"Okay, you remember how to disarm someone, right?" Aedan asks. I nod and he nods back, tightening his shield on my arm. "Good. Don't let him get past this-" Aedan taps the shield, a faint ding sounding over the camp. "-and don't let him smite you."

"I fail to see how I avoid that, but whatever," I say, smirking up at him. He huffs, rolling his eyes, but hands me his sword. The laurel symbol of our family is stamped on the pommel.

"You're smaller, faster, and very good at this despite what you believe," Aedan says, stepping back. "You can win." I gulp, looking past him at Alistair, who for some reason, seems bigger than he usually does. "Good luck, sis. I know you can do this." He retreats to a log we dragged in earlier, sitting down beside Leliana. Of course.

"Ready?" Alistair asks, grinning.

"Ready as I'll ever be," I say, gulping. He settles into a defensive stance, sword pointing over his shield. Only his eyes and his hair are visible over the lip of the wooden kite.

"First touch wins!" Aedan says. "Ready? Go!"

Alistair doesn't pause or give me time to think. He rushes forward, launching blow after blow after blow. I somehow keep him from hitting me and block all of them with the shield, dancing around behind him. I mimic his earlier stance as he finishes through with a blow I avoided. He spins around faster than I thought he could, slamming his shield into me. My arm is shoved into my chest and I am thrown back to the ground. I groan as my head smacks a particularly big stone, but swing my legs over my head and roll back to dodge his next attack. I am on my feet the same instant, panting, as I adjust my shield on my forearm.

As Alistair swings, I see an opening. I throw my shield up as I drop to a knee. His sword bounces off harmlessly and as he recoils, I flip my sword around and slam the pommel into his chest. He staggers back, gasping, wide-eyed, and I advance when Aedan decides that doesn't count. As Alistair retreats to give himself time to recover, I take a moment to regain my wits. I blink rapidly to slow my spinning vision.

"Come on, Elissa! Do something," Aedan says.

"I was kinda planning on it."

Just as Alistair looks up at me, I lunge, slamming my shoulder into his chest. Pain erupts as my arm gets sandwiched between two masses of flesh and armor, but I push him back. He staggers and I smack the flat of my blade across his shoulder, panting.

"Ow," he whines, smirking. His eyes have a strange light to them, one that makes my heart race wildly in my chest.

"I think Elissa won," Aedan says.

"Obviously," Morrigan sniffs. "The templar fool didn't stand a chance."

"You thought I would win?" I ask her, disbelief filling my voice.

"Only because templars fail to give their recruits proper training," she says, standing. "And I am off to bed. Wake me when it's my turn for watch." With that, she strolls over to her secluded little camp that's no more than thirty feet away. She disappears inside of her tent immediately, and Alistair clears his throat awkwardly once she's gone.

"Good fight," he says, offering a hand.

"I didn't wound your pride or anything?" I ask, grinning, as I shake his hand once.

"Well, maybe a little," he muses.

"Hmm," I say, walking a little closer. He visibly gulps and I smirk. "I might have to fix that later." I wait for his face to turn red before smiling to myself and returning Aedan's weapons to him. He shoots me a knowing grin, to which I respond, "So do you guys wanna hear about what Aedan did at-"

"Shut up!" Aedan says. He retreats to his tent that same instant, face red.

"You just harass everyone, do you not?" Leliana asks, smiling.

I shrug, saying, "Only the boys."

She laughs, nodding. "I'll see you in the morning. Good night." Once she is gone, I make sure Sten has left for his tent as well before going up to Alistair again.

"That was sneaky," he says.

"It worked, though," I say, smirking. "After all, I did win, didn't I?"

"By using a very strange tactic," he admits.

"Still, a win is a win." I stand up on my toes to kiss his cheek. His face turns red faster than my own can and I take my opportunity to hide. "Night, Alistair. Sleep well." All he can do is nod numbly since he has first watch. I pat my thigh for Wolf to follow me into my tent. The dog bounds after me, tackling me inside. I push him off after getting showered in wet, slobbery dog kisses and dog hugs.

"All right all right! Sheesh!" I say, wiping drool off my face. "I'll give you a bone after I go get a bath in the river." I sigh, massaging my temples. "Again." He barks, spinning in a circle before leaping outside. I push myself up and follow him out. Alistair just nods at me as I pass him. Wolf bounces around between us excitedly. "I'm coming you stupid mutt." Wolf whips around, shooting me a goofy look, but I just laugh, following the mabari out into the forest.