Forged of Blood[Honovi]

[Alex]

Upon Amaranthine

Alex sniffed at the wind. It was cold and tasteless. He rubbed his hands together. They felt cold and dry, as if the cold had frozen the outer layers of his skin. Rubbing your hands together helped a little; it fastened the blood flow, even if only for a short while, and allowed him to endure a little longer in the freezing wind. He looked down at his feet; he couldn't feel the ground anymore, but he felt his feet rubbing against the hard leather in his boots. They were originally heavy traveling boots he had ordered from a local tailor; now they were barely recognizable after they had suffered three long weeks of travel. There were more patches than leather, and more had to be placed after every day or two nowadays. They were nearly spent, and Alex couldn't do anything but think of what he'd do after the boots would dissolve. Looking for a moment of relief, he glanced at Honovi as if he'd something to say, but then he turned his gaze away towards the horizon. For a moment he wondered at the sight which unfolded ahead of them. The sun was setting, but the sky was still a mixture between grey and dark-blue, so that the sun seemed shrouded by it. Sighing, he hoped that they'd find a place where they could restock, for he was very weary.

Their supplies were beginning to run out, also, for Denerim was still a week's journey ahead and they were already forced to live in as little as possible. Alex felt like lying down and sleeping, but he knew that he had to plod on for two more hours - then they would reach today's destination, a small village just in the outskirts of Denerim. Then they only had to travel through a small forest and tread for a few more days to reach Denerim. But Alex felt very tired, and wearily he put aside the thought of the final stage of their journey and concentrated on continuing to plod on the road. Only an hour and they'd reach the place. Alex felt his thoughts drifting from the road again. He knew that he had thought about the plan over and over again for weeks now, but he couldn't stop it - he was far too weary.

Upon reaching the village, he would find a suitable tavern, buy a room and lie down to sleep. The next morning he would eat breakfast with Honovi and restock supplies. Perhaps there would even be a tailor in the village who could repair his boots. Maybe a sturdy hunter, who would stock them up with fresh meat. Vegetables they would find for sure. And the rest of the journey would be child's play. Still, despite his attempts of calming himself down, he felt the coldness reaching inside his body. It made him shiver briefly, but soon he forced himself to continue the journey again. This was not the place to show your weaknesses and beg for attention. That was reserved for the extremely rare moments when they had the freedom to choose what to do next. Alex grinned briefly, as if amused by his own thoughts. Sometimes he marveled at the capabilities of human mind.

Soon they saw the faint glimmering of lanterns ahead of them, covered by the wind that seemed thick like mist. But Alex knew that it wasn't mist - probably just his imagination and his weariness combined playing tricks with him. After a minute or more of plodding towards the lights, they noticed a shape emerging from the horizon. It seemed to arch in a dreamlike manner, but soon they realized it was the upper part of a small gate. A guardsman stood beside it on a slightly elevated wooden platform where he could stand and look over the thin, three-meter tall stone wall. He was holding a lantern in his hands, but he seemingly hadn't noticed the two travelers yet. Alex nailed his gaze on the man, hoping that he would notice them soon. He couldn't walk for long anymore; ten minutes maybe, and then he'd collapse. He noticed that he would've probably already collapsed if they should've had any more supplies than they had now. Funny, how humans only concentrated on themselves sometimes - so much, that they became oblivious of anything else.

Now the guard had noticed them, and he made his way down behind the gates and opened them to the two travelers. Alex thanked the man, although his voice was but of a whisper; and he made his way straight towards the inn that was located just after the gate, just before the village plaza what also seemed to serve as a market during day-time. He didn't bother to think of tomorrow anymore as he booked a room from upstairs. After receiving a key to his room he stumbled his way upstairs and opened the door with shaking hands. He just and just had the energy to take off his boots before collapsing on the bed. He didn't even bother to close the door behind him, but before he could think of it, he was already fast asleep.

[Honovi]

Honovi stayed close to Alex - she knew he was exhausted, and he took a chill more easily than she did. Some of the advantages of growing up on the edge of the Great Waste were her endurance and tolerance for the cold. Not to mention that she was well used to going several days without eating... but Alex wasn't. More than a few times she reached out a steadying hand, though she was unsure he noticed her arm around his shoulders or waist when he stumbled. She was half tempted to suggest making camp, but they were close to their destination for tonight, and there would be beds and game for them there. Alex deserved a decent rest in a real bed, and a proper meal to wake up to. They both did.

Truly, Makya was the only one making a good go of it - he at least could make a good meal of the tiny birds and rodents he found that were too small for Alex and Honovi. Even he was tired though, dropping off to sleep as soon as he landed, and Honovi herself was so tired she had more trouble staying awake now than sleeping. But there would be food soon - she could see the city lamps and she gave Alex's shoulder a squeeze, as much to reassure herself as him.

The guards let them pass easily enough, though with a skeptical look at Honovi and her hawk, and it took little enough time to find somewhere to sleep. Alex wasted no time in getting a room, not even bothering to eat first. Concerned, she followed him upstairs and leaned against the door, frowning as he removed his boots and fell on the bed without even shutting the door. She followed him in quietly arranging him more comfortably on the bed and pulling the blanket up over him before leaving, closing and locking the door behind her.

She was near as exhausted as him, but there would be little enough sleep for her she knew. She never slept well, her dreams plagues by blood and fire and dead faces and monsters. Well, if she was going to be up she may as well do something productive. Making a few inquiries as to the game in the area, Honovi whistled to her hawk and unslung her bow. It would be a long hunt and, if the locals were right, she'd likely return empty-handed, but it would serve its purpose - when she returned, she'd be too exhausted not to sleep. But luck was with them, and she returned to the inn with a brace of scrawny rabbits. Extracting a promise from the innkeep to have hot stew ready for herself and Alex when they awoke, she finally payed for a room of her own. Honovi didn't even make it as far as Alex had, locking the door behind her and falling asleep on the floor.

[Alex]

Preparing for the Day

The morning-sun appeared in the horizon, but the sleeping figure on the bed did not wake up. He didn't want to; it hurt everywhere, and he just wanted to rest for a little more... he'd be up soon enough, just a few more minutes of sleep. But then the sunlight began to pour in the room. The sleeping figure pulled himself up from the bed, sitting on it. He was still nodding, keeping his eyes closed: to him, the sunlight seemed almost blindingly bright. Alex took a deep breath, attempting to wake up properly. He couldn't sleep anymore, as if a quiet anxiety had filled him during the night. His body felt stiff; nevertheless he stood up and noticed his boots lying next to the closed door. He couldn't remember closing the door, and his still weary mind had to ponder for a moment: it was probably Honovi. He wondered if there were any breakfast downstairs. The thought managed to cheer him up a little, and slowly he put on his boots again. God, how they felt rough. They always did; but Alex never really got used to the feeling. He recalled that he had to ask around for a tailor, who could repair his boots; they were nearly useless as of now. When he had put on his boots, he opened the door and headed straight downstairs, again leaving the door open. Well, there wasn't anything to steal anyways.

The door leading to the village laid open, and the fresh morning-wind poured in freely. It was chilly in a refreshing way, one such as the smell of the forest after a light rain - renewed, you could say. Alex asked the innkeeper if they normally served any breakfast; he answered that normally they didn't, but there in fact was some for him and his companion. 'Great,' thought Alex, 'Should fill me up nicely.' The innkeeper prepared the dishes, soon bringing a steaming bowl of stew that seemed to be made of rabbit to Alex who began eating with passion. This seemed to be hare, for it tasted like a stronger version of chicken meat. Slightly gamey, one could say. As he had finished the stew, he gave the bowl back to the innkeeper and thanked him warmly for it. Now that his brains worked with a little more speed, he could figure that it was probably Honovi who had brought the hares. No doubt, actually. At first he thought of asking around the village for a tailor, but after more thought decided instead to wait for Honovi and suffice with only asking the innkeeper. He told Alex that there was indeed a tailor in the village, living in the northern edge of it. "He has a small hut where he lives with two dogs and a cat; quite the hermit, if I may say." Alex thanked him of his information and sat down to wait on a bench just outside the inn, gazing about him to now examine the village in more detail.

The inn was just right next to the gate, and opposite of it was what seemed to be a small store. There were children playing near it. Then, there was a gap between the inn and the next house - seemingly somebody's home, for there were no signs to be seen. Then there was a small row of wooden houses, built in different ways and by different people, for every house was different than the other next to it, and the row continued up north for 300 more meters, where it suddenly stopped. There Alex could catch a glimpse of the tailor's hut; it was small and finely decorated, it seemed, even from afar, and the northern gate was just next to it. The small stone wall encircled the village wholly so that no wild animal could even jump over it. He continued around the village, deep in thought and in a state where he couldn't really see or hear his surroundings - he could only see his thoughts.

[Honovi]

As was so often the case, Honovi's dreams ended with a cold sweat and trembling, splinters under her fingernails from clawing at the floor in her sleep. Familiar faces, blood and fire and screams... they plagued her sleep so that her sleep plagued her. It was somewhat less than pleasant, but she was used to it by now. The old routine of wake early, work to the point of exhaustion, and sleep where she fell was almost comforting from long use. But it was early to wake yet, and she set to making arrows.

Joints popping uncomfortably as she rose, Honovi scooped her things off the floor. If she was going to be awake, she might as well be productive. Little though she actually needed more arrows with her quiver packed full and full bundles of spares, she found the task soothing, familiar. It calmed her in a way little else did, and the feel of smooth wood, wicked steel, tough cord beneath her fingers even in the darkness reminiscent of a time before her life had turned to... this. Before her life revolved around death and loss and killing, before she was bitter and cold. Before she lived for the darkness.

In the darkness she could smell the cookfires, hear the songs, and as long as she was making arrows as she'd always done her grandfather was there instructing her, or her husband was teasing her. She could pretend Makya was Ahote in her lap, the feathers and talons and beak the same without light, and she was home. The light was blinding, harsh, forcing the world before her eyes so that she must see what she became, but in the darkness she could pretend she was young and beautiful, with a loving husband and a wise grandfather and a whole tribe's worth of children running about underfoot. And if she tried very hard, the images wouldn't turn to visions of death and darkspawn, there would be no blood or fire or screams and she could pass the time until the light came creeping back to push away her youth and drag her back to the present.

And slowly it did. The light always won in the end. In the next room she could hear Alex moving, getting ready for the day, and she stowed her things. Where she'd once had a whole tribe, she could now count her friends on one hand and he was among them. If there were gods she would go to war against them, lay siege to the Spirit Lands themselves for the sake of that man. Her brother-by-bond, by the traditions of her people whether he knew it or not, and she treasured their friendship little though they saw of each other.

But she could hear him downstairs, and it was time to well and truly rise. Her joints were stiff from sleeping on the floor and banding over her arrows, and as she stood back up her joints creaked and popped again - she was getting old. With a gratuitous stretch she grabbed her things and called Makya to her arm, stroking her feathers as she went downstairs. The smell of hot stew made her realize she was hungry and she downed a bowl still standing, letting Makya eat out of it and refilling it twice. The warm brother cheered her some, as well, and she went outside to meet Alex in better spirits.

"You slept well?" she asked, squeezing his shoulder as she sat on the bench beside him. "It looks to be warmer today as well. Perhaps we should find you new boots, yes?" He'd been limping toward the end of their journey, and Honovi could guess the reason easily enough. His boots he been sturdy true enough, but it had been a long journey and they hadn't held up well. They were made up near entirely of patches, and while Alex refused to complain his feet must have been blistered near to bleeding. But he was proud, and if he didn't wish to say anything she wouldn't force it on him.

[Alex]

Troubles of a philosophical person

Like always when he spent too much time standing or sitting still, he began to think of the world around him. He's a deep personality as much as he is a thinker, really. Now he sniffed at the air, as if hoping it to bring him news of faraway places, especially of the Free Marches. The air felt warm, but stiff - they were already further away from the coast, and the fresh sea wind rarely blew to these parts of the country. The wind barely even blew now, and the air stood still. Yet he didn't complain; how would it help them? It would only be irritating. He felt something squeeze his shoulder gently; he turned and saw that it was Honovi. "It looks to be warmer today as well. Perhaps we should find you new boots, yes?", said Honovi with a slightly worried tone. Alex glanced up at her. "Yes, of course. These boots are rather spent. But you need not to worry about me, really." Alex blushed slightly. Why, for Andraste's sake, did he have to blush now? Irritating.

He flashed a quick smile to Honovi as he stood up. Damn. Now that sure looked even more suspicious. This wasn't his regular behaviour. In an attempt to cover it up, he pointed his finger at the northern edge of the village. "You see that hut there? That's the tailor's home. He lives there with two dogs and a cat. To me he sounds like a real hermit, living on the borders of this village with pets and all." Yeah, babble on about the hermit and his cats and dogs. At least that won't bring me any harm. "And surely you too have something that needs repairing...not that your gear would be of bad quality, of course." What was with him today? He couldn't even speak normally to her anymore. A flipping thought passed through his mind, leaving him as if pierced by a spear for a small, passing moment. No. He hadn't done that, the one last mistake he had swore to never do. It wasn't possible, not in this world or another. Alex flinched, but then remembered Honovi. What had she thought of this? Hopefully she hadn't perceived him. Flashing a forgiving smile at her, he beckoned Honovi to follow him. "Sorry about that. It's... just something I've had since birth." A perfect lie! Hopefully that'll distract her enough and give her a reason... "Let's go. We still have some chores to do before we can continue our journey!" He turned his back to Honovi and began to walk on the road, leading up north at the gates. Now that he could, he smiled, and a warm feeling filled him inside out - probably not the air this time, he thought. But oh God, this was wrong.

[Honovi]

Something was wrong. Alex was flushed, and babbling, and all the vague reassurances... something was very wrong. Honovi frowned at his back as he walked away, and she stood quickly to catch his arm. He felt very warm, too - was he feverish? "What is something you've had since birth? What is wrong, brother?" Putting her hand to his cheek so that he had to look at her, Honovi peered into his face with a deepening frown. He was warm to the touch. Perhaps it was only the sun on his face, but still she stood on her toes to press her lips to his forehead. He was definitely warm. "Alex, are you well? Come, sit, our journey has been hard. Perhaps I will go to the tailor while you rest, yes?"

Wrapping an arm around Alex's waist as she spoke, Honovi led him back to the bench to sit. He was not getting sick, not now and not because he'd been working himself too hard. And not when she could help him. "If you are not well we can rest here a while. We have money to last us a few days, and these people look like they may have use for skilled hunters, yes? We take care of each other, I can take care of you now if you are sick."

Lifting his face with a gentle hand under his chin, Honovi smiled reassuringly. Alex was entirely too proud to let her ferry his things around for him and she knew it, but she still had to make the offer. "I know you will not let me go alone, but at least let my mind rest and take my arm as we walk, yes? No one need know you are tired, they will simply think we are lovers, or perhaps married. We would be an odd couple, but it will spare your manly pride, I hope."

A twinkle of mischief lit her eyes at the last. There were precious few people she felt comfortable enough with to tease, but Alex was one of them. He was a brother to her, always, and a loyal one. And very precious for his rarity. A good, kind, loyal man who wasn't loathe to use his mind... She was glad to call him brother. Many people had lost their families in the Blight, but she was lucky to have found him at least.

[Alex]

Confusion Goes Well With My Thoughts

Alex couldn't do anything but to hide his embarrassment from her, and he couldn't stop thinking of his own folly... for the first few seconds. But he was smart enough to do the wise thing, and stuff it in the back of his head. But the brother-sister bond seemed ever more fragile, the more he thought of it. Hopefully not - the more he thought of it, the more the anxiety grew in him. He felt disgust at himself; at the fragile illusions he had lived by for his whole life. The day he had left his home, where his mother and father dwelt surrounded by money and luxuries. He had had a whole different life ahead of him, but the day he had left, despite his father's warnings, he had destroyed that future. Now he was a ruin of a man, who called himself a mercenary, and who spent more time thinking than actually doing what regular mercenaries do. Perhaps the end of his career was near?

Alex had indeed asked himself this question, for he'd noticed that he had began to spend more time with books, reading, and writing rather than being a bold mercenary who fights battles. He didn't think that it was necessary for a mercenary, for he believed in his own concept of how should a mercenary be like. But that wasn't his biggest problem - his faltering interest at being a mercenary was. For before he could do so, he'd need to gather a great treasure of gold, silver and diamonds - or even a small pile of gold so that he could live with it the rest of his live. Perhaps write a book or two. But to what avail? Alex knew that he couldn't write of his past, and writing of his own deeds would be a boring story to read. If he'd write, he'll write to burn the world and himself with it, and that for sure wasn't something he wanted...

Alex could see that he was out of options. There were two options - to continue or to stop and starve, and one additional one: to die gloriously in a battle, or to save a friend. He still couldn't help but to notice that these ideals were but only fragile delusions of the world he had; and that they probably weren't real. But it was worth a try, or so he would say...

~ ~ ~

I open my eyes to the world, feeling everything more sharply than ever before. It's like in that bar in Kirkwall a long ago, only that this comes without the pain - even the fear is gone. I look at my palms, touch the other with my other hand, and I chuckle, for it feels so funny to suddenly feel everything so well. Like I'd have an understanding of the world around me better than anyone - wait. 'These aren't my thoughts,' I thought. 'Better to concentrate in the tailor. Oh, I can already see his hut,' I said to myself, but then I heard a voice reaching me from afar. "What is something you've had since birth? What is wrong, brother?" I only listened, and did not answer; and the voice seemed to understand my purpose, for soon I felt that someone moved me back on the bench. I mean, Honovi. Oh, how hard it was to remember such things when I feel like this. It's intriguing to feel like this.

Then the feeling took me; and I could not hear any more. I embark into a journey, or so it seemed, for I was on a boat that was sailing. It was night-time, and several sailors walked around, watching the stars and the moon. But they didn't seem to wonder why a stranger was standing on their boat, for they didn't notice him. It seemed as if they couldn't see him. Then, suddenly, I see an another stranger on the boat. He differs from the crew, and so I conclude that he cannot be one. His appearance worries me a little, for he has a long, vicious dagger in his right hand - and he's clad like a jester. I wonder who he is, and how did he end up in here. But my thoughts are interrupted, for then his figure begins to flicker, and slowly he collapses to the wind, his body shattered to a million little pieces. Now I'm amazed, but then I see an another man approach me. He is clad like a rich man, but I can clearly see that he is very old. He smiles to me, and says something. But I can't hear anything. He probably doesn't know it, so I open my mouth to tell him, but I can't even hear myself. I don't know if he heard it or not, but I hoped for the best nevertheless.

Then I became confused. As if you would stand and sit at the same time... nevertheless I felt like falling on the ground, and that's when I opened my eyes. I was sitting on the bench, the sun was shining, and everything felt normal - except my head. It hurt, hurt a lot, as if I had bashed it on the bench - now that I thought of it, it was perfectly possible. But, huh... what the hell had just happened?

OOC:

Alex's sick and having hallucinations.

[Honovi]

"Alex? Alex!" He was swaying dangerously, and he seemed to be looking at something only he could see. Honovi wrapped her arms around him and held him tight to keep him from falling. Alex's skin was burning, sweat poured from his face, yet he trembled as though he was bathing in ice. Oh Alex... The journey must have been harder on him than she'd thought if he was so sick. She should have made sure he stayed in bed. Too late for that now. Instead, she just knelt beside him on the bench and tucked his head under her chin.

But finally, finally, Alex seemed to be coming back to himself. Honovi didn't show it, but she had been panicked. In fact, she was still panicked, though she was starting to calm down with Alex's apparent improvement. Now she could bring him back up to his room without him falling... she hoped. "Come, brother," she said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He'd fight her she knew, but she fully intended to get him back to his room. "Please Alex, you need to get well. We have enough money to stay here a while, and I can work until you are better."

When she put her hand to his cheek it was meant only to make him face her, but his skin burned under her touch. Perhaps it would not be so wise to stand him up just now. With his arm around her shoulders and her arm around his waist, Honovi took the waterskin from her belt and pulled the cork free with her teeth. A short scrap of leather was all the kept it from getting lost as she held the skin to Alex's lips, but even had it not been there she would have payed it no mind. Stoppers were easy enough to come by, but friends were not.

[Alex]

Do Mages Have Souls?

As Honovi's words reached the mercenary's ears, his expression changed slightly, as if he felt ashamed. Alex clutched the bench, slowly seeming to recover his senses; but in reality, his other half still remained in this dream, unwilling to leave it yet, as if there was something in there his conscious could not let go of. He released no sound; not yet, not when his mind remained in the dream. He could feel the real world around him, he could taste the air about him, but he could not see it. He saw only the dream, the hallucination. Slowly, the flames in his eyes burned down, and he began to breathe again - just enough to be noticed. And then, as if shocked, he took one sharp breathe and returned to the real world in a crash. Collapsing on the bench, he fell unconscious due to his lack of breathing for such a long period of time. His eyes remained open, now filled with sudden horror and fear; the other party could have no idea if the person was still there behind the eyes, or gone. The eyes flickered of the sunlight and seemed to burst in flames again; but only for a few seconds. Then all light died in them, leaving anyone looking in doubt of his survival. The sun still shone warmly, happily unaware of the tragedy down below, and the townsfolk didn't seem to have seen anything so far - except for one.

This one man was of the sort that Alex hated with passion: he was a mage. Or, well, he seemed to be one - dressed up in a Tevinteran mage outfit. He did not carry a staff, but anyone who has heard of magic can tell that staves are only a way to concentrate and channel your energy through - real mages did not need them to cast spells. He was fairly old, appearing to be drawing nigh his 50s, and he did not look particularly dangerous or evil. In fact, the best word to describe him would be proper - it mirrored his whole appearance almost...almost like a mirror. It was almost if some of it was intentional, if not all. For one could feel from his presence that everything was not right with this man; as if something wicked tainted his surroundings, although one could usually tell this only when combined with the use of lyrium. But it was for everyone to decide what this man seemed like. He smiled warmly as he approached Honovi - he seemed to have come from the market stalls right after he had seen Alex fall on the ground. Now, however, he was close enough to greet Honovi. He smiled warmly, but carefully; he did not want to create a bad first impression.

"Excuse me, miss... but I see that something happened to your friend. I believe that I can tell what exactly has happened... if you wish to hear it from me, of course. By no means do I wish to be overly inquisitive."

He took a firm stance, holding his arms behind his back, as if reporting for duty to the captain of the guard.

[Honovi]

Alex was slowly starting to look better, Honovi's words seeming to reach him at last, when he shuddered and collapsed. Honovi caught him and let him down gently, outwardly calm for all her panic, the only sign of her distress the tight grip she kept around her friend. He couldn't die, not now, certainly not like this... Alex was so strong... no simple walk could do this to him, no matter how long or cold. Something was wrong, something was very, very wrong here and she could only clutch him tighter as the light faded from his eyes.

Dropping her waterskin to the ground still unstoppedered, heedless of the contents draining away, she fumbled through her pack for a health potion. They were fresh and potent, made for a remarkably small fee by a mage friend she had living in hiding in the Gwaren alienage, and if anything short of a true healer-mage could revive him they would. Alex could be angry with her for taking the help of a mage to make him well, but for now he needed to get better. As long as he lived it didn't matter if he never wished to speak to her again.

She had the tiny vial's cork in her teeth, halfway through the motion of pulling it out, when a stranger came upon them. Honovi didn't trust strangers and she didn't like nobles, and this man appeared to be both. Well, perhaps not a noble if he was wearing a mage's robes, but he certainly looked as though he had a privileged education. It was on the tip of her tongue to order Makya to chase him off when the man offered to help. That was... unexpected.

Desperate hope flared up in Honovi's chest as she clutched Alex's limp form to her chest, apparently dead to any who looked. Perhaps she should give up, but she could still feel the faint beating of his heart, the motion of his chest as he breathed, and she refused to let another friend die. Not now. Not like this. But the hope the man offered was tinged by Honovi's natural suspicion, and even as she trembled with excitement at the possibility of learning how to help Alex she stared at the stranger coolly.

"Who are you? And why should I trust you?" Her expression was hard, her voice harder, and dressed in pelts and feathers and claws as she was, with scars peaking out of her clothing, she looked dangerous. Even more startling, perhaps, was the hawk circling low over their heads, his eyes trained suspiciously on the stranger. Even with Alex unconscious in her arms Honovi looked savage and dangerous, her agitation lending a half-mad spark to her eyes the demanded cautious treatment.

[Alex]

The mage could tell without much effort that the woman did not trust him; that wild, desperate look in her eyes told a whole different story however. She obviously cared for this man - Alex of Pearlmouth, if his memory served him. The ironic thing was, that the man had no idea that Alex actually despised all mages. He must've been extremely lucky, since Alex fell unconscious just before the man decided to show up... with a whole different excuse, however. The man, clad in the manner of a mage, stroked his thin beard thoughtfully. He knew it from the beginning that it was going to be almost impossible to convince her, but he sure as hell was going to give it a try.

"I happen to know this man. I believe that we have met before, and... he caught my eye. True, I watched you two. But he's a whole different man now - last I saw him, why, that must've been at least a decade ago..." Was he going too far already? Dare he continue telling his long-prepared story? Would she actually believe what he said? "...I just wanted to talk to him. I'm a merchant, you see - I thought I could've helped him on his journies after exchanging some news, have a good chat with him, but now it seems...impossible. Instead, I thought that I should help you two." Perhaps he was going too far with this, but he couldn't tell despite closely watching the woman's reactions to his words. Despite that, he decided to continue on for one more sentence. "I have with me a small wagon of supplies, but it's near the house I rented at the borders of this village." He eyed the woman curiously, simultaneously making sure that she couldn't catch even a glimpse of his true intentions.

At the same time Alex twitched on his spot. The man cast a quick glance over to where Alex was lying, but then quickly turned his eyes back at Honovi when he noticed that he wasn't waking up. In his mind, he urged the woman to hurry up.

[Honovi]

The stranger did a very great deal of talking for someone who offered no details. Honovi's eyes narrowed even as she clutched Alex tighter to her chest, desperation warring with distrust though her expression was stony. "You did not tell me who you are," she said coldly, her arms tightening around Alex once more as he shook. That... that did not look good. Honovi's attention turned to her friend for a brief second and her voice failed her, so she didn't try to speak. Better to keep her weakness, even if it was temporary, well hidden.

Brushing Alex's hair back from his face to mask her agitation, Honovi waited until she knew her voice would be even to speak again. "If you wish to help you may bring your cart here." It was a reasonable answer at least. Whatever the stranger's intentions she would not have him moving Alex all across Thedas while he was so sick, and if the man was a travelling merchant as he hinted he was he could bring his small wagon to them.

Honovi stared up at the stranger coldly, sitting wrapped protectively around Alex. There was something very odd about the stranger. His story was entirely too vague, and Alex hated mages so much that she had never dared to tell him that she herself was a mage's daughter. But if there was any chance he could help... A muscle in Honovi's jaw twitched and her gaze grew colder, not a threat but a promise of great pain in her eyes as she spoke. "Convince me, northman. Heal him."

[Alex]

Ok. Ok. Time to tell your name to her, thought the old mage. Despite he still looked rather young, perhaps in his mid-fourties, his hair seemed to think differently. Among the mostly dark-brown wisps there was a score of grey ones which shone out like beacons, beacons of aging.

"I don't usually give my name out to strangers, but you are not one. A friend of my friend is also my friend. Keldian Tonicus, at your service."
He pulled out a small pint filled with some inrecognizable, colourless substance. "This is filled with Tevinterian medicine against magical hallucinations. It removes the dark dreams and replaces it with a natural one, from which he will wake up normally." It really was medicine, and it really did work - Keldian wanted to save Alex. But as always, there was a twist hidden in the whole thing. The medicine would also modify his memories - so that he'd remember Keldian as an old friend. It was some very advanced magic. And of course, he will yet need Alex and his odd friend - after all, they weren't simple no-names. They had powerful enemies, although Keldian didn't know who they were - he had just been told that these two needed to end up dead, any way possible. Now, he could've just turned them both inside-out with blood magic, but where's the fun in that? Using your mind would be much more entertaining and rewarding in the end.

He gave the pint to the odd woman. Casting a curious glance at her, he finally asked: "What is your name? I told you mine, although I don't know why. Perhaps I should know yours in return." Ok. This should just about work now, unless she's a paranoid. Not very hard to believe by looking at her, actually.

[Honovi]

Barely paying enough attention to Keldian to catch his name, Honovi's gaze followed his hand. Medicine. That was all she had eyes for as Alex's dead weight dragged at her, and Keldian had only barely offered it when she snatched it from his hand. Anything was better than... than this. Alex could hardly get worse, already all but dead, and she pulled the cork from the vial to put it to his lips.

Please work... The liquid emptied into Alex's mouth and Honovi clutched him tightly as she waited. "If he dies so will you," she told Keldian, ice in her voice as she stared up at him.

Odd that Alex had never mentioned any Keldian Tonicus, but he was hardly required to share all the intimate details of his life with her. She herself had never told him her father was a mage, but she did find it odd that a friend of Alex would wear a mage's robes. Surely his friend would know of his hatred of magic and those who cast it, but she could hardly claim to know everything about her friend.

[Alex]

How the darkness felt... heavy. It seemed to lay a burden so heavy it seemed to crush him under it, yet it only left him wondering when it will happen. Breathing came in short rushes, although he could not be sure if it was just his mind racing or reality. But everything seemed more real. He thought that if he would just try, he'll see light again. Perhaps it worked; or was it his mind trying to trick him again? It had been so several times before. But this time the light seemed more real. He reached out for it, and he saw. A crescent-shaped sky loomed over him, so bright that it almost blinded him with its light, yet he did not flinch. It was like swimming in cold jelly, up towards the sun, except that he felt quite warm - he supposed that it must be full day outside. Outside? Where? Where am I? Suddenly his eyes opened, light filling them and temporarily blinding him. He fluttered his eyelashes in a vain attempt to combat the light, but it took a time before he could look about himself again. He certainly felt strong enough to do that. The power didn't feel like his own; it felt borrowed. Yet he did not complain - it was still strength, and strength was what he needed. An oddly familiar shape loomed over him, and he could feel sharp eyes on his back. He turned around as fast as he could, eyeing the queer shape quizzically. It was a woman. Tanned skin. Bright eyes, but filled with worry - and something he couldn't exactly give a name to. Perhaps defiance. Yes, that must have been it. Suddenly recognition filled him. "Honovi!" The words parted his lips before he could control them. It was a relieved tone, almost fond, but not quite. He almost bent over to hug her, but he got his wits about him just in time to stop such folly. Instead, he elevated himself so that he squatted instead of lying crazily on the ground.

Looking around, he noticed another fellow. Oddly familiar as well, he was, but he could not give a name to him. "You! You... here?" Again, he could not control his words. They just came. He had no idea of the man's name, or who he was despite feeling a sort of familiarity with him, but the voice indeed seemed to. The man was old, for sure, and he wore the most quizzical expression on his face. He seemed to radiate an air of being in control of everything and everyone, like a puppeteer. Somehow, despite feeling that he knew the man, he also felt dangerous. His primitive senses advised him to stay away from the man, but he was still curious to know what he was doing here. "I... I'm sorry. I don't know what got into me. Who are you, exactly?" The old man looked at him, his quizzical expression deepening even further. He thought he could see the beginnings of a frown on his face, stretching all the way to his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it had came. A lazy, slurring voice spoke to him. "I am Keldian Tonicus. And you are Alex. We know each other, you and me." He seemed to choose his words carefully and deliberately, as if being wary of something as he talked to them. "I helped you then, and I helped you now. I gave you antidote to dreams such as yours." Suddenly he remembered. The old man telling him his mystery, him telling him his own mysteries and revealing him to himself. Advising him. And finally, giving him a flask of what seemed to be just water, telling him that it was medicine against dreams such as his. It would protect him, let him live normally. So this... this was the source of his problems of late. He thought he was going mad, but instead the solution was something so simple. He wondered how he could've forgotten a detail of such importance. But sure as bloody Andraste's ashes he would not let anyone know.

"How I hate it! How I hate Magic!" Before he could control himself, he had growled the words. The old man looked bewildered, but it was not much distant from his own feelings. He wondered if he had revealed anything important. Not unless she could read his thoughts. The old man - Keldian - knew. He had done it once before, too. Alex wondered if he was still that way, but there was no subtle way of finding out. Instead, he turned to Honovi, trying to find his strongest and most confident tone. "I'm fine already. Keldian's medicine worked, and I think I remember that we had some chores to do..." Keldian interrupted, hesitating before he spoke. "Sorry to interrupt, Alex, but by happenstance I have some supplies you might need on your journey. Your - girlfriend, is it? I did see the look in her eyes when she saw you lying unconscious." Alex forced his flushing back, forcing himself to answer in a cool manner. "Well, show us to your supplies. Me and - my friend will see to them. And you are absolutely sure that this is free?" Keldian flashed a toothy smile. "Anything for you, Alex."