.xxv.

Carver is the first to get seasick.

Merrill looks after him attentively as he vacates the contents of his stomach into the ocean yet again. As she comfortingly rubs his back, she catches sight of Isabela grinning triumphantly, collecting her money. The beautiful pirate winks at her without shame.

"Very tactful, Rivaini," Varric reproves, looking a little green himself.

"That's my middle name, you know."

"I'm going to kill you," threatens Carver, before convulsing again, gripping the edges of the ship with white knuckles. He retches until there is nothing left, and then greatly accepts one of her home made potions, without even questioning what it is. Several empty glass bottles sit on the deck between the two of them, shifting lightly in time with the boat.

"You held out longer than I expected you would," Isabela chuckles, waltzing past them, light on her feet. "Take good care of him, Kitten. We want him in fighting shape when we arrive."

"He can just throw up on anyone who gives us trouble," Sebastian suggests dryly, not even looking up from where he polishes his bow, concentration lining his face.

"Oh, that's a fantastic idea," encourages the pirate, adjusting with the rigging. "They wouldn't dare mess with us after that."

"Why does my sister associate with these people?" Carver mumbles dejectedly, the worst of his sickness apparently having passed.

"They're not always this bad," Merrill tries to convince him, but Aveline scoffs.

"Yes, yes they are always this bad."

"If it makes you feel any better," Merrill whispers to him, beneath the teasing chatter of her friends, "I think you held out very long."

He groans in response, and she can't tell if it's her encouragement, or if he's feeling ill again, so she simply brushes his hair back gently, rubbing his head. Sometimes Keeper Marethari would do the same for her when she felt sick, and it always helped.

"Thank you, Merrill," he answers, looking pallid. "I appreciate the help."

"I like helping you," she says, without thinking, and then becomes terribly aware of how foolish it sounds, and clamps her mouth shut. Carver grins at her a little, and she doesn't even mind that she can see bits of last night's meal caught in his teeth.

"I hope you feel better now," she says as he stands hesitantly, supporting himself on her outstretched arms as much as he dares to without looking emasculated.

"I do, actually. What was in that potion?"

"You don't want to know," Anders calls out from across the deck, looking up momentarily from the parchment he's been scribbling on all afternoon. "Don't ask questions and just be glad it works."

Carver shoots him an irritated look. "Probably for the better, anyway," he wipes his mouth with a shrug. "I've seen what my sister puts into some of them, and that was frightening, to say the least."

"She once confused the recipes for a health potion and debilitating poison. Almost killed me!" Isabela laughs, shaking her head reminiscently. "Ah, good times."

"Remember when we caught Galahad drinking out of her potions bag?" asks Varric with a smirk. "I thought he was a goner. That much lyrium could floor a Templar."

"That's nothing. I once caught him gnawing on one of those corpses Fenris keeps in his foyer," Carver says, smirk pulling at his lips. She's glad to see him smile now. If occurs to her that she's actually rather missed his lopsided smile over the years.

"I don't keep them there," Fenris corrects. "They are the work of some enchantment."

"My mistake. That's even worse, though."

"It's amazing what that hound has survived, really. Mabari are a very resilient race." Sebastian comments. "And the way he gets stuck places, he might even be part cat as well."

Anders looks incensed by the suggestion. "That creature is not part cat."

The debate carries on without them, while Isabela eggs the two sides on.

"So," Carver begins, "Nice sailing weather." Suddenly he looks nauseous again, though in a different way.

"It is. I hope it stays this way. It's very nice when the sun shines."

"Me too."

They sit in silence, and she fidgets with a buckle on her shirt, staring at the planks beneath her bare feet. Being around him, even after all these years still makes her search for words that don't sound inane.

"I'm glad you're here. I mean, I'm glad to see you again. Even though it's not really a good reason why you're here, but it's still good that you're here, so I'm glad for that. I mean, not for why you're here-" he is looking at her peculiarly, "I should stop talking now."

"No! No, you shouldn't! I'm glad that you're glad that I'm here!" A second lapses where they both try to puzzle what he has just said. Suddenly, they both laugh at how silly they sound. "I mean I'm glad to see you too. Even if the situation is less than desirable."

"Now I'm feeling sick," Anders snorts, but she pays him no heed.

On a whim, she slides her small hand into his big, calloused palm. His fingers close around hers. She beams at him.

Well she does, until his face falls, and he throws himself over the edge of the ship, retching.

Author's Note: Okay, trying this again, is it all clear guys? I don't know why it did that! Anyway, I hope it's legible now. Thank you Blue Wolf29, Salji, and Elyssa Cousland for pointing out that weird little glitch. I have to admit I nearly choked when I logged in and saw all those messages waiting for me. I was wondering what I had done wrong!

Hey you guys! Hope you're doing well. Here's chapter 25 for your viewing pleasure, with a special dedication to Nezumi, who suggested such a great idea that I just had to include it (Galahad is actually not at all offended at your suggestion, it's probably true!)

Avatarfan444: Ah! your reviews make me grin! Thank you for your well wishes! I really liked how the game hinted at how the other characters interacted off screen, and I wanted to elaborate on that a bit. I couldn't let Anders and Fenris fight for the rest of the story, their actually very similar, and their dedication to Hawke is one thing they can always agree on. And as for Varania, I hated her too, at first (how could she do that to her own brother!), but I can kind of see where she's coming from. Later on, I hope to make her motivations more clear.

Tanith's crazy twin: Am I making you ship Carver and Merrill? I hope do! I always thought their awkward banter was adorable, and their alsoa pretty good foil for Hawke and Fenris, who are a little more serious and weighty.

Soon to come: Hawke does not get paid enough to deal with this! Do you hate Danarius yet? Because if you don't you'll certainly be getting closer to it soon enough! Somebody take away my keyboard! Stay tuned!