***Authors Note***

Hello and welcome to chapter 2 :)

Enjoy!

- Sophus xx

Disclaimer: I do not own DA2 all credit to Bioware!

Chapter 2

"Holy fuck!"

Sarah grasped her bleeding nose and gathered herself up onto her knees.

"Ouch, Sophie I landed on my face."

"What the shit happened?"

Shaking her head to try and clear the dizziness close to overwhelming her she looked around. Sophie was laying on her back, her hand covering her eyes probably trying to clear the same feeling of vertigo. A bone chilling breeze brushed over the girls ruffling red and midnight hair. Sarah was glad they chose to put on dryer clothing before leaving the den. That's when the smell permeating the air hit her. Salt and fish. She scrunched her nose hoping that would help and saw her friend slowly sitting up.

"What is that smell? Where the hell are we?"

Sophie looked around, her amber eyes slowly widening as she took in her now unfamiliar surroundings.

"I have no idea..."

She was instantly on the defensive looking for any kind of threat but found the immediate area empty. The ground was dusty with a dirty yellow sand, littered with old paper and glass bottles. She could hear the sea nearby and the clanking of chains from the anchors on ships.

"A ship yard maybe?"

"How in the hell did we get here? We live nowhere near the coast..."

"I don't think we're in England anymore Sarah. Let's find some people"

They wandered around aimlessly for about half an hour. The smell of fish and decay attacking them nearly making them gag before they came to a staircase leading upwards. Their eyes followed the assent.

"This is one big place." Sarah looked to Sophie whose expression had become stony. She recognized the signs of her friend becoming defensive, ready to lash out if needed, a reflex from their past. Sighing lightly she put her hand on the small shoulder. "Might as well make a start on these steps, bro." Sophie nodded a response. She followed her as she made her way to this new found place.

Another fifteen minutes of trekking and the scenery began to change, hovels of all sizes made of a sandstone like substance began popping up just beyond the stairs. The smell of salt and fish behind them, they were affronted by a new smell. Unwashed bodies, dust and a hint of fear.

Sophie tensed her shoulders, the night air frigid against the exposed skin of her arms. A feeling that began at the base of her back and slowly climbed her spine causing the hairs on her neck to rise and prickle. She knew this feeling and not in a good way.

"Sarah, keep calm but I think we're being followed."

"Bugger."

"Just walk a little faster but try to look nonchalant."

"Right."

The newcomers sped up slightly and heard numerous footsteps behind them speed up in unison. A flutter of fear began in Sarah's chest, she wasn't cut out for fist fights, she left that stuff to the smaller but more violent of the two. She grabbed Sophie's hand, calming almost instantly and the slight touch.

The smallest buzzing sound lasted for the smallest instant before it ended with a thunk. Looking toward the impact the girls were amazed to see an arrow sticking out the wall beside them.

"Is that an arrow?"

"Nevermind it and run!"

They set of at a sprint fueled by the yells they could hear behind them, emphasised by the buzzing and thunks of more arrows. One such buzzing ended in a wet thud followed by a gasp.

"Shit! Fuck that hurt!"

Sarah looked toward Sophie who had fallen forward gripping her right leg, a steady stream of blood flowing from her thigh. An arrow protruding from it, the tip out the front glistening red.

"Shit man! There's an arrow in your leg!" She ran to help her up.

"No way! Argh!"

Another arrow hit her in the shoulder Just as Sarah fell forward grasping at her back as one stuck in her back. The pain causing black spots to swim into vision, a sticky warmth spreading through her shirt.

"Fuck, quick try to keep moving."

Grunting as they did so the girls rounded a corner. Lanterns came into view lighting up a mannequin hanging upside down.

"Is that a pub?"

"Fuck it just go for it."

With a burst of adrenaline they ran, the yelling behind them getting closer and closer before they crashed through the door of the conspicuous building.

The inside was warm but it smelt of stale vomit and old ale. A mismatched group looked up from their card game at the banging of the door. Seeing the girls an attractive man in his mid twenties with dark hair and piercing blue eyes stood up, a concerned expression crossing his handsome features.

"Who are.."

And then Sophie fainted.