This was nice, just walking with him like this. He was quiet as they made their way toward the Chantry and she wondered why he held her hand? Was it because she was a little drunk and he was offering her support? Or was it something else? She didn't want to think about it, to hope, have that small seed placed in her heart again when there was no chance it would ever flower. He was a Prince, and more than that a monk, married to his faith, there was no way anything could ever happen between them.

"Watch your step." She was pulled from her thoughts by the gentle tug of his hand, she hadn't even realised they were at the Chantry she had been so caught up in her own mind. They walked up the steps and toward the statue where they had first met, she smiled at the memory as she reached for the book and caressed its cover.

"Wait here, I'll be right back." With a smile he disappeared, it was late at night and it was dark and eerie inside the big building. Candlelight bounced off the golden statue as she looked up, not for the first time wondering how it was possible she was here, in this world. Was it the Maker's doing? Had she come through the Fade for a purpose, or was it all just the workings of a madman with an insane lust for power? Did it even matter anymore?

She had made a life for herself here, what would she do anyway if there was a reason, and more importantly, if she had the chance...would she go back?

"Here we are." The familiar lilt of his voice startled her, and she turned to find him grinning, holding out a bow and quiver. She looked at him in surprise, she had not been expecting this. "Sebastian, I can't accept this? It's too much..."

"Nonsense, besides, no one else could use it. I had it specially made."

It took her a few seconds to absorb the words, reaching out slowly she took the bow and examined it. The grip and limbs were made of a white maple, thick and strong, the string was a high quality and sung when she strummed it. The quiver felt soft under her hands, a sturdy but strong leather that shone with the oil that had been buffed into it to keep it weatherproof. She fingered the pattern that ran along the bottom of it and looked up at her companion.

"Flowers?"

He smiled softly and nodded, "It seemed appropriate, you have the heart and stoicism of a warrior, but you are still a delicate flower, no matter what you say." She wrinkled her nose at his words but could not stop the smile that spread across her features. "Thank you Sebastian, I love it, it's the best gift I've ever gotten." Without thinking she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest. He seemed to stiffen in surprise for a moment and she wondered if she had gone too far, but relief flooded through her as his arms wrapped around her and she felt his fingers stroking her hair affectionately.

"You are most welcome Samantha, it was the least I could do for your coming of age. I know how much you want to be useful and at least with this you can try your best. I have faith in you as I do the Maker."

She looked up at him, coming from him those words were precious and meant a lot, especially considering how entrenched he was in his religion. She froze as her eyes caught his, the expression on his face was unreadable, something between pain, curiosity and sadness. Her lips parted as she felt his hands on her face, stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. Neither spoke as they stared at each other, knowing anything said would be useless in the face of things. "Samantha I-" He cut himself off, his tone was light, his voice deep but barely a whisper in the semi darkness of the Chantry.

"I should get you home, it is quite late."

He stepped away from her and she felt as though all the air had left her lungs in one swift moment. "Yes, you're right, the others will get worried if I am gone too long." Her voice was surprisingly clear and even considering how she felt. She knew this could never happen, it was just a crush and she should get over it, but even so, for the most fleeting of moments she had thought he might feel the same. Shaking her head she placed the quiver over her head and picked up the bow, it fit perfectly in her hand, she expected nothing less.

OoOoOoOoO

As they exited the Chantry it was quiet again, but it was different this time. Something had changed with the giving of this gift, it was no longer an easy, pleasant silence, Sam felt awkward and unsure. They were not far from the Manor when they were approached by a figure, at first she thought it might be Fenris here to scold her, but she did not recognise the face of the man who looked at Sebastian curiously.

"Are you Sebastian, the brother of the Chantry?"

Sebastian seemed tense, she felt his hand grip hers and push her behind him subtly. He looked at her and his eyes flicked to his own quiver on his back, his hand at his belt inches from his knife. Her eyes widened as she understood what he was trying to tell her and she nodded slowly. The man before them seemed impatient, a scowl on his lips as he repeated his question. "Well? You are Sebastian aren't you? Tell me you're not."

"I am who you say, why do you ask?" The Prince's voice was hard, not the friendly tone Sam was used to. A grin appeared on the face of the man and his voice rose as he called out. "Aye, he be the one we're after boys, get him for the ransom. Kill the girl."

Kill the girl? Sam felt panicky as they were surrounded, more men than she could count, drawn weapons and looking at them warily but hungrily. "Samantha!" Sebastian's voice cut through her fear, it was commanding but not unkind as he looked over his shoulder at her. "Maybe now is the time to cristen your present?" She had totally forgotten about the bow that she was holding, but she had no arrows...

Thinking quickly and standing back to back with her friend she reached over her shoulder and grabbed a handful of arrows from the quiver on his back, dropping them at her feet shenocked on and had it aimed at the assailant closest to her. "How precious, the monk and his protege, fighting for their lives." The man, their leader, laughed and drew his knife.

"How many do you think you can cut down before we get to you, two? three? it matters not, you're still going to die." Sam's face hardened, her jaw clenched. She could not speak but surprisingly her fear was gone, having Sebastian at her back gave her strength and courage. It was a tense few moments before one of the men made to move toward her, without thinking she let the arrow fly and his cry of shock cut through the night air as it found its mark in his shoulder.

"The next one will be in your throat." The menacing growl escaped her throat as the men laughed at her, adrenaline coursed through her as she felt the warmth of her friend at her back. "Take courage Samantha, we will yet live through this." She nodded as the fight began, time seemed to stand still as her arrows flew, her hands a blur as each found a target. Chests, throats, legs, causing pain, outrage and even death. But she was getting tired, and they were fast running out of ammunition, sharing the arrows between them. Sebastian dropped his bow and pulled his knife, Sam could see the sweat dripping from his brow as he frowned in concentration.

"Got ya!"

In the split second she had taken to look at her friend she was grabbed, a dagger cutting across her arm and causing her to drop the bow. She cried out in pain, she'd never been cut before, not like this. "Samantha!" Sebastian called out to her but he couldn't reach her, not without being compromised. The man that had hurt her looked down at her, a dangerous glint in his eye as he grabbed her injured arm and squeezed. He was purposely trying to cause her pain, get Sebastian to slip up, she bit her lip and shuther eyes tight, but she couldn't stop the sound as agony coursed through her arm, causing it to go numb. Her fingers reached for something, anything, and grasped onto one of the few arrows they had left. Gripping it tightly she screeched and shoved it into his eye socket. Now it was his turn to scream in pain, and she collapsed to the ground, holding her arm as he clutched his face in agony. But she hadn't killed him, and the rage and hatred she saw on his face as he stumbled toward her made her heart quail.

This was it, she was going to die. She closed her eyes and put her face to the sky. Silently apologizing to everyone for being such a failure. But it was taking too long, why wasn't she dead yet? And what was that dripping on her face?

Opening her eyes she was surprised to find the man standing just above her, his dagger drawn, a glowing hand protruding from the front of his chest. As the light in his eyes died, his weapon clattered to the ground as his body slumped lifeless and bloody to the side. The expression on Fenris' face scared her nearly as much as the one on her assailants.

Dazed, she looked around to find the enemy either dead or running, as Garrett, Merrill and the others had come to find them. Sebastian was breathing hard, his clothing spattered with blood and gore, she knew she must look a sight just as he did. He nodded, unable to speak, his energy drained as he leaned on Garrett.

"Sam."

She turned her head to find Fenris face right in front of hers, he had leaned down, was kneeling in front of her. He didn't look angry anymore, just relieved. "Are you ok?" She nodded, she tried to speak but her throat hurt and she realised she had been crying. Her energy was sapped, she felt exhausted and dizzy. The adrenaline had worn off and she could feel the numbness in her arm spreading. She tried to stand but her legs refused, she was shaking and realised she had lost a lot of blood. "Fenris, I'm sorry." Her voice was a croak as she reached out and gripped onto him with her uninjured arm, but she felt so weak and like she might fall over any second.

"Her arm, she is wounded." She felt strong hands wrapping something around her arm, she was being lifted and couldn't protest against it. "I thought she was pale from the shock, but she's lost a lot of blood." The voice sounded worried, "We should get her to Anders."

"Are you crazy? He tried to kill her!"

That was definitely Fenris, she opened her eyes and looked up at him, she hadn't known they had been closed. Sam realised she must have been fading in and out of consciousness. "Fenris." He looked down, his expression taut and worried, he was the one carrying her. Her hand reached up to touch his face. "I don't want to go back, I want to stay with you."

She hated that she sounded like a child, mewling like a kitten, but her words seemed to spark a panic in him. "You're not going anywhere little flower, do you hear me? I haven't even had the chance to scold you for leaving without me." He was trying to sound reassuring but she could hear the fear in his voice. "I love you, you know that right?" She smiled and patted his cheek and his eyes widened.

That's all she could remember.