"That's- really cool," Cia decides - and does ey seem a bit more relaxed knowing ey'll be the one woken up? Yes ey does.

That's good. That's really good, to see her more settled.

And then something occurs to Anders, as he looks over at Ilska. 

"You know, Cia, I've been calling you she/her in my head. Is that okay?"

-ey goes still, takes a breath in, closes eir eyes and breathes out.

"Um. N-not really. I just- if it's- easier-"

Ilska's nearly vibrating with tension again.

"Okay, that's okay. It's not, and I sincerely apologise. What makes it easier for you?" Anders heart nearly breaks seeing her so upset, just after she did so well with her magic.

"Ilska found...a book once. That had...um, ey/em/eir. I- she used those for me. After I told her that it felt...wrong. With gender."

"I'm so sorry, Cia. I'll remember that. I promise."

Don't hug em, don't hug em, don't hug em-

"It's fine," ey says with a slight shrug, pauses, gives him a shy smile. "I- no-one else ever- cared before."

Yep. Heart? Broken.

"Us three are peas in a pod, Cia," Anders says with a smile he doesn't quite feel. What a shitty world to have these two beautiful people torn down so much.

Eir smile softens. "Something like that, yeah."

Ey curls up against Ilska, head in eir sister's lap.

Anders grabs the blanket he was going to use, and spreads it over the pair. "Here. I've got a comfy jacket on."

They might see the glimpse of dark blue/silver robes underneath.

Ilska frowns, and looks almost like she wants to push it away. But after a moment, she twitches it tighter around Cia's shoulders and shushes Cia when ey tries to object.

"You're sister's right, no arguing," Anders says with a grin. 

He heads back to his pack and leans against it, closing his eyes.

Cia curls tigher against Ilska. "We're gonna be fine," ey murmurs, before sliding into sleep emself.

The next morning, despite wanting to stay asleep himself, he rouses his strays, banks the fire and then shepherds them through the forest. He teaches Cia how to heal small cuts and bruises, and makes sure they both eat. 

Just after midday, they get to the outskirts of town, and Anders can feel a bit of panic rising. "All right. Now to find someone going to Kirkwall for free. Knew I kept these on for a reason," Anders says, and removes his non-descript brown jacket. Underneath is blue and silver robes, one shoulder emblazoned with a silver griffon. 

Ilska's on edge, eyes not staying still, not sure where to place herself to keep Cia safe.

Cia eyes the uniform with an flicker of familiarity.

"Here." Anders hands Ilska his jacket. "Pop this on so we don't lose it. All right. Stay close."

He leads the way into the town, heading for the docks.

Ilska takes the jacket and puts it on, in a way that suggests she's used to taking orders, and her response is automatic.

She shepherds Cia after Anders, keeping them close.

Anders adopts a serious, purposeful walk, making sure to go slow enough for Cia and Ilska to keep up. People parted in front of him, a few with thankful smiles, like he’d been a part of the Hero of Ferelden’s team that ended the Blight. 

He nodded back seriously, heading towards the docks.

Yup. Cia's keeping a close eye on that. And makes a note to ask about it later.

A group of harried and tired people are queuing to get on a boat, so Anders hurries Cia and Ilska towards it. The man watching over it goes to stop Anders and the two teens, but upon seeing the uniform, nods solemnly and lets him on. 

He tries to stop Cia and Ilska getting on. “Boat’s full.”

Anders steps in front of him. “They’re conscripts. They’re coming with me.”

Ilska is somehow further on edge when the man tries to stop them, hissing quietly.

Cia shrinks into Ilska's side, although draws emself and eir sister closer to Anders at his words.

"Conscripts or not, I'm pushing it with you. They'll have to stay," the man says, flinching a little at Ilska's hiss.

Anders looks at them, young and clearly mistreated, and bristles at the man's words. "You would separate us? Separate two clearly mistreated kids away from their only caretaker?"

The man looks suspicious. "Thought they were conscripts."

Anders mentally kicks himself. "They are. And if you let them on, I'll share the healing salves I have. From the Wardens, top of the line stuff."