So, a Cadillac was tailgating me this morning and I absently wondered what would happen if they hit me. And then I realized that Obama is president and the country has degraded itself into a cesspool and I'd be the one paying for damages even though I didn't do anything. -.- I gotta get out of here. What do you think guys? Should I move to Canada? I have to admit the thought is more appealing every day.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I wake to Lyna's arm wrapped around my waist. Her fingers tease the hair that starts below my navel and dives to my groin.

I huff without turning over. "Are you trying to start something?"

"I doona know what you mean." She replies, a smile pressed into my back. Her breath is warm against my skin.

I roll over and pull her against my chest. "Of course you don't. Rest."

I feel her laugh against my chest, but she settles down and soon she drifts off to sleep. I remain awake and wonder what time of day it is. Is it still the same day? I don't know. I haven't left the tent for longer than it was necessary to relieve myself and eat something.

Lyna mumbles in her sleep, a harsh grating sound that isn't elfish. I'm trying to decipher her words when her eyes fly open and she jumps from my arms as if I had seared her.

"We are surrounded!" she cries and begins scrambling into her clothes. I pull my breeches on and grab my greatsword, not bothering to lace them up.

Once outside the tent I find Darkspawn swarming the camp. Kane, Alistair, and Lyna are already in the fray, and I join them. A moment later Morrigan is back-to-back with me wearing nothing but her small clothes. Despite my dislike of her, I still find it satisfying when she sets a swath of Darkspawn on fire.

I consider chasing after a fleeing shade, but I do not. Morrigan is more than likely using me as cover while she casts spells. My skin prickles, but I focus on the fact that Lyna trusts her. If Lyna trusts her, then I will trust her. Even when that ice blast gets a little too close to my manhood.

Only one Darkspawn is left, and something about it is familiar. It doesn't attack; it doesn't even appear to be armed.

"Tamlen?" Lyna whispers, moving forward cautiously.

The Darkspawn groans as if in pain. "N-no, lethallan…stay away. I…I doona want to hurt you."

Lyna takes another step forward, her blade dropping to her side. Slowly she approaches what is left of Tamlen. They speak in elfish for a short time, and I tense when Lyna becomes distressed. But she calms back down after a minute.

I watch as she gently lays her forehead on his, her left hand reaching up to the back of his neck. I see a tear fall down her cheek. A movement catches my eye, and I find her switching the position of the blade in her right hand.

I know now.

She whispers to him, and in one swift movement her blade is buried hilt-deep between Tamlen's ribs. He slumps but Lyna catches him and eases him to the ground.

She talks, louder now, and I can understand that it is some form of prayer.

Then the death chant rises from her lips, and the haunting melody rings in my head. I walk to over and sink down in the dirt behind her as she cradles Tamlen's lifeless form as she weaves through the chant.

One hand finds mine, and I hold it, giving her what comfort I can.

The sun has risen by the time she finishes.

She shifts and catches me looking. "I must complete the ceremony."

She makes to gather Tamlen.

"I will carry him." I say.

Lyna's eyes cut to mine, searching my face. Finally, she nods. I pick up her dead mate carefully. As a Qunari, I don't understand the reverence she holds in his body. But I follow along as she leads me through the trees.

We are deep in the woods when she whispers, "Wait here."

She drops to her knees and begins digging with her bare hands. She has to force through the hard icy layer that lies on top of the dirt, but she eventually gets the hole to her liking. She motions to me, and I lay Tamlen down inside.

Lyna covers him with dirt, and pulls from her pocket a tiny seed.

"Dogwood." She explains. "It was Tamlen's favorite."

She buries the seed in the earth that covers Tamlen.

She turns and takes a few steps away before she pauses, as if hesitating. But after a moment she continues back to the camp. I follow at her side.

"Sten, I've been wondering. What were you doing in that cage in Lothering?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next day, I see something in Lyna's eyes as she stares contemplatively into the fire. She mumbles to herself, shooting furtive glances my way as she does. After an hour of this, she disappears inside her tent, and I can hear her rummaging around.

A moment later she stands in front of me, a bag in one hand.

"Sten, I have some business to take care of. I need you to take the others and continue on to Redcliffe. But I don't want you to go all the way to Redcliffe. About a league outside of town, you'll see a maple tree with a blue ribbon tied in one of the branches. Look around that tree until you find the cave and then make camp there until I catch back up with you, alright?"

I wonder why she does this, but I nod solemnly. She holds the bag out. "These are for you. I've been waiting to give them to you."

I take the bag and watch her stride out of the camp. I wait for her to whistle for her hound, but she does not.

Now I am worried.

She didn't have any armor on and she left alone. I didn't see her large daggers, only the one as long as my hand that she keeps strapped to her thigh.

I peek inside the bag. Several paintings lay inside, and I find myself following the strokes of paint with my eyes. I look back up.

"Panahedan." I mutter to the empty air as I watch the place where she disappeared.