A/N: Sorry about the last chapter, I needed to introduce Caera and for some reason the story just went that way in my mind. We're getting somewhere now I swear.

I don't always disclaim, but when I do, I come up with cheesy ways to say it.

Faolan threw down the book with a frustrated sigh. Three days, and he was pretty sure he'd gone through every book in his home. Which was quite a number.

Hundreds of spells, rituals, potions, and not a one showed any way to free Ashlyn from him. Nothing that didn't involve blood magic anyway.

And even then, we'd need her body to do it, Faolan thought, putting his forehead in his hands. Which is a few hundred years away.

How long do elves live? The now familiar voice in his head suddenly asked.

Faolan had gotten quite used to her presence, and now that she had gotten over the initial shock, her unending curiosity about his time and people. He kept telling himself she simply hadn't much studied the past, but it was becoming more and more cruelly obvious how much of his culture had been lost.

Well, he started slowly how much do you know about Elvhenan?

Not much, she replied. Just that it was invaded by magisters and destroyed.

Faolan clenched his fists for a moment, but took a deep breath and calmed himself. Yelling at Ashlyn caused her to retreat into his mind and poke around at things he didn't want her to see. And he knew it she had nothing to do with what had happened to his people…But she was a constant reminder that the humans would eventually defeat them. That the elves would retreat and become nothing but a shadow of their former selves.

Coming back to the question, Faolan said Before we met the shemlen, elves were immortal. Unless we were killed physically of course. But when we were…exposed to them, our life spans began to shorten. On average now, we live perhaps two hundred years, but they shorten every day. Our ancestors were tainted with it, and it is passed to their children.

Like a disease.

Exactly, Faolan snarled into his own mind. One that has no cure.

Ashlyn was silent, and hid her thoughts from him. She'd gotten quite good at that. Both of them were immensely glad to have some measure of privacy, even if they could never be completely apart from each other. And strangely, Faolan was finding himself enjoying her company. He knew she was a human, and although it had bothered him somewhat at first, it didn't for long. It was impossible for her to hide who she was from him, and he from her. She was a beautiful person, and quickly becoming a very close friend.

The mental curtain she'd hung to hide her thoughts disappeared and Faolan heard her say quietly I…know it won't help Faolan, but I am sorry. For what we did.

Ash, you were never –

I know, I know, but someone needs to apologize for what my people did. In my time, humans and elves are starting to learn to live together. The way things are now…probably isn't what you want, but there people who want a change. It's just a slow one.

Faolan paused, touched that she wanted to shoulder the burden of what her race had done and try to amend it. It wasn't enough of course, and he knew that she knew that, but that she would even bother to try…

You are not like most humans.

A charmed feeling from her Not in this time maybe. But I'm completely average where I'm from, I assure you.

Faolan scoffed. From what I understand, you are single-handedly saving your entire country from an army of darkspawn, sacrificed the only life you'd ever known to do it, and are asking for nothing in return.

It's not single-handedly at all, she thought to him, and he smiled at her embarrassment. I told you, there's Alistair, and we're gathering an army and –

Ash, he silenced her.

…Right. Er, thank you.

Faolan smiled again, then turned his attention back to the book he'd thrown, and wondered what they were supposed to do now.

Look, I can tell you're tired, weird elf stamina or no. Get some rest, and we'll think about it in the morning.

The elf sighed, knowing she was right. He glanced at the candle he'd lit a few hours ago, and frowned when he saw how much it had melted.

Very well. I suppose I could use the rest.

Yes you could, Ashlyn responded smugly, proud that she'd managed to make him listen to her for once. He rolled his eyes and blew out the candle.

As he walked unerringly through the darkness to his room he sensed some surprise from Ashlyn and sent a questioning feeling to her.

You see better in the dark than I do is all.

Ah, yes. That is one trait that I don't believe has faded despite our exposure to shemlen.

Well…that's something at least.

He smiled a bit sadly at her attempt. Yes. It is something.

After Faolan had lain down and gotten comfortable a thought occurred to him. You don't seem very tired.

No, not really I suppose.

I wonder, when I fall asleep if you will still be conscious.

Probably. You are when I 'sleep.'

I apologize.

For what?

Well…You are going to be stuck in an unmoving body with nothing to do. I can't imagine that will be the most pleasant experience.

Ashlyn thought for a moment and gave the mental equivalent of a shrug. Nothing to be done about it. And I'm sure it won't be so bad. Maybe I'll get to peek at what you're dreaming about, she teased.

Faolan winced. If you find that you can see my dreams…

Yes, yes, I'll leave them alone. You can trust me.

You say that now…

Go to sleep, Faolan.

The elf chuckled at her and obeyed, shutting his eyes and letting himself fall into slumber.

As Faolan's mind grew dark and slow, Ashlyn shifted herself around in his mind, trying to find a way to stay away from his thoughts. Despite her teasing, she really didn't want to know what he was dreaming about. He was a young male after all, and she didn't want to see what he thought of doing with some elf woman somewhere.

Not that he seemed all that interested in women. She didn't really think he ever had been. From the many times they'd talked, she could tell he was a very private man, and when he did socialize it wasn't usually his choice.

She was confused for a moment at the relief she felt knowing he wasn't, and probably wouldn't be, interested in any women. Oh Maker, she thought to herself as realization dawned. Don't do this to me. I cannot be falling for Faolan. Bad idea. She mentally sighed at herself as she realized that was exactly what was happening.

But really, how could she not? She knew this man as intimately as she knew herself, if not more so. She knew who he was, down to his very core, and he was…wonderful. To anyone else, he would probably seem gruff, or even cold, but she knew he was merely a quiet, attentive listener. He preferred to observe, wanting to understand the world around him. When it came to Aodhan and Caera he was fiercely loyal, and Ashlyn knew he would walk through fire for either of them. He loved them both deeply.

And he was so caring. He'd spent all of his spare time trying to find a way to get her home, without expecting anything in return.

He was intelligent, witty, kind, handsome…who wouldn't fall for him?

Ashlyn sighed once again in her mind. This was most definitely not good.

Trying to distract herself, Ashlyn shifted herself into that deeper part of his mind, deciding she'd better try and rest, when she noticed something odd. There was…an opening of sorts. A hollow that hadn't been there before. Curious, Ashlyn stretched her consciousness cautiously into it, not wanting to cause some sort of major change to Faolan accidentally. As she slipped fully into it however, nothing happened.

She hummed in confusion – then jumped at the sound. The male sound. She'd hummed. Out loud!

Slowly, Ashlyn opened Faolan's eyelids, letting them widen as she realized what had happened. When he'd fallen asleep, somehow he'd let go of the control he had over his body. That was the hollow place she'd sensed. She had control of his body.

Doing a quick search of his mind to make sure he was alright, she found him still asleep, deep in his subconscious. She hesitated for a moment, then allowed herself to test her newfound control.

She carefully moved each of Faolan's limbs, stretching and bending them, sighing at finally being able to move herself. She'd gotten used to them moving without her consent, but she'd greatly missed this feeling. She would never take it for granted again. Slowly, Ashlyn sat up and looked at her – at Faolan's – hands, turning them over and laughing lightly in giddiness. Then she frowned. God his voice was deep. She wanted to try speaking but feared waking him. She desperately wanted to stand and walk around, to run again, but he needed his rest. She sighed, frowning once again at the sound, and lay back down, reluctantly shifting back into the depths of his mind. She'd tell him in the morning about what had happened, and maybe they could test the limits of it. With a bit of relief, Ashlyn discovered that she really was tired now, and would be able to 'sleep' without worry.

She cast a glance at his consciousness, and giggled as a flicker of his dream washed through her – he and Aodhan as children, play-fighting in a field – and moved back away. Softly, she whispered Goodnight Faolan into his mind and let sleep take her.

A/N: Short chapter, but you'll get more soon. Hope you liked it!

(Psst. More reviews means more updates. I'll do Foalan fanservice!)