wickedgraceless | darilaros

darilaros

[ In the ever changing tides of war, Cullen is not one to complain at an assignment. Even when that assignment brings them to a deep, untouched bog, one covered in a thicket in trees that seem nearly impenetrable. He has to wonder why Daenerys was even asked to join him on this particular mission, given that the heavy overhead of thick, damp trees seem impervious even to her dragon's flames.

But here they are, trudging through it all the same, searching for the dark magic that has seemed to be spreading throughout the neighboring countrysides. The entire place gives him an uneasy feeling, and he has not yet been able to shake the idea that they're being watched. Still, he presses on, sword in hand, wading his way through the swamp. ]

I think, if we are able to get to the center of it, we might be able to get some sense of things.

[ Admittedly, that's only a guess, but it seems just as likely a place to find answers as any. Granted, he's not entirely sure they're successfully navigating towards the center- but he sure hopes he's correct.

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[ Fleeting relief overtakes Dany’s anxiety as Cullen agrees. ]

Yes, of course.

[ She takes hold of his elbow, readying herself to stand. ]

Lean on me.

[ And he does, though he can feel aching muscles in his body protesting against every moment. Sleep, sleep, something tells him, but he clutches her arm and tries to push the thought away. ]

Thank you. I think... [ He swallows hard, pursing his lips together and trying to put some stiffness back into his posture. ] Yes, that's better.

[ Daenerys is small, but more than sturdy enough to offer Cullen the anchor he needs to get back on his feet. She tightens her grip on his arm, unmoving, until he’s upright. ]

Do you think you can walk?

[ She braces a hand on his shoulder, her other still holding his elbow.

Outside Cullen’s office, beyond the loft, she thinks she can hear— something.

A sickeningly familiar voice.

A voice calling, ”Dany!”

Daenerys’s jaw sets, and she refuses to pay it any mind; the only thing that matters now is getting Cullen out of this tower. ]

I think so.

[ And with each shaky step he manages to take away from the core of his nightmare, he does seem to become a little stronger, a little more himself. Enough so that it begins to dawn on him just how inappropriate it feels to be clinging to her like this, but that's something to worry about once they've safely made it out of here. ]

This... this isn't real, is it.

[ It doesn't even come out as a question, a fact that he's slowly realizing is true. ]

[ Of all the times to be concerned for propriety, this is not one of them – and Dany is clearly not dwelling on what’s appropriate or not while they’re trapped in some hellish dream.

Survival is at the forefront of her mind, now. ]

No, it’s not.

[ She says it for herself as much as she does for him. ]

It’s all an illusion, I promise you.

[ Even if she too feels the risk of being dragged down into the nightmares that wait just at the periphery of her mind. ]

If we can get down the ladder, you’ll see everything beyond this tower – and we can start looking for a way back.

Ah... ok.

[ The ladder seems something of a daunting task for a body that still feels so tired. But the part of him that is still definitively Cullen spurs him forward. The first few rungs are shakily taken, but by the time his feet hit the floor, he's feeling far more like himself. With that begins the dawning realization of just how he had been until this moment, but he manages to push it down. Any embarrassment is something he can worry about once they're out of here. ]

Daen- [ No, he has enough of himself back to correct himself, and that alone should be a positive sign to her. ] Your Grace.

[ He waits for her to descend fully, and by the time her own feet hit the floor she should notice he's looking far more like himself. ]

Let's get out of here.

[ Dany lets Cullen descend first, if only because she knows she'd be little help if he happened to lose his strength on the way down. She kneels on the floorboards to watch him, and when his golden eyes turn back up, when he addresses her properly, relief finally puts a smile back on her face – small, strained, but still there.

She once again gathers the skirt of her thin dress, climbing down the ladder after Cullen. Habit has her smoothing the fabric back in place when she stands beside him, looking so much less like her usual, proud self, her loose hair still curling about her cheeks. ]

Stay close.

[ It would be an order by any other means, but now, it's also a reminder – a hope that staying together will beat back some of the cloying unreality of the Fade.

Again, Daenerys tries to ignore a familiar voice, calling from outside the tower, "Dany, where are you?" ]

[ There is no doubt he will stay close to her, it seems to be the only thing that helps to keep his mind tied to reality, instead of the nightmare constructed by the fade. He is quick to take her arm again, though now his grip is more assured, and equal trade instead of him clinging desperately to her. ]

Of course.

[ As he turns his gaze outward, the facade of his tower fades away, revealing instead the true paths of the Fade, dark and twisting. While feels no more certain about things, determination swells up within him, and if nothing else, he wants to get away from the place where his mind had been lost. He picks a direction, and tugs, gently. ]

Come on, this way.

[ Daenerys doesn't hesitate taking Cullen's arm after he gives her a pointed little tug. Easier to guide her, she thinks, and more concrete contact when everything around them is otherwise so mercurial. ]

What do you think has happened to us outside of here? Or are we... here physically?

[ Dany doesn't expect him to have answers, but it helps ground them in the reminder that this isn't real. And now that they're removed from Cullen's incoherence, she prepares herself to ask, ]

What was that back—

[ But she's cut short, silenced by the voice, louder, filling the air around them. ]

Ah, there you are, little sister. You thought you could hide from me?

[ Even in the Fade, Viserys sounds exactly how Dany remembers, snide and aloof and cruel.

Daenerys's grip on Cullen's arm goes vise-like, her cold eyes hardening as she keeps her gaze determinedly set ahead, instead of desperately seeking her brother's angular face among the rocks and paths.

Not real. Not real. Viserys is dead, where he belongs, where he should be— ]

Oh, Dany, of course I'm dead. But did you think death would put you beyond the reach of the Dragon?

[ Maybe she's the only one who can hear it. Maybe it's her nightmare alone. Maybe if she ignores him – product of the Fade, or more insidiously, a reflection of her brother himself – he'll vanish the way Cullen's tower had. ]

That... is difficult to say.

[ Anything more he might say is cut off by the voice that suddenly surrounds him, one even he can't ignore. He lifts his head skyward, searching for its source, but finds none. Cullen is content to write it off as nothing, or at least, nothing that concerns him, but when he looks at Daenerys, it seems that is not the case. ]

Daenerys. [ His voice is low and insistent, and this time, he uses her name as a choice, as hope to make sure she is still here with him. ] Are you alright? I think we should get away from here.

[ He's not sure if any place they could go to would be safer, but anything that moves them away from their current location feels good enough. ]

[ Her name on Cullen's lips seems to startle her back to herself, away from the looming threat of her brother. ]

I'm fine. Let's just go.

[ The answer is almost reflexive, despite the tense set of her body, the way she seems to slouch forward just a touch – the posture Viserys always criticized, while to Dany, it was nothing but a means of protecting herself. She has grown immeasurably since her childhood, since watching Viserys lose more and more of himself to sadistic madness. She stopped being the frightened little girl lifetimes ago, and she would never tolerate so much as a hand raised to her, but in her mind? In her dreams?

The sting of betrayal and abuse is a scar she'll surely wear to her grave. ]

But, Dany, you're not fine. Why lie to your knight? I know my sister best.

[ Anger wells in Dany before she can tame it back, and it bursts from her like her own dragon's flame.

(She releases Cullen's arm without realizing.) ]

You have never known me!

[ Lacking a solid figure, Daenerys simply yells to the sky, her eyes turned upward, scanning the area around them. ]

I am no child to cower at your feet!

[ The voice laughs. ]

You think a brave face makes you powerful? You think your rage makes you fit to seize our family's rightful throne? You aren't prepared for the blood on the hands of a conqueror. You were not made for the life of a Dragon.

[ The ground beneath them shakes. Mighty footsteps crash down on craggy rock, massive echoes in the surreal world around them. From the fog-filled atmosphere, a rising form steps forward – a long neck, broad chest, enormous wings that spread and block the eerie green light of the Breach above. A dragon emerges from the mist, its flesh rotting from bone, a crown of molten gold dripping down its gnarled face.

When it opens its mouth, flames lick at its teeth, the voice following each hissing breath. ]

You are nothing but the shameful remains of a mighty dynasty, little sister. And now you cower behind a knight no better than a toothless mongrel.

Look how far you fall.

[ Cullen can only watch as she argues with the strange voice, and his confusion quickly turns to horror as the nightmarish beast emerges. Are they supposed to fight that? Can such a thing even be slain? He's not sure how they would fare even with reinforcements.

If nothing else, he at least makes the attempt to protect her, moving to stand between her and the beast, sword drawn. If any of his strength had still not returned, it is certainly back now. Cullen looks quickly back over his shoulder at her before turning his attention to the grotesque dragon. ]

Do you... know this creature?

[ A sound like the crashing together of rocks pours from the dragon's mouth – a grotesque approximation of a laugh. ]

I am Viserys of the House Targaryen, the Third of his Name, Emperor of Orlais, Lord of the Dales, and Protector of the Realm. I am the rightful heir of my father's usurped empire, and I am the Last of the Dragons.

You are no dragon, and you are no king.

[ Daenerys spits it like a curse, and again, the dragon laughs. ]

No? Look at me, sweet sister. Am I not a dragon? Do I not wear the golden crown your body paid for?

[ Daenerys's fists grip her thin dress, fingers curling so tightly her nails bite crescents into her palms. ]

He's not real.

[ She speaks to Cullen as much as herself. ]

He's just— an illusion.

Does this feel like an illusion?

[ Viserys's twisted voice echoes around them, and green fire spews forth from his rotting maw, spreading across the ground before Cullen and Daenerys. ]

—Cullen!

[ Dany grabs hold of Cullen's arm to yank him back, away from the flames.

(It may not burn her, but Cullen is another matter entirely.) ]

Edited (adds smth in there whoops) 2020-08-29 03:25 (UTC)

[ While the many intricacies of the situation are lost on him, he can at least put together the gist of things. What they're actually meant to do about it is another story. He would like to think something truly an illusion wouldn't have the capability to harm them, but everything he's experienced up to that point says otherwise. Which is, as green flames twist towards them, he does not resist when Dany pulls him back. ]

I-- we-- [ He looks between her, the nightmare, back to her again. ] We should run, right?

[ The simplest answer— ]

Yes.

[ They should definitely run.

Her current outfit is far less practical than the traveling dress and trousers she'd been wearing (not to mention the boots), but Dany hikes up her skirt, turning to take off in the opposite direction.

She highly doubts Cullen needs to be told to follow.

The rotting dragon tilts its head back and roars with fury, wings beating in the air to lift it off the ground.

Oh, Maker damn it.

To Cullen, as she half-runs, half-stumbles down a rocky path, ]

We just— need a way out!

[ Alright, run, he can manage that. It would be easy for him to outpace her, given both his size and his far more practical clothing, but he makes sure to keep even pace without leaving her behind. At one point he reaches for her, clasping his hand over hers to tug her alongside him.

It seems hopeless, fruitless, as though they were running in place, and yet he still continues, the threat still close on their heels. At last, it seems they've found an answer to their desperate escape- a vicious tear through the air, pulling apart the confines of the air. It glimmers and shifts in a way that is almost grotesque, but through it, reality can be seen flickering. ]

Come on!

[ Daenerys is too swept up in her own fear to be truly grateful that Cullen doesn't simply leave her in his dust, while it would be perfectly reasonable for him to prioritize saving himself.

(She's not his Queen or his Empress; he has duties that stretch far beyond Dany's personal march towards her throne.

But still, he pulls her along with him.)

Dany's fingers curl tightly around Cullen's, desperate for an anchor as the sound of the nightmarish representation of her brother beats its wings through the air. She can hear flames roaring behind them, feel the heat, as her lungs scream with every gulped down breath.

And then—

—there.

Dany pushes her legs harder as her brother's twisted howl of rage, a scream of her name, shakes the world around them, makes her ears ache.

With her fingers still clinging to Cullen's, they both finally slam into the shimmering, gnarled rift. Dany feels like her skin is stretched too tight, like she's being ripped to pieces—

The cold swamp air hits her face first. Daenerys gulps down the foul smell of bog as her vision swims, her eyes tearing with the sudden shock to her system. But— no, no, this feels real, and the crackling, snapping sounds of the rift behind them flashes brighter before crashing shut with a thunderous "boom!" ]

[ Emerging on the other side is like being able to breathe for the first time, releasing a breath he hadn't known he was holding. Cullen gasps loudly, reality hitting him like a brick wall. He doesn't even mind that they've gone tumbling into the bog, that they've narrowly escaped death or- possibly something even worse than death- in the moment he only cares about making sure she is safe. ]

Daenerys-! [ He is too frantic to think better of addressing her by her name, and he reaches for her, gripping her by the arms, trying to steady her. ] Are you alright? I- That was-

[ The sound of the right closing momentarily draws his attention, head whipping around just in time to see it close before turning his attention back to her. ]

Maker, that was...

[ He trails off, unable to properly finish the thought. ]

[ Despite herself, Daenerys can't quell the way she trembles, eyes wide and teary. She feels overwhelmed, inundated with emotion she's spent years burying deep, with the horror of even a specter of her pitiful brother.

But Cullen is a sturdy force, firm hands grounding her with touch, pulling her back to reality outside of the Fade. Her eyes focus on his face as he looks away from the newly-shut rift, and that moment of contact seems to jolt her back to her senses.

Shame colors her cheeks, and she reaches up to brush away her tears with the heel of her palm. ]

It's done, whatever it was.

[ She forces her voice steady, taking another deep breath. ]

And now we can leave, yes? Is there anything else the Inquisitor expected of this expedition?

I... think this will be more than enough.

[ It's going to be quite the report for him to make. What gets done with that information is for the Inquisitor to decide, but he will be happy if he doesn't have to think of that place again.

Almost without thinking, Cullen pulls her into his arms, embracing tightly. If it is inappropriate, he will worry about that later, as it is as much for his own benefit as it is for hers. Cullen remains that way for a long moment, holding her, before letting out a long, heaving sigh. ]

Alright then. [ He releases her gently, cheeks flushed. ] Let's get out of here.

[ Relief hits Daenerys like a brick wall, and so much of the tension she'd been clinging to turns to exhausted weight. She nods, preparing to call for Drogon, but before her lips can part, she finds herself swept into Cullen's embrace.

She's too startled to move, at first. There's no immediate sense of alarm or indignant anger that accompanies the action; again, relief and comfort overtakes her so suddenly that she almost can't grasp it for herself. Her eyes eventually close over, for only a brief moment, and her fingers gently clutch his coat.

As quickly as it came, he pulls away from her, and Daenerys feels the loss too keenly. This place, however, is not the ideal for addressing that affection.

Dany's hands fall away from Cullen, and she nods properly. ]

Drogon will carry us, if you still have no objections.

[ While he can't say he's thrilled after the idea, after what they've just experienced, returning on Drogon doesn't seem quite the impossible task it did before. It will certainly be a lot faster than leaving on foot, and he can't begrudge that. ]

Yes... of course. [ He chuckles nervously, but it feels good to laugh in any capacity. ] The sooner we can leave, the better.

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darilaros

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bless cullen "i'm going to fight a nightmare dragon by myself" rutherford

he wants to help ;(

what a good boy :c

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