Chapter 4: Fighting Against Time
While Sophie slept, Alistair remained just outside the tent sitting close to a fire he had made to keep warm. He knew he had behaved childishly, and that was not what she needed. He had walked about as far as to the little stream the men had found for water before he realized what a fool he was being. She had not brought Morrigan up to hurt him. She had been asked a question and she answered him. He had remained by the stream, calming his anger at the situation. Sophie needed him, because this fever that she had came upon her so suddenly would only get worse. He did not want her to wake up and not be able to find him. But, he could not lay in the tent with her unless he contracted whatever sickness she had received. At least that was what Fergus had begged of him.
Alistair knew that it would not affect him. This sickness was a spell. It was a curse of some kind and it had been sent by Morrigan along with the vision. Alistair could not be convinced otherwise. His anger grew at the thought that the witch would be messing with blood magic in order to make the woman he loved suffer a high fever. Blood magic would be the only way someone could curse her like this. Both he and Sophie only had their visions in their sleep. So, he knew that this had to be some kind of dark magic to make her pass out without any warning and suffer terrible nightmares far worse than the ones she had when the Archdemon was alive.
She feverishly called for him several times within the night, but when he went to her, she did not know he was there. She was too sick to even realize where she was, as the sweat and tears poured down her face. She was having horrible nightmares, and this realization made him angrier as the minutes passed. He wanted to wake her, and tell her that it wasn't real and that he had not left her. She kept calling for him, like she could not find him. It broke his heart. He whispered into her ear several times in the night that he was still here, and he would not leave her. It seemed to calm her for a few moments. It was the only thing he could do to keep her from thrashing about and screaming.
Around daybreak, she showed signs of improvement and he could finally relax for the first time the whole night through. He no longer her the screams of pain he had suffered through most of the night. He looked up towards the sky as the sun slowly began to rise. He prayed to the Maker that he would save her. He prayed that she would live, and that she wouldn't be in any more pain. He rose from the ground, walking towards the tent. She was no longer sweating, and she looked to be sleeping peacefully for the first time since she had fallen ill. He silently thanked the Maker, before moving to sit beside of her. The Mabari hound he normally wouldn't allow near him trailed in behind him, whimpering at the sight of his master and her illness.
He patted the hound's head, before the animals walked around her feet to her left side, laying down as close to her as he could get. He was in his protective stance, facing the exit to the tent. For the first time Alistair felt sorry for the animal. He may have been intelligent, but he still could not understand why Sophia was ill. He reached down to her take her small hand in his. It was hot to the touch, not the normal comforting warmness that he was used to feeling. He raised the hand to his lips, feeling a tear fall slowly down his face.
It was his fault. Everything was his fault. If he had not slept with Morrigan than none of this would have happened. But, then he remembered that if he hadn't done it that Sophie would have died as her blade drove into the demon. And that was worse than the last six months they had spent together in peace. He would have gone on, but he would have mourned her passing for many years. And he knew he would have still blamed himself for it. He watched as she made a small movement, letting out a sleepy groan. His eyes searched her face once again, longing to see that small movement once again. A noise. A sound. Anything that would prove to him that she was not gone.
"Sophia?"
She slowly opened her eyes, and relaxed when she saw who it was that was calling her name. The horrible dreams she had been having sense she had fallen ill where all lies. Alistair did not leave her, and she prayed a silent thank you to the Maker. She reached the hand her held towards his face, caressing his cheek in her hand. She spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I was worried I had lost you."
He shook his head as she leaned down and laid a soft kiss upon her forehead, trying to hold back his tears of worry. Sophie had never seen him cry. Not even after Duncan had died at Ostagar had he shed a tear. To see her love with tears in his eyes touched her heart more deeply than she could have ever imagined. She wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her head into his chest as the tears fell down her face. She could not tell him of the horrible nightmares. She dreamed of him dying, she dreamed of him leaving her for Morrigan, and she also dreamed of the night she lost both her parents. But everything was filled with demons and monsters and the Archdemon killing her.
"My love, whatever it is that you dreamed, it is not real. It was an illusion."
He spoke softly to her, trying to calm her shaking and crying body. He would kill Morrigan for this. If he could ever find the bitch, she would taste the end of his blade. He pulled her into his lap, cradling her as if she was a small child. She relaxed after a few moments, and looked up into his eyes. He could see the question she asked him coming before she even spoke it.
"You are not angry with me, Alistair?"
"Of course not, Sophie. I was never angry with you. I was angry with...Morrigan for meddling in our lives after she promised to stay away."
Sophie could only nod at his comment. She could not find the strength to find her voice again. He could feel the weakness from her, as her body acted as a rag doll. She could not keep her arms wrapped around him for much longer and he placed her back down on the sleeping bag, laying her on her back. She reached for him, and he took her hand, kissing it. "I'm right here, angel. I'm not going anywhere. You need to rest. You're still very weak."
Normally she would have felt the urge to argue with him, but she knew he was right. She rolled onto her side to see Smokey laying beside her. She reached out with an arm and wrapped it around the large frame of the dog. He cuddled into her, licking her face as he laid his head over her the upper region of her right arm. She was asleep only moments later, and Alistair told the dog to watch her. He barked at him, letting Alistair know that he understood.
He exited the tent, seeing the men beginning to pack up their tents and prepare to leave for Highever. Fergus saw him and approached him, his eyes questioning the condition of his baby sister. "How is she?" He asked, his eyes pleading with Alistair to give him some good news. Alistair wished that he had something good to tell his brother-in-law. He sighed, looking towards the sky as though it held all the answers for him. "She has been better, Fergus. The sickness is fading from her body, but so is her strength. We need to get to Highever quickly. We need a mage."
"A mage? You think this is magical?"
"Yes. She has been cursed. If we don't get to Highever soon, she may die."
These words made Fergus realize the dire need to return to his home and he began barking orders at the men he had taken with him form Highever. They all began to move quickly. Alistair turned back to the tent and waved his hand to the dog, who got up at this command. He leaned down and picked her up into his arms, cradling her sleeping body. The fever was returning, and with this realization he knew he did not have a whole lot of time.
He pushed out of the tent and towards Fergus. "This can't wait. We need to leave now." Fergus tried to stop him, but Alistair was already walking towards the road with his love in his arms. The solider guarding the carriage opened the door for him and he placed her inside. He then turned to the man, commanding him to take them both to Highever and that her life was depending on it. The solider did not question his orders as Alistair turned to step inside the small carriage, picking her up and holding her in his lap. The dog jumped into the carriage and laid in the floor as the carriage door was closed behind them.
The carriage took off with two solders following closely behind on the horses the pair had brought. He kissed her forehead, whispering to her that she would be all right and that he would fix this. He just hoped that he was right.
They arrived in Highever quickly than he had thought possible, and the glistening Amaranthine sea was visible outside of the carriage window. If it had not been for Sophie's illness, he would have been amazed at how blue the water was. This was the first time Alistair had ever seen an ocean, and he wished had the time to enjoy it. The carriage stopped at the castle gates only moments later. He kicked open the carriage door, sending it flying off the handles. He stepped slowly out of the carriage, cradling her tired body close to him.
A man was standing at the gates, and he knew it must be Fergus' adviser. He immediately rushed forward as he recognized the woman in his arms. "Lady Sophia? What has happened to her?" Alistair looked down at the elderly man, who seemed as concerned about the woman he loved as he was. "She is gravely ill. I take it you are Sebastian." The man nodded and turned towards the gates, commanding the guards to raise it and let them in. It only took a moment and Sebastian lead the way into the castle with Alistair and Smokey at his heels.
He was lead into a room that he was told belonged to Sophie when she was young. It was small, barely bigger than the room he had given her in Denerim. He moved to the bed and placed her body on the bed. She was still very feverish, but it was breaking in and out. She was fighting for her life, and it did not surprise him. Sophie had always been a fighter. He placed a hand on her forehead, as Sebastian brought a chair for him. Alistair thanked the man, and urged to him to go and find a mage and a Sister of the Chantry.
The man left without questioning him. He held her hand, praying silently once again to the Maker to save her. He would do anything as long as the Maker saved the love of his life. It did not take long before Sebastian had returned with a mage named Persephone and a Sister Elizabeth. He told them both that he suspected she had been cursed by blood magic, and that they were the only ones that could help her. The mage agreed with him, saying that he could sense the curse that was held upon her.
The mage and the Sister began to work together, trying different chants and spells to help release the Princess from her illness. Two hours passed by and nothing was working. And they were close to giving up. The sister told Alistair she did not know what else they could do for her. He didn't like that answer and yelled, telling that there had to be a way. He was almost to the point of tears and they tried their best to consul him. They argued for several minutes before Sophie opened her eyes, looking towards her husband.
"Alistair?"
The weak and tired voice called from the bed, and he turned to see her awake once again. He let out a sigh of relief as moved to her side, sitting in the chair as he took her hand into his. The mage approached her, looking at Sophia and to Alistair. She was shocked. The curse had just disappeared. She did not think it was any of the magics that she had tried, but she was thankful that she could not longer detect the spread of the evil magic that had been coursing through Sophia's body.
"Is she okay? Is she well again?"
"My King, I sense no trace of the curse. But I do not think it was our doing. I believe that either she fought the spell off, or the Mage who held her under it has released her. I believe she will recover."
Alistair prayed a silent prayer to the Maker. Her fever had broken once again, and it was now gone. Sophie was left feeling weak, but she was no longer held under Morrigan's spell. She saw tears in her husband's eyes once more and she felt the need to comfort him. She tried to sit up, but she could not find the strength to do so. He moved quickly to her side, helping her to sit up against the pillow.
"Are you okay, Love? Do you need anything?"
"I am rather hungry."
He laughed softly, kissing her forehead. She was well. Only her insatiable apatite for food would have convinced him of this. Sebastian dismissed the Mage and Priest after Sophia thanked them for helping her. They bowed to her and left, closing the door behind them. Sebastian stepped forward and Sophie could only smile at the sight of him. "Sebastian? You survived the attack of Howe's men? How?"
He laughed and came forward, giving Sophia a hug. She was happy to see her father's adviser standing before her. She did not know how he could have survived the attack, but she had always known Sebastian to be tough for an old man. "I helped the servants fight off the attack, My Lady. Several of us still live, as they spared us. All they really wanted was – I am just thankful you are still alive." She knew what he was going to say, and she was thankful not everyone in the castle had died when her parents, sister in law, and nephew did. She and Alistair looked towards the door as Fergus entered the room. He breathed a sigh of relief as he dropped his bag to the floor and ran to his sister, taking her in his arms.
She hugged him back, holding him for a few moments before he pulled away. "You gave us a scare, Soph. Are you feeling better?" She smiled at him, hoping that he would understand that she was fine and he breathed a smile of a relief. "Thank the Maker you are better. I was scared I had lost you." She shook her head in the negative, placing her hand on his as she gathered her voice. "You can't get rid of me that easily, Fergus." He nodded and stood, adjusting himself as Sebastian greeted his ruling lord. "The lady has requested a meal, Your Grace."
Fergus laughed and Sophie smiled at him. She could see the relief that had begun to wash over him. "Dear sister, you never change. I will have Nan bring you and Alistair something to eat." He brought his sister's hand to his lips, kissing it once before dropping it and turning towards the door. He picked up his bag as Sebastian followed him. He took one last look at her, telling her to feel better soon, and smiled at him. She would try her best to recover. She was already getting a little bit of her strength back.
When they were alone, she turned to Alistair, who pulled her into his arms. She relaxed against the feel of his muscled chest under his shirt and felt safe once again. "Don't ever scare me like that again. Sophie. Or I will have to punish you." She giggled and let her eyes move to look up at his handsome face. His blue eyes watched her as her turquoise ones watched his. "You know how much I love your punishments, Alistair. " With this statement he knew that she had returned to her old self, and he relaxed for the first time since her eyes had opened. He leaned down, taking her lips in his in a forceful yet passionate kiss. She kissed him back with all the fire she could muster, feeling for the first time in the past twenty-four hours that she was safe and she was loved.
How long this would last, however, was a mystery to both. But, they would not worry about it now. They enjoyed the company of each others lips as the sun started to set over the sea in the stone window of the castle behind them.