"It was like a blood letting or some shite, some cheesy spiritual experience," Sera sighed.
"You don't have to tell the story, Buttercup," Varric said softly.
"A bow," Cole whispered, "or a woman? Both stories held in silence."
"If I'm tellin' it, that thing needs to leave," Sera hissed.
Cole stood slowly and returned to his normal place of dwelling, the third floor of the tavern. Sera adjusted uncomfortably in her seat.
"I used to have this friend, yeah?" Sera sighed. "She was sorta more than a friend though, ya' know what I mean? Anyway, we worked together, working with the friends and such. We got this tip that some noble arse in Denerim was grabbin' girls and sellin' 'em to Tevinter."
"I-" Dorian started.
"Don't turn this into some defense trial for your homeland," Sera hissed.
"I- I'm sorry," Dorian muttered.
"Anyway," Sera mumbled. "Tevinter bastards or whatever, yeah? We broke into this guy's mansion and we find all these girls in cages in shite. Fuckin' bastard. Our plan was just to free the girls and get out or whatever but I changed the plans when I saw 'em. Some Tevinter guys came in to collect 'em and we took 'em on or whatever."
"So it was a victory haircut?" Dorian chuckled.
"Shut up," she snapped, "it's not a joke. You don't get to joke about shite that matters. What part was I at?"
"Killing Vints," Bull smiled.
"Right, so we killed 'em all or whatever. We were gettin' the girls free when the rich tit came home. He wasn't alone though." She paused and stared down at her hands and knotted her fingers together. The Inquisitor reached out a small hand and set it on top of her's. "We weren't really ready for that, yeah? I only had like three arrows left and he had at least five guards."
"Why didn't you run?" Varric asked.
Sera shrugged lightly and continued, "I shot two of 'em down but we were still out numbered. They grabbed her, said they'd kill her if I didn't drop my bow, so I did. They started taking her away and when I went to chase her one of the guards grabbed me by my hair and yanked me back. Hurt like hell." She squeezed the Inquisitor's hand tightly. "The guard held me by my hair, made me watch while they- while they- well you- you get the idea."
The group remained silent as they watched her break into ugly sobs. "They cast some spells or some shite and then they were gone. I got as far away from that place as possible, then I cut it all off and that was that." She looked up at the pitying eyes that watched her. "I- I need to go."
She stood up and ran out, "Sera!" the Inquisitor yelled. "I gotta go guys," she smiled at the group. She pushed her way through the tavern until she reached Sera's room. "Sera," she called; her shout was only answered by a gentle sniffle. "May I join you?" she whispered, positioning herself in the window. Sera looked over at her and nodded. The Inquisitor positioned herself next to Sera and set her on the small rogue's knee. "It wasn't your fault."
"If I would've been faster," she muttered. "I could've- I could've-"
"You couldn't have done anything," the Inquisitor sighed.
Sera turned to her and wrapped her arms tightly around her neck. "Don't die," she sobbed, her tears dampening the Inquisitor's shoulder. "Promise me you won't die."
"I promise."