Chapter 5: Choices

I had no choice but to back off while Fenris squared off with the ogre. The massive beast had a club, while Fenris had his greatsword. I was confident in the elf's abilities to handle himself, but…against THIS thing? I wasn't entirely sure. Had he ever faced anything of this size!? I could feel my own heartbeat thudding in my chest as I saw the club moving to swing at Fenris and crush him like an insect. It wasn't going to take much effort for that thing to kill him. This was incredibly dangerous!

Fenris was surprisingly light on his feet, moving out of the way with ease. The big advantage he had was the size difference between them. Sure, he was a lot smaller, but that meant he was a lot faster than that brainless monstrosity. With that move, he had plenty of time to counter-attack, giving the beast a good slash to the arm. It's revolting black blood went splattering onto the stone floor below us. Ugh, it smelled like it was…rotten. That didn't seem to do much else other than piss it off, to my great dismay. He was going to have to do more damage than that to kill this thing. I'm sure he knew that, however. He didn't look to be too happy at how ineffective that attack had been if the expression on his face was anything to go by.

What was the best thing to do against a beast that size? Well…if it was me, I'd go for the legs to bring it down and cripple it to the point that it couldn't move. It would make it so much easier to finish it off. Fenris didn't seem to be thinking the same thing I was, however. He didn't have the time to stop and observe like I did; one good swing and Fenris would be crushed under the massive weight of that club. He was busy going on the defensive, sliding across the floor to avoid the club slamming into the ground just a split second where he had been before. The stone cracked and crumbled from the force of the blow, the ground under our feet shaking from the force.

The elf wasn't going to be able to avoid that thing forever. He had to do SOMETHING to stop this thing! It was hard to just watch him barely scraping by to keep out of the ogre's reach. Maybe…no. I couldn't! But…he was…no. As much as I wanted to help him, I'd just get in his way at this rate. He had this fight…right? Maybe I could help, just…in other ways.

"…Fenris, go for the legs! He's too big to fight him head-on!"

I was actually surprised when he took my advice, the warrior's green eyes turning to those chubby legs that the ogre was standing on. I watched as he readjusted his grip on the hilt of his greatsword, and waited for his opportunity. One swipe, two…there! The ogre swung just a bit too hard and smashed his club into the nearest wall, smashing a hole into it and making his grip on the crude weapon loosen. That gave Fenris just enough time to pull this thing off!

Watching him go to work was…rather fascinating, actually. I had no experience handling heavy weapons. Fenris himself looked so…skinny, which was normal for an elf. Under his armor, he must have been packing more muscle than I was expecting for him to handle the damn thing so easily, to move so quickly with it. That greatsword went sliding through ogre flesh as Fenris ducked in between the beast's legs to make his move. More black blood went splattering everywhere, and I watched the stupid thing fall down onto one of those thick knees. There went one leg…why not go for the other?

This time, Fenris was in sync with my thoughts. While the ogre was reeling, he spun around and slashed at the back of the other leg, forcing the ogre down onto both of his knees, unable to stand. I was sure that victory was ours now! All he had to do was finish the damn thing off, and we could get out of here. The elf wasn't about to take any chances, either. His blade was aimed right for the ogre's spine, ready to shove it through flesh and bone to paralyze the beast, if not kill it completely.

Apparently…this ogre was smarter than he looked. A thick hand went right between those chubby legs and actually grabbed Fenris when he was least expecting it, dragging the elf back to the front, though now he was upside down and he'd dropped his blade. I could see that monstrous hand squeezing tight to the elf, trying to crush him. He was going to kill him! He was going to squeeze the elf like a fruit until he popped!

Fenris's cries of agony were ringing in my ears. I could practically hear the shattering bones all the way from here. Such terrible sounds…!

YOU MORON! STOP GAWKING AND DO SOMETHING! FOR ANDRASTE'S SAKE, SAVE HIM!

…I was done sitting around. I couldn't let him die, not after all the effort he had taken to save me instead of himself.

Once again, I wasn't even thinking. My own pain was forgotten, I was bolting across the stone floor faster than I thought was possible in my current state. That greatsword was MUCH heavier than I thought it would be, but I popped my bad hand out of that sling and lifted it with both hands. I was going to regret doing that later, but no matter. I had to hurry, or Fenris wasn't going to last under such brute strength. It felt like an eternity, but all of this was happening so fast, it had to only be seconds ticking by.

This blade had to be my height in length, but I somehow managed to get a good grip on it, lift it up, and swing down…hard enough to lop the ogre's hand off at the wrist. The dismembered hand, and Fenris, went toppling to the floor while a violent torrent of black blood went spraying everywhere. Ew, gross! Couldn't dwell on it now, the thing was still fucking breathing. It wasn't going to be for long, though! I took that blade and jammed it into the ogre's chest, twisting the sword until I simply couldn't anymore. Soon enough, that thing collapsed dead on the floor with a giant blade stuck in his torso. I fucking HATE darkspawn! Served the bastard right!

With the monster taken down, my immediate attention went to Fenris. My body was screaming in protest, but I had to make sure he hadn't died after I'd nearly exposed myself to save his life. I was relying purely on the energy and power of adrenaline to get through this without crumpling to the ground in pain. I had to loosen up that dead hand to the point that I broke the fingers to dig him out. Muscles always seized up after death. The same happened to limbs after you removed them. He had been stuck good, but he came flopping out of the appendage once I broke three fingers.

"Fenris?! Fenris, say something! FENRIS!"

Okay, I was freaking out at this point. His breathing sounded awful, almost nonexistent. But…there was a pulse. Weak, but it was there, only growing fainter. He was dying. Blood trickled out of his mouth, and his chest looked…misshapen. His body was broken internally. Even if he survived this, he was covered in darkspawn blood. How was I to know he wouldn't contract the corruption of the darkspawn and become one of them?! This…wasn't something I could fix, not with my measly medical skills.

…Or could I? I was immune to the plague, after all.

Naela! You promised!

You'll tell me to fight, but you won't let me save his life?! Fuck off! I'm not going to sit here and let this happen…!

He made you promise, Naela. You're not supposed to use your blood! You don't know what effect it's going to have on anyone, let alone HIM! He's covered in lyrium, how are the two substances going to react? Huh? What if you end up making him just like you?!

…That's not going to happen. I'm not using blood magic like that fool did. I'm just hoping giving him some of mine is going to help him regenerate. If it backfires…I'll end his suffering myself and take responsibility.

Ignoring that pesky voice in the back of my mind, I turned my attention to my shattered hand. The blood covering it was all dried up! That wasn't going to work…fuck it. I didn't have a clean blade, so I just used my teeth to tear into my own skin, letting fresh blood well up before I shoved it to his mouth. Was this even going to work!? It had better, or Fenris was a goner no matter what claimed him: his injuries or the darkspawn infection. I could have sworn it was the trick of the light, but…were his markings glowing? I wanted to reach out and touch one…but I didn't. He was in enough pain as it is, I didn't want to cause him any more if necessary.

When I was satisfied that I had given him enough, I withdrew from his side. On top of all of my injuries, now I was feeling lightheaded. Had I given him too much? No, I had to be thorough with this. He was still alive, barely. I could hear it. As miserable as I was physically, I had to move him. How was I going to do that, though?! With how tall and gangly he was, I wouldn't be able to carry him without making him worse. My eyes wandered over to the dead ogre. It was wearing clothes…kind of. Enough fabric that I could work with? Well, great, this was going to smell horrible, but it was my only option.

I had to get a little creative with this one. I ended up ripping the excess fabric from the ogre's dead corpse and made it into thick strips, enough to tie one around each shoulder and under his arms. There was just enough length where I could drag him behind me across the floor. But, wait, shit. His head was going to drag on the floor this way! I had to take another thick strip and stretch it under his head, then tie both ends to the other makeshift ropes. THAT would support his head as I dragged him, as long as I pulled him up off of the ground high enough. It wasn't comfortable-looking, but it was all I had. If I had some solid wood, maybe I could have made a better carrying device, but all I had was fabric. This was going to have to do.

So, here I was, tugging Fenris along behind me, barely walking, head pounding, and arms feeling like they're about to fall off. I couldn't wait for a rescue, not when we were both in such bad shape. As much as I wanted to just lie down and pray that Hawke and the others would find us…I couldn't. I can't really have faith that everything is going to turn out okay. I'd rather take my own fate into my own hands instead of waiting for luck or divine intervention to save me. It's just not my way. People who put too much faith in anything else but themselves were morons.

I'd only been doing this for…fuck, I still can't tell time down here. It hadn't felt like it was a long distance at all before I was starting to feel the exhaustion kick in again. The adrenaline had worn off long ago, and I was finally showing physical signs of just how bad the exertion was destroying me. My own breathing was so ragged and loud, it drowned out my thoughts, and I couldn't see straight anymore. Everything was a blur. This was just like before when I blacked out, but…so much worse. My lungs felt so dry like they were full of dust, and my legs were only moving with the sheer force of willpower. I could feel them shaking and stumbling, but the constant weight of a living being behind me kept reminding me that it wasn't my life I was going to gamble away if I laid down and waited. My arms were going numb, but I refused to let him go. His presence was keeping me focused on the task at hand. In fact, I was far TOO focused. I didn't hear the shouting through the sound of my own breathing until I felt someone grabbing my shoulder.

"Naela! Andraste's ass, you're alive! Is that Fenris…? Is he okay!?"

"…Anders…?"

I couldn't see him. I couldn't even pick my head up. My eyes had been staring at the floor, focused on simply moving forward. Somewhere, anywhere. With his voice jarring me from my focus, I finally stopped walking…and my knees hit the floor. The rest of me would have hit the floor if he hadn't grabbed me.

"Naela?! Shit! HAWKE! I found them!"

There were so many footsteps rushing this way, but I didn't care. My eyes had finally shut, I couldn't keep them open anymore. My energy was just…gone. Poof. I'd burnt out. Everything was just…going numb. Sweet, sweet numb bliss. I couldn't feel anything. My brain should have told me that was a VERY bad thing, but at the moment, I was just…so very tired.

"…F-Fenris…save…Fenris…"

"Hey, stay with me! HAWKE! I'm losing her!"

"I'm here! Oh, by the fucking Maker…!"

"Check Fenris, I need to treat her, now! She's bleeding everywhere!"

I was bleeding? When did I start bleeding? I didn't even know that I was bleeding at all! I must have just…not noticed. When did I get cut? When I fell? I can't even concentrate enough to think. Maybe it was my hand that had been smashed to bits? My wrist where I cut myself? I don't know…I should have regenerated enough that I shouldn't be bleeding, no matter where it was.

"I've got him! Varric, come help me with this!"

"We got the elf; you save the Angel!"

"Hey, come on, hang in there! Just keep breathing…!"

I was trying to; I was really trying. In…out…in…out…

…..

…It was so loud. So much noise. It was such a muddled orchestra; I couldn't tell what sounds belonged to what. It was making my head throb. Sleep, precious sleep, come back! No, it left me all alone. I had to find it again! I rolled over to get comfortable again…and instantly regretted it. A tightness exploded in my chest and I coughed horribly, gasping for air. I put my hand on the nearest flat surface to try to shove myself back over, but that only made it worse! My hand hit the solid object and THAT just caused me even MORE pain!

I must have been making some pathetic noises, for a gentle hand touched my forehead and another one carefully pushed me onto my back again, soothing those sudden aches. I practically went limp all over again once I wasn't in such agonizing pain. I had the audacity to try to crack my eyes open, but my vision was so blurry I couldn't make anything out.

"…Sleep. You need more rest."

"…F-Fen…?"

"Sleep."

It was more of a command then a request from the broody elf. Something in the back of my mind was…relieved. Why was I relieved? I couldn't recall, my brain was too fuzzy to even attempt to remember. Sleep was sneaking back up on me again, to which I welcomed it with open arms.

…..

How long had I been sleeping? It felt like an eternity. My body was so heavy. I didn't want to get up, but there was a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that it was time to awaken. Stupid nagging voice. Just five more minutes? No? Fine. I'm up, I'm up! I cracked my eyes open to stare at what looked like the top of a four-poster bed.

Wait, what?!

I was definitely awake then! Where in the Maker's name was I?! I sat up…probably quicker than I should have. It started an aching sensation in my torso that made me grunt as I forced myself to sit up, warm cream-colored blankets falling away so I could see myself properly. I was…heavily bandaged under this thin pale blue night dress that I knew for sure wasn't mine. Fuck. I look like I had just been run over by a halla-drawn cart or something.

….No, it wasn't a cart. I FELL. Shit. It was all starting to come back. I glanced around the room, the only light source being a candle on the bedside table that was just a stub at this point. The curtains were drawn, no light was peaking though the ends. It had to be the middle of the night or something like that, it was very dark.

A figure sleeping in a chair at the bedside nearly gave me a fright. I should have heard him breathing with my sensitive ears, but I guess I had been too distracted. I took a heavy breath of relief when I recognized the mop of snow-white hair and the shine of metal armor reflecting the candlelight.

Fenris. He was alive. He was…fine? He looked completely uninjured. How had he healed so quickly?! My blood? I had a sinking suspicion that that wasn't quite it. It had taken us two weeks to get to the thaig's depth. I…must have been sleeping for a minimum of two weeks, if we were out of that hell hole. I mean…there was no way a place as nice as this was down there. The room was clean and well-kept, the furniture set was pristine and matching in color and style. We were definitely above ground, at the very least.

In any case, I didn't want to wake him. Andraste knows why he was here and watching over me. It was…slightly creepy, but kind of endearing. Well…unless Hawke asked him to. He'd do just about anything for Hawke. For me? I wasn't quite sure where we stood at this point.

It took me great effort just to get out of that comfy bed. The air was a little chilly, and I was still aching all over. I wasn't used to wearing night dresses, either. It was very plain in style, not ornate at all like some fancy clothes, but still I was having trouble with it just because of the size. The sleeves were too long on me, and the hem was a centimeter from touching the floor. My bandaged feet hit the cold floor and I shivered a little. Come on, Naela, one step at a time! I was still hurting all over, but I couldn't sit in that bed any longer. I didn't want to wake Fenris, either, and moving so slowly was just exacerbating the pain from my injured body. It hurt just to breathe, let alone walk.

One step…two steps…three…CLANG!

…Well…shit…he had his sword leaning up against his chair and I just bumped into it, sending it to the floor with a clatter. I jumped in surprise, tripping over the hem of the night dress and crashing right onto the floor alongside the blade, flat on my back. I couldn't catch myself with the condition both my arms were in, one of them still being in a splint. Pain shot right up my spine, my skull throbbing from the sudden contact to my skull. I swear, I must have blacked out for a half-second. It was like falling down that cavern all over again.

"…Ah…! Andraste's fucking ass…!"

Obviously, that woke Fenris. He jolted upright with a start, reaching for his sword…and not finding it. Instead, he spotted me like a cornered rat, and his sword on the ground. He actually seemed…rather surprised.

"…You're awake."

"…I wish I wasn't…ungh…"

"…You shouldn't be up. The mage says your bones still haven't mended. Back to bed with you."

He gave no warning as he got up from his chair, moving to carefully scoop my injured body up off of the floor. I was about to protest, but the serious face he was making left no room for argument. I decided against opening my big mouth and letting him settle me back into bed as carefully as he could.

"…How long has it been? I feel like I've been sleeping for a long time…"

"Just over a month. We made it back into Kirkwall over a week ago."

"…That explains why you look completely healed…"

"The mage was surprised at just how fast I healed. He didn't believe me when I told him I was nearly crushed to death by an ogre."

It worked, then. He's completely fine by now, and he is definitely not tainted by the corruption. It was…well worth it.

"…Guess the Maker was looking after you or…something."

Did Fenris even believe in the gods? I did…kind of. In any case, I watched Fenris settle down in the chair again, putting his greatsword back into its proper place. Clearly, he had no intention of leaving the room, so I was just going to have to deal with his presence.

"You, however, were not so lucky. Hawke was starting to lose hope that you would ever wake. Everyone has come by at least once or twice to see you. For Hawke, it has been almost every day, along with the mage. You can thank her for the clothes. She knew you had nothing else to wear, after all."

"…You told her, didn't you?"

"No, she figured it out on her own when she tried to find your home to bring you some of your own clothes to wear, and the other elves in the Alienage had never even heard of you."

"…Shiiiiit."

"Hawke has asked me to look after you for the time being. You cannot go back to Darktown as injured as you are. The mage's clinic is overflowing, Hawke is…having family problems in that 'shack' they call a house, Isabela and the dwarf are living in the inn, and Aveline works far too much to keep an eye on you."

"…Fenris, I really don't want to be a bother. I will be out of your hair as soon as I can."

"…Stay as long as you like. It is the least I can do. You nearly killed yourself twice trying to save my life. While that was ridiculous and stupid…you still did it, and I am not ungrateful for it."

"…Is this your very strange way of trying to say thank you without actually saying it? Either way, I will take whatever appreciation I can get."

It felt like this experience had changed the way Fenris viewed me. Near death experiences do that, right? At least in all of the story books.

"…Humph. You must still be delusional from hitting your head. Get back to sleep. You need your rest. Mage's orders. You haven't eaten solid meals in weeks, you'll need to build your strength back up."

"I'll sleep, as long as you aren't staring at me and making things awkward. You need sleep, too."

"I've had my rest. Sleep."

I hated to admit it, but just this little time awake had tired me out, and I was feeling pretty sleepy. With much grumbling in protest, I tucked myself back under those comfortable covers. When was the last time I slept in a bed?! It had been ages, I guess. I couldn't remember.

"…You know, Fenris? You're not so bad, for a cranky, broody elf."

"…You're not so bad, for a pesky nuisance."