One bowl of stew and half a mug of ale later, Ella knew the gist of what had happened while she'd slept. Basically they'd traveled. Oh, and Solas had apparently been possessive of her to the point of snarling at anyone who came close as he insisted on carrying her in his lap on his horse. Though she was highly doubtful of the first part of Ivy's story she was less doubtful of the second.

He had been… different since she woke. In truth different for some time now from the man she'd meet when she first was freed from the dungeons so many weeks ago. Or perhaps she'd changed. She wasn't totally sure. That had been a month ago? A little more? Was that really possible? In any case, the animosity had somehow turned to friendship and that underlying attraction she'd had towards him from the start hadn't gone away. If anything it had gotten worse. Even the thought of sitting in his lap stirred something deep and warm in her belly.

Suddenly a hand was waving in front of her eyes and she was brought out of her thoughts. A good thing considering.

"I said are you going to finish that?" Ivy gestured at the half finished beer.

"No, go ahead."

She grabbed the beer taking a big chug before slamming it down and looking at Ella, "You need to fuck already."

"I- what?"

"Solas. Fuck Solas." Before Ella could speak Ivy put up a hand, "Yeah you can deny all you want but, this is getting ridiculous sissy. You both are in so deep but can't see it and the tension is giving me a headache." She rubbed her temples giving an exaggerated sigh, "Along with everyone else no doubt."

Ella's mouth turned down, "It is not like that ok. He doesn't see me that way and I'm mar-" She stopped herself short realizing what she'd almost done.

"You're mare? What does that mean?" Ivy's eyes widened before she snickered, "Is that the word for when you haven't had sex yet where you come from?"

"No! I've definitely had…" Ella let her head fall so her forehead hit the table with a soft thump mumbling to herself, "Why? Why me?" Then louder, "You'd think with the rifts and everything you'd have better things to concern yourself with."

"Never. Sissy's wellbeing is one of my top priorities."

Her head shot up to look at Ivy again, "Wellbeing my ass. This is not about that you're just being… I don't know."

"Helpful is the word you're looking for." Ivy reached across the table to pat Ella's shoulder speaking before Ella could get a word out. "Pent up lust is bad for the health. Now," she stood cracking her neck before she grabbed her mug. "I need to find that dwarf. He owes me another game of Wicked Grace. Stay out of trouble and by that I mean get into trouble with that elf."

Ella rolled her eyes as Ivy left in search of Varric. Once Ivy had moved away Ella's eyes went around the rest of the space, fingers drumming idly on the wood table. She could feel a sweat starting to form on her body. She was still wearing clothing more suited to the wintery landscape they'd left and it was starting to become uncomfortable.

She knew that Ivy had stuffed some random clothing items in her pack though she hadn't really gone through everything yet she hoped some would be more suitable for this weather. The storage room would probably be fine to change in quickly too while she was done there. Easy one stop shop.

After she had taken her bowls over to a large basin with the other finished ones she made her way out to the deck and in the direction of the storage space. Before she could get there a familiar voice called out to her, "Hey Kitten up for a game? I need a new challenger. The Herald is losing her- ow."

She turned towards the pair right in time to see Ivy pulling back from what was probably a solid punch in the shoulder. She snorted and replied, "As amazing as getting teased by both of you sounds-"

"Tease you? Why Kitten, I would never!" Varric put a hand to his chest in mock shock earning another punch from Ivy.

"It isn't teasing. Just stating the truth. Deal. Stop putting off the inevitable." Ivy glared down Varric daring him to disobey her as she continued, "Where are you headed so determined anyways? It's a ship only so many things to do. Unless…" Her eyes came up to find Ella's and she wiggled them in the most ridiculous manner Ella had ever seen.

It made her laugh too much for her to be annoyed, "No. Stop already. Just going to get my pack. I'll be back up in a bit and I'll watch this round."

"Suit yourself." Ivy's attention went back to the game, "Hurry up old man."

Varric made no move to hurry his dealing, "Patience is a virtue, Spiker. You can't rush perfection."

Ella was still smiling as she went down the stairs to the storage area. The smile slipped however when she felt the presence of something at the bottom of the steps. Was it a ward? Why would someone set…

It was faint but she could make out heavy breathing, breathing that if she didn't know better she would swear… there was a moan, rich and heavy with desire. Her eyes widened and she turned to find the source of the sound without thinking. That's when she saw him. In truth part of her had known as soon as she heard but seeing was…

Solas had tucked himself in the corner and behind some barrels so she wasn't able to see all of him. What she could see was his face, eyes facing down at something on the barrel, his full lips parted slightly, and one hand gripping the rim of the barrell. The other hand… her eyes traveled down and she could just make out a sculpted thigh and outline of his taut buttock.

Then he started to move rocking his hips in a way that made her skin flush with arousal. He was unguarded, unmasked, he was… glorious. She licked her lips as she felt her own sex responding to his actions. It was enough of a throb to snap her out of it and panic flared.

She started to dart back up the stairs but paused. Ivy and Varric knew she was going down here for her pack. If she came back up so fast they'd want to know why, Ivy would not let it go, and her brain would certainly not be able to come up with something believable in its current state.

With her heart thruming she forced herself to make a quick but quiet path towards their stuff. Despite the sounds behind her sending jolts of desire through her body she forced her eyes to stay focused on her bag and to focus on her own breathing.

It took only moments but felt like forever before she got to her bag. She grabbed it turning back to the stairs in one movement and hurrying there. Though she tried to keep her eyes on the slant of light at the steps they betrayed her and glanced back to him.

His pace had quickened and she swore his body had started to shake. All that lean muscle she wondered what he would look like if he…

Stop it. Stop idiot just get out. This is wrong to spy. It's not for you. Not for-

"Ella."

Her foot froze on the first step at the sound. Had he just said… no definitely not. Wishful thinking that she shouldn't even be having. She misheard surely, he didn't care for her like that.

She started to continue upstairs when again his voice came to her ears hoarse and beautiful with need, "Nuvenan rosa'da'din in ma sule enan'ma." That must have been elven. Whatever it was it was delicious sounding and she almost lost her footing. Then he continued more moan then word, "Ella, Sathan."

Her name on his lips was distracting enough when he was just saying it normally. When he was saying it so heavy with his desire she found her legs were suddenly no longer able to work properly. She slipped as she took the step. The ankle of her left leg twisted hard and she fell to her knee onto the step wincing at the pain and the sound. Her eyes shot up expecting him to be looking at her with… what? Would he be angry or hot with desire? She wasn't sure which one would be worse.

His moaning increased as did the thrust of his hips before he spoke again voice coming out half growl, "Yes, Ella. There."

Her name on his lips once more turned her to jelly. Despite the fact that she knew he was cumming, that she knew he would soon see her, she could not move. She couldn't take her eyes off him. Even here in the half light he was beautiful and he was thinking of… of her, while he did… that. It was… her brain lost the ability to make words.

This loss of words happened at the ideal time of course because just then his head snapped up and those piercing grey eyes found hers. They both must have just set there staring at each other for several minutes before time caught up with them.

Solas moved quickly to cover himself as he spoke, "Ella I-"

She forced words out barely aware what she was saying, "I'm sorry I didn't… I'm sorry!"

With that she scampered up the stairs as fast as her twisted ankle would allow her. The moment she was above deck she took a deep inhale of salty air before starting away from the storage area as fast as she could.

In the back of her mind she registered Ivy's voice saying her name as she hurried by but her senses were too gone, too focused on what she'd just experienced, to have her acknowledge it. She didn't stop going until she was pressed against the end of the ship and looking over into the frothing water. It was as far from the storage area as she could manage.

Her heart pounded and her traitorous body tingled, all her nerves felt sensitive. Even something as simple as the cloth against her now heavy breasts and nipples was distracting. She felt the sweat on her brow had increased and her knees wobbled.

The pack dropped with a thump onto the deck as her fingers lost their grip. She turned and followed, her back leaning against the wood side of the ship as she pulled her knees up and her head down. Whatever other passengers or ferry crew were around didn't concern her at the moment. Their looks, their opinions, weren't important.

If he came to her after this and asked her… if he told her he wanted her… asked her to… She felt herself shake. What a horrible person she had become. It had only been a bit over a month or so and she was already…

If he came to her she wasn't dumb enough to think she wouldn't respond to him, that she didn't want him too. What the fuck was wrong with her? She was married. She would be going back. She never had felt desire towards anyone but Luke. Besides a passing acknowledgment of good looks… Luke had been it for her. Now here she was, her husband back in their world and her here, mad with lust over another man.

The worst thing about it all, the thing that solidified with her that she must be a horrid person, was that her main concern was Solas. Her concern was that not only would he never come to her in a sexual fashion but that he would leave her totally. She would lose him in every way. That idea chased away the desire and replaced it with a hum of dread.

She took a shuddering breath and hugged her knees closer. She had no idea what to do now. She'd never been in this kind of position. She'd never stumbled upon someone masturbating much less masturbating to thoughts of her, assuming he wasn't moaning to some other Ella.

The memory of her name said in that breathy moan of need refreshed her desire. She groaned in irritation at her own body. It could mean nothing. It probably just meant he was, had been, mildly attracted to her and she was the easiest to conjure in his mind at that moment. That's what she should want it to be but her traitorous body made it clear she had hopes it wasn't so simple.

After a few more minutes huddled on the deck floor and sorting through her thoughts she decided that she would let him come to her. After all, though it had been an accident, she had walked in on his private moment. She was the one at fault. So she'd let him make the first move.

That decided she took one more deep breath and stood. She picked up her pack before making her way back to Ivy in order to ask where she could change. After, she'd figure out how she could make sure she gave Solas his space till he wanted her around again. If he wanted her around again.