Sisters of Tevinter

Dreaming

    Max strapped his shield across his back and sheathed his sword at his side. At the foot of the fortress' staircase, stars twinkled down at him and a cold breeze stirred his thick gray cloak. The courtyard was empty. At least, it looked that way. He knew Kaisen was sitting silently somewhere, invisible in the dark, waiting for him. 

     Argus and Spook were coaxing horses from the stable. Argus was almost as antsy as the animals, he had no love for steeds. Spook, in his usual gentle practicality, was attaching leads to their bits and guiding them out into the yard. 

     The warrior rubbed the weariness from his eyes, leaning against the stone wall beside the steps. It was very late, he hadn't gotten a chance to sleep. This journey would be long, they'd probably have to go head to head with some of the more disturbing backwater sorcerers in Thedas, if the Nightingale's reports were anything to go by.

     "Delaying the inevitable?" A shadow fell across his eyelids. Max smiled slightly, he knew that voice. 

     "Why? You don't want me to go?" 

     "On the contrary, I can't wait to get rid of you." Dorian folded his arms, grinning as Max opened his eyes. 

      "You wound me," the warrior hummed. 

      "An unfortunate side effect. Have you brought your book?" 

      Max smiled slightly, patting his satchel. Odes and Ends was tucked away safely. "It'll be good to have something to read out there. I read Plums. Provoking imagery. Not bad." 

      Dorian beamed. "I find it has a certain nostalgia to it. One of my favorites. Once you get to Feathered Blight I think you'll have a new appreciation for limericks."

       The warrior laughed his gruff little laugh, like unpolished steel. "I'll look forward to that." Starlight was caught in the silver net of his hair, turning his skin to ethereal ivory. 

      Dorian hesitated, smiling slightly as he pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth. "Come back in one piece, Moonbeam." 

      Max blinked, frozen as if the sudden nickname surprised him. A hue of pink crossed the pearl of his cheeks, like the smooth interior of some long forgotten seashell. "I'll do my best." His voice was hoarse. "Look after Jor for me." 

   The mage gave a playful mock salute. "Yes, my lord." 

  "Captain," Max corrected slowly, the word dripping from his lips as he smiled. 

  Dorian flushed, grinning. "Ah yes. I'll have to remember that one." 

  "You will." The warrior passed the mage with a softened air of purpose, his hand lingering briefly on Dorian's shoulder as he disappeared into the darkness of the archway to join his companions. Dorian turned to watch him go, his heart beating a steady tattoo against his ribcage. 

     Jor rubbed her eyes, her boots crunching in the snow. She tugged her scarf close around her neck, breathing in the familiar scent of wool and satin. The air was chill and bitter, the only sound was her footsteps and the soft swish of her leather coat around her knees. She wore no gloves despite the cold, the Anchor pulsing softly at her palm. 

     Snow fell in gentle swirls of pearlescent flakes around her as she crested a hill, blurring the misty horizon and catching in her eyelashes. Her breath fogged in front of her. It was so quiet she could almost hear little crystals of freezing water tinkling down through the air as they gathered at her lips and drew themselves up in silver whorls towards the sky. There was a steady warmth in her chest, a sense of peace. She knew this place somehow, it was familiar. She came to the snowy slope's peak, ice clinging to her boots.