43. Arrive back at Haven and Varric Advice

If you want to read 15 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!

Go to https://www.patreon.com/DeathGun24

________________________________________________

The night stretched on, quiet and uneventful. The fire dimmed further, leaving them in near-darkness save for the faint glow of embers. Somewhere in the distance, an owl called, its mournful cry echoing through the trees.

The soft light of dawn crept through the trees, painting the campsite in pale gold. Daniel stirred, blinking against the morning glow as he pushed himself up from his bedroll. The air was crisp with the lingering chill of night, but the promise of sunlight warmed the clearing. His muscles ached from the previous day's ride, but it was a familiar soreness—one that came with the road.

Across the dying embers of last night's fire, Cassandra knelt, methodically turning strips of salted meat in a small pan. The scent of sizzling fat and herbs curled through the air, making Daniel's stomach growl. She looked up as he emerged, her expression unreadable, but she didn't speak. Just gave a curt nod before returning to her task.

Varric, already awake and annoyingly cheerful, waved him over from where he sat on a fallen log, polishing Bianca with a cloth. "Morning, Sunshine. Sleep well?"

Daniel rubbed the back of his neck, rolling out the stiffness. "Well enough." He glanced at Cassandra again, then lowered his voice. "Did she cook?"

Varric smirked. "And it's even edible. Miracles never cease."

Cassandra shot them both a glare but didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she wordlessly handed Daniel a wooden plate with a portion of the meat, a hunk of bread, and a handful of dried berries. The gesture was so unexpectedly considerate that Daniel hesitated before taking it.

"Uh. Thanks."

She only shrugged. "Eat. We leave soon."

Varric snorted into his own food, clearly enjoying Daniel's bewilderment.

Daniel ignored him, focusing instead on the meal. The meat was surprisingly good—seasoned with something earthy and sharp, maybe elfroot or wild thyme. He hadn't expected Cassandra to have any skill in cooking, given how she usually treated meals as a necessary inconvenience rather than something to be enjoyed.

Solas emerged from his tent, looking as rested as a man who'd spent the night contemplating the mysteries of the Fade could. His sharp eyes flicked over the group before he inclined his head. "A peaceful watch."

Cassandra nodded. "No trouble."

Daniel swallowed a bite of bread. "Good to hear."

Breakfast passed in relative quiet, the kind of comfortable silence that came from shared routine. The forest around them woke slowly—birdsong picking up, the rustle of small animals in the underbrush. By the time they finished eating, the sun had fully risen, casting long shadows across the clearing.

Cassandra stood first, brushing crumbs from her gloves. "We should break camp."

No one argued.

They worked quickly, packing up bedrolls, dismantling tents, and dousing the last traces of the fire. Daniel folded his tent with practiced efficiency, his mind already turning toward the day's ride. Haven wasn't far now—another few hours, maybe less if they pushed the horses.

Varric sidled up beside him as he secured his saddlebags. "So."

Daniel didn't look up. "So."

"You gonna thank her?"

"For what?"

Varric gave him a look.

Daniel exhaled through his nose. "It was breakfast, Varric."

"And yet, you're acting like she handed you a love letter."

"I'm not—"

"Boys." Cassandra's voice cut through their bickering. She stood by her horse, one hand resting on the pommel of her saddle, her expression somewhere between exasperated and amused. "Are we leaving today, or should I go back to sleep?"

Varric grinned. "Wouldn't want to keep you waiting, Seeker."

Daniel mounted up without another word, though he caught Cassandra's eye as he swung into the saddle. Something flickered in her gaze—something he couldn't quite name—before she turned away, nudging her horse forward.

The trail to Haven was familiar now, winding through dense pine forests before opening into rolling foothills. The mountains loomed ahead, their peaks dusted with snow even this early in the season. The horses fell into an easy rhythm, hooves muffled by thick layers of fallen needles.

Varric rode up beside Daniel after a while, keeping his voice low. "You know, if you did want to say something—"

"I don't."

"—you could just tell her you liked the food."

Daniel shot him a look.

Varric held up his hands. "Just saying. It's called being polite."

"I'll keep that in mind for when I care."

Varric laughed, shaking his head. "You're hopeless."

The hours passed in stretches of quiet and scattered conversation. Solas occasionally pointed out landmarks—ancient ruins half-buried in the undergrowth, a stream said to be blessed by Mythal. Cassandra listened with surprising attentiveness, asking short, pointed questions that Solas answered with equal precision.

Daniel watched them when he thought no one would notice. There was something almost easy about the way Cassandra and Solas spoke—no barbs, no guardedness. Just two people who respected each other's minds.

(And if that made something twist in his chest, well. He ignored it.)

By midday, the trees began to thin, giving way to rocky slopes and patches of stubborn grass. The air grew sharper, colder, carrying the scent of pine and distant snow.

The sun climbed higher as they rode, the forest gradually giving way to open foothills. The change in terrain made conversation easier, the horses no longer forced to pick through dense undergrowth. Daniel shifted in his saddle, the stiffness from days of riding settling deep into his muscles. He'd never get used to this—not really.

Varric, ever observant, caught his grimace. "You look like someone kicked you in the ribs and then apologized with a worse kick."

Daniel rolled his shoulders. "Feels like it, too."

Cassandra, riding ahead, glanced back at them. "We'll be in Haven by nightfall. You can suffer until then."

Varric chuckled. "Such compassion, Seeker."

She ignored him, nudging her horse forward again.

Daniel exhaled, watching her go. The silence stretched between him and Varric, comfortable but charged with unspoken questions. After a moment, he cleared his throat. "So."

Varric raised an eyebrow. "So."

"This world," Daniel started, then hesitated. How did he even phrase this? "It's... not what I expected."

Varric's expression softened slightly. "Guessing the stories didn't do it justice?"

That was one way to put it. Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah. Something like that."

The dwarf studied him for a long moment before sighing. "Alright, out with it. What's eating you?"

Daniel hesitated again. How much could he say without sounding completely insane? "Just... things are different here. More real. More... complicated."

Varric snorted. "That's life for you."

"No, I mean—" Daniel cut himself off, frustrated. He gestured vaguely at the landscape around them. "In the stories, everything's cleaner. Clear-cut. Heroes and villains. But here..."

"Here, people are just people," Varric finished, surprisingly gentle. "Yeah. Gets messy."

Daniel nodded, relieved Varric seemed to understand. "Exactly. Like, take the templars and mages. In the stories, it's always this black-and-white thing. But now..."

"Now you've met actual mages. Actual templars." Varric's voice was dry. "And realized they're all just trying not to get set on fire or stabbed."

A laugh escaped Daniel before he could stop it. "Pretty much."

Varric grinned, but it faded quickly. "Look, kid, I get it. The world's a lot uglier up close. But it's also a lot bigger. More room for shades of gray."

Daniel frowned. "That's not exactly comforting."

"Wasn't meant to be." Varric shrugged. "Just the truth."

They rode in silence for a while, the only sound the steady clop of hooves on dirt. Daniel's mind churned, turning over everything he'd seen since arriving. The desperation in the refugees' eyes. The way Cassandra's voice hardened when she spoke of the Chantry's failures. The quiet grief in Solas's stories of the Fade.

None of it had been in the stories.

After a while, Varric spoke again, quieter this time. "You're not wrong, you know. Things are different here. But that's not always bad."

Daniel glanced at him. "How do you mean?"

Varric's gaze flicked toward Cassandra, then back. "Take the Seeker. In the stories, she's this unstoppable force of righteousness, right?"

Daniel nodded.

"But the real Cassandra?" Varric smirked. "She's stubborn as a druffalo, sure. But she also makes sure you eat. Picks up the slack when you're too tired to take watch. Cares more than she'll ever admit." He paused. "Real's better, if you ask me."

Daniel didn't answer immediately. His eyes found Cassandra again, watching the way she scanned the horizon—alert, protective. Varric was right. The real Cassandra was... more. More human. More frustrating. More compelling.

He swallowed. "Yeah. Maybe."

Varric's knowing look said he understood exactly what Daniel wasn't saying. But mercifully, he changed the subject. "So. Other burning questions about our fair world?"

Daniel seized the opportunity. "Actually, yeah. The politics here—how much of it is really about the Game, and how much is just people trying to survive?"

Varric barked a laugh. "Oh, now that's a question." He leaned back in his saddle, considering. "Depends who you ask. Nobles? They'll tell you it's all about power, influence, yadda yadda. But the baker whose shop gets burned down when some lord decides to make a point?" He shook his head. "Survival's the only game that matters to most people."

Daniel grimaced. "That's what I was afraid of."

"Welcome to Thedas," Varric said dryly. "Where the rules are made up and the lives don't matter."

Ahead, Cassandra glanced back at them, her brow furrowed. "You two are being unusually quiet."

Varric grinned. "Just admiring the scenery, Seeker."

She rolled her eyes but didn't press further.

As they rode on, Daniel found himself asking more questions—about the Circles, about the Dalish, about the Qunari. Varric answered each one with surprising patience, his usual wit tempered by something almost... protective. Like he understood how overwhelming it all was.

And maybe he did.

By the time the sun began its descent toward the mountains, Daniel's head was spinning with new information. But for the first time since arriving, he felt less like an outsider and more like... someone who might actually belong here.

As Haven's lights appeared in the distance, Cassandra reined in her horse, turning to face them. "We'll be there within three hour."

Varric stretched. "About time. My ass is officially numb."

Cassandra ignored him, her gaze lingering on Daniel. "You're quiet."

He met her eyes, struck again by how much darker they were in person than in any story. "Just thinking."

She studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Good."

And with that, she urged her horse forward, leaving Daniel to wonder what, exactly, she'd seen in his face.

Varric clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, kid. Home sweet home awaits."

Daniel took a deep breath and followed.

Then the gates of Haven loomed before them as the last light of dusk faded into night. Torches flickered along the walls, casting long shadows across the snow-dusted path. The journey had been long, but the sight of the village—alive with firelight and movement—eased the weariness in Daniel's bones.

Cassandra dismounted first, her boots crunching on the frozen ground. "Stable the horses," she said, already unbuckling her saddlebags. "Then report to the war room. Josephine will want a full account of our findings."

Solas nodded silently, leading his mare toward the stable without a word. Varric, however, lingered beside Daniel as they guided their horses to the worn wooden stalls near the blacksmith's forge. The air smelled of iron and burning coal, the rhythmic clang of a hammer against metal echoing through the cold.

Daniel worked methodically, loosening straps and brushing down his stallion's coat. The horse huffed, nudging his shoulder as if in thanks.

"You're welcome," Daniel muttered, patting its neck.

Varric leaned against the stall door, watching him with an unreadable expression. After a moment, he pushed off and jerked his head toward the quieter corner of the stable, away from prying ears. "Hey. A word?"

Daniel frowned but followed.

The dwarf crossed his arms, his usual smirk absent. "You're doing alright, kid. Better than I would in your place."

Daniel blinked. "What do you mean?"

Varric just smiled, but it wasn't his usual teasing grin. It was quieter. Almost proud. "You're learning to see the world as it is. Not everyone manages that."

The words settled heavily in Daniel's chest. He opened his mouth, then closed it, unsure how to respond.

Varric saved him the trouble. He clapped Daniel on the arm, his voice dropping to a murmur. "Most people come here with ideas. Heroes and villains, right and wrong. But you?" He shook his head. "You're actually looking."

Daniel swallowed. He thought of the refugees they'd passed on the road, the way Cassandra's hands had tightened around her reins when she saw the children among them. He thought of Solas's quiet fury when speaking of the Dalish's lost history, and the way Varric himself had stiffened at the mention of Kirkwall.

None of it fit into neat stories.

"I don't have a choice," Daniel admitted finally.

Varric snorted. "Sure you do. You could've buried your head in the dirt and pretended this was all some grand adventure. But you didn't." He tilted his head. "That counts for something."

Daniel exhaled, his breath fogging in the cold air. "Does it?"

"Ask me again after we survive the next disaster." Varric winked, but the levity didn't reach his eyes.

Beyond the stable, Haven's nightlife carried on—laughter from the tavern, the distant murmur of scouts exchanging reports. A normal evening in a world that was anything but normal.

Daniel rubbed his arms, suddenly aware of the chill. "So what now?"

"Now?" Varric shrugged. "You keep looking. And when it starts to eat at you—" He pulled a flask from his coat and tossed it to Daniel. "You drink with friends."

Daniel caught it automatically, the metal cool against his fingers. He unscrewed the cap and took a swig, the liquor burning a familiar path down his throat. When he handed it back, Varric was watching him with that same knowing look.

"What?" Daniel muttered.

"Nothing." Varric took a sip, then tucked the flask away. "Just thinking you're gonna be trouble."

Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"For them," Varric clarified, nodding toward the chantry, where the silhouettes of Cassandra and Leliana could be seen through the lit windows. "The ones who think they know how this story goes."

Daniel followed his gaze. Cassandra stood at the war table, her posture rigid, her voice just audible through the glass as she argued some point with Cullen. Even from here, he could see the tension in her shoulders.

A week ago, he might've dismissed it as simple stubbornness if someone told him he will reincarnate inside a game. Now, he wondered what weighed on her. What kept her awake at night when the camp fell silent. What Varric said was right, the world was different when you actually looked.

________________________________________________

Name : Daniel Carter

Race: Elf

Level 5 : 2183/2500 EXP

Professions: Mage

Gold Coins: 2289 coins

Weapon: Staff of the Dragon

Armor: Light Armor of the Dragon and Templar Scribe Scowl

Accessories: Token of the Packmaster and Belt of Health

Inventory: Acolyte Ice Staff, Morning Star, Stiletto, Hunting Longbow, Fire Resistance Cowl, Mercenary Coat, Acolyte Fire Staff, Disciple Lighting Staff, Apprentice Armor, Qunari Battleaxe, Raider Hatchet, 2 Disciple Fire Staff, Apprentice Mail, Qunari Buckler, Medium Adventure Armor, Mindleech Staff, Soldier's Nemesis, 2 Recruit's Dirk, Reinforced Dagger, Sledgehammer, Disciple Lighting Staff, Apprentice Armor, Exacting Longbow, Barbarian Lord Maul, Lifeward Amulet, and Grenade Belt

Crafting Materials: 37 Elfroot, 62 Iron, 2 Blue Vitriol, 1 Dawn Lotus, 11 Silk, 17 Lambswool, 3 Royal Elfroot, 10 Ram Leather, 23 Drakestone, 4 Fire Essence, 3 Blue Vitriol, 11 Canine Leather, 4 Plaidewaive, 2 Frost Essence, 1 Fade-Touched Iron, 4 Blood Lotus, 5 Embrium, 10 Spindleweed, 16 Onyx, 3 Ironbarks, 2 Crystal Grace, and 1 Serpenstone

Upgrades: Sigil of the Gamordan Stromrider and Sigil of Deathroot

Valuables: 2 Shadow Essence, 1 Ram Horn, 1 Dreamer Rag, 5 Weapon Fragment, 2 Bowstring, 8 Mysterious Shards, Nevarra Skull, 1 Wisp Essence, and 1 Wolf Fangs

Potions: Lesser Health Potions x8, Lesser Regeneration Potions x5, and x5 Lyrium Potion

Skills: Chain Lighting, Flashfire, Barrier, Winter's Grasp, and Energy Barrage

Armor Schematics: Shokra-taar Schematic, Antaam-saar Schematic, Avvar Armor Schematics Acquired, Stone-Bear Armor Schematics, Vanguard Coat Schematic, Sturdy Defender Coat Schematic, and Scout Mail Arms Schematic

Weapon Schematics: Curved Dagger Schematic and Hunting Bow Schematic

Potion Recipe: Lesser Regeneration Potion recipe and Lyrium Potion Recipe

Bottles of Thedas: Vint-9 Rowan's Rose and Carnal, 8:69 Blessed