Archive of Our Own ^beta

Edric Cadash leaned back against the wall as he watched fennecs run outside of the cave he was sitting in.

The night was quiet, and Edric was still amazed by how different, how approachable Crestwood became after he had closed the Fade rift beneath the lake. The sky was clear, the wind was pleasantly cool and refreshing, and as Edric watched another fennec run in front of the cave mouth, he decided that he would have to make time to visit Crestwood more often.

Edric took Dorian, Sera, and Cassandra to Crestwood, because Charter had asked for their assistance. The Chargers had been travelling in the same direction, because Edric had asked if they could convoy a couple of artifacts from the Black Emporium back to Skyhold, and Edric took that chance to suggest, in what he had hoped was a very charming and smooth way, that they travel together.

They had decided to spend the night in one of the caves they had found on the way to Caer Bronach, and Edric had volunteered to take the first watch, since everyone else looked like they could use some rest.

Edric sighed, content, as he enjoyed a second helping of the stew Stitches had prepared earlier, and just when he was putting the bowl down, he heard someone approach him.

When he turned his head, he immediately noticed Krem walking towards him quietly, clearly trying not wake up the others, carrying a bowl in one hand and a waterskin in the other.

Trying to wipe his mouth and beard as best as he could, considering he only had his shirt sleeves at his disposal, Edric hoped the other man didn’t notice his frantic attempts to make himself look somewhat more presentable.

“I thought I would bring you something to eat, since you’ve been sitting here for a while,” Krem said, and Edric immediately reached for his abandoned bowl to hide it from sight, but too no avail, since the other warrior spotted it as soon as Edric moved. “Stitches makes the best stew, doesn’t he?”

“He sure does,” Edric muttered, feeling slightly awkward at getting caught indulging in another helping of the delicious stew.

Edric liked food, he was pretty sure everyone around him already knew that. He never tried to hide it, since he never considered it something to be ashamed of, however, he also didn’t necessarily want to gorge himself on stew in front of Krem. The other man would never make a disparaging comment about Edric’s love for food, the dwarf knew that, and yet, a small part of him remained anxious.

The thing was, Edric liked Krem. Edric really liked him. Which also wasn’t exactly a secret. Well, he kind of wished it had stayed a secret, even if only for a little while, or at the very least until he talked to the other man about it, but apparently he wasn’t as subtle as he had hoped. With Bull’s, Sera’s, and Dorian’s teasing, as well as with Cole’s comments, he doubted there was a person in Skyhold who wasn’t aware of Edric’s infatuation by now. Krem must have known as well.

They flirted and laughed together. They chatted every time they had a chance. Talking to the other warrior was honestly one of Edric’s favourite pastimes, and between Krem’s accounts of the Chargers’ jobs, and Edric’s own stories about working for the Carta, not to mention all their discussions about the recent events and gossip, they rarely ran out of things to talk about.

“Would you mind if I joined you?” Krem asked, and Edric ran his hands down his trousers nervously.

“Not at all. I just thought you were already asleep, like the others. We’ve been walking for a while.”

“Turns out I’m not as tired as I thought, and staring at the walls isn’t very entertaining. Here,” Krem handed Edric the bowl and placed the waterskin on the ground where they both could easily reach it.

Looking down at the bowl, Edric licked his lips briefly. On the one hand, the stew was delicious, and he definitely wouldn’t mind having another helping. On the other hand, however, he would feel bad eating all of it by himself, when Krem was sitting right next to him. Unless…

“Want to share?”

One corner of Krem’s mouth rose in a half-smile, making Edric's breath catch in his throat. “Sure.”

While Krem picked up the spoon he brought with him, Edric reached for the one he’d been using previously, and soon they were eating and chatting quietly, grinning whenever their spoons bumped against one another. Since their arms were touching, Edric could constantly feel the warmth of the other warrior’s body, and how did he manage to not get distracted by the feeling, he truly had no idea.

After the bowl was finally empty, and they both sat together in comfortable silence, Edric realized that it had been a long while since he felt so relaxed and content around someone. Krem’s mere presence was enough to make him calm down, and not only that, it made him happy That realization was what made him finally gather his courage, and do what he had been thinking about doing ever since Bull had officially introduced him to the Chargers.

“After we deal with whatever Charter wants us to do, and you come back from the Black Emporium, would you maybe like to go for a drink? Or for a walk,” the dwarf asked, turning his head so that he was now looking at the ground, once again feeling awkward. “Harding told me that there’s a new tavern in Crestwood. We could go and see how they’re doin’. If you want to, that is.”

Edric fought the urge to hide his blushing face from sight, and only when with the corner of his eye he noticed Krem smiling did he turn his head to face the other man.

“I’d like that, Your Worship.” Krem’s smile never failed to do things to Edric’s insides, and it was difficult not to smile back when he heard the usual teasing. “I can talk to the others and ask if they could…”

“Whatever it is, we can definitely do it!”

Not expecting to hear Dalish’s voice, Edric snorted quietly, while Krem just shook his head fondly. “Thanks, Dalish.”

“I guess it’s a date, then,” Edric declared, already knowing that he won’t be able to stop smiling anytime soon.

“I guess it is,” Krem nodded, and as they sat there together for the rest of their watch, enjoying each other’s company and observing the wildlife in silence, Edric couldn’t help rejoicing at the thought of the upcoming date and spending more time alone with Krem.