I've been spending my time during the day these past few weeks talking with Master Wren. He's told me that even though I can't remember the trade, he'd like me to work alongside his apprentices until my abilities return to me. It's an honor, I'm sure. I've been walking more around camp too. Nona's usually with me, and she likes to visit the halla and take me to the river nearby. A small waterfall, probably no more than three or four times my height marks one end of the river. I really, really want to go into the water. I want to feel the spray on my face and float along the currents more than I'd probably admit aloud. Dynarin warns me against it, and I know he's right. I'm just getting used to walking again, swimming probably isn't a good idea. But despite this, I still take any opportunity to strip my shoes off, hike up my skirts, and walk along the water's edge with Nona beside me.

Sometimes we talk like old friends, sometimes like an older and younger sister, and sometimes like a teacher to their student. Today we're talking like friends, "So I saw you talking to that hunter again last night. Rem wasn't it, Nona?" I can see a rosy blush peek through the dark color of her skin at my words.

She smiles timidly, "Yesss... Annnd lethallan?"

"He likes you." Her blush deepens and I bark a laugh. "It would be a good match."

"You think so?" She asks with a slightly wider smile, "Mamae says he's too old for me."

I shake my head, "Age doesn't matter if you really like each other."

"Like you and the Keeper?" She asks, and it's my turn to blush and hers to giggle. "Don't worry, I can keep all your secrets."

I turn my head towards her and raise a brow in question, "You do? What secrets?"

She skips a little and splashes water with the hem of her dress, she never bothers holding it up when we walk like this. "Like how you like way too much mint in your tea. How you will eat everything on your plate even if you don't like it. How you're so frustrated with your hair."

I interrupt her, "Every woman is frustrated with their hair," but she continues.

"How you don't like your feet bare, even in an aravel. How you speak a little strangely sometimes. And now, how you really, really like the Keeper."

"Is it that obvious?" I question. Dynarin has been more friendly as of late, not that I'm complaining. He even had a slight slip of the tongue during last night's meal around the fire. He called me emm'asha. My girl. If I look at his actions in an abstract way, it's obvious he's smitten. I wonder if it's as obvious on my end.

The girl shakes her head, "He's claimed his intent, but I don't think you've ever done so."

What Nona said shocked me, and it took me probably longer than normal to ask, "When was that?"

My friend's eyes go wide, but she quickly schools her features into a look that says 'really?' "When he called you emm'asha and took your hand in front of the others. You didn't deny him, so the point was made that he is, ah, what do the shemlen call it? Courting? Yes. Courting you."

"What do I, err, do?" Nona, always full of energy, spins around and looks at me like I've lost my head. "I've never been with a man like this before!" I exclaim a little embarrassedly. At least I don't ever remember a man claiming his intent to 'court' me. "And I've only just remembered elvish! How am I supposed to know how to claim my intent?" My mouth falls open into a little 'o', "I mean, that is, if I am maybe alright with his courting." Oh, Creators. Please guide me. I think I may have lost my mind, and I have no idea what I am doing.

Nona's face brightens and she clasps her hands, "You can make a garland of tiberius ivy and any red blossom. Or you can fend off another woman with intent. Or you can give him a prized possession, like something made of iron bark or gold. Usually men do that too. Has he given you iron bark or gold?"

I hesitantly lift my hair to reveal a small twist held in place by an iron bark hair stick carved to look like an elongated slender hand with small roses on the knuckles. Nona giggles and coos, "That's soooo pretty. It must have taken a lot of effort."

I put my hair back and wring my hands together nervously, "I don't own any iron bark or gold." I frown, "I don't think there's any other women to fend off either. So that just leaves the garland."

Nona bobs her head in agreement, "Tiberius ivy isn't easy to find, but I'll help!"

Nona helps me make the garland, and tells me I'm supposed to put it around his neck and that it doesn't matter if it's in public or private. I'm way too nervous to even consider it in public, so I decide to give it to him in the aravel after sunset. I don't know what I'm doing, or why, but again it just feels right. Dynarin feels like the only certainty in my life right now, and I need that.

Dynarin walks me back to the aravel and tells me about plans for Arlathvhen at the end of next spring. A runner had just come with news of it's location earlier in the day – the grounds in Ferelden given to the Dalish on behest of Theron Mahariel, the Hero.

I walk up the three stairs and into the aravel without any assistance, I think my breaks and fractures have finally healed completely. Dynarin stands in the middle of the space while I have my back to him and twist my fingers together nervously. "Can you sit on the bed?" I ask him, and turn around when he does. He's looking at me with a curious expression on his face, and his eyes crinkled in something like amusement with his own charm. I go to the satchel Nona loaned me, and am careful to keep my back to him as I fish out the garland. I made sure to ask Nona about all the symbolism, and she assured me that the little wild red roses dotting the ivy were only symbolic of romantic thoughts. She even said that she heard the shems use them for romance too, but that the elvhen gave them to their intended first. But when I turn around, and Dynarin sees the garland in my hands, I start to question just how romantic the thoughts symbolized by roses are. His expression has changed into one that I've never quite seen on him before. His eyes are dark, the warm hazel colors barely visible, his nostrils are a little flared, and his eyes are narrowed and piercing me with a look that makes shivers run down my spine and my knees tremble in a way that has nothing to do with my injuries. I feel something coil in my gut when I swallow roughly and quietly walk towards him. I lift my arms and place the garland around his neck and say, "Emm'assan. Emma vhenan."

He doesn't say anything, but wraps an arm around me and uses his other hand to brush back my hair and reveal the hair pin. His fingers run over the tip of my ear, and I shiver and gasp at the sensation as it overcharges my already frayed nerves. I hear something, like a rumble coming from him, and then he attacks my lips. I gasp again at the sudden demanding, something I've never thought the sweet man before me wanting to do. He takes the opportunity to invade my mouth, and my head is spinning from all the overwhelming things I'm feeling. My eyes close as I shyly reach out to touch my tongue to his. When I open my eyes and pull back for much needed air, I see in his large eyes that tears have gathered at the edges.

"How long have you... wanted this?" I ask him in the softest whisper I've ever uttered. I'm afraid of what he'll say. The Keeper can have any woman he wants, and he wants me. He barely knows me, and I barely know myself. It baffles my mind that he would be so forward so soon, so demanding in his actions.

He moves his hand to rub my cheekbone with the pad of his thumb, "Since Rem and Yelena brought you to my aravel."

"Your aravel?" I repeat and look around, "Where have you been sleeping?"

"A tent," he moves his hand to my hair. "There is a story of a mortal woman of long ago blessed by Mythal, who had been able to recognize her mate for who he was at first glance. With one look she knew who she would be bound to." He smiled, the crows feet at his eyes showing, "My mother had believed her family to be ancestors of the elder Vhenan'vir, emma lath."

"Emma lath?" I repeat his words in question. My love? Is he saying he believes in true love at first sight? Isn't that just stories?

He looks at me with such sweetness and nods his head, "Ma emma lath."

I furrow my brow, and hesitate before I tentatively touch my lips to his. I dare not agree with him and reply, "Ma'arlath," without knowing what I believe.

…...

Note: I took a children's lit class a few semesters ago, and I entirely blame this chapter on those old fairy tales! lol. I figured there's a 'love at first sight' story in nearly every culture, and thought that Dynarin was a good character to fit the 'hopeless romantic' bill. The story he tells about the woman, Vhenan'vir, is entirely made up by myself. Sadie also seems a little all over the place, but someone that I'd imagine to be deeply touched by someone showing a great deal of romantic interest in them. *shurgs* Anyway, I'd like to thank you all again! And without further adieu, here's the translations:

Translations:

halla: A halla is a horned animal in the Dragon Age universe.

Lethallan: 'friend'. '-an' when referring to females.

Mamae: 'Mother'

aravel: 'long journey'. – A Dalish land-ship.

Emm'asha: 'My girl'

shemlen/shems: 'quick children' – A name for humans. Shem for short.

Arlathvhen: A meeting between all the Dalish clans that takes place every ten years.

Elvhen: 'our people'' – Elvish name for their race.

Emm'assan: 'My arrow'

Emma vhenan: 'My heart'

Mythal: the Great Protector. One of the Dalish Creators, and the patron goddess of motherhood and justice.

Vhenan'vir: 'Heart's way'. Or: 'Heart's path'.

emma lath: 'My love'

Ma emma lath: 'You are my love'

Ma'arlath: 'I love you'

P.S. Don't worry! There will be eventual Zevran romance in this story!