Disclaimer: I don't own DA.
"It is an interesting experience to see things from the other side, Varric," Cullen nodded. He stared into the fire, its light reflecting in his eyes. But he lifted them to the dwarf who just finished one of his many stories. And he never seemed to have a shortage of those. But he was a good storyteller, that much was clear.
"Yeah, we were a remarkable bunch," Varric agreed with a smile. "But the times we were just hanging out were even better."
"What? Did you sit around a fire and watch a hare getting roasted?" Sera asked, narrowing her eyes at him.
Varric just grinned. "For instance, yes," he replied, quietly. "Or when we realized Joyet was much better at cards than Hawke."
Vivienne took a slow breath. "You mentioned this name in connection with Hawke's…mabari. You played cards with a dog?" she asked, obviously dismayed. That expression looked funny on her face while still wearing her horned hat.
Cullen chuckled, shifting a little closer to the fire as the night's chill was determined to run its cold fingers down his back. His eyes inadvertently shot towards her, huddled in a warm blanket. She shared it with Sera, the two women nestling against each other, each holding one hem tightly. "Not just any dog," he said and looked away when she met his eye. He focused on Vivienne who was watching him with a slight frown. "Mabari are the most intelligent breed there is."
"I know," she replied sharply. "I've studied Tevinter history and know of their experiments. Still, it is but a dog," she added.
"That's one way to look at it," Cullen continued, turning his gaze to the smirking dwarf, "but it does seem a little bit farfetched, Varric. I remember Hawke complaining quite often about your exaggerating."
"I didn't know you two could talk aside from the usual mage-templar bickering," Varric shot back promptly.
Cullen leaned back, supporting his weight with his arms. "She often accompanied Lady Leandra when she visited her son in the Gallows. We also often met in the streets of Kirkwall," he replied just as readily.
"Ah, yes," Varric nodded, "she mentioned you fancied keeping Junior near."
"Carver was reliable," Cullen replied quickly. Then he gave the dwarf a smirk, leaning once again closer to the fire, holding out hands to the pleasant heat the dancing flames emanated. "And his presence often kept Hawke at bay," he admitted. "Either way, those would be really funny stories, too. For such a fierce and sharp-tongued woman, she was always at loss as to her brother."
"Why so?" Anastasia asked gently, her soft voice barely carried over the sound of fire crackling and wind howling. She was frowning mildly, her eyes fixed on the hungry flame. There was something wistful about her, too.
Varric bent his head slightly and his voice lost its biting tone. "Junior was her weakness. She loved him, but he didn't give a damn. For fear of losing him just like their sister, Bethany, she left him home before venturing with us to the Deep Roads. He was all bitter and angry about it and joined the templars while we were trapped in the warren, virtually buried alive. Whenever we spotted him, it was literally troubles coming our way." Varric sighed. "The only time he actually showed he cared was at the very end. Too little, too late if you ask me."
"What did he do?" Sera asked, shifting closer to Anastasia and pulling at the blanket to wrap it tighter around herself.
"Stood up to his betters to defend her, stepping right into the Knight-Commander Meredith's way," Varric replied with a mirthless smile. Then he nodded towards Cullen. "You showed off, too, advisor. I wouldn't have the guts to oppose a madwoman Meredith had become."
"Someone had to," Cullen replied in a low voice. He frowned into the fire, looking pensive rather than grim. He started talking again, but Anastasia didn't hear the words. She looked at him with a new-found awe. He had risked his life to save a mage? And an apostate! With every new piece of information she learned about the man, he seemed more of a person and less of a templar in her eyes.
"Busted," Sera whispered softly into Anastasia's ear. The mage blinked and looked at the elf who grinned at her. She jerked her head across the fire to the musing ex-templar. "You cannot take your eyes off our little advisor."
"He sits right in front of me. It's difficult not to see him," Anastasia replied in a hushed voice.
Sera nodded, chuckling. "Right...and what about that midnight walk all over Skyhold a week ago I heard so much about?"
"It wasn't midnight," Anastasia said and she was glad the fire hid the way she coloured. She felt the heat creep up her neck and cheeks. Why did she blush anyway? It had been innocent and she was just collecting courage to confess her story. Though she did like walking arm in arm with him. It was something she'd dreamed about as a little girl. Meeting a dashing prince she would fall in love with. Though she had abandoned the idea when she'd been sent off to the Circle.
"Details," Sera purred in her ear. "Oh, look, he's watching us."
"Sure thing," Anastasia pushed her back a little, "when you're practically kissing my ear."
"Do I make you uncomfortable?" Sera giggled, shifting closer to her.
"Sera," Anastasia laughed and shook her head. "You very well know that you don't. You're just trying to be annoying. And draw attention," she whispered.
Sera shot her an evil grin. "You know what would draw his attention?"
"I wasn't talking about his…" she sighed, covering her face with her hand. "I do not want anyone's attention, so drop this," she hissed into her face. But Sera kept on grinning like mad and soon Anastasia felt her own smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She snickered. "You, young lady, are hallucinating," was what she said in betweens the rush of laughter. Then she shook her head and begun rising. "Well, thanks for the stories, Varric, but I feel it's time for me to…" she stopped and looked down at Sera, pulling at the blanket. The elf rogue had it tightly around her, staring up at Anastasia with big, innocent eyes, but obviously not willing to let go of it. "It's mine," Anastasia said and tugged once more.
"I'm cold," Sera replied simply.
"I'll be cold at night without it," Anastasia replied.
Vivienne heaved a sigh and shook her head, while Varric grinned at the two women. Cullen observed with a soft smile, his eyes flicking between Anastasia and Sera.
"Please," Sera whispered, tilting her head.
Anastasia dropped the blanket and straightened. "Fine. Have it," she replied, causing the elf to frown in suspicion, as the mage looked around the present company. "Sweet dreams, everyone," she replied, her eyes lingering on Cullen for a moment. He raised his eyebrows, not sure what her look meant, or if it meant anything at all, and then followed the sway of her hips when she turned away from the fire.
"Eh…Ana?" Sera drawled, turning her head behind her. "Your tent is the other way. Ana?" The mage suddenly broke into run. "Blast it!" Sera swore and sprung to her feet, quickly disappearing into the night, following Anastasia.
"Insufferable," Vivienne mumbled, "immature and irresponsible behaviour."
"They're just having fun. You should try it sometimes," Varric replied pointedly.
Vivienne flashed him a smile, showing her teeth. It was a dangerous smile and Varric already steeled himself for what was coming. Only then a bright flash of white light came from the direction of where the women had gone to. A sound of people running filled the silence, foot thudding against the dry soil, as the camp guards hurried to see what it was about. Cullen was on his feet as well, a sword drawn and ready, glistening in the flickering light of fire in front of him.
Then, there was a cackle and laughter, and that had everyone by the fire relax significantly. Cullen sheathed his sword again, already heading to find out what the fuss was about. But then he noticed someone appearing from the darkness.
Anastasia walked calmly back to the fire, a mild smile across her face. Her arms hugged another blanket to her chest, her right hand holding a familiar stick. "Sorry for the commotion. Sera accidentally ran into a glyph I had cast. She will unfreeze in a minute or two."
"You do realize she's going to hunt you down when she can move again?" Varric asked, but she just smiled. "Not if I ward my tent against her. She won't be able to find it," she winked at him impishly and headed away again.
Vivienne frowned deeply, her dark eyes watching the girl until shadows swallowed her. She hummed quietly. "Wards rank among advanced spells. Anastasia, as skilful as she is, has never struck me as particularly experienced Magi to have learned it," she mused softly. "Intriguing. Maybe there's something to the girl after all."
"Well, I'm curious to see how this unfolds," Varric mumbled and kept casting glances towards the direction of Sera's tent. Finally, the elf emerged from the shadows quietly and joined their little circle, wrapping the blanket around her body as before. She looked unperturbed.
"What are you doing here?" Varric asked her.
She turned her eyes to him, lazily. "Sitting?"
"She stole your blanket."
"Because I refused to give her this one," she waved the free ends of it at him.
Cullen stood up, mumbling his farewells for tonight, but only Vivienne's head followed him while he headed away.
"You're not going to get back at her?"
"I am. But not when she's expecting it. Really, Varric. Strategy."
Their voices managed to reach his ears for a while yet as he walked from them. He smiled when she passed by Anastasia's tent, wondering if she really had protected it with her spells or not. Then he remembered Vivienne's comment and stopped. He gazed at the canvas, musing on it. From his point of view Anastasia's skills didn't seem as lacking, but he was no mage. Either way, he had little doubts as for where or how she'd learned such spells. And that inspired an idea.
He walked around her tent, searching for an entry, his steps quiet and soft. He was sure she had to see him against the tent as she had placed the entry facing the fire, but she didn't react on him standing in front of it. She had to be already in bed then.
He wondered briefly, if she went to sleep or used some other way to enter the Fade or how long she needed for it. Either way, his heart skipped a beat when he whispered her name. He waited then and took a deep breath when he heard gentle rustling from the inside, and then steps coming near.
Okay, not exactly a one-shot; what I had in mind turned to be much longer, so the rest comes next time.
Thank you all for reading!