The following morning, word came from the scouts on patrol that the Venatori base had been found. Their number was far greater than anticipated, so it was decided that the company- at least part of it- would travel to the Blades of Hessarian camp where they could get some much-needed reinforcements.

Emery and the lads were among the group that was asked to remain behind while Cullen led the group tasked with seeking the aid of the Blades. Emery was worried, but she did her best to help make sure that the camp would be in tip-top shape upon their return. She and the lads focused on preserving extra food for the return journey while some of the soldiers went off to hunt. The healers and mages focused on making potions and sorting through the flora that had been collected, taking the seeds from the plants and separating the different parts of the plants. Each day proceeded more or less the same for nearly a week, the occasional raven coming to deliver reports between the parties. The last report the camp received was confirmation of the Blades' assistance in exterminating the Venatori in the region, but nothing since.

Emery sat peeling potatoes for the stew dinner she and the lads were preparing and she knicked her finger, something that was unlike her. Sidney noticed and brought her a clean towel.

"You alright, Emmie?"

"Aye, just lost in thought I guess."

"What's on your mind?"

"It's been days since the last raven."

Vernon paused in his work. "Aye, it's got the whole camp on edge."

"I just hope they're OK..."

"I'm sure they'll be just fine, Emmie." Sidney offered her a hand up. "You should get to the healers and get bandaged up."

Emery took his hand and stood. "Alright."

As she left the cooks' tent, Sidney looked at Vernon. "Never seen her that worried, have you?"

"No."

"Wonder what's changed."

"I bet it's the Commander."

In the healer's tent, Emery sat patiently as her finger got bandaged up.

"There you are, Emery, though try to be more careful? Another cut like that and you might lose a finger."

Emery nodded. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you."

"Any time."

Emery took her leave and found herself wandering about the camp. It wasn't until she reached Cullen's tent that she snapped out of it. She stepped inside, finding it as empty as it had been for days. A new table had finally been brought in and the old one had been scrapped for firewood, but that was about all that had been changed.

"Maker, what am I doing...?" she wondered aloud and sighed as she started to tidy things up a bit.

She took the time to dust things off and organize the few things that remained. She noticed a book on the bed that she hadn't seen before and picked it up, smiling when she saw it was a copy of the Chant of Light that included each of the officially recognized canticles. She picked it up and opened it to the page that had been bookmarked, finding a verse from the Canticles of Trials.

"'In the long hours of the night when hope has abandoned me, I will see the stars and know Your light remains.'" she read aloud.

"'I have heard the sound, a song in the stillness, the echo of Your voice, calling creation to wake from its slumber.'"

Emery jumped a bit and turned to find Cullen standing behind her. "You're back." She set the book back down and hugged him. "I'm relieved to see you safe."

Cullen returned her embrace. "It is good to be back." He looked around. "Did you keep things clean for me while I was away?"

Emery nodded. "The men were able to bring you a new table and scrapped the old one for firewood, but no one else seemed to be keeping things in order so I did." She glanced up at Cullen. "I hope you don't mind?"

"Not at all," Cullen replied. "but you really didn't need to, Emery."

"I know, but I wanted to."

"Then you have my thanks."

"How did everything go? Last we heard, the Blades agreed to lend their aid but that was five days ago."

"The Venatori have been dealt a heavy blow and our fallen have been avenged. We ran into some bandits along the way back, however, so our return to camp was delayed." Cullen rubbed his neck. "I apologize for worrying you, but all of our ravens were elsewhere so we had no way to contact the camp ahead of time."

"It's OK, I'm just glad you're back." Emery offered him a smile. "It has been so quiet around here, I actually started to miss hearing you bark orders."

Cullen rolled his eyes and smirked at that. "I bet the men didn't."

Emery hadn't seen him smile, even a little, in so long that she had forgotten that his scar would twitch ever so slightly when he did. When she realized that she was staring, she blushed and cleared her throat before stepping around him. "I-I'll leave you to settle back in and get some rest. Try not to miss the dinner call, alright?"

Cullen chuckled and nodded, watching her leave his tent while trying to hide her embarrassment. He looked around his tent, still surprised that Emery had taken the time to keep his tent in order during his absence. 'That was thoughtful of her.' He began stripping off his armor for the first time in days.

Emery made her way back to the cooks' tent and got back to work on making dinner.

"Oi, where you been?" Sidney asked.

"Around."

"You hear the Commander and the men finally made it back?"

Emery nodded. "I just spoke with the Commander on my way back."

"The whole energy shifted when they walked back into camp," Vernon noted. "They're all relieved to have everyone back safe and sound."

"The sting of the ambush is still fresh and will be for some time," Emery added. "It'll be hard not to bury ourselves in work just to get through it."

Menek, the dwarven brewmaster of their company, joined them. "Well, sometimes the best way to cope is to bury yerself in work. At least, that's how it is for me." He set a jug on the table and grabbed a few mugs. "I wanted to ask yer thoughts on this new brew and the name I have in mind." He poured each of them a small amount of the new brew.

Emery and the lads took a swig of the brew, a mixture of delight and sourfaces played across their faces.

"Andraste's tits, Menek, what is that?"

Emery sniffed the brew. "Is that elderberry? With... foxite and mint?"

"Aye, the elderberry was Willy's idea..."

Emery and the lads fell silent, knowing that "Willy" was the nickname Menek had given Wilson years ago.

Menek cleared his throat. "Ahem, in any case, I was thinkin' of calling it 'Willy's Brew'."

Emery smiled at that. "I think Wilson would have loved that."

"Aye, that he would've."

Menek nodded and sniffled a bit. "There's more of that brewing, but enjoy that bit for yourselves."

Emery and the lads watched him take his leave, then finished their drinks before getting back to work- Emery stashing the jug of Willy's Brew beneath the table.