There and Back Again Ch. 157

I looked around the room, my gaze jumping from group to group, person to person, trying to reassure myself that everything was alright. I'd been so afraid that I felt like I hadn't taken a proper breath in days. I eyed my brother and my husband, my friends and new acquaintances, testing the sensations around me for confirmation that everything was fine. I examined each mage with my templar senses, and found all of them nearly empty but regenerating – Anders being the exception, and even his mana was still low despite everything. I examined the Wardens around me with the taint, feeling the strange buzzing pressure in my skull as I went from one Warden to the next. Alistair was his usual beacon of warmth and light, the rest of the Wardens their normal assortment of sensations.

Everything felt...normal. I almost whooped with joy, so thrilled that we had passed this hurdle that I couldn't help giggling slightly, feeling almost drunk. I squeezed Alistair's arm, which was still wrapped around me, in a sort of half-hug that he returned unconsciously, and then unwrapped myself to throw myself into Zevran's arms – I hadn't even seen him return. I met Aedan's eyes, and could see them twinkle with relief; he winked at me and I laughed out loud.

Releasing the assassin, I looked around the room again, and found myself captured by a pair of eyes I hadn't really allowed myself to believe I'd see again. Laying on his cot, motionless and still in the same position as I'd seen him last, alone, Faren lay staring at me. His brown eyes were the same warm shade as I remembered, though his expression was so confused, so lost, that I was immediately worried.

It seemed I wasn't the only person to forget about the unfortunate dwarf in the middle of the drama over Anders in the Fade; when I glanced around, I realized no one else was looking at Faren, and he'd been left to himself on his cot. Sigrun saw me looking, and followed my gaze; to my surprise, when she realized he was awake, she paled and ducked behind Aedan. I rolled my eyes, amused by her sudden bout of shyness, and turned back to the newly awakened dwarf. I forced a smile, despite my worry, and took three strides across the lab towards his cot.

His reaction was immediate and perplexing: he flinched, breaking eye contact, and half-curled onto his side. It was clear he was weak – he couldn't roll all the way, and even the flailing was half-hearted – but equally clear he was terrified. I paused, startled, bringing my hands up in a placating gesture.

"Faren?" I took a few small steps, approaching slowly and attempting to look non-threatening. "You're safe now. Everything is okay."

He didn't react further, though his eyes seemed to be roving around the room somewhat wildly, not focusing on any one person; I assumed he wasn't sure where he was, and tried to reassure him.

"You're at the Peak, in Avernus' lab. We were rescued, and you've been asleep for a long time. Anders healed you, and now you're fine." I had unconsciously slipped into a soothing tone of voice one might use on a baby, or an animal; when he didn't flinch any further, I eased up to the edge of the cot. I heard steps behind me, and assumed that Aedan and Alistair had followed me over; I didn't turn to see, not wanting to look away from Faren's frightened face. "You're going to be weak for a while, but Anders assures me you will recover. How are you feeling?"

He didn't respond right away, examining first my face before his gaze shifted over my shoulder to whoever was behind me. I waited with bated breath, afraid he'd be angry with me for poisoning him, or perhaps just confused as to why he was still alive; listening to him berate me seemed a small price to pay to have him back, and I mentally braced myself. I'll take any amount of anger, I can live with that, if only he's okay.

Please, please let him be okay.

His attention was drawn back to me, his eyes fixed on mine, his tattoo standing out starkly on his too-pale face. He opened his mouth as if to speak, cleared his throat – which sounded painful – and croaked out a sound that no one should be able to make. I gasped and reached down for the water skin Sigrun had left by his side, holding it up for him and allowing him to gulp a desperate mouthful of water. He grimaced as he swallowed, then gave me a grateful smile, licking his lips to catch the drips of moisture that had spilled over when I tilted the skin.

He cleared his throat again, and when he finally spoke – in a rasping whisper that was barely recognizable – what he said would rock my world.

"I'm sorry, Surfacer, I've obviously missed something, but I'm fairly certain I'd remember if I'd ever met a human before. Who are you, and how do you know my name?"