A/N: I know, I know! These chapters have been pretty short and I know some people (cough Raven cough) are dying of anticipation. I'm trying to move things along fast enough to not get really boring and monotonous but at the same time I do not want to speed things up and make it unbelievable or downplay the severity of Leliana's injuries. There is at least three chapters left of this story, most likely more to be honest. There is a Final Fantasy story I am finishing also at the moment and if you are fans of "Show Me Your Private Parts" or "Giving Up Tastes Bitter," both of which have been shelved for a year, look for them this week. I hope to have both chapters out.
About an hour and a half later, the slopes of the Inquisition tents slowly started to appear in the distance, the standard flying high above as a testament to all of the faction lying in wait at the camp. Like most of the camps, there was no army stationed there, but twenty able-bodied men and women were more than enough to hold the lines. Most of the camps actually had ten or less depending on the location but, as this was the closest headquarters until getting to Val Royeaux, Cassandra and Cullen had allotted more soldiers, including more medical supplies and rations than the majority of rest stops. The Inquisition always had to be ready for emergencies, and right now Cassandra was infinitely glad of that fact.
Leliana was still slumped up against the armored warrior's chest, her limp form held up by the strong arms of her anxious lover. Strands of hair wisped in the wind, tickling the sensitive tissue of Cassandra's scarred cheek. The Seeker twisted her face into a slight grimace, gently brushing the fiery strand into a position that was not currently driving her crazy. She could almost feel the heat of the prone woman's skin seep through her gauntlet, sweat being dispersed and clinging to the once shiny metal that had glazed over with gore in the last battle. Cassandra was sure she looked a mess but at the moment the only important thing was Leliana and her safety.
Cassandra knew that the camp had at least one healer, perhaps an assistant as well. If she remembered correctly, the physician was named Iryssa. The woman had once been stationed at the Circle in Ostwick before everything went to hell and the war came to be. Evelyn had mentioned the woman a few times before and had actually given her recommendation. Evelyn's older sister Aeiryn had known Iryssa and, once the mage had come to Haven following the demise of the Circle to join her sister's cause, Iryssa and a handful of others had followed suit. After Haven was a distant memory and the Inquisition had built up a dizzying amount of connections and supplies, the camps soon followed and Iryssa had been elected as a healer for one such camp; this one that was so desperately needed just so happened to be the one she was at. Cassandra hoped Aeiryn's friend was as skilled as she was played out to be.
The tents began to grow shape and Cassandra started to see the metal adorning the soldiers glisten in the light. The Seeker could hear shouting; obviously, they had been noticed. Cassandra felt the wind shift and Evelyn and her mount appeared by her side a moment after.
"I'm going to go ahead and find Iryssa; she needs to prep as soon as possible." Cassandra nodded but Evelyn did not see as she had pulled ahead and sent her mount into an accelerated gallop that had her reach the camp in record time. Cassandra wanted to do the same, but Leliana's murmurings had grown increasingly agitated and the sweat and heat had intensified. Leliana's skin burned the warrior through her armor, setting her composure seriously out of balance. They need healing and fast but Cassandra did not want to jostle the injured woman around less it make the situation worse. Dorian and Iron Bull stayed back with her, keeping close and yet far enough that they could branch out and attack any enemies that decided to show up. Cassandra appreciated everything the Tevinter had done for Leliana as she surely would have perished if not for his quick-thinking and knowledge. Bull had been incredibly helpful too, doing everything they asked of him without complaint.
Evelyn reached the camp, quickly dismounting and speaking to the men and women in uniform urgently. "Where is Iryssa? Our spymaster is injured badly and we need her healing now!"
Lieutenant Mallory saluted sharply, her grey eyes taking in the urgency in the Inquisitor's voice. "Ma'am! I will fetch the healer immediately." The soldier swiftly moved in the direction of a slightly bigger tent than the others marked with a bright red cross with the Inquisition symbol emblazoned around it.
"Inquisitor? Allow me to take your…mount for you." A tall and handsome lad with sandy hair and timid brown eyes asked softly. Evelyn smiled at him, relinquishing the reins to the young man.
"Thank you, I appreciate it. The rest of my party should be-"
"Here." Cassandra answered for the silver-haired warrior. The rest of the party had snuck in, Leliana still nestled against Cassandra's chest. Her head lolled about, brushing on a broad shoulder. Evelyn hastened to help Cassandra with the burden of carrying Leliana. Gently, Evelyn lifted the red-head into her arms and cradled her. The Seeker slowly dismounted while a few soldiers offered to take her steed and brush it down. Cassandra agreed readily, eyeing her lover with worry. Wordlessly, Evelyn passed Leliana over to the woman, watching as those deep cinnamon eyes never left the pale face of her woman.
"Inquisitor! I heard our spymaster is hurt? Where is she?" Iryssa came running into sight, her long dark hair braided loosely and her forest green eyes complimenting her dark skin. The woman was as beautiful as she was talented. Her brow was wrinkled with concern, the small scar bisecting her left eyebrow contracting slightly. She was dressed modestly, foregoing the armor of a soldier and wearing a simple dress that ended about mid-thigh and exposed her toned arms. Iryssa was a vision to be sure; Cassandra remembered the crush Josephine had on the healer when she first arrived before Evelyn Trevelyan stole the Antivan's fragile heart. It was all well and good however as Iryssa was in a relationship with a former templar.
Ivy Shepard was almost a legend among the templar ranks; she and Cullen were both high up and the man respected Ivy greatly. Piercing sapphire hues with long hair so blonde it appeared almost white. Ivy could best Cullen in battle, and very nearly defeated Cassandra herself. Evelyn wisely decided to stay out of that battle. It had been awhile since Cassandra saw her last as she was on a mission in the Emerald Graves trying to establish a sort of truce between the elves trying to destroy the Inquisition's progress. So far everything was at a stalemate but…at least she was alive.
Evelyn moved forward, hands gesticulating in a wide area as she animatedly talked. "Leliana took a dagger that was poisoned. Dorian was able to heal her as best he could, but…due to the fast and dangerous potency of this particular poison he could not close her up. We wrapped the wound as best we could and rode here as fast as possible. She needs an experienced healer who can work alongside magic. Only through the efforts of both will she have any chance of survival."
Iryssa nodded crisply, signaling for them to follow her. "Let's go to my tent and set her up. Leliana will not die today…not on my watch."
"Thank you, Iryssa. I owe you my life if you save my Leliana. Please…please save her."
It seemed like an eternity since Iryssa took Leliana's life in her hands, doing everything possible to save Cassandra's former bard. The warrior had carried her lover inside the spacious area, keeping her eyes on that beautiful face and completely disregarding the interior. It was lavish in its simplicity; Iryssa could do a lot with only a little. She had been reluctant to let Leliana slowly fall from her arms and be cradled by the softness of the pallet put down specifically to comfort the injured.
The Seeker slowly caressed a sweaty cheek, brushing the smooth skin and feeling her throat tighten. How she loathed this…just everything about this hurt. She would sooner give up her blade, her title, than see Leliana like this. Fear hit her like a hammer once again, dread seizing her heart in an icy vice. What if Iryssa failed? What if the healer's brand of magic was not enough to bring her Leliana back? How the hell did Cassandra even hope to move on from the woman who literally brought Cassandra back her hope, her humanity? Was this the last time she would ever lay eyes on Leliana, broken and on the brink of death?
Cassandra already missed the warm smiles, that soft light that would appear in Leliana's blue eyes when she talked about the Warden or her pet nugs or Andraste's Grace. She thought of tight hugs and long nights holding each other and sharing breaths, becoming one in every sense of the word. Feeling Leliana's head upon her breast, her heart soothing the bard until she drifted off to sleep, trying vainly to keep her eyes open as Cassandra drew her fingers through soft ginger locks. It was these memories, these precious little snippets, that Cassandra would always treasure…and would similarly haunt her if the worst came to pass.
Iryssa hersef had not once come out of the tent, but she called for a few different soldiers to grab her a special item she needed. Once or twice she asked for Evelyn, whispering things to her from the safety of the dark unknown. Cassandra was starting to get frustrated and antsy now. Dorian had joined Iryssa not soon after, intending to aid the woman in mending the broken and ravaged body of their spymaster. Cassandra had gotten so fed up by that point that the warrior stalked towards the direction of the tent. She did not get very far.
"Woah, where do you think you're going Cassandra?" Iron Bull stepped forward out of nowhere, his weapon twirling from hand to hand. His dark eyes were unusually serious. Cassandra pursed her lips.
"I am going in there and seeing how Leliana is. This waiting is killing me! I have to see her; I have to see she is okay."
"You know you can't do that. Dorian and Iryssa need to be focused; you will only distract them and keep them from saving her life."
Cassandra clenched her fists, her teeth grinding together audibly. Hot tears splashed her armor, unbeknownst to her. "I cannot keep doing this Bull! I love her! I love her and she…she…"
The big Qunari stepped forward, drawing the smaller woman into his arms and holding her. Cassandra, the proud woman known for her strength and integrity, simply broke before his gentle gaze. She sobbed lightly, burrowing her face into the muscular side. It was all just too much for the warrior to handle and she…just could not do it anymore. She was human, she was a woman, and she was scared.
"What am I going to do, Bull? I cannot lose her!"
Bull tightened his grip slightly, comforting her as best as he could. "Red will beat this, Seeker. She is one tough woman. Red survived the Blight, Kirkwall self-destructing, and Thedas nearly being blown up by a guy who was way too arrogant. She'll wake up and ask you why you are crying when you know she is too much of a badass to die."
Cassandra laughed wetly, knowing Bull's words to be true. It was exactly the kind of thing Leliana would say. The woman was insufferably humble and would downplay any injuries if it would spare her friends worry. It both frustrated and endeared the red-head to her.
The Seeker drew back from the embrace, wiping at her eyes. Puffy, red-rimmed cinnamon lifted to meet Bull's one dark eye. "Thank you, Bull. I appreciate your comfort, and your words. I have faith in the Maker and I know he will bring Leliana back home to me."