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peopleofthedas2011-09-01 11:02 pm
sagacious_rage) wrote in peopleofthedas2011-09-01 11:02 pm
So Blind in the Sun, Chapter 1: Justinian
Title: Justinian
Rating: This chapter: PG
Pairing F!Hawke/Sebastian
Warnings: none in this chapter
Word Count: 1034
Chapter Summary: Laica has some bad dreams, which leads to some very big problems.
Story Summary: The Chantry is in ruins, the Gallows has been annulled, and Laica Hawke has been named Viscountess of Kirkwall and is betrothed to Prince Sebastian Vael. But happily-ever-after is for fairy tales.
Author's Note: This sequel to the Let Love Go series was written for the Bioware Bang on LiveJournal. It's fourteen parts, including prologue and epilogue, so I will be updating Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next seven weeks. I've never done it like this before! The amazing cover art was provided by the incredibly talented Ashmouth. This fic also had a lot of very, very helpful betas. In no particular order:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
xogs, zuelie, jessicajones, and neaira
Justinian
Laica
The smell of blood always sickened Laica. It was an odd problem for a healer to have, and she worked very hard at controlling it. But it never really went away.
Anders' blood reeked like nothing she had ever encountered. It was thick, dark red, almost black, and the smell stuck to her skin and in her nose no matter how many times she scrubbed her hands with lavender and rose scented soap.
The smell found its way into her dreams, where it was accompanied by the feeling of the hot blood on her hands, and the sound of Vengeance screaming in her mind as Anders bled out on her robes, staining them with the thick, dark black-red of his blood.
So she simply stopped sleeping. It seemed a sensible choice. If sleep made her vulnerable to the demon of Vengeance, then she would not sleep.
She spent her time in the infirmary, working to heal the injured. It was touchy business, healing Templars after annulling the Gallows. Most refused to be touched by her magic at all, and she was forced to rely on bandages and splints.
It was when she was first bandaging the wound on Knight-Captain Cullen's side that she felt the first whispers. You are weary, a seductive voice curled inside her ear, I can help.
Laica started and turned to see nobody there.
“What is it?” Cullen asked, reaching for his sword, which was laying next to him on the cot. “Did you feel something?”
“No! No, nothing at all,” Laica said quickly, returning to her work. “This would go much quicker if you would let me--”
“No,” he interrupted flatly. “This will suffice.”
You should use your magic anyway, the voice murmured, think of how much better he will feel once you've healed him.
“He said he didn't want it,” Laica whispered to herself. “Be quiet.” She cleared her throat and looked up at Cullen, who was observing her closely. “Um... lift up your arms, if you please.”
He did as she asked and she wound the bandage around his torso, doing her level best to not notice how well-defined his musculature was. He is a very attractive man, the voice purred. Laica screwed her eyes shut and took a deep breath as she tied the bandage securely. “Be quiet,” she whispered with more urgency. She straightened up and pressed her hands into her aching lower back, sighing. “That should keep you in one piece. Be sure to return tomorrow so we can change the dressing.”
Cullen nodded and reached for his shirt as Laica turned to go wash her hands again, stumbling slightly with weariness. Let me help you, the voice whispered seductively. You will help so many people. You will not feel tired or sore. They will all be so grateful.
“Stop it,” she choked back tears of exhaustion as she scrubbed her hands with lavender soap. “I won't listen. You are wasting your time.” She sluiced warm water over her hands, which were cracking and bleeding after her vigorous efforts. Hissing at the pain, she wiped her hands on her apron and moved on to the next patient, a Hightown shopkeeper who had been struck by falling debris after the Chantry explosion.
She crouched in front of her with a sigh. “Do you mind if I use healing magic on you?”
“No,” said the ashen-faced woman.
Laica nodded and began to gather her will. She frowned as the Veil felt tattered and loose, energy rushing at her when it should have been harder to grasp. See how I help you, the voice beckoned. I can help you even more, if you will let me.
Laica struggled to close the tatters in the Veil. “I won't let you. I don't need it. I don't want it. Go away.”
The shopkeeper stared at her. “Champion? Are you alright?”
Laica took a deep breath. “I'm perfectly fine, serah. Just... perhaps a bit tired. You understand, of course.”
The shopkeeper nodded slowly. “Perhaps... it would be better if you did not use magic after all.”
“If you wish,” Laica conceded, hiding her relief as she stood to fetch bandages and gauze.
You should use magic anyway, the voice slid against her ear and into her mind. You should not ask. You should simply do. They will thank you.
“That's unethical,” she hissed at the supply chest, gathering her supplies. “People have a right to determine what sort of treatment they prefer and I won't force it on anybody.”
They fear because they don't understand. They don't understand because they do not see. If you show them, they will understand and thank you for helping them, insisted the voice.
“That's not true, demon,” she grit her teeth. “Leave me be.”
And this is how you repay my kindness? The voice roared in her ears and tore at her will. With accusations?
Laica clapped her hands to her ears as her knees gave out under her. “Leave me be!” she cried as she crumpled.
An arm wrapped around her waist, catching her before she hit the ground. She sagged against the person, whose surprising strength supported her. A rough cleansing washed over her as the person's hand stroked down her face and side.
The Templar's will enveloped her like a smothering blanket, and Laica clung to it, feeling secure for the first time in months. The tattered edges of the Veil rushed together as the demon's frustrated screams were cut off abruptly. Laica cried out at the sudden silence.
“Be calm, Hawke,” Cullen said softly in her ear. “You overextended yourself. You were made vulnerable.”
Laica clutched his arm, which was still around her waist. “But... I resisted, didn't I? Otherwise you wouldn't have...”
“You resisted,” he confirmed, leading her to sit on a cot. “I suggest you get some rest. It is dangerous for you to be so tired.”
Laica resisted, even as he pushed her to lay flat and her eyes began to droop. “Can't... sleep... don't want to dream.”
“You must,” Cullen said, implacable, covering her with a blanket.
Laica lost the battle. And in her dreams she met Vengeance once more.
~oOo~
Previous Chapters: Prologue
Mods, could I please get a "Blind in the Sun" tag?
Rating: This chapter: PG
Pairing F!Hawke/Sebastian
Warnings: none in this chapter
Word Count: 1034
Chapter Summary: Laica has some bad dreams, which leads to some very big problems.
Story Summary: The Chantry is in ruins, the Gallows has been annulled, and Laica Hawke has been named Viscountess of Kirkwall and is betrothed to Prince Sebastian Vael. But happily-ever-after is for fairy tales.
Author's Note: This sequel to the Let Love Go series was written for the Bioware Bang on LiveJournal. It's fourteen parts, including prologue and epilogue, so I will be updating Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next seven weeks. I've never done it like this before! The amazing cover art was provided by the incredibly talented Ashmouth. This fic also had a lot of very, very helpful betas. In no particular order:
xogs, zuelie, jessicajones, and neairaLaica
The smell of blood always sickened Laica. It was an odd problem for a healer to have, and she worked very hard at controlling it. But it never really went away.
Anders' blood reeked like nothing she had ever encountered. It was thick, dark red, almost black, and the smell stuck to her skin and in her nose no matter how many times she scrubbed her hands with lavender and rose scented soap.
The smell found its way into her dreams, where it was accompanied by the feeling of the hot blood on her hands, and the sound of Vengeance screaming in her mind as Anders bled out on her robes, staining them with the thick, dark black-red of his blood.
So she simply stopped sleeping. It seemed a sensible choice. If sleep made her vulnerable to the demon of Vengeance, then she would not sleep.
She spent her time in the infirmary, working to heal the injured. It was touchy business, healing Templars after annulling the Gallows. Most refused to be touched by her magic at all, and she was forced to rely on bandages and splints.
It was when she was first bandaging the wound on Knight-Captain Cullen's side that she felt the first whispers. You are weary, a seductive voice curled inside her ear, I can help.
Laica started and turned to see nobody there.
“What is it?” Cullen asked, reaching for his sword, which was laying next to him on the cot. “Did you feel something?”
“No! No, nothing at all,” Laica said quickly, returning to her work. “This would go much quicker if you would let me--”
“No,” he interrupted flatly. “This will suffice.”
You should use your magic anyway, the voice murmured, think of how much better he will feel once you've healed him.
“He said he didn't want it,” Laica whispered to herself. “Be quiet.” She cleared her throat and looked up at Cullen, who was observing her closely. “Um... lift up your arms, if you please.”
He did as she asked and she wound the bandage around his torso, doing her level best to not notice how well-defined his musculature was. He is a very attractive man, the voice purred. Laica screwed her eyes shut and took a deep breath as she tied the bandage securely. “Be quiet,” she whispered with more urgency. She straightened up and pressed her hands into her aching lower back, sighing. “That should keep you in one piece. Be sure to return tomorrow so we can change the dressing.”
Cullen nodded and reached for his shirt as Laica turned to go wash her hands again, stumbling slightly with weariness. Let me help you, the voice whispered seductively. You will help so many people. You will not feel tired or sore. They will all be so grateful.
“Stop it,” she choked back tears of exhaustion as she scrubbed her hands with lavender soap. “I won't listen. You are wasting your time.” She sluiced warm water over her hands, which were cracking and bleeding after her vigorous efforts. Hissing at the pain, she wiped her hands on her apron and moved on to the next patient, a Hightown shopkeeper who had been struck by falling debris after the Chantry explosion.
She crouched in front of her with a sigh. “Do you mind if I use healing magic on you?”
“No,” said the ashen-faced woman.
Laica nodded and began to gather her will. She frowned as the Veil felt tattered and loose, energy rushing at her when it should have been harder to grasp. See how I help you, the voice beckoned. I can help you even more, if you will let me.
Laica struggled to close the tatters in the Veil. “I won't let you. I don't need it. I don't want it. Go away.”
The shopkeeper stared at her. “Champion? Are you alright?”
Laica took a deep breath. “I'm perfectly fine, serah. Just... perhaps a bit tired. You understand, of course.”
The shopkeeper nodded slowly. “Perhaps... it would be better if you did not use magic after all.”
“If you wish,” Laica conceded, hiding her relief as she stood to fetch bandages and gauze.
You should use magic anyway, the voice slid against her ear and into her mind. You should not ask. You should simply do. They will thank you.
“That's unethical,” she hissed at the supply chest, gathering her supplies. “People have a right to determine what sort of treatment they prefer and I won't force it on anybody.”
They fear because they don't understand. They don't understand because they do not see. If you show them, they will understand and thank you for helping them, insisted the voice.
“That's not true, demon,” she grit her teeth. “Leave me be.”
And this is how you repay my kindness? The voice roared in her ears and tore at her will. With accusations?
Laica clapped her hands to her ears as her knees gave out under her. “Leave me be!” she cried as she crumpled.
An arm wrapped around her waist, catching her before she hit the ground. She sagged against the person, whose surprising strength supported her. A rough cleansing washed over her as the person's hand stroked down her face and side.
The Templar's will enveloped her like a smothering blanket, and Laica clung to it, feeling secure for the first time in months. The tattered edges of the Veil rushed together as the demon's frustrated screams were cut off abruptly. Laica cried out at the sudden silence.
“Be calm, Hawke,” Cullen said softly in her ear. “You overextended yourself. You were made vulnerable.”
Laica clutched his arm, which was still around her waist. “But... I resisted, didn't I? Otherwise you wouldn't have...”
“You resisted,” he confirmed, leading her to sit on a cot. “I suggest you get some rest. It is dangerous for you to be so tired.”
Laica resisted, even as he pushed her to lay flat and her eyes began to droop. “Can't... sleep... don't want to dream.”
“You must,” Cullen said, implacable, covering her with a blanket.
Laica lost the battle. And in her dreams she met Vengeance once more.
Previous Chapters: Prologue
Mods, could I please get a "Blind in the Sun" tag?