It took them two days to reach Ravensden, Gale and Samuel having agreed to take the northern route towards Gherlen's Pass, but it had started to rain. They hurried to get to the stables where they paid the stable hand to take care of their horses. They grabbed their packs and rushed to get inside the inn. It was crowded, many people trying to escape the weather in the quaint inn as the storm picked up.

"Good evening, travelers!" the innkeeper said, greeting them. "What can I do for you tonight?" Then recognizing Samuel, he beamed at him. "Ah, Serah Samuel, welcome back!"

Samuel offered a small smile in return. "You look well, Boris. We need two rooms, if you have them."

The innkeeper frowned. "I'm sorry, I have only one left. It's a little bigger, one bed, but plenty of room for two."

Gale wanted to groan at the thought of sharing a bed with someone like Samuel and before she could answer or say anything for that matter.

"That'll be just fine." Samuel said.

The innkeeper smiled. "Don't worry about the payment tonight. Pay before you leave, as usual. You are welcome to stay as long as you need, though I suggest you wait out the storm. It's that time of year around here where the weather gets bad and the storms last for days. Go up the stairs, take the first left and it's at the very end of the hall on the right."

"Thank you." Samuel said and followed the innkeeper's directions with Gale close behind.

Gale had so many thoughts running through her head. 'We'll be sharing a bed?' She remained silent even when they reached the room, thinking harder than she probably should about the situation.

Samuel set his pack on the floor next to the bed and looked over at Gale, seeing that she was standing a bit stiff as if she was incredibly uncomfortable with sharing a room with him. He chuckled as the thought popped up and caused Gale to look over at him, confused.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing." He started shedding his wet clothes, placing his jacket, tunic, and boots near the fireplace. "You should change into something dry and put your wet clothes by the fire."

Gale's face began to burn at the sight of his naked torso, having never seen a man half naked before- not even her own father. She immediately looked away and hurried behind the partition screen to change.

A knock came at the door and Samuel went to answer, finding one of the inn's workers presenting them with a tray of food and drink. "Thank you."

"There's a bowl of stew for each of you, some bread, a pitcher of cider, and some mugs for you. Is there anything else you will need before you turn in for the night?" the young man asked.

Samuel shook his head. "No, that will be all. Thank you."

The young man smiled. "Good night. Breakfast will be at sunrise, but feel free to sleep in. If you choose to, we can bring food to your room. Just let us know."

Samuel thanked him and closed the door as he walked away. He set the tray on the table and poured the cider into the mugs.

"Hot cider?"

Samuel looked up as Gale stepped out from behind the screen in a dry tunic and skirt, her pack in one hand while her boots and dress were in the other. "Yes."

"That sounds perfect right now." she said, setting everything down and taking a seat in one of the chairs.

Samuel nodded and sat across from her. "It's a quaint inn, but the service here is great."

"I take it then that you've been here before?" Gale asked, taking the mug he handed her.

Samuel nodded. "Boris is an old friend of mine. I always make sure to drop in and check up on him when I'm in the area."

Gale took a sip of the cider, sighing in content as the hot liquid slid down her throat. "Mmmm... that's so good..!"

"You should try the stew. Boris' wife Ymera is an excellent cook." Samuel said, gesturing to the bowl in front of her. He leaned back, taking a sip of cider as he sat there and watched the fire dance in the hearth.

They enjoyed the warmth and heartiness of the stew, the hot apple cider sweetened with honey, and the roaring fire in the hearth as they relaxed after a long ride. As they sat there and ate, Gale was beginning to ponder again as to why Samuel offered to come with her- sensing there was something more than he wasn't sharing. They had been traveling for a few days and they rarely spoke- about as often as they had since the Inquisition arrived in Skyhold- but they were going to be spending a lot of time together and she was wondering if it'd be a good idea to try and get to know each other.

'It'd suck travelling with someone you hate...' Gale thought, setting her now empty bowl on the tray.

Samuel looked over at her. "Is something on your mind?"

She looked up at him and shook her head. "It's nothing."

Samuel set down his mug and eyed her for a moment. "Are you sure?"

Gale blushed a little and stood. "Y-yes." she said, stretching as she felt the warmth of the stew and the cider pulling sleep towards her.

Samuel watched her as she stretched, taking note of her figure and her assets. She had an hourglass figure, slightly wider hips than most women with the same figure, ample bosom and a perky and rounded rump. She was beautiful in the light of the roaring fire, her stone gray hair glowing with a dark silvery sheen and her eyes glistening in the dancing firelight- an almost eerie glow to their pale color.

Gale covered her mouth as she yawned and looked towards the window. It was still raining hard outside, pouring down as if the Maker were crying. The crack of thunder sounded and lightning flashed in the blackened night sky.

"Get some sleep if you're tired." Samuel said.

Gale nodded, looking back at him. "I should." Then thinking a moment, she blushed. "About our sleeping arrangements..."

Samuel smirked. "Don't worry, I'll sleep on the floor."

Gale looked up at that, surprised. "No, you don't have to do that. Just..." She turned towards the bed. "Don't get any ideas, alright?"

Samuel watched as she went to the bed and pulled back the covers, bringing them up over her as she settled down on the far side of the bed. He himself felt the pangs of tiredness pulling at him, so he took the tray of finished food and cider and set it out in the hallway on the buffet table against the wall. Closing the door of their room, Samuel added more wood to the fire and went to the other side of the bed. The bed was still fairly large, fitting enough for three grown adults, so there was a lot of room between them.

Gale had laid down facing the middle of the bed and had pulled the covers to her waist. Samuel looked over and found himself actually smiling when he saw that she was already passed out. He reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear, pulling the covers up to her shoulders before he laid back. He stared at the ceiling and put his hands behind his head. He had many thoughts he needed to sift through, but eventually he managed to fall asleep.

But nothing would prepare them for what was coming their way and it would change them in more ways than one.