Solavellan

Nightmares

Lavellan's P.O.V

I opened my eyes. This dark and gloomy place is unfamiliar to me. Searching for my companions, I stood. Solas was standing nearby dusting his dirty clothes with his hands. I spun around to see Cole standing on a nearby rock, while Dorian stood upside down on an arch above where Cole was. Cole looked extremely nervous. I turned to the right to see Hawke sideways on another arch whilst Stout was lying on the top of that arch.

"I can't believe it..." Solas' voice trailed off. I turned to face him. "We're physically in The Fade." He wore a look of awe on his face.

"How did we get here?" I asked, stepping towards him.

"I am unsure, perhaps it was your mark that sent us here." He stared at my glowing hand, confused.

"No, no, no, no, no! I can't be here like, not like this."

"What's wrong Cole?" I walked towards him.

"I can't be here, not like this, I can't be here! This is bad, very, very bad."

"Calm down Cole. You will be fine. Your spirit is safe, it won't be corrupted. You are safe here Cole. We'll protect you." Solas told him.

His eyes were darting around, his arms brought up close to his chest, fear radiated from him.

"Cole, don't worry. Everything will be okay, I'll protect you." Dorian lay his hand on Cole's shoulder, and with that, all fear disappeared. Cole stood up straight, his arms returned to his side, his eyes were locked on Dorian's eyes. Dorian keeps Cole calm.

Now that Cole was calm, Stroud decided to speak. "So... How are we going to escape?"

They all exchanged several more comments, but I did not hear them. I was focused on a faint white light in the near distances. I snapped out of my stupor when I no longer heard their wordless voices.

"We should keep moving, Vhenan."

"Of course." I began to move towards the light, the others followed.

Once we rounded a corner, the light began to take form. At first, an oval, then once closer, a body. Then closer still, a female. As we drew nearer and nearer, we realised.

"No..." I heard Hawke speak, "it cannot be." Stroud finished his sentence for him.

I stopped, gobsmacked.

"Do not be alarmed, I am here to help." It said.

"But you're dead," I replied. "You cannot be her."

"But I am, dear child." She was floating slowly towards us.

"She is not her, she is a spirit. A representation of her." Solas came and stood by my side as he said this. I took hold of his hand.

"I am still here to help. You see The Fade around us? It is sick. It is being controlled by a demon who is feeding off fear. The bigger it gets, the more control it has. It can cause people to feel fear, which it then feeds off."

"Is that thing the reason why the Grey Wardens are all hearing the calling at once?" Stroud asked the spirit.

"It is one of its abilities yes." It replied.

"How can we trust you?" Hawke stepped towards the spirit.

"You, you do not remember how you escaped the conclave do you?" The spirit asked, pointing at me

"No, I do not," I replied.

"This creature, it took something from you, it took your memories. They are still here, roaming The Fade. You must fight these spirits and kill them to regain your memory, which is your only hope to escape this place." Spirits closed in around us, as our noise attracted their attention. The six of us made short work of them.