Fade Rift: Inbox

[pinprick]

You know what to do.

Comments

[pinprick]

I keep...praying. But there's not a sun.

[justice_is_blond]

I don't... What? I'm the one underground...

[pinprick]

Where are you? [He sounds confused. Just then, he lets loose a hideous, deep, wet cough.]

[justice_is_blond]

[There's a pause, and then, slowly,]

I'm in the Deep Roads, Nate. Is... Is anyone with you?

[pinprick]

Andraste is with me. She carries me.

[More coughing. There's the sound of shuffling, then another voice speaks.]

Anders, this is Timothy. [Another healer, someone who doesn't much like Anders, but grudgingly respects him as a healer.] I'm going to be straight with you. Nathaniel is very ill with the winter fever. If you are within riding distance, I would hurry back as quick as you can if you want to see him.

[justice_is_blond]

No. No, no, he was doing better. I'm not in... He was getting better when I left. I wouldn't have gone otherwise.

[pinprick]

I know. I know he was. But you know how complications can happen when someone is already weakened. [Timothy blows out a breath.] He may live. He was in his prime before this, so he may fight it off. I'm trying to bring his fever down right now, but the best thing for him is sleep. I'll let you know how he's doing every so often, but try not to contact him directly or you might wake him up.

[justice_is_blond]

[He exhales shakily, regretting so many choices he's made.]

Please.

[If he loses Nate...]

[pinprick]

[There's a pause.]

Do you want to say something to him?

[justice_is_blond]

[The fear of losing Nate overwhelms his fear of being vulnerable in front of other people and he nods, remembering a half-second later that Timothy (and Nate) can't see him.]

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please be strong, Nate. You can do this. I'll see you as soon as I can, I promise.

[pinprick]

[Nathaniel's voice is next. Timothy has clearly moved the stone closer to him.]

Anders? Where are you?

[justice_is_blond]

I'm in the Deep Roads.

[He hates that he has to repeat this, that it means Nate's not retaining what he's hearing.]

They needed Wardens. I thought you were getting better.

[And so both of Skyhold's best healers had gone.]

I'll be back as soon as physically possible. We've... We won't be much longer. I'll be there soon. Hang on, please? I need you to do this for me.

[pinprick]

[There's a pause. Rough, hitched breaths are audible for a few seconds before he coughs violently again. When he speaks again, something seems to have gotten through.]

I'm not leaving you.

[Timothy takes back the crystal.] I'm afraid that's all I can allow for now, [he says sympathetically.] I'll do everything I can for him, Anders.

[justice_is_blond]

[It's going to have to do. Anders will have to hold on to that alone and hope that Nate's strong enough to pull through.]

Please do. And please... please call me on the crystals if anything changes.

[pinprick]

Of course. [A beat.] Anything special you do for bad cases of winter fever?

[justice_is_blond]

[He runs through everything he'd learned in Darktown, the tricks he'd worked out, how he'd relieved symptoms, even repeating himself because he's just that stressed.]

[pinprick]

Steam, black pepper, garlic. [Those are ones Timothy feels he should have known.] I'll bring in every mage I know to make steam. I promise, I'll do everything I can for him.

[justice_is_blond]

I... Thank you. He means the world to me. Please help him.

[pinprick]

[Nathaniel starts having another paroxysm. Timothy swears. The feed cuts off.]