Doom Upon All The World

Chapter 25: Being Right

Cassandra paced up and down the hall in from of the infirmary door. Cullen stood off to the side, leaning against the wall opposite the door. Her footsteps were heavy and he could sense the tension in her demeanor. Her shoulders were stiff with something that resembled worry and anger. She didn't say anything as she stalked to one end and then stopped, making some mental note, turning on her heel and walking back the other way. Her inability to sit still had him feeling nervous. She hadn't slept not really. The previous night she'd stayed up, perched by the door to the infirmary, ready to pounce on the opportunity of tending to Josephine.

He'd had to carefully coerce her into going to bed. She sat by the door for hours, refused food, not that she'd have been able to keep it down with how the dread in her gut had made her feel. It wasn't until Leliana emerged from the room, Tom practically forcing her out that Cassandra went willingly. She told them that there had still been no progress. Josephine was in and out of sleep, sweating as if it were mid summer and shivering as if she were out in the dead of winter in nothing but her smalls. There was nothing they could do. Healing magic wouldn't work or it hadn't thus far and they had exhausted all of their Mages. Even Solas had expended himself so much to the point that he nearly collapsed upon Maeve as they left for bed.

Morrigan, with all the knowledge the Well of Sorrows had afforded her those years ago, could not offer a way to help her. Keiran and Dorian had also given it their best hand but only succeeded in stopping the bleeding. It was a miracle he'd gotten her to sleep at all. Nevertheless, their night was filled with tossing and turning and restless, mercilessly long hours. He woke up in the night several times to find her sat up in the bed, her short hair sticking up in all directions and her fine skin paler than usual. He'd delicately pull her into his arms and back down to the comfort of the sheets, pressing a tender, loving kiss to the center of her forehead. He thought he felt tears against his chest at one point.

He didn't say anything about it. He just held her, feeling the sorrow of what might come in the next days fill him. Josephine and Cassandra had never been particularly close. He had spent more time around the woman and admired her for all that she added to the Inquisition. Now something was different. After the spat that they'd been in the days leading up to the birth, Cassandra had given her a cold shoulder of sorts. She was no doubt feeling the wrath of the things that they'd said with a soul clutching regret. He felt terrible for being able to sleep through her pain but allowed himself to drift off even so.

That morning, things were changed. No one seemed to walk with the hope they had before. Leliana was the first to be an example of this. She seemed to slump against whatever wall she stood nearest to, looking down at the ground with great remorse. When Cullen first saw her, he couldn't help feeling the utter cringe of sadness inside himself. He touched her shoulder gently as they passed and squeezed lightly, trying to convey his solemnity. She didn't look up at him, just gave a curt nod, keeping her blue eyes trained on the stone floor.

Cassandra knocked lightly on the door and opened it, looking back at him only for a moment as she went inside. There was a hurt in her eyes. It was one that he remembered well. That terrible look of loss and heartache. Then she disappeared into the room allowing him only a single glance at the people within. He could see Tom, and Josie beside him on the cot, and surrounding them were their children, including the newest additions. Cassandra came back out moments later. No words were exchanged between Cullen and Leliana whilst they stood outside. She gave a sigh as she shut the door tightly behind her.

Her hazelnut eyes met his amber ones and there was a sliver more of hope. It was something but not as much as they'd hoped. "She's awake. She has been for some time, I gathered." Cassandra told them, wiping her sweaty hands on her pants. She'd had them clenched in tight fists all morning. "They brought Camille and Olive for her to hold while she is well and she has given permission for the elder ones' training to begin." She declared wringing her sweaty hands together. She looked to Leliana. The red headed woman had not said a word, not made a single move to acknowledge them. But as Cassandra spoke, the Spymaster shifted in demeanor. "She asks for you now, Leliana." The Seeker stated as Cullen looked between the two of them. She nodded and left the comfort of the wall to walk through the door. Nothing compared to the dread and guilt she was feeling. She could be losing her best friend and she'd done something regrettable the previous night. Her head was cloudy with tangled thoughts and she had no way of undoing it.