Author's Note: That's what happens when you bury your feelings... Right, witchiiiiiie?! ...

She desperately wanted to kill the Warden. 'Twas not bad enough the elf had to accept every menial request she could find on the boards, no, the annoying little bastard had to do it fast as well. It was all the witch could do to keep up with the running rogue. Her clothes were certainly not made for running, nor was her human body. As a wolf or horse, she enjoyed longer runs or sprints immensely, but as a human she preferred walking. Also, having the redheaded bard running behind her did not help matters, either. She just knew the young woman would be staring at her 'features' as the bard liked to say. The mage practically had to force herself not to look over her shoulder, checking on the chattering rogue.

Arriving in the Market District of Denerim, Morrigan slowed her pace deliberately, hoping the quick bard would run past her. And she did. The witch had to suppress a smile at that, forcing her face to show her usual indifference. When blue eyes darted towards her, she picked imaginary pieces of dirt off her staff, pretending not to notice the hurt on the other woman's face. She had done a well enough job of avoiding the redhead so far, but the glances the other woman threw her way were distracting nonetheless. Focusing her attention on her hands, she noticed they were shaking slightly and hoped the still staring bard would not dare notice. She could just feel the other woman's eyes on her, but she decided not to call her on it.

In the meantime the Warden was running over the Market Place with Kahless on her heels, picking pockets and chasing after cats, as well as children, like a madwoman. Morrigan refused to smile at the seemingly hilarious sight. The childish little Dalish thing did enjoy the city far too much for her taste. She rather preferred the woods and the distance it put between her and most humans. Morrigan clicked her tongue and shifted her weight onto her staff, hoping the elf would run out of steam sooner rather than later.

Her patience payed off the moment she heard the excited voice of the small woman:
"Hey, I think I found the guy!" Kaala trotted towards the hooded figure, all the while playing with her daggers. Morrigan found the cheery mood of the Warden increasingly irritating, and she couldn't help but hope the elf would trip over a stone...
"I... We need to talk." Stifling a growl, the witch turned towards the human rogue with a glare that would have intimidated the grittiest of soldiers, but the bard apparently refused to notice.
"I wanted to wait, b..."
"So you should." The witch was in no mood to talk to the young woman, much less talk to her while all kinds of people might be listening. 'Twas not that she cared about strangers listening in, but who knew what her other comrades were doing at the moment...

"But I..."
"I see the Warden found the courier, we should make sure she does not make a mess of things again." With that, Morrigan left the bard standing there, gaping. Just as she walked up behind the elf, the hooded courier left, vanishing in the shadows.
"Have you..."
"Oh, come on! It was one time, let it go." The lithe elf danced about, disregarding the sceptic look thrown her way.
"I will not. You kicked the woman in the shin, and as a result I had plates thrown at me. Plates!"
"She was whining! I can't stand whining humans!"
"You may do as you please, but not when I'm the one suffering the consequences!"
"Oh come on, what's wrong, witchiiiiiiiiiiiiiie? Why so moody?" The elf poked and pinched her, clearly trying to force a reaction.

"I am not... moody. I have merely had enough of your childish antics." The witch heard the light footfalls of Leliana approaching, and part of her hoped the bard would be stupid enough to try and talk to her again. She had a rather strong desire to set someone on fire right now, and the bard would surely prove to be a decent victim.
"Kaala, I have some things I need to take care of. I'll... I'll see you back at the camp." Morrigan didn't even have time to be surprised, the bard left as soon as she had spat out the words. The Orlesian rarely left the party once they were afoot, and the mage did not want to speculate why she had left them right this moment. Although she could surmise it had something to do with her being the usual distanced conversational partner. Surely, turning her back on the young woman had not failed to leave its mark on her.
"Aaaaaaalright. Looks like you're stuck with me, witchie." The Warden grinned at her like a crazy person, but Morrigan refused to see the joke in what had just happened.

"Where are the other couriers? We might as well split up, I've had enough of running about Denerim." When Kaala only looked at her perplexed, the witch rolled her eyes and added:
"You may even take the dog with you." When the elven rogue started bouncing happily, flames erupted beneath her feet. Blinking several times, Morrigan was surprised to find that her staff was aflame, pointing at the Warden's feet.
"Hey! What did I do now?!" Pouting, the smaller woman puffed herself up, trying to appear taller than she was.
"It is best you shut your mouth now, it seems my patience has come to an end. Give me that!" Morrigan grabbed the paper the Warden was holding, glanced at it and thrust it back at the elf's chest.
"There, you may go to your people in the Alienage and to that filthy brothel that is called the Pearl. I will find the other two couriers." With that, Morrigan rushed off, hoping the annoying little beast would not run after her, like she usually did. She had barely walked three paces when she almost tripped over the happily panting mongrel dog.
"And take the damn beast with you!"

TO BE CONTINUED.