demon far across the hall screaming. Oh! I did that?, Elowyn thought surprised, but it felt like there was something else behind it too.
The dragon was distracted by this and Nazlik took advantage of it. She sprang high in the air grabbing the dragon by its front leg. Dragon veered through the air in a tight turn towards the demon. Its pain and distress had called Caius back. Nazlik climbed taking firm grips from the large black scales. She fought hard to keep her grip while the wind threatened to throw her off.
"Caius!" She screamed climbing towards the head. Elowyn fade stepped to the other end of the hall next to the demon. "Let him go and I will not kill you!" she screamed. Desire demon stood up wiping blood from its mouth, still in Nazlik´s form. "Oh the little vren, still dancing on the edge. Watch out, or the dragon will swallow you completely and you will loose yourself never to return", she grinned at Elowyn. "I have seen this, little black dragon". She leaned forward hissing, "there is no happy ending for him".
Elowyn called for her power, a massive burst of lightning struck the demon raising it against the wall twitching and screaming. How is it I am so powerful?", Elowyn could not help but wonder. Then she caught a blood red mist flowing to her from the pools. She was feeding from Caius for strength!
The scream of the demon made the dragon roar of pain. It inhaled like a massive bellows were being worked, then a soaring burst of fire shot from it´s open mouth. Elowyn fade stepped away and the fire engulfed the demon. It scream faded away.
Nazlik climbed on the dragons head. "I´m sorry my love", she whispered and struck her blades into the dragons neck. A massive roar of pain shook the gigantic hall and it started to crumble. The dragon fell face down on the blood pools causing a tidal wave of blood roll through the hall.
Elowyn saw the crash landing, "Nazlik!" she gasped and fade stepped to the throne. There, at the bottom of the steps she found Nazlik sitting with Caius in her lap. "I saved you my love", she whispered wiping the blood of Caius face. She reached down and kissed him. Caius twitched and their eyes met. "Time to wake up love", she whispered softly. Caius glanced around him. "No! You shouldn´t be here! you shouldn´t see this!", he reached out and touched Nazlik´s forehead.
Nazlik vanished like a morning mist under the sun. "Why did you do that?" Elowyn gasped, "she came here to save you!". Caius stumbled on his feet, the hall started to crumble all around them.
"There is no time! I know who tried to assassinate me. You need to take me to the Knight Commander" Caius reached out and took Elowyn in his arms. "You need to help me kill him".
"Right now? Shouldn´t we go back first, awake you?".
"No, they are going to make move on me. Demon showed it. We need to go now!", Caius said firmly. "Can you still find him?". Elowyn thought of the tall man standing next to the divine. Somewhere in distance she felt a little pull. "I... I think I can", she whispered worried.
"Use me, use my power to reach him", Caius said looking into her eyes. Elowyn put her arms on his cheeks and the world twirled around them.
The Knight Commander sat in a nice chair by the fire. Reading a book. A serene sleep.
Caius leaned forward towards him, "I can´t do it". He said silently, "I don´t have your power here. You will have to kill him". Caius handed her a silver dagger, "cut his throat".
Elowyn winced, that was a brutal murder. She knew killing him here would not result on equal death in the waken world but he would still be dead.
Caius placed his hands on her shoulders, "please, do it for me. For us". Elowyn heartened herself, for him. for us. The words of the demon echoed in her mind, little black dragon. She reached out her hand and placed the dagger on Knight Commanders throat. She felt so confused. She closed her eyes, please forgive me. Then she pulled the blade across his throat and blood gushed out from the massive wound. With a slight flash the Knight Commander disappeared along with his dream.
He is dead by my hand.
"Thank you", Caius said softly. The world twirled around them and sun shined once again. Flowery field stretched out into the horizon all around them. Caius turned her to face him, "you saved me my vren" he whispered hoarsely placing his lips gently on hers. Their power hummed all around them forming a massive hurricane pulling their clothes and hair. The world exploded as their powers intertwined.
Elowyn opened her eyes in her bed, he is awake. And I brought him back.*
Thanks for that!
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