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Origins CH29: Impaired

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"Please… I didn't want this..."

"You have to believe me…"

"I never would have…"

"Please forgive me,"

"I'm so sorry…."

"…Rinna,"


Zevran was shifting viciously in his bed as he mumbled in his dreams. Merlissia stood up, picking up her rag to wipe the sweat from his brow when she felt how warm he was. Quickly she pulled the furs off of him to see his shirt was soaked in sweat. Quietly she hurried across the room and got her dagger. Carefully she cut Zevran's blood stained shirt away, placing the dagger on the table between the beds.

As quiet as she could she lifted the basin back up onto her chair. Carefully she began trying to cool his body down with her rag. Gently she pressed the rag to his forehead, then cheek. Down his strong neck before dabbing the sweat from his chest.

"Rinna.. I…" he mumbled as he fidgeted.

I don't want to hear this.. it's not right Merlissia thought as she dropped the rag back into the cool water.

"I loved you…" he whispered as she pressed the wet rag to his forehead.

Maker save me she thought with a frown as she listened to his delirious confessions. "Come on fight this," she whispered as she cupped his flushed cheek.

She gasped as she saw him open his eyes. He looked to her, but she could see he couldn't focus on her. "Zevran?" she whispered gently as she ran her fingers into his hair, trying to comfort him.

Those eyes... he thought as he looked to the woman above him. Nothing was in focus, nothing but her eyes. He saw her sadness, her guilt the genuine concern that lied within them as he slowly reached up, cupping her cheek with his trembling fingers. Slowly he brought his hand over, exploring the contours of her cheek as he ran his thumb over her full lips.

"Zevran?"

He heard his name but it was like it was so far away, so he focused on the feel of her lips. Slowly she brought her hand up, wrapping her fingers around his thumb with a gentle squeeze. Her eyes shifted from his once she felt him bending his fingers as if to hold her hand. "Zevran… fight this… there has to be something worth living for," she whispered as she brushed stray blonde hairs from his face.

"I'm right here," she said calmly as she lowered his hand back to the mattress as she felt his muscles begin to shake. "I won't abandon you," she whispered as she placed her other hand on top of his, watching as his eyes fell closed.

For a while she sat just as she was, just in case he was awake enough to feel her. Eventually she pulled her hands away to move the basin from her chair to the table beside the bed after she moved the junk on it to the floor. Quietly she settled into her chair, trying to read the rest of Genitivi's book. After a while she knew she was at her wits end, she just couldn't stay up any longer. Genitivi's words were just becoming blurs and her heart hung heavy as she looked onto both of her bedridden companions.

With a quiet yawn, Merlissia reached out and gave Zevran's hand a gentle squeeze as she set the book on the edge of Zevran's bed.  When she felt his fingers try to squeeze back she decided to leave her hand where it was and leaned forward, proper her elbow on the bed beside the book she tried to force herself to read the rest of it. It was the last one and she almost had it all figured out. Slowly she shifted, resting her cheek on her palm as she tried to make sense of the blurry scribbles.Eventually her body gave in and her eyes became to heavy and fell as she fell asleep, using her elbow as a pillow.

A few hours had passed by when Zevran opened his groggy eyes as he felt a gentle squeeze on his fingers. Through the pain in his chest he felt the unfamiliar weight on his hand, and quickly turned his attention to it to see Merlissia's hand resting on top of his with her fingers curled under his hand. His eyes traveled further down his bed to see her sitting in a chair, hunched over as she slept. Carefully he sat up and looked over small amount of book that was exposed beside her lips.

Quickly he read enough to figure out it had something to do with the urn. Skeptically he looked back down to his hand to see hers flinch like she was dreaming. His eyes looked over her features to see her look so tense. Must not be a good dream he thought as he looked beside him to see a water basin and a dagger setting on the table beside him. Quickly he looked down to see his shirt had been cut off.

Curiously he looked over to his shoulder to see a thin scar on his chest as he leaned back in the bed, careful not to disturb Merlissia as he settled back down. When he heard the sound of a deep breath he looked over to see Alistair sleeping in the opposite bed. I see so she got him back he thought as he looked over the room before peering down at Merlissia again.

Carefully, he flexed his fingertips just to see what she would do. As soon as she felt his movement, she squeezed his fingers gently as her thumb moved as a gentle caress on his knuckles. For a while he sat in thought, should he wake her up? Pretend to still be asleep to see what she does with him? Both options were enticing… to see the way she looks when she wakes up… but he couldn't resist. So carefully he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep once more.

Merlissia's eyes popped open when she saw the Archdemon staring back at her. Fucking dragons she thought as she looked up to Zevan. Quickly, she pulled her hand away. "Sorry… you probably wouldn't have appreciated that," she whispered as she turned and picked up the water basin and carried it to the window. Quietly she rung the rag out and poured what was left of the water outside.

Zevran watched through cracked eyes to see Merlissia pouring fresh water into the basin and collecting a clean rag. He watched as she crouched down and started a fire and placed the basin over it to warm the water. He watched as she stared solemnly into the flames as she waited for the water to warm some. His fever broke last night… so I suppose some warm water to wipe away the sweat wouldn't hurt him she thought as she dipped her finger into the water to test it. Carefully she lifted the basin from the flames and carried it over to the table once more.

He seemed to care about being clean as much as I did she thought as she dipped her hand into the warm water until the rag had absorbed as much as the fabric would hold.

He fought to hold back a moan as he felt the warm rag against his skin. The pressure was just enough to cleanse the skin without  distracting from the caress of the warmth. Slowly, she worked her way from his forehead, to his cheeks and down his neck.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered sadly as she brushed the loose hair from his face while letting the back of her fingers brush against his cheek.

He waited for a few minutes before he started to look over to see her tending to Alistair. He could see she was still tender to him, but it was different with him. The care she took to wipe his features was vastly different. Her movements were very controlled. She was gentle and her caresses were latent with so much guilt that Zevran almost believed he felt it.

Merlissia twisted to place the rag back in the basin, with a small satisfied smile. She could see how much better the two had become overnight. Wynne… thank the Maker for you she thought briefly before she heard the door start to rattle.

Quietly she picked up her dagger as she made her way over to the door.

"I heard there was a ruckus about… I figured it would be you," a man said as he walked in the room as Merlissia walked to the end of the beds.

Instantly Merlissia recognized him as one of the merchants from the square, his accent made him unforgettable. Merlissia adjusted her grip on her dagger. It felt so unfamiliar to hold her dagger in her right hand, but the pain radiating from her left rendered it useless in battle.

"And what would you want with little old me?" Merlissia asked as she shifted her weight, unsure of the man's motives.

"Ah, I came to bring you an offer," he said calmly. "I had sent a note," he added softly as he watched her try to remember.

A note… Ah… she remembered as she thought of the note in her pouch, still sealed. "I haven't looked at it," Merlissia said plainly.

"Ignacio, see that this conversation stays civil… If this is a trap…" Zevran threatened from behind Merlissia, surprising her enough to force her to turn around.

"Zevran, is it? You are Taliesin's responsibility. Other Crows may try to kill you, but in my eyes, you're already dead… So you are of no notice. But the Warden here, she is of great interest to me," Ignacio said with a hint of arrogance in his voice.

… So then he's a Crow…. Wonderful Merlissia thought as she looked back to Ignacio and his men. "What do you want?" Merlissia asked as she spun her dagger in her hand.

"Ferelden is a busy place… Blight, civil war, other mayhem. Lots of people not getting along," Ignacio explained. "Sometimes they really don't get along. Maybe want to do something about it. The people that handle that sort of thing can get real busy," he added plainly.

"So you're hiring help?" Merlissia questioned as she shifted slightly, placing herself in the direct path between Zevran and Ignacio's men.

"It takes time to do a good job… pride in your work and all.. but customers have expectations… Not so many people to turn to if you're short-staffed in some lines of work," he explained, watching as Merlissia processed what he was saying. "So, someone that's crossed our path and lived… well, maybe they could help out. Make some coin. Everyone wins," he added.

Shit… she thought as she considered her situation… If he was able to find us here, then Howe will certainly be able to she thought quickly. "How would this work then?" Merlissia asked curiously, ignoring Zevran's initial apprehension.

"I had you a scroll. You read it, you learn about someone interesting. If you find out something happens to him, something unfortunate, then if we talk again I give you money for letting me know" Ignacio suggested.

"You don't like what's on the scroll, don't do anything. Maybe he has an accident and someone else tells me all about it," he said plainly.

"If I do this for you, I want no more Crows after me…" Merlissia said firmly… "Or him," she added as she straightened herself up, trying to hide how exhausted she still felt.

What? Zevran thought as he watched Merlissia puff up. He knew she had to be exhausted, but she never let on.

"That is something I cannot do. Once a contract has been made… it is done," Ignacio explained. "However, when the Crows call for assistance… I can assure none to be found," he offered coyly.

"Fine… Hand me the scroll," Merlissia said in a short tone. "Now get out," she instructed just as fiercely.

"There you go. Makes for fine reading," he said as he and his men went to leave the room.

"You're a cautious little weasel, Ignacio; what's your angle? If you're playing us false…" Zevran started, realizing how ineffective his threats must be as he lay in bed but it was all he could do.

"My dance is not for you… I need to be real.. honest sometimes," Ignacio answered. "And I can say I haven't asked anyone to do anything. I've just given someone something interesting to read," he explained.

"And you think that will save your hide when they nail it to the wall?" Zevran asked darkly.

"You are already dead in my eyes, whoreson, take care that I don't learn otherwise," Ignacio warned as he walked out the door.

"You're really going to do a job for them?" Zevran asked in a strained voice as he tried to push himself up so that he could lean back against the wall.

Merlissia set her dagger on Alistair's bed and dropped the scroll on the table as she walked up and helped Zevran to sit up. "I don't see how I can't," Merlissia said softly as she pulled him forward so she could adjust the pillow behind him.

"A simple no maybe?" Zevran asked. "Perhaps a dagger across his throat?" he added lightly.

"Ha.. I suppose those would work… but I'm buying us time… I don't think we're really in any condition to put off the Crows right now," she said as she looked over to Alistair.

"I'm glad to see you're doing better.. How's your chest? I can get Wynne if you like," Merlissia said nervously.

"No, no I am fine. This is nothing I can't handle," he lied with a smile, hoping to see her mirror one of her own. Instead he watched as she slowly shook her head. "So… have we progressed?" he asked as his eyes shifted over to the books setting on the table to the one he had knocked down when Ignacio came in.

"Well, Brother Genitivi isn't here.. go figure?" she said lightly. "I've been going through his research," she started as she reached down to pick up the book with her right hand, even though it would have been easier to grasp with her left. "An imposter told us to go to this tavern at Lake Calenhad… probably a trap… but his notes.. I think… I think he thinks he found them… up in the mountains in a small town by Orzammar," she explained as she set the book along with the others.

"So, this was a wild goose chase?" Zevran asked curiously.

"Yup, one in which I managed to risk my companions for nothing," she said as she shook her head, running her right hand through her hair.

She never uses her left… he thought as he struggled to remember all that happened the day before. "Ah… what is an adventure without risks?" Zevran asked lightly as he watched her twist back to him as she went to Alistair's bedside.

"I really didn't think he was this bad off," Merlissia admitted as she rubbed her hand against his cheek as she carefully sat on the edge of his bed. I'm sorry she thought sadly as she leaned over to pick up the scroll Ignacio handed her.

"What kind of mess have I gotten us into now?" she asked as she picked up the scroll.

Before she could open the scroll, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. Instantly she dropped the scroll as she felt a large hand gripping her throat as she shifted backwards.

Hesitantly, she looked down to see her dagger impaled into her stomach. Without another thought she grabbed the weapon trying to hold it back from sinking further into her. Slowly her eyes traveled up to see a familiar arm under her hand as she desperately tried to push the dagger away from her with her right hand. In seconds she felt the large hand tighten around her throat lifting her from the ground, taking away the only leverage she had.

What the? she thought in a panic as she struggled to breathe, wincing in pain as she felt the dagger slowly cut through her tissues. If he gets much further… It'll puncture… she struggled as she brought her left hand up weakly pushing on the hand on her throat.

"NO!" she heard Zevran scream as he forced himself from his bed, helplessly trying to fend off Merlissia's attacker. Weakened as he was, he was no use to her with only one arm. "The others?!" Zevran asked in a panic.

"Next… room," Merlissia squeaked out as her vision began to blur as her chest began to burn. Why am I fighting this? she thought. Wouldn't this be so much easier?

She felt her muscles burn from their lack of energy. She was already exhausted, physically and emotionally she was ready to quit… so why didn't she?

Zevran ran out of the room, cradling his injured arm. Quickly he began kicking the door repeatedly. "Sten!" "Witch!" he shouted as he kicked, until the door finally opened revealing the tall warrior standing with his sword in hand.

"What is it?" Sten asked in his own sense of urgency.

"Zevran?" Wynne called in disbelief as she saw him standing in the hallway.

"Merlissia… you have to help her…" he said quickly, an undertone of fear tainting his voice as he spoke.

Quickly the group ran into the room Zevran and Alistair had been in to see Merlissia dangling a foot off the ground. Surprised they all stood staring as her hands fell to her side.

"Why?" she whispered as she felt the weight on her throat dissipate as it was torn away.

"Merlissia?" Wynne shouted  as she ran to the Warden's side followed closely by Zevran. "What happened?" Wynne asked as the light of her magic radiated around her hands as she tried to survey how injured Merlissia really was.

"I.. I do not know. She had turned to tend to Alistair and before I knew it… I didn't even see it coming," Zevran admitted quietly as he looked down to see Merlissia's body beginning to jerk. "What… what is happening? Poison?" he asked.

"Trying to breathe," Wynne answered quickly. "The dagger... it pierced her diaphragm," she explained.

"It happened so fast… and her hand.. there's something wrong…" Zevran rambled nervously as he took her hand in his, for a moment thinking about the moment he woke up to find her hold his. Quietly he looked over her palm, his eyes tracing over the lines until his eyes settled on her scar.

"When we encountered Arl Howe… he stabbed a knife through her hand," Wynne said quietly as she saw the way his thumb gently traced the mark on her palm. "It probably hasn't heal completely," Wynne explained as she planned what to do.

"I'm going to need someone to remove the dagger…" Wynne started solemnly as she looked to Zevran, "And I am going to need someone to breathe for her," she added as she looked up to the two women. "As soon as the dagger is removed, her lungs won't be able to function until she is healed…" Wynne explained quietly.  
O my Maker... who would have guessed... drama!!!

starts kinda sad but sweet I think... I like it... but I won't be posting for the rest of the week (til after Saturday I think.. exams and internship I need study time) but I hope you enjoy.. I'm kinda excited about this.. I might edit it later idk..

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TheAshenDirewolf's avatar
Poor Mer Mer she goes through so much oi. The sweet moment had to be ruined... You sure love to have drama in your stories lolz XD Awesome as usual :)