3 months later

Neria roamed the castle hallways, lighting the torches that lined the walls. Alistair was in counsel and Anora had been abroad for weeks. Dog had wandered off hours ago and left her bored and feeling somewhat useless. "Castle adviser my arse." She mumbled tersely to herself.

Suddenly the ground vibrated as her mabari Dog came bounding down the hall towards her, a gauntlet in his mouth, a castle guard in tow. Wide eyed she braced herself for the inevitable tackle as Dog knocked her to the ground, mauling her happily. He dropped the armor as if presenting her with the finest gift in all of Fereldan. Devon, the young guard she often stopped to bother with random conversation on her daily wanderings, skidded to a stop just before tripping on them. "My lady!"

She was sprawled out, all limbs and robes and smelly dog. The Chasind robes she'd taken to after months in the rough were easier to maneuver in but far more revealing than her Tower robes. She realized this when she laughed and looked up to catch Devon in the act of gawking. She grabbed the hand he offered and helped herself up. Trying to readjust her robe to cover what bits needed covered.

He turned several shades of red and cleared his throat, stuttering out an apology. "My lady, I am sorry. I did not see you there. That hound took my gauntlet. I shouldn't have been running!" The one covered in drool still lying on the floor by her feet. "Maker, if the King saw that, he'd have my head!"

At that Neria burst into a tearful fit of laughter, doubling over at the thought of Alistair having anyone's head. Unless it was full of cheese. "No worries Devon dear, I do it all the time. I won't tell. I promise." She swiped at her eyes, seeing the guard visibly relax at her reassuring words.

He reminded her of someone else, a man from her past. Her Templar, the one with a stutter and an amazing smile. It made her stomach flutter. She quickly shoved away the memories of Cullen, smiling again at Devon. "Now then, I should resume my pointless wandering." She scooped up his armor and held it out."And I am merely a castle adviser, Neria will do fine. I am no lady anyway." She winked, strolling away and leaving one very flustered guard.

"Oh thank you my...er..Miss Neria."

-o-o-o-

"Absolutely not. There is no sodding way I will allow this. And frankly, I would have expected you of all people to understand!" Alistair was shouting. Neria had heard it all the way down the hall. Alistair never shouted. It was infuriating how calm he could be at times. She came to a stop outside his closed office door, easing closer to eavesdrop.

Dog cocked his head questioningly and she pressed a finger to her lips. She felt the rough surface of the door against her cheek as she strained to hear the other voices that had joined Alistair. One was clearly a woman and the other far too familiar. Suddenly her blood ran cold. It was Knight Commander Gregoir. She would know that voice anywhere.

Suddenly it was far too quiet and thoughts of the Tower ran through her mind. She was still a mage, at the end of the day. What if they had come to take her back? How far could she run before one of the Templars hunted her down. She ran her escape scenarios through her head, each one ending worse than the last. Maker she was screwed.

So lost in her own sudden panic was she, Neria never noticed the footsteps in the room or heard the hand on the door until it flew open and she went tumbling into the room and slammed into the iron wall that was Gregoir. A gasp from her left, she looked up to see a rather wry expression on Gregoir's face. His armored hands held her shoulders.

She coughed, glancing to the left to see Wynne, one slender brow arching as the older woman clearly fought to hide a smile."Neria Amell, just the person we wished to see." Gregoir released her and stepped back, allowing her to enter the room fully. Alistair was the only one not smirking. His arms were crossed stiffly against his chest, his jaw firmly set.

"I was..just passing by. Heard voices. Pardon me if I er...did you say you wished to see me?" Stumbling still over her words, wishing to be as far from this room as humanly possible, she tried to offer a sheepish smile. Her gaze shifted, seeking Alistair's cold stare for some reassurance from her dear friend.

Wynne was the one to ease the tension, moving to wrap her arm around the girl. "It is good to see you again dear, you are missed at the Tower. Please, sit down, we have some things to discuss."