Bajie let out a slow breath as he knelt beside the ancient elven sarcophagus, his fingers hovering just above the intricate carvings. Velassa's name was etched into the stone, the letters softened by time but still clear. He had been bracing himself for what he’d find—whether she’d be gone, or worse, found by someone else—but here she was, untouched, still lost in the ageless slumber of their kind. His gut twisted. He had been avoiding this moment for centuries, but now there was no more running, no more excuses. He wasn’t about to let Tevinter be the one to wake her. That was a cruelty even he wasn’t capable of.
He traced the sigils meant to break the enchantment, fingers tingling as ancient magic stirred in response. His other hand rested on the hilt of his blade, a habit he hadn't shaken in the twenty years since he’d awakened. He wasn't sure which he feared more—Velassa waking up enraged at him, or waking up and realizing Tevinter was just as monstrous as the world they'd once tried to escape. A strained chuckle left his lips. Well, Bajie, he muttered to himself, this is either your best idea or the worst one yet.
With a final sigh, he pressed his palm flat against the center of the rune. Light flared, golden and blinding, and the stone beneath his hand grew warm. The air thrummed with power, ancient and familiar, and Bajie swallowed down the unease creeping up his spine. There was no turning back now. Alright, Velassa, he murmured, voice low and steady. Time to wake up.
Velassa had put herself to sleep centuries ago, never had she expected her slumber to last so long. Nor did she prepare for the world she would be waking up to. When Bajie pressed the last rune to wake her, she felt the stale air slide into her lungs to wake her up.
Her head swam with the fresh oxygen her mind reeled, the last thing she remembered was having a fight with Bajie about little flea and yelling at him to leave. She hated change but she could do this alone if she had to. When her eyes finally cracked open she saw Bajie sitting there staring at her, she sat up still wearing her armour. She blinked a few times and tried to clear her throat but it was too dry to speak.
She looked for her water canteen but could not see it, she was sure she had brought it with her, maybe someone had robbed her while she slumbered. Then her thoughts jumped to the sword she reached for it and sure enough, it was there along with her staff. She calmed and sat up out of the coffin-like bed, she held out her hand for his help and she climbed out.
Her limbs were stiff and ached from the long slumber, she saw he carried a water canteen and reached for it opening it up and taking a sip. The water felt good on her dry throat, she cleared her throat a few more times before speaking. "Why have you woken me?" was all she said, Was all she could think to say.
Bajie rocked back on his heels, watching her like a man bracing for a punch. Not that he’d blame her. He rubbed at the back of his neck, letting out a breath through his nose before finally answering.
Oh, you know, just missed the sound of you yelling at me. Thought I’d ruin your beauty sleep and relive the glory days.
His smirk was weak, barely there, but it was something. Truth be told, he hadn’t prepared for this moment. Not really. A few centuries was a long time to let guilt simmer, to twist and warp into something ugly. And yet, here she was. Real. Awake. Glaring at him like she could set him on fire with a look alone.
You look good for a corpse, by the way, he added, nodding toward her armor. Same outfit and everything. Bet you smell delightful, too.
She was still staring. Of course she was. The weight of her silence pressed down on him harder than any battlefield. His fingers drummed against his knee before he finally sighed, all pretense of humor draining away.
Couldn’t let the Vint’s find you, right pretentious lot that bunch, they have a proclivity for putting our lot into slavery.
“why must you always jest, can you not have a serious moment?” She asked irritation on her voice and in her body language. Velassa was sore she had not realized sleeping would cause such aches in her limbs. She began to stretch and move about, she never took her eyes off Bajie “We only fought because you turned our lives upside down.” she quipped wanting him to know it was not her who had changed their lives.
She looked down at herself when he said she looked good, and likely smelt good too. “I could use a bath if I am honest, how long was I asleep a few days?” She asked. Velassa had no idea the world beyond these walls was vastly different than what she remembered.
“The Vint’s? Slavery?” She lifted a brow “What are you talking about I thought Slavery was over with…Bajie how long was I asleep?” She asked and headed for the doors. She pushed open the doors and shielded her eyes from the sunlight, she squinted the area had been forest when she went to sleep it was why she picked this location. But now there were other buildings, other crypts like her own.
Her stomach sank this did not happen in days, she turned back to him. “How long? you are only coming for me now… you left me to sleep while our world went to hell?” She asked. “Where is my son is he still sleeping, if so lets go get him. I want to see our son.” She demanded.
Bajie’s breath caught in his throat at the mention of their son, but the tension only flickered through him before he leaned back on his heels, a sardonic smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Yoonjie's fine. Been fine for ten years, actually. Woke up on his own, stubborn little bastard—takes after his mother.
Velassa's brow twitched, but her eyes stayed locked on him, searching for the truth beneath the sarcasm. Bajie shifted, letting out a breath through his nose.
I didn't know where you'd gone to ground. Not until a few months ago. Soon as I found out... soon as I heard Tevinter might have sniffed around this place— he tapped the stone lid of her sarcophagus, —I came straight away. Whatever's between us, I wasn't about to let those bastards wake you up first.
His gaze flicked to her, sharper now, waiting to see if the old fire still burned in her eyes. When she didn't speak, he reached for his canteen and took a long swig before offering it out to her again.
Yoonjie's waiting for us in Arlathan. We get out of here in one piece... you can yell at me all the way home.
He forced a grin, but there was something raw beneath it—an ache that centuries hadn't dulled.
Come on, Velassa. Fancy raising a little hell with me one more time?
“I am not that stubborn.” She said eyeing him, but the thought her son and husband were awake and they let her sleep, it hurt her almost angered her. She watched him as he began to explain, she wanted to believe him but how had he not known. He prided himself on knowing things and keeping tabs on her whereabouts should have been important on his list. Unless she was no longer important to him, the sting of that thought made her want to cry.
She refused to shed a tear refused to show her weakness least of all to him, if he didn’t care why should she? She held her head higher and reached for her staff and sword. “Yes let’s get home to our son.” She agreed but did not say more than that.
She headed out of the building shocked again by the amount of buildings that were now where her one had stood alone. She took a deep breath trying to hide her feelings trying to push them down.
Bajie watched her, reading every little movement, every shift in her stance. He knew that look—pride stitched together over fresh wounds. He’d worn it himself more times than he cared to count. Still, he didn’t press. Velassa was awake, on her feet, and armed. That was enough for now.
He let out a slow breath, rolling his shoulders before falling into step beside her.
Yoonjie is doing good. Kid’s a real piece of work. He smirked, shaking his head. Sharp as a blade, stubborn as a bull, and, lucky for him, better looking than me. I’d like to say he gets it all from me, but let’s be honest—I was never that disciplined.
He risked a glance at her, watching the way she took in the changes around them. The way her grip tightened just slightly on her staff. He knew what was going through her head. Time had stolen something from her, something she wasn’t ready to admit yet. But there wasn’t time to dwell on it.
Not with Tevinter sniffing around.
Bajie exhaled sharply and jerked his head toward the overgrown path leading out of the ruins. Come on. Let’s get moving before we’ve got company.
His tone was lighter than it should’ve been, but that was just his way. No point dragging out the emotional weight when there were problems to solve, fights to win. And besides—he had a feeling Velassa wasn’t done yelling at him just yet.
