Have a serious backlog of stories at the minute. Going to give this one a chance. Let me know what you think :)

"Stay away from me, Shem!"

The human hand removed itself almost instantly. I lay shaking, staring at the...thing...in front of me. It couldn't have been him. He was dead...The Grey Warden had said so. But now he's here...Or was. Alistair's sword was buried in his back. I couldn't breath. Black blood stained the grass. Tainted blood. His blood...and mine. His flesh had rotted, hair gone, eyes white. They stared at me deadly. Bile rose in my throat. I realised I was crying.

"Navarre?"

I was frozen with shock. My head began to go light. Is this what it feels like to panic? I could sense the others behind me. Another hand touched my shoulder, male this time.

"Don't touch me!"

I got to my feet. I can't bear this any longer. As far as my legs would take me, I ran. There was yelling behind me, calling me back but I ignored them. I reached the trees. The leaves and branches cut at my pale skin as I ran from my past. My bare feet sank into the wet mud. The lake was close by. I would sit there. I could see it sparkle in the distance, the stars reflecting off its calm surface. Calm.

I ran to the edge, falling to my knees and looking at my face in the depths, hyperventilating. My eyes were wide, electric blue. Blood was pouring from my lip and forehead. I picked up the water in both hands and splashed my face. I stared at the ripples the water made as it dripped from my hair. Mythal, he was alive all this time!? Why did I listen to Duncan? The Shem's face appeared in my mind. I thought he was trying to help me. A poor little elven girl, suffering from blight sickness. But all he cared about was getting his damn recruit. Never trust a Shem. They're all the same. If he wasn't already dead I'd have killed him myself.

But the Keeper had trusted him. The way she spoke of him was almost with reverence. Forget the Keeper. She abandoned you. They all did. Suddenly I was angry, angry at Duncan, angry at the Keeper...angry at myself. Why didn't I continue the search? I knew he was still alive, I could feel it in my heart. More tears fell from my eyes and landed in the lake. I wiped them away impatiently and clutched the edge of the bank, sinking my nails into the mud. Stop crying, Navarre. You have no right!

His face appeared in my thoughts again...what was left of it any way. The skin was blackened...but the tattoo was unmistakable. We shared it after all. His dead eyes were judgemental as they stared lifelessly back at me. Why had I left him to die? We were supposed to look out for each other. But I had betrayed him...and Duncan had betrayed me. I once thought of the Shem with respect. He had seemed like a good man, for a human. In the end though, all he cared about was battling the Blight. He tricked me, and for all my cunning I had fell for it. I left my closest friend and first love to a terrible fate to save a world which had no love for me or my people.

I turned my head to the sky and screamed in anguish, frustration and sorrow, not caring who heard me. All the gods and goddesses in the world and nobody cared. I had offered the Creators prayer and thanks my whole life and in return I got nothing. My scream echoed throughout the forest disturbing the silence of the night. A few birds vacated nearby trees, annoyed at the interruption. Suddenly a twig broke behind me. With lightening quick reflexes I lifted my bow and swung round on my knees, aiming an arrow at the figure standing a few metres from me. The woman drew her dagger at almost exactly the same time, startled by my hostility.

"Sorry if I scared you" she said. The accent was Orlesian. Leliana. She held up her hand in surrender. I didn't lower my bow but stared at her as she cautiously walked forwards.

"Stay where you are!"

She froze as the string on my bow tightened in warning. Her eyes looked wary as they took in my face. Give me a reason, Shem. I beg you!

"I...I just came to see if you were alright" Leliana said gently.

Her words infuriated me. "Do not pretend you care about me, Shem! I know your kind."

Leliana looked hurt. "I'm not pretending...I'm here for you."

I snorted in derision, my arrow still aimed at her heart. She tried to take another step towards me.

"I said don't move!"

"Navarre...I'm your friend. You can trust me" she said earnestly. Trust? My blood boiled. I pulled the arrow back further, putting more pressure on the bow string until it threatened to snap. My eyes bore into hers.

"You're no friend of mine, Shem!" I spat. "I have no friends...and I can trust no one."

I released my arrow. Leliana swung her dagger faster than I had ever seen her move before and knocked it right of out the air. I paused for a second, shocked by her strength. Our eyes met, both of us surprised at the other. Before she spoke I ran.

"Wait!" she called after me.

I ran past the lake, stopping when hidden in the trees again. I listened for her footsteps. Silence. She wasn't following. I exhaled and sunk down on to the grass. She must have followed me from camp. Why though? I pondered Leliana's actions. The Shem's behaviour was confusing indeed. She had often tried to speak to me on our travels but I had no interest in her company. I had no interest in the company of any of them. Alistair with his stupid jokes and endless sarcasm, the old woman who felt the need to constantly give advice, the wild witch and her snide comments, a drunken dwarf and a giant beast from the north. I simply tolerated them for the good of our quest. And for all of his claims of friendship, how come Zevran was not the one to seek me out? Damn flat ears! Sometimes they are worse than the Shems. Was there no one in this world I could trust? You trusted him, I reminded myself. But he was different. We grew up together, were raised to be hunters together. He had not broken the trust in that relationship, I had. Another tear fell down my face. Suddenly I didn't want to sit there any longer. I picked up my bow and wrapped it over my shoulder, walking back to camp.

Much to my dismay, everyone was wide awake after tonight's events. It would be hard to fall back to sleep after a Darkspawn ambush. Alistair and Wynne sat around the newly lit fire. Zevran and Oghren were drinking. Even Morrigan stood around the main campfire instead of at her own. Sten and Shale stood guard in case of any more surprise attacks. Leliana sat on the ground a short distance away with my Mabari Shadowfang. She was leaning back on her arms and staring up at the stars.

Those around the fire looked up as I passed. Wynne stood and eyed me with sympathetic eyes. If she tries to give me advice I'm going to put an arrow in her eye. I walked past them before they could speak. I sat on my bedroll with my back to them all. Reaching into my backpack I produced a small elven artefact and examined it. It brought back memories of being in the forest with him. We had confiscated it from the Shemlens after chasing and killing them. If we hadn't of found them then we would never have found that damn cave. I wish I could have killed them before they told us of the cave. Then I wouldn't be here alone, with prying human eyes on me... and he wouldn't be dead.

I remembered aiming my arrow at them, seeing the terrified look in the Shem's eyes before I took their lives. Why did I kill them? Because I had to. Because when I looked into their eyes I saw my clan burn for being on their land. If I didn't kill them they would drive us out. A nagging doubt entered my brain. Was I kidding myself? Did I kill those Shems for another reason?

My eyes flicked up and gazed over at Leliana again. She was massaging her wrist and twisting it around as though trying to get rid of a sprain. Suddenly a wave of guilt washed over me. I tried to kill her? I have travelled with the Orlesian woman for over half a year. I no longer have a clan to protect and I knew she wasn't going to hurt me. It was pure rage...and hatred. Not for her but for what she represented: Humans. The Shemlen had killed and enslaved my people purely out of spite...Am I becoming just like them? I shook the thought from my mind, however the guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach did not disappear. I got up and walked over to where Leliana sat.

Shadowfang stood up as I approached and wagged his little tail. Leliana looked around to see what had caught his attention. She sprung to her feet when she saw me, her hand touching the handle of the dagger at her waist, ready to use it if necessary. I paused a few feet from her, feeling no desire to go any closer.

"Do not be alarmed Shem. I don't want to hurt you."

Leliana relaxed slightly and her hand fell from the dagger.

"What do you want Navarre?" she asked sadly. "You made it very clear you don't want my company."

My eyes fell. "I...I came to...to apologise...for before."

I looked up. Leliana stared at me surprised. Why does she look so shocked? Humans apologise to each other right? A moment of stunned silence passed before she answered.

"Why did you try to kill me?" she asked. "Don't you trust me after all this time?"

I shook my head, my jaw tightened. "I don't trust anyone anymore...especially not a Shemlen."

A hurt expression appeared on her face once more. "You know, not all humans are alike. I am sure the same could be said for elves."

"I...I'm beginning to see that" I admitted, staring at her intently. "I am sorry for any pain I may have caused you." I gestured to her wrist with my head. Deflecting my arrow had clearly caused it some discomfort. "I will not trouble you further Shem." I turned and began to walk away.

"Navarre wait!" she called after me. I turned to meet her again. She looked at me as though she understood the mistrust and sorrow in my eyes. "Sit with me."

I looked at her warily as she sat herself back down on the grass. Why would she want to spend time with me? I almost killed her. I walked a few paces towards her and sat on the grass, leaving a few feet between us.

"You can come closer you know" Leliana said. "I won't bite." I stared as her, trying to read her expression. Human behaviour is so confusing. I shifted forwards slightly, though still maintaining a safe distance from her. She smiled slightly, as though trying not to laugh. We sat in silence for several minutes.

"Are you alright?" she asked softly, looking in to my eyes as though they held the answer. I dropped my gaze, uncomfortable with her staring.

"I'm..." I tried to think of a word but none come to me. A lump formed in my throat. Looking back at her I realised that she was still staring at me. I shrugged, unable to think of how to respond.

"He...was a friend of yours?" she asked, referring to the tormented shriek which had attacked me during the ambush. I tilted my head as I pondered her question, my eyes narrow. How does she know of such things? That was not just a wild guess. Noticing my suspicious expression, she continued.

"Alistair told me of him. He was part of your clan wasn't he? His name was T-"

"Don't!" I said loudly. I can't bear to hear his name. My eyes began to water and I looked away swallowing hard. This was not unnoticed by Leliana.

"I'm sorry" she said softly. Slowly she reached out and touched my arm. I flinched away from her.

"Don't touch me Shem!" I said bitterly, as a tear fell down my cheek. Leliana looked at me sympathetically. I wish she wouldn't.

"Why do you call me Shem?" she asked offended.

"For that is what you are" I replied firmly, "An outsider. You do not know me Shem...Do not pretend to."

Leliana looked affronted. "I was not pretending to know you...I was trying to understand you."

I looked back at her, confused. A shemlen trying to understand an elf? "Don't your people just prefer to slaughter us rather than understand us?"

Leliana smirked slightly. "That coming from an elf who tried to kill me not half an hour ago?"

Mythal, I walked into that one. "Do you blame me?" I asked angrily. "The only knowledge I have of your kind is of the countless elves you've killed or enslaved. And you say I can trust you? I do not know much else of your kind to convince me that I can."

Leliana stared at me intently. "You don't have much experience with humans do you?"

I shook my head. It doesn't take a genius to work that out. "Nor do I want to. Any experience I've had usually ends up being bad."

"Well then...why are you here?" she asked.

"To apologise"

"No" Leliana said, suppressing a giggle and shaking her head. "I mean why are you here battling the Blight with humans you don't trust and a human world you don't care for?"

I hesitated. "Because..." I looked into her eyes. "Battling the Blight is...all I've got left in this world." I stood up and turned away, brushing the fresh tear from my cheek. "Goodnight Shem." I said walking away without looking at her.

"Navarre?"

I stopped and turned my head slightly to show I was listening.

"Call me Leliana."

I continued walking, followed by Shadowfang, feeling Leliana's eyes on me as I went. As I wrapped myself up in my bedroll I stole another quick glance at her. She sat staring up at the stars. She seemed to do it quite often. Like myself. Maybe we weren't as different as I had imagined. I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep to avoid any conversation from the others. They had been watching my interaction with Leliana. After several hours they eventually went to bed. When the camp was empty, I opened my eyes and rolled onto my back. It was well past dawn. The sky was a very light blue, the sun beginning to rise behind the clouds. I caught sight of the dying silhouette of the moon above my head. I watched as it faded, along with the happy memories I once had of my clan. I'm on my own now... forever. I stared into the abyss for the rest of the night as the others slept soundly around me.

The first to awake was Alistair. He exited his tent and began to prepare breakfast. I rose out of my bedroll and joined him at the fire. He looked up at me brightly and smiled slightly. I stared back at him straight-faced and placed myself on a log, unable to return the expression.

"Good morning. How did you sleep?" he asked, handing me a plate of bread and cheese.

"I didn't", I replied bluntly, ignoring the food.

He sat the plate on the ground, getting the point. "No I...I don't suppose you did..." he said sadly. He looked up at me and gazed at me intently before speaking. "It...It was a mercy you know. He was suffering."

My eyes found his. He wants desperately for me to understand why he killed him.

"I know" I answered, my voice breaking. A look of relief crossed Alistair's face. He thought I would blame him, I realised. He doesn't know that I'm the one to blame. We stopped talking as the others exited their tents and joined us at the fire. Wynne watched me in silence as she and the others ate, concerned no doubt by my lack of appetite. I cast a glance around the others. The way they averted their eyes made me think they were watching me when I wasn't looking. I felt uncomfortable and got up, walking back to my bedroll to pack my things.

We left for Redcliffe after breakfast to meet with Arl Eamonn and tell him of the success with the Grey Warden treaties: we now have an army to fight the Darkspawn. I led my companions along the path. None of them mentioned the night before. Good...I don't want to relive it. Suddenly something red caught the corner of my eye, reflecting in the morning sun. I turned to my right to see Leliana walking beside me. My eyebrows narrowed in confusion. No one ever walks beside me. I'm not much conversation. She turned to me and threw me a small smile. I turned my gaze forwards, unsure of how to respond.

"I would ask how you were but...That would be silly of me" she said, after walking beside me for a few minutes, realising I wasn't going to speak.

I sighed. "Yet you asked me anyway." I replied irritated, still focusing on the road ahead. I saw her smirk out of the corner of my eye.

"Well...In a way, I suppose I did." She chuckled to herself and stared back at me. "You wouldn't tell me the truth anyway though would you?" she asked. I said nothing. She giggled softly again. I could almost hear her confirm her prediction.

"I understand you better than you think, Navarre."

This got my attention. I turned to her angrily.

"Oh do you, Shem?" I spat. "Other than my name what else do you know about me?"

The smile on Leliana's face faded. "I know there is a certain severity to you. I know deep down though you have a good heart. I know you feel alone and betrayed...And I know you blame yourself for Ta-...for his death."

My mouth fell open slightly as I looked at her questioningly. How does she know such things? The smile appeared back on her face.

"It's your eyes" she said softly, answering my unasked question. "They give you away."

I looked away from her instantly and focused on the road again. She continued to watch me as I processed her response. I kept my face straight, unwilling to involuntarily give her any more information. We walked for several minutes before she spoke again.

"I don't know if I can make you feel better Navarre...but I do know this..." I looked back at her. She stared into my eyes. I suddenly felt naked. A moment passed between us which felt like an eternity. "You don't have to feel alone anymore," she finished.

I stopped walking and froze, my gaze dropping to the gravel below our feet. I don't? Leliana continued walking, leading the others into Redcliffe Village. The others looked back at me, confused at my sudden halt. I hurried up to meet them, still thinking about what she had said.

Arl Eamonn greeted us at Castle Redcliffe. He immediately prepared wagons to take us all safely to Denerim for the landsmeet. I felt myself lull to sleep with the gentle vibration of the wheels driving over the gravel. Suddenly, as I was drifting in and out of sleep, I heard my name being mentioned.

"...just hope Navarre will be alright. That was quite a shock for anyone what happened last night." Alistair whispered.

"She had no idea he was alive?" Wynne asked. "The poor dear, I'm worried about her. She's always so closed off. It makes it hard for anyone to comfort her."

"She didn't sleep at all last night." Alistair replied. "And she had nothing for breakfast either. It's good she's getting some sleep now. She looked terrible this morning."

"I just wish there was something we could do", Wynne said with a sigh. "But she's so distrustful of humans. Even Zevran cannot get her to open up."

"Well...Maybe Leliana can." Alistair said. "You saw them talking earlier. She even walked with her. And what was even more amazing was that Navarre allowed her to."

Wynne considered this. "Well that's something at least. I hate to think of her being so alone."

I fell back to sleep then as the voices swirled around in my head.

Loud noises jarred me from my sleep. A woman was screaming and there was shouting all around. Someone shook me awake roughly.

"Navarre! Darkspawn!", Alistair said urgently. My eyes flung open and I immediately followed him out of the wagon, my bow in hand, ready for action. The wagon in front of ours was surrounded as the others fought to keep the Darkspawn away from Lady Isolde and Conner. We rushed to the scene at once. I grabbed arrows from my quiver and shot them at the oncoming horde one after the other. A few Darkspawn fell to the ground. The fighting broke out all around. The sound of swords smashing against shields broke the quiet of the evening as I ran towards the others, throwing my bow over my shoulder and withdrawing my daggers from their sheaths.

I swung my left blade at the closest Genlock, cutting of its head. A Hurlock lunged at me with its sword then. I dodged and buried my other dagger in its torso the whole way up to the handle until we were face to face. I could smell its putrid breath as it screamed in pain and fell limply on my blade. I screamed back and kicked it off with my foot and continued cutting through the rest, their blood spraying me as I tore them down. I could see the others fighting around me and felt a bolt of lightening pass my face as Morrigan cast a spell at the Darkspawn behind me.

After several minutes there was silence, the last of the horde having been killed. I stood breathing heavily, the muscles in my arms burning from the fight. My companions stood around the wagon, catching their breaths as well, all of us dripping in the black blood. Alistair approached me.

"I think that's the last of them. We should..." As he continued speaking I noticed Leliana over his shoulder. Something is moving behind her in the distance. Without thinking I pushed roughly past Alistair and ran towards her. It seemed to take me an eternity to reach her even though she was only a few feet away. An arrow flew through the air. It was travelling towards her. I dived through the air and knocked her to the ground, landing on top of her. The arrow flew harmlessly over our heads. I felt my hair lift as it blew past, barely missing my head. Instinctively, I grabbed my bow from around my shoulder and reached for an arrow, sending it soaring through the air before it buried itself in the Hurlock's head. It hovered on its feet, stunned by my lightening quick reflexes, and then fell to the ground, dead.

A moment past as everyone stood stunned at what had just happened. I looked down. Leliana stared up at me with wide eyes, surprised by my sudden movement. Everything had unfolded in the blink of an eye. She sat up slightly and looked behind her where the last Darkspawn lay in a bloody heap, then back to me, hypnotised by my eyes. Mythal, I bet they are glowing.

"Sorry" I mumbled, getting up from where I knelt protectively over her. I avoided the others questioning stares and walked back to the wagon with my head down. My eyes turned electric blue when emotions overcame me. I had learned to control it but sometimes when I reacted on instinct they changed colour. The Keeper suspected it was a result of the dormant magic which resided in me. My father had been a mage after all and while he had not passed on the gift to me, his blood ran in my veins.

I reached the wagon and climbed inside. Looking outside, I saw Alistair reach out a hand and pulled Leliana to her feet. Everyone retreated back to the wagons, still in shock at what I had just done.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to encourage conversation, as Alistair and Wynne climbed into the wagon and seated themselves beside me. Why did I save her? Put myself in danger for a human? My head swam with questions I had no answers to. I felt the wagon move again and tried to go back to sleep but it proved more difficult after the combat high. I opened my eyes and stared out of the wagon. We had been on the road for the whole day but it was getting dark. It would take us a few days to reach Denerim. We would need to make camp soon.

"Navarre?"

I reluctantly turned my head. Alistair smiled at me. "That was amazing what you did earlier. I've never seen anyone move so quickly. Leliana owes you her life."

"The Shem owes me nothing." I replied coldly, looking back out of the wagon again. "I don't know why I did it."

"You don't know why? She was going to die. Isn't that reason enough?" he asked amazed.

"You like her don't you, Navarre?" Wynne interrupted.

My temper flared again. "The Shem means nothing to me, Mage. I acted on instinct." And my instinct compels me to save a Shemlen's life? What is happening to me?

"For what ever reason you did it, Navarre, it was done. That must mean something, whether you realise it or not" Wynne continued. Ugh! The elderly Mage is irritating in her predictions. Always ready to give advice but never willing to take it.

"You don't know me Mage. Go throw your predictions elsewhere." I replied bluntly. Wynne sighed in defeat.

"Did you know your eyes glow?" Alistair asked childishly. By the Creators, can I not catch a break from this endless chatter?

"Really Warden? I hadn't noticed." Alistair chuckled.

"Was that sarcasm, Navarre? And there's me thinking you had no sense of humour", he said mockingly

"You noticed Shem? And there's me thinking you had no sense in general." I replied.

"Ouch! Touché" He said chuckling. "What I meant was, why do your eyes glow?"

"For more reasons I care to share with you, Warden."

"Why do you call us all by our titles and not by our names?" he asked. Of all the wagons and I had to pick this one with endless questions.

"I do not care for your names, Warden. Call yourselves what you wish."

"We call you by your name. Is it not right to show the same respect?" he asked.

"I have no respect for Shemlens."

With that response the conversation was killed. I closed my eyes again, feeling the gently shake of the wagon put me to sleep once more.