CHAPTER 10: DESTINATION REACHED
We hit a bit of a road block today, the main road or whatever had collapsed. Of which left the group no choice but to split up. Garrett took a few of the gang with him to find a way around the pile of rubble, but that had been nearly an hour ago. The only ones that stayed behind for 'guard duty' were Merrill and Fenris. I don't know where the excitable mage is, but Fenris is stuck with me again. He didn't seem to mind to much; he had something to do besides glaring at the large boulders. And being pissed that Garrett had left him behind this time.
I'm sure with the last week of traveling the very hostile arguing between Fenris and Anders had gotten to him. Can't say I really blame him. There was only so many ways he could separate the two for a little while at a time.
'Alright Fenris go stand on the other side of the bolder! No Anders you stay over there!' I imagine that's what he would say. Actually that would be pretty funny to see, but it actually happening was another story. Oh would that be a nightmare to deal with. Someone might not make it out alive, namely all of us. I think the cave would end up collapsing under all this ego here.
Fenris and I sat at a makeshift table for awhile working on his reading, but it wasn't long before my attention drifted off again while he wrote out words that I randomly said.
"How can you even lift that thing?" He was quiet and I nudged him with my foot, and took a glance down as he stopped writing. I tried my hardest not to laugh that even he could get so into his work, well that didn't involve mages or slavers.
I lifted my head from laying on my arms on the ruddy table, and pointed over at his sword. That thing was nearly longer than he was tall. He reached around and took hold of the hilt and as he stood lifted it easily off from leaning on the wall.
It was warn, from obvious use, several chunks were missing out of the blade. That didn't seem to make any difference, even if the thing were dulled down and couldn't even cut paper it'd hurt like hell to get hit by that thing.
"This sword has served me well for many years. Without it, I would still be a slave."
I stood and peered at the weapon, thanking God that it wasn't going to be used against me. "Can I see it?"
He cracked a grin, but it vanished almost instantly. "I sincerely doubt you could lift it." I snorted, yeah what the hell was I thinking.
He lowered it to point at the ground, the sword made a light thunk as the end jammed a new set of cracks into the old stone. I reached over tracing the warn leather hilt, and poked at the jagged pommel. Even that thing looked like it would hurt to be hit with.
"Think if I learned sword fighting, Garrett would let me tag along? Think of all the trouble I could get us into."
Fenris moved his hand away slightly as I tried to lift up the heavy iron sword. He released it and I nearly dropped the cumbersome weapon; it trying to take me with it. "You wouldn't last." The tone in his voice wasn't humorous. He didn't have to be so obvious with it.
"Yeah yeah, I know. Gosh." I shrugged him off still trying to lift the sword. "Seriously though, how the hell can you swing this around without spinning around like a prissy ballerina."
He sighed and went to stand behind me, pushing my hands to where he wanted them on the hilt of the sword. "Widen your stance." Came his voice right in my ear. I wish I took to his training as easily as he took to reading. These things weren't exactly in the same ball park though, mind you.
After only a few minutes Fenris suddenly released the sword. I became aware of two things in that instant, one I should stick to my teaching career and two the ground here hurts more than I thought. The yelp I gave was one that Varric would never let me live down as it echoed off the walls with his laugh following after it.
"Don't let me interrupt."
Varric must love being told to fuck off, because I seem to be doing it a lot toward him.
-x-x-x-x-x-
Yeah, as soon as we got where we were going, Varric's brother decided to trap us all. All for a stupid shiny rock. He left the lives of everyone down here just for money. Why am I not surprised! The guys all tried to push and pull on the door to open it, but nothing worked. It wouldn't budge even when Garret, Merrill and Anders hit the thing as hard as they could with magic.
All that ended up doing was leaving a giant black scorch mark.
Isabela reacted the worst out of everyone. She ended up hyperventilating and falling to her knees clutching at her chest.
She had obviously been trying to hold it in for as long as she could, but when that door shut she lost it. It took Anders and Varric to both calm her down enough for her to stop trying to strip herself down to even less than she had on already. At Anders request the dwarf backed away to go with the others to find a way out, while Anders sat beside her using his healing magic to hopefully calm her down.
Eventually she stood up and waved Anders off. She didn't look like she was entirely back to her old self. Not once did she try to tease anyone for several hours. And that's when I saw my first Darkspawn.
"Get back Valerie!" Anders yelled pushing me back behind a broken pillar. "Darkspawn!" He called gaining the others attention instantly.
When the first came running down the stairs I didn't know what to think. When three more followed it scared me, and when another seven came around the corner I about wet myself.
One was scary enough, but ten more was down right underwear and pants staining. They looked like a bunch of rotting corpses, and didn't smell to far from it. Merrill stayed close by me, shooting any that got in her line of sight. Varric wasn't far from her shooting one bolt after the other at the abominations to life.
One had gotten around Varric and Merrill both, spotted me and decided I was it's kill. During training sparing defiantly got the blood pumping, but this made my blood run cold. I don't think I've ever been so scared in my entire life. There was no room to be helpless though. As much as I didn't want to touch the thing, or be near it; it wasn't giving me that option.
I only had time to get into a side stance and brace myself as it's gruesome face and sword charged. I stopped it with as fast a kick to it's armored chest as I could, spun around slamming my foot into it's head with a Tornado kick.
His sword clattered to the ground as it stumbled backwards. It charged once more and got a rear horse kick straight to it's midsection, and clattered to the ground moaning. It gurgled and twitched violently trying to right itself. There was no way I was going to kill it unarmed.
"Better luck next time love." Isabela to the rescue. She jumped over the broken pillar driving her daggers into the creature as she fell. It screamed out loudly before it 'died'.
"More!" That had to be the single most terrifying thing to come out of Garrett's mouth today. "Behind us!" I stand corrected.
"Kitten get down!" Varric shouted over the trembling of the room, and the clanking of the armor and weapons of the Darkspawn. They weren't alone this time. It sounded like a stampede of rhinos was charging through where we had came from.
And I was thinking that the little corpse guys were as bad as it got. If that wasn't one hell of a wake up call.
"Let the big girls handle this one." Isabela turned slightly giving one of her award winning smiles before she charged into the growing army of things.
"Isabela!" Garrett screamed, the pirate skid to a stop, and slashed through the nearest Darkspawn backing away. The three mages all began casting spell after spell trying to clear her a path to get back out of the way.
Then it finally showed itself.
It had to be as least as big as a tank. Had the face almost like the Alien's from the movies, without the tongue thing. How the actual fuck did we miss that!? It roared, I screamed and then fainted.
By the time I woke up. Everything was dead, and Anders was carrying me. And boy did he look pissed about something. I could see everyone from over his shoulder, no one had been hurt seriously. They were quiet though, probably concentrating on how to get out of this cave.
"How do you feel?" I heard Anders whisper.
"Head hurts a little." I leaned my head against his feathered shoulders. "How long was I out?"
"A couple of hours." I groaned and propped my chin on his shoulder spotting Merrill behind us she looked drained, but content that we were all still alive. I wiggled my fingers to her and she laughed sadly. The other elf of our group didn't look as chipper as she did. Fenris looked as pissed, if not worse, than Anders had a few minutes ago.
Why do I feel like I'm the rope in a game of tug-of-war...
Some days later...
Day number... hell if I know. I stopped keeping track ages ago. We finally found a way out though! We're still stuck under ground, but at least instead of going down a long, narrow hole, we're going up! A... long narrow hole...ugh...
Oh and did I mention what we found! It was enough gold, gems and jewellery to make the queen of freaking England jealous! That was what we were looking for, and Bartrand take that damned idol or what ever and shove it up your ass for the piece of shit it was!
We're rich, jackpot!
Getting to this point wasn't easy though, if getting attacked by Darkspawn wasn't enough demonic rock things showed up out of nowhere. Just the icing on the cake there. Another thing I learned on this trip, Garrett is a freaking beast! I feel sorry for anyone who's on his bad side, holy shit. He just pummeled that rock back into a pile of lifeless rubble practically on his own.
Where do I sign up for his fan club, holy shit. Wow!
We loaded up as much as we could carry back to the surface in bags, pockets, chest, and I'm not talking about a box, in Isabela's case, and set out to show it all off. Fenris was the only one that didn't go hog wild with grabbing random shiny object one after another. He just stood off to the side staring at the door until Garrett opened it with a large stone key. Then he went on his merry way out.
When everyone made it safely to the surface I swear everyone fell to their knees kissing the ground. No, just me... well this is awkward.
"Come on Kitten, you can kiss the ground at the Hanged Man." Ugh, that just sounds disgusting. I would rather kiss that giant assed dead Ogre that's been rotting away for nearly a week. When I said that Varric laughed agreeing with me. Isabela thought it was kinky, big surprise there. Merrill just blanched and said 'ew'.
Isabela laughed even harder and slapped her on the back several times. "Wait... did I miss something dirty again?" Which in turn made Isabela snort and walk away swaying her hips unnecessarily.
When we finally made it back to Kirkwall Merrill and I took off at a run to be the first ones to the gates. It was nice to be back in civilization. If these guys decide, 'hey lets go to this random creepy ass hole in the ground' I'm staying the hell away. As much as I love these guys, I'm keeping my ass somewhere safe. Who knows what their next weird ass adventure would be.
Eventually though once we got back the group began to break apart, finally glad to be able to do their own things, and get some rest. Not to mention finally be able to do our own things on our own. I had originally started to leave with Varric and Isabela, but Fenris stopped me before we got far.
"Come with me." Was all he said before turning around and walking off toward High Town. He didn't even give any kind of clue why he wanted me to come with him. He just said that and expected me to do as he asked. I just shrugged and ran after him. I have to admit that I was curious as to why he singled me out above anyone else, but I guess I'll just have to wait till we get back.
The inside of the mansion wasn't any different than I remembered from over two weeks ago. It had gathered up more dust than should be possible in just that amount of time, and so many cob webs it wasn't even funny. I must resist the urge to wander off and start scrubbing every surface here.
Wait if this is bad, I'd hate to see the rooms I never got to... shit.
"Wait here." Fenris pointed to his room, and walked away. I went to the table and pulled off my heavy satchel filled with the loot from before. It weighed way to much, but it's contents made it all worth it. I pulled out several necklaces and hair pins looking in a broken mirror on the wall. I tried to ignore my matted hair that made me look like I had one giant dreadlock. My skin was splotched with dirt and stuff I probably wouldn't want to know. Gross, with a capitol 'G'.
I need more than just a bath, this is ridiculous. Back to trying to ignore.
The tapping of feet broke me out of studying the jewellery around my neck and in my hair to see Fenris entering his room. In his hands he was carrying something that looked oddly familiar. A gigantic black bag, with a set of clothing on top, and dangling from his hand a small gold cross. Almost robotically I sat my new shiny nicknacks down.
"I found these before we left. I believe they belong to you." Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming. I pulled the shirt from the pile holding it close to myself. It was what I had warn the day I got home, and arrived here.
"Where … why?" I folded up the shirt haphazardly and placed it back on top of the rest of my things taking the heavy bag filled with books and a random assortment of my belongings. I sat them down before I looked at his still open hand. My grandmothers necklace. "You found my things." I don't know how, or why. But he had returned to me the only connection I had to home.
My hands trembled as I reached out to take the cross from him, it had to be fake. Why would he have gone out of his way to find these things. When my hand came into contact with the cool metal and it's tiny weight I knew then it was real.
"You have no idea how much this means to me." I choked back a sob rubbing my eyes trying not to cry in front of him. I held it tightly against my chest, through it I swear I can almost feel her presence even here. "You better get ready because I'm about to hug you." I laughed stupidly trying to continue hiding tears. He gave a loud 'oof' when I grabbed onto him and took a step backwards. I didn't care that his armor was grime ridden with who knows what. It was already on me too so a little more wouldn't matter.
He gave an awkward laugh and hesitantly pat me on the head.
I looked up at him grinning. "I'm so happy I could just kiss you." I had to tease him, I couldn't help it. The look on his face was well worth any embarrassment on my end. I didn't know anyone's eyes could get so wide. I'm not sure if he's thinking 'please don't' or actually considering it.
"Have you gotten into the wine again?" He finally found his voice again and pushed me away at arms length.
God what did he mean by 'again' he was the one that got it the first time. "No." I laughed at him and myself.
That night I learned about Fenris' not so happy past. I just could listen on as he told me he betrayed a group of warriors that tried to save him. All because his 'master' came back and said to kill them.
He regretted that deeply though. I'm sure it haunted him everyday since. There's no way it couldn't, not doing something like that. He has more of a conscience than that.
Even after hearing that, I still can't look at him any differently than before. Even if he doesn't say it or even show it, I know he's scared. He doesn't know what the next day might bring. Or if Danarius is just hiding around the next corner to capture him again.
Whether or not he chooses to go back and continue to listen to his orders; I don't know. But I'd like to think after all he's been through here that he wouldn't. Even if he doesn't like half of the gang for being mages, I know he wouldn't turn on them.
There is no way in hell I would let that mad man take Fenris. After what he put him through, and would continue to do. I wouldn't sit by and just let him walk out of the city.
"Thanks for telling me, Fenris." He smiled, he's been doing that a lot more lately. It was sad though. I pulled my feet up on the chair and hugged my knees to my chest. "Fenris."
"Yes?"
"Promise me, you won't give up. Don't let that bastard win. Don't give him the satisfaction that he can control you." I looked away from him fidgeting with the cloth leggings. "You're to good a man to be used like that."
We didn't speak about his past again. It just dropped from the face of the planet. He did promise me that he wouldn't let Danarius control him.
Several months passed quietly after that. And for the first time since I got here; I didn't dread waking up in the morning seeing the same four walls of the hanged man. I had something to look forward to. Something that at least for the time being, let me forget that I didn't belong here. A reason not to cry myself to sleep at night.
A reason to smile, genuinely.
Fenris still practiced reading and writing with me. He seemed to enjoy it and look forward to my visits. And I look forward to my visits with him, even more than he'll possibly ever know. He hadn't even thrown me out once since we got back from the Deeproads. I spent more time here than at the Hanged Man as of late. I practically moved right in with him.
If I ended up falling asleep while I visited I ended up waking in his bed. Finding him sound asleep in a chair by the fire. A wine bottle laying on its side by his feet, and several papers loosely held in his hands.
I never tried waking him up. I enjoyed just looking at him peacefully asleep. It was rare to see him so relaxed, without a care in the world. Hey, it's not like I'm trying to be a creeper or anything...