Back at camp, Wynne marched over to him, as he expected.

"Did you really meant what you said at the Gauntlet, young man?" She asked him, her face stoic.

"Good. This travesty has gone on long enough," Amadeus said. He stood up and brushed off leaves from his robes. "Yes, I meant all of it. That ghost would've done something if I lied."

"And so you lied to me then, about repenting what you've done."

He looked at her, a sardonic smile on his lips. "I did not lie. I am only saying what you want me to say."

Wynne stood back, shocked.

"Oh, don't look so shocked. We both know that you were also acting, acting the wise elder mage to gain my affection. "

She rallied. "I don't know what you were talking about."

"Don't pretend. You think I wouldn't notice how you leaped at the chance to moralize when I was at my lowest, like a vulture to a carrion?"

"I was only giving you words of comfort, not knowing that you were…"

"Not blind?"

"Evil."

He laughed. "There is evil in all of us."

"If you didn't want me comforting you, then why do it?"

" And miss all the fun seeing you puff yourself up even more on your own importance?"

"You are mistaken if you think I am too proud of myself."

"No, on the contrary, you are not proud enough. At the tower, when you would not let the barrier down if we didn't let you come along, I knew you were ambitious. You really could not bear being left, when there is still some glory to be found. You insinuated yourself among us, pointing out our flaws and then building them up again to make the others respect you. And if does not work, you use guilt. You want glory, but you also want us to hang on to your every word, like you are used to from the mage apprentices."

"You are mad. You see shadows where there are none."

"Is that so? Didn't you drove away an apprentice because he wouldn't listen to you? And when you found him again, you want him to go back at the Circle even though you knew he was unhappy there?"

Wynne stepped back, shaking her head. "I regret thinking that you can be redeemed. I regret not knowing that you would stoop so low just to entertain yourself."

"I wasn't doing it just for the fun. I knew you still have something to teach, yet I don't want to fawn over you as others had done."

"And now, are you done?"

"I have learned everything that you can give."

She looked at him coolly. "Irving was wrong to think well of you."

"Irving was wrong to withhold the deaths of my parents from me."

"He only did that to prevent you from running away and getting killed by the templars."

"Still, it was my decision to make. But he won't let me, would he? He wanted to keep me in that thralldom you call the Circle."

"The Circle was made to keep mages safe from themselves and from everyone around them. It is the only place where mages can be, as they are."

"And what? End up resigned to a cheerless fate, like you?"

"You could have been happy at the Circle, if you only let it."

"I was happy at my home until they took me away! But no longer. I would not let them take what is mine without a fight."

"It seems anything I have to say would not have an effect on you. I only hope that you will see how futile your attempts at happiness is. You will realize that because you spent your life in cruelty and spite, you will never be truly happy. And you will die, alone and hated."

"Ill-wishing me? Let me say this in return: I need no one to mourn me. Because I…..am not you."


"Hmmm…." Zevran said appreciatively as he looked at the boots Elissa handed to him. "This is Antivan leather isn't it? I would know that anywhere! I don't know how you found it, but thank you."

"Oh, don't mention it," she said, trying not to think how she came by it. She saw it in the shop at Haven and knew it as something Zevran would like. Unfortunately, she was short on cash at that moment but the succeeding events ensured she does not have to scrounge for pennies to pay for it. It's not stealing if the owner is dead.

She waited as he admired it longer. "Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Try it on."

"But I'm not finished admiring them yet. Can you smell that? Like rotting flesh. Just like back in Antiva City." But he did as she asked. He wore them, and stretched one foot out to admire them even more. "Now, if you only found me a prostitute or two, a bowl of fish chowder and a corrupt politician, I'd really feel if I was at home. And they fit as well, marvelous."

It was the wrong thing to say. "I'm sure I could find you the last two, but you have to find the first one yourself," she said, coolly as she marched off.

He smiled at her back, amused, then thought that he would have to think of something to thank her.


When they were near the Tower of Magi, Tabris and the men asked Thorin if they could pop in the Spoiled Princess for a bit. He thought of inviting the dwarf for drinks, but Brosca said "We ain't takin him. I've nothin against him, but a handsome dwarf like him, Oghren ain't gonna stand a chance." Oghren punctuated this with a snort and a grumble about the sort of friends they are.

"No offense, Oghren, you're not exactly someone ladies would swoon over," Tabris said.

"Ha!You haven't seen yet what Daddy Oghren could do," Oghren replied with a belch. "Hey, Chantry boy! You coming?" he asked Alistair.

"Huh?" Alistair replied, his head turned to Mahariel. He couldn't hear them over those pair of grey-green eyes.

"I said-oh, forget it." He spotted Amadeus still sitting and reading a book by the campfire. "What about you? You coming?" he asked the mage.

" I have better things to do with my time."

"You mean that?" He then snatched the book out of his hands. He held up the book to prove his point. "You're not going to get a woman to keep you warm by burying your head in that. Come with us. Let Daddy Oghren show you the ropes. Women gonna be writhing under you in no time."

Amadeus reacted as expected. "Oh, I am so grateful to you, Master Oghren," he simpered. "Thank you for allowing me to learn your secrets in attracting such beastly women."

"Haha. That's what I'm talking ab-what?"

"Now, Amadeus. Thorin had just told us to play nice with the other children," Tabris reprimanded. The mage just huffed in reply. "If you don't want to come, you can just say so, you know."

"Too late. My evening is ruined."

"Don't be so dramatic."

"I am not. In fact, I am now genuinely interested in whatever you're planning to do."

"If you say so," Tabris replied, with a quirked brow at him. "What were you reading anyway?" he asked, taking the book from Oghren and read the title. "Tevene for Barbarians: An easy guide to speaking the Empire's Language." He flipped the book to read the back cover. "Dear Reader, if you are holding this, then you are worthy of our attention. By recognizing the superiority of our Empire and our language, you have proven to have some niggling intelligence despite being born a heathen. In your hands is a guide, especially adapted for primitive minds, guaranteed to make you speak Tevene fluently like a civilized person and completely forget the grunts, snorts and belches your fellow barbarians use as a language.

Should you find yourself in our Empire destitute and in need of sustenance or finally known your place, worry not. This book also includes a guide in understanding the meaning of twitches, lashes and blows so as to please your new master and make your presence less offensive to their precious eyes."

He stared at it for a little while longer, then said, "I really need a drink."

So off they go to the inn, where they found it half-full with travelers such as themselves. A dwarf woman was wiping down the tables. She looks plain and careworn, with her mouse brown hair tucked in an unruly bun and wearing a dirty apron. Not someone they would expect to be worthy of courting.

Still Oghren was sure it was her so they lingered at the doorway to strategize.

"So, Oghren, I thinkyou know what to do?"

Oghren looked wildly around for a moment. "Er…I might..ah, need your help. Can you stay behind me if I might need some…backing up," he asked them, his bravado completely disappearing.

Zevran tutted at him. "Nonsense, my friend. There is nothing more unattractive to a woman than a man with no confidence." He took hold of his shoulders and spun him around towards her.

"We'll be nearby should you need anything," Tabris said behind them. They gave him a little push. He nearly stumbled, gave them a look, but he swaggered towards her.

"Let's take a table. We don't want to make it look like we're mobbing her," Zevran advised. They seated themselves at one on a discreet distance from the pair.

"Alright, let's see Oghren in action then," Tabris said, rubbing his hands.

"It'd be better with drinks," Brosca said, calling one of the waitresses.

"Shh, quiet. He's approaching her now."

Oghren stood in front of the woman and cleared his throat. The woman looked up and he said, "Are you sure you're not a baker? Because you've got a nice set of buns."

The others stared at him. Amadeus leaned back and said, "So this is your ladykiller? I'm impressed."

"Oghren? Is that you?" the woman asked.

"Yeah. In the flesh, baby," he said, slapping his chest loudly.

"What are you doing here?" she said, more in exasperation than pleasure in seeing him.

"Just trying to kick up a pint. Fighting darkspawn is a lot of sodding work, you know?"

"You're fighting darkspawn?" she asked in disbelief. Their conversation continued in that vein, with Oghren trying to feed her shit about doing a favor for the King of Orzammar, then fate leading him here at her tavern, then a slander against poor Lady Helmi but she was having none of it.

"What do you want, Oghren?" she asked, now annoyed.

"Nothing. Just want to see how you doing, is all. Well maybe that and grease up the bronto, you know what I mean."

She made one final wipe of the table before tucking the rag into her apron. "Well, you've seen me. You have to go to Orzammar for the bronto."

"Oh, no, he's losing her," Tabris said worriedly. Amadeus drained his mug, stood up and walked over to the dwarves. "I hate to interrupt," he began, "but Oghren, we need to go soon. We can't keep the Queen waiting."

She was intrigued. "Queen who?"

"The Queen of Ferelden, of course."

"Oh, the queen need a new fool, does she?" Felsi asked. She was trying not to believe and yet he saw something glimmer in her eyes.

"Far from it. I am a Grey Warden and Oghren here is vital to our campaign against the darkspawn. The queen would want to hear our progess," he said, idly, as if he and Oghren were frequent visitors of Anora.

"Oh, Right. Well, it's been fun, Felsi, but you hear him. I'd better go," Oghren said.

She reached out to stop him. "Wait! You're leaving? You've just got here. I haven't called you a shaft rat yet," she said. Amadeus chose this time to return to their table.

"We're meeting with the Queen?" Tabris asked him when he took his seat.

"I don't think so," Zevran answered, chuckling, "but it seems Oghren is going to meet his queen today."

As the others watched Oghren and Felsi exchanged such endearing pet names like "smells like nug droppings" and "frigid deepstalker," Tabris could not help but stare in shock.

"Is this real? Is she actually flirting with Oghren?" the elf asked, his jaw dropped at the sight.

"What's yer problem? Oghren ain't that bad to look at."

"Yeah, but really? If I've tried that with a woman, smelling like drink and unwashed since Maker knows when, I'd be slapped from side to side."

"Ah. You must know, my friend, that some women prefer those dressed impeccably while other prefer a specimen of such…virility. Why, I happen to know a lady who likes ….. Ah, the target of such fantasies!" Zevran said, smiling in remembrance.

"An then you off her."

"No! Not as crude as that. I am not as unprincipled as you think. I do make sure my targets are satisfied with their lives before I send them to the Void. Well, most of the time."

"How very considerate of you," Amadeus said, lifting his mug to drink.

"Uh, donna look now, but there's ladies looking at ye," Brosca said to Tabris.

"Oh, really?" Tabris asked eagerly. He straigthened in his seat and act natural when two girls approached them to his side.

"Excuse me, But I just want to ask, are you staying here longer, my lord?" asked one of them.

Tabris turned around to answer then stopped. Wait-my lord?

He looked to where the girl was looking at and found she was looking at Amadeus, who was beside him. Amadeus was also surprised, caught mid-drink. But he regained his composure early and set his mug down. "Ah, yes, we were just passing by," he said, smiling a little. Tabris gaped at him, at how unfairly handsome he looks with a genuine smile on his face.

"But this is rather out of the way."

"I heard the view outside is beautiful. I came here to see for myself. Imagine my surprise to see a more surpassing loveliness here," he said, with a look that said he was not talking about the pretty lake.

The girl started to titter but stopped herself and said "Well, it'd be lonely watching the lake alone. We'd been here a lot of times. We could show you some of the attractions here if you want. We'd be here for a few days."

Amadeus lifted his mug to toast them. He kept smiling until they were gone. Then he looked at his side and saw Tabris staring at him goggle-eyed.

"What do they see in you?" the elf whispered.

"Women are not blind to beauty, you know," Zevran said, amused. He got up to get drinks.

"But…you're eeeeeevil," the elf insisted.

"And I have no intention of changing that. As you can see, evil has a certain…charm," the mage answered.

Tabris looked at him, then at the table. "My life is a lie," he said in despair.

Zevran reappeared carrying drinks for them all. "Here you go. I've asked for the strongest drink they have. That should be enough to make you forget of this horrible, horrible, nightmare. Tommorrow, you're going to wake up the happy contented elf we all know who treats women nicely, yes?"

At that moment, Oghren walked back to their table in high spirits, having concluded his business satisfactorily. "What did I miss?" he asked, as he saw Tabris drinking himself to oblivion.


"He-ey!" Alistair said in surprise as Mahariel was one moment, sitting beside him and the next, on his lap, her back to him, shifting like cat would, finding a comfortable spot on a couch. The couch was him.

Finally, she settled, and it took time before he said, "You know, this is reaallly nice, but people will talk."

"Let them talk."

"Really? I thought we're supposed to be a secret."

"We keep no secrets within the clan."

"Wow. Is that how it is with the Dalish?"

"That is how it is done with a clan. For we are clan, are we not?"

He thought about it. "Yeah, you can say that."

"Then I do not see why it should be different."

"Well, because we're not all small, and have pointy ears like you?"

She turned around, her back moving fluidly, and kissed lightly on his earlobe. "I like your ears."

"Just the ears?" he asked, wiggling them.

"And the rest of them too."

At that moment, he knew there was no one else he'd rather be with."You know, you do say the sweetest things, if you really tried."

She trailed little kisses from his ear to his mouth. "Only for you," she whispered, her breath hot on his skin.

He smiled, then lifted her chin to kiss her deep.

"Ahem. You have a tent. Get. In. It." Amadeus appeared near them, with a tankard and a book. He tried walking past them to get near the campfire, when Mahariel put out one leg and he went sprawling, tankard and all. Alistair laughed despite himself, while Mahariel just smiled.

Amadeus stared at the mug in front of him, its contents completely disappearinginto the ground, then turned around to glare at them.

A little while later, the others trickled in. Alistair tried to get her off him, but she stayed put. So he desisted. The wardens took one look at the two of them, then either give knowing looks (mostly the men), or adoring ones (mostly the women). Neria however, did neither.

She peered close to his face. Too close.

"Did you two get stuck together?"

"Go away Neria." He's not going to let her to ruin this.

"Come here, Neria. If you want, you can do that with me too," Elissa said.

Neria glared at him one more time before settling around Elissa'arms.

"And what about me?" Zevran asked Elissa.

"You can ask Ser Barker. I'm sure he'll say yes."

The dog responded with a woof.

Then Morrigan came up. "Good, all are present. I do not relish the prospect of-Warts and toadstools! I shall be sick!" she exclaimed and hurried away.

Alistair hugged Mahariel closer. "Yep, I'm definitely liking this."

Thorin was just behind Morrigan and they were blocked form his view. He was looking at her as she ran, holding his nose where she bumped in her haste. Then he looked ahead and stopped dead in his tracks.

"Pretend Alistair is a chair," Tabris suggested, when Thorin was still gaping.

He closed his mouth and gave Mahariel a look. She held his gaze but did not move.

Fraternizing is permitted, but that does not mean rubbing it in.

He sighed when he realized he was not going to win the staring contest and took his seat.

"Don't tell me you never did that with Morrigan," Tabris asked him, nodding at the two.

"She is not a cuddler," he said, nodding at where Morrigan had gone.

"And you are?"

"Of course I do. The bone crushing sort."

"Guess the darkspawn are the only ones who can appreciate that."