The Cold Moment - 5

  With a groan, Allora regained awareness, automatically trying to push herself up and out of bed. She managed it, but grimaced as pain shot through her body. Stiff and sore, she almost let the sudden urge to lay back down take her. Instead, she forced herself to her feet, determined not to waste the day because of a few aches and pains. As she teetered on the edges of her balance, unsteady in her stance, her mind focused on trying to recall how she'd gotten home.
  Her memory could bring up the sensation of falling, visions of an altered reality like the world had lost its color, and a sharp, breathtaking, burst of pain. Her hand traced that recollection of agony to its source and she peered down at her chest. The grey tunic she wore for sleeping covered her bosom and she pressed her fingertips gently into her sternum. Feeling nothing there, she let her hand drop to her side. With a thoughtful hum, she stumbled towards her bedroom door, nearly falling over when it opened unexpectedly.
  Sebastian and Anders stood staring with the same look of surprise she wore. Straightening herself, she offered them a gentle nod in greeting. Sebastian took a step forward, eyes focused on hers.
  "Hawke. You are awake...."
  "How do you feel?" Anders cut in.
  "A touch sore, but, I am alright. What happened? I remember walking into the Chantry. I was looking for you," she gestured to Sebastian "so I could warn you about an attack."
  Dropping his eyes to the floor in a moment of disgrace, Sebastian shifted his weight and proceeded to return his eyes to hers.
  "When I left you and Fenris at The Hanged Man that night, I came across Varric during my return to the Chantry. He told me of the attack. I attempted to stop it.... When you wandered into the Chantry, I could not see that it was you. I mistook you for an enemy and fired upon you."
  Crossing his arms, Anders added, "We almost lost you."
  Hawke stared at them, taking a bit to process what she was being told.
  Sebastian reached out to rest a hand on her shoulder, "Hawke, I am truly sorry. I would never hurt you intentionally. I will do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness, I swear it."
  "It is...." she started, "alright. I understand. Just, try to be more careful in the future."
  His blue eyes glowed with great relief.
  "Your mercy humbles me. I will be sure not to make the same mistake again."
  Hawke's eyes widened as she realized Fenris was not with them, but, had been with her in the Chantry.
  "Fenris?...." she looked deep into those eyes, worry tightening her throat.
  Anders answered, "Other than a little cut to his neck, he was fine. He did plenty complaining as I healed it. His usual disgust of anything concerning magic."
  With the relief came a reminder of her promise to check in with him at his mansion, as well as the words Sebastian had used in saying, "that night".
  "How long have I been unconscious?"
  "Two and a half days."
  Moving to her secondary wardrobe, she opened it to reveal multiple sets of armor stashed within. Among them was the same armor she had worn previously, the breastplate mended. Bohdan had taken it to a smith and put it in its place after the repair. He was indeed a very reliable manservant, even if she did not require his service.
  "Forgive me," she spoke as she carried the pieces stiffly to the bed, "but there are things I must do."
  "Try to take it easy. It may take more time for you to fully recover. And, please, be careful. If you need me, I will be in my clinic. Do not hesitate to seek me out if anything seems wrong." With a concerned look, Anders turned to leave.
  Sebastian lingered, "Please, allow me to accompany you. I want to be sure you are alright."
  Allora did not argue with this, only focused on preparing to leave the estate. Content with her silent compliance, he left her room so she could change. Before long, she was in a fresh blue robe, her armor properly adorned. She was unusually aware of its weight, her body protesting against the effort it took to hold her up while wearing it. Taking up her sword, she found it difficult to lift it into its place upon her back. She hoped she would not need to wield it in combat any time soon.
  Finally, she came down the stairs, gesturing for Sebastian to follow as she passed him. He fell in step behind her, both giving a polite smile to Bohdan on their way out as he expressed his happiness at seeing her awake. The humble dwarf returned to his duties as they stepped outside, telling Sandal to hand him something. Hawke did not bother to lock the door.
  The sun beamed high overhead yet again, pressing its heat onto the city. However, dark clouds littered the sky, boasting a chance for a thunderstorm that evening. Something Allora hoped would come and soon. She struggled slightly against the combined efforts of the heat and her weariness to keep moving. Losing her balance twice as they walked towards Fenris's broken down home, Sebastian diligently reached out to brace her up both times. As they reached the tattered door, he opened it, expressing his concern.
  "Perhaps you should not be out and about just yet. You seem a little unsteady."
  She shook her head, "I just need to work the stiffness from my muscles. I haven't moved much in a while."
  Expression unchanging, he let her step inside, following promptly after. She led the way into the main hall, smiling slightly at the feeling of cooler air brushing against her skin.
  "Fenris," she called, a polite warning of their approach.
  He wandered from the master bedroom onto the balcony, greeting them from its overlook.
  "Hawke...."
  Choosing the flight of stairs to the right, he moved to join them where they stood.
  "I trust you have finished healing then."
  "Yes, I am fine." she smiled at him.
  His eyes parted from hers and turned to Sebastian. Though he had made no open threats since the events in Anders's clinic, his eyes still turned cold whenever Fenris saw him. It was clear he still held contempt for Sebastian, despite the slight progression of friendship between them before all this.
  "I see you've brought HIM with you."
  She put forth her hand, "What happened was an accident. Everything turned out, we all came out of it alive. There's no need to hold it against him. We all make mistakes."
  Fenris suddenly recalled the time he faltered to the lure of a demon. The shame he felt strangling him must be the same as Sebastian's. With a reluctant sigh, he came to accept he was no better than the Priest. His eyes softened and he let it go.
  "I've come to offer my aid like I promised. If it's not too late to do so." Her eyes took on a gleam of hope.
  Refocusing his gaze back to her, he offered an appreciative smile.
  "No, it's not too late. I-"
  The sound of his front door being kicked in echoed through the mansion startling everyone. Fenris retreated up the stairs hastily, to retrieve his blade from the bed in the master bedroom. Sebastian readied an arrow to his bow, while Allora weakly pulled her sword from her back. Bloodrager thralls came pouring into the main hall, and she reached for that deeply buried well of anger. Drawing from it, she used its hot vigor to become firm. Feeling her strength return, she lashed out at the two closest thralls.
  Some were falling to arrows as they came through the doorway, others to her blade as they drew near to her, but they kept filing in by the dozens none the less. Fenris came dashing back down the stairs, weapon in hand, markings active. He came up behind her, taking on those who moved past her and offering support. Then, Sebastian fell back, perching himself atop the balcony.
  Despite their best efforts and the myriad of foes that fell to their weapons, there were too many to stop. Soon, Hawke and Fenris were fighting back to back, surrounded. While Sebastian was left to fend for himself as thralls hustled up the stairs from both sides. Their chances became bleak rather quickly. An outcome no one would have suspected. Bloodragers and their thralls were insane by every definition of the word. But, to lay siege to a home in Hightown during broad daylight was beyond unpredictable.
  Sebastian fell backward after sustaining a brutal slash to his midriff. He pressed his arm tight to the wound as he lay gasping, praying to the Maker aloud.
  "Andraste, Bride of the Maker, hear the pleas of your humble servant. Guide our souls safely to the Maker's side."
  Fenris dropped his blade as a dagger buried itself into his right shoulder. He stumbled, and another blow to his left leg brought him to his knees.
  "Forgive us our failings, our sins and cleanse us of our darkness and pains."
  Already not at her best, Allora succumbed to fatigue and a sharp blow to the back of her head from a sword hilt.
  "Direct his just wrath upon those who would slaughter the innocent and bind the righteous...."