Spellbound

31. End of All Jokes

Memories of the first moment Lavellan had entered this place flashed in front of his eyes when the doors opened for him. This time, he was alone, no massive Tal-Vashoth by his side. Fenris wasn't the one to open the door either, but the elf girl recognised Lavellan right away even when he didn't wear the servants' uniform.

"You're back," she breathed in surprise as she pulled the door further ajar. She trusted him, despite the murder shining in his eyes. Her awe was too great to question what his plans might be. As his eyes skimmed the hall beyond her pointed ears, he saw neither the Bull nor Dorian around. Perhaps they had taken a detour after dropping them off in Kirkwall.

"Has the master returned? We split for a mission." Cynicism dripped from every word, and it made her wonder.

Before she had to sort her thoughts into an answer, the noise of a door interrupted her. Lavellan's eyes flicked to the upper left gallery to see the middle door had opened and out strode Dorian. Goldie curled around his fingers and he wore one of the impressive coats that decorated him with wide shoulder pads and a billowing cape. Doused in gold and velvet and with slivers of his chest and stomach on display, he stepped to the railing.

For a moment, the mage just looked at Lavellan. Dorian was stunned to see him even after noticing his presence drawing in, and he was keenly aware of the thinly veiled menace the elf exuded.

"I am here," he said when Lavellan lifted his brow. Void of all jests, his voice was alert to the purpose of Lavellan's visit.

"Good. I would have chased you down if you hadn't been." Lavellan sidestepped the servant before she could protest and went for the stairs. Apprehensive, Dorian watched how Lavellan drew in.

His rage threatened to burst out of his chest, but the Dalish suppressed it with icy disappointment. Since he didn't want any servant to get hurt in the crossfire, he would wait until he was alone with Dorian to address his fury.

"A word?" Lavellan nodded down the corridor leading to Dorian's room before they could get close enough for Dorian to reach out to him.

Wary of his intentions, the mage nodded. The tables had turned. He knew not to trust Lavellan in the same way Lavellan hadn't trusted him.

They walked down the corridor in stiff silence. The Bull's office was empty and even when the mansion was the same, it felt different to visit as a free man. Lavellan had no reason to duck his head or slink through the shadows. With his bow on his back and his chin held high, he followed Dorian into his room.

Lavellan let a beat pass so Dorian could close the door and put Goldie on the shelf next to it. As soon as the subtle white shimmer in the air alerted Lavellan that a silencing spell swallowed their noise from reaching outside, he leapt at Dorian. Brutal fists bunched into his collar and slammed the mage's back against the door. Having expected as much, Dorian didn't make a sound.

"Why are you here?" Dorian gritted out between his teeth as Lavellan's rage-contorted features faced him. The mage's hands laid on his elbows on alert, but he didn't peel Lavellan off yet.

Lavellan sneered at him and his stupidly attractive face.

"Someone ditched me in the middle of nowhere without saying a word. I came for an explanation." He hauled Dorian off the door and shoved him into the room. The mage stumbled, stunned by his authority, as he got pushed to his bed. When the edge caught his knees and he fell to sit on it, Lavellan halted to stare down at him. His arms crossed, warning Dorian of the agility in using his bow if he said anything wrong.

Dorian's brows drew together.

"You wanted to be free. I freed you, that's all there is to it."

"You freed me, that much is true," Lavellan hissed. His eyes flashed, reminiscent of the wild cats that fought even wolves if they were moody. "Did you think about anything but your selfish heroism for a second? Since you never bothered to ask what I wanted, you must have been oh so confident in this arrangement."