It had been a while since Adrianna had been in a kitchen, but she still knew her way around. Since Alistair was declared King and she Queen, she could use a kitchen for the first time in nearly a year. So she sneaked into the kitchen late at night, and began making something for someone special.

2 ¼ cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 sticks of butter

¾ cup sugar

¾ brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 cups chopped chocolate pieces

Adrianna surveyed her ingredients. She hoped she remembered how to do this, she could still see her mother cooking in the kitchen making one of her rare treats for she and Fergus. Her mother may have been a battle woman and an Arlessa, but she enjoyed cooking.

Adrianna clapped her hands together. "Alright...you slayed the Archdemon...you can make a simple cookie."

:-:-:-:-:-:

Well, it wasn't so simple, and after seventeen different tries and baking all night Adrianna succeeded. Sadly she wasn't the baker she hoped she was. Adrianna dug around the kitchen until she found a small wicker basket. She lined it with a handkerchief, and put the cookies inside, wrapping them inside tightly. Adrianna looked out the window, the sun was just beginning to rise, she had just enough time.

:-:-:-:-:-:

Sten stared up at the large gates of Denerim. He mentioned at dinner last night that he would be returning to Par Vollen, to tell the Arishok what the Blight is. Everyone had said their goodbyes last night or before he left. But he hadn't seen a trace of the warden. She had disappeared after dinner, and everyone had wondered where she had run off too. He would have to admit, he did feel a bit hurt that the warden didn't come to see him off.

Just as Sten began walking towards the gates again, he heard someone calling his name.

"Sten! Sten! STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!" He knew that voice anywhere, the warden. He turned around, his usual emotionless stare watching her as she ran up. She was breathless, dirty, and had bits of what looked like dough in her short cropped auburn hair. She also had a basket in her hand, and he couldn't help but wonder what was contained in it.

"I...I am so glad I caught you...before...before you left." Adrianna said breathlessly, standing up straight. "I...I have something for you..."

Sten raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Kadan?"

"Its...a goodbye present. When you told me you were leaving back to Par Vollen so soon I wanted to make you something...special." She explained, grinning her usual crooked smile.

"There was no need for that Kadan." Sten said, staring down at the female warden. She had nearly turned his views of the world upside down. A woman warrior, that should give the Arishok something to think about!

"I know but I wanted to do something nice for you seeing as you stayed by my side throughout the entire Blight even though you didn't have too." She thrust the basket at him. "Just take it, please?"

Sten shook his head, took the tiny basket and moved the handkerchief aside. "...Cookies?"

"Chocolate chip, my mother used to make them as treats for my brother and I." She grinned to hide the hurt of the memory of her mother.

Sten looked at Adrianna then back to the basket full of fresh baked cookies, still warm. "Thank you...Kadan. Until we meet again..." he bowed his head, turned and walked out of the gates of Denerim.

Adrianna could have swore she saw a sad smile on his lips.