Oghren walked behind Eriana and Nathaniel all the way to Amaranthine, staring at the back of the young elf's head the entire way, almost glad he couldn't see her face. Not that it mattered now; he had seen her face the moment he said the assassin's name. He hadn't meant to hurt her, to remind her of Zevran so soon after his disappearance; it had just kind of slipped out. Honestly though, just how stupid could he be? "Careful Commander, this one might go all Zevran on you." It wasn't a new expression for either of them. After all, they had said that so much to each other during the Blight that it had become almost second nature. A group of bandits steps out into the road in front of them, "Watch out Warden, that one looks like he could go Zevran on you." A young man in a bar gives her one of those looks, "Hey check him out; he looks like he could go all Zevran on you." Even Zevran himself was in on it at times, "Watch out, mia cara, those vagabonds over there look as though they're about to go all me on you." When he saw Nathaniel standing there, looking as though he could easily be planning an ambush, it was only natural for the familiar phrase to pop out, and when it did, Oghren saw her demeanor completely change. She froze; her entire body stiffened; and that air of confidence that she was trying so hard to exude faltered for a moment. Of course she recovered quickly, but the damage was already done. He attempted to offer a hasty apology, but it was too late. For the past two days, Eriana had managed to keep herself busy enough to keep her thoughts away from her lost elven lover, but with one stupid slip of the tongue, he had managed to bring all those thoughts and feelings flooding back.

"Ah, and here is Amaranthine," Nathaniel said as they approached to towering walls of the city. "Pretty as a picture." Eriana chuckled a bit at that. "What? Is something wrong with the city?"

"No, it's just a little déjà vu. Alistair used those same words to describe Lothering after the Battle of Ostagar. I guess in a way it's appropriate that you use the same words, a new city, a start of a new adventure." She sighed and muttered something under her breath that neither Oghren nor Anders quite caught. "Let's get going."

They spent the first day touring the city, speaking with the guards and merchants as Eriana introduced herself. It seemed like everybody had something that they needed from their new Arlessa. The requests ranged from mundane things like looking for stolen supplies or rounding up vials of poison to the audacious.

"Seriously," Eriana spat as they walked into Crown and Lion Inn, "Do they really expect me to help with their smuggling operation? The idiot really thought that I would help him smuggle weapons and illegal goods into my city; did he know who he was talking to?" She threw her bag down and flopped down in a chair while one of the barmaids brought them a round of drinks. "I mean, I'm losing tax money on every good they smuggle into this city, so why exactly would I help them."

"You might have during the Blight," Oghren pointed out.

"Yeah," she snapped, "but during the Blight I was an outlaw working against a government that wanted me dead. I did what I had to. Now the Crown doesn't want me dead, and I have to make sure this Arling is a success." She practically growled and downed her entire tankard of ale in one gulp.

"Well," Nathaniel said, sitting down across from her, "criminals and thieves aren't exactly the most intelligent people out there, you know."

"Oh, no," Oghren thought. "Howe has no idea the pile of bronto droppings he's just stepped in." But to his surprise, Eriana didn't blow up at him.

"You're painting all criminals with a pretty broad brush, Howe," Eriana said, "especially for someone who was very recently imprisoned for breaking and entering."

"That's not the same; I was breaking into my family's former home."

"And planning on murdering its current inhabitant," Anders added. Nathaniel shrugged.

"Look," Eriana said, "I'm not saying your actions weren't justifiable. You had a perfectly good reason for it, but that doesn't change the fact that an outsider who didn't know the story would still look at you as a common criminal. Sometimes people who are criminals find themselves in that position because they are simply out of other options. You look up one day and you have one of two choices: steal or starve, so you steal and you survive."

Nathaniel eyed her curiously, "What gives you such keen insight on the criminal mind, Commander?"

She shrugged, "I used to be one. When I was fourteen, my mother died, and my father kind of shut down. He wouldn't work, wouldn't leave the house, wouldn't even get out of bed most days, so I was forced to find some way to feed both of us. I had no skills, but I was quick and moved through shadows well enough, so I picked pockets to survive."

"Wasn't there anyone else who could have helped you?" Anders said leaning across the table. "Don't you have any other family?"

"In Highever, but travel is expensive and difficult for elves. I did have an uncle, but he had two kids of his own and times were tough for them, too. I couldn't be a burden on them, so I did what I had to."

Nathaniel shook his head, "But that's different."

"Is it really? I still stole from people, and I doubt that the guards would have cared that we were starving if I had ever gotten caught. You never know what drives a person to that kind of desperation. Now, I'm not saying that every criminal has a heart of gold underneath; I'm just saying don't judge all outlaws by the same standard." She smiled weakly. "That being said, those guys who asked me to help with the smuggling; yeah, they were complete morons." The three men chuckled a bit at that as the barmaid brought over their dinner.

Oghren watched as his companions devoured their dinner; well, except for Eriana. She picked half-heartedly at the meal in front of her, the familiar sad look creeping back across her face. She pushed the plate away with a sigh of frustration and announced that she was turning in for the night. "We can investigate those smugglers tomorrow and then swing by the Chantry; I need to introduce myself to the Revered Mother while I'm in here." She glanced over at Anders, "And don't worry, I won't make you go inside if you don't want to."

"Commander," Nathaniel said, getting to his feet, "if it's alright with you, I think I'll stay with my sister tonight. I'm pretty sure these two would sleep better if I wasn't in the same room, and I'd like to spend some more time with her before we go back."

"That's fine, just meet us here in the morning," she said as she turned to head to her room. Oghren got up and followed her up the stairs after muttering something to Anders. She seemed unsurprised when he knocked on her door.

"Listen, Eriana, I wanted to apologize. I shouldn't have mentioned Zevran this morning; I don't know what I was thinking. It just kind of slipped out."

"I know Oghren. I know you didn't mean to hurt me, but…"she sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I teetering on the edge here, Oghren. Every morning I wake up to an empty bed and have to force myself to just get up and get moving. I try to limit my sadness to those moments, to hide those feelings the rest of the time. I keep myself busy all day, trying to fill the void in my life with work and duty, trying everything to suppress the hurt, but it's always there, lingering just beneath the surface. The smallest things will remind me of him, and I have to struggle to regain my composure. So when you said that this morning," she pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her arms and chin on them, "suddenly it was like we were back fighting the Blight." She cradled her head in her arms, "It was like I was happy again."

"You can be happy again, Kid, you know that right? And it's okay to hurt; I'd be worried about you if you didn't. But what you can't do is shut yourself up behind this wall that you're trying to build." She opened her mouth to protest. "Now don't you go denying it; I can see what you're trying to do. You're trying so hard to be strong, to do this all on your own, but you don't have to do it yourself. You know that right? It's okay to admit that you need help; it's not admitting that you're weak."

"Is that what you did, Oghren? Did you open up to your friends and ask them for help when Branka left?"

"No, I turned to the bottle, and as you well know, I've yet to really crawl out of it. But I know what I'm talking about. I tried to fix it myself, and it didn't work. If I had admitted that I needed help, who knows, I may not be the mess I am now."

"Oghren," Eriana said, reaching out to take his hand, "you're not a mess."

"Ah, yes I am, but I've gotten to the point that I realize it. I can't sit back and watch you make the same mistakes that I did. You're too young to lose yourself like this, and you have too many people who care about you to go through it alone. I just wanted to make sure you know that."

Eriana knelt down and pulled the dwarf into a hug. "I know I'm not alone. Thank you, Oghren; I'll try to be more open if that's what you think is best."

Oghren patted her on the arm, "I just don't want you to become me, Kiddo, not if I can help it. Now, I'm going to let you get some rest; I have this strange feeling that we're going to killing some smugglers tomorrow," he said, giving her a kiss on the forehead and going back downstairs to join Anders.

It turns out Oghren's prediction was accurate. The Wardens spent the next day chasing various gangs of smugglers around the city. It would have been rather difficult without Nathaniel's intimate knowledge of the city and keen eyes. As much as he hated to admit it, the young nobleman was extremely helpful, not that he trusted the man just yet, but he was proving somewhat useful. Though they killed several members of the smuggling ring, they had yet to discover their base of operation. The constable, a man named Aidan, said that he would keep an eye out for any more information on the smugglers and would pass it along the next time they were in the city.

Once they finished with the smuggling business, all they needed to do was swing by the Chantry, and then they could turn in for the night. As they approached the chantry, they were greeted by a familiar face. "Wynne," Eriana said, rushing forward to embrace the elderly mage.

"Hello, child, it is wonderful to see you again. I was hoping to see you while I was here." Wynne glanced around, a bit confused, and Oghren knew what was coming next. "So, where is Zevran? I expected to see him with you."

Eriana smiled sadly as she offered up the same brief excuse she had given both him and Alistair and quickly changed the subject, inquiring about Wynne's presence in Amaranthine. After a short discussion about the Circle of Magi, Wynne turned to conversation back to the elf. "Are you doing alright dear? You seem tired and a bit pale. Would you let me examine you to make sure all is well?"

"There's really no need, Wynne; I'm fine. I look tired because I am tired. I've not been sleeping well here lately."

"Oh? Is something causing that, I wonder?"

"Yeah, darkspawn nightmares."

Wynne cocked her head and looked down at the young woman. "Darkspawn nightmares? I don't seem to remember you having much of a problem with nightmares during the Blight."

Eriana shrugged, "Well, Zevran was a really light sleeper. He would always wake up when I started having one and would wake me up just enough to end the dream. We got to the point that neither of us would even remember waking up. Now that he's gone…I guess never got good a blocking them out, and since I joined during a Blight, I'll be having them the rest of my life. It'll just take me some time to adjust."

Wynne sighed, "I'd still like to check, just to be sure."

"I appreciate the concern, Wynne, but I'm fine, really. A bit stressed, but that's all. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to speak to the Revered Mother. Oghren, why don't you and Anders stay out here, then you can answer any of Wynne's questions about me while I'm in side," she said with a weak smile, motioning for Nathaniel to follow her.

Once the two rogues were inside, Wynne turned to Oghren. "So exactly what happened?"

Oghren quickly explained everything Eriana had told him and Alistair tha had happened in Highever, about being attacked and waking up to find Zevran gone. Wynne and Anders listened intently. "Now, this Zevran guy? Who is he?" Anders asked once Oghen was finished.

"Her fiancé."

"And he just left her, just like that without no warning? Maker's Breath when did this happen?"

"The night before she left Highever for the Vigil. Apparently he was gone when she woke up the next morning."

"So tell me truthfully, Oghren, how is she really doing?"

"She's barely holding herself together Wynne, but it's early still, and she's strong. This is going to take her some time to get over him."

"So is he gone for good?" Wynne asked

"Who knows? You know how they both are. He didn't even tell her what he was planning to do. I think that's what hurt her the most."

Wynne sighed, "I wish I could stay and help her; I feel awful just leaving like this. Do Alistair and Leliana know?"

"Leliana is off in the deeproads with the Legion of the Dead, so there was no way of telling her. Alistair showed up in Amaranthine the night she got there. But there's nothing any of us can really do anyway other than distracting her and being there if she decides she needs us."

Wynne shook her head, "Poor dear, I do hope that's all that's wrong, but I have a feeling it's not. There's something off about her that I just can't put my finger on. It may just be her grief and all this stress, but I'm not so sure about that." She turned and looked at Anders, "I remember you from the tower. You're a healer aren't you?" Anders nodded. "Keep a close eye on her for me; she is very dear to me, very dear to a good many people. I've known her for a long time. She will try to be strong, even when her world is crumbling around her."

Anders nodded, "I'll watch out for her."

"Good," she said as the chantry doors opened and the two rogues strolled back out. "I'm afraid she'll need your help, more than even she realizes."

Meanwhile back in Denerim….

A hooded figure slinked through the back streets of Denerim, headed toward the tavern in the dock district where the contact from the Crows said he would be waiting. The figure pulled the cloak tightly around its face, not to block out the cold, but to shield its face from any that may recognize a familiar face, not that there was much to worry about. Most residents of the palace distract avoided the docks. Finally finding the right place, the figure slipped inside and took a seat in the back corner where the door and remainder of the room were clearly visible. A waitress brought a tankard of ale for the waiting figure and went along with her business, neither saying a word. A few minutes passed before a sleek looking, dark-haired Antivan man strolled in and made his way back to the table.

"So," the hooded figure said, leaning across the table, "I hope that you have good news to report."

"Your information was very helpful in locating the elves, but unfortunately, Zevran and the Grey Warden survived our first assault."

"Well, you knew that that was a possibility; after all, both are quite skilled. But they're in Amaranthine now; don't tell me that you can't get to them there."

The Crow nodded, "Yes, access to them in Amaranthine would be easy, but I'm afraid it is not that simple."

"What do you mean?" the hooded figure hissed. "You just said that the fortress there was not impenetrable; besides, they'll be out and about doing Warden things, leaving them vulnerable. Scout the place out, pay off the servants; I don't care. I just want those elves dead."

"Well, there problem is there is no more them, only her. Our attack, it seems, spooked our Antivan friend. A few days after our attempt he escaped, our sources tell me, on a ship bound for Antiva City. The Warden continued on to Amaranthine alone."

The hooded figure cursed softly, slamming a fist on the table. "Well, you know where she is, and without the assassin to protect her, she should be easy prey. Just attack her there."

The Antivan man smiled, "Ah, but you see, our beef, as you say, is not with her. With Zevran gone, we have no further reason to kill her; she was merely collateral damage anyway. Now that is seems Zevran is headed to Antiva, our business with the lovely Warden is over. My countrymen will deal with our rogue back home."

"So that's it?"

"I am afraid so, as there are no masters currently seeking an active contract on the Warden Commander, there is nothing more we can do to her without upsetting some very high-ranking Crows. So, I thank you for your assistance in this matter and your information, but…"

"You say there are no active contracts on Eriana Tabris herself, correct?" The Crow nodded. "What if I was to take one out on her?"

The Crow shook his head. "I'm afraid that would be impossible, my friend. You see, there is no master among the Crows that would accept such a contract. Not only do we have a standing agreement with the Warden herself, but it is quite bad business when you repeatedly fail to kill the same mark, and believe me, this one is royally tough to kill. Now that she is surrounded by her fellow Wardens, it would take an army of Crows to take her down, and here in Ferelden, we simply are not in a position to do that."

"But I helped you out; I gave you the information that you needed to get to them. I told you where and when you would find them alone."

"Yes, and had we succeeded, it would have been to our mutual benefit, no?"

"But you didn't succeed. You failed, and I demand some form of retribution."

The Crow regarded him in silence for a moment. "True," he finally said, "but I cannot give you what you desire. I can, however, give you some advice. Quid pro quo, information for information. You cannot the hire the Crows for a job such as this, this much is true, but you could hire a Crow."

"Go on."

"It is not unheard of for certain members of the order to take on, shall we say, private contracts. It is a risky move; to say the least, the order frowns on it as it often damages our reputation and more often than not leads to the death of said Crow. However, if you can find one desperate and reckless enough to take on your bid and risk the wrath of his master, then you may have found yourself an assassin."

"Are you such a man?"

The Antivan laughed, "Me? No, my friend. I have no desire to anger my superior in such a way, and as my master was the one who made the bargain with the Warden, I would most certainly be severely punished should I succeed. That, and the fact that I rather enjoy living. Death by Grey Warden is not exactly what I would call an appealing prospect." The assassin took a long drink. "Why do you think I merely passed along your information about the Warden's location rather than going after them myself? I had no desire to commit suicide a la Warden. It is a fool's errand."

"Do you know any such fools?"

The Antivan grinned, "Now, there I may be of some assistance to you. There are always foolish young Crows, desperate to prove themselves, who may jump at such a risk. A word of caution, however, the young and eager are also often undependable. They may turn on you to save their lives, and considering the powerful friends you both share…"

"If this got out, I could find myself in a great deal of trouble."

"Exactly, so my suggestion to you is if you intend to pursue this, it would be wise to distance yourself as much as possible."

"Are you suggesting that I hire this person by proxy? If it gets traced to one of my servants, it will still come back to me."

"Something more discreet then. Surely you are not the only person with a score to settle with the Lady Tabris; after all, one does not achieve such great heights without stepping on many along the way. Perhaps a discreet word of advice to one of her vassals who stands to lose a great deal."

"Or already has. Very subtle my friend."

"I am an assassin," the Antivan said with a casual shrug. "I wouldn't be a good one if I wasn't subtle. Poisons and daggers are not the only ways of killing one's target, after all. I assume you have someone in mind then?" The figure nodded. "Good, then I will have a few names along with instructions for contacting them to you within the week."

His companion nodded to the Crow and quickly headed for the door, drawing the cloak over its face before leaving. "Good hunting, my friend,"" he shouted after him. "Fool," he thought after the noble left. "Why would one with so much to lose risk it all on such a dangerous enterprise. Keep playing with fire, my friend, and you will likely get burned."

Hey all, thank you so much for reading and reviewing. Hopefully, I'll be able to update a bit more frequently over the Christmas break, but we all know how busy it can get. To those of you who have added alerts and faves: Akuma, Nevarstar, Elizabeth, Kaytaylol, YukinaAmon, thank you and I hope you enjoy. To my reviewers, Jen4306, Enpowera, and Eva Galanda, thank you so much, sorry I didn't get a chance to respond yet (the end of the semester is a killer).