faderift | On The Road - Emprise du Lion and Western Approach

{On the Road}

It feels like they had only just arrived back to Skyhold and already they're leaving. He travels in the back, mostly spending his time looking over his shoulder towards the fortress up until it disappears around a bend.

Since they're at a simple marching pace Sam lets the reins rest in his lap, letting the horse lead itself for the most part. Every once in a while he'll stretch, bringing a leg up and crossing it over to rest over the saddle and his other leg. Left to himself, Sam hums lightly - for the horse or himself isn't clear - watching and keeping tabs on everyone - though his eyes keep moving to a certain person - riding in the group. Though he doesn't mind any company if anyone feels they need it.

{Camp}

Upon stopping to setup camp, Sam feels a bit antsy after having sat for so long without much to do. He wanders around the camp helping anyone who needs it, but for the most part Sam goes around clearing out sections of snow and setting up places for fires.

At some point he's left to tend one of the pots of food, stirring it lazily.

It's damned cold out, so the prospect of being able to sit down by a fire and maybe have a warm meal, start feeling a little more human again. He's not entirely sure if it's luck or providence that puts Sam right in the path of where he was wandering.

Bowl in hand, he settles down beside the fire, huddling about as close as he dares while still wearing the layers over the top of his armor. The fur collar of the cloak he'd nearly been wrestled into is hiding most of his face from view, his breath puffing out in clouds.

"Remind me to kill Bull for not coming with us," he mutters, peeking into the pot to see what is on the menu.

He's gotten used to people walking by, taking a seat and just handing him their bowls, enough so that he holds out his hand out of habit when he sees someone sit near him out of the corner of his eye. At hearing the voice, as soft as it was, he blinks, his fingers curling into his palm as he looks up from the pot to his company.

Sam knows the voice, something he's missed during Skyhold, and while it takes him a moment to find the Charger under all the layers, it is undoubtedly Krem. He looks rather miserable with the cold, the way he's huddling close to the fire and hiding under his furs, but it's also a bit, ah, adorable at the same time? Not that he's going to say that. Least not as the first thing he says after so long.

"It's rabbit, if you're wondering." His fingers uncurl and he leans closer so that Krem doesn't have to reach so far out to give him his bowl for the stew. "Why didn't he come with us?"

One would think that by now Krem would be accustomed to the cold, able to weather it better than others of his countrymen after being exposed to it as long as he had, but no, his blood was still a little thinner and his body carrying a little less fat and his constitution just plain weenie when it came to the snow. But he isn't complaining, just sniffling a little as his nose runs.

"Didn't know we had any rabbit left," he comments with a thoughtful hum, passing his bowl over though he'd really just been intending to dip it into the pot himself for his helping. His hands tuck in between his knees, fingers lacing together as he watches the fire rather than looking back at Sam. "Some important assignment elsewhere. 's why he sent me here instead of staying at Skyhold."

"Hunters caught a couple before we set camp."

Seems like they kept going from one cold place to another; weren't they lucky? Like everyone else Sam had opted for a different set of armor. Not too different then his usual gear, which was mainly leather and some fur to begin with for the cooler climate of Ferelden, but this was more heavily padded and lined with fur to deal with the freezing weather. Though a bit bulkier then normal, he didn't look as bundled up as a few of them. His cheeks are a bit red from the chill without a hat, but for the most part he doesn't look too disturbed by the chill. At least not yet.

Sam raises a brow, noting how Krem hides his hands between his legs, smiling slightly at that, before focusing on putting food in Krem's bowl. "So you weren't planning on coming on this little trip in the first place huh?"

Shit. He really should have thought about how that sounded before he'd said it. Of course the next time he opens his mouth, it doesn't sound any better.

"Wasn't planning on it, no. I'd thought to stay and continue helping the repair efforts on the hold, but the powers that be decided I'd be more useful here. They're not wrong, but it's still not my favorite prospect for how to spend a month." He's pouting, actually pouting, as he considers just how miserable it's likely to be, even without the threat of lyrium-addled monstrosities.

His hands only reappear once the bowl is being held back out to him, and he brings it in close to him, relishing the warmth.

Even in the Mire, Krem had not done that, and for a moment Sam has to stare to fully comprehend that the mercenary was indeed pouting. He's quick to advert his gaze back to the food though before Krem can notice, a small smile tugging at his lips at seeing it. He feels bad that Krem is feeling miserable for being on this mission, but at the same time he's just a bit glad; that he's there, not being miserable.

"Well sorry you had to join us. Maybe you'll get lucky and we'll finish up before a months time." He offers a smile with the apology as he hands him his food, a bit more when Krem practically curls around the bowl. With him set on food, Sam grabs the poker and rummages the logs so that the flame isn't as high in the middle, not really looking to burn the food.

"Somehow I doubt that. We'd gone scouting, before we ever got into the Emprise proper. Lyrium's spread and corrupted half the landscape. We'll have to clean up here, when we finish with the Templars themselves."

Krem huffed and finally brought the bowl up to his lips to take a few swallows, then sighed out a billow of steam.

"Maybe with your being part of the company things will be quicker. Just gotta keep the rest of us alive."

"I was trying to be optimistic," he says with a small shake of his head. Sam doesn't believe they'll be out that quickly, especially after hearing about the lyrium. Shit, that was going to make things a lot more difficult.

Setting the poker to the side, Sam gets up to stretch a bit, giving a pleasant grunt when he feels a few pops along his spine. At the compliment he cannot help but grin a bit, eyeing Krem a bit from the corner of his eye. Honestly he wants to believe that Krem is trying to allude that he was glad that he was personally glad he was there, but it was a bit hard to pick out of that. Still it was nice to hear, and if his cheeks weren't already red from the cold they probably would've colored a bit.

"Wait, that's why I brought along on this mission?" He's kidding of course, pretending to be shocked that, that was his job.

"Obviously." Flippant, nonchalant. Not obviously. He would rather both of them be back at Skyhold, honestly, but they could still accomplish a hell of a lot here, and he knew he'd need some kind of protection from getting himself flattened by a Behemoth swinging its club just slightly faster than he could swing his maul. More than that, though, it was good to actually have Sam along in an official capacity, regardless of what they were facing.

So yes, he is glad that Sam's there. But it's easier teasing him than actually saying that.

Sam hums lightly at Krem's response, eyes looking out at the camp and everyone walking around. Obviously he would have to stay on his toes and make sure everyone was getting out of this alive. Even if this was just supposed to be a scouting mission.

For a time he doesn't say anything, contemplating as he watches his breath billow then disappear in front of him. After a while Sam eventually moves to sit down but instead of his original spot he takes up the space next to Krem. He doesn't look at the Charger as he does so, settling his elbows on his knees, but he does press his side against him a bit, but not enough to crowd him.

Staring at the fire he settles his chin on top of his hands, smiling just a bit. "For what it's worth, even though it's crappy out here, I'm glad that you came along. I missed you."

Rather than stiffening up or scooting away, Krem moves some with Sam's leaning on him, then leans in kind, acting as a support so the two of them wouldn't topple over sideways.

The words sink in and make something in his chest warm and inflate a little bit, even with the ache he's been trying to deny since the two of them had started maintaining distance from one-another.

"I've missed you too," he admits, then lifts his bowl to take a couple of swallows of the stew. The warmth is lovely, but he pulls a face. "This is terrible by the way."

There's a billow of breath as Sam gives a surprised but relieved huff, momentarily hiding his mouth behind his hand as a lopsided smile spreads over his face at Krem's admission. He hadn't expected to hear the words repeated back to him, but hearing them was overly comforting, feeling his chest tighten a bit because of it.

The moment is short though with Krem's complaint about the stew, which has Sam dropping his head under his his clasped hands to give a snort towards the ground. Biting his lips he eventually lifts his head so that he can look at Krem, shaking it a bit.

"I didn't cook it if that's what you're getting at. I was only on stirring and serving duty."

"I should hope not. I might have had to be disdainful at you about your cooking skills until we left this snowed in hellhole." He was eating it regardless, happy for the warmth it provided. He kept his eyes down on the frigid soil underfoot where the snow had been mostly brushed away, still not quite sure what to say to Sam. They were in a weird place in their relationship still, but this was progress.

"How have your studies with lady Leblanc been going?" he asked after a few moments' silence. That was a safe enough topic of conversation, right?

Sam shakes his head at that, watching as Krem ate the stew. He can only imagine the type of looks Krem would give him if his cooking was actually like that. He was a bit rusty in the cooking department, but at least it was edible and had a decent flavor.

"They've been going well actually. Korrin's been helping me as well." It was a normal conversation, a good place to start off after everything. It would probably be a series of small steps still, but that was perfectly fine with him.

Unlike this stuff, which was gamy, overseasoned but still weirdly flavorless, and tasted overcooked even if it wasn't. He had no doubt that Sam could do better, if he had a proper recipe. He made a note to find one just so that they could make a decent stew of their own later.

"I'm glad. And Korrin's pretty damned great in my book all the way around, so I'm not surprised she's good for helping with learning magic too."

"Mmm," he hums in agreement, looking down at his fingers as he flexes them a bit. "Her approach is different and she's better with offensive magic. I'm learning a lot. That and it's always better to learn a magic type from someone who knows it well. Storm magic fits her, and she's a good teacher."

"Seems more like an extension of her rather than something she uses," Krem agreed. "Not sure it's your thing though. Seems to me like spiritual stuff is more your speed, but that's just me."

That has Sam raising a brow and tilting his head curiously at Krem. "And why do you say that?" He's grinning, not at all offended by the thought, but honestly wanting to know why. Was it because he was a healer?

"Easy: can't see you throwing fire. Not...well. Hotheaded enough, I suppose. Same with storm magic; Korrin's got a temper and she directs it like that, but you don't exactly rush into things like she does with intent to turn everything charred. Ice is more control than I can see you having on a regular basis, too. Lady Leblanc uses it as a sort of focus, seen her making things out of frost. But you...Iunno. You have a way with dealing with things not quite as much of this world. Or maybe they're inherently of this world. Anyway, you're better connected with that than with elemental shite. But that's just my observation."

"Oh really?" Sam cannot help the grin on his face as he listens to Krem explain. It's certainly interesting and he can see where the man was coming from. He certainly didn't have Korrin's temper or Adelaide's kind of focus; probably more to do with how long she had been practicing magic though. Course it was interesting that Krem associated Adelaide more with Ice then Spirit magic.

"That is kind of amusing to hear considering our first spar I used a combination of a barrier and fireball on the both of us." His grin grows a bit at remembering that, mostly because of how he had almost succeeded in knocking the Charger on his ass from the blast. "I actually use fire as much as I use spirit magic. I'd probably be more of a 'slow burning flame' by how you're describing things."

"Indeed." Krem rolled his eyes, and nearly punched Sam in the shoulder over that, though he restrained himself, hoping not to alienate the guy when they'd just gotten back to where they were somewhere ok. "I meant more on a regular basis. If you're slinging basic fire spells maybe, but not things like mines or explosions."

Judging by the eye roll, Sam was half expecting the punch to come. It never does though, and in a way it's a bit sad that things aren't normal enough for that. Others might think it strange, but Sam had gotten used to Krem showing affection in that way, something he did rarely and only to those he was decently close with.

"How often have you actually seen me fight?" Sam simply just grins. "Though granted I don't use those spells too often. I kind of prioritize the need for protection over needing to cast an explosion if there's already someone fighting the target in melee."

"Given we're usually on different missions, no, I actually haven't," Krem pointed out. He clearly wasn't counting sparring matches. "But I'm honestly not surprised you would prioritize protection over offensive magic. Like I said, you're more of a defender than leaping into the fray setting people alight."

"Friendly 'fire' is hardly helping I must say," he says with a chuckle, wincing a bit at a particular memory involving just that; course it hadn't been actual fire. "Well someone has to be willing to watch your back."

Samouel Gareth

Camping

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