Hawke stood in front of the altar, unimpressed. It was basically a large stone slab resting on the ground. True there were candles of some sort, and their flame didn't really look like normal fire, but that was his least concern. He wanted to get this over with, and get his group back home.

He glanced behind him as Fenris crouched to let Cat off his back, noting again that they were constantly touching each other. True, it wasn't flirtatious like Isabela, the way she would brush up against one of them, or graze their arm with her fingertips; it was different, yet still irritating.

One of the first things he had noticed about Fenris was how he would avoid touching or being touched by others, even in the slightest ways. Yet, with Cat… something was definitely going on, and he felt that he should know what it was.

"Hawke?"

Merrill flinched back a step as he turned to her with a glare, and she almost lost her nerve.

"Um… should I start the rite?"

"Yes."

"All right, perhaps everyone should stand back a bit? I'm not certain what will happen, if anything."

Hawke's glare didn't ease as he took several steps back, though he did turn to ensure all of his group was behind him, and ready.

At his nod, Merrill began the rite.

"Hahren na melana sahlin." Cat was sure she wasn't the only one transfixed by the beauty of the language, but she didn't look around to see. She felt enraptured by not only the words, but the flow of them, like poetry. "Emma ir abelas souver'inan isala hamin vhenan him dor'felas. In uthenera na revas."

The bright lights that suddenly appeared had the group shielding their eyes, and Cat gasped softly as she saw Flemeth for the first time. She was suddenly glad that Fenris was helping her stand.

"A witch!" she heard him say, his tone guarded.

"Andaran Atishan, Asha'bellanar," Merrill greeted her with a curtsy.

Flemeth turned to Merrill, a slight smile on her face. "One of the people… I see. Do you know who I am, beyond that title?"

"I know very little," Merrill admitted.

"Then stand. The people bow their knee too quickly." Flemeth gave Merrill an encouraging look.

"So nice to see a bargain kept," she turned to address Hawke, who was standing with his arms crossed, his frown apparent, and Hafter poised at his side to attack at his command. "I half expected my amulet to end up in a merchant's pocket."

"I keep my word," Hawke said shortly. "Though you could have told me you were inside it."

"A bit of security, should the inevitable occur," she answered with a smirk. "And if I know my Morrigan, it already has."

There was a pause, and Flemeth looked at each of Hawke's companions. Fenris took the moment to speak up.

"You are no simple witch. I have seen powerful mages, spirits, and abominations yet you are none of those."

"Such a curious lad," Flemeth appraised him. "The chains are broken, but are you truly free?"

"You see a great deal," Fenris murmured.

Cat gulped as Flemeth's gaze stayed with her, trying not to show her nerves, but it was difficult, knowing what she did.

"Wait…" Hawke said, and Flemeth gave Cat a small smirk before turning back to him. "Morrigan? Is that someone I should know?"

"She's a girl who thinks she knows what is what better than I, or anyone. Ha ha! And why not? It's who I raised her to be. Don't you agree?" she asked, looking back at Cat, who nodded.

Hawke was confused, but didn't really care, so he continued on. "Why not just come yourself? Why all this secrecy?"

"Because I did not want to be followed," Flemeth turned, looking out around the mountainside. Turning back, she walked a few steps closer to Hawke, "You smuggled me here quite nicely." At his uneasy glance, she added, "Know that you may have saved my life, as surely as I saved yours. An even trade, I think."

"You have plans then?" he asked.

With a nod, Flemeth turned to look at Cat again. "Destiny awaits us all, dear boy." Cat shifted uncomfortably, wanting to ask something, anything… but coming up blank.

Fenris tensed, and Cat held her breath as Flemeth came closer. She looked closely at Cat's neck, examining the injury, and reaching out her hand.

"Are we going to regret bringing her here?" Carver asked Hawke loudly, and everyone turned to look at Hawke.

"Regret." Flemeth said softly, and they all turned back. Cat could feel the magic working on her skin, but it was different than Anders' and felt foreign. Flemeth continued to speak softly. "Regret is something I know well. Take care not to cling to it, to hold so close, that it poisons your soul."

She lowered her voice even more, and Cat could barely hear her. "Do not look so long upon the closed door, that you do not see the one which has opened for you." Finished in her ministrations, she stepped back, and Cat practically collapsed into Fenris in exhaustion.

"Wait…" she mumbled.

Flemeth turned to Merrill. "Step carefully- no path is darker, than when your eyes are shut."

"Ma serranas, Asha'bellanar," Merrill answered.

Cat wavered, trying desperately to stay awake, as her mind reeled. Flemeth had healed her… Why? Was she involved in her life somehow?

"Wait…" Cat mumbled again, and felt herself drooping.

Fenris looked at Cat in concern, and helped her down to the ground. She was practically asleep on her feet, and knew the exhaustion would overtake her soon. He looked at her injury, and was shocked. It was not only healed, it looked as if it had happened months ago instead of hours. There was no redness, no puckering, simply a white scar line across her neck, and if the blood was not still staining her skin and clothes he might have thought he imagined the whole thing.

He missed what Hawke and the witch spoke of, but looked up in time to see her transform herself into a high dragon and take flight.

Hawke turned around, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Just as clear as the last time we spoke," he said, frustrated. "Let's go."

Fenris watched the dragon fly a moment more, before picking Cat up, and following after Hawke.

The dalish elves were more than happy to send them off, but Hawke took a moment to speak to the keeper again. He didn't know if he would need to come this way again, and friendships with others made his life easier.

The keeper was unlike the other elves, hoping that at some point Merrill would change her mind and return to them. She told Hawke that he was a friend to the clan, and welcome anytime.

Merrill, trying to keep herself from crying, said "Let's go," and quickly started out of the camp.

Thankfully, they weren't ambushed this time.

The group had made it back to Kirkwall, and Cat still hadn't woken up. Varric was the first to voice their collective worry.

"So… what are we going to tell Rivaini?" he said. "I'm not in the mood to die today."

"It would help if Cat was awake," Carver added. "Then she could take the brunt of it."

"Nice," Aveline said, disparagingly. "She may be mad, but there isn't any reason to take it out on us. We fought our hardest, and injuries happen. At least she is healed, and will be fine."

"That's really all we can do," Hawke agreed. He looked at his group. "Fenris and I will get her home, Varric, you and Aveline take Merrill to the alienage, will you? I spoke to Arianni, and she said Merrill is more than welcome to take over her house there."

"Oh, that was smart, Hawke," Varric acknowledged. "I hadn't even thought of that."

"And that's why, I'm the leader," Hawke said with a smirk, and Varric grinned back, just happy to see Hawke acting somewhat like himself. The grumpy Hawke was too much like Junior.

"Carver, will you tell mother I'll be home soon?" Hawke asked his brother, who nodded and walked away, Hafter following reluctantly after him at Hawke's gesture.

"Come with us Merrill, we'll show you to your new home," Varric said gesturing to let her go first, and Aveline handed Fenris' sword to Hawke.

Merrill turned to Hawke. "Thank you Hawke. Uh… will you come and visit me?" she asked, "not right now, of course… but sometime? It would be nice to have a friend."

Hawke smiled. "Of course, Merrill. And thank you for all your help today. Without that petrify spell, we probably would have lost Cat," he said, and they both turned to look at the sleeping woman in Fenris' arms.

"I'm glad she's all right," Merrill added. "I enjoyed spending time with her."

"I'm sure she felt the same," Hawke said with a smile. "We'll see you later."

Merrill followed after Varric and Aveline, not really paying attention to the turns they took, as she thought about Hawke. He was much nicer than she had first thought, and she was glad that she had seen this side of him. Otherwise, she might have been too afraid to ask him to visit, and then she definitely would have been all alone.

"Here we are!" Varric said cheerfully, and Merrill snapped out of her thoughts, looking around.

"Is… is this really where the elves live?"

Hawke and Fenris walked in silence. They had stopped at the Hanged Man, but Isabela had not been there, so they walked on towards their small home. Knocking at the door, and getting no response, Hawke simply opened the door, glancing inside. Finding no one, he stepped in and held the door for Fenris.

"Do you know which bed is hers?" Fenris asked, looking from one to the other.

"And why would I know that?" Hawke replied sardonically.

Fenris grunted in reply, and choosing the less opulent looking one, set Cat down upon it. He sat her up, looking back at Hawke in question. "A little help?" he asked, which had Hawke stepping forward.

"With what?"

Hawke knew Fenris could convey many things with just a look, but he wasn't a mind reader, and didn't appreciate the look he was getting now.

"I doubt she'll sleep well with her weapons on," he finally replied, and Hawke felt like an idiot.

"Right," he said, getting to work. Cat was wearing her crossbow and no less than three different holsters for her daggers, and Hawke felt only slightly uncomfortable as he set the crossbow aside and started unbuckling the first, on her back.

He noted that Fenris was holding her gently, and her head was resting on his arm, and he finally decided to ask.

"Cat has always been one to touch others, even from the start," he began, and Fenris looked up in question. "And at first, I could tell that it bothered you, but it doesn't seem that way anymore."

Fenris looked down, and Hawke waited patiently. Fenris had always been completely honest with him, but sometimes had trouble finding the right words for his feelings. Hawke couldn't imagine having been a slave, and suppressing all of one's emotions, and gave Fenris all the time he needed.

"I suppose, you are right," Fenris finally answered. "I hadn't really thought about it, but as we have become… close, there is more… trust? I suppose that is the right word."

"So, it's a matter of trust in the person then?" Hawke asked, curiously as he set the daggers and holsters aside, and moved to her belt holster.

"I… I am not certain," Fenris admitted. "Or perhaps I simply became used to her touch after a while, I do not know."

Hawke set aside the belt, and looked up at his friend. "I do not want to push you, I am simply curious." He held out his hand, so Fenris could see his intention, he placed it on his shoulder. "Does this bother you?" he asked.

Fenris exhaled, relaxing the muscles that had tensed in response. "Slightly, though not as much as it once would have."

Hawke removed his hand, and smiled. "Well, then I suppose that could mean that you trust me more, or that you are getting used to others touching you. Either way, I'd say that's a good thing."

"I suppose so," Fenris replied, as he cradled Cat's head, and laid her down. Both men then looked at her thigh holsters, though neither moved.

"Uh, perhaps…" Hawke started, but Fenris merely reached forward and began unbuckling them. Hawke noted that they were slightly more complicated than a normal thigh holster, wrapping around each leg, instead of being on a belt worn around the waist. He also noted that Fenris had no problem having his hands… where he did.

"Can you get her boots?" Fenris asked, breaking the silence, and Hawke jumped slightly.

"Uh, sure," he said, moving over to the end of the bed, and began loosening the laces, pulling off each boot in turn. He watched as Fenris stood, and pulled a blanket off the other bed, and covered Cat with it, and he felt something sink inside him, as he saw Fenris tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

No… I'm sure that didn't mean anything.

Fenris walked over to where his sword was leaning, and placed it back in its sheath upon his back. Hawke stood as well, looking back to Cat's sleeping form, and then at Fenris.

Just my imagination running wild, Hawke thought. It was a ridiculous thought.

He stepped forward to follow Fenris out of the home, and placed his hand upon his shoulder again, giving it a pat. "Good job today, I'm grateful to have you with us."

Fenris felt the touch, smiling slightly at the thought that it hadn't bothered him at all. Now that it was brought to his attention, he could see the change for the better that was happening within him, and he was… proud.

"Thank you," he replied, grateful that he had somehow stumbled into the people he hadn't known he so desperately needed.

It wasn't long until Hawke entered his Uncle's home, weary down to his bones.

"Garrett? Is that you?"

Hawke looked up as his mother came into the main room, and greeted him with a hug.

"Darling, you look tired. I hope you aren't getting in over your head with this expedition business?"

"Just a trying day, Mother," he replied. "One of our companions was hurt, and we almost lost her."

"Aveline?" She asked, full of concern.

"No, Aveline is fine," he answered, as she led him over to a chair in front of the fire, keeping his hand gripped in her own. "Her name is Cat, and she was injured, but looks like she'll be fine."

"Thank the Maker," she said quietly. "I'm glad you have people that help you. I worry enough now, I'd hate to think how bad I would worry if it were just you and Carver doing these jobs." She gave him a look as she added, "not that you tell me much about them…"

"I can handle it Mother, I just don't want you to worry yourself," he said, patting her hand. "They are an excellent group, we just were… caught off guard."

"You know, I would like to meet these friends of yours sometime," she began with a smirk. "You're never too old to bring your friends home to meet your mother."

Hawke chuckled, "No, but sometimes your friends aren't the type you would bring home to meet your mother," he said, and chuckled again at seeing his mother pouting. "Perhaps sometime," he relented, and she beamed at him.

"You know any friend of yours is welcome," she said as she stood up. "If you've kept them close, then there has to be something special about them, right?" She leaned down to kiss his forehead, and said goodnight, leaving him to stare into the fire, alone with his thoughts.

Isabela knew she was not a patient woman, but thought that as of now, she could be considered a saint for how much leeway she was granting the her newest contact. She raised her hand, scrubbing it over her face, again, and gave a huge sigh.

"Look Anton, I will say this only once," she said quietly, then reached out suddenly to grab his collar and pull him down to they were eye to eye. "You get the information… then you contact me. I have waited all day, and wasted plenty of coin. Now I find that you don't have anything worthwhile for me." She sneered at the man, and her voice grew harsh. "This had better not ever… happen… again. Understand?"

As his head began bobbing up and down, Isabela pushed him away in disgust. Men, she thought. Always thinking women have nothing better to do than come running whenever they call.

She continued to fume as she made her way home. The day had been one bad deal after another, and now here she was, with no money and a wasted day, and nothing to show for either. She was almost wishing someone would pick a fight, just so she could let off some steam.

After several hours, several drinks, and one bar fight later, Isabela finally made it home. She walked in, only to find Cat asleep in bed, though with her own blanket on top of her. She stopped, confused. Nope, that can't be right, she thought, as her head swam slightly. Oh well.

Isabela quickly shed her boots, only falling over once, and since her blanket was on top of Cat, she nudged her over, and climbed in next to her. We'll talk about stealing blankets in the morning, she thought as she quickly fell asleep.