"There is a certain irony in the fact that I'm going with you to Cumberland again, Tallis." Nero grumbled. It was the following day and they were sitting in the dinner cabin of a ship heading east, towards Cumberland, where they would then have to hike up the most eastern part of the Vimmark mountains.
Tallis rolled her eyes and looked at Hawke, "did you have to bring him, he's got this annoying 'I wish you were dead' thing about him."
"I asked to come, I can't just send my friends off with you, I actually like them and would rather not see them left to die in a cellar because your prize was in reach but saving them would ruin it." Nero snarled.
Hawke clapped him on the back and looked around the table, Fenris, Nero, Varric, Isabela, Merril, and Sebastian had all agreed to come. He couldn't get ah old of Anders, again, and Aveline couldn't leave the guard, also she was in no hurry to visit Orlais.
He turned to Tallis, "so, you said you would explain when we were on the way and everyone was here?"
"The jewel we're after is called 'the heart of the many,'" Tallis said.
"Interesting name."
"Interesting jewel, all I care about is getting it away from the Duke. Here's the problem-"
"Oh, great." Nero groaned.
Tallis ignored him, "The heart is in a vault, behind who knows what kind of traps, protected by a private army of Orlesian Chevaliers, inside a fortress that was designed to be impregnable. And, lets not forget, its on the side of a mountain, in the middle of nowhere, surrounded... by monsters."
"Piece of cake." Hawke told her.
"If you say so."
"I find myself a little curious..." Sebastian began, "why is this Orlesian Duke keeping such a valuable jewel...in Nevarra. Wouldn't it be safer in Orlais?"
"Well I imagine, Chantry boy, that he doesn't want it to be too easy for other Orlesians to steal it." Varric said. "Also, the middle of nowhere is not a bad place to keep something valuable."
"Good point."
Fenris sighed, "you are too willing to involve yourself in the affairs of others, Hawke. Each time you put yourself at risk. One day you will not be so lucky."
"You have a better idea?" Hawke asked.
"Guard what you have. Keep your head low."
"Like a dragon! Guarding my treasure hoard." Hawke said with childish glee.
Fenris stared at him for several moments, befuddled, "that's not what I meant."
"Shall I eat passersby? Maybe I can demand virgin sacrifices." Hawke said excitedly.
"Mmm, virgins." Isabela said dreamily.
Realizing that she was referring to him and how she had technically taken his virginity last night, he blushed. "Yes."
Fenris chuckled, even he wasn't so blind that he couldn't see that something obviously happened between the two. He was glad, for both of them, they were similar enough that he would be surprised if it didn't work out.
Suddenly Merril piped up, "Isabela, why aren't we on your ship?"
Isabela smiled, "I don't have a crew, kitten."
"We could be your crew, couldn't we?"
"I don't think so," Isabela chuckled, "it's not as easy as it looks."
"And she yells at you when you mess up," Hawke added, "she had me replacing one of the smaller sails and I don't think she took a breath between screaming at me."
"Well...you were doing it wrong." Isabela smirked.
"Then you should have showed me how." He teased.
"I did, you just weren't paying attention."
"I really was, I swear it!"
"You were staring at the ship docked next to mine and were ogling the shirtless sailors." Isabela laughed.
"Can you blame him? Sailors have the most amazing tans." Nero chuckled, then noticed that Fenris was glaring at him, "what? it's true." when Fenris continued to glare daggers at him he sighed and leaned closer to the elf so he could whisper in his ear, "you know I love your skin: scars, lyrium and all. I can hardly wait till later when we're alone in our cabin, I'll have you screaming my name into the pillow and you'll go to sleep with bruises where I pressed or sucked too hard and marks where I bit you." Nero pulled back with a small smile to see Fenris blushing furiously.
"What do you say to him to make him do that?" Isabela asked. "it's an amazing trick, you must teach it to me."
Nero chuckled.
"I, for one, would rather not know." Sebastian said, "no offense."
Fenris nodded but did not respond, which caused Isabela to burst out laughing.
"Maker, he's adorable isn't he?"
Finally Fenris scowled, "I am not adorable."
"Your a dangerous kind of adorable." Isabela said, when he continued scowling she added, "it's a compliment, Fenris. I'm not making fun of you...much"
"Oh look, Rivaini, you've made him start brooding again." Varric said.
"I do not brood." Fenris told the dwarf.
"My mistake then, elf."
"We've been down here for hours, I'm going to get some air." Nero suddenly said as he stood up from the table.
"Mmm, I agree." Isabela said.
"I'm coming as well, its too dark down here." Sebastian said.
They all followed Nero to the deck and leaned against the railings. All except Tallis, who got seasick as soon as a big wave sent her into the railing and she thought that she was going to fall overboard.
Sebastian found himself standing next to the Dwarf and said, "from what I hear, your Merchants Guild reminds me of the court at Starkhaven. Intrigue and gossip wrapped in a layer of formality."
"If Starkhaven was a tenth as bad, I see why you took to the Chantry." Varric said grimly.
"Fashion was the worst part. In the Chantry, I never have to worry whether doublets are meant to be fitted or padded this year."
"In Starkhaven, do they bludgeon you to death for forgetting the name of a minor clerk's third daughter?" Varric asked.
Sebastian frowned, "only if you're lucky."
"Choir Boy, suddenly your life makes much more sense to me."
"I'm surprised your parents never married you off, Varric."
"I was still in diapers when my father died. I'm sure he was getting around to it."
"And your brother never married either, right? Wasn't he concerned about continuing the Tethras line?"
Varric chuckled, "your family's dead and you're still celibate, right?"
"Well...yes, but-"
"Or has Hawke managed to talk you out of that?" Varric grinned.
Sebastian gaped, he always thought he was good at hiding that side of himself. Varric is rather..observant, I suppose.
Evidently, Hawke overheard their conversation and sighed, "not yet."
"Pity. " Varric chuckled
"Ah, yes, well." Sebastian stammered before realizing that Fenris was standing rather close to him as well, "I hate Orlais, do you hate Orlais, Fenris?
"I thought the Chantry taught not to hate." Nero said with a devilish grin.
"I've never been to Orlais," Fenris said, "why do you dislike it?"
"You can't swing a dead cat in Starkhaven without hitting an Orlesian." Sebastian said, glad that Fenris had ignored Nero's comment.
"Truly? Starkhaven seems like a long way for them to go." Fenris replied curiously.
"The Minanter River flows across half of Thedas. Orlesian merchants bob in it like apples."
Fenris smiled, "I like apples."
Varric gasped "I think that's the most positive thing I've ever heard Broody say."
Fenris scowled at the dwarf.
"Yes, well," Sebastian said, "these apples will buy your sister, eat your house, and woo your chickens."
"They must be absolutely terrible apples," Nero teased.
"Why would apples woo chickens? Do the chickens respond?" Merril asked.
Sebastian sighed, he had tried his best to ignore Merril on the other side of Varric, evidently it was a lost cause, "why do I even talk around you?"
Fenris chuckled and turned to the elven mage, "I hear there is going to be an Arlathvhen soon in Halamshiral. A large one."
Merril gasped, "a gathering of the clans? How do I not know about that?"
"Possibly because some elves are still willing to talk to me."
"You've been waiting to say that, haven't you?" Merril frowned.
"Maybe a little." Fenris admitted, Nero chuckled.