Rain
The blood on her hands would never dry if the rain didn't stop.
The Seeker thrashed as they lifted her onto the pallet, then went as rigid as rock in ashamed contrition.
'Maker's balls, woman – go ahead and scream. No one will think the less of you.'
Cassandra only clenched her jaw tighter.
Together they heaved up the stretcher and carried it the short distance uphill, doing their best not to jolt it. Reaching clear ground, they set down the pallet. While Solana and Blackwall set up a tent over the wounded Seeker, Solas crouched by her and placed his hands over the tear in her side. The ground was slick underfoot, and rain kept pouring into their eyes, but somehow they successfully pitched the tent, testing it for stability. While Blackwall stomped off to search for dry firewood, Solana set up the second tent. Beneath the drum-roll of the rain and the pounding of her hammer she could hear muffled groaning, and gritted her teeth in sympathy.
At last the tent was secure. Quickly she gathered all their belongings and shoved them into the spare tent, before heading over to the other. Outside the entrance, for some inexplicable reason, she hesitated. For a moment, beside the howl of the wind and rain, all was silent. She parted the canvas flaps and ducked inside.
Cassandra had passed out, her face white beneath a sheen of sweat. A glowing blue light emanated between Solas's fingers. Solana could not look away from the sight of his hands flat against another woman's bare skin. He glanced up, his eyes meeting hers briefly.
'She is burning with fever. Do what you can to cool her.'
Without a word, Solana set to work, drenching a clean cloth with the remainder of her drinking water, then using it to wipe Cassandra's sweat-soaked brow. As she worked, she could not help glancing at Solas.
His eyes were closed as he poured magic into the Seeker, his brows drawn together in concentration. His hands on Cassandra were gentle but firm – he would not let her slip into death.
That was the moment when she knew it was love that she felt. In that exact instant, his eyes opened, finding hers.
Losing you would –
Silent, she cried out to him, seeking to make him understand. His gaze was steady – he did.
Then the tent flaps burst open and rain scattered over them as Blackwall shouldered his way inside.
'The rain'll stop any minute now.'
His words made the sudden absence of the wind's howl starkly apparent. Solana wondered how she had not noticed it before.
Blackwall looked down at the wounded Seeker. 'Will she make it?'
Solas smiled, his eyes never leaving Solana's. 'She will.'