They were in the dinghy on the way back to shore after a grueling two days in the Tower of Magi. None of them were interested in accepting the Tower's hospitality. There were only so much of demons or abominations or whatever else was haunting the tower that anyone could take. It didn't help that the things inhabiting the tower and indeed some of the mages had decided to redecorate. The fleshy sacks hanging and growing everywhere released an odor of corruption that blended well with the scent of death and rotting corpses. So they slipped back into the little boat, this time it took two trips. Carroll, the templar who'd been guarding the dock, was forced to row out to get them then back with Morrigan, Sten, Leliana and their newest recruit Senior Enchanter Wynne. After which the tired templar had to come back for Alistair, Elissa and Red.

The rowboat was quite small. Alistair and Elissa had to sit right next to each other at the back of the boat facing Carroll. Alistair could feel Elissa's leg bumping his own. His face became quite red as he contemplated their nearness and he forced himself to think of something else before he embarrassed himself. He stared at the rowing templar. Alistair had known Carroll when he was in the Chantry, the man had been a year ahead of him. He'd never been all that fond of Carroll but he hadn't hated him either. He now found himself worried for the other man. Carroll talked a little too fast, sweated a little too much and would occasionally be startled by things no one else could see. By itself that wasn't enough to suspect lyrium overuse but... His thought was never concluded as Elissa chose that moment to talk.

"The more I hear about the Arl of Redcliffe's Knights the more worried I become, Alistair."

"Oh, how so?"

"Few of them seem to be coming back and those that do, have come back completely empty handed."

"Well, not to be judgmental but those that returned are not the brightest bunnies in the hutch."

"Exactly."

"So, what has happened to the Knights of Redcliffe?"

The boat arrived at the shore and as they disembarked, they continued talking. Alistair enjoyed strolling over to the Spoiled Princess listening to Elissa's thoughtful musings.

"That note we gave to the Knight in the Lothering Chantry."

"You mean Ser Donall."

"Yes, didn't it say something about a Brother Genitivi."

"It did. Said he lived In Denerim's market district."

"I've heard of this man," interrupted Leliana, "he is a well-known scholar and traveler. He has published many books."

Alistair shrugged. "His name sounded familiar." He held the door open and gestured for the ladies to enter the inn.

"So," Elissa continued, "it may be true that he's searching for the Urn of Andraste."

Leliana nodded.

Alistair turned a chair around to sit on it backward. "That doesn't explain why the Knights have disappeared."

"No," Elissa agreed, "but perhaps the good brother can do so."

"Denerim next?" said Leliana.

"No," said Alistair with a smirk, "dinner then Denerim."

Elissa just shook her head.

They ate plates of typical Ferelden stew and even paid for the privilege. They were discussing the best place to camp as they left the tavern when they were surprised by an unprovoked attack.

"Ambush!" Elissa yelled as she pulled her shield forward and drew her sword.

At her side Alistair was dancing to the same tune but a little faster. He leapt forward to engage a lumbering man swinging a two-handed sword giving Elissa time to put herself in order.

Together they mowed through one heavily armored opponent after another until suddenly there were no more to kill. Elissa watched Leliana run back from the hilltop where the archers now lay, those on the far right had been burned, probably by Morrigan, and Sten dropped the man he had held by the neck.

"You know," said Alistair, "I used to be fond of surprises." He leaned down and yanked an amulet off one of the bodies and passed it to Elissa.

"Andraste's flaming sword and a talon. Whose shield is this?"

Alistair answered, "The talon is an old symbol used by dragon cults. Sometimes darkspawn who've found one of the dragons of old in the deep roads find the symbols in the caves nearby. It's one of the signs a Blight is nigh."

"I thought the dragons were destroyed before Andraste was born."

"Certainly, all the major ones that were worshipped by the Tevinter were hunted down and killed by Nevarren dragon slayers."

"So, this is a new dragon cult."

"Seems likely, the question I want answered is whether or not there's a dragon," Alistair said grimly.

"That would explain where the Knights have gone," said Leliana.

Elissa sighed, "Let's see if we can find Brother Genitivi in Denerim."

They camped on the beach that night.

Alistair woke her in the morning and they sat and stared at the mist on the lake for a while.

"I've always liked misty mornings," he said in a voice absent of his usual irreverence.

"Oh, why's that?"

"You can pretend anything is out there waiting to be found, the dragon only I can destroy or a griffon waiting to take me away."

Elissa smiled gently. "I've always liked the stillness of a misty day. We didn't get them very often in Highever."

He nodded, the high winds of the area were famous and what had given the area its name.

They continued along the beach path all day and camped for the night at the foot of the path leading up the cliff to the Northern Way. At the top of the cliff Bodhan, their merchant friend, let them know he wouldn't be travelling to Denerim.

"My boy and I are heading around the northern edge of Lake Calenhad. We may stop near Orzammar before heading back south. Should you catch us we'd be happy to accompany you again, particularly if you'll be traveling in the south."

Though tired and road weary they arrived at the outskirts of the city without incident.

Elissa sighed as they approached the city. It was midmorning and traffic through the gate was brisk. Once they were inside the gate she pulled out her coin purse and started apportioning silver and tasks. "Sten and Leliana buy some food and other camp necessities. I'd really like tents if we've the coin for it. Also see if we can afford some armor for you, Sten. Wynne see if there's anything useful in the Wonders of Thedas. The rest of us will go look for Brother Genitivi. We'll meet outside the gates at that campsite we spotted."

Sten, Leliana and Wynne were not back yet when the others arrived at their chosen camp site. Morrigan immediately disappeared into the bush with a dreamy expression on her face. That left Alistair and Elissa to set up the camp. Practice had made them fast when working together and even Red now helped find dry wood when he wasn't too busy chasing rabbits or digging. Once the fire was well started Alistair checked his snares and came back with several rabbits.

"I think Red has been chasing them into the snares," he said.

"It is one of the things I trained him to do."

"Aha, in other words you could be helping to catch fresh meat for dinner!"

Elissa blushed, "If you need me to help I can but I've never been able to eat anything I've snared."

"Why not?"

"They're so cute, I feel guilty when I break their little necks and then they stare at you while..."

"Alright, I get it. I may never eat rabbit again but I get it."

Elissa giggled.

"There you go again."

"Again, what do you mean, again."

"I have noticed that whenever you and Leliana talk there is a great deal of giggling."

"Oh?"

"Yes, it makes me wonder what could possibly be so funny?"

"Just girl stuff. I may be a warrior and a Grey Warden but I'm also a nineteen year old."

"But Leliana isn't nineteen. She seems to have spent several years as a traveling minstrel before joining the Chantry."

"Exactly, now you know why we're giggling."

He shook his head. "I still don't understand."

"She has all that experience to draw on and she tells me stories of her life."

"Oh," Alistair said. He seemed unconvinced but Elissa thought it might come to him, eventually.

The others arrived with tents and news. Dinner was eaten, plans made and everyone settled into their evening routines.

Elissa watched Alistair pull out his journal and carefully mix a small amount of ink before setting pen to paper once more. His hand moved deliberately across the page and back and forth to the ink well with a hypnotic grace. Soon Elissa felt her head bobbing and decided to turn in for the night.