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Author's Note: Thank you all for the great support. I didn't think this small piece was going to garner such attention or such amazing readers! You've been great. I'd like to dedicate this chapter to JayRain, who recently has been giving great encouragement and chose to promote Interlocking on their tumblr. I've never had anything like that done for me before and it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Thank you JayRain! Everyone, please enjoy the next chapter.

Interlocking

Chapter Four: Drinks

"'Hope it's giants,' he muses. Harding chuckles and shakes her head. 'Who wishes for giants?'" – Krem and Harding find each other in a world torn apart. A story told in brief glimpses.

Harding had just finished gathering the last of the potions and herbs for her men when she decides to have a drink at the tavern before they strike out again. She expects to find at least a handful of her scouts there already, seeing as they had two more hours before inspection and leaving Haven. None of her men were irresponsible enough for her to crack down on the pre-mission drinking. She overlooked it most times, and partook herself the other times. Times were hard enough to have to worry about miserable troops. Their arrows hit targets, their traps released cleanly, their missives always arrived timely with their ravens. A little drink here or there was the least she could allow these men and women. These volunteers of the Inquisition. Everyone here wanted to be here. They wouldn't jeopardize that.

Harding enters the tavern and waves in greeting to several of her men she sees scattering the tables. She makes her way over to the barkeep and orders a tankard of ale when she hears the call of her name. She turns to look around the tavern.

"Harding!"

She catches sight of Krem toward the back, a hand waving her over. She makes her way to his table and sits down with him, noticing the absence of the other Chargers. She smiles in greeting. "Where is everybody?"

Krem shrugs. "Well, Bull's off in Redcliffe with the Inquisitor. Don't know where the rest of them are. Supposed to meet back here in four hours anyway so most of them are off procuring items and fixing their packs."

Harding takes a sip of ale. "You're clearing out the Forbidden Oasis once we scout ahead, right?"

"Of course. Rocky's blitzed out of his mind with the chance at blowing new tunnels. Besides, Venatori and giants? Sounds like fun." He lifts his tankard to his lips.

"Well, the giant report was kind of sketchy. I think Flaxley just caught a minor earthquake and got scared. He's kind of got a thing about giants. Haven't gotten a raven since that first report though so it's worth scouting."

"Your advance scout?"

"Yep."

"Hope it's giants," he muses.

Harding chuckles and shakes her head. "Who wishes for giants?"

Krem grins proudly. "We're trying to get our giant count up. Make it a trademark of being a Charger. Looks good against the other mercenary groups. Helps us get hired more."

She cocks a brow his way, licking the ale from her lips. "I thought you guys were in the Inquisition's full employ. No other outside jobs and such."

Krem shrugs one shoulder. "Doesn't hurt to build up a larger reputation while we're here. Sometimes you got to think of the 'after'. After this big hole in the sky is plugged, you know?"

Harding nods, pursing her lips in thought. "Haven't much thought about 'after'."

"Bull's good at it. Planning ahead. Setting us up so we're always hired and always prepared."

"Sounds like a good boss."

"Sure is. Better than most idiots I've served under. Even if he acts like a giant teddy bear sometimes."

Harding giggles.

"I'm sure you'd have a place, you know."

Harding cocks her head in question, swallowing her ale.

Krem turns the handle of his tankard around in his grip. "With the Chargers. Bull likes you. And I can vouch for your skill. You know, if you start thinking about 'after'."

She cannot help the grateful smile that spreads across her face. "Thanks. I'll think about it."

Krem nods, lips pursed, gaze on his ale. "I'd sure love to have you."

Harding opens her mouth to speak but is cut off by the loud and imperative "It's a bow!" she hears coming from the tavern's entrance.

She turns to find Dalish walking to the bar with someone who looks like they work in the armory, arguing with her hands thrown in the air. "What's Dalish doing?" she asks, bringing her tankard to her mouth.

Krem rubs a hand down his face and sighs. "Trying to get them to allow her into the archery contest."

Harding spurts ale through her nose.