Dragon Age Inquisition: Nelora's Tale

Nightmares

Trees were swaying in the wild wind, their branches filled with greying leaves that whipped around the ground. The world around Nelora was hazy, and she couldn't see more than a few feet ahead of her. The elf's white hair blowing furiously in the wind, and she glanced back hearing footsteps running towards her.

"Nel! Save him, I'll catch up, just save him!" someone screamed at her, and Nelora took off running where she heard the screaming of another. Blindly crashing through burning bushes and, bounding over rocks and fallen trees. 'Save him!' Another scream. Fire. Smoke. Air becoming thick and throat tightening. 'Fire! Save him! Where is he?' Vision obscured with smoke. Thick, black, choking smoke. Nelora screamed out a name she couldn't make out. A faint whine answered her. 'Save him!'

"Sister! Help me! The fire! I'm trapped!"

"Where are you?!" She screamed back, her face wet. Tears. Her hand went up to her face, and she pulled her hand back. No... not tears. Blood. Shaking her head, Nelora stared at her hand. Bright red blood. Trickling down her scratched up face, and dropping down to stain the dirt below.

"Nelora! Behind you. Behind you Da'len!" Cold steel. A blade went up to her neck. Snickering, sneering, jeering voices. Fiery pain. The blade pulled away from Nelora's neck with a sickening slice. Blood dripping down her chest. Snap! Arm twisted back, and bent.

"Ahhhhhh!" The mage screamed, the sound drowned out at the sound of the fire drawing closer. Roaring, crackling.

"We're not done yet. Flat-ear abomination." Sneered a voice in her ear as Nelora tried to curl up. Templar. Magic draining. Blood boiling. Pain.

"Nelora! Burning! Pain!" Her ears went back as she heard the agonizing cries of the person she was suppose to save. The templar grabbed her wrist, and pulled up on her broken arm.

"Please..." Hiccup, cough, "let me go..." Glinting teeth, laughing.

"Oh, but we're not done sweetheart!" The man sneered, then his eyes went wide. He coughed, grip loosening on her wrist. Blood, pain filled eyes. The man slumped forward, dead. Mixing colors, red, orange, black, grey... 'Save him! No, he's dead. Save yourself!'

"I'm here! Come on! Here, lean on my shoulder. Creators is that your blood?! Just hang in there." Blackness. Comforting, calling.

"Go Da'len! Hurry!" the woman pushed her forward, and she ran. And ran. Before collapsing well away from the burning forest. 'Sleep...'

Nelora jerked awake, drenched in sweat. Her eyes whipped around the room, and she tilted her head. A nightmare... Nelora took a shuddering breath of air, and placed her face in her hands. It was all just those memories. A shuffle of boots on the floor drew Nelora from her thoughts, and she looked over.

"My lady?" a page was watching her warily from the door of her quarters, his eyes concerned. "There is a... uh problem." That was all she had to hear. The elf jumped up, and quickly got dressed into a pair of trousers, and grabbed her night shirt. Nelora usually slept in a tank top with just her underwear on, and the page looked away when she sprung out of her bed. The mage pushed past the page, through her doors, and looked over to see a few people gathered by the main hall doors, mainly her friends, and a few soldiers. Whats going on? She wondered and walked over to the gathering people. She saw Cassandra, Varric, and Leliana speaking quietly with each other, their voices humming with concern. Varric looked up as Nelora walked over, and she paused as she saw the look in his eyes.

"There you are Snowflake. We didn't want to wake you, but... It seems we have to." He murmured. Nelora blinked, unused to the new nickname Varric had given her, but the thought of it disappeared.