When we arrived at Haven, well, we received anything but a warm welcome—literally and figuratively. In addition to the sub-zero temperatures, the lone guard standing near the village entrance basically told us to leave immediately or else. So, that's always a good sign. Not to mention tensions were still running high amongst the rest of my companions. Alistair was still pissed at Wynne for sticking her nose where it didn't belong—and if I'm being completely honest, I was still a bit peeved at her as well. Morrigan still regarded me a fool for falling in love in the first place, so her demeanor toward me was even frostier than usual, and Sten, well, somehow I could almost see the anger and resentment radiating off of him. He'd been that way for going on a week now. I just… didn't know what to do. Do I confront him? Do I let him work whatever it is out on his own? I was good at most puzzles but that Qunari was one enigma I just could not unravel.

And then he spoke for the first time in days.

"Interesting strategy. Tell me, do you intend to keep going north until it becomes south, and attack the Archdemon from the rear?"

"Damnit, Sten, you've uncovered my master plan! I was trying to keep the element of surprise, but I suppose the cat's out of the bag now. Yes, that is exactly what I'm doing. The Archdemon will never see it coming." Alright, maybe not the ideal time for sarcasm; I just couldn't help it.

"Truly. It would surprise me if my enemy counterattacked by running away and climbing a mountain." Ah, so that's what the silent treatment was about—he disagreed with my decision to come to Haven. Color me surprised. Sten was almost always in my corner when it comes to my leadership decisions… NOT.

"We're not running away from anything." I growled through gritted teeth. I tried to stay objective but Maker help me that Qunari could get my blood boiling like no other. Breathe, Scarlett. Breathe.

"The Archdemon is our goal, and we are heading away from it to find the charred remnants of a dead woman. I will not simply follow in your shadow as you run from battle."

"Well, you're more than welcome to leave." I offered dispassionately. "Somehow, some way, the rest of us poor, defenseless souls will manage to muddle along without you."

"I will do no such thing. I'm taking command."

Seriously? A damn coup? You've got to be kidding me. Granted, I was most hesitant to be at the helm of this expedition in the beginning, but as time passed I sort of grew accustomed to my role. I cared for each and every person I was traveling with, and although Sten would likely disagree, that was worth something. Having that trust, knowing the person beside you has your back—it helps keep us all in one piece. Sometimes distancing yourself from emotion can be a good thing, but ignoring all emotion completely as Sten so often tended to do… well, it can lead to some disastrous results. I simply would not allow it. Not while blood was still pumping through my veins.

I let out a bitter laugh and looked the brown warrior dead in the eyes. "Just try it."

"Scarlett…" Alistair warned, hand on the hilt of his sword and ready to defend me at a moment's notice.

"Hush. This has been a long time coming." I shot back, never breaking eye contact with the Qunari.

"Defend yourself, Warden," Sten ordered. "We will settle this."

He unsheathed his sword and I did the same as we began circling one another like ravenous sharks. I realize I probably wasn't setting the best example for everyone else—give peace a chance and all that nonsense—but I was honestly beyond the point of caring. Barring the last several days where he opted for the silence, there was hardly a day that went by without some judgmental remark about my being a woman doing a man's job. I could never make a decision without his disapproving glares and wry condemnation. I was sick to death of it. Some things just need to be settled the old-fashioned way, and if combat was the only language a brutish barbarian like him could understand, so fucking be it.

He had reach, but I had flexibility. Although I certainly wouldn't consider myself especially light on my feet, compared to Sten I was a damn ballerina. I could see every move he attempted to make, every blow he attempted to land coming a mile away. He lunged and I dodged. He attempted to strike and I parried. It was getting old fast. I decided the direct approach would be best here—you know what they say, 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall.' I didn't want to hurt him, not permanently, so I dropped down and struck him low and struck him hard at the knees with the broad side of my sword. Although he did manage to slice my arm a bit on the way down, down he stayed as the tip of my sword remained aimed at his throat. Well, that was over quicker than I thought. Bully for me.

"Do you yield?!" I asked in so regal, so commanding a tone that I didn't even recognize my own voice.

"I… I was wrong. You are strong enough. What now?" he said the words so vacantly, as though what had just transpired were a casual walk in the park. I will never understand him, I swear it.

"'What now?' Now you stop questioning me at every turn. Now you stop belittling me because I'm a woman. Now you respect my authority and get back in line. Do we understand each other?"

"…As you wish." was his only reply.

I sheathed my sword and offered him a hand up which, much to my surprise, he took. When I looked back at everyone else, I saw their demeanor shift from worried and alert to utterly relieved. Almost all of them had their hands on their weapons, ready to intervene if things went too far. It was sweet, really. Like I said, despite all the petty bullshit, deep down, they still had my back.

"Well, now that we're done with all that unpleasantness, do you think we can expect the villagers to roll out welcome wagon?" I smirked as I wrapped a bandage around my cut. Hey, I had to ease the tension somehow. Dry humor is a girl's best friend.

"The way that guard spoke… they are hiding something. 'Tis obvious, is it not?" Morrigan posed.

"Ah, quiet, insular communities. There's always something nasty going on behind closed doors." Zevran commented.

Wynne let out a tired sigh. "You always think there's something nasty going on behind closed doors."

"That's because there often is…" he paused. "I hope it involves chains... I hope they ask me to join in." Zevran grinned.

I let a slight smile play across my lips and shook my head. There was a certain level of ridiculous about that elf, but today I was happy for whatever levity I could find. Something… dastardly awaited us in this village; of that I had no doubt. It was doing nothing for my mood.

We walked further into the village and Alistair grabbed my arm tightly but subtly as we walked, clearly displeased with my actions.

"That was a stupid thing to do, you know that? You could have seriously gotten hurt." he chided in a low whisper.

I stopped dead, grabbed his face in my hands and pulled him in for a huge, loud, face-sucking kiss. "Alistair, pumpkin, baby, puddin' pie, you worry too much. This is why those little gray hairs of yours keep coming in." I teased. He just stared at me, awe-struck. I opted to just keep on walking. He and I—we weren't usually big on public displays of affection. I was shy by nature and although Alistair is usually very outgoing, anything involving romance seemed to embarrass him—at least in front of an audience. But you know what? After being torn in so many directions and trying to bend over backwards to appease everyone else's whims and desires and hissy fits, I was fresh out of fucks to give. If I wanted to flaunt my relationship, I was going to do it. If I wanted to take a slight detour to fetch 'the charred remnants of some dead woman,' as Sten so eloquently put it, I was going to do that, too. They want me to be a real leader? Then that's exactly what they're going to get—consequences be damned. Democracy is so overrated.

"I… I can't believe you just did that while everyone was watching. And 'puddin' pie'? Are you kidding me?" Alistair didn't even bother whispering now.

"Oh do not even pretend you don't love my little terms of endearment, snookums. We both know the truth—you can't get enough of them."

He facepalmed so hard I could hear his hand slap against his forehead. I let out a slight chuckle.

"Scarlett?" he asked after a short pause.

"Hmm?"

"…Am I really going gray?"

I just rolled my eyes and shook my head.

"Am I?!" he demanded to know.

I chose not to dignify the question with a response. Him and that damn hair obsession. Oy.

Before long we stumbled upon a small house with its door slightly ajar. Interesting. I did lightly knock but there was no answer so I decided to just walk on in. Something weird was going on—maybe an inside look would provide some clues as to what exactly that was.

The house was run down and empty, save for an altar completely covered in blood. Yep, weird status: confirmed.

"I was not expecting to find something so… unsettling." Leliana commented.

"Used for… food preparation, perhaps?" Alistair asked.

"I don't think meat bleeds quite that much." I explained.

"I'm just trying to be optimistic. The other explanation is slightly more disturbing."

"That is human blood." Morrigan confirmed.

"…How do you know?" I asked reluctantly, although I probably didn't really want to know the answer.

"I just do. I also know that no one can lose that much blood… and live."

"Okay, sufficiently creeped out now. Let's move on. Perhaps that shop that the guard alluded to will have some answers." I suggested.

The shop was almost completely vacant, sans a very uneasy and tense shopkeeper—he was pacing and wringing his hands and muttering to himself. Before we got within earshot, I leaned over and whispered to Leliana, "There's a back room over there. Do a little reconnaissance while I distract Mr. Fidgety over there, got it?" She gave me the slightest of nods before disappearing almost completely. I don't know how she always managed to do stuff like that but boy did it come in handy.

"Good afternoon, sir." I smiled my brightest smile.

"Who are you?" he asked nervously. "You're not from Haven."

"You're right. I'm not. And everyone seems to enjoy pointing it out to me at every turn." I ran my fingers through my hair to undo my braid and shook my head a bit to give myself that sexy, sort of disheveled look. Yes, I really am usually shy, but I have learned to overcome my shyness in order to get things done. This was one such occasion. "Why is my presence so shocking, I wonder… You look like a bright lad—and handsome to boot. Any thoughts?"

"W-we uh… we don't get many visitors."

"I see… I find it hard to believe that a young man such as yourself isn't constantly entertaining visitors."

"…What sort of visitors?"

"You know… of the female persuasion. Back where I'm from you'd have to beat them away with a broom." I smirked and twirled my hair in my fingers as I watched him get more and more frazzled. "Could you tell me a bit about Haven? I find it fascinating." I batted my eyelashes and gave him my absolute and undivided attention.

"I… uh…" he gave me a crooked smile. "I mean, how would you describe the place you know only as home?" Damnit. Really? That's all he was giving me to go on?

"Surely you could think of something we could talk about…" I leaned in closer and bit my lip teasingly. "I'm actually here visiting my uncle—a man named Genitivi. Does that name ring any sort of bell?"

"No. I've never heard that name." Ugh. Either this guy was completely dense or completely immune to my so-called charms. Just my luck.

I glanced over at the back room and saw Leliana crawling out of it and making her way back toward us.

"Well, I suppose I've taken up enough of your valuable time. Good day."

"W-wait a minute!" he called as we turned around to leave. Uh oh. Did he spot her? Keep calm, Scarlett. Keep calm.

"…Yes?" I asked coolly.

"Don't you want to… see what goods I have to offer?" he asked suggestively. Oh… maybe not as dense as I initially suspected. I bit my lips into a thin line to keep from laughing.

"Another time, perhaps." I winked. And out we all walked.

"Well?" I asked Leliana as I rebraided my hair.

"There… there was a body back there. One of Redcliffe's knights."

"Shit. What in the Maker's name is going on here?"

"Whatever it is, it's definitely not good. And did you have to lay it on quite so thick in there? Geez." Alistair whined.

"Aww, baby," I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. "I only have eyes for you." I grinned.

"You're really not going to stop with the pet names, are you?" he groaned. "I think they're starting to make my physically ill now. I feel achy."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I paused, "Honeybunch." He gave me a slight chuckle and shook his head.

As we continued our way up the path we came upon what I assumed was the village's chantry. We could hear the occupants singing the chant of light from within, only I barely recognized it. Instead of hearing something that was supposed to sound joyous and peaceful, it sounded ominous and displaced. Ugh, I so didn't like this.

Upon entering we saw a male priest—I know, I thought it was weird, too—surrounded by a modest but devout congregation.

"We are blessed beyond measure. We are chosen by the holy and beloved to be her guardians. This sacred duty is given to us alone. Rejoice, my brethren, and prepare your hearts to receive her. Lift up your voices and despair not, for she will raise her faithful servants to glory when her—" he furrowed his brow and grimaced as though he suddenly bit into something rotten as soon as he spotted us. "I understand that you are new here, but common courtesy dictates that one shouldn't interrupt. No matter. We were just about done here anyway."

"But Your Reverence! We have not completed the sacraments of the holy mother…or or sung the invocation!" one manic devotee griped.

"Be calm. We have an honored guest. Surely the sacraments can wait. That is all for today, my children. I shall see you tomorrow. For now, I should see to our visitor." He concluded.

Something about the way he said that definitely was not sitting right with me. Still, he was a holy man. Surely he didn't wish his guests any ill will. Yeah. Right.

"There was no need to end the sermon on our account." I explained.

"It is better this way. Many of the villagers are… uncomfortable in the presence of strangers." He assured me.

"Yes, I've noticed… Okay, I'll get right to it. Is there a man named Genitivi here?"

"We find the presence of… outsiders… disruptive. They bring others, and before long, Haven is changed. We will go to any lengths to prevent that. You understand a man's need to protect his family, don't you?"

"Well, I—"

"Brothers! You know what must be done." He cried. And then the guards attacked us.

Really? Just because I asked a freaking question? Damnit, Scarlett. Your inquisitive nature has screwed us yet again.

There weren't many soldiers in the chantry, but they came at us with every ounce of strength they could muster. Up 'til now we'd faced many a formidable adversary, but when a foe is driven by blind, unyielding faith—there is nothing more powerful or more dangerous than that. Life itself becomes a triviality because they are devoted to a cause that goes beyond it. And don't ask me where they came from, but dragonlings—yeah, you read that right, baby dragons—joined in the assault. Was the priest really keeping them around just in case an occasion such as this arose? Honestly, who does that?!

"I do not know if the Maker exists, but it would be better for His reputation if he didn't." I asserted after the last of them fell.

"Men never commit evil so fully and joyfully as when they do it for religious convictions." Morrigan posed.

"That's unfair. So much good is done in the Maker's name. Why let the few rotten apples spoil the whole bunch? Do neither of you believe in Him?" Leliana asked.

"Certainly not. I've no primitive fear of the moon such that I must place my faith in tales so that I may sleep at night." Morrigan answered.

I wasn't going anywhere near this one if I could avoid it. Did I believe in the Maker beyond the shadow of a doubt? No. Did I vehemently deny His existence? No. Call me crazy, but I just don't believe Leliana or Morrigan would accept the agnostic/ambivalent approach. Staying out of it was likely my best bet to walk away unscathed.

"But this can't all be an accident. Spirits, magic, all these wondrous things around us both dark and light. You know these things exist." Leliana reasoned.

"The fact of their existence does not presuppose an intelligent design by some absentee father-figure."

"So it is all random, then? A happy coincidence that we are all here?"

"Attempting to impose order over chaos is futile. Nature is, by its very nature, chaotic."

"I don't believe that. I believe we have a purpose. All of us."

"Yours, apparently being to bother me." Morrigan deadpanned.

"Ladies, I'm all too happy to listen to your exceedingly engaging theistic debate, but perhaps another time. We still need to find Genitivi. I just pray we're not too late and he's still alive."

"Yes, you do that, Scarlett. See how far your prayers get you." Morrigan rolled her eyes.

"It's an expression, Morrigan. Feel free to get off that soapbox of yours anytime now."

"You have such an odd manner of speaking at times." Morrigan observed for the hundredth time.

I let out a big sigh. "Yeah yeah yeah." I looked around the room to find Alistair missing. "Where did Alistair disappear to?"

"He looked a bit sallow ever since we found that altar. I offered to help him but…" Wynne explained, a sad expression in her eyes. She had grown to care a great deal for Alistair, that much had become clear. Their current dissonance was a weight on her heart, but no one other than she herself could remove that burden.

"Alistair?" I called.

"Over here." He quietly groaned. I still didn't see him.

"…Where?"

He waved his hand over a pew toward the back of the chantry. I walked over to him to investigate. He was on his knees on the floor, his skin clammy, his face ashen.

"What's going on?" I asked gently as I moved to kneel down beside him.

"Don't… don't get too close. It's not pleasant." Ah. He'd gotten sick all over the floor. Poor thing.

"What's… what's wrong? Was it seeing all that blood from the altar before?"

"No, no it's not that. I'm fine. Really." I rested the back of my hand against his forehead.

"Oh sweetie, you're burning up. What on earth brought this on? You seemed fine this morning."

"I was fine this morning. I don't know where in the Maker's name this came from. But really. I'll be okay. We need to find Genitivi."

"You're not going to find anything but a bed, young man."

"As long as you're in it, I'm there." He gave me a half smile.

"I meant to rest, you insatiable little lecher." I smirked.

"Bah. Where's the fun in that?"

"Come on." I leaned down to wrap his arm over my shoulder and bring him to his feet. "Up we go."

"Wait wait. At least take a look around this place before we leave. There's bound to be some clue as to Genitivi's whereabouts."

"Your welfare means more to me than anything." As soon as the last word escaped my mouth I knew I shouldn't have said it aloud. Wynne heard me. Morrigan heard me. And what I'd just said proved them both right—that when you get right down to it, I would put my love above my duty. Fuck.

"Scarlett, I promise. I'll be fine while you take a look. I'll just sit here on this pew." He moved to sit down and rested his hands on his lap, taking great care to show me he would do absolutely nothing to worsen his situation. "See?"

I nodded. "Okay, we'll take a quick look. Just… don't hesitate to call if you need me, alright?" I kissed the top of his head as he nodded in assent.

"Will the little prince live for now? I have perhaps found something of interest." Morrigan asked.

"For now. What is it?"

She produced a very large bronze medallion bearing the symbol of Andraste.

"I found it on the priest's corpse."

"Interesting." I muttered as I examined the piece of metal.

"Oooh it's so… shiny. May I have it?" Zevran asked as he reached to snatch it out of my hands.

"Absolutely not!" I put the medallion around my neck and down the front of my armor. "We might have use for it. I swear, Zevran. Were you a magpie in another life?"

"Hanging it between your heaving bosoms is most assuredly the opposite of a deterrent—it serves only to make the item more tantalizing."

"Focus. Let's keep our eye on the prize, Zev."

"Oh, I am. Two of them, in fact."

I slapped his face. Even though he couldn't even see the outline of my breasts in my armor… it was the principle of the thing.

"Oooh you know I like the rough stuff." he grinned. Maker's breath. I just could not win with him.

"Have we found anything else so far?" I asked.

"This wall." Leliana called from across the room.

"What about it?" I asked as I made my way over to her.

"Look around you, Scarlett. One of these things is not like the others."

She was right. The rest of the chantry bricks were aligned and stained one color, while this particular wall was misaligned and a few shades lighter. I knocked on the wall beside it and didn't feel anything out of the ordinary. When I knocked on the different wall, it felt… well, shallow. Something was definitely behind it.

"Nice work, Leliana. Sten, would you do the honors? Let's continue to work through that aggression of yours in a healthy way." I smirked.

He stood in front of the wall and bashed it in with little effort. Within the secret room we saw a man collapsed on the floor. I ran to his side and knelt down beside him.

"Who… who are you? They sent you to finish it?" He asked.

"Brother Genitivi?" I asked.

"You're… you're not one of them, thank the Maker."

"I read your notes, back in Denerim. That's how we knew to come looking for you here." I explained.

"So it seems. They take great pains to keep it well hidden. I—" He let out a groan of anguish. "The leg's not doing so well and… I can't feel my foot."

"Wynne, can you help him?" I asked.

"I can set the leg and ease some of the pain, but he'll need a lot of rest in order to heal." She assessed.

"I don't have time to rest now." He insisted. "I'm so close. The urn is just up that mountain."

"Are you insane or merely delusional?" I asked. "You're hurt."

"Broken ribs be cursed. I'm not abandoning decades of research!"

"Listen to me," I began with stern sincerity, "We need to find those ashes to help a dying man. I swear to you and the Maker Himself I will tell you every single detail of what we discover, but I cannot, in good conscience, consent to an old, broken man climbing a mountain and facing ancient and unknown perils because of foolish pride. Please, be a help instead of a hindrance. Let us do this for you. Help us find them."

He hung his head in resignation.

"Haven lies in the shadow of the mountain that holds the urn. There is an old temple there built to protect it. The door is always locked, but I know what the key is."

"Go on." I coaxed.

"Eirik wears a medallion that opens the temple door. I've seen what he does with it."

I felt around my neck for the chain but there was none to be found. Where did it… Oh. For the love of…

"Zevran!" I groaned.

He let out a defeated sigh. "Fine, fine. Here."

I hastily grabbed it from his greedy little hands.

"This medallion?" I asked.

"Yes," Genitivi nodded. "That is your key. That will allow you to gain entry to the temple." He let out a frustrated moan. "I should be going with you. This is my life's work!"

"I know. And I'm so sorry. I will find you in Denerim. I swear it."

He let out a heaving sigh. "I suppose I will just have to trust you. Please. Do not let me down."

"I won't. Come on. Let's head out. You can stay under our protection for the night. We leave for the temple at first light."

Sten scooped the old man up as though he were light as a feather and we made our way back to the chantry doors.

"You… you found him? Alive?! Maker be praised!" Alistair tried to smile but he was looking worse and worse by the minute.

"Alive, but not well. Looks like you two can keep each other company until you're feeling better. Perhaps you can form a secret club for the infirm or something." I smirked.

"Over my dead body! There is no way you are going after those ashes without me, Scarlett Cousland." Alistair protested.

"I said the same thing, lad. It's useless to argue with her." Genitivi explained.

"Amazing. He met you not five minutes ago and already knows you're stubborn as a mule."

"Perhaps we should postpone this little lovers' quarrel." Morrigan asserted.

"Why? Not having fun yet?" I asked bitterly.

"Because there is a horde of angry villagers about to storm these very doors."