The quiet crackling of the fire was the only sound in the room.
Nas lay on her front, her arm dangling over the side of the bed. The thin sheet was draped lazily over her backside, leaving the soft skin of her back visible. Her cheek was against the rough edge of the mattress and it dug into her skin, but she was too preoccupied to care.
A warm hand slid up her back, making her smile with her eyes closed.
"I should probably go."
Nas took a deep breath. She rolled over and landed on a wonderfully warm body.
"M'kay," she said sleepily. "See you tomorrow."
Nas planted a quick kiss on Isabella's mouth before turning back to her original position. She felt Izzy get off the bed and she could hear her getting dressed. There was a metallic swoosh, and Nas guessed she was sheathing one of her many daggers.
The rhythmic thumping of boots told Nas that Isabella had left.
Opening her eyes, she stared into the fire.
The idea that she was now alone relieved her and terrified her at the same time. Her fingertips brushed the smooth red carpet. Nas started to drag her nails slowly across it, feeling the individual strand of cotton getting caught under them.
As she closed her eyes and started to think, her fingers traced no particular pattern. She kept moving it softly, the same motion calming her whirring thoughts.
After her outburst the other day, her companions were a little weary of her.
She knew why Varric was. He had seen her naked – it was enough to make any dwarf blush.
Anders was pretty pissed, and the purple bruise on his cheek was evidence why. She hadn't really spoken to him, and she certainly wasn't about to apologise! That cheeky fuck had groped her chest. He tried to explain he needed to buzz her chest muscles, but she knew he just wanted a feel.
Isabella... ah, Isabella... the wonderfully uncomplicated Isabella. After seeing Nas in all her naked glory, Isabella had been after her like a bitch on heat. It was nice, until she gave in. The chase was always so much funnier.
Ah, well. Can't be the hard ass all the time, she thought.
And Fenris.
Hmph, what about Fenris? Fenris should be wearing the bruise. He was just lucky she was too upset; else she would have rammed his sword so far up his arse that he would be spitting metal.
The thought made her smile against the sheets. Oh, she was bitch sometimes.
A bead of sweat silently dripped down her cheek. Her brows were screwed up tightly in concentration.
"Now - light the candle."
Nas felt her arms starting to pull. She was standing on one leg with a pile of three books balanced on her head. In her left hand she held a huge rock in line with her shoulder. Her arm was starting to shake as her bicep started to burn.
In her right hand she held her staff in front of her.
"Yeah, say it like it's so fucking easy," she growled.
Anders chuckled. Nas's blood started to race and she felt herself unwillingly drawing mana to her. She saw Anders' blue aura waver slightly, and she knew he felt her pulling power.
He stood about twenty paces away from her behind a small crate where a tiny candle stood. She gave him a sharp look before setting her eyes on the barely visible wick. She closed her eyes as another bead of sweat dripped down her face.
She had been standing here for fucking hours – and she was getting annoyed with Anders' smart comments. She knew he was getting her back for walloping him, but it was starting to become un-funny.
Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes.
Drawing a tiny string of mana from her chest, she willed it to comply with her commands. Seeing it in her mind's eye, the tiny glow of purple materialised in front of her vision. Narrowing her eyes, she sent it forward ever so slowly.
It snaked forward, and she wasn't sure if Anders could see it or not, but as it wound its way over the crate, it started to pulse brighter.
Shit, shit, shit, shit.
Holding her breath, she willed the magic to stay on course and light the candle, but she felt her grasp slipping. Her arm was shaking furiously and she could feel the books starting to slip.
"Anders, I - what the hell?"
The slither of magic swelled drastically until it burst with a massive pop!
The books crashed to the ground, and Nas wasn't far behind them, landing heavily on her rump. She looked up at Varric with a sour look. He gave her a sheepish look before turning back to Anders.
"We're having a diamondback tournament at the Hanged Man tonight, you in?"
"Shit, don't invite me or anything," said Nas, getting to her feet.
Varric chuckled and offered her a hand. A hand which she did not take, thank-you-very-much.
"You're always invited, Hawke. Just don't start any brawls tonight though, eh?"
She gave him a sarcastic smile before turning and picking up her staff. Anders gave Varric a nod before turning to face Nas. She had her staff in front of her, and she had some payback to deal.
"My turn to teach."
She gave Anders time to draw his staff before turning in a circle and twisting her staff in an arc. The woods met with a crack. She danced backwards, easily avoiding his sweep. Just jumped forward slightly, teasing him to swinging for her and then darting back, making his face darken ever so slightly.
Oh she loved it when she did that.
Laughing, she twirled again, avoiding another blow.
"I'll, uh, just leave you two to it then," said Varric.
Neither of them turned as the dwarf turned and left. Nas took her staff in both hands as Anders started an aggressive sweep. Her metal clashed with his, sending vibrations through her wrists, making her glad that she had her supports on. She used the right end to stop another blow towards her stomach. As she blocked it, she raised the other end, tapping his chest with it.
She saw Anders' eyes flash momentarily blue.
She hated the way she shivered. What the hell was it with her and guy's glowing? Surely that should be a turn-off?
Anders face went serious as he swung his staff in another arch, and this time, Nas nearly missed. She was taken aback as he didn't stop, using his momentum do stab for her knees. Jumping up, she avoided the blow and used the advantage to take a swing for herself. It was blocked roughly.
As Anders started another onslaught, she realised he wasn't playing anymore. If any of his hits connected then he could break something. Starting back into a defensive position, she tried to slow his movements, trying to end the exercise. As he twisted himself and went for a blow near her chest, Nas found herself jumping backwards.
Her back slammed into a wall and she looked around the clinic, realising that she was cornered. Anders didn't stop however, and she saw that his whole body was a glow with the deep blue light of Justice. She felt his presence in the room, as if the Fade had personified itself. The power that surged around him was something that made her involuntarily tremble, and Anders' aura had been completely engulfed by Justice's power. Feeling her mana well up inside her, Nas put her staff in front of her.
She was not going to give the spirit a chance to smell her fear.
"Anders? Are you there?"
Justice put his hand in front of him and she saw his hand erupt into blue flames. Nas sent the mana through her hands into her staff, making it glow green. She spun it in front of her, creating a circle. It slowly covered her and pulsed faintly.
Damn, Nas. Way to piss off the spirit of Vengeance.
"Anders," she said, sternly.
She saw the flame glow brighter, but Anders' expression started to change. His eyes started to flicker until they became a golden glow. He looked around as if confused until he saw the flaming ball of fire in his hand.
Gasping, he closed his fingers, making the fire disappear.
Nas relaxed her stance and let the shield go down. Feeling the anger inside her, she raised her staff and gave him a sharp tap on the head.
"Hey!"
"You complete ass hole!"
Without another word, she stomped past him. Knocking his should as she passed him, she headed straight to the door without looking back.
A sudden grip on her arm had her twirling back around. Anders slammed her against a rough wall, but she had no time to protest. He crushed her lips with his own. For a second she raised her fist to put it straight into his gut, but as he leaned closer, she could feel the heat of his skin. His aura tickled as it started to merge with her own purple glow.
Hating herself for it, she felt her muscles starting to limp and her body started to react to his. Sensing her submission, Anders pressed himself closer.
Nas breathed him in. A sweet mix of sweat and magic. It was spicy yet pure, like fresh water mixed with spiced wine. Opening her mouth, she felt his tongue start to explore. Suddenly, she felt something else. Another presence. Before she had opened her eyes, she knew who it was.
She knew that smell. It was metallic against oil and leather.
Her hands became purple balls as she used her force to push Anders back. He only stumbled a few feet, but it was enough to make him give her a confused look. She looked behind him, and sure enough, there he was.
His aura was a deep, deep green and she inwardly smiled.
"Fenris?" she asked expectantly.
He wore his usually stony look, but she could see is aura getting bright, pulsing with the timing of his heart. Ha! Ha, ha, ha! He's jealous!
She wanted to dance around and laugh and point. But she didn't. She carried on looking at him expectantly.
"Hawke. There has been word of a disturbance around the Bone Pit mines. Your partner is looking for you."
She nodded. "Then let's go. Anders, grab your staff."
As she passed Fenris, she felt his aura and she could smell the lyrium burn.
As the men started behind her, she felt the tension emit around them. Anders was pleased with himself, and Fenris was silently seething. As she looked ahead, she couldn't help but smile.
A short while later, Nas found herself stood in the Hanged Man. Hubert had been whining about something to do with the Bone Pit. Apparently it had been sacked or something and he wanted her to check it out. She was leaning against the bar on one elbow, waiting for Isabella to hurry the hell up. Fenris stood somewhere to her left, hi ding in a shadow. But she could still the faint outline. It had turned to a very light green with blue flecks in it.
Anders, however, was right beside her. Like, almost humping her leg beside her.
Feeling his aura knocking into her own, she stood up straighter.
Damn it, Nasara! You stupid, stupid girl! Now you've given the puppy a chew toy that's too big.
She sighed, and prayed, that Isabella would be out soon.
As if the Maker Himself heard her plea, Isabella bounced down the stairs. Her aura was a pleasant pink, and she knew that colour all too well.
"Isabella, you couldn't have come back to it?" she asked as Isabella crossed the room.
"He was leaving in an hour."
"Mmm hmm. Yeah, sure, and I'm the queen of Antiva."
They started towards the door as Isabella gave her a surprised look and gasped.
"Your majesty!" she said grandly, bowing slightly.
Nas laughed and shook her head. Opening the door. Isabella bounced through, thoroughly pleased with herself and her latest conquest.
They walked into the mild sunshine, Anders directly behind her and Fenris somewhere near the back. Isabella started in depth about the man she had just had as they rounded the corner, heading towards the west exit of Kirkwall.
"So, where are we going?" she asked, while pulled a small throwing dagger from the belt around her waist. She looked down briefly as she used the tip to slowly drag under her left index finger.
"The Bone Pit."
Isabella screwed her nose up as if she had smelt something distasteful. "It stinks in there."
"It stinks in the Hanged Man."
"Well, yeah, but it has whiskey."
Nas chuckled. "Bad whiskey."
"But whiskey all the same."
Nas nodded her head slightly. She had a point.
It took them about an hour before they reached the outskirts of the Bone Pit. It was half way up a bloody hill, and Nas felt herself breathing heavily. She still hadn't fully recovered from her outburst a few nights ago. She had completely spent all her mana and it had taken nearly four days just for auras to start coming back. She had been getting worried that she had lost her ability to see it. But they had started to come back the night that Isabella had visited.
She followed her senses until they came to a small stream. Nas had bent down and started to scoop the water up like it had been going out of fashion. Isabella took a seat on a rock and Anders had saddled himself night to Nas, much to her dismay.
Fenris, on the other hand, stayed standing with his brooding face set in stone.
When Nas had satisfied her thirst, she sat up. Her hands sparked as she saw how close Anders was. She frowned at him and stood up. His aura shimmered as it turned a dark blue. Turning as if she hadn't noticed his face drop, she started towards the Pit.
As they closer, however, there was a tremendous crash.
Nas looked at Isabella who frowned. They started forward in a jog, unsure of what would cause the noise.
As they approached the rim of the Pit, Nas saw someone had started a little camp around the entrance. Dead corpses were scattered across the plain and she realised they were raiders. Isabella gave her a nod, to which she returned one, and stepped back.
Raising her staff above her head, she called upon her mana. She felt it coursing through her chest and down her arms like a welcome friend. It slithered into her palms and then finally into her staff. Holding it high, she built up the pressure until she felt it waiting to explode under her fingertips.
As quick as a flash, she flung the staff forward, sending the magic out with the force of an arrow.
The white ball raced forward before landing in the raiders' fireplace, blowing up into the air with a deafening crash. Taking it as her signal, Fenris and Isabella charged it.
As Nas threw another spirit ball at a raider, she watched Isabella grabbing knives from her belt and letting them loose with deadly precision. Fenris however had drawn his greatsword from the holder on his back and was tearing into a shortsword-wielding raider, with, in all honesty, very little chance of surviving.
She twisted her mana and changed it, manipulating the magic until she had her desired spell. Lightning wrapped itself harmlessly around her palm and up her arm until she pushed her palm outward, catching a raider and sending him up in spark.
Before she had any real time to work up a bloodlust, the fight was over.
Isabella went around pulling daggers from eyes as Fenris used the shirt of a dead raider to wipe his blade clean. Nas kept her staff in front of her as she and Anders walked into the camp. Fenris had blood splattered over his face and Isabella's white corset was now fleck with crimson droplets.
They walked forward silently, looking over the bodies for anything useful. Nas found a health poultice and Isabella a few coins, but other than that, nothing useful.
"Right then, in we go," said Nas, starting forward.
As they made their way through the winding maze of passages, Nas felt almost bored. She wasn't a great explorer. She mostly preferred fighting things.
They carried on forward into yet another half-built tunnel, but this time, something was different. She felt the change in the air as sure as Anders, and they both looked at each other. Nas summoned a small fireball into her hand, just in case as Anders started on a thin shield around them.
As they slowly went deeper, Nas felt eyes on her. She could feel the presence of something, but it wasn't human. She could smell blood and faeces, and she could smell fire.
Suddenly, it lunged at them. Nas sent the fireball out instantly, blocking the thing in its path. Fenris was upon it while it was stunned, running it through. The thing let out an ungodly shriek before it finally fell down dead.
Stepping closer, she was horrified at what she saw.
A small, purple drake lay at their feet. It must have been a hatchling because its wings were still curled. But it was a dragon.
A fucking dragon.
"Oh hell no! I am not facing another bloody dragon!" said Isabella, stepping back from the hatchling as if it was still alive.
Nas couldn't help but agree, remembering when they had faced their first one not three years ago. It had been huge and had nearly torn Isabella in half. She still had the claw marks on her thigh.
"It's alright, Isabella. We killed the dragon before. These were probably eggs left behind that have hatched."
Isabella did not look convinced. Nas smiled, even though her own doubts whirled through her mind.
"Come on, we'll have a sweep through. I bet this is the only one."
Nas started forward, taking the lead.
"You better be right, Hawke. Else I'm going to strangle you with your own stocking."
Nas chuckled. "Stocking? What stocking?"
The pirate queen smiled, if only briefly.
Two hours later, they had killed seven.
Nas had a new pair of teeth marks on her arm and Isabella had taken a few scratches, but they were just flesh wounds. Isabella was incredibly pissed, and Nas couldn't really blame her. She gave Nas a look that would make a Qunari tremble, but Nas just smiled sweetly.
Turning yet another corner, Nas was surprised to see an exit. The sun glared through brightly, and Nas had to squint. They walked towards it until the sun's soft rays danced over her skin. She took in the scene before her.
The hill sloped down until it came to a huge plain with dark hills rising over the sides. Spread along the pure white sand, were corpses. Some were whole, but other had been... nibbled on. In some areas, there was only a patch of blood and a few scraps of unknown origin.
Nas started forward when she felt something grab her arm. She looked back to see Isabella shaking her head. Her aura was a dull grey. It wasn't often Nas had seen the pirate truly scared, but there it was, as plain as day. Fear.
"Hawke, you know how I hate dragons."
Nas opened her mouth to give her a smart comment when something caught her attention. All four of them spun around and looked into the darkness of the mine.
As if materialising out of nothing, hundreds of bright little eyes came a light, and Nas felt Isabella gulp.
"Out we go then..." breathes Anders.
Slowly, they stepped backwards as the eyes advanced. As they got closer to the light, purple snouts and shining white teeth became visible. Nas felt naked walking into the open plain backwards. Anything could come up behind, but she didn't dare turn.
Slowly, she saw Anders' hands go out before him. To her left, Fenris' skin started to glow, sending the burning metal smell her way. Isabella had her long daggers in front of her, but Nas saw they were shaking oh so slightly.
"Now!"
The hatchlings lunched forward with high cried as Anders' hand came to life, creating a solid wall of spirit in front of them. The dragons charged into it without thinking, stunning some of them. Isabella took the advantage, slicing and slashing furiously. Nas sent small balls of ice their way, freezing them enough to let Fenris chop them in two.
Working in perfect momentum, the four of the dispatched more and more dragonlings until the ground before them was littered with purple carcasses.
More and more spilled out of the mines, sending the party further and further in the open plain.
As Nas sent an ice arrow through the head of a dragonling, something sent shadows across the group. There was a horrendous crash, to their right, and Nas felt her stomach flip at what she saw.
Opening its humungous jaw, the dragon let out a roar that vibrated through Nasara's very soul. The ground beneath them shook and Nas found it hard to stay balanced.
It was far bigger than the one they faced before.
Isabella's aura went black. Anders' aura went so faint it was barely visible. Fenris' aura lost its sparkle and it became a pale white.
"Oh, Maker."
The dragon stepped forward on its hind legs and lowered its head down towards Nas. Her eyes went wide as it opened its mouth. Throwing her hands before her, she created a wall of ice in time to block the wave of fire that poured from its mouth.
Her hands trembled at the force of the fire, but she separated her legs, bracing them. She managed to hold out longer than the dragon, but as it stopped, she felt herself trembling. She had used too much mana already. Before she could gather herself, something thick and purple flew towards. She couldn't even gasp as it smashed into her side, lifting off her feet and throwing her upwards.
She screamed as her body was crushed against the side of a hill. She fell to the floor with an umph, her back and neck completely numb. Her lungs were shocked and she couldn't breathe, the weight on her chest was overpowering and she felt her eyes starting to well. She was going to die here, in the dirt, through two collapsed lungs.
Maker, it would be worse than drowning.
She tried in a futile attempt to suck any air in, but her chest wouldn't comply. She knew she had crushed something. Her head started to pulse as she felt the lack of oxygen in her brain.
She reached up slowly and pushed her chest with her hands. Something moved and she felt her lung seem to come alive. Sucking in air hurt, but she didn't stop. The air was burning against her chest, but she knew she needed to absorb it.
Her head stopped spinning after a few moments and she felt more stable. Pushing herself up, she cried out as something in her chest moved. It moved when she knew it shouldn't. Shuddering, she got to her knees.
Looking over a small rock in front of her, she saw the scene below her as if through a cloud of fog. It was too unbelievable.
Anders stood back by the entrance to the mines. His whole body glowed as he sent spell after spell towards the dragon. Fenris parried with more of the dragonlings, but she could see a few slipping past his defences, getting behind him.
Isabella was at the feet of the dragon.
It snapped at her and slashed with its vicious claws, but she was too quick. She jumped back and forth, rolling from side to side. She moved so fast that Nas barely saw her swiping furiously at the dragon with her wicked daggers, drawing blood in a new place every time.
Nas shakily got to her feet, but she could feel places on her back bleeding.
Wiping sweat from her brow, she faced the mighty dragon. Seeing it swipe at Isabella made Nas's heart thump against her chest.
The pirate span just in time, but it was close. Putting her arms in front of her, not knowing where her staff had gone as she had been thrown around like a fucking rag doll.
She breathed in deep as she concentrated on gathering her mana. She could hear the grunt and shouts of her companions as she closed her eyes. She heard the snarls of the dragonlings and the growls of the mamma dragon. But she tried to block it out.
She heard a cry from Fenris, making the newly glowing mana around her arms waver.
Hold on. Please, just hold on.
Isabella let out a cry, but Nas gritted her teeth.
Another cry made the urge to look overwhelming. She turned her fear around, letting it feed into her chest. She felt the magic pulsing, but it wasn't enough.
"DIE!" roared Anders.
The pain in his voice made her nostrils flare.
Fucking dragons! Fuck you! she screamed in her head.
Her fear suddenly exploded, becoming a beacon of anger. Her mana roared into life. She slowly raised it above her head, keeping her arms together, wrist to wrist. Feeling the mana lapping uncontrollably around her skin, she kept feeding her anger into it, making it pop and sizzle.
"HAWKE!" screamed Isabella.
Nas' eyes snapped open.
"Die, you fucker."
With a possessed war cry, Nas used as much strength as she could to throw the spirit arrow at the dragon.
The bolt moved as the world stopped. The dragon reared up on its hind legs as the bolt flew towards its open chest. Isabella was on her knees as the dragon was about to come down.
As the bolt connected, all sound and thought disappeared. A blinding white light exploded all around them, hiding their entire world in a blanket of light.
Nas felt herself breathing heavily as the light started to fade. Little black dots impaired her vision, but she heard an earth shattering crash as the dragon fell back, its chest completely ripped open by the magic. She felt her shoulders lump as she knew they had run.
Wanting nothing more than to just lie down, Nas felt her body starting to go into shut down. She felt her legs about to buckle when something flared up before her.
The feeling of such hopelessness smashed into her fragile frame with such a force she felt her stomach turn. She spun her head to see Fenris.
He was completely outnumbered by dragonlings. They were behind him, snapping and scratching. The elf's marking were almost hidden by his own blood. Nas felt her heart stop as a dragon reared up behind him.
"FENRIS!"
He turned, but it was too late.
The dragon was upon him. Nas screamed as she saw it go for his throat.
Calling up mana that she thought she had spent, she threw a shimmering ball of purple at them.
As it connected with the dragons, Nas noticed how strong the blast was. It sent every one of the dragonlings flying through the air. Isabella and Anders were upon them like vultures, but Nas' felt her heart beating wildly.
She sprinted towards the motionless figure on the ground.
Sliding to a halt beside him, her stomach dropped. Blood pumped over his throat openly. He gurgled as it flowed over his chin and down his shoulders, creating a puddle on the floor.
Nas reached out hysterically, putting her hand over his throat, willing the bleeding to stop.
So much blood... Oh Maker, please!
Fenris coughed, sending a fresh wave of crimson life through Nas' fingers. Tears fell down her face in hopelessness, as she knew he couldn't survive much longer.
He looked at her with a river of blood coming from his mouth. She shook her head. He gave her a look that said it was alright. He was pleading with her to let him go.
"NO! No, you cant!"
The corner of his mouth twitched, trying to smile.
"NO!"
Her whole body burst into blue light.
Her magic mingled with his and she felt it feeding into his aura. The shock of the magic made her jolt. She felt her magic pulling at her energy, taking the warmth from her body. Her fingertips became numb, but she felt the rush of blood starting to flow slower.
She watched as her aura started to merge with his. The desperation in her body mingled with the magic, pumping energy into him faster.
Her lips started to tingle, but she couldn't stop. She wouldn't stop.
Black dots appeared in her vision, but she didn't move. Her chest started to tighten, but she couldn't slow down. If she did he would die. He can't die...
Strong hands reached through the magic barrier, grabbing her shoulders and pulling her backwards. Nas gasped loudly as if she had been held underwater. She leaned into Isabella while panting, feeling her whole body shivering. She was so cold.
Isabella was saying something whilst looking up, but Nas couldn't make it out. She felt her eyes flutter as she shivered again. She knew that Isabella's hand on her cheek should have been warm, but it was like there was a barrier stopping any warmth coming through.
Nas looked up to see the worry in Isabella's eyes. It was something she had never seen before on the pirate queen's face. Worry. Concern.
Nas lifted her hand up slowly. She sluggishly touched Isabella's cheek with her finger. As her hand came into sight, Nas was horrified to see they were burning red. Red with blood. His blood. Her mind couldn't take it. It started to go foggy as her hand dropped, leaving a red smear across Isabella's cheek.
Fenris... please don't die...
The world went black.