The Hunter and Dreams Within the Soul
What could Ardyn say? The love she felt for Varric had always been beyond her. It was something inexplicable from the start, and now—now Varric had caused it to burn white-hot and even deeper into her soul.
Their embrace, as usual, was a sensual sensation that was more than the mind could comprehend. Their souls sang to each other and moved across their joined soul plane like billowing silk within a strong wind. She seemed more than alive now. The sensation of her blood moving through her veins was like memory on a wheel of time that had broken free of all constraint. It felt chaotic, unsurpassed, and—most importantly—drenched in magical intent.
She literally sank into him, and their love became a physical thing that transcended all understanding. Her senses burst forth upon the soul plane—and she quickly realized that Varric was by her side—and as a portion of her was experiencing Varric one way, another explored a whole new world. It was wondrously odd and mundane at the same time. Pleasure rippled through her as she explored the wonders of the soul plane—all with him.
She realized, with crystal clarity, that Varric was more than a true part of her; he was integral to her true definition. Without him, she would be a star growing in a mundane way; with him, her brilliance had moved past the mundane and had become an ethereal transcendence. Her being took in a cleansing breath as she realized her mind had begun moving in roving loops of understanding. She was connecting, bending, reshaping—everything around her.
"You are wondrous, Ardyn. Far more than I ever thought possible." She felt Varric do an internal shake, as if he was in true disbelief. "I still don't understand why you thought you were not worthy. True, you have changed, but you have only brought what was inside, out, for all to view and know."
She sensed his perception turn ahead of him, so she turned hers in the same direction.
"You now move forward, entering the weave of reality around us. Soon you will be able to actually pass through the great divide and see Sidus Serpens as it really is."
"Aren't we still on the soul plane?"
"No. You have learned how to delve even deeper. This is the dreamscape. You have learned how to move from the soul plane, through collective consciousness, and into the dreamscape that connects and drives all."
She nodded as if, not only did it all make complete sense, she had known all of it the whole time. And then, as one, they were back in their spirit bodies. They held each other—both spent and revived. Varric kissed her forehead and her eyes fluttered open, his love and longing moving through her being like a hot, cleansing tonic.
She was up, stretching, and aware of her surroundings—even as Atina moved toward her. The Sylvani, Cheys, and Galians watched quietly, reverently, as the two sorceresses moved across Serenia. Aureas' voice whispered in her ear—a melodious voice like sweet water on an arid plain.
'You have restored, and even gained, the Life Slip. My realm is saved, and I must thank you for that. What will you accept from us as thanks?' Ardyn smiled. 'We are siblings within Sidus Serpens. How can I charge family a fee for merely visiting their home?' There was a pause, and then a radiance bloomed within Ardyn. Mist from the Aetheric Sea—Aureas manifest—rose and entered the talisman on her chest.
'You have learned much—little sister. I will give a little of myself to you—a protector and a guide. Our bond is now sealed.' Ardyn felt Aureas' sentience sink down—both into her silver and red talisman and into the Aetheric Sea. Her magic wrapped around her and Atina, and they instantly moved to the tip of the final island of the crescent archipelago and then moved from Serenia completely.
The two stopped on a vast grass plain. Atina looked at her Mistress and then readied herself for battle. She did not know what Ardyn sensed, but she knew her well enough to know that danger loomed. Ardyn looked up into the sky, to the east of them, her eyes shining vibrantly.
"What you plan will be the death of you. Can you not come to see reason?"
Several moments passed and Ardyn waited. Eventually, a portal swirled to life and Seraphis stepped out of it. He stared at her, his face blank—except for the cold hate in his eyes.
"My death?" He looked over her form and understood that she had actually surpassed his mother in power. His body stiffened and his mouth twitched. "I cannot let it go unpunished."
Ardyn looked to him with a soft smile. "If you fight me now—you will be mine."
A shudder ran through Seraphis and he swallowed hard. He sensed the truth in her words—and yet he had to fight for his mother. Poison magic flowed around him; it crackled and blackened as it moved in a wide cone shape. Ardyn did not flinch as she subtly signaled for Atina to move back. The command was obeyed without argument, and Atina stiffly moved back—still prepared to help when needed.
The poison magic began to flow forward, and the stench of it moved out to embrace all. Ardyn blinked, and the swirling venomous air pressed flat against an invisible wall. Seraphis frowned. He poured more magic into the black stench, and the air crackled and hissed, but the invisible wall did not falter.
Ardyn cocked her head, her amethyst eyes falling on Seraphis.
"Powerful." The word was three notes—Song of Calm, Song of Protection, and Song of War. They moved forward, and the insidious vapors froze, turned to dust, and were contained. It all happened in one instant.
"But not powerful enough." Suddenly, an intent of conquest moved forward. The black dust swirled and the containment elongated. Black dust shot into Seraphis' face and he let out an agonized scream. He fell to his knees as his cream-and-honey scales fell around him. Chunks of flesh followed, and he wailed with fresh agony.
Then Ardyn whispered, and it all stopped. "Be calm."
Seraphis was instantly healed. He looked upon Ardyn—terror etched deep into his face.
Her smile deepened. "You… Are Now… Mine."