Keep On Walking [Hawke & Alistair]
"Hawke, let me see that."
"It's no-- get off me, Anders!"
As immediately as she had pulled her shoulders from his grasp, she bent double. Hands rose to cup her mouth as a hacking cough wrecked her lungs, her throat burning with an unfamiliar sensation and brows furrowing as she felt wet against her lips. Panting in an effort to regain control of her breath, she pulled away from her shaking hands, stomach immediately flipping to see the dark red that stained the leather of her gloves. The moment the mage noticed, he gripped her shoulders, forcing her to stay still as he intently looked her over.
She had no fight left for him as she fought against nausea that threatened to take over entirely, gaze instead fixing on his eyes as she gave herself something to focus on. His expression as he noted pale skin paling further to a sickly grey, darkened veins becoming clear under its surface instilled no confidence in her however, and she pushed him away, stumbling off to the side with the force of her own push. He didn't approach as she forced herself to catch her balance and stand straight, but that wouldn't stop him speaking.
The statement came with no small amount of sorrow and she scowled to hear the pity in his voice, but she had no argument. She could feel it in her veins, could feel the taint coursing through her blood and she simply nodded at him, tone defeated as she almost fell to step towards him.
"There are Grey Wardens nearby, I can sense them," he began as he finally walked over to her, ignoring her protests and how she insisted she could walk alone. An arm hooked beneath hers, encouraging her to lean. "We'll take you to them and hope for the best."
Had her body mirrored the strength in her mind, she might have questioned further but it sagged in his grip, only supporting the notion that to seek the Grey Wardens was her only chance. In favour of life, she bit back any comments she might have afforded the idea, instead leaning heavily on his shoulder as they -- hastily as they were able -- followed his nose.