"These smell terrible..." Andra whispered from around the corner of the cabin's exterior as she pulled on the long, thin, faded brown trench coat. She wasn't going to let either Solas nor Dallen see her undress and so had moved over to an adjacent wall face of the building so she could have some privacy—still tucked in the shadows of the cabin and out of sight from the city down below. Lastly, she tugged down, as low as would allow, a dingy, navy blue, wooly cap that looked as if it had both been washed a handful too many times, nearly falling apart at the seams, and also hadn't been washed in decades.

"I sincerely hope you weren't expecting comfort, we are being smuggled like cargo, after all," Solas replied over his shoulder, a faint twinge of bitterness in his voice as he pulled on his own revolting garments.

"I just wasn't expecting to have to wear someone else's dirty clothes, is all," Andra replied.

Both of their outfits were well worn, sporting holes and patchwork in several places. Solas' own coat appeared to have lost one of its arms at one point as the thread work where a new arm had been sewed on was horrendous and chunky and the material of the sleeve—while still relatively the same color—had a different texture than the rest of the fabric. Neither elf was even willing to comment on their shoes—fraying at the seams, smelling of decaying fish.

Andra felt nervousness and excitement rush through her. She had never done anything like this before. Even all the fighting and the dragon slaying and walking through the Fade with the Inquisition didn't prepare her for the heady rush she was feeling right now.

It was a sort of normal danger that she hadn't experienced in a long time. It wasn't scary, both Andra and Solas were more than confident in their skills to take care of themselves. If they got caught, Andra believed in her abilities enough to know that any harm that came their way would be limited, if not altogether nonexistent. There was nothing to worry about. But it was just the air, sizzling with the electricity of a completely normal day with completely normal danger, that had Andra almost bouncing from one foot to another. She had seen dragons scorch the Earth with fire and lightning; had peered into the Breach—a hole torn into the sky by a Tevinter Magister using ancient, Elvhen magic—and watched as the Inquisitor sealed it shut; she had witnessed the dead rise from the waters of the Fallow Mire; she had walked physically through the Fade with her friends; and she had discovered that her entire life was a lie.

Andra had lived through experiences others could never even dream of, and she survived. For better or worse, she wouldn't trade away any of those memories. They were important to her, they shaped who she was now. Getting a little battered and bruised was worth it if it meant she didn't have to sit in the dark anymore.

Once dressed in their new clothes, Dallen tossed a large burlap sack at Solas as Andra rejoined them. It hit the bald elf square in the chest which eared the burly smuggler a scowl in return. "Put th' rest of your things 'n there. You can't be seen with weapons or valuables on your person," Dallen explained, completely nonchalant. This was just another day of business for him.

As Solas packed their belongings away, Andra ran her hands over her bow that she had been given—specially crafted for her—by one of the elders in her old clan. The branches and leaves carved into the curving wood seemed to swim with life, as all nature does, and Andra felt her heart ache at the thought of being parted from it.

"At'll 'ave to go 'n th' bag too, lass," Dallen spoke softly. "Don't worry, y'll get it all back once we're on th' ship."

Reluctantly, Andra stored the bow away and Dallen then wrapped a tight knot around the sack's opening, securing the goods inside, before hefting it over his shoulder.

"Please be careful with that," Andra pleaded, her mind running rampant with sounds of cracking wood.

"Aye," Dallen reassured, flashing Andra a surprisingly clean smile. She couldn't help but smile back. "Th' two o' you stay here. I'll send one o' my boys fer you when it's time."

"You're leaving us here?" Solas questioned with a raised eyebrow, suspicion coiled inside him, waving red flags.

"Can't very well take ya with me," Dallen chuckled at the idea, "No, y'll be brought 'n with th' rest of the cargo. My boy, Rheis, will explain when he comes fer you. Be ready. If either o' you gets cold feet, I'm calling th' whole thing off."

Andra nodded her acknowledgment while Solas sighed heavily beside her.

Retreating back to the city, off in the direction of the Port, the burly smuggler left the duo to their own devices. It would be some hours before all preparations were ready. Though, Andra did wonder what 'being brought in with the rest of the cargo' meant. But if Varric trusted him then she did too.

.

.

.

"Do you think it'll be much longer?" Andra asked as she absently stabbed a stick into the ground, gouging shallow trenches with no discernible pattern.

The sun had already set, leaving only echoes of its brilliance behind. A beautiful canvas of reds and yellows and blues all mingled in the sky as they slowly faded into oblivion—becoming transparent as stars winked into existence.

"Eager to commit crime?" Solas jabbed, leaning against the cabin, watching the blonde elf before him with some amusement.

"I'm just tired of waiting," Andra sighed, pressing too hard on the twig in her hand and snapping it in two. She eyed the dead branch in annoyance before tossing the pieces away from her and standing up, dusting off her rotting clothes. She wasn't spared the irony in the action.

"Well, complain no more," Solas said, gesturing down the sloping hill.

Ignoring the mockery, Andra turned and tried to see the figure that approached. The night shrouded any prominent features but she was able to make out clothing just as disgusting as her own, along with a walking cane. The figure was also short, well under both Andra and Solas' own heights, and seemed to favor their left side.

The stranger raised their right hand as they drew closer, "Ho there, friends," they said, voice gruff and scratchy. No doubt the result of many years spent smoking. "I'm Rheis," the stranger introduced when they were finally close enough for both Andra and Solas to see.

Remarkably, Rheis didn't actually have any discernible features besides his lame leg. No scars on his face, plain hair and eyes, he wasn't even fit or overweight. Just... average. He was painfully average.

When neither of the elves spoke, surprised at how unremarkable the man before them was, Rheis hurried along. "Straight to business then," he said, followed by a sharp 'tsk', "Follow me."

He turned around and immediately began hobbling back towards Jader. Solas and Andra exchanged glances, this night was turning out to be not what they expected, but they hurried along and kept pace with the stout man.

Surprisingly, Rheis managed quite a quick shamble. He was by no means as fast as someone who had two perfectly working legs, but Andra and Solas found they had to walk a little faster than normal to keep up. Though, it did look painful. Quick or not, it couldn't be good for Rheis to be leaning so heavily into his cane, putting pressure on his bad side. It almost looked like he was hopping—or, Andra imagined, that would be how someone with only one leg would be forced to walk. It was actually somewhat mesmerizing, despite how uncomfortable it made her feel in her own limbs.

.

Jader drew closer as the minutes passed. Even at night, Andra could see the streets bustled with activity. Of course, her view was obstructed by the wall that stretched around the city, but through the main entrance she saw people walking to-and-fro.

"This way," Rheis instructed, "and keep your heads down. Don't draw any attention to yourselves or this will turn ugly." He cast a shot over his shoulder in time to see the two elves nodding their heads in understanding. Their silent response made him crack a small smile as he returned his gaze to the path ahead of him. Finally, people with competence for once.

Before reaching the city, Rheis began walking in a slightly different direction. He slowed, dropping into a more casual walk between his two charges. "I'm not taking you into Jader," he explained softly as they headed towards a smaller harbor just a bit south, instead. "Count your blessings, the two of you would have been dragged into the Slaver's Forum as soon as passing through the gates. And there's no amount of money Captain Dallen would pay to get anyone out of there. It'd just bad for business."

"Don't want 'Notorious Smuggler' as your job title?" Solas asked. Despite the joke, his voice was cold and clipped. Andra looked to her companion but he wouldn't meet her eyes.

Rheis grinned and picked up his pace, "Follow me closely. Don't stop for anything and don't get separated. The best camouflage you can wear is one that belongs," he advised, "If you look like you're meant to be there, people will believe it."

Andra had to suppress the urge to look around at this.

"Don't worry about the guards. There's not as many this way, and definitely not as attentive to their jobs. The law around here likes to be in the city. It gives them more to do, more to look at. More trouble to start and be a part of."

That sounded ridiculous to Andra, but she didn't question it.

"This way," Rheis directed as he began the now dangerous walk through the small port.

.

The South Harbor was small—connected to the Waking sea by a single wide river that skirted Jader—but it still bustled with activity. Andra was in awe. Despite the night having settled over the land, there were still quite a few people awake and working as if the sun was still on their backs. Sailors shouted and obeyed commands of their captains; dock workers hauled sacks and crates on their shoulders; tucked into an alley, there were even a group of burly men huddled around a small table—lit only by a single lantern—gambling their wages away. The whole area also smelled distressingly of unwashed bodies, fish, and alcohol, mingling with the scent of salt in the air from the sea.

"Don't gawk," Rheis whispered sharply over his shoulder.

Andra looked at Solas but realized the smuggler was talking to her. She blushed instantly, embarrassed by her lack of discretion. All that time in the Inquisition and things still surprised her. Would she always be just a simple girl from a Dalish clan? That thought troubled her. She didn't want to be that girl anymore.

With some effort, Andra forced herself to walk with the same mannerism that Solas had adopted. Slouched shoulders and downcast eyes. If he had been anyone else, she would have thought he was exactly what he was pretending to be: just another slave following his master. It made her sad to see him like that, even if it was an act, but she was also impressed with his commitment. Andra hoped she was appearing just as convincing.

It wasn't a long walk through the Harbor. With no businesses and only the ships and a few storage buildings, the area was small in comparison to the luxurious Port of Jader. All the more reason for Dallen to use this place for procuring cargo.

Andra mentally applauded herself for reaching out to Varric for help. There was no way she could have organized something like this on her own. Nor could she have conceived a plan of such masterwork. She made a note to thank him when she went back.

Abruptly, Rheis took a sharp turn around a corner, leading off towards a storage unit that connected with the Docks. Solas and Andra followed obediently and quietly, making sure to stick close to the stout man so they didn't get lost.

"Once inside, there will be stacks of crates to your right," the smuggler whispered just loud enough for the two elves to hear behind him, "hide yourselves immediately in their shadow. Do not reveal yourselves until my say so." Two nods acknowledged the order but Rheis never turned to look at them. Rather, he took their silences and their continued movement to follow him as their agreement and understanding.

He wouldn't say it out loud, but Rheis wished all his charges for this job could be so easy. Sneaking these two elves in was proving to be the highlight of his career. What he wouldn't give for every job to be so simple. It was like a breath of fresh air. He suppressed a sigh of bliss at that. It wouldn't do for him to get emotional.

The rest of the walk was quiet, and Andra found herself casting sideways glances at the bald elf who strode next to her—just to make sure he was still there. She didn't know how he did it. Every time she dared look, he seemed completely calm and collected. Her nerves, however, were on the fritz, sparking excitement and anxiety and fear in a beautifully mad gallimaufry. Yet, behind his phony mask of enslavement, he appeared apathetic. Perhaps something was bothering him? Or maybe he just really didn't care about the situation? Andra decided she would ask him about it once they were on the ship and safely away from danger.

.

The inside of the storage building was exactly as anyone could have expected. It was four dark wooden walls, a wooden roof to match, and an off colored wood floor that showed prominent signs of wear and tear from heavy traffic over many years.

The duo, as instructed, immediately sped behind the towering stacks of boxes on the right and waited for some kind of signal. Whatever it might be.

"Rheis!" A voice called, amusement in their low, bellowing voice. "Working late, are we?" There was a groan that followed as Andra imagined the newcomer lifting something heavy, followed by a soft thud as they tossed it in some other spot.

The wood under Rheis' feet creaked loudly as he hobbled further into the room, out of sight of the elves. "Until my grave, Brym," Rheis called back, "The day I stop working is the day I'm dead."

"Still under that Dall fellow?"

"Captain Dallen," Rheis corrected.

"Right, right," Brym replied dismissively. "Heard about your stint with Alia, yesterday," A change of subject.

Silence.

"You of all people should know the temper on that girl," Brym continued, "but that's probably why you went for her, I'll bet?" He laughed then, a hearty sound, as though greatly enjoying some hidden joke.

"I'm not here to listen of my mistakes from you," Rheis responded crisply. There was no amusement from the stout man towards the conversation.

Brym grunted, hefting another object and moving it to its new home, "No need to get touchy," he said casually, "I'm just trying to crack the ice, ya know? We're both able bodied sailors, I don't see why we can't be friends."

It was an insult, but Rheis ignored Brym's taunting and began asking a series of business questions about cargo and what needed to be delivered this week to Antiva that wasn't already claimed by other crews. Exporting goods must be Dallen and his men's main job, Andra concluded as she stopped listening to the dull conversation.

Despite the danger, Andra was filled with excitement as adrenaline coursed through her. A single whisper would give away their position and she found that thrilling. She looked to Solas, wondering if he felt that same high that she was riding, but there was something else in his blue eyes when he met the silver of her own gaze.

Solas stared at Andra, as though she bewitched him, and heat began rising to her cheeks under the intensity of it. He had never looked at her like that before; as though she was all that existed. She saw his eyes express a hunger. A pure, unbidden need.

And then it was gone.

The entire moment had passed quickly, and Andra was almost unsure whether it had happened at all, but she trusted what she saw and she knew it was real. Her stomach fluttered as a new sensation bloomed in her core. Andra didn't know what to make of her newfound emotions but she knew now wasn't the time.

But he was right next to her...

She could feel the heat rolling off his body and her breathing hitched as her gaze dropped to the soft curves of Solas' mouth. She could smell the forest on him and it made her feel weak. She wondered why he had looked at her like that, and why it was making her feel the same way. They had shared a kiss back at Skyhold, and it had been absolutely wonderful, but the romance between them had been excessively stagnant since then. Much to Andra's disappointment.

Did he regret it?

She bit her lip, wanting nothing more than to taste his lips in that moment. To press her body into his and be absolutely consumed.

She hadn't realized she had closed her eyes, or that she was leaning, but Solas' hands gripped her shoulders firmly and it caused reality to crash back over her like a wave. He was smiling when she opened her eyes, clearly quite amused, even as she embarrassingly leaned away and averted her gaze from his.

When she finally had the courage to look back, his expression hadn't changed but now there was something new there. It was as if he was promising her something.

A shiver crawled up her sine as she imagined the possibilities.