Tayte dropped her pack of supplies to the ground and exhaled sharply. Alistair raised an eyebrow at the motion. Morrigan sighed and turned around, placing her hands on her hips. Tayte pointed at the moon that had risen while they travelled. "It's break time."

Morrigan scowled. "'Tis only a few more hours of travel before we reach Lothering." She gestured toward the darkness of the forest around them. "We'll not be safe here tonight, even if the darkspawn are distracted."

Alistair frowned. "But wouldn't it be strange to be arriving in Lothering at dawn? It would be rather obvious we're on the run from something."

Morrigan lowered her brow and glared at the two Wardens. After a frustrating moment, she waved her hand in dismissal. "Fine. But I'm not taking watch." Morrigan stalked off quickly, disappearing into the woods.

Alistair shook his head. "So… are we guarding the witch queen or is she sleeping somewhere else?" Tayte shrugged. Alistair dropped his pack to the ground and began unpacking his bedroll.

Tayte took out her own bedroll, but left it furled. "I'll take first watch." Tayte checked her belt for her dagger before she began gathering some twigs for a fire.

"We won't be lighting a fire." Morrigan scolded, emerging from the forest. "There are too many beasts awake tonight. Many of them appear to be tainted by the darkspawn."

Alistair looked up at Morrigan. "How is that possible? Has the horde already come this far?"

Tayte dropped the sticks she was collecting and sat next to her bedroll. "They may have been tainted before trying to flee, and only now have changed."

Morrigan nodded. "Either way, we only have a few hours to spare." She leaned on a tree trunk and slipped down to the ground, looking out into the woods.

"I thought you were going to leave the watch to us?" Alistair ventured, a smirk creeping into his face.

"Just get your sleep so we can be on our way." Morrigan rebuked, shifting to face away from Alistair. He tapped his head and smirked at Tayte, who shrugged in return. Alistair took one last look at Morrigan before laying down on his bedroll.

Tayte unfurled her bedroll and lay down, staring up into the night. The moon was barely visible now; having moved out of the small clearing into dense tree cover. Tayte tried to sleep, but it came slowly. She could hear Morrigan whispering something to herself as she finally began to drift off, but couldn't make out any words. At last, Tayte fell asleep as the moon disappeared completely behind the dark trees.

Arl Howe smiled as he fingered a familiar implement behind his back. "I'm sure my forces will be arriving soon, my lord."

Bryce turned away from the fireplace, placing his hands behind his back. "I must say, they have taken their time arriving. My son suggested that they must have been walking backwards."

Howe nodded and chuckled. "Yes, it is rather strange that they were held up so badly. I thought the dike overturning would have been a minor setback…"

Bryce nodded knowingly as his eyes drifted toward a portrait on the wall. Howe followed the gaze to see that face of King Maric, who had died at sea only a few years ago.

"I wonder what he would have done." Bryce mused. "He was a gifted leader, if not the most skilled tactician. I wonder what he would have done to stop the Blight?"

Howe put a hand on the shoulder of his old friend. "Not all heroes are saints, Bryce. Sometimes doing what is best requires a more… detestable sort of sacrifice."

Bryce frowned. "You mean to speak of those rumors? Of Maric killing the banns who murdered his mother?" He turned to face Howe, shrugging aside his hand. "That was not a crime. That was justice."

Howe feigned surprise at the bloodthirsty words. "Really? I didn't think you saw the world that way, Bryce."

"You are partially right." Bryce continued, walking over to the fireplace once more. "Not all heroes are saints. But what if Maric had not killed those men? Would Ferelden stand united as it is today?"

Howe shook his head. "Perhaps not." He searched the room for another topic to pursue, eager to be rid of the current argument. He then remembered Bryce's young daughter, Tayte. He barely hid a smile of envy. What did it matter if the girl had a scar? If he couldn't convince Tomas to marry her, he would call Nathaniel back from the Free Marches. To have such a girl, the daughter of a Teryn no less, as daughter-in-law would cement his family's prestige.

Bryce was unaware of Howe's desire to change the topic, and took a seat near the fireplace. "Men like Maric are revered as heroes in public, but remember that not all such heroes were as… gentle as he was."

Howe stepped closer, hovering over Bryce's seat. "I've been meaning to speak to you about your daughter." Howe hoped his plan would work; otherwise he would be forced to do the unspeakable…

"What of her? Did we not already discuss her at length earlier?" Bryce replied, undisturbed.

Howe almost sighed. They had discussed her earlier, after the Grey Warden left for his quarters. He should have raised the subject then. "My lord, I meant I wished to discuss the possibility of her marriage to Tomas."

Bryce chuckled. "Tomas is a great deal younger than her, and she has previously mentioned her decision not to marry him." Bryce looked up at Howe. "And as for Nathaniel…"

A soldier wearing the bear crest of Amaranthine barged in the hall entrance, a squad of soldiers behind him. "Beg pardon my lords, but we have arrived."

Bryce smiled at the man, oblivious to Howe's squirming. "Welcome, we've been staying up all night waiting for you!" He turned back to Howe. "This is the first time in years I sent my wife to bed without me…"

Howe placed a hand on Bryce's shoulder, nervous. His heart beat quickly, having reached the moment of truth. Would the Couslands join the Howes or be destroyed? "Sire, as you were saying… about Nathaniel…"

Bryce shrugged. "Tayte has never met him, since he left to squire in the Free Marches when she came of age to marry." He gave a weak smile. "I'd have to say it's very unlikely."

Howe exhaled sharply, fingering his weapon in his free hand. "It's… I'm sorry to hear that, old friend."

Bryce looked into the fire. "I wish it were otherwise, Rendon. I've heard that Nathaniel has become a fine young man."

Howe clenched his teeth and looked at his friend of several decades. He imagined he felt pity, but remembered what he had to do. There could be no more negotiation, no more mercy. All who stood in his way had to pay with their lives.

"I'm sorry, old friend." Howe said quietly, the false remorse quenched. His heart had returned to the ice it was forged from. He had mistakenly thought that Bryce could change him. Now he saw that he never meant to change. This is who he was.

Bryce looked up, slightly confused. "Yes, it is unfortunate." His eyes widened at the knife raised over him.

Without any pity or remorse, Howe brought the knife down and carved open Bryce's chest.

"Father!" Tayte screamed. She jumped out of her bedroll, startling both Alistair and Morrigan, who had fallen asleep at her watch.

Morrigan recovered first, standing and scowling at Tayte. "Are you mad? You'll set half the forest upon us!"

Tayte couldn't control her breathing, coughing in between irregular breaths until Alistair knelt beside her and held her shoulder. "Was it the Archdemon?"

Tayte shook her head, still coughing. "I… saw my father betrayed by Arl Howe." She looked up at Alistair. "I was asleep when that happened! How…"

Morrigan crossed her arms. "The demons of the fade are likely taking your fears and creating images to horrify you. The veil must be thin here." Morrigan snorted. "I blame the darkspawn."

Tayte shook her head. "But it didn't feel like a dream… I could sense their thoughts…"

Morrigan sighed. "There is very little chance it was more than a nightmare. Even mages are not plagued by visions unless extreme conditions are met."

Tayte took a deep breath, trying to regulate her breathing. "I want to leave. Now."

Alistair and Morrigan silently agreed. The group packed quickly, marching off within minutes. Morrigan again took the lead, with Alistair taking the rear. Tayte rubbed her head as she tried to forget the nightmare.

Just before leaving the clearing, Morrigan stopped and looked Tayte in the eye. "I told you we would not be safe. It would be wise to heed my warnings in the future."

Without waiting for a reply, Morrigan spun around and led the way out of the forest and into the hills above Lothering. Tayte felt relieved to leave the forest behind. By the time the group had reached Lothering, it was almost midday.

Tayte slouched into a seat in a corner of the crowded tavern. Alistair sat across from her, pulling something out of his pack. Morrigan clenched her teeth before taking a seat next to Alistair, unable to find anywhere else. Alistair wasn't paying attention to the witch, instead putting forward the sealed box of treaties.

"We need to figure out which promises to gain first." Alistair explained. "There's a lot of ground to cover, and we don't have time on our side." He pulled out each of the three major treaties one by one and laid them out on the table. Morrigan selected one and grabbed it, causing Alistair to flinch when he noticed she sat next to him.

"This is not a treaty worth pursuing." She unfurled the scroll and scoffed at the writing before handing it to Tayte. Tayte skimmed the promises made and noticed that the treaty was signed by the First Enchanter of the Circle of Magi from a century ago.

Tayte placed the scroll on the table and looked up at Morrigan. "Care to explain why it's worthless?" She kept a level voice, beginning to remember her father's leadership training: before one can direct others, they must understand them. Ironic that her recruitment into the lowest rank of the Grey Wardens had somehow put her in charge.

Morrigan considered Tayte's question. Her frown only deepened after a few moments. "The mages of the tower are like caged birds, singing for the Chantry and unable to exercise their true powers." She clenched her fist at the thought. "They would be easy targets for the darkspawn, and would only drag us down to service the Chantry they blindly follow."

"Hey!" Alistair interrupted. "Don't talk that way about the Chantry. It has a few… leadership issues, but it isn't a tyranny!"

Morrigan twisted in her seat to sneer at Alistair. "Ah, so the former Templar seeks to defend his beloved Chantry. How very original."

Alistair stood up, angered. "I'm not defending it!" He immediately saw the error of his words and retracted. "I mean, I'm not saying it's perfect. But you have no right to saw those things!"

Morrigan smirked. "I have every right, my dear Alistair. Or did the Templars never let you see the benefits of those you hunted?"

"Enough, both of you." Tayte spoke levelly. "We can discuss our… religious differences later." She picked up the mage treaty and furled it. "We will save this one for later." She tossed it back to Alistair, who reluctantly sat back down and placed the scroll back in the box.

Tayte quickly began to mentally summarize what she had learned as she slowly unfurled and pretended to read another one of the treaties. Morrigan had a deep-seated hatred of the Chantry, likely instilled by her apostate mother. She was also fond of freedom from rules and obligations. Alistair, on the other hand felt extreme loyalty to certain causes. His experience with the Chantry, while not entirely positive, had molded—or indoctrinated—him to support his former ties to the Templar order. Tayte knew it was not the most useful information, but it was enough to keep from offending either of her companions.

"Well, what does it say?" Morrigan asked impatiently.

Tayte jolted, having forgotten what she was doing. She quickly skimmed the scroll until she saw the dwarven images near the bottom. "Dwarves of Orzammar." She replied. "Out in the Frostbacks."

Alistair shook his head. "That's pretty far away."

Morrigan nodded. "Too far for now, put that one away."

Tayte rolled her eyes at the quick decision—and agreement—of her allies. She placed the scroll in the box and opened the last. A quick perusal told Tayte that this treaty was for the Dalish elves. "This one's for the Dalish." Tayte sighed. "These aren't getting any easier."

Morrigan wilted. "Is there an alliance that doesn't require an extreme test of patience?"

Tayte shrugged. "It's the best we've got. There are a few suggestions of where we can find the Dalish…"

Alistair looked around the tavern to make sure no one was looking before leaning in. "We can go to Redcliffe."

Tayte placed the scroll down. "You did mention that before, didn't you?" She clasped her hands together. "And are we certain that Arl Eamon will support us?"

Alistair nodded. "He's not going to let Loghain's misjudgments destroy Ferelden, and he might be able to convince the Landsmeet to turn on Loghain for his treachery." Alistair hesitated a moment, and Tayte wondered what sort of emotion passed over his face for a mere instant. "And I know him." He looked at Tayte. "He'll help us."

Tayte tapped the scroll for the elven alliance. "Then we'll find the elves after we recruit Eamon's army."

Tayte heard rough laugher at her decision. She turned her head to see a group of armed men, some with drinks in their hands, laughing loudly. They all wore armor with a green drake etched into the front, the crest of Gwaren.

The leader of the group, who wore a chain shirt and surcoat over his armor and carried a larger sword, chuckled. "Look what we have here, men!" He raised his arms, tankard in one and dagger in the other. "I think we've just been blessed."

Alistair shifted in his chair, ready to jump to his feet at the first sign of conflict. "Uh oh." He looked at Tayte. "Loghain's men. This could be trouble."

One of the soldiers took a long pull from his mug before he spoke. "Didn't we ask for a woman of this very description?" He pointed at Tayte. "And everyone said they hadn't seen her!"

The commander sneered. "It seems we've been lied to."

Tayte felt out her dagger, wishing she had a real weapon to fend off the soldiers with if it came to battle. The soldiers seemed spoiling for a fight, and only seemed to be more eager when a red-haired woman wearing chantry robes nudged her way over.

"Please, gentlemen!" She pleaded. "These are surely no more than mere refugees, come to Lothering to escape the darkspawn horde."

The commander growled at the interruption. "They're more than that!" He grabbed the woman by the sleeve, staring her in the eye. "You'll stay out of our way, sister." He slid his dagger across his throat in demonstration. "Or you'll get the same as them."

The commander shoved the red-haired woman aside, but she remained nearby. Tayte stood up, holding her hands palm-forward to demonstrate her sheathed weapons. "I'm sorry, sers. There must be some mistake here."

The commander dropped his tankard and drew his sword swiftly. "I'll have no part in your treacherous words! We heard you planning to usurp Loghain and put Eamon on the throne of Ferelden! We'll not bow before your puppet!"

Morrigan stood. "Are you certain you wish to challenge us?" She smirked at the commander. "We are not afraid of you."

The commander scoffed. "Enough with your games, you die here!" At his word, the other soldiers tossed aside their drinks and drew their swords. Alistair jumped out of his seat and drew his sword and shield. Tayte pulled out her dagger. With a cry of anger, the soldiers leaped at their prey.

Tayte used the size of her weapon to her advantage the best she could; she was trained to fight with larger weapons. She deflected a sword strike from a soldier, swinging his sword around and stabbing at his wrist. He punched Tayte in the face, pushing her back a few steps and into a table. The refugees sitting at the table leapt away in fear. Tayte saw Morrigan alternate between small bursts of fire and ice to tear apart one of the soldiers, leaving a charred corpse with chunks of ice hanging off.

The soldier who had punched Tayte raised his sword and brought it down where she would have been standing if she hadn't ducked aside. She grabbed his arm and pulled his elbow the wrong direction quickly enough to elicit a snap and a howl of pain. Tayte cut the man's throat as he fell down in agony, where he began to bleed out as well.

Alistair was fending off the commander, who was a skilled swordsman and managed to keep Alistair's shield arm busier than his weapon arm. Alistair suddenly switched to the offensive, leading with his shield to push the commander backwards. Morrigan drained the life of a soldier she had weakened through magic, causing him to fall limp. Tayte threw her dagger at a soldier attempting to sneak up on Alistair, catching him in the back. The man screeched in pain until Tayte ran up and snapped his neck.

The red-haired chantry sister had drawn a pair of knifes and was fighting one of the soldiers, using both blades in a crossed configuration to deflect sword blows from her assailant. She dodged and weaved what she couldn't block, and managed to nick the forearms of the soldier. When he attempted to raise his sword and bring it down on the woman's head, she locked it between her knifes. She slid one knife along her opponent's blade and twisted her knives to swing the sword down and away from her. A quick strike at the soldier's hand dislodged the sword, and she clapped the man on the temples with the hilt of her knives, knocking him out.

Tayte retrieved her dagger from her dead target as this occurred, and watched in vague interest until the man fell. She remembered Alistair's plight and turned to see him bash away the commander's sword with his shield.

Alistair raised his weapon for the killing blow before a voice called out over the cries of fear from the refugees. "Wait! Don't kill him!" The red-haired chantry sister ran over to Alistair and grabbed his shoulder. "You've disarmed him, you've won."

Morrigan stepped on one of the corpses in her wake and gazed into the commander's eyes, which had just now begun to show fear. "He is defeated, it would be unwise to let him live to exact revenge."

"No… I surrender!" The commander gasped.

The red-haired woman looked at Morrigan. "He's surrendered, show him mercy."

"I should show him the same mercy he would have given me." Morrigan replied, electricity beginning to spark around her hand.

Tayte stepped forward and looked at the defeated man. "I should kill you for attacking us. We're on an important mission that can't be risked by letting men like you hound us."

The commander looked pleadingly at each member of Tayte's group and the chantry sister. "Please, I didn't know what I was getting into."

Alistair looked at Tayte. "We could have him send a message."

Tayte nodded. She knelt down in front of the man, looking him in the eye. "You are going to go straight to Denerim. You're going to send a message to Loghain."

The man nodded. "What message?"

Tayte whispered into the man's ear so that only he could hear. "Tell him that the Blight is not a myth. He must prepare Ferelden to face it, or he will be removed from power."

The man nodded again. "I'll leave at once." He stood up slowly, not taking his eyes off of Tayte until he realized his sword was still on the ground. He silently asked to have it back, pointing at the fine blade.

"No." Tayte responded. She picked up the sword and stood, testing its balance. "I will keep this, and you will find a new weapon for your trip to Denerim." The man silently nodded and ran out the door of the tavern, refugees parting for his passage.

Alistair sheathed his weapons, wincing at the blood coating his armor. He raised his hand in a placating gesture, looking around the tavern. "Everyone be calm, we aren't here to cause trouble like this."

Tayte followed Alistair's lead, sheathing her dagger and leaning her new sword by their table. The red-haired woman had been standing by the table, and gave a little jump when she noticed Tayte. She scurried off with something, but Tayte paid no heed.

Alistair continued to calm the refugees down, visiting specific groups to pacify them. He tapped a man drinking with his friends on the shoulder. "Look, just return to your drinks, we'll clean this up." He walked over to the bartender and laid a few silver coins on the table. "Sorry about the mess…"

Morrigan was bent over the corpses, looting them of valuable and useful items presumably. Tayte moved to stop her before realizing the sorry state of their equipment. She didn't like the stares Morrigan was receiving, but decided that it would be necessary.

Once Alistair and Morrigan had finished with their tasks, the group began to prepare the bodies for burial. Morrigan scoffed at the idea, but was pacified when told that someone else would dig the graves and lay the corpses within. When the last of the bodies was being carried off by helpful refugees, the red-haired woman approached Tayte.

"I'm sorry for interfering earlier." She began, wringing her wrists. "I just couldn't stand by and let them attack you."

Tayte shrugged. "At least you tried, I guess."

The woman nodded as she frowned. "I suppose." She looked at Alistair and back to Tayte. "You are Grey Wardens, yes?"

Tayte nodded slowly. "We are. How do you know that?"

"Those men you fought were Loghain's bounty hunters, sent to find the last of the Grey Wardens." She paused. "He claims that your order betrayed King Cailan at Ostagar."

Alistair growled. "We did no such thing. If anyone killed Cailan, it was Loghain."

The woman shrugged. "The men who were after you gave vivid descriptions of both of you when they asked the refugees. That's how I was able to recognize you."

"Aside from the soldiers trying to kill us, I assume." Alistair added.

Tayte looked the woman over. "What's your name?"

"Oh!" The woman extended at hand. "I'm Leliana, I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier."

Tayte slowly extended her own hand to greet Leliana. "My name is Tayte."

Leliana looked up at Alistair. "Alistair." He pointed at Morrigan, scowling a few paces away. "And this is our resident bundle of joy, Morrigan."

Leliana smiled at Morrigan, who scowled even more. Leliana looked back at Tayte. "It's good that we all know each other's names know, since we're going to be travelling together."

Alistair sputtered. "Wait, what?"

Tayte raised an eyebrow. "Uh, when was that decided?"

Leliana looked Tayte in her eyes, completely serious. "A had a vision from the Maker himself telling me to go with you."

Tayte stepped back. "Okay…"

"More crazy?" Alistair shook his head. "I thought we were all full up."

Leliana began to worry. "Wait, it's true! He spoke to me! I need to help you!"

Morrigan walked over to Tayte and whispered into her ear. "I think this one was dropped on her head as a child."

Leliana grabbed Tayte by the shoulders, clutching tight as if Tayte was going to slip away. "You need help, don't you? I can fight, I won't be a burden!"

Tayte gently lifted Leliana's hands off her shoulders and took a step back. "Leliana, I don't think we have room for you…"

Leliana frowned. "I… see…"

"I think you should go back to your cloister, Leliana." Tayte sighed, worried for the girl's sanity.

Leliana nodded silently and turned away. "I'm sorry for bothering you." She sulked as she left the inn. Alistair tapped his head and Morrigan nodded.

The group went back to their table, sitting down in their old seats. Tayte began to attach the sheath for her new sword to her belt as Alistair placed the battle-scattered treaties back to their box. He slowed down as he placed the last scroll in the box, and began to look left and right for something.

"What's wrong?" Tayte asked.

Alistair checked under the table and came back up with a frown. "Where is the Dalish elf treaty?"

Tayte tapped her hand where the scroll was before the battle as she thought of what could have happened to it. Should it have been knocked around like the box was, it would still be nearby. As Tayte tried to remember, she recalled Leliana snatching something and scampering off before she introduced herself.

Alistair and Morrigan shared looks of confusion as Tayte sighed deeply. Morrigan raised an eyebrow, hoping for some explanation. Tayte shook her head and tried to hold in her frustration.

"I think Leliana has made off with our treaty."

A.N. Hopefully, updates will begin to rise so that I can finish before DA2 releases, but no promises. ;p