Moments Between Sleep

Dragon Age Worldstates and Pairings

World State 1 (Canon) Alyss Cousland - Alistair Harper Hawke - Anders Aiden Lavellan - Dorian Jericho Mercar - Harding World State 2 Wren Tabris - Leliana Rowan Hawke - Isabela Trenton Trevelyan - Cassandra Aleksi Aldwir - Neve World State 3

Shea Surana - Morrigan Jaimes Hawke - Merrill Waverly Lavellan - Cullen Rhys Ingellvar - Bellara

World State 4

Arden Aeducan - Zevran Falere Hawke - Fenris Atlas Trevelyan - Josephine Marina de Riva - Lucanis

Other Inquisitors: Hanna Lavellan (non-protag) - Solas (Worldstate 1) Jewel Trevelyan - Sera (Worldstate 2 Alternate) Tami Adaar - Iron Bull (Worldstate 3 Alternate) Terra Cadash - Blackwall (Worldstate 4 Alternate) Other Rooks:

Lace Harding woke with a gasp. Just a dream. A nightmare. She was sure she would never get used to this. After the ordeal inside the Titan, her nightmares of being chased by her own shade had faded, and she'd hoped that would be the end of it. That she could go back to dreaming about strange things like tomatoes, and forgetting to wear pants, or Neve stealing her snacks.

Or the good ones. About Jericho. The ones where she could touch him without hurting him. Where they were happy.

But instead, her old nightmares had been replaced with a memory she didn't wish to keep reliving. Especially when it took such an awful turn.

With a heavy sigh, she untangled herself from her bedroll and stretched as she came out from under her little canopy. It was hard to tell what time it was in the Lighthouse, but she had a feeling it was still late. That most would still be asleep. Or shut in their rooms downing cups of coffee to avoid it.

Hopefully, Jericho wouldn't mind if she disturbed his rest.

She walked across the eerily silent courtyard, through the library, and to his door. Slowly easing it open, she peeked inside to just barely make out his form beneath the blankets, softly illuminated by the blue light of the fish tank that made up the far wall. His chest rose and fell with steady breaths as he slept peacefully.

Harding smiled at the sight, knowing that he'd been struggling to sleep on that sofa Solas had left in the room, and that he'd been much happier after the Caretaker anticipated his needs and somehow rearranged the room to accommodate an actual bed. He'd asked her why she didn't have one in her own space, but she was happy with her cozy little corner. It felt like camping. Like home.

She hated to wake him from his much needed, and well-deserved rest, but he had told her that she could always seek him out if she needed him, no matter the time.

"Jer?" she whispered softly from the doorway, careful not to startle him.

"Hmm?" A groggy, muffled voice sounded from within the blankets as a tousled and tired head lifted to squint in her direction. "Lace? Are you alright?" he whispered, his voice still thick with sleep.

"Sorry, to wake you… I just, had a nightmare," she mumbled softly. "Didn't want to be alone."

"Come here." Jericho shifted to make room for her, careful to leave enough distance that they wouldn't accidentally touch, and settling a spare pillow between them as she crawled into bed beside him. They had made a bit of a habit of this arrangement on nights when one or both of them couldn't sleep well on their own.

She gave him a sad smile as she looked at the accommodations and sighed, making herself comfortable amongst the soft pillows and blankets. Different, than what she was used to, but not unwelcome.

"Sorry, I know it's not ideal…" Jericho muttered, noticing where her eyes had fallen. "But I figure it's better than sleeping apart all the time."

"It is," she nodded. "And I'm gaining more control every day… so it won't be forever." Eventually, once she could get a handle on her lyrium powers, and was able to touch him freely without fear of poisoning him, they could finally remove this barrier between them, and maybe every night could be spent together.

He smiled softly and laid back down, turning on his side to face her. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Lace rolled over to face him as well, settling her hand on the pillow that separated them. "The nightmare? It was awful… different. Than the ones from before."

"From before the Titan?" he frowned, brow creasing with concern.

"Yeah, in those, I was being chased, or hunted… those stopped." Her nose wrinkled a bit. "This was like… a memory. But wrong somehow."

Jericho brought his hand to rest beside hers on the pillow between them. "What happened?" he asked softly.

Closing her eyes, she sighed and tried to collect her thoughts. "It was that moment, when I was trapped and all I could feel was the rage. When I almost lost myself…" She suddenly grew quiet.

"What went wrong?" Tentatively, he brushed his fingertips lightly against hers, waiting for any sign that he should pull away. When none came, he left them there. A small comfort to let her know he was there.

"You weren't there," she whispered. "There was no one… I was alone with all of that pain and anger. I waited. I knew you were supposed to be there, to tell me to remember myself." A faint sniff betrayed the hurt she was trying to suppress. "Then the cavern caved in and everything went black. That's all I can remember."

"Lace, I know nightmares like that are overwhelming, and painful. I've had them too." With a deep breath, he let his outstretched fingers caress hers more intentionally, desperate to offer even the slightest bit of comfort when all he wanted to do was hold her close. "But I'm here for you. Always. I promise I'm not going anywhere."

She watched their hands apprehensively for a moment, smiling when she realized she was still in control. "You're sweet, Jer." Looking up to meet his serene blue eyes, she blushed. "How did you know what to say? To save me?"

"I didn't," he admitted as a small flash of worry crossed his features. "I was terrified for you. Every bit of magic I know failed me in that moment. I didn't know anything that could separate you from the Titan's grasp… all I could do was hope that words would get through when nothing else could."

"You're Lace Harding. You're more than this rage." She repeated his own words back to him with a sad smile. "That was hard for me to believe at the time. But you knew exactly what I needed to hear."

The smile he gave in return was fragile as his voice fell to a whisper. "I know what it's like, to lose myself to rage. Be consumed by it. I couldn't watch that happen to you."

"You've never really talked about… I'm sorry, you don't have to." Lace's gaze was apologetic, but still curious.

"It's alright," he assured. "Being possessed by Rage… it felt like I was burning, from the inside out. I only wanted to destroy everything around me, everything that was hurting me. Watch it all go up in flames…" Jericho's voice trailed off. Something haunted remained in his eyes. "Is that what it was like for you?

She was silent for a moment, thoughtful. "Yes, kind of. But less like burning. It was hot, but more like the heat from something… deep within the earth. From the stone. Not fire."

He nodded in understanding. "I thought it might be something like that." Slowly, he let his fingers thread between hers. Still safe. "But you're so much more than that anger."

Lace stared at their nearly entwined hands and smiled.

Jericho followed her gaze to their hands before raising his eyes to study her face. Your compassion was one of the first things I noticed about you. When we met." His words were soft, full of something like awe. "It's something I needed in my life. Why it was so easy to become your friend. And one of the many reasons I fell for you." Why I love you. "I didn't want you to lose that."

"Aw, Jer." Her eyes crinkled at the corners when she looked up at him, her smile soft, happy. But a worry still lingered in her eyes. "But… sometimes… I still feel angry. And I don't know what to do with it."

"You can let yourself feel it, Lace," he reassured. "Express it. Talk about it. Write it down. Scream about it if you need to." He closed his fingers, fully taking her hand. "But it doesn't have to control you. You don't have to be consumed by it."

Her eyes glowed blue for a just a moment, but she quickly gained control, watching Jericho to make sure he hadn't been affected. "Thank you," she whispered. "For being here."

"Of course, Lace. Always." He smiled. Her eyes were growing heavy. She was calm, sinking back into sleep. He squeezed her hand.

Sleepily, she murmured, "do you think it's okay to fall asleep like this? I don't want to let go."

"I think so," he whispered. "I trust you, Lace. Get some rest, I'm right here."

Her eyes drifted shut. "Sweet dreams, Jer."

Jericho pressed a gentle kiss to her hand wrapped in his. "Goodnight, Lace."

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