Disclaimer: I own none of the recognized characters. I am merely borrowing them to satisfy my muse

Chapter 42

CJ watched in a sort of horrified fascination from across the clearing as Vivienne, prim and proper Vivienne, borrowed one of CJ's daggers and cut open the wyvern's torso. "What do you need the heart for?" She questioned, wincing as Sera applied a poultice to one of the scratches on her back.

"For a potion." Vivienne answered simply. "Please be quiet. I need to concentrate." CJ shrugged and her attention turned to the cut on her arm that had been caused by Sera's arrow. It didn't look serious. Sera slathered more poultice on it and then wrapped it in a clean bandage.

"This is hardly fair," CJ commented, frowning. "How is it you two are barely injured, and I look like a dragon chewed me and spat me out?"

"We're better than you?" Sera offered with a grin.

CJ stuck out her tongue.

"Very mature, CJ."

CJ shrugged again. "Thanks for bandaging me up, Sera."

"Your qunari would be upset with us if his precious Kadan got too injured." Sera teased, and CJ just laughed.

"His Kadan is going to kick your ass if you don't watch it." CJ retorted with no malice in her words.

Sera snorted. "As you so rightly said. You look like a dragon used you as a chew toy. I bet Tommy could kick your ass right now."

CJ contemplated arguing, but instead she just flopped back, stretching out on the grass. She was tired. "I vote we rest here for tonight. We can meet up with the Inquisition tomorrow. Let Cullen know about this clearing. It'd make a good base out here in the Dales."

"I second resting here." Sera said.

"That work for you, Vivienne?"

No answer came, but CJ wasn't too bothered by it. She figured she'd get an explanation from the mage later, when she wasn't elbow deep in wyvern.

"I'm gonna rest my eyes for a bit." She murmured, and yawned.

"I'll take first watch." Sera said, and CJ nodded tiredly.

"Sounds good." And with that, she was asleep quickly.

"CJ." CJ didn't want to wake up. "CJ, come on, get up."

"No." She mumbled, rolling away from the hand shaking her.

"Get up, my dear, or I will zap you."

Groaning, CJ opened her eyes. "I don't want to get up." Sera was crouching next to her, Vivienne standing by CJ's head. Neither woman looked very sympathetic. Then, CJ realized it was morning.

She blinked in surprise. "Why didn't you wake me up for my watch?" She asked, sitting up.

"You growled when I tried." Sera said dryly, and CJ felt her face flush.

"I didn't, did I?"

Sera just grinned at her.

"You did." She answered. CJ groaned.

"Sorry about that." CJ offered an apologetic smile. Sera shrugged and held out her hand. CJ took it and Sera hauled her up.

CJ's body felt like one big bruise. "Wyverns are not fun to fight." She commented.

Sera scoffed. "No, I had a great time!"

"Next time, you be the close quarters fighter and I'll use the bow!" CJ retorted.

"Sure, if your aim has improved." Sera grinned as CJ stuck out her tongue.

"Come along, children." Vivienne said, and they looked at her.

"Yes, Ma'am!" CJ snapped off a salute and then had to jump aside as Vivienne sent a bolt of ice at her.

They began walking, angling to join the army by the end of the day.

"Hey Vivienne," CJ began in the early afternoon. They'd been walking silence for almost three hours. "What'd you need the heart for?"

"A potion." Vivienne answered shortly.

"What sort of potion?" Sera chimed in.

"One to help someone I love dearly."

CJ and Sera exchanged looks, but didn't comment further. It was obvious that Vivienne didn't want to talk about it. They continued walking in silence

"What are you doing?" CJ questioned, watching Sera. She'd been walking and fiddling with something.

"What's it look like?" Sera held the object out.

CJ took it and inspected it. It looked like an arrow, mostly. With some sort of ball on the end.

"An arrow?" She offered.

"Yup."

"What sort of arrow?"

"An exploding one." CJ handed it back hastily.

"Why?" CJ wasn't sure she wanted to know.

"To make it hurt."

"Arrows hurt anyways." She commented.

"To make it hurt more." Sera amended. "It's supposed to explode when it hits."

"How touchy is it?"

"Dunno. Why?"

"What if they bump into each other in your quiver?"

Sera blinked at that. "Hadn't thought of that." She finally said. "Let's test it."

Before CJ or Vivienne could stop her, she'd tossed the arrow away. It hit the ground with less force than it would have from being shot from a bow. CJ winced in anticipation, expecting a boom. But there was nothing.

"A dud." Vivienne concluded. "You need more work, it seems." Sera was frowning as she moved forward to pick it up. She was three steps away when the arrow exploded. Dirt rained down around the elf and CJ began to laugh.

Sera huffed. "It works, don't it?" She demanded.

"It does," CJ laughed. "Just a bit delayed is all."

"I can work with a delay." Sera mused, and pulled out another arrow.

CJ shook her head, still laughing. "You should talk to Rocky. He's probably got some good ideas on how to make that work."

Sera considered that. "Good idea, Twiggy!"

It was approaching dusk by the time they reached the outer ranks of the army. CJ was tired. All she wanted to do was give her report to Cullen and lay down somewhere. But, of course things couldn't be so easy.

"Hey Fighter," Scout Harding greeted them with a wave. "Can you help me with something?"

CJ stopped the groan before it could escape her lips. "Sure. We've got to report to Cullen and then I'll come find you, okay?"

"Thank you!" CJ smiled at the dwarf and then continued after Sera and Vivienne.

"This doesn't bode well." Cullen was frowning down at the shard of red lyrium. "Where was this clearing?"

"It's make a good location for an outpost." CJ said, while Cullen carefully unrolled a map. Between the three of them, they managed to make a mark of the general area of the clearing. The map wasn't very detailed, as the Inquisition still hadn't done a thorough survey of the area.

"There was a pack of wyvern living there. We've taken care of them." Vivienne said, making no mention of the heart she had taken from the white creature. "Their remains may have some value to them."

Cullen nodded in understanding. "I'll send some scouts back. This was a good find. Thank you for your diligence." CJ grinned.

"You're welcome, Sir!" She snapped off a quick salute. Cullen scowled at her and then sighed.

"Why do I put up with you?"

"I ask myself that every day." Talon spoke up from behind CJ. She just stuck her tongue out at the two of them.

"I make things interesting." She said simply.

Talon laughed. "That you do, Fighter."

"Be good, Talon." She exclaimed, darting forward to ruffle his hair. He let out a squawk of irritation, but CJ was running before he could react.

It took ten minutes of winding through the troops before CJ was able to find Scout Harding.

"What's up?" She dropped down beside the dwarf, warming her hands by the fire.

"What kind of women does Krem like?"

CJ blinked, stunned. She had not been expecting that.

"Sorry?"

Scout Harding flushed. "Nevermind, it was a stupid question."

CJ stopped her before the dwarf could stand up. "No, hold on! Sorry, I just wasn't expecting that! Come on, talk to me."

With a sigh, Harding settled back down on the ground. "I just," She started and then trailed off. CJ waited patiently, letting her gather her thoughts.

"Do you think I have a chance?" Harding asked.

"I don't see why not." CJ said. "You're awesome, and you both are single."

"How do I approach him?"

CJ paused. "Do you know how to play chess?"

Harding shook her head.

"Ask him to teach you, then." CJ smiled. "That'll give you two an opportunity to talk. And if the conversation stalls or gets awkward, you can just quiz him about the game."

The dwarf stared at the fire, considering. "It's that simple?"

CJ shrugged. "If it's not, it should be. You already respect each other, get along well in battle."

"How did you tell The Iron Bull that you were interested in him?"

CJ laughed. "I punched him, and then kissed him, and then gave him one of these." She pulled her half of the dragon tooth out from beneath her armor. "It's a Qunari thing. We each have a half, so no matter where we go, or the distance between us, a piece of the other will always be close."

"But Krem's not Qunari. He's Tevinter. Do they have any customs like that?"

"Uh, I'm not the person to ask for that. Dorian would be better."

Scout Harding thought about that.

"Do you think he'd help me?"

"It wouldn't hurt to ask." As the dwarf looked uncertain, CJ smiled. "Do you want me to go with you?"

"Yes!"

"All right. Let's go then." She stood up and offered a hand to Scout Harding.