Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize from the game.

Author's Note: Well, I managed another fairly quick update. I hope you enjoy it.

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Chapter 4 – The Path You Must Take

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Morrigan sat beside the warden on a stone. A cold stone at that. They were fairly high into the Frostback Mountains by this time. It was not snowing at least, but the air nipped and bit at any exposed skin. They were wrapped tightly in their travelling cloaks, eating meals whenever animals could be caught. It was not too hard but the creatures were usually small and the meals not very filling. Still, Orzammar was less than a day away now. The witch could look forward to some warmth and hopefully better food.

Alisa's condition had scarce improved over the past few days. The bard's departure had hit her hard. She had been mostly pleasant, even perky when the atmosphere allowed for it. She had a furious side too, an anger that caused great inconvenience for anyone at the receiving end. On a few occasions, those inconveniences had been permanent. But the warden showed neither of those sides now. She was withdrawn, she spoke only when necessary. Alisa was usually comfortable with Morrigan but her responses had recently been dulled to single words or short sentences. The witch realized that the warden probably blamed herself. She also realized that in truth it was her fault. Well, what was done was done. As expected, they had seen no sign of Leliana. She was probably travelling in the opposite direction anyway. Morrigan finished her stew and then glanced at Alisa who had barely worked through half her portion.

"You should eat it quickly before it gets cold." The witch breathed.

"Everything here gets cold as soon as it's cooked anyway." Alisa muttered but took another few mouthfuls.

"You have to stop blaming yourself Alisa." Morrigan put her arm around the warden's shoulder. She did not shy away. "Maybe mistakes were made but I notice that this is affecting your proficiency in battle as well. This burden of guilt should not be your death. You need to forgive yourself eventually."

"That's almost something Wynne would say." Said Alisa with a ghost of a smile across her lips.

"I'm worried about you." Said the witch softly and she meant it too.

"Thank you Morrigan and I... I understand." Alisa replied quietly. "I don't know if I can forgive myself but I won't let it be my death. My grey warden duty will come first."

"Tis a step in the right direction at least." Said Morrigan smiling as she stood up. She offered her hand to the warden who took it. Alisa hugged her gently. The witch shivered, and not from the cold.

"Thanks again." The warden said as she drew away and got the party ready to move out.

The witch sighed. More trekking through these wretched hills.

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Brother Adrian sat alone in the record room, his quill scratching on the paper. That was the only real sound in the small quiet room. The candle flickered slightly as wax dripped silently onto the table. He was late on finishing this report anyway. Leliana had been here for several days already. He would have written this out on the first day itself but he knew he had time. Father Roysten wouldn't send her away just yet, she hadn't quite opened up. She really was beautiful and she moved with such grace. But Brother Adrian knew that it was nothing but a fleeting fancy or an unreachable dream. The father had something much greater in mind for her.

He was also aware of her preferred sexual preferences. The bard would have been incredibly disturbed if she had looked through the record room. They had managed to amass a fairly impressive pile of information. And all this only over the past several months. That was when Father Roysten had his vision or said he had his vision. The time since then had been chaotic; at least one of them had always tried to tail her. The first great stir had come when she joined the grey warden, Alisa Surana. And then she was here. Adrian shook his head and finished the document. He selected a bound pile of papers from one of the shelves, added this one to it and shoved it back in its place. He blew out the candle and left the room.

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Bridget sat on a chair slightly to the side of the statue. Leliana sat in front of Father Roysten and Bridget could tell she was holding back tears. Father Roysten stared at her with heart melting compassion, one of the many things that had brought Bridget here in the first place. She was the only other person in the room. She supposed she was the only one the bard trusted enough at this point. Bridget had come to look upon Leliana as a friend in the past few days she had been with them. She hoped she was viewed in the same light. Only now had she heard what drove the bard from her companions. Leliana had approached Father Roysten of her own volition and communicated her desire to speak of her past.

Bridget wondered why this was always the case. People always confided in Father Roysten eventually. Perhaps it was the sympathy and care he gave; perhaps it was simply that he truly cared. Whatever it be, it seemed Leliana looked upon him as a father figure maybe. Or he simply reminded her of someone.

She felt a great deal of sympathy for the poor girl. She had, in all honesty, been treated rather horribly in those last few hours. But who was to blame? The apostate witch who poisoned her? The knife-ear assassin who slept with her? The foolish knife-ear warden who wouldn't listen? Perhaps all of them. The unbelievers should be burnt, not only for their sins against the Maker but because of what they forced upon Leliana. She would have gladly done it herself if it were asked of her but Father Roysten always had other plans. She could hear words from the conversation drifting her way.

"Child, what is to follow may hurt but it is important that you recover from this." Said Father Roysten as gently as he could.

There was a pause before Leliana replied. "If it will help, father. I trust you."

Father Roysten nodded before speaking again. "You have been wronged child, by several people. Answer me honestly; do you feel any desire for revenge?"

"Although it is a sin, I do have a slight desire for it. It overtook me at first but it is... better now."

Sister Bridget smiled. Things worked a little differently in this chantry. Revenge was sometimes acceptable, as long as the end result was a service to the Maker. The death of several unbelievers, one of whom was a dangerous apostate probably qualified. Especially if said apostate had an abomination for a mother.

"Child, your natural emotions are not sin. That you have fought it is to your credit. Although I feel that in this case your vengeance may find justification. We will discuss this later in more detail."

An unidentifiable emotion crossed Leliana's face for a moment. Bridget could only guess what it may have been. Doubt and worry that this chantry seemingly condoned sin? Or satisfaction and pleasure at the fact that they looked beyond completely rigid rules and facts?

"Child, your physique indicates a hardened body and weapons were present in your pack. Might I request to know where a chantry sister learned to fight?"

Father Roysten's eyes glinted imperceptibly for a moment. After a pause Leliana recounted her history, of what happened to her in Orlais and why she fled to Ferelden. She looked up at Father Roysten, perhaps fearing judgement due to the sins of her past.

"Child, you are a shining beacon among the Maker's children. You turned away from a path of sin, you found redemption and you have performed your penitence. People like you are rare and I only wish more would see things the same way. I trust, however, that you are still a skilled combatant?"

"I- yes, father."

"Would you be willing to assist us in a small task Sister Leliana?"

"It would be my pleasure."

"You see, I have a liking for collecting old and valuable manuscripts where I can. Some even date to the times of Andraste herself. Recently, I have been informed of an old temple that contains valuable treasures. If possible I would like them to be saved. Brother Robert and Sister Bridget are competent fighters but with your assistance I believe the journey would be quite possible."

Leliana agreed quite quickly. Sister Bridget was still smiling; she knew the girl was still recovering and vulnerable. They would help her by returning a purpose to her life. The bard smiled at her as they left the room to inform Robert. Then there were preparations to be done.

Several minutes after their departure from the hall, Brother Adrian prostrated himself before Father Roysten. He rose at the father's gesture.

"Child, have Brother Tiberius ready himself for a journey to the gates of Orzammar. Sister Elaine is to accompany him."

He paused for a moment as though considering something. Then he spoke again.

"Actually, I shall be leaving with him, let Sister Elaine stay. I wish to confront the warden with the truth now. Take care of the chantry with Sister Elaine. It may be a while before we return. There is much to do now."

Brother Adrian bowed as he left to carry out his instructions.

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The voices stir again in the darkness. It is barely perceptible till the clear voice speaks. Perhaps, it is excited.

"She is coming. It is almost time."

"Finally." The cold and sharp voice says. Perhaps it is relieved.

"I apologise for having to say this but please allow me to speak when she arrives." The clear voice says.

"Very well." The deep voice says.

The darkness shudders.

"No mistakes. Not this time."

"We don't make mistakes." The clear voice remarks. It seems confident.

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Author's Note: I hope you liked the chapter. Feedback and criticism is welcomed. Next update will hopefully be soon.

To my reviewers:

Kilyra: Thanks a lot! That is kind of the style I was trying to go for. I hope you enjoy what I have planned.