Walking back to camp from a fight near the Brecilian Forest, Mireli was furious. She tried hard to hide it, by staying silent but that proved even more obvious. Both Wynne and Zevran were giving her querying looks and Alistair was trying to joke but they fell flat with no-one to reciprocate.

As they walked past the clearing with the stream next to camp, Alistair grabbed Mireli's hand and led her off the road at a sharp pace. She pulled her hand angrily out of his but followed him anyway.

'Tell me' Alistair said wearily. 'What did I do wrong?'

'You really have no idea, do you? You can be so damn infuriating at times.' Mireli said coldly. She was so annoyed with him that she felt tears of frustration prickling her eyes, which she knew would lose her the argument. Alistair rubbed his face with his hands and she suddenly felt sympathy for him. No! She had to tell him why she was angry or he'd just repeat it.

'I'm not a mind-reader, Mir, you know that. Just tell me.'

She sighed 'You stole my kills, every single time. I'd start fighting something, you'd come in – THWACK with the shield bash. Next thing I'd know the creature would be flat out and I'd be pulling off a deadly strike with nothing there!' Mireli said red cheeked because she was so irritated with him.

Alistair began to laugh, a full belly laugh. The situation seemed mad to him.

Mireli's temper boiled over 'DON'T you laugh at me!' All of a sudden she was eight years old, having Fergus putting his hand on her head while she was trying to hit him with fists, missing every time. She lost her temper then too.

'This isn't bloody well funny, Alistair. I'm supposed to be group leader, which by the way YOU never wanted.' She yelled, as she poked him in the chest. 'Every time you do this, I feel I lose respect with the rest of the group.'

'I never realised it bothered you so much' Alistair replied brusquely. 'Very well, my lady, I'll not flank you again if that's what you wish.' He brushed past her, obviously hurt.

'Alistair...' Her anger had almost gone, vented by their talk.

He turned to look at her indifferently. 'Yes?'

Mireli breathed deeply. 'I still want you to flank me, but please don't overdo the shield bash.' Her voice sounded small. 'Save it for when I get eaten by something.'

He smiled slightly and came to stand in front of her. 'You know why I do this, don't you?'

Mireli shook her head, looking downwards.

'Because', he said wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. 'I love you and for some strange reason I get the most ridiculous urge to protect the woman I love.' He kissed her on the forehead and heard her trying to swallow hard.

She looked at him and noticed her emerald eyes filling with tears.

'Hey, there's no need to cry, it's not that serious.' Alistair wiped a tear away from her cheek

'No, it's not you, it's me.' Mireli wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. 'That was such a sweet thing that you said to me, yet I was such a bitch to you. I'm sorry.'

'You were right; sometimes I do exaggerate the cave man act. I forget your responsibility goes further than mine as group leader. But if it happens again, spit it out, don't keep it bottled up until you blow up with me.'

'I will.' Mireli said. 'When I've stopped crying, can we head back to camp? I'm starving.'

'Typical Warden' He grinned. 'Always thinking about her stomach'.