Chapter Text
Twilight came upon the group, and Orera knew they would approach the house any moment now. The fact that she couldn’t see it though was troubling. She walked ahead of everyone else, trying in vain to see it over the horizon as the light from the sun dropped an dimmed. She summoned veilfire to rest above her head so she could walk safely and still search for one of the oldest parts of her past. Still nothing came into view.
They walked for hours more, and Orera knew the others were tired. She could practically feel the ache in Bull’s ankles and the pain in Dorian and Syrith’s feet. She felt it herself, like stepping on rocks barefoot. But she couldn’t stop. She needed to get there tonight.
“Kadan.” This was the first time Bull had actually walked up to her, actually caught up with her in their long journey just to stop her. She stopped only when she felt his hand on her shoulder. Tears had been threatening to fall and they finally did as he kept speaking. “We should make camp for the night. We’ll get there early tomorrow, when there’s sun.”
“I swear it’s just over that hill, Bull. Please, can we just cross it? We can make camp on the other side or even the top if it’s not there.” The absolute need Orera had to find the house before she went to sleep felt like a stabbing pain, a knife pushing into her side and twisting all the way, not being careful enough to miss her lungs. The possibility that the man had gotten there before her, and that she would only see a pile of rubble again, it was too much, she couldn’t live with herself if that was what she came to find.
Bull looked over her face, and nodded, and Orera thanked him. She needed this, he knew it too. He knew everything.
Orera turned back around and continued toward the hill, faster now that she knew that whatever she found they would stop. As she crested the hill she closed her eyes, trying to keep her breathing even. She hadn’t been in the Free Marches for so long she’d lost all memory of the landscape, especially that around the house she’d been born in. She held her staff with both hands and took a deep breath before opening her eyes. There, in a small secluded spot with only a few trees keeping it hidden from the moonlight, stood a house. The house she’d been looking for.
“It’s here!” Her voice cracked, and tears flowed freely from her eyes as she ran the rest of the way down the hill, leaving the other behind her. The house stood alone, sloping almost as if even the beams that held it up were aged and weary. Ivy and vines overtook the walls, bleeding in and out through the broken windows. The door stood askew, one hinge still holding it up, though with how much rust it must have collected Orera didn’t think for long. The small fence they’d built around to encase the herbs they grew there was falling apart as well, the plants they’d harvested overgrown and bulging with fruits and leaves. The dirt path she’d worn in as a child, running into and out of the house, was nowhere to be found, grass fresh and green grew around the entire grove, stating that the place had been untouched for years, exactly how Orera hoped she would find it.
“It’s massive,” was the first thing out of Dorian’s mouth. He didn’t openly gape at the house, but he’d obviously never seen a house built my Tal-Vashoth for their own purposes. Orera laughed and wiped some of the tears from her eyes before walking closer.
“My parents built it before I was born. They built it to house us. My father was somewhere around seven feet? Taller than Bull, so they needed to accommodate for that.” Orera walked towards where she knew there had been a gate, though remnants of it were now lost. She paused before walking past it, and towards the actual building. The others followed after her.
“Are all houses this big in Par Vollen, Bull?” Syrith spoke now, his voice was hoarse and Orera turned to see him immediately down water from his water-skin, only for it to be close to empty. She hadn’t actually realized how much longer they’d walked after sunset, but she knew they would need water. She took his water-skin and avoided going through the door to enter the house, instead walking around to where she knew their well had been.
“More or less. Usually bigger. There are some big guys back there.”
“Wow.” Syrith blinked a few times, almost not believing. Orera laughed again and upon reaching the well, the bricks somewhat falling apart but still functional, pulled up the bucket she knew rested at the bottom. She poured the water into Syrith’s water-skin, filling the rest of theirs up as well before walking back to the house.
“We can stay inside, it’ll be safer that way. We’ll be able to see him coming.” Orera walked back towards the door and after waiting another minute, thinking over exactly what she was doing, she stepped inside.
The inside of the house was exactly as she remembered, if a big more decrepit. The ceiling sagged and the door frames into the other rooms seemed to be the only things holding the walls up, but it was the place she’d grown. The living room was the first room they walked into, a large fireplace in the back. She avoided looking at it, instead moving towards where the room she’d shared with her brother was. The room was big enough for maybe all of them, and the bed frames were still standing, if almost about to fall apart. Orera did them a favor and broke the legs off, letting the frames fall the ground, and smiled.
“We can take the tents and make a sort of bed for you guys. It’d be comfier than sleeping on the ground again, and I’m sure the two of you will fit on one of these.” The beds were huge, they were big enough for them to grow into, though not as big as what they were used to back in Skyhold. Orera placed her things on the ground and helped Bull take the tent off his back, taking the poles and just leaning them against a wall while folding the material and pushing that towards one of the beds. They filled in the wooden frame, and though not as comfy as a real bad, it came close. Everyone gathered into the room and Dorian and Syrith made up their bed, and almost immediately fell down into it, exhausted from such a long day.
Bull sat on the edge of his and rolled his shoulders back, the cracks in his shoulders and back audible. He closed his eyes and took a large breath, exhaling slowly through his nose. Orera sighed and closed her eyes, smiling before sitting behind him, her hands falling onto his back. Warmth flooded through her palms into his muscles, relaxing them and making him bend forward more as she pressed into the knots and rocks that seemed to always creep into his back. It didn’t take long until Orera rested her forehead on his back, mouth pressed to one of the many scars that dotted it.
“Let’s get to bed. Those two are already out.” Orera spoke into his back, almost mumbling. He nodded and Orera moved back, lying down closer to the wall. He sat on the edge of the bed a while longer before turning to face her. He leaned down and kissed her, holding her chin to keep their lips pressed together, going no further. She melted into the embrace and smiled when he finally laid down next to her. It didn’t take long for them to fall asleep from there.
A breeze came in through the broken window to the bedroom, stirring Orera awake. She covered her mouth as she yawned and looked to see that the rest of the group still slumbered. Bull stirred as she did and she kissed her shoulder before moving out of the bed. She stood and stretched, then moved to looking through their packs for what they were to eat for breakfast. They only had enough food for a few more days, which meant traveling to either Tantervale or Hasmal to restock. From there they could take the river back to Nevarra City, and get back to Cumberland and Skyhold. It would be a far faster trip and involve a lot less walking. This was of course after they got Anaan back from the man, whatever his name was.
Orera pulled out some of the bread they still had and sighed. It was beginning to go stale, which definitely meant they would need to restock soon. She separated the bread for all of them, giving them equal portions, though giving some of hers to Bull, and then ate by herself while the rest of them slept. Someone needed to keep watch, and she didn’t want to wake any of them up for them to do it.
After finishing her small portion of breakfast, she grabbed her staff and left the room, heading outside the house. The sun began to rise over the horizon, the sky turning all hues of orange, blue, and pink to say good morning to the world. Orera walked past the fence and leaned against her staff, smiling as warmth moved over her body. Despite what she was there for, she couldn't help but be happy. They'd made it there, before the man who'd been sent to kill her daughter. All she had to do now was wait, and that wouldn't be hard, not with everything they could do around the house and the vast land around them. Especially when they'd calculated and had hoped to make it at least a week before he did.
It didn't take long for the others to wake up. Bull was the first out of bed, stretching as he walked out of the house, moving to stand silently next to Orera, watching the horizon. It would have been a lie for Orera to tell Dorian and Syrith when they came out that she hadn't heard what they were doing inside the house, so she stayed silent about the bruises dotting just above Syrith's collarbone. Bull however, did not stay silent.
“So, were you trying to break the bed more than she already did?” Bull chuckled, leaning on the pommel of his greataxe, smirking at the two other mages.
“No, we were just making sure it was broken as much as possible, to not be startled when we were impaled by a beam that hadn't been compromised,” Dorian spat back. Bull laughed, his entire chest belly moving as he did. Orera couldn't help but smile at the two of them, even with Bull's teasing their banter never failed to lighten her mood. Syrith on the other hand seemed more than uncomfortable with them talking about it. He stood the furthest from all of them, on the left side of Dorian, almost rounding the corner of the fence as she stood and watched nothing.
“Syrith, if this is too much, he can stop. You know that, right?” Orera leaned back, trying to make eye contact with the elf. Syrith just blushed more and looked away from them, just nodding and staring at his feet. And then that was when Dorian walked over to him and started whispering to him in Tevene. Orera sighed; though she didn't know the exact meaning of their exchange, she knew that Syrith was definitely not okay with Bull teasing them about it. She looked over to her partner and motioned for him to cut it out. Bull shrugged and nodded, seemingly indifferent to what the topic of his humor was.
Syrith and Dorian both walked back, standing themselves closer than before, and Orera knew something was up. She looked to the elf, who gripped his staff tight with both hands before finally speaking.
“Under the Dalish we're pressured very much into marrying the opposite sex to produce offspring. I was rejected my vallaslin because of my ties to my family, and I was.... kicked from the clan because I wouldn't marry a girl.” And there it was. Orera bit her lip lightly before nodding. It seemed not only did Syrith's past have similarities with her own, but Dorian's as well. Maybe Erethi had sent him for more than one reason. Bull stood up straight and nodded as well.
“Didn't mean to strike a cord. Sorry for that.” Bull bowed his head and Syrith bowed his back, his ears still beet red.
“You didn't know, it's okay... Just not around me, please.”
“So around Dorian?” Bull chuckled a bit and Syrith smiled before replying.
“That's fine.” Dorian though didn't seem okay with his reply. Orera began laughing, watching the boys argue.
“Vishante kaffas, you think I want to hear him?”
“You're smart enough to make quick retorts.” Syrith laughed and then they knew it was all fine.
“That's probably not the only thing he's quick at,” Bull muttered, laughing under his breath. Orera shook her head, smiling all the while, glad to have them all here with her.
The rest of the day continued on much like that, with the four of them changing position, exercising as much as they could as they stood watch around the house. At one point in the afternoon Syrith and Dorian began speaking in Tevene, Dorian helping him with what he seemed to have trouble with. The elf began to get more and more exasperated as time went on, eventually standing and throwing his hands up declaring that he'd never actually been to Tevinter and that he hadn't spoken Tevene to another person in at least 20 years. Orera brought up that she hadn't spoken Qunlat in the same amount of time until she'd met Bull, then remembered the time she'd spent with Ganri, and Dorian and Syrith immediately asked about him.
“Ganri was just... He was just a friend. He was the only Tal-Vashoth in my first mercenary group, so we got along well. I think he was glad to speak with me.” Orera felt her body begin to itch. They all sat in a group on the ground, dividing up their food for dinner, and she tried not to think too hard on
“Where is he now? He didn't go with you when you changed bands?” Syrith seemed to actually be concerned about her friend, and she looked to the ground, a small smile gracing her face.
“Actually, they killed him. We... got in a bit of trouble and they let me go.” The truth was much more than that, but she wasn't exactly sure if she was ready to share that yet. Maybe when she got Anaan back, maybe when it still didn't hurt to play the music box. She started eating her food, trying to not think too hard about it.
“What, why?” The amount of distress in his voice warmed Orera's heart. To see someone actually care about a person she had known, without having any knowledge of them? That was definitely something different, and not something she'd experienced in a while.
“It's... it's really personal. Maybe later.” She swallowed her bite and nodded, her eyes beginning to sting. She wiped at them with the back of her hand and Syrith immediately looked towards the ground, as though embarrassed that he'd crossed a line he hadn't known about.
“Oh, okay. Thank you for telling me that much.” He began to eat as well, as though to justify his new silence though Dorian and Bull did the same, eating without speaking.
“Thank you for listening.”
The day went on, with less and less talking as the sun lowered in the sky. They all wanted the mysterious man whose name they didn't know to show up, so they could get this over with and go home. Orera wanted him there, she wanted her daughter, she wanted to make sure she was safe because there was no way she was being taken care of. As it was, Orera stayed outside the longest, leaning on her staff and trying to keep her eyes open in the dark to see if anyone was coming. The men had already gone back inside the house, though she couldn't exactly hear what they were doing, too much going through her head for her to focus. Then Bull came outside, and she looked over him before he came and kissed her.
Iron Bull wrapped his arms around her, leaning his forehead against hers after breaking away. He kissed her nose and smiled.
“We're going to be okay. She'd going to be okay. But you won't be if you don't sleep.”
“Someone has to keep watch if he comes at night,” Orera mumbled. Bull silenced her, kissing her again and letting his hand drift further south. She gasped into his mouth and he smirked before replying.
“I'll keep watch then right now, and I'll get Dorian when I need to sleep, okay? You need to rest, kadan.” Bull kissed her again add she finally gave in, melting into his arms until she was pretty sure he was the only thing keeping her up. She gathered herself again, and using her staff, she headed towards the house, leaving the large Tal-Vashoth outside by the fence.
Upon entering the bedroom she couldn't help but smile at the way Dorian and Syrith slept together. They seemed to lose their bodies at some point, arms twisting this way and that, almost trying to get closer, at least as close as they could with their clothes still on. Orera sat down on her bed and yawned. It didn't take too much from there for her to fall asleep.
A crack woke her in the middle of the night. She darted up from bed and looked around, questioning herself as to where she was. She was in her old house, her old house that was barely standing on it's own anymore. The bed next to her was empty, and that was what made her heart beat fly through the roof. Dorian and Syrith weren't there, they weren't asleep across the room where she'd seen them last. Orera darted out of bed and out of the house after grabbing her staff, hands beginning to sear through the leather on her grip.
Outside the building, lights flew in the sky, arcing from Dorian and Syrith's hands. Orera froze, trying to understand what was happening. A group of people were on the top of the nearby hill, and Orera could hardly make out the outline of a cart. She could hear and see Bull running up the hill, ax in hand as he roared at them, his massive bulk plowing through the long grass. The group atop the hill had small torches, enough to see by, and Orera knew then what Dorian and Syrith were trying to do: they were trying to freeze them in place for Bull to mow down, to get them out of the way as quick as possible. Then a green light burst in front of the group, and she knew that their magic would be of no use to them this far away, not when they seemed to have a mage of their own.
Orera ran up the hill, dropping her staff on the ground and grabbing the hilt that always hung from her belt. Her spirit blade materialized, the yellow energy pulsating with her rage as she neared the group. She didn't hesitate to slice through the first person she approached, slicing through them, blood spattering everywhere. She looked to the next person who froze at the sight of her, and in that moment Bull ran through them, cutting them down with his ax. The rest of the group began to shout and Orera listened for the person commanding them.
“We've got to get to the house!” The first voice sounded high, almost feminine. Orera searched the group, fending off the few people that dared to attack her. She didn't kill all of them, she didn't have the focus for that when she tried to listen more intently to other orders.
“Do you think it matters now? Kill the Qunari!” It sounded further away, and Orera looked around, only to see the cart being pushed down the hill. Orera swung her blade in front of her, cutting down those who would block her path and sent a surge of electricity into those around her, effectively paralyzing them. The cart began to gain momentum, and she chased after it, seeing a bundle tied near the front.
“Dorian! Stop it!” Orera screamed. She ran towards the cart, only to feel her feet freeze in place. Ice coated her feet, keeping her there until someone knocked her over. She grunted and felt the blade hilt fly from her hand, as well as a new blade pierce her side. The next thing she knew she was facing the sky, her hand covering her side and people being dragged off of her.
Blood oozed in between her fingers, and she pressed harder as Bull tried to kill the men ganging up on her. It didn't take long for her to cauterize the wound with her hand, and then she was on her feet again, using her hands to fend off the other men. Dorian stood further along the hill, running towards the car that he'd stopped by freezing the wheels. The bundle she'd seen inside still sat there. As soon as she heard the crying coming from inside, she could hear nothing else.
Fire erupted from her hands, and she seared through the men, sending flashes of fire under their feet, burning them beyond recognition once they'd already fallen. Bull cut through the rest, chopping heads off of the men who still tried to stand and fight, not letting anyone go beyond his reach before decapitating them. From the corner of her eye, Orera could see the other two fending off the men as well. Syrith was lighting the fallen men on fire, following her lead and adding to the mass of black smoke pushing into the sky. She missed something though, because not soon after she lit another head on fire she heard a scream.
“Syrith!” Orera whipped around as she heard Dorian shout the elf's name and saw as Syrith fell to the ground, daggers sticking out of his back. Orera began to run towards him, but Dorian got to him first. “No! I've got him, save Anaan!”
She froze for barely a moment before nodding and turning back towards the other men. There were only a few left standing, and she couldn't quite believe the man they'd searched for, had raced with to get there, had brought so many reinforcements. She didn't have time to wait for their flailing by setting them on fire, so she finally reached her staff and sent waves of ice towards them, freezing their bodies in places, and as she did all extra movement stopped.
“They're finished?” Bull breathed heavily, surrounded by bodies and heads, including a body frozen in place. He swung his greataxe and shattered the man there before replacing his weapon on his back. As he did he looked to Orera, and both of them hurried towards the cart that stood so far away now.
Crying still came from the bundle, and Orera threw her staff to the ground to jump on top of the cart, kneeling down next to the large bag. She ripped it open and cried when she saw Anaan gagged and bound. Her dark hair was matted and dirty, and bruises covered her neck and wrists. Orera picked her up from the cart and jumped from the cart. Bull winced as he knelt down next to her and helped Orera get the ropes off Anaan. Orera cut the ones around her ankles while Bull cut those around her wrists. The entire time Anaan continued to cry, tears streaking down her face and clearing away the dirt. As soon as her bounds were free Orera piked her up again, hugging her close. Bull pulled them both towards him, surrounding them with his arms as they all sat on the ground.
“Mommy. Daddy. I was scared.” Anaan cried in between them, grasping at clothes, digging her face into Orera's neck.
“It's okay, baby. We got you. We're gonna go home and you'll be fine.” Bull kissed the top of her head and pressed his nose into her hair, taking in a large breath. Orera smiled, seeing the tears run down not only her face but his as well.
“He was so mean. He.. he hit me and screamed at me.” Just hearing about what happened to Anaan while she'd been taken enraged Orera. She hadn't been able to stop it. Anaan had been taken because of her.
“That won't happen again, kadan. You're safe.” Bull kissed her head again, and they all stood as a family, Orera holding Anaan in her arms, not daring to loosen her grip. He took a step back, his hand lingering on Orera's shoulder as he looked towards the other two men. Syrith sat back on his heels while Dorian knelt behind him, hands glowing over his back. The family walked over to them and Orera handed Anaan to Bull. The little girl cried out almost immediately, and Orera kissed her forehead.
“It's okay, imekari. I've got to help a friend.” Anaan nodded and clutched at Bull's armor, biting her lip as she watched her mother kneel down next to Syrith.
“How is he?” Dorian's hands were covered in blood, and it was spattered over his clothes as well, but he didn't seem to notice. Syrith was keeping himself anchored with his staff, leaning against it while keeping in any noise by biting his lip.
“The daggers went deep, but they didn't hit anything vital. His shoulders will be sore the next couple weeks though. I've almost finished healing the wounds.” Orera motioned for him to move over, two healers were better than one, and helped Dorian heal the wounds. They both helped Syrith get onto his feet, and Dorian let the elf lean on him.
“What now?” Bull walked over closer, keeping Anaan close to him, holding her tight and keeping her from crying.
“We get Syrith and Anaan to bed and take care of the rest of the men. We've got to get rid of them.” Orera sighed and looked towards the house. It still stood at an angle, and now it wasn't just a place to wait, it was their refuge. “Take Anaan in there and help her get to sleep. I'll be there in a bit.”
Bull nodded and looked to Dorian, who had already started back towards the house. Syrith groaned with every step and Dorian whispered things to him Orera knew she shouldn't hear, so she ignored them. Bull leaned over and kissed Orera once before heading back towards the house, leaving her outside, smoke billowing up behind her.
These men hurt her daughter, and she needed to make sure they were gone forever.