I am so sorry I have not been able to update as I had previously planned. School is currently swamping me with homework so I haven't been able to do what I've wanted for the past couple of weeks. But thank you for sticking with me so far. I'm truly thankful to have readers as great as you guys. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

6 months later

Judith sat in the library writing down incantations and spells that enable a person to physically enter the fade. Not that she would be needing it or anything, but it is always good to be prepared for anything. For a moment, a breeze swept through the room and brought a chill down her spine. Judith hugged herself for warmth but also security. An eerie feeling came over her, as if someone was watching her.

She turned slowly, to see Uldred standing in the doorway, just staring at her with so much intensity in his dark eyes. She felt like the prey waiting for the predator to pounce. There was a darkness that swept over the room and corrupted the pureness within it. Judith felt uncomfortable in the tense atmosphere but she tried to remain calm and rational. Ever since the mages had returned from Ostagar, Uldred had not been the same.

Of course, not that he wasn't a strange radical anti Circle fanatic before he left, but he seemed so much more darker...more dangerous. He just stared at the walls all day and night, waiting for Maker knows what. Judith knew, something wasn't right. War changed people and this war changed something within Uldred.

All day and night, Uldred would stand and stare at certain apprentices for hours on end. Sometimes, more like all the time, those apprentice or Mage would be seen following him around the next day. It seemed so unnatural to Judith to have all those people following him around as if he was the Maker himself. It was a cult. He was brainwashing these mages for who knows what.

Judith had feared that Uldred had his eyes on her next. She needed to get out and avoid being alone with him. With her books in tow, she quickly fled to an alternate exit, only to have the troubled man block her escape. Books flew across the stone floor and Judith fell backwards on her rump. She held her breath and looked up at her predator. A smile spread across his dark features, like a jester's would. This man terrified, especially because they were the only ones around.

I can't be scared, he can sense fear. She thought as she rose.

Judith cleared her throat to find her voice. " Excuse me Senior Enchanter Uldred, I must be going. Wynne...requires my presence to discuss...something." she lied.

Uldred placed a hand on her shoulder. He squeezed it and trailed his fingertips down her arm. The sensation felt unnatural and predatory, and Judith inwardly vomited. "I sure you've heard about the meetings I have been leading...for extra help with apprentices who are in danger of failing their harrowing. I would love it if you would join us...to help them open up to their fullest potential." he said slowly.

Judith shook slightly, but remained unphased. She needed to stay on her ground and not give in. "I'm sorry, but I have to teach the children after my meeting with Wynne. I wiLl be very tired afterwards, and be of little use to you. I must be going."

Judith pushed past Uldred and left her things where they were; she would pick them up later. She ran as quickly as she could and looked over her shoulder to see the distance between herself and Uldred growing larger. Relief washed through her body when she realized he wasn't following.

She turned her head to look forward, and realized she was going to run into a Templar carrying five heavy boxes. She tried slowing down, but it was too late. They collided into each other. Judith landed on top of his chest and looked down to see who she was on top of.

It was Cullen staring at her wide eyed. She really felt bad about knocking him down, but she had to get away. Judith quickly recovered and began running once again.

Over her shoulder she yelled, "Sorry Cullen! You can blame me! Sorry about the mess!"

She turned a corner into the Chantry and rested. She had evaded Uldred...for now. With closed eyes, Judith leaned against a pillar, and rested her head against it. She felt safe, but she soon felt a hand on her shoulder. She grabbed whoever's hand it was and twisted it behind their back.

"Judith Amell, unhand me this moment!" it was Wynne's voice. Judith released her and fell to the floor breathing heavily.

Wynne rubbed her wrists and knelt down to Judith. "Not that I'm not going to nag to you incessantly about how rude it is to twist people's arms around their back, but...you seem troubled. Is there something wrong? You seem like you were running for your life."

Judith saw the concern in her eyes. Wynne had been trying since she had come back from Ostagar to get Judith to tell her when something was troubling her. Wynne had felt a bit at fault for what had happened to Judith. Wynne thought if she would have been here, she could have prevented Judith's meltdown that almost costed the young woman's life.

I can trust Wynne.

She rose slowly and dusted herself off. Looking over her shoulder to make sure there were no others listening, she turned to speak. "Wynne...don't you think Uldred has been acting a bit strange since you and the other Enchanters have come back?"

Wynne hesitated momentarily. "Yes, he has. I don't know much, though. He refuses to speak to me, and only seems interested in running his exercises in the library. I'm worried the war has changed him, Judith. Irving and Greagoir are becoming increasingly suspicious of his activities. They are watching his every move...and I don't blame them. I have a bad feeling something is going to happen very soon. However, until they come up with evidence, we'll just have to assume he is under a lot of stress. That does not condone his...library activities."

Judith smiled weakly. Her mind was at ease that she wasn't the only who noticed this and that she wasn't crazy. She hugged Wynne tightly and buried her face in the older woman's shoulder. "Thank you Wynne for listening...I just feel uneasy with everything that has been happening. Uldred approached me...and I hadn't felt that scared in a long time. It was like he looking through me. " Judith confided.

"What did he say?"

"He tried to get me to tutor those kids following him around, but I made up some excuse not to go. I don't feel safe nor do I think anyone should with him around."

Wynne pulled away and held Judith at arm's length. "Do not be alone with him Judith. Stay away from him."

Judith nodded. Down the hallway, a shadowy figure stood behind a wall, staring blankly at the women conversing. Little did Wynne and Judith know was that Uldred was watching the entire time, eyes fixated on Judith the whole time. A darkness fell over his face and the object of his desire was so close he could practically snatch her away right now. Soon he would have her, and she would see the full wrath of his power.


1 month later

"We've been travelling for months now and only have one treaty to show for it. Why did the Dalish have to be so hard to find?!" Neria complained as she and her growing group of vigilante's walked on the trail to Redcliffe.

The group had gained the addition of gigantic stone golem that referred to Neria as 'It' on one of their recent travels. Of course it was this expedition that had them wandering around aimlessly until they just happened to stumble upon a merchant who was selling the golem. Little did Neria know that this giant piece of rock had quite the attitude with strength to match. She decided to play nice in case Shale, the golem, would try to kill her as it did it's original owner.

Alistair walked alongside the small elven woman and offered insight to her hypothetical question. "Well Loghain is chasing us and sending little guys to fight us along the way. Not to mention the fact you did get us lost back when we were trying to find the Dalish camp."

Neria glared at him. With a swift slap of her hand, she hit Alistair in the back of the head. "You were reading the map upside down the entire time Sir "I know how to read a map"! We were circling around the same forest for three months. If it wasn't for the fact we were running out of food and we're in a war, I would've thrown you in the river!"

"But, through teamwork and great comeraderie we made it! See, it was my intention all along to get us lost. Helped build the team morale, and bring us closer together. Look at the love all around us." Alistair responded gleefully

Morrigan glared at the back of Alistair's head. "Elven woman if you do not hit the idiot...I will," Morrigan commented from the back of the group.

Neria twitched in anger. They had been on the road for nearly two weeks and the constant bickering between her companions was beginning to wane on her patience."Let us get to Redcliffe before I hurt you all..." Neria fumed.

It was night before they made it to the outskirts of Redcliffe Village. They set camp and ate in silence. Neria offered to take up the first watch, and much to her dismay Alistair volunteered to join her. She wanted to keep away from her companions until she developed the yearning she had yet to feel from missing them. They sat across from each other and looked anywhere but at each other. There was an arkward silence between them until Alistair mustered enough courage to begin a conversation.

"So...how old are you? Sixteen...seventeen?" he asked nervously.

Neria sighed. Did she really look that young? "I'm twenty. How old are you? Thirteen?"

"Haha...hehe...um, I'm twenty three. Listen...I know we may not be the closest friends-

"Using the term 'friends' loosely" Neria interrupted while fussing with her pixie like hair.

Alistair smirked at her comment. "I think there is something you should know before we head into Redcliffe...I'm a bastard. And before you can come up with any smart comments, the fatherless kind."

Neria was confused. What was so profound about him being a bastard? Bastards were being born everyday."What's wrong with that? It's not like your father was...I don't know... King Maric."

Alistair laughed nervously. Shit...how did she know."Funny you say that!...King Maric is-was!- my father. I'm...kinda sorta a prince." He looked around for a distraction so he wouldn't have to look Neria in the eyes. Maybe this wasn't as good of an idea as he had previously thought.

Neria eyes went wide. She stood up and backed away. "You're not only a bastard but...also a royal bastard!"

"I never thought of that one. I need to save that one for a later time." Alistair said to himself.

"ALISTAIR..so you're telling me that I have the last of King Maric's line is fighting alongside me in a war that can possibly kill us both. Not to mention there is some pyschotic nobleman hunting our every move. In addition to the fact that you may need to lead this country now that Cailen is dead! That's not something you save or just blurt out at the group's dinner table."

"I'm sorry...part of me enjoyed you not knowing. This title has brought me nothing but trouble all my life. People have always coddled because of it. Even Duncan kept me out of the fighting because of it. You can see why I wouldn't want anyone to know. I don't want that for myself. That's why when we see Earl Eamon, I want him to except the throne of king. I was promised all my life that I would never have to accept that responsibility, and that if anyone to ever find out about my existence it could be a threat to Cailen's rule. That is why I was sent to the Chantry, to ensure no one ever found out...until now" Alistair added sadly.

Neria looked up at the sky and sighed deeply. She couldn't kick him while he down...even if it was stupid of him to not tell her. "Any other secrets I should know? Besides the fact you're an idiot for not telling me something as important as that! You may be royalty but that doesn't mean you walk on holy ground, Chantry Boy."

Alistair was relieved...she wasn't going to treat him any differently. "Other than my love of all types of cheeses and my obsession with my hair...no only the prince thing. So you aren't going to...give me any preferential treatment?"

Neria gave him an blunt look. "Of course not! Now that I know this, I'm going to drill you into tip top shape if you ever have to lead this country! Maker forbid I leave you to your own devices...who know's where you will be. No, I'm definitely going to stick close to you to make sure you don't do anything stupid or embarrassing that could ruin my reputation. Just because you are a Prince doesn't mean you get a luxury treatment, blondie." Neria finished as she dusted herself off.

Alistair smiled at the thought at them spending more time together. "So...we'll kind of be like friends then?" He asked hopefully.

Neria gave him a skeptical stare but shrugged. He could have that title if desired it so much. Being friends with Neria, came at a cost. "Sure whatever you say, Prince Charming." she responded as she walked away.

Alistair shook his head. She was going to torture him over this...but she acknowledged for the first time since they had met that they were friends. It was well worth the uncertainty Alistair was afraid of because she now knew he was. And she obviously did not care that she was a king and only saw him as Alistair, the clumsy giant. The ground was soft as he lay back and looked at the stars. The light shone on him and he smiled at the sight.

'It can't get any better than this.'

So how was it? Was it bad? Did it seem like I had been off the scope for a week or two? Was Uldred creepy? Any reviews or critiques are greatly appreciated. As always, thank you for reading! You guys rock!

Also if there is any character you are dying to see in this piece just let me know and I will see if I can incorporate them in some way.