"I suppose I have been paying you more attention," Temene smiled.
"And why not, I am much more handsome, and charming too," Alistair laughed.
"You're just as handsome," Temene praised the dog. "And more apt to cleanliness."
"Hey, just because I don't bathe myself with my own tongue," Alistair protested. He looked at her for a long moment and continued. "All joking aside, what are we going to do now?"
"Can anything really be done for Eamon?" she asked.
"Wynne said that no amount of healing magic will allow him to recover. The Urn of Sacred Ashes may be our only hope."
"Or some foolish quest that amounts to nothing. Do we know anything about this scholar's research?"
"Teagan said he looked in at Genitivi's home, but he was away. Perhaps we would have better luck."
"Going to Denerim would be dangerous. If Loghain has set some sort of trap," she pondered. "We certainly draw enough attention to ourselves with a giant, witch and two dwarves following us around."
"We would have to go ourselves, in disguise or something," Alistair suggested.
"I could probably pass for a elf from the alienage with the right clothes, but you," Temene looked him over. "You do bear a striking resemblance to Cailan. Loghain may have more posters in Denerim. Someone would surely recognize you."
"What about Templar armor. It would cover my face and I could pass easily through the city?"
"You still have your armor?" she eyed him curiously.
"I could never let something so fashionable go," Alistair joked. "I am sure I could find some somewhere."
They made plans to leave for Denerim in the morning. They talked for a while longer before Alistair excused himself. He left her with another kiss that left her wanting more. In the morning, Alistair managed to beg a set of armor from Mother Hannah and Temene took some old clothes and tore them to look well worn.
It took them several days to reach the outskirts of the city. The rest of the group camped in a secluded clearing while Alistair and Temene headed towards the city gates on foot in their disguises. Temene couldn't help but stare at Alistair in his templar armor. "What?" Alistair finally asked.
"It suits you," she smiled at him. "You would have made a fine templar."
"Maybe they would have sent me to the Circle Tower and I could've met you there," he smiled. "I would have fallen in love with you and we would have run away together."
"That would have been a fine plan," she replied, reaching up to kiss him.
She knew the armor appealed to her because of its forbiddeness but she liked the idea of finally breaking the rules. They stayed in the road, kissing for a moment longer until they heard a wagon coming. They pulled away and continued walking. The wagon slowed as it passed, offering them a ride into the city. The overburdened wagon was full of refugees fleeing the darkspawn.
The other humans eyes Temene suspiciously, as she appeared to be the dangerous charge of the templar that accompanied her. As they entered the city gates, she became aware of the disdainful stares she drew there as well. People in the crowded market had no qualms about shoving her aside to get to where they needed to go. She could hear the cruel words being whispered about her as she walked behind Alistair. They finally found Genitivi's home, as Temene was nearly in tears.
"Are you alright?" Alistair asked, peeking under her hood. He could see she was visibly upset and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry you had to hear all of that."
"Let's just go inside and get out of here," she sulked, realizing it probably looked suspicious that a templar was hugging an elf.
They knocked on Genitivi's door and were begrudgingly welcomed in by his young assistant, Weylon. The assistant again claimed that the brother was not at home. When they questioned him about the brother's research, he was vague and dismissive. Temene caught something in the air, covered by the overwhelming smell from several vases of bright red flowers. The hidden smell seemed to be coming from the back room and Temene inquired about the brother's study. "Perhaps he left a journal or notes of some kind," Temene said, eyeing the back room.
"No, there is nothing of the sort. He kept all his notes in his head," Weylon replied nervously.
"Are you feeling well, perhaps you should lie down?" Temene asked, as the young man continued to sweat heavily.
"Yes, fine," Weylon replied quickly. "I am sorry I cannot help you, so perhaps you should leave."
"You don't have to be rude, we are only trying to help," Alistair replied. "We have come a long way for any information. There must be something you can give us."
"Well, perhaps there is something," Weylon finally sighed and turned towards the back room.
As he left, Temene whispered to Alistair. "Something doesn't feel right here. I can smell something foul in the air, but it is being masked by the flowers."
"He is acting rather nervously as well," Alistair replied.
Temene approached the back room and peeked inside as Weylon was searching for something in a desk. There were many books and journals lining the walls of the bedroom. "I thought you said the brother kept no notes?" Temene asked.
Weylon turned back with a frightened look on his face and a dagger in his hand. "What are you doing?" she asked, as he lunged at her.
She shocked the blade from his hand but he continued to rush her, wrapping his hands around her neck. "Alistair!" Temene croaked as Weylon continued to strangle her, holding her against the wall violently. Alistair grabbed at Weylon but he refused to release Temene from his grip. Alistair finally put Weylon in a head lock and Weylon eventually slumped to the ground.
"I think I killed him," Alistair looked down at the body. Temene coughed for air and grabbed at her throat. "By the Maker, he nearly killed you," Alistair added, examining her neck.
"He had a dagger," Temene breathed hard. "I think he intended to kill us both. Just as he did to this poor man," she added, pointing towards the corpse wrapped in blankets across the room.
The smell of decomposition clung heavy in the room, the flowers doing little to cover the smell. They quickly searched through the books and found Genitivi's notes. They left the house quickly, leaving the two bodies inside. Alistair left the door slightly ajar, hoping someone would come by to investigate. They hurried out of the city and returned to camp as the sun was beginning to set. They searched through the scholar's notes by firelight, hoping to find any information about the Ashes.