Chapter Text
The five of them went on for another few weeks Closing rifts, helping refugees, and getting to know their new Warden companion. They’d be trekking back to Haven in the morning. Basya had to send soldiers to build the watchtowers for Master Dennet and a few other missions to assign Leliana and Josephine. She was excited to see Cullen at the least. Not excited about the snow.
Back at the camp Basya ate her stew, mildy enjoying Varric and Solas teasing Cassandra about having to once again clean up humans’ messes. Varric had no qualms while Basya put all of the chunks of meat from her portion into his bowl. Blackwall sat next to her, watching with a peculiar expression as she picked out the meat. He had just finished telling her a fascinating story about the Grey Warden artifact she had helped him recover, when her hand around the bowl sparked painfully, causing her to drop it. The wooden bowl hit the ground, soup spilling out on the dirt. She inhaled sharply and shook out her hand.
“My lady?!” Blackwall exclaimed.
Cassandra tensed at the noise and Varric frowned in his stew. The conversation stopped abruptly as Solas hurried and sat next to Basya. He offered his long bony fingers, asking for permission, before Basya placed her knuckles in his palm. Solas muttered a few spells. Though the pain subsided some, it still crackled as loud and burned as bright as the roaring fire. It took a few minutes, but the mark slowly simmered down and Basya let go of her breath.
“Thank you, Solas,” She said. He scoffed a laugh.
“You needn’t. My spells didn’t work. It settled on it’s own.”
“Well, thank you for trying.” Solas’ old gray-blue eyes seemed to stare right through her.
“You-you’re welcome.” He finally said. “The most it seems I can do during these attacks is lessen the pain.”
“Hey, that’s something.” Basya said. She bent down over the log they sat on to retrieve her bowl. She walked to the large cooking spit where the Inquisition soldiers, who had been eating their dinner together a little way away, jumped up alert.
“My Lady, Herald,” One addressed. Basya always found it so awkward.
“Uh, at ease. I just was wondering if there was any stew left,” She shrugged. The soldier’s face twisted in agony.
“I am so sorry, Lady Herald. It’s all gone. B-but we can make more-”
“And go hunting, at this hour? That’s far too dangerous. It is not a big deal, I promise you. Enjoy your supper,” Basya said. No, it wasn’t a big deal, but it had taken her so long to separate the meat into Varric’s bowl, she’d only gotten to eat a couple of spoonfuls before the mark had decided to throw it on the ground. She shrugged, nothing to be done about it now and sat back down next to the Warden. She used a handkerchief to wipe the soil off the rim of the bowl.
“Hold it, my Lady,” Basya, confused, held the bowl firmly and Blackwall about half of his stew into her bowl.
“You don’t have to-”
“I wanted to,” He said.
“Thank you, Ser Warden,” She smiled up at him and he held it for a moment, before averting his gaze. Then she guided his bowl back toward her, to spoon back the chunks of meat before digging in.
“So, Varric tells me you’re a Princess,”
“Varric tells a lot of things. Surprisingly, that’s actually true.”
“It must be...strange. Being on the surface for the first time.”
“‘Strange’ is not the word I’d use,”
“Scary? Terrifying?”
“Now you’re getting warm,” Basya said. Blackwall chuckled. “But I mean, you guys let a giant ball in the sky determine when you do things and let it burn your skin. You all claimed my fears about the sky were silly, only for it to tear open and vomit demons. There are trees. What do they even do? Are they just there for surfacers to chop them down? I don’t know. Cassandra says water just falls from the sky. Like just falls. Everywhere. Not looking forward to that.” Unlike most humans, Blackwall didn’t laugh. He just nodded along to her grievances. He took a bite of soup and chewed thoroughly, the bulge in his throat bobbing as he swallowed.
Cassandra and Solas seemed to have turned in. Varric sat close to the fire, flames licking his tan skin as he scribbled vigorously with a quill. Probably a new story idea. She watched him place his hand under his chin, smearing it with ink, but didn’t say anything. Basya scraped down the inside of her bowl. Once she was finished, Blackwall took it from her and placed it on the pile of dishes.
“Have you seen anything from the surface you do like?” He asked.
“Strawberries...that’s about it. Well and some of the people. The Inquisition is great.”
“Can I show you something?”
“What is it?”
“The fire is too bright to see it.” Blackwall said. “Varric, we’re leaving the camp, just a little ways.” Varric, still deep in his writing, gave a thumbs up to show he understood, before dipping his quill back in the ink. Blackwall stood and beckoned for Basya to follow him. Curiosity itched her mind so she followed. They climbed uphill. Much to, Basya’s surprise, the Warden tripped over a few roots and rocks. In the day, he was so sure footed, but now she had to warn him of the obstacles. “You have keen eyes, my Lady,”
“You couldn’t see that, but-uh right in front of you.” She said, Blackwall stepped over a divet in the ground.
“I believe underground living has made you far more accustomed to the dark. Humans don’t see well without light. Ah, here we are.” They arrived at the base of an old fortress. A tall platform, still towering over the trees despite the overgrown vines wrapped around the cobblestone. Blackwall indicated for Basya to climb the ladder and she did. The Warden trailing just below her.
“So is there something impressive at the top?”
“You could say that. I’ve been coming often, since I traveled to this area. I’ve found it the perfect spot at night for-” The wooden rung of the ladder beneath Basya’s feet snapped. Blackwall’s strong arm flew and his warmth pressed against her hip bone. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, thanks,” She said, using his support on her waist to stabilize and continue up the ladder.
“I apologize. There had yet to be any issues when I climbed it. I shouldn’t have assumed it was safe.”
“It’s okay. Just makes this venture all the more exciting.” She said. Basya pulled herself up at the top, then reached down to Blackwall. He accepted the assistance and she pulled him up. They were up high and it made adrenaline flood her system, but not quite the way it did in battle, with fear. But in an exciting and exhilarating way. Blackwall sat down, dangling his legs over the edge. Basya mimicked his motions. And then he laid his back down on the stone. Basya did too. And that’s when she saw them.
Little lights peppering the midnight blue sky. Glinting, glittering, dancing. Her eyes scanned back and forth. Some were big, some were dim. Some were bright and twinkling. Other’s tiny or clustered together. All of them shimmered across the vast horizon in every direction as far as she could see. She could feel Blackwall staring at her as she scrambled on her elbows, as if it could get her closer to the beauty. But she was far too enamored by the sky to care.
“Beautiful, aren’t they,”
“By the Stone, they’re gorgeous. What are they?” Basya asked in awe.
“Stars. That’s what we call them. I only know they’re similar to the sun,”
“Can they burn us!?”
“No, no. These are much smaller than the sun.”
“Good, because I don’t want to leave. I can’t believe I never noticed them.”
“Well, light, like fire, makes it difficult to see. Besides, there aren’t many reasons to look up.”
“Well now I have thousands.” Blackwall grinned
“Are stars as good as strawberries?”
“No, nothing beats strawberries.” She said. “But they certainly come close.” He pointed to certain ones, teaching her of constellations and stories behind some of them, many relating back to Andrasian religion, which was unsurprising. She didn’t care though. Be it the Stone, Andraste, or the Creators, none of them or all of them who had made these stars, she loved them. And she thanked the Stone for such a piece of beauty through all the violence and chaos.
“That doesn’t look like a star. It’s so big,” She said, pointing at the sky. Blackwall followed her index finger at the crescent shaped glow amongst the glistening.
“That is the moon. It’s a good way to tell time, it changes phases throughout every month. Sometimes you can see the full circle of it or half. Or a quarter like now.”
“It’s incredible. This is my favourite phase. This shape.” She declared.
“But you haven’t seen the others,”
“So? This is the first one I’ve seen. And I’m with a really amazing guy while seeing it. Thus, my favourite.” She pressed her lips together. She could have been coming on a bit strong. So she let the quiet blanket them and just took in the breathtaking night sky.
“I’ve been meaning to thank you.” Blackwall said, breaking a comfortable silence that had settled between them. “There are a hundred things that need your attention. You didn’t have to take the time to help me and yet you did.”
“It’s no trouble. Besides, history you pursue benefits the Wardens. It’s worth it.”
“In just a short month you’ve proven yourself to be an honourable woman. Principled. I have great admiration for you. And I have never been more certain in my decision to join you.” Basya was glad humans didn’t see well in the dark, because she was certain her pale cheeks probably looked like that of a tomato.
“I never would have guessed that you admire me,” She said, trying quickly to recover.
“Of course I do. You have the world at your feet. Myself included.”
“I-I don’t deserve that sort of reverence.”
“Modest too. Your list of qualities continues to grow.” Basya watched the trees rustle and thanked the Ancestors for the cool breeze on her hot cheeks. She was melting at every compliment and he only seemed to enjoy her fluster. They were quiet again for a while and she tried to find shapes in the glinting stars.
“You’re oddly charming for a man I found wandering the woods.” She said once she’d recovered.
“I find myself more odd than charming, but I’ll take a compliment from a lady. They’re in short supply these days,”
“Compliments or ladies?” She asked innocently, turning to watch the way Blackwall’s face crinkled pleasantly as he laughed.
“Both. So is there something large and heavy you need moved?”
“On the top of the tower? No, I don’t think so. I was just looking to chat to fill the silence. No ulterior motives. ”
“I do enjoy our chats.” He said. “I have to say, my Lady, you’re unlike any woman I’ve ever met. I’m flattered you’d spend any time with me. I enjoy your company,”
“And I yours,” He smiled at her in the dark and she held it for a moment before darting her eye back to the stars. Basya took a deep breath and tried to savor the night sky and the company that admired it with her.