Elizabeth Hawke led her group through the rain. She was regretting coming out on a day with such lousy weather, but what choice was there, really? The Arishok would not appease himself, and she could all but taste a war coming. The thought of fighting the Quinari left a bitter twinge in her heart. She didn't fear them, not even the Arishok. What she felt was something worse than fear; regret. She regretted having asked Fenris about his past. She'd known about the unrest with the Quinari and had sought...a distraction? No, that wasn't it at all. She'd honestly wished to know more about her companion, as she did all of them. And yet, when he'd told her of his time in Saharron with the Fog Warriors, she felt something different. It was different now, somehow, when they looked at each other. They were friends, bound by trust. Yet now, she found herself stumbling over her own words when they were alone. When she'd first met the former slave, she had no problems at all saying what was on her mind. The first night they'd known one another, after they'd realized that Danarius wasn't in the mansion, she'd made him blush when she said he had a nice body. That wasn't the intention, nor was it her intention to make him believe she felt anything for him. Like Isabella, she enjoyed a good view now and then. Unlike the captain, however, she'd never been with a man let alone felt for one. They hadn't spoken in weeks, Elizabeth being too distracted by the growing unrest settling over Kirkwall. She wasn't sure why she'd paid him a visit that afternoon, but she found herself at his door knocking. That was when he told her how he'd come to know so much about Quinari customs. It took a good deal of trust, and she appreciated the knowledge that he placed his faith in her, but now things were different. She regretted him having told her. How could she brace herself against the tidal wave that was coming, knowing that her friend may side against her? How could she do anything knowing she had an actual friend? She kept her guard up with everyone, either showing aggression or an overabundance of wit to keep from getting close. She shook her head. Nothing's changed. His trust in you does not require you to trust him. And yet...there it was again. Almost a need for something.
Halfway up Sundermount, Elizabeth heard an odd noise and stopped. She turned around to face her companions. Varric and Merril stopped, looking at her expectedly. She noticed that Fenris had already stopped a few feet away, eyes halfway closed. Elizabeth faced the other two. "We're taking a break here for now. Scout out for any unwanted visitors." She waited until they were gone before looking at Fenris. "You stay."
The former slave looked up at Elizabeth, an eyebrow piqued.
Elizabeth made eye contact for a moment before looking away. "I'm not the best at hand to hand combat. If we're attacked, I need someone I can-" She stopped before she said the last word.
Fenris smirked. "Trust is a valuable thing. It is not to be given lightly."
Elizabeth nodded. Fenris looked around, his hair sticking to his brow. Suddenly, he sneezed. It was not what Elizabeth had expected. Sure, sneezing when it was freezing and raining was normal, but the sound was unlike any she'd heard before. It was harsh, yet soft, breathy. That was the sound she'd heard earlier then, and not some sort of demon. She went over to Fenris. "You alright?" Her voice was harsher than she'd intended, but perhaps it was a good thing to put her guard up more than usual with him.
Fenris nodded, though he sneezed again, body jerking forward. He sniffed as he stood up straight, looking at Elizabeth's shoulder rather than her eyes. "I'm fine, Hawke."
"You're not used to colder weather." Elizabeth shook her head, smirking. "It's colder here than parts of Ferelden."
Fenris tensed slightly. "You know what I am used to."
Elizabeth kept herself from sighing, but grew concerned when Fenris sneezed again. "Here," she took her cloak off and put it over his shoulders, earning a shocked look. "You'll make yourself sick, going around in that armor."
Fenris examined the edges of the cloak around him. He could feel the power of Sandal's enchantments pulsing through it. "Do you have everything enchanted?"
"No, not everything. Just my robes and staff." Elizabeth smirked, tucking some hair under her cowl.
Fenris grunted. "Do not take me for being ungrateful, Hawke. It is...warmer." He could smell her in the thick fabric. Somehow, that itself gave him a warm feeling inside.
Soon, Varric and Merril returned with no news. Elizabeth nodded and started back on their trail. "We should move on then."
Varric raised an eyebrow. "Uh, Hawke. Did you notice that you're missing an article of clothing?"
Elizabeth turned around to face them again, noticing Fenris had a slight flush to his cheeks. She smirked. "Yes I did, Varric, and I would greatly appreciate having my under garments returned to me before they stink of whiskey too much."
Varric laughed. "Point taken."
Fenris chuckled slightly at the way Elizabeth had glazed over the question.
When the group finally made it to the Dalish camp, the rain had started freezing when it hit a surface, turning the ground to a slide and uncovered hair to colorful icicles. Elizabeth shook her head before they entered the camp and turned to her companions. "What does the group say? Do we press on or wait it out?"
Merril shook her head. "We should get what we came for and go. We can't stay."
Varric shrugged. "Daisy's gonna freeze and break soon."
Elizabeth nodded then looked at Fenris, who was shaking despite the enchanted cloak. "Fenris?" He looked up as though he hadn't heard anything before his name. "What say you?"
"We should move on."
Elizabeth nodded and turned around, leading them into the Dalish camp. She looked around then found a promising looking chest. She gave the slightest of nods, signalling Merril to walk through the camp which would distract everyone. Elizabeth went over to the chest and opened it, taking a small amount of the Dalish tattoo ink and putting it in her pack. She tipped her head and Merril came over as the group left to start the trek back down the mountain. Elizabeth grumbled something about running errands for shopkeepers and how she'd better be getting paid extra.
