Chapter Twenty-Five: Wyvern Hunt
After conveying the message that we will help to the Gamordan Stormrider, we prepare for battle. There are a lot of those things out there; this is going to be a really long day. Thankfully, between Solas and I, we're able to keep barrier spells going without too much mana cost, limiting the potential damage.
The first few go easily enough. One of my ice spells, followed by Sera's arrows to the face of the creature turns out to be as effective on the wyverns as it had been on the demons earlier. I love seeing them twitch when hit with lightning, though. That's probably my favorite.
Cassandra is an expert swordswoman - watching her use her shield, it's nearly flawless. I wonder if it's just her training as a Seeker, or if these are skills she picked up with the Inquisition. I decided it's probably a combination of both, but either way, it's quite the show.
After a few fights, fatigue starts to settle in. We take a few short rests to help allow our stamina and mana to replenish, but after a while, nothing but a meal and a good night's sleep will cure this level of exhaustion.
We've nearly completed our sweep, however, and decide just to push through to the end. That's when we come across it: a white wyvern.
"What is that thing?" I ask.
"Aren't you Dragon Girl? You should know, right?" Sera questions, nervousness causing her voice to waver.
"I mean, it looks like the other wyverns, but I'm guessing this won't be as simple."
"Better to assume that you are right. Be ready," Cassandra orders.
I wonder how Solas is holding up. I'm sure his mana stores are probably as deep as mine, but even I'm feeling the strain of the day. I'm glad no regular mages were along for this, they would have had to drink lyrium potions left and right. Come to think of it, that's probably why my magic feels different to Cassandra - I don't use lyrium. But does that mean Solas drinks the stuff just to hide his identity? I'll have to ask him when we have an opportunity.
I cast another barrier spell, surrounding the four of us with the familiar blue light, and we stalk toward the white wyvern. Its movements are a little different than the others. It's more alert, for one, noticing us very quickly. It also stands perfectly still, as though speculating about us the same way we are observing it. I wonder what information it is learning about us.
I launch bolts of electricity, enjoying the sick pleasure when they strike and the beast squeals. That's for destroying a dragon nest. I step back, slinging simple spells from my staff in order to conserve mana, and again watch as the group works as a team.
Solas surprises me with his teamwork, supporting the others. His offensive magic seems to be mostly fire-based, which is slightly less effective against such creatures, but still seems to have an impact, and keep the barrier going is crucial.
I can tell we're wearing it down, but this fight is dragging on long enough that we're feeling it too. It's becoming a contest of endurance. It's Cassandra who makes the first slip. Literally, the sludge under her foot doesn't support her weight, and she falls backwards, landing on her backside.
The wyvern, clever bitch that she is, rears back to launch a venom spray attack. We've been able to dodge out of the way of these so far, but with Cassandra prone, she'll never make it. Sprinting over, I form the elemental shield as I had done with the dragon, but this time out of fire. I slide to a stop between her and the wyvern, throwing my shield up behind me, as she guards herself with her own, lining up next to mine.
It's not enough, the spray splashing up over my shield, and I feel the burn of the acidic venom on my skin, and see Cassandra has been hit too, her plate metal armor hissing and smoke rising. A number of arrows and spells fly over our heads, giving the wyvern pause. Sera, abandoning her bow now in favor of two sharp-looking daggers, darts in and stabs one of the sharp blades right into the eye socket of the creature. It falls, twitching, but doesn't attempt to get back up again. Sera uses her second dagger to finish the job before retrieving the first.
Cassandra looks up at me, startled. "You...why did you do that?" she asks.
"I don't know," I admit, wincing. "Maybe-ow, because I'm not used to trusting people."
Cassandra actually laughs. "I suppose I can relate to that. But, you're injured. We need to get that seen to."
We both stand, and my back feels like it's on fire. I should have used Rock Armor. I turn around for the others to see it. "Is it bad?" I ask.
Even Solas hisses. It must be really bad then. I already feel my limbs getting heavy, and reach for my antivenom. But, between the venom's effects slowing me down, as well as my own exhaustion, and my hand doesn't make it to the vial before I collapse. I fall first to my knees, then into an ungraceful heap, face down in the muck of the marsh.
"Ferox!" Sera calls out, running over to my side. "No dying, you!"
"Antivenom," I groan, but can't reach for it. Sera nods, and digs out her own vial, placing it to my lips. I manage to swallow. By this time, Solas has reached me.
"I will see to her," he insists. I want to protest, not trusting the trickster god, but I find words aren't forming as well any more either. This venom is quick-acting stuff. I feel the warmth of the antivenom in my stomach and hope it works in time.
Solas examines my wounds. I remember him mentioning tending to the Inquisitor upon receiving his mark, but this is different. My ailment is not caused of some elven artifact. Did Solas always have healing skills? I can't remember. I don't have the ability to move my limbs at the moment, so I suppose it's irrelevant.
I feel, rather than see his magic flowing over me. It does seem to be helping. I'd rather not owe the Dread Wolf anything, but he chose to act on his own.
The antivenom must have gotten into my system, as my mobility starts to return. "Ugh, that was nasty stuff," I grumble.
"I take it she will live," Cassandra clarifies.
"Yes," Solas confirms. "She appears to be healing. Ferox," he states directing his attention to me. "You should drink a healing potion just to be safe. And a lyrium potion would replenish some of your mana."
I frown at him, but sitting up, I quaff the health potion and do feel a sense of relief. He sits, watching me, as though waiting for something.
"I don't have any lyrium potions," I tell him. "But I'm fine. We've cleared the area, I won't be needing to cast again for a while."
"Still, there is no harm in careful preparation," he counters, offering me the blue bottle. I stare at it. I don't need this, but is he encouraging me to take it anyway? Why? I sniff the potion, and, still frowning at him, down the contents. I feel it slide thickly down my throat. At first, I'm disgusted by it, but after a moment, I feel it...magic. It instantly makes me feel giddy and it's all I can do to suppress a giggle. I never knew lyrium potions felt like this. I feel refreshed, like I had when I had unleashed my selective Blizzard spell, or when Fiona had asked me to cast Storm of the Century. And...in a way, the way I had when Varric kissed me.
I avoid eye contact, but stand back up again, grabbing my staff in the process. "Thank you, Solas," I say, unable to keep the grin off my face from the lyrium. I shout over my shoulder, "I'll go tell Serenade that we're finished."
"Her name is Serenade?" Cassandra asks, looking back toward the area with the steaming pools that the dragon had chosen as her nest.
"Pretty name for a pretty girl," I joke, and head back to the northeast area of the swamp.
She is standing there as before, but her wings are down at her sides now, and her tail has stopped twitching.
"You got them all?" Serenade asks hopefully.
"Yes," I state. "All that we could find. Our part of the bargain is complete."
The dragon bows her head. "And I shall keep to mine. I feel ready now. Thank you."
I return to the others, and we trudge back through the marsh waters to the entrance of the Fens. As much as I don't want to admit it, Solas had been right to make me take the potion. My spirits were lifted immensely, even if I really didn't need mana at the moment.
We pass through the cavern systems, and emerge back near the camp. The sun is setting on the horizon. I'm starving, but sleep won't be put off long enough for me to eat anything. Glancing at our numbers vs the tent, I know I'll be sharing again with at least one other person, but I don't even care who at this point.
I end up rooming with Sera, and, crawling inside the tent, I collapse on my bedroll, asleep in probably a minute or less. I sleep deeply, unaware of anything until morning.
It's well past dawn by the time I get up. Sera is no longer in the tent, and I hear voices outside, indicating most of the group is already awake. There are definitely downsides to being such a deep sleeper. I yawn and stretch, well, as good as one can stretch in a low tent. I reluctantly leave the warm bedroll and straighten my clothing.
The day is clear and sunny with a cool breeze, but not too cold. I'm going to miss the warmth of this place, but we have to get back to Skyhold. And, that means I'm that much closer to seeing Varric again. I grin, thinking about it, but then I have another thought: if Varric and I are going to be together, I should take precautions to avoid conceiving a child. I don't want to complicate matters while we're still under the threat of Corypheus.
I know the herbs I'll need. I head over to the potions station, and give a sigh of relief when I see all of the herbs in stock. My cheeks feel warm as I combine the ingredients and make several doses, more than enough to start taking it before I get to Skyhold. I turn back around to find Sera watching me intently. Did she see? No, she wouldn't know what I was mixing, right?
Sera smiles before turning back around. Shit, what does she know? I suppose she already knows enough to figure out the rest. I sigh. I didn't expect my love life to be a topic for so much discussion. But, I realize the gossip doesn't matter. Tenebris's disapproval doesn't matter. Lucis's pain...well, I'll face that when I have to. I want this. I didn't stop him when he decided to be with Andraste.
The trip back to Skyhold feels shorter. Maybe it's my cheerful mood, or the sunny weather. The climb back into the mountains slows our progress, but I'm fine with it. We're about a day outside of reaching the keep, but Varric and the others won't be back yet, anyway. I started taking my herbs last night, which gives me a nervous feeling. What if he changed his mind? No, he said he was serious, right?
I hear Etiam's voice in the back of my head, "They can't be taught, they can't be trusted." He's wrong, I know it. But, the fluttering in my chest doesn't subside.