Ana sits beside the fire, her blanket wrapped around her as she watches Alistair stoke the flames of their little campfire with a stick. She had tried to sleep but had been stirred from her slumber by an annoyed and wet Alistair entering their tent to retrieve his own blanket.
Seeing Hawke and his sister approaching, Ana jumps up from where she's sitting to greet them.
"I hope we're not disturbing you." Nate grins. His eyes gravitate to Ana as he talks to them both. "We've brought you some clothes, as promised. Hopefully traveling will be a little easier now without the blatant target on your back."
"That's very kind of you." Ana smiles. "We appreciate everything you've done for us. I'm completely in your debt."
Nate smiles. "No need. I did it to help a friend."
As Bethany hands the clothes off to Alistair, Nate clears his throat before lowering his voice. "Can I...um, speak with you privately?"
Ana's brows draw together. "Of course." Leading her a little ways away, Nate turns to face her.
"Is everything alright?" She asks. "Did somebody visit you?"
He shakes his head. "No. Nothing like that…" He sees her confused expression and reaches into his pocket, his fingers wrapping around the vial. "I wanted to speak with you about last night. When we…."
Realizing what he's referring to, she nods. She feels the heat rise to her cheeks as she moves a loose strand of hair from her face. "Oh."
"I don't regret what happened," It quickly reassures her. "But the way it ended…." He pauses, looking around them before lowering his voice. "I didn't mean to… finish inside you. I should have pulled out…"
She shushes him as she steps forward, her hand coming up to touch his cheek. "It's okay."
He frowns. "What if I had gotten you with child? Becoming pregnant in your current situation is already a bad idea but to have my child would be even worse."
"Because there's a likelihood of it being born with magical abilities." She finishes.
"Exactly." He nods. Grabbing her hand, he presses the vial in her palm, his eyes meeting hers. "I could never subject you to that burden."
Her hand closes around the vial. "What's this?" Her eyes move down to the vial of dark liquid in her hand.
"It's a potion to prevent conception of a child." He replies. "You've already been through so much already and have your plate full as it is. You shouldn't have to worry about a child as well."
Tears threaten to form as she embraces him. "Thank you." She whispers, her eyes closing as she feels his arms wrap around her. As she pulls away, she offers him a sad smile. "While I appreciate this, I doubt it's needed." She holds the vial out to him.
"Ana…."
"If what happened at my Joining is any indicator, somehow I doubt the taint in my blood will allow me to have any children…ever."
"You don't know that." He whispers. "Please, just take it. The woman says that it needs to be taken 3 days after intercourse and will cause minor spotting and cramping."
"Nate…" She starts but seeing his expression, she relents. "Fine. If it'll make you feel better, I'll take it."
He watches as she opens it and drinks before putting the stopper back on top. A sense of relief washes over him. He smiles. "I know you'll have plenty of children in your future but now just isn't the time. Maybe when this is all over…"
At the very mention of this, Ana feels her heart rate quicken. "Nate… I—"
Alistair calls over to them, to which Ana rolls her eyes.
"Looks like we're being summoned." Nate chuckles. Nate places his hand on Ana's lower back and leads her back to where Alistair and Bethany are waiting.
"Thank you again, for everything Hawke." Alistair says, his eyes shifting to Ana for a split second before returning. "We have a long journey ahead and the clothes you've given us should at least give us a better chance of slipping under the radar."
"It was truly an honor." He says, his eyes flicking over to Ana. "I'm just so happy that I could see you both once more before you set out." A slight frown tugs at the corners of his mouth. "I only wish that we had some armor we could spare. Carver's armor is too small for you and I have no pieces of my own to spare."
"You've helped us more than most." Ana smiles.
Choosing that moment to show, Morrigan surprises everyone by slinking her way over. She casually strides over, ignoring the half horrified, half curious glances she receives from her companions' friends.
"This is Morrigan." Ana quickly introduces. "Her mother saved us at Ostagar and tended our wounds."
"I'm Bethany." Bethany says, her expression of awe making Morrigan raise her brow in amusement. "Nate's sister."
"And I'm Nate." Nate smirks.
Ana feels a tinge of jealousy and quickly tries to bury it deep down. She raises her chin. "So, we have a destination in mind?" She asks to nobody in particular.
Before Alistair has a chance to speak, Nate quickly pipes up.
"Before you head out, allow me to do one last thing," Nate offers, motioning off to the enclosed village. "With the recent influx of refugees, allow me to at least help you haggle for supplies. The demand for goods is high and merchants here tend to be a bit greedy."
"That's kind but we—" Alistair says but is quickly cut off.
"That would be wonderful." Ana smiles. "Thank you."
After having both Wardens change into their new clothes, the Hawke siblings and two Wardens head toward the village gates with Much walking beside his mistress. Heading toward the open square at the center of the village, they see the lone cart of a merchant who seems to be in the middle of a heated argument with a lay sister. They watch as the merchant shoves the woman. Exchanging a glance, they take off at a run, stopping a few feet away before joining the small group of what looks to be refugees gathered around.
"Back off! I have the right to charge as I wish" The man growls.
"You profit off their misfortune!" The sister cries. "I should have the Templars give away everything from your cart!"
Nate and his group manage to move toward the front of the group.
"You wouldn't dare!" The man hisses, stepping closer to the Sister. "You step too close to my goods and I'll—"
"It's so nice to see everyone working together in a crisis! Warms the heart." Alistair mutters, sardonically.
Hearing him, the merchant turns his contemptuous gaze outward, his eyes landing on the smaller group at the front f the crowd. His eyes narrow before seeing the sword hanging off Alistair's hip. "Oh, you there!" He calls, motioning him forward. "Would you care to make a tiny profit helping a beleaguered businessman?"
Alistair's brows draw together as he looks around himself in confusion.
"Yes, you!"
Touching Alistair's shoulder, Nate gives the warden a look before he steps forward. "Is your profiteering ruffling some feathers?" He asks, his tone light and joking.
The merchant looks away from Alistair to him. "You could say that, yes."
"The nerve of these people!" Alistair mutters. Ana nudges him and quells him with a look.
"He is charging outlandish prices for things people desperately need!" The Chantry sister cries. "Their blood is filling his pockets!"
"There have been so many of these men lately." Bethany explains. Ana turns so see the stoney expression on the young woman's face. "Heartless opportunists all."
Morrigan scoffs, making Morrigan smirk as Alistair jumps slightly. "Tis only survival of the fittest. These cretins would do the same in his shoes, given the chance."
Alistair shoots her a glare. "Why am I not surprised you don't find this to be the least bit wrong?"
Her bright yellow eyes turn on him in amusement but she says nothing.
"I have limited supplies." The merchant shrugs. "People determine what those supplies are worth to them." He leans back against his covered wagon of goods as somebody nearby calls him a murder and swindler.
"You bought most of your wares from these very people last week!" The chantry sister frowns. "Now they flee for their lives and you want to talk business?"
The merchant sighs, turning his attention toward Alistair and Nate once more. "Look, guys..." He says, motioning toward the chantry sister. "I have 100 silvers if you drive this rabble off, starting with this priest. I'm an honest merchant, nothing more."
"100 silvers?" Morrigan muses. "I believe that would be enough to buy supplies. How much is your honor worth, Alistair?" She smirks as he stares daggers at her.
"Don't you think you're being unscrupulous?" Nate inquires, crossing his arms over his chest.
The man shrugs. "Would it help these folk if could buy no goods at all?"
The chantry sister lets out an incredulous scoff. "They spend their very last coin because they are desperate and this man preys upon them as surely as the bandits outside the city!" She exclaims, throwing her hands up. "What is this country coming to?"
The merchant rolls his eyes. Pushing away from his wagon, squares his shoulders. "Bah! I'm not arguing anymore!" He says. He motions toward the sister once more. "Drive off this woman and get your 100 silvers or I'm taking my wagon and leaving!"
The small crowd roars both one half shouting about injustice while the others call good riddance. Ana moves closer to Nate as he tries his best to calm the crowd. He turns back to the merchant.
"I think you can compromise and still make a profit, no?" He asks. "Let's be honest here. The roads are filled with bandits and Maker knows what else that would happily pick you and your wagon clean. Why risk that over something as minor as prices?"
The chantry shoots him an incredulous look. The merchant thinks about this before finally shrugging. "Perhaps." He points to the Sister with his chin. "If that woman agrees I'm allowed to charge something , maybe."
All eyes move to the Chantry sister who sighs.
"Do what you must; So long as the prices to not beggar the needy."
Nate grins, clasping his hands together. "Ah, now see? I knew we could come to an agreement!"
"Fine, fine. Done!" The merchant says with a dismissive wave. He looks Nate and his group over with a sneer. "And since you don't look to needy, normal prices for you. All of you."
"Great." Alistair mutters, but most ignore or don't hear him.
"So, we have come to solve every squabble in the village personally. My, but the darkspawn will be impressed." Morrigan smirks.
The group of bystanders quickly swoop in to deal with the merchant and the chantry sister approaches Nate.
"Thank you for your generous assistance." She smiles. "It's hard enough in these times without the occasional vulture picking at the remains."
"It was no problem." Nate smiles.
She nods and raises a hand in blessing. "May the Maker watch over your path." With a nod to his companions, she turns and walks back through the crowd toward the chantry.