Honesty in Gestures
by Hollowellow
Disclaimer: I own nutzing. Dragon Age:Origins/2 belongs to Bioware, those lucky sods...
Rating: Mature; cursing, sex, nakedness, werewolves, death- kiddies beware.
Summary: Fenris is turned into a beast. Rogue!F!Hawke never made it to Kirkwall and turns up in the Dalish camp after the attack on Lothering, alone and mute. Caught between more than one war, can they help each other, or will the curse end them both? DA:O Universe.
Note: I'm going to take my time with this, make sure I have a good foundation for my story instead of leaping to the good parts like I so want to. I spent a good while just thinking how I was going to shape this, while keeping it as realistic to Dragon Age 1 and 2 as possible. It is my hope that I will do this story justice :) This chapter is more of a prologue.
P.S.- All translations can be found in the End Notes of each chapter.
Chapter 1: Ibost Isalla
"The Beginning is the end,
The Middle is a riddle
And The Ending is a new chapter."
It started out like any other day; muddy and damp, with a light mist hovering just above ground. No one suspected any different, but how could they? Lothering was about as eventful as grass growing, and as slow to boot.
It wasn't pretty, but it was home.
As the Hawke family bustled about, Marian sat sharpening her favorite set of daggers, the Finesse blades. How she had cooed over them like some lovesick teenager when the twins presented them to her on her last birthday. She smiled at her reflection in one as she recalled the way the two had fought, trying to decide who was going to give them to her.
Turning her blade as a mirror, she examined her siblings with a critical eye. Carver and Bethany were not perfect by any means, but every now and again they would surprise her, showing her they knew how to do more than bicker amongst themselves. Normally Carver was a mule when it came to deciding things, it was amazing whenever they agreed.
Her mother, Leandra, sat not far off in the old rocking chair by the fire, knitting another scarf for one of her children. Ferelden may not have been her original home, but she had learned to overcome some of it's inhospitable temperatures; while their father fought to keep them safe, she made clothing to combat the cold. This one was a rich red color, made of soft wool she knew her mother had traded her last pair of earrings for.
Suddenly the blades felt heavier in her hands as she wiped them down with a cloth, removing any left over steel splinters. It had been a year since her father, Malcolm, had died; and still the hurt hadn't faded. Though he had spent most of his time training Bethany to control her magic, Marian still remembered the days fondly when he would teach her a new book, or weave her a grand story of the Grey Wardens overcoming the Darkspawn.
But she is a child no longer, and he is dead.
They had all been at a loss when he died. Marian had stepped up to the plate, as the eldest, to take care of the family and keep it protected; just like her father instructed. She did the odd jobs here and there when she could manage, though they mostly involved saving some man's field from giant arachnids or wolves.
Sheathing the blades and strapping them to her back she turned her thoughts elsewhere. Now was not the time to dwell on the past when she had work to do; those spiders weren't going to kill themselves.
She rubbed the heel of her palm against her eye in an attempt to stave off the stab of pain she felt building there. Try as she might there was barely enough here for the merchants to make off with, let alone enough work to keep a household of five fed and cared for. They would have to move soon, there was nothing here anymore and things would only get worse. More refugees had been piling in; there wasn't enough room for even a seat at the bar now.
A scuffing sound to her left made her straighten, turning only to see it was her mother come to show off her latest work. A smile worked it's way across her face as her mother presented the almost finished scarf.
"Marian I do wish you would try to wear something more befitting a lady, even Bethany wears robes." Standing over her daughter and giving a pointed reproving look at the fur lined leather she wore.
"Yeah Marian, get some robes, I sometimes believe I have an older brother instead of a sister." chortled a male voice from the back corner of the room.
"Oh, do shut up Carver, you're no better yourself. You look like something Brumear dragged through a thorn bush and then got chewed on by the Archdemon. Frankly, I think Marian pulls off the 'fierce woman' look quite well." sniped Bethany as she stood at the wash cleaning dishes.
"Hah, that just gives me my ruggedly hansom looks. Of which I wouldn't expect you to be able to appreciate." A well aimed wet washcloth effectively shut him up; he knew his hair would soon catch fire if he kept on. The rest of them had a short laugh at his expense as Marian smiled and shook her head at their antics, sharing a knowing look with her mother.
"Thanks Beth. We've been over this mother, I can't rightly fight in a dress. Besides, darkspawn and the like don't care how I look while they're trying to kill me." She wouldn't tell her mother that she'd rather wear mens clothes and armor than a dress, for fear she'd never hear the end of it. 'Ugh, don't even get me started on the marriage proposal talks.'
"Well, in any case, I've made this scarf special for you. I do believe it will add a lovely woman's touch to your wardrobe," Leandra beamed a smile, "I'm sure to have it ready by the time you get home, what do you think?"
"I think it's beautiful mother, one of your best works yet." And it was. Up close Marian could appreciate the painstaking detail in the fine double stitching, and felt that the wool was a soft plush as she gently marveled it between her thumb and forefinger.
"Where ever did you find the material to make this?" You couldn't find anything like this in Lothering, of that she was sure.
"That new merchant. He drives a hard bargain, but I can't argue with the quality." Ah, yes, she remembered him from the fight that had broke out between him and the Chantry Sister. That was the day she first caught sight of the strange band that had wandered through; they had caused quite a stir amongst the villagers.
Normally she was too busy to notice such things, but that one stuck out in her mind. 'Oh well, back to work.', "Thank you mother, but now I must take my leave, those spiders aren't going to kill themselves you know."
"I know dear, take care, and may the Maker watch over you." The softened morose smile her mother wore reminded her that if she had her way, Leandra would rather see her married than out fighting. 'Hah, as if there are any marriageable men around here that I'd even consider.'
She loved her mother dearly, but that was just one matter Leandra and her would have to agree to disagree on. Standing from the stool she sat on, Marian drew her mother into her arms, giving her a loving squeeze before stepping back. "Of course mother, you know I always do. Besides, I'll have Brumear with me." An enthusiastic bark answered near the hearth.
Shooting her a winning smile and saying a quick farewell quip to her two siblings not to break the house, she set off, shutting the door after one final glance back. Turning her gaze skyward she allowed the wind to leave her lips in a rush, blowing stray hair out of her eyes before running her hand up her face and letting it rest atop her head. Brumear gave a wuff and licked her other hand, grinning up at her with his head tilted to one side.
"I'm fine, let's go kill some beasts shall we?" she laughed and allowed her hand to fall, reaching over to tweak one of his pointed ears gratefully, earning her a playful grumble from her ever serious companion.
A few flicks of her wrist sufficiently removed the blood coating her daggers, allowing her to sheath them without a second thought.
"Ugh, that's the last time I take that man on his word. 'Just a few blighted spiders' he says, 'I'll pay you extra' he says, phwoah! Nearly drove me half batty looking around these bloody woods for that crazy man's trap ingredients." She wiped off more warm fluid from her face and spat on the ground with a grimace, "What a state, mother would be thrilled! Hey buddy, think you could do something about all this blood?"
A happy bark was her only answer as the brawny mabari came forward to give her a dog bath, not leaving a single spot unclean. Marian stood still as he did this, content to let her mind wander over the recent circus she just went through as his rough tongue removed every last trace of blood from her. While there was no denying that imagining Leandra's reaction to her coming home covered in the foul of the forest beasts would be amusing, it wasn't worth permanent house arrest if she saw the sight her daughter made.
Her venture into the field to kill the giant arachnid for the old man, turned into an expedition for his pest control ingredients. And 'a few blighted spiders' turned into half a dozen blighted wolves, of which had very nearly gored her with more than just their teeth, 'Bloody spikes!' She was going to wring Barlin's neck when she saw him next!
Having been thoroughly cleaned by her faithful companion, she gave him a good scrub behind the ears as thanks, to which he was all too happy to accept. His hide was thick and leathery as it bunched beneath her fingertips, but she always marveled at the thin velvet of tan fur just coating it's surface.
Giving him one last pat for good measure, she straightened to look about. Reaching into her pocket for a vial the old man had given her, she knelt down next to one of the curled up corrupted spiders and emptied a fang for the toxin extract he needed. She ignored the other dead bodies littering the floor, there was nothing to salvage from a blight wolf, nor was anyone else interested in toxins.
Done with her task she stood up, tucking the vial into a safe pouch at her side, and proceeded to pick her way through the thick forest with her faithful mabari trailing her heels.
The fog from the morning had only grown worse as the day progressed, making it hard to see her own feet, but thanks to her companion they were able to navigate the forest without further incident. It was only as they reached the edge of the woods that she was made aware of anything amiss.
The forest was all too quiet, causing the hairs all along her body and on the back of her neck to stand on end. 'This doesn't feel right.' Her hand itched to reach for her blade as she scanned the immediate woods around her wearily.
At her side, Brumear slowed to a crawl as a growl worked its way up his throat, alerting her to the sounds of screams, and the scent of smoke drifting their way. 'Shit, shit, shit sonofabitch!' mentally cursing the fates, yet praying this was an illusion, she and her hound raced across the foggy field and into the red haze that was her burning village.
She stopped short just on the outskirts, heart stopping and, though her chest was heaving from the sprint, found she could not breathe as she took in the sight before her.
Bodies.
They were everywhere. The smell of charred flesh like acid in her nose even as she tried to take shallow breaths, her stomach churning at the combined scent and view of the mangled dead strewn about. People she knew, their sightless eyes stared accusingly at her; ones that would never see another sunrise.
Her companion whined and nudged her with his nose, shaking her from her stupor. Darkspawn were everywhere and they needed to move. Giving herself a mental slap she steeled herself for what was to come, lowering her stance and drawing her Finesse blades in preparation of the fight.
But first, she had to find her family. With that in mind she dashed into the flames and crumbling houses, Brumear following close at heel. She caught sight of a few men here and there using anything they could get their hands on-gardening tools seemed to be a favorite- in their effort to fend off the hoards of darkspawn. When one fell however, two more took it's place and already they showed signs of tiring.
They managed to make it to the back alley only to halt at the gaping hole in the wreck that was now the Hawke house. A hollow feeling of dread seeped into her bones at the sight, she prayed to every god that her family had made it out alive.
She turned to the only hope she had for them now, "Brumear, can you find them?" Intelligent brown eyes locked with hers for a single moment, and she knew he understood. He gave a wuff and wagged his tail stub before setting off with his nose to the ground, already set to tracking. Marian took that time to push a wooden beam out of her way as she did a quick search of the house. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found no trace of her family or blood. 'Lack of dead bodies? Check.'
A sharp bark brought her back to reality as she whipped around, only to chase after the last glimpse she caught of her companion as he followed her family's trail at a run. They ducked around fighting bodies of men and darkspawn alike, moving between blows and leaping over the dead in their path. Marian could feel the sweat clinging to her skin, and now that they were in the heart of the village, her eyes were starting to burn from the combined ash and smoke in the air, both of which were trying to suffocate her with every breath.
It was getting hotter by the minute, flames engulfed everything, her ears had nearly become deaf to the screaming going on around her as figures clashed in the background. She closed herself from it all, lest she go crazy thinking that that could be her family in agony, narrowing her focus solely to watching her dog and avoiding any other distractions and obstacles in her way.
It was chaos everywhere she turned, and she ached in more ways than one as she held a curled fist against her tightening chest.
There! Brumear barked as he ran to them. She pushed herself to run faster even as the buildings burning around her started to fall and her lungs burned with the effort. They were there, in the middle, just before the bridge.
"Carver! Bethany!" she felt her heart leap as she smiled at their figures.
Hearing their names, the twins looked about for her through the smokey atmosphere. They waved her over even as Bethany shot another bolt of lightening at a darkspawn that had gotten too close, and Carver dashed in a few hits with his sword.
As she approached though, and their faces became clear through the haze surrounding them; their smiles turned to looks of horror. 'Shit.'
"Marian! Look out!" Everything seemed to move in slow motion; the grip on her daggers tightening enough to shoot a jolt of pain up her arms, her body already tucking into a practiced roll to the side, while Brumear lunged over her to land the first hit on the genlock thinking to get the drop on her.
The warning had come too late though, and she felt the blood well up on her back from the hit. Twisting as she rolled into a crouch she held her blades aloft, pushing her body to get behind the creature as the mabari tore into it's front. Once in position she leapt onto the genlock's back, digging her daggers deep into it's flesh before bringing one blade up to slice it's throat clean open.
Panting from the combined rush of adrenaline and the long run in search of her family, she finally stopped for a breather, hands settling on her knees as she bent over taking in greedy gulps of ashy air that she was beyond caring about, short hair in a disarray. Carver took the break in enemies to race to her side, grabbing her arm in his sweaty grip and hauling her bodily back to the spot he and Bethany were defending.
It didn't take long for her to figure out why they were stuck there. Leandra lay wounded between the twins as they held guard post over her, she fell into a kneel at her mother's side, automatically cupping the wound that punctured her lung in vain. Horror flooded through her at the sight, her mother gasping for breath even as her lung filled with blood on inhale.
Leandra's glazed eyes settled on her, a cold shaky hand coming up to rest lightly on her eldest's cheek. The wobbly smile she granted her was something Marian would never be able to forget, nor the coming words.
"I knew, you-d come. I finished, your sca-rf," blood was dribbling down the corners of her mouth now as she reached her other hand into her robes, "I, do-not, blame you." unsteady hands clenched the slip of crimson material, so disturbingly close to the color of her blood, Marian now realized. The sounds of battle raged on around them but none of it mattered, she stared transfixed at the scene before her. The hand held to her cheek fell to grab her daughter's wrist, pulling it closer so she could wrap, and tie the item to her arm.
"No mother, don't do this, we'll get you to a healer, you'll be just fine." she barely held back a choked sob at the end of her statement, pressure building behind her eyes as she gazed at her mother. If only she'd have gotten here sooner, maybe she could have prevented her mother from getting hurt.
"Marian, we have to get her moved to somewhere safer, we can't last here much longer." came Bethany's strained voice from above their heads.
She swallowed the lump around the sudden tightening of her throat as Leandra shook her head, "No, I will be-with father." one of her hands gripped Marian's over her dagger, her voice raspy and short of breath, "Be safe, and take-care of them."
The tears building behind her eyes flowed freely now, as she took the scarf from her mother. Her last treasure. 'Maker, why her?'
"I love you, you've made-me so proud. Find, peace." The last word was drawn out with the final exhale she made, her eyes closing even as her bloodstained mouth continued to smile.
"No..." Snarling at herself for not being there when her mother needed her most, she wiped furiously at her tears, scrubbing them away even as she gripped her daggers tighter, picking up the one she had previously discarded in favor of holding her mother's wound. She would fulfill her mothers wishes, Carver and Bethany would make it out of this alive. 'Even if it kills me.'
"Sis, everything ok down there?" Carver's worried voice floated into her foggy mind, the sound of his blade cutting down another darkspawn pushed her back into action.
"She's gone, we have to move, now." There was barely anyone left alive in the village, the screaming had dimmed considerably, and now she could see the darkspawn closing in on them. Looking closer at her siblings as she came to stand at their side-while Brumear kept the darkspawn at a distance- she could see they were weary and had quite a collection of gashes. The worst she could see being a wound on Bethany's head, while Carver sported a gaping slash down his arm. Nothing life threatening yet.
The twins faces twisted in exhausted grief as they took a moment to take one last look at their mother behind them, silently saying their farewells.
Bethany opened her watery eyes resolutely to shoot an icy blast at the nearby enemies, giving them a path to start their escape. Brumear was already tearing into the frozen creatures with a fury and strength known only to the mabari, while Carver lept forward to land solid blows to shatter the blackened creatures and Marian came up behind to finish any others off with a few quick strikes.
They continued like this till they reached the north exits stairs, almost out of Lothering, if they could make it into the woods they'd at least have better cover to flee. The body of their deceased mother behind them as the flames of the village slowly engulfed it.
Lothering was in ruin, buildings crumbled all around them, the wood giving way to the fires devouring it. Only a few poor souls could be seen alive besides the darkspawn, a group of which were starting to close in on the retreating Hawke family.
Just as they were about to reach the tree-line, a small quake shook the ground around their feet, nearly throwing them off balance. Brumear turned and snarled from his lead position as an ogre descended upon them in a rush, knocking them all off their feet.
Before any of them had a chance to move however, Carver had already regained his footing and was charging in without a thought, only to be snatched up in the ogres grasp. Marian's eyes burned from the heavy smoke and ash-choking the air from her lungs-, but even that wasn't enough to distract her from the horror of seeing her brother's body flung and crushed under the giant's tantrum like a rag-doll, feeling her throat constricting on the words as she tried to shout.
As it bashed him into the ground Bethany, Marian and Brumear all attacked at once with renewed vigor after they regained their feet, stabbing, biting, and freezing it. The beast roared in pain as their attacks landed, causing it to flail and release Carver. But as it crouched down to attack the dog tearing into it's legs after Bethany had frozen them, Marian took her chance and leapt onto it's back. Digging a dagger into it's shoulder to hold her steady, her other hand drove the second blade home between it's horns, through it's eye, and into it's brain with a sickening squelch.
Pulling her weapons free and jumping clear as the ogre went down with a thud, they turned their attention to the darkspawn that lingered after them. Coming to stand in a half circle around their brother they made quick work of the rest using their combined efforts. Marian could barely keep track of all the wounds and bruises she could feel appearing all along her body, exhaustion was starting to wear her down even as the final monster fell. They all rushed-limped-to Carver's side, Bethany's hand already reaching down to check on him while Marian sheathed her blades.
"Carver," slap, "Carver, wake up, please? You're too thick headed to die!" Bethany cried, shaking as the adrenaline coursing through her mixed with the dawning realization that he wasn't going to get up.
His body lay motionless, his arm bent at an unnatural angle and his leg looked to be broken in several places. But it was his head that was the worst, the back split open like a melon. Blood poured freely from the wound and covered the sisters' hands as they tried in vain to staunch the bleeding, his eyes staring off into the void unblinkingly. Brumear sat mourning in whimpers at their side as he licked the young brother's hand.
Through her tears, Marian managed to get ahold of herself, sucking in a shuddering breath as she felt the impact of the last few hours wash over her. Turning to her sister with sad blue eyes she reached out, grabbing Bethany and shaking her as the other girl sobbed and continued trying to slap her brother awake, working herself into a fit of hysteria. She seemed to run out of steam finally and moved to curl herself up into her sister's open arms, choking out sobs and beating the elder Hawke's shoulder weakly with a bloodied fist.
"It's not fair!" another hit landed on her sister before she became boneless in her arms, closing her eyes to block out the rest of the world.
"Shh, I know. But we have to get moving, there will be time to mourn mother and Carver after we escape the darkspawn, which will soon be upon us if we don't hurry." Marian sat lightly rocking Bethany in her arms next to the mangled body of their dead brother, her eyes resolutely shut against the sight as she focused on comforting her sister. 'This can't be happening.'
Brumear whined and licked the girls' faces, but stepped back to let out an urgent bark, nudging them with his head that it was time to leave. Bethany reached out a shaking hand to pat him on the head as she tried to steady her breathing, attempting to clear her mind of the grief that clouded it.
Bethany slowly moved out of her grasp, turning to say one last goodbye to her brother. She breathed a quick "Let's get out of here." as she tore her gaze away from the crushed corpse long enough to grab her staff. Marian gave her a weak smile and helped her stand, Brumear positioning himself at her other side to help move them along. They could hear more darkspawn closing in, spurring them to beat a hasty retreat up the stone staircase leading out of the village.
Marian chanced one last glance at her old home from the edge of the woods before she turned to leave that life, and her dead family, behind. She moved under the cover of smoke, into the darkness the forest provided with her sister and faithful companion trailing after. Freedom never tasted so sour.
"You're limping." Marian grit her teeth and turned away from her sister, 'Way to state the obvious.'
"Yes, I realize that." she bit out, only to wince at her tone as she looked back to see her sister barely keeping up, quickly amending it with a "We'll camp here for the night." It looked safe enough, they had managed to put quite some distance between them and Lothering, and now that the adrenaline had worn off they were all feeling their wounds.
Bethany nodded her approval, "I'm not feeling so hot myself.", she plopped down bonelessly and rested her back against one of the many trees, closing her eyes for a moment.
They looked like they'd been trampled under the feet of a dragon and then bathed in blood. Marian didn't even bother to ask Brumear to clean her off this time, they were all too tired to care about being clean, and she felt the deep ache spread through her.
So she set about gathering some wood and making a small fire, shaking Bethany awake long enough to ask her to light it. In the dark she could only make out shapes in the shadows and it was making her jumpy when some of them moved. Because of this, it was a great shock when her sister weakly started the fire and Marian got a good look at her in the light of it.
"Bethany! Your face, it's- are you alright?" Suddenly she was kneeling and cupping her still bloody hands to her younger sister's cheeks. Pupil-less grey eyes peered at her drowsily through slowly opened lids, her skin a sickly pallor as purple veins shone through her neck.
"It's the blight, isn't it?" Bethany's hands came up to clutch at her head, turning it down as her eyes clenched shut, "I hear a voice, it's calling me. You have to make it stop, please!"
Brumear was suddenly up and growling, causing her to look over and see that he was facing the edge of the firelight to the side of them. Without warning he tore off into the darkness, snarling and barking as he disappeared from sight, leaving Marian at a loss for words.
"Brumear, no! Get back here!" she was about to chase after him when she felt her sister's cold hand grab her arm.
"Please, make it stop." Her soulless eyes pleaded with her and Marian found she couldn't look away. She had heard of the blight's effect of course, knew that soon her sister would be lost, turned into a deadly hurlock emissary as all blighted mages ended up. This did not make it any easier to bear the thought of having to kill her however, even though she knew she would be putting an end to her misery.
Her eyes felt dry after having cried so much in one day, but still a few tears managed to work their way down her cheeks as she closed her eyes and leaned forward to kiss her sister's clammy forehead-mindful of the wound there- her left hand cupping the back of her head now as she tucked it under her chin.
"I'm so sorry, I should have been faster." She croaked into her sisters' dark curls.
"I don't blame you, no one could have predicted this." Bethany's arms reached around to embrace her, "It's ok, I'll be with Carver, and our parents. You've done so much for us, more than you had to, I only wish for you to be at peace sister."
"I'm sorry..." she choked, clenching her eyes shut as she reached for a dagger with her right hand, bringing it around to rest just above her sister's sternum with shaking fingers.
"May the maker guide your steps to safety." With a quick thrust, one of the Finesse blades her siblings have lovingly gifted her became buried deep within the chest of her sister. As the blood flowed down the blade and over her hand, she drew it out and returned it unclean to it's sheath. 'What's a little more blood anyway?' Gently she arranged her sister to lean back once more against the tree. A small smile still adorned her ashen face as Marian closed her haunting eyes with bloodied fingertips, making her appear as though she were simply resting.
Her heart felt like it was going to drop out of her chest any moment now, so heavy it felt. She felt hollowed out and dead, whatever strength she had till that point left her in a rush. There was no adrenaline keeping her going, her tears had dried up as she had none left to shed, and she was now alone in the forest with only the small fire behind her. 'Failure. Weak. Can't even keep your family safe.' Her mind ran in circles tirelessly even as there was nothing left, the guilt and shame welling inside her slowly drowning her in it's intensity.
A crunch alerted her to another presence just behind her kneeling form. She couldn't even summon the will to defend herself. Let them come, she had nothing left to lose now. Her eyes stayed blank as she smelt the rotting flesh of the creature, its dark chuckle breathing over her ear to rustle the short hair there. A large clawed hand grabbed her under the chin as it tilted her head back to expose her neck to the rusty blade it held there.
As the steel pressed tauntingly into her flesh, she found herself closing her eyes and thinking of being with her family again, not bothering to struggle anymore. It was only when she heard growling and a blood curdling screech that her eyes flew open and she realized just what she was about to let happen. Leaping to action she jerked her elbow back to hit the hurlock in the stomach, trying to dislodge it.
She would not die so easily at the hands of the darkspawn, not when she had to bring justice to her families deaths. But the hurlock simply chuckled again, unaffected, and gripped her throat tighter in its bruising hold, allowing the blade to slice through the thin skin of her neck and into her windpipe; just managing to cut between the cartilage disks there.
The pain laced through her as she struggled to breathe around the blood suddenly flowing down her throat, trying to control the urge to swallow lest the blade sink further, realizing she was too late to shake him off without dying in the process. Cursing her stupidity and moment of weakness, she closed her eyes against the pain and tried to reach back and grab one of her daggers, only to halt when she heard a familiar growling grow closer.
Before he could cut into her jugular and kill her, the hurlock's arm was suddenly being torn into by her lost mabari. She didn't have time to be surprised and silently thanked him for his timely intervention, even as the blood flowed endlessly from her wound now that the blade wasn't there to slow it. Standing to whirl around unsteadily, her hand finally managed to grasp a dagger. With a feral smile she lunged toward the distracted darkspawn and stabbed him through his chest, ending him.
Just as she stepped away and Brumear released his arm, ten more darkspawn were suddenly upon them. She was feeling lightheaded from blood loss and the entire day spent fighting, her limbs more akin to dead weights as her last kick of adrenaline fizzled out after that one stab. Drawing her second blade she attempted to fend them off, swiping out in wide arcs weakly to keep them back, wincing at the fire shooting up the leg she limped on.
Brumear lept onto one and was tearing into it even as the others circled him. What little concentration she had for the battle was lost when she heard the high pitched yelp from her companion, turning her head to see him fall through the blade of one of the darkspawn as others continued to stab into him once he was down.
He didn't move after that, his body laying there on the ground in a bloody heap.
The grip on her dagger slipped and one of the darkspawn attacking her took advantage by bashing her face with the hilt of its sword, breaking her nose and loosening a few of her teeth in the process. A random and irritated thought broke through her haze, 'That bastard broke my nose!'
She staggered back and only subconsciously noticed that the grip she had on her blades had slackened, causing them to slip from her hands and onto the ground as she fell with a thud. Laying there motionless, staring up into the dark of the canopy trees dancing with the light of the small campfire just behind her, she heaved another shuddering breath as with one last toss she threw a dagger into the nearest darkspawn's head, killing it.
Her eyes glazed over as she listened to the sudden shouting and roaring all around her, idly enjoying the feel of the soft dirt of the forest floor beneath her exhausted form. Letting the feeling of floating overtake her she as struggled with another breath around the blood clotting in her throat; feeling it gurgle out the sides of her mouth on exhale.
The last thing she caught sight of was a bleary flash of white and a pair of yellowish eyes, before the darkness swallowed her. Allowing herself to relax into the pair of large hands that had lifted her and drawing comfort from the rumbling growl that vibrated through her.
End Notes:
Ibost isalla- Return to dust
Mabari- War hound
Brumear- Pronounced Brum-ear
Comments: Phew, lot of deaths in one chapter! I know it was kind of boring, but now that that's out of the way I have a base for the rest of the story to build from :D Chapter 2 will be up shortly, as I've already written half of it :)
Thoughts? Good? Bad? Blah? Should I rewrite this whole chapter?