Chapter One

Pearl opened her eyes to a dark night sky. The stars twinkled beautifully, drawing her to them like an insect to a flame. She stared into the abyss longingly for an end. She didn't want to be a Grey Warden, she never did. But a part of her begged to stay, if not to end the blight, but for her companions. 'Companions,' She thought to herself, sitting up slowly. She looked around her slowly, taking in her scenery. Her base camp.

Alistair, her fellow Grey Warden, sat by the fire, deep in thought. She wondered what he was thinking about. He stared into the flames as if he were seeing hell itself.

Pearl's eyes switched to the two dwarves at their small caravan over by the woods. She couldn't remember their names for the life of her, but she smiled as they waved. The younger of the two mouthed something incoherent to his father. 'Enchantment?' she concluded he was saying. The boy was a bit slow in the head, but not so much a burden.

Pearl looked a bit north to the dwarves where the gothic, black cloud of a woman stood by her own fire. Loner she was, that of which was Morrigan. Her eyes pierced into the flames as they practically licked her bare, fleshy hands. She was gorgeous, in her own deadly way. As if she were a chrysanthemum laced in poison. She resembled evil on the outside, but Pearl knew the adventurous woman on the inside.

She never minded Morrigan and turned her attention to the large Quinari, Sten. He was a tall, burley Quinari man. He had been rescued by Pearl from Lothering. He'd been accused of killing a whole family, mother, children and babies included. When she asked him, nor did he deny, nor admit. This made her a bit uneasy, but she trusted her judgment. Then again, come to think of it, he never answered her with more than one word.

She decided to stand up and walk over to him, and prod at his conversational skills, once more. She hoped he wouldn't snap and kill her as well.

Alistair watched as Pearl stood up and brushed herself off. She wasn't wearing her armour, like she should have been. She was too confident for such an unstable camp. But he watched as she stretched, her shirt revealing her bare, flat stomach. He hoped she was coming to him. He was so down about Goldana, his long lost sister. She'd not accepted him, as he had planned, and this made him regret even seeing her. He just needed to talk.

However, to his utter dismay, she walked calmly to Sten, the Quinari. This made his heart race. 'must she taunt him?' he thought bitterly, watching him ignore her, as if she was trash. Yet, as always, she tried to make conversation with him.

Alistair didn't like Sten very much. In fact, he quite despised the man. He had done such a mortal sin, and yet Pearl unlocked his cage in Lothering. 'Had she been so gullible? Why did she want him so badly?' These thoughts flew in his head every time she began to strike conversation with Sten. Why did she still bother, when he was disrespectful to such an amazing woman?

Alistair scowled at the two.

"So, how come I never see you sleep?" Pearl asked, tilting her head. She wondered this many times. "You're always standing away from everybody. Why?"

"Because." he snapped, looking beyond her, with the same 'go die' look he gave everyone.

"Because why?" Pearl demanded, standing on her tippy-toes. Even that tall, she only came to about his chest. She envied his intimidation.

"Because. Now go, human." he demanded. Pearl frowned.

"No. Why are you such an ass?" she grumbled, loosing patience. Her hand clasped the low neckline of her top, showing much more cleavage than she should have in those times. She was oblivious, as this was her usual nervous tick.

"B-because," he muttered. Pearl couldn't tell if he was embarrassed about something, or he was getting angrier. His face became red, and she was frightened.

"Well, maybe someone would actually like you if you weren't such a jerk!" she snapped, leaving quickly, fearing for her life.

'Don't go…' Sten mentally pleaded as she walked away, back to her tent. But alas, she was insulted once more, and was done for the night. He regretted being so heartless to her. She was such a caring woman, and he was eternally grateful for her rescue of him in Lothering. But why was she so interested in him? His people had a reputation in Fereldon as heartless, cold blooded killers. And yet, she tried to treat him as if he were human. This utterly confused him, as he was not used to such kindness from a human.

She was right though. Who could ever love him? She'd gone through all the trouble to find his blade. His long lost blade in Fereldon, scavenged by Human, sold to a Dwarf and so patiently retrieved by her. She's been so reckless on traveling across the country and back to aid him in uncover his precious weapon; one of which had led him to a blind rage when misplaced, leading him to slaughter an innocent family. He regretted such a callous act on his behalf, which haunted his dreams to this near-present day.

Pearl was a good woman, as much as he hated to admit it. 'A good woman; nothing more, nothing less' he thought quickly.

Pearl walked over to Morrigan's tent. She stood by the fire, deep in thought. Pearl stood beside her silently. I was best not to interrupt Morrigan's thoughts.

Morrigan turned to her. "What do you wish of me?" she asked impatiently.

"I wanted to ask you a personal question," Pearl mumbled.

"Well, we're in camp. Tis' a good time as any other. What is it?"

Pearl took a deep breath. She looked away at the forest surrounding them. "have you ever been in love?" she asked quietly, regretting such a foolish question, immediately.

"Love? No. Lusted for another? Yes." Morrigan replied, a bit taken back. She'd been expecting another Wilds tale. Not this. "However, this is not the appropriate place for idle chatter. Let us bathe, and I shall tell you." Morrigan began walking into the dark, menacing woods.

Pearl followed, as she felt that a good soak would do her some good. In the distance Alistair stood up and cupped his hands in front of his mouth. "Where are you two going?" he called. Pearl looked back to see everyone staring at the two women, waltzing into the darkness.

"To bathe, care to join?" Pearl replied, sarcastically. She chuckled as he sat back down, nothing to say back, and they left.