After having walked to the cave, Jade and Vicky collapsed. Cailyn looked over to Matt and raised an eyebrow.
"You guys really don't do much do you?" Cailyn said, crossing her arms.
"We do so! It's just that most of it involves drinking and partying not walking until your legs fall off." Jade gasped, sprawled out on the ground.
"Well, it's only a little ways off. We can make it there by sundown." Matt said, scuffing his boot in the dirt. Vicky looked up from her place on the ground and saw a familiar black haired man walking towards them.
"Well if it isn't my favourite little elf. What are you doing up here?" Hawke smirked, pulling Jade to her feet.
"Sophie's cousin went missing. Some stupid lyrium addict sold her to slavers. You know, heroic stuff like that." Vicky brushed herself off.
"Strange, I seem to be getting a sense of déjà vu." Hawke muttered, a smug smile on his face, "I don't suppose you'd let me have this one?"
"Go right ahead. I'm knackered anyway." Jade shrugged. Having only just noticed who came with Hawke, she stiffened immediately. Hawke nodded and walked into the cave. Isabella and Anders following close behind, Anders waving and Isabella flipping Jade a silver coin.
Vicky turned to the last of Hawke's band of misfits, nodding and smiling in greeting. Jade and Fenris just stared at each other for a second, before Jade hastily turned away muttering something about setting up camp. Fenris started to walk into the cave but stole a glance at Jade before he left. Noticing the tension, Cailyn turned to Jade.
"What was that about? Some lover's quarrel or something?"
"Not exactly lovers anymore, in case you hadn't noticed." Jade muttered.
"What? When did this happen?"
"A few weeks ago. It's been a pain in the arse because Hawke likes to drag us both around." Jade said, taking a swig from a flask on her hip. "It's awkward as all hell."
"But what happened? I need the juicy details here."
"I'm not about to have my relationships be the talk of the tavern thank you very much." Jade snapped. "Now let's get this camp set up. I need a drink."
An hour later, just after sundown, Vicky, Jade, Cailyn and Matt were sitting around the fire. Jade was singing the tale of Alistair, the king of Fereldan, while Matt had passed out. Cailyn was listening to Jade's song while Victoria wrote down the days events in her journal.
Jade had just finished her song when Hawke and friends exited from the cave and walked over. Hawke sat himself down by the fire and Isabella came and sat down next to him. Anders sat across from Jade and Fenris sat next to Vicky. A human girl came and sat next to Cailyn.
"You taking requests? I need something to take my mind off of that place." She said, rubbing her shoulder.
"Sure. So you're Maddi. Anything in particular?"
"Something happy, something to drink to." Maddi said, reaching for a mug of ale.
"How about something romantic? I'm in the mood for that." Anders said, nonchalantly.
"Yeah well, I'm not. So how about fame and fortune?" Jade snapped.
"That's about right isn't it? You never were one for romance." Anders mused.
"Shove a sock in it. You get nothing now, and don't even think of taking the ale." Jade grumbled, downing another mug.
"You're such a grumpy drunk, it's a wonder that Fenris put up with you."
"He didn't." Jade mumbled, staring at the bottom of her cup. The camp fell silent, the only sound being Matt's faint snoring.
"Ugh look, I'll sing the bloody song, just give me a second." Jade sighed, refilling her mug.
"You don't have to if you don't want to." Fenris said. Jade simply sat silently, refusing to look at him.
"So, what will it be? The ballad of Somersday or the Elf's flower?" She asked. Seeming to finally snap, Fenris rose to his feet.
"Why do you ignore me? I've done nothing for you to hate me for!" He snapped, a frown in his face.
"You're the one who ended it! You have no right to say that!" Jade yelled back, rising to her feet.
"You have no idea what it was like! There was too much to handle, l would never have ended it if it didn't happen!" They started to get in each other's faces, getting closer as they were arguing.
"I gave myself to you, you asshole! And you just left me! You didn't even explain why until I had to track you down!"
Fenris bit down on his lip, an odd look in his face. Suddenly, he grabbed Jade's face, pressing his lips against her own. When they parted, Jade froze, and after a few seconds, started to bawl. Fat tears rolled down her face and she tried to wipe them away quickly. Seeming to panic, Fenris at first tried to comfort her and when that didn't work he said he need to take a walk, leaving everyone there staring.
"Well, that was dramatic." Cailyn said, sighing. Vicky reached over and calmed the elf down.
"I-I need to talk to him. I'll be fine, just..." Jade turned and walked off, in the direction he had headed. Isabella just laughed and turned to Hawke.
"Well that was more interesting than a song I've heard about a thousand times before. Poor girl though, stuck with that emotionless sack of-" Hawke cut her off by turning to Vicky.
"You know, when we get to Kirkwall, I'll have to introduce you to my brother, Carver. You two will hit it of well, I think."
"Sure but I don't think I can do that right away. I've got some stuff to do." Vicky nodded, then turned towards her tent. "I think I'm going to get to sleep now. Too much drama for one day."
"Same here, so I'll just take Matt's tent since he's not using it." Hawke said, Isabella following him.
The rest of them headed off to bed, and woke the next morning. Fenris had returned and was busy sharpening his sword. Jade was mysteriously missing, and Matt was complaining about everyone drinking his ale.
"And someone stole fifty silvers off me too! Who was it? I swear when I get my hands on you.." He cursed.
"Actually, I'm missing fifty silvers as well." Hawke said, checking his coin purse.
"Same here." Anders called. It turns out that everyone had been missing fifty silvers.
"I bet it was Jade, she probably drunk all my ale too." Matt muttered, bemoaning the loss of his stash.
"Where is Jade? I haven't seen her." Vicky said, looking around.
"When I came back, she stayed behind. She said she needed to think." Fenris responded, an odd look in his eyes.
"She'll come back eventually. Let's go and get that reward now!" Isabella exclaimed. Hawke shrugged, said goodbye to Vicky and Cailyn, and left for Kirkwall. Vicky and crew packed up the camp and followed Hawke's path.
