Sorry for the delay, but my external hard drive (named Chuckles) died on my with all my stuff on it (I was FREAKING OUT!) Luckily, my boyfriend had all my stuff saved on his computer so I was able to get it back from him ^^ So... yeah, since I got my second external hard drive (Chuckles 2.0) I was able to get it all on there and I can now update! Yay!

So, enjoy, and please review ^^

Chapter 7:
The Insane And The Stoic:

"It's a Chantry board."

I blinked. "A what board?"

Alistair glanced over at me as if I was crazy, and, for a few moments, I just stared back at him. What was I supposed to do? I didn't know what this... Chantry thing was. After a few moments, a strange expression flitted over his face. I blinked again. Alistair was weird, even for a human. He cleared his throat and said, "A Chantry board. The Chantry – which is the religious temple where people worship the Maker – puts jobs on this board to help people that need it."

I took another look at the board, my eyes not focusing on anything there. "Okay... so... let's keep moving," I said, starting to move away from the board.

"Wait, what!" exclaimed Alistair, making me spin around to face him again.

"What?" I demanded, "I'm thirsty! There's a tavern just over there and it actually looks pretty-"

"Aren't we going to help these people!" interrupted Alistair, cutting me off, "First you ruthlessly kill those bandits and then you go and let that merchant who is stealing from the people off the hook and now you refuse to even read the Chantry board!"

I sighed. "First of all, those bandits had it coming. I wasn't going to let them scurry away. Secondly, he's not stealing from them; it's honest business. I'm not going to stop him from performing honest business. Thirdly... if you want to help the people, you jot down what's on the board while Morrigan and I check out the tavern over there... you can have Varkas for company. Stay here till Morrigan and I come back, okay Varkas?"

Varkas let out a small whine before lying down beside Alistair, who still looked very uneasy. I just shrugged and moved off to where I saw the sign indicating a tavern, with Morrigan following closely behind.

"We are not going to actually help these people, are we?" asked Morrigan as we walked, "Those that will not even leave when the darkspawn are quickly approaching."

I shrugged and replied, "For finishing jobs you normally get a reward, right? I'll help if we can get something out of it."

I glanced sideways at Morrigan, who seemed quite pleased at my response. She evidently didn't want to help people for no reason... neither did I, actually. They should at least be trying to leave this town, not waiting for the darkspawn to arrive and slaughter them all. Sodding humans.

We slowly entered the tavern and were rudely greeted by a group of soldiers standing directly in front of us. "Well. Look what we have here, men. I think we've just been blessed," said the soldier at the front, stepping towards us.

My eyes darted over the several soldiers standing in front of Morrigan and I. "Let me guess... you're Loghain's men," I said, giving each of them a glare.

A soldier stepped forward to glare back at me and growled, "Didn't we spend all morning asking about a dwarf by this very description, and everyone said they hadn't seen one?"

"It seems we were lied too," agreed the man at the front. The commander, I guessed.

A woman dressed in a pinkish dress seemed to step forward out of nowhere and said, in a soft voice, "Gentlemen, surely there is no need for trouble. These are no doubt simply more poor souls seeking refuge."

The commander gave her a sharp look and retorted, "They're more than that... Now stay out of our way, Sister. You protect these traitors; you'll get the same as them."

"Who're you calling traitors you sodding nug-lovers!" I exclaimed angrily, "If you want a fight I'll happily give it to you! No one calls me a traitor and gets away with it!" Okay, I was a wanted criminal known for being ruthless but I was not a traitor! Definitely not!

"Right," said the soldier beside the commander, "Let's make this quick."

And quick it was. The soldiers all charged towards me as I drew out my two daggers. The first soldier was caught in Morrigan's freeze spell before being decapitated by me. The three to my left were all caught in one of Morrigan's fire spells and burnt to a crisp. I chopped the head off another soldier before going for the leader. As I lifted my daggers up, ready to attack, his blade suddenly cluttered to the ground. He started trembling and terror covered his face.

"All right, you've won!" he yelled, his voice cracking in fright, "I surrender!"

"Good," said the woman, "They've learned their lesson and we can all stop fighting now."

"No," I replied angrily, these sodding nug-lovers were trying to kill us! They weren't getting away that easily. "They wanted to kill us! If our roles were reversed, they wouldn't hesitate to kill us!"

"Please! Wait!" yelled the commander in panic. What a cowardly human.

"They have surrendered! They were no match for you! Let them be!" protested the woman, her accent growing thicker in her desperation.

I glared at the woman and snarled, "They were going to kill us."

"But they failed, and I do not wish death on anyone."

"Too bad, cause I do," I replied before slicing the commander's head off, spraying myself with more blood.

The woman flinched and took a deep breath. Ignoring the dead bodies, she turned to face me, her expression calm. "I apologise for interfering," she said, "But I couldn't just sit by and not help."

I nodded in acknowledgement. She was definitely a good fighter. "Who are you?" I asked.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Leliana, one of the lay sisters of the chantry here in Lothering. Or I was."

Lay sister? Ignoring my curiosity to find out exactly what a lay sister was, I asked, "Was? What does that mean?"

"I joined the Chantry to live a life of religious contemplation, but I am no priest, not even an initiate," replied Leliana softly.

So she was one of those people that lived inside a Chantry... but how did she know how to fight like that? I dismissed the question for later, deciding to introduce myself instead. "My name is Kaela," I said, "Nice to meet you, Leliana."

Leliana nodded. "Those men said you're a Grey Warden," she stated, flinching slightly as she glanced at the dead body beside her, "You will be battling the darkspawn, yes? That is what Grey Wardens do?"

I frowned. "Yes, we fight the darkspawn."

"I know after what happened, you'll need all the help you can get. That's why I'm coming along."

What? Did she just decide that all by herself? Why was everyone deciding things for me! "Why are you so eager to come along?" I asked. Why did everyone want to help?

"The Maker told me to," replied Leliana simply.

I blinked. The Maker? That was what humans worshipped... yes, that's what Rica used to tell me. Humans worshipped a God they called the Maker... a God who had abandoned them. Not once, but twice. Sodding morons worshipped a God that seemed to love abandoning them! "Riiight," I said, taking a step backwards.

"I-I know that sounds absolutely crazy!" exclaimed Leliana, stepping forward, "But it's true! I had a dream... a vision!"

I blinked again. "You want to come with us because you had a dream."

"Look at these people here. They are lost in their despair, and this darkness, this chaos... will spread. The Maker doesn't want this. What you do, what you are meant to do, is the Maker's work. Let me help!"

"And the Maker told you to help through a dream."

Leliana looked exasperated. "It was not just a dream! It was the Maker's words!"

"But it's not a good reason to put your life on the line! It was just a dream, you don't know if this Maker was talking to you or not!"

Leliana sighed and said, "I know it sounds insane, but I believe it was the Maker talking to me. Please let me help!"

I frowned before groaning in defeat. "Fine, you can come," I replied, shaking my head. Sod she was determined to get her way.

"Perhaps your skull was cracked worse than Mother thought," mused Morrigan.

"Shut up, Morrigan," I growled back, scowling angrily. A crazy dream was no reason to tag along with killing darkspawn. Foolish human.

"Thank you!" exclaimed Leliana, dropping down and hugging me, "I appreciate being given this chance! I will not let you down."

I didn't doubt her, she could handle herself. I just didn't think this was the right job for her. "I think you need to swap that dress for some armour," I said, pulling away from her embrace. Hugging really wasn't my forte, "What type of fighter are you anyway?" I added as I crossed over to the man in the back, he had merchandise around him, so I guessed he was a merchant.

"I am good with long-range," replied Leliana quickly, "But I can use a sword if the need arises."

I nodded and grabbed a crossbow and some leather armour from the merchant, tossing them to her as I paid the man. "Put them on and meet me and Morrigan outside."

oOo

Leliana didn't take long to change into the leather armour. Morrigan and I had been standing outside, listening to the gossip, just for a little while before Leliana stepped out. She looked very different from earlier. She actually looked like she could fight, instead of looking pathetic yet being able to fight really well.

"Let's go back to Alistair," I said, spinning around and walking towards the bridge. I didn't wait to see if Leliana and Morrigan were following, I knew they would.

We approached Alistair, who was looking around uneasily. "Hey," I said as we drew nearer, "Whatcha got?"

Alistair sighed and replied, "Three jobs to do... with a reward of several sovereigns if we finish them all."

"Several!" I echoed, not believing my ears. I did ten jobs for Beraht and got two silver if I was extremely lucky!

Alistair nodded, seemingly not noticing my surprise. "We need to clear out three groups of bandits, find red-haired woman and kill some tainted bears."

"Sounds easy enough. Let's see what we can do, then."

"Ah... who's that?"

I tilted my head in confusion before remembering that I had Leliana with me. "Right," I replied, "Alistair, this is Leliana. Leliana, Alistair."

They both nodded at each other in acknowledgement. I shrugged and turned around again; ready to cross the bridge when a young, red-headed child standing by the edge caught my eye. He looked sad and desperate, and like he was waiting for someone. Carefully, I walked up to him and smiled. "Hello, are you waiting for someone?"

He looked at me, his eyes melting my heart. I hated to see children suffering. "I'm waiting for my mother. Have you seen her? She's really tall and has red hair! Some bad men came to the farm and she told me to run to the village and wait for her but I've been waiting and waiting and I haven't seen her!"

I knew this child's mother was dead... maybe even the one we were about to go and search for. I drew a silver out of my pocket and placed it in his hand. "Buy something to eat, child," I whispered as I held onto his hand, "And find somewhere safe to stay."

He looked at the silver in his hand as I drew mine away, before looking back at me, his eyes shining brightly. "A whole silver! Thank you so much! So... are you really a dwarf?"

I was a little shocked by the question but brought myself to nod. "Am I that noticeable?"

He laughed a small laugh and replied, "Father told me dwarves are really greedy but you're the most unselfish person here! Thank you so much."

I grinned and leaned down slightly, glad that he was just a little shorter than me. "Some dwarves are really greedy," I whispered, "Some are very mean as well. But don't worry, none of the mean ones are up here on the surface."

His smile grew brighter. "Thank you again."

"Don't worry, child. I'm sure your parents will come for you soon," I said, giving him a pat on the head, "Now get somewhere safe to wait for them."

The red-headed boy nodded and ran off in the direction of the Chantry board. I heard Alistair clear his throat and turned to face three very different reactions. Leliana looked like she was in love with me – which was slightly creepy; Morrigan looked very discontented with my action while Alistair looked completely and utterly shocked.

"You... gave that child a silver," mumbled Alistair, the surprise still plastered on his face, "Why?"

I shrugged. "I'm allowed to be nice when I want to be," I retorted.

"I think that was beautiful," sighed Leliana, "Absolutely wonderful. Helping children is just a magnificent thing to do."

"I call that wasting our money," said Morrigan. She was definitely unimpressed. "Why would you give that child a whole silver that will just be squandered?"

I shrugged again. "I couldn't sit by and watch a child with no one to take care of him stand all alone on the streets. It didn't seem right... the poor boy."

Before any of the three could say anything more, I started walking across the bridge, eager to get away from more questioning and, in Leliana's case, adoration. The three of them, were slowly trailing behind me and Varkas as we led our... strange group. "So there was killing the bandits and the bears as well as finding a lost mother..."

"Yes," replied Alistair, suddenly appearing beside me.

"Okay... then I think we should spl-"

My voice trailed away as my ears heard someone reciting something eyes caught sight of a rather large man standing in a cage. He was very large, even compared to humans! "Shok ebasit hissra. Meraad astaarit, meraad itwasit, aban aqun. Maraas shokra. Anaan esaam. Qun. Shok ebasit hissra-"

I slowly walked up to him, studying him closely as he continued to recite whatever he was reciting. It sounded a bit like a prayer. I started to suspect he wasn't a human... he didn't look like the ones I had met. "Who are you?" I asked him as I reached the front of his cage, interrupting his prayer thing, "Why are you in there?"

He looked up at me with purplish eyes, an uninterested look on his face. He looked like a military man, someone with fantastic equanimity. His eyes looked like they were penetrating into me as he replied, "I am Sten, of the Beresaad – the vanguard – of the qunari peoples."

"Qunari?" I repeated. That name sounded... strong.

"If you have not heard of us that is your own shortcoming."

"Hey! I've lived my life underground! I'm not exactly up to date with everyone and everything on the surface!" Something flashed momentarily in his eyes. Was that... amusement? No, couldn't be... he didn't seem like the type...

"This is a proud and powerful creature, trapped as prey for the darkspawn." said Morrigan suddenly, appearing beside me, "If you cannot see a use for him, I suggest releasing him for mercy's sake alone."

Did Morrigan just suggest mercy? This day was just getting crazier by the second...

"Mercy?" echoed Alistair, shock evident in his voice, "I wouldn't have expected that from you."

"I would also suggest that Alistair take his place in the cage."

"Yes, that's what I would have expected."

I rolled my eyes and said, "Stop bickering, children," I looked back up at Sten and added, "I find myself in need of skilled help... I am sworn to defeat the Blight."

Sten nodded slightly and replied, "You are a Grey Warden, then?"

How did he know? "Yes, I am."

"Surprising."

I growled under my breath. "How is this surprising!"

"My people have heard legends of the Grey Wardens' strength and skill, though I suppose not every legend is true."

He sure did not know how to talk to people... I sighed to let out my frustration and said, "Do you know of any way to release you? Can I talk to someone?"

He gave me a strange look, one I didn't understand, before Leliana spoke up. "If we speak to the revered mother, maybe we can convince her to release him."

I nodded. "Where is the revered mother?"

"In the Chantry. I can lead you to her."

"Alright... we'll be back, Sten. Hopefully with the key to your cage."

"Farewell, then," said Sten. I could feel him watching us as we walked back into the village, following Leliana's lead. He was frightening, but I could tell that he would be useful. He looked strong and capable, and we needed strength.

oOo

The Chantry place was just as strange as I suspected it to be. There were many people standing around praying, and others just standing there with a hopeless expression on their face. For a place of worship, it was pretty sodding depressing. We started to make our way through the Chantry; Leliana was leading us to the back. Alistair suddenly stopped, nearly making me whack into him.

"Why did you stop?" I asked grumpily, stepping to the side.

Leliana turned around to face us, confusion written on her face. She clearly wanted to know why we stopped.

"I know that man," said Alistair, nodding towards a human male reading through a book.

I shrugged. "And? What about it?"

He shot me a strange look before edging his way over to the man. With a reluctant sigh, I trailed after him. Leliana glanced to her left before following Alistair as well.

The man turned around as we approached – maybe he heard us walk towards him. "I'm sorry, do I-Alistair, is that you?" So, Alistair and this man did know each other. How strange.

"Ser Donall?" breathed Alistair, evidently amazed at seeing this man here.

"It is you, Alistair. By the Maker, how are you? I was certain you were dead."

Alistair shook his head, an angry glint in his eyes. "Not yet, no thanks to Teryn Loghain."

"If Arl Eamon were well, he'd set Loghain straight soon enough."

"If he were well?" stuttered Alistair, shock evident in his voice, "What do you mean?

Ser Donall sighed and said, "The arl is stricken with an illness that threatens his life. We have found no cure, either natural or magical."

Alistair's face had gone very pale. "When did this happen?"

"Only a few weeks ago, but he has declined quickly. No one knows the nature of the illness, and even magic has done little to slow its progress. Our only hope now is a miracle. Every knight of Redcliffe has gone in search of the Urn of Sacred Ashes. Andraste's ashes are said to cure any illness. But I fear we are chasing a fable. With each day, my hope dims."

Alistair was silent and I was certain that he was trying to digest all this information. First Duncan dies and now this Arl Eamon might die. This was not a good week for him. "I was actually hoping to meet Arl Eamon," I said, stepping forward, "We need his help against Loghain... and the darkspawn."

Ser Donall nodded and replied, "The arl is a popular man, it's true. Teryn Loghain, however, is a hero throughout Ferelden. Whatever the teryn has done or not done, the arl remains ill, or worse. That is my primary concern."

"Is it possible that Loghain is the reason the arl is sick?" Conspiracy theories were already running through my head – things like this happened amongst the noble caste all the time back in Orzammar.

Ser Donall shook his head. "The arl fell ill before the king died." Realisation suddenly crossed his face as he grimly added, "But what if Loghain planned that, too? Ah, such thoughts do not sit well with me."

Alistair looked down at me and said, "We should see what's happening in Redcliffe ourselves. I believe that now more than ever." I bit my lip hard. I had been planning a different course of action...

"If nothing else, I am certain you would be welcomed at Castle Redcliffe. The arlessa is there, and she could tell you more than I could."

I nodded. It sounded reasonable. "We must go, now," I said, noticing Morrigan's discomfort and Leliana's eagerness to keep going.

He nodded and replied, "Good luck to you. And to you, Alistair. I hope to one day see you again."

"And you, Ser Donall," said Alistair solemnly as Ser Donall turned and left the Chantry.

I saw Leliana move slightly to the side, her eagerness growing. I nodded at her and she continued walking through the Chantry, with me and hopefully the others following.

"Good day, Sister Leliana," said the elderly woman sitting in a chair in the back room as our small group approached, "I'm surprised to see you're still in Lothering." She looked more surprised at Leliana's outfit, her eyes scrutinizing it up and down.

"It is good to see you as well, your Reverence."

"I do not recognise your companions," said the woman, glancing momentarily at the others before her gaze fell to me, "Greetings. Will you be making a donation to the Chantry? Our need has never been greater."

I frowned slightly and quickly thought over the money we had; which wasn't much. I knew that any money I gave these people would quickly go to waste, seeing as they would most likely all be caught by the darkspawn. "I have nothing to offer," I replied, watching as the woman's expression changed slightly to one of disappointment.

"I understand. Not all are wealthy enough to spare even a few coins for the Maker's favour." Was that meant to make me feel bad? I concluded that it was meant to make me reconsider my response as the woman stayed silent for a few moments, studying me closely. She let out a sigh as she noticed that I wasn't going to change my mind and said, "What can I do for you?"

"I want to talk about Sten, the qunari you imprisoned."

"It might have been kinder to execute him, but I leave his fate to the Maker. Why does he interest you?"

"I was hoping that you might give me the keys to his cage, so I can release him."

The shock was evident on her face as she shot up out of her chair. "That would not be wise. His next victims could very well be you or me."

I shook my head. "I don't think so... he doesn't seem the type to be a cold and ruthless killer. Besides, I was hoping you could release him into my custody."

The woman looked over at Leliana and said, "What do you say on this, Leliana? You know this dwarf better than I."

Dwarf? Stone, I have a name!

"These are... unusual times, your Reverence," replied Leliana, "With us, the qunari might do some good. I am sure of it, in fact."

"Were things not so desperate..." sighed the older woman, "Very well, I trust you." She turned back to me and drew a key out of her robes. "Take this key to his cage, and Maker watch over you."

I arched an eyebrow at her statement. She knew I was a dwarf yet she still talked about the Maker as if I was a believer. She should know better.

"Thank you, your Reverence," hastily said Leliana, obviously noticing the icy atmosphere around the old woman and I, "Your trust is not misplaced."

The woman nodded, her eyes filled with sadness. "I hope not," she replied before returning to her chair.

I quickly turned around and made my way out of the Chantry; it made me extremely uncomfortable. Morrigan evidently shared my discomfort as her pace was just as fast as mine, if not faster. As soon as we exited the Chantry, we were greeted with the sound of yelling. One voice much louder than all the others.

"The legions of evil are on your doorstep! They will feast upon our hearts!"

The yelling was loud enough to catch anyone's attention, especially mine. I walked slowly towards the small crowd that had gathered. I edged forward and noticed a hysterical man shouting out all the morbid things.

"Please! You're scaring the children!" exclaimed one of the men nearby, holding a young girl, with a terrified expression on her face, tightly.

"Better to slit their throats now than let them suffer at darkspawn hands!" How dare he suggest killing the children! They were innocents in all of this! "There!" he yelled suddenly, pointing at me, "One of their minions is already amongst us! This woman bears their evil stench! Can you not see the vile blackness that fills her?"

Well that was a new insult; I've never heard something like that before. Anger filled me but before I had the chance to respond, I noticed another child poking his head out from behind his father, with an expression filled with curiosity and fear. My anger vanished in an instant. The poor child. "Why don't you keep your voice down?" I said, moving my eyes back to the hysterical man.

"I watched the black horde descend on my people! I will not be silent! This is but the first of those who will destroy us."

I saw intense emotion filling his eyes. He'd been through hell. "What happened to you?" I asked.

Sadness crossed his face as he replied, "My family, my clan... those creatures butchered them all! Some of us fled here, but we cannot escape the darkspawn! I... ran, hearing my wife's screams as they dragged her off!" His eyes lingered on my hair, a gentle expression falling upon him, "She... had hair the same colour as yours."

I glanced at the little boy again, fear gripping his face. "Scaring these people won't get her back," I said softly, still watching the little boy, "It will not change anything apart from frightening the children and everyone else."

"You... you are right," murmured the man, his shoulders slumping, "I will go."

"He was right, wasn't he?" asked a man wearing a robe, "There's no hope for us..."

My eyes flickered to a little girl clinging to a man – she was younger than the boy. "There's always hope," I replied, speaking more to the child than the man, "Muster your courage." The little girl smiled at me.

"You're right," said the man, "We can't give up!"

"But we can't fight!" exclaimed the man the little girl was clinging too, "What are we supposed to do?"

"We can't lie down and die, either," said another man, gripping the little boy's shoulder, "We must go north, to Denerim!"

I nodded in approval. Fleeing was the best option to save the kids. The two children both beamed at me before trailing after the small group of men. I prayed to the ancestors that they would stay safe.