"Do I need to be defended from what's in here?" She hasn't seen much hint of that, at the very least. The members of the Inquisition are not particularly devoted to helping Rifters unless they joined the cause, yet Emma didn't feel like she was in any particular danger, either. No, she wants a sword for things outside of Skyhold — wants something to rely on that isn't magic.

The guy is simply too big to try and be overly aggressive. So her strikes are light, not so much afraid as they are trying to entice him to swing. She can take advantage of that, make use out of being smaller than he is.