Chapter Text
Staring into a roiling abyss of rain and wind, Cassandra understood painfully well why it had been dubbed the Storm Coast.
The horses they’d brought bucked and whinnied loudly, yanking at their reins. The requisitions officer and her assistant took care of tying them down, patting their flanks comfortingly and dodging flailing hooves. The Iron Bull bellowed at the storm, daring it to battle, and Cassandra groaned. She finished packing her gear and slung it over her shoulder, making her way to her horse.
As she walked, she passed Madame de Fer, who was holding a hand to her headdress and looking utterly miserable in the misty rain and frigid wind. Cassandra paused, sympathetic for Vivienne’s lack of warm clothing, and removed her own cloak with her free hand.
“Lady Vivienne,” Cassandra called over the roar of the storm. “Take this, please.”
Vivienne grabbed the cloak, and though she gave a sniff of disapproval at the look of it, she flung it around her shoulders.
“Thank the Maker no one else is here to see me in this,” Vivienne muttered.
Cassandra grinned.
“You look excellent no matter the garment, Madame de Fer,” she praised.
“You’re very sweet, my dear, but I do have an image to maintain,” Vivienne replied. Then, she offered a gentle smile. “But thank you.”
Cassandra nodded and made her way to her horse. The steed calmed at the sight of her, and she pet the mare’s neck gently.
“We ride between the mountains,” Cassandra shouted towards the group. “We’ll escape the brunt of the wind that way.”
“I’ll make sure to go last,” the Iron Bull offered, grinning smugly. “Just to offer some extra blockage against the storm.”
“Let’s hope the storm frightens at the sight of you, and leaves all of us well alone,” Vivienne teased, walking primly up to her own horse.
Before she could mount, however, lightning cracked through the sky and struck the sand just a hundred yards away from them. The force of it shook the ground at their feet, and several scouts stumbled to their knees. Cassandra grabbed her horse’s saddle for support, and Bull caught Vivienne before she too could fall to the ground.
Cassandra’s ears rang, and she shook her head, feeling disorientated. She glanced around, taking stock, and called out for everyone to saddle up, her own voice muffled. No one reacted - they couldn’t hear her, either. Grunting in frustration, Cassandra made her way to Bull and Vivienne first. When she reached them, Bull held out an arm towards her, and she clasped his hand. Vivienne mouthed something with a wave of her fingers, and a dome of energy encompassed the three of them. Cassandra’s hearing instantly returned, and she shook her head.
“The horses,” she gasped. She met Bull’s eyes. “Get Lady Vivienne out of here.”
“You got it, boss,” Bull nodded. “Ma’am?” he asked of Vivienne, holding out his arms.
“Ugh. Fine.”
The Iron Bull lifted Vivienne carefully in his arms, shielding her with his wide shoulders, and sprinted out of the dome. It fizzled and disappeared as Vivienne left its boundary, and Cassandra shivered as wind and rain pelted her once more. She trusted Bull to get Vivienne safely to her horse, and focused on rallying the rest of their group.
“The Inquisitor should be on the furthest hill by now!” Cassandra called, waiting for the scouts and requisitions officer to meet her gaze. “We just need to get away from the sea!”
Everyone nodded, and rushed to saddle up the last of their things. Before Cassandra could join them, however, a vicious roar that was almost hidden by the howling wind sounded behind them. Cassandra whipped around, her hand on the hilt of her sword, and her stomach dropped. Descending from the mass of dark clouds above, its wings haloed by the sunlight that broke through from its disrupting flight, was a dragon the colour of the shores.
“Dragon!” Cassandra shouted, drawing her sword.
The Iron Bull cheered loudly, and ran to her side, leaving Vivienne behind on her horse.
“Harding!” Cassandra turned, taking in the people under her care.
Scout Harding popped up from behind a mule.
“Yes, Seeker!”
“Get everyone as far into the hills as you can! The Iron Bull and I will keep the dragon away.”
“Got it!”
“You will both die!” Vivienne shouted. She gently batted away another scout who was trying to help secure her on the horse. “Enough, I’m staying here. They’ll need my help.”
She slid off the horse delicately, Cassandra’s cloak flying around her shoulders in the wind. Cassandra paused, anxiety and resignation warring in her chest.
“Lady Vivienne,” Cassandra began, “your skill and power is exemplary, but it is much harder to protect you from harm from a dragon. Please, go with Harding and make sure the Inquisitor is alright.”
“I can protect myself just fine, thank you,” Vivienne said simply, lifting her chin. “I wouldn’t have gotten this far otherwise.”
Cassandra sighed, and nodded her head. It was foolish to try to argue with Vivienne, and she knew this by now.
“Very well,” she agreed. “Bull?”
“Yeah,” Bull nodded.
He roared, pulling his greataxe from behind his back as red energy shimmered around him. He took point, standing ahead and shouting taunts at the dragon as it approached. Cassandra hefted her shield and cast a guard spell over Vivienne, just in case.
Harding and the rest of the group rode off just as the dragon began to dive towards them, deep blue lightning crackling around its mouth. Before it reached them, its jaw opened wide, and a blast of electricity shot toward them. Cassandra braced herself, but an even larger dome than before encompassed herself, Vivienne, and the Iron Bull, causing the lightning to dissipate as soon as it impacted.
This dome, also courtesy of Vivienne, lasted only a few seconds, but it was just enough for Bull to leap towards the dragon when it was close. He slammed his axe down on the dragon’s head, causing it to careen into the sand. It popped back up quickly, roaring angrily at Bull, and Cassandra rushed forward to fight beside him.
They took turns slashing at the dragon and dodging its own attacks. Vivienne stayed behind, using her magic to shield them and highlight the dragon’s weak points. Ice formed around the dragon’s joints at each of her spells, and soon its movement was slow enough for them to get even closer.
Cassandra became more hopeful the longer they fought, yet when it seemed certain they would gain the upper hand, the Iron Bull took a dragon claw directly to the stomach. Cassandra swore - Bull became stronger when injured, but that didn’t always ensure his survival. She ran to his side, helping him stand, and he gave her a pat on the shoulder in thanks before roaring back at the dragon.
“Cassandra!” Vivienne called, sounding frantic.
Cassandra looked up just in time to see the dragon’s other clawed hand descending on her, and she dove and rolled out of the way. She hopped back up and returned to Vivienne’s side, hefting her shield over Vivienne as another blast of lightning hit the sand close by. She grunted at the force against her, but managed to withstand it.
“Thank you, dear,” Vivienne said, close enough that Cassandra felt the woman’s breath over her neck.
She shivered, and blamed it on the cold.
The Iron Bull fought harder, but Cassandra could tell he was in pain. She shouted over Bull’s boisterous jeering, getting the dragon’s attention. She ran ahead and swiped at its underbelly, drawing a length of blood along its softer scales. The dragon roared in pain and reared up on its hind legs, its flapping wings sending sand up into the air.
Ice crashed into the dragon’s eyes, and Cassandra glanced over her shoulder to catch Vivienne at work. She smiled to herself; Vivienne was a sight to behold, especially in battle.
Cassandra had remained distracted for a moment too long, and when she turned around, the dragon leapt over her and made its way directly to Vivienne.
“No!” Cassandra cried, sprinting to the dragon. “Over here!” she shouted, pounding her sword on her shield.
The dragon seemed too angry with Vivienne to take Cassandra’s bait. Vivienne watched the dragon approach with a calm and calculating gaze, magic swirling around her fingers. She was preparing a bigger spell, but Cassandra feared the dragon would reach her before she was ready.
Cassandra caught up to the dragon’s tail and drove her sword into it, using it as leverage as she vaulted herself onto the dragon’s back. She stabbed the dragon’s back repeatedly as she ran, both to harm it and to keep her balance as the dragon moved beneath her.
It seemed to notice her presence eventually, as it paused in its pursuit of Vivienne, and tilted its head towards her. Cassandra grinned in victory, and continued her assault up the length of the dragon’s back, until she reached its neck. Then, she slammed her sword into a gap between its scales, and braced her foot on the hilt to drive it deeper within the dragon. The dragon roared in pain, and Cassandra slid off of it, holding her sword firmly.
Her sword tore down the dragon’s neck, slowing her fall until she was close enough to the ground to yank herself free and somersault in the sand. She stood up quickly and faced the dragon, covered in its warm blood from her stunt, and slammed her shield once more to taunt it toward her. The dragon shook its head as if dazed, but when it spotted Cassandra, its eyes flashed with fury.
Cassandra had only a second to think she’d perhaps mocked it too much, before the dragon leapt once more, landing directly on her and pushing her to the ground forcefully. Cassandra lost her breath instantly, huffing as spots filled her vision. She tried to raise her sword, but she could no longer feel her arms.
“Cassandra!” Vivienne cried out, and Cassandra winced at the fear in the woman’s voice.
The dragon reared back, leaving her behind on the ground. Cassandra turned her head toward Vivienne, worry shooting up Cassandra’s spine as she left Vivienne undefended.
She watched as ice formed and lightning crackled around Vivienne, coming from her own hands, and then the magic met in the form of a fiery inferno that enveloped the dragon completely. The dragon roared deafeningly.
Cassandra managed to catch sight of Vivienne standing before the wall of blue fire, headdress missing and short curls whipped by the wind, the storm parting in the sky as if on her behalf and letting sunlight down to illuminate her like a spotlight. Cassandra’s cloak silhouetted Vivienne like the Maker himself was shielding her as her outstretched arms brought about the dragon’s ruin. She was incredible; she was breathtaking.
Then Cassandra lost consciousness.
~
When Cassandra awoke, she jolted up in her bed, and smacked her head on the top of a canvas tent. It didn’t hurt, but it certainly startled her, and she jerked enough to fall out of the small cot she’d been placed in. Cassandra grunted when she hit the ground, overwhelmed by sudden sharp pain in her arms.
“Oh, Andraste’s Grace, Cassandra, please.”
Cassandra blinked as the face of Vivienne floated above her, expression stern and demanding.
“Viv-”
Cassandra’s attempt at speaking turned into a coughing fit, and she curled on her side to avoid coughing on Vivienne. She heard the Mage sigh, and gentle footsteps circled her. Then Vivienne was crouched in front of her, and held out a hand.
“Careful, my dear,” she said gently. “You took quite the beating.”
Cassandra groaned as she attempted to reach for Vivienne’s hand, only for her arm to spasm in defiance. Vivienne tsked, and looked a bit ashamed.
“Right, your arms,” she said quietly. “One moment. Don’t move,” she added as she stood.
Vivienne left swiftly, and Cassandra almost let herself fall back asleep, forgetting what she was supposed to be doing. Then the tent flap burst open and the Iron Bull stepped in, grinning down at her.
“Morning, boss,” he said. “Have a nice little nap?”
“Don’t tease, Bull,” Vivienne admonished. “She was quite the hero today.”
“Not teasing, ma’am, just trying to lighten the mood.”
Cassandra groaned, unamused. Bull grabbed her by the waist, muttering a quick apology, and lifted her up. She cried out as her vision swam, and tried to smack Bull’s arm. Her own arm seemed unwilling to respond, and Cassandra’s indignance was quickly replaced with worry.
“What-” she cleared her throat as Bull set her on her feet. “What happened?”
“That dragon crushed both of your arms,” Vivienne replied. “One looked like it was going to fall off completely, and the other was soaked in blood. You might not be able to carry your sword and shield for some time.”
Cassandra swore quietly, shaking her head in irritation. Then she recalled what all had happened right before she lost consciousness, and looked up at Vivienne with concern.
“Are you alright?” she asked, scanning Vivienne’s body. “I passed out before I could see how the battle ended.”
“Viv killed the fuck out of that thing,” Bull said cheerfully, bouncing on his feet. “Oh, Cassandra, you really missed out,” he added with a slight growl.
“Calm down, Bull,” Vivienne ordered. “And that’s Madame Viv, to you.”
“Sorry, Ma’am.”
“It’s quite alright.” She smiled at Cassandra. “I’m fine, dear. You gave it a good fight. I hardly had to do anything.”
“You used its lightning against it,” Cassandra recalled aloud. “I saw that much.”
Vivienne nodded, looking proud.
“I only regret that I hadn’t shielded you from the dragon’s weight. You could have lost both arms.”
Cassandra shook her head, dismissing Vivienne’s remorse.
“It is perhaps the best I could have suffered.”
“Iron Bull, why don't you go let the Inquisitor know Cassandra is awake?”
“Yes ma'am,” Bull nodded in deference.
The tent shook a bit as he left, his large form hardly fitting through the opening. Cassandra only saw torchlight outside, as it was likely past sunset. She tried to move her arms, and while it hurt, she managed to lift both past the height of her ribs. Her left arm, however, twinged with excruciating pain when she tried to raise it over her head, and she dropped her arms with a gasp.
“Careful, my dear,” Vivienne ordered gently. “My magic could only do so much in place of Skyhold's best.”
“Where are we?”
“Still on the Storm Coast. It's only been a few hours. We'll be headed back in the morning.”
“The Inquisitor cleared the Red-Templar hideout already?”
“Hm, yes,” Vivienne said with a smile. “But we took care of the dragon for her.”
“Right.”
Cassandra slumped onto her cot with a sigh, relieved at least that the Inquisitor had been successful, even if they had failed to meet up with her on time.
Too stuck in her own head, Cassandra barely noticed Vivienne sitting beside her, until a soft hand smoothed over her knee.
“Get some more rest, my dear,” Vivienne whispered. When Cassandra met her eyes, she smiled warmly. “My knight in shining armour,” she teased.
Cassandra ducked her head to hide the blush she knew was coming, and passed it off as a nod. Vivienne patted her knee once more, then stood, and trailed out of Cassandra's tent slowly. Cassandra watched her leave from the corner of her eye, and tried not to focus too much on how Vivienne's newly exposed curls framed her heart-shaped face in the most beautiful way.