Note: Anything clearly belonging to Dragon Age is well theirs. Enjoy. :) Also, Mel's story begins with "We're the only family we need"

The tavern was crowded and loud. Something Mel normally enjoyed, after all a crowded and loud tavern held promises of a good time, but this tavern was crowded with frightened refugees and the loud was coming from a group of soldiers who had been harassing people with questions all day and were now taking a break at the bar. She shot them another glare before turning back to the young woman wearing Chantry robes who was sitting with her whom she had come to call friend these past few weeks.

The woman glanced at the soldiers as well before speaking, "So, you've decided to leave."

Mel nodded, "Fen's been catching darkspawn scent closer and closer to town. They're going to attack any day now. I'd prefer to be gone when they do." Mel sips her drink.

The woman nodded in understanding. "You've done a lot of good here. I'll pray the Maker watches over you."

Mel gave the woman a look. "You should come with me, Leliana. Then you'll live long enough to say those prayers."

Leliana smiled, "You doubt I can take care of myself?"

Mel eyed the daggers attached to the woman's belt and returned the smile. "I know you can." Her smile fell and her face showed concern. "But you can't take on an army of darkspawn."

"I've told you why I can't leave yet."

Mel shook her head. "The darkspawn aren't going to wait for your vision to come true." Movement by the entrance caught her eye and she turned. When she saw who had entered, she cursed. "Shit."

"What is it?"

Mel nodded toward the group. "Those two Wardens I mentioned earlier just walked in, along with a few interesting companions."

Leliana turned to look and her eyes widened in surprise. "Is that other woman an apostate?"

Mel took another sip. "Looks like it."

"And that's the Qunari with them. The Revered Mother must've released him to them."

Mel noticed that the soldiers had seen the group as well and had stopped their drinking. The commander slowly approached the newcomers while his men spread themselves out. The man was clearly feeling the liquid courage as he called them out. "Well, this should be entertaining," Mel said, prepared to sit back and enjoy whatever came next.

Leliana had the opposite reaction. "They're going to attack them!" her voice expressed her shock.

Mel noted the weapons the Wardens carried and the strength in the mabari. "I think they'll be able to handle it."

"I have to stop this." Mel turned to Leliana in surprise.

"Wait, what?" Leliana stood up. Mel tensed up and hissed, "Leliana!" But the woman ignored her and moved toward the two confronting groups. Mel cursed but stood to follow.

Leliana spoke up once she neared them. "Gentlemen, surely there is no need for trouble. These are no doubt simply more poor souls seeking refuge." Mel tried to cover her chuckle with a cough, but didn't completely succeed as Leliana shot her a glare and the young male Warden had to fight a smile. The young female Warden lifted a brow at Leliana and Mel before refocusing on the commander.

The commander had missed the exchange between Leliana and Mel but was still annoyed by their presence. Glaring Leliana, he said, "They're more than that. Now stay out of our way, Sister. You protect these traitors, you'll get the same as them." Mel narrowed her eyes at the man's threats.

The female Warden tilted her head, appearing curious. "What makes you believe we're traitors?" Mel found it difficult to believe that the Warden hadn't heard about the story Loghain was spreading and decided that she must've been playing dumb.

Leliana answered, "Teyrn Loghain claims the Grey Wardens betrayed the King." The male Warden's body language showed just how enraged this made him but he remained silent when the female Warden placed a hand on his arm.

The commander had grown impatient and angrily ordered, "Enough talk. Take the Wardens into custody and kill the others." He glares at Leliana and Mel. "And anyone who interferes."

The female Warden sighed as she drew a dagger. "I just wanted a drink." With that she kicked out a leg and sent the commander stumbling back. Soon, everyone had drawn their weapons (except the Qunari, as he didn't have one) but didn't immediately jump into the fight. The Wardens seemed to wait for the soldiers to make the first move and sure enough they did. The two bowmen aimed their weapons and Mel and the mage reacted. The mage frozen one of the men while Mel threw a dagger at the other, which struck the man in the chest, slicing through his weak leather armor. The bowman's arrow went wide, harmlessly striking the tavern wall. When the commander saw one of his men go down and the other stopped by magic, leaving only he and his second-in-command, he dropped his weapon and called a surrender. Apparently, liquid courage can only last so long, Mel thought.

Leliana sheathed her daggers. "Good. They've learned their lesson and without spilling blood." She looked over at Mel as she walked over to the fallen bowman and took back her dagger. Leliana narrowed her eyes at Mel. "Almost, that is."

Mel rolled her eyes. "Next time, I'll just let him shoot an arrow in your back." Their exchange went unnoticed by the others as the male Warden had begun to argue with the commander. The female Warden placed herself between the two and calmed the other Warden down before turning back to the commander, stating that he was to take a message to Loghain.

"W-what do you want to tell him?"

Though she was shorter than the man, the Warden was still able to appear intimidating. "Tell him, we're going to end the Blight and then, we're coming for him." The mage waved a hand, releasing the third soldier from the ice spell. The commander and his men grabbed their fallen comrade and quickly left the tavern. Leliana turned to the female Warden.

"I apologize for interfering, but I couldn't just sit by and not help."

The female Warden nodded. "I appreciate the gesture. Not many people would've done the same." She glanced at Mel when the mabari walked over to her and sniffed a pouch on her belt. The Warden smiled when Mel took out some nug jerky and gave it to the hound.

Leliana smiled. "I'm glad you found it in your heart to offer those men mercy. Let me introduce myself. I am Leliana, one of the lay sisters here in the local chantry. Or was."

The female Warden replied. "My name is Roxana. This is Alistair, Morrigan, Sten, and the handsome one is Fang."

The male Warden spoke up, "I would like to state that Fang isn't the only handsome one in the group."

The mage replied, "I guess you could argue that Sten has a certain appeal."

Alistair glared at Morrigan. "You think you're so funny."

"I was being perfectly serious." Roxana cleared her throat loudly and glared at the two. They shut up and then everyone looked at Mel expectantly. It took a moment before she caught on.

"Oh, sorry. Name's Mel. I'm a hunter."

Leliana smiled at her, "And a friend. She's been a great help to the people here." She turned back to Roxana. "Contrary to what I said to those men, I know you are Grey Wardens. That means you will be battling darkspawn, yes?" Mel shot her a look but remained silent. "After what happened at Ostagar, you'll need all the help you can get. That's why I'm coming along." Mel crossed her arms and leaned against a wooden column.

Roxana was understandably wary of the woman's request. "Fighting a few drunken soldiers is nothing like fighting darkspawn. Why so eager to come with us?"

Mel whispered a warning, "Leliana."

Ignoring her, Leliana answered, "The Maker told me to." Mel cursed and lightly tap the back of her head to the column.

Everyone expressed shock at this answer and Roxana took a small step back. "W-what?"

Leliana wasn't as confident now. "I-I know that sounds absolutely insane and you wouldn't be the first to think that, but it's true! I had a dream… a vision."

Alistair muttered to Roxana, "More crazy? I thought we were all full up?" He did a miserable job at keeping his voice low as Mel heard him. She straightened up, glaring at him, and a dagger appeared in her hand. Fang backed from her, growling, and Alistair held up his hands. "Oh, hey! Not that we can't make more room."

Roxana quickly placed herself between the two and Leliana placed a restraining hand on the hand that held the dagger. Roxana recognized the loyalty in the young woman and approved. "Alistair has a bad habit of putting his foot in his mouth. He meant no harm." Alistair quickly nodded his head.

Morrigan smirked at the nervous Warden. "He's an idiot but harmless." Alistair glared at her again. Mel nodded and put away her dagger.

Leliana took this opportunity to rush into an explanation. "Look at the people here. They are lost in their despair, and the darkness, this chaos will spread. The Maker doesn't want this. What you do, what you are meant to do, it is the Maker's work. Let me help!"

Roxana stared at the Sister for a moment, thinking on her words. Then she smiled. "Well, you're right that we need all the help we can get and it couldn't hurt to have a bit of the Maker's."

Morrigan sighed, disapproving. "Perhaps your skull was cracked worse than Mother thought."

Leliana smiled, "Thank you! I will not let you down."

Roxana turned to Mel, who was smiling at Leliana and relaxing against the column again. "What about you?" the Warden asked.

Mel was startled by the question. "Me?"

"You were also a great deal of help with those men and we could sure use a hunter." She pointed at Alistair. "He refuses to eat anything Fang brings us."

"He's a dog! And he carries everything in his mouth!"

Mel ignores the protesting Warden and tilts her head, thinking. Then she smiles at Roxana and replies, "Yeah, I'll come with. But we'll need to pick up a friend of mine."