MOD PLOT ↠ NONE TO RETURN

[faderifting]

WHO: All characters signed up to participate in the Battle of Ghislain
WHAT: The Inquisition regroups and heads home
WHEN: Covers the period immediately post-battle (11.28) through the journey back to Kirkwall (11.29-12.1)
WHERE: North of Montfort, Orlais, and on the road to Val Chevin
NOTES: This is Post #2, covering the immediate aftermath of the battle and the journey back to Kirkwall. It's a free-for-all. Post #1 covers the battle itself. More info on the OOC post.

The Inquisition and Orlesian armies eventually limp to a halt along the Imperial Highway north of Montfort, where wide fields and gentle hills offer clear lines of sight and a sparsely equipped fortress provides some shelter and fortification. It's a soundly strategic location—if Ghislain is lost, Montfort is the last major city between the invaders and Val Royeaux—but among the rank and file there may be too much chaos to appreciate it.

For the remainder of the day and well into the night, the fortress and surrounding land are a frenzy of activity. The wounded who were not left on the field must be triaged and tended to with limited supplies, while many healers and surgeons out of commission themselves and the remainder worked to the bone. Scouts, soldiers, and even support staff in sturdy enough condition to keep working may be tasked with assembling camp from the few remaining supplies, taking reports on known casualties or acquired intelligence, or further fortifying the new location. The Orlesian army sends one of its battered cavalry units toward Ghislain to attempt to provide some warning, and from the Inquisition's number a few patrols are sent back toward the battlefield or toward Ghislain, with stern orders not to re-engage, only to watch for signs of pursuit, and to direct any stragglers.

Those who remain in the fortress are in for a long, miserable night, with meager rations and makeshift bedding, if any of either, while the wind shifts directions and grows colder. By morning a number of the wounded have died, but attempts to build a pyre are hampered by the sudden swell of a storm that starts with freezing rain and then transitions to early and unpredicted thick, heavy snow.

For a few hours that morning the two armies attempt business as normal, but it soon becomes clear that the storm is getting stronger, and they risk being snowed in with more people than they can feed. Many, including the Inquisition's Gallows contingent, are ordered to disperse. Many crowd into wagons, with any transportable wounded receiving further attention en route and neighbors hunching close to preserve heat whether they like one another or not, while those able to do so follow on foot or horseback over the rough, flash-frozen highway toward Montfort and then west toward Val Chevin. The storm doesn't abate until they've nearly reached the city, but once there they're able to stop, eat, and spend a few hours indoors thawing out before proceeding home.

Comments

[judgemewhole]

He might just pull her down next to him regardless of the pain, because he's so damned relieved she is alive. Alive, here flesh and blood next to him. The most beautiful woman he's ever had the pleasure of knowing.

He takes her hand to his lips to kiss it, before he drinks deeply from the cup she has brought him.

"I feel awful, but better, now, knowing that you are all right." He memorizes her face, before whispering quietly, "Evie ... I want to tell you something, but I want to make sure that we are both alive and uninjured. I want you to know that I am telling the truth."

[bouclier]

"You may be waiting a while if you wait until we are both uninjured," she replies somewhat wryly, smoothing her hand through his hair, amazed at how relieved she feels that he's moving and breathing and the color is gradually returning to his face. She's sat at bedsides before, but never had she felt so worried she might lose someone.

"We are alive. After the loss the Inquisition suffered on the battlefield, I think that is the best we can say."

[judgemewhole]

One corner of his mouth lifts up, and even though there is pain in the motion, he pushes himself up more as her hand moves through his hair. He takes her free hand in his, twining their fingers together.

"I think ... you may be right." He looks down at their hands, then up at her, his tone quiet and sure. "I love you."

[bouclier]

She stops smoothing his hair when he takes her hand, with only one good arm at the moment her multitasking gestures are somewhat limited. His words do give her pause, her breath caught in her throat as she looks at him, for all intents and purpose unsure how to respond. She'd warned him that she wasn't great with feelings when they'd first decided to see where this would take them. Maybe she'd never expected someone to love her outside of her family, after everything she'd seen in her life.

But there was no denying the way she felt, had felt towards him for a long time. Even when he hadn't looked at her in that manner, she hadn't been able to shake the desire to be around him, and had frustratingly been unable to put him out of her mind.

When her mind was able to process this, she smiles, leaning down to kiss him.

"I love you too, even if your timing needs work," she murmurs, squeezing his hand gently.

[judgemewhole]

He isn't going to take her poor broken arm out of it's sling, just so she can caress him. He is an ass, but not a sadist. Besides, it would sort of just belay the words that had come out of his mouth. He crooks a wry smile at her expression, as she hadn't gone running off yet. He'd put that in the win column, as far as he was concerned.

When she smiles, he feels like a weight has been lifted off his chest, and even with the stomach wound it is easier to breath. He cups her cheek with his free hand, to kiss her in turn, murmuring quietly.

"I did not want to waste another moment. Not after this. Never again, Evie."

He had wasted too many of them already.

[bouclier]

Feeling oddly lightheaded and like there's something in her chest trying to burst out she lets out a soft breath, not quite a laugh, leaning her forehead gently against his.

"I've never been afraid on the battlefield. Even when I've been injured. But I was so afraid when I heard what had happened to you, that I might lose you." It hadn't set well with her, and she'd spent a lot of time cursing out nurses and his templars alike. She's probably no one's favorite person, at the moment. But since he's alive, she can't find it in her to care about anything beyond that.

[judgemewhole]

He smiles, but that smile fades to a more sober look as he looks into her eyes, from so very close. He squeezed her hand tightly, before he murmured, "I would have done whatever I had to do, to get back to you. I knew I had to make it. I couldn't break your heart again."

[bouclier]

"Andraste's ashes, I never knew I had a heart that could break," she kisses him again, gently because she's overly conscious of them both being injured.

"I think I would have fought my way to the Black City itself to bring you back if I had had to. I'm glad you were fighting for me too, though." She had known that in this situation she was entirely helpless, and she'd hated it. Often enough she can do something to help those she cares for, but this time James's life had been entirely in the hands of the healers and his own constitution.

[judgemewhole]

"Well, I suppose we have found we both have a heart to lose." He sighed into the kiss, cupping her cheek with his good hand, stroking his fingers along her cheek before he said quietly. "I would prefer to give you mine, so you can keep it safe for me."

He snorts softly, "Do not go to the Black City. I have seen into the Fade - it is not worth it." An exhale, an inhale, and he swept his fingers along her red hair. "Let us not toss ourselves into any more danger, at least for a bit."