Obligatory Chapter Heading:

Chapter 10:

At a loss as to what to do now, I went over to the Chantry board. I'd done a few errands from other ones before; they wouldn't be too difficult, surely.

I was wrong. Bandits? In the plains near the town? A pack of wolves? A trio of bears? A nest of giant spiders? Maker! A woman, missing several days? These poor people! Thedas was going to the Fade in a handbasket!

I made a mental note of all the requests. Biting my lip, wondering if I should have changed out of my new, pretty dress, I walked toward the edge of town, the opposite from where we'd come. Sure enough, there were wolves. And bears. And spiders. I shuddered. I'd left the bandits for last, thinking they would be the ones to give me the most trouble. I wasn't wrong.

"Are you lost, little girl?" a man peered in to my face, leering.

"She looks it, don't she?"

"That she does."

"I am a little lost, yes. Where is the-" I swept my blade up, pushing it against his throat. My expression cold, I met his eyes, "Do I have to kill you?"

The men who had gathered round us burst out in peals of laughter.

"Ay, little lady, you might want to just walk away now. You're no match for us."

Grinning, my other dagger came up and sit his wrist, which was angled away from me.

"I don't want to. I want to help the people of Lothering. And you're hurting them. That has to stop. Even if I have to kill you." My voice was soft. Deadly.

"Kill her!" he growled, clutching his arm.

The fight was on. It was terribly hard, trying not to get blood on me. As it was, I ended up having to scrub my shoes clean in the water. Sitting beside the stream lazily, I waited for them to dry, feeling eyes on me the whole time. The sensation of being watched was an itch across my skin. I fought the urge to look around me with difficulty. A lot of difficulty.

A few minutes later, I was receiving money from the Chantry brother who stood by the board. I couldn't remember what his proper title was, but it didn't really matter. I had more than made up for the sovereigns I'd spent earlier. Thank the Maker. I didn't need to give Alistair or Morrigan any reasons to decide I wasn't worth having around.

"Hello, child." A woman spoke off to my left.

"Hello, sister." I smiled innocently at her.

She played with a strand of her short red hair, eyeing me with hope, though she sounded nervous, "I saw you earlier. With the man, woman, and mabari. They ran in to trouble in the tavern. I helped them, though the man turned away my aid when I offered." She moved closer, her voice lowering, "I heard the men who attacked your companions say the man you are travelling with is a… Grey Warden. And that they were looking for a young girl, as well."

She bit her lip, staring at me as if I held all the answers of the universe.

"Why did he turn you away? What aid did you offer?"

"I said they could use a hand, and they had already seen me fight, so they knew I wouldn't be useless to their cause. And I, erm…." Her words trailed off.

I raised an eyebrow at her embarrassed expression.

"I had a vision. A vision from the Maker. It told me I needed to be of help during the Blight. Please. I can-"

"There you are!" Alistair wandered to my side, his eyes tightening at the sight of the sister standing in front of me, "We've been looking for you."

"Oh! I'm sorry. I was busy getting this." I held out the coin purse, dropping it in his outstretched hand.

"How…. Maker's breath, this is a lot of money. What did you do?"

I shrugged nonchalantly, "I just did what was on the Chantry board. It's honest money. Honest."

The sister tried hiding a laugh, but she wasn't very successful. The warrior gave her a look.

He sighed, "We'll talk about that later. For now, Morrigan and Sera…the hound are waiting for us."

"Seraphine." It was my turn to sigh.

"It's not my fault you picked a strange name."

"It's not strange. It's a type of angel."

He looked at me like I was crazy, "A what?"

My cheeks burned, "An angel. With the white wings? This type has three tiers of wings, equaling size in all. It's a sign of-"

"Status, no?"

My eyes darted toward the sister, "Yeah…. What's your name?"

"I am lay sister Leliana, at your service."

"Alright." I turned and started toward the Chantry, "I have a favor to ask of you, Leliana."

"Oh? Please, I will aid in any way I can."

"Help us get the Qunari out of the cage."

"How?"

"Can't you talk to the Revered Mother? Convince her to put him in our capable hands? Or, rather, Alistair's hands."

"Um, excuse me. I'm here, too. Don't I get a say in this? I already told her no." he chimed in.

"We'll talk about this later." I said serenely.

"I'll try my best." The red headed woman appeared bound and determined to help us.

Leliana led Alistair away, toward the Chantry. I, on the other hand, took up position by the cage. I'd seen it earlier, when I was doing things for that board, but I hadn't actually talked to the prisoner yet.

"Hello."

"I will not entertain you, child." The Qunari's deep voice reverberated through my small frame.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you." I said sincerely, "I guess you must get that a lot; people wanting you do scare them or something to make them feel better about locking you away."

He lifted his gaze from the ground at his feet, staring directly in to my eyes, "Go. I am in no mood for company."

I held up my hands, biting my lip, "Why are you in there? Who did you hurt?"

"I killed an entire family, child. You have your answer, your frightening tale. You talked to the monster. Now, leave me be."

Shaking my head, I shifted on my feet, "I-Will you tell me why?"

Suddenly, his expression sharpened, his eyes like daggers, "You. You are the child who killed the human bandits."

"Among other creatures, yes." I dropped my innocent child act, "If I said I had a way for you to leave this cage, would you take it?"

"I am here because I am a murderer."

"I'm not contesting that. I'm merely asking a question."

"What of the price?"

"You follow my companions and me. As an equal." I took a few steps closer, whispering, "My friend is a Grey Warden. We're going to end the Blight."

Interest lit up his eyes, though only slightly, "And he has a child aiding him, why?"

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, "You wouldn't believe me, if I told you. Maybe after you see it for yourself."

He looked me up and down, "I am Sten of the Beresaad."

"I am Anastasia." I curtsied.

"I will follow, if you can somehow release me from this cage."

The soft sounds of footsteps signaled the arrival of Alistair, Morrigan, Leliana, and Seraphine.

"The red head is Leliana. The woman with long black hair is Morrigan. And the warrior is Alistair." The mabari bounded up to me, bumping against my right side, "Oh, of course. This lovely war hound is Seraphine."

"I have the key for his cage." Leliana's face was flushed with pride.

"Oh, that's wonderful! Thank you!" I clapped my hands, taking it from her, "Here we are, then."

Turning, I made eye contact with Sten, keeping it while I twisted the key in the lock.

"You are now one of us." I murmured.

His eyes narrowed slightly before he bowed his head. Submitting himself to our cause.