Chapter Text
Minrathous was in chaos. Everywhere Davrien looked, demons were coming through tears in the fade, attacking innocent people on the street. He and Dorian fought side by side to try and help protect everyone. Davrien's almost-knee length ebony hair blew out behind him, almost freezing in place as a despair Demon shot icy cold air at him in attempt to freeze him. He and Dorian quickly retaliated with attacks of their own, Dorian hitting it with a powerful blast of fire as Davrien did the same. The despair demon quickly disintegrated as what was left it returned to the fade, where it would one day resurrect as a benign spirit.
“Kaffas! These damn demons are bloody everywhere, amatus! They're never ending! Do you think this-” began Dorian, pausing to run a hand through his hair as they took a moment to catch their breath. Dorian's own hair was longer now; shaved at both sides, left long in the middle, slicked back for both style and practicality. A streak of silver ran through it at one side. Dorian had inevitably freaked out when he'd discovered his first grey hairs a little time after losing the Lucerni, but Davrien has reassured him it looked good on him and he'd learned to accept and even love it as much as Davrien did.
“- means that our old friend Solas has started his ritual to tear down the Veil? I think it does. I only hope Viera, Varric and the others manage to stop him before it's too late.” Davrien finished for Dorian as a rage Demon came charging at them, Davrien quickly turning around and blasting it with ice magic. Dorian followed suit, causing the demon to freeze and shatter in place, it's spirit returning to the fade.
“I'm sure they'll be alright, amatus – they're all experienced fighters at this point. I'm sure Viera can handle some demons after she saved that village from being overrun by Darkspawn last year.” said Dorian, looking over at Davrien, reaching and giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze to reassure him.
“I know, but still... I lost her once, Dori... I can't bear the thought of losing her again, not after everything we've been through.” replied Davrien, gazing into Dorian's silver eyes.
“I understand, amatus. But she'll be fine – she has Varric, Harding and they'll have Neve Gallus with them too, provided they managed to reach each other alright in this chaos. Come, let's get moving and try and help clear these streets of more demons before more people die.” said Dorian, planting a gentle kiss on Davrien's temple, then turning him and leading him towards the alienage where there was bound to be less protection – Minrathous, and for that matter, Tevinter – cared very little for it's elven citizens, or anyone whom wasn't born with magic or at least in the Military.
They hurried on to the alienage, taking down more demons as they went. As they finally neared the alienage after what seemed like an age, they saw the sky around it glowing orange. The alienage was on fire, whether from a piece of magic gone awry or a demon, they couldn't say yet. They glanced at each other anxiously as they picked up speed, racing past terrified elves fleeing the alienage with their families. The cause of the fire became obvious once they reached the Vhenadahl, the huge tree that stood in the centre of the alienage – an enormous rage demon, faster and more powerful than any Davrien had every seen, was racing around the alienage, attacking the few elves that had remained to try and defend the alienage. Davrien and Dorian quickly worked together to create a wall of ice around the demon to stop it attacking anyone else, Davrien quickly summoning an ice storm to try and cool it's flames and put out the flames around the alienage, Dorian following up by casting Winter's ruin on the demon as the effect of Davrien's ice storm began to take it's toll on the demon as it tried to climb over the ice wall, slowing more and more as the temperature of the ice attacks began to freeze it's limbs. Dorian's attack, combined with the ongoing ice storm Davrien had summoned, managed to freeze it in place. Davrien dashed over, quickly summoning his spirit blade and shattering it as his ice storm continued to rain ice and snow upon the flames that licked away at the alienage's buildings, slowly dimming them and putting them out. A nearby elf with brown hair approached them from where he'd been stood in the entryway of a nearby house, protecting a family with a barrier spell.
“Thank you, both of you... I don't know how much longer we'd have lasted if you hadn't showed up. It's nice to see one of you highborns showing up and defending others for a change. Name's Mahvir – wait, I know you – you're Davrien, right? You helped save me from a slave ship a couple of years back- your friend The Viper, he helped me set up a clothing shop here in the alienage after you rescued me – although I don't think I'll be opening again any time soon.” said Mahvir, looking over at the charred remains of a nearby building sadly.
“I'm glad me and the other Shadow Dragons were able to help you. And I'm so sorry about your shop...” said Davrien, wishing there was more he could do.
“It's nice to meet you, Mahvir. My name is Dorian Pavus, known rebel Magister and dashing lover of a certain raven haired elf.” said Dorian, nodding at Mahvir respectfully and throwing Davrien a cheeky grin. “I'm sorry about your business... you probably don't remember, but I actually bought a few things from you a while back when I was looking to buy Davrien some gifts for Makermas – well, Satinalia as he calls it. Having said that, if you'd like a job to help you out, let me know and you can come and work for me as a servant; you'll be paid well and have a warm bed to sleep in every night, not to mention free food and three days a week off.”
“Really? Thank you, Magister Pavus... I might just take you up on that. And I believe I remember you now. You were most particular in your selections, as I recall.” replied Mahvir, smiling.
“That's because only the best will do for my amatus. And Davrien is rather particular when it comes to colour and style.” said Dorian, looking over at Davrien and smiling.
“It's good to meet you, Mahvir. At any rate, we ought to get going – even as we speak, more demons are coming through tears in the fade and attacking people. We'll see you around, Mahvir. Stay safe.” said Davrien, smiling at Mahvir as he and Dorian gave a brief nod of farewell and headed off to go and defend the people of Minrathous together.
As they worked their way through the city, occasionally teaming up with other members of the Shadow Dragons, they noticed the Archon's Palace firing beams of magic at demons and citizens alike, as a magic announcement urged everyone to stay indoors, even as the Palace's magical searchlights shone down upon the city, apparently searching for someone. Davrien could only hope that Viera, Varric and the others hadn't ran into trouble whilst chasing after Solas. And then, after what seemed like hours, the chaos ended as quickly as it began.
“Amatus- do you think it's over? Have they done it? Did they manage to stop Solas?” asked Dorian, looking over at Davrien inquiringly, his armour covered in blood and ash.
“I'm not completely sure... but it seems so. At least for now. The demons seem to have stopped, at least.” replied Davrien, looking around the now empty streets of Dock Town.
“They do.” concurred Dorian, sighing in relief. “We ought to go and get cleaned up- if Viera and the others were indeed successful, then I'm sure we'll hear from them in the morning. But in the meantime, let's head home, get cleaned up and rest – it's pretty late, after all, and we could both use some sleep.”
“I quite agree. Come then, vhenan. Let's go home and get some rest now the demons have gone.” said Davrien, taking Dorian's hand in his as they began the long walk back to Hightown, also noting that the Archon's Palace had finally calmed down too.