A/N: I apologize for the changes, but my computer crapped out and I lost the version I wanted to post.

"I have nothing to say to you." The Warden said her voice hard, even though it broke her heart. She continued to pack even as she heard him enter the room.

"You would leave without saying goodbye?" he asked.

He sounded as if nothing was wrong, pretending that he didn't abandon her to fight the Archdemon alone. It made her so mad, especially since she'd allowed herself to be wooed by this man. She felt the fool.

"Yes, I would." Faith snapped closing her pack, the look she gave him turned his blood to ice "I would prefer it that way. Staying in Amaranthine will be a welcome reprieve from being in such close proximity to you."

She watched his face. Looking for something, any sign of regret. There was none. He just stood there staring at her.

"What do you want from me, Alistair?" she asked, she held her hand up when he opened his mouth to speak "Forgive me, Your Majesty." The venom in her voice dug deep.

"You would do well to watch your tone, Warden-Commander." He snapped.

"Or what?" She asked, calling his bluff "You'll have me arrested? Hung for treason? It would be no worse than abandoning me to fight the Archdemon alone. "

"Abandon? You?" He asked suddenly defensive.

"Yes, you abandoned me. All of us to fight the Archdemon alone. Simply because you could not put aside your feelings and do what was right for Ferelden, for all of Thedas. "She refused to back down from him.

"You…you. Let that monster live, after all he did to us…"

"You mean what he did to you." She cut him off "You never once thought about what would happen to the rest of us when you decided to 'stop' being a Warden. You abandoned every Oath you made when you took your joining because you could not see what was best for the whole and not just you. "She swallowed watching his face "Duncan would have understood my decision and approved. You should have understood it as well. Excuse me Your Highness I have to go."

Shouldering her pack Faith moved past the stunned monarch, she never looked back. Reaching the stables she bound her pack to her horse looking down when she felt Teryn brush against her leg. Dropping her hand she pet his head roughly.

"You ready boy?" She asked. Her answer was an excited bark. She laughed as he jumped in circles waiting for her impatiently. "Alright, I'm going." She told him mounting her mare. Once free of the stables she kicked her into a cancer before the king or anyone else could stop her.

Mhairi stood when she heard hoof beats coming rapidly in the direction of their camp. She stood ready when a large black mare with a white face that looked akin to a skull slowed to a trot before her. She recognized the armor of the Warden-Commander.

"Commander?" Mhairi said sheathing her sword "We weren't expecting you until morning. Forgive me."

"You are forgiven." She said jumping from the saddle "though it should be I that is apologizing to you for tromping into camp unannounced." She said as she removed her helmet. She was pretty for a Warden, not what they expected. Brilliant honey colored eyes and golden hair. Even being plastered to her head and face with sweat she looked stunning.

"One you men come take the Warden-Commander's horse." Mhairi called. Faith released her animal into their care and followed Mhairi back to their fire.

"I am Mhairi, Commander." She introduced herself, "Welcome to our camp Commander."

"Please Mhairi, call me Faith." She asked setting her helm on a stump "Last thing I want right now is more pomp and ceremony. It wearies me. It has been a long day."

"Of course…Faith." Mhairi said unsure if it was okay to address her so casually, "We have a tent ready for you."

"Thank you Mhairi. You are an angel among men." She chuckled.

Mhairi blushed at the unexpected compliment for the Commander. "This way Com…Faith."

Faith followed Mhairi through the camp to a large white tent that was set up under a group of trees. She opened the tent flap for her.

"Here you are. Are you alright?" She asked her.

"What?" Faith asked.

"It's just you look a bit pale." Mhairi commented.

"I am just tired. Been riding all day. I'll be fine after a good night's rest. "She said stepping in "Thank you Mhairi. Good night." Taking the cloth from her she shut the door.

"Good…night."

Faith dropped her pack in the corner of the ten and sat on the cot holding her head. She remained there for some time thinking. Sighing Faith stood to remove her armor and change into sleeping clothes, which consisted of a shirt that she took from a childhood friend years ago and a pair of men's trousers. Teryn jumped up on the cot and lay on top of her, as he always did when she did not feel well. He whined at her belly.

"Yes I know. It complicates things. "She sighed "But I understand Maric's decision more now."

Teryn whined and cocked his head at her.

"Not only does he despise me but it would complicate his marriage." She shook her head "I will never tell him and he will be none the wiser. It will better all around if my child grows never knowing that his father despises his mother. "

Teryn whined but otherwise didn't protest, simply lay down and went to sleep. Faith however remained awake. Her mind was heavy. She missed Nathaniel now more than ever before.

"Maker watch over us in our time of need." She whispered.

She was quiet the remainder of the long trip to Vigil's Keep. Though her color had improved a little she still looked pale and often tired. Later Mhairi learned it was because the Commander was with child, though she knew not or refused to name the father. As they approached the keep the Commander stopped.

"Commander…Faith?" Mhairi asked.

"Something is wrong." Faith said drawing her sword, her horse began to paw at the ground "I know girl I feel them too?" She said patting her neck.

"Feel what?" Mhairi asked.

"Darkspawn."

"Darkspawn? Here?" Mhairi asked.

Before Faith could answer a man came running out of the gates, he was terrified and followed closely by several Darkspawn. Giving a cry Faith spurred her horse into action. They charged the group running past the terrified man and bowling over two of the creatures. Her horse reared and Mhairi thought the Commander would be unhorsed. She was not. The horse instead came stomping down, crushing the creatures into the ground. Faith fought from horseback like any well trained Chevalier, dispatching two Darkspawn before Mhairi got to her first.

"You're here. The Hero of Ferelden! You have to help them!" The man cried.

"What happened?" She asked "Where are the other Wardens?"

"I-I don't know. There was someone behind me, a mage I think. They don't have much time, those things are everywhere."

"Go get help." Faith called, dismounting "Stay out of sight." She told the horse.

"I'll go to Amaranthine." The man cried running down the road.

"I don't understand how the Darkspawn over took the keep, how can they be so organized?" Mhairi asked "This isn't a blight."

"Perhaps the Blight isn't over." Faith said "At any rate we don't have time to talk."

"Right Commander, let's teach these bastards a lesson."

Faith stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the mage throwing fire at the Darkspawn. Though it was more the burning Hurlock and the smell of burning flesh that stopped her than the mage. He wiped his hands off as he turned, he pulled up short seeing them there.

"Errr…I didn't do it." He started "though don't get me wrong I'm not all broken up about their deaths. Biff made the funniest gurgle when he went down. "He finished chuckling.

Faith looked past him. "You killed all these Darkspawn?"

"Yeah…well they helped a little, before they died. Tragic." He said, "You my dear lady may call me Anders. I am a mage and sadly a wanted apostate."

"An apostate? In Vigil's keep?" Mhairi asked.

"You weren't here when we arrived. I surely would have remembered a lovely lady such as yourself." Mhairi only stared at him "well we were stopping for a quick rest before returning to the circle. And now they are all dead." He turned to face the commander "I suppose I could help you kill Darkspawn or you could let me go. "

Faith sighed. "Go then." She said moving past him further into the keep, "I'll tell them you died."

Mhairi followed her watching him until they were out of sight. "Are you sure you want to leave him free?" she asked.

"Apostates are not the concern of Grey Warden's." Faith answered "Do well to remember that. Becoming one of us changes everything. We do what we must to win. Anything."