I don't think I've ever taken so long for an update- there was a while I wasn't sure I would finish the fic, but I did, so now I'll update accordingly. Warnings for past abuse and mild gore.
The Tal-Vashoth were dead, but Hawke didn't stop running for a long time. When she did, Merrill raced to meet her while Fenris caught up, all of them crowding around the person she held by the arm.
She hadn't gotten a good look, but it was undeniably him. Even hunched over, he towered over Merrill Fenris and her. His gray hair was filthy and matted, his robes in tatters, but it was him.
"How does it feel to be a free man?" she said jokingly.
Merrill and Fenris, who were facing him, shot her quick serious looks. Orsino didn't answer.
"Hey," said Hawke. "What's wrong? Did you get injured in the fight?"
Then Orsino turned to face her, and she knew. Tal-Vashoth still had some of the prejudices of the Qunari, even if they didn't have all the same beliefs.
They'd turned him into a Saarebas.
He avoided her gaze when she stared at the stitches carved over his mouth, the gruesome injuries still bleeding and scabbed over in some places.
"Oh," she said. "I didn't know."
"Obviously," said Fenris.
"Well," said Hawke awkwardly. "Let's get that off you."
Orsino stepped away, making alarmed muffled noises. He was frighteningly thin, his formerly pale skin burned and cracked. Hawke reached out her hand. "Look, I know we have a history," she said. Orsino's eyes flicked to her staff, and she blushed. Maybe it wasn't a wise idea to flaunt the Staff of Violation in front of him. "Please," she continued. "We can hash out all that later. Let us help you now."
Orsino nodded slightly, holding out his arms slightly. Ah, yes, the cuffs. She'd have to get those off him as soon as possible. She glanced down and realized he had leg cuffs on too. They hadn't been taking any chances, even with him staff-less.
"Hawke," said Fenris tensely. "We should get moving. The Tal-Vashoth might have friends."
"But we need to get the stitches off," said Hawke hesitantly.
"I think he's right," said Merrill. She turned to Orsino. "We'll take care of you as soon as we can, okay? I promise."
Orsino was an older elf, and Hawke could see the tiredness in his eyes as he nodded once more. He was worn out, and although she was sure he could walk while chained, she knew that's what the Tal-Vashoth had been doing to him. She didn't want that, but she didn't have any other choice right then.
"Merrill, take care of him," she said sharply. "Let's go."