Work Text:
Day One:
He woke to Taash shaking him, vision blurry he waved her off as he sat up. Shaking off the remaining fog of unconsciousness. He was still where Ghilan’nain had tossed him after landing the killing blow. Glancing around he noticed Spite, oddly transparent and also seeming to wake up as well. ‘Could demons be knocked unconscious? Or was this just… spite being spite’ Suddenly Taash’s voice worked through his brain fog, their words clearing his mind quickly.
“Rooks gone Lucanis, he took her - did something… magic” Lucanis was on his feet in an instant, spinning around to see Ghilan’nain’s body but where Rook should have landed when dropped there was nothing. Just a faint hint of ozone in the air, a last lingering hint of the magic that had been unleashed. Lucanis could see Emmerich and Bellara discussing something, hands moving - but the sound seemed to slip right past him as his eyes darted around the area- hoping, praying to see Uproar walk from behind a pillar.
His panic was stalled when Spite appeared in front of him, voice low and angry.
Where. Is. Rook? You have to find them! Find our Rook!
Spite’s sudden appearance shoved Lucanis out of his shock, causing him to start moving to start working.
Yes, work was good.
____
Hours had passed and they had long since returned to the Lighthouse. The explanation, the in depth magical explanation had made little sense if he was honest, all he needed to know was that when Ghilan’nain had died, Solas had left the prison he’d been ‘stuck’ in and put Rook there in his place. Had apologized, said it ‘Had to be done’ that this was ‘for the greater good’ then had promptly left. Leaving them behind to clean up the mess, and Rook alone in … whatever hell the Dread Wolf had created. But the Professor and Bellara had plans, they were already putting together the list of supplies they’d need to recreate the Lyrium dagger. Which in theory should let them open a way to Rook. Lucanis was focusing on what he could do, which was mostly gathering intel and supplies. The Dellemorte name was good for at least one thing, and that was throwing around to get magical supplies quickly. And covering the exponentially high prices speed would bring.
Week One:
Morning: Discussion with Emmerich and Bellara, Lyrium dagger is complete (quicker than planned) we’ll all be travelling back to Tearstone Island, need to discuss plan with everyone.
Mid-Morning: Gathered team, Harding and Taash are going to go ahead so Harding can scout out the island, see if any enemies have returned. The rest of us will head out shortly.
*the handwriting changes, the ink lines spreading as if the writer used too much pressure when writing or did not know their strength*
Failed, failed, failed.
Too quiet now.
Must find them, can feel them but not find them.
*the handwriting returns to normal*
Late Evening: The attempt failed, the new dagger we crafted is not strong enough to pierce into the Fade prison. Additional attempts will be planned after further study per Emmerich.
Week two:
Multiple attempts, different theories tested. All failures. He was losing steam, losing faith. Despite Emmerich and Bellara’s assurances that they’d find a way - that Rook would be alright - two weeks in a prison? That leaves a mark on a person, he should know. Plus did the Dreadwolf think to provide Food? Water? Or was magic enough to sustain a prisoner there?
He was avoiding sleep again, drinking even Neve’s coffee when needed. The fears and the regrets clouded his mind whenever it got quiet and still. So he tried to avoid that. Training when he wasn’t helping the others. Spiriting missives through the Eluvians that still operated, trying to keep busy. Part of him wondered if he should be more afraid of what Elgar'nan was doing in Minrathus, of what that would mean for the rest of Thedas. But his mind always returned to Rook, to Uproar. Alone in that prison, with no clear way out. The quiet. Lucanis stood, the pantry suddenly too small, too constrained. Leaving the pantry and kitchen behind he stared up into what counted as a sky within the Lighthouse, taking deep, slow breaths to calm his racing heart. With each passing day it seemed more and more likely he would need to learn to live with all these regrets of his.
Week three:
Lucanis sat on the floor of the meditation room back against the chaise, the room that Rook - that Uproar- had claimed as their own. They’d been gone for three weeks now, pulled into the fade prison.. Another failure to add to his recent string of them. Getting caught by the Venatori and ending up in the Ossuary, not recognizing the treacherous mess his cousin had made, missing his first shot at Ghilan'nain, and now this. Part of him wanted to stick to his normal doom and gloom, ruminate over what he could have done better, but that only led to him thinking about how much Rook had distracted him, and he could never regret that. In fact he mostly wished he’d been braver, tried more - no matter how out of sorts it made him feel. He felt like there was always tomorrow, despite how desperate and insane every day had felt since his release from the Ossuary, he thought he could talk to them tomorrow. Tell them how he felt, ask all the questions that burned through his mind. In his mind there was always tomorrow, but reality,and the blighted Elven Gods had proven otherwise.
He’d held out hope with the others at first, trusted in Emmerich and Bellara’s knowledge of the Fade and weird ancient elven contraptions. But when one week turned to two, and now three his hopes had dwindled. Each plan, each attempt met with failure.So now he spent most of his time in this room, staring into nothing, sipping on coffee long gone cold. Even Spite seemed depressed, the demon stretched out on Rook’s chaise lounge looking as morose as Lucanis felt. As if sensing his thoughts, Spite turned his head to face Lucanis.
Miss. Rook. Kill stupid bald elf.
Lucanis raised the mug of cold coffee in agreement and took a sip only to grimace. Questioning all of his life choices that led to him willingly drinking coffee Neve made. Setting the cup aside, Lucanis got to his feet, made a shooing motion to Spite (who flipped him off, he was sure Rook taught the demon that) and laid down on the chaise in Spite's place. Tugging the thin blanket Rook had tossed across the back he curled up. It was nice being able to sleep again, Spite behaving and not trying to run around in his body anymore.
Need to ask first. Rook said. Lucanis just shook his head and drifted off to sleep, surrounded by memories of Rook.
—
There was a steady and incessant knocking on the meditation room door, followed by a low but somehow impatient hissing.
Curiosity. Knocks.
Lucanis rolled over, arm flung over his eyes trying to ignore the knocking. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with people, even ex-people like spirit animated skeletons. However, the knocking didn’t stop. Or slow. With a huff Lucanis sat up, letting the blanket fall to the floor and stalked over to the main door of the chamber. Flinging it open he stared at the skeleton. Manfred waved, his jaw moving as the words “Come” uttered forth from somewhere in the body - it was inordinately weird. Lucanis had no opportunity to ponder the weirdness that was Manfred as the skeleton had turned on his heel and marched away from the room towards the stairs and the central library. With a sigh Lucanis followed, smoothing down the wrinkles in his dress shirt and vest. ‘Merida, I’m a mess’
Upon entering the central library he found the others about. Taash and Harding were at the side of the chamber, where the table, couch and chairs had all been shoved. Harding gave a wave from her perch on top of the table. In the middle of the room Emmerich, Neve and Bellara were consulting a tome Emmerich was holding and looking down at chalk drawings upon the stone floor. Lucanis joined Taash and Harding, leaving against the back of one of the chairs. “What’s all this?” he remarked.
“Welp, if you’d left Rook's room and stopped brooding for a moment you’d know some of the latest tests Emmerich’s done have been positive. He thinks we may be able to finally break into the prison, to find-”
“How?” Lucanis interrupted Taash, earning him a glare from the dragon hunter.
“Do I look like a mage, some weird magic shit. But they seem excited so maybe?” Taash shrugged and motioned to where Emmerich was waving them over. “We’re being summoned”
There was a quick rush of explanation - how their ties to Rook could help them find their friend. Lucanis had tuned out the magical details, remembering only that he AND Spite needed to stand in a specific spot, the others taking similar positions around a central glyph on the floor. Emmerich started the magic working, his bangles clinking against one another as the back of Lucanis’s eyes started to itch. A lovely side effect of being around magic as often as he’d been. The moment seemed to stretch on forever, before a white line rent through the air above the central glyph, a hazy form barely visible in the thin gap the rent had opened. Suddenly all of them stepped forward, voices calling out to Rook - to their friend, to his love. Hands reaching out and a strong grey tinged hand returned the grasp and was pulled through. He spent the next hour in shock, his eyes never leaving Rooks face. Gaze tracing over horn to broken horn, over the red hair - even messier for the last three weeks imprisonment - clothes that were more rumpled than even his own. He languished in their voice, the comfort of their presence.
Soon enough explanations had been given, assurances of their physical health given and the group was splitting up. Rook off to find the bathing room that always seemed impossible to find, to wash off weeks of imprisonment, the remains of their last battle. Before they left he pulled them into a hug, voice soft and low “I’ve missed you Rook, do what you have to but, I’ll meet you in your room later, if that’s alright?” Lucanis stepped back a bit, nerves slamming into him. Why could he be calm and collected any other time, but this sent his heart pounding and his knees knocking? Rook grinned, a wry smile spread across the Shadow Dragons face.
“Damn right it’s alright, can’t let you think you’re free of me that easily” They quipped, humor sparking in their yellow eyes. The air huffed from Lucanis’s lungs at the return of Rook’s humor and he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his own face to match theirs.
“Well you have three weeks of perfectly gathered doom clouds to break apart, so make that bath quick.” Rook laughed and made their way out of the library, Lucanis watching them as they left. There was still a huge battle to overcome, and so very many unknowns to face. But he wouldn’t be facing them alone.
There was a pleased hiss from beside him, Lucanis turned to see Manfred holding a tray full of empty coffee cups. Lucanis cursed, realizing the mess he left Rook’s room. Above him Emmerich leaned against the railing.
“Lucanis, I took the liberty of having Manfred tidy up Rooks chambers. If you would return these to the kitchen you’ll find Neve has ensured a fresh batch of coffee is there and Bellara said she was going to set out some snacks for you and Rook.” The older gentleman looked positively glowing. “I would hurry, I doubt Rook will be long” Lucanis grabbed the tray and rushed out of the library. Leaving a smirking Emmerich behind.