I'm noticing that some of my timing is off if Hawke got a letter from Bethany so recently, yet they've been gone a while; just chalk it up to bad postal service. Otherwise, if you're enjoying, please let me know! Also, yay for Nathaniel! I may write a story about him at some point ^_^.

Ch. 25, fun with darkspawn.

It was the chill that woke Lise the next morning; blinking in the pre-dawn greyness she realized that she'd fallen asleep on top of her covers and all that was keeping her warm was a simple cloak of black, lined with red. She smiled softly and a little sadly, curling up under it and burying her face in its folds; it was Orsino's, and she realized that he must have left the estate after she fell asleep. She knew him; he'd intended his cloak to be something she took with her to the deep roads. It smelled like him; she closed her eyes, remembering the night before, and it took her a few moments to compose herself before she was able to get out of bed.

She checked her bags as she ate a light breakfast; she had everything she could think they'd need – Anders would be bringing the medical supplies, and the merchant had already delivered their rations and blankets and the other sundry needfuls they'd be taking with them. She hesitated, but then packed her violin; it was light and they might want or need the music to help pass the time. Although that was one good thing about the deep roads – there was no night or day, so there was no reason not to travel until you were tired, and once you were rested, get up and travel again. She found that as much as she hated it underground, it was certainly quicker going than on the surface.

It was a little after ten when everyone was assembled and packed; Delilah had come early, and Orana gave Fenris a tearful farewell that made Lise sniffle a little herself. She already missed Orsino, but understood why he hadn't come to say farewell.

With the current attitude amongst the group, it seemed like the weather should reflect it with a chill iciness hinting at winter, but instead it was another perfect day much like the day before. She had a last look at her garden – Merrill would come by daily to care for it – and after a few more hugs and instructions, they set out.

The entrance they'd chosen was about half a day's walk down the Wounded Coast – it should cut off a good several days' travel from their prior trip, now that they knew where many of the rockfalls and closed passages were. That wasn't to say that there mightn't be more, but there had been a few dwarven survey teams that Varric had hired to map the upper levels and they were relatively confident that they'd be able to get far in the first two days or so.

Their trip to the crevasse entrance was relatively quick and silent; the talk was the usual out-on-a-job banter, but it mostly fell to Hawke and Varric to keep it going and as both were worried about Bethany, it wasn't as lively as usual. As they arrived at their destination just before dusk, there was time to gather firewood to cook before it got truly dark. They ate quietly, using the more perishable of the goods they'd brought, as well as the leftovers that Orana had given Fenris; when they were done, Lise looked up at the rising moon.

"I'm not ready for bed. Anyone else beat?" There was a general shaking of heads; they hadn't done this sort of travelling in some time but that just meant that everyone had more energy to keep going. "All right, then I vote we go on and head down; we'll get as far as we can tonight. We can stop once people are tripping and yawning and call it a night then. Got the map, Varric?"

He chuckled. "I've gone one better, Beautiful. I've got a copy for each of us, because I remember when Sandal sat on the map last time. Took a whole day to trace the missing bits."

"You're a lifesaver. Now, where's our route again?"

They poured over the maps in front of the fire to make sure they all corresponded and that everyone knew the path – "We are going to do our best to avoid corrupted rock demons, aren't we?" Anders gave a chuckle.

Varric rolled his eyes. "No, because last time worked so well. But at least you get points for joking, Blondie."

He shrugged. "What can I say? I'm trying. It's been a while since we were all out on the road together."

"Yes, and it's been so nice." Fenris grumbled.

Hawke stood up. "All right, everyone. We've done this sort of thing before and as our only goal is to find the Wardens-" she looked at Varric "-no, we're not looking for more treasure-" and he sighed "-then we shouldn't have any reason we can't all work together civilly. If you're going to kill each other please do it after we're out of the deep roads and before we get back to the city." Anders and Fenris both shrugged, and after making sure the fire was well-banked the group lit a lantern and began their descent down into the earth.

For most of the night, Lise was glad of her cloak – not only did it remind her of Orsino, but it was clammy and cold in the caves and passages they traversed, being so close to the Waking Sea. A few times they had to divert their path around a larger-than-usual stream or underground inlet – most full of very salty water, as she had the misfortune to find out when she tried to drink at the first one they came across. She shrugged. "I guess we'll just have to hope for more water further in. At least our skins are full enough and good for another day or two at least."

After a few hours they hit a steep section that took them much deeper, much more quickly. About halfway down they checked the maps; things were going well - they hadn't seen any darkspawn yet, and they were still on the right route. It began to get warmer, was comfortable for a bit, and had just started to get a little hot when Lise called a stop.

"I'm starting to get tired, and I'd rather have one night that's not spent tossing and turning trying to find the only bit of cool rock in the entire deep roads. It's temperate, and still high enough that we should be clear from darkspawn. Let's finish up those meat pies and apples Orana gave us and then make a cold camp. That'll save us from having to break it in the morning, and if things keep going as they are we'll likely be within a half-day's walk to the thaig when we camp tomorrow." There were universal nods all around; they spread out their bedrolls, ate a meal, and Varric passed around a flask of brandy. Within the hour the camp was silent and everyone was asleep except for Fenris, who'd taken first watch.

Unfortunately for the best of intentions, most plans never make it past the first day. Hours after she'd fallen asleep Lise was jolted awake by the screaming of shrieks - they'd surrounded Anders, who was on watch, and he was doing his best to drive them off with ice spells. She jumped up – which elicited a sharp exclamation of pain since she hadn't done so much travelling in such a long time and her legs were very unhappy – and reached for her bow. By this point Fenris and Varric were scrambling to their feet and they managed to drive the creatures off, but no one wanted to go back to sleep afterwards. So they treated Anders' wounds – he had a nasty gash over one eye from where a shriek had caught him in the first surprise attack – and after breaking camp, set out.

"I guess it's time for partners, again. From now on I'll take first watch with Fenris, Varric and Anders will take second watch. How's your head, Anders?"

He gave her a faint smile. "It's fine, Hawke. I think I've gotten worse from getting drunk over Wicked Grace."

They all chuckled, but it was a bit forced; now that they'd run into one group of darkspawn they all knew that there would be more ahead – and there were. They came across a group of genlocks and emissaries before noon, and several times had to back-track and go slightly off course to avoid large groups with one or more ogres in attendance. She and Varric looked at the map when they stopped for lunch – they found a relatively-clean underground stream feeding a pond edged with lyrium, but everyone was careful to take their water from the stream and not the pool.

"Well, we're a bit behind, and a bit more north than we should be – thanks to those patrols – but I see something on this passage that I've been wondering about. Doesn't that look like a cut-through, Varric? Perhaps it's a shortcut." She pointed at a dark line on the map leading from the passage they were in, past some of the wider, twisting tunnels they'd planned to use, over to the relative area in which they'd planned to spend the night. It was too vague to have warranted a side-track just to investigate, but since the darkspawn had already driven them in that direction, it was worth checking out.

He shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine, Hawke. I hate this place, and I only know what I do about how to read dwarven maps because for one, it helps me make money and for two, it keeps my ass alive when you do drag me down here, so that I can spend said money. I guess we might as well take a look."

They finished their meal, making sure that their waterskins and a few of the now-empty containers were full, and set off for the cut. They reached it in a little under an hour, and although it was tight – Anders might have to stoop occasionally and only Varric really fit comfortably – it seemed to be an actual passage.

"Even if we do come across darkspawn, they can't really come at us more than one at a time unless the passage widens out. Fenris, take lead. Anders can bring up the rear, dropping an occasional paralyze circle behind us to keep anything that might follow us busy. Varric and I will take centre – let's see how far this goes."

Things went smoothly for a bit, with no darkspawn and only one or two tight spots, but about halfway down they realized why it wasn't marked as a truly viable access – the passage widened up but only because it turned into a very small bridge very high above a very bright river of lava.

Varric jumped back. "Ancestors, this is why I hate this place. Give me solid ground any time."

Fenris had already traipsed across, eliciting a "Damned elves" murmur from the dwarf, and he followed after, getting shakily across. It wasn't until Lise was halfway across that trouble hit; one side of the rock-bridge crumbled away just as she took her foot off it and she slipped. She couldn't stop her momentum, and would have slid off the span if Anders hadn't gotten a split-second paralysis spell off to hold her still while Fenris grabbed her arms and jerked her onto the other side. The spell wore off just as she and Fenris collapsed in a heap, and she slumped to the ground, shaking.

"Maker, I don't ever want to do that again," she murmured, running a hand over her head. She looked to Anders, who was still on the causeway, and whose face was white. "Thanks. Is it still passable for you?"

He blinked and looked down, then nodded. "Throw me a rope just in case, though?" Fenris pursed his lips, but brought a coil out and tied it to a nearby spar of stone, then tossed the end to the mage. It seemed that the rest of the bridge was stable, and Anders made it across without any additional difficulty; Lise had just gotten to her feet when he reached her, hugging her tightly. She smiled weakly.

"Thanks, Anders, but I'm all right, now." She looked at Fenris, who nodded, and she straightened her shoulders. "Let's not mention this back home, though, shall we? I can think of at least two people who would have a fit. Especially since we may have to come back this way, depending."

The rest of the way was blessedly uneventful. They came across no darkspawn – only an oversized spider or two, which still made Hawke cringe – and it was only an hour or so past their projected stop time when they found themselves at the end of the passage.

Fenris was the first to step out, but he froze as he did so and drew back into the tunnel. Turning around he shook his head, herding everyone several hundred feet back, hissing "Darkspawn!"

When he could explain without drawing attention, he elaborated. "There are at least fifteen, and one of them is an ogre. But they're right in the centre of where we need to go, and they appear to be following someone, or something. Perhaps tracking them; I heard signs of scuffle when I drew back."

Hawke winced. "It could be our Wardens. We're going to have to step in and just hope that there's someone out there that can assist when they realize we're fighting the 'spawn." She crept to the edge of the tunnel and looked out; the group was milling about, and the ogre was standing in the centre, head lifted, sniffing the air. Looking back, she nodded. "We're going in, but let me start it off. Anders – light my arrow."

He nodded, and with a murmur and a flick of his hand the head of the shaft she'd fitted to the string lit with a flickering flame that occasionally burned blue. She took a careful aim, longer than usual, drawing the string back as tautly as she could in such a small space; when she let it fly there was a whistling sound and it struck true, sinking deeply into the ogre's back. It roared, turning, and began to charge even though it couldn't see them yet; she dropped back as Fenris leapt out to meet it, blade held high. Anders began blasting away at the hurlocks flanking the ogre and Lise and Varric found a slight rise from which they could survey the field as they fired shot after shot.

They were holding their own, better than she expected for facing such a large group, and about halfway through the fight she realized why. Across the expanse there was a figure in the shadows who was also shooting rapidly and skillfully into the enemy ranks, which explained how so many of her targets were falling after only one or two of her arrows. With the unknown's assistance, they finally cleaned up the darkspawn; she'd received a nasty swipe across the arm that tore open the scar she'd received last year when fighting the elven fanatic over the qunari gas, but apart from that and a few other wounds everyone was relatively unharmed.

Anders was just finishing a healing spell on her arm when the marksman came out from the shadows and began to jog towards them. When he was about halfway across she could finally make out his features – he was tall and seemed to be slightly older, and he resembled Delilah with dark, braided hair and an angular face; he had a beaked nose, a dark goatee – though it was longer due to neglect – and he wore the insignia of the Wardens. Anders looked up, and gave a shout.

"Nathaniel, old boy! It is you! We came down to look for you and your crew, you know!"

The party from Kirkwall went to meet Nathaniel, who stopped, panting. "Anders? Thank the Maker it's you! We thought the roads down here would be relatively clear – at least, that's what we were told – but we were set upon by that group we just killed and another dozen or so others that died to our hands earlier. Unfortunately they also killed most of my group – there were six of us – and-"

Lise grew pale and grabbed his arm. "Bethany. Is she all right?"

He blinked, peering down at her. Hesitantly, he asked, "Are you Elisebeth Hawke?" She nodded. "Your sister is the only other one alive, but she was lightly wounded and very badly drained, so I left her in a fortified place so I could scout another escape road. But then I got caught by that group-" he nodded towards the ogre "-and if you hadn't come along I don't think I would have made it. Thank you."

She'd relaxed, but just slightly, and looked around. "We'd intended to camp tonight and continue on tomorrow, but if Bethy is nearby we'll keep going. How far?"

"A mile, perhaps two. I can lead you there, but we must return as soon as possible. I don't know if any stragglers escaped and I don't want them bringing back reinforcements while Bethany is alone."

They'd begun to walk as he talked, and Nathaniel and Lise took the lead while the others followed closely behind. He turned to her. "How did you know we were here?"

She'd been examining the bow on his back; turning to face him, she nodded. "Your sister Delilah was worried at your long absence and lack of communication, so she sought me out; once she learned of my connexion to Bethy, she told me the whole story."

He frowned, shaking his head. "I told Delilah that it was going to be a long trip – by the time she was worried enough to come to Kirkwall we were still a week away from the thaig and not in any danger. But she's always worried too much – though I'll admit that this time it worked out for the best."

"How did it take you so long to get down here?"

"We took a different route than you did – we actually started in Ferelden, travelling beneath the Waking Sea for over a week. It made things easier, and there was information we wanted to gather along that road."

After a while, he looked at her again out of the corner of his eye. "Has Bethany ever mentioned me? Or, I mean, anything about the Wardens at Vigil's Keep?"

Lise smiled. "She has. She only spoke a little of you – though in glowing terms – but I could read enough into it that I wasn't surprised when Delilah confirmed that you two are quite attached to one another."

Nathaniel frowned for a moment, concentrating on the path before them. Then, he turned. "Mistress Hawke, please believe me when I say that Bethany is the most important person in the world to me. I would do anything-"

She cut him off with a laugh. "Nathaniel, please. It's all right – and right now is probably not the best time to have this discussion. But believe me when I say that Bethy's happiness is the most important thing to me. Whatever it entails." He nodded, looking a bit relieved, but then she chuckled. "I'm not the one you need to worry about, anyhow."

"What do you-?"

Nodding back towards Varric, she shook her head. "That's who you need to worry about."

Nathaniel blinked, looking at the dwarf, who nodded, solemnly. "I'm afraid we're going to have to talk when this is over, Ferelden."

Behind them, Anders snickered.

They'd gone about a mile when the surroundings began to look familiar to everyone except Fenris – who hadn't come on the original deep roads trip – and Nathaniel nodded at her inquiring glance. "We're still about a mile from the thaig, but now that most of my party is gone there's no way we can do what we came for. Bethany isn't far away; once we make sure she's able to travel, I'd like to get out of here as soon as we can. Do you have a clear route to the surface?"

Hawke nodded. "Relatively so, though a bit of it is tense going. We found a shortcut that allowed us to skip a good number of darkspawn patrols, but we still had to avoid several and fight a few more on the other side. Still, we can find somewhere defensible tonight to rest – if Bethy and Anders sleep all night their reserves should refill, and with two mages it will be much easier going." She unhooked her waterskin from her belt and handed it to Nathaniel, who took it with a grateful smile.

They continued on after the brief halt and had just turned a corner into a long, relatively-well-paved colonnade when Nathaniel pointed across the way. "There's a room over there where I left-"

In perfect timing, a woman's shrill scream cut him off and they froze. He and Lise looked at one another, and in unison, cried, "Bethany!" as they began to run.

As always, the characters belong to Bioware. I just play puppeteer.