Author's note: This is not completely canon because how would it be? This is going to be the bigger story I was searching for. R&R. Thank you for reading.

She snapped open her eyes, quickly surveying her surroundings. The stone walls, cobwebs, small space, pitch black, nothing had changed. She let out a shaky breath, the dream had shaken her awake. She dreamt of her transformation, of the pain, and of the sneer the woman she loved gave her, not bothering to wipe to blood off her lips. She shook the images from her mind. You are safe, she isn't here, she chided herself. She pressed on the stone brick two feet to the left and five inches below the ceiling. The wall split, shedding the light of the candles on her. She crept her way down the staircase, the cold of the passageways not felt by the ice-skinned woman. She made her way to the secret entrance of her cove, making sure the coast was clear and slinked out. She had just slid the cabinet back when she heard "Leliana?" The Revered Mother was rounding the bookcase. "Yes, Revered Mother?" Leliana asked as she turned with inhuman speed. "There is a visitor in the town. I thought you would like to know as I know of your curiosity." A visitor in Lothering? Everybody was leaving, not coming unless they were bandits. She figured she would handle them if they were. She nodded, "Thank you. I will see if they are more poor souls seeking refuge." She strapped a dagger to her back if they were malevolent.

The people of Lothering were suffering she did all she could to help them as she wasn't without a soul. She held her hand to shield her eyes from the sun as she walked to the tavern. There was not much of a change to her when it came to the sun, there was no burning or sparkle, all she noticed was that she didn't heal as fast in the sun as she did in the dark, not that most people were able to hurt her. The last time it was in Orlais. The guards knew how to hurt vampires, they had plenty of subjects to test on. She opened the door and figured that the newcomers would come to the tavern as it was in the middle of the village. She noticed the mean looking men in armor. Being as old as she was, she could easily recognize Loghain's crest on the breast.

The door opened and her eyes snapped to it. In came a woman, standing proud, raven hair, tan skin, with hazel eyes, her hair was in a bun and was shaved on the back. She definitely wasn't from here, her features pointed to one of the noble families. Behind her was a man, unremarkable but strong. Also, a dog who stared at her warily and a woman who looked bored.

"Well, look what we have here men. I think we've just been blessed." Said what looked to be, the captain of the men. The groups approached each other as bystanders watched.

"Uh oh, Loghain's men. This can't be good." was said to the raven-haired woman.

"Didn't we spend all morning asking around for a woman of this very description and everyone said they hadn't seen her?" Leliana started towards them at that.

"It seems we were lied to." Leliana figured she should say something to keep bloodshed from coming to pass, the woman already smelled of blood.

"Gentlemen, surely there is no need for trouble. This is no doubt more poor souls seeking refuge." She said in a softer tone.

"They are more than that. Now stay out of our way, sister. You protect these traitors and you'll get the same as them." Her fangs slighted out at that comment.

"If it's a fight you'll want, it's a fight you'll get," said the raven-haired woman with fire in her eyes, hands already on her weapons, one large sword she recognized from the canther at the chanter's board and one electrified dagger. The others snapped into action too. The smell of blood was, thankfully, not too desired as she had her fill the night before. The woman came behind a man, stabbing the blades into his back and twisting as she backed away. The man slamming his shield into the captain's face and the other woman electrifying a man, making him drop to the ground. Leliana fought at a human speed, slashing and dodging, although she would have prefered her bow. When the fight came to an end, the captain sat clutching his his stomach. "Alright! You've won. We surrender."

"Good, they learned their lesson and we can all stop fighting now." she said. She realized that if more blood was spilt, the more likely she was to frenzy.

"You will repeat a message to Loghain." The woman's voice boomed out.

"Wha-what do you want to tell him?" The woman smirked.

"He'll have to do better than this."

"I'll tell him right away! Now, thank you." He walked off with that.

"I apologize for interfering," The woman's eyes snapped to Leliana's. Absorbing details and sizing her up as if she had been taught to do so at a young age."but I couldn't just sit by and not help." The woman stood very still. She suspects. "Who are you?"

"I am Leliana. A sister at the Chantry."

"And where does a sister learn to fight like that?" Her tone had a twinge of wariness.

"I was not always a Sister. Some of us have more colored pasts."

"My name is Elissa and I will be going now." She turned to leave.

"Where are we going?" Elissa turned back at that.

"When had you joined us? I would have surely remembered that." Elissa had her brow cocked. Leliana would have blushed at that if she could've.

"Those men said you were a Grey Warden. You will be battling the darkspawn, yes? Then you will need all the help you can get. That's why I am coming along." Lelina had a hopeful face. Elissa looked her over again, as if searching for answers that were hidden in the crevices of her robes.

"I will need help but why are you so eager to join me?" Leliana needed to think of something quick. She noticed the woman wearing an Andraste necklace. "The Maker told me to." It wasn't bad but was awkward. Elissa's eyebrows quirked again at that. "Can you… elaborate?"

"I-I know that sounds absolutely insane but it's true! I had a dream! A vision!" The man behind Elissa finally spoke up. "More crazy. I thought we were all full up." Elissa smirked. "Fine fine. Come with us. We do need help and I won't turn down an offer." And with that, they headed to the camp.

Elissa

She walked around, checking on her group and trading with Bodahn. Morrigan had made her camp far away from the other's. Sten was cold but in a natural kind of way. Alistair was goofy but had a semblance of seriousness. But Leliana was different. Her father had taught her the ways of the hunter. Not of deer or boar but of vampires. The Couslands were a family of hunters, the most prestigious in Thedas. She knew for sure that Leliana was one. The characteristics were there: abnormally pale skin, aversion to blood and slightly longer canines, to be lengthened when around blood or when the vampire is fearful. She had to be careful if, no, when she confronted her. Knight would gladly stick her canines into Leliana if she thought any harm was coming to her master yet she remained docile. Tonight was not the night, she decided, there is an element around the redhead that she couldn't pick up at the moment that she possibly discover later.

She had lied down to sleep when she heard a whoosh and whisper next to her ear. "I know who you are, little hunter." Elissa was not surprised by the sudden appearance nor that the vampire had knowledge about her, or her family to be precise. You don't get to be that old as a vampire and not know about the hunting families. "Then you should know not to attempt to sneak up on one." Her tone cool, with a tinge of sharpness. She turned and sat up to see Leliana sitting cross-legged in the corner of the tent. "You are different."

"I could say the same of you. You know the taste of a hunter's blood is ambrosia to the senses for you guys yet you haven't attacked." She tried to look closer into the redhead's eyes, always searching for answers.

"I am different in more ways than you believe." Leliana hadn't moved until she moved over to be closer to the hunter. To anyone else, she would've popped out of thin air but her eyes had been trained.

"I've noticed," she said dryly, "you haven't the dark eyes, you have the blue I assume you were born with although they seem to be brighter than normal, you aren't as bad with blood as others and your skin doesn't char in the sun."

"I love telling stories and I want to gain your trust. Let me tell you the tale of myself."

She nodded silently, straightening up. Leliana began her story, "I was a young girl in Orlais when I met a woman, Marjolaine. She was enchanting and seductive, she always got what she wanted. I was her apprentice, of sorts, she taught me everything I know." Why is she telling me all of this? I guess I can get it, we've only just met and I feel… something. "She had chosen me for reasons I had no knowledge of at the time. She trained me and groomed me. I was loyal and did whatever she said. One night, she sent me to get some documents for her. They were sealed." Elissa was deep into the story and asked, "You opened them didn't you?" Leliana gave a dry chuckle and continued. "My curiosity was too strong. They had secrets inside. Marjolaine was selling secrets of the Old Families to the guards. If the Families found out, they would kill Marjolaine. I asked her about them and she said that it was her business, not mine. I was confused and a bit hurt that she didn't tell me before. An hour after, she called me to her room. She told me to follow her. There was a passage in her room I had never seen before, inside held stairs that seemed to go down forever. I was a bit frightened. It had led to a stone chamber. I heard a whisper behind my ear. She told me that this was her last gift. I was about to question what it was when I felt something so… good. Our fangs can secrete many different… poisons. Some paralyze, kill, make the person go into a frenzy, or pleasure." Elissa had known of all but the last. It must have shown on her face as Leliana giggled and winked. "She was sucking the life out of me. She stopped right before I died. She held a silver dagger and cut her hand and let the blood drip into my mouth. Before my world turned black, she whispered again. 'I chose you because your blood is something I've never seen before. Your transformation won't be the same as mine'. Then my world turned into agony." Leliana looked away. Elissa furrowed her brows, she couldn't quite get it. "How was your blood different?" Leliana met her eyes, blue to hazel. Elissa knew it was the truth when Leliana said, "I don't know."

"What about the Old Families? Did they find out?" Leliana looked away again.

"Marjolaine forged it in my handwriting. She made me a vampire so I could withstand the traitor's punishment. They knew of the silver and how it affects us. I spent 2 years in there until I was able to escape. That's when I went to Lothering." Elissa was speechless. She had an urge to hug the woman. "Well, I promise not to betray you if you promise not to kill or bite one of us."

"I promise. Unless you want my bite. They can even be a bit addicting." Elissa blushed.