*I did some reading before I wrote this chapter and I feel like, taking into account dwarven engineering and the history of our own world, what happens is reasonable.*
You Don't Have To Stand Alone
Chapter 25 – What A Girl Wants
Allison was sweaty, achy and tired but the pirate just kept coming at her.
"Don't drop your guard Allison! Damn it, stop hesitating already; come at me!" Isabela shouted.
Allison huffed and jabbed her dagger at Isabela who promptly blocked it and then knocked the dagger out of Allison's hand. She finished the move by shoving Allison against a wall and pressing her own dagger against Allison's throat.
"You're dead my dear." Isabela announced cheerily.
Allison hesitated to even swallow with the feel of the sharp blade against her skin.
"Gee, thanks." she said cautiously, giving the dagger a meaningful look.
Isabela pulled back with a smirk and sheathed her weapon.
"That was better. Not great, but better." Isabela cocked her head. "You were tired there at the end so you gave up, knowing that I wouldn't actually hurt you. A bandit isn't going to show you the same consideration. Remember that. You don't stop fighting until either he's dead or you are."
"Great. Thanks for the confidence." Allison said wryly.
Isabela gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Don't worry. When you feel your blood pumping and you realize that your life can end in a second, you'll find the strength you need to fight."
Allison wiped the sweat from her brow. "That was inspiring. You should give speeches."
Isabela laughed. "C'mon. You can catch your breath while we head to a spot where you can try out your moves."
Allison was surprised. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see." Isabela said mysteriously.
They stepped out of the abandoned basement of a closed shop in Lowtown and out into the streets.
The sun was already beginning to set and the sky was painted in soft pinks and oranges.
Allison looked up and smiled.
Isabela followed her gaze. "Why are you so happy?"
Allison shrugged. "The colors are beautiful and the air smells a little nicer than usual."
Isabela looked at her like she was crazy. "If you say so. You know, being in love makes you annoyingly chipper."
Allison laughed and bumped Isabela with her hip. "Good."
"It wasn't a compliment." Isabela said sardonically.
"I know. It just gives me great pleasure to annoy you." Allison replied sweetly.
Isabela took them down an isolated alleyway and then turned down a path that led them to the back side of a house. There was a solid wooden door with a brass knob.
Isabela reached into her belt and pulled out two long, skinny, metal objects that reminded Allison of flathead screwdrivers. Isabela slipped them into the slots below the knob.
Allison realized that she was picking the lock.
"What are you doing? I'm not interested in getting involved in another illegal endeavor with you!" Allison whispered while checking to see if anyone was watching them.
"Relax dear. We're not here to engage in an illegal endeavor, as you put it. We're here to interrupt someone else who's already finished one." Isabela placated.
There was a loud click and the door opened. Isabela grinned and gestured for Allison to follow.
"Where are we?" Allison asked, still looking around behind them. "Whose house is this?"
"The owners of the house are recently deceased, so they don't need your sympathies." Isabela said peevishly.
She navigated the shrouded basement passage without hesitation.
"Jeez, don't get so snippy. I can't help it if I question your scruples at times. You are a pirate after all, even if you're the most honorable pirate I've ever heard of." Allison stated.
Isabela stopped and turned around, her expression insulted. "Did you just call me honorable? How insufferable."
"Awww, don't be grumpy Isabela." Allison cooed just to piss her off.
Isabela held up a hand to silence her. "Be quiet. The idiots are over there." Isabela pointed.
There was a room just ahead of them where three men stood, sifting through boxes and papers.
Allison crouched and peeked out carefully. "What are we going to do?"
"We're going to say hello." Isabela replied grimly, and stepped out into the light that illuminated the hallway.
"Well, well, if it isn't three of the sorriest thieves I've ever run into to." Isabela called out.
The men spun around, pulling out their swords and one of them stepped forward with an arrogant smirk.
"Hello Isabela. Fancy meeting you here. What can I do for you?" the man asked politely.
"Hello Royce. You can give back that little trinket you stole from one of my men." Isabela replied just as politely.
The man she called Royce put on an innocent face. "I don't know what you mean Isabela, and even if I did have said trinket, I don't see how it's any of your business."
"It's my business because Yustin was on my ship, a member of my crew before you found him and slit his throat." Isabela said with a glare of hatred. "That medallion wasn't meant for you. Now, give it back!"
Royce smirked. "Come and get it my lush beauty, and when I have you on the ground I'll give you something else you'll like even better."
Allison felt her heart speeding up so fast, it felt like it would fly out of her chest and choke her. These men were dangerous and the only backup Isabela had was…her.
Sensing that a fight was about to begin, Allison reluctantly pulled out her dagger. She and Isabela had been practicing for over a week now, but Allison was still just a girl from Seattle. She wasn't used to fighting and the thought of actually using her weapon against someone made her nauseous.
Royce's threat to Isabela echoed in Allison's ears though. If she didn't help her friend, then that man was going to hurt Isabela.
Allison swallowed, feeling her stomach jitter. Her breath was coming in quick gasps that made her lightheaded. She was hyperventilating but she didn't know how to calm down when their lives were in danger.
Isabela pulled out the twin blades she favored and readied herself for a fight. She was very aware of Allison standing a few paces behind her and she had heard the girl pull out her dagger. Good.
Isabela blew Royce a kiss. "Why don't you come over here and just try it?" she taunted.
All three men moved forward. The one to Isabela's right was going for Allison.
Isabela spun and kicked the man in his pock-marked face. He cried out, holding his nose as blood poured out over his face. He wasn't a threat for the moment.
Royce was still advancing and his companion to Isabela's left was shifting to get behind her while Royce attacked from the front.
Allison wasn't sure what to do. She didn't know how to help Isabela. The man that had been coming for Allison was now down on the ground moaning, nursing his nose.
Allison made a quick decision and ran over to the fallen criminal and took the sword that now lay at his side.
"Hey!" he cried and made a grab for Allison.
She kicked out hard, and caught him in the face again. His head rapped against the wall and he was out, at least for the moment.
Allison looked the sword in her hand with bewilderment. Not knowing how to handle the thing, she tossed it in a far corner away from the fight.
Allison looked up and saw that one of the men was circling Isabela to attack her from behind.
At the same time Royce was brandishing his sword with some rather fancy moves that made Allison think that he wasn't just some backstreet thug.
What could she do?
At the first sound of metal clashing against metal, Allison jerked at the noise. The situation became very clear. If she didn't do something, Isabela was going to get hurt or be killed. She couldn't just stand there and do nothing.
The other man was now directly behind Isabela. Apparently Allison didn't seem like a threat and he ignored her.
Allison saw him smile as he snuck up behind Isabela.
At some unseen signal, the man grabbed Isabela around the neck and Royce swung his sword.
Isabela reared back but managed to block Royce's attack.
Allison felt sick but she rushed forward, the dagger in her hand.
She hesitated for an instance before stabbing the man quickly in the side. She flinched as the blade met flesh and skittered backwards in horror, withdrawing the knife from his side.
Even being in danger, Allison couldn't make herself plunge the knife into his back where it would surely kill him.
She had forgotten about her weapon's enchantment though.
The man let go of Isabela, crying out and grabbing at his side.
At the same moment, ice poured out of the wound, covering his hands, crawling up his arms, encasing his chest, spreading to his legs and feet and covering his head.
Allison stepped back, her breath hitching as she watched the man become a frozen statue.
She heard a curse and glanced over at Isabela.
It had been Royce who spoke. He saw his man frozen from head to foot and stood gaping.
Isabela grinned and switched her hold on one of her daggers so she could use the hilt to punch Royce in the face.
He staggered backwards and Isabela kicked the sword out of his hand before thrusting her blade into his chest.
Royce fell to the ground, gurgling and Isabela began sifting through his pockets before he had exhaled his last breathe.
"Got it." she exclaimed, and held up a golden medallion with carvings that Allison couldn't read.
It didn't matter anyway. Allison was sinking into shock.
"I killed him." she said numbly, looking at the man she had stabbed. "I killed him."
Isabela sighed heavily. "No you didn't."
Isabela marched over to the frozen form of the man and hit the ice covering his head with the hilt of her weapon. The ice cracked enough to uncover his face.
The man gasped, drawing in deep breaths and coughing.
"See, he's not dead, at least not yet. If you had left him like that he would've died like the sorry piece of shit he is." Isabela said with a malicious smile directed at the man.
Allison thought she could breathe again. "Oh, thank God."
Isabela shook her head but patted Allison on the back. "And look at you. I knew that you would step up in the end, all though I'll admit I was wondering how long I'd have to hold back before you finally made a move."
Allison's mouth fell open. "Hold back? What do you mean hold back?"
Isabela's laugh was genuinely amused. "Oh, aren't you sweet? Do you actually think I can't hold my own against two pathetic imbeciles like Royce and his man over there?"
The pirate laughed again while Allison sputtered.
"But…but, I thought you were in trouble Isabela! I was scared to death!" Allison shouted, angry now. "Did you want me to kill that man?"
Isabela gave Allison a hard look. "I knew that you wouldn't fight unless you felt we were in real danger. You needed to see what it's really like and you needed to be forced into making a decision. And you did. Whether you killed or not wasn't the point. I needed you to at least try to fight."
Allison's lips pressed into a thin line as her anger outweighed any fear she had felt before.
"That's not okay. This is real Isabela. These are real people and I could have killed one of them."
Isabela's expression became just as angry. "That's right dear, these are real people and they wouldn't have hesitated to kill you or me in the blink of an eye."
Isabela got in Allison's face. "You'd better remember where you are Sweeting. This is Thedas and you have to be ready to defend yourself. Or do you want what happened out in the coast to happen again? What would you have done if I wasn't around to help you? Or what about the Templars? What if Anders needs your help one day?"
Allison lowered her head. "That's low Isabela." she mumbled quietly.
Isabela nudged her chin up and looked into her eyes. "I know, but it's also true. You're my friend too and I'm not going to let you off easy because you don't want to get your hands dirty. You have to be ready."
Allison took a deep breath and knew that Isabela was right. "Okay. I hear you."
Isabela seemed satisfied that Allison had gotten the message.
"Now that that's done, let's go check out the rest of the house." she suggested merrily.
Allison couldn't believe her ears. "You want to look around? Are you crazy? Shouldn't we get out of her?"
Isabela snorted. "The idiot will keep while we have a look. Like I said, the previous tenants are gone so everything is up for grabs."
Allison followed Isabela through the house. "Are those the rules in Thedas?" she asked irritably.
"Yes actually. Look, if we don't take it someone like Royce and his men will." Isabela explained.
"I thought we were interrupting their stealing." Allison argued.
"We were dear, but I wasn't talking about this house. I was talking about the medallion that they stole." Isabela clarified.
"Oh." Allison thought back to Isabela's confrontation with Royce. "You mentioned Yustin. Who was that?"
Isabela's countenance fell for a moment. "He was a good lad; a good sailor. Yustin was on my ship before I lost it. He had left a wife and baby back home so he could make enough money to send back home. This medallion was a gift from his wife. Royce murdered him and now I'm going to send it back to her."
Allison wasn't sure what to say. "Why did they kill him?"
Isabela eyes went hard. "Because they could. And to send a message to me."
"I'm sorry Isabela." Allison offered, knowing the words didn't really help..
"So am I dear." Isabela moved through the house with a purpose that had Allison wondering.
"Isabela? You seem to be very familiar with this house, like you've been here before." Allison said suspiciously.
Isabela only smiled and kept walking until she came to a large door with inlaid designs. She pushed it open and waved Allison inside.
"This is why we're really here." Isabela announced.
The room was large and warm. There were robes of various colors strewn about. Silks and satins and other fabrics Allison didn't recognize.
They ranged in colors from emerald greens to deep burgundies.
There were jars of oils and powders laid out on a counter that looked like marble.
"Wow. What is all of this stuff?" Allison asked.
Isabela opened a cabinet. "This was their bathhouse. See all the soaps?"
Allison's ears perked up. "Bathhouse? You mean like the Romans?" At Isabela's blank look Allison shook her head and continued. "You guys have bathtubs here?"
"Of course we do." Isabela answered. "I have them bring up a tub a few times a week at the Hanged Man."
Allison didn't know that the thought of a real bath could make her drool like she was smelling food.
"I haven't had a bath since I left home. We just have a bowl." Allison said wistfully.
Isabela grinned at Allison, her eyes dancing. "I know. Have a look." Isabela nodded at a screen behind her.
Allison stepped around and her eyes widened when she saw the copper tub.
It was deep and the sides had been decorated with something like a ball-peen hammer. One end of the tub was raised up like a headrest.
There was some sort of handle attached to a circular-looking gear at the bottom of the tub, and when Allison asked about it, Isabela explained that the tub was a dwaren design and they had built a release into the bottom of the tub to let the water out.
"That's amazing but, Isabela, I can't take a bath here." Allison replied.
"I wasn't suggesting that you do. We're taking it with us." Isabela picked up the robes and threw them in the tub. Then she grabbed some of the soaps and powders and got on one side of the tub. "Take the other side."
Allison thought she was kidding. "What? Really?"
"Pick it up. C'mon let's go!" Isabela ordered.
Allison automatically lifted her side and they began carrying it out of the room and down the hall.
"Isabela, we can't carry this thing all the way to Darktown!" Allison said, breathing heavily.
Isabela paused, letting her side down and Allison followed suit.
Isabela snapped her fingers. "I forgot. Wait here a minute."
"Where are you going?" Allison called but Isabela had disappeared.
Allison started counting in her head, and then she started worrying that the man she had encased in ice would start thawing out.
Just when she was getting really anxious, Allison heard a thud, then a squeaking and the sound of something large coming her direction.
She pulled out her dagger, hoping that she wasn't going to have to use it.
Around the corner came Isabela pushing a large wheelbarrow, looking quite pleased with herself.
"Wow, I guess that'll work." Allison said, impressed. "You thought of everything."
Allison heard her own words and then realized that fatigue had made her slow.
"Wait a minute…you thought of everything. As in, this was all a setup? You wanted me to have this tub didn't you?" Allison exclaimed.
Isabela shrugged. "So what if I did?"
Allison folded her arms over her chest. "What do you mean, so what? Those men; Royce and his goons. What was that about?"
Isabela smiled darkly. "Call it efficiency then. I needed to deal with Royce. You needed to use your dagger, and I wanted you to have something nice."
Allison ran her fingers through her hair. "You did this for me? I don't know what to say Isabela."
Isabela brushed off Allison's gratitude. "You don't need to say anything."
Allison knew the pirate didn't want to hear anymore thanks so she swallowed her words.
They loaded the tub onto the wheelbarrow and went back out the way they came.
They passed the man Allison had frozen and she noticed that a large puddle was forming beneath him as the ice melted.
"Are we going to have trouble from him?" Allison asked, worried.
Isabela snorted. "Not even a little bit. Will we Harvey?" she called out.
The man was shivering but he shook his head.
"He was an arm for hire. He's more loyal to his own hide than he is to anyone else." Isabela assured her.
They must have made quite the sight as they pushed their cargo through town.
Two women, huffing and puffing as they pushed a large copper tub in a worn-out wheelbarrow. They got quite a few stares before people just shook their heads and moved on.
Allison thought out loud while pushing the cart. "I was thinking that there may be a way for me to keep the water in the tub warm."
"Oh?" Isabela said, sweating a bit herself.
"Yea. I was thinking about how in the olden days, well at least in my world, some people would heat stones and put them in the water. I figure that maybe I can do that, but use a special rune stone instead." Allison explained.
"I see. You could make a stone that would stay heated when submerged in water." Isabela caught on.
"Exactly." Allison panted a bit. "Jeez, Darktown is a lot farther away when you have something heavy."
"Tell me about it." Isabela agreed.
They finally made it to the lift that would lower them from Lowtown to the city's underbelly.
They got their breath back on the trip down and then maneuvered the wheelbarrow through the crowded streets.
At the clinic, Allison opened the door and then helped Isabela get the tub off and into the main room.
Anders was still at The Hanged Man with Varric it seemed.
"Only a little farther." Isabela grunted as they hauled the tub into the bedroom. "It would have been nice if your man were around to help with this.
There was a corner in the back of the room where there was a hole fitted with a metal cover, like a manhole cover back home would be. It was where chamber pots were emptied.
There was a long drop and far down it led to the sewers beneath the city. The placement was good because the odors from the sewer didn't reach them if the hole was opened and closed quickly enough.
Isabela placed the tub over it as the tub was curved underneath, leaving a space where the cover could be removed so the water could drain out of the tub.
"There!" Isabela said once the tub was situated. "You have to admit that the dwarves know what they're on about."
Allison just stood there. "I have a tub. I can take a bath."
She looked over at Isabela and then hugged her while jumping up and down. "I have a tub!"
Isabela laughed and shook her head. "It doesn't take much to make you happy does it?"
Allison was practically dancing. "Isabela, you have no idea what this means to me."
Isabela sifted through the items she had thrown into the tub back at the house. She removed several robes and some jars.
"I'll leave you that robe." she said pointing the one in a rich blue shade. "And I'll leave you the soaps, a jar of oil and some powder."
Allison looked over the containers. "What does the powder do?"
"You just put some in the bath and it makes the water smell good." Isabela answered. "I'm off dear. Let me know how Anders reacts when he sees you all wet and relaxed."
Isabela wiggled her eyebrows but Allison took her seriously. Anders had never seen her really cleaned up before. This would be different.
Allison called after Isabela before she left the clinic. "Um, Isabela? Try to keep Anders at the tavern for as long as possible ok?"
She heard Isabela's delighted laugh before the door closed. Allison ran over and started a fire and then started filling pots with water.
She felt more energized than she had in a long time and her thoughts raced ahead to what kind of rune she could create to make this even better in the future.
She took the robe and tossed it on the bed. Thankfully there was more room in the cramped space now that she and Anders shared a bed.
She sniffed the different soaps and settled on one with a light fragrance like honeysuckle.
Thinking of Anders, she wondered how long had it been since he'd had a real bath.
Maybe he never had. This could be a gift for him too.
Allison hummed as she poured a little water into the tub. She tested the crank at the bottom by turning it counter-clockwise. The circular gear opened and the water emptied out. She closed the sewage drain beneath the tub and, satisfied, began filling the tub in earnest. There wasn't an overflow spout so she was careful not to overfill it.
It was getting dark, so she lit a lantern.
When the bath was ready, Allison opened the jar of powder Isabela had left with her. It smelled like a mixture of lilac and cedar. The scent wasn't too heavy but she sprinkled only a little into the water.
Stripping out of her clothes, Allison tested the water with her toe and almost groaned.
Hot water!
She got in gingerly and since she was alone, allowed herself to moan happily as the water came up to about the middle of her chest.
She was surprised when her eyes prickled with tears. She sniffled as the realization of her situation hit her again.
It would happen like this sometimes. She would be happy for a while and then something would happen to remind her forcefully of where and when she was.
Being with Anders had made things better, but even he couldn't make the feeling that she didn't belong here completely disappear.
Allison leaned forward in the water and wet her hair. This was going to be a special treat. She used the soap in place of shampoo, scrubbed furiously, then rinsed.
Next, she soaped her body and used a cloth to get her skin clean.
She wished that she could just soak in the water but she hadn't had a bath in a long time and she didn't want to sit in dirty water.
Allison wrung her hair out, noticing that it had gotten quite long.
Regretfully, she got out and removed the cover under the tub. Using the crank, she let the water drain out, replacing the cover when it was done.
She stood there, naked, and feeling more human than she had in a while. It was amazing what a bath and a hair wash could do.
Allison put on the robe and closed her eyes as the smooth fabric settled against her skin. She stepped out into the main room and stood in front of the fire to help her hair dry.
She must have been lost in thought, because she didn't hear Anders come in.
Anders saw Allison standing in the glow of the fire. Her lean body enveloped in a silky robe, the firelight playing over her features and curves.
His mouth dried up.
Back at the Hanged Man, Isabela had come in loaded down with clothes and jars. When Anders had asked what she and Allison had been up to, Isabela had just given him an amused look and gone upstairs, telling him to wait a while before going home.
Varric had called his attention back to the hand of Wicked Grace they were playing, but Anders had been distracted, thinking of Allison and what she was doing that had put that look on Isabela's face.
Her long, dark hair was slightly damp, the curls just starting to form again. Her skin looked dewy and healthy, glowing in the orange light.
He tried to speak and couldn't. She stole his breath away.
Justice was having a strange reaction and Anders felt the spirit's wish for privacy from Anders' probing about it.
It was just as well.
Anders stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
Allison started for a brief second before relaxing in his embrace.
"I didn't hear you come in." she said quietly.
Anders inhaled the scent of her skin and his breathing hitched.
"You smell divine." he said, kissing her neck.
Allison laughed. "You can thank Isabela for that. Come and see what she did."
Allison took his hand and went into the bedroom.
Anders saw the beautifully fashioned tub and blinked.
"Where did that come from?" he asked.
Allison decided it was best to edit some of the story. "Um, Isabela found an empty house where the owners had passed away and left this behind. Wasn't that nice of her?"
Anders walked over and studied the design. "It was. I can't believe it. And it's dwarven as well?"
Allison nodded. "When was the last time you had a bath?"
Anders thought about it. "Not since the Circle. It was one of the advantages of a caged life. They kept us clean."
"Well, now you have your own tub and soap too." Allison stated, happy again.
Anders turned back to her and his eyes darkened sensually. "Does that mean that you're naked under that lovely robe?"
Allison licked her lips, her pulse quickening at the look in his eyes. "Mmhm." was all she could say.
How did he manage to look like that? Sexy and dangerous and charming all at the same time. A girl couldn't be expected to resist that kind of pull.
He approached her and tugged the tie on her robe.
Allison's natural modesty made her want to cover herself but Anders didn't give her a chance.
He simply stepped in and cupped her face, kissing her, tasting her until her knees buckled.
To hold herself up, Allison grabbed his collar and pulled, bringing Anders closer to her.
He turned her and, sliding the robe off of her shoulders, he stretched them out on the bed.
Anders pulled back and looked into Allison's face. The lantern light casting shadows around them.
He looked so serious that Allison became concerned. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." he said and he moved his head down to her chest and rested his face against there.
"I just want to listen to your heartbeat for a moment. It lets me know that this is real and that you're really here."
Allison didn't know what to say, except for the truth. "I don't know what I did to deserve someone who loves me the way you do."
Anders stroked a hand over her hip, marveling at the soft skin. "I think that's my line."
Allison smiled and just took the moment to breathe and be close to him.
Anders raised his head and his eyes flared with blue light before it banked down.
"Are you okay?" she asked nervously.
"Yes. I…we…" Anders laughed in frustration. "It's difficult to explain. I'm feeling Justice's emotions along with my own. It's like everything's doubled. It's hard to control sometimes."
Allison didn't completely understand. "And what is Justice feeling? Is he upset?"
Anders looked surprised that she would think that. "No. Not at all. He's…a bit overwhelmed at the moment. He…cares for you, a great deal actually, but he doesn't know how to handle that."
Anders wanted to laugh at Allison's bewildered expression.
"Don't worry Love. He'll get used to it." Anders said and kissed her forehead.
"I'm not worried exactly." Allison said, slightly uncomfortable. "I mean…what does Justice want? Are we in, like a…three-person relationship?"
Anders had to think about the right way to answer that without scaring her.
"Not…exactly." he said hesitantly. "Justice's emotions are more…spiritual, I suppose you could say. He doesn't think of having physical relationships the way you and I do."
Allison figured that she better just ask the question and get it out there.
"So, he doesn't want to…you know?" Allison asked, disbelieving that she was having a conversation about a spirit who resided in the body of the man she loved.
Anders blinked and then shook his head. "No! No, he doesn't want to…be with you in that way."
Anders' shoulders shook with laughter. "I can't believe that we're talking about this and neither can Justice."
"Hey, he's a part of you, and I'm kind of fond of him too so I don't want to hurt him." Allison explained.
Justice's feelings at that statement couldn't be properly expressed so Anders didn't try.
"I don't know what I did to deserve someone who accepts all of me the way you do." Anders said.
Allison grinned. "Well, all of you is pretty hot, so it's a win/win for me."
Anders nuzzled her neck. "I'm assuming that hot is one of your world's words for extremely charming and handsome?"
"That would be right, yes." Allison laughed as he bit her shoulder lightly.
"Are you just going to play with me, or do you have the intention of making this worth my while?" she challenged.
The look he gave her made her toes curl and her belly heat.
"How much time do you have?" he whispered as he kissed his way down her stomach.
"Age and ages." she barely managed to get out as her breath caught on a gasp.
The man's mouth was magic.
"Good." he said and kissed the inside of her thigh.
When they lay together afterwards, Allison reminded herself that if she hadn't lost her home, she never would have met Anders and she never would have known that her heart was capable of feeling this much joy.
It was an exchange. Pain in exchange for happiness and love. It had to be worth it…she hoped it was.
The next day, Allison and Anders joined Isabela and Varric at the Blooming Rose for a noonday meal.
Anders received a rather strange welcome from a few of the employees and Allison raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain.
He actually blushed.
"It's not my fault. Bloody Isabela told them about that stupid lightening trick and the story made the rounds here." Anders said, flustered.
Allison was intrigued and baffled. "What lightening trick?"
Isabela gawked at Anders. "You haven't shown her yet? What the hell have you been doing with her? Braiding her hair?"
"Shut up Isabela." Anders ordered irritably.
Varric looked back and forth between them. "Now I want to know about the lightening trick."
"Don't start Varric." Anders threatened and gave Allison an entreating look. "Don't ask about it right now and I'll explain later."
Isabela snorted. "You'd better do more than explain."
Anders flushed again. "I'm not exactly proud of that time of my life! I was a different person back then and I was less…particular about who I shared my bed with."
Isabela peered at him over her glass of ale. "Or how many people shared it with you."
Anders pinched the bridge of his nose and gritted his teeth.
Allison decided to let it go so Anders wouldn't strangle Isabela. "I think his head's going to explode Isabela. He can tell me later."
Isabela rolled her eyes but acquiesced.
As they were eating a young man approached their table with a piece of paper in his hand.
"Hello Miss. Are you Allison?" he inquired.
Allison didn't answer for a moment because she was surprised that someone was asking about her.
"Yes, I am. Who are you?"
The young man handed her the note, bowed and then left.
Anders watched his exit with suspicion. "What the hell was that about?"
Allison unfolded the paper and smiled. "It's fine. It's just a note from Umbar that he wants me to bring some runes in at midweek. That's good since I could use some supplies anyway."
Anders relaxed. "Oh. Well going to the Gallows is always a good thing." he said sarcastically.
Allison elbowed him and went back to eating.
After the meal, the two of them walked hand in hand back to the clinic.
A large group of people were waiting for them. Many were huddled in blankets or laying on the ground outside the clinic.
Anders hurried forward. "What happened? What's wrong?"
A human male stepped forward, coughing. "Healer, a sickness is passing through the refugee camps. Two have died already."
Anders unlocked the door and ushered the sick inside.
Allison got them settled on cots. "What do you need me to get?" she asked.
Anders pointed to the shelf. "There's a bottle of red liquid on the second shelf. Grab that and the white powder next to it."
Allison ran over and gathered the supplies, picking up a few cloths to wipe the sweat from the faces of patients who seemed to have fevers.
They worked together, in tandem. Allison comforted the patients in distress while Anders used his magic to soothe the symptoms of the worst hit and to head off the illness in those not as badly affected yet.
At one point Anders sagged in exhaustion and Allison made him sit down.
"You need to stop for a moment and rest." she insisted.
"No. There are too many people to treat." Anders argued and tried to get up but his knees buckled.
Allison swore. "And you're no good to them like this! Just stop and take a breather, please."
Anders pointed to a far wall. "Go and get that flask over there."
Allison fetched it and noticed that the flask hummed a bit in her hand. She gave it to him. "What is that?"
Anders drank it down, his body trembling for a moment. "Lyrium."
"What! But I thought that was poison to mages?" Allison said in horror.
"Only unrefined or in large doses." Anders said, getting back to his feet. "I need it. I don't have time to wait for my mana to regenerate. These people are sick!"
Allison didn't know how to reason with him so she decided to make his job as easy as possible instead.
She kept tea brewing and cleaned chamber pots that patients threw up in. She hurried from cot to cot making sure that no one was having a relapse.
All the while Allison also kept an eye on Anders. His face was pale, his hair falling out of the binding and hanging in his face.
Allison worried that this illness was contagious and maybe he would get sick. She thought that perhaps the fact that she was from another world might make her immune to Thedas' diseases. At least she hoped so.
When Anders staggered again Allison had had enough.
She caught his shoulders and dragged him into the bedroom, pushing him onto the bed.
His pupils were dilated and she didn't know if it was a reaction to the lyrium.
"That's enough! You will lie there for the next hour or I will knock you out and make you!" she snapped.
He looked so exhausted that Allison was frightened for him.
He tried to sit up stubbornly. "They need my help." Anders said in a ragged voice.
It was evidence of his weakened state that Allison was able to push him back down with little effort.
"Everything is under control Anders. Many people are just resting and the ones that are more sick have been given medicine. You have to stop now or you're going to get sick yourself."
Anders knew that Allison was right. His eyes were barely able to stay open and the lyrium was having its usual after-effect of giving him the jitters.
"Alright. I'll rest for just a little while, but wake me if anyone needs me." he said tiredly.
Allison agreed but she'd be damned if she woke him for anything less than an emergency.
She walked back out into the clinic and went around the room checking that everyone was alright.
Allison decided to make a light broth to help those who had emptied their stomachs.
She didn't have any medical training but she could offer comfort through food.
After the broth was made she served the patients that were still awake. She also poured water into a pitcher, knowing that many of them were dehydrated.
It was all she could do.
It was evening now and Allison turned down the lanterns to help people rest.
She sat down in a chair, her back aching from standing on her feet so long. Then she realized that she needed to check on Anders because he had been sleeping for over an hour.
Allison walked into the bedroom as quietly as she could and crept over to the bed.
Anders' color was better and his hands weren't shaking anymore.
Allison let out a relieved breath. She couldn't take it if something happened to him. She bent over and kissed his forehead and the backed out of the room, shutting the door.
When Anders awoke it was dark. He sat up quickly and was pleased to feel that the lyrium had worn off.
He swung his legs over the bed and found that he could stand again.
His stomach growled and almost on cue, Allison walked in with a bowl of broth.
Anders lit a lantern with a simple spell.
"Good you're already up." Allison said happily but in a hushed voice. "I didn't want to have to wake you but I knew you needed to eat."
Anders started to go out into the clinic. "Is everyone alright?"
Allison put the bowl down and grabbed his arm, pulling him back.
"Everyone is sleeping. They've been fed and I gave them water. No one is coughing and there are no fevers. You're the one who needs to eat still." Allison said firmly.
Anders sat back down and gratefully took the steaming bowl of soup.
It soothed his stomach which was slightly achy after taking the lyrium. He felt his muscles relax and he smiled at her.
"See. Stick with me kid and you'll be fine." Allison said with a confident nod.
Anders stared at her solemnly. "I plan to."
Allison grinned and sat next to him on the bed, resting her head on his shoulder.
Anders turned and kissed her hair. "Are you alright Love?"
Allison felt her stomach somersault at the endearment. "Yea, I'm fine. We did good today right?"
She felt his lip on her hair again.
"Yes we did." Anders said quietly "I love you."
Allison pressed a kiss to his chin. "I love you too."
Anders rested his head against hers and thought that he had never had so rewarding a day in working the clinic.
Being able to share his work with Allison was a special gift. Working beside her and having someone who cared for him with such constancy and tenacity was something he never expected to be able to experience in his life.
Not for the first time since he met her, Anders prayed to the Maker that he could keep her.