Sorry for this being ages again, life gets in the way apparently... hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you for the reviews and follows :)

Varric heaved in a breath. As he shouldered the uncomfortable burden of their camping equipment he restrained the groan that would betray his weariness.

"Something wrong?" The woman next to him asked innocently, though her wry smile betrayed the intended sarcasm.

"Not at all… though I'm a little confused why I'm carrying everything."

"You'd prefer I helped…?"

"I didn't say that."

"Well then, there's no point complaining."

"Couldn't Bellam and Ferdinand have taken some supplies?"

"You want someone as old that rock and the one protecting him being slowed down with luggage when a giant insect is on the rampage?"

Varric paused. "But you're ok with me being hindered?"

"Objections?"

Varric contained himself, and managed to exude only a low grunt, carefully avoiding catching sight of the smirk he was sure was across her lips. If this was a test, it was a tough one. Even Bartrand hadn't put him through the paces like this. The sweat must have shone on his forehead, glaringly obvious to the languid mannered woman beside him. He couldn't suppress the sigh as he shifted his shoulders to redistribute the weight.

"I know it's only been a few metres so I shouldn't have to ask but... do you need to rest?"

He couldn't hide the scowl. "I'm fine." He puffed out.

"As long as you're sure." She returned with an almost sing song voice.

"Well I know why they call you the 'Ball Buster' now…" The merchant muttered beneath his breath, although apparently not quietly enough.

"I'm not taking that from Bartrand's bitch…"

…

Varric ached all over. It wasn't the first trek that he'd been on, but it was certainly the most burdened. The torrent of sweat from his brow had been clawing at his eyes for so long that he barely noticed the sting, and his feet trudged wearily forward with automatic, laboured steps. Needless to say, when Bianca stepped from the shadows after yet another speedy scouting venture and announced 'we'll camp here for the evening', it was the most beautiful utterance he had ever heard.

Varric let the packs drop clumsily to the floor, and quickly followed them.

"Tired, are we?"

"Fuck off."

"Bartrand won't be happy if he hears you're not playing nice." That same sodding sing-song tone again. Varric was sure he would have felt fire rising from his stomach… if he could feel anything beyond the dull aching in his limbs and muscles.

"He can fuck off as well."

There was a dry chuckle. "Nothing like some hard labour to separate the men from the boys."

"… Did you see anything when you were scouting?"

"Nothing new."

"Then maybe you won't mind shutting up for a few hours so I can get some shut-eye." He knew his temper was winning out. He knew his weariness was betraying his insufficiencies. He knew that he was failing her test, and she had every right to send him packing… for speaking to her like that alone.

But rather than the rebuke or beating he was expecting, he sensed her kneel beside him. "You know, you might be more comfortable in that grass patch over there."

A breath exuded from the merchant's weary form, rattling between his teeth. She was right, of course, he'd regret spending the night perched on top of the assortment of twigs and pebbles on which he was currently positioned. But honestly, the thought of opening his eyes and moving another step made him feel nauseous. The decision was taken from him, however, when he felt a strong pull at his limp arm. He scrambled to his uncertain feet, fully prepared for the pain of falling flat on his face… but he was surprised when he fell into sturdy armour, and felt a pair of hands grip under his shoulders.

"One foot at a time, Newbie." The unexpected softness in her voice made the young dwarf obey. "We're almost at the summit. You need to sleep well, you're going to need your strength."

Her voice faded as Varric fell into the cool, soft grass and exhaustion claimed him.

…

"Are we feeling better then?"

Every muscle in Varric's body still cringed at each movement, but at least he had slept like a sodding log. He twisted rather gingerly to face her, masking the twinge in his back as he did so. "Say what you want, but if you'd been lugging all that crap we'd still be halfway down the mountain…"

"That's why you're here, Packhorse…" She responded cheerily, though with a languid demeanour that Varric really quite envied. She looked different in the daylight too, it was almost as if sunshine suited her… a bizarre thing to say about a dwarf, he thought wryly.

"Glad to be of service…"

"You'll be even gladder to know that from here on in we're leaving the gear."

"What…."

"It's far too heavy to carry up such hills…"

Varric paused, suddenly feeling like he was being beyond mocked. "… then excuse me for asking, but what in the name of the sodding stone did I have to break my back bringing it this far for?"

"Are you hungry, Newbie?" She asked.

Varric's intended haughtiness was betrayed by his stomach as it gave a rather loud rumble. He felt his cheeks redden, although it did nothing to soothe his ire. "…maybe…"

"That's why."

Her eyes turned to him, with that same amused yet sage like expression written across her features. Although he felt genuine irritation, it faded under her gaze and it became almost a comfortable resignation. She would put him through his paces and she would accept no weakness on his part, but in return she would watch his back.

He clambered to his feet, took in one more lingering view of the mountainous peaks of Sundermount and made his way to the supplies. He suppressed the groan as he knelt beside them and began rooting through the first bag he came to. "Try the one behind it. There's some bread and dried meats."

"Well what's in this one?" Varric huffed stubbornly clinging to the current bag he held, a little annoyed that she hadn't pointed that out sooner.

"Bedding. One behind it, Newbie, and throw me some bread while you're at it."

"Why didn't you get some earlier?"

"Why have a dog and bark yourself…?"

Varric rolled his eyes. "If you're not a dog why bark at all?"

He heard her chuckle. "Continue to amuse me, Newbie, and I may consider keeping you."

Varric pulled the loaf and the thinly wrapped package free from its bindings, tugged a crust from the end and tossed it rather cack-handedly to the woman on the nearby rock. Although a poor throw she caught it ably and began her inspection. Varric stifled the laughter that threatened, the way she peered at the crust make her resemble some form of rodent. I mean, come on, what could possibly be wrong with a… His silent question was answered when the rejected slab of bread smacked into the side of his head.

"What?!"

"I don't like crusts."

…

He had been warned they were getting close. Varric felt a mixture of excitement and nerves brewing in his belly. He already regretted cramming so much bread and ham down his throat, with his stomach making threatening gurgles which he was sure would alert any huge spider thing in the vicinity to their presence.

"It's not just the Varterrel we've got to be careful of here, Newbie. There's spiders the size of cows and skeletons that aren't exactly less lively than my grandfather." Her earlier words hummed around his head, making him snap to attention every few minutes or so. He knew this was his chance, but he also knew that this was his chance to blow everything. That thought alone made his palms sweat. This wasn't just about proving himself for Bartrand's sake anymore, this was about proving himself for his own sake, because for some reason he wanted this damned woman to see him as something more than Bartrand's plaything. Why? He didn't know. He'd never really cared about it before. He did the talking, his brother did the necessary nefarious deeds, it wasn't exactly an honest living but it was a formula that worked.

The fact that he was questioning it now of all times pissed him off no end.

A scurrying to his right brought his senses rushing back in a surge of adrenaline. These were smaller, speedier legs than their quarry possessed. The crossbow at his back fell deftly into his waiting hands and he took aim into the thick of the trees. He traced their movements, listening carefully, not firing until the unnamed beasts burst from the foliage. He noticed also, with not a small amount of satisfaction, that Bianca had readied her stance after taking prompt from his own movements.

The twin arachnids that came forward were little competition for the wave of arrows and steel that greeted them. The one to the right was overcome swiftly by Varric's skill with the crossbow and Bianca made short work of the other. Although the fight was over in seemingly minutes, the merchant's heart refused to slow. He had passed the first hurdle, he just prayed that the next would be as simple.

"You did good, Newbie."

Although desperately seeking a retort for his new, and unwelcome, nickname, Varric just nodded toward her dumbly.

To his immense relief, rather than press him further for words that seemingly were escaping him, she accepted this and turned to move on. "You were faster off the mark than me too. Good. I need people I can rely on."

"Are you saying you trust me?"

"No. I'm saying you're adequate enough to trust… but trust is earned, my friend. And you've ample opportunity to do so in the near future. The Varterral escaped just over this ridge, so its cave must be somewhere beyond."

"…That doesn't sound overly precise…."

"You think the Tevinters would risk drawing that thing out a distance? The cage must have been just beyond the cave's mouth. No risk is too small to consider when it's their precious cargo…"

Varric hesitated, he was sure he sensed some venom in her tone, but if he was too tired or merely too nervous to pursue it he didn't really know. "Well they didn't consider something if the damned thing got dragged half way down Sundermount and then got out."

"Get dragged? No, it got out here and escaped the only way it knew how. By making ground and coming back once it had regained its strength."

"… Why do I get the feeling you're not being completely honest with me?"

"….Wanna go back down and get those supplies, Newbie?"

"Not really."

"Shut up then."

He took the hint and left it at that, though something began gnawing at the back of his mind. Something was going on here, and he wasn't certain of what. Though street smarts had never particularly been his forte, smarts in general were… and there was something not quite right about the situation. Still, he had no desire to lug his already sore behind back down the steep peaks for packs they didn't need, so he kept his thoughts to himself and followed her as she made her way steadily and cautiously down over the ridge to the clearing below.

At the end of the decline, they realised that they were stood on a ledge over-looking the clearing. After a moment spent judging the distance, Bianca motioned that she was going to jump down. As the woman prepared for the drop, Varric felt the ground beneath his feet start to rumble. His heart and stomach began to jump as he noticed the small pebbles around them start to shake, with an unnaturally irregular speed that only seemed to get faster. Without thinking, he grabbed at Bianca's outstretched arm and snatched her backwards. They tumbled together into a groove of the hill. The thundering of the rocks seemed to echo now, but that did not stop Bianca turning on him, with ire in her eyes.

He was almost grateful for the huge and terrifying frame of the Varterral that burst into the clearing, distracting her attention. They lay there, watching it for a moment, before it turned and scurried behind a cliff of rock. The vibrations faded away and they were once more left alone.

"Close by cave in bloody deed."

"Told you, Tevinter Magisters don't take chances."

…..

"What…?"

"You're selling something here, Dwarf."

"You asked to hear the story and that's what I'm telling you."

"You say you once had general smarts?"

"Oh yeah, that's great, why don't you kick me when I'm bearing my soul to you, I heard Tevinter Magisters love doing that…"

The elf's face darkened," If you ever compare…"

"Yeah, I know. You'll rip into my chest with your blue shiny hand and stop my heart beating. But we both know that's not going to happen, don't we? So, do you want to hear the rest of it or should we call it a night?"

"I told you about Hawke. This is the trade, Dwarf."

"A little less attitude then, if you please. And more ale…"