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( @aly-the-writer Borrowed Ris <3)
That was all Dalion could utter, his words being broken off as he let out another choked sob.
He had never wanted it to go this way. Never wanted to get stuck in the fade, physically. Never wanted to put his friends and loved ones in danger.
Never wanted to send one of them off to die.
As he looked into the face of the man that had practically raised him, the man that had saved him from being killed, the man that had patted his back and welcomed him to the wardens when he survived the joining, the man that had seen something in a small broken teen worth saving...
Dalion couldn’t make this choice. He couldn’t.
Stroud just smiled grimly at him, hands reaching out to grip Dal’s shoulders firmly, pulling him in for one last hug between adopted Father and son...
Stroud just shook his head, sighing softly, one hand coming up to rest atop the small Elf’s head, hoping to comfort him some.
“I must, my boy...I won’t let you die here. Not now. Not today...My time is coming to an end...But you’ve still got so much left. You must go...For me...”
Dalion shook his head furiously. Why? Why did it have to be Stroud? Why couldn’t Dalion choose Hawke? Why?! Why was he so weak...
But as much as he wanted to scream no and take both of them with him through the rift, back into the land of the living, the mortals, the physical world...
He knew he couldn’t. It just wasn’t possible.
And he couldn’t say no either. Not when he reluctantly pulled back and saw Stroud’s face smiling down at him, filled with so much pride. Dalion didn’t know why he was directing it at him. Dal felt like he had already failed him...
And so Dalion did. Forcing himself to turn around, to stop looking at his Father, he waited until he heard the massive spider like creature scream in agony.
Then he and his friends made a break for it.
One by one they ran through the rift. One by one until it was only Dalion and his best friend, Aristide Amell left, who was clutching his friends hand tightly in his own. As if he was worried he’d lose Dalion.
“We need to go, Dal! Come on!”
Dalion heard him, but he couldn’t respond. He couldn’t help it. On impulse, he looked back.
He saw Stroud fighting as hard as he could. Saw him swinging his sword back and forth, actually getting some decent hits on the creature. He had blood running down his forehead, dripping into his eye, but he didn’t seem to care.
Then he locked eyes with Dalion, giving him a smile.
And just like that, Stroud’s eyes widened, mouth gaping open like a fish out of water. Dalion watched as he slowly looked down, finally seeing the long claw like appendage piercing right through his middle.
As soon as it retracted again, Stroud collapsed, a pool of blood immediately forming beneath him.
That also snapped Dalion out of whatever shock filled trance he had been in.
Dalion tried to get to him. He did. But he forgot he had a hand attached to his own. As soon as he tried to run, he was yanked back forcefully. When he tried again, two arms wrapped around his waist, lifting him up off of the ground.
“Dammit Dalion, stop it!!! We need to go!!!”
Ris sounded desperate and conflicted, almost as if he wanted to go too, but he knew he had to get the two of them to safety. But Dal wouldn’t stop it. He kept fighting. He kicked at the air, fingers scratching at the hands keeping him securely on the spot.
“LET ME GO. LET ME GO LET ME GO. DAD! DAD!!! RIS LET ME GO YOU BASTARD HE NEEDS ME PLEASE LET ME GO!!!!!”
But Ris didn’t. Instead, he flung himself through the rift, keeping a tight hold of Dalion the entire time.
When the two of them came crashing out, on their knees, Ris still holding onto Dalion to some degree, a hand clutched in his jacket, all was silent.
Then the Inquisitor, who was supposed to be strong. Who was supposed to keep it together no matter what, to be a example to his soldiers.
Started sobbing on the spot. Hands immediately flying up to cover his face. His entire body shook with the force of his grief, and he felt as if he could hardly breathe at all.
He heard a small “Oh Dal...” coming from beside him, before he was pulled into the warm, if a little sweaty, embrace of Ris. A comfort he sorely needed.
Normally Dal would have felt embarrassed, crying in front of others like this. He was almost sure that if it got back to Vivienne, she would lecture him some on not keeping up the proper image to maintain morale.
But right now, he didn’t care. He had a gaping wound in his heart that was bleeding so heavily he feared it would never stop.
