It had been a long afternoon for Solas and Iron Bull. The sun was beginning to descend behind the mountain tops. Once Solas had come out of his 'sleep', he seemed to be disturbed, but just told Iron Bull that Sili needed to rest and recover. Her head injury was just one that they needed to watch, something that had not been properly healed in years, thanks to her clan. Solas retired to the rotunda, but not long after Varric appeared.

The dwarf watched as the Tal-Vashoth moved their Inquisitor to her bed and covered her. The two stayed silent, but with a nod, Iron Bull left Sili's room to head back to the tavern. Something told Varric that Bull was going to drink himself shit-faced with his Chargers tonight.

Shaking his mind clear, Varric decided to sit at Sili's desk. His mind was wondering, trying to either write or business, which neither seemed appeasing to do. He heard rustling and looked up to see Cole wandering around, arranging the rug and some pillows on the floor.

"Why not grab your cards, Varric? Maybe you can teach me more Wicked Grace?" Cole suggested, finding a spot on the floor near the fireplace.

Varric rubbed the back of his neck in frustration, but nodding and headed out, "Watch her, Cole." He stated quietly.

As the merchant made his way down, he was stuck in a haze as he entered the main hall. The guards, along with Cassandra and Josephine, were 'escorting' what few guests left out. The stunt they had pulled earlier had made a scene albeit a small one. Many of the nobles were trying to stay around, to see if their Herald and Inquisitor was alive.

He hoped to go unseen in the little chaos as he traversed to his spot and grabbed the deck of cards. Varric stood a moment to watch the nobility, acting as if that was amusing. In truth, it was to him as he disliked most of the 'boot-lickers'. Hoping his timing was right, Varric started his way back to Sili's room, but came face to chest with an armor clad ex-Templar.

"Is the Inquisitor so against being around anyone that we have to play cards in her private room?" The owner of the voice caused Varric to freeze in his tracks, "Maybe I can win something back if there aren't a lot playing."

"Curly, it's just me teaching Cole some more so he can play." Varric replied, "She's just... letting us use her room so the Kid doesn't scare anyone."

Cullen knew, or least he would like to believe, all the inner circle of the Inquisition. Varric was nervous and if the merchant dwarf was nervous, that meant something was wrong. He motioned for Varric to a corner of the room and waited until the guests were by the door.

"How is she doing? Neither Solas or Iron Bull would elaborate." Cullen asked and Varric shrugged.

"Sleeping. I was relieving Bull, but I am trying not to make a scene." Varric replied.

"Come on then Varric." Cullen said, loud enough so certain ears would hear, "I want to play some too. At least Cole and Sili won't strip me of everything."

"I warned you, Commander Cullen." Josephine laughed, walking by.

"Get some practice then meet me later, before we all head to bed?" Leliana replied, having caught Cullen's hints.

Varric wasn't sure if he liked any of this. Sili was somewhat private, even more so now since the two elves had put an end to their romancing. Either they really believed there was nothing there, but innocent flirting or they were good at hiding... Check that, Sili was good at hiding.

Cole had made some remark, but Solas had made the spirit promise to hush and not talk about it. To say that irritated Varric was an understatement. Solas had seem to toss the whole matter aside, but something told Varric there was more especially once Solas had come out of Sili's Faded dream. Whatever it was, the merchant dwarf slightly thought the stoic elf deserved it.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, Varric led Cullen back up to the Inquisitor's private room. Not surprised at all that Cole and Sili hadn't moved, the two men looked to one another, smiles spreading across their faces as they walked to the fireplace.

"You do realize that she might kill all of us?" Varric replied, dealing cards for Cole, himself, Cullen, and Leliana, "But never thought we would be joined by Lady Nightingale, herself." Varric smiled, but looked outside to check how late it was. The sun had finally disappeared behind the mountains as reds, orange, and purples slowly filled the sky. With the snow reflecting the colors, Varric had wondered why the Inquisitor ever wanted to leave her room.

"I do have my wilds, Varric. Now that we have some time to regroup and settle, I think I can indulge a little." Leliana smiled, bringing Varric back to the game.

"At least you are here. I would hate to see what you would normally indulge on." Varric replied. In truth, as he had stated, she scared the shit out of him constantly.

"We aren't playing for real, right?" Cullen asked, looking over his cards.

"Then how will I learn?" Cole asked, confused, but Cullen actually laughed.

"I mean for real money." The Commander replied. With him being more human, Cullen wasn't so skeptical of him, "I need to regroup to earn back some coin."

"And dignity." Varric interrupted.

"Oh, that kind of real." Cole realized, looking at his dealt hand.

"Remember, no talking to the cards or helping anyone with their hand." Varric warned.

"I think I would only do that if money or dignity were involved." Cole replied honestly.

"Then, when we do, you can sit by me." Cullen stated, smiling at the boy.

"That, I would have loved to see. Josie doesn't get out to do many fun things. To see her playing this game with all of you. Especially hearing the outcome..." Leliana joked.

"Maker, I will never live that down." Cullen sighed, trying to hide behind his cards.

Varric smiled to himself as he looked around. The four of them were sitting on the rug, in front of the fireplace, in the Inquisitor's private room. They were actually there out of worry for Desilinaris, who was still resting on her bed. She hadn't moved in hours, but Cole's regular 'checking', let them know she was still alive.

Varric's eyes lingered on her form more than he should have as Cullen grunted. He hadn't paid attention and lost the game. Leliana had won that hand, not like merchant had anything anyway. The Spymaster was just smiling at Cullen as Cole gathered the cards. He was about to hand them back to Varric, but stopped. He turned to Sili, causing the others to turn as well. The Inquisitor was looking at them with such an empty expression.

Looking to the others, Varric slowly rose and made his way over to her. Their faces just inches apart as he checked for any signs, "You there, Inquisitor?"

"I guess, for now." Sili replied, slowly sitting up. To her amazement, Cullen was there in an instant to help her. She looked at him confused for a moment before nodded her thanks, "Can you help me stand?"

"Are you sure that is wise? I mean, Varric only told us that your head was injured in some manner." Cullen supplied, giving her his arm.

"If I don't move now, I might sleep another full day." Sili shrugged, grabbing onto Cullen's arm and pulling herself up.

"Inquisitor? We need to know who did this to you. This cannot go unpunished." Leliana tried to reason, "I know you may not see it as important, but..."

"What do you mean? It was a dragon and a rock wall..." Sili wondered.

"Solas said that your head injury was never properly healed." Varric said, having made the stoic elf talk, "What did he mean by that?"

Sili looked to all of them, confused at first. Then she realized she had been dreaming and Solas must have dropped in, "It has to deal with my clan. This injury will go away with time, but with everything going on, it's taking longer." Sili supplied as Cullen escorted her over to the rug and helped her sit down between him and Varric.

"Is it really so bad that you can't tell us?" Varric nearly begged.

"Wandering, not lost but lost, pride and hurt, why doesn't he like the others?" Cole talked, looking at Sili, "You had admirers, one in particular."

"It's just, well." Sili thought a moment, "I don't know, it happened a week before the conclave."

The explosion had been nearly four months ago. Leliana and Cullen shared a look before turning back to Sili, "How did we not know, wouldn't Solas have noticed it?" Cullen asked, obviously annoyed that their leader had been hurt for so long.

Sili sat in silence, hugging her knees up to her chest. She really wasn't sure she should be telling this, but her Keeper had said it was up to her. The other three had defended her as best they could. Hell, even the Teryn and the other humans had come to save her and Sili guessed that the time had come to deal with it.

"I was one of the better hunters within my clan. There was a number of us, but there was one that we had adopted, he had come from the alienage of Wycome. I was better than him, but he disliked the Dalish ways. Keeper Istimaethorial told him to watch himself, not to be boastful and disregard our ways after we took him in. Aranien was a jerk... He was like Sera, at least she waits for the best time to strike. Aranien would just go running after whatever we were hunting. He acted worse than the drunken shems..."

The words slowly died on her lips and she felt a little ashamed. Though the guilt was lightened when Cullen began to laugh and Leliana smiled. Varric had been laughing already, trying to imagine a skinny elf jumping out of bushes, trying to be scary. Cole though, had a look of confusion, but that was normal.

"In my defense, any humans I had seen up to a point were all drunkards. They would be loud and say many things. It wasn't hard to know where they were." Sili added, the memories stinging a bit, "After a while, he wanted a relationship. I wasn't interested, but there were plenty of other girls."

"The true classic hero, always letting someone else have the best." Varric shook his head.

"Not really, Varric. He wasn't a good person nor could he do anything right or by himself." Sili admitted, "I truly didn't love him, nor wanted to do anything with him."

"So, I take it he didn't care for his advances to be brushed off?" Cullen asked.

"I never... acknowledged him, but there were others that I once liked." Sili shrugged, "But after the wolf attack, things in my clan were just... not good. I was sent to the Conclave so that I may get away..."

"First your head, then a wolf, conclave, Harold, demons, red lyrium, Vinatori, Inquisitor..." Varric rubbed his neck, "You really haven't had time to recover."

"Wolf, head, fight with Aranien, fight with clan, conclave, Harold, demons, Haven, red lyrium, Vinatori, nobles, Inquisitor, dragons..." Sili rambled off.

"Must save the boy, wolf isn't right, blighted or rabid. He doesn't see, he will hurt others, must defend myself even if..." Cole looked at her, stopping in respect.

"You aren't helping my headache, Sili." Cullen stated.

"Why weren't we aware of this, I feel bad that I wasn't able to find out." Leliana added, "But maybe she can tell me once she is better and awake..."

Cullen and Varric turned to see Sili back asleep, her head rested on her knees. The Commander would have smiled, but he could see the tears slowly edging down. Cullen was about to take her back to her bed, moving her slightly so that he could carry her. She started awake, but just moved so that she was now resting against him.

Cole retrieved discarded deck and handing them back to Varric, "I would like to try one more game. The armor is cool, it's helping her headache."

"Cole, is there anything we can do for that injury?" Leliana asked, looking to the Commander and Inquisitor.

"Not that I can think of… Besides padding her next helmet." Cole shrugged.

"It will take a few days for a new one." Cullen added, absently rubbing her arm. Sili was leaning against his side, her head lying on his shoulder, "But our next move won't involve armor… at least I hope not."

"Yes, the Winter Palace and dealing with the assassination plot." Leliana stated, "We need to plan and figure out who and what is all going on."