Camping trip
Prompt from @imaginaryelle for @daficswap: Camping adventures with the party composition of your choice (DA2 or DAI). I'd especially love something demonstrating conflict between companions/OCs who are used to camping vs companions who are more city-oriented, or how magic can be used to either make camping problems easier or more complicated (depending on the spell).
Feat: Ghilain Lavellan (My Inquisitor) Lavellan/Dorian
“Are you sure you don’t want me to help you with that?” Ghilain asked, leaning against the wall of the cave, watching The Iron Bull struggle to light the soaked through logs for a campfire.
“Absolutely, no magic fire for my dinner thank you Boss.” The qunari answered. “We let Dalish do it once. Once. The damn thing burned the chicken to a crisp almost as soon as we let it get near the flames.”
“Mhm. If you’re sure.”
“Very.”
“Why don’t you try pouring alcohol on it Tiny?” Varric suggested from his place on a relatively dry rock. “Hawke tried that during a longer walk down the coast.”
“Did it work?” Bull looked up, honest curiosity in his eyes.
“Well, it flared up once, almost singed her eyebrows off. Bloody hilarious to watch, actually.” Bull let out a sharp bark of laughter, and Ghilain chuckled, before shaking his head.
“Well, since you do not need my help here, I’ll go help Dorian.” He said.
“Yhea please remember to actually help this time and not just get distracted!” Varric shouted after him.
“No promises!” Ghilain called over his shoulder before heading further into the cave.
Dorian was busy trying to sort out bedrolls and blankets, aka trying to find the driest spot in the entire cave. Which wasn’t an easy task. Ghilain walked up behind him, snuck his arms around the human’s waist and pulled him close, resting his head on Dorian’s shoulder.
“Hello vhenan, how’s it going?”
“Awful.” Dorian grumbled. “Everything’s soaked. The bedrolls, the blankets, all of my clothes. Wet and cold. I’m wet and cold. This Maker forgotten cave..” Ghilain couldn’t help but chuckle. “What is so damnable funny about us all catching our death’s out here?”
“Nothing dear, you are just cute when you whine.”
“I’m not whining. I’m complaining. Next time you think of bringing me on one of your oh-so-delightful camping trips. Please don’t, I’ll be perfectly fine back at Skyhold I assure you.”
“But I would miss you.” Ghilain said with a warm smile, placing a soft kiss on Dorian’s nose. Dorian let out a soft “hmmph”
“The things I do for love.” He muttered.
“I am truly blessed.” Ghilain assured him. “Now, let me see what I can do.. I learned a spell from an apprentice from one of the clans frequenting the Western Approach. They use it to pull water from the air and ground to drink in case of emergency but I figure I could probably adjust it a little..” He took a step back picked up his staff from where he had leaned it against the wall. Brow furrowed in concentration he spoke words Dorian did not recognise. Not that the Tevinter mage minded, he found elvish to be a beautiful language even if he didn’t speak a word of it. Or maybe it was just the speaker he admired.
There was a feeling of tugging at his clothes, before they suddenly became lighter, and drier as rivulets of water escaped from the edges of cloth and leather, swirling in small ribbons around Ghilain’s outstretched hand, before being guided into his waterskin. The Inquisitor repeated the procedure over the bedrolls, blankets and the floor of the cave before finally drying himself off.
“Hah!” He exclaimed with a pleased smile, feeling the cloth of his tunic between his fingers. “It worked! I was worried it would be too much water compared to when they do it in the desert…” He was cut off as Dorian stepped over to him, kissing him lightly on the lips.
“Thank you dear… Though i’m still cold.”
“Oh I’m sure I can figure out something to fix that as well.” Ghilain almost purred, pulling the other mage into a closer embrace, kissing him again. Dorian let out a pleased noise, fingers tangling in Ghilain’s long hair…
A loud “Eh-hem” as Varric cleared his throat caused them to break apart just enough for both of them to send withering glares at the dwarf.
“Look I just wanted to say that Tiny finally got that fire going and dinner is underway. So you may wanna postpone.. wherever that was going. Preferably until we’re back at Skyhold.”
“I read Swords and Shields Varric, I would hardly take you for a prude.” Dorian drawled. “Then again, maybe you should stick around, I’m sure we could teach you a thing or two to improve the next one..” Varric let out a bark of laughter and shook his head, leaving them alone. Ghilain hoped he wasn’t quite as red as he felt.
“What would you have done if he had taken you up on it?” The elf managed.
“Won 15 gold pieces off Cassandra.” Dorian said with a shrug. “She was delightfully uncertain how Varric had such insight in the Champions and her dalish lovers relationship.”
“Maybe he just asked?” Ghilain suggested. Dorian gave him a surprised look.
“You’ve never read the Champion’s tale? I thought it was mandatory reading down here.”
“My sister read it.” Ghilain said and shrugged. “She wouldn’t shut up about it, so I figured I knew most of what happened anyhow.” Dorian laughed and shook his head.
“Right, I know what we’re doing when we get back to Skyhold.” He said before taking the Inquisitor’s hand in his own. “Come along then. I’m still cold and if Bull has truly gotten that fire going it might even be worth standing the company for a little while.”
“You like him.” Ghilain said with a smile but followed his lover back to the mouth of the cave.