On the return trip from Redcliffe Elden found he didn't particularly want to risk sleeping. He had spent his nights performing any tasks he could and training when there was nothing else for him to do, occasionally passing out a few hours before dawn when absolutely necessary. Now that they were back in Haven he didn't have any plans to break that trend. He felt better when he was moving, doing something. Even with his eyes closed he could see the destruction and the death he witnessed in that awful future. He'd rather spend as little time dreaming about it as possible. He headed for the outskirts of town deciding to see if there were any medicinal plants in the area he could gather when his eyes were drawn to the breach again. He found himself staring at it more often than not recently, despite how it chilled him more than the winter air.

"I find it helps if you don't look at it, actually," came a voice behind him.

Elden turned to see Dorian walking towards him, looking as confident and relaxed as usual despite how others walking past tended to go out of their way to avoided him. It was fairly obvious so he imagined Dorian was only pretending not to notice. It was silly, Elden knew it was, but whenever he saw Dorian he felt slightly more at ease. They had been strangers a short time ago, and he knew the reputation Tevinter had just as well as anyone else, but they were the only ones who had seen what could happen should they fail. Besides, despite his casual and flippant manner, Elden had seen the determination, the desperation with which Dorian moved, how he fought when they tried to stop it all from ending. Dorian had been willing to kill his mentor, his friend, in hopes of saving the world. Even before all of that, though, when they had still been strangers Dorian had stepped in front of him, protecting him from Alexius' spell. That wasn't something just anyone would do. How could Elden not trust this man after all of that? They had saved each other's lives countless times by now, after all.

"I feel a bit sick, looking at it," Elden confessed. "Well, I always felt a bit sick looking at it. Moreso now I suppose."

"Which makes staring at it all the more odd," Dorian said. "Correct me if I'm wrong but that's just all the more reason to avoid it. Maybe try not to torture yourself so much. It would be unfortunate if you made a martyr of yourself. I might notice you were gone."

"Honestly, seeing it look so small makes me feel better. We still have time."

"Yes, although I suppose we're the only ones who would call it small. None the less, I'll feel better once it's gone entirely."

"Yeah," Elden said rather lamely, feeling queasy again.

"From what I hear it will only be a matter of time. How are you feeling about it all? I imagine you will be doing most of the work."

"I don't know," he said, not really wanting to think about how much of this plan relied on him utilizing an ability that some of the smartest people he knew didn't understand and he certainly had no hope of understanding. Instead he said, "I know I should be relieved that we're nearing the end, but I can't help but feel like this is just the start. We know this Elder One is supposed to be out there but he hasn't made a move yet. I won't feel at ease until we know what he is planning."

"Other than the destruction of the world, you mean," Dorian said, lightening the mood.

"Of course. That's a given for all really good villains, though, right?" Elden said with a smile, grateful for the change in topic.

"On the bright side, at least he'll be easily recognized. With a name like 'the Elder One' I can't imagine he's particularly subtle."

"Is everyone from Tevinter so dramatic?" Elden asked with a laugh.

"Of course, can't you tell?" Dorian grinned.

"Now that you've settled in a bit, how are you finding the camp?"Elden asked. Glancing around, he could see at least a few people casting suspicious glances towards Dorian.

"You mean other than utterly freezing?" Dorian said, probably purposefully deflecting, trying to keep things light. "Honestly, I don't know how you southerners stand it."

"I meant how are the others treating you," Elden pressed. Just because he had welcomed Dorian's presence, doesn't mean everyone would be accepting. If anyone has been mistreating him he could at least put at stop to that as soon as possible. There was only so much Elden could do to make him feel comfortable and welcome but he certainly deserved it after everything he had already done for them all. "But if your room isn't warm enough, I can see to-"

"You're doing it again," Dorian interrupted with a smile. "Trying to fix everyone's problems. Unless you can convince spring to come early I'll make do with an extra blanket and more firewood which I have already. I do believe you've enough to deal with at the moment."

"I know it can't be easy. The weather isn't the only thing that can be harsher than you are used to."

"You'd be surprised. I think I've actually had a warmer welcome here than I did the last time I returned to my father's estate. Only one person has spat at me, after all. Oh, don't look at me like that. We survived quite the ordeal. I think we should be celebrating, not wallowing in doom and gloom."

"Oh? What did you have in mind?"

"I do believe you have a building attempting to pass as a tavern. I propose we see what sort of swill they are attempting to sell and at least for an hour or so pretend the world isn't going to end."

Perhaps that was a good idea. Saving each others' lives certainly builds bonds but he had no idea who Dorian really was and he certainly would like to get to know him better.. Besides, while he couldn't change how everyone else felt, that could only take time, he could at least do his best to make sure Dorian felt welcome. He also owed Dorian several drinks considering how many times he saved his life.

"Lead the way," Elden said with a smile.