Andra couldn't help but feel she was missing something. An uneasiness rolled through her that wasn't her sea sickness as she leaned against the railing on the side of the ship and stared out at the sunset. The golden warmth painted her skin yet it did nothing to ease the tension she felt.

What had Curiosity meant, "Time is of no consequence and no burden"?

Andra closed her eyes against the evening glare and her own thoughts. All these spirits she was meeting, they were giving her the runaround. Why could none of them just give her straight answers? It was infuriating!

"Feeling any better today?" Solas asked as he approached from behind.

Andra hummed and opened her eyes, staring down at the blue waters which mocked her weak stomach, "Better than the first night when they let us out of those damned boxes," she said, "But I don't think I'll ever get used to this."

Solas rested against the railing next to his companion and offered her a reassuring smile, "I'll admit, I did not expect the sea to affect you so. I imagined a bit of nausea, especially since you did not know what to expect, but..." He stopped, realizing that his thoughts were best kept to himself.

Andra ducked her head, "I've never been so embarrassed. I'd almost rather face my clan again."

Solas laughed. It was a beautiful, lighthearted sound that she loved. "Believe me when I say, it does get better. It takes time, especially to those so used to solid ground under their feet, but eventually, you may even come to love being on the water."

"I don't think so," she shook her head.

"Well, think this over then," Solas started, "We're nearly to Antiva, Captain Dallen assures me that we'll be coming upon it any moment, and then you can forget all about this ship and how it torments you."

"Are you making fun of me?" Andra asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Never," Solas said, a grin plastered on his face as he wrapped an arm around her.

Andra turned, facing him fully now. Her mind played with the idea of telling Solas all about her dream, but for some reason, she felt it best to keep it to herself for now. A part of her told herself that Curiosity's words meant nothing, that it was merely toying with her—as Mischief no doubt also was. But another part wanted to believe that it all was true. A childish dream, but she desperately wanted to trust that these spirits genuinely wanted to help her. If merely in their own ways.

"Did you like me even before our big fight? Back when you and I were still helping the Inquisition," Andra turned away from the ocean and pressed a hand to Solas' chest. She had been wondering this for some time and it was a welcome distraction from her tumultuous thoughts.

"How very direct," Solas replied. "This might surprise you, but I remember the exact moment that I began to feel pulled towards you."

"There was a specific one?" Andra blinked. She couldn't say the same. For her, the attraction had grown gradually and slowly. It was never any one thing that had made her like him more or less. She couldn't even pinpoint when her feelings had truly bloomed. However, she knew for certain that they were there in those last couple months before she had returned to her clan. It was the reason their fight had hurt her so deeply.

The older elf smiled down into Andra's silver eyes, "Do you recall my friend we helped free from those mages in the Exalted Plains?"

Andra's expression fell, "Yes..." She remembered that day very well. It had been so surreal to witness the strange pillars around the summoning circle, and a Pride Demon within. The mages had, of course, been terrified. Yet, even when they pleaded for help and explained that they were just trying to summon protection from the Fade, Andra had felt nothing for them. No sympathy at all. Even the Inquisitor and Dorian—who had tagged along as well—had said that they brought it upon themselves.

"I was so angry to see what they had done, that they had twisted something beautiful into an abomination so ugly," he paused, taking a deep breath, "I still don't regret cutting them down. I suppose I saved them and others from their stupidity. They would have done it again, I'm sure..." Solas dropped his head, wrapping Andra in both his arms now and hugging her close, "I don't think anyone in the Inquisition has ever understood my position on the Fade and spirits—not even the Inquisitor. So they didn't understand why I was so upset—even if they did understand why I killed those mages.

"When we returned to Skyhold, everyone just went back to their tasks. I stewed in my room for a long time before I decided to go for a walk, needing the fresh air." There was a short silence while he relived the memory, "I don't know what compelled me to go up to the balcony of rooms over the garden, but that's how I walked past your open door. And you were crying."

Andra smiled softly, "And you came in to see if I was okay."

"You told me your sadness was for my friend, that it had been hard to watch them die. I sat next to you on your bed and you cried into my shoulder and I didn't leave until you assured me you would be okay."

"That's your moment?" Andra asked, confused. "Me a mess with puffy eyes and barely able to string words together?"

Solas chuckled, "No, it was your compassion. Your empathy. For something you didn't understand at the time. You hardly knew that there were good spirits, let alone that you could be friends with one. Yet you wept at their pain and their passing."

Andra smiled softly, "I suppose... I've never looked at it like that. I've always had an affinity for animals, so seeing a creature of any kind in pain..." Her gaze fell away to the deck. She remembered that day vividly.

"Save for demons, of course," she said it to lighten the mood, laughing softly.

Solas grinned at her, "Aptly put."

A call rang out from the Crow's Nest above, signaling that the Antivan Dock was approaching. Andra immediately turned to see the city as it quickly came into view. It was a strange sight. Buildings built up in tiers along the coast of Rialto Bay, separated from the Amaranthine Sea by by a long strip of connected arches that seconded as a bridge. Which also—to Andra's amazement—opened up at the middle to let in larger boats.

They passed through while Andra gaped, then moored with the help of a dock hand who secured the rope thrown to him. As the plank extended to allow everyone to leave the ship, the sun had well set and the last of its fiery brilliance had cooled into purple hues rapidly fading blue. The city now glittered with fires and lanterns and Andra found herself mesmerized. She could almost forget why she had made the journey here, it was so enticing to stay and explore.

Almost.

Captain Dallen approached the gangway as some of his men and the other smuggled passengers began the short walk into town. He spoke briefly with someone who approached his ship and asked him a few questions before leaving with a small handful of coins. No doubt the fee for docking, Andra surmised.

"Well, 'ere we be," the Captain said with a heavy sigh, standing next to Andra and Solas as the duo stepped onto the pier, "Th' end o' our journey t'gether."

"Thank you so much, Captain," Andra said with a big smile as she slung her bow over her shoulder.

"Yer welcome, lass," The burly sailor replied, doing his best to hide a very slight blush on his hairy cheeks. He'd never admit it, but she had charmed his old heart over the week they'd spent at sea. Then he dug into one of his pockets and pulled out a weathered pipe, packing it and lighting it with the use of a small tinderbox. He took a long draw and held it for far too long before exhaling a pungent smoke that Andra scrunched her nose at. It was quite the process to watch and she mused that the habit seemed too much of a hassle.

"Don't s'pose we'll be seeing each oth'r again?" Dallen asked after a moment.

"No, but I'm glad we did meet." And she meant it.

This time, the Captain offered a smile back, "Don't go causin' t' much trouble."

Then they parted ways.

Dallen was off to business, he had requisitions to fill. As was the main reason for the journey here. Andra and Solas went a different way to refill their supplies before heading off towards the Drylands. While the city was enticing, both elves felt a pull to be on the road to Arlathan. It was the woods that called them. Both for different reasons.