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peopleofthedas2010-12-26 04:05 pm
valiasedai) wrote in peopleofthedas2010-12-26 04:05 pm
Entry tags:
Where We Stand - Chapter 10
Chapter: 10 Choices
Word: 737
Characters: Nathaniel, Varel, Erise Caron
Summary: A choice must be made, and the assault on the Vigil begins.
Thanks todecantate for the beta!
Over at FF.net
"Come on, you little bastards." Anders was bent on the other side of the Commander, trying to undo the buckles on her breastplate. Nathaniel did his best to work steadily, even though the woman wasn't breathing.
The soft green rune beneath the Commander's form began flickering and Anders cursed loudly.
Nate reached out a hand. "Here, let me get it."
The mage's fingers were slick with blood. Everything was covered; there was so much of it all at once and as much as Anders was intent on saving the Commander, Nathaniel wasn't certain there was anything left to save.
They lifted her breastplate off as one and the ward flashed brightly. "No, damn it, no! You're not allowed to die!"
Nathaniel eyed the other man warily. "Anders, if she's dead you –"
"She's not dead, I almost have her!" Light flared around the mage's hands before it plunged into the Commander, and blood began to bubble around the bolt.
Nathaniel held his breath as her chest began to rise and fall.
*******
Pain pulled her back to life.
Her gasping breath rattled in her ears and Erise tried to focus on the fuzzy shapes hovering over her.
"Sweet Andraste, she's alive."
She tried to talk and choked. Her vision turned red as something tugged in her chest. She flirted with unconsciousness and nearly gave in before the blinding pain suddenly subsided. Hands touched her gently and the sharpness was replaced with the sickening sensation of mending flesh.
The sky was bright and hazy and Erise shivered.
"Can you hear me? It's going to be all right."
It was Nathaniel. She struggled to sit up, but the hands on her shoulders held her down.
"Don't talk yet, I'm not fnished." Fingers probed beneath her arm and she let out a soft sob. "I'm sorry." Anders' voice was a hoarse whisper.
A vial was pressed to her lips as her head was tilted up. The familiar taste of blood lotus coated her tongue and she swallowed. The pain ebbed out of her as the potion pooled in her belly.
There was a soft sigh and the hands on her side stopped pressing. "Just one more."
Something was pulled through her ankle and the hiss of her breath turned to a high-pitched wail.
Fingers ran through her hair and Nathaniel bent over her. "It's alright, he's done."
*******
Erise watched as the guards dragged the darkspawn away. Its protests were unsettling.
Nathaniel let out a snort. "You're really going to leave the Vigil on its own?"
She turned to him. Her heart was beating fast and dread was settling in her gut. "I've done what I can there. Would you have me burn the city?"
"The captain said the corruption has spread! What do we do about that?"
"We kill those who are tainted and save those who are not." Anders let out a low groan at her words, but quieted when she settled her gaze on him. "It is our duty."
Nathaniel shook his head. "And what about Varel?"
Erise turned and drew her sword as she tried to ignore the way the name made her heart twist. "Come. The city awaits."
*******
The Vigil was quiet. It wasn't silent by any means – there were the soft calls of night birds and the occasional jingle of armor as first watch patrolled the walls. To most men, nothing would suggest that anything was amiss.
Varel was not most men.
The night lacked the easy banter of men on guard. The sound of the hammer at the forge was new and sharply irritating. Wade's partner sat near him, watching with tired, worried eyes. The sky was cloudy, the ground covered in frost and mist rose in front of Varel's face with each breath he took. The chill of the night did not bother him, but the strange set of sounds did.
A shout from the north end of the wall caught his attention and he immediately turned, his feet picking up pace.
"Seneschal, here!"
Varel broke his composure and jogged to meet the man. The guard's face was pale, but he stood with shoulders straight. "There."
A trembling hand pointed to a distant glow. Hulking shapes threw long shadows on the ground while dozens of smaller forms scurried among them.
Moments passed before Varel found his voice. "Get the Wardens."
Word: 737
Characters: Nathaniel, Varel, Erise Caron
Summary: A choice must be made, and the assault on the Vigil begins.
Thanks to
decantate for the beta!Over at FF.net
"Come on, you little bastards." Anders was bent on the other side of the Commander, trying to undo the buckles on her breastplate. Nathaniel did his best to work steadily, even though the woman wasn't breathing.
The soft green rune beneath the Commander's form began flickering and Anders cursed loudly.
Nate reached out a hand. "Here, let me get it."
The mage's fingers were slick with blood. Everything was covered; there was so much of it all at once and as much as Anders was intent on saving the Commander, Nathaniel wasn't certain there was anything left to save.
They lifted her breastplate off as one and the ward flashed brightly. "No, damn it, no! You're not allowed to die!"
Nathaniel eyed the other man warily. "Anders, if she's dead you –"
"She's not dead, I almost have her!" Light flared around the mage's hands before it plunged into the Commander, and blood began to bubble around the bolt.
Nathaniel held his breath as her chest began to rise and fall.
*******
Pain pulled her back to life.
Her gasping breath rattled in her ears and Erise tried to focus on the fuzzy shapes hovering over her.
"Sweet Andraste, she's alive."
She tried to talk and choked. Her vision turned red as something tugged in her chest. She flirted with unconsciousness and nearly gave in before the blinding pain suddenly subsided. Hands touched her gently and the sharpness was replaced with the sickening sensation of mending flesh.
The sky was bright and hazy and Erise shivered.
"Can you hear me? It's going to be all right."
It was Nathaniel. She struggled to sit up, but the hands on her shoulders held her down.
"Don't talk yet, I'm not fnished." Fingers probed beneath her arm and she let out a soft sob. "I'm sorry." Anders' voice was a hoarse whisper.
A vial was pressed to her lips as her head was tilted up. The familiar taste of blood lotus coated her tongue and she swallowed. The pain ebbed out of her as the potion pooled in her belly.
There was a soft sigh and the hands on her side stopped pressing. "Just one more."
Something was pulled through her ankle and the hiss of her breath turned to a high-pitched wail.
Fingers ran through her hair and Nathaniel bent over her. "It's alright, he's done."
*******
Erise watched as the guards dragged the darkspawn away. Its protests were unsettling.
Nathaniel let out a snort. "You're really going to leave the Vigil on its own?"
She turned to him. Her heart was beating fast and dread was settling in her gut. "I've done what I can there. Would you have me burn the city?"
"The captain said the corruption has spread! What do we do about that?"
"We kill those who are tainted and save those who are not." Anders let out a low groan at her words, but quieted when she settled her gaze on him. "It is our duty."
Nathaniel shook his head. "And what about Varel?"
Erise turned and drew her sword as she tried to ignore the way the name made her heart twist. "Come. The city awaits."
*******
The Vigil was quiet. It wasn't silent by any means – there were the soft calls of night birds and the occasional jingle of armor as first watch patrolled the walls. To most men, nothing would suggest that anything was amiss.
Varel was not most men.
The night lacked the easy banter of men on guard. The sound of the hammer at the forge was new and sharply irritating. Wade's partner sat near him, watching with tired, worried eyes. The sky was cloudy, the ground covered in frost and mist rose in front of Varel's face with each breath he took. The chill of the night did not bother him, but the strange set of sounds did.
A shout from the north end of the wall caught his attention and he immediately turned, his feet picking up pace.
"Seneschal, here!"
Varel broke his composure and jogged to meet the man. The guard's face was pale, but he stood with shoulders straight. "There."
A trembling hand pointed to a distant glow. Hulking shapes threw long shadows on the ground while dozens of smaller forms scurried among them.
Moments passed before Varel found his voice. "Get the Wardens."