ROGUE🖤 (Cole x OC! Lavellan) ✓ [COMPLETED]

Ch. 23 *Well of Sorrows*

COLE
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We run up the steps to confront Abelas and Morrigan, who is now in her human form after she chased Abelas as a raven.
Nalia stops running and holds her arm out for us to stop to.
She looks at Nalia. "You heard his parting words Inquisitor. The Elf seeks to destroy the Well of Sorrows!"

Nalia steps forward just as Abelas steps backs. "So the sanctum is despoiled at last," he says in a low voice, eyes glancing between Nalia and Morrigan.
"You would have destroyed the Well, given the chance," Morrigan snarls, standing beside Nalia.

"To keep it from your grasping fingers!" Abelas shouts, "better it be lost then bestowed upon the undeserving."

"Fool! You'd let your people's legacy rot in the shadows." Morrigan says sharply.
"Calpernia thought the Well's knowledge was valuable. It could help stop Corypheus," Nalia points out through soft words. She's trying to be kind to him, unlike Morrigan, but her words don't help.

"I care nothing for your petty conflicts, dalish," Abelas snarks, which makes Nalia's eyes fill with anger.
"You'll care when Corypheus arrives for the Well," she says through an annoyed tone, hands clenching into fists.

Morrigan turns towards Nalia. "The Well clearly offers power, Nalia. If that power can be turned against Corypheus, can you afford not to use it?"

Abelas shakes his head. "Do you even know what you ask?" He stares into the crystal clear water in the Well. "As each servant of Mythal reached the end of there years, they would pass there knowledge through this..." He looks at Nalia. "All that we were, all that we knew, would be lost forever."

Nalia steps closer to the Well. "I'm sorry," she whispers, eyes glinting just a little if you look close enough.

For a silent moment, he stares at Nalia like he can see her spirit.
He knows she's a good person...one who wouldn't be selfish with power, but selfless. One who would help rather then destroy.
"You have shown respect to Mythal. And there is a righteous in you I cannot deny." He approaches Nalia. "Is that your desire? To partake of the Vir'Abelasan as best you can, to fight your enemy?"
"Not without your permission," Nalia responds, meeting his gaze.

He shakes his head. "One does not obtain permission, Nalia. One obtains the right." Abelas walks away, before stopping. "The Vir'Abelasan may be too much for a mortal to comprehend. Brave it if you must, but know this: you shall be bound forever to the will of Mythal."

My eyes widen.

"Bound? To a Goddess who no longer exists, if she ever did?" Morrigan asks, a hint of acid in her tone as she crosses her arms.

"Bound as we are bound," he nods at Nalia. "The choice is yours."
She hesitates for a moment, until, "you could come with us. Fight Corypheus, he killed your people."
Abelas laughs softly, but it's not a joyful sound. "We killed ourselves, long ago." He turns and walks away, leaving us alone with the Well of Sorrows.

Morrigan stares at the water. "I did not expect the Well to feel so..." She trails off, "hungry."
There's a strong desire in her eyes for one taste of that water, it raises high alert in my chest.

Nalia grabs her arm. "Let's not be reckless, I don't want anyone hurt."
She stares at Nalia. "I am willing to pay the price the Well demands, Nalia. And I am also the best suited to use it's knowledge in your service."

Nalia let's her go in an instant, taking a step back. "What's to stop you from taking the knowledge and leaving?" She glares.
Morrigan looks like she's being threatened, but she tries to hide it well. "My word," she says, "if that seems insufficient, Corypheus threaten's all, even myself. We must stop him."