Amelia was about two minutes away from snapping at her sister. Anna had been hovering like a mother, constantly fretting over her fever or her wound. It was driving the redhead absolutely mad. If she brought one more wet cloth to place upon her head, Amelia was liable to bite the hand that had been feeding her.

Four days had passed since she had arrived at Haven. Four severely long days. The days drug by agonizingly slow for the redhead. Her sister spent most of the time reading to her or bringing her soup. Amelia never wanted to eat soup again in her life. The nights, however? Iron Bull snuck into her cabin to tell her stories of past jobs or about the new girls working at the Tavern. Their secret meetings were the only thing that was keeping her going right now.

"Am? You're not listening to me. Again," Anna sighed as she plopped down on the bed next to her. "You haven't been listening all day. Are you well?"

"I'm sorry, love," Amelia replied on a sigh. "I'm not trying to ignore you."

"What has you so out of sorts?"

Amelia hesitated before answering her sister. She didn't want to hurt the poor girl, but if she were honest with her? Her sister would be crushed and give her that wounded look that Amelia hated. She gnawed on the inside of her bottom lip as she desperately attempted to find some sort of answer to appease her sister. She'd just opened her mouth to tell her sister the truth when the door to the cabin opened.

"Anna the poor girl's bored out of her mind," a voice interrupted them. "And your mother henning isn't doing anything to make it better."

Amelia's jaw dropped open as her head whipped around to look at the person in question. Her eyes widened as she realized her cousin, Ashlynn, stood with a wide grin stretched over her face. She tried to jump out of the bed but was met with a smack from her sister's staff.

"You were told to stay in bed," Anna grumped as she attempted to hide her smile. "Healer's orders."

"The healer can kiss my ass," Amelia snapped as she rolled off the bed. She landed on her ass, of course, but it was only a momentary distraction as she sprung to her feet and tackled the newest Trevelyan. "I can't believe you're here!"

"Am, I need to breathe!" Ashlynn laughed as she hugged her cousin back. "Besides - you're the one who wrote to me and told me to get my ass here."

Amelia laughed for the first time in what felt like days. She pulled back from the other woman and took quick stock. Her cousin appeared unharmed, her red hair vibrant, green eyes sparkling with mischief. Amelia gave her a wide grin before she smacked a large kiss onto the other woman's cheek.

"Maker I've missed you," Amelia breathed as she pulled Ashlynn further into the room. "I need to sit back down before the Mistress gets angry again. Come, come! Tell me about your trip!"

Hours later, Amelia sat in bed, once again alone in the cabin. Anna and Ashlynn had left, full of warm tea, biscuits, and giggles, to make their way to the cabin that Anna had claimed upon her arrival. Amelia's only had one bed - her cousin had offered to sleep on the floor but she'd refused.

Having Ashlynn here had managed to take Anna's focus off of her sister. Today had been the first time she'd been able to freely walk about without Anna mother henning her to tears. Now, however, her chest felt tight once more as she leaned back against the pillows, a warm mug of tea cupped between her hands.

A soft knock at the door had her grinning. She whistled, the tune as low as she could possibly manage. Mere seconds later, the door swung open, revealing Bull's tall frame and mischievous grin. Amelia arched an eyebrow as he swaggered into the room, a cloak clenched in one meaty fist.

"Going somewhere?" she asked him as she eyed the cloak.

"Yeah," he replied as he tossed the fabric at her. "Put it on, Boss. We're breaking you out of here."

"If Adan or my sister catches us, we're dead," Amelia replied with a wide smile as she threw the cloak about her shoulders.

"Counting on it," Bull replied with a smirk as he held out his hand.

Amelia didn't think twice - she grasped his palm in hers and allowed him to pull her from the bed. She hoped that she was dressed warmly enough in her white tunic and tan breeches. The air around Haven liked to bite into her skin on a good day - it'd only gotten worse when she'd fallen ill. She was trying to pull the strings of the cloak when Bull's fingers stopped hers.

"Here. Let me," he murmured as he quickly did away with the knot.

She was surprised at how deft he was with his fingers. He tugged on the strings before he reached for her hand. She bit back a smile at the warmth that crawled up her arm as his hand encircled hers with such ease.

"C'mon, Boss," Bull said with a quick tug. "Let's get out of here."

She let him pull her from the cabin. The two of them flew down the paths and out the gates. He held a finger to his lips as they crept past the tent that he had been staying in. She could see the figure of Krem bent over a desk in the lamplight. Bull shook his head slightly before he pulled her to the paddock, where his gray stallion stood, saddled and ready.

He hauled her onto the back of the horse with ease. She almost squealed at the fast pace she was tossed into the saddle at. Seconds later, Bull swung onto the horse behind her, his arms coming around her waist as he grasped the reins.

She sat with her back ramrod straight, her pulse pounding. She could feel every shift of his body, every squeeze of his legs, as he nudged the horse. The big stallion plodded down the main road to Haven, surprisingly quiet for an animal of his stature.

"You can relax," Bull whispered in her ear as he expertly directed the horse towards the frozen lake. "I've got you."

She did just that. With a big breath, she allowed her body to relax against his. His warmth seeped into her skin as his scent washed over her. She wanted to grab that scent and roll around in it, like a cat in the sunshine. She'd never tell him, of course. Such a man wouldn't be interested in the likes of her when he could have damn near any woman around.

The thought, however, was nice.

"Here we are," Bull eventually said, and drew her attention from her innermost thoughts.

Her mouth all but dropped open and left her jaw against the cold, snowy ground. Before them sat the dock. The breach danced above them, the green light twisting and turning. Bull had placed a blanket and a few pillows on the boards of the dock. Amelia turned to look at him, her eyes wide.

He shot her a mischievous grin before he swung himself from the stallion's back. His boots hit the ground, causing the snow to crunch beneath his feet as he held a hand out to her. Amelia shook her head, a rueful smile painted across her lips as she slid off the horse herself. Bull retreated a few steps quickly, much to her disappointment, and gave her a wide berth as she swayed slightly on her feet.

She turned to find him with one hand extended, his head cocked to the side. Quickly, she placed her hand in his and allowed herself to be lead down the dock. The horse nickered quietly before he, too, walked to stand near the dock. Amelia nervously glanced down at the iced lake, wondering if it was safe for the stallion to stand on the slippery surface.

"He's got shoes meant for the ice on," Bull told her as they sat down on the blanket. "Made sure all of our mounts had 'em before we came up this way. Didn't want to lose a good beastie if we could avoid it."

"Do you think of everything, Iron Bull?" Amelia mused as she settled against the pillows.

"Bull," he replied as he frowned slightly. "Bull'll do, Boss."

"Well. Do you think of everything, Bull?"

"Most everything."

"Give me an example - other than the shoes."

"I know you were going stir crazy in that cabin of yours, no matter how many people came to visit you. Your sister was getting on every damned nerve you have and yet you didn't say one word out of line. You've been itching to get out of that bed and stretch your legs, breathe some fresh air."

"Impressive."

"You've also been staying awake longer each night, with that lantern burning as bright as possible, waiting for me to come in and entertain you with stories of the Chargers and I. And I know that, without a doubt, I'll keep coming into that room every night once your guard dog leaves for the night, because, Boss, you're the most interesting person I've met in a long time."

She scooted down, laying fully on her back, so she could look up at the sky. The stars mixed with the lights of the breach, peeking out from behind the bolder colors. Much like Anna did with her, she realized, with a small smile. Bull was right - she'd never dream of saying anything to her sister that could cause her any sort of upset.

"I'm not that interesting, Bull, if you can read me that well."

"I can't read you all the time, you know. Like right now. Your eyes are guarded, body language mixed. I can't tell if you're thinking about how great it is to be staring up at the sky with the hottest man this side of Orlais, or if you're wondering what you're going to have for breakfast tomorrow."

"The merchant that I met on the bridge that first day - he's been sneaking me sausage rolls and eggs behind Amelia's back. He's bringing me two more tomorrow."

"So you were really thinking of what you're having for breakfast?"

"Now that," she looked at him and winked, "is a secret."

Bull laughed, the sound deep and low, and made her smile broaden. She hadn't been able to do this - just sit with someone and talk - in a long time. The years of studying to hone skills and bribing those in the circle to hear something about her sister had been the only thing she'd focused on. She'd lived for any little tidbit that someone could give her. It was nice to just sit.

"What are you going to do after all of this is over, Bull?" she suddenly asked him.

"What makes you think this'll be over?"

"Everything ends at some point in time, Bull. We won't get lucky enough for this to last forever."

"Doesn't have to last forever. Just needs to last long enough to give us a few really good fights, Boss."

She opened her mouth to reply just as they heard her name being called. Amelia's eyes widened as she looked at Bull. They'd been caught - Anna was hollering her name at the top of her lungs like she was a lost puppy. They dissolved into laughter as they quickly scurried to their feet. Bull's stallion snorted at the end of the dock, tossing his head as if to ask them to hurry.

"C'mon, Boss," Bull said as he threw her over his shoulder and ran for his horse. "We've got to get you back."

"She's going to kill us."

"Using you as a shield, then. Those fireballs of hers hurt like a bitch."