A few days after the attack on Vigil’s Keep, Anders picks his way through the forest, trying to find his way back to the road. He grimaces a few times, as Justice flares beneath his skin. It hurts, in a strange way, like his skin doesn’t fit.
Or maybe that’s how Justice feels.
Lirene seems to tear up at that. "I love that song," she says.
Cia smiles. "Ilska sang it for me all the time," ey nods to eir sister. "And you're gonna sing it to your baby, right?"
"Yes, of course. Like my mam sang it to me," Lirene says, and there's a determined look in her eye.
"Come on, Lirene, you're so close. You can do it," Anders encourages.
Lirene nods, and grits her teeth.
The next minutes (or hours, Anders can't tell, lost in his job) go by with the soft groans from Lirene, and the humming from Ilska. Anders keep encouraging Lirene, healing her where she needs it, while her husband grips her hand tightly.
Soon, or maybe it was days, the baby's head emerges. With a bit of encouragement, soon the rest follows, and Anders gathers the child into a spare blanket. "Congratulations," he says, smiling, handing the child to Lirene.
Lirene's tears begin in earnest now, sobbing as she holds her new baby. "Maker, Maker, so beautiful," she says, then shows her husband, Cia and Ilska in quick succession. "Thank you, thank you so much!"
Anders can't help it, he sends a final sweep of healing magic over the baby, unable to stop himself.
Lirene looks up, and it's clear in her gaze that she knows.
Lirene nods. "My man's a merchant. Hope you don't mind if we send other unfortunates your way, once we reach Kirkwall."
Anders laughs, nodding. "My good lady, it would be my honour. Please come see me with the little one, should anything happen."
"Cia's overly complimentary, of course." Anders smile is impossibly fond.
Lirene nods. "Children are like that," she agrees.
Anders goes to correct her, and stops himself, his smile widening.
Cia leans into Ilska instead, and Ilska steers them both away to give the mother and newborn some space.
Anders spends a little more time with mother and newborn, making sure they're both settled, before heading back to their corner of the hold.
"Cia, you did fantastically. I'm so proud. And Ilska! Coming in like that, Maker, we'll make healers out of the both of you." Anders can't seem to stop grinning.
Ilska just looks confused, and then thrusts the waterskin at Anders insistently.
"You just wait, that'll be your every day soon," Anders says confidentially, but he doesn't sound afraid of it.
Anders takes the waterskin gratefully, smiling at Ilska. "Thank you, you don't realise how parched you are until you solve it."
Anders is three gulps in before he stops, regarding Ilska curiously, once he remembers he no longer has a waterskin. "...how did you get this?" He looks to Cia, as if ey can answer for her.
Cia narrows eir eyes. "Bargaining? Maybe gambling. Ilska's not easy to translate sometimes."
Not wanting to upset the girl, Anders keeps a smile on his face. "Thank you, whatever way, Ilska. Cia and I definitely needed something fresh after that."
Does Anders slight healing pulse reveal anything untoward?
Hard to tell. Ilska picks up and ignores injuries so easily. Maybe though. She seems a little more out of place in her own skin than usual.
Anders can't tell the mental part so well, but there are certain things that make him feel uneasy.
"Ilska? Do you need healing?"
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