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Blood Promise	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4556 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Bioware owns everything Dragon Age. I claim no ownership and make no money/profit.

Chapter List
- 41
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The Madness Acquisition

“You don't look so good.”
“If I look like crap, it's probably because I feel like crap.” Jordan walked slowly down the street, nursing a hangover that made her entire body ache. Each step caused a piercing pain to stick in her skull. It wasn't an ideal way to feel when she was on her way to the DuPuis mansion, but there wasn't much she could do about it.
Aveline walked beside her, eying her suspiciously, but it was more from concern than judgment. Making her way to the Hanged Man last night, Aveline found Jordan more inebriated than usual. She was completely wasted, barely able to function or even stay awake. Aveline would have scolded her, as Jordan knew what they had planned to do that night, but there was something about the rogue that told Aveline Jordan hadn't done it on purpose. Normally when Jordan drank, she didn't drink so much she couldn't function, and was still able to preform tasks such as the one they were doing now. Last night, however, Aveline could sense something was bothering her, but even in her drunken state, Jordan still wouldn't reveal to Aveline the issue. Now, as they walked through Lowtown from the Hanged Man, where Jordan had spent the night, Aveline could still tell something was bothering her. Yet she didn't ask further, not wanting to disrupt their mission.
“Are you sure you don't want me to make you something, Jordan?” Merrill asked as she and Varric walked behind the two. “I know a very good Dalish recipe for hangovers. I think I might even have all the ingredients in my pack.”
“No, Merrill,” Jordan said as she held her head. “I did this to myself, I'll suffer the consequences.”
“I think if Merrill can make something, then you should take it,” said Aveline. “I don't know what will happen when we confront DuPuis, but whatever happens, you need to be at your best. And right now, you're not.”
“I know,” Jordan sighed. In truth, she wanted whatever she could get to rid her of her hangover, but Jordan wasn't sure if she deserved it. Last night was a way for her to try and forget what had happened with her and Fenris. Again he had disappeared, not being at the Hanged Man, and no one having seen him since confronting Hadriana at the caves. He might have retreated back to his mansion, but Jordan didn't really want to see him, or at least not at that moment. If he truly was gone this time, Jordan wasn't sure how she felt about it.
“Ah, I do have all that I need! Are you sure you don't want anything?” Merrill asked again. “It wouldn't take me long to make it.”
Jordan stopped and looked to the sky. It was a bright morning, with barely a cloud floating above them. “Alright, go ahead, Merrill. We'll wait here until you're done.”
“Can you answer a question for me, Aveline?” Varric asked as they waited for Merrill to make the concoction for Jordan.
“That all depends on what you want to ask me,” Aveline said, raising an eyebrow to him.
“It's just... I thought you were on vacation. You are, aren't you?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then why are you wearing your guard-captain uniform? And pretty much still doing the duty of a guard by accompanying Hawke to confront DuPuis? I mean, if this is your idea of a vacation, what exactly do you do with your free time?”
Aveline shrugged her shoulders. “This is what I do on my free time. I go around with Jordan and help her to deal with the shit she likes to get herself into. Why? Did you expect me to be the type of person that just sits around and reads all day?”
“No, but that just confirmed something for me.”
“And what would that be?”
“That the trend of you scaring the piss out of me will continue.”
“All done!” Merrill exclaimed as she held up the concoction and handed it to Jordan. Jordan took it and immediately downed the vile liquid. It tasted terrible, but the affects were instant. Jordan soon was beginning to feel better, and was ready for anything.
“Are we ready to head for Hightown now?” Aveline asked her.
“If we must,” Jordan nodded. “Let's go.”
“Captain! Captain!” Before they could take a step in the direction they needed to go, a lone guard came running toward them. He was out of breath when he reached Aveline, looking frantic and scared. “Captain! I'm... I'm so glad I spotted you!”
“Maecon?” Aveline said, surprised to see him. “What's going on? What happened?”
“I... I don't even know how to describe it,” he heaved.
“On your time, son.”
Maecon took a few deep breaths before continuing. “It was the strangest thing. I was walking my route through Lowtown when I passed an alley and heard screams within. I went to investigate and was hit with a horrid stench of rust and throw up. I saw the alley! It was covered in a thick, green mist of sorts. And the people inside, oh those poor people... They were going mad! Killing each other and mutilating themselves! Captain, I didn't know what to do! So I ran to go find help. I-I didn't know what the mist was, but I was scared to go in...”
“It's all right, Maecon,” Aveline reassured. “It's probably best that you didn't go in.” She looked to Jordan. They were both thinking the same thing. The description Maecon had given them could only mean one thing.
“I think we're going to have to delay going to the DuPuis mansion once again,” said Jordan.
“I believe so as well.” Aveline turned back to her guard. “Maecon, go find some other guards and have them set a perimeter around the alley. I don't want anyone going in or coming out besides myself and my friends. Now which one is it?”
“Captain, you can't be serious about going into that mist, can you?” Maecon said, surprised.
“I'm not saying I'm going in, but someone needs to deal with it. If it comes to it, then I will be the only one. I don't want any of the other guards going in. Is that understood?”
“Y-yes, Captain,” he nodded.
“Good. Now which one?”
“It's the alley two streets down. You'll know it by the smell and the screams.”
“Thank you, Maecon. Now go and get the others.”
“Good luck, Captain,” Maecon nodded again before he took off to gather more guards.
“So I'm assuming the real thief of the Qunari poison has decided to show themselves?” Varric said as they began making their way to the alley.
“It would appear so,” said Jordan. “But like this? It's seems a little sloppy, don't you think?”
“They might have been thinking they were making the gaatlok,” Aveline suggested. “After all, that's what they were lead to believe what they were stealing. Whatever the case, this is something we need to deal with, and find a way to clear the poison before it spreads any more through the city.”
As they made their way to the alley, they quickly found it by the stench Maecon had warned them about. There was also the screams, both of terror and madness that rang through the air. It was an eerie scene they had come upon. The alley was surrounded by buildings, as was how most alleys in Lowtown were, except for a small opening secured by a gate. Maecon had obviously closed it to keep people from going in. As Jordan and her friends stood at the gate and peered into the alley, they saw the green mist as it floated on the ground, slowly creeping across.
“Do you see those?” said Aveline as she pointed at something in the alley. “I think that's where the poison is coming from.”
Jordan looked to see an open barrel resting against one of the buildings. The eerie gas was leaking out its top like a liquid, and pouring out onto the ground. “I count at least three of them,” she said, seeing two others. “I think if we can find a way to close those barrels, the poison will stop. Clearing what's already out, however, I'm not sure.”
“First is stopping the source, we can worry about the second part later. And it looks as if the only way to plug those barrels is to go in and do it manually.”
“Sounds simple enough. Hey, Aveline, how about we wait until your men get here and let them do it, huh? Skip this one and do what we were going to do?”
Aveline eyed Jordan ruthlessly. “How about I shove a canary up your coal mine?”
“That's not very nice,” Jordan frowned.
“Just put this over your face and we should be fine.” Aveline handed Jordan a bandana as she tied one over her mouth and nose.
“What about us?” Varric asked. “Do Daisy and I get one?”
“I only have two,” said Aveline. “Besides, I think it best if the two of you climb up to one of the balconies looking over the area and provide us support from above just in case. This should be simple, but Maecon said some of the people caught in the mist went crazy. I wouldn't doubt if we get attacked for no reason.”
“No different from any other day, right?” Jordan said after tying the bandana over her own mouth and nose.
“Are you ready?” Aveline asked.
“As much as I can be. Let's get this over with.”
“Right. We'll do this quick, but still be on your guard.”
They separated, Merrill and Varric making their way to find a high point above the alley while Aveline and Jordan ventured into the mist. Once they were in, Aveline quickly closed the gate and looked around. At the moment she could see no signs of life, but there were still the sounds of people somewhere in the alley screaming, coughing, even gagging.
“Jordan,” she whispered, not wanting to breathe too much as she wasn't sure how well these bandanas would protect them or even how much gas they would need to breathe for it to take effect. “Take the right. I'll take the left and we'll meet at the middle one.”
Jordan acknowledged Aveline with a nod. The two then went their separate ways towards their designated barrels. Jordan reached hers first, being the closest barrel to the gate. Standing before it, she stared at the gas leaking out for a moment. It was thick and seemed to cling to her feet. The smell was atrocious. It made her eyes water and the contents of her stomach churn in unsettling ways. Hearing a noise above her, Jordan looked to see Varric and Merrill had found places to stand. Merrill was right above her on a balcony while Varric was on the other side, closer to Aveline.
“Jordan, you all right?” Merrill asked above her.
“Fine,” Jordan said as she looked back down at the barrel. “Just trying to keep myself from coloring the cobblestones.”
“I know what you mean. It's horrible up here. Can't imagine what it must be like for you.”
“Trust me, you don't want to imagine.” Looking around the barrel, Jordan spotted the lid leaning next to it. Reaching down to grab it, Jordan was careful to keep her head from going into the gas. Once she had hold of the lid, Jordan quickly placed it back on the barrel, closing it up and stopping the constant flow of poisonous gas into the alley. Stepping back to check to make sure there were no leaks, Jordan then faced the third barrel, seeing Aveline hadn't reached it yet.
“Jordan, look out!”
Merrill's warning caused Jordan to quickly duck, just as a knife came hurtling towards her throat. She was pushed back against the wall, barely having time to roll out of the way as more strikes came at her, scraping against the stone with each miss. Getting away from the wall, Jordan finally had time to see her attacker. It was a man, a resident of Lowtown, a common worker. In his hands were two butcher knifes, each coated in both fresh and dried blood. When he turned on her, Jordan's eyes widened to see his mad face. His own eyes were even wider and blood-shot, the pupils completely dilated with blood leaking from the tear ducts. There were cuts all over his face and hands with even more blood draining from them. His clothes were also shredded, bloodied and ruined. He glared at her with his mad eyes, mouth gaping open as he breathed in hard. The man then screamed and lashed out.
Jordan moved quick, getting her daggers to defend herself, and twisting around the man's attack. He turned fast, slashing at her with the butcher knifes in mindless strokes. Jordan could tell this was a man that knew nothing about combat, but his strength was immense, endurance more than it should have been with how much blood he was losing. She was mostly on the defense, trying to get around his attacks, but he was also quick and wouldn't let her get away.
“Jordan, hang on!” Merrill cried from her balcony. She sent out a spell from her staff. The green aura of her magic mixed with the lighter green of the mist as it hit the ground. A vine shot through the cobblestones and ensnared the man around one of his ankles. Immediately he was thrown off, falling to the ground and losing his knifes. Jordan didn't want to do it, but she had no choice as she stabbed him in the back with Edge, breaking his spine. There was no way of knowing if he could be saved. If any of the people in the alley could be saved.
“Thanks, Merrill!” Jordan shouted to the mage.
“There's more coming!” Merrill pointed to the other end of the alley where Aveline currently was, battling against similar people. Jordan also noticed several bodies on the ground, a few with crossbow bolts sticking out of their backs. There was also the fact that neither of the other two barrels had been sealed.
“Merrill, help Aveline and Varric the best you can!” Jordan shouted to her. “I'm going to close the rest of the barrels first!”
“I've got it, you go ahead!”
Jordan ran over to the middle barrel, finding the lid, closed it just as she had done with the first. Another scream of madness caught her attention. This time a woman came at her, carrying in her hand a small iron pot. One side of the pot was smeared red with bits of white and gray matter attached. The woman swung the pot at Jordan's head. She was able to move out of the way, flanking the woman and cutting her across the stomach with Fury. The woman went down hard, losing the pot as it tumbled across the alley.
Going after the last barrel, Jordan quickly closed it in the same fashion. When she backed away from the barrel, a splash of blood hit her face when a bolt from Bianca lodged itself in the skull of another attacker right behind Jordan. When all three barrels were sealed, Jordan joined next to Aveline who was still fighting with three attackers. Again, they were just everyday citizens, attacking them with objects not usually seen on the battlefield. One man was fighting with a bloody fork and knife, while another had a broken mug in his hand that sloshed something red within. The woman was fighting with her bare hands, blood encrusted under her fingernails.
Aveline smashed the woman with her shield, sending her flying into the wall. The woman's head struck the stone, cracking her skull. She flopped to the ground but stood right back up and renewed her attack. Jordan ran and slammed her shoulder into the woman's abdomen, sending her back into the wall. She then sliced Edge across her throat and moved on to the man with the mug. A bolt went flying past her, sticking the man in the throat. Jordan then finished him off by jamming both her daggers in his chest. The last man was taken down when Aveline pushed him away, then a stone fist flew through the air and took off his head.
“This is not right, killing citizens like this,” Aveline sighed as she looked at the mess of bodies.
“We had no choice, Aveline,” said Jordan. “Did you not see them? They were beyond reason! The poison having gotten into their brains.”
“I know,” Aveline sighed again. “And I see you were able to close the other barrels. Good. Now we just need to get rid of the gas still out. Have any ideas?”
Jordan looked around. “We could try blowing it away.”
“And where would we blow it to? Another part of the city? We wouldn't be able to control where it goes, especially if the wind picks it up. Besides, even if we could control where to blow it, we don't have the power. Isabela's not here.”
“Then I have no ideas,” Jordan shrugged.
“What about you, Varric, anything?”
“Sorry, Aveline,” said Varric. “But I'm just as clueless.”
“Oh! Oh! I think I have an idea!” Merrill shouted, her hands flaring in the air to get their attention.
“Spit it out, Merrill!” Jordan shouted back at her.
“Plants!” she said. “If I'm correct, then any plants I can get to grow down there will absorb the gas!”
“Go for it, Daisy!” Varric yelled.
“Go ahead, Merrill,” said Aveline. “Jordan and I will get out of the way. Do what you have to!”
Rubbing her hands together, Merrill prepared herself as she summoned her magic. Her green aura surrounded her body then spread out across the alley. Where it touched, plants began to grow: vines, flowers, weeds, shrubs, and even a little tree in the middle, took over the alley. As her aura pulsed around the plants, the gas on the ground began to shrink in size. It was working, soon all the gas was out of the alley, clearing the air. The plants, however, didn't last long, turning black and crumbling.
“Alright, Daisy! Way to go!” Varric cried happily from his perch.
With the gas cleared, Aveline and Jordan removed their bandanas and surveyed the area. With the gas gone, the carnage of the situation was very clear. The stones were stained with blood and gore. Bodies, along with pieces, were also scattered about. It was a sickening sight.
“Now what?” Jordan asked as she looked around.
“We find out who did this, that's what,” Aveline said harsh. “This should never have happened.”
“But how--” Jordan was going to say when she saw something in the corner of her eye. On the other side of the alley, an elf with several humans behind her came out from one of the homes. She looked around at the scene, then saw Jordan and Aveline and became furious.
“What did you do?” she yelled at them as she and her companions marched across the alley. “Why did you stop it?”
“Stop it?” said Jordan. “Of course we stopped it! Why would we not?”
“Because we put it out! There was suppose to be an explosion. It was a demonstration to show the threat that the Qunari are to this city.”
“So this was your fault?” Jordan eyed the elf, seeing she also had blood-shot eyes with dilated pupils. She did not seem to be completely out of her mind, but there was still something off about her.
“You are the one that stole from the Qunari?” said Aveline. “To do what? Prove they are dangerous? Look around you! Does this look like an explosion? You did not steal gaatlok! You stole and created something far worse!”
The elf blinked a few times, then looked around. “Oh no. No, no, no! This is not what was suppose to happen. All these poor people. But you...” she said, looking back at Jordan. “I know who you are, Serah Hawke. You have enemies.”
“So you would also like to try and kill me?” Jordan asked flattered. “Course it always has to be the crazy ones, doesn't it?”
“You don't understand!” the elf said, shaking her head. “Qunari take my people! My siblings forget their culture, then go to the Qun for purpose. We're losing them twice! So, I get help from your people. We'll take the Qunari thunder, make some accidents, and make them hated! But this... this is all wrong.”
“You were going to kill people anyway? That's... not funny at all, really.”
“It can still work. They are hidden in your city. They'll enrage the faithful, and make sure the Quanri are blamed! Me, I'm finished. I just need a few more bodies. A few more.” Her eyes hardened, and the elf grabbed the greatsword on her back and lunged at Jordan. The others behind her surrounded Aveline, keeping her from helping.
Jumping back, Jordan blocked the elf's swing, defecting the greatsword with both Edge and Fury. The elf was fighting in a similar fashion as the other deranged humans were, yet she had some skill behind her mad swings. Jordan kept on the defense, constantly ducking and blocking as the elf pushed her about. She had her mind, though, giving her the advantage, and soon Jordan saw her opportunity.
As the elf raised her sword high, Jordan went under and tripped her with Edge. The elf went down, but quickly rolled to the side, evading Jordan's stab, and stood to continue her pursuit. She swung low, nearly taking out Jordan's legs. Her next swing then connected with Fury, the dagger keeping her from taking off Jordan's head.
“Stop moving so much!” the elf yelled, yet again swinging low and hitting nothing but air.
“Maybe if you weren't so hopped up on Qunari mad gas, then maybe you could actually hit me!” Jordan smirked as she evaded another swing. She went to the elf's side and cut her across to her back.
The elf stopped her mad swings and growled as she held her side. She then started laughing. Turning to Jordan, her laughs became more hysteric, her eyes more mad. “You have no idea,” she whispered.
“No, I don't,” Jordan said stunned.
“Then maybe you should!” With a burst, the elf ran at her, catching Jordan off guard. Going after her legs, the elf nicked Jordan's thigh, causing her to fall. Jordan fell to the ground, rolling just as the elf's sword came down. Growling, the elf then pulled a flask out of her pack and threw it on the ground. It landed right next to Jordan's face, exploding and releasing green mist.
Shaking her head, Jordan quickly stood, pulling herself away from the gas. It stung as it went down her windpipe, also making her eyes dry and hurting. She staggered for a moment, only barely noticing the elf's sword flying at her. She moved, escaping the blade and running right into the elf. They pushed off from one another and attacked each other again. Jordan was finding it difficult to concentrate, the images in front of her moving in sharp contrasts. Colors swirled and blended. Sound became more high-pitched, nearly too much for her to take. She tried hard to keep up with the elf, but she was too much. Soon Jordan found herself back on the ground, another lungful of green and foul air. Suddenly, something in her mind clicked, and when she peered up into the sky, she saw the elf moving towards her in slow motion. The greatsword pointing down, aimed for her heart.
Moving fast, much faster than she ever had in her life, Jordan sprang up from the ground, her two daggers in front, and landed them both in the elf's exposed chest. There was a sharp scream from her throat. It exploded in Jordan's ears, making her rip Edge and Fury out. The elf then fell to the ground, blood pouring from her wound.
When Jordan stood, everything around her was warped. Colors were off, sounds were sharp, smells were rancid. There was something on her skin, itching and driving her mad. No, it wasn't on her skin, but under it! Jordan stared at her hands, seeing their grayish, twisted forms. She began to scratch, but it wasn't good enough. She began to rip and tare, peeling the flesh, muscle and tendons from her bones. It was the only way to relieve the itching, to be rid of the constant torment that was right below her skin. She scratched and scratched, her lungs heaving for air, her eyes beginning to burn and itch just like her skin. Her hands, now nothing but bones and ligaments reached up to her face and dug into her eyes. She pulled out her eyeballs and dug into her face, her boney fingers digging into her skull to find the maddening itch. In her hand, laid her eyeball. It began to twitch and move before bursting. Thousands of little black bugs squirmed and wiggled, burying themselves back inside her. Jordan screamed, wanting desperately for the madness that was consuming her to end.
***
“Jordan? Jordan, what are you doing? Stop!” Aveline ran over to her friend, running through the green cloud created by the two bombs. She grabbed Jordan's hands before they could do any more damage. Her hands had deep scratches in them, cuts that bleed and gushed. “Jordan, look at me!” Aveline forced Jordan to make eye contact, but it didn't last. The rogue shook her head and screamed. She then tried to get away from Aveline, to pull her hands free, but the warrior wouldn't let go.
“What happened? What's wrong with her?” Varric and Merrill had come down from their perches, and ran to help.
“She was poisoned!” Aveline shouted as she tried to keep hold of Jordan.
“We need to do something!” said Merrill, horrified as she watched Jordan go mad. “She'll become just like the others.”
“I know! Merrill, is there anything--”
“I'm not very good at this,” Merrill said, shaking her head. “I wouldn't even know where to begin.”
“Take her to Blondie, I'm sure he's gotta know something!” said Varric.
“I'm not sure if he does, but it's our best chance to save her,” Aveline agreed. “Varric, help me get her there. Merrill, you run ahead and warn him.”
“Right, I'm on it.” Merrill quickly made her way to the gate and let herself out and ran down the street, leaving Aveline and Varric to deal with a screaming and struggling Jordan.
***
“Anders! Anders!”
Anders jumped up from his desk when he heard someone scream his name. Merrill came rushing into his clinic, eyes blood-shot and face horrified. “Maker's breath, Merrill!” he said. “What's going on?”
“Oh, Anders, it was horrible!” Merrill choked. He could see her hands trembling.
“What? What?”
“The Qunari poison! It took out an entire alley. All those people dead.” She began to shutter. Anders quickly grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her.
“Sit down, Merrill,” he said, leading her to a cot. “Did you breathe any of the gas in?”
“I might have, but I'm not the one you should be worrying about. Jordan got the worst of it.”
“Jordan?” Anders breathed. He stared out his clinic, battling with himself on whether or not he should run out there and find her. There was no need. At that moment, a blood-curdling scream ripped its way through Darktown. At the same time, making his heart stop.
Coming towards his clinic, he spotted Aveline and Varric carrying between them a thrashing Jordan. Her hands clawed at the air, feet kicking violently. Varric held onto them with all his might, desperately trying to keep them from hitting him. Aveline had her arms wrapped around Jordan's shoulders, straining as she dragged her in.
“Get 'em off me! Get 'em off me!” Jordan yelled. “I have to kill them! I have to kill them!”
Anders stared at what was coming towards him, not knowing what was going on or what he should be doing.
“Anders!” Aveline heaved as she came before him. “Help!”
Blinking, Anders quickly regained himself. “Right. Bring her over here.” He helped Aveline by grabbing Jordan around the chest and leading them to a cot in a far corner. Jordan immediately went into hysterics, thrashing wildly and screaming at the top of her lungs.
“Get 'em off! They're digging in! Get 'em off!”
“What is she talking about?” Anders asked as he grabbed her hand and secured it to her side to keep her from tearing at him.
“I'm not sure,” said Aveline. “She's been screaming about nonsense all the way here.”
Jordan screamed again and kicked. Varric lost his grasp, and one of Jordan's feet smashed him in the face. He went down, and as Jordan's feet hit the ground, she struggled against Aveline and Anders to get free.
“Jordan, no!” Aveline cried. “You're not like this! You need to fight it!”
“I'm trying!” Jordan yelled back. “But I have to kill them! I have to kill them all!”
“Maker! When did she get so strong?” Anders heaved as he struggled against her, trying desperately to get her in some type of position so he could put a spell on her to hopefully subdue her.
“It's the poison.” Aveline grunted as she grabbed Jordan's hair and yanked back her head. “Jordan, stop this right now!” She twisted her arm, but in a quick second, Jordan preformed a deftly move Anders had seen her do several times when fighting. She kicked up her feet and went flying above them. Jordan was able to get lose from their grasp, grabbing her daggers and swiping at them. She then rolled herself into a back corner, staring each of them down. Edge and Fury held tight in each hand, pupils dilated to near full.
“Come on!” she yelled. “Come at me, you foul pieces of shit! I'm amazingly focused right now!”
“That's it.” Aveline pulled out her own sword and shield and faced Jordan down. “I've had enough of this.”
“Aveline, no!” yelled Anders. “This is not a place for fighting!”
“Tell that to the bitch in front of me!” With a cry, she ran right at Jordan, who matched her. The two women collided, Fury scrapped across Wesley's shield, Edge dived at Aveline's legs, but were blocked. Aveline pushed her shield out, flinging Jordan back and into a table. A few of the flasks on the table crashed to the floor. Jordan only growled as she went after Aveline again, striking hard and fast. Aveline moved, keeping up with the rogue, and making sure to keep her shield between herself and Jordan's deadly blades. She then swung out, nearly nicking Jordan in the thigh. Jordan stumbled, but rounded on Aveline, striking both Edge and Fury against the warrior's armor. Aveline turned swiftly, swinging her shield and slamming it right in the back of Jordan's head. Jordan went down hard, landing on her face and going unconscious.
“Aveline, stop!” Anders cried.
Freezing, Aveline looked down at Jordan's body, her sword raised high, muscles straining and waiting for when they could plunge the blade in her back. Aveline breathed hard, she shook her head, trying to get back focus.
“Aveline, please,” Anders said as he went to her slowly. “Put your sword down. Try and think.”
“Just... get her away, please,” Aveline breathed. “I... I guess the gas affected me more than I thought.”
“Alright. I'll help you, too. Don't worry.” Anders picked Jordan off the ground and brought her to another cot and laid her upon it.
Aveline dropped her sword and shield and backed into the wall. She slid down it and sat on the ground, breathing deep and shaking. Anders looked back at her. He was concerned, but at the moment, she would be all right. Jordan was worse, and needed his attention now.
“Jordan? Jordan, can you hear me?” he said as he examined her. She mumbled a few in-cohesive words and flopped her head, but nothing else. He forced her eyes open and saw the pupils still dilated to the whites. Her breathing, quick and shallow. Heart rate high, and her limbs even began to twitch. She was hot to the touch, yet her skin was pale besides the red patches of blood and deep cuts on her hands. “What happened?” he asked Varric and Merrill as he started examining her more with magic. “How much was she exposed?”
“A lot,” said Merrill. “It was practically thrown in her face.”
“Hawke and Aveline went into the gas, but they had bandanas on,” Varric explained. “Daisy and I stayed above it, so if we did breathe any in, it wasn't much. Together we fought the crazy humans that were coming at us.”
“It was horrible,” Merrill cringed.
“Then all the sudden this elf appeared,” Varric continued. “She and Hawke exchanged words, then they began to fight. At some point, the elf was actually able to best Hawke, then launched a container of the poison right at her. She killed the elf, then started going insane herself. Aveline and I pulled her out of the alley and we came here.”
Anders didn't like what he was hearing, nor did he like what his assessment was telling him about Jordan's condition. The toxins from the gas were in her blood, spreading throughout her body and causing damage. He could heal the damage, but if he didn't remove the toxins, they would continue to cause harm until her body couldn't take any more.
It does not look good. Justice's voice was grave sounding. Unusual for the spirit.
“No, it's not good,” Anders muttered. “But this is something I can fix. Now let's see...” He left Jordan and ran into his storeroom, going over everything on the shelves. “Embrium should work... Elfroot, of course... Spindleweed, and something as a binder...”
“Orichalcum.”
Anders turned to see Merrill standing in the doorway, the blanket still wrapped about her shoulders.
“It's what Keeper Marethari used to use whenever one of our clan was poisoned.”
“Right. I think I remember Lisha mentioning something about that.” Anders looked around his shelves before finding the liquid metal. He grabbed the flask it was in along with a few other things before going out and putting everything on a table. Quickly he began mixing the ingredients together, creating a potion that would hopefully get rid of the toxins.
“How are you going to give it to her?” Merrill asked. “Jordan's unconscious right now. She can't swallow.”
“Can't he just wake her up?” said Varric.
“I could,” Anders said as he stared into the swirling, dark red liquid. “But if I do, she might go insane again. The toxin's affecting her ability to think, and it seems to trigger aggressive behavior.” He looked toward Jordan, seeing her unconscious form on the cot. “No, I'm going to need to do something more drastic.” Anders scrambled about his clinic, searching through drawers and under papers before he finally found it.
“Oh, I think I see what you're getting at now,” said Merrill when she saw the needle in his hand.
It was a bone needle, hollow and very sharp at the one end. Anders mostly used it—along with its twin—to drawl blood from a patient, and put it in another. It was an area most patients were uncomfortable with, but he had used the technique several times to save lives.
Standing next to Jordan, Anders produced a small fireball in his hands and placed the needle in it. He let the fire sterilize the needle, and had it cool before taking Jordan's arm and carefully placing it in one of her veins. Jordan grimaced from the invasion and started trying to move her arm away. Her movements caused blood to come out from the other end of the needle. Anders quickly placed a sleep spell on her before he continued. Using his magic, he capped the needle so no more of Jordan's blood could escape. With the potion on the table next to her, Anders then began to maneuver a small stream of liquid out of the flask. It flowed through the air, straight toward the needle's end. When the stream and needle met, he let go of the cap to allow the potion to flow in. Anders stood there for a moment, observing his magic work before turning to the other three. Merrill and Varric still seemed to be okay, Merrill having stopped shaking. Aveline however was still on the ground, holding herself close. Checking on Jordan one more time, he then went back to the table with all the ingredients to make more potion.
“The three of you should drink this,” he said. “You're not nearly as bad as she was, but I think you should as a precaution.”
“You really think we all should?” asked Varric.
“Yes, I do, Varric. You and Merrill may not have breathed in as much as Aveline or Jordan, but I'm sure you still breathed in some. I'd take it just to make sure.” He went and handed each of them a potion, with Aveline's flask more filled.
Aveline stared at the contents. “You don't think I should get it the same way as Jordan?”
“You still have control over your mind, somewhat,” said Anders. “Drinking it will be sufficient for you.”
Aveline nodded, then drank down her potion.
“I think the three of you should stay here until I can confirm there's no more toxin in your blood. And so I can see if you have any other injuries.”
“Whatever you say, Blondie,” Varric said as he settled himself on his own cot. “You're the healer, after all.”
“Yeah,” Anders sighed. He stared longingly over at Jordan. His magic still flowing the potion through the needle, straight into her veins. “Here's hoping I'm a good one.”
***
There was pressure. Lots and lots of pressure. Her head was heavy. Her body, like a giant weight was pressing it down. Everywhere it hurt, thousands of little needles pricking her skin. She went to move, but her muscles were stiff, protesting the command for them to work.
“Easy there, Jordan,” she heard a voice say. “Don't move too quickly just yet.”
She let out a breath, then struggled to take in air. The pain intense. The little needles going in deeper.
“Easy now,” the voice said again. A soothing sensation passed through her chest. The familiar coolness of healing magic. The little needles stopped and Jordan slowly opened her eyes.
“A-Anders?” she breathed. Her eyes quickly closed shut from a threatening brightness. The sudden movement made her head throb with an angry pulse. She moaned as tears leaked from her eyes and ran down the sides of her face.
“That stuff packs quite a punch, doesn't it?”
“What?” This time Jordan opened her eyes more slowly, allowing the light to filter through. Anders's face came into focus, and she stared up at him confused. “I don't... What are you talking about? What happened? Where am I?” Jordan tried to look around, but her head throbbed, making her wince.
“Do you not remember?” Anders kept his hands over her to keep her from moving too fast, while also scanning to see if she was in need of any more healing.
“I remember... the alley.” Jordan blinked a few times, trying to remember, but her headache made it hard. “But you weren't there.”
“What's the last thing you remember?”
Jordan closed her eyes and rested for a moment, allowing her head to stop pulsing. “I remember fighting the crazy elf,” she said opening her eyes. “But after that it's mostly... hazy. Did I win?”
Anders chuckled a little. “Do you think if you lost you'd be here in my clinic?”
“I don't know. With how I feel right now, I really can't tell.”
“According to Varric, you won. You killed the elf, then went crazy yourself.”
“I did? I didn't hurt anyone, did I?” Jordan's face contorted with fear. Her eyes pleaded with Anders for him to tell her she caused no harm.
“I don't think so,” Anders answered. “Although you and Aveline did have a little scuffle in the corner there.”
Jordan moaned from hearing this. “Is she all right?”
“She's fine,” Anders reassured her. “And so are Merrill and Varric. But in order get you to calm down, Aveline had to knock you out by bashing your head with her shield. I'm sure that's one of the contributing factors to your headache.”
“I'm sure.” Jordan looked around the clinic, seeing they were the only ones within and the doors were closed. “What time is it?”
“Early afternoon.”
“Really? Was I only out for a few hours?”
“Actually... you were out for about two days.”
“Two days!” Jordan bolted upright, only to slam herself back down on the cot from pain shooting through her entire body. Her head felt like it was splitting apart, eyes watering as the tears clouded her vision.
“Jordan, not so fast.” Anders held her as she jerked, careful to not hurt her too much. “Where do you think you're going?”
“I need to go home,” Jordan breathed after catching her breath. “My mother...”
“She knows... or at least, she knows where you are. After I deemed Aveline was fine, she went to Leandra and told her where you were. I'm not sure if she told her the exact reason why, but your mother knows you're safe.”
Jordan relaxed from hearing this. She hated making her mother worry, knowing Leandra was more than likely devastated to hear her daughter was in a clinic. At least Jordan knew Aveline had enough sense to tell her what was only needed to be told. Jordan could count on her for that.
“Here, drink this.” Anders put a cup to Jordan's lips. Slowly she took in the cool liquid which turned out to be nothing but water. Yet it tasted so good, Jordan had to take the cup and down the rest in a hurry.
“More, please,” she said, handing the cup back to Anders.
“You're dehydrated, but you shouldn't drink too fast. Take this slow.” He filled the cup and handed it to her again. Jordan drank, but more slowly. As she felt the coolness of the water fill her system, she began to feel slightly better. Even enough to sit up with Anders's help.
“So you found the cure?” Jordan asked as she stared into her cup.
“Sort of,” Anders said as he settled himself next to her on the cot.
“What do you mean?”
“When I scanned you, I only got bits and pieces of what the saar-qamek was made of that was floating in your blood. From that, I created a potion that would counteract the toxins. At first it appeared to be working, but it wasn't enough. It wasn't until Fenris came here did he give me the real antidote.”
“Wait... Fenris came here?” Jordan looked from the water to Anders, blinking fast.
“Yeah,” Anders said, looking at her peculiar.
“So he didn't leave after all,” Jordan muttered.
“Well, no. He disappeared for a time after that incident in the caves, but when he heard what happened in the alley and that you had been poisoned and brought here, he came right away. I told him what I had already done, then he gave me a list of what else I needed to do. Apparently his master learned how to counteract the effects of saar-qamek and taught it to him.”
Jordan stared back at her water, not sure what to think. So Fenris hadn't truly run off after all. He had returned, and even worked with Anders to help her. “So where is he now?” she asked.
“Probably back at the Hanged Man with everyone else. The whole group's come to see you, to make sure you were all right. Even Sebastian prayed next to your cot.”
Jordan made a face. “You actually let him do that?”
“I know,” Anders chuckled. “But I was busy. Plus I was trying to figure out something.”
“What?” Jordan asked, although she quickly regretted asking. There was something in his eyes that looked pained.
“When I was checking to see if you had any other injuries, I noticed there were markings all over your body,” Anders said slowly. “Claw marks. Fresh, but not fresh enough to be from your battle in the alley. Do you know where they came from?”
“Why do you want to know?” Jordan asked timid.
“Well...” Anders looked away from her. “Before Fenris left, he told me he had spoken with you the day before. He didn't tell me what happened, but those claw marks...”
“Anders...” Jordan took his chin and had him stare at her. For a moment they just stared, neither speaking. Jordan wanted to tell him, wanting to say that Fenris meant nothing to her, that he was the one she loved, but she couldn't get herself to say it. Jordan only shook her head and swallowed hard.
“It's okay,” Anders said, forcing a smile. “How about you finish that water, then get some rest. I'll bring you something to eat later.”
Jordan drank the rest of her water down then handed the cup back to Anders. “I can't stay here long,” Jordan sighed. “There's still much I need to get done.”
“I know,” Anders said as he stood. “But until you get your strength back, you won't be able to do anything. Now lay down and get some more sleep. Doctor's orders.”
“Yes, ser,” Jordan smirked as she laid herself back on the cot. Anders then placed a blanket over her and went to the other side of the clinic and sat at one of his tables filled with research papers. Jordan could see him clearly as he went about looking through the papers and books. She knew she needed to sleep, but she couldn't bring herself to close her eyes. Instead she watched him intently, feeling horrible inside, and not just from the after effects of the poisonous gas.

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age 2
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Blood Promise