Chapter 5.
Blue skies, open fields and for one moment just peace and quiet.
"Shit! Arse-tits! Friggin flying buggers!"
Ih'tal moved from her relaxed position on the grass to look over at her companions. Sera was rambling on, with all sorts of colorful words spewing from her mouth. At the campsite Dorian and Blackwall sat amused and looked pleased by the display coming from the archer.
"You are all a bunch of tits faces!" Sera yelled before storming of. Giving the finger when the mage and warrior began roaring with laughter. Ih'tal knew that the peace was over and began walking over to join the others.
"What was that about?" she asked
"Oh, you know Sera" Dorian replied. "Can't take the heat" he shared a grin with the man across from him. The look gave Ih'tal an idea that there was more to it than that and turned to Blackwall.
"And?"
"It's just all in good fun… Sometimes the lass needs to taste her own medicine. It was just a loose lid on one of her bee jars" he said.
Dorian laughed and said "Well that was the plan, but we didn't know she hides her jars of bees in her blouse, we just thought that she would carry them in her potion belt like the rest of us"
Dorian and Blackwall let out another crackling laughter.
The sun was beginning to set when Sera come back. Still a little red-faced but Ih'tal couldn't tell if it was from the bees or her angered temper. Dorian snickered and Blackwall cleaned his shield with a hidden smile behind the beard. She gave them both a glare before she joined them around the fire.
"Listen here broody beard and flappy robe, I will get you back for this." Sere gave them both a look that promised payback, and then turned toward the Inquisitor.
"Shiny make room will ya'"
Ih'tal smiled at the elf, "sure… but only if you say please"
Sera scrunched her nose, like the words please was as foreign for her, as a high dragon saying excuse me, before blasting fire. Ih'tal just calmly sat back, like she had all the time in the world.
"Bugger all of you! Will you please move that high and mighty arse, before I change my mind, for asking nicely"
"Well… When you put it so delicately" Ih'tal says, while moving so that sera can take the spot next to her. Sera does not waste the opportunity to sit as far away from their male companions, while muttering about payback and evil plans.
The calming after match had begun to settle in the camp. Blackwall had gone to bed and Sera had disappeared after their meal. Ih'tal sat with Dorian and shared a bottle of wine that the mage had brought as an essential item, because you never knew, in times of crisis, when you might be in a situation where alcohol was a matter of life and death. According to the Tevinter mage, those situations occurred more often than not.
"Well darling" the Tevinter mage said "I must say, considering how often Solas used to join our little expeditions, I do think it odd, that now all of a sudden, the two of you won't go anywhere near each other at Skyhold" Dorian grinned down at her. "I wonder why that is, and if the fact that the apostate was up in you room a couple of night ago, has anything to do with it".
Ih'tal convinced herself that it was the spicy wine, and not shy blushing, that made her cheeks feel warm. However, the wine loosened her tongue enough for her to reply.
"Well, you see my dear Tevinter. Apparently, a certain apostate can't decide if fade tongue counts or not. So here we are, my good sir, waiting on the decision-making". She drowned her cup and waited for Dorian to give her the answers to the questions that had alluded her for days.
"This is one of the things I love most about you. It doesn't matter if it is off to fight dragons, ancient darkspawn, or crazy red templars. You are still just a girl, standing in front of a boy. Telling him to ignore the giant green hole in the sky and give it too you good".
"Make all the jokes you want Dorian. It still doesn't change the fact, that I have no idea what I am doing. Whether it is the dragons, darkspawn, Templars, or stubborn elves!" she sighs and buries her face in her hands. "For once, I just wish that something I did, would just be simple. Just easy going, no thinking… easy".
Ih'tal feels an arm coming around her and turns to bury herself in the comfort of a good friend. Because for all the wine induced talks and bluster from Dorian. She still trusts him with everything, and he has fast become one of her very dearest friends.
"I am sorry, that the burden of this world falls on you. And I do hope that by being here, that I can help ease it a little. But I can tell you this. That there isn't a man or woman in all of Thedas, that I would have trusted to help us through this, other than you. Yes, you are a powerful mage, I dare say even more than me. But you are so much more than that. And if Solas doesn't want to see or acknowledge that. Then to hell with him, I say".
Feeling better, she lifts her head and meets his gaze. "Well, now I know you have gone soft on me. But thank you. It means the world to me, and I couldn't have done it without you".
"Isn't that what we Tevinters are for. Moral support, and proving that beauty is worth fighting for"
"You are quite handsome Dorian".
"Of course, the most beautiful man in Thedas, with the most beautiful woman in his arms, life doesn't get any better than this".
"I might be bias, but Solas does come pretty close"
Dorian looks down at her then nods. "He does have a mighty fine ass. I will give him that".
