Sparkler and the Wolf

35. Bad Weather

The day Dorian was due back at Skyhold was blustery and freezing cold. A storm had blown in just after midday and all outdoor work was cancelled due to the lack of visibility. Fenris joined Varric and most of the other inner circle to share a hot, boozy beverage and play Wicked Grace.

Fenris wasn't in the mood to play though, despite continuous ribbing from Varric and sat quietly by the fire watching the others play. He hadn't told anyone about Dorian's letter and was very concerned by the weather and the fact the roads were now impassable.

If not for Cullen locking down the keep and posting guards to prevent anyone leaving, he would have been out searching for Dorian and the others. He had just finished his first drink when a messenger appeared, snow-covered and shivering to hand him a large, leather bound package in the shape of a small map.

Frowning, he set aside his mug and undid the binding holding it in place. Inside were several very official looking documents, signed in triplicate and bearing the mark of the Archon of Minrathous. His heart had begun to pound, first in fear, then in confusion until his hands were shaking so bad he was forced to set the papers down.

He sat there, stunned, unable to process what he'd just read. Turning in his seat he ordered a brandy and took several long swallows before the tremor in his hands subsided. As he was taking another drink the tavern door opened and three Inquisition soldiers entered looking tired but warm. He frowned at them wondering where they had come from. With the papers clutched in his hand, he drank his remaining brandy and made his way to their table.

"Excuse me, but where are you coming from? I didn't think there was anyone returning from a mission today other than the one with Iron Bull."

"We've just come from the keep. Was in a meeting with Commander Cullen for the past hour giving our report."

"Report from where?"

"We's with the Bull's party. Maker blighted weather, almost didn't make it through."

Fenris frowned. "Then where are Bull and the others?"

"Oh! Last I saw they were heading to a meeting with our Lady Inquisitor. Must still be there, Bull was chomping at the bit to reach the tavern and he's not here, so..."

"The Inquisitor? Thank you."

Dorian. It was the only thing on his mind as he stepped out into the biting cold and snow which whipped at his hair and stung his eyes. Despite the short walk, it took him fifteen minutes to reach the keep entrance and another five before someone came to help open the massive door. He stood at Varric's table by the fireplace, shivering and dripping melted snow all over the floor.

A servant came by and at his question, reported that his friends were still with the Inquisitor. He swore but thanked her and headed for his room. He had to speak to Dorian, but wasn't about to camp outside the Inquisitor's door to pounce on him. He needed a change of clothes and a warm coat since he was also not going to do this shivering and looking like a half-drowned kitten.

Back in his room, he stoked the fire to keep it roaring and changed into something warmer than he'd started his day with. Tucking the papers inside his coat, he ran to Dorian's room to light a fire in the hearth. He didn't know how long the mage would be, but he wanted Dorian's room to be warm when he arrived.

Once he was finished, he returned to the main hall to wait. After an hour, he couldn't sit still any longer and headed to Josephine's office.

"Serah Fenris." Josephine smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"Is the Inquisitor still in a meeting?"

"Oh, no. She finished that up about an hour ago. I believe she was heading to the tavern or her quarters after that. Do you want me to send her a message?"

"No, that's fine. I'll speak with her another time. Thank you."

Fenris scowled as he left the room. Clearly he'd just missed them while he'd been changing. He had no interest in bracing the storm again so instead he settled once more at Varric's table to wait.

----xxx----

Dorian was exhausted. After their meeting with the Inquisitor he'd headed to the library to return a book before heading to his room to change and been pleasantly surprised to see a fire had been lit. He sighed as he sank into a chair, hands coming up to cover his face and wondered for the thousandth time if he'd done the right thing when he'd written the letter to Fenris

He'd done well maintaining his composure over the few days he'd been out in the field with Bull and Sera, but in the privacy of his room, his heart was broken, and his tears started to fall. He gave a brief thought to whether the warrior had waited for his return and just as quickly tossed it aside. It didn't matter. After everything he'd done combined with the letter he wrote, it was inconceivable the elf would want anything to do with him now.

Shaking himself, he got to his feet, changed and headed back to the keep and the library. He had a job to do here, he reminded himself as he walked, important research. Research he felt he'd been neglecting and if he couldn't find happiness with a lover as he'd long been told he would never have, he would just have to find it in his work.

Seated in his chair, he spoke briefly with the Tranquil to have some hot cocoa sent up and settled in his chair to start research on ancient elvhen magic and whatever he could find on Grey Warden's. His cocoa arrived soon after and he settled in, sipping at the hot beverage while he lost himself in his reading.