bakerstreet | Nursed Back to Health

[Either role is good!]

[They'd been trying to get out of these caves, all of them had...and then well, things had turned in a way none of them had expected. The huge creature had seemed to come from out of nowhere, and was certainly far too close far quicker than Bethany had been able to identify it. Nothing so huge had any right to move with such speed.

But then she'd been lifted fully from the ground. Flashes of what had happened to Carver in the past sped through her head as she'd struggled to get free...and then she'd been flying.

No, not flying...thrown. She'd not even had time to scream before she felt herself hit a more yielding target than the rock she'd expected...and then she--no they had fallen. She caught a flash of white hair, pointed ears, and then rocks jutting out from the walls at either side, far too close to avoid every glancing strike.

And then she was seeing stars briefly as the ground introduced itself rather forcefully. For a time she didn't move, simply trying to catch the breath that had been knocked out of her. It was when she realized she wasn't laying only on the ground that she finally forced her aching body to the side.

On her knees, one arm hugged around her midsection, she focuses uncooperative eyes on the person who'd shared her rather unexpected trip deeper into the caves.]

Fenris-- [Her voice is breathless, pained even, but worried above all.] --are you all right? [Stupid question.] I'm sorry. [If she'd kept her eye on her surroundings better, they'd not be in this situation. But all she could do now was apologize and see to their safety.]

[OoC: Sorry for both tl;dr and throwing them down a ravine in this mystery cave.]

[There's a grunt somewhere near Bethany as the elf turned, and then a quickly-choked hiss of pain. In his attempt to catch the mage when she was tossed by the monster, they had both managed to get into trouble instead.

Holding his broken arm close to his body to not move it needlessly, Fenris looked up above them with furrowed brows. That... was a high fall. They were lucky to be alive.]

I'm fine. [He said quickly before slowly scooting over to look at her. His head was throbbing warningly somewhere at the back of his skull, but he'd rather make sure the girl was in one piece first.] ...and don't apologize. I was to late to stop the fall.

[Somewhere high above, he could hear the continued fighting and Hawke's voice shouting their names. For a brief second the elf was about to answer, but that would give their position away to any other enemies.

His sword was still up there, but he doubted it would be much use at the moment anyway. However, that meant they were rather exposed.]

[Quickly choked though it may have been, Bethany does catch the sound of something, however brief. Something that certainly hadn't sounded fine, as Fenris had said he was.

As Fenris moved a bit nearer, Bethany let herself look him over carefully. While she may not be a healer, she'd seen plenty in her time since the Blight to know what fine looked like. But would calling him on that do them any good right now?

Just about to respond, the voice calling to them from above stills her words in her throat and she turns finally to look just where they'd fallen from. Everything in her insisting she call back--they're fine after all. But in a place like this...

She bites her bottom lip once against the desire, and firmly turns away from the heights above them. Though her head protests the movement, the only sign of that pain she shows is a mild furrowing of her brow.

The breath she intends to take as she releases her lip from her teeth, however, is stopped quite short by pain and she releases the breath in a rush as the hand at her ribs clenches in the fabric of her top.]

Not apologies, then. [A pause as she takes a shallower breath to avoid the pain from before. Broken ribs, she supposed...] I'd probably not have survived if you hadn't tried to help me. Is a 'thank you' better?

[Certainly there were bruises, and her left leg hurt in a way that she didn't think it would be all too willing to support her, but better that than dead. At least both of them were breathing.]

It works.

[He muttered under his breath when she thanked him, but there was a small smile there. At least the girl was conscious and in (mostly) one piece. He didn't like the way she was breathing, though, or the way she was holding her chest.]

Can you take deep breaths?

[The elf holds out his good hand quickly to stop her as soon as he says it.]

...don't force it if you cannot. If your ribs are broken, you do not wish to harm your lungs.

[It was a bit awkward to do things one-handed, but his broken arm and somewhat rattled head was less serious than possible internal damage. She was physically weaker than a warrior, and he was used to pain.]

[If she noticed the small smile, Bethany made no comment. No need to draw attention to what anyone didn't show freely after all. Except perhaps injuries.

...but he beat her to that. Shifting where she sat, very carefully, she took a moment to simply breathe slowly. Not a forced deep breath, only as much as she could do comfortably... and the results were somewhat worryingly shallow. Still, she had a slight, if somewhat wry smile in place as she replied.]

Not deep enough to do much more strenuous than walk. [If the movement of walking didn't happen to be agony as it was, with broken ribs and a chancy left leg.

Still though, if it came down to having to defend themselves, she could use her magic without taking deep breaths... but Fenris' arm worried her...]

What about your arm? [A glance to it, the way he held it she was near certain it was broken, before she lifted her eyes to try and meet his. She wasn't going to let him get away with 'I'm fine' this time.]

[The elf looks visibly relieved when she speaks again. Those breaths were shallow, but it didn't seem like any of them were turned inwards. It may hurt, though, and Fenris looks up the chasm again with slight concern.

He's roused from his thoughts by her question about his arm, and the warrior finally checks on the damage fully.]

I'm fi... [His eyes meet hers, and he changes his mind about denying it. Why did the Hawkes have this effect?] It's only broken. I will manage.

[Bruised and a bit skinned in places, he had taken most of his fall with it, breaking both bones in his lower arm. It wasn't a clear break, either, so when he got Bethany out, he should probably set it.]

Can you stand?

[Though her concern only increases as Fenris admits that his arm is broken, she does smile somewhat more simply because he's not denying the injury. She'd have felt horrible if his injuries went ignored simply because she too was injured. It wasn't something she would simply allow to happen.]

I'm not sure. My left leg aches a little. But none so badly that we can't find out.

[Her answer was automatic...but then she pauses. There was something that could be done without either of them moving after all.]

And we'll find out...once you've let me see your arm. [Insistence is fairly clear in her voice...but the tone is nearly lost in her concern, any edge that could have been present absolutely erased as her voice softened.]

Good, then we should get moving.

[Fenris starts to get up again when the warrior tenses at her words, and his jaw sets stubbornly as he goes over his options. The most important part was getting Bethany to safety, but...]

I can manage! [He snaps at her this time, harsher than he should and feeling guilty about it at once. She didn't deserve his ire. She wasn't Anders or any other mage out there.]

...I apologize, Bethany. I would appreciate the help setting it.

[To her credit she doesn't flinch as he snaps, though it had startled her certainly. The only outward sign is the hand not protectively at her ribs withdrawing just slightly where she'd rested it against her leg.

As he apologizes though, her smile warms a bit. Carver had been good practice dealing with the more stubborn types, especially the sort who didn't want, or perhaps need help.]

You don't have to apologize. Carver never wanted my help either, but there's nothing wrong with letting people help you. [Carefully she withdraws the arm from around her ribs. She'd need both hands to help set Fenris' arm.] Especially if they want to help you.

[She lifts both hands now, waiting for him instead of reaching for his arm herself. She knew he didn't trust mages, even if he seemed to view her more positively than others, and she wouldn't do something out of his control.] I'm no healer, but I can set broken bones.

['I know', he wants to say, but instead he remains quiet and carefully moves closer. The gauntlet doesn't quite want to come off, the break and the swelling creating a problem.

A second try from another angle yields success, but sliding the armor off is painful and the elf's markings flicker slightly like a broken lightbulb.]

...there. If we set it, I'll put my gauntlet on again and use it as a brace. Then we'll get out of here before Hawke breaks down the whole cave looking for us.

[See, there was some (dry) humor in there despite the ornery stubbornness and pain.]

[Now what does make her flinch is Fenris managing to slide the gauntlet off of his broken arm. She can only imagine the pain that must've caused, and his pain tolerance is both impressive...and a little bit sad. Bethany could only wish nobody ever had to develop such tolerance.

Her hands are gentle as she takes his arm, questing fingers feeling for the break and just how the bones would have to be moved in order to set them properly. She looks up to him as she readies her hands just where they need to be.]

I'm going to set it now. It should only hurt worse than this for a moment... [It was how she'd heard it, anyway... She'd never quite broken anything quite so thoroughly.

She keeps herself from biting her lower lip as she carefully but quickly sets the bones back in place along the break...but she doesn't let go just yet.] I don't want to risk letting up on the pressure, even to get your gauntlet in place.

[One of her hands leaves his arm to instead reach behind her head, working at the knot holding her bandanna around her throat.]

I know it isn't a proper bandage, but it should hold until we're out of this place. [She's quick to adjust the fold of the bandanna, before she shifts to wrap it carefully, if firmly, around his forearm.]

[To his credit, Fenris doesn't flinch at her touch or draw away; instead he lets her examine the fracture while he keeps his eyes on the floor. Keeping his breathing calm and stable, he tries to relax, knowing it would only make things worse if he tensed more.

The bones shift into place under Bethany's quick touch and the warrior draws in air like he's drowning, gritting his teeth hard but making no other sound than a sharp hiss. Screaming would only bring them trouble; be it monsters in the caves or masters in mansions.]

T-thank you.

[She's doing something else that the elf failed to even hear properly, but then the girl is using her neckerchief as a bandage and the warrior is... touched, really.]

Good plan. I'll keep it safe.

[Fenris gestures a bit to her with his good arm.]

Can you stand?

[With the cloth secured around Fenris' arm, Bethany withdraws her hands. There was nothing more she could do at this point, really...and the way armor worked wasn't exactly her specialty, so she would leave Fenris to his gauntlet.

It's almost strange not to be wearing the kerchief at this point, and one hand idly brushes her neck as she sits back carefully.]

You don't really need to thank me, but you're welcome. [At the gesture, her hand moves from her neck to her ribs in consideration as he asks if she can stand.] There's only one way to find that out.

[Free hand raised to press into the wall nearest, Bethany carefully shifts her right foot beneath her. Her shallowed breathing quickens somewhat at the pain, but as she straightens up, and her ribs protest the motion less, she's able to breathe more easily.

Putting weight onto her left leg is another matter. Shifting onto it, her body goes tense and her weight shifts off immediately, a sharp brief intake of breath the only other indication of pain. She wouldn't yelp, not in this situation.]

Walking may prove difficult. [There's a thread of tension in her voice as she speaks.] It might only be a sprain, if I'm lucky.

[He comes to steady her at once, gently supporting her with his good arm while making sure to not put any pressure on her chest or waist.] Easy. Do not push it.

[The elf moves her arm around his neck so she could lean fully on him and take her weight off that foot. For extra balance, he lightly holds his good hand around her back and at her hip so she could feel safe that he wouldn't drop her.

It was a well-practiced movement that had had done many times before.]

Just lean to me, and we'll take this a step at the time.

[Fenris would have carried her if his arm wasn't broken, but as it was, they had to hobble miserably together.]

[She doesn't resist as Fenris moves her arm around his neck and moves to support her, in fact she shifts carefully to settle comfortably at his side.

She'd never really been supported like this. Both of her siblings had simply decided to carry her on the rare occasions that she'd hurt her leg and been reduced to limping. If Bethany had thought about it before, she'd have expected it to be uncomfortable to be supported like this by anyone, but instead all it did was relieve the pain of her leg as she stood far more steadily at Fenris' side.]

Thank you. [As a precaution, her free arm settles lightly around her chest. There was no telling what kind of strain that walking like this would put on her ribs. She would be prepared. Probably.]

Which do you think is the way out? [She could find her way out in the open air...but in a cave?]

[The question has the elf hesitating a bit. These caves had been rather curved and winding, so it was hard to read which way would lead back to their comrades.

Fenris remains still for a while, listening to the sound of the cave to see if he could pick up any echoes of the rest of their group. A small call of Bethany's name was not quite enough to go from, but it was better than nothing.]

This way. Just lean to me, and speak up if you need to stop.

[He'd get her out of there safely; he had to.]

[Bethany is silent as she waits for a response, listening to the echoes that reached them where they were. Few of the sounds were things she could properly identify... but as she hears her name she wants so badly to call back.

She doesn't dare to try. Not simply because she wouldn't have the breath for it, but because they'd already fought monsters in these caves...she'd rather not attract attention.]

All right. [She trusts Fenris to take them the right direction, no hesitation as she settles carefully against his side and their trek begins.

...still the whole time she keeps her eyes on their surroundings just as much as on the uneven footing beneath them. It wouldn't do to fall...but it would be worse not to see danger approaching.]

[The elf is likewise keeping an eye out for trouble, his eyesight far better in the darker places of the cave than a human's. So far, it seemed like they were not about to be attacked by giant spiders, demons or angry hermits, so he could focus on helping Bethany walk.

His head ached and he was pretty sure he had a nasty bump in the back, but thankfully the pain in his arm cancelled out any fogginess he may have felt from his rattled brain.

They could do this. They just needed to find Hawke and preferably the infuriating blonde for Bethany.]

How are you holding up?

[Step after step, Bethany's rubs throbbed rather in time with her heartbeat. She didn't feel like the pain was getting any worse as they made their way forward...but it was certainly not slight enough to ignore.

Times like these, rare for her though they were, she wished she possessed Anders' ability to heal. Though even if she were to ask him to teach her, the ability was likely beyond her...]

I won't deny that it hurts, moving at all, but I'll be fine.

[Her voice was quiet, somewhat thinned by the pain but if she told herself enough she would be fine, then she would be. She would have to be, if they were to get out of this place.

After a moment, she elaborates somewhat.] It isn't any worse, just more constant.

If it becomes to painful, tell me.

[They could rest, or he could possibly throw her over his shoulder if he absolutely needed to. For now, this way was the easiest for the both of them.

The cave seemed rather unforgiving, however, and the elf had to stop now and then to reorient. He could swear that they were moving forward, but there were still no sign of the others, and the call of their names had ended.

There was a bit of frustration in his features, an angry sort of determination as he helped her across a small crack in the ground.]

I will, promise.

[She would hold out as long as she could until that point of course, but she would tell him if she couldn't hold out any longer.

Peering into the darkness, Bethany did her best to at least try and make certain they hadn't been through any of these paths previously...but it was fairly hopeless. She simply couldn't see well enough to tell one rock wall apart from another. How she wished she could light the area with her magic...but it was an unrealistic sort of wish. Even had Fenris liked mages, the light would be seen by anything else in the cave with them, and worse they would lose their night vision and see nothing beyond the light.

It feels as if they've been walking for hours--hopefully making progress--before she finally gives in. Really she should've asked for this sooner.]

Could we stop a moment? [Though her voice had been laced with pain from the beginning, the tension there is several steps above where it had been last she spoke.]

Of course. [Fenris stops, carefully helping her to sit on a nearby rock so she could rest.]

Are you in pain?

[It couldn't be good for her to move like this, but it wasn't like they had any other choice. Even the elf felt a need to sit down for a moment, rubbing the bump at the back of his head.

Not having his sword made their situation feel a little more exposed than it should. At least with a sword, he could keep any enemies a bit at bay. Phasing his hand through them meant having to get close and possibly risk Bethany's safety. (And in all honesty, it would have made a good crutch.)

Hopefully one of their companions had found it and brought it with them.

Still, the cave was bothering the elf a lot, and he wondered if he should scout ahead.]

[As Fenris helps her to sit, she shifts slightly, resting her back against the cave wall. Anything to try and settle the pain from her ribs. Her left leg was just a whisper of pain in comparison.]

Some. [A pause, she hadn't let him downplay his arm after all.] More than some... but I should be better after a short rest.

[It was a moment like this, stuck in this place and both of them injured, that Bethany wished she'd kept hold of her staff when she'd been lifted by that creature. If nothing else, it would've been a wonderful walking stick, and Fenris wouldn't have to support her the whole time.

As she breathed slowly, she couldn't help but wonder the extent of the damage to her ribs. She could still only breathe shallowly, attempting anything more as she had once or twice while walking only hurt worse. She'd not try now... really she'd probably try not to aggravate her ribs by too deep of breaths or needless prodding until they got back to the others and Anders could help her with it. She understood how to set bones...but ribs? She hadn't nearly enough experience.]

[The elf's face betrays a bit of his worry at those words, and he keeps an eye on her breathing while considering their options. His own broken bones ached nastily, but less so now that they were set. He was definitely the one in the best shape to protect them if needed, so he couldn't leave her.

Still, Fenris wasn't sure just how to get her out of here any more.]

Perhaps it would be better to wait for Hawke and the others. They must be looking for us.

Fenris | Dragon Age II

Let's go with both, I'm not looking to make things easy on them~

<3

<3

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