Into the Woods (a Dragon Age fanfiction)

Carried Away

Fergus sank to his knees with Jennie's limp body in his arms. Her face was reddened, her breathing harsh and heavy. "Morrigan. What is this?" He wasn't sure if he hoped this was some problem related to Morrigan's jungle or one of Bethany's spells. Whichever was easiest to fix, that was for sure. He didn't like seeing her face so still.

Anders looked up from Isabela's bleeding bosom. "How bad is she?"

"I don't know."

Morrigan turned from an intense whispered conversation with Zev over Oghren's unconscious body and hurried to Fergus's side. She put a confident hand on Jennie's brow, and then gently opened one of Jennie's eyelids. "As I suspected." She gestured at the heavy cloud of insects that still hung over them. "She was bitten by a number of these." Her golden eyes lifted to meet Fergus's with a surprisingly kind look. "We will need to hurry, but I have the antidote. There is not so much danger as there appears."

"Let's go, then."

"Uh, what are we going to do with the prisoners?" Varric shook his head. "I've always wanted to say that, but it's really no fun without Hawke awake to hear it."

"I will stay here with them, if Morrigan deems that wise," Fenris said.

"I'll stay with you," Zev and Isabela said simultaneously.

Then Isabela cried out as Anders jerked the arrow still embedded in her breast. "Watch it! I've got a lot of plans for those girls."

"So I see," he muttered. Then, louder, "Hold still."

"The mage and the dwarf should stay, as well," Morrigan said.

"You want to take Hawke and Cousland here into the jungle by themselves?" Varric asked. "I've heard better ideas."

"Your suspicions do you credit, dwarf, but 'tis the safest way. The means I will use to transport them does not allow for extra weight."

"Blondie, have you looked at Hawke? What do you think?"

Anders gave a final pat to Isabela's healed breast, causing the pirate to slap his hand, before moving over to inspect Jennie. He held his hand over her flushed face, closing his eyes as though listening. "It's nothing I'm familiar with. Some type of venom, I'd imagine. Zev?"

The assassin glanced at Morrigan, who was tapping her foot impatiently. "I yield my expertise to our lovely local. If she says she knows what it is and how to resolve the situation, I would trust her."

"Let's go, then," Fergus said to Morrigan. It crossed his mind that it was strange he should accept the assassin's word so easily, when he hadn't entirely trusted the woman his brother had made a life with. Then again, Wulfric hadn't always made the best choices. He'd have to see his brother to truly be certain all was well there.

Morrigan may have been able to read his thoughts on his face; there was a sharp amusement in her eyes as she looked at him. "Very well. Climb aboard. But be careful! I do not relish being injured as you yank on my wing."

Fergus didn't dignify that remark with a rejoinder. He waited while she transformed, her arms elongating into long, leathery wings and her face into a sharp, curved beak. Fergus recognized the bird of prey that had led them into the forest. Allowing Fenris to hold Hawke's limp body, Fergus climbed aboard the giant bird, settling at the base of its long neck. He marveled at the strength it must take to carry two people, wondering how long Morrigan had practiced to be able to transform into such a large creature. It (she?) gave an impatient squawk as Fenris carefully laid Hawke's body in Fergus's arms again, and took off the moment the exchange had been performed.