"Your eyes, the spark in the remind me of someone I know, she too would do the same to help. I will go to Haven to help and provide the names to sister Leliana… it is not much but I do what I can," she smiles warmly at Evelyn as I frown puzzled by her words.
Slowly, Evelyn returns to us, her expression grim but it quickly changes to a smile when she notices us making Solas, Varric and I frown while Cassandra is oblivious. "Come on let's see if we can help the refugees," Evelyn reasons. "Indeed, perhaps spreading out would cover more land for us to question the people," Cassandra offers making us all nod our heads and split up.
Calmly, I scan the camp only to raise a brow when I notice a few human refugees shivering from the ice cold wind, not many blankets I note as I turn to the male known as Vale, the man in charge of helping the refugees.
"This bloody cold," the male grumbles.
"Is everything alright captain?" I enquire.
"Ah Lady Fennic, lady Leliana spoke of your arrival with the Herald. The refugees are freezing and thanks to the Templars and mages fighting, no materials, no fabrics can get pass for the refugees to keep warm," he grumbles. Sighing, I frown only to recall a familiar animal skin I have. "Here," I get out the bear skin surprising the male.
"Thank you, this will help the refugees keep warm until this stupid conflict ends,"` he smiles grateful. "Is there anything else I can do to help?" I enquire both bored and curious. "Yes, the refugees are struggling, no source of food is making them desperate and lose hope, the chef mentioned a ram soup I believe but lacks the meat to complete it, if you could get 10 meats of ram I would appreciate it and so would the refugees," the captain explains. Calmly, I nod my head in understanding.
"Huh, never pictured you as the saint Fox," Varric smirks as I scowl.
"Very funny Varric," I grumble.
"Why help them? You could have sold the skin?" Solas questions intrigued.
"Because I am no monster, when I see people suffering, I help but I will not help those who can do it themselves," I reason and walk off…
"And yet again she continues to surprise me…"
"She tends to do that."
Fennic pov:
The ice cool wind of the night welcomes me as I lean against the oak tree; I'm in-between Solas and Varric as we all circle the warm orange flames of the camp fire. The sizzling, fizzing, crackling of the flames roar as tiny little firefly embers peel of the fire and dance in the wind, cooling down to a black thin like coal spec from the cool breathe of the wind, like blowing out a birthday candle.
The warm waves of the fire are welcomed as my body welcomes the touch.
"So, tomorrow we will help out the refugees," Evelyn smiles breaking the nice silence.
"Looks like it. So with all these demons why haven't you called for help?" Varric asks Cassandra.
"We were delayed in Kirkwall," Casandra answers.
"By delayed you mean interrogating a certain dwarf and scouting out for a certain elf," I butt in smirking.
"You were?" Evelyn raises a bro curious.
"Yep," Varric confirms.
"A fortunate delay considering it saved your lives," Solas adds.
"There was nothing fortunate about it. If we'd been there we could have…"
"Could have what Seeker saved them? No. You could have but most likely you would have been slain and then the cause would have been weaker than ever. What's done is done. Looking at the past filled with what ifs will give you nothing but pain and sorrow," I reason silencing Cassandra.
"Fox's right. Do you really want to torture yourself with what ifs seeker?" Varric adds.
"No, I want justice," Cassandra exclaims making me wince at her words, sounds like a familiar mage I know…
"Why would you ask her that?" Evelyn frowns at Solas seeing her hurt and saddened expression.
"It was a simple question," Solas argues.
"Simple questions can be the most deadly," I argue back, my eyes narrow at the mage.
"It is a question Leliana and I will ask for the rest of our lives," Cassandra confesses her tone mournful and depressing.
"I apologise I did not mean to cause you pain," Solas apologises.
"I will head to bed, I suggest you all do as well," Cassandra crawls into her tent.
Evelyn pov
"She's got a point, time to hit the hay," Varric reasons.
"Hold on Varric, is it okay if I ask some questions about your champion's book?" I ask meekly.
"Again, sure I guess but just a heads up I tend to lie or exaggerate," Varric warns us.
"Yeah see that's why I want to know what's a lie in this book or the exaggerated parts?" I explain wanting the full story, eager to know more about the champion of Kirkwall.
"Ask away," Varric smiles.
"Is it true that Fen took out the Arishock?"
"I beg your pardon?" Solas blinks; surprised by the news.
"It was a mixed effort of Hawkes ice magic, freezing the Arishock and Fennic diving right in to punch the Arishock, shattering him into pieces like glass," Varric answers.
"You're joking," Solas frowns.
"Nope. This happened if you don't believe me ask her yourself," Varric smiles.
"What about the mages? Hawke saved many but what about her? Last I checked she hated mages," Solas exclaims.
"She did, still does to be honest but she also hates Templars now thanks to Meredith. But thanks to Hawke she learned along with her brother I guess that mages aren't so bad," Varric shrugs.
"I heard the tales of Fen's speech, they say it was legendary, many people rose up thanks to her words," Evelyn smiles amazed.
"I have heard she made a speech but never knew it was that powerful," Solas adds however the discussion is cut short by the sound of crushing leafs.
Startled, Evelyn turns to the quiet figure a familiar bow in hand as she leaves.
"Did she hear us?" Evelyn panics, feeling a wave of worry hit her.
Frowning, Solas spots the concerned expression on Varric's features towards the bushes of which the figure fell, but quickly masks it with a small smile.
"Relax Bookworm, Fox will be fine knowing her she's probably gone out hunting. Come on we should head to bed," Varric reasons.
"I guess, but when will Fen sleep?" Evelyn questions.
"Just leave her she will sleep when she wants to," Solas reasons as the trio head to bed…
Groaning, I wake up to the cheerful chirps of birds and the rustling sound of the leaves. Now that was a good fade dream, those spirits of wisdom sure cheered me up with ideas on how to help the cause. Slowly, after changing into my usual gear, I get out of the tent only to hear the faint sound of footsteps. Curious, my ears follow the faint sound of crunching leaves to raise a brow when I find Fennic awake, bow in hand as she quietly raises her bow.
Fennic pov:
How long have I wandered these plains? My feet tingle from the faint crush of leaves brushing against the palms of my foot. The warm windy chill of the morning sun welcomes me as my winter white hair blows in the warm wind of the Hinterland sun. My nose twitches at the faint scent of pollen and the fragrances of flowers. My eyes narrow at the faint familiar with white fur and brown behind, its ram horns stand out as I take in a sharp breathe and approach, each footstep with the utmost care of silence as I approach the ram, throughout the night I have caught eight, I just need two more.
Silently, I kneel down, hidden in the dense dark green bushes as I draw my arrow and…fire!
Raigh!
Pained, the Ram calls out in pain as it falls to the ground from the hit, droplets of red dribble down the puncture as the Ram tires to flee, only making the wound wider as the ruby red liquid stains the pure white fur. Quickly, I rush forward, firing a few shots to disable the Ram as it falls to the ground, writhing in pain. A messy kill, not my best but still, food is food.
Swiftly, I disconnect my bow and draw my blade, impaling it into the heart of the beast, ending both its life and suffering as it falls limp into the grass, faint tips of greenery are stained with red tips as I skin the animal and acquire the Ram meat and skin. Slowly, I stand; my knife bloodied as my ears perk up at the crunching leafs. Scowling, I turn to glare at the figure only to raise a brow at the figure.
"Explain mage!" I growl at the hobo, wary of his presence. Does he plan to use the Rams bood mgic on me now that we are alone? Or...
"I was merely observing your skill," Solas exclaims making me raise a brow.
"My skill?" I question him sceptical, eyebrow furrowed. What is this mage planning?
"You train to fly your daggers or an arrow to its target. The grace with which you move is a pleasing side benefit. You have chosen a path whose steps you do not dislike because it leads to a destination you enjoy. As have I," Solas smiles as I blink, trying to register his words. Scowling, I ignore the sudden heat to my cheek and eruption of giddiness in my stomach, what is this mage planning? Why say these words now? Does he have a death wish? Or perhaps he just wants to piss me off; well two can play at this game mage! Heh!
Grinning, I smirk at the idea.
"So you like my skill? I can't blame you, many have told me of my graceful agility," I smirk ignoring the volcano heat in my cheeks as I look away tying to act confident, I get it now he's trying to play mind games, well mage you ae not the first to try this, I have learned form the best of the best at these games.
"No. I am declaring it. It was not a subject for debate," Solas smirks as I halt in my actions, frown furrowed as I growl, annoyed at the rush of heat in my flustered cheeks and his smug smirk, and that voice, that deep, husky, sultry voice. That damn smug smirk and voice…it…it pisses me off!
Glaring, I raise my gauntlet slightly, ready to punch the living day lights out of the flirt until-
"Woah!" The loud sound of snapping branches interrupts me. Sighing, we both turn to the smiling Evelyn.
"Morning!" She grumbles, making me raise a brow at the usual happy girl now a tired wreck, making me smirk lightly at her more mellow expression. Cassandra and Varric meet up as we all decide our next step.
"While you guys were sleeping I did some hunting. I got the animal hide and meat for the refugees, however I just need a few more pieces of ram meat and I'm done," I state to the group. "Good work, this will be helping the refugees a great deal," Cassandra nods her head.
"Did you even sleep one wink?" Varric frowns.
"You know the answer to that Varric," I state making him sigh tiredly as we all pack up and head out; my bow is in hand reedy for any Rams.
"We're getting nowhere," Cassandra grumbles tiredly.
"Don't start you I hate everything speech," I plead tiredly.
"It has only being an hour seeker," Cassandra frowns at Varric's words.
"Guys over here!" My ears perk up at Evelyn's voice as we all turn to the girl kneeling down, inspecting the ground. Proudly, she smiles up at me beaming as she points to the tracks.
"Ram tracks?" She turns to me for confirmation as I join her, my eyes narrow at the hooves. Slowly, I analyse the markings and nod. "Yeah, these are Ram tracks," I whisper bringing a bight smile to Evelyn's face. "About three," Evelyn mutters as I nod in agreement and I raise my bow, ready to follow the trail.
"Stop!" Evelyn panics as I frown, raising a brow at Evelyn words with the group as she kneels down and plucks some sort of plant for the ground.
"Finally, the last Elfroot, now that herbal lady will have her supplies to help the refugees," she explains calmly.
"It's Elfroot?" I frown puzzled.
"It's not just Elfroot its royal Elfroot. Should you sort of…never mind," Evelyn smiles but it falters trailing off when she notices my frown. Just because it has elf in it doesn't mean I know it.
"The difference?" Cassandra frowns puzzled.
"It's a rare herb. While normal Elfroot is used for our healing potions royal Elfroot is used for a variety of potions like the bomb healing mist or the regeneration potions," she explains making us all raise a brow, intrigued and impressed with her knowledge.
"Bookworm strikes again," Varric chuckles.
"You seem to have quite the knowledge on herbs Evelyn," Solas notes.
"Indeed, a trait that would help for the cause," Cassandra adds. "Well as a girl back in the tower, I used to study a lot and read about herbal remedies a lot when practicing spells, I had to make a lot of lyrium potions, although at first they tended to explode. You should have seen the mess I would make from brewing, I think I set a pair of velvet curtains on fire once, they wouldn't let me brew for a month," she explains. "Impressive," I note as I follow the path not noticing a grinning Evelyn smiling from the praise.