Męrt and Tœm would take shifts in carrying Em, after Dastan began stumbling on his feet. He was much too proudful at first to admit he couldn't continue carrying her. But when Gwaine informed him they still had a fair bit to travel, Dastan gave in.

"Where exactly are you taking us?" Dastan continued to question Gwaine, but he never responded. The words blurred in Em's ears as the skies opened allowing torrential rain to fall upon them. Em suddenly grabbed hold of her leg, at it gave a painful vibe throughout her body. Męrt unsure what next to do called out to Dastan and Gwaine. Lowering her to the ground, Edvard slowly unraveled the bandage.

"It's just a scratch" She insisted through a horse voice. But it wasn't the scratch from the selvoth was beginning to get infected. She closed her eyes shivering, her head pounding as she heard rustling beside her and saw someone coming closer, and felt an ice cold hand resting on her forehead, as she flinched yet greeted the cold against her overheating body.

"Dastan, she is heating up!" The person beside her called out as she winced to the loud voice before another shadow cast over her face. Weakly opening her eyes she locked her eyes on the blue eyes of Dastan before her eyes closed.

"Em, you need to stay awake" His voice called out for her, as she winced to feel the fabric around her wounded leg brushed against the cuts. She heard a few gasps but it was all too hazy. The claw marks were cut deep into her skin, the skin was slowly starting to look a sickly green, the wounds were raw and the scratch itself was turning black. She whimpered and kept mumbling things under her breath.

"She needs a healer" Dastan muttered looking towards Gwaine who merely scowled.

"My healer was killed in that attack and she is in no state to help herself! We need to keep moving" He grouched, his facial expression unclear to read. Their torches had been doused long ago.

"We are close. Follow me" He instructed emotionlessly as Dastan picked her back up this time. He noticed the black ink in her veins had traveled up her arm and started to flow over her shoulder. She kept gripping something weakly at her chest under her tunic, he had no time to wonder what it was.

They seemed to walk into a dome made by the trees. Torches sat against the barks untouched by the rain, as ahead of them stood an archway of stone, with no sign of light through it. Gwaine was the first one to take hold of his sword. His soldiers followed his example, knowing it would have to be for a reason.

"Why do you dare come back here, knight!" A voice over the darkness hissed. Venom behind his words as Gwaine stood a little taller and stepped forward.

"We seek your help!" He answered only to have the voice laugh loudly in return.

"I will not help you! Crawl back to the den from whence you and your wolves came!" He spat out. Dastan frowned and wondered if what he meant referred back to their matching tattoos. Gwaine bowed and slowly walked backward, being respectful to the voice.

"I am sorry Dastan" He apologized but he merely shook his head and stepped forward to be seen. Gwaine tried to protest but it fell upon deaf ears, as Dastan shifted the weight of Em in his arms.

"She needs a healer!" He cried out but no voice answered in return.

"Dastan it's pointless, come away" Gwaine shouted. Dastan held his breath hoping to prove them wrong, but just as he went to turn away a shadow began to form from the darkness.

"Remove her hood" The voice seemed curious. Dastan frowned wondering why it would matter but he did as instructed. Em weakly looked in the direction of the voice, her eyes latching onto the man. His breath caught in his throat wondering if it was possibly true. Stepping out of the shadows, Dastan's grip tightened as he glared towards Gwaine.

Their race had many names but the most common, was dwarf. He had brought them to the dwarves, creatures of dark magic! The man waddled towards him and beckoned Dastan to kneel. Slowly doing as he was instructed the dwarf muttered under his breath whilst gazing upon the black veins.

"Bring her inside" He gruffed before walking back towards the entrance. None of the men moved, which caused the dwarves attention. Snorting in their direction, he placed his hands on his hips waiting. Edvard was the first to move forward followed by Dastan.

"Stay on guard" Gwaine whispered to his men as they nodded and each hid a dagger up their sleeves. The hall was fairly tall lit along with floating balls of fire. As they entered a large room to the left Dastan placed Em on the long table. It was the only thing large enough to hold her. The dwarf had vanished behind a ragged curtain in search for something, as the crashing of bottles could be heard.

Edvard enjoyed this time to sit down beside the fire and rest his back against the wall. Stealing a pillow he sat it behind him back and soon nodded off to sleep. Gwaine and his men sat outside in the corridor, their feet resting against the opposite wall. Dastan remained kneeled beside Em, not trusting the dwarf.

If he had known that Gwaine was taking them to the dwarves he would have thought twice. His thoughts were interrupted as Em started coughing as if she had no oxygen. Alarmed the dwarf ran out from behind the curtain with a book and several odd shaped bottles. Dastan noticed her eyes had turned black around the edges of her green eyes, as her breathing was starting to wheeze. Placing a cold cloth over her forehead the dwarf delicately removed her cloak to get a better look at her skin.

"Råtuc Merkuae!" He enchanted as she seemed to freeze in place. Dastan wondered what the dwarf was doing as he opened his book and slowly turned the pages in search for something in particular. Grunting he began to pour powder over her. It hovered in the air an inch above her skin.

He slowly began his enchantment, waving his hands in a peculiar pattern. Dastan began to watch as the ink seemed to evaporate from her skin and mix with the powder. The black slowly faded and the rainbow mixture solidified into an emerald green. Allowing it to drop, it washed over her and sunk into her skin.

She quickly sucked in a sharp breath sitting bolt right up. Shaking with wide eyes, Dastan grabbed hold of her forearms to bring her a sense of familiarity.

"Dastan" She muttered as he gently laid her back down on the table, as the dwarf started to unwrap the bandage on her leg to have a look at the wound.

"I'm here," He whispered to her as she grabbed his collar for comfort before drifting to sleep.

"What was it?" Dastan questioned curiously whilst the dwarf created a thick red paste and applied it to her leg.

"The consequences of a broken oath. She made one many years ago to never use a weapon again" The dwarf casually spoke whilst waving a hand. Blue tipped leaves flew from a shelf into his hands as he applied it in layers.

"She fired an arrow to save my life. Why would she do that if she knew by breaking her oath she would die?" Dastan wondered aloud.

"She must see something in you. What I do not know," The dwarf grumbled with a snort. Dastan tried not to take offense at his lack of opinion of himself but instead brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. She was full of mysteries to him.

"Come! You and your men shall sleep tonight" He instructed pushing him out of the room. He glanced over at Em's sleeping form and Edvard in the corner. He hoped the old man would protect her as they once again followed the dwarf through the tunnels. They came to a clearing surrounded by a circle of stone. The stars sparkled above them as the men stretched their backs.

They quickly made camp to rest. Dastan's mind kept going back to the oath Em had made. What could possibly make something swear upon something like that? He was determined to find out.