An hour later the wagons came to a stop. Thank The Creators! Those two don't ever stop talking. We exited to find Arl Eamonn walking towards us along with Isolde and Conner. Isolde threw me a curious glare. It was clear she didn't approve of me as an elf, even though I was a Grey Warden. Now that she had seen me in action, saving them from being slaughtered, I had become a source of interest for her. Great.

"We will stop here for the night Grey Wardens and continue our journey in the morning." Eamonn said. I nodded my head to show I understood. Conner, the human child, was smiling up at me, clearly in awe. Damn, another admirer.

"I'll collect wood for the fire." I said, eager to escape.

"I'll come with you."

Leliana was walking towards us, having just exited her carriage. I avoided her gaze and walked towards the forest, hearing her light footsteps behind me as she followed. I knew the others were watching us. They began gathering the tents to pitch them, whispering as we passed. They aren't the only ones who find it strange that this Shem wants to spend time with me. Enveloped in the trees, I took out my dagger and began to cut branches to get firewood. We scavenged in silence for a few minutes. I was bracing myself for what she might ask me. I kept my head down, trying to discourage conversation.

"Why did you do it Navarre?" Leliana asked suddenly.

"Do what?" I asked absentmindedly, bending over to pick up the wood. I still didn't look at her. A hand placed itself on my arm, stopping me.

"You know what I'm talking about."

I hesitated, wanting nothing more than to pull from her grip but was unable to due to the large amount of wood in my arms. "It was instinct, Shem, nothing more." I said coldly. The hand did not move.

"Look at me" she whispered. Please don't make me. I feel like an open book ever time I do. I turned slowly and reluctantly until my eyes found hers. Does the Shem stare at everyone like that? Her blue eyes bore into mine. Once again I felt exposed. "Why?"

"I...I don't know..."

Leliana searched my face for a clue but there was none. I really didn't know why I saved her. It was a completely instinctive reaction. I gestured to her hand on my arm.

"Let go of me."

She slowly moved her hand but instead of retracting it she reached up placed it on my cheek. What is she doing? I flinched as she touched me, screwing up my face in confusion. Her hand was warm as it caressed my cheek.

"Thank you..." she said sincerely, staring into my eyes.

I swallowed hard, frozen in shock at this strange gesture. Unable to stand it any longer I dropped the logs to the ground and began to walk away. That was too close for comfort.

"Navarre..." she called, regretfully. I didn't look back, wanting nothing more than to escape. What just happened between us? When I was out of her view, I felt the side of my face that she had touched. It was cold now. My hand fell away. A part of me wished I had never saved her. It would have saved me all this unwanted attention at the very least. I continued walking, not in the direction of camp but I didn't want to go back yet. Being in the forest brought back a strange sensation of home. I missed the wild nature of the world. Human cities held nothing of interest for me. I looked up at the trees, feeling a sense of release as the leaves blew gently in the wind. Why would you hide away under buildings when the natural world is as beautiful as this? And the humans think I am ignorant.

A while later I returned to camp. Leliana was already back and everyone was seated around the fire. The camp looked up as I passed, all except Leliana. The one thing I did like about her was that she never stared at me just for the sake of it like the others. I think she knows it makes me uncomfortable. For everyone else, I was the source of their curiosity. Some of their stares were cautious, some condescending and others in awe. I glared back at them all. By The Creators what are they all looking at? I seated myself on the vacated spot beside Leliana, feeling uneasy as soon as I sat down.

"Where are your shoes?" The child asked me suddenly.

"Conner!" Lady Isolde scolded, throwing me another angry glare. What did I do?

"But Mother, you said the elves are supposed to wear green shoes!" The boy replied, looking confused. "Navarre doesn't have any shoes."

"The Grey Warden is not like other elves, Conner," Arl Eamonn informed his son. "She is one of the nomadic Dalish. Fearsome warriors they are. Few can stand against them!"

"We are not warriors, Arl!" I interrupted, insulted by his interpretation of us. I'm tired of this damn notion that we are all bandits! The already tense atmosphere around the camp suddenly became even more so. Everyone looked up from their conversations at me. Arl Eamonn hesitated, seemingly embarrassed.

"I...Begging your pardon, Grey Warden. I...I had meant the words as a compliment" he answered, smiling kindly.

"We do not need compliments from humans. Especially not those which are untrue" I replied coldly. Arl Eamonn nodded in acknowledgment. Isolde however got to her feet.

"You dare-!"

"Isolde!" Arl Eamonn said, getting to his feet also and placing a hand on her arm. He shook his head. "The Dalish are entitled to defend themselves against our...misinformed interpretation of them." He smiled at me and nodded, showing he understood my outburst and trying to diffuse the situation. Isolde looked at her husband, then to me. He patted her arm and they re-seated themselves. She stared at me icily across the fire. That's right Shem, take a seat and shut your mouth!

After a moment of awkward silence, the elven servants Lady Isolde brought with her immediately began to prepare supper. Slaves, I thought disgustedly. I glared at Isolde who sat on a log covered with a blanket, afraid to dirty her precious clothes. I bunched up my fists in anger. Leliana beside me noticed my reaction, and placed a hand on my arm as I opened my mouth to speak out. She gave me a look of caution. I shook out of her touch, but said nothing. As if my words would change anything anyway. The Shemlen Lords and Ladies would not take heed of an elf, even if I am a Grey Warden. I continued to glare at Isolde as the servants worked around us. I saw Leliana exhale with relief when she realised I had heeded her warning.

Suddenly a plate of food distracted me. I turned to see who was holding it under my nose and found myself staring into the face of a small elven girl.

"Are you hungry, my lady?" she asked timidly. My jaw dropped as I took in her appearance. She was a little younger than me, with blonde hair and green eyes. Her slender body looked under fed and I could see her ribcage through her clothes. It was the first time I had seen an elven slave up close. I suddenly felt sick.

"Ma serannas" I replied without thinking. She stared at me quizzically, confused at my use of elven language. She mustn't understand. City elves don't speak elven. "Thank you" I said in the common tongue, taking the plate from her. She retreated from me, a look of relief crossing her face. I looked down at my plate and then back at the tiny elf knowing her portion was going to be a lot smaller. She should be eating this, not me. I reluctantly began to eat as the clink of cutlery sounded around me.

A few people started conversation through supper. I ate in silence, ignoring everyone as I usually did. I soon found myself replaying the night before. Blackened and rotted skin, dead eyes, the torturous way he spoke. I closed my eyes, reliving every blow as he struck me. I didn't even try to defend myself, knowing I would never be able to kill him. I could still see the moment in my mind, when Alistair's sword was lodged in his back and the crumpled heap in which he landed. Broken. When I had finished my food, I found I wanted to be on my own. I left my plate on the ground and walked away from camp, receiving more questioning stares. The child Conner smiled up at me again. I didn't know how to respond.

I seated myself on the grass a short distance away from camp, away from prying eyes. And they wonder why I prefer to be on my own? My thoughts fell on my clan once more. Where are they now? I never thought that the Keeper would have cast me out like this. It was a punishment, I was sure of it. She wasn't happy when she had found out we had killed those Shemlen after they told us about the cave. The Keeper was weak though. She always bowed down to the human laws. She would never understand. Humans who strayed too close to our camp were the same humans who wouldn't hesitate in striking us down. They didn't have the sense or the fear in them to stay away and therefore posed a danger to us.

I stared down at the ring the Keeper had given me when I left to become a Grey Warden. My once happy thoughts of Marathari were becoming poisoned. This is all you give someone after you cast them off, stripping them of everything they have ever known, and ordering them to battle a Blight? I pulled the ring from my finger and threw it away in anger.

"Isn't that a Keeper's ring?"

I jumped at the voice and turned to see Leliana standing behind me.

"What would you know about it, Shem?" I asked roughly, trying to mask my sadness. I turned away from her. She walked towards me and seated herself beside me.

"I noticed the same one on the hand of Zathrian" she said. "Is there a reason you're throwing it away?"

"No reason that I'd care to share with you. I don't want your company. I don't want to talk human. I want to be on my own." I said getting up and started to walk away.

"See, I don't think that you do", Leliana said suddenly, getting to her feet and following me. I stopped and turned to her in disbelief. What did she just say? She stopped in her tracks, a short distance away, cautious to approach me. I glared at her, feeling insecure as she stared back at me. "Why do you keep running away from everyone?"

"I'm not running away from anything!" I shouted angrily, feeling myself loose control. "Is there no where I can go without people observing my every move? Can you not leave me to my grief?"

I ran my hands through my hair and leaned back against the tree, sliding down beside it. I struggled against my sobs, covering my face in my hands. I'm tired of these games. I'm tired of it all...I just want to go home. Leliana came to me and sat down beside me again. She gently pried my hands away from my face and placed a hand on my cheek like she had done before, forcing me to look at her. I'm sure she could see the tears building in my eyes. I fought them back as she stared at my tortured expression.

"Don't," I said hoarsely, brushing her hand away, feeling like I would melt under her touch. I shook my head. She retracted her hand and rested it on my leg instead. I tensed up and stared at it before looking up at her.

"What do you want from me?" I asked dejectedly. She doesn't stare at me the way the others do, I realised as she looked into my eyes.

"...A chance" she replied.

"A chance to what?" I asked confused.

"To earn your trust", she said. I stared at her bewildered.

"Why?"

She sighed. "Because I don't think we're all that different...Because I...never mind..." She looked away from me then, gazing out into the distance.

"Because what?" I asked. Don't just start a sentence and not finish it.

She looked sad and her eyes dropped to the grass where she sat. She ran her hand along it gently. "...Because you're not the only one who feels alone."

I couldn't help but stare at her. It was then I realised that she looked just a miserable as I felt. I had just never noticed before, had never cared. Was it possible that this Shem really did understand me? Before I could stop myself I reached out and placed a hand over the hand she had placed on my leg. She looked up at me surprised at my effort of comforting her. I withdrew my hand at once. It felt odd, awkward. She smiled, understanding.

"You're not very good at this are you?" she asked softly. I moved my legs up and curled my knees under my chin, resting my head on them, causing her hand to fall away from me.

"I used to be..." I said sadly, not looking at her.

"What happened to you?"

I lifted my head to look at her. "What do you mean?"

"You're so cold, Navarre. What happened to make you filled with so much hatred?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know..." We sat in silence for several minutes. The forest was quiet and calming. I missed the days of sitting around the camp fire listening to tales from the Hahren, or the nights I spent with...him. We would be on guard and have to stay awake the whole night. We normally spent the time joking around or talking about what we thought our lives would be like in the future. I could not have imagined it would be like this.

"You loved him...didn't you?" Leliana asked, bringing me back from my memories.

A tear streamed down my cheek. I was glad it was on the side of my face she couldn't see. I didn't answer. Please stop questioning me.

"I understand" Leliana said. "Being in love changes us...for better or for worse."

"How would you know?" I asked sceptically.

"I've been in love...Marjolaine...She was a remarkable woman, or so I thought."

I raised my eyebrows and looked at her in surprise. "A woman?"

Leliana chuckled slightly and nodded. "The same woman we murdered in fact." The smile wiped off her face instantly, replaced with a painful grimace.

I cast my mind back. Mercy of the Gods! That Marjolaine? I remembered the fashionable Shem from Orlais who we had murdered in Denerim for sending assassins after Leliana. I hadn't even asked why she wanted her dead or who she was. I just relished the chance to kill another human.

"So I guess we do have something in common after all..." I stated. Leliana looked up at me confused. Suddenly the realization came to her as the meaning of my words became clear.

"You didn't kill him, Navarre."

"I as good as killed him...and I would give anything to be where he is now." I ran my hands through my hair again and buried my face.

"You mean...dead?" Leliana asked in disbelief, "Navarre...Why?"

I looked up at her. The frustration and anger I had been holding back became unleashed. "Because I have nothing left! All I had was him. My mother abandoned me when my father was killed by humans. All I have of them is this stupid family heirloom!" I jumped to my feet and tore the amulet from around my neck, throwing it in the same direction as Marethari's ring. I turned back to Leliana. She looked shocked at my sudden outburst and slightly afraid.

"My clan cast me away and forced me to become a Grey Warden and now I'm in a world surrounded by humans who detest me! I've been betrayed by so many people I had trusted...And I betrayed the only person who had trusted me. I have no room in my heart for anything anymore, human!"

My voice echoed throughout the forest. I shook my head, angry with myself for telling her that and angry with her for asking. A tear leaked down Leliana's face. Great, my eyes are glowing again. So much for keeping control over my emotions. I covered them with my hand as though shielding the sun and turned away from her.

"Don't cover them up" Leliana said, following me as I walked away.

"Stop following me!" I shouted back at her.

"Navarre, please...don't go!"

"I mean it!" I shouted, turning to face her and taking my hand away from my eyes. I saw the amazement in her face as the full effect of my gaze hit her.

"They're beautiful." She said quietly, entranced. "Why do they do that?"

I shook my head. "No..." I answered bitterly. "Stop trying to get inside my head, human. My life is none of your concern!"

She reached out to me again. I moved back, feeling myself become even angrier.

"Leave me alone, Shem" I begged, shaking my head in warning. She stared at me sadly. I turned and walked away without another word, hearing no footsteps behind me. Thank The Creators! I stormed back to camp, wanting nothing more than to climb into my bedroll. I was greeted by an angry looking Alistair when I arrived. I walked past him even though I knew he wanted to talk.

"I need to speak with you, Navarre" he said, following me.

"Then speak" I answered dryly, not looking at him.

"You had no right to speak to Arl Eamonn like that!" he exclaimed furiously.

"I'll speak how I like, Warden," I replied. This human needs to watch himself!

"He is our only ally at this point and he is a good man. I will not stand for it, Navarre!"

"Then don't!" I answered, barely listening to him. I stopped at my tent and pulled out my bed roll. Alistair was still hovering over me. Morrigan was observing us from where she sat alone at the camp fire. I sat down.

"Why Duncan ever recruited you to the Grey Wardens I'll never know!" Alistair shouted. "You have no respect for anyone!"

"I have respect for those who deserve it, Shem" I replied. "And Duncan is last on my list so I really don't care what he thought!"

"Duncan saved you!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "And he is not worthy of your respect?"

"That Shem didn't save me! He saved himself. Saved himself the trouble of looking for another recruit by stripping me of my clan when I was most vulnerable and taking me away!" I shouted, beginning to get angry.

"Duncan was a hero!" Alistair shouted.

I snorted. "He did the same thing to you Warden, did he not? He stole you from the Chantry. You were easy prey, just like I was. Duncan was a vulture!"

Alistair became furious. "Duncan didn't 'steal' me! He saved me!"

"Tell me Warden, does your stupidity ever wear off?" I asked, "Because it's really starting to annoy me!"

Alistair glared at me and walked off, shaking with fury. I began to readjust my pillow behind me, glad to finally have some peace and quiet. Suddenly I heard Morrigan giggle.

"You know, I think I'm beginning to like you now" she said, her voice heavy with sarcasm as usual.

"Shut up, Witch!" I replied, before lying down in my bedroll and closing my eyes. I didn't see her reaction but heard her slam closed the giant tome she was poring over.

As much as I wanted to I just couldn't sleep. Leliana returned to camp a while later. I saw her sit down beside Alistair. I opened my eyes a crack and lay still, listening to their conversation.

"Hey" Alistair greeted her. "Where have you been?"

"Walking" Leliana answered simply. Alistair glanced over at me.

"Were you with Navarre?" he asked. Leliana shook her head.

"She wanted to be alone. I walked by myself."

"She's a right piece of work" Alistair said angrily. "I don't know why you bother."

Leliana turned to Alistair. "What do you mean?"

I listened as he went into the whole story of our argument. His face fell when he mentioned Duncan.

"Can you believe her?" he asked, upset. "Duncan was my friend. He was a great man...and she just spat all over his memory."

Leliana touched his arm. "I'm sorry Alistair."

He turned to look at her, covering her hand with his own. "Thanks. It feels good to have someone to talk to this about. No one else understands me the way you do."

If I hadn't been pretending to be asleep I would have rolled my eyes. So that's what this is about then? He likes her. I'm sure if he had of told the old woman that story she would have understood. The old mage loved giving advice. Leliana smiled at him.

"I'm sure Duncan would be proud of you, Alistair. He sounded like a good man."

"He was" Alistair replied. "Do me a favour and tell Navarre that next time you two have one of your chats." He nodded his head in my direction. Leliana pulled her hand away from his then. He looked at her confused.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked. Leliana shook her head.

"Don't make me your go between Alistair" she said. "Navarre's not a bad person."

Alistair backtracked, realising she didn't feel the same aversion to me as he did. "No, that's not what I was saying at all. I mean it...I think it would just be better if she knew she did wrong you know? That way she can learn to interact with us better."

Learn to interact better. What does that Shem think I am some wild beast needing to be tamed? To my surprise, Leliana agreed with him.

"You're right" she said, "I do think she needs some experience in interacting with humans. She hasn't been around them much."

Alistair looked relieved he was back in her good books again. "Maybe we can both talk with her sometime. Like when we get to Denerim, we can have dinner together."

"Maybe" Leliana said. Alistair smiled. I knew the dinner he was referring to didn't include me. He was using me under the pretext of spending time with her. I don't know why but that bothered me. That Shem is starting to annoy me even more now. Not wanting to hear any more I rolled over and went to sleep.

The next morning I awoke to someone shouting my name.

"Navarre!"

I opened my eyes and sat up, knowing I had been shouting in my sleep. Zevran was sitting beside the fire as the others packed up their tents. He smiled at me, glad to see I was awake.

"Bad dreams, huh?"

I ignored him and got to my feet.

"What's gotten into you today?" he asked as I packed up my things.

"As opposed to my lack of ignorance any other day?" I asked sarcastically. Zevran laughed.

"That's more like it, my dear Warden."

"Don't call me that," I said angrily.

"I call you a Warden because that is what you are...Should I not?" he asked confused.

"No, you should not!" I replied. "I am not a Grey Warden. I am a Dalish."

Zevran chuckled. "Forgive me, my friend, but you look more like a Warden than a Dalish at the minute."

"Maybe so" I replied, "But I'll still be more Dalish than you'll ever be, Flat Ear."

"Fair enough" he said, "All I know about the Dalish is that my mother was one."

I turned back to him. "Really?" He never mentioned that before.

"It's true!" he said. "She used to have gloves like yours. I got them when she died but...they were found by the whores who looked after me and I never saw them again."

He looked sad as he remembered. I'd always considered him to be a city elf through and through. Never once had I ever believed he could have Dalish blood in him. It's not like it changes anything. He's as much Dalish as any other city elf. I finished packing and slung my bag over my shoulder. Leliana was talking with Alistair beside the wagons. He was hanging on to her every word. I walked past them and climbed into the empty carriage.

A few minutes later Leliana got into the same wagon. Alistair was waiting to enter behind her. She turned to him.

"Can you get the next one?" she asked, apologetically. "Wynne wants to travel with you anyway. She said she wants to talk to you about something."

Alistair stared from me to Leliana and then retracted his foot from the carriage floor.

"Of course" he said, his face falling. "I forgot about that. See you soon."

"Thank you" Leliana called after him. He smiled at her as he walked away. Leliana exhaled and sat herself down on the chair facing me. We said nothing as the carriages began to move. I was thankful no one else had entered.

"The Warden likes you" I said suddenly, after we had been on the road for over an hour. Leliana turned to me.

"Which one?" she joked. I sighed. I'll give her that one.

"The Shem" I replied, "The stupid Shem." I added to narrow it down for her. Leliana giggled.

"He's my friend," she said, shrugging. "Why wouldn't he like me?"

"You know what I mean" I replied. I don't even know why I'm bothering to tell her this.

Leliana considered what I said. "Is that a bad thing?" she asked. So she likes him too. I suddenly felt stupid for bringing it up. It was none of my concern.

"Maybe" I replied, "If you don't feel the same way."

Leliana stared at me curiously. "Why are you telling me this?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I don't like him."

"But you like me?"

I considered her for a second.

"No."

To my surprise, Leliana laughed.

"I tell you just to warn you." I added.

"Well...Thank you," she said, smiling at me.

I looked away from her and stared out of the carriage at the passing world. I could feel her eyes on me still, obviously wondering why I had told her that, just as I was. She seems vulnerable, and I don't like that Warden. He jokes too much. Leliana began to search around in her back pack and produced freshly made sandwiches. She held one out to me.

"Hungry?" she asked. I looked at the food, feeling my stomach rumble.

"No" I replied, staring back out of the carriage again. She exhaled and began to eat her own. I continued daydreaming into the distance as the day grew darker around us.

After several hours I looked over at Leliana. She was lying sleeping along her chair. I looked down at my own chair. There was a sandwich sitting beside me. I stared back at her. She must have left it there when I turned it down before. I lifted the sandwich and inspected it. Human food was strange in taste. I was used to the food made by Dalish ways. After I was forced into becoming a Grey Warden I had to adjust, but some things still upset my stomach. Inside, there were only a few bits of lettuce and a strange slice of meat. I remember watching Leliana cook before. She tended to undercook meat just like some Dalish cooked. I heard that annoying Shem Alistair joke about it once, mocking her Orlesian ways. I raised the sandwich to my lips and took a bite. Strangely enough, it wasn't half bad. I relaxed into my chair and savoured the rest before eventually falling asleep myself.