In Another World | locked to apostate_amell

[amellsinferno]

Solona had been giving it some thought ever since Anders brought it up. Escape the tower together? Her, Nellie, him and even Cullen? It was crazy but the way Anders explained it, it just might work. Surprisingly, Cullen agreed to do it, with Nellie's powers of persuasion of course.

So now the four of them are off to escape the Tower. Hopefully everything goes according to plan.

Comments

[amellsinferno.livejournal.com]

"Ah, that elf girl you kept yapping on about after your last escape attempt," Solona smirks. She rubs her hands together, trying to find some way to warm herself. She would use fire, but that would alert the templars.

Cullen watches Anders' face. "Fine. But just in case, we go to Denerim after we've stabilized out here."

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

Oh, Nellie does remember Anders mentioning this elf girl after his last failed escape attempt. She feels a bit better now, and nods at him.

"Okay, Anders. I trust you."

Though, she does look worried anyway...it's dark, the longer they stay still, the worse their chances of getting out of here safely become.

Anders seems to realize that, motioning for them all to move and talk at once.

"Fair enough. Wouldn't mind seeing how Bianca's doing, anyway."

[amellsinferno.livejournal.com]

"I'd love to meet her actually," Solona grins, trying her best to keep up to everyone else's pace. She's a bit out of breath but she can manage. But she was still cold. She wraps her cloak tighter against her body. Being cold sucks.

Cullen nods, keeping a quick pace forcing Nellie to keep up with him. He hates to do this but he sensed the exact same thing she was. "So, where are we going now, exactly? Are we just to stay lost in this forest or do we have an actual destination?"

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

"Well, if we're ever in Denerim, I'll take you by the Alienage to meet her!" He grins, before frowning slightly, wrapping an arm around Solona and pulling her close. Sharing body heat works.

In regards to Cullen's question, Anders sighs.

"We can either head south to Lothering, or move up towards the coast."

[amellsinferno.livejournal.com]

Solona curls an arm around Anders' waist. He wasn't that warm-- she was slightly shivering himself but any amount of heat was good.

"I say Lothering," Solona says. "We can stock up on supplies. Get some clothes and food then make our way to the coast if needed."

Cullen nods in agreement. "We only have enough food to last us maybe five days if we ration properly. Lothering would be our best bet."

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

Nellie nods in agreement with her sister and Cullen.

"Lothering is closer, isn't it?"

Anders nods, holding Solona close. She was shivering...

"Lothering it is, then."

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

"Then let's get moving," Cullen says, speeding up his walk. "It'll take us how long till we get there, Anders?"

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

"Depends on how fast we move...but we should be there in a few days."

Nellie looks surprised at this.

"A few days? How far away is Lothering, exactly?"

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

"If we keep moving, maybe a little less than a week. Hopefully," Cullen replies with a grimace. "The soonest we can get there would be in four days... right?"

Cullen hardly traveled but from what he knew, Lothering is a really long walk from the Redcliffe area.

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

"Redcliffe is closer, yeah...but the problem is that that's the first place any templar is going to look. So we need to walk fast. Four days, three if we're lucky."

He gives everybody in the group a once over.

"Can we do that?"

Nellie hesitates for a second, before nodding.

[amellsinferno.livejournal.com]

Solona stares up at Anders before whispering a 'yes'. She was bloody tired but if she had to keep moving, she would.

Cullen however notices that everyone is worn out in one way or another. "Maybe we should stop for a moment." He turns to Nellie, remembering that she and Solona aren't exactly physically prepared for the walk. A good rest would serve them all well. "We're a good distance away from the Circle as it is and we don't check the forests immediately. We could set up camp first."

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

Anders nods. It's true, everybody does look exhausted, himself included.

"How about we get a bit deeper in and then set up camp."

He turns to Solona and leans over.

"Well? Get on."

He knows she's tired, and this is one thing he can do to help.

[amellsinferno.livejournal.com]

Solona blinks. "You can't be serious. You just swam through the lake and now you want to carry me?"

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

"Sol, I'm serious. You're exhausted. I'm still holding up okay."

He gives her a look that says this is a non-negotiable thing.

[amellsinferno.livejournal.com]

Solona scowls, and with a huff, climbs onto Anders' back. "If you fall over out of exhaustion after a few minutes, you can only blame yourself."

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

Anders just rolls his eyes, laughing.

"I'll wait till we get to a good campsite, then I'll fall over from exhaustion, thank you very much!"

Nellie just laughs quietly, watching the antics of her sister and her sister's best friend.

"C'mon, you two, let's keep moving..."

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Cullen shakes his head, but Anders was acting quite chivalrously. He turns to Nellie. It was a bit awkward but what if--? "W-would you l-like me to...?" He gestures to Anders and a very pouty Solona on his back.

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

Nellie smiles and blushes, shaking her head.

"Cullen, love, you're exhausted from all that rowing. I think if you tried to do that, your arms would fall off!"

She kisses his cheek.

"You're very sweet, though."

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Cullen smiles and leans in to kiss her full on the lips. His arms were a bit sore. "Just tell me when you need a rest."

He turns to Anders and Solona. "Let's go."

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

"I spent most of the journey lying on the bottom of a boat, Cullen. I'll be okay."

Anders nods and with Solona secured on his back, they're off.

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Cullen nods and with his fingers still intertwined with Nellie's the four of them continue walking on, deeper into the forest.

[apostate-amell.livejournal.com]

They walk for a while longer, getting further into the forest, where they can hide more easily from the templars.

After a while, though, it becomes more obvious that the entire group is exhausted, and needs to stop.

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Because Cullen was more or less leading the way, he stops the group. He could hear Nellie losing her breath and figures that the distance between them and the templars, if any were following, was great enough. He brings them to a small clearing where he sets down everything he carried and helps Nellie with hers.

"We can camp here," he says.

Solona is half-asleep on Anders' back, her arms wrapped around his neck.

[chantrygoesboom.livejournal.com]

Anders nods, gently placing Solona down on the ground, before he turns to Cullen.

"You've got the supplies...so let's set up camp and let the girls rest."

[knightcullen.livejournal.com]

Cullen replies with a nod, hesitantly letting go of Nellie's hand to reach into his pack to take out a few tent making supplies.

"I only have enough for two tents."