There and Back Again Ch. 077-078

He must have realised how silly, and ultimately futile, standing in the hallway was going to be when everyone else was sitting on the far side of the room eating. He wants answers, and he'll get them, not that he'll believe them, but not until the wild animal currently living in my mid-section is fed. And I knew he'd barely eaten for probably months; he needed the food.

He sat at the far end of the table, accepting platters as they were passed, but avoiding eye contact and saying nothing. He exuded an aura like a caged tiger - I figured he'd be pacing if he hadn't been forced to sit. I sighed again, wondering if the easy camaraderie we'd shared when captive would recover. Even if he'd thought I was crazy...

Leliana, Morrigan, and Zev, the non-wardens, finished their meals first; Solona, Alistair, and I were still gobbling down food as fast as we could, and Faren was doing something similar. Solona cautioned him to slow down lest he make himself sick.

Leliana cleared her throat. "Since you're still eating, perhaps I can tell you what happened from our perspective, and then you can return the favour when you're done?"

I nodded and gestured with my fork, and even Morrigan laughed.

"We woke up yesterday morning to find you gone, and your amulet left behind. Worried where you would end up, Duncan elected to take some of the group into Aeducan Thaig, and come back for the rest afterwards. So Aedan took your spare armour, and they went. Aedan was not happy leaving you, which is why Zev stayed."

I wrinkled my brow in confusion, after shooting Zev a grateful smile.

Leliana seemed to understand. "Oh, why Aeducan Thaig?"

I nodded.

"Gorim felt it was possible that Sereda might be hiding out there, since it was recently cleared of darkspawn, and it is close to some of the Legion's supply depots. You'd also mentioned the nobleman - Lord Dace? - and Duncan thought a rescue might be welcome, and help us gain some allies, even if we didn't support Bhelen. They should be back tomorrow or the next day."

Made sense. Smart, that Duncan. I nodded again.

"We thought you would be back, and weren't too worried, until a messenger came with this," Leliana produced my phone charger out of a pocket somewhere, "and a letter addressed to Solona. It said that the Carta had you, and that if we wished for you to remain breathing, Solona would accompany one of the Carta members into the Proving Grounds today and help him with an 'errand'; if she did not agree...well, I'm sure you were given similar threats."

I swallowed and nodded, heart rate speeding up as I thought about my traumatic introduction to Jarvia. Alistair paused in his eating to kiss my cheek and tighten an arm around me.

"Fortunately, it would seem the Carta did not count well, and they believed Solona to be the only Warden remaining in Orzammar. So we decided to send Solona with the lone dwarf and mount a rescue. The letter from the Carta didn't leave much hope you'd ever be returned, and who knew what they might ask for in return for your continued safety?"

Leliana grinned. "So we waited patiently," Zev snickered and Alistair blushed at the obvious lie, "until the dwarf came to meet up with Solona, and then we went to Dust Town, found some Carta members and 'convinced' them to let us in to the hideout, and the rest you know, yes?"

Solona spoke when we had all nodded. "The dwarf I was escorting was an assassin, I think. I'm still not clear on the details, but he wanted to get into the dressing room of a particular fighter and wait for him there. I paralysed him, put him in a stasis spell, tied him up, and shoved him into an equipment trunk. I'm sure someone will find him before the stasis spell wears off. I wasn't about to kill some fighter to fix a stupid bet or whatever, but it wasn't that poor idiot's fault either."

I smiled gratefully, finally feeling full. "Thanks. I was worried about what they'd have you doing on their behalf. I didn't want the Wardens' reputation ruined in Orzammar over this!"

"So, Bellissima, tell us about your adventures? I am most curious." Zev's smile didn't reach his eyes, and he looked rather...assassin-y. If Jarvia hadn't already been dead, I thought she'd probably have been frightened by that expression.

I swallowed. "Woke up in a disgusting back alley in Dust Town. Some old reprobate sold me to the Carta to pay off his debt. Jarvia demanded something I could give to prove my identity," I shuddered, and Alistair's arms tightened instinctively, "and then locked me in the dungeon with Faren and Leske."

"How did you get out of the cell, cara mia?" I could see the suspicious look aimed at Faren now.

"When you guys attacked, one of the guards panicked and came too close. Faren was able to grab him and kill him, and get the keys. Which reminds me." I turned to Alistair. "Did you guys talk to Lyrium smugglers at some point when you were in the Circle Tower?"

Looking confused, he nodded. "Some mage - you'd told Aedan about him - was involved in smuggling Lyrium to addicted templars. Aedan threatened him to within an inch of his life."

"I guess it worked - I think that's how Faren escaped to kill Beraht." I smiled grimly. "Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Anyway, Faren, Leske and I were debating what to do next when I heard your voice." I buried my face in Alistair's neck. "I have never been so happy to see anyone, ever."

He could surely feel my tears as they ran down my face. Solona reached out to touch my shoulder. "What aren't you telling us? Did they hurt you?"

I wiped my face with the back of my hand and shivered. "No, no. Threatened, is all. They were going to cut off my finger to send to you as proof of life."

Alistair clasped my hand protectively, and I squeezed appreciatively. "I tried to will myself back, but it didn't work. It's always worked before! Now I'm afraid I'll end up going back again tomorrow."

Faren, visibly frustrated with the conversation, finally cut in. "What are you talking about, going back? And what did you mean when you said in the dungeon that you could disappear? You know a lot about what's going on, and I want to know how."

His hands were clenching, the muscles in his neck and jaw tight. His face was a bit red, his eyes bloodshot; overall he looked quite frightening. I couldn't begrudge him his anger, though it made me recoil into Alistair's chest. I felt Alistair tense underneath me, and patted his arm to prevent him from shouting back at Faren.

I debated where to start. "I will explain everything, I promise. I am..." I trailed off, suddenly exhausted. I just wasn't sure I could tell the story another time, and when feeling so vulnerable, to boot. I'm sick of having to prove I'm not crazy.

Leliana rescued me. "Why don't Solona, Zev, and I fill Faren in? We can tell him about your...situation, yes? And you can answer questions in the morning. I think Alistair should take you to bed so you can get some rest, tonight, don't you?"

Faren nodded, reluctantly; he was obviously angry, but even he could see I just didn't have it in me. Alistair grabbed a tray of bread and cheese leftovers, handed it to me, and then scooped me into his arms again as he took me back to our room.