A/N: Takes place between 'Clan' and 'Meetings' and is set on the road to Ostagar.
Travelling
Mahariel
She is on the road once again. It's a familiar life to her of course, and she quickly falls into a rhythm, though she has to stop and rest a lot more. Beard-shem seems worried about her. She sees him watching her out of the corner of his eyes, and his concern drives her onwards. She will not be outdone by a shem.
It doesn't take long before the taint overwhelms her though, and she has to stop. She is panting shallowly, struggling to put one foot before the other. He offers his support, and she is forced to take it.
She falls asleep quickly when they rest and has terrible nightmares. Nightmares about Tamlen, mostly, and the many grisly fates she can imagine.
If he is dead, she hopes it was quick and painless.
Beard-shem is a good man- for a shemlen. He knows when to offer his support and when to withdraw and let her go on alone. He takes the lead automatically, knowing that she needs to follow. She begins to see beyond the label 'shemlen' and respect this man for who he is inside. He would make a good Dalish, she thinks, and cannot blame him for his race.
It isn't fault he was born shemlen, after all.