One.

Celina awoke with a startle; she removed her partners arm slowly and strode to the window. It must have been close to midday, men and women hurried around the courtyard carrying everything from wood and wheat to fresh clothes and bread. Men hammered nails into wood and Dwarves chipped away at granite. The repairs to Vigils Keep were coming along nicely. Today Celina would be leaving the keep and its bad memories forever.

The blight had ended with the death of the Archdemon Urthemiel, but the Darkspawn had not fled back into the deeproads like usual, they had become organised and terrorized the coastal Arling of Amaranthine for weeks, almost completely destroying the City of Amaranthine. Celina along with three more of her fellow Grey Wardens led the defence of the city, choosing to defend the civilians in the city instead of returning to the keep to defend from an approaching army. The keep was besieged for a whole week by the forces of "The Mother", a Darkspawn Broodmother. Many friends had been lost there, including two Grey Wardens and the Seneschal Varel. The Inner walls of the keep had remained intact but the outer walls and keep itself had taken substantial damage and were being repaired thanks to generous donations from the rest of Ferelden, as thanks for sacrificing themselves to save the city. After the defence of the City of Amaranthine Celina had headed to the lair of "The Mother" and slain her, with this the Darkspawn fled back into the deeproads and finally peace reigned.

"Good morning my sweet." Celina turned to face the bed, Leliana was lying on her side propping herself up with her elbow. Celina looked over her lovers' naked form and smiled.

"Bonjour, Mademoiselle." Celina struggled to say in her northern Ferelden accent. Leliana giggled.

"Really, there's no need to learn our language." Celina walked over to the bed. "Most Orlesians speak standard Ferelden out of respect for Andraste." She continued. Celina sat on the bed facing away from Leliana, brow furrowed in thought.

"Do you love me?" Celina asked.

"What? Of course I do, I would do anything for you." A lone tear streaked down Celina's face.

"It's just that...I can only be me around you and...I'm meant to be this big hero to everyone 'The hero of Ferelden, Commander of the Grey.' And..." Celina dropped her head "Thank you for being here for me."

"Oh you big silly" Leliana wrapped her arms around Celina "You know you have friends the country over, we're leaving here for Val Royeaux soon anyway, we can go to a nice spa, relax and unwind...shop for clothes and shoes! Ohhh I love shoes." Celina smiled and looked up at Leliana.

"You'll have to advice me, I don't know too well about those kinds of things."

"Oh I will my love." Leliana brushed some hair aside from Celina's face and they embraced.

***

"Commander." The private snapped to attention.

"Private." The sun beat down into the courtyard; summertime in Amaranthine was so much different from Highever, even though it was only a hundred miles to the East. The summer wind that blows down from Antiva heats up the whole north eastern coast making it almost humid. Men were working everywhere, they all stopped to look up at the Commander of the Grey in her brilliant ancient armour worn by the first Grey Warden to slay an Archdemon and her Dragon Bone sword; Vigilance. Anders the mage and Nathaniel Howe approached her flanked by a whole company of Silver Order. They came to a halt in front of Celina.

"Thought you could get away without saying goodbye did you? Ser Pounce-a-lot is not best pleased." Anders chuckled. Celina smiled and shook his hand.

"Look after yourself Anders, try not to cause too much trouble with the templar's."

"Hah, you know me so well."

"Nathaniel, I'm sure I'll see you again, you should visit Fergus sometime, he might not appreciate it at first but he could use a friend, he's having trouble managing Highever on his own."

"I might just do that, once the repairs are finished here of course, I couldn't leave it all up to Anders after all." Nathaniel nodded towards Anders who made a mocking hurt expression. "We found you a company of very eager men willing to escort you down the Pilgrims Path to Denerim." He stood to the side as if to let Celina inspect the men, she knew exactly who they all were, and how capable they were.

"I appreciate the gesture but I'll be fine with my faithful bard here." Celina beckoned to Leliana, who smiled and bowed. "And I don't want to cause any stir either, I'd rather just get into the city, meet King Alistair and then set off." Nathaniel nodded and signalled the men to stand aside. Celina shrugged and walked through the parting the soldiers made.

"Commander."

"It's been an honour Commander."

"Commander."

"Good luck Commander."

"Hope to see you again Commander."

"Fighting with you has been an honour Commander."

Celina nodded her head in acknowledgement to them all. She turned around to face them.

"The honour has been mine men, live, and fight well." And with that she turned and headed through the gates.