Sparkler and the Wolf

56: Fear Demon

Fenris had been fighting demons for as long as he could recall. Each swing of his sword felled another and another only to be replaced by three more. He couldn't remember how he'd gotten here or even where here was.

He sliced his way through a dozen more, sweat dripping from his forehead when a voice broke the silence and his blood froze in his veins.

"Ah my little wolf. Still so very skilled I see."

Fenris turned to glare at the figure of Danarius who smirked at him from the edge of the clearing he was in.

"You're dead Danarius." He growled. "I ripped your throat out."

Danarius made a disappointed sound in his throat, taking a few steps into the clearing and moving closer. "Yes well, that was unfortunate but now you're here. I've missed you terribly little wolf. Such a good and obedient pet you were."

"Stay away from me Danarius." Fenris growled.

Danarius laughed, ignoring him as he closed the distance further until less than ten feet separated them. "I've no intention of touching you pet. Much as I've missed using your body like the tool I designed it to be, I have another purpose in mind."

Fenris scowled and took a step back, not liking the glint in Danarius' eyes or the smile that twisted his lips. "I'll kill you here as well Danarius. You'll do nothing but die."

The former Magister chuckled and flicked his wrist, trapping Fenris in a light static cage. Fenris growled and fought the magic holding him, furious he hadn't just cut Danarius down the moment he'd spoken.

"No I don't think you will. Your new master is a necromancer. With your lyrium and his magic... well, death isn't as permanent as most like to believe."

Fenris felt his blood go cold. "Leave him out of this Danarius." He hissed. "Leave him alone. It's me you want, you have me."

"Really pet? I expected you to know me better than that. Why would I want you when I can use him to live again? You're already here. I have no doubt he will follow in some heroic effort to free you. All I have to do is wait."

"I will not let you have him Danarius! I'll kill you first!"

"Oh hush Fenris." Danarius sighed, waving a hand at him. "Time for a nap I think."

Fenris' vision went black and he struggled against the invisible tendrils of magic that held him immobile. When he could see again, he was in a clearing and couldn't remember how he'd gotten there. Danarius' laughter rang in his head, his chest tight with pain that the Magister's ghost could somehow hurt Dorian. He scowled at that and stalked forward through a stand of trees. He had to find and kill Danarius. He knew the Magister had threatened to hurt Dorian, but the details of what he'd said were lost. He had to stop Danarius before Dorian found him, he would not let that monster hurt his amatus.

----xxx----

Dorian followed Cullen into the room, Sera and Varric hanging back while they looked inside. Dorian sucked in a breath at what he saw. Fenris was standing in the centre of the room. His gauntlets had been removed but he was still dressed in his leathers. He held his sword out and to the side, his eyes wide and flicking from side to side. He was breathing hard as though he'd just been in a battle, but didn't react to their presence.

Along the walls were more crates filled with red lyrium, enough that it seemed to make the far wall glow red. "Vishante kaffas!" Dorian swore and Fenris turned to him, sword raised. "Venhedis."He added more softly and Fenris lowered his sword. Dorian motioned for Cullen to step out of the room and followed, swearing under his breath.

"I assume this is bad." Cullen muttered. "You seem to recognize whatever that is in there."

Dorian grunted, closing his eyes against the headache forming behind them. "Only in textbooks Commander."

"How do we help him?" Cullen asked.

"What's happening?" Sera frowned, joining them.

"Something dangerous is my guess." Varric murmured.

"I'll have to... contain him a moment while the rest of you get that lyrium out of the room. It's feeding the spell, strengthening it." Dorian sighed.

"What do you mean, contain him?"

"Freeze him in place? Stun him? I don't know Cullen. But I have to immobilize him to make it safe for you to get the lyrium out. He can't see us, but he's reacting to our presence which means he can hear us but doesn't recognize our voices."

"What?! You mean grumpy might kill one of us if we make too much noise?" Sera exclaimed.

Dorian nodded.

"But why?" She persisted.

"It's a nightmare Sera. He's seeing his fears. It's the nature of the spell Rilienus cast on him to keep him from trying to escape."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the mage who cast the blood magic spell is now dead, shouldn't the spell be broken?" Varric wondered.

"Normally yes, but Rilienus was infected with red lyrium. It's not going to dissipate. I'll have to enter the Fade to break it's hold on him."

"Which means this is going to be very dangerous." Cullen sighed.

"Yes." Dorian sighed.

"Let's get to it then."

They returned to the room, Dorian wincing as he cast winter's grasp on Fenris freezing him in place. Cullen and the two rogues moved through the room, taking the crates of lyrium out and returning for more until they were all gone.

"Now what?" Varric grunted, staring at Fenris who stared through them, his mouth set in a grim line.

"Now the two of you leave and Cullen helps me reach Fenris."

"Shit." Varric huffed. "Come on Buttercup. Let's pile those crates somewhere we can bury them under a lot of rocks when we're done here."

"Fine."

Cullen waited until they left before fixing Dorian with a hard stare. "It's not as simple as you told them is it?"

"No." Dorian admitted. "I need your help with this. You'll have to restrain him when he comes back from the Fade. Physically, he's mostly here, but not all. When I bring that part out, he won't be able to tell right away what's real and what's not. He'll probably attack me. I can counter that a little with a haste spell, but..."

"But the odds are high he'll hurt you before he knows what's happened."

Dorian nodded.

"Is there no other way?"

"No. Just... if the worst happens... please don't let him think any of it is his fault."

Cullen's eyes went wide as Dorian's words sunk in. "You think he's going to kill you. No Dorian. You can't think this is a good plan and he wouldn't either."

"It doesn't matter. I can't leave him like this, he'll die."

"So you'll sacrifice yourself instead?"

Dorian scowled at him. "He wouldn't even be here if not for me."

Fenris growled behind them, drawing their attention as the ice around the elf's legs began melting fast.

"We're out of time Commander. This is what's going to happen. I'm going to enter the Fade and remove the magical links holding him there. When I come back, I'll cast haste. All you need do is grab him from behind before he can reach me all right? Don't touch him before that or he'll attack you."

"I don't like this plan Dorian." Cullen grumbled.

"Noted. But I have to be close to him to find the links in the Fade. It's the only way."

"Fine. I'll be ready."

"Good."