Author's note: TW brief attempted assault
The sight of Haven ahead of them was soothing, and Evelyn heaved a grateful sigh from where she sat astride the horse given to her by Master Dennitt. Behind her she heard Varric give a low whistle. "You know, I never thought I'd ever be this happy to see this place," he muttered, making the other three chuckle softly.
"Open the gates, the Herald approaches!" a soldier yelled from the ramparts, and the doors of Haven began to swing open, the heavy wood groaning as it parted to admit them. Evelyn and the others dismounted before the steps, and a few young men ran forward to take their horses and lead them to the stables. Evelyn patted the neck of her white steed one last time before she began to climb the stairs to enter the village.
She glanced around, noticing how much more crowded the village had become in her absence. The meager light of the dusky sky cast the many tents scattered about in shadow, but the residents of Haven had lit fires all around the camps, their yellow light flickering and dancing on the canvas surroundings.
"You're back!" a deep voice called from her left, and she turned to see the Commander coming toward them down the hill, Leliana and Josephine trailing in his wake. The distance suggested he had rushed ahead of them. "We didn't expect you for several days."
"Cassandra insisted we come back early," Evelyn told him. The Commander looked to the Seeker, and Evelyn saw the other woman give him a meaningful look, which made him give a grateful nod and smile in response.
"Excellent," he replied, returning his gaze to hers. "Well, I'm sure you'd like to rest and get some food, you've had a long journey. We can discuss your accomplishments and our plans tomorrow."
"You don't need to tell me twice," Varric said from behind her, and she saw him stagger off to the tavern. She considered joining him, but found that she longed for a bath first. She raised her gaze back to the Commander's and gave him a curt nod, excusing herself as Leliana and Josephine greeted Cassandra. Solas also wandered away to his tent, which was no longer as isolated as it had been before they had left. They seemed to have gathered a great many followers in the last few weeks.
Once in her quarters she dropped her bag on the ground and leaned her staff against the wall, pulling her cloak and leather coat from her shoulders and throwing them over her desk's chair. She didn't want to think, she didn't want to remember. Right now all she wanted was a hot bath, and as if someone had read her mind, the elf who frequently checked on her came in carrying a metal tub, followed by people who were carrying buckets of water, steam rising as they emptied them into the tub until it was filled.
"Thank you," Evelyn stuttered, surprised at the efficiency with which she had gotten her unspoken wish. The elf gave her a brief smile and curtsy and they all departed, closing the door behind them. It had to have been Josephine's doing, Evelyn mused. It seemed like the sort of thing the Ambassador would think to do.
She walked over to the door and bolted it before she stripped off the rest of her armor and the blouse she wore beneath it, throwing the items haphazardly on the floor, her dirty boots falling with loud thuds when she dropped them. Evelyn didn't hesitate and sank into the tub as quickly as she could, the water sloshing against the sides as she got in. She released a deep sigh, feeling the heat as it scalded her skin and soothed her aching muscles. For a long time she relaxed, her head resting against the back of the metal tub, her eyes closed, her mind blank.
When the water began to cool, she placed her hand on its surface and concentrated, her magic coursing through her and reheating the water until it was once again scalding. She wasn't very adept at fire magic, but she had taught herself small tricks like this while at the Circle, considering them common sense necessities. She could manage reheating water or lighting fires, and occasionally holding a small flame in her hands for personal warmth, but that was the extent. Right now, that little bit of know how was the perfect amount, she decided with a contented sigh.
Eventually she undid her braid and sank beneath the water, wetting her hair before she reached for the soap that had been left on a towel beside the tub. She started at her scalp, massaging intently with her fingers before she gently pulled the suds through the length of her hair, trying to get every bit of the Hinterlands out of the strands. While they had been gone they had bathed in streams, focusing on simply removing dirt and grime, and to try to keep any wounds from festering. But she had longed to feel clean, to feel like herself again, to wash away the memories of the fighting. She spent a long time scrubbing herself with the soap, until her skin was pink and tender from her vigorous scrubbing. When the water finally began to cool again, she stood and rinsed herself with the spare bucket of water that had been left for her before she stepped from the tub. She dried herself with the cloth towel that had been left for her before rubbing her hair with it to get out the excess water. With a happy sigh she found one of her linen blouses and simple wool skirts and pulled them on, slipping her feet into her leather slippers and grabbing her cloak.
She headed toward her door but suddenly had a thought and stooped to where her armor lay on the floor, removing the dagger and scabbard from her belt. The Commander had given it to her for the Hinterlands, but the leather of the scabbard almost seemed worn as though it had been his, and she thought maybe she should return it to him in case it held sentimental value. She planned ask the smith to make one for her, since having a dagger had been a great help with gathering herbs in the Hinterlands. If she ran into the Commander she'd give it back to him, and so she tied it to the sash on her skirt.
Evelyn left her hut, feeling restless. She determined to dry her hair beside a fire or find Varric within the tavern, but she became distracted by the sight of the Breach looming above her. The joyful sounds coming from the encampment and tavern made her recoil, clashing with her melancholy mood. She instead wandered away from them, following along the walls of Haven in the darkness. The wind chilled her as it blew through her damp hair, but she pulled her cloak closer about her shoulders and continued her meandering pace, dragging her fingertips along the rough stone beside her. Evelyn was approaching the Chantry, and she considered seeking Mother Gisele within its walls, but instead she continued past the doors and clung once more to the shadows of the walls. She decided to try to find the Commander's tent so that she could return his dagger before turning in for the evening, suddenly feeling exhausted. She was deep in thought, memories of the last few weeks running through her mind, and she was lost to her surroundings. She missed the footsteps behind her until it was too late.
An arm snatched out at her, grabbing her roughly around the waist and pulling her back against a hard figure. Evelyn shrieked in surprise and another hand clamped over her mouth. The overpowering smell of ale filled her nostrils, and she struggled against the person holding her. They spun her roughly and pushed her against the stone wall beside them, holding tight to her thrashing form. One arm pushed across her shoulders, pinning her to the wall, the other fumbled at the folds of her cloak and grabbed clumsily at the fabric of her shirt.
It had happened so fast, so unexpectedly, and Evelyn's mind went blank with surprised terror. She pushed against the figure before her, and she could hear his rough, drunken voice trying to calm her, saying he just wanted a bit of fun. She heaved against his chest, clawed at his grip, trying desperately to slip away from his fumbling fingers as she turned her head this way and that to avoid his wet mouth. He no longer had her mouth covered with his hand and she was crying out, gasping with her efforts to free herself.
Her mind was so panicked, so taken off guard, she completely forgot she contained the power of lightning. But she pushed at his waist, hoping she could gain some traction against his soft belly, thinking maybe she could push him off balance. As he pushed back against her, her hand brushed the leather scabbard at her waist…