There was nothing. Even the quiet weighted on her, but Sili welcomed the darkness of her dreams. Where she felt like she was floating down a soft stream and, thanks to the Creators, this was one such night. Though there seemed to be another presence. It was a weird feeling, like a hunter waiting for prey and the prey could smell the hunter.

Slowly opening her eyes, Sili found herself by the elven caravan in the Exalted Plains, where she was floating down the stream. Though she didn't know how, she knew where she would end up, the site where the spirit had been twisted. Sili allowed the dream, the stream, and whatever hand was guiding this vision to take her from the mouth of the stream and over to the beach.

There, she could see the two forms of Cole and Solas. Cole noticed her and appeared next to her in a blink, helping her rise from the waters. Cole smiled to her as he escorted her over to where Solas sat. He looked to be in some prayer or chant and she stood quietly next to Cole. Maybe the time away from Skyhold hadn't been enough.

"He thought it best to cleanse the area here in the Fade in case any other spirits get trapped." Cole whispered.

"Good idea." Sili nodded, "May I ask why I am here?"

"You were pulled from your dream, for that I am sorry." Solas stated, slowly standing.

"Don't worry about it, I'm sure I will be woken by our companions soon enough." Sili stated.

"Blackwall and Varric or by our odd couple?" Solas asked.

"You know that we are all odd?" Sili replied, "It would be from those two anyway. I believe the odd couple were... too busy to be bothered."

"It is remarkable, is it? That love can bloom so easily now. Even supposed enemies can find love is such times." Solas smiled.

"Or whither." Cole replied, looking to Sili, "It still hurts, but something else is trying to grow."

"Cole..." Sili warned, "Not now."

She was looking at Cole, but could see Solas just behind him. For a moment, his face fell before going back to his normal stoic look. He was such an enigma, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to solve that puzzle. He wanted to keep to himself, so be it.

Sili felt uncomfortable and began to walk away, she wasn't going to have one of the few relaxing nights be tainted this way. She waded back into the stream, ignoring Cole and Solas as she allowed the current to take her. Sili wanted, and needed, to rest before they headed out into the desert. Unfortunately, her mind couldn't get comfortable and Sili knew she would need to wake up and readjust herself...

"Alright, worst thing you've ever eaten?" A hushed voice broke through her sleep, "I had this imported ham from Anderfels once. It tasted like despair, literally." She could hear the dwarf shiver.

"But you probably got to wash it down with an expensive wine." A gruff voice replied, "Mine was two year old hard tack. You can't scrape off the blue anymore. You just try not to look, but I've got one for you. Best tavern name you've ever seen. I'm torn between 'The Bed and Bucket' and 'The Bottom of the Barrel'."

"Oh, that's a tough one. I think I have to go with 'The Neighbour's House'. For sheer balls."

"Ya know, sometimes I'm glad to be Dalish and never have to 'discover' these places." Sili sighed as she pushed herself up, "Though, I am almost curious to allow one of you to escort me."

"Miss Sili, it would be my honor to take you to the Hanged Man." Varric smiled, "By the way, how are you doing?"

"As good as probably expected." Sili shrugged, "What time is it?"

"The sun's been down around an hour now. You've been asleep for just a few hours, though." Blackwall replied, "Do you require anything?"

"No, just that we all get some rest. The Western Approach is going to be tough, I can tell." Sili stretched, finding a new spot to be comfortable, "I read up on codex already published about the place."

"Oh and what interesting tidbit have you found?" Varric asked.

"The Second Blight and where darkspawn emerge." Sili replied.

"Great, just great. More weird shit to make this world all that more creepy." Varric sighed.

"Let's get some rest Varric." Blackwall stated, "Don't think Bull or Dorian will be much help plus, we have the soldiers keeping watch."

"Talked me into it. Night Miss Sili." Varric laughed.

"Get some rest." Sili yawned, "I have the soldiers waking us at first light."

Thankfully, the rest of the night was peaceful for Sili. She welcomed the darkness once again until a young scout entered the tent. The noise woke her immediately and she could see the sun barely rising above the lands and through the trees. The scout waited until she was noticed before bowing and leaving, allowing Sili some time to fully wake.

Thankfully, the scout had left the flap open just enough for Sili to see. Stretching as she stood, Sili looked around for her armor and daggers and found them nicely placed alongside Varric and Blackwall's stuff. Quietly grabbing her gear, she put most of her armor on before walking out of the tent.

Greeting the scouts and soldiers, Sili found a spot by some boulders to put on her arm and leg bans. Once everything, including her daggers, were secure, she relaxed against the boulder to allow the sun to warm her. She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh morning air.

"Are you ready, Cole?" Sili asked, but didn't actually look for him.

"I am always ready. We aren't near any demons and no one needs my help." Cole replied, appearing next to Sili, sitting on the boulder.

"I am going to wake the others, can you find Solas and have him ready?" Sili asked, pushing off from the boulder and looking at Cole.

She smiled sweetly, one that he knew was only for him and he nodded briefly before disappearing. Sili stretched again, allowing the armor to adjust before heading towards the tents. Iron Bull was just making his way out of the tent, careful as to not get his horns stuck. She wasn't surprised that he was awake, probably had been for awhile.

"Hey Boss." Bull greeted, "Dorian's about ready."

"Good, I'll get..." Sili started, but Varric popped out of the tent, glaring at the Iron Bull, "Varric and Blackwall?"

"Be out in a moment, Miss Sili." Blackwall called from inside the tent.

"Tiny decided to wake us up with..." Varric started, but Sili stopped him.

"Don't want to know..." Sili stated, but looked to Iron Bull with a semi-amused, but annoyed glare, "Bull, we talked about this. That is for your Chargers... not us."

"What? I couldn't help it, I'm hungry." Bull asked, patting his stomach.

"Well, the soldiers have some food made. Oatmeal I believe." Sili said, realizing whatever had happened was less offensive than she thought, "We all need to eat something and get going."

Varric and Bull nodded, walking towards the center of the camp as the tents behind her flew open again. Blackwall and Dorian emerged simultaneously, though they had the same glare that Varric had. She forced herself not to smile or utter a single giggle, though it was becoming hard.

"I do care for that oaf, it just he sometimes is so juvenile." Dorian complained.

"He does it because you need to laugh, even if you do it on the inside while being mad on the outside." Cole said, standing by the tents, "He knows where your boundaries are and likes to just touch it, but never cross it."

"Oh, hello Cole. So, does he fear me if he thinks he crosses the line?" Dorian asked, trying not to be snappish at the entity, but he still was annoyed.

Cole thought a moment and a little smile creped on his lips, "He knows be better stay awake if he does."

"Good to know that I have that power over him." Dorian replied, "Now, time to eat. Coming Blackwall?"

"Right behind you, Dorian." Blackwall laughed, "Save you a seat, Miss Sili."

She smiled at the two as they walked away, but turned to Cole, "Are you at least going to join us?"

"I think it better if I stay back. I can make the soldiers forget me, but it's harder when I'm added." Cole replied, "I will be ready, Solas too."

"Alright, but the offer still stands." Sili replied, walking towards the group.

Well, she would have joined her companions if not for some soldiers that needed her assistance. A few soldiers needed something to do, while two others had reports for her. Thinking over the last time they were here, Sili know the Riverside Garrison needed help and sent anyone willing that way.

Then it was the reports; simple, mundane, and routine which she took to a little table that also held the map of Orlais. Sili wasn't familiar with this area and going from lush green forests to deserts required different gear. The last thing she wanted was to get stuck in sand because her armor was too heavy. Sili was tracing an imaginary route when someone walked up.

"Inquisitor?" A voice jolted her from the table and a startled Solas was staring at her, "Pardon me, I thought you had heard me."

"Sorry, Solas. There have been bodies walking around all morning... and I was planning on the map." She shrugged, "Did you need something?"

"If we have a moment, I wanted to talk about what happened, last night." Solas replied.

Sili could hear the uncertainly in his voice, but choose to ignore it, "Think nothing more of it. I wanted to relax and didn't want to interrupt what you were doing. More than once I have noticed the anchor disturb things in the Fade if I dream."

"The anchor does that?" Solas asked, surprised, "But I meant what Cole said."

"Again, don't think upon it. We moved passed it, though things may linger awhile, we are still good friends and company." Sili shot back, not wanting to talk about it at all, "You and I both know that Cole tries, but he is like a young child in aspect. He believes he knows what could help and doesn't see beyond that."

"True words, but you still don't scold him and tell him to stop completely." Solas wondered, "You just warn him."

"She likes me." Cole said, appearing on the table next to Sili, "Like a sister, right? She likes me to try, but only at the correct times to do so."

"Yes, Cole. You are like my little brother... sometimes." Sili smiled.

"If Cole and Miss Sili are siblings, what would that make me?" Varric laughed as he and the others joined the group, handing Sili a bowl of oatmeal.

"That cousin that everyone likes, but also the person that will either put us in or bail us out of jail." Blackwall laughed.

"Or both." Cole added, "I like our family. Though a few would rather I not be here."

"Cole, you and I have talked about that." Sili jumped in before any of the men could say something, "Now, are we ready to go?"

"Not until you eat your breakfast." Varric shot at her.

Sili growled, but complied and ate while the men grabbed gear and the mounts. By the time they were ready to go, it was mid-morning and the sun was completely above the horizon. Sili made sure to thank those in the camp for their help before her group finally made their way back on the road. She was hoping to get passed Val Firmin if not actually reaching a camp within the Western Approach.

Sili had been in deep thought again, nearly ignoring the world around her when she heard Dorian trying to make conversation again. He and Cole were going back and forth, like a young child asking too much of a relative, which made her smile. Cole was such a curious little entity and most times, she thought, he was being rather funny...

"Your clothes look like the Fade, Dorian." Cole said, almost admiringly.

"The stuff of dreams? An explosion of color and sensation wrapped in an enigma?" Dorian asked, trying to sound philosophical.

"It's shiny." Cole replied, causing Dorian's face to fall.

"Cole, are those real clothes, or..." The Tevinter asked, trying not to sound disappointed.

"They're real, what else would they be?" Cole asked, looking to the others.

"I thought maybe you conjured them, like your physical form." Dorian shrugged.

"Do you conjure yours? Is that why they look like that?" Cole asked, his eyes widening.

"Never mind... Forget I said anything." Dorian sighed.

Yes, this trip was becoming very entertaining for the Inquisitor...