Leliana

I fired a few parting shots at our attackers, felling two. When I could no longer hear their footsteps, I let my shoulders sag. My vision blurred in and out.

Not since the Deep Roads have I been this tired, I thought, wiping sweat from my brow. My very bones are exhausted.

I looked around, seeing how my companions had fared. Sten watched the tunnel the others had fled into, guarding against the chance that they might gain their courage and return. Zevran pulled himself from the floor with a wicked grin. There was blood on his armor, but it did not seem as though much of it belonged to him. Oghren busied himself with scouring the bodies of the dead, searching for their valuables and, I smiled, their alcohol. Morrigan seemed no worse for wear as she lounged against the wall.

Wynne came up to me, moving slowly. "Are you all right?" I asked, hurrying to her side.

"Fine, child." she laid a reassuring hand on my arm. "Just suffering the after-effects of a lyrium draught."

"Thank the Maker." I breathed. I cast my eyes around the room, searching for the one person I had not seen. Salem, I could not find her, where are you?

Burrow bounded over to me, whining. He latched onto my hand and pulled. My heart began hammering in my chest. Wynne followed as Burrow dragged me to the center of the cavern. I began running.

Two bodies lay on the floor, one with long, dark hair. "Salem!" her name tore from my throat as I crashed to my knees beside them. I shoved the body of the giant, but could not move his dead weight.

Damn it! "Sten!" I called. "Oghren! I need your help!"

I continued straining against Kolgrim's unyielding corpse. "Andraste's ass, Salem!" I swore. "What have you done to yourself now?"

The qunari reached us and rolled Kolgrim's corpse away with ease. He walked away with a grunt before I could thank him. I looked at my warden, afraid to touch her. Blood had run from her nose, covering her mouth and streaming down her neck. A cut at her temple had bled profusely, matting her hair to her skin.

I tore my gloves off with my teeth, pressing my bare hand to her cheek, above the dark bruise forming on her jaw. Her skin was still warm. Trembling, I reached for the pulse at her throat, feeling relief wash over me as I felt it pound steadily beneath my fingertips.

I looked to Wynne in a silent plea for help. The senior enchanter knelt and her hands glowed blue. She ran them over Salem's body. I hated asking the exhausted mage to push her limits yet further, but I had no other choice.

Please be all right, love. I whispered with my thoughts, trying to calm the screaming of my mind. I could not bear to lose you again. Do not make me relive that horror, I beg you.

Wynne finished and looked at me with a weary smile. "She has a concussion. Her left shoulder is dislocated and several of the muscles are torn. I...I could not discern anything further...my reserves are dangerously low and the lyrium has yet to take effect."

"I understand." I replied, both grateful and terrified.

A hand fell on my shoulder and I jerked. I turned my head to see Morrigan's amber eyes looking...sympathetic?

"I've started a fire." his voice was low. "Salem cannot afford to get chilled."

"T...Thank you, Morrigan." I stammered, shocked yet again by her all too rare kindness.

"'Tis no trouble." she shied away, back to the comfort of her shadows.

I busied myself with the straps of Salem's armor. "Please wake up." I entreated. "Open your eyes, love."

She did not stir as I removed her chestplate, bracers, pauldrons, and greaves. I left her armor on the ground. We would gather it later, when she woke...if she does. I shook my head, forcing away the thought.

I lifted Salem's right arm over my shoulders, preparing to lift her.

"Do you need help?" Wynne asked.

"No." my tone was too harsh.

This was my burden to bear. Somehow, I felt responsible for Salem's injuries. She had always seemed invincible in battle, walking away from enemies and darkspawn hordes without a scratch. Now that she was blind...and that is my fault. I am to blame for every drop of blood lost, every muscle torn and bone broken. Yet she holds none of this against me. I cannot fathom the depth of her forgiveness.

"Wynne, I apologize." I sighed.

"No need, child." her smile held a mother's caring. "I know you are worried."

I wrapped my arms around Salem and lifted her, carrying her to Morrigan's magic-made fire. Trust fate to see to it that such a cold woman be the only one able to conjure flames from stone.

"Found some furs in the corner." Oghren spread them on the ground in front of the fire. "Thought you could use them."

"Thank you." I breathed, feeling my throat tighten.

They are all being so kind. I eased Salem down onto the furs. But I know they are doing this for their warden, not for me.

Morrigan looked up from binding a gash in Zevran's arm. She tossed me a roll of bandages. I caught it, nodding in thanks.

"How is she?" the Antivan asked.

I tore the cloth Morrigan had given me and soaked it with water. I cleaned the blood from Salem's face, frowning as I noticed that the bruising along her jaw had spread and darkened. "I don't know." I answered, hating the truth of it.

"Well," Oghren leaned on the haft of his axe, "if I were a bettin' dwarf, would've put my coin on the giant. I'm shocked she's still breathin'."

My heart caught in my throat. I could not respond. Oghren had been ragingly drunk that night...the night she died. I knew what he said was some sort of backwards compliment, but that made the situation no better.

Wake up, damn you! I fought down tears, focusing on the task at hand. "Wynne, can you help me set her shoulder?"

"Of course." she crossed to me and smiled.

I lifted Salem, bracing her against my body. Wynne took Salem's arm in one hand and placed her other hand on my warden's shoulder. She gave me a nod, and wrenched the limb back in place. Salem's brow creased and I held her close, whispering apologies for causing her pain.

"It is a good sign, Leliana." Wynne assured me. "If she is feeling the pain then there is a chance she will wake soon."

"As you say." I held my warden tighter, wanting to hear her voice; wanting her to lie to me, to tell me that she was all right. You stubborn, beautiful fool.

"I need to see if her right side took any damage." Wynne said, lifting the hem of Salem's shirt.

Morrigan watched and her brows lifted. "That looks...unpleasant."

I looked down; bit my lip in worry. Salem's torso and right side were bruised; dark red and purple blotches mottled her skin. For a moment, I was grateful that she could not feel them.

But when did this happen? I wondered. What if the injuries go deeper than the skin?

"Wynne?"

The healer ran her fingers along Salem's ribs. "Two, perhaps three bones are cracked. Nothing is broken, Leliana."

I lay Salem back down, angry with myself for being unable to do more. My own shoulders ached fiercely, and my fingers, callused as they were, had been sliced open by my bowstring. The damn thing had cut through my gloves and into my skin.

"We should rest." I said. "A few hours sleep will do no harm."

"I will not argue." Wynne sighed, visibly relaxing.

Zevran and Morrigan nodded their agreement. Oghren sat down and pulled out his flask, decision made. Sten joined us by the fire.

"The bard speaks wisdom." he said. "I will keep watch."

"You needn't do that." I assured him. I wanted to stay awake and watch over Salem. "I am more than willing."

"You cannot keep your eyes open." the qunari booked no argument. "All of you are to rest. I myself feel no need."

Even the most taciturn of us honors her. I stroked my warden's hair. "Thank you, Sten."

He glared at me, then shook his head as though he was amused. He turned to face the tunnels and my companions made themselves as comfortable as they could.

I lay down beside my warden, wrapping my arms around her. "I love you, Salem." I kissed her and closed my eyes.

Please be all right.