When they finally stopped to make camp, practice allowed them to do so quickly. As Elden finished setting up one of the tents, he couldn't help but stop to watch his friends as they all finished up the last of their own tasks. Cassandra was already scouting the perimeter while Varric tended the fire and began preparing their dinner. Dorian was just stepping back from a tent he had been assembling, a pleased grin on his face as he brushed off his hands and admired his handiwork. Elden couldn't help smiling as he watched him. Despite his evident dislike of such activities, Dorian was really doing well at the whole camping thing and he was proud of him.. There was still plenty to do, however, so Elden turned and went to join Cassandra.


Elden loved sitting around the campfire, doing nothing more than talking and eating. Today he was rather quiet, content to simply listen as they all told stories. The respite ended all too soon and they turned in, Cassandra staying outside to take first watch. It seemed sleep was determined to elude Elden, however. He kept thinking over what happened with Sera, wondering if this had all been a mistake. Then, of course, there was what had nearly happened to Dorian. Elden knew that he had to become a Champion, particularly if he could use those abilities to prevent anything like that from happening again. He had been so terrified when he saw him go down. But what sort of consequences should he expect?

This line of thinking wasn't particularly helpful, and there was no way he would be sleeping any time soon. He crawled out of the tent, nodding to Cassandra as she patrolled. He moved a ways away from the fire and faced out into the darkness, closing his eyes and enjoying the cool night air, just trying not to think of anything. Cassandra came to sit beside him a short time later.

"Can't sleep?" she asked, staring off into the darkness as well.

"Yeah."

They sat in silence for a time. He could tell she wanted to say more but lacked the words. Finally she spoke. "If you'd like, we can switch watches if you plan to be up for a while."

"Oh, sure, thank you."

"Of course." She stood and hesitated for a moment. "You'll do fine," she said. "You are a natural."

Left alone with his thoughts, Elden tried to occupy his mind by simply scanning the surroundings for danger. More time than he realized had gone by as he heard someone stir within one of the tents. From the muttering and fussing it had to be Dorian. Elden couldn't help but smile as the mage shuffled around, half awake and therefore noisier than usual, before trudging over to him and dropping down beside him.

"You know," Dorian began, and Elden couldn't help noticing that he had his blanket wrapped around him like a robe. "I believe my watch should have started by now."

"I'm not feeling very tired. I thought I'd stay up a bit longer."

Dorian shivered and pulled the blanket more tightly around himself as he watched a smoldering building in the distance. "Well, I guess I can't say you never take me anywhere nice," he joked.

Elden chuckled. They sat in silence for a time, just enjoying each other's company.

"This bout of sleeplessness isn't caused by anything specific, is it?" Dorian finally asked. "How are you feeling about tomorrow's battle? Assuming we can find these Champions, of course."

"I'm trying not to think about it, to be honest," Elden confided. "Did you know I used to do this sort of thing often?"

"Do tell." Dorian turned slightly to give Elden his full attention, and Elden realized just how rare it was for him to talk about his past. He cleared his throat rather awkwardly and continued to stare out into the night.

"Well, not this exactly," Elden said. "I participated in the Grand Tourney in my younger days. I never won anything so it wasn't like anyone knew me by name, but it was fun. Well. The stakes are quite a bit higher now, though, so it's a bit intimidating." Very intimidating, he amended to himself.

"Yes, well, the beauty of traipsing all the way out to this blighted place is that there's no one around to witness it if you fall on your face. Not that I think you're going to fall on your face, although it is a lovely mental image."

"But what does happen if I fail?" Elden turned to look at him, finally voicing aloud the thoughts that were plaguing him. "What if I'm defeated? It isn't just my reputation at stake anymore."

"Anyone able to best you, I say we recruit on the spot," Dorian said with a smile. "Then I suppose we just find someone else to challenge. Your trainer said you only need defeat three, correct? Although I suspect that was just an arbitrary number. But really, if an archdemon and a mountain both dropping on your head couldn't keep you down, I seriously doubt you have anything to worry about from a few barbarians with swords. No offense, of course."

Elden turned back to the dark landscape before him. He felt uncomfortable, all too aware of his own shortcomings. Luck had played a large part in everything that had happened to him, but he doubted anyone would accept that. Perhaps they needed to believe otherwise. Although he had to admit that his main selling point on the battlefield was his ability to take a hit and keep going. Hopefully it would be enough tomorrow.

"Do you still want an assessment on your combat abilities?" Dorian asked, interrupting the silence.

"Please."

"You handle yourself well. I'm not surprised to hear you've done this before. Really, with the way you throw yourself into the fray, they will probably surrender the moment they see a big oaf like you charging towards them. Now, tell me honestly, Inquisitor. Did you bring Varric here so that he could document your glorious victory?"

"That was definitely not my intention," Elden said with an awkward chuckle.

"No? Well, you should consider the idea. I'm sure he could give your exploits an appropriately lurid treatment." Elden snorted, and Dorian grinned at him, no doubt pleased he had succeeded in lightening the mood. They sat in easy silence for a time before Elden eventually retired, thinking that perhaps he would be able to sleep a little after all.