A few days later...

The storm raged for a few days, keeping the Inquisition sequestered within the camp, but as soon as the rain let up and the skies began to clear- as much as was possible given that it was the Storm Coast- the company packed up their camp and moved on.

They continued into the heart of the coast, only stopping once they had finally reached the Inquisition's main camp in the region. Cullen put together patrol parties, Leah and the healers put together foraging parties, and Emery worked with the rest of the cooks to get things set up in camp. Wilson, Vernon, and Sidney- the men Emery often referred to as "the lads"- took on the task of hunting.

Things were quiet in the camp as those assigned to the patrol and foraging parties departed, leaving only small bits of chatter and the clanking of tools. Emery went to the crates of supplies and started to sort through everything, taking note of what they had in stock. She held a thin wooden board with a slip or parchment pinned upon it, a slim charcoal pen in hand. As she worked, she hummed softly to herself.

Cullen made his rounds through the camp, ensuring that everything was in order, and noticed Emery slowly working her way through the food supplies. He could hear her humming and noticed that she would tap her chin with the end of her pen, as though she was lost in thought.

"Everything in order?"

Emery looked up as Cullen approached and nodded, turning towards him. "Aye, it would seem so."

He chuckled, noticing that she had a small smudge of charcoal on her chin from where she had been tapping against it with the pen.

"What?"

"You have a little something on your chin."

Emery reached up to wipe her chin but only made the smudge worse. "Did I get it?"

Cullen shook his head and took his handkerchief out. "May I?"

Emery nodded, noticing that his brow furrowed ever so slightly as he concentrated on carefully wiping the charcoal from her chin. "Thanks for that, Commander."

Cullen met her gaze and nodded. "You're welcome." He noticed that she had sage-green colored eyes with tiny flecks of amber dotting the inner irises, only noticeable as the light caught them. "There we are."

Emery was surprised by the gesture but was happy to accept his assistance- if only to ensure that she wasn't walking around with black smudges across her chin. "So, what brings you about?"

"I was making my rounds and thought I'd drop by when I saw you reviewing our supplies."

"And how goes the rest?"

"We're well in order, as would be expected in any of our camps. Though we are low on some materials, so requisition reports have been submitted."

"What sort of materials?" Emery asked, returning her attention to the last crate.

"Some metal and leather for repairs to the equipment, but nothing that we can't gather along the coast."

"Well, the lads went hunting for meat so perhaps you'll have enough leather from the hides." Emery thought a moment, then shrugged. "That is assuming they find more than just nugs about."

"Let us hope there is."

Emery smirked and raised a brow at him. "What, you never have nug soup before? Or nug steaks?"

"Can't say that I have, though I suppose it'd be worth a try if it turns out as good as your stew the other night."

"I do my best."

"Emmie!"

Cullen and Emery looked up at that and saw three men with a couple of rams and a tusket in tow.

"The lads are back."

"'Emmie'?"

Emery rolled her eyes at his raised brow, but her smile remained. "A nickname the lads gave me when we met. They treat me like their kid sister, so I don't mind."

"It suits you."

Emery stuck her tongue out playfully at that and greeted the men as they joined them. "Lads, you've quite the haul."

"Aye, got lucky with the tusket, figured we could make some bacon and chops?"

"Oh, now that's an idea." Emery looked at Cullen. "Commander, these lads are Wilson, Vernon, and Sidney." She pointed at each man respectively as she introduced them.

"Commander, honored for the introduction, ser."

Cullen gave them a nod. "You were certainly successful in your hunt. We were running low on leather."

Vernon grinned. "Not anymore, ser!"

Sidney looked to Emery. "Emmie, where'd ye want this?"

"Oh, just over there, Sid." Emery pointed at the empty table in the cooks' tent. "Commander, if you'll excuse us then?"

Cullen nodded. "Of course, I'll leave you to it." He took his leave as Emery and the lads got back to work.

Later that evening, once everyone had returned to camp, things were much more boisterous. Emery and the lads worked on making mutton skewers and cutting up various vegetables to go with the meat while the other cooks worked on getting the rest of the meat ready to preserve. While the food cooked, Leah was sitting with some of the mages to go over their new additions to the collection of herbs and other flora and Cullen was discussing the findings of the patrols with one of the captains.

It didn't take long before the brandy that Menek had been experimenting with was passed around, much to Menek's own delight, and things soon turned into a small party. And when the food was ready, everyone cheered and chowed down.

From her seat with the mages, Leah noticed Emery approaching Cullen with food and drink. She noted that he looked very at ease with Emery, even smiling at her and laughing with her. She was glad to see him cheering up, but at the same time, her stomach knotted a bit.

'He's been such a sour puss towards me lately, why is he chummy with her?' she wondered.