~'It snarls heavily within her, within him. She is used to the weight of forelorn love, he is not, he is empty now. She knows, she regrets, but she must remain steady for them both.'~

Fenris kept his distance for some time, his hazel eyes watched her every movement feverishly. Months had passed, the land has been skewered by chaos and still she looked beautiful. His legs compelled him forward, his tongue shaped her name, and his gruff vocal chords complied. "Hawke.."

Hawke turned around sharply, her long dark hair flipping in the torrent wind. Her grey eyes brighten and dim in the same instance of surprise. "Fenris..I thought you were in Tevinitar?" She says bluntly, her tone uncharacteristically flat.

"I was. Then I heard of the Ventatori's dealings here, I came at once.." Fenris explained readily.

"You 'heard'?" Hawke repeated.

Fenris's brow furrowed slightly. "Varric contacted me. Didn't he tell you?"

"No." Hawke repressed a sigh. "But it wouldnt be the first time Varric withheld a surprise for your benefit.."

"I should hope so, the surprises were generally his idea." Fenris remarks with a wry smirk.

~'Closed walls crumble at the behest of a smile. The softest touch would crack the foundation.'~

Hawke smiles dutifully, her black hair lashing across her face from the breeze. "I'm glad you're here Fenris." She tells him.

"As am I.." Fenris replies reflecting her smile.

The luster in Hawkes smile slowly fades. "I have to get to Crestwood." She announces, reminding herself. "It was good to see you Fenris.."

Fenris bars her path, as Hawke steps to leave. His hand unnecessarily, brushes her wrist in the process. "Wait..let me come with you.." he requests earnestly.

"Fenris, we discussed this.." Hawke protests, her words heavy with denial.

"Please Hawke. Crestwood is crawling with undead - you can't ask me to sit here while you venture into known danger." Fenris pleads, his heart jamming in his chest.

Several leagues away, Cole sat upon the stone steps of Skyhold's entrance, observing the ex-lovers. "His eyes are soft, but they cut her deep, deeper than any blade could. Always deep, always him.." Cole narrates aloud to himself, his voice wavering to the rhythm of the wind.

Varric cleared his throat loudly, but Cole's gaze didn't waver from Hawke and Fenris. With a disapproving glance at his far away friends, Varric sat down beside Cole. "Look kid, Levellan decided she wants you to come along with us.." Varric began.

The corners of Cole's mouth flexed in a smile. "Doesn't she always?" He responded meekly yet knowingly.

"More often than not." Varric agreed. "But that elf out there, Fenris.."

"His markings never stop searing, but the pain is second nature." Cole remarks, looking at Varric for the first time.

"Yeah..lets keep that between us okay? Fenris is a bit finicky about spirits and..magical circumstances."

"Hatred so dense he thinks of little else..no...not anymore. Hawke changed that, she is a mage yet she is not cruel. She taught him to read, to care, to love..she freed him from himself."

"Traveling with our honored guests, will be considerably less awkward if you stop honing in on them.." Varric said shortly.

"They hurt.." Cole said simply, with an indigant twinge to his clearwater eyes.

"That's heartbreak you're picking up on, you cant help them Cole.." Varric said firmly.

Cole is silent a moment, his gaze sliding out onto Hawke and Fenris again. "You're right, but I want to.."

"I know.." Varric interrupted in a murmur.

"No. I want to help you.." Cole replies, turning to him.

"Me?" Varric repeats blankly.

"It does not snarl, it smoulders. Redhot but dormant, shared but not connected..12 years dull nothing yet nothing is spoken..Why don't you tell Hawke how you feel?" Cole responds.

Panic gripped Varric's mind, as he leaned toward Cole, his voice leaden with resolve. "Kid, I'm asking you this as a friend - cut this shit out.."

"She'd hurt less if you told her." Cole insisted.

Levellan now stood behind the duo. Crossing her arms, she glanced over her shoulder at Dorian. The two exchanged a quizzical look, then Dorian spoke. "Are we interrupting something?" He asked, sounding far too eager.

"No..oh no.." Varric chortled, rising to his feet. "You're not coming with us Sparkles.."

"Why not?" Dorian and Levellan spoke in unison.

"Lets just say, Fenris has an unhealthy bias against Tevintar mages." Varric replied.

"Then perhaps it's time someone changed that.." Dorian said astutely. "We are both hunting Ventatori afterall, we may even bond.."

"Broody over there, isn't exactly sociable. Trust me Levellan, if you bring Dorian AND Cole, tensions are going to be high, and it's a looong way to Crestwood.." Varric warned.

"You're putting me in a difficult position Varric." Levellan argued lightly. "In a village overrun by undead, who is less valuable - the necromancer or the spirit child?"

Varric raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. Point taken. Anything happens though, I'm not getting in the middle of it." Varric submitted, grazing past Levellan to change into his battle attire.

"Shame, stuck in the thick of things is often the best place to be Varric.." Dorian replied.

"Keep telling yourself that Sparkles.." Varric retorted.