"Kadan?" Sten asked, coming to stand beside Randi as she stood looking out over the rail of the ship.
She tore her eyes away from the moon's reflection off the surface of the water and turned her attention to her travelling companion. "Yes, Sten?"
"You have been quiet these past few days, quite unlike yourself. Are you alright?"
"Just thinking," she said, sighing heavily.
"About?" he asked, worry worming into his voice.
"Him."
"Him being Alistair, I presume?"
She nodded and turned her face away to stare back out over the water. "I was such an ass to him, never taking his feelings into account, never stopping to think about how my actions might affect him."
"That is your way, is it not? Your shell, so to speak. Your protection, yes?"
"But—" she began.
"That is all," Sten said, interrupting her. "Yours was not an easy life before becoming a Warden, yes?"
She didn't reply, the lump in her throat making it impossible to speak. And she'd be damned if she would let Sten see her cry like a child.
"He knew that. We all did. You did what you did to survive, as did the rest of us. And he, probably more than any other, understood that."
She wiped the unshed tears from her eyes and turned to stare up at the giant beside her, scowling. "Now you're just making up stories, Sten. You should stop as you're not very good at it."
"I speak the truth, Kadan. He talked about you to the rest of us, on more than one occasion. He even helped me understand why you are the way you are. He said no one who hadn't grown up in a world where no matter how hard you tried, you could never be good enough to earn the respect of those around you, would ever be able to understand the life you'd led."
"He said that, truly?" she asked, shocked.
Sten nodded. "Yes."
"I just wish I had been more kind to him. He deserved some kindness and all I gave him was a hard time!"
Sten chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. "I do not think he would have known what to do with a kind and gentle Randi."
"No," replied Randi, a slight smile crossing her face. "I suppose not."
Sten stood with her in silence a moment longer before turning and making his way below deck, pleased to see her humor returning. Randi stayed at the railing, her eyes travelling up to the heavens and the moon shining so brightly in the night sky. A lone tear escaped down her cheek.
I will keep my promise, Alistair. I shall never forget you or what you did for all of Thedas… and for me.