"No, no. That is not the honorable way to fight. Circling around and stabbing in the back-that is the way thieves fight."

"It's better than head-on. I'm quick and agile-shouldn't I use that to my advantage?"

Ser Gilmore laughed. "You've been talking to the kitchen staff again, haven't you? You're lucky I like you, or I'd tell Fergus and the Teryn about this."

"Tell us about what?" Fergus asked from behind Ser Gilmore.

"Gah! How do you sneak around wearing so much armor? I didn't hear a thing!"

"They get that from their mother. She does not walk. She glides." The Teryn, Bryce Cousland, answered from across the courtyard. "We've come to say goodbye, Pup. Provided the Arl's men get here tonight, we'll be leaving at first light tomorrow."

"You don't need to tell me goodbye." Kate Cousland replied.

"Why Pup, that's a cold thing to say to-"

"Because I'm coming with you. I will not be kept here like some papered noblewoman waiting for her men to come home. I'm a good fighter."

"Oh but you are a pampered noble." Fergus interrupted.

Katherine's green eyes narrowed, glittering dangerously. Before he could react, Fergus was on his back, with the wind knocked out of him. Kate smiled, and went to put her foot on his throat. In a flash, she was pinned, face ground into the dirt.

"Papa!" she whined. Fergus turned his head to see his father shaking his head. He turned back to find Kate wresting herself from his grasp. She threw him a training sword, and grabbed a couple training daggers for herself.

"Now we fight. If you don't believe I'm ready, best me in a fight!" Kate called. It began, and the two whirled around the courtyard, swords crashing.

"Go Katherine." Ser Gilmore murmured.

"Oh-ho, so Kate has a champion, does she? One sovereign on Fergus, then."

"Hmm, I don't think I trust her skills to a week's wages." Ser Gilmore responded.

"Your loss," replied the Teryn.

After Fergus received a particularly nasty kick to the groin, Ser Gilmore nervously cleared his throat. "I assure you, Teryn Couseland, that she did not learn those tactics from me."

"Shh. Just watch them. My children are poetry in the battlefield. Look how quickly and smoothly they move. They got that grace from their mother. How she and I used to spar! We met on the battlefield, you know. She was my commander..."

Ser Gilmore rolled his eyes good naturedly. He heard at least once a week about the legendary battle where the two had met, and more than once a week about how much the Teryn admired his children.

Kate could feel herself tiring. She knew her brother to be the better of them, but had hoped to employ some questionable tactics to her advantage. His sword swung, grazing her cheek and shoulder. Good thing she had an extra trick up her sleeve...

"You're actually going to try the Orleasian Feint on me? Learned that from our dusty old history tutor, I bet."

Kate frowned. Fergus was not supposed to know this maneuver.

"Tried to pick-pocket the key for the books Father keeps locked away, did you? Old geezer flipped right on my back. But once burned, twice shy, dear Sister." he mocked.

Kate took a kick to the stomach and found herself sprawled in the dirt. Her brother held out a hand to help her up. "Good fight for such a little girl. None of the men in my unit are half the challenge you are, Katie." Fergus smiled.

Applause came from near the oak tree. A large, deeply tanned man with black hair and strange armor stepped from the shadows.

"Oh Maker, he is gorgeous," Kate thought. "What a set of broad shoulders, and that beautiful armor.."

"....Duncan, of the Grey Wardens." She heard her father announce. Wait, this man was a Grey Warden, fearless, mysterious warriors with strange powers. She had heard they could read minds, sense intention, know someone's character from a glance. She panicked. What if he had heard her wholly inappropriate thoughts about a man twice her age?

Kate flushed, and stammered, "I, uh. I'm Kate Couseland."

Teryn Cousland frowned. "Did you crack your head in your fall, dear?"

Kate shook her head to clear it. "Excuse me, ser, I needed to catch my breath. So you're a Grey Warden, and you're here. You must be here to recruit."

"Indeed. That was quite a spar, there. You kept up with a seasoned warrior ten years your senior. I am impressed." said Duncan.

Kate grinned with pride. Her father and brother must see now that she was ready to ride with them. A Grey Warden had complimented her, after all!

Bryce Cousland looked from his daughters smile to Duncan's face. Duncan was clearly thinking about recruiting his girl. "Not that I could stop you if you truly wanted to recruit her, but my son is riding tomorrow. Do not make me send both of my children off."

"I will not conscript her against your will, though I did come here for a recruit." said Duncan.

"Why not?" argued Kate. "I am a strong fighter. I want to defend my home and test my steel against darkspawn in battle."

Bryce Cousland sighed. Here was a battle he was unwilling to fight. He saw his daughter's drive to prove herself an able warrior. He saw his own fire for justice in her, and it hurt him to deny her. Still, he did not want to see her hurt. He wanted to protect his youngest from the world as long as he was able.

"I am not a baby any more. I want to go with Duncan, Father."

"If he wants to recruit you, there is no greater calling. You have my blessing if that is the case, but you will have to speak to your mother. I doubt you will be pleased with what she had to say." said the Teryn.

Kate rushed off to find her mother. The Grey Wardens wanted her. She would be fighting with her father and brother, after all. She would finally prove herself worthy of the Cousland name. A clan of warriors and fighters they had always been, and she would not let them down.

On her way to her mother's chambers, Kate heard a commotion. Howling, followed by cussing and pots rattling came from the larder. Landsmeat, or Meat, as she called him when nobles were around, was in the larder again. It had taken her hours to clean up after his last adventure, and she winced at the thought of the ear twisting she had gotten from Nan.. For an old woman, she had a grip like a vice.

Kate snuck in through the side door and saw her Mabari war hound standing amongst a huge mess. Food sacks were torn open, and flour was everywhere. She sighed. The dog flopped onto his back, ecstatic at the sight of his mistress.

"I know you are just as eager to see battle as I am, Meat, but you don't have to paint yourself with flour." she murmured. "Maybe we can get out of here before Nan knows it was you who did this." she said.

A sharp pain wrenched through her ear. Busted.

"Just what are you and that mutt doing in my larder? Andraste's mercy, what have you done?" shrieked Nan.

"He's not a mutt. He's a pure-"

"I don't care if he's the king of Orlais."

"I found it this way."

"My arse you did. I'll find a nice job, I will, maybe somewhere in sunny Antiva, where I do not have to deal with lying, disrespectful packs of ruffians. I'll work for a nice family that doesn't have any dogs or wild daughters." Nan sniffed.

"You won't quit. You love us too much. We'd be sad if you left." Kate and Meat turned their best sad eyes on Nan.

"Oh that trick again. Well it won't work on me." said Nan, her expression grim.

"We love you, Nan." Kate said, and Meat whined for effect.

"Well I guess young pups, human or dog, will be boisterous. No harm done, really. Just a little flour, after all. There's a package of trail cookies like the ones I packed for your brother waiting for you on the second shelf in the larder. Don't say Nan never gave you anything." Nan muttered, her eyes soft.

"Thank you Nan. You're the best." Kate said, and kissed Nan's cheek. Nan smiled quickly, and scolded, "Foolish girl. Out of here, now. I've got a castle of soldiers to feed."

Kate entered the larder with Meat to collect their cookies, when Meat growled. "What is it, boy?" she asked.

Giant rats, the size of rabbits or maybe even cats, began swarming everywhere. Kate pulled her daggers from their sheaths and grinned.

"Get 'em, Meat!"

Five minutes later, as she was dumping the last carcass into the waste bucket, Kate heard a familiar exasperated sigh.

"Hello Mother." said Kate.

"You were supposed to clean up and meet our guests for tea. Instead, I heard you wrestled with your brother in the filthy courtyard and caused chaos with your hound. Delightful. Truly, you are a gentle flower."

"Oh Mother, you wouldn't love me any other way. We had fun, right boy? I found him in here, full to bursting. Nan's head exploded."

Eleanor Cousland smiled at her irrepressible daughter. "Well at least one of us had a decent meal. Since it is too much to ask for you to look respectable, we will have to meet my friends as you are."

Kate followed her mother, glad she did not have to change into clothing that felt heavier and more confining than her leather armor.

"Sorry Mama, but Fergus started it."

"I'm sure he did, Pup."

They turned a corner. There stood her friend, Darrien, and his mother.

"Hello Eleanor. It is so nice to see your lovely daughter again. Is-is that blood on your face?" she asked.

"Why yes it is. You look awfully familiar...oh yes, you were the one who got drunk at the Salon, and had to be dragged back to her carriage."

"Kate! Mind your manners. Truly she had not been raised by wolves, though you would never know it."

Darrien's mother laughed. "It was a lovely Salon, I'm sure. I cannot remember much of it."

Kate looked at Darrien. "Hello again, my friend. We have much to discuss, though first I must speak with my mother. Care to join me in my room later?"

Darrien smiled. "I would like that very much."

Their mothers shared knowing smiles. Kate snorted. If only they knew.

"Mother we need to speak." Kate said, looking at her mother. Surprised at the unusual, serious look on her daughter's face, Eleanor said immediately, "If you could excuse us," and walked with her daughter into her chamber.

"What is it, dear girl? You have me worried with the look on your face."

"I want to join the Grey Wardens, Mama. I must join them. Duncan says I am an impressive warrior, and I want to do something with my life. I want to be someone."

"You are someone. You are a Cousland. You have duties that keep you here." said Eleanor.

"None of that matters. Do you think I want to spend the rest of my life here? I am strong like you, Mother. I want to defend our home against the Darkspawn."

"You must stay here. You will be running the castle while your father and brother are away."

"You're just saying that. You will be the one running it, and I'll just be stuck here."

"No, I am leaving with Darrien and his mother in a couple weeks. Your father wants me to stay with them a while, so I do not undermine your authority. You must learn to run the castle on your own. It is true that I have let you learn to fight, because it is important to defend yourself and your home, but you must understand: you have a duty to your name, and to this land. This is where you must stay."

"But Mother-"

"I will brook no further arguments. Your place is here. Your father and brother will return, and you will hear plenty about war."

Kate fumed. She could not argue with her mother, however, and she knew her duty was to remain and watch the castle. She felt so helpless, and like she being passed over. If only there was some way to prove to them that her place was next to her father and brother on the battlefield.

"The Grey Warden is here, and he said he won't leave without a recruit."

"Oh did he? I happen to know he came to test Ser Gilmore." replied the Teyrna.

Kate's heart sunk. She knew Ser Gilmore to be an able knight, and also knew him to be a good friend. She could not take his rightfully-earned place in the Grey Wardens. The castle was her home, but today, it felt like a prison.

The Teryn walked into the room to see his wife looking sadly at his daughter. His daughter looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "I will eventually prove myself to you, Papa. I am a good warrior, and I deserve my place next to you. Mother has convinced me that my place is here, though." Kate said.

"She is right. There are plenty more battles to be fought, Pup. Eleanor, the Arl's forces have not arrived yet, so Fergus is taking the men tonight. I will stay and wait for them to arrive, them meet up with Fergus, later. Say your goodbyes, both of you."

Kate felt her stomach clench. What if her brother fell on the battlefield, because she was not there to save him? She could keep him safe, she knew it. She steeled herself. It would not do for her family to see fear on her face.

"Fergus, Papa, you will be missed. Come home safely to us." Kate said.

"Papa, there is a Grey Warden here. Did he ride in on a griffin?" asked Oren, Fergus's son.

"Griffins are only for stories, now. Oren." Oriana, Fergus's Orlesian wife, responded.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Fergus. I will pray for every day you are away."said Oriana.

"I'll be back soon, my love. Darkspawn are no match for me." said Fergus.

"You guys make me want to barf." said Kate.

"You'll think differently once you have a man in your life. Mother said perhaps good old Darrien?" Fergus asked, looking at Kate.

"He's just a friend!" insisted Kate.

Fergus laughed and picked up his sister. He swung her around. "I'll bring you back the heart of a darkspawn. Will that make you happy, my bloodthirsty little beast."

Kate smiled. "Just bring yourself back, okay? I can't deal with Mother all on my own."

Kate walked to her room, her heart heavy. Her brother had left in the past, but never for very long. Though they were ten years apart, they were as close as siblings could be. Her brother had always watched out for her, and she for him.

She opened the door to find Darrien sitting on her bed. "Hi Darrien. So how is your campaign to win the heart of Ser Gilmore going?"

"Wretchedly. He has eyes only for you. He watches you, you know."

"But I'm not interested. I can't be interested in someone who is not a noble. It would never work." said Kate pragmatically.

"I suppose I did only start just today, and I managed to make him blush." said Darrien.

"That isn't hard. Didn't he grow up in the Chantry? He has a lot of funny ideas about what is proper and what is not. He might become a Grey Warden, if Duncan thinks he is good enough." said Kate.

"Oh really? Grey Wardens travel a lot. He'd have a reason to stop by every now and again, but not enough to arouse suspicion." said Darrien.

"Only enough to arouse other things." Kate said, snickering.

"You are so crass sometimes. Listen, our mothers think we are having an affair. Everything is going well. I am happy to have found a friend I can trust." said Darrien earnestly.

"I am happy to have found a man to marry who knows how to keep house. I know you enjoy ordering people around and keeping places in order. Also, you'll be able to keep on studying whatever you like. Your resources will be limitless." said Kate.

"Our plan is a good one. You will be able to be a warrior alongside your family, and no one will pressure me into becoming one. Also, my secret will be safe. I'm sure we can manage to make an heir or two, too." Darrien said, winking at Kate.

"Don't remind me about that part. You're like my brother. It will be vile."

"You wound me, lady. What am I to do about your jiggly bits? None of those on the male physique I prefer, you know." Darrien said.

"Jiggly bits? I don't have jiggly bits! I have stronger arms than you!" Kate insisted.

"What about the ones on your chest?" Darrien leered.

"You lech! You are not supposed to notice them. I'd cut them off, if I could. They only get in the way of armor." said Kate.

"Well anyway, I am tired. Shall we get into bed and continue our charade?" asked Darrien.

"Certainly. Meat gets your side."

"Hey!"

Kate awoke to the sound of Meat growling and barking a vicious, deep bark. She heard angry voices in the hall and pounding at the door. Meat snarled, his hackles raised.

"What's going on?" Darrien asked.

"Shh! I don't know, listen." Kate whispered.

"Oh for Andraste's sake, I'll open the door then." Darrien reached for the door.

A sword ran through her friend's stomach, and out his back.

"Darrien!" Kate shrieked. Two men stood at the door, smiling evilly.

"Oh look, the little Cousland." one of them leered.

"Get them, Meat!" Kate shouted, scrambling over the bed to reach for her armor. Luckily she was so obsessed with fighting, or she never would keep her armor in her bedroom.

Meat let out a fearsome growl and lunged at the closer of the two men. He sunk his teeth into the man's arm, nearly severing it. Kate hurriedly got into her armor and grabbed her scabbard, buckling it on. She unsheathed her daggers and stabbed the first man in the throat. The second looked at her, shocked, then starting backing away. Meat grabbed his leg and pulled. The man fell. Kate stomped on his wrist until he released his sword, then held a dagger to his throat.

"Who do you work for?" she asked.

"Howe," he responded.

"Do you think I'm stupid? Howe is my father's good friend. He would never do this. Who do you really work for?" snarled Kate.

"Look at my uniform, I ain't lying." the man stammered.

Kate looked down. Indeed, the men were wearing the arms of Arl Rendon Howe. Rage filled her. He had delayed his troops purposely, to get control of the castle. She tightened her grip on her dagger, then slit the man's throat. Where were her parents? Her nephew? Sounds of fighting filled the hallways. She looked in the man's belt for anything of use and found a few health potions. She grabbed a belt pouch from her room and slipped them in.

"Kate! Kate!" she heard, and looked around the corner. There stood a female warrior holding a sword, with a bow strapped to her back. No one was allowed to call her Kate except her friends and family, and this woman did not look familiar.

"Oh my dearest, I am so happy you are alive. I heard shouting in the hall, and I feared-"

Kate did a double take. This warrior woman, ably holding a sword and walking in armor, was her gentle mother? She had heard her father's stories of her mother's battle prowess, but had never seen it for herself.

"Darrien is dead. Arl Howe's men killed him." said Kate grimly.

"Arl Howe? Are you sure? That can't be- unless that bastard delayed his troops on purpose." said Eleanor.

"Exactly. Where are Oriana and Oren? Where is Father?"

"Oh Maker, what if they went to your brother's room first? We must get to them." Eleanor said.

They crept across the hallway to her brother's chambers. Kate opened the door, and her hound rushed in. Whining, he licked the face of the dead boy on the floor.

"No!" screamed her mother. "No! Not my little Oren! What kind of monsters slay innocents? Why are they doing this?"

"They intend to leave no one alive, Mother. Then they can report to Denerim whatever they wish." said Kate.

"I'll kill Rendon Howe myself. I'll run him through." said Eleanor. "We must find your father. The castle is surrounded, but we may be able to leave through the servant's entrance in the kitchen."

The two women snuck down the hallway and across the castle. Four guards stood between them and the kitchen. Eleanor killed two Howe guards from a distance with her bow, while Kate slunk around the edge of the room. She jumped a guard and slit his throat while Meat took down the other. Nearly to the kitchen, they found the way blocked by burning furniture.

"Damn. We're going to have to go the hard way. Maker watch over us." Eleanor said.

"The 'hard' way? What do you mean, Mother?" asked Kate.

"Through the unit stationed in the main hall. I looked in earlier. There are eight guards there. I am not sure we can take them all down."

"Yes we can, Mother. We must." Kate said, setting her jaw. "Think of Oren. They did this. We must reach the exit."

"My poor baby. I'll kill them all." Eleanor said, a hard glint in her eye.

Meat ran out ahead to pull their fire, while Eleanor shot from a distance. Kate went up to the backs of the men attacking Meat, and stabbed them in the back. Saying a silent thank-you to the servants who had taught her to fight, she kicked a man running at her in the groin, then stabbed him in the stomach. With her other hand, she cut off his head. Her mother and Meat had managed to take down four of the men, but four remained, and now they were without the element of surprise. Desperation welling in her, Kate fought fiercely, thinking of Darrien and Oren. It was not enough. Three men remained, and advanced upon her and her badly wounded dog. Meat growled and stood in front of his mistress.

"Andraste, save us." Kate whispered.

"FOR HIGHEVER!" came a shout from behind the guards. Ser Gilmore and a few Highever guards had fought his way into the main hall. One of them turned, and Kate bolted. Ser Gilmore easily took one down, and his guards took down the rest. Ser Gilmore bolted the door behind them.

"Oh thank the Maker. You're alive! You're both alive."

"Have you seen my father?"

"I did, but he was badly wounded. I tried to get him to escape, but he insisted on finding the two of you. Last I saw he was heading for the larder. Go, my Lady. You must leave through the servant entrance." Ser Gilmore said.

"Come with us, we can escape together." said Kate.

"If I come with you, you will not escape. You must leave now. It won't be long before they break through."

"Ser Gilmore, thank you. You were selected to be a Grey Warden, you know. That is why Duncan is here. You are a true warrior."

Ser Gilmore brightened. "Me, a Grey Warden? Now go! Take this Mabari health potion. I figured your dog would be with you."

"You have never let me down." said Kate, and took the Mabari crunch. Thinking of what Darrien had said about Ser Gilmore having eyes only for her, she took his face in her hands and kissed him.

"Thank you." she said, looking him in the eyes. Then she turned and ran to her mother and Meat.

Ser Gilmore watched her go, and tightened his grip on his shield. He had loved her since the day he had begun her training, and discovered a true warrior behind the noble manners. He was a Highever knight, and he was going to fight his damnedest to keep Katherine Cousland safe.

"We must hurry. They are going to try to hold the door so we can make it." said kate.

The trio made it into the larder. Eleanor led the way.

"Bryce? Oh Maker's breath! Bryce." she shrieked in the doorway, and ran into the larder.

"What? Is Father in here? Oh thank Andraste!" said Kate. Looking around, she saw her mother kneeling in the corner next to her father.

"Father?" she asked.

"My dear girl, you are alive. You must escape with your mother." said her father.

"You're coming with us. Get up, you'll be fine." Kate said, panicking. She blocked the image of him lying in a very large pool of his own blood.

"I would not survive the standing" he gasped.

"Well then, I'll have to drag you. We'll find healing magic. You'll be all right." insisted Kate.

"You'd have to leave pieces of me behind, Pup," joked her father.

"Bryce,this is no time for jokes. We have to get you out of here." Eleanor said.

Meat growled, and Kate turned. Two men burst in, too fast. They would cut her down where she kneeled.

A sword ran through one and a shield knocked down the other. Strange armor flashed in the dim light.

Duncan. "Duncan, how did you get here?" asked Kate.

"We don't have much time. You must leave." said Duncan.

"Get my wife and daughter out of here." gasped the Teryn.

"I will, but I must ask something in return." said Duncan.

The Teryn nodded. "Anything."

"I came here for a recruit, and the Blight demands that I leave with one. I will help your daughter escape, and then she will become a Grey Warden." said Duncan.

"Agreed. Pup, you must go. You have so many great things ahead of you. Make us proud." said Bryce Cousland.

"I love you both."

"Come, we must get going." said Duncan.

Kate got up, and started to walk with Duncan.

"Come on Mother, we have to go."

"I'm not leaving your father. We had a good life. I will kill every one of those bastards who comes through the door to give you more time. Goodbye my beloved." said her Mother, a fierce expression on her face.

"I love you both." choked Kate, and followed Duncan.

Kate stumbled through the door, Duncan's iron grip on her arm. They picked their way out of the castle. Kate looked back to see it burning, and a sob choked her throat.

"Come, child, you must keep moving. It is hard, but you must." said Duncan.

Katherine Cousland and the Grey Warden Duncan walked for many more hours, stopping only to bandage Meat and stitch a slice in Kate's arm. When Duncan determined they were a safe distance from Arl Howe's men, he stopped.

"The Joining will take place after we reach Ostagar. The other Grey Wardens are waiting there with the king."

"Ostagar? That is where my brother is! I must tell him what happened." said Kate.

"Indeed we will have time to tell your brother." Duncan poked at the fire, then began polishing his armor. Kate, exhausted, looked to him.

"I don't suppose you have any blankets."

"I brought my pack, of course." Duncan responded. He pulled a dirty woolen blanket from his pack and handed it to Kate. Kate, exhausted, wrapped herself in it and fell asleep.

Two days later, the ruins of Ostagar were visible from the hill where they stood. Smoke rose up from it, and Kate could see colorful flags. She walked a bit faster, then, but her heart and stomach felt icy. She could not bear to think of her family. She needed to be strong, to deserve their sacrifice.

The entered the outskirts of the camp. Duncan turned to Kate. "You now have a chance to purchase supplies and explore the camp. See if you can find the other recruits. Alistair is around for any questions."

"But I don't have any money. Who's Alistair?"

"Do not worry about the money. I have given you your first wages in your pack. Alistair should be around camp. He is the newest Grey Warden. He is tall, with reddish brown hair. I told him to look for new recruits, so he should find you."

Duncan dug into his pack and handed her a smaller one. It felt heavy, so Kate looked inside. Inside were seventy silver, a blanket, several health potions, some empty vials, and a small package wrapped in cheesecloth. Kate reached for the package, and realized Duncan had grabbed the cookies Nan had made for her. Her eyes welled up and she choked. She dropped the cookies back into the pack like they were on fire.

Kate took a deep breath and walked out ahead of Duncan. He did not need to deal with her blubbering, and she did not want him to see her like she was. Weak.

In camp, she walked past a blue tent, and a head popped out. "Hello, you must be Duncan's new recruit."

"Ah, who are you?" asked Kate. Something looked familiar about his face.

"King Cailan, of course." Kate jumped back.

"You look familiar. Ah yes, you are Bryce's youngest, are you not? How is your father? Your brother sends his regards. He is out scouting, you know, and should not return until after the battle."
"He's dead. Arl Howe killed my family. I am here to find my brother." said Kate.

"WHAT? Why haven't I heard this? Why would he do such a thing? After this week's battle, I will see justice." said King Cailan.

"What kind of justice?" asked Kate.

"He will hang. I will not stand for such treachery." said King Cailan.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." said Kate, bowing deeply.

"Now, I must find Duncan." King Cailan said, hurrying off. Kate frowned. The King seemed awfully young, though he was actually years older than she was. He did not seem to take the upcoming battle seriously, though from what she had heard around camp, it would be a fierce and dangerous battle.

Kate went to find the quartermaster about buying more health potions, and more armor. The man was terribly nervous and told her he was not supposed to sell supplies to everyone. Kate smiled her largest smile and asked innocently if she could just have a look at his spare equipment. The quartermaster winked and said, "Only if you don't tell anyone else. No harm in letting a sweet girl that looks like my daughter buy a couple souvenirs."

Kate was stuffing her new backpack with gear when she heard footsteps behind her. "Oh, so that rat will sell to you, but not to me, he will? Good thing I robbed him him blind." Kate turned to see a handsome man in leather armor leaning against a nearby tree.

"Who are you?"asked Kate

"Oh me? I'm Daveth. I'm a fellow, if you know what I mean." Time spent hanging around the kitchen staff allowed Kate to nod her head knowingly. "I'm also a new Grey Warden recruit. Tried to cut Duncan's purse, ha-a. Guy then conscripts me, saving me from a hanging. I owe the Grey Wardens my life. What about you? Who are you?" asked Daveth, drawing out the last sentence.

Despite herself, Kate grinned. "I'm Lady Katherine Cousland."

Daveth swallowed. "A Lady, in Ostagar?" He looked a little green around his eyes. Kate laughed, and took pity on him.

"I'm one of the new Grey Warden recruits, too." Kate said.

"Oh really? Jeez, that Right of Conscription; I didn't think they actually used it on nobles."

"They didn't. I joined because Duncan also saved me."

"Saved you from what? Being warm and cozy in a big bed? From having a warm belly every night?" blurted Daveth, then paled. "That didn't actually come out of my mouth, did it?"

"Duncan saved me the night my entire family was massacred, actually." said Kate quietly.

"Andraste's Ass! I'm so sorry, milady. I had no idea. My mouth gets me into trouble."

"It's alright. I'm sorry for mentioning it." said Kate, and looked away.

"So what do you think the Joining is like?" asked Daveth, blatantly changing the subject.

"Oh, I don't know. I heard it's dangerous, that people die during it." Kate said, not mentioning that she partially hoped to meet her death at the Joining.

"Hey, you lot. Daveth, is this the other recruit?" a large, balding man asked.

"Ser Jory, what did you find out around camp? I found this pretty lady, says she's gonna be a Grey Warden." said Daveth.

"A woman? I've only heard of a couple female Grey Wardens, you know." said Jory.

"Oh hur hur who cares about that? I'm good enough to catch Duncan's eye, that means I'm the match of the two of you." snapped Kate. Walking through camp, she had kept hearing "woman, Grey Warden recruit." whispered, and she was sick of it.

"I'm sure you could match me, m'lady" leered Daveth.

"Oh shove it, you pig." responded Kate, surprised with the ease she could joke with Daveth.

Daveth grinned. "This here is Ser. Jory. He won some big tournament for Arl Eamon's knights, and then Duncan recruited him."

"Sure did. I worked hard to get here. I heard that being a Grey Warden earns you respect and glory, and that's what I want to have. I miss my wife, though. She's about to have our first baby." said the balding knight.

"That's nice." said Kate, not really listening as Jory rambled on and on about what a pretty wife he had, how didn't care what the babe was, as long as it was healthy, about what he had for dinner earlier.

Kate scanned the camp. She saw blue mist rising from one of the campsites.

"What's that?" she asked, interrupting Jory, who didn't seem to notice.

"That's the Circle of Mages' tent. They're working on battle spells. I don't like to go near there. Mages are dangerous. Never know when one might turn you into a toad."

"I don't know, I think you'd look dashing in green." Kate replied. "Have you seen Arnold?"

"Arnold? Who's that?" Jory asked.

"You know, the guy who is supposed to answer our questions; the new Grey Warden?"

"Oh, Alistair, you mean." answered Jory.

"He's probably talking with the templars." said Daveth.

"Oh no, he's not religious, is he?"groaned Kate

"Nothing wrong with being religious," said Jory.

"Sure is." muttered Daveth. "I heard he's a templar, himself, or used to be, until Duncan conscripted him. Probably is one of those who says the Chant before and after he wipes his arse."
"Actually, I prefer the Chant before I wipe my arse, but I find one of the lesser Canticles of Andraste gives me the cleaning power I need right after." a sarcastic voice answered from behind a nearby tree. A tall, red-haired man stepped out.

"You were spying on us?" asked Kate. "Creepy."

"I was, but it got boring. Too much talk of religion, if you ask me." answered Alistair.

"You must be the new recruit. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Alistair, the newest Grey Warden." he said, bowing.

"You can call me Katherine." answered Kate.

"I heard the others calling you Kate. Do you prefer Katherine?" asked Alistair.

"I prefer Kate, but that's only to be used by people who don't skulk around in bushes, listening to others' conversations." retorted Kate.
"I'll have you know that bush-skulkers are a decent lot of people. We get a lot of bad press, though." responded Alistair.

"So, Katherine , where are you from?" Alistair asked.

"You must not have been listening very long. I'm from Highever, in the north." said Kate.
"I've been there. It's beautiful in winter. Did you live in the village?" asked Alistair.
"No. I lived in the castle." said Kate

"Oh, did you work there?" asked Alistair.

"No, my father was the Teryn."said Kate

"YOU are Katherine Cousland? Pleased to make your acquaintance, my lady." Alistair said, crooking an eyebrow.

"You sound surprised that I am Katherine Cousland. Why is that?" said Kate.

The others laughed nervously. Kate looked around. "What? Why is that a surprise?" she asked. Nobody would meet her gaze.

"Well Duncan told me that Teryn Cousland's daughter was our newest recruit, I admit, I was looking for someone a little..."

"Prettier? Gentler? Dumber?" asked Kate.

"Well Gentler, anyway." answered Alistair.

"Oh you wound me. I see what you did there. Ass." said Kate.

Alistair grinned. "Anyhow, today's the day."

"The day for what?" asked Daveth.

"We leave today to fight darkspawn." answered Alistair.

"What? But the battle's not until the end of the week?" asked Jory.
"We need to collect some supplies for the Joining from the Wilds, and one of those supplies is fresh darkspawn blood." said Alistair.

"Great. That sounds delightful." said Daveth.

"Oh good, here comes Duncan." said Alistair.

"I see you've found the new recruits, Alistair. I also hear that you have been riling up the Mages."

"The Revered Mother asked me to deliver a message." Alistair answered.

"Did she also ask you to sass the mages? We are trying to keep as many allies as possible, Alistair." Alistair flushed a little and looked down. Kate snickered, and he shot her a glare.

"Now, you all should get prepared, because you are leaving very shortly. Alistair really should have rounded you up earlier, but I suppose what has been done is done." said Duncan

"No, he was too busy hiding in the bushes." said Daveth.

Duncan raised an eyebrow and looked at Alistair. Alistair shrugged. Duncan then sighed and shook his head. "I need you to collect three vials of darkspawn blood. Also, I need you to look for the ruins of an old Warden base near here. There you should find some very important documents. They are warded to only allow the opening by Grey Wardens, so be careful."

"Why are the documents just left out there? Did you put them out there as a test?" asked Kate.

"No, but I thought that since we are in the area, we may as well look for them. They may not even be there, but it is worth a try." said Duncan.

"Great. We're errand boys." muttered Kate. Daveth grinned, and Alistair glowered.

"I get the pleasure of shepherding you bunch around. Can't let some saplings out without="

"Some wood" Daveth responded, and laughed. Jory and Kate laughed as well, and Alistair flushed again. Kate wondered how a man could blush so often.

"I will see you soon, Alistair. Do your best to find those treaties." Duncan said, clapping Alistair's shoulder.

Kate shouldered her pack and whistled for Meat. He came barreling across camp, a rabbit carcass in his mouth.

"You have your own Mabari?" asked Jory. "Wow."

"Rich people." muttered Daveth. Kate grinned. "You're jealous."

"Damn right I'm jealous. Dog gets to sleep in a bed with a beautiful woman. I've got nothing but a thin blanket to keep me warm." responded Daveth.

"Uh, let's get going." Alistair said.

They had been walking for a couple hours when Alistair suggested they take a break. They sat down, and he pulled some food out of his pack.

"Ah, cheese. I love cheese." He said.

"The great inner workings of a Grey Warden." said Daveth. "And here I thought they were all mysterious and dangerous."

"I'm dangerous and I happen to love cheese." answered Alistair, his mouth full.

"Well, one of those things is true." said Kate, eating some bread.

"What's your Mabari's name?" asked Jory.

"Meat. Well, actually it is Landsmeat."

Alistair began to choke and sputter. "Ahahaha you named your DOG Landsmeet, after the meeting of nobles? That is great!"

"I know, isn't it?" asked Kate.

The other two looked blankly at them. "You know, when nobles have a problem, they contact the other nobles, and then they all meet and talk about it? It's how they choose kings and settle land disputes." explained Kate.

More blank looks followed. "Never mind." Kate said.

They packed up their food and set off again.

"Okay, up ahead we're going to face some darkspawn. Be ready." said Alistair

"What? How do you know?" asked Jory.

"I'm a Grey Warden, I can sense them. There are two of them up there, by that big rock." said Alistair.

Kate squinted and saw them. Nothing could have prepared her for what they looked like. They were monstrous. One was roughly human sized and shaped. Bald, with mottled grey skin and sharp brown teeth. The other was shorter, with the same colored skin and sharp teeth. Kate's stomach turned. She felt nervous and sick. What if she couldn't kill these things? Would Duncan turn her out? Where would she go? She steeled herself. She WOULD kill the darkspawn. She WOULD earn the trust Duncan gave her. She WOULD make her mark on the world. Kate strung her bow, and aimed.

She let an arrow fly, and it dug into the tall darkspawn's back. It turned, enraged, and charged at their group. Kate strung another arrow, and another. When the darkspawn was within ten feet, she flung her bow into the grass and pulled out her daggers. She sidestepped its swing and slashed at its side. Foul, black blood spurted.

Meat grabbed the darkspawn and pulled him down. Kate drove her dagger into its neck, and the other into its heart. It gurgled, and some of its blood splashed her face.

"Behind you!" Shouted Daveth, and Kate whirled. The smaller darkspawn had broken away from Alistair and was charging her. It swung its sword, and the sword sliced into her arm. Kate screamed and drove her other dagger into its neck. It continued swinging, and she leapt out of the way, stumbling. Jory pushed his way between them and ran his sword through the darkspawn. It fell next to her with a thud.

"Thank you, Jory. I was not as wary as I should have been." said Kate, taking his proffered hand.

"You're young, and have not seen as many battles as I have." he answered kindly, smiling at her.

"Did anyone take any hits? Is everyone alright?" asked Alistair.

"I got cut by the sword." said Kate, holding her arm.

"Let me see. I have some bandages." He whistled at the wound in her arm. "I'm surprised you can still move your arm. This is nasty. Luckily, I'm a great friend to the mages.. Drink this."

Kate took the proffered potion, and knocked it back. She coughed and gagged. "People actually drink those? They are awful." She said. The pain in her arm was receding, and she looked down to see that it had stopped bleeding. Alistair wrapped it up in a bandage.

"Now, who's going to collect the blood? I call not me."

"Not me." Daveth said quickly.

"Not me." said Jory.

"Oh honestly, you can cut into them with swords, but you are squeamish about collecting their blood? Ridiculous." scoffed Kate. She bent to each of the darkspawn, and stabbed into their throats. Blood spurted into the vials.

Alistair explained the different darkspawn as they walked. The tall one had been a Hurlock, and the short one a Genlock. Both were used as general troops by the Archdemon.

They walked for a few more hours when they came across a group of dead soldiers. Kate's heart beat wildly when she saw their Highever armor, and she ran to them.

"Wait up, Kate, there might be danger up there." said Daveth, who grabbed her arm.

"My brother could be one of them. He was scouting out here, and these men came from my land." Kate responded, and wiggled out of his grasp.

She looked over a couple of the soldiers, when she saw her brother's familiar black hair on a corpse lying face down near a dead horse.

She turned him, her heart in her throat.

The one she turned over was not her brother. She kept looking through the soldiers, even pulling apart the grotesque piles the darkspawn had made, searching for Fergus.

She touched one corpse, and it moaned. She jumped back.

"I have an alive one over here!" she shouted, and the men came running.

"What happened?" asked Alistair.

"We were ambushed. Everyone is dead. I need to return to camp." the soldier responded.

"What about my brother, Fergus Cousland? Was he with you?" Kate asked.

"No, we split up into two groups. Your brother's group took a different route." The soldier gasped.

"Drink this. Alistair said, holding a vial to the man's lips."

"Thank you. I must return to camp." insisted the soldier again.

"We can't take you." Alistair said.

"What? Why not?" asked Jory. "He's hurt. He might not make it on his own."

"We have a mission, Jory. We must collect more darkspawn blood and look for the scrolls. Taking him back would mean two days of travel. I can bandage him, and nothing more." Alistair said, his face set.

Alistair bandaged the man and directed him to the safest route back to camp. Jory muttered to himself about leaving a man to his fate, and Alistair ignored him.

They set off once again.

"What about all these soldiers dead? We are only four people, and we expect to survive out here? These men had training, they were seasoned. We don't have a chance." said Jory.

"I have something they don't. I can sense the darkspawn coming. We won't be ambushed." said Alistair. "That's why Duncan sent me with you."

Kate walked silently alongside Daveth. She, too, had been upset with leaving a man to his fate. She, unlike Jory, understood Alistair's decision, and kept silent. The darkspawn blood stung her face, and she used a little water from her her water skin to wipe her face.

They came to a couple of boulders.

"This is a good spot to stop. We cannot have a fire, so you'll have to eat whatever you have with you cold."

"It's damn cold out here."

"It will be fine once you get under your blanket. Kate, you take watch with Daveth. Jory and I will take second watch. We can only afford a few hours of sleep since we encountered those soldiers." said Alistair.

Kate doubted she would be able to sleep. The darkspawn had been horrifying. Worse, though, was seeing their aftermath-the bodies hacked to pieces and strung from trees. Bodies with faces she recognized.

"It's not what I expected, that's for sure." Daveth said while they sat looking and listening into the darkness.

"What did you expect?" asked Kate.

"Something...less. I never saw one before. And the stink! Their blood smells like death left out on a sunny day."

"Plus, it stings. They say if you get some in you, you will turn into one of those things."

"I'd rather die first." said Daveth.

"Me, too." said Kate.

They sat, silent for a while. Kate felt Daveth's hand creep over hers. She squeezed his hand, and they listened.

Soon, Kate heard Daveth's snoring next to her. She smiled and looked out. There was no way she would fall asleep, not after her horrifying day. She envied Daveth's light outlook on life.

Kate thought about the others in her group. Jory was nice, but rather boring. She also wondered about how life would be for him as a Grey Warden. Would he get to see his wife and child? He was an excellent warrior, though, and had saved her life today. She was grateful. She chided herself for not being more wary. She was fast and had good eyes. She should not have let anything distract her until the last darkspawn was dead.

"Daveth is asleep, I hear." Alistair said. Kate started. "How did you get out here so quietly?"

"I'm not wearing any armor." he answered. "It's almost impossible to put it on in the dark."

"I can do it." Kate responded.

"Well, you only wear light leather armor. That goes on pretty easy."

"No, I mean I can put your armor on for you. I used to help my brother and father all the time." said Kate. "I know you can sense the darkspawn and all, but there are other things out here just as dangerous. Wolves, bears."

"Don't forget witches. The Witches of the Wild are said to live in this area, not that armor would do much good against them." added Alistair.

"Thanks, Alistair, I had almost begun to think about sleep. Not anymore." said Kate.

Alistair chuckled, and she heard him rustling around, looking for his armor. He touched her arm. "Here I am, and here's my armor. It's pretty heavy."

"I have handled much heavier." Kate said. She reached out to touch his chest. "Okay, hold your arms out." Kate ran her hands along his arms, then down his chest. "Okay, now turn around."

Alistair blushed in the darkness. No woman had ever touched him without his armor on. He was glad she could not see him.

He did not know what to think of her. She was vicious one minute, fragile the next. He had seen her take down a Hurlock by herself. He had also seen the grim smile on her face as she did it. The glint in her eye as she did it shocked him a little. Who would have thought a noblewoman would take pleasure in killing?

He then had seen her face when they came across the soldiers. The anguish in it had been horrible to see. He had not forced them to keep moving then, because he knew nothing would have made her come along.

Alistair thought about what having a brother must be like. About what having a family must be like. He thought of his fellow Grey Wardens, and smiled. The happiest days of his life had been the past months with the Grey Wardens. For the first time in his life, he felt like he belonged somewhere. He was excited to get back to them, to tell them about the new recruits. Alistair steeled himself, thinking about the new recruits. It was likely that two of them would not survive the Joining. Duncan told him that only three out of every seven recruits survived it. He did not like to think about who would not survive.

He hoped the girl dressing him would survive. She was a very capable fighter, and funny, too. It would be a shame to lose that dog of hers, as well. Landsmeat. He smiled. A niggling thought entered his mind. "That's not the only reason you want her to survive. You would like a female Grey Warden, wouldn't you? You are not as dedicated to duty as you should be. Grey Wardens do not get to have any other life but duty. In war, victory. In peace, vigilance. In death, sacrifice."

"Okay, all done." Kate said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You're awfully quiet. Are you sure you're awake?"

"Sure am. Just thinking."

"I thought I smelled something burning."

"Ha ha. Get to bed, you."

"Nah, I can't sleep. I've never needed that much sleep, anyway. I used to drive my mother mad when she'd walk by at night and see a light under my door. I used so many candles staying up to read. Once my hair caught on fire because I fell asleep with the candle burning. Recently, actually. That's why my hair is scandalously short for a noble. The rest of it burned off."

"Must have smelled terrible."

"Oh it did. It was last winter, and we couldn't open the window without freezing our arses off, so we had to keep them shut. It smelled for weeks. Fergus complained so much-" Kate's voice cracked.

"Never mind. I was stupid. I should have been sleeping rather than reading so much." said Kate quickly.

"What did you read?" asked Alistair.

"Oh strategy, mostly. My favorite is Emiliana Daveen's "Woman, Warrior." I hoped to fight alongside my brother and father, so I tried to learn as much as I could. I should have spent more time training. I could have prevented what happened." said Kate.

"You couldn't. It was not your fault." said Alistair.

"You don't understand. If I had swung harder, swung faster, been better, they would have lived. I failed them. My father was right- I was not ready for battle. I spent my whole life preparing, and I failed." said Kate.

"That's not true. No warrior, no matter how capable, can stand up to an army. It is a testament to your skill that you were able to escape." said Alistair.

"That's because other people sacrificed themselves for me. My parents, Ser Gilmore. Duncan saved me. I didn't save myself." said Kate.

"They did it because they loved you. You felt a love from them that most people never experience." responded Alistair quietly.

Kate fell silent. Alistair listened, and reached out with the dark spot in his soul, to feel for darkspawn. Nothing.

Jory soon came out of his slumber. "Is it time for watch yet?" "Yes." Alistair answered.

Jory stumbled over Daveth's sleeping form. Daveth reminded him of his eldest brother- the one who was always getting into trouble with the law and then charming his way out of it. Jory reached for his blanket, and covered Daveth.

"Did I oversleep much? I usually have a good sense for when it is my turn to keep watch." said Jory.

"No, I couldn't sleep." said Alistair. He thought, "This is my first time leading anybody, and I don't want to let anyone down."

"Is the Joining hard?" asked Jory.

"You know I can't talk about it. You'll have to see for yourself." said Alistair.

Morning came, and Kate was surprised to find that she had fallen asleep, briefly. She was still dressed in her armor, however, and was sore where it had dug into her. She stretched and looked to see three amused faces looking at her.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty" Daveth said.

"What, what's wrong?" Kate asked, looking around.

"Your hair...it's..." Jory said

"Crazy. Your hair should be hunted by Templars." said Alistair.

"Oh so it's an abomination? I get it, you're so funny." Kate snarled, and reached up to feel her hair. Gross. It was matted with dog slobber, blood, and dirt. Well, nothing to be done. She ran her fingers through it, and attempted to tie some of it back.

"Well are you all going to stare at me or is somebody going to make breakfast?" she asked.

"Alistair already did." Daveth said, handing her a pot of something brown. Kate took it gingerly. "What is this? Is it edible?"

"Try it, it's not so bad," Jory said.

Kate brought the spoon up to her mouth. Whatever it was, it was meaty and chewy. Gross. She saw Alistair looking at her, and brought her thumb up. "It's good!" she said, chewing and attempting to smile.

"I decided to try something new. I thought maybe if I dumped one of our healing potions into the pot while I was cooking it, it would help heal us as we eat." said Alistair excitedly.

"So that explains the bitterness." said Daveth. "Why is it chewy?" Alistair shrugged.

Kate choked down as much as she could, and then called Meat over. "Anyone object to the dog getting the rest. No one answered, and she dumped the contents of the pot onto the ground. Meat took one sniff and then turned away. Kate tried to hold in her laughter, but she burst out.

"Oh god, it's horrible. It's the worst thing I have ever tasted." she said.

"I was hoping someone would say something" Daveth said, laughing.

"Even I thought it was bad, and I'll eat anything" said Jory "I thought maybe it was a test for the Joining, so soldiered through." Kate laughed until tears came.

Alistair stood, and looked at them all. "Well, I thought it was GOOD.: he said imperiously, and began stuffing things into his pack.

They walked for what seemed like days through endless forest. Everything looked the same, and Kate wondered if they had been walking in circles.

"Are we lost?" she asked, after passing the the same stump for the fourth time in two hours.

"Perhaps this is just a test."answered Alistair.

"We're lost. Great." said Daveth.

"Give me the compass, Alistair. I'll get us to where we need to go." said Daveth. "I have a very good sense of direction."

"Good. I don't want it, anyhow. I'll just hang around in back, sensing darkspawn."

"Here, you can carry some of my stuff, too." said Daveth, dumping some of his things into Alistair's pack.

"Hey now, I'm busy sensing darkspawn, I can't be a pack mule, too." protested Alistair.

"Sure you can." said Daveth. "Now which way did Duncan say the ruin was?"

Soon enough they approached the top of a hill.

"Darkspawn ahead. Quite a few of them." said Alistair.

"Quite a few? What do you mean by quite a few?"

"Oh, uh, probably seven or eight. Daveth, you should use your bow, too. Jory, do you have any ranged weapon with you?"

"No."

"Well, then the three of us will have to try to take down as many as we can, and then wait until they come into range to switch our weapons." instructed Alistair.

They crept up the hill and peered over. Kate and Daveth strung their bows. Alistair put his foot through the crossbow stirrup and drew it back. They aimed, and when Alistair dropped his hand, they fired.

Kate strung arrows as fast as she could. She could feel the rush of panic and glee that now signaled battle. She watched with satisfaction as her arrows hit their target.

"Good shooting, Kate!" Shouted Daveth. Kate grinned.

Alistair looked over at her and saw that ghoulish smile on her face again. He shuddered, then aimed and fired.

Two, then three Hurlocks fell. They were the easier targets. The genlocks had some bramble cover, which made hitting them difficult. Kate suddenly felt a chill rush through her, and found she could not move.

"Oh Maker. Kill the emissary!" Shouted Alistair.

"The what?" screamed Jory.

"That funny looking one with the magic staff. He's casting on us." said Alistair, pointing.

Kate shivered, and licked the ice crystals from her lips. Unsheathing her daggers, she took off at a run toward the emissary.

"Cover me, Meat!" She shouted, running in a helter-skelter line. Easily clearing a patch of briars, she tackled the darkspawn. He started muttering something, and she struck him across the face, then drove her dagger into his chest.

"What in Andraste's name?! Get down there, now!" shouted Alistair. Meat was holding off the other three Genlocks, but it wouldn't be long before they would get past him.

Daveth ran faster than the others, pulling his sword. He watched as a darkspawn broke off from the dog and raised his ax behind Kate. Daveth shut his eyes. He did not want to see another of his friends die.

"KATE! KATE" Screamed Jory.

Kate turned to see the axe raised and threw herself to the side. Meat turned, and howled. The darkspawn took a few steps back, afraid of the fierce war dog. Kate took the opportunity to drive her dagger deep into its back.

"DIE!" She screamed. The blood stung her arms and face. She saw her father, lying in a pool of his own blood. She kicked at the genlock on her other side, pulled her dagger out, and sliced at him.

She saw movement behind her, and saw the glint of Alistair's armor. He knocked the genlock to the ground, and drove his sword into its chest.

Daveth and Meat took down another genlock, Meat ripping into its throat while Daveth sliced at its stomach. Blood and guts spilled to the ground in a steaming pile. The stench was unbelievable, and Kate threw up. Gasping, she fell to her knees and retched.

Jory looked behind him and frowned. He finished off the darkspawn at his feet and came over to her. "Are you okay? You didn't swallow blood, did you?"

"No. I'll be alright. I'm just not used to..this. I'd never even killed anything but rats until last week."said Kate.

"I would never have known. You are a frenzy out there, kid."

"Frenzy is right." sneered Alistair, crouching down to yell"What in Andraste's name were you doing?" in her face. Grabbing her shoulders, he shook her. "You nearly got yourself killed. You are lucky you have that dog, or you would not be alive. Do not do that ever again. It is suicidal to rush headlong into fighting like that. Not only did you endanger yourself, but you forced everyone else to come to your aid. We could have continued from a distance for a while, and no one would be hurt now."

Kate hung her head.

"Shut up, Alistair. You know that everyone wouldn't be hurt? You're the leader here, YOU were the one who told us to kill the emissary. You didn't tell us to hold position." shouted Daveth, pushing Alistair away from Kate. "She's a kid who lost her whole fucking family and got thrust into this. One day she was a noble's daughter who'd only sparred with her brother, now she's killing darkspawn? I'd say she's allowed some mistakes." Daveth spat, and Kate saw the hardened criminal he was.

Alistair glared at Daveth. "Don't forget who's in charge here. You are seriously out of line. Somebody collect the blood." said Alistair, fishing a vial out of his pack.

Daveth clenched his fists and turned sharply. He grabbed the vial from Alistair, and plunged his dagger into the darkspawn's throat.

They walked in tense silence a little bit longer until they saw the marble ruins of something up ahead. "I think that is the base. Duncan described it like this." said Alistair.

"Well, let's get the fucking scrolls and get out of here." muttered Daveth. "I hope to never see these woods again."

Kate walked behind them, looking around. The base must have been huge, judging by the size of the pillars still standing. She wondered why it had been allowed to fall into ruin. The rage had subsided from her mind, and she was deeply ashamed. Alistair must hate her now, and the other two must think her mad. She could never allow such a lack of control. She was the daughter of a Teryn, and one of the lessons her mother had drilled into her was to never lose control, to radiate calm even if her insides were a tempest.

"Look, I see a chest up there. I hope it's the one Duncan was talking about." said Jory, pointing.

"The area is clear of darkspawn." said Alistair.

They walked ahead. Alistair bent, and reached into the box.

"Nothing there."

A wind picked up around Kate. She looked up to see a woman only a couple of feet from her. She scrambled back.

"Are you a vulture, I wonder? Scavengers, picking the bones of something long cleaned?" the strange woman asked.

Alistair let out a rather unmanly shriek. "Who are you? You're trespassing on Grey Warden property"

"Trespassing? How can I trespass somewhere I know better than anyone. Oh no, you are the trespasser here. You there, woman. Women do not cower like little boys. What are you doing here?" asked the woman.

"My name is Katherine Cousland. We are here on Grey Warden business, looking for some scrolls that had been left here." said Kate.

"Such politeness, and way out here. I like you. My name is Morrigan. What you are looking for is no longer here." said the woman.

"You stole it! You better give it back! It belongs to the Grey Wardens." said Alistair.

"She's a witch, she is. Don't look at her. She'll put us in the pot, she will." quavered Daveth.

"Am I the only man here? Where are the scrolls? We'd like them back, if you please." said Kate, looking at Morrigan.

Morrigan threw her dark head back and laughed, strange yellow eyes flashing. "I'll have to take you to my mother, for she's the one with the scrolls."

They followed Morrigan through the forest. Daveth kept whispering about her being a legendary Witch of the Wilds, and Alistair added that she was probably an "apostate," a mage outside the control of the Chantry. The two bonded over their suspicion of Morrigan, and seemed to forget their earlier spat.

In an hour or so, they came to a small hut. Outside the hut sat a wizened old woman, poking the fire.

"Morrigan, you brought guests. How delightful. Ha-ha." the woman cackled.

"Mother, these four claim to be Grey Wardens. They believe you have something they want. The scrolls from the woods-"

"You stole them! You are some kind of sneaky witch-thief!" blustered Alistair.

"Foolish boy. I kept them safe. Their protective seals wore off long ago."

"You-uh. Thank you." said Alistair.

"Can we have them back?" asked Kate.

"Certainly. Morrigan, tend to your guests." the witch cackled. Kate wondered if she was entirely sane. Maybe she was losing her mind with age?

"Mind your own business, girl!" said the witch, looking at Kate. Kate flushed.

"Oookay, we'll be off then." said Alistair.

"I'll lead you out of the forest. There is certainly a shorter route than the very long one you took." said Morrigan.

"You've been following us? You must move quietly." said Kate admiringly.

"Something like that." said Morrigan.

Upon their return to camp, Alistair found Duncan. "We need to talk about the recruits." he said.

"Oh? They are all still alive, yes, and you found the treaties. Excellent."

"They're alive, but just barely. Katherine is crazy, you know that? She ran headlong into a group of darkspawn, then spent the rest of our walk retching." said Alistair.

"I hardly think you are the judge of what is good and prudent. Do you remember your first darkspawn? I remember you dropping your shield and barely keeping your sword in your fist. I remember the whiteness of your face after the battle, and the nightmares you had later that night. I recruited her for a reason. She is strong, she is fast, and like the rest of us, she has lived through terrible things." said Duncan chidingly.

Alistair's face burned with shame. What was wrong with him? Why did yell at her like he did? She was barely nineteen years old, had lost her family, and had not grieved for them. It made sense for her to lose it on the battlefield like she had. Once again, Alistair saw how unfit of a leader he was. He had gotten them lost, he had bullied a member of his group, and he had failed to prevent them from being hurt.

"You did a good job, finding the treaties and getting the vials. You have returned much more quickly than I thought. That is good, so we can have the Joining earlier." said Duncan, patting Alistair's back. "I heard about what happened, already. Daveth told me immediately. People make mistakes, Alistair. Do not think on it."

Kate made her way to the Grey Warden camp. There stood a large group of men, laughing and pushing one another. Daveth was in the middle of them, standing on a stump, doing an impression of Duncan after he had tried to rob him. Duncan was in the back of the men, laughing along. Kate felt intensely alone. She would never fit in as Daveth had immediately. She was crazy, and made too many mistakes. She would let them down.

Meat let out a happy bark, and Daveth looked up. "KATE" he shouted, and nimbly jumped down. . Kate smelled alcohol. "Are you drunk?" she asked.

"Drunk? No, I had a few, but I'm hardly drunk. Gentlemen, meet Kate. She's the one you've all been speculating about. Pretty, too, right? I would have expected a female Grey Warden to be some cow-faced bitch, but this one is sweet as a flower. Flower. I have a flower for you, pretty lady."

Kate flushed. "He's drunk. My name is Kate, and I'm pleased to meet you all."

Daveth dug under his armor, and pulled out a crushed purple flower. "This here's a deathflower, called so because it can make poison. Beautiful and deadly, just like you. You just crush it up and shake it around in some alcohol and then you got some poison. Wonnerful." he slurred.

"Daveth, I hardly think this is the place or time for this. We have the Joining tomorrow night, and we need to concentrate on that."

"Exactly. We might die. I just wanted to tell you that I think you're great, for some snooty noble lady. You smell bad, though. You should bathe, so we can--"

"DAVETH. You need to return to your tent. This is very inappropriate, and you're drunk. That old line, 'I might die tomorrow' has been tried on me in the past, and it hasn't worked." said Kate, steadying the wavering man.

"Rats. Where is my tent?" asked Daveth.

Kate led a stumbling Daveth back to his tent and helped him remove his boots. She unbuckled the top of his armor, and it fell, exposing him to the waist. Gods, he was beautiful. The men she had seen in her life had been noblemen, with soft white bellies. Daveth was long, tanned, lean, and bore the knife scars of the vicious gang battles fought over turf in Denerim.

"What are you staring at?"

"Uh-"

"Blearuk" Daveth vomited on her boots. Kate scrunched her face when the smell hit her. She helped Daveth stretch out on his bedroll, and covered him. She grabbed a bucket, got some water, and cleaned up the vomit as best she could.

Wiping her hands, Kate stepped from the tent. She scuffed her boots, hoping to shake off some vomit, and started to walk. Ouch. She ran into the breastplate of Jory, who was standing outside.

"Hello Jory. I was just helping drunken Daveth into bed." said Kate.

"Oh you were, were you? I'm not that dumb. My wife is pregnant, you know. I know how these things go." said Jory, a mischeivous smile on his face.

"No, it's not that way at all." insisted Kate.

"I saw that he gave you a flower. That's what ladies like, innit?" asked Jory.

"Not this lady. I'm a warrior, remember." said Kate.

"Doesn't mean you're not a lady." said Jory.

"Oh blast it. Nothing happened. It might have, but he puked on my boots and passed out. Are you happy?" asked Kate.

Jory gave her a smug smile. Kate smiled evilly. "You're the one who has to sleep in there with him."

Jory's face fell. Kate grinned wider. "Maybe you'll think next time before you encourage him to drink to build up his courage." she said, and skipped away.

Kate spent time that night by the fire. She had a tent to herself, as her tent mate was out carousing with the rest of the Wardens. It was lonely, the first time she had slept alone since the death of her parents. She had been comforted, knowing that Duncan or Daveth or even Alistair were nearby. She tossed and turned, with nightmares about her mother and Morrigan.

The next day Kate spent sparring with other Wardens. She was nowhere near as good as the least of them, but they encouraged her and didn't laugh at her too much.

Evening came much too quickly. Kate's stomach had been in an uproar all day. She bit her nails until her fingers bled, and then began chewing her lips nervously.

Alistair came to collect her. "Alright, time to get moving. Come on, Duncan and the others are waiting," he said curtly.

Kate followed him, silent. Every time she tried to talk, he looked away from her. Did he know something she didn't? Was he still angry about what had happened against the darkspawn?

They came to a large, still area on a hill. There, Kate could see fires burning. What was the Joining? Would she survive?

Duncan greeted her. "Now the Joining must begin."

Alistair said some words, which blurred for Kate. She was sure she would throw up. Luckily, she hadn't eaten that day.

"Daveth, drink of the Taint." Duncan held out a goblet with darkspawn blood. Daveth took it, and drank the contents. He choked and fell to his knees.

"Daveth!" shouted Kate. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and saw Alistair's stricken face.

Daveth collapsed to the floor.

"I am sorry Daveth. You joined our brothers before the rest of us." said Duncan.

"Ser Jory, you are the next to be Joined."

"No, nobody told me about this part. I have a wife and a child. I won't do it. This isn't glorious." said Ser Jory, backing against a pillar.

"Ser Jory. There is no turning back." said Duncan, advancing with the goblet. Jory drew his blade, and before it was completely out of its sheath, Duncan had run him through with his sword.

"Ser Jory, I am sorry."

"NO!" screamed Kate. "NO, Jory, Duncan, you bastard, you killed him!" Alistair's arms tightened around her.

"Katherine Cousland, it is time for your Joining" said Duncan, holding the goblet out to her. Kate grabbed it, and drank, hoping for death.

Her vision swam, and she saw a nightmarish vision of a dragon. The dragon was whispering something, then everything went black.

"Is she going to be alright? She is, isn't she Duncan?" Kate heard Alistair's voice.

She was alive? She had lived through the Joining?

"Welcome to the Grey Wardens, Katherine." Duncan said. Kate closed her eyes. Alive.

Later that night, a few Grey Wardens visited Kate's tent. "Are you alright? Welcome to the Grey Wardens. Congratulations on surviving the Joining." they said.

"I'm not anything special. I didn't deserve to survive."

"It's not about deserving anything. Grey Wardens come from everywhere, to fight the Blight and the darkspawn." said blonde elven man.

Kate shook her head. "I just need to think about it for a while, okay?" They nodded, and left quietly.

Kate reached into her armor for the flower Daveth had given her. It was no longer there. She reached further down, but it was not there. She clenched her fists. Nothing. He was gone, and she could not even hold on to the flower he had given her. Jory, the caring knight, was also gone. Dead. She was the least of them, and she had survived. She buried her face into her blanket, and allowed herself to cry. Cry for her family, for Ser Gilmore, and for the two who had not made it. Sobs tore through her, and she cried.

Soon, she pulled herself together. She was not going to cry like some stupid little girl. She had survived. This was the last time she would allow herself any tears. She had to be someone who deserved her life.

She wiped her face, and patted Meat, who was curled up next to her.

She left her tent and found Alistair sitting outside of it. "Do you want to talk about it? Only one person died during my Joining, but it was...terrible." Alistair shuddered.

"No, I'll be fine." said Kate. "Duncan. Do you know where he is?"

"He's over by the King's camp. He's discussing tomorrow's battles."

"I'll find him, then." Kate said. She walked over to the King's camp.

"Is Duncan around?" she asked a guard.

"The Grey Warden? He's over by the fire, waiting for the King to finish with Loghain."

"Perfect. Thank you." said Kate. "Duncan. I wanted to apologize for my behavior over the last couple of days, both at the Joining and before. It was not fitting of a Grey Warden to act in such a manner. I hope you can forgive me."

"Apology accepted, Katherine. You have faced a lot, and we have more to face tomorrow. You did yourself and your family proud surviving the Joining. I had a feeling that you would." Duncan said.

Kate bowed, and left for her tent. Alistair was still outside.

"Something I can help you with?" asked Kate.

"No, I just wanted to be away from the rest of them for a while. I also wanted to say I'm sorry for the way I acted the other day." said Alistair, still not looking at her.
"You were right to put me in my place. I was out of line." said Kate firmly.

"No, I acted in a bullying way. I was scared, and that made me say stupid things. You made some mistakes, but you're new, and that is expected. If anyone had yelled at me like that after my first battle, I would have slunk off never to return." said Alistair.

"Thank you, Alistair. I still think you were right, however. I could have killed everyone. I must never show weakness like that again." said Kate.

"That's not what I meant, anyway-" said Alistair, but Kate was already inside her tent. Alistair sighed, and followed her. Kate had already begun removing her armor, and her feet were bare. They were bloody and blistered.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I thought I made it clear we were done speaking. Now you follow me into my tent?" said Kate. "Isn't it obvious with my feet? I'm a prissy noble. I've never walked anywhere in my life. Walking as far and as hard as we did ripped my feet to shreds."

"I'm sorry. Here, drink one of these." said Alistair, holding out a vial.

"No. Then they'll never toughen up. They're fine, Alistair, they just need a little time. They're not that ugly, are they?" asked Kate, stretching her toes.

"They look like someone ran them through a grinder." he said, wincing.

"Thanks. Why is it you are here?" asked Kate.

"I came to give you something, and to tell you that since you are now a Grey Warden, you can consider us all your brothers." said Alistair.

"I just got rid of one over-protective brother; I don't relish having thirty or forty more." said Kate.

"Well you've got me. Us. Here, I forgot to give you this earlier. It is something all Grey Wardens receive after their Joining, but I had to work up my courage to talk to you." said Alistair.

"Why did you need courage?" asked Kate.

"Because you're crazy and scary, obviously. No, because I was an ass, and I didn't want to see the kicked-dog look on your face anymore." Alistair held out something on a chain, glinting in the firelight. Kate took it, and examined it.

"What is this? A necklace?"

"It has the rest of the blood from the Joining. To remember those who didn't make it. Most of us wear us until the day we Join for good." Alistair fished his necklace from beneath his armor and showed her.

"I also have this. I found it near where-where Daveth died. It's a little crushed. I heard he made quite a scene last night giving it to you." Alistair held out the bedraggled deathflower.

"You found it? Thank you, Alistair. He said I was like this flower..It's true I guess. I do kill everything I touch." said Kate wryly. She began ripping the flower to shreds.

"What are you doing, don't you want to keep it?" asked Alistair.

"Oh, I do. Watch." Kate stuffed the pieces in a vial, then dug through her pack. "Thank you, helpful brothers," she said, pulling out a bottle of liquor some Warden had hidden there. Pouring a few drops in, she shook the mixture vigorously, then added more pieces, then shook again until the mixture was black. "Now it is deadly poison. Daveth taught me to make it, last night." she said, watching it swirl.

"That's...morbid, turning a pretty flower into a poison." said Alistair, looking at her strangely.

"Oh, I didn't change it. The poison was always there. It just needed to be brought out." said Kate.

Kate slipped the poison into a pocket on her pack, and then stood up.

"Now, out with you." she said, pushing Alistair.

"I can't stay for a slumber party?" asked Alistair.

"Sure you can, just let me take off my armor" said Kate, reaching up and unbuckling her right shoulder.

"Now you're just trying to make me uncomfortable. Bluffer." said Alistair.

"As you wish," said Kate, unbuckling her left shoulder.

"Okay, Okay, I fold. See you in the morning." said Alistair, scrambling out of the tent.

The next night found Kate at a strategy meeting with the King, Loghain, Alistair, and Duncan. She wondered why she had been asked, and soon found that King Cailan had plans for her and Alistair. They were to light the beacon to signal the charge of Loghain's troops. Kate was relieved to be out of battle, as she was still worried about losing control again. Alistair was not pleased.

"I have to go play errand boy, do I? Why can't someone else do it. Someone who is not uniquely made to fight darkspawn, like a mage or somebody." complained Alistair to Duncan.

"It is important, and I know I can trust you. The other Grey Wardens have already received their assignments." said Duncan

"That is not why and you know it. I don't like this, Duncan." said Alistair.

"Katherine is coming with you. You must light the beacon in time." said Duncan severely.

"We understand. We'll watch for your signal." said Alistair. "Duncan, Maker watch over you."
"Maker watch over us all." replied Duncan.

Fighting was already underway as they left the meeting. Kate picked up her pack from her tent and slung it over her shoulder.

"We'll be back, you know." said Alistair.

"You don't know that." said Kate. "Fate taught me a hard lesson, and I learned it well."

"Well aren't you the little teacher's pet. Let's get going." said Alistair.

They picked their way across the bridge to the tower. They kept up a light jog, dodging stray arrows. As they approached the tower, they noticed Darkspawn swarming everywhere.

"They weren't supposed to be here yet." said Alistair worriedly.

"The tower is lost!" shouted a mage outside the tower. "You have no hope of lighting the beacon."

"What do you mean, lost?" asked Alistair.

"Darkspawn overtook it an hour ago. It's filled." the mage said.

"We must light the beacon or die trying, Alistair. You-" Kate grabbed the arm of the mage. "You must help us do this. Do you know healing spells?"

The mage nodded.

"What about offensive spells?"

Another nod.

"Good, you provide healing and cover. Come with us." said Kate. Alistair looked wonderingly at her. Where had this bold leader come from?

The mage followed them apprehensively. Kate saw two hurlocks guarding the side door to the tower. She took her bow off her back and strung it. Her first arrow sunk into the left hurlock's throat and he fell silently. The second looked, and started to make a sound, but was silenced by a bolt from the mage's staff. Kate finished the job and slit his throat. She opened the door and peered in. The bottom floor was mostly clear, but the stairs were on the other side of the tower.

"Follow me, and be quiet." Kate said, and they crept to the other side.

The second and third floors required more sneaking. They kept to the walls and escaped unnoticed.

Climbing the stairs to the fourth floor, Kate felt a hot feeling in her chest. She gasped.

"You feel that? That is one huge darkspawn. It has sensed us, no doubt. We must fight it to get to the brazier." said Alistair.

"Shit." said Kate.

Alistair crooked an eyebrow. "Such language from a gentle lady. I'm shocked."

"My mother is rolling in her new grave, no doubt." said Kate.

Alistair let out a surprised bark of a laugh. "You're sick, you know? I like you."

"Can we stop with the gallows humor? It's not helping my nerves. I need to concentrate." said the mage.

"Mages. Always grumpy." said Alistair. "Well, farewell sweet world, I have loved thee. What a shame to die a virgin." he said, and flung open the door.

Meat began to growl, deep in his chest. Kate looked up, and saw the single most terrifying scene of her life. A huge darkspawn, easily twenty feet tall, stood in the middle of the room. Its back was to them, and it seemed to be holding something. It turned, and Kate saw the dead soldier in its claws. The darkspawn contemplated them, took one last bite, then flung the corpse against the wall. It flung its head back and roared.

"Andraste's Mercy, an ogre" whimpered Alistair.

Meat charged the beast and began biting at its ankles. It kicked out, and Meat flew across the room. The sound of her beloved dog's yelp spurred Kate into action. She strung her bow and let an arrow fly, aiming for the beast's eyes.

"Try to blind it!" She shouted to the mage. "Freeze it, burn it, whatever you can do!"

She aimed carefully again, and let more arrows fly. The ogre howled in rage and charged her. She easily dove between its legs and fired again. She saw the mage muttering in the corner, and saw his spell catch the ogre's attention. She pulled a dagger from her belt and slashed at its ankles. It clumsily tried to grab her. She stabbed into its legs again. She felt a slight pulse through her dagger, and looked up. The ogre was convulsing from the massive lightning bolt coming from the mage's staff. The ogre roared, and grabbed at her again. Kate danced out of the way. For once, she felt in control. This clumsy darkspawn hadn't a hope of catching her!

Then ogre slammed its massive fists into the ground next to her. Kate was knocked onto her back. She rolled out of the way of its searching claws and jumped to her feet. Alistair took the opportunity to slash the ogre with his sword. It whipped around, and Alistair, not nearly as nimble as Kate, was caught in its claws.

The ogre lifted him up and looked at him, squeezing him. Alistair choked and struggled.

"Heal him!" Kate screamed to the mage.

"I am, but I can only keep this up a little longer."shouted the mage.

Alistair's head lolled to the side, and Kate saw that he was unconscious or dead. Rage filled her. Not another one dead, she thought. She reached into her pack and broke the vial of poison over her blade, then rubbed her blades together.

"Daveth help me." she prayed, and ran head on at the Ogre. She jumped onto its knee and drove her daggers into its chest. It fell back, and she pulled herself up farther, stabbing it again and again. It dropped Alistair, and she heard him crash to the ground. She stabbed the ogre in the throat, and in the eyes. It clawed uselessly at its chest, and collapsed to its knees. Kate shoved her dagger into its eye socket until the handle clanked against its eye socked. Kate twisted the dagger, and the ogre shuddered, then went still.

Kate heard the door crack, and sensed the group of darkspawn on the other side, pushing their way through.

"Fire, now in the brazier!" she shouted to the mage. The mage frowned. "I can't, I have nothing left."

"Then find something!" Kate shouted desperately. The mage nodded, and cut his arm. His staff seemed to absorb the blood, and fire shot from the end of it. Kate saw the brazier blaze, and the motionless Alistair, blood running from the corner of his mouth. She heard the door crash open, and everything went white.

A cool hand on her forehead. "Mama? You wouldn't believe the bad dream I had." murmured Kate.

"I'm not your mother." a dry voice answered. Kate opened her eyes, and winced from the light.

"Where am I? Who are you?" asked Kate.

"You are in the Wilds, and very lucky to be alive. I am Morrigan." replied the voice.

Kate focused her eyes, and there sat Morrigan, the young witch from the wilds. "Morrigan? How did I get here? I was sure I was done for."

"You should ask my mother that, and see to your fellow Grey Warden. He is a blubbering mess, shifting between homicidal and distraught. He has been pounding on this door since he awoke hours ago. Luckily for your sleep, he is a fool who knows nothing of silencing spells."said Morrigan.

"Alistair? Is it Alistair out there?" asked Kate. "He's dead. I saw him crushed by an ogre."

"His armor took a lot of the damage, and mother's magic healed the rest. You were much more in danger of dying than he." said Morrigan.

Kate rolled out of bed and strode for the door. Morrigan delicately cleared her throat. "You may want to attire yourself in something. It is autumn outside."

Kate looked down and blushed. "I'm sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about. I've seen Mother naked, and your form is much more pleasing." said Morrigan, smirking. "Your things are in the chest in the corner."

Kate finished fastening her armor, and reached into her pack. How it had stayed on her back, she had no idea, but she was grateful.

"That amulet around your neck? I have never seen something that looked like that." said Morrigan.

Kate reached up and touched it, then opened the door, only to have a man crash into her.

"You're alive! You're alive! I was so worried!" shouted Alistair, who picked her up and swung her around. She yelped. "Easy there, I'm still very sore. You're certainly very happy to see me. What about the other Grey Wardens? Where are they? Why aren't we with them?" asked Kate, looking up at Alistair.

His face fell, and twisted into an expression of grief and anger. "They're dead."

"All of them? What about Duncan? We lit the beacon, Alistair. Someone must have survived."

"The man who was supposed to shore up the charge quit the field." came Morrigans voice from behind.

"What? Loghain left the field? What about the King?" asked Kate.

"Your Grey Wardens lost the battle. The King is dead." responded Morrigan.

"No, that can't be. How are we still alive?" asked Kate.

"Morrigan's mother," said Alistair. "She saved us. Evidently turned into a giant bird and plucked us off the tower."

"Why us? Why not the King, or Duncan?" asked Kate.

"You were the ones she could reach." said Morrigan.

"Do not talk about me as if I weren't here, girl." said the witch standing next to the fire.

"You must be very powerful if you flew with us here." said Kate.

"I know a little magic, 'tis true." replied the old witch.

"I am glad you saved us. What else did you see? Surely some must still live. There were thousands of soldiers out there." said Kate firmly.

"I saw the field for myself, and it is a gruesome sight. Gore and blood everywhere, and the few survivors have been dragged off by the darkspawn underground." said Morrigan.

Alistair choked then, and Kate turned to see his face buried in his arms.

"More crying? I thought you were over that?" asked Morrigan.

Kate turned to Morrigan. "Have a little sympathy. I'm grateful for you helping us and all, but don't be such a miserable bitch, eh?"

Morrigan began to respond, but saw the stony look on Kate's face and shut her mouth.

"So what do we do now? The Grey Wardens are gone, save the two of us, but a Blight is upon us. Ferelden must be saved." said Kate to Alistair. He shrugged, and didn't lift his head. Kate looked to the old witch. "What do you think we should do? You must have saved us for a reason." she said.

"That is for you to decide. I saved you because Grey Wardens are the only ones who can stop the Blight."

"But all the Grey Wardens are dead, and we need an army." said Kate hopelessly.

"What about those documents from the woods?" asked Morrigan.

"The treaties! Those were treaties promising aid from the elves, dwarves, and the Circle!" said Kate excitedly.

"Arl Eamon will help us, too. He was not at Ostagar. He would not stand for Loghain's treachery surely." said Alistair, his voice thick.

"Elves, dwarves, this Arl Eamon...that sounds like an army to me, girl," said the old witch.

"It certainly does. If we can gather enough support, perhaps this Blight can be stopped." said Kate.

"I never asked your name." she said to Morrigan's mother.

"Names are pretty things, but without power. The folk around here call me Flemeth." said the woman.

"Flemeth? THE Flemeth, legendary eater-of-babies and Witch of the Wilds?" asked Alistair.

"There have been many Flemeths." said Flemeth.

"Mother, the soup is boiling. Shall we have two guests for dinner or none?" asked Morrigan.

"None, and you are leaving with them, girl." said Flemeth.

"Oh, so sad you could not- what?" Morrigan gasped.

"You heard what I said. Now collect your things and get going." said Flemeth.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Alistair. "This might only add to our problems. Out of the wilds, Morrigan is an apostate. We don't want templars on our trail."

"Do not forget it was an apostate who saved you, boy. If us hedge witches are not good enough for you, perhaps I should have left you on that tower with the rest of your kith." sneered Flemeth.

"No, no, now let's not get angry here. Morrigan is free to come along if she wishes. I'm sure we could use a helping hand." said Kate.

"No one consults me? Mother, this is not how I wanted this. I am not ready." said Morrigan.

"I am giving you that which I value above all else. I trust you will do your best to keep her safe." said Flemeth, ignoring Morrigan's protests.

"You have my word." said Kate.

"Well, I guess that is settled, then. Let me go pack up my things. Do not forget the stew boiling, Mother. I would not like to come back to a burned down hut." sighed Morrigan.

"Far more likely that you will come back to this hut and the whole Wilds swallowed by the Blight!" said Flemeth.

"What I meant was-" said Morrigan.

"I know what you meant." said Flemeth, smiling slightly. "Now leave, before I change my mind."

Kate shouldered her pack and winced. Her shoulder had a raw wound, and her arm was blistered and burned.

"You have your pack?" asked Alistair incredulously.

"Sure do. Remember what I said about Fate? Turns out she is one bitchy whore." said Kate, relishing the feel of the words roll off her tongue.

"That sounds completely unnatural coming out of your mouth, you know. It's not even the right phrase." said Alistair.

"I'm the one with the pack here." said Kate.

"I can carry it, if you like. I saw you wincing there. Morrigan said you were badly hurt-"

"I don't need anyone to carry anything for me. I am fine." snapped Kate. The last thing she needed was Alistair getting more of a savior complex.

"Fine. I was only trying to be nice." said Alistair.

"Well save it. Maybe Morrigan will let you carry her pack, if you need to be a pack mule." said Kate.

"I wouldn't let him touch my things with a ten foot pole." said Morrigan, suddenly next to Kate.

Kate jumped a little. "You have to stop doing that. It's creepy." she said.

Morrigan grinned a nasty grin. "We have to leave now, if we are to avoid the Horde on our way out the Wilds. We must be quick, and quiet. Are you well enough to walk quickly?" she asked Kate.

"I hope so." said Kate.

"If not, I have something that might help, but it does not come without a cost." said Morrigan.

Kate did not want to know what the price of Morrigan's help was, and ignored her protesting body for hours as they walked. Morrigan walked very quickly, and seemed to avoid being touched by the slightest briar, whereas Kate felt as if every plant reached out to grab her. Her natural energy had deserted her, and she stumbled frequently. She did her best to keep up, but eventually fell behind.

"Here. You must drink this." Morrigan said, holding out a vial after Kate had finally given up and sat panting on a fallen log.

"What is the cost?" asked Kate.

"Just drink it, we will deal with it later." said Morrigan.

Kate drank the strange green liquid and felt lightning course through her veins. She felt so energetic, she could flip! She jumped to her feet.

"What did you give her?" asked Alistair.

"Something necessary." replied Morrigan.

Kate barely heard them. The forest was alive! She felt warm all over. She began circling the other two. "Come on, let's get going. Isn't it beautiful. I love everything!" she said, holding her arms out and dancing in a circle.

Morrigan gripped her arm and whispered in her ear, "We're going to play a game. You need to be very quiet and fast if you want to win this game. Would you like to play?"

Kate nodded excitedly. Morrigan walked quickly out ahead, and Kate kept up with her. This was fun! She was so quiet!

Alistair kept giving her worried looks, but she ignored him. He was too sad, and the world was so pretty! The birds! What songs they sang!

Day wound down, but Kate was still full of energy. Morrigan led them to a cave, where they stopped for the night. "We are almost through. Only a few more miles, and we will be clear." she said. "It is more dangerous to travel at night in the Wilds, though. Things far more dangerous than Darkspawn hunt here at night. We are able to have a fire, though. I can block the smoke and flame from view."

Alistair looked at Morrigan. "Now will you tell me what you did to her? The way she is acting is...unnatural," he said, looking pointedly at Kate, who was happily following an insect around the cave floor.

"I gave her a potion, which lends her artificial energy for the time being, and allows her to ignore her wounds, both physical and other. It will wear off in an hour or two, and then she will be sick. She will be very sick tomorrow, and probably unable to walk very far. The pain she avoided today will be double tomorrow. We have only a few miles to go tomorrow, and we should be able to help her the rest of the way. I had hoped to avoid this, but it was impossible. We needed to move quickly today." said Morrigan.

"You gave her Amentia, didn't you?" accused Alistair. "That's illegal. Possession of it is restricted to Templars."

"You're a templar, aren't you? Did you have a better solution? Perhaps you would have carried her those long miles? I doubt you could have, as you can barely walk under your great sorrow." sneered Morrigan.

"Amentia will make her more than a little sick. She will throw up until she bleeds. She will see horrible visions, she will-" said Alistair viciously

"I am aware of its effects. It was necessary." said Morrigan, turning away from him. "You may take first watch. I am exhausted."

Alistair fumed, and watched Kate skip across the room. For now, she was happy. He wished for the same. He felt as if he would never smile again. All his brothers. Duncan. Dead. Oh Andraste, Duncan was dead. His eyes filled, but he thought of the witch's words and clenched his fists. If only he had been next to Duncan on the battlefield. He could have shielded him from the killing blow. Now Alistair was the senior Grey Warden, and he was lost. He couldn't lead these people. He stared into the fire for a long time, until he heard a retching sound in the corner.

"No, Papa. You're dead. This isn't real." whimpered Kate, clutching her head. Alistair walked over to her and touched her shoulder. Kate lunged at him and her fist connected with his jaw. Alistair stumbled back.

"Katherine! It's me, Alistair."

"I don't know anyone by that name. Are you one of Howe's men? I'll kill you!" screamed Kate, a familiar wild look in her eyes.

Alistair caught her, and pinned her arms to her sides. "Shh, it's not real." he said. She struggled, but years of Templar training and heavy armor had made Alistair a very strong man. He held her tightly until she stopped struggling. She was limp in his arms. Alistair loosened his grip a little, and she wrenched free her arm. The heel of her hand drove straight up into his nose, and it made a sickening crunch.

"Ahh!" He shouted, and grabbed her arm. "You broke my nose!"

"Can't you handle her?" asked Morrigan. "It figures. It is a requirement to be a Templar, stupidity."

"Shh, Katie." said Morrigan, stroking Kate's wild face.

"Mama? You're alive?" asked Kate.

"No, she's dead. It's not real-" Alistair started.

"I am, dearest. I am here. Can you close your eyes for me? You are sick, you need to rest." said Morrigan soothingly.

"You can't do that! It's wrong! Her mother is dead!" whispered Alistair furiously.

"And holding her so tightly her bones break is better? She is going to have visions, and I am trying to direct them toward something that does not inspire violence. She is very dangerous. Mother witnessed her kill an ogre with a dagger. I do not wish to share its fate." hissed Morrigan.

"She killed that ogre? I thought Flemeth had. She must have lit the brazier, too." said Alistair wonderingly.

Morrigan stroked Kate's head. "Ugh, her hair is disgusting. Do Grey Wardens never bathe, or is just the two of you?" she sneered.

"Our stink is part of our protection, actually." asnswered Alistair. Morrigan gave him a withering look. "Leave us."

Alistair retreated and laid out the blanket Flemeth gave him. He intended to watch Morrigan, and make sure she did not hurt Kate. Perhaps this was a plan to lure them into the Wilds, and then kill them..

Alistair woke to the sound of screeching.

"My hair! You vomited into my hair, you foul creature!" shrieked Morrigan. Alistair looked over to see the usually pristine Morrigan bedraggled and dripping with brown vomit. Kate stood a little distance away, bracing herself against the wall.

"I'm sorry, Morrigan. You shouldn't have fallen asleep next to me. I'm sick."

"You fell asleep during watch! We could have been killed!" shouted Alistair.

"I was not asleep. I was meditating." said Morrigan. Kate laughed, then groaned and vomited again.

"We need to leave immediately. There is a stream near here where we can clean up. Ugh" said Morrigan.

Alistair wished he could forever keep the image of a furious, vomitous Morrigan in his head. He was sorry for Kate's discomfort, but really, this moment was priceless. He whistled as he packed up Kate's pack.

"Can you walk?" he asked Kate.

"Yes, I can walk. I'm sick, not dead." she snapped. "I am never drinking whatever it is Morrigan gave me again, however. No matter how tired I am."

"You better not. It is highly addictive, and totally illegal." said Alistair, shouldering their packs. Kate did not protest.

They stumbled out into the morning.

Midday, Alistair saw smoke in the distance. "What is that up ahead?" he asked.

"That is Lothering, a small village. We can get some supplies there, and plan our strategy." said Morrigan.

They reached the village at dusk. Crossing the bridge, they were accosted by some bandits demanding a "bridge toll." Kate snarled at them and insisted they give her all the money they had stolen from the refugees pouring into the village. The leader laughed, but when Kate unsheathed her dagger, he capitulated.

Three sovereigns richer, they made their way into the village. A templar stood at the gates. "If you are refugees, you will find no safe haven here. Best to keep moving" he said.

"We are not refugees. We just want to buy supplies and then move on, Ser." Alistair answered.

They made their way to the tavern. The barkeep was charging an outrageous price for a room, so they camped in a nearby field. Kate was happy to lay her aching head down at last. For the first time in weeks, she was somewhat clean, thanks to Morrigan's insistence she wash herself in the stream. The cold water had helped soothe the burn on her arm, too. Kate could not remember anything from the previous day or night after drinking Morrigan's potion. She wondered what had happened. Alistair's nose was broken, and Morrigan bore some deep scratches in her cheek. Neither would talk about their injuries. Kate sighed, and wished for the warmth of Meat next to her. Her poor, valiant dog. Yet another cursed by Kate's existence. Kate thought of Duncan, then, and the rest of the Grey Wardens she would never meet. She was secretly glad she had never met them, just to have them die.

Kate had fitful dreams of growling dogs and her mother washing her face roughly. She woke up. Someone WAS washing her face. "Aagh," she cried, flailing her arms into something warm and furry.

A familiar whine greeted her. "Meat? Meat? No, you're dead. I must be going crazy." said Kate, shaking her head.

Someone was shouting over Meat's growling.

"You stupid dog! I am not trying to hurt her!" Kate looked over to see Meat snarling at Morrigan.

"Where did this mongrel come from? He has nearly bitten my arm off." said Morrigan, pointing her staff at the dog.

"It's my dog, Meat. He must not have died at Ostagar, and found us." said Kate, hugging the warhound.

Alistair was still snoring a few feet away. "How can he sleep through this?" asked Kate. Morrigan glared at the sleeping form. "His skull is so thick noise cannot penetrate it."

"Why do you hate him so much?" asked Kate.

"He is a templar. His kind's mission in life is to hunt and kill people like me. Mages outside the Circle." said Morrigan.

"Oh. I guess that makes sense." agreed Kate.

"And it's just insulting to find that what my mother has threatened me with my whole life is so ...stupid." huffed Morrigan.

Kate laughed, then covered her mouth at Morrigan's icy glare.

Kate walked over to Alistair, and nudged him with her foot. "Wake up." He grumbled and turned over.

"Wake up, you lout!" she said, nudging him harder. He moaned again.

Morrigan muttered a few words, and ice crystals spread across his skin. He gasped and sat up.

"Time to awaken." said Kate. Alistair shivered. "Did it frost over? I'm really cold." He said.

"You frosted over. Morrigan was sick of waiting for you to wake up." said Kate.

"Bitch." Alistair muttered under his breath.

They walked into the village. Kate headed to the tavern to trade for supplies. Supplies were scarce, and expensive. Soon her three sovereigns were gone, and they had only two threadbare tents, a smelly bedroll, and a couple bandages to show for it. Kate sighed.

"Alistair, where are we going next?" she asked.

"Don't ask me. I don't know." he asnswered.

"But you're the leader here. You should know."said Kate.

"Me? Lead? Oh, no, no. Bad things happen when I lead." said Alistair.

"What do you think we should do? Maybe we should go see this Arl Eamon?" Kate asked.

"It is up to you. I trust your judgement." he said quietly.

"I will follow you. Alistair, however, I do not trust to lead us to lunch, much less your epic quest to end the Blight." said Morrigan. "I suggest we find this man, this Loghain, and we kill him. Once he's dead, it shouldn't be too hard to gather support."

"Oh because, he won't see that coming." Alistair sneered. "He certainly doesn't have the advantage of age, and experience, and a whole damn army."

"If you want to sit and list why things can't be done, we shall be here until the Blight swallows us all." said Morrigan angrily.

"Will you two shut it for a minute?" demanded Kate impatiently.

Kate felt as if she had been punched. First, Alistair called her crazy and dangerous. Now, he wanted her to lead? She knew nothing about leading She couldn't keep herself out of trouble, much less two more people. She felt emboldened by Morrigan's comment, however. She doubted Morrigan trusted her, but it still warmed her to think she had the witch's support. She felt angry at Alistair for dumping his responsibility on her, but knew there was nothing to be done about it. She had to be strong and carry on.

"I think we should about contacting Arl Eaamon first. Alistair knows him, and my father knew him, as well. He is our most likely avenue for support." said Kate firmly.

"We are out of food and money, however." said Alistair. "I saw they are actually operating a Chanter's board here. Perhaps we can do something easy a pick up some more supplies."

They walked to the board, and spent the rest of the day clearing the village of bandits, collecting medicinal herbs, and whatever else the chanter asked of them.

The end of the day greeted them with two more sovereigns. The bandits had presented a welcome diversion from thinking about the fate of the Grey Wardens, the Blight, or anything serious. Kate had enjoyed ambushing them, killing some of them, and running the rest off. Battle allowed her mind to clear, and she was getting better at controlling the urge to run headlong into battle.

Kate headed back to the tavern to see about buying some food. The tavern had no food, and no suggestion on where to find any. Kate's stomach grumbled, and she got angry.

"Mind telling me where I can find some, then? I have hungry soldiers to feed, you know!" she said to the barkeep, poking him in the chest.

"Soldiers? Ha! You don't look like any soldier I seen!" he said, laughing in her face.

Kate snarled at him, "That's because we are Grey Wardens!"

The bar went silent at her declaration, and people looked nervously at one another.

"Grey Wardens, eh? Then you can get the hell out!" the keep said, and turned his back to them.

Kate fumed. She thought Grey Wardens were respected in Ferelden, but apparently this hayseed town was even more backward than it seemed.

"Well go fuck yourself, ser!" She shouted, and started to climb over the bar after him when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She swung, intending to throw a punch. She was hungry, tired, and really pissed off. Alistair's face greeted her, and she checked herself.

"We should leave. He has nothing, anyway. Come on," said Alistair. "Meat and Morrigan went into the woods, perhaps they found something?"

They started back toward their camp.

"I hope so. I'm sick of this fucking town." said Kate.

"See, now, you're getting better at this whole 'common' thing. Though, really, you should not address someone as 'ser' after telling them to perform a rude act." laughed Alistair.

"Oh, I'm sure you are the expert on swearing, Chantry-boy." said Kate.

"Better than you, anyhow. I lived with Grey Wardens longer than you, and that group could teach a man a lot about-" started Alistair. "Never mind." he said, and looked away.

"Do you want to talk about Duncan? He was a good man. I didn't know him for very long, and I still felt it when he died." Kate said quietly.

"It's just so unfair, you know? Duncan deserved an honorable death, not one at the hands of a traitor. I should have been there, instead of shirking my duty." said Alistair.

"You weren't shirking your duty. We lit the brazier, didn't we? We did the best we could." said Kate.

"YOU lit the brazier. I just got crushed by an ogre." said Alistair.

"I couldn't have gotten there without you. Besides, you have already saved me several times." said Kate.

"Why are you being so understanding about this? Did you have anyone close to you die?" asked Alistair.

"My whole family, if you remember." said Kate.

"Oh. Oh Andraste, I'm so sorry. Here I am talking about Duncan, when you- I'm such an idiot." said Alistair.

"No, you're not. Remember how you told me it was a testament to my strength and will that I was able to survive my family's massacre? It is the same with us and the Grey Wardens. I-you-have to believe that." said Kate, looking at Alistair. He looked away and sniffed.

"Now pull yourself together before Morrigan rips you a new one." said Kate. Alistair laughed bitterly, and they walked on.

The next morning, Meat had two successful hunts, and they ate roasted rabbit. "I wish we had something else to go with all this rabbit. I like meat, but sometimes you just want something more, you know?" Alistair complained.

Kate remembered the cookies in her pack.

"I have just the thing!" she said, and pulled them from her pack. She handed Morrigan and Alistair each one. Morrigan nibbled one delicately, then spat it on the ground.

"Ugh, these are far too sweet!" she said.

"You're so gracious." said Alistair sarcastically, his mouth full.

"And you are a pig." said Morrigan.

"They're good!" said Alistair to Kate. "Did you make them?" he asked.

"Are you kidding? Nan would never allow me in the kitchen. I would have burned the whole castle down, and she said I was too dirty to cook, anyway." said Kate.

Morrigan looked at her pointedly. Kate ignored her and ate another cookie. She was so hungry! She was sure she looked ridiculous with her mouth so full, but she could not stop herself. Alistair eyed her and laughed. Kate blushed, and chewed the rest of her cookie ashamedly.

"Let's see if anyone in the Chantry will trade us for supplies." said Kate.

Alistair and Morrigan groaned.

"Come on, you heathens. It won't kill you to spend a little time there."

"Oh, but it could." said Morrigan.

"The templars here have their hands full." said Kate. "They are too busy with darkspawn to worry about hedge witches."

On the way, they passed a large cage. Kate looked inside, and there stood a man. A huge man, the largest that she had ever seen. He had dark skin, but pure white hair and piercing blue eyes. She stared, and he stared back.

"What are you doing in that cage?" Kate asked.

"Standing." the man responded with a strange accent.

"You're Quanari, aren't you?" asked Morrigan. Alistair and Kate looked at her.

"Just because I grew up in the Wilds does not mean I was not curious about the world. Though I had the least of opportunities, I made the best of them, unlike you two ingrates." Morrigan said.

"I am." the man said.

"Why are you in there?" asked Kate.

"I put myself here." said the man.

"Why?" asked Kate.

"Atonement." said the man.

"Do you want me to get you out of there?" asked Kate.

"Hold on, now! We don't know why he's in there. He could be a murderer!" said Alistair urgently.

"I am." said the man.

"You are what?" asked Kate.

"A murderer." said the man.

"Who locked you in here?" asked Kate.

"The Revered Mother. She intends for the Darkspawn to feast on my corpse." said the man.

"That's awful! Even a murderer deserves better than that!" said Kate.

"I'm sure she knows best." said Alistair.

"This is the mercy of your Chantry, leaving a repenetant condemned man to be ripped apart by darkspawn?" scoffed Morrigan.

"I'm getting you out of there." said Kate. She attempted to pick the lock on the cage, but her skills were limited by her lack of tools, and the fact that she had only picked the locks on the doors in the castle. This lock was different than those.

"Who has the key to this?" she asked.

"The woman at the church." said the man.

"We'll get you out of there, I promise." said Kate.

"This is really stupid, you know that?" whispered Alistair.

"This isn't your choice. Morrigan agrees with me, anyway. Am I right?" asked Kate.

"Yes." said Morrigan.

Alistair turned to the man in the cage. "Well, don't go anywhere." He then laughed at his own joke. The man glared, and Alistair swallowed nervously.

"He's creepy. I don't want him with us." complained Alistair as they walked to the Chantry.

"In case you haven't noticed, we are a band of creeps. Also, you just don't like anyone who doesn't laugh at your jokes." said Kate.

"I'm not a creep." said Alistair.

"Your humour is often about corpses, or cheese."

"Or corpses and cheese." said Alistair.

"See what I mean?" asked Kate

"Touche." said Alistair.

The Chantry was crowded with people. Most were desperate-looking and ragged. The Blight had driven many people north, hoping to find safe haven in Lothering. The Revered Mother was harried and only agreed to speak with them when one of the templars recognized Alistair from training.

"What do you need, child? I cannot offer you food, or help. I am stretched thin, here." said the priest.

"I am here about the man in the cage." said Kate.

"Oh. Sten. He murdered a whole family at a farm north of here." said the Revered Mother. "What do you need with him?"

"Don't you think it's a little cruel to leave him in that cage like that?" asked Kate.

"I am leaving his fate to the Maker." said the priest.

"You're killing him in an awful way!" accused Kate.

"Do you have a better solution? I cannot let him out. That would not be justice." she said.

"Give him to me." said Kate.

"Why? How do I know he will not kill you, also, and then I will have your blood on my hands." said the Revered Mother.

"Because if he tries anything, we will kill him. He seeks atonement. He can find it, fighting darkspawn with the Grey Wardens." said Kate.

"You are Grey Wardens?" asked the priest, paling.

"Yes, why?" asked Kate.

"Loghain has declared a bounty on the head of any surviving Grey Wardens. He claims the Grey Wardens killed King Cailan. He has also declared himself Regent King" said the Revered Mother.

"WHAT?!" shouted Alistair. People began looking, and two Templars approached. The Revered Mother held up a hand.

"I ask you to keep your voice down. I do not believe the Grey Wardens would do anything to aid the Blight, but I cannot help you. I cannot jeopardize this Chantry, or the people in it. I will give you the man, Sten, and I will not mention who you are to anyone, but I advise you to keep quiet about who you are. There are many who believe Loghain, and still more who would do anything for the kind of money that is promised for your heads." said the Revered Mother quietly. In a louder voice, she announced, "Thank you for your donation, pilgrim!" and held out her hand.

Morrigan huffed and began to protest, but Kate quickly pulled out some silver and put it in the priest's hand.

"Thank you, your Mercy." she said, and turned.

"This is great. Now that traitor Loghain has control of the throne, and is painting US as the traitors. I will kill him." said Alistair through clenched teeth.

"There is nothing we can do now. We need to leave this place, and quickly." said Kate.

She felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, and the world went black.

She woke to the feel of ropes biting in to her arms, binding her to a chair.

"Well, would you look at that. The pretty Warden awakes!" a greasy voice commented. Kate looked up to see a dirty soldier with a nasty smile grinning at her.

"Who are you?" Kate asked.

"We're just Loghain's messengers, come to deliver news of your betrayal of King Cailan. Imagine Loghain's pleasure at discovering two Grey Wardens, alive. The money will be nice, too." said the soldier next to him.

The first messenger, a tall, thin man with two missing front teeth and a grimy face leered at her.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we had a little fun with this one, first." he said, and grabbed Kate's breast.

Kate squirmed and whistled a sharp, high whistle.

"Oh you like it, do you darling? A little weird, but your pretty face makes up for that. And such soft, white skin. I wonder how you ever became a Warden." said the first soldier.

"They probably recruited her to keep her as their little whore. Can't see much other use for a woman in the Grey Wardens. Why they'd pick this one, I don't know. I've seen much better just walking around Denerim. That other bitch that with her, though. Now there's something I'd like to fuck" said the other soldier in a bored voice.

The first man, the dirty, smelly, one, unbuckled Kate's armor. Kate twisted away.

"Do we really have time for this?" the bored one asked.

"If we do, I'll make sure you have plenty of time with the other one" he answered.

"Agreed." said the bored one.

The man began undoing his pants. He leaned over and smelled her neck. Kate snapped at him, trying to bite.

"Ha, ha, little one. Oldest trick in the book, that." he said, leering. He reached over to her and began unbuckling the straps at her waist. Kate closed her eyes and shuddered. The man's filthy fingers reached under, and then up. He shoved his fingers roughly into her, and she winced.

"And a virgin, too. My, my, the Maker shines on me today." the man chuckled. He pulled off his lower armor.

Kate heard a commotion at the other end of the bar. She looked around, and figured she was being held in a store room. She prayed that Meat had been close enough to hear her whistle, and not further out in the woods, hunting.

She needn't have worried. The hound began growling on the other side of the door, slamming his massive body into the door.

"What in Andraste's knickers is that?" asked the leering soldier.

The door began cracking. The other soldier opened the door, and Meat leaped on him. Meat tore into the man's armor, easily shredding the leather. Meat bit into the man's stomach with his massive jaws and shook his head. Blood spattered everywhere. Kate tipped the chair, and felt the back of it crack. She pushed herself against it, and cracked it more. Kate wiggled out of the chair and fished a knife from her boot. The first man had finally drawn his sword and was advancing on Meat. Kate threw the knife, and the man fell back, the knife sticking into his cheek.

"You CUNT" he roared, and began slashing wildly with his sword.

Kate rolled out of the way. Her legs still bound, she squirmed her feet free of her boots. She jumped up, and kicked the man hard in the crotch.

"You want to fuck with me? I'll kill you!" she screamed, and grabbed the back of the man's head. She drove her knee up into his face. His tried to slash at her with his sword, but Meat grabbed his arm. Kate smashed her knee into his face again and again until his body slumped, and she sidestepped, letting it crash to the floor. She jumped on his back and began smashing his head into the floor.

Alistair and Morrigan appeared at the door. Morrigan looked in and saw Kate, barefoot, with armor falling off. Her face and legs were covered in blood, and she was screaming, "Fuck me? Fuck the ground!I'll kill you. KILL YOU!"

"Oh, no." Morrigan said quietly.

Alistair thought Morrigan was talking about Kate going into one of her rages, but then he saw that she was not wearing lower armor, and blood was trickling from between her legs.

He gagged. "Oh, Maker." he whispered.

"Kate, we're here. He's dead, now." Morrigan said.

Kate looked at them, then down. The man no longer had a face. His skull was crushed in. She took a deep, quavering breath.

"Right. Is everyone alright?" she asked.

"We're fine-what did he do to you?" asked Alistair.

"It doesn't matter. It's over, now." said Kate. "Can you turn? I need to put my armor back on." said Kate.

Morrigan walked over to Kate and silently helped her buckle her shoulder straps. Alistair looked at the ground. He felt ill. If only he had seen the men following them. If only they could have arrived a bit earlier. He and Morrigan hadn't even been tied up, just locked in a storeroom. They hadn't even taken their weapons. If they hadn't fought about how to get out... He was so stupid. He clenched his jaw. He could not bear to look at Kate.

"Are there more men out there?" asked Kate.

"These two seemed like underlings. There must be." she said to herself. "Prepare yourself. I don't intend on leaving any of them alive."

Kate rolled over the body of the man Meat had killed and took the belt with his shortswords off him. She buckled it to herself, and strode out the door.

"I'm looking for Loghain's men!" she shouted. Two large men looked up from the bar, and looked over at a man sitting at a table with a large meal.

Kate sneered. "Here to arrest us, I suppose? I killed your other men, and I'll kill you, too."

The man at the table stood up. "And I was enjoying that meal, too. Ah, well, it will be there after I finish with you." he said.

A Chantry sister stepped forward. "Now, maybe you should listen to her account of what happened at Ostagar. There is no need for fighting."

"Get out of my way, sister, or you will die, too." the man growled.

Morrigan began muttering under her breath, and the table the man was sitting at erupted into flames, flinging him into the wall. The man rolled, and jumped to his feet.

The men at the bar turned to look at Morrigan. Kate snuck behind one and stabbed into his back. He moved, and her blow bounced off his shoulderblade. He shoved her back into some tables. She grabbed a chair and swung it at him. He stumbled slightly, then charged, pinning her to the table His hands around her thoat, he began squeezing. Kate dug her thumbs into his eyes. He howled and tightened his grip. Gasping, Kate grabbed the liquor bottle sitting on the table. She smashed it against his head, liquor drenching him. Kate felt his grip slacken, and hot flame singed her arms. Morrigan had seen the liquor, and had lit him. Kate danced back as the man screamed in agony. She saw the flesh burning off him, and she grinned. She looked to Morrigan, who had a similar smile. She felt a sharp pain in her shoulder, and saw a man with a bow aiming from the balcony. She broke off the arrow sticking out of her shoulder and jumped to the top of the bar. She then jumped for the railing and scrambled up. The archer looked surprised and backed away. Kate advanced on him, pulling out her shortsword. She thrust it forward, gutting him. She thought to herself how much gutting a man resembled gutting a rabbit, and heard the voice of the leader behind her. The chantry sister was holding him by the hair, and held a sword to his throat.

"I give! I surrender! Let me free, and I will tell Loghain I never saw you~" he choked.

"You tried to kill us. You will receive no mercy from me." said Kate

"Now, he's given up. Maybe you could send him back with a message? The Maker does not condone killing an unarmed, injured man."

"The Maker is blind" growled Kate.

"I will pray for you." said the Sister.

"Then say a final prayer, Sister, and get the fuck out of my way." Kate snarled, and brandished her sword. The sister backed away and began praying.

She stepped forward, and the man cringed away. Kate laughed, and stabbed him in the throat.

Morrigan witnessed the scene from across the room. She saw Kate mercilessly cut through two men, and slay the weak one begging for mercy. She approved of such a strong leader, one who would never break or compromise.

Alistair also watched Kate slay Loghain's man. He knew he should be appalled at her bloodthirst, but instead he felt...gleeful. Kate deserved justice, and Loghain's men had deserved to die. He met her steady, clear gaze and nodded. She grinned, and the grin warmed him. He had once thought that grin ghoulish, but that was before his brothers and Duncan had been betrayed. He realized he was mirroring her smile, and couldn't muster up the guilt to care about his soul.

Kate rifled through the men's corpses carelessly, ignoring the aghast stares of the bar patrons. She gathered what she could find, emptied their food into her bag, and slung it across her back.

"Now we collect our murderer and we'll be on our way." Kate said.

Kate strode toward the door. The sister who had held a sword to the throat of Loghain's man stood in front of her.

"You are Grey Wardens?" she asked.

"What, you don't believe us? Didn't you see what happens to people who cross us?" cracked Alistair. The sister looked at him, then looked back to Kate.

"Then I am coming with you." she replied.

"I don't have any need for a priest." said Kate.

"I am more than just a sister." the woman said.

"I have never seen a sister wield a sword like that, that is true. But then again, I don't get out much." Kate said drily.

"I can do other things, too. The Maker sent me a vision that I needed to fight the Blight." insisted the redheaded woman.

Kate rolled her eyes.

"Glad the Maker is with you. He seems to have abandoned the rest of us." said Kate.

"So I can come with? Give me half an hour and I can leave.." the redheaded sister said. Kate looked the woman up and down. She was certainly prettier than most Chantry sisters, and she had shown considerable skill with that sword.

"Fine." Kate said.

"What?!" Morrigan protested.

"I know you must think I'm crazy." the sister said quietly.

"I thought we were all full up of crazy." Alistair muttered.

"She's coming along." Kate said firmly. "We'll not reject freely offered assistance. Now, off to the murderer's cage. Meet us there, sister."

"I'm here to release you, if you like. I hear you want atonement. Well, what better way than fighting the Blight?" Kate asked the man.

"Stopping the Blight would be an acceptable atonement." the man said.

Kate unlocked the cage. "I hear your name is Sten." she said to the man.

"You may call me that." said the man.

"Okay, Sten. Let's get this straight. You try any of that murdering business, we will cut you down. You will obey me, or suffer the consequences." said Kate.

"Agreed." said the man.

Morrigan led them back to where she had hidden the camp in the woods. Kate limped most of the way there, sore from the earlier events and her ragged feet. She gingerly touched the arrow still sticking from her shoulder. She knew she would have to pull it out. Drinking a healing potion would just knit the skin tightly around it, making it more painful to remove.

"Alistair, can you help me with something?" she asked.

"What do you need?" he asked.

"Can you pull this out?" Kate asked. Alistair laughed nervously. "Promise not to stab me in the throat?" he asked.

Kate frowned. "I know you might think I went a little overboard back there, but you don't know what they did, Alistair. They took from me something-"

"I know what they did. I was only making a joke. I have to admit, it made me happy to see them die. I'll probably be struck down for thinking that way, but they deserved it." said Alistair firmly. "Now, you'll want to sit down for this."

Kate sat on the ground, closing her eyes tightly.

Alistair touched the arrow, trying to get the best grip.

"Would you just pull it out already?" Kate whined impatiently. Alistair yanked, and Kate screamed.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow. That HURTS!" she screamed, rolling on the ground.

"Don't be such an infant. You've had much worse wounds." said Morrigan from across the fire.

"But that's during battle, when I'm angry, and am thinking of killing my enemies. Now I just want to kill Alistair!" said Kate.

"Hey, we had a deal!" protested Alistair.

Kate gritted her teeth. "Can somebody please hand me a potion or something?" she asked. Alistair handed her one and she pulled the cork out with her teeth, then chugged it.

"Ahhh, that's better." said Kate. She watched the tissue melt together, leaving a pink patch of scar tissue.

"Ooo look, it left a neat scar!" said Alistair. "Like a little star."

"It looks like a cat's anus." said Morrigan.

Kate looked, aghast, at her shoulder. "Does it really? Gross!"

"No, Alistair is right. It looks like a star." piped up Leliana.

Kate found Leliana to be an excellent cook and a good singer. She closed her eyes, warm in front of the fire, and listened to Leliana sing about the tragic betrayal of a young woman by the man she loved. She wondered if she would ever find love. She thought it unlikely, as the thought of men currently sickened her. She thought of the soldier's smelly hot breath on her cheek, and shuddered. She then thought of his corpse, which comforted her. He would never touch her again. Kate wondered what she was becoming; a week ago killing darkspawn had made her vomit. Now, she had killed several men in one afternoon, and she didn't feel the least bit of remorse.

The next morning Kate found the Quanari man, Sten, standing outside her tent.

"Do all humans sleep so long?" he asked. Kate looked around. The sun was not yet risen. No one stirred in the camp.

"What are you talking about? The stars are still out." she said.

"You slept for five hours. Babies do not sleep that long." said Sten.

Kate looked at him. "Don't you have something else to do besides watch us sleep? It's weird."

"Do you have a sword? I will need one if I am to help you fight." said Sten, ignoring Kat'es comment.

"Uh" Kate thought.

"Yes. I have this one that I took off those soldiers." said Kate.

"This will do." said Sten, who frowned at the sword.

Kate wanted to bathe, but the nearby stream was frigidly cold. She wondered how Morrigan stayed so clean. Morrigan certainly did not fit the picture Kate had about "Witches of the Wilds". She was not unkempt, for one, had no warts that Kate could see, and seemed to hate having blood touch her skin. Morrigan's hair was also always very shiny, and Kate had never known her to even break a sweat. Kate frowned. How was it possible that Morrigan never shivered or complained of the cold, yet wore the sparest of clothing, barely covering her breasts? She went over to Morrigan's tent and looked in to see if she was awake. Nobody was in the tent. Kate shook her head. Morrigan moved very quietly.

"Sten, did you see Morrigan leave?" asked Kate.

"The witch? She turned into a wolf and ran down to the river over there." said Sten.

"Well, if you're not going to tell me, then don't. I can find her myself." huffed Kate, and stomped off.

Nearing the river, she heard giggling and saw steam rising. She looked, and saw Morrigan and the sister frolicking in the water. Well, the redhead was frolicking, and Morrigan was scowling, leaning against the river bank with her arms crossed.

"What is going on here?"

"Morrigan is a genius!" said Leiliana excitedly. "Finally, a real bath. It has been so hard to keep Fereldan's stink off my skin without a proper bathtub."

Kate looked at the women. "Is the water warm?"

Leilana looked at her, face flushed with the heat. "Why don't you come down here and try it out." she said.

Kate pulled a boot off and dipped a toe in the water. The water was warm, far warmer than Kate had felt since leaving Castle Cousland. She hurriedly pulled off her woolen undergarments and leaped in, splashing the other two.

Morrigan scowled even deeper. "I was enjoying myself alone. I guess a little privacy is too much to ask?" she protested.

"It is when you can make the water warm!" said Kate. "How did you do this?" s

"I grew up in the Wilds, and wanted to be clean in winter. I figured out a way to heat a section of a stream." said Morrigan.

"You really are a genius." said Kate, and stretched out, floating on her back.

"I do hope this means you will bathe more." said Morrigan.

"Why? Do I stink?" Kate asked, looking at Leliana, who looked away.

"Yes. Often of blood, sweat, and that mongrel of yours." said Morrigan. "It is most unpleasant, and an acceptable price for the loss of my privacy is not having to smell you anymore."

Kate laughed.

Kate returned to camp feeling considerably better. She noticed Alistair was still in his tent.

"The babe yet slumbers." said Sten sarcastically.

Kate snuck into the tent and poked Alistair. He sat straight up.

"What? What is it?" He asked, looking around.

"Time to wake up. Everyone has been up for a while." she said. Alistair looked at her. She looked much better than she had the day before.

"Something's different about you." he said.

"I bathed." said Kate. She leaned forward and sniffed him, then wrinkled her nose. "You should, too, you smell disgusting."

"But it's cold!" complained Alistair.

"Tough it out." said Kate. "Everyone else did."

"Everyone? I guess I don't want to be the only dirty one. Nobody wants to be the stinky kid." said Alistair.

Kate saw him walking away from camp and then began to laugh.

"Where is he going?" asked Leliana.

"To bathe." said Kate.

"But the spell's gone. It will be freezing!" she said.

"Exactly." Kate grinned.

"That's so mean!" said Leliana. Kate laughed again, and looked up to see a slight smug smile on Morrigan's face.

Alistair returned very quickly, lips blue and shivering violently. "Maker's breath that was cold! How did you stand it?" he asked.

"It wasn't that bad." said Kate, struggling to keep a straight face.

"You're crazy. It was freezing." said Alistair, holding his hands out to the fire.

They walked for days, stopping only to eat and rest. Meat kept them well-supplied with rabbit, and even once dragged back a deer. Kate's cookies disappeared mysteriously, and despite extended interrogation, Alistair denied her accusations. Kate threatened him with every nasty death she could think of, and though he paled at some of her ideas, he insisted on his innocence. Kate let out a sigh in exasperation at the fire later that night.

"You could try a different tactic. Alistair doesn't seem like the type who would crack under torture, but he does seem very...innocent." said Leliana.

"What do you mean?" asked Kate.

"In Orlais, torture and pain are very rarely used to extract confessions. More often than not, confessions are obtained by charming them out of the victims." said Leliana.

"Charm? Me? A bronto is more charming than me." scoffed Kate.

"Oh, you know that is not true. You have beautiful hair, when it is combed. You also have quite a pretty face, with such green eyes." said Leliana dreamily.

Kate looked at her sharply. "Huh." she said. Leliana was acting very strangely.

"Let me do something with your hair, then you can try to coax a confession out of Alistair. Once he confesses, think of all the hurting you will be able to do." said Leliana.

Kate frowned. "I don't think I want the cookies back this much. This seems weird."

"But you are right, are you not? You are going to let him steal something from you? Think about how good those would be with your dinner. I bet he ate them all himself." said Leliana.

Kate jumped to her feat. "I bet he did. Those were MINE damnit! Do what you must."

Leliana hummed to herself as she patiently combed the tangles out of Kate's hair. Kate whined and squirmed.

"A strong woman like yourself, crying over tangles in her hair? Shameful." laughed Leliana.

"I wish I could just shave it off." said Kate. "It'd be easier, and better for fighting. My mother would have a fit, though. Well, she would have."

Leliana finished, and Kate refused to let her put any flowers or bows into her hair. "It is fine." she said.

Kate noticed Alistair digging through his pack in the tent he shared with Sten. Sten often disappeared at night. At first Kate had been worried, but the Quanari always returned before morning, so she did not ask him about it.

Kate crept up to Alistair, and touched him on the shoulder. He jumped. "Oh, it's you." he said.

"I was wondering if I could propose a deal." said Kate shyly.

"Sure." said Alistair. Kate was looking at him strangely, and smiling. His stomach turned.

Kate moved closer to him and put her hand on his chest. Alistair swallowed. What was she up to? Kate moved her head, and he caught her scent. Clean and earthy, like the forest after a hard rain.. He closed his eyes.

"If you give me something, maybe I could give you something back?" she asked, and leaned closer.

"Uh-" he stammered. Was he awake? Oh Andraste, he hoped he was awake. He could feel his heart pounding out of his chest. He looked down at her. Had he ever noticed what a full, pink mouth she had?

Suddenly, she pushed him back.

"Where are my fucking cookies?!" she shouted. Alistair shook his head.

"What?! What are you talking about?" he asked.

"My cookies! I told Leliana I have no charm. Her plan was stupid. I'll find them if I have to rip your tent apart!" Kate snarled, and began shaking out his bedroll.

Alistair shook his head. "I don't have them, I swear!" he insisted. "Get out of my tent, crazy!" he said, steering her out.

Kate looked him in the eye. "This isn't over." she said, then turned and marched out.

Alistair watched her leave, then let out a long-held breath. His blood was still rushing, and he was thankful for his armor covering his embarassing reaction to her closeness.. She had no idea what she had nearly gotten herself into. He scoffed at himself. To think, he had actually thought about kissing her?! She was crazy. Pretty, but totally insane.

He smiled, thinking of her marching out. He liked the way her face looked when she was angry. Why did he have a mental image of her angry? It wasn't because she was usually angry. No, she usually had a calm, determined look on her face.. Sometimes she bit her lip when she was thinking about something. His favourite expression, however, was also the rarest: the pure, unguarded smile she had when Leliana sang and Kate thought no one could see her face, or when she was throwing a stick for that dog of hers. Alistair stopped himself. Why did he have a mental catalogue of her facial expressions? He did not want to think about it. He also didn't want to think about her screams during the night. Her Joining was still fresh, and he knew how terrible the nightmares must be. Kate was shaping up to be a very strong leader. She somehow knew exactly how far to push everyone in a day before they broke, and they were making very good time toward Redcliffe.

Kate stomped over to Leliana. "Your idea was stupid. He said even less than he usually does when I ask him, and just stood there with a weird look on his face."

Leliana felt a thrill. So Kate had no idea about the way Alistair's eyes followed her around camp. She must not be watching him at all, then. Maybe Morrigan's suspicions about Kate and women were correct. Leliana started to sing. She had hope that the Warden would yet notice her. Leliana had certainly noticed Kate, as soon as she had burst out through a side door in the tavern. Kate's eyes had been blazing, her arms covered in blood, her hair wild. The way she fought was graceful and brutal. Leliana had known that this woman was the one her vision had been about, the one who could stop the Blight. The Maker must certainly love her, to send one like Kate to her.

Kate frowned at Leliana. "You seem awfully happy despite your plan failing. Why is that?" she asked, her eyes narrowed.

"I am just happy the Maker sent me here." said Leliana, smiling.

"What is wrong with these people?" Kate muttered. "We need to find a new stream to drink from, I think."

The next day, they could see the mountains surrounding Redcliffe. "One or two more days and we'll arrive." announced Alistair.

"Good. I am getting rather tired of dry biscuits and rabbit." said Morrigan.

That night, after they had pitched their tents, Kate sat, looking into the fire. They were nearly to Castle Redcliffe. She only had very vague memories of the place, as she had visited it only once as a child with her father. She remember the giant beard of Arl Eamon, though, and the Orlesian bitch he had recently married. She still remembered the sting of the woman's comment of "Well, Ferelden men like their woman to be rough and uncivilized, I suppose," after Kate had proudly showed to Arl Eamon the new wooden sword her father let her carry. Bryce Cousland had later assured Kate that she was neither rough nor uncivilized, that the woman was just jealous of how pretty Kate was becoming, but Kate had seen through his lie. She knew she would never be delicate or ladylike. She was not an Orlesian lady, soft and weak. She was hard, strong, and tough. If that made her unnattractive to men, then so be it. She laughed bitterly. Her little experiment on Alistair had proven that, hadn't it? A virgin from the Chantry didn't even find her attractive, and she knew from the Templar initiate/goat scandal from a few years ago that their standards were shockingly low.

Kate poked the logs in the fire. She didn't need affection, or sex, or love. She knew what happened to those she loved.

Morrigan sat near the fire and ground elfroot to make more health poultices. It was dull work, and she looked around. She saw Kate muttering to herself and poking the fire. Morrigan wondered if Kate was nervous about entering Redcliffe. Morrigan herself was almost sick with nerves. She had never been in a city before. Lothering was barely two hundred people, and even going there the first time had taken her days to work up her courage. Redcliffe was ten times that size, and was considered small. Morrigan ground the herbs harder. She was not some ignorant hut-dweller. She would not show her naivete to the rest of the group, for they would surely laugh at her. She was fine with the glares she got from Alistair, and sometimes Leliana when she insulted them. Hatred was fine. Mockery was unthinkable.

Alistair shivered as he entered the stream. He was hardly dirty, having bathed only a few days ago, but he needed something to take his mind off Kate and her blazing looks. All day he could feel her glare on him as she walked next to him. He had turned once and met her eyes. She stared at him, not willing to break his glance. He felt his traitorous body respond to thoughts he had about those hot, angry looks and the slightly bared teeth. He thought about those white teeth and that full lower-lip. Alistair shivered again. The freezing stream was not helping in the slightest. He hoped winter would come soon.

Leliana noticed Sten leaving camp every night, and followed him. She was quiet, and he did not notice her. He came to a small clearing in the woods, where he sat down. Looking around, he then reached into the pouch on his belt. He pulled something round out of it and held it up, looking at it lovingly. Leilana crept closer. Sten took a small bite out of whatever it was in his hand, then smiled. Leiliana stifled a giggle. Sten was the cookie-thief! She could barely contain her glee. Of all things she had expected Sten to be doing, sneaking off in the woods, cookie eating was not one of them! She crept away, back to camp. This information would be valuable, indeed. She knew Morrigan was curious about the Quanari. She even suspected Morrigan of being infatuated with him. Morrigan had once slipped when Leiliana was telling her about the men she knew in Orlais, and asked about the Quanari. Leiliana had filed that information away, too.