They made it to Redcliff in the morning. Alistair saw them, "It appears you ran into trouble."

Neria sighed, "A lot of it. Is Conor still alive?"

Morrigan, "Yes, and I feel him starting to reach deeply into the Fade."

Irving and the mages were setting up the ritual, "Who will be going the fade?"

Neria sighed, "I shall."

Alistair, "Is there a risk you'll turn into an abomination?"

Neria, "Demons though aren't as alluring as people make them up to be. It is possible though."

Irving, "Let us start."

Neria was unconscious. Cullen was tying a strap around his sword and hilt. Wynne raised an eyebrow at him. "Young man, Greagoir told me you tied your sword down during her Harrowing as well."

Cullen, "I trust her, she is more likely to possess a demon than the other way around."

Alistair, "A mage possessing the demon that is utterly frightening."

Leliana, "I think its sweet a templar has such faith in mages."

Cullen crossed his arms, "Only her. Wynne and Morrigan here have not proven that same strength. The Circle may not be equipped to train mages in will power."

Wynne, "You are being willfully blind. Thinking one woman is different purely because you want her to be."

Neria, wondered maybe she should have sent Morrigan. This running to make space between her enemies, was annoying. The desire demon, facing her. "Well Well, aren't you much stronger than this boy."

"Talk quickly or die."

"I can offer you, knowledge, love, pleasure or power. I'll leave the boy for a few years so people think he is free."

"I think you'll die."

The demoness waved her hand showing an image of Cullen, "I saw what happened in the Fade between you two. Perhap I can give him a little nudge, no more of that will you be rejected or not." Electricity crackled in Neria's palms. "Or that assassin, handsome enough. Experienced for sure, you certainly find him attractive."

The demon was caught in a crushing prison. "Leave forever, if you want to live."

Irving helped her stand up, "I made the demon dissolve the contract."

Morrigan raised an eyebrow, "You let it live?"

Neria shook her head, "No she is dead. The contract was dissolved first."

Irving, "Smart, better safe than risk another demon picking it up."

Alistair, "Is that possible?"

Wynne, "We aren't sure. That's why we try to do it this way."

Neria saw Cullen's sword tied down, she was about to say something but stumbled. Zevran caught her. "Could someone find me a bath, a room, and some food?"

"Are you sure you want me to shave your head? If you grow it out, I'm sure it would be quite lovely." Leliana held a razor.

"I've been bald for years, It's much easier."

Leliana began shaving the Elf's head. "It must be nice not to have to clean guts out of it."

"I've seen Morrigan do that, I'm not envious."

"How was the Fade in the Circle. Cullen was unwilling to talk about it. Zevran detailed how you saved him from the rack."

"I saw the blight was over. I was given a task to learn the Darkspawn anatomy, find bodily weaknesses."

"This is your dream?"

"Not necessarily Darkspawn. I want to know how the bodies of all creatures are made. I use to argue for human cadavers to learn and different animals."

"You would cut into the body of a dead man? Isn't that a sin?"

"I would cut into a corpse and see how the lungs are made, I could then better heal a live man's punctured lung. I don't see it as a sin, I see it as a stepping stone to progress."

"What did Cullen see?" Leliana couldn't hide her curiosity.

"If he didn't want to say it himself, it is not my place."

"Well what about the Fade where you saved Connor. What was that demon like?"

"She was a demon of desire. Beautiful really, lustful as well."

"What did she offer you?"

"How do you know she had a chance? I could have killed her immediately."

"You don't seem the type. You like knowing your opponent's hand."

"Very well, she offered me knowledge, strength, pleasure, and love. Or at least assistance in attaining affection. I guess I'm the sort that needs help." The bard finished shaving her head. So Neria slipped in the bath.

"What do you mean you need help?"

Neria dipped her head in the water. "I'm no seductress. I see how you and Morrigan interact with men, its very different. Either of you could get a man into bed with no trouble. I've no idea, people are strange and make little sense. I don't think my typical ways of mastering something would work."

Leliana handed the elf some soap, "How did you master your skills?"

Neria, "By hard work, and asking for help. I'm sure you can see I have little natural skill in spells. I became a competent healer because I liked cutting creatures open and Wynne was the teacher for that. I have to ask Morrigan dozens of questions before I could figure out how to cast lightning consistently."

"Well I could teach you, if you like. Every woman has her own way, we'll just have to find yours. You have alluring eyes. Do you have a target?"

"Even if I was successful, I wouldn't really know what to do."

"Are you a virgin?"

Neria nodded, scrubbing herself clean. "A few apprentices told me I was beautiful. Looking back those were opportunities. At the time I just told them I know, if I thought the mage was handsome I would return the compliment."

"And then?"

"Either I would talk about something archane with the fellow mage or I would walk away. Jowan would tell me I'm oblivious, I didn't really understand until after I became a grey warden and realized I could die soon."

"You are woo less."

"Didn't Zev say something like that to Alistair."

"Alistair, might be a good option for you. He is just as innocent as you."

Neria wrinkled her nose, stepping out of the water, wrapping a towel around herself. "He reminds me to much of a brother."

"Do you have a brother."

"I did, by blood. I meant Jowan, the man who is rotting in a cell again."

"Not Alistair then. Cullen seems very serious, probably need some kind oath before you could get him in your tent. You are a virgin though so perhaps-"

"Leliana you are chattering and I feel like I haven't slept for days."

"You are just as mysterious to people as they are to you. Very well I'll leave you be, eat something before you go to bed."

Neria had made herself a sandwich from the plater brought to her earlier. Chewing she heard a knock at the door, her mouth full she opened the door. It was Zevran, he chuckled seeing her cheek puffed out with food.

"Tsk you must be very tired and sore from all of this walking, fighting, and traversing the fade. I think I know what you need."

Neria finished swallowing her food. "Some sleep."

Zevran smiled at his dense friend. "I think I can help with that. Perhaps a massage with techniques that is only learned in an Antivan Whorehouse?"

Neria drank some ale, "I'm sure you are a very good masseuse, and thank you for the offer. I really am tired though."

Zevran narrowed his eyes, trying to decide what to do. "If you have no mind to, then it is of no concern."

Neria watch him, his intent finally catching up to her. "Oh! Well I am definitely of mind."

"Then why are we still talking?"

Zevran woke up, he didn't mean to fall asleep, his sight was of Neria was in the tub cleaning herself up. "Are you sure you aren't a wood nymph. Did I not wake when the servant brought the water? I'm a terrible assassin."

"A career change was best for you. I used magic for the bath water."

Neria began to towel off and the failed Assassin thought to take her again. Who knows the next time they would have a bed? Flipping the covers off, he noticed a small bit of blood on him, and on the sheets.

She followed his gaze, "Ah yes. I hope you don't think my virginity means anything special. I wanted you, if it doesn't happen again that is fine. I'll leave that in your hands."

Zevran, "I should be telling you that."

"Then I'll likely invite you again." The woman now dressed in fresh robes left her room. Leaving the man blinking slowly

Cullen was arguing with Alistair, "We need to ask one of these templars here to come with us. We have 2 potential abominations, you are the only one that can drain their mana!"

"I'll admit I don't trust Morrigan. Neria said Wynne was her Mentor, she seems like a good sort."

Cullen, "You didn't see the tower. Mages shouldn't deserve that kind of power! Even the experienced one can turn on you. Maker, we should just put Morrigan down."

Neria grabbed Alistair's sword, in a fluid motion used the pommel hit Cullen in the gut and resheathed his sword. "I do not need magic or turn into an abomination to kill you. Grey Warden or no, I will protect my comrades if you go mad."

Cullen folded over trying to keep his breakfast down. "It's not worth the risk."

Neria, "Right now I don't think you are worth risk, if you are willing to kill our allies. What is it you are fond of say, 'don't attack with 0 evidence of a threat'?"

Morrigan had been sitting there the entire time, "It seems I have a protector, not that I need one."

Cullen, "Fine, I hope your carelessness hasn't doomed us all."

Alistair, "Can you really use a sword?"

"Greagoir and Cullen taught me. I'm not good, but I know where to stick the point end. I would appreciate some training."

Wynne coming in, "Neria, didn't expect you up so early! You look so much better after some rest."

Leliana giggled, "Very refreshed. Must've been a nice bed."

Zevran walked in, "I feel as though I have been a topic of conversation."

Wynne, "Zevran someone bit you." The old woman healing the wound on his neck.

"Alas you remove a mark of honor."

"I'm sorry?"

"No need, I will have just have to earn it again." Zev noted Neria's blush, as did Leliana.

Wynne, "Don't run to me when you pick up a disease."

Leliana, "So was she beautiful?"

Neria cleared her throat, "If we are ready let's be off to Denerim."