"Are you ready?"
Gale stared up at the outer gates of Skyhold, her whole body tensed. She had been so focused on trying to calm her nerves that she hadn't heard Samuel, but when he reached forward and squeezed her hand, he brought her back from her daze.
Samuel could feel her shaking, could see how tense she was. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and offered her a smile. "It'll be alright, Gale, I promise."
Gale took a deep breath, trying to relax, and she nodded. "I think I'm ready now."
Samuel nodded, keeping hold of her hand as he led them across the bridge and into the courtyard of the keep. He felt Gale squeeze his hand whenever someone stepped too close to her and he couldn't help but smile a bit when she pressed into him then shy away with a blush upon her cheeks when she realized what she was doing.
Up on the walkway by the Roost, Leliana was watching as Samuel led Gale through the crowd. Having had a scout following their movements more in order to make sure that they were safe and could reach their destination, she was well aware of everything that had been going on. She was also aware of what Samuel and Gale had been doing to satisfy her hunger. And using her best judgment given the information presented to her, Leliana decided not to inform the others of the fact that Gale was possessed by a hunger demon.
'So long as he keeps her in check, I will remain silent.' Leliana thought to herself. 'But do not think, Samuel Trevelyan, that you can protect her from me should you fail.'
Back down below, Gale practically clung to Samuel's hand and didn't care how that looked to everyone else- especially since they were barely talking when they had left Skyhold together over a month ago. She just needed to be near him in case something happened.
She let him lead her through the throng of people occupying the Inquisition, but when they were stopped by Cullen as he stepped forward to welcome them back, Gale quickly excused herself and hurried to her room.
"Is she alright?" Cullen asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
Samuel sighed. "Ya, she's just shaken up still. She lost her father in Denerim, then almost died when a demon attacked her on the journey back."
"Maker, no wonder she's skittish..." Cullen sighed. "How has she been dealing with it all?"
"As well as she can." Samuel said, glancing down at the bandage on his arm. "I've helped as much as she'll allow me."
"Well, it's good that she has someone to look after her." Cullen replied, looking back at him. "I must say, I was a bit surprised to see her holding your hand like that."
Samuel blushed a little and chuckled nervously as he rubbed his neck. "Well, a lot has happened since we left Skyhold."
"Clearly." Cullen chuckled and offered him a smile. "Well, I should let you get settled back in after a long journey. Give my regards to Gale when you see her?"
Samuel nodded and bid the Commander farewell before he hurried off to where Gale's room was. When he reached her door, he found it slightly ajar, so he knocked on it before stepping inside.
"Gale?"
Gale had practically run to her room, having feared that Cullen would see right through her having been a Templar for years before becoming the Commander of the Inquisition's forces. When she reached her room, she threw her bags down on the floor and collapsed onto the bed- her breathing heavy.
'You need to feed, child...'
'I can't feed on anyone... not again...'
'If you don't feed, you will suffer. We will both suffer...'
'You're the demon...'
'I am Galeria, yes... child, you must feed... if you do not, then you will lose control...'
'I won't lose control... I won't let you take over...'
'Do you know how hunger demons came to be?'
'No...'
'Many of us became as we are because we were once humans who had suffered from starvation and cruelty.'
'You were once human?'
'I am one of a few who remembers what it was like to be human. I, too, was once like you and fought against the hunger. But it was to no avail. If I did not feed, my soul became more twisted.'
'Is that what turned you into a demon?'
'Yes... it caused me to lash out and kill innocent people. And when the hunger became too strong, I would be pulled into a host and it would corrupt them into something unrecognizable.'
'Is that what happened to your last host?'
'Yes. She just happened upon my path one day and given her own hunger and state of mind, I was pulled in.'
As the demon explained her nature to her, Gale was inclined to not believe her simply because he was a demon. But somehow, deep down, it was like she could see into her heart- so to speak- and knew she spoke the truth.
'If you do not feed, the same fate will befall you, child.'
'I refuse to feed off the blood of people. I refuse to feed on the mana of mages. Unless absolutely necessary.'
'Animal blood will only get you so far, child, as you can already tell. Eventually, like in this instance right now, it will not be enough and you will have to feed on the blood of another person or their mana.'
When the knock sounded and Samuel stepped into her room, she barely had the energy to look up when he called her name.
"Gale..." Samuel closed the door and locked it, setting his bags on the floor before hurrying to her side. When he reached her, Gale looked up at him and he could see the same hunger as that first night.
'You need to feed, child; if you resist much longer, it will begin destroying you.'
Gale sat up, her breathing heavy, and she looked up at Samuel- silently asking for his permission. Samuel knew from her look that she needed to feed again and animal blood would not suffice. He sat on her bed, leaning back against the wall and pulling her closer.
"It's alright, Gale."
Gale wanted to resist the urge to feed from him, but then a gentle reminder from Galeria made her decision easier and she let Samuel pull her closer. She looked up at him, trying to make sure that he was alright with it and when he nodded, she nuzzled into his neck. Reaching up to pull back his shirt collar, she found a discreet place on his shoulder to sink her fangs into.
Samuel winced as she bit down, but his hands rested on her hips and he waited patiently for her to drink her fill. He could tell she was being careful, even in her hungered daze. When she sat back and swallowed the last of his blood, he looked down at her and chuckled a bit when he saw some blood trickling down her chin. He reached up and wiped it away before taking his handkerchief and pressing it to the wound.
"I'm sorry..." Gale said, looking down.
Samuel smiled, a bit worn out from her feeding. "Gale, you don't have to apologize."
Gale stared down at her hands. 'I hate doing this to him...'
'His blood is special... I do not know what it is, but drinking his blood will sustain you as long as you are a vampire.'
"I don't want to..."
"Gale, look at me." Samuel said, reaching forward and gently grasping her chin- pulling it up so that she would look at him. When she met his gaze, he could see the guilt and worry in her eyes. "It's going to be alright."
"I don't want to feed on you, Sam..." Gale felt tears in her eyes. "You're more to me than just a food source..."
"Gale..." Samuel's eyes widened a bit, then a heartwarming smile grew. "If it makes you feel better, I can mix some of my blood into your bottle of animal blood."
Gale sighed. "You'd still be hurting yourself for my benefit..."
Samuel chuckled and leaned forward, kissing her forehead. "It's worth it for you."
Gale's eyes widened and she was glad that she could hide her blushing cheeks when Samuel pulled her into his arms and hugged her. "Sam..."
"I promised I would be there with you every step of the way. That includes making sure you can feed." Samuel held her to his chest, resting his cheek against her head and smelling her sweet scent of embrium.
"Thank you..." Gale replied, a small smile growing as she breathed in his scent- one of black lotus and dragonthorn from the oil he used to maintain his gear. She found it incredibly comforting and wanted to stay like that with him forever- a thought she found herself thinking more and more lately.
Samuel smiled at that. "Anything for you, Gale."