She returned to the camp after she had finished with her clothes. Her hair was over her shoulder and wet, her pack and wet clothes in hand.

Alistair was still hiding in his tent.

Wynne sat by the fire with Leliana. They were talking quietly, warming their hands and stirring the stew every now and again.

"Did you have a nice bathe, Emma?" Leliana smiled to the Warden as she asked.

Emma nodded and smiled back, dropping her pack outside of her tent. "Yes, it was very nice."

Alistair heard Emma's voice and froze in his tent. He didn't know what to do. He had started reading a book they had found with some old magical tales in them to take his mind off of Emma's naked body. It wasn't working, but he was trying. His heart pounded in his chest as he waited to see what Emma was going to do.

"I think I'll take one before we leave in the morning," Leliana spoke. "I like to feel fresh for the day."

"Sounds good," Emma walked over to them to lay her clothes out by the fire to dry. She looked to Alistair's tent. "Is he in there?" she asked quietly, as not to alert him that she was back and frighten him away.

"Yes. He hasn't come out since he came back from the lake," Wynne answered. She wanted to ask more, but felt this moment too awkward to do so.

Emma nodded. "Oh. Okay then," she stood and turned to walk to his tent.

He heard her coming and did all he could to look like he was being normal, even though he knew she couldn't see him through the canvas of his tent. He sat up and held the book in his lap, acting very engrossed in what he was reading.

"Alistair?" Emma called out when she reached the front of his tent.

"Oh, yes?" he answered as nonchalant as he could.

"I'm, done with the soap. You can have your socks a wash now," she offered nicely. She was trying to calm her shaking hand. She was so embarrassed. She kept thinking...

"Oh great. Thank you," he paused, looking for his socks and forgetting he had set them right next to him. He grabbed them quickly and almost flew out of his tent.

Emma was surprised at how suddenly he threw the flap open and stumbled back a bit, a small gasp escaping her. She instinctively clutched the soap to her chest, as if it would protect her.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" he apologized.

"No, it's okay," she spoke. "I was standing too close-"

He interrupted her. "No, I didn't mean to step out so quickly..."

Wynne heard the two and their nervous-sounding speech towards one another. Her curiosity grew ten fold.

They stopped their nervous banter and looked down at one anothers feet.

"Well here you go," Emma handed him the soap.

"Thanks," he took it and gave her a nod.

"You're welcome."

They managed to look into one another's eyes for a brief second, which caused them to immediately turn away and go back to what they were doing. Emma grabbed her hair and twisted the water out of it as she headed into her tent, whilst Alistair said nothing as he broke through the brush and headed towards the lake.

Leliana didn't seem to notice anything odd. She leaned forward and stirred the stew, "This smells delicious, Wynne."

Wynne nodded. She decided silently that this would be a good time to talk to Emma. "Thank you, dear. I need to have a word with Emma, I will be right back," she got up from where she sat.

"Alright," Leliana smiled up at Wynne, going back to the stew as Wynne wandered away.

Wynne approached Emma's tent and calmly asked, "Emma? May I have a word?"

Emma sighed and tried to regain her composure. "Of course. Come in." Emma scooted over to make room for Wynne to sit with her. She pushed some books and her journal she'd pulled out of her pack to the side.

Wynne entered and smiled as she sat down. "Thank you," she gathered her robes up in her hands and rested them in her lap as she settled in. She looked to Emma and asked, "Is everything alright, between you and Alistair?"

Emma dreaded Wynne noticing anything. She didn't want Wynne to think Emma favored him, or for Wynne to think Emma was in love with him because she had more important things to worry about than her girlish dreams and fantasies...

"Of course. Why do you ask?" Emma replied calmly.

"Well... Alistair returned so quickly from the lake right after you had left to go to it. He returned to his tent in silence and never emerged. And, I apologize, but I did notice the two of you having the hardest time looking into one another's faces just now..." Wynne looked to see Emma's eyes flash with fear. Wynne's heart skipped. "I am not here to scold, Emma. I just want to make sure you are both alright."

Emma felt there was nothing she could hide from Wynne. The mage just seemed to know when something was going on, and found no point in trying to make it something it wasn't.

Emma took a breath before speaking. "Alistair walked upon me whilst... I was 'derobed'," she had a hard time saying it. "I was horrified. As was he, I think," a frown appeared on her lips.

Wynne sat back, not expecting to hear that. She assumed they had had an argument, or something to that extent. "Oh... my," she said.

"It was an accident. He said he was coming to wash his socks, which were filthy," Emma cringed as she recalled them, "but he didn't know I was going to have a wash, so he just walked up and saw me standing there..." she sighed and covered her face. "I am mortified, Wynne..."

Wynne reached out a hand and rubbed Emma's arm, comforting her. "Emma, dear. I am sure he looked away quickly, yes?"

"It's not that he saw me that upsets me, really," she admitted. "I... oh Wynne. Please forgive me?" She looked to Wynne with deep sorrow. "I... I am afraid he didn't like what he saw," she shook her head. "It's so stupid I know. I didn't want to fall for him Wynne. He is my friend, and my companion... and the only other Grey Warden in Ferelden." Emma's hands were clenched together. "I need him to help me fight this Blight, that is what this is all about. This whole journey."

Wynne listened on as Emma vented.

"But... something... everything about him makes me feel so wonderful inside," Emma spoke lovingly about Alistair. "He makes me feel safe in all this, at the darkest of times. And he always seems to think of me. He makes me laugh, and treats me with respect, and kindness... he is always looking out for me," she looked at Wynne. Her eyes were tired and filled with emotion. "I didn't mean for this to happen, Wynne," she defended regretfully.

Wynne felt guilty for wanting to talk Emma out of feeling what she obviously just described as love, as she now saw that Emma was already scolding herself for feeling for Alistair. Quite harshly, Wynne thought.

"Oh dear," Wynne squeezed Emma's shoulder. "You are too hard on yourself. I hate to admit, but I was thinking too hard on you myself, I realize now."

"What do you mean?" Emma asked, confused.

"I think he should be the one to tell you this, and I think in time he will. But, I will admit he has had eyes for you for some time now, Emma," Wynne said. "My notice of this had gotten me to think I needed to reiterate the direness of our situation to you, and to him. To put in perspective the strain a relationship between you two could cause," Wynne sighed as she thought on why she came in to talk to Emma in the first place. "I see now that you've already been tortured with your own thoughts of purpose. And I feel guilt. I am sorry, Emma. I believe you have a true connection to him after hearing how you feel about him, and no one should regret that." Wynne looked into Emma's eyes. "I am certain he feels it for you as well."

Emma was a little hurt to think Wynne was going to tell her she thought her feeling's were a bad idea. But knowing that she was thinking the very same thing herself, the pain of it went away. She was now filled with the unavoidable girlish need to know what Wynne knew about Alistair liking her, too.

"There is no need to apologize," Emma couldn't restrain a small smile, "but... how do you know of his feelings?"

Wynne smiled at the sheepishness in Emma's voice. "I know that whenever he thinks no one is looking, his eyes are always to you," she squeezed Emma's shoulder.

Emma couldn't help but smile, "Really?"

"Every chance he gets," Wynne nodded. "It's, endearing, his clumsiness in the matters of the heart," she chuckled. She looked to Emma and saw the happiness in the young woman's smile, but the lack of wisdom of love in her eyes. She tilted her head with a loving smile. "You both are so young... this is most likely your first romance?"

Emma sat up straighter. "You mean... have I ever liked a boy before?"

"Well, yes," Wynne nodded.

"Oh, well... I suppose," Emma shrugged. "There was Ser Gilmore, back in Highever. I had thought on him here and again. He would have been a good husband to whomever would have had him," Emma noted more than complimented. She looked guilty at the memory of his death. "But he won't get that chance now," Emma's eyes flared with a sudden anger.

Wynne noticed and leaned close to calm her, resting a hand on her knee. "He will get what is due him, Emma." Wynne referred to Arl Howe, the man who slaughtered Emma's family.

"I'll make sure of it," she spat.

Wynne felt bad for asking a question that took Emma to memories of the death of her entire family. "Come dear. I am sure dinner is almost ready."

Emma looked to Wynne and felt bad for becoming so angry so suddenly. "I'm sorry, Wynne. I... have a lot of anger that I am still couping with," she stood with Wynne and held the tent open for her. "I am fine."

"No need to apologize," Wynne reassured her. Wynne then remembered Alistair. "Oh, I shall go get Alistair-" Wynne offered but was interrupted by Emma.

"If it's okay, I'll go? I would like to make thing's..." Emma looked nervous. "I... think it's important for him to know what I know. I would not want to hold that to myself. It's not fair," Emma's eye's were intently focused to the ground, then to Wynne.

The mage stopped and looked to Emma proudly. She admired Emma's respect for other's, and her honesty in wanting to let Alistair know she now had an inkling he may have the same feeling's for her that she had for him. It endeared her to Wynne ever more. She smiled as she spoke, "Your respect for other's is a marvel, Emma. You never cease to amaze me with each passing day with the understanding in your head and your heart."

Emma was floored by the huge complement, and stood surprised. In their travels, Emma had come to think Wynne held many answers in the world, and to hear Wynne say she herself had wisdom was remarkable.

"Wynne..." Emma began.

Wynne held up a hand. "I won't let you try to give that compliment back to me. Go get Alistair. And take your time." Wynne turned and walked away before Emma could protest.

Emma smiled. She looked to the woods, then to the sky. It was getting dark. She grabbed her leather vest and pulled it on as she headed out into the woods, to the lake... to Alistair.