We'll Bleed For This Cause

A/N: Also posted to AO3.

Chapter 1: Deafened

Being the leader of the group was both a blessing and a curse, Elissa decided. It was a blessing because she didn't need to listen to instructions, just yell them at her companions and hope to the Maker they followed them because gosh darn it she had a plan. It was a curse because she didn't need to listen to instructions, and therefore didn't realize until after all the fighting was over that the persistent ringing in her right ear was more than just a minor problem.

It was the mage's fault, she'd decided. The mage whose fiery attack had been off it's mark enough to miss her, but not enough to miss the barrels next to her. The barrels had been filled with something explosive, she didn't know what exactly, and it had resulted in a forceful blast and a very, very loud noise.

"Well, that could have gone a lot better," she said, dropping to sit on the ground in a way she'd been taught was ungraceful and most certainly not ladylike. It was only because she happened to be looking in Morrigan's general direction that she noticed the other woman had said something in reply.

"What was that?" Elissa asked, trying to focus her hearing past the ringing. She rubbed at her ear.

Morrigan spoke again, and though Elissa could see her lips moving the sound refused to carry across the room. Elissa's brow furrowed and Morrigan simply raised a delicate eyebrow.

"She said 'there is no need to yell'."

Alistair's voice next to her left, and kind of working, ear had Elissa jumping in surprise. Her quick, defensive response was mostly automatic.

"I am not yelling."

Alistair smiled at her but it was not one of the smiles she was used to seeing on his face. Instead his expression was laced with concern and Elissa couldn't help the worry that began to wheedle its way into her own thoughts.

"You are yelling. So am I, actually, because I doubt you'd be able to hear me if I wasn't." He rested one hand on her shoulder; it was almost consoling.

"Ugh, I knew that explosion messed with my hearing but I didn't think it was this bad." Elissa rubbed at her ear again, this time more vigorously, like it would help to return sound and stop that blasted ringing.

Alistair was quick to grab her hand and move it away from her ear. "That's not really going to help," he said by way of explanation. "It seems that at least one of your ears is working however, which means you won't have to worry about missing any of my exciting tales on the way back to camp."

Elissa pulled a face. Alistair ignored it.

"But on a more serious note, I think you're going to be fine. Just give it a day or two, or have Wynne look at it when we get back to camp." Alistair patted her shoulder gently and stood back up, waiting for Elissa to do the same.

With an exaggerated sigh Elissa got back to her feet- and nearly tumbled right back over onto the floor. If it weren't for Alistair's quick grab for her upper arm she probably would have been adding 'broken nose by way of face planting into the floor' to her list of injuries.

"That would also be due to your ears. They affect you balance you know," Alistair said. "You better stick close to me for the walk back." Elissa might have been more inclined to take that as a genuine offer of help if he hadn't followed it up with an exaggerated wink.

Across the room Morrigan rolled her eyes. She spoke again, though not loud enough to register as anything more than muffled non-sense to Elissa's ears. When she'd said her piece, Morrigan turned on her heal and began walking. Elissa assumed they were supposed to follow.

"What did she say?" Elissa asked, glancing at Alistair.

"She offered to lead the way back to camp."

Elissa frowned. "I know she said more than that."

Alistair just chuckled. "Oh, you know Morrigan. Can't make an offer to do something helpful without throwing in a few insults, it would ruin her image otherwise." He leaned in closer to Elissa's ear and said in a very exaggerated whisper, "I think she might have actually been worried about you."

Morrigan's responding, "Would you be quiet, you fool!", was loud enough for even Elissa to hear.