Sorry i did not post the past two days I have been ill and this part needed a lot of editing. So hopefully you enjoy this longer chapter. And once again thank you for all the views and follows :)
"Sparkler take a break will you?" Varric asked watching as Dorian once again tried to ease Tama's pain. Unfortunately no matter where he stopped her from bleeding there was another, nastier wound waiting to reopen. Varric had noticed the mages' shaking hands. Dorian had not slept for over two days, staying at her side doing all he could. However Varric knew it would not do any of them any good if Dorian collapsed as well.
"Varric is right Dorian, rest, we can make it to Skyhold through the night. Everyone is waiting for our arrival" Blackwall handed the raven's letter to Dorian who seemed to gaze at it like it was a foreign object. It had only been by chance that Blackwall had noticed a crow circling above them.
"Right Sparkler … come on." Varric urged him to stop, he knew that at any time it would not take the mage any kind of strength to knock his arm off and tell him where to go, but even so it worried him that Sparkler was no longer making any quick jibes or protests at being led away from his patient's side.
Dorian readjusted his seat on his horse, looking over the Tama with a worried look as he saw her seemingly lifeless body stretched across her own horse. Gazing at his now shaking hands, he was low on mana, maker he could not remember the last time he had made himself become so low, but he could not stop the need to help her. It was all he and Varric could do was to stand a distance away and watch the fight unfold as he cast his spells and Varric shot his arrows and then at the moment of triumph. He scowled as he remembered watching her body fly through the air as if it was nothing and the next thing watching and hearing her gasp for air as blood fell from her mouth.
Blackwall had given her all their supplies of healing tonic but it just didn't seem enough, why had he not paid any attention when it came to healing he thought running a still shaking hand through his tangled hair. His eyes stung from not sleeping, how could he when every so often she would cry out in pain, reopening her wounds as she tossed and turned as if the horse itself was bucking her from beneath him, a fever taking its full grip on her.
Looking to the sky Dorian sent up a silent plea, hopefully they would arrive soon he did not know how much strength he had left in him.
After what seemed like days Bull sat straighter in his saddle as he noticed a figure appearing on the horizon. However as they approached closer the dread seemed to build with every echo of the horses' hoofs against the earth beneath them.
Bull let out a sigh of relief as he noticed Varric come into view, but his delight was short lived, it seemed the small dwarf had aged from the last time he had seen him. No longer was he smiling or joking, now his face was furrowed with worry and lack of sleep.
Urging his horse forward Bull hurried towards Varric, who seemed to have a small smile as a welcome when he too noticed them in front of them.
"Are you a sight for sore eyes." Varric smiled a weak smile before turning and watching as shortly behind him followed by a very exhausted looking Dorian and to his right Blackwall appeared leading what was Tama's horse. Bull sat unmoving as terror ran through him, there she was, lying across her horse when normally she would have been riding in front of the group with confidence.
"How is she?" Solas asked, knowing that Bull did not want to ask the question as he lead his horse closer to Tama.
"Not good. She is hanging in there as much as we can tell." Varric murmured, he could not take his eyes of Bull. He had seen that look before … it reminded him of Hawke.
"Big guy … I would give it a few minutes … she isn't good." fighting back the tears he watched as the concern began to be buried onto Bull's face even more, he could see him weighing up the options. "Let us give them some space big guy." Varric spoke softly as he placed a hand on Bulls arm.
Solas stopped in his steps as he noticed the body on the bed, it seemed that she had become so small if that was even possible for a Qunari to seem small in the first place. Pulling up his sleeves he began another long day of healing.
Had it been hours? days? No. It felt like months. Bull wiped his face with a weary hand he could not stop glancing back at her window, every so often you could make out the shadows of people inside. The last time he had actually laid eyes on Tama was after he had hurried through Skyhold as he cradled her, softly cursing underneath his breath.
However as soon as her body hit her bed everyone was ordered out and only the mages and healers were allowed in the room.
At first everyone had sat in silence within the great hall. Looking up every so often when the sound of rushing feet would pass them. It seemed there was an endless rhythm of healers rushing with bandages, tonics and other concoctions but no matter how hard one of them tried to get information they were shut down and told to wait.
Everyone seemed to finally go back to their daily tasks as the days drew out. All though none of them showed their enthusiasm whilst doing them. Bull had decided to take a seat outside of the tavern and just watch the people pass by. Some would stop and mutter between each other, others would stand and stare as he had done many times to her window. However one day it seemed his and everyone else's' waiting had ended.
The sound of soft footsteps approached him, rubbing his face Bull looked up and noticed a very tired and pale Solas heading his way. "She is stable my friend." Solas seemed to whisper not wanting to curse their luck, placing his pale elf hand on the Bull's large shoulder he repeated himself once again, "She is not lost Bull. We have stabled her."
It took a few minutes to actually register what Solas had said, however when he looked up he noticed Solas smiling softly. Standing up Bull offered his seat to the tired elf. No other words were exchanged between the two of them, there was no need. Both of them new they had all just been through the most emotional battle to date.
"Then Hawke walked into the compound like she owned the place …" Varric stopped his story his voice making the room even more silent as Bull joined them. He had taken it upon himself to stay in the corner and tell stories, it was his way to handle these type of situations.
"Big guy." he nodded and watched as Bull walked over to her and sat on the side of the bed, brushing some of her loose hair from her eyes. The movement was so gentle that Varric sat forward a little, he never thought he would see the day that Bull could be gentle, the guy could be mistaken for thunder if he even tried to tip toe.
"I still can't believe it… a fucking dragon." Varric sighed rubbing his stubble in thought.
Bull's laughter caught him off guard, "Only she could stumble upon a dragon." Turning he noticed Varric standing about to leave/
"Stay. For some reason she likes your stories" Bull muttered pulling the small blanket around her further.
Clearing his throat Varric sat back and continued … "Where was I? .. Ah yes so Hawke walks into the compound like she owns the place. You should have seen the Arishok's face when this small human female stared him down. I think he was about to lay an egg."
Bull and Varric both laughed as the mental image assaulted them. Bull had heard stories about this Hawke and he knew only a fool would stare down an Arishok, especially when they were in a qunari camp.
A small cracked voiced cut through their laughter "That would be one hell of an egg" it was followed by a groan as movement began to take place on the bed.
"I know that bright eyes but his face…. wait … did she?" he looked to Bull who was sitting staring back at him, it was only the small movement from the bed that drew their eyes apart.
"Why do I smell like rotten nugs." she grimaced, settling further into the fur blankets beneath her.
"Tama!' Bull roared standing up knocking the roof of her bed with his horns.
"Not so loud!." she pulled the blanket over her head, "Bull shh it is too early."
Varric stood confused was she actually … no it was from lack of sleep he was hallucinating however confirmation soon arrived as Bull pulled the blanket off her and was met with furious set of bright eyes.
"Bull! Give it back!" at her weak attempt of trying to move she grimaced, rolling her eyes she lay back further into the bed, "Why do I feel like I have been going round for round with a dwarf."
"Try a Dragon bright eyes." Varric chuckled placing a hand on her shoulder, he walked past both her and a still shell shocked Bull and left them to it, it would only be a few moments before curses were going to be thrown across the small space between the two.