Leliana POV:
Duncan, Wynne, and I are all surrounding the warden within seconds of her fall. Duncan is barking and yanking at her armor while Wynne begins casting all of the healing spells she knows. I heave the elf into my arms and try to look at her to see what's wrong. Tabris is twitching and has her arms curled up in front of her chest with her fingers curled like talons. Gagging and choking noises erupt from her every few seconds. Duncan, finally, manages to do something useful. The Mabari sinks his teeth into the helm my love is wearing and rips it off. I suck in a small breath and find myself holding it when I see the elf.
Her skin is pale enough I could mistake her for dead; I can see the thick, black veins beneath her face pulsating with her corrupted blood; sweat is coating her skin and makes the elf gleam; and her eyes have a thick film over them. Tabris gags and her mouth falls open. Bile and black ooze are collecting in the back of her throat. I instinctively roll the elf onto her side just in time. Vomit and corruption spew from her like a damned fountain. Duncan sniffs the growing pool, but quickly whimpers and shies away. The warden's arms flop back to her sides and her breathing sounds like the bellows one would expect from a blacksmith's working area. I roll her back onto her back and try to meet her filmy eyes with my own gaze.
It's no use. The warden's eyes are rolling around in her skull and she can't focus on anything. I give up on meeting her gaze; instead, I focus on helping by taking off her armor and storing it for later. Sure enough, when her torso is free of metal she starts breathing deeper. She's still bellowing, though. Wynne stops casting spells and puts her hands on the elf's side. The older mage peels the woman's soaking undershirt up and places the palms of her hands against the sweaty, bare flesh beneath.
A calming, blue spell radiates outwards and the elf begins calming down. I examine her again. Her face has a little more color; the veins are slowly disappearing; and the film over her eyes is fading away. Slowly, the warden returns to us. Her breathing evens out and her eyes return to normal. However, the warden remains on the ground for a moment. Finally, a loud and low moan slips from her. Her eyes roll and meet mine.
"Are you okay?". It's a stupid question to ask, but I do. Tabris shakes her head and manages to tell me what's wrong. Each word from her lips is gravely and rough. Like she's fighting just to get it out.
"I feel like shit. My insides, outsides, and everything in between is aching.". She cocks her head backwards. I follow her gaze backwards. She's looking at the empty stone archway miles away from us. I saw the dragon sitting there, but it must have flown off while we weren't looking.
Tabris grunts and rolls onto her stomach. I can't even question her as she begins dragging herself over to the edge of the trench. I stand and follow her with Wynne and Duncan in tow. All of us (even the Mabari) look over the chasm. I can't even comprehend what I'm seeing. Thousands upon thousands (if not more) Darkspawn are swarming miles and miles below us. All of them are shoving and pushing one another to head in one direction. Thankfully, they're going downwards and not upwards. However, I still as a rather stupid question.
"Are they coming for us?". The warden pushes herself to her feet before shaking her head.
"They're heading to the surface.". Wynne is the next to ask a question.
"How do you know?". The woman looks uncomfortable. She doesn't answer; instead, she heads back to the brontos. Wynne lets it die as we all return to our animals and climb on. The elf begins guiding our bronto across a bridge in front of us. For a few minutes silence passes between us and the only noise is the faint screaming of the Darkspawn below. Finally, the warden explains.
"My taint allowed me to feel what the Darkspawn were feeling. For a brief minute it was as if I was one of them. Standing in the chasm and listening to the Arch-Demon commanding me. I felt for all intent and purpose as if I was a literal Darkspawn.". I feel a chill run up my spine at that. To physically and mentally feel like you're a corrupt abomination is something I can't even wrap my head around. However, it only gets worse when the warden continues.
"I knew I was me, but it still didn't feel right. I'd look around and see a throng of Darkspawn around me. None of them even seemed to care I was there. They all just looked towards the Arch-Demon and awaited his orders. And when he declared them the entire horde started howling. I don't know if it was out of joy or anger or fear, but they did. And all I could feel was some undeniable urge to join them. To throw my head back and howl with the rest of the Darkspawn. It was like the corruption in my veins took over. Made me think I was a damned Shriek or something. Then, it was just over. I was back in my own body without a single lingering feeling of loyalty to the Arch-Demon.". I look in front of me and see my love's closed her eyes. When she opens them she talks again.
"I can't sense any Darkspawn save for the ones below us.". She closes her eyes and scrunches her face.
"We're close to Alistair!". Her eyes flash open and she points directly west of us.
"I can sense him!". Instantly, I have an idea.
"Can you send a pulse or message or something to him using your connection?". The elf shakes her head.
"I can't really explain it, but Alistair and I are both like one-way couriers. We can get messages just fine, but we can't give them. So, it's like us running to one city and getting the message 'fuck you'. However, we can't give that 'fuck you' to anyone. We know the message giver said 'fuck you', but we can't go and give it back. And, unless we ran all the way to the other city we'll never know what the message was. The only way Alistair will know we're here is if he reached out. When we get closer he'll feel it without having to reach. Right now we're just way too far away. I can barely feel him right now. He's like a fly at the edge of my vision.". I sigh as my idea is shot down. The bridge suddenly ends and we're once again walking through a small tunnel.
However, this tunnel ends almost immediately. Now we're greeted by another chasm and another bridge. A group of heavily armored dwarves are rooting around and looting some Darkspawn corpses. The warden whistles and one hurries over.
"You the other warden?". Tabris nods and the dwarf points behind him.
"Your friend came through here a few days ago. Said he was looking for a paragon. We haven't heard from him, but one of my scouts reported screaming resounding off of some forgotten tunnel passages yesterday. Sorry, but he's probably not alive if he was the one doing the screaming.". My love shakes her head.
"In that case, he wasn't the one doing the screaming. I just felt his presence less than a few minutes ago. He's alive. He's stupid enough he might have gotten himself captured by Darkspawn, but I'll save him before they slit his throat.". The dwarf looks like he might not believe her, but all he does is grunt and give a little advice.
"We're camped up over the bridge and before the entrance deeper into the trenches. All of you look like you could use a break. Feel free to set up camp with us.". She makes a 'mhh' noise and the dwarf rephrases his offer.
"Or you can set up camp here. Darkspawn from the thaigs usually don't come down here because they're on the way up, and any Darkspawn deeper in the thaig can't get past us and up into this area.". The elf shakes her head.
"We need to keep going to-". Wynne interrupts her.
"I think it'd be best if we stop.". Tabris looks over at the older woman and I decide to add my own opinion.
"I think Wynne is right. The only sleep we've gotten has been while riding the brontos; none of us have had a decent meal; all of us are thirsty; and the brontos haven't been tended to since the beginning of our journey.". The warden grunts and looks around at us all. We aren't falling apart at the seams, but it's easy to tell the brisk pace has taken its tole on all of us.
For a brief second I'm afraid the woman might refuse and continue pushing us even farther. Then, Tabris slides off of the bronto and begins unpacking. The dwarf takes that as a clear dismissal and leaves us to our own. I slide off of the bronto and begin helping everyone make camp. It only takes us half of an hour before two tents are set up and a small fire is going with a pot hanging over it. We'll have to sit on the bare ground, but that's the only complaint anyone has. Wynne has already retired to her tent and Duncan is chewing on a Darkspawn corpse a few feet away from camp. Tabris is tying the bronto to a rock nearby and tending to them.
I slide over to the fire and crouch down. Some water has already been poured into the metal pot and some meat is laying nearby. I toss the meat in and sigh at the lack of seasoning or spices. All I can do is wait for the meat to be boiled. In the meantime, I watch Tabris water and feed the bronto. Both beast greedily take their fill and trumpet when their packs are taken off. Instantly, the two beast collapse and go to sleep. Tabris pats our bronto on the thick skull before heading over and crouching down to me. The woman smiles at the meat and nudges me.
"Thanks.". I wave off her thanks.
"Just doing my part to make sure all of us get a decent meal for the fighting tomorrow.". We both lapse into a comfortable silence. I'm the first to break it.
"Hard to believe this is almost over.". Tabris instantly responds.
"Hm?". I explain it to her.
"We finish helping the dwarves, talk to the Arl, and we're done. You've gathered an army. All we'll have to do is use it. You're closer to the end than you think.". Tabris frowns and looks down at the fire.
"I guess we are almost there. Although, you forgot about one important part.". She reaches over and lays a hand on my knee.
"The part where I help you face your past.". I chuckle and rub the back of her hand.
"And the part where I ravage you.". She groans and closes her eyes.
"Tease.". I pat her hand.
"I am, but it'll only make things better when they finally happen.". The elf sighs as she rolls her shoulder. Tension comes over her face as she stands and makes her way to our tent.
"I need to lie down for a minute.". I nod and go back to the food. Nothing's happening. I sigh and follow Tabris.