Here's the next chapter! Again, many thanks to those who are following the story, have favorite it, or have left reviews. Your support encourages me to keep it going. :)

FENRIS

Night has fallen, and as predicted we were not able to reach the top of the mountain. Our group has set up camp in a small clearing about halfway up Sundermount. Hawke and Varric are busy kindling the campfire, joking about some of Hawke's adventures back in Kirkwall, while the elven mage and Serena have both wandered off within the few minutes when I was scouting the perimeter. A part of me is tempted to ask Hawke and the dwarf about their locations, but knowing how consumed the two can be in each other's conversation, they more than likely would yield no results. Seeing no point in disturbing them, I step out of the clearing and start to search for the two elves myself for the sake of wasting some time.

The pale moon lights my path as I make my way around the large pines. Their fresh scent overwhelms my senses, an unfamiliar sensation to anyone who's grown accustomed to the heart of a bustling city and all of its… attributes. Within fifty feet, all I can see and smell are pines. There's not a trace of any other life.

And then I see her.

About twenty feet down the slope, I can see the figure of a young woman adorned in leather armor sitting down on the ground, her back facing me and a scythe glinting beside her. Her dark hair flutters in the brisk night breeze and gently caresses the exposed skin on her fair slim shoulders, adding a more ethereal look to the lone elf.

Even now I still can't imagine anything drastic weighing down those shoulders—either presently or in the past. They simply look too delicate, as if even a bit of weight may break her. But now, after seeing the emotion between her and her clansmen today, I know that there was something—something that sincerely hurt her and changed this clan. I could see it in her eyes whenever she spoke or questioned the Keeper's statements, and when she reunited with Merrill. The pain was there. The sadness was there. And both were more profound than I could've ever imagined. The only time I've ever seen such sadness was when Hadriana separated a young woman from her newborn and told her they were going to kill it for one of Danarius' rituals to entertain his guests.

That woman took her own life five days later.

With this thought in mind, I quietly approach Serena. When I'm about ten feet away, she glances back at me.

Before she can object, I sit down beside her and fixate my gaze on the slope in front of us. In the corner of my eye I can see she's watching me carefully, as if sizing up what my presence may mean. After possibly coming up with a hundred conclusions, she faces forward and rests her chin on her knees.

"Tell me," I start and she looks over at me. "You were a hunter in this clan, yet why is it you do not seem overjoyed to be among your people again?"

A soft chuckle escapes her lips and she flashes me a faint smile before looking out at the abyss of trees again. "There are many reasons. But most of all, it's because I wasn't planning on coming back," she says. "I…Well…" The sadness returns to her eyes. I can see the internal struggle as she recalls a time I am unfamiliar with. After a moment, she closes her eyes and looks away. "It doesn't matter. It's all in the past now."

I nod and take her words in, knowing that it would be unwise to prod further into the subject. For a good minute, only the sound of the leaves rustling in the trees can be heard around us.

"In Tevinter, we are often told stories about the Dalish," I continue. "However, most of which lacked substance or promise, so I often dismissed them. But what was life like for you growing up among the Dalish? Did you enjoy it?"

Serena laughs. "How does one compare all that they've ever known?" she asks. "But to attempt to answer your question, yes I enjoyed it. I was an orphan growing up. Before I was born, my father was killed by some shem, and my mother abandoned me in her grief shortly after I was born. The clan raised me as their own. They taught me everything I know—how to fight, how to track, our history, everything." Her eyes gloss over as if returning to that time so long ago. A sparkle of happiness glitters in her eyes. And then it shatters. The sadness returns. "Up until a few years ago, I never imagined living my life without them," she whispers then strokes her fingers through her hair. "Oh how the times have changed."

"This change…" I respond. "It must've been fairly drastic to separate you from your clan."

She frowns and looks down at her lap. "Yes, you could say that…" she answers. "Many have told me it was fate or destiny, others the will of the Maker or coincidence. I don't question it anymore. But the point of the matter is… we lost someone, all to a foolish mistake. And because of it, I can never go back. I can't."

"Was it someone important to you?" I ask.

She nods. "Yes, very much so."

I place my hand on her knee and look into her eyes. "Words are not sufficient, but I am sorry for your loss."

She smiles and places her hand on mine. Electricity shoots through my veins at the contact even though my armor separates us. "Ma serannas. You are very kind," she says and then giggles, a mesmerizing smile returning to her beautiful face and forcing me to look at her luscious coral lips. "Although you are a flat-ear, I am glad you joined our team Fenris," she says. "Your presence here means more to me than you could know."

I nod, but truthfully I didn't hear a word.

I'm too consumed at looking at her lips. Before I realize it, I'm reaching for her cheek with my other hand and my thumb traces her bottom lip.

Serena's eyes widen and her lips barely part. "Fenris…?" she whispers, her quiet voice acting as a strong spell of seduction that sets fire to the core of my body. A low growl builds in the back of my throat and I lean toward her, attempting to bury my fingers deep into her hair to pull her closer.

As I'm about to claim her lips with my own, the sound of a branch breaking comes from behind us.

We both look back to see Merrill, her cheeks a flaming red.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to…" She tries to use her hand to shield herself from looking at us. "I…I will just be going then," she says and heads back up to camp, stumbling along the way.

Serena looks at me then quickly stands up and backs away, her hand on her neck and a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. "I.. am going to go get some rest," she says and points in the direction of camp with her thumb then picks up her scythe. "Till tomorrow, Fenris," she nods at me then walks the same path as Merrill.

I can only watch as she disappears behind the trees, wondering what has come over me.